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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lic a tio n is issued p u rsu a n t t o the
p r o v is io n s o f th e S u n d r y C iv il A c t (41 S tats.
1430) a p p ro v e d M a r c h 4, 1921

CONTENTS
Special articles:
Productivity, hours, and compensation of railroad labor:
Part 1. All employees, by W itt Bowden__________________________
Report of United States delegation at the International Labor Con­
ference, June 1933_____________________________________________________
Employment conditions and unemployment relief:
Longshore labor conditions and port decasualization in the United
States___________________________________________________________________
Fluctuation of employment in Ohio in 1931 and 1932 and comparison
with previous years, by Fred C. Croxton and Frederick E. Croxton.
Subsistence-homestead movement under National Recovery A ct_____
Federal unemployment relief work during September 1933___________
Creation of Federal Civil Works Administration______________________
Handicrafts to combat unemployment in Germany___________________
National Recovery Administration:
Summary of permanent codes adopted under National Industrial
Recovery Act up to November 8, 1933______________________________
Minimum wage:
Minimum wage legislation in the United States_________________ ______
Women in industry:
Employment methods during change to dial telephone------------------ ___
Effect of plant shut-down on women workers__________________________
Influence of depression on expenditures of business women___________
Child labor:
Child labor in the United States, 1932_________________________________
Old-age pensions and benefit plans:
Adoption of old-age pensions in Ohio___________________________________
Benefit payments by standard national and international unions,
1932____________________________________________________________________
Health and industrial hygiene:
Industrial health discussions at American Public Health Association
Convention, 1933______________________________________________________
Pulmonary asbestosis____________________________________________________
Occupational diseases reported in Ohio, 1928 to 1932--------------------------Industrial accidents:
Accidents in manufacturing industries, 1926 to 1932---------------------------Accident experience of American steam railways, 1932________________
Coal-mine accidents in the United States, 1931________________________
Metal-mine accidents in the United States, 1931---------------------------------Labor laws and court decisions:
New Mexico law regulating hours of labor for men held unconstitu­
tional___________________________________________________________________
Part-time household worker not a casual employee in New Jersey-----Canadian labor legislation, 1932________________________________________


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h i

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1275
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1299
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1332
1332

1333
1344
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1359
1361
1374
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1377
1385
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1388
1394
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1397

1399
1400
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IV

CONTENTS

Cooperation:
Development of cooperative movement throughout the world________
Status of building and loan associations, 1932__________________________
Exemption of cooperative organizations from patronage-dividend
provisions of codes______________________________________________________
Progress toward a national cooperative wholesale society_____________
Industrial disputes:

Page
1404

1414
1416
1417

Strikes and lockouts in the United States in October 1933___________
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in October 1933______
Labor awards and decisions:

1419
1427

Wage increase awarded to Boston Elevated Railway employees_____
Housing:

1435

Building operations in principal cities of the United States, October
1933-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Building subsidy and building activity in New Zealand_______________
New provisions for public subsidies for building in Germany_________
Wages and hours of labor:
Hours and earnings in foundries and machine shops, 1933____________
Wage-rate changes in American industries_____________________________
Wage changes reported by trade unions and municipalities since
August 1933____________________________________________________________
Farm wage and labor situation on October 1, 1933____________________
Finland— Wages in the paper and wood-pulp industries, 1928 to 1933.
Japan— Wages in Tokyo,June 1933_____________________________________
Korea— Wages in factories inChosen, 1932_____________________________
Trend of employment:
Employment in selected manufacturing industries in October 1933. __
Employment in nonmanufacturing industries in October 1933________
Average man-hours worked and average hourly earnings_____________
Employment in building construction in October 1933________________
Trend of employment in October 1933, by States_____________________
Employment and pay rolls in October 1933 in cities of over 500,000
population______________________________________________________________
Employment in the executive civil service of the United States, Oc­
tober 1933______________________________________________________________
Employment on class I steam railroads in the United States_________
Employment created by Public Works fund___________________________
Unemployment in foreign countries_____________________________________
Retail prices:
Retail prices of food in October 1933___________________________________
Retail prices of coal on October 15, 1933_______________________________
Wholesale prices:
Index numbers of wholesale prices, 1913 to October 1933_____________
Wholesale prices in the United States and in foreign countries_______
Publications relating to labor:
Official— United States__________________________________________________
Official— Foreign countries______________________________________________
Unofficial_________________________________________________________________


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1440
1456
1457
1459
1475
1478
1480
1481
1482
1483
1485
1497
1502
1504
1506
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1514
1516

1517
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1531
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1551

This Issue in Brief
The first of three articles on railroad labor discusses trends affecting
all employees of class I railroads, 1916 to 1938 (p. 1275). Revenue
traffic in terms of index numbers based on 1926 was 84.4 in 1916, 52.0
in 1932, 46.8 in March 1933, and 60.3 in July 1933. The index num­
bers of total man-hours were 114.8 in 1916, 50.5 in 1932, 46.7 in March
1933, and 49.8 in July 1933. During the rapid decline of traffic, the
work required for maintaining traffic facilities prevented a decrease
in employment equal to the decrease in traffic, although technological
changes reduced the amount of work required. With the upturn in
amount of traffic, a comparatively small increase in employment is
required.
The report to the Secretary of Labor of the United States observers ap­
pointed by President Roosevelt to attend the International Labor Con­
ference in June 1933 is given in an article beginning on page 1290. It
includes a discussion of the report to the conference of the Director
of the International Labor Office; the activities of the International
Labor Organization in regard to the 40-hour week; the draft conven­
tions on abolition of fee-charging employment agencies, and on social
insurance; and the importance of United States participation in the
discussions of the International Labor Conferences.
An analysis of fluctuation of employment in Ohio in 1931 and 1932,
with comparative figures for previous years, is given in an article begin­
ning on page 1307. This analysis shows that in 1932 employment of
wage earners, clerical employees, and salespeople (not traveling) in
40,134 establishments varied 8.4 percent between the month of high­
est employment (February) and the month of lowest employment
(August); in 1931 the variation between the month of highest em­
ployment (May) and the month of lowest employment (December)
in 43,168 establishments was 10.8 percent. A decrease of 15.8 per­
cent in maximum employment took place between 1931 and 1932.
A descriptive analysis of the employment conditions normally pre­
vailing in the longshore industry was prepared by the United States
Department of Labor at the reguest of the deputy administrator of the
shipping code. At the same time, the Department of Labor pre­
sented a plan for the decasualization of longshore labor, intended to
do away with many of the injustices to labor now prevailing on the
waterfronts of the majority of ports in the United States. Present
employment conditions are more chaotic and the earnings of long­
shoremen are much lower than during the 1927-29 period covered by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey as published in its Bulletin
No. 550 (p. 1299).
An increase in both freguency and severity rates for accidents in
manufacturing industries in 1932, as compared with 1931, is shown in
the annual survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average
number of workers injured in 1932 was 19.55 per 1,000,000 hours

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v

VI

THIS ISSUE IN

BRIEF

worked, as against 18.85 in 1931, and the average time lost through
such injuries in 1932 was 2.86 days per 1,000 hours worked, as against
2.59 in 1931 (p. 1388).
Sixteen States now have minimum wage laws. Of this number,
seven were passed during the present year. In the majority of cases
the 1933 laws follow the standard minimum wage bill sponsored by
the National Consumers’ League. The principal provisions of ail
of the minimum wage laws in effect in 1933 are given in this issue
(p. 1344).
Foundry workers' earnings averaged 48.2 cents per hour and $14.25
per week in 1933 as compared with 60 cents per hour and $20.06 per
week in 1931, and 62.4 cents per hour and $30.39 per week in 1929.
Machine-shop employees earned an average of 54 cents per hour and
$18.71 per week in 1933, 63.4 cents per hour and $24.22 per week in
1931, and 63.8 cents per hour and $32.06 per week in 1929. These
and other details from a survey of wages and working hours in 364
foundries, having 19,763 wage earners, and 492 machine shops, with
41,960 wage earners, made in the spring of 1933 by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, are given in an article beginning on page 1459.
The redistribution of surplus or stranded populations, so as to make
such citizens self-sustaining, is the program of the Subsistence Home­
steads Division formed in the United States Department of the
Interior. Colonies (urban, rural, or agricultural) will be formed in
which subsistence will be drawn partly from the homestead garden
plot, and partly from part-time employment in industries set up
within the colony. The projects are experimental only and the sites
are to be chosen not on the geographical basis, but with reference to
the principal “ problem areas” in the United States. Two projects
are under way, one a colony being built in West Virginia, the other a
subsistence-homestead project being carried on through a self-help
organization formed in Dayton, Ohio, by unemployed of that city
(p. 1327).
The downward trend in child labor which has been evident for the past
decade continued during 1932, according to a survey by the United
States Children’s Bureau. In the States and cities reporting, 50,233
children, 14 and 15 years of age, obtained first regular employment
certificates and left school to go to work. In comparable areas, the
number of certificates issued in 1932 was 62 percent less than in 1929
and 26 percent less than in 1931, showing that it was becoming
increasingly difficult for children to find employment (p. 1361).
Industrial hygiene was the subject of four sectional meetings of the
American Public Health Association convention at Indianapolis in
October. Problems connected with the development of silicosis among
workers subjected to exposure to silica dust were given special atten­
tion, this disease being of widespread interest at the present time from
the standpoint both of its seriousness and of its importance in the field
of workmen’s compensation. Other subjects discussed at these meet­
ings included industrial dermatoses; poisoning by petroleum distillates;
cyanide poisoning; effects of exposure to carbon tetrachloride, par­
ticularly its effects upon the eyes; pulmonary asbestosis; and a new
X-ray mass procedure for the discovery of early tuberculosis in
industry (p. 1377).


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MONTHLY

LABOR REVIEW
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
vol.

WASHINGTON

37, n o . 6

D e c e m b e r 1933

Productivity, Hours, and Compensation of Railroad Labor
Part 1.

All Employees

B y W it t B o w d e n , o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u of L a b o r S t a t is t ic s

HIS is the first of a series of three articles dealing with the
trends of employment, productivity, and compensation in rail­
road transportation, and the principal factors affecting these trends.
The first article deals with all employees and presents underlying data
regarding revenue traffic, operating revenues and expenses, total com­
pensation, and the maintenance of facilities for revenue traffic. The
second article will analyze the principal classes of employees other
than those concerned directly with transportation and will describe
some of the important changes, especially ¿hose of a technological
nature, affecting the productivity and status of these employees.
The third article will deal in a similar manner with train, engine, and
yard crews, dispatchers, and other classes of employees connected
more directly with transportation.

T

Conditions Affecting Railroad Labor
R a i l r o a d labor has been affected by conditions which distinguish
it in important respects from other labor, particularly in manufac­
turing and trade. Congress and the courts have long held that rail­
road transportation is “ affected with a public interest” to a degree
which warrants detailed regulation. The States as well as the Federal
Government have limited the freedom of railroad companies in
extending or curtailing facilities for traffic, in reducing the size of
train and engine crews, in fixing the hours and conditions of labor,
and in adjusting controversies with employees. Public regulation
and the peculiar nature of the industry require the maintenance of
minimum facilities regardless of the amount of traffic. As a result,
hours, wages, and volume of employment in this industry are less
flexible in their adaptation to changes in volume of business than in
the case of many private enterprises. The existence of comparatively
strong labor organizations has contributed to the same result.
Because of these conditions, the effects of technological changes in
the displacement of labor are restricted, during a period of declining
traffic, by the comparative inelasticity of the amount of labor. When
traffic is light, the services required for maintaining traffic facilities
cannot be reduced proportionately, especially in the case of such
classes of labor as passenger employees, train dispatchers, and the


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1275

1276

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

executive and clerical staffs. When the amount of traffic increases,
the effects of technological changes are at once apparent in a com­
paratively slight increase in the amount of employment, since the
facilities for handling a small volume of traffic are substantially the
same as are required for carrying additional passengers and freight.
The effects of technological changes on the amount of labor are there­
fore to be found not so much in the productivity of labor in terms of
revenue traffic as in the smaller amount of labor required for maintain­
ing traffic facilities.
Technological improvements have been extremely varied, and have
made possible the maintenance of traffic facilities and the handling
of a given amount of traffic with a constantly diminishing amount of
labor. Locomotives and cars have been increased in size, capacity,
durability, and ease of operation. Rails and ties have been improved
as to quality of materials, durability, and resistance to impact of
rolling stock. Roadbeds have been made sturdier and less dependent
on maintenance work. Mechanical devices, such as mobile power
units, rail layers, tie tampers, and track and right-of-way cleaners,
have greatly reduced the amount of work required for the maintenance
of way and structures. In the maintenance of equipment and stores,
the amount of work has been reduced by the improved quality and
capacity of engines and cars and by the modernizing of machine
shops, car shops, roundhouses, etc. In connection with communica­
tions and the control of train movements, the principal changes have
involved automatic signals, interlocking plants, and centralized
traffic control for combining the functions of issuing train orders and
the handling of signals and switches. Highway-crossing protection
has included the extension of automatic signals and grade separations.
Administrative and clerical employees have been most vitally affected
by office appliances, such as calculating machines, by methods of
management, and by mergers and consolidations.
Employment and Compensation
T h e combined effects of technological and managerial changes, and
of changes in the amount of traffic, on the amount of employment are
apparent in the index numbers of revenue traffic and man-hours of
all employees. With 1926 as the base year, the index number of
passenger and freight traffic combined was 84.4 in 1916, while the
index number of man-hours was 114.8. By 1932 the index number
of revenue traffic had fallen to 52, and that of man-hours to 50.5.
By July 1933 the index number of revenue traffic had risen to 60.3
as compared with July 1926, while that of man-hours in July 1933
was virtually the same as for 1932, or 49.8. The index number of
revenue traffic in July 1933, as compared with the year 1916, showed
a decline of only 28.6 percent; while the index number of man-hours
showed a decline of 56.6 percent. The exclusion of executive groups
would show an even greater proportionate decline of man-hours.
The average number of hours per week of all employees was 60.6
in 1916. The adoption of the 8-hour day reduced the average hours
per week to 50.6 in 1919; and part time after 1929 further lowered the
average, by 1932, to 42. During the period of the war the average
annual compensation per employee underwent a series of increases
from $892 in 1916 to $1,820 in 1920. Thereafter it ranged somewhat
below this amount till 1930, and fell sharply by 1932 to $1,465. The


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P R O D U C T I V I T Y , E T C ., O F

R A IL R O A D

1277

LABOR

compensation of the wage-earning classes declined more sharply than
that of the executive groups. The compensation of all except the
principal executive groups formed 94.60 percent of the total compen­
sation in 1916, 96.57 percent in 1918, and only 91.65 percent in 1932.
The percentage of hours worked by all except executive groups remained
much more nearly constant throughout the period.
Revenue Traffic and Facilities for Maintaining Traffic
T h e usually accepted unit of passenger service is the passengermile, that is, the carrying of 1 passenger 1 mile. Similarly, in freight
service the basic unit of service is the ton-mile, the carrying of 1 ton
1 mile. In combining passenger and ton miles, passenger-miles may
be weighted in accordance with their approximate comparative im­
portance and added to ton-miles, the sum commonly being described
as revenue traffic units.
The service rendered by employees in maintaining facilities for
revenue traffic tends to increase or decrease with fluctuations in the
amount of revenue traffic, but the ratio is far from constant, especially
in the handling of passenger traffic, for trains must be run and tracks
and other facilities for service must be maintained whether revenue
traffic is large or small. Changes in the volume of revenue traffic of
class I railroads,1 1916 to 1932, and in the various kinds of services
rendered in maintaining facilities for revenue traffic, are compared in
table 1.

T able 1.— C O M P A R IS O N OF R E V E N U E T R A F F IC W IT H S P E C IF IE D T Y P E S OF W O R K
D O N E B Y E M P L O Y E E S , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S , 1916 T O 1932
[Based on reports to Interstate Commerce Commission]
Revenue traffic (mil­
lions)

Year
Pas­
senger- Tonmiles miles

Car-miles (transpor­
tation service)

Pas­
senger
serv­
Traffic
units 1 ice
(mil­
lions)

Train-miles

Cross­
ties
laid
in re­
place­
ments
(thou­
sands)

Bridge
and
switch
ties laid
in re­
place­
ments
(thou­
sands)

2,046, 575
1, 883, 393
2, 335, 300
2, 506,961

79, 070
76,139
80, 903
86, 829

208, 526
222, 927
248, 440
246,196

576, 094
575, 500
529, 444
539, 803
561, 633

617, 606
631,188
616,151
549, 657
607, 508

Transportation
traffic
Rails laid
Freight
units
2
(tons)
Total
(mil­
service (mil­
(mil­
lions)
lions) lions)

Pas­
senger Freight
trains trains
(thou­ (thou­
sands) sands)

1916.
19m
1918
1919.
1920.

34, 586
39, 477
42, 677
46, 358
46,849

362, 444
394, 465
405, 379
364, 293
410, 306

452,368
497,105
516, 338
484, 825
532,113

3,426
3, 507
3, 307
3, 469
3, 637

23, 265
23, 334
22,808
21, 404
23, 246

26, 691
26,840
26,115
24,873
26,883

1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.

37, 313
35, 470
37, 957
36, 091
35, 950
35, 478

306, 840
339, 285
412, 727
388, 415
413,814
443, 746

403,853
431, 507
511, 414
482, 252
507, 285
535,988

3, 520
3, 466
3,635
3, 696
3, 795
3,886

20, 358
21, 358
25,618
25,032
26,833
28,603

23,877
24,823
29, 253
28, 728
30, 628
32,488

1, 484, 933
1, 543, 379
1, 783, 994
1,749, 879
1,846, 853
1,953, 620

2, 588, 313
2, 618, 566
3,138,972
3,184, 536
3, 484, 641
3,818,127

86, 522
86, 642
84, 435
83, 073
82, 718
80, 746

256, 288
258, 186
277, 615
291, 288
282, 628
275,972

554,805
541, 275
560, 98C
566, 013
569, 765
573, 627

510,292
534,655
620, 330
579,571
591, 582
610, 980

1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

33, 650
31, 601
31, 074
26,815
21,894
16, 975

428, 737
432,915
447, 322
383,450
309, 225
234, 320

516, 226
515, 079
528,114
453, 168
366,150
278, 454

3,881
3, 849
3, 906
3, 727
3,318
2,800

28, 396
28, 973
29, 745
26,335
22, 223
17, 516

32, 277
32, 822
33, 651
30, 062
25, 541
20, 316

1, 936, 401
1,952, 670
2, 009, 039
1,816, 053
1, 557, 218
1, 261, 738

4, 235, 041
4,175, 627
4, 018, 570
3,002,131
1, 879, 200
852, 742

78, 340
77, 371
74, 679
63, 354
51, 502
59,190

259, 997
269,149
250, 063
235, 315
208, 985
140, 566

568, 538
561,600
560, 692
538, 709
480, 367
414, 383

588,081
579, 809
589,319
515,131
439, 381
362, 798

1 Revenue passenger-miles weighted by 2.6 plus revenue ton-miles.

2 The formula for transportation traffic units or equated gross ton-miles was developed b y the American
Railway Engineering Association, and in its simplest form consists of freight ton-miles (including cars)
X I ; freight locomotive ton-miles X2; and passenger car miles X144. See A .R .E .A ., Proceedings, vol. 31,
pp. 1144-1145; and A .R .E .A ., Manual, 1929, pp. 1421-1435. See also testimony of Otto Beyer, in Inter­
state Commerce Commission, Ex parte 106, vol. 6, p. 2070 and passim (hearings on proposed 6-hour day).
• Class I railroads are those with annual operating revenues above $1,000,000. Of the total line mileage,
they operated 89.7 percent in 1916, 91.6 percent in 1926, and 93.2 percent in 1931. In regard to average
number of workers, they employed 96.8 percent in 1916, 97.7 percent in 1926, and 98.1 percent in 1931.


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1278
T able 1.

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
C O M P A R IS O N OP R E V E N U E T R A F F IC W IT H S P E C IF IE D T Y P E S OF W O R E
D O N E B Y E M P L O Y E E S , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S , 1916 T O 1932—Continued

Index numbers (1926 = 100)

R ev­
Revenue
enue
pas­
Year senger- tonmiles
miles
(mil­
(mil­
lions)
lions)

1916.
1917.
1918.
1919_
1920.

97.5
111. 3
120. 3
130. 7
132.0

81.7
88.9
91.4
82. 1
92.5

105. 2

Car-miles (transpor­
tation service)
RevTransporenne
tation
traffic Pastraffic Rails laid
units sengei Freight
units
(tons)
Total
(mil­ serv­ service
(mil­
(mil­
lions)
ice
(mil­
lions)
lions)
(mil­ lions)
lions)

84. 4
92. 7
96. 3
90.5
99.3

88. 2
90.2
85. 1
89. 3
93.6

81. 3
81.6
79.7
74.8
81.3

82. 2
82.6
80.4
76.6
82. 7
73.5
76.4
90.0
88. 4
94. 3

1921.
1922.
1923
1924.
1925.
1926.

107. 0
101. 7
101. 3
100.0

69. 1
76. 5
93.0
87.5
93.3
100.0

75.3 90.6
80. 5 89. 2
95.4 93. 5
90. 0 95. 1
94. 6 97.7
100.0 100. 0

71. 2
74. 7
89.6
87.5
93.8
100.0

100. 0

76. 0
79.0
91. 3
89.6
94.5
100.0

1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

94.8
89. 1
87.6
75. 6
61. 7
47.8

96.6
97.6
100.8
86. 4
69.7
52.8

96. 3 99.9
96. 1 99. 1
98.5 100. 5
84.5 95.9
68.3 85.4
52.0 72. lj

99.3
101.3
104.0
92. 1
77.7
61. 2

99.3
101.0
103.6
92. 5
78.6
62.5

99. 1
100.0
102.8
93. 0
79.7
64.6

100. 0

Train-miles

Crossties
laid
in re­
place­
ments
(thou­
sands)

Bridge
and
switch
ties laid
in re­
place­
ments
(thou­
sands)

53. 6
49.3
61. 2
65.7

97.9
94. 3
100. 2
107. 5

75. 6
80.8
90.0
89.2

100.
100 3
92. 3
94. 1
97.9

101.4
103 3
100 8
90 0
99.4

67.8
68.6
82.2
83.4
91.3
100.0

107. 2
107. 3
104. 6
102.9
102.4
100.0

92. 9
93. 6
100. 6
105.5
102. 4
100.0

96 7
94. 4
97.8
98. 7
99. 3
100.0

83 5
87 5
101 5
94 9
96 8
100.0

110.9
109. 4
105. 2
78. 6
49. 2
22. 3!

97.0
95.8
92.5
78.5
63.8
48.5

94. 2
97. 5
90. 6
85. 3
75.7
50.9

99. 1
97. 9
97. 7
93.9
83. 7
72.2

96 3
94 9
96 5
84 3
71 9
59.4

Pas­
senger Freight
trains trains
(thou­ (thou­
sands) sands)

Table 1 shows an increase in revenue passenger-miles from 34,586,000,000 in 1916 to 46,849,000,000 in 1920, with an almost constant
decline thereafter to 16,975,000,000 in 1932. Revenue ton-miles
varied much less widely, ranging from 362,444,000,000 in 1916 to a
peak of 447,322,000,000 in 1929, and declining to 234,320,000,000 in
1932. The weighted combination of passenger and freight traffic
reached its peak of 535,988,000,000 revenue traffic units in 1926.
The columns of the table which deal with car-miles and other indi­
cations of the amount of service rendered in maintaining revenue
traffic facilities, show a smaller variation, except for the recent rapid
decline in the number of rails laid, and, to a less extent, in the number
of ties laid.
The index numbers, in the second section of the table, indicate
more concisely the comparative changes.
T able 2 .—C O M P A R A T IV E I M P O R T A N C E OF T H E R E V E N U E P A S S E N G E R -M IL E AND
T H E R E V E N U E T O N -M IL E AS IN D IC A T E D B Y R A T IO S OF D IR E C T LABOR RFQ U IR E D A N D OF R E V E N U E , 1916 TO 1932
J

Year

1916______________
1917______________
1918___________ ________
1919________________
.
1920_______________
1921____________
1922______
1923______________
1924______________

Labor
ratios 1

Revenue
ratios 2

3.2
2.9
2.7
2.6
2.7
3. 2
3.2
3.2
3.6

2.9
2.9
2.8
2. 6
2.6
2.4
2. 6
2. 7
2.7

Year

1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932

__
___

Labor
ratios 1

Revenue
ratios 2

3.7
3.9
4. 1
4.5
4.6
5.2
5.6
5.8

2.7
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.1

1 Ratios of time in man-hours of road passenger service per revenue passenger-mile to time in man-hours
of road freight service per revenue ton-mile.
2 Ratios of average receipts per revenue passenger-mile to average receipts per revenue ton-mile.


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1279

PRODUCTIVITY, ETC ., OF RAILROAD LABOR

In the weighting of revenue passenger-miles for combining with
revenue ton-miles, the usual method has been to multiply the number
of pass:nger-miles by 3. There was at one time ample justification
for this weighting factor, as is indicated by table 2.
The first column of table 2 gives the ratios, from 1916 to 1932, of
the average amount of time in man-hours required by road passenger
employees for an average revenue passenger-mile to the average man­
hours required by road freight employees for an average revenue
ton-mile. The second column of the table gives the ratios of average
receipts per revenue passenger-mile to average receipts per revenue
ton-mile. During the earlier part of the period, each of the two sets
of ratios ranged around 3, the labor ratio being somewhat higher than
the revenue ratio. During the later part of the period, the labor
ratio rose rapidly until in 1932 it was almost double the figure for
1916— 5.8 in 1932 as compared with 3.2 in 1916. The revenue ratio,
on the other hand, varied only slightly, ranging from 2.9 in 1916 to
2.1 in 1932, with an average of 2.6 for the 17 years.
The rise in the ratio of road passenger man-hours to road freight
man-hours is largely a result of the extreme decline in revenue pas­
senger-miles in recent years. The index numbers of revenue pas­
senger-miles (the first column of table 1) show a rapid rise from 1916
to 1920 and a precipitate decline, especially since 1929, to little more
than a third of the figure for 1920. Revenue freight traffic also
declined, but much less rapidly and with fewer extreme fluctuations.
From the point of view of the users of railroad services, a passengermile on the average means essentially the same in 1932 as in 1916;
and the same is true of the ton-mile. The problem of weighting is
therefore to ascertain the approximate importance of a passengermile as compared with a ton-mile throughout the period. In years
when there was a comparative stability in the proportion of passenger
traffic to freight traffic the labor ratio tends to confirm the validity of
the revenue ratio as a basis for weighting. The average of the revenue
ratios for the entire period (2.6) is therefore used. The combined
passenger- and ton-miles, with passenger-miles weighted by 2.6, are
termed revenue traffic units.
The comparability of units of revenue traffic over a period of years
is affected by several factors, such as types of commodities handled,
changes in length of haul, and changes in quality of service. Changes
in the relative percentages of the main types of commodities handled
as classified by the Interstate Commerce Commission are shown in
table 3.
T ablk 3 .—C H A N G E S IN R E L A T IV E P E R C E N T A G E S OF T O N N A G E OF P R IN C IP A L
GR O U PS OF C O M M O D IT IE S OF R E V E N U E F R E IG H T O R IG IN A T E D B Y CLASS I R A I L ­
R O A D S , 1916 TO 1932, R E P O R T E D TO IN T E R S T A T E C O M M E R C E C O M M IS S IO N
[Total tonnage=100 percent]

Year

1916_________________________
1920__________________________
1924___________________________
1928___________________________
1932___________________________


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All lessProducts Animals
Products M anu­
factures than-carof agri­ and prod­ Products
of for­
of mines
and
mis­
load
culture
ucts
ests
cellaneous freight
9.5
8.8
9.8
9.2
12.5

2.5
2. 1
2.3
2.0
2.8

56. 6
56. 7
53. 7
54. 1
56.1

7.8
8.0
9. 1
7.5
4.0

19. 2
20. 1
21.6
24. 2
22.2

4.4
4.2
3.4
2.9
2.4

Total
revenue
freight

100.0
100.0
100.0
. 100.0
100.0

1280

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Products of mines, which constitute more than half of the total ton­
nage^ maintained a practically constant ratio, ranging from 56.6 per­
cent in 1916 to 53.7 percent in 1924 and 56.1 percent in 1932. The
ratio of animals and products also remained virtually constant.
Products of forests declined from a high ratio of 9.1 percent in 1924
to 4 percent in 1932. Less-than-carload freight also declined from
4.4 percent in 1916 to 2.4 percent in 1932. The amount of labor
required per ton in handling less-than-carload freight is comparatively
high, but this type of freight is comparatively small in amount. The
proportions of products of agriculture and of manufactures and mis­
cellaneous freight increased during the period, and the relative increase
in manufactures and miscellaneous products was particularly signifi­
cant because of the comparative importance of this type of freight
(22.2 percent of the total tonnage in 1932) and because of the rela­
tively large amount of labor required per ton. In general, the changes
in the ratios are not so great as to impair the comparability of the
revenue ton during the years 1916 to 1932, and insofar as the ratios
have changed they indicate a trend toward types of freight requiring
a comparatively large amount of labor per ton during the later years
of the period.
Changes in the length of haul, on the other hand, indicate a rela­
tively large amount of labor per passenger-mile and per ton-mile
during the earlier years of the period 1916 to 1932. The average
journey per passenger for all railroads increased from 33.58 miles in
1916 to 40.79 in 1926, and declined by 1932 to 35.36. The average
haul per ton of freight in 1916 was 277.98 miles. During most of the
period it ranged around 300 miles, but by 1932 had increased to
346.63 miles.
During the years 1916 to 1932 there were changes in the quality
of service, which in turn would have entailed an increase in the
amount of labor if there had been no technological improvements,
and this tended to counteract the effects of increases in the length
of haul in reducing the amount of labor required per ton-mile and per
passenger-mile. There have been increased facilities for the preser­
vation, transfer, speedy movement, and convenient delivery of
freight. In the handling of passengers there have been changes, for
example, in air conditioning, transfer service at terminals, and
improved station facilities.
W ork Done by Railroad Employees
T h e ultimate economic basis on which the railroad system rests is
revenue traffic. In the final analysis the product of railroad labor,
and, therefore, its productivity, must be expressed in terms of revenue
traffic as analyzed in the first three columns of table 1. But the
amount of service rendered by employees to their employers does not
vary exactly with the amount of revenue traffic, for trains must be
run and other facilities for handling passengers and freight must be
maintained whether revenue traffic is heavy or light. In order to
measure the amount of service rendered to employers in maintaining
revenue traffic facilities as distinguished from the amount of revenue
traffic handled for patrons of the railroads, units other than passengerand ton-miles must be used. Some of these units are included in
table 1.


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1281

PRODUCTIVITY, ETC., OF RAILROAD LABOR

In the seventh column of table 1 is a unit based on a formula de­
veloped by the American Railway Engineering Association. This
unit may be termed the transportation traffic unit. On the basis of
data available in the reports of the Interstate Commerce Commis­
sion, transportation traffic units are computed by combining freight
ton-miles, including cars, freight locomotive ton-miles multiplied by
2, and passenger car-miles multiplied by 144. By comparing the
index numbers of transportation traffic units with those of total carmiles, it will be seen that there is no considerable divergence. The
use of the transportation traffic unit as a measure of service rendered
in maintaining railroad facilities must be qualified by the fact that
facilities were not maintained in the same degree of excellence through­
out the period. This is indicated in maintenance-of-way work by
the decline in the number of rails laid in 1931 and 1932, and to a less
extent, by the decline in the number of ties laid, although needed
additions and replacements have been reduced by technological
changes.
There is much work that cannot be reduced to uniform units in
terms of the particular function performed. This is true, for example,
of supervisory work, the dispatching of trains, and, with minor
exceptions, clerical work. It is indicated further by the fact that
workers are often shifted from one task to another with no common
unit of measurement except their contributions to the handling of
revenue traffic and the maintenance of traffic facilities.
Railway Operating Revenues and Expenses and Compensation of Employees

T a b l e 4 contains figures of railway operating revenues and expenses
and compensation of all employees, 1916 to 1932, together with ratios
of operating revenues and of operating expenses to compensation.
In the case of all of these items, switching and terminal companies
are excluded, 1916 to 1920, and included, 1921 to 1932.
T able 4 .— R A IL W A Y O P E R A T IN G R E V E N U E S A N D E X P E N S E S A N D E M P L O Y E E
C O M P E N S A T IO N , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S ,1 1916 T O 1932
[Based on reports to Interstate Commerce Commission]
Compensatio n of all em ployees
Railway oper­
ating revenues

Railway oper­
ating expenses

____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

$3, 596,865, 766
4,014,142, 748
4,880, 953, 480
5,144, 795,154
6,178,120,978

$2, 357, 398,412
2, 829, 325,124
3,971,870,043
4,378, 285, 227
5,830,620,492

$1,468, 576, 394
1, 739, 482,142
2, 606, 284, 245
2,828, 014, 440
3, 681, 801,193

40.8
43.3
53.4
55.0
59.6

62.3
61. 5
65.6
64.6
63.1

1921______________________________
1922______________________________
1923______________________________
1921 ____________________________
1925 _____________________________
1926______________________________

5, 568, 505,710
5,617,790,944
6,356,317,144
5,985, 360. 729
6,188, 739,024
6,451, 418,163

4, 602,116, 253
4, 455, 475, 060
4,942,864,843
4, 557, 623, 052
4, 584, 365,366
4,718,150, 021

2,801,489,120
2, 669, 180, 772
3,043,161,163
2,867,564,802
2,900,107,384
2,990, 441,936

50.3
47.5
47.9
47.9
46.9
46.4

60.9
59.9
61.6
62.9
63.3
63.4

1927______________________________
1928
_________________________
1929
_____________________
1930
______________________
1931 _
_________________________
1932______________________________

6, 206, 237, 873
6,185,174,116
6, 355,176,052
5, 342,485,910
4, 236, 425, 316
3,161,928,659

4, 626,130,981
4, 478,005, 682
4, 557,168, 986
3,975, 709, 442
3, 259,457, 310
2,429,385,917

2,953, 211,375
2, 862, 099, 609
2,940,868, 690
2, 590, 274,843
2,127, 181,287
1, 535,927, 792

47.6
46.3
46.3
48.5
50.2
48.6

63.8
63.9
64.5
65.2
65.3
63.2

Year

1916.
1917,
19181919
1920

Amount

Percent
Percent
of oper­
of oper­
ating
ating
revenues2 expenses

1 Switching and terminal companies are excluded 1916 to 1920, and included 1921 to 1932.
2 In March 1933 compensation of all employees rose to 51 percent of railway operating revenues, but by
July 1933 it had fallen to 11.37 percent.


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1282

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Railway operating revenues rose from $3,597,000,000 in 1916 to
$6,451,000,000 in 1926 and by 1932 had fallen to $3,162,000,000.
Operating expenses in 1916 were $2,357,000,000 and in 1932 were
$2,429,000,000, with slighter variations than in the case of operating
revenues during the intervening years. Total compensation to
employees, including the salaried classes, shows a trend remarkably
similar to that of railway operating expenses, as is indicated by the
last column of table 4. The ratios of compensation to operating
revenues showed greater variation. In 1932 the ratio was 48.6
percent as compared with 40.8 percent in 1916. The changes in
railway operating revenues and in employment in 1933 led to a further
rise in the ratio of compensation to revenues to 51 percent in March,
and to a decline, by July, to 41.37 percent.
Conditions Affecting Employment and Productivity

A c h a n g e affecting the average number of hours per employee was
the introduction of the 8-hour day. This was applied to shop-craft
employees in the southeastern district before Federal control began
(under the Adamson Act), on December 28, 1917. The Adamson
Act embodied the principle of the 8-hour day, beginning January 1,
1917, but the extensive application of the principle was postponed
until after the war-time emergency. In estimating the number of
hours worked by employees on a daily basis, the Interstate Commerce
Commission computes each day as 10 hours up to and including
1918, and as 8 hours thereafter. The 8-hour day has not only reduced
the average number of hours per employee, but has tended to increase
the average output per man-hour.
Changes in the amount of revenue traffic (table 1) affect the num­
ber of employees and of man-hours and also the average output per
employee and per man-hour. The effect on average output is due
to the impossibility of increasing or reducing employment in exact
proportion to fluctuations in the amount of revenue traffic. But the
average output per man-hour has been increased primarily by means
of technological improvements, mergers, and changes in the personal
efficiency of employees. Various technological changes will be dis­
cussed in later articles in connection with particular classes of employ­
ees. Some of the effects of these circumstances, especially the in­
fluence of technological changes on operating conditions, are indicated
in table 5.
There was an increase in the number of steam locomotives from
60,990 in 1916 to 65,006 in 1924, and thereafter a decline to 52,492
in 1932. More significant was the continuous increase in the average
tractive capacity (in pounds) of steam locomotives from 33,188 in
1916 to 46,299 in 1932. The use of electric locomotive units more than
doubled, the number in 1916 being 319 and in 1932, 725. The in­
creased efficiency of locomotives, as well as the declining amount of
labor necessary in operating them, is indicated by the reduction in
the number of pounds of coal per thousand gross ton-miles from 162
in 1921 to 123 in 1932. The average freight-train speed between
terminals increased from 10.3 miles per hour in 1920 to l5.5 in 1932.
The average capacity of freight cars increased from 41 tons in 1916 to
47 in 1932. The number of car-miles of freight cars per train-mile
increased from 36.6 in 1920 to 48.9 in 1930, declining somewhat to
44.8 in 1932. The number of gross ton-miles of freight per train
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1283

PRODUCTIVITY, ETC ., OF RAILROAD LABOR

hour, excluding locomotives, almost doubled, increasing from 14,877
in 1920 to 26,064 in 1932. The statistics of revenue traffic given in
the last three columns of table 5 indicate the effects of declining
volume of revenue traffic on the utilization of facilities for handling
traffic. The average number of ton-miles of revenue freight per
train-mile and per locomotive-mile increased constantly, with the
exception of 1921, to the year 1929, and thereafter declined materially.
The average number of revenue passenger-miles per train-mile in
1916 was 57 and remained above this level until 1928, when it declined
by 1932 to 40.
T able 5 —C H A N G E S IN R O L L IN G ST O C K A N D O P E R A T IN G C O N D IT IO N S A F F E C T ­
IN G P R O D U C T IV IT Y OF R A IL R O A D L A B O R , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S , 1916 T O 1932
[Based on reports to Interstate Commerce Commission]

Steam locom o­
tives

Year
N um ­
ber

Aver­
age
trac­
tive
capac­
ity

Elec­
tric
loco­
m o­
tive
units

Pounds
of coal
per
1,000
gross
tonmiles
(freight)

1916__________
1917__________
1918__________
1919__________
1920__________

60, 990
61,533
63, 531
64,618
64, 368

Lbs.
33,188
33,932
34, 995
35, 789
36, 365

319
342
343
350
364

1921__________
1922__________
1923__________
1924__________
1925__________
1926__________

64, 585
64, 140
64,939
65,006
63, 612
62, 342

36,935
37, 441
39,177
39, 891
40, 666
41,886

364
372
379
352
362
419

162
163
161
149
140
137

1927__________
1928__________
1929__________
1930__________
1931__________
1932__________

60,895
58,845
56,936
55,875
54, 385
52, 492

42, 798
43,838
44,801
45, 225
45, 764
46, 299

449
596
601
618
670
725

131
127
125
121
119
123

Aver­
age
freighttrain
speed
be­
tween
termi­
nals

Aver­
age
capac­
ity of
freight
cars

Carmiles
(freight)
per
trainmile
(includ­
ing ca­
boose)

10.3

Tons
41.0
41.5
41. 6
41.9
42.4

36.6

11.5
11.1
10.9
11.5
11.8
11.9

42.5
43. 1
43.8
44.3
44.8
45.1

38.4
38.4
39.9
41.7
43.8
45.2

12.3
12.9
13.2
13.8
14.8
15.5

45.5
45.8
46.3
46.6
47.0
47.0

46.5
48. 1
48.6
48.9
47.9
44.8

Average num­ Aver­
Gross ber of ton-miles
age
of revenue
tonnumber
freight
miles
of rev­
(freight)
enue
per
pas­
trainsengerPer
hour
Per
miles
(exclud­
loco­
per
training loco­ mile motive- trainmile
motive)
mile

14, 877

560. 24
597. 29
628.49
630.93
646.87

488. 53
521. 05
546.35
555.83
571.17

57
65
76
82
80

16, 555
16,188
16, 764
18, 257
19, 685
20, 692

578. 71
611.06
643. 91
647. 06
675. 45
701. 48

511.03
538. 78
565.36
573. 04
596.11
617.45

67
65
67
63
63
61

21,940
23,600
24, 539
25,837
26, 721
26,064

702. 41
718. 32
729. 73
711. 38
664. 23
598. 32

617. 82
631.11
640. 60
628. 73
592. 63
535. 29

59
56
55
49
45
40

Table 5 indicates in general a significant increase in the efficiency of
the facilities for handling revenue traffic, but a decline in recent years
in the extent to which the facilities for handling traffic could be
utilized because of the declining amount of revenue traffic. In other
words, technological improvements have tended to increase the
average output per man-hour in terms of revenue traffic, but this
increase has been in part counteracted by the falling off of revenue
traffic.
Nature of Available Employment Data
I n t h e statistics compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commis­
sion, detailed information regarding switching and terminal companies
was not included for the years 1917 to 1920, but is available for 1916
and was included in the monthly wage reports from 1921 to 1932. In
table 6, percentage factors based on statistics for 1916 and 1921 to
1932 were used to include estimates for class I switching and terminal
companies in order to make the data in the table comparable for the
earlier and later years of the period 1916 to 1932. These percentage


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1284

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

factors apply only to the number of employees and to the number of
hours worked. For all classes of labor combined, the proportion of
labor employed by switching and terminal companies is comparatively
insignificant, but for certain groups, as yard-service employees, it is
large enough to affect materially the comparability of the data. In
the portions of table 6 based on operating revenues and compensation
of employees, switching and terminal companies are omitted for the
years 1916 to 1920, as the ratios based upon compensation and
operating revenues are not affected by the omission.
In table 6, hours are expressed in terms of time worked. The
reports to the Interstate Commerce Commission from 1916 to June
30, 1921, were in the form of time worked. After July 1, 1921, both
time worked and time paid for are shown in the monthly wage reports.
In order to make the data comparable for the entire period, time
worked is used in table 6 throughout the period. The ratios of time
worked to time paid for are comparatively constant, although for
certain groups the tendency has been in the direction of a slight
increase in the proportion of time paid for as compared with time
worked.
The most serious problem in a study of railroad labor by groups of
employees for a period beginning earlier than 1921 is in connection
with changes in the classification of employees. Changes were made
on July 1, 1921, and on January 1, 1933. Before July 1, 1921, the
number of groups was 68; from July 1, 1921, to December 31, 1932,
148; and since January 1, 1933,128. Analysis of these changes makes
possible a continuous comparison before and after July 1, 1921, of
only a limited number of groups. In the case of employees described
in table 6 as executive groups, the older groups 1 to 4 of the Interstate
Commerce Commission’s reports were described as general officers
and division officers. In the new classification these were distributed
among 19 groups, the first two groups being described after July 1,
1921, as executives, officials, and staff assistants. But these two
groups omitted roadmasters, general foremen, and various other
officials who exercise important supervisory and executive functions,
though not primarily at general and division headquarters. In order
to make the groups numerically comparable before and after the
change in classification, some who might properly be classed as
executives were included in the second section of table 6.
Changes from 1916 to 1932

O n the basis of available data comparable for the entire period
from 1916 to 1932, table 6 presents the more important changes in
employment, output in revenue traffic, and compensation of labor
from 1916 to 1932.

The first section of table 6 deals with all employees. The second
section gives a similar analysis of all employees except executive
groups and is important primarily as indicating the status of ordi­
nary employees as contrasted with the more highly salaried groups.
The average number of employees, other than executives, increased
from 1,626,066 in 1916 to a peak of 2,004,277 in 1920, declined to
1,640,414 in 1921, and thereafter remained comparatively constant
until 1929, when the number was 1,635,969, virtually the same as
in 1916. The average in 1932 had fallen to 1,011,797. The index
numbers of man-hours show a much greater decline than do those of

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1285

PRODUCTIVITY, ETC ., OF RAILROAD LABOR

average number of employees, the former ranging from a high point
of 126.8 in 1918, with 1926 as the base year, to 49.5 in 1932, and
the latter ranging only from 114.1 to 57.5. This was largely because
of the introduction of the 8-hour day, although since 1929 part time
has also been an important factor. The average number of hours
per employee per week fell from 60.5 in 1916 to 41.8 in 1932.
T a b i e 6 .—C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T , O U T P U T IN R E V E N U E T R A F F IC , A N D C O M ­

P E N S A T IO N OF L A B O R , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S , IN C L U D IN G P R IN C IP A L S W IT C H IN G
A N D T E R M IN A L C O M P A N IE S ,1 1916 TO 1932
[Based on reports to Interstate Commerce Commission]

Employees

Average Index
number
(1926
middle of = 100)
month

Total hours worked

Number

Average num­
ber of hours
worked per
employee—

Index
(1926
= 100)

Per
year

Per
week

Percentage
ratios—
In­
A ver­
dexed
age
ratios com ­
of
pen­
Of
out­ sation
group
put
per
com ­
Of
to
em­ group pen­
man­
hours sation
hours 2 ployee
per
to
to
(1926
y
e
a
:3
total total
= 100)
hours com ­
pen­
sation

All employees
1916_____________
1917______________
1918______________
1919______________
1920______________

1,664, 271
1,750, 946
1,860, 778
1,933,374
2, 043,925

92.2
97.0
193.0
107. 1
113.2

5,243,907, 840
5,494,681,920
5,760,869, 560
5,084,970, 310
5,503, 537, 030

114.8
120.3
126. 1
111. 3
120.5

3,151
3,138
3, 096
2, 630
2, 693

60.6
60.3
59.5
50. 6
51.8

73.5
77.1
76.4
81. 2
82.4

$892
1,004
1,415
1,478
1,820

100. 00
100.00
100. 00
100. 00
100. 00

100.00
100. 00
100.00
100. 00
100.00

1921______________
1922______________
1923______________
1924______________
1925______________
1926______________

1, 680,187
1, 645,244
1,879, 770
1, 777, 891
1, 769.099
1,805, 780

93.0
91.1
104. 1
98.5
98.0
100.0

4,136,624,847
4, 242, 404, 808
4, 856,988,021
4, 472. 048, 902
4, 458, 702, 308
4, 567,480, 787

90.6
92.9
106.3
97.9
97.6
100.0

2,462
2, 579
2, 584
2,515
2, 520
2,529

47.3
49.6
49.7
48.4
48.5
48.6

83.2
86.7
89.7
91.9
97.0
100.0

1,667
1,622
1,619
1,613
1,639
1,656

100. 00
100. 00
100.00
100. 00
100. 00
100.00

100.00
100.00
100. 00
100.00
100.00
100. 00

1927______________ 1. 760,999
1928______________ 1, 680,187
1929______________ 1,686, 769
1930______________ 1,510,688
1931______________ 1, 278,175
1932______________ 1,048,568

97.5
93.0
93.4
83. 7
70.8
58. 1

4, 416,148,893
4, 200,547,574
4, 234, 805, 886
3,648,891,844
2, 937, 370,320
2, 290,818,702

96.7
92.0
92.7
79.9
64.3
50.5

2, 508
2, 500
2,511
2,415
2,298
2,185

48.2
48.1
48.3
46.4
44. 2
42.0

99.6
104.5
106.3
105.8
106.2
102.8

1,677
1,703
1,743
1,715
1,664
1,465

100. 00
100. 00
100. 00
100. 00
100. 00
100.00

100.00
100. 00
100. 00
100. 00
100.00
100. 00

All employees except executive groups
1916______________ 1, 626,066
1917______________ 1,710,117
1918______________ 1,823,748
1919______________ 1,897,925
1920______________ 2, 004, 277

92.5
97.3
103.8
108.0
114.1

5,119,374,306
5,360,069, 338
5, 639,014,978
4, 991,315, 536
5, 396,461,941

115.1
120.5
126.8
112. 2
121.3

3,148
3,134
3,092
2, 630
2,692

60.5
60.3
59.5
50.6
51.8

73.4
77.0
76.0
80.6
81.8

863
977
1, 394
1,453
1, 788

97.63
97. 55
97. 88
98. 16
98. 05

94.60
95.05
96. 57
96. 52
96.36

1921______________
1922 ____________
1923______________
1924______________
1925______________
1926______________

1, 640,414
1,604,176
1,835,127
1, 732,262
1, 722, 713
1,757, 298

93.3
91.3
104.3
98.5
98.0
100.0

4,035,112, 678
4,140, 296,400
4, 745,818, 788
4,359, 523,710
4, 343, 282,440
4,447,075,407

90.7
93.1
106.7
98.0
97.6
100.0

2,460
2, 581
2, 586
2,517
2, 521
2,531

47.3
49.6
49.7
48.4
48.5
48.7

83.1
86.5
89.4
91.8
96.9
100.0

1,622
1,575
1,574
1, 564
1, 588
1,604

97. 55
97. 59
97. 71
97.48
97.41
97. 36

94.98
94. 66
94.90
94.46
94.34
94.26

1927______________
1928______________
1929______________
1930______________
1931______________
1932____ _________

1,711,901
1, 630,925
1,635,969
1,461,140
1,233,990
1,011,797

97.4
92.8
93. 1
83.2
70.2
57.5

4, 294,223, 719
4,078, 346, 384
4,108, 689,494
3, 526,833, 242
2,829,162,432
2, 201, 733, 332

96.5
91.7
92.4
79.3
63.6
49.5

2, 508
2, 501
2. 511
2,414
2,293
2,176

48.2
48. 1
48.3
46.4
44. 1
41.8

99.8
104.8
106.7
106. 7
107.4
105.0

1,622
1,645
1,684
1,647
1,589
1,391

97.24
97.09
97. 02
96. 65
96. 32
96.09

94.00
93. 72
93.68
92.91
92. 20
91. 65

1 Switching and terminal companies estimated for 1917-20 on basis of statistics for 1916,1921-32.
2 For output in terms of revenue traffic, and also for indications of work done b y different groups of em ploy­
ees, see table 1. Output as here used consists of revenue traffic units.
3 Based for 1916-20 on employees and compensation of class I railroads excluding switching and terminal
companies. For railway operating revenues, see table 4.

21719°—33----2


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1286

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

The trend of average output per man-hour in terms of revenue
traffic is shown by the indexed ratios of the seventh column of table 6.
W ith 1926 as the base year, the indexed ratio of revenue traffic to
man-hours of all employees except executive groups in 1916 was 73.4;
m 1931, 107.4 (the highest point); and in 1932, 105.0. These ratios
represent the productivity of labor in the economic sense; that is
m terms of revenue-producing traffic. The principal factors affect­
ing these ratios have been technological changes and changes in the
amount of revenue traffic. The latter factor has affected productiv­
ity, due to the fact that the amount of labor required to maintain
facilities for handling revenue traffic is not entirely adaptable to
changes in the amount of revenue traffic actually handled.
Because of this, it is necessary to emphasize again the fact that
productivity m terms of the ultimate product of l&bor (i.e.^ in terms
of revenue traffic) is not a measure of the effects of technological
changes on labor. These effects are more adequately measured bv
the maintenance of traffic facilities than by the extent to which these
facilities are utilized in the form of revenue traffic by patrons of the
railroads. In regard to labor as a whole, the transportation traffic
unit (the seventh column of table 1) is probably the most adequate
measure of services rendered in maintaining facilities for handling
revenue traffic. This unit is not available before 1921, but it is
closely paralleled since 1921, and presumably before that date by
total car-miles (the sixth column of table 1). For all employees
except executive groups the comparative ratios of revenue traffic
units, transportation traffic units, and car-miles to the number of
man-hours worked are shown in table 7.
I A B L E 7. C O M P A R A T IV E IN D E X E D R A T IO S OF R E V E N U E T R A F F IC 1 T T N T T ^ T ' R atvtq
P O R T A T IO N T R A F F IC U N ITS, A N D C A R -M IL E S TO M A N H O U R S W O R X F D F V
E M P L O Y E E S , E X C E P T E X E C U T IV E G R O U PS, CLASS I R A IL R O A dI , 1916 =
T O 1932:

Year

1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

Revenue traf­
fic units to
man-hours

Transportation
traffic units to
man-hours

73.4
77.0
76.0
80.6
81.8

Car-miles to
man-hours

71.4
68.5
63.4
68.3
68.2

83.1
86.5
89.4
91.8
96.9
100.0

83.8
84.9
85.6
91.4
96.8
100.0

81.0
82.0
84.3
90.2
96.6
100.0

99.8
104.8
106.7
106.7
107.4
105.0

102.7
109.1
111. 3
117.3
125.3
130.5

112. 1
116.6
123.6
126.3

102.9
110.1

1 For basic data, see tables 1, 6.

W 1th 1926 as the base year, the indexed ratios of revenue traffic units
to man-hours rose from 73.4 in 1916 to 83.1 in 1921, and to 107.4 in
1931, and declined to 105.0 m 1932. The ratios of transportation traffic
units to man-hours ranged from 83.8 in 1921 to 130.5 in 1932. The
ratios of car-miles to man-hours ranged from 71.4 in 1916 to 81 0
m 1921, and 126.3 in 1932.

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PRODUCTIVITY, E TC ., OF RAILROAD LABOR

1287

Taking revenue traffic units as a measure of output and 1921 as
the base year, and assuming a constant ratio of revenue traffic units
to man-hours, the number of man-hours required in 1932 would have
been about 2,782,000,000 instead of 2,201,000,000, the number ac­
tually employed.

Taking transportation traffic units as a measure of services rendered
by employees in maintaining facilities for handling revenue traffic,
and assuming a constant ratio of transportation traffic units to man­
hours, the number of man-hours required in 1932 would have been
about 3,429,000,000, instead of 2,201,000,000, the number actually
employed. The difference, 1,228,000,000 man-hours, is an approxi­
mate indication of the effects of technological changes on the amount
of employment. It appears, to be sure, that some work normally
called for was deferred, as is indicated by the index numbers of ties
laid and especially of rails laid (table 1). On the other hand, the
decline in the amount of maintenance work was itself partly due to
technological changes such as the treating of ties and the use of
improved rails, rail fasteners, ballast, etc.
A comparison of revenue traffic units with transportation traffic
units, car-miles, and other units indicating service rendered in main­
taining traffic facilities, shows clearly that particular groups with
comparatively low ratios of revenue traffic units to man-hours, as
road passenger employees, may render services as essential as do
other groups with comparatively high ratios, as maintenance-of-way
employees.
The compensation and status of a particular group of employees as
compared with other groups, therefore, cannot properly be based on
productivity in terms of the ratios of revenue traffic to man-hours.
But these ratios, particularly for labor as a whole, are significant as
indicating productivity in ultimate terms of the economic basis of the
transportation system; and for different groups of employees they
indicate approximately the separate factors entering into the aggregate
productivity, as well as the extent to which the effects of technological
changes on man-hour output are counteracted by declining volume of
revenue traffic and increased by expansion of traffic.
The last two columns of the second section of table 6 show the status
of the wage-earning groups as to hours and wages as compared with the
status of the executive groups. Hours worked by the wage-earning
groups ranged from 98.16 percent of all hours in 1919 to 96.09 percent
in 1932. Their compensation ranged from 96.57 percent of all com­
pensation in 1918 to 91.65 in 1932. In other words, the status of the
wage-earning groups was materially changed to their disadvantage,
for their proportion of total hours declined only 2.1 percent, while
their proportion of total compensation declined 5.1 percent.
Trends of 1933

F or the purpose of comparing the trends of 1933 with those of earlier
years, each month from January to July of 1933 is compared in table
8 with the same month of 1926. This comparison includes revenue
traffic and railway operating revenues.


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1288

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

T able 8 —R E V E N U E T R A F F I C A N D R A IL W A Y O P E R A T IN G R E V E N U E S , CLASS I
R A IL R O A D S , IN C L U D IN G S W IT C H IN G A N D T E R M IN A L C O M P A N IE S , J A N U A R Y
T O JU L Y , 1926 A N D 1933
[Based on reports to Interstate Commerce Commission

Revenue passen­ Revenue ton-miles
ger-miles

Revenue traffic
units 1

Railway operating
revenues

M onth
Number
(thou­
sands)

Index
num­
bers 2

Number
(thou­
sands)

Index
num­
bers 2

Number
(thou­
sands)

Index
num­
bers 2

Amount

2,912,826
1,167, 284

100.0
40.1

33,613,567
18,008,036

100.0
53.6

41,186,915
21, 042, 974

100.0
51.1

480,995,458
229, 167, 996

100.0
47.6

February 1926_________ 2, 579,121
February 1933___________ 1,044, 797

100.0
40.5

31,871,428
17, 308, 578

100.0
54.3

38, 577,143
20, 025, 050

100.0
51.9

460, 204,237
214, 122, 352

100.0
46.5

March 1926_________ __
March 1933_____________

2, 643, 542
997, 264

100.0
37.7

35, 350, 386
17,365, 755

100.0
49.1

42,223,595
19, 759,189

100.0
46.8

530,453,465
220,186, 649

100.0
41.5

April 1926_______________
April 1933.______ _______

2, 661,408
1,088,046

100.0
40.9

32,935,085
17, 794,457

100.0
54.0

39,854,746
20,623, 377

100.0
51.7

499, 661,968
227, 593,659

100.0
45.5

M a y 1926-____ _________
M a y 1933_______________

2, 817,455
1,169, 983

100.0
41.5

35,707, 375
19,817,961

100.0
55.5

43,032, 758
22,859, 917

100.0
53. 1

517, 422, 591
258, 350,694

100.0
49.9

June 1926_______ - _____ 3,251,922
June 1933________________ 1,495,135

100.0
46.0

35, 713, 317
21,538,389

100.0
60.3

44,168,314
25,425, 740

100.0
57.6

539,864, 685
281, 763, 566

100.0
52. 2

July 1926________________
July 1933________________

100.0
46.6

37,917,672
24,105,508

100.0
63.6

47,021, 738
28, 351,732

100.0
60.3

556,514,940
297,571,730

100.0
53.5

January 1926- __________
January 1933____________

3,501, 564
1, 633,153

Index
num­
bers 2

1 Revenue passenger-miles times 2.6 plus revenue ton-miles. See pp. 1277-1279.
2 The index numbers are based on the m onthly figures for 1926.

March 1933 was the month of lowest revenue traffic and railway
operating revenues. In that month revenue passenger-miles were
hardly more than a third of the number in March 1926 (the index
number being 37.7), and revenue ton-miles declined less sharply to
approximately half the March 1926 figure (index number, 49.1).
Revenue traffic units in March 1933 had fallen to an index of 46.8,
while railway operating revenues had declined to an index of 41.5.
The index numbers for July 1933, with July 1926 as the base month,
all show comparatively large increases. They were as follows: Rev­
enue passenger-miles, 46.6; revenue ton-miles, 63.6; revenue traffic
units, 60.3; and railway operating revenues, 53.5.
Table 9 shows changes in employment, output in terms of revenue
traffic, and compensation of labor from January to July of 1926
and 1933.
The number of employees was smallest in March 1933, having
fallen to 933,857 as compared with 1,745,414 in March 1926. By
July 1933 the average number had risen to somewhat more than
1,000,000 employees. As compared with March 1926 the index
number for March 1933, was 53.5; and for July 1933, 54.1. The
status of employment, however, is better indicated by the number
of man-hours paid for. As compared with 1926 the index number of
man-hours in April fell to the low point of 45.9, and by July of 1933,
as compared with July 1926, had risen only to 49.8.
In striking contrast with the slight rise in volume of employment is
the rapid increase in the ratios of revenue traffic units to man-hours;
and if executive groups were excluded, as in the second section of
table 6, the ratios would be somewhat higher.


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1289

PRODUCTIVITY, E TC ., OF RAILROAD LABOR

T able 9 .—C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T , O U T P U T IN R E V E N U E T R A F F IC , A N D C O M ­
P E N S A T IO N OF A L L R A IL R O A D L A B O R , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S , IN C L U D IN G P R I N ­
C IP A L S W IT C H IN G A N D T E R M IN A L C O M P A N IE S , J A N U A R Y T O JU L Y , 1926 A N D 1933
[Based on reports to Interstate Commerce Commission]

Employees

Period
Average
number

Hours paid for

Index
num­
bers 1

Number

Aver­
age
Indexed com­
ratios 1 pensa­
tion
Index of out­ per em
num­ put to ployee
hours
bers 1
per
month

1,730,071
960, 228

100.0
55.5

361,884,300
181,458, 674

100.0
50.1

100.0
102.0

$139
121

February 1926, ............... ............... - - - --February 1933_____________ . . ____________

1,733,004
956, 201

100.0
55.2

337,910,597
165,722, 723

100.0
49.0

100.0
105.9

132
114

March 1926. ____ ___________ March 1933 _______ _____ _______ ________

1, 745,414
933,857

100.0
53.5

383,493,721
179,016,793

100.0
46.7

100.0
100.2

143
120

April 1926.
___________ _______ _____ _
April 1933_____
--_ __ ______________

1, 783,411
939,414

100.0
52.7

374,486,020
171,869,043

100.0
45.9

100.0
112.6

136
116

M ay 1926__________________________________
M a y 1933__________________________________

1,808,728
952,096

100.0
52.6

379, 731,634
185,168,352

100.0
48.8

100.0
108.8

136
121

June 1926. ___ .

1,833, 621
972,813

100.0

386,895,047
188, 565,132

100.0 100.0

1,857, 219
1,004,938

100.0

394, 584,433
196, 588,012

100.0 100.0
121.1
49.8

January 1926
January 1933

___ ______ _____
___
_________
______________

_________________ _______

July 1926__________________________________
July 1933___ . . - - . . . - ________________

53.1

54.1

48.7

118.3

136

121
137
123

1 The index numbers are based on the monthly figures for 1926.

Even during March, 1933, the month of greatest decline of revenue
traffic (less than half of that of March, 1926, the index number being
46.8), the indexed ratio of revenue traffic units to man-hours, as
compared with March 1926, stood at 100.2. By July 1933, as com­
pared with July, 1926, it had risen to 121.1, although the index number
of revenue traffic had risen only to 60.3. The facilities which must be
provided for a small volume of revenue traffic suffice for a consider­
able expansion of traffic with an insignificant increase in the amount
of employment. If the amount of labor employed in July 1933 had
increased in the same proportion as the amount of revenue traffic
(that is, if the output per man-hour in July 1933 had been the same
as in July 1926), the number of man-hours required would have been
about 237,500,000 instead of 196,588,000, the number actually
employed. Since many of the most important recent technological
changes occurred before 1926, and since these changes affect primarily
only certain classes of railroad labor, it is apparent that any possible
increase in the amount of traffic can hardly be expected, at least on
the basis of present hours of labor, to reabsorb a large proportion of
many types of workers formerly employed.


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Report of United States Delegation at the International Labor
Conference, June 1933

DELEGATION of four official observers was appointed by
-President Roosevelt to attend the seventeenth session of the
International Labor Conference held in Geneva June 8-30, 1933.
The delegation was headed by Miss Mary Anderson, Director of the
Women’s Bureau, United States Department of Labor. The other
members of the delegation were Edwin S. Smith, commissioner of
labor of Massachusetts, William H. Stead, secretary of the Employ­
ment Stabilization Research Institute, University of Minnesota, and
Hugh Erayne, general organizer of the American Federation of
Labor. The report of the United States observers, which was sub­
mitted to the Secretary of Labor under date of August 15, follows.

A

Text of Report
T h e r e was a general feeling of cordiality and good will toward
the delegation of the United States observers. It was stated by
Mr. Butler, Director of the International Labor Office, that the
presence of the United States delegation was one of the bright spots
m this year’s conference.
The delegation was seated in the center of the hall with the Gov­
ernment delegations. It was voted by the plenary session the
hrst day of the Conference that the official observers should be
given the right to participate in the discussion in the plenary sessions
and m committees. The observers could not, of course, record their
v° te.s\ Besides the United States, only Egypt was represented by
official observers.

Resolution Adopted for Presentation to Economic Conference

In the early sessions of the Conference much interest was aroused
yU discussion of a resolution that it was proposed to send to
the World Economic and Monetary Conference.
• "^n J-*ew
ia^ure 0/ the London conference to attain any
immediate realization of its objectives, it seems unnecessary in
this
to describe fully the recommendations that were made
to it by the International Labor Conference. The recommendations
covered such points as the restoration of stable monetarv condi­
tions, national and international; prevention of future disastrous
fluctuations of price levels; increase of the purchasing power of the
workers, an international movement to increase expenditures for
public works.
The significance of the resolution (which was adopted by 99
votes to 0) lies in the fact that for the first time in any large"way
the_ International Labor Conference went on record "as officially
urging certain courses to be pursued in the economic sphere.
1290

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INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE, JUNE

1933

1291

One of the policies of the International Labor Conference, which
certain elements in its membership have successfully insisted upon
in the past, is that in its deliberations a sharp line should be drawn
between “ social” and “ economic” subjects. In the opinion of
these persons, principally the employers’ group, it would appear,
the International Labor Conference is properly concerned with
the former class of questions and should steer clear of the latter.
By the terms of any such separation of interest, unemployment
insurance, let us say, would be considered a “ social” question,
whereas wage levels would be definitely held to be an “ economic”
subject. The Conference experience has shown that in practice
this distinction has always been difficult to draw. Modern economic
thinking finds the problem of social justice to the working people
and the problem of an intelligent functioning of the economic system
closely interwoven. By adopting the resolution to the Economic
Conference, the International Labor Conference put itself on record
in regard to a number of definitely “ economic” subjects. In doing
so it followed a course that may well mark an important precedent
for its future activities.
Because of the interest that the United States, through President
Roosevelt, had shown in the London conference, the American
delegation was asked to participate in the discussion of the resolu­
tion. Mr. Smith was asked by Miss Anderson to address the Con­
ference on this subject.
Discussion of the Director’s Report

The Director’s able and comprehensive report was devoted mainly
to the social and economic aspects of the depression, especially:
(1) Unemployment, its extent, causes, and the various measures
of relief; (2) wages, reductions, purchasing power, and the late
change of policy; (3) social insurance, effects of the depression,
reduced incomes and increased expenditures, and the consequent
amendments to laws and regulations.
The Director devoted a certain amount of attention to credit
and currency. He gave an encouraging report of the Labor Organ­
ization. The 50 new ratifications in 1933 (the highest number
since 1929), sent in by 21 countries, he spoke of as “ a proof of the
vitality of international labor legislation.”
He described the history of the movement for the 40-liour week,
and reminded the Conference that as far back as January 1931 the
unemployment committee of the Governing Body invited the Labor
Office to pay special attention to this desire of the workers’ organ­
izations. He spoke also of “ the scorn and abuse with which the
notion was first greeted.”
Finally, the United States observers noted with special interest the
Director’s repeated references to international planning and coopera­
tion. Is it possible to raise wages in one country, he asked, unless a
corresponding increase takes place in competing countries? Is it
possible to make wages the subject of international negotiations?
Are truces against wage cuts, or international wage agreements,
possibilities of the future? Can the consuming power of the masses
in Asia and Africa be raised by international economic action?
In his concluding paragraphs the Director said: •
If unemployment is to be removed, economic balance preserved, and future
economic disasters averted, it can only be achieved by international cooperation


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for the more scientific direction of the world’s economy. The pressure of events
is steadily forcing the world to revise its old methods and to create the inter­
national organization capable of giving it prosperity under modern conditions.
A t a moment when many are disposed to doubt the efficacy of the international
institutions which already exist, the inevitability of international action was
never so apparent. From this fact may be derived the certitude that they will
ultimately be recognized as a necessary part of the world order, whatever trials
and vicissitudes they may be destined to undergo in the years immediately
ahead.

The discussion of the Director’s report took 3 days, after which an
afternoon was devoted to the Director’s reply. During the discussion
an opportunity was given to the United States observers to address
the plenary session and Miss Anderson and Mr. Frayne both did so.
Much interest was shown in the National Industrial Recovery Act,
which passed Congress while we were attending the Conference,
particularly the establishment of such a system on a national scale
where employers and labor, through their constituted representatives
and in the various industries, might cooperate in a flexible system of
establishing a code of maximum hours and minimum wages. It was
pointed out by us that the maximum hours suggested had at no time
exceeded 40 hours a week, while the minimum wage may vary with
industry and locality. The representative of the employers’ delegates
asked us for details in regard to this system, which we were happy to
furnish him. This experiment by the United States will be of great
value in affecting any decision on a draft convention on hours and
wages which may be adopted by the next International Labor
Conference. In the Director’s reply to the debate he pointed out that
very fact to the delegates.
The 40-H our W eek

The first International Labor Conference, held in Washington in
1919 just after the war, passed a draft convention or labor treaty for
a working day not longer than 8 hours. Sixteen countries ratified
this treaty.
The next discussion on hours was that of the 40-hour week con­
ference, specially called for this purpose by the International Labor
Organization January last. At that conference the International
Labor Office was asked to bring together all available data on this
subject and present to the conference just held (June). These data
are contained in what is called the “ blue-gray” report, which is very
comprehensive and informative.
The question came up before the plenary session as to whether a
draft convention or recommendation on this subject should be adopted
at the present session, or it should confine itself to consulting the
governments and defer the adoption of definite international regula­
tions until next year. This important matter was debated for 2
days. The report prepared by the Labor Office served as the basis of
the discussion for these alternatives. It was argued by the workers
that the January meeting was the first discussion, and that at the
June session a convention or treaty should be formulated, adopted,
and presented to the governments for ratification. The workers
emphasized the need for maintaining the purchasing power of labor
by keeping it in full work at full wages. They urged the shorter
hours, not as a temporary expedient in a moment of crisis, but as the
only measure that could combat the increased volume of unemploy­
ment caused, even in normal times, by the elimination of labor and

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the consequences of mass production. They also emphasized the
fact that present-day technique in production should be a powerful
factor in preparing the way for a shortening of the working week.
The employers, supported by many government delegates, con­
tended that the January meeting was only a preliminary one and
could not be counted as a first sitting; that although the report
prepared by the International Labor Office had much information,
much more was necessary; that this is a far-reaching reform and
heretofore no such reform had ever been proposed internationally
that had not been tried by one or more countries first; that past
conventions had always been based on a considerable amount of
national experience; that the present sitting should be called the first
sitting, and a committee should be appointed to formulate a question­
naire to be submitted to all countries. The employers, supported by
many of the government delegates, voted for a committee to formulate
a questionnaire.
The committee finally agreed to a questionnaire that should inquire
not only into hours worked but into wages paid. This is very signifi­
cant, because it was felt throughout the conference that the fixing
of maximum hours of 40 a week could not be done unless wages were
taken into consideration. It was felt that in countries where there
were no safeguards through legislation and there was feeble tradeunion organization, if a 40-hour week were adopted wages would go
down very rapidly. Thus the convention on the 40-hour week,
including information on wages, will be the dominant question before
the International Labor Conference of next year.
We felt very keenly that the inability of the United States delega­
tion to participate directly in this discussion and in voting had much
bearing on the results of the discussion of the 40-hour week.
W ork of Committees

The International Labor Conference reaches its conclusions through
a system of committee discussions. Shortly after organization of
the Conference the various members are assigned to one of half a
dozen committees, each of which is responsible for formulating recom­
mendations with respect to one of the major items on the agenda.
During at least half of the conference period there are no plenary
sessions of the Conference, all of the time being given to committee
work.
One of the committees that function at each convention is the
committee on article 408. This is essentially a board of review,
which checks over the ratifications of conventions and the enforce­
ment of provisions of these conventions within the signatory nations,
including the operation of laws and regulations set up in conformity
with the conventions.
It is interesting to note that this committee does not hesitate
to censure specifically certain governments for derelictions in carrying
out the provisions of the convention. In several instances special
commissions have been appointed to investigate situations in a given
nation and to make recommendations to the International Labor
Conference.
On the whole this “ policing” function is effectively and frankly
done and offers an example of “ effective” international cooperation.

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D raft Convention on Abolition of Fee-Charging Em ploym ent Agencies

One of the first draft conventions of the International Labor Con­
ference adopted at the Washington conference in 1919 provided for
the establishment of a national system of public employment offices
in the signatory nations. This convention was widely ratified and
most of the industrial nations have had several years of experience
with public employment-office systems.
In some instances, as in Germany and Italy, these public offices
have replaced all other agencies; in Italy the use of such public em­
ployment offices is compulsory with all employers.
As these countries have developed an adequate public employmentoffice system to cope with the problems of organizing the labor
market, their attention has turned to the desirability of removing the
evils attendant upon a competing system of private fee-charging
employment agencies.
The question of international action looking toward the abolition
of fee-charging employment agencies was placed on the agenda of
the 1932 Conference and was given a first hearing at that time.
During the ensuing year the staff of the International Labor Office
prepared and circulated a comprehensive study of* the situation in
the various countries.
This year, after considerable discussion, the committee on this
subject recommended a draft convention for adoption by the
Conference.
This convention, as adopted and now subject to ratification by the
various governments, provides, in brief, as follows:
.1- Fee-charging agencies run with a view to profit are to be abolished
within 3 years after ratification of convention.
2. Fee-charging agencies operated to service a special group arid
not for profit are to be closely supervised and controlled. (Such
agencies as a Y.W.C.A. placement bureau operated on a cost basis
would fall in this category.)
3. Free employment agencies of any character must be registered.
In the course of the discussion of the report of this committee Mr.
Stead spoke to the Conference, outlining the proposed development
of the cooperative Federal-State employment service under the
provisions of the Wagner-Peyser bill.
D raft Conventions on Social Insurance

Only one other committee was engaged in final discussions and
recommendations in this year’s Conference. The Committee on
Invalidity, Old-Age, and Widows’ and Orphans’ Insurance submitted
a series of draft conventions on these subjects, designed to bring
about uniformity in the provisions for this type of protection in the
various countries. All of these conventions were adopted and when
ratified should go far to eliminate inequalities in protection among
the countries.
The economic helplessness of the factory and farm worker in face of
unemployment, invalidity, and old age, and the economic plight of
the widows and orphan children of wage earners were accorded a
large amount of attention. The fruit of the deliberations of the
Committee on Invalidity, Old-Age, Widows’ and Orphans’ Insurance
set up by the Conference was the submittal of six separate draft

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conventions on these subjects, each of which was adopted hy a large
majority. The tabulation of votes was as follows:
1. Draft convention concerning compulsory old-age insurance for persons
employed in industrial and commercial undertakings or in the liberal professions,
and for outworkers and domestic servants. For 106, against 5.
2. Draft convention concerning compulsory old-age insurance for persons
employed in agricultural undertakings. For 84, against 17.
3. Draft convention concerning compulsory invalidity insurance for persons
employed in commercial and industrial undertakings or in the liberal professions,
and for outworkers and domestic servants. For 89, against 7.
4. Draft convention concerning compulsory invalidity insurance for persons
employed in agricultural undertakings. For 75, againstT8.
5. Draft convention concerning compulsory widows’ and orphans’ insurance
for persons employed in industrial and commercial undertakings or in the liberal
professions, and for outworkers and domestic servants. For 92, against 6.
6. Draft convention concerning compulsory widows’ and orphans’ insurance
for persons employed in agricultural undertakings. For 73, against 18.

In each vote on these conventions the dissenting delegates were
employer or government representatives. The government delegates
most frequently dissenting were the representatives of the Argentine
Republic, whose 2_delegates were recorded as against 4 of the 6 socialinsurance conventions. One Argentine delegate voted against another
oi these six proposals. Other government delegates frequently
dissenting represented Brazil, Portugal, and Yugoslavia.
Precedent for the adoption of the foregoing conventions is to be
found in 2 conventions adopted in 1925 concerning accident insurance
and occupational diseases and the 2 conventions on sickness insurance
adopted in 1927. These conventions have been ratified by most of
the leading industrial countries of Europe.
The Committee on Invalidity, Old-Age, Widows’ and Orphans’
Insurance was composed of 63 members, 21 each from the government,
employer, and labor groups. The amount of time and thought that
the committee gave to its task is indicated by the fact that on the
subject of old-age insurance alone 16 sessions were held and 83
amendments to the text as drafted by the International Labor Office
for the consideration of the Conference were proposed and discussed.
The six conventions are similar in their general character. They
prescribe limits within which countries adhering to the conventions
must frame their legislation. On the other hand, they permit consid­
erable latitude on important points. For instance, in each of the six
conventions it is provided that: “ The pension shall, whether or not
dependent on the time spent in insurance, be a fixed sum or a percent­
age of the remuneration taken into account for insurance purposes, or
vary with the amount of the contributions paid.”
Of specific provisions there are not very many. The old-age
insurance convention provides that the age at which a person is
entitled to a pension “ shall not exceed 65.” In regard to invalidity
insurance it is stated that the qualifying period shall not exceed “ 60
contribution months, 250 contribution weeks, or 1,500 contribution
days.” Each convention provides that employers, employees, and
the State shall make contributions. It is significant that it is stated
in each convention that “ the insurance scheme shall be administered
by public authorities and not conducted with a view to profit.”
^In addition to adopting these six social insurance conventions the
Conference approved, by a vote of 75 to 15, a series of recommenda­
tions concerning the principles of invalidity, old-age, and widows’
and orphans’ insurance in which some rather precise interpretations

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are offered to clarify the intent of the draft conventions. For instance,
in regard to pensions to orphans these recommendations state:
Every child of school age who was dependent on a pensioner or insured person
who died after completing the qualifying period should be entitled to a child’s
pension, and the pension should continue to be paid until the age of 17 if the
child is continuing his general or vocational education, and even beyond this
age if the child cannot by reason of infirmity earn his living.

Although unemployment insurance in some form is probably more
universally in force among industrial nations than is invalidity, oldage, or widows’ and orphans’ insurance, the Conference was not pre­
pared this year to adopt a draft convention on this subject. It did
adopt, on recommendation of a committee established by it, a series
of questions on unemployment insurance to be submitted to the
governments. This procedure is the regular preliminary to the adop­
tion of a draft convention in the next succeeding year.
In the report of the Committee on Unemployment Insurance and
Various Forms of Kelief for the Unemployed, the following resume
was given of action taken by previous International Labor Confer­
ences on unemployment insurance:
A t the first session (Washington, 1919) a recommendation was adopted recom­
mending: “ That each member of the International Labor Organization establish
an effective system of unemployment insurance, either through a government
system or through a system of government subventions to associations whose
rules provide for the payment of benefits to their unemployed members.”
At the same session a draft convention concerning unemployment was adopted,
and article 3 of this draft convention provides that: “ Members of the Interna­
tional Labor Organization which ratify this convention and which have established
systems of insurance against unemployment shall, upon terms being agreed
between the members concerned, make arrangements whereby workers belonging
to one member and working in the territory of another shall be admitted to the
same rates of benefit of such insurance as those which obtain for the workers
belonging to the latter.”
The 1926 session of the Conference adopted a resolution by which the Inter­
national Labor Office was requested to increase to the utmost its efforts to secure
a wider adoption of the measures proposed in the recommendations and conven­
tions on unemployment adopted at previous sessions, including among other
things the creation and extension of systems of unemployment insurance and the
admission of foreigners to the benefits of these systems on condition of reciprocity.

In the framing of the questionnaire on unemployment insurance to
be submitted to governments there were numerous clashes of opinion
between delegates representing labor and those representing employers.
Particular objection was raised by the workers to the inclusion of
reference to a “ means test” as a factor in benefit conditions. The
workers felt this subject had no place in a questionnaire that was con­
cerned not with an assistance but with an insurance scheme, i.e., a
plan in which the workers were themselves contributors. The
workers’ amendment was, however, defeated.
The questionnaire that will be circulated this year to the govern­
ments is very elaborate and in the scope of its questions no doubt
profits considerably by the large amount of experience that has al­
ready been had with unemployment insurance. It is of interest to
note that the various American proposals that attempt to use an
unemployment compensation scheme as a means to reduce unem­
ployment by the device of varying the employer’s contribution with
his experience record in maintaining employment find no place in this
questionnaire. If the United States had been a formal participating
member in the International Labor Conference this important point
presumably would have received consideration.

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Oversea Conference

During the last week of the International Labor Conference a
special group conference was held dealing with the particular prob­
lems of non-European “ oversea” countries. Many of these countries
had felt that their problems needed special consideration, since the
standards for most draft conventions had been based on European
experience.
Emphasis was placed on geographical groupings and the possibility
of developing international labor standards that would take into
consideration regional problems.
Thus it was suggested that an Asiatic and a Latin-American section
of the International Labor Office be set up to study the problems of
the countries in these areas.
Many delegates, including Europeans, pointed out the desirability
of devoting more attention to the problems of oversea countries in
the light of the hoped-for possibility of the affiliation of the United
States with the International Labor Office.
Importance of United States Participation

Regarding the value of participation as official observers, the words
of Mr. Butler, Director of the International Labor Office, are quoted
here:
Perhaps I need hardly say that it is a very special pleasure to me to see an
American delegation here for the first time this year. W e value this cooperation
all the more on account of the great industrial reconstruction which is now being
undertaken in the United States. Anyone who is interested in the problems of
this organization is bound to follow this effort with the closest attention. I need
hardly add that we, too, hope that the collaboration so successfully instituted
may expand and grow.

The United States delegates feel that it was very important to be
at this meeting as official observers and to participate in the discus­
sions of the Conference. The delegation would unhesitatingly recom­
mend that the United States affiliate with the International Labor
Office so as to be in a position to be in full collaboration with the
other 58 countries that comprise this organization.
The International Labor Conference is of the nature of an interna­
tional industrial parliament in which the delegates of 58 nations par­
ticipate, including workers’, employers’, and government delegates.
The work of the International Labor Office, the organization which,
so to speak, looks after and prepares the work of the Conference, is
not unlike that of the United States Department of Labor or any
other labor ministry or department, except that it is staffed by inter­
national officials drawn from over 40 different nationalities instead
of by national officials.
The economic and social questions that come before the Conference
are interwoven with similar questions in the United States. Social
insurance, that has had its place on the statute books in the countries
in Europe, South America, and the East, we in the United States are
just beginning to consider. We want to know their experience and
profit by it, and no better opportunity is afforded along that line than
participation in conferences of the International Labor Office. In
view of the competition among countries— due to inequalities in wages
and hours worked— the attention that will be given by future confer
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ences to such economic questions as the shorter working day and the
raising of wages and purchasing power will be of particular interest
to the United States, and in our opinion the United States cannot
afford to be in a position of less than full equality in such collaboration.
That adequate representation is assured for both employers and
employees is clear in the Conference machinery, each country being
represented by two government delegates, one employer (nominated
by the largest employers’ association), and one worker (nominated
by the national trade-union organization). Adherence to draft con­
ventions is, of course, purely voluntary on the part of any country.
Furthermore, affiliation with the International Labor Office does not
necessarily mean membership in the League of Nations. Several
countries are now affiliated with the Labor Office that have no rela­
tion with the League of Nations.
There is no doubt that this international organization has been a
very great factor in raising the standards of employment the world
over. To quote again the Director’s report: In speaking of the
treaties ratified by the countries, he said that since the organization
of the International Labor Office there had been 566 ratifications of
treaties by the countries affiliated. He pointed out the remarkable
progress that had been made in the matter of ratifications in Latin
America; Spain was the greatest wonder of all, since 14 more ratifica­
tions had come in, bringing them to 30 and making almost 100 percent
ratification.
A e think that it is not too much to say that improved working
standards and social legislation could not have had such impetus
without the collaboration of the countries in the conferences assembled.
We feel, too, that in another year the United States will have much
to contribute to such a conference. It is important to dispel the
thought of at least some members of the Conference who say that
nothing can be done because the United States, the largest industrial
country in the world, does not do its share in collaboration, and that
the legal industrial standards in the United States are far below those
of other countries. We strongly recommend, therefore, that the
United States Government affiliate with the International Labor
Organization at the earliest possible opportunity, and that in the
meantime the Government send a delegation to the next conference
in May 1934, having in mind representation upon such delegation of
two Government members, an employer spokesman,and a representa­
tive of the organized workers.


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
Longshore Labor Conditions and Port Decasualization in the
United States

HE following is the text of the report presented in November
1933 at the hearings on the shipping code on behalf of the United
States Department of Labor. The report was prepared by Boris
Stern of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A careful analysis of the latest information on longshore labor con­
ditions secured for the administrator of the shipping code by the
United States Department of Commerce and the Planning and Re­
search Division of the National Recovery Administration, has con­
vinced the Department of Labor that the present longshore labor
conditions differ from those described in the bulletin on Cargo
Handling and Longshore Labor Conditions, published by the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics (Bui. No. 550), and presenting
conditions as they existed between 1926 and 1929, in only two aspects:
(1)
Conditions of employment in the industry are now more chaotic
than ever.
(2)
The earnings of longshoremen, even of the most favorably situ­
ated groups of workers, are much, much lower than during the
1927-29 period covered by the Bureau survey.
With these differences constantly in view, the attempt is made in
the following pages to give a brief outline of the longshore labor and
employment conditions normally prevailing in the majority of the
LInited States ports, and to follow it up with a program of action
intended to mitigate, if not altogether to cure, some of the most
flagrant injustices to labor on the waterfront.

T

Supply of Longshore Labor

I t is generally admitted by all interests in the shipping industry
(port authorities, representatives of shipping and stevedore com­
panies, representatives of labor) that even in the most prosperous
years there exists in every port a supply of longshore labor far in
excess of what is considered necessary to take care of the highest load
peak in the port.
In normal times, only a small part of this supply is earning what
may be considered a decent wage. Probably a larger proportion is
earning a subsistence wage, i.e., just about enough to make ends meet
on a comparatively low standard of living. The balance is always
on the brink of starvation and depends largely on outside support,
chiefly charity. At the present time a very conservative estimate
would probably place more than 50 percent of all the longshoremen
on the relief rolls.

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Demand for Longshore Labor

A l o n g s h o r e m a n can get work only for the period a ship remains
in port for the purpose of discharging or loading cargo. More ships in
port mean more jobs for longshoremen; a storm delaying sea traffic
means no work during the delay, followed by a period of feverish
activity to catch up with the work to enable the ship to sail on time.
Ships may arrive and leave port every day, some after a stay of only
a day or two, others after a week or 10 days. Sometimes they straggle
in one by one and sometimes they come in numbers.
In addition to this irregularity in the arrival and departure of ships,
the shipping industry as a whole is seriously affected by cyclical
trends, by seasonal fluctuations, by changes in tariff regulations, by
the weather, and by the vagaries of the individual shipping companies.
As a result it is wellnigh impossible to plan or gage the demand for
longshore labor in the port for any considerable period of time.
Method of Hiring Longshore Labor
T h e contracting stevedores doing the work of discharging and load­
ing ships are seldom in a position to know in advance how long the
actual work of loading or discharging will last and how many men
they will need for this work. Hence there has developed a system
of hiring longshoremen by the hour and hiring them only when and
where actually needed. Every pier in port, every dock, becomes a
hiring station, and the average longshoreman never knows whether
or not he will be employed at a given pier or when hired how long he
will remain on the job.
Hours of W ork
T h e proposed shipping code provides that “ longshoremen and other
dock workers shall not be employed for more than 48 hours in any
week averaged over a period of 4 weeks.” In reality the longshore
industry has no conception of “ regular hours” of work, as commonly
understood in other enterprises. Ships arrive and leave the port at
any hour of the day and night, and the work of loading and discharg­
ing cargo also begins and ends at any hour of the day or night. Cer­
tain union restrictions, such as limiting the hours and the number of
“ shapes” in the port, penalty rates for night and Sunday work,
extra pay for waiting time, etc., have tended somewhat to improve
these conditions. However, neither these rules nor the 8-hour day
and the 44-hour week provisions contained in the collective agree­
ments between the employers and the unions, have succeeded in
regularizing or in any way standardizing the hours of longshore
work. Because of the difficulty of getting a job and the uncertainty
of its duration, the individual longshoreman prefers to remain at
work as long as his endurance will last or the foreman will permit him
to remain. Stretches of 20 to 30 hours of uninterrupted work, except
for short meal stoppages, are not uncommon in the ports of New
York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Even longer stretches of work
may be found in New Orleans, Galveston, and Houston in the peak
of the cotton season.


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Earnings of Longshoremen
D a y s or weeks of enforced idleness followed by periods of equally
enforced hard labor are reflected in the weekly earnings of the long­
shoremen. Even those among them who are most favored by the
foreman and who can be regarded as permanent employees in the
sense that they work at one pier only and_ are given preference when
work is available, show extreme variations in their earnings from week
to week, and some weeks even they may have no earnings at all. As
to the others, who constitute by far the larger body of men— those
working a day at one pier, half a day at another, half a night at
still a third pier, and perhaps another day or night at the first or
second pier— their earnings are so irregular that it is altogether
impossible to measure them with any degree of approximation.
This accounts for the fact that the Department of Commerce and
the Research and Planning Division of the National Recovery Ad­
ministration found it impossible to get any information on the average
earnings of longshoremen in the majority of our ports. It is especially
true in New York, where the several attempts made by various
Government agencies to measure the average earnings of longshore­
men, including the latest survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
resulted in complete failure.

Summary of Labor Conditions
T h e s e conditions may be considered as representing the normal
situation prevailing in all the ports where no attempt has been made
by employers or by the unions to manipulate and control the supply
of longshore labor to suit the current needs of the ports. Briefly
the characteristics of such a port may be described as follows:
(1) A large immobile body of workers scattered over the entire
waterfront and ignorant of the actual time and place where work is
available.
(2) A considerable number of individual employers each aiming to
create a large reservoir of labor in order to be able to satisfy their
maximum demands during peak loads.
(3) Complete dependence of the job of longshoreman on chance and
on the goodwill of the “ employing foreman.”
(4) Conditions of hiring longshoremen which because of the auto­
cratic power concentrated in the hands of the hiring foreman pave the
way for unfair practices and exploitation.
(5) Periods of enforced idleness alternating with long stretches of
hard labor, resulting in extreme variations in the earnings of long­
shoremen.

Decasualization of Longshore Labor
T h e object of a port decasualization scheme is to do away with some
of the more glaring evils outlined above. It is quite obvious that
very little can be done as regards the demand for longshore labor.
Small changes could be effected, as for instance, the concentrated
sailings on certain days of the week or month could be spread out
more evenly over the week and month. But even the most scientific
organization of a port will not altogether eliminate the daily and sea­
sonal fluctuations in shipping. Whatever is done, ships will continue

21719°—33----- 3


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R E V IE W

to arrive in greater numbers at one time than another and there al­
ways will be busy periods and slack periods.
Recognizing this fact, most of the ports with plans of decasualization concentrated on the manipulation of the labor supply in the at­
tempt to bring about an adjustment of the supply to suit the changing
demands in the shipping industry.
The practical application of a scheme of decasuaiization, the
methods or organization, composition of the decasualizing agency,
the systems of distributing and dispatching longshoremen from the
central hiring station or stations to the various piers, vary greatly in
accordance with the customs and conditions prevailing in the indi­
vidual ports. London, which decasualized as early as 1891, has one
scheme; Liverpool, another; and Antwerp, which decasualized in
1929, still another. In this country the system used in Seattle, the
first port to decasualize its general longshore supply of labor, has a
method different from the one used in Portland, which in turn is
different from the Los Angeles scheme of decasuaiization.
There are, however, certain general requirements, without which
decasuaiization is either altogether impossible or, if attempted, is
doomed to fall short of its main objectives. These conditions are:
(1) There must be complete registration of all longshore labor avail­
able in the port.
(2) Only those on the register should be permitted to work on the
waterfront.
(3) All employers must give up their right to hire longshore labor
individually at their piers or elsewhere and must agree to secure their
labor through the decasualizing agency only.
With these minimum requirements fulfilled, a scheme of decasuaii­
zation should accomplish the following results:
(1) It should guarantee to all employers an equal chance to obtain
labor wherr and where needed.
(2) It should guarantee to all longshoremen an equal chance of
getting a job when work is available.
(3) It should gradually reduce the number of longshoremen in port
to that approximating the actual needs of the port and thus raise
and make more regular the average earnings of the men on the
register.
Results of Decasuaiization in Some American Ports
U n q u e s t i o n a b l y the employment conditions and the earnings of
longshoremen in the decasualized ports of Seattle, Portland, and Los
Angeles are more favorable than in the other ports without decasuaii­
zation schemes. Even in the ports of Boston and Galveston, where
the local unions exercise a stricter control over the labor supply and
attempt to rotate the work for a more equitable distribution among
the membership, crude as these attempts may be at times, the results
are more satisfactory than in the other ports where no attempt is
made to coordinate the supply of labor to suit the demands of the port.
The principal difficulty with the existing schemes in Seattle,
Portland, and Los Angeles is not in the scheme per se. It is due
primarily to the fact that the plan was promulgated and carried out
by the employers against the strong opposition of organized labor.
In fact the schemes may be considered as the result of the protracted


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1303

fight between the employers’ associations on the west coast and the
International Longshoremen’s Association which culminated in the
almost complete elimination of the union from the west coast. This
is the primary reason why the International Longshoremen’s Asso­
ciation, the dominant labor organization in the longshore field, has
been so violently opposed to any suggestion of decasualization in the
other ports.
Present Situation
W i t h the passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act, and
especially with article 7 specifically guaranteeing the workers the
right to collective bargaining through representatives of their own
choosing, the opposition of the International Longshoremen’s Asso­
ciation to a scheme of decasualization intended to bring some order
in the prevailing chaotic conditions in the longshore industry can no
longer be maintained on the grounds outlined above.
On the whole the present situation may be regarded as extremely
favorable for decasualizing the longshore labor in all the ports of the
United States under the administration of the shipping code. The
Department of Labor is therefore presenting herewith a more or less
detailed analysis of a plan of procedure and operation which in its
general outline should be incorporated either in the shipping code or
preferably in a separate code devised to cover longshore operations
only.
A Plan to Decasualize Longshore Labor
Need for an Impartial Agency

D e c a s u a l i z a t i o n is primarily a problem in the technique of
employment and work distribution, vitally affecting the interests of
employers and workers alike. It is essential, therefore, that the
actual work of decasualizing the port and of maintaining a central
employment station for longshore labor be carried out by an author­
itative and impartial agency, with unquestioned trust and support
from all the interests involved. It is proposed that the National
Recovery Administration cooperate with the United States Depart­
ment of Labor in organizing such an impartial agency for the specific
purpose of decasualizing longshore labor in the United States.
National Decasualization Board

The National Recovery Administration shall appoint a National
Decasualization Board, consisting of the administrator of the ship­
ping code, the Director of the Employment Service of the Department
of Labor, and an advisory board of three employers selected by the
code authority and three workers approved by the president of the
International Longshoremen’s Association. This National Decasual­
ization Board shall be the responsible and final authority for the
decasualization work in all the ports.
Port Decasualization Boards

At the request of the National Decasualization Board the Secretary
of Labor and the Secretary of Commerce jointly shall appoint one or
if necessary fas in the case of New York) several longshore employ
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1304

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

ment directors for each port, who shall be charged with the actual
work of first reorganizing the port with a view to decasualization and
then carrying on the work of a central employment office for the port.
The employment director shall be given full authority to proceed
with his work of decasualizing the port and shall be responsible to the
National Decasualization Board only. He shall be assisted, however,
by an advisory board of two employers selected by the local code
authority and two workers elected by the local union. The five
members shall constitute the port decasualization board.
General Outline of Procedure

The port employment director shall at once proceed to make a
study of the prevailing longshore labor conditions in the port, and
on the basis of this survey the port decasualization board shall submit
a complete outline of action for the approval of the National De­
casualization Board.
Immediately upon the approval of the plan the employment direc­
tor shall proceed with the registration of all the workers in the port.
Official notices to that effect shall be displayed on all piers and docks
and in other conspicuous places where longshoremen are known to
congregate.
In ports with a large number of foreign workers the notices shall be
printed in the several representative foreign languages. The notices
shall clearly designate the places where the longshoremen are required
to register and state the period during which the registration is to be
carried on.
At the time of registry each longshoreman shall be given a perma­
nent port work number. This port work number shall be the only
work number used to designate the particular worker by all employers
of longshore labor in the port.
Organization of the Labor Supply

Simultaneously with the registration of the workers all employers
of longshore labor shall be required to present a written statement to
the port decasualization board, specifying the number of gangs they
desire to have permanently allotted to them, and giving the exact
number of workers to be included in these gangs. The employers
shall be entitled to have as many permanent gangs as they deem
necessary, so long as the workers allotted to them are given employ­
ment averaging over a 4-week period not less than two thirds of the
maximum weekly hours set in the code. (Overtime and Sunday
hours of work shall be counted as equal to the straight hours times the
rate paid for the overtime and Sunday work.) The employers shall
also have the right to appoint their own foremen and otherwise con­
trol the work of their men, provided they comply with the regulations
of the code and of the collective agreement with the union.
In addition all employers of longshore labor and the local union of
longshoremen shall be requested to submit to the port decasualization
board a list of foremen who shall be permitted to organize permanent
gangs to be registered with the board for rotation work. The number
of men included in the gangs shall be determined in accordance with
the prevailing custom of the port.
Finally, all other workers not included either in the permanent
company gangs or in the gangs organized under the supervision of the

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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1305

board, shall be listed as individual workers and be used only when
there is need for such additional labor in the port.
Upon completion of the registration and gang organization, the
port decasualization board shall set a definite date for the plan of
decasualization to become operative.
On and after that date no employer shall be permitted to hire long­
shore labor except through the employment office or offices especially
provided for that purpose by the decasualization board.
M ode of Payment

All workers in permanent gangs allotted to individual employers
shall be paid at the office of the employer. Copies of such pay rolls
shall be forwarded to the central office of the decasualization board.
Each worker shall be issued a work book containing his name and the
nature of his work, his address, and his port work number. Spaces
shall be provided in the book for weekly entries of the total hours and
the total earnings of the workers. These work books shall be turned
in to the employer at the beginning of each week and shall be handed
back to the individual worker together with his pay envelop.
All other workers shall be paid in the office of the decasualization
board. The several pay rolls of the individual employers shall be
combined by the office force of the decasualization board into one
master pay roll containing the total hours of work and the earnings
of the individual workers irrespective of whether they worked for
one or several employers during the week. These workers shall also
be provided with individual work books, but of a different color from
those of the workers permanently allotted to companies, and their
hours and earnings shall also be entered in the books.
Expenses

All expenses of the port decasualization board except the salary of
the employment director shall be defrayed by an assessment divided
between the employers and the workers. It is believed that 1 percent
of the pay roll contributed by the employer, and one half of 1 percent
deducted from the earnings of the individual workers, will prove suffi­
cient to cover the current expenditures involved in maintaining and
operating the employment offices.
The initial expenses of decasualization may be contributed either
in the form of an assessment on the employers and the union, or by
means of a special grant or loan from the Federal Government, later
to be repaid from the pay-roll assessments.
The employment director shall at all times remain an employee of
the National Recovery Administration and shall receive his remunera­
tion from that organization.
Special Conditions Affecting Individual Ports

N e w Y o r k .— The difference between the port of New York and
any other port in the country is primarily a difference in size. The
port of New York covers a tremendous coast line in the two States
of New York and New Jersey. For the purpose of effective decasual­
ization of that port it may therefore be necessary to have a central
decasualization board and several smaller decasualization units, each


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1306

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

proceeding witli the work of decasualization in the territory allotted
to it but under the close supervision and control of the central board.
S e a ttle , P o r t l a n d , a n d L o s A n g e l e s .— In such ports as Seattle,
Portland, and Los Angeles, where decasualization schemes are now
carried on by the employers, and in such ports as Tacoma and Gal­
veston, where the work is at least partly carried on by the unions, the
respective port decasualization boards shall proceed to take over the
machinery and the personnel of the employment offices and reor­
ganize them along the lines of procedure outlined for the other ports.
New registrations of longshoremen and a new alinement of gangs
shall be made compulsory in order to include the workers who hitherto
for one reason or another have been excluded, or who voluntarily
abstained from participation in the decasualization scheme.
Conclusions
T h e outline presented here is not exhaustive and makes no reference
to the various problems which may arise in connection with the
decasualization activities in the separate ports. Such matters, for
instance, as the relationship between white and negro labor in the
southern ports, the jurisdictional struggle between the two unions in
San Francisco, the problem of the groups of longshoremen specializing
in individual commodities, etc., are not discussed here because they
properly belong within the realm of the individual ports rather than
in a general analysis for all ports.
Nor is there an attempt in the present very brief discussion to
minimize the numerous difficulties which will confront the individual
port decasualization boards. It is believed, however, that under the
leadership of an effective national decasualization board and with
the voluntary coo'peration on the part of the employers and the
unions, the work of decasualization does not constitute an impossible
task to accomplish. It is the only way to bring a degree of order
into the chaotic longshore industry.


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Fluctuation of Employment in Ohio in 1931 and 1932 and
Comparison with Previous Years
B y F red C. C r o x t o n , C o l u m b u s , O h io , and F r e d e r ic k E. C r o x t o n ,
C o l u m b ia U n iv e r s it y

HIS analysis shows fluctuation of employment of wage earners,
clerical employees, and salespeople (not traveling) from returns
made by 43,168 establishments in Ohio in 1931 and 40,134 establish­
ments in 1932. Summary tables present comparisons with the
previous 7 years and charts show a comparison with the previous
17 years.1
In 1931, the month of highest employment was May when the
43,168 establishments reported a total of 1,034,483 wage earners,
bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks, and salespeople (not
traveling). The month of lowest employment in that year was
December, when 922,706, or 10.8 percent fewer, were reported em­
ployed in those general-occupation groups.
In 1932, the month of highest employment was February, when
40,134 establishments reported a total of 871,254 employees in the
occupation groups enumerated above. The month of lowest em­
ployment in 1932 was August, when the number reported was 798,226,
or 8.4 percent less than in February.
The general-industry groups covered in these 2 years as well as in
the preceding years are manufactures, service, wholesale and retail
trade, transportation and public utilities, construction, mining and
quarrying, agriculture, and fisheries.
The figures within each year give an accurate picture of the changes
in total numbers from month to month on the pay rolls of the estab­
lishments reporting. They do not supply any information, however,
as to whether the employees are employed full time or only part time.
From year to year the number of establishments varies, although
every effort is made to secure reports from all establishments having
three or more employees and falling in the industrial groups pre­
viously mentioned. A fairly good approximation of the effect of the
depression, as far as it concerns total employees on the pay roll, is
secured by comparing the maximum, minimum, and average number
of employees for recent years of the 9-year period covered in this
report. The average number of employees (computed by dividing
the total of monthly reports by 12) in 1932 as compared with 1929
shows a decrease of 395,172, or 39.3 percent, for males; 75,239, or 24.9
percent, for females; and 470,411, or 36.0 percent, for both sexes
combined. The maximum number of both sexes employed in 1932
as compared with 1929 shows a decrease of 484,750, or 35.7 percent,
and the minimum number of both sexes a decrease of 432,498, or
35.1 percent.

T

i
Similar data for Ohio for the period beginning January 1914 are given in U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bui. N o. 553: Fluctuation of Employment in Ohio, 1914 to 1929.


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1307

1308

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

The total wage and salary payments (including those to super­
intendents and managers) show a decrease in 1930 as compared with
1929 of $320,017,175, or 15.5 percent; a further decrease in 1931 as
compared with 1930 of $403,016,839, or 23.2 percent; and a still
further decrease in 1932 as compared with 1931 of $375,996,347, or
28.1 percent. The decrease from 1929 to 1932 was $1,099,030,361,
or 53.3 percent. In these comparisons it should be borne in mind
that the number of establishments varied from year to year but that,
as previously stated, every effort was made each year to get reports
from all establishments employing three or more persons in manu­
factures, service, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and public
utilities, construction, mining and quarrying, agriculture, and
fisheries— in fact, for all lines of industrial and commercial activity
except interstate transportation and government employment.
Total wage and salary payments in 1932 as compared with 1929
show a decrease of 59.4 percent for employees classified as wage earners;
of 33.8 percent for the group classified as bookkeepers, stenographers,
and office clerks; of 45.1 percent for salespeople (not traveling ); and
of 33.5 percent for superintendents and managers.
Sources and Scope of Study
T h e present report has been compiled from two series of reports
collected and tabulated separately by the Division of Labor Statistics
of the Department of Industrial Relations of Ohio. One of these
series covers statistics of mines and quarries while the other covers
all other industries in the State except interstate transportation and
government employment.
The statistical data for these reports were furnished annually by
employers of the State as required by law. The reports as compiled
by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics show the data, by industries,
for the State as a whole and also for each of the more populous
counties.
It is believed that this detailed information affords the most com­
prehensive data available in this country relating to changing employ­
ment, or so-called fluctuation of employment, for a long series of years
and for the whole geographical area of a State. It is also one of the
few extensive sources which includes data for clerical help and sales
people. In each of the years the establishments are identical through­
out the year and the facilities for securing reports from all establish­
ments, as explained in previous reports,2 are unusually favorable.
The number of establishments increased (largely through addition of
those employing comparatively few persons) until 1930. The number
of establishments decreased in 1931 and again in 1932. The decrease
was largely in the construction group where the number was 3,216
(or one third) less in 1932 than in 1930. Manufactures show a decrease
in establishments reporting of 9.1 percent in 1932 compared with 1930.
The industries covered and the number of establishments reporting
are shown in table 1. The total number for each of the years 1924 to
1930 is slightly less than shown in previous reports. This reduction
in number varies from 14 to 25 and is due to omission at this time of
the group “ Industries, not otherwise classified” , and to correction of
a slight typographical error in 1930.
2 M onthly Labor Review, issues of April 1930 (pp. 31-62); and March 1932, (pp. 516-528). See also U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. N o. 553: Fluctuation in Employment in Ohio, 1914 to 1929.


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1309

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
T a b l e 1.— N U M B E R

OP

OHIO

E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G
E M P L O Y M E N T , 1921 T O 1932

1929

1930

1,199
9, 724

1,329 1,444
9, 942 10,183

1,639
9, 672

9,704

9,880

9, 937 10,035

879

858
105
3
114
46
7, 598
8, 526
1, 561

Industry group

1924

1925

1926

1927

Agriculture --------- ----------------------_____
Construction .
. . .
Fisheries-- . . . - - . . .
----- --M anufactures.. . - ------------- . . . . .
M ining and quarrying:
Coal mining _
---------------------Fire-clay mining____________
Gypsum mining. ----------------Limestone quarrying.. -------Sandstone quarrying... ----------Service
___
.
. . .
Trade, wholesale and retail___________
Transportation and public utilities___

732
7,364
25
9,125

910
8,407
23
9, 502

1,052
9,145

889
108
108
3
3
119
116
43
49
4, 233 3 5,971
7, 689 3 7,277
1,271 1,353

Total.

_______ . . . --------

F L U C T U A T IO N

22

1,000

110

3
119
44
6, 761
7, 867
1,453

21

1928

20

714

112
3
122
42
8,210
8,916
1,625

21

679
108
3

121

33
9,335
9, 524
1, 674

22
10,011

OF

1931

1932

1, 777

1,736

24
9, 683

9,102

8, 272 6, 456
(0

672
784
808
82
107
98
3
(2)
(2)
135
137
123
22
32
30
10, 241 10, 452 10, 357
10, 022 10, 111 9, 716
1, 741 1, 776 1, 742

31, 715 34, 605 37,159 39, 635 40, 972 43,160 44, 283 43,168 40,134

1 Combined b y Division of Labor Statistics with “ Trade, wholesale and retail” as establishments report­
ing were largely packing and sales plants.
.
2 Only 2 mines reported in operation and therefore data could not be used m tabulation without identify­
ing estauiisninciita.

.

3
A considerable part of the increase in number of establishments in service and of the decrease in trade,
as compared with the previous year, is due to change of classification of “ offices” from trade to service.
This change, of course, also affects the number of employees in each of the 2 industrial groups.

The returns received do not give a complete picture for the industry
group “ agriculture” and for the subgroup “ domestic service” which
is one of the many classifications under the industry group “ service” ,
as comparatively few farms or domestic establishments in Ohio
employ as many as three persons and reports are not sought, although
a few are received, from concerns employing fewer than three workers.
The lists of the Division of Labor Statistics are carefully and con­
tinuously checked with those of the Ohio Industrial Commission which
administers the workmen’s compensation law. Employers of fewer
than three persons may carry insurance under that act but are not
compelled to do so. Household or domestic service does not come
within the requirements of the workmen’s compensation law, but
employers of such service, regardless of the number of persons em­
ployed, may avail themselves of the provisions of that law. The
Monthly Labor Review for April 1930 (p. 33) contained a discussion
relative to the approximate completeness of the materials collected
for the Ohio statistical reports.
T a b l e 2.— N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S C O V E R E D B Y R E P O R T S T O D IV IS IO N OF L A B O R
S T A T IS T IC S , D E P A R T M E N T OF IN D U S T R IA L R E L A T IO N S OF OHIO, 1924 T O 1932

Year

1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
M axi­
ments mum
report­ month
ing

Females

Average M axi­
M ini­
of 12
mum monthly mum
month reports month

Average
M ini­
of 12
mum m onthly
month
reports

M axi­
mum
month

M ini­
mum
month

230,147 238, 426
239, 065 250, 612
253, 728 264,106
260,958 272, 395
261,946 278,974
287, 221 302,339
271, 218 279, 788
247, 651 255,046
214, 373 •227,100

1,134,424
1, 206, 246
1, 259, 325
1, 225,049
1, 282, 584
1, 356,004
1, 225, 478
1,034,483
871, 254

1,063, 262
1,086, 463
1.151, 739
1.152, 874
1,105, 408
1, 230, 724
1,066, 310
922,706
798, 226

31,715 891,731 833,115
34, 605 945, 843 847,398
37.159 990, 383 898, Oil
39, 635 953, 784 869,457
40,972 993, 705 843,462
43.160 , 054,154 921,442
44, 283 938,811 789, 377
43,168 773, 732 669,492
40,134 639, 773 583,853


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Both sexes

Males

857,062
907,167
946, 740
921,753
939,817
004, 283
882, 072
736,050
609, 111

248, 713
266, 861
279, 275
284, 664
301, 222
313,416
288,478
260, 751
233,628

Average
of 12
monthly
reports
1,095,488
1,157, 779
1, 210,846
1,194,148
1,218, 791
1,306,622
1,161,860
991, 096
836,211

1310

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

For eacli of the 9 years, 1924 to 1932, table 2 shows the maximum,
minimum, and average number of employees included. The peak
year was 1929. In 1931 the average number (both sexes) was 104,392,
or 9.5 percent, below 1924 which was the lowest previous year in the
9-year period covered and 315,526, or 24.1 percent, below 1929. In
1932, the average number was 259,277, or 23.7 percent, below 1924 and
470,411, or 36.0 percent, below 1929.
Table 3 shows the average number of employees (computed by
dividing the total of the monthly reports by 12) reported under each
of the general industry groups.
Among the industry groups numerically important, the construc­
tion industry shows the greatest reduction in average number of em­
ployees of both sexes combined when 1932 is compared with 1929.
The percentage decrease was 65.0 in construction, 42.8 in manufac­
tures, 33.6 in mining and quarrying, 26.8 in transportation and public
utilities, 17.7 in wholesale and retail trade, and 9.6 in service.
T able 3 . —A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S C O V E R E D B Y R E P O R T S T O T H E
D IV ISIO N OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S , D E P A R T M E N T OF IN D U S T R IA L R E L A T IO N S OF
OH IO, 1924 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L IN D U S T R Y GR OU PS

Year

1924______________
1925__
1926______________
1927______________
1928______________
1929______________
1930______________
1931______________
1932______________

All indus­ Agri­
tries 1
culture

Con­
struc­
tion

1,095,488
1, 157, 779
1, 210, 846
1,194,148
1, 218,791
1, 306, 622
1,161, 860
991, 096
836, 211

74, 791
77, 670
79, 928
83, 535
78, 434
78, 631
69, 607
45, 601
27, 519

5, 772

6, 436

7,144
7, 754
8,545
8, 940
8,989
9,159
7,915

M in­
Fisher­ M anu­ ing and
ies
factures quarry­ Service
ing

325
304
296
283
268
344
295
289
(3)

679, 523
727, 988
751, 340
729, 250
749,434
806, 607
673, 178
552, 905
461,183

39, 767
35,939
34,896
22, 880
20, 906
27, 630
28, 014
27, 305
18, 349

85, 837
2 113, 046
124, 424
130, 525
138, 542
153,109
155, 012
150,122
138, 405

Trade, Transpor­
tation
whole­
sale and and pub
lie utili­
retail
ties
140, 329

2126, 928

132, 770
139, 720
140, 780
149, 224
142, 286
137, 304
122, 738

69, 096
69, 426
80, 008
80,162
81,849
82,137
84,450
68, 382
60,103

1Includes a small number of persons in some of the years in “ Industries not otherwise classified ” This
number does not exceed 50.
2 A considerable part of the increase in service and of the decrease in trade, as compared with the previous
year, is due to change of classification of “ offices” from trade to service.
2 Combined b y Division of Labor Statistics with “ Trade, wholesale and retail” , as establishments
reporting were largely packing and sales plants.

