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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lic a tio n is issu ed p u r s u a n t to th e
p ro v isio n s o f th e s u n d ry civil a c t (41 S ta ts .
1430), a p p ro v e d M arch 4, 1921.

A D D IT IO N A L C O P IE S
OF THIS PUBLICATION MAT BE PROCURED FROM
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D. C.
AT

15 C E N T S P E R C O PY
S u b s c r ip t io n P r i c e , 11.50 P e r Y e a r
PURCHASER AGREES NOT TO RESELL OR DISTRIBUTE THIS
COPY FOR PROFIT.— PUB. RES. 67, APPROVED MAY 11, 1922

Contents.
Special articles:
.
Page'
Bread making in the modern bakery, by Robert S. Billups, of the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics....................................... - .......... 1-12
Protection of workers under Mexican State labor laws, by Ethel C. \ohe,
of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics......................................... 13-25
Industrial relations and labor conditions:
Underground management in bituminous coal mines................................... 26-39
Germany—Reports of factory inspectors for 1922.......................................... 39-50
India—Factory conditions in the Punjab in 1922......................................... 50, 51
Prices and cost of living:
Retail prices of food in the United States..................................................... 52-73
Retail prices of coal in the United States.................................... ............ ; - • 74-77
Index numbers of wholesale prices in October, 1923.................................... 77, 78
Wholesale prices in the United States and foreign countries, 1913 to Sep­
tember, 1923............................................................• * ................................ ' ' 9
Norway—House rents in Christiania, 1900 to 1922..........................................
80
Wages and hours of labor:
The 48-hour week in industry, by J. C. Bowen, of the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics....................................................................................... 81-102
Union scale of wages and hours of labor as of May 15, 1923...................... 103-108
Wage scales in the building trades, November 1, 1923.............................. 108- 142
Porto Rico—Wages in 1921-22........................................................................
443
Netherlands—Wages in 1921, 1922, and 1923, as compared with 1914.... 114,115
Minimum wage:
Recent minimum-wage orders, British Columbia...................................... 116,11/
Woman and child labor:
Maryland—Child labor on truck farms..................... ................................. 448>449
Michigan—Occupations of juvenile workers in Detroit.................... ........ 120,121
Australia—Entrance of women into railway clerical work........................ 121,122
Labor agreements, awards, and decisions:
Decisions of Railroad Labor Board—•
Supervisory forces................................................................................. 123-125
Subordinate officials...... ....................................................................... 42^> 426
Agreements—
Longshoremen and lighter captains—Port of New York.......................
127
Printing industry (web pressmen)—New York City.......................... 127-129
Taxicabs—Rochester, N. Y .................................................................. 429>439
Italy—Decree regulating collective agreements......................................... 130,131
Employment and unemployment:
Employment in selected industries in October, 1923................................ 132-139
Employment and earnings of railroad employees, September, 1922, and
August and September, 1923.................................................................... 139-141
Extent of operation of bituminous coal mines, September 22 to October 13,
1923.............................................................................................................
141


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IV

CONTENTS.

Employment and unemployment—Concluded.
Recent employment statistics—
Page.
Iowa...........................................................................................................
142
Massachusetts........................................................................................ 142,143
Minnesota..................................................................................................
144
Conference of International Association on Unemployment..................... 144,145
Germany—Unemployment, October, 1923....................................................
145
Great Britain—
Effect on the worker of unemployment and unemployment relief... 145-148
Report of Unemployment Grants Committee..................................... 148,149
Unemployment insurance by industry................................................ 149 -151
Housing:
New York—Housing situation in New York City...................................... 152-154
Finland—Housing for employees................................................................ 154-156
Industrial accidents and hygiene:
Electrical code of Wisconsin...........................................................................
157
Industrial placement of heart patients....................................................... 157-161
Industrial accidents in the rubber industry, first half of 1923.................. 161,162
Estimated annual number and cost of industrial accidents in the United
States—A correction.....................................................................................
162
Workmen’s compensation and social insurance:
Recommendations of American Federation of Labor................................. 163-167
Indiana—Report of Industrial Board.............................................................
167
Ohio—Results of damage suits under workmen’s compensation law....... 167,168
Denmark—Invalidity insurance................................................................. 168,169
France—Extension of workmen’s compensation law to domestic service... 170
Labor laws and court decisions:
Germany—Amendment of the home work law.......................................... 171, 172
Labor organizations and conventions:
Forty-third annual meeting of American Federation of Labor................. 173-175
Number and earnings of members of International Typographical Union,
1909 to 1923...................................................................................................
175
Alliance of five needle-trade unions...............................................................
176
Meeting of Pan American Federation of Labor, 1924...................................
176
Canada—Annual meeting of Trades and Labor Congress.......................... 176,177
Norway—Trade-union movement, 1922...................................................... 177,178
Poland—Program of Federation of Trade-Unions...................................... 178,179
Strikes and lockouts:
Strikes and lockouts in the United States, April to June, 1923................ 180-184
Czechoslovakia—Strikes and lockouts in 1922................................................
185
Vocational education and training:
Australia—New apprenticeship regulations in New South Wales.................
186
Belgium—Vocational guidance in Brussels................................................ 187-189
Finland—Vocational and other educational training by employers......... 189,190
Welfare:
Finland—Welfare work for employees...........................................................
191
Cooperation:
Cooperative restaurants and distribution of milk, Minneapolis....................
192
Progress of consumers’ cooperative wholesale societies............................. 192,193
Course in cooperative training, Minneapolis..................................................
193
Guiding points in the location of the cooperative store............................. 193,194
Great Britain—Report of Labor Copartnership Association, 1922............. 194,195


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CONTENTS.

V

Cooperation—Concluded..
Cooperation in foreign countries—
Page.
Australia....................................................................................................
196
Canada................................................................................................... 196,197
Ceylon.................................................................................................... 197,198
Czechoslovakia..........................................................................................
198
India (Punjab).........................................................................................
198
Italy....................................................................................................... 198-200
Poland.......................................................................................................
200
Conciliation and ar bitration:
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in October, 1923, by Hugh
L. Kerwin, Director of Conciliation........................................................ 201-204
Immigration:
Statistics of immigration for September, 1923, by W. W. Husband, Com­
missioner General of Immigration........................................................... 205-210
Proposed international conference on emigration and immigration.. . . . . 210, 211
Italy—Recent measures for protection of emigrants......................................
212
What State labor bureaus are doing:
Massachusetts...................................................................................................
213
Porto Rico................................................................................................... .. 213, 214
Current notes of interest to labor:
Finland—Reduction of working-days per week............................................
215
215
Scandinavia—Employers’ conference............................................................
Sweden—Reorganization of unemployment commission..............................
215
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States................................................................................ 216,217
Official—Foreign countries...................................... — ............................. 218-221
Unofficial...................................................................................................... 221-225


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
vo l .

xvn, n o .

WASHINGTON

6

De cem ber , 1923

Bread Making in the Modem Bakery.
B y R obert

S.

B il l u p s , o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o p L a b o r S t a t is t ic s .

N JULY and August, 1923, the United States Department of
Labor, through its Bureau of Labor Statistics, made a s t u d y of
bread making as it is done in the modern bakery, for the purpose
of showing the average customary or regular full-time hours per
week, average number of pounds of bread produced per man per
hour, average earnings per hour of employees actually engaged in
the production of bread, and average labor or production cost per
pound of bread. This study also included baking machinery, proc­
esses, and occupations.
The figures presented in this article are limited to the productive
employees in the bread-making department of the bakery, beginning
with those who receive the flour and other ingredients as they are
delivered to the bakery, and ending with those who pack the baked
bread in baskets or boxes, or on bread racks ready for drivers of the
wagons or for shipment from the bakery. Figures covering bakery
officials, clerks, and other office employees, salesmen, bread wagon
drivers, maintenance and repair employees, and employees of cake,
pie, and pastry departments are excluded.
This study is limited to 3 representative bakeries, with 135 em­
ployees, in Baltimore, Md.; to 9 bakeries, with 733 employees, in
New York City; to 5 bakeries, with 451 employees, in Philadelphia,
Pa.; and to 4 bakeries, with 300 employees, in Washington, D. C.
Thus a total of 21 bakeries and 1,619 productive employees is covered.
Agents of the bureau visited the bakeries mentioned above and,
selecting a representative weekly pay-roll period in 1923, obtained
from pay rolls and other records the occupation of each employee,
the number of hours he actually worked and earnings he actually
made, and the number of pounds of bread and rolls produced during
this particular pay-roll period. These figures were used as the
basis for the averages presented in this article.
Customary or regular full-time hours per week are the number of
hours that a bakery under normal conditions is in operation in a
week, or the number of hours that the employees may expect work
each week. The customary or regular full-time hours per week for
employees of each of the bakeries covered in Baltimore are 54; in
New York and Washington 48; in Philadelphia the hours per week
of the different bakeries range from 50 to 55, averaging 51.1 for the
employees of all the bakeries covered.

I


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[1225]

l

2

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Overtime is time worked in excess of customary or regular full­
time hours per week. Practically all the bakeries studied have some
overtime work each week, usually on Friday when it is necessary to
produce sufficient bread for Saturday and Sunday. In this industry
Saturday is the day of rest instead of Sunday, as in other six-day
week industries. Overtime is paid for at the regular rate by the
bakeries in Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia, and at rate and
one-half by those covered in Washington.
In Baltimore the average number of pounds of bread, including
rolls, produced per man per hour ranges from 70 for the bakery with
the lowest production to 103 for the bakery with the highest, with
an average of 92 for all employees covered; in New York the range is
from 52 to 95, with an average of 73; in Philadelphia, from 52 to 68,
with an average of 62; and in Washington, from 48 to 72, with an
average of 63.
The highest production per man per hour was made in a bakery
in which there are very few bench hands, no machine hands except
at the divider and one at the molder, and no oven men. This baker}"
is fully equipped with the best machinery, including traveling ovens,
and is modern in every way. Here 90 per cent or more of the dough
is carried directly, by machinery operated by electric power, from the
fermenting room to and through the divider, rounder, first or pre­
liminary automatic proofer, molder, final automatic steam proofer,
and traveling oven.
The lowest production per man per hour was made in a bakery
in which there are machine hands at the divider, rounder, revolving
proofing cabinet, and molder; in which helpers shove racks loaded
with pans of molded dough into the steam proofer and from the
proofer to the ovens; and in which there are also bench hands and
oven men. In this particular bakery the employees in these occupa­
tions form a larger per cent of the total employees than in any other
bakery for which averages are presented. It is, therefore, manifest
that very large production per man per hour can be obtained only
by a bakery having efficient machinery and efficient organization.
Average earnings per hour of employees of bakeries in Baltimore
range from 49.7 cents in the bakery with the lowest average to
53.8 cents in the bakery with the highest, with an average of 50.9
cents for all employees covered; in New York the range is from
56.1 to 71.6 cents, with an average of 63.6 cents; in Philadelphia
from 50.2 to 60.4 cents, with an average of 56.4 cents; and in Wash­
ington from 67.4 to 77.6 cents, with an average of 74.1 cents. The
averages for Washington, as compared with those of other cities, are
higher, for two reasons: (1) The basic rate per hour in Washington
for mixers, bench hands or hand bakers, dividers or scalers, rounders,
cabinet men, molders, and oven men is 81 per hour for day work and
$1.10 per hour for night work, as compared with rates of 50 to 74.1
cents for these occupations in Baltimore, 50 cents to $1,042 in New
York, and 47.9 to 80 cents in Philadelphia; and (2) overtime is paid
for at the rate of time and a half, or $1.50 per hour for day work
and $1.65 per hour for night work, in Washington, while in other
cities all overtime is paid for at regular rates by the bakeries covered.
Further, as work in most of the bakeries in Washington begins about


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[ 1226 ]

3

BREAD MAKING IN THE MODERN BAKERY.

2 p. m. and ends about 10 p. m. or after, practically all overtime
is paid for at the night overtime rate of $1.65 per hour.
Average labor or production cost per pound of bread in bakeries in
Baltimore ranges from 0.48 cent to 0.77 cent, with an average of
0.55 cent for all bakeries covered; in New York the range is from
0.62 cent to 1.18 cents, with an average of 0.87 cent; in Philadelphia
from 0.85 cent to 1.11 cents, with an average of 0.91 cent; and
in Washington from 1.07 to 1.59 cents, with an average of 1.17
cents. The statement made regarding the efficiency of the produc­
tion per man per hour likewise applies to the average labor or pro­
duction cost.
It should again be emphasized that the figures presented above
and in the tables following apply only to the production employees
of the bread-making department of the modern bakery.
Averages for “ all employees” of all bakeries covered in each city
as presented in the table below, have already been discussed. The
averages for “ bakers (mixers, bench hands, machine hands, and
oven men),” are for the key occupations in bread making, the work
of all other bread-making occupations being comparatively unim­
portant.
CU STO M A RY O R R E G U L A R F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K , A V E R A G E N U M B E R
O F P O U N D S O F B R E A D P R O D U C E D P E R MAN P E R H O U R , A V E R A G E E A R N IN G S
P E R H O U R , A N D A V E R A G E L A B O R CO ST P E R P O U N D O F B R E A D , B Y C IT Y , 1923.

E m ployees a n d city.

n u m b e r of
C ustom ary or regular Average
pounds of bread
full-tim e hours per
N
u
m
­
produced
p e r m an
N u m ­ b er of
week.
p e r hour.
ber of em ­
baker- ployies.
ees.
Low­ H igh­ A ver­ Low ­ H igh­ A ver­
est.
est.
age.
est.
est.
age.

All employees:
B altim ore..........................................................
New Y o rk .........................................................
P h ilad elp h ia.....................................................
W ashington......................................................
B akers (m ixers, bench han d s, m achine hands,
a n d oven m en):
B altim ore..........................................................
New Y o rk .............. ........................................
P h ilad e lp h ia .....................................................
W ashington......................................................

4

135
733
451
300

54.0
48.0
50. 0
48.0

54.0
48.0
55.0
48. 0

54.0
48. 0
51.1
48.0

70
52
52
48

103
95
68
72

92
73
62
03

3
9
5
4

43

54.0
48.0
50.0
48.0

54.0
48. 0

189
117

54.0
48.0
51. 1
48.0

138
101
87
116

427
266
162
189

307
155
146
165

3
9

48.0

A verage earnings p er hour.
Em ployees a n d city.

Average labor or produc­
tio n cost p er p o u n d of
bread.

Low est. H ighest. Average. Low est. H ighest. A verage.
A il employees:
B altim ore..............................................................
New Y o rk .............................................................
P h ilad elp h ia........................................................
W ashington..........................................................
B akers (m ixers, bench han d s, m achine hands
a n d oven m en):
B altim ore..............................................................
New Y o rk .............................................................
P h ilad e lp h ia ........................................................
W ashington..........................................................


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10.497
.561
.502
.674

$0.538
.716
.604
.776

$0. 509
.636
.504
.741

$0. 0048
.0062
.0085
.0107

$0. 0077
.0118
.0111
.0159

$0.0055
.0087
.0091
.0117

.548
.643
.573
1.067

- 696
.782
.644
1.090

. 641
.717
.620
1.079

.0015
.0024
.0036
.0057

. 0051
.0073
.0072
. 0093

. 0021
.0046
.0043
.0065

[1227]

4

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

In reading figures for “ bakers” in connection with figures for “ all
employees” it will be observed that in Baltimore only 43, or 32 per
cent of the 135 employees covered, are bakers; in New York, 345, or
47 per cent of the 733 covered; in Philadelphia, 189, or 42 per cent of
the 451 covered; and in Washington, 117, or 39 per cent of the 300
covered, are bakers. The small percentage of bakers in Baltimore
is due principally to the fact that all the bakeries studied there are
well equipped with modern automatic machinery, from the dividing
or scaling machine to the traveling ovens, while some of the bakeries
covered in other cities are not so well equipped. These facts, together
with the production of 307 pounds of bread per baker per hour in
Baltimore, as compared with 155 in New York, 146 in Philadelphia,
and 165 in Washington, and an average earning of 64.1 cents per hour
in Baltimore, as compared with 71.7 cents in New York, 62 cents in
Philadelphia and $1,079 in Washington, seem to account for the very
low labor cost of 0.21 cent per pound of bread for bakers in Baltimore
compared with 0.46 cent per pound in New York, 0.43 cent in Phila­
delphia, and 0.65 cent in Washington.
The table below presents for each of the bread-making occupations
(mixers, bench hands or hand bakers, machine hands, oven men,
helpers, laborers, wrappers, packers, and other employees) the
classified days worked, average full-time hours, average hours actu­
ally worked, average hours of overtime work per week, and average
earnings, per week and hour. These figures are computed from
data, obtained from the bakeries studied, for a one-week pay-roll
period in 1923.
Beading line 1 of this table it is seen that in the 3 bakeries covered
in Baltimore there were 5 mixers who worked 6 days, or on all the
days that there was work during the week covered; that the full-time
hours per week were 54, that these mixers actually worked an aver­
age of 55 hours, and that they actually worked an average of 1 hour
overtime during the week. Their earnings averaged $37.10 for the
week and 67.5 cents per hour. Line 2 shows that one of the 32 mixers
in New York worked only 3 of the 6 days that the 9 bakeries were in
operation. During these 3 days this mixer actually worked only 18
hours. This is the reason that the average hours actually worked
(49.7) are less than the total (50.6) of the average full-time hours (48)
and average hours of overtime (2.6). Line 3 shows that one of the
19 mixers in Philadelphia worked 4 of the 6 days the 5 bakeries were
in operation, while 1 employee worked 7 days, doing work on one day
when the bakery as a whole was not in operation. Other lines may be
read in like manner and comparisons made between one city and
another.
An inspection of the table shows that many of the bench hands or
hand bakers and helpers worked fewer than 6 days or less than full
time during the week covered, showing that a larger percentage of
the employees in these occupations were much less regular in attend­
ance than employees of other occupations.


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[1228]

5

BREAD MAKING IN THE MODERN BAKERY.

E M P L O Y E E S C L A S S IF IE D B Y D AYS W O R K E D AN D A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N ­
IN G S, IN O N E W E E K , B Y O C CU PA TIO N S A N D C IT IE S , 1923.

O ccupation an d city.

N u m b er of employees w ork- A verage hours (oneu m ­ ■ in g each specified n u m b er week p a y period).
N u m ­ Nber
of days per week.
ber
of
of
b a k ­ em­
ctu­ Over­
F ull Aally
eries. ploy­
4
1
2
3
5
6
7 time.
ees.
w orked. time.

Mixers:
B a ltim o re ...................
New Y o rk ...................
P hiladelp h ia...............
W a sh in g to n

............

B ench hands or h an d
bakers:
B altim ore.....................
New Y o rk ....................
P h ilad elp h ia...............
W ashington.................
M achine hands:
B a ltim o re

..................

New Y o rk ....................
P h ila d e lp h ia ___
W a sh in g to n ..................

O ven m en: “
B a ltim o re .............
New Y o rk ....................
P hiladelp h ia...............
W a sh in g to n _________

H elpers:

B a ltim o re ........ .............

New Y o rk ....................
P h ilad elp h ia...............
W ashington.................
Laborers:
B a ltim o re ......................
N ew Y o rk ....................

P h ilad elp h ia...............
W a sh in g to n ........

W rappers:

B a ltim o re ......................

New Y o rk ....................
P h ila d e lp h ia ................
W ash i n g to n ..

Packers:
B altim ore.. .
New Y o rk ....................
P h ila d e lp h ia .

W ashington.................
O ther em ployees:1
B a ltim o re ......................

New Y o rk ....................
P h ila d e lp h ia .
W a sh in g to n __ .

3
9
5
4

5
32
19

2
9
5
4

26
175
92
74

3
9
5
4

9
37
28
11

1
9
5
3

3
101
50
22

3
9
5
4

48
152
87
99

3
9
5
4

12
85
74
37

3
7
4
4

14
28
17
9

1

3
9
5
4

10
83
49
21

2

3
9
5
4

8
40
35
17

1
4
1
3

3
1

1
1
2

2

1
1
1
1

4
7
1
2

4
1
2
1
1
1

1

1
1

3
1

2

1
1

1.0 $37.10 $0.675
.770
2.6 38. 24
.657
.4 33. 34
1.0 53.08 1.084

6
2

54.0
48.0
50.9
48.0

52.6
48.2
50.5
43.8

.7
2.0
.4
.9

30.98
33.09
29. 82
46.97

.589
.686
.591
1.073

8
35
27
10

i
1

54.0
48.0
50.1
48.0

53.2
51.4
50.7
48.6

.2 29.66
3.7 • 33. 59
.6 29.65
1.2 52.29

.557
.653
.584
1.075

1
2
1

3

3
94
46
20

2
2

54.0
48.0
52.5
48.0

54.0
50.5
52.8
48.7

3.3
.9
1.8

34.17
39. 24
35. 82
53.39

.633
.776
.678
1.097

1
3
6
5

3 40
5 130
5 69
9 80

5

54.0
48.0
52.1
48.0

49.3
47.0
49.9
46.6

.2
2.9
.5
1.9

22.11
23.83
23.32
22.83

.448
.507
.467
.490

3
1
3

2
2

10
67
69
25

9
1
7

48.9
50.7
48.0

51.0
49.7
49.9
48.5

.4
3.0
.2
.7

23.07
25.22
23.17
22.88

1

1
1

14
27
12
6

54.0
48.9
49.6
48.0

59.1
50.1
43.7
38.9

5.1
2.9

20.99
26.26
22.46
19.88

.355
.524
.514
.510

1

1

.478
.545
.541
.578
.791
.958
.756
.836

1

1
5

1

55.0
49.7
50.7
49.0

24
8 153
1 87
21 46

1

JO

Aver­
age
earnings
per
hour.

54.0
48.0
51.3
48.0

5
31
17
10

1

A ver­
age
earnings in
one
week.

1

i

10
74
48
16

1
1

8
35
34
16

5
3
4

54.0
54.0
49.1 ” 50.9
49.9
49.3
47.7
48.0

3.1
.9

25.80
27.74
26.66
27.59

53.7
49.4
51. 5
48.4

.5
2.0
.3
.9

42.48
47.35
38.92
40.44

53.3
48.2
51.4
48.0

.452
.508
.464

.472

1 Receiving clerks, foremen, oven firem en, and apprentices.

Tlie modern bakery is a thoroughly organized concern equipped
with much or all of the latest and most improved bakery machinery.
It is the aim of such bakery to supply the public with the very best
products at the least possible cost of production. This can be
accomplished only by having efficient organization and efficient
operation of machinery, thus saving time as well as labor.
An official of one of the bakeries that furnished information for
this article said, “ I am looking forward confidently to the time when
our bakery will be so thoroughly equipped with machinery that it
will not be necessary for any employee to handle the dough or the
bread until after the bread has been baked and wrapped and is ready
for our drivers.” Another said, “ If we returned to old conditions
before the installation of machinery (blenders, sifters, mixers,
dividers, rounders, molders, panners, wrappers, and automatic


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

proofers and traveling ovens) we would have to increase our force of
productive employees several times and enlarge our floor space to
three or four times its present size in order to produce as much bread
per day as we are now producing in that time.”
Bread making, like many other industries, had its days of hard,
heavy labor. The introduction of machinery has made the work in
the bakery comparatively easy and light, has reduced the number of
employees required to operate the bakery, especially the number of
bench hands or hand bakers, oven men, and helpers, and has greatly
increased production. Without entering into the question as to
whether or not increased production has under present conditions
made any change in the total cost of production, it may also be said
that the use of machinery has made it possible for the consumer to
buy good, wholesome bread for less than it would cost, including
time and fuel, to produce bread of like quality in the home. As has
already been stated the average cost of bread per pound as presented
in this article is limited to productive employees only. Other items
such as capital, including investments in land, buildings, and equip­
ment, along with cost of materials, insurance, taxes, depreciation,
salaries of officials and office employees, wages of drivers and all other
nonproductive employees not covered in this study, and probably
other items not mentioned, should also be included in order to arrive
at the total cost of production per pound.
Below is given a description of the machinery, processes, and jobs
or occupations found in the making of bread in the modern bakery.
Machinery.

J3LENBING machines.—Blending machines are used to mix two
or more kinds of flour so thoroughly that an analysis of any
portion of the mixture shows approximately the same per cent of
each kind of flour in the portion as in the total mixture. Bread made
from the blend or mixture of two or more grades of flour (each of
which makes good bread) is usually more desirable than bread made
from any one of the grades.
Out of the 21 bakeries in question, 20 reported the use of electric
power in operating blending machines and 1 reported the use of
steam. The capacity of the blending machines in these bakeries
ranged from 15 to 45 barrels or about 3,000 to 9,000 pounds of
flour per hour, most of the bakeries reporting, however, the blending
of 3,000 or 4,000 pounds per hour. As a rule, machinery operated
by electric power carries the flour from the blending machine to the
sifting machine.
Sifting machines.—Sifting machines are used to remove pieces of
cord or string, lint, splinters, or any other foreign substance from
the flour, to make the flour less compact by breaking any lumps
that may be present, and to lighten and aerate it. As the flour is
carried by machinery directly from the blender to the sifter the
capacity of the sifting machine is necessarily the same as that of the
blending machine.
After the flour has been sifted it is carried by machinery operated
usually by electric power to a storage bin which is, as a rule, located
in a room directly above the mixing room, so that the flour may be


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BR EA D M A K IN G I N

THE

M ODERN BAKERY.

n

drawn from tlie bin into automatic scales used by mixers in weighing
flour for batches of dough.
Batches of dough are made up by formulas. In gathering material
for this article agents of the bureau made no effort to and did not
obtain any bread-making formulas from any of the bakeries. A few
of the officials of the bakeries visited were very much afraid that some
of their trade secrets or processes which have cost a great deal and
are, therefore, guarded most jealously, might in some way fall into
the hands of their competitors. It is assumed that each bakery has
its own formulas, and that each formula is somewhat different from
any of the formulas of other bakeries. Two formulas which were
published in the June 9, 1923, issue of the Bakers Weekly are presented
below:
FO R M U L A S F O R B R E A D D O U G H .

L'nit.

Ingredient.

Flour .................................................
W ater
................................
Suffar
.........................................
Sait
....................................
M ilk ...................................................
L ard
.............................................
Y east..................................................
M alt ...............................................

P o u n d s .. .
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ...........
.. .d o ...........
.. .d o ...........
.. .d o ...........
.. .d o ...........
.. .d o...........

For­
m ula
N o. 1.

F or­
mula.
N o. 2.

280
170
2
•o
ill
6

300
108
8
4è
26
4
5
3

■1

1 Sweetened, condensed, 42° sugar.

2 Sweetened, condensed.
3 Quart.

In view of the statement above concerning the officials of a few
bakeries, it is not out of place to quote here part of an editorial which
appeared in the May 19, 1923, issue of the Bakers Weekly:
The baker who has been given, by public approval, the assurance that his staff of
life is all that it ought to be, does not, in fact, perform the service that is expected of
him until he informs his brother baker, who perhaps has been less successful in turning
out a high-quality product, how he, too, may attain the height of present-day perfec­
tion in a scientifically produced loaf of bread. We believe that the days of selfishness
are past when a baker, or for that matter the manufacturer of any other article of food,
can keep the secret of his success to himself. The bakers are gradually coming to
know that the success of one illuminates the career of the other, while the failure of
another will bring discredit upon the entire industry. Thus, in serving mankind,
that baker serves best who serves his brother bakers. I t is indeed gratifying to note
that already successful bakers in different sections of the country are exchanging
bread with each ether, extending the hand of helpfulness with a view to bringing
all bread products up to the highest possible level, and thus laying the foundation
for a really lasting, universal service to mankind by the baker.

Mixing machines.—The capacity of mixing machines ranges from
1 to 5 barrels. The bakeries visited are equipped principally with
machines of 4--barrel capacity, operated by electric powder. They
reported that batches of dough ranging from 100 to 1,500 pounds
were mixed in from 7 to 20 minutes; in the majority of bakeries
studied, the mixing period was 12 minutes. Dough is mixed at a
temperature of 78 to 82° F. It is generally understood that approxi­
mately 300 one-pound loaves of bread can be made from a barrel
of flour.
After the dough lias been mixed it is transferred to the fermenting
room and kept there at a temperature of approximately 80° F. for a


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

period ranging from one and one-half to six hours. In a great major­
ity of cases the fermentation period lasts from three to four hours. In
most cases, also, the dough is punched or worked down two or three
times while in the fermenting room, though one bakery reported that
the dough was punched only once. The dough then passes from the
fermenting room to the hopper of the dividing or scaling machine or
to a bench at which bench hands or hand bakers work.
It may be stated that the long as well as expensive period of fer­
mentation has, according to an article in the May 19, 1923, issue of
the Bakers Weekly (pp. 38 to 40), been eliminated by a process, re­
cently developed, of conditioning dough while it is being mixed.
Dough after being so conditioned is carried directly from the mixing
machine to the dividing machine.
Dividing or scaling machines.—Scaling machines divide the batches
of dough into pieces of uniform weight for loaves of bread, the weight
being determined by the regulator of the machine. In this dividing
process the dough passes or is drawn from the hopper of the machine
into a box, sometimes called the 11top box” and is pressed or rammed
from that box into the pockets of the machine until the pressure
against the regulator is sufficient to complete the operation of divid­
ing the dough into pieces, after which the pieces drop automatically
from the machine to a conveyor or to a stand or table.
Fifteen of the 21 bakeries studied are equipped with six-pocket
dividers. Six pieces of dough are scaled by such machines at each
operation. Other bakeries covered have 1, 2, 4, or 5 pocket dividers.
The machine of lowest capacity scales 30 pieces per minute and the
one of highest capacity scales 84 per minute. The capacity of the ma­
jority of the machines ranges from 48 to 60 per minute. As it is
necessary that the pieces scaled by the dividing machine pass through
other machines of the bakery in regular order, the capacity of
rounding machines, proofing cabinets, automatic proofers, molding
machines, panning machines and final automatic steam proofers are
necessarily the same as that of the dividing or scaling machines.
Rounding machines.—After the pieces of dough have been dropped
from the dividing machine they are carried by conveyor and dropped
automatically into the rounding machine or picked up by hand and
placed on it. This machine is circular with a spiral trough and re­
volves when in operation. The revolving machine rolls the pieces
of dough in every direction, balling or rounding them up and then
drops them onto conveyors or a small table or stand. The pieces
are dusted with flour while in the machine.
After the dough has been divided into pieces and the pieces have
been rounded, they are allowed to remain for 10 or 15 minutes in
proofing cabinets, or 6 to 15 minutes in automatic proofers in order
that the cells may develop under the process known to the industry
as proofing. The pressure on the dough in passing through the
dividing machine and the rolling of the pieces in passing through the
rounding machine tends to ‘‘kill” the dough or cause it to fall.
Proofing cabinets.—Proofing cabinets are more like pieces of furni­
ture than machinery. The cabinets are square with a set of drawers
arranged one above the other in the left hand half of each side.
They are pivoted to a base so they may be revolved. The drawers
on side “ A ” are filled with pieces of rounded dough. The cabinet


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BREAD MAKING IN THE MODERN BAKERY.

9

is then moved by hand one-quarter way round and then those on
side “ B,” u C ,” and “ D ” are filled in order and moved in like manner.
As the drawers on side " D ” are being filled, those in side “ A ” are
being emptied. The drawers in the other sides are filled and emptied
in regular order as the work continues. The cabinets are kept at a
temperature of 80° F.
Automatic proofers.—It is desirable that all pieces of dough be
given the same time or proof. This is not possible with proofing
cabinets, rooms, closets, or other receptacles provided with drawers,
racks, or stationary shelves on account of the time taken in placing
pieces in and taking them out of cabinets, rooms, closets, etc. The
automatic proofer solves this problem as it gives each piece of dough
exactly the same time of proof. The operation is continuous. The
proofer is provided with an endless chain having buckets or shelves
attached which receive the pieces of dough as they come from the
rounding machine. The loaded buckets or shelves are carried back
and forth through the proof box which is kept at a temperature of
98 to 110° F. and the pieces of dough are automatically dumped at
the unloading point into the molding machine. The proof box is
usually suspended from the ceiling or attached to the wall of the
mixing room.
Molding machines.—The molding machines give the pieces of dough
the desired shape for loaves of bread. The pieces drop automatically
into the machine from the buckets or shelves of the conveyor of the
first automatic proofer, or are picked up by hand and placed in the
machine, are molded as they pass through, and dropped automatically
into oven pans on a panning machine, or onto a small stand or table.
Panning machines.—Panning machines are equipped with an end­
less chain or conveyor. Empty oven pans are placed by hand on
the conveyor, are carried under the molding machine, receive the
molded pieces of dough as they drop from the molding machine, and
carry and unload them onto the conveyor of the automatic final
steam proofer.
Automatic final steam proofers.—These automatic proofers are
equipped with conveyors or endless chains having buckets or shelves
attached. Pieces of molded dough after being automatically loaded
into the buckets or onto the shelves of the conveyor are carried back
and forth through the proofer during the final proofing period of
45 to 60 minutes and unloaded automatically onto the shelves of the
conveyor of traveling ovens or to tables or benches at or near the
feed end of traveling ovens. The final steam proofing is done at a
temperature of 98 to 110° F.
Stearn proofing boxes.—Pieces of dough divided, rounded, and
molded by bench hands or hand bakers, or by machinery in bakeries
not equipped with automatic steam proofers, are proofed in steam
proofing boxes or rooms which are kept at a temperature of 98 to
110° F. The pieces are placed on racks, shoved into the proofers,
kept there 45 to 60 minutes, and then shoved to ovens.
Ovens.—Ovens as found in the bakeries covered by this article are
of three kinds:
(1)
Peel ovens, so called because it is necessary to use a peel 1 in
placing each pan of dough in the oven and in taking each pan of
1 A peel is a th in an d ra th e r bro ad board w ith a long handle.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

bread out of tlie oven. The employees who use the peel are called
oven men.
(2) Drawplate ovens, so called because they have baking plates
4 or 5 feet wide and 6 or 7 feet long. One end of the plate has two
legs or rollers. When a plate is withdrawn from the chamber of the
oven, one end of the plate is partially in and rests on the oven and
the other end rests on its legs which are on the floor of the oven room.
Many pans of dough are placed on the oven plate. The plate is then
returned to the oven chamber and the opening of the oven closed.
After the plate has been in the oven the necessary period of time for
baking, the plate is withdrawn again and unloaded. The employees
who look after the ovens are called oven men.
(3) Traveling or automatic ovens are so called because equipped
with endless chains operated by electric power. The chains have
conveyors onto which pans of dough are either loaded by hand or
are automatically unloaded from the conveyors of automatic steam
proofers to the conveyors of the traveling or automatic oven at the
feed end of the oven. The pans of dough are carried by the chains
through the oven and unloaded from the chain at the delivery end of
the oven. There are no oven men at traveling ovens. The employees
who work at the two ends of the ovens feeding pans of dough or
dumping bread from pans are called helpers.
Nineteen of the 21 bakeries under discussion are equipped w ith’
peel or drawplate ovens, or with both. Two are not equipped with
either of these. The 3 bakeries covered in Baltimore are equipped
with traveling ovens; 4 of the 5 in New York; 1 of the 5 in Phila­
delphia; and 2 of the 4 in Washington, making a total of 10 having
traveling ovens. The capacity of these traveling ovens ranges from
2,000 to 5,000 loaves per hour. The baking period or time in the
oven ranges from 25 to 45 minutes.
Wrapping machines.—All except 2 of the 21 bakeries studied are
equipped with bread-wrapping machines operated by electric power.
The capacity of the machines ranges from 20 to 60 loaves per minute.
Occupations.

D E C E IV IN G clerics.—Receiving clerks receive and check bills of
i ^ flour and other ingredients used in making bread, and keep a
record of the quantity and kind received. In some bakeries they
use small hand trucks for moving sacks of flour into the flour store­
room and from there to the hopper or chute leading to the blending
machine, cut the cord by which the top or open ends of sacks are
fastened, dump the flour into the hopper, clean empty sacks, and
sweep and clean the storeroom. In other bakeries laborers perform
these jobs.
Mixers.—Mixers in making up a batch of dough weigh or measure
according to formula the specified amounts of flour, water, salt, milk,
sugar, lard, malt, yeast, and any other ingredient that may be used
in making the bread, deposit them in the mixing machine, close the
machine, and start it by pressing an electric button or by turning a
switch, turn off the power in like manner after the batch has been
mixed, open the machine, and dump the dough from it into a dough
trough. In bakeries in which there are no mixers’ helpers, mixers


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BREAD MAKING IN THE MODERN BAKERY.

11

also shove the empty dough troughs from the fermenting room to
the mixing room and filled troughs from the mixing room to the
fermenting room, punch down or knead the dough while it is there as
many times as specified in the formula or process, and dump it from
the troughs to a chute leading from the fermenting room to a bench
at which bench hands or hand bakers work, or to the hopper of the
dividing or scaling machine.
In weighing flour for a batch of dough the mixer sets the auto­
matic flour scales which are located between the mixing machine
and the flour storage bin in a room above and starts the conveyor
winch carries the flour from the bin to the scales. When the correct
weight has been made, the flow of flour is cut off automatically.
Water is weighed in like manner by automatic water scales, which
are also located above the mixing machine.
The time of bringing together the ingredients for a batch of dough
and depositing them in the mixing machine, ranges as reported by the
bakeries studied, from 1 to 10 minutes. Fifteen of the 21 bakeries
reported 5 minutes.
Bench hands or hand bakers.—These workers are so called because
they do their work by hand at a bench or table. The work consists
principally of kneading or pounding dough used in making rye or
Vienna bread or rolls; of dividing the dough into pieces of the weight
required for loaves of bread or for rolls; of rounding, rolling, and
molding these pieces into shape, making them ready for the oven
pans; and of placing them in the oven pans.
Machine hands.—Machine hands (including dividers or scalers,
rounders, cabinet men, and molders) are so called because they work
at, operate, look after, and clean dividing or scaling machines,
rounding machines, proofing cabinets, or molding machines.
Dividers or scalers.—These workers set the dividing or scaling
machines for the weight desired for loaves of bread, start and stop
the machine by pressing an electric button, and occasionally weigh
scaled pieces of dough to ascertain whether or not the correct weight
is being made.
Rounders.—Rounders are found only in bakeries in which the
pieces of dough are not carried by conveyor from the dividing or
scaling machine to the rounding machine. These workers pick up
the pieces of dough as they drop from the dividing or scaling machine
to a stand or table and drop them onto the rounding machines.
Cabinet men.—Cabinet men are found only in bakeries equipped
with revolving proofing cabinets. They pick up the pieces of dough
as they drop from the rounding machine to a stand or table and
place them in the drawers of the proofing cabinet.
Molders.—In bakeries equipped with proofing cabinets molders
open the drawers of the cabinets, take the pieces of dough out of the
drawers, and drop them into the molding machine, or pick up the
pieces as they drop from the molding machine and place them in
oven pans. In bakeries not equipped with proofing cabinets or with
conveyors which carry the pieces from the molding machine to the
steam proofer the molders pick up the pieces as they drop from the
molding machine and place them in oven pans. In bakeries equipped
with conveyors that carry the pieces of dough from the molding
machine these employees watch the pieces as they fall automatically
ri915°—23
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

from tlie molding machine into the oven pans, and arrange such
pieces as do not fall in the correct position in the pans.
Oven men.—In the bakeries studied oven men are divided into two
groups. Those in the first group work at peel ovens, where it is
necessary to use an instrument called a peel2 in doing their work.
A pan of dough is placed on the broad end of the peel by a helper
and the oven man shoves the pan into the oven and pulls the peel
from under the pan leaving the pan in the oven and, after the bread
has been baked, shoves the peel under the pan and pulls it out of
the oven. Those in the second group work at drawplate ovens,
pull out the baking plate, load it with pans of dough, shove the
loaded plate into the oven and after the bread has been baked pull
the plate out of the oven.
Helpers.—In the bakeries covered, helpers are divided into four
groups. Those in the first group assist the mixers as shown in the
description given of the work of mixers. Those in the second group
lace the empty oven pans conveniently at hand for the bench
ands or machine molders, set the pans filled with dough on the
racks, and shove the racks into the steam proofing room. Those in
the third group shove the racks from the proofing room to the ovens
and assist the oven men in loading and unloading pans of dough
or bread on and off the peel, and in dumping bread from oven pans.
Those in the last group feed the traveling ovens by placing pans of
dough on conveyors at the “ feed end'’ of the ovens, or catch the
pans of bread as they come from the “ delivery end” of the ovens,
and dump the bread from the pans.
Laborers.—Laborers (including blenders, cleaners, dumpers, pan
greasers, porters, sack cleaners, sifters, sweepers, and truckers) do
various kinds of unskilled work, such as cleaning and sweeping floors,
greasing oven pans, and work of like character in the bread-making
department of the modern bakery.
Wrappers.—These workers operate the electrical wrapping ma­
chines. There are two wrappers at each machine. One places the
bread on the machine and starts and stops it by pressing an electric
button, and the other takes the wrapped bread off the machine
and places it on the bread racks.
Packers.—The packers make up orders of bread for the drivers
or for shipment from bakeries, and place the bread on the bread
racks, in baskets or shipping boxes. This task completes the prep­
aration of bread in the modern bakery, making it ready for the
use of the consumer.

E

2 See footnote 1, p . 9.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Protection of Workers Under Mexican State Labor Laws .1
By

E

thel

C. Y

o h e

,

of the

U

n it e d

States B

ureau

of

L

abor

S t a t is t ic s .

Hygiene and Safety.

RTICLE 123 of the Federal Constitution of Mexico, promul­
gated on February 5, 1917, has been called the “ bill of rights7’
of Mexican labor, in that it affords through its labor and social
welfare provisions definite protection for the laboring class.
This article prohibits the employment of women and young per­
sons under 16 years of age in dangerous and unhealthful occupa­
tions.2 It requires employers in agricultural, industrial, mining,
or similar classes of work to furnish comfortable and sanitary dwell­
ings for their workmen, the annual rent charged for them not to
exceed 6 per cent of the assessed value of the property. Employers
are also required to provide schools, dispensaries, markets, and other
services necessary to the community. The adoption, in factories
and shops, of sanitary conditions and safety devices is compulsory.
The article provides that a worker may quit his employment before
the expiration of the contract without being held liable for breach
of contract if the employer, or his subordinates with his consent,
maltreats the worker or his family. In such a case the employer
shall either perform the contract or pay the worker an indemnity
equal to three months7 wages.
In this study of the labor and social welfare laws enacted in the
several Mexican States dealing with the protection of workers, it
will be plainly seen that article 123 forms the basis for these laws.
The nine labor codes used in this study are as follows: Campeche,
Chiapas, Vera Cruz, and Yucatan, 1918; Coahuila, 1920; Michoacan
and Puebla, 1921; and Chihuahua and Queretaro, 1922; also the
Hidalgo labor accident law of 1915, the Sonora labor law of 1919,
and the labor and social welfare law of Sinaloa of 1920. The sec­
tion on hygiene and safety regulations is based on a study of 12
laws, while 11 were used for the section on shop regulations, TIidalgo
not having enacted any laws on this subject as yet.

A

Employers’ Obligations and Responsibilities.

All of the 11 State labor laws (Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua,
Coahuila, Michoacan, Puebla, Queretaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Vera
Cruz, and Yucatan) require employers in agricultural, industrial,
mining, or similar classes of work to furnish comfortable and sani­
tary dwellings for their workmen, for which they may charge rents
not exceeding 6 per cent annually of the assessed value of the prop­
erty. This applies only to those establishments employing more
than 100 workers. The laws of 10 States (all except Coahuila) further
1T he following sources were used in th e p reparation of th is article: Campeche, Codigo del trabajo, Cam­
peche, 1918; Chiapas, Ley reglam entaria del trabajo, T u x tla G utiérrez, 1918; C hihuahua, Ley del trabajo,
C hihuahua, 1922; Coahuila, L ey reglam entaria del articulo 123 de la constitución general de la república,
Saltillo, 1921; Hidalgo, L ey sobre accidentes del trabajo, Pachuca, 1915; Michoacan de Ocampo, Ley del
trabajo núm ero 46, Morelia, 1921; P uebla, Codigo de trabajo, Puebla, 1921; Q uerétaro, Ley deí trabajo,
núm ero 34, Q uerétaro, 1922; Sinaloa, L ey del trab ajo y de la previsión social, prom ulgada en el decreto
núm ero 166, Culiacan [1920]; Sonora, B oletín Oficial, Hermosillo, A pr. 29,1919, a nd M ay 4,1919; V era CruzLlave, Ley 'del tra b a jo [1918], Jalapa, 1922; Y ucatan, Codigo del trabajo, decreto núm ero 386, M érida, 1918.
2 A more detailed study of this provision m a y be found in Monthly L abor R eview , N ovem ber,
1923, pp. 198 to 201.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

specify that the employers shall also provide schools. The establish­
ment of dispensaries and other services necessary to the community
are required of employers by the States of Campeche, Chiapas,
Chihuahua, Michoacan, Puebla, Queretaro, Vera Cruz, and Yuca­
tan. Five States (Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Michoacan, and
Yucatan) stipulate that when the population in a labor center
exceeds 200 inhabitants the employer must provide a tract of land
of no.t less than 5,000 square meters for the establishment of public
markets and the construction of buildings designed for municipal
services and places of amusement.
' ,
According to the laws of Campeche, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Puebla,
Queretaro, and Yucatan, all employers must see that the work is done
under the most favorable conditions from the standpoint of the safety
and health of the workers.
Under the laws of 11 States (Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coa­
huila, Michoacan, Puebla, Queretaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Yrera Cruz, and
Yucatan) employers are obliged to observe, in factories, workshops,
and other industrial establishments, the legal requirements as to
sanitation and health and to adopt adequate measures to prevent
accidents in the use of machines and other instruments so as to give
the best guaranty for the health and life of the workers compatible
with the nature of the work. Employers in Campeche and Yucatan
who do not live up to this requirement will be subject to the penalty
imposed by the penal code for such an offense, as well as to the civil
liabilities involved. The law of Hidalgo states that employers are
obligated to use every scientific measure to prevent industrial accidents.
The use of defective machinery, tools, and other equipment is pro­
hibited, as well as the employment of incompetent workers. A fine
of from 10 to 1,000 pesos ($4.99 to $498.50, par) may be imposed on
those employers who do not comply with the law in these respects.
An additional requirement is made of employers in the State of Micho­
acan and Vera Cruz. They shall adopt adequate measures to prevent
occupational diseases, heeding just recommendations made by the
workers. Employers in Sinaloa and Sonora are obligated to prevent,
if possible, the spread of infectious diseases.
In Chihuahua employers are required to give to each worker a
printed notice specifying precautions to be taken to avoid accidents
in the handling of machinery and other equipment, and the workers
must comply with these instructions. The Queretaro law merely
stipulates that employers shall notify the workers when the defective
condition of a machine endangers their welfare. The directors of an
enterprise in Sonora shall post warning notices in all dangerous places.
Furthermore, safety devices shall be placed, whenever possible, on
machines and other equipment, and all scientific measures shall be
used to prevent accidents.
A site selected for a factory or workshop in Chihuahua must be
approved by the sanitary authorities and meet the requirements of
the sanitary code and police regulations, and must not be damp,
dangerous, or unhealthful.
A person employing a worker to operate machines, etc., who has
not the certificate required by the technical section of the labor depart­
ment of Campeche shall be punished by a fine of from 50 to 500 pesos
($24.93 to $249.25, par).


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First-aid, Medical, and Hospital Treatment for Employees.

The laws of 11 States (Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Hidalgo,
Michoacan, Puebla, Queretaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Vera Cruz, and Yuca­
tan) contain provisions requiring employers to provide first-aid treat­
ment immediately, as well as necessary medicines, in case of accident
to the workers. Medical treatment by a doctor, at the expense of the
employer, for workers who suffer accidental injury is prescribed under
the laws of all the States except Michoacan and Queretaro. In estab­
lishments in Coahuila employing more than 100 workers, the employer
must employ a licensed physician to attend the workers. The
States of Campeche, Coahuila, Puebla, Sinaloa, Sonora, Vera Cruz,
and Yucatan specify in their laws that employers shall maintain the
necessary equipment to aid accident victims. If an accident occurs
in a factory, workshop, or other labor center in Chihuahua, the
employer must notify the city authorities of that fact within 24 hours.
In the States of Sinaloa and Sonora, hospital service for not more
than three months is to be furnished by the employer to those workers
who are ill through no fault of their own. The law of Chihuahua
relative to hospital service differs from that of Sinaloa and Sonora in
that at least 100 must be employed in the factory or workshop and
that the hospital treatment is to be furnished for two months instead
of three. Hospitals established in accordance with the provisions of
this law shall be supplied with medicines and necessary equipment,
shall be kept in a sanitary condition, and shall be attended by the
company physician, who shall act as an assistant to the superior
health council in addition to his regular duties.
Illness of the workers which is not chronic, and which has not been
contracted through any fault of their own, may be treated by a
physician at the employer’s expense in Chiapas (providing this illness
does not last more than a month) and Coahuila.
When an enterprise in Michoacan has a capital of 50,000 pesos
($24,925, par) or more and is more than 3 kilometers (1.9 miles)
from a town, the employer must provide a physician and medicines
free of charge to his employees.
An employer in Chihuahua has the right to require a medical exam­
ination of any worker who requests employment of him.
Employees’ Obligations.

In case of grave danger in the establishment, or in emergencies,
the workers shall give assistance in every possible way, under the laws
of Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Michoacan, Puebla,
Querétaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Vera Cruz. In these States, as
well as in Yucatan, ail workers must abstain from imprudent acts
which may endanger the safety of themselves, of their fellow work­
ers, or of the factory, shop, or other work place.
In Chihuahua workers suffering with infectious diseases may not
be employed. Conflicts arising under this provision shall be settled
by the sanitary authorities. A worker who has an infectious disease
must be quarantined immediately and not be permitted to work
until all danger of contagion has passed.
Employees in factories, workshops, or other industrial establish­
ments in Sonora must not remove, damage, destroy, or prevent the


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

use of any safety device or means of protection in the establishment.
Furthermore, they may not deface, destroy, conceal, or damage
any notice intended for the information and protection of the workers.
Specific rules and regulations concerning hygiene and safety in the
factories, workshops, and other industrial establishments are given
in considerable detail in the State laws and are here considered
topically.
Ventilation and Air Space.

All workrooms in factories, workshops, and other industrial
establishments shall be provided with proper and sufficient means of
ventilation, according to the laws of Campeche, Chihuahua,
Michoacan, Puebla, Querétaro, and Yucatan. Two square meters
(2.39 square yards) of floor space and 9 cubic meters (11.77 cubic
yards) of air space are required for each employee in the State of
Chihuahua. The laws of Michoacan and Yucatan place the minimum
amount of air space at 10 cubic meters (13.08 cubic yards), while the
Puebla law requires 7 cubic meters (9.16 cubic yards) for each
employee. The ventilation must be so regulated as to prevent
drafts from endangering the health or comfort of the employees,
according to the law of Chihuahua. In the State of Puebla, if,
owing to the nature of the manufacturing process carried on in the
factory workroom, excessive heat be created therein, a sufficient
number of windows shall be provided. There shall be posted in all
factories, workshops, and other industrial establishments in the State
of Yucatan a notice specifying the number of persons who may be
employed in any room of a factory.
Sanitation.

Six of the States (Campeche, Chihuahua, Michoacan, Puebla,
Querétaro, and Yucatan) require all establishments to be kept in a
clean and sanitary condition. The law of Chihuahua further spec­
ifies that establishments must be cleaned before work begins and
that the premises must be kept free from all garbage and rubbish.
The law of Puebla contains a provision to the effect that floors
in factories, workshops, and other industrial establishments shall
be washed carefully at least once a day, either before or after working
hours but never during that time.
All workshops, factories, offices, and business stores in Chihuahua
shall provide sanitary cuspidors and post a conspicuous notice
stating the danger of careless expectoration.
Emanations.

The laws of Campeche, Chihuahua, Michoacan, Puebla, Querétaro,
and Yucatan stipulate that if, in the course of the business carried
on in any workroom of a factory, dust, gases, fumes, vapors, fibers,
or other impurities are generated or released in quantities tending
to injure the health of the employees, proper devices to remove such
impurities from the workroom shall be provided. In Chihuahua if,
due to the nature of the industry, smoke is given off, pipes or chim­
neys shall be maintained for its disposal, so as to prevent fire and
its becoming a nuisance to the neighborhood. If necessary, the
employer will be obliged entirely to eliminate the smoke.

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Drinking Water.

There shall be provided in every factory at all times for the use *of
employees a sufficient supply of clean, cool, and pure drinking water,
according to the laws of Chihuahua, Michoacan, Puebla, Vera Cruz,
and Yucatan. In Chihuahua the use of a common glass or cup is
prohibited. Sanitary drinking fountains approved by the superior
health council may be furnished or a steady stream of water with
moderate pressure may be installed.
Waste Water.

Waste water from factories, workshops, and other industrial estab­
lishments in Chihuahua, unless purified by a special chemical process,
may not be thrown into channels of water which are used for domestic
and agricultural use, but must have separate conduits.
Toilets.

There shall be provided in all factories, workshops, or other
industrial establishments in the States of Chihuahua, Puebla,
and Yucatan a sufficient number of clean and well-ventilated toilets.
The laws of Chihuahua and Yucatan require separate toilets for each
sex. There shall be at least one toilet for every 25 persons employed,
the floors thereof to be of waterproof construction, according to the
law of Puebla. In Chihuahua one toilet must be supplied for every
30 persons.
Lavatories and Baths.

The laws of Chihuahua, Michoacan, Puebla, Querétaro, Vera Cruz,
and Yucatan require establishments to provide and maintain ade­
quate and convenient wash rooms or washing facilities for employees.
In Michoacan and Vera Cruz, if the city authorities have not furnished
public baths, employers must provide and maintain them. In in­
dustrial, mining, or like enterprises the nature of which makes it
necessary that workers take their meals within the establishment,
the employers are required to provide lavatories for the benefit of
the workers, according to the laws of Michoacan and Querétaro.
The law of the latter State stipulates that if the workers do not use
these facilities, the city authorities may compel them to do so.
Lighting.

In every factory, workshop, or other industrial establishment in
the States of Chihuahua, Vera Cruz, and Yucatan, proper lighting
must be provided. In Yucatan the lighting in factory workrooms
shall be such as not to cause strain on the vision or glare in the eyes
of the workers. The law of Chihuahua stipulates that when the
natural light in factories does not suffice, artificial illuminants, prefer­
ably electricity, shall be used.
All gas jets and other lights in factories in Puebla must be properly
inclosed in glass globes, or in metal coverings, if the establishment
uses or produces inflammable materials.


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Doors and Exits.

All doors in factories, workshops, arid other industrial establish­
ments in the States of Chihuahua, Puebla, and Yucatan shall open
outward. No door or other opening shall be obstructed or locked
during working hours unless the locks are very simple and easily
manipulated, according to the laws of Puebla and Yucatan. In
Puebla exits shall be indicated by means of conspicuous signs. In
Chihuahua and Puebla entrances to factories shall be large, and an
adequate number of doors be provided in all factories, workshops,
and other industrial establishments.
Alcoholic Beverages.

The carrying of alcoholic beverages into factories, workshops, or
other industrial establishments is strictly prohibited in the States of
Michoacan, Querétaro, and Yucatan.
Fire Protection.

The laws of Chihuahua and Yucatan require all factories, work­
shops, and other industrial establishments to provide and maintain
a fire-extinguishing apparatus. The Chihuahua law also requires
that in order to prevent fires great care shall be taken in the use of
lamps. It further provides that inflammable substances may be
manufactured only in buildings of fireproof construction, and stipu­
lates that storage rooms containing raw materials and the finished
product shall be separate from workrooms in which inflammable
articles are manufactured, wherein electric lights or safety lamps
should be used exclusively. The law of Puebla requires gas pipes to
be of metal, and lighting fixtures not to be near the inflammable
parts of the building, the machinery, or the materials.
The Puebla law prescribes also that inflammable liquids and sub­
stances shall be kept in closed metallic receptacles. These, as well as
gas meters and oil supplies, shall be stored in a safe place and may not
under any condition remain in the corridors or near the staircases.
The use of combustible liquids for lighting purposes is prohibited in
Puebla, unless the apparatus is equipped with all necessary precau­
tions to prevent the spreading of gases. If used, these liquids must
be taken into the factory during the day and before the work begins.
Floors and Stairways.

The law of Chihuahua requires floors in all establishments to be
waterproof and smooth.
All stairways in industrial establishments shall be of solid construc­
tion and provided with proper handrails, in the States of Chihuahua
and Puebla. The law of the last-mentioned State contains the added
requirements that the stairways shall be of fireproof construction, and
that there shall be an adequate number to permit immediate egress in
the event of a fire or other emergency.
Roofs and Walls.

The roof and walls of a factory building should be well constructed,
so as to prevent sudden changes in temperature therein, according to
the law of Chihuahua.


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Dressing Rooms.

According to the law of Yucatan, separate rooms equipped with
washstands shall be provided for each sex, when the nature of the
work necessitates the changing of clothes. In manufacturing and in­
dustrial establishments in Chihuahua the workers shall be provided
with dressing rooms.
Recreation Hails.

In Qüerétaro the employer is obliged to furnish recreation rooms
for his employees.
Railings.

Two States (Chihuahua and Puebla) require all shafts, openings,
deposits, containers of corrosive or scalding fluids, and boilers to be
provided with railings or similar protection.
Eating in Workrooms.

Establishments in Puebla which produce poisonous substances or in
which injurious gases are emitted may not allow their workmen to eat
their lunches inside the workrooms.
Disinfection.

Factories and workshops in Chihuahua shall be disinfected once a
year and whenever, in the judgment of a doctor or the sanitary author­
ity, there is any suspicion of the appearance of an infectious disease.
Accident Prevention in the Use of Machinery.

The following provisions contained in theTaw of Chihuahua have as
their object the prevention of accidents, as far as possible, in the use of
machines and similar equipment in factories, workshops, and other
industrial establishments: Machines shall he so arranged, in large
rooms, as to avoid danger to the workers. They shall be firmly placed
on a solid foundation away from the partition walls, in order to avoid
transmitting vibrations to the adjoining walls. Dangerous machines
and those run by electricity shall bear conspicuous placards, marked
“ Danger. ” According to the laws of Chihuahua and Puebla, all
steam, gas, or electric motors, hydraulic rollers, turbines, and the like
shall be so guarded by railings as to be accessible to the operators only
and not to the other workers. These States require the aisles be­
tween machines to be at least SO centimeters (2.6 feet) wide and the
flooring to be level, not having any weak or yielding parts. In Chi­
huahua and Puebla all connecting rods, upright posts, balance beams,
interlocking wheels, leather belting, transmission cables, rollers, fric­
tion cones, and in general all projecting, moving, and dangerous parts
of machines shall be substantially guarded. Before the starting and
stopping of all machines, effective signals shall give ample warning.
An effective device to separate each machine from the general power
shaft shall be provided for the use of the manager and machinists in a
factory or workshop in Chihuahua and Puebla, and in Puebla emer­
gency stops for the motors shall also be provided. The law of Yuca­
tan contains the following provisions on this subject: All elevators,
cranes, and balance beams attached to a steam, oil, or gas motor, as
well as all dangerous parts of machinery and transmission apparatus,


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shall be guarded for the protection of the workers. All boilers used
for generating steam shall be provided with safety valves, manome­
ters, and water gauges to indicate the pressure of the steam and the
height of the water in the boiler. The testing faucets shall be kept in
good order, and the boilers must be emptied and cleaned weekly.
Each boiler must bear a label stating the maximum amount of pres­
sure it can stand.
Inspectors may order defective machines stopped, according to
the laws of Campeche and Yucatan. Such machines may be run
again only after the machine has been repaired and a new authoriza­
tion has been obtained. A penalty of from 50 to 500 pesos ($24.93
to $249.25, par) shall be imposed for an infraction of this regulation.
Special Regulations Required in Certain industries.

The law of Chihuahua gives in detail a list of industries which
must observe definite regulations for the prevention of occupational
diseases and industrial accidents. Among the more important
industries are the following: All chemical, pharmaceutical, and
bacteriological laboratories; factories producing gunpowder, cartridges,
nitric, sulphuric, and carbonic acids; manufactories of poisonous and
alcoholic substances; and printing and engraving shops.
The regulations are as follows: (1) The dry pulverization of
irritating and poisonous materials shall be done in a closed machine
(Chihuahua and Puebla). (2) Acids shall be kept in well-constructed
containers, while explosive and poisonous substances shall be stored
in safety boxes labeled “ danger” or “ poison.” (3) In those
industries likely to cause occupational diseases the company physician
is to keep close watch for the initial symptoms of such diseases, and
upon their appearance in any workman, such workman is to be
taken off that work and given prompt treatment. (4) The employer
shall furnish, at his own expense, work clothes, caps, gloves, eye-,
glasses, masks, and certain pharmaceutical preparations for the
workers, where they are necessary, and the workers shall be obliged
to use them. (5) In all factories in which fumes or gases of a
poisonous nature are given off, the employers must use every scientific
measure to collect and dispose of them. If, in the opinion of the
sanitary authority, this is impossible, the condition of the air must
be carefully watched and work stopped when any danger appears.
(6) Industries using hides, horsehair, old rags, etc., as raw materials
must first have them disinfected. If the workers’ hands are injured
in any way, they shall be protected. (7) In the paper and paste­
board industries, special places shall be designated for the deposit
of raw materials, from which they may be removed only after they
have been moistened and placed in closed bags or boxes with lids.
The workers who do this must be protected by caps, work clothes,
and cotton respirators, and must keep their hands and faces clean.
(8) In the glass-bottle industry the use of mechanical means for
bottle blowing is obligatory. If, however, in the judgment of the
sanitary authority, the establishment can not afford to use the
mechanical process, the glass blowers’ pipe may be used, but by
only one person after it has been disinfected, and after the doctor
has inspected the operator’s mouth. (9) In the tobacco industry
pregnant women and nursing mothers shall wear work clothes and


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cotton respirators. (10) In those industries in which employees work
under high atmospheric pressure and in poison laden air they shall
he examined carefully by the doctor. The workday in such industries
shall be shorter than the ordinary workday, depending upon the
intensity of the pressure. Before going into corridors, shafts, or
conduits in which dangerous atmospheric conditions are thought
to be present, air should be tested scientifically, and great care
should be taken to maintain respirable air in that vicinity. (11) In
repairing electric cables and telephones and in the construction of
buildings, sewers, and tunnels, employers shall provide the workers
with the necessary equipment for their protection and safety.
Regulations passed by other States on this subject are as follows:
(1) In mines, drainage systems, chemical plants, and in general
all undertakings in insanitary regions in Michoacan and Vera Cruz,
the spread of malarial or infectious diseases should be prevented as
far as possible, cooperation being had with the sanitary authorities.
(2) In establishments in Puebla in which organic substances are
emplojmd, the floors shall be waterproof and smooth, and the walls
shall be of cement or other easily washed material. The floors and
walls shall be washed with a disinfectant whenever necessary. Frag­
ments of organic substances may not be left in the workrooms unless
immediately placed in closed metallic containers, which must be
washed daily.
(3) The law of Puebla requires the installation of apparatus to
secure good respiration in flour mills and similar enterprises in
which fine dust is emitted to such an extent that it is injurious to
the health of the workers. In order to carry off deleterious gases,
ventilators shall be attached to the apparatus from which such
gases are emitted.
(4) The law of Queretaro requires employers of workers in tunnels,
mines, drainage works, cyanid plants, and in general all work which
is carried on in unhealtliful regions, to take every measure to im­
prove conditions and to prevent the spread of malarial diseases.
Miscellaneous Provisions.

In Chihuahua, in order to install boilers, motors, or cables for
light or for motive power, a written permit must be obtained from
the municipal authorities, subject to the provisions of the sanitary
code and the police regulations. Factories which manufacture
inflammable liquids or explosive substances are subject to the pro­
visions of the sanitary code and the police regulations and shall be
located outside of towns and observe all precautions prescribed by
the superior health council. Factories, workshops, and like buildings
must be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the sani­
tary code. Failure to comply with the sanitary requirements of the
labor law and the sanitary code is punishable by fine. In work in
coal mines, oil wells, and similar classes of work the storage, trans­
portation, and handling of explosives are subject to the regulations
of the police.
In the State of Michoacan the superior health council is authorized
to make additional regulations concerning hygiene and safety.
It is left to the municipalities in Puebla to prescribe detailed
rules for sanitation and safety, especially as regards ventilation,


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

light, drinking water, emanations, fire precautions, and special
rules for dangerous occupations, but these regulations must accord
with the requirements of the superior health council. The munici­
pal authorities, in conjunction with the labor and social welfare
department, shall see that these provisions are enforced. The
manufacture of explosive materials must be conducted outside
the towns, and the precautions prescribed by the labor and social
welfare department observed. A fine of from 10 to 100 pesos ($4.99
to $49.85, par) shall be imposed on those not complying with the
safety and hygiene provisions.
The superior health council of Querétaro may establish additional
regulations concerning hygiene and safety in this State, to which
all employers shall conform.
According to the laws of Campeche, Coahuila, and Puebla, any
modifications in the regulations pertaining to the improvement in
safety and hygiene may be enforced immediately without waiting
for the approval of the labor department, or, in the case of Coahuila,
the board of conciliation and arbitration.
As in article 123 of the Federal Constitution, all the States allow a
worker to quit before the expiration of his contract if his employer
or his family.
Practically all of the Mexican State laws provide for labor inspec­
tors, whose duty it is to see that all safety and hygiene regulations
are carried out.
Shop Regulations.

^ THE 11 available Mexican State labor laws which deal
with the protection of workers (Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua,
Coahuila, Michoacan, Puebla, Querétaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Vera Cruz,
and Yucatan) ail contain provisions requiring shop regulations
(■reglamentos de los talleres) in industrial, commercial, and agricultural
establishments, in permanent labor camps, and other labor centers.
The purpose of this provision is to establish a basis for harmonious
relations between employer and employee.
Formation and Approval of Regulations.

The laws of three States (Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora) stipu­
late that workshop rules be drawn up by the employers, after which
they must be approved by the central boards of conciliation and
arbitration. In three States (Michoacan, Querétaro, and Vera Cruz)
such rules are drawn up by a commission composed of two repre­
sentatives each of the employer and the workers, while in Puebla the
commission has three representatives each of the employer and
workers. In the laws of the other States (Campeche, Chiapas, Coa­
huila, and Yucatan) the regulations are drawn up by common agree­
ment (común acuerdo) of workers and employers. While the laws of
Campeche and Puebla require the labor bureau to approve shop
rules, Coahuila requires the municipal board of conciliation and
arbitration to sanction them, and the other State laws designate the
central boards of conciliation and arbitration for this purpose.


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Posting of Regulations.

A legible copy of the regulations is to be posted in a conspicuous
place on the premises, and the workers are not to be denied the
privilege of obtaining copies, according to the laws of Campeche,
Chihuahua, Coahuila, Puebla, and Yucatan.
Agreement of Shop Rules with Laws and Contracts.

In seven of the States (Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Michoacan, Querétaro, Sonora, and Yucatan), the provisions of the regu­
lations must agree with the terms of the individual and collective
contracts and with the labor laws.
Workmen who enter the employ of an establishment after the
works regulations have been adopted and put into effect are obliged
to submit to them, according to the laws of Campeche, Coahuila,
Puebla, and Yucatan.
Contents of Regulations.

All 11 State laws agree in a general way that the shop regulations
must contain clear and exact rules, to which employers and em­
ployees are subject. The laws of Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila,
Puebla, and Yucatan, however, give in detail the specific points
which must be included in the shop rules in their respective States.
The following requirements, in substance, are in force in these States:
The regulations shall contain a statement of the rate of wages or
earnings and the manner of determining them; the time and place
of payment; the time of assigning materials and receiving work done
outside of the establishment; the hour of beginning and of stopping
work; and the time allotted for rest periods and for the noonday
meal. There shall be instructions in the shop regulations for the
cleaning of machinery, other apparatus, and the interior and exterior
of the factories, specifying when this shall be done and. indicating
precautions to be taken. Workshops should maintain first-aid
equipment, and practical instruction in first aid should be included
in the shop rules. Under the laws of these States the rights and
obligations of the managing personnel and inspection officers are to
be clearly defined. The recourse granted the worker in the event
of differences or difficulties arising in the relations between employer
and worker must be stated in the rules. An act which is detrimental
to the worker or which limits his liberty is prohibited by the laws of
Coahuila, Michoacan, Puebla, Querétaro, and Sinaloa, and should
lie so stated in the rules. Any other provisions, common to labor
codes, for the better execution of the work, may be added to the
regulations.
The following provisions appear less frequently: 1. Stipulation
as to giving the employee notice of the termination of his work
(Campeche and Coahuila); 2. Provision specifying penalties and
fines which may be imposed on account of infraction of the rules,
and when and by whom such action is to be taken (Campeche, Puebla,
and Yucatan) ; 3. Provision for a safe and healthful place of employ­
ment (Campeche, Coahuila, and Puebla) ; 4. Provision for the designa­
tion of representatives of the employers’ interests in the manage­
ment and inspection of the work and of representatives of the workers’


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interests (Chihuahua and Puebla); 5. Statement of the quality of
an apprentice’s work necessary for promotion to the class of laborer
(Coahuila); 6. Regulation prohibiting abuse of the workers, by word
or deed, by managers, section bosses, clerks, agents, and caretakers
(Chihuahua, Coahuila, Michoacan, and Queretaro); 7. Regulation
forbidding managers to bring pressure to bear on workers to quit
work or to resign from unions or associations to which they belong
(Coahuila, Michoacan, and Queretaro); 8. Statement of the restric­
tions on the inspection rights of the worker (Puebla); 9. Provision
indicating the length of time within which the worker or employer
may give notice of his intention to suspend work even if the law or
the labor contract does not provide therefor (Puebla); 10. Specifica­
tion of the duties of each worker in the different departments, as
well as those of the department chiefs, from the lowest to the highest
(Puebla); 11. Designation of a person to whom the workers may
present complaints and the form thereof, and fixing 10 days as the
maximum time for a reply, the only exception being in the event of
an emergency (Puebla); 12. Designation of the person who shall give
the workers orders (Puebla); 13. Provision prohibiting employers
from withholding the wages of a worker on the pretext of a fine
(Yucatan); 14. Designation of the method by which syndicate
representatives may make collections in the workshops for insurance
funds, especially invalidity, life, unemployment, and accident insur­
ance (Puebla).
Labor Inspection.

In seven States (Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Hidalgo,
Michoacan, and Yucatan) provision is made in the laws for labor
inspectors, whose duty it is to see that the shop regulations are en­
forced. Under the laws of the State of Campeche, appeal to the chief
of the labor department may be had from decisions and orders of labor
inspectors which are thought to be unjust.
Procedure in Case of Crimes.

According to the laws of Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, and
Sonora, in case of the commission of a crime, if there is no established
public authority in the labor center, the employer shall detain the
person responsible, furnish the victim with necessary aid, investigate
the facts, and make an immediate report to the nearest authority.
Submission of Rules to Labor Department.

The law of Campeche provides that after shop regulations have
been drawn up, they shall be sent to the department of labor, which
shall specify a period of five days within which the workers may
make comments or criticisms. Three days after the termination of
this period the department shall give its decision and return the
regulations for their observance.
Penalties for Violations of Regulations.

The laws of three States (Campeche, Puebla, and Yucatan) stipulate
that no punishment may be imposed on the workers for violations of
regulations, unless they have been incorporated in the shop rules.


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These laws also contain provisions to the effect that a worker shall
be given notice of any punishment imposed on him within three days
from the time it is imposed, so that he may appeal his case to the
board of conciliation in Puebla and Yucatan or to the department of
labor in Campeche. According to the law of Puebla, if the board
of conciliation and arbitration decides that the worker has been
punished without just cause, any wages which may have been with­
held must be paid to him, but on the other hand, if the board decides
that the worker’s conduct deserves it, his punishment may be in­
creased. In the State of Chihuahua, when the regulations are
violated by either the employer, his representative, or an employee,
a written notice must be sent to the central board of conciliation and
arbitration and the charges confirmed before the punishment is
imposed. Every employer in Campeche and Puebla must keep a
register of the names of all penalized employees, stating the date and
nature of the violation, and the punishment imposed. This register
shall always be at the disposition of the labor inspectors, under
penalty of from 20 to 100 pesos ($9.97 to $49.85, par) fine, for each
refusal.
Modification of the Rules.

The law of Campeche stipulates that any modifications of the rules
which are being considered shall be posted in a conspicuous place in
the factory or workshop for a week, and then sent to the department
of labor for its approval. The States of Coahuila, Puebla, and Yuca­
tan have laws which are practically the same as that of Campeche
on this subject, except for the fact that the municipal boards of
conciliation and arbitration must approve the modifications, but in
Yucatan the modifications must be approved also by the central
board of conciliation and arbitration.


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IN D U STRIA L R E L A T IO N S A ND LA B O R CONDITIONS.

Underground Management in Bituminous Coal Mines.

N ENGINEERING study of the problems of underground
management in bituminous coal mines has been made by the
United States Coal Commission with a view to discovering
the methods by which operating costs can be reduced without any
reduction in wage rates, which are said to amount to about 70 per
cent of the cost of coal at the mine. The methods outlined in the
report for securing this result include (1) development and efficient
application of mechanical devices to replace hand loading; (2)
better control and coordination of underground operations, par­
ticularly cutting, loading, and haulage: (3) standardization and
coordination of the work of the individual mine worker; (4) stand­
ardization of details of construction and dimensions of mine cars,
locomotives, track, and all other equipment; and (5) multiple shift­
ing of work in the mines and preparation plants, thus obtaining
greater production with the same plant investment.
The study is confined strictly to a consideration of details of under­
ground management, and the problem of increased production is not
correlated in this report to the problem of railroad car supply, excess
mines, and the storage of coal, which are treated elsewhere in the re­
port of the commission. While conditions vary in different mines in
regard to the thickness and character of the seam, the quantity and
nature of slate, and other physical conditions which necessitate
differences in operating details, in general the manner of handling
work underground is quite uniform, in fact, as much so as in many
other large industries. But unlike many of the major lines of indus­
try, in which there have been remarkable developments, there has
been comparatively little progress in management methods in bitu­
minous coal mining during recent years.

A

Type of Management.

IE striking contrast with developments in factory management dur1 ing recent years, in which the details of laying out the plant,
routing materials, and standardizing operations have been worked
out so that there is a minimum of waste effort, the operation of under­
ground mine work is usually under the control of the mine foreman or
manager with his assistant foremen or face bosses. In some cases
the assistant foremen are selected with care and are required to hold
certificates of competency, given only after rigid examinations inaccordance with the mining law. In many mines, however, these
requirements are ignored and the mining experience of the assistant
is his only qualification for the position. The need, moreover, is
for competent men for these positions, since as many as 150 men
may be working under one of these assistant bosses.
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The work of the mine foreman and his assistants is practically the
same in the common type of room-and-pillar operations and in the
long-wall system. The duties of the foreman involve a visit, usually
twice a day, to inspect the quality of the work of the men under
his supervision. lie has to see that coal is properly gobbed; that
is, cleaned of slate and other waste and refuse which is thrown out
by the miner in spaces where the coal has been cut, and that
only clean coal is loaded; advise the men on the location and slant
of shot holes and the loading required; examine the track in the
room; inspect the timbering; sound the roof; listen to complaints;
dicker with the men as to the amount of work, if any, on slate or rock
which is to be done by the day or job; come to an agreement on
claims for allowances for dead work; and take up grievances with
the pit committee. The mine foreman is generally on good terms
with the miners, since the miners or loaders (the terms are used
interchangeably) and machine cutters are paid by the mine carload
or on a tonnage basis, and the foreman is thus relieved of the neces­
sity of driving the men.
The mining is usually done in rooms which vary in width when
the coal is cut out from about 18 to 40 feet and in length from 200
to 300 feet, with pillars or walls of coal varying in size according to
the physical characteristics of the coal bed, the roof, pavement,
overburden, and system of mining, some walls being 12 to 60 feet
in width. Rooms in flat mines correspond to stopes or breasts in
•steep workings. The loaders work alone, one man to a room or an
entry (the underground passageway cut through the coal and used
for haulage), or two men work alternately in two or three rooms.
The assignment of men to their working places is simple, since a
miner remains in the same room sometimes for several months
before it is completed.
In addition to the duties of the foreman already outlined, he must
supervise the cutting machines and coordinate, in the miles of under­
ground workings under his supervision, the blasting, cutting, load­
ing, and hauling of coal in order to avoid delays, and plan and direct
the work of the men on a day wage (company men) who excavate
rock in entries, lay track, place trolley wire, set timbers, and build
iermanent walls for roof support and temporary walls and brattices
or ventilation. He, with his assistants, must also direct traffic and
the removal of pillars in second mining or pillaring operations, and
he has the responsibility for such other details as pumps and drain­
age, ventilation, condition of the roadbed, decision as to the amount
and location of timbering, care of the injured, and clean-up of rock
falls, while in general he must always consider the safety of the
employees, the protection of the mine, and the largest and most
economical production. From this enumeration of the duties of the
foreman and his assistants it will he clear that the profits of the
mine depend largely upon their ability and the quality of service
they render. The report says that the responsibilities are too great
for any but the best men available, and that the presence of so many
incompetent men indicates a pressing need for better underground
management. It might be thought that a solution of the problem
would be found in a larger number of foremen, but the survey showed
that conditions are unsatisfactory even where the fewest men are

i

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under the supervision of a face boss, and that the solution will be
found in the use and development of machinery and of methods of
planning and control more in line with standards worked out in
other industries.
Mining by Machinery.

n rilE greatest opportunity, not only for lowering costs, but for the
A improvement of mining conditions and the reduction of acci­
dents, in the bituminous industry lies in the use of machinery to
replace the laborious and solitary operation of hand loading. The
transition from hand to machine labor in the industry is now going
on. The first stage in the use of machinery was the employment of
machines for undercutting the coal seam prior to blasting. There
are several types of machine used for this purpose, the one most
commonly in use at the present time being the short-wall machine
which has developed from the breast machine. The breast machine,
which is moved about the mine on an electrically-driven truck
running on the regular mine track, is removed from the truck over
steel bars used as slide rails to a comer of the face which is to be
cut. This machine makes a cut 46 inches wide and about 5} feet
deep. A second cut is made slightly overlapping the first and so
on until the entire width of the face has been undercut. The shortwall machine is of heavier construction than the breast machine,
and the cutting bar is moved laterally across the full width of the
working place in one operation. The cutting element of the arc-»
wall machine is similar to that of the short-wall machine, but it is
mounted on a swiveling or turntable device which allows the making
of a semicircular cut in the coal without unloading the machine from
the truck, the cut also being adjustable in height from the pave­
ment. Where it can be adapted to conditions its use is advantage­
ous, because it eliminates the time wasted in loading and unloading,
as compared with other machines.
Writh the use of other machinery, principally loading machines,
there will naturally result a decrease in the amount of human labor
required. This reduction in the number of men needed for a given
production, however, will not revolutionize the industry, as did, for
example, the introduction of automatic machines, such as spinning
frames, in the textile industry. The transition will be slow because
of the necessity of adapting machinery to the physical condition of
different mines, and instead of requiring less skilled labor it will
necessitate a higher type, requiring greater initiative than that now
demanded from men who use only the pick and shovel. Two of the
mines which were studied by the investigators were practically
machine operated in the cutting, drilling, and loading operations,
only four hand loaders remaining on special work in one of these
mines. In several other mines machine loading was used in varying
degrees.
I t is stated that the cost of coal at the mines may be reduced as
much as 30 per cent of the present costs; on the basis of such a
reduction in only one-half of the bituminous mines in the country
the actual net saving would amount to over $200,000,000 per year.
This statement is based not upon theory but upon a thorough analysis
involving detailed time studies of the operation of loading machines


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and access to the confidential records of several companies. This
figure may also be considered conservative, it is stated, as there will
be supplementary savings as a result of the further development of
the machine.
The studies of machine loaders by the investigators occupied
several days in two mines and records of time studies in a third.
There are several designs of loading machines. They may be on a
truck, a track, or on a caterpillar tractor. The head of the machine
is run into the pile of coal which has been shot down. One or two
men are needed at the head to assist in collecting the coal on to the
lower conveyor, which consists of a chain with suitable flights running
on an inclined trough and fed, in some machines, by separate clawlike
arms. The upper or discharge conveyor receives the coal from the
lower one and discharges it into mine cars. As the pile of coal is
taken away the head is moved either forward or sidewise into fresh
coal by the aid of j ack posts or by the mechanism of the loader itself.
It requires one man to operate the machine and another may be
required to help the haulage motorman adjust the discharge con­
veyor to the car. - As soon as a room is cleaned up and the loading
machine taken to the next room, it is ready for the machine cutter,
followed by the electric drill and shot firing, and cleaning up falls of
slate. A loader may load the same room twice in the same shift
under good conditions.
A study of the actual loading time of large and small machines was
made with a stop watch. The operation of three large loading
machines, all of the same type, in two mines of the same company
showed great uniformity and may be considered normal and repre­
sentative of regular continuous daily production. The average time
required to load a 4-ton car was 3.2 minutes, with a minimum
loading time of less than 2 minutes. In one of the mines the loading
time of a number of 4-ton cars was a little over 1 minute each.
The total loading time, including delays in waiting for cars, averaged
5.6 minutes. The average tonnage per machine m 8 hours was 352
tons (of 2,000 pounds), but of the 480 minutes in 8 hours only 270
minutes, or 56.2 per cent of the time, were used in actually loading
coal, the remainder of the time being divided between changing cars
(25.1 per cent), moving the loader (13.6 per cent), and miscellaneous
delays (5.1 per cent). With more continuous operation a large
increase in production would be possible, and if the idle time were
reduced to 20 per cent, as is considered possible with improved
transportation, the output would be increased to 550 tons in 8 hours.
It is evident, therefore, that there is a field for improvement in present
methods of planning and operation of machines. The reduction of
time spent in waiting for cars will have to be made through improve­
ments in haulage methods. Modified methods of mine development
will reduce the time in moving the loader, and saving time now lost
through miscellaneous delays will be accomplished through better
standardization and maintenance of equipment.
The data on small loading machines showed a smaller percentage of
time lost because of various delays, 35.4 per cent instead of 43.8 per
cent for the larger machines, but there was an average of 1.9 minutes
between loadings waiting for cars instead of 1.4 minutes, showing that
there was less efficient haulage in the mine with the small machines.


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The average number of tons loaded per machine in 8 hours was 125,
which, assuming a 20 per cent increase in efficiency of operation, would
become 150 tons in an 8-hour day. It is evident from the data pre­
sented, the report states, that loading machines have already reached
such a degree of efficient operation and magnitude of tonnage produc­
tion that their eventual use throughout the industry is certain. In
line with the development of machine loading is the necessity for per­
forming the operations of cutting and drilling so as to keep pace with
the loads. The arc-wall machine, already mentioned, requires less
labor to operate per ton of cutting than any other cutting machine,
and it has been found possible with one machine and two operators to
cut for a loading capacity of 350 to 400 tons per day. It is necessary
in machine loading to have the drilling done by a separate gang of
men. The electric drill has been found to be cheaper and quicker
than the hand auger, the speed of drilling being about five times
greater than by hand.
A comparison of the average daily production of a mine in a twoweek period in October, 1922, when the loading was done by hand, and
of the same mine during a 6-dav period after machine loaders were put
in, shows that the average daily production per underground worker
in the machine-operated mine was 11.2 tons as against 6.2 tons per
underground worker when the loading was done by hand.
Much of the work now done by hand loaders is done by company
men after machine loaders are installed, so that timbering, laying
track in the rooms, cleaning up after the loader, and removing rock
and slate can be done by men specially trained for the work. In addi­
tion these men work in a small area and can be more effectively super­
vised than when they are scattered in workplaces over a large section
of the mine.
Loading machines at present are limited to a thickness of coal bed
of about 48 inches or over. Satisfactory machines can undoubtedly
be devised for thinner beds, although the thinner bed mines fall in the
class of higher cost mines, and unless the coal is of exceptional quality
should only operate on a market with large demand. Loading
machines are best adapted to a sound roof, but are being used even
when the roof is poor. The speed of the larger machines is so great
that the danger of falls where the roof is poor is said to be appreciably
reduced.
The use of the machine in mines having thick layers of shale or slate
which can not be picked out of the coal fast enough to avoid delaying
the machine loader may necessitate changes in the methods of clean­
ing. Instead of hand sorting at the face it may be necessary to install
more and better cleaning devices at the tipple, and although the cost
of such extra cleaning may be large, it will be more than offset in most
mines by the saving in loading.
In addition to the saving in the cost of mining by the use of the
coal loader, its use benefits the individual miner since it does away
with the hardest and most lonesome work in the mine—shoveling
coal—and, more important still, increases safety through concentrat­
ing and speeding up the work. In a hand-loading mine from 30 to 50
hand loaders may be working in an area of perhaps 25 acres, and these
men may advance in their rooms for four months or until the maxi­
mum length of 300 feet is reached. With a machine loader working


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in 7-foot coal the area being worked at one time can be reduced to
about three acres and produce the same output. Under these condi­
tions the foreman, instead of making the rounds once or twice a day,
can be in constant touch with all the men and can give much more
adequate supervision to all phases of the work.
While the room-and-pillar method can be used successfully in
machine loading, the long-wall system, which reduces the time lost
in changing cars and moving the loader, is preferable. The plan of
operation is difficult to change in mines already being worked, but in
new workings the long-wall retreating system is being used. In this
system the main entries are carried clear out to the limits of the prop­
erty, and with the aid of branch entries the cutting is begun on the
outside circumference of the property and worked toward the shaft
or opening, and the roof is allowed to fall in back of the working face
as all of the coal is extracted. For this system a steel portable con­
veyor has been successfully used. One of the chief factors in long-wall
mining, the danger of falls which injure miners or tie up traffic, is
greatly lessened with large machine loaders, as the speed of excavating
increases the likelihood of getting out of the way before the roof falls.
An enumeration of the accomplishments in the introduction of
machinery up to the present time is as follows:
Electric motors with overhead trolleys are universally used for the haulage of trips
on main lines and cross entries. The bottoms and partings and first-aid and office
rooms underground, and sometimes (although in fewer cases than they should be)
the workings themselves are lighted by electric lamps. Storage battery and reel
motors and electric room hoists are widely superseding the mule for gathering from
the working places. Undercutting of the coal by hand has been largely eliminated
by the cutting machine. Drilling is still usually done by hand augers, but in
machine-equipped. _mines the electric drill is coming into use. Ventilation has
become a science giving sufficient fresh air in every room and passageway. Drainage
is handled by pum psof plunger, piston, and centrifugal type—tandem .for higher
lifts—of the latest design. Outside machinery at tipples and power plants is some­
times highly developed. Watering with specially designed sprinklers is employed
underground in the best equipped mines.

The greatest possibilities, therefore, lie in underground loading
and the adaptation of other underground operations to it. Combined
cutting and loading machines have so far not proved successful,
although one has just been completed for long-wall operation in
which the machine advances steadily into the face of the coal, under­
cutting it, while the coal falls with little or no blasting onto a con­
veyor with which the machine is equipped. The conveyor carries
the coal to a haulage road, where it is loaded into mine cars to be
taken to the tipple. Mine conveyors of various types are now being
experimented with. Belt conveyors for outside work are frequently
used for distances of several thousand feet, so that eventually hauling
by cars and locomotives may be entirely eliminated.
The gains in mine operation through the substitution of machine
for hand loading are summarized as follows:
Loading is performed at a fraction of the time and cost of hand loading.
Undercutting can be performed more systematically and efficiently.
Drilling is done by electric drills.
Hauling is simplified and trips can be scheduled more definitely and haulage costs
reduced.
Timber is reduced in amount.
Roof falls less readily because of speed of progress and, in long-wall work, less
working room required.


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Concentration of workings produces large tonnage in small areas. Inspection and
supervision is more effective because of smaller active area.
Cost of track equipment and maintenance is reduced by fewer rooms or, if long
wall, no rooms at all.
'
Cost of drainage is reduced by the smaller active area.
Cost of ventilation is reduced for similar reasons.
Cost of plant construction per ton and maintenance is reduced through larger pro­
duction per man.
Waste of coal will be lessened by larger recovery.
Safety—the most important factor in mining—is increased. This is due to concen­
tration of area worked and closer supervision.
Control of Underground Operations.

of the greatest difficulties experienced in the control of
^
underground operations is the proper delivery of pit or mine
cars to the miner. The miner’s ability to do a good day’s work is
dependent upon the supply of cars. While the general schemes of
transportation and trackage are as a rule well laid out, the actual
operation of the system is often in the hands of the assistant foreman
or face boss, or still more frequently is at the will of the man driving
a mule or gathering locomotive.
The irregularity of distribution of mine cars resulting from this
state of affairs has resulted in the equal turn, or “ square turn,”
agreement with the union, which requires that in each period the
same number of empty mine cars shall be offered to each loader,
This is intended to prevent favoritism and the possibility of one miner
being obliged to wait an unreasonable length of time for cars, while
another miner in a location where the management wishes to push
production might be given all the cars he could load. In nonunion
mines the tendency, as shown by conversation with miners, was
toward equalizing distribution as far as possible.
Problems of underground haulage are different in many respects
from those of railroad transportation. The inside advance of termi­
nals of a large mine often amounts to 1,000 feet daily, though only a
few feet at each terminal. Without the complications of changing
types and. amounts of goods to be carried, perishable articles, bliz­
zards, crop-moving seasons, etc., which the railroads have to meet,
the mine railroad has many of the difficulties of the modern railroad
and in addition special troubles such as roof falls, explosive gas, and
multiplicity of terminals, 400 or 500 being not uncommon.
An analysis of haulage conditions in a number of mines showed
great variations in the time elapsing between delivery of empties to
the loaders, the number of haulage trips made, and the number of cars
carried on a trip. The maximum time lost by the loaders waiting for
cars in four representative mines in one day amounted to 2 hours and
45 minutes, and the minimum time 17 minutes, while the average
time lost was 1 hour and 50 minutes, or 23 per cent of an 8-hour day.
The time lost by gathering locomotives and drivers averaged 44
minutes, or 9 per cent of the working-day, and by the main-line
locomotives and drivers 2 hours and 43 minutes, or 34 per cent of
the day.
The problem in every mine is the necessity of providing the re­
quired number of empty cars to each miner on time, hauling the full
cars to the parting and from there to the bottom or to the tipple, and
returning the empties into the mine without congestion at any point.


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The tendency in most mines, however, is to minimize the importance
of traffic control, on the ground that the time lost by the miner due
to lack of cars does not cost the mine anything, since the miner is on
a tonnage or piecework basis, overlooking the fact that time lost
because of car shortage or excessive topping of loads demanded by
the management is ultimately reflected in" demands for increased
rates of pay.
The practice of extreme topping of the cars—that is, piling up the
coal above the top by the careful stacking of lumps around the sides—
results in a decrease in the number of cars allowed the miners and a
small saving in costs to the operator but a decided decrease in the
earnings of the miner.
The number- of cars in actual use in several of the mines visited is
not by any means proportional to the mine capacity and shows ex­
treme variations. This is another question which has been in general
given very little consideration from the engineering standpoint. It
can be looked at from two opposing points of view. From the miner’s
viewpoint there should be enough empties so that he can avoid lost
time, while the management is interested in sufficient cars to provide
coal for continuous tipple operation. Under the present unstandard­
ized operation of the mine transportation systems, when a mine is
running at capacity the number of cars necessary to keep the miners
supplied is always larger than the number necessary to keep the
tipple supplied. With fairly efficient management, however, this
condition would show too many men for the mine capacity rather
than too few cars. In none of the cases in which there was a study
made of the haulage system was there any definite allowance made
for storage of coal in mine cars overnight to even up a part of the
daily irregularity in railroad car supply. A large supply of mine cars
is not, therefore, a solution of the problems of continuous tipple opera­
tion or elimination of lost time to the miner, but a proper planning
and haulage system will go further toward settling the problem than
the purchase of new cars.
In the present study there were large production losses demon­
strated at the tipple—one principal cause, occurring over and over,
being the incomplete dumping of the car. In one mine, in which
the tipple was operating at only 81 per cent of its capacity, a large
part of the estimated loss of 670 tons production in a day was due
to this cause, which there had been no attempt to correct. Poor
tipple design resulted in the loss of 160 tons daily. This loss was
due to the necessity of stopping hoisting when a car containing rock
was dumped, so that the miner could be docked for loading dirty
coal. This condition was remedied so that such cars were taken
care of automatically on a separate table. This method was found
to be in effect in some of the mines, but it was not in general use.
There was great variation in the number of face bosses or section
foremen in relation to the number of men employed. The proportion
ranged all the way from 1 face boss to every 31 men in the largest
of six mines to 1 to every 175. As has already been indicated,
the solution lies in the better training of these men and in better
organization generally.
To a large extent the work of all classes of underground workers
is interdependent, and a failure on the part of one worker is likely


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to tie up the work of a number of others. A surprising lack of
knowledge was revealed of the length of time required to do different
classes of work. Estimates by foremen, superintendents, and men
as to the time necessary for various types of work were largely guess­
work. The time necessary for one operation was estimated by
different persons to take from 10 to 45 minutes and a member of
the pit committee fixed the time for the same operation at 2 hours.
In regard to the time required for the work of the company men,
estimates varied as much as 50 per cent. Double shifts in several
mines have effected an appreciable saving in mining costs, through
saving of overhead and indirect labor.
Work of ike individual Miner.

rF IlE skilled miner, in addition to being a trained specialist in
shoveling, works between loading cars on drilling and loading,
picking, setting props, and gobbing. The cooperation given both
to tonnage men and company men by the mine management is said
to be inferior to that of other industries. The major causes of dis­
satisfaction of the miner with his job are due to the failure to supply
enough cars, to coordinate the duties of other workers on whom
he depends, to furnish supplies as needed, to show him how to per­
form the work, and in general to make his work as easy as possible.
When a miner may lose from one-fifth to one-third of the earnings
he wishes to make because of the failure of the car supply, the result
is inevitably great dissatisfaction. On the other hand, there are
many cases of miners leaving their work before quitting time for
trivial causes or because they have earned enough to satisfy them.
An analysis of the working time of the men in four mines is con­
sidered to be fairly representative of conditions in mines generally.
In one mine 29 machine cutters left before the end of the day because
there was no cutting to be done and 80 miners left during the same
time because these places were not cut. More than 63 left the mine
because they had earned all the money they wanted for that day,
and this is said to be typical in varying degrees of most of the mines
visited. This is due largely to the fact that existing piece rates
have been based largely on the fact that mines operate only part of
the year, so that when conditions are such that a miner is able to
work steadily throughout the morning he frequently earns a wage
which satisfies him in less than the eight hours of the standard work­
day.
“ If it is possible,” the report says, “ through the elimination of
some of the high cost mines, greater regularity of railroad car supply,
and coal storage by the consumer, to reduce the daily intermittencies
and level the seasonal demand, early quitting due to sufficient
earnings will become more and more serious from the standpoint of
good management. The development of the planning of the work
to give the men the opportunity to work continuously while in the
mine involves of necessity a spirit of cooperation on the part of the
miners. These things are a matter of education of not only the
miner but of the management, and not until both realize that their
prosperity and success are interdependent will it be accomplished.”
There is also a field for improvement in a study of the best wniy to
perform hand operations so that there will be a minimum of fatigue


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U N D E R G R O U N D M A N A G E M E N T I N B I T U M I N O U S COA L M I N E S .