The amount reported paid in wages and salaries in each of the 9
years, 1924 to 1932, is shown in table 4. The total number of estab­
lishments reporting wage and salary payments varies slightly from the
number reporting fluctuation of employment in some of the years.
Payments to superintendents and managers are shown in table 4,
but information concerning that occupational group is not included
in any of the other tables of this article, as information other than wage
and salary payments is not requested of employers for that occupation
group.
Total wage and salary payments to each of the four occupation
groups showed an increase each year from 1924 to 1929 with the ex­
ception of a recession for wage earners in 1927. Since 1929 there has
been a very large decrease each year except that the occupation
group, bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks, and also the
group superintendents and managers show an increase in 1930.


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS---- UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1 3 11

T able 4 —W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S IN OHIO E S T A B L IS H M E N T S , 1924 T O 1932,
B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N GR OU PS

Wage and salary payments to
Number of
establishBookkeep­
Superin­
ments
ers, stenog­ Sales people
tendents
report­ Wage earners raphers, and (not travel­ and mana­
ing)
ing
office clerks
gers

Year

1924.
1925.
1926
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

31,713 $1, 266,375,497 $207,940, 566
34, 591 1, 366,094, 644 215, 613, 253
37,153 1,412,092,096 231,542, 653
39, 631 1,387, 591,161 245, 235,159
40, 977 1,425,818,971 252, 744, 576
43, 164 1, 523,848,976 282, 709,980
44, 285 1, 220, 699,988 292,321,872
43, 167
898,865,953 240,126, 548
40, 134
619,118, 283 187,181, 237

Total

$81, 728, 091 $104,897,988 $1, 660,942,142
89, 783, 496 114, 693,080 1, 786,184, 473
97, 523, 735 119,374,811 1,860, 533,295
103,849,983 121,831, 528 1,858, 507,831
109, 017, 515 132, 528, 306 1,920,109, 368
119,084,364 134,705,187 2, 060, 348, 507
88,972, 655 138, 336, 817 1, 740, 331, 332
82, 265, 334 116, 056, 658 1, 337, 314, 493
65,421,317
89, 597, 309
961, 318,146

Fluctuation of Employment, by Industry Groups
T a b l e 5 shows for each industry group the number of persons
reported employed on the 15th of each month of 1931 and 1932.
It does not provide information as to the number on full time and
number on part time, as such information was not requested of
employers. As before stated, the figures for agriculture do not give a
complete picture of that industry.
T able 5 .—N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D IN OHIO E S T A B L IS H M E N T S ON 15TH OF E A C H M O N T H
IN 1931 A N D 1932, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U PS

Mining
Trade,
and
Fish­ M anu­
whole­
eries factures quarry­ Service sale and
ing
retail

Trans­
porta­
tion
and
public
utilities

All in­
dustries

Agri­
culture

Con­
struc­
tion

1931
January___________
February___ ______
M arch. _ _ . ____
April______________
M a y _________ __ .
June_______
July____ _________
August________ ..
September . _ _ .
October___________
N ovem ber. _
_ _
December_________

739, 506
743,174
753, 093
771, 072
773, 732
765,841
751,102
735, 099
729, 504
710,858
690, 129
669, 492

6,306
6, 273
6, 753
8,299
8, 570
9,388
10, 335
9, 320
9, 221
9, 620
7, 721
6, 689

35, 895
35, 549
37, 706
45, 458
50,199
52,452
52, 970
51, 742
49, 596
45,843
37,604
29, 290

178
202
255
361
355
324
261
270
324
329
335
270

453,087
457,435
464, 503
468, 822
466,156
455, 495
441, 873
427, 807
422,172
409,892
404,541
394, 770

27,849
28,104
27, 756
26, 732
26, 073
25, 295
25, 330
26, 300
28,142
28,816
28, 288
27, 625

82, 209
83,024
83, 700
86,640
87,365
87,813
86,914
86, 278
86, 230
84,187
81, 821
80,873

82, 120
81,677
82, 157
83, 250
83,319
83, 219
82, 224
82. 229
82, 718
82, 030
81,193
82, 436

51,848
50, 895
50, 246
51,492
51, 677
51, 836
51,178
51,137
51,085
50,124
48,609
47, 522

1932
January___________
February_________
M a rch .. ___ _ _.
April______________
M a v. _________ _
June . ______ . . .
July__________ ___
August____ _______
September_______
October.
. _____
N ovem ber________
D e ce m b er________

639, 773
638,967
629, 443
619, 531
609, 919
608, 528
597, 372
583, 853
598, 592
604,115
594, 184
585,000

5, 570
5, 635
5, 734
7, 266
7,473
8, 060
8,842
7,971
8, 364
8, 692
6, 665
5, 466

20,887
21, 246
20,915
25, 055
27, 896
29, 575
29, 698
30, 560
31, 341
30, 596
26, 324
19, 597

C)
0)
0)
(*)
(')
(1)
0)
0)
(')
(>)
(')
(')

387, 578
391, 330
384, 236
373,107
365,160
361, 509
350, 302
335, 631
343, 795
346,021
344,193
342, 364

26,109
22,143
19,984
13, 633
9, 047
9, 785
12,845
15, 227
18, 841
22, 776
23,883
24, 698

78,385
78, 240
78,174
79, 931
80, 572
80,015
77,747
77,619
78, 647
77, 370
75,840
74,706

74, 886
74, 485
75, 123
75, 039
74, 785
74, 640
73,155
72, 588
73,413
74. 278
73, 909
75,148

46,358
45,888
45, 277
45, 560
44, 986
44, 944
44, 783
44, 257
44, 191
44, 382
43, 370
43, 021

M onth

Males-:

1 Combined with “ Trade, wholesale and retail,” in 1932.


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In­
dus­
tries
not
other­
wise
classi­
fied

1312

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 5 —N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D IN OHIO E S T A B L IS H M E N T S ON 15TH OF E A C H M O N T H
IN 1931 A N D 1932, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S -C on tin u ed

All in­
dustries

Agri­
culture

1931
January___
F ebruary...
M arch_____
April______
M a y _______
June_______
July_______
August____
September..
October____
N ovem ber..
Decem ber...

250,484
253,059
258, 001
260, 568
260, 751
259,836
253,009
251, 737
258, 781
252, 864
247, 651
253,214

793
801
872
1,019
1,049
1,109
1,146
982
1,029
1,033
826
749

1932
January____
F eb ru a ry ...
M arch_____
April_______
M a y _______
June_______
July_______
August_____
Septem ber..
October____
N ovem b er..
D ecem ber...

230, 454
232,287
233, 628
231,188
230, 376
225,883
216,803
214, 373
224, 725
228, 808
226, 707
229, 969

1931
January___
F eb ru a ry ...
M arch_____
A pril______
M a y _______
June_______
July_______
August_____
Septem ber..
October____
N ovem ber..
Decem ber...
1932
January____
F e b ru a ry ...
M arch_____
April_______
M a y _______
June_______
July_______
August_____
Septem ber..
October____
N ovem ber. .
D ecem ber...

Month

Con­
struc­
tion

Trans­
Minin?
Trade, porta­
Fish­ M anuand
tion
whole­
Service
eries factures quarry
sale and
and
ing
retail
public
utilities

In­
dus­
tries
not
other­
wise
classi­
fied

Females
(
1,975
1,977
1,964
1,971
1,980
1,950
1,915
1,915
1,873
1,828
1,784
1,770 —

111, 642
115,090
117,188
117,017
117, 387
116,501
113, 357
113,938
118,159
113,026
109,128
105, 877

119
117
117
116
112
108
103
104
113
114
114
114

64, 964
65,438
65, 759
66, 476
66, 880
67, 420
66, 075
65, 075
65, 387
64, 435
63, 460
63,035

52,502
51, 863
53, 801
55, 931
55, 301
54, 803
52,628
52,014
54, 711
55,055
55,442
65,022

18,477
18, 360
18, 286
18,023
18, 026
17, 931
17, 770
17,694
17,494
17,358
16, 882
16, 632

603
664
661
841
946
929
943
774
847
767
633
630

1,428
1,413
1,414
1,423
1, 420
1,409
1,359
1,355
1,352
1,353
1,317
1,294

0)
0)
0)
0)
(>)
(0
(')
(')
0)
0)
0)
0)

102,130
105,149
104, 992
101,914
100, 713
98, 836
94, 388
94, 558
101,929
103, 575
102,400
98,381

114
112
110
101
93
92
93
94
100
103
104
106

62,195
61, 889
62, 065
62, 018
61, 739
61, 023
59, 068
58, 263
59,112
59, 051
58, 701
58,486

47, 584
46,826
48,262
48,889
49, 538
47, 939
45, 591
44,341
46, 763
49, 552
49, 258
56, 862

16, 400
16, 234
16,124
16,002
15, 927
15, 655
15, 361
14, 988
14, 622
14, 407
14, 294
14,210

989, 990
996,833
1,011,094
1,031,640
1,034,483
1,025, 677
1,004,111
986,836
988, 285
963, 722
937, 780
922, 706

7, 099
7, 074
7, 625
9,318
9,619
10,497
11,481
10, 302
10, 250
10, 653
8,547
7, 438

37,870
37, 526
39, 670
47,429
52,179
54, 402
54, 885
53, 657
51, 469
47, 671
39, 388
31, 060

178
202
255
361
355
324
261
270
324
329
335
270

564, 729
572, 525
581, 691
585, 839
583, 543
571, 996
555, 230
541, 745
540, 331
522, 918
513, 669
500, 647

27,968
28, 221
27, 873
26, 848
26,185
25, 403
25,433
26, 404
28, 255
28, 930
28,402
27,739

147,173
148, 462
149, 459
153,116
154,245
155, 233
152, 989
151, 353
151,617
148, 622
145, 281
143, 908

134, 622
133, 540
135, 958
139,181
138, 620
138, 022
134, 852
134, 243
137,429
137,085
136, 635
147,458

70, 325
69, 255
68, 532
69, 515
69, 703
69, 767
68,948
68,831
68, 579
67,482
65, 491
64,154

870, 227
871, 254
863, 071
850, 779
840, 295
834, 411
814,175
798, 226
823, 317
832, 923
820, 891
814, 969

6,173
6, 299
6, 395
8,107
8,419
8, 989
9, 785
8,745
9,211
9, 459
7, 298
6,096

22,315
22, 659
22, 329
26,478
29, 316
30, 984
31, 057
31,915
32, 693
31, 949
27, 641
20, 891

0)
0)
0)
0)
(>)
0)
(■)
0)
(>)
(')
0)
(>)

489, 708
496,479
489, 228
475, 021
465, 873
460, 345
444, 690
430,189
445, 724
449, 596
446, 593
440, 745

26, 223
22, 255
20, 094
13, 734
9,140
9,877
12, 938
15, 321
18, 941
22,879
23, 987
24,804

140, 580
140,129
140, 239
141, 949
142,311
141, 038
136, 815
135, 882
137, 759
136, 421
134, 541
133,192

122,470
121,311
123,385
123,928
124, 323
122, 579
118, 746
116, 929
120,176
123, 830
123,167
132, 010

62,758
62,122
61,401
61,562
60,913
60,599
60,144
59,245
58,813
58,789
57,664
57,231

12
13

14
15

16

14
15
15
15
15
15
15

Both sexes
26
28
31
33
34
33
32
31
31

32
32
32
.
_
_
_
.
.
.
.
.
.
_
_

1 Combined with “ Trade, wholesale and retail,” in 1932.

The month of maximum and the month of minimum employment
and also the variation in number employed are shown for each
industry group for 1931 and 1932 in table 6. The variation from
maximum for both sexes combined was 10.8 percent in 1931 and 8.4
percent in 1932. Considering only industry groups numerically
important, the greatest variation among males was shown in construc­
tion in 1931 and in mining in 1932, while among females the greatest
variation occurred in wholesale and retail trade each year.

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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1313

Manufactures includes approximately three fifths of the males
covered in the report although the percentage has declined during the
last 3 years. Approximately one half of the fenrales covered were in
manufactures in 1928 and 1929 but the proportion has since dropped.
The percentage in the manufactures group for males was 64.8 in
1928, 65.1 in 1929, 61.4 in 1930, 59.6 in 1931, and 59.2 in 1932, and for
females 50.4 in 1928, 50.5 in 1929, 47.0 in 1930, 44.7 in 1931, and 44.4
in 1932. In this industry group the variation of the minimum month
from the maximum for males was 15.8 percent in 1931 and 14.2 in 1932
and for females 9.8 percent in 1931 and 10.2 in 1932.
Charts 1 to 6 show in graphic form the course of employment of
males and of females in all industries combined and in manufactures,
of both sexes in all industries, and of males in construction each year
from 1914 to 1932. The line is broken at the end of each year as the
number of establishments is not the same from year to year. Within
each year, however, the establishments are identical throughout the
12 months.3
August 1932 marks the lowest point during the years of depression
and from that date there was apparently a slight upturn in employ­
ment to the end of the period covered by this report. August had
never appeared as the month of lowest employment within any of the
years 1914 to 1931, inclusive, for all industries combined or for any of
the eight industry groups with the exception of wholesale and retail
trade in 1930. August marked minimum employment for males in
trade only in 1914, 1921, and 1930 and for females in trade only in 7 of
the 18 previous years. In 1932, however, August marked the lowest
point of employment for both sexes combined in manufactures and in
trade and in the total for all industries combined; for males in manu­
factures, trade, and all industries combined; and for females in service
trade, and all industries combined.
The slight upturn following August is also out of the usual course
as indicated by previous years with the exception of 1915, 1916, and
1922 and December 1919.
T

a b le

6 .—

M A X I M U M A N D M IN IM U M E M P L O Y M E N T IN 1 9 3 1 A N D
T R Y G R O U P IN OHIO, B Y S E X

Maximum

1932

IN E A C H IN D U S ­

Minimum

Variation from
maximum

Sex, and industry group
Number

M onth

Number

M a y ______

669,492

M onth

Number

Per­
cent

Males
1931
All industries..........- ------- ------------------------

773,732

Transportation and public utilities----------Industries not otherwise classified-------------

6, 273
10, 335 July_______
29, 290
52,970 ____ do_____
178
361 A pril..
468, 822 ___ do ___ 394,770
25, 295
28, 816 October__
80, 873
87, 813 .1une
83, 319 M a y . . . . . 81,193
47, 522
January----51, 848
14
19 June ____

December.. 104,240

13.5

4,062
23, 680
183
74,052
3, 521
6,940
2,126
4, 326

39.3
44.7
(»)
15.8
12.2
7.9
2.6
8.3
(“)

February-_
December,January----December,,
June
,, .
December..
N ovem berDecember,,
January-----

“ N ot computed owing to small number involved.
s The basic figures for these charts for the years 1914 to 1923, inclusive, will be found m U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Bui. No. 553: Fluctuation of employment in Ohio, 1914 to 1929. Information was
requested during 1914 to 1923, inclusive, of all employers of 5 or more persons and during 1924 to 1932 of all
employers of 3 or more persons in all industry groups except interstate transportation and government
activities.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1314

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 6 .—M A X I M U M A N D M IN IM U M E M P L O Y M E N T IN 1931 A N D 1932 IN E A C H IN D U S
T R Y G R O U P IN OHIO, B Y S E X —Continued

Maximum

Minimum

Variation from
maximum

Sex, and industry group
Number

Number Per­
cent

M onth

Number

M onth

583, 853

August___

55,920

8.7

December..
August._. .
M ay . . . . .
December..
August____
December..

3,376
11,744
55, 699
17,062
5, 866
2, 560
3,337

38.2
37. 5
14.2
65.3
7.3
3.4
7.2

1932

All industries_______ _______ ________

639, 773

January___

Agriculture__________________________
Construction_________________________
Manufactures________________________
Mining and quarrying_______________
Service_______________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail___________
Transportation and public utilities___

8,842
31, 341
391, 330
26, 109
80,572
75,148
46, 358

July_______
5,466
September.
19, 597
February. _ 335, 631
January___
9,047
M a y ______
74, 706
December.. 72, 588
January___ 43, 021

All industries............. ............................

260, 751

M a y ______

247, 651

Novem ber.

13,100

5.0

Agriculture......... ..................... ................
Construction_________________________
Manufactures________________________
Mining and quarrying___________ ....
Service_______________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail__ ______
Transportation and public utilities___
Industries not otherwise classified____

1,146 July_______
749
1,980 M a y . ____
1, 770
117, 387 ____ do_____ 105, 877
C)
(2>
(2)
67, 420 June______
63, 035
65, 022 December..
51,863
18, 477 January___
16, 632
16 M a y ______
12

December .
(*>
December.
F eb ru a ry..
December
January......

397
210
11,510
(2)
4, 385
13,159
1,845
4

34. 6
10.6
9.8
(2)

All industries___________________ ____

233, 628

M arch____

August____

19,255

8.2

Agriculture_______________________
Construction______ ___ ___________
M anufactures________ i ................... .
Mining and quarrying____________
Service..____ ________________ ____
Trade, wholesale and retail_______
Transportation and public utilities.

946
1,428
105,149
(2)
62,195
56,862
16, 400

M a v ______
Januarv___
F ebruary..
(2)
January___
December..
January___

603 January _.
1, 294 December..
94, 388 J u l y ______
(2)
(2)
58, 263 August.
44, 341 ------ do_____
14, 210 Decem ber..

343
134
10, 761
(2)
3,932
12, 521
2,190

36. 3
9. 4
10. 2
D)
6. 3
22.0
13.4

1,034,483

M a y ______

Females
1931

20.2
10.0
(')

1932

214, 373

Both sexes
1931
All industries........ ........ ........ ...........

922, 706 ____ do___ _ 111, 777

10.8

Agriculture_______________________
C onstruction..____________________
Fisheries______ ___ __________ , ___
Manufactures______________. . ’ ___
M ining and quarrying___________
Service___________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail_______
Transportation and public utilities.
Industries not otherwise classified..

11,481. J u l y ______
7,074
54,885 ___ do_____ 31,060
361 April_____
178
585, 839 ____ do_____ 500, 647
28,930 October___
25, 403
155, 233 June______ 143, 908
147,458 Decern ber__ 133,540
70, 325 January___
64,154
34 M a y ______
26

F ebruary..
December.
January___
December .
June ___ ..
December
F ebruary..
December..
January___

4, 407
23, 825
183
85,192
3, 527
11,325
13,918
6,171
8

1932
All industries_____________________

871,254

F eb ru a ry .. 798, 226

August____

73,028

8.4

Agriculture__________ ______ _____
Construction_____________________
Manufactures_____________________
M ining and quarrying____________
Service__________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail________
Transportation and public utilities.

9, 785
32, 693
496,479
26,223
142,311
132,010
62, 758

July_______
6,096 D ecem ber..
SeDtember. 20, 891 ____ d o_____
F eb ru a ry .. 430,189 August.. .
January___
9,140 M a v ._ . . . .
M a v ... . . . 133.192 December .
December.. 116,929 August____
January.....
57, 231 D ecem ber..

3, 689
11,802
66, 290
17, 0S3
9,119
15,081
5,527

37.7
36.1
13.4
65.1
6.4
11.4
8.8

1 N ot computed owing to small number involved.
2 All '•office help” and fluctuation not reported except for coal mining.


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38.4
43.4
(>)
14.5
12.2
7.3
9.4
8.8
(0

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1315

Figure 1.— F L U C T U A T I O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T OF M A L E S IN A L L IN D U S T R I E S ,

1914 TO 1932

Figure 2.— F L U C T U A T I O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T OF M A L E S IN M A N U F A C T U R E S ,
1914 TO 1932


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1316

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Figure 4.— F L U C T U A T I O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T OF F E M A L E S IN A L L I N D U S T R I E S
1914 TO 1932


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1317

Fluctuation of Employment, by General Occupation Groups
I n tab le
7 the employees reported in each industry group are
separated into three general occupation classifications—wage earners;
bookkeepers, stenographer^, and office clerks; and salespeople (not
traveling). Males classified as wage earners formed 87.0 percent of
all male employees covered in this report in 1928, 86.5 percent in
1929, 85.4 percent in 1930, 84.2 percent in 1931, and 83.1 percent in
1932. Females classified as wage earners made up 60.6 percent of all
female employees covered in this report in 1928, 60.4 percent in 1929,
58.2 percent in 1930, 57.7 percent in 1931, and 57.6 percent in 1932.
Male bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks constituted 10.2
percent of total males covered in 1930, 10.5 percent in 1931, and
11.0 percent in 1932. Female bookkeepers, stenographers and
office clerks were 30.2 percent of total females covered in 1930, 29.8
percent in 1931, and 29.9 percent in 1932. Salesmen (not traveling)
made up 4.4 percent of total males covered in 1930, 5.3 percent in
1931, and 5.9 percent in 1932. Saleswomen (not traveling) formed
11.6 percent of total females covered in 1930 and 12.5 percent in 1931
and in 1932.

T able 7.—N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D ON 15TH OP E A C H M O N T H IN 1931 A N D 1932 IN E A C H
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P

Wage earners

M in­
Trade,
ing
whole­
Fish­ M anu­
and
Service
sale
eries factures
quarry­
and
ing
retail

Trans­
porta­
tion
and
public
utili­
ties

Agri­
cul­
ture

Con­
struc­
tion

1931
January __ . . . --------F ebruary-. . ----------M arch__________ ____
April
. . .
_____
M a y . ________________
J u n e ... _ ____________
July__________________
August_____ . ______
Septem ber.. .
_ ..
October. . . . ------------N ovem ber__ __ . . . . . .
December_____________

621, 622 6,168
625, 496 6,136
635,184 6,615
652, 701 8,142
655, 327 8,411
647, 865 9,237
634, 243 10,191
618, 775 9,177
614, 298 9, 079
596,824 9, 470
577,154 7, 571
556,108 6, 538

33, 309
32, 932
35, 086
42, 607
47, 302
49, 554
50,125
48, 880
46, 777
43,124
35, 022
26, 788

178
202
255
361
355
324
261
270
324
329
335
270

411,136
415, 667
422, 721
427, 215
424, 717
414, 391
401, 167
387,486
382, 533
370, 776
365, 914
356,434

27, 540
27, 797
27, 449
26, 429
25, 771
24, 995
25, 028
25, 996
27, 838
28, 507
27, 975
27,312

53, 791
54, 436
55, 099
58, 204
58, 921
59, 503
58, 623
58, 046
58, 370
56, 588
54, 608
53, 704

45,618
45, 299
45, 572
46,015
45, 923
45,770
45, 337
45,451
45, 946
45, 489
44, 664
45, 031

43, 882
43,027
42,387
43, 728
43,927
44, 091
43,511
43, 469
43,431
42, 541
41, 065
40, 031

1932
January... _____ . _
February.
M arch___ _ .
... .
April__________ .
M a y ___________ ____
June_______________ ..
July__________________
A u g u st_________
Septem ber.. . . . _____
October _ __
_
N ovem ber. . . . . . . __
D e c e m b e r ...___

533,129
532, 904
523, 917
514, 310
505, 678
505,311
495, 810
483, 374
498,100
503, 496
494, 013
484,137

5,442
5, 491
5, 578
7,092
7, 300
7, 909
8, 695
7, 826
8, 220
8, 544
6, 521
5,325

18, 754
19,108
18, 820
22, 892
25, 736
27, 399
27, 515
28, 399
29, 203
28, 524
24, 350
17, 708

0)
(0
0)
(>)
0)
0)
0)
(»>
0)
(■)
(0
(>)

349,166
353, 262
346, 440
335, 880
328, 766
325, 822
315, 251
301, 038
309, 206
311,526
309, 700
307, 970

25,846
21, 888
19, 732
13, 402
8,832
9,567
12,615
14, 992
18, 599
22, 525
23, 630
24, 444

53, 988
54, 006
54,144
55, 927
56, 720
56, 412
54, 484
54, 468
55, 686
54, 524
53, 252
52, 098

41,036
40, 686
41, 290
40, 869
40,585
40, 407
39,474
39, 330
39, 939
40, 397
40,072
40,443

38,897
38, 463
37, 913
38, 248
37, 739
37, 795
37, 776
37, 321
37, 247
37,456
36, 488
36,149

M onth

All
indus­
tries

Males

i Combined with “ Tr ade, wholesale ar d retail, ’ in 1932.
21719°—33----- 4


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

In­
dus­
tries
not
other­
wise
classi­
fied

1318

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T able 7.—N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D ON 15TH OF E A C H M O N T H IN 1931 A N D 1932 IN E A C H
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P —Con.
W a g e earners— Continued

All
indus­
tries

Agri­
cul­
ture

Con­
struc­
tion

142, 869
146, 608
149, 363
150, 630
151, 335
151,089
146, 635
146,140
151, 764
146, 851
141, 834
139, 669

472
467
527
646
705
804
867
700
744
764
562
480

102
98
95
98
119
117
110
113
109
119
104
107

132, 230
135,185
135, 530
133, 547
132, 546
130,190
123, 762
122, 770
131,192
133, 376
131, 776
128,315

358
406
404
561
667
695
719
562
632
568
435
388

61
62
60
68
67
63
52
57
61
66
53
54

1931
January-. --------------February___ ______ -M arch___________ ____
A p r i l ---- ----------- -M a y - _______________
June --- July___________________
August
-- --Septem ber-. - - - - - October-------- ---.
N ovem ber_____ _ December_____________

764,491 6, 640
772,104 6, 603
784, 547 7,142
803, 331 8, 788
806, 662 9, 116
798,954 10,041
780,878 11,058
764,915 9, 877
766, 062 9, 823
743, 675 10,234
718, 988 8,133
695, 777 7,018

33,411
33, 030
35,181
42, 705
47,421
49, 671
50, 235
48,993
46,886
43, 243
35,126
26, 895

1932
January -------February ____ -- March - - ----April-M a y . - -. - -------- --Ju n e..
- - - - - July___________________
August________________
September_______ _ October_______ _______
N ovem ber____ _______
D ecem ber...
... _ .

665, 359
668,089
659, 447
647, 857
638, 224
635, 501
619, 572
606,144
629,292
636,872
625, 789
612, 452

18,815
19,170
18,880
22, 960
25, 803
27,462
27, 567
28, 456
29, 264
28, 590
24,403
17, 762

M onth

M in­
Trade,
ing
whole­
Fish­ M anu­
and
Service
sale
eries factures
quarry­
and
ing
retail

Trans­
porta­
tion
and
public
utili­
ties

In­
dus­
tries
not
other­
wise
classi­
fied

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Females
1931

July

________

1932
January-.- ----------- -February______
--M arch___ - --- - --___
A pril_________
M a y. - - - - - . -June
July__________________
August
----- -September-October------ - ---------Novem ber__
. December-. --------------

81, 039
84, 504
86, 581
86, 560
87, 052
86,407
83, 693
84, 589
89, 001
84, 586
81, 044
78,175

39, 733
40,189
40, 573
41, 224
41, 745
42, 278
41, 100
40,153
40, 697
40,108
39, 515
38, 998

9, 534
9, 447
9, 771
10, 384
10, 088
9,925
9, 456
9,279
10,109
10, 267
9, 952
11,453

11,989
11,903
11,816
11,718
11,626
11,558
11,409
11,306
11,104
11,007
10,657
10,456

75,064
78,347
78,459
75,845
75,035
73, 530
69, 567
70,045
77, 217
78, 796
77, 766
73,777

37, 793
37,842
37,945
38,102
37,952
37, 565
35, 750
35,147
36, 230
36, 270
36,039
35,933

8, 730
8,437
8, 637
9,018
8,922
8, 650
8, 259
7, 884
8,285
9,053
8,940
9,706

10, 224
10,091
10,025
9,953
9,903
9,687
9,415
9,075
8, 767
8,623
8,543
8,457

178
202
255
361
355
324
261
270
324
329
335
270

492,175
500,171
509, 302
513,775
511,769
500, 798
484, 860
472, 075
471,534
455,362
446,958
434, 609

27, 540 93, 524
27, 797 94, 625
27, 449 95, 672
26, 429 99, 428
25, 771 100, 666
24, 995 101,781
25,028 99, 723
25, 996 98,199
27,838 99, 067
28, 507 96,696
27,975 94,123
27,312 92, 702

55,152
54, 746
55,343
56,399
56, Oil
55,695
54, 793
54, 730
56, 055
55, 756
54, 616
56, 484

55,871
54,930
54, 203
55,446
55, 553
55,649
54,920
54, 775
54, 535
53, 548
51, 722
50, 487

0)
(>)
(')
(>)
(0
0)
0)
(1)
0)
0)
(0
(')

424, 230
431, 609
424,899
411,725
403,801
399,352
384,818
371,083
386,423
390, 322
387, 466
381, 747

25,846
21,888
19, 732
13, 402
8,832
9, 567
12,615
14, 992
18, 599
22,525
23, 630
24, 444

49, 766
49,123
49,927
49, 887
49, 507
49,057
47, 733
47, 214
48, 224
49, 450
49, 012
50,149

49,121
48, 554
47,938
48,201
47,642
47,482
47,191
46, 396
46,014
46,079
45, 031
44, 606

0)
(»)
(')
0)
(0
0)
0)
(>)
(■1
(>)
(')
(')

Both seres

5, 800
5,897
5,982
7, 653
7,967
8, 604
9, 414
8, 388
8, 852
9,112
6,956
5,713

1 Combined with “ Trade, wholesale and retail,” in 1932.


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

91, 781
91, 848
92,089
94, 029
94, 672
93,977
90, 234
89, 615
91,916
90, 794
89, 291
88, 031

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1319

T able 7 —N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D ON 15TH OF E A C H M O N T H IN 1931 A N D 1932 IN E A C H
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P IN O H IO , B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P —Con.

Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks

M onth

Males
1931

July

____________

N ovem ber-------------------

All
indus­
tries

Agri­
cul­
ture

Con­
struc­
tion

79, 942
79, 729
79,544
78, 988
78, 726
78,200
77,676
77, 291
76, 391
75, 588
74, 700
74,286

105
104
102
106
107
104
100
101
98
103
101
ICI

1,885
1, 895
1, 906
1,918
1,923
1,901
1,885
1,891
1,875
1,806
1,755
1, 722

70,667
70,057
1,9, 436
C8,679
67,485
66,430
65,412
64, 758
64,627
64, 507
64, 262
64,199

83
103
107
111
105
102
104
104
104
105
104
102

1,477
1,456
1,429
1,438
1,411
1,405
1,392
1,370
1,370
1,353
1,348
1,318

78,118
77, 858
77, 877
77, 469
77,285
76,821
75, 998
75, 551
75, 083
73, 818
72, 872
72, 853

294
303
316
331
302
274
254
259
259
245
241
240

1,838
1,841
1,828
1,831
1,824
1,799
1,773
1, 771
1,734
1,678
1, 649
1,630

71, 333
70, 567
70, 277
69,402
6o, 88/
67, 831
66,896
66, 054
66,096
66,119
65, 766
65,921

221
235
233
257
254
213
204
190
193
179
178
218

1,342
1,326
1,329
1,328
1,328
1,323
1,283
1,273
1,268
1,263
1,241
1,217

158,060
157, 587
157, 421
156, 457
156, Oil
155,021
153, 674
152,842
151, 474
149,406
147, 572
147. 139

399
407
418
437
409
378
354
360
357
348
342
341

3, 723
3, 736
3, 734
3, 749
3, 747
3, 700
3, 658
3, 662
3,609
3, 484
3,404
3. 352

1932

Females
1931

1932

IVTc»xr

Both sexes
1931

IVTfiv
Tnly

______

Trans­ In­
M in ­
Trade, porta­ dus­
tries
whole­ tion
ing
Fish­ M anu­
not
and
Service
sale
and
eries factures
other­
quarry­
and
public wise
ing
utili­
retail
ties classi­
fied

(i)
(i)
CD
c)
0)
C1)
(!)
(1)
0
(l)
(>)
(!)

(‘)
0)
0)
(0
0)
0)
(0
(0
0)
(')
(')
0)

38,356
38,199
38,136
37, 927
37,750
37,425
37, 044
36, 634
35, 969
35, 466
35,007
34,726

309
307
307
303
302
300
302
304
304
309
313
313

24,694
24, 720
24,590
24, 331
24,314
24,158
24,169
24,187
24,022
23, 887
23, 592
23,522

7, 447
7,434
7,417
7,418
7,356
7,341
7,265
7, 264
7,207
7,168
7,129
7,127

7,134
7,057
7,072
6,970
6,959
6,955
6,897
6,897
6,903
6,835
6,789
6, 761 •

34, 503
34.173
33, 856
33,279
32,440
31, 763
31,180
30, 759
30, 734
30,637
30,661
30,613

263
255
252
231
215
218
230
235
242
251
253
254

21, 021
20, 808
20,552
20, 410
20, 210
19,951
19,696
19,598
19, 498
19,457
19, 250
19, 236

6, 668
6, 639
6,669
6,666
6,591
6,562
6,488
6,444
6,444
6, 476
6,476
6,497

6,652
6,623
6,571
6,544
6,513
6,429
6,322
6,248
6, 235
6, 228
6,170
6, 179

29,139
29,115
29,151
28,950
28,860
28, 612
28,195
27, 894
27, 703
26,981
26,641
26,252

119
117
117
116
112
108
103
104
113
114
114
114

24, 829
24, 848
24, 778
24, 834
24, 713
24, 707
24,496
24, 482
24,242
23,876
23, 505
23, 583

15, 475
15,236
15,271
15,161
15,131
15,005
14, 867
14, 706
14,695
14,626
14, 549
14, 908

6,412
6,385
6,402
6, 231
6, 327
6, 302
6,295
6,320
6,322
6,283
6,158
6, 111

26,048
25, 796
25,511
25,029
24, 639
24, 289
23, 824
23, 516
23, 724
23, 779
23, 634
23, 607

114
112
110
101
93
92
93
94
100
103
104
106

23, 954
23,611
23,673
23,482
23,361
23,028
22,887
22, 685
22, 475
22,372
22, 234
22,116

13, 550
13, 416
13, 397
13, 229
13, 263
12,988
12, 722
12,448
12, 546
12, 703
12, 688
12, 969

6, 104
6, 071
6, 024
5, 976
5,949
5,898
5,883
5,848
5, 790
5, 720
5,687
5, 688

67,495
67,314
67, 287
66,877
66, 610
66, 037
65, 239
64,528
63, 672
62, 447
61, 648
60,978

428
424
424
419
414
408
405
408
417
423
427
427

49, 523
49, 568
49, 368
49,165
49, 027
48, 865
48, 665
48, 669
48, 264
47, 763
47,097
47,105

22, 922
22,670
22, 688
22, 579
22, 487
22, 346
22,132
21,970
21,902
21, 794
21, 678
22,035

13, 546
13, 442
13,474
13, 201
13, 286
13, 257
13,192
13, 217
13, 225
13, 118
12, 947
12,872

i Combined with “ Trade, wholesale and retail,” in 1932,


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

12
13
14
15
15
16
14
13
13
14
14
14

12
13
14
15
16
14
15
15
15
15
15
15

___

24
26
28
30
31
30
29
28
28
29
29
29

1320

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

T able 7.—N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D ON 15TH OF E A C H M O N T H IN 1631 A N D 1932 IN E A C H
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P —Con.

Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks—

M onth

All
indus­
tries

Agri­
cul­
ture

Con­
struc­
tion

142,000
140,624
139, 713
138,081
136,372
134, 261
132, 308
130,812
130, 723
130, 626
130,028
130,120

304
338
340
368
359
315
308
294
297
284
282
320

2,819
2,782
2, 758
2, 766
2, 739
2, 728
2, 675
2, 643
2,638
2, 616
2,589
2,535

C o n tin u e d

Trans­
M in­
Trade, porta­
ing
whole­
tion
Fish­ M anu­
and
Service
sale
and
eries factures
quarry­
and
public
ing
retail
utili­
ties

Both sexes—Continued
1932
January..
---------------February_____________
March __ . ---------------A pril. _ ____________
M a y . -------------------- ..
Ju n e.. -------------- ----July__________________
A u g u st______________
Septem ber.. -------------October------ ---------------N o v em b er... ............. .
Decem ber.. ----------------

0)
«
(■)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)

60,551
59, 969
59, 367
58,308
57, 079
56,052
55,004
54, 275
54,458
54, 416
54, 295
54, 220

377
367
362
332
308
310
323
329
342
354
357
360

44,975
44,419
44, 225
43, 892
43, 571
42,979
42, 583
42, 283
41, 973
41, 829
41,484
41,352

20, 218
20,055
20,066
19,895
19, 854
19, 550
19, 210
18,892
18, 990
19,179
19,164
19,466

12, 756
12, 694
12, 595
12, 520
12,462
12, 327
12, 205
12,096
12,025
11,948
11,857
11,867

3,595
3’, 569
3, 646
3,680
3, 689
3, 679
3; 662
3, 687
3,670
3,650
3; 620
3,610

3, 724
3,868
4, 011
4,105
4,130
4,152
4, 122
4, 045
3; 838
3, 712
3, 621
3; 647

29, 055
28, 944
29,168
29,817
30, 040
30,108
29,622
29, 514
29, 565
29, 373
29, 400
30, 278

832
811
787
794
791
790
770
771
751
748
755
730

3,909
3,895
3,940
3,948
3,954
3,924
3,871
3,834
3,855
3,858
3,832
3, 781

3, 376
3,426
3; 478
3,594
3, 642
3,652
3,567
3, 553
3, 463
3, 389
3, 338
3, 372

27,182
27,160
27,164
27, 504
27,609
27, 671
27,193
26,814
27,030
27,405
27,361
28,208

809
802
793
768
734
720
685
688
709
698
712
693

1,464
1,471
1,456
1,507
1, 475
1,482
1,469
1,455
1,455
1,459
1, 443
1,450

402
401
408
418
422
435
479
440
448
451
440
454

27, 493
27 180
28, 759
30 386
30, 082
29, 873
28 305
28, 029
29,907
30 162
30’ 941
38| 661

Salespeople (not traveling)
Males
1931

January_________
February----------M arch__________
April___________
M a y ____________
June____________
July____________
August--------------September______
October-------------N ovem ber..........
December______

37,942
37,949
38; 365
39, 383
39, 679
39, 776
39,183
39,033
38, 815
38, 446
38, 275
39, 098

33
33
36
51
52
47
44
42
44
47
49
50

701
722
714
933
974
997
960
971
944
913
827
780

35,977
36, 006
36, 090
36, 602
36, 756
36, 787
36, 150
35, 721
35,865
36,112
35,909
36,664

45
41
49
63
68
49
43
41
40
43
40
39

656
682
666
725
749
771
791
791
768
719
626
571

29,497
29,193
30, 761
32, 469
32,131
31,926
30, 376
30,046
31,934
32,195
32,945
40,692

27
31
29
42
42
31
25
23
26
24
23
29

35
38
41
42
37
34
32
31
30
31
31
33

1932

January_________
February_______
M arch__________
April___________
M a y ____________
June____________
July____________
August_________
September______
O ctober.............. .
Novem ber______
December______

0)
(i)
0)
0)
(1)
(')
(>)
(>)
(')
(0
(')
(0

Females
1931

January________
February_______
M arch__________
April___________
M a y ____ _______
June____________
July____________
August_________
September______
O ctober...............
N ovem ber______
December______

i Combined with “ Trade, wholesale and retail,” in 1932.


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

76
68
74

67
65

In­
dus­
tries
not
other­
wise
classi­
fied

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
T

1321

7 . —N U M B E R E M P L O Y E D ON 15TH OF E A C H M O N T H IN 1931 A N D 1932 IN E A C H
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO, B Y S E X A N D I N D U S T R Y G R O U P —Con.

a b l e

Salespeople (not traveling) —

Month

Agri­
cul­
ture

Con­
struc­
tion

26,891
26, 535
27,821
28, 239
28,943
27,862
26,145
25,549
27, 437
29, 313
29,165
35,733

24
23
24
23
25
21
20
22
22
20
20
24

25
25
25
27
25
23
24
25
23
24
23
23

67,439
67,142
69,126
71,852
71,810
71, 702
69, 559
69,079
70, 749
70, 641
71, 220
79, 790

60
64
65
93
94
78
69
65
70
71
72
79

736
760
755
975
1,011
1,031
992
1,002
974
944
858
813

62,868
62, 541
63, 911
64, 841
65, 699
64, 649
62, 295
61, 270
63, 302
65,425
65, 074
72, 397

69
64
73
86
93
70
63
63
62
63
60
63

681
707
691
752
774
794
815
816
791
743
649
594

All
indus­
tries

C o n tin u e d

Trans­
M in­
Trade, porta­
tion
ing
whole­
Fish­ Manu­
and
and
Service
sale
eries factures quarry­
and
public
ing
retail
utili­
ties

In­
dus­
tries
not
other­
wise
classi­
fied

Females—Contd.
1932
January., - -------------February_____________
M a rch ..
-- - - - .
A pril___ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
M a y ______
_
_ _
June _
July---------------------------A u g u st---------------------September_________ _
October___ _ _ -----N ovem ber____________
December_____________

0)
(>)
(>)
0)
<‘ >
0)
0)
(1)
(■)
0)
(0
(0

1,018
1,006
1,022
1,040
1,039
1,017
997
997
988
1,000
1,000
997

448
436
447
434
426
430
431
431
407
409
428
437

25,304
24,973
26, 228
26, 642
27, 353
26, 301
24, 610
24, 009
25,932
27, 796
27, 630
34,187

72
72
75
73
75
70
63
65
65
64
64
65

5,059
5,040
5,102
5,187
5,164
5,161
5,131
5,142
5,125
5,109
5,063
5,060

4,126
4, 269
4,419
4, 523
4, 552
4,587
4, 601
4, 485
4,286
4,163
4, 061
4,101

56, 548
56,124
57, 927
60, 203
60,122
59,981
57,927
57, 543
59,472
59, 535
60, 341
68,939

908
883
855
868
864
861
836
839
819
816
822
795

4,927
4,901
4,962
4,988
4,993
4,941
4,868
4,831
4,843
4,858
4,832
4, 778

3,824
3,862
3,925
4, 028
4,068
4,082
3,998
3, 984
3,870
3,798
3, 766
3,809

52, 486
52,133
53,392
54,146
54,962
53,972
51,803
50,823
52, 962
55, 201
54, 991
62,395

881
874
868
841
809
790
748
753
774
762
776
758

Both sexes
1931

July . _______________

1932
January_____ ______ _
February_____ _______
M a r c h ... _ __ _____ _
April___ _____________
M ay._
___________
June..
July__________________
August
__ _
September. _ _ _____ _
October.
_ _____
N ovem ber.
. _
December_______ _ __

(>)
0)
01
01
01
0)
0)
01
0)
01
(11
0)

2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

1 Combined with “ Trade, wholesale and retail,” in 1932.

Table 8 shows the month of maximum and the month of minimum
employment and also the variation in number employed in each of the
same three general occupation groups in 1931 and 1932. The data
for each occupation are given by industry groups.
Considering both sexes combined, the variation from maximum in
1932 was 9.3 percent for wage earners, 8.4 percent for bookkeepers,
stenographers, and office clerks, and 15.4 percent for salespeople
(not traveling). In manufactures in 1932 the variation was 14 per­
cent for wage earners, 10.5 percent for bookkeepers, stenographers,
and office clerks, and 4.3 percent for salespeople (not traveling).


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

1322
T able

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

8.—M A X I M U M

A N D M IN IM U M E M P L O Y M E N T IN E A C H G E N E R A L OCCUPA­
T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO IN 1931 A N D 1932, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P

Wage earners
Maximum

Minimum

Variation from
maximum

Industry group
Number

M onth

Number

M onth

Number Percent

Males
1931

All industries..........................................

655, 327

M a y ...........

556,108

December..

99, 219

15.1

Agriculture................. ..............................
Construction.................................... ........
Fisheries_____________________________
Manufactures___________ ____ _______
Mining and quarrying_______________
Service_______________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail___________
Transportation and public utilities___

10,191 July______
50,125 ___ do_
361 April______
427, 215 _ . d o. . .
28, 507 October___
59, 503 June . .
46, 015 April _
44, 091 June _ ___

6,136
26, 788
178
356,434
24,995
53, 704
44, 664
40, 031

F ebruary..
December..
January___
December..
June.
December..
N ovem ber.
December..

4,055
23, 337
183
70, 781
3, 512
5, 799
1,351
4,060

39.8
46.6
0)
16.6
12.3
9.7
2.9
9.2

All industries.......... ........................... .

533,129

January-----

483,374

August____

49, 755

9.3

Agriculture------------------------------- ------- Construction--------- ---------------------------Manufactures________________________
Mining and quarrying_______________
Service_______________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail__________
Transportation and public utilities___

8,695
29, 203
353, 262
25, 846
56, 720
41,290
38,897

July______
September.
F ebruary..
January___
M a y ______
M arch___
January___

5,325 December..
17, 708 ____ do.
301, 038 August
8,832 M a y ... . . .
52, 098 December..
39, 330 August. . .
36,149 Decem ber..

3, 370
11,495
52, 224
17,014
4,622
1,960
2, 748

38.8
39.4
14.8
65.8
b. 1
4.7
7.1

All industries________________________

151,764

September.

139,669

Decem ber..

12,095

8.0

Agriculture_____________ _________ _
Construction_____________ _____ _____
Manufactures________________ _______
Service________________________ _____
Trade, wholesale and retail___________
Transportation and public utilities___

867

467
95
78,175
38,998
9, 279
10, 456

February. _
M arch___
December..
.. D o ______
August____
December..

400
24
10, 826
3,280
2,174
1,533

46.1

122, 770

1932

Females
1931

July______
/M a y ---------119 /O ctober. . . }
89, 001 September.
42, 278
11,453 December
11,989 January___

(0
12.2
7. 8
19.0
12.8

1932

August____

12, 777

9.4

358 January___
52 July______
69, 567 ___ do__ __
c2)
(2)
35,147 A ugu st... .
d o .. .
7, 884
8, 457 December..

361
16
9, 229
(2)
2,955
1,822
1,767

50.2
0)
11.7
(2)
7 8
18.8
17.3

695, 777

Decem ber..

110, 885

13.7

6, 603
26,895
178
434, 609
24, 995
92, 702
54, 616
50, 487

February. _
December. _
January----December..
Ju n e.. ___
Decem ber..
November..
Decem ber..

4, 455
23, 340
183
79,166
3, 512
9,079
1,868
5,384

40.3
46.5
0)
15.4
12.3
8.9
3.3
9.6

February. _

606,144

August____

61, 945

9.3

July______
September.
F eb ru a ry..
January___
M a y ____ _
December. _
January___

5,713 Decem ber..
17, 762 ____ d o. __
371, 083 August____
8, 832 M a y. _
88, 031 Decem ber..
47, 214 August____
44, 606 Decem ber..

3, 701
11, 502
60, 526
17,014
6, 641
2,935
4, 515

39.3
39.3
14.0
65.8
7.0
5.9
9.2

135, 547

April______

719
68
78, 796
(2)
38,102
9, 706
10, 224

July______
A p r i l____
October----(2) ------------

All industries_______________ ____ ___

806, 662

M ay. . . . .

Agriculture___________ ____ _________
Construction_________________________
Fisheries_____________________________
Manufactures___________________ ____
M ining and quarrying_______________
Service_______________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail___________
Transportation and public utilities___

11,058 July______
50, 235 ____ do.
361 April.
513, 775 ____ d o.
28, 507 October.
101, 781 June. . .
56, 484 Decem ber..
55, 871 January___

All industries_________ ____ _________

668, 089

Agriculture__________________________
Construction______ _____ ____________
Manufactures________________________
M ining and quarrying_______________
Service_______________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail__________
Transportation and public utilities___

9,414
29, 264
431, 609
25,846
94, 672
50,149
49,121

All industries_______ _______ ______
Agriculture...............................................
Construction.................................... ........
Manufactures________________________
Mining and quarrying_______________
Service_____________________________ _
Trade, wholesale and retail__________
Transportation and public utilities___

December..
January___

Both sexes
1931

1932

1 N ot computed owing to small number involved.
2 A ll “ office h elp ” and fluctuation not reported except for coal mining.


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

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLOYMENT RELIEF

1323

T able 8 —M A X I M U M A N D M IN IM U M E M P L O Y M E N T iN E A C H G E N E R A L O C C U P A ­
T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO IN 1931 A N D 1932, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P —Con.

Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks
Maximum

Variation from
maximum

Minimum

Industry group
M onth

Number

Number

M onth

Number Percent

Males
1931
A ll industries-_ ...... ................. .......... -

Service---

. . _ ____________

_ .

Transportation and public utilities___
1932
All industries______ _________________

Decem ber..

5, 656

7.1

107
1, 923
38, 356
(2)
(2)
24, 720 February. _
7,447
7, 134 ____ d o _____
16

98
1,722
34, 726
(2)
(2)-_23, 522 December..
7,127
6, 761 ____ d o _____
12 January___

9
201
3, 630
(2)
1,198
320
373
4

(!)
10.5
9.5
(2)
4.8
4.3
5.2
0)

70,667

64,199

Decem ber..

6, 468

9.2

28
159
3,890
(2)
1,785
225
482

(>)
10.8
11.3
(2)
8.5
3.4
7.2

79, 942

January___

January___

74, 286

Service_____________________ ________

111
1,477
34, 503
(2)
21,021

Transportation and public utilities___

6, 669
6,652

January___

83
1,318 Decem ber..
30, 613
(2)________
(2)
19, 236 December..
f August-----6,444 (.September. 1
1
6,170 November..

78,118

Construction

- - ________ _

January___
(2)
January___

Females
1931
All industries- - ____________________

Service

__

_

_

__________

Transportation and public utilities___
1932
All industries__ __ - - ______________
Construction
Service

.

_______ - - - - - - -

_

______

Transportation and public utilities___

January___

72, 853

331
1, 841
29,151
(2)
(2)
24, 848 F ebruary.15, 475
6|412 ____ do.
16 M ay

240
1, 630
26, 252
(2)
23, 505
14, 549
6, 111
12

71, 333

65, 766

January___

Decem ber..

5, 215

6.7

(2)_________
November..
December. _
January___

91
211
2,8J9
(2)
1,343
926
301
4

(i)
11.5
9.9
(2)
5.4
6.0
4.7
(>)

November..

5, 567

7.8
(>)
9.3
9.7
(2)
7.7
8. 1
6.8

d o_____

178
1, 217
23, 516
(2)
22, 116
12, 448
5; 687

November..

79
125
2, 532
(2)
1,838
1,102
417

January___

147,139

257
1,342
26, 048
(2)
23, 954
13, 550
6,104

(2)
January___

158, 060

January.. _

December. _
(2) “
D ecem ber..

Both sexes
1931
All industries___

. . . ____________

Construction__________ ______ _____
Service------------ _
_ . _____ ______
Trade, wholesale and retail________ _
Transportation and public utilities___
Industries not otherwise classified- _ _
1932
All industries______________ ________
Construction________________________
Service . .

_

_________

Transportation and public utilities___

437
3, 749 ____ do_____
67,495
(2)
(2) ___
49, 568 February. _
22, 922 January___
13, 546 ____ do_____
31 M a y ______
142, 000

December..

10, 921

6.9

341
3, 352 ____d o_____
60, 978
(2)_________
(2)
47, 097 N ovem ber.
21, 678 ___ do______
12,872 December. _
24 January___

96
397
6,517
(2)
2, 471
1,244
674
7

(■)
10.6
9.7
(2)
5.0
5.4
5.0
(0

N ovem ber.

11,972

8.4

86
284
6, 331
(2)
3, 623
], 326
899

0)
10.1
10.5
(2)
8.1
6.6
7.0

January___

130, 028

368
2,819 January___
60,551
(2)
(2) ___ ,
44,975 January___
20, 218
12; 756 ____ do_____

282
2, 535
54, 220
(2)
41, 352
18,892
11, 857

1 N ot computed owing to small number involved.

“ office help” and fluctuation not reported except for coal mining.
Digitized for2 All
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

December. _
(2)- December. _
N ovem ber.

1324

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

T able 8 .—M A X I M U M A N D M IN IM U M E M P L O Y M E N T IN E A C H G E N E R A L O C C U P A ­
T IO N G R O U P IN OHIO IN 1931 A N D 1932, B Y S E X A N D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P —Con.

Salespeople (not traveling)
Maximum

Minim um

Variation from
maximum

Industry group
Number

M onth

Number

M onth

Number Percent

Males
1931
39, 776

All industriesAgriculture_________ _____ _______
Construction______________________
Manufactures_____________________
Service____________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail________
Transportation and public utilities.
Industries not otherwise classified-.

52
997
3,689
4,152
30,278
832

June_____

37,942

M a y _____
June_____
M a y _____
June_____
December
January...
(M arch___
(December

33
701
3, 569
3, 621
28, 944
730

June_____

35, 721

January___
( . . . . d o .........
(February. .
January___
February. .
N ovem ber.
February. .
December..
(January___
(February.

1,834
19
296
120

531
1,334
102

1

(0
29.7
3.3
12.8

4.4
12.3

(0

1932
All industries.
Agriculture_______________________
Construction______________________
Manufactures______________ ______
Service____________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail________
Transportation and public utilities.
Females
1931
All industries.
Agriculture_____________ ___ ______
Construction.________ _____________
Manufactures___________ ________
Service____________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail_________
Transportation and public utilities..
1932
A ll industries.......... ..............................

791
3, 954
3, 652
28,208
809

M a y _____
/July-------(August__
M a y _____
June_____
December
January...

40, 692

December.

68

29
220

173
314
1,394
124

February..

(0
27.8
4.4
8.6

4.9
15.3

28.3

-----d o____
23 ((November
30 September
1,443 November
401 February..
27,180 ___ d o____
65 December-

19
12
64
78
11,481
11

C)
0)
4.2
0)
29.7
(>)

35, 733

25, 549

10,184

28.5

December.
M a y ..........

27

Manufactures_____________________
Service____________________________
Trade, wholesale and retail________
Transportation and public utilities.

29,193

1,066

42 (A pril_____
(M a y -------42 A pril_____
1,507 ____d o____
479 July______
38,661 December.
76 January...

Agriculture .
Construction.

August___

39 December.
571 ------do------3, 781 ____do____
3,338 November
26,814 August___
685 July______

20

April..

August___
(July--------f October . . .
(.November.
June______
September
Novem ber
December.
September.
___ d o ____
August___
July...........

52
41
10,178
12

I

(>)
(>)

1,040 ___ d o____
448 January...
34,187 December.
75 (M a rch ___
(M a y --------

407
24,009
63

All industries .

79, 790

67,142

February. .

12, 648

Agriculture___________ ______ _____
Construction____________ _________
Manufactures_____________________
Service____ ____ ___________________
Trade, wholesale and retail________
Transportation and public utilities. _
Industries not otherwise classified...

94
1, 03 L
5,187
4, 601
68,939
908
3

60
736
5,040
4,061
56,124
795

January___
____d o_____
F eb ru a ry..
Novem ber .
F eb ru a ry..
Decem ber..
(January___
(February. _

34
295
147
540
12,815
113

5.0

(0

29.8

0)

Both sexes
1931
December..
M a y _____
June_____
A pril_____
July______
December.
January—.
(M arch to
(December.

15.9

(0

28.6
2.8

11.7
18.6
12.4

(0

1932
All industries.

72, 397

Decem ber..

61,270

August___

11,127

Agriculture_______________________
Construction____________________ _
Manufactures_____________________
Service_____ ____ _________________
Trade, Wholesale and retail________
Transportation and public utilities.

93
816
4,993
4,082
62,395
881

M a y ______
August____
M a y ______
June______
Decem ber..
January___

60 November.
594 December.
4, 778 ____d o ____
3, 766 November.
50,823 August___
748 July______

33

1 N ot computed owing to small number involved.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

222

215
316
11, 572
133

15.4

0)

27.2
4.3
7.7
18.5
15.1

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1325

The maximum, minimum, and average number reported in each of
these three occupation groups are shown, by sex, in table 9 for each
of the years 1924 to 1932.
Comparing the average number reported employed of both sexes
combined in each of the three general occupation groups in 1932 with
1929, wage earners show a decrease of 414,339 or 39.4 percent; book­
keepers, stenographers, and office clerks a decrease of 33,893 or 20.1
percent; and salespeople (not traveling) a decrease of 22,178 or 25.6
percent.
Comparing the same 2 years for the two sexes, the males show a
decrease of 41.7 percent for wage earners, 20.1 percent for book­
keepers, stenographers, and office clerks, and 30.2 percent for salesmen
(not traveling), while females show a decrease of 28.3 percent for
wage earners, 20.1 percent for bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks, and 18.6 percent for saleswomen (not traveling).
T able 9 .—M A X I M U M , M IN IM U M , A N D A V E R A G E N U M B E R R E P O R T E D IN S P E C IF IE D
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U PS IN O H IO , 1924 T O 1932, B Y S E X
W a g e earners

Year

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments
report­
ing

1924_______ 31,715
1925_______ 34, 605
1926_______ 37,159
1927_______ 39, 635
1928_______ 40, 978
1929_______ 43,160
1930_______ 44, 283
1931_______ 43,168
1932_______ 40,134

Male

Female

Both sexes

M axi­
mum,
month

M ini­
mum,
month

Aver­
age of 12 M axi­
month­ mum,
month
ly
reports

M ini­
mum,
month

Aver­
age of 12
month­
ly
reports

M axi­
mum,
month

Aver­
M ini­ age of 12
mum, m onth­
month
ly
reports

789,457
837, 381
875,444
836,494
869, 270
916, 978
808, 416
655, 327
533,129

730, 615
744, 327
787, 792
749, 785
725,946
782, 529
662,335
556,108
483, 374

755, 062
800, 471
833, 030
805,001
817, 538
868,834
753, 395
619, 633
506,182

137, 779
144, 391
154, 712
156, 733
157,861
174, 078
152, 454
139, 669
122, 770

144,477
152, 297
161,136
164,440
169, 068
182, 555
162, 726
147,066
130,868

937, 274
997,957
1,040, 932
1,000, 737
1,045, 225
1,099, 880
976,911
806,662
668,089

868, 394 899,539
888, 718 952, 768
942, 504 994,166
913, 961 969,441
883,807 986,606
958,450 1,051,389
814,789 916,121
695, 777 766, 699
606,144 637, 050

148, 403
160, 576
168,944
172, 279
178, 214
191, 212
168, 570
151, 764
135, 547

B ook k eep ers, stenographers, and office clerks
1924_______ 31,715
1925_______ 34, 605
1926_______ 37,159
1927_______ 39, 635
1928_______ 40, 978
1929_______ 43,160
44, 283
1930______
1931_______ 43,168
1932_______ 40,134

68, 218
71,374
74, 574
76, 309
79,460
85, 400
90,948
79, 942
70, 667

67, 497
68, 572
71,862
73,876
75, 288
80, 662
87, 593
74, 286
64,199

67,864
70, 248
73, 613
75, 405
77, 640
83, 529
89, 944
77, 588
66, 710

66, 627
71,104
75, 017
77, 173
79, 591
86, 644
86, 206
78,118
71, 333

65, 374
67,465
71, 169
74, 745
74, 694
82,076
81, 743
72,853
65, 766

65, 979
69,104
73,173
76, 006
77, 072
85, 003
84, 575
75,967
67,929

134, 542
142,463
149,474
153,296
159,051
171,791
177,070
158, 060
142,000

132,871
136, 037
143, 031
148, 621
149, 982
162, 738
169, 515
147,139
130,028

133, 843
139, 352
146,786
151,411
154, 712
168, 532
174, 519
153, 555
134, 639

27, 970
29, 211
29, 797
31, 949
32,834
34, 781
32, 487
32,013
28, 303

72, 368
77, 664
82, 689
86,864
94, 556
101,861
82,006
79, 790
72, 397

58, 947
61, 708
65, 760
69, 095
71, 599
79, 556
67, 628
67,142
61,270

62,106
65, 659
69,894
73, 296
77,473
86, 701
71, 220
70,842
64,523

S a lesp eo p le (not traveling)
1924_______ 31,715
1925_______ 34, 605
1926_______ 37,159
1927_______ 39. 635
1928_______ 40, 978
1929_______ 43,160
1930_______ 44, 283
1931_______ 43,168
1932_______ 40,134

36, 005
38, 397
42, 273
43, 549
47, 734
54, 724
39, 466
39, 776
36, 787


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32, 628
34, 499
38, 357
39, 951
42, 228
48,489
38, 074
37,942
35, 721

34,136
36,448
40, 097
41, 347
44, 639
51, 920
38, 733
38,829
36, 220

36, 363
39, 267
40,416
43, 315
46, 822
47,137
42, 557
40, 692
35, 733

25, 750
27, 002
27, 264
29, 023
29,135
30, 923
29, 554
29, 193
25, 549

1326

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Table 10 presents a comparison of employment fluctuation in each
year from 1924 to 1932 for males and females in all industries com­
bined and in each year from 1930 to 1932 in each of four industry groups
in which large numbers both of males and of females are employed.
The comparisons are for each of the three general occupation groups.
Comparing fluctuation by sex within the industry groups, it is seen
that, in manufactures, males show considerably greater variation than
do females, while in the clerical and sales groups females generally
show a greater variation than do males. In wholesale and retail trade
females show a greater variation in each of the three general occupa­
tion groups than do males. In transportation and public utilities,
female wage earners show a greater variation than do male wage
earners.
In all industries combined, the variation for male wage earners
exceeds that for females in each year from 1924 to 1931 but is slightly
less in 1932. Saleswomen (not traveling) show a very much greater
variation than do salesmen (not traveling) in each of the years 1924
to 1932.
T able 10.— P E R C E N T OF V A R IA T IO N F R O M M A X I M U M E M P L O Y M E N T IN G E N E R A L
O C C U P A T IO N G R O U PS IN OHIO, B Y S E X , FO R S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R Y GR OU PS F O R
1930 TO 1932 A N D F O R A L L IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D FO R 1924 TO 1932

Percent of variation from maximum employment among—

Industry group and year

Manufactures:
1930__________
.
1931
_ _
J932______________
Service:
1930________
1931. _
1932
_ _
Trade, wholesale and retail:
1930_________
1931___ ___
1932
Transportation and public utilities:
1930________
1931___ __
1932,
______
All industries:
1924_______
1925_ __
__
1927____

___

Bookkeepers, stenog­
raphers, and office
clerks.

Wage earners

Salespeople (not
traveling)

Males

Fe­
males

Both
sexes

Males

Fe­
males

Both
sexes

19.6
16.6
14.8

12.7
12. 2
11.7

18.5
15.4
14.0

5.0
9.5
11.3

7.9
9.9
9.7

6.1
9.7
10.5

3. 5
3. 3
4.4

11.2
9.7
8.1

6.6
7.8
7.8

9.3
8.9
7.0

3.3
4.8
8.5

4.1
5.4
7.7

3.4
5.0
8.1

18.3
12.8
8.6

(>)
(>)
(>)

15. 2
11. 7
7.7

3.5
2.9
4. 7

13.7
19.0
18.8

4.3
3.3
5.9

3.5
4.3
3.4

5.9
6.0
8.1

4.9
5.4
6.6

6.4
4.4
4.9

32. 2
29. 7
29.8

21. 1
18. 6
18.5

12.4
9.2
7.1

13.3
12.8
17.3

12.0
9.6
9.2

4.8
5. 2
7.2

7.5
4.7
6.8

5.9
5.0
7.0

8.9
12.3
15.3

0)
(0
0)

10. 0
12. 4
15. 1

7.5
11.1
10.0
10.4
16.5
14. 7
18. 1
15.1
9.3

7.2
10. 1
8.4
9.0
11.4
9.0
9.6
8.0
9.4

7.3
10.9
9.5
8.7
15.4
12. 9
16.6
13.7
9.3

1.0
3.9
3.6
3. 2
5.3
5.5
3.7
7.1
9.2

1.9
5.1
5. 1
3.1
6.2
5.3
5.2
6.7
7.8

1.2
4.5
4.3
3.0
5.7
5.3
4.3
6.9
8.4

9.4
10.2
9.3
8.3
11. 5
11.4
3.5
4.6
2.9

29. 2
31. 2
32. 5
33. 0
37. 8
34. 4
30. 6
28. 3
28.5

18. 5
20. 5
20. 5
20. 5
24. 3
21.9
17. 5
15. 9
15.4

Fe­
Males males

4. 7
4. 2
5.0

Both
sexes

3. 6
2. 8
4.3

1 Not computed owing to small number involved.

Conclusion
T h i s analysis deals primarily with fluctuation of employment within
each year. The data collected and compiled by the Division of Labor
Statistics of the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations, however,
make practically a complete coverage of all establishments employing


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1327

three or more persons, except those engaged in interstate transporta­
tion and government activities. With such coverage it is believed
that the figures give some approximation of the extent of unemploy­
ment within the industry groups included.
During the 9-year period covered by this report, maximum em­
ployment for both sexes combined was in July 1929 and minimum
employment was in August 1932. The maximum number was
1,356,004 and the minimum fell below that number by 557,778, or
41.1 percent.
Maximum employment for males during the 9-year period occurred
in July 1929 and minimum employment in August 1932. The maxi­
mum number of males employed was 1,054,154 and the minimum
fell below that number by 470,301, or 44.6 percent. Maximum em­
ployment for females during the 9-year period occurred in October
1929 and minimum employment in August 1932. The maximum
number employed was 313,416 and the minimum fell below that
number by 99,043, or 31.6 percent.
In considering these figures it should be borne in mind that reports
are not included from establishments engaged in interstate trans­
portation nor from government activities. Further, it should be
noted that while these figures are remarkably inclusive, no measure
is given of the total labor market. However, there is no reason to
believe that the total number of persons employed or seeking employ­
ment was less in August 1932 than in July or October 1929 and the
above figures may be reasonably put forward as approximate mini­
ma of unemployment in Ohio in 1932.

Subsistence-Homestead Movement Under National Recovery
Act

HE National Industrial Recovery Act (Public, No. 67) approved
June 16, 1933, contained a provision (sec. 208) appropriating
$25,000,000 “ to provide for aiding the redistribution of the over­
balance of population in industrial centers” and authorizing the
President to set up agencies “ for making loans for and otherwise
aiding in the purchase of subsistence homesteads.” 1
Acting under this authority the President delegated the carrying
out of the program to the Secretary of the Interior. The latter set
up in his department the Division of Subsistence Homesteads and
created an advisory committee.2 That committee held its first
meeting September 26, 1933, and made the following recommenda­
tions for the administration of the $25,000,000 fund provided:

T

1.
That, with due regard to immediate emergency needs, the fund be used as
far as possible for the purpose of setting up demonstration projects which will
point the way to a program of a permanent character. In this connection the
committee emphasized the fundamental nature of the adjustments required to
the changed conditions facing American agriculture and the industrial worker
and the smallness of the fund in relation to the magnitude of the problem. In
its opinion the establishment of experimental projects which would point to “ the
way o u t” is vital.
'
> For full text of National Industrial Recovery A ct, see M onthly Labor Review, July 1933 (p. 75).
2
The membership of this committee was as follows: Senator John H. Bankhead, of Alabama, chairman;
Hayden B. Harris; W . A. Julian, Treasurer of the United States; Edward A . O’ Neil; Louis J. Taber;
Bernarr M acFadden; Louis Brownlow; Dr. John B. Black; P. V . Cardon; Ralph E. Flanders; Dr. John
A. Ryan; Bernard G. Waring; George Soule; M eyer Jacobstein; Dr. Philip Weltner; William Green;
Henry I. Harriman; and Dr. Clark Foreman.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1328

MONTHLY LABOK EE V IE W

2. That these demonstration projects be located with reference to the principal
“ problem areas” of the United States, and not on the basis of allocation of funds
on the basis of States, the projects to be selected after careful investigation as to
individual soundness and merit.
3. That projects be carried on with a maximum of local initiative and responsi­
bility assisted with adequate Federal supervision and guidance and protection
for the Federal funds advanced.
4. That projects be organized and administered through local nonprofit or
limited-dividend corporations to which Federal funds will be loaned under terms
and conditions specified by the Division of Subsistence Homesteads, the latter to
have the privilege of selecting one or more members of the board of directors of
the local corporation.
5. That where deemed advisable, local advisory committees to the corporation
be appointed.
6. That Federal funds should be loaned at a rate of 3 percent and amortized
over a period not to exceed 30 years, with privilege of repayment at any time.
Deferred initial repayments were suggested in cases where necessary, but such
deferment should not be in excess of two years.
7. That Federal loans for the purchase of production equipment and machin­
ery, including livestock, were justified when, in the judgment of the Subsistence
Homesteads Division, necessary for the success of the enterprise and when not
possible to obtain in any other way.
8. That either lease or sale of plots to individual “ homesteaders” be made,
depending upon the nature and conditions of each project.
9. That the fullest cooperation be sought of other Federal and State agencies
whose resources and services would constitute a contribution to the success of
the subsistence-homesteads program.
10. That reasonable local financial aid would be desirable.
11. That adequate local agricultural and other advice and guidance be assured
for the “ homesteaders.”
12. That “ homesteaders” be assured of relief if necessary during the present
economic crisis. Homestead sites will be picked in those counties where it is
assured that urban relief, school, and similar responsibilities will not be unfairly
shifted to the homestead areas.
13. That the selection of families, and the land and sites, be made with the
greatest care.
14. That, to provide for persons seeking to acquire individual subsistence
homesteads in connection with industrial centers, the development of local or­
ganizations analogous to holding and loan associations be encouraged.
15. That the Subsistence Homesteads Division carry on a limited amount of
necessary research where such can not be provided by other agencies. In this
connection the committee emphasizes the importance of the subsistence-home­
steads program being consistent with national planning.

The projects of the division will be of three types: Homestead
colonies established for industrial workers and located at the out­
skirts of cities or large towns; rural settlements in which small indus­
tries or branches of large industries can be established; and agricul­
tural settlements. The program will deal largely with city dwellers,
stranded populations (i.e., those left jobless by the moving of local
industries or the exhaustion of natural resources, as for instance coal
and copper miners, sawmill workers, etc.), and farmers now working
lands too poor to be profitable.
Each subsistence-homestead project will be established in accord­
ance with the industrial and agricultural trends as they relate to the
population problems of a given region or State.
Every undertaking will be regarded as experimental. The experi­
ment is to test a method of living that may conserve the best of both
urban and rural life, afford greater stability in family living and point
the way to a more permanent adjustment for workers in the shorterhour week and part-time employment.


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLOYMENT RELIEF

1329

Arthurdale Community

Tw o projects are under way. The first was announced on October
12, the Secretary of the Interior stating that the Interior Department
had acquired an 1,100-acre farm (Arthurdale) at Reedsville, near
Morgantown, W.Va., to be utilized as a colony for some 200 families.
In selecting the families a series of tests was given. Only persons
were accepted who had some knowledge of gardening and farm life
(such as kinds of seeds, laying ability of poultry, etc.) and who at­
tained a certain level of “ education, physical fitness, attitudes and
ambitions, and agricultural ability. The homes of those with high
ratings were visited, and the woman of the family interviewed. Some
women said they wouldn’t go back to the farm, and that ruled the
family out. In some families, tuberculosis was found, and they
couldn’t go up into the winter snows, of course.” The families finally
chosen were mainly of southern European stock, about half being
ex-miners, about one fourth former sawmill employees, and about
one fourth mountain farmers. Most of them were native West
Virginians.
An “ advance guard” of about 50 men has already been placed on
the land. These men are erecting the houses and doing the prelimi­
nary work necessary before the families can be moved there.
The land is to be divided into plots of 5 acres, each having its own
cottage, with facilities for gardening, fruit trees, poultry raising, etc.,
for home consumption. The houses will cost about $2,000 each and
will become the property of the colonists under a 20-year purchase
plan with low interest rate and small monthly payments.
The settlement will have self-government “ with administration to
be patterned after the New England town-meeting plan.” A school
will be established which it is expected will serve as the center of the
community life. The present plan is for the establishment of a
cooperative store through which the household and farm supplies will
be obtained.
The Post Office Department is establishing in the community a
factory to manufacture for the Department furniture and other
equipment. This factory will give part-time employment to the
settlers, their remaining subsistence coming from the homesteads
themselves. In addition handicraft industries will be developed in
the community.
Although in the West Virginia experiment the land is held by the
Interior Department, this will not generally be true in other cases.
The plan is that the land shall be acquired through a corporation
composed of five public-spirited local persons. Where feasible one
of these will be chosen from among the homesteaders. The Sub­
sistence Homesteads Division will retain some supervision, possibly
through a resident fiscal agent. Also, while in the Reedsville project
the plots are of uniform size, it is planned that in subsequent com­
munities the plots shall vary according to the fertility of the land,
the size of the family to be accommodated thereon, etc.
Although the persons chosen for the experiments will be largely
from the unemployed who are receiving public relief, the division is
not interested in relief as such. Its purpose is to make self-sustaining;
the persons with whom it is working and to work toward a permanent
national program through the redistribution of surplus populations.

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1330

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
D ayton Project

S i n c e May 1932 there have been in operation in Dayton, Ohio,
certain self-help activities carried on by a group of unemployed under
the guidance of the Dayton Council of Social Agencies. This group
(which adopted the name, Cooperative Production Units) and its
activities were described at length in the Monthly Labor Review for
March 1933 (p. 480).
Even as early as the spring of 1933, this organization was seriously
considering the establishment of self-sufficing homesteads. The ful­
fillment of this plan on a small scale has now been made possible through
the allotment of $50,000 by the Subsistence Homesteads Division.
A 160-acre tract of land has been acquired near the city, upon which
35 families will be settled, each with a modern house and small plot of
ground for the raising of poultry, garden stuff, etc.
The plan contemplates the setting aside of a certain space as com­
mon pasture land; there will be a community center for recreation,
community gatherings, etc., and a model factory which will furnish
part-time employment.
The funds will be disbursed and the whole project will be operated
under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Welfare.
Until the factory is established the settlers will be employed at
industrial jobs in the city. Surpluses from the crops are to be ex­
changed for needed goods or sold, the cash to be used to repay the
Government loan.

Federal Unemployment Relief Work During September 1933

URING August 1933, according to the report of the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration,1 15,150,000 persons, or about
12 percent of the entire population of the United States, received
public unemployment relief. Of this number about 430,000 were
single persons, while the others were members of family groups. Since
March, 1,210,000 families have been taken off the relief rolls, although
the actual decrease in number of families is stated to have been some­
what less than this, as the number of families reported for the early
months included some duplication. The factors to which the de­
crease is ascribed principally are improved employment conditions,
normal seasonal decreases due to spring and summer farming opera­
tions, extensive subsistence-garden programs, and enrollments in the
Civilian Conservation Corps.
The amount of funds spent has also decreased, but not so fast as
the number of families assisted.
Table 1 shows the Federal funds disbursed each month since May
1933 for the various purposes.

D

1
U.S. Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
ington, 1933.


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M onthly report, Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 1933.

Wash­

1331

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
T able 1.—F A M IL IE S A ID E D A N D E X P E N D IT U R E S IN C U R R E D U N D E R
R E L IE F A C T , M A Y TO S E P T E M B E R 1933

FEDERAL

Unemployment relief from Federal funds
Number of
families
given relief

M onth

4, 252,443
3, 789,126
2 3,450,000
2 3, 350, 000

M a y _______
June.............
July_______
A ugust____
September..

( 3)

Total _

Outright grants forMatched
allotments

Total
Qeneral
purposes

Tran­
sients

Self-help
groups1

$32,600,019
18,123,283
42, 592,683
34, 792, 731
10, 202, 224

$808,429
6,129,030
15,025, 303
15,067, 183

$330,000

$64,000
2,000

$32, 600, 019
18,931, 712
48,721, 713
49,882,034
25,601,407

138, 310,940

37,029,945

330,000

66, 000

175, 736,885

1 For specific groups aided see M onthly Labor Review, October 1933 (p. 806).
2 Partly estimated.
3 N o data.

Since July 1933 an attempt has been made to obtain data showing
the amount of relief funds spent for the various types of relief. Com­
plete reporting has not as yet been secured on this point, the informa­
tion for July covering 64 percent and that for August 62 percent of
the total obligations incurred. Table 2 shows for each of these
months the amount and percent spent for the different purposes.
In addition somewhat over $2,000,000 was given in each month in
cash.
T able 2.—A M O U N T A N D P E R C E N T OF O B L IG A T IO N S IN C U R R E D F O R E A C H T Y P E OF
R E L IE F IN J U L Y A N D A U G U ST 1933
August 1933

July 1933
T ype of relief
Amount

$23,149,557
2,163, 712
1,311,343
926, 784
611,881
132, 239
823,938
29,119,454

Percent
of total

Amount

Percent
of total

79.5 $18,803, 275
7.4
1, 416, 889
1,198, 672
4.5
709, 367
3.2
423, 447
2.1
104, 440
.5
456, 921
2.8

81.3
6.1
5.2
3. 1
1.8
.5
2.0

23,113, Oil

100.0

100.0

Of the 100,000,000 pounds of cured pork acquired by the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration, 25,000,000 pounds were allotted
to the various States for the first quarter year, the amounts being
based on the respective average number of families receiving relief in
each State during the period April, May, and June. Up to September
30, 1933, the amount ordered shipped totaled 6,755,100, and the
States to which sent were as follows:
Pounds

Pounds

Arkansas___________________
492, 500
District of Columbia_______
60, 000
Louisiana___________________
510, 000
Michigan___________________ 1, 110, 000
Mississippi__________________
502, 600
M ontana___________________
150, 000
Ohio________________________ 1) 560, 000


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Oklahoma__________________
Rhode Island_______________
Tennessee___________________
Texas_______________________
Utah________________________
T otal________________

690,
120,
420,
960,
180,

000
000
000
000
000

6, 755, 100

1332

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

Creation of Federal Civil Works Administration

N NOVEMBER 9, 1933, the President created the Civil Works
Administration and appointed Harry L. Hopkins, Federal
Emergency Relief Administrator, to act as Administrator of the new
agency.
The purpose of the Civil Works Administration is to provide
immediately “ regular work at regular wages” for able-bodied un­
employed persons now on work relief.
To this end the Administrator will finance local civil works projects.
In order to insure speed, local relief administrations will be designated
as civil works administrations and will be given authority to pass
upon projects submitted for approval, up to a certain amount.
Beyond that sum the matter will be referred to the State civil works
administration. Under this procedure, only in unusual cases will
reference have to be made to Washington for decision.
The maximum money limits on projects have not yet been set.
Regulations to guide the local and State administrations are to be
announced shortly.

O

Handicrafts to Combat Unemployment in Germany1

AN DICRAFT Week, sponsored by the German Government,
was celebrated October 15-22, 1933.
In Stuttgart the week was opened with a large parade of civilians,
with storm-troop units and numerous floats. The parade was follow­
ed by a demonstration addressed by officials of the Württemberg
State Government, all of whom stressed the importance of the
handicraft branch of industry in the campaign against unemploy­
ment. The speakers commented on the efficiency of the German
handicraft worker and the excellence of the work turned out by
craftsmen. It was pointed out that the nature of the industry
required that the majority of the work be done by hand thus furnish­
ing employment to the German workmen. In supporting this move­
ment to develop handicrafts in Germany, appeals for support were
made to German purchasers, principally housewives. They were
requested, when purchasing, to demand products produced by German
handicrafts and to support the building craft as far as possible in
regard to new construction and repairs.
Propaganda of this type was reported also to have been undertaken
in other sections, primarily in the urban districts where there is a
concentration of handicraft units.

H

i

Report b y L. Dominian, American Consul General at Stuttgart, Oct. 17,1933


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NATIONAL RECOVERY ADMINISTRATION
Summary of Permanent Codes Adopted Under National Indus­
trial Recovery Act Up to November 8, 1933

N THE following tabular analysis the principal labor provisions
of codes are recorded as adopted under the National Industrial
Recovery Act up to November 8, 1933 (with the exception of the
code for the cleaning and dyeing industry).
In previous issues of the Monthly Labor Review (August to No­
vember 1933) a text statement covering the labor provisions of each
code was printed as it became available. Owing to the space require­
ments it has been found impracticable to continue presenting such a
detailed analysis of each code. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will
continue to prepare these analyses, however, and will be glad to
furnish copies on request.
The object of the various sections on labor included in the following
tabulation is not to show exhaustively what the provisions are as to
wages, hours, rates of overtime pay, etc., but rather to emphasize
the major provisions, i.e., those that affect the great bulk of employ­
ees. For example, under the hours provision in every instance the
maximum hours permitted are shown for the industry as a whole or
for factory workers, office workers, or the principal groups in service
industries, where the codes provide different schedules of hours.
There has been no attempt to enumerate the excepted classes of which
one or more are allowed for in practically all codes, such as, under the
hours provisions, executives, and persons in managerial positions
earning over a stated amount (usually $35), specially skilled workers,
maintenance and repair crews, and workers engaged in continuous
processes where spoilage of products would result from strict adherence
to the hours as established. Similarly the existence of specific classes
exempted from the minimum-wage provisions is not indicated here.
There is nothing static in the code provisions as originally approved
by the President of the United States and as printed here. In some
instances there are specific code provisions looking toward modifica­
tion on the basis of experience and investigation. For trade or service
industries there has already been an Executive order 1 in connection
with the retail-trade code under date of October 23, 1933, which ex­
empts from code provisions units in the trade or service industries
when located in towns of less than 2,500 population and employing
5 persons or fewer. This order has been interpreted as not including
motor-vehicle retailers.
It must be remembered, therefore, that to evaluate fully code
provisions in any instance the entire code and any modifying orders
must be consulted, the general purpose of this summary being merely
to give in readily usable form the general standards as laid down by
the various industries under the National Industrial Recovery Act.

I

1 See M onthly Labor Review, N ovember 1933, p. 1066.
21719°—33— 5


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1333

Minors of specified age
excluded from em ploy­
ment

Industry and date effective

Minimum wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)

Maximum hours

Provisions for overtime pay

Advertising specialty man­
ufacturing (N ov. 13).
Artificial flower and feather
(Sept. 25).
Asbestos (N ov. 13).............

30 cents per hour, females; 35 cents per hour,
males.
$15 per week_________________________________

40 per week (in peak periods 48 in 1 week, 520
during 13-week consecutive period).
40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours)__________

1% regular rate after 40
hours.

Under 16.

32% cents per hour for females, 37% cents per
hour for males, South; 35 cents per hour for
females, 40 cents per hour for males, North;
factory. $14—
$15 per week according to pop­
ulation, office, etc.
37% cents per hour, South; 40 cents per hour,
North; 45 cents per hour, Pacific coast, gen­
eral. $15 per week, office. 35 cents per hour,
females other than clerks.

40 per week, 8 per day (in peak periods 48 per
week during 6 weeks in 6-month period),
factory. 40 per week averaged over 6 months
(maximum 48 hours in 1 week), office.

1% regular rate_______ .

Under 16, general. Under 18, hazardous occupations.

Automatic sprinkler (Oct.
19).

35 cents per hour, females; 40 cents per hour,
males, processing.“ $15 per week, others.

Bankers (Oct. 16)

Range from present rate plus 20 percent (but
wage not to exceed $12 per week) to $15 per
week, according to population.
30-60% cents per hour, outside common labor;
42%-70%s cents per hour, inside skilled labor,
according to locality.

Bituminous - c o a 1 mining
(Oct. 2).

35 per week (average) general. 42 per week,
d o___________________
(average) supervisory staff and preparation
workers. 40 per week(maximum 48 in 1 week),
for term of code, office. 6 days per week.
40 per week averaged over 6 months (maxi- ____ d o _________ _________
mum 48 hours and 6 days in 1 week), pro­
cessing. 42 per week averaged over 1 year,
preparation and care of plant. 40 per week
averaged over 6 months (maximum 48 hours
and 6 days in 1 week), office.
40 per week averaged over 13 weeks___ _____
40 per week, 8 per d a y_________________ _

Boiler manufacturing (Oct.
16).

34 cents per hour, South; 40 cents per hour,
elsewhere, manufacturing. $15 per week,
others.

40 per week, 8 per day, 5 consecutive days_____

1% regular rate, shop work.
Double time, repair,
construction, etc., work.

B oot and shoe manufactur­
ing (Oct. 13).

30-32% cents per hour for females, 35-37% cents
per hour for males, according to population.

40 per week (45 permitted during 8 weeks in 6
m onths).

1% regular rate___________


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

D o.

D o.

D o.
Under 16, general. U n­
der 17, inside of mine
and in hazardous oc­
cupations outside.
Under 16.

D o.

R E V IE W

Automotive
parts
and
equipment manufactur­
ing (N ov. 18).

40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours), 7-day week 1% regular rate, general. Under 16, general. Un(in peak periods 40 per week averaged over
1% regular rate, emerder 18, manufacturing
30 days), general. 56 per week, 7-day week,
gency repair work.
operations.
watchmen. 44 per week, 8 per day, fire­
men.
40 per week, general. 56 per week, watchmen- N o provision, _________ , Under 16.

LABOR

Automobile manufacturing
(Sept. 5).

43% cents per hour, North; 37% cents per hour,
South, construction. 40 cents per hour,
manufacturing. $14—$15 per week, accord­
ing to population, clerical.
40-43 cents per hour, according to population,
factory. $14—
$15 per week, according to pop­
ulation, office.

Do.

M ONTHLY

Asphalt shingle and roofing
(Nov. 20).

1334

T A B U L A R A N A L Y S IS OF L A B O R PR O V ISIO N S IN C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L IN D U S T R IA L R E C O V E R Y A C T U P T O N O V E M B E R 8, 1933

Buff and polishing wheel
(N ov. 4).

40 cents per hour, general. 32 cents per hour,
light work, factory. $15 per week, office.
$13 per week, watchmen.

Buffing and polishing com ­
position (N ov. 4).
Builders’ supplies trade
(Oct. 13).

____do_______________________________________

1n regular rate.

35-50 cents per hour, according to geograhpical
areas, decreased b y 5 and 10 cents according
to population.

40 per week, general. 44 per week, yard fore­
men, truck drivers, etc. 48 per week in
small towns, where not more than 2 em­
ployed.

Business furniture, storage
equipment, and filing
supply (N ov. 14).

35 cents per hour, visible filing, and 40 cents
per hour, steel office furniture, females; 40
cents per hour, males, factory. $1*1—$15 per
week, according to population, office.

Canning and packing ma­
chinery (N ov. 11).

40 cents per hour,1 productive. $14-$15 per
week, according to population, office.

40 per week, 8 per day (in peak periods 48
per week, 10 per day, during 6 weeks in 6
months), factory. 40 per week (in peak
periods 48 per week during 6 weeks in 6
months), office.
40 per week averaged over 6 months (tolerance
of 20 percent in emergencies).

No
general provision.
IH regular rate after 44
hours, yard foremen, etc.
i n regular rate after 48
hours, clerical and office
and employees in small
towns.
i n regular rate after 9
hours.

32 cents per hour, South; 40 cents per hour,
elsewhere.

Coat and suit (Aug. 7)___

$14 per week, nonmanufacturing. Manufac­
turing: East, $0.60 per hour for skirt basters
and finishers to $1.30 per hour for machine
pressers. West, males, $0.65 per hour for
coat and dress part pressers to $0.85 per hour
for coat and dress operators; females, $0.53
per hour for coat and skirt button sewers
and finishers’ helpers to $0.75 per hour for
coat and dress operators.
40 cents per hour, productive.3 $15 per week,
others.
35 cents per hour, females; 40 cents per hour,
males.4

Compressed air (Oct. 22)
Copper and brass mill
products (N ov. 13).
Corset and brassiere (Aug.
28).
Cotton-textile and rayon
weaving (July 17,25).
“ Unless rate
1 Unless rate
2 Unless rate
8 Unless rate
4 Unless rate

$14 per week, general.

40 per week, 8 per day (maximum 48 per week
during 6 weeks in 6-month period).
40 per week, 8 per day, general. 48 per week,
watchmen and power-house employees.

$25 per wreek, cutters— 40 per week, 5-day week.

$12 per week, South; $13 per week, North.

40 per week. Operation limited to 2 shifts___

No provision.

Under 16, general. Under
18, power-driven, etc.,
machinery.
i n regular rate after 40 Under 16, general. Under
hours.
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.
N o provision_____________ Under 16, general. Under
18, foundry operations.
N o overtime allowed.

1H regular rate after 8
hours.
i n regular rate—................
N o provision.

N o general provision. 1n
regular rate, repair-shop
crews, etc.
was lower on July 15,1929, but in no case less than 87n percent of the minimum rate in the North and 80 percent in the South.
for
same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no
case less than 32centsan hour.
was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 30 cents
an hour.
for
same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no
case less than 35centsan hour.
for
same class of labor was 1ower on July 15, 1929, but in no
case less than 35centsan hour for males and 30 cents for females.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.

Under 16, nonmanufacruring.
Under 18,
manufacturing.

Under 16.
Under 18, general. Under
16, clerical, messenger,
etc.
Under 16.

A D M IN IS T R A T IO N

Cast-iron soil pipe (Sept.
ID.

40 per week averaged over 6 months, general.
40 per week averaged over 1 month, office.
(Maximum 48 in 1 week.)
27 per week, 8 per day, general. 40 per week,
8 per day, clerks, etc. Operation limited to
1 shift.
35 per week, 5-day week, manufacturing. 40
per week, nonmanufacturing. Operation
limited to 1 shift.

Do.
Under 18.

RECOVERY

Cap and closure (Oct. 31)_. 40 cents per hour, factory.2 $14—$15 per week,
clerical, according to population.

do.

Under 16, general. U n­
der 18, hazardous oc­
cupations.

N A T IO N A L

40 per week averaged over 6 months, 8 per day
(in emergency 48 during 6 weeks in 6-month
period), factory. 40 per week averaged over
2 months (maximum 48 in 1 week), office.
------d o_______________________________________

D o.

CO
CO

C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L IN D U S T R IA L R E C O V E R Y A C T U P T O N O V E M B E R
8, 1933—Continued

Industry and date effective

M inim um wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)

Maximum hours

Crown
manufacturing
(N ov. 12).

35 cents per hour, females; 40 cents per hour,
males, factory. $14-$15 per week, according
to population, office.

1té regular rate_____

Dress (N ov. 13).

$15 per week for cleaners and pinkers, $45
per week for cutters, higher-priced garments,
city of N ew York, and lower-priced gar­
ments, eastern area; $15 per week for cleaners
and pinkers, $46 per week for cutters, lowerpriced garments, city of N ew York; 90 per­
cent of New York rates for eastern metro­
politan area and for higher-priced garments
in eastern area; 85 percent of New York
rates for western area. $14 per week, all
other employees.
40 cents per hour, factory.5 $15 per week,
others.

40 per week, averaged over 6 months (maxi­
mum 48 hours in 1 week, factory. 40 per
week (48 permitted during 6 weeks in 6month period), office. 5-day week insofar
as possible. 54 per week, watchmen, etc.
35 per week (extra hours b y special permis­
sion during 6 weeks in any season), 5-day
week, manufacturing. 40 per week (extra
hours b y special permission during 6 weeks
in any season), others. Operation limited to
1 shift.

40 per week, 8 per day, averaged over 1 year
(maximum 48 in 1 week), factory. 40 per
week averaged over 1 year, others.
36 per week, processing. 40 per week, others.

N o general provision, lté
regular rate, repair work,
etc.
N o provision . ...

40 per week (in peak periods 48, but extra
hours not to exceed 32 in 6 months), processing. 48 per week, others.

lté regular rate after 32
extra hours, processing.
lté regular rate after 48
hours, others.

Fishing tackle (Aug. 29)___ 35 cents per hour.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

lté regular rate___________ Under 16.

40 per week averaged over 6 m onths.._ ---------- No provision_____________

Under 16, general. Under
18, factory work.
Under 16.
Under 16, general. Under 18, hazardous occupations.

Under 16.
Do.

40 per week, 8 per day, 6-day week, general.
40 per week averaged over 4 months, office.

lté regular rate after 8
hours, all except office
workers.

35 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours), averaged
over 3 months (maximum 40 in 1 week), factory. 40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours),
others.
40 per week averaged over 6 months, office.
40 per week, 8 per day, others.

No general provision. 1té
regular rate, emergency
repair, etc.

Under 16, general. Under 18, hazardous occupations.

No provision

Under 16.

.

R E V IE W

40 cents per hour, processing.1 $15 per week,
others.
30 cents per hour for females, 35 cents per hour
for males, South;6 35 cents per hour for fe­
males, 40 cents per hour for males, North,
processing. Range from present rate plus 20
percent (but wage not to exceed $12 per week)
to $15 per week, according to population,
others.
Farm equipment (Oct. 23). 30, 35, or 40 cents per hour, according to zone,
factory. $12—$15, according to population,
office.
Fertilizer (N ov. 10)
20 cents per hour, Puerto Rico; 25 cents per
hour, southern area; 35 cents per hour, north­
ern and midwestern areas; 40 cents per hour,
Pacific coast.
Fire-extinguishing
appli­ 35 cents per hour, general. 40 cents per hour,
a n ce m a n u fa c t u r in g
factory.
(N ov. 4).

Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.

LABOR

Electrical manufacturing
(Aug. 15).
Fabricated metal products
manufacturing and metal
finishing and metal coat­
ing industry (N ov. 12).

Minors of specified age
excluded from em ploy­
ment

M ONTHLY

Electric storage and wet
primary battery (Oct. 16)

Provisions for overtime pay

1336

T A B U L A R A N A L Y S IS OF L A B O R P R O V IS IO N S IN

32^> cents per hour, females; 40 cents per hour,
males.

Funeral supply (N ov. 14)..

30 cents per hour, females; 30 cents per hour,
South, and 40 cents per hour, North, males.

Gas cock (N ov. 10)

40 cents per hour, general. 33 cents per hour,
light work, factory. $15 per week, office.

Gasoline-pump manufacturing (Sept. 18).

40 cents per hour,

Glass container (Oct. 13)........... .d o .2_________

40 per week averaged over 6 months (maximum N o provision.
48 in 1 week), general. 42 per week averaged
over 6 months (maximum 48 in 1 week), en­
gineers, etc. 96 in 2 weeks, watchmen. 40
per week averaged over 1 m onth (maximum
48 in 1 week), office, etc. 12 days in 14.
40 per week (tolerance of 5 percent as long as N o general provision. 1Yi
2-week average remains 40), general. 42 per
regular hourly rate after
week averaged over 2 weeks, watchmen. 46
40 hours, engineers, etc.
per week, engineers, etc. Operation limited
to 2 shifts.
40 per week, 8 per day, factory. 40 per week, N o general provision. 1x/i
clerical. 48 per week, watchmen.
regular rate after 8 hours,
emergency maintenance
and repair work.
40 per week.
N o provision_____________

Hair and jute felt (N ov. 13). 35 cents per hour_________ ____ _________
Handkerchief (Oct. 19)____ $12 per week, South; $13 per week, North.

Industrial supplies, ma­
chinery, and distributors
trade (N ov. 2).
Iron and steel (Aug. 19)___

Range from present rate plus 20 percent (but
wage not to exceed $12 per week) to $15 per
week, according to population.
25-40 cents per hour, common labor__________

Knitting, braiding, and
wire covering machine
(Oct. 13).

$14 per week, clerical and office employees.
cents per hour, others.

40

40 per week, 8 per day (in emergency 48 during
any 6 weeks in 6-month period).
40 per week, 8 per day, 5-day week, productive
operations. 40 per week averaged over 6
months, office workers. Operation limited
to 2 shifts.
40 per week, 8 per day, office and clerical. 48
per week averaged over 12 months (maxi­
mum 56 in 1 week), others.
40 per week averaged over 6 months, 8 per day,
6-day week (maximum 48 per week during
3 weeks in 6-month period).
40 per week averaged over 6 months, 6-day
week (maximum 48 in 1 w eek).
40 per week averaged over 6 months (maximum
48 per week during 8 weeks in 6-month
period).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

l x/i regular rate, mainte­
nance, shipping, etc.
N o provision made_______
1Vi regular rate after 8
hours.

Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, metal-working
machines.
Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous man­
ufacturing processes.
Under 16.
Do.

Do.
Do.

Do.
Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.
Under 16.
Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous man­
ufacturing processes.

1337

1 Unless rate for same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 32 cents an hour.
2 Unless rate was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 30 cents an hour.
3 Unless rate for same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 35 cents an hour.
5 Unless rate for same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 90 percent of m in im um
6 Unless rate was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than rates proposed in code filed July 10, 1933.

.do.

Do.

A D M IN IS T R A T IO N

Heat exchange (Oct. 2 2 )... 40 cents per hour, productive.8 $15 per week,
others.
Hosiery (Sept. 4)__________ $12 per week, general, $15.50 per week for
hoarders, $16.75-$24.75 per week for leggers,
footers, South; $13 per week, general, $17 per
week for boarders, $18.50-$27.50 per week for
leggers, footers, North.
Ice (Oct. 16)
23 cents per hour, South; 32}.^ cents per hour
elsewhere.

N o general provision. 1Vi
regular rate, certain em­
ployees earning over $35
per week.
V/i regular rate___________
No
general provision.
Regular rate after 40
hours, shipping crews.
Regular rate, emergency
work, repair-shop crews,
etc.
regular rate after 8
hours.
N o provision______ ______

Do.

RECOVERY

40 per week averaged over 6 months (maximum
48 in 1 week), factory. 40 per week averaged
over 1 month (maximum 48 in 1 week), office
or branch employees.
40 per week__________________________________
40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours), general.
45 per week, repair-shop crews, etc. 40 per
week, 8 per day (maximum 48 per week dur­
ing 16 weeks in any year), shipping crews.
Operation limited to 1 shift.

Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.

N A T IO N A L

Floor and wall clay tile
manufacturing (N ov. 13).

Industry and date effective

OF

LABOR

P R O V IS IO N S IN

M inim um wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)

Lace manufacturing (Aug.
28).

$13 per week.

L a d d e r m a n u fa ctu rin g
(N ov. 18).

35 cents per hour, general.

Leather (Sept. 18)_________

Linoleum and felt base
manufacturing (Oct. 2).
Liquefied gas (N ov. 8 )____
Luggage and fancy leather
goods ( O c t .13).

$15 per week, office. 40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours) (maximum
48 per week, or 6. days per week, during 8
weeks in 6-month period).
40 cents per hour, labor incident to production. 36 per week averaged over 6 months (in peak
periods extra hours not. to exceed 72 in 6
$14 per week, others.
months), production employees. 40 per
week averaged over 6 months, others.
32J/!j cents per hour, males and females, South; 40 per week averaged over 26 weeks, 8 per day _
35 cents per hour for females, 40 cents per
hour for males, North.
32)^ cents per hour___________________________ 44 per week up to Dec. 1,1933; 40 per week and
8 per day thereafter.
30 cents per hour, ushers. $30 per week, 35 per week, ushers. 40 per week, others--------chorus, moving-picture machine operators,
and musicians. $25-50 per week, according
to experience and price of admission, legiti­
mate actors. $12-$40 per week, according to
occupation and population, stock actors.
30 cents per hour in South, 37^ cents per hour 40 per week averaged over 6 months, 8 per day__
in North, general. $12-$15 per week, accord­
ing to population, clerical.
35 cents per hour, females; 40 cents per hour, 40 per week averaged over 26 weeks (maximum
48 in 1 week except for shipping crews).
males, general. $14 per week, office.
40 cents per hour_____________________________ 40 per week (in peak periods not over 346 hours
in 2 months, maximum 48 hours in 1 week).
40 per week, 8 per day, general. 48 per week,
30 cents per hour for females, 32}^ cents per hour
8 per day, engineers, etc.
for males, South; 32)^ cents per hour for
females, 35 cents per hour for males, North.

Lumber and timber prodducts (Aug. 22, 29).

40 cents per hour ? piece or contract work.
50 cents per hour, others.

Machine tool and forging
machinery (N ov. 19).

40 cents per hour,3 production.
others.


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

Operation limited to 2 shifts___

23-

$15 per week,

40 per week.

40 per week (in peak periods 48 per week during
6 weeks in 6-month period).

N o general provision.
regular rate, engineers,
electricians, etc.
RD regular rate after 8
hours.
1}4 regular rate after 8
hours.
regular rate.
N o provision____________

Minors of specified age
excluded from em ploy­
ment
Under 16.
Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.
Under 16.

D o.
Do.

Regular rate where speci­
fied.

Under 16 (except b y spe­
cial permission).

V/i regular rate after
hours.

Under 16.

No provision_____________
____do____________________
N o general provision. 1H
regular rate after 48
hours, engineers, etc.
R é regular rate after
40 hours, clerical and
office.
No general provision.
regular rate, for not
more than 10 percent of
watchmen, etc.
Ré regular rate after 8
hours.

Do.
Under 16, office and sales.
Under 18, others.
Under 16.

Under 18. Under 16,
wooden package divi­
sion.
Under 16, general. U n­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations

R E V IE W

Lime (Oct. 13)

40 per week.

Provisions for overtime pay

LABOR

Leather and woolen knit
glove (N ov. 13).
Legitimate theatrical (Aug.
26).

Maximum hours

M ONTHLY

Laundry and dry-cleaning
machinery manufactur­
ing (Oct. 14).

C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L IN D U S T R I A L R E C O V E R Y A C T U P T O N O V E M B E R
8, 1933—Continued

1338

T A B U L A R A N A L Y S IS

Marking devices (Oct. 30)

32)^ cents per hour.

M en’s clothing (Sept. 11)__

37 cents per hour in South, 40 cents per hour in
North, manufacturing. $13 per week in
South, $14 per week in North, nonmanu­
facturing. 75 cents per hour, off-pressers. $1
per hour, cutters.
31J-2 cents per hour in South, 35 cents per hour
in North, general. 70 cents per hour, cutters.

Nottingham lace curtains
(N ov. 13).

No
general provision.
Regular
rate,
stock
clerks, office, etc.
regular rate, engineers,
repair crews, etc.

40 per week, 8 per day.

1Yt regular rate.

40 per week averaged over 4 weeks, clerical. 48 N o provision.
per week averaged over 6 weeks (maximum
54 in 1 week), garage, service, etc. 48 per
week averaged over 6 weeks (maximum 54 in
1 week for 9 months and 48 per week with
allowance of 6 hours per week for 3 months),
bus operators and ticket agents. 56 per
week, watchmen.
40 cents per hour, factory. $14 per week, office. 35 per week averaged over 3 months (maximum XVi regular rate, mainte­
48 hours and 6 days in 1 week), tolerance of
nance, etc.
3 percent, factory. 40 per week, averaged
over 3 months (maximum 48 in 1 week),
others.
$13—$15 per week, according to population____ 44 per week__________ _______________________ N o provision.

Range from present wage plus 20 percent (but
wage not to exceed $12 per week) to $15 per
week, according to population.
$13 per week_________________________________

N ovelty curtain draperies,
bedspreads, and novelty
pillows (N ov. 11).

32)^ cents per hour.

Office equipment manufac­
turing (N ov. 13).

35 cents per hour for females, 40 cents per hour
for males, 3 factory. $12—$15 per week, ac­
cording to population, others.

40 per week averaged over 13 consecutive
weeks. 48 per week during 12 weeks in 1
year.
40 per week, factory. 40 per week, 8 per day,
5-day week, weavers. 40 per week aver­
aged over 6 weeks (maximum 48 in 1 week),
office. Operation limited to 2 shifts.
40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours), general.
40 per week averaged over 9 weeks (maxi­
mum 48 in 1 week), office. Operation lim­
ited to 1 shift.
40 per week averaged over 10 weeks (in peak
periods 48 per week during 8 weeks in 6
months), factory. 40 per week (peak pe­
riods 48 during 6 weeks in 6 months), others.

do.

Do.
Under 16, general. U n­
der 21, bus drivers.

Under 16, general. U n­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.
Under 16.

N o provision.

20

to

29

Do.

D o.

Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, machine opera­
tors.

cents) from 1y2 to 15.percent.

1339


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

Under 16.

Do.

N o general provision. 1¡4
regular rate after 44
hours,repair-shop crews,
etc.
1% regular rate, emergency
maintenance or repair.

3 Unless rate for same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 35 cents an hour.
7 Unless rate was lower on July 15, 1929, in which case rate shall be not less than the rate on that date, plus (in case of rates from

Under 16, general. U n­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.

A D M IN IS T R A T IO N

Motor-vehicle
retailing
(Oct. 3).
M utual savings banks(Oct.
23).

40 per week, factory. 40 per week (maximum
44 per week during 16 weeks in year), office.
44 per week, shipping clerks, repair crews, etc.
40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours)__________

Do.
Under 16.

RECOVERY

M otor fire apparatus man­
ufacturing (N ov. 9).

V/i regular rate after 8
hours.
N o provision._____ ______

N A T IO N A L

M en’s garter, suspender,
and belt manufacturing
(N ov. 19).
Millinery and dress trim­ 35 cents per hour, New York City; 32)^ cents
ming braid and textile ! per hour elsewhere.
(N ov. 10).
Motion-picture laboratory 50 cents per hour, general. $12—$15 per week,
(Sept. 17).
according to population, others.
M otor bus (N ov 13)_____ $12-$15 per week, according to population____

40 per week averaged over 13 weeks, 8 per day,
general. 42 per week, 8 per day, watchmen.
36 per week, 8 per day, general. 40 per week,
averaged over year, repair shop crews, etc.
Operation limited to 1 shift.

Industry and date effective

Oil burner (Sept. 23)

Paperboard (N ov. 20)

Petroleum (Sept. 2)

P e tr o le u m
(N ov. 13).

e q u ip m e n t

Photographic manufactur­
ing (Aug. 29).


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

36 per week average (32 per week JanuaryJune, maximum 40 in 1-week; 40 per week
July-December, maximum 48 in 1 week),
manufacturing. 38 per week average (32 per
week March-August, maximum 40 in 1
week; 48 per week September-November;
40 per week December-February, maximum
48 in 1 week), installing and servicing. 40
per xveek averaged over 6 months (maximum
48 in 1 week), office, etc.
32H cents per hour for 20 percent of employees, 40 per week (in peak periods 48 per week in 16
consecutive w7eeks, maximum 2,080 per
40 cents per hour for 75 percent of employees.
year).
40 cents per hour, productive workers. $14— 40 per wTeek, 8 per day (of 24 hours) (in peak
periods 48 during 8 weeks in 6-month period),
$15 per week, according to population,
productive workers. 40 per week averaged
others.
over month (maximum 48 in 1 wTeek), office,
etc. 56 per week, watchmen.
35 cents per hour for females, 40 cents per hour 40 per week, 8 per day (45 per week and 9 per
day, during 6 weeks in 26-week period),
for males, factory. $14-$15 per week, ac­
factory. 40 per week averaged over 20
cording to population, office. 90 percent
of above rates in South.
w'eeks (48 per week during 6 wreeks in 26week period), office, delivery, etc.
33 cents per hour for females and 38 cents per 56 per week, 8 per day, watchmen. 48 per
hour for males in North; 30 cents per hour
w7eek, 10 per day (168 hours in 4 weeks),
for females and 35 cents per hour for males in
chauffeurs, truckmen, etc. 40 per week, 8
Central; 30 cents per hour in South, factory.5
per day, averaged over 13 weeks, tour work­
$12—$15 per week, according to population,
ers. 40 per week averaged over 13 weeks
(maximum 48 in 1 week), factory. 40 per
others.
week averaged over 1 year (maximum 48 in
13 weeks), others.
45-52 cents per hour, according to geographical 80 in 2 weeks (maximum 48 in 1 week), office.
40 per week, 72 in 2 weeks, 16 in 2 days,
divisions, drilling, refining, etc. 40-47 cents
per hour, according to geographical divi­
others, drilling, refining, etc. 40 per week,
sions, marketing. $12—$15 per week, accord­
marketing. 48 per week, service stations.
ing to population, service stations.
35 cents per hour in South, 40 cents per hour in 40 per week averaged over 3 months (maxi­
North, hourly workers. $15 per week,
mum 48 in 1 w eek), 6 days per week, general.
56 per week, watchmen.
others.
45 cents per hour, factory.
office, etc.

35 cents per hour.

$15 per week,

40 per week averaged over 3 months (in emer­
gency or peak period 144 hours over maxi­
mum, per year).

Provisions for overtime pay

N o provision.

No general provision. 1R
regular rate, emergency
crews, etc., paid hourly.
lYi regular rate after 8
hours per day or 40
hours per week, produc­
tive workers, emergency
repair, etc.
No general provision. 1Vi
regular rate, mainte­
nance, etc.

Minors of specified age
excluded from em ploy­
ment
Under 16.

D o.
Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.
Under 16.

XVi regular rate after 8
hours, factory workers.

Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.

R E V IE W

Paint, varnish, and lacquer
manufacturing (N ov. 15).

Maximum hours

LABOR

Packaging machinery in­
dustry and trade (N ov.
11) .

M inimum wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)

M ONTHLY

O p tica l m a n u fa ctu rin g
(Oct. 16).

P R O V IS IO N S IN C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L I N D U S T R IA L R E C O V E R Y A C T U P T O N O V E M B E R
8, 1933—Continued

1340

T A B U L A R A N A L Y S IS OF L A B O R

N o provision.

Under 16.

lj.fi regular rate after 8
hours per day or 40 hours
per week, hourly workers.
N o general provision. 1H
regular rate, repair shop
crews, etc.

Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.
Under 16.

Piano (N ov. 13).

40 cents per hour, general. 32 cents per hour,
females on light work, factory. $14 per
week, others.

Plumbago crucible (Oct. 40 cents per hour, general. $15 per week, ac­
counting, clerical, etc.
30).
Printer’s rollers (N ov. 18).. 45 cents per hour, factory. $15 per week,
office.

40 per week (maximum 48 during 6 weeks in
6-month period), 8 per day.
40 per week averaged over 4 weeks___________

1Vi regular rate, factory
workers.

lYi regular rate after 8
hours.
1Y regular rate after 8
hours per day and 40
hours per week, spe­
cialists and emergency
repair crews, etc.
Y/i regular rate after 8
hours.
N o p ro v isio n ...____ _____

Under 16, general. Un­
der 18, hazardous occu­
pations.
D o.
D o.

Under 16.
D o.
Under 16 (except 3 hours
per day, 6 days per
week, or one 8-hour day
for persons 14 and 15).

N o general provision. 1Yi
regular rate, yard fore­
men, etc.

Under 16, general. U n­
der 18, handling lum ­
ber, etc.

$10-$15 per week, according to population,
North. $9-$14 per week, according to popu­
lation, South.

40 per week, 8 per day, 6-day week; or 44 per
week, 9 per day, 6-day week; or 48 per week,
10 per day, 6-day week, according to store
hours.

Under 16 (except 3 hours
per day, 6 days per
week, or one 8-hour day
for persons 14 and 15).

Range from present rate plus 20 percent (but
wage not to exceed $12 per week) to $15 per
week, according to population, office. 40
cents per hour, others.
R ock crusher manufactur­ 40 cents per hour, general. Range from present
rate plus 20 percent (but wage not to exceed
ing (N ov. 1).
$12 per week) to $15 per week, according to
population, clerical.
30 cents per hour for females (making pads),
Saddlery (Oct. 13).
and 32Yi cents per horn for males, in South;
3214 cents per hour for females (making
pads), and 35 cents per hour for males, else­
where.
Salt production (Sept. 17).. 25 cents per hour for females, and 30 cents per
hour for males, in South; 32 cents per hour
for females, and 35 cents per hour for males,
in North.

40 per week averaged over 6 months (maximum
44 in 1 week), office. 40 per week average,
8 per day (in peak periods 44 during any 8
weeks in 6 months), others.
40 per week average, 8 per day (in peak periods
44 per week during 8 weeks in 6 months),
general. 40 per week averaged over 6
months (maximum 44 in 1 week), clerical.
40 per week averaged over 4-month period, 8
per day (of 24 hours) general. 40 per week
averaged over 26 weeks, 8 per day, office.

N o general provision. 1J4
regular rate after 6
hours per week over
maximum, maintenance,
etc.
1Y regular rate___________

Retail lumber, lumber
products, building ma­
terials and building spe­
cialties (Oct. 13).
Retail trade (Oct. 30)_____

Road machinery manu­
facturing (N ov. 20)______

35-50 cents per hour, according to geographical
area.

3 Unless rate for same class of lat or was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 35 cents an hour.
5 Unless rate for same class of labor was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 90 percent of minimum.


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

Do.

lYi regular rate

Under 16.

N o provision.

Under 16, general. Under
21, below ground.

1341

42 per week for processing and 40 per week av­
eraged over 6 months, for others (maximum
48 in 1 week), 6-day week, North. 48 per
week averaged over 6 months (maximum
54 in 1 week), 6-day week, South and
California.

do.

Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.

A D M IN IS T R A T IO N

N o general provision. 1
regular rate after 6 hours
per week over maximum,
maintenance, etc.

RECOVERY

40 per week, 8 per day, 6-day week; or 44 per
week, 9 per day, 6-day week; or 48 per week,
10 per day, 6-day week; or 56 per week, 10
per day, 13 days in 2 weeks, according to
store hours.
40 per week, general. 44 per week, yard fore­
men, truckmen, etc' 48 per week in small
towns where not more than 2 employed.

N A T IO N A I

Pump manufacturing (Oct. 40 cents per hour, productive workers.3 $15
per week, others.
22).
Rayon and synthetic yarn $13 per week___ ____ ________________________
production (Sept. 9).
Retail drug trade (Oct. 30) _ $10-$16 per week, according to population,
North. $9-$15 per week, according to popu­
lation, South.

40 per week, 8 per day, general factory. 4S per
week, during 6 weeks per year, finishers,
factory. 40 per week averaged over 3
months (maximum 48 per week and 8 per
day, average 520 hours in 13 weeks), office.
40 per week, general. 48 per week (maximum
48 in 1 week), kiln burners.
40 per week, general (maximum 48 per
week during 12 weeks in 6-month period for
specialists). 56 per week, 6-day week,
watchmen.

Minors of specified age
excluded from em ploy­
ment

Provisions for overtime pay

Shipbuilding and ship re­
pairing (Aug. 5).

35 cents per hour, South; 45 cents per hour,
North.

iy> regular rate after 8
hours.

Under 16.

Shovel, dragline and crane
(N ov. 20).

40 cents per hour (35 cents per hour for 10 percent engaged in nonproductive w ork), gener­
al. $14-15 per week, according to popula­
tion, office.

$12 per week, South; $13 per week, N orth______

N o general provision. \l/i
regular rate after. 8
hours per day and 40
hours per week, hourly
employees. 1)4 regular
rate after 9 hours per
day and 44 hours per
week, hourly employ­
ees on maintenance
work.
regular rate after 40
hours, r e p a i r - s h o p
crews, etc.

Under 16, office work.
Under 18, others.

Silk textile (Oct. 16)_______

Soap and glycerine manu­
facturing (N ov. 13).

35 cents per hour in South, 40 cents per hour in
North, general. 30 cents per hour, in South,
32)^ cents per hour in North, light tasks.
$14-15, according to population, office and
service vehicles.
25-40 cents per hour, b y districts, for common
labor, factory. $15 per week, office.

32 per week, 8 per day, U.S. construction.
36 per week averaged over 6 months (maxi­
mum 40 in 1 week), 8 per day, commercial.
40 per week (maximum 44 per week during 8
weeks in 6-month period), general. 44 per
week (maximum 48 per week during 8 weeks
in 6-month period), hourly employees in
maintenance. 56 per week, watchmen and
janitors. 40 per week (maximum 48 per
week during 8 weeks in 6-month period,
office. 44 per week, 1 employee in each
district sales office. 48 per week, 1 employee
in each field service station.
40 per week, productive employees. 40 per
week or 480 in any 12 weeks (maximum 48
in 1 week), others. Operation limited to 2
shifts.
40 per week averaged over 6 months, factory.
40 per week averaged over 6 months (maxi­
mum 48 in 1 week), office. 44 per week
averaged over 6 months (maximum 48 in 1
week), service vehicles, etc.
40 per week averaged over 8 weeks (maximum
48 in 1 week), 6-day week, factory. 40 per
week, office. 8 per day insofar as possible.
40 per week, 8 per day, 5 consecutive days_____

Steel casting (N ov. 13) —.
Steel tubular and fire-box
boiler (N ov. 6).

34 cents per hour in South, 40 cents per hour in
North, labor operations. $15 per week,
others.

Stock exchange firms (N ov.
13).

Range from present rate plus 20 percent (but
wage not to exceed $12 per week) to $16
per week, according to population.

Terracotta (N ov. 13)_____

30 cents per hour in South, 35 cents per hour in
North, general. $15 per week, watchmen.

Textile bag (Oct. 2 )______

$12 per week, South; $13 per week, N orth______

Textile machinery manufacturing (Oct. 16).

$14 per week, clerical.
others.


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

35 cents per hour,

No provision_____________

1H regular rate, emer­
gency production, re­
pair, etc. Twice regu­
lar rate for outside re­
pair, etc.
40 per week (in emergency 44 per week aver­ V/i regular rate after aver­
age of 44 hours per week
aged over 4 m onths).
in 4 months, or over 48
hours in 1 week.
40 per week____________________ _________ — _ N o general provision. lMs
regular rate, clerical,
estimators, etc.
40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours), (in peak N o general provision. 1H
regular rate for repairperiods 48 per week during 8 weeks in 1
year, maximum 48 in 1 week). Operation
shop crews, etc.
limited to 2 shifts.
40 per week, 8 per day, 6-day week (in peak \Vi regular rate after 8
hours.
periods 48 per week during 8 weeks in 6
months).

Under 16.

D o.

Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.
Under 16.

D o.

Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.
Under 16.

Under 16, general. Under
18, hazardous occupa­
tions.

R E V IE W

M aximum hours

LABOR

M inim um wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)

M ONTHLY

Industry and date effective

m regular rate______ ____

1342

T A B U L A E A N A L Y S IS OB L A B O R P R O V IS IO N S IN C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L IN D U S T R IA L R E C O V E R Y A C T U P T O N O V E M B E R
8, 1933—Continued

40 per week, productive workers. 40 per week
(44 per week, emergency), nonproductive.
Operation limited to 2 shifts.

T oys and playthings (N ov.
13).

30 cents per hour.

Transit (Oct. 2)__________

$12-$15 per week, according to population.
cents, hourly employees.2

Umbrella manufacturing
(Oct. 16).

35-65 cents per hour, N ew York; 32)4-60 cents
per hour, elsewhere.

Underwear and allied prod­
ucts manufacturing (Oct.

$12 per week, South; $13 per week, North.

Wall paper manufacturing
(Sept. 18).

32)4 cents per hour, females;
males.

40 per week (in peak periods 48, but extra hours
not to exceed 96 in 1 year). 42 averaged
over 2 weeks, watchmen.
40 per week, office employees. 44 per week,
shop employees. 48 per week averaged
over 6 months, car-house and garage em­
ployees, trainmen, bus operators, etc.
(Maximum 54 in 1 week.)
40 per week, 8 per day, 5-day week. 16 hours
in 2 successive days emergency repair.
84 hours in 2-week period, watchmen. One.
shift of employees.
40 per week (10 percent tolerance on emer­
gency work),factory. 40 per week averaged
over 1 month, office. Operation limited to
1 shift for sewing machines and 2 shifts for
knitting machines.
40 per week, 8 per day. Operation limited to
2 shifts.

Washing and ironing ma­
chinery manufacturing
(N ov. 6).
W om en's belts (Oct. 13)__

40 cents per hour for males, 36 cents per hour
for females, factory. $15 per week, office.

40

2).

$14 per week, unskilled labor and office workers.
$17-$28 per week, according to occupation,
others.
32)4 cents per hour, South; 35 cents per hour,
North.

40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours), 6-day week
(10 percent tolerance for repair work, etc.),
factory. 40 per week 6-day week, office.
40 per week, 8 per day (of 24 hours)__________
40 per week.

Operation limited to 2 shifts___

N o provision.

Under 16.

Under
16,
general.
Under 18, hazardous
occupations.
Under 16.

N o general provision. 1)4
regular rate, emergency
repair.

D o.

N o provision_____________

D o.
D o.

N o general provision. 1)4
regular rate, repair-shop
crews, etc., paid by hour.
No provision_____________
N o overtime perm itted___
N o provision.

Under
16,
general.
Under 18, hazardous
occupations.
Under 16.
D o.

Agriculture
Beet sugar (N ov. 6)

32)4 cents per hour, factory. $14-$15 per week,
according to population, office.

40 per week, 8 per day, factory. 40 per week,
office. 84 hours in 2 weeks, watchmen.
Peak period (not to exceed 135 days in Cali­
fornia or 120 days in other States), 56 per
week, 8 per day, factory; 48 per week, 8 per
day, office.

N o general provision. l)é
regular rate, emergency
repair, etc.

Under
16,
general.
Under 18, loading and
unloading.

A D M IN IS T R A T IO N

W ool textile (Aug. 14)

35 cents per hour,

N o general provision. 1)4
regular rate, nonproduc­
tive emergency work
after 44 hours.
l ) i regular rate___________

RECOVERY

30 cents per hour, South; 32)4 cents per hour,
North.

N A T IO N A L

Throwing (Oct. 16)

2 Unless rate was lower on July 15, 1929, but in no case less than 30 cents an hour.

1343


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

MINIMUM WAGE
M inim um Wage Legislation in The United States

INIM UM wage legislation took a decided turn during 1933
from a rather doubtful and discouraging past to a brighter and
more encouraging future. During the legislative year 1933 seven
States enacted laws providing for the payment of a minimum wage to
women and minors. (Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Utah.)1 This makes a total of 16 States
having some form of a minimum wage law, as 9 States had such
laws at the beginning of the year. (California, Colorado, Massachu­
setts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington,
and Wisconsin.)2
The States of Nebraska, Texas, and Utah enacted laws on this
subject, but the laws were later repealed.3 In Nebraska the only
appropriation made in connection with the minimum wage law was
the initial appropriation of $500 which was later placed in the sinking
fund, as no action was taken under the law. After 6 years of inoper­
ative existence the law was repealed. As the law was never enforced,
its failure and repeal seem to have been the result of lack of
proper administration rather than a failure of the law itself. In
Texas the law passed in 1919 was repealed in 1921, and at the same
time a new bill was passed relating to minimum wages for women
and minors; it was, however, vetoed by the Governor and therefore
never became a law. In 1929 the Legislature of Utah repealed a
law on this subject which had been enacted in 1913. A second law
requiring the payment of a minimum wage to women and minors
was enacted in Utah during 1933, as noted above. It is therefore
apparent that the repeal of these minimum wage laws does not indi­
cate that the laws in themselves were a failure.
The constitutionality of minimum wage legislation has been at­
tacked in several cases before the United States Supreme Court as
well as before State courts. The first case to reach the United States
Supreme Court was that of Stettler v. O’Hara (243 U.S. 629)4 which
arose under the minimum wage law enacted by the State of Oregon.
The State supreme court found no violation of either the Federal or
the State Constitution in the enactment and enforcement of the
minimum wage law. In declaring the law valid, the Oregon court
quoted from a report of the commission on minimum wage boards
appointed by the Massachusetts Legislature to investigate conditions
as follows:

M

Women in general are working because of dire necessity and in most cases the
combined income of the family is not more than adequate to meet the fam ily’s
cost of living. In these cases it is not optional with the women to decline lowpaid employment. Every dollar added to the family income is needed to lighten
1 See complete text of law for New Hampshire, N ew Jersey, N ew York, and Utah in M on th ly Labor
Review, June 1933 (pp. 1259-1276); for Connecticut and Ohio, M onthly Labor Review, July 1933 (pp. 5765); and Illinois, M onthly Labor Review, August 1933 (p. 306).
2
See complete text of these laws in U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. Nos. 370, 403, 470, and 528; and
M onthly Labor Review, N ovember 1929 (pp. 29-39).
8Nebraska, ch. 190, Acts of 1919; Texas, ch. 118, Acts of 1921; Utah, ch. 9, Acts of 1929,
4 For State decision see 69 Oreg. 519; 70 Oreg. 261.

1344
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M IN IM U M

W AGE

1345

the burden which the rest are carrying * * *. Wherever the wages of such
a woman are less than the cost of living and the reasonable provision for main­
taining the worker in health, the industry employing her is in receipt of the
working energy of a human being at less than its cost, and to that extent is
parasitic. The balance must be made up in some way. It is generally paid by
the industry employing the father. It is sometimes paid in part by future
inefficiency of the worker herself, and by her children, and perhaps in part ulti­
mately by charity and the State * * *. If an industry is permanently
dependent for its existence on underpaid labor, its value to the Commonwealth is
questionable.

The court also said that “ every argument put forward to sustain
the maximum hours law, or upon which it was established, applies
equally in favor of the constitutionality of the minimum wage law
as also within the police power of the State and as a regulation tending
to guard the public morals and the public health * * *. ”
This decision was appealed to the United States Supreme Court
and in 1917 that court affirmed the decision, the court being equally
divided, four justices in favor of the constitutionality, four justices
against, and one taking no part in the decision.
In 1923 the United States Supreme Court had occasion to render
an opinion on the minimum wage law adopted by Congress for the
District of Columbia.5 The law was declared unconstitutional be­
cause the Court found that it violated the guaranties of the Federal
Constitution in that it denied the freedom of contract and resulted
in deprivation of property without due process of law. This was
a 5—3 decision rendered over the vigorous protest of Mr. Chief Justice
Taft, and was rather surprising when viewed in the light of prior
decisions of the same court. In earlier cases the Supreme Court had
declared valid, without finding any violation of the “ freedom of
contract” or “ due process,” such “ public health and welfare” laws
as those limiting the hours of labor for women and minors. In one
of the cases Mr. Justice Brewer had said: “ The fact that both
parties are of full age and competent to contract does not necessarily
deprive the State of the power to interfere where the parties do not
stand upon an equality or where the public health demands that one
party to the contract shall be protected against himself. ” (Holden v.
Hardy, 169 U.S. 366.) In the case of Muller v. Oregon, 208 U.S.
412, the court said in regard to legislation enacted for the protection
of women that such legislation was justified not only for the protection
of the woman’s own health but also for the well-being of the race.
Upon the authority of Adkins v. Children’s Hospital, supra, a deci­
sion was rendered in 1925 declaring the Arizona law void (Murphy v.
Sardell, 269 U.S. 530); and in 1927 the Arkansas law was also declared
unconstitutional. (Donharn v. West-Nelson M jg.C o., 273 U.S. 657.)
Several State supreme courts, following the decision of the United
States Supreme Court, thereupon declared the State minimum wage
laws unconstitutional. The Kansas law was voided in the decision
of the State court in the case of Topeka Laundry Co. v. Court oj Indus­
trial Relations, (119 Kans. 13); the Puerto Rican law was declared
unconstitutional by the Puerto Rican Supreme Court in the case ol
People v. Successors of Laurnaga cfc Co. (32 P.R. Rep. 766). The
Minnesota law has been declared constitutional in several decisions
by the State supreme court;6 however, the latest case, that of Steven­
son v. St. Clair (161 Minn. 444), took into consideration the decision
5 Adkins v. Children’s Hospital, 261 U .S. 525.
.
TI.
_
. .
« See: Williams v. Evans, 139 Minn. 32; G. O. Miller Telegraph Co. v. Minimum Wage Commission, 145
M in n . 262; State v. Align, 150 M inn. 123.


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1346

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

of the United States Supreme Court in the Adkins case but held that
it did not affect the minimum wage law as applied to minors, and
therefore that phase of the law is still in force and effect.
The supreme courts of other States, on the other hand, have found
the minimum wage laws constitutional and a valid exercise of the
police power. The North Dakota law was upheld in Northwestern
T. E. Co. v. Workmen’s Compensation Bureau (47 N.D. 397); the
Washington minimum wage law was declared constitutional in several
decisions of the State supreme court.7 The Massachusetts law,
although differing from the usual type of minimum wage law, has
also been declared constitutional by the State court.8
Of the minimum wage laws passed this year those of Connecticut,
Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio are based
upon the standard minimum wage bill sponsored by the National
Consumers’ League. The standard bill does not attempt to regulate
wages generally. Whenever a substantial number of women and
minors in any occupation are receiving less than a subsistence wage the
law provides that an investigation be made to determine whether the
wages are “ fairly and reasonably commensurate with the value of the
service or class of service rendered.”
The law has defined an unreasonable wage as one that is “ less than
the fair and reasonable value of the services rendered and less than
sufficient to meet the minimum cost of living necessary for health.”
The Utah minimum wage law is similar to the California law. The
State industrial commission is empowered to ascertain the wages paid,
the hours, and conditions of labor in the various occupations.
Upon investigation, if it is determined that the wages paid “ are
inadequate to supply the cost of proper living” , the law provides that
the commission shall call a “ wage board” into conference. After a
public hearing, the commission is empowered to fix a minimum wage,
a maximum number of hours, and the standard conditions of labor
“ demanded by the health and welfare of the women and minors en­
gaged in any occupation.” A mandatory order may be subsequently
issued setting forth the minimum wage and the maximum hours.
As to whether the laws adopted during the present year will suc­
cessfully pass the constitutional tests, any opinion would be a mere
prophecy. However, these laws were drawn by the legislatures in
view of the objections raised in the Adkins case and it is evident that
the laws were so worded as to overcome the major difficulties. During
the recent period of economic depression it has become apparent that
unfair wage standards not only undermine the health and well-being
of the workers but threaten the stability of industry itself. As a
protection, therefore, against unfair methods of competition by
ruthless and unscrupulous competitors the States have again turned
their attention towards minimum wage laws, for now as never
before is realized the close relationship between the payment of a
minimum wage and the economic well-being of the race. The
experience of the past few years should add much force and weight
to the reasoning in the opinion in Stettler v. O’Hara holding that the
enactment of such laws is a valid exercise of the police power and
that they are not only a valid but a necessary means of protecting
the public health, morals, and welfare.
7 See: Larsen v. Rice, 100 Wash. 642; Spokane Hotel Co. v. Younger, 113 Wash. 359; Sparks v. Moritz, 141
Wash. 417.
8 Holcombe v. Creamer, 231 Mass. 99.


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P R I N C I P A L P R O V IS IO N S OF M IN IM U M W A G E L A W S IN E F F E C T IN 1933

State

Calif___ D eering’s
G en .
Laws
1931; Act
3613.

Wxmen physically de­
fective b y age or
otherwise m ay be
granted special li­
cense. License must
be renewed every 6
months.
Appren­
tices: Special wages
set b y commission
during s p e c i f i e d
period of apprentice­
ship.

O c c u p a t io n s ,
trades, and ind u s t r i e s in
which women
and
minors
are employed.

Industrial wel­
fare commis­
sion of 5 mem­
bers (1 a wo­
man) appoint­
ed b y Gover­
nor for 4 years.

At discretion of
com m ission.
Investigation
conducted
by
examining pa­
pers, books, wit­
nesses, and b y
holding public
hearings.

W omen physically de­
fective or crippled
b y age or otherwise
or less efficient than
t h o s e of ordinary
a b i l i t y m a y be
granted special li­
cense, stating wage;
number so licensed
must not exceed one
tenth of total em­
ployed in establish­
ment.

A ny occupation
(construed to
include “ any
and every
vocation,
trade, pursuit,
and
indus­
t r y ” ).

Industrial com­
mission of 3
members (not
more than 1
e a c h repre­
senting
em­
ployees and
e m p lo y e r s ),
appointed by
Governor,
with consent
of senate, for 6
years.

At discretion of
commission or
at request of not
less than 25 per­
sons engaged in
the occupation.
Investigation
conducted b y ex­
amining books,
papers, and wit­
nesses, and b y
holding public
hearings.

W omen;
m inors
(fe m a le s
under 21,
males u n ­
der 18).

W omen;
m inors
(either
sex under
18 years of
age).

Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award

Commissioner convenes Refusal to com
wage board composed
ply with law
of representatives of
a misdemean­
employers and em ­
or. Employee
ployees in trade in
m ay recover
question, with mem­
back
wages
ber of commission as
and costs.
chairman; after inves­
tigation the hoard re­
ports to commission
the minimum wage
it deems necessary.
After public hearing
commissioner fix e s
minimum wage for
the trade.
Commission m ay itself .........do....................
investigate and set
minimum wage for an
occupation, or it m ay
establish wage board
composed of member
of commission and not
more than 3 repre­
sentatives each of em­
ployers concerned, of
female employees, and
of public. Representa­
tives of employers and
the employees to be
elected b y their respec­
tive groups; at least
1 member of every
group to be a woman.
Wage board investi­
gates and reports to
commission a mini­
mum wage which
c o m m i s s i o n m ay
accept or reject.

Principles b y
which amount
of award is
determined

Amount must
be adequate
to supply nec­
essary cost of
proper liv ­
in g , a n d to

maintain

h e a l t h and
w e l f a r e of
workers.

Wage must be
adequate to
supply neces­
sary cost of
living and to

maintain

health, a n d
must be suf­
ficient living
wages
for
women a n d
minors of ordi­
nary ability.

1347


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M ethod of arriving at
wage awards

W AGE

C om p.
Laws
1921;
secs.
4 2624283.

B ody empow­
ered to admin­
ister law

Exceptions

M IN IM U M

Colo___

M ethod of select­
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered by
this body

Occupations or
industries
covered

Classes
covered

Citation

State

Classes
covered

Citation

C o n n ... A c t s o f
1933, ch.
301.

W omen; m i­
nors (e i­
ther sex,
under 21
y e a rs o f
age).

W omen or minors (in­
cluding learners or
apprentices) w ith
earning capacity im ­
paired b y age, phys­
ical or mental de­
ficiency, or injury,
m ay obtain special
license authorizing
wage lower than
esta b lish ed m in i­
mum for fixed pe­
riod.

B ody empow­
ered to admin­
ister law

A ny sweatshop
occupation
(defined as in­
dustry, trade,
busin ess, or
occupation
paying unfair
and o p p re s ­
s i v e w a g es,
but not in­
c lu d in g d o ­
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).

C om m ission er
of labor and
d i r e c t o r of
m inim um
wage division
which m ay be
set up in de­
partment of
labor.

Alethod of select­
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered by
this body
A t discretion of
commissioner or
director, or at
request of 50 or
more residents
of State.

M ethod of arriving at
wage awards

Principles by
which amount
of award is
determined

N on compliance
with manda­
t ory order
makes e m ­
ployer liable
to fine or im ­
prisonment or
b o th . E ach
week, in any
day of which
an employee is
paid less than
rate set b y
order, consti­
tutes separate
offense as to
each employee
so paid. E m ­
p lo y e e m a y
recover back
wages and
costs.

W age must be
sufficient to
meet mini­
mum cost of
living neces­
sary for health.

R E V IE W

C o m m issio n e r, after
conferring with direc­
tor, appoints wage
board composed of
not more than 3 rep­
resentatives each of
employers and of em­
ployees concerned (to
be selected as far as
p r a c t i c a b l e f rom
nominations b y re­
spective groups), and
of p ub li c. After
studying evidence and
information in com ­
missioner’s possession,
board must, within
60 days of its organi­
zation, submit report,
including recom­
m ended min i mu m
fair-wage standards
for women and minors
in occupation. The
commissioner may ac­
cept or reject this re­
port.

Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award

LABOR

Occupations or
industries
covered

M ONTHLY


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Exceptions

1348

P R IN C IP A L P R O V IS IO N S OF M IN IM U M W A G E L A W S IN E F F E C T IN 1933—Continued

Qen. Laws
1932, ch.
151, secs.
1-15.

Females;

i

M a ss.-

(under 18
years
of
age).

W om en physically de­
fective m ay obtain
license authorizing
wage lower than es­
tablished minimum.

A ny industry,
trade, or busi­
ness, branch
t h e r e o f , or
class of workt h e r e i n , in
which women
or minors are
gainfully em­
ployed (notincluding d o ­
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).

Department of
labor, having
director and
assistant di­
rector a p ­
pointed by
governor with
a d v i ce and
consent of sen­
ate.

At discretion of
department or
at request of 50
or more resi­
dents of any
county.

V i o l a t i o n of
mandatory
order deemed
misdem eanor
and punished
b y fine or imprisonment
or both. Each
week, in any
day of which
order is not
complied with,
constitutes
sep a ra te o f ­
fense as to
each employee
concerned.

Wage must be
fairly c o m ­
mensurate
with value of
se rv ice r e n ­
dered, and
sufficient to
meet m i n i ­
mum cost of
living neces­
sary for health.

Publication of
names of all
employers re­
fusing to comp ly
with
awards
of
board.

Wage must be
suitable
for
female of ordi­
nary ability,
be based on
needs of em­
ployee and fi­
nancial condi­
tion of indus­
try, and be
adequate
to
supply neces­
sary cost of
li v i n g and
maintain the
w o r k e r in
health.

*

A ny occupation. Board of concili­ A t discretion of
ation and ar­
board.
bitration, com ­
posed of 3 asso­
ciate commis­
sioners of de­
partment of la­
bor and indus­
tries (1 repre­
senting labor
and 1 repre­
senting
em­
ployers) , ap­
pointed
by
governor for 3
years.

Director appoints wage
board composed of
not more than 2 rep­
resentatives each of
employers and of em­
ployees in the occupa­
tion (to be selected as
far as practicable from
nominations s u b ­
mitted b y respective
groups), and of 1 dis­
interested person rep­
resenting public. The
b o a r d in v e stig a te s
wage standards of
women or minors in
specified occupation,
and rec o m m e nd s
minimum wage which
m ay be accepted or
rejected.
Board organizes wage
board composed of
equal number of rep­
resentatives each of
employers and of fe­
male employees in
the occupation (to be
selected from names
furnished b y respec­
tive groups), and of 1
or more disinterested
persons to represent
public (but represent­
atives of public not to
exceed half the num­
ber of representatives
of either of the other
parties). After study,
wage board recom­
mends a minimum
wage which board
m ay accept or reject.

W AGE

1349


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

minors

do.

M IN IM U M

Women; mi­
nors (fe­
males un­
d e r 18,
males un­
der
21
y e a rs of
age).

21719°—33-

Acts o f
1933, P597.

State

Classes
covered

Citation

M in n ... Gen. Stats. W o m e n ;
1923. sec.
minors(fe4210-4232.
raales und e r 18

y e a r s of

W omen;


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

minors

(either sex,
u n d e r 21
years of
age).

A ny occupation
(defined as any
business, in­
dustry, trade,
or branch of
a trade).

Women or minors (in­
cluding learners or
apprentices)
with
earning capacity im ­
paired by age, physi­
cal or mental defici­
ency, or injury, may
be granted special
license authorizing
wage lower than es­
tablished minimum
for fixed period.

A ny occupation
(defined as in­
dustry, trade,
or business, or
branch there­
of, but not in­
cluding d o ­
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).

Labor commis­
sioner, a p ­
p o i n t e d by
Governor with
advice
and
c o n s e n t of
council, for 3
years.

A t discretion of
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or more resi­
dents of State.
Investigation
c o n d u c t e d by
examination
of wi t n e s s e s ,
books, records,
a n d other rel­
evant evidence.

M ethod of arriving at
wage awards

Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award

Commission m ay itself Refusal to com ­
ply' with law
investigate and deter­
mine a minimum wage
a misdemean­
for occupation in ques­
or. Employee
tion, or it m ay estab­
m ay recover
lish advisory board
back
wages
composed of not less
and costs.
than 3 or more than 10
representatives each of
employers and of em­
ployees in occupation
and 1 or more repre­
sentatives of public
(but no more repre­
sentatives of public
than in either one of
the other groups). At
least one fifth of board
must be women and
public group must
contain at least 1 w om ­
an. After examination
of books and witnesses
board
recommends
minimum wage, which
commission m ay ac­
cept or reject.
Commissioner appoints Noncompliance
wage board composed
with manda­
of not more than 3 rep­
tory o r d e r
resentatives each of
m a k e s em­
employers and em­
ployer liable
ploye s in the occupa­
to fine or im ­
tion (to be selected as
prisonment
or both. Each
far as practicable from
nominations b y re­
week, in any
spective groups) and
day of which
of public. Board in­
an employee
vestigates and recom­
is paid less
mends minimum wage
than rate set
which commissioner
b y order, con­
m ay accept or reject.
stitutes sepa­
rate offense as
to each em­
ployee so paid.

Principles b y
which amount
of award is
determined
Amount must
be adequate
to supply liv­
ing wages for
women
and
minors ofo rd nary ability'.

Wage must be
fairly and rea­
sonably com ­
mensurate
with value of
service or class
of service ren­
dered.

r e v ie w

A ct s of
1933, ch.
87.

W omen physically de­
fective m ay obtain
license fixing wage
lower than estabblished minimum.
Licensees not to ex­
ceed one tenth of
number employed in
establishment.

M ethod of select­
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered b y
this body
Industrial com ­ At discretion of
mission of 3
commission or
members, ap­
at request of 100
p o i n t e d by
persons engaged
governor with
in the occupa­
advice and con­
tion.
sent of senate, Investigation con­
for 6 years.
ducted by exam­
ining p a p e r s ,
books, witnesses,
and b y holding
public hearings.
B ody em pow­
ered to admin­
ister law

labor

N .H ___

Occupations or
industries
covered

Mo n t h l y

age, males
under 21
years
of
age).

Exceptions

1350

P R I N C I P A L P R O V IS IO N S OP M IN IM U M W A G E L A W S IN E F F E C T IN 1S33— Continued

Empl oye e

A c t s of
1933, ch.
152.

N .Y ___

Acts
of
1933, ch.
584.

N .Dak_

Supp. to _ ..d o __
Comp.

.do.

.do.

W omen; mi­
nors (either
sex, under
18 years of
age).

Laws
19 13-

1925, ch.
5, art.

lib,
secs.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

A ny occupation
(defined as in­
dustry, trade,
or business, or
branch thereof
or class of work
t h e r e i n , in
which women
or minors are
gainfully em­
ployed,but not
including do­
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).
A ny occupation
( d e f i n e d as
business, in­
dustry, trade,
or
branch
thereof, b u t
not including
agricultural or
domestic serv­
ice).

W orkm en’s
compensation
bureau, com­
posed of 3
commissioners
(1 represent­
ing employers,
1 employees,
and 1 public),
appointed by
governor for 6
years.

A t discretion of
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or more residents
of State.

At discretion of
bureau.
Investigation con ­
ducted b y ex­
amining papers,
books, and w it­
nesses, and b y
holding public
hearings.

.do.

Bureau organizes con­
ference composed of
not more than 3 repre­
sentatives each of em­
ployers and of em­
ployees in the occupa­
tion in question, and
of public, and 1 or
more commissioners.
Conference i n v e s t i ­
gates and recommends
minimum
wage,
which bureau may
accept or reject.

Refusal to com ­
ply with order
of workmen’s
compensation
bureau is un­
lawful. E m ­
p l o y e e m ay
recover b a c k
wages and
costs.

D o.

D o.

Wage must be
adequate to
supply neces­
sary cost of
l i v i n g and
maintain wo­
men workers
in h e a l t h .
Reasonable
wages for m i­
nor workers.

1351

3 9 6 b 1396bl7.

Females p h y s i c a l l y
defective b y age or
otherwise (or ap­
prentices or learners
in occupation usu­
ally requiring such)
m ay be granted spe­
cial license author­
izing wage lower
than e s t a b l i s h e d
minimum.

A n y occupation Commissioner of
labor, with di­
(defined as in­
rector of mini­
dustry, trade,
mum wage dior business, or
v i s i o n and
branch there­
such deputy
of, but not in­
cluding domes­
directors
as
commissioner
tic service in
employer’s
deems advis­
home, labor
able.
on farm, or
employment in
a hotel).

MINIMUM "WAGE

NJ.

m ay recover
wages and
costs.
P a y m e n t of
wages less than
those set b y
mandatory or­
der deemed a
misdemeanor
and punished
b y fine or im ­
prisonment or
both.
Each
week, in any
day of which
an order is not
complied with,
constitutes a
separate o f fense a s t o
each employee
so paid.
.. .d o __________

1352

P R IN C IP A L P R O V IS IO N S OF M IN IM U M W A G E L A W S IN E F F E C T IN 1933—Continued
M ethod of select­
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered by
this body

B ody em pow­
ered to admin­
ister law

Women or minors (ineluding learners or
apprentices)
with
earning capacity im­
paired by age, physi­
cal or mental defi­
ciency, or injury,
may be granted
special license au­
thorizing wage low­
er than established
minimum for fixed
period.

A n y occupation
(defined as in
dustry, trade,
or business, or
branch there­
of, or class of
work therein,
in which wo­
men or minors
are gainfully
employed, but
not including
agricultural or
domestic serv­
ice).

Director of industrial relations, with
superinten­
dent of mini­
m um wage
division and
such assistant
s u p erin ten d ­
ents as may
be necessary.

At discretion of
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or m o r e r e s i ­
dents of State.

Commissioner appoints
wage board composed
of not more than 3
representatives each
of employers and of
employees in the occu­
pation (to be selected
as far as practicable
from nominations by
respective groups) and
of public. Board in­
vestigates and recommends minimum
wage, which commis­
sioner may accept or
reject.

Oreg—

Code 1930, _._do________ Women physically de­
fective or crippled
secs. 49303-49b y age or otherwise
may obtain license
324 ¡Acts
fixing wage lower
of 1931,
ch. 394,
than e s t a b l i s h e d
secs. 1-3.
minimum.

A n y occupation
( d e fi n e d as
any and every
vocation, pursuit, trade,
and i n d u s ­
try).

Industrial wel­
fare commis­
sion of 3 mem­
bers (1 repre­
senting
em­
ployers and 1
employees),
appointed by
governor for 3
years.

At discretion of
com m ission.
Investigation
c o n d u cte d b y
exa m in in g p a ­
pers, books, and
w itnesses, and
by holding pub­
lic hearings.

S .D a k ..

Comp.
Laws
1929 (as
amend­
ed) secs.
10022A10022E.

Any f a c t o r y ,
Industrial com­
missioner ap­
workshop, me­
p o i n t e d by
c h a n i c a l or
governor for 2
mercantile es­
tab lish m en t,
years.
laundry, ho­
tel, r e s t a u ­
rant, or pack­
ing house.

Commission organizes
conference composed
of not more than 3
representatives each of
employers and of em­
ployees in the occu­
pation and of public,
and 1 or more com­
missioners. C o n f e r ­
ence investigates and
recommends m i n i ­
m u m wa g e , w h i c h
commission may ac­
cept or reject.
Minimum wage fixed
b y law.

Citation

Classes
covered

Exceptions

Ohio__

A c t s of
1933, H.
B. 681.

Women; min o r s (either s e x ,
under 18
y e a r s of
age).

W omen and
girls over
14 years of
age.


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W omen mentally or
physically deficient
or disabled m ay ob­
tain permit author­
izing wage, lower
than e s t a b l i s h e d
minimum. Appren­
tices: I n d u s t r i a l
commissioner must

Method of arriving at
wage awards

Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award

Principles b y
which amount
of award is
determined

P a y m e n t of
w a g e s less
than those set
b y mandatory
order deemed
a m i s d emeanor and
punished by
fine or impriso n m e n t or
both. Each
week, in any
day of which
order is not
com plied
with, consti­
tutes a sepa­
rate offense as
to each em­
ployee so paid.
Refusal to com ­
ply with law a
m isdem eanor
a n d punish­
able b y fine
or imprison­
ment or both.
Em ployee
may recover
backwages
and costs.

Wage must be
fairly and reasonably commensurate
with value of
s e r v i c e or
class of service
rendered.

Refusal to com ­
ply with law a
misdemeanor.
Em ployee
m ay recover
b ac k wages
and costs.

Wage must be
adequate
to
supply neces­
sary cost of
living and to
m aintain
health.

Wage must be
amount which
equals a liv­
ing wage.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Occupations or
industries
covered

State

Oc c up a t i o ns ,
trades, and in­
dustries.

Industrial wel­ ____do....................
fare commit­
tee, composed
of director of
labor and in­
dustries
ap­
pointed
b y
governor with
c o n s e n t of
senate a n d
holding office
at his pleasure,
supervisor of
industrial in­
s u r a n c e and
supervisor of
industrial »re­
lations
ap­
pointed
b y
d i r e c t o r of
labor and in­
dustries, and
supervisor of
women in in­
dustry a p pointed
b y
supervisor of
industrial rela­
tions with ap ­
proval of di­
rector of labor
and industries.

Commission calls wage Paym ent of less
than fixed
board composed of
minimum
equal number of rep­
wage or re­
resentatives of em­
fusal to com ­
ployers and employees
ply with pro­
in trade in question,
visions of law
with a representative
a m isd e­
of commission as chair­
meanor. E m ­
man. Board investi­
ployee m ay re­
gates and reports to
cover b a c k
commission, w h i c h
wages
and
fixes minimum wage
costs.
after public hearing.

Wage must be
adequate t o
supply to wo­
men and m i­
nors the cost
of proper liv­
ing, and to
maintain the
health a n d
w e l f a r e of
such workers.

P a y m e n t of
wages l e s s
than standard
minimum or
refusal to com ­
p ly with law a
misdemeanor.
Employee
m ay recover
back w a g e s
and costs.

Am ount must
be a reason­
able wage, not
d e t r im e n ta l
to health and
morals a n d
sufficient for
decent main­
t e n a n c e of
women.

Commission organizes
conference composed
of equal number of
representatives of em­
ployers and employees
in occupation in ques­
tion and 1 or more
re p re se n ta tiv e s of
public (but no more
re p re s e n ta tiv e s of
public than in either
on e o f th e o t he r
groups), and a mem­
ber of commission.
Conference
recom­
mends m i n i m u m
wage, which commis­
sion m ay accept or
reject.

1353

Industrial com ­
mission of 3
members, ap­
pointed
b y
governor for 4
years.

W AGE


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A t discretion of
commission.
Investigation con­
ducted b y ex­
amining papers,
books, witnesses,
and b y holding
public hearings.

Oc c upat i o ns ,
trades, a n d
industries in
which women
and
minors
are employed.

M IN IM U M

be notified of each
apprentice and give
permission for his
employment.
W omen
physically
U ta h ... A c t s of W o m e n ;
defective
b y age or
minors
1933, ch.
otherwise m ay be
(either sex
38.
granted
special
li­
under 21
cense. License must
ye a r s of
be
renewed
every
6
age, b u t
months.
Appren­
commis­
tices: Special wages
sion n o t
set by commission
authorized
during
specified
to
fix
period of apprentice­
m inimum
ship.
wages and
maximum
hours for
males be­
tween 18
and 21).
Women physically de­
W a s h ... R e m i n g ­ W o m e n ;
fective or crippled
ton's
minors
b y age or otherwise
(either sex
R e v .
(or apprentices in oc­
under 18
Stats.
cupation usually re­
y e a r s of
1 9 3 1,
requiring such) may
age).
secs.
secure l i c e n s e
7 6 2 3authorizing w a g e
7641.
lower than legal
minimum.

State

Citation

W is___

Stat.,1931,
secs. 104.01-104.125.

Women;
minors.

Adult women unable
to earn minimum
m ay obtain license
fixing lower wage.
Employer m ay ob­
tain license to pay
adult females wage
lower than estab­
lished rate, if he es­
tablishes satisfactor­
ily that he is unable
to pay such wage.
Minors unable to
earn “ a living wage”
may obtain license
fixing lower wage.

B od y em pow­
ered to admin­
ister law

E very person in
receipt of, or
entitled to,any
compensation
for labor per­
formed for any
employer.

Industrial com ­
mission whose
members are
appointed by
G o v e r n o r,
w i t h advice
and consent of
s e n a t e , for 6
years.

M ethod of select­
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered
b y this b yd y
At discretion of
commission or
on verified com ­
plaint filed by
any person.

M ethod of arriving at
wage awar8s

Commission organizes
advisory wage board,
selected to represent
fairly employers, em ­
ployees, and public.
Living wage deter­
mined b y commission
and advisory board
shall be the legal m in­
imum wage.

Means provided
for securing
enforcem ent
award

Principles b y
which amount
of award
determined

Paym ent
of
wages in viola­
tion of any
order of com m i s s i o n
deemed viola­
tion of law,
unless it can
be proved that
the order was
unreasonable.
E very day an
order is not
complied with
is a separate
offense.

Am ount must
be a “ living
wage” ,
i.e.,
sufficient t o
maintain em­
ployee under
c o n d i t i o ns
consistent
with his wel­
fare.
Wage
must not be
oppressive (de­
fined as “ low ­
er than a rea­
sonable and
adequate com ­
pensation for
services ren­
dered” ).

R E V IE W


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Occupations or
industries
covered

LABOR

Exceptions

M ONTHLY

Classes
C07 ered

1354

P R IN C IP A L P R V O IS IO N S OP M IN IM U M W A G E L A W S IN E F F E C T IN 1933—Continued

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
Employment Methods During Change to Dial Telephone

NFORMATION regarding methods of handling the employment
problems resulting from transition from the manual to the dial
telephone system is contained in Bulletin No. 110 of the Women’s
Bureau of the United States Department of Labor, prepared by
Ethel L. Best,,industrial supervisor of the Bureau. The bulletin
presents illustrative data based on a study of two cities, one in which
the change involved about one third of the city’s telephones and the
other, a smaller city, in which there was a complete cut-over to the
dial system.
In the latter city, with a population of about 200,000, the number
of operators 6 months before the change was 547, and 6 months after
the change, 249. In the larger city, where only a part of the system
was affected by the cut-over, the operating force in the dial offices
was reduced from 424 to 128.
On the basis of detailed information furnished by the telephone
companies, supplemented by interviews with operators affected by
the change, it was ascertained that in these cities the companies
exercised much care in reducing the hardships attending the change.
In the city where a complete cut-over was made the change occurred
in July 1930. After October 1927 vacancies due to normal resig­
nations or separations were filled by employees engaged on a temporary
basis, and as far as possible were former employees or others who
were willing to accept temporary appointments. Some vacancies
were filled by borrowing employees from other cities. Of the 116
operators who were discharged at the time of the cut-over, all but 4
had been working under temporary appointments, and these 4 were
married women not seriously inconvenienced by the loss of jobs.
Many of those who were not needed locally were transferred to other
cities. The company also secured offers of positions from other
employers and succeeded in this way in placing 11 operators in
permanent positions in other types of work.
In the case of the city where the cut-over affected only a part of
the system, substantially the same methods were used by the company.
The inference drawn from the study is that the methods used by
employers in these telephone exchanges are “ a notable example of
the possibilities of long-view planning in cases of technological change.”

I

Effect of Plant Shut-down on Woman Workers

N 1931, as part of a program of consolidation with other corpora­
tions, 2 silk mills, 1 in Philadelphia and 1 in Bethlehem, Pa., closed
permanently, throwing out of employment respectively 235 and 139

I


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1356

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

women. The Pennsylvania bureau of women and children has
recently published a study 1 of the experiences of the women thus
left without work in a time of widespread unemployment, choosing
these 2 instances out of many, partly because the 2 groups included
both skilled and unskilled workers, and partly because of the differ­
ences in the size and industrial make-up of the 2 cities. Exclusive
of clerical or managerial workers there were 374 women who lost
their jobs because of the closing of these 2 plants. Of these, 324
were found and interviewed, 199 (85 percent) of the Philadelphia
women and 125 (90 percent) of the Bethlehem group. In the main,
the women were interviewed about 10 months after their dismissal,
though in a few instances 12 months or more had elapsed before they
were found.
The majority were skilled workers, more than one half being weavers
or warpers. More than half had been earning $20 or over a week
for full-time work prior to the shut-down. Their ages ranged from
15 to 72 years, the median age at the time of dismissal being 26 years.
All were steady workers. Practically two fifths (39.6 percent) were
or had been married. Of the 323 reporting as to their marital status
and residence, 293 (90.7 percent) were living with their families.
All of the married women were accustomed to considering their earnings as
part of the family income, and three fourths of the single women living with their
families turned their entire earnings over to the head of the family. In return,
they received from their families room, board, clothing, and an allowance for
car fare and spending money, whatever the family was able to afford. Of the
single workers who were not turning their entire earnings over to their families,
all but one contributed a regular amount for board and room.
Employment Status at Time of Investigation
A t t h e time of the interviews, approximately 10 months after the
closing of the mills, 185 (57 percent) of the women were at work, 122
(38 percent) were unemployed, and 17 (5 percent) were not looking
for work. This last group consisted mainly of married women whose
husbands were at work at the time, and who “ did not wish to take
jobs from others who needed the work more than they.” A consid­
erably larger number (266) of the women had had jobs of one kind or
another in the interval between their dismissal from the silk mills and
the interview, but many of these had been of short duration. The
commonest method of seeking work was to go from mill to mill, or
from one employer to another, asking for work and leaving name and
address wherever the management would take it. The aid of friends
having jobs and willing to help “ to get you in ” was looked upon as
the best chance of securing work. The interval between jobs varied
considerably.
Fifty-eight, or one fifth of these women, had located a job before they left the
silk mill or within a week after, so that they lost practically no time. Most of

these jobs were secured through the intercession of the old employer and in a
number of cases the worker stepped into a new job a little before she would
otherwise have left the mill which was closing. By the end of 1 month after
their dismissal only 33 additional workers had obtained any job at all, a “ jo b ”
being considered here and elsewhere in this report as work lasting at least 1 week.
By the end of 3 months just one half of the total number of dismissed workers
had found a first job; by the end of 6 months only two thirds; and by the end of
9 months barely four fifths had secured any job at all.
1 Pennsylvania. Department of Labor and Industry. Special Bulletin No. 36: W omen workers after
a plant shut-down, prepared by the Bureau of W omen and Children. [Harrisburg], 1933.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WOMEN

IN

IN D U S T R Y

1357

Jobs and Earnings
A l m o s t without exception the women had wanted to get back into
the silk industry, and had taken other work simply because it was all
they could get. About two fifths (127) of the total group had secured
work in silk manufacturing, 21 in other kinds of manufacturing, 18 in
domestic service, 6 in beauty parlors, and 4 in mercantile employ­
ment, 9 being scattered in other kinds of industries.
The acquiring of a new skill to provide the means of earning a good living out­
side the silk industry was a perplexing problem. “ I want to learn some new
work, but I can’t tell what would be a good line to go into. It seems as if every­
thing is up and down and there’s no steady line of work.” Although six of the
silk workers had taken beauty-culture courses since their dismissals, there was a
real question as to whether there was room in this line of work for new workers.
* * * The expressed need on the part of many of these women for vocational
guidance was not being met. The women were either being guided by the
advertising of commercial institutions or were floundering alone. The cost of
financing any kind of a training course in addition to the living expenses during
training were obstacles which most of the women with their meager savings and
resources could not meet even if there had been no question as to what type of
work to select.
Effect of Change on Earnings
T a k i n g the 185 women who, at the time of the interview, were
holding jobs, it developed that their median earnings for a full-time
week at their old jobs were $19.23, according to the records of their
employers, while the corresponding figure the workers reported for
their new jobs was $13.86, the median varying according to the
industry from $15.69 for those employed in silk mills to $8.50 for
those in other industries. This statement, however, gives too favor­
able a picture of the position at the time of the interview.
The full-time weekly earnings figures which have been given to compare the
old and new jobs were not the workers’ actual weekly earnings at the new jobs,
since one third of the new jobs were part-time work. The median earnings on
all the new jobs for the time actually worked were $11.42 a week.
The extent to which these women suffered loss of earnings in the period follow­
ing their dismissals depended not only on the reduction in wage rates but also on
the proportion of unemployed time. Taking into consideration both reduction
of wage rates and the amount of imemployment, the average earnings of the
women for the whole period between the date of dismissal and the date of inter­
view, approximately 10 months, may be roughly estimated as only 33 percent of
the earnings for the corresponding period prior to their dismissal.
Difficulties of Adjustment
A g e as a handicap in securing a job did not appear so early and so
markedly as might have been anticipated. Still, the younger workers
had the advantage.
The group of workers 20 to 24 years of age had, however, the greatest success
in getting new jobs. While 69.5 percent of this group had jobs at the time of
interview, only 58.3 percent of the next older age group, 25 to 29, had jobs at the
time of interview. The workers over 50 years of age were at a very decided
disadvantage. Only 7 out of 17 had jobs at the time of interview.

Those over 40 found their age a decided hindrance to getting jobs
in the silk industry, the kind of work to which they all wished to get
back. This is in part attributable to the speeding up in the industry,
“ which was the subject of frequent complaint by workers both young


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1358

M ONTHLY

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E E V IE W

and old but which was more disastrous to the older workers who
were less able to keep the pace.” There was little choice of occupa­
tion for those who were distinctly elderly.
Practically all of the older women with jobs were in domestic service; others
trying domestic work found they “ didn't suit.”
“ To do housework you need
to have learned how and I always worked in the silk m ill.”

The period of unemployment had brought hardship to a number.
Of the 30 women who were living independently, 6 had found work
for at least a part of the time since leaving the silk mills, and had
been able to live somehow on what they had earned. Eleven had
lived on their savings or other capital resources, while 13 had not had
sufficient resources to tide them over their period of unemployment
and had had to seek help from friends, or, if that were not available,
from public charity. The women living with their families had had
nearly the same experiences, except that in their cases the unemploy­
ment and suffering had been a group matter.
In the majority of families, the combined earnings of the silk worker and other
wage earners were not sufficient for the family to get along during the whole
period since the silk worker’s dismissal, for unemployment was very prevalent
among the other wage earners in the families. The rate of unemployment among
the individual wage earners in the families exclusive of the silk workers was 37
percent wholly unemployed, and 35 percent part-time emploved. A t the time
of the interview 9 percent of the 276 families of the silk workers reporting on
employment status had no one at all working. Forty percent, 110 families, had
no one working full time.

Nearly two thirds of these families had had savings of $50 or more
at the time of the silk worker’s dismissal, but nearly half had no
sayings when interviewed. In most cases the money had gone for
living expenses, but in 27 instances all or part of the savings had been
lost in bank failures. Of those reporting on means of support, 106
found earnings and savings insufficient to keep the family and turned
to outside help. The most common type of such help was credit.
Some of this was credit from landlord or grocer, other was overdue interest
on a mortgage or unpaid taxes. Some received loans from friends and many
received regular contributions from relatives, friends, or neighbors in food, cloth­
ing, or money. Fourteen of the families were receiving relief from organized
relief agencies.
Conclusions

I n summing up the situation, the report points out that these
women had learned and labored to get their own livings, that they
had done so successfully for periods varying with their age, and that
their failure to continue to do so was in no sense their own fault.
Nevertheless, they had to bear the burden of an idleness entirely
beyond their control, and their physical hardships were increased by
their sense of something abnormal and wrong in the position.
These women, many of them having given long years of service to an industry,
were frequently distressed and bewildered by their situation. Their labor no
longer wanted, they were left to shift for themselves. There was a sense of
injustice that they should be cut off from their means of a livelihood through no
fault of their own.
The need of some modicum of security such as unemployment insurance was
clearly demonstrated, the need for something that could be depended upon to
help tide over periods of unemployment and to facilitate the shift to new types
of work, the need for something that would be received as a right and not as a
charity.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WOMEN

IN

1359

IN D U S T R Y

Influence of Depression on Expenditures of Business Women

ITS December issue the Woman’s Press, organ of the Young
Women’s Christian Association, gives some figures relating to the
income and expenditures in 1931 and 1932 of a group of girls who
kept accurate accounts of what they earned and what they spent
during the autumn months of both years.
N

I

In the fall of 1931 (in September, October, and November, to be exact), 313
girls kept accurate records of their daily spendings, and in the same months of
the fall of 1932, 147 of these 313 did exactly the same thing. * * *
They were a mixed group; they came from all over the United States of
America, they were engaged in all manner of clerical occupations, the bulk of
them being stenographers, but secretaries also were included, bookkeepers, file
clerks, and girls who called themselves clerical workers. They came from large
cities and small cities, big towns and little; they lived at home and they liv^d
away from home. In fact, they were a cross section of those nearly 2,000,000
business women reported by the last census. A few teachers, librarians, and
doctors’ assistants also took part in the study.
Earnings
T h e i r weekly earnings ranged from a little under $10 up to over $40.
The following table shows the number and proportion in each wage
group for each year.
C L A S S IF IC A T IO N B Y E A R N IN G S IN 1931 A N D 1932
Girls receiving specified earnings in—

Number
$5 to $9.99____________________________________________
$10 to $14.99___________________________________________
$15 to $19.99__________________________________________
$20 to $24.99____________________________ ______ -•______
$25 to $29.99__________________________________________
$30 to $34.99__________________________________________
$35 to $39.99__________________________________________
$40 t.n $44 99
_ . .
Total

__________

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

1932

1931

W eekly earnings

Percent

Number

Percent

2
17
83
93
56
29
26
7

0.6
5.4
26.5
29.7
17.9
9.3
8.3
2.2

6
13
42
47
22
14
3

4.1
8.8
28.6
32.0
15.0
9.5
2.0

313

100.0

147

100.0

The increased proportion in the lower earnings groups in 1932 is
at once apparent. As not all of the 1931 group reported in 1932, it
is not possible to say just what this downward movement means in
terms of individual earnings. For 128, however, complete details
were received, and of these, 65 percent were receiving lower wages in
1932 than in 1931.
* * * The largest actual number receiving a reduction was in the $15 to
$19.99 group, of whom over 63 percent received 27 percent lower wages. But
the most distressing group was perhaps the $10 to $14.99 of which 83 percent
had received an average of 62 percent decrease in wages. All the girls in the
verv lowest group in 1932 had received cuts amounting to an average of 37
percent.
The higher the wage the smaller was the number of persons receiving cuts.
The smaller the present rate of wages the greater was the rate of reduction on
an earlier wage. The insecurity of the low-wage group is again borne witness to.

A separate study of the budgets of 150 business girls in Denver,
Colo., showed the same general situation as to the incidence of wage

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1360

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R E V IE W

cuts. Of these, 57 percent had had salary cuts amounting to 16.5
percent on an average, ranging from an average of 4.8 percent in the
highest-paid group to 23 percent in the lowest-paid group.
Although the present study does not take up the situation in 1933,
it is known that wage cuts, many of them drastic, have taken place
since the fall of 1932.
Disposition of Earnings

C omprehensive budgets of expenditures are not given, so that it
is not possible to trace fully the changes caused by the reduction in
income. Even in 1931 it was evident that in many cases the amount
earned was not adequate for healthful support.
Careful and exact budgeting in this group of 313, of whom 195 earned less
than $25 a week, exposes some of the inadequacies of the income and of the
amounts which it is possible to set aside for emergencies, health, recreation, and
education. There is practically no margin, and whereas in the case of the $10
to $14.99 group there was an average of $1.76 savings per week with only $5.08
spent on room, board, and lunches, it is obvious that subsidization is taking
place somewhere. The girl is not earning enough to keep herself, and either
her parents or her friends are making up the inadequacy of the wage she receives
from her employer, or she is impairing her strength-and her future health by
poor and insufficient food, inattention to teeth and general health.

In 1932, either the process of subsidization had been carried farther,
or the girls were meeting the situation by cutting down on neces­
saries. Four girls are cited who in 1931 earned an average of $15.60
a week, but whose wages had been so cut that in 1932 they were
earning a weekly average of $9.25.
* * * Before, where they had spent $8 on room, board, and lunches, now
in 1932 they reduced this to $5; $2.50 had been spent on clothing, and this
went down to $1.83. They had managed somehow to have $2.34 in 1931 to
carry over in their pocketbooks from pay day to pay day, and this had now
fallen to 18 cents a week.

The study of the 1932 expenditures brought out three features of
importance: (1) In 5 out of the 7 earnings groups the amount spent
on education and advancement increased in 1932, and in 2 of these
groups the increase was very substantial. It is suggested that this
may be because the business girl feels “ more and more insecurity
and wants the slight assurance and hope which a second skill may
give her.” (2) While the earnings of the girls had decreased in 1932,
the proportion of those accepting responsibility for the support of
others had increased, and this was true in the case of the girls living
independently as well as among those forming part of a family group.
(3) It was apparent that in 1932 the girls were trying desperately to
build up some protection, however slight, against the future.
* * * In spite of cut wages, in spite of increased dependents, altered habits,
and changed standards of living, savings in 5 out of the 7 wage groups increased
in 1932 and increased considerably. In fact even the $20 to $25 a week group,
where there were girls who had had cuts amounting to 12 percent of their wages,
managed to save an average of $4.71 a week in 1932 as against $3.14 in 1931.
The fall of 1932 was a very serious time for business girls and they held tight
onto their money, spending it as wisely as they knew how, apparently going
without the things they badly needed to save against a worse time which they
saw coming.
What happened to those savings, we do not know. W e do know
what happened to savings in general.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

CHILD LABOR
Child Labor in the United States, 1932

HE downward trend in employment certificates issued to children
between 14 and 16, which has manifested itself during the past
decade and has been very marked since 1929, continued in 1932 at
about the same rate of decrease as during the preceding year.1 This
trend is shown in table 1 for 42 representative cities reporting annually
during a 6-year period, 1927 to 1932. These figures do not give a
complete picture of child labor. In the first place, certificates are not
required everywhere for all occupations; they are seldom required for
street trades or agriculture, and in many places not for domestic
service— yet all these are important occupations for younger children.
Furthermore, during the years 1930 to 1932, unemployment reduced
children’s work opportunities in manufacturing, mercantile, and com­
mercial occupations, for which certificates are usually required, but
did not affect so much the unregulated employments. Consequently
a trend based on figures for employment certificates is more repre­
sentative of occupations in which unemployment has been pronounced
than of all occupations in which children are engaged. Finally, some
children obtain jobs for which certificates are required without
securing the certificates, and these children are not included in the
picture. In spite of these shortcomings, it is believed that statistics
for employment certificates indicate tlie main trend of child labor in
urban districts.

T

1

.— T R E N D IN R A T E OF F IR S T R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S
ISSU E D TO C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF A G E IN C IT IE S H A V IN G 100,000 OR
M O R E P O P U L A T IO N R E P O R T IN G E A C H Y E A R 1927 TO 19321

T abte

Certificates issued

Year

1928
1929
1930
193Ï
1932

________________________
_________ _________ _
_________ __________ _ ______________ ______
__ ________ ______________

Rate per
Percent of
10,000
increase or
children
decrease in
14 and 15
rate
years of age
973
888
925
615
457
334

-9
+4
-3 4
-2 6
-2 7

1 Population according to 1930; census includes: Atlanta, Baltimore, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Chattanooga
Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Erie, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knox­
ville, Los Angeles, Louisville, Lowell, Lynn, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Haven, New
York, Oakland, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rochester (N Y .), St Paul, Salt
Lake City, San Francisco, Scranton, Somerville (Mass.), South Bend, Springfield (Mass.), Washington
(D .C .), Wichita, Wilmington (D el.), and Yonkers.

The wide differences in the rates of child employment in 1932, as
brought out in table 2, emphasize, as in past years, the fact that the
trend reflects social control as well as the demand or lack of demand
i M onthly Labor Review, December 1932, pp. 1322-1330: “ Trend of Child Labor in the United States,
1920 to 1931.”


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1362

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

for child labor. The cities that showed comparatively high rates in
1931 (Bridgeport, Buffalo, Fall River, Lowell, New Haven, New York
City, Providence, Scranton, and Utica) had high rates for 1932 also,
although with the exception of Utica they all showed decreases in 1932.
T able 2 — R Ai*® OF F IR S T R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S ISSU ED TO C H IL ­
D R E N 1 4 A A I ) 15 Y E A R S OF A G E IN C IT IE S H A V IN G 100,000 OR M O R E P O P U L A T IO N ,
1927,TO Itii'/v
’
—
b c ______
___ _______________,...................................................... .....................
Rate per 10,000 children 14 and 15 years of age
1927
Albany, N .Y
______ __ _
___ _
Atlanta, Ga ______ _____ _ _
______
Baltimore, M d
_ __
_____
Birmingham, A la____ ________ ________
Boston, Mass___
_ _
__ _
_ __
Bridgeport, Conn
_
_ _ _
Buffalo, N .Y ___________________________
Cambridge, M ass, _ _ ___ __
__ _
Camden, N.J _
Chattanooga, Tenn___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
Chicago, 111_______ _____ _ _ _ _ _ __
Denver, Colo
_
______
___ _
Detroit, M ich __________ _ __________ ___
Elizabeth, N J _
_ __ _ _
___
Erie, Pa _
_ _
Fall River, Mass _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Fort W ayne, Ind
_
___
Gary, Ind ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____
Grand Rapids, M i c h _____ _____
_ __
Hartford, Conn_
_ _
__ _
Indianapolis, Ind __ _ _ ________ _
Kansas City, Kans------ ------- --- _ ___
Kansas City, M o ________
_ _ __
Knoxville, T e n n .._
_
_ _
Long Beach, Calif___ _
_ ___
Los Angeles, Calif
Louisville, K y _
_ _
__ _
Lowell, Mass
___
____
___
Lynn, Mass
________ _ _ _ __ _ __
Memphis, Tenn
_ _
__ _
____
Milwaukee, Wis_ ___ _ __ _
Minneapolis, M in n ___ _ ___ ____ _ _
Nashville, Tenn _ _ _ __ _ ___ _
Newark, N.J
_____ _
_____ _
N ew Bedford, Mass__
__________
New Haven, Conn__ _ _ _ __ _
New York, N .Y _______________________
Oakland, Calif _
Omaha, Nebr
___
_ _
___ _
Paterson, N.J
___ __ ___ __. ___
___
Peoria, 11L___
_
_
Philadelphia, Pa ___ ------------------------------Pittsburgh, Pa___ _ _ _ _ _ ___
Portland, Oreg
_ ___ _ ___
Providence, R . l ---- ------------------- _ _____
Reading, Pa -------- ------------------------------Richm ond, Va _ _ __ ...........................
Rochester, N .Y ___ _
St. Louis, M o
_ _ _ _ ___
____
St. Paul, M inn _ _ _ _ _
__ _
Salt Lake City, Utah ---------------------------San Diego, Calif
_
__ _ ____
San Francisco, C alif.__
___
____ _ _ _
Scranton, Pa___ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Seattle, Wash__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Somerville, Mass__ __ __ ____
_ __ _
South Bend, Ind
_
_ _
___ _
Springfield, Mass _
____
______
Syracuse, N. Y__ _ _ _ _ _ _
_______
Tulsa, O k la ___ _ _
_ _ _ _ __
Utica, N .Y ______________________________
Washington, D .C ____ __ _____ ____ _ _
Wichita, Kans___________ _
...
W ilmington, Del
_
_
___
Worcester, M a ss.. _ _ _
____
Yonkers, N .Y _ _ _ __ _
_____ _

0

62
1,426
230
0
1, 111
1,365
0
0
227
400
260
3 160
0
622
0
117
13
s 326
1, 220
231
180
174
494
0
315
585
638
809
0
956
91
540
0
0
1,643
1,688
102
179
0
232
1,584
602
0
3 1,830
0
0
1,467
863
173
195
0
112
1,185
0
857
247
828
599
0
0
150
63
841
0
1,074

1928
0

53
1,171
147
948
1,181
1,238
1,298
0
166
320
287
3 221
0
304
0
138
22
3 284
855
179
196
167
261
62
248
439
840
821
597
685
80
96
0
0
1,581
1,587
82
103
0
219
1,524
417
0
3 1,961
0
0
1,407
745
154
247
0
94
1.161
0
801
212
818
0
0
0
201
77
829
0
909

1929

1930

990
22
1,390
0
1, 120
1,657
1, 395
■0
0
259
313
254
3 215
0
318
2,589
228
0
3.338
1,029
201
297
0
505
30
286
530
1,277
969
341
447
64
76
0
0
1,429
1,627
85
109
0
240
1,613
594
294
3 2,198
0
303
1,268
0
128
178
38
100
1,245
0
897
166
853
772
0
1,898
221.
22
921
0
847

773
17
881
116
714
747
1,081
0
0
126
100
222
3 126
0
221
1,695
88
0
3 111
551
98
157
117
221
28
171
247
918
460
203
182
64
29
0
0
860
1,211
58
125
0
78
977
323
141
3 1,466
0
196
864
0
74
120
72
72
849
0
495
89
489
363
0
1, 101
242
9
584
0
735

1931

1932
452

593
15
563
36
527
831
859
0
0

309
20
274
676
0

565
52
21
25
3 28
833
77
1,062
5

95
43
88
3 43

0

102
2, 054
22
0
3 54
345
75
65
57
182
24
101
161
1,000
438
101
111
40
18
594
0
879
969
29
134
0
19
629
196
0
3 1,245
0
115
503
212
50
54
52
41
801
0
351
43
267
324
0
921
151
3
425
0
443

0

3 23
326
60
19
31
128
19
78
105
612
337
71
62
19
24
480
842
635
766
13
136
717
6
362
111
222
3 797
556
44
313
93
11
37
47
20
558
82
139
32
271
205
78
1,002
126
6
331
171
298

1 Population according to 1930 census.
2 No report.
2 Rate of 15-year-old children to population 14 and 15 years of age; law does not permit the issuance of
regular certificates to children under 15.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1363

CHILD LABOR
First Regular Employment Certificates Issued in 1932
N um ber of Children 14 and 15 Years of Age

I n t h e States and cities reporting to the Children’s Bureau,2 50,233
children 14 and 15 years of age obtained first regular employment
certificates in 1932 and left school for work (table 3).
addition,
certificates were issued to 603 children in places 3 where was not
possible to determine whether the children were leaving school,
because there is no provision for a special kind of certificate for work
during vacation and after school. In comparable areas, the number
of certificates issued in 1932 was 62 percent less than in 1929, and 26
percent less than in 1931, showing that it was becoming increasingly
difficult for children to find employment. Although this was the
general trend, a number of cities still showed large numbers of children
going to work, and in a very few there was a slight increase. The
increases, however, in the 6 cities reporting a larger number of certi­
ficates issued in 1932 than in 1931, totaled only 108, and were due
largely to the greater number of children going to work in domestic
and personal service occupations. On the other hand, in 9 cities no
certificates had been issued during the year, and in 43 fewer than
25 children had left school for work.4
T able 3.—N U M B E R OP C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T R E G U
L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1929, 1931, A N D 1932, A N D P E R C E N T OF
C H A N G E IN 1932 AS C O M P A R E D W IT H 1929 A N D 1931 IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000
P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R 4 R E P O R T IN G

Number of certificates issued

Percent of change in
1932 as compared with—•

State and city
1929 2
States reporting
Alabam a___________
Birmingham____
M obile_________
M ontgom ery___
Arkansas___________
Little R ock....... .
Connecticut________
Bridgeport_____
Hartford________
N ew Britain____
N ew H aven____
W aterbury_____
District of Columbia.
Georgia................ .......
Atlanta_________
Indiana____________
Fort W ayne____
H am m ond______
Indianapolis____
South B end____
Iow a_______________
Cedar Rapids___
Davenport______
Des M oines_____
Sioux C ity______
Kansas_____________
Kansas C ity____
Topeka_________
W ichita________
K en tu cky__________
Covington______
Louisville_______

6, 537
915
560
253
884
374
279
20

822
78
41
209
61
4 862
4 30
4 157
4 184
4 112
170
124
21
7
798
47
482

1931

263
33
28
33
99
30
3, 479
469
195
161
551
162
194
496
14
273
8
20
80
17
4 204
43
4 49
4 40
4 29
45
28
2
1
259
13
149

1932

142
19
25
10
46
31
3,500
382
187
170
398
216
162
281
7
216
2
9
65
13
4 82
0
4 14
4 11
4 20
13
8
1
2
164
9
97

1929 3

19313

-4 6

-5 4
-4 6
-5 8
-6 7
-3 3
-5 5
-4 2
-4 2

+ 1
-1 9
-4
+6
-2 8
+33
-1 6
-4 3

-7 4
-9 7

-2 1

-6 9
-7 9
-9 0

-1 9
-6 0

-9 1
-9 4
-8 2
-9 2
-9 4
-7 9

-3 7

-8 0

-3 5

See footn o tes a t end o f table.

2 18 States and the District of Columbia; 72 cities in 17 other States.
3 2 States; 1 city in 1 other State.
4 Ohio cities are omitted, because in Ohio certificates for children of 14 and 15 are issued only to the sub­
standard group.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1364

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T R E G U ­
L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1929, 1931, A N D 1932, A N D P E R C E N T OF
C H A N G E IN 1932 AS C O M P A R E D W IT H 1929 A N D 1931 IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000
P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R R E P O R T IN G —Continued
Percent of change in
1932 as compared with—

Number of certificates issued
State and city
1929

1932

1931

1929

1931

State reporting—Continued

265
1,526
97
8 172
238
36
77
1,656
851

312
38
65
74
9
34
458
223

5 32
52
6 884
« 812
4, 320
709
486
83
173
224
118
41
18
346
24
48
143
121
41
0
29
10
7 353
81
5,201
62
100
265
22
366
129
42
4 396
781
345
4 276
134
26,865
171
144
1,445
80
41
17,896
14
380
148
144
64
364
157
1,038
241
210
295
21
47
53
12
19
253
127

11
857
69
56

10
334
25
25

2
4
8
271
11
12

s 170
« 29
6 3,815
6 3, 553

St Paul*

T roy

-

___

_______

-

___ _____

___ _____ _____ -

2,847
1,183

s 49
53
6 1, 638
6 1, 466
6,856
1,359
940

441
467
333

417
366
153

299
427

120
139

253

118

93
112
7 1,120
7 411
4 17,385

61
45
7 526
7 242
4 11,005

4 1,371
4 2, 264

4 564
959

4 824

4 376

54,897
361
268
2, 783

33, 691
222
247
1,768
72
67
22, 244
25
606
216
225
134
333
228
2,135
311

35, 934
63
1,476
470
514
200
671
413
6, 410

-8 1
-7 7
-7 7
-7 5
-5 9

-4 6
-4 5
-3 7
-4 8
-4 8

-6 1
-5 2
-6 5

-5 9
-3 9
-2 3

-8 4
-6 7

-6 0
+3

-8 4

-6 5

-6 9
-9 1
-6 8

-5 2

-7 1

-3 0
-1 9

-6 7

-2 7

-5 1
-5 3
-4 6
-4 8

-2 0
-2 3
-4 2
-1 8
+11
-3 9
-2 0

-5 0
-7 8
-7 4
-6 9
-7 2
-6 8
-4 6
-6 2
-8 4
-2 1
-8 1
-7 8

-3 3

-3 7
-3 1
-3 6
-5 2
+9
-3 1
-5 1
-2 3
-5

-7 8

-2 8
-2 8

-7 5
-8 5
-8 5

-4 5
-4 3

Cities in States not reporting
California:

Sacramento____ - - - - ----------

-----

See footn o te s a t end o f table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-6 8
-8 4
-7 9

-1 9

1365

CHILD LABOR

T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T R E G U
L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1929, 1931, A N D 1932, A N D P E R C E N T OF
C H A N G E IN 1932 AS C O M P A R E D W IT H 1929 A N D 1931 IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000
P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R R E P O R T IN G —Continued

Percent of change in
1932 as compared with—

Num ber of certificates issued
State and city
1929

Cities in States not reporting—Continued
California—Continued.
San Diego______ ____ _______________
San Francisco_______________________
San Jose_____________________________
Colorado:
Denver______________________________
Delaware:
W ilm in g to n ........... .......... .................
Illinois:
Chicago.....................................................
C icero............................................ ........ .
Decatur................. ........ ..........................
East St. Louis_______________________
Oak Park___________________________
Peoria_______________________________
R ockford______________________ ____ _
Springfield________________ ________ _
Louisiana:
New Orleans_________________________
Shreveport___________________________
Michigan:
Dearborn------------------------------------------Detroit________________ _____ ________
Flint________________________________
Grand Rapids_______________________
Hamtramck_________________________
Highland Park.........................................
Jackson______________________________
Kalamazoo__________________________
Pontiac______________________________
Saginaw_____________________________
Missouri:
Kansas C ity_________________________
St. Joseph___________________________
St. Louis____________________________
Springfield------- ---------------------------------Nebraska:
Lincoln.-------------------------------------------O m a h a ..-------------------------------------------Ohio:
A kron-------- ------------- -------------------------Canton------ ------- -------------------------------Cincinnati----------------------------------------Cleveland____________________________
Cleveland Heights-----------------------------Columbus___________________________
D ayton----------------------------------------------Hamilton____________________________
Lakewood____________________________
Springfield___________________________
T oledo_______________________________
Youngstown------ ------- ------------------------Oklahoma:
Oklahoma C ity______________________
Tulsa______________________________
Pennsylvania:
Allentown___________________________
Altoona______________________________
Bethlehem__ ______________________ t..
Chester----------------------------------------------Erie----- ------- --------------------------------------Harrisburg___________________________
M cKeesport_________________________
Philadelphia_________________________
Pittsburgh---------------- -----------------------Reading_____________________________
Scranton_____________________________
Y o rk ___________ ____ ___________
R hode Island:
Pawtucket-----------------------------------------Providence---------------------------------- ------See footn o tes a t end o f table.
2 1 7 1 9 ° — 3 3 --------7


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1932

1931

14
145

21
62

1929

1931

20

31
0

-7 9

-5 0

211

75

22

-9 0

-1 2

320

149

116

-6 4

-7 2

3,486

504

-9 3

-5 0

88

14
28
2

254
1
8
40
0

6
4
9

1
5

» 1,100

«490

° 249
0

5 1,033

5 225

5 193
5 56
0

s 32
5 14
5 4
0
«4
i 12
5 23

52
6 155
0
5 14
« 16
0
0
«3
« 11
«6

63
39
511
36

35
19
225
37

2

1
96

98
15
72
50
134

s 24
- — Yg
4 338
ÏU 30
3
74

94

io 3

10 4

103
0

10 2
0

10 7
0

10 5
0

10 7
1023
0

10 1
10 4
0

—91
-5 9

2

-9 8
-9 6

-8 5

-3 1

-9 3
-7 1

+30

+2

10 1
0
10 1
0
0
10 1
10 9
0

0

10 5
10 6
10 2

0

33

1

343
12

138
109

46
30

10,455
1,429

4,160
484

757

495

« 1,943

» 1 ,123

43
31
35
15
46
2,411
277
223
346
84
6 125
« 723

-7 5
-8 6
-7 7
-8 1

-4 2
-4 3

-5 4

-3 0

-6 3

-3 6

1366
T

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

3 . — N U M B E R OF C H IL D R E N
1 4 A N D 1 5 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T
R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 1 , A N D 1 9 3 2 , A N D P E R C E N T
OF C H A N G E IN 1 9 3 2 AS C O M P A R E D W IT H 1 9 2 9 A N D 1 9 3 1 IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S
O F 5 0 ,0 0 0 P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R R E P O R T IN G —Continued

a b l e

Percent of change in
1952 as compared with

N um ber of certificates issued
State and city

Cities and States not reporting—Continued
Utah:
Virginia:

1928

92

29

20

-7 8

174

67

26
56

-8 5

Washington:
W est Virginia:

1932

1931

1929

1931

-6 1

91
35
60
57

7
25
14

-5 8
-7 5

1 Population according to 1930 census.
2 Figures not shown for cities not reporting in 1929, nor for cities having less than 50,000 estimated popu­
lation that year.
3 Percent not shown where number of children was less than 50 m 1929 or 1931 nor where figures were not
available or not comparable.
,
, , .
* Includes children to whom regular certificates were issued for work outside school hours and during
vacation.
<
,
. ,,
5
Practically all these were 15-year-old children; minimum age for certification under the law is 15 years
but certificates were issued to a few 14-year-old children under special circumstances.
e Excludes 213 children in 1929, 108 children in 1931, and 129 children in 1932, to whom “ vocational”
certificates were issued.
7 Includes children to whom regular certificates were issued for “ after-school work.
8 M ay include a few children to whom certificates were reissued.
9 Includes children to whom regular certificates were issued for work during vacation.
w Children under 16 adjudged incapable of profiting substantially b y further instruction.

The drop between 1929 and 1932 was much more pronounced in
some localities than in others. In the States of Kansas, Maine,
Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin and in cer­
tain cities in other States— Chicago, Decatur, Denver, Detroit, Fort
Wayne, Grand Rapids, Harrisburg, Louisville, Oakland, Peoria,
Pittsburgh, Richmond, Rockford, Somerville (Mass.), and Springfield (111.)— the drop in the number of 14- and 15-vear old children
was between 80 and 100 percent. In Lynn, Providence, Springfield
(Mass.), and Wilmington, it was about 65 percent; in East St. Louis,
Fall River, Huntington, and Lawrence, about 60 percent; and in
the States of Connecticut and New York, and in Lowell, Portland
(Oreg.), Scranton, and the District of Columbia, about 50 percent
or less. A few other cities had similar decreases, but the number
of certificates issued in 1929 was too small to be significant.
Fourteen is the minimum age required by law for general employ­
ment in States reporting the number of certificates issued to children
to go to work full time. Maine, Michigan, and Rhode Island
fix a 15-year minimum and in Ohio a child of normal intelligence
must be 16 years of age before obtaining' a regular certificate.5
From the localities having a 14-year age minimum there was a
report as to age for 46,599 children receiving first regular certificates.
Of these, 12,632 (27 percent) were 14 years of age when they started
full-time employment. Because of conditions prevailing for the
past several years, it might have been expected that 1932 would
show a decided decrease in the proportion of these younger children
leaving school for work. However, in the places reporting for all
8 In 1933 Utah and Wisconsin passed laws raising the minimum age for employment during school hours
to 16.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1367

CHILD LABOR

3 years, the 14-year-old children constituted almost as large a
percent in 1932 (24) as in 1931 (26) or even in 1929 (28).
The proportion of children 14 years of age receiving employment
certificates during the years for which the Children’s Bureau has
information has been smallest in States requiring completion of the
eighth grade before children of this age are allowed to go to work.
In States having this requirement, only 21 percent of the children
obtaining certificates in 1932 were 14 years of age, whereas in
States where exemptions to the eighth grade are allowed, 26 percent
of the children were 14 years of age, and in the States with a lower
educational standard, 43 percent of the children were 14 years of
age. However, even in the States with the same legal standard,
the percentages vary, indicating that the demand for child labor,
and other factors also, play a part in determining the age at which
boys and girls go to work.
N um ber of M inors 16 and 17 Years of Age

The issuance of certificates for boys and girls 16 years of age and
over is not a regular practice in most States. Only 17 States and
the District of Columbia require certificates for children after they
have become 16, and few of these States report the number of such
certificates issued. In 4 States and the District of Columbia, and 52
cities in 9 other States, reports received show that 44,850 minors 16
and 17 years of age received work permits in 1932.
0 F M IN O R S 16 A N D 17 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T
R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1929, 1931, A N D 1932 A N D P F R C F N T
OF C H A N G E IN 1932 AS C O M P A R E D W IT H 1929 A N D 1931 IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S
OF 50,000 P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R 1 R E P O R T IN G
UillEb

Number of certificates issued
State and city

Percent of change in 1932
as compared with—
1929 a

States reporting
Alabama____________
Birmingham____
M obile__________
M ontgom ery____
District of Columbia.
New Y o rk __________
A lbany__________
Binghamton_____
Buffalo__________
M ount V ern on ...
New Rochelle___
N ew Y ork_______
Niagara Falls___
Rochester___ ___
Schenectady_____
Syracuse________
T ro y ____________
Utica____________
Yonkers_________
Oregon______________
Portland________
W iscon sin___________
Milwaukee______
See fo o t n o t e s at end o f table.


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

1,848
4 29, 602
4 309
4 269
4 1, 877

4 821
4 36
4 56
4 31
1,763
4 19, 764
4 217
4 176
4 1,236
4 121

4 18,841
4 217
4 1, 220
4 429
4 361
4 174
4 277
4 292
1,307
4 5, 740
4 2,672

4 87
413, 515
4 104
4 799
4 162
4 130
4 104
4 123
4 240
770
41, 620
4 778

4 663
4 14
4 23
4 13
1, 175
4 17,893
4 187
4 117
4 1,155
4 85
4 70
4 12, 765
4 47
4 573
4 125
4 148
4 47
4 173
4 235
315
224
4 692
4 337

-1 9
-5 9
-3 3
-9
-1 4
-3 4
-7
-3 0
-2 0
-6

-5 5
-2 8
-2 3
+14
-5 5
+41
-2

-5 9
-8 7

-5 7
-5 7

1368
T

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

4 . —N U M B E R
OF M IN O R S 1 6 A N D 1 7 Y E A R S OF A G E D E C E IV IN G F IR S T
R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 1 , A N D 1 9 3 2 A N D P E R C E N T
OF C H A N G E IN 1 9 3 2 AS C O M P A R E D W IT H 1 9 2 9 A N D 1 9 3 1 IN S T A T E S A N D CITIE S
OF 50,000 P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R R E P O R T I N G —Continued

a b l e

Percent of change in 1932
as compared with—

Number of certificates issued

1931

1929

1932

1931

1929
Cities in States not reporting
California:

Louisiana:
Massachusetts:

5,311
1,528
318
320
2,037

2,454
925
168
374
1,218

5 364

5 244

5,173
630

2,904
613
1,618
1,318
344

-.y ,,

975

650

Michigan:
3, 296
985
578
361
228
675
Ohio:

371
333
129
44
73
108
112

1,036

643

3,114
8,748

1,648
7, 043

1,200
807

598
455

431
1,889
1,026

213
715
751

Oklahoma:

Washington:

-5 7
-6 3
-5 5
+ 19
-5 7

-7
-3 9
—15
+2
—29

s 208
0

-4 3

-1 5

2,212
481
93
843
1,253
254
206
158
357
64
400
1,014

-5 7
-2 4

-2 4
—22

75
2,074
153
176
238
74
41
33
116
37
425
174
1,183
3, 631
13
536
306
41
65
143
549
582

-4 8
-5
-2 6

-5 9

-3 8

-8 2
-5 9
-8 0

-5 3
-2 9
-4 3

-8 6
-9 5

-5 5
+7
-6 7

-5 9

-3 4

-6 2
-5 8

-2 8
-4 8

-5 5
-6 2

-1 0
-3 3

-6 7
-7 1
-4 3

-3 3
-2 3
-2 3

-3 7

3
65

Tennessee:

Utah:

182
299
64
2,275
565
143
382
869
171

488

35
48
144

28
76
101

279

156

-3 0
-6 8

-4 4

525

1 Population according to 1930 census.
,
.
, ,
,
2 Figures not shown for cities not reporting in 1929, nor for cities having less than 50,000 estimated populas Percent not shown where number of minors was less than 50 in 1929 or 1931 nor where figures were not
available or not comparable.
^
,
4 Includes only 16-year-old minors; law does not require certificates for minors of 17 years of age.
3 Number of girls to whom regular certificates were issued; law does not require certificates for boys of
these ages.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

C H IL D

1369

LABOR

In a comparable group of States and cities reporting for 1929, 1931,
and 1932, the number of certificates issued to minors of this age group
decreased 23 percent in 1932 from 1931, and 53 percent from 1929.
This decrease is smaller than that shown in the certificates issued to
14- and 15-year-old children. The decrease in 1932 from 1931 in the
number of certificates issued to 16- and 17-year-old minors in the 4
States reporting varied from 9 percent in New York to 59 percent in
Oregon; in the cities in other States the decrease ranged from 5 percent
in Lowell, Mass., to 67 percent in Saginaw, Micli. As was to be
expected, few cities (only 4) reported an increase in the number of
certificates issued to minors 16 and 17 years of age.
Education of Children Going to W ork

Fourteen- andJijteen-year-old children.— Of the 37,967 children report­
ing grade completed in 1932, 64 percent had completed the eighth or
a higher grade. In a number of States this grade standard is required
by law before children 14 and 15 years of age can obtain a certificate
for regular, full-time work. In a few States it is required only for
14-year-old children, and mothers neither 14- nor 15-year-old children
are required to come up to this standard. Ninety-four percent of the
children receiving certificates in the States in which completion of the
eighth grade is required for 14- and 15-year-old children, had com­
plied at least with this requirement, as compared with 47 percent of
the children receiving certificates in the States having a lower grade
standard for children of this group. In the latter group of States 30
percent had not gone beyond the sixth grade, and only 14 percent had
had one year of high school, whereas in the former group only 2 per­
cent had failed to complete a grade higher than the sixth and 35 per­
cent had had some high-scliool education. In the States and cities
that reported grade completed by boys and girls separately 68 percent
of the girls as compared with 60 percent of the boys had completed
the eighth or a higher grade before obtaining their work certificates.
As probably very few of these young persons go back to school after
they have once left for full-time work, it is encouraging that each year
since 1927 the percentage of children completing at least the eighth
grade in a comparable group of States and cities has steadily increased
(59 percent in 1927, 61 in 1928, 63 in 1929 and 1930, 65 in 1931, and
67 in 1932). This trend is no doubt due in part to the raising of legal
standards and, at least in recent years, to lack of work opportunities,
but it also reflects a tendency to keep children in school longer and
in this way to prepare them better for their future work and for
citizenship. The record year by year for all States hnd cities
reporting is shown in table 5.
T

5 . — P E R C E N T OF C H IL D R E N 1 4 A N D 1 5 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T R E G U ­
L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S W H O H A D C O M P L E T E D E IG H T H OR H IG H E R
G R A D E C L A S S IF IE D A C C O R D IN G TO M IN IM U M L E G A L SCH O O L S T A N D A R D , 1 9 2 7 1 9 3 2 (IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000 OR M O R E P O P U L A T IO N ’ R E P O R T IN G )

a b l e

State and city and minimum legal school standard

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

Eighth grade for children 14 and 15
District of Columbia . ____________ ___ _ _________
Illinois:
Chicago___ ____ _________ - _ -------------------------2 cities (Peoria, Springfield)..- _ ______________
3 cities (East St. Louis, Decatur, R ockford)______
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f table.


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

97

94

95

98

99

94

2 66
2 63
(*)

2 70
2 71

2 84
2 78
2 65

100
100
100

100
(3)
(3)

100
(3)

1370
T

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

5 . — P E R C E N T OP C H IL D R E N 1 4 A N D 15 Y E A R S OP A G E R E C E IV IN G F IR S T R E G U ­
L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S W H O H A D C O M P L E T E D E IG H T H OR H IG H E R
G R A D E C L A S S IF IE D A C C O R D IN G TO M IN IM U M L E G A L S CH O O L S T A N D A R D , 19271932 (IN ST A T E S A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000 OR M O R E P O P U L A T IO N R E P O R T IN G )—Contd.

a b l e

State and city and minimum legal school standard

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

Eighth grade for children H and IB— Continued
___ _ . . .
-------------- . . .
Indiana. .
Kansas.. ----- . . .
—
------ ... ---------Minnesota_______ __ ------- _ -- . ------------- -.
-------- ---------- --Oregon
_
Portland
------Eighth grade with exemptions for children Hand 15
Delaware: W ilm ington____ _ _
.
------M a in e5.
.
------- ---------------Rhode Island: Providence 5- - - ___________________
------Utah: Salt Lake C i t y . - . ------___ - - - - - - - - Vermont
Wisconsin
_______
-------------M ilw a u k ee___________ _ ----------- __ _
_ --_
Eighth grade with or without exemptions for H-year-old
children only
California:
San Francisco - . .
--------------2 cities (Sacramento, Oakland)
N ew Jersey:
9 cities (Atlantic City, Bayonne, Camden, East
Orange, Elizabeth, Hoboken, Irvington, Paterson. Union C ity )________ ________________ _____
New York:
New York City
------ ----------------------- ---------Buffalo------- ---------------------------------------- ----3 cities (Niagara Falls, Rochester, Yonkers). . . ...
Syracuse_____
- - - - - - 5 cities (Albany, Binghamton, Schenectady, Troy,
U tica)------------------- ------------- -- ------------2 cities (M ount Vernon, New Rochelle) . . -Washington: Seattle___ - - - - - - - Less than eighth grade for children I f and 15
Alabama________ ____ - - - ---------------------------------2 cities (Birmingham, M o b ile ).. . .
-------------- _
Colorado: D e n v e r ____ _
-._ -------Connecticut. _
. .
.
_
5 cities (Bridgeport, Hartford, N ew Britain, New
Haven, W a te r b u r y ).-______________ ________
K en tu ck y... . _ ---------------- -------------------------------2 cities (Covington, Louisville)___ _______________
M aryland: Baltimore-- ______ ______________________
Massachusetts:
2 cities (Lowell, Somerville) _____________________
Boston_______ . ------- ---------- ------- ------------------2 cities (Fall River, L y n n )_______________________
Lawrence. . . .
...
---------- ------- . . .
. __
Springfield.. _____ __________ . . ______
4 cities (Holyoke, Medford, New Bedford, Newton)
Michigan:
D etroit5__ _____ __________________________ ___
2 cities (Hamtramck, Kalamazoo)5_________ _____
Grand Rapids 5___ - -----------------------------------------Missouri: Kansas C i t y ------ ------------------------------ --------N ew Hampshire: Manchester
North Carolina--------------- ---------------------------- _ _ --_
Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia_______________________
_______
Pittsburgh--------- ------- -------------- _______________
3 cities (Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton)____ _
7 cities (Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Chester,
McKeesport, Reading, Y ork ). ____ . . .
Tennessee:
Chattanooga_______________ _____ _
________
2 cities (Knoxville, Nashville)___________________
M em phis_________ - - - - - - _____ ____________
Virginia:
R ichm ond__________________________ __________
R oanoke____________________________________ ____
West Virginia:
2 cities (Huntington, Wheeling) _________________

100
92
100
(4)
(4)

100
88
100
100
(4)

100
96
100
(4)
100

100
91
99
(4)
100

100
(3)
99
(4)
(4)

77
5 70
(4)
(4)
(3)
82
83

67
100
44
(4)
34
85
87

68
100
46
(4)
26
100
100

59
98
44
76
(3)
91
92

70
(3)
53
(3)
(3)
88
90

99
87

83
84

66
7 73

75
89

77
(3)

(4)

(4)

67
62
62
57
(4)
(4)
(4)

(4)

(4)

69
60
61
(4)

72
61
59
58
56
(4)
(4)

(4)
(4)
(4)
27
33
58
57

32
37
47
57

60
36
39
35

100
(3)
(3)
80
79
81
(3)
(3)
(3)

60
100
100

(3)
(3)

59

(4)

70
59
65
44

73
62
63
50

74
65
73
58

50
67

53
66
76

49
61
(4)

(4)

41
56

32
43
56
52

22
36
51
50

60
(4)
(4)
35

61
37
36
32

57
32
39
34

52
37
40
' 35

55
40
50
34

44
(4)
(4)
47
(4)
(4)

42
58
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)

43
56
35
(4)
(4)
(4)

44
61
37
(4)
58
(4)

41
61
37
59
60
«

37
62
46
65
66
39

58
(4)
(4)
75
(4)
(4)

53
58
(4)
79
(4)
(4)

60
77
64
(4)
(4)
15

80
(3)
60
80
(4)
13

63
(3)
(3)
86
(4)
17

31
40
36

34
43
35

37
43
40

38
43
35

39
45
43

(4)

(4)

(4)

W
21

(4)
(4)

25
20

(4)

(4)
(4)

(4)

(4)

(4)
(4)

(4)
(4)

(4)

(4)

(4)

17

68
(3)
(3)
(3)

100
18
43
47
43
56

(3)

16
43

26
(4)

39

55

(4)

28
25
42

27

35
(3)
(3)

27

(3)

(3)

(4)
43

(4)

25
38
14

(3)

1 Population according to 1930 census.
2 No eighth-grade requirement prior to July 1, 1929.
2 Percent not shown because number of children was less than 50.
4 N o report.
5 Practically allT5-year-old children; minimum age for certification under the law is 15 years, but certifi­
cates were issued to a few 14-year-old children under special circumstances.
6 N o eighth-grade requirement prior to 1928.
7 Sacramento only; no report for Oakland in 1929.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1371

CHILD LABOR

Sixteen- and seventeen-year-old minors.— The 1932 reports show that
in the 16- and 17-year-old group, as would be expected, the percentage
(77) that had completed the eighth or a higher grade was larger than
in the 14- and 15-year-old group.
Sex of Children Going to W ork

In the group of States and cities reporting for the 6-year period, the
proportion of employment certificates issued to boys 14 and 15 in 1927
was 57 percent of the total number issued to this age group as com­
pared with 50 percent in 1931. This decrease continued in 1932,
when the proportion of girls exceeded the proportion of boys (table 6).
In all probability this is due largely to the serious unemployment in
manufacturing and mechanical industries and the tendency to dis­
place older workers in domestic service by young girls.
T

6 .—P E R C E N T A G E OF B O YS A N D G IR L S 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E IV IN G
F IR S T R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN S T A T E S A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000
P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R > R E P O R T IN G E A C H Y E A R , 1927 T O 1932

a b l e

Percent of em ploy­
ment certificates
issued to—

Year

1927
______________________________
1928
______________________________
1929 ____________________________________
1930 .
______________________________
1931_____________________________________
1932_____________________________________

Boys

Girls

57
56
56
55
50
48

43
44
44
45
50
52

Population according to 1930 census.

In the 16- and 17-year-old group of minors reported in 1932, 52
percent were girls. Over the 6-year period, 1927 to 1932, the same
tendency to shift from boys to girls is apparent as in the younger
group.
Occupations Entered by Children on First Going to W ork

Occupations of 14- and lo-year-old children.— The 1932 figures show
the continued trend of employment of children 14 and 15 years of age
away from manufacturing and mechanical occupations and toward
the more or less unregulated occupations, including domestic and
personal service (table 7). The probability is that this trend is even
greater than indicated, because in a large number of States no certifi­
cates are required for agriculture, street trades, and work in private
households.
T

7 .— PERCENTAG E
OF 14- A N D 15-Y E A R -O LD C H IL D R E N R E C E IV IN G F IR S T
R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T -C E R T IF IC A T E S B Y O C C U P A T IO N A L G R O U P S IN S T A T E S
A N D C IT IE S OF 50,000 P O P U L A T IO N A N D O V E R >R E P O R T IN G E A C H Y E A R , 1927 TO 1932

a b le

Percent of children receiving employment certificates in—

Year

1927___________________________ ____ _____
1928______________________________________
1929______________________________________
1930______________________________________
1931______________________________________
1932______ _______________________________
i Population according to 1930 census.


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

Manu­
facturing Mercan­ Domestic
and me­
and
tile oc­
cupa­
personal
chanical
occupa­
tions
service
tions
39
35
38
30
30
26

21
17
17
19
17
15

14
18
14
23
29
34

Messen­
ger and
delivery
service

Other
occupa­
tions

16
17
17
17
14
13

11
12
14
11
11
12

All oc­
cupa­
tions

100
100
100
100
100
100

1372

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

In a comparable group of States and cities the number of children
entering manufacturing and mechanical occupations decreased 82
percent from 1929 to 1932 and the number entering office and messen­
ger occupations decreased 91 percent and 80 percent, respectively; on
the other hand, there was only a 36 percent decrease in the number
entering personal and domestic service. However, the decrease in
gainful employment in domestic and personal service was probably
considerably greater than this figure indicates because a large propor­
tion of the children certificated for this type of work, during the last
year, stayed at home to help their parents. In 1932, in those locali­
ties which reported home permits separately from those issued for
employment in homes other than their own, 51 percent of all the
certificates issued for domestic and personal service were reported to
be for work at home.
In localities reporting for the 2 years 1931 and 1932, the difference
between the types of work entered by 16- and 17-year-old minors was
slight. However, over a period of 6 years the proportion of boys and
girls entering manufacturing occupations decreased from 48 percent
in 1927 to 18 percent in 1932; during the same period the proportion
entering domestic and personal service increased from 16 to 40 percent.
Thus the shift from manufacturing industries to domestic and personal
service is even more apparent among these older boys and girls than
among the 14- and 15-year-old children.
Evidence of Age

It is a basic principle of child-labor administration that the best
possible evidence of age should be required to obtain a certificate,
since the certificate is proof that the employer has complied with the
age provision of the child-labor law. A birth certificate has always
been recognized as the best possible evidence of age, and a baptismal
record has been held second. Of the 55,223 certificates 6 issued on
which the evidence of age was reported, 88 percent were issued on
these two types of evidence. School records, however, were accepted
in many instances. In 2 States and in 15 cities in 9 other States prac­
tically all the certificates were issued on this type of evidence. School
records are reliable only when it is the practice to require a child enter­
ing school to produce a birth certificate. Only a very few certificates
were issued in 1932 on the evidence of the parent’s affidavit, which is
not considered reliable, as parents frequently misstate a child’s age in
order to obtain his employment. The temptation to do this may be
especially great during a time of scarcity of jobs.
Value of Employment-Certificate Reports
E a c h year since 1921 the number of States and cities reporting
to the Children’s Bureau facts about the employment certificates
issued has steadily increased. In 1920, reports were received from
only 33 cities in 18 States and from the District of Columbia, whereas
in 1932 reports either for the entire State or for certain cities in the
State were received from 36 States and the District of Columbia.
The States now cooperating with the Children’s Bureau employed in
1930 according to the United States census approximately two thirds

6 Evidence of age was reported for 14- and 15-year-old children and in 2 States for 16-year-old minors.


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CHILD LABOR.

1373

of the total number of boys and girls 14 and 15 years of age in the
country at work in occupations for which certificates are required.
With the increasing number of cities and States reporting and a
uniform reporting system, the analysis of this material becomes more
and more valuable in showing the trend of child labor in the United
States between census years.
Even if complete, however, these reports could not be taken as a
complete survey of child employment each year. It has already been
pointed out that they omit large groups of children who enter occu­
pations for which, in many States, no certificates are required, the
principal ones being agriculture and street trades and in many States
domestic service. Moreover, the reports received by the Children’s
Bureau of work certificates issued are for legal employment only,
and furnish no evidence as to the number of children illegally employed.
Effect of N .R .A . Codes on Employment of Children
T h e influence of the 16-year-age minimum in the codes set up by
joint agreement under the N.R.A. will undoubtedly be brought out
in the employment-certificate figures for 1933, even though the pro­
hibition will have been in effect for only a few months during the
year. These prohibitions also bring to the fore the necessity of some
administrative machinery to enable employers to be certain that they
are complying with the minimum-age standard. Requiring minors of
16 and 17 to obtain permits to work, as is now done in about a third
of the States, is obviously the next step. In many of the States where
legislation does not yet require employment certificates up to 18
years, the machinery now existing for the issuance of age certificates
on request of employers could be utilized for this purpose.


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OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND BENEFIT
PLANS
Adoption of Old-Age Pensions in Ohio

A F T E R about a decade of endeavor to secure an old-age pension
± jL system to provide for the indigent old people of Ohio, a refer­
endum measure was submitted to the voters of that State in the
November 7, 1933, election. The returns indicate that the measure
passed by a vote of more than 2 to 1.
Under the system, pensions will be paid to persons aged 65 years
or over. No method of financing has been devised so far.

Benefit Payments by Standard National and International
Unions, 1932

HE benefit services of national and international trade unions
for 1932 are shown in the accompanying table. The figures are
taken from the report of the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor to the 1933 convention of that organization and
are given to the nearest dollar.

T

T able

1.— B E N E F IT

S E R V IC E S OP S T A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L
T R A D E U N IO N S, 1932

Benefits paid for—
Organization

Unem­
Old-age
ployment pensions

Disabil­ Miscel­
laneous
ity

Sickness

Death

0)

0)

0)
$5,450

0)

0

0

0

0

0

0)
Bakery and confectionery workers. $111,812
195, 670

$29, 427
100, 680

$1, 659
0)
0

1,300

5,000

50,000
10,925
Boiler

makers

and

iron-ship

Brewery, flour, cereal, and softBricklayers, masons, and plasterers.
Bridge and structural-iron workers.

2 2, 508
4 1,800
48, 648

(!)

. . .

See footn o tes a t end of table.


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6,122
3 9,550
369,138
49j 950
G)

376,099

5

16, 761
i 3, 709

1374

< 54,996

8,103

0)

Clerks, retail . .

3 282,828
s 54, 806
28, 050

0

123, 000
584, 285
8,400
78, 300
46, 000
5 227, 342
4, 850

4 $10

4 $30
9,150

4,170

0)
0)

618,125
142,160
0)
0

870,090

0
0)

13, 65C
44, 700

i 8,128
1, 717

Total

$1, 659
0

5, 450

0

142, 538
296, 350
55,000
10,926

550
5 5, 349

285,885
116,990
85, 848

15,050

33,444
9, 550
1, 363, 362
192,110

0
0

0
0

136, 650
1,499,075
17,834
s 1, 306
80,017
62, 761
241,880
4 10,830
4,850

O L D -A G E
T able

1.— B E N E F IT

P E N S IO N S

AND

B E N E F IT

1375

PLANS

S E R V IC E S OF S T A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L
T R A D E U N IO N S, 1932—Continued

Benefits paid for—
Organization
Sickness

Death

Unem­
Old-age
ployment pensions

Cloth hat, cap, and millinery work­
$6, 780
$1, 290
ers______________________________
Conductors, sleeping car--------------$15,
C oopers__________________________
3,
« 2,
Diam ond workers------------------------s 4,467
Draftsmen------------------------------------(■)
(0
(0
341,
Electrical workers------------------------4 400,000
Elevator constructors-------------------3, 388,
9,000,000
Engineers, locom otive------------------Engineers, operating--------------------69,
Engravers, m etal-------------------------0)
(>)
0)
52, 205
1,945,457
135,
Engravers, photo-------------------------4 20,
Fire fighters---------------------------------Firemen and enginemen, locomo1,123,
171,190
fiv e -------------------------------------------15,
Firemen and oilers-----------------------Foundry employees---------------------4, 389
Fur workers______________________
3,
Garment workers (united)----------24,
24,100
17, ÖÖÖ
Garment workers, ladies’ -------------3,
35,
Glass-bottle blowers----------- ---------4,
Glass cutters, w indow ------------------Glass workers, flint----------------------12,
1,000
Glove workers----------------------- ------Government workers (federation
o f)---------------------------------------------(0
0)
0)
58,
Granite cutters----------------------------36,
Hatters___________________________
H od carriers, building and com ­
4 4, 226
4 942]
mon laborers___________________
6 8,
Horseshoers---------------------------------(0.
0) ' 0)
5 34,
Hotel and restaurant employees. _. 2 36,810
25,
Iron, steel, and tin workers----------Jewelry workers__________________
(6)
(6)
(6)
17,
Lathers, wood, wire, and m etal—
Laundry workers-------------------------(6)
(6)
3, 000
Leather workers---------------------------346,
Letter carriers------------------------------- 317,186
Letter carriers, rural---------------------0)
(>)
(>)
33,
231, 579
9,048
Lithographers____________________
Longshoremen--------- .-------------------0)
0)
(>)
182,100
242, 432
30,
Machinists_______________________
231,
Maintenance-of-way employees----4
4 63, 746
9, 000
Marble, slate and stone polishers..
4 370
41,
Masters, mates, pilots------------------Meat cutters and butcher work­
20, 377
13, 337
37,
m en____________________________
56,
M etal workers, sheet--------------------496
6,333
Mine, mill, and smelter workers. _.
2,
1, 000,
M ine workers (united)-----------------312,
239,922
138,172
M olders__________________________
4 162,
Musicians________________________
Oil-field, gas-well, and refinery
3,000
workers________________________
Painters, decorators, and paper242,
110, 656
hangers—
Paper makers____________________
5,
22,367
4,015
3 8,
Patternmakers___________________
Pavers, rammermen, etc__________
(>)
(')
0)
7,100
4,
Paving cutters------------------------------ . . . . . . . .
Piano and organ workers_________
0)
(')
51,
Plasterers-------------------------------------750,000
¡63,805
140,
Plumbers and steam fitters_______
9,
Polishers, m etal---------------------------20,
Potters, operative------------------------- '""¡,"967
Powder and high-explosive work­
ers______________________________
(>)
0)
(«)
Printers, plate and dye stam ping._
11,
s 3,102,141
1,152,
Printing pressmen-------------- . _____
Pulp, sulphite, and paper-mill
600
workers________________________
1,744
Quarry workers----------------------------3,
Railroad trainmen------------------------- 518,191 2, 917,
167,096 1,130,
Railway conductors______________
Railway employees, street and
4 76, 205 « 909, 7121.
electric_________________________

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

See footn o tes a t end o f table.


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Disabil­ Miscel­
laneous
ity

$6,000

$15, 265
8,275

(>)

(>)

320
(■)
$104, 404
971, 835
(')

105, 087
(>)
4, 771

Total

$23, 335
29,275
3.000
7,037

(>)

445,896
400,0C0
190, 273 13,657,052
63
69,373
(*)
(>)
181,410 2, 319, 060

20, 000

602, 275 1,073,067
4,160
8 ,100

34, 520 3,004,188
824
15, 849
700
25,912
38, Oil
24, 600
52, 250
35, 500
4, 500
67, 700
80, 600
1.000

(‘ )
8,935

(•)
4,293

0)
2,151

4 760
(0

4 777
(0

4 6, 033
0)
30, 907
100, 000
(6)

0)

73, 945
36, 634
21, 385

0)

102, 630
125, 718

(9)

(«)

(6)

(8)

(6)

0)
10,498
0)

0)

(*)

(0
6, 500

0)
38, 000

4 95

511, 952

499, 032
231, 697
85, 435
1,620

4,165

70, 864
61,015
9, 787

4 42

(6)

17, 253

(6)

3, 934
663, 378

(0

284, 925

0)

1, 000, 000

19, 375
4 23,095

710, 348
185,095
5,100

41, 200
3, 250
0)

0)

0)

(>)
4,000

(0

(>)

0)
1, 556
(')

394, 384
8, 279
34, 382

0)

13, 031

(0

55, 525
29, 692 1,083, 609
9, 650
57, 712
83,464
(0

0)

11,000

4, 254, 537
1,450
805, 536 2,176,269
298,391
168,800

23.600

3,063
3, 663
6, 818
66,476 6, 484, 337
6, 960 1,602,847
1,178,317

1376
T

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
1 .—

a b l e

B E N E F IT S E R V IC E S OF S T A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L
T R A D E U N IO N S, 1932—Continued

Benefits paid for—
Organization
Sickness

Unem­
Old-age
ployment pensions

Death

$109,970

$93, 291
Roofers", damp and waterproofing
----------- --Siderographers . .
Stage employees and moving-picStereotypers and electrotypers____

Teachers___
. ---------- - - - - . . Teamsters,.charfffeurs, and stable-

$6,000
1,161
(«)
4 10, 152

5, 032
(•)

. __

2, 744
4 96, 014
4 3, 200
323

T o t a l , _____ _

(>)

98,178
s 104,454 4 $680, 072
22, 700
6,000
155, 350
1,675
6, Oil
(')
(0

$1,850
(>)

(>)

$10,352

$213, 613

75

17,400
4,087
(■)

(0

0)
4 5, 303

s 13, 805
1,100

34,850

14, 875
(>)

(0

Total

98,178
813, 786
23,800
6,000
205, 075
12, 718
0)

64, 310
2, 590
305,347
3,200
3,144
3 272, 678 5, 067, 327
290, 000
10, 000
4, 750
29,983
25,460
64, 310

7,080
Typographical union, _ _ ___

11,400
1,000
0)

Disabil­ Miscel­
laneous
ity

2,590
298, 267
3, 200
400
s 621, 397 42, 247, 966 41, 829, 272
250, 000
30, 000
1,500
4 50
200

2, 308, 040 17, 674, 384 19,970, 557 6,148, 302 4, 006,891 1, 340,175 51,448, 349

1 N o international benefits.
2 Includes old-age pensions.
3 Includes disability benefits.
4 Paid b y local unions.
3 Includes local union benefits.
6 N o report received.

The expenditures for the various types of benefits for 1932 as
compared with the 3 preceding years are reported in table 2.
The outstanding feature of this table is the tremendous increase in
the sums spent for unemployment relief, rising in the 4-year period
from about one quarter of a million dollars to over $19,970,000.
T

a b l e

2 .—

B E N E F IT S P A ID B Y N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L T R A D E U N IO N S,
1929-32, B Y T Y P E OF B E N E F IT 4

T yp e of benefit

1 Figures are given to the nearest dollar.
reports of executive council.


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1929

1930

1931

1932

$2, 831,937
17, 598, 287
276, 718
4, 883, 028
2, 707,188
3,945, 288

$3, 649, 703
18, 527, 095
3, 311, 280
5,910, 995
3,234, 067
2,064,840

$2, 220,975
17,132, 023
9, 146, 724
6, 090, 743
3, 671, 380
1, 700, 028

$2, 308,040
17,674, 384
19,970, 557
6, 148, 302
4, 006, 891
1, 340,175

32, 242, 446

36,697, 980

39, 961, 873

51, 448, 349

Statistics for 1929, 1930, and 1931 were taken from previous

HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Industrial Health Discussions at the American Public Health
Association Convention, 1933

HE 1933 convention of the American Public Health Association
was held at Indianapolis, Ind., October 9-12. Itis significant of the
increasing interest in the health of the workers as related to their occu­
pations that four sectional meetings were devoted to industrial hygiene,
and others were projected but were not carried out as some of the
members were unable to attend because of the depression. This
brief report represents the information gleaned by attendance at these
sessions, copies of the papers on most of the subjects not being avail­
able, and the report, therefore, does not aim at being a complete
summary of the sessions.
The subjects considered in the industrial hygiene sessions covered a
fairly wide field, but the emphasis was upon problems connected with
the development of silicosis among workers subjected to exposure to
silica dust in various industries. Other subjects discussed at the
different sessions included industrial dermatoses, poisoning by petro­
leum distillates, cyanide poisoning, effects of exposure to carbon tetra­
chloride, particularly its effects upon the eyes, pulmonary asbestosis,
and a new X-ray mass procedure for the discovery of early tubercu­
losis in industry.