35

and waste effort, as, for instance, the proper way to handle a shovel
to get the best leverage and easiest action. The weight of a shovelful
of coal which will give with comparatively low lift the largest pro­
duction per day with least effort has been found to be 21 pounds.
Determination of the effects of different heights of throw and the
analysis of the operations of drilling, setting props, and other work
would be found to be of practical value.
Studies of two types of machine cutters, the short-wall machine and
the breast machine, showed the time consumed in cutting the face
of a room 26 feet wide and moving the machine 1,000 feet to its next
place of work. The time for cutting does not represent standards,
but does give a fair comparison of the two types of machines. It had
been the custom in one mining district to assign one breast machine
to cut for 14 loaders and one short-wall machine for 20 loaders. The
first type consumed 82 minutes in the operation, while the second
needed only 49.7 minutes to accomplish the same work. Based on the
timé of performance of the two machines, the short-wall machine
should have been cutting for nine more loaders than the breast ma­
chine, instead of for only six more, and this because facts and stand­
ards for comparison were entirely lacking.
The machine cutters’ wages in union districts are a percentage of the
total rate per ton paid for mining the coal, and the proportions paid
to the loader and the cutter are determined by agreement. Installing
a new machine by which a cutter can cut more coal usually does not
mean a change in the total mining rate but a readjustment of the
proportion that the cutter and loader get of the existing rate. The
cutter, naturally desiring to keep his share as large as possible, under­
rates the increased amount of work he can do with the machine, and
the loaders, though far more numerous than the cutters, are willing
to help them in keeping down the production per machine.
The tendency exists among miners as among other workers, the
writer of the report says, when new machinery is being introduced to
combat it and to limit its use wherever possible. The introduction
of these machines has met with union opposition either in their use
or by attempting to attain a rate of pay so high as to destroy their
value from the standpoint of economy. The same conditions have
been present in regard to the use of power shovels, a western operator
states, the miners offering persistent resistance to their use, backed
by the force of their organization.
Because of the variable conditions in different districts and differ­
ent mines, a revision of wage rates would seem to be necessary, taking
into account not only differences in the output of individuals when
they are on a daily rate, but between different mines where the phys­
ical conditions v a r y so that there are great differences in the amounts
of coal mined. No really scientific study of relative wages or rela­
tive rates has been made in the bituminous industry, though in cer­
tain other industries the union workers are taking the initiative in
obtaining, with the aid of engineering talent, balanced pay for differ­
ent types of work and the establishment of definite standards of
production.
Payment by weight instead of by carload is advocated in the report
because it brings an appreciable reduction in haulage costs and the


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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .

men are paid for their actual work accomplishment instead of for the
average of the work of all the men together.
There are great differences in the different districts and mines in
the rates paid loaders for dead work. An example of inequitable
wage rates was the inclusion of part of the dead work in the rate per
ton in one mine in which a time study was made. The coal seam
averaged 5 feet 3 inches in thickness, and taking down and gobbing
the slate up to 12 inches in thickness by the miner was included in his
tonnage rate. Beyond that he was paid 7.56 cents per inch, lineal yard.
When there was no slate, therefore, the miner’s earnings were high,
while they decreased correspondingly as the amount of slate in­
creased. In fixing the rate it was assumed that conditions would
average up to make the mining rate a fair one, but as a matter of fact,
even if this is so, the individual miner is more likely to consider only
his hourly earnings than to concern himself with the average. The
result of this lack of uniformity in earning power is friction between
foremen and the men, and difficulty in getting men to work where
thick slate is found. Another mine in the same field, although pre­
vented by the union contract from changing the rates, paid the men
an additional amount for the extra time spent in taking out slate,
with the result that the mine had all the men they needed for
capacity production.
Development of Standard Equipment.

rT !tIE field for the development of standards of production in coal
* mining is a large one, since, so far as is known, the report states,
no definite results have yet been obtained, although a beginning has
been made in a number of different mines.
Standardization of equipment is also greatly needed. The idea
that “ every mine is different” has been responsible for much of the
variation in weights of main-line track, gauge of track, and height
and size of cars. In many of the more recently-developed mines in
Kentucky, Virginia, and southern West Virginia the outside works,
including the tipple, ventilating system, power plant,«and repair
shops, are planned and built according to the best engineering prin­
ciples. The engineering features, which in general show the need of
study in order to secure economy in operation, are the design of
pumps, ventilation layout, kind of hoists, picking tables, transporta­
tion of slate, etc. A few of the mines visited were experimenting in
regard to mine cars which would combine to the best advantage the
elements of the largest practicable load, easiest throw for the men,
and maximum freedom from repairs. Standardization of mine cars
presents great opportunity for reduction of lost time to the miner,
haulage costs, upkeep and repairs, and capital depreciation.
Method of Effecting improvements.

'T'H E report concludes with the following outline of suggestions for
1 study and analysis. I t is implied, not that all of these conditions
are met in every bituminous mine, but that there is a very definite
need in every mine for more thorough analysis of conditions and
standardization of methods and equipment.


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UNDERGROUND MANAGEMENT IN BITUMINOUS COAL MINES.

37

1. M a ch in e L o a d in g .

Extension of machine loading to reduce cost, increase safety, and relieve the laborer
of hand shoveling.
Selection of type of loader or development of the loader design to fit local condi­
tions.
Adoption of hauling system and control to fit machine loading.
Consideration in new mines of a modified type of development especially adapted
to machine loading.
Arrangement of machine cutting, drilling, and loading of shots to fit machine
loading.
Development of methods of removing slate and waste rock to avoid hampering
loading.
Development of methods of sorting coal, and removing bone, at the tipple, to permit
less hand sorting in the mine.
Adjustment of work of company men to small areas.
Redistribution of foremen and training to functional supervision.
Extension of the payment of incentives for standards of production to include
miners and as many more of the company men as is found to Re practicable.
2. M a c h in e C u t t in g .

Adjustment of schedule to best advantage to coordinate loaders, either hand or
machine, so as to avoid delays.
Analysis of time required in cutting, moving, etc., so as to adjust number of working
places per cutter to physical conditions in the mine as regards size of room, height of
seam, distance center to center of rooms, etc.
Determination of type and pattern of cutting machine best adapted to the mine
with a view to scrapping present machines if substitution is proved economical.
Introduction of mechanical bit sharpening to reduce cost and increase uniformity.
Fixing of standard lengths of time for using bits before resharpening.
Examination of details of cutting and moving by detail job analysis to determine
best and easiest methods of operating.
3. D rill in g

and

S h o o t in g .

Determination of best type of drill for the particular coal.
Comparison of power and hand drills as to relative advantages.
Comparison of standard times and methods of sharpening drills.
Formulation of standard instructions for number spacing and slope of shot holes
under different conditions.
Specification of amount and kind of powder to use under different conditions based
on tests of results in the mine.
4.

H aulage.

Examination of present system to see if fundamental changes are needed, perhaps
involving such features as shafts, entries, tracking and partings.
Study of local conditions such as hoist, tipple, track capacity, grades, distances,
location and character of working places and available equipment to determine
first, the most economical and serviceable operating methods, and second, the changes
needed to produce these.
Establishment of plan for definite control of car supply to every miner based on
character of working place, amount of dead work and ability of miner.
Determine economical cars per trip for different conditions.
Determination, by analyzing local conditions, of the proper number of mine cars
to give desired results for miner, tipple supply and surplus.
Development of routine operating plan for dispatching and handling trips so as t®
give each loader the required amount of work and furnish required supply of cars
at bottom or tipple.
Putting this plan of control into operation with proper functional supervision.
Study of various types of haulage, including conveyers, for gathering and other
transportation.
Study advantages and disadvantages, both economical and personal, of weighing
coal at tipple instead of paying by car.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
5.

H and L o a d in g .

Make detail job analysis of all operations, using the results for general study of the
operation and for aid in solving the problems which follow.
Determine how many types of work a miner should do to best advantage.
Determine the relative advantages to miner and operator of one man to one room,
two men to two rooms, and one man to two rooms.
Experiment upon size and weight and design of shovel to determine the best
standard.
Fix upon the best method of handling a shovel and of shoveling to cars.
Instruct loaders as to easiest method of doing each kind of work and the proper
sequence to follow and methods of gobbing.
Specify spacing of props for different roof conditions.
Standardize method of setting props and arrangement of wedges, caps or collars.
Develop standards for dead work through job analysis of each class of work, including
determination of best method of measurement, these things to be decided in cooper­
ation with the men to form a basis of standards of production and avoid most of the
guesswork now in vogue.
Compare by job analysis and time-study the relative advantages of pick mining
and machine mining in cases of questions.
Develop quality standards and sampling of coal for maintaining these.
6. W o rk

of

C o m pa n y M e n .

Make detail job analysis of all of the operations of company men.
Accumulate enough of this kind of data to formulate standards of production (such
as have been effectively introduced in metal mining) for each kind of work handled
under various local physical conditions.
Formulate plan of incentive so that the men may be paid on the basis of work
accomplished by the individual or group.
Study the timbering to determine the best sizes of props, method of cutting wedges,
relative value of wood and steel and concrete girders and of concrete arches, of making
and placing concrete at branch entries and other locations.
Examine most economical methods.
Organize the delivery of supplies to miners and company men.
7. Ltn d e r g r o u n d E q u ip m e n t

and

M a in t e n a n c e .

Design best standard mine car studying standards adopted in other mines with a
view to determining the best height and length for convenient throw, wood vs. steel,
standards for wheel base, brakes, bumpers, bearings and couplings.
Record all haulage accidents for a period, including cars off the track, with cause,
and location of accident, and, from this, study track conditions that require attention.
Establish method of and best materials for mine car lubrication. Simple apparatus
for rerailing cars and wi th other similar tools.
Fix on best type of trolley shoe.
Determine best weight of track, type of ties, switches, tracks, etc., by study of
defects and accidents and of life.
Standardize methods of lining up and maintaining track.
Determine best type of hanger to maintain alignment of wire.
Determine whether leakage in current can be reduced.
See that safety signals are adopted for haulage.
Examine types of automatic doors with a view to saving trappers, and at the same
time insuring closing, if necessary even going so far as to install signal lights for the
motormen.
Standardize methods of repairs of mine cars, motors and other equipment.
Establish (if not already in operation) running inventories of supplies, control of
issues, and maintenance of repair parts.
8.

T ip p l e D e s ig n

and

O p e r a t io n .

Examine design of tipple with best engineering talent (in case this has not already
been employed recently) for the purpose of most economical and safe operation,
including in this study the hoisting machinery, the sorting tables, the conveyers,
the crushers, the weighing apparatus, loading of railroad cars, handling of railroad
cars and handling of waste.
Figure the economic advantage of reconstruction where necessary.


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REPORTS OF GERMAN FACTORY INSPECTORS.

39

Make exhaustive study of relative advantage to miner and operator of weighing
coal at tipple vs. mine car measurement.
Examine details for mechanical faults as regards dumping coal, handling of rock,
signaling, etc.
Establish routine methods for examining the cleanliness of coal from individual
miners and formulation of some plan to maintain the required quality.
Consider the establishment of methods of sampling coal for economical examina­
tion of ash, etc.
Study by job analysis the methods of sorting and throwing out bone with a view
to making the work easier and of the required effectiveness.
If special cleaning is necessary, study both dry and wet preparation.
9. V en til a tio n

a nd

D r a in a g e .

If installation is an old one or installed without expert engineering advice, review
the entire system with a view to safety and economy of maintenance.
Examine particularly the economy of operation of the fans (since these take a
large quantity of power) to see what improvements can be made.
Study various types of pumps in use in different mines and determine whether
the best type is being used; if not, scrap the present pumps and replace.
Determine by experiment whether the best material is being used for pump linings.
Arrange in definite system of inspection for fans, pumps, and other running equip­
ment to see that proper alignment and lubrication and repairs and supply of parts
are being maintained.
Consider the introduction of mine sprinkling (if not yet established) and determine
best method and frequency required for safety and personal comfort.
10. D e v e l o p m e n t .

Study in great detail the present plan of development to see whether incidental
or radical improvements are needed.
If anew mine is to be laid out, study economy of different plans, the most econom­
ical size of investment, and the type of development best suited to machine loading.
Study in detail the effect of size of rooms, depth of undercut, width of pillars, etc.,
and economy of operation.
11. S to ck ing C oal

at

M in e s .

Study the problem of storage at the mine with a view, first, to evening up of railroad
car supply on consecutive days and, second, with a viewr to keeping the mine running
during slack periods. Include in this study various types of storage, such as excess
mine cars on partings in the mine, trestles at tipple, and separate storage piles.

------- ---------------

Reports oi German Factory inspectors for 1922.1

HE annual reports of the German factory inspectors have always
been read with interest by social economists and all circles
interested in the protection of workers, because they contain
the personal observations and experiences of officials intrusted with
the practical enforcement of protective labor laws.
In Germany each Federal State has its own factory inspection
service. The Federal issue of the annual reports of the factory
inspectors therefore contains a separate section for each individual
State. In. 1922, as in preceding years, the Federal minister of labor,
in agreement with the State governments, charged the factory in­
spectors with the more thorough investigation of certain specially
selected problems. The reports of the inspectors concerning these
problems are briefly summarized below.

T

JG erm any. [Statistisches R eichsam t.] Jahresberichte der G ew erbe-A ufsichtsbeam ten und Bergbe­
hörden fü r das J a h r 1922. B erlin, 1923. 4 vols.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
General Economic Conditions.

rTTIE prefatory words of the report covering the Free State of
Hamburg may be considered as characteristic of the economic
situation in all of Germany during 1922. After referring to the
steady depreciation of the German mark the report says: “ If the
German commonwealth and its economic life have been maintained
in spite of this depreciation, it was due only to the fact that the
German workers, in the widest sense of the word, have shown a
steadfast will to work. * * * The following report thus gives a
picture of the undaunted industrial activity and the tenacious strug­
gle to which a highly civilized nation is driven if it wants to save
its life.” Nearly all the reports show, however, what immense diffi­
culties this “ tenacious struggle” has to overcome. Thus the report
for the State of Saxony speaks of a “ pseudoprosperity caused by
foreign orders and by purchases of goods by the native population,
which, in the absence of a stable currency, invests its savings in
commodities. In September, 1922, however, the situation took a
turn for the worse, short time and reduced operation of industrial
establishments became more frequent, and some establishments were
forced to close down entirely.” The report covering Berlin com­
plains of the existing irregularity of employment:
General conclusions that economic conditions are good should not be drawn from
the increase in the number of employed workers. The continued and spasmodic
depreciation of the mark and the uncertainty in the money market have made all
business difficult. Lack of capital and raw materials has in many instances led to
temporary dismissals of workers, and the greatly fluctuating unfilled orders on hand
did not permit regular employment. Times in which there was hardly enough work
to keep the workers busy during an eight-hour day were often followed by times
in which overtime work could not be avoided if the employer was to be spared the
risk of losing customers through declination of orders or tardy delivery.

In the report covering the inspection district of Dusseldorf there
are to be found data indicating an increase in the number of estab­
lishments in operation as well as in the number of persons employed.
The reporting inspector nevertheless takes a pessimistic view of the
situation :
As gratifying as these figures are in themselves, under existing conditions they
cannot, as in the preceding year, be considered as indicating a rehabilitation of the
economic system. The hollowing out of the German economic system continues to
progress rapidly; the steadily increasing impoverishment, the far-reaching lowering
of the standard of living of large classes of the population, the selling out of all salable
commodities, * * * can not, in spite of apparent prosperity, deceive anybody
as to the rapidly progressing consumption and cmmbling of the economic substance.

In several inspection districts, as, for instance, in those of Erfurt,
Arnsberg, and Dusseldorf, attempts had been made to obtain sta­
tistical data as to whether and how much the individual output of
the workers had increased. A large metal-working plant in Erfurt
had made investigations as to the difference in the output of timerate and piece-rate workers and found that after the introduction of
piecework the individual output of the workers increased by from
50 to 162 per cent over the output under time rates. The report for
the district of Arnsberg contains two tables showing the output per
shift and per worker in blast furnaces and in a steel works. In the
blast furnaces as well as in the steel works the output increased con­
siderably in 1922 as compared with 1921. The reporting inspector


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REPORTS OF GERMAIST FACTORY INSPECTORS.

41

warns, however, against drawing conclusions from such data as to
the increased or diminished willingness to work. He points out that
too many other factors influence production. There may, for in­
stance, be a lack of raw materials, delaying production, or "an estab­
lishment may produce a better quality of steel than formerly, which
requires more work, and so on. In the Dusseldorf district the increase
in individual output that was observed in 1921 continued in 1922.
The reporting inspector is, however, of the opinion that the output
would increase still more if the rest periods were somewhat longer.
In his view the present short rest periods tend to increase fatigue.
The workers, however, demand short rest periods so that they may
quit work earlier.
Special Problems.
Hours of Labor in Bakeries and Confectioneries.

first special problem to be dealt with in the reports of the
xactory inspectors for the year 1922 related to the enforcement
of the decree of November 23, 1918, on the hours of labor in bakeries
and confectioneries. The reports, as a rule, discuss separately the
hours of labor, the prohibition of night work, and the observance of
the Sunday rest.
The eight-hour day has been generally introduced without much
difficulty, owing to the fact that bakeries are not so busy now as
formerly. In many localities the bakeries did not work even the
full legally permissible eight hours. At the week end, however,
most bakeries are very busy, and for this reason many owners of
bakeries would prefer a 48-hour week to the 8-hour day, because they
could then -operate on some days with a longer working day and on
other days with a shorter working day.
The prohibition of night work has been welcomed not only by the
journeymen but also by the overwhelming majority of the employers.
This explains why in many localities not only the workers’ organiza­
tions but also the guilds see to it that the prohibition of night work
is strictly enforced. The large bakeries and the consumers’ co­
operative societies have for some time been demanding the abrogation
of the prohibition of night work for bread bakeries, so that such
bakeries would be enabled to operate in three shifts of eight hours
each. This demand, however, is being strenuously opposed by the
majority of employers and journeymen.
Confectioneries have been issuing propaganda that Sunday work
should be permitted in them to a restricted extent. In support of
this demand they point out that restaurants and cafés are permitted,
without any restriction, to make confectionery goods on Sundays.
Protection of Women in Confinement, and Rest Periods for Nursing Mothers.

The provision of the industrial code that woman workers in con­
finement shall be granted six weeks’ leave after parturition is being
observed everywhere. The enforcement of the provision that preg­
nant women shall be granted two weeks’ leave before parturition is
more difficult. Some of the pregnant women are mistaken about
the time of their delivery, while others try to keep the time secret
so that they may earn wages up to the "last minute. This refers


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

particularly to unmarried pregnant women. Married pregnant
women often quit work as soon as they become entitled to maternity
benefits from the sick funds; that is, four weeks before parturition.
The reports for several inspection districts state that the works
councils make it their business to inform pregnant woman workers
as to the legal protective provisions and to see to it that they are
employed only at nonfatiguing work. Several factory inspectors
praise the work of woman welfare workers in factories who give
special attention to pregnant women and women in confinement.
Most of the inspectors report that from the observations made
by them as to rest periods for nursing mothers it does not seem advis­
able that such rest periods should be prescribed by law. In several
districts the inspectors found the employers generally willing to grant
such rest periods. Objections on the part of employers were made
only in those establishments in which the granting of rest periods
to nursing mothers would have involved interruption of operation.
However, the woman workers themselves do not set great value
upon such rest periods. In small localities, where a noon rest long
enough to enable mothers to go home is usual, this rest period is fully
sufficient to nurse infants once during the working time. In large
localities, where the noon rest is short, the distance between the home
of the mother and the working place is generally too great for the
infant to be brought to his mother for nursing. But even where this
is possible or where the infants can be kept in a creche of the estab­
lishment, the granting of nursing rest periods has not had the expected
beneficial results. Some mothers become fatigued from then* work,
which influences lactation unfavorably. Married women, as a rule,
stay away from work as long as they nurse their infants, or take
up home work.
Conduct of Juvenile Workers at Work, at School, and in Their'Spare Time.

The conduct of juvenile workers has been very thoroughly dis­
cussed by all the reporting inspectors. Their judgments on the sub­
ject vary considerably, but on the whole the favorable ones pre­
dominate. Even in districts where questionable conditions prevail,
the inspectors state that conditions have somewhat improved as
compared with the first years after the war, but that it is more
difficult now to handle juvenile workers than in pre-war times. The
judgment expressed in the report covering the district of Frankfort
on the Oder may, perhaps, hold good for many regions of Germany:
It can be said that, on the whole, compared with the conditions that had developed
during the war and after the revolution, the conduct of juvenile workers has without
doubt undergone progressive improvement. This applies to apprentices in factories
and handicraft establishments as well as to unskilled juvenile workers. In the handi­
crafts where the apprentices are subject to the paternal discipline of the master and
are often taken into his household, conditions in this respect have especially improved.
The generally observed improvement in the conduct of juvenile Avorkers is also due
in part to the increasing sense of duty among the Avorking classes themselves and
particularly to the influence of the works councils.

Nearly all reports consider the conduct of apprentices in the handi­
crafts and in factories satisfactory. Unfavorable criticisms relate
almost exclusively to unskilled juvenile workers. A report covering
a district in central Germany finds more fault with the conduct of the
young factory girls than with that of the boy factory workers.


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REPORTS OF GERMAN FACTORY INSPECTORS.

43

The reports without exception praise the conduct of the juvenile
workers in the trade schools, especially of the apprentices. The boys
who are working in the special training shops for apprentices main­
tained by several large works are making a particularly good showing.
This may be due to the fact that these large works are very careful
in the selection of apprentices.
The conduct of juvenile workers during their spare time has gen­
erally given occasion to severer criticism than their conduct at work
or at school. It depends essentially upon the influence of the parents
upon the young people. Whenever the parents set a good example
to their working children and restrict them somewhat in the use of
their earnings, the conduct of the latter in their spare time is always
proper. Inspectors from rural districts report that juvenile workers
in such districts often use their spare time to assist in house or farm
work. Where the parental home fails in its duty of exercising a
beneficent influence, the wage-earning boys soon acquire various bad
habits, such as excessive frequenting of saloons and amusement
places, heavy smoking, drinking, and gambling. They assume an
overbearing demeanor and squander their relatively high and easily
earned wages. The inspectors’ reports acknowledge, however, that
the numerous existing young people’s societies guide the youth more
than formerly to athletic sports, hiking, etc.
The reports deplore the absence in juvenile workers of any desire
to develop themselves mentally. In order to develop such a desire
a large Rhenish iron works has employed a special adviser for juvenile
workers.
Influence of the Wage System on the Accident Hazard in Dangerous Occupations.

The question whether and how far the wage system (time or piece
rates) exercises any influence upon the frequency of accidents caused
by dangerous machines is discussed at great length in some of the
inspectors’ reports. In several districts they have made careful in­
vestigations on this subject. In addition to work on rolls and shears,
carding and willowing machines, platen presses, and emery wheels,
there was investigated, as involving the greatest accident hazard,
chiefly work on stamping and grooving machines, as well as on saws
and planing and shaping machines used in the woodworking indus­
tries. The machines in the last two groups are generally acknowl­
edged to be the most dangerous and most extensively used machines.
For this reason most of the reports discuss in detail only these two
groups.
Time rates as well as piece rates are in use in paying workers em­
ployed at these two groups of machines. Time rates predominate,
however, in the case of work on woodworking machines. This is by
no means a new phenomenon, to be ascribed to the provision in the
national collective agreement for the German woodworking industry
prohibiting piecework at dangerous machines, but rather a matter of
extensive custom. The reason for this custom is the great danger
connected with the operation of woodworking machines. Piecework
was found to be extensively in use only in those woodworking estab­
lishments in which production of large quantities of certain articles
permits minute subdivision and specialization of labor. In such
establishments it is possible to feed the machines automatically or to
71915°— 23------ i


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MONTHLY’ LABOR REVIEW.

make special arrangements that will lessen the danger of accidents.
If such establishments manufacture small articles, the production of
which requires nimbleness of fingers rather than physical strength,
they generally also employ women and juvenile workers at piecework.
In contrast to the situation in the woodworking industries piecework
predominates at the stamping and grooving machines in the metal­
working industries. In work at these machines there are not
encountered the difficulties that are inherent in woodworking owing
to the structure of wood. It is, moreover, easier to equip these
machines with safety appliances. In addition quantity production
of small parts predominates in the metal-working industries. It is
due to these facts that many women are employed at the small
stamping and grooving machines, while the slower running large
stamping and grooving machines are exclusively operated by men.
From what has been said here it can be seen that it is hardly pos­
sible to draw any conclusions as to the influence of the wage system on
the frequency of accidents solely from the number of piece and
time workers employed at the individual machines. The accident risk
at the individual operations may vary greatly, while the surround­
ings of the worker (lighting, ventilation, generation of dust, accumula­
tion of material in the workroom, etc.), as well as the morale in the
plant, play a great rôle. To take into account statistically all these
influences seems very difficult. The views of employers and workers
questioned by the factory inspectors diverged greatly and in some
instances appeared even to be contradictory, for the simple reason
that each of them judged matters only by the conditions familiar to
him. The attempt by the inspectors of several districts to show
statistically the relative accident hazard of time and piecework
therefore failed. The investigations were nevertheless of value
because they have demonstrated the necessity of caution in drawing
conclusions and have also shown what factors must be taken into
consideration.
Hyg iene of Workers in Establishments Dealing in Rags, R aw Materials, and Scrap Metal.

Owing to the existing shortage of raw materials, all kinds of refuse
have acquired a relatively high value in Germany, and trade in rags,
junk, etc., and the working up of them has increased. Because of
this the factory inspectors were charged with an investigation, into
the health conditions of -workers engaged in the sorting and working
up of refuse. The sanitary conditions in rag-sorting establishments
have already been regulated in most German States by special
decrees; in Prussia, for instance, by the decree of the minister of
commerce and industry of December 22, 1895. This decree con­
tains detailed provisions as to the equipment of workrooms, the
removal of dust, provision of wash rooms and -wardrobes, and the
equipment of the workers with suitable work nig clothes. A decree
of the imperial chancellor of December 8, 1909, forbids the employ­
ment and presence of young persons in rooms in which rags are being
opened, sorted, freed from dust, cut, greased, mixed, or packed.
The inspectors report that in large rag-sorting establishments con­
ditions are generally satisfactory but that in small establishments
conditions are often very bad. In the latter in certain operations
there is an excessive generation of dust, and the workrooms are low

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REPORTS OF GERMAN FACTORY INSPECTORS.

45

and in many instances dark, dirty, and full of vermin. In spite of
these unfavorable conditions the inspectors were unable to obtain
any reliable data that would show that the morbidity rate of workers
in these establishments is abnormal. Neither were they able to
establish that certain diseases, especially contagious diseases such as
smallpox, anthrax, and measles, are more frequent among workers
in rag-sorting establishments than among other workers.
As regards the working up of scrap metal, the inspectors found
two classes of establishments—small establishments which collect
both rags and scrap metal and sell them again to larger establish­
ments, and large establishments which melt down the scrap metal
and work it up. The sanitary conditions in the first class of estab­
lishments are practically the same as in small rag-sorting establish­
ments. Although the workrooms of such establishments are gen­
erally insanitary, the morbidity hazard is being somewhat offset by
the fact that a great deal of the work is performed in the open air.
The collecting and sorting of scrap metal involves, however, one
special morbidity hazard, that of blood poisoning through finger
lesions caused by the handling of sharp-edged scrap. In larger scrapmetal establishments there have occurred several cases of plumbism
among workers employed at melting scrap. The inspectors have seen
to it that the usual measures for the prevention of plumbism are
being taken in such establishments.
Workers’ Education.

The factory inspectors were also asked to investigate whether the
workers make any serious efforts to educate themselves. Their in­
vestigations on this subject have resulted in greatly varying findings.
While some reports state that no endeavors of the workers to con­
tinue their education are noticeable, other reports are full of praise
for the earnest and zealous attempts of the workers at selfimprovement. From a perusal of all the reports one obtains the
impression that in large cities these endeavors at self-improvement
play a greater rôle than in small towns and hi rural communities.
This may be due to the fact that workers living in small towns and
in the country devote a great part of their spare time to work in their
gardens and farms. It seems that among the various institutions for
the education of adult workers the general institutions (people’s col­
leges, lecture courses, etc.) are less popular with the working classes
than the educational institutions maintained by the trade-unions.
Of the latter the schools and lecture courses for works council mem­
bers generally have a large attendance. The educational institu­
tions of the trade-unions deal chiefly with economic and socio­
political problems and problems relating to vocational training. In
many localities the Social-Democratic Party and the trade-unions
have established educational committees which aim at promoting
the general education of workers. Several of these committees main­
tain libraries and arrange concerts, theatrical performances, movingpicture shows, collective visits to museums, etc.
In Berlin at present all endeavors at workers’ education encounter
great difficulties because of the high street-car fares, the high prices
of books and p e rio d ic a ls , and the high rents of halls. The report
covering the Liegnitz district states that continuation schools for

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

journeymen and employers just starting in business have been estab­
lished in several localities in connection with the compulsory con­
tinuation schools for juvenile workers. The evening courses of the
machine-construction school at Görlitz have a good attendance;
several large concerns have furnished models, drawings, and other
material for these courses. The Upper Silesian committee for tech­
nical lectures has established afternoon lecture courses for workers
at the State engineering and smelting school. The subjects taught
include technical accounting, mathematics, natural history, draw­
ing, mechanics, electrotechnics, etc.
The report for the district of Osnabrück mentions a unique form
of lecture courses for works council members arranged by the Christian
trade-unions. The trade-union secretary directing the courses as­
sumes for the evening the role of the employer and makes the order
of the day some practical question relating to the activity of the
works council. The question is then discussed in the form of nego­
tiations between the employer and the works council, the secretary
guiding the discussion by suitable queries. At the end of the dis­
cussion he determines the result of the negotiations. This practical
form of instruction is said to have good results.
Hours of Labor, Overtime, and Rest Periods.

HPHE majority of the reporting inspectors state that the decrees of
November 13 and December 17, 1918, which provide an eighthour day for industrial workers, are being generally enforced in large
factories, but that in handicraft establishments anti in small factories
there is considerable difficulty in enforcing them. Whenever special
conditions in an industry required overtime work, the workers were,
as a rule, ready to work more than the normal hours of labor.
The introduction of three eight-hour shifts in raw-sugar factories
and brick kilns can not, as yet, be carried out generally. On the one
hand, it is impossible to obtain the large number of workers required
by three-shift operation or, if obtained, to house them, and on the
other hand, foreign workers refuse to accept employment if they are
not permitted to work 12 hours a daj^ and thus to earn more money.
The report covering the State of Saxony describes the difficulties
met by the factory inspection service in enforcing the eight-hour day
when employers, in agreement with their workers and even on the
demand of the latter, permit the working of overtime. Such cases
of violation of the decrees regulating the hours of labor have often
been encountered in automobile and motor repair shops. Automo­
bile owners frequently offer tips to workers in such repair shops in
order to have their cars repaired as quickly as possible, and the work­
ers do not care to lose such extra earnings, even if they have to work
overtime to make them. The report also states that employers as
well as workers are often of the erroneous belief that if an employer
and the works council of his establishment have agreed to work
overtime, no permit from the industrial authorities is needed for
such overtime work.
The trade-unions show great interest in the enforcement of the
eight-hour day and thereby facilitate considerably the activities of
the factory-inspection service in this held of labor protection. Much


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47

greater difficulties are encountered in the enforcement of the decree
"of March 18, 1919, regulating the hours of labor of salaried employees.
This decree is especially hard to enforce in banks, for the work of
banks has greatly increased, owing to the increase of checking ac­
counts, the increased trade in foreign drafts, and the general mania
for speculation. There is a shortage of experienced bank clerks, and
the banking rooms are often too small to take care of the increased
business. The managements of banks have therefore continuously
requested overtime permits, which as a rule have been granted in
pursuance of articles 6 and 10 of the above decree. During 1922,
however, the practice in banks of ordering employees to work over­
time without having previously obtained permission from the author­
ities increased. The banks based their right to such a procedure on
a decision of the supreme court (Keichsgericht) of June 15, 1922,
which in a similar case had decided that the immediate performance
of the work had been necessary in the public interest and that there­
fore overtime work without previous official authorization was
justified.
The question whether a short working-day and speeding up of the
work or a longer working-day and work at a slower pace is preferable
from a hygienic point of view is discussed in the reports covering the
districts "of Berlin and Hamburg. In Berlin there has developed a
species of workers called “ overtime grafters” (TJeberstundenscMeber),
who are so skillful in spreading their work that they always require
highly remunerated overtime to perform their assigned tasks. Dur­
ing a strike against overtime work in some of the Berlin banks the
strike committee had prohibited all overtime work. The manage­
ment of the banks insisted, however, that all current work must be
brought up to date. In order not to come into conflict with the
strike committee or with the managements of the banks, the bank
clerks finished all current work within the eight-hour day. When
the strike committee finally revoked the prohibition of overtime
work, the banks declared that they would no longer permit overtime
work. The “ overtime grafters” claimed, however, that their health
would suffer if they had always to work at the great speed at which
they worked during the period of the strike. The reverse took place
in Hamburg. There the organizations of the bank clerks made the
assertion that overtime work is injurious to the health of the clerks.
The public health office was requested to render an opinion. After
a thorough examination of the sickness statistics of employees of
large banks, the health office issued a statement that these statistics
showed conclusively that the state of health of bank employees had
not been affected injuriously by the longer working hours and that
the morbidity rate of bank employees was the same as that of the
general population.
With respect to rest periods, the factory inspectors have generally
observed that the workers endeavor to have their rest periods fixed
as short as possible, so that they may be enabled to quit work early.
In several localities it has been found that in the regulation of the rest
periods the adult male workers do not take into sufficient considera­
tion the weaker organism of the female and juvenile workers.
Permits for night work of female workers had to be issued in
several localities to establishments that had introduced the 3-shift


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MONTHLY ËABOR REVIEW.

system, as, for instance, to a large printing establishment in Hanover
which had to have three shifts m order to fill quickly large Govern­
ment orders for paper money.
Operation of the Works Councils.

’’’THE opinion of the majority of the factory inspectors as to the
1 efficiency of the works councils can be best summarized by
quoting the following words from the report of the chief inspector
of the district of Dusseldorf :
The works councils are attaining increasing efficiency in performing the tasks
assigned to thern by the law. Their relations with the employers improve from year
to year, as both sides become more familiar with their rights and duties under the law.
The works councils generally maintain close relations with the factory inspectors
through frequent personal discussions of problems relating to hours of labor, overtime
and Sunday work, short time, and the closing down of establishments or of departments
of establishments.

Of course, not all of the factory inspectors’ reports speak in such
a favorable tone of the works councils. There are many complaints
that the works councils are too indifferent and do not perform all the
duties assigned to them by the law. Some inspectors also report
instances in which the works councils had exceeded their rights. The
favorable opinions predominate, however. The factory inspectors
generally express the view that the works councils are operating with
the best results in large industrial establishments, while in small
industrial establishments and in establishments that employ chiefly
clerical help the works councils operate less efficiently. Such estab­
lishments frequently do not even elect a works council, because the
workers either do not care to vote or nobody can be found to accept
the office of council member. Women have so far played a rather
inconspicuous rôle as works council members. With few exceptions
they generally decline election to such office. The special works
councils for home workers have not developed much activity. The
report for the district of Brunswick mentions that a home workers’
works council has seen to it that the available work is fairly distrib­
uted among the home workers and that they receive relatively high
wages.
The works councils are giving their principal attention to acting as
intermediators between employers and workers in such ways as super­
vising the enforcement of collective agreements, protesting against
unfair dismissals, intervening in disputes, submitting complaints, etc.
They also look after the hygiene of the establishments and show
increasing understanding of the need for accident prevention. Sev­
eral works councils have also successfully endeavored to assist the
factory inspectors. In Hamburg, for instance, a committee of" the
works councils of several shipbuilding companies has drafted safety
regulations for the building of scaffolds, which were used by the fac­
tory inspection service in drafting final regulations. All reports are
unanimous, however, in stating that the works councils as a rule do
not perform their duty of “ supporting the management with advice
in order to assist it to bring the establishment to the highest possible
state of efficiency and of cooperating in the introduction of new labor
methods.”


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REPORTS OF GERMAN FACTORY INSPECTORS.

49

The report for the district of Hamburg discusses, among other
things, the question as to whether and how far establishments are
obligated to release works council members entirely from productive
work so that they may give their entire time to their duties as council
members. In large shipbuilding yards in Hamburg there has developed
the practice of releasing from productive work 4 out of each 20 coun­
cil members. The conciliation boards in Bremen and Kiel have ren­
dered decisions that council members have no legal right to demand
release from productive work, but that in individual instances this
right may have been acquired by express or tacit agreement.
Wage Problems and Wage Policy.

CEYERAL reports complain that the policy governing all wage
^ agreements, that the performance of the individual worker
shall be the exclusive determining factor in fixing wage rates and
that his conjugal condition shall not be considered, has resulted in
deplorable conditions. The report for the district of Minden says in
this respect:
The current wages, which rose gradually as the mark depreciated in value, make it
possible for single workers and for workmen’s families in which there are several
breadwinners to live fairly confortable, while families with only one breadwinner
can make ends meet only with the aid of privations, because the family allowances
granted to them are absolutely insufficient. The inspectors of the district are unani­
mously of the opinion that the present exceedingly favorable remuneration of un­
skilled workers is all out of proportion to the wages paid highly skilled workers Who
have served apprenticeship in their trades, and especially that juvenile workers are
being paid too high rates. The consequence is an endeavor on the part of the young
workers to squander their wages on luxurious clothing and amusements. Complaints
as to the waning authority of parents, guardians, teachers, and foremen can be easily
understood because of the causal connection of this phenomenon with the high
wages of young persons.

The report for the district of Arnsberg also calls attention to the
too small difference in the wages of skilled and unskilled workers:
As a consequence of the small difference in the earnings of skilled and unskilled
workers, a development that had begun during the war and has become still more
marked in postwar times, there is now a noticeable shortage of highly skilled workers.
Prudent managers of large plants view this state of affairs with serious apprehension,
because the older skilled workers die off gradually, there is no supply of skilled
workers in the best years of their life, and the rising generation does not care to undergo
the necessary training. A Siegerland iron and steel works became so alarmed at this
shortage of skilled workers that it sent a number of juvenile workers to the State
trade school at Siegen to have them trained as molders, and pays them their full
wages while they are at school.

With respect to the much-discussed problem of family allowances
the report for the State of Saxony says:
A general introduction of family allowances has taken place only in the case of
miners and in that of workers in State or municipal employment. The trade-unions
generally oppose? family allowances because they fear that the effect of the granting
of such allowances will be that employers will hire only young unmarried men and
juvenile workers, and on the advent of a business crisis will attempt to discharge the
married men.
Home Work.

work lias generally increased in Germany according to the
Luutory inspector’s reports. The higher figures reported are
due in part to the fact that the lists of home workers are now being
better kept and in part to the fact that new home industries have

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

developed and that new classes of the population, above all the
women of the impoverished middle class, have taken to home work
as a last resort. The report for the State of Württemberg speaks of
large fluctuations. In the rural districts home work has decreased,
but in the large medium-sized cities it has increased. The reason
for the retrograde movement of rural home work is to be found in
the improvement of the economic situation of the agricultural
population. The increase of home work in the cities is due to the
influx of workers from the former middle classes. Several reports,
among others those for Württemberg, Hamburg, Saxony, and Berlin,
emphasize how poorly these middle-class home workers are being
remunerated. In several localities public-welfare organizations have
attempted to procure home work (fine embroidery, knitting, crochet
work, etc.) for impoverished women of the middle class, and thus to
prevent such work being done for too low wages.
The report for the State of Saxony says that while in many
Industry branches wages have not kept step with the depreciation of
the mark, collective wage agreements in several other branches, such
as the hosiery and fabric glove industries and in ribbon weaving, were
concluded which provide fair wage rates not only for factory workers
but also for home workers. In Königsberg there was a shortage of
skilled seamstresses.
The reports for the State of Saxony and the district of Stettin
mention the poor housing conditions of home workers. The efforts
of several employers at Stettin to provide special sanitary work­
shops in which their home workers could work together were un­
successful. The home workers did not care to surrender their per­
sonal liberty, and, moreover, did not want to be bound by the 8-hour
day. They want to work longer hours and make correspondingly
larger earnings.
Factory Conditions in the Punjab in 1922.

HE annual report for 1922 on the working of the Indian factories
act in the Punjab,1 or northern India, gives some significant
data as to conditions in Indian factories. Under the act at
present in force all factories employing 20 or more workers on any
one day in the year come within the scope of the law. The total
number of factories registered as under the act at the close of the
year was 366, of which 325 had worked for all or a part of the year,
while 41 had remained closed. The total number of workers coming
under the law had increased from 42,428 in 1921 to 46,588 in 1922.
Apparently there were only two inspectors to cover the whole field,
and the report points out that under such conditions it was impossible
to enforce strictly the provisions of the law against the small factories
whose owners, in many cases, resented legal control and evaded the
regulations whenever possible.
In general, the condition of the larger factories which work more
or less continuously throughout the year is said to be good ; the worst
conditions are found in connection with the seasonal industries,

T

1
India. [D epartm ent of In d u stries a n d L an d Records. Inspector of factories.]
w orking of th e In d ia n factories act, 1911, in th e P u n ja b , for th e year 1922. Lahore, 1923.


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FACTORY CONDITIONS IN THE PUNJAB.

51

these factories requiring much more attention to bring them up to a
standard of good sanitation. The water supply was generally good,
and lighting was improving. Many owners of seasonal factories,
finding the season was a good one, had repaired and used their elec­
tric-light installations, "‘whereas in 1921, when the season lasted
for a few weeks only, candles or oil lamps were used.” Ventilation
showed a marked improvement as compared with conditions in 1921.
Skylights ordered in that year had been put in and exhaust fans had
been brought into play with advantageous results. The problem
of dust removal, however, seemed to remain unsolved.
The ventilation of ginning rooms and tlie keeping of them free from dust remain a
serious problem. Skylights and extra openings in walls were ordered to be made,
helping greatly in ventilating the rooms, but the dust problem is not so easily dealt
with. Cotton-ginners can be picked out from amongst other workers by their un­
healthy appearance; 10 hours daily in the dust-laden atmosphere of a ginning room
quickly affects both ey es and throats; it is not unusual to find cotton-ginning workers
almost speechless from dust at the end of the day; as 90 per cent of these workers are
Women and children, of whom nearly 5,000 are in the Punjab alone, the problem should
be regarded as sufficiently serious to warrant special efforts on the part of the health
department to mitigate the evil.

A strong campaign for safety measures was made, and the number
of accidents reported during the year was 320, as compared with
326 in 1921. These statistics are admittedly faulty, yet the inspector
believes that accidents are being more regularly reported, and that
these figures can be taken as approximately correct. The attitude
of the authorities toward this matter is apparently not helpful.
The report cites a case in which, during an inspection, it was dis­
covered, that a serious accident had occurred in the factory and had
not been reported, and a prosecution was accordingly undertaken.
Apart from the irregularity of not reporting the accident, the factory owners and
manager tried to cover up the accident, and afterward got the injured person to sign a
document saying that the accident never occurred. These facts after much trouble
and time were brought to the notice of the court, with the result that all the accused
(two occupiers and one manager) were convicted and fined Rs. 50 [$24.33 par] each.
The fines appear to be entirely inadequate for such a grave offense and have little or
no effect upon the factory owners, who are usually prosperous mill owners; neither does
such a lenient j udgment help factory inspectors.

Under the law prevailing at the beginning of 1922 the legal hours
of work were 12 a da}" for men, 11 for women, and 6 for children.
The act becoming effective in July, 1922, limited the hours for adults,
men and women alike, to 11 a day and 60 a week, and left the hours
for children unchanged. In the large and well-organized factories
the hours were usually well within these limits, but the managers of
the seasonal factories greatly resented the new regulations and evaded
them when they could.
During the year 1922 the practice of overworking was considerably checked, but
it is well known that many ginning factories continuously violate all the sections of
the factories act relating to hours of work. To catch these persistent offenders redhanded requires far more time than the present existing small inspection staff has
been able to give; factory owners are known to keep chaukidars on the stations con­
tinuously on the lookout for factory inspectors; immediately an inspector arrives, a
signal is given, with the result that either the factories are closed or children illegally
employed are sent away. It is hoped that with the proposed appointments of indus­
trial surveyors as additional factory inspectors this malpractice will be checked to a
large extent.


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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.

r"|pH E following tables are based on figures which have been
received 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, October
15, 1922, and September 15 and October 15, 1923, as well as the
percentage changes in the year and in the month. For example, the
price of milk was 13.3 cents in October, 1922, 14 cents in September,
1923, and 14.1 cents in October, 1923. These figures show an increase
of 6 per cent in the year and 1 per cent in the month.
The cost of the various articles of food 2 combined showed an
increase of 5 per cent in October, 1923, as compared with October,
1922, and an increase of four-tenths of 1 per cent in October, 1923,
as compared with September, 1923.
T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E O R D E C R E A S E
1922, A N D S E P T E M B E R 15, 1923.

O C T O B E R 15, 1923, C O M PA R E D W IT H

O C T O B E R 15,

[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 p e r cent a n d over are given in whole num bers.]

Average retail price on—
A rticle.

U nit.
Oct. 15,
1922.

Sept. 15,
1923.

Oct. 15,
1923.

P e r cent of increase
( + ) or decrease
( —) Oct. 15, 1923,
com pared w ith—
Oct. 15,
1922.

Sept. 15,
1923.

Cents.
Cents.
Cents.
40.0
+4
-3
38.3
41.1
Sirloin s te a k ............................................ P o u n d ..............
+4
-3
33.1
35.5
34.4
R o u n d s te a k ............................................ ........d o ...............
-2
28.0
29.4
28.9
+3
R ib r o a s t.................................................. ........d o ...............
+5
-1
21.0
20.8
19.9
C huck ro a s t.............................................. ........d o ...............
+2
0
12.8
13. 1
13.1
........d o ...............
P la te beef__
-7
-7
34.2
36.6
36.7
P o rk c h o p s............................................... ........d o ...............
0
-3
40.8
39.4
39.4
B ac o n ........................................................ ........d o ...............
-3
-0 .4
47.6
46.6
46.4
H a m ........................................................... ____d o ...............
-3
36.5
35.9
37.5
L am b , leg o f............................................ ........d o ...............
-1
34.8
0
35.0
34.8
H e n s .......................................................... ........d o ...............
-1
+ 0.3
31.6
31.4
31.3
Salm on, canned, r e d ............................. ........d o ...............
+6
13.3
14.0
14.1
+1
M ilk, fre s h ........ ...................................... Q u a r t..............
0
11.2
12.2
+9
12.2
Milk] ev ap o rated .................................... 15-16 oz. c a n . .
+2
50.8
55.0
56.3
B u tte r ................. .................................... P o u n d ..............
+ 11
+7
+1
29.3
29.7
27.8
O leom argarine........................................ ........d o ...............
+3
0
27.7
27.7
26.9
N u t m arg arin e........................................ ........d o . ............
+4
+ 13
34.1
38.5
37.0
C heese........................................................ ........d o ...............
+4
+6
18.6
17.5
17.9
L a rd ......................................................... ........d o ...............
+2
23.2
23.0
23.5
V egetable la rd s u b stitu te .................... ........d o ...............
+1
1 I n add itio n to m o n th ly retail prices of food a n d coal, th e bureau secures prices of gas an d d ry goods
from each of 51 cities a n d for electricity from 32 cities. These prices a re published a t q u a rte rly in tervals
in. th e Monthly L abor R eview .
2 T he following 22 articles, w eighted according to th e consum ption of th e average fam ily, have been
used from Jan u ary , 1913, to D ecem ber, 1920: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef,
p o rk chops, bacon, ham , lard , hens, flour, corn m eal, eggs, b u tte r, m ilk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice,
coffee, an d tea. T he rem ain d er of th e 43 articles show n in Tables 1 a n d 2 have been included in th e
w eighted aggregates for each m o n th , beginning w ith Jan u a ry , 1921.

52

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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53

R E T A IL P R IC E S O F FO O D .

T able 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 AND 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 O C T O B E R 15, 1923, C O M PA R ED W IT H
1922, AN D S E P T E M B E R 15, 1923—Concluded.

Average retail price on—
Article.

Eggs, strictly fre s h ................................
Eggs, storag e...........................................
B read .........................................................
F lo u r.........................................................
Corn m eal.................................................
Rolled o a ts ...............................................
C om flakes...............................................
W h eat cereal............................................
M acaroni.................
R ic e ...........................................................
Beans, n a v y ............................................
P o ta to e s................
Onions.......................................................
C abhage....................................................
B eans^bak ed ..........................................
Com, cann ed...........................................
Peas; c a n n e d ...........................................
Tom atoes, can n ed ........
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ...................................
T ea. . 7 .....................................................
Coffee.........................................................
P runes.......................................................
R aisin s................ ...................
B an a n a s...................................................
Oranges.....................................................

U nit.

Dozen...............
........d o ...............
P o u n d .............
........d o ...............
........d o ...............
........ d o ...............
8-oz. p ack ag e..
28-oz. package.
P o u n d .............
........d o ...............
........d o ...............
........d o ...............
........d o ...............
........d o ...............
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 ...............

O C T O B E R 15,

P er cent of increase
( + ) or decrease
( - ) Oct. 15, 1923,
com pared w ith —

Oct. 15,
1922.

Sept. 15,
1923.

Oct. 15,
1923.

Oct. 15,
1922.

Cents.
54.3
39. !
8.7
4.8
3.9
8.7
9.7
25.6
19.9
9.6
10. J
2.2
4.4
3.5
13.2
15.3
17.4
12.7
7.9
68.2
36.3
20.6
20.7
35.6
61.1

Cents.
48.6

Cents.
54.6
41.7
8.7
4.6
4.3
8.8
9.7
24.4
19. 7
9.6
10.6
2.9
6.3
4. 2
12.9
15.5
17.6
12.9
10.6
70. 0
37. 8
18. 3
16. 8
38.3
51.5

+1
+7
0
—4
+ 10
+1
0
-5
—1
0
+5
+ 32
+43
+ 20
-2
+1
+1
+2
+34
+3
+4
—11
-1 9
+8
-1 6

All articles com bined 1.........................

8.7
4. 5
4.2
8. 8
9.7
24.4
19.7
9.5
10.9
3. 4
6.2
4.6
12.9
15.5
17.6
12.9
9.6
69.7
37.6
18.8
17.1
37. 8
51.0

+5

Sept. 15,
1923.

+ 12
0
+2
+2
0
0
0
0
+1
-3
—15
+2
—9
0
0
0
o
+ 10
+ 0, 4
+ 1
3
—2
+i
+i
+ 0 .4

1 See note 2, p . 52.

Table 2 show’s 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 1918 to 1923, together with percentage changes in
October of each of these specified years compared with October, 1913.
For example, the price per pound of cheese was 22.4 cents in October,
1913; 23.0 cents in October, 1914; 38.5 cents in October, 1918; 42.4
cents in October, 1919; 40.6 cents in October, 1920; 32.9 cents in
October, 1921; 34.1 cents in October, 1922, and 38.5 cents in Octo­
ber, 1923.
As compared v'ith the average price in October, 1913, these figures
show the following percentage increases: 3 per cent in October, 1914;
72 per cent in October, 1918; 89 per cent in October, 1919; 81 per
cent in October, 1920; 47 per cent in October, 1921; 52 per cent in
October, 1922, and 72 per cent in October, 1923.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an in­
crease of 44 per cent in October, 1923 as compared with October,
1913.


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54

M O N T H L Y LA BO R R E V IE W ,

T able 2 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S AND P E R C E N T

O F IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE , O C TO B ER 15, O F C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S COM­
P A R E D W IT H O C T O B E R 15, 1913.
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 p er cen t and over are given in whole num bers.]

Average prices Oct. 15.
Article.

U n it.

P er cent ofincrease (+ ) or decrease
(—) Oct. 15 of each specified year
com pared w ith Oct. 15,1913.

1913 1914 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1914 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923

Sirloin s te a k ............
R ou n d s te a k ...........
R ib ro a s t..................
Chuck ro a s t.............
P la te beef.................
P o rk c h o p s..............
B a c o n .......................
H a m ..........................
b a m b .........................
H e n s ........................
Salm on, canned, red
Milk, fre s h ........’___
Milk, e v ap o rated __
B u tte r . 2 .................
O leom argarine........
N u t m a rg a rin e ........
Cheese............... .......
L a rd ..........................
V eg etab lelard subs titu te s .................
Eggs, stric tly fresh.
Eggs, storage...........
B re ad ........1............
F lo u r.........................
Corn m e a l................
Rolled o a ts ..............
Corn flakes...............
W h ea t cereal............
M acaroni...................
R ic e ...........................
B eans, n a v y ............
P o ta to e s .. T.............
O nions.......................
C abbage....................
B e a n s ,b a k e d ..........
Corn, c an n e d ...........
P eas, c an n e d ...........
Tom atoes, c a n n e d ..
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ..
T e a ............................
Coffee.........................
P ru n e s .......................
R a isin s .....................
B a n a n a s ................. 1
O ranges.....................

Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
41.0 39.8 44. 5 37.4 38.3 40.0
39.0 36.9 41.9 32.9 33.1 34.4
32.3 30.6 33.3 27.6 28.0 28.9
27.9 24. 5 25.9 19.9 19.9 30.8
21.5 17.6 17.8 13. 2 12.8 13.1
45.4 44.3 49.9 36.0 36.6 34.2
57.9 52.8 54.6 41.2 40.8 39.4
52.0 52.4 59.8 48.3 47.6 46.4
35.2 33.9 37.9 30.0 35.9 36.5
39.0 40. 3 43.9 37.2 34.8 34.8
130.9 1 3 4 . 8 >39.0 34.9 31.6 31.4
9.6 9.0 14.8 16.0 17.3 14.2 13.3 14.1
(2 )
16 6 15 3 13. 4 11.2 12. 2
P o u n d .. 38.2 37.6 65.1 71.1 68.9 53.2 50. 8 56.3
d o ....
42.6 41. 5 30.2 27. 8 29.7
__do ........
35. 8 35.7 28.3 26.9 27. 7
.. .d o ... 22.4 °3 0 38. 5 4 9 . 4 40. 6 32.9 34.1 38.5
.. .d o ....... 16. 0 15. 5 34. 2 36.1 29.2 17.2 17.5 18.6
P o u n d ..
. ..d o .......
. ..d o .......
. ..d o .......
. ..d o .......
...d o .......
. ..d o .......
...d o .......
. ..d o .......
.. .d o .......
..d o . .
Q u a r t...

.. .d o ...
D ozen...
. ,do
P o u n d ..
.. .d o .......
. ..d o .......
__d o ...
(3)
0)

Pound.
.. .d o .......
.. .d o .......
. ..d o .......
..d o ..
. ..d o ...
(9
(5 )
(5 )
(0)

P o u n d ..
.. .d o __
.. .d o .......
.. .d o .......
.. .do.......
D ozen...
. ..d o .......

Cts. Cts.
25.7 26.2
23.1 23.8
20.0 20. 5
16.4 17.0
12.3 12.8
22.6 23.0
27. 8 28. 6
27.6 28.3
18.4 19. 3
21.2 21.4

37 5
41.6 39.0 64.1 72.0
61 8
5. 6 6.4 9.8 10.1
3. 3 3. 7 fi. 7 7.3
3.1 3.3 6.8 6.6
9. 9
14.1
25.2
19. 4
8. 7 8. 8 14.0 17.3
16.7 12.5
1.8 1.5 3.5 3.8
4. 5 6.3
4. 5
17.1
19.1
19.1
16.1
5.5 7.2 10.6 11.4
54.5 54. 7 67. 5 71.0
29.7 29.6 30. 5 48.6
18. 3 29. 0
15. 5 20. 9
39.3
55.3

0

+ 55 + 73 + 46 +49 +56
+ 60 + 81 +42 +43 +49
+53 +67 +38 +40 +45
+49 +58 +21 + 21 +27
+43 +45 + 7 + 4 + 7
+96 + 121 +59 +62 +51
+ 90 +96 +48 +47 +42
+90 + 117 +75 +72 +68
+ 84 + 106 + 63 +95 +98
+90 + 107 +75 +64 +64

+64 +78 +92 +58 +48 +57
+ 70 + 86 + 80 +39 +33 + 47

+3
-3

+ 72 + 89 + 81 +47 +52 +72
+ 114 + 126 +83 + 8 + 9 + 16

+2
1

+ 60
+69
+ 62
+70
+ 75
+ 101
+ 108
+ 88
+91
+ 84

-2

32 1 21. 5 23.2 23. 5
80.8 58.9 54.3 54.6 - 6
64. 9 44.1 39.1 41.7
11.8 9.5 8.7 8.7 + 14
7.8 5.4 4. 8 4.6 + 12
6.5 4.3 3.9 4.3 + 6
11. 6 9. 8 8. 7 8. 8
14. 4 12. 0 9.7 9. 7
30.4 29.7 25.6 24.4
22.0 20. 5 19.9 19.7
16.1 9.3 9.6 9. 6 + 1
10.9 8. 2 10.1 10.6
3.4 3.5 2,2 2.9 -1 7
4.7 6. 5 4. 4 6.3
3.6 4. 8 3. 5 4.2
16.7 14.0 13.2 12.9
18. 5 16.1 15.3 15. 5
19.2 17.9 17.4 17.6
14. 5 12.9 12. 7 12.9
13.9 6.9 7.9 10.6 +31
72.4 69.1 68. 2 70.0 + 0.4
43. 4 35. 6 36. 3 37.8 - 0 . 3
27.9 19.1 20. 6 18.3
31.4 27.3 20.7 16. 8
47. 2 38. 5
38.3
71.3 56.6 61.1 51.5

A ll articles comb in e d 6...................
1 B o th p in k a n d red.
215-16 ounce can.

+2
+3
+3
+4
+4
+2
+3
+3
+5
+1

+ 54 + 73 +94 +42 +31 +31
+ 75 + 80 +111 +70 +55 + 55
+39
+ 103 4-121 + 136 +64
+ 119 + 113 + 110 +39 +26 +39

+61 +99 +85 + 7
+

94

+

111

+

+

10 + 10

89 +94 +22 +61

.....
.....
.

+
+

93 + 107 + 153 +25 +44 +93
24 + 30 +33 +27 +25 +28
+ 3 +64 +46 +20 +22 +27

+ 74 + 82 +91 +47 +37 +44

1

3 8-ounce package.
4 28-ounce package.

3 No. 2 can.
6 See note 2, page 52.

Table 3 shows the changes in the retail price of each of 22 articles
of food3 as well as the changes in the amounts of these articles that
could be purchased for $1, each year, 1913 to 1922, and for October,
1923.
8 A lthough m o n th ly prices of 43 food articles have been secured since Jan u a ry , 1919, prices of 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

[1278]

55

R E T A IL P R IC E S O F FOOD,

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 AN 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 1922, A N D IN O C TO B ER , 1923.
Sirloin steak. R ound steak.
Year.

R ib roast.

Chuck roast.

P late beef.

P o rk chops.

AverAverAverAverAverAverA m t.
A m t.
A m t.
A m t.
age
age
age
age
A m t.
age
A m t.
age
retail for $1. retail for $1. retail for $1. retail for $1. retail for $1. retail for $1.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.

Per lb.
1913..................... 80.254
1914............... .
. 259
1915..................... .257
1916..................... .273
1917..................... .315
1918..................... .389
1919..................... .417
1920................... . .437
1921.................... .388
1922..................... .374
1923: O ctober... .400

Lbs. Per lb.
3.9 $0. 223
3.9
.236
3.9
.230
3.7
.245
3.2
.290
2.6
.369
2.4
.389
2.3
.395
.344
2.6
.323
2.7
.344
2.5

Bacon.

Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb.
5.1 80.160
4.5 $0.198
4.2
. 167
.204
4.9
.161
4.3
.201
5.0
.171
.212
4.7
4.1
.209
3.4
.249
4.0
.266
3.3
2.7
.307
3.1
.270
2.6
.325
.262
.332
3.0
2.5
.212
3.4
.291
2.9
.197
.276
3.6
3.1
.208
2.9
.289
3.5

H am .

Lard.

Lbs. Per lb.
6.3 $0.121
6.0
.126
6.2
. 121
5.8
.128
4.8
.157
3.8
.206
.202
3.7
3.8
.183
4.7
.143
.128
5.1
4.8
.131

H ens.

Lbs. Per lb.
8.3 80. 210
.220
7.9
8.3
. 203
7.8
.227
6.4
.319
4.9
. 390
5.0
.423
.423
5.5
7.0
.349
7.8
. 330
7.6
.342

Eggs.

B u tte r.

Per lb. Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per dz. Dots. Per lb.
2.9 $0.383
6.3 80. 213
4.7 $0.345
3.7 80.158
3.7 SO. 269
1913..................... •80.270
.362
.218
4.6
.353
2.8
.156
6.4
.273
3.6
3.7
.275
1914
.208
4.8
.341
2.9
.358
.148
6.8
.261
3.8
3.7
1915..................... .269
4.2
.394
.236
2.7
.294
3.4
. 175
5.7
.375
.287
3.5
1916
.286
2.1
.487
.382
3.6
3.5
.481
.410
2.6
.276
2.4
1917..........
2.1
3.0
.377
1.8
.577
.333
2.7
.569
.479
.529
1.9
1918. .
2.4
1.6
.678
2.7
.411
.
62S
.534
1.9
.369
. 554
1.8
1919
2.2
1. 5
1.8
3.4
.447
.681
.701
.555
.295
1.9
1920..................... .523
.397
2.0
.517
2.0
.180
5.6
2.5
.509
2.3
. 4S8
.427
1921
.360
2.8
.444
2.3
.479
.170
5.9
.488
2.0
.398
2.5
1922
1.8
.563
2.2
5.4
.348
2.9
. 546
.464
.186
2.5
1923: O ctober... .394
Cheese.
Per lb.
1913................... $0.221
.229
1914
1915..................... .233
.258
1916... .
.332
1917...............
. 359
1918. .
.426
1919
.416
1920.
.340
1921..
.329
1922
1923: O ctober... .385

Lbs. Per qt.
4.5 80. 089
4.4
.089
.088
4.3
.091
3.9
.112
3.0
2.8
.139
2.3
.155
.167
2.4
. 146
2.9
. 131
3.0
.141
2.6

Potatoes.
Per lb.
1913..................... 80. 017
1914..................... .018
1915..................... .015
1916..................... .027
1917..................... .043
.032
1918 . ..
1919..................... .038
1920..................... .063
.031
1921.........
1922..................... .028
1923: O c to b e r.. .029

Milk.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Flour.

Qts. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb.
11.2 $0.056
17.9 $0. 033
11.2
.034
.063
15.9
.042
14.3
11.4
.070
.044
11.0
.073
13.7
.092
.070
10.9
9.0
7.2
10.2
.098
.067
. 072
.100
10.0
6.5
.081
.115
8.7
6.0
.058
6.8
.099
10.1
.051
7.6
.087
11.5
11.5
.046
7.1
.087

Sugar.

Lbs. Per lb.
58.8 80. 055
55.6
.059
.066
66.7
.080
37.0
.093
23.3
.097
31.3
.113
26.3
.194
15.9
32.3
.080
.073
35.7
.106
34.5

B read.

Coflee.

Lbs. Per lb.
30.3 $0. 030
.032
29.4
23.8
.033
22.7
.034
14.3
.058
. 068
14.9
13.9
. 064
12.3
.065
17.2
.045
19.6
.039
.043
21.7

Tea.

Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb. Lbs.
1.8
18.2 $0.298
3.4 $0,544
3.4
.516
1.8
.297
16.9
1.8
15.2
3.3
.545
.300
.546
1.8
.299
3.3
12.5
.582
.302
3.3
1.7
10.8
3.3
.648
1.5
10.3
.305
1.4
2.3
8.8
.433
.701
1.4
2.1
.733
5.2
.470
1.4
.363
2.8
.697
12.5
1.5
.361
. 6S1
2.8
13.7
1.4
.700
9,4
.378
2.6

[1279]

Corn meal.

Lbs.
4.8
4.5
4.9
4.4
3.1
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.9
3.0
2.9

Lbs.
2.6
2.8
2.8
2.5
2.1
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.9
2.1
1.8

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
15.4
.174
22.2
.095
25.6
.095
23.3
.096

Lbs.
11.5
11.4
11.0
11.0
9.6
7.8
6.6
5.7
10.5
10.5
10.4

56

M O N T H D W L A B O R R E V IE W .

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 1922, and by months for 1922,5 and for January to October,
1923. 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 cau­
tion. 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 it was 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 td the
consumption in 1918, see M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w for March, 1921
(p. 25).
The curve shown in the chart on page 58 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, 1923, to approximately where it was in May, 1917.
The chart has been drawn on the logarithmic scale,6 because the
percentages of increase or decrease are more accurately shown than
on the arithmetic scale.
4 See n o te 2, p . 52.
5 F o r in d ex num bers of each m onth, Jan u ary , 1913, to D ecember, 1920, see Monthly L abor R eview
for F ebruary, 1921, p p . 19-21.
6 F o r a discussion of th e logarithm ic chart see article on “ Comparison of arithm etic and ratio charts,”
b y Lucian W. Chaney, Monthly L abor R eview for March, 1919, p p . 20-24. - Also “ The ‘ra tio ’ charts,”
b y Prof. Irving Fisher, rep rin ted from Q uarterly Publications of th e A m erican S tatistical Association,
June, 1917, 24 pp.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 1280]

«

1

T able i , —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 FOOD IN T H E U N IT E D ST -IT E S B Y
Y E A R S , 1907 TO 1922, B Y M ONTHS F O R 1922 AND F O R JA N U A R Y TO O C TO B ER , 1923.
[Average for year 1913=100.]

Round R ib Chuck P late Pork B a­
B u t­
Com
P o ta­
Y ear a n d m onth. Sirloin
steak. steak. roast. roast. beef. chops. con. H am . Lard. H ens. Eggs. te r. Cheese Milk. Bread. Flour. m eal. Rice. toes.

1907...........................
1908...........................
1909...........................
1910...........................
1911...........................
1912...........................
1913...........................
1914...........................
1915...........................
1916...........................
1917...........................
1918...........................
1919..........................
1920...........................
1921..........................
1922: A v . for y e a r..
J a n u a ry ........
F e b ru a ry ___
M a rc h ...........
A p ril............
M ay ...............
Ju n e ...............
J u ly ...............
A u g u st..........
Sep tem b er...
O ctober.........
N o v e m b er...
D ecem ber__
1923: J a n u a ry .........
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch............
A p ril.............
M ay ...............
Ju n e ...............
J u ly ...............
A u g u st..........
Septem ber...
October.........


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

71
73
77
80
81
91
100
102
101
108
124
153
164
172
153
147
139
139
141
143
148
151
154
154
152
151
147
145
146
146
147
149
152
158
161
162
162
157

68
71
74
78
79
89
100
106
103
no

130
165
174
177
154
145
136
135
138
141
146
150
153
153
151
148
144
141
142
141
142
145
148
155
159
159
159
154

76
78
81
85
85
94
100
103
101
107
126
155
164
168
117
139
135
134
136
138
141
142
144
142
142
141
139
138
139
139
139
140
142
145
148
147
148
146

74
76
83
92
100
104
101
107
131
166
169
164
133
123
119
118
121
122
124
126
127
125
125
124
123
121
123
122
122
123
124
128
130
130
131
130

100
104
100
106
130
170
167
151
118
106
106
106
107
107
107
107
105
104
104
106
105
105
107
106
106
105
105
104
106
105
108
108

91
100
105
96
108
152
186
201
201
166
157
138
140
149
157
164
161
164
167
173
174
157
140
140
137
135
135
143
142
149
153
175
163

74
77
83
95
91
91
100
102
100
105
152
196
205
194
158
147
139
110
144
147.
147
150
150
150
150
151
151
149
147
146
145
145
145
144
144
145
146
146

76
78
82
91
89
91
100
Ì02
97
109
142
178
199
205
181
181
164
173
185
188
191
193
194
189
180
177
172
169
168
167
167
168
168
169
171
172
173
172

81
80
90
104
88
94
100
99
93
111
175
211
234
187
114
.108
97
101
109
107
108
109
109
109
109
111
111
111
110
110
110
111
109
109
108
108
113
118

81
83
89
94
91
93
100
102
97
111
134
177
193
210
186
169
173
173
177
177
177
173
168
164
164
163
159
158
162
167
168
169
170
168
163
162
164
163

84
86
93
98
94
99
100
102
99
109
139
165
182
197
148
129
145
140
92
92
97
99
104
108
130
157
187
193
161
134
112
100
102
103
108
120
141
158

85
86
90
94
88
98
100
94
93
103
127
151
177
183
135
125
118
120
120
118
117
117
119
115
122
133
143
157
154
151
150
150
136
131
128
135
144
147

100
104
105
117
150
162
193
188
154
149
149
149
149
145
139
141
143
144
145
154
161
166
169
170
168
164
161
163
163
164
167
174

87
90
91
95
96
97
100
100
100
113
99
125
102
130
125
164
156
175
174
179
188
205
.164
177
147
155
153
157
148
154
146
155
143
155
140
157
140
157
144
157
146
155
147
155
149 ' 155
151
155
154
154
1.54
155
154
155
153
155
153
155
152
155
152
155
153
157
154
155
157
155
158
155

95
102
109
108
102
105
100
104
126
135
211
203
218
245
176
155
148
155
161
161
161
161
158
155
148
145
145
148
148
14S
145
148
145
145
1.42
136
136
139

88
92
94
95
94
102
100
105
108
113
192
227
213
217
150
130
130
130
130
130
127
130
130
130
130
130
130
133
133
133
133
133
133
133
137
137
140
143

105
111
112
101
130
135
100
101
104
105
119
148
174
200
109
109
107
107
107
108
109
110
]10
no

110
no

109
109
109
108
108
108
108
108
108
108
109
no

ICO

108
89
159
253
188
224
371
182
165
194
194
182
171
176
206
212
153
135
129
124
124
124
124
129
147
159
188
247
218
200
171

Su­
gar.

105
108
107
109
117
115
100
108
120
146
169
176
205
353
145
133
113
116
118
122
120
129
138
147
144
144
147
151
151
158
185
193
204
202
191
175
175
193

Cof­
fee.

All
Tea. articles
com­
bined.

84
92
100
100
101
100
101
102
145
158
122
121
120
119
119
120
120
121

100
100
100
100
107
119
129
135
128
125
126
125
124
124
125
125

100
102
101
114
146
168
186
203
153
142
142
142
139
139
139
141

121
121
122
122
123
124
126
127
128
128
127
127
126
126
127

126
125
125
126
126
126
127
127
127
127
128
127
128
128
129

139
140
143
145
147
144
142
142
143
143
144
147
146
149
150
~I

Or
CO

T R E N D IN 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 T E S , B Y M O N TH S, JA N U A R Y , 1914,
TO O C T O B E R , 1923.
[1913=100.]

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .

[1282]

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

t

R E TA IL, P R IC E S O F FO O D .

59

Retail Prices of Food in 51 Cities on Specified Dates.

A VERAGE retail food prices are shown in Table 5 for 40 cities for
1 *• October 15, 1913 and 1922, and for September 15 and October
15, 1923. For 11 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.

71915°—23---- 5

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[12S3]

60

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W ,
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

[The prices show n in this tab le are com puted from reports sent m onthly to the B ureau b y retail dealers.

B altim ore, Md.

A tlan ta, Ga.

B irm ingham , Ala.

A rticle.

U nit.

Sirloin s te a k ......................
R ou n d s te a k .....................
R ib ro a st............................
Chuck ro a st.......................
P late beef...........................

P o u n d ..........
........do ...........
........do............
........do ...........
........do ...........

Oils.
24.2
21.3
19.7
15.4
9.6

Cts.
33.7
30.5
26.6
18.1
13.4

Cts.
35.7
32.2
27.9
20 5
12.1

Cts.
36.1
32.5
27.5
20.8
11.7

Ct-s.
23.5
22.0
17.3
15.3
12.6

Cts.
36.4
33.8
29.0
18. 9
12.5

Cts.
40. o
37.6
31.3
20.6
13.5

Cts.
39.1
35.8
30.2
20.4
13.4

Cts.
28.5
23.0
20.5
16.5
10.4

Cts.
33.9
30.3
25.6
20.1
12.6

Cts.
38.0
33.7
27.8
22.4
13.6

Cts.
37.2
33.4
27.0
22.1
13.6

P o rk chops........................
Bacon, sliced.....................
H am , sliced.......................
L am b, leg of.....................
H ons....................................

........do............
........do ...........
........do ...........
........do............
........do ............

25.0
32.2
30.8
20.2
20.8

35.5
40.3
45.9
38.3
32.2

33.6
36.8
46.3
36.7
31.0

33.0
36.5
47.3
36.1
32.5

19.6
22.5
28.5
18.0
20.8

35.1
36.9
51.3
36.6
38.0

3G.8
34.9
51.9
37.2
37.0

32.8
34.4
52.2
37.3
36.9

24.6
35.0
32.0
21.9
20.0

34.3
42.0
46.6
37.2
30.3

33.2
39.7
47.5
39.5
30.7

33.1
40.0
46.4
39.0
31.7

Salmon canned, red
Milk, fresh
.............
Milk, evaporated
B u tte r.................................
O leom argarine.................

29.5 29.9 29.5
26.3
.do...........
Q u a rt............ 10.6 16.7 16.7 16.7 8.7 12.0
13.3 14.4 14.2
10.5
15-16-oz. can.
F o u n d .......... 39.0 49.9 56.9 57.3 38.8 54.8
30.2 32.4 33.4
25.3
........ d o ...........

26.2
14.0
12.1
58.9
27.9

30.4 30.0 30.2
26.6
14.0 10.0 19.0 18.5 18.5
12.3 13.2 13.3
12.1
60.6 40.0 50.0 56.2 58.1
32.6 34.2 34.6
27.9

N u t m argarine.
Cheese___
L ard
V egetable lard su b stitu te
Rggs, strictly fresh .........

27.0 26.7 27.3
........ d o ......... 27.1 27.7 27.8
........ d o ........... 25.0 34.1 36.2 36.1 23.3 33.8 37.2 37.3
........ d o ........... 15.4 18.2 18.8 19.3 14.8 17.4 17.9 18.6
21.5 21.6 22.1
21.9 22.4 23.3
........ d o ......... .
D ozen........... 34. i 40.5 42.2 43.8 36.3 52.8 47.3 52.6

R ggs st orage................ ,
B re a d ..................................
F lo u r..................................
Corn m e a l..........................
Rolled o a ts........................

___ d o ...........
P o u n d ..........
........ d o ...........
........ d o ...........
........d o ...........

5.9
3.5
2.7

Corn flakes........................
Whea t cereal. . . .
M acaro n i...........................
R ic e ....................................
Beans, n a v y . . .

8-oz. p k g ___
28-oz. p k g .
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........ d o ...........

9.0 9. S 9.8
26.0 26.6 26.8
21.6 21.1 21.2
8.6 9.0 8.8 8.8
11. 8 13.1 13.0

P o ta to e s.............................
O nions................................
C abbage.............................
Beans, b a k e d ...................
Corn, c an n e d ....................

........ d o ...........
. . . . .d o ..........
........ d o ...........
No. 2 c a n . . .
........d o ...........

2.3

Peas, c an n e d ....................
Tom atoes, c an n e d ...........
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ...........
T e a ......................................
Coffee. ....
..............

........d o ...........
17.5
........ d o . .........
12.5
P o u n d .......... 5.8 8.2
........ d o . ......... 60.0 87.3
........ d o ........... 32.0 35.9

17.6
13.3
9.8
93.7
37.5

17.7
15.5
13.4
10.7
11.1 4.9 7.3
93.7 56.0 64.1
37.5 24.4 32.5

16.7
12.1
8.9
68.0
32.7

16.6
19.8
11.7
11.1
10.0 5.7 7.9
67.9 61.3 82.1
32.6 28.8 37. C

20.6
11.9
9.9
85. S
39.1

20.6
12.0
11.0
85.9
38.7

P ru n e s ..............................
R aisin s..............
B a n a n a s.............................
O ranges..............................

. . . . . d o ...........
. . . . d o ...........
Dozen...........
........ d o ...........

18.5
18.8
28.3
45.2

18.5
18.8
28.6
40.7

17.4
14.6
27.7
57.7

16.7
14.4
27.3
56.9

20.9
19.2
38.1
51.0

20.7
19.0
37.6
49.0

Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1923. 1923.
1923.
1923.
1922
1913
1913
1922 1923. 1923.
1913 1922
Oct. 15—

9.6
5.2
2.9
9.8

9. 1
5.0
3.8
9.1

39.3
9.1
5.0
4.0
9.1

3.2 4.9 4.6
6.3 7.8 8.1
4.6 5.7 5.3
13.5 13.6 13.6
15.6 15.6 15.7

21.8
20.8
26.4
45.8

5.5
3. 2
2.6

35.4
8.1
4.7
3.1
8.3

8.7
4.3
3.4
8.5

41.3
8.8
4.3
3.6
8.5

8.9 8. S 8.9
24. 5 22.3 22.2
19.4 18.8 19.6
9.0 9.2 9.2 9.2
9.7 10.4 10.3
1.8

2.0 4.0 3.2
4.6 6.4 6.7
3.7 4.7 4.3
11.6 11.0 11.7
14.0 14.7 14.1

19.4
18.5
27.5
60.0

28.8 31.6 32.0
23.0 33.1 37.6 38.0
15.2 18.4 18.2 18.5
........ 21.5 20.1 20.0
35.0
46.3 45.2
40.0
9.0
5.6
2.9
9.5

8.8
5. 5
3.4
9.3

40.5
8.8
5.5
3.5
9.3

9.9
27.2
19.6
8.2 9.4
11.2

10.0
26.4
18.9
9.2
11.9

10.0
26.5
19. i
9.5
11.8

5.4
3.6
2.4

2.2

3.2 4.5 4.1
5.7 6.8 7.1
4.8 5.8 5.5
15.1 14.0 14.2
16.2 16.9 16.9

23.3
25.5
35.5
54.2

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in th is city, b u t in m ost of the other
cities included in th is report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1284]

61

R E TA IL . P R IC E S O F FOOD,
A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51 C IT IE S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S.

As some dealers occasionally fail to report, the number of quotations varies from month to month.]
B ridgeport,
Conn.

Boston , Mass.

Oct. 15—
1913

1922

8.9
38.0

23. Ì
15.7
..........

53.3
6.Ò
<,3.6
'3 .5

9.4
1.7

..........

......
5.4
58.6
33.0

--- ...

B u tte , Mont.

Charleston, S C.

Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.
Oct. Sept. Oct.
Sept o c t.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15, 15,
1923. 1923. 1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1922. 1923. 1923.
1913 1922 1923 1923.
Sept. Oct.

Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
1 35.0 1 62.6 1 64.9 1 63.7
35.0 51.5 56.2 53.9
25.6 36.6 40.2 38.9
18.0 24.5 26.3 26.2
16.2 17.2 16.8
24.4
25.4
31.3
20.5
25.6

Buffalo, N. Y.

Cts.
44.7
38.9
34.0
24.3
10.4

Cts.
49.7
43.0
38.5
27. 5
11.0

Cts.
48.3
41.3
36.5
25.9
11.5

Cts.
22.3
19.3
16.5
15.0
11.5

Cts.
37.4
31.2
27.8
19.9
12.0

Cts.
40.1
33.8
28.5
21.1
12.1

Cts.
39.0
32,6
28.3
21.4
12.4

Cts. Cts. Cts.
30.2 29.6 28.0
27.1 24.8 24.1
24.1 22.8 22.1
16.8 16.6 15.8
11.3 10.5 10.0

Cts.
21.8
20.4
20.0
15.0
12.1

Cts.
32.5
31.3
27.5
20.2
13.5

Cts.
35.6
31.9
28.8
21.3
14.1

Cts.
33.2
30.5
26.8
. 20. 2
13.2

26.0
26.6
.28.8
22.5
21.8

35.3
37.1
.46.1
42.2
37.3

33.8
35.3
40.8
41.7
36.6

31.8
35.0
42.7
41.7
36.4

41.8
38.5
54.6
38.7
40.3

39.4
37.4
52. 7
40.8
39.2

37.9
37.7
53.2
39.1
39.5

38.2
44.6
55.6
36.4
39.4

39.2
41.7
54.4
40.9
39.0

35.9
45.1
54.2
37.0
39.9

21.0
22.3
26.7
15.3
21.0

39.7
35.2
47.2
31.8
34.8

39.7
33.4
46. 6
33.2
35.0

37.2
32.7
46.4
32.1
35.4

34.8
47.7
53.4
32.5
30.5

34.0
48.2
51.8
33.5
30.1

32.8
48.2
51.4
31.7
29.0

29.7
14.5
11.7
49.4
28.2

29.2
14.9
12.8
55.0
30.7

29.9
14.9
12.7
56.8
30.2

32.9
14.0
10.9
48.7
26.5

29.9
15.0
12. 5
55.7
28.3

29.6
15.0 8.Ó
12.3
56.5 37. 1
28.3

27.4
14.0
10.9
52.7
27.6

27.2 27.1
13.3 13.3
1]. 8 11.9
5 5 . 1 55. 5
28.4 28.2

36.4
14.0
12.1
51.8
30.0

38.5
14.3
12. 5

38.5
27.3 25.8 26.8
14.3 12.0 18.5 18.0 18.0
12 Ft
56.3 .38.2 .46.5 53. 1 54.7
27.3 20. 0

26.3
35.2
17.4
23.9
80.1

26.4
.38.6
18.1
24.3
71.6

26.0
38.4
19.3
24.8
78.1

24.3
33.3
17.0
22.9
74.7

26.3
39.0
17.2
23.3
66.3

26.2 27.1 27.4
26.3
39.4 2Î.5 32.8 36.7 37.1
18.1 14.4 16.8 17.0 17.7
23.8
21.8 22.5 22.7
74.7 36.6 63.2 50.9 57.1

30.2
35.8
21.4
26.8
60.0

32.7
38.3
20.2
26.3
54.5

42.8
8.4
5.3
4.9
8.3

8.4
5.0
5.2
8.8

45.0 43.8
8.4 8.4
5.0 4.9
5.0 6.9
8.9 8.3

8.6
4.5
7.1
8.3

45.9
8.6
4.6
7.1
8.2

10.2
26.0
23.6
11.1
9.9

9.5
24.6
23.4
11.1
10.4

9.5
24.8
23.1
10.6
10.3

9.5
23. 5
24.0
10.1
11.4

9.4
23*5
24.0
10.1
10.9

2.0
4.4
4.7
14.6
18.2

37.3
8.5
4.1
3.5
7.7

5 5 .5

32.7
28.0 28.5 28.5
38.8 21.0 31.0 34.9 36.1
21.2 15.3 18.6 18.9 19.3
25.6
21.6 22.2 22.2
62.8 35.0 37.4 37.5 44.2

8.4
4.0
3.7
7.7

39.2
8.4
4.0
3.7
7. 8

39.7
9.7
5.5
3.8
6.7

9.6
5.1
4.0
6.8

9 .1

9.1

1 2 .1

1 1 .9

1 2 .1

2 1 .5
8 .9
1 0 .9

21.5
9.1
10.5

2 2 .7
9 .9
9 .3

2 1 .3
1 0 .1
1 1 .0

2 1 .0
1 0 .1

3.3
7.0
5.0
14.7
19.5

2.6 2.0 3.8 3.2 1.7 1 . 8 3 . 7 2.5
6.7 4.3 6.6 7.5 ..... 4 . 6 6 . 9 7.0
5.0 3.6 6.1 5.5
2 .2
5 .4
4.3
14.6 11.9 11.8 11.6
11.0 1 1 . 2 11.1
19.0 18.1 18.9 18.9 ........ 14.8 14.6 14.9

1 .2
3 .8
3 .0

2 .6
4 .8

21.2
13.8
7.7
68.9
43.1

21.4
12.7
9.5
69.7
43.2

21.2
12. 4
10.9
70. 1
43.2

19.8
13.1
7.6
57.4
34.3

21.5
13. 5
9.5
58.3
35.7

21.4
16.4
13.-8
13.1
10.3 5.4 7.6
58.0 45.0 60.9
36.1 29.3 34.6

15.6
13.4
9.4
62.4
35.2

15.6
13.6
10.4
62.6
35.0

20.8
19.3
41.1
68.4

18.9
16.0
48.8
54.3

18.8
15,6
50.. 0
56.. 8

19.9
19.5
34.1
64.2

18.3
16.7
37.0
54.2

18.5
15.9
36.0
54.3

18.9
15.0
45.0
54.4

18.7 22.3 20.0
14.8 22.9 20.0
46.4 2 14. 4 2 15. 2
52.8 65.0 50.0

9.5
25.3
24.5
10.0
11.0

5.6
3.0
2.5

9.2
25 2
22!1
9.3

9 .3
1 0 .0

19.1
18.4
41.7
66.8

2 P er pound.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1285]

34 4

40.8
9 .6
5 .1
4 .0

6 0

10. 8

"5.'9
3.8
2.6

........
5.6
2.2

9 .7
5 .9
3 .0

10.2 10.2
5.9 5.8
3.1 3.5

1 0 .0

10.0 10.0

19! 8

20.2 20.2
6.5 6.6 6.8
10 Q 11 8

18.1
16.4

3. 5
17.5
15.0

2 .4
5 .1
3 .8
1 1 .4

3 .6
5 .4
5 .7
1 1 .0

3.1
6.3
5.0
17.5
10.9
15.0 ......... 14.7 14.3 14.3

16.0
15.0
9.8
79.5
45.0

16.0
14.9
11.9
82.5
45.4

16.0
19.7
15.0
10.3
12.5 5.0 7.3
82.5 50.0 72.6
45.5 26.8 32.9

17.9
10.8
9.0
70.7
33.1

18.1
10.6
10.2
70.7
32.5

18.5
20.0
15.2
50.0 . . . . .

18.7
17.0
40.7
46.3

18.1
16.7
40.7
42.5

2 .0
5 .4
3 .6

2

21.4
20.8
30.6
46.4

62

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W ,
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 I

C incinnati, Ohio.

Chicago, 111.

Cleveland, Ohio.

Article.

U nit.

Sirloin ste a k ......................
R ound s te a k .....................
R ib ro ast............................
Chunk ro a st.......................
Plato boot

P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........

Cts.
24.8
21.6
20.1
15.8
12.0

Cts.
38.9
30. 1
29.5
19.7
11.8

Cts.
43. 0
32.7
31.4
21.0
12.0

Cts.
41.6
32.3
31.6
21.1
12.2

Cts.
23.3
21.0
19.2
16.1
12.2

Cts.
32.7
29. S
27.1
17.4
13.1

Cts.
36.5
32.8
28.7
18.8
14.1

Cts.
34.9
31.2
28.2
18.1
13.9

Cts.
25.4
22.9
18.7
16. 9
12.2

Cts.
34.7
28.8
24.9
19.1
10.9

Cts.
38.2
31.6
26.4
20.7
11.0

Cts.
37.5
30.9
25.8
20.4
11.5

P o rk chops........................
B acon, sliced .
H am , sliced
L am b, leg of.....................
H en s....................................

........do ...........
........d o ...........
........do ...........
........d o ...........
........do...........

21.0
32.7
32.0
19.8
18.4

34.3
46.9
49.5
35.2
32.3

34.6
44. 9
48.8
37.4
33.8

31.7
44.8
49.0
36.4
32.6

23.7
26.0
30.0
17.8
22.7

36.2
36.4
49.4
32.3
33.4

37.3
33.9
47.9
32.9
36.4

31.5
33.8
48. 1
33.3
34.9

23.0
28. 1
35.7
18.7
20.9

36.9
39.9
48.5
33.8
34.4

40.5
40.3
49.3
35.4
36.6

35.2
40.4
50.5
34.4
35.5

Sal m on can n p,d, red
Milk, fresh.........................
Milk, evaporated........
B u tte r................................
O leom argarine..................

32.5
.d o ...........
Q u a rt............ 8.0 12.0
10.0
15-16-oz. can
P o u n d .......... 35.4 49.3
23.6
........d o ...........

33.5
14.0
11.5
53.1
25.9

27.8
33.4
14.0 8.0 12.0
10.5
11.5
54.3 37.8 48.4
28.5
26.1

28.0
12.0
11.6
53.5
30.5

28.1
30.1
14.0 8.0 13.0
10.6
11.5
54.5 39.2 54.7
30.8
28.2

29.3
14.0
11.7
57.0
29.6

29.4
14.0
11.9
57.5
30.3

Nnt. margarine,
Cheese.................................
L ard ....................................
V egetable la rd su b stitu te
Kggs, strictly fresh ..........

26.8 27.8 27.6
25.8 27.6 28.6
22.4 24.7 25.1
.d o ...........
........d o ........... 25.7 35.8 40.0 40.1 21.0 34.6 38.6 39.0 24.0 33.1 35.3 36.2
........do ........... 15.0 16.9 17.1 18.2 14.2 15.6 17.4 18.1 16.4 17.8 18.9 19.0
23.2 24.5 24.4
22.0 23.8 24.5
22.6 24.3 24.4
........do ...........
Bozen........... 33.3 47.9 46.1 49.8 32.6 47.9 42.2 47.0 42.7 56. 7 50.6 59.7

Oet, 15—

Oct. 15—
Sept. O c t
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
la, 15,
15.
15,
1923.
1922.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922 1923. 1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922

F.ggq cjtoraee
........d o ...........
Breacl.................................. P o u n d .. . .
F lo u r.................................. ........do............
Corn meal
__do............
Rolled oats
___do............

6.1
2.9
2.8

Corn flakes
8-oz. p k g ___
28-oz. pkg .
W heat Cereal
Macaroni
P o u n d ___
........do............
R ice.
............................
........do............
Beaus, navv

9.4
24.3
18.5
9.0 9.7
9.9
1.7

36.6
9.7
4.2
5.1
8.0

9.2
23.4
18.5
10.2
10.6

9.1
23.4
18.2
10.1
10.6

2.0 3.3 2.4
4.1 5.9 5.8
3.5 3.8 3.5
12.6 12.9 12.9
13.7 15.4 15.4

P o ta to e s.............................
Onions
Cabbage
Beaus baked
Corn canned

........do............
........do............
........do............
N o. 2 c an ___
........do............

Peas, can n ed__
Tnm atoes; can n ed ...........
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ...........
Tea .. ............................
Coffee..................................

........do............
13.6
........do............
P o u n d .......... 5.2 7.4
........do............ 55.0 66.6
........do............ 30.7 34.5

Primes
__do............
R aisins................................ ........do............
B ananas
Dozen...........
Oranges
........do............

35.3
9.8
4.1
5.4
8.6 8.6

9.7
4.1

21.0
21.6
36. 0
67.9

4.8
3.3
2.8

40.3
8.4
4.5
2.9
8.4

8.4
4. 5
3.4
8.7

36.4
8.4
4.4
3.6
8.7

9.4 9.3 9.2
24.6 22.8 23.5
16.4 16.6 16.6
8.8 8.9 9.0 9.4
9.3 10.0 9.8
1.8

2.3 3.0 2.4
4.4 6.0 5.9
3.7 4.7 4.3
11.6 11.4 11.4
13.8 13.8 14.4

5.6
3.1
3.0

43.6
7.9
4.5
3.5
8.6

7.9
4.6
3.9
8.6

42.4
7.9
4.6
4.0
8.7

10.0 9.9 9.9
25.6 24.5 24.8
20.1 19.4 20.2
9. C 9.0 9.0 9.5
9.2 10.4 9.9
1.9

2.2 4.0 2.8
3.8 5.1 6.1
3.2 4.6 4.4
12.3 12.9 13.1
16.2 15.6 16.2

16.8
14.0
9.1
72.6
38.0

16.5
16.8
14.2
12.6
9.8 5.4 7.7
72.7 60.0 69.3
38.2 25.6 31.3

16.9
12.7
9.6
72.5
32. S

16.8
12.5
10.3 5.5
72.2 50. C
33.4 26.5

17.1
13.6
7.7
68.4
37.3

16.7
13.6
9.5
68.1
39.4

17.0
13.8
10.6
67.0
40.4

20.6
17.3
39.0
52.7

19.2
17.1
37.7
56.1

18.5
17.1
42.3
50.2

18.3
16.7
45.6
46.7

19.8
20.7
42. £
58.9

18.8
16.7
51. £
52.6

19.0
17.0
53.8
52.3

19.7
20.5
33.9
52.2

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ ru m p ” in this city h u t in m ost of th e other cities
included in this report it w ould he know n as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1286]

63

B E TA IL , P R IC E S O P POOD,
C L E S O F FO O D IN 51 C IT IE S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
Colum bus,
Ohio.

Oet. Sept Oct.

Dallas, Tex.

Oct. 15—

D enver, Colo.

Sept. Oct.

Oct. 1 5 -

Sept. Oct.

D etroit, Mich.

F all R iver, Mass.

Oct. 15—

Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct,
15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
1913 1922 1923. 1923.
Cts.
34. 8
30.5
26.6
20.9
14.3

CIS
37.1
32.6
27.8
21.1
13.0

Cts.
37 9
32.7
27.7
21.3
13.0

Cts.
23.3
21.3
20.1
16.9
13.6

Cts.
35.3
32.1
26.6
21.9
16.8

Cts.
33.9
30. 3
26.4
21.1
16.9

Cts.
33.9
29.8
26.4
21. 1
16.9

Cts.
23. 9
21.4
17.8
15.8
10.0

Cts.
30. 7
26.5
22.6
16.4
9.8

Cts.
32.4
28.5
23.3
17.31
10.3

Cts.
30. 7
26.1
22.5
17. C
9.7

Cts.
25.4
20.8
20. C
15.4
11.0

Cts.
36. 2
29. 1
25.8
18.6
12.0

Cts.
40.4
32.3
28.4
21.1
12.0

Cts.
38.6
30.6
27.1
20. 4
12.2

Cts.
135.3
28.0
23.3
18.0

Cts. Cts. Cts.
*56.6 161.3 161.0
41.8 44.6 44.5
27.0 30.6 29.9
20.6 22.1 21.9
11.9 12.7 13.1

34.0
38.3
47.1
35.9
33.4

33.1
38.3
46.6
35.3
32.0

33.4
39.3
46.6
38.0
32.1

22.5
3S.3
32.5
23.3
19.3

37.1
44.6
54.5
40. 0
31.2

33.8
37.9
50.0
41. 3
28.6

31.9
37.9
50.0
41.3
28.7

20.8
28. C
31.7
14.6
19.4

35.7
44.8
52.7
34.1
28.1

36. 4;
42.9
50.5
35. 9
28.9

31.5
43.3
49.7
34.8
29.1

21.6
23. 5
27. 0
16.4
19.8

37.7
41.5
50.7
30.7
34.9

40. 4
41. 5
51.3
39. 0
36.3

35.2
40.2
50.3
37.3
35. 5

23.2
25. 7
31.2
18.3
24.6

35.8
37.7
47.6
39.2
42.8

34.1
36.9
48.1
41.0
42.9

34.2
36.5
47.8
39.6
42.6

32.2
11.0
11.0
49.8
25.3

31.6
13. 0
11.8
53.3
28.0

32.4
13.0 Ü .6
11.9
55.3 42.5
28.8

31.7
15.0
12.5
48.0
27.3

30.2
15.0
14.0
54.4
30.0

30.2
34.4
15.0 8.4 9.8
14. 0
11.2
56.8 39.0 46.9
30.0
29.0

33.4
11.7
11. 7
50.5
29.3

32.7
30.4
11.7 9.5 13. 0
11. 9
10. 7
51.2 37.0 50. S
30.0
27.0

30.1
15.0
11. 8
55. 5
29.0

30.0
30.4
15.0 9.Ó 13.0
11. 8
12. 5
56. 5 35.9 46.7
29.6
30.0

31.6
14.0
13. 4
52.5
31.7

31.8
14.0
13. 5
54.8
31.7

24. 7
33.9
16.2
22.5
51.9

25.9
35.6
15. 8
22.6
39.7

26.8
38.0 20. 0
17.3 16.8
23.9
47.6

29.4
34. 9
20.6
21.6
40.8

31.3
35.9
21.4
20.3
40.9

31.1
37.7 26. i
22.6 16.1
20.4
43.0 37. i

27.7
36.6
19.4
24.6
45.6

28.7
39.2
19.0
21.5
43.6

29.0
25.9 26.8
39.7 2Ì.7 34.2 37.9
19.4 16.5 17.3 18.5
21.3
23.0 23. 7
47.9 35.6 52.0 48.1

27.5
31.3
37.2 23.6 35.1
19. 0 15.3 16.5
24.1
23.0
56.1 52.7 76.0

27.7
38.8
17.6
24.6
70. 2

28.3
39.1
18.3
25.3
78.5

39.0
7.6
4.5
2.9
9.0

7.7
4.1
3.3
9.1

39.0
7.7
4.2
3.5
9.0

5.3
3.2
3.3

34.0
35.0
8.8 8.7 8.7
4.6 4.4 4.4
3.7 3.7 4.0
10.3 10.7 10.7

36.8
8.3
3.7
3. 0
8.8

7.8
3.7
3.2
9.1

38.6
7.8
3.7
3.3
9.0

40.0
41.2
8.6 6.2 9.2
4.1 3.3 5.1
4.5 3.7 6.3
9.0 ........ 9.3

9.1
4.9
6.1
9.7

45.5
9.1
4.9
0.9
9.6

9.5
26.2
19.0
10.4
9.3

10.6
24. 2
19.4
10.2
9.7

10.1
25.0
19.1
10.]
9.8

11.8
25.6
21.2
9.3 10.8
L0.7

10.1 9.9 9.9
25.2 24.7 24.5
20.7 20.6 20.7
9.9 9.6 9.8
10.5 12.4 12.3

9.0 9.1 8.9
10.0
24.9 24.3 24.0
27.7
19.4 19.1 19.7
24.2
8.4 9.5 9.4 9.5 ÌÓ.Ó 10.2
8.9 9.6 9.4
10.5

10.0
26.7
23.3
10.2
10.7

10.1
26.4
23.0
10.3
10.6

1.8 2.9 2.6
4.2 4.7 5.2
2.1 2.3 2.4
14.7 14. 5 14.5
14.7 14.8 15.0

1.6

11.0
25.1
21.1
10.0
11.5

5.5
2.6
2.6

11.0
25.1
21.1
9.9 8.6
11.3 ........