T

Discussion of Silicosis and Tuberculosis

Silicosis in both its acute and chronic forms is the industrial dis­
ease in which there is perhaps the most widespread interest at the
present time, from the standpoint both of the seriousness of the dis­
ease and of its importance in the field of workmen’s compensation.

Dr. Clayton S. Smith, from the Laboratory of Physiological Chem­
istry and Pharmacology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,
spoke on the silica content of the lungs of a group of tunnel workers
engaged in excavating a tunnel in New River, W.Va., about 40 miles
from Charleston. In addition to the use of roentgenograms in diag­
nosing these cases, Dr. Smith stated that chemical examination of the
lungs after death, used to confirm the diagnosis, is valuable in com­
pensation claims. The rock in which these men were working was
98 to 99 percent quartz, and most of the men were employed from 12
to 18 months. The working conditions were very bad, with dry
drilling and no measures taken to prevent dust, so that the men in­
haled immense amounts of the silica dust. The ventilation also was
very poor and a large number of the men were gassed at different
times. Shortly after the work began, many of the men developed
bronchitis and pneumonia, with a very high death rate. After about

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1377

1378

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

a year, many of the workers were incapacitated and others developed
shortness of breath, tired easily, and had dry unproductive cough.
The chief symptom of several shortly before death was the difficulty
in getting their breath.
Silicon dioxide (Si02) and silicates are the constituents of rock
dust which cause silicosis. It was said that most of the silica dust
particles which are inhaled are smaller than one eighth of a red blood
cell.1 The results of the inhalation of the silicon dioxide or silicates is
now generally believed, the speaker stated, to be due to chemical
action of the dust in the lungs.
In the examination of specimens of the lungs of persons diagnosed
as having had silicosis, the lung is reduced to ash, if as much as 1.6
percent of the dried lung substance is silicon dioxide, the case is re­
garded as having been silicosis. The speaker pointed out that some
silica is present in the lungs of all adults, the amount increasing with
increase in age. The lungs of nine of these workers were analyzed
and it was found that the silica content of the dried lung ranged from
1 to 2 percent.2
Dr. Leroy U. Gardner, director of Saranac Laboratory for the Study
of Tuberculosis, Saranac Lake, N.Y., spoke on the pathological lesions
in so-called acute silicosis. He reported on examinations of 3 sand
blasters (white), 9 tunnel workers (colored), and 3 sand pulverizers
(young Negroes). It was not known whether there had been any
previous exposure to silica dust in these cases, but since the group as a
whole was so young (one half under 30 years), it was not considered
probable that they had had much previous exposure. The tunnel
workers had been exposed to quartzite dust and the sand workers to
Cape May sand. All these men died within 21 months of stopping
work, many of them within 9 months. In 11 cases there was acute
tuberculosis, 2 others were considered probably tuberculosis, and 2
died of nontubercular pneumonia. None of these cases showed
silicosis but 2 were suggestive. The characteristic type of silicosis,
Dr. Gardner said, shows early involvement of lymph nodes at base of
lung and large nodules scattered throughout the lung, but these
cases did not show this picture. In all these cases there was heavy
involvement of the lung, involving the bronchi and blood vessels,
diffuse fibrosis in alveolar walls, and increasing size of connective
tissues at expense of the air spaces. All the tunnel cases and most of
the others died of infectious processes and this was accounted for by
the fact that there were so many young Negroes, who are particularly,
susceptible to tubercular infection. Dr. Gardner stated that tubercle
bacilli frequently cannot be found in silicosis complicated with
tuberculosis.
In the discussion Dr. Hollister commented on the bad working
conditions among the West Virginia tunnel workers. He stated that
it was his opinion that any person exposed to silica dust is liable to
develop tuberculosis.
Dr. Hayhurst stated that he has been rather against associating
tuberculosis with silicosis, on the ground that tuberculosis is not more
prevalent among any group of silicotics than in any average indus­
trial group. The report of these cases, he said, would cause him to
1 The diameter of the dust particles is usually given in microns (one m icron= 1/25400 inch), the dangerous
sizes being regarded as between 0.25 micron and 10 microns.
2 A report b y A. P. Sladden on the silica content of lungs published in The Lancet, July 15, 1933, states
that “ fibrosis of an important extent, clearly contributory toward death, is usually present when the silica
content exceeds 1.0 percent.”


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OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND BENEFIT PLANS

1379

modify his views somewhat, but he was still not convinced. He
believed the cause of death in these cases was not tuberculosis, and
that some of the infections were not tubercular. He was struck with
the suddenness of death in these cases. He also thought the series of
cases reported by Dr. Gardner showed a higher proportion of tuber­
culosis than he would expect.
In closing the discussion, Dr. H. R. Sayers (chairman of the section),
said that a more uniform terminology in description of silicosis cases
was needed, and also better reading of X-rays. (A showing of X-ray
pictures in the afternoon, which included many pictures from the
South African gold mines as well as many taken in this country,
brought out the differences in reading, particularly between the
British and the American physicians.)
Dr. Homer L. Sampson, director of Trudeau Sanatorium, Trudeau,
N.Y., presented a series of X-rays showing the findings in so-called
acute silicosis. He pointed out one case particularly in which there
was little evidence of silicosis and no bacilli, and stated that it was his
opinion this was unresolved silicosis.
The question of latent tuberculosis was brought up by another
physician, who stated that if no pulmonary lesion has developed by
the age of 25, it is very unlikely it will develop later in life. It was his
opinion that some of these cases of silicosis have had tuberculosis for
some years— 10 to 15 or more— and he thought it probable that
tuberculosis and silicosis modify each other so that it affects the
X-ray picture.
Dr. Gardner stated it is difficult to find the bacilli when tuberculosis
is superimposed on severe silicosis. He agreed with Dr. Hayhurst that
tuberculosis was not the whole story in the cases he reported, but
believed it was the actual cause of death. He thought in the case of
the tunnel workers that it was not the reactivation of old lesions, but
that these workers had never had such infection and therefore had no
immunity, which accounted for the rapid course of the disease. It
was his belief that in such cases the following points may be accepted:
1. In cases exposed to silica in which there is no childhood infection,
tubercular infection which would not develop at all in ordinary
individuals develops rapidly in silicotics.
2. Apical lesions which indicate the tuberculosis was latent when the
individual went into the work are activated by exposure to silica.
3. In cases where there are old apical scars, there is no activation,
and he questioned whether there would ever be. As such persons are
relatively immune to exposure to tuberculosis, he raised the point
whether such persons might not be put into silica industries but said
the question was not yet decided.
Dr. Gardner mentioned the several rapidly fatal cases in making
scouring powder which have been reported recently stating he thought
most of the cases were tubercular. He said he was not yet prepared to
accept the theory that alkali present in the scouring powders hastens
or causes the development of the disease.
The second session on industrial hygiene dealt with poisoning by
petroleum distillates, treatment of cyanide poisoning, dermatitis in
the oil-refining industry, and toxic amblyopia and accompanying
physiological disturbances in carbon tetrachloride intoxication.


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1380

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Poisoning by Petroleum Distillates
D r . E m e r y R . H a y h u r s t , consulting industrial hygienist, Columbus,
Ohio, reported on a series of cases of poisoning by various thinners
and dryers of various boiling points, including naphtha, gasoline,
petroleum ether, petroleum distillate, etc.
The first series of cases included six men employed in the enameling
department of an automobile plant, cleaning fenders, cowls, etc.
This series of cases began in 1922. The symptoms among these
men included boils, rapid pulse, great loss of strength, and gradual
loss of weight, resulting in total or partial incapacity for work. One
man died; but he was subject to a lead hazard also, so the cause of
death was a complication of poisons. The second series of cases
included eight men employed in staining shingles, using kerosene
and petroleum naphtha, together with the use of some creosote on
dark shingles. The symptoms in these cases included itching, dizzi­
ness, diarrhea, rapid pulse, slight temperature, and infections of the
upper respiratory tract, resulting in incapacity for work. The next
series resulted from exposure to pure naphtha. One girl who worked
in an art works, cleaning trays, which were to be enameled, by dipping
them in gasoline, had headaches and dizziness and after a month
developed an acute throat. She afterward went back to work for a
few days, when she collapsed physically and mentally, lost 80 pounds,
and finally could not talk. She finally began a slow recovery and
now is able to work at other employment. In these cases, in addi­
tion to the symptoms mentioned, there is lethargy, effort syndrome,
blind spells, and mental dullness, and headache is a general symptom.
The loss of weight ranges from 10 to 60 percent, and there is increased
pulse rate to 120 to 130. Other general symptoms include marked
anemia, skin irritation, rashes and boils, neuritis, continuous sensa­
tion of itching and burning, muscular twitchings, slight jaundice. In
these cases the duration of disability is related to the duration of
exposure. There is a question in these cases whether there is com­
plete recovery. Work which causes wetting of the skin— that is,
when the hands and forearms are immersed in the liquid— causes the
worst symptoms and this contact with the fluid also causes wasting
of the muscles. It was stated that about 40 percent of workers who
worked 10 months or more developed symptoms. Asked about pre­
ventive measures, Dr. Hayhurst said that rubber gloves could not
be used as they disintegrated; and vaseline was no use, but that
certain patent creams were of some value.
Dr. Sayers said there was much more experimenting to be done
and he believed that selection of workers was important. Dr.
Hayhurst stated, however, that the percentage developing symptoms
was so high that it showed more than individual susceptibility.

Treatment of Cyanide Poisoning
D r . K. K. C h e n of the Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis,
Ind., reported on a new treatment for cyanide poisoning which up
to the present has been used only in experiments on dogs. Interest
in treatment of this type of poisoning, which is rapidly fatal, has
been stimulated by the recent report of Geiger of San Francisco of
the successful treatment of cyanide poisoning with methylene blue.

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HEALTH

AND

IN D U S T R IA L

H Y G IE N E

1381

Cyanide poisoning may arise from suicides, homicides, ship and
house fumigation, photography, electroplating, gilding, and accidents
caused by taking cyanide preparations— bitter almonds, arrowgrass,
or certain mushrooms. Since 1909 there have been from 79 to 243
deaths annually in the United States from this cause. The remedy
proposed is amyl or sodium nitrate supplemented with sodium thio­
sulphate used intravenously, which it was said has been shown in
the experiments to be 5 or 6 times as effective as methylene blue.
The speaker said if this form of treatment proves to be as beneficial
to men as to dogs, it may be expected to save an adult individual
who has taken 32 grains of potassium cyanide or a pound of bitter
almonds. The remedy was found to be effective if the dogs were
breathing at all.
Skin Diseases in Oil Distilleries
D r . L o u i s S c h w a r t z , United States Public Health Service, New
York City, reported a study covering 11,000 employees in oil dis­
tilleries, of whom about 4,500 were examined. Among these workers
there were 196 cases of dermatitis occurring in a 2-year period. The
cases included acne, skin papilloma, and skin cancer. The oil acne
may occur on various parts of the body, particularly hands, arms,
and legs. There were 12 cases of skin cancer in the series. It was
said that there was not much which could be done to prevent the
occurrence of these lesions, but that extreme cleanliness on the part
of the workers was very important and therefore shower baths should
be provided.

Visual Disturbances Due to Carbon Tetrachloride

A p a p e r on visual and physiological disturbances resulting from
carbon tetrachloride intoxication was read by Dr. Z. T. Wirtschafter,
Cleveland, Ohio. He said that toxic amblyopia is an ocular condi­
tion which is characterized by dimness of vision and alteration of the
color fields. The speaker reported five cases of carbon tetrachloride
poisoning in workers in the dry-cleaning industry, in all of which
there was evidence of visual effects upon examination of the eyes,
although two had not suffered from visual disturbances. The
symptoms appeared in most cases after a few days’ exposure. The
symptoms reported included vertigo, headaches, vomiting, disturb­
ance of the sense of taste, and disturbance of vision. The speaker
said that continued exposure to carbon tetrachloride causes liver
necrosis. In all the cases the ocular condition returned to normal
after the men left their work and were put on a high calcium and
dextrose diet.
Occupational-Disease Legislation
T h e first paper in the third industrial hygiene session, by Andrew
I. Farrell, attorney, Chicago, was on the subject of occupational
disease legislation. The speaker stated that he believed the payment
of compensation by capital tends to reduce occupational disease. As
the question of whether or not the disease was contracted in previous
employment is of great importance, it was his opinion that physical
examination and X-rays were necessary at the beginning and end of
employment with each firm, and at the conclusion of any contract


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1382

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

there should be a complete record made showing the condition of the
employee and any compensation paid up to that time. He stated
that the average practitioner is not capable of making a proper
examination and thought, therefore, that doctors making these exam­
inations should have special training, especially in taking X-rays.
He considered classification of accidents comparatively simple when
compared with disease. The small employer is a problem from the
compensation standpoint, he said, since he cannot afford to pay for
examinations, and also he may go out of business at any time. Pay­
ment must be made by industry, whether large or small enterprises,
and the small employer must therefore carry insurance. During the
past few years, he stated, many proposed occupational-disease acts
failed of enactment because they were not properly prepared. He
said the bills should be properly drawn up, that is, they should be
clear and concise, and accepted by both employers and labor before
being introduced. In closing lie said that he thought all States will
have occupational-disease legislation within 10 years.
Pulmonary Asbestosis
T h e second paper of the session, by Dr. John Donnelly, superintend­
ent of Mecklenburg Sanatorium, Huntersville, N.C., dealt with a
series of cases of pulmonary asbestosis contracted in mills manufac­
turing asbestos. He said some occupations in an asbestos mill cannot
possibly escape inhalation of the dust, but the carding and weaving
rooms present the worst hazard. Dr. Donnelly stated that although
the first case of asbestosis was reported in the medical literature in
1900, no other was reported until 1924, and it is only in the last 10
years, therefore, that the disease has gained prominence. The disease
is characterized by asbestosis bodies in the sputum which vary from
golden yellow to dark brown in color and react to the test for iron.
These bodies, which are of many different forms, have a center com­
posed of asbestos fibers. The speaker stated that few cases of asbes­
tosis are complicated by tuberculosis, and he has not found that it
tends to activate preexisting tubercular lesions. The symptoms
include loss of appetite, loss of weight, chest pains due to involvement
of the pleura, and extreme dyspnea (difficult breathing). There is a
comparatively slight rise in temperature. The dyspnea, which is the
disabling symptom, may progress after leaving employment and there
is muscular atrophy over the chest. The physical signs are quite
similar to silicosis. Broncho-pneumonia is a serious complication.
In the X-rays the lesions are not so dense as in silicosis and even the
most severe cases do not show such a definite picture as does silicosis.
During the past 4 years Dr. Donnelly reported he had had 15 cases
referred to his clinic and all but 3 have shown some evidence of
asbestosis. All of these persons are still living although disabled.
The asbestosis bodies were found in the sputum in only one instance.
One of these employees had worked for 18 months with no protective
devices. In three cases which he reported there had been no improve­
ment in the condition of the patients. These cases, the speaker said,
show that exposure to the dust results in rapid progressive involvement
of the lungs. The protective devices, he stated, are usually inefficient.
In the discussion one physician stated he had had several cases
which came to autopsy and tuberculosis was found. Dr. Donnelly


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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

1383

said that all his cases were bilateral, and the X-rays showed that
mottling of the lungs appears first and is followed by the develop­
ment of fibrosis. He pointed out three characteristics of the pictures,
namely, a “ shaggy” heart line, fibrotic changes, and the pleuritic
involvement. He said he thought infection in these cases could be
ruled out because the rise in temperature is so small.
Dangers of Use of Colloidal Thorium in X-rays

T he third paper of the session, presented by Dr. R . Pomeranz,
associate roentgenologist of Beth Israel Hospital, Newark, N.J.,
treated of the dangers in the intravenous use of colloidal thorium,
which is used in the blood stream in the taking of roentgenograms to
make the parts clearer. It has been used subcutaneously in cavi­
ties, such as the sinuses, intraperitoneally, and intravenously. In its
first use, subcutaneously, it worked so well that the users overlooked
its dangers. The effects of the use of colloidal thorium are similar
to the effects in the famous radium poisoning cases in New Jersey
in a dial-painting plant, radioactivity of the organs developing
which result in malignant tumors. The intraperitoneal injection he
said was not so dangerous but general intravenous use should be con­
demned, although it might be used when the expectation of life is
3 years or less.
New X -ray Mass Procedure

T he last paper of the session, by Dr. Margaret W. Barnard, medi­
cal director, Bellevue-Yorkville Health Demonstration, New York
City, dealt with a new mass procedure for the discovery of early
tuberculosis in industry. Under this method a special paper film
is used and it is possible to X-ray 150 persons in an hour. Dr. Bar­
nard told of a survey in 1931 of persons receiving relief in New York
City. Ten thousand persons were X-rayed in 6 weeks and the
readings were completed in 2 more weeks. In these industrial areas
a rate of from four to six times the normal tuberculosis rate was
found. The results show the importance of finding tuberculosis,
especially in adults.
Occupational-Disease Compensation

T he report of the committees on standard practices in the problem
of compensation for occupational diseases and for pneumonoconiosis
were given at a special luncheon meeting.

The first committee reported that, because of increasing litigation
for silicosis under common law, wide publicity has been given to the
effects of dust on the respiratory system. There lias been a trend
toward the discontinuance of employers’ liability clauses included in
regular policies because of these civil suits for damages. In Pennsyl­
vania there has been a trend toward self-insurance, so as to keep
control of occupational-disease cases more closely in the hands of
employers.
Most of the compensation bills introduced in the legislatures per­
tain to dust diseases. Such bills have been presented in the States
of New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, and South Carolina. In
Michigan a bill has been proposed for the compensation of certain
listed occupational diseases, including stone worker’s or grinder’s

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1384

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

phthisis, pneumonoconiosis, and silicosis. Similar bills in New
Hampshire and Pennsylvania included silicosis, while Illinois is
planning to revise and broaden the present occupational-disease act.
Bills for the compensation of occupational diseases by general cover­
age rather than by schedule lists have been presented in Michigan,
Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
A report by the medical committee of the Pennsylvania commis­
sion on compensation for occupational diseases recommends the
establishment of a medical board consisting of three well-qualified
physicians as an integral part of the administrative body. The
legal committee of the same commission suggested that this medical
board should assume a judicial function by hearing evidence and
passing on it in a judicial manner. The committee on standard
practices, however, is opposed to such procedure.
In conclusion the report states that it supports the principle
“ that the arbitration and settlement of compensation claims must
be an administrative matter and not one subject to legal action.
This is based on a consideration of the whole principle of workmen’s
compensation as social insurance and not as damages. It is a method
of distributing the economical losses of the smaller number who are
exposed to accident and health hazards among the larger number of
consumers who buy the product of their labor. In other words, the
principle of insurance as a social remedy for these social evils has
replaced the inadequate and ineffective remedy supplied by private
philanthropy and public relief. Since there is no longer a question
of damages or negligence involved, legal action and legal methods
would certainly seem unnecessary and undesirable.”
The report of the committee on pneumonoconiosis reviewed the
methods by which silicosis and other pneumonoconioses are included
as compensable diseases in the laws of various countries, States, and
Provinces throughout the world. These methods are: By implica­
tion from the general wording of the workmen’s compensation act
regarding injuries covered which is the case in certain States in this
country; by listing in a schedule the compensable occupational dis­
eases covered by the act; by a clause in the act providing for special
schemes to be drawn up for the compensation of silicosis; by special
act; and in a few laws by a combination of these methods.
In regard to the problem of compensation for silicosis the committee
states that it is clear this is the type of disease where the definition
of disability is obscure. “ Many cases which could keep at work, if
necessary for economic reasons, can be honestly and actually disabled
with demonstrative objective signs of the disease if that pressure is
removed through the payment of compensation.” Medical advice
is necessary, it is said, to determine when the worker’s condition has
reached a point where exposure to dust jeopardizes his future working
capacity and when his health is impaired to a degree which con­
stitutes disability.
The preventive measures taken to control the source of the dust are, in reality,
the most important factor in the control of this disease. Without medical and
engineering preventive measures, any attempt to control the situation through
some means of financial relief or adjustment seems, as far as is known at present,
to be doomed to failure.


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HELATH AND INDUSTRIAL H YGIENE

1385

Pulmonary Asbestosis

N ARTICLE on the clinical, radiological, and pathological feaL tures of pulmonary asbestosis by Dr. Philip Ellman, published
in The Journal of Industrial Hygiene, July 1933, presents evidence of
the greatly increased risk of tuberculosis among persons suffering from
asbestosis. Until recently it has been rather generally believed that
complication of tuberculosis with asbestosis was somewhat rare and
that this was a, significant difference from the situation as regards
silicosis, in which the danger of the development of tuberculosis has
been fully recognized.
. .
The writer, who is in charge of a tuberculosis and chest clinic m
London, presents his findings in a series of cases under his care. The
clinical features of the disease are given as the slow development of a
characteristic type of fibrosis in which the patient may be compara­
tively free from symptoms for several years, usually from 5 to 15,
although the writer had had cases following exposure of 1 to 3 years
or less. The delayed effects of exposure to asbestos dust are also
pointed out, in some cases years elapsing after the worker has left
the industry before the occurrence of symptoms. The chief symp­
toms are dyspnea (difficult breathing), which is one of the earliest
evidences, occurring at first only on exertion; cough of a harsh, non­
productive character often associated with fleeting chest pains, loss
of appetite, cyanosis, amounting in these cases to a pronounced dead­
ening of the skin, varying from mild bronzing to slight blueness;
emaciation, with a loss of weight out of all proportion to the physical
signs; and clubbing of the fingers in the more advanced cases. As­
bestos corns form a characteristic skin lesion. These are produced
by asbestos fibers which penetrate the skin and form corns on the
hands and arms and even the legs. No asbestosis bodies are found
in these corns such as are frequently present in the sputum of persons
suffering from asbestosis.
Upon examination the chest shows limited expansion, even below
1 inch, the movement being especially limited at the bases, where the
fibrosis commences. The fibrosis extends upward in the more ad­
vanced cases, but is usually confined to the lower and middle zones
of the lungs, and the apices are frequently retracted.
Radiography, which the writer thinks the most reliable diagnostic
aid, generally discloses the presence of a fine diffuse fibrosis. The
writer states that he has observed roughly four stages in the progres­
sion of the disease, characterized by changes in the degree of mottling
throughout the four stages and the development in the third stage of
definite evidence of pleural involvement. The mottling, which is of
a fine punctate character, stands out in definite contrast to the coaise
nodular mottling seen in silicosis. This mottling has been described
by one writer as presenting a “ ground glass” appearance and by
another as “ the veiled appearance” of the involved zone. When
tuberculous infiltration complicates asbestosis, it can usually be de­
tected and distinguished from the underlying fibrosis just as m cases
of silicosis.
, .
The highly characteristic golden-yellow asbestosis bodies found m
the sputum and fibrosed lungs of asbestos workers have bulbous en­
largements at the extremities somewhat resembling dumbbells and
have been found by various observers to vary in length from 20 to over

A


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1386

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

200 microns.1 An asbestos fiber forms the core of each body and the
g-oldenwellow material covering each fiber contains an iron substance
derived from body tissues. The writer stated these bodies were found
at all autopsies upon cases of pulmonary asbestosis. The bodies are
found either singly or in clumps in the lung tissue, but in the sputum
they are usually found singly or in groups of 2 or 3. It is a remarkable
fact that the asbestosis bodies persist in the sputum for years even
after short periods of exposure.
Although the question of the complication of silicosis with tubercu­
losis has been rather an open one, it has been shown recently in animal
experiments that silica and asbestos dusts belong to a group of active
substances which produce lesions when introduced into the subcuta­
neous tissues. Both produce serious pulmonary fibrosis and both
assist the growth of tubercle bacilli. Clinical evidence, the writer
states, would seem to support this experimental work, as there is
little doubt that an increasing number of cases of tuberculosis are
being seen in persons exposed to asbestos dust. These cases, it is
said, may not be met with in an examination of workers at work with
no symptoms, but are found oftener among persons who have left
work and are attending clinics. Thus an English investigator (E. it.
A. Merewether) in 1930 found only 4 active cases of tuberculosis in
an examination of 374 asbestos workers actually at work, while in
1931, 2 other investigators (Wood and Glovne) were able to trace 12
cases of tuberculosis, 10 of which were active, in a series of 57 cases of
asbestosis, and among 35 deaths from asbestosis reported by the Brit­
ish Chief Inspector of Factories in 1931 tuberculosis was a complicat­
ing or terminal factor in 11 cases. The writer states that among 17
of his own definite cases of asbestosis, the majority of whom were not
at work, 6 had tuberculosis, 4 of these cases being active. He states
that his own limited experience tends to show that tuberculosis, as a
complication of asbestosis, is by no means uncommon, and that while
the risk may or may not be equal to that in silicosis, the evidence quoted
and his own observations appear to establish beyond a doubt that
there is a risk. The existence of this risk leads him to conclude “ that
no person with tuberculosis in any form should be allowed to enter
the industry, nor should any one in whom tuberculosis at a later stage
is detected be" permitted to continue in the industry. The risk here
is to the other workers, as well as to themselves.”
In regard to the probable course of the disease it is said the period
between exposure to the dust and a fatal termination is only about one
half of that of silicosis. The asbestos dust taken into the lungs pro­
duces the pulmonary fibrosis as the result either of actual mechanical
trauma or of a toxic effect similar to that exerted by silica in cases of
silicosis. The disease is a progressive one and, if sufficient dust is
present, ends fatally, usually from some intercurrent complication
such as acute broncho-pneumonia or phthisis. The difficult breathing
present in persons with established cases of asbestosis is usually out
of proportion to the clinical evidences of the disease, while in silicosis
in general the dyspnea becomes manifest only upon exertion even in
cases of advanced fibrosis. In conclusion it is said that pulmonary
asbestosis is a progressive disease with a bad prognosis and that its
treatment can be only symptomatic.
1 M icron=1/25400 inch.


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1387

HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

Occupational Diseases Reported in Ohio, 1928 to 1932
HE Ohio Division of Industrial Hygiene which was established
in 1913 was abolished in 1932 and its functions taken over by the
newly-established Bureau of Occupational Diseases with Dr. Emery R.
Hayhurst as consultant and acting chief. Dr. Havhurst has supplied
the report for the year 1932 showing the compensable diseases reported
to the bureau for the 5-year period, 1928-32, as well as the reports of
noncompensable industrial diseases during the same! period.
The following table shows the number of cases of compensable
diseases reported in Ohio for the years 1928-32. During these years
no cases of anthrax or glanders were reported, or of poisoning from
mercury, phosphorus, carbon dioxide, manganese dioxide, or radium.

T

C O M P E N S A B L E DISEA SES R E P O R T E D IN OHIO, 1928 TO 1932
Number of eases reported
Disease

Lead poisoning---------------------------------------------------------------Arsenic poisining------------------------------- -------- -------------------Benzol poisoning (and nitro or amido derivatives)------------Volatile petroleum products poisoning (gasoline, benzine,
naphtha, etc.)--------------------------------------------------------------Carbon bisulphide poisoning----------------------------------------- W ood alcohol poisoning--------------------------------------------------Dermatitis 1--------------------------------------------------------------------Epithelioma (skin or eyes) due to carbon, pitch, tar, or
tarry com pounds---------------------------------------------------------Compressed air illness----------------------------------------------------Brass or zinc poisoning---------------------------------------- ---------T enosynovitis3 (flexor or extensor muscles of hands)--------Prepatellar bursitis 3-------------------------------------------------------Chrome ulceration 4 (nasal and skin)------------------------------Potassium cyanide poisoning 4----------------------------------------Sulphur dioxide poisoning 4--------- ------- --------------------------T otal---------------------------------------------------------------------

180
11
3
1
1
894
3
16
7
(2)
(2)

1930

1929

1928

6
3
2

1,127

1931

1932

183
2
11

134
1
3

114
2
6

148
3
9

4
1

2

5
2

985

884

6
18
1
833

621

2
62
5
37
13
10
2

1
59
2
130
23
20

5
5
10
166
29
16
1
5

1
20
2
149
23
79
3
4

1,317

1,259

1,217

1,069

1 Specified as infection or inflammation of the skin on contact surfaces due to oils, cutting compounds, or
lubricants, dusts, liquids, etc.
2 Statistics not kept in 1928.
3 A dded to compensable list July 31,1929, b y legislative act.
4 Added to compensable list July 9,1931, b y legislative act.

Although noncompensable occupational diseases are reportable
to the Ohio Department of Health under the law and should form
the basis of legislative action extending the schedule of compensable
diseases, the number actually reported is not large, as neither the
attending physician nor patient receive any fee for reporting such
cases. A table showing noncompensable diseases lists only 57 such*
cases in 1932, although 38 causative agents are specified, while in
addition 33 cases of disease reported as due to occupational expo­
sures were reported. In the latter cases the causative agent was
not clear or definite, and there was some personal predisposition,
climatic condition, or other unnamed factor present in the given
case.


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Accidents in Manufacturing Industries, 1926 to 1932

IGURES collected and compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statis­
tics in its annual survey of accidents in manufacturing industries
show an increase for 1932 in both frequency and severity rates.
An average of 19.55 injuries was sustained in the combined indus­
tries during 1932 for every 1,000,000 man-hours worked, as against
18.85 in 1931, an increase in the frequency rate of 3.7 percent. An
average of 2.86 days was lost through the injuries received in 1932,
including standard schedule allowances for deaths and permanent
disabilities, for every 1,000 man-hours worked, as against 2.59 in
1931, an increase in the severity rate of 10.4 percent.
Continued curtailment of industrial activity was responsible for a
decided reduction in employment during 1932, and the diminished
exposure to the hazards of industrial life naturally resulted in a sub­
stantial reduction in the total number of industrial injuries, but, as
shown by the frequency rates of the Bureau, the total number of
injuries did not decline so rapidly as the man-hours of exposure.
The difference in the frequency rates for the 2 years is presum­
ably, at least partly, due to a let-up in safety activities— a common
but unfortunate result of economy programs— so that unsafe condi­
tions or practices were not eliminated or improved. Such neglect
would naturally lead to a proportionate increase in accidents and,
aside from the standpoint of human relations, would in the end
prove far more expensive than the cost of the necessary safety work
involved.
Other information received by the Bureau shows that, while the
usual accident-prevention work was continued in many establish­
ments, safety activities were curtailed greatly in others through
reduction in safety personnel and maintenance personnel, or in funds
for upkeep and repair of working places.
The question of continued and energetic accident-prevention work
is especially important at the present time. Renewed industrial
activity, with the attending employment of many workers in tasks
with which they are not familiar, will greatly increase the occupa­
tional hazards, even where conditions are rendered as safe as possible.
Reduction or laxness in safety work will increase these hazards still
further, exact their toll of injuries and suffering, and prevent efficient
and economic operation of the industry.
A distribution of accident frequency and severity rates for the
combined manufacturing industries in 1932, by extent of disability,
is shown in table 1, with comparable yearly rates for the 6 previous
years. These rates were computed from the records for all establish­
ments covered by the survey of the Bureau, and weighted according
1388

F


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

to the total number of wage earners employed ip each of the indus­
trial groups, as given in the reports of the United States Bureau of
the Census.
T able

1.— A C C ID E N T

F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 TO 1932 (W A G E E A R N E R S O N L Y )

Deaths

Permanent
disability

Temporary
disability

Total

Severity

Frequency

Year

1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932

_______________________
_____________________
_________________________
_____________________
____
- -- _____
_ _____________________

Fre­
quen­
cy
rate

Se­ Fre­ Se­
ver­ quen­ ver­
ity
ity
cy
rate rate rate

Fre­
quen­
cy
rate

Se­
ver­
ity
rate

Rate

0.16
. 17
. 18
. 15
. 17
. 15
. 17

0. 98
1.05
1.08
.91
1.06
.90
1.00

1. 27
1. 22
1.32
1. 38
1.41
1.30
1.45

22. 73
21. 21
21.02
22. 45
21.50
17.40
17. 93

0. 46
. 41
.40
.40
.42
.34
.36

24.16
22. 60
22. 52
23. 98
23. 08
18. 85
19. 55

1.18
1. 12
1. 16
1. 12
1.34
1.35
1.50

Per­
cent of
change,
as com ­
pared
with
preced­
ing
year

- 6 .5
-.4
+ 6.5
- 3 .8
-1 8 .3
+ 3.7

Rate

2.62
2.58
2. 64
2. 43
2. 82
2. 59
2. 86

Per­
cent of
change,
as com­
pared
with
preced­
ing
year

- 1 .5
+ 2.3
- 8 .0
+16.0
- 8 .2
+10.4

Trend o f Accident Frequency and Severity Rates
in Manufacturing Industries,1 9 2 6 to 1 9 3 2

The average frequency rate for the combined industries declined
from 24.16 in 1926 to 22.52 in 1928, but advanced to 23.98 in 1929.
It started again on a downward trend and dropped in 1931 to 18.85,
its lowest level, then rose in 1932 to 19.55, making the total decrease
for the period 19 percent. The average severity rate declined and
advanced alternately, from 2.62 in 1926 to 2.86 in 1932, an increase
for the period of 9 percent.

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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

The fluctuations in the yearly rates are presented graphically in
the chart on page 1389, which shows the trend of the average
frequency and severity rates for the combined manufacturing groups
during the 7-year period, 1926 to 1932.
The industrial accident surveys of the Bureau are limited to wage
earners and do not include clerical employees, as the accident hazard
for that group is entirely different. The surveys covered apprdximately 33 percent of the total wage earners in the respective industrial
groups in 1926, 34 percent in 1927 and 1928, 38 percent in 1929, 37
percent in 1930, 44 percent in 1931, and 37 percent in 1932.
Individual industry rates, by extent of disability and by years,
were computed from records of establishments in the States which
furnished data for all accidents resulting in disability extending
beyond the day of injury. It has been found that this selection con­
stitutes a fairly representative cross-section for each of the industries
covered, and that comparable rates for the various industries could
not be computed otherwise. It must, however, be taken into con­
sideration that in using only such records several important States
are omitted from this individual compilation, and that neither the
number of full-year workers nor the actual number of accidents in
any one industry is comparable with the same item for another
industry. Only the frequency rates and severity rates are com­
parable. The individual rates are shown in detail in table 2, by
extent of disability and by industry and years.
T

a b l e

N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y
R A T E S F O R W A G E E A R N E R S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 T O 1932

2 .—

[Frequency rates are based on 1,000,000 hours’ exposure, severity rates on 1,000 hours’ exposure]
Permanent dis­
ability

Death
Industry and year

Number
of fullNum ­ Fre­
year
workers ber quen­
of
cy
cases rate

Agricultural implements:
1926.. ________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Automobiles:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Automobile tires and
rubber goods:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________


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

Temporary dis­
ability

Total

Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­
veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­
of
of
of
ty
cy
ty
cy
cy
ty
ty
rate cases rate rate cases rate rate cases rate rate

5,126
7,282
7,134
7, 628
5, 855
3,181
1,913

0
6
3
4
4
3
1

0. 27
. 14
. 18
.23
.31
. 17

1. 65
.84
1. 05
1.37
1.89
1.04

39
28
21
68
40
27
18

2. 54
1.28
.98
2. 97
2.28
2. 83
3.13

3. 08
1.10
.48
3.38
2. 72
2. 34
3. 46

554
598
662
800
514
237
121

28, 360
48,886
52, 269
58,127
32, 574
28, 626
20, 342

10
7
9
14
10
8
10

. 12
.05
.06
.08
. 10
. 09
. 16

.71
.29
.34
.48
.61
.56
.98

180
142
229
299
146
129
104'

2.12
.97
1.46
1.71
1. 49
1.50
1.70

5. 19
1. 27
1. 10
1.31
1.43
1. 16
1.67

2,145
1,852
3, 267
3, 657
1,372
1, 193
718

25.21
12. 63
20. 83
20. 97
14. 04
13. 89
11.77

17, 951
30, 696
36, 377
35, 967
26, 301
23, 086
20, 666

3
7
9
12
8
15
6

.06 .33
.08 .46
.08 .49
.11 .67
. 10 .61
. 22 1.30
. 10 .58

32
61
62
64
42
55
35

.59
.66
. 57
.59
.53
.79
.56

.46
.51
.51
.40
.48
.65
.49

2,913
3, 771
3,877
2, 642
1, 781
1, 346
1,058

54. 07
40. 95
35. 53
24. 49
22. 57
19. 43
17. 06

36. 03 0. 58
27. 37 .46
30. 94 .47
34.96 .51
29. 25 .55
24. 83 .45
21.07 .37

593
632
686
872
558
267
140

38. 57
28. 92
32. 06
38. 11
31.76
27. 97
24.37

3. 66
3. 21
1. 79
4. Í4
4. 64
4. 68
4. 87

.35
.23
.33
.32
.30
.26
.27

2, 335
2,001
3, 505
3,970
1,528
1,330
832

27. 45
13. 65
22. 35
22. 76
15. 63
15.48
13. 63

6. 25
1.79
1.77
2. 11
2. 34
1.98
2. 92

.72
.73
.62
.43
.47
. 40
.39

2, 948
3,839
3, 948
2,718
1,831
1,416
1,099

54. 72
41.69
36. 18
25. 19
23. 20
20. 44
17. 72

1. 51
1. 70
1. 62
1. 50
1. 56
2. 35
1.46

1391

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
T

2 . — N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y
R A T E S F O R W A G E E A R N E R S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 T O 1932—Continued

a b l e

Industry and year

Boots and shoes:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Brick, tile, and terra
cotta:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Carpets and rugs:
1926
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Chemicals:
1926
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Cotton goods:
1926
_______
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932
Electrical
machin­
ery, apparatus, and
supplies:
1926____________
1927____________
1928
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Fertilizers:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Flour, feed, and
other
grain-mill
products:
1926____________
1927. _________
1928____________
1929. __________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Foundry and ma­
chine-shop prod­
ucts:
1923____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
19c0____________
1931____________
1932_______ ____

Permanent dis­ Temporary
Death
ability
ability
Number
of full- N um ­
N
um
­
Fre­
N
um
­
Fre­
Se­
Fre­ Se­
year
ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­
workers
of
of
cy
of
ty
cy
cy
ty
cases rate rate cases rate rate cases rate
5
69
79
87
69
115
97

Total

Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­
veri­ ber quen­ veri­
of
cy
ty
ty
rate cases rate rate

7.13 0.09
7. 48 . 14
8. 52 . 17
8. 48 . 14
6. 53 . 16
7.71 . 13
7. 78 . 14

322
962
985
1,316
1,203
1,856
1,429

57. 34
35. 46
42. 56
45. 29
41. 14
38. 69
36. 41

.92
.55
.73
.65
.67
.69
.72

823
1,476
1,261
1,624
1,303
1, 526
738

19
214
231
358
277
265
122

4 31
4 61
5.47
8.3^
7. 54
9.80
7. 98

.06
.68
1.33
1.00
1. 21
1. 04
1. 15

124
308
735
836
718
465
279

. 14
.33
.35
.53
.52
.29
.52

1, 171
2, 258
2, 332
3, 002
2, 967
3, 483
3,632

14, 779
39, 763
35, 396
48, 258
57, 683
74, 956
56, y02

i
i
2
1
4
7
4

4, 703
13, 497
9,685
11,629
10, 289
12, 581
6,489

3
9
8
15
8
20
9

.21
. 22
.28
.43
.26
.53
.46

1.28
1.33
1.65
2.58
1. 55
3. 18
2. 77

11
31
16
31
25
46
20

1,482
15, 321
14, 091
14, 286
12, 241
9,015
5, 101

0
1
4
4
1
1
1

.02
.09
.09
.03
.03
.06

. 13
.57
.56
. 16
.22
.39

0
12
25
31
25
24
13

3, 117
8, 540
12, 461
15, 506
14, 705
14, 970
14, 053

0
5
20
7
12
12
6

.20
.53
. 15
. 27
.27
. 14

1. 17
3. 21
.90
1.63
1.6C
.85

2
17
35
57
48
34
35

.21
.66
.94
1.23
1. 09
.76
.83

44, 194
56, 903
63, 952
69, 691
74, 441
131, 401
90,136

C
6
5
1C
8
7
12

.04
.03
.05
.01
.02
.04

. 21
. 16
.29
. 21
. 11
.26

23
57
82
125
125
128
154

. 17
.33
.43
. 6C
.56
.32
.57

18, 137
60, 927
61, 631
85, 201
64, 468
67, 371
43, 232

2
11
10
12
16
13
18

. 01
.06
. 05
.05
.08
.06
. 14

.22
.36
. 32
.28
.51
.38
.83

56
21C
183
388
257
189
122

1, 309
2,49c
4, 341
5, 167
5, 275
3, 852
3, 067

1
3
10
£
7
1
1

.26
. 4C
. 77
.58
.41
.35
.44

1. 54
2. 40
4. 6(
3. 48
2. 66
2. 08
2.61

2
7
13
13
17
13
7

.51
.93
1.00
.84
1.08
1. 12
.76

.23
1. 79
.91
1. 11
2. 12
1. 24
.88

3, 889
7, 107
9,355
10,863
10. 303
12, 672
9, 641

1
5
5
7
9
7
7

.31
.23
. 18
.21
.29
. 18
.21

2. 06
1.41
1.07
1.2£
1. 75
1. 10
1. 45

15
25
24
31
54
6£
38

27, 05i
72, 963
66. 27o
70,850
66, 933
52, 271
29. 2o2

17
33
29
2d
12
39
24

.21
. 17
. 15
. 11
. 16
.25
.27

1. 28
1.01
.87
. 65
. 9o
1.49
1.64

85
33c
30i
33£
32C
272
156


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

0. 02 0.14
.01 .05
.02 . 11
.01 .04
.02 . 14
.03 . 19
.02 . 14

dis­

0.11 0. 05
.58 .47
.74 .75
.60 .49
.40 .27
.51 .38
.57 .47

316
892
904
1, 228
1,130
1,734
1,328

1.67
.75
.59
1.04
.95
1.63
1.06

809
1, 436
1, 237
1,57:
1,270
1, 460
709

.26 .21
.59 .67
.72 .89
.68 . 41
.89 1.03
.85 .76

7. 26 0. 28
8.01 .66
9.28 1.03
9. 09 .67
6. 95 .57
8.25 .70
8. 37 .75
58. 33
36. 45
43. 39
46.61
42. 21
40. 44
37.90

3.87
2. 63
2. 97
4. 27
3. 17
5. 50
4. 55

.08
. 11
. 14
. 12
. 15
. 18
. 12

19 4.31
227 4.94
26( 6.15
391 9.15
30:
8. 25
29C 10. 72
13. 8. 89

.08
.49
1.38
1. 57
.72
1.43
1.27

13. 26
12.02
19.66
17.97
16. 28
10. 35
6. 62

.25
.22
.45
.27
.38
.23
. 16

120
331
790
900
778
511
326

.31
2. 07
4. 99
2. 17
3. 22
2. 87
2. 16

8. 83
13. 23
12. 15
14. 36
13. 28
8. 84
13. 43

. 18
.27
. 23
.28
.26
. 16
.25

1, 194
2, 321
2,419
3, 137
3,100
3, 618
3, 798

9. 00 . 32
13. 60 .81
12. 61 .74
15. 01 1.10
13. 88 .99
9. 18 .56
14. 04 1.03

1.03 .64 1,095 21. 13
1.15 1.02 2, 611 14. 28
. 99 .80 2,181 11.80
1. 52 . 12 3, 502 13. 70
1. 33 1.0c 2, 995 15. 49
.94 .76 1, 957 9. 68
.94 .69
989 7. 63

.37
.36
.32
.27
.39
.22
. 18

1,153
2, 832
2, 374
3,902
3,268
2,159
1,129

22. 20
15. 49
12. 84
15. 27
16. 90
10. 68
8. 71

1.23
1.74
1. 44
.67
1.91
1.36
1.70

44. 54
34. 8,.
36. 5i
36. 57
29. 71
31. 92
32. 94

.88
.66
.77
.69
. 51
.56
.59

177
271
409
5S9
494
386
314

45.31
36. 16
38.31
37. 99
31.23
33. 39
34. 14

2. 70
4.85
6. 28
5.31
5. 29
3.S8
4. 68

1. 2£
1. 17
.86
.95
1.75
1.82
1.31

1.94
31C 26. 57
477 22. 37
. 91
.94
845 30. 1C
1.01 1,202 86. 89
2. 61 1, 135 36. 70
2. 78 1, 107 29. 12
2.04
765 26. 45

. 5C
. 41
.54
.62
.01
.51
. 48

329
507
874
1, 21C
1,198
1, 183
810

28. 20
23.77
31. 14
38. C5
38. 14
31. 12
28. 00

4 50
2 72
2. 55
2 91
4 97
4 39
3 97

1.05
1.54
1.51
1. 59
1.5S
1.73
1. 78

1.05
1.3c
.82
1.39
1.27
1.51
1.48

.58
.51
.21
.48
.46
.44
.40

3, 295
6, 732
6,093
7,161
5, 321
4,092
2, 090

40. 58
30. 76
30. 64
33. 69
26. 50
26. 09
23. 79

2 $9
2 88
1.90
2 .2
2. i9
3.44
3. 52

.78
. 77
.55
.87
.81
1.22
1.03

174
261
476
567
47C
369
303

3, 193
6, 35o
5, 769
6, 799
4,969
3, 781
1,910

39. 32
29. 0c
'.¿6.
31. 99
24. 75
24. 11
21. 74

13. 47
12. 88
21. 13
19. 35
17. 64
11.38
7. 59

1392
T

Mo n t h l y

labor

r e v ie w

2 . — N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y
R A T E S F O R W A G E E A R N E R S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 T O 1932—Continued

a b l e

Industry and year

Furniture:
1926. __________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930. __________
1931____________
1932 ___________
Glass:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Hardware:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931___________
1932 __________
Iron and steel:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Leather:
1926____________
1927- __________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932 __________
Logging:
1929____________
1930____________
1931___________
1932____________
Lumber—p 1a n i n g
mills:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Lumber—sawmills :
1926____________
1927- __________
1928- __________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
Machine tools:
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932- __________
Paper and pulp:
1926____________
1927____________
1928 ______
1929____
_____
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________

Death
Number
of full- N um ­
Fre­
year
ber quen­
workers
of
cy
cases rate

Permanent dis­
ability

Temporary dis­
ability

Total

Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­
veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­
of
of
of
ty
cy
ty
cy
ty
cy
ty
rate cases rate rate cases rate rate cases rate •ate

11,726
21,918
22, 020
24, 345
19, 969
33, 38S
19, 254

c
5
7
8
8
9
12

0. 08 0. 46
. 11 .63
. 11 .66
. 13 . 8C
.09 .54
.21 1. 25

6C
124
90
160
106
162
127

6,717
19, 267
21,107
27, 242
21, 692
33, 041
18, 777

1
14
7
14
5
16
4

.05 .30
.24 1.45
. 11 .66
. 17 1.02
.08 .46
. 16 .97
.07 .43

17
24
28
43
60
56
38

886
3, 764
4, 040
4, 467
3,326
3, 487
2, 376

0
1
3
2
1

.09 .53
.25 1.49
. 15 .89
. 10 .60

1. 71
1.88
1.36
2. .19
1.77
1. 62
2. 20

1. 44
1.43
.98
1.54
1.37
1. 37
1.75

795
1,296
1, 192
1,704
1,291
1,661
1,068

22. 60 0. 53
19. 70 .30
18. 04 .31
23. 34 .31
21. 55 .32
16. 58 .24
18. 49 .30

.84 1.04
797 39. 55
.42 .35 2, 233 38. 63
.44 .32 2, 620 41.38
.52 .36 2, 456 29. 96
.92 .87 1,681 25. 84
.56 .56 1,560 15. 74
.67 .53 1, 118 19. 85

855
1,425
1,289
1,872
1.405
1,832
1,207

24 31
21.66
19:51
25.64
23. 45
18.29
20. 9c

2.19
1.92
2.51
2. 49
2. 15
3. 30

.49
.51
.55
.37
.40
. 24
.31

815
2, 271
2, 655
2,513
1,746
1, 632
1,160

40. 44
39. 29
41.93
30. 65
26. 84
16. 46
20. 59

1.83
2. 31
1.53
1.75
1.73
1.77
1.27
1.99
3. 04
2. 71
1. 26

1

. 14

.84

5
15
14
28
10
5
9

160, 145
327, 907
308, 066
403, 721
304, 958
207, 380
122, 397

111
204
201
192
173
121
54

.23
.21
.22
. 16
. 19
. 19
. 15

1.39
1. 24
1.30
.95
1. 14
1. 17
.88

393
647
700
956
752
552
317

5, 530
11,521
13,066
13, 586
15, 409
13, 636
9, 047

2
3
2
3
4
2
8

. 12 .72
.09 .52
.05 .31
.07 .44
.09 .52
.05 .29
.30 1.77

7
19
28
23
33
30
21

16, 600
7, 569
4, 279
1, 967

33
31
20
9

.66
1. 36
1.56
1. 53

3.98
8.19
9.35
9. 15

106 2.13 1.77 2, 050 41. 20 1.06
153 6. 74 8. 32 1, 968 86. 65 1.98
89 6. 93 13. 00
952 74.15 1.79
71 12.03 20. 66
557 94. 38 2. 59

2,189 43.99 6.81
2,152 94.75 18. 49
1,061 82. 64 24.14
637 107. 94 32.40

5, 242
9,416
12, 112
14, 021
9, 650
15, 729
6, 017

3
9
6
7
3
10
0

. 19
.32
. 17
. 17
. 10
.21

1.14
1.91
.99
1. 00
.62
1. 27

47
72
118
169
93
110
70

2. 99
2. 55
3. 25
4.02
3. 21
2. 33
3.88

2. 15
467 29. 70
2. 64
634 22. 44
2. 17 1, 162 31.97
2. 85 1,233 29. 34
3.07 1, 110 38. 34
1.86
928 19. 67
2. 71
606 33. 58

.65
.57
.60
.49
.68
.31

517
715
1,286
1,409
1,206
1,048
676

32.88
25. 31
35. 39
33. 53
41.65
22. 21
37. 46

3. 94
5.12
3. 76
4. 34
4. 37
3. 44
3. 60

5, 302
13, 631
36, 724
20, 481
22, 002
28, 019
15, 405

15
22
72
19
13
26
15

.94
.54
.65
.31
.20
.31
.32

5. 66
3.23
3.92
1.86
1. 18
1.85
1.95

33
130
374
157
194
278
172

2. 07
3.19
3. 39
2. 56
2. 94
3.31
3. 72

3.28
3. 74
3. 29
1. 78
2. 38
4. 85
3. 89

63. 62 1.57
58. 46 1. 25
49. 63 1.08
46. 29 .88
31.04 .65
49. 11 .90
50. 31 .97

1,060
2, 538
5,913
3,016
2,256
4, 432
2, 512

66.63
62. 19
53. 67
49. 16
34. 18
52. 73
54. 35

10. 51
8. 22
8.29
4. 52
4. 21
7. 60
6. 81

9, 303
12, 207
13, 074
16, 509
11, 121
5,860
3, 099

3
3
7
7
9
1
3

. 11 .64
.08 .49
. 18 1.07
. 14 .85
.27 1. 62
.06 .34
.32 1.94

15
28
44
49
25
12
7

.54
.76
1.12
.99
.75
.68
.75

.25
.34
.40
.36
.43
.35
.39

641
811
926
1,309
732
273
146

22.97
22.14
23. 61
26. 44
21.94
15. 53
15. 70

1.21
1. 53
2. 37
1.95
2.58
1.37
2. 65

16, 770
26, 074
27, 158
34, 632
31, 662
39, 850
33, 247

7
18
14
14
20
25
39

36
126
154
193
181
175
161

.72
1. 61
1.89
1.86
1.91
1.46
1.62

.51
.60
.56
.48
.57
.45
.45

1,605
2,368
2,452
3,107
3, 000
3, 285
2, 557

31.91
30. 27
30. 10
29. 90
31. 59
27.47
25.64

2.17
3.60
3.63
3.00
3. 65
3.14
4. 73


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

(J

. 14
.23
. 18
. 13
.21
.21
.39

.83
1.38
1.03
.81
1. 26
1. 25
2. 35

75
330
400
460
234
233
135

28 22
29. 22
33.01
34. 32
23. 45
22. 27
18. 94

58
.44
.55
.40
.31
33
.37

80
346
417
490
245
238
145

30. 64
34.42
36. 56
24. 55

9, 550
17, 658
18,171
23, 102
15, 290
10, 234
5, 803

19. 87
17. 95
19. 66
19. 07
16. 71
16. 45
15. 80

.26
.33
.37
.32
.36
.37
.39

10, 054
18, 509
19, 072
24, 250
16,215
10,907
6,174

20.92
18.81
20. 64
20.02
17. 72
17. 53
16. 81

2.28
2.16
2. 39
1.96
2. 26
2. 30
2. 07

.42 .62
187 11.27
.55 .41
948 27. 43
.71 .92
789 20. 12
.56 .45
970 23. 76
.71 .75 1,084 23. 45
.73 .57
818 20. 00
.77 1.15
680 25. 05

. 26
.43
.27
.36
.36
.33
.46

196
970
819
996
1,121
850
709

11.81
28. 07
20.88
24. 39
24. 25
20. 78
26.12

1.60
1. 36
1.50
1.25
1.63
1.19
3. 38

1. 88 . 73
1.33 1.02
1. 16 1.00
2.09 1.42
1.00 .35
. 48 . 40
1. 26 .78
.82
. 65
. 76
.79
.82
.89
.86

.63
.59
.72
.69
.76
.76
.80

1,012
2,386
5, 467
2, 840
2, 049
4, 128
2, 325

.32
623 22. 32
.70
780 21.30
.90
875 22.31
.74 1,253 25.31
.53
698 20. 92
.68
260 14. 79
.32
136 14. 63
.83
1.62
2. 04
1.71
1.82
1.44
1.93

1,562
2, 224
2,284
2, 900
2, 799
3, 085
2,357

31.05
28. 43
28.03
27.91
29. 47
25. 80
23.63

20. 34 1.99

1393

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

T able 2 .—N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y
R A T E S F O R W A G E E A R N E R S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 T O 1932—Continued

Permanent dis­
ability

Death
Industry and year

Temporary dis­
ability

Total

Number
of fullyear N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­ N um ­ Fre­ Se­
workers ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­ ber quen­ veri­
of
of
of
ty
cy
ty
cy
of
ty
cy
cy
ty
cases rate rate cases rate rate cases rale rate cases rate rate

Petroleum refining:
3, 783
1926
19, 951
1927____________
22, 401
1928____________
25, 849
1929____________
28, 371
1930____________
26,011
1931____________
22, 526
1932____________
Pottery:
3, 946
1926____________
6,053
1927____________
7, 449
1928____________
9,275
1929____________
7, 558
1930
8, 303
1931___________ »
5,862
1932____________
Shipbuilding, steel:
745
1926
6,011
1927____________
9,133
1928____________
13, 642
1929____________
16, 422
1930. __________
13,967
1931____________
8, 325
1932____________
Slaughtering
and
meat packing:
19, 809
1926____________
36, 222
1927____________
38, 674
1928____________
48, 116
1929____________
40, 648
1930____________
44,192
1931____________
41,130
1932. __________
Stamped and enameled ware:
6,105
1926
____
10, 004
1927____________
8, 068
1928____________
8,537
1929____________
6,587
1930____________
9,021
1931____________
6,996
1932____________
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies:
2, 64C
1926
______
15, 652
1927____________
8,935
1928____________
9, 538
1929
6, 620
1930____________
5, 768
1931____________
3,100
1932____________
Stoves:
4, 379
1926
___
7,515
1927. __________
7,880
1928. __________
9, 645
1929____________
7, 460
1930. __________
10, 019
1931 ___________
5,339
1932____________
W oolen goods:
7, 757
1926____________
1927____________
15, 796
22, 607
1928____________
23,189
1929____________
19, 903
1930____________
40, 792
1931____________
1932. __________
21, 546
All groups:
1926
440, 901
1927
927| 292
1928
955’, 485
1,156, 571
1929
' 962, 000
1930
976j 728
1931
1932
647^ 234


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6
67
46
69
136
73
59

)
0. 53
1.12
.69
.89
1.60
.94
.87

0.32
1.12
.42
.72
2. 85
1.21
1.56

99
1,979
1,310
1,609
2, 497
1,722
840

.48
.68

2
6
7
9
9
3
11

.17
.33
.32
.32
.40
.12
.63

.36
. 18
.46
.21
.50
.28
.42

142
229
299
445
329
303
221

1.66
.66
1.46
1.34
1. 29
1.44

2
36
43
47
87
47
25

8
15
15
23
29
19
10

.13 .81
. 14 .83
.13 .78
.16 .96
.24 1.43
. 14 .86
.08 .49

C
2
2
3
6
2
3

8. 72 0.20
33.04 .52
19. 49 .37
20. 76 .34
29. 34 .60
22. 07 .35
12. 43 .25

105
2, 071
1,381
1,706
2, 669
1,832
919

9. 25
34.58
20. 55
22. 01
31.36
23. 48
13. 60

0. 52
4.15
3.02
3. 23
5.99
4. 40
3. 59

12.00
12.61
13.38
15. 97
14. 51
12.16
12. 57

.25
. 17
.26
.27
.27
. 19
.28

145
237
309
455
338
308
234

12. 25
13. 05
13. 83
16. 32
14.91
12. 36
13.31

1.12
1.01
1. 52
.69
.77
.95
1.38

.89
2.00
1.57
1.15
1.77
1. 12
1.00

1.92
123 55.03
2.58
798 44.25
1.26
448 16. 35
.80
910 22. 20
1.61 1,363 27. 67
.92 1,490 35. 56
621 24.87
.69

.96
.76
.48
.34
.59
.62
.54

125
839
494
967
1,461
1,546
652

55. 92
46. 53
18. 03
23. 59
29. 66
36. 89
26.11

2. 88
5. 00
2. 40
2. 60
3. 54
2. 83
2. 67

93
136
127
187
202
237
198

1.56
1.25
1.09
1.29
1.66
1.79
1.61

1.50
1.00
.71
.81
1.52
1.56
1.37

2, 935
3,810
5,080
6,449
4, 466
4, 219
3, 303

49. 39
35. 05
43. 78
44. 67
36. 62
31.82
23. 77

.66
.54
.63
.57
.58
.45
.43

3, 036
3, 961
5, 222
6, 659
4, 697
4, 475
3. 511

51.08
36, 44
45. 00
46. 12
38. 52
33. 75
28. 46

2. 97
2. 37
2. 12
2. 34
3. 53
2. 87
2. 89

.07 .40
.08 .51
. 12 .71
.30 1.82
.07 .44
.14 .86

28
36
51
77
33
51
46

1. 52
1.20
2. 07
3.00
1.67
1.88
2. 19

1. 15
.70
1.20
2. 07
1. 53
1. 60
1.82

893
807
688
703
354
605
355

48.76
26.89
28. 42
27. 42
17. 92
22. 36
16.91

.48
.35
.44
.42
.32
.34
.28

921
845
740
783
393
658
404

50. 28
28.16
30. 57
30. 54
19.89
24.31
19.24

1.63
1. 45
2. 14
3. 19
3. 67
2.38
2.96

(
2
4
2
3
2
3

.04 .25
.15 .91
.07 .42
.15 .91
. 11 .69
.32 1. 93

4
25
42
3C
17
18
8

248 31. 31
. 5C 1.32
.53 .32 1,057 22. 51
858 212. 00
1.57 1.25
863 30. 12
1.05 .85
583 29. 35
.86 .62
382 22. 08
1.04 1.05
203 21. 83
.86 .89

.39
.33
.55
.43
.52
.44
.42

252
1,084
904
895
603
402
214

31.81
23. 08
33. 72
31. 24
30. 36
23. 22
23. 01

1.71
.90
2. 70
1. 70
2. 05
2.18
3.24

(
1
2
i
2
7
3

.04 .27
.12 .76
.10 .62
.09 .54
. 22 1.40
.19 1.12

21
25
28
46
22
32
28

1. 6C
1. 11
1.18
1. 5S
.98
1.06
1. 75

532 40. 50
1.93
1.04 1,002 44. 44
934 39. 51
. 7C
1. 39 1,196 41. 38 ,
.94
751 33. 56
1. 12
641 21. 3C
1.78
385 24.04

.62
.62
.55
.53
.66
.41
.52

553
1,028
965
1,245
775
679
416

42.1C
45. 59
40. 82
43. 07
34.63
22. 59
25. 98

2. 55
1.93
2. 01
2. 54
2. 14
2 93
3.42

2
11
22
25
12
42
44

.13
.21
.34
.36
.21
.34
.68

252 10. 84
.06
444 9. 37
.17
.21
762 11. 23
.33 1,024 14. 74
. 17
641 10. 87
.31 1,005 8. 21
.68
948 14. 67

.30
. 15
. 18
.25
.21
.15
.28

256
455
785
1,051
662
1,050
996

11.01 .62
9. 60 .45
11. 57 .47
15.13 .75
11.09 .48
8. 58 .60
15.41 1.33

0
25
25
28
36
37
20

0.42
.37
.36
.42
.47
.30

2. 51
2. 23
2.17
2. 54
2. 84
1.78

.08
. 11
. 13
.03

.51
.66
.80
.21

.08
.11

0
5
3
10
11
9
6

.28
. 11
.24
.22
.21
.24

1
2
3
1
0
2
2

1
1
0
2
1
3
4
19c
431
488
489
474
447
298

.04
.02

.26
.12

.03
.02
.02
.06

.17
. 10
. 15
.37

1,222
2, 523
2, 986
3,907
3,293
3, 073
2, 211

33, 115
59, 649
65,849
78, 338
58, 794
51, 622
33, 595

34, 53C
62, 603
69, 323
82, 734
62, 561
55,142
36,104

1394

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

The survey covered 29 manufacturing groups up to 1929, when
separate figures became available for logging operations, which were
previously included in the classification “ lumber— logging.” A new
classification, “ logging” , was therefore added in 1929, making 30
groups in all. The separation is very noticeable in the accident rates
for sawmills, which dropped sharply in 1929 through the elimination
of the more hazardous logging operations.
Eleven of the 30 industrial groups followed the combined trend and
experienced increases in both frequency and severity rates in 1932 as
compared with 1931. Two other industries experienced increases in
frequency rates but decreases in severity rates, while eight other
industries experienced decreases in both rates.
In frequency rates the increases ranged from 0.12 for boots and
shoes to 25.3 for logging, and the decreases ranged from 0.22 for
steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies to 10.78 for shipbuilding.
In severity rates the increases ranged from 0.05 for boots and shoes
to 8.26 for logging, and the decreases ranged from 0.16 for carpets
and rugs and for shipbuilding to 0.95 for brick, tile, apd terra cotta.
Eighteen of the 30 industries present frequency rates higher than
the average (18.59), with logging showing the worst experience (107.94)
and sawmills next (54.35). Logging also shows the worst experience
in severity rates (32.40) and sawmills is second there likewise (6.81).
Sixteen other industries also show severity rates exceeding the
average (2.39).
Accident Experience of American Steam Railways, 1932

A C C O R D IN G to a summary and analysis of railway accidents,
X A . published by the Bureau of Statistics of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, for the calendar year 1932, 4.19 persons were killed and
15.89 were injured per 1,000,000 locomotive-miles in train and trainservice accidents on steam railways in the United States during 1932,
as compared with 3.71 persons killed and 15.32 injured during 1931.
Train accidents were responsible for 183 deaths and 997 nonfatal
injuries, including 63 deaths and 326 nonfatal injuries to employees
on duty. Train-service accidents accounted for 4,341 deaths and
16,160 nonfatal injuries, of which 367 deaths and 6,861 nonfatal
injuries were sustained by employees on duty. Nontrain (including
industrial) accidents resulted in 223 deaths and 12,062 nonfatal
injuries, of which 127 deaths and 10,227 nonfatal injuries occurred to
employees on duty. Nonfatal injuries to employees include only
those causing disability of more than 3 days.
The total number of deaths in all types of accidents was 4,747 in
1932, as against 5,099 in 1931, a decrease of 6.9 percent. The total
number of nonfatal injuries in all types of accidents was 29,219 in
1932, as against 35,656 in 1931, a decrease of 18.05 percent. Loco­
motive-miles dropped from 1,308,807,762 in 1931 to 1,079,670,099 in
1932, a decrease of 17.51 percent, a larger decline than shown for
fatalities but smaller than shown for nonfatal injuries.
The number of employees killed whne on duty in either train, trainservice, or nontrain accidents declined from 488 in 1931 to 430 in 1932,
or 11.89 percent, while the number injured declined from 9,433 in
1931 to 7,187 in 1932, a decrease of 23.81 percent. Man-hours for

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

IN D U S T R IA L

1395

A C C ID E N T S

all employees are not available, but man-hours for class I roads
dropped from 2,930,657,000 in 1931 to 2,286,561,000 in 1932, a
decrease of 21.98 percent.
Part of the summary, showing the total number of persons and the
number of employees on duty killed and injured in 1931 and 1932,
by type of accident and cause, is shown in the following table.
P E R S O N S K IL L E D A N D IN JU R E D IN S T E A M -R A IL W A Y A C C ID E N T S IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S , 1931 A N D 1932
Employees on duty

Total persons
T yp e of accident, and cause

1931

1931

1932

Injured

Killed

Injured

Killed

1932

1931

1932

1931

1932

Train accidents:
Collisions. ____
. . ----------D erailm ents.. ____
____
Locomotive-boiler accidents------------------Other locomotive accidents -------------- .
Miscellaneous------ .
----- . ----------

39
108
8
0
74

34
77
3
1
68

485
583
8
6
126

358
526
5
3
105

33
42
8
0
9

30
26
3
1
3

169
189
8
3
45

117
171
5
3
30

Total, train accidents. ______ ______

229

183

1,208

997

92

63

414

326

20
9
6
12
2
71
520
1,445

394
175
1, 406
824
245
335
4,096
4, 533

307
123
1,042
593
210
284
3,946
3,911

12
13
7
18
0
18
28
13

20
9
6
12
2
17
34
9

394
175
1,406
824
245
232
1,879
33

307
123
1,042
593
210
165
1, 549
36

1, 590
666

1,022
5,819

911
4,833

165
122

128
130

179
3, 652

139
2, 697

4, 624

4, 341

18,849

16,160

396

367 .

9,019

6, 861

Total, train and train-service acci­
dents__ _ . . .
.... . . .. ----- . 4,853

4, 524

20,057

17,157

488

430

9,133

7,187

Train-service accidents:
•
Coupling or uncoupling cars or loco­
12
m otives____
____
.
13
Coupling or uncoupling air hose-----.
7
Operating locomotives . . .
...
18
Operating hand brakes.
0
Operating switches .
.. . . . .
60
Contact with fixed structures________
447
Getting on or off cars or locomotives _.
Accidents at highway grade crossings----- 1,720
Struck or run over, not at public cros­
sings.
__ ..
______________ - 1,730
617
Miscellaneous--------- --------------- -------Total, train-service accidents. . -------

Accident rate (train and train-service) per
1,000,000 locomotive-miles
. . . .. .
Total nontrain (including industrial) acci­
dents______ .
. . . . ._
--------------- . .

3. 71

4. 19

15. 32

15.89

0. 37

0. 40

7. 21

6. 66

246

223

15, 599

12, 062

156

127

13, 521

10, 227

Grand total, all accidents..
. . . . . 5,099
Percent of decrease in total accidents, 1931-32.

4, 747
6. 90

35, 656

29, 219
18. 05

644

557
13.51

22, 954

17, 414
24. 14

—

—

—

Coal-Mine Accidents in the United States, 1931
TATISTICS of accidents occurring in coal mines during 1931,
published by the United States Bureau of Mines in its Bulletin
No. 373,1shows that injuries during the year, totaling 81,812, resulted
in 1,463 fatalities, 98 permanent total disabilities, 1,773 permanent
partial disabilities, and 78,478 temporary disabilities.
Progress was made in accident prevention, in spite of the adverse
conditions created through heavy curtailment of operations in the
industry. The number of workers declined from 644,006 in 1930 to
589,705 in 1931, a reduction of 8.43 percent. The average days of
operation also declined from 192 in 1930 to 168 in 1931, a reduction of
12.5 percent, resulting in a decrease in the total number of man-hours
worked from 1,002,691,781 in 1930 to 804,394,130 in 1931, a reduction

S

1 United States. Department of Commerce. Bureau of Mines. Bulletin 373: Coal-mine accidents in
the United States, 1931, by W . W . Adams, L. E. Geyer, and L. Chenoweth. Washington, 1933.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1396

MONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

of 19.78 percent. The number of deaths declined from 2,063 in 1930
to 1,463 in 1931, a reduction of 29.08 percent, so that the fatality rate
per million man-hours worked was lowered from 2.06 in 1930 to 1.82 in
1931, a decrease of 11.65 percent. The nonfatal-injury rate was also
reduced, but in less degree— from 103.54 in 1930 to 99.89 in 1931, a
decrease of 3.53 percent.
While 1,080 of the 1,463 fatalities occurred in bituminous-coal
mines, 4,914 of the total bituminous-coal mines operated the entire
year without a fatal accident, although they employed 60.9 percent
of the workers and produced 53.6 percent of all bituminous tonnage.
A distribution by States shows that the coal mines in Alaska and
Michigan were operated without loss of life during the year, while
the highest fatality rate was established by Indiana (3.71 per 1,000,000
man-hours worked). Alaska presented the lowest nonfatal-injury
rate (28.19), and Utah the highest (153.10).
The only figures available for nonfatal injuries are for the years 1930
and 1931, but data for fatalities are published beginning with 1911,2
as presented in table 1, which shows the number of workers employed,
the number of man-hours worked, production, and the number of
workers killed, by 5-year periods from 1911 to 1930 and by years from
1926 to 1931.
T able

1.— E M P L O Y M E N T ,

P R O D U C T IO N , A N D F A T A L IT IE S IN C O A L M IN E S , 1911 T O
1931

M en kille d
Period or year

Number of
men em­
ployed

Man-hours
worked

Production
(short tons)

1911-15____ _____ __________
1916-20_____________________
1921-25_____________________
1926-30_____________________
1926________________________
1927________________________
1928________________________
1929________________________
1930________________________
1931________________________

3, 695,847
3,801, 904
4, 059, 014
3, 499, 541
759, 033
759,177
682, 831
654, 494
644, 006
589, 705

6, 991,812, 000
7, 388, 822, 000
5, 849, 631, 000
5, 878, 704, 781
1, 352,840, 000
1,219, 079,000
1,135, 543, 000
1,168, 551,000
1, 002, 691, 781
804, 394,130

2, 646, 030, 795
3,131,929, 644
2, 794, 733, 483
2, 977,484, 316
657,804, 437
597, 858, 916
576, 093, 039
608,816, 788
536, 911,136
441, 750, 978

Rate per Rate per
N um ­
1,000,000
1,000,000
ber
man-hours
tons
worked
mined
12, 583
12, 097
11,077
11, 175
2,518
2, 231
2, 176
2, 187
2, 063
1,463

1.80
1.64
1.89
1.90
1.86
1.83
1.92
1.87
2.06
1.82

4. 76
3. 86
3. 96
3.75
3.83
3. 73
3.78
3.59
3.84
3.31

There were 1,355 fatal and 73,312 nonfatal injuries in underground
operations in 1931, 78 fatal and 5,850 nonfatal injuries in surface
operations, and 30 fatal and 1,187 nonfatal injuries in shaft and opencut operations. Falls of roof or face accounted for 836 of the under­
ground deaths and 21,733 of the underground nonfatal injuries.
The next principal cause of underground injuries was mine cars and
locomotives, responsible for 237 deaths and 15,437 nonfatal injuries.
Fatality rates for bituminous-coal mines and anthracite mines are
shown in table 2, which contains rates for each type and both types
combined, by years from 1925 to 1931.2
2 For earlier data see M onthly Labor Review for December 1932, pp. 1338-1339.


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IN D U S T R IA L
T a b l e 2 .—F A T A L I T Y

RATES

1397

A C C ID E N T S

FO R B IT U M IN O U S -C O A L A N D A N T H R A C IT E
1925 TO 1931

Year

1925______________________________________
1926_________________________________
1927______________________________________
1928__________ _____ _______________
1929_____________________________________
1930 ___________ .
1931____________________________________

M IN E S,
.

Bituminous-coal
mines

Anthracite mines

All mines

Per 1,000
Per
300-day 1,000,000
em ploy­
tons
ees
mined

Per
Per 1,000
300-day 1,000,000
em ploy­
tons
ees
mined

Per 1,000
Per
300-day 1,000,000
em ploy­
tons
ees
mined

4. 79
4.86
4. 00
4. 90
4. 63
5. 26
4. 42

3. 53
3. 60
3. 36
3.45
3.19
3. 46
2.83

4.12
3. 37
3.94
3. 85
4. 24
4. 22
4.43

6. 47
5. 36
6.11
5.93
6. 53
6. 40
6. 42

4.65
4. 50
4. 43
4. 64
4.54
5.00
4. 42

3. 84
3.83
3. 73
3.78
3.59
3. 84
3. 31

Metal-Mine Accidents in the United States, 1931

HILE a smaller number of men were employed in the metal­
mining industry in the United States and fewer man-hours
were worked in 1931 than in any previous year since 1910, the number
of deaths and injuries from accidents was reduced in even greater
proportion, according to a report published by the United States
Bureau of Mines.1 An all-time safety record in the prevention of
nonfatal injuries was established in 1931 and also, except for 1928,
in the prevention of injuries resulting in death.
Compared with 1930, the records "for 1931 showed a decline of 33
percent in the number of man-hours worked, but also a decrease of
42 percent in fatalities and of 44 percent in nonfatal injuries. Con­
sequently, the fatality rate (per 1,000,000 man-hours worked) was
lowered from 1.17 in 1930 to 1.01 in 1931, and the nonfatal-injury
rate was lowered from 67.07 in 1930 to 55.76 in 1931.
Accidents during the year resulted in 158 deaths, 15 permanent
total disabilities, 292 permanent partial disabilities, and 8,402 tem­
porary disabilities, a total of 8,867 accidents for the year.
Underground mining operations were responsible for 119 of the 158
fatalities and 6,595 of the 8,709 nonfatal accidents. The principal
cause of both the fatal and nonfatal injuries was fall of rock or ore
from roof or wall, which was responsible for 65 fatalities and 1,420
nonfatal injuries. Explosives and falls of persons were other promi­
nent causes of deaths; while loading of rock or ore, with 832 cases,
haulage, with 761 cases, and hand tools, with 666 cases, were the
chief causes of the nonfatal injuries.
Gold, silver, and miscellaneous metal mines formed the most active
division during the year 1931, with the largest number of workers,
man-hours, and injuries, both fatal and nonfatal. Copper mines came
second, except in actual number of workers, where they were exceeded
by iron mines.
The following table shows the number of workers employed, the
number killed or injured, and fatal and nonfatal injury rates in the
different divisions of the metal-mining industry in 1931.2

W

1 United States. Department of Commerce. Bureau of Mines. Bulletin 374: Metal-mine accidents
in the United States during the calendar year 1931, b y William W . Adams. Washington, 1933.
2 For earlier figures, see M onthly Labor Review for March 1932 and October 1932.
21719°—33------9


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1398

MONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

E M P L O Y M E N T A N D A C C ID E N T S IN M E T A L M IN E S A N D N O N M E T A L L IC -M IN E R A L
M IN E S (E X C E P T C O A L ), 1931

Men employed
Type of mine

_______
__ . . .
Copper
Gold, silver, and miscellaneous m etals .
Iron. _________________________________
Lead and zinc (Mississippi V alley)____
Nonmetallic mineral____ _______
Total__________________ _ ---------


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Aver­
age
days
active

Men killed

Men injured

A c­
tual
num­
ber

Rate per
Rate per
Man-hours N um ­ 1,000,000 Num ­ 1,000, 000
ber hours’ ex­
worked
ber
hours’ ex­
posure
posure

258
248
202
189
227

19, 687
24, 343
21.786
6, 175
8, 949

41,019,314
48, 632, 722
39,121, 025
9,463, 502
17,941, 296

51
58
28
10
11

1.24
1.19
. 72
1.06
.61

2, 580
3, 825
774
689
841

62. 90
78. 65
19.78
72.81
46. 88

231

80, 940 156,177, 859

158

1.01

8,709

55. 78

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
New Mexico Law Regulating Hours of Labor for Men Held
Unconstitutional

HE law of New Mexico (ch. 149, Acts of 1933), which prohibits
the labor of male employees in mercantile establishments for
more than 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week of 6 days is uncon­
stitutional, and therefore void, being a violation of the “ due process”
clause and not a valid exercise of the State police power, according to
a recent decision by the Supreme Court of New Mexico. (State v.
Henry, 25 Pac. (2d) 204.)
The defendant in the case, H. E. Henry, was me proprietor of a
drug store and it was alleged that he caused “ a male employee, * * *
a registered pharmacist, to work and labor in said mercantile establish­
ment for more than 8 hours in a certain 24-hour day, * * * the
said work and labor not having been performed in an emergency
case.” The constitutionality of the statute was attacked and the
District Court of Bernalillo County declared the law invalid as being
an arbitrary classification not connected with the public health,
safety, morals, or general welfare. The court saw no reason why
such regulation should be placed on mercantile establishments and
not on factories, laundries, foundries, bakeries, etc. The court said:
“ Had the legislature, in keeping with the social trend of the times,
made a sweeping enactment of an 8-hour day for all wage earners in
the State, this court would have viewed it with great sympathy, but
there appears no ground for ascribing validity to the present act.”
The case was thereupon appealed to the Supreme Court of New
Mexico, where the decision of the district court was affirmed. In
declaring the law unconstitutional, Mr. Chief Justice Watson, speak­
ing for the court, emphasized the view that the statute violated the
“ due process” clause of the State constitution. The opinion was
based upon the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the
case of Lochner v. New York (198 U.S. 45) in which the New York law
limiting daily labor in bakeries to 10 hours was declared unconstitu­
tional, in a 5-to-4 decision, which is considered by good authority to
have been overruled in later decisions.1
In the course of the present opinion the court defined “ liberty” as
used in the Constitution to embrace “ a man’s right to contract as he
will or can regarding his hours of employment. He, not the govern­
ment, is to determine the matter.” This definition is interesting when
compared with Air. Justice Brewer’s remark in the United States
Supreme Court decision in Holden v. Hardy (169 U.S. 366) that “ the
fact that both parties are of full age and competent to contract does
not necessarily deprive the State of the power to interfere where the

T

1 See X I X American Bar Association Journal, 440, footnote.


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1399

1400

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

parties do not stand upon an equality * * *,” and Mr. Chief
Justice Hughes’ opinion in Miller v. Wilson (236 U.S. 373) that “ the
liberty of contract guaranteed by the Constitution is freedom from
arbitrary restraint, not immunity from reasonable regulation to safe­
guard the public interest * *
In discussing “ due process” the court said:
“ Due process” , by which only the individual may be deprived of his liberty,
does not have regard merely to enforcement of the law, but searches also the
authority for making the law. An historical and scientific mistake may have been
made in deviating from the more familiar idea that “ due process” is matter of
procedure only.
(Corwin, “ The Supreme Court and the Fourteenth Amend­
m en t,” 7 Mich. Law. Rev. 643.) Nevertheless, by judicial decision, the first and
fundamental step in the due process or procedure of depriving the individual of
liberty is the enactment of a statute within legislative competency.

Much space was given in the opinion in distinguishing the New
Mexico law from the Oregon law which was upheld in Bunting v.
Oregon (243 U.S. 426). The Oregon law provided for a 10-hour day
in all mills, factories, or manufacturing establishments. The court
also relied upon the difference between the Oregon Constitution and
that of the State of New Mexico adopted in 1910. In concluding the
opinion the court said:
A final question not unnaturally arises. In the minds of many the present
widespread evil of unemployment is so great as to require or justify extraordinary
measures by government. Revolution even is feared by some as a consequence
of failure or inability to alleviate it. This suggests inquiry as to the so-called
emergency powers of government.
The act bears on its face no evidence that it is the legislature’s plan for meeting
an emergency. It contains no recitals or findings. Emergency was not declared,
even for the purpose of giving it immediate effect. It was not declared to be for
the “ preservation of the public peace, health, or safety” , as bearing upon the
people’s reserved power to disapprove, suspend, and annul it. Its operation is
not limited to the duration of any emergency. It stands as permanent State
policy.
* * * Mercantile establishments might quite generally meet the situation
by remaining open for shorter hours, or by staggering. The shorter hours com­
pelled might result in proportionate decreases in wages. In that case, the net
result would be merely to take from one to give to another.
So we find evidence before us insufficient to warrant bringing into question any
emergency powers the State may have to preserve its own existence and the peace
and safety of the people. The nature and extent of such powers we do not con­
sider here.

Part-Time Household Worker Not a Casual Employee in New
Jersey

HE Supreme Court of New Jersey recently held that a household
worker who had been employed to do housework for one or more
days per week, over a period of 10 years, was engaged in “ recurring
employment” and was not a “ casual” employee. {Harrington v.
Garrison et al., 168 Atl. 166.)
Maude Harrington, a skilled houseworker, was injured in the home
of Mrs. Garrison, one of several persons for whom the former did
various kinds of housework, including cooking, sewing, and cleaning.
The time of doing the work and its amount were.subject to change and
depended largely upon the appointments Miss Harrington had with
her other employers. It was conceded, however, that she worked for
Mrs. Garrison from 1 to 3 days every week. The rate of pay for
these services was 50 cents per hour, paid weekly or every 2 weeks.

T


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IN D U S T R IA L

A C C ID E N T S

1401

At the end of the week preceding her injury. Miss Harrington had
neither requested nor received her pay, a circumstance indicative
of the long-enduring relations which existed between the parties
and their expectation that the services would be continued.
There was no dispute as to the injuries that Miss Harrington
received in the Garrison home, and the award of the deputy com­
missioner of the workmen’s compensation board was affirmed by the
court of common pleas, Essex County. Thereupon Mrs. Garrison
carried the case to the Supreme Court of New Jersey for review,
contending that the employment was casual, not in connection with
employer’s business, and not “ regular, periodic, or recurring” , and
therefore the injury was not compensable.
In affirming the decision of the deputy commissioners and the court
of common pleas, granting an award of compensation, the court
held:
Without attempting to determine whether Mrs. Garrison’s status as a house­
wife was a business within the meaning of the statute, we state our conclusion
that the employment was at least “ recurring.”
* * *
* * * Miss Harrington was in effect a part-time servant in the prosecutor’s
employ, and her service had at least this degree of regularity, that the employ­
ment Avas for a part of every week that the Garrisons were: at home over a long
period of years and for a minimum of 1 day in each of those: weeks. In this long
repetition of weekly service, in the acceptance of it as a regularly recurring fact
and in the mutual expectation of continuation, we find a condition utterly at
variance with the common understanding of, as well as with the statutory defini­
tion of, a casual employment.

Canadian Labor Legislation, 1932

ABOR laws enacted in 1932 by the Parliament of Canada and the
- / Provincial legislatures are published in the Dominion Depart­
ment of Labor report on Canadian legislation, 1932, and summarized
in the Canada Year Book 1933, from which the following principal
provisions are taken:1

I

Federal Legislation

T he Governor in Council was authorized by the Relief Act of 1932

to enter into agreements with the Provinces in respect to relief
measures and to pay from the Consolidated Revenue the sums required
to meet the obligations resulting from such agreements; to make
provision for special relief and works in the national parks and in the
drought-stricken regions of Saskatchewan; to aid in defraying the
cost of the sale and distribution of natural products; to make loans to,
and assure the repayment of money lent to Provinces or public
corporations and projects; and in general to aid the Provinces in
relieving distress.
The Unfair Competition Act which repealed certain sections of the
Trade Work and Design Act was amended to include provision for
the protection of trade-union labels, according to the 1925 Hague
convention.
Provincial Legislation

Industrial disputes .— In Ontario and Quebec legislation was passed
making the Dominion Industrial Disputes Investigation Act appli­
cable to controversies within the legislative jurisdiction of these
Provinces.
1 W orkmen’s compensation legislation for 1932 was summarized in the N ovember 1932 M onthly Labor
Review. The 1933 legislation on this subject will be given in a later issue.


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1402

M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Mining.— Various amendments were made to the Saskatchewan
Mines Act, the title of which was changed to “ The Coal Mines Safety
and Welfare A ct” , under which a workman may not now be em­
ployed above or below ground for over 8 hours a day except by
mutual consent of employer and employee. “ Exception is made of
employees in an office, boarding house or bunk house, in cases of
emergency, at the weekly change of shift, and where continuous or
technical work must be performed.” In certain cases, however, the
operation of those provisions may be suspended by the Minister.
Regulations for factories, shops, and office buildings.— Certain
sections of the Factory, Shop and Office Building Act of Ontario were
made applicable to restaurants and bake shops, including those regu­
lating working hours, prohibiting the employment of children under
14 years of age and of children under 16 years of age without a school
certificate, providing safety measures with reference to elevators and
hoists, and prohibiting the keeping of premises in such condition as
to endanger safety or health. Other amendments to the act had for
their purpose the bringing of such places as shoe-shine parlors and
bowling alleys within the scope of the law and to control more effec­
tually child labor in lumber yards, etc. The inspector may grant a
permit for a factory to operate on a double shift. In such cases the
working hours are restricted to 8 for each sliift and to 16 for both
shifts, and it is required that the double shift fall between 6 a.m.
and 11 p.m. Women and young workers must be permitted to have
at least 1 hour in each shift for a meal. The section providing that
women and young workers may be employed in shops up to 10 p.m.
on Saturday before a statutory holiday and from December 14 to 24
was amended to restrict their working hours to 10 a day and 60 a
week. The section which provided for the inspection of houses in
which articles of clothing, etc., were being made under contract was
broadened to include a similar provision regarding the manufacture
of any household article.
The British Columbia Shops Regulation Act was amended to limit
the hours of work of children under 16 years of age to 8 a day and
48 a week.
Employees operating public vehicles.— The Public Utility Board of
Manitoba was empowered by an amendment to the Highway Traffic
Act of that Province to regulate the wage rates and hours of em­
ployees operating public-service vehicles.
The Public Commercial Vehicle Act of Ontario was amended to
give authority to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to regulate the
working hours of drivers of commercial vehicles.
Minimum wage.—An amendment to the Minimum Wage Act of
Ontario requires employers to keep records of the names, addresses,
wage rates, working hours, actual earnings, and actual time spent in
work of all female employees, also of the ages of those under 18.
The Minimum Wage for Women Act of Quebec was broadened to
cover commercial establishments. Two members of the minimum
wage commission will represent the female employees and that com­
mission was given authority to fix a special wage scale for seasonal
workers.
Apprenticeship.—As a result of an amendment the Apprenticeship
Act of Ontario now provides for an apprenticeship board of three
members as a substitute for the tripartite committee set up by the

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LABOR

LAW S

AND

COURT

D E C IS IO N S

1403

principal act, and for the appointment of inspectors in addition to the
chief inspector. Authorization is given the board to inquire as to the
opinions of employers and employees in the specified trades concernino*
suggested changes in the act and regulations. No changes are allowed
without notice in writing to the employers and employees concerned.
Street trades— The Alberta Child Welfare Act was amended to
include under the term “ neglected child” any boy or girl under 12
years of age or any boy between 12 and 14 years of age who takes up
any street trade without the consent of his parent or guardian.
Employment and unemployment— 'The Quebec Employment Bureau
Act, under an amendment, provides for the elimination of private
fee-charging employment bureaus.
In all the Provinces with the exception of Prince Edward Island,
legislation was adopted making it possible to take advantage of the
1931 Dominion Unemployment and Farm Belief Act. A measure
was also enacted by the Legislature of Quebec which provides that
the wages of workers on unemployment relief projects carried on
under certain Dominion and Provincial statutes should not be subject
to seizure for debt.
In Nova Scotia a law was enacted providing for the settlement of
jobless coal miners on farms. An act in Quebec had for its objective
the promotion of land settlement.
Old-age pensions. The hlanitoba and Ontario old-age pension
laws were amended to enable those Provinces to avail themselves of
the advantages provided under the amendment of 1931 to the D o­
minion act, which raised the contribution of the Dominion from 50
to 75 percent of the Provincial disbursements.
Departments of labor. An additional section to the Department of
Labor Act of Ontario authorizes an inspector in the employment of
the department to order the cessation at once of any work to which
any act administered by the department is applicable and which he
regards as dangerous to life or property. In Nova Scotia provision
was made by law for a department of labor.


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COOPERATION
Development of the Cooperative Movement Throughout the
World

HE “ unimpaired vitality and steady growth of cooperative
societies of all sorts, despite depressed economic and social con­
ditions” , was commented upon by the International Labor Office
in its 1932 yearbook recently issued; this the report characterizes as
“ one of the most remarkable phenomena of recent years, the more
so in that these organizations and undertakings owe their existence
to the class which is more widely and directly affected than any other
by unemployment, bad sales, marketing difficulties, falling prices
and falling wages.”
Confirmation of these observations is afforded by the present
article, compiled from a number of sources, which covers consider­
ably over 400,000 cooperative societies of various types in 43 countries.
Of these societies, the largest proportion (about 40 percent) are credit
societies, while another large group (some 36 percent) is composed of
the agricultural associations; these two types together account for
over three fourths of the whole number.
A combined membership of more than 100,000,000 persons is shown
(in the 41 countries for which data are available). Whereas the con­
sumers’ cooperative movement forms less than 10 percent of the
whole, in point of number of societies, it is much more important
when membership is considered, as nearly 70,000,000 of the 100,000,000 cooperators belong to the consumers’ societies.
About one fourth of the entire number of societies and more than
half of the membership is in the Soviet Union.
While the number of local consumers’ societies continues to di­
minish, the number of individual members shows an increase in
nearly every country studied. The amount of sales (in terms of
dollars and cents) also rose in some countries, in spite of the world­
wide low prices, and in numerous instances the actual volume of
goods handled increased even though the amount of sales (in terms
of money) fell. In one case, that of the cooperative wholesale society
of the Netherlands, the amount of sales in 1932 was the highest ever
attained by that organization.
The wholesale societies of the 20 countries for which figures are at
hand in 1932 transacted business to the amount of considerably over
three fourths of a billion dollars. While few new manufacturing
enterprises are being started, the value of goods manufactured in
1932 by the wholesale societies of 7 countries exceeded $197,000,000.

T

Comparative Development of Various Forms of Cooperation

T a b le s 1 and 2 show the development of the various phases of the
cooperative movement throughout the world in the latest year for
which data are available.
1404


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1405

C O O P E R A T IO N

Table 1 includes over 400,000 societies of various types, more than
three fourths of which are either credit or agricultural societies.
It is seen that the various branches of the movement are not evenly
developed in each country. Thus, as regards number of societies,
agricultural cooperation predominates in such countries as Australia,
Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and
Soviet Russia, while the credit societies are predominant in number
in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, India, Netherlands, Rumania,
and Yugoslavia. Only in Denmark, Hungary, Italy, and Spain do
the consumers’ societies form the largest group.
T able

1.— N U M B E R

OF C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE TIE S OF V A R IO U S T Y P E S , IN S P E C IF IE D
C O U N T R IE S

Country

Year

Austria 1____ __
.. _
------Belgium ___
__________
Brazil 1_________ ________ ____
Bulgaria__ ____
.
.
C hina..

_______ _ _ --------- --

Denmark 1 _____
___
Estonia 1 - - - - - - __ -_
F in la n d 1___
F rance1-..
Germany____
Great B ritain.-

____ - - - - - - - - - - - -.
------ -

H un gary1___
-----Iceland 1.
_ _ -- _____________
India --_ _______
-------I t a l y ------------------- ------------------Japan 1____ -----L a tv ia 1

-

- ___

- ---

Luxem burg1
..
---------Morocco 1
- Netherlands1. - - - New Zealand 1
- _
Palestine1-----P o la n d ___

------

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

S pain1______________ -- -------- -Sweden-----------------Switzerland___ . . . - - - - --------Yugoslavia-------------- ----------------T otal--------------- -----------

-

529
1,237
1,674
1,226
188
1, 649
37
0
3, 240
250
830
370
254
(2)
0
229
0
8 434
108
6, 292
150
1,602
0
9, 779
326

18
41
529
200
210
1,837
181
0
7, 334
43
313
90
1,410
11,397
21, 607
0
4, 351
1,022
0
5104, 187
0
1,355
457
168
454
50
5
1,288
0
15
6,440
5, 225
128
0
0

132
161
249
3, 580
388
12
298
518
0
4, 348
1, 502
362
3
1,412
17, 500
18, 821
1,374
1, 185
550
0
0
1,209
3, 827
41
985
425
796
11
944
180
7 2, 637
97
2, 734

0

50

0
248
0
0
0

70
0
340
717
74
71
0
0
1,550
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
56
449

48
396
128
0
185

0
1,605
280
891
219
0
0
1,434
1, 590
15
•5
0
0
1
176
0
242
25
3,813
5,163
283
127
3 1, 663
1
0
0
0
0
0
696
0
0
0
68
63
0
329
68
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
905

0
774
121
195

0

0

0

0

• 0

2,921
« 437
8 78,064'
54

Other
types

32

CÇ
cc

-- --

44
112
166
208
396
(2)
131
382
0
1,840
1,925
235

oc

South Africa, Union of.

1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1930
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1932
1931
1930
1930
1931
1929-30
1932
1932
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1932
1931
1931
1931
1929
1931
1929-30
1932
1930
1931
1929
1931
1931
1931

W ork­ Hous­
ers’ pro­ ing and
Con­
Agricul­
ductive con­
sumers’ Credit
tural
and
struc­
societies societies societies
labor tion so­
societies cieties

1,568
1,163
0

29
444
727
4, 407

3, 562
5,859
!0 2, 514

177
57
156

5,580
266
89

38, 574

175, 962

159, 692

22, 393

14,188

171
4,048
3, 799
337

Total

274
314
415
4,713
2, 767
502
3, 590
1, 300
1,576
16, 546
3,490
910
164
3, 527
30, 741
51, 795
3,084
7, 387
3, 293
37
104,187
6, 695
5, 432
1,399
1,586
1,462
914
16
2, 461
180
3,071
276
17,594
271
9,943
128
437
106, 206
551
29
15,379
11,871
7,483

21, 611 11 433,906

1 Data cover only societies affiliated to the various central organizations.
* N o data.
8 Includes “ urban societies” of all types.
4 Included with credit societies.
8 Includes all societies of other types also.
8 Data cover only societies affiliated to N .K .L .
7 Includes fishermen’s societies also.
« Year 1928.
c Included with agricultural societies.
70 Includes consumers’ societies also.
ii
N ot the exact sum of the totals given, as in 1 country the distribution of the total number of societies
b y type, was not known.


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1406

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

While credit and agricultural societies lead in number of societies,
the situation is quite different when number of cooperators is con­
sidered. Table 2 shows that the consumers’ cooperative movement
leads as regards total number of members, nearly 70 million persons
being affiliated with the cooperative stores ip the 30 countries covered
by the data. The agricultural associations are next in order, but their
membership totals only some 21 million persons.
About one fourth of the total number of societies and more than half
of the members are in the Russian cooperative movement.
T a b l e 2 —M E M B E R S H IP OF V A R IO U S T Y P E S OF C O O P E R A T IV E SO C IE T IE S IN

S P E C IF IE D C O U N T R IE S

Country

Year

Australia . . . ____ .
Austria4
Belgium 4_ _ B razil4 _ Bulgaria-.
China
Czechoslovakia- _
D enm ark4- . ___
Estonia 4 - - _____ F e d e ra te d
M a la y

1931
1931
1929
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1930
1931
1931

Consum­
ers’ socie­ Credit
societies
ties

Agricul­
tural
societies

4, 502
37i 057

16,914
26| 905
3 12lj 015
403, 000
128, 098
47, 000
69, 253
480, 362
0
3 300, 000
188, 000
0

44, 297
152,440
145' 486
350,000
439,492
(2)
76,927
70, 222
0
910, 705
396, 500
60, 000

0
0
0
342,489
45, 477
0
939,104
16, 785
23,400

Workers’
Hous­
produc­
ing
tive and socie­
labor
ties
societies
10, 768
0
0
0
64, 589
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

(2)
70, 300
(2)
(2)
8,480
(2)
(2)
7,000
(2)

1931
153
10, 651
15,030
Finland 4_ _____ _ _ 1931
470,414
145, 708
277, 200
(2)
(2)
732, 333 1,000,000
France 4____ ____ - - 1931 1, 576, 256
23,000 18, 300
Germany 4 _ _
1931 4, 990,824
4, 000, 000
722, 718
(2)
0
1931 6, 559, 000
« 288,179
31, 405 28, 968
0
Hungary 4_
_______ 1931
7 804, 821
399,005
65, 565
8 17,712
(2)
Iceland
- 1931
4 7, 448
0
(2)
(2)
0
India.
___ ______ 1930
34,429,428
0
0
0
0
635, 507
118,500 49, 876
Italy _ - ___ ________ 1930 io 900, 000
0
Japan 4_ _
_ _______ 1932
20, 000
768, 623
140, 633
(2)
(2)
1930
50, 320 11 15,000
54,030
1931
Lithuania 4_ . 18i 000
11, 000
9, 733
(2)
(2)
Luxemburg 4
1931
4, 879
50, 575
(2)
(2)
0
1931
4,700
M orocco 4 .
7 1,900
(2)
(2)
0
N etherlands4 - . . .
1931
7 222,053
223, 291
65, 000
(2)
(2)
1932
New Zealand 4__
91,494
(2)
(2)
0
0
Norway . .
1931
115, 451
« I f3, 364
(2)
0
(2)
1,000
Palestine4 - - - - - - - 1931
7 18, 586
I2 270
(2)
0
(13)
825,887
141,060, 465
P ola n d 4 ______ ____ 1931
9, 632
(2)
1931
237,812 1,127, 224
259, 810
1930
2, 157
South Africa, Union of- 1932
(2)
(2)
0
0
0
1930 48,904, 200
»8,508,100 2, 002, 000
Spain 4__________ ____ 1931
123,162
8 3,000
(2)
(2)
0
1929
5,933
481,319
50, 000
Sweden 4_. _ _ _______ 1931
15,945
(2)
0
Switzerland4-.. . 1931
376, 286
48, 318
239, 234
C2)
(2)
United States.
. __ 1929
206, 387 12 301, 109 123,200,000
1,405
2,435
Yugoslavia----------------- 1931
59, 302
(2)
(2)
(2)
0
T o t a l . . ___ _

Other
types

0
(2)
79, 645
188, 659
163, 000
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
45
205, 400
5,000
(2)
7 190, 000
(2)
0
11,037
(2)
93, 237
4, 333
8 2, 453
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
15, 806
(2)
« 45, 000
(2)
3,932
78, 819
(2)

T o t a l4

76, 481
216Ì 402
266j 501
823; 300
567, 590
126, 645
750, 397
759, 061
65; 433
2,149, 809
608. 285
83, 400
25, 879
1, 098, 722
3, 354, 889
9, 713, 542
6,907, 552
1,477; 103
7,448
4, 429, 428
1,714, 920
929, 256
212, 587
43; 066
57,907
6,600
510, 344
91,494
228,815
19, 856
1, 895,984
1, 640, 652
2,157
85, 000
59,414, 300
171,162
5, 933
547; 264
667, 770
3, 790, 155
45 855,836

69, 595, Oil 9, 658, 338 21,897, 559 2, 281,030 933, 654 1,086, 366 >8 106, 398, 925

1 Figures in this column contain considerable duplication, due to membership of the same persons in
several societies of different types.
2 N o data.
3 Includes also membership of a few societies of other types.
4 Data cover only societies affiliated to the various central organizations.
3 Approximate membership of societies affiliated to central organization in 1929.
6 Includes membership of fishery societies.
7 Data are for 1930.
8 Data are for 1928.
2 Included with credit societies.
10 Approximate.
41Approproximate membership of societies affiliated to central organization in 1928.
12 Data are for 1932.
13 Included with agricultural societies.
14 Includes membership of credit societies.
15 Distribution of other types of societies than consumers’ societies not known.
48 N ot the exact sum of the totals given, since in several countries the distribution of total membership
b y type of society was not known.


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COOPERATION

1407

Position of Consumers’ Cooperation
D u r i n g the depression period the consumers' cooperative move­
ment has had to contend not only with the economic results of the
depression but also with concerted attacks from the private traders.
In many countries the nonprofit character of the cooperative societies
has been recognized by law and their net trading surplus has been
regarded as savings made by the pooling of the members’ purchasing
power, not as profits in the ordinary sense, and the societies have
therefore been exempt from government taxes on profits or income.
The long-continued depression, which has intensified budgetary and
revenue difficulties of the governments in the various countries, and
the increasingly bitter attacks of private merchants have resulted in
efforts to bring about the passage of legislation which would subject
the cooperative societies to all of the taxes and restrictions to which
profit traders are subject and even in some cases to additional burdens.
Such legislation is being pushed in Austria, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Netherlands, etc.
The growth of consumers’ cooperation, notwithstanding these
adverse conditions, is shown by the sales of the local consumers’
societies in the two latest years for which data are available (table 3).
Aside from the Soviet Union, where the consumers’ cooperative move­
ment is a recognized part of the Government, Great Britain is far in
the lead.
Table 3 (p. 1408) shows the tendency toward a decreasing number
of local societies (generally as a result of a definite policy). In nearly
every country, however, an increased membership is shown. Although
in view of the fall in the price levels, a lower volume of sales would be
expected, an increase in the amount of business is shown in Estonia,
Finland, France, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
Canada.■— The growth of the depression in extent as well as in
intensity, it is pointed out in the annual report of the Cooperative
Union of Canada for 1932, is reflected in the statistics of the con­
sumers’ cooperative movement of that country. The sales of the
affiliated societies declined $243,231, as compared with 1931, indicat­
ing a “ still further diminution of purchasing power” in 1932. “ A
considerable portion of the business of many of the retail societies
has consisted of relief orders. ”
The aggregate trading surplus of the reporting societies was
$117,895, or $67,221 less than in 1931. Most of this decline was due
to the falling off of the net gain of the largest consumers’ society
in Canada, whose members, mainly miners, have been particularly
affected by the depression in the mining industry.
Germany.— In Germany, at the beginning of 1933, only 1,674 of
the 51,795 cooperative societies of all types were consumers’ coop­
erative associations. Of these, about 1,200 were affiliated to two
large central unions— the Central Union of German Consumers’ Socie­
ties (Zentralverband deutscher Konsumvereine) and the German
Union of Consumers’ Societies (Eeichsverband deutscher Konsum­
vereine)— the first having, in 1932,949 member societies find the second
some 270 members. The Zentralverband is composed mainly of
industrial workers while the Reichsverband has a large membership
among the officials and civil-service employees.


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1408

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

T able 3 .—M E M B E R S H IP

AND

B U SIN ESS OF L O C A L C O N S U M E R S ’ S O C IE T IE S
S P E C IF IE D C O U N T R IE S
[Conversions into United States currency on basis of par value]
Country

Year

A rgen tina_________ _________ _____ _____________
Australia_________________ _____________ __________

1930-31
1929
1931
1930
1931
1931
1931
1931
1932
1930
1932
1931
1932
1930
1931
1931
1932
1931
1932
1929
1931
1931
1932
1931
1931
1929
1929
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1929
1931
1931
1931
1932
1931
1929
1931
1932
1931
1931
1932
1931
1931
1929

Austria 1- ____ - - --------------------------------- ---------------B elgium .__
_____ _ _____ ___ . . . __________
..
._ .
B ulga ria ... _ __
. . _______
Canada 1 ----- ---------- . . . . . . ------------------------- ._ .
Czechoslovakia: Ustredni svaz ceskoslovenskych
druzstev___ __
___ . ___________ _______ . . .
Denmark________ . . .

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

E stonia1 _______________ _____ _ . . . ____ . . .
Finland:
K. K. <________ ___ ______________________ ______
Y .O .L .4________________________________________
France______________
Germany:
Zentralverband..

___ . . .
..

--------------------- .

----------

. . . .

-

-----

___
Reichsverband
.
...
.
Great Britain 1. . _____ . -------- -----------H un gary1. . . ----------------- ------- --- . . . . . . .
Iceland____ . . . . ---------------- ------- ----- ------------------Italy_____________ . . . ---------------L a tv ia .. ----------------- . . . . . .

...

-------- --..

. . ..

-------- . . . .

Lithuania----------------------------------------- ---------------------Netherlands . _____ ___ _
N o rw a y 1. ---------.. . . .

___ ____
. . . - .-

______ .
-- -- --

Poland................ . . .
. . .
------Portugal______________________________________ ____
R um ania.. . ___ ___
_____ ____
Soviet Union . .
.
. . . . . .
Spain_______ _______ . . -------- ---------------- . . . . . .
S w eden1------------------------- ------------- . -------•... . . . .
Switzerland.
. . . . . . ----------- -------- . . . . -------Y ugoslavia..
United States___ _
_________ __________ . . . -----

Number
Number
of so­
of members
cieties
35
166
166
115
222
103
131
31
27
1,035
885
2 1, 791
1,819
238
235
112
(2)
420
418
3,296
3,155
985
949
270
1, 336
1,661
39
40
3,329
3,240
295
290
214
214
414
434
447
1, 245
150
1,602
0
279
802
786
846
78
656

44, 297
145,486
0
263,137
267, 665
444,159
77,084
8,122
8, 746
461, 541
488, 000
3 331, 500
(a)
34, 561
44,828
241, 633
248, 328
228, 781
232, 058
2, 288, 838
2, 452,055
2, 940, 308
2,895,985
750, 000
6, 626,429
672, 295
7,676
8,000
(2)
692,917
50, 320
44, 229
35, 617
33, 500
299, 786
115, 451
121,231
452, 881
33,964
237, 812
73,100, 000
59, 302
481, 319
512,968
399, 291
61, 427
204, 368

IN

Sales

$12, 760, 612
37, 413, 276
37, 409, 433
20, 833, 401
20,718, 111
29, 242, 668
2, 534, 726
2,874, 746
2,631, 515
39,044, 653
37,888, 000
(2)
65, 392, 000
4, 700, 184
5,894, 458
26,888, 400
27, 382, 320
37,996, 400
38, 802, 960
149, 409, 000
157,834,283
276,117, 209
224, 719,142
42,931,435
1,022, 360, 695
20, 027, 363
4, 891, 536
0
78,900, 000
70, 543, 512
6,079, 500
4,811,494
1, 211, 554
2, 662, 000
23,346, 487
27, 683, 328
28,180, 414
23, 552, 387
1, 547,000
5, 074, 800
10,815,000, 000
6, 669, 668
93, 264, 000
94, 005,074
67, 705, 542
669,072
64, 665, 369

1 Data are for societies affiliated to central organization.
2 No data.
2 Data are for 1930.
4 Initials of name of central union, b y which that organization is com m only known.

Together these organizations have formed a combination of some
3,750,000 members (not counting other members of the family),
or about 6 percent of the total population of Germany. The total
sales of the movement in 1931 amounted to 1,340.000,000 marks
(about $319,000,000).
Not only have these organizations supplied their members through
the retail cooperative stores, but they have also manufactured a con­
siderable volume of goods. Thus, the manufactures of the 2 centra]
unions and their local societies amounted to 500 million marks
($119,000,000) in 1931.
Naturally, si^ch a volume of business would constitute formidable
competition for private dealers; and the latter have attacked the
cooperative movement from several directions for a long time, even
forming an association for the purpose.
The depression, felt very severely among the working class which
forms the greatest proportion of the cooperative membership, has

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COOPERATION

1409

had its effect upon the consumers’ cooperative societies. Whereas,
in 1932, 52 new societies were founded, 73 organizations were
dissolved; 20 of the dissolutions were due to bankruptcy. The
International Labor Office (Geneva) in its review of the German
cooperative movement for 1932 points out that “ the year was a
particularly critical one for this group. ”
By a series of decrees culminating in that of May 15, 1933, the
Hitler government has taken over the control of the consumers’
cooperative movement in that country and what its fate will be is
unknown. As a result of this step, the question of the admission of
delegates from the government-controlled German societies to a
recent special conference of the International Cooperative Alliance
was the subject of considerable debate. The delegates were finally
admitted, but certain speeches and actions by them were regarded
by the other members of the conference as violative of the Alliance
principle of political neutrality, and as a result of the ensuing dis­
cussion the German delegates left the* meeting. The question of the
recognition of the cooperative movement in Germany in its new
status remains in abeyance, to be settled at some future meeting.
Great Britain.— The People’s Yearbook, 1933, points out that there
are in Great Britain about 11,000,000 families. Since the membership
of the consumers’ cooperative movement was 6,590,020 in 1931, “ well
over half of the families in the country” were members of the cooper­
ative stores. In that year £5,078,031 ($24,712,238) was returned to
the members as interest on their share capital and £21,348,269
($103,891,351) as dividends on purchases, or a total of £26,426,300
($128,603,589) which would otherwise have gone in profits to private
traders.
Since 1913 the number of retail cooperative societies in the Cooper­
ative Union has decreased from 1,387 to 1,188 in 1931, due to a
policy of amalgamation of existing societies in the same district. The
number of individual cooperators, however, has in the same period
risen from 2,878,648 to 6,590,020, an increase of nearly 130 percent
While the depression has been keenly felt by the cooperative socie­
ties, those in Scotland have been harder hit than those in England, as
conditions have been worse in the former country. At the end of 1931,
the English Cooperative Wholesale Society not only had been able to
maintain the wages of its employees at the 1929 level but had even
increased its labor force. In the whole consumers’ movement the
number of employees increased 2 percent from 1930 to 1931, while
wages went up 3 percent. It is pointed out, also, that very little
short time or part time is worked in the cooperative movement.
Italy:—Italy is another country in which the autonomy of the
cooperative movement has been destroyed. In 1925,^the Fascists
took over the control of the whole movement, making it part of the
corporative State and setting up a national organization the Ente
Nazionale Cooperative—with which the local societies must affiliate.
The Italian consumers’ cooperative movement had formerly been
characterized by a multiplicity of small societies, but between 1921
and 1928 nearly 14,000 societies disappeared. The Fascist coopera­
tive movement has never been recognized by the International
Cooperative Alliance, and its delegates are not admitted to the meet­
ings of that body.
.
According to a recent report from the American consul at Milan,
there are 14 Provinces in Italy in which there are no consumers’


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1410

MONTHLY LABOE K E V IE W

cooperative societies. The report notes a further decrease in the
number of cooperative societies since 1928, the number falling from
3,333 in that year to 3,168 in 1930. This reduction was due partly
to failures, partly to liquidations, and “ partly as a result of an intelli­
gent concentration policy carried out by the directors of the coopera­
tive movement. ” Government supervision, it is stated, was made
necessary because of the fact that “ the practices of some of the cooper­
atives were very lax. Further, dealers engaged in trade for profit
objected to the uncontrolled expansion and consequent competition
of the cooperatives.”
The report states that although the Government controls the move­
ment, it makes no special regulations regarding the cooperative stores
and they are subject to the same restrictions as private stores. By a
decree of .May 10, 1930, the opening of any new food stores except
cooperative stores is prohibited for a periodai 5 years.
Norway.■—The International Labor Office reports that “ in spite of
the depression which is strongly felt throughout the country, the
consumers’ cooperative movement is making steady progress in
Norway. ”
Relation to Total Population

The infiltration of consumers’ cooperation into the economic life of
the various countries is indicated in table 4, which shows the relation
of the cooperative membership to the total population. It is at once
evident that a far larger portion of the populace is served by the co­
operative stores in the Soviet Union than in any other country, more
than two fifths of the people being members of consumers’ societies.
The next in rank is Great Britain, which was the cradle of consumers’
cooperation; but that country is closely followed by Finland and
Denmark.
T able 4 .