2.1 3.2 2.6 2.5 3.3 4.2 4.0
0.4 7.4 7.0
6.0 7.0 7.0
4.0 4.5 4.6
5.0 5.4 5.4
13.2 13.6 14.0
15.8 14.4 14.4
13.1 12.6 12.9 ........ 17.3 16.1 10.1

1.4

5.6
3.1
2.8

38.1
8.0
4.4
4.3
9.3

8.6
4.0
4. 5
8.8

1.6 3.2 1.9 1.8 2.0
3.8 6.1 5. S
4.7
2.7 5.0 4.1
3.8
12.3 11.9 11.8
12.9
15.3 14.8 14.5 ........ 15.2

14.9
13.7
8.0
78.4
36.0

14.7
13.5
9.8
77.5
36.9

14.8
21.1
13.8
14.0
10.6 5.8 8.4
77.7 60.7 92.7
36.8 36.7 41.5

21.1
14.2
10.2
92.3
42,_5

21.1
16.2
14.0
13.4
11.3 5.4 8.6
92.3 52.8 69.3
42.5 29.4 35.7

16.4
13.4
10.2
66.9
36.2

16.5
16.8
13.2
13.2
11.3 5.4 7.5
66.5 43.3 64.1
36.5 29.3 36.4

16. 5
12.7
9.5
62.4
38.0

16.7
17.4
13.2
12.6
11.0 5.3 8.0
64.6 44.2 60.2
37.8 33.0 38.5

22.5
19.8
36.7
57.4

19.5
15.9
39.4
50.3

20.9
17.6
40.4
51. S

20.5
18.2
33.3
53.6

20.0
17.5
34. 0
55.0

20.3
18.1
212. 4
50.2

18.5
17.5
214.1
51.1

18.2
16.5
36.9
51.7

18.3
16. 4
39.0
52.8

23.8
22.2
35.7
67.2

21.5
21.3
212.1
64.2

2 Per pound.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1287 ]

20.7
19.3
31.7
61.7

3.7 3.0
C. 9 7.1
4.7 4.8
13.0 12.8
16.1 17.1
17.7
13.8
9.8
59.4
39.8

18.3
13. 9
10.8
59.1
39.8

18.1 17.5 16.8
21.6 18.0 18.4
n o .o 211.0 210.9
50.0 48.9 53.5

64

MONTHLY

LA BO R R E V IE W .

T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O P T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T I
H ouston, Tex.
A rticle.

Sirloin steak.
R ound steak.
R ib ro a s t___
Chuck ro a st..
P la te beef—

Pork chops...

Bacon, sliced.
H am , sliced...
L am b , leg of..
H e n s ...............

U nit.

Pound.
___ do..
___ do..
___ do..
___ do..

.do.
do.
.do.
.do.
.do.

Indianapolis, In d .

Jacksonville, Fla.

Oct. 15—
Oet. 15—
Sept Oct.
Sept O ct.
Oct. Sept Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
Cts.
26.0
24.7
17.8
20.0 16.3
15.7 12.9

Cts.
36.2
34.4
25.9
21.9
14.1

Cts.
38.9
38.1
26.3
22.7
14.4

Cts.
38.1
36.2
25.6
22.3
14.0

Cts.
25.5
21.0
21.3
14.6
11.6

Cts.
34.2
28.8
26.5
17.2
10.3

Cts.
33.8
28.8
26. C
17. C
10.7

Cts.
33.9
28.9
26.4
17.7
10.1

22. 2
29.7
31.2
20.7
21.0

35.4
38.6
48.7
38.1
31.9

35.6
36.9
50.0
39. 2
33.3

32.9
36.8
50. C
38.3
32.4

24.0
31.0
30.2
21.6
23.8

34.5
37.9
45. C
36.6
35.2

30.0
35. C
43.8
35.0
33.5

30.6
35.0
44.4
35.0
34.4

38.2
8.0 10. 0
10.4
49.2 54.3 54.9 36.8 47.4
31.8 32
26.6
34.3

36.1
12.0
11.6
55.1
29.4

36.6
30.7 30.8 31.2
12.0 12.3 17.7 16.3 18.7
11.6
11.4 12.7 12.8
55.7 39.3 48.8 53.9 56.0
29.8
29.6 29.4 28.6

Cts.
29.6
27.
23.4
19.2
14.3

Cts.
29.6
28.9
23.9
18.9
15.3

Cts.
29.3
28.9
23.9

33.8
46.6
47.1
32.9
33.9

31.8
44.
45. 4.
35.0
33.8

31.2
45.1
45.0
35.0
32.8

Salm on, canned, red.
M ilk, fresh ...................
Milk, ev ap o rated ___
B u tte r..........................
O leom argarine...........

....... do............
Q u a rt...........
15-16-oz. can
P o u n d ..........
....... do............

30. G 30.6 30.4
15.3 15.3 15.3
11.8 12,

12 .

N u t m argarine............................
Cheese...........................................
L a rd ..............................................
V egetable lard s u b stitu te ........
Eggs, stric tly fresh.....................

....... d o ..
....... d o ..
....... d o ..
....... d o ..
D ozen..

29.0
33.5
18.6
23.2
39.6

27.4 27.0 27.6
30.0
26.0 27.2 28.5
35.7 21.3 35.1 36.5 37.7 22.5 31.8 34.9 35.5
20.7 15.0 15.3 15.3 16.8 15.8 17.3 18.0 18.6
17.3
22.2 24.0 24.4
22.4 23.4 23.3
39.0 32.2 45.0 40.8 43.7 40.0 60.4 51.5 53.6

Eggs, sto rag e...............................
B re a d ............................................
F lo u r.............................................
Corn m e a l....................................
Rolled o a ts..................................

___ do..
Pound.
___ do..
___ do..
___ do..

35.8

Corn flakes............
W heat cereal........
M ac a ro n i.............
Rice........................
Beans, n a v y ..........

8-oz. p k g ..
28-oz. p k g .
P o u n d ___
___ do ........
___ do ........

Potatoes.........
O nions............
Cabbage..........
Beans, baked.
Corn, c an n e d .

29.3
34.6
19.9
17.3
38.4

35.4
7.1
4.5
3.9
8.7

38.0
7.3
4.5
3.1
7.9

8.5
4.4
3.4
7.6

8.5
4.3
3.5
7.7

41.5
40.0
6.2 10.6 10.3 10.3
3.7 5.6 5.3 5.3
2.9 3.1 3.6 3.8
9.3 8.9 9.4

9.7 9.7 9.7
24.8 23.9 24.1
19.7 19.9 19.6
7.7 7.7 7.7
9.6 10.6 10.8

9.1
25.6
18.8
9.2 10. 0
9.7

8.8
23.9
18.5
10.2
10.0

8.9
23.9
18.6
10.3
10.2

9.7 9.7 9.7
25.6 24.4 24.7
19.3 19.4 19.7
6.6 8.9 8.6 8.9
10.6 .11.1 11.3

___ do ___
___ do ___
___ do ___
No. 2 can.
........do___

3.6 4.4 4.1
5.1 6.3 6. 5
5.0 4.9 5.1
14.2 13.2 13.2
13.6 13.8 13.

1.7

Peas, c an n e d ..........
Tom atoes, c an n e d .
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ..
T e a .. .. .....................
Coffee.......................

___ do..
___ do..
Pound.
___ do..
___ d o ..

18.2 17.8
11.9
7.8 9.1
72.4 70.8
31.6 32.9

P ru n e s . .
R aisin s..
B ananas.
O ranges.

___ do.
___ do.
Dozen.
___ do.

21.1 17.2 17.2
20.8 16.9 16.8
29.5 30.5 33.2
56.6 45.3 44.0

6.6

4.
3.3
8.3

7.1
4.5
3.8
8.7

11.

5.1
3.2
2.5

2.0 3.2 2.1
5.0 7.0 6.8
4.0 4.5 4.1
13.0 13.2 13. 7
13.9 13.6 13.9

15.6 16.0
13.7 14.1
5.7 8.3 9.9
70.8 60.0 74.4 77.1
32.9 30.0 37.1 38.2
17.

11.8
10.0

21.6
22.6
29.3
61.1

19.6
17.8
31.3
48.9

2.5

2.6 4.4 4.2
4.8 7.5 7.6
4.7 5.4 5.2
12.6 11.5 12.2
15.9 16.4 15.7

16.0
17.2
14.0
10.4
10.0 5.9 7.8
77.1 60.0 84.1
38.5 34.5 37.1

16.9
11.0
9.7
86.5
38.5

16.8
11,1
10.8
86.8
39.1

19.5
17.7
31.4
49.4

19.6
18.8
33.0
59.7

19.7
18.3
34.2
49.3

20.2
23.3
31.1
35.1

1 The steak for w hich prices are here quoted is called ‘‘sirloin ” in this city, b u t in m ost of th e other cities
included in th is report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 1288]

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,

65

C L E S O F FO O D IN 51 C IT I ES ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
1

K ansas C ity, Mo.

L ittle Rock, Ark.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Louisville, K y.

I M anchester, N . H .
1

O ct. 15—

Oct. 15—
Oct . 15—
Oct. 15—
O ct. 15—
Sept Oct.
Sept Oct.
Sept. OctSept Oct.
Sept O ct.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922
Cts
24.9
22.3
18.0
15.6
12.2

Cts.
35. 7
30.6
24.2
17.5
10.8

Cts.
39.2
33.8
27.0
18.7
10.8

Cts.
38.4
32.7
26.3
18.2
11.1

Cts
25.0
20.0
20.0
17.5
12.5

Cts.
32.7
30.0
25.9
18.4
14.1

Cts.
35.0
31. 1
26.7
20. C
15.8

Cts. Cts
34.6 24.0
30. 7 21.0
27.1 19.1
19.2 15. 8
14. 5 13.3

Cts.
35. (
28.7
28.5
17.8
12.1

Cts.
33.9
27.1
27.7
17.0
12.6

Cts.
34.9
28.1
28.0
17.8
12.8

Cts
23. €
20.0
18.2
15.9
13.1

Cts.
30.7
28.1
23.0
17.2
13.4

Cts.
32.8
29.7
23.2
17.7
13.4

Cts.
32.1
29.0
23.5
18.0
13.2

Cts.
137.0
29.5
20.5
17.0

23. 1
31.3
29.4
18.3
16.1

34.7
44.3
49.3
30.9
28.5

35.3
42.6
46.9
32.3
28.9

30.7 21. 3
42.7 36.7
47.1 30.0
32.0 18.8
28.3 19.0

35.3
42.4
50.3
35.7
29.8

33.9
42.0
47.7
40. C
28.4

33.3
41.3
46.7
36.7
28.7

39.5
50.7
59.1
32. i
39.8

37.5
49.8
57.2
33.3
38.9

40.4
51.4
59.5
33.6
39.6

21.9
29.5
29.0
18.2
21.8

33.9
37.9
41.9
32.0
28.9

32.5
33.5
41.3
34.6
30.9

30.1
33.5
40.9
35. 0
31.8

22.8
23.5
29.0
20.0
24.5

38.4
34.6
44.6
36.9
41.9

36.8
33.9
40.9
39.3
42.4

35.4
33.9
41.1
37.1
42.1

31.6
9.3 12.7
11.4
38." 8 47.8
26.6

33.0
13.3
12.0
54.2
27.2

33.2
40.2 37.8 38.3
30.8 31.4 31.4
13.3 15.6 15.0 15.3 15.7 iò.C 14. t 15.0 15. C 8.8
12.2
11.6 13.3 13.3
10.5 10.7 10.9
55.4 45. Ó 49.8 54.5 56.6 39.5 63.2 59.8 60.3 39.2
29.5 31.0 30.3
27.0
31.7 33.3 33.7

29.0
12.0
10.7
51.9
27.2

29.3
13.0
12.2
55. 8
29. 3

28.8
30.8
13.0 8.0 13.0
12.3
12.8
56.5 42.0 53.2
30.0
27.8

29.8
13.8
14.0
56. 8
29.2

29.8
13.8
13.9
59.1
27.5

25.6
32.9
15.8
22.4
43.8

25.1
34.7
16.1
23.7
39.3

27.3
23.3
36.7 22.0 33.9
17.4 16.3 17. 5
23.1
24.0
41.0 47.3 68.1

22. 3
36.7
18.0
20.6
60.6

20.7
37.6
18.8
21.2
67.7

42.7
35.0
9.0 95.7 8.8
4.6 3.5 4.9
4.4 2.4 2.4
9.9
8.6

8.4
4.8
3.0
8.4

27.0 27.7
2Ì.8 35.3 38.3
16.4 18.0 18.7
24.5 23.8
35. 0 41.9 38.8
6.0
3.0
2.8

34.3
7.9
4.5
4.5
8.3
9.9

8.7
1.9

26.6
21.3
9.6
10.5

7.9
4.1
4.5
8.9
10.2
25.4
21.4
9.2
10.5

27.8
38.5 23.3
18.7 16.5
24.1
41.1 35. Ó

28.6
34.3
19.7
22.7
39.1

28.7
37.6
19.1
21.3
40.7

25.4
33.x
35.0
18.6
26.2

29.4
37.7 Ì9.5
19.4 17.9
21.2
41.5 52.5

28.5
36.5
19.5
23.6
61.8

29.8
37.5
19.2
22.9
54, 1

35.0
38.3
41.6
7.9 6.Ó 8.3 8. Ì 8.1 6.Ò 9.0
4.2 3.6 5.2 4.8 4.9 3.4 4.8
4.5 2.8 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.4 4.3
8.8
10.3 10.1 9.8
10.0

9.0
4.6
4.3
9.7

28.9
38.6 22.5
20. 4 16.1
23.6
62.1 30. Ó

41 1
8.4
5.0
3.3
8.3

10.2
9.8 9.8 9.8
9.9 9.5 9.8
9.3 9.1 9.0
24.9
25.8 25.1 25.1
24.4 23.2 23.5
24.7 23.8 24.4
21.8
21.6 20.3 20.3
16.6 15.6 16.4
17.6 16.7 16.9
9.6 8.3 8.0 7.8 8.0 7.7 9.7 9.8 10.2 8.7 8.8 8.5 7.9
10.5
9.9 11.5 10.7
8.8 9.9 9.8
9.1 9.8 9.7

2.3 2.7 2.2 2.4 3.0 3.8 3.1 1.7 2.6 3.9 3.8 2.2 2.0 3.6 2.4
5.1 6.7 6.9
5.7 7.0 7.7
4.6 5.6 5.8
3.8 6.0 6.9
3.7 4.5 3.9 __ 4.3 5.4 5.1
4.3 4.1 3.8
3.3 4.8 4.2
14.5 14.3 14.1
13.3 13.2 12.4
14.3 13.0 13.1
11.8 11.3 11.5
13.6 14.0 14.0
14.7 15.3 15.3
17.3 16.5 16.5
14.2 13.5 13.6

15.5 15.4
13.1 13.8
5.7 8.2 9.8
54. 0 80.2 79.6
27.8 37.8 39.4

15.3
13.8
11.0 5.5
80.4 50.0
39.4 30.8

20.7 18.6 17.7
22. 7 18.9 18.1

411.8 412.9 4 13.1

61.1 50.3 52.1

18.7
13.1
8.8
91.8
39.7

18.8
12.9
10.6
92.3
41.0

18.5
12.7
11.7 5.5
92.3 54.5
41.3 36.3

22.6 19.8 19.3
23.4 19.9 19.4
410.0 *10.7 4 11.0
66.3, 48.3 45.0

2No. 2h can.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

19.3 18.4 18.5
Ho.7 214.9 214.9
8.1 9.9 10.7 5.4
70.8 69.4 69.8 65.0
38.4 38.9 39.8 27.5

15.5
11.3
7.7
73.9
34.9

19.2 18.3 18.2
20.3 17.1 16. S

18.7 18.5 17.2
21.2 16.0 15.3
31.7 39.7 37.5
45.1 41.6 44.8

411.0 411.8 <11.8

49.0 38.3 35.6

3

No. 3 can.

ri2391

....

Cts. Cts.
1 159.2
44.5 48.8
25.9 29.3
21.8 22.9
14.9 16.1

153.

15.5
11.7
9.5
73.4
36.3

5.9
3.4
3.5

7.7
5.2
4.6
9.0
9.7

8.8
1.6

26.1
24.7
9.2
10.2

Cts.
157.6

47.5
28.4
22.6
16.0

44 9
8.4
4.8
4.6
8.6

8.4
4.3
4.6

8.6

9.8 9.8
24.3 24,1
24.2 24.5
9.3 9.0
10.2 10.3

1.8 3.1 2.4
3.9 6.8 6.5
3.9 4.7 4.5
15.1 14.5 14.4
18.0 17.4 17.3

15.6
12.1

20.8 20.9
819.2 320.7
5.3 8 .0 9.8
72.7 47.5 57.4 57.7
36.0 32.0 39.3 39.5
10.8

20.9
820.7
11.1

57.7
39.5

20.4 18.4 17. S
19.4 15.7 15.6
410.0 411.9 411.2

64.3 48.3 51.4
4

P er pound.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

66

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 I
M emphis, Tenn.

M ilwaukee, W is.

M inneapolis, Minn.

Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922 1923. 1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
Oct. 15—

Article.

U nit.

Sirloin s t e a k ...................
R ound s te a k ..
R ib ro a st............................
Chuck ro a s t.......................
P la te beef.
............

P o u n d ..........
........do............
........do ............
........do ............
........d o ...........

Cts.
24.0
20.0
21.0
15.4
11.9

Cts.
31.6
28.4
23.8
17.3
12.1

Cts.
34. 8
31.0
25.7
19. 0
14.5

Cts.
33.2
29.6
24.3
18.3
13.8

Cts.
23.6
21.6
18.8
16.4
12.1

Cts.
37.6
33.0
26.7
22.1
12.3

Cts.
39. 6
35.1
28.3
23. 0
12.6

Cts.
38. 0
33.8
27.5
22.7
13.5

Cts.
23. 0
21.3
20. 0
17. 0
10.1

Cts.
30. 9
27.1
24 2
17.8
9.4

Cts.
32.9
29.7
25.0
18.9
10.1

Cts.
30. 7
26.5
24.2
18.7
10.2

P o rk chops........................
B acon, sliced.....................
H am , sliced.......................
L am b , leg of.....................
lie n s ....................................

........do............
........do............
........do ............
........do ............
........do ............

20.5
31.0
29.0
20. 0
19.5

31.4
37. 6
47.3
36.4
29.4

31.7
37.7
45. 8
36.3
29. 0

28.1
36.2
44.3
34.1
28.8

21.2
28.6
29.0
19.5
18.8

36.2
41.8
45. 5
36.2
30.2

38.3
41.6
45.1
37.5
32.0

32.1
41.1
44.9
36.2
29.1

20.8
27.7
32.7
14.8
17.2

34.8
43.6
48.1
32.1
27.3

34.5
41.8
47.3
33.7
28.4

30.6
40.6
46.5
33.1
27.5

Salmon, canned, r e d . . . .
Milk, fresh .........................
Milk, e v ap o rated ..............
...............
B u tte r ...
O leom argarine..................

..d o .
35.5 36. 0 36.1
Q u a rt............ 10.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 7.0
15-16-oz. can.
11.1 13. 0 13.0
P o u n d .......... 38.8 47. C 51.9 52. 8 35. 0
........do ............
30.0 30.0 28.3

32.6
9.0
10. 6
50.0
25.0

35.3
11.0
11.5
53. 5
26.9

34.4
11.0 8.0
11.6
53.5 35. 5
27.5

39.2
11.0
11.6
46.7
25.7

36.6
12.0
12.6
50.2
27.1

36.6
12.0
12.6
51.5
28.3

N u t m a rg a rin e .................
C h eese................................
L a rd ....................................
V egetable lard su b stitu te
Eggs, strictly fresh ..........

........do ............
........d o ........... 20. 8
........d o ........... 16.3
........do ............
D ozen........... 29. 6

24.3 26.0 26.5
25. 0
36.7 22.0 33.6 36.2 37. 0 20; 8
17.6 15. 8 17.7 18.3 19.0 15.7
22.4 23.5 24.2
23.2
39.0 43.9 34.0
41.1 35. Ó

25.1
32. 5
16. 9
24.1
42.9

25.7
35.8
17. 6
24.7
36.9

26.3
36.0
18.2
25.3
41.3

Eggs, sto rag e..
B re ad ..................................
F lo u r..................................
Corn m eal..........................
Rolled o ats........................

........d o ...........
P o m id ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........

6.0
3.5
2. 5

34.0
9.0
4.4
4.0
8.6

Corn flakes.........................
W heat c erea l..
. __
M acaroni..
R ice.....................................
Beans, n a v y ......................

8-oz. p k e ___
28-oz. p k sr...
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........

10.2
24.3
17.4
9.6
10.5

P o ta to e s .............................
O nions................................
C abbage..............................
Beans, baked ..................
Corn, can n ed ..
__

........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
No. 2 c a n . . .
........d o ...........

Peas, c a n n e d .. .
Tom atoes, can n ed ...........
Sugar, e ra n u la te d ............
T e a __ .
Coffee..................................

c. . . .d o ...........
17.5
12.2
........d o ...........
P o u n d .......... 5.6 8. )
........d o ........... 38.8 85.9
........d o ........... 27.5 36.6

........d o ...........
P r u n e s ..
........d o ...........
Raisins . .
D ozen...
B ana'nas. . . .
O ranges.............................. ........d o ...........
1 W hole.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

27.2
32.3
16.1
21.1
42. <

24.2
35.8
17.6
22.9
40.2

9.0
5.2
2.7
8.9

8.9
5.1
3.4
9.3

36.5
8.9
4.2
3.7
6.8

8.9
4.1
3.9
7.5

38.2
8.8
4.2
4.1
7.4

5.6
2.8
2.5

3.8
7.9

9.0
4.3
3.8
8.7

9.5 9.8 9.9
25.7 24.6 24.3
17.6 17.7 18.0
8. 1 8.5 8.0 8.1
10.0 10.9 9.9

9.0
24.5
17. 3
9.0 10. 3
9.7

9.2
24.2
17.6
10.2
10.5

9.3
24.5
17.5
10.4
10.1

10.2
25.2
17.9
8.6 9.6
9.6

10.2
24.4
17. C
9.4
10.4

2. 1

1.6

38. 5
9.2
5.1
3.6
9.2

2.6 3.8 3.3
4.0 5.2
3.0 3.9 3.6
13.5 13.2 12. 8
14.4 15. ( 14.9
17.9
13.1
9.6
84.0
37.9

[1290]

1.5 2.6 2.1
3. 4 6.0 6.3
1.8 2.8 2.4
11.3 11.7 11.7
15.1 15.4 15. 4

17.3
15.7
13.7 14. (
12.6
11. C
7.6 9.4
84.2 50.0 68.9 70.4
34.4
37.4 27.5

22.8 19.8 18.3
21. 3 19.2 18. 0
30. f 35.6 36.7
41.4 44.8
2 No. 3 can.

5.7
3.0
3.7

34.0
9.0

1.4 1.8 1.6
3.9 6.0 5.6
2.1 3.8 2.8
15.2 13.9 13. 9
14.0 13.3 13.4

15.3
15.5
14.0
15.2
10. 1 5.6 8. 1
70.4 45.0 63. 7
34.3 30.8 40.2

21.4 19.8 IS. 9
19.8 16.9 16.7
3 9. 4 310. 9 »11.4
71.2 52.1 54.0
3 P er pound.

21.1
20.5
310.4
64.4

15.9
14.8
10.0
65.3
42.0

15.9
14.9
10.3
65.3
42.3

20.4
17.7
313. (
52.8

19.1
17.6
313.0
52.0

67

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,
C L E S O F FO O D IN 51 C IT IE S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
Mobile, A la.

N ew ark, N.

New H aven, Conn.

•

New Orleans, La.

New Y ork, N. Y.

Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct,
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
O ct. Sept. Oct.
15,
15, 15,
15.
lo. 15,
15, 15,
15,
35.
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
Cts.
44. 5
42. 2
33. 7
22.2
12.3

Cts.
48. 0
45. 0
36. 7
25.4
13.3

Cts.
47. 1
44.2
36. 0
25.3
12.5

Cts.
31.8
29.6
24.2
20. 0

Cts.
49. 7
41.4
35.3
25.6
15.5

Cts.
54.2
44.6
36.6
28. 6
15. 4

Cts.
53.8
43.9
36.4
27.7
15.3

Cts.
21.5
19.0
18.4
15.5
11.2

Cts.
30. 8
27.6
27.8
19.9
15.6

Cts.
33.1
29.7
28.9
19.9
15.4

Cts.
31.5
28.1
27.5
20.1
15.5

Cts.
26.1
25.5
21.6
16.0
14.8

Cts. Cts.
42.3 45.0
40.9 43.5
36.1 37.3
22.3 23.3
17.5 18.5

Cts.
44.3
42.8
30.9
23.5
IS. 6

24.0 38.5
25.8 38.9
120.8' 128.3
19.0 37.5
23.0 38.0

41.0
39.8
129.6
39.9
37.5

36.7
39.1
128.6
37. 7
37.4

23.6
29.7
32.8
18.3
23.5

39.6
41.1
54.9
38.2
40.9

38.8
40.5
55. 2
42.1
39.9

35.8
40.3
54.4
39.1
40.6

25.0
30.4
26. 0
21.0
21.0

40.1
41.8
47.1
40.7
36.7

37.4
39.7
43.9
40.5
36.0

35.0
40.0
43.6
39.3
36.5

22.9
25.7
29.5
15.2
21.8

38.5
40.2
54.8
33.7
36.9

38.5
38.1
52.1
37.1
36.3

36.5
38.3
51.7
35.6
36.6

28.4
15. 0
13.0
56.9
30.3

29.6
27.9
15.0 9.0 16.5
12.8
10.7
57.9 39.2 53. 7
28.4
30.0

27.4
16.0
12.0
55.1
29.7

33.8
26.7
16.5 9.0 15.0
11.9
10.8
57.5 36.8 46.6
29.8
28.6

34.3
16. 0
12.5
52.9
31.0

34.6
37.8
16.0 9.5 14. C
12.5
11.0
54.8 37.5 49.1
31.8
28.2

42.0
14.0
12.1
53.5
29.9

28.5
42.0
15.0 9. 0 15.0
10.6
12. 1
54.8 37.5 52.0
30.3
28.3

29.1
15.0
11.7
54.9
29.3

29.3
15.3
11.8
56.5
29.7

27.1
33.4
17.5
23.0
43.3

27.5
37.3
17.8
19.6
43.7

25.3 26.9 27.3
27.0 28.0 28.5
27.3 27.6 28.4
26.3
27.3
37.4 24.8 35.1 40.4 40.2 23.5 33.4 36.7 37.5 21.4 34.2 36.1 36.3 19.8 33.1
18.3 16.3 17.3 17.5 18.7 15.7 17.4 17.8 18.2 14.9 16.8 17.2 17.7 16. 3 17.6
22.7
22.2 22.6 23.1
22.4 22.4 22.1
20.0
22.3 23.4 24.4
48.8 52.7 72.9 61.4 68.9 52.9 75.7 64.8 74.2 34.3 40.6 39.5 42.7 47.9 66.3

26.7
38.4
17.8
23.9
59.7

27.6
38. 7
19. 1
24.6
65.9

39.4
8.2
5.2
2.9
9.0

8.9
5.0
3.5
8.5

9.6
4. 5
5.1
8.2

42.8
9.6
4.6
5.4
8.2

Cts.
29.6
29.3
25.0
19.0
15.8

Cts.
32.1
31.3
26.5
19. S
15.0

Cts.
31.5
31.2
25.2
20.2
15.2

35.8
41.8
46.2
33.6
35.5

38.3
39.5
45.5
35.6
33.0

38.8
39.6
43.8
35.0
35.0

30.3
15.0
11.8
50.8
30.2

42.0
8.7
5.1
3.7
S. 4

Cts.
27.7
27.7
21.0
18.6
12.0

5.6
3.6
3.6

42.8
8.6
4.9
6.1
7.9

46.0
8.5 8.5
4.6 4.5
6. 1 6.4
8. 3 8.1

9.4 9.3 9.3
24.2 23.5 23.5
20.0 20.1 19.4
3.2 8.8 8.6
11.3 11.4 11.0

8.9 8.9 8.9
25.4 23.8 23.5
21.1 21.0 21.0
9.0 9.1 9.4 9.4
10.2 10.9 10.9

3.2 4.1 3.1
4. 5 6.0 6.1
4.0 4.5 4.3
13. 2 12.1 11.9
15.1 15.3 14.9

2.5

2.1 4.1 3.7
1.9 6.6
4.1 6.1 4.9
11.2 11.1 11.1
14.8 15.5 15.5

16.0
12.5
8. 1
75. i
35.6

15.7
12.3
9.8
73.9
37. 2

17.2
16.0
11.9
11.0
11.3 5.2 7.2
75.5 53.8 49.5
36.9 20.3 33.0

21.7
23.3
26.5
55.0

22.6
18.7
31.1
50.5

18.6
16.7
30. C
44.2

18.1
11.£
9.0
54. £
35.8

6.0
3.2
3.2

.....

8.0
4.4
5.9
8. 7

55.3
8.0
4. 5
6.0
8. 7

9.4 9.5 9.6
24.8 23.4 23.4
21.8 22.7 22.8
9.3 10.2 9.8 9.8
10.2 10.3 10.3
1.7

5.Ò
3.8
2.9

34.2
7. 7
5.5
3.1
8.7

17.6
15.8
32. 7
49.1

37.3
7.6
5.4
3. S
8. 7

17.2
15.6
32. £
52.8

[ 1291 ]

22.4
22. t
25. C
55. 7

6.0
3.2
3.5

40.8
9.8
5.0
5.3
7.9

8.6
24.7
20.4
8.0 9. 1
10.2

8. S 8.9
22.9 22.7
20.3 20.3
9.5 9.5
11.7 11.7

2.4

2.2
4. 2
3.1
11.5
14.3

3.7 3.4
6. 2 6.5
5.7 5.4
11.8 11.8
15.4 15.4

17.4
11.7
9.0
69.9
31.1

17.3
11.7
10.4 4. £
69.9 43. 3
31.0 27.2

16.3
10. S
7.2
47.9
32.6

17.2
11.6
8.9
57.2
34.5

17.2
11.5
9.9
57.8
34.5

19.3
17.5
20. C
53.8

19.4
16.3
22. t
48.8

19.2
18.2
41.7
76.6

16.8
15.5
42.5
55.6

16.1
15.5
43.3
57.8

3.1 2.1 3.1 3.9 3. 5
4.2 5.0 5.2
6. £
5.9
4.3 4.0 4.0
12. C
12. 3 12.8 12. £
17.9
13.1 13.2 13.2

2.0 3.8
5.2 6.8
3.7 6.6
12.4 12. C
18.2 18.1

19.8
IS. 8
33.5
64.3

7.6
5.3
3.6

9.5 9.4 9.5
24. 5 24.0 24.0
9.7 8.8 8.9
7.5 8.6 9.1 9.2
10.1 9.9 10.0

21.2 20.9 20.7
16.9
18.0
222.3 221.8 222.1
12. C
11.£
10.1 5.5 7.5 9.5 10.6 5.1 7.6
54.9 55.0 57.7 56.9 57.2 62.1 72.3
35.9 33.8 38.2 39.8 40.3 25.0 30.9

IS. 3 16.3 16.5
17.9 15.6 15.8
39.4 39.5:........
73.5 50.8 5 5 .5 ---- !


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

41.6
8.1
4.7
5.9
8.8

68

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T I
Norfolk, Va.
Artiele.

U n it.

O m aha, Nebr.

Oct. Sept Oct.
15,
15,
15,
1922. 1923. 1923.

Oct 15—
1913

1922

Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1923. 1923. 1922. 1923. 1923.

Sirloin steak .
R ound s te a k .
R ib r o a s t.. . .
Chuck ro a s t..
P la te beef—

Pound.
___ d o .
___ do.
___ do.
___do.

Cts.
37. t
32.1
30.1
20.0
14.1

Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
42. 7 41.8 25.6 36.8 38.7
36.1 35.9 22.8 33.8 35.6
33.3 32.8 19. 4 25.4 26.1
21.6 21. C 16.1 19.9 21.4
14.6 14.4 11.8 11.3 10.7

P o rk chops...
Bacon, sliced.
H a m , sliced..
L am b, leg of.
H ens...............

.d o .
.d o .
.do.
.d o .
.d o .

33.3
37.7
40.4
38.2
37.3

34.9
35.0
41.4
40.0
36.9

32. 7
34.8
41.8
40.0
36.8

29.6
17. Ü
10.4
49.7
28.4

29.3
17.0
11.4
55.9
28.3

29.3
17.0
11.5
5fk5
27.5

25.6
30.9
17.1
21.6
46.0

26.8
33.3
17.4
17.5
47.9

26.8
34.0
17.5
17.9
50.1

Salmon, canned, re d ........ ___d o .........
Milk, fresh ........................... Q u a rt..........
Milk, evaporated............... 15-16-oz. can
B u tte r.................................. P o u n d ........
O leom argarine.................... ___d o ...........
N u t m arg arin e..........
Cheese.............................
L a rd ................................
Vegetable la rd su b stitu te.
Eggs, strictly fresh —

___ do.
. .. .d o .
___do.
. .. .d o .
Dozen.

Eggs, storage...................... ___d o .
B read .................................... P o u n d .
F lo u r.................................... . . . . d . .
Corn m eal............................ ___d o .
Rolled o ats.......................... ---- do.

. 42.8
35.8
7.8
8.0 ' " 7 .8
4.4
4. 5
4,8
3.7
3.8
3.5
8.0
8.2
7.9

Corn flakes......................... 8-oz. p k g ..
W heat cereal..................... 28-oz. p k g .
M acaroni............................
P o u n d ___
R ice...................................... ---- d o . . . .
Beans, n a v y ....................... ___d o ___

9.6
25.8
20.3
9.9
9.6

9.4
23.8
20.0
9.9
10.8

23.6
19.4
9.9
10.3

P o tato es........ .
Onions.............
Cabbage......... .
Beans, b ak ed .
Corn, canned..

2.3
4.8
3.8
10.9
14.8

3.3
6.4
4.9
9.8
15.7

2.8
6.3
4.6
9.9
15.5

Peas, can n ed .......................
.. d o .
Tom atoes, can n ed............. ........d o .
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ............. P o u n d .
---- do.
Coliee.................................... ---- do.

18.7
11.0
7.5
75.4
36.9

18.8
10.8
8.8
82.1
37.9

18.2
10.8
9.9
81.5
37.4

P r u n e s ...
R a is in s ..
B an an as.
O ranges-.

19.5
20.9
34.6
54.5

17.5
16.9
35.4
53.4

17.0
15.6
36.7
48.1

___d o ___
___d o ___
___d o ___
No. 2 can.
___d o . . .

Tea.......................

....d o .
___d o .
Dozen.
---- d o .

21.9
28.6
30.0
16.3
16.3
8.2
37.0

23.3
17.6
30.0
5. 2
2.7
2.5

9.3

8.5

1.8

5.8

56.0
30.0

Peoria, III.

Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
36.8 33.6 34.3 33.7
33.4 31. S 33.4 32.3
26.8 24.4 23.6 23.6
20.7 20.1 20.1 20.2
10.5 12.8 12.9 13.3

33.7
46.3
51. 7
38.0
28.8

35.9
45.6
49.1
36.9
29.3

33.3
45.0
49.4
36.3
28.7

34,4
42.9
47.9
35.2
30.0

35.7
41.4
48.9
35.1
29.9

33.1
41.4
46.1
34.8
29.8

33.8
11.0
10.8
47.3
28.4

33.7 33.2
12.3 12.3
12.0 12.0
50. 1 50.5
28.9 28.8

33.1
10.4
11.2
46.6
27.9

32.3
11.6
12.0
52.1
29.5

32.2
11.6
12.0
53.3
29.7

27.3
33.1
19.3
24.3
38.8

28.4
35. 0
19.6
24.2
36.4

28.6
36i»8
19.5
23.8
39.0

27.2
34.4
17.5
24.2
45.9

27.4
36.8
17.9
24.2
38.0

28.1
37.5
18.3
24.4
41.4

28.5
9.8
4.0
3.4
10.7

9.8
3. 8
3. S
10.1

35.0
9.8
3.9
3.9
10.1

36.0
8.5
4.7
3.6
8.8

8.0
4.5
3.7
9.4

9. 8
25.7
20.5
9.8
10.8

10.3
24. 2
20.0
9.2
11.8

10.6
24.2
20.0
9.4
11.0

10.0
27.3
19.5
10.1
10.6

10.0
26.1
19.5
9.5
10.9

10.0
25.3

1.6
4. 0
2.8
15.0
16.1

2.4
5.3
3.8
Í5. 2
16.3

2.0
5.7
3. 0
15.3
16.3

2.0
4.8
3.3
13.4
14.6

2.6
7.3
4.1
12.9
14.6

2.1
7.5
3.7
12.7
14.5

16.6
15.0
8.2
76.7
38.8

17.3
14.0
9.9
75.2
41.1

17.4
14.4
10.3
75.4
41.1

17.0
14.2
8.5
61.9
35.6

17.2
14.1
10.1
60.6
36.6

17.6
14.1
10.9
61.0
36.6

35.0
8.4
4. 5
3.9
9.1

19.5
9.5
10.6

23.2 20.3 19.8 22.6 21.1 20.8
22.8 19.8 19.4 24.3 18.9 17.7
* 10.2 4 12.6 413.2 4 10. 2 4 11.8 411.6
59.5 48.2 48.5 60.0 45.3 44.6

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in th is c ity ,b u t in m ost of th e other
cities included in th is report it would be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1292]

69

KETAIL. FEIGES OF FOOD,
C LES O F FO O D IN 51 C IT IE S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
Philadelphia, Pa.

P ittsburgh, Pa.

Cts. Cts.
i 51.3 * 50.2
40.8 40.4
34.6 33.5
21.4 21.1
10.1 10.5

Cts.
27.7
23.7
21.7
17.8
12.8

Cts.
41.1
33.9
31.3
21.1
11.1

Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
44.3 1 577 i 00.8 i 59.6
36.7 46.1 47.6 46.4
32.5 29.3 29.7 29.5
22.4 19.1 20.4 20.1
11.6 14.3 15.7 15.0

Cts.
23.5
21.0
19.6
16.9
13.8

Cts.
28.4
25.8
24.5
16.0
12.0

Cts.
28.1
25.1
24.3
16.3
11.9

Cts. Cts.
27.8 i 40.2
24.6 31.6
24. 1 24.2
16.1 18.8
11.7

23.4
31.5
30.8
16.9
21.3

34,9
45.3
48.6
31.0
30.0

33.5
46.0
47.8
32.4
30.9

32.7
45. 6
46.5
32.4
31.6

42.8
37.0
54.5
40.2
41.3

40.8
36. 7
53.7
43.5
41.5

39.4
37.1
52.3
41.6
41.8

39.0
12.6
11.8
54.0
29.2

34.6
13.0
12.0
55.8
29.8

37.1
36.3
47.3
37.7
40.1

29.3
15.0
12.1
58.0
29.3

28.4
14.0
12.1
52.9
29.9

28.1
14.0
13.5
57.8
30.8

28.0
14.0 9.7
13.7
58.8 42. Ö
30.7

35.8
31.9
13.0 9.0 15.0
11.9
12.0
57.7 38.6 48.7
30.4
31.0

31.0
15.0
12.5
54.2
29.2

30.9
15.0
12.7
54.9
30.0

26.0 26. 5 27.0
27.7
38.6 24.5 34.0 37.5 38.3
17.8 15.7 15.9 16.4 17.7
23.7
23.2 23.7 24.2
57.3 38.6 53.8 46.2 55. 4

28.7
34.7
17.8
24.0
67.5

27.5
39.4
17.9
22.8
61.6

28.2
27.2
28.6 27.5 29,4
40.1 20.8 36.2 37.9 39.3 22.6 33.3
15.7 17.3
18.4 18.3 19.8 19.5
25.3 25.0 26.3
23.6
23.2
69.0 49.0 53.8 45.9 57. 7 53.0 75.1

29.1
36.0
17.5
23.9
66.4

28.3
36.6
17.8
24.6
78. 1

40.0 43.2
8.5 9.4
4.4 4.9
4.8 4.3
8.9 6.9

8.8
4.9
4.1
9.4

41.9
8.8
4.9
4,2
9.4

27.5
8.0 12.0
11.0
43.1 55.8
27.3

26.3
13.0
12.2
58.6
29.7

26.2
28.7
13.0 8.8 13.0
12.2
10.4
61.3 39.5 52.8
20.4
29.7

20.0

20.0

8.4
4.5
3.9
8.3

42.0
8.4
4.6
4.1
8.3

5.5
3.2
3.0

9.3
4.5
4.7
6.9

42.7
9.3
4.5
4.6
6.9

5.6
2.9
3.4

8. 8
25. 0
21.1
9.8 10.3
9.5

8.8
23.9
20.5
10.2
11.2

8.8
23.7
20.5
10.3
11.3

9.6 9.5 9.5 9.8 9.7
25.4 24.9 25.0 25.8 24.5
20. 2 21.8 21.3 23.4 23. 4
9.2 9.5 9.6 10.0 10.7 10.5
9.8 10.4 10.3 10.5 10.6

9.7
24.6
23.6
10.4
10.3

11.0 11. 4
28.6 25.7
16.4 18.4
8.0 10.1 9.4
9.2 9.9

2.3 4.3 3.8
4. 2 6.2 5.9
3. 2 5.1
11.8 11.2 11.2
14.9 14.9 14.7

10.3 16.6
11.9 12.5
5.0 7.2 8.8
54.0 59.4 59.1
24.5 31.1 31.6
18.6
.1
20. o!
57.9

20

16.3
16.1
32. 9
49.6

1.9

3S.5
8.2
4.8
3.9

28.9
14.0
12.1
56.1
28.0

41.2
8.6
4.9
3.6
S.O

2.3

22.0
22.2
33.3
18.7
24.8

Cts. Cts. Cts.
1 66.9 i 69.9 4 69.9
48.8 51.2 49.3
36.7 39.2 37.9
20.6 29.8 27.0
16.4 17.9 17.9

36.7
30.9
48.4
39.5
40.6

36.1
36.2
51.8
38.9
37.5

4.8
3.2
2.8

Providence, R. I.

38.4
38.4
53.3
37.2
39.8

38.6
36.6
52.9
39.6
38.1

27.0 28.2
25.0 35.5 38.0
15.6 10.5 17.5
22.7 23.1
42. o 57.4. 51.2

Cts.
45.0
36.9
32.5
22.3
11,6

23.2 36.8 40.5 35.3
30.6 42.4 42.2 41.4
29.9 53,8 54.3 53.8
38.3 39.7 38.6
25.5 40.5 40.2 40.6

37.9
38.8
53. S
38.5
39.9

23.3
27.5
31.9
19.1
23.1

P o rtland, Oreg.

Oct. 15—
Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. O ct.
Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.
15,
15,
1923, 1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.

Sept. Oct.
Aöj 15,
1923, 1923, 1913 1922
1913 1922
Cts. Cts.
131.2 i 48.2
26.4 38.5
22.1 32.8
IS. 2 20.2
11.5 9.8

Portland, Me.

8.8

8.5
4.4
4.4
8.9

2.1 3.9 3.1 1.9 3.0 2.5
4.3 6.7 6.6 4.1 6.4 6.3
3.6 4.7 4.7 2.7 2.9 3.0
12.8 12.8 12.8 15.2
15.7
14.0 15.0 15.5 15.9 16.2 10.2

15.5
12.4
12.0
10.0 5.7 7.7
59.2 58.0 74.4
30.7 30.0 35.9

16.4
12.6
9.5
74.8
38.0

16.9 20.4
12.6 223,1
10.7 8.1
76.5 56.5
38.7 40.4

15.7
16.2
34.0
49.7

19.5
16.6
44.1
56.0

19.5
16.3
45.3
58.8

.....

2 No. 3 can.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

20.9
21.0
41.7
56.4

20.6
19.7
49.9
69.9

20.4
222.3
9.6
57.5
41.4

1.3

42.2
9.4
4.3
3.5
9.9

3 No. 2J can.

[1293]

.....

44.2
9.2
4.1
3.8
9.3

14.9
20.2
413.7
63.1

5.9
3.5
3.1

38.6
8.9
5.1
3.7
9.5

9. 8
11.4
26.7
26.3
18. 1
22.1
9.9 9.3 9.5
10.4
10.1

9.7 9.8
24.1 24.1
22.4 22.4
9.4 9.4
10.6 10.8

1.7

3.7 2.8
6.3 6.6
4.2 4.2
12.1 12.2
16.9 16.9

1.6 2.1 2.3
3.3 4.6 4.8
2.2 3.1 3.0
17.4 14.8 15.0
17.1 17.4 18.2

20.4
17.6
222.0
815.7
10.9 6.2 8.1
57.5 55.0 63.8
41.4 35.0 37.4

17.7 17.2
15.4
411.7 411.8
52.2 54.4

9.2
4.3
3.6
9.3

2.1
4.6
3.6
13.0
17.5

19.9
17.0 18. S
14.3
816.4 816.9
9.9 10.5 5.1 7.8
65. 7 69.7 48.3 58.8
37.1 38.8 30.0 40.2

20.0
13.8
9.3
61.1
41.7

19.7
13.7
10.3
60.7
41.7

10.7
16.1
415.6
49. 9|........
!

19.4
16.6
36.9
60.8

19.7
16.3
35.6
61.2

12.3
16.4
415.4
51.8

4 P er pound.

20.1
20. 1
33.5
77.5

70

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T I
R ichm ond, Va.
Article.

U nit.

Rochester, N .Y

St. Louis, Mo.

Oct. 15-

Oct. 15Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
1922.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922 1923. 1923.

t5,

Sirloin s te a k ..
Round steak.
R ib ro a st........
Chuck ro a s t. .
P la te beef___

Pound.
___ do.
___do.
___do.
___do.

Cts. Cts.
22.2 37.9
20.0 33.8
18.9 29.5
15.9 21.8
12.6 15.0

P o rk c h o p s...
Bacon, sliced.
H am , s lic e d ..
L am b, leg o f..
H e n s ...............

___do.
.d o .
.d o .
.d o .
.do.

27.2
25.0
19.3
20.4

Salmon, canned, r e d .
Milk, fresh ..................
Milk, ev ap o rated ___
B u tte r..........................
O leomargarine...........

.do.
Q u a r t..........
15-16-oz.can.
P o u n d ..........
___ d o ...........

N u t m arg arin e....................
C heese................. .............
L a rd ......................................
Vegetable la rd su b stitu te .
Eggs, strictly fresh ............

.do.
do.
___ do.
___ do.
Dozen.

Eggs, storage.
B re a d ..............
F lo u r...............
Corn m e a l___
Rolled o a ts . . .

........do .
Pound.
.do.
.d o .
.d o .

Corn flak es. . .
W heat cereal.
M acaroni........
R ic e ................
Beans, n a v y .

S-oz. p k g ..
28-oz. p k g .
P o u n d ___
........d o ----........d o -----

P o ta to e s.........
O nions............
Cabbage..........
B eans, b a k e d .
Corn, c an n e d .

-do.
........d o . . . .
........d o ----No. 2 can.
........d o ___

P eas, can n ed..........
Tom atoes, c an n e d .
Sugar, g ra n u la te d .
T e a ...........................

Coffee..............

___ do.
....... do.
Pound.
.d o .
.do.

18.9 20.2 19.5
12.5 11.7 12.0
5.4
9.5 10.6
56.0 78.4 53.0 81.7
27.4 35.4 38.3 37.8

P ru n e s . .
R aisin s..
B an a n a s.
O ranges.

-do.
.d o .
Dozen.
........do.

23.2 21.7
20 .8 17.
36.9 39.2
58.5 52.7

Cts.
39.4
34.6
30.9

Cts.
38.7
33.7
27.7
21.8 22.3
15.5 12.3

Cts.
41.1
34.5
30.0
23.5

Cts.
40.1
34.0
29.7
23.4
12.0 12.3

Cts.
26.0
24.3
19.5
15.6
11.9

36.0
33.6
27.6
18.2
12.1

35.8
32.9
28.9
19.1
12.7

32.5
39.9
44.1
32.5
29.6

35.4
39.0
43.8
35.0
30.2

30.5
39.7
44.1
34.4
30.2

31.9 31.6
12.0 13.0
10.2 11.4
54.5 56. 3 37. < 52.8 56.4
30.2 30.8
26.3 26.3

31.8
13.0
11.5
58.2
27.7

37.2
42.2
42.5
35.2

33.9
40.0
42.1
33.3

34.1
39.0
42.3
34.7

35.4
48.7
35.9
38'. 3

34.7
46.8
38.2
38.8

32.4
13.0
12.3
53.6
28.2

31.2
14.0
13.6
58.9
30.2

32.0
14.0
13.6
60.3
29.6

27.7
13.0
11.3
49.9
28.6

28. 28.9
13.0 13.3

27.6 28.
22.3 34.2 37.0
15.4 17.7 17.9
23.1 23.1
34.5 49.5 43.8

29.3
37. 6
19.0
23.6
46.7

26.3 28.0 28.4
34.5 37.6 38.3 19.5
17.3 17.2 18.0 13.1
22.6 19.7 20.2
56.6 47.0 55.

5.4
3.2
2.3

38.8
9.1
5.0
3.9
9.5

12.1

41.8 38,
8.7
4.6
4.7
9.1

34.4
46.4
36.8
37.9

4. 5
9.1

26.9
27.3
18.3
16.8

12.1

38.8

8.6 8.0 8.0 8.0
4.6
5.0
4.6
6.5

4.4
4.7
S. 4

4.5
4.7
8.4

5.6
2.9
2.5

9.6 9.6 9.8 9.5 9.5
26.5 25.5 25.5 24.9 24.0 23.9
20.3 21.1 21.1 18.9 18.6 18.6
11.6 11.0 11.0 9.6 9.4 9.5
10.4 12.4 11.4 10. 10.8 10.8

2.1

2.7
5.1
3.9

4.8
7.9
5.7

1.5 3.4 2.3
3.
7.5 4. 5
5.8
5.3 3.1 4.6 3.9
12.0 11.6 11.4 11.4 11.2 11.2
15.0 15.0 15.0 15.7 16.5 16.5

6.1

8.0

[1294]

21.2
16.
39.2
52.3

18.8
12.4
7.5
61.3
34.0

Cts. Cts. Cts.
34.3
31.7
26.8
18.3
12.9

22 .0 36.0 35.8 33.7 38.8 39.3 37.2 19.;

1 No. 2£ can.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Cts.
40.8
35.1
30.7
21.9
15.4

19.1
12.4
9.4
62.2
35.2

24.6
33.6
14.7
22.3
43.4

19.1 15.3 15.4
40.0 42.8 42.8
71.3 50.7 51.3

24.7
36.3
15.1
24.0
42.9

34.6 ,
35.8
9.0 8.9 8.9
4.1 4.0 4.2
3.0 3.4 3.8
8.3 8.3 8.5
8.9
8.9
24.2 23.2 24.2
19.9 19.1 20.0
8.9 8.9 9.3
9.9
9.9

1.9

2.6

2.5 3.0
4.0 5.9 5.8
3.4 3.6 3.6
11.4 11.0 11.3
14.7 15.2 15.3

19.1
16.3
12.4
11.6
10.5 5.3 7.9
62.5 55.0 66.8
35.3 24,4 35.0

20.0 20.9 21.1

24.7
35.1
14.6
23.0
40.9

16.6 16.5
11.9 12.0
9.7 10.6
68.1 69.7
35.5 36.5

22.2 21.2 21.4

21.4 17.0 17.0
30.0 33.0 31.6
49.0 46.5 46.5

71

R E T A IL P R IC E S O F FOOD,
C LE S OF FO O D IN 51 C IT IE S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
St. Paul. Minn.

Sait L ake C ity,U tah. San Francisco, Calif. Savannah, Ga.

Scranton, Pa.

Oct. 1,5—
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15, 15, 15, 15.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15,
15,
1923.
1923.
1922.
1923.
1923.
1923.11923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922 1923. 1923.
1913 1922

Oct. 15—

Cts.
26.4
23.0
20.4
16.8
10.8

Cts.
34. 0
27.2
26.9
20.0
10.6

Cts.
36.8
30.9
28.9
21.6
11.3

Cts.
34.6
29.3
27.7
21.3
11.5

Cts.
22.6
20. 0
19. 4
15. 0
12.5

Cts.
28.3
25.7
22.3
17.0
11.8

Cts.
27.9
24.0
20.8
16.9
11.6

Cts.
26. 5
23.7
20.8
16.3
11.7

Cts.
21.4
19.7
21.3
15.2
14.2

Cts.
30.3
27.3
28.5
17.7
14.2

Cts.
30.4
27.6
29.2
17.8
13.8

Cts.
31.0
27.4
29.6
18.5
14.3

Cts.
28.7
24.9
22.4
15.5
13.1

Cts.
31.7
25.8
24.6
15. 7
12.7

Cts.
30.4
25.4
23.3
15. 0
13.2

Cts.
26.0
22.0
23. 0
17.6
11.9

Cts. Cts. Cts.
46.9 50.7 49.3
37.8 41.6 40.3
35. 5 36. 5 36.1
25.9 26.7 26.9
11.5 11.1 11.1

20.4
27.0
- 28.8
16.1
18.0

34.2
41.6
45. 7
33.1
25.9

34.4
39.6
44.3
33.3
28.6

29.0
38.9
42.9
31.]
27.2

24,3
30. 0
30. 0
16.9
23.3

35.2
39.5
48.6
30.7
33.4

34.3
37.9
42.9
31.8
31.6

33.2
37.5
42.5
30. 8
31.5

24.2
34.4
34.0
16.7
24.5

38.5
53. 9
55.0
34.4
39.0

38.2
50.8
53. 5
35. 6
39.6

38.5
51.2
53.1
36.6
39.8

34.0
36.7
39.6
37.5
33.3

29.8
35.4
36.5
36.3
32.4

29.3
34.2
37. 0
36.3
34.2

22.8
27.5
30.0
17.3
21.8

39.9
43.1
55.3
42.5
42.4

41.6
41.8
54.0
46.6
42.3

39.1
41.7
53.8
45.2
41.3

35.2
7.8 11.0
11.3
36.5 45.3
28.3

34.8
12.0
12.1
50.3
27.7

34.4
33.0 34.7 34.7
12.0 8.7 9.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
12.1
11.0 10.9 10.9
51.1 39.0 48.9 53.6 52.9 40. Ö
2S. 6

28.2
13.0
10.5
63. 5
27.8

27.4
13.0
10.9
60.5
28.0

27.2
13.0
10. 9
60.9
28.6

35.3
17.3
10. 8
51.1
31.7

35.1
17.5
11.5
56.3
33.7

36.4
36.4
17.5 8.8 13.0
11.3
11.6
57.7 36.6 47. 7
33.2
26.6

35.1
14.0
12.3
53.5
31.0

35.2
14.0
12.2
54.7
29.5

27.8 28.3 27.8
28.1
32.2 21.0 38.3 38.4 39.7
20.2 18.0 19.2 19.2 19.5
25.4 25.6 26.1
28.4
55.0 56.4 66.6 53.7 66.8

29.0
32.5
18. 0
21.6
47.2

30.4
35.6
17.4
18.5
49.4

30.8
23.0
36.5 Ì8 .3 31.9
18.1 16. 0 17.7
79.7
23.2
52.6 45.8 60.0

24.0
35.8
17.8
22.8
49.1

25.0
36.4
IS. 5
23.5
56.3

44.1 37.8
9.2 8.7
4.8 5.3
4.8 2.7
9.3 8.7

8.5
5.2
3.2
8.8

37.9
8.7
5.5
6.0
9.6

9.1
5.1
5.8
9.6

41.2
8.9
5.1
5.8
9.6

9.9
26.5
22.7
8.5 9.7
11.1

10.1
25.6
22.7
9.4
12.6

10.1
25.6
22.6
9.6
12.4

26.8 26.3
21.0 32.3 34.9
15.3 17.7 17.8
24. S 24.0
32.3 42.9 37.7
37.6
9.4
4.9
3.4
9.3

9.4
4.4
3.6
9.9

10.0
26.2
19.0
io. ò 9.5
........ 10.4

10.0
25.0
18.7
9.6
11.4

6.0
2.9
2.5

1.3

........

28.8
28.9
20.1
26.2
49.3

27.3
31.7
19.5
27.4
41.1

35.7
38.1
9.4 5.9 9.5
4.4 2.4 3.2
3.7 3.4 3.6
9.8 ........ 9.2

9.8
3.2
3.7
9.1

11.5
26.3
21.0
8.2 9.0
10.2

11.5
24.9
18.9
8.6
10.9

26.4
35.2 24. 2
18.9 20.0
22.3
41.3 42.0

10.0
25.0
18.8
9.5
10.9

1.3 1.8 1.5
3.4 5. 8 6.0
1.9 2.9 3.4
14.5 14.2 14.2
14.6 14.5 14.6

16.3
14.6
5.0 8.1
45.0 64.2
30.0 40.7

16.5
14.2
10.1
67.1
40.4

1.4

19.6
20.4
214.4
56.0

15.6
13.4
10.5
82.6
44.1
17.5
16.9
215.2
44.1

9.2
4.8
4.9
9.2

5.6
3.6

2.6
2.7

3.5
4.1

3.5
4.0

2.2
6.3

15.4
17.3
13.4
114.5
ll.C 5.4 7.9
83.4 50.0 57.0
44.1 32.0 35.6

17.7
113.8
9.6
58.0
36.1

17.5
ill. 4
10.3
57.5
37.4

16.3
10.1
7.6
67.9
32.8

17.3
10.6
9.2
66.9
34.9

17.5
17.9
10.6
13.3
10.3 5.5 8.0
66.9 52.5 58.7
35.1 31.3 37.7

18.4
13.0
9.4
60.7
39.7

18.4
13.1
10.5
60.7
39.7

19.4
19.5
36.3
66.3

16.7
15.5
33.6
50.9

16.3
14.8
32.0
50.7

19.9
19.8
33.2
53.3

18.7
15.8
35.9
48.5

17.0
15.4
37.5
42.3

17.9
16.7
32.4
52.1

17.5
16.6
35.0
53.7

17.3
15.7
215.8
41.4

1.8

3.3 2.9 1.9 1.9
6.9 7.0
4.6
5.1 4.8
2.9
15.1 14.7 14.3 12.6 12.3 12.3
12.6
16.0 16.6 16.7 14.3 14.6 14.8 ........ 16.3

'l Per pound.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

40.8
8.5
5.2
3.4
8.7

11.5
10.7 10.5 10.4 9.0 9.1 9.1
24.9
25.1 23.2 23.0 24.7 24.2 23.5
19.2
13.7 14.3 15.3 17.9 17.5 17.1
8.8 8.5 9.2 9.2 9.2 S.1 8.1 S. 4
10.6 ........ 8.7 9.8 9.7 11.1 11.8 11.6

1.1 2.3 2.2
2.8 4.9 4.7
2.9 3.0 2.9
16.8 15. 5 15.4
14.6 14.4 14.3

16.0
16.5
14.4
14.1
10.5 5.8 8.9
67.1 65.7 79.1
40.4 35.8 44.1

22.1 20.8 19.9
22 7 IS. £ IS. 3
m . 4 M2.9 213.6
68.8 50.8 57.7

42.4
42.4
9.8 5.9 9.1
3.3 3.4 5.1
3.8 3.5 4.4
9.2 ........ 9.6

[1205]

18.8
20.9
32.8
61.5

3.6 2.9
6.6 6.3
4.6 3.6
12.1 12.2
16.2 16.1

72

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L 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.
Seattle, W ash.
Article.

U nit.

Sirloin s te a k ..
R ound s te a k .
R ib ro ast.......
Chuck ro a st..
P la te beef......
P o rk c h o p s...
Bacon, sliced.
H am , slic ed ..
L am b, leg of.
H en s...............
Salmon, canned, red .
Milk, fresh ...................
Milk, e v ap o rated.......
B u tte r...........................
O leom argarine............
N u t m a rg a rin e ...........
Cheese...........................
Vegetable lard su b stitu te
Eggs, strictly fresh...........
Eggs, storage.....................
B read ........... . ....................
F lo u r..................................
Corn m e a l..........................
Rolled o a ts........................
Corn flakes.........................
W heat cereal.....................
M acaroni............................
R ice.
Beans, n a v y ...........
P o ta to e s..................
O nions.....................
Cabbage...................
Beans, b ak ed .........
Corn, can n ed..........
Peas, can n ed..........
Tom atoes, canned.
Sugar, g ra n u la te d .
T e a ...........................
Coffee.......................
P rim es.....................
R aisins.....................
B an a n a s..................
Oranges...................

It)--

Sept. Oct.
15,
1922 1923. 1923.

Cts. Cts. Cts.
Pound.
24.3 30.3 30.7
___ do..
20.7 26. 5 26.4
___ do..
19.3 24.3 24.1
— ..do..
16.0 15.9 16.1
----- do..
13.0 12.4 12.5
.do.
24.3 37.1 38.6
.do.
32.5 49.3 49.8
.do.
30.0 52. C 52.0
.do.
17.7 31.5 32.2
.do.
24.3 29.8 32.0
___ do.......... .
31.2 31.0
Q u a rt...........
12.0 13.0
15-16-oz. can
10.7 10.9
P o u n d ..........
55.2 54.5
___do............
28.8 28.8
.do.
28.9 29.0
.do.
22.7 33.8 36.3
19.3 19.2
........do............
25. 5 24.8
D ozen........... 5Ò."Ô 56.2 47.8
........do............
42.0
Pound
5. 2
9.9
9.9
do
2.9
4.4
4.3
.. do..
3.3
4.2
3.8
........do..........
8.4
8.1
8-oz. pkp.
11.7 11.7
28-oz. p k g ...
26.9 24.7
P o u n d ..........
18.2 18.3
___ d o ....
11.0 11.1
----- do___
9.6 10.5
___ do___
1.9
2.4
___do___
3.3
4.8
___do ___
3.2
4.6
No. 2 can.
15.9 15.2
— do__
17.5 15.5
___do___
19.3 18.6
___do___
1 16.0 115.4
P o u n d ...
6.4
8.3 10.1
___do ___
50. 0 66.2 68.2
— do__
28.0 38.8 38.6
___do ___
.20.9 16.1
___do___
21.0 17.2
D ozen___
2 13. 8 2 15.9
___do___
66.4 48.2
1 No. 2J can.

Springfield, 111.

Washing;don, D. C.

Oct. Oct. 15— Sept Oct.
15, 15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
Oct. Sept.

Cts. Cts.
31.3 32.2
26.4 32.2
24.2 21. f
16..: 19.1
12.6 12.8
37.4 34.5
49.0 40.5
51. C 46.1
32.6 36.9
30.7 32.5
30.9 33.8
13.0 11.1
10.9 11.7
56.9 50.5
30.0 28.1
29.4 26.8
36.1 36.7
19.8 17.5
25.7 23.1
61.5 49.2
45.0 39.2
9.9
9.7
4.2
o. 1
4.2
4.2
8.3
9.9
11.6
9.7
24.6 26.8
18.3 20.5
11.6 10.3
10.6 10.9
2.4
2.0
4.9
4.6
3.5
3.7
15.4 14.1
17.5 14.5
19.3 17.9
1 15.0 15.0
11.0
8.7
70.4 71.1
38.6 35.9
16.2 21.7
17.3 24.2
2 15.7 2 10.3
51.3 60.0
2

Cts.
34.8
34.2
23.7
19. €
13.1
34.5
40. C
47.1
38.1
31.8
34.0
12.5
12.8
54.1
29.0
28.1
38.6
17.8
25.1
38.9
9.3
4.7
4.5
10.6
10.1
25.2
19.6
10.1
10.5
2.6
7.0
4.7
13.2
14.8
17.8
14.9
10.5
75.7
38.1
20.2
19.8
2 12.1
49.2

Cts. Cts.
34.5 27.4
33.2 23.5
23.2 20.7
19. f 17.3
13.0 12.7
31.4 23.5
39. f 27.1
46.1 30.0
38.1 19.1
32.5 22.5
34.4
12.5 9.0
12. Ç
55. 7 40.3
29.3
28.7
39.6 23.5
18.2 15.1
26.9
44.4 36.9
36.3
9.3 5.7
4.7 3.8
4.6 2.7
10.6
10.1
25.3
19.6
10.2 9.4
9.9
2.1 2.0
6.8
3.6
13.0
14.4
17.4
14. 7
11.6 5.1
77.4 57.5
37.5 28.8
19.2
19.0
2 12.3
51.5

Cts.
44.7
38.3
34.4
23.7
13.7
39.8
40.5
56.9
40.6
40.6
29.1
14.0
11.0
52.2
26.6
26.9
35.9
17.7
23.0
56.8
30. 5
8.5
5.1
3.7
9.3
9.4
25.3
21.6
10.6
10.6
2.7
4.8
3.9
11.9
14.3
16.3
11.2
7.6
75.5
34.0
22.1
21.4
35.8
62.1

Cts.
47.2
41.1
34.8
23.6
13.1
40.7
37.1
55.0
42.1
40.6
28.3
14.0
12.3
57.3
28.4
27.6
38.0
18.6
23.8
49.0
9.0
4.8
3.9
9.3
9.5
24.1
20.8
10.2
10.7
4.1
7.3
5.4
11.6
14.9
15.5
11.7
9.1
76.8
35.3
20.1
17.1
38.9
55.3

Cts.
45.7
40.3
34.4
24.0
13.2
37.2
37.0
54.7
41.4
40.7
28.4
14.0
12.3
58.5
29.8
28.8
39.4
19.0
24.2
55.6
40 5
9.0
4.8
3.9
9.3
9.5
24.1
2Î. 1
10.4
10.4
3.6
6.9
5.5
11.6
14.9
15.4
11.6
10.3
75.9
34.9
20.3
16.2
38.3
57.5

p er pound.

Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities.

'"PARLE 6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food7 in October, 1923, compared with the
average cost in the year 1913, in October, 1922, and in September,
1923. For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the one-^ear and
the one-month periods. These cities have been scheduled by the
bureau at different dates since 1913. These percentage changes are
based on actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers
and on the average family consumption of these articles in each city.8
•

7 For list of articles, see note 2, p. 52.
consum ption figure used from Jan u ary , 1913, to December, 1920, for each article in each city is given

in the Monthly L abor R eview for N ovem ber, 1918, p p . 94 an d 95. The consum ption figures w hich have
Deeii 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

[1296]

73

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.

Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have perfect
reporting cities. For the month of October 99 per cent of all the firms
reporting in the 51 cities sent in a report promptly. The following
were perfect reporting cities; that is, every merchant in the following
named 36 cities who is cooperating with the bureau sent in his report
in time for his prices to be included in the city averages:
Birmingham, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, Chicago, Cincinnati,
Dallas, Denver, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville,
Kansas City, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester,
Memphis, Minneapolis, Newark, New Haven, New Orleans, Norfolk,
Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Portland, Me., Portland, Oreg., Rich­
mond, St. Louis, St. Paul, San Francisco, Savannah, Scranton, Seat­
tle, Springfield, 111.
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 , 1023.
Geographical division.
U nited
States.

Item .

Percentage of reports received.......................
N um ber of cities in each section from
w hich every report was received..............

N orth
South
N orth
A tlantic. A tlantic. C entral.

South
Central. W estern.

99

98

97

99

99.5

99.5

36

9

4

10

7

6

T able 6 .—P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S IN T H E R E T A IL COST O F FO O D IN O C TO B ER , 1923,
C O M PA R ED W IT H T H E COST IN S E P T E M B E R , 1923, O C TO B ER , 1922, A N D W IT H T H E
A V E R A G E COST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y C IT IE S.
Percentage increase October, 1923,
com pared w ith —

Percentage increase October, 1923,
com pared w ith —
City.

City.

O ctober,
1922.

1913
A tla n ta ............
B altim ore...........
B irm ingh am ___
B o sto n ..
B ridgeport..........
B uffalo................
B u tte ...................
Charleston
Chicago__
C incinnati_
C leveland...........
C olum bus.. . .
D allas
D enver................
D etroit__
F a ll R iv e r__
H o u sto n . . .
In d ia n a p o lis-----

Septem ­
ber, 1923.

O ctober,
1922.

1913

47
57
51

6
7
5
4
8

1
1 0. 3
‘ 0.1
0. 1
0

M ilw aukee.........
M inneapolis........
Mobile 7...............
N ew ark ...............
New H a v en ........

50
45

54

2
3
7
6

11
0.3
0.4
11
1

7
6
2
6
7

49
55
48
49
45
37

K ansas C ity .......

44
43
41

L ittle R o ck ........
Fo,s Angeles
Ronisville.
Man ehester
Mcm phis

41
47
39
52
40

50
54

6
4
5
5
6

11
11
1 0.4
1
1

New O rleans___
New Y o rk ..........
N orfolk...............
O m aha................
Peoria..................

46
57

3
5

44

5
3

1
1
1 0.4
11
1 0.1

11
1
1
0.3
12

P h ilad e lp h ia __
P ittsb u rg h ..........
P o rtlan d , Me__
P o rtlan d , O reg..
P rovidence.........

54

6
9
3
4
4

0.4
2
1
3
0.2

7
3
8
5
3

1
0.4
12
2
11

R ic h m o n d ..........
R ochester...........
St. Louis.............
St. P a u l...............
S alt L ake C ity ...

58

4

49

5
4
6

‘1
0.1
0.3
11
2

3
4
5
Ô

0
3
11
0.2
11

San F ran cisco ...
S av an n ah ...........
S cran to n .............
S e a ttle .................
Springfield, 111..
; W ashington,D .C

2
4
6
5
3
4

3
0.4
1 0.4
3
1 0.4
0.4

1 Decrease.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Septem ­
ber, 1923.

[1297]

40
57

31
51
48
59

74

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Retail Prices of Coal in the United States.«

HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
January 15 and July 15, 1913; October 15, 1922; and Sep­
tember 15 and October 15, 1923, for the United States and for
each of the cities from which prices have been obtained. 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 bins where an
extra handling is necessary.

T

A V ER 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 JA N U A R Y 15 AN D JU L Y 15, 1913, O C T O B E R 15, 1922, A N D S E P T E M B E R 15
A N D O C TO B ER 15, 1923.
1913

1922

1923

City, and k in d of coal.
Jan . 15.
U n ite d S ta te s :
P en n sy lv an ia a n th ra c ite —
S to v e .....................................................
C h e s tn 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 a n th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e s tn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
B irm ingham , Ala.:
B itu m in o u s.........
Boston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania a n th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e s tn u t...............................................
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e s tn u t................................................
Buffalo, N . Y .:
P ennsylvania an th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e s tn u t...............................................
B utte, M ont.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
C harleston, S. C.:
Pennsylvania a n th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania a n th racite—
Stove.................................. ...................
C h e s tn u t...............................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................

Ju ly 15.

Oct. 15.

Sept. 15.

Oct. 15.

$7. 99
8.15
5.48

$7.46
7.68
5.39

$15. 39
15.37
11.26

$15. 26
15.21
9.99

$15.83
15. 79
10.12

5. 87

4.83

10. 79

8.29

S. 21

i 7.70
i 7.93

1 7. 24
1 7.49

i 15. 75
i 15. 75
10. 92

i 15.92
i 15. 75
8. 20

1 16.75
i 16.50
8.40

4. 22

4. 01

7. 77

8.03

S. 36

8. 25
S. 25

7.50
7. 75

15. 00
15.00

15.50
15. 50

16.00
16.00

15. 63
15.63

16.25
10. 00

16.00
16.00

13. 24
13.24

13.11
13.11

13.66
13.66

11.53

11.32

11.39

0. 75
0.99

(i. 54
G. 80

1 8.38
i 8. 50
i 6. 75

1 8.00
i 0. 75

12. 00

1 17.00
1 17.05
12.00

1 17.00
i 17.10
12.00

S. 00
8.25
4.97

7. 80
8.05
4.65

15.98
15.05
10. 94

16.44
16.44
8. 73

17.00
17.00
8.77

1 Per to n of 2,240 pounds.
« Prices of coal were form erly .secured sem iannually a n d published in th e March and Septem ber issues
ef th e Monthly L abor R eview . Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured a nd published

m onthly.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[129S]

75

RETAIL PRICES OF COAL.

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 SE , ON JA N U A R Y 15 A N D JU L Y 15, 1913, O C T O B E R 15, 1922, A N D S E P T E M B E R 15
A N D O C TO B ER 15, 1923—C ontinued.
1922

1913

1923

City, and kind of coal.
Jan. 15.
C incinnati, Ohio:
B itum inous . . . .
..............................
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
.................................................
Stove
C h e s tn u t...............................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Colum bus, Ohio:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
D allas, Tex.:
A rkansas an th racite—
E g g ....................... ................................
B itu m in o u s............ .....................................
D enver, Colo.:
Colorado an th racite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ix ed ....................
Stove, 3 a n d 5 m ix e d .........................
B itu m in o u s .................................................
D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................
C h e s tn u t...............................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Fall R iver, M ass.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
H ouston, Tex.:
B itu m in o u s.................................................
Indianapolis, In d .:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove......................................................
C h e s tn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Jacksonville, F la.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
K ansas C ity, Mo.:
A rkansas an th racite—
Stove, No. 4 ..........................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
L ittle Rock, A rk .:
A rkansas an th racite—
E g g .........................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Los Angeles, Calif.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Louisville, K y .:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
M anchester, N . H .:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove..................................................
C h estn u t................................................
M emphis, Tenn.:
B itu m in o u s. . . .
M ilwaukee, W is.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove......................................................
C h e s tn u t...............................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Mobile, Ala.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
N ew ark, N. J.:
P ennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
New H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania a n th r a c ite sto v e .......................................................
C h estn u t................................................
5 Per 10-barrel lots (1,800 pounds).

71915°—23---- G

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Ju ly 15.

Oct. 15.

Sept. 15.

Oct. 15.

S3.50

S3.38

$9. 60

SS. 58

$8.58

7.50

7.25
7.50
4.14

15. 66
15.66
10.57

14. 75
14. 75
9.56

15.48
15.48
9.57

9.58

7.54

7.49

4.14

8. 25

7.21

17. 50
15.41

16. 92
13. 79

17.25
13.79

8. 8S
8. 50
5. 25

9.00
8. 50
4. 88

17. 00
17. 00
11.16

16. 75
16. 75
10. 72

17.00
17.00
10.70

8.00
8. 25
5. 20

7. 45
7.65
5. 20

15. 56
12.19

16. 25
16.19
10. 29

16.63
16.63
10.20

S. 25
8. 25

7. 43
7. 61

15. 58
15.33

15. 50
15.42

16.17
16.08

12. 75

12. 50

13.00

8.95
9.15
3.81

3. 70

15. 75
15. 75
9.71

16.00
16. 00
8.13

17.00
16.25
8.19

7.50

7.00

15.00

13. 00

13.00

4.39

3.93

17. 00
17. 81
9.91

16.14
17.06
8. 40

16.36
17.25
8.56

6.00

5.33

15. 00
13.29

14. 00
10. 54

15.00
11.25

13.52

12.50

16. 50

15. 50

15.50

4. 20

4.00

10.34

8.62

8.57

10.00
10.00

8. 50
8. 50

17.00
17.00

17.17
17.17

18.00
17.50

2 4.34

2 4.22

9.50

7.43

7.45

8. 00
8.25
6.25

7. 85
8.10
5. 71

16.11
16.08
12.35

16.00
16.00
10. 29

10. 77
16. 71
10.88

9. 25
9. 50
5. 89

9. 05
9. 30
5. 79

17. 50
17.47
13. 82

17. 50
17.38
11.96

18.03
18.09
11.92

10. 47

9. 79

11.07

8.00

6. 50
6. 75

6. 25
6.50

12. 75
12. 75

12. 75
12. 75

■ 13.45
13. 53

7.50
7. 50

6.25
6.25

15.13
15.13

15. 75
15. 75

15.92
15.92

[1299j

76

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,

A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F COAL P E R T O N O F 2,000 PO U N D S, F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , ON JA N U A R Y 15 A N D JU L Y 15, 1913, O C T O B E R 15, 1922, A N D S E P T E M B E R 15
AN D O C TO B ER 15, 1923—C ontinued.
1922

1913

1923

City, a n d k in d of coal.
Jan. 15.
N ew Orleans, La.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
N ew Y ork, N. Y .:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
S to v e ... .■...............................................
C h e s tn u t................................................
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania a n th r a c ite sto v e .......................................................
C h e s tn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Om aha, N ebr.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Peoria, 111.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
P hiladelphia, Pa.:
Pen n sy lv an ia a n th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h estn u t................................................
P ittsb u rg h , P a.
P en n sy lv an ia a n th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e s tn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
P o rtlan d , Me.:
P en n sy lv an ia a n th r a c ite Stove.......................................................
C h estn u t................................................
P o rtlan d , Oreg.:
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Providence, R . I.:
P en n sy lv an ia an th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
R ichm ond, Va.:
Pen n sy lv an ia a n th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h e stn u t................................................
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Rochester, N . Y .:
Pen n sy lv an ia an th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h estn u t................................................
S t. Louis, Mo.:
Pen n sy lv an ia an th racite—
Stove....................................................
C h estn u t......................................
B itu m in o u s..............................................
St. Paul, M inn.:
Pen n sy lv an ia a n th r a c ite Stove.................................................
C h estn u t.................................
B itu m in o u s..........................................
Salt Lake City, U tah .:
Colorado anth racite—
Furnace, 1 an d 2 m ix ed...............
Stove, 3 an d 5 m ix e d ...................
B itu m in o u s................................................
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico an th racite—
Cerillos egg............................................
Colorado an th racite—
E g g .............................................................

Oct. 15.

Sept. 15.

Oct. 15.

$10.00
10. 50
2 6.06

$10. 00
10. 50
2 6. 06

$19. 50
19. 50
10. 33

20.75
9.72

$20. 75
20. 75
10.13

7. 07
7.14

6.66
6.80

13.83
13. 83

14.50
14.50

14.58
14.58

16.00
16.00
11.62

15.00
15.00
11.36

16.13
16.13
11.38

12.60

10.85

10. 85

8.48

6.46

6.35

6.63

6.13

i 7.16
1 7.38

i 6.89
i 7.14

i 14.54
i 14.54

i 15.43
1 15.00

i 16.14
1 16.00

1 7. 94
i 8.00
3 3.16

1 7.38
1 7. 44
3 3.18

1 17.00
1 17.00
8.38

1 17.00
1 17.00
7.54

1 18. .50
1 18. .50
7.54

15.84
15. 84

15. 84
15.84

16.56
16.56

13.20

13.89

4 15.30
15.30

416.25
416.25

9.79

9.66

14.31

< 8.25
4 8.25

4 7. 50
4 7. 75

< 15.50
415.50

S. 00
8. 00
5.50

7.25
7.25
4.94

15.42
15.42
12.60

16. 50
11.91

16.63
16.63
11.78

13.45
13.45

13.45
13.45

14.10
14.10

4

8.44
8.68
3.36

7.74
7.99
3.04

16.19
16.25
8.66

16.38
16. 56
7.08

17.13
17.38
7.26

9.20
9.45
6.07

9.05
9.30
6.04

17.75
17.73
13.94

17. 50
17.35
12.39

18.15
18.09
12.37

11.00
11.00

11.50
11.50
5.46

20.00
20.00

5.64

17.50
17.50
8.30

17.50
17.50
8.81

17.00

17.00

26.75

26.50

26.50

17.00

17.00

24.25

12.00

17.90

24.50
16.80

24.50
16.90

12.00
B itu m in o u s..................................................
1 P er to n of 2,240 pounds.
2 P e r 10-barrel lots (1,800 po u n d s).
3 Per 25-bushel lots (1,900 pounds).
4 Fifty cents per to n additional is charged for “ b in n in g .”
th e coal in to th e cellar.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Ju ly 15.

[1300]

9.50

Most custom ers require binning or basketing

77

RETAIL PRICES OF COAL.

A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F CO AL P E R T O N O F 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U S E , ON JA N U A R Y 15 A N D JU L Y 15, 1913, O C T O B E R 15, 1922, AN D S E P T E M B E R 15
A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1923—C oncluded.
1922

1913

1923

C ity, a n d an d k in d of coal.
Jan. 15.
Savannah, Ga.:
Pennsy lv an ia anthracite—
Stove....
.............................
C hestnut
B itu m in o u s..................................................
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsy lv an ia an thracite—
Stove...................... ...............................
C h estn u t...............................................
Seattle, W ash.:
B itu m in o u s.......................................... .......
Springfield, 111.:
B itu m in o u s........
"Washington, D . C.:
Pennsy lv an ia an th racite—
Stove.......................................................
C h estn u t................................................

Ju ly 15.

O ct. 15.

Sept. 15.

O ct. 15.

6 $18.10
5 17.10
6 12.18

6 $17.05
6 17.05
6 11.72

s $17.05
5 17.05
6 11.90

$4.25
4.50

$4.31
4.56

9.78
10.27

9.82
9.82

10.53
10.53

«7.63

6 7.70

6 10.21

6 10.10

6 10.21

5.73

4.50

4.53

1 15.63
i 15.63
i 11.24

1 15.33
1 15.21
i 9.77

1 16.20
i 15.98
i 9.10

17.50
i 7.65

17.38
i 7.53

1 P e r ton of 2,240 pounds.
s 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 half to n is m ade.
T his additio n al charge has been included in th e above prices.
6 Prices in Zone A . T h e cartage charges in Zone A were as follows: Jan u a ry an d Ju ly , 1913,80.50; O ctober,
1922, 81.25 to $1.75; Septem ber an d October, 1923, 81.25. These charges have been included in the prices

Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in October, 1923.

SLIGHT downward tendency in the general trend of wholesale
prices is shown for October by information gathered by the
United States Department of Labor through the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. The bureau’s index number, which includes 404
commodities or price series weighted according to their commercial
importance, declined to 153 compared with 154 for September.
The lowering of the general price level was due mainly to further
declines in fuels and metals. Among fuel and lighting materials
there were appreciable decreases in prices of bituminous coal, coke,
crude oil, and gasoline. Anthracite coal averaged higher than in
September. Decreases in pig iron, steel billets, copper, and lead
brought the level for metals well below that of the month before.
In the cloths and clothing group the strong reaction in raw silk from
the high prices of the preceding month, together with the lower prices
of worsted yarns, forced the price level downward despite rising costs
of cotton goods. A small decrease took place also in the group of
miscellaneous commodities, due to declines in sole leather and rubber.
Among farm products decreases in cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry,
onions, and potatoes were offset by advances in grain, cotton, eggs,
flaxseed, hides, and alfalfa and clover hay, the price level remaining
unchanged. No change was reported for building materials and
house-furnishing goods, also, while small increases took place among
foods and chemicals and drugs.
Of the 404 commodities or series of quotations for which com­
parable data for September and October were collected, increases
were shown in 136 instances and decreases in 104 instances. In 164
instances no change in price was reported.
[1301],

A


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

78

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 , B Y G R O U P S O F C O M M O D IT IE S.
[1913= 100.]
1923
O ctober,
1922.

Group.

F a rm p ro d u c ts............................................
F oods.............................................................
Cloths and clothing....................................
F u el and lig h tin g.......................................
M etals a n d m etal p ro d u cts......................
B uilding m a te ria ls.....................................
Chemicals an d d ru g s.................................
H ouse-furnishing goods............................
Miscellaneous...............................................
All com m odities.........................................

138
140
1S8
226
135
183
124
176
120
154

Septem ­ O ctober.
ber.
144
147
202
176
144
1S2
128
183
121
154

144
148
199
172
142
182
129
183
120
153

Comparing prices in October with those of a year ago, as measured
by changes in the index numbers, it is seen that the general price
level has declined less than 1 per cent. Fuel and lighting materials
averaged 24 per cent lower than in October, 1922, while building
materials were slightly lower. The group of miscellaneous commodi­
ties showed no change in the price level. In all other groups prices
were appreciably higher than in October of last year.
Wholesale Prices in the United States and Foreign Countries, 1913
to September, 1923.

N THE following table the more important index numbers of
wholesale prices in the United States and several foreign coun­
tries, as compiled by recognized authorities, have been reduced
to a common base, in order that the trend of prices in the several
countries 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 each year
or month on the original base by the index for 1913 on that base.
These results are therefore to be regarded only as approximations of
the correct index numbers in the case of series constructed by aver­
aging the relative prices of individual commodities.1 This applies
to the index numbers of the Statistique Générale of France, the
series for Italy constructed by Prof. Riccardo Bachi, and the series
here shown for Japan. The index numbers of the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, those of the Bureau of Statistics of Canada,
and those of 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, Canada,
the United Kingdom, and Australia are reproduced as published, the
last three series being rounded off to three figures. 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

1 For a discussion of index nu m b ers constructed according to th is m ethod, see B ulletin No. 181 of the
XJ. S. B ureau of Labor Statistics, p p . 245-252.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1302]

WHOLESALE PRICES.

79

W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T 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.
[Index num bers expressed as percentages of th e in d ex n u m b er for 1913.
U nited
States:
B ureau
of Labor
Statis­
Y ear and tics (re­
m onth. vised);!
404 com­
m odi­
ties
(vari­
able).

Canada: U nited
Dom in­ K ing­
ion B u ­ dom:
reau of B oard of
Statis­ T rade
tics; (revised);
238 com­ 150 com­
m odi­
modi­
ties.
ties.

1913...........
1914...........
1915...........
1916...........
1917...........
1918............
1919...........
1920...........
1921...........
1922...........

100
98
101
127
177
194
206
226
147
149

208
241
170
150

1920
J a n u a ry ...
F e b ru a ry .
M arch.......
A pril.........
M ay ..........
.1u n e ..........
In ly ...........
A uipist__
Septem ber
O c to b er...
N ovem ber
December.

233
232
234
245
247
243
241
231
226
211
196
179

233
238
241
251
257
255
256
250
245
236
224
212

1921
J a n u a ry ...
F e b ru a ry .
M arch.......
A pril..........
May...........
J u n e ..........
Ju ly ...........
A ugust___
Septem ber
O cto b er...
N ovem ber
D ecember.

170
160
155
148
145
142
141
142
141
142
141
140

202
191
186
181
171
164
163
166
162
156
1.54
154

1922
J a n u a ry ...
F ebruary .
M arch.......
A pril.........
M ay...........
J u n e ..........
Ju ly ...........
A ugust__
Septem ber
O c to b er...
N ovem ber
D ecember.

13S
141
142
143
148
150
155
155
153
154
156
156

1923
J a n u a ry ...
F ebruary .
M arch.......
A pril.........
M ay...........
J u n e ..........
J u ly ...........
A ugust__
Septem ber

156
157
159
159
156
153
151
150
154

100

100

France: mGer­
any:
StatisIta ly :
Statis­ Riccardo
ticpie
tisches
Géné­
Bachi;
Reichs­ 100 com­
rale;
am t;
45 com­
modi­
modi­ 38 com­ ties. 2
modi­
ties.
ties.

307
197
159

100
102
140
188
262
339
356
510
315
327

297
310
319
325
326
322
317
313
311
302
287
264
246
225

Sweden:
Göte­
borgs
Handelstidning;
47 com­
modi­
ties.

100
96
97
117
147
192
236
259
200
196

3 100

1486
1911.
34180

100
95
133
201
299
409
364
624
578
562

487
522
554
588
550
493
496
501
256
502
461
435

1256
1685
1709
1567
1508
1382
1367
1450
1498
1466
1509
1440

508
557
602
664
660
632
604
625
655
659
670
655

205
202
198
194
190
187
181
173
168

407
377
360
347
329
325
330
331
344
331
332
326

1439
1376
1338
1326
1308
1366
1428
1917
2067

150
152
151
151
152
151
152
150
145
146
150
151

164
162
160
160
161
160
160
156
154
155
158
156

314
306
307
314
317
325
325
331
329
337
352
362

151
153
155
156
155
155
154
153
155

157
158
160
161
160
159
157
155
158

211

100

Japan:
B ank of
Jap a n ,
Tokyo;
56 com­
m odi­
ties.

See te x t explanation.]

116
145
1S5
244

Aus­
New
tralia:
Zea­
B ureau
land:
of Cen­ Census
sus and and Sta­
Statis­ tistics
tics; 92 Office;
com­ 140 com­
modi­
m odi­
ties.
ties.

4

inn
141
132
146

100
102
121
148

339

170

331

ISO

347
211
162

218
167
154

175
208
197
174

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
206
205
215
215
216
218
214
214

3416
3487

642
613
604
584
547
509
520
542
580
599
595
595

201
195
191
190
191
192
196
199
207
219
214
209

267
250
237
229
218
218
211
198
182
175
174
172

196
192
181
171
166
162
159
160
160
156
151
148

212
206
204
201
198
196
196
193
193
191
187
185

3665
4102
5433
6355
6458
7030
10059
19202
28698
56601
115101
147430

577
562
533
527
524
537
558
571
582
601
596
580

206
204
201
197
194
197
201
195
193
190
188
183

170
166
164
165
164
164
165
163
15S
155
154
155

147
147
146
148
155
156
157
155
158
159
162
161

182
178
■ 176
176
174
172
174
174
171
171
173
169

387
278480
422
558500
424
488800
521200
415
406
817000
409 1930500
407 7478700
413 94404100
424 39000000

575
582
586
588
5.80
568
566
567
569

184
192
196
196
199
198
192

156
158
162
159
158
160
157
163
155

163
161
163
167
170
178
ISO
175
172

168
170
171
171
173
174
173
172

2460

172

1 F or particulars concerning revised index numbers, see Monthly L abor R eview for July, 1922, p p .
59 and 60.
2 38 commodities prior to 1920: 76 commodities in 1921.
* July , 1913, to Ju n e, 1914.
* July, 1914.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1303]

80

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

House Rents in Christiania, Norway, 1900 to 1922.

OCIALE Meddelelser No. 7 ,1923, issued by the Norwegian Depart­
ment for Social Affairs (Departement for Sociale SaJcer), con­
tains a brief account of house rents in Christiania, 1900-1922.
During the last year (information was received for 88 per cent of the
apartments in 1922) house rents increased for all apartments except
in the two largest apartment types. Increases were irregular, the two
and three room apartments increasing 0.5 per cent and the three to
five room apartments increasing on an average of 4 per cent.
The table following gives rents in Christiania for apartments with
from 2 to 11 rooms for the period 1900-1922. It also shows the
percentage of increase since 1910, the period before the large increase
in house rents, and since 1914.
Compared with 1910 the increases range from 67 to 87 per cent,
being smallest for the 2-room apartments and highest for the 8 and 9
room apartments. The percentage of increase since 1914 has been
considerably less, being less for the 2 and 3 room apartments than
for the others. A weighted average for all size types shows an
increase in house rents of 37 per cent since February 1, 1914.

S

A V E R A G E Y E A R L Y R E N T IN C H R IS T IA N IA , N O R W A Y , 1900-1922, A N D P E R C EN T O F
IN C R E A SE FR O M D E C E M B E R 1, 1910, TO D E C E M B E R 1, 1922, A N D FR O M F E B R U A R Y 1,
1914, TO D E C E M B E R 1, 1922.
[Krone a t p a r= 2 6 .8.]
Average yearly re n ta l of a p artm e n ts w ith—
D ate.

D ec. 3, 1900................
D ec. 31, 1905..............
Dec. 1, 1910................
F eb . 1,1914................
F eb . 1, 1920................
Dec. 1,1921................
D ec. 1, 1922................

11
2
4
5
6
8
9
10
3
7
rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms. rooms.
Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner. Kroner.
1G5
545
763
1,298
1,619
1,951
200
388
1,000
1,839
204
428
595
1,068
1,328
1,718
1,827
132
301
799
154
242
358
513
727
947
1,193
1,690
1,406
1,740
198
657
908
1,477
2,026
2,135
313
457
1,180
1,791
232
372
1.525
2,873
2,670
548
811
1,169
1.936
2, 309
004
902
1,294
3,082
3,303
250
413
1,685
2,166
2,609
935
257
033
1,335
2,636
3,026
410
1, 708
2,221
3,000
P er cent of increase.

Dec. 1,1910, to Dec.
1, 1922......................
Feb. 1,1914, to Dec.
1, 1922......................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

67

72

77

82

84

80

86

87

7S

74

30

33

39

42

47

45

50

47

48

42

[1304]

W AGES AND H O U R S O F LA BO R.
The 48-hour Week in Industry.
O y J . C . B o w e n , o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s .

ROM the time when the manual worker toiled from daylight
until dark down to the present he has been hoping for, demand­
ing, and slowly getting a reduction of hours of labor. It took
many years, centuries in fact, to advance from a 12 and 14 hour day
to a 10-hour day. Years more elapsed before he got even a touch on
the 9-hour day, then, as the 9-hour day became in part a realization,
a start was made for an 8-hour day.
This reduction of hours of labor has come mainly to the building
mechanic, the factory employee, the miner, and the railroad man.
Practically no statistical data are available to show the extent to
which the agricultural wage earner has been affected.
Prior to the World War the 8-hour day was enjoyed by compara­
tively few workers, and these were mainly in the building and print­
ing trades and in Federal and State Government employ. The
8-liour movement, however, has grown so rapidly since 1914 that
there is now scarcely an industry or trade that does not contain a
greater or less number of 8-hour workers. Several State legislatures
have established by law the 8-hour workday in public employment,
and many cities have adopted the 8-hour day for their employees.
The principle of the 8-hour day was accepted by the War Labor
Board and has since been recognized by nearly eveiy labor board or
commission.
The practice of working fewer hours on Saturday than on other
days of the week, thus reducing the hours of many employees to 44
or even less per week, is also making progress.
Quite an amount of statistical information is available concerning
hours of labor, but it is scattered through various reports. The
most important of the material available is assembled in this article
so as to give as far as possible a comparatively recent survey of
working hours in the different industrial fields of the United States.
The greatest sources of information are the United States Census Office
reports and reports of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics,
though considerable information is also found in State reports. As
nearly all of the material herein used comes from published reports
few figures are available for 1923. Prewar and postwar conditions
are brought into comparison in some of the tables.
Most of the information here presented is in the form of hours per
week rather than in the form of hours per day, but the hours per
day may very generally be inferred from the "hours per week. A
60-hour week generally means a 10-hour day; a 54-hour week a
9-hour day; and a 48-hour week an 8-hour day. There are excep­
tions, however; for example, there may be a 9-hour day from Monday
to Friday with 5 hours on Saturday, making a 50-hour week, and
quite often there may be a day of 8§ hours with 4§ hours on Satur­
day? making a 48-hour week. This latter combination of hours is
frequently looked upon as an 8-hour day. In a few instances the
8-hour day is followed by a full Saturday holiday, making a week of
only 40 hours.