D E V E L O P M E N T OF C O N S U M E R S ’ SO C IE TIE S IN
U L A T IO N IN V A R IO U S C O U N T R IE S

Country

Year

P R O P O R T IO N T O P O P ­
™

Population

Membership of consumers’
societies
Members

Argentina_____
Australia______
Austria_______
Belgium ______
Bulgaria______
Canada________
Czechoslovakia.
Denmark______
Estonia________
Finland_______
France_________
Germany______
Great Britain,
Hungary_______
Iceland________
Italy___________
Japan__________
L atvia_________
Lithuania______
Netherlands____
N orway________
Poland_________
Portugal_______
Rumania_______
Soviet Union___
Spain__________
Sweden________
Switzerland____
United States. . .
Yugoslavia_____

1931
1929
1931
1931
1931
1931
1930
1931
1931
1932
1931
1931
1931
1930
1931
1930
1932
1930
1931
1931
1932
1931
1929
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1929
1931

11,441,964
6, 476, 032
6, 722, 395
8,129, 824
6,067, 000
10, 376, 786
17, 726,158
3, 550, 651
1,110, 538
3, 634, 047
41, 834, 923
62, 348, 782
44, 790, 485
8, 683, 740
108, 644
42,118, 835
64,447, 724
1, 900,045
2,340, 038
8,031, 679
2, 817,124
32,100, 000
6,190, 999
18, 025, 237
164,000,000
23,817, 000
6,141, 671
4,066, 400
122, 775, 046
13, 930,918

1 Memberships of societies affiliated to central organization or organizations.


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44, 297
145, 486
1 350, 000
444,159
77,084
70, 222
910, 705
1 396, 500
60, 000
t 480, 386
2, 452, 055
4, 990, 824
6, 559, 000
804, 821
1 8, 000
900, 000
‘ 20, 000
50, 320
33, 500
299, 786
1 121, 231
825,887
33, 964
237,812
73,100, 000
123,162
512, 968
399, 291
206,387
59, 302

Percent of
population
0. 39
2.25
5. 21
5,46
1. 27
.68
5.14
11.17
5. 40
13.22
5. 86
8.00
14. 64
9. 27
7. 36
2.14
.03
2. 65
1. 43
3. 73
4. 30
2. 57
.55
1.32
44.57
.52
8. 35
9.82
. 17
.43

1411

COOPERATION
Proportion of Retail Trade Done by Cooperative Societies

Table 5, taken from an article in the August 1933 issue of the
Review of International Cooperation, shows the proportion of the
total retail trade of each of six countries handled by small independ­
ent dealers, department stores, chain stores, cooperative societies,
and other forms of retailing. It is evident that the consumers’ coop­
erative societies handle a considerable proportion of the retail trade
in Great Britain. The chief difference between the figures shown for
that country and the United States lies in the relative positions of
the cooperative societies and the department stores. In both coun­
tries the chain-store systems are strong.
In all of the countries the largest proportion of the trade is still
done by the small independent dealer with a single store. This is
especially true in France and Germany. In the latter country, it is
explained, the growth of the large-scale enterprises (chain stores,
department stores, and cooperative movement) has taken place to a
considerable extent at the expense of the small shopkeeper. “ These
tendencies in the development of retail distribution in Germany
explain to a certain extent the hostile attitude of the present German
Government, which derives its support from the middle classes, in­
cluding a large percentage of ruined shopkeepers, towards large-scale
retailing and the consumers’ cooperative movement in particular.”
The report points out that the figures in the table hardly reflect
the full importance of the cooperative trade, as they cover all lines of
retail trade in the country. In certain lines of retailing the share of the
cooperative societies is considerably greater.
According to the information collected by the International Cooperative
Alliance, the cooperative movement in Germany controls approximately 10 per­
cent of the total supply of foodstuffs and in meat trade its share is even greater.
In Great Britain nearly a third of the bread supply and 20 percent of the meat
supply passes through the cooperative societies. In Switzerland the cooperatives
control approximately 11 ^ to 12 percent of the trade in foodstuffs, and in Sweden
and Finland, more particularly in the latter country, tire proportion is even *
greater, approximately 30 percent of the total retail trade. These figures, how­
ever, show that there is still a considerable margin left at the expense of which
the cooperative trade can develop even in those countries where its achievements
during the last few years have been remarkable.
T a b l e 5 .—P E R C E N T OF T O T A L R E T A IL T R A D E IN S P E C IF IE D C O U N T R IE S H A N D L E D

TH ROU GH EACH TY PE

OF R E T A IL IN G

Percent of retail trade done through specified retail channel
in—
T ype of trader
Great
Britain
Cooperative societies
-------------- -------Independent dealers----------- _
Department stores_______________________
Chain systems
- - -------Total

--

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

United
States

Ger­
many

France

Sweden

Nether­
lands

12.4
57.1
8.6
17.2
4.7

0.4
59.0
16.0
18.0
6.6

4.6
85.2
4.3
3.7
2.2

1.4
87.3
5.7
5.0

7.6
76.2
4.0
2.0

1.0
81.3
8.0
4.8
4.9

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Cooperative Wholesale Societies

Table 6 shows the sales of the cooperative wholesale societies in the
various countries. In 1932 in the 20 countries shown, a wholesale
business of considerably over three fourths of a billion dollars was done
through cooperative channels. Here again, a few countries showed
increases in money sales, in spite of falling prices. The 1932 figure
shown for De Handelskamer, wholesale society of the Dutch con-


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1412

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

sinners’ cooperative movement, is higher than any ever before recorded
for that organization. This was accomplished in spite of a fall of 18
points in the _wholesale price index number. Half of the member
societies of this wholesale showed increases in membership during the
year.
T a b l e 6 . —BUSINESS D O N E B Y C O O P E R A T IV E W H O L E S A L E S O C IE T IE S, 1931 A N D 1932

[Conversions into United States currency on basis of par value]

Country

Austria_______________________________________
Belgium______________________________________
Bulgaria: “ Napred” __________________________
Canada:
Alberta Cooperative Wholesale____________
Manitoba Cooperative Wholesale__________
Saskatchewan Cooperative Wholesale_____
Czechoslovakia:
G.E.C.2___________________________________
V.D .P.2___________________________________
Denmark:
F . D.B.2________________________ _______
Ringkobing_______________________________
Estonia: E .T .K .2_____________________________
Finland:
0 .T .K .2 _____________ _____ _______________
S.0.K .2___________________________________
France________________________________________
Germany:
G . E.G.2________________________________
“ Gepag” __________________________________
Great Britain:
English wholesale____ ____________________
Scottish wholesale_________________________
Hungary: “ Hangya” _________________________
Italy_______ ____ _____________________________
Netherlands___________________________________
N orw ay_______________________________________
Poland: “ Spolem ” ____________________________
Sweden_______________________________________
Switzerland:
V.S.K.2___________________________________
Konkordia________________________________
V.o.l.G.2___________________________________
United States:
Central Cooperative Wholesale____________
Eastern Cooperative Wholesale____________
Farmers’ Union State Exchange (Nebraska)
Scandinavian Cooperative Wholesale 5_________

__

Year

N um ­
ber of
affili­
ated
socie­
ties

1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1932
1931
1931
1932
1931
1932

135
0)
71
(0
58
0)
20
52
55
35
36
163
0)
340
0)
(0
1,819
69
0)
235
(>)
110
(>)
420
0)
1,377
(>)
920
908
277
(0
1,084
0)
251
0)
1, 647
(0
(')
251
0)
288
454
0)
903
(')
802
786
527
529
3 54
52
280
0)
99
98
10
3 165
4 200
5
•5

Amount of
business

$12, 541, 555
11, 695, 698
5, 286, 880
5,098, 271
3,070, 340
3, 001, 369
18, 321
274, 321
325, 504
488,174
404, 869
9, 427, 588
9,140, 788
14,128, 604
14, 542, 207
34,108,0 0
36, 222, 351
816,125
777, 200
4, 034, 543
3, 046, 329
14, 238, 000
14, 500, 080
21, 760, 200
21, 286, 440
29, 400, 000
32,418,400
101,107, 097
80,879, 840
16, 745, 792
13,041, 211
396, 621,156
398,827, 340
80, 552,002
78, 552,863
10,178,164
11,123,640
5,055,214
6, 076, 720
7, 088,120
7,439, 529
8,040,124
8, 230,440
9, 212,345
8, 323,168
39, 673, 761
40,053,576
32,376, 338
32, 077, 689
779, 316
712,387
7, 424,983
7, 539,609
1, 509, 752
1,309, 698
268, 044
1, 571,028
1,192, 838
7,526, 951
7, 842, 091

1 No data.
2 Initials of name of wholesale society, b y which that organization is com m onlv known
3 Data are for 1930.
4Approximate.
« Owned jointly b y the cooperative wholesale societies of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and the two
wholesales of Finland.


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1413

COOPERATION
Production by Consumers’ Societies

Where production is carried on, this is usually done by the produc­
tive departments of the cooperative wholesale society or by a separate
organization formed for the purpose. The local consumers’ societies
rarely undertake the manufacture of products other than bakery
goods, smoked or cooked meats, etc.
It is the aim of the cooperative movement eventually to produce or
manufacture all of the goods its members need, and some of the
wholesale societies have made a good start in that direction. The
leading countries as regards cooperative production of consumers’
goods are Great Britain and Germany, but Czechoslovakia and
Finland also manufacture a wide variety of commodities.1
Figures as to value of goods produced by the cooperative wholesale
societies in 1932 are available for only a few countries, shown in table 7.
T a b l e 7 —V A L U E OF GO ODS P R O D U C E D B Y C O O P E R A T IV E W H O L E S A L E S O C IE T IE S,

1931 A N D 1932
[Conversions into United States currency on basis of par value]
Value of goods produced
Country
1931

Great Britain:

1 1NU UcUcl.

.

.

.

1932

(■)
$1, 668, 240
1, 719, 625
34, 587, 753

$10, 311,905
1,902, 600
1, 813,921
30, 803,934

111, 243, 542
24, 590, 643
3,463,311
16,107, 336

115,037,758
24,109, 459
3,.535, 619
10, 248, 320

i

i

2 Initials of name of wholesale society, b y which that organization is com m only known.
Cooperative Em ploym ent

That the consumers’ cooperative movement is an employer of no
inconsiderable proportions is shown in table 8. This table shows a total
of more than three fourths of a million persons obtaining their liveli­
hood through the cooperative movement in 13 countries. Of these
more than half are employed in the Russian movement and over
one third in the British societies.
i For an enumeration of the articles manufactured cooperatively in the various countries see M onthly
Labor Review, October 1932 (pp. 879, 880).
21719°—33------10


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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
T a b l e 8 —P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D IN T H E C O O P E R A T IV E M O V E M E N T

Country

Data cover—

Belgium........... ..................... ............
Productive societies . . .
_. . . . . .
C anada... ________ _______ _____
China .
__________________
Czechoslovakia__________________ _ __ do
_______ ___
Finland____ . . . . . ________
O .T .K ___
France__ _ . ___ . . .
Germany . _________________ .
Great Britain . . . _____ _ .
Netherlands. . . ______ _________
Societies affiliated to central union _______ .
Soviet U nion. ________ _________
Sweden
. . .
_____ _ .
Switzerland _ . __________ _____

Year

1929-30
1929-30
1932
1931
1932
1931
1931
1932
1931
1932
1932
1932
1931
1932

T otal.. ___________________

Number
of em­
ployees
6,582
1,150
281
11,612
12, 700
682
1,043
48, 095
263, 037
439
2, 704
416,992
2, 998
659
768, 974

So u r ce s .—This article is based on data from People’s Yearbook, 1933; International Labor Directory,
Part IV (Geneva), 1933; Schweiz. Konsumvereine (Basel), July 1, 1933, and current issues of Cooperative
Information (International Labor Office, Geneva), and Review of International Cooperation (London).
In addition, other data for specific countries were obtained from t-he following sources: Argentina.—Schweiz.
Konsumvereine (Basel), Apr. 1, 1933. Austria.—Konsumgenossenschaftliche Rundschau, Apr. 1, 1933.
Belgium.—Le Coopérateur Beige, Mar. 12, 1933; and Great Britain, Department of Overseas Trade, No.
46: Economic conditions in Belgium in 1932. Bulgaria.— Cooperative Information (Geneva), No. 4, 1933.
Canada.—Quebec, Department of Municipal Affairs, Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Yearbook, 1932;
Dominion Bureau of Statistics, The Canada Year Book, 1932, Ottawa, 1932; and T he Canadian Cooperator,
August 1933. Czechoslovakia.—Rapports de l’ Office de Statistique, X I I I ■» Année (1932), No. 93; XIV<>
Année (1933), No. 3. Denmark.—Kooperatoren, Hafte 5, 1933, July 1, 1933; and Review of International
Cooperation, February 1933. Federated Malay States.— Cooperative Information (Geneva), N o. 13, 1932.
Finland— Bank of Finland M onthly Bulletin, March 1933. France—Le Coopérateur Beige, M ar. 26, 1933;
and Review of International Cooperation, June 1933; Revue des Etudes Cooperatives (Paris), July-September, 1933. Germany.—Jahrbuch des Zentralverbandes Deutcher Konsumvereine, Hamburg, 1933; K on­
sumgenossenschaftliche Rundschau, Apr. 22, 1933; Cooperative Information (Geneva) N o. 2, 1933; and
Reports from C. W . Gray, American consul at Berlin, Oct. 10, 1932, and June 13 and 24, 1933. Great
Britain.—Ministry of Labor Gazette, issues of October and December 1932 and January 1933; and The
Producer, October 1932, and March and April 1933. Greece.—Annals of Collective Econom y, JuneAugust 1932. India— Statistical Abstract for British India, London, 1932 (C m d. 4109). Italy.—Ministero
delle Corporazioni, Sindacato e Corporazione, January 1933; and report from E . Talbot Smith, American
consul at Milan, M a y 24, 1933. Java.—Indisch Verslag 1932—II Statistisch Jaaroverzicht van Nederlandsch-Indie over het jaar 1931, Batavia, o1932. Netherlands.—Le Coopérateur Beige, Mar. 26, 1933. Nor­
w ay— Statistiske Central-byra, Statistisk Arbok for Kongeriket Norge, 1932, Oslo, 1932; Kooperatoren, Feb.
1, 1933, and M ay 15, 1933; and Schweiz. Konsumvereine, Apr. 1, 1933. South Africa.—Review of Inter­
national Cooperation, February 1933. Soviet Union.—Amtorg Trading Corporation, Information Depart­
ment, Econom ic Review of the Soviet Union (N ew York C ity), N ov. 15, 1932, p. 401; and Information
Bulletin of Centrosoyus, M a y 25, 1933. Swede«.—Commerce Reports, Mar. 18, 1933; Kooperatoren, N o.
10-11,1933; Socialstyrelsen, Kooperativ Verksamhet i Sverige, ar 1931, Stockholm, 1933; and Le Coopérateur
Beige, July 9, 1933. Switzerland— Verband Schweiz. Konsumvereine (V .S .K .), Rapports et comptes
sur 1 activité des Organes de l ’union en 1932, Basel, 1933; Bureau Fédéral de Statistique, Annuaire statis­
tique de la Suisse 1931; and Le Coopérateur Beige, Mar. 26, 1933.

Status of Building and Loan Associations, 1932
ATA furnished to the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the United
States Building and Loan League (Cincinnati) show that at
the end of _1932 there were in the United States 10,997 building and
loan associations with a combined membership of 10,114,792 and
resources aggregating $7,750,491,084. Mortgage loans outstanding
totalled $6,394,725,418, or 82.5 percent of the assets. From 1931
to 1932 there was a decrease of 445 societies, 1,223,909 members,
and $666,884,521 in assets.
Table 1 shows the number of associations, the membership, and
the total assets of the associations in each State at the end of 1932.
Pennsylvania leads in number of societies, Ohio in number of mem­
bers, and New Jersey in amount of assets.

D


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1415

COOPERATION

T a b l e 1 —M E M B E R S H IP A N D ASSETS OF B U IL D IN G A N D L O A N A SSO C IA T IO N S IN

1932, B Y ST A T E S

State

Num ­ Number
ber
of
of
mem­
associ­
bers
ations

Arkansas____ - - -

D elaware1
Dist. of Columbia.-

Indiana -------------Iowa. . . . .

M a s s a c h u s e t t s ..
Mississippi-..
M ontana____ .

37
8
56
188
58
43
44
26
65
40
H
14
905
388
74
151
161
101
36
1,075
227
66
75
46
235
27

36, 230
6,030
50, 000
494, 000
55, 000
32, 376
20, 500
90, 388
11,400
18, 893
12, 534
7, 650
807, 800
375, 700
62, 320
174, 482
181, 800
181, 475
27, 565
300, 000
467,829
218, 235
95, 843
24, 537
237, 200
32, 767

Total
assets

$25, 772, 240
4, 247,141
35, 498,145
407,146, 357
38,472, 204
26,818, 269
16,118, 223
87, 420, 000
14, 369, 063
7, 265, 368
5, 209, 278
5,039, 612
437, 261, 885
270,857, 685
44,849, 730
116,162. 630
118,475, 594
159, 480,185
24, 818, 627
197, 500, 000
527, 360, 936
152,933, 382
40, 746, 403
16, 679, 871
193,034, 550
19,150, 925

N um ­ Number
ber
of
of
mem­
associ­
bers
ations

State

Total
assets

W yom ing_________

190, 600 $124, 307, 312
83
1,665
3
1,183, 930
29
16, 613
14, 076, 044
1,553
985, 470 1,146,108,891
4,950
4, 717, 489
17
531, 216 423, 676,167
299
222
81, 897
75,894, 023
22
19, 650
13,135, 969
762 2, 213, 531 1, 097, 526,114
82
129, 339 113, 251, 396
22
33,800
19, 645,142
941, 682 1,044, 256, 443
2, 957
9
49, 499
34, 324, 701
132
30. 000
24, 500, 000
21
10,314
6, 241, 600
40
23, 470
17, 387, 000
144
157, 215 114, 631,153
74, 023
23
50, 287, 421
14
6, 063
5,495,121
85
62,100
56, 321,016
66
205,038
64,973, 551
6C
53, 480
35, 804,108
252, 773 260, 548, 326
184
11
17,850
9, 509,864

T otal_______

10,997 10,114, 792 7, 750, 491, 084

New Hampshire - . .
N ew Jersey . .
New Mexico
North Carolina___
North Dakota------Ohio
------ _
Pennsylvania-Rhode I sla n d ... _
South Carolina 2—
South Dakota
Utah______________
Washington----------West Virginia .

1 Data are for 1931.
2 Figures estimated.

As compared with 1931 all of the jurisdictions except Connecticut,
District of Colombia, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, and Vermont,
showed a decrease in assets, and all but District of Columbia,
Georgia, Nevada, and Rhode Island a decrease in membership.
Table 2 shows the number of failures during the past 3 depression
years and the estimated loss involved. With the drop in the num­
ber of failures, the table shows that the liabilities and the amount
and percent lost through the failure of the societies have also
decreased each year.
T able

2.— L IA B IL IT IE S

OF F A IL E D A SS O C IA T IO N S A N D A M O U N T A N D P E R C E N T
OF E S T IM A T E D LOSS, 1930 TO 1932
Estimated loss

Year

193i
1932

_______
_______________
________________________

Number
of
failed
associa­
tions

190
126
122

Liabilities
Amount

$80, 437, 508
61, 908, 529
52,818,387

$24, 676, 059
22, 327,842
20, 337, 225

Percent
of
total
assets
0. 2795
. 2653
.2624

Table 3 shows the trend of development of the associations since
1920. The number of societies increased steadily each year up to
1927, since which time each successive year has shown a decline.
The membership and assets also showed a steady increase which
did not halt in 1927, but continued even after the depression began
and lasted through. 1930. The years 1931 and 1932 have shown

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1416

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

decreases in membership and assets. The number of members
decreased 8.2 percent from 1930 to 1931 and 10.8 percent from
1931 to 1932. The decreases in assets were 4.7 and 7.9 percent,
respectively.
T a b l e 3 .—D E V E L O P M E N T OF B U IL D IN G A N D L O A N A SSO C IA T IO N S, 1920 T O 1932

Number
of
associa­
tions

Year

Membership

Mortgage
loans
out­
standing

Total assets

1920________________________________________
1921________________________________________
1922________________________________________
1923________________________________________
1924_______________________ ____ ____________

8, 633
9, 255
10, 009
10, 744
11, 844

4, 962, 919
5,809, 888
6,864,144
7, 202, 880
8, 554, 352

$2, 519, 914, 971
2,890, 761, 621
3, 342, 530, 953
3, 942,939, 880
4, 765, 937,197

0)
0)
2 $900, 000,000
2 1, 260, 000, 000
2 1, 460, 000, 000

1925________________________________________
1926________________________________________
1927________________________________________
1928________________________________________
1929________________________________________

12, 403
12, 626
12, 904
12, 666
12, 342

9, 886, 997
10, 665, 705
11,336, 261
11, 995, 905
12, 111, 209

5, 509,176,154
6, 334,103, 807
7,178, 562, 451
8, 016, 034, 327
8, 695,154, 220

5, 085, 009, 639
5, 852, 689, 591
6, 584, 818, 419
7, 336,124,154
7, 787, 405, 383

1930 3_______________________________________
1931 3_______________________________________
1932 3_______________________________________

11, 777
11, 442
10, 997

12, 350, 928
11, 338, 701
10,114, 792

8,828, 611, 925
8, 417, 375, 605
7, 750, 491, 084

0)
0)
6, 394, 725, 418

1 No data.
2 Estimated.
3 Figures include Hawaii.

Exemption

of

Cooperative Organizations from
Dividend Provisions of Codes

Patronage-

N OCTOBER 24, 1933, the President issued an Executive order
exempting all “ bona fide and legitimate” cooperative organiza­
tions, including farmers’ cooperative associations, from provisions in
industrial codes designed to prohibit the payment of patronage re­
bates. This exemption is, however, contingent on the dividends’
being paid out of actual earnings.
The text of the order follows:

O

Defining Effect of Certain Provisions in Codes of Fair Competition Upon
Cooperative Organizations

I n a n u m b e r o f co d e s o f fa ir c o m p e titio n w h ich h a v e h e re to fo re b een a p p r o v e d
or s u b m itte d fo r a p p r o v a l p u rsu a n t to title I of th e N a tio n a l I n d u s tr ia l R e c o v e r y
A c t , a p p r o v e d J u n e 1 6 , 1 9 3 3 , th e re h a v e b e e n in c lu d e d p ro v is io n s d e sig n e d to
lim it or p ro h ib it th e p a y m e n t o r a llo w a n c e o f r e b a te s, re fu n d s, o r u n e a rn e d d is­
c o u n ts, w h e th e r in th e fo r m o f m o n e y o r in a n y o th e r fo r m , a n d th e e x te n sio n
to ce rta in p u rc h a se rs o f se rv ice s o r p riv ile g e s n o t e x te n d e d to a ll p u rc h a se rs u n d er
s im ila r te r m s a n d co n d itio n s.
Q u e stio n h a s arisen a s to w h e th e r p ro v is io n s o f
su ch te n o r d o n o t p re clu d e th e p a y m e n t o f p a tr o n a g e d iv id e n d s to m e m b e r s b y
b o n a fide a n d le g itim a te c o o p e r a tiv e o r g a n iz a tio n s, in c lu d in g fa r m e r s ’ c o o p e r a tiv e
asso cia tio n s, co rp o ra tio n s, o r societies, h e re in a fte r d e sig n a te d f a r m e r s ’ co o p e r a tiv e s .
P u rsu a n t to th e a u th o r ity v e ste d in m e b y title I o f th e N a t io n a l In d u s tr ia l
R e c o v e r y A c t , u p o n d u e co n sid era tio n o f th e f a c t s , a n d u p o n th e re p o r t a n d re c o m ­
m e n d a tio n o f th e A d m in is tr a to r ,
I , F ra n k lin D . R o o s e v e lt, P re sid e n t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , d o h e r e b y ord er t h a t
n o p ro v isio n in a n y co d e o f fa ir c o m p e titio n , a g re e m e n t, or lice n se w h ic h h a s h ere­
to fo re b een or m a y h e re a fte r b e a p p r o v e d , p re sc rib e d , o r issu e d p u r s u a n t to title
I of th e N a tio n a l In d u s tr ia l R e c o v e r y A c t , sh a ll b e so c o n s tr u e d or a p p lie d as t o
p r o h ib it th e p a y m e n t o f p a tr o n a g e d iv id e n d s in a c c o r d a n c e w ith la w to a n y m e m ­
b e r b y a n y b o n a fide a n d le g itim a te c o o p e r a tiv e o rg a n iz a tio n , in c lu d in g a n y
fa r m e r s ’ c o o p e r a tiv e , d u ly o rg a n ize d u n d er th e la w s o f a n y S ta t e , T e r r ito r y , o r th e
D is tr ic t o f C o lu m b ia o r o f th e U n ite d S ta te s, if su c h p a tr o n a g e d iv id e n d s are p a id
o u t o f a c tu a l earn in gs o f su ch c o o p e r a tiv e o r g a n iz a tio n a n d are n o t p a id a t th e
tim e w h en su ch m e m b e r m a k e s a p u rc h a se f r o m su ch c o o p e r a tiv e o rg a n iz a tio n .

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

COOPERATION

1417

Progress Toward a National Cooperative Wholesale Society1

EVERAL unsuccessful attempts have been made toward the es­
tablishment of a national cooperative wholesale society for the
United States. The latest attempt along this line, National Cooper­
atives, Inc., was decided upon at a meeting held in Chicago, Novem­
ber 21 and 22, 1932, according to the Cooperative Builder (Superior,
Wis.), issue of December 3, 1932. At this meeting were present the
representatives of seven district cooperative wholesale societies—
Central Cooperative Wholesale (Superior, Wis.), Farmers’ Union
Central Exchange (St. Paul, Minn.), Farmers’ Union State Exchange
(Omaha, Nebr.), Illinois Farm Supply Co. (Chicago, 111.), Indiana
Farm Bureau Cooperative Association (Indianapolis, Ind.), Midland
Cooperative Oil Association (Minneapolis, Minn.), and Union Oil Co.
(Kansas City, Mo.). Representatives were also present from the
Cooperative League of the U.S.A., the National Farmers’ Union, and
the American Farm Bureau.
The conference, called for the purpose of working out a way by
which the district wholesales could pool their purchases, decided
upon the formation of a national body and adopted articles of in­
corporation and bylaws therefor.
Incorporation was effected early in 1933, under the laws of Indiana,
and of the wholesale group participating in the original meeting all
but the Nebraska Farmers’ Union State Exchange and the Illinois
Farm Supply Co. became charter members.
To be eligible for membership in the new organization the district
wholesale must be handling annually at least $100,000 worth of goods
in the lines handled by the national organization, must satisfy the
latter’s board of directors that it is genuinely cooperative, and must
subscribe for stock in the national wholesale. It will then be entitled
to two representatives on the board of directors and to one vote for
every $5,000 worth of business done in the lines of goods carried by
the national association. One vote and one representative on the
board are also given to each of the national organizations engaged in
promoting the cooperative movement.
No paid employee of the new wholesale can be a member of the
board of directors.
After setting aside necessary reserves and 3 percent of net earnings
for cooperative education purposes, any remaining gains will be re­
bated to the member wholesales, on individual lines of goods, in
proportion to purchases.
National Cooperatives, Inc., has not_ as yet attempted regular
wholesaling. It has been acting as buying agency for the member
societies. Its purchases thus far have been mainly of gasoline, kero­
sene, distillate, lubricating oils, grease, and automobile tires. The
member societies together handle each year about 14,000 carloads of
gasoline, kerosene, and distillate; 3,500,000 gallons of lubricating oil;
2,500,000 pounds of grease; and half a million dollars’ worth of tires.
Orders of other commodities will be pooled through the new organiza­
tion as soon as a sufficient volume is attained.
The new agency also rendered its members signal service through
its help in obtaining for the consumers’ cooperatives an amendment

S

1 Data are from Cooperative Builder (Superior, W is.), issues of Dec. 3, 1932, Jan. 7, 1933, and N ov. 4,
1933: and Cooperation (New York), April 1933.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1418

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

to the Farm Credit Act permitting cooperative purchasing organiza­
tions to borrow money from the Federal Government. It also par­
ticipated in the fight, finally successful, to exempt cooperative socie­
ties from those provisions of the industrial codes which prohibit the
return of patronage dividends or rebates.2 Among other work to be
undertaken will be the fostering of cooperative societies in regions
where none now exist.
It is hoped that this organization will eventually develop into a
really national wholesale society.
2 For Executive order on this point see p. 1416 of this issue.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Strikes and Lockouts in the United States in October 1933

ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
October 1933 with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in each year from
1927 to 1932, the number of workers involved and man-days lost for
these years and for each of the months, January 1932 to October 1933,
inclusive, as well as the number of disputes in effect at the end of
each month and the number of workers involved. The number of
man-days lost, as given in the last column of the table, refers to the
estimated number of working days lost by workers; involved in dis­
putes which were in progress during the month or year specified.

D

T a b l e 1 —I N D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D OF E A C H

M O N T H , JA N U A R Y 1932 TO O C T O B E R 1933, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R
W O R K E R S , A N D M A N -D A Y S LO ST E A C H Y E A R , 1927 T O 1932

OF D IS P U T E S ,

Number of workers in­ Number of
volved in disputes
man-days
lost in
disputes
existing
In effect
Beginning In effect Beginning
in month
at end of
in month at end of in month
month
or year
or year
month
or year
Number of disputes

M onth and year

1927- T otal

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

1928* Total
1929- T otal
19.10* Total

_________

1931: Total

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

19.19- T otal

1932

July

___________________________

1933

July

_____________ ________

i Preliminary figures subject to change.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

37, 799, 394
31, 556,947
9, 975, 213
2, 730, 368
6,386,183
6,462,973

349,434
357,145
230,463
158,114
279, 299
242,826

734
629
903
653
894
808
87
56
64
89
87
69
66
85
85
47
38
35

37
34
30
44
52
46
40
38
33
23
21
12

12,091
33, 713
33,087
19,187
44,357
15,858
20, 890
28,492
17,824
10, 442
3,460
3,425

4,993
31,103
13,937
21,513
49, 777
24,138
33, 216
27, 717
7,456
2, 324
1,896
997

132,873
460,701
736, 782
620,866
1, 251,455
943, 338
740, 785
754,423
566,045
147,059
68,154
40,492

67
63
91
72
133
131
219
198
179
95

29
32
41
46
49
45
68
73
110
116

19,616
10,909
39,918
23,077
41,652
40,908
108, 350
145, 635
253, 612
58, 208

8, 790
6,706
12, 794
19,867
16,584
24, 593
49,058
101,041
160, 861
128,251

240,912
109,860
445,771
535,039
603, 723
504, 362
1,404,850
1,401, 532
3, 528,925
3,619,116

1419

1420

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Table 2 gives in detail, by industry. State, and city, tbe figures
making up the total shown in table 1 for the month of October.
T a b l e 2 —IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S

B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D
O C T O B E R 1933, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO ST, B Y I N D U S T R Y , S T A T E , A N D C IT Y

Number of disputes

Number of work­
ers involved in
disputes

Industry, State, and city
Begin­
ning in
October
Auto, carriage, and wagon workers:
Michigan:

Bakers:
1
1
1
Total__________ __ _ ._ ___________________ _

3

In effect
at end of
October

OF

Begin­
ning in
October

Number
of mandays lost
in
Octo­
In effect
ber 1
at end of
October

1
1
1
1

75
2,000
1,800
2,000

1,950
52,000
46,800
52, 000

4

5,875

152, 750

250
50
6

2,000
1, 300
150
5,000
1 8,800

306

17, 250

46

1,196

72

3,150
1 750
392
1,392

1
1
1

3

250
6
5,000
5,256

Broom and brush workers:
1
Building trades:
D o _____________________________________
N ew York*: New York C ity . . . _____________ .
Pennsylvania:

1

150

1
2

49
72

2
1

200

1
1

1

30
250

250

5, 200
60
1,000

6

4

551

522

11,944

Chauffeurs and teamsters:
Massachusetts: Springfield and vicinity_______
N ew Jersey:

1
1
1
1

C liffside... . ______ _______________________
N ew York:
New York C ity . ______ ___________________
Greater New York . . ___ . . .
D o _____________________________________
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia __________________

1

Total ___________________________________
Clothing trades:
California: Los Angeles________________________
Connecticut:
Bethel and D anbury. _________ _____ _____
* H a rtford .. _ .
.
_______________
N ew H a ven .. . ____________ _. ._ __ .
Illinois:
Chicago_______ . . . ____ ___________________
Quincy
_____________________ ___________ _
Massachusetts:
B oston___ _____
..
______ ______
Brockton____ ____ _ _____ _ __________ .
M ethuen. _ . ______________ ____
M ilford. _ .
.
. . . __________
Missouri: St. Louis__ ____________ _______ . . .
N ew Hampshire: Nashua___________________
N ew Jersey:
Paterson-

____

. . . _________

1,500
275

1
1

60
75

1

60
2,000

6

2

i

i

1
1

1,740
2.000
1 4, 000
2,000

4,895

135

19, 740

2, 000

2,000

792
' 472

472

1,816
6, 608

657

1 21, 988
1 25, 000
400
1 2,100
1 6,000
4, 599

400
i
i

657

34,000
1 12, 000
2,475
1 4,158

165

1

1,200
1,950

60

1,000

1
2
1

3.000
3,850

150

3,900
1 14,534

11.e., in strikes which began prior to October and continued into that month hut were not in effect at the
end of the month.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1421

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

T able 2 .—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D OF
O C T O B E R 1933, A N D M A N -D A Y S L O S T, B Y IN D U S T R Y , S T A T E , A N D C IT Y —Continued

Num ber of disputes

Industry, State, and city
Begin­
ning in
October

Clothing trades—Continued.
New York:
Batavia-------------------Haverstraw-------------Long Island C ity-----N ew York C ity-------D o ______________
D o ........................
Ohio:
Akron______________
Cleveland___________
Toledo_____________
Pennsylvania:
Allentown---------------Philadelphia------------D o _____________
D o _____________
Pittsburgh--------------Scranton___________
Tennessee: Nashville___
T otal.

In effect
at end of
October

Number of work­
ers involved in
disputes
Number
of mandays lost
In effect in Octo­
Begin­
ber
ning in at end of
October October

4, 250

100

200
925
500
9,500

135
5,200
24, 050
17,250
247,000
117,100

100
60

2,600
1,560

100
200

100
5,200
11, 200
4, 200
11,000
3,900
13,000

300
150
9,145

15,314

Coopers:
Arkansas: Paragould.
Electric and gas appliance workers:
Massachusetts:
Chicopee Falls_____________
Spiingfield------------------------New Jersey: Elizabeth------------N ew York: Buffalo___________ Total.
Farm labor:
Arizona: Yum a Valley-------------------------------------California:
Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties and San
Joaquin________________________ ____ ____
Lodi district------------------ ----------------------------Salinas, Watsonville district-----------------------San Luis R ey valley------------ - - - - ----------------Massachusetts: Plym outh and vicinity------------TotalFood workers:
Ohio: Cleveland____________
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia-

2, 600

1,500

1, 500

1,800
147,447
19,918
1,500

1, 700

1, 500

60, 665

1,500

39,000

2,000

32, 000
17, 200

2,300

2,300
400
300

43, 700
10,400
7,800

4, 300

4, 500

140,100

200

200
60

480

60

2,045
20
500
100

500
40
100

Glass workers:
Pennsylvania: Greensburg and M t. Pleasant—.

200

Hotel and restaurant workers:
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, and Camden, N .J.

Total.

53,170
200
8, 500
1,040
100
63, 010

Total.

Iron and steel workers:
N ew York: Buffalo------ ---------- ------------------------Ohio: Steubenville------------------------------------------West Virginia: W eirton------------- ----------------------

200

680

T otal.
Furniture workers:
Illinois:
Chicago_______________
M attoon---------------------Minnesota: M inneapolis...
Rhode Island: ProvidenceWashington: Seattle---------

472,982

13, 400
950
19, 900
120, 800

950

950

31,650

1 1.e., in strikes which began prior to October and continued into that month but were not in effect at the
for
endFRASER
of the month.

Digitized
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1422

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

T able 2 .—I N D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D OF
O C T O B E R 1933, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO ST, B Y IN S D U T R Y , S T A T E , A N D C IT Y —Continued

Number of disputes

Number of work­
ers involved in
disputes

Industry, State, and city

Begin­
ning in
October

In effect
at end of
October

Jewelry workers:
N ew York: New York C ity.
Rhode Island: Providence...

Begin­
ning in
October

Number
of mandays lost
In effect in Octo­
ber
at end of
October

30,500
780

3,050

Total.

31, 280

Laundry workers:
Missouri: St. Louis____
Pennsylvania: Reading.
Total.
Leather:
Connecticut: Bridgeport.............
N ew York:
Gloversville and Johnstown.
N ew York C ity ____________
Pennsylvania:
A llentow n.____ _____ _____ _
Easton_______ _____ _______
Total.

90

1,080
1,560

90

2,640

2,100

46,200
1850

13, 584
1

2,100

2,600
1122

2,100

2, 200

53, 356

Light, heat, power, and water workers:
Arizona: Bisbee_____________ ____ _

300

900

Longshoremen, freight handlers:
California: San Francisco___
Illinois: C a ir o ................ .......

200
100

1,000

1,100

Total.
Metal trades:
California:
Newark_____________
Oakland.................... .
Illinois:
Belleville____________
D o ______________
Chicago_____________
D o ______________
Indiana: Indiana Harbor.
Missouri: St. Louis______
New Jersey: B ayonne___
Ohio: E ly ria .................... _
Pennsylvania:
Erie_________________
M cKees Rocks______
M onaca_____________
Philadelphia_________
Sellersville___________
South Greensburg___
Uniontown____ : . ..j ..
Wisconsin: Racine_______

2,100

560
258
150
320
100
650
100
1,000
150

22,000

3,900

250
350

400
250
350
200

500
174

1,088
500
174

10, 400
250
350
4,400
12,800
28, 288
500
174

5, 282

106, 959

4,000

3,000
2, 660
800
880
104,000
11,200
1,800
48,000
280

Total.
Miners:
Alabama:
A ld rich ........................... .
Dogwood_______ ______
Labuco_____________ ,____
Trafford________________
Arkansas and Oklahoma____
Colorado: Brodhead, R ugby.
Illinois: Harrisburg_________
Iowa: Chariton_____________
Kansas: Pleasanton...............
New Mexico:
Dawson_________________
Gallup__________________
Ohio:
Bellaire_________________
Millfield, Murray C it y ...

1,350
8, 320
11, 309
2, 600
16,900
2,600

250
140
200
110
600

3,000
140
251
185
600

251
537

6, 526
13, 962

600
1,110
1 1.e., in strikes which began prior to October and continued into that month but were not in effect at the
end of the month.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1423

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

a b l e
3 — IN D U S T R IA L
D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D OF
O C T O B E R 1933, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO S T, B Y I N D U S T R Y , S T A T E , A N D C I T Y —Continued

T

Number of disputes

Number of work­
ers involved in
disputes

Industry, State, and city
Begin­
ning in
October
Miners—Continued.
Pennsylvania:
Brownsville__________
Fairehance___________
Hazleton...... .......... —
Wilkes Barre_________
West N ew ton________
Southern and western _
Western and central...
Tennessee: W hitwell-------Virginia: St. Charles-------Washington: R osly n .........
TotaL

In effect
at end of
October

Begin­
ning in
October

Number
of mandays lost
In effect in Octo­
at end of
ber
October

400
130
900

400
130
900

1,950
1 1,400
750
19,200
32, 500
1,170,000
240,000
3,200
520
4,500

5,858

56, 883

1, 658, 838

600

12,000

75
750
1,200

Oil and chemical workers:
Illinois: Cairo________

1,200
1,250
45,000

Paper and paper goods workers:
Louisiana: Marrero________
Pottery workers:
Ohio: Tiffin..

1, 650
150

Rubber workers:
Massachusetts: Hudson.

1,536

Shipbuilding workers:
N ew York:
Brooklyn___________
Mariners Harbor___

3,500
1,200

3, 500
1,200

49,000
15, 600

4,700

4,700

64, 600

67
117

938
1,404

Total.
Municipal employees:
Illinois: Chicago—

100

Teachers:
Pennsylvania:
Jessup Borough..
Old Forge______

67
117

Total.
Textile workers:
Alabama:
Jacksonville...... ........... ............ ......
Piedm ont-----------------------------------Massachusetts: Fall River---------------New Hampshire: Manchester_______
New Jersey:
Paterson-------------------------------------D o __________________________
W aldwick, and Port Jervis, N . Y .
N ew York:
B rooklyn.----------------------------------N ew York C ity and B rooklyn—
North Carolina:
Asheboro-----------------------------------D o __________________________
Pennsylvania:
Allentown-------------- ------- ------------Altoona---- ---------------------------------Easton__________________________
Emaus__________________ _____ _
Hawley_________________________
Lewiston...... .......... .......... .......... .
Pen Argyl________________ ______
Philadelphia_________________ _
D o __________________________
Shillington......................................
Stroudsburg-------------------------------W hite M ills_________ _____ _____

184

2, 342

350
700

9,100
15,400
1 200

60

480
, 158

2,500

250

207,476
1 120, 000
5,500

700
2, 500

18, 200
20, 000

200
200

5,200
2,000

75
541
300
150
350

429
200

30
500
61

130, 000
1,078
1,950
14,066
7, 800
150
11,154
2,900
1 3,006
90
13,000
1,342

1 1.e., in strikes which began prior to October and continued into that month but were not in effect
at the end of the m on th .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1424

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

i n d u s t r i a l d i s p u t e s b e g i n n i n g i n a n d i n e f f e c t A T F N D OF
O C T O B E R 1933, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO S T, B Y I N D U S T R Y , S T A T E , A N D C I T Y —Continued

Number of disputes

Number of work­
ers involved in
disputes

Industry, State, and city
Begin­
ning in
October
Textile workers—Continued.
Rhode Island:
Central Falls and Pawtucket_______
Hope Valley___________________________
Pawtucket____________________
d o ____________________________
Woonsocket, Central Falls, and Pawtucket..
South Carolina: Warrensville________
Tennessee: Harrim an...
Total.
Other occupations:
Box makers:
Indiana: Evansville______
Washington: R aym ond. __
Button workers:
Massachusetts: Pittsfield..
New Jersey:
H oboken_____________
Newark______________
Caddies:
Connecticut: N ew H aven.
Pennsylvania: M edia____
Caster workers:
Indiana: Evansville__________
Cigar-box makers:
Pennsylvania: Q uakcrtow n._
Rag sorters:
N ew York: N ew York C it y ...
Tin-can makers:
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia. _.
T o y makers:
Massachusetts: A th ol________
Pennsylvania: Girard________
W indow cleaners:
N ew York: N ew York C it y ...
Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia______________
Pittsburgh_______________ _
Total______
Grand total.

In effect
at end of
October

Begin­
ning in
October

Number
of mandays lost
In effect in Octo­
ber
at end of
October

2,000

2,000

50

50
22
60

60

100

600
6,198

100

600
22 , <

28, 000
1 768
1,000

48#

840
400
2,400
623,984

115
90

1,150
2, 340

115

2, 990
1 70
» 136
50
1 500
1 200

1 348
90

1, 000
1,500

2,340

250

6,000

85

2, 210
3,000

1,500

39,000

300
150

7,800
2,100

3,065

2, 580

70, 234

58, 203

128, 251

3, 619,116

at'the end o M h fm o n th 1 began Pri° r t0 0 ctober and continued into that month but were not in effect


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

IN D U S T R IA L

1425

D IS P U T E S

Occurrence of Disputes
T a b l e 3 gives, by industrial groups, the number of strikes beginning
in August, September, and October 1933, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T able

3 —IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A U G U ST , S E P T E M B E R , A N D
O C T O B E R 1933
Number of disputes begin­
ning in—

Number of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—

Industrial group
Septem­
ber

August

-L-

1
7
13
1
54
1
4
4
3
9

1
4
1
2
13
11

4
5
1
1
9

Other occupations------------ ----------------------

3
6

7
43
2
2
8
1
3
8
1
1
2
1
2
6

6
13

19
7
1

7
14
1
1
1

1

1
2

1
2
2
1
1
1
2

October

2

42
7
10

1
20
1
20

198

179

2
2
2
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
2

1
2
13

August

100
1,477
872
50
85,367
41
1,160
3,130
1,050
872

60
1,207
100
500
2, 735
17,306

Septem­
ber
5,875
1,270
45
46
16,767

5, 256
551

12,143
80,142
120
3,342
4,095
60
2,200
2,363
210
200
2,400
30
68
1, 663

4,895
9,145

5,666
84,370
50

1,547
5,856
600
550
150

392

1,536
4, 700

4,000
60
516
158
14
150
2:, 019

October

1,700
4,300
260
620
200
950
3,050
90
2,100
300
300

47
100
184
6,198

6

12!, 455
8,408
1,828

117
23,449
55
6, 427

3,065

95

145, 635

253,612

58, 203

Size and Duration of Disputes
T able
4 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
October 1933, classified by number of workers and by industrial
groups.


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

1426

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b l e 4 —N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN O C T O B E R 1933 C L A S ­

S IFIE D B Y N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S A N D B Y IN D U S T R IA L G R O U P
Number of disputes beginning in October 1933, involving—
Industrial group

Bakers___________________
Building-trades workers___ . . .
Chauffeurs and teamsters - _.
Clothing workers________
Electric and gas appliance workers
Farm laborers
Food workers____
Furniture workers,.
Glass workers-___
Iron and steel w ork ers___
Jewelry workers . .
Laundry workers_______
Leather workers____ - •
Light, heat, power, and water workers
Longshoremen, freight handlers
Metal-trades workers, .
Miners,
Oil and chemical workers
Paper and paper goods workers___
Pottery workers .
Rubber workers, . .
Shipbuilding workers
Municipal workers
Teachers. . . . ,,_ ,
Textile workers _.
Other occupations, . .
Total__________

6 and
under
20
workers

20 and
under
100
workers

100 and.
under
500
workers

4
2
1

]
2
1
5
i

1
1

1
1

1
1
1
1

500 and
under
1,000
workers

1,000 and 5,000 and
under
under
5,000
10,000
workers workers
1

1
1
1

1

2

i
2
4

1
1
1

1
1

-

1

2

1
1

1
5
i

3

19

41

13

19

1

In table 5 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
October 1933, by industrial groups and classified duration.
T able

5 .—N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN O C T O B E R
IN D U S T R IA L G R O U P A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N

1933

BY

’

Classified duration of strikes ending in October 1933
Industrial group
Vi month
or less

B ak ers-, „
Building-trades workers
Chauffeurs and teamsters. _
Clothing workers
Electric and gas appliance workers___
Farm laborers
Furniture workers
Hotel and restaurant workers
Iron and steel workers
Jewelry workers. _ _.
Leather workers
Light, heat, power, and water workers
Longshoremen, freight handlers
Metal-trades workers
M in ers,, _
Paper and paper-goods workers. .
Rubber workers
Textile workers .
Other occupations____
Total

.

___


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3
2
5
9
i

Over ]/i
and less
than 1
month

1
1
3
i
1

i
i
i

1

1 month
2 and
5 and
and less
than 2 less than less than
months 3 months 6 months

1
1
1

1

1

2
i
2
5
9
i
i
5
5
52

1
i
12

1

3
20

1
4

1

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

1427

Conciliation Work of the Department of Labor in October 1933
By H u g h L. K e r w i n , D ir e c t o r

of

C o n c il ia t io n

HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer­
cised her good offices in connection with 134 labor disputes during
October 1933. These disputes affected a known total of 162,130
employees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature of
the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly and
indirectly involved.
There were 8 cases involving the law on the prevailing rate of
wages. In these cases it is not always possible to show the number
involved, due to lack of information as to total number required
before completion of construction.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Workers
involved

Duration
Company or industry and
location

Craftsmen concerned

Controversy. Textile workers____
Carpenters and iron
workers.

Good W ill Shoe Co., Holliston,
Mass.
W indow cleaners, Philadelphia,
Strike situation, Manville, R .I
Canton Enamelling & Stamping ____ d o_____
Co., Canton, Ohio.

Bakery-wagon. drivers, Philadel- __ d o ___
phia, Pa.
American Can Co., Philadelphia, ___ d o_______
Pa.
Central Paper Co., Muskegon, Threatened
strike.
M . T . Brown, Inc., Coldwater, Strike . .
Mich.
1


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Violation of agreement__________

Pending_______________ _____ ___

Jurisdiction of installation
radiator covers.

Adjusted. Disputed work sus­
pended temporarily; operations
resumed.
Pending_________________________

of

Working conditions_____________
___ .d o ___________ _________ _____
E n a m e le rs
stampers.

and

Automatic Machine Department, Controversy.
Baltimore, M d.
M . J. Weberling Bakery, Peru,
111.
Bendix Aviation Corporation, Threatened
Autom otive crafts..
South Bend, Ind.
strike.
Berkshire Button Co., Pittsfield,
Mass.
Culinary workers, San Francisco,
Culinary workers__
Calif.
Carwood Manufacturing Co., ____ d o______ Pants and overall
Winder, Ga.
makers.
V Patton Clay Manufacturing Co., _____do______
Patton, Pa.

Present status and terms of
settlement

Cause of dispute

Brick
and
workers.

V rorkers

clay

___

Paper w o r k e r s __
Shoe w orkers...

_

_do.

------ d o_______________ _______ ___ ------ d o___________________________
Discharges and working condi­ Adjusted. Reinstated discharged
tions.
workers; union recognition and
future increase in wages granted.
Wages unsatisfactory____________ Adjusted. Satisfactory Settlement-

Begin­
ning

Ending

1933
Oct. 1

1933

Sept.

5

Oct.

2

1, 400

Oct. 13

925

0)
Oct. 27

(i)
450
65

463

3

Oct. 14

Asked increase and collective bar­ Adjusted. Agreement concluded Sept. 18
gaining.
allowing collective bargaining.
Discharges for union affiliation, __ Adjusted.
Agreed on points in Oct. 4
dispute.
Working conditions_____________ Adjusted. Wages increased; con­ - d o____
ditions satisfactory.
Wages and working conditions. _. Adjusted______________________ . . . __ d o___

Sept. 23

Discharges of union members___

Oct. 16

Oct. 22

192

800

Sept. 28

Oct. 12

196

129

1,100

475

Wages, hours, union recognition,
and reinstatement of those dis­
charged.
Wages, union recognition, and
working conditions.
. Wages and union recognition____

Adjusted. Returned; election held
resulted in m ajority for forma­
tion of union.
Adjusted. Increased 12 cents per
hour; 8-hour day.
Discharged
workers reinstated.
Pending.............................. ...............

Oct.

75
150

Sept. 30
Oct. 2
Sept. 19

Direct­ In­
direct­
ly
ly

Sept. 26

Oct.

17

8

1,138

Oct. 18

50

310

250

_do.

Oct.

4

300

Discharges for union affiliation.

_do.

Oct.

5

300

j Deduction of pay for alleged poor
workmanship.

_do.

Oct.

6

24

91

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

James Lee & Sons W oolen Mills,
Bridgeport, Pa.
Government buildings, Washing­
ton, D .C .

Nature of
controversy

1428

OASES H A N D L E D B Y C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G M O N T H OF O C T O B E R 1933

Miners, Pineville, Ky.

21719°—33-

Parisien Bakery, San Francisco,
Calif.
Bobro Bros. Cigar Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

do.

Miners___________

Controversy- Bakery workers.—
Strike______

Cigarmakers_____

T odd D ry D ock & Shipbuilding ____ do______
Co., New Y ork City,
j Aircraft workers, Hartford, C o n n - Threatened
strike.
Sash and door workers, Musca­ Controversy
tine, Iowa.
Warren Chandelier Co., Chicago, ____ d o______

Dry-dock workers.

Sash and door work­
ers.
Metal polishers____

Working conditions—........... ........

11

Oct.

18

6

9

Oct.

5

75

75

Adjusted. Allowed increase of
12i i percent.
Pending__________________________

Oct. 25

Oct.

3

Oct.

2

Textile workers____

Strike______
____ do______

Steel and metal
workers.
Employees_________

Employees not paid for five Adjusted. Employees paid in full- Sept. 11
weeks.
W orking conditions; discrimi­ Pending_______ _•............ ...................
nation alleged.
Working conditions and union ____d o.................... ....................... .......
recognition.
Working conditions_____________ ____do____________________________ Oct. 5

____ do______

Miners.

Wages and working condii ions. — Adjusted.

____ do______

Ladies’ g a r m e n t
makers.

Strike---------

.do.

Union recognition and working
conditions.
Silk throwers______ ____do___________ ________ ______
Metal workers_____ Interpretation of rates under
blanket code.
Engineers and fire­ Wages, hours, and working condi­
men.
tions.
Casket workers____

Clerks_____________
Leather workers___

Dismissals of retail clerks________
W orking conditions_____________

Upholsterers_______

Asked wage increase and union
contract.
Asked restoration of 30-percent
wage cuts since 1931.
Discharges______________________

Broom makers_____
Bag
and
paper
makers.
Pulp and paper
workers.
Miners—............. ......

Controversy- M ill workers_______

W orking conditions_____________

Satisfactory settlement ___do____

600
(i)

Oct. 18

50
(0
300
(i)

Oct. 12

220
65

Adjusted. Agreement concluded.
All returned without discrim­
ination.
Adjusted. R e t u r n e d pending
adoption of permanent code.
Pending_________________________
Adjusted. Issues held in abey­
ance until code is adopted.
Pending.............................................

Aug. 15

Oct.

7

Oct.

Oct.

6

50

Oct. 13

400
220

___ d o-------------------- ---------------------Adjusted. Returned;
National
Labor Board to fix final terms.
Adjusted.
Increase
allowed;
agreement concluded.
Pending_________________________

Oct. 6
Oct. 10

N ov.

7

(i)
300

Sept. 14

Oct. 11

106

Pending.

Oct. 10

Part reem ployed______

Oct.

1
2

183

Sept. 23

15,160

100

Sept. 26

15

Pending____________________ - ____

Adjusted. R e t u r n e d ; negotia­
tions continued.
Discharges for union affiliation-__ Pending_________________________
Discharges and union dues______

500

1,000

0)
Sept. 21
Sept.

1

Oct. 14

1,000
0)

-

1429


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

Oct.

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

1 N ot yet reported.

do.
Wage rate per hour_____________

203

Adjusted. Concluded agreement
with United M ine Workers of
America.
Adjusted. Wages increased to _ _do____
$35 per week; union recognition.
Adjusted. Wage agreement con­ Sept. 29
cluded; hand-made cigars $8.25
per thousand.
Pending_______________________ _

____ d o______

Rexart Casket Co., Kansas City, ____do______
M o.
Pen Argyl Silk Co., Pen Argyl, Pa ____do______
Campbell M etal W indow Corpo­ Threatened
strike.
ration, Baltimore, M d.
Engineers and firemen, Salem, ____do______
Beverly, Danvers, and Peabody,
Mass.
United Cigar Stores, Chicago, 111— ____do______
Quaker C ity Leather Co., Phila­ Strike______
delphia, Pa.
Upholstery workers, Wilkes-Barre, ____do______
Pa.
Broom manufacturers, Chicago,
do.
111.
Southern Advance Bag & Paper Controversy.
Co., Hodge, La.
Celotex Co., Morrero, L a ______________ do______
Brookside Colliery, Tower City,
Pa.
M ill and timber workers, MeCloud, Calif.

____do____ ____ ____

Aircraft workers___

111.

Philadelphia Pile Fabric Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pratt & Letchworth Co., Buffalo,
N .Y .
M yles Manufacturing Co., Pennsboro, W .V a.
Montevallo Coal M ining Co.,
Aldrich, Ala.
Karsson & Rice Cloak Co., Kansas
City, M o.

Working conditions.

V

1430

CASES H A N D L E D B Y C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G M O N T H OP O C T O B E R 1933— C ontinued

Duration
Company or industry and
location

Nature of
controversy

Craftsmen con­
cerned

Ending

1933
Oct. 9

Taxicab drivers____

____do----------- -------------------------------

Oct.

6

Garment workers__

Union recognition.

Adjusted.

Oct.

8

Schultz Illinois Paper Co., W ar­ Strike_____
saw, Ind.
Firestone Rubber Shoe Co., Hud- ____ do______
son, Mass.
Cotton pickers, Bakersfield, C alif.. ____ do______

Paper workers

Asked increase and union recogni­
tion.
_. . Discharges; union recognition-----

Rubber-shoe workers.
Cotton pickers--------

Working conditions_____________
Working conditions; violence re­
ported.

Union recognition refused_______
Yarn makers_____ _ Asked increase of 20 percent and
reinstatement of 19 workers dis­
charged for union activity.
Working conditions--------------------

Cadillac, Hamlet, Solsberg, and
Perfect Textile Mills, Paw­
tucket, R .I.
Chicago Ship juilding Co., Chi­ ____ do______ Ship workers_______
cago, 111.
Northern Indiana Public Service Threatened Employees_______
strike.
Co., Michigan C ity, Ind.
Chester Tube Co., South Chester,
Pa.
Empress Hat Co., Kansas City, Threatened Millinery w orkers...
strike.
M o.
Silk throwers___.
Monarch Silk Co., Philadelphia, Strike____
Pa.
Cheltenham Knitting Mills, Phil- ____ do______ Knitters__________
adelphia, Pa.
and
clay
Jeffrey Dewitt Insulator Co., ____ do______ Brick
workers.
Kenova, W .V a.
.. ..
Reiss Premier Shop, Union City, Lockout . .. W orkers.
N.J.
Furniture w orkers..
Showers Bros. Furniture Co., Threatened
Bloomington, Ind.
strike.

Violation of shipbuilding code;
wages and working conditions.
Discharges______________________

Agreed on arbitration..

50

0)
Oct. 11 10,000
Oct. 23

850

3,000

Oct.

1

Oct. 22

76

67

Adjusted. Returned; election to Oct. 10
be conducted b y commissioner.
Adjusted. Increase from 60 to 75 ...d o ____
cents per hundred; arbitration
agreement.
Pending____________________ ____ Oct. 12
Adjusted. Workers reinstated; Sept. 6
union recognition, and redis­
tribution of work.
Pending_____________ _____ _____ Oct. 12

Oct. 11

1,200

Adjusted.

Oct. 16

Agreement concluded. ...d o ____

Oct. 30 12, 000

Oct. 27

Sept. 28
Oct. 21

Unable to adjust_________________

Oct. 13

Wages and union recognition------

Pending_________________________

Sept. 25

Discriminationf or union activity. Adjusted. Increase allowed. Ar­
bitration for future grievances.
Adjusted. Workers reinstated....
Discharges for union affiliation.

Sept. 22

Oct. 22

Oct. 13

Oct. 17

Pending_________________________

.. .d o ___

Con­

Oct. 10

10

150

0)
0)

Pending____. . . . _________________ ...d o ____

Adjusted. Strike averted.
ferences held to fix terms.

0)
(9

Violations of agreement_________

____d o __________________________

In­
Direct­ direct­
ly
ly

.. d o ____

Adjusted. Allowed union recog­
nition; strike called oft.
Pending_________________ _______

Working conditions_____________ ____d o-------------- ----------------------------

Organization dispute_________

Workers
involved

43
130
300
71

15

(')
Oct. 25

1,400

100

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Pending-------- ------- -----------------------

Handbag workers. . .


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

Begin­
ning

Wages, union recognition, and
other conditions.
Working conditions________ ____

LaSalle Handbag Co., N ew Bruns- Strike..
wick, N.J.
Taxicab drivers, Louisville, Ky___ Threatened
strike.
Garment workers, Los Angeles, ____ do______
Calif.
/

Rose Silk Mills, Philadelphia, P a .. ____ do______

Cause of dispute

Present status and terms of
settlement

Oct. 23

200

Glabman Bros., Chicago, 111_____

Strike______

Upholsterers_______ ____ do_

Oct. 16

50

Vienna Sausage Co., Chicago, HL

____ do______

Sausage makers____

Oct. 17

60

Oct. 16
Oct. 5

4
100

Oct. 13

500

Oct. 15

41

Oct. 25

225

N uit C o., Bloomington, Ind____________do_______ Mirror workers____

U.S. Marine Hospital, Chicago, 111. Controversy. Plasterers__________
Fairsex Shoe Co., Lynn, M ass___ Strike______ Shoe workers______
Longshoremen_____

Em broidery workers, Cleveland, ____ d o ______
Ohio.
Ohio Electric Sign Association, Threatened
Cleveland, Ohio.
strike.
Pierson
Mafaufacturing
Co., Strike..........
Quincy, 111.
Furniture companies, Minneapo­ ____ d o______
lis, Minn.
Porter Coal Co., Porter, Ala______ Lockout____

Embroidery work­
ers.
Electric-sign work­
ers.
Garment workers. . .

Praco Fuel Co., Dora, A la _______

Threatened
strike.
Strike_____

Silk Fabric Corporation, Reynoldsville, Pa.
Girard M odel Co., Erie, Pa______ ____d o_____

Delta Finishing Co., Philadelphia,
.do.
Pa.
McPherson Foster Box Co., ------d o _____
Evansville, Ind.
T o y makers, Washington, In d ___ ____d o _____
Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Threatened
M ich.
strike.
E ly Manufacturing Co., Girard, Strike_____
Pa.

1 N ot yet reported.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

M iners..____ ____ _
____d o........... .............
Silk workers_______
Iron-toy makers____
Cotton dyers......... .
Box makers________
T o y makers..........
Automobile work­
ers.
T oy makers________

Inside bakery work­
ers.
Street-railway work­
ers.
Typesetters________

200
455

Oct. 16

600

Oct. 11

Upholsterers.............

Adjusted. Agreed to have a com- Oct. 5
mittee settle all questions.
Adjusted. Recognition of union _-_do____
committee and checkweighman.
Back wages and working condi- Adjusted. Back wages paid; con- Oct. 14
ditions satisfactory.
tions.
Wages_______________________ __ Adjusted. Increase 5 cents per --_ d o ____
hour returned without discrimination.
Wages and recognition.. _______ Adjusted. Increase of 16 percent; Sept. 1
union recognition.
Working conditions _________
Adjusted.
Satisfactory
settle- Oct. 1
ment.
Sept. 16
Oct. 2
Union recognition, checkweighman, and dues.
Working agreement . . . .

Wages

_______ _____ __________

Discharges for union activities___

Adjusted. Returned without discrimination; 36 cents per hour
on piecework; 35 cents per hour
on other work.
Unable to adjust. _____ ________

Oct. 16

250

- .. d o ____

135

Oct. 14

125

5

Oct. 17

1,000

200

Oct. 18

110

Oct. 13

125

Oct. 11

170
6,000

Oct. 18

Oct. 18

50

Oct. 17

Oct. 21

Oct. 14
violation of agreement.

Garment w orkers...

4,500

Oct. 19

Oct. 23

45,000

16

200

60

240

18

60

2,000

1431

Schultz Baking Co., Kansas City, ____d o______
M o.
Northern Indiana Railroad, South Threatened
Bend, Ind.
strike.
Ann Arbor Press, Ann Arbor, Lockout____
M ich.
Cloak manufacturers, Los Angeles, Strike.........Calif.

Color mixers...........

15

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Matson Navigation Co., San ____ d o______
Francisco, Calif.
E . R . Haffelfinger & Co., Inc., ____ d o ______
Hanover, Pa.

Adjusted. Satisfactory
settle­ . . . d o ____
ment.
____ ____________ ______ Adjusted. Returned to work; Oct. 14
union wages to be paid.
Collective bargaining and other Adjusted. W orking agreement Oct. 12
concluded fixing wages and other
conditions.
conditions.
June 15
Payment of wages. . ___________ Adjusted. Resumption of work Sept. 29
October 6.
Organization and working condi­ Adjusted. Returned to work; Oct. 6
arbitration in progress.
tions.
Wages, working conditions, and Adjusted. Color mixers $1.10 per Sept. 28
hour; others, graduated scale of
union recognition.
wages.
Unable to adjust. Employers re­ Oct. 16
Violations of working cod e_____
fused to continue conference.
Oct. 14

Working agreement____ ____ _ . .

Workers
involved

Duration
Company or industry and
location

Nature of
controversy

Craftsmen con­
cerned

England W alton Leather Co., Controversy. Leather workers__
Ashland, Ky.
United Press, New York C ity ___ ____ d o______ Telegraphers______

Cause of dispute

Present status and terms of
settlement

In­
Direct­
direct­
ly
ly

Begin­
ning

Ending

1933
Oct. 19

1933
Oct. 30

Oct. 17

Oct. 27

Oct.

Oct. 17

7

Oct. 14 ___do____

265

Oct. 19

150

White Gladstone Co., Chicago, 111

Strike______

J. K . Mosser Tannery Co., Noxen,
Pa.
N ew England Woodenware Co.,
Winchendon, Mass.
Sibley, Enterprise, and Globe
Mills, Augusta, Ga.

Lockout____ Tanners__________

Collective bargaining and other
conditions.
Union dispute__________________

Strike______

W ages.

Unclassified. Discrimination de­
nied. Referred to N .R .A .
Adjusted. Agreement for
13
months concluded.
Adjusted.
Returned.
Satisfac­
tory settlement.
Adjusted. Returned
without
discrimination.
Pending____________ ____ _______

Stretch-out system, discrimina­
tion against union members,
and other violations of code.
____d o__________________________

Unclassified. Referred to Nation­
al Textile Industrial Relations
Board.
Pending_________________________

Oct. 22

N ov.

Oct. 23

Oct. 31

230

Sept. 30

Oct. 30

250

Woodenware work­
ers.
Textile workers___

____ d o ______ ____ d o..... ......... .........

( i ) ----------------------------------------- --------------------

Adjusted. Union recognition and
collective bargaining.
Adjusted. Small adjustment in
wages.
Pending______________ ________ _

------d o_____ _ Textile workers___

Discharges.......................... .

Adjusted. Workers reinstated____

------d o______

Discharges for union activity.

Strike______

Rubber workers___

Violation of agreement______

Threatened
strike.
Strike______

Textile workers___

Asked wage increase________

W orkers__________

Rubber workers___

Adjusted. Reinstated; conditions
satisfactory.
Wages and working conditions._. Adjusted. Agreed on arbitration..
Alleged coercion to join com pany Pending___________ _____________
union.
Reinstatement not conceded as Unclassified. Referred to N .R .A ..
per former agreement.
Discharges for union affiliation; Adjusted. Increase 25 percent and
union recognition.
wages.
Violation of code; discharges------- Pending_________________ _______

Drivers___________

W orking conditions_____________

Bakelite m old ers...

Discharges; working conditions..

Cleaners and dyers.

____ d o______ Electricians_______
Controversy- Planermen, cutters,
and carvers.
Harriman Hosiery Mills, Harri- Strike______ Hosiery workers___
man, Tenn.
Cleaners and dyers, Trenton, N .J. ____do______ Cleaners and dyers.
Stokes Rubber Co., Trenton, N .J.

Threatened
strike.
Cleveland Provision Co., Cleve­ ------do______
land, Ohio.
Kurz Kasch Co., Dayton, O h io ... Strike.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Terms of new contract.

1

100

1 10,000

6

15,000

0)

Oct. 15

350

6

Oct. 29

8

Oct. 21
Oct. 17

Oct. 26

23
(i)

Oct. 19

Oct. 31

450

Oct. 10

N ov.

150

Oct.

20

(0
Oct. 30

1

Oct. 24

150

550
(!)

_do.
Adjusted. All reinstated. Wages
to be arbitrated b y National
Labor Board.

(0

Oct. 20

Oct. 26

115

305

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Cotton mills, Horse Creek, Valley,
S.C.
Aetna Rubber Co., Ashtabula,
Ohio.
Paragon Worsted Co., Providence,
R.I.
Saybrook Manufacturing Co.,
H ope Valley, R .I.
Clover Worsted Mills, W oon­
socket, R.I.
Bookman Cleaners & Dyers, Inc.,
Toledo, Ohio.
Electricians, Spokane, W ash_____
Granite workers, Bedford, In d ___

------ d o ______

Leather workers__

Closed-shop agreement.

1432

CASES H A N D L E D B Y C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G M O N T H OF O C T O B E R 1933—Continued

-d o____ Shoe workers____ _
Durand Shoe Co., Richmond,
Maine.
Lyons Transportation Co., Erie, ___ do__.......... Drivers________ Buffalo, and Cleveland.
LaSalle Hat Co., Philadelphia, Pa- ____ do______ Millinery workers. —
Metal polishers____
Lathrop-Paulson Co., Chicago, 111 ____ do_____


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N ov.

7

79

125

Oct.

Oct.

27

20

30

18

Sent. 20
Oct. 23

N ov.

8

(i)
35

Oct. 27

N ov.

1

740

Oct.

30

53

Oct. 23

Oct. 24

9

Oct. 25

Oct. 28

0)

Oct. 31

300

Oct.

26

12
Oct. 28

75

600
4,500

1,100
(i)
Oct. 20

Oct. 23

460

Oct. 30

N ov.

500

6

250

Oct. 25

3

40

Oct. 27

700

Oct. 31

"NTnv; 7

1.50

Oct. 27

N ov.

2

73

Oct.

N ov.

4

200

Oct. 27

80

15

Oct. 25

1,500

(i)
(i)

31
28

20

120

1433

1N ot yet reported.

Oct. 24

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Discharge of 14 m e n ...................... Adjusted. Returned; conditions
satisfactory.
Adjusted. Reinstated all strikers;
tentative agreement.
Asked union recognition________ Pending__________________________
Working conditions_____________ Unclassified. Referred to Regional
Board.
Adjusted. Com pany denied dis­
Rheuping Leather Co., Fond du Threatened Leather workers____ Discharges for union affiliation.
charge of workers.
strike.
Lac, Wis.
Working conditions_____________ Adjusted. Reinstated 4 workers at
Oxford Pottery Co., Cambridge,
40 cents per hour.
Ohio.
Electrical
workers—
Asked $1 per hour; receiving 74 Adjusted. Contractor paid $1 per
Threatened
Brown-Forman Distillery Co.,
cents.
hour.
strike.
Louisville, K y.
W orking conditions
Street railways, Oklahoma City, Controversy- Street-railway work- Wages and working conditions.. . Adjusted.
ers.
settled; wages to be fixed by
Okla.
National Labor Board.
National Aniline & Chemical Co., Threatened W orkers____ ______ Discharges and refusal to recog­ Pending_________________________
nize union.
strike.
Buffalo, N .Y .
Organization and closed-shop Unclassified. Regional mediation
Laundry drivers, St. Louis, M o ...
agreement.
board handling dispute.
Asked wage increase of 25 percent Pending__________________________
American Radiator Co., Bayonne,
and union recognition.
N.J.
Metal polishers____ Working conditions
do-----------------------------------------Underwood Typewriter Co., Hart­ Threatened
strike.
ford, Conn.
Wages and working conditions. . . Adjusted. Allowed increase and
Teamsters and chauffeurs, Pater­
union recognition.
son, N.J.
Company denied
M otor Gauge Equipm ent Co., La­ Controversy. Equipment makers. Discharges______________________ Unclassified.
charges, alleging lack of business.
crosse, Wis.
Montevallo Coal Co., Aldrich,Ala. Threatened Miners_____________ Working conditions; alleged com ­ Adjusted. (Terms not yet re­
strike.
pany not complying with recent
ceived) .
agreement.
Discharges______________________ Adjusted. Reinstated 2; others if
Northwest Packing Co., Chicago,
111.
business warrants.
Riverside Mills, Augusta, G a____ ____ do______ Textile workers __ Conditions caused b y reported Adjusted. Returned; no discrimi­
violence b y other mill strikers.
nation.
Pending__________________________
W arwick Mills, W arwick, R .I___ Controversy. Loom fixers . . . . Asked wage increase
M ilk drivers, Buffalo, N .Y _______ Threatened Drivers...... ................ Working conditions
d o ------------------------------------------strike.
Wages and working conditions___ Adjusted. Michigan labor com ­
Holland Shoe Co., Holland, Mich_
missioner suggested all return to
work pending further negotia­
tion.
Black Diam ond M ine, Mossboro,
Working conditions
Adjusted. Conditions SatisfactoryAla.
Monarch Shoe Co., Worcester, Controversy- Shoe w o r k e r s ...___ Discharges_________
Adjusted. Agreed to arbitrate
Mass.
differences.
Standard Bag Co., Augusta, Ga__ Strike______ Bag workers. _____ ____d o_______ ______ _
Adjusted. All reinstated without
discrimination.
Union disputes_________________

Duration
Company or industry and
location

Nature of
controversy

Craftsmen con­
cerned

Cause of dispute

Present status and terms of
settlement

1434

CASES H A N D L E D B Y C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G M O N T H OF O C T O B E R 1933— Continued

Workers
involved
In­
Direct­ direct­
ly
ly

Begin­
ning

Ending

1933
Oct. 1

1933
Oct. 20

M ay 11

Oct. 14
Oct. 18

30
70

Oct. 22

0)
(07

Oct. 24

Oct. 31

55

Oct.

Oct. 23

28

Disputes involving the prevailingwage law
Threatened Plumbers and steam- Working conditions and prevail­
strike.
fitters.
ing-wage scale.
Controversy,
Mechanics a n d
laborers.
Plumbers and steamfitters.
Veterans’ Administration Hospi­
tal, Marion, Ind.
Extensible Building, Washington,
D .C .
Controversy- Bricklayers and rodmen.
Total- _______________ ____
'N o t yet reported.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Refusal to set wood trim manu­
factured under nonunion con­
ditions.
Prevailing wage and wage for
overtime work.

Adjusted. Agreement concluded
and work continued.

Oct. 30
Adjusted. Scale of 75 cents per
hour posted and paid.
Adjusted. Satisfactory settlement.
Adjusted. Bricklayers $1 per
day; rodmen allowed double
time for overtime and holidays.

Oct.
Oct.

1
3

1

2

67,103

19

25

95,027

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Post offices:

LABOR AWARDS AND DECISIONS
Wage Increase Awarded to Boston Elevated Railway Employees

HE trustees of the Boston Elevated Railway Co. and the Amal­
gamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees
and Division No. 589, agreed on July 5,1933, to submit certain changes
in their existing contract of employment to a board of arbitration.
The board was composed of David A. Marshall, chairman, James H.
Vahey, representing the association, and Bentley W. Warren, repre­
senting the trustees of the company.
The board awarded a wage rate oi 71 cents an hour for the two-man
car, an increase of 2^ cents an hour over the previous rate, and denied
the request of the trustees that the annual vacation period with pay
be reduced from 2 weeks to 1 week.
The trustees had requested a wage reduction of 15 percent, while
the association had asked for an increase of 11% cents an hour. The
trustees had requested that the vacation period of 2 weeks with pay
provided for in the present agreement be reduced to 1 week. The
association had asked that there be no change in the vacation period.
Of the 8 additional changes requested by the trustees, 3 were dis­
posed of during the hearings, and 1 of the 2 changes requested by the
association was likewise disposed of.
On behalf of the trustees the board was urged, in. arriving at what
should constitute the basic rate, to consider the following: The radical
drop in the cost of living; that budgetary studies must be weighed
carefully; that the financial condition of the company is a material
factor; that actual earnings of carmen are high; that the wages paid
by the company are much higher than in the street-railway industry
generally; that other occupational earnings, the earnings of Govern­
ment employees, and the earnings of other employees of the company
have been reduced much more than the earnings of the members of
the carmen’s union; and that the small labor turn-over is proof of the
attractiveness of work on the Elevated.
On behalf of the association the board was urged to consider the
following among other factors: That particular study be directed to
the Public Control Act and to the specific payments which the trustees
must meet under said act; that the men are entitled to a fair wage
irrespective of the financial condition of the company or its earnings;
and that the basic rate is the only rate which the board should con­
sider.
The Public Control Act was passed in 1918 to provide for the public
operation of the Boston Elevated Railway Co. It established a
board of trustees for the company, consisting of live members ap­
pointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the council.
These trustees were charged, not only with the management and oper-

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1435

1436

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

ation of the railway system of the Boston Elevated Railway Co., but
also with the payment of operating expenses, taxes, dividends, rentals
for subway, tunnel, and Rapid Transit Lines, and interest on bonds
and notes.
In 1929, the legislature created the Metropolitan Transit District
consisting of the following cities and towns: Arlington, Belmont,
Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford,
Milton, Newton, Revere, Somerville, and Watertown. In the same
act it provided that the voters in the district should express their
desires as to what should be done “ with the future of the Boston
Elevated Railway Co.” , and that at the biennial State election in 1930
they should vote upon plans for determining the future ownership,
management, and operation of the lines.
Three plans were submitted to the voters in 1930, as follows:
Plan no. 1. Return to the Boston Elevated Railway Co. of the management
and operation of its railway system by terminating the public management and
operation thereof.
Plan no. 2. Continuation of the public management and operation of the Bos­
ton Elevated Railway Co. in accordance with such terms and conditions as may
be agreed to by stockholders of said company.
Plan no. 3. Purchase by the Metropolitan Transit District, which comprises
the cities and towns above enumerated, of the assets, property, and franchise of
the Boston Elevated Railway Co., and same thereafter to be owned, managed, and
operated by said district.

As a result of the vote, plan no. 2 was adopted. In 1931, the legis­
lature extended the public management and operation of the company
to July 1, 1959, and made it incumbent upon the trustees to pay, not
only the operating expenses, but also dividends upon the common
stock of the railway company, at 5 percent per annum upon the par
value of such stock, during the continuance of such public management
and operation, the payment of dividends to be included in the cost of
service.
The act passed in 1918 provided that if on the last day of any De­
cember or June after 1919 the amount remaining in the reserve fund of
the company was insufficient to meet the deficiencies in any year,
the trustees were to notify the treasurer and receiver general of the
Commonwealth as to the amount of the deficiency and the amount of
money in the reserve fund applicable to the deficiency, and the
Commonwealth was thereupon to pay over to the trustees the amount
of net loss. This net loss paid by the Commonwealth was to be re­
trieved by taxing the cities and towns served by the company in the
manner provided by law.
The award, rendered September 14, 1933, and the opinion of the
board, in part, is as follows:
Street-railway service, under modern conditions of living, is a public necessity
in every large city in the country insofar as it is essential to the health, to the
comfort, and to the prosperity of the people in general. In a city so situated
as Boston, surrounded by multifold suburbs, such service is as essential to our
health, comfort, and prosperity as is our water supply, sewage removal, fire and
police protection, and other public services.
In consideration of the public-service value of the street railway it follows that
if car riders do not utilize this public service to such an extent that the sum total
of their fares is sufficient in any 1 year to meet the operating expenses of the
company, then it is only fair that the deficiency of operation occasioned by the lack
of utilization shall be made up by direct taxation as is now provided under our
statutes. * * *
The_ primary social obligation of the trustees is to provide a means of trans­
portation that shall be effective and economical to those who wish to take


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LABOR

AW ARDS

AND

D E C IS IO N S

1437

advantage of that service. The operating losses of the Boston Elevated Railway
Co., though of paramount importance, must be viewed not only from the point
of view of their economic value, but also from their social aspects. Finally,
it may be stated that this company is obligated to provide a type of service to
those people who use the system so that they may be able to reach points of
destination where they may contract the businesses of livelihood. Irrespective of
the fact that many do not use directly the Boston Elevated Railway system
for their own personal transportation, nevertheless, they benefit indirectly by
this service insofar as many of their associates in business are transported
thereby. * * *
W e feel, therefore, that the method for meeting deficiencies is, as provided by
the legislature, just and fair, and in view of the social and economic value of
the service to the community at large, the operating deficiencies should not
affect the basic rate of wage paid to its employees. Under no consideration
should an employee of the railway be compelled to contribute to this deficiency
unless his rate of wage is inequitable from the point of view of social values as
well as from the point of view of reasonable living conditions.
In view of the serious annual operating deficiencies of the road, we beg to
suggest a reasonable method to provide against them; namely, that the trustees
be relieved from payment of rentals for subway, tunnels, and rapid transit
lines. * * * Insofar as the subways and tunnels operate for the benefit
of all members of the community and even for those, not members of the com­
munity, who wish to take advantage of this service, it seems just that the Boston
Elevated Railway Co. might well be relieved from further payment of rentals
for subway, tunnels, and rapid transit lines. If the trustees should succeed
in bringing about the passage of. a legislative enactment, the consequence of
which would relieve them from payment of the above rentals, they would then
be in a decidedly better condition to operate economically. When we consider
that from the years 1918 to 1932 the payments for rentals of subway, tunnels,
and rapid transit lines amounted to over 13 millions of dollars, it would appear
that if this burden could be diminished by, let us say 50 percent, the railway
would not have shown a deficit even in the last 3 years. * * *
Chief among the various arguments advanced by the trustees of this road for
the reduction of wages has been the deplorable operating: losses of the road.
On the other hand, the association submits the counter argument that such
losses should have no influence on the determination of a fair wage. The crux
of this problem lies mainly in the fact that the legislature in its wisdom
requires the trustees to pay dividends to its stockholders, irrespective of whether
or not the road earns those dividends. Furthermore, these dividends are
part and parcel of the cost of operation. Now, in view of the fact that the
railway is in substance a public utility, the legislature has not erred in making
it mandatory that the stockholders be paid annual dividends. This pro­
cedure on the part of the legislature is equitable, for if the holders of bonds
in other public enterprises receive annual dividends therefrom, the stock­
holders in this railway are rightly entitled to the same treatment. Were it true
that these dividends fluctuated according to the financial condition and earnings
of the road, and were it further true that the stockholders lost or profited in
direct relation thereto, then it would be imperative for us to consider their
argument for a reduction of wages. But this is not true. W e conclude, there­
fore, that this argument on behalf of the trustees should not influence us in
our determination of what constitutes a fair basic wage.
W orthy of consideration are the arguments made on behalf of the trustees
relative to the radical decline in the cost of living and to the Executive order
of July 3, 1933, issued by the President of the United States, to the effect that
the 15 percent retrenchment of the wages of all Federal employees be continued
until December 31, 1933. On the other hand, we must consider on behalf of
the association that since the passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act,
prices of commodities have increased and it is likely that they will continue
to do so. W ith regard to the termination of the Executive order, little can be
said that would not enter into the problematical. * * *
If all factors were controlled, we might subscribe to the argument that the
small labor turn-over is evidence of the attractiveness of the work of the Ele­
vated employees. If this be true, then we may conclude that the argument
is equally advantageous for both parties. It has been agreed that the youngest
man from point of service has been in the employ of the road for at least
a period of 15 years. The advantage to the men lies mainly in the fact of
steady employment; the advantage to the trustees resides in the fact that the
railway is manned by men of steady habits who value their positions and who
become increasingly efficient as time elapses. The consuming public profits


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1438

MONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

from both advantages. As evidence thereof, it is observable that from the
years 1926 to 1932 accidents occasioned by collision were reduced from 10,246
to 4,046 and industrial accidents were reduced from 1,465 to 698.

In consideration of the statistical evidence proffered during the
hearing, showing comparative wages of other railway lines, indexes
of the cost of living based on numerous budgets, etc., the board
said:
* * * W e must conclude that during the past 6 or 7 years the dollar has
appreciated in value, and the cost of living has declined. It would appear to be
a strong argument in favor of the trustees that the wages of the carmen should
be reduced in ratio to the decline in the cost of living. Y et this is only true when
all factors of human behavior are held constant. If we select the cost of living
as the sole criterion in this matter, we might acquiesce. But, unfortunately, we
do not accept the cost of living as the sole criterion in the determination of what
constitutes a fair wage.
_
.
.
W ith regard to what constitutes a fair wage, we feel in a certain sense justified
in being guided by the awards of prior arbitrations. In the arbitration of 1925,
presided over by Judge Nelson Brown in the capacity of the impartial chairman,
the award was set at 7 2 /2 cents. Since the last arbitration the basic wage rate
was settled by agreement. Since there were amicable agreements during the
latter period, it is inferable that all the various elements constituting a fair wage
were seriously considered. On July 1, 1926, the fair rate of wage was set at 72j4
cents; during the period 1927 to 1932 the rate of wage was 75 cents; and in the
last period from July 1, 1932, to July 1, 1933, was 68^2 cents.
* * * To decide what is just and equitable for the present as well as for the
immediate future is a task of first magnitude. Since the agreement between the
association and the Boston Elevated Railway Co. was first signed, no board of
arbitration has been virtually confronted with the demand to play the role of the
prophet of the moment and of the future. Yet, whatever the future may hold,
we can be guided only by present trends, and we are, therefore, forced into the
uncomfortable position of casting the die as to their possibilities. On this basis,
we believe, after due consideration that these carmen, in order to maintain a
normal American standard of living, should receive a basic wage rate of 72]4 cents
per hour. However, for reasons which will be forthwith introduced, we set the
basic rate of wage for the 2-man car at 71 cents.
W e have not been requested to deal directly with differentials, only on the
proviso that we should award a 15 percent reduction of wages. Naturally, if the
reduction be awarded, the differentials would be correspondingly altered. How­
ever, as the case has been presented to us, we do not feel obligated to change the
existing differentials.
_
.
However, we have been urged to pass judgment relative to vacations. The
company, on one hand, desires to limit the period of vacation to 1 week with pay,
instead of 2 weeks; the association, on the other hand, urges that a period of
2 weeks’ vacation with pay be granted to all employees members of the associa­
tion. This request, on behalf of the association is denied. It is beyond the
question of doubt that such a policy will be detrimental to some individuals, but
we are concerned here primarily with a collective body of men and women and,
unfortunate as it may be in individual cases, we adopt this policy.
In a previous paragraph we decided upon 72}4 cents an hour as a fair basic wage
but we set it at 71 cents. By virtue of the request of the association, we have
chosen to deduct V/2 cents per hour from the basic wage, the sum total of which
would be equivalent, annually, to approximately one weeks’ vacation with pay.
In short, we are decidedly of the opinion that the financial condition of the
railway should not affect the basic rate of wage. Yet, when we come to grips
with such a matter as vacations, an entirely different situation faces us. Vaca­
tions are, however you may put it, a comfort, and in this light we cannot over­
look the request of the company, especially so, when we consider the fact that
annual cost for such vacations amounts to approximately $140,000. * _ * *
Consequently, in justice to the company and to the association, we do believe it
equitable to maintain the 2 weeks with pay, with a reduction of 1)4 cents per hour
from the basic rate of wage. * * * From a humanitarian point of view we
are forced to consider the families of these carmen and in justice to them we decide
that a reduction of the basic rate of wage is better than a change in working
conditions, insofar as vacations are concerned. Therefore, the company’s request
in the form presented is denied.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LABOR

AW ARDS

AND

D E C IS IO N S

1439

The board granted the request of the trustees for the following
changes in the present agreement:
Bus operators and 1-man car operators are to be allowed 5 minutes (instead
of 10) at the beginning of the day and 10 minutes (instead of 20) at the end of the
dav for turning in work and putting up car or bus.
Men on night-work trains, Rapid Transit Lines, shall perform 7 hours’ platform
or cover time for which they shall receive 8 hours’ pay.
Collectors shall have an allowance of 10 minutes (instead of 20) for making up
and turning in work at the end of the day.

In regard to the request that “ All runs shall pay actual platform
time plus the making-up and turning-in tim e/’ this board ruled that
in paying the men the time should be computed to the nearest
5-minute period instead of 15-minute period as at present.
The board denied the request of the trustees that meal tickets
should be 45 cents instead of 65 cents.
The board also denied the request of the association for a new
section reading as follows: “ Rating for guards operating more than
two cars shall be 5 cents per hour higher than the regular guard’s rate.”
Arbitrator Bentley W. Warren, representing the trustees, filed a dis­
senting opinion, closing with the following statement:
In my judgment the wage rates on the Boston Elevateci are, and have been
for many years, too high, from any point of view, whether measured by the nature
of the work, the rates upon other properties, the annual income of workers of
other industries where no greater skill or experience is required or the ability of
the car riders to pay fares or of the taxpayers— especially after four years of depres­
sion— to come to the aid of the car riders.
Except as to the rates of hourly pay established by the award, I concur in its
findings.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

HOUSING
Building Operations in Principal Cities of the United States,
October 1933

A C C O R D IN G to reports received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
X I from 758 identical cities having a population of 10,000 or over,
there was a decrease of 7.4 percent in indicated expenditures for total
building operations, comparing October 1933 with September 1933.
However, the number of buildings for which these permits were
issued increased eight tenths of 1 percent.
The cost figures as shown in the following tables are as estimated by
the prospective builder on applying for his permit to build. No
land costs are included. Only building projects within the corporate
limits of the cities enumerated are shown. This excludes considerable
building in the suburbs of some cities.
The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, through their departments of
labor, are cooperating with the Federal Bureau in the collection of
these data.
Comparisons, September and October 1933

T a b le 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations, in 758 identical cities of the United
States having a population of 10,000 or over, by geographic divisions.
C OST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S
R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 758 I D E N T IC A L
G E O G R \ P H IC 0m v i S o N S E R M IT S ISSU ED IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y
New residential buildings (es­
timated cost)

New nonresidential buildings (es­
timated cost)

Geographic division

N ew England________
M iddle Atlantic
East North Central . .
West North Central
South A tlantic..
South Central________
Mountain and Pacific______
T otal_____ _______

Percent
September
of
1933
change

October
1933

$1, 523,426
7,496,898
1,123, 648
631,105
817,492
473,609
1,540,127

$1, 649, 745
2, 309, 990
922,447
598,965
814, 210
430, 679
1,453,414

+ 8 .3
-6 9 .2
-1 7 .9
- 5 .1
- 0 .4
- 9 .1
- 0 .6

$2,223,238
7, 298,145
2,825,671
695, 643
997,034
743, 665
1,451, 773

$1,805,046
4,119, 751
2, 388,452
1,089, 760
2,065, 520
1, 602, 773
3, 517,407

-1 8 .8
-4 3 .6
-1 5 .5
+56.7
+107. 2
+115.5
+24.2

13, 606,305

8,179,450

-3 9 .9

16, 235,169

16, 588, 709

+ 2 .2

Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)

October
1933

Total construction (estimated
cost)

Geographic division
September
1933

New England_______
M iddle Atlantic_____
East North C e n t r a lWest North Central..
South Atlantic.......... .
South Central_______
Mountain and Pacific
Total__________

1440


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Percent
of
change

September
1933

October
1933

Percent
September
of
1933
change

October
1933

N um ­
ber of
Percent cities
of
change

$1,135,
3,995,
1, 989,
650,
1,128,
734,
1,572,

$1, 657,658
4, 664,386
1, 393,400
607,163
1, 784,037
911,926
2,213, 747

+46.0
+16.7
-3 0 .0
- 6 .7
+58.1
+24.1
+40.8

881, 744
790, 636
938, 702
977, 317
942, 950
952,009
564,424

$5,112,449
11,094,127
4, 704, 299
2,295, 888
4, 663, 767
2, 945, 378
7,184, 568

+16. 1
+58.5
+50.9
+57.4

11, 206, 308

13, 232, 317

+18.1

41,047, 782

38,000,476

- 7 .4

+ 4 .7
-4 1 .0
-

20.8

104
173
172
69
76
78
86

758

1441

H O U S IN G

Indicated expenditures for new residential buildings decreased 39.9
percent, comparing October with September. Decreases occurred in
6 of the 7 geographic divisions. In the New England States, how­
ever, there was an increase in the indicated expenditures for this type
of building. Up to October 31, 1933, no contracts had been awarded
from the public-works fund for housing projects. However, several
allotments have been made for this type of structure, and when they
materialize into contracts, it will undoubtedly stimulate residential
building.
Indicated expenditures for nonresidential buildings increased 2.2
percent, 4 of the 7 geographic divisions showing increases ranging
from 24.2 percent to 115.5 percent. The nonresidential building
group is affected by contracts from public-works fund, as whenever
a contract is awarded by the Federal Government for a building in a
city having a population of 10,000 or over, the indicated expenditures
would be shown therein.
There was an increase of 18.1 percent in expendi tures for additions,
alterations, and repairs. Five of the seven geographic divisions regis­
tered increases in this type of construction. The data for repairs are
also somewhat influenced by awards from the public-wprks fund, as
a number of Federal agencies awarded contracts for repairs to existing
buildings.
.
The estimated cost of all buildings for which permits were issued
during this period was $38,000,476. This is a decrease of 7.4 percent
as compared with September. The decrease was wholly caused by a
falling off of residential building in the Middle Atlantic States. There
was a decrease of more than $5,000,000 in residential building in the
above-mentioned geographic division. The decrease occurred in
New York City. Permits were issued for several large apartment
houses in that city during September.
Table 2 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new non­
residential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations in 758 cities of the United States, by geo­
graphic divisions.
V artf 2 —N U M B E R OP N E W B U IL D IN G S , OP A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E ­
P A IR S A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 758 I D E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S ISSU ED IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
DIV ISIO N S

New residential
buildings

New nonresi­ Additions, alter­ Total construc­
ations, and
dential build­
tion
repairs
ings

Geographic division
Octo­
ber
1933

Sep­
tember
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

Sep­
tember
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

Sep­
tember
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

Sep­
tember
1933

New England----------------------------------M iddle Atlantic-------------------------------East North Central-------------------------West North Central-------------------------South Atlantic----------------- ---------------South Central--....... - ------- ---------------Mountain and Pacific...........................

296
409
249
202
196
152
415

286
415
194
178
214
170
369

824
1,353
1,473
728
478
509
1,102

909
1,476
1,380
861
519
504
1,086

2, 524
6,160
3,046
1, 457
2, 928
2, 154
4, 378

2, 589
6, 056
2, 776
1,426
2,956
2, 325
4,597

3,644
7,922
4, 768
2, 387
3,602
2,815
5,895

3,784
7,947
4,350
2,465
3,689
2,999
6,052

T ota l__________ _______ - ---

1,919

1,826
- 4 .8

6,467

6, 735
+ 4.1

22, 347

22,725
+ 0 .3

31,033

31, 286
-bO.8


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1442

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

Three geographic divisions showed increases and four decreases in
the number of new residential buildings. The decrease for the
country as a whole was 4.8 percent.
New nonresidential buildings increased 4.1 percent in number, the
largest increase being in the Middle Atlantic States. There was an
increase of three tenths of 1 percent in the number of additions,
alterations, and repairs. There was an increase of eight tenths of 1
percent in the total number of buildings for which permits were issued
in October as compared with September. Six of the seven geographic
divisions showed increases in the total number of building operations.
In the East North Central States there was a sharp decrease in the
number of building operations, however. This decrease was caused
by the falling oil in the number of additions, alterations, and repairs
in that division.
Table 3 shows the estimated cost and number of families provided
for in the different kinds of housekeeping dwellings for which permits
were issued in 758 identical cities, in September and October, by
geographic divisions.
T

3 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R IN T H E
D IF F E R E N T K IN D S OF H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S
W E R E ISSU ED IN 758 I D E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y
G E O G R A P H IC D IV ISIO N S

a b l e

1-family dwellings

Estimated cost

Geographic division

Septem­
ber 1933

October
1933

New England________ _ $1,411,126 $1, 226, 690
M iddle Atlantic . . . . . . 1,809, 748 1,830,440
East North C e n t r a l,___ 1,071,148
877, 447
West North C entral.. . .
612,105
585, 665
South Atlantic__________
786, 592
750, 610
South C entral... . . _ . . .
441,809
329,829
Mountain and Pacific___ 1,398,937 1,271,214
T o t a l.. _______ . .
Percent of change .

7, 531, 465

6, 871,895
- 8 .8

2-family dwellings

Families pro­
vided for

Estimated cost

Septem­
ber 1933

October
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

Septem­
ber 1933

280
376
234
198
188
144
396

264
367
188
175
199
160
343

$78,300
146,850
50, 500
19,000
22,900
24, 300
65, 390

$104, 555
280, 750
45,000
13, 300
23, 700
24, 350
90,800

22
42
19
8
13
12
24

30
74
9
5
20
15
32

1,816

1,696
- 6 .6

407, 240

582, 455
+43.0

140

185
+32.1

Sep­
tember
1933

$21, 500
194, 200
0
0
39,900
75,000
90,400

15
1,802
o
0
4
4
33

Total___ ______
Percent of change____ _

421,000
-9 2 .6

1,858


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

October
1933

Sep­
tember
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

Total, all kinds of housekeeping
dwellings

Families pro­
vided for

New E ngland.. _______
$34, 000
M iddle Atlantic.
____ 5, 540,300
East North Central. . _
0
West North Central____
0
South Atlantic________ _
8,000
South Central__________
7, 500
Mountain and Pacific___
75,800
5, 665, 600

Families pro­
vided for

Sep­
tember
1933

M ultifamily dwellings

Geographic division

Estimated cost

Octo­
ber
1933

Estimated cost

Septem­
ber 1933

October
1933

12 $1, 523,426 $1,352,745
71 7,496,898 2,305, 390
0 1,121,648
922,447
0
631,105
598,965
31
817,492
814,210
60
473, 609
429,179
43 1, 540,127 1,452, 414
217 13,604,305
-8 8 .3

7,875, 350
-4 2 .1

Families pro­
vided for
Sep­
tember
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

317
2, 220
253
206
205
160
453

306
512
197
180
250
235
418

3,814

2,098
-4 5 .0

1443

H O U S IN G

There was a decrease of nearly $700,000 comparing October expendi­
tures for 1-family dwellings in these 758 cities with expenditures
for September. The number of family-dwelling units provided in
1-family dwellings decreased 6.6 percent, comparing these 2 months.
Decreases in number were shown in all divisions except the South
Atlantic and South Central. No city has shown a pronounced in­
crease in the number of 1-family dwellings constructed. In the whole
of New York City, during September, permits were issued for only
one hundred and thirteen 1-family dwellings, and one hundred and
twenty-eight 1-family dwellings during October.
Indicated expenditures for 2-family dwellings increased 43 percent,
while the family-dwelling units provided in this type of dwelling in­
creased 32.1 percent. This increase occurred in the New England
and Middle Atlantic States. In the New England States it was
caused by the building of a few 2-family dwellings in a large number
of cities. The increase in the Middle Atlantic States occurred for
the most part in the Boroughs of the Bronx and Brooklyn.
Due to the inclusion in the September figures of several large apart­
ment houses in New York City, notably in the Borough of Manhat­
tan, there was a very pronounced decrease in expenditures and
dwelling units in multifamily dwellings in October. Increases in
expenditures, as well as family-dwelling units in the multifamily
dwellings, however, occurred in the South Atlantic, South Central,
and Mountain and Pacific divisions.
Each geographic division showed a decrease in indicated expendi­
tures for housekeeping dwellings as a whole. Decreases ranged from
a little over $3,000 in the South Atlantic States to approximately
$5,000,000 in the Middle Atlantic States. There was a decrease of
over 1,700 in the number of family-dwelling units provided in these
cities during October as compared with September. All geographic
divisions, except the South Atlantic and South Central, showed
decreases in total dwelling units. The decreases, however, were small
except in the Middle Atlantic division.
Table 4 shows the index numbers of indicated expenditures for new
residential buildings, for new nonresidential buildings, for additions,
alterations, and repairs, and for total building operations.
T able 4 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R A N D OF IN D IC A T E D
E X P E N D IT U R E S F O R B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S ISSU ED
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S OF T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures forM onth

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Families
provided
for

New resi­
dential
buildings

Total
N ew non- Additions,
residential alterations, building
and
repairs
operations
buildings

70.2
64.4

63.7
61.6

81.3
107. 9

95.0
115.2

73.7
85.7

51.3
58.3

44.4
44.9

73.8
.53. 5

64.2
58.1

58.2
49.7

30.1
33.7

24.8
25.4

41.8
34.8

41.0
39.8

33.5
30.8

10.8
9.5

7.5
6.6

11.4
12.6

21.7
22.8

10.7
11.0

11.8
6.5

8.6
5.2

12.8
13.1

25.5
30.1

13.1
12.1

—

1444

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

The index numbers of families provided for and of indicated expen­
ditures for new residential buildings were lower than for either
September 1933 or October 1932.
0 ctober index numbers of indicated expenditures for nonresidential
buildings and for additions, alterations, and repairs, were higher than
lor either the previous month or the corresponding month of last year.
1 he total building operations index, while slightly higher than for
October 1932, was lower than for September 1933.
Construction from Public Funds

Fa b le 5 shows the value of contracts awarded by the United States
Government during September and October 1933, for construction
piojects of all kinds. 4 his includes building construction; public
roads; river, harbor, and flood-control projects; street and road
building (other than public roads); naval vessels, reclamation proj­
ects; forest service; water and sewerage systems; and miscellaneous
projects.
\\ lienever a contract is awarded for a public building in a city
having a population of 10,000 or over, the data are included in the
tables herein. Data for other types of public construction are not
shown in the building-operations tables.
^ able 5 .

V A L U E OP C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R A L L F E D F R A U r’ ON'<;iTTfTTP rrTmM'

OCTOBER* 1933^ bT

geE

S S

h

^

d

FvT s IO n I ® R N M E N T D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R A N D

Building construction

River, harbor, and
flood-control projects

Public roads

Geographic division
September
1933

October
1933

September
1933

October
1933

September
1933

October
1933

New England_______________
M iddle Atlantic_____________
East North Central__________
West North Central_________
South A tlantic.______ _______
South Central_______________
Mountain and Pacific_______

$118,925
4, 213,759
56, 386
42, 890
427, 254
340,802
55,461

$753, 381
2, 292,948
336, 768
741,882
3,295, 992
4, 202,177
2,861, 785

$1, 522,605
5, 523,492
4,905, 540
7,402,109
2,973, 297
4, 555,015
14,377,199

$2, 551,100
4,934,839
5,640, 642
8,151,255
4,278,106
7,091, 638
8, 625, 551

$14,315
1, 569,201
2,182, 307
13,090, 220
3, 202,601
9,332,191
2, 747,948

$759,061
3, 545, 755
13,200,240
6,904,804
7,335,509
15,981,813
2,486, 212

T o t a l ..____ ___________

5, 255,477

214,489,933

41, 259, 257

41, 273,131

32,138, 783

50,213,394

Outside of Continental United
States_____________________

3, 325

1,047,282

Streets and roads 2
Geographic division

Sep­
tember
1933

New England . ____
0
M iddle Atlantic___. . .
0
East North Central___
0
West North Central___ $225,329
South A tla n t ic ___
171, 355
South Central_____. . .
404
Mountain and P a cific- 504,776
Total ____ ____
Outside of Continental
United S t a t e s ..___

October
1933

273,884

Naval vessels
September October
1933
1933

$199, 203 $39,486, 283 $1,505
734, 778 74,038, 296 258, 645
389,511
231,158 11,145
323,733
0
0
1,952,118 57,873, 713 30, 645
1,664,007
0
0
8,033, 640
9,075, 680 673,125

901,864 13, 296,990 180,705,130 975,065
93, 855

1,585, 854

193,572

: Subject to revision.
2 Includes $5,000 not allocated b y geographic divisions
x Other than those reported b y the Bureau of Public Roads.
Includes $7,000 not allocated b y geographic divisions.
Includes $16,944 not allocated b y geographic divisions.
Includes $64,670 not allocated b y geographic divisions.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Reclamation proj­
ects
Septem­
ber 1933
0
0
0
$6,000
30,000
8,000
4,823, 671

Forestry

October Sep­ October
tember
1933
1933
1933
0
0
0
0
0
0
$21, 200
0
13,000
0
8, 700
0
747,124 $5, 456

* 4,874,671 5 806,968

5,456

$27,585
0
1,328,570
748,330
738,780
232, 485
5, 555, 634
« 8,696,054

1445

HOUSING
T

5 .—V A L U E OF C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R A L L F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C T IO N
P R O JE C T S B Y T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R A N D
O C T O B E R 1933, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S —Continued

a b l e

Water and sewerage
systems

Miscellaneous

Total

Geographic division
September
1933
New England, ________ . . .
M iddle Atlantic .
East North Central.
West North Central
South A tla n t ic ____
South C en tra l____ ________
Mountain and Pacific. . .
Total

__________ . . .

October
1933

September
1933

October
1933

September
1933

October
1933

0
0
0
0
$21,463
0
0

0
$13,831
5,000
51, 300
182,146
107,190
357, 333

$74,401
372, 533
32,326
0
412,828
6,474
14,345

$240,984
432, 247
90,444
196, 558
1, 274,962
294,165
1,189,486

$41, 216, 529
85,717, 281
7,407, 717
20, 766, 548
65,112, 511
14, 242,886
31,604, 536

$4,532,819
12,213,043
21,002, 320
17,139,062
19,101, 258
29, 582,175
30,529,890

21,463

716,800

912,907

3, 718, 846

*266,075,008

7134,187,181

28, 046

247,807

125, 226

3,348, 399

Outside of continental United
States.. .
_ . . . . . .
* Includes $7,000 not allocated by geographic divisions.
7 See notes to detail.

During October 1933 contracts were awarded or work was started
under force account on projects to cost $134,187,181, This compares
with more than $266,000,000 for the month of September. The
decrease was caused by the falling off in awards for naval vessels.
Awards for building construction; road construction; river, harbor,
and flood-control projects; forestry work; and water and sewerage
systems all showed pronounced increases, comparing awards made in
October with those made in September.
The projects for which contracts were awarded in the Mountain
and Pacific division during October were to cost over $30,000,000.
This is a larger sum than was accounted for by construction awards
in any other geographic division. Street and road work accounted
for oyer $16,000,000 of this expenditure in the Mountain and Pacific
division. Contracts awarded in the South Central States showed
the next highest total. River, harbor, and flood-control projects
accounted for the greatest amount of expenditures in this geographic
division.
During September the largest expenditure for all projects occurred
in the Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, and New England States;
large awards for naval vessels making up the greater part of the
total. ' Contracts totaling over $3,000,000 were awarded outside of
continental United States.
Table 6 shows the value of contracts awarded from public works
fund for all non-Federal construction projects, by geographic divisions.
T

6 . — V A LU E OF C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R A L L N O N -F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C ­
T IO N PR O JE C T S F R O M P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N FU N D S D U R IN G O C T O ­
B E R 1933, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV ISIO N S

a b l e

Building
construc­
tion

Streets 1
and roads

Water and
sewerage
systems

New E n g la n d ... ___ _______
M iddle Atlantic
_______
East North C en tra l________
West North Central___ _ __________
South Atlantic ______
South Central . .
. . _____ _
Mountain and Pacific____________ . .

$268,431
2,362, 804
1, 590,689
281,135
200, 208
479,058
640,378

$1, 084, 770
0
76,310
1, 200, 505
190, 000
85, 709
204, 779

$1,168,217
365,122
3, 269,608
995, 028
124,048
60,117
35,115

$173,000
52, 500
0
43,961
0
0
0

$2, 694,418
2,780,426
4,936, 607
2, 520, 629
514, 256
624,884
880,272

Total_______________ _____ . _ ____
Outside continental United S ta t e s .____ _

5, 822, 703

2,842,073

6,017,255
140,122

269,461

14,951,492
140,122

Geographic division

1 Other than those reported b y the Bureau of Public Roads.
21719°—33— 12


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Miscel­
laneous

Total

1446

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

During October contracts were awarded by the various State
engineers of the Public Works Administration for construction proj­
ects to cost approximately $16,000,000. This sum includes the value
of contracts awarded where work was let to an outside contractor.
Where work was done by force account, the estimated cost of the
project as furnished to the public-works engineer was used.
Work on non-Federal public-works projects was started in all of
the geographic divisions. The East North Central got off to a flying
start with over $5,500,000 worth of projects under way. The New
England, Middle Atlantic, and West North Central divisions all
started public-works projects to cost over $2,000,000.
Water and sewerage systems accounted for a larger percentage of
this expenditure than any other type of construction. The cost of
buildings to be constructed accounted for the next largest slice of the
non-Federal public-works fund. The street and road paving as shown
in this table does not include the road work done by the Bureau of
Public Roads of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Table 7 shows the value of public buildings and highway construc­
tion awards as reported by the various State governments.
T

7 —V A L U E OF P U B L IC B U IL D IN G A N D H IG H W A Y C O N S T R U C T IO N A W A R D S AS
R E P O R T E D B Y T H E S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S , B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV ISIO N S

a b le

Value of awards for public buildings

Value of awards for
highway construction

Geographic division
October
1932
New E ngland.._ ______ _________
M iddle Atlantic__________ . . .
East North Central. _____
West North C e n t r a l.______ _
South Atlantic. ___________ .
South Central_______________________
Mountain and P a cific._____ ________
Total______________ _______

September
1933

October
1933 i

September
1933

October
1933

$71, 674
3,340,045
221,457
12,956
121,113
617, 247
211, 376

$308, 750
366, 542
237, 626
61,420
131,638
502,734
626,093

$262, 617
842,089
528,032
25,865
215,545
10,171
211, 899

$381, 605
513, 291
240.440
877, 699
392.441
882, 799
1,952,938

$326, 531
418,688
1,929,455
824, 682
181, 780
333, 280
1,166,609

4, 595,868

2, 234,803

2,096,218

5, 241, 213

5,181,025

1 Subject to revision

Data concerning building contracts were received direct from the
State officials. Data concerning highway construction were obtained
from the Bureau of Public Roads.
During October 1933 State awards for building construction totaled
slightly over $2,000,000, which was practically the same as the
September total, but not quite one half the October 1932 total.
Awards made by the State governments for highway construction
totaled a little more than $5,000,000 for each of the 2 months, Sep­
tember and October.
Comparisons, October 1933 with October 1932
T a b l e 8 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations, in 341 identical cities of the United
States having a population of 25,000 or over, for the months of
October 1933 and October 1932, by geographic divisions.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1447

H O U S IN G

T able 8 .—E S T IM A T E D COST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 341 ID E N T IC A L
C IT IE S , AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S ISSU ED IN O C T O B E R 1932 A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y
G E O G R A P H IC D IV ISIO N S

N ew residential buildings
(estimated cost)

New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)

Geographic division
October
1932

October
1933

N ew England------ -----------------------M iddle Atlantic---- -------------------East North Central______________
West North Central.. __________
South Atlantic. -------------------------South Central.
________________
Mountain and P a c ific ___________

$843,180
2,289,831
1,039, 539
647,429
921,328
544,987
1,564,092

$1,075,955
1,733,840
732, 576
499, 445
706,820
346, 754
1,114, 514

T otal____ _________ _______

7,850, 386

6,209,904

Percent
of change

Additions, alterations, and repairs
(estimated cost)

October
1932

October
1933

Percent
of change

+27.6
-2 4 .3
-2 8 .8
-2 2 .9
-2 3 .3
-3 6 .4
-2 8 .7

$1,027,119
4, 449, 500
1,640,810
1,344, 096
1, 560,74].
3,898,003
1,422,852

$1,306,341
1,891,076
1,845,789
988,382
2,013,412
1,444,223
2, 757,282

+27.2
-5 7 .5
+12.5
-2 6 .5
+29.0
-6 2 .9
+93.8

-2 0 .9

15,343,127

12,246, 505

-2 0 .2

Total construction (estimated
cost)

Geographic division
October
1932

October
1933

New England_____________
M iddle Atlantic _____ . . .
East North Central . . .
West North Central_____
South Atlantic. . ____ . . .
South Central________ . . .
Mountain and Pacific___ _

$884, 604
3, 516, 256
1, 473,491
486,065
1,139, 458
509,930
1,068, 607

$1,415,102
4, 238,217
1, 310, 097
523, 928
1, 648, 278
650, 663
1,908, 972

T o ta l... . . . . ______

9,078,411

11, 695, 257

Num­
ber of
cities

October
1932

October
1933

+60.0
+20.5
-1 1 .1
+ 7.8
+44. 7
+27.6
+78.6

$2,754,903
10, 255, 593
4,153, 840
2,477, 590
3, 621, 527
4,952,920
4,055, 551

$3, 797, 398
7,863,133
3,888,462
2, Oil, 755
4,368, 510
2,441,640
5,780,768

+37.8
-2 3 .3
- 6 .4
-1 8 .8
+20.6
-5 0 .7
+42.5

53
67
93
25
38
28
37

+28.8

32, 271,924

30,151,666

- 6 .6

341

Percent
of change

Percent
of change

Comparing October 1933 with October 1932, there was a decrease
of 20.9 percent in indicated expenditures for new residential buildings.
All geographic divisions, except the New England, showed decreases
in expenditures for this type of structure.
There was also a decrease in expenditures for new nonresidential
buildings. Four of the seven geographic divisions, however, showed
increases ranging from 12.5 percent in the East North Central States
to 93.8 percent in the Mountain and Pacific States.
Indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs
increased 28.8 percent comparing October 1933 with the same month
of the previous year. Increases for this type of structure were shown
in all geographic divisions, except the East North Central.
The total expenditures for building construction in these 341 cities,
during October 1933, was 6.6 percent less than during the same month
of last year. Four geographic divisions registered decreases in total
expenditures and three showed increases.
Table 9 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new non­
residential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations in 341 identical cities having a population
of 25,000 or over for the months of October 1933 and October 1932,
by geographic divisions.