F


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1305]

81

82

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Of the 6,615,046 wage earners covered by the Census of Manu­
factures in 1909, only 523,652 or 7.9 per cent, worked 48 hours or
less per week, while by 1919 the working time had been so far reduced
that 4,418,693, or 48.6 per cent, of the 9,096,372 wage earners covered
in that year were on that basis. The number of wage earners
whose working time was less than 48 hours per week is not avail­
able for 1909 or 1914, but, in 1919, 1,111,107 employees, or 12.2 per
cent, had a working week of 44 hours or under, and 346,179, or 3.8
per cent, were reported between 44 and 48 hours.
Combining the figures shown in the table following it is seen that
only 30.6 per cent of the wage earners had a week of 54 hours or less
in 1909, while in 1914 the percentage was 51.1, or more than onehalf of the whole number covered, and in 1919 the percentage had
increased to 74.1 or nearly three-fourths of all wage earners in
manufacturing industries. Space does not permit the presentation
of figures for each industry, but percentages are shown for industries
having 100,000 or more wage earners in 1919.
Figures are not available for all the industries for 1909, owing to
the differing classifications of industries, but a comparison as between
1914 and 1919 is shown for each industry. Some combination of
Census Office industry classifications has been necessary in order to
make them comparable from year to year. Employees were classified
by the Census Office according to the prevailing hours of the establish­
ment in which they worked, no attempt being made to classify each
individual employee, because in most establishments practically all
the employees worked the same number of hours, so that the figure
for any given group would represent to a large extent the classifi­
cation of individuals.
To some extent the 8-hour basic day does not necessarily mean an
actual working-day of 8 hours ; occasionally longer hours are worked,
with an increased rate for all time in excess of 8 hours.
P E R C E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S IN 1909, 1914, A N D 1919, IN
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S W O R K IN G EA C H C L A S S IF IE D N U M B E R O F H O U R S P E R W E E K :
A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S AN D S E L E C T E D IN D U S T R IE S E M P L O Y IN G IN
1919 O V E R 100,000 W A G E E A R N E R S .
[Source: R eports of th e Census of M anufactures for 1909, 1914, and 1919.]
Per cent of employees whose prevailing hours of labor
per w eek were—

In d u stry .

Ail m anufacturing industries combined.
Industries employing over
100,000 wage earners in
1919.
.Automobiles ( i n c l u d i n g
bodies and p arts).
Boots and shoes 3..................

Y ear.

48 Over
48
an d and
u n ­ under
der.
54.

48 a n d under, in
detail.

54

Over
54
and
under
60.

60

Over
60.

8.7
5.8
3.0

1909
1914
1919

6,615,046
7,036,247
9,096,372

7.9
11.9
48.6

7.3
13.4
16.4

15. 4
25.8
9.1

30.2
21.9
13.7

30.5
21.1
9.1

1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919

75,721
127,092
343,115
198,297
200,088
229,705

.4
11.3
44.0
.4
2.7
62.8

3.0
22.0
36.7
3.3
12.2
22.4

30.0
14.0
5. 3
24.0
40.9
9.8

35.2
42.8
13.0
57.3
41.2
4.0

29.4
9.9
.8
14.9
3.0

1 Not. reported in d etail.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T otal
average
wage
earners.

1.9

GO

(2)
.1

. 0 (a)

44 Over
44
a nd and
48
un­
under
der.
48.

G)

0)
12.2

G)
(')

3.8

G)
(0

32.6

g>

G)

0)
2.5

0)
1.7

G)
39.9

12.2

42.1

m
G)

8.5

0)
O)

G)

G)
G)

3 Includes boots and shoes, c u t stock, and findings,
18,656 in 1919.

[1306]

83

THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IN INDUSTRY,

P E R C E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S IN 1909. 1914, A N D 1919, IN
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S W O R K IN G EA C H C L A S S IF IE D N U M B E R OF H O U R S P E R W E E K :
A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S A N D S E L E C T E D IN D U S T R IE S E M P L O Y IN G IN
1919 O V E R 100,000 W A G E E A R N E R S —Concluded.
Per cen t of employees whose prevailing hours of labor
per week were—

In d u stry .

Year.

Total
average
wage
earners.

48 an 1 unde r, in
détail.
48 Over
48
a n d and
u n ­ under
der.
54.

54

Over
54
an d
under
60.

60

11.2
8.3
3.7
20.1
13.7
22.4
6.0

49.8
30.1
7.8
15.6
4.9
.4
1.5

10.9
5.1
1.8
13.3
14.9
.3
.1

1 .1

.1
5.0

.1

75.6

.6

0)

Over
60.

Over
44
44
a n d and
un­
under
der.
48.

48

In d u s tr ie s c m p lo y in g over
1 0 0 ,0 0 0 w a g e e a r n e r s i n

H ill—Concluded.
B read and other baking
products.
Cars and general shop construction and repairs by
steam railroads.
Clothing, m e n ’s 4...................
Clothing, w o m en 's...............
C otton goods and sm all
wares.
Electrical m achinery, app aratu s and supplies.
F oundry and m achine-shop
products.6
F u rn itu re (including refrigerators).
Iron a n d steel:
B last fu rn aces6..............
Steel works a n d rolling
mills.
K n it goods a n d h o s ie ry .. . .
L um ber a n d tim b e r produ c ts.4
P a p e r an d wood p u lp ____
P rin tin g an d publishing
(new spaper, periodical,
book an d job).
R u b b er tires, tubes, e tc ___
Shipbuilding, steel and
wood, including boat
building.
Silk goods................................
Slaughtering
packing.

and

m eat

Tobacco, cigars, a n d eigarettes.
Woolen an d w o rste d 4..........

1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919

100,216
124,052
141,592
282,174
339,518
484,437
173,747
175,270
153,743
168,907
165,649
378,880
385,964
440,362
87,256
118,078
212,374
398,316
661,163
128,452
133,498
144,117

1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1909
1914
1919
1914
1919

38,429
29', 356
41,660
240!076
248,716
375,088
129,275
150, 520
172, 572
479,786
480,945
75,978
88,457
113,759
258,434
227' 496
243; 386
26, 521
50, 220
1 1 9 ; 848
40, 506
44' 489
387, 446
99 037
108,170
126; 782
89, 728
98; 832
160, 996
166, 810
152; 892
138, 773
158 692
166. 787

6.4
11.7
60.0
7.5
21.9
73.3
20.2
90.4
4.8
7.0
89.5
.1

.3
39.3
1.3
3.5
59.0
4.5
37.5
4.4
8.1
18.2

3.1
5.6
8.6
7.9
14.9
2.2
50.6
5.9
43.9
72.9
9.2
.8
- .5
3.8
15.9
25.9
25.1
11.9
25.9
4.1
9.0
29.3

18.6
39.2
17.9
35.6
29.7
1.5
21.7
2.4
24.1
17.0
1.0
.2
39.8
14.2
23.8
32.9
5.1
30.8
13.1
12.7
22.5
15.6

21.6
2.8
.3
50.4
18.2
31.9
52.2
35.3
9.3
36.8
19.0
22.5
28.0
28.3

.3

( 2)

17.1
.4
.1

3.0
15.2
5.3
.3
(*)
. 1 6.3 19.6
1.7 10.0 12.1 34.2
7.7 10.3 18.5 31.3
3.3
3.7 19.2 21.9
3.7 50.6 38.6
2.6
5.2 58.2 22.8 11.0
26.7 17.6 13.9
2.7
5.1 74.1
2.3
4.5
7.5 56.7
3.8
5.6
8.7 30.2
8.0
4.5
6.3 14.4 11.8 21.5
3.3
7.0
6.2 10.0
7.4
16.1 18.3
4.2
11. 9 12. 8
2. 8
1.9
1.9
.7
6.8
4.0
4 5 20. 4 54.6 19. 8
7.1
19. 2 16. 0 50.6
2.1
15.3
1.0 16.1
6. 6 24. 4 24. 8 34. 7
17. 2 27.7
3. 4 17.5
.1
.5
.5
.6
9, a
2 3 82.2 13 0
4. 5 52. 4 40. 0
2.0
2.6
.6
37.3 1 1 . 2
4. 8 72.2
4. 6 11. 7
8. 8 68. 8
3.3 13. 3
6.4
3.6
3.1
2.5
10. 4
8. 5 38.6 13.1
12. 7 30. 6 20. 2
6.8
1.8
30.2 2 2 . 2
1 4
6. 4
35. 9
.5

(*)

7.0
7.6
8.0
31.8
.7
2.4
38.9
2.7
23.9
7.4
12.0
61.7
53. 7
70. 4
86.4
.6
6. 4
65.4
9. 5
33.1
98.3
1.1
47.9

4. 8
84.2
29. 0
29. 4
38.7
.7

o)
(*>

31.5
40.7
10.7
6.7
2.5
1.4
13.2
4.2
56.1
31.6
8.1

74.9

7.1

10.8

6.0

1.1

(0
(0
2.9
O)
0)
.6
(o

(0

72.7
0)

0)
.4

(*>
(*)
.1

G)
(D

.4
.3
.2
.2
.5

(0

96.5
79.1
67.0
34.4
24.2
20.2
3.8
.4
.2
11.3
2.4
41.2
34.1

(!)

9.2

8.0
G)

G)

6.3

G)
G)

14.7
G)

(0
9.4
G)
4 .0
G)
G>

5.6

G)
G)
.1
(0
G)

G)
G)

42.4
G)
G)

63.3
G)

10.8
G)
G)
1 1 .2
G)
G>

38.8
G)
0)

3.6
(0
2.5

26.8

G)
G)

G)
G)

.0

46.2
G)

11.3

(i)
G)

G)
G)

G)
G)

G)
G)

G)
G)

G)

G)
G)

0)
3. 5
15. 0
G)

2.3

3.5

14.5
G)
G)

2.7

31.7

3. 0

G)
.5
G)
G)
l.l

G)
2 1 .1
G)
01
5 7 .1

8.7

3.1

74.6

2 .8

21.0

41.6

67.1

1.2

30.0

.4
1.3
.9
.2
.4
1.6
.3

24.9

2.3

20.6

3.0

1.2

80.0

14.3

5.9

18.5

.2

.4

6.0

68.6

1 1 .8

.3
.1
.2

4.5

G)

2.3
G)
G)

(2)

.8
(2)

1. 1
( 2)
(2)

( 2)

1N ot reported in d e ta il.
H e ss th a n o n e-ten th of 1 p er cent.
4 Comparable figures not available for 1909.
6 Comparable figures n o t available for 1909; including engines; power pum ps; iron and steel tem pering
and welding; m achine tools; steel barrels, drum s, etc.; and te x tile m achinery.
6 H a s less th a n 100,000 employees, b u t included for com parison w ith th e n e x t item .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1307]

84

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

For several years the Bureau of Labor Statistics has conducted
periodic investigations into the hours of labor, wage rates, and earn­
ings of employees in the principal manufacturing industries of the
United States. These data were obtained from representative es­
tablishments in each industry, and the number of employees reported
was the actual number appearing on the pay roils of the establish­
ments covered at the time of the investigation. The results of these
investigations have been published from time to time in the various
bulletins of the bureau. In the following tables, taken from past
and forthcoming bulletins, the individual employee has been classi' fied according to his regular full-time hours per week rather than the
full-time hours of the plant as a whole. In comparing these tables
with the same industries in the reports of the Census of Manufactures
1it must be remembered that the bureau’s tables classify individuals
while the census figures classify employees according to the prevail­
ing hours of the plants in which they work.
The 8-hour day has increased rapidly since 1914 in all industries
, shown in the table following. The percentage of employees working
■48 hours or under per week increased from less than 1 per cent
' in 1914 to 33.7 in 1922 in cotton goods manufacturing; to 39.2 in
the hosiery and underwear industry ; and to 68.4 in the boot and
shoe industry. No employees worked on a 48-hour-per-week basis
i in 1915 in the lumber industry, but in 1921, 21.5 per cent were on
or under that basis. The number of employees on an 8-hour-day
basis in the woolen and worsted goods manufacturing industry in
1914 is not available, but in 1922, 88.4 per cent worked 48 hours
or less per week. In the men’s clothing industry 12.1 per cent of
the workers had a 48-hour week in 1914, while an additional 1 per cent
worked under 48 hours; in 1922 the hours of labor had decreased to
such an extent that all employees were on an 8-hour-day basis and
94.9 per cent had a 44-hour week. While the iron and steel industry
does not show any considerable increase in 8-hour-day work in 1922
as compared with 1914, the employment records received currently
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics state that since August of 1923 the
industry is being placed to a large extent on an 8-liour basis. The
percent age of employees who have actually been changed to an 8-liour
day, however, is not available. Figures for the automobile industry
are presented for 1922 only, and for foundries and machine shops
for 1923 only. No satisfactory comparison with earlier years is avail­
able for either of these industries.
The hours of labor of males and females do not vary to any great
extent. In cotton goods and woolen and worsted goods manufac­
turing the number of females employed is so large that a separate
classification is presented for each sex.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1308]

85

THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IK INDUSTRY.

P E R C E N T O F E M P L O Y E E S W O R K IN G S P E C IF IE D N U M B E R O F F U L L -T IM E H O U R S
PER W EEK.
[Source: B ulletins of th e B ureau of L abor Statistics.]

Per cent oi empie )yees fhose f ull-tim e hour s per
•week were—
In d u stry .

C otton m anufacturing:
All em ployees..................................

M ales..............................................

Fem ales.............................................

Woolen an d w orsted m anufacturing:
All em ployees..................................

M ales.................................................

Fem ales.............................................

H osiery a n d underw ear:
All em ployees..................................
M en’s clothing:
All em ployees..................................
Boots and shoes:
All em ployees................................
Lum ber:
All em ployees..................................
Foundries:
All em ployees..................................
M achine shops:
All em ployees..................................
Automobiles: *
All em ployees..................................

N um ­
ber of
Y ear. employ­
ees cov­ U n ­
der
ered.
48.

48

54

Over Over
54
57
and a nd
under under
57.
60.

60

Over
60.

1914
1920
1922

79.258
59; 565
62,833

0.5
3.9
2.1

(i)
4L0
31.6

Ó. 8
2.8

33.2
8.0
14.3

23.3
35. 1
43.7

5. 7
.1
.1

36.0
7.8
4.5

13

1914
1920
1922

45,726
3 l’384
34,791

.5
3.4
2.0

C1)
36.5
26.5

28.9
7.0
11.3

22.4

5. 0

4L 2

9 1

.8
2.5

43.0

.2
.1

8.7
5.7

.4
1.5

1914
1920
1922

33,532
28,181
28,042

.5
4.5
2.2

52.4
38.0

39. 0
9.1
18.1

24. 5
26.4
35.3

6. 7

.9
3.3

29 0
6.7
3.0

.3
C1)

1914
1920
1922

40,061
38,164
39,430

91.2
86.8

2 1. 4
1.4
1.3

62. 2
4.1
7.6

22. 4
.2
.4

7. 0
.6
.9

5.7
8 .6
.7

1.3

2.0
1.6

1914
1920
1922

23,145
19,852
21,980

60. 0
3.2
6.3

18.3

91.7
86.2

2 1.0
1.7
1.5

9 9
8. 5
. 5 8 i. i
1.2
1.3

2.3

1914
1920
1922

16,824
18,312
17,450

64.8

28. 2

2.5
1.9

90.7
87.5

2 2. 0
1.1
1.0

5. 0
.6
.4

1914
1922

31,989
32,178

(!)
1.7

37.5

6.6
30.4

56. 5
11.1

21. 5
18.1

10. 2
0)

4. 2
0)

1914
1922

24,597
25^ 013

4 97.2

.5

12.1
2.8

69.9

17.1

.4

1914
1920
1922

53 071
51,7235
47,374

(i)
13.4
9.4

(l)
57.9
59.0

17. 3
18.8
21.8

34.1

33.1

13 0

82 . 2

8.1

1.4
1.0

1915
1921

58,845

1923

32,166

1923

58 914

1922

56,309

5.4

1.5
1.4

50.4

.3

.6

9.1

8.6

.2
.9

.8

1.5

(1)
(0

.4

O

(5)

7 21.5

(!)
0)

2. 7

26.1

26. 7

23. 5 610.3

7.1

3.5

9. 3

27. 3

36. 8

7 4 «17.3

1.1

.9

25.8

50.2

5.4

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 p e r cent.
2 R eported as “ u n d er 54,”
8 R eported as “ 60 a n d over.”
4 94.9 p er cent w orked 44 hours.
5 R eported as “ 60 a n d over.” Less th a n one-tenth of 1 p er cent.
6 R eported as “ over 54 an d u n d er 60.”
7 R eported as “ 48 an d u n d e r.”
8 R eported as “ 55 a n d over.”


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Over
48
and
un d er
54.

61. 8
1.3.

70. 9

27 2
6.9

63.5

813.3

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

86

P E R C E N T O F E M P L O Y E E S W O R K IN G S P E C IF IE D N U M B E R O F F U L L -T IM E H O U R S
P E R W E E K —C oncluded.
P e r c e n t of employees whose full-tim e hours per
In d u stry .

n a n d steel:
31ast furnaces..................................
Bessemer converters....................
O pen-hearth furnaces....................
Puddling m ills................................
Blooming m ills................................
P late m ills........................................
Stan d ard rail m ills.........................
B ar m ills...........................................
Sheet m ills........................................
T in-plate m ills................................

Year.

1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
192?
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922
1914
1920
1922

of em ­
48 Over
ployees
48
covered. and
u n ­ and
der. u nder
60.
9,253
12,083
10,556
2,267
2,888
2,294
5,415
8,007
7,954
4,606
3,262
2,758
2,476
3,571
4,132
2,301
3,227
3,545
1,725
1,344
1,270
8,802
6,685
6,399
6,304
8,527
9,242
6,033
10,366
8,992

( 9)

1
1
12
14
11

( 9)

1
3
27
24
41
3
12
4

(9)
( 9)

5
33
32
4
9
6
62
64
60
59
58
61

5
18
7
9
7
6
7
32
15
41
33
8
12
21
3
5
22
( 9)

4
12
31
28
39
2
6
8
17
18
18

60

13
7
13
4
2
6
6
2
4
6
12
10
5
2
7
4
4
16
3
2
3
12
8
4
8
8
10
9
6
5

Over
60
and
under
72.
12
11
10
11
14
10
9
9
15
9
15
15
8
12
12
44
41
22
13
20
19
44
40
55
10
9
10
12
10
9

72

22
16
39
40
25
53
23
14
28
1
7
( 9)

59
35
27
39
42
28
74
37
26
7
12
14
13
9
7
2
7
5

Over
72
and
under
84.
7
17
13
13
17
5
32
38
20
1
(9)
1
9
18
18
6
4
4
1
2
2
2
3
1
2
2
2
(9)
1
1

84

41
29
17
12
21
9
24
6
16
(9)
1
1
9
8
12
4
3
7
4
2
6
1
(9)
1
2
i
3
1
(9)
(9)

Over
84.

( 9)

(O
( 9)

( 9)
( 9)
( 9)
( 9)
O')
to

0>)
( 9)

("j

00
(9)
<»)

s Less th a n 1 p er cent.

While the 8-hour day has made rapid gains generally in the United
States, it is found to a far greater extent among organized workers.
With but few exceptions, the members of the organized trades have
been successful in establishing the 8-hour day and to a large extent
the 44-hour week with a Saturday half holiday.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recently made a
survey of the union scale of wages and hours of labor of over 860,000
members of the organized trades and occupations in 66 of the principal
cities of the United States as of May, 1923. Of the total number of
members covered, 89 per cent had written or oral agreements pro­
viding for an 8-hour day, and 68 per cent worked 44 hours or less
per week. The remaining 11 per cent varied between a week of
“ over 48 and under 54 hours” and one of ‘‘over 60 h o u r s , a n d was
largely made up from the chauffeurs and teamsters and drivers’
unions. The building trades and granite and stone trades were
almost entirely on a 44-hour-week basis, and 89 per cent of the
members in the book and job printing trades also had a 44-hour
week. The newspaper printing trades worked slightly more hours
per week, although less than 1 per cent worked more than 48 hours.
Sometimes more than 8 hours a day are worked from Monday to
Friday in exchange for a Saturday half holiday, but when the hours


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

11310]

THE

F O R T Y -E IG H T -H O U R W E E K IK

87

IN D U S T R Y .

total 48 per week such pooling of hours is generally considered an
8-hour day.
In the following table the full-time hours per week of individuals
have been classified, except in rare instances where employees may
work less than the scale hours:
T E R C EN T O F LA B O R -U N IO N M EM B E R S W O R K IN G EA C H S P E C IF IE D N U M B E R OF
H O U R S P E R W E E K , M AY, 1923.
[From forthcom ing b u lletin of B ureau of L abor S tatistics, covering 66 representative cities of th e
U nited States and m ore th a n 860,000 union mem bers.]
Per cent of m em bers w hose hours per week were—

Trade or occupation.

44 Over
44
and and
u n ­ un d er
der.
48.

Over
48
and
u n d er
54.

48

Over
54
and
under
60.

54

Over Ir­
60. regu­
lar.

00

Bakery trades.
3

B akers

7

84

1

3

P)

P)

Building trades.
100
96
100
91
96
98
100
100
89
100
97
100
98
99
99
99
95
98
92
98

A sbestos w o rk ers......................................................
B ricklayers.................................................................
Sewer, tu n n e l, a n d caisso n ............................
B uilding lab o rers........... ..........................................
C arpenters...................... ............................................
M illw rights............. ............................................
Parquetry-floor la y e rs ......................................
W h arf a n d b rid g e .............................................
C em ent finishers........... ............................................
C em ent finishers’ h e lp e rs........................................
C om position roofers..................................................
C om position roofers’ h e lp e rs................. ...............
E lev a to r c o n stru c to rs.............................................
E lev ato r c o n stru cto rs’ h e lp e rs ..............................
E ngineers, p o rtab le and h o istin g ..........................
G laziers........................................................................
H od c arrie rs...............................................................
In sid e w irem en..........................................................
F ix tu re h a n g e rs.................................................
L a th e rs.........................................................................
M arble s e tte r s ............................................................
M arble se tte rs’ h elp ers.............................................
Mosaic a n d terrazzo w o rk ers.................................
P a in te rs :
B uild in g...............................................................
Fresco.............................. ....................................
S ig n .......................................................................
P la ste re rs.....................................................................
P la ste re rs’la b o re rs ...................................................
P lum bers a n d gas fitte rs .........................................
P lu m b ers’la b o re rs ...................................................
S heet-m etal w o rk ers.................................................
Ship c a rp e n te rs..........................................................
S late a n d tile roofers.................................................
Steam fitte rs ...............................................................
Steam fitte rs ’ h e lp e rs...............................................
S tonem aso n s..............................................................
S tructural-iro n w orkers. : ........................ ..........
F in ish e rs ..............................................................
F inish ers’ h elp ers...............................................
T ile lay ers...................................................................
Tile la y e rs’ h e lp e rs..................... .............................

TOO

All b uilding tra d e s ........................................

97

100
100

4

(l )

C1)4

0)

2

P)
2

1

7
2

6

1

2

P)
2

4
2
6

2
0)

100
100
100
96
97
100
89
97
87
98
100
100
91
99
100
100
100
100

i
i
i

P)
1

(0

2

«

0)
4
3

p)

0)
P)
11
3
13

p)

2
2

7

i

2

p)

P)

P)

p)

Chauffeurs and teamsters and drivers.
C hauffeurs...................................................................
Team sters and d riv ers.............................................
All chauffeurs, team sters, and d riv ers—

i
1
1

«

2

23
25

27
12

21
38

15

15
12

3

24

19

31

10

91

7

Freight handlers.
Longshorem en— ...........

i
.. ... ..

1 Less th a n 1 p er cen t.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1311]

1

8

88

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .

P E R C E N T O F LA B O R -U N IO N M EM B E R S W O R K IN G EA C H S P E C IF IE D N U M B E R O F
H O U R S P E R W E E K , M AY , 1923—Concluded.
P e r cent of m em bers w hose hours per w eek were—
Trade or occupation.

Granite and stone trades.
G ranite c u tte rs ................. ..................................
Stone c u tte rs .................................. ......................
All granite a n d stone tra d e s..................
L aundry workers.
L a u n d ry w orkers.................................................
Linem en.
L in em e n .................................................................
Metal trades.
B lacksm iths..........................................................
B lacksm iths’ h elp ers..........................................
B oilerm akers........................................................
B oilerm akers’ helpers.........................................
Coppersm iths........................................................
Core m a k e rs..........................................................
M achinists..............................................................
M achinists’ h elp ers.............................................
M etal polishers a n d b uffers..............................
Molders, iro n ........................................................
P a tte rn m ak ers....................................................
All m etal tra d e s .......................................
Millwork.
C arpenters....................................... ......................
G laziers.................................'................................
P ain ters: H ardw ood finishers..........................
All m illw ork tra d e s.................................
Printing and publishing, book and job.
B in d ery w om en...................................................
B ookbinders..........................................................
C om positors.........................................................
E lectrotypers:
B attery m en a n d b u ild ers..........................
Finishers a n d m olders................................
M achine operato rs...............................................
M achine ten d ers (m achinists)..........................
M achinist operators........... .................................
Photo-engravers..................................................
Press assistants a n d feeders..............................
P ressm en :
C ylinder..........................................................
P la te n ............................................................ .
All book a n d job tra d e s........................ .
Printing and publishing, newspaper.
Compositors:
D a y w o rk ........................................... . ..........
N ig h t w o rk....................................................
M achine operators:
D a y w o rk .......................................................
N ight w ork....................................................
M achine ten d ers (m achinists):
D ay w o rk........................................................
N ig h t w ork....................................................
M achinist operators:
D ay w o rk ........................................................
N ig h t w ork....................................................
Photo-engravers:
D ay w o rk ............................................... ........
N ig h t w ork...................................................
Pressm en, w eb presses:
D ay w o rk ........................................................
N ig h t w ork....................................................
Stereotypers:
D ay w o rk................. ....................................
N ig h t w ork....................................................
All new spaper tra d e s ..............................
All tra d e s.................................................. .
1 Less th a n 1 p er cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

44 Over
44
and and
u n ­ u n d er
der.
48.

Over
48
and
under
54.

48

100
100
100

Ir­
Over regu­
60.
lar.

60

(O

2
(U

2

0)
(U
1
1
]

74
95
90
77

4
1

95

4

1

38

7

4

4
4

5
9

6

3

0)

15
1
14
5

(O
(*)
2

(*)

2

1

12
9
41
38
20
98
53
57
61
94
20
56
22
i
10
20

0)

2

2

0)

C1)

(!)
(>)

0)

25
20
1

75
80
99
5
77
97
99
98
100
89

54

C1)

49
88
91
48
48
80
1
36
42
24
4
65
35

Over
54
and
u nder
60.

10
2
0)

84
21
3
1
2
11

84
84
89

1

16
16
10

8
10

34
51

58
39

18
19

31
39

43

5

57
69

38
27

20
13

16

64
52

86
93

7
6

7

45

3
3

97
52

8
50
18

7
20
29

85
29
53

68

3

18

C)

L1312]

1

1

(U

C1)

1

0)

(*)

2

3

2

3

1

0)

THE

F O R T Y -E IG H T -H O U R W E E K IK

89

IN D U S T R Y .

In addition to what is shown in the above table covering union
hours of labor in the 66 principal cities of the United States, the
bureau has available the official reports of three international unions
covering the hours of labor of the different locals throughout those
organizations.
A statement made by the International Typographical Union in
1922 lists approximately 675 local unions in the United States, having
a total membership of approximately 70,000. Of the 675 locals 629
reported the union scale of hours of labor per week applying to their
members. The reports contained separate scales for hand work and
machine work and for day work and night work in the two branches
of the trade—book and job and newspaper.
A study of the scale of hours reported by the various locals shows
that the ent'ire organization has a working-day of 8 hours or less.
The 44-hour and 48-liour week, however, shows a wide variation in the
two different branches. Approximately 95 per cent of the unions
reporting book and job work had a 44-hour week, while in the news­
paper branch about 65 per cent had a 48-hour week. Very little
difference is noticed between hand and machine workers, and day
and night work did not vary to any considerable extent.
A summary of the various local reports has been made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and is presented herewith. Each local
did not have each classification of work, hence no one class shows
629 locals reporting. A few of the locals reported a range of weekly
hours instead of one common scale, such as 39 to 48, 40 to 48, etc.
The average of the range given has been used in each case. For
example, the report 39 to 48 has been tabulated as 43^, 40 to 48 as
44, etc.
The locals shown in this summary include the unions from which
information was received in the union wage investigation of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the figures for which appear elsewhere
in this article, on pages 87 and 88.
U N IO N SCALE O F H O U R S O F L A B O R O F T H E IN T E R N A T IO N A L T Y P O G R A P H IC A L
U N IO N AS R E P O R T E D JU L Y , 1922.
P er cent of locals whose w eekly scale of hours w ere—
Classification.

N um ber
of
locals
reporting. U nder
42.

42

m

44

45

Over
45
and
under
48.

48

Newspaper offices.
H an d compositors:
D a y ................................. ................
N ig h t...............................................
M achine operators:
D a y ........................ ................ .
N ig h t...............................................

609
534

0.5
.7

1.5
4.1

0.2
.2

20.0
15.4

8. 5
14.2

1.5
1.5

67. 8
63.9

60S
541

.7
1.1

2.1
4.3

,2
.4

20.1
15.5

8.2
14.2

1. 2
1.3

67.6
63.4

601
346

1.2

.3
2.3

97.3
94. 5

2. 3
2.0

597
355

.2
1.4

.7
2.3

96. 8
94. 4

2, 3
2. 0

Book and job offices.
H an d compositors:
D a y ...................................................
N ig h t...............................................
M achine operators:
D ay ...................................................
N ig h t...............................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1313]

90

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

A supplement to the August, 1923, issue of The Carpenter, the
official publication of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America, contains a list of all the local unions of the organi­
zation with a statement opposite each of the hours of work per day,
and whether or not it is the custom to work a half day on Saturday.
This report has been summarized and is presented below. Of the
2,072 local unions in the United States at that time 1,724 furnished
information as to the hours of labor, although only 1,370 reported
the custom of the union with regard to Saturday practice. Of the
1,724 locals reporting, 1,522 had an 8-hour day, 149 had a 9-hour
day, 24 had one of 10 hours, and 29 reported a day which varied in
length from S to 10 hours.
U N IO N SCULE O F H O U R S O F T H E U N IT E D B R O T H E R H O O D O F C A R P E N T E R S AND
J O IN E R S O F A M E R IC A , 1923.
N u m b er of N u m b er of
unions re­ hours per
porting.
day.
7
855
357
303
43
75
31
4
7
13
18
4
7

8
8
S
8
9
9
9

10
10
10
8-10
8-10
8-10

N u m b er of hours
on Saturday.

N o n e........................
One-half d a y ..........
E ig h t.......................
N ot re p o rte d ..........
One-half d a y ..........
N in e ........................
N ot rep o rte d ..........
One-half d a y ..........
T e n ............. .............
N ot re p o rte d ..........
One-half d a y ..........
F u ll d a y .................
N ot re p o rte d ..........

N um ber of
hours per
week.
40
44
48
54
60

...........

The Plasterer, the official journal of the International Association
of Plasterers and Cement Finishers, in its July, 1923, issue gave
reports for 254 local unions in the United States in addition to those
located in the 66 cities already mentioned. Six of these locals report
the hours of plasterers as 40 per week, 191 as 44, 7 as “ over 44 and
under 48,” 47 as 48, and 3 report “ over 48 and under 54.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has available 136 agreements of
individual local unions in localities other than the 66 cities covered
by the union wage inquiry, and of the 33 bakers’ agreements examined
30 provide for a 48-hour week. Eleven agreements for bricklayers
show 7 at 44 hours per week and 4 at 48. Electrical workers
were divided between a 44 and a 48 hour week, 12 of the 25 agree­
ments in hand showing 44 hours, 12 showing 48 hours, and 1 report.ng a week of 54 hours. Of the 8 agreements of hod carriers and
ffiuilding laborers, 7 fix the hours at 44 and 1 at 48. Two of the
agreements for painters and paper hangers provide for 5 days of 8
hours or 40 hours per week, 36 for a 44-hour week, and 1 for 48 hours.
Plumbers, gas, steam, and sprinkler litters and helpers show 44 hours
per week in the 8 agreements examined, and of the 12 agreements re­
ceived for moiders and core makers 8 show 48 hours, one “ over 48 and
under 54,” two 54, and one alternated from 44 hours one week to
48 the next.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1314]

THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IK INDUSTRY.

91

The following are extracts from the report of the executive council
of the American Federation of Labor to the forty-third annual
convention:
The granite cutters have not only maintained the 44-hour week but in some locali­
ties have secured the five-day work week * * *
* * * the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union reduced the working
week in the dress and waist industry from 44 to 40 hours.
The 48-hour week was also maintained for most of the [textile] industry.

A statement issued by the international president of the Granite
Cutters’ Union for October, 1921, shows that the 44-hour week has
been universally accepted for that trade. This report includes the
granite cutters at the quarries as well as in cities, and includes those
employed in the cities covered by the union-w’age investigation of
the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The 8-hour day and 44-hour week for photo-engravers have been
almost universally established. The report of the twenty-first
annual meeting of International Photo-Engravers Union of North
America in August, 1920, shows that the standard working time
for commercial establishments was 8 hours per day and 44 hours per
week in 63 of the 64 cities reported. In one city engravers still
worked a full day on Saturday or 48 hours per week. In those
cities having night work the prevailing hours were 7 to 8 per night
and 40 to 42 per week.
The extent of the 8-hour day in 1921 in bituminous coal mining
and the changes in the hours of labor since 1903 are set forth in the
table following. According to the table 56.4 per cent of the mines
had an 8-liour day in 1903, as compared with 96.6 per cent in 1921.
P E R C E N T O F M EN E M P L O Y E D IN B IT U M IN O U S COAL M IN E S H A V IN G W O R K IN G D A Y S O F 8, 9, A N D 10 H O U R S !
[F rom report of th e U . S. Geological Survey.)
Per cent of to ta l employees
in —
Year.

8

1903..............................
1904..............................
1905..............................
190G..............................
1907..............................
1908..............................
1910..............................
1911..........................
1912..............................
1913..............................
1914..............................
1915..............................
1916..............................
1917..............................
1918..............................
1919..............................
1920..............................
1921..............................

-hour
mines.

9- hour
m ines.

10-hour

56.4
62. 1
.1
63
64
03.5
62.1
62.9
61.6
61.9
60.7
59.6
58.6
79
90.6
95.5
97.1
96.6

17.1
13.8
13.6
13.5

26.5
24.1
25.3
23.5
24.4
25.4
26.6
26.2
26.9
22.9
23.9
23.4
24
8.4
2.7

01

11.6
11.1

11.3
10.9
11.5
15.2
15.4
17
17.4

12.6
6.7
3.5

2

2.9

m ines.

1

.9
.5

Weighted
average
working
day
(hours).

8.7
8.9

8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.3
8. 12
8.06
8.04
8.04

1 Percentages are calculated on base of total num ber of m en in m ines definitely reported as having 8-hour,
9-hour, or 10-hour day. A sm all n u m b er of mines th a t work more th a n 10 hours or less th a n 8 hours have
been excluded, as have also all m ines for w hich the reports were defective or w hich changed their w orking
day during th e year.

71915°— 23----- 7


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1315]

92

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

The October, 1923, M o n t h l y L abo r R e v ie w , page 19, contains a
digest of the report of the committee appointed by the United States
Coal Commission to study labor relations in the anthracite industry.
The committee consisted of EL S. Dennison, W. E. Hotchkiss, and
J. IT. Willits.
The following quotation from the report is here reprinted:
The 8-liour day prevails in the industry. The Coal Commission’s study of
wage rates indicates that in 148 colleries about 2 per cent of the employees in 55
specified occupations work in excess of 8 hours per day, and that about 70 per cent of
these 2 per cent work on a 12-hour basis. The sense of unfairness among the relatively
few men working 10 to 12 hours keeps up irritations which cost more than the saving,
if any, from the longer hours. The committee therefore recommends the elimination
of the long day.

The anthracite wage agreement1 which was concluded between the
representatives of the operators and of the miners on September,
1923, has three clauses relating to the 8-hour day. By this agree­
ment outside and inside company men working on the basis of a day
in excess of 10 hours are placed on the basis of an 8-hour day, those
working on the basis of a 9 or 10 hour day were also placed on the
basic 8-hour day as well as monthly men coming under the agreement
of September 2, 1920, who were working on a basis in excess of 8
hours.
Idle following- extracts are drawn from the Fourteenth Census,
volume 9, Mines and Quarries. The statements relate to the
y e a r 1919.
(Page 279.)

C o a l .—The

normal hours of labor in the coal mining industry generally were 44 to 53
per week, and in fact were2 48-—the 8-hour day and the 6-day week prevailing.
Among the anthracite enterprises the exceptions to these prevailing hours were
almost entirely reported by those who operated only culm washeries and dredges.
In bituminous-coal mining other hours than those generally prevailing were reported
by a considerable number of enterprises in fully half of the States, but the wrage earners
employed in such enterprises were relatively quite few in number except in West
Virginia, eastern Kentucky, northeastern Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Utah,
and South Dakota.
(Page 320.)

P e tro le u m a n d n a tu ra l g a s .—The

table shows that the prevailing hours of labor were
quite generally more than 54 per week, about 60 per cent of the enterprises employing
wage earners reporting 54 or more hours per week. The hours per day in the petroleum
and natural-gas industry were commonly 9 or 10, and very frequently longer. Further­
more, the 7-day week was the rule in many enterprises. The reason for prevalence of
long hours in this industry is that drilling operations are usually conducted contin­
uously, 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and also because where there is large
volume of production uninterrupted attendance is required.
(Page 346.)

Ir o n ore .—In

the industry as a whole 44 to 53 hours per week; that is, the 8-hour day
and 6-day week prevailed for a majority of the enterprises employing wage earners,
but only for 44.4 per cent of the total average number of wage earners. In 43.5 per
cent of the enterprises employing wage earners and for 53.9 per cent of the wage earn­
ers, the prevailing hours of labor were 54 to 62 per week with the 10-hour day and
6-day week ruling.
In Michigan and Wisconsin the 48-hour week prevailed, but in Minnesota a large
majority of the wage earners worked 60 hours per week, and as a consequence 60 hours
was the prevailing time in the Lake Superior Region. In the Northeastern Region
the prevailing hours were 44 to 53 per week and the 8-hour day and 6-day week were
most common. In the Southeastern Region longer hours prevailed, chiefly 10 a day
and 60 a week.

1See Monthly L abor R eview , October, 1923, p. 83.
2E v id en tly should read “ in fact were m ain ly .”


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1316]

THE FOKTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IK INDUSTRY.

93

(Page 373.)

G old, silver, copper, lead, a n d zin c .—For

the combined producing and nonproducing
industries in the United States, for nearly three-fifths of the enterprises employing
wage earners and for one-half of the total average number of wage earners the prevail­
ing hours of labor were 54 to 62 per week; and for approximately two-fifths of the
enterprises and nearly one-half of the wage earners the prevailing hours were 44 to 53
per week. Enterprises and wage earners for which less than 44 and more than 63
hours per week prevailed were very few. In the Western Region hours ranging from
54 to 62 per week, resulting principally from the 9 or 10 hour day and 6-day week,
but also from the 8-hour day and 7-day week in many enterprises, were most fre­
quently reported, while hours ranging from 44 to 53 per week, indicating the 8-hour
day and 6-day week, were reported by about a third of the enterprises. In the Lake
Region the hours 44 to 53 per week and the 8-hour day and 6-day week was the rule.
These hours prevailed in the Central Region for more than four-fifths of the enterprises,
but a considerable number of the wage earners employed in mills in these enterprises
worked longer hours.
(Page 404.)

S to n e .—For

the combined quarrying industries and for limestone, sandstone, slate,
basalt, and marble the hours prevailing for a majority of the enterprises were 54 to 62
per week. These hours were those for 69.8 per cent of all the wage earners in the
quarrying industries. For the five industries separately considered the proportion
of wage earners working 54 to 62 hours was as follows: Limestone, 81.3 "per cent;
sandstone, 86 pel' cent; slate, 61.8; basalt, 77.5; marble, 86.2. The hours per day in
these industries were most commonly 10, and the 6-day week was the rule. In the
granite industry a majority of the enterprises and 60 per cent of the wage earners were
in the class reporting working hours as 44 to 53 per week. The 8-hour day and 6-day
week prevailed in the granite industry.
(P age 422.)

P h o sp h a te r o d .—In

the United States as a whole, for a majority of the enterprises
and for 84.2 per cent of the wage earners employed, the hours of labor were 54 to 62 per
week and the 10-hour day and 6-day week prevailed. The same hours ruled in all
States except Idaho and Utah, where the hours of labor were 8 per day and 48 per week.
(Page 430.)

G y p s u m .—In

the industry as a whole, for a majority of the enterprises and for 60
per cent of the wage earners employed, the hours of labor were 54 to 62 per week; that
is, the 10-hour day and 6-day week prevailed. In Iowa, however, the prevailing
hours of labor were 44 to 53 per week, and the 8-hour day and 6-day week was the rule.

The basic 8-hour day for railroad train-service employees was fixed
by the Adamson Act. The basic 8-hour day in railroad service is,
however, more a method of wage payment than an actual 8-hour day.
General rules governing hours in train service are determined by
agreement. The day’s work is based on mileage made as well as
hours on duty. The following table, drawn from a report of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, shows the average hours per day
worked by train-service employees during June, 1923. No data were
available from which to classify the hours per day of each employee,
so averages only are shown.
AVERAGE HOURS W ORKED

B Y T R A IN -S E R V IC E
O C C U PA T IO N .
Passenger
service.

O ccupation.

C onductors.......................................
Engineers a n d m o to r m e n ..............
Firem en find helpers
B r^lrem en p n d flagm en

B aggagemen _.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1317]

7.8

7.1
6. 9
7. 5
8.1

EM PLO YEES

F reight
service.
9.4
8.8
8.2
8.9

IN

JU N E , 1923, B Y

Y ard.

8.6
8.5

94

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

The principle of the basic 8-hour day for other classes of railroad
employees was recognized by the Railroad Administration during
Government operation of the roads and later by the Railroad Labor
Board in various decisions. Maintenance of way employees averaged
8.7 hours per day during June, 1923, and the shop crafts ranged from
an average of 8.28 hours per day for blacksmiths to 9.3 hours for
firemen and oilers during the same period. Clerks, freight handlers,
station employees, etc., were usually on duty between 8-| and 9 hours
per day.
A number of States, through their labor departments, have accu­
mulated and published data covering the hours of labor of their
employees in manufacturing, construction, and other industries.
These data have been presented in various ways, but all give a
fairly good idea of the hours worked by employees in their respective
States. A summarization of these reports has been made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and is herewith presented.
According to the Eighteenth Biennial Report of the Colorado Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 94 labor unions in that State, having a member­
ship of 13,194, had an 8-hour day in 1921-22. Two unions with 156
members had a 9-hour day, while 10 unions with 652 members were
on a 10-hour basis. One union comprising 36 members worked 12
hours.
According to a general summary of the union scale of hours of
employment of various classes of labor in Louisiana as of December
31, 1921, practically all of the building trades worked 8 hours per
day and 44 hours per week. Building laborers and hod carriers were
on a 9-hour day and a 50-hour week basis and plasterers worked 8
hours per day and 45 hours per week. The metal trades, except
molders and helpers, also worked an 8-hour day and 44-hour week.
Holders and helpers worked a full day on Saturday or 48 hours per
week. The printing trades all varied between 8 and 9 hours per day
and 48 and 52 hours per week.
Data as of December, 1921, collected by the Industrial Commissioner
of New York and published in the Industrial Bulletin of that State,
cover 1,648 representative firms with over 460,000 employees, or
more than one-third of the factory workers in the State. Hours are
reported for shop employees only, since office employees were not
included in the inquiry. While only one-third of the factory workers
in the State were included in the investigation, information was
received from a sufficient number of representative plants in each
industry to be thoroughly representative of conditions in that indus­
try. The total at the end of the table following shows that 60.2 per
cent of the men in New York factories had a week of 48 hours or less,
and that 61.9 per cent of the women had a week of 48 hours or less.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1318]

THE

F O R T Y -E IG H T -H O U R W E E K I K

IN D U S T R Y .

95

N U M B E R O F H O U R S C O N S T IT U T IN G A ST A N D A R D W E E K F O R S H O P E M P L O Y E E S
IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S O F N E W Y O R K S T A T E , D E C E M B E R , 1921.
[Source: In d u stria l B u lletin of New Y ork S tate, Jan u a ry a nd F e b ru a ry , 1922.]
Men.

In d u stry .

Stone, clay, an d glass p ro d u c ts----M iscellaneous stone a n d m ineral pro d u cts............................
L im e, cem ent, a n d p la ster........
B rick, tile , a n d p o tte ry ............
G lass..............................................
M etals, m achinery a n d conveyan ces...........................................
Gold, silver, a n d precious stones
Brass, copper, alu m in u m , etc.
Pig iron an d rolling m ill produ c ts .............................................
S tru ctu ra l a n d arch itectu ral
iro n w o rk ...................................
Sheet-m etal w ork a n d hardw are...........................................
Firearm s, tools, a n d c u tle ry ...
Cooking, heating, a n d ventila tin g a p p a ra tu s .....................
M achinery (including electrical ap p aratu s)..........................
A utom obiles, carriages, a n d
a ero p lan es................................
C ars, locomotives, a nd railw ay
repair shops..............................
B oat a n d ship b u ild in g ............
In stru m en ts a n d a p p lia n ce s...
W ood m anufactures..... ....................
Saw m ill a n d p lan in g m ill
p ro d u cts....................................
F u rn itu re a n d c a b in e tw o rk .. .
P ian o s,o rg an s,an d other musical in s tru m e n ts .....................
Miscellaneous wood a n d allied
p ro d u c ts....................................
F u rs, leather, a n d ru b b er goods. . .
L eather..........................................
P u rs a n d fur goods.....................
Boots a n d shoes...........................
Miscellaneous 1eath er an d canvas goods...................................
R ub b er a n d g u tta - percha
goods............................. ............
Pearl, horn, bone, celluloid,
h air, e tc ......................................
Chem icals, oils, p ain ts, e tc ...............
Drugs a n d chem icals.................
P ain ts, dyes, a n d colors...........
A nim al a n d m in eral oil produ c ts.............................................
Miscellaneous chem ical produ c ts.............................................
P a p e r.....................................................
P rin tin g a n d p ap er goods................
P ap er boxes a n d tu b e s.............
M iscellaneous paper goods........
P rin tin g a n d bookm aking........
T extiles................................................
Silk a n d silk goods.....................
W ool m an u factu res....................
( otton goods...............................
C otton “a n d woolen hosiery
an d k n it goods.........................
O ther textiles an d allied produ c ts.............................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ­
b er
of re ­
um ­
ports. Nber.

W om en.

P e r cent.

P e r cent.

N um ­ 44
44
to 49 to 52 to Over ber.
hrs. 45
h rs. 4548to 49 to 52 to
48
51
54
54
51
54
or
or
h
rs.
hrs.
h
rs.
hrs.
less.
less. hrs. hrs. hrs.

57

8,263 10.7 12.8 24.6 32.0 19.9

867

0.2

14
9
24
10

1,658 34.5
4.0
60.6
1,788
24.2 75.8
2,234 6.6 3.8 40.9 43.5 5.4
2,583 6.6 37.6 4.5 47.9 3.4

77
21
483
286

2.6

294 91,001 2.4 56.0 21.1 10.1 10.4
8
602 38.7 36.2 25.1
27 6-, 824 9.4 21.4 30.8 15.7 22.7
10

3,923

22.9

7.7 69.4

9

694

47.7 15.6

36.7

35
17

7,277
2,491

12

6,460

80 24,568
27

7,474

.5 29.0 33.0 27.4| 10.1
38.7 50.3 11.0
6.6 55.0

3.0 35.4

.2 69.5 16.3

8.8

4.8 70.3 22.7

2.2

33 20,354
.5 67.6 13.9
7 2,754 14.8 80.5
29 7,580
52.4 47.0
116 14,922 9.8 35.1 28.8

2.2 64.4 33.2
97.4
100.0
6.6

93.4

6,317 3.3 59.8 29.8 7.1
84 16.7 23.8 fi9. 5
353 46.7 30.3 9.1 13.9
86

1 19,7
’ 288

100.0

1.0 52! 1 39.9

46 28.3 13.0
5.2

100.0

2,520
29

7.0
58.7

.2 85.1 10.2

4.5

6.9 65.5 10.3 17.3

3.7 14.3
4.7
.6
9.3 17.0

92.7
1.8
*
2
1,727
.1 39.4 60.5
1.762 10.9 53.4 23.6 12.1

40
42

3,890 11.6 16.8 42.1 13.4 16.1
5,607 11.9 24.5 25.0 12.2 26.4

211 13.3 20.9 50.2 15.6
477 10.4 36.3 40.9 12.4

18

3,652

26.4

16 1,773 19.1
113 18,426 11.3
11 1 811
7
618 76. i
29 13,089 9.2
33
8

1.250 26.2 35.3
559

6.1

41.9 16.4 10.4 12.2
66.8 14.1 6.2 1.6
.6
19.7 37.5 42.2
23.9
82.0 8.2
.6
8.2 10.5 19.8

66.4 33.6

300

46.0 27.0 27.0

774 14.7 75.7 4.4 5.2
8,199 9.9 67.1 16.4 6.6
99
67.7 25.3
317 80. 4 19 fi
5,523 6.5 81.5 i i. i
.9
913
183

8.7 55.2

6.3 29.8

65.0 35.0

25 1,099
51 15,184
12 1,308
12 2,079

7.7 23.4 50.7 14.8 3.4
2.1 64.6 15.0 6.4 11.9
15.8 50. 8 15 8 17.6
60.0 31.1 8.9

1.164 10.1 26.8 46.3 16.8
4,054 2.3 67.1 19.5 11.1
2.8
8.2 40.4 51.4

16

4.7 66.6 11.4

1,278

6,859

3.4 13.9

11 4 938
76.7 2. 8 7 o
22 Ò, 947
.7 74.4 1.4 16ÌÓ
110 15,975 41.5 46.5 8.7 2.4
14 1 008
45. 2 24 5 19.3
19 1,635 2.1 26.5 69.7
77 13,332 49.5 49.1
1.4
139 23,561 1.9 53.3 15.2 21.8
28 2,871 11.5 61.2 14.8 10.3
19 7,343 1.1 54.5 8.6 35.2
2,911
9.2
82.5
5,098
31

5,338

7.5
.9
1.7
7.8
2.2
.6
8.3

44.0 17.5 19.0 19.5
.8 40.6 30.3 19.1

[1310]

9.2

6.1 68.4 24.9

.6

J243 1.2 52.7 17.7 28.4
7.110 27.0 48.8 20.9 3.3
10.4
1,618
41.7 58.3
4,423 43.4 53.3
2.8
23,496 1.9 59.0 19.1 20.0
5,800 4.4 73.9 16.9 4.8
4,735 2.8 60.2 16.8 20.2
1,729
82.8
17.2
8,225

46.3 19.2 34.5

3,007

2.0 49.6 37.8 10.6

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

96

N U M B E R O F H O U R S C O N S T IT U T IN G A S T A N D A R D W E E K F O R S H O P E M P L O Y E E S
IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S O F N E W Y O R K S T A T E , D E C E M B E R , 1921—Concl’d.
W om en.

M en.

In d u s try .

Clothing, m illinery, laundering,
e tc ...............................................
M en’s clo th in g .............................
M en’s sh irts a n d fu rn ish in g s..
W om en’s clo th in g ................
W om en’s underw ear an d fur­
nishings ...............................—
W omen ’s head w ear...................
Miscellaneous sew ing____ ____
Laundering, cleaning, dyeing,
e tc ............. — ..................... —
Food, beverages, a n d tobacco..........
F lour, feed, a n d oth er cereal
p ro d u cts....................................
F ru it a n d vegetable can n in g
a n d preserving.........................
Groceries.not elsew here classi­
fied ..............................................
Meat a n d d airy p ro d u c ts .........
B read a n d other b ak ery prod­
u ets.............................................
Confectionery a n d ie e c re a m ...
Beverages......................................
Cigars a n d other tobacco prod­
u c ts.............................................
W ater, light, an d pow er...................
T o ta l............................... .

P e r cent.
P e r cen t.
Sum b er
of reN um ­ 44
p o rts. N um ­ 44
45 to 49 to 52 to
ber. h is. 45 to 49to 52 to Over ber.
48
54
■51 54
48
51
54
h
rs.
hrs.
hrs.
hrs.
less. hrs. h rs. hrs.
less.

285 12,700 56.1 IS. 2 8.0 15.4
.1
60 6,498 90.8 6.3 ■ 2.3
47 3,294 7.9 25.9 5.5 53.8
762 75.1 9.7 11.4 3.8
86

2.3 23,886 28.0
. O 4,727 78. 8
7.1 9,321 3.5
, 2.920 56.0

30.5 34.1 7.4
17.0 3.0 1.2
16.3 64.2 15.5
22.4 21.6 ........

2.8

2,859 14.3 78,8 1.9 5.0
797
31.6 56.8 11.6
1,365 ........ 70.9 27.3 1.8

974 15.8 18.4 .54.4 12.1 1.3
25
129 17,001 3.5 41.8 11.3 16.3 27.1

1,897 17.4 31.4 45.7 5.5
8,638 6.3 43.4 15.0 35.3

30
20
17

.2
631 13.3 80.5
186 80.6 15.8 3.8
81.1 16.1
355

5.9

.1

10

1,685

32.1 11.1

279

14.7 19.7 65.6

10

360

12.5 21.7 28.9 36.9

400

6.5 22.5 71.0

10
16

4,469
3,015

16.2 31.4 9.3 43.1
35.9
10. S 53.3

14.3 51.5 34.2
643
.5 81.3
214 10.3 7.9

19
14
27

55.0 7.2 28.8 9.2
1,884
52.8 12.7 13.9 20.6
2,019
1,.662 10. 4 77.0 2.0 4.9 5.7

517
36.8 25.7 37.7
64.7 26.2 9. 1
2,628
15.4
13 76.9 7.7

23
10

1 907 14.4 56.3
2,731 27.5 8.1

9.1 47.7

.9 25.2 3.2
5.8 14.1 44.5

3,944 12.9 42.7
3

44.4

1,326, 225,711 10.0 50.2 17.1 11.9 10.8 84,575 12.9 49.0 24.2 13.9

The department of industrial relations of the State of Ohio made
a canvass of the union scale of wages and hours of labor in force in
the organized trades in 16 of the principal cities in the State, as of
May 15, 1921. The total of the membership of all local unions cov­
ered in the investigation was approximately 90,000, although the
exact number has not been reported.
As the union membership of each organized trade was not reported,
the number of reports sent to the department of industrial relations
have been classified. Of the 939 reports received, 721, or 76.8 per cent,
show an 8-hour day or 48 hours or less per week. The largest number
of reports in any group, or 35.6 per cent, appears under the heading
44 hours per week. The next largest number, or 34 per cent, re­
ports a 48-hour week. The summary of the weekly hours of labor
reported follows:


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1320]

97

TILE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IK INDUSTRY.
U N IO N SCALE O F H O U R S O F L A B O R IN O H IO ON MAY 15, 1921, B Y T R A D E S .

[Source: Ohio. D ep artm en t of in d u stria l relations. D ivision of L abor Statistics R eport No 1. A ug 25
1091 1

r

N um ber of reports showing hours of labor per week of—

Trade.

N um ­
ber
of re­ 40
ports. and
un ­
der.

B a k e ry .............................................
B uilding trad es..............................
M etal tra d e s ..................................
P rin tin g (book an d jo b ) ..............
P rin tin g (new spapers).................
Street car employees (conductors
an d m otorm en)..........................
Team sters a n d chauffeurs...........

51
285
102
202
99

T o ta l.....................................

939

Over
40
and 44
un­
d er
44.

1
4
2

2

219
20
92
3

Over
44
and 48
un­
der
48.
3
25
5
15
11

12
188
2

7

334

59

Over
48
and 54
un­
d er
54.
3
3
2

Over
Over
54
60
and 60 and
un­
un­
der
der
60.
72.

72 Over
72.

45
31
50
91
80

21

22

4

10

30

72

11
43

1

8

319

31

18

34

74

54

1

6

è

1

3

1
1

_

The prevailing hours of labor in the organized industries and trades
m Massachusetts in 1921 are shown in the twelfth annual report on
the union scale of wages and hours of labor in Massachusetts.
Reports were obtained from practically all local labor organiza­
tions in the State as of July 1, 1921. The membership of the various
locals was not reported so the number of reports from the different
locals have been classified in the following summary. Of the 2,024
reports received, 1,734, or 85.7 per cent, show an 8-hour day or a week
of 48 hours or less. Approximately 43 per cent, or 863, report 48
hours per week, and 708, or 35 per cent, show a 44-hour week. Tliotable follows:
U N IO N SCALE O F H O U R S O F L A B O R IN M ASSA C H USETTS, 1921.
[Source: M assachusetts. B u reau of labor statistics. L abor B ui. No. 137, June, 1922. N u m b e r of em ­
ployees n o t available so th e n u m b e r of rep o rts have been classified.]
N um ber of agreem ents specifying hours of labor p e r w eek of—

Trade.

Boots and shoes........ ...... .............
B uilding tra d e s............... ...............
Clothing and garm ent tra d e s__
Food an d beverages........ ..............
M etal and m ach in ery ...... .............
P a p e r a n d p u lp ..............................
P rin tin g an d allied tra d e s...........
Stonew orking an d q u a rry in g .. .
T eam ing an d tru ck in g .................
Telephone and telegraph service.
T extile o p e ra tiv e s........................
W oodw orking................................
Miscellaneous tra d e s.....................
M unicipal service...........................

N um ­
ber
of re­ 40
ports. aunnd­
der.

300
372
56
180
149
83
137
58
167
39
71
40
239
133

T o tal...................................... 2,024


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Over
Over
Over
Over
40
44
48
54
and 44 and
and
a nd
un ­
u n ­ 48 u n ­ 54 u n ­
der
der
der
der
44.
48.
54.
80.

30
4

1

2
7

2
334
46

90

53

4

46
24
12
32

9

85
24
41

7

69
22
103
51

119

863

8
74

1

4
4

77

35

9

708

[1321]

183
8
9
120
83

60

Over
60
a nd
un­ 72
der
72.

O ver

72.

25
40
2

7

7

Ì

54

29

14

10

3

2
10
12
5

7

27

2

4

1

2

133

78

48

19

8

1

3

7
18

1

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

98

The sixth biennial report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
State of Texas, 1919-1920, contains a very comprehensive study of the
prevailing hours of labor of employees in that State. The data were
compiled from 1,873 representative establishments. While the sur­
vey includes only a limited part of the industries in any particular
city or locality, the inquiry was always so distributed as to get sta­
tistics from all classes of establishments from the largest to the small­
est, and practically every section of the State is represented. In the
following summary table made by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics the males and females have not been presented separately.
No females, however, were found who worked more than 9 hours
per day or 54 hours per week. Approximately 42 per cent of the
employees reported worked an 8-hour day and a small percentage
worked less than 48 hours per week. Of the remaining 58 per cent
41.2 worked 54 hours per week and 6.9 worked 60 hours per week.
Only I per cent of the employees worked more than 60 hours per
week.
C L A SS IFIE D H O U R S O F L A B O R O F E M P L O Y E E S IN T E X A S M A N U FA C T U R IN G IN D U S­
T R IE S , 1919-20.
[Source: Texas.

B ureau of labor statistics.

Sixth biennial report, 1919-1920.]

Per cent of employees whose full tim e hours per week w ere—

In d u stry .

N um ­
Over
ber of
Over
44
em ­
40
40
ploy­ and and 44 and
un ­
u n ­ un ­
ees.
der
der. der
44.
48.

A utom obiles....................
275
B ak e ries1........................................
195
B ox m ak in g ....................................
1,413
Candy a n d confectionery............
2,248
1.068
Cigars and tobacco .............
Clothing, duck, bag, a n d m a t­
tress............................................... 3, 722
574
Compress and cotton g in n in g ...
D e p artm en t stores and m ercan­
tile establishm ents.................... 12, 830
Foundries and m achine s h o p s .. 1,381
230
F u rn itu re a n d cabinetm akers__
H otels and restau ran ts................
1,229
O'037
L au n d ries.. .
Mill and elev ato r...........................
' 295
Mines........................
017
Miscellaneous m anufactures....... 2.105
N ew spaper a n d p rin tin g offices. 1.306
6' 590
Oil and refin in g ............................
Packing p la n ts ..............................
2 616
R ailroad com panies...................... 3,032
Telephone an d telegraph............. 9,641
T ex tiles............................................
937
All others.........................................
361
T o tal...................................... 58, 702

.....
0.2

.1
.3

.8

5.0
.l

.....

0.9

0.5

49.3

.4

54

Over
54
and 60
un­
der
60.

Over
60
and
un­
der
72.

72 Over
72.

100.0
1. 1

22.1 4 3 . 4 13.8 16.4
3.5 7 . 1 21.0 67.2
5. 9 62.1 3.4 20.0
100. 0

6.7 28.9

8.9
.2

0.5
1.4

2 0.2

99.8

21.0 10.9 64.3 (3)
3.6
0.1
.1 30.7 1.0 45.5
. 1 19.6
.....
0.8 2.2
99.6
1.8 4.1 48. 8 1.1 7.8 22.3 1.3 4 7.7
3.9
LI
.6 18.4 76.9
(3)
9.8
66.8
4.7
18.6
97. 4
.3
2.3
5.fi! 20.4 49.4 4.9 16. 8
.3 2.1 5.1
(8)
.2 72.1 11.9 5.4
1.0
8.6
98.4
.1
.1
1.1
.3
71.4
28.6
98. 0 ___
.1
1.2
.8
51. 4
48.6
13. 8
1. 4
80. 4
3.9
5. 3i 10.0 8.0 1.7 43.8 18.8
6 3.3
.1

4.7

1 R eported as “ B akery and confectionery ” in one city.
2 77 hours per week.
3 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 p er cent.
4 45 working 73 hours an d 50 w orking 84 hours.
E 84 hours per week.
6 P a rt a t 77 and p a rt a t 84 hours per week.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Over
48
48 and
un­
der
54.

[1322]

7. 7 41.2!
•2 37.0 !

.9

6.9

.6

.3

.2

THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IK INDUSTRY.

99

The twentieth biennial report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
the State of California, 1921-1922, contains a study of the prevailing
hours of labor of organized workers in that State in 1922. Question­
naires were sent out to all labor unions, but on account of strikes and'
other industrial disturbances not all reported. Altogether only 279
unions, having a membership of 59,770, furnished information. In
reporting the hours of labor for each organized trade or occupation,
however, the number of members affected was not shown, and in
the summary presented below the number of reports received have
been classified rather than individuals. Of the 829 reports received,
377, or 45.5 per cent, show a 48-hour week and 337, or 40.7 per cent,
report a week of 44 hours. Ninety-one per cent show a week of 48
hours or under. Separate information for males and females has not
been summarized, but a statute provides that females shall not be
permitted to work more than eight hours per day.
U N IO N SCA LE O F H O U R S O F L A B O R IN C A L IF O R N IA JA N U A R Y , 1922.
[Source: California. B ureau of labor statistics, T w entieth biennial report, 1921-1922, p p . 102 to 131,
inclusive. N um ber of employees no t available, so th e n u m b er of reports have been classified.]
N um ber of reports showing hours of labor per week of—

In d u stry .

N u m ­ 40 Over
ber of
40
reports. hours
and and
un­
u n ­ der
der. 44.

B uilding, stone-working, e tc ..............
T ransportatio n......................................
Clothing a n d te x tiles...........................
Metals, m achinery, an d shipbuilding.
Printing, binding, e tc ___*.............. ”,
W oodworking an d fu rn itu re...............
Food an d liq u o rs....................................
Theaters a n d m u sic ..............................
Tobacco....................................................
R estauran ts a n d trad es........................
Public em p lo y m en t..............................
S tationary enginem en..........................
M iscellaneous..........................................

178
95
104
68
158
10
51
47
5
58
35
8
12

T o tal...............................................

829

3
3

Over
44
44 and
un ­
der
48.

Over
48
48 and
u n ­ 54
der
54.

147
1
44
44
89

28
68
60
20
55
5
35

14
1

1
3
21

3
1

28

337

2
30
11
7
11
15

377

12

10

Over
Over
54
60
and 60 and
un­
un­
der
der
60.
72.

2

1

72

1

i
15

i

i

7

12

14

32

16

i

1
1

8

i

The Missouri Bureau of Labor Statistics has published, in the Mis­
souri Red Book for 1922, detailed copies of actual returns as of 1921
made by 38 of the largest employers and manufacturers of the State.
These reports contain in part the actual daily and weekly hours of
labor prevailing for all wage earners, by occupations. The weekly
hours of these wage earners have been classified for each industry
represented. Approximately 55 per cent of the male employees and


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1323]

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

100

85 per cent of the female employees reported worked 48 hours or less
per week. The summarization follows:
P R E V A IL IN G H O U R S O F L A B O R P E R W E E K O F E M P L O Y E E S IN M ISSO U R I M A N U ­
F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S , B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D SE X , 1921,
[Source: Missouri.

B ureau of labor statistics.

R ed Book, 1922.]

P e r eent of employees whose hours of labor per week were—

In d u stry .

N um ­
ber of
40
em ­
n­ and
ploy­ U
un­
der
ees.
40. der
44.

Over
44
and
44 u n ­
der
48.

Over
48
48 and
un­
der
•54.

Over
54
54 and
un­
der
60.

Over
60
60 and
un­
der
72.

72 Over
72.

Males.
1,597
4,164
97.9 2. 1
335 ........
1.2
"pinnr m illing
336
18.5
1,545
4.3
47
4.3
M eat packing a n d slau g h terin g .. 2,141
475
P rintfng
1.6
37.4
10.6
Pjlpli shii ng
1,133

Poofs anrl sTiops
Oat sfiops

T o ta l2................................... 11,800

1.0

1.0

6.2

57. 7 3.8 38.4
4.1 51.8
27.9 16.1

0)

2.1

0.9 52.4

2.4

2.4

2.4

1.0

2.2
.1

.1

.1

36.3
81.5
95.7
95.7
100.0
47.2

3.7 46.5 18.8

5.4 10.1

7.2

(l)

Females.
Poofs ^yif]
C] of,hi ng
Pflfq and raps
M eat packing an d slaughtering..
M iilinrrv
Prin ting

946
877
84
149
254
381

T o ta l3.................................... 2,737

56.9
85.3 14.7
4.8 95.2
14.1
100.0
.8 33.6

2.2 40.9

85.9
100.0

8.1 42.1

1.0 14.4

.....

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 In clu d in g 27 m ales n o t show n sep a ra te ly , as th e y were found in an in d u s try w hich em ployed
females alm ost e n tirely .
3 Including a few females no t show n separately, as th e y were found in industries em ploying males
alm ost entirely.

The fourth biennial report of the Department of Labor and Indus­
try of Montana, 1919-1920, contains a very comprehensive report of
the manufacturing industries in the State. Ail manufacturing in
the State has been included and daily hours of labor were stated
separately for male and female employees. The weekly hours are
not shown and employees have been classified according to the hours
per day in the following summarization. Approximately 85 per
cent of the 12,346 employees reported had an 8-hour day. Only
two industries, lumber and slaughtering and meat packing, reported
less than 50 per cent of the employees working on that basis. In­
formation for males and females has not been separated in this
summary, although no females were found working more than 8 hours
per day.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1 3 2 4 ]

101

THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK IK INDUSTRY.

C L A S S IF IE D FU L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R D A Y O F A C TU A L E M P L O Y E E S IN T H E M AN U ­
F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S O F M ON TA N A, 1919-20.
[Source: M ontana.

D epartm ent of labor an d in d u stry .

In d u stry .

N um ber
of em ­
ployees.

L u m b e r----------------------- ------ ------------------F lour a nd feed......................................................
B akery p ro d u c ts..................................................
L au n d erin g ...........................................................
Cigar m anufacturing----- ------------ ------------Creameries (b u tte r).............................................
Cheese factories....................................................
B o ttle w orks.........................................................
Smelters, concentrators, an d cyanide plants
Foundries, repair a n d m achine sh o p s............
Planing m ills .......................................................
M onum ental w orks.............................................
B rick a nd clay p ro d u c ts....................................
M eat packing a n d slaughtering...................
Miscellaneous in d u strie s....................................

B iennial report, 1919-1920.]

P er cent of employees whose hours of labor
per d a y were—

Under

8.

9

1,822 ............ 43.1
463
2.8
65. 4
335 ............ 85.7
1,037
6. 3
92. 3
102
21. 6
78. 4
168
1.2
58. 3
22 .........
77.3
114
.9
91.2
5,376 ........ .
100.0
.2
99.8
519
423 ........... 74. 0
72
18.1
81. 9
308 ............ 89.6
163 ______ 48.5
1,422 ............ 86.2

27.1
6.0
11. 7

12,346

Total.

10

1.6

26.8

"è.T

29. 7 .........................
24.2
0.4
1.1
2. 7 ..........................

..........................
13. 7
22. 7
1.8

22.0

4.0
10.4 ...........

51.5
3.4

T o ' '" s . ’s

6.9

1.0

84.9

(*)

!Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

The twenty-fourth annual report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
of the State of Virginia contains a summary covering all industries
in the State for the year 1920. The average daily hours of labor of
wage earners are classified for each industry for males and females
separately. Only 45 per cent of the 99,728 male employees and
25.8 per cent of the 21,986 female employees worked 8 hours or less
per day. The industries of shipbuilding and coal mining were the
only ones reported which were entirely on an 8-hour basis. The
classification follows:
D A IL Y H O U R S O F L A B O R O F E M P L O Y E E S IN V IR G IN IA M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B ­
L ISH M E N T S, 1921.
[Source: Virginia.

B ureau of labor a n d in d u strial statistics.

Tw enty-fourth an n u al report, 1921.]

Per cent of employees whose hours of labor per
day were—
In d u stry .

Males.
B uilding operations.............................................
C annery p ro d u cts.............................. ...................
Cotton Vriil 1 p roducts...........
Fertilizer an d g uano............................................
Iron and m achinery.............................................
Lim e, cem ent, an d lim estone............................
G arm ents (clothing, shirts, e tc .)............
Sash, doors, a n d b lin d s......................................
Sawmill p ro d u cts.............................. ..................
S hipbuilding.........................................................
Tobacco p ro d u cts.............................. ..................
W ood p ro d u c ts.....................................................
Coal m in in g ........................... ...............................
Miscellaneous in d u s trie s ...................................
T o ta l............................................................
Females.
Cannery p ro d u c ts...
Cotton m ill p ro d u cts.........................................
G arm ents (clothing, shirts, e tc .).............
Tobacco p ro d u cts.................................................
Miscellaneous in d u strie s....................................
Total ..
....................................

N um ber
of em­
ployees.

8
and
under.

8,265
1,348
4,508
2,194
11,383
2,359
291
1,885
4,633
12,070
5,041
3,700
14,780
27,266
99,728

34.7
4Ö.7
2.0
2.1
54.5
3.5
87.6
9.4
3.0
100.0
1.7
6.8
100.0
26.3
45.0

1,536
2,580
1,873
8' 414
7 , 583
21,986

53.7
4.0
76.2
1.9
41.6
25.8

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 p er cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1325]

9
and
over
8.

11.6
.2
1.3
30.3
3.310.3

10
and
over
9.

11
and
over
10.

7.3

41.7
97.9
96.0
13.0
93.1
2:1
55.4
87.0

47.7
4.5

50.5
88.1

.5

16.7
17.3

48.1
34.8

4.2
1.3

11.1
6.1
21.1
61.4
26.3
35.9

34.8
90.0
2.7
36.7
31.9
38.3

.4

0.1

2.4

12
and
over
11.

Over
12.

0.6
2.1

0.1

.3
.1

(l)

4.8
1.6

.3
.1

.........
0)

102

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

The statistics of manufactures of the State of Iowa, 1920 and 1922,
include a classification of employees in factory industries by hours
of labor per day, in 1919 and 1921. The reports for a few estab­
lishments could not be included in this summary because of incom­
plete data.
H O U R S O F L A B O R IN F A C T O R IE S IN IO W A IN 1919 A N D 1921.
[Source: Iow a.

B ureau of labor statistics.

Year.

N um ­ N um ­
ber of
of
estab­ ber
em ­
lish­ ployees.
m ents.

2.747
2,877

Statistics of m anufactures of Iow a, 1919 and 1921.]
Per cent of employees whose full-tim e hours per week
were—

8

8J

SJ

9

9i

10

10i
arid
11

12

91,454
76,203

37.4
45.1

1.4
1.3

0.8
.4

24.9
23.3

1.8
3.6

27.4
20.8

0.1

5.4
3.4

0.8
2.0

Over
12

T otal employees.........

1919
1921

M ales.................. .........

1919
1921

75,023
63,131

39.5
47.6

.7
1.1

23.6
21.5

1.5
3.0

27.4
21.3

.1

.1

6.3
3.4

.5
2.1

Fem ales........................

1919
1921

16,431
13', 072

27.5
33.4

4.7
2.5

2.4
2.0

31.0
32.0

3.0
6.4

27.5
18.7

.2

1.3
3.8

2.3
1.3

The fourth biennial report of the Commissioner of Labor of the
State of Nevada, 1921-1922, contains the average daily hours of labor
of employees in that State, classified by industries. The total num­
ber of firms reporting was 2,540, which employed 21,011 wage earners.
The number of women employed was 2,214, and with but few excep­
tions averaged 8 hours or less per day. Nurses, matrons, cooks, and
farm workers, totaling 242 females, averaged slightly above the 8-hour
day. The averages indicate the prevalence of the 8-hour day. The
summary follows:
A V E R A G E H O U R S O F L A B O R P E R D A Y O F E M P L O Y E E S IN N E V A D A , 1921-22.
[Source: N evada.

Commissioner of Labor, F o u rth biennial report.]
N um ber
of em ­
ployees.

Average
hours
p er day.

Farm ing a n d stock raising.............
Mines, mills, an d q u a rrie s ............
M anufacturing in d u stries...............
R ailro ad s...................................... .
T rades a n d m erchandise................
Public service....................................
Professional service..........................
H otels, cafes, a n d saloons..............
Telegraph a n d telephones..............
Transfers a n d garages.....................
L aundries, dyers, cleaners.............

3,845
4.658
1,024
5,706
2,369
1,478
162
970
227
385
187

9.3
8.0
8.0
8.1
8.0
7.5
8.3
8.3
7.9
S. 4
8.5

All in d u strie s.............................

21,011

8.4

In d u stry .

*

\

" -


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[3326]

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

103

Union Scale oi Wages and Hours of Labor as of May 15, 1923.

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics has just completed the compila­
tion of the union scales of wages and hours of labor of 862,621
members of organized trades in 66 of the principal cities of
the United States as of May 15, 1923, which will be published later
in bulletin form. The present article is a summary of this report.
In all trades taken collectively the hourly union wage rate on May
15, 1923, was higher in the United States than in any preceding year,
being 9 per cent higher than on the„same date in i922, 84 per'cent
higher than in 1917, 111 per cent higher than in 1913, 123 per cent
higher than in 1910, and 135 per cent higher than in 1907.
All hourly rates have been converted to equivalent weekly rates and
all weeUy rates have been reduced to equivalent hourly rates. Taken
collectively, weekly rates in 1923 were 9 per cent higher than in 1922,
77 per cent higher than in 1917, 99 per cent higher than in 1913,
109 per cent higher than in 1910, and 117 per cent higher than in 1907.
Because of reductions in hours of labor, weekly rates have not in­
creased to the same extent as hourly rates. In 1923 the regular
hours of labor were at the same level as in 1922, 4 per Cent lower than
in 1917, 6 per cent lower than in 1913, 7 per cent lower than in 1910,
and 8 per cent lower than in 1907.
In the trades the weekly rates changed during the year, May, 1922,
to May, 1923, as follows: Bakers’ wages increased 3 per cent; building
trades changes ranged from no change for parquetry-floor layers to
an increase of 18 per cent for stonemasons; chauffeurs’ wages showed
an increase of 4 per cent; those of teamsters and drivers an increase
of 5 per cent; those of freight handlers an increase of 11 per cent;
those of granite cutters an increase of 3 per cent; those of stonecutters
an increase of 9 per cent; those of laundry workers a decrease of 1
per cent; and those of linemen an increase of 4 per cent. In the metal
trades, the changes ranged from an increase of 2 per cent for black­
smiths’ helpers, boilermakers’ helpers, and pattern makers, to an
increase of 14 per cent for core makers.
Millwork carpenters gained 8 per cent, while glaziers and painters
(hardwood finishers) in the millwork group gained 4 per cent. In
book and job printing, weekly rates of platen pressmen remained
unchanged, while in all other occupations in this group the increases
ranged from 1 per cent for compositors, machine tenders (machinists),
machinist operators, and photo-engravers to 11 per cent for press
assistants and feeders. In the newspaper printing trades, the weekly
rates for machine tenders (machinists) on day and night work, photo­
engravers on night work, and web pressmen on night work remained
unchanged, while in all other occupations the changes ranged from
a decrease of 5 per cent for machinist operators on night work to an
increase of 3 per cent for stereotypers on night work.
The average money rate of wages per hour as of May 15, 1923 and
1922, for the country as a whole, is given for each trade in the table
following. Averages are also given for trade groups and for all
trades combined. The grand average at the end of the table shows
an increase for all trades, collectively, from 87.3 cents in 1922 to 95.2
cents in 1923.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1327]

104

MONTH!A' LABOR REVIEW

T able

1.—A V E R A G E U N IO N R A T E O F W A G E S P E R H O U R IN T R A D E S S P E C IF IE D ,
F O R TH E- U N IT E D S T A T E S , AS O F MAY 13, 1922 A N D 1923,

Occupation.

B ak e rs............................... .............
Building trades.
Asbestos w o rk ers.........................
B ricklayers....................................
Sewer, tu n n el, an d caisson.
B uilding lab o rers.........................
C a rp e n te rs...... .............. ..............
M illw rights______________
Parquetry-floor la y e rs........
W h arf a n d b rid g e________
C em ent finishers..... ....................
C em ent finishers’ h elp ers..........
Com position roofers....................
Com position roofers’ h e lp e rs ...
E lev ato r co n stru cto rs................
E lev ato r constructors’ helpers.
Engineers, portable a n d hoistm g ................................................
G laziers..........................................
H od carriers............: ....................
Inside w irem en............................
F ix tu re h a n g ers...................
Lathers:
Piece w o rk .............................
Tim e w o rk .............................
M arble se tte rs ...............................
M arble s etters’ helpers...............
Mosaic a n d terrazzo w o rk e rs...
P a in te rs .........................................
Fresco..................... ...............
Sign..........................................
P la ste re rs............................... .......
P lasterers’ lab o rers.....................
P lu m b ers and- gas fitte rs ...........
P lu m b ers’ lab o rers.....................
Sheet-m etal w orkers...................
Ship carp en ters............................
Slate an d tile roofers..................
Steam fitte rs .................................
Steam fitters’ h elp ers.............
Stone m aso n s...............................
Structural-iron w orkers.............
F in ish ers................................
Finishers’ h e lp e rs................
Tile lay ers.................................
Tile lay ers’ h e ln e rs.....................

May IS,
1923.

May 15,
1922..

$0.921

$0,891

1. 005
1.321
1.534
.728
L 084
1.164
1.262
.994
1.113
.805
.977
.695
1.115
.806

. 968
1.164
1.432
.714
.973
1, ( f t
1.254
.877
1.017
.781
.964
.678
1.050
.769

1.141
1.041
.788
1,079
1.065

1.033
.983
.721
1.042
.996

i 7.720
1.188
1.188
.873
.978
1.108
1,125
1.330
1.306
.872
1.151
. 87.9
1.065
. 935
1.224
1.052
.751
1. 297
1.109
1.086
.838
1.140
.70S

18.920
1.076
1.050
.808
.955
1.009
1.074
1.231
1.173
.792
1.043
.-841
.989
.833
1.098
1.004
. 707
1.097
1.036
1.046
.831
1. 043
.780

1.Ô68

.966

. 574
.590

. 555
. 558

.583

.557

A verage for building
tra d e s ...............................
Chauffeurs and teamsters and
drivers.
Chauffeurs.............................
Team sters an d d riv e rs ..............
Average for chauffeurs
a n d team sters and
d riv e rs ............................
F reight h a n d le rs..........................
Granite and stone trades.
G ranite c u tte rs .............................
Stonecutters.................................

.722

.651

1.089
1.151

1.068
1. 055

Average for granite a n d
stone tra d e s _____ ____

1.119

1.062

.414
.898

.417
.868

L a u n d ry w o rk ers........................
L in em en ..... ...................................
Metal trades.
B lacksm iths, m anufacturing
an d i obbing sh o o s...................
B lacksm iths’ helpers, m anufacturing a n d lobbing s h o p s..
B oiler m akers, m anufacturing
a n d jobbing sh o p s...................

.997

.971

.853

.838

. S12

Majr 15,
1922.

80.606
.966
.848

$9.591
.933
.743

. S23

.791

. 650
.934
.843
1.028

.613
.861
.746
1.009

.839

. 794-

. 935
1.030
1.068

.865
.986
1.030

.956

.896

.507
.907
1.024

.485
. 855
1.001

.818
1.193

. S21
1.121

2 .150
1.062
1.088
1.028
1.043
.781

2.146
1.042
1. 078
1.011
1.033
. 698

1.052
.859

.975
.825

.926

.892

1.013
1.151

1.004
1.138

2 .139
1.031

2.134
1.017

2.160
1.130

2 .151
1.121

1.064
1.179

1.060
1.175

1.007
1.040

.999
1.104

1.085
1. 289

1.0S7
1.278

.871
.987

.861
.978

.922
1.082,

.906
1,046-

Average.for. printing and
publishing, new spaper

1.047

1.036

G rand average for all
trades herein covered..

.952

.8 7 3

Metal trades—C ontinued.
Boiler m akers’ helpers, m anufacturing a n d jobbing shops .
C oppersm iths______ ________
Core m a k e rs..................................
M achinists, m anufacturing: and
j obbing shops---- ---- ---- -----M achinists’ helpers, m anufac-.
tu rin g a n d j obbing shops____
M etal polishers a n d buffers___
Moldéis, iro n ________________
P a tte rn m a k e rs__ ______ ____
Average for m etal trades.
Miilworh trades.
C arp en ters....... .............................
G laziers.........................................
P ain ters: H ardw ood finishers.
Average for m illw ork
tra d e s .............. ............. .
Printing and publishing: Booh
and job.
B in d ery ’w om en...........................
B ookbinders.................................
C om positors..................................
E lectrotypers:
B a tte ry m en a nd builders.
Finishers an d m olders........
Machine operators:
Piece w o rk .............................
Tim e w o r k ...........................
M achine te n d e rs.........................
M achinist o p e ra to rs ...................
Photo-engravers..........................
Press assistants and feeders___
Pressm en:
C ylinder..................................
P la te n .,..................... .............
Average for p rinting and
publishing, book a nd
jo b ....................... .............
Printing and publishing:
Newspaper.
I Compositors:
D ay w ork...............................
N ig h t work-............. .............
Machine operators, d ay work:
Piece w ork............................
Tim e w o rk .............................
Machine operators, night work:
Piece w o rk .............................
Tim e w ork..............................
Machine ten d ers (m achinists):
D ay w o rk ...............................
N ight w o rk ............................
M achinist operators:
D ay w o rk ..............................
N ight w o rk ............................
Photo-engravers:
D ay w o rk .............................
N ight w o rk ............................
Pressm en, w eb presses:
D ay w o rk ...............................
N ight w ork...........................
Stereotypers:
D ay w o rk .............................
N ight w ork . ____ _______

.775

1 P er 1,000 laths.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

May 15,
1923.

Occupation.

2 R ate per 1,000 ems.

[1328]

105

USTION SCALE OF WAGES AHD HOLES OF LABOR.

A total of 5,011 wage quotations were tabulated for 1923, for
which, in 119 instances, no comparable data were obtained for 1922,
either because there was no effective union scale in 1922 or because
the unions were not then organized.
Of the 4,892 wage quotations for 1923 for which there are com­
parable data for 1922, 2,667 had no change during the year and
2,225 had changes in rates or hours or both of these items.
A table is given summarizing the 2,225 changes as they affected
each of the three phases of the scale—wages per hour, earnings per
week, and hours per week. With 2,032 instances of increases in
wages per hour as against only 173 decreases out of a total of 5,011
wage quotations, the increase of wage rates in 1923 becomes signi­
ficant.
T able 2 .—N U M B E R O F U N IO N SCALE Q U O TA TIO N S F O R 1923, N U M B E R O F SUCH SCALES
C O M PA R A B L E W IT H 1922, A N D N U M B E R IN W H IC H C H A N G ES O C C U R R ED IN W A G E
R A T E S P E R H O U R , E A R N IN G S P E R W E E K , A N D H O U R S P E R W E E K .
U nion scale quotations, 1923.
In d u stry or occupation.

B akery tra d e s .............................................
B uilding trad es .,.......................................
Chauffeurs and team sters a n d drivers.
F reig h t h a n d le rs................... ....................
G ranite an d stone tra d e s ................ ........
L a u n d ry w o rk e rs ............................. .......
L inem en.......................................................
M etal trad es_____ __________ _______
M illw ork.......................................................
P rin tin g a n d publishing:
Book an d jo b ............ ......................
N e w sp a p er..................... ....................
Street railw ays i .........................................
T o tal.

N um ber N um ber
com par­ having
No
N um ber. able
w ith changes Increase. Decrease. change.
1922. from 1922
274
1,538
493
50
115
54

271
1,513
464
50
114
54

104
953
29
39

93
929
219
27
34

222

42

42

425
67

409
06

18
215
30

18
185
29

845
904
204

836
890
183

272
250
93

244
217
37

5,011

4,892

2,225

2,032

F ull tim e earnings per week.
Increase. Decrease.
B akery tra d e s.___ _____ __ _____ _____
B uilding tra d e s ............................................
Chauffeurs a n d team sters and d riv e rs .
Freight h a n d le rs.........................................
G ranite a n d stone tra d e s.......... ................
L a u n d ry workers . ..... ....................... .........
L inem en _________________ ________
M etal tr a d e s .___________________ ____
M illwork.............................. ........................ .
P rin tin g an d publishing:
Book a n d j o b . ......................................
N ew spaper________________ _____
Street ra ilw a y s 1...........................................
T o tal.

R ate of wages p e r hour.

No
change.

20

H ours per week.
No
Increase. Decrease. change.

92
930
214
27
37

99
926
200

28
31

17
189
28

17
185
28

15

215
218
1,967

22S
219
132

115

1,961

i The hours per week and earnings p er week were not reported in th e 93 eases where changes in th e wages
per hour were reported for street railw ays.

Owing to the many variations of hours of work and to the shifting
of trips, the hours per week and rates per week of motormen and
conductors are omitted from the report.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1329]

106

MONTHLY LABOR EEYTEW.

Reduced to percentages of the total changes in scales, 91.3 per
cent of the changes resulted in increases and 7.8 per cent in decreases
in wages per hour; 88.4 per cent made increases and 5.9 per cent
decreases in earnings per week; and 2.5 per cent made increases and
5.2 per cent decreases in hours per week.
The next table shows for each trade, and for each year for which
data are available, the per cent of increase or decrease in full-time
rates of wages per week in 1923 as compared with each of the last 16
preceding years in all cities covered, taken collectively.
T able 3 .—P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E IN F U L L -T IM E R A T E S O F W A G ES P E R W E E K IN
1923, AS C O M PA R ED W IT H EA C H O F T H E LA ST 16 Y E A R S P R E C E D IN G .
Per cent of increase in full-tim e rates of wages per week in 1923 as com­
pared w ith —
O ccupation.
1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922
Bakery trades.
B ak ers................................................. 186 179 169 164 156 151* 143 139 137 131 113

79

43

4

71
77
54
80
76
73
79
73
73
110
90
69
66
87
66

53
65
44
54
62
62
68
57
57
81
68
54
56
75
47
60
57
54
57
67
64
94
62

27 12 13
4
49
9 11
13
41
4
5
7
38 i 4 1 4
3
41
5
4
11
34
4
6
9
1
1 (*>
47
1
47 19
13
41
4
1
9
3
59 1 1 1 1
2
7
51
7
3
40 1 3 1 1
6
35
5 11
4 CD
45
a
36
5
3
10
4
50
6
6
35 1 7 1 9
9
35
4
3 12
2
42
6
7
6
4
11
50
13
48 12 11
70 ( D ( D
8
2 (*)
2
51

80
65
91
80
88
73

64
59
75
71
63
57
71
53
25
71
45
84
75
41
44
56
95

40
7
3
36
1 (D
5
46
8
8
48 14
44 1 1 13
8
2
39
42
5
4
4
39
(*)
14
1
3
51 17
6
1
2
29
3
53
6
9
58 13 10
25 i 1 1 3
28 1 3 1 5
1 CD
40
44
7
8
62 1 1 1 3

41
58

19
28

CD

3

1
1

5

73 53 50 28
* No change.

20

(D

12

11

1

1

3

Building trades.
Asbestos w orkers..............................
B ricklayers........................................
Sewer, tu n n el, an d caisson. . .
Building laborers..............................
C arpenters..........................................
M illw rights.................................
Parquetry-floor layers.............
W harf an d b rid g e.....................
Cem ent finishers...............................
Cement finishers’ helpers...............
Composition roofers.........................
Composition roofers’ helpers.........
E levator co n stru cto rs.....................
E levator constructors’ helpers___
Engineers, po rtab le an d hoisting.
Glaziers..............................................
H od carriers.......................................
Inside w irem en .................................
F ix tu re hangers.........................
L a th e rs ...............................................
M arble setters....................................
M arble setters’ h elp ers...................
Mosaic an d terrazz'o w orkers.........
Painters:
B u ild in g .....................................
Fresco..........................................
Sign..............................................
P lasterers...........................................
Plasterers’ laborers..........................
P lum bers a n d gas fitte rs................
Plu m b ers’ laborers...........................
Sheet-m etal w orkers........................
Ship carp en ters................................
Slate a n d tile roofers.......................
Steam fitte rs......................................
Steam fitters’ helpers......................
Stonem asons......................................
Structural-iron w o rk ers..................
Finishers.....................................
Finishers’ h elp ers.....................
Tile lay ers..........................................
Tile layers’ helpers...........................

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(D
(D
(2) CD (D CD CD 121

Chauffeurs and teamsters and
drivers.
Chauffeurs.......................................... (2)
Team sters and drivers.................... (2)

(D

CD

97

CD

90

136 132
110 104
76
75

74
71

103 101
71 70
117 115

72

(D
(D

73
102

98

(2) ( D
* No d ata.

(D

78

73

(D
CD

(D

CD

CD

(D

(D

(D

85 78
67 54
96 88
63 57
125 123 n o
102 100 92
73 71 62
71 69 61
101 101 87
69 68 61
111 104 101

88
(D (D (D
<D 109 101
71. 70 66

CD
(D

CD

(D

72
97

67
91

59
79

68

1

10
5
6

12
10
8
5
8
12
11
5
6
18
7

4
1
10

3

4

Freight handlers.
Freight h an d lers..............................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1 Lower.

(2)

[1330]

UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR,

107

T able 3 .— P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E IN F U L L -T IM E R A T E S O F W A G E S P E R W E E K
IN 1923, AS C O M PA R E D W IT H EACH O F T H E LA ST 16 Y E A R S P R E C E D IN G —Concluded.
Per cent of increase in full-time rates of wages per week in 1923 as compared w ith —
Occupation.
1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922
Granite and stone trades.
G ranite cu tters.................................. 129 128 125 123 122 120 111 111 110 101
Stone c u tte rs..................................... 103 103 103 102 102 101 96 89 87 86

94
78

63
68

38
41

12
8

2
5

3
9

Laundry workers.
L aundry w orkers...........................

CD

( 2)

(D

(D

(D

(D

(D

CD

(D

CD

66

56

28

4

(D

Linemen.
L inem en.............................................

(D

( 2)

(D

CD

(D

(D

CD

(*)

(D

(D

(D

C)

(D

2

13

4

98 97 91 92 89 85 82 81 76
144 141 130 131 129 124 122 116 109
97 95 87 76 75 73 73 73 68
117 117 112 105 92 90 89 89 81

65
89
57
71
59
60
54
63
94
61
66

21
33
19
27
31
26
19
30
57
29
27

14
23
9
14
10
17
9
20
37
18
11

14
2
11
3
15
18
13
15
1
17
1 11

11
1
15
(D

3
2
4
2
3
14

17

6
9
13
2

115 113 117 115 109 99
(D
(D
( D 125 111
(D
90 88

80
96
78

55
46
47

8
12
7

1 1

C) ( 2) CD ( D ( D CD ( D CD 131 128 112
124 122 121 119 115 114 109 105 105 105 93
135 135 134 125 119 114 109 104 103 99 95

90
72
76

47
35

6
2
10

1

155 154 153 142 129 125 119
140 140 139 138 127 124 120
104 104 104 99 97 93 88
(D
<D ( D 87 84
( 2)
CD
CO
CD
CD
(D
CD
CD
(D
CD
(2) CD CD ( D ( D ( D
174 173 170 165 155 152 146

108 103 98 90
112 107 102 96
86 86 85 80
84 83 80 78
59 59 56 54
85 70
(D
(D
139 138 135 123

75
89
67
62
48
61
91

50 1 1
66 18
37
7
32
5
30
5
38
8
48
8

127 126 112 110 106 103 100 96 96 93 89
139 138 134 130 126 123 119 115 114 110 100

71
82

42
48

9
9

(D

100
94

99
94

97
92

92
89

87
86

83
83

79
80

78
79

77
79

76
78

72
74

64
67

37
38

12
14

3
5

1
1

101
91

97
89

97
89

93
85

90
84

S7
82

84
79

82
78

81
77

80
76

75
72

68
66

38
36

10
10

6
5

1
1

G)

(D
CD

(D

CD

CD

CD
(D

CD
CD

82
75

82
74

81
73

80
73

SO 77
73 71

68
63

32
29

6
0

2
2

(D

(2)
(2)

(D
(D

CD
CD

CD
CD

(D

(D

CD

64
57

64
57

64
57

61
57

58
53

54
46

47
33

33
10

2
12

15

(D

(D

(D
CD

CD
CD

CD
CD

0

CD

CD

78
84

70
77

59
65

37
38

16
24

3

(D

(D
CD

C)

(2)

6

u
CD

109 106 103
95 95 94

95
92

93
92

90
90

86
86

85
84

84
83

82
82

78
80

64
68

36
34

9
10

1
1

(D

94
92

88
89

87
89

85
86

74
76

73
74

72
74

70
72

66
69

60
62

42
44

17
18

3
3

1

1

Metal trades.
B lacksm ith s......................................
B lacksm iths’ helpers......................
Boiler m ak ers....................................
Boiler m akers’ helpers....................
C oppersm iths....................................
Core m akers.......................................
M achinists.........................................
M achinists’ helpers..........................
Metal polishers an d buffers...........
H olders, iro n .....................................
P a tte rn m a k e rs ...............................

103
166
98
117
<*)
127
104
(*)
(»)
117
119

Millwork.
C arpenters......................................... C)
Glaziers............................................... ( D
P ainters: H ardw ood finishers___ CD
Printing and publishing:
job.

B o o k

( 2)

(D

(D

(D

CD

CD

CD

(D

CD

95 92 91 81
89 86 86 68
91 91 91 78
CD
(D
CD
CD
( 2)
126
125 124 114
CD
CD
(D
CD
(D
117 117 108 105 104 94 92 92 81
104
97
97 98 85
111
115
109 106
127 129 118 108 106
101 101 93 91 91

(2)
CD
( 2)

CD
CD

CD
CD

(D
(D

(D

CD

(D

132 130 121 113

17
12

12
16
7
1

7
3

4

8
4
4

and

B indery w om en...............................
B ookbinders......................................
Compositors.......................................
Electrotypers:
B atterym en and builders.......
Finishers and m olders.............
Machine operators............................
Machine tenders (m ach in ists)___
M achinist operators.........................
Photo-engravers...............................
Press assistants and feeders...........
Pressm en:
C ylinder......................................
P la te n ..........................................

44

1

(D

1

1

19
11

14

1
3
2
7
4

4
5
1
5
7
2
1

1
1
11
7

(*)

Printing and publishing: Newspaper.
Compositors:
D ay w ork....................................
N ight w o rk .................................
Machine operators:
D ay w ork....................................
N ight w o rk ................................
M achine tenders (m achinists):
D ay w o rk ....................................
N ight w o rk ................. ..............
M achinist operators:
D ay w o rk ...................................
N ight w o rk ............................
Photo-engravers:
D ay w o rk ....................................
N ight w o rk ................................
Pressm en, w eb presses:
D ay w o rk ....................................
N ight w o rk ................................
Stereotypers:
D ay w ork....................................
N ight w o rk ................................
1 Lower.

71915°— 23----- 8


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(2)
(2)

99
93

(2)

92
91

s No d ata.
[1331]

8No change.

(D

1

l
2

3

108

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

In the table of index numbers presented below are combined the
data for all localities and for all occupations except street railway
motormen and conductors. The data of preceding reports have been
used so as to produce a series of index numbers from 1907 to 1923.
In this table the year 1913 is taken as the base or 100 per cent.
T able 4 — 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 A N 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 1923.
[1913=100.]

Year.

1907......................................
190S......................................
1909......................................
1910......................................
1911......................................
1912......................................
1913......................................
1911......................................
1915......................................
1910......................................
1917......................................
1918......................................
1919......................................
1920......................................
1921..................... ...............
1922......................................
1923......................................

R ates of
wages per
hour.

F ull-tim e
hours per
week.

90
91
92
9-1
96
98
100
102
103
107
114
133
155
199
205
193
211

103
102
102
101
101
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
94
94
94
94

R ates of
wages per
week, full
tim e.
92
93
93
95
96
98
100
102
102
106
112
130
148
189
193
183
199

The organized trades herein covered have nearly reached the
8-hour day; 89 per cent of all the union members reported had a week
of 48 hours or less. In the building trades, 97 per cent of the member­
ship also have the Saturday half-holiday with a week of 44 hours or
less; and in all trades combined 68 per cent of the membership had
a week of 44 hours or less. Similar figures are given for each trade
on pages 87 and 88 of this issue of the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w .
Wage Scales in the Building Trades, November 1, 1923.

HE following table ot wage scales in the building trades as of
November 1, 1923, compiled by the National Association of
Builders’ Exchanges appeared in the American Contractor of
November 10, 1923. Where two figures are shown, they are the
minimum and maximum rates. All the rates are hourly rates,
except where otherwise noted:

T


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

11332]

WAGE SCALES 1ST THE BUILDING TRADES,

109

W A G E SCA LES IN T H E B U IL D IN G T R A D E S , AS O F N O V E M B E R 1, 1923.

City.

Ce­
Car­
m ent E lectri­ Hod
car­
penters. finish­ cians.
riers.
ers.

Akron, O hio.............................. $0. 70
.90
A tlanta, G a ...............................
.70
Baltim ore, M d...................... ..
.90
Boston, M ass............................. 1.10
Buffalo, N . Y ............................
.70
1.00
Chicago, 111................................ 1.15
Cincinnati, Ohio......................
1.10
Cleveland, O hio....................... 1.25
Columbia, S. C .........................
.40
.60
Columbus, O hio.......................
1.00
D ayton, Ohio............................
1.00
Des Moines, Iow a..................... 1.00
D etroit, M ich............................
.8-5
.90
D ubuque, Iow a........................
.924
D u luth, M in n ...........................
• 87J
Erie, P a ......................................
.95
Fitchburg, M ass.......................
.95
G rand Forks, N . D a k .............
.80
G rand R apids, M ich...............
.85
1.00
Greensboro, N . C .....................
.65
.70
H am ilton, O hio........ : ............
1.00
H ouston, T ex.7.........................
8.00
Indianapolis, I n d .....................
.974
Johnstow n, P a .........................
.65
.90
K ansas City, Mo........... ..........
1 .1 2 4
Lim a, Ohio...............................
.60
.80
Los Angeles, Calif.7................. 7.00
8.00
Louisville, K y ..........................
.90
M emphis, T en n ........................
.60
.90
Milwaukee, W is.......................
.95
M inneapolis, M inn...................
. 871
N ashville, T e n n ........ ..............
. 65
New H aven, Conn...................
.90
New York C ity, N . Y ............
1.124
Norfolk, V a ..........................
.65
. 75
O klahom a City, O kla.7..........
8.00
O m aha, N eb r............................
1.00
P hiladelphia, P a .....................
1.124
Phoenix, A riz .L ....................... 7.00
8.00
P ittsb u rg h , P a .........................
1.20
P ortland, M e...........................
.90
R eading, P a ............................ .
.90
1 A nd up.
2 Sliding scale.
8 Per M.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$0.70
.80
1.25
1.25
1.10
.60
.85
1.10
1 .0 2 4

1.25
.90
.80
1.00
1 .124
.70
.85
.50
.00
.874
1.10
1 .1 2 4

.60

$0 . 7 5
1 .0 0

.50
1.00

$0.60
.75
.30
. 45

1. 00
1.10
1.00
1 25
1.10
1. 25
.90
1.00
.70
.80

.874
.70
.50
.60

is
1.00
1. 00

. 85
. 874

1 .1 2 4

.90
. 70
. 75
.4 5

.3 5

.60
.45
. 55

. 45

.50

.85

i.oo

.85

9.00

1 0 .0 0
1 .1 0
1 .0 6
1 .1 2 4

.50

6.00
.724
. 75
. 75
.90

. 75

.60

7 .0 0
8 .0 0

9.66

.874
.80
.874
i.oo

1.00
.874
.80

.874

.874

.7 1 4

.60

.75

.40

.85

.60

1.25
.65
. 75

i.oo

1.00

5f0 75
.90
50

.874
.80
.85
1.00

^ .75

1.25

$1 . 0 0
1.25

.20
.35
.40
.40
.50
.65
.50
.60
. 45
. 55

.80

. 45

1 .1 2 4
.50
.65
8.00

$0. 40
. 55
. 25
.30
.35
.40
. 65
. 40
.50

.20

1.00
.80
.90

8.00
.60
1.00
.70
1.00
.65
. 75

P a in t­
ers.

. 50*
.874

1.00
.80
1.00

. 95
.70
.90
1 .12J
.70
.SO

L ath ­
ers.

.874
.874

1.

i. 66

L abor­
ers.

7 .0 0
1 .1 2 4
1 .0 0
1 .1 2 4

.60
5.00
.65
.75
.70
1.00

1.25
1. 121i. io" ""l,024
1.25
1. 20“
8 3.50
.50
.65
1.10
.85
1.174
1.25
1.25
. 90
1 .0 0

.874

i.oo
1.00
. 75
. 85

1.50
1.25
1.50

(2)

1.25
1.25
90

! 87|
• 87|

1 .0 0

.25

1 95
1 ,3 7 4

.80
60

1 .3 7 4
1 .3 7 4

.7 5

< 1.50

.60
1.00

.90

1.374

.874

1.124

.85
.90

1.25
1.25

.40
.45
. 55
.30
.40

1.00

.80

1.00

1.25

.80
.65
.70

i. 25

.40
8.30
». 35
.45
.40
. 50
.70
.35
.40
4. 00
.35
.50
. 25
.30
1.50
.45
. 55
. 30
.40
.50
. 60
.874
. 93J
30
.3 5

3.50

5.06
3 6. 00

.75
55

1.00
1 1 .0 0
1 .0 2 4

. 80
1.00
1.20
.90
10. 00
6 7.90

8.00
.974
. 76£
.80“
1.00
75
.80
7.00
. 50
. 87-4

1 .1 2 4

13. 00

6.00
.75

1.25
1.374
90“
1.00

.75
.90
50

75
.874

.85

.85

1.25

.874
. 87A
1. 0 0 “
7 8. 00
7 9.00

.874
09Ì
. 75

1 . 124

.80

1 .12 4

1 .1 2 4

1.124

1.50

1.084

.75
8. 00
. 90

1. 00“
12.00

.60
5. 00

.75
10. 00

1 95*
1.50

1 .0 0

.90

1 .7 5

7.00
1.25

1 0 .0 0

.90

.90

.90

.50

1 .0 0

1.374

1. 25
1,374

.50

[7 5

12.00

1 .1 2 4

.65

. 85

1.374

.4 5

.90

.7 5

.40

1.50

1. 00
1.25

.55

1.00
810.00

. 50

1.00

L1333]

.80
1.10
.75
.87-4

.75
.45

1.25

5.00
1.00

* Plus bonus.
5 Per yard.
6 Per day.

1.25
1.174

$1.25
1.25

1

.4 5

1.25

7 .0 0

.7 5

.50
.60

.50
2. 50
3.00
.70

7.00
1.124

.90

P las­
Plas­ terers’
terers. h elp­
ers.

7.66

1. 62|
3 4. 00
1 .0 0

1.25
1 95

1.62-4

.85

1 . 124

.85

1.25

7 8-hour day rate per day.
8 Per hour.

.44

.70
1.00

6 on
7. 0 0
1 .0 0

.80
1 .0 0

110

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

W A G E SCALES IN T H E B U IL D IN G T R A D E S , AS O F N O V E M B E R 1, 1923—Continued.

City.

Ce­
od
Car­
m en t Electri­ H
car­
penters. finish­ cians. riers.
ers.

R orjf]pl d ft T)ft,k

.

$0.65
' .70

«0.80

.85

1.15

.80

. 75

1.00

1.25

"Richmond, Tnd.
R ich m o n d . V a.............
Rochester N . V
ftaginaw M ich...
ftan Francisco Calif.9
Bavannah, Oa
fth a ron. P a

Labor­
ers.

si. 66

$0.35
.45
.25
.50
.25
.30
.60
.65
.35
. 45
.56*
.62*

$0.60

.75
.75
. 87*

.70
.45
.50
.65

1.08

.80

.70

.SO

1.00
.60

1.06*

1.00

.81*

. 75

1. 00

.25

.90
1.00
.75
.87*
1.25

.90
1.25

1.00
1.12*
.75
.87*
1.25

Shreveport, L a .........................
St. Joseph, Mo.........
St. Louis. Mo............................
St. P au l. M in n .........................
St. Petersburg. F la .................

.87*

.87*
6 5. 00
6 9. 00

TucSon. Ariz.7...........................

1.00
7.20
9.00

W ebster C ity, Iow a.................
Y oungstow n, O hio..................

City.

A kron, Ohio...............................
A tlan ta, G a................................
B altim ore, M d...........................
Boston. Mass..... .......................
Buffalo, N. Y .............................
Chicago, 111..................................
C incinnati, Ohio.......................
Cleveland, Ohio.......................
Columbia, ft. C..........................
Columbus, Ohio........................
D ayton, O hio............................
Des Moines, Io w a.....................
D etroit, M ic h ...........................

D u lu th , M inn............................

F itchburg, Mass........................
G rand Forks, N . D a k .............
G rand R apids, M ich................
Greensboro, N. C.......................
H am ilton, O hio.........................
H ouston, T ex.7..........................
8 Per M.
{ Per d a y .


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$0.60
.70

. 75

1.25
1.00
1.25

1.00

1.00

1.25

.70

1.12*

1.00

1.00

1.25

.87*

. 75

.75

1.00

.25

1. 00

1.00
.90
1.00
1.00
.75
.87*
1.25

i. 25
1.50

.65
.75
.50

1.00
1.75

.60
1.25

.90
7.00
8.00

1.12*
1.12*
1.25
8. 00
10.00
612.00

.50
(9)

.87*

.87*
1.25

.71*

1.12*
1.00

1.12*
.60

5.00
.50
. 75
.40

1.15

1.00

1.00

.80

Brick
layers.

Ele­
vator
Gas
con­
fitters.
structors.

.87*

.87*
s 4.50
3 5.50
3 7.00

.35
.50
.40
.50
. 55

1.37*
1.00

1.12*
.60

1.25

1.25

1.12*

1.25

H oist­
ing
engi­
neers.

Masons.

.80

$1.00

$1.25

$0.70
.80

1.12*
1.10'

1. 25
1.25
1.10
1.00

1.00
1.25
1. 25
1.25

1.00
1.10
1.10
.75

1. 00

1.25
1.25

1.25
1.10

1.15
1.10

1.00
1.25
1.10

1. 40
.90
1.00
1.37*

1.32

1.25

.90
.90

1.00

.50
.90

1.00
.95

1.00
1.12*

1.35
1.25

1. 00
1.00

1.00
1.12*

1.1.2*
1.00'

1.00
1.25

1.50

1.30

1.00

1.10
1.00
.80
.95
.50
.60
.65
.87*

1.12*

1.50

1.25

1.25

1.10
1.00
1. 10

.87*
1. oo'
1. ]0
1.25

1.26*
1.12*

1.25
1.25

1.00

1.25

. 87*
5 7. 75'

1.12*
1.25
1. 25

. 95

1.00

1.25
1.12*
6 9.00

.70
.90
1.25
.95
1.25
1.37*
8.00
8.50
12.00
11.00
i 8-hour day; ra te p e r d a y .
6 A m erican or open-shop plan.

[1334]

1.25
1.10
1.37*

.50
.60

1.25

1.12
6 9.00

.71*

. 50
.75
. 45

Orna­
Pipe
m ental
iron
coverers.
workers.

M arble
setters.

1.00
1.06
1.15
1.15

$1.06

.35
.45

1.25

.55
6 3. 00
6 4.00
56 2.50

$0.85
1.00
.75
.90
1.00
1.10
1.00

$1. 25
1.00
1. 25
1. 25
1. 25
1.25

D ubuque, Iow a.........................

Erie. P a .....................................

$1.00

. 75
.60
. 75

.40
.67*

1.12*
.75

8. 00

$0. 75

i. 66

.55
1. 25

«4.00

W ashington. D. C ...................

$0.75

1.25
1.25

.87*
a 8.00
8.00
9.00

Plas­
P las­ terers’
terers. help­
ers.

.50
.50

1. 00

.65
1.25

P a in t­
ers.

.25
.35
.75
. 45
.50
.35

.

1. oo

Sioux Citv. Io w a .....................

L a th ­
ers.

1.00
1.15
1.00
.75
1.00

.87*
1.00

$0.75
.90
.90
1.10
1.00
1.02*
1.12*
1.25
.93
.75
.80
1.12*
1.00

.87*
.75
.80

1.25

9.00

1.00
1. 25

11.00
8.50
10 M inim um .

1.00
8.00

111

WAGE SCALES IN' THE BUILDING TRADES,

W A G E SCA LES IN T H E B U IL D IN G T R A D E S . AS O F N O V E M B E R l, 1923—C ontinued.

City.

Brick
layers.

Ele­
vato r
con­
structors.

Gas
fitters.

.$1. 35

$1.25

$1 . 2 2 4

1.25

1 .0 0
1 .0 0

.85

1.37 J
1.25

1.25
.0 0

1.25
.85

8 .0 0

8 .0 0

H oist­
ing
engi­
neers.

Indianapolis, I n d .....................

$1.15
1.25
.50
.75
1.124
1.25
.70
7.00

Johnstow n, P a ...........................
K ansas C ity, Mo.......................
L im a, O hio.................................
Los Angeles, Cali! . 7 ...................

1 0 .0 0

Louisville, K y ...........................
M emphis, T e n n .........................
M ilwaukee, W is........................
M inneapolis, M inn...................
N ashville, T e n n ........................
New H aven, C onn...................
N ew Y ork C ity ....................... .
N orfolk, V a ................................
O klahom a Citv, O kla .7 ............
O m aha, N e b r............................
Philadelphia, P a .......................
Phoenix, A riz .7 ..........................
P ittsb u rg h , P a ..........................
P ortlan d , Me..............................
R eading, P a ...............................
Redfield, S. D a k .......................
R ichm ond, I n d . .......................

1.50
1 .0 0

1.25

1. 1 2 i

1 .0 0
1 .0 0

1.50

1 .1 2

1.50
1 0 .0 0

1.40
1. 12J
1.25
1. 12J
1.25"
1.40

Savannah, G a............................
Sharon, P a .................................
Sioux C itv, Io w a .....................
Shreveport, L a ..........................
S t. Joseph, M o..........................
S t. Louis, M o............................
S t. P au l, M inn...........................
S t. Petersburg, F la ..................
Tucson, A riz . 7 ...........................

1.25
1.25

.50
J

.924
7.00
1 .0 0

$1.35
.80
.90

1 .0 0
1 .1 2 4

LOO"

City.

Akron, O hio...............................

B altim ore, M d ...........................
Boston, Mass...................... 1 ...
Buffalo, N . Y .............................

1 .0 0

5.50
1.151
.75

.80
1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1 . 06}
1 .1 0

1.25
.874

1 .0 0

.60
.85

8 .0 0
1 .1 2 4
11

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

.90

.75
.80
1.05
.90
1 .1 2 4
1. 0 0 "

45.00
6 .0 0
1 .124
1 .0 0

1.25

1. 127

1.25
1.25

1. 75

1 .2 0

1 .0 0

1 .1 2 1

1.05

« 9.00"
5 10. 00

1. 25
1- 371
1.25

. 874

.50
.60

1.25

.85

.75

1 .1 2 4

1 .1 2 4

1 . 06}

1.50

1 .124

1 .1 2 4

8 .0 0

8 .0 0
1 .0 0

1.31}
8.50
1 . 124

1.25
1.374
8 .0 0
1 . 124
1 .0 0
1 .1 0

1 .1 2 4
1 . 124

.75
.85

1.124

1.25

.90

1 0 .0 0

8 . 00

1.25

1.25
.90
.80

1 . 124

LOO"

.90
5.00
1 . I24
.90
1 .0 0

.75
.90
1 .1 0

.85
1.25
1.25
1 . 124

1 .0 0
1 .0 0

1.06}

.90
1 .0 0
1 .1 2 4
1 .0 0

.85

1 .0 0
1 .1 2 4

1 .0 0

1.06}
.90
.874

.80
1 .0 0

.874

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1.25
1.25

1 .0 0

1. 25

1.50

1 .0 0

1.124

.75

.874

1.25
1.374
.874

.65

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1 .0 0
1 . 124

1.50
.874

1.06}
.874

1 . 124

6.50
8.50
1.25
1 . 12.1
1.25

1.25

.90

1. 25

1.25

1.25
.85

1.25
1.25

1.06}
LOO

1.25
.75
.80

1.25

Struc­
P lu m b ­ Roofers. Sheet
Steam - Steam
Stone­
tu ra l
Tile
m etal
fitters’ cutters.
ers.
fitters.
iron
setters.
workers.
helpers.
workers.
SO. 85

$0.75
. S5

.70
1 .0 0
1 .0 0
1 . 10

.80
1. 1 2 J

1 .0 0

$0. SO
.90
.70
.90
.90

$0.85

$0.80

1 .0 0

.70

$0.35
.40
.75
.80
(2)

1 .0 0

$1 . 1 2 4

1 .0 0
1 .1 2 4
1 .1 0

.75
1.25
1 . 10

1 .1 2 4
1 .1 2 4
1 .1 2 4

1 .0 0

1 .0 0
1 .1 2 4

1 .0 0

$1 . 0 0

1 .1 0

1 .0 0
1 .0 0
1 .1 0

1 .0 0
1 .1 0

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

1.15

1.15
.85

1.15

1.25

1. 25

1.25

1.30

1 .1 0

1 .1 0
1 .1 0

. 95

1 .1 0

.6 6

1.25

1 .1 0

1 .1 2 4

1.25

. 65

1.25
I .3 7 4 1
71 P er week.

1 .1 0

.40

1 . 31J


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

.75

1 .0 0

1.50
1.25

Cleveland, Ohio.........................
* Sliding scale.
6 P e r day.

. 85
8 .0 0
1 .0 0

1 . 124

1.25

Chicago, 111.................................
C in cin n ati...................................

1 .0 0

7.00

I .3 7 4

.90

1.19

1 .0 0

1 .0 0

A tla n ta , G a................................

1.25
1 0 .0 0

.75
1 .0 0

1.25

.574
8 .0 0
1 . 124

1.15

.$0. 90

1 .0 0

1 0 .0 0

W ashington, D. C .....................
W ebster City, Io w a .................
Y oungstown, O hio...................

1 . 124

$1. 25
.75
.85

8 .0 0

. 65
.90
1.25
1.50

1. 25

8 .0 0
1 . Wg

1 .1 2 4

1.25
1.25

$1 . 1 2 4

O rna­
m ental
Pipe
iron
coverers.
workers.

8 .0 0

. 874

” ” .’75”
1.25
1 . 12i

R ichm ond, V a ...........................
R ochester, N . Y ........................
Saginaw, M ich...........................
San Francisco, Cali! . 9 ...............

.90

1 .1 2 4

1.25

Masons.

1.25

1.50

1 . 12 i
1 2 .0 0

Marble
setters.

1.374

1.25 1

7 8-hour day; ra te p er day.
9 A merican or open-shop plan.

[1335]

..........

. 85

1.25

112

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

W A G E SCA LES IN T H E B U IL D IN G T R A D E S , AS O F N O V E M B E R 1, 1923—Concluded.

City.

Colum bia, S. C...........................

Steam fitters.

$1.25

$0.80
1.00

$0. 80
1.00

$1.25

«0.50

$1.00

1.00

.70

.80

1.00

1.10

1.15
1.25
1.00
1.25

.80
.85
.65
.80
.50
.85

1.10
1.00

1.15
1.25
1.00
1.12*

.40
.40
.50
.65
lo. 60

Colum bus, Ohio........................
D ayton, O hio.............................
Des Moines, Io w a .....................
D etroit, M ich.............................
D ub u q u e, Io w a .........................
D u lu th , M inn............................
E rie, P a .......................................
F itchburg, M ass........................
G rand Forks, N. D a k ..............
G rand R apids, M ich................
Greensboro, N. C......................
H am ilto n , Ö hio.........................
H ouston, Tex.7..........................
Indianapolis, I n d ......................
Johnstow n, P a ...........................
K ansas C ity, M o.......................
L im a, O hio.................................
Los Angeles, Calif.7...................
Louisville, K y ..........................
M em phis, 'T erm .........................
M ilwaukee, W is........................
M inneapolis, M in n...................
N ashville, T'enn........................
New H aven, C onn....................
New Y ork C ity ..........................
Norfolk, V a ................................
O klahom a C ity, O kla.7............
O m aha, N ebr. ..................... .
P hiladelphia, P a .......................
Phoenix, A riz.7..........................
P ittsb u rg h , P a ...........................
P ortlan d , Me..............................
R eading, P a ...............................
Redfield, S. D a k .......................
R ichm ond, I n d .........................
R ichm ond, V a ...........................
Rochester, N . Y ........................
Saginaw, M ich...........................
San Francisco, Calif.9......... .
Savannah, G a............................
Sharon, P ’a ..................................
Sioux C ity, Io w a.......................
S hreveport, L a .....................
St. Joseph, M o...........................
S t. L o u is,’M o............................
St. P au l, M inn...........................
St. Petersburg, F la ...................
Tucson, A riz.7............................
W ashington, D . C.....................
W ebster C ity, Io w a ..................
Y oungstow h,’O hio...................

1.00
.87*
1.00
1.00
.85

.82*
.70
.80
1.00

1.22*

.60
.65
.90
.65
.90
8.00
9.00
.45
.75

1.00
1.25
.85
9. 00
1.25

.80
.85
.65
7.00
.80

1.17*

.40

1.12*
. 87*
1.00
i. 1 2 *
1.00
1.25

.90
1.00
1.00
11.00

1.00
8. 00
1.12*
1.00
7.00
1.15f
.90
1.00
.90
.80
.75
• 87|
1.05
1.00
1.12*
1.00
1.25
1.00
1.25
1.12*
1.25"
1.25
1.25
.87*
1.25
8.00
1.25
.90
1.25

6 P er day.
7 8-hour day; ra te per d ay.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Steam- Stone­
fitters
helpers. cutters.

P lu m b ­ Roofers. Sheet
m e ta l
ers.
workers.

.90
.83
.87*
• 87*

.87*

.90

.80

.50

.95

.55
.50
.60
.40

.90
.95
.75
.80
9.00
10.00

.90
1.00

1.22*
.85
1.00
1.25
.85
8.00
1.06*

.87*
.82*

.97*
.85
1.00
1.00
.65
7. 00
.80
.87*
1.00
.75
.80
.87*

.65
1.00
1.12*
.50
.87*
6.00
1.00

.75
1.00
1.12*
.75
.87*
8.00
.90

1.00
1. 00
1.12*
1.00
9. 00
1.12*

.70
7.00
1.00
1.25
.70

.90
6.00
1.20
.85
.75
.80
.80
.80

.90
.90
.80
.90

.80

1.00
1.00
1.00

1.00
.75
1.06*
.90
1.00

.65

1.00

1.00
.75
1.25
.80

1.00
.90
1.25
.87*
1.00
7.00

.40
1.15
1.15

1.06*
1.15

1.12*
1.00
1.12*
1.25

.87*

1.10

1.00
1.00

1.12*

1.06*
1.15
1.00

1.00
1.25

1.00
10.00

5.00

8.00

8.50

.70

1.00

.75
.60
5.00

.90
1.00
1.25
7.00

1.25
. 80
1.00
1.15
1.00
7. 00
1.25
.75
1.00

1.25

.62*

1.06*

.50

1.00

.87*

1.12*
1.00

1.00
. 87J
.60
.70
1. OR*
1.25

1.12*
1.00
1.12*
1. 00
8.00
1.20
1.12*
.87*
1.12*
1.12*

1.12*
10.00

.85
8.00
1.12*
1 10
1.12*
7.00

1.25
9. 00

.70
.70

1.25
1.00

1.25
.90

1.25
1.00

.65
.60

L00

1.25

1.00

.80

. 8711. oo"

. 75
1.00

1.06*
.80
1.12*
1.00

1.06*
1.00

1.00
8.00

.75
.50
.55
3.50

1.25
.90
1.00
.90
. 87*

6 2.00

1.00

1.12*
.75
.50

1.00
1.00

.50
.50
.75
.55

i. m
1.25"
i. on
1.25
1.12*

1.00
1.00
1.12*

1.00
8.50
1.00

1.12*

.80

1.25
.87*

1.37*
1.00
1.25
1.12*
1.25

Í.25

1.12*

1.00

1.12*

(9)
.65
.40

9 A m erican or open-shop plan.
10 M inim um .

[1336]

1.00

1.12*

.62*

1.06*
.90
1.00

$1.00

1.00

1.25

1.00
1.25
1.12*
1.25
1.25
1.25
.87*
1.25
8.00

Tile
setters.

.87*
1.00
1.10
1.00
.75

1.061
• 87*

1.05
1.00
1.12*
1.00

1.15
1.00
121.00

1.00

1.00
11. 00

$0.90
.70
.90

1.12*
.35
.60
.50
.75

1.00

1.00
.90

Struc­
tu ra l
iron
workers.

1.12*
1. 25
1.25

12 M axim um .

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

113

Wages in Porto Rico, 1921 -22.

HE following wage statistics for 1921-22 are taken from the
report of the commissioner of agriculture and labor of Porto
Rico for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1922: a

T

D A IL Y W A G E S P R E V A IL IN G ON SUG A R-CA NE P L A N T A T IO N S A N D IN SU G A R M IL L S
O F P O R T O RICO, 1921-22.1
N orthern
section.
O ccupation or process.

Southern
section.

E astern
section.

W estern
section.

Mini­ Maxi­ Mini­ Maxi­ M ini­ M axi­ M ini­ M axi­
m um . m um . m um . m um . m um . m um . m um . m um .
Plantations.

L opping off.............................................................. $0. 60
Felling.......................................................................
.60
Plow ing.....................................................................
.70
Cross p lo w in g..........................................................
.70
F urro w in g................................................................
.70
H arro w in g ................................................................
.70
E m ban k in g (h illin g ).............................................
.35
D itc h in g ...................................................................
.60
H ole digging............................................................
.50
Carrying seeds.........................................................
. 65
Scattering fertilizers...............................................
.40
W eeding....................................................................
. 50
.60
R eplan tin g ...............................................................
S tripping of leaves.................................................
.75
C ane c u ttin g ............................................................
. 65
Cane hau lin g ............................................................
.65
F illin g ........................................................................
.45
.40
W ater carriers..........................................................
.80
Stew ards...................................................................
.30
Y oke driv ers............................................................
W atchm en................. ..............................................
.37
1.00
F o r e m e n .................... ............................................
.56
H erdsm en.................... .................. ........................

SO. 75
.75
.80
.SO
.80
.80
. 75
.88
. 65
.75
1.00
1.25
(2)
1.25
. To
.80
.75
.60
1. 50
.75
1.16
2.66
.83

$0.62
.62
.50
. 65
(2)
(2)
.50
.75
.60
.62
.40
.50
.40
.75
.65
.62
(2)
.35
.75
.30
1.00
2.00
(2)

$0. 75
.75
.90
(2)
(2)
(2)
.75
1.25
.75
.87
.50
.65
. 75
1.00
.90
.87
(2)
.50
L00
1.50
1. 15
3.00
(2)

$0.60
.60
.60
.70
.70
.70
.60
.75
.60
.75
.30
.60
.60
.60
. 65
.60
. 75
.25
. 75
.40
.75
1,66
1.66

$1.00
1.00
1,00
.75
.80
1.00
.90
1.25
.90
1.00
.70
.80
.80
. 75
. 75
.65
1.00
.40
1. 25
. 50
1.00
3. 00
(2)

$0.50
.50
. 50
.50
. 50
.55
. 75
.50
.65
.60
(2)
.50
. 50
.50
.40
(2)
.50
.30
1.00
.30
(*)
2.50
(2)

$0.70
(2)
.55
.55
.55
.75
.90
.55
(2)
.85
(2)
.75
.60
.55
.80
(2)
.70
.35
2.00
.35
(2)
4.00
(2)

$6. 25
2.96
4. 16
1. 75
2.00
3. 40
3.00
4. 00
1. 35
3.33
.80
1. 20
1.62
2.00
1. 75
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.50
1.00
1.66
4.00
1.50

$2.50
1.25
2.63
1.37
2.00
1.10
1.00
2.00
1.10
1.00
.70
.75
.75
(2)
.75
1.50
.70
(2)
1.66
.90
.80
.65
.65
.75
.40
.83
1.66
(2)

$7.00
2.00
2.91
2.63
2.91
1. 25
1.25
2.50
1.30
1.40
.80
3.23
1.50
(2)
(2)
2.50
.80
(2>
2.00
1.50
1.00
.80
.80
1.00
.75
1,33
(2)
(2)

Mills.
M echanics................................................................. «1.00
E lectrician s.............................................................. 1.10
3. 33
Stew ards...................................................................
.85
F orem en...................................................................
M achinists................................................................ 2.00
.75
B lack sm ith s............................................................
C arpenters................................................................ 2.00
B rick m aso n s........................................................... 2. 25
Stokers....................................................................... 1.00
1.91
W eighers...................................................................
.75
C artm en ....................................................................
Sw itchm en........... ...................................................
(2)
. 55
Boiler ten d ers..........................................................
.90
W orkers a t boiler furnaces...................................
.60
Bagasse m e n ............................................................
.90
C entrifugalers..........................................................
.90
W orkers a t lim e p its ..............................................
1.40
W orkers a t p u m p s .................................................
T riplers...................................................................... 1. 25
C rystallizers.............................................................. 1.00
.00
D efecators................................................................
.75
Sugar-scum w orkers...............................................
. 55
W orkers a t filters....................................................
W orkers a t cranes................................................... 1.00
H erdsm en...............................................................
(2)
.75
S tablem en................................................................
C hauffeurs................................................................ 2.50
. 75
W orkers a t molasses boilers.................................

S4.80
3.33
5. 83
1.50
4.50
3.00
3.00
3.00
1.50
4.16
1.50
(2)
1.50
1.50
1.35
3.00
1.35
C-)
2.33
(2)
1.00
1.20
1.50
(2)
(2)
1.16
4.16
1. 25

$1.75
.75
(2)
3.00
(2)
1.50
2.50
3.00
.75
(2)
(2)
(2)
.70
1.00
.66
.75
.66
1. 25
1. 00
.90
. 70
.70
.80
.88
(2)
(2)
1. 50
.62

$6.50
3.00
4.16
3. 25
(2)
2. 75
3. 25
3. 25
.80
3.00
(2)
(2)
J. 50
1.35
.75
2. 25
.75
(2)
(2)
1.00
1.25
.90
.85
1.66
(2)
(2)
3.16
1.00

$2.85
1.00
3. 33
. 75
1.10
1.50
1. 75
2.00
1.25
2.00
.62
1.00
. 75
.62
.60
.62
1.00
.62
.62
.62
.62
1.00
.62
.70
.66
.75
1. 66
.75

1 T he wages in sugar m ills are “ according to investigations carried out during fiscal year 1921-22.”
2 N ot stated on th e pay roll.
a W ar D epartm ent, .Bureau of In su lar Affairs. Commissioner of A griculture and L abor of P o rto Rico.
R ep o rt [for fiscal year ending June 30, 1922]. W ashington, 1923. 66 p p .


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

114

Wages in the Netherlands, 1921, 1922, and 1923, as Compared
with 1914.

N A recent issue of the Maandschrift (Sept. 29, 1923, pp. 1039,
1040), the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Netherlands pub­
lishes a table showing the weekly wage rates in various occupa­
tions, as fixed by collective agreements, in several large cities of the
Netherlands, that were in force in 1920, 1921, and 1923 and compares
them with the rates of 1914. The wage rates shown include cost-ofliving bonuses, wherever such bonuses have been paid. The table,
which is reproduced in part below, indicates that wages reached their
highest level in July, 1921, when they were from two and one-half
to three times as high as in January, 1914. In 1923 all trades had
to submit to wage reductions. In most occupations these reductions
were small with the exception of seamen and firemen in the merchant
marine whose wage rates were reduced by nearly one-third.

I

W E E K L Y W A G E R A T E S IN V A R IO U S O C C U PA T IO N S, F IX E D B Y C O L L E C T IV E A G R E E ­
M EN TS IN F O U R L A R G E C IT IE S O F T H E N E T H E R L A N D S , 1920,1921, A N D 1923, AS COM­
P A R E D W IT H 1914.
[1 gu ild er a t par= 4 0 .2 cents.]
J an u a ry , 1914. J a n u a ry , 1920.
O ccupation.

srl“»
1r a te -

ber.

W age
ra te .

Index
num ­
ber.

July, 1921.
W age
ra te .

July, 1923.

In d e x
num ­
ber.

W age
rate.

249
242
290
240
240
237
235
264
214

Guilders.
36. 00
40.32
36.00
1 7.23
1 7.23
1 6. 80
1 7.23
36.00
22.00

234
228
273
230
230
227
226
257
157

253
245
279
279
324
308

33.60
37.92
1 7.23
1 7.23
1 6.80
36.00

236
229
268
268
309
300

In d e x
num ­
ber.

A m sterdam .

^Compositor, h a n d .............................................
Com positor, m a c h in e ......................................
Bocl?b in d e r.........................................................
C arpenter............................................................
M ason...............................................................
N a v v y ..................................................................
P lu m b e r..............................................................
B aker, journeym an. 23 years of ag e.. . . ___
G ardener..........................................................

Guilders.
15.39
17. 67
13. 20
1 3.14
1 3.14
1 3. 00
1 3. 20
14. 00
14. 00

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Guilders.
38.25
42. 75
38. 25
1 7.20
1 7.20
1 6. 80
1 7.20
31.00

249
242
290
230
230
227
225
221

Guilders.
38. 25
42. 75
38. 25
1 7.52
1 7.52
i 7.12
1 7.52
37. 00
30. 00

H aarlem .
Compositor, h a n d ............................ ................
Compositor, m achine.......................................
C arp en ter.................................. .....................
M ason..............................................
N a v v y .....................................................
B aker, journeym an, 23 years of age.............

14. 25
16.53
1 2. 70
1 2.70
1 2. 20
12.00

100
100
100
100
100
100

1 D aily rate.


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[1338]

36.00
40.50
1 7.20
1 7.20
1 6. 80
31.00

253
245
267
267
309
258

36. 00
40.50
1 7.52
1 7.52
i 7.12
37.00

115

WAGES IN THE NETHERLANDS

W E E K L Y W A G E R A T E S IN V A R IO U S O C C U PA T IO N S, F IX E D B Y C O L L E C T IV E A G R E E ­
M EN TS IN F O U R L A R G E C IT IE S O F T H E N E T H E R L A N D S , 1920,1921, AN D 3923, AS COM­
P A R E D W IT H 1914—Concluded.
J an u a ry , 1914. J a n u a ry , 1920.
O ccupation.

dex
W age In
um ­
ra te . nber.

W age
rate.

In d ex
num ­
ber.

July, 1921.

W age
ra te .

Ju ly , 1923.

In d e x
num ­
ber.

W age
rate.

252
245
286
255
240
254
273
264
234
207
274
256

Quiiders.
35.04
39. 36
35.04
> 7.23
7. 23
6.80
6. 80
1 7.04
38. 40
40.50
36. 00
34.50

In d e x
num ­
ber.

T he Hague.

Compositor, h a n d .............................................
Compositor, m achine......................................
B ookbinder............................................. ..........
C arpenter............................................................
M ason................................. .................................
N a v v y ..................................................................
P a in te r................................................................
P lasterer..............................................................
E lectrician..........................................................
A ssembler (telephone)....................................
B aker, journeym an, 23 years of age..............
B rew ery w orker..... - .........................................

Quiiders.
14.82
17.10
13. 20
1 2. 95
1 3.14
» 2. 80
1 2. 70
1 2.85
18. 24
20.65
13.50
13.50

Quiiders.

100 37. 35
100 41.85
100 37. 44
100 1 7.20
100 17. 20
100 16.80
100 16. 80
100 1 7.20
100 36.00
100 38. 40
100 31. 00
100 31.85

252
245
284
244
230
243
252
253
197
186
230
236

Quiiders.
37. 35
41.85
37.80
1 7.52
1 7.52
1 7.12
1 7.36
1 7.52
42. 75
42.75
37.00
34. 50

1
1
1

236
230
265
245
230
243
252
247

211

196
267
256

R otterdam .
Compositor, h a n d ............. ...............................
Compositor, m achine......... ..............................
B ookbinder........................................................
Assembler (telephone).....................................
B aker, journeym an, 23 years of age.............
B rew ery w orker................................................
Seaman, m erchant m a rin e .............................
Stoker, m erch an t m arine................................

14.82
17.10
12.54
20.65
14.00
13.50
244. 00
248. 00

100 37. 35
100 41. ,85
100 37.44
100 38. 40
100 31. 00
100 31.85
100 2145. 00
100 2150. 00

1D aily rate.
2Montili y rate.


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[13.39]

252
245
299
186

37.35
41.85
37. 80
42. 75
37. 00
236
34. 50
330 2145. 00
313 2150. 00

221

252
35.04
245
39.36
301
35.04
207
40.50
264
36.00
256
34. 50
330
. 00
313 2105. 00

2100

236
230
279
196
257
256
227
219

MINIM UM WAGE.

Recent Minimum-Wage Orders, British Columbia.

HE Minimum Wage Board of tlie Province of British Columbia
has for some time had under consideration a revision of its
manufacturing order. As noted in its annual report (see
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , November, 1923, pp. 119, 120), the
subject was one of varying aspects, requiring extensive investigation.
The results of this investigation are embodied in orders No. 16 and
16A, promulgated September 20, 1923, to be effective 60 days from
that date. The order that is superseded was issued September 1,
1919; and its revision followed upon a petition presented to the board
by employers in the manufacturing industry to review the whole
subject.
In the present form the orders cover the work of females engaged
in any process of making, repairing, altering, finishing, packing,
etc., and adapting for use or sale any article or commodity excepting
fish, fruit and vegetable drying, canning, preserving, or packing.
The minimum rate for experienced employees is $14 per week of
48 hours, whether on time work or at piece rates. This is the same
as under the earlier order, the changes that were made affecting the
schedules for learners in order 16A. Employment in excess of 8
hours per day or 48 per week is forbidden except under permission
granted in accordance with the provisions of the factories act.
The foregoing are provisions of Order No. 16. Order No. 16A
relates to inexperienced employees, and prescribes varying periods
of learning time and grades of pay in different classes of manu:
facturing industries. Schedule No. 1 of the order applies to work
on or in connection with the preparation for sale of the following
commodities: Tea, coffee, spices, essences, sauces, jelly powders,
baking powders, molasses, sugar, syrups, honey, _peanut butter,
cream and milk products, butter, candy, confectionery, biscuits,
macaroni, vermicelli, meats, soft drinks, yeast, cans, buttons, soap,
paint, varnish, drug and toilet preparations, photographs, ink,
seeds, brooms, whisks, pails, washboards, wooden boxes, clothespins,
matches, explosives, munitions, gas mantles, and window shades.
Beginners in this kind of work receive not less than $8 per week for
the first two months, not less than $10 per week for the second two
months, and not less than $12 per week for the third two months,
after which they are rated as experienced employees. This makes a
training period of six months.
Schedule No. 2 embraces the manufacture, etc., of the following
articles: Cotton bags, envelopes, overalls, shirts, ladies’ and children’s
wear, gloves, hats, caps, men’s neckwear, waterproof clothing, tents,
awnings, regalia, carpets, furniture, bedding, pillow covers, loose
covers, mattress covers, draperies, casket furnishings, factory-made
116

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MINIMUM WAGE.

117

millinery, knit goods, blankets, brushes, machine-made cigars, and
dipped chocolates. Rates of pay for this work are the same as in
Schedule 1, but the periods are doubled, making a learning period
of one year.
Schedule No. 3 embraces the more skilled trades, the list being as
follows: Bookbinding, embossing, engraving, printing, dressmaking,
men’s and women’s tailoring, and the manufacture of ready-to-wear
suits, paper boxes, jewelry, furs, leather goods, hand-made cigars,
boots, shoes, and hand-made millinery. Beginners in these trades
receive not less than $7 per week for the first six months, not less
than $10 for the second six months, and not less than $13 per week
for the third six months. This gives a learning period of 18 months,
but a different wage-rate distribution from that adopted for
Schedules 1 and 2.
The classifications are of interest as an attempt to solve the difficult
problem of learning periods adapted to a wide variety of employ­
ments calling for varying degrees of skill and experience. Regularly
indentured apprentices whose indentures have been approved by
the Minimum Wage Board are not affected by the foregoing schedules.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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W OM AN A N D CH ILD LA BO R.

Child Labor on Maryland Truck Farms.

HE United States Children’s Bureau has recently published a
study of the work of children on Maryland truck farms, based on
a survey made in May, June, and July, 1921. Two districts were
selected for study, Anne Arundel County near Baltimore, and Wicom­
ico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties in the section known as the
Eastern Shore. In both of these districts truckingjs an important
industry. The young workers may be children of a farmer employed
on the place, children living in the neighborhood, or children of
families brought to the farms for the special season of truck work.
The study indicates that, as at present carried on, such work for
children is open to three objections: It is wholly unregulated, and
children may be put at work too heavy for them and required to work
too long hours; it interferes with school attendance and leads to
retardation; and for children of migratory or seasonal workers it
may involve housing conditions detrimental alike to health and
morals.
The study covered 808 children in Anne Arundel County and 840
on the Eastern Shore. In both districts children were employed on
almost every kind of work involved in truck farming and in. both they
began work early. In Anne Arundel County 8.7 per cent of the
white and 8.1 per cent of the colored children at work were under
8 years of age, while on the Eastern Shore the proportions were,
respectively, 14.6 per cent and 17.3 per cent. Naturally the younger
children could not do the heavy work, but there were no restrictions
upon their employment at anything which the employer considered
within their power.

T

Most children, both white and negro, under 10 years of age work a short day at
simple kinds of work and for only a few days or weeks during the year, and their work
therefore presents no serious problem. Most white girls do little more work than the
young children of both races and sexes, but some of the older negro girls and a large
proportion of white and negro boys 12 years of age or more, especially those in farmers’
families, do a great variety of work, and many work 9 or 10 hours a day. * * *
Some of the simpler kinds of work, such as picking berries or hoeing, while monoto­
nous, are likely to prove physically taxing only if kept up for long hours; but plowing,
harrowing, machine cultivating, and some kinds of machine transplanting, which
require skill and strength, are fatiguing even when done for only a few hours at a
time. Such work in conjunction with long hours wras reported by many of the boys
12 years of age and over. In order to safeguard this group of children from working
beyond their strength at an early age and from the strain of excessive hours some
legal regulation as to minimum age and maximum hours for the work of children on
farms, at least in such occupations as these, would appear to be desirable.

The extent of the interference with school attendance varied with
the age and race of the children. In Anne Arundel County 35 per
cent of the white and 31 per cent of the colored children reported ab­
sence from school for farm work, the time lost varying from less than
10 to over 80 days; on the Eastern Shore the proportions were 64 and
53 per cent. The smaller percentage of colored children losing time
118

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WOMAN AND CHTLD LABOE.

119

is explained as partly due to the shorter session of the colored schools,
which closed before strawberry-picking time began, thus setting the
children free to do the work for which they were most in demand.
In most of the negro schools the term was from 136 to 140 days, as
compared with 175 to 181 days in the white schools. In 1922 the
Maryland Legislature made several changes in the school law, among
them being a provision which lengthened the term of negro schools
to 160 days, so that at present the loss of time, as between the races,,
might be more nearly equal. The interruption to school attendance
naturally caused retardation; in Anne Arundel County 50 per cent
of the white and 71 per cent of the colored children were retarded,
being from one to three years behind the grade considered normal
for their years; on the Eastern Shore 38 per cent of the white children
and 81.7 per cent of the colored children were retarded.
The children of families of seasonal workers presented a special
aspect of the school-attendance problem. In Anne Arundel County
a study was made of 145 white migratory families in which 262
children under 16 worked on truck farms. These families were
brought down from Baltimore for the season, which is usually from
six to eight weeks. The season begins from a month to six weeks
before the Baltimore schools close, so the children inevitably lose
much time, whether or not they themselves are at work.
Nine-tenths of the children left school at least 20 days before the end of the term
three-fourths withdrew 20 but less than 30 days before the close of school. From
four to six weeks, therefore, was the usual amount of time lost for withdrawals for
field work on truck farms. * * * Of the children between 8 and 16 years included
in the study, 69 per cent were retarded in school. This rate of retardation is much
higher than average rates for city children of various ages.

The migratory families were expected to bring their own bedding
and kitchen utensils, while the farmers supplied sleeping quarters,
usually grouping the workers together in what are locally called
camps. Children working on farms were found living in twenty-two
of the camps visited. Housing conditions in these camps were far
from satisfactoiy.
Most of the camps contained but one building, known as a “ shanty,” which served
as sleeping quarters for the workers. This building, usually two stories high, was
erected on piles or rough stones. In most camps it was weather beaten or unpainted
and the windows usually lacked either glass or shutters, or both. As a rule, there
was but one room on each floor, with stairs on the outside leading to the upper room.
In some a partition divided the lower floor, which was about 25 by 30 feet, into two
rooms. On each side of a narrow aisle down the center of the room the floor was
divided into sections or pens by boards 10 or 12 inches in height. Each pen was
about 6 feet long and from 4 to 6 feet wide and covered with straw for a mattress.
Each family was allotted one of these pens, the larger families sometimes securing
those 6 feet in width. At night men, women, and children, partially clad, one
family separated from the next by the plank 10 inches in height lay side by side.

Arrangements for sanitation of any kind were usually lacking, and
the water supply generally came from springs or from wells which
the families had dug, and little attention was paid to whether or not
the water was safe for drinking. The survey suggests that some
measure of control over these conditions is desirable.
The housing provided for migratory truck-farm workers in these localities is so
unsatisfactory that it appears to call for some public supervision, such, for example,
as that exercised for a number of years in California, in order that growing children
may escape the physical and social effects of promiscuous and unhealthful living
conditions.


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[1343]

120

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Occupations of juvenile Workers in Detroit.1

N CONNECTION with the work of the Vocational Guidance
Bureau of Detroit, a study has recently been made of the
occupations of young workers, in order to get especially the
beginner’s attitude toward his job. The study was confined to those
attending the Detroit Junior Continuation School, who were chosen
as being at once the most typical and the most convenient group for
the purposes of the investigation. The school is made up of boys and
girls who have taken out permits to work and who are still obliged to
attend school for eight hours a week. These were asked to fill
out a questionnaire in which the queries were divided into three
groups: Questions of fact, which dealt with the job, its duties, hours,
and wages; questions of interpretation, which dealt with the time
required to learn the job, its most and least agreeable features, and the
advice the incumbent would give a new worker taking it u p ; and ques­
tions relating to the future, such as the next job in line of promotion,
what job the worker might like to have and the reasons for his pref­
erence.
Data are given regarding the jobs held by 585 boys and 753 girls,
but as 277 of the latter were listed as employed in housework at home,
the answers covered only 476 girls who were employed in the same
sense that the boys were. The boys were engaged in about 149
different occupations, and the girls in 54. The investigation was
made in the early part of 1922, at which time the shortage of building
trades workers was keenly felt, and there was much discussion of
methods of increasing the number of those entering those trades. Yet
of the 585 boys studied, only 18 could possibly be classed as in build­
ing trades, and only 3 of these were plainly apprentices. By way of
contrast, the dead-end occupations seemed to be fully represented;
there were 35 delivery boys, 27 errand boys, 30 office boys, and 71
messengers. About two-fifths, 39.3 per cent, of the boys were in
commercial occupations, 20 per cent were in manufacturing jobs, 11.1
per cent in trades, 28.7 per cent in transportation jobs, and 0.9 per
cent in agricultural jobs.
Of the 753 girls, 50 per cent were given as engaged in domestic
service, a term which included housework, laundry work, restaurant
occupations, and hair dressing. This percentage was unduly weighted
by the inclusion of 277 girls who had left school on permit to do house­
work at home, of whom it was found that only 36 were actually
engaged in such work. As this showed that some 240 girls had left
school unnecessarily, the investigators call attention to the figures
which, they say, “ show that careful investigation and follow-up work
should be made in the case of the home-permit girl.” The conditions
of home wTork do not seem to have been specially desirable.

I

The information given us by the 36 girls (who in all probability were representative
of the group) showed that long hours rewarded by little or no pay was the lot of the
home-permit girl. It was interesting to learn that only one of these 36 home-permit
girls wished to remain in her present position, the majority (28) wishing to become
clerks, office girls, or telephone operators.

1

M ichigan, U n iv e rsity of. School of E d u catio n . V ocational education d ep artm e n t. O ccupations of
ju n io r w orkers in D e tro it, b y A lexander C. C rockett a n d Jennie M. Claw. A nn A rbor, 1923. 76 pp.
Special studies No. 1.


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WOMAIn AHD c h il d la b o r .

121

Considering only the 476 girls who were employed away from home,
54 per cent were engaged in commercial jobs, 24 per cent in manu­
facturing jobs, and 22 per cent in domestic service.
Wages began at $5 a week for the boys and $3 for the girls, and for
both groups ran up to $20 or over. The boys averaged $10.80 a week,
the girls, $10. Hours per day ranged from 6 or less up to 14, the
average for both sexes being 9. Of the boys 6.40 per cent and of the
girls 8.33 per cent had a working-day of from 11 to 14 hours. These
hours included the noon hour period but no information was given
concerning its length.
One of the questions asked was as to the time required for learning
the job, and the answers were strongly indicative of the kind of work
the children were doing. The average time given by both boys and
girls was three days, the majority in both groups assigning a week as
the proper period. Fifty-three of the boys and 12 of the girls thought
it would require from 6 months to over a year, but on the other hand,
20 of the girls and 42 of the boys considered an hour sufficient.
The reasons given for liking or disliking their jobs reflect the char­
acter of the individual as well as the nature of the jobs. The most
agreeable features, as given by boys, vary from a “ chance for advance­
ment,’’ “ learning the business,” and “ getting experience,” to “ pay
day” and “ the noon hour,” while among the girls they range from
“ responsibility” and “ contact with people” to the “ music and
congenial fellow workers” enjoyed by seven ushers. Among both
boys and girls there are some who like everything about their work
and some who like nothing, but in general they seem to adjudge their
jobs much as adults do. Not infrequently the feature which one
cites as the most disagreeable is given by another as an advantage;
in other words, the personal element counts for much.
The investigators consider that a study of the likes and dislikes
of the children, which are given at length, should be helpful to
parents, vocational counselors, and employers in helping to fit the
young worker into his proper place. They also consider that apart
from the work to be (Tone the character of the employer plays an
important part and should be carefully studied by placement agents.
The extent to which training may be considered good or bad depends entirely upon
the firm where the worker is employed. The number of jobs which provide good,
mediocre, or bad training can not be determined by this study except in a very general
way. * * * A study of the firms employing workers rather than the employees
working for the firms is needed to answer the question as to training. We know that
approximately three-fourths of the juniors appear from their statements to be receiving
no outlined training. The need for the young person seeing the value of entering a
good concern, in order that he may receive desirable training, is very evident.

Entrance of Women into Railway Clerical Work in Australia.

ACCORDING to the Railways Union Gazette (Melbourne) for
/A
September 20, 1923, the increasing utilization of women in
clerical work by the railways is giving some concern to the
unions. Women have always been employed by the railroads as
caretakers, seamstresses, laundresses, and the like, but of late they
have appeared in clerical work which has hitherto been reserved


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exclusively for men. Protests by the men were met with an assur­
ance that there was no intention of employing women extensively,
but, according to the Gazette, they are still being taken on a few at a
time. The low wages at which they can be secured seem to constitute
the principal reason for the innovation.
Cheap labor and efficient service are two things that must undoubtedly sway the
administration to an extension of the policy. * * * The maximum salary of a
seventh-class clerk is £252 [$1,226, par], yet his sister is paid a maximum rate by out­
side wages board determination of only £143 [$696, par] per annum, thus the depart­
ment waxes fat to the extent of £109 [$530, par], per year for each typist employed.

Under the circumstances, the Gazette considers that it is hopeless to
oppose the employment of women, and it calls on the unions, accord­
ingly, to organize the newcomers as rapidly as possible, and to
adopt as a cardinal principle equality of pay for the sexes. “ Equal
pay for equal work, or equal class of work, is the platform on which
the sexes should unite.”


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Decisions of the Railroad Labor Board.
Supervisory Forces.

EPTEMBER 28, 1923, the Railroad Labor Board handed down
a decision (No. 1979) in regard to representation of mainte­
nance of way foremen in agreement negotiations.
The case had been before the board before (Decision No. 1644)
and the facts, opinion, and decision therein were printed in the
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w for June, 1923, pages 160-164, thus render­
ing a detailed repetition of the case unnecessary.
In that case the board decided that its settlement of a dispute
between the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and
Railway Shop Laborers and their employers should become effective,
though occurring after a satisfactory agreement had been made
between the supervisory forces of the same brotherhood and the
same employers, inasmuch as the latter agreement had not been
properly brought to the attention of the board.
Following this decision, the general manager of the railroad placed
in effect the order of the Labor Board and notified the general chair­
man of the brotherhood of the intention of the carrier, June 1, 1923,,
to cancel the agreement thus placed in force and to conclude an agree­
ment with the supervisory forces independent of the other members
of the brotherhood.
June 2, the carrier caused an election to be held, as a result of
which 173 foremen indicated their desire to be represented by the
Supervisors’ Association of Maintenance of Way Foremen, while 20
indicated their desire to be represented by the brotherhood.
The representatives of the employees took the position that the
balloting of these employees separately from the entire group was
improper, protested against the entire procedure, requested that the
carrier hold the election in abeyance until the Railroad Labor Board
had passed on the propriety of taking such a ballot and refused to
assist in the balloting.
The carrier insisted that the election was conducted in conformity
with the rules laid down by the board and that the results should
determine the association with whom it should conduct negotiations
relative to rules and working conditions for foremen and assistant
foremen in the maintenance of way department. Because of the
protest, however, the carrier did not enter into such negotiations
and awaited the approval of the election by the board.
The opinion and decision of the board were briefly expressed as
follows:

S

O p in io n .—The Railroad Labor Board feels that the carrier has complied with the
meaning and intent of Decision No. 1644 referred to herein, and that the election
referred to has been conducted in a fair and impartial manner. The majority of the
board has clearly outlined its position relative to the right of foremen to negotiate an

71915°— 23----- 9


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agreement governing rules and working conditions providing the provisions of the
transportation act, 1920, are complied with. This opinion will be found in Decision
No. 1269, covering a dispute between the United Brotherhood of Maintenance of
Way Employees and Railway Shop Laborers and the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western Railroad Co. The board wishes to reiterate the expressions contained therein.
D e c is io n .—The Railroad Labor Board decides upon the evidence submitted that
the carrier has complied with the provisions of Decision No. 1644, as well as the
provisions of the transportaion act, 1920, in the conduct of the election referred to
in this dispute, and the result thereof shall determine with whom the carrier shall
negotiate rules and working conditions governing foremen and assistant foremen
employed in the maintenance of way department.

One of the labor members of the board filed a lengthy and vigor­
ous dissent from the above decision—
Because it is obvious that the rights of the organization presenting the dispute
have been wholly disregarded and ignored;
That the members of the board voting for this Decision No. 1979 willfully and
premeditatedly disregarded the rights of the employees, and also ignored practically
all of its previous decisions and rulings governing procedure;
That this carrier and the members of the board who voted for this Decision No. 1979
have knowingly perverted the true purpose of the labor provisions of the transpor­
tation act, 1920.
In this case the employees declined to permit the carrier to dictate who should or
should not represent certain employees. They also declined to participate in the
carrier’s program of destroying their own organization, at least until after they had
submitted the facts to the Railroad Labor Board for hearing and decision. The carrier
declined to join the employees in submitting the dispute to the board. On the con­
trary the carrier advised the representatives of the United Brotherhood of Maintenance
of Way Employees and Railway Shop Laborers that the election would proceed
without their participation or action by the board. This program was carried out.

A supporting opinion by the majority was alsp filed from which
the following quotations are made:
1. The Railroad Labor Board long ago held that maintenance of way foremen were
entitled to maintain an organization separate from that of the employees they super­
vised, if they so desired. The board furthermore expressed the view that such an
arrangement was conducive to the efficient operation of the railways and to the best
interest of both the employees and their foremen. It may also be added that in other
classes of railway employees it is not the practice for foremen to belong to an organi­
zation with their subordinates and to be placed in a position where they may be con­
trolled or influenced by those under their supervision. The same principle is recog­
nized in the railway service by not permitting unskilled labor to represent and domi­
nate skilled employees. In both the shop crafts and the clerical organizations this
principle has been continually recognized by the board, including the writer of the
dissenting opinion herein.
2. The board did not, however, hold that the foremen could not affiliate with the
unskilled employees in the maintenance of way brotherhood and select that organi­
zation to represent them, if they so desired. It merely held that the foremen should
have the right to choose between said brotherhood and a separate organization of
foremen, and that the unskilled employees of the brotherhood could not vote in the
decision of this question.
This policy did not deny liberty of choice to anybody, but it preserved that liberty
for the foremen.
On the other hand, it necessarily meant that the very distinct rights and interests
of the unskilled should not be under the control of their foremen.
3. The Railroad Labor Board having established the principles above outlined, the
foremen on this railroad had a right to negotiate an agreement with the carrier. This
right they and the carrier attempted to exercise, but, in Decision No. 1644, the board
held that inasmuch as the maintenance of way brotherhood then held an' agreement
covering the foremen and containing a provision requiring notice to that organization
of the carrier's desire to modify or annul the agreement, which notice had not been
given, the procedure of the carrier and foremen was invalid.
Thereupon, the carrier gave the necessary notice to the brotherhood of maintenance
of way employees and, in the subsequent conference, proposed to hold a proper elec­
tion to permit the foremen to decide whether they would be represented by the brother-


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hood or by an association of their own. The brotherhood declined to participate in
such election, unless the unskilled group of employees belonging to the organization
were permitted to vote. The carrier, relying upon the previous decisions of the
board, declined. The election was then held and the evidence shows that by a secret
ballot conforming to the board’s decisions a large majority of the foremen voted for a
separate organization.
The carrier has very properly awaited the action of the board oil this dispute before
proceeding to negotiate with the foremen’s association.
Subordinate Officials.

A DECISION relative to “ subordinate officials” has been recently
k handed down by the Railroad Labor Board (No. 1985, October
17, 1923), concerning the Interstate Commerce Commission definition
of this class of employees.
The commission issued a regulation (Ex parte No. 72, November
24, 1920) containing the following statement:
The above definitions include all of the classes of employees whose claims to recog­
nition as “ subordinate officials” were presented at the hearings, except supervisory
station agents. The supervisory station agents are those who have supervision of the
work of other station employees. They cover the range from the station where one
employee other than the agent is employed to the agents at the largest and most
important points. They are the official and responsible representatives of the com­
pany in its relationships with the public and frequently in a legal sense. Their com­
pensation naturally varies with the responsibilities of their positions. It is not
believed that this class can be consistently included within the term “ subordinate
officials,” as that term is used in Title III of the transportation act, 1920.

Acting under this regulation the Philadelphia & Reading Railway
Co., in the agreement it was negotiating with a committee elected by
the employees in the telegraph department, sought to exclude as
being supervisory agents station agents who supervised one or more
employees, holding that they—
Are not subject to the jurisdiction of the employees’ committee and do not come
under the provisions of the proposed agreement; furthermore, since the agents which
the carrier proposes to exclude as supervisory agents do not perform any of the duties
specified in the scope of the agreement which is being negotiated between the carrier
and the committee elected to represent employees in the telegraph department, the
carrier holds that these positions should not be subject to the jurisdiction of this
committee nor to the provisions of the proposed agreement covering rules, working
conditions, and rates of pay.
The employees contend that all agents should be included in the schedule agree­
ment which have been incorporated in the previous schedule agreement for the
following reasons:
1. Many of such employees have accepted such positions believing they would be
continued under the agreement.
2. They perform routine office work, which we believe should be the determining
factor in whether or not agencies should be included.
3. The majority of these employees are members of the same organization as the
balance of employees we have agreed to incorporate, and perform service which is
analogous.
4. The balance of the employees in station, tower, and telegraph service have an
inherent right to their inclusion, as inclusion of agents’ positions places them where the
regular line of promotion will fill them.

The essential parts of the opinion and decision follow:
O p in io n .—The

authority under which the Interstate Commerce Commission pro­
mulgated its decision on this question, as quoted in the joint submission of this dis­
pute, is conveyed in paragraph 5, section 300, Title III of the transportation act, 1920,
reading as follows:
“ The term ‘subordinate official’ includes officials of carriers of such class or rank
as the commission shall designate by regulation formulated and issued after such


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notice and hearing as the commission may prescribe, to the carriers, and employees
and subordinate officials of carriers, and organizations thereof, directly to be affected
by such regulations.”
The Interstate Commerce Commission was empowered to say what men in the
railway service were “ subordinate officials.” This was not for the purpose of drawing
a dividing line between “ employees” and “ subordinate officials.” That was a
matter of no concern to Congress, because both classes were placed under the applica­
tion of the transportation act, 1920, and the jurisdiction of the Railroad Labor Board.
The purpose of Congress evidently was to have a dividing line drawn between
“ officials” and “ subordinate officials,” in order that officials might fall without and
subordinate officials within the jurisdiction of the board.
It was not primarily the duty or purpose of the Interstate Commerce Commission to
designate and classify officials or employees, but in its action on this matter it did say
that all agents who supervise as many as one are not subordinate officials, because
inferentially they are officials. The agent who supervises one employee was classed
by the Interstate Commerce Commission with the agent who supervises 100 employees,
and both were declared not to be “ subordinate officials” because of their supervisory
authority, and because of the further fact that “ they are the official and responsible
representatives of the company in its relationship with the public and frequently in
a legal sense.”
It was the plain and intentional meaning of the language used by the Interstate
Commerce Commission that all agents who supervised as many as one employee were
officials, and that therefore they were not subordinate officials. In the language of
the Interstate Commerce Commission the same supervisory authority that excluded
the agent with 100 subordinates from the class of “ subordinate officials” also excluded
the agent with one supervised employee. In other words, the Interstate Commerce
Commission held that all such supervisory agents were not subordinate officials, be­
cause they were officials.
This action of the Interstate Commerce Commission left another plain inference—
namely, that such agents as those who supervised nobody were employees within the
meaning of the transportation act, 1920. It did not, however, formally designate
them as employees, because it was not authorized by the act to declare who were em­
ployees any more than it was to declare who were officials.
All that it had been asked to do and all it had the legal authority to do was to desig­
nate as subordinate officials such agents as it deemed proper. It did not declare that
any of them were subordinate officials. It is therefore an unescapable conclusion that
inasmuch as no station agents are subordinate officials, they must all fall either under
the head of officials or that of employees. Such of them as are officials are not within
the jurisdiction of the board; such of them as are employees are within the board’s
jurisdiction.
Under the law, the board can not declare that these supervisory agents are subordi­
nate officials. The Interstate Commerce Commission has settled that question. On
the other hand, the board would create a very awkward situation if it declared any
part of the supervisory agents to be employees in the face of the Interstate Commerce
Commission’s virtual finding that they are officials. It would place the board’s action
in conflict with that of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The practices that may have existed prior to Federal control or the agreements that
may have since been made by certain carriers can not affect the jurisdiction conferred
upon the board by the transportation act, 1920. The carrier may make such contracts
as it may see fit with its officials, and the board could never be concerned thereby
unless it should be made to appear in a case properly submitted that such agreements
with those not under the jurisdiction of the board conflicted with the rights of those
who are under its jurisdiction.
The question as to whether the two factors upon which the Interstate Commerce
Commission based its action in Ex parte No. 72—namely, the supervisory capacity of
the agents and their official relationship to the public—drew the proper dividing line
between officials and subordinate officials, is not one upon which the Railroad Labor
Board can properly pass. It will be a question for the consideration of the Inter­
state Commerce Commission when the matter is reopened and reheard before the
commission as the board is informed it will be. The board is not therefore expressing
any opinion herein as to the merits of the contentions of the employees as to what
agents should rightfully be included in their agreements, but is recognizing the fact
that it is bound by Ex parte No. 72 unless and until same is revised by the commission.
D e cisio n .—In view of the premises, the Railroad Labor Board decides that it has
no jurisdiction over those classified as supervisory agents by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.


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Longshoremen and Lighter Captains— Port of New York.

A N AGREEMENT between Lighter Captains’Union, Local 996, of
the Internationa] Longshoremen’s Association, and the members
of the Lighterage Association of the Port of New York became effec­
tive October 1, 1923, for one year. The scale affects about 2,200
men carrying freight between the various railroad and steamship
piers, about one-half working for the railroad companies and onehalf for owners of privately operated barges. By this agreement the
men working on the privately owned barges receive 40 cents per week
more than war-time wages and those working for the railroads SI5
per month less than war-time wages.
The more important sections in the agreement are shown in the
following extracts:
Ca p t a in s .

1. Minimum wage on covered barges, $28 per week; minimum wage on hand winch
boats, $28 per week; minimum wage on steam and gasoline hoisting lighters, $29per
week.
2. The working hours of the day to be from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m., or 10 hours per day.
Six (6) days to constitute a week’s work. Regular working time of the week shall begin
7 a. m. Monday morning and end 6 p. m. Saturday. Sunday work to be time and a half.
3. When captains of lighters are ordered to work after 6 p. m. they shall receive time
and a half for actual time worked and an additional allowance of one dollar and fifty
cents ($1.50) for watching, provided, however, that when captains receive six (6) hours
or more overtime, no additional allowance shall be paid for watching the balance of
the night.
N ig h t W a tching

a nd

N ig h t T o w in g .

4. Compensation for night watching to be one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per night.
Additional allowance for towing at night fifty cents (50c.).
5. When captains are ordered to be on their boats on Sunday for the purpose of
watching or towing, they shall receive one full day’s pay.
6. All car fare in excess of ten cents (10c.) to be paid by the employer to men living
within the Metropolitan district. All car fare to be paid by the employers when the
men are on the company’s calls.
8. All disputes arising under this agreement, or questions arising regarding inter­
pretation of clauses contained therein, shall lie referred to a committee of two for settle­
ment. Said committee to be composed of one representative of each party to this
agreement. If this committee is unable to agree, they shall choose a third disinter­
ested man whose decision shall be final and binding on both parties.
9. No discrimination of any kind shall be made against union men.

Printing industry (Web Pressmen) - New York City.

FYUKING the progress of negotiations looking to tlie making of a
new agreement, 2,200 web pressmen, members of the New York
Web Printing Pressmen’s Union No. 25, went on strike without
authorization. The signing of the new agreement, dated September
21, 1923, between the Publishers’ Association of New York City and
the International Printing Pressmen and Assistants’ Union of North
America, practically broke the strike, though the strikers did not all
return to work until October 1. Union No. 25 was dissolved and its
charter revoked by the international union.
The new agreement, which was in a sense national in making though
local in operation, secured to the men an increase of $3 per week and


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a reduction in hours from 48 to 41 for night work and from 48 to 45
for day work. Under its provisions the international union under­
takes to furnish men to operate the presses of the publishers’ asso­
ciation “ in accordance with definite stipulations that will guarantee
full production, peace, and the highest possible efficiency in the press­
rooms.”
The points of settlement were as follows:
(1) Night work shall consist of forty-one (41) hours per week, to be performed in the
following manner: Two nights at eight hours each to be designated by the office, to be
changed only upon one week’s notice; all other nights during the week to be of six and
one-half hours each. It is specifically understood that on the two designated eighthour night shifts, that half of one hour for luncheon shall be allowed on office time,
and as nearly as practicable in each office at the same time each working day or night.
It is further understood and agreed that no press crew shall be sent to lunch before
the third hour after starting work, or be kept from lunch more than five hours after
starting work, except on the six-and-one-half hour night shift provided for in the next
paragraph.
(2) It is agreed that on the six-and-a-half hour nights the office shall have continu­
ous operation and no lunch .period is required to be given at the expense of the office,
provided, however, that no press crew shall work longer than six and one-half hours
without receiving a lunch period.
(3) Night work shall be between 8 p. m. and 6 a. m. except Saturday night, when
the hours shall be between 5 p .m . and 5 a. m.
(4)
*Day work shall consist of eight consecutive hours per day, between 7 a. m. and
7 p. m., including half an hour for luncheon on office time.
(5) Color presses and rotagravure presses shall be operated, when required, in three
shifts, a day shift of eight hours, a night shift of seven hours, and a third shift, part
day and part night, of seven hours, which last named two shifts shall be paid for at
night rates, provided men working on either of the two 7-hour shifts on rotagravure
and color presses shall receive a wage scale in excess of that established for black
presses in an amount equal to one hour each week at time and a half. A luncheon
period of one-half hour shall be allowed on office time on the 8-hour day shift; on either
of the two 7-hour shifts men may be sent to lunch in turn without shutting down the
press or presses.
O v e r t im e .

(6) Employees may be called in before their regular working hours whenever in the
judgment of the office it is necessary, but all such work shall be paid for at time and
one-half. When overtime extends beyond or before the day hours or beyond or before
the night hours, the night overtime rates shall be paid.
(7) All time required and actually worked before or continued after the regular day
or night work shall be counted as overtime and shall be paid for at the rate of time
and one-half for any part of the first four hours of work and double time thereafter.
E arly C alls

and

Call B ack .

(8) When men are called back for work, after getting “ good day” or “good night,”
they shall receive two ($2) dollars for the call and double time for all time actually
worked after reporting at their positions.
Day men called before 7 a. m. shall be paid one ($1) dollar in addition to the regular
day wage.
C o m p e n s a t io n .

(9) It is agreed that the compensation rates shall be as follows:
For men in charge on day work, they shall receive fifty-four ($54) dollars per week;
journeymen on day work shall receive forty-eight ($48) dollars per week; juniors
shall receive thirty-two ($32) dollars per week.
For men in charge on night work, they shall receive fifty-seven ($57) dollars per
week; journeymen on night work shall receive fifty-one ($51) dollars per week;
juniors shall receive thirty-five ($35) dollars per week.
I t is provided that the foregoing scale is agreed to by the parties to this contract
with the following reservations:
(a)
That the difference in the total compensation rates as proposed by the party of
the first part in their proposed contract of August 6, 1923, and the rates proposed by


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the party of the second part, in its proposed contract of May 4, 1923, shall be considered
in the following manner:
That immediately the parties hereto agree to set up a conciliation board of three (3)
members each, who shall proceed forthwith in an endeavor to reach an agreement
upon the differences as between the compensation rates referred to in order to deter­
mine a permanent compensation rate.
In the event of the conciliation board failing to agree, that then and in such event
the board thus named shall proceed to select three (3) disinterested persons within
fifteen (15) days, who shall act as a board of arbitration to determine definitely such
differences and all other differences not settled by conciliation as herein provided,
it being understood that the voting power of such board of arbitration shall be con­
fined to three (3) votes, to-wit, one vote representing the party of the first part, one
vote to represent tire party of the second part, and one vote to represent the three (3)
disinterested members of such board of arbitration.
If in ten days the conciliation board is unable to agree on the three disinterested
persons, then the Governor of the State of New York, who was heretofore agreed on as
a nominator by all parties now’ or previously interested, shall be called on to designate
the three disinterested men or any number of the three on whom agreement was not
arrived at.
It is agreed that in the interim the compensation rates operative as of section 9
shall continue in full force and operation until a permanent compensation rate has
been determined in accordance with the foregoing; provided, however, until such
permanent rate of compensation is so determined, the extra payments now made in
certain offices shall be so readjusted that no employee shall receive (including the three
dollars per week increase in regular wages and the higher overtime rates herein pro­
vided) less compensation per week than such employee would have received for a
corresponding number of hours’ work prior to September 17, 1923.
It is provided that such permanent compensation rates agreed to in accordance with
the foregoing shall be made retroactive to the date of this contract.
It is further agreed that the conciliation board heretofore provided shall aid the
parties hereto in preparing all the provisions necessary for a complete working contract
for one year from September 1,1923, between the parties hereto; that the two proposed
contracts submitted respectively by the president of the international union to the
New York newspaper owners on May 4, 1923, and the proposed contract submitted
by the Publishers’ Association of New York City to the New York City union on
August 6, 1923, shall be used as the basis of discussion by the parties hereto in prepar­
ing such working contract for one year, and that any point or points on which the parties
hereto can not agree shall be decided finally by the said conciliation board, enlarged
as provided and acting as an arbitration board, by a majority or unanimous vote.
It is agreed that any contract arrived at pursuant to "this agreement shall contain
a clause providing for its renewed or replacement at expiration by arbitration in the
event of failure to arrive at a complete agreement by conciliation or negotiation and
that such arbitration shall be in accordance with the plan herein provided.

Taxicabs— Rochester, N. Y.

N AGREEMENT between the Rochester Taxicab Co. and the
Yellow Cab Co., both operated under the same management,
and Teamsters’ Local 543, was signed April 14, 1923, terminating a
strike begun two weeks before on the refusal of the companies to
sign a closed-shop agreement prepared by the union. The agreement
is to remain in force for five years.
The following extracts from this agreement are of interest:
A rticle I. Parties of the first part shall have the right and privilege of conducting
its business upon what is known as the “ open-shop” plan, but will give preference
to members of the union known as local No. 543, or to such persons as express to the
first parties their willingness to join such local after they have been in the employ
of the first parties for a period of fifteen days.
A r t . II. The employees of the first parties shall have the right to join local 543
and continue their membership therein and will not be discriminated against for so
doing.


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A r t . III. There shall be a steward chosen by the employees of the first parties
whose duty shall be to receive the complaints of the employees of the first parties,
and who in turn shall present such complaints to the first parties. In the event that
such steward and first parties shall not agree, such disputes shall be submitted in
writing by memorandum signed by said parties and the steward to a person to be se­
lected. by the president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and the decision of
such person shall be final and binding upon all parties. No strike or lockout shall
take place pending the decision of said person.
A r t . V. The question of wages of all drivers and working hours shall be submitted by
the first [parties] hereto to an arbitration committee, consisting of three members to be
appointed by the president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and pending
the decision of said arbitration committee all drivers shall receive a commission of
25 per cent of all bookings each week, excepting funeral drivers, who shall receive
$30 per week; and also, pending said decision of said arbitration committee, drivers
shall not be required to work more than ten hours each day, or more than six days
each week. Upon receipt of a copy of the written decision of said arbitration com­
mittee the same shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and thereupon and there­
after the first parties shall pay, and the drivers shall receive during the life of this
agreement, the compensation fixed by said arbitration committee.

After hearings the decision of the arbitrators appointed under
Article V above was rendered May 26. I t was limited to fixing
wages and working hours, and was accepted by all garages and
brokerage houses in the city. Extracts from the award follow:
The board found the general practice in Rochester and generally throughout the
country to pay taxicab drivers on a commission basis and felt that no other method
waspracticable, and after the board’s deliberation, extending over a period of several
weeks, the board’s decision was reached.
The board decided on the following scale of weekly commission for drivers unless
the various firms feel that the fiat wage scale of $22.50 per week of ten (10) hours per
day and six (6) days per week and 25 per cent on all bookings over $75 in any one week
[is preferable]. This also will be acceptable to members of Chauffeurs’ Local Union,
No. 543, and to take effect from the time of the expiration of the old agreement and
to be in full force until April 1st, 1924. All funeral drivers shall receive $30 per week.
P e r cent.

On receipts up to $60, inclusive........................................................... 26
On receipts up to $60 to $70, inclusive................................................ 27
On receipts up to $70 to $80, inclusive............................................... 28
On receipts up to $80 to $90, inclusive................................................ 29
On receipts up to $90 and upward...................................................... 30
The board urges the companies to devise immediately a system which will protect
the drivers from responsibility for uncollected charge accounts and also assume the
burden of minor damages which is inevitable in such a hazardous industry.

The percentages granted were those asked for by the union.
Several companies accepted the alternative plan of paying drivers
$22.50 per week and 25 per cent commission on all bookings over $75.
Italian Decree Regulating Collective Agreements.1

N RECENT months the Italian Confederation of Labor, the Cath­
olic Federation of Labor, and the National Facisti Corporations
have each requested the Italian Government to regulate collective
labor agreements. In accordance with these requests the prime
minister, on September 2, submitted to the cabinet a decree making
collective agreements legally binding and providing arbitration
boards for all disputes arising from the application of such agree-

I

1 The d a ta on which this article is based are from B attaglie Sindacali, Milan, Sept. 6, 1923.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1354]

LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS.

ments. The cabinet approved the decree.
decree are as follows:

131

The provisions of the

A r t i c l e 1 . A collective labor agreement concluded by one or several labor organi­
zations and one or several employers’ organizations, even if these exist only de facto,
as well as one concluded by one or several labor organizations and individual em­
ployers, shall be bin-ling upon all the members of the organization or organizations
and upon the individual employers who have concluded the agreement. The agree­
ment shall within 30 days of its conclusion be deposited with the prefect of the Province
within the limits of which it is to be applicable. The agreement shall be entered on
a special register kept by the prefect. The deposit of the agreement shall be con­
sidered legally valid even if it has been effected by only one of the contracting parties.
A r t . 2. Whenever the contracting parties have agreed upon the deposit of a sum
as bond for the observance of the agreement, this sum shall be deposited with a credit
institute. The receipt for the deposit must be presented to the prefect together with
the agreement.
A r t . 3. At the time when the agreement is deposited or within two weeks thereafter
the contracting parties shall name their representatives on the arbitration board dealt
with in article 4.
A r t . 4. In each provincial capital there shall be established at the prefecture an
arbitration board (co m m issione arbitrate) to which shall be submitted all disputes
arising from the interpretation, application, and enforcement of collective labor agree­
ments deposited with the prefect. The board shall also decide all disputes relating to
the nullity of the agreement owing to the absence of consent.
The board shall be presided over by the president of the provincial court or by a
president of a branch of the court, or in their absence by a judge designated by the
president, and shall be composed of two representatives of workers’ organizations and
two representatives of employers’ organizations or of individual employers named
by the interested parties in accordance with article 3.
Of the representatives of each class one shall be a regular member of the board and
the other shall act as alternate. If the contracting parties of one collective agreement
are, respectively, constituted of several workers’ organizations, or of several employers’
organizations, or of several individual employers, and if at the time of depositing the
agreement with the prefect the parties can not agree on a choice of their respective
representatives, representatives shall be appointed by the president of the provincial
court from a list furnished him by the parties.
If one of the parties does not appoint its representatives, or if these refuse to take part
in a decision, the president of the provincial court shall complete the board by ap­
pointing in their place a judge of the court or a pretor of the district. A clerk of the
court chosen by the president of the provincial court shall act as secretary of the arbi­
tration board.
A r t . 5. In rendering awards the board shall have the powers of a friendly arbitrator
in accordance with the provisions of the law on prudhommes of June 15,1893 (No. 295),
and with the administrative regulations relating to this law, in so far as they are appli­
cable . When the board finds that the collective agreement has been violated it may,
in addition to making the provisions required by the case, also order that the sum de­
posited by the party who has violated the agreement shall be forfeited to the other
party or that the latter shall receive a part of this sum as damages, according to whether
the agreement provides for a penalty or compensation of damages. An appeal from
the decision of the board is permissible only on the ground of incompetence or excess
of authority.
A r t . 6. If the collective agreement covers several Provinces the locality in which
the cash deposit has been made shall determine what arbitration board shall be compe­
tent to settle disputes.
A r t . 7. The present decree shall come into force on the date of its publication in
the Official Gazette, and shall be submitted to parliament for conversion into a law.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

11355]

E M P L O Y M E N T A N D U N E M PLO Y M E N T .

Employment in Selected industries in October, 1923.

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics received reports concerning the
volume of employment in October, 1923, from 7,233 repre­
sentative establishments in 51 manufacturing industries, cover­
ing 2,428,247 employees, whose total earnings during one week in
October were $65,731,632. The same establishments in September
reported 2,433,120 employees and total pay rolls of $63,694,596.
Therefore in October, as shown from these unweighted figures for 51
industries combined, there was a decrease as compared with Septem­
ber of 0.2 per cent in the number of employees, an increase of 3.2 per
cent in the total amount paid in wages, and an increase of 3.4 per cent
in average weekly earnings.
The bureau’s questionnaire does not make inquiry concerning labor
turnover, but as this is the season of the year when men are looking
for regular work and an assured income it is probable that this slight
decrease in employment, coupled with a substantial gain in average
weekly earnings, is due to greater regularity of work and less floating
labor than during the summer months. The likelihood of this expla­
nation being true is further confirmed by the few increases in rates of
wages reported.
Comparing data from identical establishments for September and
October, increases in employment are shown in 26 of the 51 industries
and increases in the amount paid in^wages in 36 industries.
The greatest increase in employment was 8 per cent in the confec­
tionery and ice-cream industry. The increases in the dyeing and
finishing textiles, paper boxes, chewing tobacco, shirts and collars,
and glass industries ranged from 4.7 per cent down to 2.2 per cent,
and the increases in 21 other industries were all less than 2 per cent.
The carriage and wagon industry was the only one showing a large
decrease in employment, 8 per cent, all the remaining (24) decreases
being 3 per cent or less.
Two industries show very large increases in pay-roll totals; these
increases were 14.6 per cent in women’s clothing and 11.4 per cent in
automobiles. Two other industries, chewing tobacco and shirts and
collars, show increases of over 8 per cent.
The cotton goods industry shows the greatest decrease in pay-roll
totals, 7.3 per cent, followed by the carriage and wagon industry,
6 per cent.
Considering the industries by groups, increases in employment are
shown in the total of all establishments in the food industries and in
the paper and printing, tobacco, and vehicles groups. These increases
were small except in the food industries, which as a whole increased 2.3
per cent. Small decreases in employment appear in the remaining
8 groups.

T

132


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[135G]

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

133

Forty-two of the 51 industries show increased per capita earnings
in October as compared with 39 in September, 25 in August, and onfy
10 in July.
For convenient reference the latest figures available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are given at
the foot of the first and second tables.
CO M PA R ISO N O P 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
W E E K IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C TO B ER , 1923.

In d u stry .

F ood and kindred products:
Slaughtering and m eat packing___
Confectionery an d ice cream ............
F lour......................................................
B aking ...................................................
Sugar refining, n o t including beet
sugar................................ .................
T extiles a n d their products:
Cotton goods........................................
H osiery and k n it goods.....................
Silk goods..............................................
Woolen goods.......................................
Carpets...................................................
D yeing and finishing te x tile s .. . . . .
Clothing, m en s....................................
Shirts and collars...............................
Clothing, w om en’s..............................
M illinery an d lace goods...................
Iron and ste el a n d their products:
Iron and stee l.......................................
Structural-iron w ork..........................
F o u n d r y and m a c h i n e - s h o p
p rodu cts..... .......................................
H a rd w are .............................................
Machine tools.......................................
Steam fittin g a n d steam hotw ater heating a p p aratu s...............
Stoves............... .....................................
Lumber and its r emanuf a.ctures:
L um ber, saw m ills..............................
Lum ber, m illw ork........... ..................
F u rn itu re ..............................................
Leather a n d its finished products:
L eather..................................................
Boots a n d shoes, n o t including
ru b b e r................................................
Pap er and printing:
Paper an d p u lp ..................................
P aper boxes..........................................
P rinting , book and jo b .......... ..........
Printing , new spapers.........................
Chemicals a nd allied products:
Chem icals..............................................
Fertilizers.............................................
Petroleum refining.............................
Stone, clay, an d glass products:
C em ent...................................................
B rick an d tile ......................................
P o tte ry ..................................................
G lass.......................................................
M etal products, other than iron
an d steel:
Stam ped and enam eled w are..........
T ob acco m an ufactures:
Tobacco, chewing and sm oking___
Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes.........
V ehicles for lan d tra n sp o rta tio n :
A uto m o b iles.......................................
Carriages and wagons........................
Car building a n d repairing, electrie-railroad......................................
C a r b u i l d i n g and repairing,
steam-railroad.................. ...............!


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

D U R IN G

N um ber on p a y roll.
A m ount of p a y roll.
EstabPer
lishcent of
m ents. Septem ­ October, change. Septem ­ October,
ber, 1923.
1923.
ber, 1923.
1923.

84
137
269
253

12

91,913
18,640
15,810
35,007

93,290
20,148
15,985
35,674

+ 1.5 352,262,816 $2,285,096
+ 8 .1
370,740
397,694
+ 1. 1
404,468
422,243
+ 1.9
938,590
921,970

ONE

cent of
change.

+ 1.0
+ 7 .3
+ 4 .4
-1 .8

9,136

9,304

+ 1.S

278,078

292,444

+ 5 .2

90
154
76

156,933
71,384
55,205
59,781
20,626
24,593
59,049
23,457
15,420
12,327

152,266
72,190
54.924
59,930
20,762
25,754
57,286
24,091
15,109
11,928

-3 .0
+ 1.1
-0 .5
+ 0 .2
+ 0.7
+ 4 .7
-3 .0
+ 2.7
-2 .0
-3 .2

2,767,228
1,135,427
1,150,525
1,393,060
569,514
558,221
1,452,397
347,980
369,463
269,080

2,564.368
1,188; 787
1,164,050
1,426,087
586,764
600,404
1,430,286
376,172
423,522
254,788

- 7 .3
+ 4.7
+ 1.2
+ 2.4
+ 3.0
+ 7.6
-1 .5
+ 8.1
+ 14.6
- 5 .3

186
134

242,946
18,093

242,171
17,826

-0 .3
-1 .5

7,044,685
485,750

7,394,512
501,855

+ 3.3

536
33
139

161,537

21,111
18,147

156,492
21,052
18,054

- 3 .1
- 0 .3
-0 .5

4,785,440
519,481
502,438

4,759,801
539,159
501,602

-0 .5
+ 3.8
-0 .2

106
83

32,364
16,290

31,944
16,504

-1 .3
+ 1.3

938,318
445,274

957,564
465,179

+2.1
+ 4 .5

235
180
254

72,664
25,138
37,661

71,727
24,964
38,192

-1 .3
-0 .7
+ 1.4

1,506,681
611,856
860,691

1,510,255
625,267
902,899

+ 0 .2
+ 2 .2
+ 4 .9

129

27,453

27,366

- 0 .3

682,774

701,799

+ 2 .8

163

81,150

80,431

-0 .9

1,812,533

1,780,364

-1 .8

175
143
216
199

49,410
15,678
26,203
43,569

49,007
16,244
26,356
44,360

-0 .8
+ 3 .6
+ 0.6
+ 1.8

1,272,621
318,073
866,143
1,598,608

1,266,071
332,710
893,844
1,659,496

-0 .5
+ 4 .6
+ 3 .2
+ 3 .8

112

87

63

15,994
8,571
47,045

16.077
8,613
45,564

+ 0 .5
+ 0 .5
- 3 .1

411,793
170,047
1,500,683

437,088
162,975
1,469,296

+ 6.1
-4 .2

76
315
50
129

23,898
26,440
11,991
32,346

23,733
25,661
12,068
33,060

-0 .7
-2 .9
+ 0 .6
+ 2.2

706,964
678,364
309,059 <?
795,132

709,594
675,552
323,701
847,429

+ 0 .4
-0 .4
+ 4 .7
+ 6.6

37

15,024

14,919

-0 .7

331,936

330,802

-0 .3

30
168

3,656
31,322

3,775
31,611

+ 3 .3
+ 0 .9

55,590
553,282

60,199
592,914

+ 8.3
+ 7.2

172
38

270,495
2,567

274,542
2,356

+ 1.5
-8 .2

8,737,915
56,648

9,735,249
53,273

+ 11.4
-6 .0

253
238
.
159

221
22
65
210

-21

183

18,049

17,888

-0 .9

510,511

525,805

+ 3 .0

285

171,141

171,744

+ 0 .4

4,931,147

5,176,701

+ 5.0

[1357]

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

134

C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S D U R IN G O N E
W E E K IN S E P T E M B E R AN D O C T O B E R , 1923—Concluded.

In d u stry .

M iscellaneous in d u strie s:
A gricultural im p lem en ts.................
Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and su p p lies.....................................
Pianos and organs..............................
R u b b er boots and shoes..................
A utom obile tires................................
Shipbuilding, stee l............................
_
,
,
x fA ugust 15,1923—
R ailroads, class ^ S e p te m b e r 15,1923.

A m ount of pay roll.
N um ber on pay roll.
Per
E s ta b ­
cent of
lish­
October,
m ents. Septem­ October, change. Septem ­
1923.
ber, 1923.
3923.
ber, 1923.

20,014
119
28

8

67
37

92,805
7j 742
12,833
34.544
27,946

19,369
92,910
7,710
12.941
33.942
28,433

1,957,055
1,929,493

i Increase of less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

-3 .2

+.1
-.4
+.8

-1 .7
+ 1.7

-1 .4

$517,530

$517,647

2,551,696
220,635.
331,836
1,001,484
804,391

2,634,434
236,36.9
339,234
983,171
785,147

2$263,145,797
2$248,173,732

Per
cent of
change.

+1
+ 3.2
+ 7.1
+ 2 .2
-1 .8
- 2 .4

- 5 .7

2 A m ount of p ay roll for one m onth.

Reports are available from 3.185 establishments for a comparison
of data between October, 1923, and October, 1922.
These reports from identical establishments in the two years show
an increase in the 12 months of 9.2 per cent in the number of em­
ployees, an increase of 21.5 per cent in total pay rolls-, and an increase
of 11.3 per cent in average weekly earnings.
Thirty-one of the 43 separate industries show' increased employ­
ment, while 40 show7increased pay rolls.
The greatest increase in employees in the year was 51 per cent m the
pottery industry, reflecting the strike of 1922, followed by over
23 per cent in the automobile industry.
The greatest increases in pay-roll totals were 69 per cent in the
pottery industry, 41 per cent in the foundry and machine-shop
products industry, and nearly 39 per cent in the electrical machinery
industry.
. . .
The greatest decreases in both employees and earnings during
the 12 months were in the automobile tire and carriage and wagon
industries.
Considering the industries by groups, all but stamped ware and
the tobacco industries show increases in the number of employees.
These increases range from 21 per cent in the vehicles group and
16 per cent in the iron and steel group, to 1 per cent in the leather
group. In pay roll totals every group except stamped wire shows
an increase in the 12-month period. These increases range from 35
per cent each in the iron and steel and vehicles groups, 25 per cent
in the stone, clay, and glass products group, 20 per cent in the food
products group, and 18 per cent in the lumber group, to 5 per cent
in the leather group.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[135S]

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT,

135

C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S D U R IN G
W E E K IN O C T O B E R , 1922, A N D O C T O B E R , 1923.

In d u stry .

N um ber on pay roll
A m ount of p a y roll.
Per
E sta b ­
cent
lish­
of
m ents. October, October, change.
October,
October,
1922.
1922.
1923.
1923.

Per
cent
of
change

+10.4 $1,833,121 $2,227,237
+ 4 .0
147.246
152,705
+11.0
398,700
467,894

+21.5
+ 3.7
+ 17.4

F o o d a n d k in d re d p ro d u c ts :
Slaughtering and m eat p ack in g ___
F lo u r......................................................
B a k i n g ...................... .........................
T extiles a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts :
C otton goods........................................
H osiery an d k n it goods....................
Silk goods.............................................
W oolen goods......................................
C arpets..................................................
D yeing an d finishing te x tiles..........
Clothing, m en ’s ...................................
Shirts arid co llars...............................
Clothing, w om en’s .............................
M illinery an d lace goods..................
Iro n a n d steel a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts :
Iron a nd s te e l......................................
F o u n d ry a n d m achne-shop p ro d ­
u c ts .....................................................
H ardw are..............................................
Stoves....................................................
L u m b e r a n d its re m a n u fa c tu re s :
L um ber, saw m ills..............................
L um ber, m illw ork.............................
F u rn itu re ..............................................
L e a th e r a n d its finished p ro d u c ts :
L e a th e r..................................................
Boots a n d shoes, n o t including
ru b b e r................................................
P a p e r a n d p rin tin g :
P aper a n d p u lp ...................................
P aper b o x e s . .. .. . ................... ..........
P rinting , book a n d jo b .....................
P rinting , n ew spapers........................
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u c ts :
C hem icals..............................................
F e rtilize rs................... .......................
Petroleum refining.............................
S to n e , clay , a n d g la ss p ro d u c ts :
B rick a n d tile ...... ...............................
P o tte r y ..................................................
Glass.......................................................
M eta l p ro d u c ts , o th e r th a n iro n
a n d steel:
S tam ped a n d enam eled w a re ..........
T o b a c c o m a n u fa c tu re s :
Tobacco, chew ing a nd sm o k in g .. .
Tobacco, cigars an d cigarettes........
V ehicles fo r la n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n :
A utom obiles........................................
Carriages an d w a g o n s.......................
Car building an d repairing, steam railroad ..............................................
M iscellaneous in d u s trie s :
A gricultural im p lem en ts..................
E lectrical m achinery, apparatus,
and su p p lies............................... 1..
Pianos and organs..............................
A utom obile tire s ................................
Shipbuilding, ste e l.............................