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1448
T

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

9 — N U M B E R OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E ­
P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 341 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S, AS
S H O W N B Y P E R M IT S ISSU ED IN O C T O B E R 1932 A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV ISIO N S

a b le

N ew residential
buildings

New nonresi­
dential build­
ings

Additions, al­
terations, and
repairs

Total construc­
tion

Geographic division
October October October October October October October October
1932
1933
1932
1933
1932
1932
1933
1933
New England__________ _____ _____
M iddle Atlantic____________________
East North C en tra l-,-______________
West North Central________________
South A tla n tic _______________ _
South Central_________________ .
Mountain and Pacific_____ _________

166
425
200
187
249
223
492

161
311
161
140
160
129
295

665
1,547
1,464
802
563
394
1,164

572
1,115
1,200
733
453
432
918

2,169
4, 303
2, 401
941
2,906
1,718
3,469

2,115
5,489
2, 557
1,266
2,721
1,744
3, 722

3,000
6, 275
4,065
1,930
3,718
2, 335
5,125

2,848
6,915
3,918
2,139
3, 334
2, 305
4,935

T otal_________________________
Percent of change___________________

1,942

1,357
-3 0 .1

6, 599

5, 423
-1 7 .8

17,907

19, 614
+ 9.5

26, 448

26, 394
- 0 .2

New residential buildings decreased 30.1 percent in number, com­
paring October 1933 with October 1932. All geographic divisions
showed decreases in the number of residential buildings.
The number of new nonresidential buildings decreased 17.8 percent.
The South Central was the only geographic division registering an
increase in new nonresidential buildings, comparing these two periods.
The number of additions, alterations, and repairs increased 9.5
percent. Five of the seven geographic divisions showed increases
in this type of structure.
The decrease in the total number of building operations was two
tenths of 1 percent, 5 geographic divisions showing decreases and 2
showing increases.
. Table 10 shows the number of families provided for in the different
kinds of housekeeping dwellings, together with the estimated cost of
such dwellings for which permits were issued in 341 identical cities
during October 1933 and October 1932, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 10 .— E S T IM A T E D COST

OF A N D N U M B E R OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D FO R IN
D I F F E R E N T K IN D S OF H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E
ISSU ED IN 341 I D E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN O C T O B E R 1932 A N D O C T O B E R 1933 B Y GEO-

1-family dwellings

Geographic division

Estimated cost

October
1932

October
1933

2-family dwellings

Families pro­
vided for
October October
1932
1933

Estimated cost

October
1932

October
1933

Families pro­
vided for
October October
1932
1933

New England ________ _ $755,180
M iddle A tla n tic________ 1, 643, 731
East North Central_____
837,107
West N orth Central
613, 979
South Atlantic__________
872,178
South Central
. .
437, 177
M ountain and Pacific___ 1,186,102

$717, 400
1, 324, 590
687, 576
487, 945
662, 020
252, 204
962, 314

153
370
186
181
240
209
432

151
274
155'
138
152
123
277

$61, 500
342, 300
65, 432
9, 750
24, 650
29, 560
218, 898

$67, 555
251, 250
45, 000
11,500
4,900
19, 550
73, 300

20
88
18
6
10
15
88

17
62
9
4
6
10
26

T o ta l-- _____ --_
Percent of change_____

5, 094, 049
-1 9 .7

1, 771

1, 270
-2 8 .3

752, 090

473, 055
-3 7 .1

245

134
-4 5 .3


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6, 345, 454

1449

H O U S IN G

T able 1 0 — E S T IM A T E D C OST OF A N D N U M B E R OF FA M ILIES! P R O V ID E D F O R IN
D I F F E R E N T K IN D S OF H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E
ISSU ED IN 341 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN O C T O B E R 1932 A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y G E O ­
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S —Continued
Total, all kinds of housekeeping
dwellings

Multifamily dwellings

Estimated cost

Geographic division

October
1932
N ew E n g la n d _________
M iddle Atlantic_________
East North Central-------West North Central-----South Atlantic__________
South Central----------------Mountain and Pacific-----T otal_____________

October
1933

Families pro­
vided for
October October
1933
1932

Estimated cost

October
1932

October
1933

Famili es provide d for
October October
1932
1933

$26, 500
278, 800
43,000
23, 700
24,500
11, 800
159, 092

0
$158,000
0
0
39, 900
75,000
78, 900

10
89
11
12
16
14
78

0
54
0
0
31
60
39

$843,180
2, 264, 831
945, 539
647,429
921, 328
478, 537
1, 564, 092

$784,955
1, 733,840
732, 576
499,445
706, 820
346, 754
1,114, 514

183
547
215
199
266
238
598

168
390
164
142
189
i93
342

567, 392

351, 800
-3 8 .0

230

184
-2 0 .0

7, 664,936

5, 918, 904
-2 2 .8

2,246

1, 588
—29. 3

Indicated expenditures for 1-family dwellings decreased 19.7 percent,
comparing October 1933 with the corresponding month of the pre­
vious year. This decrease was spread over all of the seven geographic
divisions. The number of families provided for in these dwellings
decreased 28.3 percent, all geographic divisions registering the
decrease.
Expenditures for 2-family dwellings decreased in all geographic
divisions except the New England and the West North Central.
The number of families provided for in 2-family dwellings decreased
in all 7 geographic divisions.
The South Atlantic and South Central States showed slight in­
creases in both indicated expenditures and in the number of families
provided for in apartment houses; the other five geographic divisions
showed decreases.
Expenditures for housekeeping dwellings as a whole and the number
of families provided for in these dwellings showed decreases in each
of the seven geographic divisions.
Details by Cities

T a b le 11 shows the estimated expenditures for new residential
buildings, for new nonresidential buildings, and for total building
operations, together with the number of families provided for in new
dwellings, in each of the cities of the United States having a population
of 10,000 or over for which reports were received for October 1933.
Permits were issued during October for the following important
building projects: In West Hartford, Conn., for a school building to
cost $235,000; in Newark, N.J., for a public utilities building to cost
$1,500,000; and in Los Angeles, Calif., for factory buildings to cost
$1,600,000. A contract was awarded by the Bureau of Yards and
Docks of the Navy Department for a machinery and electrical shop
in the Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., to cost $575,000.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1450

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 1 1 .—E S T IM A T E D C OST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU ED
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933

New England States

C ity and State

Connecticut:
Ansonia. _.
Bridgeport__
Bristol___
D anbury. __
Derby .
East Hartford
Fairfield.
Greenwich___
Hamden
Hartford_____
Meriden____
M iddletow n..
M ilford______
Naugatuck__
New Britain..
N ew H a ven ..
Norwalk ...
N orw ich ... . .
Stamford. . . .
Stratford . .
T o rrin gton ...
W allingford..
Water bury__
West Hartford
W illim an tic..
Maine:
Auburn_____
Biddeford___
Portland___
South Portland. _____
W estb rook ...
Massachusetts:
Arlington____
Attleboro .
B e lm on t____
B everly_____
Boston 1_____
Braintree____
Brockton . . .
Brookline..
C am bridge...
Chelsea_____
C hicopee.. .
Dedham ____
Easthampton.
Everett______
Fall River___
Fitchburg___
Framingham.
G a rd n e r.___
Gloucester___
H averhill... _
H olyoke.. . .
Lawrence.. ._
Leominster. __
L o w e ll______
Malden .. .
Marlborough.

New
New
Fam­
residen­ nonresi- Total
ilies
tial
dential (includ­
pro­
ing re­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

$5,000
$7, 750
50, 38C
8, 655
0
6, 705
5,500
6, 300
10,500
o
0
500
32, 600
500
3,00C
57, 750
9, 000
8, 550
4, 500
10, 355
3, 70C
60, 633
0
1,798
6, 000
1, 536
18; 000
9, 600
c
375
8,000
3, 873
17, 30C
22,115
5, 500
7, 505
5,400
1, 305
21, 755
8,175
3, 00C
3, 31C
C
35C
11,800
4 ,80C
89,000 239,100
1,000
0

$13, 300
73,057
10,183
19,910
10, 723
10, 270
50,485
76, 75C
21, 785
47,192
79,128
3, 523
20,123
34! 925
11,023
21,103
45, 570
18, 650
23,850
30, 677
15,412
3,785
27, 775
342,185
2, 600

1
14
0
1
2
0
6
1
3
1
1
0
3
6
0
1
7
2
2
3
1
0
4
14
2

50, 000
1,000
4, 800

26, 60C
625
191,15C

78,100
2,125
202, 880

15
1
2

0
0

1,435
300

1,735
1, 540

0
0

2, 400
35, 585
1,495
25,420
4, 725
52,090
12, 305
1,460
137, 941 1,110, 385
5; 400
31, 020
2, 525
11,495
7,175
55, 785
2, 435
40, 822
700
6,021
16, 750
19, 650
2,025
14,105
9, 000
9, 300
0
18, 700
15, 483
23, 547
1,133
3,433
705
10, 355
5,410
12, 685
3,650
7, 050
1,850
11,665
11,500
29, 050
1,100
28, 677
23, 518
38,986
425
9,150

6
6
7
2
18
5
1
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
1
2
5
0
2

32, 500
23, 250
44, 500
9, 000
212,000
24, 315
3,000
37,000
6,000
0
1,500
0
0
0
0
1,500
6, 500
6, 000
500
500
10,000
19, 500
0
6, 300
4 non
7, 500
0

4! 660
1,600

15, 925
2,000

C ity and State

M assachusetts—
Continued.
M edford_____

New Bedford
Newburyport.
N ewton_____
North Adams.
Northampton.
North Attleborough___
Peabody____
P ittsfield...
P lym outh.. .

Somerville___
Southbridge..
Springfield. . .
Stoneham. .
Swampscott .
Taunton____
W altham.
Watertown
Wellesley____
Westfield____
West Springfield
W inchester..
W inthrop___
Woburn
Worcester___
New
Hampshire:
Manchester. __
Rhode Island:
Central Falls
Cranston
East Provi-

New
New
Fam
residen­ nonresi- Total
(includ­ ilies
tial
dential ing re­ pro­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

$3, 000
60 250
37! 050
57 500
0
0
143, 500
5, 500
7, 650

$2,000
2 750
3’ 160
3 250
6, 795
230, 400
2, 600
290
1,350

$12,160
55 245
98!840
65 800
27, 375
230,400
164, 505
8,420
14, 400

1
8
9
7
0
0
15
1
10

1,000
2 000
0
8,000
3, 500
15, 800
3, 000
6, 000
0
0
1,975
11,000
4, 600
0
12, 400
0
66, 000
3, 500

675
275
4,100
1,275
1,100
4, 025
650
20, 750
15,150
43, 350
4, 700
925
1,900
1,339
100, 505
1,350
34,300
0

1,675
5, 025
9, 050
19, 275
8, 200
30, 785
12, 700
42, 302
34,457
43, 350
16,090
15, 225
10,000
7, 370
114,715
7,450
108,100
4, 775

2
1
0
2
2
3
1
1
0
0
2
2
1
0
5
0
7
2

2, 200
33, 500
1,400
1,000
37, 750

688
960
1,555
945
23, 560

5 296
36,955
4, 866
2,875
77,157

1
4
1
1
9

500
16,100

133 036
27,057

133 836
66', 861

1
7

0
11, 700

485
9, 363

2, 505
24,043

0
4

32, 700
19, 250

36, 428
3, 450

78, 850
61, 373

7
4

0
8,000
19, 200
9,800
5,000

900
1,165
36,000
7, 350
5, 350

1, 650
16, 954
145, 650
30,150
12, 987

0
3
4
5
2

3, 500
1,500

500
3, 845

4,000
13, 242

1
1

10, 500
184,400

0
2, 625

10, 500
199, 725

4
5

1, 649, 745 1,805,046 5,112, 449

306

$32 005
1 775
12,841
31,917
7,700
2,400

5
Ö
0
2
1
0

North ProviPawtucket. _
Providence..
W arwick____
W esterly____
West
WarW oonsocket..
Vermont:
Bennington...
Burlington__

2
0

Middle Atlantic States
N ew Jersey:
Atlantic C ity.
Bayonne. .
Belleville____
Bloomfield__
Bridgeton___
Burlington.. .
Camden_____

0
0
$7, 200
0
0
0
500

A p plica tion s filed


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

0
0
$10,145
1,200
530
650
24,774

$24, 859
10,050
21,060
5,700
530
2,680
41,194

0
0
3
0
0
0
1

N ew Jersey—
Continued.
East Orange
Elizabeth .
Englew ood__
Garfield........ .

$25, 000
0
0
11,000
6, 300
0

$3 800
500
5,280
7, 800
400
1,100

HOUSING
T I M A T E D C OST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933—Continued

Middle Atlantic States—
New
New
Fam­
Total
residen­ nonresiilies
tial
dential (includ­ pro­
ing re­
build­
build­
vided
pairs/
ings
ings
fo
i.

0
0
$7,000
0
6, 500
3,500
0
2,000
0
0

$1, 785
40,300
0
0
1,600
43,450
2, 550
33,905
2,215
3,200

$7, 213
43,800
7,000
8,208
10, 310
72,525
2,740
38,095
5,935
3, 750

0
0
4
0
1
1
0
1
0
0

38, 500
3,025
45, 335
15,000
2,200
37, 755
0
600
4,595
14, 500 1, 624, 650 1, 689, 525

4
2
0
4

0
4, 500
0
17, 500
8,100
0
0
32,000
2,500
900

25
3,960
2,500
2, 975
10, 585
315
150
2,050
200
170

10, 342
10,138
49, 335
29,453
48,745
1,745
150
39,820
2, 825
2,905

0
2
0
2
2
0
0
5
1
1

0
13,150
0
12,000
0
29, 500
21,100
3,200
0
17, 800
0
12, 000

690
1,280
1,040
1,750
2, 600
2,000
3,164
8,843
0
16,610
500
1,410

1,190
15,036
6, 280
15, 603
4,800
37, 530
30, 684
32,725
20,785
35,120
2,715
14, 340

0
2
0
1
0
4
4
1
0
3
0
1

0
21, 200

0
4,565

2, 735
28,935

0
4

67, 800
0
13, 600
11,400
10, 250
0
0
0
0
24, 800
9,100
5,000
16, 300
0
0
0
2,500
5,000
0
5, 500
9, 500
19, 300
9,200
600
0
1,400
0
26,100

9,155
2, 850
1,285
28,023
418, 612
500
12, 500
615
24,158
3, 395
11, 250
925
1, 350
330
0
0
980
1, 300
900
60, 300
7,885
8, 635
0
490
395
0
0
125

112, 224
2, 950
20,235
67, 995
492, 378
2, 500
20, 885
4,295
30, 736
33, 545
22, 500
6,125
18, 550
2, 830
0
0
4, 255
9,450
4, 780
66, 500
17, 873
31,192
13,700
3, 775
3,965
17,900
1,800
26,525

5
0
4
3
4
0
0
0
0,
4
2
1
5
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
3
4
2
1
0
1
0
5

ii e u .

in totals.


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

C o n tin u e d

C ity and State

New
New
residen­ nonresitial
dential
build­
build­
ings
ings

N ew York—
Continued.
Mount Vernon________ $38,530
Newburgh___
6,000
N ew Roehelle.
22,400
N ew
York
City:
The Bronx1. 266, 500
Brooklyn
175,900
Manhattan1 136,000
Queens 1___ 327,900
R ichm ond140, 200
Niagara Falls3,700
North Tonawanda
.
0
Ogdensburg. 0
Oneida______
0
Oneonta_____
0
Ossining_____
0
Oswego______
0
Peekskill
2 0 , :.oo
Plattsburg___
24,000
Port Chester.
0
Port Jervis__
0
Poughkeepsie
6, .500
Rensselaer___
2, .500
Rochester___
15, ,500
Rockville
C enter.. . .
61, 300
Saratoga
Springs... 1, 300
Schenectady—
4, 500
Syracuse
47, 200
Tona w anda.2, 800
T roy ____ __
26, 000
Utica-----------16, 000
Valley Stream
1,200
W atertow n.-.
1,500
White Plains.
16,800
Yonkers_____
45,000
Pennsylvania:
Abington Twp.
4,500
Allentown___
17,700
Altoona ___
2,000
Ambridge 2._ .
0
A rn old ..
4,200
Berwick _
3,000
Bethlehem___
5,250
Braddock____
0
Bradford____
0
Bristol___
0
Canonsburg—
0
Carlisle______
0
Chambersburg
0
Charleroi____
0
Chester
0
Clairton ___
0
Coatsville _
0
Connellsville.
0
Conshohocken
0
Coraopolis___
0
Donora
0
D u Bois___ -_
0
Duquesne___
2,200
Easton _ _
0
Ellwood City
0
Erie_________
15,000
Greensburg-..
0
H arrisburg.-.
£', 840
Haverford___
0
Hazleton___
8,200
Jeannette____
0

Il­

ls

Ied

$4,000
500
16,350

5
1
3

80,150
242,750
200, 700
123,709
11,139
1,957

36
34
84
9
1

68

1,300
1,680
5,650
0
2,150
15, 350
7,900
990
496
0
18,275
24, 350
113,455

8
0
0
1
1
3

650

8

0
13,270
7,675
50,175
10,655
4,400
1,375
7,600
1,100
3,650

4
1
8
1
4
4
1
1

2,700
17,406
3,135
600
0
500
2,900
0
1,310
0
3,000
200
600
0
1,000
270
0
500
850
0
0
0
250
785
0
4, 365
0
3,425
2,075
2,175
150

0
0
0
0
0
0

8

2

8
1
2

1
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
4
0
1
0
2

0

1452

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

T a b l e 11 . -E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU ED

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933— Continued

Middle Atlantic States—

C ity and State

Pennsylv ania—
Continued.
Johnstown___
Kingston____
Lancaster.. _
Latrobe___
Lower Merion.
M cKeesport..
M c K e e s
Rocks 2. . _
Mahonoy City.
M eadville___
Monessen____
M ount Lebanon___ _
M unhall____
N ew Castle...
N orristow n.._
North Bradd ock ... . . .
Oil C ity . .
Philadelphia..
Phoenixville..
P ittsb u rgh ...

New
New
Fam­
residen­ nonresi- Total
ilies
tial
dential (includ­ pro­
ing re­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

$1,500
26,600
0
0
48,500
3,500

$1, 755
8,200
7,400
0
6,946
821

$10, 519
36,150
14,000
1,700
91, 365
12,940

1
9
0
0
6
1

0
0
0
6, 500

0
0
217,950
280

0
0
230,890
7,390

o
0
0
2

27,100
0
3, 800
0

0
0
1,665
1,455

27,600
1,275
6, 525
9,970

3
0
1
0

0
0
119,000
0
49,400

0
0
132, 845
300
173,194

0
1,875
582, 751
550
274, 345

0
0
30
0
14

C o n tin u e d

C ity and State

Pennsylvania—
Continued.
Pottstown___
Pottsville. _
Scranton____
Sharon 2_____
Steelton_____
Sunbury_____
Swissvale . . .
Tamaqua___
U niontow n ...
Upper Darby.
Vandergrift—.
W arren... .
W ashington. _
W aynesboro..
West Chester.
Wilkes-Barre.
W ilkinsburg..
WilliamsportY ork _____ _

New
New
Fam­
residen­ nonresi- Total
ilies
tial
dential (includ­ pro­
ing re­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

0
$5,500
8,500
20,000
0
0
6,000
0
0
29, 000
0
0
0
0
0
19, 600
0
9,000
0

$1,825
350
23,446
2, 675
0
300
0
700
9, 550
3,051
0
0
710
0
450
1,500
0
782
26, 880

$4,150
7,850
43, 716
22,675
0
16,450
6,000
1,100
9,950
36,281
0
5,923
810
0
625
44,593
2,470
15,809
42,438

Total____ 2,309,990 4,119, 751 11,094,127

0
1
2
1
o
0
1
0
0
4
0
0
o
o
0
7
0
1
0
512

East North Central States
Illinois:
A lton________
Aurora______
B elleville.. . .
B e r w y n __
Bloom ington.
Blue Island. .
Brookfield .
C airo.. . . .
Calumet C ity.
Canton______
Centralia____
Cham paign...
Chicago_____
C h ica g o
Heights___
Cicero_____
Danville
D e c a tu r ... . .
East St. Louis
Elgin. _
Elmhurst
Elmwood
Park . . . .
E vanston...
Forest P ark...
Freeport. . . .
Granite C itv ..
Harvey . .
Highland
P a r k ___
J oliet.. . .
Kankakee.
La Grange___
M a yw ood ___
Melrose Park
M oline_____
M ount Vernon_______
Oak Park.
Ottawa_____
Park R idge..
Peoria_______
Quincy______

$5, 562
$5,00C
2,685
3 ,30C
560
C
6,100
C
3, 600
C
2,850
0
0
0
100
0
360
0
180
0
0
5,000
0
61, 800 318,362

$9, 51C
14, 55C
5,485
6,65C
3, 60C
6,735
C
100
•760
780
0
5,275
653,166

0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15

0
0
0
0
1,000
2,000
7,800

4,800
13, 430
6,100
2,215
970
300
750

5, 650
14, 230
8,700
3,015
4, 260
12,840
8,550

0
0
0
0
1
1
1

ol
19, 000
0
0
0
0

775
2,000
860
785
0
1,000

1,135
36, 750
2,185
2,285
0
1,000

0
2
0
0
0
0

43,000
0
6,000
0
1,600
0
0

145
0
700
150
1,225
335
135

45,685
3,944
9, 500
5,850
3,200
335
5,025

2
0
1
0
1
0
0

0
0
0
0
7,000
0

0
27,305
0
1,125
20,225
4,390

0
39,045
0
4,695
74,870
5, 940

0
0
0
0
2
0

2 Not included in totals.


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

Illinois—Contd.
Rockford . . .
Rock Island _.
Springfield ._
Sterling______
Streator_____
Urbana______
W aukegan...
W ilm ette___
W innetka___
Indiana:
Bedford_____
Connersville..
C r a w fo r d s ville_______
East Chicago.
E lk h a rt_____
Elw ood______
E vansville...
Fort W ayne .
Gary------------Goshen______
Hammond .. .
H un tington..
Indianapolis.
Jeffersonville.
K o k o m o ____
Lafayette____
La P o r t e ___
Logansport .
M a r i o n ..___
Michigan
C ity_______
Mishawaka—
M uncie.. _.
N ew Castle. .
Richm ond___
South B en d ..
Terre H aute..
Vincennes___
W hiting_____
Michigan:
Adrian______
Ann A rbor__

$8,00C
$47.
C
1,02£
22, 300
44,03C
500
15C
0
(
0
0
0
(
11,000 200, 60(
0
19,050

$17, 725
3,999
73, 270
1,510
271
8,475
2,850
217, 700
19, 450

1
0
4
1
0
0
0
2
0

0
0

40
20

40
20

0
0

0
0
0
0
7, 600
25,850
0
0
1,350
0
5,300
0
0
0
0
0
3,000

50,925
0
175
125
2,175
254,666
6,850
250
6,250
n5
125,2^7
0
205
300
1,575
435
0

51, 525
1,500
2,100
375
21, 373
340,929
9,300
2, 450
8,480
1, 665
166,878
1,000
1,725
300
3, 335
1,740
9,485

0
0
0
0
3
3
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
1

0
600
2,115
0
0
8,000
7,900
0
0

5, 340
1,340
1,225
0
3,200
8,340
46, 270
0
0

5,630
4,840
9,656
4,000
8,900
22, 710
64, 767
1,955
2,040

0
1
3
0
0
2
0
0

0
6,000

1,565
2,599

1,565
17,958

0
2

1453

HOUSING

T a b l e 1 1 .- E S T I M A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU ED

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933—Continued
E a st N orth Central States — Continued

C ity and State

Michigan—Con.
Battle Creek.
Bay C ity........
Detroit--------Flint . . . . .
Grand Rapids
Grosse Pointe
Park______
Hamtramck.
Highland
H ollan d.. . . .
Jackson...........
Kalamazoo__
Lansing_____
Lincoln Park.
Marquette___
M en om inee..
M uskegon.. .
Royal O a k ..
Saginaw_____
Sault Sainte
W ya n d otte...
Ypsilanti2___
Ohio:
A k r o n ______
Alliance_____
Ashtabula___
B u c y r u s .___
C am brid ge...
Cincinnati___
Cleveland___
Cleveland
Heights____
Columbus___
Cuyahoga
Falls______
D a y to n _____
East Clevel a n d . . ____
E ly r ia ______
Fostoria_____

Fam­
New
New
Total
residen­ nonresi- (includ­ ilies
pro­
tial
dential ing re­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
for
ings
ings

C
$3,000
10, GOC
124,350
2,400
0
1.000
0

$65C
1,185
28, 268
93,910
200
17, 214
6, 659
9,145

$2, 85C
10,174
40, 431
396, 936
2, 600
17, 914
28; 664
22,945

0
' 1
2
24
2
0
1
0

15, 321
6,500

140
8,600

15,811
16, 640

1
1

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4, 250

400
300
50
100, 245
2,902
1,900
408
250
2,000
61,356
420
180
3,355
'460
8,645

12,940
1,397
60
100, 967
7,034
5,285
5,508
450
2,000
62, 956
3,740
1,780
3, 800
'800
17,856

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

2,150
2,600
0

575
325
300

4, 462
5; 725
350

2
1
0

12, 500
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
138, 800
59,500

38,905
75
850
627
0
0
0
3,905
45,085
77,800

71,875
75
1,300
1,327
0
0
0
6, 560
241,100
221,975

3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
25
9

11,200
0

680
14,850

15, 730
122,600

2
0

0
0

250
15,371

250
40,301

0
0

10,000
0

705
400

11,134
5, 655

1
0

0
0

100
350

600
350

0
0

C ity and State

Ohio—Contd.
Frem ont... . .
Hamilton____
Lakewood___
Lorain.. ___
Mansfield___
Marion______
Massillon____
M iddletow n..
Newark_____
Parma_______
Portsmouth. .
Sandusky___
S h a k e r
Heights____
Springfield...
Steubenville..
Struthers . . .
Tiffin________
Toledo ____
W arren.. . . .
W ooster. . _
Xenia_______
Youngstown..
Wisconsin:
Beloit_____ _
Cudahy___ _
Eau Claire__
Fond du L a c.
Green B ay__
Kenosha... . .
Marinette___
M ilw aukee.. .
Racine _ ___
Sheboygan—
Shorewood__
South
Milwaukee. . . .
Superior _ . .
Tw o Rivers. .
Waukesha___
W ausau. ___
W auwatosa...
West Allis___

New
New
Total Fam­
residen­ nonresi- (includ­ ilies
tial
dential ing re­ pro­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
for
ings
ings

(1
0
(j
$14,500
0
0
6, 500
0
5, 800
(
C
c
2,50C
4,00C
0
3,200

$450
1,540
275
6,330
C
505
1,505
2,065
375
81C
43,10C
95C
C
1,228
IOC
985

$1,650
3,735
855
23,370
45C
1,435
11,214
2, 970
7,645
4,985
45,450
1,500
2,575
7,834
100
4,810

0
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
0
1

33, 700
0
6,000
0
0
12,000
4, 000
2,500
500
0

24,100
1,465
1,400
375
0
10,358
1,085
600
6,075
134, 430

61,050
4,240
8,500
375
0
35,817
9,595
3,350
6, 575
144, 560

3
0
1
0
0
4
4
1
1
0

6, 300
0
0
500
0
7, 900
3,300
0
7,000
0
26, 200
5, 661
22,000
21,200
0

85, 510
106,475
300
3,150
6, 665
3,520
0
1,205
2, 500
'715
133, 726
525
4,200
1,790
300

96, 295
107,125
1,325
10,200
8,850
14, 720
3,600
1,930
14, 985
1,215
207,391
10, 261
30,193
42, 776
1,515

3
0
0
1
0
5
1
0
1
0
5
2
1
5
0

0
0
0
7, 300
7, 700
13, 000
0

0
3,200
0
7, 450
725
10, 235
3,285

0
10, 340
833
15, 700
9, 675
23, 760
14, 510

0
0
0
2
4
2
0

922, 447 2 , 388, 452 4, 704,299

197

W e st N orth Central States
Iowa:
Ames________
B urlington .,.
Cedar Rapids
Council Bluffs
Davenport__
Des M oines. .
D ubuque____
Fort D odge.. .
Iowa C ity ___
Marshalltown
Mason C it y ..
Muscatine___
Ottumwa____
Sioux C ity __
W aterloo____

0
0
$11,750
0
7,100
23, 565
5,100
0
6,000
0
13, 000
2,800
4,000
20, 500
18,000

s Not included in totals.

$2,100
550
2, 308
3, 769
55,583
9,315
4, 332
0
750
1,000
23, 793
235
4,350
32,515
1,095


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

$3,150
550
44, 246
14,136
96, 350
43, 244
31, 239
1,000
14, 799
1,150
44, 209
6,185
9,350
55,990
21,500

0
0
6
0
2
12
1
0
2
0
8
2
3
4
2

Kansas:
Arkansas City
Atchison.
Dodge C ity ...
E ldorado.. . .
Emporia_____
Fort Scott___
H utch in son..
Kansas C ity ..
Lawrence____
Leavenworth
M anhattan...
N ewton_____
Pittsburg____
Salina_______
Topeka______
Wichita..........

0
0
0
0
$6, 300
0
6, 000
10, 700
0
13, 500
9,000
3, 220
0
3, 000
8, 400
0

0
$9, 900
0
625
0
0
47, 031
6, 610
350
2, 300
90
330
0
8, 010
3,205
4, 257

0
$10, 200
250
6,830
6, 300
1,350
56, 301
22,495
3,125
16, 300
9,090
5, 625
0
11,885
14, 715
15, 672

0
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
0
3
1
1
0
2
4
0

1454

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

T a b l e 11 . — E S T IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU ED

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933—Continued

West North Central States—

C ity and State

Minnesota:
Albert Lea__
Duluth. ___
Faribault____
Hibbing . . . .
Mankato.
Minneapolis...
Rochester___
St. Cloud. .
St. Paul_____
S o u t h St.
Paul_______
W in o n a ____
Missouri:
Columbia___
Hannibal____
Independence
Jefferson City
Jop lin ._______
Kansas C ity ..
M aplew ood...
St. Charles__
St. Joseph___

New
New
Fam­
residen­ nonresi- Total
ilies
tial
dential (includ­ pro­
ing re­
build­
build­
pairs) vided
ings
ings
for

0
$4,000
4,600
0
3, 000
101,400
0
2, 750
25, 560

0
$1,650
4, 30C
2 ,15C
0
173, 030
6, 750
820
43,971

0
$49, 693
11,900
6, 210
3,435
347| 935
13, 750
5,130
152; 276

0
2
3
0
1
27
0
1
7

3, 000
0

205
0

3,820
1,125

1
0

0
0
0
17,150
2,000
36, 500
0

0
350
7, 500
5,400
1,625
15,100
1,250

0
2,150
7, 500
36,195
7,935
83,900
2, 950

0
0
0
3
2
11
0

0
1,500

’ 250
52,043

l! 350
59, 545

0
1

C o n tin u e d

C ity and State

New
New
Fam­
residen­ nonresi- Total
ilies
tial
dential (includ­
ing re­ pro­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

Missouri—Con.
St. Louis____ $116,450 $446,878 $629, 646
Springfield.._
9, 500
4,950
21,412
Nebraska:
0
260
60
0
1 950
300
Grand Island.
0
6, 550
7, 785
Hastings_____
0
350
350
2, 345
29 413
9, 000
North Platte.
0
0
0
Omaha. ____
75,050
66,100 178,467
North Dakota:
0
5,150
9,000
Grand Forks.
6, 300
515
8, 515
M inot
. ...
0
13, 585
14,835
South Dakota:
Aberdeen.......
0
0
4,290
H u r o n ._____
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rapid C ity .
3, 500
560
5,285
Sioux F a lls..
3, 370
620
16, 745
Total____

598,965 1,089, 760 2, 295,888

28
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
16
0
5
0
0
0
0
2
3
180

South Atlantic States
Delaware:
W ilm ington ..
District of C o­
lumbia:
W ashington..
Florida:
Gainesville__
Jacksonville. .
K ey W est___
M iam i____ _
Orlando_____
Pensacola____
St. Augustine.
St. Petersburg.
Sanford_____
Tam pa______
West Palm
Beach..........
Georgia:
A th en s......... .
Atlanta______
Augusta_____
Brunswick__
Columbus___
Lagrange____
R o m e __ . . .
Savannah..
Maryland:
Annapolis___
Baltimore___
Cum berland..
Frederick____
Hagerstown. _
Salisbury____
North Carolina:
Asheville____
C harlotte... _
C o n c o r d .___
Durham _____
Elizabeth
C ity----------F ayetteville..
Gastonia___
Goldsboro___
Greensboro. . .
High P o in t...
K inston_____
N ew Bern___

$36, 000

$350

$52,805

6

359, 550

86,049

784,935

64

2, 75C
13, 20C
2, 50C
1, 95C
0
4, 950
C
4, 50C
C
2,150

635
341,385
0
24, 580
3,150
671,825
5,000
6, 800
0
4, 625

5,965
398, 585
2,500
85, 423
30, 337
687,127
8,135
35, 500
0
30, 738

4
13
1
3
0
5
0
1
0
4

2,964

265

14,154

2

2, 000
30,000
6,000
0
20, 640
3,400
0
0

0
3, 543
0
0
54, 750
0
0
3,800

4, 525
88, 331
9,132
1,820
81,831
3, 560
4,025
7, 386

1
22
4
0
5
3
0
0

7,800
58,000
0
0
0
13,800

600
281, 005
18, 375
410
1,370
2, 675

82, 481
717, 555
19, 775
5,461
2, 245
16,625

1
15
0
0
0
12

3, 500
6, 000
3, 700
33, 700

850
5,140
0
0

10, 613
21,860
4,000
39, 850

1
1
2
11

2, 300
0
0
7, 700
55,500
3,125
0
0

10, 300
7, 500
0
365
1,232
535
1,000
0

12, 600
9,970
1,100
8,265
74,927
4,785
2,900
2,000

1
0
0
2
2
2
0
0


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

North Carolina
—Contd.
Raleigh______
R ocky Mount
Salisbury____
Statesville___
Thom asville..
W ilm ington ..
W ilson______
Winston - Sa­
lem .. _____
South Carolina:
Anderson____
C harleston...
Columbia___
Greenville___
G reenw ood...
Rock H ill___
Sum ter..........
Virginia:
Alexandria__
C h a r lo tt e s ­
ville_______
Danville____
Hopewell___
L yn ch b u rg...
N ewport
News______
Norfolk.
Petersburg__
Portsm outh..
Richm ond___
R oa n ok e____
Staunton____
Suffolk______
Winchester. .
West Virginia:
Bluefield____
Charleston___
Clarksburg. ...
Fairmont . . .
H un tington..
M artinsburg.
M organtown.
Wheeling. . . .
Total____

0
$700
4,51C
C

c
0
c

$3, 040
900
C
0
135
75
0

$3, 040
1,975
5, 79C
1,600
135
6,432
150

0
1
2
0
0
0
0

15,075

4, 417

32,790

7

3,350
1, 60C
C
1,020
C
7,000
3, 500

7,260
0
1,387
4,390
500
2, 500
0

12, 295
88, 688
9,917
13, 215
2,920
16,025
3, 500

3
2
0
1
0
11
2

7, 500

490

12, 433

3

8,000
600
1, 200
8,100

0
3, 798
85
9,150

10, 878
6, 704
1,755
36, 400

3
1
1
3

5, 600
13, 896
0
0
0
9,000
4, 700
0
13, 550

2, 994
13, 095
755
396,958
54,735
667
100
4, 330
25

28, 533
138, 546
755
647, 754
100, 808
15, 544
5,030
5, 630
14, 075

4
4
0
0
0
2
2
0
3

0
4,800
0
6,800
6,000
0
0
0

100
5,800
1,835
2, 750
1,035
0
650
3, 450

1,620
21, 299
2, 575
13,900
11,310
500
2,410
13, 010

0
2
0
2
3
0
0
0

814, 210 2,065, 520 4, 663,767

250

1455

H O U S IN G

T a b l e 1 1 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU ED

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933—Continued

South Central States

C ity and State

Alabama:
Anniston____
B essem er___
B ir m in g D e c a t u r ____
Huntsville___
M ontgom ery.
Selma______
Arkansas:
B ly th eville...
El Dorado___
Fort Smith ._
H ot Springs..
Little R o ck ...
Texarkana___
Kentucky:
Fort Thom as.
Henderson___
Lexington___
L o u is v ille __
Louisiana:
Alexandria. .
Lafayette____
New Orleans.
Shreveport__
Mississippi:
B ilo x i.. ____
Clarksdale . . .
Columbus___
G reenwood...
H attiesburg..
Jackson. ___
Laurel----------M e r id ia n ___
Vicksburg___
Oklahoma:
A d a ................
Bartlesville...
Chickasha___
E nid________

Fam­
New
New
Total
residen­ nonresi- (includ­ ilies
pro­
dential ing re­
tial
vided
build­
build­
pairs)
for
ings
ings

0
$547

0
0

$5,815
1,722

0
0

$500
0
0
0
0
7,900
0
2,600

6,020
'750
14,00C
0
0
1,010
72| 756
C

29,271
'750
16,600
725
1,500
22,088
97, 629
4, 765

1
0
0
0
0
8
0
1

500
0
0
0
0
3, 600

0
c
0
1,000
2,031
0

1,500
50
5,996
1,000
13,454
8, 650

1
0
0
0
0
3

6, 000
0
0
26,000
2,000

0
0
360
150, 200
0

6,000
0
9,867
247,175
5,000

1
0
0
6
2

6,000
0
26, 800
6,462

725
0
1,085
29, 725

34,916
0
110,140
58,092

1
0
7
7

1,500
0
0
0
3,175
0
0
0
0
0

1,500
0
3, 650
0
0
900
675
0
2,000
0

3,000
825
3,650
0
3,175
3,900
13, 020
0
9,760
386

0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
1,000
0
3, 500

450
300
50,000
400
15, 000

450
300
51,000
898
20,490

0
0
1
0
1

C ity and State

Oklahoma —
Continued.
McAlester___
Oklahoma
C ity_______
Okmulgee----Sapulpa.........
Seminole____
Shawnee.
Tulsa________
Tennessee:
Chattanooga.
Jackson.. . . .
Kingsport___
Knoxville____
M em phis____
Nashville____
Texas:
Abilene______
Amarillo_____
Austin_______
Beaumont___
Big Spring___
B row n w ood..
Cleburne. . . .
Corsicana___
Dallas_______
Denison 2-----E lP a s o .. . . .
Fort W o r t h ..
Galveston----Harlingen----Houston. .
L u b b o ck .. . .
Palestine___
Paris'________
San A n gelo...
San A ntonio..
Sherman . . .
Sweetwater—.
Tem ple______
Texarkana 2_.
W ichita Falls.
Total------

New
New
Fam­
Total
residen­ nonresi- (includ­ ilies
tial
dential ing re­ pro­
build­
build­
pairs) vided
ings
for
ings

$379

$879

1

1,000 873, 800
300
0
0
0
5,449
16,300
350
0
Û 20,425

887,495
300
0
22,465
1,250
36, 038

2
0
0
5
0
0

2,950
9, 850
0
5, 520
18,980
2, 550

26, 600
450
0
18,900
5,200
3,021

47, 784
10, 860
0
29, 206
116, 220
31,435

3
3
0
2
7
5

0
4,000
18,802
0
0
0
(!
0
24, 20(!
0
(
28, 20(
12, 35C
2, 45C
131, 67f
5, 00C
9, 20C
C
550
1, 20C
22,165
4,000
0
0
C
11, 700
0

0
30
2, 980
17, 547
0
600
0
550
40, 715
9, 000
11,662
18,400
18, 725
13, 775
75,859
800
692
800
335
8, 500
20,932
215
0
0
0
57, 633
2,065

5,299
11,442
33,074
27, 702
3, 760
1,850
661
1,250
144,111
14, 250
15, 734
68, 501
43, 219
181,442
227,034
7,955
12, 682
1,475
3,934
12, 650
76,424
7,310
175
150
2,092
72, 708
7,345

0
1
13
0
0
0
0
0
12
0
0
13
6
2
83
1
7
0
1
1
13
4
0
0
0
8
0

430,679 1,602, 773 2,945, 378

235

$500

Mountain and Pacific States
Arizona:
Phoenix_____
T u c s o n _____
California:
Alameda____
A lham bra..
Bakersfield.
Berkeley........
Beverly Hills.
Burbank____
Burlingame...
Compton
Fresno
Fullerton.. . .
Hun t i n g t o n
Park __ . .
Inglewood___
Long Beach.
Los Angeles..
M odesto_____

0
$4, 750

0
$1,135

$8,133
23,127

0
1

0
0
0
8, 400
19, 000
143, 500
9, 500
40,000
600
0
21,000
0
4, 650
36^200

2,581
7, 500
18, 500
910
5, 750
39,900
19,380
0
18,950
6,800
13' 567
0
390
8,040

8,681
22, 361
18, 500
15, 625
40, 244
204, 700
31,030
44,000
21,014
9, 560
75', 573
4,107
6, 720
50, 749

0
0
0
5
5
15
3
2
1
0
3
0
3
9

53,928
2, 000
17,610
13,110
10, 000
800
25, 450
23,850 551, 280
471, 210 1,919,512 2, 768, 477
0
4, 617
0

2 N ot included in totals.


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

1
5
11
144
0

California—
Continued.
M onrovia___
O n ta rio_____
Palo A lto____
Pasadena........
Pomona_____
R ed la n d s___
Richm ond___
Riverside____
Sacramento...
Salinas______
San BernardiSan Diego___
San F r a n San Leandro..
San M ateo__
Santa Ana___
Santa Barbara_________
Santa C ru z ...

$1,000
0
38, 550
1,575
6,000
0
5, 500
0
12,025
0

$128
0
7, 250
7,427
6, 350
0
5, 775
5, 250
13, 550
2,035

$10, 274
1,700
51, 575
55, 610
21, 233
4, 476
15, 500
15,236
100, 645
4, 510

0
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
5
0

3, 500
58,400

2,160
215,098

39,234
409,161

1
20

185,149
24,370
3, 500
27,000
9, 500

112,921
30,940
51
400
450

521,199
64,875
4,586
30, 625
24, 698

54
8
1
4
2

11,050
7,350

11, 325
3,290

27,925
14,921

4
3

1456

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T a b l e 1 1 ,—E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU ED

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933-Continued
M o u n ta i n and P a cific States — Continued

C ity and State

California—
Continued.
Santa Monica.
Santa R osa...
South G a te...
South Pasadena_______
Stockton___
Vallejo. ___
W hittier... ..
Colorado:
Boulder.
Colorado
Springs____
Denver ____
Fort C ollins..
Grand Junetion.
Greeley. ___
Pueblo______
Idaho:
B o is e _______
Pocatello____
Montana:
Anaconda___
Billings______
Butte________
Great Falls.. .
Helena______
Missoula____
Nevada:
R e n o _____

New
New
Fam­
residen­ nonresi- Total
ilies
tial
dential (includ­ pro­
ing
re­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

$7,150
2,500
7,000

$1, 725
475
350

$16, 68C
7,110
12, 613

2
1
3

0
0
19, 300
C

C
1, 95C
3,000
C

3, 442
24, 257
24, 555
50C

0
0
6
0

0

515

1,585

0

0
66, 00C
0

2, 585
123, 035
450

9, 615
270,320
2,615

0
13
0

0
0
500

280
205
1,975

1,043
2,447
9,151

0
0
1

2,600
0

15,996
500

44, 376
3,150

1
0

0
0
0
0
4,100
1, 300

0
1,075
1,370
1,425
1,045
9,100

0
3, 475
3,310
3, 225
5, 650
10, 500

0
0
0
0
7
2

1,000

13,800

39, 536

1

C ity and State

New Mexico:
Albuquerque.
Oregon:
A s t o r ia .____
Eugene______
Klam at h
Falls______
M edford_____
Portland____
S a le m ...........
Utah:

New
New
Total Fam­
residen­ nonresiilies
tial
dential (includ­
ing
re­ pro­
build­
build­
vided
pairs)
ings
ings
for

$2, 300

$44, 596

$51,451

1

0
4,000

4,270
85

9, 998
8,175

0
1

0
750
58,150
3, 600

590
0
32,975
1,365

5,792
5,410
164,990
14,129

0
1
15
2

2 500
L 000

L 500

4 000
% 675

2
1

18, 350

1,153

32, 601

0
2,000
13, 500
0
1,500
1,500
1,000
20,950
10, 535
0 600
0
0

0
0
575,000
25
620
3, 075
0
10, 235
121, 567

1, 250
5,860
693, 437
2,050
5,190
7, 828
1, 500
117, 267
144, 546

0
1
9
0
1
1
1
12
4

’ 275
50

3! 449
165

0
0

0

845

2,081

0

T o ta l... . 1, 453, 414 3, 517,407 7,184, 568

418

Provo. ____
Salt Lake
Washington:
Aberdeen___
Bellingham ...
Bremerton___
H o q u ia m ___
Longview ___
Olympia_____
Port Angeles..
Seattle .........
Spokane_____
Walla W alla..
Wenatchee . .
W yoming:
Cheyenne___

H a w a ii

City

Honolulu_________ __________ ________

N ew resi­
dential
buildings

N ew nonresidential
buildings

$64, 855

$51,092

Total (in­
Fami­
cluding re­ lies pro­
pairs)
vided for
$150, 388

34

Building Subsidy and Building Activity in New Zealand
COMMUNICATION from Walter W. Orebaugh, American vice
consul in Wellington, New Zealand, dated September 15, 1933,
states that there was a marked revival of building activity in that
country during the 3 months, June, July, and August, due in part to
the impetus given to the industry by the introduction of a Govern­
ment subsidy in aid of wages for building labor, in part to the public
works program, and in part to the general improvement in business.

A

Government Subsidy to the Building Industry

A p l a n , known as the “ No. 10 Scheme” , for a subsidy to encourage
building was adopted in July 1932, but it contained several restrictive
provisions which interfered with its effectiveness, and it was dropped
after a period of 6 months. On June 1, 1933, it was reintroduced on a
more liberal basis.
The No. 10 scheme, as amended, placed no specific restriction as to the class
of new buildings, alterations, additions to, or renovations of buildings upon which
a wages subsidy would be granted. On approved works a wages subsidy of 3 3 %
percent was paid from the unemployment fund, a fund constituted by a uniform


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

HOUSING

1457

levy of 5 percent on practically all classes of salary and wages earned by persons
resident in New Zealand. In the case of the erection of new dwelling houses not
exceeding £ 6 50 whole building cost, the wages subsidy was at the rate of 50 per­
cent on the total wages.

This led to an immediate increase of building activity, and on
September 6 the Government announced that as from September
12 no further applications for the subsidy would be entertained.
There was a rush to get in applications before this date was reached,
and though official statistics covering the period during which the
scheme was in operation are not yet available, it is estimated that the
total number of applications will be found to exceed 6,000, involving
an expenditure of approximately £3,000,000.
That the object in view has been achieved by the action of the Government
in reintroducing the subsidy scheme is evident from the above figure which
corresponds more than favorably with the figure for the same period in 1926,
the year when building activity in New Zealand reached its highest pitch.
It is considered noteworthy that the scheme has caused a distinct increase
in home building. Besides new homes, there has been considerable activity in
additions and renovations. Only a small fraction of this work would have been
undertaken at the present time if the subsidy had not been a. stimulating factor.
Public Works Program

A nother stimulus to building activity was the ann ouncement made
on June 30,1933, that the Government proposed to embark on a public
works program involving an expenditure of approximately £920,000
as one means of alleviating the unfavorable economic conditions,
including the widespread and increasing unemployment.
The program includes the construction of a new terminal railway station at
Wellington to replace the old one which has been an eyesore to the city for many
years, the electrification of that portion of the Wellington-Auckland main-line
railway between Wellington and Packakariki, a town situated at a distance of 27
miles northeast ofWellington, and the erection of a new post-office building at
Dunedin.
In making this announcement the acting Prime Minister, the Right Honorable
J. G. Coates, said that the present favorable price level upon which constructional
costs can now be computed made it desirable that the Government initiate its
program at this time.

New Provisions for Public Subsidies for Building in Germany 1

S A part of its program to combat unemployment the German
L Government has since September 1932 granted subsidies totaling
700 million marks ($166,600,000) 2 to the building trades for repair,
extension, partitioning, and remodeling work, in regard to which the
Ministry of Labor recently stated that “ the granting of Government
subsidies for repair and partitioning has already proven itself to be a
particularly suitable method of creating work. ”
The latest appropriation for building subsidies— 500 million marks
($119,000,000)—was made September 21 and on October 9 regula­
tions regarding the granting of individual subsidies from this fund
were announced. These regulations also govern any future subsidies
granted from unexpended balances of previous subsidies. The new
regulations are much more liberal than the old and permit subsidies
to owners or tenants for almost every kind of improvement to builtup property.

A

1 Report of C. W . Gray, American Vice Consul at Berlin, Oct. 17, 1933.
2 Conversions into United States currency on basis of mark at par=23.8 cents.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1458

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

In the case of repairs and extensions the subsidy amounts to 20
percent of the cost of the work, but the total cost of each job must be
at least 100 marks ($23.80). For partitioning and remodeling the
subsidy is 50 percent of the total cost, but the maximum subsidy
which can be granted is limited to 1,000 marks ($238).
In addition, the Government will issue to the person to whom the
subsidy is granted 6 interest coupons, each of which is equal to 4
percent of the amount spent by such persons (exclusive of the subsidy
itself) for repair, extension, partitioning, or remodeling work. These
coupons will be redeemed in cash— one every year— during the years
1934 to 1939.
The following examples show to what extent the subsidy is granted:
A person who spends 1,000 marks for repairs or extension to his
property receives a subsidy of 200 marks (20 percent of the cost).
He must provide the other 800 marks himself. However, he receives
6 interest coupons, each good for 32 marks (4 percent of 800 marks)
which amount to a further subsidy of 192 marks. His total subsidy
is, therefore, 392 marks (200 marks in cash plus 192 marks in coupons)
or 39 percent of the total cost of the 1,000-mark job. If a person
spends 2,000 marks for the partitioning or remodeling of a building,
the cash subsidy amounts to 1,000 marks (50 percent of the total
cost), leaving 1,000 marks which he himself must provide. He re­
ceives in addition 6 interest coupons, each good for 40 marks (4
percent of 1,000 marks), making a further subsidy of 240 marks.
The total subsidy, therefore, is 1,240 marks (1,000 marks in cash plus
240 marks in coupons) or 62 percent of the entire cost of the work.
Subsidies can be granted to the owner, tenant, renter, or other
proprietor of any kind of building. There are only two exceptions:
(1) Subsidies cannot be granted in the case of buildings owned or
administered by the Federal or State Government; and (2) subsidies
can be granted for buildings owned or administered by local govern­
ment only when such government contributes its share from funds not
provided for in the regular budget.
Work for which subsidies are granted under the new regulations
must be ended by March 31, 1934, and they are listed as follows:
Improvements (both external and internal) of all kinds, polishing,
painting, papering, and general beautifying; repairs to or renewals of
roof gutters, rain pipes, or the building of new roofs; renewals of or
improvements to windows, doors, floors, ceilings, stairways, and
bannisters; renewals of and improvements to lighting, heating, gas,
and water fixtures; repairs to fences and the tiling of courtyards.
Extensions include work which adds to the permanent worth of
buildings, such as electric wiring, the installation of heating plants,
ventilating systems, bathrooms, closets, elevators, and hooking up
with sewerage mains. The building of extensions to fences and the
laying of additional tiling in courtyards also come under this heading.
The general rules governing partitioning and remodeling work are as
follows: In the case of partitioning subsidies can be granted only if two
or more apartments are created out of one. On remodeling work sub­
sidies can be granted only if one or more apartments are made from the
building or room remodeled. The addition of another floor to a building
is considered as remodeling. Each newly created apartment must be
complete in itself with its own rooms, kitchen, and, whenever possible,
private entrance. Subsidies can be given also when only a part of an
apartment is created, such as a cellar for protection against air raids.

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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Hours and Earnings in Foundries and Machine Shops, 1933

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor through its agents collected, from pay rolls and other
records, figures covering days and hours worked and the earnings
received by 19,763 wage earners of 364 representative foundries and
by 41,960 wage earners of 492 machine shops in the United States;
these figures are mainly for a representative pay-roll period in April,
May, or June 1933. Table 1 presents summary data for 1933, to­
gether with similar data for each of the other years in which studies
of these industries have been made by the Bureau.1 Details of the
1933 study will be published later in bulletin form.
Table 1 shows that the foundry workers earned an average of 48.2
cents per hour and $14.25 in 1 week in 1933, as compared with 60
cents and $20.06 in 1931 and 62.4 cents and $30.39 in 1929. In 1933
their hourly earnings were 19.7 percent less than in 1931 and 22.8 per­
cent less than in 1929. Machine-shop employees earned an average
of 54 cents per hour and $18.71 in 1 week in 1933, 63.4 cents and
$24.22 in 1931, 63.8 cents per hour and $32.06 in 1 week in 1929.
In 1933 their hourly earnings were 14.8 percent less than in 1931 and
15.4 percent less than in 1929.
Hours actually worked in a representative week by the wage
earners in the foundries averaged 29.6 in 1933, as compared with 33.5
in 1931 and 48.7 in 1929. They worked 59.9 percent of full time in
1933, 66.6 percent in 1931, and 95.5 percent in 1929; there was, in
other words, 40.1 percent of short time or lost time in 1933, as against
33.4 percent in 1931 and only 4.5 percent in 1929. The wage earners
in machine shops actually worked an average of 34.6 hours (71.3
percent of full time) in 1933, 38.2 hours (76.7 percent) in 1931, and
50.3 hours (exactly full time) in 1929; there was, thus, 28.7 percent of
lost time in machine shops in 1933, 23.3 percent in 1931, and no short
time in 1929.
Full-time hours per week of wage earners in foundries averaged
49.4 in 1933, 50.3 in 1931, and 51 in 1929; and in machine shops they
averaged 48.5 hours in 1933, 49.8 in 1931, and 50.3 in 1929.
The full-time earnings per week of the wage earners in the foun­
dries studied averaged $23.81 in 1933, $30.18 in 1931, and $31.82 in
1929, while those in machine shops averaged $26.19 in 1933, $31.57 in
1931, and $32.09 in 1929. These are the average amounts that would
have been earned had each wage earner worked full time in the week
covered in the study, at the same average rate per hour as was earned
in the week.

T

1 For details for each year studied prior to 1933, see Bureau of Labor Statistics Buis. Nos. 362, 422, 471,
522, and 570.


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1459

1460

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Table 1 also shows index numbers of average full-time hours per
week, average earnings per hour, and average full-time earnings per
week, using the 1923 average as the base or 100.
T a b l e 1 .— A V E R A G E H OU RS A N D E A R N IN G S IN F O U N D R IE S A N D M A C H IN E SHOPS
A INJD Y JEAK

N U M B E RS T H E R E O F , F O R A L L W A G E E A R N E R S ? 'B Y IN D U S T R Y

Hours actu­
ally worked
in 1 week

Industry and year

Foundries:
1923________________
1925 _
____ __
1927
___ _
1929__ ___ ___
1931 _ __ _____ _
I933___ __ _______
Machine shops:
1923_______________
1925___ _______ . . .
1927______ _ . . .
1929.. .
. ...
1931___ ______ _
1933____ ______ . . .

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

Index numbers
(1923=100) of—
AverAverAverA ver­
age
age
N um ­
age
full­
Aver­
ber of full­
earn­ time actual A ver­
earn­
A ver­ age
wage time
ings
earn­
age
hours
Aver­ Per­
ings
age
full­
earners
per
ings
full­
per
age cent
in 1
earn­ time
per
week num­ of full hour
week time
ings
earn­
week
hours
ber time
per
ings
per
per
week hour
week

351
413
417
399
388
364

32,166
40, 393
38, 943
40, 391
28, 699
19, 763

52.4
51. 5
51.1
51.0
50.3
49.4

0)
(■)
46.6
48. 7
33.5
29.6

429
511
526
508
512
492

58,914
86,274
86, 779
91,491
65, 938
41, 960

50.8
50. 4
50. 1
50.3
49.8
48.5

0)
0)
0)
Cl
48.2 96. 2
50.3 100.0
38.2 76. 7
34.6 71.3

0) $0. 558 $29. 24
(■)
0)
.610 31.42
0)
91.2
.624 31.89 $29. 04
95.5
.624 31.82 30. 39
66. 6
.600 30. 18 20.06
59.3
.482 23.81 14. 25
.559
.602
.625
.638
.634
.540

28.40
30. 34
31.31
32. 09
31.57
26. 19

(0
(0
30. 15
32. 06
24.22
18. 71

100.0
98.3
97.5
97.3
96.0
94.3

100.0
109.3
111.8
111.8
107. 5
86.4

100. 0
107. 5
109.1
108. 8
103. 2
81.4

100. 0
99. 2
98. 6
99.0
98. 0
95.5

100. 0
107. 7
111. 8
114. 1
113. 4
96.6

100. 0
106. 8
110. 2
] 13. 0
111. 2
92.2

1 Data not available.

Average Days, Hours, and Earnings, 1931 and 1933, by Occupation and Sex

T able 2 shows the average number of days on which wage earners
worked in 1 week, the average full-time and actual hours and earnings
m 1 week, the average earnings per hour, and the percent of full time
actually worked in a representative week in 1931 and 1933. The
averages are for all wage earners of each sex found in each of the
important occupations in the foundries and in the machine shops that
were covered in the study and also for the group designated in the
table as “ other employees” , which includes wage earners in other
occupations.
Averages in the table are shown for males in all and for females in 3
of the 12 important occupations in foundries, and for males in all and
for females in 16 of the 27 important occupations in machine shops,
and also for the group of “ other employees” of each sex in each
industry.
Average hours actually worked in foundries in 1 week by males
ranged in 1931, by occupations, from a low of 29.6 for molders, hand,
floor, to a high of 39.8 for patternmakers, and in 1933 from 25.7 to
38.9 for the same occupations. Those worked by females ranged in
1931 from 20.8 for laborers to 31.2 for coremakers and in 1933 from
16.9 to 31.5 for the same occupations.
Average earnings per hour of males ranged in 1931, by occupations,
from 46 cents for laborers to 83.4 cents for patternmakers, and in
1933 from 37.8 cents to 65.2 cents for the same occupations. Those


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W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1461

of females ranged in 1931 from 37.7 cents for laborers to 49.6 cents
for chippers and rough grinders and in 1933 from 29.6 cents for
laborers to 32.4 cents for coremakers.
Average actual earnings of males in 1 week in 1931 ranged, by occu­
pations, from $15.43 for laborers to $33.19 for patternmakers and in
1933 from $10.50 to $25.36 for the same occupations. Those of fe­
males ranged in 1931 from $7.83 for laborers to $13.42 for coremakers
and in 1933 from $5 to $10.22 for these same occupations.
Average hours actually worked in machine shops in 1 week by males
ranged, in 1931, by occupations, from a low of 29.6 for hammersmiths,
to a high of 41.9 for toolmakers and in 1933 from 29.3 to 36.8 for the
same occupations. Those worked by females ranged in 1931 from 13
for engine-lathe operators to 56.3 for laborers and in 1933 from 30.1
for grinding-machine operators to 43 for screw-machine operators,
hand.
Average earnings per hour of males ranged, by occupations, in 1931
from 45.5 cents for laborers to 81.2 cents for patternmakers and in
1933 from 37.9 cents to 67.1 cents for the same occupations. Those
of females ranged in 1931 from 32.6 cents for screw-m achine operators,
semiautomatic, to 52.7 cents for turret-lathe operators and in 1933
from 20.4 cents for screw-machine operators, hand, to 54.1 cents for
turret-lathe operators.
Average actual earnings of males in 1 week in 1931 ranged, by occu­
pations, from $17.56 for laborers to $33.22 for patternmakers and in
1933 from $12.52 for laborers to $23.62 for toolmakers. Those of
females ranged in 1931 from $6.71 for engine-lathe operators, to $22
for laborers and in 1933 from $8.79 for screw-machine operators,
hand, to $18.32 for turret-lathe operators.
Average earnings per hour and average actual earnings in 1 week
of males and of females in each occupation in foundries and in machine
shops (except males in the group of “ other emploj^ees” in machine
shops and female grinding-machine operators, engine-lathe operators,
turret-lathe operators, and polishers and buffers) were less in 1933 than
in 1931. Males in the group of “ other employees” in machine shops
earned an average of 50.6 cents per hour and $19.82 in 1 week in 1931
and 55 cents per hour and $20.05 in 1 week in 1933. Female grindingmachine operators earned an average of 44.3 cents per hour in 1931
and 51.9 cents per hour in 1933. Female engine-lathe operators earned
an average of 51.6 cents per hour and $6.71 in 1 week in 1931 and 52.3
cents per hour and $17.44 in 1933. They actually worked an average
of 13 hours or 26 percent of full time in 1931 and 33.3 hours or 72.4
percent of full time in 1933. Female turret-lathe operators earned
an average of 52.7 cents per hour and $8.52 in 1 week in 1931 and
54.1 cents per hour and $18.32 in 1 week in 1933. They actually
worked an average of 16.2 hours or 32.4 percent of full time in 1931
and an average of 33.8 hours or 75.1 percent of full time in 1933.
Female polishers and buffers earned an average of 37 .7 cents per hour
and $13.08 in 1 week in 1931 and 40 cents per hour and $14.07 in 1
week in 1933.
21719°—33----- 13


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1462

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 3 —A V E R A G E D A Y S , H OU R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y ,
O C C U P A T IO N , A N D S E X

Foundries

Occupation and sex

Aver­ Aver­
N um ­
age
age
ber of N um ­
fulldays
Year estab­ ber of
time
wage
worked
lish­
earners
in 1 hours
ments
per
week
week

Chippers and rough grinders:
Male_________________ _ ___ 1931
1933
Female__________________ _ 1931
Coremakers:
M ale________________ ____ 1931
1933
F em ale_________________ __ 1931
1933
Crane operators, male
___ _ 1931
1933
Cupola tenders, male___________ 1931
1933
Laborers:
M ale_______________________ 1931
1933
Female_______ __ _________ 1931
1933
Molders (hand), bench, male___ 1931
1933
Molders (hand), floor, male.
1931
1933
Molders (machine), male___ ... 1931
1933
Molders’ helpers, floor, male___ 1931
1933
Patternmakers, male
1931
1933
Rough carpenters, male- . 1931
1933
Sand blasters, male________
1931
1933
Other employees:
Male_____ ____ ____________ 1931
1933
Female_________________
1931
1933
All occupations:
M a le--______ ________
Female______________
Male and female-

1931
1933
1931
1933
_ 1931
1133

Hours actu­
Aver­
ally worked
Aver­
in 1 week Aver­ age
age
age
full­
time
earn­
ings
earn­
Aver­ Per­
ings
per
ings
age cent
in 1
per
num­ of full hour
week
week
ber time

367
334
1

3,048
2,150
12

4.1
3.7
3.2

50. 6
49.4
50.0

33.1
29.8
21.5

65.4 $0. 509 $25.76
60.3
.396 19. 56
43.0
.496 24.80

374
331
34
30
217
177
344
306

2, 253
1,622
179
118
768
569
430
375

3.9
3.7
4.0
3.9
4.3
3.5
4.0
3.4

50.0
49.0
48.6
48.1
50.8
49.5
50.8
49.9

31.2
29.8
31. 2
31.5
37.6
30. 5
34.5
28.9

62.4
60.8
64. 2
65.5
74.0
61.6
67.9
57.9

.706
. 550
.430
.324
. 552
.440
.597
.470

35. 30
26.95
20.90
15. 58
28.04
21. 78
30. 33
23.45

22. 05
16.41
13. 42
10. 22
20.74
13.40
20.59
13. 60

366
330
5
4
300
273
376
349
215
190
231
182
194
182
237
169
157
152

6,907
4,134
10
16
1,593
1,361
3, 752
2, 556
2, 538
1,840
1, 234
756
1,107
708
424
232
266
238

4.0
3.4
2.9
2.8
3.7
3.3
3.6
3.2
3.7
3.5
3.9
3.6
4.9
4.7
4.5
3.9
4.2
3.8

50.8
50.0
47.8
50.6
50. 2
49.3
50.0
48.9
50.0
49.2
50.0
48.7
49.3
49.2
50.3
49. 2
50.3
50.0

33.6
27.8
20.8
16.9
30.2
27.2
29.6
25.7
30.4
28.5
33.6
29.8
39.8
38.9
37.4
31.0
34.7
30.9

66.1
55.6
43.5
33.4
60.2
55.2
59.2
52.6
60.8
57.9
67.2
61. 2
80.7
79. 1
74. 4
63.0
69.0
61.8

.460
.378
.377
.296
.727
.550
.782
.612
.661
.508
.492
.382
.834
.652
.599
.466
.559
.413

23.37
18.90
18. 02
14.98
36. 50
27.12
39.10
29. 93
33. 05
24.99
24. 60
18. 60
41.12
32.08
30.13
22.93
28.12
20. 65

15. 43
10. 50
7.83
5.00
21. 96
14.98
23.14
15. 70
20.06
14. 50
16.50
11. 40
33.19
25. 36
22.40
14. 47
19.41
12.76

358
316
6
4

4,149
3,078
29
10

4.6
4.0
3.5
5.7

50.5
49.8
49.6
46.7

38.6
34.0
24.4
36.4

76.4
68.3
49.2
77.9

.600
.496
.345
.228

30. 30
24. 70
17.11
10.65

23.16
16. 87
8. 44
8. 30

388
364
34
31
388
364

28,469
19,619
230
144
28. 699
19, 763

4.0
3.6
3.9
3.9
4.0
3.6

50.3
49.4
48.7
48.3
50.3
49.4

33.5
29.4
29.4
30.2
33.5
29.6

66.6
59.9
60.4
62.5
66.6
£9.9

.601
.483
.422
.314
.600
.482

30.23
23. 86
20. 55
15.17
30. 18
23.81

20.13
14. 28
12.40
9. 51
20. 06
14. 25

$24.84
18.31
16. 01
11.48
26. 57
18. 02
19. 47
13.16
27.39
19.98

$16.86
11.78
10.65

Machine shops
Assemblers:
M ale__________________
Female________ ______
Blacksmiths, male________
Blacksmiths’ helpers, male.
Boring-mill operators, male.
Crane operators:
M ale__________________
Female_____________
Craters and packers:
M ale__________ ____ ___
Female.............................


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1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

360
322
19
18
373
281
228
129
337
296

5,446
3, 647
145
197
698
395
481
217
1, 722
1,020

4.6
4.4
4.7
4.5
4.5
3.9
4.5
3.8
4.5
4.2

49.9
48.3
50.7
47.6
50.5
49.0
49.8
48.8
50.0
49.1

37.9
34.0
37.6
31.9
36.5
30.0
36.5
30.4
37.4
33.5

76.0 $0. 656 $32. 73
70.4
.538 25.99
74.2
.426 21.60
67.0
.359 17.09
72.3
.728 36. 76
61.2
.601 29. 45
73.3
.533 26. 54
62.3
.433 21.13
74.8
.733 36.65
68.2
.596 29.26

1931
1933
1931

221
136
2

780
401
2

4.7
4.3
5.5

50.4
49.8
47.5

39.7
35.0
46.0

78.8
70.3
96.8

.537
.444
.422

27. 06
22.11
20. 05

21.35
15.52
19. 38

1931
1933
1931
1933

253
191
9
6

1,218
824
32
22

4.7
4.4
4.4
4.8

50.1
48.6
49.7
47.8

39.1
35.0
34.1
37.9

78.0
72.0
68.6
79.3

.540
.437
.343
.281

27. 05
21. 24
17. 05
13.43

21.10
15.31
11.71
10. 66

1463

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 2 —A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y
O C C U P A T IO N , A N D S E X —Continued

Machine shops—

Occupation and sex

Drill-press operators:
Male_-...................
Female Fitters and bench hands:
M ale................ . ..........
Female.
Grinding-machine operators:
M ale_____________ ______
F e m a le ................
Hammersmiths, male.
Helpers, not otherwise specified,
m ale._____ _______ _____ ___
Laborers:
Male..
FemaleLathe operators, engine:
M ale______ _____ ___
Female.
Lathe operators, turret:
M ale_______________
Female______
Machinists, male.
Machinists’ and toolmakers’
helpers, male-_____ _________
Milling-machine operators:
M ale___ ____ _________
Female___________
Patternmakers, male - Planer operators, malePolishers and buffers:
M ale______________
Female.
Screw-machine operators (auto­
matic), male_________________
Screw-machine operators (hand)
M ale_____________________
Fem ale.
Screw-machine operators (semi­
automatic) :
M ale__________ _________
Female-


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C o n tin u e d

Hours actu­
Aver­
Aver­
Aver­ Aver- ally worked Aver­
age
N um ­
age
in 1 week
age
N
um
­
age
age
full­
ber of
fullactual
days
earn­ time
Year estab­ ber of
time
earn­
wage
worked
ings
earn­
lish­
ings
in 1 hours Aver Per­
per
ings
ments earners
per
age cent
in 1
week
per
week num­ of full hour
week
week
ber time

1931
1933
1931
1933

415
340
14
10

3,139
1,974
47
65

4.4
4.3
4.5
4.7

49.8
48.5
49.3
46.4

36.0
33.7
36.1
38.2

72.3 $0. 612 $30. 48
69.5
.514 24.93
73.2
.446 21.99
82.3
.419 19. 44

1931
1933
1931
1933

341
290
10
8

5,447
2,244
45
62

4.6
4.3
4.3
4.4

49.5
48.5
50.4
48.0

38.0
33.7
37.1
32.9

76.8
69.5
73.6
63.5

.666
.562
.411
.326

32. 97
27. 26
20.71
15. 65

25. 28
18.96
15. 23
10. 72

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

290
234
2
4
50
41

2,088
1,575
3
6
134
116

4.4
4.3
4.7
4.2
3.6
3.7

50.2
47.9
48.0
46.3
49.4
49.2

36.9
34.2
39.3
30.1
29.6
29.3

73.5
71.4
81.9
65. 0
59.9
59.6

.669
.557
.443
.519
.776
.614

33. 58
26. 68
21.26
24. 03
38. 33
30. 21

24. 69
19. 04
17. 43
15. 60
22. 94
18.00

1931
1933

278
214

2,262
960

4.5
4.3

50.6
48.8

37.1
35.0

73.3
71.7

.481
.399

24. 34
19.47

17.84
13.94

1931
1933
1931
1933

426
345
1
7

5,173
2, 553
4
20

4.6
4.2
6.0
5.0

50.3
48.8
49.5
49.1

38.6 76.7
33.0 67.6
56.3 113.7
39.3 80.0

.455
.379
.391
.309

22.89
18. 50
19.35
15.17

17. 56
12. 52
22.00
12.13

1931
1933
1931
1933

407
357
1
2

3,551
2,274
3
3

4.5
4.2
2.0
4.7

50.0
48.8
50.0
46.0

36.8
33.5
13.0
33.3

73. 6
68.6
26.0
72.4

.706
.578
.516
.523

35.30
28. 21
25. 80
24.06

25.97
19. 33
6. 71
17.44

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

333
288
2
1
374
342

2,467
1,702
3
3
2,575
1,988

4.4
4.2
2.3
4.0
4.8
4.6

49.8
48. 5
50.0
45.0
49.0
48.3

35.6
33.3
16.2
33.8
40.4
36.7

71.5
68.7
32.4
75.1
82.4
76.0

.672
.559
.527
.541
.733
.606

33. 47
27.11
26. 35
24. 35
35. 92
29. 27

23. 92
18. 61
8. 52
18.32
29. 62
22. 27

1931
1933

210
161

797
482

4.8
4.5

49.3
48.5

38.9
35.5

78.9
73.2

.513
.393

25. 29
19. 06

19.98
13. 96

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

331
285
8
5
282
219
315
242

2,246
1,557
18
9
1,431
695
1,168
525

4.6
4.3
4.4
4.7
4.9
4.2
4.5
4.1

49.3
47.9
48.9
47.2
50.1
48.4
50.1
48.7

37.8
33.7
38. 1
36.2
40.9
33.2
37.3
33.1

76.6
70.4
77.9
76.7
81.6
63.6
74. 5
63.0

.685
.576
.492
.446
.812
.671
.738
.608

33. 77
27. 59
24. 06
21.05
40. 68
32.48
36. 97
29. 61

25. 85
19. 43
18. 74
16.12
33. 22
22. 29
27. 53
20.15

1931
1933
1931
1933

101
75
4
3

379
297
6
3

4.1
4.2
4.2
4.3

49.4
47. 7
50.1
48.5

33.5
34.3
34.7
35.2

67.8
71.9
69.3
72.6

.656
. 483
.377
.400

32. 41
23.04
18. 89
19. 40

21. 96
16. 60
13. 08
14.07

1931
1933

122
95

486
319

4.4
4.6

49.5
47.6

37.1
36.3

74.9
76.3

.694
.576

34. 35
27. 42

25. 76
20.90

1931
1933
1931
1933

128
91
2
2

640
361
37
34

4.4
4.3
5.0
5.3

49.9
48.0
49.5
46.8

36.4
35.6
40.9
43.0

72.9
74.2
82.6
91.9

.654
.493
.356
.204

32. 63
23. 66
17. 62
9. 55

23. 79
17. 61
14. 57
8.79

1931
1933
1931

37
45
2

108
163
9

4.9
4.3
5.3

48.5
48.5
49.5

39.5
35.6
43.2

81.4
73.4
87.3

.705
.523
.326

34.19
25. 37
16.14

27. 87
18.58
14. 10

$22. 06
17.30
16.09
15. 99

1464
T

a b l e

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
2 .—A V E R A O E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y ,
O C C U P A T IO N , A N D S E X — Continued

Machine shops—

Occupation and sex

Sheet and plate metal machine
operators:
M ale_______________________
Female____________________
Toolmakers, male______________

Aver­
N um ­ N um ­ Aver­
age
age
ber of
fulldays
Year estab­ ber of
time
wage worked
lish­
hours
in 1
ments earners
per
week week

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

Other precision-machine opera­
tors:
M ale_______________________ 1931
1933
Female- _______________ . 1931
1933
Other skilled employees:
M ale_______________________ 1931
1933
1931
F em a le................................
1933
Other employees:
M ale___________________
1931
1933
Female................ ................... 1931
1933
All occupations:
M ale_________________

C o n tin u e d

1931
1933
Female_______________ 1931
1933
Male and female. _. . 1931
1933

Hours actu­
Aver­ Aver­
ally worked
Aver­
age
in 1 week
age
full­
age
actual
time earn­
earn­
ings
ings
Aver­ Per­
ings
per
in 1
age cent hour
per
week
num­ of full
week
ber time

$22. 79
17. 21
14. 39
12. 72
31. 78
23. 62

164
135
8
11
355
279

1,072
854
35
46
2,386
1,535

4.6
4.4
4.4
4.6
5.0
4.6

50.2
48.6
49.0
48.8
49.4
48.6

36.8
34.1
37.3
35.5
41.9
36.8

73.3 $0. 619 $31.07
70.2
.505 24.54
76. 1
.386 18.91
72. 7
.358 17. 47
84.8
.758 37. 45
.643 31.25
75.7

308
207
6
9

1,490
775
77
47

4.3
4.2
4.8
3.9

50.0
49.0
48.5
46.8

35.7
33.1
38.6
31.0

71.4
67.6
79.6
66.2

.657
.534
.399
.341

32. 85
26.17
19. 35
15. 96

23. 46
17. 69
15. 37
10.58

478
422
26
29

9,287
6,314
345
294

4.8
4.5
4.8
4.4

49.9
48.5
49.3
47.1

39.8
35.6
40.5
33.9

79.8
73.4
82.2
72.0

.695
.579
.391
.337

34. 68
28.08
19. 28
15. 87

27. 63
20. 60
15. 84
11.43

465
440
25
19

6, 250
5, 236
206
146

4.8
4.6
4.9
4.5

50.1
48.5
47.9
47.5

39.2
36.4
39.0
33.7

78.2
75. 1
81. 4
70.9

.506
.550
.439
.384

25. 35
26.68
21.03
18. 24

19. 82
20. 05
17.13
12. 96

512
492
49
48
512
492

64,921
41,003
1,017
957
65,938
41, 960

4.6
4.4
4.7
4.5
4.6
4.4

49.8
48.5
49.2
47.4
49.8
48.5

38.2
34.6
38.8
34.2
38.2
34.6

76.7
71.3
78.9
72.2
76.7
71.3

.637
.545
.408
.351
.634
.540

31. 72
26. 43
20. 07
16. 64
31. 57
26.19

24. 36
18. 87
15. 85
11.98
24. 22
18. 71

Days, Hours, and Earnings, 1931 and 1933, by Sex and State

T a b le 3 shows average days, hours, and earnings, and the percent
of full time worked in 1 week. The averages are, by States, for the
wage earners of each sex and of both sexes combined who were in­
cluded in the study of foundries and of machine shops in each State
in 1931 and 1933.
Foundries.-—Average full-time hours per week of males in foundries,
in the various States included in the study, ranged in 1931 from a low
of 45.4 to a high of 56, and in 1933 ranged from 39.1 to 55.2. Those
for females ranged in 1931 from 44.5 to 51.4 and in 1933 from 44.6
to 54. Averages of males in all States combined decreased from 50.3
in 1931 to 49.4 in 1933, while those of females decreased from 48.7 in
1931 to 48.3 in 1933.
Average earnings per hour of males in 1931 ranged, in the various
States, from 40.1 to 74.3 cents and in 1933 from 32.2 to 62.3 cents.
Averages of females in 1931 ranged from 31.8 to 47.2 cents and in
1933 from 27.1 to 42.4 cents. Averages for each State where shown
for both years were less in 1933 than in 1931. Averages of males in
all States combined decreased from 60.1 cents per hour in 1931 to
48.3 cents in 1933 and those of females decreased from 42.2 cents in
1931 to 31.4 cents in 1933.

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W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1465

Average actual earnings of males in 1 week ranged, by States,
from $14.35 to $27.33 in 1931 and from $8.93 to $22.07 in 1933.
Those of females ranged from $9.39 to $15.38 in 1931 and from $6.35
to $15.96 in 1933. Averages for each State, except for females in
Michigan, where shown for both years, were less in 1933 than in 1931.
Female foundry workers in Michigan earned an average of $9.39 in
1931 and $11.38 in 1933. Averages of males in all States were $20.13
in 1931 and $14.28 in 1933, and those of females were $12.40 in 1931
and $9.51 in 1933.
Machine shops.— Average full-time hours per week of males in
machine shops, all States combined, decreased from 49.8 in 1931 to
48.5 in 1933 and those of females decreased from 49.2 in 1931 to 47.4
in 1933.
Average hours actually worked in 1 week by males in all States
combined fell from 38.2 (76.7 percent of full time) in 1931 to 34.6 hours
per week (71.3 percent of full time) in 1933, and those of females
decreased from 38.8 (78.9 percent of full time) in 1931 to 34.2 (72.2
percent of full time) in 1933.
From 1931 to 1933 average earnings per hour of males in all
States combined decreased from 63.7 to 54.5 cents and those of
females decreased from 40.8 to 35.1 cents. In the same period
average full-time earnings of males in 1 week, all States combined,
decreased from $31.72 to $26.43 and those of females decreased from
$20.07 to $16.64. Average earnings per hour and actual earnings in
1 week for each State (except for males in New Hampshire), where
shown for both years, were less in 1933 than in 1931. Males in New
Hampshire earned an average of 60 cents per hour in 1931 and 60.8
cents in 1933. Average actual earnings of males in 1 week, all
States combined, decreased from $24.36 in 1931 to $18.87 in 1933
and those of females decreased from $15.85 in 1931 to $11.98 in 1933.
The wage data in this report for a few large foundries and machine
shops include only a representative portion of the total number of
wage earners of such establishments, as the inclusion of the entire
number would have given them undue weight, and might have im­
paired the representative character of the averages for the States in
which the establishments are located.
Table 3 shows the average days, hours and earnings in 1931 and
1933, by sex and State.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1466
T

a b l e

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

3 .—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D P E R C E N T OF F U L L T IM E
W O R K E D , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y I N D U S T R Y , S E X , A N D S T A T E

Foundries

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

Sex and State

Males
Alabama_________ _______

____

California__________________ . .
C olorado..-

............................. -

Connecticut____ ______________
Georgia

_

_____ ___

I l li n o is .._______ _______

_

_____

In d ia n a .-. _____________ _____
Iow a--------------------- _ -------------Kansas - - - - - - - - -

-

_____

K entucky___ ______ ___ _____
Louisiana______________________
M aine.......................................... .
M aryland________ _ _____
Massachusetts. ____________

_

M ichigan__ _______
M innesota_____________________
M issouri.

__

. __________

New Hampshire___________ --N ew Jersey____________________
N ew Y o r k ._

. . . _________

Ohio_____ ____ ______________
Oregon____ _

__ . . . _______

Pennsylvania_________ _______
Rhode Island_____ _________
Tennessee_______ _______ ____
T exas.. _ _____ . _____ _

..

W a s h i n g t o n ____ - _____ _
Wisconsin_____ . ____________
T otal____________________
Females
Connecticut.............. .

Aver­
N um ­
age
ber of
days
wage worked
earners
in 1
week

Hours
Aver­
actually
Aver­
worked
Aver­
age
Aver­
age
in 1 week
full­
age
age
full­
earn- time actual
time
ings
earn­ earn­
hours
per
ings ings in
Per­
per A ver­
hour
per 1 week
week age cent
week
num­ of full
ber time

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

4
4
19
17
3
4
18
18
9
7
30
27
17
18
9
8
10
9
5
4
5
5
4
4
7
7
21
19
33
32
6
5
14
13
5
5
16
15
26
27
44
37
6
5
39
38
7
6
6
5
6
7
6
5
13
13

177
154
728
508
177
173
1,154
799
305
237
3,097
2,117
1,538
1,069
561
300
276
160
120
97
178
124
239
199
397
245
1,320
870
1,916
1,484
466
251
460
292
127
104
1,668
1,056
2,828
1,730
3,506
2,076
163
106
3,619
3,190
692
407
253
191
151
123
235
101
2,118
1,456

4.7
5.4
4.6
4.5
5.2
3.9
3.4
2.3
4.5
3.6
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.3
4.3
4. 1
4.0
4.2
3.6
4.3
4.5
3.6
4.8
3.9
4.6
3.4
4.2
3.8
3.9
3.7
3.9
3.6
4.2
3.9
4.5
2.7
4.2
3.5
3.9
3.5
4. 1
3.5
4.8
4.4
3.8
3.4
3.8
4.1
4.3
5.1
4.5
3.6
4.8
3.8
4.3
3.4

53.8
50.0
45.4
43.7
48. 0
48.0
50. 7
51. 4
50.9
50.6
49.6
47.8
51.1
51.7
53.6
50.7
56.0
55.2
51. 2
51. 2
52.4
48.4
48.3
52.2
49.9
48.0
47.2
46.7
52. 1
50.4
51.2
46.4
51.9
51.8
50.7
47. 1
48.9
49.2
49.2
49.2
51.0
51.3
47.2
39.1
51.1
48.8
50.4
50. 7
49.0
49.5
49.0
49.6
47.9
48.0
51. 5
50.5

43.2
46.9
34.7
35.4
45.6
30.5
28.5
19.3
36.0
30.8
30.9
32.1
29.7
25.4
35.0
35.6
37. 1
36.8
30.3
37.6
35.8
27.9
41. 4
35.3
40.6
28. 1
33.8
30. 1
33.3
30.0
32.9
28.4
35.3
33.0
37.8
22.1
35. 1
29.9
33.2
30.3
34. 7
30.6
36.5
29.3
32.5
28.9
31.7
33. 1
33.4
31.8
36.7
27. 7
37.8
28.6
35. 1
24.4

80.3 $0. 423 $22. 76
.322 16. 10
93.8
76.4
.743 33. 73
81.0
.623 27.23
.600 28. 80
95.0
63.5
.500 24. 00
56.2
.589 29. 86
37.5
.462 23.75
.403 20. 51
70.7
60.9
.341 17. 25
62.3
.647 32. 09
67.2
.492 23. 52
.559 28. 56
58. 1
.422 21.82
49. 1
65.3
.600 32. 16
.506 25. 65
70. 2
66.3
.455 25. 48
.379 20.92
66.7
59.2
. 521 26.68
73.4
.374 19.15
68.3
.401 21.01
57.6
.371 17. 96
.558 26. 95
85. 7
. 414 21.61
67.6
81.4
.543 27. 10
.462 22. 18
58.5
.690 32. 57
71.6
64.5
. 617 28.81
63.9
.582 30. 32
59.5
. 446 22. 48
64.3
.589 30. 16
. 519 24.08
61. 2
68.0
.577 29. 95
.445 23. 05
63.7
74.6
.567 28. 75
46.9
.526 24. 77
71.8
.608 29. 73
.472 23. 22
60.8
67.5
.599 29.47
.502 24.70
61. 6
68.0
.610 31.11
.459
59.6
23. 55
77.3
.675 31.86
74.9
.595 23. 26
63.6
.606 30. 97
59.2
.494 24.11
62.9
.597 30.09
65.3
.557 28.24
68.2
.471 23.08
64.2
.454 22.47
74.9
.515 25. 24
55.8
.402 19. 94
78.9
.698 33. 43
59.6
.551 26. 45
.584 30.08
68. 2
48.3
.472 23. 84

1931
1933

388
364

28,469
19, 619

4.0
3.6

50.3
49.4

33.5
29.6

66.6
59.9

.601
.483

30.23
23. 86

20. 13
14. 28

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1933
1931
1933

1
1
4
4
2
3
1
1
1

(')
0)
(>)
<‘ >
24.7 49.1
27.8 59.9
22. 7 45. 7
21.4 42.0
45.0 100.0
(>)
0)
0)
(')

0)
0)
.409
.348
.472
. 296
.314
0)
0)

(«)
«
20. 57
16. 15
23. 46
15. 07
14.13
0)
(')

(')
0)
10.09
9. 69
10. 70
6. 35
14. 14
0)
(«)

(>)
0)
(>)
(')
3.4 50.3
3.3 46.4
3.5 49. 7
Indiana.. ________ _____ ______
3.3 50.9
Iow a___ . . . .
. ........................
5.0 45.0
Kentucky_____________________
(')
0)
(0
(■)
0)
(>)
1 Fewer than 3 employees; therefore data included only in total.
Illinois____________ ___________


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(0
0)

16
10
46
25
4

$18. 28
15.08
25.81
22.07
27. 33
15. 25
16. 77
8.93
14. 52
10. 48
19. 96
15. 79
16. 62
10. 72
20. 86
18.03
16. 86
13. 95
15.76
14.03
14. 35
10. 35
23.08
14. 58
22. 06
12. 98
23.31
18.59
19. 37
13. 40
19.38
14. 77
20. 36
14. 67
21.43
11.62
21.30
14. 11
19.87
15. 24
21.19
14.05
24. 63
17.41
19.70
14.30
18. 93
18. 43
15.74
14.42
18. 94
11.15
26. 43
15.76
20. 49
11.50

1467

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 3 .—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D P E R C E N T OF F U L L T IM E
W O R K E D , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y , S E X , A N D S T A T E —Continued

Foundries—

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

Sex and State

C o n tin u e d

Hours
Aver­
Aver­ actually
worked
Aver­
Aver­
age
Aver­
age
N um ­
in 1 week
full­
age
age
age
full­
ber of
days
earn- time actual
time
wage worked
ings earn­ earn­
earners
in 1 hours Aver­ Per­
per
ings ings in
per
week
age cent hour
per 1 week
week num­
of full
week
ber time

Females— C on tinued
M assachusetts.-. _______ ____
M ichigan______________ _______
New Jersey____________________
New Y ork . _
Ohio.

..

_ _____________

. .

_______________

Pennsylvania_______

...

Rhode Island___ _______
Tennessee..
W isconsin.

...
_____

____________ ____
..

........

. . . ...

T otal___ ________________

1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

2
5
3
5
4
6
6
1
1
2
1
3
1
1
1
3
2

1931
1933

4
20
7
31
25
54
31
12
5
24
17
4

16
12

5.0
3.0
4.6
3.2
4. 1
4.6
4.2
3.8
5.0
4.0
3.2
3.5
(>)
5.7
0)
4.4
4.1

46.5
51. 4
52.9
48.2
48.8
46.9
46.6
44.5
54.0
50.3
43.0
50.9
(0
50.0
(>)
48.7
44.6

37.7
20.9
39. 2
25.7
34.7
38.0
32.4
30. 5
34.6
29.3
28.3
32.3
C)
48.3
(i)
32.3
27.1

81.1 $0. 424 $19. 72
40. 7
.448 23. 03
74.1
.290 15. 34
53.3
. 380 18. 32
71.1
.271 13. 22
81.0
.403 18.90
.334 15. 56
69. 5
68. 5
.438 19. 49
64. 1
.275 14.85
58. 3
.447 22. 48
59. 0
.344 16.51
63. 5
.460 23. 41
(')
(>)
(0
96. S
.318 15. 90
(>)
0)
(0
66. 3
.430 20. 94
60. 3
.330 14.72

34
31

230
144

3.9
3.9

48.7
48.3

29.4
30.2

60. 4
62. 5

.422
.314

20. 55
15.17

12. 40
9.51

4
4
19
17
3
4
18
18
9
7
30
27
17
18
9
8
10
9
5
4
5
5
4
4
7
7
21
19
33
32
6
5
14
13
5
5
16
15
26
27
44
37
6
5
39
38

177
154
728
508
177
173
1,156
800
305
237
3,113
2,127
1,584
1,094
561
304
276
160
122
98
178
124
239
199
397
245
1,320
874
1,936
1,491
466
251
460
292
127
104
1,699
1,081
2,882
1,761
3, 518
2,081
163
106
3, 643
3,207

4.7
5.4
4.6
4. 5
5. 2
3.9
3.4
2.3
4. 5
3.6
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.3
4.3
4.2
4.0
4.2
3.6
4.3
4.5
3.6
4.8
3.9
4.6
3.4
4.2
3.8
3.9
3.7
3.9
3.6
4.2
3.9
4.5
2.7
4.2
3.6
3.9
3.5
4.1
3.5
4.8
4. 4
3.8
3.4

53.8
50.0
45.4
43.7
48.0
48.0
50.6
51.4
50.9
50. 6
49.6
47.8
51.1
51. 6
53. 6
50.7
56. 0
55.2
51. 1
51.2
52.4
48.4
48.3
52. 2
49.9
48.0
47.2
46.7
52. 1
50. 4
51. 2
46.4
51.9
51.8
50.7
47. 1
48.9
49. 2
49.2
49.2
50.9
51.3
47. 2
39. 1
51.1
48.8

43.2
46.9
34.7
35.4
45.6
30.5
28.5
19.3
36.0
30.8
30.8
32. 1
29.5
25.3
35.0
35.8
37.1
36.8
30.4
37.5
35.8
27.9
41.4
35.3
40.6
28.1
33.8
30. 2
33.2
30. 1
32.9
28.4
35.3
33.0
37.8
22.1
34.9
30.0
33.3
30.4
34.7
30.7
36.5
29.3
32.5
28.9

80.3
93. 3
76. 4
81.0
95. 0
63. 5
56. 3
37. 5
70. 7
60.9
62. 1
67. 2
57. 7
49. 0
65. 3
70. 6
66. 3
66. 7
59. 5
73. 2
68. 3
57. 6
85. 7
67. 6
81.4
58. 5
71.6
64. 7
63. 7
59.7
64.3
61.2
68. 0
63. 7
74. 6
46. 9
71.4
61.0
67. 7
61.8
68. 2
59. 8
77. 3
74.9
63. 6
59. 2

.423
.322
.743
.623
.600
.500
.589
.462
.403
.341
.646
.492
.557
.420
.600
.503
.455
.379
.519
.373
.401
.371
.558
.414
.543
.462
.690
.616
.581
.445
.589
. 519
.577
.445
.567
.526
.604
.466
.594
.499
.610
.458
.675
.595
.605
.494

22. 76
16.10
33. 73
27. 23
28. 80
24.00
29. 80
23. 75
20. 51
17. 25
32.04
23. 52
28. 46
21.67
32.16
25. 50
25. 48
20.92
26. 52
19.10
21.01
17.96
26.95
21.61
27.10
22.18
32. 57
28. 77
30.27
22. 43
30.16
24.08
29. 95
23. 05
28. 75
24. 77
29. 54
22.93
29. 22
24. 55
31.05
23.50
31.86
23. 26
30.92
24.11

18.28
15.08
25.81
22. 07
27. 33
15. 25
16. 78
8.93
14. 52
10. 48
19.91
15. 76
16. 45
10. 62
20.86
17. 97
16. 86
13.95
15. 76
13.99
14. 35
10. 35
23.08
14.58
22. 06
12.98
23.31
18.58
19. 27
13.39
19.38
14. 77
20.36
14.67
21.43
11.62
21.09
14.00
19.78
15.16
21.16
14.04
24.63
17.41
19. 65
14.28

(0
(0

3

$15. 96
9.39
11.38
9.81
9. 40
15. 33
10.83
13. 34
9. 50
13.08
9. 75
14. 85
(‘)
15. 38
0)
13.88
8. 93

Males and females
Alabama

...

. ______________

1931
1933
1931
1933
Colorado.
..
...
. . . 1931
1933
Connecticut____
_____ .... . 1931
1933
Georgia______ ____ _
..
1931
1933
Illinois______ ______ ______ ___ 1931
1933
Indiana________________________ 1931
1933
Iowa____ ______ _________ . . . 1931
1933
Kansas... _ _____________ ___ 1931
1933
Kentucky______________________ 1931
1933
L ouisiana... _ ___________ ____ 1931
1933
M a in e .____ ___________________ 1931
1933
M aryland_____ ._
_. . .
1931
1933
Massachusetts____________
1931
1933
M ichigan________________ ___ 1931
1933Minnesota_____________________ 1931
1933
Missouri__________ ___________ 1931
1933
New Hampshire .
. ______ 1931
1933
New Jersey ____ ___ . ______ 1931
1933
New Y ork. _.
___ .
1931
1933
Ohio_____ _______
. .
1931
1933
Oregon_________ _______ ____ 1931
1933
Pennsylvania.. ______________
1931
1933
( 'alifornia _.

_____

....

___

1 Fewer than 3 employees; therefore data included only in total.


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

1468
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

3 .—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D P E R C E N T OF F U L L T IM E
W O R K E D , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y , S E X , A N D S T A T E —Continued

Foundries—

C o n tin u e d

Hours
Aver­
Aver­ actually
Aver­
worked
Aver­
age
A ver­
N um ­
age
N um ­
age
in
1
week
age
full­
age
ber of
full­
days
earntime
actual
Year estab­ ber of
time
wage
worked
ings
earn­
earn­
lish­
earners
in 1 hours A ver­ Per­
per
ings ings in
ments
per
week
age cent hour
per
1 week
week num­
of full
week
ber time

Sex and State

Males and females—Contd.
___ ____ _ _ .

Rhode Island.

Tennessee_________ _____
Texas___________

____ __

Washington____ ____ .
AVisconsin
Total

_ _ _

-

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

7
6
6
5
6
7
6
5
13
13

696
408
256
192
151
123
235
101
2,134
1,468

3.8
4.1
4.3
5.1
4.5
3.6
4.8
3.8
4.3
3.4

50.4
50.7
49.0
49.5
49.0
49.6
47.9
48.0
51.5
50.4

31.7
33.1
33.6
31.8
36. 7
27.7
37.8
28.6
35. 1
24.4

62.9 $0. 597 $30. 09
65.3
.556 28. 19
68.6
.469 22.98
64.2
.452 22. 37
74.9
.515 25. 24
.402 19. 94
55.8
78.9
.698 33. 43
59.6
.551 26. 45
68.2
.583 30.02
48.4
.471 23. 74

$18.91
18.40
15. 74
14. 37
18. 94
11. 15
26. 43
15. 76
20.44
11.48

1931
1933

388
364

28, 699
19, 763

4.0
3.6

50.3
49.4

33.5
29.6

66.6
59.9

30.18
23.81

20.06
14. 25

54.0
50. 1
45.1
44.3
48.0
47.7
49.3
48.0
51. 2
51.8
49.5
48.3
51.1
50.8
52.2
49.5
52.9
49.9
48.9
49.7
51.4
48.7
48.1
48.8
48.4
47. 5
48.2
46.4
51.5
48. ;
49.2'
48.8
51.3
50.4
48.8
48.6
49.4
48.9
49.2
48.2
49.9
49.0
46.2
47. 1
51. 2
49.3

40.1
41.3
39.2
40.7
36.5
32.0
37.0
30.1
42.6
40.8
37.6
34.7
35.8
27.8
34.3
38.4
47.6
45.4
36.7
36.9
43.2
38.5
39.4
34.4
41.3
37. 7
41.8
37.2
38.5
36.4
37.6
38.9
39.4
40.6
40.7
31.9
40.7
36.3
40.3
31.4
37.4
34.8
41.2
36.0
35.9
34.0

74.3 $0. 596 $32.18
82.4
.401 20.09
86.9
.753 33. 96
91.9
.643 28. 48
76.0
.647 31.06
67. 1
.550 26.24
75.1
.659 32. 49
62.7
.608 29.18
83.4
.462 23. 65
.352 18. 23
78.8
76.0
.657 32. 52
.548 26. 47
71.8
.543 27. 75
70. 1
54.7
.477 24. 23
.569 29. 70
65.7
.440 21. 78
77.6
90.0
.543 28. 72
91.0
.467 23. 30
75.1
.551 26. 94
74.2
.439 21.82
84.0
.524 26. 93
79.1
.464 22. 60
81.9
.550 26.46
.420 20.50
70.5
.658 31.85
85.3
.593 28.17
79. 4
86.7
.646 31.14
80.2
.563 26.12
.645 33. 22
74.8
.533 25. 64
75. 7
76.4
.601 29. 57
.570 27. 82
79.7
.562 28.83
76.8
.481 24. 24
80.6
83.4
.600 29. 28
.608 29. 55
65.6
82.4
.679 33. 54
74.2
.568 27. 78
81.9
.680 33. 46
.612 29. 50
65. 1
.628 31.34
74.9
.526 25. 77
71.0
89.2
.724 33. 45
76.4
.650 30. 62
70.1
.616 31.54
69.0
.531 26.18

$23. 88
16. 55
29. 47
26.20
23. 63
17. 64
24. 34
18. 30
19. 66
14. 35
24. 72
19. 01
19. 44
13.28
19. 50
16.88
25.81
21.20
20. 23
16.18
22. 66
17.86
21.69
14. 44
27.17
22.37
27.01
20.95
24. 84
19. 42
22. 57
22.15
22. 17
19. 50
24. 37
19. 37
27. 65
20.63
27. 37
19.23
23. 50
18. 29
29.82
23. 43
22.08
18.01

.600
.482

Machine shops
Males
A la b a m a ,____ . . .
C aliforn ia -___
Colorado____

___
_____

.

Connecticut___
Georgia_______

..

Illinois_______ . . . -_Indiana____________
Iowa________ ______
Kansas______________
Kentucky— .
Louisiana,M a in e-. . . .

..

__

M aryland_________
Massachusetts. _ ___
Michigan

- .

Minnesota____________
Missouri- . - - _____
New Hampshire

-

N ew Jersey.- _ _____
N ew Y o r k .-- . . . . . .
Ohio__________ . . .
Oregon_________ .

...

Pennsylvania...................


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

1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933
1931
1933

7
7
23
21
3
4
20
18
9
7
36
35
17
17
7
6
11
11
7
7
6
6
4
4
8
8
38
37
35
34
8
8
19
18
5
5
25
27
34
34
85
73
6
5
48
48

457
321
1,628
947
282
204
2,409
1, 028
396
166
7, 025
5,616
1,855
1,370
815
256
272
296
395
255
199
129
492
468
456
324
6, 453
4, 987
3, 530
2,777
940
387
712
518
341
222
2,509
1,660
7, 488
4, 069
10, 316
5,069
175
118
8, 200
5, 786

4.5
4.8
5.2
5.2
4.6
4.1
4.3
3.8
5.2
5.1
4.7
4.5
4.5
3.8
3.9
4.8
5.5
5.4
4.8
4.9
5.2
4.7
4.7
4.0
4.6
4.3
4.9
4.6
4.6
4.5
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.8
4.7
4.4
4.9
4.5
4.8
4.2
4.6
4.3
5.3
4.6
4. 2
4.1

1469

W A G ES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 3.—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D P E R C E N T OF F U L L T IM E
W O R K E D , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y , S E X , A N D S T A T E —Continued
M a c h in e shop s — Continued

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

Sex and State

Aver­
N um ­
age
ber of
days
wage worked
earners
in 1
week

Hours
actually
Aver­
Aver
worked
A ver­ age
Aver­
age
in 1 week
age
full­
age
fullearntime
time
ings earn­ earn­
hours
per
ings ings in
per Aver Per­
per 1 week
week age cent hour
num offrili
week
ber time

Males— Continued
Rhode Island_____ _ __

_____

1931
1933
1931
1933
Texas________________________ _ 1931
1933
Washington______________ . . . . 1931
1933
W isconsin______ ______________ 1931
1933

11
11
9
9
10
11
7
7
14
14

1,513
786
325
227
554
425
392
219
4,792
2,373

4.2
4.4
4.7
4.9
5.4
4.5
5.3
5. 1
4.5
4-0

50.4
50.6
49.0
48.7
48.0
45.1
47.6
45.0
51.2
50.4

34.9
36.5
35.2
37.1
39.1
34.9
42.8
38. 3
36.3
29.5

69. 2 $0.595 $29.99
72. 1
.525 26. 57
71.3
.568 27. 83
76. 2
.460 22.40
81.5
.603 28.94
77. 4
.527 23. 77
89. 9
.729 34.70
85. 1
.636 28. 62
70. 9
.617 31.59
58.5
.530 26. 71

1931
1933

512
492

64,921
41,003

4.6
4.4

49.8
48.5

38.2
34.6

76. 7
71.3

.637
.545

31.72
26. 43

24.36
18.87

1931
1933
1931
1933
Indiana____________________ . . . 1931
1933
M aine________ _________ . .
1931
1933
M assachusetts.________________ 1931
1933
M ichigan____ ______
_______ 1931
1933
N ew Hampshire __________ _ 1931
1933
N ew Jersey___ ________________ 1931
1933
New Y ork _______ _ ________
1931
1933
Ohio______ _________
1931
1933
Pennsylvania____ _____________ 1931
1933
Rhode Island_____ _______ _ 1931
1933
Tennessee____ _________
_____ 1931
Wisconsin . . . _ ________
1931
1933

1
1
7
5
1
1
1
1
7
5
7
8
1
1
2
2
6
6
6
8
4
5
4
2
1
1
3

(>)
0)
56
43
21
82
8
9
87
89
201
239
18
25
22
2
214
211
212
153
93
57
38
17
(')
45
29

(>)
C)
4.4
4.7
4.4
3.9
2.9
3.2
4.6
4.4
4.9
5.1
3.9
2.9
5.0
5.0
4.9
4.5
5.1
4.7
4. 1
3.4
4.3
4.8
0)
4.8
3.8

0)
(>)
50.9
50.9
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
47.7
45.5
52.3
45.2
48.0
48.0
50.0
48.5
48.1
48.0
49.4
48.6
46.4
46.7
50.8
51.4
(>)
45.5
44.9

0)
(>)
34.7
35.8
27.2
17.4
27.0
28.1
38.7
31.8
41.9
41.1
31.6
23.3
39.0
43.0
38.6
35.4
41.4
37.6
35.6
25.9
36.2
41.8
0)
38.8
23.7

(')
(')
68. 2
70. 3
54.4
34. 8
54.0
56. 2
81.1
69.9
80.1
90. 9
65.8
48. 5
78.0
88. 7
80. 2
73.8
83.8
77.4
76. 7
55. 5
71.3
81.3
(>)
85. 3
52.8

(>)
0)
.373
.299
.471
.371
.380
.270
.448
.399
.398
.374
.431
.328
.423
.263
.473
.383
.347
.255
.397
.389
.453
.366
(>)
.378
.291

0)
0)
18.99
15. 22
23. 55
18. 55
19.00
13. 50
21.37
18.15
20. 82
16. 90
20.69
15. 74
21.15
12.76
22.75
18.38
17.14
12.39
18. 42
18.17
23.01
18.81
(0
17. '20
13. 07

0)
0)
12. 95
10. 68
12.80
6.45
10. 26
7. 60
17.35
12. 69
16. 66
15. 41
13.63
7. 63
16. 49
11.30
18.23
13. 57
14.38
9. 60
14.13
10.07
16.40
15.30
(‘)
14.66
6.89

49
48

1,017
957

4.7
4.5

49.2
47.4

38.8
34.2

78.9
72.2

.408
.351

20.07
15.85
16.64 i 11.98

7
457
4.5 54.0
7
321
4.8 50. 1
23
1,628
5.2 45.1
21
947
5.2 44.3
3
282
4.6 48.0
4
204
4. 1 47.7
20
2,410
4.3 49.3
18
1, 029
3.8 48.0
9
396
5.2 51.2
7
166
5.1 51.8
36
7,081
4.7 49.6
35
5, 659
4.5 48.3
17
1,876
4.5 51.0
17
1,452
3.8 50.8
7
815
3.9 52.2
6
256
4.8 49.5
11
272
5.5 52.9
11
296
5.4 49.9
7
395
4.8 48.9
7
255 |
4.9 49.7
included only in total.