Railroads, Class

ONE

l{iept*15,’ 1923.

77
38
123

82,535
5,342
14,411

91,115
5,557
15,995

135
132
113
98
21
27
110
61
73
18

97,637
46,088
35,172
45,231
18,533
16,070
42,739
20,231
9,250
3,064

99,981
45,581
36,900
48,781
19,816
15,757
43,245
20,164
9,373
2,949

126

169,037

195,396

+ 15. 6

160
20
22

77,905
15,390
6,579

93,432
17,181
6,172

+ 19.9
+ 11.6
-6 .2

175
101
93

54,126
14,698
18,612

58,137
15,113
19,203

+ 7.4
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .2

980,258
355,554
439,470

120

26,578

25,910

-2 .5

115

66,510

68,224

+ 2 .6

97
56
80
96

32,245
9,861
14,938
25,937

32,857
10,408
15,692
28,158

+ 1.9
+5. 5
+ 5.0
+ 8 .6

31
22
29

9.424
2)336
34,673

9,022
2,340
37,175

140
18
86

12,619
3,779
24,248

12
9
105

+ 2 .4
-1 .1
+ 4 .9
+ 7 .8
+ 6.9
-1 .9
+ 1.2
-0 .3
+ 1.3
-3 .8

1,700,244
821.414
803,543
1,192,073
562,648
367,117
1,142,501
322,233
299,262
68,038

+ 9 .8
+ 4.9
+ 16.2
+20.2
+ 12.6
+ 8.5
+ 5.6
+ 12.4
+ 2 .8
+ 2.8

4,436,780

5,922,733

+33.5

2,102,476
331,080
183,057

2,965,840
449,537
187,477

+41.1
+35.8
+ 2.4

1,210,310
391,493
495,723

+23.5
+ 10.1
+ 12.8

617,770

667,463

+ 8 .0

1,483,954

1,543,093

+ 4.0

786,014
208,511
513,275
937,648

858,049
224,230
553,124
1,061,088

+ 9.2
+ 7.5
+ 7.8
+ 13.2

-4 .3
+ 0 .2
+ 7 .2

224,249
40,385
1,159,318

254,26S
45,912
1,200,424

+ 13.4
+ 13.7
+ 3.5

13,783
5,727
24,743

+ 9 .2
+51.5
+ 2 .0

296,822
94,795
565,858

379,324
160,346
652,004

+27.8
+69.2
+ 15.2

5,645

5,397

-4 .4

131,828

127,544

- 3 .2

1,474
24,936

1,560
23,452

+ 5 .8
-6 .0

24,213
440,024

27,361
443,335

+ 13.0
+ .8

109
15

164,825
1,576

203,906
1,308

+23.7
—17.0

5,345,619
37,193

7,204,516
31,871

+34.8
-1 4 .3

101

65,228

75,841

+ 16.3

1,709,229

2,305,384

+34.9

55

17,456

18,173

+ 4 .1

409,548

488,382

+ 19.2

78
12
58
IS

63,869
4,421
33,206
18,167

77,144
5,026
27,112
17,384

+20. 8
+ 13.7
-1 8 .4
- 4 .3

1,573,549
126,524
921,482
444,443

2,183,390
161,311
780,640
504,061

+38.8
+27.5
-1 5 .3
+13.4

1.692 .779
Ï, 929^ 493

1 +14.0

1,548,986
783,238
691,322
991,710
499,707
338,233
1,081,838
286,587
290,993
66,202

ï $232,140,858
$248,173,732

1 + 6.9

1 A m oun t of p a y roll for one m o nth.

Per capita earnings increased in October as compared with Sep­
tember in 42 of the 51 industries considered; women’s clothing and
automobiles leading with 17 per cent and 9.8 per cent, respectively.
The largest decreases wTere 4.5 per cent in the cotton-goods industry
and 4.6 per cent in the fertilizer industry.

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 1350 ]

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

136

Comparing per capita earnings in October, 1923, with those in Octo­
ber, 1922, increases are shown in all of the 43 industries for which
data are available except in the flour and petroleum industries.
The greatest increases were 21.6 per cent in the hardware industry,
18.6 per cent in steel shipbuilding, 18.5 per cent in chemicals, 17.6
per cent in foundry and machine-shop products, and 17 per cent in
the brick and tile industry.
C O M PA R ISO N O F P E R C A PIT A E A R N IN G S —O C TO B ER , 1923, W IT H
A N D O C TO B ER , 1923, W IT H O C TO B ER , 1922.

S E P T E M B E R , 1923,

P er cent change
in October,
1923, as compared w ith —

Per cent change
in October,
1923, as comp ared w ith —
In d u stry .

In d u stry .
September,
1923'.
Clothing, w om en’s............................ +17.0
A utom obiles...................................... . + 9 .8
Pianos a n d organs............................. + 7 .6
Tobacco: Cigars an d cigarettes___ + 6 .2
Chemicals______________________ + 5 .6
Iro n a n d steel.....................................
+ 5 .3
+ 5.3
Shirts an d collars..............................
Tobacco: C bew ingand sm o k in g ... + 4 .9
S tru ctu ral iro n w o rk ......................... + 4 .8
C ar building a n d repairing, steam railroad................. ............................ + 4 .6
G lass..................................................... + 4.3
H a rd w are ............................................ + 4.1
P o tte ry ................................................. + 4 .1
Car building a n d repairing, elec­
+ 3 .9
tric-railroad.....................................
H osiery a n d k n it goods................... + 3 .6
F u rn itu re ............................................ + 3.5
A gricultural im p lem en ts................. + 3 .4
Steam fittings a n d steam a n d hot+ 3 .4
w ater heatin g a p p a ra tu s .............
Sugar refining, n o t including beet
su g a r............... ..... ........................... + 3 .3
F lo u r..................................................... + 3 .2
Electrical m achinery, a p p aratu s,
+ 3.1
a n d supplies....................................
L eather................................................. + 3.1
+ 3.1
Stoves..................................................
+ 2 .9
L um ber, m illw ork............................

Septem- October,
ber,
1922.
1923.

October,
1922.
+ 1 .5
+ 8 .9
+ 12.2
+ 7 .1
+ 18.5
+ 15.5
+ 12.8
+ 6 .8
+ 16.0
+ 12.9
+21.6
+11.6
- 6 .1
+ 9 .3
+14.5

- 0 .3
+ 14.9
+ 10.8
+ 9.2
+ 7 .1

D yeing a nd finishing te x tile s........
F o u n d ry a n d m achine-shop produ c ts ...................................................
B rick a n d tile .....................................
P rin tin g , book an d jo b ....................
C arpets.................................................
Carriages an d w agons.......................
Woolen goods.....................................
P rin tin g , new spaper.........................
Silk gooäs___ 5 2 . ..............................
L um ber, saw m ills.............................
Clothing, m e n ’s..................................
Boots arid shoes, ru b b e r.................
C em ent............... .................................
Petroleum refining............................
P ap er b o xes........................................
Stam ped an d enam eled w are.........
Machine tools....... .............................
P aper and p u lp ..................................
Automobile tires................................
Slaughtering an d m eat p a ck in g ...
Confectionery an d ice cream . . .
Boots an d shoes, n o t including
ru b b er...............................................
M illinery an d lace goods.................
B ak in g .................................................
Shipbuilding, steel............................
C otton goods.......................................
Fertilizers............................................

+ 2 .7

+10.7

+ 2 .7
+ 2 .6
+ 2.6
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .4
+ 2.1
+ 2. 0
+ 1.7
+ 1.6
+ 1.5
+ 1.4
+ 1.1
+ 3.1
+ 0.9
+ 0 .4
+ 0.3
+ 0 .3
- 0 .1
-0 .5
-0 .8

+17.6
+ 17.0
+ 2.6
+ 5.3
+3.3
+ 11.4
+4.3
+10.8
+ 15.0
+ 4.4

-0 .9
-2 .2
-3 .6
- 4 .1
-4 .5
-4 .6

- 3 .4
+ 1.8
+ 1.2
+ 7.1
+ 3.7
+ 10.0
+ 1.4
+ 6.8
+5.7
+ 18.6
+ 7.3
+ 13.5

Reports as to operating time in October were received from 6,070
establishments. A total of these reports from 51 industries shows
that 80 per cent of the establishments reporting were on a full-time
schedule, 19 per cent on a part-time schedule, and 1 per cent were not
in operation.
Nearly one-half of the 80 per cent of the 6,070 establishments work­
ing full time also reported full-capacity operation, about one-third
reported part-capacity operation, and the remainder failed to report
as to capacity operation.
The following table expands the full-time reports in a few indus­
tries. Establishments in the silk goods, men’s clothing, foundry
and machine-shop products, machine tools, leather, and electrical
machinery industries show more part-capacity than full-capacity
operation, although as stated in the September report it is probable
that a majority of the establishments failing to report as to capacity
were operating at full capacity.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1360]

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
E stablishm ents rep o rt­
ing fu lltim e —
In d u stry .

A nd
full
ca­
pac­
ity .

A nd
p a rt
ca­
pac­
ity .

F lour....................................
Cotton goods......................
Hosiery“and k n it goods...
Silk goods...........................
W oolen goods....................
M en’s clothing...................
W om en’s clothing........ .
Iro n a nd steel__ “ ...........
F o undry a n d machineshop p ro d u c ts................
M achine tools....................
Saw m ills.............. ..............
F u rn itu re ...........................
L eather................................

63
124
72
50
62
33
26
52

34
26
44
63
40
39
16
45

19
42
23
6
TO
33
36
16

116
192
139
119
112
105
78
113

149
20
131
111
26

188
71
13
28
46

82
14
31
50
16

419
105
175
189
88

F U L L A N D P A R T -T IM E

E stablishm ents report­
ing fu lltim e —

B ut
not
ca­ T otal.
pac­
ity .

A nd
full
ca­
pac­
ity .

In d u stry .

Boots and sh o es................
P a p e r and p u lp .................
P a p e r b o x e s ..! .................
Book and job p rin tin g ...
C em ent............................ ..
B rick a n d tiie ....................
P o tte ry ................................
G lass. ! ................................
A utom obiles......................
Steam -railroad car building and rep airin g ..........
Electrical m achinery app aratu s and supplies..

O P E R A T IO N IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
O C TO B ER , 1923.

Per
cent
oper­
Total. a tin g
full
tim e.

Food
and
k in d re d
p ro d u c ts :
Slaughtering and m eat
p a c k in g ......................
Confectionery and ice
c ream ..........................
F lo u r............. ..................
B aking.............................
Sugar refining, n o t in­
cluding beet su g ar. . .
T extiles
and
th e ir
p ro d u c ts :
C otton goods..................
Hosiery and k n it goods.
Silk g o o d s......................
W oolen goods................
C arpets............................
D yeing and finishing
te x tile s .........................
Clothing, m e n ’s ........... .
Shirts a n d collars..........
C lothing, w om en’s .......
M illinery a n d lace
goods............................
Iro n a n d steel a n d th e ir
p ro d u c ts :
Iron an d steel................
S tructu ral iro n w o rk . . .
F ou n d ry and m achineshop p ro d u c ts.......... .
H a rd w a re ......................
M achine tools.................
Steam fittings and
steam an d hot-w ater
heating a p p a r a tu s .. .
Stoves..............................
L u m b er a n d its re m a n ­
u fa c tu re s:
L um b er, saw m ills____
L u m b e r, m ill w ork.......
F u rn itu re .......................
L e a th e r a n d its finished
p ro d u c ts :
L e a th e r............................
Boots and shoes, no t
including ru b b e r.......

B ut
not
ca­ Total,
pac­
ity .

34
8
30
54
10
33
10
29
44

22
23
27
58
10
43
10
14
30

97
82
107
170
61
208
40
88
129

173

14

31

213

27

30

29

86

E stab lish m en ts
reporting.

P er
cent
P er
oper­ cent
atin g idle.
p a rt
tim e.

76

93

7

104
237
202

89
49
90

11
50
10

8

75

25

241
192
176
151
17

80
72
68
74
82

20
28
32
26
18

C1)

66
160
76
104

52
66
64
75

48
34
36
25

C1)

55

78

22

(l )

166
117

68
92

24
8

491
34
124

85
88
85

14
12
14

99
79

88
76

12
24

206
143
209

85
93
90

14
6
10

1
1

96

92

5

3

128

76

23

1

8
0 )

1

In d u stry .

P a p e r a n d p rin tin g :
P aper and p u lp .............
P ap er boxes...................
P rin tin g , hook and jo b .
P rin tin g , new spapers..
C hem icals a n d allied
p ro d u c ts :
C hem icals.......................
F ertilizers.......................
P etroleum refining.......
S to n e , clay, a n d glass
p ro d u c ts :
C em ent............................
B rick and tile ................
P o tte ry ............................
Glass. ! .............................
M etal p ro d u c ts o th e r
th a n iro n a n d stee l:
Stam ped and enam eled w are.....................
T o b a c c o m a n u fa c tu re s:
Tobacco, chew ing and
sm oking.......................
Tobacco,“ cigars and
cigarettes.....................
V ehicles f o r la n d tra n s p o r ta tio n :
A utom obiles..................
Carriages and w agons..
Car building and repairing, electric-railro a d ..............................
Car building and repairing, steam-railro a d ..............................
M iscellaneous in d u str i e s :
A gricultural
im plem e n ts ...........................
Electrical m achinery,
ap p aratu s, and supplies..............................
Pianos and organs........
R u b b er hoots and
shoes.............................
A utom obile tires...........
Shipbuilding, steel.......

1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

41
51
50
58 •
41
132
20
45
55

A nd
p a rt
ca­
pac­
ity .

E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN

E stab lish m en ts
reporting.
In d u stry .

137

[1361]

Per
cent
oper­
Total. a tin g
full
tim e.

Per
cent P er
oper­ cent
a tin g
p a rt idle.
tim e.

138
117
193
135

59
91
88
100

38
9
12

2

98
38

80
47
100

18
51

2
2

64
274
48
120

76
83
73

3
18
17
9

2
6

32

84

16

18

27

67

33

124

81

18

1

154
34

84
71

16
29

1

132

98

2

262

83

16

1

58

84

14

2

94
25

91
96

9
4

6
54
31

100
57
94

35
6

7
..........

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

138

No general increase in wages movement appeared in any one
industry during the month ending October 15, although some in­
creases were reported by establishments scattered through 37 of the
51 industries here considered. However, with the exception of three
industries, iron and steel, steam-railroad car building and repairing,
and boots and shoes, these increases affected comparatively few
employees and were for the most part in the relatively smaller
establishments.
The increases, ranging from 2.5 per cent to 28.6 per cent were
reported by a total of 147 establishments. The weighted average
increase for the 37 industries combined was 9.6 per cent and affected
22,514 employees, being 48 per cent of the total employees in the
establishments concerned, and 1 per cent of the entire number of
employees in all establishments in the 51 industries covered by this
report.
One establishment each in six industries reported decreases in rates
of wages during the month. These decreases are shown in footnotes
to the table following.
W A G E A D JU S T M E N T S O C CU R R IN G B E T W E E N S E P T E M B E R 15 A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1923

E stablishm ent s.

In d u stry .

F o o d a n d k in d re d p ro d u c ts :
Slaughtering a n d m e a t p ack in g .......................
Confectionery an d ice c re a m .............................
F lo u r.......................................................................
B ak in g ....................................................................
Sugar refining, n o t in clu d in g beet su g ar---T ex tiles a n a th e ir p r o d u c ts :
C otton goods.........................................................
Hosiery an d k n it goods......................................
Silk goods.............................................................
W oolen goods........................................................
D yeing an d finishing te x tile s...........................
Shirts an d collars.................................................
Clothing, w om en's...............................................
M illinery a n d lace goods....................................
Iro n a n d steel a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts :
Iron a n d steel.......................................................
S tru ctu ra liro n w o rk ............................................
F o u n d ry an d m achine-shop p ro d u c ts............
M achine tools.......................................................
Steam fittings a n d steam a n d hot-w ater
heating a p p a ra tu s ............................................
Stoves......................................................................
L u m b er a u d i t s re m a n u fa c tu re s:
L um ber, saw m ills................................................
L um ber, m illw ork...............................................
F u rn itu re ...............................................................
L e a th e r a n d i ts finished p r o d u c ts :

T o tal
num ber
report­
ing.

A m ount of
increases.

N um ­
b er re­
p o rtin g R ange.
in ­
creases.

A ver­
age.

T otal
num ­
ber.

Per ct. Per ct.
6. 0
6
6. 2
5-17
7-10
7. 6
5-20
13. 7
14.3
14.3

161
406
171
75
60

84
137
269
253
12

1
7
5
3
1

253
238
221
159
22
65
210
90
154
76

3
2
2
1

8-10
10-18
5
5

1
2
1
2

186
134
536
33
139
106
83
235
180
254

Em ployees affected.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

In all
estab­
lish­
m ents
report­
ing.

Per ct. Per ct.
8.9
0.2
30.1
2.0
32. 9
1.1
21.7
.2
6.0
.6

8.6
11. 9
5. 0
5.0

272
15
357
125

100.0
5.4
78. 8
100.0

5.8

5. 8

17

21.3

.1

10
7.5
10

10.0
7. 5
10.0

40
5
318

17.9
11. 4
48.0

.2
C1)
2.7

3-25
9
7 2.5-12.5
3 12 2.9-22
(4)
6.5-10
4

12. S
7. 6
4.8

9,683
25
692

76.7
16.3
22. 9

4.0
.1
.4

8.3

17

8.8

.Î

4
5-21
3 10-19. 2

15.7
16. 6

115
67

27.4
10.0

.4
.4

10
5-10
3-10

10.0
7. 9
6. 1

150
111
98

59.0
16. 0
11.3

.2
.4
.3

55. 0

2.7

(2)
(2)

5

1
5
9

129
(2)
9.8 ! 2,153
5 4.2-10.4
163
Boots a n d shoes, n o tin c lu d in g ru b b e r..........
)Less th a n one-tenth o f 1 per cent.
«No wage change reported.
«Also 1 estab lish m en t reduced th e rates of 75 of its 167 employees 10 per cen t.
<O ne establishm ent reduced th e rates oflOO o fits 196 employees from 5 to lO per cent.
«Also 1 establishm ent reduced th e rates of 200 o fits 592 employees 6.5 per cent.

[1362]

In
estab­
lis h ­
m ents
re p o rt­
ing in ­
creases.

.2
C1)

.6
.2

139

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT,

W A G E A D JU S T M E N T S O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N S E P T E M B E R 15 AN D O C T O B E R 15,
1923—Concluded.

E stablishm ents.

In d u stry .

T o tal
num ber
report­
ing.

P a p e r a n d p r in t in g :
Pa.pp.r and p u lp
P a p e r bo x es...........................................................
P rin tin g , book a n d jo b .......................................
P rin tin g , new sp ap ers.........................................
C hem icals a n d a llie d p ro d u c ts :
Chem icals...............................................................
F ertilizers...............................................................
Petroleum refin in g ..............................................
S to n e , c la y , a n d g la ss p ro d u c ts :
Oathati t
B rick an d tile .................. ............... ...................
P o tt Ary
CirlrlSS
M eta l p ro d u c ts , o th e r th a n iro n a n d s te e l:
S tam ped a n d enam eled w a re ...........................
T o b a c c o m a n u fa c tu re s :
Tobacco chew ing and s m o k i n g
V ehicles f or la n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n :
\ n t o m o b i 1a s

Carriages a n d w ag o n s........................................
Car b u ildin g a n d repairing, electric-railroad.
Car b u ildin g a n d repairing, steam -railro ad ..
M isc e lla n e o u sin d u strie s:
E lectrical m ach in ery , a p p aratu s, an d sup­
plies ..................................................................
Pianos a nd organs................................................
Automobile tir e s ..................................................
Shipbuilding, s te e l..............................................

A m o u n t of
increases.

N um ­
b er re­
p o rtin g Range.
in ­
creases.

175
143
216
199

In
estab­
lish ­
m ents
rep o rt­
ing in ­
creases.

In all
estab­
lish­
m ents
report­
ing.

Per ct. Per ct.

8
11
8

' 5-10
5-15
2.5-22

9.4
6.5
12.4

177
678
696

18.0
36.7
16.2

1.1
2.6
1.6

3
1

5-12
10-20
4.5

17.3
4.5

622
83
500

45.0
85.6
65. 0

1 .1

6

8-16. 7

9.6

144

94.1

.6

2 10-28.6

26.0

29

12.8

.2

(2)

3.9
1.0

(2)
(2)

37
30
168

( 2)
( 6)

172
38
183
»285

C)

75

( 2)

119
28
8
67
37

T otal
num ­
ber.

Per ct. Per ct.
(2)

87
112
63
76
315
50
129

A ver­
age.

Em ployees affected.

( 2)

1

is

18. 0

100

66. 7

4 .2

8

4-8

4.1

4,223

73.3

2 .5

3

5-14
5

7. 6
5. 0

62
50

10.6
5.0

.6

10
6. 7

10. 0
6. 7

10
7

20. 0
11. 8

1( 2)
81
1

.1

0)
(*)

1 Less th a n o n e-ten th o i 1 p er cent.
2 N o w age change rep o rted .
6 One establishm ent reduced th e rates of 100 o fits 450 employees 8 per cent.
i One establishm ent reduced th e rates o fits 728 employees 7 p er cen t,
s Also 1 establishm ent reduced th e rates of 110 o fits 345 employees 13.5 per cent.

Employment and Earnings oi Railroad Employees, September, 1922,
and August and September, 1923.

HE following table shows the number of employees and the
earnings in various occupations among railroad employees in
September, 1923, in comparison with employment and earn­
ings in August, 1923, and September, 1922.
The figures are for Class I roads—that is, all roads having operating
revenues of $1,000,000 a year and over.

T

71815'

-10


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1363]

140

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S O F R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S IN
S E P T E M B E R , 1923, W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1922, A N D A U G U ST , 1923.
[F rom m onthly reports of In te rsta te Commerce Commission. As d ata for only the m ore im p o rtan t occu­
pations are shown separately, th e group totals are no t th e su m of th e item s under th e respective groups.]

Professional, clerical, and general.
M onth and year.
Clerks.

Stenog­
raphers
and
ty p ists.

T otal for
group.

Maintenance of w ay and struc­
tures.
Laborers Track and
(extra gang roadw ay
section
and work
train).
laborers.

Total for
group.

Number of employees at middle of month.
Septem ber, 1922..........................
A ugust, 1923................................
Septem ber, 1923..........................

163,344
175,054
174,964

24,100
25,486
25,571

308,190
291,264
290,416

238,460
247,176
233,818

420,669
471,185
450,013

$3,756,601 $15,887,473
7, 035,978 19,674,396
5,980,632 17,029,412

$35,253,262
45,571,541
40,772,617

53,065
80,518
74,385

Total earnings.
Septem ber, 1922........................... $20,041,252
A ugust, 1923................................ 22,422,615
Septem ber, 1923........................... 21,629,854

$2,776,007 $40,616,761
3,066,260 39,091,319
2,986,370 37,950,677

Maintenance of equipm ent and stores.

Carmen.

✓
Machinists.

Skilled
trade
helpers.

Common
Laborers
laborers
(shops,
(shops,
engine
engine
houses,
houses,
power
power
p lants, and p lants,
and
stores).
stores).

Total for
group.

N um ber of employees at middle of month.
Septem ber, 1922..........................
A ugust, 1923.........................
Septem ber, 1923........................

95,021
142,393
141,001

38,555
69,323
68,392

94,697
138,217
135.009

49,012
68,231
65,829

410,278
605,120
595,327

$4,277,833
5,834,966
5,268,170

$66,811,268
80,756,009
74,759,081

42,698
50,036
49,553

Total earnings.
Septem ber, 1922......................
A ugust, 1923.................
Septem ber, 1923.................

$17,941,527
21,296,296
19,458,019

$8,869,383 $13,962,976
11,388,894 15,590,360
10,526,313 14.203,125

$4,399,167
4,954,528
4,716,493

T ransportation other th an train and yard.

Station
agents.

Crossing
Telegra­
T ruckers
phers,
(stations, and bridge
telephones, warehouses, flagmen
and
and
and
tow erm en. platform s). gatem en.

T otal for
group.

Transpor­
tation
(yardmasters,
switch
tenders,
and
hostlers).

Number of employees at middle o f month.
Septem ber, 1922.......................
A ugust, 1923...................
Septem ber, 1923.......................

31,685
31,749
31,707

27,044
27,618
27,764

38,646
42,100
42,922

217,828
218,823
219,866

24,513
26,498
26,473

$1,506,132 $25,214,402
1,753,175 26,468,984
1,737,391 25,509,245

$4,363,942
4,763,257
4,615,490

22,205
23,256
23,244

Total earnings.
September, 1922...............
A ugust, 1923.....................
Septem ber, 1923.........................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$4,692,814
4,824,023
4,618,540

$3,879,189
4,055,428
3,922,366

[1364]

$3,389,683
4,000,596
3,845,102

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

141

C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T AN D E A R N IN G S O F R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S
S E P T E M B E R , 1923-, W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1922, A N D A U G U ST , 1923—Concluded.

IN

Transportation, train and engine.
M onth an d year.

R oad
brakem en
R oad
conductors.
and
flagmen.

Y ard
brakem en
and
yardm en.

Road
engineers
and
motormen.

Road
firemen
and
helpers.

T otal for
group.

Number of employees at middle of month.
35,647
39,106
39,510

Septem ber, 1922............... ...........
August, 1923................................
Septem ber, 1923..........................

74,212
80,619
81,681

48,349
55,574
55,289

43,645
47,135
47,901

45,545
49,380
50,135

311,301
344,165
347,398

$8,445,683
9,123,610
8,858;100

$59,881,223
66,494,687
64,566,592

Total earnings.
Septem ber, 1922.......................... $8,407,861 $12,781,044
9,095,933 13,722,328
August, 1923................................
Septem ber, 1923........................... 8,850,029 33,341,784

$7,660,704 $11,353,499
9,089,103 12,357,997
8,803,820 11,994,790

Extent ol: Operation of Bituminous Coal Mines, September 22 to Oc­
tober 13, 1923.

ONTINUING a series of tables which have appeared in previous
numbers of the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , the accompanying
table shows for a large number of coal mines in the bituminous
fields the number of mines closed the entire week and the number
working certain classified hours per week from, September 22 to
October 13, 1923. The number of mines reporting varied each week,
and the figures are not given as being a complete presentation of
all mines but are believed fairly to represent the conditions as to
regularity of work in the bituminous mines of the country. The
mines included in this report ordinarily represent from 55 to 60 per
cent of the total output of bituminous coal. The figures are based
on data furnished the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the United
States Geological Survey.

C

W O R K IN G

T IM E IN T H E B IT U M IN O U S COAL M IN ES IN T H E U N IT E D
W E E K S , S E P T E M B E R 22 TO O C TO B ER 13, 1923.

ST A T E S , B Y

[The m ines included ord in arily represent from 55 to 60 per cent of th e to ta l o u tp u t. P rep ared b y
th e B ureau of L abor S tatistics from d ata fu rn ish d b y th e U n ite d S tates Geological Survey.]
Mines.
NumW eek
ber of
end- mines
ing— reportmg.

Closed
en tire
week:.

W orking
less th a n
8 hours.

W orking
8 and
less th a n
16 hours.

W orking
16 a n d
less th a n
24 hours.

W orking
24 and
less th a n
32 hours.

W orking
32 and
less th a n
40 hours.

W orking W orking
40 and
full tim e
less th a n of 48 hours
48 hours. or more.

Per No. P er No. Per No. Per No. Per No. Per No. Per No. Per
No. cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
1923.
Sept. 22.
Sept. 29.
Oct. 6 ...
Oct. 13.

2,266
2,319
2,307
2,317

563
594
620
640

24.8
25.6
26.9
27.6


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

45
53
50
52

2.0
2.3
2.2
2.2

170
200
187
207

7.5
8.6
8.1
8.9

357
356
358
363

[13G5]

15.8
15. 4
15.5
15.7

414
388
407
386

18.2
16.7
17.6
16.7

309
312
315
289

13.6
13. 5
13.7
12.5

246 10.9
263 11.3
227 9.8
223 9.6

162
153
143
157

7.1
6.6
6.2
6.8

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

142

Recent Employment Statistics.
Iowa.1

HE percentage fluctuations in the numbers on the pay rolls in
the principal industry groups in Iowa from August, 1922, to
August, 1923, and from September, 1922, to September, 1923,
are shown in the following table:

T

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 IN E M P L O Y M E N T IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R Y
G R O U P S IN IO W A , A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R , 1923, AS C O M PA R E D W IT H A U G U ST
A N D S E P T E M B E R , 1922.
P er cent of increase from—
In d u s try group.

A ugust, 1922,
to
A ugust, 1923.

September,
1922,to
Septem ber,
1923.

Food a n d k in d re d p ro d u c ts...........................................................................................
T extiles................... * ......................................................................................................
Iro n an d steel w o rk ............................................................................
L u m b er p ro d u c ts ..........................................................................................................
L eather p ro d u cts...............................................................................
P a p e r p roducts, p rin tin g a n d pu b lish in g ..................................................................
P a te n t m edicines, chemicals a n d com pounds..........................................................
Stone a n d clay p ro d u cts........................ ...........................................................
Tobacco a n d cigars...........................................................................................................
Various in d u strie s...............................................................................................

18.1
6.9
32.8
14.9
25.8
7.8
9.0
3.8
25. 4
6.7

5. 5
19. 8
23. 8
21.7
9. 4
5.4
3.9
22.7
a 15. 3
a 39.3

T o tal.........................................................................................................................
R ailw ay car shops (5 rep o rtin g )................................ :.................................................

16. 4
90.0

3.7
74.9

« Decrease.

Massachusetts.2

QTATISTICS of employment and earnings in 796 manufactur^ ing establishments in Massachusetts for a specified week in
August and September, 1923, are given below:
N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M ASSA C H USETTS
M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S , W E E K IN C L U D IN G O R E N D IN G N E A R E S T TO
T H E 15TH O F A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R , 1923.

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish ­
m ents.

Industries.

A utom obiles, including bodies a n d p a rts ..........................
B oot an d shoe c u t stock an d fin d in g s................................
Boots a n d shoes.............. ..........................................................
Boxes, p a p e r............................. ................................................
Boxes, w ooden p a c k in g .........................................................
B read an d other bakery p ro d u cts................................ .......
Cars a n d general shop construction a n d repairs, steam
railroad com panies...............................................................
Clothing, m e n ’s . ................................................................. .
Clothing' w om en’s ...................................................................
Confectionery.............................................................................
C otton goods..............................................................................
C utlery an d to o ls......................................................................
D yeing a n d finishing, te x tile s...............................................

13
52
82
25
If)
37
4
28
24
14
43
25
6

N um ber of employees
on pay roil.

A ugust,
1923.

2,730
2,221
30,971
2,279
1,012
1,666

Average weekly
earnings.

Septem ber, August, Septem­
ber,
1923.
1923.
1923.
2,676
2,244
30,762
2, 366
1,006
1,669

§30. 75
22. 53
24. 73
19. 82
21.89
29.49

3,319
3,379
27.42
2,820
2 ,69S
23. 52
'846
'889
17. 67
3,533
3,929
18. 27
37, 553
38,926
20. 51
4,954
5, 029
23. 70
5,980
6,175
19. 39
5Iow a. B u reau of L abor S tatistics. Iow a E m p lo y m en t Survey, Des Moines, Septem ber, 1923.
2 M imeographed .m aterial from th e D ep artm en t of L abor a n d In d u stries of M assachusetts.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1366]

§33.73
23.88
24.87
20.48
23.92
28.80
31. S3
23.32
16.90
18.72
21.29
23.83
22. 21

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

143

N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A S SA C H U S E T T S
M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S ,'W E E K IN C L U D IN G O R E N D IN G N E A R E S T TO
T H E 15TH O F A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R , 1923—C oncluded.

N um ­
b er of
estab ­
lish ­
m ents.

Industries.

N um ber of employees
on p ay roll.

A ugust,
1923.

A verage w eekly
earnings.

Sep­
Septem ber, A ugust, tem
ber,
1923.
1923.
1923.

Electrical m achinery, ap paratus, and supplies.............
F oundry a n d m achine shop p ro d u cts................................
F u r n itu re ...................................................................................
H osiery and k n it goods..........................................................
Jew elry..................................... .................................................
L eather, tan n ed , curried, a n d fin ish ed ..............................
M achine to o ls............................................................................
M usical in stru m e n ts...............................................................
P a p e r and wood p u lp .............................................................
P rin tin g a n d publishing, book a n d jo b .............................
P rin tin g a n d publishing, n ew sp ap er..................................
R ubber tires a n d goods..........................................................
Silk goods................................................................................
Slaughtering an d m e a t packing...........................................
Stationery goods......................................................................
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater heating appa­
ra tu s .........................................................................................
T extile m achinery and p a rts ................................................
Tobacco.............................. .......................................................
Woolen and worsted goods....................................................
A ll other indu stries.................................................................

12
61
17
10
22
27
14
5
21
36
11
10
12
4
9

11, 661
7,823
1,944
4,034
1.409
4,810
1,429
742
5,776
3,029
2,488
3,225
2,903
1,431
1,282

11,490
7,894
1.937
3,838
1,492
4,661
1,396
742
5,651
2,986
2,526
3,321
2, 783
1,410
1^336

$27.98
29. 34
22. 81
17. 92
23. 68
25. 62
26. 41
25. 30
25. 91
30. 25
36. 58
23. 42
20. 95
27.44
18. 59

$27.30
30.01
25.80
17.77
23.38
26.04
25.36
26. 72
25.81
31.27
36.89
25.66
20. 35
25.82
19.24

6
15
7
41
93

1,628
7,854
441
19.979
42,069

1,695
7,961
1,321
20,277
41,004

25.27
28. 07
20. 59
22.19
24.97

27.32
28.51
26.67
22.44
27.16

T o tal.................................................................................

796

227,214

226, 096

24.06

24.94

Reports from the above tabulated establishments show 1,118, or
0.5 per cent, fewer persons on the pay roll in September than in August,
1923, an advance of $171,943, or 3.1 per cent, in the total pay roll,
and an increase of 88 cents, or 3.7 per cent, in the average weekly
earninigs per employee.
The labor market in the districts in which the Boston (two offices),
Springfield, and Worcester public employment offices operate im­
proved slightly in September, 1923, as shown by the reports of the
number of persons asked for by employers and the number of indi­
viduals placed. Usually there is some reduction in the demand for
workers in July and August, but the seasonal decline was rather more
marked in 1923 than in 1922. The renewed activity in September,
1923, was a very hopeful sign, and it seems probable that the demand
for employees through the State employment offices will soon be as.
great as in the corresponding months of the preceding year. The
number of persons called for at State employment offices by em­
ployers in September, 1923, was 3,946 persons—21 per cent below the
number demanded in September, 1922. The total number of per­
sons placed in September, 1923, was 3,170—9.5 per cent less than last
year’s record for that month.
In the first nine months of 1923 the number of persons called for
through the four offices by employers was 40,618 and the number of
persons placed 31,882, an increase of 9.3 per cent in the number of
persons called for and of 12.7 per cent in the number of persons
placed as compared to the first nine months of 1922.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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144

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Minnesota.

TN OCTOBER, 1923, approximately normal employment conditions
A throughout Minnesota were reported by the industrial commission
of that State. The number of persons referred to positions from the
free employment offices of the State in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and
Duluth was 8,377, of whom 679 were farm hands sent to farmers in
various sections of Minnesota. This was an increase of 503 in the
number of persons referred and an increase of 121 in the number of
farm hands furnished farmers in the corresponding month of 1922.
According to the commissioner in charge of the Minnesota public
employment service, there should be, if the weather is seasonable, a
steady d e m a n d e x t e n d i n g well into t h e winter for labor in building
construction and road work.
As an evidence of normal business conditions for mid autumn, the
commissioner calls attention to the clerical and professional place­
ments made by the State employment offices in October, 1923.
Conference of international Association on Unemployment.1

HE International Association on Unemployment, which was or­
ganized in 1919 as a sister society to the International Asso­
ciation for Labor Legislation, was compelled to suspend its
activities for nearly 10 years on account of the war. Its work was
resumed recently at a general meeting which was held at Luxemburg
September 9 to 11, 1923. The meeting was attended by about 150
delegates, representing 18 countries. Mr. Herbert Hoover, Secretary
of the United States Department of Commerce, had sent Dr. John B.
Andrews to attend the meeting in the capacity of semiofficial observer.
The International Labor Office was represented by its director, Mr.
Albert Thomas.
After an introductory address by Mr. Thomas, in which he pointed
out the-intensity of the unemployment crisis of 1921-22, which still
continues in certain countries, the meeting appointed a committee
consisting of Dr. John B. Andrews (United States), J. L. Cohen
(Great Britain), Max Lazard (France), and Leon Troclet (Belgium),
and charged with submitting to the meeting a draft resolution em­
bodying a general program of action. The draft resolution submitted
by this committee was adopted, by the meeting in the following form:

T

The International Association on Unemployment, in conference assembled on 11
September, 1923, at Luxemburg,
Having considered the state of the labor market throughout the world and the
alarming number of workers involuntarily unemployed, urges on all countries a very
careful_reconsideration of the whole menacing problem of unemployment;
Considering that the economic disorganization provoked by the war is aggravated
by the failure to adopt an economic policy of international cooperation,
Invites its national sections to examine the following suggestions:
(1)
To substitute as soon as possible for the policy of exaggerated protection, which
is a relic of war economy incompatible with a state of peace, a policy of greater freedom
for the circulation of goods, effected where possible by customs unions between countries;
(2)
To improve the financial situation and, above all, to prevent further monetary
catastrophes, with the assistance of the principal countries concerned in the reestab­
lishment of normal international financial relations;
1 In te rn a tio n a l L abor Office. In d u s tria l a n d L abor Inform ation, G eneva, Sept. 21, 1923, p p . 20-25.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1368]

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

145

(3) To establish in each country, and as far as possible according to a uniform sys­
tem, complete statistics of production and of economic resources and needs, so as to
encourage the cooperation of the managers of industry in providing a good distribution
of work and of the factors of production throughout the world;
(4) To facilitate a desirable distribution of population;
(5) To develop an adequate and permanent system of public employment exchanges,
with cooperation between the systems of different countries;
(6) To make unemployment insurance general and to consider the suggestions of
experts and the result, or practical experience with a view to bringing about greater
regularity of em pioym ent;
(7) To promote the long-range planning of public works so as to increase their execu­
tion during periods of industrial depression;
(8) To increase educational facilities and to develop machinery for vocational guid­
ance with a view to directing labor into the most desirable and efficient channels.
It is increasingly apparent that only through a policy of international solidarity
can the material and moral patrimony of each nation be conserved.
The International Association on Unemployment therefore recommends, in view
of the alarming nature of the present situation and the threatening consequences
which are to be feared, that prompt action should be undertaken on the above-men­
tioned program.
U n e m p lo y m e n t

in

G e rm a n y ,

O c to b e r,

1923.

T THE beginning of the present year unemployment in Ger­
many had decreased to a negligible amount, there having
been even less unemployment than in normal pre-war times.
Tile total collapse of the mark has, however, been accompanied by
such a turn for the worse in the employment situation that Germany
to-day has to deal with a more serious unemployment problem than
any other country in the world. A cable from the American com­
m e r c i a l attache at B e rlin dated O c to b e r 18, 1923 (C om m erce Re­
ports, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 271), says:

A

Figures obtained from a reliable source connected with the Government reflect
the seriousness of the employment situation in Germany. It is estimated that on
October 16 there were 1,500,000 workers totally unemployed in the unoccupied sec­
tions of the country. In addition to these there were between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000
workers on part time, including 2,000,000 working only half time or less.
The unemployment doles paid by the Government and the individual municipali­
ties are totally inadequate to cover the cost of necessities. The maximum allowance
to a married man with wife and two children for the week ending October 16 was
1,800,000,000 marks a week, whereas a loaf of bread weighing 1,200 grams cost 480,000,000 marks, a pound of potatoes 50,000,000, and a pound of margarine 900,000,000
at that time. The minimum allowance for a married man was 1,400,000,000 marks,
for an unmarried man 810,000,000, and for an unmarried woman 600,000,000. It is
estimated that the dole received by a worker covers about one-third of the wages he
would have received if working. For example, a married man with wife and twro
children received in Berlin for a week of half-time work 3,100,000,000 marks in wages
and a dole of 1,500,000,000 marks.

E ffe c t o n

th e E n g lis h W o rk e r o f U n e m p lo y m e n t a n d U n e m p lo y m e n t
R e lie f.

N THE summer of 1922 a group of Englishmen 1 decided to make a
study of the unemployment situation in England in order to
supplement the information given in official reports and to gain
a fuller realization of what the prevailing depression actually meant
to the life of the country. Nine local investigations were Under-

I

ïT h e persons composing th is group were: J. J. A stor, A . J . Bow ley, H enry Clay, R obert G rant, W .
L ayto n , P . J. P ybus, B. Seebohm R ow ntree, George Schuster, and F . D . S tu art.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1369]

T.

146

„MONTHLY LABOE BEVIEW.

taken during August and September, and the reports of this work
seemed of such interest that it was agreed to print the most important
findings “ as a contribution to an understanding of the present
emergency.” These local reports were much condensed and a general
survey of the situation was prefixed, the whole being published under
the title, “ The Third Winter of Unemployment.” One important
part of the book is the study made of the effect upon the workers
themselves of unemployment and of the measures taken to relieve it.
As to physical effects, the situation is rather complex. There was
general agreement that as yet the degree of destitution witnessed
in former trade depressions had not appeared. Actual starvation
had been prevented, and even where the adults were showing signs
of undernutrition, the children were not yet affected. In general,
health was good. In Birmingham, according to the health authori­
ties, it was even better than usual. “ The health of the city has never
been quite so good as at present, despite overcrowding.”
The reason everywhere given is the same. Health is better than in pre-war depres­
sions because the pre-war starvation is prevented. The unemployment insurance
benefit, especially since it was proportioned to need by the allowances for dependents,
has relieved many who would have endured months of privation before resort to the
poor law; while the greater resort to the poor law, and the more generous scale of
relief awarded, have assured a regular supply of good food in many homes that were
not too well fed when trade was good.

The strain has been much more severe, it was found, among the
skilled artisans and small tradesmen than among the unskilled, who
are at the best of times poorly paid and irregularly employed. The
latter were almost at once obliged to take advantage of relief meas­
ures; the maintenance thus gained was not far below their customary
standard of living, and the report suggests that in some cases the
change in the real position of their families was for the better. But
with the workman normally employed at wages insuring a fair living,
the position was very different. The depression followed a period
of abnormal activity during which the workers had grown used to a
better scale of living, which they hoped and believed would be permament. The change in their manner of living, due to unemployment,
was much greater than,,in the case of the unskilled workers, and to
the change was added the nervous strain of watching the exhaustion
of their savings, the wearing out of their clothes, furniture, and
other acquisitions of the boom periods, and the worry of enforced
idleness. “ There is abundant evidence of mental strain and suffering
in this class.”
Apart from destitution, both employers and workers are aware
of an unfortunate physical effect of prolonged unemployment—-the
loss of skill through lack of opportunity to exercise it, or an actual
impairment of ability to do fine work as a result of working at the
rough and heavy jobs which are usually offered as relief work. Thus
from Burnley, the investigators report that the authorities prefer
excavation for relief work, because it requires neither skill nor
expensive materials, but that this is most unsuitable for weavers—
Burnley is a textile town—“ for it hardens their hands and obviously
lessens their efficiency in their regular occupation, in which the rapid
handling of delicate threads of cotton yarn plays a great part.”
In Stoke-on-Trent, a pottery town, there was no complaint of the


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kind of relief work furnished, hut the loss of skill through unemploy­
ment was stressed.
An official of the Pottery Operatives’ Union took a very grave view of this question,
as did the assistant manager of one of the employment exchanges. The latter defi­
nitely stated that employers were not registering their vacancies at the exchanges
because they did not want men who had been long out of work.

Similar reports came from other places, and there was pretty
general agreement that the danger of this kind of deterioration is
progressive.
Clearly, the value of the worker if reemployed to-day would be less than it was in
1920. The fall in value is, so far, only temporary, and the period needed for the
recovery of skill and confidence would not be long; yet the fact indicates a real
danger.

Turning to the morale of the unemployed worker, the investi­
gators find that this question, too, has several sides. There is little
or no evidence of the loss of self-dependence which maintenance
without work is often supposed to produce. The men are not growing
fond of idleness and manifesting a disposition to depend on public
relief rather than to seek work. Rather they appear to be, as at
Burnley, “ heartily sick of doing nothing, and want work for its own
sake in many cases.” Their anxiety to get back to work was testified
to by employers, employment exchange officials, and trade-union
secretaries, as well as by individual workmen interviewed. Two
conclusions were reached on this point.
The demoralization that, according to pre-war theories, would have been expected
to result from the provision of maintenance without Work has not y et shown
itself. * * *
The longer a man is out of work the greater the danger that he may lose the habit
of self-dependence; but up to the present the greater provision of relief has acted
rather as a support to self-respect and a safeguard against demoralization.
Maintenance without employment may be demoralizing, but unemployment without
maintenance is much more certain in its demoralizing effect.

In some other respects it is agreed that morale has suffered. One
of the most serious effects was said to be the discouragement to
thrift and foresight. The workers who lived carefully and tried to
provide for the future find that the utmost result of their efforts
is that they are enabled to put off dependence on the uninsurance
payments or the final resort to the poor law for a few months longer
than their thriftless neighbors, and inevitably they question whether
their self-denial has justified itself. Discouragement and resentment
affect them profoundly.
The case of the small tradesmen in Blaina who have had to close their shops and
sell their houses, and the case of many a careful artisan who has had to part with the
savings that he had accumulated for the education of his children, leave a bitterness
of spirit that: may not issue in any revolutionary activity—since the saving man is
not usually a revolutionary—but does change a man’s outlook on society.

From all their conclusions the investigators except one class—
the young men who spent in the army the years which would normally
have been devoted to apprenticeship or to industrial training.
They have not been habituated to industrial work and most of them
possess no special skill. They can not be held responsible for their
condition, but the fact remains that they constitute a serious problem.
Many of these are regarded to-day as almost useless. They have nothing to offer
which is of any great value in the labor market. They have been at a disadvantage


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148

Because work has been given first to married men. They have been out of work for
long periods, just at the time when their mental and moral faculties are most sensitive,
and the result is that they now form a section which employers and public officials
are very much inclined to label “ demoralized.”

Among this class, the investigators feel, there is grave danger
that maintenance without employment may lead to a permanent
loss of self-dependence, and it is suggested more than once that
for them, maintenance should he made contingent upon taking some
form of industrial training.
It must be remembered that the conclusions here discussed were
reached more than a year ago, at the beginning of the third winter
of unemployment. The investigators themselves expressed doubts
as to what the conditions might be should the depression continue
for another year or even longer.
R e p o rt o i th e

B ritis h

U n e m p lo y m e n t G r a n ts C o m m itte e .1

HIS is the second (interim) report covering the proceedings
from March 3, 1922, to June 28, 1923, but an appendix gives
the first (interim) report, recounting proceedings from Decem­
ber, 1920, to March 2, 1922, so that the whole of the committee’s
work is covered. In view of the depression prevailing in the autumn
of 1920, the Government decided to give financial aid to local
authorities who would undertake approved schemes of useful work
for the sake of providing employment, and this committee was
appointed to pass upon the schemes and to administer the funds
provided. A sum of £3,000,000 ($14,599,500_ par) was at first
voted for this purpose, but this has been materially increased from
time to time. Two different plans for giving.help have been used.
Under the first the committee pays 60 per cent of the wage bill,
and under the second it undertakes to pay from 50 to 65 per cent of
interest and sinking fund charges for from 5 to 15 years, according
to the character of the work under consideration. The committee
summarizes its work as follows:

T

The committee have, from the commencement of their operations in December,
1920, up to June 28, 1923, dealt with 9,444 schemes of work which have been
submitted to them by many hundreds of local authorities; 2,592, of an estimated
value of over £12,000,000 [$58,398,000, par] have been approved for direct grants,
pm minting to £3,320,000 [$16,156,780, par], on the basis of 60 per cent of the wages
cost; and 3,601 schemes involving a total expenditure to be defrayed from loan of
£28,837,696 [$140,338,648, par] have been approved for grant in respect of interest
and sinking fund charges. Commitments and provisional approvals affect schemes
of a further value of £475,000 [$2,311,588, par].
The total volume of direct em ployment provided as a result of the various schemes
is estimated to amount approximately to 1,500,000 man-months.

The committee discusses at some length a wage provision which
has roused bitter opposition from the workers. If a State-aided
scheme is carried out directly by the local authorities, they are
required to pay unskilled labor a lower rate than their usual standard,
the reduction generally, at that time, being 25 per cent. This the
committee justifies on the ground that the wage fund can thus be
made to cover a greater number of men; that the employees, being
1

G reat B rita in . [T reasury.] U n em p lo y m en t G ran ts C om m ittee. Second (in terim ) report of pro­
ceedings from M arch 3,1822, to Ju n e 28,1923. London, 1923. 16,21 pp.


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recruited from all classes and unused to such work, can not give
the standard output; that it is undesirable to compete in any way
with ordinary employment; and that these are really emergency
works designed primarily to relieve distress. The committee
admits, however, that this wage policy brings about some awkward
situations.
The rate of wages being paid on most relief works is now less than formerly, and
indeed in some cases, particularly in rural districts, 75 per cent of the local authority’s
rate has worked out at a figure so low as to compare unfavorably with the amount
obtainable by unemployed men by way of poor relief, where the* men were married
men with families. * * * In other cases it would appear that it is almost as
advantageous financially for a married man with a family to do nothing and to draw
out relief as to be employed on State-aided works.

Unemployment Insurance by industry in Great Britain.

HEN the English unemployment insurance act of 1920 was
passed it contained a section permitting any industry which
wished to take entire responsibility for its own unemploy­
ment to contract out of the general scheme, under certain carefully
detailedyconditions. The abnormal unemployment which has pre­
vailed since the passage of the act threw such a strain upon the
finances of the general scheme that by the summer of 1921 it was felt
necessary to withdraw this permission until more normal conditions
should obtain, but interest in the idea was not given up, and the
Ministry of Labor has recently published a report1 on the subject,
giving the conditions under which special schemes were permitted
by the act of 1920, discussing difficulties in the way of establishing
satisfactory plans and giving details concerning the one scheme
which was brought into effect before permission was revoked.
hinder the act of 1920 a special scheme can be established only for
the whole of an industry within a given area, and it must cover all the
work people employed in that industry, regardless of their occupations.
Power is given to exclude specific classes of workers, if the Minister of
Labor approves, but this power is closely restricted. Persons who are
not eligible for benefits under the general unemployment insurance
scheme can not be included in a special scheme.
In general, a special scheme must be devised by the joint industrial
council for the industry concerned, or, if no such, body exists, by an
association of representatives of employers arid employees so con­
stituted as to represent a substantial majority of the employees in
the industry. It must give a definite right to unemployment
benefits, and these may not be less than those provided under the
general scheme. Subject to this proviso, the amount and duration
of benefits may be laid down by the scheme itself. The Government
will make an annual contribution to its fund, though on a less liberal
basis than to the general scheme, the ruling in this respect being as
follows:

W

An annual grant to special schemes is made out of State funds * * *
The
grant is limited to one or other of the following amounts, whichever is the less, viz:
(i) One-fourth of the contributions paid by employers and employees under the
provisions of the special scheme; or

1

G reat B rita in . M inistry of L ab o r. E m p lo y m en t a n d in su ran ce d ep artm e n t. R ep o rt on th e
a d m in istra tio n of section 18 of th e unem p lo y m en t in su ran ce act, 1920. L ondon, 1923. 41 p p . C m d.


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(ii) A sum not exceeding 30 per cent of the Exchequer contributions which would
have been paid under the general scheme, at the original rates of contributions in
respect of the persons to whom the special scheme applies, if the special scheme had
not been in operation.

Other provisions deal with machinery for collecting contributions,
receiving claims, and paying benefits, safeguarding the funds, verifying
the statements as to unemployment or underemployment of the
claimants, and similar practical details.
Demarcation seems to be one of the principal difficulties in the
way of establishing special schemes. Industries are not separated
from one another by hard and fast lines. They overlap and interlace,
and even an establishment clearly belonging to one industry may
have one or more departments carrying on work claimed by another.
Employees are even harder to keep within the limits of a strict classi­
fication. A ship joiner may on occasion work in the building trades;
a machinist may be employed by any one of a number of industries;
an unskilled laborer may pass from one industry to another half a
dozen times within a single year, and these interchanges create
serious difficulties for those trying to establish special schemes.
Moreover, this aspect of special schemes is probably responsible to some extent for
the objection raised to the whole principle of insurance by industries on the ground
that any such system is unfair to certain workers and particularly to the large inter­
changeable fringe of unskilled laborers.

Again, it requires a considerable degree of tact, initiative, and
driving power to put through a special scheme, since its establishment
requires the cooperation of a large number of employers and em­
ployees, whose views and interests may differ widely. It is easier to
remain quiescent and accept the terms of the general scheme. And
always there is the doubt as to whether it will prove financially ad­
vantageous for an industry to accept full responsibility for its own
unemployment.
t

Even in an industry with a low record of unemployment the advantage of the re­
duced contributions under a special scheme is not large, particularly to employers,
in comparison with other expenses, and is made less owing to the reduced Exchequer
grant payable to a special scheme. On the other side is to be set the liability of a
special scheme to meet its own charges without assistance from the wider area of the
general scheme. Should bad times come, this liability might be a serious burden
on the limited resources of a single industry, and it would fall at a moment when
the industry was least able to bear it. I t seems probable that considerations of this
kind may have had a good deal of weight with those who were estimating the relative
advantages of a special scheme with the alternative of remaining under the general
scheme.

The special scheme adopted by the insurance industry came into
effect on July 4,1921. I t covers approximately 85,000 workers, 57,000
males and 28,000 females. It is administered by a joint board con­
sisting of five employers and five employees, who hold office for two
years, half of them retiring each year. The employer pays the same
weekly contribution for each adult worker in his employ that is
required from the employer under the general scheme, but the em­
ployee, at least for an experimental period, pays nothing.
Normally, no contribution is paid by the employee. * * * In the event of a
deficiency being disclosed after the scheme has been in operation for seven years a
contribution limited to one-half the current rate of contribution payable by employed
persons under the general scheme may be imposed on the employees.


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Benefits are on a slightly more liberal scale than under the general
scheme. The periods for which they are to be paid correspond closely
to those of the general scheme, but the waiting time is three days,
instead of six. For the first year the receipts under the special
scheme amounted to £236,382 ($1,150,353, p a r ) , benefits paid out to
the unemployed were £31,651 ($154,030, par), and expenses of
administration were £17,672 ($86,001, par), showing a balance on
hand at the end of the year of £187,059 ($910,323, par). During the
year 4,300 claims for benefit were made.


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HOUSING.

Housing Situation in New Y ork City.1

kUPJNG the week beginning October 15, 1923, the New York
State Housing Commission held a series 01 hearings m JNew
York City to secure evidence bearing on the question of
whether or not an attempt should be made to obtain an extension ot
the rent laws beyond February, 1924 the date now set ior their
termination. The hearings were crowded, and interest m tne prob­
lem seemed as intense as at any earlier date. Tenants, landlords,
real estate owners, social workers, building contractors, students o
social problems, and public officials were all heard, and the evidence
showed a wide divergence of opinion as to the actual situation, some
contending that the emergency to meet which the rent laws were
enacted, if it had ever existed, had now passed, while others held tnat
it was as acute as ever. The varying and sometimes contradictory
testimony seemed, however, to point to two conclusions: hirst, that
there is now sufficient accommodation m JNew York for those who
can afford to pay from $20 to $25 or over per room per month; and
second, that for'those who can not pay such rents, the situation is as
bad as it was in 1920, when the rent laws were first passed, borne
witnesses considered it worse.
'
„ , .
1P
Tenement House Commissioner Mann, testifying on October lb,
gave data as to the actual vacancies in tenement apartments, as
found by his department at different dates:
Out of 956,000 apartments in 1916 there were a total of 5.61 per cent of vacancies

or 51 fsic] for every thousand. In March, 1917, our of 972,910 apartments, 3.66 pei
cent or approximately 37 per thousand, were vacant. In 1919, when the housing
shortage was beginning to be felt more acutely there were 2.18 per cent vacancies, or
21 vacancies per thousand out of a total of 982,926 apartments, in April 19^ there
were 982,408 apartments, four vacancies to every thousand. In 1921, out o. 932,930
apartments, the vacancies were only 0.15 per cent, or one and a half apartments pei
thousand. In March, 1923, out of 1,001,457 apartments, 0.37 per cent or four in a
thousand were vacant. He pointed out that at the present time the percentage ot
vacancies was the same as that of 1920, despite the increased number of apartments
that have been built.

As a result of this situation, he testified, people were living in old
and insanitary houses which would ordinarily have become obsolete.
Moreover, it was impossible to enforce the tenement house laws.
If the tenement house department prosecuted every owner of a converted house on
which violations have been placed by the department, between 2b,GQQ and o0,000
persons would be camping in the parks and streets.

There was pretty general testimony that there had been much
building in the last three years, but that it was not of a kind to meet
the needs of the average wage earner. The superintendent of ouildings in the Borough of the Bronx said that not a building to rent ior
VExcept w here otherw ise noted, th e d a ta on which tin s article is based are ta k e n from th e reportsi of the

hearings given in th e New Y ork E vening Post and th e New YorK Tim es for O ct. lo to Oct. 20,1923, inclusive.

152

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as low as $ 10 a room had been put up in the Bronx for six years past.
Apartments now under construction rented on the average, for about
$20 per room. The head of the Tenants’ Associations of Greater
New York testified that with the exception of one house put up by a
semiphilanthropic association, not one tenement to rent for $10 a
room had been built for three years. On the other hand there was
some testimony that the city was already overbuilt with apartments
renting at $20 a room or over.
Professor Lindsay, of Columbia University, presented an elaborate
statistical study of the whole situation, indicating that there had
never been any positive evidence of real physical shortage of hous­
ing in New York City; that during the last three years and a half
the increase in the number of apartments provided had outstripped
the increase in the population; that rents had risen less proportion­
ately than wages or general cost of living; and that while it is highly
desirable to encourage the construction of cheap dwellings, “ all
possible freedom from unnecessary restrictions upon the operation
of economic forces of free competition for all building construction”
must be guaranteed. “ Only with such encouragement to builders
and investors will a sufficient surplus of housing of all classes exist
to make consumers secure. ” 2
The apparent discrepancy between this testimony and that of
earlier witnesses disappeared when Professor Lindsay was ques­
tioned as to the exact meaning of his data.
Professor Lindsay admitted that none of the additional construction was of any
benefit to the average wage earner who could pay up to $10 or $12 a room. * * *
On cross-examination Mr. Lindsay admitted that an emergency existed in 1920 and
further that, as it applies to the average wage earner, practically the same emergency
exists to-day. He said that there were old law tenements admittedly undesirable
which could be had until the economic condition improved. In this case he held
it was rather a part of the poverty problem and not the rent problem and was of the
opinion that State interference to the extent of housing for the poor might be justified.
On cross-examination again the witness admitted that the number of old law apart­
ments was practically nil.

There was a good deal of testimony to show that rents had risen
beyond the capacity of the ordinary wage earner to pay, and that
consequently there was much overcrowding, even in tenements
unfit for normal occupancy. Rentals on the East Side, it was
testified, had jumped from $6 and $9 to $16 and $20, and even more
was charged if there were a change of tenants. The head of the
Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor gave the results
of a survey covering 550 families under the care of his association,
having an average income of $75 a month. According to his testi­
mony, “ the average rent paid by this class of people in 1914 * * *
was $9.53 a month, as against $16.13 in 1920, and $19.13 this year.
The number of persons occupying a room at this time is 1.7, or
about five to three rooms. ”
The scarcity of cheap apartments and the increases in rents seems
to have told with special severity against the negro population. It
was testified that in some of the Harlem districts landlords met
objections to rent increases by threatening to let the apartments
to negroes. If the whites remained obdurate, the threat was carried
2

Lindsay, Sam uel McCune: Some Economic Aspects of th e R ecent Em ergency H ousing Legislation
in N ew Y ork. New Y ork, 1923, p. V III.


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out, the newcomers being charged materially higher rents than
their predecessors. Cases were cited in which colored tenants were
charged $106 a month for apartments for which whites had paid
about $35. Colored tenents were frequently charged twice or three
times as much as the whites who had occupied the apartments
before their coming. In order to meet these charges, they were
forced to resort to almost unbelievable overcrowding.
There was diversity of opinion as to what ought to be done about
the condition of affairs. Tenants and social workers argued em­
phatically that the rent laws should be continued; the real estate
interests, in general, thought that they should be allowed to lapse,
or that, at most, their operation should be confined to apartments
renting for less than $20 a room. Some urged that it should be made
compulsory upon the State and municipalities to invest part of their
sinking funds in land bank bonds, so that more money might be
available for building. Senator Copeland, formerly health com­
missioner of New York, advised the formation of a housing com­
mission with power to determine the kind oi buildings which should
be erected; he also urged the adoption of zoning and the develop­
ment of a system of town planning, so that provision might be made
for housing workers near the industry in which they are employed.
Mr. Norman, of the Building Trades Employers’ Association, sug­
gested a rather elaborate scheme of control, to make sure that
housing should not be passed over for the sake of industrial or busi­
ness building.
Mr. Norman suggests that some competent body, perhaps the new State Housing
fommission itself, make a survey of the labor and materials which will be available
for a vear’s construction of all kinds in the metropolis. After calculating the number
of new structures which can be provided within that period, Mr. Norman would have
these facts taken up by the heads of the various money lending institutions. “ If, ”
he says “ with so many men and so much material, so many structures can be erected,
the money lending officials could determine the ratio of housing to schools and com­
mercial structures. Arriving at such a conclusion, and with the ratio of new building
to be put up in the course of the year established, the conference could then agree to
refuse loans on buildings beypnd the percentage arrived at as a result of the survey. ”
(New York Record and Guide, October 27, 1923, p. 518.)

The commission adjourned at the end of the week, but it is inti­
mated that further hearings may be held in other boroughs of Greater
New York.
Housing for Employees in Finland.

OCIAL Tidskrift, Nos. 4, 6, 7, and 9, 1923, published by the Social
Ministry of Finland, gives accounts of welfare work,1 including
housing, undertaken for their employees by employers in Fin­
land, information as to which was gathered by the woman factory
inspectors in the course of their regular duties. 1 he data gathered
covered the following matters: Workmen’s houses; measures to
better the employees’ economic condition; health measures; old-age
pensions and homes; education, and welfare measures for children
and young people; libraries and reading rooms; gymnastics,
sports, etc.
1For an account of em ployers’ welfare w ork, see p. 191 of th is issue of th e M onthly L abor R e v ie w .

S


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The investigation covered 150 large industrial enterprises operat­
ing 222 factories. Of the 150 industries investigated, 133 had built
houses for their employees. Of a total of 57,171 workers, 18,645, or
32.6 per cent, lived in houses furnished by the employer. This
figure is twice that for all industry generally,2 showing that the large
industrial undertakings have been more active than the rest of indus­
try in meeting their employees’ housing needs. Of these 150 indus­
trial establishments, 17 had provided no dwellings for their workers,
115 had built dwellings ranging in number from 2 to 100, and 12
had provided from 100 to 200; the remaining 6 owned more than
200 dwellings each.
The inspectors reported 38 per cent of the houses as good, 42
percent as satisfactory, 15 per cent as fair, and 5 per cent as poor.
The most common type of dwelling is the so-called “ workers’
barracks.” The original type of barracks, which, is now gradually
disappearing, is a two-story building having a corridor running
through, with separate rooms on each side, one room being assigned
to each family. In addition to being unattractive they are danger­
ous in case of fire and contagious diseases, and have other hygienic
disadvantages. The newer type is a one-story building having two,
four, or six apartments of one room and kitchen, closet, and out­
buildings. Apartments with two rooms and kitchen are also now
fairly common.
Besides homes for married workers a number of establishments
have built homes for their unmarried workers. These rooms, how­
ever, are not, in the majority of cases, fitted for light housekeeping,
which is very inconvenient, especially for the woman workers.
One firm has built two other types of houses—two-story row
houses painted white with red tile roofs, and detached two-family
houses painted red with white tin roofs. The row dwellings consist
of a cellar, one room (with fireplace) on the first floor, and. two
rooms on the second floor. In addition to the kitchen garden each
tenant has the right to a plat of potato land at some distance from
the dwelling. Work in the gardens is done under the supervision
of a garden instructor employed by the factory management so that
the ¡dace resembles the so-called garden cities.
In the two and four family houses built by another firm, each
dwelling consists of one or two rooms and kitchen, with private
entrance, cellar, woodshed, and other outbuildings, and a garden
fenced by hedges so that in time this settlement will also take on
the appearance of a garden city.
In most cases electric lights and a certain quantity of wood are
furnished free. Formerly the houses also were free or were sup­
plied as part of the wage payment, but this system is gradually
being abolished in favor of the cash wage and the charging of rent,
on the ground that the workers appreciate the houses more when
they pay rent. Rents vary greatly, sometimes being merely a
nominal sum or one sufficient to pay for the upkeep of the buildings;
in other cases rates current in the community are charged. Time
for giving notice is usually 14 daj^s, or 1 month for factory workers.
2Of th e to ta l n u m b er of in d u stria l w orkers employed in 1920-21 only 15.7 per cent lived in
provided by th e em ployers.

71915°—23

11


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

In building workmen’s homes the importance of garden land is
stressed both because of economic advantages as well as the effect
on the workers’ physical well-being. Many establishments are fix­
ing their attention on this matter, some employing garden instruc­
tors whose duty it is, in addition to giving instruction, to arrange
for lectures, exhibits, premiums, etc., to promote interest in gardens.
It is stated that colony gardens are found in other countries but not
to any extent in Finland, but that they are to be recommended
especially for factories in the large cities.
In an investigation begun by Socialstyrelsen covering all industries
it was found that at the beginning of 1921 there were 13,715^dwell­
ings provided by Finnish employers for their employees. Of these
51 per cent were one-room dwellings, as a rule a kitchen or room with
a fireplace, but in a number of industrial enterprises the dwelling
consists of one room and a share in a common kitchen. About 42
per cent of the dwellings have two rooms, usually one room and a
kitchen; occasionally dwellings of two rooms and a common kitchen
or two rooms without kitchen are found. Only 5 per cent of the
dwellings have three rooms. Very few have four or more rooms;
these are seldom occupied by workers, being usually reserved for
foremen or superintendents.


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IN D U STR IA L A C C ID EN TS A N D HYGIENE.

Electrical Code of Wisconsin.1

INCE September .13, 1922, there has been in force in the State
of Wisconsin an electrical code formulated under the auspices
of the industrial commission and the railroad commission of
the State. The code was prepared by a representative advisory
committee, assisted by a number of technical experts. Work on
the code was begun in December, 1919, and continued until May,
1922.
The introduction states that the code is based on the two national
codes, viz, the national electrical code of the National Board of
Eire Underwriters and the national electrical safety code of the United
States Bureau of Standards. Its scope is indicated by this state­
ment found on the first page: ‘"Requirements for all electrical and
signal equipment of places of employment, public buildings, private
buildings, and overhead and underground electrical supply and signal
lines, now or hereafter installed.”
The code consists of an introduction and the following special
parts: Part 1, dealing with supply stations, substations, and equip­
ment; part 2, with supply and signal lines; part 3, with utilization
equipment; and part 4, with safety measures to be observed in opera­
tion of equipment and lines. Parts 1, 2, and 4 are enforced by the
railroad commission and part* 3 by the industrial commission.
It is not possible here to comment on any of the details of the code,
but attention is called to the fact that the State of Wisconsin has
deemed it desirable to consolidate into a single document the pro­
visions of the two national codes on which its code is founded.
It may be confidently stated that any State or municipality wish­
ing to have a workable manual for thé control of its electrical in­
stallations will be obliged to make a similar consolidation. Why
do not the proponents of the national codes formulate such a com­
bined code ? If other jurisdictions follow the example of Wisconsin,
there will be the inevitable confusion attendant on the local prep­
aration of such codes.

S

Industrial Placement of Heart Patients.

N ARTICLE on “ Placing cardiac patients in regular industries,”
by Mrs. John S. Sheppard, is published in the Journal of
Industrial Plygiene, October, 1923 (pp. 189-204). The work
of the Employment Bureau for the Handicapped in New York City
especially in reference to the placement of heart patients, is reviewed
in this article and a list is given of industries and occupations in
which heart patients have been successfully placed. This list is

A
1

W isconsin. In d u s tria l C om m ission a n d R ailro ad Commission.
M adison, 1922. 283 p p . F irst edition.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

classified according to the degree of heart impairment which will
permit a person to engage in any particular occupation.
As a result of the recognition in recent years by physicians of the
value not only of the work but of participation by heart patients
in a gainful occupation in regular industry, much constructive work
for such patients has been accomplished. In 1912 a report made by
a committee appointed by the New York conference on hospital
social service made the following suggestion: “ That, inasmuch as
cardiac cases need a protracted convalescence upon discharge from
the hospital, this convalescent period of several inonths would
provide an ideal opportunity for a study of the patient’s capacity
and adaptability, both physical and mental, and for the selection and
teaching of a trade suitable both to his intelligence and to his physical
handicap.” As a result of this suggestion a convalescent home for
heart patients was established in 1913 where industrial training
for those with heart impairment was instituted. The men were
trained in making flower pots, sun dials, fountains, and all kinds
of garden furniture from cement. Later this enterprise was incor­
porated as the Trade School for Cardiac Convalescents.
In January, 1913, a workshop was established in New York City
in which men who had been trained in this school were employed
under ideal conditions. The men were carefully supervised, being
given a weekly medical examination, and in practically every case
the work was said to have had a beneficial effect upon the patient.
This school was forced to close in 1916 as a result of the unsettled
social and economic conditions resulting from the war, but the
experience was sufficient to establish certain conclusions. Marked
contrast was shown between the progress of those patients in the
convalescent home before training was established and those later
ones who had the benefit of work as* an occupation. In the first
annual report of the institution it was said, “ The patient gets a
motive, a reason for forgetting himself, a future to look forward to,
and a ground for self respect.”
The experience of the trade school appeared to show that in many
cases the patients do not need a long period of convalescence, but
can begin work suited to their capabilities either after a short con­
valescence or immediately upon leaving the hospital. It was shown,
too, that in occupations which do not overtax the strength of the
patients, they can work under the piecework system without danger
to their health, proving that heart patients have a greater work
tolerance than was formerly considered to be the case.
Although this experiment was not of sufficiently long duration
to show whether or not such a workshop could be self supporting, it
hardly seems probable that it could, the writer says, because special
workshops and factories cost too much for the small number of heart
patients who can not work in occupations in regular industries which
are suited to their condition. The number of patients who can not
be so placed is becoming smaller as the selection of industries improves
and as patients are more carefully classified in regard to work toler­
ance by the physician who sends them to the placement worker.
The Hospital Social Service Association took up the problem of
employment for heart patients in 1918 in connection with the general
problem of employment for all physically handicapped persons and


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159

their placement was undertaken by the Employment Bureau for the
Handicapped, which was opened in April, 1918. In this connection
the writer calls attention to the fact that a large general employment
bureau for the handicapped can do more for special groups than can
bureaus organized only to deal with such groups. “ The larger the
number and the more diversified the group of applicants for work,
the more chance the employer has of finding the person that he
wants for the job and consequently the more frequently he will
apply to that employment bureau for workers. Also, the larger the
number and the more diversified the industries with which the place­
ment worker is in touch, the more kinds of work she can try out
and the more new openings she finds for work which may be well
adapted to special types of handicaps. The work becomes better
known to employers in general, and the enlarged field of industries
makes better placements possible.”
The Employment Bureau for the Handicapped placed 5,304 persons
from the time it was established up to November 1, 1922, of whom
1,039 were heart patients. The value of this work to the individuals
and to the community is shown by the fact that in one month the
wages amounted to approximately $11,660, while in the same month
it cost less than $500 to run the bureau. An employment bureau
for the handicapped can not be run on the same lines as a commercial
bureau, as the majority of the applicants would not come there if
a fee were charged. Most of these persons have lost the desire to
work and one of the most important duties of those managing such
a bureau is to persuade them to try. Employers, tod, can not be
expected to pay for being supplied with men who are physically
handicapped and about whose usefulness there is some question—a
usefulness which must frequently be demonstrated to the employer.
Placement of handicapped persons, therefore, requires expert knowl­
edge on the part of the placement officer and takes so much time
that it would not pay as a commercial enterprise, so that it is evident
that such work must be supported by people who realize its value
or it must be maintained by the State.
The average cost of placements made by the bureau in 1922 was
$3.31 for each case, showing that such a service will not become a
great burden on the community and that its cost compared with
that of establishing and carrying on special industries for the handi­
capped is inconsiderable.
A survey of the industries considered suitable for handicapped
persons generally was made after the establishment of the bureau
and a list was drawn up after consultation with the industrial experts
of some of the life insurance companies. The factories to which the
patients were to be sent were examined and the cooperation of the
employers secured. Special attention was paid to finding suitable
work for heart patients, since the result of overstrain is so easily
disastrous to them.
It is estimated, the article states, that there are more than
2,000,000 persons in the United States who have heart disease. Kejections on this account by draft boards during the war amounted to
42.3 men out of every thousand, and these men were in the age
group from which the greatest work output is expected, so that their
inability to take their places in industry is a great economic loss.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

The proper placement of handicapped persons of any type is difficult,
but owing to the marked functional disturbance in heart disease
which causes a highly nervous condition, heart cases are especially
difficult to handle and these patients who come to the bureau for
placement have frequently had a long illness and have lost the
habit of work.
The assistance of the hospital social service worker who refers the
patient to the bureau can be made effective by sending a dependable
classification as to work tolerance and instructing the patient in
regard to the importance of accepting work suited to his handicap,
even if it involves taking lower wages than he has been receiving,
while the importance of reporting for work when he has promised to
commence work at a definite time can also be stressed by the social
worker. Although the situation has improved, a dependable classifi­
cation as to work tolerance is essential, and at the present time
there is great difference in the tests by which patients are classified.
The classification used is that of the Association for the Prevention
and Relief of Heart Disease, which divides heart patients into five
classes according to the degree of disability. Class I consists of
patients with organic heart disease who are able to carry on habitual
physical activity but who should return for examination every three
months. Class II is divided into two grades, in the first of which
there is slightly diminished activity necessitating their return to
the clinic every month so that the effect of the work can be watched,
and in the second of which there is greatly diminished physical
activity. The patients in the latter grade furnish the greatest
problem since they need very carefully selected industries and
should report to the clinic frequently for observation. Class III
includes patients who are unequal to any physical activity. These
patients are sometimes able to work, but should not be placed with­
out warning being given to the employer of the danger of sudden
death. The records of the bureau, however, show only two cases of
sudden deaths of patients while at work, and one of these was an
elderly man doing clerical work. Classes IV and V are possible and
potential cases of heart disease. Class IV covers cases in which
there are doubtful murmurs which can not, however, be clearly
diagnosed as organic heart disease, while patients in Class V have
some predisposing history. Neither of these classes presents a real
problem although they should be carefully placed.
The occupations of heart patients should never require the maxi­
mum exertion they are able to give and as far as possible should
follow the lines of the former employment in order to minimize^ the
discouragement incidental to giving up a former occupation. Noise
and dust are no worse for heart patients than for any nervous persons.
Patients in the first group of Class II can work eight hours standing,
but those in the second group should not have to climb stairs nor
do any stooping or lifting, and their work should be near home, as
a long trip to and from work adds too much strain. This class is
the most difficult for which to find suitable work, although the
writer states that every year of experience in the bureau shows that
the lives of very few patients in this class are shortened by work if
it is carefully supervised.


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND HYGIENE.

161

In general, employers are said to have cooperated well with the
bureau in its work. During the first three years of the existance of
the bureau the shortage of labor made it easy to find work for handi­
capped persons, but during the subsequent period of unemployment,
when it was difficult for normal persons to find work, it was parti­
cularly difficult for the handicapped. However, in spite of this
fact, in 1921 the bureau placed 1,128 out of 8,398 applicants and in
1922, 1,717 out of 4,789 applicants.
In order to secure the full measure of usefulness of such a service
the writer emphasizes the importance of not asking the employer to
take patients as a charity, but of selecting occupations in which the
heart patients can give full labor for a full wage. Some employers
have not wished to employ heart patients because of the added risk
•of a serious outcome in the case of accident to a person having heart
disease. This, however, has not proved a formidable obstacle, and
the bureau has had no complaints from employers about trouble
under the workmen’s compensation act with patients placed by it.
The effect of regular work on heart patients has, in general, been
found to be excellent. In 1920 a study of the effects of the employ­
ment on 123 heart patients showed that in six months the condition
of 90 had improved, 30 had remained stationary, 2 had been lost
sight of, and only 1 had grown worse. Another study covering 69
men, some of whom had not worked for months or years, showed 64
placed in new positions and 1 in his former job. At the end of the
year 59 were still at work. Ten of these patients had been back in
hospitals for short periods with heart attacks, 14 others had heart
treatments, and the 1 elderly man mentioned, before died suddenly
while at clerical work.
In conclusion, the writer saps that if the report seems to err on the
side of being too optimistic, it can be stated that the results in the
placing of heart patients have more than justified the efforts made
for them, and that a much greater work tolerance has been shown by
them than was believed possible at the outset. The success which
has already been achieved may also be expected to make the work
easier, since much of the trouble with heart patients is due to their
bad mental attitude and neurasthenia, and that as an increasing
number is shown to be capable of taking places in regular industries
the attitude of both the patients and the public may be expected to
change to a more hopeful and helpful point of view.
Industrial Accidents in the Rubber industry, First Half of 1923.

HE National Safety News for November, 1923, contains (p. 40)
the industrial accident record for the first half of the year
1923 of certain firms in the rubber industry reporting then* ex­
perience to the National Safety Council. The number of firms so
reporting was 15, having 65,080, 1,000-hour exposure. The number
of accidents occurring in these establishments during the six months’
period was 2,332, of which 7 resulted in death, 1 in permanent total
disability, 52 in permanent partial disability, 547 in temporary disa­
bility of over two weeks, 417 in temporary disability of over one to two

T


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MONTHLY labor r e v ie w .

weeks, and 1,308 in temporary disability of one week and under.
The frequency rate for these establishments was 35.83 per 1,000,000
hours worked, while the severity rate per 1,000 hours worked was 1.50.
The frequency rate for the two and one-half years’ experience ending
June 30, 1923, was 33.02, while the severity rate for the same period
was 1.04.
Estimated Annual Number and Cost of Industrial Accidents in the
United States— A Correction.

N THE article on the “ Estimated annual number and cost of indus­
trial accidents in the United States,” published in the November,
1923, issue of the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , the figures shown in
the sixth line on page 9 should read 227,169,970 and $1,022,264,866,
instead of 227,356,541 and $1,023,104,435.

I


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W ORKM ENS

C O M PEN SA TIO N
INSURANCE.

AND

SOCIAL

Recommendations oi American Federation of Labor.

HE 1922 convention of the American Federation of Labor held
at Cincinnati, Ohio, authorized the appointment of a com­
mittee to inquire into the present status of workmen’s com­
pensation and employers’ liability laws. Acting in conformity with
the authority thus conferred upon him, President Samuel Gompers,
with the approval of the executive council, appointed William Green,
Frank Duffy, and Matthew Woll to serve in this capacity. The
following report of this special committee was submitted to the fed­
eration at its 1923 convention held in Portland, Oreg.1

T

Complying with, instructions given by the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor, predicated on the authorization delegated to it by the Cincin­
nati convention of the American Federation of Labor, your committee so selected
was especially charged to inquire into the following subjects:
(a)
The activities of insurance companies in preventing the establishment of State
insurance funds to carry the risks arising out of industrial employment.
(b )
Differences arising out of conflicting interpretations and constructions of laws
of State and Federal Governments.
(c)
Activities of employers in adopting and enforcing limits of age and standards
of physical employment to lessen risks arising out of industrial employment and
using workmen’s compensation laws as a pretext to do this.
( d) The wide difference in the administrative features, scheduled benefits, and
other allowances and provisions contained in the various State laws.
We have endeavored to perform the work assigned us by making diligent inquiry,
through all means available, into the very important subject matter referred to us for
inquiry and investigation. We respectfully submit the following report:
(«,)

The activities o f in su ra n c e co m panies i n p re v e n tin g the esta blishm ent o f S ta te i n ­
surance f u n d s to carry the risks a risin g o u t o f in d u s tr ia l e m p lo y m e n t.

Workmen's compensation legislation is based upon the fixed principle that em­
ployers must be required to furnish adequate security guaranteeing the payment of
compensation, as provided in the statutes, to injured workmen and the dependents
of killed employees. Exclusive State insurance, mutual companies, _private stock
companies, and self-insurance are the commonly accepted forms of insurance em­
ployed as security in the payment of workmen’s compensation schedules of benefits.
All"but three States (Alabama, Arizona, and Kansas) require the employer to secure
his compensation payments either by insuring his risks in an authorized private in­
surance carrier or in a State fund where such fund is provided or, in the case of selfinsurers, to deposit bonds or other collateral security and to furnish a financial state­
ment showing assets and liabilities. Thirty-two States permit insurance in private
carriers. Seven States have an exclusive State insurance fund in vdiich the fund
becomes the sole insurance carrier, no private company being allowed to operate.
Nine States have a competitive State insurance fund in which the fund operates in
competition with other forms of insurance. Of the 42 compensation States, 12 are
compulsory and 30 are elective. Many of the States enacted elective law's to over­
come constitutional difficulties.
Unquestionably private insurance companies are opposed to the establishment of
State insurance funds. This is particularly true where the statutes creating State ini A m erican Federation of Labor.
pp. 63-66.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

surance funds are supplemented by the enactment of legislation which excludes pri­
vate insurance companies from participation in the sale of workmen’s compensation
insurance. The private companies are active in their opposition to workmen’s com­
pensation State insurance fund legislation. They are powerfully organized and natu-«
rally seek to retain for themselves the business of selling workmen’s compensation
insurance. It is a question of business and profit to the liability insurance companies.
As evidence of the power and influence of private insurance companies in the
enactment of workmen’s compensation legislation, only in 7 States have exclusive
State insurance funds been created by law, no private companies being allowed to
operate, while in 32 States employers are permitted to insure with private carriers.
Summarizing the situation which our inquiry disclosed, the private insurance
companies are engaged in the work of preventing the enactment of exclusive State
insurance workmen’s compensation legislation. Their agents work both openly and
secretly, as circumstances may require. They attempt to deceive the unwary and
unthinking representatives of labor by misrepresentation and through insidious propa­
ganda. Stories attacking the solvency of exclusive State insurance funds are sur­
reptitiously circulated and criticism of the schedules provided in the laws are made
by agents of the private companies. In some instances they succeed in preventing
the passage of exclusive State insurance workmen’s compensation legislation by
encouraging labor representatives to oppose the enactment of such legislation because
the legislation proposed does not carry with it the ideals and full demands of labor.
They create opposition to this form of legislation, among labor representatives, not
because of the exclusive State insurance fund feature but because, in some inconse­
quential minor way the bill proposed does not measure up to the demands of labor.
By this policy the agents of private companies have succeeded in preventing the
passage of exclusive State insurance workmen’s compensation legislation in some
States.
The United States Department of Labor made an investigation into the subject of
workmen’s compensation insurance. It reported and commented upon the relative
types of insurance as follows:
‘ ‘There has been much discussion as to the relative merits of different types of
insurance. The Department of Labor recently completed an investigation upon the
subject. The result of this investigation showed that the State funds could operate
cheaper than either the mutual or stock companies. In fact, the average exclusive
State funds can do business about 25 to 30 per cent cheaper than the average private!
stock company. There is considerable variation in the quality of service furnished,
by the several States funds. However, comparing the State funds as a whole with th e 1
private companies as a whole it was found that the State fund furnished slightly better \
service than the private companies. As regards security State funds are on a par
in this respect with private carriers. Thus far no injured workman has lost his com-1
pensation because of the insolvency of State funds nor has any large mutual company j
become insolvent. On the other hand there have been several disastrous failures
of private stock companies during the last three or four years. These failures have
resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid claims. ’’
(b)

D ifferen ces a risin g o u t o f co n flictin g in te rp r e ta tio n s a n d c o n stru c tio n s o f law s o f S ta te
a n d F ederal G o v ern m e n ts.

It does not appear, from such information as we were able to secure, that any serious
differences have arisen out of conflicting interpretations and constructions of law
defining State from Federal Governments. No controversies of any serious conse­
quence have arisen with regard to persons employed upon railroads and pipe lines,
but some differences have arisen affecting those employed in maritime work. This
prevails in California, Oregon, and some other Pacific and Atlantic Coast States where
persons are employed in maritime labor connected with the ocean-going and coastwise
trade.
State workmen’s compensation laws can be made to apply only to employers and
employees engaged in private industry and interstate commerce. Legislation of this
character can not be made to apply to persons employed on railroads and transporta­
tion lines engaged in interstate commerce. The higher courts have held, in decisions
made sustaining the constitutionality of Workmen’s compensation legislation, that
the States have a legal right to enact workmen’s compensation legislation, and that
the States may make such legislation compulsory in its application to private indus­
tries located in and coming within the jurisdiction of the respective States. How­
ever, the courts have held, in construing the interstate commerce section of the con­
stitution of the United States, that persons employed by common carriers, engaged


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w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t io n a n d so c ia l in s u r a n c e .

165

in transporting interstate commerce can not come within the scope of or become
subject to the operation of the State workmen’s compensation laws.
Obviously, therem edy for this State of affairs is the enactment of a Federal work­
men’s compensation law applicable to those persons engaged in interstate commerce
and who come wholly within the Federal jurisdiction.
We believe such legislation should define clearly the class of employers and employees
who are subject thereto and should be similar to the Ohio workmen’s compensation
law which the American Federation of Labor has officially accepted as the standard
act in this character and kind of legislation.
(c)

A c tiv itie s o f em p lo yers i n a d o p tin g a n d en fo rcin g lim its o f age a n d sta n d a rd s o f p h ysica l
e m p lo y m e n t to lessen risk s a risin g o u t o f in d u s tr ia l e m p lo y m e n t a n d u s in g w o rk m e n 's
c o m p en sa tio n law s as a pretext to do this.

Our investigation discloses the fact that employers in some industries establish
age limits and require physical examination on the part of persons seeking employ­
ment. This practice, however, is not generally followed by employers of labor.
Age limits and physical examination are required of those seeking employment upon
railroads and in some rubber factories, electrical manufacturing plants and in other
miscellaneous trades and callings. While these requirements may be set up in order
to reduce risks arising out of industrial employment and using workmen’s compen­
sation laws as a pretext to do it, there is no evidence which we could find in support
of it.
The practice itself seems to be followed as a matter of policy rather than to accom­
plish a purpose. It was put into effect in some industries before the enactment of
workmen’s compensation legislation. It would no doubt be carried on if there were
no workmen’s compensation legislation in effect.
In our opinion the only effective safeguard upon which the worker may rely as
protection against injustice and discrimination growing out of age limit and physical
examination, as followed by some employers is thorough and effective organization.
Imposition of wrong and injustice by selfish employers can be successfully resisted
in industries, factories and establishments where the workers are thoroughly organized.
(d )

The w ide difference i n the a d m in istra tiv e fea tu re s, scheduled benefits, a n d other a llo w ­
ances a n d p ro v isio n s c o n ta in e d i n the v a rio u s S ta te law s.

Our investigations into the principal provisions of existing State compensation
laws has disclosed the fact that there is a wide variation in these essential provisions
of compensation legislation. The principal provisions requiring attention may be
said to include:
1. The scope or coverage of existing laws.
2. Injuries embraced.
3. Waiting period involved.
4. Medical service provided.
5. Percentage rate of compensation fixed.
6. Weekly maximum and minimum compensation requirements.
7. Compensation periods embraced.
8. Second injuries included.
9. Administrations.
10. Accident prevention.
11. Suits for damages.
12. Compulsory or elective compensation.
13. Insurance and other like features.
I t must be self-evident that a thorough inquiry into all these provisions and the
formulation of concrete proposals suitable to all States and uniform in character
involves a large task, requiring the utmost care and most intelligent consideration
possible.
Your committee has made substantial progress in this work. However, the work
done has not been advanced sufficiently to enable us to present a complete and com­
prehensive report at this time. Instead, it is recommended that the investigation
made, compilation undertaken, and formulation of a standard model workmen’s
compensation law at present under consideration, be continued by this or a like
committee, with the understanding that the committee’s final report be submitted
to the executive council of the American Federation of Labor, and that the executive
council be authorized to pass final judgment upon this report and publish and distrib­
ute it in pamphlet form and in such other manner as may be deemed most helpful,
desirable, and advisable by the executive council.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Pending the final report of this committee and the conclusions reached by the
executive council, it is recommended that the Ohio workmen's compensation law
continue as the model law on this subject.

The executive council recommended favorable action upon the
several conclusions contained in the committee’s report including
authorization to complete the work undertaken in the manner
indicated and recommended by the committee.
The recommendations of this special committee, as presented in
the report of the executive council, were considerably modified by
the committee on the executive council’s report. The report of this
latter committee was presented to the convention and was approved
by both the executive council and the federation. The committee’s
report in so far as it relates to workmen’s compensation is as follows:2
Iu the executive council’s report, pages 63 to 66, inclusive, under the caption
“ Workmen’s compensation law,” is presented a partial report of the committee
appointed in conformity with the authority given by the Cincinnati convention
to the executive council to make inquiry into the present status of workmen’s com­
pensation and employers’ liability laws.
This committee has made a very careful inquiry covering a broad area of the subject,
whose scope is such that it can not be completely treated in a single report.
The committee emphasizes a point which is apparent to all who have studied the
subject, that is, that private insurance companies have interfered with and seriously
retarded progress in the field of workmen’s compensation and employers’ liability
laws. The opposition to State insurance funds, on the part of private insurance, is
easily understood because wherever a State insurance fund is well established profits
that are enjoyed by the private insurance companies are cut off from them and remain
in the possession of the State, and thereby tend to reduce to that extent at least the
cost to the employers of the maintenance of the fund required to take care of the
victims of industrial mishaps.
The solution for this serious phase of the general question, that readily suggests
itself, is the rigid exclusion from the field of the private insurance company. Before
this remedy can be effectively applied there must be a more general dissemination
of information concerning the exact nature of the work that is undertaken by the
State in the establishment of the insurance fund.
Experience has shown that the workmen as well as the employers are not willing
to entirely forego certain of their natural rights even though it be made plain that by
doing so and accepting the conditions of a properly safeguarded compensation law,
with the accompanying State insurance fund, they really are accepting an advantage
to themselves. The impersonal character of the State insurance is a guaranty to both
employer and employed of justice rather than the unavoidable suspicion that attaches
to transactions controlled by a privately managed concern that frankly exists solely
for the profits that arise from the business it transacts.
When those who are most vitally interested in this tremendously important feature
of our modern industrial life come to realize that their interests are identical, and to
trust one another in this as they do in other matters pertaining to their relations, and
will accept the operations of an agency that is within their own control, because
it is set up by a law which they have helped to make, and not allow themselves
to be pulled apart by ambulance-chasing lawyers and profit-seeking insurance agents,
the true benefits of the workmen’s compensation law will become apparent to all.
The mutual distrust which has been created by interested persons or agencies for
selfish purposes must be dispelled and for it must be substituted a confidence resting
on the mutual understanding of the parties most directly concerned.
Your committee listened carefully and with interest to statements made before it
by delegates and others who are interested in the general subject dealt with in the
report. We feel that this is one of the most important subjects now being dealt with
by organized labor bodies, by welfare groups, State boards, legislatures, and the courts.
The literature on the subject is increasing rapidly as experience determines the need
for modification or extension, or the abandonment and substitution of new for existing
practices.

2

R ep o rt of proceedings of fo rty -th ird a n n u al convention of th e A m erican F ederation of Labor, pp.
309-310.
•


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167

While the committee reporting to the executive council in its concluding paragraph
says:
“ Pending the final report of this committee and the conclusions reached by the
executive council, it is recommended that the Ohio workmen’s compensation law
continue as the model law on this subject, ” we do not understand that the committee,
so reporting, intends to convey the impression that the Ohio law is a perfect law, but
it is so referred to because of the very many valuable features which it contains
and which features have stood the test of the courts and have proven their worth,
that the law as a whole is suggested to those groups who have not as yet formulated a
measure to cover the points.
Your committee would recommend that, in addition to the suggestion contained in
the Ohio law, the following eight points be given full weight in the preparation of
any compensation law or amendments to same:
1. Employees in all occupations to be protected.
2. Work accidents and occupational injuries and diseases to he compensated.
3. Benefits to be provided only by State insurance funds.
4. Such surgical care, hospital service, orthopedic appliances, and artificial limbs
as may be necessary to as complete physical restoration as is possible.
5. Compensation for widows for life or until remarriage.
6. Compensation for life for permanent and total disability.
7. No waiting period.
8. Vocational rehabilitation.
The executive council in presenting the report of its special committee concludes:
“ Having given careful attention to the foregoing report, the executive council
recommends favorable action on the several conclusions contained therein, including
authorization to complete the work undertaken, and in the manner undertaken, and
recommended in the committee’s report.”
We recommend concurrence in and approval of the report and the recommendations.
The recommendation of the committee was adopted.

Report of industrial Board of Indiana.

HE report of the Industrial Board of Indiana for the year ending
September 30, 1922, reviews the experience under the com­
pensation law. There were reported to the board during the
year 38,604 accidents, which is an increase of 4,235 over the number
reported the previous year. Of these accidents 198 were fatal and
609 resulted in the loss of some member of the body. The number
of agreements approved was 18,416 and the number of awards was
1,405. The amount of compensation paid in closed cases amounted
to $2,356,056.

T

Results of Damage Suits Under Ohio Workmen’s Compensation Law.

PROVISION of the Ohio workmen’s compensation act allows
the injured employee to sue for damages in lieu of accepting
the compensation benefits if the injury arises from the failure
of the employer to comply with any lawful requirement for the pro­
tection of the lives, health, and safety of employees. There has been
considerable criticism of this section of the law but it has been im­
possible to eliminate this provision without a constitutional amend­
ment.
A recent study of the results of damage suits brought by employees
under this provision of the compensation act has been made by Mr.
Emile E. Watson, consulting actuary and former actuary of the Ohio
Industrial Commission. The following tabular statement shows

A


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

what the claimants have received as damages and what they would
have received had they accepted the compensation benefits,
' R E S U L T S O F D AM AGE SU IT S B R O U G H T U N D E R O H IO W O R K M E N ’S C O M PE N SA TIO N
LAW .
Item .

Total.

Average.

N u m b er of cases.............................................................................................

58

A m o u n t for w hich su its were b ro u g h t.....................................................
A m o u n t of final settlem en t.........................................................................
A m o u n t of claim ants’ atto rn e y fees an d court costs............................
N e t am o u n t received b y c la im an ts..........................................................
A m o u n t receivable h a d claim ants accepted com pensation benefits.
A m ount of em ployers’ a tto rn e y fees a n d court costs...........................

351,710,630
174,480
61,068
113,412
163,563
41,875
216,355

C o st to e m p lo y ers of se ttle m e n ts p lu s a tto r n e y a n d c o u rt co sts___

$29,494
3,008
1,053
1,955
2 ,82(K
722
3,730

The average delay in receiving settlements through the courts was
two years and five months.
It will be noted that the claimants who sued for damages actually
received, on the average, over 30 per cent less than they would have
received as compensation, while it cost the employers 32 per cent
more. A constitutional amendment providing for the elimination of
this provision of the constitution was submitted to the people of the
State November 6, 1923, and was adopted by a vote of 581,907 for
and 514.120 against the amendment.
invalidity Insurance in Denmark.1

HE Invalidity Insurance Fund of Denmark receives and exam­
ines requests for invalidity pensions, pays the pensions, and
attends to other administrative matters. It can not, however,
decide as to whether or not invalidity exists; this is a function of the
Invalidity Insurance Court, which court, to a certain extent, also acts
as a court of appeals on decisions made by the fund. This court was
established by Act No. 253 of May 6, 1921,2 and consists of a president
and five other members. The act became effective October 1, 1921,
but according to its provisions the court could be appointed and
function before that time and this was done when the Ministry of
Interior issued its instructions of August 22, 1921.
When the invalidity fund has examined a request for pensions and
decides that requirements have been met with respect to membership
in a sick fund, paid-up premiums, citizenship and other matters, the
request is forwarded to the Invalidity Insurance Court for a decision
as to whether invalidity exists as understood by the law, i. e., earning
capacity reduced to one-third or less, and whether it is temporary or
permanent. The first report of the court states that according to the
law it is the earning ability and not the actual earnings which is the
determining factor but that it does not necessarily follow that actual
earnings are not considered. The law stresses not special occupa­
tional earning ability but the general ability to work. Only such

T

1
2

D ata are from : D enm ark, Invalideforsikringsretten, l«® A arsberetning, 1. O ktober, 1921 to 31.
December, 1922, Copenhagen, 1923; an d Social Forsorg No. 5, Copenhagen, 1923.
See Monthly L abor R eview , Jan u ary , 1922, p p . 198,199.


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169

sickness as seems to involve a lasting reduction of earning ability to
one-third or less is considered invalidity as understood in the law of
May 6, 1921.
Decisions of the court are final and may be changed, even by the
court itself, only in certain instances and by permission of the Ministry
of Interior.
Persons with invalidity insurance at the end of the year numbered
1,298,100, of whom 1,128,300 paid annually the lowest premium, 5.40
kroner ($1.45, par), 26,200 paid increased premium, and 143,600 were
exempt from paying premiums. The income of the invalidity insur­
ance fund for the fiscal year was 7,785,400 kroner ($2,086,487, par),
of which 7,402,400 kroner ($1,983,843, par) represents premiums
from persons insured and 179,100 kroner ($47,999, par) contributions
from the employers. This last amount is small because the insurance
companies settle accounts with the invalidity funds at the end of the
fiscal year so that the contributions paid to the companies during
1922 will not be turned over to the fund until 1923. The fund’s
expenditures amounted to 3,803,300 kroner ($1,019,284, par), of
which invalidity pensions amounted to 3,345,300 kroner ($896,540,
par). The fund’s cash balance on December 31, 1922, was 3,982,100
kroner ($1,056,203, par) of which the fund had 237,700 kroner
($63,704, par) while the authorized sick funds have 3,555,500 kroner
($952,874, par).
From October 1, 1921, to December 31, 1922, the fund received
14,270 requests for invalidity pensions. Taking the country as a
whole, 109 out of every 10,000 insured against invalidity sent in a
request for pension. Of the applicants, 6,405 were men and 7,865
were women. Of the requests, 150 were rejected b}^ the fund either
because the applicant was over 62 years of age, or was not a Danish
citizen, or had not been a member of a sick fund for one year, or
because he was not entitled to membership in a sick fund.
In the period from October 1, 1921, to December 31, 1922, the
Invalidity Insurance Fund forwarded to the Invalidity Insurance
Court 11,010 claims, 5,093 of which were finished by the court by
the end of 1922, while 5,917 were still under consideration; 11 termi­
nated before a decision was reached. In the same period the Invalidity
Insurance Court held 87 meetings; in the 5,236 cases brought before
it for a decision, 154 decisions were postponed pending further in­
formation or for similar reasons, and a decision was rendered in 5,082
cases. In this same period of the cases in which a decision was reached,
789 (15.5 per cent) were disallowed, 675 (13.3 per cent) were adjudged
temporary invalidity, and 3,618 (71.2 per cent) permanent invalidity.
Tuberculosis caused 754, or 15 per cent, of the 5,082 cases; diseases
of the brain, spine, and nerves caused 707, or 14 per cent; chronic
poisoning and infection 682, or 13 per cent; insanity, etc., 419, or
8 per cent; blindness, etc., 403, or 8 per cent; and old age, etc., 406,
or 8 per cent.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Extension of French Workmen’s Compensation Law to Domestic Service.1

FRENCH law of August 2, 1923, extends the provisions of the
workmen’s compensation act of April 9, 1898, articles, 2, 3,
and 6 of the law of April 12, 1906, and the law of December
30, 1922, to cover domestic servants, chauffeurs, governesses, porters
{concierges), and all persons connected with household service.
The law provides that compensation payments shall be based
solely on the wages and payments in kind directly paid by the
employer in execution of the contract and shall exclude all other
money received by the employee. At the same time all incidental
and usual payments uniting to form the real remuneration, such as
gifts on New Year’s Day or other special days, should be added to
the basic wage for the calculation of the compensation in case of
permanent incapacity or death.
The law is to become effective six months from the date of publi­
cation and it is applicable to Algeria subject to the modifications
upon metropolitan legislation relating to labor accidents of the law
of September 25, 1919.
According to the provisions of the original act 2 the compensation
payments amount to 66§ per cent of the annual wages for total
disability and 50 per cent of the daily wages, beginning with the
fifth day, for temporary disability, while in the case of death funeral
expenses, not to exceed a certain sum, and annuities of varying
amounts are payable to the dependent heirs. Costs of medical and
urgical treatment are also payable by the employer.

A

1
2

France. B ulletin d u M inistère d u T ravail, July-A ug .-Sept., 1923, p. 73*.
See U . S. B ureau of L a b o r Statistics B ui. No. 203: W orkm en’s com pensation law s of vim U nited States
and foreign countries, p . 315.


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LA BO R LAWS A ND C O U R T DECISIONS.

Amendment of the German Home Work Law .1

HE German home work law of 1911 has been amended in a
very important respect by a law enacted on June 27, 1923.
The text of the law as amended was promulgated on June 30,
1923 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p. 472). The amending law introduces in
Germany for the first time a system whereby minimum wage rates
may be fixed for home industries. The law of 1911 contained pro­
visions of various kinds for the protection of home workers, dealing,
for instance, with hygiene, child labor, and the posting of the rates
for particular kinds of home work. The law also authorized the
establishment by the Federal Council3 or certain State authorities of
trade committees (Fachausschusse) for particular home industries,
consisting of an equal number of representatives of home workers
and their employers, with three independent members, one of these
being the chairman. An attempt was made, when the law of 1911
was under consideration, to give these committees power to fix
minimum wage rates in their trades, but this proposal was defeated
and the committees were left merely with power to investigate the
conditions of home work, to advise the authorities on matters con­
cerning home work, to cooperate in any measures for improving the
conditions of home work, and to encourage the voluntary conclusion
of collective agreements fixing rates of pay for home workers.
The amendment now gives the committees power to fix minimum
rates (art. 20) and brings German legislation into line with the home
work laws of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Norway. The new law
still seems to regard the conclusion of collective agreements between
groups of home workers and their employers as the ideal. When a
trade committee comes to the conclusion that the wages of home
workers are (‘obviously insufficient,” it must first attempt to bring
about a voluntary agreement for an improvement in the rates. If
this fails the committee may resolve that any existing collective
agreement, even if such agreement covers only a small part of the
workers, shall be generally binding (art. 31), or, in the absence of
any suitable agreement it may proceed to fix minimum wage rates on
its own initiative (art. 32). As the committees are normally ap­
pointed for specified districts only, provision is made for the con­
vocation of joint committees (Gesamtfachausschusse), as occasion
arises, to act for several districts together, in order to prevent any
tendency of home workers to migrate from one district to another
owing to lack of uniformity in the operation of the law (art. 27).

T

5G erm any. R eichsarbeitsverw altung. R eichsarbeitsblatt, Berlin, Ju ly 16, 1923, p p . 451-456.
3L ater replaced for th is purpose b y th e M inister of Labor.
71915°— 23------12


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Rates of pay are to be held insufficient if they do not enable home
workers working a normal number of hours to earn either the wages
customary in the locality or the wages earned by persons doing the
same work in other districts with similar economic conditions or the
wages earned by workers doing similar work in factories and work­
shops in the same district (art. 20).
Whenever possible, the rates to be fixed for home work shall be
piece rates. If, however, piece rates are not practicable, time rates
shall be agreed upon or fixed, which shall be based on the piece
rates current in the trade. Special rates shall be fixed for middle­
men (Zwischenmeister), so as to enable them, in their turn, to pay
to the home workers the minimum rates fixed for the latter (art. 29).
Decisions adopted by the votes of two-thirds of the workers’ and
employers’ representatives on the committee and approved by the
chairman and one of the independent members (Beisitzer) are final;
in other cases the confirmation of the decision by the authorities
establishing the committee is needed (art. 34). The committees may
assess fines for failure to pay the minimum rates (art. 37). The
committees act also as boards of conciliation and arbitration for the
settlement of disputes between home workers and their employers
(arts. 20 and 41).


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LA B O R

O R G A N IZ A T IO N S

A N D

F o rty -th ird A n n u a l M e e tin g of A m e ric a n

C O N V E N T IO N S .

F e d e ra tio n

of L a b o r .1

HE forty-third annual convention of the American Federation
of Labor was held in Portland, Greg., October 1 to 12, 1923.
There were 380 delegates in attendance, including the fra­
ternal delegates representing the British Trades-Union Congress, the
Canadian Trades and Labor Congress, and the National Women’s
Trade-Union League.
According to the American Federationist of November, 1923, the
three matters standing out most prominently in the work of the con­
vention were:
(1)
The declaration of a philosophy and policy which would best
advance the interests of industry and a democratic development
within industry.
(2)
The strong determination that the efforts toward the organi­
zation of nonunion workers should be everywhere redoubled.
(3)
The decision to eliminate from the trade-union movement “ the
last remnants of destructive and revolutionary effort.”
The report of the executive council to the convention declares:
“ Henceforth the organization of workers into trade-unions must
mean the conscious organization of one of the most vital functional
elements for enlightened participation in a democracy of industry,”
among the purposes of which are “ the rescue of industry from chaos,
profiteering, and purely individual whim, including individual in­
capacity, and the rescue of industry also from the domination of
incompetent political bodies.”

T

In d u stry m ust organize for service, for constructive effort, for orderly continuity,
for justice to all who participate. I t m ust bring itself to a realization of its mission
and to th a t end i t m ust organize an d come together in delib erativ e bodies w here th e
full wisdom an d experience of all m ay co ntribute to final decisions. * * * I n ­
d ustry m ust realize th a t i t exists to give service to a n ation an d not to a single m aster
or to a syndicate of stockholders.

The convention showed its interest in increasing the membership
of the Federation by ordering a campaign for the organization of
casual and migratory labor, by indorsing a nation-wide movement
for the unionization of “ white-collar employees,” and by directing
that a national conference be held to launch a campaign for gathering
woman workers into trades-unions.
The meeting directed continued efforts to promote friendship and
understanding between wage earners and farmers. A continuance of
steps to effect an affiliation with the International Federation of
1Report of Proceedings of the 43d Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor, Washington,
1923 (advance copy); Report of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor to the 43d
Annual Convention, 1923; mimeographed statement from Information and Publicity Service of American
Federation of Labor; and American Federationist, November, 1923.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Trade-Unions on terms satisfactory to American labor and insuring
national autonomy was also directed.
A resolution in behalf of the so-called amalgamation plan and also
resolutions calling for compulsory instead of voluntary action relative
to the affiliation of local unions with central bodies and State feder­
ations were defeated.
The convention placed itself on record as favoring prohibition;
against the granting of injunctions “ in cases where no injunction
would lie if no industrial dispute were in evidence;” and emphasized
its position in regard to the “ sanctity of contract in relations with
employers.” A continuation of activities “ to prevent prison labor
from coming into competition with free labor” was directed.
The congress recommended the assignment of one or more members
of the legislative committee (when Congress is not in session) to
explain and promote the cooperative movement and to furnish
standard literature on the Rochdale system at cost, and that the
Federation urge the establishment of cooperative bureaus for the
study of the Rochdale movement. The possibilities of large financial
savings to the workers through the establishment of a cooperative
insurance company were pointed out and the convention authorized
the federation to direct or conduct an investigation of “ all forms of
insurance and death benefit systems now provided by national and
international unions ” and “ group insurance plans and other insurance
features used by employers to provide insurance for their employees.”
The continuation of the federation’s inquiry into the present status
of workmen’s compensation and employers’ liability legislation was
favored, and amendments to the Constitution were demanded, pro­
hibiting child labor and empowering Congress to reenact laws which
the Supreme Court lias declared unconstitutional.
The meeting urged that demands for a “ still more efficient and
extensive Department of Labor be impressively submitted to the
President of the United States and to our National Congress.”
The executive council was directed to request the Pan American
Federation of Labor to make a survey of conditions in Venezuela
and to ask the United States Government to take steps to end profit­
eering and reduce the cost of living. A general investigation of
living and working conditions in the Philippines was also desired.
General recommendations of the convention included “ a more
stringent immigration policy” curtailing present quotas; the careful
study of intelligence tests and the insistence on the importance of
the participation of labor in the direction of the application of such
tests; the expansion of the federation’s information and publicity
service; and the elimination of the Railway Labor Board.
According to the secretary’s report the balance on hand on April
30, 1922, was $198,794.68. ‘ The total receipts for the year ending
April 30, 1923, including this balance amounted to $886,675; the
total expenses to $662,398.84, leaving a balance on August 31,
1923, of $224,276.16 of which $183,994.28 was in the defense fund
for local trade and Federal labor unions. The average paid-up and
reported membership for the fiscal year 1922 was 3,195,635 and for
1923, 2,926,468, a decrease of 269,167.
The federation’s voting strength in 1923 was 30,486, which was
2,850 less than in 1922.


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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND CONVENTIONS.

175

The following amounts were paid out in trade-union benefits
mainly by international organizations:
D eath benefits.............................................................................. $1, 944, 930. 22
D eath benefits to m em bers’ w ives.................. ........................
135, 974. 50
Sick b enefits............................... .................................................
648, 680.42
T raveling benefits.......................................................................
19, 818. 50
Tool in su ran ce........................, ....................................................
319.00
U nem ploym ent benefits............................................................
28, 820. 00

The above amounts represent only a small proportion of the
aggregate sums paid out in trade-union benefits as numerous local
unions which did not report to the federation on this matter provide
such benefits for their members.
Mr. Samuel Gompers was again elected president of the federation.
The secretary, Mr. Frank Morrison, and the treasurer, Mr. Daniel
Tobin, for 1922-23, were also chosen to serve for another year.
It was decided to hold the next annual meeting in El Paso, Tex.

Number

and

E a rn in g s

of

M e m b e rs

U n io n ,

1909

of

in te rn a tio n a l

to

1923.

T y p o g ra p h ic a l

N THE September issue of the bulletin issued by the International
Typographical Union are published (p. 30) statistics from the
report (1923) of the secretary-treasurer of that organization,
from which the following table is compiled showing the membership
of the union and their earnings from 1909 to 1923.
The total earnings shown in the table are based on the old-age
pensions and mortuary assessments, each one of which is paid at the
rate of one-half of 1 per cent on the earnings of the members. Di­
viding the total earnings each year by the number of members
recorded by the union as paying the per capita for that year gives
the average annual earnings per member as shown in the last column
of the table.

I

M EM BERSH IP A N D TOTAL A N D AVER A G E A N N U A L EA R N IN G S OP M EM BERS OF
TH E IN T E R N A T IO N A L TYPOGR A PH IC A L U NION FOR Y E A R S E N D IN G MAY 31,
1909, TO 1923.

N um ­
ber of
Year ending May 31— mem­
bers.

1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916................................

44 921
47 848
51 095
53^ 807
58.537
59 571
60,231


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Aver­
age
earn­
ings
per
mem­
ber.

$897
$40,293,738
45,602,944
953
49, 770,668 • 974
992
53i 378^ 902
56,944,486 1.023
61,050,332 1.042
6l' 155; 285 1,027
62,711,805 1,041

Total
earnings.

Year ending May 31—

Num ­
ber of
mem­
bers.

Total
earnings.

Aver­
age
earn­
ings
per
mem­
ber.

1917..................................
1918..................................
1919..................................
1920..................................
1921..................................
1922..................................
1923..................................

61, 350
62,661
65,203
70,945
74,355
68,746
68,144

$66,652,431
71,756,014
82,464,167
114,594,258
141,964,382
123,429,452
130,792,901

$1,086
1,145
1,265
1,615
1,909
1,795
1,919

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176

A llia n c e o f F iv e N e e d le - T r a d e U n io n s .1

N SEPTEMBER 8, 1923, the Needle Trades Workers’ Alliance
was formed by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the Inter­
national Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, the United Cloth
H at and Cap Makers, the Journeymen Tailors’ Union, and the Inter­
national Fur Workers’ Union. The purpose of the combination is
“ to promote solidarity, mutual aid, and cooperation among the
affiliated international unions.” Provision has been made for per­
manent headquarters in New York for the new organization which is
to have a paid manager or executive secretary. The approximate
membership of the five unions is 350,000. The executive council of
the alliance is composed of one representative from each of the five
affiliated unions. The budget must not exceed $20,000 per year.
An annual conference is to be held by the organization, the president
of which is Mr. Morris Sigman, who is also the president of the Inter­
national Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.

O

M e e tin g of P a n A m e ric a n F e d e r a tio n o f L a b o r , 1 9 2 4 .

HE Pan American Federation of Labor will hold its next con­
vention in Mexico City in December, 1924, instead of at
Guatemala, as was originally planned, according to an an­
nouncement made by the Mexican-American labor conference which
was held in El Paso, Tex. The concluding sessions of the conven­
tion may be held in Guatemala if political conditions there are
improved.

T

A n n u a l M e e tin g of C a n a d ia n

T ra d e s a n d

L a b o r C o n g r e s s .2

HE Trades and Labor Congress of Canada held its thirty-ninth
annual meeting in Vancouver September 10 to 14, 1923. The
final report of the credential committee showed 220 delegates
in attendance. Some of the important resolutions adopted at the
meeting were those requesting that the Government of Ontario be
petitioned to extend the workmen’s compensation act so as to include
all workers; that the Government of Quebec be urged to pass a com­
pensation law similar to those in operation in the other Provinces;
that the Government of British Columbia be asked to institute exam­
inations in English for workers whose native tongue is other than
English and that employers be fined for hiring such foreigners for
service in plants using water, steam, gas, or electricity as motive
power.
Other resolutions favored Government health insurance; the total
exclusion of orientals, and laws for the more effective control of the
activities of orientals now residing in the Dominion; regulations
requiring “ periodical medical examination of all persons employed
or engaged in the preparation of food for public consumption” ; and
the creation of a Dominion council of action to combat war and

T

1 D aily News Record, New York, Sept. 10, 1923, pp. 1, 3.
2 Labor Gazette, Ottawa, October, 1923, pp. 1088-1102.


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LABOR ORGANIZATION'S AND CONVENTIONS.

177

follow the example of the Biitish Labor Party in its efforts to
prevent war.
The executive officers of the congress for 1923-24 were instructed
by resolution to use all means in their power to have enacted into law
as promptly as possible “ the findings of the International Labor
Conference in connection with the law of nations and part 13 of the
treaty of Versailles.”
It was resolved, also, that the Trades and Labor Congress “ con­
tinue to act as the legislative mouthpiece for organized labor in
Canada, independent of any political organization engaged in an
effort to send representatives of the people to parliament, the pro­
vincial legislature, or other elective bodies of this country,” and it was
urged that eiforts be made to amend the criminal code so that peace­
ful picketing and persuasion in strikes may be legalized.
Among other resolutions were those requesting the Government
to stop unauthorized persons from “ filling the country with out-ofworks,” protesting against any additional persons entering Canada as
farm laborers and. later taking the places of Canadian citizens; calling
on the Dominion Government to assume responsibility on a national
scale for the unemployment situation; and reiterating a previous
request of the congress for legislation for a “ simplified form of incor­
poration of cooperative societies.”
Mr. Tom Moore was reelected president. Mr. P. M. Draper is the
secretary-treasurer for the coming year. The 1924 convention will be
held in London, Canada.
Trade-Union Movement in Norway, 1922.1

T THE end of 1922, 1,449 trade-unions were in affiliation with
the Norwegian National Federation of Trade-Unions. These
had a combined membership of 83,640 (4,938 being women);
this represented, a decrease of 12,325 members during the year.
Afterwards the decrease was checked and by July, 1923, the member­
ship had increased to 87,189. The membership decreased in all
unions except three—the union of employees of the paper industry,
the commune workers’ union, and the stonecutters’ union—which
showed increases of 260, 112, and. 56 members, respectively.
Collective agreements, most of which were arrived, at through arbi­
tration awards, concluded during the year numbered 360 and affected
84,952 workers. In 1922, 313,876 kroner ($84,119, par) as against
3,746,010 kroner ($1,003,931, par) in 1921 was paid out in strike
benefits, 89,677 kroner ($24,033, par) of which was paid by the
National Federation. The number of working days lost because of
disputes was 99,932 in 1922 and 2,217,786 in 1921. Reductions in
wages in 1922 affecting 78,233 workers were estimated to amount to
72,310,861 kroner ($19,379,311, par) or approximately 924 kroner
($248, par) per worker. Similar reductions in 1921 amounted to
about 680 kroner ($182, par) per worker. Only 825 workers received
wage increases, these amounting to 187,892 kroner ($50,355, par), or
about 228 kroner ($61, par) per worker.

A

i D ata are from M eddelelsesblad C hristiania, Septem ber, 1923, a n d Sociala M eddelanden, Stockholm ,
No. 10, 1923.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

178

The hours of work remained unchanged. The vacation period in
several industries was reduced from 12 to 8 days. The average
number of days’ vacation in 1922 was 9.77 as against 10.74 in 1921.
According 'to reports from 22 unions and 1 directly affiliated
organization with 70,922 members, the number of days lost in 1922
because of lack of work was 2,678,386, or 37.76 per member, as
against about 4,000,000, or 49 days per member, in 1921. Days lost
due to illness numbered 423,269; to military service, 96,697; and to
other causes, 164,270; a total of 3,362,622, or 47.41 days lost per
member.
For traveling and unemployment aid 26 organizations paid out
6,199,804 kroner ($1,661,547, par). In 1921 the trade-unions paid
unemployment relief amounting to 12,851,064 kroner ($3,444,085,
par). For medical aid and sick relief, 8 organizations paid out 550,580
kroner ($147,555, par) and for funeral benefits and insurance 27
organizations paid out 402,923 kroner ($107,983, par), and for in­
validity and other aid 60,177 kroner ($16,127, par). Disbursements
of all the insurance funds amounted to 7,212,889 kroner ($1,933,944,
par). During the year the affiliated organizations had a total income
of 13,241,777 kroner ($3,548,796, par) and expenditures amounting to
12,227,431 kroner ($3,276,952, par). Contributions to the National
Federation in 1922 amounted to 1,067,194 kroner ($286,008, par). <
At the congress of the National Federation in April, 1923, it was
resolved that the trade-union movement, as in Sweden, should be
reorganized on the basis of industrial unionism, so that all workers at
a place of work always would belong to one and the same organization.

Program of Polish Federation of Trade-Unions.1

N EXTRAORDINARY congress of the Polish Federation of
Trade-Unions (Zjednoczenie Zawodowe polskie) was held at
Poznan on July 29 and 30, 1923. The chief object of the
congress was to draw up new rules and a program of action for the
federation. Briefly summarized, the main points of the new program
are the following:

A

(1)
Strict observance of the hours of employment act (the 46-hour week in industry
and commerce and a 6-hour day in occupations likely to injure the health of the
workers—mines, blastfurnaces, etc.).
(2) Night work and Sunday work to be reduced to a minimum.
(3) Prohibition of night work for women and young persons.
(4) Prohibition of the employment of children under 15 years of age.
(5)
Enactment of legislation prohibiting mothers from working outside their own
homes, this measure to be introduced gradually.
(6)
Efforts to secure as high wages as possible, based on quantity and quality of
output. Introduction of a method of fixing wages such as to insure that their value
shall correspond to the pre-war value.
(7)
Institution of a joint body to fix periodically the minimum wage required to
meet the bare necessities of life, this minimum to be made compulsory everywhere.
(8)
Enforcement of collective agreements and legal recognition of the right to
strike.
(9) Legislation providing for the introduction of profit sharing.
1 In tern atio n al Labor Office. In d u strial and L abor Inform ation, Geneva, Oct. 5, 1923, pp. 6-8. Based
on inform ation from W arsztati Rola, Aug. 4, 1923, a n d Presse de Poznan, Ju ly 31 and Aug. 17, 1923.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND CONVENTIONS.

179

(10) Amendment and extension of existing legislation concerning trade courts and
introduction of legislation for the institution of trade courts and special mining courts
in every locality with a population of more than 5,000, and at least in every district.
(11) Institution of public joint employment offices; legislation concerning public
employment offices and organization of joint employment offices administered by the
State or the local authorities.
(12) Amendment of the workers’ holidays act and extension of the right to a holiday
with pay to all categories of workers.
(13) Extension of the works councils act at present in force in Upper Silesia to the
whole of the country.
(14) Enactment as soon as possible of a factory inspection act which will make the
factory inspection department independent of all other administrative authorities.
(15) Legislation for the protection of the life and health of the workers.
(16) Legislation for the protection of women and young persons.
(17) Introduction of health measures in all industrial and commercial undertakings.
(18) Application of labor legislation to home work.
(19) Guaranty of right of association and assembly in conformity with the Polish
Constitution.
(20) Introduction of compulsory health, accident, invalidity, old-age and unemploy­
ment insurance under State control.
(21) Measures for the protection of emigrants, and for the collaboration of the tradeunions in the supervision of emigration.
(22) Codification and unification of labor legislation.
(23) Development of vocational education.
(24) Encouragement of the cooperative movement (productive and distributive
cooperative societies).
(25) Introduction of a system of taxation based chiefly on direct taxes, a tax on
capital and a graduated income tax.
(26) Measures for the protection of workers against abusive practices in trade
employment offices.
(27) Measures for the solution of the housing problem by the construction of working
class houses, which will in time become the property of the workers by a system of
repayments; prolongation of the tenants’ protection act in the case of all tenants
earning less than five million marks per month.

Various resolutions were adopted by the congress, including a
resolution concerning social insurance urging the Government and
parliament—
(T) To codify, unify, and amend existing legislation concerning invalidity, old age,
and other branches of social insurance, and extend such legislation to the whole of
Polish territory.
(2) To take steps as soon as possible for the institution of health insurance societies
in Polish territory formerly belonging to Russia.
(3) To fix pension rates so as to insure that their real value is not below the pre-war
level.

Another resolution urged the Government to introduce in parlia­
ment a bill for the ratification of the draft conventions adopted at the
various sessions of the International Labor Conference.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1403]

STR IK ES A N D LO C K O U TS.

Strikes and Lockouts in the United States, April to June, 1923.

A CC011DING to information received by the United States BuZ \ reau of Labor Statistics, 603 labor disputes resulting in strikes
*■ and lockouts occurred in this country during the second quarter
of 1923, or more than double the number reported for the first quarter
of 1923. Inasmuch as some reports do not reach the bureau until
several months after the strikes occur, the number of strikes occurring
during the second quarter was probably somewhat larger than the
above figure. Complete data relative to these strikes have not been
received by the bureau, and it has not been possible to verify all that
have been received. The figures in the following tables should there­
fore be regarded as an advance statement, and should not be accepted
as final.
N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN EA C H M O N T H , JA N U A R Y TO JU N E , 1922 AND
1923.

Y ear.

1922................................
1923................................

January.

126
65

F eb ru ­
ary .

79
70

March.

A pril.

73
106

102
203

May.

99
234

June.

59
126

M onth
not
stated.
41
58

Total.

579
862

As respects number of strikers involved, the most important strikes
occurring during the quarter included the following: That of 50,000
workers in some 2,000 shops of the clothing industry of New York
City, during May, for a 10 per cent wage increase; that of 5,000 cloth­
ing workers in Philadelphia in June for a wage increase of $5 per
week; the strike of 5,000 shoe workers in Lynn during April for a wage
increase of 30 per cent; the strike in May, of about 5,000 coal miners
in 40 mines of Hopkins County, Ky., over renewal of contract; that of
about 5,000 bakersfor the Ward Baking Co., on May 1, against the open
shop in various plants of the company located in New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, etc.; the unsuccessful strike, beginning
May 16, of about 4,500 workers in 45 shoe factories in Brockton,
Mass., for a 20 per cent wage increase and elimination of the State
board of conciliation and arbitration as a stipulated medium for the
settlement of disputes; and the successful strike, beginning May 1,
of about 4,000 bricklayers and helpers in New York City for a twoyear agreement carrying a basic wage of $12 per day to bricklayers.
Mention should also be made of the strike for a wage increase of 3,950
telephone operators in the five New England States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, beginning
June 26. After running for a month the strike was called off by the
workers.
180

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STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.

181

The data in the following tables relate to the 603 disputes reported
as having occurred in the three months under consideration. The
strikes that occurred during the quarter but in which the exact month
was not stated appear in a group by themselves.
ST A T E S IN W H IC H TW O OR M ORE D IS P U T E S W E R E R E P O R T E D AS O C CU RRIN G
T H E SECOND Q U A R T E R O F 1923.
N u m b er of disputes.
State.
A pril. May. June.

New Y o rk ............
M assachusetts__
P en n sy lv an ia___
New Jerse y ..........
O hio.......................
C onnecticut..........
W ashington..........
Illinois. .............
California..............
In d ia n a .................
R hode Is la n d ___
W est V irg in ia.. . .
Missouri.................
Iow a.......................
M aryland. . . . . . . .
M innesota.............
Oregon...................

32
30
33

6
8
9
16
8
8
4
7
2
6
4
5
1
4

53
51
28
9
11
11
7
7
7
6
5
8
3
1
3
4
2

30
20
19
10
4
3
1
6
4
3
2
2
3
6
1
2
3

N um ber of disputes.
State.

Month
not Total.
stated .
5
8
9
2
2
1
1
2
1
1

2

IN

120
109
89
27
25
24
24
22
21
14
14
13
12
11
9
9
9 I

A pril. May. June.

D istrict of Columbia.......................
T exas.....................
Colorado__
M aine...
M ichigan...............
M o n tan a.............
New H am pshire
W isconsin.........
Georgia.................
K en tu ck y .............
Oklahoma.............
8 other S ta te s .
Interstate
Total

2
2

2
2
L,

2
i
2

2

1

1
2

5
5

i
i
3
2

203

234

M onth
n o t Total.
sta te d .

1
1

x
1

5
4
3
3

3
2
2
1
i

3
3
3

i

i

2
2
2
8
10

126

40

603

Of these 603 disputes, 470 occurred east of the Mississippi River
and north of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, 102 occurred west of the
Mississippi; and 21 occurred south of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers
and east of the Mississippi River. Of the 10 interstate strikes, 6, in­
cluding the Ward bakers and the New England telephone operators,
occurred east of the Mississippi River; 1 occurred west of the Missis­
sippi River, and 3, of minor importance, embraced both sides of the
river.
About 63 per cent of the disputes occurred in the industrial States
of New Pork, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
As to cities, New York City leads with 79 strikes, followed by Boston
and Chicago with 14 each, and Springfield, Mass., with 10; while
Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, Brockton, Mass., and Seattle each
had 8.
As to sex of the strikers involved, the distribution was as follows:
Males only were involved in 426 disputes; females only in 11; both
males and females in 101; and in 65 strikes the sex of the strikers
was not reported.
The following table shows the number of disputes reported as occur­
ring in the industries specified. About 62 per cent of them occurred
in the building trades, clothing, textiles, coal mining, and metal
trades.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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182

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S R E P O R T E D AS O C C U R R IN G D U R ­
IN G T H E SECO N D Q U A R T E R O F 1923.
N um ber of disputes.
O ccupation.
May.

A pril.

B uilding trades ’ w o rk e rs...................................................
Clothing w o rk ers..................................................................
Textile w orkers.....................................................................
Coal m iners.............................................................................
M etal trad es em ployees.......................................................
B akers . _
.....................................................
Chauffeurs a n d team sters...................................................
Street, sewer, a n d p a rk em ployees..................................
Tviimjw an d tim b er w orkers.............................................
"Food w o rk e rs ....
...........................................................
............................
Steam b o a t m e n .....
Thoneshoremen a n d freight handlers..
P ap er w orkers........................................................................
P rin tin g and publishing em p lo y e es..
Stone w orkers ......................................................................
E lectrical w o rk ers. . .
...............................................
"Hotel an d re stau ran t em ployees......................................
Feath er w orkers.
.......................
B arbers
...................................................
Street-rai 1w ay em ployees__
Ida p n d ry w o rk e rs..
_
...........................
Motion p ictu re an d theatrical employees.
Tobacco workers
'Brick and tile w orkers.
■Glass workers ......................................................................
Shipbuilding employees
Slaughtering, m eat cu ttin g a n d packing em ployees.. .
Iron and steel w orkers.
F ig h t beat, and power employees .
R Uhber w orkers
Stationary firemen
Clerks ann salesmen
Fishermen
F u rn itu re employees . . . .
........................................
Oil and chem ical em ployees
Telephone and telegraph employees
Miscellaneous.........................................................................

39
21
32
17
18

T o tal.............................................................................

46
41

20
20
16
14

4

5

0

5
3
3

9
4
8
3
2
i

2
3
2
3
1
2
3
2
2
1

3
2
3
1

M onth
not
stated.

June.

1

1
4
5
3
3
3
4
2
2
1

3
2
2
1
1

2
3
1
2

26
23
5

8
15
4
6
2
1
2
4
1
2
1
1

Total.

11
4
3
8
2

122
89
60

1
3

16
16

.................

13
9
9

53
51
IS

S
1
3
1

3
1
1
1
1
2
2

8
S
8
7
7
7
6
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
4

3

1

3

1

1

6

9

2
10

3

2
2
2
2
2
28

203

234

126

40

603

1
2

In 423 disputes the employees were reported re connected with
unions; in 37 disputes they were not so connected; in 5 disputes both
union and nonunion employees were involved; in 7 disputes they
were unionized after the strikes began; and in 131 disputes the ques­
tion of union affiliation was not reported.
In 378 disputes only one employer was concerned in each disturb­
ance; in 28 disputes, ^employers; in 14 disputes, 3 employers;
in 5 disputes, 4 employers; in 8 disputes, 5 employers; in 41 dis­
putes, more than 5 employers; and in 129 disputes the number of
employers was not reported.
In the 480 disputes for which the number of persons was reported
there were 258,255 employees directly involved, or an average of 538
per strike.
In 57 disputes in which the number involved was 1,000 or more,
the strikers numbered 190,580, thus leaving 67,675 involved in the
remaining 423 disputes, or an average of 160 each.
By months the figures are as follows: April, 67,982 persons in 172
disputes, average 395, of whom 26,314 were in 152 disputes of less
than 1,000 persons each, average 173; May 123,638 persons in 188
disputes, average 658, of whom 26,886 were in 168 disputes of less


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1406]

STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.

183

than 1,000 persons each, average 160: June, 51,784 persons in 104
disputes, average 498, of whom 12,324 were in 90 disputes of less
than 1,000 persons each, average 137. In 16 disputes, involving
14,851 persons the month in which the strike began was not reported.
The following table shows the principal causes of the disputes in so
far as reported. In more than 50 per cent of them wages were a
prominent question:
P R IN C IP A L C A USES O F D IS P U T E S R E P O R T E D AS O C CU R R IN G IN T H E SECOND
Q U A R T E R O F 1923.
Num her of disp utes.
Cause.
April.

Increase of w ages....................................
Decrease of wages.............................................
W ages n o t otherw ise specified...........................
Increase of hours.............................................
Decrease of h o u rs....................................
Increase of wages an d decrease of h o u rs.................
Recognition of u n io n ......................................
Recognition an d w ages....................................
Recognition an d hours.....................................
Recognition, wages, h o u rs..................................
G eneral conditions.........................................
Conditions a n d wages............................
Conditions a n d ho u rs....................................
Conditions, wages, hours...............................
Conditions a n d recognition...............................
Discharge of foreman d em an d ed ..............................
Discharge of em ployees.............................................
E m ploym en t of nonunion m e n ........................................
Objectionable persons h ire d ..............................................
D iscrim ination......................................................................
Open or closed shop............................................................
U nfair p ro d u c ts................................................
In regard to ag reem en t.....................................................
New agreem ent.....................................................................
S ym p ath y ......... ...............................................................
Jurisdiction...............................................................
M iscellaneous..................................................................
N ot re p o rte d ........................................................................

88
3
4
2
14
4
2

i
18
15
1
1

May.

M onth
not
stated.

June.

84

52

17

5

4

Total.

241
g
20
l

6

7
1
1

4
14
10
3
7
ii
7

3

7

4

5
4

2
18

6

7

3

11

1
1

35
26
)
3
3

1

4

29
25
19
3

2

3
5
3

2
2

2

i

10

1

t

1

12

2

3
36

g

1
1

10
2
8

2

3

2

2

4

18
7
16

4

15

17
8

6
6

3
5

30
34

203

234

126

40

603

3

1

3

3

T o tal....................................................................... ..

1

8

6

It is often difficult to determine exactly when a strike terminates,
since many strikes end without any formal vote on the part of the
strikers. The bureau has information of the ending of 401 disputes
during the quarter, including about 28 in which the positions of the
employees were filled or they returned to work with probably little
or no interruption of the work.
The following table shows the number of disputes ending in the
first six months of 1922 and 1923:
N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN T H E F IR S T SIX M O N TH S O F 1922 A N D 1923.

Year.

1922................................
1923................................

Jan u ary . February.

37
57


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

27
59

March.

A pril.

35
70

[1407]

37
110

Mayu

76
160

June.

47
107

Month
not
stated.
45
31

Total.

304
594

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

184

The table following shows the results of disputes ending in the
second quarter of 1923:
R E S U L T S O F D IS P U T E S E N D IN G D U R IN G T H E SEGOND Q U A R T E R O F 1923.
N um ber of disputes.

1
R esult.
April.

May.

June.

I n favor of em ployers..........................................................
In favor of em ployees..........................................................
Com prom ised.........................................................................
Em ployees retu rn ed pending a rb itra tio n ......................
N o t re p o rte d ..........................................................................

41
20
27
2
20

44
51
38
1
26

31
41
18
3
14

T o tal.............................................................................

no

160

107

M onth
not
stated.

Total.

22

1

117
134
83

1

61

24

401

6

The next table gives the duration of disputes ending in the second
quarter of 1923, by classified periods of duration.
C L A SS IFIE D D U R A T IO N O F D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN T H E SECO N D Q U A R T E R O F 1923.
N um ber of disputes.
D uration.
A pril.

1 d ay or le ss...........................................................................
2 d a y s ........................................................ .............................
3 d a y s ......................................................................................
4 d a y s ......................................................................................
5 to 7 d ay s........................................................ .....................
8 to 14 d ay s............................................................
15 to 21 days...........................................................................
22 to 29 day s.......................................................................
30 to 90 d ay s...........................................................................
Over 90 d a y s ..........................................................................
N ot re p o rte d ....................................................................
T o tal................................................................

May.

June.

11

21

7
9
8
5
13
23
13
4
13
2
10

110

160

107

18
12
6
9
17
24
7
1

22
7
14
13
24
29
16
6
8

5

M onth
not
stated.

Total.

24

47
28
28
27
54
76
36
11
21
7
66

24

401

The number of days lost in the industrial disputes ending in the
quarter for the 335 reporting was approximately 5,594. The average
duration of these was 17 days. The average duration of the disputes
lasting less than 90 days was 10 days. By months the record is as
follows: April, 2,443 days lost, average 25 days; May, 1,294 days lost,
average 9 days; June, 1,857 days lost, average 19 days.
Of the 401 disputes ending during the quarter, 335 reported dura­
tion, and of this number 302 reported the number of employees
involved, aggregating 180,641, an average of 598 employees.
Of the 401 disputes reported as ending during the quarter, 340
reported the number of employees involved, aggregating 197,790, an
average of 582 employees.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1408]

STRIKES A1STD LOCKOUTS,

Strikes and Lockouts

in

185

Czechoslovakia,

1 9 2 2 .1

HE difficult industrial situation in Czechoslovakia during 1922
found expression in 262 strikes and 20 lockouts, which in­
volved 979 establishments and a total of 114,909 workers.
Almost one-fifth of the workers affected were women. Of the total
number of strikes and lockouts, 212 affected single establishments,
while 70 were conducted as group or district affairs. The industrial
disputes of 1922 resulted in a total loss of 2,554,350 working-days and
of 98,071,500 crowns ($19,908,514, par) in wages.
There were undoubtedly numerous small strikes during the year
under review, which were not officially recorded. It is reasonable,
therefore, to estimate the number of workers affected by strikes and
lockouts as approximately 150,000, the time lost as 3,000,000 workingdays, and the loss of wages at 150,000,000 Czecho-Slovak crowns
($30,450,000, par).

T

More than half of the strikes were due to protests on the part of employees against
the general lowering of wages in all branches of industry, undertaken with a view to
relieving the industrial stagnation which resulted from the phenomenal rise in the
exchange rate of the Czecho-Slovak crown. Disagreement over the recognition of
workers’ representatives or organizations proved to be the next principal cause of
strikes and lockouts during the year. In the textile industry this was the leading
cause of disagreement, which may be explained by the fact that the majority of workers
m the textile trades are women, who are less well organized than the male employees
in other industries.
Only 50 of the 282 disputes were settled in favor of the workers. Of the remaining
cases, 147 were settled in favor of the employers and 82 by compromise agreements.
Three strikes remained unsettled at the close of the year.

The following table shows the distribution of the labor disputes
of 1922, by industry groups:
S T R IK E S A N D LO C K O U TS IN C Z E C H O SL O V A K IA , B Y IN D U S T R Y , 1922.
[1 erown=20.3 cents par.]

In dustry.

N um ­
N um ­ ber
ber of
of
strikes. lock­
outs.

E arth en w are and glassware.
M etal w o rk in g .......................
M achinery a n d tools.............
W ood w o rk in g.........................
R u b b er.......................... ...........
L e a th e r.....................................
T e x tile ........................ .............
U pholstering...........................
Clothing....................................
P a p e r........................................
Foodstuffs................................
B uild in g ...................................
C hem ical..................................
P rin tin g ....................................
E lectric pow er p la n ts............
Commerce................................
T ra n sp o rta tio n .......................

40
10
43
62
1
11
24
1
15
6
14
16
13
1
1
2
2

T o tal..............................

262

T otal
num ­
ber of
labor
dis­
putes.

4
1
6
1
1
3
2
2

20

N um ­
ber of
estab ­ N um ber
of em ­ W orkinglish ­
m ents ployees days lost.
affected.
af­
fected.

44
10
44
68
2
12
27
1
15
8
14
18
13
1
1
2
2

178
18
168
212
2
15
88
2
54
17
71
119
29
1
1
2
2

28,712
2.914
42, 489
9,252
560
1,124
13,593
30
2,129
4,302
960
5, 436
2,929
79
117
46
237

486, 428
62,077
1,058,528
197, 464
23, 455
9,383
391,140
810
91,330
125,247
10, 014
51,866
44, 414
79
995
235
885

Croivns.
17,729.912
2, 459j 215
50,126,728
5,769,304
1,121,101
324,930
11,647,933
36,750
1,867, 494
3,674,534
409, 266
1,526,128
1,300,743
2,370
37,810
10,732
26,550

282

979

114,909

2,554,350

98,071,500

1 From a report of th e A m erican consul a t Prague, d ated A pr. 18, 1923.


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[1409]

Loss of
wages.

V O CA TIO N A L ED U C A TIO N AND TRA IN ING .

New Apprenticeship Regulations in New South Wales.

HE scarcity of apprentices in the building trades lias been
causing grave concern in the Antipodes as well as here, and
New South Wales has recently adopted some new apprentice­
ship rules which, it is hoped, will relieve the situation as far as brick­
layers are concerned. In its issue for August 31, 1923, the New
South Wales Industrial Gazette gives the terms of the new regula­
tions, which were drawn up by the Board of Trade under the indus­
trial arbitration act, and signed by the Governor on August 10. One
of the most important provisions is the adjustment of the required
period of training to the age at which it is commenced. Those
entering the trade between 14 and 16 years of age are to be appren­
ticed for five years, those between 16 and 17 for four years, and those
between 17 and 19 for three years. For those over 19 the period
may be even shorter.

T

Any apprentice entering the trade after attaining his nineteenth birthday may
complete his apprenticeship in two years if he shall have satisfactorily passed through
a course of 12 weeks’ instruction at the training school for bricklayers conducted by
the Master Builders’ Association, or such other training school as may from time to
time be approved by the said board.

Apparently in New South Wales, as in the United States, it is
difficult for an individual employer to provide continuous employ­
ment and training for an apprentice, and the regulations name two
bodies which may take over the responsibility, and under whose
direction the apprentice may be transferred from one employer to
another, as may be considered desirable.
The Master Builders’ Association or the Operative Bricklayers’ Society may, respec­
tively, by their presidents, or any representative officials thereof, be the masters of
apprentices in the said trade. * * *
The Master Builders’ Association and the Operative Bricklayers’ Society, respec­
tively, as masters, may d irect the service of the apprentice to be performed under the
control of persons to be named by them, and for whose actions and defaults, as deputy
masters, they respectively shall be responsible; and the apprentice shall serve ac­
cordingly. This condition shall be deemed to be incorporated in all contracts of
apprenticeship to the said association or society.

Regulations are made as to wages, hours of work, and, for the
younger apprentices, attendance at continuation schools, and one
important provision deals with the question of limitation.
Unless and until otherwise ordered, no limitation shall be placed on the proportion
of apprentices to journeymen, but application may be made from time to time to
fix the proportion of any employer in respect of whom it is alleged that there is undue
employment of junior labor.

186


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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

187

Vocational Guidance in Brussels.

N ACCOUNT of the methods employed in the vocational
guidance and placement of young people in Brussels and its
environs is given in the International Labor Review for Sep­
tember, 1923 (pp. 345-359). The Vocational Guidance Bureau of
Brussels was founded in 1911 and consists of local offices which have
been set up in every commune and a central office which collects
literature, prepares material for tests, conducts propaganda, deals
with difficult cases, and assists the local offices.
The establishment of vocational guidance in Belgium was not the
result of a difficult economic situation, as in many countries, since
between the years 1870 and 1910 the trade and industry of the country
had enjoyed a period of remarkable prosperity. At the end of that
period their further development was checked, however, and the lack
of apprentices in the old handicrafts due to the growdh of large-scale
industry became apparent. It was realized that it was necessary
to improve the labor force of the country in view of the competition
in the foreign markets which was certain to become more intense
in the future, since Belgium could produce hardly a quarter of the
food needed and must- therefore be in a position to export largely.
To do this it w a s essential to produce goods of equal or, if possible,
superior quality to those of its competitors and to sell at equal or
lownr prices, and this idea was responsible for a movement-, sup­
ported by all parties, for the improvement of technical education.
Popular sentiment had favored for some time the development of
elementary education, and manual training had been instituted in
the schools in order to enable working-class children to complete their
education and at the same time prepare for a trade.
A society wTas formed in Brussels, of business and professional
men, which had for its purpose the study of matters relating to
children, and in 1909 a section vras established for the placement of
apprentices and the supervision of apprenticeship. In this first
work, from which the scheme for vocational guidance developed, the
choice of a trade was not considered, the aim being to find suitable
situations for boys and girls and to see that they were not exploited.
Experience in this work showed that frequently parents paid no
attention to the physique of their children when choosing an occupa­
tion for them, that they often overestimated the intellectual abilities
of their children, and were also ignorant of the requirements of the
occupation selected. Because of these conditions there was developed
a system of school reports, psychological examinations, and examina­
tions in motor functions, which gradually and without any predeter­
mined plan led up to the formation of a system of vocational guidance
and the establishment of the bureau. Attempts to classify the
occupations from the standpoint of the special qualifications required,
by means of questionnaires circulated among manufacturers and
craftsmen, failed, since the replies brought out the objective qualities
but did not reveal the characteristics of the occupations or help to
classify the workers. A doctor, a psychologist, and a technician
were therefore appointed to observe skilled workers in the exercise
of their trades in order to determine the essential qualifications in the
different occupations, a method, the article states, which recent

A

71915°—23-

•13


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188

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

developments have shown to he the most practical one for the solution
of the problem.
The tests followed in the plan for vocational guidance include as a
first essential a thorough medical examination. In addition to the
physical examination, the physician is expected to furnish informa­
tion relating to the child’s temperament, his probable degree of
resistance to muscular and nervous fatigue, and his ability to work
under certain conditions. The mental examination, which is used
only as a means of checking the reports of the teachers of the children
examined, includes tests on attention, sensation and perception,
memory, and complex intellectual activity. Laboratory tests of
motor abilities are conducted which measure rapidity, endurance,
facility in starting a movement, and motor memory; tests are also
given involving training of the motor functions.
The Intercommunal Vocational Guidance Office is controlled by a
committee composed of two delegates from each commune and two
delegates of the State and the Province. It is supported in the main
by contributions by the communes. The office has three depart­
ments—medical, psychological, and research in technical abilities.
The work of the staff of the central office includes assembling docu­
mentary material on vocational guidance (library, museum of appara­
tus, etc.), collecting data showing the essential qualifications for
success in the various trades, training the staff of the communal
offices in the technique of vocational guidance, examining all special
or new cases referred to it by the communal offices, and inspecting
the local offices. There is also a committee, consisting of the director
of the office and delegates from employers’ and workers’ organizations,
to collect statistics and study conditions under which the various
occupations should be carried on. This committee is authorized to
secure the assistance of specialists when necessary. There are local
communal offices in each commune, the number depending upon its
population and financial rasources. Each of these offices includes
at least one vocational counselor and two examiners, one of whom is
a doetor.
The placement of apprentices, after compulsory examination by
the vocational guidance office, has taken place through the trade
associations, but by a recent agreement between the official employ­
ment exchange and the vocational guidance office a special depart­
ment has been established in the employment exchange to look after
the placement of male and female apprentices. This department is
supervised by a committee composed of five employer members
appointed by the chamber of commerce, four representatives of the
wmrkers appointed by the Association of Socialist and Independent
Trade-Unions, one member appointed by the Federation of Chris­
tian Trade-Unions, three delegates of the employment exchange,
three delegates of the vocational guidance office, and one represent­
ative of the Ministry of Labor.
All applications for employment are dealt with by the employment
exchange and the results of the examination given at the vocational
guidance office are taken into consideration in the placement of young
people applying for positions. Lists of pupils of about the age of
14 are furnished the vo.cational counselor by the schools when they
are about to complete the elementary school course. The preferences


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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

189

of the children or of their parents in the choice of a trade are noted
and in addition the teacher reportmg is asked to send a school report
for each child. On receipt of this list the vocational counselor
writes to the parents of the children requesting them to take advan­
tage of the services of the communal office. In assisting the young
people in the choice of a trade the wishes of the parents and the child
are followed so far as possible whenever they have clear preferences
which seem to be based upon good reasons, unless the work involves
a risk which the medical examination shows should not be incurred, or
where there are very definite counterindications in respect to mental,
sensory, or motor faculties. Attempts also are made to prevent the
choice of a trade which is overcrowded and in which there is no
chance of improvement within a reasonable length of time. In cases
where no decided preference is evidenced for any particular occupa­
tion the results of the various examinations, tests, and reports are
taken into consideration in assisting young people in the choice of a
trade, and if a child is found to have ability which warrants further
study the parents, if unable to meet the expense, are directed to
agencies where they can obtain assistance. Cases which present
unusual difficulties are not dealt with by the local offices but are
referred to the central office for settlement.
In general all cases, whether those of children leaving school or of
young persons who have entered a trade but think they have been
mistaken in their choice of a vocation, are considered individually
and the attempt is made to weigh the various factors “ just as a
patient is treated by a doctor or as a case is studied by counsel for
the defense.”
Vocational and Other Educational Training by Employers in
Finland.

~T INVESTIGATION recently carried on in 150 large indus­
trial establishments in Finland 1 showed that emplovers are
gradually beginning to recognize the importance of vocational
instruction for young persons.
In 1921 new legislation was passed which provided for the reor­
ganization of the school system as a whole and required two years’
continuation instruction for pupils leaving school to go to work. In
certain industrial districts an attempt has been made to direct this
required continuation instruction toward the pupil’s future vocation.
Apprentices at factories receive theoretical instruction for one or two
days per week, thus combining the theory with their practical ex­
perience in the factory. Of the enterprises, investigated, only nine had
established special trade schools for their employees, but it is hoped
that more will do so when reorganization of the school system is
completed.
Of the vocational schools in Finland, that established in 1919 by
the Machine & Bridge Building Co. for its employees is stated to be
of the most interest. The school provides a four-year course, to which
1
The results of th is investigation are given in Nos. 4, 6, 7, and 9 of Social T idskrift. F or an account of
em ployers’ housing a n d welfare work for employees, see p p . 154 a n d 191 of this issue of th e Monthly

L abor R eview .


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190

MONTHLY LABOE EEYIEW.

24 pupils are admitted each year, and furnishes theoretical instruc­
tion in both trade and general elementary subjects. As far as possible
attempts are made to secure pupils whose homes are in the rural dis­
tricts. A dormitory (■internat) accommodating 50 pupils is connected
with this school. The resident pupils are under the supervision of an
experienced teacher and receive all care and necessary clothing. After
a trial period of three months, during which the student may leave if
he desires, an apprenticeship contract is made out and the company
deposits to the credit of the resident pupil {intern) 500 marks ($96.50,
par) at interest while the pupil stays with the school. - The wage
which the resident pupil would receive during this first year is with­
held to cover part of the expenditure of the dormitory. During the
three remaining Years of apprenticeship, the same amount is with­
held, but as the apprentice’s wages, beginning with the second year,
are based on piece rates, there may be a considerable surplus over
this amount, This surplus is credited to the pupil’s savings account,
so that when his schooling is finished he has a sum that allows him to
continue his education at home or abroad.
Some industrial establishments have provided free lecture courses
for their employees; these have increased in popularity from year to
year. Another form of educational activity is the establishing of
libraries and reading rooms for the workers. Of the enterprises
investigated, 33 have arranged for libraries or reading rooms; others
furnish funds to young people’s societies for this purpose. Still other
employers subscribe for newspapers which employees wish sent to
them.' Some factories have arranged for practical courses in house­
hold economy, sewing, care of children, and other matters.


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[1414]

W ELFA RE.
Welfare Work for Employees in Finland.

NFORMATION as to welfare measures undertaken by Finnish
employers for their workers has been collected by the Finnish
woman factory inspectors in the course of their regular work 1
and published in Nos. 4, 6, 7, and 9 of Social Tidskrift. The investi­
gation covered 150 large industrial firms operating 222 factories.
In 44 of the 150 firms, joint-purchase schemes have been estab­
lished whereby the employees by combining their purchases may
obtain their supplies at the lowest possible cost, the buying being
done by a qualified person paid by the firm. Factory kitchens or
restaurants have been installed by about 30 firms, the kitchen or
restaurant being operated by a manager paid by the firm, by a joint
committee of employees, or by outside parties. It was found that
the second method of operation was apparently the most satisfactory
to the employees.
Another measure instituted by some of the larger employers is the
setting up of so-called “ interest offices.” These offices generally
perform such duties as paying, for the worker, his taxes, insurance,
school expenses, and other regularly recurring expenditures; in
some instances, however, these offices also make arrangements for
taking care of loans, savings, and the management of joint-purchase
schemes, and even, in some cases, the operation of day nurseries or
courses in cooking, gardening, nursing, etc.
Of the 150 establishments studied, 78 had made some arrangement
for the provision of medical attention for their workers and 33 either
had their own hospital or sick rooms or had made arrangements for
rooms at the commune or other hospitals where their employees
could be treated. Company hospitals range all the way from those
with the simplest equipment to those equipped with all the most
modern appliances. One firm also has a convalescent and vacation
home. In many factories where there is no hospital a doctor is
employed; often the same physician is employed by several factories.
Factories located in cities often make arrangements with several
doctors, the medical attendance being given free or at greatly
reduced rates. Of the enterprises studied, 65 employ nurses, etc.,
and 87 have established sick funds for the employees. Funeral
funds have also been established at several large enterprises.
Some 20 factories employ welfare workers to advise their employees,
and two large establishments jointly employ a welfare director who
has oversight of hygienic conditions in the workshops, works out
any necessary welfare and protective measures, and directs the
social activities of the workers.
Other measures instituted by the employers for the benefit of
their workers include vocational training for young workers, lecture
courses for older employees,2 day nurseries and summer colonies for
their employees’ children, and support of the employees’ athletic
and social clubs.

I

1The data gathered as to housing for employees are summarized on pp. 154 to 156 of this issue of
the Monthly L abor R eview .
2 For an account of these activities, see pp. 189 and 190 of this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview .


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191

C O O PER A TIO N .

Cooperative Restaurants and Distribution oí Milk, Minneapolis.1

HE success of the Franklin Cooperative Creamery Association
of Minneapolis shows what can be done by the cooperative
movement in distributing milk. This association was formed
as a result of a controversy in the fall of 1919 between the local milk
distributors and their drivers. The society, formed by some of the
strikers, has had a steadily increasing success. The business is
carried on by the workers themselves on a salary basis, the surplus
savings made by the business being returned to the member patrons
on the basis of patronage.
Between July, 1921, and July, 1923, the number of wagons
operated by the association increased from 46 to 146 and the number
of employees from 120 to 381. In July, 1923, the sales amounted
to $286,095 as compared with $86,849in July, 1921. The sales during
the period January to September, 1923, reached a total of $2,285,408.
The association delivers milk to “ more than 40,000 homes in the city
of Minneapolis,” and is stated to be the largest creamery in the city.
Ice cream is also manufactured and sold by the association.
Its net savings for the first nine months of 1923 amounted to
$158,612. It is stated that the creamery not only has “ materially
reduced the price of milk,” but it has returned to its patrons a 5 per
cent dividend on their purchases, amounting to $86,047.
Some two months ago a cooperative restaurant was opened in the
down-town district of the same city by a cooperative organization
formed chiefly of members of the Northwestern Cooks’ Association
and employees of the Franklin Cooperative Creamery Association.
This very soon proved to be too small and the new association, the
Franklin System Cooperatives (Inc.), opened another early in
September. Both places are reported to be operating successfully
and the society is already running its own small bakery.

T

Progress oi Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Societies.
Cooperative Central Exchange.

D

URING the first seven months of 1923, according to a statement
in the October, 1923, issue of Cooperation (New York), the
Cooperative Central Exchange of Superior, Wis., had sales
amounting to $289,700, or $97,399 more than in the corresponding
period of the previous year. A saving of $2,961 was made from these
sales as compared with a loss of $2,113 in 1922.
1 D ata are from th e Minneapolis Cooperator, issues of Ju n e 15 an d Sept. 14, 1923, and new s service of
T h e Cooperative League.

192

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COOPERATION.

193

Central States Cooperative Wholesale Society.2

TTHE Central States Cooperative Wholesale Society, East St. Louis,
: !L, recently held its annual convention, at which some 50 socie­
ties with a membership of about 15,000 were represented.
I t is stated that a “ broad educational program” was adopted at
the meeting, which will pay particular attention to the need of in­
tensive cooperative education of the people of the mining towns of
Illinois.
This wholesale society was, until about a year ago, operated on
what was called the ‘‘American plan.” It has now been reorganized
on a strictly Rochdale basis with control entirely in the hands of its
constituent retail societies. According to the report of the assistant
manager of the wholesale, all but 14 of the 43 “ American plan”
stores in existence when the reorganization began have been dis­
posed of. In many cases independent Rochdale societies were
organized and the stores were turned over to them to operate, while
in other cases the stores were either closed or sold out.
Course in Cooperative Training, Minneapolis. 3

ILE Northern States Cooperative League has been conducting
a five weeks’ course in cooperative training. The course,
which opened in Minneapolis September 4, 1923, covered the
theory, principles, and history of the cooperative movement, book­
keeping (including the special system, adapted to cooperative enter­
prises, recommended by the Cooperative Central Exchange) and
problems of organization and administration of consumers’ co­
operative societies of various types.
This is stated to be the “ first attempt made in the United States
to organize a cooperative training school to be conducted in the
English language,” although similar courses, in the Finnish language,
have been given for several years by the Cooperative Central Ex­
change, at Superior, Wis.
Altogether 22 students, 4 of them women, took the course, 14 of
whom come from places outside Minneapolis. Of the students
attending, 9 were born in the United States, 6 in Sweden, 5 in Finland,
1 in Canada, and 1 in Nonvay.

T

Guiding Points in the Location of the Cooperative Store.

TUDENTS of the cooperative training course recently held in
Minneapolis 4 drew up the following set of points for a guide
to cooperative societies in locating their cooperative stores:

S

Get a good street map of the town (or of the section of the city) in which the society
is located. Then, using different colored pins or different characters (such as *, x, o):
1. Plot the homes of members of the society.
2.
Plot all competitor stores, distinguishing between chain stores and individual
private stores.
2 D ata are from press release of C entral States Cooperative W holesale Society, dated Oct. 2, 1923; a n d
Cooperation, New Y ork, N ovem ber, 1923.
3 D ata are from Cooperation, New Y ork, A ugust, 1923, a n d The M inneapolis Cooperator, Sept. 14, 1923.
4 See a rticle im m ed iately preceding.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

194

3.
Plot all available locations, distinguishing between stores for rent and ground
that might be used for new buildings.
Study the situation carefully in each instance and answer the following questions,
with regard to each available location:
1. How available is it to the members?
2. How is it located with reference to the nearest general shopping center?
3. How is it located with reference to its nearest competitors?
4. With reference to the movement of shopping crowds, is it (a) on the right side
of the street? (b ) directly in the line of approaching home-bound commuters (near
a large city)? (c) how many leisure-hour shoppers pass this site (between 9 and 12
a. m.; I and 4 p.m .)?
5. How many people of all classes pass this point between 8 and 9 a. m.; between
12 and 1 p. m.; between 4 and 6 p. m.?
6. Class of people in. the majority passing the store (business men; school children;
industrial workers; women)?
7. How many of these are possible buyers?
8. What nationality are these people?
9. Approximately what proportion of the people in the neighborhood are good mate­
rial for new members?
.
.
10. Are the people in the neighborhood well established or is the population
shifting?
11. Have there been cooperative stores in this district previously? If so, what
happened to them?
12. Is the neighborhood attractively laid out?
13. How near is the location to post office (in small town) or to other general centers
of attraction?
.
.
14. Is the competition between other stores so keen that prices are abnormally low.-’
15. How much of the trade is cash and carry; how much credit and delivery?
With regard to the property itself—
1. What is its rental value (or purchase value)?
2. What kind of a building is it and for what was it used previously?
3. What is the nature of the most immediate neighbors on either side and across
the street (business or dwelling and how engaged or of what class)?
4. Is is a corner lot? How much window space? What kind of windows?
5. How wide is the sidewalk? _ Made of what material?
6. What are the sanitary conditions in and about the building?
7. What improvements are there in the building?
8. How high are buildings on either side and across the street? How prominent?
9. Are all improvements placed under street and paid for?
10. What sun hits the windows (morning, noon, or afternoon)? Arethere any shade
trees or other protection?5

Report of British Labor Copartnership Association, 1922.

HE September, 1923, issue of Copartnership (London) contains
(pp. 138 and 139) the thirtieth annual report of the Labor
Copartnership Association. This association is a federation oi
societies whose declared aim it is “ to bring about an organization of
industry based upon the principle of labor copartnership; that is to
say, a system in which all those engaged shall share in the profits,
capital, control, and responsibility.”
In the 1921 report (see M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , November, 1922,
pp. 226 and 227) it was stated that 1921 was the worst year yet ex­
perienced; the present report states that 1922 was equally bad, but
the hope is expressed that the worst is now over and that an improve­
ment in business conditions may be expected.

T

6 From Cooperation, New Y ork, N ovem ber, 1923, p . 196.


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. A : :u

COOPERATION

195

The table below contains figures, taken from the report, showing
details of operation for 1922 of the societies engaged in various kinds
of work:
R E S U L T S O F O P E R A T IO N O F C O P A R T N E R S H IP PR O D U C T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN G R E A T
B R IT A IN , 1922, B Y IN D U S T R Y .
[£ a t par=$4.8665.]

C ountry and in d u stry .

E ngland:
T e x tile ...
Boot and shoe.............
M etal..............................................
B uilding and wood.............
Printing, e tc ............
M iscellaneous...............................
T o ta l........................................
Scotland:
T e x tile ...
B akin g __
P rin tin g ........................................
T o tal__

....

G rand to ta l...............................

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties.

Share and
loan capi­ A m ount of
ta l a n d
business.
reserve.

Profit.

Loss.

A m ount
paid as
dividend
on wages.

13
15
3
6
16
7

£577,409
354; 050
36,951
54, 811
191 ¡ 389
168, 445

£1,153,754
645,695
81, 760
47, 733
372^ 205
174; 738

£65,290
28,276
3,478
496
21,082
501

£12,059
10,089
63
1,649
81
13,320

£7,292
6l 089
1,3/5

60

1,383, 055

2,475,885

119,123

37,261

18,237

1
1
2

282,989
840,391
22,037

274,293
1,384,801
24,711

16,200
89,148
868

4

1,145,417

1,683,805

106,216

64

2,528,472

4,159,690

225,339

3,337
114

1,085
14; 109
66
15,260
37,261

33,497

The table following shows the development of the copartnership
movement since 1883:
D E V E L O P M E N T O F C O P A R T N E R S H IP M O V EM EN T

IN G R E A T B R IT A IN , 1883 TO 1922.

[£ a t p ar ==$4.8665.]

■6t e .-

C ountry and y e a r.

E ngland and Wales:
1883.................................................
1896.................................................
1909.................................................
1913.................................................
1920.................................................
1921.................................................
1922.................................................
Scotland:
1883.
1896.................................................
1909.................................................
1913.................................................
1920.
1921.
1922.
Great B ritain:
1883
1896.................................................
1909.................................................
1913.................................................
1920.................................................
1921.................................................
1922.................................................

N um ­
ber of A m ount of A m ount of
business.
socie­
capital.
ties.

Profit.

Loss.

433,439
679,425
744,585
1,353,527
1,439,533
1,383,055

£138,248
808,136
1,138,915
1,503,339
4,904,580
2,873,212
2,475,885

£7,519
31,833
52,665
85,899
272, 005
85,25C
119,123

£114
11,329
7,283
2,086
24,853
130,770
37,261

17,650
581,991
1,302,328
1,525,495
1.104, 413
1,145,576
1,145,417

22,503
1,043,047
3,058,923
3,545,298
, 801,102
2.212,163
1,683,805

1,512
73,181
143', 814
159,877

197

15
103,436
90
1,015, 430
99 1 2,981,753
81 * 2,270, 078
65 1 2,457,930
65
2,585,109
64
2,528,472

160,751
1,851,183
4,197,838
5,048,637
7,705,682
5,085,375
4,159,690

9, 031
IOS; 014
196,479
245,776
457,615
227,132
225,339

12
83
93
76
61
61
60
3
6
5
4
4
4

2

141,876
106,216
114
11,329
7,480
2,086
24,853
130,770
37,261

Amount-re­
turned. its
dividend
on wages, j

£6,900
10,135
13,949
57,761
19,598
18,237
9,088
15,433
19,614
10,531
18', 784
15', 260
15,988
25,568
33,563
68,292
38,382
33,497

1 Not. th e exact sum of the am ounts given above for Scotland a n d E n gland an d W ales, b u t is as given
in th e /e p o rt.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

196

Cooperation in Foreign Countries.
Australia.

ABOR Report, 1922, No. 13, of the Bureau of Census and Sta­
tistics of Australia contains the results of a comprehensive
a investigation of the cooperative movement in that country made
by the bureau.
The following table taken from the report shows the number of
societies in 1922:

L

N U M B E R O F S O C IE T IE S IN A U ST R A L IA O F EA C H T Y P E IN 1922, B Y S T A T E .
Producers’ societies.

Consumers’ societies.

Total.

N u m ­ M embership.
ber.

N um ­ M embership.
ber.

N u m ­ Membership.
ber.

State.

N ew South W ales..................................
V ictoria.....................................................
Q ueensland..............................................
South A u stralia......................................
W est A u stralia........................................
T asm an ia............................................... .

58
67
40
25
26
12

52,098
53,048
25,699
38,451
2,619
20,555

T o tal...............................................

228

192, 470

43
29
10
10
43 }
2
137

49,179
20,158
4, 412
30,398
6,832 /
1
110,979

101
98
50
35
69 |
14

101,277
73,208
30, 111
68,849
30,005

365

303,449

The table below shows the statistics of operation in 1922:
O P E R A T IO N S O F C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN A U S T R A L IA IN 1922, B Y ST A T E AND
T Y P E O F S O C IE T IE S .
Consum ers’ societies.

Producers’ societies.

State.
Share
capital.

Sales for
year.

N et
saving.

Share
capital.

Sales for
year.

N et
saving.

A m ount
returned
in,dividends
on p u r­
chases.

N ew South W ales............ £824,503 £12,230,060 £141,785 £483,319 £3,148,913 £255,044
894,970
24, 860
47,116
156,105
10,174,929
V icto ria............................... 1,214,728
233, 862
5, 737
5,597,966
59, 275
35,423
400,644
Q ueensland.........................
1,791,658
69, 844
1
10,145
498,545
5,468,
747
719,231
S outh A ustralia.................
202,806
9,403 |
42,999
W est A u stra lia ..................
494,195
9,755
54,419
13,435
258,014
99, 257
T asm an ia........................ .

£236,054
10,765
3,373
37,164
5,349

365,240

292,705

T o tal......................... 3,301,362

33,932,522

260,869

1,227,811

6,563,598

!Loss.

The above tables include figures for plant
employers for the benefit of their employees.
South Wales they also include statistics for the
society, thereby involving a certain amount of

stores established by
In the case of New
cooperative wholesale
duplication.

Canada.

from the Cooperative Union of Canada noted in the
A REPORT
October, 1923, issue of the International Cooperative Bulletin
(pp. 247, 248) contains statistics for certain affiliated Canadian
cooperative societies for the year 1922. These statistics cover only
12 consumers’ societies and the great Canadian cooperative market-


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COOPERATION.

197

ing asso c ia tio n , th e U n ite d G ra in G row ers (L td .). T h e r e p o rt s ta te s
t h a t 1922 w as a y e a r of tra d in g losses a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t on a la rg e
scale, b u t t h a t on th e w hole th e c o o p e ra tiv e so cieties fa re d v e ry
w ell. F o u r so cieties re p o rte d d e creased sales, a g g re g a tin g $197,944,
b u t i t is p o in te d o u t t h a t “ i t is p ro b a b le t h a t th e d efla tio n of p rices
c o n trib u te d to th is as m u c h as re d u c tio n in tr a d e s u p p o rt th ro u g h
re d u c e d p u rc h a s in g p o w er of m e m b e rs .”
T h e c o m b in e d m e m b e rsh ip of th e 12 c o n su m e rs’ societies w as
6,552 a n d th e sales fo r th e y e a r $2,166,196. T h e so cieties’ sh a re
c a p ita l to ta le d $293,183 a n d th e ir lo a n c a p ita l $157,782. T h e ir
re se rv e fu n d s a m o u n te d to $94,781.

Dividends on purchases ranging from 1^ to 10 per cent were paid
by nine societies and amounted to $138,761.
It should he pointed out that the statistics given fall far short of disclosing the
actual condition of the organized movement in Canada during 1922. Even if statis­
tics of the entire organized movement were available th ey would represent a very
small proportion of those of Canadian societies organized on the Rochdale plan. There
are hundreds of societies operating in isolation, and the Federal Government has no
machinery at its disposal for collecting the necessary data. The isolated societies
are hound to disappear sooner or later, since, deprived of the experience of other socie­
ties, and generally organized in ignorance of cooperative principles, there is little
chance of many of them being permanently successful. Persistent efforts are, how­
ever, being made to bring such societies to see the folly of the policy of isolation, and,
as is stated in the Canadian Cooperator, if the campaign now being conducted meets
with considerable success, there should be a great improvement in the position of the
organized movement by next year.

T h e U n ite d

G ra in G row ers

(L td .)

re p o rte d

a m e m b e rsh ip

of

35,748 a n d sales of $2,838,424.
Saskatchewan.
xl su m m a ry of th e a n n u a l re p o r t of th e c o o p e ra tio n a n d m a rk e ts
b ra n c h of th e S a sk a tc h e w a n D e p a r tm e n t of A g ric u ltu re g iv en in th e
S e p te m b e r, 1923, issu e of th e P u b lic S erv ice W eek ly (R eg in a)
“ in d ic a te s t h a t d u rin g th e y e a r en d e d A p ril 30, 1923, a g ric u ltu ra l
c o o p e ra tio n h a s m a d e v e ry s a tis fa c to ry p ro g re ss.” “ T h e b o u n tifu l
h a r v e s t of 1922 is re fle c ted in th e led g ers o f th e a sso c ia tio n s.”
The number of shareholders in cooperative associations at the present time is
16,849. The paid-up capital invested has increased from $501,070.33 to $504,570.19.
During the year 52 associations marketing livestock shipped 805 cars, the receipts
amounting to $749,360.58. The value of farm products marketed through the associa­
tions amounted to $25,361.41, w hile the total value of supplies sold amounted to
$3,332,517.08. The aggregate turnover of the associations, including livestock,
amounted to $4,107,239.07, the net profit earned being $110,997.34. * * *
That the Saskatchewan Cooperative Elevator Co. had a good vear is shown by the
fact that its net profit for the year was $463,056.63, and a cash dividend of 8 per cent
on the paid-up value of the shares was made. During the year 332 elevators handled
a total of 34,769,955 bushels of all grains, and 2,565,422 bushels were shipped over the
platform, making a total of 37,335,377 bushels compared with 27,990,437 bushels
handled during the previous year. The commission sales department handled
36,519,352 bushels and the terminal elevators 22,419,398 bushels.

Ceylon.

rTTIE C eylon B lu e B o o k fo r 1922 c o n ta in s (pp. Z1-Z3) d e ta ile d
d a t a sh o w in g fo r ea c h of th e c o o p e ra tiv e societies in th e co lo n y
th e d a te of re g is tra tio n , w h e th e r of lim ite d o r of u n lim ite d lia b ility ,
n u m b e r of m e m b e rs, p a id -in s h a re c a p ita l, reserv e, a n d d a ta as to
lo a n s g r a n te d b y th e G o v e rn m e n t. T h e se figures show t h a t on


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

198
A p ril 30,
m e m b e rs.

1922, th e re w ere 167 c o o p e ra tiv e societies, w ith 19,957'
T h e ir p a id -in sh a re c a p ita l a m o u n te d to R s. 150,354
($73,170, p a r) a n d th e ir re se rv e to R s. 25,057 ($12,194, p a r). L o an s
to th e a m o u n t of R s. 43,345 ($21,094, p ar) h a d b een g ra n te d to
th e se so cieties b y th e G o v e rn m e n t; of th is a m o u n t R s. 36,043
($17,540, p a r) w as s till ow ing.
N o in fo rm a tio n is g iv en as to th e k in d of b u sin ess d one b y th e
v a rio u s societies.
Czechoslovakia.

28, 1923, issue of Industrial and Labor Informa­
THEtionSeptember
(Geneva) contains (p. 33) a summary of the 1922 report

of the Czecho-Slovak Union of Building and Housing Cooperative
Societies. According to this account 232 local housing societies are
affiliated with the union. Of these societies, during 1922, 75 bought
building land valued at 4,469,353 kronen ($907,279, par); 79
societies built a total of 639 houses, containing accommodation for
739 families, and 17 blocks of houses containing 164 flats.
T h e r e p o r t s ta te s t h a t th e n u m b e r of societies w h ich u n d e rto o k
b u ild in g o p e ra tio n s w as la rg e r th a n in th e p re c e d in g y e a r b u t th a t
few er h o u se s w ere b u ilt. T h is d ec re a se in dw ellings p ro v id e d w as
d u e chiefly to th e d ifficu lty of secu rin g c a p ita l.
India (Punjab).

TH IE report of the Punjab registrar of cooperative societies for the
year 1921-22 contains statistics of the movement there of which
the following is a summary:
O PERATIONS OF C O OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN T H E PU N JA B IN 1921-22, B Y T Y PE p F
SOCIETY.
[Rupee at par=48.665 cents.]
‘ 'r.
i
1
Number N umber
of
of
societies. members.

Type of society .

Paid-in
share
capital.

Reserve
fund.

Working
capital, c

Profit
for year.

144

i 8 ,2 3 3

R u p ees.
1 ,4 3 5 ,8 8 0

R u pees.
6 0 1 ,4 6 9

R u pees.
1 6 ,6 1 3 ,5 3 4

R u pees.
2 8 0 ,4 0 4

8 ,2 3 2

2 1 4 ,8 3 7

5 ,0 2 7 ,1 3 4

5 ,7 0 8 ,7 8 5

2 4 ,6 6 5 ,9 8 9

1 ,0 6 6 ,2 0 9

160
11
354

1 ,1 7 5
477
2 2 ,1 7 9

5 7 ,2 4 1
8 3 ,7 6 0
1 ,4 9 4

2 0 ,3 7 7
1 7 ,0 7 8
1 ,1 6 7

3 1 2 ,9 1 5
2 7 7 ,9 2 5
3 ,8 2 6

2 17 ,6 8 9
2 212
694

T otal..........................................

8 ,7 5 7

2 3 8 ,6 6 8

5 ,1 6 9 ,6 2 9

5 ,7 4 7 ,4 0 7

2 5 ,2 6 0 ,6 5 5

1 ,0 4 9 ,0 0 2

Nonagricul turai societies.................

401
41

1 7 ,5 9 4
529

1 ,2 0 2 ,8 4 0

15.220

Central banking societies.................
Agricultural societies:
Credit........................................
Purchase and purchase and
sale..................... .......................
Production and saie...................
Other.............................................

3 3 1 ,0 9 4 |

1 0 1 ,1 1 8

j

.....................1"

i Member societies.

__ ___-i

2 Loss.

•

v

Similar data for other parts of India were given in the July, 1923,
issue of the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w (pp. 239-242).
Italy.
Fascist Cooperatives.

MIK
(•'u d çyj i

APPEARS, from an article in the September 5, 1923, issue of
F L’Association
Ouvrière (Paris), that there is now a Fascist
cooperative movement in Italy.

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There was already a Catholic, a

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COOPERATION.

5

199

S o cialist, a n d a “ n e u t r a l ” m o v e m e n t, th o u g h m a n y of th ese societies
h a v e b e e n d e s tro y e d b y F a s c is t su p p o rte rs .
The Fascist societies held their first convention at Milan on J u n e

17, 1923, at the call of their federation, the Italian Union of Coopera­
tives, which was formed in April, 1921. The union claims to have in
affiliation 1,341 local societies with a combined membership of
247,000 and a business for 1922 of 350,000,000 lire ($67,550,000, par).

A cco rd in g to th e a rtic le , th e c o n v e n tio n u n a n im o u sly a p p ro v e d th e
a ttitu d e ta k e n b y th e C e n tra l C om m ission o n C o o p e ra tio n in its
rev isio n of th e C o m m ercial C ode in p ro v id in g t h a t c o o p e ra tiv e societies
sh o u ld b e allow ed to p u rs u e n o o th e r p u rp o se s th a n th o se fo r w hich
th e y w ere fo rm e d . I t is a d m itte d t h a t th e p u rp o se of th is p ro v isio n
is to p r e v e n t so cieties fro m p a r tic ip a tin g in p o litic a l o r o th e r “ e x tra c o o p e r a tiv e ” m o v e m e n ts. T h is p ro v isio n is of in te r e s t b e c a u se of
th e f a c t t h a t su c h p a r tic ip a tio n is g iv e n b y th e F a sc ists as th e excuse
fo r th e d e s tr u c tio n of th e c o o p e ra tiv e societies.
T h e in te n tio n w a s a n n o u n c e d of callin g a co n g ress w h ich w ould
b e a co n g ress n o t o n ly of m e m b e rs of th e I ta lia n U n io n of C o o p era­
tiv e s b u t of th e w hole I ta lia n c o o p e ra tiv e m o v e m e n t.
Labor Cooperatives.

A recent book by Odon Por, entitled “ Guilds and Cooperatives
in Italy,” contains a chapter (pp. 98-116) on the present (1922)
condition of the cooperative movement—especially the workers’
productive cooperative societies—in that country. These societies
began with such simple work as digging canals or making dams, then
gradually began to undertake more technical work, until finally
their “ combines,” or federations of societies, have become able to
compete “ with the biggest and best-equipped private enterprises,”
while in some Provinces “ they have actually wiped out the private
contractors and are practically controlling productive activities,
doing work for the authorities and for the public alike.”
Hundreds and thousands of workers are directly interested in these cooperatives
that have now made good their position in every branch of production. They are
building bridges in brick and steel; public and private palaces and whole garden
cities; they are constructing roads, railways and ports; they are digging canals; they
are manufacturing machines of all kinds; they are building sailing ships, cargo boats,
liners, and warships; they redeem and cultivate rationally vast stretches of land; they
are active in shipping and transportation; they have rebuilt, w ithin a short period of
time, whole districts where the war wrought havoc. In the arts and crafts they are
numerous. As the workers work w illingly and w ith enthusiasm for these their own
enterprises, and as the societies are able to shift organized bodies of labor from one end
of the country to another when required, they are able to execute works hardly realiza­
ble by private enterprise, w hich can never obtain the whole-hearted cooperation of
hired labor.
To-day, the vast number of workers in the cooperative movement and their excel­
lence, the extent and variety of undertakings, the technical and managerial experience
vested in them, form such a solid block of interests that the problems connected with
its efficient and undisturbed functioning constitute a national problem. Cooperation
must live and grow undisturbed if the economic life of the Nation is to proceed regularly
and progressively.
These vast institutions, distributed all OAmr the country, command attention not
merely by virtue of their technical equipment, organizing ability and business capac­
ity, but especially by virtue of their manifest will to work, not for profits, but for
■AerGeb. Their will to serve the community is a motive that the community, besieged
as it is by profiteers, can not afford to overlook.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Iu the introduction to a recent government bill on cooperation it is explicitly
recognized that the cooperative movement is the most fitting means of regenerating
the economic forms and institutions w hich have proved themselves inadequate to
cope with the problems matured during the war; that the army of middlemen and
profiteers that has sprung up during the war and has infested all activities can be
kept in check only by the cooperatives, which by their very nature exclude all profit
making. The rapid and skillful execution of the public work entrusted to them,
making practically no profit on it, is one of the chief features of these cooperatives,
and therein lies their great future.
It is remarkable that out of the thousands of cooperative societies very few have
failed during the present industrial and financial crisis, w hile numerous gigantic
private enterprises have gone bankrupt. This proves their stability and the efficiency
of their managers. Nevertheless, the cooperatives are suffering from the crisis, for
they can not obtain sufficient credit.

These combines are grouped into a federation, the National Federa­
tion of Cooperatives of Production and Labor, which represents
them in their relations with the State, organizes the exchange of
equipment among the federated combines, arranges for supplies of
raw materials, and provides technical and business assistance and
advice. The federation already owns its own brick works and
quarries and is planning to extend its operations in this field. “ Thus,
while the single combines represent, regionally, industrial bodies of
the most modern type—doing any work from the roughest to the most
artistic—their national federation constitutes a formidable force
affecting the whole industrial life of the country.” It has recently
taken steps toward undertaking “ great construction works in France
and Russia in agreement with the labor organizations of these
countries and under the control of their Governments and that of
Italy.”
Poland.

'T'HE following table taken from the April, 1923, issue (p. 198) of
^ the Revue Mensuelle de Statistique (Warsaw), shows the num­
ber of registered cooperative societies of each type, in Russian, Prus­
sian, and Austrian Poland, on January 1, 1922.
,
N U M B E R OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES OF EACH T Y P E , IN PO LA N D ,
GRAPHIC SECTION, JA N U A R Y 1, 1922.

BY

GEO­

Number of societies of each type in—
Type of society.

Russian
Poland.

Prussian
Poland.

Austrian
Poland.

Whole
country.

Consumers’ societies..................................................................
Housing societies........................................................................
Credit societies............................................................................
Wholesale societies:
Farmers’...............................................................................
Other.....................................................................................
Raw-material societies.............................................................
Societies for sale of dairy products........................................
Other agricultural societies...... ..............................................
Distilleries.......................................................................... .........
Other industrial societies.........................................................
Libraries, e t c .............................................................................
N ot reported...............................................................................

2,323
"341
1,164

117
76
1,028

1,756
58
3,151

4,196
'475
5,343

53
37
18
50
5
2
2
6
7

133
64
79
182
47
60
39
10
16

600
201
227
270
27
5
29
37
44

786
302
324
502
79

T o ta l.................................................................................

4,008

1,851

6,405

12,264
------ ii-uvA—


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1424]

70
53
67

CO N CILIA TIO N A N D A R B ITR A TIO N

Conciliation Work of the Department of Labor in October, 1923.
By

H ugh

L.

K e r w i n , D ir e c t o r o p C o n c il ia t io n .

HE Secretary of Labor, through the Division of Conciliation,
exercised his good offices in connection with 61 labor disputes
during October, 1923. These disputes affected a total of
43,511 employees. The following table shows the name and loca­
tion of the establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred,
the nature of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy
not having reached strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade con­
cerned, the cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of set­
tlement, the date of b e g i n n i n g ' and ending, and the number of work­
men directly and indirectly affected :

T

L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D ST A TES D E P A R T M E N T O F LA B O R
T H R O U G H IT S D IV IS IO N O F C O N C IL IA TIO N , O C T O B E R , 1923.

C om pany or in d u stry and location.

N ature of
controversy.

D ana Collieries, Dana. I n d ...............

S trike...........

Schuylkill R y ., G irardville, P a ....... ........d o ...........
Surface track laborers, Chicago, 111. ........d o ...........
W arw ick Mills, C enterville, R . I ___

T hreatened
strike.
Cloak m akers, Los Angeles, C alif___ S trik e............
Crowell Publishing Co. and R alph ........d o ...........
P rin tin g Co., Springfield, Ohio.
Grass-Golden Shoe Co., Boston, ........d o ...........
M ass.

M eat cutters, Chicago, 111....................

Controversy.

P in e Ridge, P a ....................................... S trik e............
L aurel R u n Collierv, P a ......................
D elaware Colliery, "Pa...............
Tennessee Coal Si Iro n Co., W hitw ell, Tenn.
U . S. R ad iato r Corporation, Edw ardsville, 111.

........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........do ...........

K a te r & Co., P hiladelphia, P a .......... Threatened
strike.
........do ...........
S trike...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........

Chas. K . Fein, Philadelphia, P a .........
De M ay Co., Philadelphia, P a ...........
H od P rin tin g Co,, NPW "York P it y ...
M arble cu tters, New Y ork C ity I . . . .

O pera F u r Co., B oston, Mass............. ___.d o ............
Bliss Colliery, Glen A lden Coal Co., ........d o ...........
N anticoke, Pa.
U nited H osiery Co., Chattanooga, ........d o ...........
Tenn.
Telephone operators, Sullivan, In d . . ........d o ...........

C raft concerned.

Present
s ta tu s.

Cause of dispute.

M iners..................... R ailroad tran sp o r­
tation.
T raction w orkers.. Wage d is p u te ...........
T rack la b o re rs .__ A sked 37* cents per
hour increase.
Textile w o rk e rs... Wages, hours, a nd
recognition.
Cloak m ak ers......... U nion recognition...
W rappers a n d op­ O pen sh o p ..................
erators.
Shoe w orkers......... W ages a nd alleged
violation of con­
tra c t.
M eat c u tte rs........... A sked 15 per week
increase and short­
er hours.
M iners..................... U nion dispute: work­
ing conditions.
........d o . .................... ........ d o ..........................
........ d o ......... ............ ........d o ..........................
........d o ...................... A sked regular wages
in th e ir section.
F o u n d ry workers. H ours, conditions,
and union recogni­
tion.
W
ages a nd hours of
G arm ent m a k e rs ..
labor.
........d o ...................... ........d o ..........................
........d o ....................... ____d o ..........................
M achinists.............. ( i ) ................................
C utters, carvers, A sked $1 a d ay increase.
F u rriers................... A sked union recog­
nition.
M iners..................... W ages and working
conditions.
T extile w orkers. . . Alleged discrim ination for union affil­
iation.
Telephone opera- One operator discharged.
tors.

A djusted.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Do.
A djusted.
Pending.
A djusted.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Do.
A djusted.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
A djusted.
Do.
Do.
Pending.

1N ot reported.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1425]

201

Do.

202

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D ST A TES D E P A R T M E N T O F LA B O R
T H R O U G H IT S D IV IS IO N O F C O N C IL IA TIO N , O C T O B E R , 1923—Continued.

Com pany or in d u stry a n d location.

N atu re of
controversy.

Craft concerned.

U . S. F u rn itu re Co., Hoboken, N . J .

Strike.

B asket m a k e rs..

B uilding trades, N ewark, N. J .........

___do.

B uilding tra d e s .

Tailors, N ew ark, N. J ...........................
H udson Coal Co., P a ............................
Furriers, South N orwalk, C onn........
E a st E n d Coal Co., P ond Creek, P a . .
Jew elry workers, New Y ork C ity___
Cigar m akers, Boston, M ass...............
D exter P ap er Co., W indsor Locks,
Conn.

....... do............
___ do............
___ do............
___ do............
___ do............
Controversy
S trik e...........

A. C. Meeley Co., Philadelphia, P a . . Threatened
strike.
G raham Co., Philadelphia, P a ...........
M argaret A rkw right, P hiladelphia,
Pa.
Julia C. Morris Co., Philadelphia, P a .
Ladies’ tailors, Louisville, K y ...........
Lorraine M anufacturing Co., Paw ­
tu ck et, R. I.
K ovatz & K n au b er Co., New Y ork
City.
Bevelers and m irror m akers, New
Y ork City.
Longshoremen, Norfolk, V a ...............
Longshoremen, New Orleans, L a ...
D errick m en, New Y ork C ity ..........
L ax & Abowitz, Brooklyn, N. Y . ..
A vondale Colliery, P a . . .....................
Peach O rchard Colliery, P a ...............
Truesdale Colliery, P a ........................ .
W oodw ard Colliery, P a .......................
Petteb o n e Colliery, P a ........................
Loomis Colliery , P a ..............................
Auehinclos Colliery, P a .......................
No. 6 Colliery, Pennsylvania Coal
Co., P ittsto n , Pa,
B afh u in Colliery, P ittsto n , P a ........
Central Colliery, Avoca, P a .......... .
Canaanville Coal Co., Ohio.................
Golden S tate Woolen Mills, Long
Beach, Calif.
Brow nw ell B rush & W ire Co.,
Greensburg, ln d .
Carpenters, St. Louis, M o.................
Eisenlohr Co., Reading, P a.
Wilkinson L um ber Co., Indianapolis,
ln d .
No. 14 Colliery, P ittsto n , P a ...........
Commonwealth Steel Co., G ranite
City, 111.

S trike...........
T h reaten ed
strike.
S trike...........
___do...........
.do.

Present,
status.

Open shop and work­
ing conditions.
A sked $10 a d ay and
5 days a week.
A sked w age increase
W orking conditions.
0 ).
Lack of e q u ip m e n t..

Adjusted.

I1)...................

.do.
A sked wage increase
of 171- cents per
hour.
Loom fixers............ Closed sh o p ...............
.do.
.do.

Em ployees refused
certain work.
M irror w orkers___ W age increase and
.do.
recognition
of
union.
.do.
Longshorem en___ W age increase and
new agreem ent.
W orking conditions.
Controversy ___do.............
A sked $1 a d ay in ­
Strike.......... Derrick m e n .
crease.
Recognition of union
___ do........... Shoemakers.
Wages a nd working
T hreatened M iners..........
conditions.
strike.
..d o .
___ do...........................
___ do...........
..d o .
___ do.......... ...............
....... do.......... .
___ do...........................
___ do...........
..do.
..d o .
___ do..........................
___ do...........
.d o .
___ d o ..........................
__ d o ............
___ do........ ..................
. . . . d o ......... .
..d o .
..d o .
Price on rock, wages,
Strike..........
a n d conditions.
.do.
.do.
Com pany refused to
discharge m an.
.do.
___ do...................
U nion d isp u te...........
....... do...................
.do.
(').....................
Wages; com pany re­
.d o .........
Textile w orkers.
fused to renew
agreement.
.d o ......... B rush and wire 5 per cent reduction
makers.
in wages.
.d o ........... C arpenters............. A sked 25 cents per
hour increase.
.d o ......... Cigar m akers.
A sked 10 p e r cent
increase and piece­
work.
.do.
B uilding tra d e s . . . Jurisdictional dis­
pute.
.do.
M iners............
Wage rates.................
.do.
Company represen­
Iron m o ld ers.
tation plan.
.do.

Pending.

Do.
Adjusted.
Pending.
A djusted.
Pending.
Wage agreem ent___
Do.
A sked increase; dis­
Do
crim ination
for
union affiliation.
Ladies’ ta ilo rs ___ Wages, hours, and U nable to
recognition
of
adjust,
union.
___do........................... Adjusted.
.do.
----- do...........................
.do.
Do.

Tailors.................
M iners.................
F urriers...............
M iners.................
Jew elry workers.
Cigar m akers___
P ap er w orkers..

Bronze w o rk e rs ...

1 N ot reported.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Cause of dispute.

[1426]

Do.
Pending.
Do.
U nclassi­
fied.
Pending.
Adjusted.
Pending.
Do.
Adjusted.
Pending.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
Pending.
Adjusted.
Do.
Pending.

CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.

203

L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F LA B O R
T H R O U G H IT S D IV IS IO N O F C O N C IL IA T IO N , O C T O B E R , 1923—C ontinued.
D uration.
Company or in d u stry and location.

Term s of settlem ent.
Begin­
ning.

D ana Collieries, ‘D ana, I n d .

To Public Service Commis­
sion.
Schuylkill R y ., G irardville, P a ....... . To a rb itra tio n ........................ .
Surface track laborers, Chicago, 111... ___ d o .................................... .
W arw ick Mills, C enterville, R . I ___ A greem ent concluded.............
Cloak m akers, Los Angeles, C alif__
Crowell Publishing Co. an d R alp h
Printing Co., Springfield, Ohio.
Grass-Golden Shoe Co., Boston,Mass. Wages settled; agreem ent
concluded.
M eat cutters, Chicago, 111..................
P ine R idge, P a ..................................... One m an discharged.
L aurel R u n Colliery, P a . ................. . ___d o ...........................
D elaw are Colliery, P a .......................... ___d o ...........................
Tennessee Coal & Iron Co., W hitwell, T enn.
U . S. R ad iato r Corporation, Edw ardsville, 111.
K a ter & Co., P hiladelphia, P a . . ... 44-hour week; ! : week minim um .
Chas. K . Fein, P hiladelphia, P a ___ ___ d o ..............
D e M ay Co., P hiladelphia, P a ......... . ___ d o ..............
H oe P rintin g Co., New Y ork C ity ...
M arble cutters, New Y ork C ity ........ To a rb itratio n for settlem e n t.
Opera F u r Co., Boston, Mass............. Men re tu rn to w o rk ; strike off
Bliss Colliery , Glen A lden Coal Co., To district board for ad ju st­
N anticoke, Pa.
m ent.
U nited H osiery Co., Chattanooga,
Tenn.
Telephone operators, Sullivan, I n d . .
U . S. F u rn itu re Co., H oboken,N . J .. Union recognition g ra n te d . ..
B uilding trades, N ew ark, N. J.
Tailors, N ew ark, N . J .................
H udson Coal Co., P a ...................