40.1
41.3
39.2
40.7
36.5
32.0
37.0
30.1
42.6
40.8
37.6
34.7
35.7
27.2
34.3
38.4
47.6
45.4
36.7
36.9

74.3
82. 4
86.9
91.9
76.9
67.1
75.1
62.7
83. 2
78.8
75.8
71.8
70.0
53.5
65.7
77.6
90.0
91.0
75.1
74.2

.596
.401
.753
.643
.647
.550
.659
.608
.462
.352
.655
.546
.543
.473
.569
.440
.543
.467
.551
.439

32.18
20.09
33.96
28. 48
31.06
26.24
32.49
29.18
23.65
18.23
32.49
26. 37
27. 69
24.03
29.70
21.78
28. 72
23.30
26.94
21.82

Tennessee___ __________________

T otal_________________

$20. 74
19.16
20.00
17.10
23.59
18.41
31.16
24.39
22.43
15. 65

Females
Connecticut____ _____ _________

Illinois_____ ________________

_

T otal____________________

1931
1933

Males and females
Alabama-------------------- ------- -------

1931
1933
1931
1933
Colorado. _________________
1931
1933
Connecticut_________________
1931
1933
Georgia_______________________
1931
1933
Illin o is _____________
1931
1933
Indiana_____ ___________
1931
1933
Iowa______________ . . .
1931
1933
Kansas______________
1931
1933
Kentucky......... .......... ................. 1931
1933
1 Fewer than 3 employees, therefore data
California________________


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

23.88
16.55
29.47
26. 20
23.63
17. 64
24. 34
18. 30
19. 66
14.35
24.63
18.95
19.37
12.89
19.50
16.88
25. 81
21.20
20.23
16.18

1470
T

a b l e

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

3 .—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D P E R C E N T OF F U L L T IM E
W O R K E D , 1931 A N D 1933, B Y I N D U S T R Y , S E X , A N D S T A T E —Continued

Machine shops—

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

Sex and State

C o n tin u e d

A ver­
N um ­
age
ber of
days
wage worked
earners
in 1
week

Hours
Aver­
Aver­ actually
Aver­
worked
Aver­
age
age
in 1 week
full­
age
age
full­
actual
earntime
time
earn­ earn­
ings
hours Aver­ Per­
ings ings in
per
per
1 week
per
week age cent hour
num­ of full
week
ber time

Males and females— Continued
1931
1933
M aine_________
. . . . ----------- 1931
1933
M aryland—
------------------- 1931
1933
1931
Massachusetts_______________
1933
1931
M ichigan__ ______ —
1933
. . - 1931
M innesota.. ________
1933
Missouri. ______ . . . . ---------- 1931
1933
1931
New Hampshire____ _____ . . .
1933
1931
N ew Jersey____ . . .
------1933
New Y ork ______ _ _ . . . -------- 1931
1933
Ohio_______ ____ _____ _______ 1931
1933
Oregon_____ . . . . ----------- . . . 1931
1933
Pennsylvania..
-------------- . . 1931
1933
1931
Rhode Island.
1933
Tennessee-------------- ----------------- 1931
1933
Texas______
. ---------------- - 1931
1933
--------------- 1931
Washington.
.
1933
Wisconsin .. . . -------------------- 1931
1933

6
6
4
4
8
8
38
37
35
34
8
8
19
18
5
5
25
27
34
34
85
73
6
5
48
48
11
11
9
9
10
11
7
7
14
14

199
129
500
477
456
324
6, 540
5,076
3, 731
3,016
940
387
712
518
359
247
2, 531
1,662
7, 702
4, 280
10, 528
5,222
175
118
8,293
5,843
1,551
803
326
227
554
425
392
219
4, 837
2, 402

5.2
4.7
4.7
4.0
4.6
4.3
4.9
4.6
4.6
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.8
4.7
4.2
5.0
4.5
4.8
4.2
4.6
4.3
5.3
4.6
4.2
4.1
4.2
4.4
4. 7
4.9
5.4
4.5
5.3
5. 1
4.5
4.0

51.4
48. 7
48.1
48.8
48.4
47.5
48.2
46.4
51.5
47.9
49. 2
48.8
51.3
50.4
48.7
48.6
49.4
48.9
49.2
48. 2
49.9
49.0
46.2
47. 1
51.1
49.3
50.4
50.6
49.0
48.7
48.0
45. 1
47.6
45.0
51. 1
50.4

43.2
38.5
39.2
34.3
41.3
37.7
41.8
37. 1
38. 7
36.8
37.6
38.9
39.4
40.6
40.2
31.0
40.7
36.3
40.3
31.6
37.5
34.8
41.2
36.0
35.9
33.9
34.9
36.6
35.3
37. 1
39. 1
34.9
42.8
38.3
36.4
29.5

84.0 $0. 524 $26.93
79.1
.464 22. 60
81.5
.548 26. 36
70.3
.418 20. 40
85.3
.658 31.85
79.4
.593 28.17
86. 7
.644 31.04
80.0
.561 26. 03
75. 1
.631 32. 50
.519 24. 86
76.8
76.4
.601 29. 57
79.7
.570 27. 82
.562 28. 83
76.8
.481 24.24
80.6
82.5
.594 28. 93
63.8
.587 28. 53
82.4
.677 33.44
74.2
.568 27. 78
.674 33.16
81.9
65.6
.599 28.87
75. 2
.622 31.04
71.0
.518 25. 38
89.2
.724 33. 45
76.4
.650 30. 62
.614 31.38
70.3
68.8
.529 26. 08
69.2
.591 29. 79
.521 26. 36
72.3
72.0
.567 27. 78
76.2
.460 22. 40
81.5
.603 28. 94
77.4
.527 23. 77
89.9
.729 34. 70
85. 1
.636 28. 62
71.2
.615 31.43
58.5
.528 26. 61

$22. 66
17.86
21.51
14.31
27.17
22. 37
26.88
20.81
24. 40
19. 10
22. 57
22.15
22.17
19. 50
23. 83
18.18
27. 55
20. 62
27.13
18.95
23. 32
18. 04
29. 82
23.43
22.00
17. 94
20. 63
19. 08
19.99
17. 10
23. 59
18.41
31. 16
24.39
22.36
15. 55

1931
1933

512
492

65,938
41.960

4.6
4.4

49.8
48.5

38. 2
34.6

76.7
71.3

.634
. 540

24. 22
18. 71

Louisiana----- ----------------------------

Total

_________ _

. ..

31.57
26. 19

Average Days, Hours, and Earnings, 1933, by Occupation, Sex, and State

T a b le 4 shows average days, hours, and earnings and the percent
of full time actually worked in 1 week in 1933, by States, for the wage
earners in each of 4 representative occupations in foundries and 4 in
machine shops. The averages for the wage earners in these occupa­
tions illustrate the variations in average hours and earnings in all
occupations in each industry in the different States, and make easy
the comparison of the averages of the wage earners in any occupation
in the table for any State with those for any other State.
Average hours actually worked in 1 week in 1933 by molders
(hand), floor, the second occupation under foundries, ranged, by
States, from a low of 16.9 to a high of 44.2 hours. The low was 34.6
and the high 89.7 percent of full time. The average for all States
was 25.7 hours, or 52.6 percent of full time.
Average earnings per hour of molders (hand), floor, ranged, by
States, from 43.4 to 75.6 cents, and for all States averaged 61.2 cents.
Average actual earnings in 1 week ranged, by States, from $10.39
to $23.95, and for all States averaged $15.70.


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

1471

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 4 .—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S OF M A L E S IN E IG H T S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S , 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D S T A T E

Foundries

Occupation, sex, and State

Hours actu­
Aver­ ally worked
N um ­ N um ­ Aver­
in 1 week:
age
age
ber
ber
fulldays
of
of
time
estab­ wage w orked hours Aver­ Per­
in 1
lish­ earners
per
cent
age
week
ments
week num­ of full
ber
time

Aver­
age
earn­
ings
per
hour

Aver­
Aver­
age
age
full­
actual
time earn­
earn­ ings
ings
in 1
per
week
week

Laborers, male:
Alabama__________________
California______________ - _ _
Colorado_______ 1. ___________
Connecticut. __ _____________
Georgia______ . . -------- ----Illinois_______ _______ _____ ..
Indiana--------- ------- --- ------------Iowa___ _____ _____ . . . .
Kansas. -------------- ---------------K entucky________________ . __
Louisiana________ _ ________
Maine___ . . . . . . ______ ____ .
M aryland________ __________
Massachusetts.. . . . ________
Michigan
...
Minnesota_______ .
.
. ...
Missouri.
. . . .
. .
N ew Hampshire________ ______
New Jersey_____ ___________ .
New Y ork .. ._ _. ___________
Ohio_______________ _______ ..
Oregon____ _____ _____
_____
Pennsylvania . . .
Rhode Island . . . . .
Tennessee_______
_____ .
Texas________________ - - - - - - - Washington___
____ _
Wisconsin______ __
...
. .

3
16
4
16
7
26
18
8
9
4
5
1
6
15
30
5
13
3
12
27
35
3
37
4
4
4
3
12

23
70
43
193
63
494
245
53
32
34
26
28
40
138
357
37
61
9
247
347
468
14
700
77
63
10
7
255

5.4
4.6
3.5
2. 2
3.0
3.9
3.3
3.8
3.8
4.3
3.0
3.8
3. 1
3.8
3.3
3.4
3.7
1.8
3.4
3.3
3.4
4.6
3. 1
3.2
5.0
3.0
4.3
3.0

50.0
44.4
48.0
52.2
52. 1
48.2
52.2
50.9
56.4
51.0
47.3
54.0
50.8
46.9
51.6
46.0
52.0
49.1
48.7
49.2
51.4
37.7
49.9
51.6
49. 1
49.8
48.0
50.2

46.9
37.7
27.9
17.9
24.7
32. 7
24.1
31.9
34.4
36.7
24.4
36.9
26.9
30.4
28.4
30.2
30.2
14.7
29.5
30.2
29.1
29.6
26.7
29.0
45.0
23. 4
34.5
20.3

93.8 $0. 216 $10. 80
84.9
.495 21.98
58.1
.403 19. 34
34.3
.365 19. 05
47.4
.218 11. 36
.402 19.38
67.8
46.2
.337 17.59
.424 21. 58
62.7
61.0
.283 15. 96
.284 14. 48
72.0
51.6
.273 12.91
.332 17. 93
68.3
.305 15.49
53.0
64.8
.480 22. 51
55.0
.355 18. 32
65.7
.413 19.00
58.1
.336 17. 47
29.9
.461 22. 64
60.6
.353 17.19
61.4
.415 20. 42
56.6
.353 18.14
78.5
.470 17. 72
53.5
.367 18.31
56.2
.382 19. 71
91. 6
.201
9. 87
47.0
.305 15.19
71. 9
.480 23.04
40. 4
.375 18.83

Total_________________ ____ _

330

4,134

3.4

50.0

27.8

55. 5

.378

18.90

10. 50

W iscon sin ........................ - ..........

4
17
4
18
7
27
18
8
9
4
5
4
5
18
30
5
12
4
14
26
36
5
34
5
5
7
5
13

26
84
26
120
25
192
131
57
32
21
20
20
46
124
183
44
57
14
138
204
268
20
418
41
29
32
22
162

5.4
4.2
3.5
2.0
4.0
3.2
2.9
3.6
3.9
4.0
4.3
3.7
3.2
3.4
3.2
3.3
3.4
2. 1
3.2
2.7
2.8
3.0
3.3
4.2
4.7
2.8
3. 5
2.9

49.3
43.0
48.1
48.9
49.8
48.3
51.7
50.1
54.3
52.7
47.1
49.2
47.1
47.0
48.9
46.6
52.4
46.0
50.0
48.5
50.1
39.9
48.4
50. 1
50.0
48.2
48.0
50.3

44.2
31.7
28.4
16.9
34.4
25.9
24.0
30.5
34.5
36.0
33.0
30.2
26.6
26.1
24. 4
25.3
27.3
17.3
26.9
22.4
22.9
20. 1
27.2
33.7
41.3
22.1
25.0
20.5

89. 7
73. 7
59. 0
34. 6
69. 1
53. 6
46. 4
60. 9
63.5
68. 3
70.1
61.4
56. 6
55. 5
49. 9
54. 3
52.1
37. 6
53. 8
46. 2
45. 7
50.4
56. 2
67.3
82.6
45.9
52.1
40.8

.538
.756
.535
.615
.545
.598
.507
.631
.471
.469
.565
.562
.641
.723
.598
.629
.590
.621
.616
.680
.599
.722
.622
.708
.434
.492
.649
. 582

26. 52
32. 51
25. 73
30.07
27.14
28. 88
26. 21
31.61
25.58
24. 72
26. 61
27. 65
30.19
33.98
29. 24
29.31
30. 92
28. 57
30. 80
32.98
30. 01
28. 81
30.10
35. 47
21. 70
23. 71
31.15
29. 27

23.79
23.95
15. 20
10.39
18. 78
15. 48
12.18
19. 29
16.27
16.85
18. 61
17.00
17.03
18. 87
14.56
15.91
16.12
10.73
16. 60
15.24
13. 72
14.49
16.91
23.83
17.96
10.86
16. 22
11.91

T otal............................................

349

2, 556

3.2

48.9

25.7

52.6

.612

29. 93

15.70

Molders, hand, floor, male:
California___ ________

-

-

Connecticut___________________
Georgia. _____ _______________
Illinois__________________ _____

Kentucky____________________
________________
M arylan d-.
Massachusetts_________________

New Hampshire_______________

Oregon----------- ----------------------


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

$10.13
18. 64
11.23
6.53
5.37
13.15
8.12
13. 56
9. 75
10.44
6.65
12. 27
8.21
14. 59
10.08
12. 46
10.13
6.77
10. 42
12. 54
10. 28
13.93
9.80
11.08
9.03
7.14
16. 57
7. 62

1472

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 4 —A V E R A G E D A Y S , H OU RS, A N D E A R N IN G S OF M A L E S IN E IG H T S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S , 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D S T A T E —Continued

Foundries—

Occupation, sex, and State

Molders, machine, piale:
- - - -Alabama______ _____
California____
C o lo r a d o __ _
- Connecticut-Georgia________
___
I llin o is _________
-- Indiana._
-------Iow a__________
- - - - -Kansas_____________ ------K e n t u c k y .- .----- . . . .
Louisiana___. .
------ - Maine
____ ____
- - - --Maryland
Massachusetts ----- --- - - - -M ichigan.. - . .
--------------Minnesota_____
_____ . Missouri___ . . . -- . . . - -- New Hampshire_________ - - New Jersey------ _ -------- New Y ork -------- - - - - - - - - - -------- ---------Ohio____ ____
Oregon___ -_-- - - - - - Pennsylvania..----.. .
Rhode Island..
----Tennessee__ - ---------- -Texas_______
___
Wisconsin---------

C o n tin u e d

Hours actu­
Aver­ Aver­
Aver­ ally worked Aver­
N um ­ N um ­ Aver­
age
in 1 week
age
age
age
full­ actual
ber
age
ber
fullearn­ time earn­
days
of
time
of
ings
earn­ ings
estab­
worked
wage
hours Aver­ Per­
per
ings
in 1
lish­ earners
in 1
cent
per
age
hour
per
week
ments
week num­ of full
week week
ber
time

1
5
2
3
2
18
10
5
5
2
1
2
5
14
17
3
3
2
8
18
22
1
24
4
2
2
9

15
3
31
24
268
159
30
6
3
(>)
27
16
154
168
15
5
9
102
218
199
0)
202
84
4
5
88

(0
4.7
3.7
3.1
2.0
3.6
4.0
4.3
4.2
5.0
(0
3.9
3.7
4.1
3.8
3.0
3.4
1.7
3.3
3.2
3.3
(')
2.7
4.0
4.8
5.0
3.7

0)
46.5
48.0
57.2
52.1
47.9
48.9
48.6
55.0
49.3
0)
53.3
47.1
46.3
51.4
43.1
52.8
46.7
51.4
48.6
49.7
(>)
48.3
50.8
48.8
49.6
49.0

0)
39.6
25.3
26.1
15.1
29.6
27.6
38.8
35.6
46.1
(0
35.1
28.7
31.5
32.6
24.3
25.2
14.7
29.2
28.3
28.3
0)
21. 6
31.8
38.4
37.8
23.9

(')
o)
(>)
85.2 $0. 485 $22. 55
52.9
.503 24.14
45.6
.395 22. 59
29.0
.527 27. 46
61.8
.505 24. 19
56.4
.414 20.24
.484 23. 52
79.8
.400 22.00
64.7
93.5
.438 21.59
0)
(>)
(>)
.532 28. 36
65.9
.562 26. 47
60.9
.640 29. 63
68.0
63.4
.401 20. 61
56.4
.480 20. 69
.372 19. 64
47.7
31.5
.571 26. 67
56.8
.508 26.11
58.2
.559 27.17
.494 24. 55
56.9
f1)
(')
G)
44.7
.557 26.90
62.6
.619 31.45
78.7
.309 15.08
76.2
.403 19. 99
.421 20. 63
48.8

0)
$19. 21
12.73
10.31
7. 98
14. 95
11.42
18. 74
14.25
20.18
0)
18. 67
16.13
20.15
13.07
11.64
9.38
8. 38
14. 85
15.86
14.01
0)
12.04
19. 71
11.86
15.20
10.07

3.5

49. 2

28.5

57.9

.508

24. 99

14. 50

0)

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

190

1,840

Patternmakers, male:
Alabama-------- ------------ California
-- ---------------Colorado----- ---------- Connecticut----------- - Georgia------------------------Illinois______________
_____
Indiana.- -------------- ---------Iowa ___________ ___________
Kansas_________
- ------------Louisiana
------------------- Maryland . - - - ----------Massachusetts----- ----------------Michigan--------------- - ----------M in n esota----------------------- - __
Missouri.
. ----------------------New Hampshire----------------------New Jersey______ ____ ___ ____
New Y ork_________________ _ _
Ohio. _____________________
O regon..
----------------------------Pennsylvania----------------------- ..
Rhode Island----------------Tennessee_____________________
Texas. __________________ --_
Washington___________________
W isconsin________________ ____

3
7
3
5
5
14
10
7
2
4
6
4
17
4
8
1
10
7
15
2
27
2
1
5
3
10

14
13
9
13
9
105
31
10
3
5
10
18
42
7
9
3
75
38
55
3
144
7
3
8
4
70

5.1
5. 1
3.9
4.3
4.9
4.8
3.5
4.3
5.3
4.8
2.6
5.2
4.4
4.7
4.2
5.0
4.9
5.2
4.8
5.7
4.5
3.9
6.0
4. 1
5.0
4.9

50.6
43. 2
48. 1
54. 1
50.0
46.1
50.5
50.0
54.0
53.4
47.8
48. 1
51.4
51. 1
52.1
50.0
49. 2
49.8
50.7
36.0
48.2
52. 1
50.0
48.8
48.0
51.8

41.8
35.2
28. 1
42.7
38.8
39.8
27.8
33.7
53.0
40.9
18.3
45.8
35.5
36.1
36.6
43.0
42.8
44. 5
41.8
44.1
38.5
32.4
50.3
27.9
33.7
39.5

82.6
81.5
58.4
78.9
77.6
86.3
55.0
67.4
98. 1
76.6
38.3
95.2
69. 1
70.6
70.2
86.0
87.0
89.4
82.4
122.5
79.9
62.2
100.6
57.2
70.2
76.3

.603
.804
.712
.524
.609
.707
.648
.616
.713
.557
.619
.718
.600
.714
.602
.505
.639
.702
.620
.789
.651
.589
.800
.617
.763
.611

30. 51
34. 73
34. 25
28. 35
30. 45
32.59
32. 72
30.80
38. 50
29. 74
29. 59
34. 54
30. 84
36.49
31.36
25. 25
31.44
34. 96
31.43
28.40
31.38
30.69
40.00
30.11
36. 62
31.65

25.16
28.28
19. 99
22. 38
23.64
28.13
18.01
20. 72
37. 77
22.80
11.31
32.90
21.31
25. 79
22. 02
21.71
27. 34
31.20
25.89
34.81
25.08
19.06
40. 27
17.19
25. 73
24.12

182

708

4.7

49.2

38.9

79.1

.652

32.08

25.36

Total------

Total.

________ . . . . _____

i Fewer than 3 wage earners, therefore data included only in total.


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

1473

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

4 —

A V E R A G E D A Y S , H OU R S, A N D E A R N IN G S OF M A L E S IN E IG H T S P E C IF IE D
O C C U PA TIO N S , 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D S T A T E —Continued

Machine shops

Occupation, sex, and State

Fitters and bench hands, male:

____ _____

2
12
3
13
1
24
8
4
5
5
1
2
4
18
21
4
8
1
16
24
37
4
39
9
5
5
2
13

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

290

Wisconsin
Total-

__

Laborers, male:

W isconsin_________ _______
Total

Hours actu­
Aver­ Aver­
Aver­ ally worked Aver­ age
Num ­ Num- Aver­
age
in 1 week
age
full­ actual
age
age
ber
fullearn­ time earn­
days
of
time
of
earn­ ings
ings
estab­ wage worked hours Aver­ Per­
ings
per
in 1
lish­ earners
in 1
cent
age
per
per
hour
week
ments
week num­ of full
week week
time
ber

____________

513. 20
30. 60
20.49
30. 60
0)
24. 01
24. 74
22. 69
33.41
24.64
0)
19.15
30. 55
26.88
24. 50
25.23
26.11
26.83
29.00
31.17
28. 51
29.40
28.09
24. 84
25. 76
22. 04
29. 59
27.16

$9.89
28. 41
15. 63
23.16
(')
16.18
13.08
15. ^6
33.89
18. 62
(0
12. 26
25.47
20. 23
18. 83
16. 65
23.95
14.83
18. 58
21.90
21.04
20. 57
18.05
18. 72
13.00
16. 66
22.98
14.11

69.5

. 562

27. 26

18.96

45.1
37.4
26.5
27.1
39.8
33.0
28.3
38.4
45.0
38.3
55.4
34.7
36.8
37.0
33.6
32.2
36.1
31.5
32.7
29.5
33.4
40.8
33.3
30.0
38.5
38.2
33.5
27.1

84.3
84.0
56.5
55.4
74.8
67.3
55.8
80.5
90.0
75.5
104.5
69.4
75.7
79.1
70.9
67.5
71.1
64.3
67.1
61.5
68.0
85. 0
67. 5
59.6
79.1
85. 3
73.8
53. 5

.218
.425
.397
.415
. 187
.396
.344
.332
.276
. 234
. 194
.319
. 359
.414
.410
.370
.313
.443
. 395
.426
.357
.378
. 385
. 355
.230
.338
. 438
. 358

11.66
18.91
18.62
20.29
9.95
19.40
17.44
15.84
13.80
11.86
10. 28
15.95
17. 45
19.38
19.43
17. 65
15. 90
21. 71
19. 24
20. 45
17. 53
18.14
18. 98
17.91
11. 20
15.14
19.89
18. 15

9.83
15.89
10. 51
11.25
7.45
13.04
9. /4
12. 76
12. 44
8. 98
10. 74
11.06
13.19
15. 31
13. 75
11. 92
11. 29
13. 97
12. 92
12. 55
11.92
15. 42
12.83
10. 68
8. 87
12. 92
14.69
9.71

33.0

67.6

.379

18. 50

(0
316
76
11
21
15
(0
34
13
238
148
8
34
12
138
262
250
8
323
53
14
17
11
107

41.9
42.8
48.1
48.8
(>)
48.7
50.8
50.2
47.8
47.2
(>)
47.4
46.5
46.1
49.7
46.9
51.0
48.0
48.5
48.1
48.4
47.5
49. 1
50.7
47. 7
47. 1
45.8
50.3

2,244

4.3

48.5

33.7

5.1
4.6
3.6
3.3
4.9
4.3
4. 2
4.4
5.3
5.3
6.0
4.0
4.4
4.6
4.4
4. 1
4.4
4.7
4.2
3.8
4.0
5.0
4.0
3.8
4.8
5.0
4.6
3.9

53.5
44.5
46.9
48.9
53.2
49.0
50.7
47.7
50.0
50.7
53.0
50.0
48.6
46.8
47.4
47.7
50.8
49.0
48.7
48.0
49. 1
48.0
49.3
50.3
48.7
44.8
45.4
50.7

4. 2

48.8

3
13
3
12
3
29
12
4
5
4
3
2
5
24
24
8
7
2
22
21
61
2
36
10
7
3
6
14

29
53
7
58
18
427
95
15
10
11
4
8
14
220
178
17
33
6
95
232
348
2
401
62
33
26
10
141

345

2, 553

—

l Fewer than 3 wage earners, therefore data included only in total.


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

31.4
74.9 50. 315
.715
92.8
39.7
.426
76.3
36.7
. 627
75.8
37.0
(')
(')
(0
67.4
.493
32.8
.487
52.8
26.8
.452
67.3
33.8
.699
48.5 101.5
.522
75.6
35.7
0)
(')
0)
.404
63.9
30.3
83.4
.657
38.8
. 583
75.3
34.7
.493
38.2
76.9
. 538
66.1
31.0
.512
91.8
46.8
55.2
.559
26.5
64.1
. 598
31. 1
.648
70.3
33.8
.589
74.0
35.8
.619
69.9
33.2
.572
64. 2
31.5
.490
38.2
75.3
. 540
24. 1
50.5
75.6
.468
35.6
. 646
77.7
35.6
52.1
. 540
26.2

3.8
5.5
4.4
4.4
(>)
4.3
3.5
4.2
5.7
4.7
(')
3.5
4.6
4.5
4.5
4.3
5.2
4.4
4.1
4.4
4.4
4.8
3.8
4.5
3.9
5. 1
4.7
3.6

8
32
18
74

12. 52
== = = =

1474
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

4 .—A V E R A G E D A Y S , H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S OF M A L E S IN E IG H T S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S , 1933, B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D S T A T E —Continued
M a c h in e shops — Continued

Occupation, sex, and State

Lathe operators, engine, male:
Alabama__
California_______ __
C olorad o.-.
...
Connecticut.
__ _
Georgia___. . . .
Illinois________ _ .
Indiana________
Iow a___
___
Kansas________ __
K entucky_____ __
Louisiana ______
M aine____
M aryland____ . .
Massachusetts___
Michigan . . ___ .
Minnesota_____ _
Missouri_________
New Hampshire .
N ew Jersey _
N ew York _
Ohio___ . - .
Oregon____ __
Pennsylvania- _.
Rhode Island___
Tennessee.. _ . . .
Texas.— ___
Washington____
W is c o n s in .____
Total________
Toolmakers, male:
Alabama_____
California___
Colorado........
Connecticut. . . .
Georgia_________
Illinois. . .
Indiana_______
Iow a_______
Kansas_____
K entucky__ _
M aine____
M aryland____
Massachusetts.
M ich ig a n ______
Minnesota—.
Missouri___
N ew Hampshire
N ew Jersey..
N ew Y o r k ...
O h io ____
Oregon..
Pennsylvania...
Rhode Island
Tennessee . .
Texas______
W ashington.
Wisconsin
Total___ .

Hour s actuN um ­
Aver­ Aver- ally vorked
N
um
­
age
in 1 week
ber
age
ber
fullof
days
of
time
estab­
wage worker hours Aver­ Per­
lish­
in 1
per
age
cent
ments earners week
week num­ of full
ber
time

3
19
3
13
1
26
13
5
5
6
2
1
3
27
21
6
11
3
19
27
59
5
43
10
3
4
6
13

9
103
6
86
0)
276
73
15
32
17
10
38
6
327
97
20
47
17
94
186
205
17
369
47
8
38
14
116

52.1
44. 7
46. 7
49.5
0)
48.5
51.0
49.0
47.5
49.3
55. 2
50.0
50.0
46.1
50.4
50.0
50.8
51. 1
48.4
48.2
50.4
47.8
50.3
50.4
50.6
41.4
43.0
50.9

33.3
37.9
22.9
29.6
0)
29.4
23.9
36.0
46.2
35.4
54.9
36.0
18.6
38. 1
29.3
41. 1
40.5
35. 6
38.4
28.9
30.7
34. 2
35.9
35.5
40.3
34. 1
35. 4
27.0

63.9 $0. 474
.665
84.8
49.0
.560
59.8
.619
0)
(0
60.6
.605
46. 9
.512
.482
73.5
.631
97.3
71.8
.457
99. 5
.426
.380
72.0
37.2
.596
. 541
82.6
. 541
58.1
82.2
.555
.521
79.7
69.7
.595
.623
79.3
.648
60.0
60.9
.597
71.5
.731
.570
71.4
.521
70.4
.474
79.6
.664
82.4
.663
82.3
53.0
. 546

$24. 70
29. 73
26. 15
30. 64
(')
29. 34
26.11
23. 62
29. 97
22. 53
23. 52
19.00
29. 80
24. 94
27. 27
27. 75
26. 47
30. 40
30.15
31.23
30.09
34.94
28. 67
26. 26
23. 98
27. 49
28. 51
27. 79

$15. 78
25. 24
12. 84
18.28
0)
17. 79
12. 24
17. 33
29.12
16. 19
23. 39
13.69
11.10
20.63
15. 82
22.81
21.07
21.19
23.88
18.74
18. 36
24. 97
20. 42
18.48
19.08
22. 66
23.49
14.73

28. 21

19. 33

.493 27. 12
.787 35.18
.659 31. 63
.621 30.86
.711 36. 12
.659 32. 42
.609 30. 69
.573 28. 99
.484 24.20
.562 27.88
.434 21. 70
.729 35. 21
.611 28. 72
.591 29. 37
.612 29.31
.634 32. 90
.671 32. 21
.621 29.81
.732 35.14
.570 27. 53
.733 35.18
.660 32. 27
.686 34.64
.580 29.00
. 691 30. OP
.695 32.18
.605 30. 73

13. 79
34. 99
17.06
17.89
31.87
24.31
16.56
22.96
23.42
18.23
17.08
30.63
23.17
23.54
21.96
24.09
29. 37
23. 80
26.49
21. 71
38. 61
25.26
21. 67
24. 06
17. 94
24. 94
22. 52

.643

23. 62

2, 274

4.2

48.8

33.5

68.6

1
13
2
14
2
21
10
3
3
3
1
3
24
22
6
5
1
15
24
46
2
29
6
3
5
4
11

6
40
13
67
3
192
59
5
6
15
9
13
155
87
8
8
12
40
267
253
2
163
26
3
15
7
61

3.5
5.8
3.3
3.6
5.3
4.6
3.7
5.2
5.8
4.6
4.4
4.8
4.6
4.7
4.6
4. 1
5.0
4.9
4.9
4.5
6.5
4.5
4.2
5.3
3.7
4.7
4.6

55.0
44. 7
48.0
49.7
50.8
49.2
50.4
50.6
50.0
49.6
50.0
48.3
47.0
49.7
47.9
51.9
48.0
48.9
48.0
48.3
48.0
48.9
50.5
50.0
43.5
46.3
50.8

28.0
44.5
25.9
28.8
44.8
36.9
27.2
40.1
48.4
32.5
39.4
42.0
37.9
39.8
35.9
38.0
43.8
38.3
36.2
38. 1
52.7
38.3
31.6
41. 5
26.0
46.3
37.2

50.9
99 6
54.0
57.9
88. 2
75.0
54. 0
79.2
96.8
65.5
78.8
87.0
80.6
80. 1
74.9
73. 2
91.3
78.3
75.4
78.9
109.8
78.3
62.6
83.0
59.8
77.5
73.2

4.6

48.6 | 36.8 j 75.7

1, 535

1 Fewer than 3 employees, therefore data included only in total.


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

Aver­
Aver­
age
age
full­
actual
time
earn­ earn­
ings
ings
in 1
per
week
week

4.3
5.1
3.8
3.6
(>)
4.0
3.3
4.6
5.8
4.8
5.9
4.0
2.5
4.6
4.0
5. 1
4.9
4.6
4.6
3.8
3.9
4.7
4.2
4.3
5.3
4.5
5. 1
3.8

357

279

Aver­
age
earn­
ings
per
hour

.578

31.25

1475

W A G ES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Wage-Rate Changes in American Industries
Manufacturing Industries

HE following table presents information concerning wage-rate
adjustments occurring between September 15 and October 15,
1933, as shown by reports received from manufacturing establishments
supplying employment data to this Bureau.
Increases in wage rates averaging 12.3 percent and affecting 96,461
employees were reported by 468 of the 18,602 manufacturing estab­
lishments surveyed in October. The iron and steel industry reported
the greatest number of workers affected by wage-rate increases over
the month interval. Thirty-five establishments in that industry
reported increases in wage rates affecting 38,053 workers and averag­
ing 10.7 percent. Increases affecting 7,109 employees and averaging
10.6 percent were reported by 21 establishments in the automobile
industry. Other industries in which increases in rates affecting from
2,000 to 3,000 employees were reported were foundry and machineshop products, chemicals, rayon, and brass, bronze, and copper
products.
Of the 18,602 manufacturing establishments included in the October
survey, 18,129 establishments, or 97.5 percent of the total, reported
no change in wage rates over the month interval. The 3,262,266
employees not affected by changes in wage rates constituted 97.1
percent of the total number of employees covered by the October
trend-of-employment survey of manufacturing industries.
Only five manufacturing establishments reported wage-rate
decreases between September and October.

T

T

a b l e

1 . —W A G E -R A T E

C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S
M O N T H E N D IN G O C T O B E R 15, 1933

Industry

A ll manufacturing industries—
Percent of total---------F ood and kindred products:
Baking----------------------------Beverages-----------------------Butter----- -----------------------Confectionery------------------Flour_______ _____ _____ Ice cream-------------------------Slaughtering and meat
p a ck in g ...........................
Sugar, beet............ ..............
Sugar refining, cane---------Textiles and their products:
Fabrics:
Carpets and rugs-------Cotton g o o d s ......... .
Cotton small wears-----Dyeing and finishing
textiles....... ................
Hats, fur-felt--------------K nit goods___________
Silk and rayon goods..
W oolen and worsted
goods..........................
i

Estab­
lish ­
ments
report­
ing

WageWagerate in­ rate de­
creases creases

5 3, 262,266
97. 1

96,461
2.9

73,082
25,228
5,960
43,507
17,553
11,285

338
921

1
9
3

L12,498
19,955
7,518

3
1,958
2,186

6
2

16,632
308, 238
11,616

796
5

12
2

33,460
6, 248
123,553
50,001

1,392
797

1

75,118

247

100. 0

18,129
97.5

468
2.5

1,030
413
307
302
417
356

73,420
26,154
5,966
43,619
17, 646
11,377

1,013
396
305
297
412
349

17
15
2
4
5
7

244
63
13

112,501
21,913
9,704

243
54
10

689
116

Ifi fi32
309Î 034
11,621

27
683
114

466
238

33, 600
fi 248
124’ 945
50,798

151
36
454
236

240

75,365

239

Less than 1 tenth of one percent.


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

No
No
Wage- Wagewage- rate in­ rate de­ wagerate
rate
creases creases changes
changes

100. 0

18, 602 3, 358,960

153

Number of employees
having—

Num ber of establish­
ments reporting—
Total
number
of em­
ployees

D U R IN G

2

(‘)

2
1

6
99
93
92

140

233

0

1476

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

T a b l e 1 .— W A G E -R A T E

C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S
M O N T H E N D IN G O C T O B E R 15, 1933— Continued

Industry

Textiles and their products—
Continued.
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, men’s_______
Clothing, women’s........
Corsets and allied gar­
ments_______________
M en’s furnishings_____
M illinery_____________
Shirts and collars______
Iron and steel and their prod­
ucts, not including machin­
ery:
Bolts, nuts, washers, and
rivets___________________
Cast-iron p ip e____________
Cutlery (not including sil­
ver and plated cutlery)
and edge tools_________ _
Forgings, iron and steel___
Hardware......... .....................
Iron and steel_____________
Plumbers’ supplies________
Steam and hot-water heat­
ing apparatus and steam
fittings__________________
Stoves.....................................
Structural and ornamental
metal w o r k .....................
T in cans and other tinware.
Tools (not including edge
tools, machine tools, files,
and saws)...........................
Wire work...............................
Machinery, not including trans­
portation equipment:
Agricultural im plem ents.. .
Cash registers, adding ma­
chines, and calculating
machines_______ ____ ___
Electrical machinery, ap­
paratus, and supplies.......
Engines, turbines, tractors,
and water wheels________
Foundry and machine-shop
products________ _______
Machine tools_____________
Radios and phonographs.._
Textile machinery and parts.
Typewriters and supplies..
Nonferrous metals and their
products:
Aluminum manufactures...
Brass, bronze, and copper
products________ _____ _
Clocks and watches and
time-recording devices__
Jewelry...... ..................... .......
Lighting equipm ent............
Silverware and plated ware.
Smelting and refining—cop­
per, lead, and zinc............
Stamped and enameled
ware.....................................
Transportation equipment:
Aircraft_________ ____ ____
Automobiles............. ...........
Cars, electric and steam
ra ilro a d ...______ _______
Locom otives_________ ____
Shipbuilding______________
Railroad repair shops:
Electric railroad-........... .......
Steam railroad_____ ______


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

Estab­
lish­ , Total
ments number
of em­
report­
ployees
ing

Num ber of establish­
ments reporting—
No
wagerate
change

Wage- Wagerate in rate de
creases creases

D U R IN G

Number of employees
having—
No
wagerate
changes

WageWagerate in­ rate de­
creases creases

396
593

70, 604
34,458

374
566

22
27

67,949
32,959

2, 655
1, 499

32
73
135
122

5,453
7,242
8,845
18,650

29
70
134
122

3
3
1

5,050
7; 109
8,792
18, 650

403
133
53

79
44

14,406
6,630

78
42

1
2

13,812
6,092

594
538

132
66
99
206
73

11,292
7, 214
28, 269
254, 363
9,314

129
63
97
171
70

3
3
2
35
3

11, 203
6,806
28, 216
216,310
9,242

89
408
53
38,053
72

98
162

16,843
25,346

92
155

6
7

16, 256
24,697

587
649

202
60

17,045
10, 238

197
58

5
2

16, 523
10,081

522
157

127
71

8,950
7,836

126
70

1
1

8,934
7,832

16
4

79

9,118

75

4

7,773

1,345

35

16,366

35

291

112, 500

282

9

111,053

92

21,167

87

5

20, 069

1,098

1,075
143
43
52
16

125,024
15, 601
37,148
10, 768
11,988

1,046
136
38
51
15

29
7
5
1
1

122,015
14, 813
36,852
10,621
11, 979

3, 009
’ 788
296
147
9

16,366
1,447

27

6,949

26

1

6,937

12

212

39,185

207

5

36, 621

2, 564

27
130
52
56

9, 606
9,487
3,642
9,247

26
130
52
56

1

9, 376
9,487
3,642
9,247

230

42

14,140

40

2

l,j, 289

851

86

15,932

84

2

15,104

828

25
239

6,445
221,612

24
218

1
21

5, 295
214, 503

1,150
7,109

49
11
100

8,876
2,851
30, 322

49
11
98

2

8,876
2, 851
30, 255

380
540

19,631
76,434 1

363
540

17

18, 741
76,434

67
890

1477

W A G ES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able

1. — W A G E -R A T E C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S
M O N T H E N D IN G .O C T O B E R 15, 1933—Continued

Industry

Lumber and allied products:
Furniture________ _______ Lumber:
M ill work.........................
Sawmills______________
Turpentine and rosin..........
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Brick, tile, and terra cotta..
C e m e n t..._______ ________
Glass_____________ ____
Marble, granite, slate, and
other p r o d u c ts ..._______
P ottery...... ........ ..................
Leather and its manufactures:
Boots and shoes...... .......... .
Leather..................................
Paper and printing:
Boxes, paper______________
Paper and p ulp _____ _____
Printing and publishing:
Book and jo b ____ ____
Newspapers and peri­
odicals_______ ______
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals_______________ _
Cottonseed oil, cake, and
meal_____ ____ ___ _____
Druggists’ preparations___
Explosives_______ _____ _
Fertilizers________ _____ _
Paints and varnishes..........
Petroleum refining________
Rayon and allied products.
Soap.......................................
Rubber products:
Rubber boots and shoes----Rubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tubes.......... .............
Rubber tires and inner
tubes.............. ....................
Tobacco manufactures:
Chewing and smoking to­
bacco and snuff--------------Cigars and cigarettes---------

Number of employees
having—

Number of establish­
ments reporting—

Estab­
lish­
ments
report­
ing

Total
number
of em­
ployees

468

60, 655

455

13

494
621
27

21,348
83,438
1,923

481
614
26

12
7
1

662
131
177

20,469
13,199
46, 900

650
128
170

235
120

5,982
19,007

348
158

D U R IN G

No
Wage- Wagewage- rate in­ rate de­
rate
creases creases
changes

No
wagerate
ihanges

Wage
Wage
rate in­ rate de­
creases creases

58,751

1,904

20,890
82,722
1,829

328
716
94

12
3
7

20,142
12, 609
46,076

327
510
824

234
118

1
2

5, 957
18, 894

25
113

120, 806
32, 227

339
152

9
6

119,931
31,619

875
608

327
416

27,785
101,951

325
409

2
7

27,685
100,883

100
1,068

4

48,053

149

1

784

48,202

780

463

70,883

462

106

26,471

103

3

24,067

2,404

104
50
31
175
363
140
24
109

6, 677
8, 930
4,569
8,957
17, 680
56,180
37,681
17,274

101
50
27
152
355
139
22
107

3

6,490
8,930
4,380
7,182
17,317
56,118
34,881
16,951

187

4
23
8
1
2
2

189
1,775
363
62
2,800
323

9

10, 400

8

1

10,123

277

98

27,300

95

3

26,477

823

42

58, 668

41

1

57, 265

1,403

30
208

9, 491
46,407

30
205

3

9,491
45,591

816

1

130

85

70,798

Nonmanufacturing Industries
D a t a concerning wage-rate changes occurring between September
15 and October 15, 1933, in 15 groups of nonmanufacturing industries
are presented in the following table.
No changes in wage rates were reported in the anthracite-niining
industry. Increases were reported in each of the remaining 14 indus­
tries and decreases were reported in 3 industries over the month
interval. The average percents of increase reported were as follows:
Canning and preserving, 24.8 percent; bituminous-coal mining, 22.1
percent; hotels, 20.4 percent; power and light, 17.7 percent; retail
trade, 17 percent; metalliferous mining, 15.2 percent; laundries and
wholesale trade, each 13.1 percent; crude-petroleum producing, 12.5
percent; quarrying and nonmetallic mining, 10.3 percent; electricrailroad and motor-bus operation and maintenance, 7.5 percent;
21719°—33------14


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

1478

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

banks, brokerage, insurance, real estate, 5.3 percent; dyeing and clean­
ing, 5.1 percent; and telephone and telegraph, 4.8 percent. The aver­
age percents of decrease were: Quarrying and nonmetallic mining and
retail trade, each 9.1 percent, and wholesale trade, 7.6 percent.
T a b l e 2 .—W A G E -R A T E C H A N G E S IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S D U R IN G

M O N T H E N D IN G O C T O B E R 15, 1933

Industrial group

Estab­
lish­
ments
report­
ing

Anthracite mining. _ ________
159
Percent of total___________
100.0
Bituminous-coal mining _____
1,514
Percent of total_____
100. 0
Metalliferous m in ing.......... .......
297
Percent of total___________
100.0
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining______ _____ _______
1,202
Percent of total___________
100.0
Crude-petroleum producing___
260
Percent o f total___________
100.0
Telephone and telegraph . . _ 8,294
Percent of total___________
100.0
Power and light_______________ 3,132
Percent of total. . . . . . . . 100. 0
Electric-railroad and motor-bus
operation and maintenance...
557
Percent of total_________ _ 100.0
Wholesale trade_____________
3,039
Percent of total_____ _ __ 100.0
Retail trade________ ____ _____ 18, 588
Percent of total___________
100.0
Hotels___ ________ __________
2, 706
Percent of total___________
100. 0
Canning and preserving_______
888
Percent of total____ _____
100.0
Laundries____ ________ ____ _
965
Percent of total___________
100.0
Dyeing and cleaning__________
377
_ 100.0
Percent of total________
Banks, brokerage, insurance,
and real estate______________
4, 569
Percent of total___________
100.0

Number of establish­
ments reporting—
Total
number
of em­
ployees

No
Wage- Wage- No wagewage- rate
in­ rate de­
rate
rate
creases
creases changes
changes

77,833
100. 0
210,835
100.0
27,974
100.0

159
100.0
1,160
76.6
286
96.3

354
23.4
11
3.7

36,894
100. 0
29, 053
100. 0
246,416
100.0
204, 268
100.0

1,179
98.1
252
96.9
8,292
100. 0
3,106
99.2

21
1.7
8
3.1
2
(i)
26
0.8

133, 244
100.0
91,276
100. 0
437,841
100.0
140,128
100.0
96, 778
100. 0
57,152

517
92.8
3, 023
99.5
18, 554
99.8
2, 695
99.6
883
99. 4
945
97.9
372
98.7

40
7. 2
14
0.5
32
0.2
11
0.4
5
0. 6
20
2.1
5
1.3

4, 564
99.9

0.1

100. 0

11,863
100. 0

178, 777
100. 0

Number of employees hav­
ing—

5

2
0.2

2
0.1
2
0)

Wagerate in­
creases

77, S33
100. 0
144, 742
68. 7
26, 369
94. 3

66,093
31. 3
1, 605
5. 7

35,305
95.7
28, 685
98. 7
246, 004
99. 8
199, 680
97. 8

1,516
4.1
368
1. 3
412
0. 2
4, 588
2. 2

127,148
95. 4
91,038
99.7
437, 219
99.9
189 726
99. 7
96, 678
99. 9
55 789
97. 6
11, 460
96. 6

6,096
’ 4. 6
231
0.3
611
0.1
402
0. 3
100
0 1
1 363
’2 4
403
3 4

178, 671
99. 9

106
0.1

Wagerate de­
creases

73
0.2

7
(0

11

(')

1 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.

Wage Changes Reported by Trade Unions and Municipalities

since August 1933
HANGES in the wages and hours of labor of trade-unionists and
municipal employees, which occurred during the period August
to November 1933 and which have been reported to the Bureau during
the past month, are tabulated in the table following. The tabulation
covers 40,364 workers, of whom 13,572 are reported to have gone on
the 5-day week.

C


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

1479

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S B Y I N D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , A U G U ST
TO N O V E M B E R 1933
Hours per
week

Rate of wages
Industry or occupation and locality

Date of
change
Before
change

Building trades:
Bricklayers, masons, and plasterers:
Schenectady, N .Y . . . . . . ------- -------------Westchester County, N .Y ___ . . . . ---------Painters:
New York, N . Y ------ ------- -------- . . . . . . .
Okmulgee, Okla __
. . . ------Chauffeurs and teamsters, Everett, Wash.:
M ilk wagon drivers____________________________
Clothing trades:
Fur workers, N ew York City and Brooklyn, N.Y.,
Jersey C ity and Newark, N.J.:
Rabbit fur dressers. __________________ . . .
Hat workers, Cleveland, O h io .._ -------------------Leather clothing workers, New York, N .Y .,
Carteret, Elizabeth, Newark, New Brunswick,
Passaic, and Perth A m boy, N . J . . . -------- . . .
M en’s clothing workers:
Cleveland, Ohio, tailors. _________________
New York, N .Y .:
B ushelm en________________ . . . _____________
Custom tailors:
Piece workers-------------- .
. .
...

Aug. 14
Oct. 1

Aug. 19

1.2844
1.25
Per day
5.00

Sept. 30
Sept. 22

Per hour
i 1.75
(2)

Per hour
i 2.00
(3)

Aug. 11
Aug. —
Oct. 24
Oct.

1

Sept. 5
Aug. 14
Sept. 9
Sept. 5
Aug. 18

Iron and steel workers, Pueblo, Colo.:
Steel workers, laborers__________________________ Aug. 1
Leather hand-bag workers:
Chicago, 111.:
Cutters:
First class___ ______________________ - Sept. 11
_ d o____
Pocketbook makers:

«
(2)
Per week
40.00
(7)
(7)
io 13.00
Per hour
.70
.40
Per week
(2)
0)
33.00
0)
20.00-30.00

40
44

35
30

45

45

40
(2)

(2)

(5)

44

(6)
Per week
42.00

44

36

44

40

44
44
40-44

36
36
40

40
40

40
40

44
42
44
44
50-53

35
35
40
35-40
40

48

40

(8)
(«)
io 19. 00
Per hour
1.00
.60
Per week
14.00-39. 00
(9)
36.00
0)
34.00

h

40

Per week
(2)
(2)
(2)

Per week
28. 50
22. 50
15.00

(2)
(2)
(2)

40
40
40

-__do____

(2)
(2)
(2)

30.00
22. 50
13. 00

(2)
(2)
(2)

40
40
40

___do____
_ _do____

0)
(2)
(2)

30.00
22. 50
16. 50

(2)
(2)
(2)

40
40
40

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

28. 50
25.00
18.00
15.00

(2S>
(2)
(2)
(2)

40
40
40
40

(2)
(2)
(2)

28. 50
18.00
12.00

(2)
(2)
(2)

40
40
40

__ d o____

___do__- _
___do____
__ do____

__do___
___do____
General help, apprentices, and learners-------- . . .d o ____
Lumber, timber, and mill-work workers, Evansville,
Box-factory laborers
____ . . . .
-------- - Oct. 16
M etal trades, Belleville, 111.:
Stove mounters____ . . ----------- -------- ------------- N ov. 15
Printing and publishing trades:
Compositors and machine operators:
East Liverpool, Ohio.
----------------- --------- Oct. 1
Trenton, N.J.:
Newspaper, d ay--------- ----------------------- - Sept. 1
Newspaper, n i g h t ...........
. . . ------- -_-do____


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

35
40

Per hour
.40

Skivers:

1 Per hundred.
2 N ot reported.
3 25 percent increase,
* Piecework.

40
40

Per hour
.37

Framers:

Operators:

Before After
change change

Per hour
$1. 28
1.20

1.40
•62
Per day
4.50

Sept. 28
Sept. 1

Philadelphia, Pa., neckwear workers.. ---- ------------ Aug. 14
Millinery workers, Philadelphia, Pa.:
Cutters, operators, blockers..
___________ Aug. 28
W om en’s clothing workers:
Chicago, 111., dressmakers _______ ..
Cleveland, Ohio, dressmakers. ________ . . .
New York, N .Y ., covered-button w orkers._.
Philadelphia, Pa., dressmakers.. . ----------- .
Coopers, Philadelphia, P a______ __________________

Per hour
$1.12^
1.50

After
change

Per hour
.27

Per hour
. 33%

50

40

. 45-, 60

. 67

48

40

Per day
6.45

Per day
7. 00

40

Per week
48.00
51. 00

Per weeek
54.00
57.00

48
48

5 20 percent increase,
s 35 percent increase.
7 Various.
s 30 to 40 percent increase.

9 15 percent increase.
10 Average.
u M inim um .

48

1480

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , A U G U ST
TO N O V E M B E R 1933—Continued
Hours per
week

Rate of wages
Date of
change

Industry or occupation and locality

Street-railway workers, Topeka, Kans.:
Bus operators___________________ _____ ________
Car operators.. . __________________________ .
Other occupations:
Hartford, Conn., window cleaners _ . . . . . .
New York, N .Y ., doll and toy workers_________

Sept. 1

Oct.

1

Before
change

After
change

Per hour
$0. 32
. 40

Per hour
$0. 40
. 50

63
63

48
48

10. 45
(2)

Per week
n 20. 00
(12)

54
40

40
40

136.00-8.00

40

40

35

35

Wheeling, W .V a., stogie m akers................... ........ Aug. 21 134.50-6.00
Municipal employees:
Waco, Tex., teachers
. . . __________________ Sept. 18
(2)
2 Not reported.
10 Average.

11 M inim um .
12 10 percent increase.

Before After
change change

(>4)

43 Per thousand.
1412 percent reduction.

Farm Wage and Labor Situation on October 1, 1933

HE general level of farm wages increased 10.2 percent between
July 1 and October 1, 1933, this increase being slightly more
than three times as large as the ordinary seasonal increase in farm
wage rates, according to information contained in a press release of
the United States Department of Agriculture dated October 11, 1933.
The average daily rates, without board, on October 1, ranged from
70 cents in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina to $2.35 in Con­
necticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, the average for the
country as a whole being $1.25, as compared with $1.12 on July 1 of
this year and $1.19 on October 1, 1932.
Table 1, reproduced from the press release mentioned above, gives
data on farm wage rates and employment, for the country as a whole,
on October 1, 1933, in comparison with the rates prevailing on July 1
of this year and on the 1st of July and October 1932, an additional
comparison with the annual average for the period 1910-14 being
given in the case of wage rates.

T

T

a b le

1 —F A R M W A G E R A T E S A N D E M P L O Y M E N T IN O C T O B E R 1933, AS C O M P A R E D
W IT H JU L Y 1933 A N D JU L Y A N D O C T O B E R 1932
Annual
average
1910-14

Item

Farm wage rates:
Per month, without b o a r d ____

...

. . . ____

Per day, without board .
. . . . . . . ______
Supply of and demand for farm labor:
Supply (percent of normal) _____ . . . . . . . .
Demand (percent of normal)_____ . . . _______________
SuodIv (Dercent of demand)
Farm em ploym ent:1

July
1932

Octo­
ber
1932

July
1933

Octo­
ber
1933

100

87

84

78

86

$20.41
$29. 09
$1.10
$1.43

$18. 00
$27.10
$0 89
$1.23

$17. 29
$26. 36
$0. 87
$1.19

$15. 84
$24. 27
$0. 82
$1.12

$17.19
$25.89
$0.91
$1.25

123. 6
62. 0
199. 2

123. 6
60. 8
203. 3

116. 2
65. 5
177.5

111 4
68.1
163. 6

2. 49
1. 09
3. 58

2. 31
1.09
3. 40

2. 37
1.01
3. 38

2.25
1. 05
3 30

57
66
171
57
40

56
67
177
62
44

76
97
165
69
50

3 70
81
6 176
s 73
«56

(in
Related indexes:
Ratio of farm prices to farm wages . . .

_______ _

..

100
100

1 On farms of crop reporters.
2 As of the 15th of the month.
3 September 1933—latest data available.
4 Average weekly earnings, N ew York State factories, June 1914=100.
5 August 1933—latest data available.
6 Federal Reserve Board’s indexes without seasonal adjustment, 1923-25=100.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1481

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Table 2 shows average farm wage rates per day and per month,
with board and without board, by State, on October 1, 1933.
T

a b l e

2 —A V E R A G E F A R M W A G E R A T E S ON O C T O B E R 1, 1933, B Y S T A T E

Per month
Geographical division
and State

W ith­ W ith W ith­
W ith
out
out
board board board board

$26. 50 $40. 00 $1.55
25. 50 44.50 1.40
23. 25 38. 75 1.30
29.00 52. 00 1.60
36.75 58. 75 1.90
29. 00 49. 25 1.70

$2.05
2.15
1.85
2. 35
2.35
2.35

Middle Atlantic
N ew York ____ _
- 22.50
N ew Jersey__________ 25. 50
Pennsylvania-------------- 21.25

36.00
43.00
34.25

1.35
1.35
1.25

1.90
1.90
1.70

East North Central
O hio............... .
-- Indiana_______________
Illinois_______
--_ -Michigan. __ _ . Wisconsin________ - - .

17.50
18. 00
18. 75
15. 75
17. 25

27. 50
26. 50
26. 25
26. 25
27. 50

1.05
1.00
1.00
1.00
.95

1.45
1.30
1.35
1.40
1.40

West North Central
M in n esota -Io w a -. ________ - --Missouri---- ---------------North D a k ota .-. - .
South Dakota _ ___
N eb ra sk a -_________
Kansas____ ____ — -

18. 00
18.00
16. 50
18. 50
15. 75
18. 25
17. 75

27.00
25. 25
25. 50
28. 25
24. 75
27. 25
27. 50

1.05
1.00
.85
1.05
.85
1.05
1.05

1. 50
1.35
1.10
1.60
1.30
1.45
1.40

South Atlantic
Delaware____

____

Virginia - ----------------West Virginia_______

Geographical division
and State

Per day

W ith­ W ith W ith­
W ith
out
out
board board board board

South Atlantic—Con.

New England
M aine-. -------New Hampshire-----Vermont _ _ _
----Massachusetts— ----Rhode I s la n d ..-------Connecticut__________

Per month

Per day

19. 75
20. 25
17. 00
18. 50

30. 50
31. 00
24. 75
28. 00

1.35
1.15
.85
.95

1.60
1.55
1.10
1.25

North Carolina.
- $13. 75 $20.00 $0.70
.50
9.50 13.75
South Carolina_______
.55
Georgia... _ -------------- 9.00 14.00
.65
F lo r id a ______________ 14.00 21.25

$0.90
.70
.70
.90

East South Central
14. 50
14. 00
9. 25
10. 50

21.00
19. 25
13. 25
15. 25

.75
.70
.50
.55

1.00
.90
.70
.75

13.00
12.50
17.00
17.75

18. 75
18.00
24. 25
25.00

.60
.65
.90
.90

.85
.85
1. 25
1.10

25.00
27. 00
25. 50
21.50
22. 00
33. 75
30. 50
32.50

36. 00
38. 75
37. 75
33. 50
31.25
38.00
43. 75
45. 75

1. 30
1.45
1. 20
1. 10
1.00
1.25
1.45
1.35

1.85
1.80
1.75
1.55
1.30
1.40
1.80
1.85

W ashington__________ 23.75
Oregon----- --------- .. 25.50
California____________ 33.00

41.25
40.00
53.00

1.30
1.25
1.40

2.00
1.75
2.15

United States___ 17.19

25. 89

K entucky___________
Tennessee., .
-------Alabama_____________
Mississippi........ ..........West South Central
Arkansas-------- ---------Louisiana-------Oklahoma____________
Texas_________________
Mountain
M ontana,
Idaho___ ___ _
W yom ing _
Colorado. .
...
.
New M exico. . _ . .
Arizona _ _____ _ .
U tah.. . . .
. . - ..
Nevada___________ . . .
Pacific

.91 j 1.25

Wages in the Paper and Wood-Pulp Industries in Finland,
1928 to 1933

HE table below, taken from the Bank of Finland Monthly
Bulletin for September 1933 (p. 27), shows average hourly wages
for men and women in the paper and wood-pulp trades in Finland
for specified periods since 1928.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1482

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S IN T H E P A P E R A N D W O O D -P U L P IN D U S T R IE S IN
F IN L A N D , 1928 TO 1933
______________ [Conversions into United States currency on basis of mark at par=2.5 cents]
Average hourly wages
Men

Period

Finnish
currency

Marks
7. 42
7. 51
7. 70
6. 69
6. 16
6. 39

1928 (S eptem b er-N ovem ber).___
1929 (Septem ber-Novem ber). .
1930 (August)________ . . .
1931 (August)________ . . . _
1932 (August)______ ____
1933 (M arch)_______

Women

United
States cur­
rency

United
States cur­
rency

Finnish
currency

Cents
18.6
18.8
19. 3
16. 7
15. 4
16.0

Marks
3.67
3. 70
3. 79
3.20
3.02
3.12

Cents
9.2
9.3
9.5
8.0
7.6
7.8

Wages in Tokyo, June 1933

HE daily wages of Tokyo workers in June 1933 in various occu­
pations are shown in the following table, based on a tabulation
in the June 1933 issue of the Monthly Report on Current Economic
Conditions published by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and
Industry:

T

D A I L Y W A G E S IN V A R IO U S IN D U S T R IE S , T O K Y O , JU NE 1933
[Conversions into United States currency on basis of yen at par=50 cents. Average exchange rate for June
1933 was 25.75 cents]
Daily wage

Occupation

Textile industry:
Silk reelers, female_____
Cotton spinners, femaleSilk throwers, female____
Cotton weavers, machine,
female___________
Hosiery knitters, female—
Metal industry:
Lathemen...........................
Finishers.............. ............
Founders_______________
Blacksmiths____________
Wooden-pattern makers..
Stone, glass, and clay prod­
ucts:
Cement makers_________
Glassmakers____________
Potters.______ __________
Tile makers (shape).........
Chemical industry:
Makers of chemicals_____
Matchmakers, male_____
Matchmakers, female____
Oil pressers................. ........
Paper industry:
Makers of Japanese paper.
Makers of printing paper..
Leather industry: Leather
makers....... ................... .........
Food industry:
Flour millers_____________
Sake-brewery workers____
Soy-brewery workers........


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Index
num­
bers
Japa
u
.s
.
(June
nese
cur­ cur­ 1932=
rency rency 100)

Daily wage

Occupation

Yen
0.69 $0.35
. 84
.42
. 94
.47

103.0
96.6
114.6

. 77
1. 38
2. 00
1.00

.39
.69
1. 00
.50

96.2
100.7
88.9
80.0

5. 23
5. 21
3.07
4.19
4.42

2. 62
2. 61
1.54
2. 10
2.21

135.8
155. 5
101.7
135.6
126.6

2. 40
2. 72
1.87
1.40

1. 20
1.36
.94
.70

101.7
112.4
105.6
100.0

2.14
.90
.65
1.55

1.07
.45
.33
.78

105.4
78.3
100.0
102.6

1. 50
1.81

.75
.91

100.0
101.1

3.23

1.62

108.8

1.95
1.30
2.10

.98
.65
1.05

103.2
100.0
100.0

Food industry—Continued
Sugar-refinery workers.
Confectioners (Japanese
cake)____________
Canners________
Wearing apparel industry:
Tailors (for European
dress)____________
Shoemakers______ _
Clogmakers ____________
Building industry:
Carpenters_________
Plasterers. ______
Stonemasons________
Bricklayers. ___________
Roofing-tile layers________
Painters_____________
W oodworking industry:
Sawyers (machine)
Joiners____________ .
Lacquerers_______
Printing industry:
Compositors________ .
Bookbinders_________
D ay laborers:
Stevedores___ __________
D ay laborers, m ale............
D a y laborers, female_____
Fisherm en..
______
Domestic service:
Servants, male . . . ____
Servants, female_______
Other industries:
Rope makers____________
M at makers (Tatam i)____

Index
num­
bers
Japa­
nese U.S. (June
cur­
1932=
cur­
rency rency 100)
Yen
2.16 $1.08

90.4

1.75
1.65

.88
.83

101.9

2.00
2.56
1.40

1.00
1. 28
.70

81.3
116.9
100.0

1. 95
2. 43
2. 83
2. 67
2. 75
2.29

. 98
1 22
1. 42
1.34
1.38
1.15

96.5
102.5
96.6
100.0
105.8
99.1

1. 74
1. 85
2.05

. 87
93
1.03

100.0
104.1

3. 00
2.31

1 50
1.16

94.6
104.1

2.55
1.51
.86
1.46

1.28
.76
.43
.73

113.3
107.9
107.5
86.4

.80
.78

.40
.39

96.4
101.3

1.48
2. 33

.74
1.17

102.1
97.1

100.6

100.0

1483

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Wages in Factories in Chosen (Korea), 1932

HE results of a survey of wages in 1932 in factories in Chosen
(Korea), employing 50 or more hands were published in the May
1933 issue of the Chosa Geppo (Monthly Statistical Review). These
findings were forwarded in a report of June 14, 1933, from C. H.
Stephan, American vice consul at Seoul, Chosen, and are given in
part below.
In 1932 the factories in Chosen employing 50 or more persons
numbered 253, representing 36 different industries and 57,153 wage
earners. Table 1 shows the average daily wages and hours of these
workers, by nationality and by sex.

T

T

a b l e

1.—A V E R A G E

D A IL Y W A G E S A N D H OU RS OF F A C T O R Y W O R K E R S i IN
C H O SEN , 1932, B Y N A T IO N A L IT Y

Conversions into U.S. currency on basis of yen=50 cents.

Average exchange rate for 1932 was 28.11 cents]

Average wage
Nationality

Japanese:
Males:
A dults_____________________________________
Minors.
__________________________________
Females, adults. _______________________________
Koreans:
Males:
Adults___________________ _____ ____________
Minors________________________ ____________
Females:
A dults__________________ - _______________
Minors
_ _______________________ ______
Chinese:
Males:
Adults. ---------------------------------------------------- .
Minors_________ ___________ ______________ .
All workers:
Males:
Adults______________________________________
Minors_____________________________________
Females:
Adults______ _ . . ______________________ .
Minors.
.
. . . . _______ .
. ...
1 In establishments employing 50 or more workers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Number of
hands

Japanese
currency

U.S. cur­
rency

Average
hours

5,359
103
389

Yen
1.94
.82
.94

Cents
97.0
41.0
47.0

8.7
8.4
9.8

27, 305
1,115

.90
.38

45.0
19.0

10.0
10.3

18, 523
2, 400

.55
.31

27.5
15.5

10.7
11.0

1,937
22

.70
.50

35.0
25.0

10.4
10.2

34, 601
1,240

1.05
.41

52.5
20.5

9.8
10. 1

18,912
2,400

.55
.31

27.5
15.5

10.7
11.0

1484

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

The average wages and hours of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese
adult male workers in the factories covered are given in table 2.
T

a b l e

3„—

A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S A N D H O U R S OF A D U L T M A L E W O R K E R S i IN
C H O SEN , 1932, B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D N A T IO N A L IT Y

[Conversions into United States currency on basis of yen at par—50 cents.
was 28.11 cents]
Japanese

Industry

Arms _________________

Average exchange rate in 1932

Korean

Chinese

Average
Average
Average
daily wages
daily wages
daily wages
N um ­
Num ­
N um ­
ber
Hours ber
Hours ber
Hours
of
of
of
Jap­
Jap­
Jap­
hands anese u .s .
hands anese U .S.
hands anese U .S.
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency rency
rency rency
rency

125
5

31
Briquettes
__ _____
29
Canned foods__
2
Casting-. ___
Cement. _ - - .............
269
6
Ceramic ware, .
_
41
Coal sorting________ _
10
Confectionery
____
7
Cotton ginning_________
35
Electricity and gas.. - - Fertilizers______________ 3,230
1
Glassware
- - 9
House fittings. _______
202
61
Iron manufactures_____
9
Leather, . _
55
Lumbering_______ _
1
Matches. _____________
Netmaking________
7
1
Oils____________________
72
Paper. .................. ........
98
Printing _________
115
Ruling___ _____________
47
Refining (minerals)____
Rice cleaning__________
23
21
Rubber manufactures. .
80
Shipbuilding___________
Socks (stockings). 27
Sugar__________________
15
Tailoring
96
Tobacco manufacturing.
592
Vehicles_________ _____
W eaving. ___ _______ .
33
4
Weights and measures.. .

Yen
2.20 $1.10
3.00 1.50

10.0
10.0

1.82
1.17
2. 50
2.40
2. 03
1.87
1.50
.91
1.80
1.78
3. 00
1.53
2. 25
2. 60
2. 70
1.75
1. 13
1.50
1.61
2. 09
2.38
1.13
2.08
1.57
1.50
2. 21

.91
.59
1.25
1.20
1.02
.94
.75
.46
.90
.89
1. 50
.77
1.13
1. 30
1. 35
.88
.57
1.25
.81
1.05
1.19
.57
1.04
.79
.75
1. 11

10.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
10.3
10.3
10.0
10.6
9.5
8.0
10.0
10.3
10.0
9.8
8.0
11.1
10.0
10. 1
12.0
11.5
9.3
11.0
9.8
10.8
10.1
10.5

2.31
1.87
2. 11
2. 39
2. 34
2. 50

1. 16
.94
1.06
1.20
1. 17
1.25

11.0
9.5
10.0
9.6
11.0
9.4

317
50
227
227
108
38
797
382
5,245
46
377
104
1,437
10
49
584
219
200
1,006
159
95
70
165
1,343
954
4,910
2,944
1,434
68
144
70
184
958
1, 690
645
49

1 In establishments em ploying 50 or more workers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Yen
1.05 $0. 53
.80
.40
. 76
. 38
.78
.39
.24
.48
1.35
.68
.84
.42
.84
.42
.73
.37
.61
.31
. 68
.34
1.10
.55
.99
. 50
1. 30
.65
. 63
.32
.79
.40
1.34
.67
1.20
.60
.60
.30
.88
.44
.71
.36
1.05
.53
.72
.36
1.45
.73
.75
.38
.89
.45
.79
.40
.84
.42
1. 20
.60
. 70
.35
.95
.48
.95
.48
1.08
.54
1. 50
.75
.80
.40
1.15
.58

Yen
10.0
10. 0
10. 0
10. 0
10.0
10. 0
8. 0
10.3
10.3
10. 0
10.9
8.8
8.2
10.0
10.3
10. 0
9.7
8.0
10.8
10.0
10. 6
11. 0
11.5
9.4
11.2
9.3
11.3
10.4
10. 3
11. 7
11. 0
10. 0
10.0
9.8
11. 1
9.4

70
434

0. 66 $0. 33
11.6
.72
.36
10.3
—
—

31
8

1.15
.92

. 58
.46

10 0
9.4

955
37

.53
.50

.27
.25

10.7
10.0

1
331
15
4

1. 40
1.06
.70
1. 57

.70
.53
.35
.79

11.0
9.5
12.0
11.0

4

1.28

.64

10.0

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Trend of Employment, October 1933

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor presents herewith data compiled from pay-roll reports
supplied by representative establishments in 89 of the principal man­
ufacturing industries of the country and 16 nonmanufacturing indus­
tries, covering the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
Additional information is presented concerning employment on publicworks projects, public roads, the executive civil service, and class I
steam railroads.

T

Employment in Selected Manufacturing Industries in October
1933
Comparison of Employment and Pay-Roll Totals in October 1933 with September
1933 and October 1932

M PLOYM ENT in manufacturing industries increased 0.1 per­
cent in October 1933 as compared with September 1933 and pay
rolls increased 0.6 percent over the month interval, according to
reports received from representative establishments in 89 important
manufacturing industries of the country. Comparing the changes in
employment and pay rolls over the year interval, it is seen that the
level of employment in October 1933 is 23.5 percent above the level
of October 1932, and pay rolls in October 1933 showed a gain of 34.3
percent over the year interval.
The index of employment in October 1933 was. 74, as compared
with 73.9 in September 1933, 71.6 in August 1933, and 59.9 in October
1932; the pay-roll index in October 1933 was 53.6, as compared with
53.3 in September 1933, 51.9 in August 1933, and 39.9 in October
1932. The 12-month average for 1926 equals 100.
These changes in employment and pay rolls in October 1933 are
based on reports supplied by 18,602 establishments in 89 of the
principal manufacturing industries of the United States. These
establishments reported 3,358,960 employees on their pay rolls during
the pay period ending nearest October 15 whose combined weekly
earnings were $63,195,865. The employment reports received from
these cooperating establishments cover approximately 50 percent of
the total wage earners in all manufacturing industries of the country.
The increases in employment and pay rolls between September and
October 1933, while small, indicate a continuation of the gains in
employment and pay roll which occurred during the preceding 6month interval. The fact that 56 industries, or nearly two thirds of
the 89 manufacturing industries surveyed, reported increased em­
ployment in October would give reason to expect a greater expansion
1485

E


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1486

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

over the month interval than was shown. Those increases, however,
were practically offset by the decreases reported in the remaining 33
industries. Among the decreases which largely affected the final
result were losses of over 10 percent in employment in automobiles
and a similar decline in silk goods where labor difficulties prevailed
throughout the period covered. Smaller declines were recorded in
iron and steel, boots and shoes, woolen and worsted goods, steam
fittings, hardware, plumbers’ supplies, and men’s clothing, and seasonal
shrinkage in the brick, cement, beverage, and ice-cream industries.
The average percentage of change in employment between Septem­
ber and October over the preceding 10-year period has been a decrease
of less than one tenth of 1 percent and pay rolls have shown an aver­
age gain of 2 percent over this interval. The small percentage gain
in employment in October of the present year therefore indicates a
change slightly better than average, while the pay-roll increase of
0.6 percent in October of the current year is appreciably less than
the average increase shown in October over the preceding 10-vear
interval.
The gain of 0.1 percent in employment in manufacturing industries
between September and October 1933 represents an estimated gain of
approximately 7,000 workers over the month interval, and the in­
crease of 0.6 percent in factory pay rolls indicates that the total
weekly pay rolls of factory employees in October were approximately
two thirds of a million dollars greater than the total weekly pay rolls
disbursed in September in all manufacturing industries combined.
The index (74) of factory employment in October shows a gain of
34.3 percent over the employment index (55.1) of March 1933, which
was the low point of employment recorded in manufacturing indus­
tries. The pay-roll index (53.6) in October is 60.5 percent above the
level of the March pay-roll index of 33.4. Measured by these per­
centage gains there was an increase in employment in manufacturing
industries of approximately 1,700,000 workers between March and
October 1933 and an increase of $44,500,000 in weekly wages in
October over the total amount paid in 1 week in March 1933.
The most pronounced increases in employment between September
and October were seasonal gains in the beet-sugar and radio industries.
The beet-sugar industry, marking the beginning of its active season,
reported a gain of 171.1 percent in employment and the radio industry
reported an increase of 21.6 percent. The locomotive industry showed
a gain of over 20 percent in number of workers and the cottonseed
oil-cake-meal and fertilizer industries reported seasonal gains of 15.6
percent and 10.6 percent, respectively. Fifteen industries reported
gains ranging from 5 percent to 9.8 percent, among which were the
agricultural implement, confectionery, machine tool, jewelry, stove,
shirt and collar, and cigar and cigarette industries. Other industries
of major importance reporting increased employment over the month
interval were petroleum refining, electrical machinery, shipbuilding,
chemicals, foundries, sawmills, furniture, women’s clothing, knit
goods, and cotton goods.
Seven of the 14 groups into which the 89 manufacturing industries
are classified reported increased employment between September and
October. The tobacco group reported the largest percentage gain
over the month, 4.6 percent, both the cigar and cigarette and the chew­
ing and smoking tobacco industries reporting increases. The machin
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

TKEND OF EMPLOYMENT

1487

ery group reported an increase of 3.7 percent, substantial gains being
shown in radios, agricultural implements, machine tools, typewriters,
electrical machinery, and foundries. The food group reported a gain
of 3.6 percent, the beet sugar, confectionery, cane-sugar refining, and
flour industries reporting the largest percentage increases. The gain
of 2.9 percent in employment in the chemical group was due largely
to seasonal increases in fertilizers and cottonseed oil-cake-meal com­
bined with smaller increases in the chemical, petroleum refining, and
explosive industries. The paper group reported a gain of 2 percent.
The nonferrous metal and the lumber groups reported increases in
employment of 1.7 and 1.4 percent, respectively.
The most pronounced decline in employment (7.9 percent) was
reported in the transportation group in which the decrease of 10.4 per­
cent in the automobile industry contributed largely to the decline
reported in the group. The stone, clay, and glass products group
reported a decrease of 2.3 percent, seasonal decreasesi in the cement and
brick industries offsetting small gains reported in the glass, marble,
and pottery industries. The decline in employment in 8 of the 13
industries comprising the iron and steel group was reflected in the
loss of 2.1 percent in employment in this group over the month inter­
val. The iron and steel industry reported 2.2 percent fewer employees
in October than September and larger decreases -were shown in the
tin can, forging, steam fitting, plumbers’ supplies, and hardware
industries. The decreases in both the boot and shoe and the leather
industries resulted in a decrease of 1.9 percent in the leather group.
The decreases in the remaining 3 groups (textiles, rubber, and railroad
repair shops) were 0.7 percent or less.
Strikes continued to affect employment in factories in a number of
localities. A large number of silk-goods plants reported decreased
employment due to strikes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These
strikes affected a number of plants in the dyeing and finishing textile
industry which were forced to close or operate part time due to lack
of material. Strikes in establishments in the furniture, flour, knit
goods, and leather industries were also reported over the month
interval.
A comparison of the indexes of employment and pay roll in manu­
facturing industries in October 1933 with October 1932 shows that all
but 8 of the 89 industries surveyed reported increased employment
over the year interval and a similar number reported increased pay­
roll totals. Decreases in both items were reported in 6 industries—
dyeing and finishing textiles, corsets, millinery, electric-railroad repair
shops, cement, and marble-granite-slate. The newspaper and the
book and job printing industries each reported small losses in pay rolls
coupled with increased employment over the year interval, and the
men’s furnishings and cigar and cigarette industries reported losses in
employment coupled with increased pay-roll totals.
In table 1, which follows, are shown the number of identical estab­
lishments reporting in both September and October 1933 in the 89
manufacturing industries, together with the total number of em­
ployees on the pay rolls of these establishments during the pay period
ending nearest October 15, the amount of their earnings for 1 week in
October, the percents of change over the month and year intervals,
and the indexes of employment and pay roll in October 1933.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1488

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

.The monthly percents of change for each of the 89 separate indus­
tries are computed by direct comparison of the total number of
employees and of the amount of weekly pay roll reported in identical
establishments for the 2 months considered. The percents of change
over the month interval in the several groups and in the total of the
89 manufacturing industries are computed from the index numbers of
these groups, which are obtained by weighting the index numbers of
the several industries in the groups by the number of employees or
wages paid in the industries. The percents of change over the year
interval in the separate industries, in the groups and in the totals, are
computed from the index numbers of employment and pay-roll totals.
T AB+Ji !•—C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y B O L L S IN M A N U FA C TU R IN G
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN O C T O B E R 1933 W IT H S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R 1932

Industry

F o o d a n d k in d red p ro d ­
u c ts _______________
____
B a k in g ...______________
Beverages ______________
Batter
____ _______
Confectionery___________
Flour_______________ . . .
Icecream _____ . . . ___
Slaughtering and meat
packing________ . . .
Sugar, beet______________
Sugar refining, cane_____
Textiles and their products.
Fabrics_________________
Carpets and rugs____
Cotton goods_______
Cotton small w a res...
Dyeing and finishing
textiles ___________
Hats, fur-felt__ _____
Knit goods _ ______
Silk and rayon goods..
W oolen and worsted
goods . . __________
Wearing apparel_______
Clothing, m en’s _____
Clothing, wom en’s __
Corsets and allied gar­
ments ___________
M en’s furnishings___
Millinery____ ______
Shirts and collars____
Iron and steel and their
products, not including
machinery____ _ _
Bolts, nuts, washers, and
rivets____________ ____
Cast-iron pipe_____ . . .
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery)
and edge tools_______
Forgings, iron and steel._
Hardware................. .......
Iron and steel_________
Plumbers’ supplies______
Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and steam
fittin g s........................


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

Employment
Pay-roll totals
Index numEstab­
bers October
lish­
1933
(average
Percent of
Percent of
ments
1926=100)
change
change
report­
NumAmount
ing in
ber
of pay
both
on pay
Octo­
roll (1
Octo­
Sep­
Sep­
Seproll
ber
week)
ber
tember
tember
Em­
Pay­
October
1932 October temijpr 1932
and
to Oc­
to Oc­
roll
1933
1933
to Oc­ ploy­
October
tober to Oc­
tober
ment
totals
tober
tober
1933
1933
1933
1933

3, If.)
1,030
413
307
302
417
356

322,300
73,420
26,154
5,966
43, 619
17,646
11, 377

+ 3.6
+ 1.2
-6 .5
- 1 .2
+ 8.1
+ 2 .4
-8 .1

+19.1 $6,528,685
+10.1 1, 599,105
+107. 9
701, 269
+ 9.5
121, 301
+ 5.2
644,122
+ 13.6
362, 281
+12.1
284,990

+ 2.0 + 17.2
+ .4
+ 5.8
- 9 .8 +131. 3
+ 1.5 + 2.8
+ 5 .9 + 8.8
+ 6 .4 + 4.1
- 5 .9
+ 4.5

103.7
89.0
150.9
106. 0
102.4
96. 2
76 8

81.7
72. 5
127. 7
80. 7
80.1
75. 3
57 5

112, 501
- . 8 +26.0 2, 218, 244
- . 6 +22.9
21,913 +171. 1 +16.3
398, 033 +143. 9 +29.7
9,704
+ 7.6 +19.8
199, 340
+ 4 .4 + 5.1

110. 5
248.8
93.2

87. 0
163. 0
68.0

3,316
1,965
27
689
116

773,495
628,243
16, 632
309,034
11, 621

+29.9
+36.0
+89.9
+61.2
+25.9

87.9
93.6
82.8
102.6
99 6

67. 7
74.4
65. 7
86. 4
77 4

153
36
466
238

33, 600
6, 248
124, 945
50, 798

- 2 .3
- 2 .8
610, 731
- 9 .4
+ 3 .6
140, 024
+ 1.6 +11. 3 1,974, 332
-1 0 .1
+ .5
762,239

+ 2.5
- 6 .2
- 9 .7 +11.4
+ 5.5 +19.2
- 7 .2 +12.5

75.7
76. 8
96. 6
65.2

54. 0
57.6
79. 5
50.5

240
1,351
396
593

75, 365
145,252
70, 604
34,458

- 3 . 1 +29.5 1, 283, 690
-.4
+ 3.9 2,496,849
- 2 . 1 + 8 .7 1, 215,149
+ 1.6 + 1.6
693, 297

- 4 .9
- 5 .2
- 2 .0
-7 . 5

+37. 7
+ 16.0
+26.0
+13. 3

99. 6
74.3
77.1
71 7

78,1
54.5
55 3

32
73
135
122

5, 453
7,242
8,845
18, 650

- 8 .5
- 5 .8
+ 16.0 + 7.7
-2 3 .5 -1 2 .0
+15.0 +49.5

95. 5
67.1
69 6
73.4

80 6
48. 9
43 9
62.8

1,419

417,746

79
44

14,406
6, 630

132
66
99
206
73

11,292
7, 214
28,269
254, 363
9, 314

+ 4.8
- 7 .9
- 6 .3
- 2 .2
- 6 .9

+22.7
208, 291
+38.9
134,941
+12.4
462, 411
+44.2 5,012,991
+59.4
149,430

98

16,843

- 7 .6

+19.6

244
63
13

-.7
-.7
+ 5.5
+ 1.2
- 2 .2

+17.7 11,820,893
+23.0 9,324,044
+52.8
322,810
+35.2 4,046,645
+23.0
183,573

- 9 .7
- 5 .4
+ 7J. - 2 .5
- 3 .6
- 9 .3
+ 5.5 +15.0

- 2 .1

84,166
102, 798
151, 447
249,992

+37.9 7,939,979

-2 .1 +42.5
+ 3.1 +18.6

263,139
85, 221

302,493

- 1 .7
-.3
+ 7 .3
+ 1 .0
- 1 .3

+ .4

+77.8

73.2

47.3

+ .2 +75.0
+ 3.9 +27.5

88.8
35.1

58.8
19.0

+ 6.4
+ 1 .7
- 7 .8
+ .4
-1 2 .8

+24.0
+91. 5
+25.9
+113.4
+62.0

79. 0
76. 7
55. 3
76. 4
81.6

54. 3
49.6
30.6
49 5
46.5

- 8 .3

+17.8

44.6

27.8

1489

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T a b l e 1.—C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN M A N U FA C TU R IN G

E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
1932—Continued

IN

Industry

Iron and steel and their
products, n o t including
m achinery—Continued.
Stoves.. ----------- ----------Structural and ornamental
m etalw ork------------------T in cans and other tinware.- -----------------------Tools (not including edge
tools, machine tools,
flies, and saws)________
Wire work -------------------Machinery, not including
transportation e q u i p ­
m en t_______ _____________
Agricultural implem ents..
Cash registers, adding ma­
chines, and calculating
machines______________
Electrical machinery, ap­
paratus and supplies—
Engines, turbines, trac­
tors, and water wheels..
Foundry and machineshop products_________
Machine tools___________
Radios and phonographs..
Textile machinery and
Typewriters and supplies.
Nonferrous metals and
their products___________
Aluminum manufactures.
Brass, bronze, and copper
products_______________
Clocks and watches and
time-recording devices..
Lighting equipment_____
Silverware and plated
ware___________________
Smelting and refining—
copper, lead, and zin c..
Stamped and enameled
ware................................

OCTOBER

1933 W IT H

SEPTEM BER

1933 A N D

OCTOBER

Pay-roll totals
Employment
Index numEstab­
1933
(average
lish­
Percent of
Percent of
1926=100)
ments
change
change
reportAmount
ing in
of pay
ber
both
Octo­
roll (1
Octo­
on pay
Sep­
Sep­
Sep­
ber
week)
ber
roll
Em ­ Pay­
tember October tember 1932 October tember 1932
to Oc­
roll
to Oc­ to Oc­
and
to Oc­ ploy­
1933
1933
tober
tober
October
tober ment totals
tober
1933
1933
1933
1933

162

25,346

+ 5.6 +49.3

$500,488

+12. 4 +51.6

82.7

56.4

202

17,045

+ 1 .2 +24.3

314, 477

+ 6.2 +39.8

51.2

33.0

60

10,238

- 8 .0 +11.8

191.985

- 7 .7

+ 8.6

85.9

51.5

127
71

8,950
7,836

+ 3.6 +38.0
- . 5 +40.1

163, 327
150, 785

+ 5.0 +53.8
+1.7 +61.3

83. 1
128.2

54.0
103.9

1,826
79

359,680
9,118

+ 3.7 +40.4 7,207,029
162,663
+ 8.5 +94.3

+ 6.9 +60.9
4-14. 2 +122.1

64.0
37.7

43.6
31.1

416,492

+ 4.6 +44.0

85.7

67.4

+ 3 .6 +27.6 2, 278, 501

+ 4.8 +43.0

62.9

46.9

440,053

+ 6.7 +46.2

55.4

36.4

+ 2 .0 +37.3 2,382,122
+ 7.9 +62.2
329,929
+21.6 +103. 5
725,960

+ 4.8 +62.2
+ 9.9 +93.6
4 37. 3 +99.0

60.4
48.0
162.4

37.8
33. 1
125.2

235,143
236,166

+ . 3 +103.8
+11.4 +101.6

90.0
81.2

69.3
61.3

+ 1.7 +35.2 2,022,181
124, 245
- 1 .5 +34.6

+4 .9 +38.9
+ 4.6 +47.8

73.0
64.2

51.4
43.6

- 2 .9

35

16,366

291

112,500

92

21,167

1,075
142
43

125,024
15, 601
37,148

52
16

10, 768
11,988

632
27

108,188
6,949

212

39,185

27
130
52

9,606
9,487
3,642

+ 2 .4 +34.3

+ .4

+39.2

- . 9 +67.9
+ 6.7 +45.3

+41.7

736,801

+57.1

72.4

49.5

+ 5.4 +26.4
+ 5 .6 + 8.6
+ 2.4 +26.3

177,741
188, 516
64,388

+ 13.1 +39.2
+ 11.0 + 6.4
+ 1.4 +26.9

52.6
47.8
84.1

43.7
34.7
59.4

-.9

56

9, 247

+ 9.8 +21.7

191,859

+20.0 +21.3

77.5

55.2

42

14,140

+ 2.3 +46.8

267,831

+ 3 .8 +42.2

86.3

55.9

86

15,932

+ .9 +37.6

270,800

- 6 .1

+39.4

83.1

55.9

424
25
239

270, 106
6,445
221, 612

-7 .9 +44.1 5, 697, 293
174, 599
+ 3 .6 +48.3
-1 0 .4 +52.4 4, 641,844

-1 0 .4 +66.8
4-7.3 +27.9
-1 3 .3 +85.9

56.9
247.3
58.2

41.2
222.6
42.2

Locomotives_____________
Shipbuilding____________

49
11
100

8,876
2, 851
30, 322

177,037
54, 008
649,805

4-5.0 + 1 .6
+ 28.6 +40.4
4-3.6 +10.3

21.4
20.3
79.1

12.6
13.2
57.8

Railroad repair shops ___
Electric railroad_________
Steam railroad___________

920
38(
540

96, 065
19, 631
76,434

+ 4.9 2, 435,699
487,588
- 3 .5
+ 5.9 1,948,111

4-8.0 +23.5
4-2.4 —3. 5
4-8.5 +26.6

51.0
63.2
50.1

44.7
50.0
44.3

1,61(
468

167,364
60,655

+1.4 +32.8 2,541,181
975,283
+ 1.8 +32.4

4-1.5 +49.5
4-4.2 +45.3

51.8
64.1

33.2
41.7

494
621
27

21,348
83, 438
1,923

320, 347
- 3 .0 +17.8
+ 1.8 +35.7 1,219, 705
25,846
+ 6.5 +42.9

- 2 .8 +22.4
+ .4 +62.3
+11.7 +48.4

40.3
49.0
64.6

24.6
31.0
55.8

Transportation
equip­
m e n t________ ________ _
Automobiles____ _______
Cars, electric and steam

Lumber and allied prodFurniture_______________
Lumber:
M illwork____ _______
Turpentine and rosin........


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

+ 1.4
-2 .1
+20.9 +47.1
+ 2.8 +16.8
-.2
+ 1.1
-.3

1490

MONTHLY LABOE R EV IEW

T a b l e 1 .— C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN 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
1932—Continued

IN

Industry

Stone, clay, and glass
products____ ____ ___
Brick, tile, and terra
cotta_______ __________
Cement .................. ........
Glass____________________
Marble, granite, slate, and
other products_________
Pottery__________________
Leather and its m anufac­
tures_______________
Boots and shoes_____ . . .
Leather_____ ____________
Paper and printing____ .
Boxes, paper_____________
Paper and pulp__________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job ____ . . .
Newspapers and pe­
riodicals............. .......
Chemicals and allied prod­
ucts________
Chem icals.. .............
Cottonseed—oil,
cake,
and meal______________
Druggists’ preparations...
Explosives_______________
Fertilizers________ ______
Paints and varnishes____
Petroleum refining___. . .
Rayon and allied products
Soap....... ........ ........... .

OCTOBER

1933 W IT H

SEPTEM BER

1933 A N D

Employment
Pay-roll totals
Estab­
lish­
Percent of
Percent of
ments
change
change
report­ NumAmount
ing in
ber
of
pay
both
on pay
Octo­
roll (1
Octo­
Sep­
Sep­
Sep­
roll
ber
week)
ber
tember
October tember 1932 October tember 1932
and
to
Oc­
to
Oc­
1933
1933
to
Oc­
to
Oc­
October
tober
tober
tober
tober
1933
1933
1933
1933

Index numbers October
1933 (average
1926=100)

Em ­
ploy­
ment

Pay­
roll
totals

1, 325

105,477

+19.3

51.7

32.8

662
131
177

20, 469
13,119
46,90C

- 8 .5
+ 9.4
-1 3 .7 -1 1 .4
+1.C +41.4

257,175
240,984
874, 310

- 9 .4 +13.1
- 4 .5
- 9 .1
+ 2 .0 +51.3

31.5
38.0
80.6

14.7
22.9
59. 6

235
120

5,982
19, 007

+ 1 .8 -1 2 .4
+ 3.8 +24.1

117, 204
342,298

+ 4.3 -2 2 .7
+ 7.9 +33.9

45.4
74.7

27.3
50.2

506
348
158

153,033
120,806
32, 227

-1 .9
+ 7.7 2,646,616
- 2 .2
+ 3 .0 2, 006, 690
- 1 .2 +29.5
639, 926

- 6 .6
- 9 .1
+ .7

+16.8
+11.4
+33.8

84.1
82.5
90.5

62.0
58. 5
74.1

1,990
327
416

248,821
27, 785
101,951

+ 2.0 +12.8 5,793,681
+ 1 .8 +25.8
486, 336
+ 1 .0 +26.1 1, 899, 065

+ 1.9 +5.8
- . 4 +19.1
- . 1 +27.5

90.5
92.6
94.8

70.6
76.0
66.3

-2 .3

+15.9 $1,831.971

+ .9

784

48,202

+ 1.6

+ 1.2 1,212,937

+2.1

463

70,883

+ 3.3

+ 6.9 2,195, 343

+ 3 .4

1,102
106

184,419
26, 471

104
50
31
175
363
140
24
109

6, 677
8,930
4, 569
8,957
17, 680
56,180
37, 681
17, 274

Rubber products__________
Rubber boots and shoes..
Rubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tubes____________
Rubber tires and inner
tubes_________________

149
9

96,368
10, 400

98
42

Tobacco m anufactures___
Chewing and smoking to­
bacco and snuff___ ____
Cigars and cigarettes____
Total, 89 industries...

OCTOBER

- 2 .9

73.5

57.8

-. 1

104.1

85.3

+ 4.9 +27.8
+ 6 .4 +41.0

98.7
120.9

77.8
87.0

+34.3
+14.1
+51.2
+59.5
+11.7
+14.6
+45.7
+ 9.7

62.9
80.8
105.9
72.1
80.4
72.7
197.3
116.7

60.3
80.3
77.4
48.0
61.0
59.8
172.4
92.6

- . 3 +39.4 1,934,586
+ 1.9 +31.9
195,221

+ 1.9 +52.8
+55.4

89.1
68.6

62.8
61. 7

27,300

+ 1.9 +43.4

+ 7.5 +35.0

58, 668

- 2 .1

238

55,898

+ 4.6

- 2 .2

30
208

9,491
46,407

+ 2.4
+ 5.1

+ 2.1
- 2 .9

18,602j3,358,960

+ .1

+ 2.9 +30.7 4,015,109
+ 2 .0 +42.7
632,490
+15.6
+ 5 .0
+ 2.1
+10.6
-. 1
+ 3.8
+ .3
+ .6

+16.3
71, 476
+12.7
181, 208
+39.9
97, 945
+59.9
115, 577
+17.9
371, 345
+17.6 1, 517,153
+41.3
668, 793
+20.4
359,122

492,991

+21.1
+ 6.5
+ 7.9
+12.9
+ 3 .0
+ 3.9
+ 2 .4
+ .8

120.9

82.6

- 1 .3

+62.9

82.2

56.2

780,962

+6.1

+5.7

72.3

59 0

130,914
650,048

(i)
+ 7 .2

+ 5.0
+ 5.8

91.7
69.8

77.0
56.8

+23.5 63,195,865

+ .6

+34.3

74.0

53.6

+39.3 1,246,374

1 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.

Per Capita Earnings in Manufacturing Industries
P e r capita weekly earnings in October 1933 for each of the 89
manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
and for all industries combined, together with the percents of change
in October 1933 as compared with September 1933 and October 1932,
are shown in table 2.
These earnings must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of
wages. They are per capita weekly earnings, computed by dividing
the total amount of pay roll for the week by the total number of
employees (part-time as well as full-time workers).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1491

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T a b l e 2 .—P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U FA C TU R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN

O C T O B E R 1933 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R 1932

Industry

Food and kindred products:
Baking-------------------------------------------- ------- --------------------------------Beverages---------- ---------------------- -----------------------------------------------Butter------ ------- ------------- ---------- ---------------- ------- -----------------------Confectionery-------- ---------------------------- ------- ------------- ---------------Flour.................................... - ------- ------- ---------------------------------------Ice cream____________________________________ ______ ____ ____
Slaughtering and meat packing-------------------------------- ------- - ........
Sugar, beet-------------- ------------- --------------------------------------------------Sugar refining, cane.- .................. - ........ - ................- ............ .............
Textiles and their products:
Fabrics:
Carpets and rugs............................. ................... ............ ..............
Cotton goods-------- ---------------------- --------------------------------------Cotton small wares___________________________ - .....................
Dyeing and finishing textiles------------------------------- --------------Hats, fur-felt____ ________________________ ____ ___________
Knit goods------------- -------- --------------------------------------------------Silk and rayon goods---------------------- -----------------------------------Woolen and worsted goods--------- ------- --------------------------------Wearing apparel:
Clothing, m en’s . ..........................- ------- --------------------------------Clothing, women’s_________ ____ — ---------- -----------------------Corsets and allied garments..------ --------------------------------------M en’s furnishings............................... - ------- --------------------------Millinery-------------------------- ------------------- -----------------------------Shirts and collars.................. .......................................................
Iron and steel and their products, not including machinery:
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets......................- .......... - ................. .
Cast-iron pipe...................................... - ............................................ .
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge tools.
Forgings, iron and steel............. ............................................ - ............
Hardware.......... .......... .......... ................................... - ............... - ........
Iron and steel..... ........ ................................... ............ ........ .................
Plumbers’ supplies----------- ---------- ------------------------------- ;------------Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and steam fittings------Stoves-------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------Structural and ornamental metal w ork-------------- ------------- -------Tin cans and other tinware-------------- ---------------------------------------Tools (not including edge tools, machine tools, files, and saw s)..
W irework---------- ------- --------------------- ------------------------- --------------M achinery, not including transportation equipment:
Agricultural implements--------------------------- - - - -------------------------Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating machines------Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies----------------------- Engines, turbines, tractors, and water wheels---------------------------Foundry and machine-shop products........ ........ ..............................
Machine tools----------- --------------------------------------------------------------Radios and p hon ographs............- ---------------------------------------- - - Textile machinery and parts....... .......................................................
Typewriters and supplies...................................... ............ .......... .......
Nonferrous metals and their products:
Aluminum manufactures........... ................... .......................... ..........
Brass, bronze, and copper p r o d u c ts ..................................... - ........
Clocks and watches and time-recording devices------------------------Jewelry------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lighting equipment----------------------- ------- ---------------------------------Silverware and plated ware-------------------------- ------------- --------------Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc---------------------------Stamped and enameled ware---------------- -----------------------------------Transportation equipment:
Aircraft............ ............ ...................... - ------- ---------------------------- -----Automobiles--------------------------- ------------------- ------------------------- Cars, electric and steam railroad....................- .................................
Locom otives_______ ____ ____ _____ - ........ - ............ - .......................
Shipbuilding.............................................................. ............. — ........
Railroad repair shops:
Electric railroad........................................................- ------- --------------Steam railroad--------------------------------- ---------------------------------------Lumber and allied products:
Furniture........................ .......... - ...........................................................
Lumber:
M ill work----- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------- Sawmills-------- ----------------- ---------- ---------------------------- ---------Turpentine and rosin...............................................- .....................-- Stone, clay, and glass products:
Brick, tile, and terra cotta----------------- ---------------------- - .................
C em en t.................... - ................... .......... ................................... - ........
Glass........................................... - ...........................................................

1No change.


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

Per capita Percent of change com ­
weekly
pared with—
earnings
October
in October September
1932
1933
1933
$21. 78
26.81
20. 33
14. 77
20.53
25.05
19. 72
18.16
20.54

- 0 .8
- 3 .6
+ 2 .8
- 2 .0
+ 3.9
+ 2.8
+. 2
-1 0 .1
- 3 .0

- 3 .6
+11.2
- 6 .0
+ 3.3
- 8 .0
- 6 .4
- 2 .4
+11.4
-1 1 .9

19.41
13.09
15.80
18.18
22.41
15.80
15.01
17.03

+ 1 .7
-.2
+• 9
+ 4.8
-.3
+ 3.8
+ 3.2
- 1 .9

+23.8
+18.4
+ 2.0
- 3 .4
+ 7.6
+ 7.1
+12.0
+ 5 .8

17. 21
20.12
15. 43
14.19
17.12
13. 40

+. 2
- 8 .9
+ 1.2
+ 8.3
-2 0 .6
+ 9 .0

+15.9
+11 9
-.2
+10.4
- 3 .1
+29.6

18.27
12. 85
18. 45
18.71
16. 36
19. 71
16. 04
17. 96
19. 75
18.45
18. 75
18. 25
19.24

+ 2.4
+ .8
+ 1.5
+10.4
- 1 .6
+ 2.7
- 6 .4
-.8
+ 6.5
+ 4.9
+• 3
+ 1.3
+ 2 .2

+22.6
+ 7.4
+. 7
+38.1
+12.0
+48.4
+ 1.7
- 1 .4
+ 1.8
+12.6
- 3 .1
+11.5
+15.3

17.84
25.45
20. 25
20. 79
19.05
21.15
19.54
21.84
19. 70

+ 5 .2
+ 2.2
+ 1.1
+ 6.3
+ 2.7
+ 1.9
+12.9
+ 1.3
+ 4.5

+13.7
+ 7.1
+12.3
+ 5.1
+18.1
+18.8
- 2 .2
+21.3
+39.1

17.88
18.80
18.50
19. 87
17. 68
20. 75
18.94
17.00

+ 6 .2
- 2 .0
+ 7.3
+ 5.2
- 1 .0
+ 9.3
+ 1.4
+ 5.1

+ 9 .6
+11.0
+10.1
- 2 .0
+ .4
-.3
- 2 .9
+ 1 .3

27.09
20.95
19.95
18.94
21.43

+ 3 .6
- 3 .2
+ 7.3
+ 6 .4
+ .8

-1 3 .7
+22.3
+ .4
- 5 .4
- 5 .5

24.84
25.49

+ 1 .3
+ 8 .7

0)
+19.2

16.08

+ 2 .4

+ 9 .4

15.01
14. 62
13.44

+ .2
- 1 .3
+ 4.8

+ 4.1
+18.6
+ 3 .7

12.56
18. 37
18.64

- 1 .1
+10.7
+ .9

+ 3 .2
+ 2.1
+ 6 .7

1492

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Per capita Percent of change com­
pared with—
weekly
earnings
in October September
October
1933
1933
1932

Industry

Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued.
Marble, granite, slate, and other products_________ _
__________
Pottery____________
Leather and its manufactures:
Boots and shoes_______ . . .
Leather_______________
..
Paper and printing:
Boxes, p a p e r ________________________
Paper and pulp__________ _________________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job ______
___________ .
Newspapers and periodicals_______
Chemicals and allied products:
_________ _
Chemicals _____
Cottonseed oil, cake, and meal
Druggists’ preparations. ______________
Explosives_________________ ____
Fertilizers________________
Paints and varnishes________________ .
Petroleum refining___ _ _____
Rayon and allied p r o d u c t s ..._____
Soap____________ _________
Rubber products:
Rubber boots and shoes_____ _ _____
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires, and inner tubes .
Rubber tires and inner tubes____ . . . . .
Tobacco manufactures:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff .
Cigars and cigarettes_______________ ______
Total, 89 industries____________ .

$19. 59
18.01

+ 2.4

16. 61
19.86

- 7 .1

17.50
18.63

- 2 .2
- 1 .1

+ .9

25.16
30. 97

+ .4
+ .1

- 4 .0
- 7 .1

+ 4 .6
+ 1.4
+ 5 .8

+15.7

+ 3.1
+• 1
+ 2.1

- 5 .1

23.89
10. 70
20. 29
21.44
12.90
21.00
27.01
17.75
20.79
18. 77
18. 06
21.24

+ 2 .0
+ 5.5
+ .7

13.79
14.01
18. 81

- 2 .3
+ 2 .0

-1 1 . 7

- 5 .7
+16.5
+ 2 .8

2 Weighted.

General Index Numbers of Employment and Pay-Roll Totals in Manufacturing
Industries

G e n e r a l index numbers of employment and pay-roll totals in
manufacturing industries by months, from January 1926 to October
1933, together with average indexes for each of the years from 1926
to 1932 and for the 10-month period, January to October 1933, inclu­
sive, are shown in the following table. In computing these general
indexes the index numbers of each of the separate industries are
weighted according to their relative importance in the total. Follow­
ing this table are two charts prepared from these general indexes
showing the course of employment and pay rolls from January 1926
to October 1933, inclusive.
T able 3 .—G E N E R A L IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN M A N U F A C ­
T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , J A N U A R Y 1926 TO O C T O B E R 1933
[12-month average, 1926=100]
Employment

M onth
January_____
February___
M arch______
April________
M a y ............. .
June________
July------ ------August______
S eptem ber...
October_____
N ovem ber__
December___
Average...

Pay rolls

1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933

1926

100.4
101.5
102.0
101.0
99.8
99.3
97.7
98.7
100.3
100.7
99.5
98.9
100.0

98.0 94. 9 89. 6 94. 5 88. 1 63. 7 48.6 35.8
102.2 100.6 93.9 101.8 91. 3 68. 1 49.6 36.4
103.4 102.0 95. 2 103.9 91. 6 69. 6 48. 2 33.4
101.5 100.8 93.8 104.6 90. 7 68. 5 44.7 34.9
99.8 99.8 94. 1 104.8 88. 6 67.7 42. 5 38.9
99.7 97.4 94.2 102.8 85. 2 63.8 39.3 43. 1
95.2 93.0 91.2 98.2 77.0 60. 3 36.2 46.5
98.7 95.0 94.2 102.1 75. 0 59. 7 36.3 51.9
99.3 94.1 95.4 102. 6 75.4 56. 7 38.1 53.3
102.9 95.2 99.0 102.4 74. 0 55. 3 39.9 53.6
99.6 91.6 96.1 95. 4 69. 6 52. 5 38.6
99.8 93.2 97.7 92.4 68.8 52.2 37.7
100.0 96.5 94.5 100.5 81.3 61.5 41.fi '42.8

97.3
99.0
99.5
98. 6
97.6
97.0.
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
96.4

1 Average for 10 months.


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

91.6
93.0
93.7
93. 3
93.0
93. 1
92. 2
93. 6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
93.8

95.2
97.4
98.6
99. 1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98. 6
99.3
98.4
95.0
92.3
97.5

90.7
90.9
90.5
89.9
88.6
86. 5
82. 7
81.0
80.9
79.9
77.9
76.6
84.7

74.6
75.3
75.9
75.7
75.2
73.4
71.7
71.2
70.9
68.9
67.1
66.7
72.2

64.8 56.6
65. 6 57.5
64.5 55. 1
62.2 56.0
59.7 58. 7
57. 5 62.8
55.2 67.3
56.0 71.6
58.5 73.9
59.9 74.0
59.4
58.3
60.1 >63.4

1927

1928 1929

1930 1931

1493

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

MANUFACTURING

INDUSTRIES

MOMTHLY INDEXES I 9 Z 6 - I 9 3 3 .
M O N THLY

AVERAGE

192.6 = 100.

EMPLOYMENT

05

10 0

192.7

95

90

Ô5

80

75

70

65
1932.

60

55

50

45

-40

35
JA N .

FEB.

MAR.

21719°—33-----15


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

APR.

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG.

SEPT

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

1494

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

MANUFACTURING
MONTHLY INDEXES
M ONTHLY AVERAGE.

INDUSTRIES.
1926-1933
192.6= 100

PAY-ROLL TOTALS

I OS

100

95

90
1930

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35
JAN

FEB. ><A3<''A.PR.


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

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG.

SEPT.

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

1495

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Time Worked in Manufacturing Industries in October 1933

R eports as to working time in October were received from 14,883
establishments in 89 manufacturing industries. Two percent of these
establishments were idle, 70 percent operated on a full-time basis, and
28 percent worked on a part-time schedule.
An average of 93 percent of full-time operation in October was
shown by reports received from all the operating establishments in­
cluded in table 4. The establishments working part time in October
averaged 76 percent of full-time operation.
T a b l e 4.—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U FA C TU R IN G IN D U S T R IE S

B Y E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN O C T O B E R 1933
Establishments
reporting—

Percent of es­
tablishments
operating—

Average percent of
full time reported
by—

Part
time

All oper­ Estab­
lish­
ating es­
ments
tablish­
operating
ments
part time

Industry
Total
num­
ber

F o o d a n d kin d red p r o d u c ts __________________
Baking_______________________________ ______
Butter____ __________________ _______ _____
Confectionery________ _________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Flour________________________ _ _ ________
I c e c r e a m ___ _
_
__
__ _ ___

T extiles a n d th eir p r o d u c ts _______________ ___
Fabrics:
Carpets and rugs___________ ____________
Cotton goods___________ _ ______________
Cotton small wares________ ____ _____ _
Dyeing and finishing textiles _ _ ____ _
Knit goods_____________ ____________ _ .
Silk and rayon goods___ _________ ______
W oolen and worsted goods_____________
Wearing aDparel:
Clothing, men’s— ________________ _ _ _
Clothing, women’s_____ _________________
Corsets and allied garments______________
M en’s furnishings____ ________________
Shirts and collars______________ _____

_ _

Iro n a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u c ts , n o t in e lu d in g m a c h in e r y ______________ __________
Cast-iron pipe _________
____
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge tools___ ___
...
_____
Hardware. _ _ ___
____________ _
__ _
Iron and steel. ______________________________
Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and
steam fittings_________ _________
Structural and ornamental metal w ork.

___ _

Tools (not including edge tools, machine tools,
files, and saws)___________ _ ___________
W irework............................................... . __ ___
M a ch in e ry , n o t in c lu d in g tra n s p o r ta tio n
e q u ip m e n t ______ ____ ____________________ __
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating machines__________ _____ _ ___________
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies.
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water wheels.
Foundry and machine-shop products_________
Machine tools____________________________ _
* Less than one half of 1 percent.


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

2,665
937
301
250
263
381
264
198
60
11

Per­
cent
idle

1
(')
2
2
0)

2

Full
time

77
84
59
65
70
87
72
77
98
64

22
15
41
33
27
13
27
23
2
36

96
98
91
93
94
96
95
96
100
90

70
88
78
78
77
70
81
84
80
73

2,695

4

81

15

95

71

20
644
99
130
20
419
209
230

10
1
2
5

85
83
70
84
30
92
72
83

5
16
28
12
70
7
7
14

97
95
92
97
82
99
98
96

40
70
74
73
74
79
76
69

81
76
46
58
81
85

15
18
50
38
19
13

96
93
91
92
93
97

71
65
82
80
61
75

50
43
17

48
57
63

87
84
67

74
71
59

36
29
61
67
34

63
71
39
25
66

84
83
90
93
80

76
76
74
74
70

2

41
64
69
51

54
36
29
49

81
92
95
89

67
78
82
78

108
49

1

29
41

70
59

81
86

74
76

1,491
46

1

62
80

37
20

91
97

74
83

25
242
71
901
124

4

44
69
34
62
58

52
31
65
37
41

89
95
80
90
88

78
84
70
72
71

1
21
3

286
374
24
55
89
96

2

1,130
68
41

20

113
41
77
133
56
87
144
158
55

3
6
4
4

2

1
8
5

1
1
1

1496
T

a b le

4 .—

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S
B Y E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN O C T O B E R 1933— Continued

Establishments
reporting—

Percent of es­
tablishments
operating—

Average percent of
full time reported
by—

Full
time

All oper­ Estab­
lish­
ating es­
ments
tablish­
operating
ments
part time

Industry
Total
num­
ber

Per­
cent
idle

Part
time

Machinery—Continued.
38
37
7
Nonferrous metals and their products_______
Brass, bronze, and copper products__________
Clocks and watches and time-recording devices.
J ew elry... . . . . ____________ ____________ .
Silverware and plated ware . _____ . . . ____
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc.
Transportation equipm ent___________________
Cars, electric and steam railroad._______
Shipbuilding________________________

___

______

Railroad repair shops---------------------------------------Steam railroad___________________ _______ ..

539
22
187
20
no
43
48
24
75

1
1
3
2
4

327
25
163
39
7
93
718
297
421

2
8
2
(')
(>)

87
54
71

13
46
29

98
91
97

82
81
91

49
36
56
15
30
30
42
79
80

50
64
43
85
67
70
56
17
20

88
85
89
81
87
82
84
96
95

77
77
76
78
81
74
71
75
77

72
72
83
13
29
80

27
28
17
79
71
18

95
95
98
78
77
98

76
82
72
74
67
88

47
74
28

53
26
72

90
96
86

81
84
81

Lumber and allied products__________________
F u rn itu re_________ _____ _ . . . - ------------Lumber:
M ill work ______ ______________________
Sawmills.. . . .
--------------- --------Turpentine and rosin----- ------------------- . . . .

1, 271
393

1
1

73
85

25
13

94
97

76
76

375
483
20

2
1
10

67
71
20

31
29
70

93
92
84

79
74
80

Stone, clay, and glass products_______________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta . . . ---------------- . . .
Cement.
-------- --- ---------------------------- . . . .
Glass__________ __________ . . ----------- ------Marble, granite, slate, and other products _ .
Pottery________________________ ____________

764
230
88
151
193
102

12
21
19
3
9
3

59
60
63
82
26
81

29
19
18
15
64
16

91
92
90
97
84
95

74
67
58
83
77
70

Leather and its m anufactures________________
Boots and shoes__________________ . ----------Leather ___________ ____________ ____ ______

413
284
129

2
2
1

84
82
88

14
16
11

96
95
97

71
70
77

Paper and printing_________________ _________

1, 701
272
334

(')
1

80
78
67

20
22
32

96
95
92

78
78
76

688
407

(>)

83
86

16
14

96
98

75
88

69
90
80
50
29
97
49
90
93
53

30
9
20
50
71
2
50
8
7
47

94
99
93
90
86
100
90
99
99
91

80
86
65
81
81
80
81
91
80
80

125
9

44
89

56
11

87
99

76
90

85
31

31
68

69
32

84
92

77
74

Paper and pulp-------- ------------- ---------------------Printing and publishing:
Book and jo b ___________ ________ . . . .
Newspapers and periodicals-------------------Chemicals and allied products------------------------Chemicals__________ _
____ ______ ____
Druggists’ preparations-----

.. . .. . ..

Fertilizers____ _____________ ____ _____ ____
Paints and varnishes________________________
Petroleum r e fin in g .----- ---------------------------- . .

845
69
66
28
14
161
308
98
14
87

1
1

1
1
2

Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,

Tobacco m anufactures_______________________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff-------Cigars and cigarettes_________________________

209
28
181

6
4
7

54
50
55

40
46
39

89
89
89

75
76
74

Total, 89 Industries-------------------- -------------

14, 883

2

70

28

93

76

i Less than one half of 1 percent.