To district board for settle­
m en t; strike off.

F urriers, South N orw alk, Conn.........
E a st E n d Coal Co., Pond Creek, P a. E q u ip m en t furnished by
com pany.
Jew elry workers, New Y ork City.
Cigar m akers, B oston, M ass... . . .
Men returned; conferences
pending.
D exter P ap er Co., W indsor Locks,
Conn.
A . C. Meeley Co., P hiladelphia, P a . . C om pany increased wages;
strike continues.
G raham Co., Philadelphia, P a .......... 44-hour week, $44 per w e ek ..
M argaret A rkw right, Philadelphia, ___ d o ..........................................
P a.
.do.
Ju liaC . Morris Co., P hiladelphia, Pa.
Ladies ’ tailors, Louisville, K y ..........
Lorraine M anufacturing Co., Paw ­
tucket, R . I.
K ovatz & K n au b er Co., New Y ork A djusted prior to commis­
sioner’s arrival.
C ity.
Bevelers a n d m irror m akers, New
York City.
Longshoremen, Norfolk, V a ............... Received 10 cents p er hour
increase.
Longshoremen, New O ilcans, L a —
D errick m en, New Y ork C ity ..........
L ax & Abow itz, B rooklyn, N . Y __ Men retu rn ed w ith o u t dis­
crim ination.
A vondale Colliery, P a ..........................
Peach O rchard Colliery, P a ...............
Truesdale Colliery, P a .........................
W oodw ard Colliery, P a .......................
Pettebone Colliery, P a .........................
Loomis Colliery, P a ..............................
Auohinclos Colliery, P a .......................
No. 6 Colliery, Pennsylvania Coal U nauthorized strike; m en
returned.
Co., P ittsto n , P a.
B arnum Colliery, P ittsto n , P a .......... R eturned; d em and settle­
m ent later.
1N ot reported.

71015°—23-----14

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Men involved.

[1427]

Ending.

1923.
1923.
Oct. I . . . Oct. 19
. . d o . . . Oct. 3
Sept. 13 Oct. 9
Oct. 1 Oct. 12
Sept. 20

0)

Sept. 1
Oct. 1
Oct. 2
. . . d o . ..
. . . d o . ..
May 8

. .d o ....
Oct. 5
Aug. 2
Oct. 1
Oct. 0
Oct. 8

GO

Oct. 6
. .d o ....
..d o .

Oct. 8

15
20

1,150
Oct. 20
Oct. 9
Oct. 15

1,200

18
855

Oct. 14

14
48

G)
G)

Oct.

9

15,000

(])
Sept. 25

Öct.

1

100
100

0)

G)
G)

1

Mar.

1

Oct.

9

150
100

Oct. 15
Oct. 13

Oct. 17
Oct. 16

Oct. 12

Oct. 15

(l )

50S

14

. .d o ..
..d o ..

8

Aug.

100

600

950

Sept. 24
Sept. 15

Oct.

200

900
300
23

2,500
650
450
750
450

Sept.

0)
0)

120
100
1,200

Sept. 18

Aug. 16
Oct. 4 ...

D irect­ Indi­
rectly.
ly.

Oct.

1

Oct.

6

35

Oct. 15

Sept. 4
Oct.

6

0)

Oct. 15
Sept. 3

700

G)

G)

Oct. 28

200
100

Oct. 20

Oct. 22

480
395
1,900
1,725
395
900
390
1,675

Oct. 19

..d o .......

200

0)
0)
G)
0)
G)

SÜ

200

35

75

204

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F LA B O R
T H R O U G H IT S D IV IS IO N O F C O N C IL IA T IO N , O C TO B ER , 1923—Concluded.
D uration.
C om pany or in d u stry an d location.

Term s of settlem ent.
Begin­
ning.

C entral Colliery, Avoca, P a .
Canaanville Coal Co., O hio.................
Golden State Woolen Mills, Long
Beach, Calif.
Brow nw ell B ru sh & W ire Co.,
G reensburg, In d .
Carpenters, St. Louis, Mo...................
E isenlohr Co., Reading, P a ..............
W ilkinson L um ber Co., Indianapolis.
In d .
No. 14 Colliery, P ittsto n , P a ............

To be su b m itted as per rules
of union.

5 per cent cut; bonus of 10
per cent for piecework over
600 yards.

C1)............................

W ork aw arded to iron
workers.
R e tu rn e d . S u b m itted to
union regulations.

1923.
Oct. 17

0)

1923.
Oct. 20

D irect­ Indi­
rectly.
ly.

600

C1110
)

140

Oct. 24

45

5

Oct. 31
Oct. 15
O ct. 14 Oct. 24

500
17
10

350
40

Oct. 29

1,610

90

Aug.

1

Oct.

1

(')

Oct. 23
June

C om m onw ealth Steel Co., G ranite
C ity, 111.

Ending

Men involved.

1

280
40,002

T otal.

3,509

N ot reported.

On November 1, 1923, there were 67 strikes before the depart­
ment for settlement and, in addition, 16 controversies which had
not reached the strike stage. Total number of cases pending, 83.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1428]

IM M IG RA TIO N.
Statistics of Immigration for September, 1923.
B y W. W . H u s b a n d , C o m m i s s i o n e r G e n e r a l

op

I m m ig r a t io n .

H E follow ing ta b le s show th e to ta l n u m b e r of im m ig ra n t aliens
a d m itte d in to th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d e m ig ra n t alie n s d e p a rte d
fro m th e U n ite d S ta te s fro m J u ly to S e p te m b e r, 1923. T h e
ta b u la tio n s a re p re se n te d a c c o rd in g to th e c o u n trie s of la s t p e rm a n e n t
o r f u tu r e p e r m a n e n t resid en ce, ra c e s o r p eo p les, o ccu p atio n s, and
S ta te s of f u tu r e p e r m a n e n t o r la s t p e rm a n e n t resid en ce. T h e la s t
ta b le (T a b le 6) show s th e n u m b e r of alien s a d m itte d u n d e r th e p e r
c e n t lim it a c t of M a y 19, 1921, fro m J u ly 1 to N o v e m b e r 7, 1923.

T
T able

1 .—

IN W A R D AN D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T, JU L Y TO S E P T E M B E R ,
1923.

Arrivals.

Period.

1923.
J u ly ..................................
A u g u st.............................
Septem ber......................

Im m i­
grant
aliens
ad ­
m itted .

N on­
im m i­ U nited
gran t
States
aliens citizens
arrived.
ad ­
m itted.

D epartures.

Aliens
Total
de­
barred. arrivals

E m i­
grant
aliens.

Nonem i­
grant
aliens.

U nited Total
States depart­
citizens. ures.

85,542
88,286
89,431

13,039
13,688
18,221

20,637
33,510
51,894

2,899
2,804
2,331

122,117
138,288
161,877

8,041
6,489
6,073

14.213
12,267
10,245

39,898
27,744
16,025

62,152
46,500
32,343

T o tal..................... 263,259

44,948

106,041

8,034

422,282

20,603

36,725

83,667

140.995


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1429]

205

206

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,

T able 2 .—LAST PE R M A NEN T R ESIDENCE OF IMMIGRANT A L IE N S ADM ITTED AND
F U T U R E PER M A N E N T RESID EN C E OF EMIGRANT A L IE N S D E P A R T E D D U RING
SE PT E M BE R , 1923, A N D FROM JU L Y TO SE PT E M BE R , 1923, B Y COUNTRIES.
Im m igrant.
C ountry.

Septem ­
ber, 1923.

E m igrant.

July to
Septem ­
ber, 1923.

Septem ­
ber, 1923.

Ju ly to
Septem­
ber, 1923.

A lb an ia........................................................................................
A u stria ................................ ................... ..................................
B elg iu m .......................................................................................
B u lg aria......................................................................................
Czechoslovakia..........................................................................
D e n m ark .....................................................................1..............
E sth o n ia ......................
.............
.........................
F in la n d ........................................................................................
France, including Corsica..................... ...............................
G e rm a n y ........................... ........................................................
G reat B rita in a n d Irela n d :
E n g la n d ...............................................................................
Irela n d ..................................................................................
Scotland............................................. .................................
W ales....................................................................................
G reece..........................................................................................
H u n g a ry .......................... ..:......................................................
Italy"(including Sicily a n d S a rd in ia)................... - .............
L a tv ia ........................................................................................
L ith u an ia .............................. .....................................................
N e therlands............................................ ...................................
N orw ay.......................................................................................
P o lan d ..........................................................................................
Portugal (including Azores a n d Cape Verde Isla n d s). . .
R u m a n ia ...................................................................... ..............
R u ssia ..........................................................................................
Spain (including Canary and Balearic Isla n d s)...............
S w ed en ........................................................ ...............................
Sw itzerland.................................................................................
T u rkey in E u ro p e.....................................................................
Y ugoslavia..................................................................................
O ther E u ro p e........................................ ................................

53
828
289
145
2,507
601
50
699
916
7,993

166
3,417
970
286
6 ,555
1,803
147
2,244
2,586
26,910

4,615
3,187
6.720
'365
872
927
7,308
298
340
573
2,078
5; 670
513
1,853
2,843
96
3,375
'709
293
653
27

13,277
9,796
18,106
821
2,506
2,393
22,239
687
1,145
1,982
6,452
13,216
1,527
5,290
7,860
371
11,052
2,070
1,132
1,371
153

418
136
72
7
536
39
1,538

45
233
383
62
81
193
63
14
46
156
7

1,561
505
298
19
1,553
175
5,432
48
147
117
225
1,046
1,071
312
275
638
257
91
47
496
15

22

14
60
10

136
43
33
46
70

1

54
22

48
64
168
38
474
181
3
124
336
338

Total E u ro p e ..................................................................

57,396

168,530

4,540

16,105

C h in a- ........................................................ :................................
J a p a n ...................................... ................... ................................
I n d ia ..........................................................................................
Syria, Palestine, and M esopotam ia.....................................
T urkey in A sia...........................................................................
O ther A sia............................................. .............. - ....................

1,524
555
31
543
589
39

2,793
1,466
67
1,371
1,192
126

330
159
14
59

751
453
37
164
97

7

21

T o tal A sia ........................................................................

3,281

7,015

570

1,523

A frica.............................................................................- - ...........
A ustralia, T asm ania, and New Z ealan d ............................
Pacific Islands (not specified)...............................................
C anada an d N ew foundland.................................................. C entral A m erica........................................................................
Mexico..........................................................................................
South A m erica.. . .... ..........................................................
W est In d ie s................................................................................

149
80

10

16,657
293
8,097
1,328
2,137

30
4
209
37
294
84
295

38
113
8
754
146
539
305
1,072

2

618
321
26
49,237
764
26,529
3,403
6,803
13

G rand to ta l............... ....................................................

89,431

263,259

6,073

20,603

M ale...............................................................................- .............
'Female.................. ............... .......................................; .............

53,358
36,073

161,334
101,925

4,304
1,769

13 713
6,890


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LI 430J

11

1

IMMIGRATION.
T

207

3 . — IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D TO A N D E M IG R A N T A L IE N S D E P A R T E D
FR O M T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R . 1923. A N D PR O M JU L Y TO S E P ­
T E M B E R , 1923, B Y R A CES O R P E O P L E S .

able

Im m igrant.
Race or people.

E m igrant.

Septem ­ 1 Ju ly to
ber, 1923. September,
1923.

African (black).........................................
A rm enian.................................................
B ohem ian and M oravian (Czech).................
B ulgarian, Serbian, a n d M ontenegrin.......................
C hinese.............................................
C roatian a n d Slovenian.......................
C uban.....................................
D alm atian, Bosnian, an d H erzegovinian...........................
D utch and F le m ish .................................................
E a st In d ia n ..............................
E n g lish .............................................
F in n ish ..................................
F rench ............................ . .
G erm an......................................
Greek..................................
H ebrew .................................................
Ir is h .........................
Italian (n o rth ).......................................
Italian (so u th )................... ...................
Japanese ..............................................
K orean .........................................................
L ithuanian...............................................
M agyar..................................................................
M exican.......................................................
Pacific Isla n d er................................ ...................
Polish................................................
Portuguese ..................................................................
R u m a n ia n ..............................................................
R ussian ........................................................................
R u th e n ia n ( R u s s n ia k ) ...........................................

Scandinavian (Norwegians, D anes, an d Sw edes) .............
Scotch .................................
S lovak ..............................................................
Spanish ................................................................
Spanish-A m erican .........................................................................
S y rian .......................................................
T u rk ish ......................................................
W elsh ..............................................
W est Indian (except C u b an ).................................................
O ther peoples................... ........................................................
T o tal...............................................................

1.519
584
870
288
543
252

4,408
1.657
2,599
699
1,476
1,241
651

22

122

1,005

3,324
42
29,998
1,979
11,389
34,724
2,639
22,479
16,963
4,623
18,508
1,303
22
943
3,187
25,809

21

10,530
659
3,860
10,493
937
8 557
5,754
1,462
6,081
448
9
341
! , 141
7,926
3
3,478
671
252
1,995
213
6,598
8.854
1,415
393
422
215
31
424
211
158

9,660
1,964
728
4.840
650
20,959
24,526
3,310
1,680
999
786
209
1,080
705
372

89,431

263,259

Septem ­
ber, 1923.

July to
Septem ber,
1923.

61

359

2

8

123
167
314
4
97

458
500

11
88

9
658
45
65
113
546
133
56
1,487
150

733
8

249
03
300
32
2,245
140
351
497
1.567
50
564
260
5,203
447

5

8

52
46
286

179
182
513

246
390
61
95

1,067
1.106
307
324

188
80
9
256
50
67
8
35
26

763
387
64
841
240
163
127
23
186
88

6,073

20,603

6

44

T able 4 .—IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D TO A N D

E M IG R A N T A L IE N S D E P A R T E D
FR O M T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R , 1923, A N D FR O M JU L Y TO S E P T E M ­
B E R , 1923, BY ST A T E S O R T E R R IT O R IE S .
Immigrant.
State.

July to
July to
September, September,
September, September,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.

Alabama..................... .......................................
Alaska................................................................
Arizona...................... ........................
Arkansas..........................................................
California................... .....................
Colorado..................... ..........................
Connecticut............... .......................................
Delaware.................... ...................................
District of Columbia.........................................................
Florida........................................................................ ...........
Georgia......................... .................... ■..............................
Hawaii....... .................. ........................................................
Idaho......... .................................................................
Illinois................................................................
Indiana....................................................................
Iow a...................................................................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Emigrant.

[1431]

72
19
2,268
35
6,187
224
1,855
86
229
428
48
159
132
6,776
814
438

172
83
4, 438
69
17,938
570
5,457
221
616
1,300
151
621
383
20,226
2,348
1,542

2
12
31
1
463
8
108
1
20
87
3
21
11
322
48
10

19
24
109
5
1,417
52
439
3
107
423
26
63
27
1,037
158
63

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW

208

4.—IMMIGRANT A L IE N S ADM ITTED TO AND EM IGRANT A L IE N S D E P A R T E D
FROM THE U N IT E D STA TES D U R IN G SE PT E M B E R , 1923, AN D FROM JULY TO SE PT E M ­
B E R , 1923, B Y STATES OR T ER R ITO R IE S—Concluded.

T able

Im m igrant.
S tate.

E m igrant.

Ju ly to
Ju ly to
ber, Septem
Septem ber, Septem
ber,
ber, Septem
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.

K ansas..........................................................................................
K en tu ck y .....................................................................................
L ou isian a.....................................................................................
M a in e ..........................................................................................
M ary lan d .....................................................................................
M assachusetts.............................................................................
M ichigan.......................................................................................
M innesota.....................................................................................
M ississippi...................................................................................
M issouri.......................................................................................
M o n tan a.......................................................................................
N eb rask a.....................................................................................
N e v ad a .........................................................................................
New H a m p sh ire ........................................................................
New Jerse y ...................................... - .........................................
New M exico................................................................................
New Y o rk ...................................................................................
N orth Carolina............................................................................
N orth D akota.............................................................................
O hio ..........................................................................................
O klahom a.........................................- .........................................
Oregon...........................................................................................
P e n n sy lv an ia.............................................................................
Porto R ico...................................................................................
R hode Is la n d ........................................ - ...................................
South C arolina......................................................................- - South D ak o ta.............................................................................
Tennessee.....................................................................................
Texas ...........................................................................................
U ta h .................................................................... .......................
V e rm o n t.......................................................................................
V irginia.........................................................................................
Virgin Is la n d s ......
.........................................................
W ashington.................................................................................
W est V irginia..............................................................................
W isconsin....................................................................................
W yom ing.....................................................................................

207
82
147
895
469
7,262
7,076
1,319
62
624
192
353
20
536
4,548
138
23,031
42
209
3,667
93
668
7,731
24
947
39
147
70
4,243
131
285
291
1
2,391
'314
1,314
93

615
177
396
2,658
1,259
20,889
21,036
4,501
206
1,762
683
1, 056
107
1,973
13,545
289
66,360
118
927
10,626
212
1,922
21,383
65
2,915
78
475
167
17,216
514
728
735
2
6,287
885
4,094
263

14
5
20
9
26
699
202
58
2
24
14
16
4
8
245
5
2, 024
14
11
255
2
35
558
17
146
3
1
2
207
li
2
29
142
43
61
11

168
184
22

T o ta l..................................................................................

89, 431

263,259

6,073

20,603

35
9
131
23
97
2,035
66S
181
12
114
40
39
11
11
819
17
7,935
32
33
813
15
79
1,826
64
385

5

25
15
314

55

17
77

325

5.—IMMIGRANT A L IE N S A D M ITTED TO A N D EM IGRANT A L IE N S D E PA R T E D
FROM THE U N IT E D STATES D U R IN G SE PT E M B E R , 1923, A N D FROM JU L Y TO SE P­
TEM BER, 1923, B Y OCCUPATIONS.

T able

Im m igrant.
Occupation.

Emigrant.

July to
July to
September, September,
September, September,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.

Professional:
A ctors...................................................................................
Architects.............................................................................
Clergy....................................................................................
E ditors.................................................................................
E lectricians.........................................................................
Engineers (professional)..................................................
Law yers................................................................................
Literary and scientific persons.......................................
M usicians.............................................................................
Officials ( G overnment)....................................................
P h ysician s...........................................................................
Sculptors and artists........................................................
Teachers...............................................................................
Other professional.............................................................

126
40
277
11
485
533
41
98
227
64
165
54
558
364

387
146
688
18
1,568
1,942
79
286
581
175
362
131
• 1,348
li 312

2
1
20
1
6
27
5
3
11
7
14
1
28
19

119
132

Total..................................................................................

3,043

9,023

145

658


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1432]

17
5
138
3
21
88
17
15
29
38
27

9

IMMIGRATION",

209

T a b l e 5 — IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D TO AND E M IG R A N T A L IE N S

DEPARTED
FR O M T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R , 1923, AN D FR O M JU L Y TO S E P ­
T E M B E R , 1923, B Y O CCU PA TIO N S—Concluded.
Im m igrant.
Occupation.

E m igrant.

July to
Ju ly to
Septem ber
ber,
Septem ber, Septem
Septem ber,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.

Skilled:
B ak e rs..................................................................................
B arb ers a n d h a ird re sse rs................................................
B la ck sm ith s........................................................................
B o o k b in d ers.......................................................................
B rew ers................................................................................
B u tch ers...............................................................................
C ab in etm ak ers...................................................................
C arp en ters a n d j oiners......................................................
C igarette m a k e rs ...............................................................
Cigar m a k e rs.......................................................................
Cigar p a ck e rs.................... ..................................................
Clerks a n d a c c o u n ta n ts ..................................................
D ressm akers.......................................................................
Engineers (locom otive, m a rin e , a n d s ta tio n a ry )---F u rrie rs a n d fur w o rk e rs........................................... .
G ardeners....................................................................... .
H a t a n d cap m ak ers................................. .......................
Ir o n a n d steel w orkers................................. : ..................
Jew elers................................................................................
L o c k sm ith s.........................................................................
M achinists...........................................................................
M ariners.......... ..................................................................
M asons............. .................. ..................................................
Mechanics (n o t specified)................................................
M etalw orkers (other th a n iro n , steel, a n d tin ) .........
Millers....................................................................................
M illiners...............................................................................
M iners...................................................................................
P ain ters a n d glaziers........................................................
P a tte rn m a k e rs..................................................................
Photographers....................................................................
P lasterers.............................................................................
P lu m b ers.............................................................................
P rin te rs................................................................................
Saddlers an d harness m ak ers.........................................
Seam stresses........................................................................
Shoem akers.........................................................................
Stokers..................................................................................
Stonecutters........................................................................
Tailors...................................................................................
T anners and cu rriers........................................................
Textile workers (not specified)......................................
T in n ers.........................T.....................................................
Tobacco w orkers................................................................
U pholsterers........................................................................
W atch a nd clock m a k e rs.................................................
W eavers and spinners.......................................................
W heelw rights.....................................................................
Woodworkers (not specified)..........................................
O ther skilled............T.........................................................

457
367
462
37
4
374
57
1,905
9
30
2,949
593
732
37
128
40
1,474
80
475
856
1,095
719
1,125
223
91
108
1,076
443
62
64
91
260
226
34
322
765
118
89
1,023
33
56
82
5
37
82
481
27
92
795

1,357
1,043
L423
117
20
1,075
196
6,566
23
114
7
8,705
1,667
1,495
152
463
129
3,650
159
1 447
2,580
3,174
2,390
3,256
501
249
289
3,035
1,524
174
183
283
826
587
126
968
2,163
325
271
3,015
87
198
311
16
134
249
1,302
61
289
2,245

10

47

Total..................................................................................

20,694

60,619

489

1,828

Miscellaneous:
A gents...................................................................................
B ankers................................................................................
D raym en, hackm en, an d team sters............................
F a rm laborers.....................................................................
F arm ers................................................................................
Fisherm en...........................................................................
H o te lk e ep e rs.....................................................................
L aborers...............................................................................
M anufacturers.....................................................................
M erchants a nd dealers......................................................
Servants...............................................................................
O ther miscellaneous..........................................................

226
27
253
3,658
2,091
203
22
12,354
89
1,389
7,318
3,499

777
65
697
11,996
6,827
741
64
40,384
225
4,003
21,072
10,467

8
5
8
18
135
7
2
2,773
2
186
102
325

32
26
12
77
417
12

20
16
3

48
58
21

6
2
44
1
11

29
17
155
1
51

82
6
7

307
46
24

11

25

4
1

20
4

18
20
5
18
1
7

71
74
23
61
4
35

50
10
1
3

240
23
1
3
8
31
15

3
4
2
33
1
1
22
2
1

63

9
91
1
4
118
3
1

2

3
3
142

4

8,172
17
509

498
1,372

T otal..................................................................................

31,129

97,318

3,571

No occupation (including w omen a nd c h ild re n ).............

"34,565

96,299

1,868

6,969

G rand to ta l......................................................................

89, 431

263,259

6,073

20,603


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1 4 3 3 ]

11,148

210

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

6.—STA TU S O F T H E IM M IG RA TIO N O F A L IE N S IN T O T H E U N IT E D STATES
U N D E R T H E P E R C EN TU M L IM IT ACT O F MAY 19, 1921, AS E X T E N D E D B Y PU B L IC
R E S O L U T IO N NO 55, S IX T Y -S E V E N T H C O NG RESS, A P P R O V E D MAY 11, 1922, JU L Y 1
TO N O V E M B E R 7, 1923.

T able

,
C ountry or region of b irth .

A lbania.................................................................
Armenia, ( R u ssia n )...........................................
An stria
...................................................
B elgium ........................................... ....................
B ulgaria
..........................................................
Czech os1qv akia
.............................................
"Danzig ..............................................................
D e n m a r k ................................................
F,st,h on in................................................................
Finland
........................................................
Fin m e ................................................................
France
............................................................
G erm any
..
...........................................
G reat B ritain and I r e l a n d .............................
G re e c e ..................................................................
H im parv
...............................................
Iceland
.
.................................................
Ita ly
r
......................................................
L a tv ia
.................................................... - L ith u an ia
.............................................
L uxem b u rg
.................................................
N etherlands
.......................................
N orw ay
........................................................
P o la n d ..................................................................
Portu g al
......................................................
R um an ia
...................................................
R ussia. r ........................................................ ....
Spain
......................................................
Sweden
.................................................
Sw itzerland ......................................................
Y ugoslavia. ............................................................
O th e r F u r o p e
..................................................
P a le s t in e ..................................................................
Syria,
..........................................................
......................................................
T u rk e y
O th e r Asia,
........................................................
A friea
............................................................
..................................................
F gypt
A tla n tic is la n d s
A u s t r a li a .. ............................................................
New Zealand a n d P acific I s l a n d s .................
T o ta l

......................................

M axim um
m onthly
quòta.

A dm itted
Nov. 1 to
7, 1923.

quota.

A dm itted
July 1 to
Nov. 7.

for year.1

25
24

288
230
7,342
1,563
302
14,357
301
5,619
1,348
3,921
71
5,729
67,607
77,342
3,063
5,747
75
42,057
1,540
2,629
92
3,607
12,202
30,977
2,465
7,419
24,405
912
20,042
3,752
6,426
86
57
882
2,654
92
104
18
121
279
80

280
73
4,197
1,364
275
10,739
247
2,686
313
3,181
54
3,118
37,663
77,340
2,986
3,541
15
31,841
1,171
2,253
76
3,100
8,006
23,228
2,443
5,905
24,405
805
15,040
3,527
2,905
80
54
864
2,641
92
100
18
96
240
67

148
3,009
99
8
2,865
39
2,896
1,020
625
9
2,517
29,367
(3)
(3)
2,010
60
9,092
287
251
9
475
3,416
5,290
(3)
1,058
(3)
284,825
111
3,263
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
2!)
19
(3)

33,181

357,803

277,029

72,816

58
46
1,468
313
61
2,871
60
ft,124
270
784
14
1,146
13,521
15,468
613
1,149
15
8,411
308
526
19
721
2,440
6,195
493
1,484
4,881
182
4,008.
750
1,285
17
12
177
531
19
21
4
24
56
16

2 55
5
230
112
35
1,039
27
101
18
79
1
139
2,490
2 15,468
538
178
3
2,522
165
285
2
238
112
1,932
2 471
476
2 4,881
77
82
527
139
2 12
26
2 156
2 517
2 16
2 16
22

71,561

(3)

1A fter all pending cases for which quotas have been granted and admissions u nder th e act during the
curren t fiscal y ear have been deducted from th e an n u al quota.
■' ' _
2 M axim um m o n th ly qu o ta exhausted. T he balance of th e q u o ta not yet shown as adm itted, are pend­
ing eases for which quotas have been granted.
»A nnual qu o ta exhausted.

Proposed International Conference on Emigration and immigration.1

HE success of the conference of those countries with a large
emigration, which was held in Rome in July, 1921, on the
initiative of Italy, has induced the Italian Government to send
out invitations for another conference to be held in Rome in 1924.
In order that this conference may be able to contribute to the solu­
tion of problems of both emigration and immigration, invitations
were sent not only to countries with large emigration but also to
those with large immigration. The formal letter of invitation sent
by the Italian Government to the various countries was accompanied
by the following program outlining the scope and character ol the
conference:

T

'I t a l y . C om m issariato G enerale d ell’Em igrazione.
S eptem ber, 1923, p p. 617-621.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1434]

B o llettin o della Em igrazione.

R om e, A iigust-

IMMIGRATION.

211

The International Labor Organization, attempting to enlarge its ample program,
lias expressed the intention of giving its attention also to problems of emigration.
For obvious reasons, however, any efforts that might be made by the general confer­
ences of the permanent labor organization to promote an international regulation in
the special field of emigration and immigration would require considerable time and
serious and long preparation. Such efforts would, moreover, lack the participation
of those countries that are not members of the organization.
Not all countries are equally interested in the phenomena of emigration and immi­
gration. On the other hand, there are countries in which, owing to demographic,
geographic, and economic conditions, emigration and immigration constitute a spe­
cially important element of their national life. Owing to the fact that they are more
directly interested, these latter countries can better appreciate the necessity of
making a strenuous effort to establish direct international agreements and to coordi­
nate their activities in all matters relating to emigration and immigration. Because
of this consideration, the Italian Government believes that a conference of technical
delegates of the various nations that are typical countries of emigration or of immigra­
tion would be particularly apt to promote an inquiry into those problems, conducted
in an essentially practical spirit, with the result that a number of suggestions would
be collected that would probably furnish effective orientation for an international
regulation of these complex problems. In this belief the Italian Government has
taken the initiative in inviting the principal countries of emigration and immigration
to an international conference.
I. The international conference on immigration will be held at Rome during the
first months of next year on a date to be fixed later.
II. The conference will have the character of a technical and not of a diplomatic
conference. Excluding all problems which by their very nature can be solved only
by each individual State by means of local legislation, the conference will examine
the various problems relating to emigration with a view to considering what agree­
ments would seem desirable in order to coordinate the emigration and immigration
services of the various countries and to supply, in a more satisfactory manner, the
needs of emigration and immigration. In accordance with its strictly technical
character the conference will not have the power to sign collective conventions but
will limit itself to summarizing in the form of proposals or in the form of a declaration
of principles or recommendations those criteria that it will decide to suggest as the
principles that should govern general international or individual conventions, which
the Governments may subsequently conclude, or administrative liaisons which the
Governments may find convenient to establish between the respective services.
III. In order that its work may proceed in a more orderly manner the conference
will be divided into sections. Each section will have the task of examining specified
questions pertaining to a particular group of problems.
IV. With reservation as to later changes, the conference shall be composed of the
following sections:
(а) Transport of emigrants.
(б) Hygiene and sanitary services.
(c) Collaboration between the emigration and immigration services of the various
countries.
(d ) Assistance to emigrants in the ports of embarkation and to immigrants in the
ports of disembarkation, and by private institutions to those who have emigrated.
(e)
_Suitable means for adjusting immigration to the labor needs of countries of
immigration (information services as to the labor markets, employment, and coloni­
zation enterprises).
(/) Development of cooperation, thrift, and mutual aid among emigrants.
(g ) Principles that should govern emigration treaties.
V . Each government accepting the invitation for participation in the conference
shall have the right to propose, not later than November 30, 1923, particular questions
to be submitted to the various sections of the conference for examination.
VI. The conference shall in plenary meeting, after having adopted its own rules
of procedure, determine definitely, on proposal of a committee appointed by it, what
questions among those proposed shall become the order of the day and be assigned
to the various sections.

The monthly bulletin of the Italian Emigration Commission states
that the Governments of the countries principally concerned with
emigration and immigration have already expressed their intention
of sending delegates to the proposed conference.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Recent Italian Measures for Protection of Emigrants.1

HE Gazzetta Ufficiale of August 16, 1923, publishes the text of
a royal decree of July 19, 1923 (No. 1686), issued with a view
to the reorganization of the services for the training of emi­
grants, for finding employment for emigrants abroad and for the pre­
vention of clandestine emigration. The decree authorizes the Min­
ister of Foreign Affairs to appoint temporarily, under the General
Emigration Department, a chief inspector, four regional inspectors,
and provincial delegates (inspectors).
On September 5, 1923, the cabinet approved the draft of a decree
providing for the establishment at the principal ports of embarkation
of refugesandhostelsfor emigrants. The General Emigration Depart­
ment may either administer these establishments directly or entrust
their management to private undertakings. The commissioner gen­
eral of emigration is empowered to requisition for a limited period
hotels situated near the railway stations or harbors, for the purpose
of utilization as emigrant hostels.
The following regulations with regard to the transport of emigrants
by foreign shipping companies have been issued by the commissioner
general of emigration :

T

1. To obtain a license to carry emigrants, foreign vessels must as a rule fit out in
Naples, and must touch at Palermo at least every other voyage.
2.
The conditions of employment of Italian subjects in the service of such com­
panies must be satisfactory.
3.
The companies must pledge themselves not to undertake propaganda for the
purpose of inducing persons to emigrate, and must also require their agents to abstain
from such propaganda. They must also undertake not to carry any Italian subject
who is not in possession of the usual papers as required by Italian law.
4.
From the quota allowed to them will be deducted a number equivalent to that
of the Italian passengers embarking on ships of the same company at foreign ports.

On September 7, 1923, the cabinet approved the draft of a decree
authorizing the savings bank department of the Bank of Sicily to set
up agencies abroad for undertaking the transfer of emigrants’ savings.
Up to the present, of the three banks of issue in Italy only the Bank
of Naples had been authorized by the act of 1901 to do business of
this nature. The Government, however, considers that these opera­
tions should be extended in order to prevent the frauds which too
frequently take place at the expense of emigrants. The draft decree !
further empowers the bank to participate in the management of for­
eign companies which undertake to provide for the economic interests
of Italian emigrants. The expenditure incurred in setting up these
agencies and in participating in the foreign companies in question]
shall not exceed a quarter of the reserve funds of the savings bank
department.
It may be added that the Government has recently requested the
National Cooperative Credit Institute to take steps for coordinating
the activity of Italian cooperative societies abroad, and has author­
ized it to approach the banks with a view to concluding agreements
for giving the necessary financial support to the cooperative societies
which are finding profitable opportunities of work in France.
1In te rn a tio n a l L abor Office. In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n , G eneva, O ct. 5, 1923, p p , 15, 16.
Based on inform ation from Corriere d ella Sera Sept. 4-7, 1923, a n d G azzetta Ufficiale, Aug. 16, 1923.


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W H A T S T A T E LA B O R B U REA U S A R E DOING.
Massachusetts.1

IN SEPTEMBER, 1923, 85 complaints regarding nonpayment of
A wages were brought to the Massachusetts Department of Labor
and Industries, and 16 cases were prosecuted. During that month
the payments by employers to employees after complaint aggre­
gated more than $1,600.
There were 1,345 industrial safety orders issued in the month of
September and the department’s inspectors investigated 91 cases of
industrial accidents and 2 cases of occupational disease.
Porto Rico.

’"THE appropriations of the Bureau of Labor of Porto Rico provided
for only 10 inspectors for the fiscal year 1921-22, according
to the report of the commissioner of agriculture and labor of the
island for that period. One district with 11 towns is in the charge
of a single inspector. Another inspector has 10 towns within his
jurisdiction. A doubling of the inspection force and an appropri­
ation for traveling expenses up to $15,000 are recommended. The
table given below shows the number of indictments in the year
covered by the report for violations of the labor laws:
CASES O F IN D IC T M E N T , 1921-22.

V iolated laws.

M inim um w age.......................................................................................
W om en and children la w ......................................................................
Law regulating th e w eight workers m ay carry ................................
Law on th e duties of th e em ployers. . . ..........................m .............
Act No. 75, on em ploym ent of m in o rs...............................................
Law on labor c o n tra c t............................................................................
A n act to provide for a dispensary......................................................
The safety scaffold la w ...........................................................................

N um ber
of indict­
m ents.

N um ber
of em­
ployers
sen­
tenced.

81
20
4
24
109
1
7

93
19
5
2
14
26
1
3

N um ber
of em­
N um ber
ployers of cases
ac­
pending.
quitted.
94
20
1
1
6
27

68
42
14

2

2

1

4
56

The following statistics on wage claims handled by the bureau of
labor are also taken from the above-mentioned source:
Total number of claims handled during fiscal year 1921-22..........................
Number of claims settled.........................................................................
Number of claims unsuccessful...................................... . . .....................
Number of claims pending.......................................................................

293
79
208
6

Amount of 76 claims settled (amounts involved in 3 others not given). . . . $2, 666. 63
Amount of 200 unsuccessful claims (amounts involved in 8 others not
given).......................................................................... ......... ..................... 8, 044. 03
Amount of claims pending..............................................................................
664. 74
Total amount of claims with exceptions specified above................... 11, 375. 40
1 Inform ation from th e M assachusetts D ep artm en t of Labor and In d u stries, received N ov. 10,1923.


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214

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

It will be noted that over 70 per cent of these wage claims have
not been successful. The commissioner of agriculture and labor
states that his office has not the requisite powers to enforce the claims
and calls attention to the necessity of having a formal agency for
this purpose. Porto Rico already has a law “ to determine the pro­
cedure in cases of claims for wages of farm laborers against their
employers ” and the extension of the act to all occupations is suggested
in the report.
The commissioner deplores the utter inadequacy of the employ­
ment agency, which is under the direction of the chief clerk of the
Bureau of Labor. The functioning of this placement service lias
become increasingly difficult because of insufficient funds and the
failure of employers to cooperate. Furthermore, there is no law
authorizing the Bureau of Labor to set up employment agencies
in the island, nor has this office the necessary means to collect em­
ployment statistics which would indicate the approximate situation
in the labor market.
The housing of peasants hi Porto Rico is reported as “ most de­
grading.” The huts of these people “ may not be compared to the
housing of any other workman of the countries advanced in civiliza­
tion.” The bureau’s inspectors visited 796 families supporting
2,839 children and 914 other relatives. The living conditions of
those in the rural districts are “ deplorable,” while in the urban zone
also the workers ’ dwellings are unhealthy and wholly out of harmony
with “ the progress of our cities.”
In the judgment of the commissioner the bureau of labor should
“ undergo a complete reorganization so as to make it more useful
and effective.” lie also emphasizes the urgent need for progressive
social and economic changes in the life of the people on the island
through adequate legislation and government.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[1438]

C U R R E N T N O T ES O F IN T E R E S T T O

LA BO R.

Reduction of Working-Days per Week in Finland.

A CCORDING to Arbejdsgivern (Copenhagen), October 12, 1923,
the Finnish Footwear Employers’ Association has decided to
reduce the working week to four days throughout the whole country.
This measure, which, it is stated, will most likely become effective
November 1, is a result of the extensive importations of footwear,
coming principally from Germany.
Scandinavian Employers’ Conference.

A CCORDING to a consular report from Stockholm, Sweden,
dated September 18, 1923, the eighth conference of Scandina­
vian employers was held in Stockholm August 31 and September 1,
1923. There were 80 representatives present from. Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, and Finland.
While conferences have not been held every year (the first meeting
was held at Copenhagen in 1907, but Finland was first represented in
1910) the Scandinavian countries and Finland have kept in touch
with each other by annual meetings of the permanent committee
and have exchanged reports. Some subjects discussed at the con­
ference were as follows:
“ The question of uniform laws in the Scandinavian countries
regarding social conditions.
The possibility of enacting uniform unemployment laws in the
Scandinavian countries.
Employers as contributors to social institutions.
Vital questions relative to collective agreements.
Wage policies of the employers’ union during periods of depression.
Passport regulations in connection with the migration of foreign
labor into Sweden.”
The next conference is to be held at Christiana in 1925, on a date to
be decided upon by the permanent committee.
Reorganization of Swedish Unemployment Commission.

A CCO RDING to Sociala Meddelanden No. 10, 1923, issued by the
Swedish Labor Bureau (S ocialstyrelsen) , the Government has
decided that beginning with October 1, 1923, the commission is to
consist of five members and that the commission is to appoint from
its own membership a labor committee of three which is to handle
and decide such matters as need not come before the committee
in full. Hereafter the question of payment of unemployment benefit
to those unemployed because of labor disputes is to be referred by the
local relief body to the State unemployment commission. Under the
previous legislation every such case was considered by the labor
committee; if the committee failed to reach an agreement it was
referred to the Government.
The committee of three members appointed March 10, 1922, to
report to the Government on these matters ceases to function.

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215

PU B LIC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G T O LA B O R .

Official— United States.
A rkansas .— B u re a u o f L a b o r a n d S ta tistic s .
[1923].

T he childhood o f A rk a n sa s.

L ittle R ock

15 p p .

Contains the Arkansas law relating to child labor, information as to the issuance of
permits, and statistics showing the distribution of employed children. In 1920 the
State had 48,140 children from 10 to 15 years of age gainfully employed, of whom 94.9
per cent were employed on farms.
Connecticut.— B o a rd o f C o m p e n sa tio n C o m m issio ners. C o m p e n d iu m o f aw ards ,
J u n e 1, 1920, to M ay 31, 1922, in c lu siv e .

[N ew H a v e n , 19231]

824, 130 p p .

This volume is a continuation of the series of awards by the compensation com­
missioners of Connecticut, together with decisions of the superior court and of the
supreme court of errors on appeal. Selected opinions of the commissioners are given,
but all decisions of the superior court and of the supreme court of errors have been
printed in full, the last named appearing as part two of the volume, including decisions
rendered in the October term, 1922. Analytic headings and a statement of the find­
ings in the form of syllabi, followed in a number of cases by a memorandum of the
commissioner, make the first part a compendium of practice and construction; while
the court decisions furnish the authoritative determinations on a number of points
drawn into dispute by appellants. An index of cases and a topical index complete
the work.
I llinois .— B o a rd f o r V ocational E d u c a tio n .
year period, 1922-1927.

S p rin g fie ld , 1923.

S ta te m e n t o f p la n s a n d policies, five60 p p . B u ll e ti n N o . 27.

Outlines courses for agricultural education, trade and industrial education, educa­
tion in home economics, and teacher training.
I ndiana .— In d u s tr ia l B o a rd .
[ In d ia n a p o lis , 19232]

R e p o r t [ fo r fisca l year en d in g
67 p p .

S ep te m b e r 30,

1922].

Data on industrial accidents, taken from this report, are published on page 167 of
this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview . The report of the department of women
and children was summarized in the Monthly L abor R eview for May, 1923.
P ennsylvania .— D e p a rtm e n t o f L abor a n d I n d u s tr y .
sy lva n ia , by A g n e s M . H . B yrn es.

In d u s tr ia l hom e w o rk i n P e n n ­
[H a rrisb u rg , 1921 f ] 189 p p .

Gives the results of a survey of industrial home work made in 1916 and 1917, and of a
brief resurvey made in 1920. The study traces the development of industrial home
work, and gives data concerning the number, age, sex, and marital status of the work­
ers, earnings, extent to which child labor is utilized, and general effects of the system.
In general, the effects are considered undesirable. The work is said to be harmful to
the health of the workers (especially to children), destructive to family welfare, and
a danger to the health of the community.
Viewed from the economic and social standpoint, the system is no more desirable.
It offers a low wage scale, and in spite of the fact that family groups often cooperate
in production it brings in but scanty returns. It weakens the position of the employee
in the factory, and is a detriment to efficient production, since the employer “ relies
upon a cheap and unskilled labor supply, instead of upon machines and other im­
proved methods of manufacture, and upon efficient organization of employees.” To
offset these disadvantages only two benefits are mentioned: The work enables women
216
[1440]

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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.

to supplement inadequate family earnings and affords an opportunity for earning
money to many wlio dread the exactions of factory life.
The report recommends a system of gradually increasing legal restrictions which
would eventually eliminate home work, but which would avoid the hardships that
would result from abruptly sweeping it away.
T exas .—B o a rd f o r V o cational E d u c a tio n .

O u tlin e o f p la n s f o r vo ca tio n a l education i n
Texas as related to trades a n d in d u s tr y , 1922-1927. A u s t i n , 1923. 112 p p . B i d le tin N o . 161.

In addition to outlining the plans for vocational education through the five-year
period 1922 to 1927, this report contains an account of what has been accomplished
under the Smith-Hughes Act since the work was begun in 1918.
W

.— In d u s tr ia l C o m m issio n a n d R a ilro a d C o m m issio n .
trical code. M a d ison, 1922. 283 p p . F ir s t edition.

isconsin

W isc o n sin S ta te elec­

A brief notice regarding this code is given on page 157 of this issue of the Monthly
L abor R eview .
U nited States.— D e p a rtm e n t o f the In te r io r .

B u re a u o f M in e s. E re ctio n o f barricades
d u rin g m in e fires or after e xp lo sio n s, by J . W . P a id a n d others.
W a sh in g to n , 1923.
28 p p . Illu s tr a te d . M in e r s’ circular 25.

This pamphlet is a practical study of the hazards from gas during a mine fire or
explosion, and gives directions for building barricades, with illustrations of measures
taken by entombed miners to save themselves in a number of serious mine disasters.
It is designed for the practical instruction of underground workers in coal and metal
mines.
—---------B u re a u o f P e n s io n s . R etire m e n t D iv is io n . H a n d b o o k c o n ta in in g abstracts o f
decisions a n d o p in io n s a n d ru les o f procedure re la tin g to the retirem en t act o f M ay 22,
1920, a n d a m en d m en ts.
W a sh in g to n , 1923. x , 82 p p .

This handbook sets forth the text of the act of May 22, 1920, and its amendments,
regulating the retirement of employees in the classified civil service of the United
States. The text of the law is first printed in sections, each paragraph followed by
annotations embodying abstracts of decisions and opinions on the subject matter. The
law and its amendments and Executive orders relative thereto, together with circulars
and instructions, are reproduced consecutively in an appendix. Important decisions
as to classification, status, the effect of leave, modes of computing service, disability
annuities, automatic separation, refunds, etc., are presented.
----- D ep a rtm e n t o f L abor. C h ild ren ’s B u re a u . C hild labor o n M a ry la n d truck fa r m s ,
by A lic e C h a rm in g .

W a sh in g to n , 1923.

52 p p .

B u re a u p u b lic a tio n N o . 123.

A discussion of the findings of this study is given on pages 118 and 119 of this issue of
the Monthly L abor R eview .

----------------- T en
pp.

years’ icork f o r children, by Grace A b b o tt.
W a sh in g to n , 1923.
R e p r in te d f r o m N o rth A m e ric a n R ev ie w f o r A u g u s t, 1923.

10

This pamphlet reviews briefly the work of the United States Children’s Bureau
during the 10 years since it began functioning in the summer of 1912.
----- In tersta te Com m erce C o m m issio n . B u re a u o f S ta tis tic s . R e p o r t o n the sta tistic s
o f ra ilw a ys i n the U n ited S ta te s f o r the year ended December 31, 1921, together w ith
abstracts o f p erio d ical reports f o r the year ended December 31, 1922. W a sh in g to n ,
1923. c xv iii, 476 p p .

This report contains the usual statistics of mileage, equipment, capitalization,
traffic and operation, income and profit and loss statements, investments, etc. Sta­
tistics of employees include number, compensation, and service hours.
----- W ar D e p a rtm e n t. B u r e a u o f I n s u la r A ffa ir s . C o m m issio n er o f A g r ic u ltu r e and
L a b o r o f P o rto R ic o . R e p o r t [ f o r fis c a l year e n d in g J u n e 30, 1922]. (R e p r in t
f r o m the report o f the G overnor o f P o rto R ico , p p . 4 3 8 -5 0 4 .) W a sh in g to n , 1923.
66 p p .
Extracts from this report appear on pages 113 and 213 of this issue of the Monthly
Labor R eview ,


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Official—Foreign Countries.
Australia — B u r e a u o f C ensus a n d S ta tis tic s .

L a b o r report, 1922.

M elbourne, 1923.

[ C . S . N o . 415-1
Contains, in addition to the strictly labor data, statistics relating to wholesale and
retail prices, price index numbers, and cooperative societies. (Data on the num­
ber and operations of cooperative societies in Australia in 1.922 are given on page 196
of this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview .) Several tables are devoted to the
movement of trade-union membership since the close of the war. At the end of 1918
the total membership was 581,755. For three years it continued to rise, the per­
centage of increase being 7.9 per cent in 1919, 9 per cent in 1920, and 2.7 per cent
in 1921. In 1922 the membership fell from 703,009 at the beginning of the year to
702,938 at the end, a decrease so small as to be negligible. During these years the num­
ber of male members rose from 531,090 to 616,886, an increase of 16.2 per cent, while
the female membership rose from 50,665 to 86,052, an increase of 69.8 per cent. How­
ever, at the end of 1922 only 34.5 per cent of the estimated total number of female
workers 20 years of age and over were in the unions, while for male workers the corre­
sponding percentage was 59.2.
The trade-union returns as to unemployment show the following variations during
the same period:
183 p p .

N o . 13.

N u m b er
Per cent
unemployed. unemployed5.8
..
17,536
1918 ............................................................................... 17, 536
6.6
.. 20,507
1919 ...............................................................................
6.5
.. 22,105
1920 ...............................................................................
11.2
.. 40,549
1921 ...............................................................................
9.3
.. 35,238
1922 ...............................................................................
7.2
27,112
1923 (first quarter).......................- - - - - - ................. - -..- 27,112

Previous to 1921, the highest percentage of unemployment reported by the unions
was 10.8 per cent in 1896, at which time the trade-union membership was so small—
4,227—that it may be doubted whether the figures were representative of general con­
ditions. At the end of 1922, the highest percentage of unemployment, 15.6, was found
in the unions of the engineering and metal-working trades, the next, 13.5 per cent,
among the workers engaged in mining, quarrying and the like, while the unions of
those working with food, drink, and tobacco stood third ivith a percentage of 12.1.
No other group of unions showed as large a proportion as 10 per cent unemployed.
The percentage of unemployment, by cause, is given for each quarter since the
beginning of 1918 under three headings: Lack of work, sickness, and other causes.
In the first three quarters of 1919, the influenza year, illness caused a material amount
of unemployment, the percentage varying from 1.5 to 2.5, but in no other quarters
from that time on did it account for as much as 1 per cent. In the second quarter of
1919 “ other causes” accounted for 0.7 per cent, but for the rest of the period it was
never responsible for more than 0.3 per cent. Throughout the whole period lack of
work has been the outstanding cause of unemployment.
----------- P o ck et c o m p e n d iu m o f A u s tr a lia n sta tistics. M elb o u rn e, 1923. 147 p p . [C. S .
N o . 4 19.]

Of interest to labor are the data on cooperative societies, friendly societies, wages
and hours of labor, industrial disputes, old-age and invalid pensions, prices of com­
modities, rents, trade-union membership, and unemployment.
Ceylon.— D e p a rtm e n t o f C ensus a n d S ta tis tic s .
1923.

[ V a rio u s

T he C eylon b lu e book, 1922.

C olom bo

p a g in g . ]

Certain, figures with regard to cooperative societies, taken from this report, are given
on page 197 of this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview .


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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.

219

D enmark .—T n va lid efo rsih rin g sretten . D te A a rsb e re tn in g , 1. O ktober 1921 to 31. D ecem ­
ber 1922.

C openhagen, 1923.

I 'l l p p .

First report of the Invalidity Insurance Court of Denmark, covering the period
from October I, 1921, to December 31, 1922. Future reports will cover the calendar
year. This report gives the composition and organization of the court, its competence,
method of handling cases, statistical survey, and surveys of special cases.
A brief report on operations under the invalidity insurance law is given on page 169
of this issue of the Monthly L a non R eview .
F inland .—M in istère des A ffa ire s Sociales. U a g r ic u ltu r e et la s itu a tio n des ouvriers
agricoles en F in la n d e .

H elsin g fo rs, 1923.

55 p p .

This is a short survey, in French, of agriculture and the situation of agricultural
workers in Finland. It gives statistics of production, the work of the cooperative
societies, the number of farm owners and of workers, hours of labor, wages, and pay­
ments in kind, and housing conditions.
F rance.— M in istère d u T ra va il. S ta tis tiq u e Générale d e là F rance. A n n u a ir e sta tistiq u e
1922.

P aris, 1923.

x v i , 396 p p .

The thirty-eighth annual report of the General Statistical Office includes tables
relating to climate, population, commerce, finance, and industries of France, its
colonies and protectorates, covering different periods of time. About half of the
report gives similar information on these subjects for other countries.
Germany.— [Statistisches R eich sa m t .] Jahresberichte der G ew erbe-A ufsichtsbeam ten u n d
B ergbehörden f ü r das Jahr 1922. B e r lin , 1923. 4 vols. [ V arious paging.']
These four volumes contain the annual reports for the year 1922 of the factory
and mine inspection services of the various German States. A summary of these
reports is given on pages 39 to 50 of this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview .
G reat Britain .— D e p a rtm e n t o f Overseas Trade.

R e p o r t o n the econom ic a n d fin a n c ia l
c o n d itio n s i n G erm a n y to M arch, 1923, by J . W. F . T h e lw a ll a n d C. J . K a va n a g h .
L o n d o n , 1923. 158 p p .

This report on the economic and financial conditions in Germany, prepared by two
members of the British commercial diplomatic service, covers conditions up to March,
1923. It deals with German finance and foreign trade, the coal industry, the iron
and steel and allied industries, labor, wages, and the cost of living.
----- E xch eq u er a n d A u d i t D e p a rtm e n t. U n e m p lo y m e n t in su ra n c e acts, 1920 to
1922.

U n e m p lo y m e n t f u n d acco u n t, 1921-1922.

L o n d o n , 1923.

6 pp.

Gives the balance sheet of the fund for the insurance year ending July 2, 1922.
During this time contributions to the fund showed an increase, as compared with the
preceding year, from £13,483,118 ($65,615,594, par) to £42,431,769 ($206,494,204, par),
while payments to the unemployed rose from £34,126,201 ($166,075,157, par) to
£53,060,622 ($258,219,517, par).
----- M in is tr y o f A g r ic u ltu r e a n d F isheries.
C om m ittee o n
d istr ib u tio n and
P rices o f A g r ic u ltu r a l P roduce.
I n te r im
L o n d o n , 1923. 185 p p . C m d. 1927.

re p o rt o n

m ea t, p o u ltr y a n d eggs.

A study of the methods and costs of selling and distributing meat and poultry
products.
----- M in is tr y o f L a b o r. E m p lo y m e n t a n d In s u r a n c e D e p a rtm e n t. R e p o r t o n the
a d m in is tr a tio n o f sectio n 18 o f the u n e m p lo y m e n t in su ra n c e act, 1920.
1923. 44 p p .
C m d. 1613.

London,

Contains the sections of the unemployment insurance act of 1920 which provided for
special schemes of insurance by industries, an account of how far these provisions
were effective, some discussion of the difficulty of establishing special schemes, and
a description of the one special scheme, established in 1921, for insurance of workers
in the insurance business. For a brief summary of the report, see pages 149 to 151 of
this issue of the Monthly L abor R ev iew .
71915°—23-

15


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MONTHLY LABOK REVIEW.

I ndia (P unjab ).— [D ep a rtm en t o f In d u s tr ie s a n d L a n d Records.

In sp e c to r o f factories.}
A n n u a l rep o rt o n the w o rk in g o f the I n d ia n fa c to rie s act, 1911, i n the P u n ja b , f o r the
year 1922. L ahore, 1923. [ V a rio u s p a g in g .}

Contains, in addition to the report, statistical tables showing the number of factories
covered by the law, the average daily number of workers, the shifts and holidays,
accidents, convictions, and inspections. The sections of the report dealing with
working conditions are summarized on pages 50 and 51 of this issue of the Monthly
L abor R eview .

-----

[R eg istra r o f C ooperative Societies.}
R e p o r t o n the w o rk in g o f the cooperative
societies i n the P u n ja b f o r the year e n d in g J u l y 81, 1922. L ahore, 1922. 7, 81,
x c v ii p p .
Figures taken from this report are given on page 198 of this issue of the Monthly
L abor R eview .

I taly.— M in istero per i l L a v o ro e la P revidenza Sociale.

D irezione Generale del L avoro.
O ccupazione operaia e rid u z io n i d'orario nelle in d u strie (L u g lio 19 2 0 -N o vem b re 1921).
R o m e , 1928. 177 p p . (S u p p le m e n to al “ B o lle ttin o del L a vo ro e della P revidenza
S o c ia le ” N . 37.)

Report on the results of an investigation of the extent of unemployment and shorttime work in Italy in November, 1921, as compared with July, 1920. The investi­
gation was made by the Italian factory inspection service by means of printed sched­
ules filled in by industrial employers and verified by personal inquiries of factory
inspectors. It covered all establishments employing more than five workers, with the
exception of establishments in Sicily and in the Provinces of Catanzaro and Reggio
Calabria. The returns from these Provinces were not included in the results because
they were incomplete.
The returns covered 18,320 establishments. Of these, 1,002 were closed and 17,318
were in operation in November, 1921, as against 1,583 closed and 16,737 in operation
in July, 1920. The establishments operating in November, 1921, employed 1,046,769
workers (615,884 males and 430,885 females), while those operating in July, 1920,
employed 1,204,728 workers (739,434 males and 465,294 females). The decrease in
the number of workers employed in November, 1921, therefore, was 157,959, or 13.1
per cent. It should, however, be noted that of the 1,046,769 workers employed in
November, 1921, only 829,639 worked full time while 217,139 were on short time.
N etherlands .— C entrale C om m issie voor de S ta tistie k .
The H a g u e, 1928.

Jaarverslag over het ja a r 1922.

54 p p .

The annual report of the Central Statistical Commission of the Netherlands on its
activities in the year 1922.
----- D e p a rte m en t v a n A rb e id , H a n d el en N ijverh eid . V erslag over het haventoezicht,
1922. [T h e H a g u e ] 1923. v iii, 90 p p .
The annual report of the Harbor Inspection Service of the Netherlands covering
the year 1922. The report deals with the activities of the service with respect to the
inspection of vessels, the enforcement of the stevedores’ law, the stevedores’ safety
decree, and the decree regulating the hours of labor in harbors, discusses complaints
made by various parties, and gives detailed statistics of accidents in harbor work
and inland navigation. In addition it contains detailed reports for each of the three
existing inspection districts as to working regulations and the extent of navigation
in the various harbors of the country.
N ew Z ealand.—P e n s io n s D e p a rtm e n t.
W e llin g to n , 1923.

R e p o r t f o r the year e n d in g M arch 31, 1923.

8 pp.

The following figures taken from this report give some of the facts as to miners’,
old-age, and widows’ pensions in the year ending March 31, 1923, compared with
figures taken from the annual reports for the two preceding years:


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ST A T IS T IC S O F M IN E R S ’, O LD -A G E, A N D W ID O W S’ P E N S IO N S IN N E W Z E A L A N D , F O R
Y E A R S E N D IN G M ARCH 31, 1921, 1922, A N D 1923.
[£ a t par=$4.8665; shilling=24.3 cents; p en n y= 2.03 cents.]
Cost per
N um ber of New claims Average
capita of
pensions lodged du r­ am ount of European
in force.
pension. population.
ing year.

T y p e of pension, a n d year ending—

Ill
107
114

£ s.
62 12
62 5
62 4

s.

474
506
544
19,837
20,491
21,181

2,760
3,278
3,435

37 3
36 13
36 7

12 2
11 11
11 11

W idow s’ pensions:
M arch 31, 1921.....................................................................
M arch 31) 1922....................................................................
M arch 311923................................................ .'..................

3,421
3,343
3) 411

719
641
794

N ew Z ealand.— R eg istra r o f F rie n d ly S ocieties.

R e p o r t f o r the year ended D ecember

M iners’ pensions:
March 31,1921.....................................................................
March 31 j 1922.....................................................................
M arch 31 \ 1923.....................................................................
Old-age pensions:
M arch 31, 1921.....................................................................
M arch 31, 1922......................................................... ...........

31, 1922.

W e llin g to n , 1923.

58
62
57

2

d.
5i
6
6

3 1
3
2 11

35 p p .

The membership of the friendly societies in New Zealand whose returns were tabu­
lated was 80,777 on December 31, 1922, an increase of 2,963, or 3.81 per cent, over 1921.
The gross funds amounted to £2,593,692 ($12,622,202, par), an increase over 1921 of
£147,849 ($719,507, par), the average capital per member being £32 2s. 2d. ($156.26,
par). Average sick pay, per member sick, decreased from £7 11s. 5d. to £7 8s. 3d.
($36.84 to $36.07, par), although considered in relation to the number of weeks of
sickness the average benefit paid per week was the same as in 1921, 13s. ($3.16, par.)
The mortality rate was slightly higher than that of 1921, being 8.18 per thousand.
The funeral benefit paid in 1922 amounted to £28,793 ($140,121, par), equal to 7s. 3d.
($1.76, par) per deceased member as compared with 6s. 8d. ($1.62, par) in 1921.
U nion

of S outh Africa.— D e p a rtm e n t o f M in es a n d In d u strie s. A n n u a l rep o rts f o r
the calendar year ended D ecem ber 31, 1922. P reto ria , 1923. [ V a rio u s p a g in g .] 28
tables.

Contains statistical data relating to the mines and quarries of South Africa. In
1921 the labor force numbered 278,728, of which .87.6 per cent was colored; in 1922
the number employed had decreased to 255,703, but the proportion of colored work­
ers had increased to 89.5 per cent. The figures as to accidents show on the whole an
improvement; both fatalities and accidents were fewer in 1922 than in 1921. A sec­
tion on miners’ phthisis shows a decrease in the number of cases found, but the situ­
ation is not yet regarded as satisfactory.
The figures indicate that pure silicosis is still being produced at the rate of about
20 cases per month. This can not be regarded as satisfactory and points to the neces­
sity for further improvement in underground health conditions, and for continued
vigilance in existing preventive measures. Machine drilling is still the class of occu­
pation which gives rise most rapidly to miners’ phthisis.

Unofficial.
American F ederation

of L abor . E xe cu tive C o u n c il. R e p o r t to the 43d a n n u a l con­
v e n tio n , P o rtla n d , Oreg., October 1, 1923. [W a sh in g to n , D . C.] 1923. 127 p p .

Extracts from this report are given in the account of the convention on pages 163
to 167 this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview .
B illerbeck , G erhard . D ie K iin d ig u n g u n d E n tla s s u n g v o n A rb e ite rn .
1921.

118 p p .

B e r lin ,

(B ucherei des A rbeitsrechts, B a n d 2 .)

A compilation of the legal provisions relating to the giving of notice to and dismissal
of workers in Germany, with commentaries and citations from legal decisions.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Carnegie E ndowment

for I nternational P eace . D iv is io n o f E co n o m ic s and
H is to r y . L a b o r s u p p l y a n d re g u la tio n , by H u m b e r t W olfe. O xford, C larendon
P ress, 1923. x iv , 4-22, 10 p p .

This is one of a series of monographs on the ‘‘Economic and social history of the
World War.” The series is intended to consist of “ unofficial yet authoritative state­
ments, which may best be described as about half-way between memoirs and blue
books.” In carrying out this purpose the author states that he has tried to make the
book entirely impersonal and uncontroversial. It is doubtful whether such an
attempt can ever be wholly successful when the matter handled is one on which
opinion divides as sharply as it does concerning the treatment of labor during the
war, but the author has confined himself pretty closely to an account of what was
done, what were the intentions behind the doings, and what were, in the main, the
results of the various measures.
At the outbreak of the war apparently no one realized that production and dis­
tribution of the necessaries of life were as essential to success as military measures,
and enlistments were encouraged, regardless of how much the volunteers might be
needed in industry. The author traces the various steps needed to remedy this situa­
tion, first to prevent the enlistment of those needed at home, then to retrieve for
industry some of those who had been allowed to enlist, to see that enlistments were
confined to those who could best be spared, to secure new labor supplies, and
finally, to bring what labor was available to the highest pitch of productivity.
If securing and maintaining a labor supply involved considerable interference
with the peace-time rights of the individual, the regulation of the labor so secured
involved even more. A considerable degree of compulsion was introduced, and the
industrial rights of both employer and employee were severely restricted. In essen­
tial industries, strikes and lockouts were prohibited, trade-union practices built up
by decades of effort were abrogated, working conditions were regulated, wages were
fixed, and for a time the worker’s right to leave if he did not like his treatment was
practically abolished though the employer’s right to dismiss was not interfered with.
An immense increase in output was the immediate result of these measures; their
more remote results do not fall within the scope of this book.
An appendix contains the successive munitions acts, the Treasury agreements as
to dilution of labor, rules for constituting and regulating the munitions tribunal, the
various orders concerning wages, and similar documents, which are not always easy
to obtain but are essential for any one wishing to study the war-time development of
control of industry.
Consultative Committee
T h e h o u sin g p ro b lem .

of W omen ’s O rganizations . H o u s in g S u b c o m m itte e.
A sta tem en t o f the presen t p o s itio n . L o n d o n , 1923. 54 PP-

This report, which is dated April, 1923, gives a brief historical sketch of the housing
problem before the war, a discussion of the present situation, and a review of the
current proposals for meeting the housing shortage, giving arguments for and against
each plan cited. An appendix contains data on related subjects and a brief account
of housing measures in other countries.
Gowin , E noch B urton, and Wheatley , William Alonzo.

O ccu p a tio n s.
book f o r the educational, civic, a n d vo ca tio n a l guid a n ce o f boys arid g irls.
by J o h n M . B rew er. B o s to n , G in n & Co., 1923. x , 441 p p .

A text­
R evised

This study of occupations is designed to aid high-school students in choosing their
vocations. The revision retains much that was in the original edition with the
addition of material relating to vocations for girls, and a general discussion of educa­
tion and work and of vocational adjustment. A bibliography on occupations is
appended.


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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
H unter , Merlin H. and W atkins, Gordon S.
Y ork, M c G ra w -H ill B o o k Co. ( I n c .) , 1923.

T he background o f econom ics.
x , 514 p p -

223
N ew

The purpose of this book is to furnish a background for the study of the principles
of economics, and it is intended to be used in preparation for college work in eco­
nomics. The study covers the forces and products of nature, the development of
agriculture and manufacturing industries, the problems of industry, exchange, and
Government and economic relations.
I nstitut I nternational
agricole, 1922.

d ’A griculture. A n n u a ir e
R o m e , 1923. liii, 1056 p p .

in te r n a tio n a l de legisla tio n

The international yearbook of agricultural legislation. Contains an analytical in­
troduction and index in English: the text is in French. Part V III contains the
text of legislation on agricultural cooperation, insurance, and credit.
I nstitut I nternational de Statistique. Commission d'études pour les statis­
tiques economiques internationales. Rapport sur les indices de la situation eco­
nomique, par Lucien March. [Brussels?] 1923. 268 pp.
This report was issued by a special commission appointed to make a study of index
numbers relating' to the economic situation—wholesale prices, retail prices, and cost
of living; stock exchange transactions, issue of bills, etc.; and composite indexes of
economic prosperity in different countries. The report was presented to the fifteenth
session of the International Statistical Institute at Brussels, October, 1923, as part of
the work toward establishing comparable statistics between the various countries.
I nstitute

for G overnment R esearch . T he D iv is io n o f C o n c ilia tio n , i ts history,
activities, a n d o rg a n iza tio n , by Jo sh u a B ern h a rd t. B a ltim o re , J o h n s H o p k in s P ress,
1923. x i, 37 p p . S e n d ee m o n o g ra p h s o f the U n ited S ta te s G o vern m en t, N o . 20.

This monograph gives the history and organization of the Division of Conciliation
of the Department of Labor and an account of its activities in working for industrial
peace through conciliation and mediation. The work of the division does not include
controversies between railroads, express companies, and sleeping-car companies
which are subject to the interstate commerce act, and their employees. The historical
section includes an account of national legislation relating to the settlement of disputes
on certain carriers in interstate commerce, the creation of the Division of Conciliation,
progress to the World War, effect of the war, and the present status of the division.
The appendixes include an outline of organization, including number of personnel
and salaries; a classification of activities; a statement of appropriations and expendi­
tures; and a bibliography.
K askel , W alter , and Syrup , F riedrich . A rb eitsnachw dsgesetz. K o m m e n ta r.
B erlin , 1922.

330 p p .

(C arl H e y m a n n s Verlag, T a sch en-G esetzsam m lung 103.)

The authors of this volume, who had prepared the first draft of the German law on
public employment offices (A rb eitsn a ch w n sg esetz), after the enactment of this law on
July 22, 1922, published the above commentary in order to aid the administrative
authorities in the practical enforcement of the law and to contribute to the solution
of the large number of difficult problems involved in the administration of the new
law. A summary of the provisions of the law was given in the October, 1922, issue
of the Monthly Labor R eview (pp. 185-191).
Michig an , U niversity of . School of Education. Vocational Education Department.
Occupations of junior workers in Detroit, by Alexander C. Crockett and Jennie M.
Clow. Ann Arbor, 1923. 76 pp. Special studies No. 1 .
A summary of this study is given on pages 120 and 121 of this issue of the Monthly
L abor R eview .


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224

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
W ages, h o u rs , a n d e m p lo y m e n t i n
J u ly , 1 9 1 4 -J u l y , 1923. N ew Y o rk, 1923.

N ational I ndustrial Conference B oard.
A m e ric a n m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u strie s ,
v ii, 154 p p . Research rep o rt N o . 62.

This report aims to portray “ the important features of the movement of hourly and
weekly earnings, hours of plant operation and worker hours, as well as of the numbers
employed, during the nine years since the pre-war period, treating in detail the trends
in the past three years, or since the general peak of industrial activity in 1920.” It
contains a number of summary tables, pay-roll data concerning different industries,
and charts showing the fluctuations of the various factors considered.
P alla, E dmund. D ie K a m m e r n f ü r A rb eiter u n d A n g este llte.
pp.

V ie n n a , 1923.
(D ie so zia lp o litisch e G esetzgebung i n Österreich, B a n d X I , H e ft 1.)

v i, 122

This volume is one of a series of works on socio-political legislation in Austria and
deals with the Austrian chambers of labor, a unique institution that has nothing in
common with the French bourses du travail or the Italian camere di lavoro. The
Austrian chambers of labor are public corporations created to represent and safeguard
the economic interests of manual workers and salaried employees in the same manner
as chambers of commerce represent the interests of employers in commerce and indus­
try. The activities of these chambers consist chiefly in proposing and drafting legal
measures in the interest of labor and in cooperating in the administration of such
measures. The volume under review contains the full text of the law on chambers
of labor of February 26, 1920, the decree regulating the election of members of such
chambers, and of the by-laws of the chambers. Two tables show the result of the
first elections held.
R obertson, D. H. The control of industry. New York, Harcourt, Brace & Co
1923.

ix , 171 p p .

This book contains a general discussion of economic principles as exemplified by
developments of large-scale industry; the organization of marketing; finance and
industry; cooperation; workers’ control; and joint control.
Speiser , W. W irtsch a ftsken n za h len (In d e x z iffe r n ). B e r lin , 1922. 56 p p .
The above brochure had as its principal aim the collecting, sorting, and discussion
of the numerous economic indexes computed in Germany and foreign countries up to
November, 1921. It deals with general, wholesale, and retail price indexes, cost of
living, wage, foreign exchange, stock exchange, and other economic indexes, and con­
tains several tables and a large number of charts. Wherever it was possible the pre-war
period has been taken as the base period in the tables and charts in order to make
the various indexes comparable.
T aylor, P aul S. The S a ilo r s ’ U n io n o f the P acific. N e w Y o r k , R o n a ld P ress Co.
1923.

v ii, 188 p p .

This study of unionism among sailors on the Pacific coast deals with earlier condi­
tions of seamen on vessel and on shore, the hardships and injustices they had to suffer,
the development of union organization, and the influence of organization in securing
legislation which remedied some of the worst conditions connected with their calling.
The two last chapters of the book were published in the April, 1923, issue of the
Monthly Labor R eview (pp. 11-20) under the title “ Organization and policies of
the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific.”
Warbasse , J ames P. Cooperative democracy. New York, Macmillan Co., 1923.
x x, 493 pp.
In this valuable contribution to the cooperative literature the president of the
Cooperative League of the United States of America discusses “ the cooperative move­
ment, its philosophy, methods, accomplishments and possibilities, and its relation to
the State, to science, art, and commerce, and to other systems of economic organiza­
tions. ’’ Cooperation is presented as a “ practical working plan for a complete reorgani­
zation of society upon a voluntary nonpolitical basis.” The author is convinced that


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225

this reorganization of society must take place through the consumers’ movement, and
in order to show the basis for this belief he describes and analyzes such other forms of
cooperation as producers’ copartnerships, syndicalism, and agricultural producers’
associations.
The author di scusses at length the conditions which would obtain under the coopera­
tive democracy as he visualizes it. Beginning with retail and then wholesale dis­
tribution the consumers’ movement would undertake cooperative production of one
article after another until finally all production would be carried on by the organized
consumers.
The book contains a chapter showing what the movement has already done in such
lines as distributive business (stores, bakeries, restaurants, etc.), laundry operation,
housing, banking, medical service, insurance, telephone service, mining, wholesaling,
importing, and manufacturing. Other chapters analyze the difference between
cooperative and Government ownership, the profit motive and its defects, the organized
labor movement, and the guild movement in its relation to cooperation, and sketch
briefly the history and development of the cooperative movement in the different
countries of the world.
Weakly, F rank E. Applied personnel procedure. New York, McGraw-Hill Bool Co.,
1923. vii, 192 p p .
Certain specific phases of personnel management, such as placement, turnover,
attendance, promotion, and transfers, job analysis, employee representation, profit
sharing, and related subjects are treated from the standpoint of the author’s varied
experience as a manual worker, head of a personnel department, and a general
executive.
Y ovanovitch, 1) . Le rendement optimum du travail ouvrier. Rémunération, organi­
sation, hygiene, morale du travail. Paris, Payot, 1923. 490 pp.
This book is a study of the modern stimulants of labor activity. It takes up the
question of industrial organization from the labor point of view and attempts an
evaluation of the different practices and reforms from the angle of their efficacy. The
study is divided into three parts. The first treats of the remuneration of labor and
includes a consideration of the various bonus systems, profit sharing, and other addi­
tions to wages. The second part takes up the organization and hygiene of labor,
including scientific management, and the third part the relationship between the
worker and the industry, covering works councils, labor control, and the occupational,
economic, and general education of the workers.


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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 ly , 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
in te r v a ls . E a c h n u m b e r c o n ta 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 ll 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 to 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 i n 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 t o 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 ll e t i n s o f t h e B u r e a u is 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 lle tin s m a r k e d th u s * a r e o u t o f p r i n t .]

Wholesale Prices.
*Bul. 114. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1912.
B ui. 149. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1913.
*Bul. 173. In d e x num bers of w holesale prices in th e U n ited S tates and foreign countries.
*Bul. 181. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1914.
*Bul. 200. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1915.
B ui. 226. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1916.
B ui. 269. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1919.
B ui. 284. In d e x nu m b ers of wholesale prices in th e U nited S tates and foreign countries.
of B u lletin No. 173.J
B ui. 296. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1920.
B ui. 320. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1921.
B ui. 335. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1922.

[Revision

Retail Prices and Cost of Living.
*Bui. 105. R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a r t i .
R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I I —G eneral tables.
*Bul. 106. R etail prices, 1890 to Ju n e, 1912: P a rt I.
R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: Part I I —General 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 e ta il prices, 1890 to F ebruary, 1913.
*Bul. 121. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer.
B ui. 125. R etail prices, 1890 to A pril, 1913.
*Bul. 130. W h eat a n d flour prices, from farm er to consum er.
Bui. 132. R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1913.
B ui. 136. R etail prices, 1890 to A ugust, 1913.
*Bul. 138. R etail prices, 1890 to O ctober, 1913.
*Bul. 140. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1913.
B ui. 156. R etail prices, 1907 to D ecember, 1914.
B ui. 164. B u tte r prices, from producer to consumer.
B ui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected b y th e war.
B ui. 184. R etail prices, 1907 to June, 1915.
B ui. 197. R etail prices, 1907 to D ecember, 1915.
B ui. 228. R etail prices, 1907 to December, 1916.
Bui. 270. R etail prices, 1913 to 1919.
Bui. 300. R e ta il prices, 1913 to 1920.
B ui. 315. R e ta il prices, 1913 to 1921.
Bui. 334. R etail prices, 1913 to 1922.
Wages and Hours of Labor.
B ui. 116. H ours, earnings, a n d du ratio n of em ploym ent of wage-earning w omen in selected industries
•
i n th e D istrict of Columbia.
*B ul. 118. T en-hour m ax im u m w orking-day for women a n d young persons.
B ui. 119. W orking hours of w om en in th e pea canneries of W isconsin.
*Bul. 128. W ages a n d hours o flab o r in th e cotton, woolen, an d silk in d u stries, 1890 to 1912.
*Bul. 129. W ages a n d hours o fla b o r in th e lu m b er, m ill work, and fu rn itu re industries, 1890 to 1912.
*Bul. 131. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, 1907 to 1912.
*Bul. 134. W ages a n d hours o flab o r in th e boot a n d shoe a n d hosiery and k n it goods industries, 1890
to 1912.
*Bul. 135. Wages an d hours oflab o r in th e cigar a n d clothing in d u stries, 1911 and 1912.
B ui. 137. W ages a n d hours oflabor 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 o flabor, May 15,1913.
B ui. 146. W ages a n d reg u larity of em ploym ent an d stan d ard ization of piece rates in th e dress and
w aist in d u stry of N ew Y ork City.
*Bul. 147. Wages a n d regularity of em ploym ent in th e cloak, suit, and skirt in d u stry .
*Bul. 150. Wages an d hours oflabor in th e cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1907 to 1913.


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W ages and Hours o f Labor—Concluded.
t
*Bul. 151. Wages an d hours of labor in th e iro n a n d steel in d u s try in th e U n ite d States, 1907 to 1912.
B ui. 153. W ages an d hours of lab o r in th e lu m b er, m ill w ork, a n d fu rn itu re industries, 1907 to 1913.
*Bul. 154. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe a n d hosiery an d underw ear industries, 1907
to 1913.
B ui. 160. H ours, earnings, a n d conditions of labor of w omen in In d ia n a m ercantile establishm ents
a n d garm ent factories.
B ui. 161. Wages an d hours of labor in th e clothing an d cigar industries, 1911 to 1913.
B ui. 163. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e building an d repairing of steam railroad cars, 1907 to 1913.
B ui. 168. Wages an d hours of labor in th e iro n 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. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e hosiery an d underw ear in d u stry , 1907 to 1914.
B ui. 178. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1914.
B ui. 187. Wages an d hours of lab o r in th e m en ’s clothing in d u stry , 1911 to 1914.
*Bul. 190. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, a nd silk industries, 1907 to 1914.
*Bul. 194. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, M ay 1,1915.
B ui. 204. Street railw ay em ploym ent in th e U n ited States.
B ui. 214. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, May 15,1916.
B ui. 218. W ages an d hours of labor in th e iro n an d steel in d u stry , 1907 to 1915.
B ui. 221. H ours, fatigue, an d h e alth in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 225. W ages an d hours of labor in th e lum ber, m ill work, and furniture industries, 1915
B ui. 232. W ages an d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe in d u s try , 1907 to 1916.
B ui. 238. Wages a n d hours of lab o r in woolen a n d w orsted goods m anufacturing, 1916.
B ui. 239. Wages a n d hours of labor in co tto n goods m anufacturing an d finishing, 1916.
B ui. 245. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor, M ay 15,1917.
B ui. 252. Wages an d hours of lab o r 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, M ay 15,1918.
B u i. 260. Wages an d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1918.
B ui. 261. Wages a n d hours of labor in woolen an d w orsted goods m anufacturing, 1918.
B ui. 262. W ages an d hours of labor in co tto n goods m an u facturing a nd finishing, 1918.
B ui. 265. In d u stria l survey in selected in d u stries in th e U n ited States, 1919. P relim inary report.
B ui. 274. U nion scale of wages an d hours of lab o r, M ay 15,1919.
B ui. 278. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe in d u s try , 1907 to 1920.
B ui. 279. H ours an d earnings in a n th ra c ite an d bitum inous coal mi ning.
B ui. 286. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, M ay 15,1920.
B ui. 288. W ages an 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 w orsted goods m anufacturing, 1920.
B ui. 294. W ages an d hours of lab o r in th e slaughtering a n d m eat-packing in d u stry in 1921.
B ui. 297. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e petroleum in d u stry .
B ui. 302. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor, M ay 15,1921.
B ui. 305. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e iro n an d steel in d u stry , 1907 to 1920.
B ui. 316. H ours a n d earnings in a n th ra c ite an d bitu m in o u s coal m ining.
B ui. 317. W ages a n d hours of lab o r in lu m b er m anufacturing, 1921.
B ui. 324. W ages an d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1922.
B ui. 325. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor, M ay 15,1922.
B ui. 327. W ages an d hours of labor in woolen an d w orsted goods m anufacturing, 1922.
B ui. 328. W ages a n d hours of lab o r in hosiery a n d u n d erw ear in d u stry , 1922.
B ui. 329. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e m en ’s clothing in d u stry , 1922.
B ui. 345. W ages a n d hours of labor in co tto n goods m an u facturing, 1922.
B ui. 348. W ages an d hours of labor in th e autom obile in d u s try , 1922. [In press.]
B ui. 353. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e iron and steel in d u s try , 1907 to 1922. [In press.]
Employment and Unemployment.
*Bul. 109. Statistics of u n em ploym ent a n d th e work of em ploym ent offices.
B ui. 116. H ours, earnings, a n d d u ratio n of em ploym ent of wage-earning w omen in selected industries
in th e D istrict of Colum bia.
B ui. 172. U nem ploym ent in New Y ork C ity, N . Y.
*Bul. 182. U nem ploym ent among wom en 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 n ited States.
B ui. 196. Proceedings of th e E m p lo y m en t M anagers’ Conference held a t M inneapolis, M inn., Jan u ­
ary , 1916,
B u i. 202. Proceedings of th e conference of th e E m p lo y m ent M anagers’ Association of Boston,
Mass., held May 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 A m 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 ploym ent of women a n d juveniles in Great B ritain during the war.
*Bul. 227. Proceedings of th e E m p lo y m en t M anagers’ Conference, Philadelphia, P a., April 2 and 3,
1917.


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Employment and Unemployment—Concluded.
B ui. 235. E m ploym ent system of th e Lake Carriers’ Association.
B ui. 241. Public em ploym ent offices in th e U nited States.
B ui. 247. Proceedings of E m ploym ent Managers’ Conference, Rochester, N. Y ., M ay 9-11,1918.
B ui. 310. In d u stria l unem ploym ent: A statistical s tu d y of its ex ten t and causes.
Bui. 311. Proceedings of th e N in th A nnual Meeting of th e In tern ational Association of Public E m ­
ploym ent Services, Septem ber 7-9,1921, Buffalo, N . Y .
B ui. 337. Proceedings of th e T e n th A n n u al Meeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation of Public
E m p lo y m en t Services, W ashington, D . C., Septem ber 11-13, 1922.
Women in Industry.
B ui. 116. H ours, earnings, and duration of em ploym ent of wage-earning women in selected indus­
tries in th e D istrict of Columbia.
*Bul. 117. Prohibition of night work of young persons.
*Bul. 118. Ten-hour m ax im u m w orking-day for w omen a n d young persons.
Bui. 119. W orking hours of w omen in th e pea canneries of W isconsin.
*Bul. 122. E m ploym ent of women in power laundries in Milwaukee, W is.
B ui. 160. H ours, earnings, a n d conditions of labor of women in Indiana m ercantile establishm ents
and garm ent factories.
*Bul. 167. M inimum-wage legislation in th e U nited States and foreign countries.
*Bul. 175. Sum m ary of th e report on condition of w om an and child wage earners in the U nited States.
*Bul. 176. Effect of m inim um -w age determ inations in Oregon.
*Bul. 180. The boot and shoe in d u stry in M assachusetts as a vocation for women.
B ui. 182. U nem ploym ent am ong women in d ep artm en t a n d other retail stores of B oston, Mass.
B ui. 193. D ressm aking as a trad e for women in M assachusetts.
Bui. 215. In d u strial experience of trade-school girls in M assachusetts.
B ui. 217. Effect of w orkm en’s com pensation laws in dim inishing th e necessity of industrial employ­
m ent of women an d children.
B ui. 223. E m ploym ent of women and juveniles in Great B ritain during the war.
Bui. 253. W om en in th e lead industries.
Workmen’s Insurance and Compensation (including laws relating thereto).
B ui. 101. Care of tuberculous wage earners in Germ any.
Bui. 102. B ritish N ational Insurance Act, 1911.
B ui. 103. Sickness a n d accident insurance law of Sw itzerland.
B ui. 107. Law relating to insurance of salaried employees in G erm any.
*Bul. 126. W orkm en’s com pensation law s of th e U nited States an d foreign countries.
*B ul. 155. Compensation for accidents to employees of th e U nited States.
*Bul. 185. Compensation legislation of 1914 and 1915.
B ui. 203. W orkm en’s com pensation laws of th e U nited States a n d foreign countries.
B ui. 210. Proceedings of th e T hird A nnual Meeting of th e International Association of Industrial
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
B ui. 212. Proceedings of th e conference on social insurance called b y the International Association
of In d u strial Accident Boards an d Commissions.
B ui. 217. Effect of w orkm en’s com pensation laws in dim inishing the necessity of industrial employ­
m ent of women a n d children.
B ui. 240. Comparison of w orkm en’s com pensation laws of th e U nited States.
B ui. 243. W orkm en’s com pensation legislation in th e U nited States and foreign countries.
B ui. 248. Proceedings of th e F o u rth A nnual Meeting of th e International Association of Industrial
A ccident B oards and Commissions.
B ui. 264. Proceedings of th e F ifth A nnual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident B oards a n d Commissions.
B ui. 272. W orkm en’s com pensation legislation of th e U nited States a nd Canada, 1919.
*Bul. 273. Proceedings of th e Sixth A nnual Meeting of th e International Association of Industrial
A ccident B oards and Commissions.
B ui. 275. Comparison of w orkm en’s com pensation laws of th e U nited States and Canada.
B ui. 281. Proceedings of th e Seventh A nnual Meeting of th e In ternational Association of Industrial
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
B ui. 301. Comparison of w orkm en’s com pensation insurance and adm inistration.
B ui. 304. Proceedings of th e E ig h th A nnual Meeting of th e Intern ational Association of Industrial
Accident B oards a n d Commissions.
B ui. 312. N ational H ealth Insurance in Great B ritain , 1911 to 1920.
B ui. 332. W orkm en’s com pensation legislation of th e U nited States and Canada, 1920 to 1922.
B ui. 333. Proceedings of th e N in th A nnual Meeting of th e International Association of Industrial
Accident B oards a n d Commissions.
Industrial Accidents and H ygiene.
Bui. 104. Lead poisoning in potteries, tile works, and porcelain enam eled sanitary ware factories.
B ui. 120. Hygiene of th e p ain ters’ trade.
*Bul. 127. Dangers to workers from d u st and fumes, and m ethods of protection.
B ui. 141. Lead poisoning in th e sm elting a n d refining of lead.
♦Bui. 157. In d u stria l accident statistics.


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Industrial Accidents and H ygiene—Concluded.
B ui. 165. Lead poisoning in th e m an u factu re of storage b atteries.
*B ul. 179. In d u s tria l poisons used in th e ru b b e r in d u stry .
B ui. 188. R eport of B ritish d e p artm e n tal com m ittee on th e danger in th e use of lead in th e painting
of buildings.
*Bul.201. R eport of co m m ittee on statistic s a n d com pensation insurance cost of the International
Association of In d u s tria l A ccident B oards an d Commissions. (L im 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 ul. 216. A ccidents a n d accid en t prev en tio n in m ach in e building.
Bui. 219. In d u s tria l poisons used or produced in th e m an u factu re of explosives.
B ui. 221. H ours, fatigue, a n d h e alth in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 230. In d u stria l efficiency a n d fatig u e in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 231. M ortality from resp irato ry diseases in d u sty trades.
*Bul. 234. Safety m ovem ent in th e iro n a n d steel in d u s try , 1907 to 1917.
B ui. 230. Effect of th e a ir ham m er on th e h a n d s of sto n ecutters.
B ui. 251. P reventable d eath in th e cotton m a n u fa c tu rin g in d u stry .
B ui. 253. W om en in th e lead in d u stries.
B ui. 256. A ccidents a n d accident prevention in m achine building. Revision of B ui. 216.
B ui. 267. A n th ra x as a n occupational disease. [Revised.]
B u i. 276. S tan d ard izatio n of in d u s tria l accident statistic s.
B ui. 280. In d u stria l poisoning in m aking coal-tar dyes an d dye interm ediates.
B ui. 291. Carbon m onoxide poisoning.
B ui. 293. The problem of d u s t p h th isis in th e granite-stone in d u stry .
B ui. 298. Causes a n d p rev en tio n of accidents in th e iro n an d steel in d u stry , 1910 to 1919.
B ui. 306. O ccupation hazards a n d diagnostic signs. A guide to im p a irm e n t to be looked for in
hazardous occupations.
B ui. 339. S tatistics of in d u stria l accidents in th e U n ited States.
Conciliation and Arbitration (including strikes and lockouts).
*B ul. 124. Conciliation a n d a rb itra tio n in th e bu ild in g trades of G reater New Y ork.
*B ul. 133. R eport of th e in d u stria l council of th e B ritish B oard of Trade on its in q u iry in to industrial
agreem ents.
B ui. 139. M ichigan copper d istric t strike.
B ui. 144. In d u stria l co u rt of th e cloak, s u it, an d sk irt in d u s try of New Y ork C ity.
B ui. 145. Conciliation, a rb itratio n , a n d sa n itatio n in th e dress a n d w aist in d u stry of New Y ork City.
B ui. 191. Collective b argaining in th e a n th ra c ite in d u stry .
*B ul. 198. Collective agreem ents in th e m e n ’s clothing in d u s try .
B ui. 233. O peration of th e In d u s tria l D isputes Inv estig ation A ct of C anada.
B u i. 303. Use of Federal power in settlem en t of railw ay labor disputes.
B ui. 341. Trade agreem ent in th e silk-ribbon in d u stry of New Y ork C ity. [In press.
Labor Laws of the United States (including decisions of courts relating to labor).
*B ul. 111. L abor legislation of 1912.
*B ul. 112. Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1912.
*B ul. 148. Labor laws of th e U n ite d States, w ith decisions of courts re lating thereto.
*B ul. 152. Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1913.
*B ul. 166. L abor legislation of 1914.
* B u l.l6 9 . Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1914.
*B ul. 180. L abor legislation of 1915.
*B ul. 189. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1915.
B ui. 211. L abor law s an d th e ir ad m in istratio n in th e Pacific States.
*B ul. 213. L abor legislation of 1916.
B ui. 224. D ecisions of courts affecting labor, 1916.
B u i. 229. W age-paym ent legislation in th e U n ite d States.
B ui. 244. Labor legislation of 1917.
B ui. 246. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1917.
B ui. 257. Labor legislation of 1918.
B ui. 258. Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1918.
B ui. 277. L abor legislation of 1919.
B ui. 285. M inimum-wage legislation in th e U n ited States.
Bui. 290. Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1919-1920.
Bui. 292. L abor legislation of 1920.
B ui. 308. L abor legislation of 1921.
B u i. 309. Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1921.
B ui. 321. L abor law s th a t have been declared un co n stitu tional.
B ui. 322. K ansas C ourt of In d u stria l R elations.
Bui. 330. L abor legislation of 1922.
B ui. 343. Law s providing for bureaus of labor statistics, etc.
B ui. 344. Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1922.


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Foreign Labor Laws.
B ui. 142. Admini stratio n of labor laws and factory inspection in certain E uropean countries.
Vocational Education.
B ui. 145. Conciliation, a rb itratio n , and san itatio n in th e dress and w aist in d u stry of New Y ork City.
*Bul. 147. W ages a n d regularity of em ploym ent in th e cloak, suit, and skirt indu stry .
*Bul. 159. Short-unit courses for wage earners and a factory school experim ent.
B ui. 162. V ocational education survey of R ichm ond, Va.
B u i. 199. V ocational education survey of M inneapolis, Minn.
B ui. 271. A d u lt w orking class education (G reat B rita in an d th e U nited States).
Labor, as Affected by the War.
B ui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected b y th e w ar.
B ui. 219. In d u s tria l poisons used or produced in th e m anufacture of explosives.
B ui. 221. H ours, fatigue, an d h ealth in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 222. W elfare w ork in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 223. E m p lo y m en t of wom en and juveniles in G reat B rita in during the war.
B ui. 230. In d u s tria l efficiency a n d fatigue in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 237. In d u s tria l u n re st in G reat B ritain .
B ui. 249. In d u stria l h ealth an d efficiency. F in al rep o rt of B ritish H ealth of M unition W orkers Com­
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 Labor A d ju stm en t Board, 1917 to 1919.
B ui. 287. N ational W ar L abor Board.
Safety Codes.
B ui. 331. Code of lighting factories, m ills, a n d other w ork places.
B ui. 336. Safety code for th e protection of in d u stria l w orkers m foundries.
B ui. 338. Safety code for th e use, care, and protection of abrasive wheels.
B ui, 350. R ules governing th e approval of headlighting devices for m otor vehicles.
B ui. 351. Safety code for th e construction, care, and use of ladders.
M iscellaneous Series.
*Bul. 117. P ro h ib itio n of n ig h t work of young persons.
*Bul. 118. Ten-hour m ax im u m w orking-day for women and young persons.
*Bul. 123. E m ployers’ welfare w ork.
*Bul. 158. G overnm ent aid to home owning and housing of w orking people in foreign countries.
*Bul. 159. Sh o rt-u n it courses for wage earners a n d a factory school experim ent.
*Bul. 167. M inimum-wage legislation in th e U nited States and foreign countries.
B ui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected b y th e w ar.
B ui. 174. Subject index of th e publications of th e U nited States B ureau of Labor Statistics up to May 1,
1915.
B ui. 208. Profit sharing in th e U nited States.
B ui. 222. W elfare w ork in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
B ui. 242. Food situ atio n in central Europe, 1917.
B ui. 250. Welfare w ork for employees in in d u stria l establishm ents in the U nited States.
B ui. 254. In te rn a tio n a l labor legislation an d th e society of nations.
B ui. 263. H ousing b y em ployers in th e U n ited States.
B ui. 266. Proceedings of Seventh A nnual Convention of G overnm ental Labor Officials of the U nited
S tates a n d Canada.
B ui. 268. H istorical survey of in tern atio n al action affecting labor.
B u i. 271. A d u lt working-class education in G reat B ritain and th e U nited States.
B ui. 282. M u tu al relief associations am ong G overnm ent employees in W ashington, D . C.
B ui. 295. B uilding operations in representative cities in 1920.
B ui. 299. Personnel research agencies. A guide to organized research in em ploym ent m anagem ent,
i n d u strial relations, train in g , an d w orking conditions.
B ui. 307. Proceedings of th e E ig h th A n n u al C onvention of th e Association of G overnm ental Labor
Officials of th e U n ited S tates a n d C anada.
B ui. 313. Consumers’ cooperative societies in th e U n ited States in 1920.
B ui. 314. Cooperative cred it societies in America a n d in foreign countries.
B ui. 318. B uilding perm its in th e p rin cip al cities of th e U n ited States.
B ui. 319. The B ureau of L abor Statistics: I ts history, activities, and organization.
Bui. 323. Proceedings of th e N in th A n n u al Covention of th e Association of G overnm ental Labor
Officials of th e U n ited States and Canada.
B ui. 326. M ethods of procuring a n d com puting statistical inform ation of the B ureau of Labor Statistics.
B ui. 340. Chinese m igrations, w ith special reference to lab o r conditions.
B ui. 342. In te rn a tio n a l Seam en’s U nion of America: A s tu d y of its history a nd problem s.
B ui. 346. H u m a n ity in go v ern m en t.
B ui. 347. B uilding p erm its in th e principal cities of th e U nited S tates, 1922. [In press.]
B ui. 349. In d u s tria l relations in th e W est Coast lu m b er in d u s try . [In press.]
B u i. 352. Proceedings of th e T e n th A n n u al C onvention of th e Association of G overnm ental L abor
Officials of th e U nited S tates a n d C anada. [In press.]


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SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

Description of occupations, prepared for the United States Employment Service, 1918—19.
Boots a n d shoes, harness a n d saddlery, an d tanning.
Cane-sugar refining a n d flour m illing.
Coal a n d w ater gas, p a in t and varnish, paper, p rin tin g trad es, and rubber goods.
Electrical m anufacture, distribution, a n d m aintenance.
Glass.
H otels an d restau ran ts.
Logging cam ps a n d sawmills.
M edicinal m anufacturing.
M etal working, building an d general construction, railroad transportation, an d shipbuilding.
Mines an d m ining.
Office employees.
Slaughtering a n d m eat packing.
Street railw ays.
♦Textiles and clothing.
♦W ater tran sp o rtatio n .
*
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