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

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1497

Employment in Nonmanufacturing Industries in October 1933

M PLOYM ENT increased in October as compared with Septem­
ber 1933 in 10 of the 15 nonmanufacturing industries appearing in
the following table, and increased pay-roll totals were reported in 12
of these 15 industries. Data for the building-construction industry
are not presented here but are shown in more detail under the section
“ Building construction.”
The estimated gains in employment in 10 of these 15 nonmanufac­
turing industries more than offset the declines in the remaining 5
industries. Keports from re tail-trade establishments indicate an
estimated gain of approximately 117,000 workers in that industry
between September and October.
The wholesale-trade industry showed an increase of approximately
13,000 workers and the crude-petroleum-produc.ing industry reported
an estimated expansion of approximately 7,000 workers over the
month interval. Employment gains in the power and light group
were estimated at 6,000. The number returned to employment in
the telephone and telegraph, electric-railroad, anthracite-mining,
metalliferous-mining, and quarrying and nonmetallic-mining indus­
tries was smaller.
The decrease of 28.1 percent in the canning and preserving industry
represents an estimated drop of over 55,000 employees between
September and October. This decrease, of course, is expected follow­
ing the peak month of September. The bituminous-coal-mining
industry, due largely to strikes in certain localities, also reported a
sharp decline. The decreases in number of workers in the remaining
three industries (hotels, laundries, and dyeing and cleaning) were much
less pronounced.
The crude-petroleum-producing industry reported the largest per­
centage gains in both items, 6.7 percent in employment and 12.8 per­
cent in pay rolls. The metalliferous-mining industry reported an
increase of 4.6 percent in employment over the month interval, and
retail-trade establishments showed a gain of 4.2 percent. The power
and light industry reported an increase of 2.4 percent in number of
workers between September and October, wholesale-trade establish­
ments reported a gain of 1.7 percent, electric-railroad and motor-bus
operation showed an increase of 1.4 percent, and the quarrying and
nonmetallic-mining industry reported a gain of 1.1 percent. The
increases in employment in the remaining four industries in which
increased employment was reported were as follows: Telephone and
telegraph, 0.5 percent; banks, brokerage, insurance, real estate, 0.4
percent; and anthracite mining, 0.2 percent.
In the five industries in which decreased employment was reported
over the month interval, the most pronounced decline was a seasonal
decrease of 28.1 percent in the canning and preserving industry, which
reached its peak of employment in September and regularly shows a
sharp decline in October. Employment in the bituminous-coal­
mining industry was affected by strikes in various localities, the indus­
try reporting a decline of 5.3 percent. Increased earnings, however,
in a large number of mines not affected by the labor disturbances
resulted in a net decline of only one tenth of 1 percent in weekly pay
rolls over the month interval. The hotel industry reported a falling
off of 2.1 percent in employment in October due entirely to the closing

E


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1498

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IEW

of seasonal resort hotels, which were open during the first half of
September and were closed in October. The laundry industry
reported 1.6 percent fewer employees in October than in September,
and the dyeing and cleaning industry reported a decrease of 0.3
percent.
With the exception of 3 industries (telephone and telegraph, electricrailroad and motor-bus operation, and anthracite mining), each of
these 15 nonmanufacturing industries reported more employees on
their pay rolls in October 1933 than in October 1932.
In the following table are presented employment and pay-roll data
for the nonmanufacturing industries surveyed, exclusive of building
construction:
T a b l e 1 — C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN N O N 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 IN O C T O B E R 1933 W IT H S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R
1932

Industrial group

Employment
Pay-roll totals
EstablishPercent of
ments
Percent of
report­
change
change
ing in
Amount
both
of pay roll
on pay
OctoSep­
Octo­ (1 week)
Sep­
Sep­
tober
tember roll Oc­ tember
ber
tember 1932 to
tober
1932 to October
and Oc­
1933
to Octo­ Octo­
1933 to Octo­ Octo­
tober
ber
ber
ber
1933
ber
1933
1933
1933
1933

Coal mining:
Anthracite..................... .
159
Bituminous____________
1,514
Metalliferous m ining_______
297
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining...................................
1,202
rude petroleum producing. _
260
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph. 8,294
3,132
Power and light________
Electric-r a i 1r o a d and
motor-bus op era tio n
and maintenance..........
557
Trade:
Wholesale.......................... 3,039
Retail................................. 18, 588
Hotels (cash payments only)1. 2,706
Canning and preserving.........
888
Laundries...... ..........................
965
Dyeing and cleaning________
377
Banks, brokerage, insurance,
and real estate...................... 4,569

77,833
210,835
27,974

+ 0 .2 -1 1 .0 $2,450,825
- 5 .3
+ 1 .5 3,514,092
+ 4 .6 +33.4
573, 642

Index num­
bers, October
1933 (average
1929=100)

Em ­
ploy­
ment

Pay­
roll
totals

+ 1 .5 - 7 .6
- . 1 +16.7
+ 8 .5 +43.9

56.9
68.0
40.7

61.6
44.1
25.9

36,894
29,053

+ 1.1
+ 6 .7

+ 1.5
+24.3

566, 803
804,187

+ 6 .4 + 3.7
+12.8 +17.9

53.2
70.6

31.2
50.1

246,416
204, 268

+• 5
+ 2.4

- 9 .8
+ 2 .9

6,504, 292
5,978, 638

+ 3.8 -1 1 .5
+ 6.1 + 2 .4

68.7
82.2

67.0
76.2

+ 1.4

+ 3 .6

133, 244

- 2 .4

3,601,938

- 2 .8

70.6

59.8

91, 276
437,841
140,128
96, 778
57,152
11,863

+ 1 .7 + 7.3
+ 4 .2 +10.2
- 2 .1
+ 2.1
-2 8 .1 +55.7
- 1 .6
+ .6
+ 7.4
-.3

2,447,059
8, 597,146
1,790, 048
1, 044, 743
863,414
208,481

+ 6 .0 + 3.3
+ 4.4 + 7.7
+ 1.0 - 4 .1
-3 1 .4 +68.1
- 1 .5
- 2 .5
+ .5 •+3.1

83.5
89.6
77.0
126.3
78.0
88.4

66.0
72.3
56.2
87.1
59.7
60.6

178, 777

8 + .4

5,790,015

2+ . 2

2 99. 4

2 84.7

2+ . 8

2—1.9

1 The additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
8 Weighted.

Per capita weekly earnings in October 1933 for 15 nonmanufactur­
ing industries included in the Bureau’s monthly trend-of-employment
survey, together with the percents of change in October 1933 as
compared with September 1933 and October 1932, are given in the
table following. These per capita weekly earnings must not be
confused with full-time weekly rates of wages; they are per capita
weekly earnings computed by dividing the total amount of pay roll
for the week by the total number of employees (part-time as well as
full-time workers).


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1499

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T

2 — P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN 1 5 N O N M A N U FA C TU R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
IN O C T O B E R 1 9 3 3 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H S E P T E M B E R 1 9 3 3 A N D O C T O B E R 1 9 3 2

a b l e

Industrial group

Per
capita
weekly

Percent of change
October 1933 com­
pared with—

in Octo­
ber 1933

Septem­
ber 1933

$31. 49
16.67
20.51
15. 36
27.68

+ 1 .3
+ 5 .5
+ 3.8
+ 5 .2
+ 5.8

+ 3 .7
+15.1
+ 7 .8
+ 2.1
- 5 .1

26.40
29.27
27.03

+ 3 .3
+ 3 .6
+ 2 .2

- 1 .8
-.4
-.5

26. 81
19. 64
12.77
10.80
15.11
17. 57
32.39

+ 4.3
+ .3
+ 3 .2
- 4 .4
+ .1
+ .8
2-.2

- 3 .8
- 2 .2
- 6 .0
+ 8.0
- 3 .2
- 3 .9
2 - 2 .6

October
1932

Coal mining:

Crude-petroleum producing____ .1 ...................... .................. __..................... _
Public utilities:

Trade:
Wholesale___ _____ _________________________________________________

1 The additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
2 Weighted.

Indexes of Employment and Pay-Roll Totals for Nonmanufacturing Industries

I ndex numbers of employment and pay-roll totals for 15 non­
manufacturing industries are presented in the following table. These
index numbers show the variation in employment and pay rolls by
months, from January 1930 to October 1933, in all nonmanufac­
turing industries with the exception of the laundry, dyeing and
cleaning, and the banks, brokerage, insurance, and real-estate indus­
tries for which information over the entire period is not available.
The Bureau has secured data concerning employment and pay rolls
for the index base year 1929 from establishments in these industries
and has computed index numbers for those months for which data
are available from the Bureau’s files. These indexes are shown in
this tabulation.


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1500
T

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

3 —IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S F O R NON M A N U FA C TU R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , J A N U A R Y T O D E C E M B E R 1930, 1931, A N D 1932, A N D J A N U A R Y T O O C T O ­
B E R 1933
[12-month average, 1929=100]

a b l e

Anthracite mining
M onth

Employment

Bituminous-coal mining

Pay rolls

Employment

Pay rolls

1930 1931 1932 1933 1930 1931 1932 1933 1930 1931 1932 1933 1930 1931 1932 1933
January..:_______
February________
M arch__________
April____________
M a y ____________
June____________
July....... ............ —
August__________
September______
October_________
N ovem ber______
December_______
Average___

102.1
106. 9
82.6
84.1
93.8
90.8
91.6
80. 2
93.8
99.0
97.2
99.1

90.6
89.5
82.0
85.2
80. 3
76.1
65.1
67.3
80.0
86.8
83. 5
79.8

76.2
71.2
73.7
70.1
66.9
53.0
44.5
49.2
55.8
63.9
62.7
62.3

52.5
58.7
54.6
51.6
43.2
39.5
43.8
47.7
56.8
56.9
—

105.8 89.3
121. 5 101.9
78.5 71.3
75.0 75. 2
98.8 76.1
94.3 66.7
84.0 53.7
78.8 56. 4
91.6 64.9
117. 2 91. 1
98.0 79.5
100.0 78.4

61. 5 43.2 102.5
57.3 56.8 102.4
61.2 48.8 98.6
72. C 37. 1 94. 4
58.6 30.6 90.4
37.4 34.0 88.4
34.5 38.2 88.6
41.4 46.6 89.2
47.0 60.7 90.5
66.7 61.6 91.8
51.0
92.5
56.2 —
92.5

Average..

73.3
68.3
65. 2
58. 6
54.4
52.4
50.4
50.6
53.6
56. 2
54.6
52.3

47.0 36.1
47.0 37.2
46.8 30.7
33.9 26. 6
30. 7 26.9
27.3 29.2
24. 4 33.6
26.4 43.3
30.2 44.1
37.8 44.1
38.0
37.7 —

95.7
92.3
90.9
89.3
87.5
84. 6
80.5
79.0
78.1
77. 2
72.8
70. 1

68.3
65.3
63.5
63.9
62.4
60. 0
56.2
55.8
55.5
53.8
52.8
51. 2

49.3 32. 4
46.9 31.5
45. 0 30.0
43.3 29.4
38.3 30.0
32. 2 31. 5
29. 5 33.0
28.6 36.8
29.3 38.9
30.5 40.7
31.9
33.3 —

92.7
92.5
90.8
88.3
85.6
81 6
71. 9
71.0
69.9
68.6
63.4
59.9

55.0
54.6
52.8
51.4
49.3
46 1
41. 3
40.2
40. 0
37.4
35. 1
34.3

Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
29.7 18.1
27.8 17.8
26.5 17.4
25.0 16.4
23.8 17.0
20 1 18 3
16. 9 19.0
16.5 21.9
17.0 23.9
18.0 25.9
18.7
18.7 —

79.6
79.8
83.0
87.4
90.8
Q0 3
89.9
89.3
87.7
84.7
78.3
70.2

64.4
66.6
70.0
76.1
75.0
72 3
71.0
68.9
66.6
64. 5
59.3
53.9

48.9 35.1
47.4 34.8
46.0 35. 1
48.6 39.3
50.6 43. 4
4Q F) 47 3
49.5 49. 5
51.1 51.6
52. 4 52.6
52. 4 53.2
49.4
42.3 —

71.9
73.5
80.0
85.4
90.2

50.4
54.4
58.2
62.6
62.3

30.2
29. 6
28.7
30. 0
32. 3

85. 5
85.8
82.5
79.3
66.8
59.9

57.3
55. 1
51.2
48. 7
43.3
36.9

29. 1 28.4
29.7 29.9
30.5 29.3
30. 1 31.2
27. 1
22. 1 —

18.1
17.4
17.8
20. 2
23.8

83.2 59.1 36.5 133 4 78.0 44.8 21.6 119.6 84.3 67.4 49.0 '44.2 79. 3 53.4 29.1 '24.4
Crude-petroleum producing

January......... .......
February_______
M arch__________
April____________
M a y ____________
June____________
July_____________
August__________
September______
October_________
N ovem ber______
December_______

80.8 69.8 101.4
77.4 69.3 102.1
75.2 67. 6 86.4
65. 5 63. 7 81.7
62.6 61. 2 77.5
60.5 61. 3 75.6
58.6 63.2 68.9
59.4 68.6 71.1
62.4 71.8 74.9
67.0 68.0 79.4
69.4
79. 1
70.0 —
77.7

93.4 80.5 62.5 ‘ 50.5 95. 3 75. 4 53.7 145.8 93.4 83.2 67. 4ji 66. 5 81.3 57.5 35. 6 '35.2
Metalliferous mining

January_________
February________
M arch__________
April____________
M a y ------------------June____________
July_____________
August__________
September______
October_________
N ovem ber______
December_______

93.9
91.5
88.8
85.9
82.4
78.4
76.4
77.0
80.4
81.3
81.1
81.2

92. 7
90.8
89.3
86.8
89.8
90. 2
89.9
87.7
85.0
85. 2
83. 6
77.4

74.8
73.2
72.2
69.8
67.8
65.0
65.3
62.4
61.2
60.4
57.6
58. 2

54.9 57.2
54.4 57.0
51.4 56. 5
54.9 56.8
54.5 56.9
54. 2 58.0
55.4 59.5
57.4 60.8
56. 2 66.2
56.8 70.6
56.5
57.2 —

94.0
88.6
91.3
86.6
85.4
87. 1
88.5
86.0
84.0
82.6
80.0
77.2

71.5
70.0
73.2
66.3
64. 7
62.7
59.2
56.3
55. 2
54.4
52.0
54.9

Telephone and telegraph

46.5 39.9 101.6
46.9 41.7 100.2
43.2 42.5 99.4
44.5 40. 1 98.9
47. 1 41.6 99.7
44.8 40. 6 99.8
44.6 42.2 100. 0
42.9 42.5 98.8
41.9 44.4 96.8
42.5 50.1 94.5
42.4
93.0
41.7 —
91.6

90.5
89.2
88.6
88. 1
87.4
86.9
86.6
85.9
85.0
84. 1
83.5
83. 1

83.0 74.6 105. 1
82.0 73.9 101.9
81. 7 73.2 105.8
81. 2 72.3 103.4
80. 6 70. 1 103.2
79.9 69. 2 103.4
79. 1 68. 5 106. 6
78. 1 68.1 102.5
77.4 68.3 102.2
76.2 68.7 100.9
75.5
97.9
74.8 —
101.3

96.3
94.8
97 9
95.0
94. 1
95.0
93.3
92.3
92.1
91.6
89.7
92.7

89.1 71.7
89.6 71.9
88. 2 71.6
83.4 67.8
82.8 68.5
82. 1 66.6
79.6 66.7
79. 1 66.1
75. 9 64.6
75. 7 67.0
74.3
73.5 —

Average___ 87.4 65.7 55.3 '60.0 85.9 61.7 44.1 142.6 97.9 86.6 79.1 170.7 102.9 93.7 81.1 '68.3
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation
and maintenance 2

Power and light
January_________
February_______
M arch__________
A pril__________ _
M a y . . . ........ ........
June____________
July_____________
August__________
September______
October_________
N ovem ber______
December_______

99.6
98.8
99. 7
100. 7
103.4
104.6
105.9
106.4
105. 2
104.8
103.4
103.2

99.2
97.8
96.7
97.1
97.6
97.2
96.7
95.9
94.7
92.7
91.3
90.3

89.3
87.2
85.5
84.8
84.0
83. 2
82.3
81.5
81.0
79.9
79.1
78.4

77.7
77.4
76.9
76.9
76.9
77.3
77.5
78.1
80.3
82.2

99.7 98.6
100. 4 99. 7
102. 1 102.4
102. 6 97.6
104. 5 98.7
107.8 98.3
106.7 97.4
106. 6 96.2
106. 1 94.3
105. 6 93.2
103.7 93.3
106.3 91.2

88.4
86.0
85.4
82.4
84.2
80.5
78.7
76.7
74.7
74. 4
73.2
73.2

Average___ 103.0 95.6 83.0 '78.1 104.3 96.7 79.8

73.0
71.6
71
69.4
69
69.9
70.0
70.
71.8
76.2

97.1
95.1
94.4
95.2
95.2
94.
95.3
92
91
91. 0
89.3
88.

86.9
86.6
86.4
86.8
85.9
85.3
85.6
84.8
84.0
82. 7
81. 5
79.9

79.5
78.9
77.6
78.0
76.9
76.5
75. 6
74. 1
73.5
72.3
71.8
71.4

70.6
70.4
69.8
69.5
69. 1
69.3
69.4
69. 5
69.7
70.6

_

97.8
95.7
95. 4
97. 1
96.0
97. C
95. 6
92. 1
90. 5
88.9
87.7
88.6

85.6
87. 1
88. 1
86.6
85. 1
84.8
83.3
81.9
81.2
79. C
79.7
77.8

75.4 60.9
74. 8 60.6
73.6 59.4
71.8 58. 1
72.2 58.2
70. 2 58.0
66. 4 57.4
63.8 58.2
62.5 57.8
61. 5 59.8
61. 7
61.9 —

84.7 75.5 169.8 93.5 83.4 68.0 158.8

1 Average for 10 months.
■ Not including electric-railroad-car building and repairing; see transportation equipment and railroad
repair-shop groups, manufacturing industries, table 1.


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1501

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T

3 —IN D E X E S OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O LLS FO R N O N M AN U FAC TU R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , J A N U A R Y T O D E C E M B E R 1930, 1931, A N D 1932, A N D J A N U A R Y T O O C T O ­
B E R 1933—Continued
[12-month average, 1929=100]

a b l e

Retail trade

Wholesale trade
M onth

Pay rolls

Employment

Employment

Pay rolls

1930 1931 1932 1933 1930 1931 1932 1933 1930 1931 1932 1933 1930 1931 1932 1933

January_________
February, ___ M arch__________
A pril___________
M a y _____ ____
June , _________
July____________
August ________
September______
October,. ...........
November ____
December_______

100.0
98.5
97. 7
97.3
90.8
96.5
96.0
95.0
94.8
94. 2
92.6
92.0

89.5
88.2
87.4
87.4
87.1
87.1
86.8
86.5
86.1
85.2
84.1
83.7

81.8
80.9
79.8
78.9
77.9
77.0
76.6
76.4
77.1
77.8
77.6
77.0

75.3
74.1
73.1
73.3
74.0
75.7
76.9
79.7
82.1
83.5
—

100.0
98.3
99.7
97.9
97.4
98.6
96.0
93.6
93.6
92.9
91.0
91.3

87.5
88.4
89.1
85.2
84.7
84.1
83.3
82.1
81.4
79.9
79.7
77.8

74.1
72.5
71.3
68.9
69.7
66.2
64.7
63.2
63.1
63.9
63.3
62.6

61.7
58.6
57. 1
56.0
57.4
57.3
59.1
60.8
62.3
66.0
—

98.9
94.4
93.9
97.3
96.7
93.9
89.0
85.6
92.0
95.5
98.4
115.1

90.0
87.1
87.8
90. 1
89.9
89.1
83.9
81.8
86.6
89.8
90.9
106.2

84.3
80.5
81.4
81.6
80.9
79.4
74.6
72.6
77.8
81.3
81.7
95.2

76.9
73.4
71.4
78.6
77.0
78.3
74.6
78.1
86.0
89.6
—

99.7
96.0
95.5
97.5
97.3
96.8
91.7
87.6
92.4
95.1
96.8
107.7

89.4
86.7
87.5
88.3
88.0
87.6
83.3
80.3
83.5
84.6
85.4
94.1

78.0
73.7
73.4
72.7
71.1
68.2
63.3
60.7
64.6
67.1
66.9
73.6

62.7
58.4
55.1
60.4
59.5
60.5
58.1
62.7
69.2
72.3
........

Average----- 96.0 86.6 78.2 176.8 95.9 83.6 67.0 159.6 95.9 89.4 80.9 178. 4 96.2 86.6 69.4 '61.9
Canning and preserving

Hotels
January................ 100.4
F e b ru a ry ..........- 102.4
M arch__________ 102.4
A p r il___________ 100.1
M a y ____________ 98.0
June____________ 98.0
J u l y , ,............... - 101.3
August- _______ 101. 5
Septem ber,. ___ 1 0 0 . 1
October_________ 97.5
N ovem ber_ 95. 2
December.......... 93.5

95.0
96.8
96.8
95.9
92.5
91. 6
93.3
92.8
90.6
87.4
84.9
83. 1

83.2 73.8 100.3
84.3 73.8 103.8
84.0 72.4 104.4
82.7 71.9 100.3
80. 1 71.9 98.4
78.0 73. 6 98. 1
78.4 75.6 99.8
77.6 77.1 98.6
77.0 78.7 97.1
75.4 77.0 95.5
74.3
93.6
73.2 ........ 91.5

91.0
93.7
93.4
89.9
87.7
85. 4
85.2
83.8
81.9
79.7
77.1
75.4

73.9
73.9
72.4
69.6
67.0
63.8
61.8
59.6
59.1
58.6
57.5
56.6

55.7
55.9
53.5
51.7
51.8
52.3
53.3
54.0
55.6
56.2
—

46.1
45.7
49.7
74.8
65.7
83.0
126.3
185.7
246.6
164.7
96.7
61.6

48.9 35.0
48.3 37.1
53.0 36.3
59.6 47.0
56.0 40.5
70.6 55.5
102.2 73.0
142. 9 99.0
180. 1 125.3
108.1 81.1
60.8 50.5
40.7 33.7

34.1 50.3 46.1
35.1 51.5 48.6
33.2 50.8 50.3
49.2 72.6 57.1
45.5 66.9 56.0
55.6 81.5 58.6
76.6 112.7 74.2
112.7 172.0 104.7
175.6 214. S 129.4
126.3 140.0 77.6
82.9 48.1
57.4 36.9
—

31.8 24.8
32.7 25.9
31.9 24.2
37.9 33.5
36.0 31.8
40.5 36.7
47.5 46.2
65.6 68.3
75. 1 127.0
51.8 87.1
34.4
25.6 —

Average----- 99.2 91.7 79.0 174. 6 98.5 85.4 64.5 >54.0 103.9 80.9 59.5 174.4 96.1 65.6 42.6 150. 6

Employment

B anks, brokerage,
in s u ra n c e , and
real estate

Dyeing and cleaning

Laundries

Pay rolls

Employment

Pay rolls

Em ploy­
ment

Pay rolls

1931 1932 1933 1931 1932 1933 1931 1932 1933 1931 1932 1933 1932 1933 1932 1933
January............ .
February ______
M arch__________
April____________
M a y ____________
June____________
July____________
August__________
September______
October_____ . . .

90.5
90.0
89.5
90.5
90.3
91.0
91.8
90.2
89.3
88.1
86. 2
85.3

84.7
82.9
82.0
82.0
81.4
81.0
80.3
78.9
78.6
77.5
76. 2
75.9

75.4
74.4
73.0
73.4
73.5
76.0
76.3
77.9
79.3
78.0

86.6
85.6
85.6
86.8
86.5
87.1
87.4
84.6
84.1
81.8
78.9
77. 4

76.4
73.3
71.6
71.4
70.6
68.6
66.3
63.9
62.9
61.2
59.1
58.7

57.9
55.5
52.9
54.0
54.5
56.7
56.1
57.6
60.6
59.7

88.9
87.4
88.0
95.7
96.7
99.0
98.6
93.5
95.3
94.2
90.1
84.9

82.1
80.5
80.6
83.3
84.5
85.1
82.4
79.5
83.3
82.3
78.0
75.2

73.0
70.9
71.2
81.1
82.0
85.6
82.9
83.1
88.6
88.4

77.7
75.1
75.6
86.3
86.6
89. 1
86.2
80.0
82.6
81.4
74.7
67.9

65.8
62. 2
61.7
65.9
67.3
65.8
60.0
56.3
61.0
58.8
52.3
48.4

46.6
42.4
41.0
54.6
53.9
56.7
52.8
52.8
60.3
60.6

98.3
98.3
98.9
98.6
98.0
97.9
98.4
98.5
98.4
98.6
98.0
98.0

97.5
96.8
96.5
96.2
96.2
97.3
97.7
98.3
99.0
99.4

93.5
93.0
92.9
92.1
92.7
90.0
89.8
88.2
87.1
86.3
85.7
85.5

85.2
84.3
83.7
82.9
83.2
84.4
84.8
84.4
84.5
84.7

Average----- 89.4 80.1 175.7 84.4 67.0 1 56.6 92.7 81.4 180.7 80.3 60.5 152.2 98.3 197.5 89.7 184.2
i Average for 10 months.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1502

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Average Man-Hours Worked and Average Hourly Earnings

N THE following tables the Bureau presents a tabulation of man­
hours worked per week and average hourly earnings based on
reports supplied by identical establishments in September and October
1933 in 15 industrial groups and 78 separate manufacturing industries.
Man-hour data for the building-construction group and for the insur­
ance, real estate, banking, and brokerage group are not available, and
data for several of the 89 manufacturing industries surveyed monthly
are omitted from these tables due to lack of adequate information.
The total number of establishments supplying man-hour data in
these 15 industrial groups represents approximately 50 percent of the
establishments supplying monthly employment data.
The tabulations are based on reports supplying actual man-hours
worked and do not include nominal man-hour totals, obtained by
multiplying the total number of employees in the establishment by
the plant operating time.
Table 1 shows the average hours worked per employee per week and
average hourly earnings in 15 industrial groups and for all groups
combined. The average hours per week and average hourly earnings
for the combined total of the 15 industrial groups are weighted aver­
ages, wherein the average man-hours and average hourly earnings in
each industrial group are multiplied by the total number of employees
in the group in the current month and the sum of these products
divided by the total number of employees in the combined 15 indus­
trial groups. The average man-hours and hourly earnings for the
combined 89 manufacturing industries have been weighted in the
same manner as the averages for all industrial groups combined,
table 1.
In presenting information for the separate manufacturing industries
shown in table 2, data are published for only those industries in which
the available man-hour information covers 20 percent or more of the
total number of employees in the industry at the present time.

I

T

1 .— AVE R AG E HOURS W O R K E D PER W EE K PE R EM PLO Y EE AND AVERAG E
H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN 15 IN D U S T R IA L G R O U PS, S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933

a b l e

Average hours per
week

Average hourly
earnings

Industrial group
September 1933

October
1933

September 1933

Hours
36.1

Hours
35.8

Cents
51.6

Cents
52.5

38.0
31.8
39.0
34.4
38.0

38.7
29.9
39.6
34.9
35.5

82.2
50. 2
50.6
42.8
67.7

81.3
56.5
51.4
44.3
76.8

37.2
42.8
45.3

37.6
43. 1
45.5

69.5
66.0
57.5

71.0
67.6
58.9

IIZIIIZIIZ!

42.8
39.5
50.2
37.0
39.0
41.5

43.4
39.5
50.2
34.8
38.6
41.3

57.5
49.5
23.7
34.1
38.5
42.5

59.9
49.6
24.2
33.8
39.1
43.3

Average___________ _____________________ __________ ___

38.0

37.8

51.6

52.5

M anufacturing_________________ ____ ____________________ ____
Coal mining:
Anthracite...... ................. ............ .................................................
Bituminous____ ______ _______ _____ _____________________
Metalliferous mining_____________ ____ _______________________
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining___________________________
Crude-petroleum producing.____ ______________ ____ _______
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegrap h...____ ____ ______ ______________
Power and light__________________________________________
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and maintenance
Trade:
Wholesale........................... ..........................................
Retail......... ................................. ......... ............. ..............
H otels........................ .................... ..............................
Canning and preserving_____ ________ ____ ____ ______
Laundries__________ ______ ______________________________ *
Dyeing and cleaning................................ ................. .....

.IIIIIIIIIi;


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

October
1933

1503

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

Per capita weekly earnings, computed by multiplying the average
man-hours worked per week by the average hourly earnings shown in
the following table, are not identical with the per capita weekly
earnings appearing elsewhere in this trend-of-employment compila­
tion, which are obtained by dividing the total weekly earnings in all
establishments reporting by the total number of employees in those
establishments. As already noted, the basic information upon which
the average weekly man-hours and average hourly earnings are com­
puted covers approximately 50 percent of the establishments report­
ing monthly employment data.
T

2 —A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K P E R E M P L O Y E E A N D A V E R A G E
H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN S E L E C T E D M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , S E P T E M B E R
A N D O C T O B E R 1933

a b l e

Average hours per
week

Average hourlyearnings

Industry

Food and kindred products:

Textiles and their products:
Fabrics:

Iron and steel and their products, not including machinery:
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge

Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and steam fittings..

Tools"(not including edge tools, machine tools, files, and
Machinery, not including transportation equipment:
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating machines.

Nonferrous metals and their products:

Stamped and enameled ware......................................................


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

Septem­
ber 1933

October
1933

Septem­
ber 1933

October
1933

Hours
41.1
41.0
37.6
38.3
45.7
40.0
48.0
38.5

Hours
40.9
38.6
36.0
39.1
43.5
39.7
51.6
35.0

Cents
50.3
67.6
38.8
52.1
54.0
49.9
43.9
51.4

Cents
50.6
69.1
39.8
51.7
57.6
49.9
38.1
56.2

37.1
36.0
37.0
35.2
36.0
34.1
37.3

37.9
35.4
36.5
36.6
36.7
35.1
34.9

50.4
36.5
42.7
49.9
45.0
42.9
48.0

50.5
36.9
43.8
50.0
45.4
42.7
49.5

34.0
28.3

33.8
25.0

49.0
45.9

50.1
49.9

37.6
32.6
34.3
33.8
34.6
33.0
35.9
33.6
40.4

37.0
34.6
35.1
33.4
31.8
32.4
37.7
34.3
36.7

50.0
56.8
50.6
57.0
49.2
54.3
50.7
52.1
46.4

50.7
58.1
47.6
59.4
51.1
55.0
51.7
54.1
49.8

35.5
36.7

35.0
34.9

50.6
52.0

51.6
55.4

34.2
38.7
33.4
34.5
33.8
35.0
34.1
38.2
37.1

35.1
37.8
33.7
34.8
34.1
36.0
36.5
37.2
39.0

50.0
66.9
58.8
58.6
54.7
59.0
49.4
61.7
51.2

51.3
69.8
59.4
59.6
55.8
58.2
50.0
64.0
51.0

35.0
36.7
39.1
35.3
35.9
37.4
37.3
36.0

35.9
35.6
41.6
38.7
36.6
40.1
36.3
37.7

47.5
52.1
44.3
48.9
50.7
49.9
49.4
45.2

47.9
52.4
44.9
48.8
49.4
50.8
51.1
45.4

1504
T

a b l e

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
2 —A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K P E R E M P L O Y E E A N D Av e t ? i r r

2 N D BO O T O B E ™ ^ f f i S ? T B D M A N U F A C T U R I N G ^ I ^ U S T m E i ^ E ^ M B E R

Average hours per
week

Average hourly
earnings

Industry

Transportation equipment:
Aircraft. _____
Automobiles_______
Cars, electric and steam railroadLocomotives_____ .
Shipbuilding________
Railroad repair shops:
Electric railroad_________
Steam railroad_____
Lumber and allied products:
Furniture_____
Lumber:
Millwork . .
Sawmills____
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Brick, tile, and terra cotta_____
C e m e n t____
Glass__________
Marble, granite, slate, and other products
Pottery____ ______
Leather and its manufactures: Leather
Paper and printing:
Boxes, paper_______
Paper and pu lp_________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job Newspapers and periodicals
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals____
Cottonseed oil, cake, and meal
Druggists’ preparations____
Explosives___
Fertilizers___
Paints and varnishes
Petroleum refining
Rayon and allied products.Soap__________
Rubber products:
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires, and inner tubes
Rubber tires and inner tubes
Tobacco manufactures:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff
Cigars and cigarettes_____

September 1933

October
1933

September 1933

Hours

Hours

Cents

33! 8

October
1933

34.9

43.1
37.7

62.8

63.0
,_ ,
.. «

35.0
32.3

31.1

33.5

00. y
34.5

37.9

37.8

43.5
!„ c
o2. 2
58.8

53.8
62.9
60.1
.

37.6
40.0
35.4
38.1

Cents
70.3

38.2

80.7

39 3
42.7

59. 3

34.7
29.9

35.6

49.4

49.0
68.8

37.5
38.4

36.3

37.0
35.4

37.3
36.6

41. 6
37.9
37.7
35.5
37.9

49.6

60 7
26.5
48.0
60.1
35.8
54.4
71.6
47.5
49.9

Employment in Building Construction in October 1933

M P L 04 M ENT in the building-construction industry increased
0.5 percent in October as compared wdth September and pay
rolls increased 1.9 percent over the month interval.
The percents of change of employment and pay-roll totals in
October as compared with September are based on returns made by
114 / 2 firi*ls engaged on public and private projects not aided bv
public-works funds. These firms employed in October 92,953 workers
m fhe various trades in the building-construction industry whose
combined weekly earnings during the pay period ending nearest
October 15 were $2,022,884. These reports cover building operations
m various localities m 34 States and the District of Columbia

E


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1505

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D T O T A L P A Y R O L L IN T H E BU ILD IN G CON­
STRU C TIO N IN D U S T R Y IN ID E N T IC A L F IR M S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933

Locality

Alabama: Birmingham--------- --------California:
Los Angeles 1__________________
San Francisco-Oakland 1----------Other reporting localities 1-------Colorado: Denver-------------------------Connecticut:
Bridgeport---------------- ----------Hartford___________________ -New H a ven .- -------------- ---------Delaware: W ilm ington.. . -----------District of Columbia______________
Florida:
Jacksonville_______
___ ____
M iam i__________________ . . Georgia: Atlanta---------------------------Illinois:
Chicago 1______________________
Other reporting localities 1-------Indiana:
Evansville .
. . -------- -- Fort W ayne___________________
Indianapolis__________________
South B end____________ ___
Iowa: Des Moines-------------------------Kansas: W ich ita .. . ------------- --Kentucky: Louisville-----------Louisiana: New Orleans----------------Maine: Portland----- ------------- -- - Maryland: B altim ore1. .
- Massachusetts: A ll reporting localities L — . . ________________ - -Michigan:
Detroit_________________ --Flint . . . . _________________
Grand Rapids----------------- - Minnesota:
Duluth_______ . . . ----------------Minneapolis__________________
St. Paul----------------------------------Missouri:
Kansas C ity 2.......................... . .
St. Louis______________________
Nebraska: Omaha_____________ -New York:
N ew York C ity *..
. . -------Other reporting localities 1-------North Carolina: Charlotte------- ..
Ohio:
A kron. ______________________
C incinnati3________ ____ -Cleveland_____________________
D a y to n ____________ . . . . ----Youngstown--------------------------- Oklahoma:
Oklahoma C ity__________ ____ Tulsa________________________ Oregon: Portland__________________
P ennsylvania:4
Erie area 1 --------- ------------------Philadelphia area 1------------------Pittsburgh area 1----- ---------------Reading-Lebanon area 1----------Scranton area 1------------------------Other reporting areas l._.........
Rhode Island: Providence-------------Tennessee:
Chattanooga— . . . --------------Knoxville_____________________
M em phis______________________
Nashville------ --------------------------Texas:

San Antonio--------------- -------------

N um ­ Number on pay roll
Amount of pay roll
Percent
Percent
ber of
of
of
firms re­
change
change
port­
Oct. 15
Sept. 15
Oct. 15
Sept. 15
ing
75

430

383

-1 0 .9

$6, 283

$5, 634

-1 0 .3

21
36
22
205

1,055
1,298
571
612

1,140
953
526
711

+ 8.1
-2 6 .6
-7 .9
+16.2

20, 204
29,633
11, 794
11, 268

22,617
19, 904
10, 577
12,961

+11.9
-3 2 .8
-1 0 .3
+15.0

125
251
181
120
520

560
1,313
1,128
984
8,594

615
1,320
1,118
943
7, 752

+ 9.8
+ .5
-.9
- 4 .2
- 9 .8

11,391
26, 702
26,811
19, 290
244, 525

12, 370
28, 516.
25,477
19,125
210, 480

+ 8.6
+ 6.8
- 5 .0
-.9
-1 3 .9

58
84
153

531
1,096
1,172

496
1,129
1,144

- 6 .6
+ 3.0
- 2 .4

9, 028
17,301
17,172

6,875
19,023
17, 740

-2 3 .8
+ 10.0
+ 3.3

125
77

1,573
1,249

1,443
1,476

- 8 .3
+18.2

48, 531
22, 628

39,139
30,181

-1 9 .4
+33.4

55
87
164
39
105
69
155
122
101
105

320
348
1,144
206
587
356
1,385
1,272
384
1,310

347
372
1,270
255
601
346
1,317
1,016
430
1,291

+ 8.4
+ 6.9
+11.0
+23.8
+ 2.4
- 2 .8
- 4 .9
-2 0. 1
+12.0
- 1 .5

4, 760
5,900
22, 321
3,488
10,125
6,205
25,831
19, 807
8, 517
22,935

5,478
6, 757
26,097
5,681
10, 542
5,954
23, 622
17, 269
9, 693
21,815

+15.1
+14.5
+16.9
+62.9
+4.1
- 4 .0
- 8 .6
-1 2 .8
+13.8
- 4 .9

716

4,643

4,896

+ 5.4

116,335

114,694

- 1 .4

503
60
110

4,699
247
433

4, 744
257
506

+ 1.0
+ 4.0
+16.9

93,061
4, 661
6,975

98, 270
4,302
7,822

+ 5.6
- 7 .7
+12.1

55
223
178

278
1,615
1,269

256
1,672
1,414

- 7 .9
+ 3.5
+11.4

5,061
33,489
29,142

4,556
35,404
30,502

-1 0 .0
+ 5.7
+ 4.7

298
584
153

1,730
3,183
823

1, 750
3,464
844

+ 1 .2
+ 8 .8
+ 2.6

36,105
79,739
15, 791

38,506
91, 300
17,617

+ 6.7
+14.5
+11.6

317
234
53

5, 340
6,107
349

5, 799
5, 668
340

+ 8.6
- 7 .2
- 2 .6

154,332
141, 249
5,073

176,688
132,610
5,566

+14.5
- 6 .1
+ 9.7

85
478
621
119
75

357
2,401
2,738
598
296

396
2, 385
2,956
488
333

+ 10.9
-.7
+ 8 .0
-1 8 .4
+12.5

5,915
54, 619
68,486
10, 717
4,862

7,736
55,144
80,803
9,703
5,608

+30.8
+ 1.0
+18.0
- 9 .5
+15.3

98
56
193

533
192
1,091

657
240
1,103

+23.3
+25.0
+ 1.1

7,922
2,823
22,040

10,455
3,502
23, 514

+32.0
+24.1
+ 6.7

28
478
252
45
38
314
263

350
6,249
1,965
253
261
2,781
1,704

259
6,318
2,168
304
269
2, 777
1,972

-2 6 .0
+ 1.1
+10.3
+20.2
+ 3.1
-.1
+15.7

4,296
115,716
47, 507
4, 236
5,909
45,878
35,813

3,006
121, 398
46, 659
5, 307
6,015
53,638
44, 790

-3 0 .0
+ 4.9
—1.8
+25. 3
+ 1. 8
+16.9
+25.1

38
49
78
90

336
437
552
1,196

211
471
488
1,026

-3 7 .2
+ 7.8
-1 1 .6
-1 4 .2

5,486
6,389
9,331
16, 515

3,462
7,051
8,399
14,969

-3 6 .9
+10.4
-1 0 .0
- 9 .4

184
32
175
119

932
187
1,215
705

792
137
1,153
560

-1 5 .0
-2 6 .7
-5 .1
-2 0 .6

14,680
2,131
18,824
9,413

12, 583
1,511
17,934
7,430

-1 4 .3
-2 9 .1
- 4 .7
-2 1 .1

1 Data supplied b y cooperating State bureaus.
2 Includes both Kansas City, M o. and Kansas City, Kans.
3 Includes Covington and Newport, K y.
< Each separate area includes from 2 to 8 counties.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1506

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D T O T A L P A Y R O L L IN T H E BU ILD IN G CON­
S TR U C TIO N IN D U S T R Y IN I D E N T IC A L F IR M S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933—
Continued
N um ­ Number on pay roll
Amount of pay roll
ber of
Percent
firms re­
of
port­
Sept. 15
Oct. 15 change Sept. 15
Oct. 15
ing

Locality

Utah: Salt Lake C ity_____________
Virginia:
N orfolk-Portsm outh___ _ _ _
Richm ond________________ __ .
Washington:
S eattle________ ____________
Spokane________ - - - - - - - - .
Tacom a___ ____ _ _______
West Virginia: Wheeling - - - _
Wisconsin: All reporting localities L
Total, all localities--

_______

Percent
of
change

91

448

620

+38.4

$8, 903

$8, 434

- 5 .3

94
146

1,092
1,125

968
1,099

-1 1 .4
- 2 .3

19,145
22, 208

18,410
22, 233

- 3 .8
+ .1

157
50
84
45
58

788
180
209
255
858

789
192
158
264
1,396

+ 6.7
-2 4 .4
+ 3.5
+62.7

15,399
3,717
3, 601
4,690
14,888

14, 936
3, 592
2, 751
5, 591
24,976

- 3 .0
- 3 .4
-2 3 .6
+19.2
+67.8

11,172

92,478

92,953

+ .5

1, 985, 522 2,022,884

+ 1.9

1Data supplied by cooperating State bureaus.

Trend of Employment in October 1933, by States

N THE following table are shown the fluctuations in employment
and pay-roll totals in October 1933 as compared with September
1933, in certain industrial groups by States. These tabulations have
been prepared from data secured directly from reporting establshments and from information supplied by cooperating State agencies.
The combined total of all groups does not include building-construc­
tion data, information concerning which is published elsewhere in a
separate tabulation by city and State totals. In addition to the com­
bined total of all groups, the trend of employment and pay rolls in
the manufacturing, public utility, hotel, wholesale trade, retail trade,
bituminous-coal mining, crude-petroleum producing, quarrying and
nonmetallic mining, metalliferous mining, laundry, and dyeing and
cleaning groups is presented. In this State compilation, the totals of
the telephone and telegraph, power and light, and electric-railroad
operation groups have been combined and are presented as one
group— public utilities. Due to the extreme seasonal fluctuations in
the canning and preserving industry, and the fact that during certain
months the activity in this industry in a number of States is negligible,
data for this industry are not presented separately. The number of
employees and the amount of weekly pay roll in September and
October 1933 as reported by identical establishments in this industry
are included, however, in the combined total of “ all groups.”
The percents of change shown in the accompanying table, unless
otherwise noted, are unweighted percents of change; that is, the
industries included in the groups, and the groups comprising the
total of all groups, have not been weighted according to their relative
importance in the combined totals.
The State totals for the anthracite-mining industry, which is
confined entirely to the State of Pennsylvania, will be found in table
1, nonmanufacturing industries.
When the identity of any reporting company would be disclosed by
the publication of a State total for any industrial group, figures for
the group do not appear in the separate industrial-group tabulation,
but are included in the State totals for “ all groups.” Data are not
presented for any industrial group when the representation in the
State covers less than three establishments.

I


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1507

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Co

m p a r is o n o f e m p l o y m e n t a n d p a y r o l l s in id e n t ic a l e s t a b l is h m e n t s

IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y ST A T E S
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]

Total all groups

State

Manufacturing

N um ­
Num ­ N um ­
N um ­ ber on
Amount
Amount
Per­
Per
ber on
ber of
Per­ of pay roll Per­
cent of pay roll cent ber of
pay
pay
estab­
(1 week)
estab­
cent
of
(1 week) cent of
of
of
lish­ roll, Oc­
lish­ roll, Oc­ change October change
October
change ments tober
ments tober change
1933
1933
1933
1933

521 66,320 + 1 .0
A labam a.............. .
413
A rizon a.................
9,199 + 5.3
19,029 + 2.6
Arkansas................
im
California.......... . 2 1, 94.7 278,909 - 8 .8
815 38, 646 +15.0
Colorado_________
1,119 171,944
152 12, 242
631 33,264
639 26,961
684 95,024

$887, 770 + 3 .2
191,978 +11.2
273,376
+ .2
6,376,951 - 7 .3
774,985 +15.0

213 46,993
53
2, 353
178 13,677
1,129 164,680
118 16,526

+ 1 .0
+ 1.6
+ 2 .9

$614,311
49, 405
178,428
- 1 4 .0 3 , 444 ,299
+37.3
315, 795

-1 3 .9
+29.4

2,824,387
157, 822
118, 635
233,419
992, 531

+ 1.1
+ 3.7
+ 4 .2
+10.8
-.4

+ 4.0
+11.6

+ .9
- 5 .4
+ 3.3
+ 5.6
- 1 .1

3,357,053
243, 569
764,824
465,843
1,294,156

+ 1.1
+ 3.1
+ 5.1
+ 8.9
+ 1 .2

658 151,237
7,865
48
3,692
57
141 15, 722
318 79, 786

225
O d a h o ... _______
9,927 +11.8
-.3
Illinois___________ 4 1,774 350,068
1,276 143,077 + 2.5
Indiana__________
1,201 48, 544 - 1.0
I o w a _______ ____
Kansas___________ « 1,357 68,896 «+ L 6

180,119
7,283,044
2, 752, 522
941,336
1,485,013

+ 6 .0
+ 1 .9
+ 7.0
+ 4 .6
« -.2

41
5,312
1.120 223, 093
579 105, 688
435 27, 284
455 28,250

+21.0
92,427
- 1 .2 4,260,525
+ 3.5 2,090, 843
519,345
+ .1
+ .5
568,121

+10.8
-.1
+ 8.4
+ 2.3
+ .6

854 75,357
K e n t u c k y .._____
502 35, 380
Louisiana________
582 50, 758
M aine___________
828 93, 771
M aryland________
Massachusetts___ 8 8,058 394,987

1,316,995
584,764
861, 826
1,847,958
8,112,533

+ 7.1
+ 1.5
- 6 .9
- 1 .3
+ 1.1

205 28,138
204 21,682
182 42,006
451 67,553
1,141 208,083

-.6
514, 879
318,905
+ (3)
- 3 .9
712, 783
« + 1.9 1,274,985
+ 1 .9 3,870,229

+ 2 .2
_(3)
- 6 .1
8 - 1 .2
- .1

Connecticut______
Delaware____
Dist. of Columbia.
Florida___________
Georgia...................

+ 2.4
- 1 .0
- 6 .3
+ 2.2
+ 1.9

+ (3)
+ 7.5
+ 8.4
- 1 .7

M ichigan_______
Minnesota_______
Mississippi_______
Missouri_________
Montana_________

1,613 290,927 - 9 .2
1,101 74, 239 + 1.9
372 10, 890 + 2.5
1,217 120, 775 _(3)
357 11,808 +14.0

6, 233, 512 - 9 .6
1,554,187 + 7 .6
144, 728 + 4 .0
2,448, 889
281,514 +13.8

625 256,161
301 36,869
72
7, 351
530 69, 240
52
4,128

- 7 .4 5,286,411
+ 3.4
737, 643
+ 2.1
88,352
- 1 .0 1, 319, 598
+39.2
88,428

- 8 .1
+ 8.7
+ 1.3
- 2 .0
+39.2

N e b r a s k a ...........
N e v a d a ... . . . . .
New H am pshire..
New Jersey. ____
New M exico_____

727 26, 692
145
1,836
512 41, 281
1,532 203, 230
194
4,508

+ 8.4
+ 7.6
- 5 .0
- 1 .4
(8)

557,403 +12.5
45, 227 +12.2
660, 771 -1 2 .1
4, 509,079 + 2 .2
85,932 + 8.0

125 14,596
25
373
187 36,368
7 655 184,329
23
456

+16.7
299,301
+ .5
9,466
- 4 .2
554, 659
+ 1 .3 3,861,332
- 6 .9
8,038

+19.0
+ 2.7
-1 3 .9
+ 2 .7
-.6

N ew Y ork _______
North Carolina__
North Dakota___
Ohio_____ _____
Oklahoma________

8,429 592, 547
916 134,142
342
4, 558
5,067 455, 618
778 32, 767

+ .6 14,075,908 _ ( 3 ) 81,801 365,914
556 128, 630
+ 1- 1 1,814,029 + 3.1
+ 6.7
97, 283 +10.4
59
1,150
+ . 5 9, 236,944 + 3 .6 1,909 334, 644
+ 4.3
652,069 + 8.7
148 12,136

+ .1 8,237,920
+ 1.1 1, 719,846
-.1
26,169
- . 2 6, 717,357
+ 4.7
230,869

- 1 .5
+ 3.1
+ 3.4
+ 2.6
+ 8.9

Oregon___ _______
Pennsylvania____
Rhode Island . . .
South Carolina___
South Dakota____

699 40, 301
5,091 674, 399
918 68, 544
320 59, 689
260
6,308

- 1.2
757,418
- 1.7 14,034, 212
+ 9.5 1,315,984
773, 808
+. 4
+ 3.3
144, 742

-.8
373,865
+ .7 7,140,815
+11.9 1,019,629
+ 1.0
718,941
+ 7 .2
40,804

+ .8
+3.1
+12.7
+ 2 .2
+ 5.4

Tennessee-_______
Texas____________
Utah_____________
Vermont_________
Virginia__________

737
822
345
383
1,323

- 1 .3
+7.1
+36.2
+ 4.7

789,323
882,300
116, 537
123, 647
1,075,032

- . 1
+ 6 .3
+26.7
+ 4.4
-.3

-.1
598, 728
-1 1 .2
726, 234
8 + 1 .8 2,139,912
+40.0
47,140

- 1 .2
-1 5 .5
6 +4- 5
+32.9

+ 1 .2
+ 1.1
+ 9.9
+ 2.3
+ 5.3

155 19, 737
1,749 397,625
265 56, 252
174 56,442
47
2,263

71, 867
-.3
74,110 + 5 . 4
16, 737 +14.0
11,460 + 2.2
95,018 + 1.1

1,097, 625
+ .9
1,622,405 + 5 .9
318, 761 +15.6
215,445 + 1 .8
1, 594,155 + 2.3

269
406
85
118
411

Washington______
1,170 64,171 + 1 .6
West Virginia____
875 112,132 - 2 .7
Wisconsin________ u 1,050 155,431 + 1.0
W yom ing________
195
6,574 +12.7

1, 278, 740 + 2 .7
2,090, 466
2, 773,972 +3.4
173,474 +25.5

262 30,420
183 40,441
777 123, 970
29
1,884

53, 531
43,181
6, 364
6, 605
67,196

_ (3 )

1 Includes automobile dealers and garages, and sand, gravel, and building construction.
2 Includes banks, insurance, and office employment.
3 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.
4 Includes building and contracting.
5 Includes construction, municipal, agricultural, and office employment, amusement and recreation,
professional, and transportation services.
6 Weighted percent of change.
7 Includes laundries.
8 No change.
8 Includes laundering and cleaning.
18 Includes construction but does not include hotels and restaurants.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1508

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O LLS IN ID EN T IC AL E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y S T A T E S —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]

Wholesale trade

State

Retail trade

Num ­
Num ­ Num ­
Amount
Amount
Per­
Per­ N um ­ ber on
ber of ber on
Per­ of pay rol
Per­
pay
cent of pay roll cent ber of
pay
estab­
(1 week)
estab­
cent
of
(1 week) cent of
roll
Oc­
of
of
¡roll Oc­
lish­
change October change
tober, change October change lish­
tober
ments
1933
ments
1933
1933
1933

A labam a...........
Arizona__________
Arkansas_________
California...........
Colorado--.........

14
25
20
103
28

514
221
608
6,740
963

+ 4.5
+ .9
+ 5 .6
+ 1.8
—.4

Connecticut______
Delaware________
Dist. of Columbia.
Florida___________
Georgia__________

54
7
26
72
33

984
93
376
1,146
505

(8)
+2. 2
+ 2.5
- 1 .4
+ 2.4

29,448
1,905
11, 242
26,274
14,747

Idaho____________
Illinois___________
Indiana__________
Iowa_____________
Kansas___________

8
49
66
36
84

123
2,480
1,402
1,170
2,128

+. 8
+ 1.3
+ 1.6
-.3
+ 4-7

Kentucky________
Louisiana________
M a in e ..-...............
Maryland________
Massachusetts___

20
29
18
36
701

425
754
468
763
16,284

Michigan________
Minnesota_______
Mississippi_______
Missouri................
Montana_________

62
68
4
60
15

Nebraska________
Nevada__________
New Hampshire _ _
N ew Jersey______
New M exico..........

$15,108 +22.4
6,186 + 9.9
16,107 +IO .4
157,005 + 2.7
28,114 + 6.7

65
181
120
128
280

2, 210
1,717
1,561
26,967
4,781

+ 8.3
+ 5.9
+ 5 .0
+■4
+ 3.8

$37,317
30,100
22, 991
568,002
92,859

+ 7 .2
+ 8.1
- 1 .7
+ .5
+ 5.7

+ 3.3
+ 4.6
+ 5.0
+4. 5
+ 7 .2

120
22
412
106
40

5,237
454
12, 641
1,953
2,385

+ 4.6
+ 5.3
+3. 7
+ 2 .6
+ 1.8

103, 808
10, 273
257,460
36, 554
41,312

+ 4.2
+ 4.7
+ 6.9
-i-7.5
+ 6.6

3,446
60,281
34,816
29,738
49,116

+ 7 .2
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .7
+ 6.2
- 3 .5

67
148
171
128
473

936
24,967
7,010
3, 437
6,659

+ 6.4
+ 2.9
+ 2.1
+ 2.4
+ 1 .6

14,998
491, 621
124,122
60, 325
120,459

+11.4
+1.1
+2. 5
+ 3.5
+ .7

+. 5
+ 2.3
(8)
-.8
+ 1 .0

9, 353
18, 099
10,868
17,254
391,191

+ 4 .0
+ 9.6
-.3
- 1 .6
+ .7

44
48
67
39
4,184

3,176
3, 255
969
7,144
66,783

+ 7.5
- 6 .9

55, 236
53,449
17, 551
+ 7.9
121, 937
+3.1 1,292,010

+ 8.1
- 1 .7
+ 3.1
+ 2.8
+ 1.7

1,651
4,949
112
4,935
249

+ 2 .0
+ 1.8
+ 1.8
+ .5
-3 .1

46, 215
132, 301
2, 208
132,102
7, 619

+ 6.4
+ 6.9
+ 5.6
+ 7.6
+ 6.6

166
263
52
109
81

11,452
8, 272
484
9,692
989

- 4 .0
+ 6.3
+ 1.5
-.6
+ 4.1

225,047
143, 722
5, 743
188, 548
19,446

+ 2.8
4-2.6
4-8.9
4-1.2
+ 4.1

35
8
16
25
6

1,021
112
175
674
87

+ 2.6
(s)
- 4 .9
+ 7 .7
+ 3.6

27, 624
3, 373
4, 564
18,647
3,108

+ 5.1
+ 1.8
- 2 .7
+ 5.6
+ 4.4

188
39
73
414
51

2,066
284
999
8,803
271

+ 8.7
+ 8 .0
+ 2.0
+ 6.9
+ 1.1

37,920
6,171
15, 301
192, 033
6, 215

+ 9.0
4-6.0
4-2.9
+ 6.8
+1.1

N ew Y ork _______
North Carolina__
North Dakota____
Ohio_____________
Oklahoma............

450
16
15
231
56

13,853
208
236
5, 414
1, 228

+ 1 .0
+ 4 .5
+ .4
+ .8
+ 1.1

423,425
5,353
6, 645
136,833
29,403

+ 3.6
+ 9 .0
+ 5 .2
+4. 3
+ 9 .0

4, 258
157
11
1,593
107

87,467
658
299
38,084
2,313

+ 5 .0 1,847,147
+ 7 .2
14,120
+ 8 .7
4, 622
+ 6.3
718, 495
+ 4.4
42,009

+ 5.2
4-3. 7
+ 8.2
+ 4.6
+10.8

Oregon___________
Pennsylvania____
Rhode Island____
South Carolina___
South Dakota____

54
123
44
14
10

1,432
3, 792
1,213
217
130

+. 6
+ 2.1
+ 4.0
+ 5.9
-.8

38,588
103,115
28, 717
4, 930
3,429

+ 8.2
+ 5.6
+ 3.6
+ 9.4
+ 5.4

188
358
491
20
9

2,532
31,940
5,028
537
101

Tennessee............
Texas____________
Utah_____________
Vermont_________
Virginia__________

31
131
13
5
46

857 - 6 .3
3,306 + 3 .7
484
+. 6
115 + 6.5
1,327 + 10.4

18,149 - ( 3 )
81,636 + 4-7
11,772 + 3 .6
2,726 + 5.9
30,178 +12.3

55
79
78
33
502

Washington______
West Virginia____
Wisconsin..............
W yom ing________

91
27
46
8

2,288
609
588
64

62,431 + 6.8
17,257 +10. 1
29,111
+ .3
1,865 + 5 .8

400
48
50
41

3 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.
8N o change.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-.1
+ .7
-.6
(8)

3, 972

+ 3.5
+10.2
+ 5 .2
(8)
+11.0

51, 634'
614,843
105, 753
5,869
1,714

+ 4.2
4-8.5
4-3.4
+ .7
+11.3

+ 9.8

591
451
5,511

+ 1 .0
+1. 1
+ 6.0

61,053
138,268
13, 687
6, 970
103,498

+ 7.3
4-6.5
4-3.9
+ 2.9
4-5.0

7,174
902
11,087
248

+ 2.6
+ 4.6
+ 7 .7
+ 3.3

133, 395
16, 713
162,269
5, 754

+ 2.1
+11.1
+ 8.5
+ 6.2

8 ,1 4 2

1509

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN ID EN T IC AL E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y S T A T E S —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]

Quarrying and nonmetallic mining

State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

N um ­
N um ­
Amount
ber on
Per­ of pay roll Per­ ber of
pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of estab­
October change October change lish­
1933
ments
1933

Alabama_________
Arizona............. .
Arkansas_________
California________
Colorado.................

19
3
10
32
4

758
41
324
1,116
44

Connecticut______
Delaware. _____
Dist. of Columbia
Florida...................
Georgia__________

26
3

353
59

18
27

835
1,489

Illinois....................
Indiana...................
Iowa_____________
Kansas___________

24
71
32
n

Kentucky________
Louisiana________
Maine . ________
M aryland.. ____
Massachusetts___

+27.2
-1 8 .0
-1 3. 6
+ 1.8
+25.7

$8,187
473
4,505
22,403
612

+47.6
-1 7 .0
- 6 .0
+11.2
+ 4 .6

-1 3 .1
- 4 .8

5, 624
'854

- 8 .9
+ 3 .3

-1 . 1
+ 9.7

9, 550
15,759

- 1 .6
+18.9

904
1,795
589
1,206

+ .3
+ 3 .0
-1 1 . 4
-1 2 .2

14,938
27,403
8,092
22,255

- 4 .3
- 1 .5
- 6 .9
- 6 .1

36
13
12
u
23

943
646
209
S17
519

+12.4
-1 0 .3
-1 6 .1
+12.8
+ 3 .2

9,630
9, 771
3,860
4,248
li, 2i9

+12.5
+ 2.5
-2 6 .1
+16.3
+ 5 .2

Michigan________
Minnesota_______
Mississippi_____ _
Missouri_______ .
Montana................

47
26
8
47
9

1, 420
501
171
1,166
122

-1 0 .1
+30.5
+12. 5
+ 9.3
-1 6 .4

27,191
8,726
2,181
17, 545
1,388

+ 3.1
+41.8
+21.6
+18.4
-3 6 .9

Nebraska________
N evada__________
New H am pshire..
New Jersey______

235

+ 8.3

3,231

+20.6

11
42

New York ______
North Carolina__
North Dakota____
Ohio ____________
Oklahoma_______

7

Metalliferous mining

258 +150. 5
811 +12.0

N um ­
Amount
ber on
Per­ of pay roll Per­
pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of
October change October change
1933
1933

9
20

1,660
2,362

+ 2 .3
+10.7

$23,858
53, 538

- 8 .0
+18.0

S3
16

2,817
1,086

+ 3 .7
+ 1.4

65,261
29,353

+ 3.5
+17.7

11

2,147

+ 3 .3

46,875

—3. 2

12

936

- 5 .6

17,220

-.9

42
32

4,036
1,706

+ 8.1
+10.9

59,359
35, 601

+13.3
+18.6

15
17

1,756
2,380

+ 1.3
+ 5.9

22, 777
67,248

+ 5.7
+ 5.4

17

466

+34.7

11, 634

+56.0

3
5

13
931

+44.4
“ I. 1

262
19, 482

+16.4
+12.7

7,650 +255. 3
13,146 +10.3

76
14

2,176
'395

-.6
- 5 .5

39,123
4,980

+. 1
+ 7.8

136
15

3,873
252

+ 1 .0
+39.2

58, 442
1,980

+4. 3
+28.5

32

1,686

-.1

25, 621

+ 2.9

Oregon_______ . . .
Pennsylvania.. . .
Rhode I s la n d ___
South Carolina___
South Dakota____

5
164

62
5,797

+14.8
- 2 .4

984
84,883

+25.7
+ 6 .4

6

60

+ 3 .4

1,112

+10.6

5
8

95
62

-2 0 .8
-3 .1

917
1,153

-2 2 .3
+31.6

Tennessee________
Texas____________
Utah_____________
Vermont_______
Virginia__________

25
21
6
40
32

1,539
407
148
2, 329
1,411

+ 8.2
-3 7 .5
+28.7
+ 2.4
- 5 .8

19, 744
8,809
2, 216
42, 764
13,396

+23.1
-2 6 .2
+ 5.9
- 2 .0
—11.0

W ashington_____
West Virginia _ .
Wisconsin_______
W yom ing____ _ .

18
24
H

212
899
167

+29.3
- 1 .4
- 2 .3

3,855
13,166
2,248

+51.9
+ 5.7
- 7 .0

11

N ot available.
21719°—33----- 16


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

4

313

+ 4 .3

6,302

+12.1

12

2,107

+ 4 .0

40,986

+10.4

376

+ 4-7

6,923

+ 1.5

(“ )

1510

m onthly

labor

r e v ie w

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y S T A T E S —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued b y
cooperating State organizations]

State

Alabama_________
Arizona__________
California________
Colorado......... .......

Bituminous-coal mining

Crude-petroleum producing

Num- NumAmount
ber of ber on
Per- of pay roll Perestab- pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of
lish- October change October change
ments
1933
1933

Num- NumAmount
ber of ber on
Per- of pay roll Perestab- pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of
lish- October change October change
ments
1933
1933

57

10,047

- 1 .8

3

195

-2 0 .5

54

5,254

+14.5

83
53
23
26

7,754
5,793
1,980
1,336

- 1 .2
- 4 .1
+48.5
+13.1

165

31, 773

+ 5 .5

513,863

+14.2

16

1,451

+ 1 .0

19,381

+ 4-8

21
11

1,649
913

+ .5
+ 5.1

26,862
23, 713

+22.4
+13.7

13

1,493

+11.6

26, 228

+18.6

$122, 594

- 4 .0
-1 7 .1

94, 785

+22.1

9
40

485
7,723

+ 9 .2

$11,821

+22.6

7

145
33

- 7.6
+ 37.5

2,897
382

- 1 .2
+36.9

30

1, 466

+ 20.0

31,161

+17.8

6

261
216

+ 6.5

3, 595

+24.7

24

-1 7 .2

564

-1 7 .3

57

+ 7.5

1,562

+ 2.8

Connecticut______
Delaware ___Dist. of Columbia.
Florida__________
Georgia............. .
Idaho........... ..........
Indiana_____ ____
Iowa_____________
Kansas________
Kentucky______
Louisiana________
M aine___________
M aryland____. . .
Massachusetts___
Michigan...............
Minnesota_______
Mississippi______
M is s o u r i..______
Nebraska________
Nevada__________
N ew Hampshire .
New Jersey. ___
New M exico_____
New Y ork_____ _
North Carolina__
North Dakota____
Oklahom a_______
Oregon________
Pennsylvania____
Rhode Island____
South Carolina___
South Dakota____
Tennessee_______
Texas. _______ . .
Utah_____________
Vermont_________
Virginia................ .
Washington______
West Virginia____
Wisconsin________

157,494 +20.9
109,876
+ 1.3
41, 035 +143. 6
19,539 +15.2

5

303
10
84
18

721
13,520
779

+51.5
+ 3.3
+21.0

15,108
247, 271
15, 209

+57.7
+26.6
+31.4

6
56

87
5,335

+17.6
+10.3

1,309
127, 505

+70.9
+12.8

449

47,987

-2 8 .8

604,521

-4 0 .2

21

892

+36.6

20,132

+50.5

22
5
16

2,978
371
2,043

+ 1 .0
+ 6 .6
+36.7

38, 535
6,815
51, 706

- 2 .6
- 5 .6
+38. 1

3

8,445

+ .7

285,131

+ 6 .0

34

8,346

+ 6 .7

10
353

387
59,974

30

3, 338


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

143, 690

+18.5

+ 9 .0
10, 791
+ 3 .0 1,110,970

+48.7
+12.5

8

376

+13.6

7,824

+ 9.1

+ 6 .4

+31.0

7

191

+ 4 .4

4,882

+ 3.7

95,899

1511

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y S T A T E S — Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
Hotels

Public utilities

State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

N um ­
Amount
Per­ of pay roll Per­
ber on
pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of
October change October change
1933
1933

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

N um ­
Amount
ber on
Per­ of pay roll Per­
pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of
October change October change
1933
1933

+ 8 .6
+ 8 .8
-■ 4
+ 4. 8
+ 5 .3

26
21
16
187
59

1,161
466
570
8,921
1,346

+. 6
+ 6.6
+ 2.1
- 2 .5
- 7 .6

$9,773
6,529
4,734
134,561
17,752

+ 4.9
+ 7 .8
+ 5 .5
- 2 .3
- 6 .6

285,346
31, 238
231, 275
123, 279
177,474

+. 3
+ 7.6
+ 5.1
+ 10.1
+ 7.6

32
6
48
58
29

1,188
251
4,123
1,087
1,306

+• 8
«
+ 7.0
+ 5.5
- 4.6

14,718
3, 401
57,434
10,395
10,057

+. 4
+ 3 .6
+ 8.7
+ 6 .4
-1 .4

730
70,426
7, 700
9,256
7,299

14, 222
+ 6 .0
+ 3 .0 1,934,605
+ 1 .2
196, 552
212,998
-.1
-.5
167,029

+ 7 .3
+ 5 .5
+ 9.3
+ 6.7
(8)

22
12 53
83
67
32

355
12,801
3,294
2,299
694

-.3
- 1 .2
+ 5.4
+ 5.5
+ 1 .2

4,021
207,735
32, 691
21,312
7,463

+ 5 .7
+ 7 .5
+ 4 .7
+ 6 .1
+ 3 .8

293
Kentucky-----------151
Louisiana________
167
Maine _________
93
Maryland. -------Massachusetts___ U1S1

6, 300
5, 527
2,558
12,477
45,698

+ .4
145,707
+ 1.5
140, 207
68,833
+ 2.1
+ .7
338,287
1,273,862
+■4

+ 5.4
+ 6.7
+ 3.6
- 2 .1
-.3

36
22
37
23
92

1,832
1,726
1,225
1,125
4,787

+ 2.9
- 4 .7
-3 0 .0
-.1
- 6 .8

18,459
17,929
13,976
13,753
64, 711

+ 5 .5
- 4 .3
- 3 2 .7
+ 3.1
- 6 .2

M ichigan__ _ --Minnesota_______
Mississippi--------M is s o u r i--------- -M ontana--------------

406
232
143
141
101

22, 473
12, 800
973
7,171
1,966

+ 1 .2
+ 2.1
-. 1
+. 1
+ 9.6

655, 434
331,135
19, 747
184,827
54,090

+ 4.8
+ 8 .7
+ 7 .3
+ 3 .3
+ 5 .6

110
80
17
90
28

4,658
3,236
440
4,601
410

- 4 .8
+ 1.8
- 2 .4
+ 4.9
- 1 .9

51, 286
37, 740
3,038
52,528
5,523

- 2 .4
+ 3 .2
- 5 .2
+ 5 .3
- 1 .3

Nebraska____ _
Nevada____
N ew Hampshire - _
N ew Jersey---------N ew M exico___ -

299
38
140
265
54

5,599
354
2,149
21,174
601

-.3
- 3 .0
+ 3 .3
-. 1
- 9 .8

142,043
10,181
57,429
604,087
12, 336

+ 6 .8
+ 2 .5
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .2

42
12
26
85
15

1,495
167
589
4,440
320

+ 1 .2
- 1 .2
-5 8 .0
-2 5 .4
-1 0 .6

15,229
2,694
6,935
54,653
3,414

+ 8 .3
- 4 .8
-5 4 .9
-1 8 .3
- 6 .5

New Y ork ___ --North Carolina—
North D a k ota .__
Ohio_____________
Oklahoma_______

864
96
171
489
245

97,472
1,792
1,235
31,964
5,926

+ 1 .4 2,966, 657
+ 3 .8
37,495
30, 386
+ 1.3
847,841
+ 2.1
+ .5
133,937

+ 1 .8
+ 6.1
+ 7 .2
+ 7.1
+ 6 .3

277
36
24
152
63

30, 557
1,103
404
8,946
1,604

-.1
- 2 .5
+ 2 .0
+. 9
+ 3.8

457,043
9, 203
4,105
104,914
17,083

+ 3.3
- 2 .1
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 4 .0

Oregon----------------Pennsylvania____
Rhode Island____
South Carolina___
South Dakota____

183
734
42
70
129

5,556
53,130
3,263
1,533
1,025

+ .9
140,160
+ .7 1,474,411
+ .2
93,781
- 7 .1
33, 694
+ 3.5
25,138

+ 4.1
+ 5 .8
+ 3.6
+ 5 .7
+ 6.1

60
181
25
15
19

1,261
9,672
403
422
307

+ 3.5
+ 2.5
-4 0 .8
+ 3.7
- 1 .6

15,447
116,784
4,857
3,128
3,720

+ 5 .2
+ 4 .3
-3 4 .2
+ 9.1
+ 2.1

Texas____________
Utah________
Vermont___
Virginia---------------

244
136
66
122
123

4,341
6,932
1,712
1,055
2,474

+ 2.1
+ 5.5
-.9
+ .4
+ .6

98, 564
180,767
33, 955
25,582
58,891

+ 3 .4
+7.1
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .6
+ 6 .3

37
46
13
26
35

2,203
3,697
474
582
1,906

-.7
+ 3 .2
- 2 .3
- 8 .3
+ 2.1

18,700
45,594
5,813
5,805
19,917

+ 1 .3
+ 3 .3
-.5
- 6 .0
+ 2 .2

199
119
l i 41
48

9,599
6, 254
10, 808
' 449

+ 1 .0
+ 2.9
+ 1 .6
(8)

259,208
157, 210
312,150
10,456

+ 5.4
+ 7.5
+8.1
+ 5 .2

84
38
12 43
12

2,510
1,112
1,282
' 127

-.6
+ 1.1
- 4 .3
+ 2 .4

28,445
11,733
(U)
1,664

+ 1 .5
+ 1.7

Alabama_______ Arizona__________
Arkansas_________
California________
Colorado________

89
68
62
44
196

1,737
1,401
1,710
42,039
5, 390

Connecticut______
Delaware ----- Dist. of ColumbiaFlorida................. Georgia----------------

135
28
22
185
186

9,464
1,104
8,404
4, 775
6,504

Idaho__________
Illinois----------------Indiana_________
Iowa_____________
Kansas-----------------

56
80
115
430
126

Washington______
West Virginia-----W yom ing________

8 No change.
11 N ot available.
12 Includes restaurants.
13 Includes steam railroads.
H Includes railways and express.


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

+ 2 .3
$35,936
33,964
+ 5.9
+ .2
39,205
- . 1 1,172,929
+ 2 .6
137,222
+ 1.3
+ 4 .3
+ .8
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .6

+ 2 .4

1512

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y S T A T E S —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued b y
cooperating State organizations]

Laundries

State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

Dyeing and cleaning

N um ­
Amount
ber on
Per­ of pay roll 1 Per­
payroll cent of (1 week) cent of
October change October change
1933
1933

Alabama_________
Arizona..................
Arkansas_________
California________
Colorado_________

5
10
13
1« 69
9

455
377
362
4,977
586

- 2 .4
+ 1.3
- 4 .7
- 1 .0
- 2 .3

$4,179
5,191
3,343
88, 701
7,860

- 1.1
+ 2.0
- 8 .0
+ 1 .6
- 5 .5

Connecticut______
Delaware _______
Dist. of Columbia.
Florida___________
Georgia..............

25
3
20
9
12

1,184
237
2, 561
501
660

+ .2
-.8
+ .3
- 2 .3
- 1 .9

19,234
3,965
38, 627
4,944
5,982

-.3
- 2. 2
-.1
-.2
- 7 .5

Idaho____________
Illinois___________
Indiana__________
Iowa_____________
Kansas_____ _____

is 36
21
5

1,620
1,553
223
918

- 3 .6
- 3 .0
- 2.2
+ 1.2

22, 774
20; 827
3,113
11,188

3

104

- 21.8

3

45

(8)

$1,022

- 21.6

615

+ 10.6

9

149

-1 3 .9

2,598

- 12.8

270

+ 4 .2

5, 555

+ 4.1

5
13
4

132
119
98

- 2.2
+ 5.3
- 1.0

2,302
1,867
1,125

- 2 .4
+ 3.6
- 1 .9

—3.3
- 5 .7
- 4 .4
-.2

12
6

215
261

+ 1.4
- 1 .5

3,616
4,125

+ 1.8
- 4 .5

5
5

251
86

+ 2.4
+10.3

3,610
1,078

+ 4 .0
+17.9

12

78

462
1,872

+ .9
- 2 .2

6,974
31,503

+ 9 .3
- 9 .0

16
12

609
459

- 1.1
+ .2

11,267
7,680

-.4
- 3 .1

13

489

+ 3 .6

8, 666

+ 3 .8

3

104

(8)

1,885

+ 4 .8

6

207

+ 1 .5

5,163

+ .4

17

570

+ 2.0

10,762

+ 2.6

42
6

1,646
180

+ 2.0
- 12.6

29, 664
2,429

+ 5.5
- 6 .5

4
18
4

64
1,036
330

- 4 .5
+ .2
- 5 .4

1,204
19, 599
6,177

- 4 .6
+ 9.4
+ 1.8

4
16
8

54
430
128

- 3 .6
- 1 .4
-1 0 .5

753
7,221
2,294

+ 3.0
+ 1.0
- 10. 3

22

282

- 2.1

4,145

+ 1.9

14
9

197
221

- 2 .5
+ .9

3,541
2,987

+ 1.3
+ 2.1

16

794

- 4 .0

9,512

- 10.2

19
25
113

417
1,886
3,696

-1 1 .3
- 1 .3
+ .3

5,958
28,478
58,528

-1 4 .8
- 4 .0
- 1 .4

M i c h i g a n .. .____
M in n e so ta ...........
Mississippi_______
M issou ri.............
Montana....... ........

22
13
6
30
14

1,445
663
311
2,244
327

- 4 .3
- 3 .1
- 1.6
- 1 .3
-.6

19,880
10, 581
3,096
29; 587
5, 600

- 3 .4
- 1 .5
- 2.6
- 3 .2
+ 3.3

N e b r a s k a ...____
Nevada__________
N ew Hampshire
N ew Jersey______
New M exico_____

7
4
18
25
4

571
51
332
3,124
187

- 2.1
- 1 .9
- 2 .4
- 2.6
-1 0 .5

7, 780
956
4, 794
61,401
2,795

- 6.6
- 4 .1
- 6 .3
-.7
- 9 .2

New Y ork _______
North Carolina___
North Dakota____
Ohio........................
Oklahoma....... .......

70
12
11
79
9

7,138
735
210
4,086
619

- 1.6
- 5 .4
-.9
- 1 .9
- 6.6

121,578
7,776
3,171
60,106
7,921

-.7
- 6.6
+ 2.0
- 2 .4
- 6.1

Oregon....................
Pennsylvania____
Rhode' Island____
South Carolina___
South Dakota........

4
40
17
8
5

311
2,928
1,100
296
104

- 1 .3
+ .1
- 2 .7
- 3 .6
- 1 .9

4,887
44, 213
18,764
2,860
1,310

+ 1.0
- 2.8
- 6 .7
- 8.6

Tennessee........... .
Texas...... ........ .......
Utah ........... ..........
Vermont_________
Virginia........... .......

12
24
7
4
10

888
1,176
489
59
841

(8)
- 3 .4
(8)
- 9 .2
+ 4.1

7,687
12,767
6,850
784
9,171

- 4 .0
- 5 .0
-.2
- 4 .7
- 5 .9

Washington______
West Virginia.. . .
W is c o n s in ...____
W yom ing________

12
20
1« 28
6

558
694
996
95

- 4 .0
-.6
+ .5
-3 .1

10,019
8,646
12,890
1, 535

- 5 .5
- 2.2
-2 . 5
- 4 .4


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ­
Amount
ber on
Per­ of pay rol
Per­
pay roll cent of (1 week) cent of
October change October change
1933
1933

12

Kentucky________
Louisiana________
M ain e....................
Maryland________
Massachusetts___

8 N o change.
15 Includes dyeing and cleaning.

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

1513

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933, B Y S T A T E S —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating State organizations]

Banks, brokerage, insurance, and real estate

State

M aryland_________ ________ »------. . . - - - - - ......

___________ ___________________
Utah
Verm ont________________________ ____ - .......... -

3 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.
8 N o change.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Num ber
of
estab­
lish­
ments

Number
on
pay roll
October
1933

Percent
of
change

Amount of
payroll
(1 week)
October
1933

Percent
of
change

18
29
19
1,140
27

470
206
242
22,931
1,068

- 0 .8
- 1 .9
-.8
-.6
-.7

$13, 305
5, 606
5,891
751, 471
37,046

- 1 .8
+ .8
+ .7
+ .2
+ .3

56
17
41
IS
25

1,979
570
1,335
567
1,023

+ .2
-.5
(8)
+ .5
+■4

68, 316
19, 696
47,849
17, 393
29, 715

+ .6
-.4
- 1 .2
+ .3
+ .9

16
94
39
17
SI

138
10, 802
1,176
979

- 1 .4
+■ 1
- 1 .2
+ .1
- 1 .2

3,422
368, 436
38,174
31, 357
22,607

+ .5
+1. 9
- 1 . O'

21
9
16
24
227

842
371
254
856
8,408

-. 5
+ .3
(«)
+ 1.6

29, 543
13, 520
6, 597
31,660
26, 545

-2 . 4
- , 5>
+ . 2:
“K 1'
+2.7'

92
52
17
86
21

3,987
4,189
195
4, 747
244

+ .4
+25.8
+ .5
+ .2
(8)

124, 308
101,857
4, 322
139, 340
6,867

738

(8)

- .S

-.9 !

+ 3.1
+ 15.3
+ .9
- 2 ,8
-.5

17

505

+ .2

17,412

+ .8

39
109
16

381
12,478
87

(8)
+ .3
+ 1 .2

9,011
351,086
2, 583

+ .2
-.5
+ 1.5

726
26
38
278
21

53, 634
556
274
7,938
592

-.6
+ 8 .6
- 1 .1
- 1 .0
- 3 .3

1, 842, 595
14,459
6,590
258, 356
17,737

- 1 .3
+ 8.1
- 2 .3
-.2
-.9
+ .7
-.6
-.8
+ 3.1
+ 1 .0
+ .9
+ .6
- 1 .1
-.4
+ .7

15

758

-.4

26, 356

798

S 3 ,1 1 9

-.3

71 4 UVt

28
11
31

926
110
240

+ .1
(8)
(8)

37,80i
3,301
6,004

31
23
14
30
32

1,129
1,311
457
235
1,337

+ .4
+ .7
- 1 .3
+ .9
-.2

38, 701
37, 673
16, 203
6, 702
43,326

32
44
17
10

1,324
609
919
90

+ 2 .0
-1 . 1
-.2
(8)

40,472
17,471
31,105
2, 762

,

-.7
- 1 .1

_ (3 )

+ 1.5

1514

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

Employment and Pay Rolls in October 1933 in Cities of Over
500,000 Population

N THE following table are presented the fluctuations in employ­
ment and pay-roll totals in October 1933 as compared with
September 1933 in 13 cities of the United States having a population of
500,000 or over. These changes are computed from reports received
from identical establishments in each of the months considered.
In addition to including reports received from establishments in the
several industrial groups regularly covered in the Bureau’s survey,
excluding building construction, reports have also been secured from
other establishments in these cities for inclusion in these totals.
Information concerning employment in building construction is not
available for all cities at this time and therefore has not been included.

I

F L U C T U A T IO N S IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O LLS IN O C T O B E R 1933 AS C O M P A R E D
W IT H S E P T E M B E R 1933

Cities

New York C ity _________
Chicago, 111--------------------Philadelphia, P a ________
Detroit, Mich___ _______
Los Angeles, Calif_______
Cleveland, Ohio_________
St. Louis, M o ................... .
Baltimore, M d _____ - __
Boston, Mass____________
Pittsburgh, P a __________
San Francisco, Calif_____
Buffalo, N .Y ____________
Milwaukee, W is_________

Nfimber of
Number on pay roll
establish­
ments re­
porting in
both
September
October
1933
1933
months
5,396
1,837
842
526
833
1,125
520
577
3, 654
435
1,151
437
451

345, 282
233,432
149, 742
197, 275
77, 706
99,868
73, 756
54, 684
99,675
56, 333
53,887
44,494
45,800

351,859
236, 754
156, 319
174,915
79,113
99, 598
73,731
56,348
101, 249
56,951
52,234
43,116
46,669

Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
Per­
cent of
change September
October
1933
1933
+ 1.9
+ 1.4
+ 4.4
-1 1 .3
+ 1.8
-.3
-(> )
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .6
+ 1.1
- 3 .1
-3 .1
+ 1.9

9,148,308
5, 375,740
3, 308, 407
4,525,377
1,852,043
2,074, 980
1, 577,171
1,100,126
2,411,050
1,191,277
1,257, 694
966,001
895, 797

9,164, 592
5,473,204
3,516,788
3,951,659
1,899,375
2,094,822
1,565,620
1,127,176
2,461,717
1, 242,723
1,257,408
938,827
934, 557

Per
cent
of
change

+ 0 .2
+ 1 .8
+ 6 .3
-1 2 .7
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .0
-.7
+ 2 .5
+ 2.1
+ 4.3
—(0
- 2 .8
+ 4.3

1 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.

Employment in the Executive Civil Service of the United States,
October 1933

N OCTOBER 31, 1933, the United States Government had on its
pay rolls 577,170 employees. This is an increase of 4,303 as com­
pared with October 31, 1932. Comparing October 1933 with Sep­
tember 1933, there was an increase of 10,814 employees or 1.9 percent.
The data presented herein does not include the legislative, judicial,
or Army and Navy services. The information shown in table 1 was
compiled by the various departments and offices of the United States
Government and sent to the United States Civil Service Commission
where it was assembled. The figures were tabulated by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics and are published in compliance with the direction
of Congress.
Table 1 shows the number of Federal employees inside the District
of Columbia, the number of employees outside of the District of
Columbia, and the total number for the entire Federal service.
Approximately 12 percent of the total number of workers on the
pay rolls of the United States Government are employed inside the
District of Columbia.

O


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1515

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T a b l e 1 .— E M P L O Y E E S IN T H E E X E C U T IV E C IV IL S E R V IC E OF T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S ,

O C T O B E R 1932, S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933
District of Columbia
Item
Perma­
nent

Tem ­
pora­
ry i

Total

Outside the District
Perma­
nent

Tem ­
pora­
ry i

Number of employees:
October 1932____________
64,484
2,490 66,974 470,043 35,850
6,482 69, 740 453, 750 42, 866
September 1933_________
63, 258
6,386 71,054 454, 056 52, 060
October 1933______ ____
64, 668
Gain or loss:
October
1932-October
+184 +3,896 +4,080 -15,987 +16,210
1933__________________
September 1933-October
-9 6 +1,314
+306 +9,194
1933__________________ +1,410
Percent of change:
October
1932-October
- 3 .4
+45.2
+ .3 +156.5
+ 6.1
1933__________________
September 1933-October
+ 2.2
- 1 .5
+ 1.9
+21.4
1933__________________
+ .1
Labor turn-over October
1933:
A d d itio n s ______________ 2 2,007
1,426 2 3, 433 3 12,152 24,445
1,326
2 793 2 2,119 12, 307 3 14, 790
Separations___ _________
2. 07
12. 33
3. 01
2.68
31.16
Turn-over rate per 100...

Total

Entire service
Perma­
nent

505,893 534, 527
496, 616 517,008
506,116 518, 724

Tem ­
pora­
ry1

Total

38,340 572, 867
49, 348 566, 356
58,446 577, 170

+223 -15,803 +20,106 +4, 303
+9, 500 +1,716 +9, 098 +10, 814
+ (5)
+ 1.9

- 3 .0

+52.4

+ .8

+ .3

+18.4

+ 1.9

3 36, 597 4 14,159 25, 871 4 40, 030
3 27,097 13, 633 4 15, 583 4 29, 216
2. 63
28.91
5.40
5.11

1 N ot including field employees of the Post Office Department.
2 N ot including 729 employees ol the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works transferred
from a temporary to a permanent status.
3 N ot including 461 employees of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, transferred
from a temporary to a permanent status.
4 See notes to details.
3 Less than one tenth of 1 percent.

Comparing October 1933 with September 1933, there was an
increase of 2.2 percent in the number of permanent employees (half
of this increase was caused by a transfer of 729 employees of the
Public Works Administration from a temporary to a permanent
status), and a decrease of 1.5 percent in the number of temporary em­
ployees in the District of Columbia, making a net increase of 1.9
percent in the total Federal employment in the city of Washington.
Comparing October 1933 with October 1932, there was an increase of
three tenths of 1 percent in permanent employees and an increase of
156.5 percent in temporary employees, making an increase of 6.1 percent
in the total number of employees in the District of Columbia. The large
increase in temporary employment is caused by the setting up of a
number of new independent establishments since October of last year.
Outside the District of Columbia, the number of permanent em­
ployees decreased 3.4 percent and the number of temporary employees
increased 45.2 percent, comparing October 1933 pay rolls with those
for October 1932.
Comparing October 1933 with September 1933, there was an in­
crease of 0.3 percent in the number of permanent employees, an
increase of 18.4 percent in the number of temporary employees, and
an increase of 1.9 percent in total Federal employment.
Pay-roll figures for the entire Government service are presented
herewith for the first time. The total Government pay roll for all
classes of civil employees for the month of September was $70,609,548,
October pay rolls totaled $74,407,443.
Table 2 shows employment and pay rolls for the Emergency
Conservation Work.
There was an increase of 30,685 persons engaged in Emergency Con­
servation Work, comparing October with September. This increase
was caused by recruiting additional enrolled personnel during the month.

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1516
T

a b l e

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
3 .—

E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN T H E E M E R G E N C Y C O N S E R V A T IO N
AVORK, S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1933
Number

Pay rolls

Group
September

October

September

October

Enrolled personnel______________ ________
Reserve officers, line. _________________
Reserve officers, m e d ica l______________ ____
Supervisory and technical....... .......................

208, 402
2,902
986
14, 744

239,859 $6, 508, 392
3, 298
678,676
1,074 }
13, 488
1, 754,485

$7, 490, 799

T otal. . . __________ ____ ______

227, 034

257, 719

29,095, 939

1 Data not available.

8,941, 553

0)
1,605,140

2 Not including October pay rolls for Reserve officers, line and medical.

Information concerning employment and pay rolls in the Emer­
gency Conservation Work is collected by the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics from the War Department and the Forest Service of the
Department of Agriculture.
The pay of the enrolled enlisted personnel is $30 per month, except
that 5 percent of the personnel of each company are paid $45 a
month and an additional 8 percent are paid $36 per month. The
pay roll for this branch of the service is figured on this basis. The
amounts paid to Reserve officers, line and medical, are shown for
September for the first time. Data for these branches will be sup­
plied regularly hereafter.
Employment on Class I Steam Railroads in the United States

EPORTS of the Interstate Commerce Commission for class I rail­
roads show that the number of employees (exclusive of executives
and officials) decreased from 1,018,138 on September 15, 1933, to
1,011,110 on October 15, 1933, or 0.7 percent. Data are not yet avail­
able concerning total compensation of employees for October 1933.
The latest pay-roll information available shows a decrease from
$121,857,255 in August to $118,777,553 in September, or 2.5 percent.
The monthly trend of employment from January 1923 to October
1933 on class I railroads_—-that is, all roads having operating revenues
of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by index numbers published in the
following table. These index numbers are constructed from monthly
reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission, using the 12month average for 1926 as 100.

R

T

a b le

1.—IN D E X E S OP E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I ST E A M R AILR O AD S IN T H E
U N IT E D S T A T E S , J A N U A R Y 1923 T O O C T O B E R 1933
[12-month average, 1926=100]
M onth

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

January______________
February_______ _____
March_______________
April_______________
M a y__________________
June. . . .
____
July---------------------------August...... .....................
September__________
October______________
N ovem ber.....................
Decem ber.____ ______

98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107.1
108.2
109.4
107.8
107.3
105.2
99.4

96. 6
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98. 1
99.0
99.7
100.8
99.0
96.0

95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99.7
99.9
100. 7
99. 1
97.1

95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100.2
101.6
102.9
102.7
102.8
103.4
101.2
98.2

95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99. 5
99.1
98.9
95.7
91.9

89.3
89.0
89.9
91.7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7

88.2
88.9
90.1
92. 2
94.9
96.1
96.6
97.4
96.8
96.9
93.0
88.8

86. 3
85.4
85.5
87.0
88.6
86.5
84. 7
83. 7
82. 2
80.4
77.0
74.9

73. 3
72. 7
72.9
73.5
73.9
72.8
72.4
71.2
69. 3
67.7
64. 5
62.6

61. 2
60. 3
60. 5
60.0
59. 7
57. 8
56.4
55. 0
55.8
57. 0
55. 9
54.8

53. 0
52. 7
51. 5
51. 8
52. 5
53. 6
55. 4
1 56.8
57. 7
57. 3

104.1

98.3

97.9

100.0

97.5

92.9

93.3

83.5

70.6

57.9

2 54.2

Average________

1 Revised.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2 Average for 10 months.

1517

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

Table 2 shows the total number of employees by occupations on
the 15th day of August and of September 1933 and by group totals
on the 15th of October 1933; also, pay-roll totals for the entire months
of August and September. Total compensation for the month of
October is not yet available. Beginning in January 1933 the Inter­
state Commerce Commission excluded reports of switching and ter­
minal companies from its monthly tabulations. The actual figures
for the months shown in the following table therefore are not com­
parable with the totals published for the months prior to January
1933. The index numbers of employment for class 1 railroads shown
in table 1 have been adjusted to allow for this revision and furnish
a monthly indicator of the trend of employment from January 1923
to the latest month available. In these tabulations data for the oc­
cupational group reported as “ executives, officials and staff assistants”
are omitted.
T a b l e 2 — E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S OP R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , A U G U S T A N D

S E P T E M B E R 1933
[From m onthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important occu­
pations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the items under the respective groups.
Employment figures for October 1933 are available b y group totals only at this time]

Number of employees at
middle of month

Total earnings

Occupation

Professional, clerical, and general_________ ____
Clerks_______________________________________
Stenographers and typists___________________
Maintenance of way and structures--------------------Laborers, extra gang and work train_________
Laborers, track and roadway section-------------Maintenance of equipment and stores___________
Carmen_____________________________________
Electrical workers___________________________
Machinists__________________________________
Skilled trades helpers________________________
Laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants,
and stores)________________________________
Common laborers (shop, engine houses, power
plants, and stores)_________________________
Transportation, other than train, engine and yard.
Station agents_______________________________
Telegraphers, telephoners, and towermen____
Truckers (stations, warehouses, and plat­
forms) _____________________________________
Crossings and bridge flagmen and gatemen. _
Transportation (yardmaster, switch tenders, and
hostlers)_______________________________________
Transportation, train and engine________________
Road conductors____________________________
Road brakemen and flagmen________________
Yard brakemen and yard helpers____________
Road engineers and motormen_______________
Road firemen and helpers____________________

August
1933

Septem­
ber 1933

163, 550
85, 853
15, 366
219, 055
23,835
118,615
274,397
57,003
8, 092
38, 595
61, 092

164, 058
86, 295
15, 376
224, 753
25, 305
121, 658
278,881
58, 322
8, 208
39,079
62, 304

20, 636

20,879

1, 606, 556

1, 552, 596

18, 644
125, 351
24, 266
14, 930

19,114
126, 880
24, 232
14, 979

1,167,174
14, 206,931
3, 444, 699
2,087,436

1,107,924
13,853,114
3, 332,881
2, 023, 279

17,930
16,854

18, 660
16,864

1,413,000
1,140,930

1, 378, 984
1,131, 901

12, 238
207, 586
22, 828
47, 492
35, 989
27, 501
30,193

12, 264
211, 302
23, 195
48, 520
36,686
28,103
30,803

2,095,668
35, 221, 701
4,974, 790
6, 696, 554
4, 784, 238
6, 657,199
4, 804, 518

2, 047, 246
34,498, 970
4,889, 069
6, 648, 085
4, 622, 539
6, 555, 842
4, 744,397

October
1933

August
1933

Septem­
ber 1933

164, 647 $22, 086, 339 $21, 755,246
11, 048, 777 10,811,153
1, 850, 071
1,827, 715
217, 430 17, 335, 030 16,976, 799
1, 313, 580
1, 329, 913
6,984, 277
6, 734, 935
275,889 30,911, 586 29, 646,178
7, 234, 396
6,917, 320
1,110,818
1,067,127
5,147,086
4, 899, 397
5, 794,029
5, 529, 600

126, 437

12, 383
214, 324

All employees_____________________________ 1, 002,177 1,018,138 1,011,110 121,857, 255 118, 777, 553

Employment Created by Public Works Fund
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics is charged with the duty of show­
ing each month the number of wage earners employed on work
financed from the $3,300,000,000 public-works fund.
Public-works allotments are divided into two large classes. First,
Federal allotments; second, non-Federal allotments. Federal allot­
ments are monies which have been alio ted to some branch of the United
States Government. They are financed wholly by public-works funds.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1518

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

They include such types of projects as post-office buildings, built by
the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department; naval vessels,
built by the Bureau of Construction and Repair of the United States
Navy Department; river, harbor, and flood-control work, supervised
by the Corps of Engineers, War Department; and reclamation proj­
ects, such as the Boulder Dam and the Tennessee Valley project.
Whenever a contract is awarded by one of these Federal agencies,
the name and address of the contractor, the type of project, and the
amount of the contract is at once furnished to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The Bureau then forwards a copy of its form (B.L.S. 742)
to each of the contractors, asking for the number of wage earners
employed, the amount of pay rolls, and the number of man-hours
worked, as well as the total amount of expenditures for materials pur­
chased, for all pay-roll periods ending between the 15th of the past
month and the 15th of the current month. The contractor in turn
mails the schedule back to the Bureau, where the data are tabulated.
Information concerning non-Federal projects are obtained from the
State engineers of the Public Works Administration. Whenever a
contract for a non-Federal project is awarded, the procedure is exactly
the same as described for Federal projects. Non-Federal projects
include such work as road and street paving, sewerage systems and
water works, school buildings, public buildings of all kinds, and slum
clearance and housing projects. The Public Works Administration
grants 30 percent of the total cost of non-Federal projects, and if nec­
essary will loan the remaining 70 percent.
In addition to the work done by contractors, some Government
departments, cities, and States do work under force account— that is,
they hire the labor directly. Data concerning force-account work are
obtained in the same manner as for contract work, except that the
schedules are made out by the Federal, State, county, or city agency
doing the work.
The information shown in the following tables should be regarded
as more or less of a preliminary report, as work financed from publicworks fund is just getting under way.
Table 1 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
projects financed from public-works funds, during October 1933, by
type of project.
T a b l e 1 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , P A Y R O L L S , A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D

ON P R O JE C T S
F IN A N C E D F R O M P U B L IC -W O R K S F U N D S D U R IN G O C T O B E R 1933, B Y T Y P E OF
PR O JEC T

T ype of project

Num ­ Number
ber of of wage
proj­
earners
em­
ects re­
ported ployed

Building construction_____________
Public roads . . . __________________
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads 2_________________
Naval vessels_______________ ____
Reclamation__________________
Water and sewerage_____ _
Miscellaneous_____________

66
1,664
101
20
34
12
5
68

Total______________________ . . .

1,970

4,157
94, 350
11, 639
1,230
3,626
3,485
253
1,815

Amount
of pay
roll

$387,901
(>)
378,035
62,354
401, 294
204, 729
7,929
135, 225

Aver­
Aver­
age
Number
age
number
Expendi­
of man­
earn­
of
hours tures for
hours
worked ings per worked material
hour
in
month
572,293
(0
693, 562
100, 437
515,149
337, 530
12, 692
256,621

$0. 678
(>)
.545
.621
.779
.607
.625
.527

120, 555 11,577, 467 42, 488,284

4. 634

137.7
(>)
59.6
81.7
142.1
96.9
50.2
141.4

495.0 410,457, 231

1 Data not available.
2 Other than those reported b y the Bureau of Public Roads.
3 Includes $544,385 worth of materials which cannot be charged to any specific type of project.
4 Excluding data for Bureau of Public Roads.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$412,429
0)
849,249
73,855
8,248, 361
168,880
7,172
3 697, 285

TR E N D OF EM P LO YM E N T

1519

For the month ending October 15, there were 120,555 employees
directly engaged on construction jobs, excluding clerical and super­
visory workers, whose wages were paid directly from public-works
funds.
Of the 120,555 people directly put to work on public-works con­
struction projects up to October 15, 94,350 were working under the
supervision of the Bureau of Public Roads. No data concerning
pay rolls, man-hours, or expenditures for materials were obtained
from that Bureau. Beginning with the November figures, however,
this information will be supplied.
Of the remaining 26,205 wage earners, the largest part were working
on river, harbor, and flood-control projects. Building construction
accounted for the employment of the third largest group.
The pay roll for workers, excluding those on public roads, totaled
$1,577,467. As the men worked an aggregate of 2,488,284 hours,
this makes an hourly rate of 63.4 cents. Pay rolls for work on naval
vessels reached a larger total than pay rolls for any other type of
project. River, harbor, and flood-control work created more hours
of labor, however.
The average hourly rate of earnings for workers on naval vessels
was 77.9 cents. All types of work, except river, harbor, flood-control,
and miscellaneous projects paid an average of over 60 cents per hour.
Expenditures for materials ranged from less than $7,500 in the
case of water and sewerage projects to over $8,000,000 in the case of
naval vessels. During the month scheduled, $10,457,231 was ex­
pended for materials purchased by contractors reporting to the
Bureau.
Table 2 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked during
October on projects financed from public-works funds, by geographic
divisions.
Of the 120,555 wage earners paid from public-works funds, over
20,000 worked in each of the following geographic divisions: Middle
Atlantic States, West North Central States, and Mountain and
Pacific States. The South Atlantic was the only geographic division
having fewer than 10,000 workers paid from public-works funds.
The New England pay rolls reached a total of over $370,000; the
Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Mountain and Pacific had pay
rolls totaling over $200,000.
The highest earnings per hour, 70.9 cents, were shown in the New
England States. This was followed by 69.4 cents in the South
Atlantic and 69.3 cents in the Middle Atlantic States.
By far the largest proportion of the material orders were placed by
contractors located in the Middle Atlantic States. The preponder­
ance of expenditures for materials to be used in the Middle Atlantic
States was caused by the placing of an order for steel for battleship
construction, amounting to over $7,000,000. Materials purchased to
be used in the West North Central States cost nearly $700,000. In
no other geographic division did expenditures for material total as
much as $400,000. Following is a list of the kinds of materials
purchased, together with the expenditures for each type.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1520

M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W

T able 2 .— E M P L O Y M E N T , P A Y R O L L S , A N D M A N -H O U R S

W O R K E D ON PROJECTS
F I N A N C E D F R O M P U B L I C - W O R K S F U N D S D U R I N G O C T O B E R 1933, B Y G E O G R A P H I C
D IV IS IO N S

N u m b e r of
w age earners
em p lo y e d on —
G eographic division

N e w E n g la n d .. ___________ _
M id d le A tla n tic ________ _________
E ast N orth Cen tral___ __
______
W est N orth C en tral__________
South A tla n tic _______ _______
South C en tral. _______
M o u n ta in and P a cific____
.
T ota l -

-

A m ount
of p a y
roll i

N u m ber
o f m an ­
hours
w ork ed 1

A v er­
A v e r­
age
age
num ber E x p e n d i­
earn­
o f hours tures for
ings
w orked m aterials 1
per
in
h our i
m on th 1

P u b lic
roads

Projects
other
than
pu b lic
roads

12, 363
20, 550
9, 522
16, 803
6,241
11,138
17, 733

3,898
2,286
3,124
5,731
3,395
4,184
3, 587

$371, 351
201,459
116,901
170,548
273, 203
182, 426
261, 579

523,884
290, 745
179,373
316, 620
393,776
360,361
423, 525

$0. 709
.693
.652
.539
.694
.506
.618

134.4
127.2
57.4
55.2
116.0
86.1
118.1

$282, 475
7,975,438
187,838
665,676
328,019
194, 733
278, 667

94, 350

26, 205

1, 577, 467

2, 488, 284

.634

95.0

2 10,457,231

1 E x clu din g data for p u b lic roads w h ich are n ot available.
2 Inclu des $544,385 w orth o f m aterials w h ich cannot be charged to a n y specific geographic division.

Kind of materials

Cement__________________________________________________________
Chemicals_______________________________________________________
Clay products____________________________________________________
Concrete products________________________________________________
Cordage and twine_______________________________________________
Crushed stone__________________________________________________
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies_____________________
Explosives____________________________________________________
Forgings, iron and steel__________________________________________
Foundry and machine-shop products not elsewhere classified_____ II
Hardware, miscellaneous__________________________ _______________
Instruments, professional and scientific___________________________
Lighting equipment______________________________________________
Lumber and timber products not elsewhere classified__________ II_II
Machine tools__________________________________ ___________
Marble, granite, slate, and other stone products____________________
Minerals and earths, ground or otherwise treated__________________
Nonferrous-metal alloys; nonferrous-metal products, except alu­
minum, not elsewhere specified_________________________________
Paving materials and mixtures___________________________________ I
Planing-mill products___________________________________________II
Pumps and pumping equipment__________________________________
Refrigerators, mechanical_______________________________________
Sand and gravel___________________________________________
Smelting and refining, lead_______________________________________I
Steel-works and rolling-mill products_____________________________
Structural and ornamental metalwork, not made in plants operated
in connection with rolling mills__________________________________
Wire, drawn from purchased rods____________________
Other____________________________
T o ta l

Amount
expended

$71, 373
11, 804
39, 735
19, 059
22, 173
90, 301
40, 567
14, 039
10, 274
52, 748
22, 906
250, 812
34, 000
722, 778
56, 818
38, 787
13, 996
153,
43,
22,
13,
38,
13,
11,
8, 378,

281
244
707
281
235
164
660
478

80, 964
43, 963
146, 084
10, 457, 231

It will be seen from this list that manufacturers of many classes
of materials will profit by the public-works program. It is estimated
that the fabrication of the materials purchased will give employment
to approximately 27,000 people.
As already stated, this report must be classified as preliminary.
Up to October 15 the construction program of the Public Works
Administration had not as yet assumed full force.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1521

TR E N D OF EM P LO YM E N T

Employment on Public Roads
T h e following table shows the number of employees (excluding
those employed on road projects financed from public-works funds)
engaged in building and maintaining State and Federal roads during
September and October 1933, by geographic divisions.
N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S E N G A G E D IN T H E C O N S T R U C T IO N A N D M A IN T E N A N C E
O F P U B L IC R O A D S , S T A T E A N D F E D E R A L , D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R
1933, B Y G E O G R A P H I C D I V I S I O N S 1

State

Federal
G eographic division
Septem ber

O ctober

Septem ber

O ctober

3,359
7,872
16, 220
7, 594
9,204
18,053
17,573

2,640
5,103
10,357
5,482
7,040
14,163
12,087

22, 979
47,121
40,884
27,780
42, 249
24,869
16,976

16,103
45,815
53, 210
32, 527
43,970
22,217
16,129

79, 880

56,872
-2 8 .8

222,858

229,971
+ 3 .2

i E x clu sive o f em p loym en t furnished b y projects financed from pu b lic-w ork s funds.

During the month of October there were 56,872 men employed on
Federal road projects other than those financed from the publicworks fund. This is a decrease of 28.8 percent as compared with
September. The reason for the decrease in employees on Federal
road work is that very few contracts are being awarded for road
building from Federal funds outside of the public-works fund. There
was an increase of over 64,000 in the number of people employed on
public-road work financed from P.W.A. funds.
The number of people engaged on highway projects financed from
State funds increased 3.2 percent in October as compared with
September. The increases were confined to the East North Central,
the West North Central, and the South Atlantic States. Decreases
were shown in the other four divisions, with New England registering
the largest falling-off in employment. Most of the employees working
on road projects financed from State funds were engaged in mainte­
nance work. Out of a total of 229,971 in October, 1/1,260, or 74.5
percent, were working at maintaining existing roads.
Unemployment in Foreign Countries

HE table following gives statistics of unemployment in foreign
countries, as shown in official reports for the years 1927 to 1932,
inclusive, and by months beginning with August 1932 to the latest
available date.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1522

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S

Australia

Y ea r and date (end of
m on th )

1927___________________
1928_______________
1929___________________
1930___________________
1931___________________
1932___________________

B elgium

U n em ploym en t-insurance societies
C o m p u l­
T rade-unionists u n ­ sory insur­
em p lo y e d
ance, n u m ­
P artially u n em ­
ber o f u n ­ W h o lly u n em p loyed
p loyed
em p loyed
in receipt
o f benefit
N um ber
Percent
N um ber
Percent
N u m b e r Percent
31,032
45, 669
47, 359
84, 767
117,866
120, 454

1932
A u g u st. _
___ ______
Septem ber
_ ___
O ctober
__________________
N ovem b er
_____ __

A ustria

7.0
10.8
11.1
19.3
27.4
29.4

0)
122,340
0)
0)
115, 042

28.1

109,182

26.5

106, 652

25.7

104,560

25.1

29.6

11,112

172, 450
156,185
164, 509
208, 389
253, 368
309, 969

5, 386
8,462
23, 250
79,186
161, 468

1.3
3.6
10.9
19.0

23, 763
22, 293
18,831
50,918
121,890
175, 259

3.9
3.5
3.0
7.9
16.9
20.7

269,188
275,840
297,791
329, 707
367, 829

167, 212
163,048
157,023
154, 657
171, 028

19.5
18.3
17.7
17.7
18.6

170,081
166,160
148,812
144, 583
155, 669

19.9
18.9
16.8
16.3
16.9

397,920
401, 321
379, 693
350, 552
320, 955
307, 873
300, 762
291,224
279, 053
280, 401

207,136
201, 305
195, 715
180,143
162, 781
145,881
142,119
135,105

22.1
21.0
20. 1
18.2
16.4
14.4
13.7
13.5

196, 237
185,052
186, 942
187, 222
176,174
158,005
168, 653
162,361

20.9
19.3
19.2
18.8
17.7
15.5
16.3
16.3

1933
Jan u ary, _
.
...
F ebru ary. ._
M arch
. . . . . ___ __
A p r il___ __ _________ ______
M a y ________________ _______
J u n e ... _
_ _ __ _____
J u ly _________________________
A u gu st. . .
S e p te m b e r ... _______
O ctober
_

~~
Canada

Y ea r and date (end of
m onth)

D anzig,
Free C ity
of

C zechoslovakia

Percent of N u m b e r
o f u nem ­
tradeunionists
ployed
u n em ­
on live
p loyed
register

T rad e-u n ion insur­
ance funds—u n ­
em p lo ye d in re­
ceipt o f benefit

N u m b er

Percent

N um ber
o f un em ­
p lo y e d
registered

4.9
4. 5
5. 7
11.1
16.8
22.0

52,869
38, 636
41, 630
105, 442
291, 332
554, 059

17, 626
16, 342
23, 763
52,047
102,179
184, 555

1. 6
1 4
2.2
4.6
8.3
13.5

12, 905
18, 291
24,898
33, 244

1932
A u g u st.
_ _
_______
Septem ber.
_____
_
O ctober
_ _ ___ _
N ov em b er
__ _
... _
D e c e m b e r .. _
.
...

21.4
20. 4
22.0
22.8
25. 5

460, 952
486, 935
533, 616
608, 809
746,311

172,118
170, 772
173, 706
190, 779
239,959

12.5
12.3
12.4
13. 5
16.9

1933
J a n u a r y ______ _ ..................
F eb ru ary _____ . __________
M a r c h ____
...
. .
A p r i l ..
. . .
M a y ..
______ . _ _ ______
Jun e_________________________
J u ly _________________________
A u g u st________ ____________
Septem ber
. .
O ctob er.
_ ____ ___ _

25.5
872, 775
24.3
920,182
25. 1
877, 955
24. 5
797, 516
23.8
726, 629
21.8
675, 933
21. 2
640, 360
19.9
625,836
19. 8
622, 561
19. 8 2 627, 121

300, 210
305, 036
295, 297
264, 530
247, 687
236, 007
226, 243
224, 375

20.5
20. 7
20.2
17.9
16. 6
15.8
15. 1
15.0

N o t reported.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

D enn aark

T rad e-un ion u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t funds—
u n em ployed

N um ber

1927. _______________________
1928_________________________
1929_________________________
1930_________________________
1931________________________
1932_________ _______________

:--- î

Percent

fil 705
817
631
019
508

15.5
13.7
17.9
31.7

28, 989
30,469
31,806
35, 507
39, 042

95, 770
96, 076
101,518
113, 273
138, 335

30.5
30.4
31.8
35. 6
42.8

40, 726
39, 843
38, 313
36, 205
33, 372
29, 622
28, 714
26, 400
25, 219

141, 354
139, 331
116, 762
95, 619
84, 201
73, 565
74, 756
72, 559
74 139
82,300

43. 5
42.8
35.4
28.9
25.4
21.9
21. 7
21. 4

2 P rovision al figu re.

42,
39,
53,
99,

23.6

1523

TR E N D OF EM P LO Y M E N T

S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T I N F O R E I G N C O U N T R I E S — C on tin u ed

E stonia

F inland

G erm an y

France

T rade-unionists
N um ber
unem ­
N u m ber
p loyed re­ o f un e m ­
m aining
p loyed
o n live registered
register

Y ear and date (end of
m onth)

N um ber
N u m b e r of
o f u n em ­
unem ­
p lo y e d in
p lo y e d
receipt
registered
o fb e n e fit

P ercent
w h o lly
u nem ­
p loyed

Percent
partially
u n em ­
p loyed

N um ber
unem ­
p lo y e d in
receipt o f
benefit

1927_________________________
1928__________________________
1929__________________________
1930_______________________
1931__________________________
1932.______ ___________________

3,037
2, 629
3,181
3, 054
3, 632
7,121

1,868
1,735
3,906
7,993
11, 522
17, 581

33, 549
4, 993
905
2,432
54, 587
264,845

1, 353,000
1,353,000
1, 678,824
3,144, 910
4, 573, 218
5, 579,858

8 7
8.6
13.2
22.2
34.3
43.8

3. 4
5.7
7.5
13.4
20.0
22.6

1,029, 694
1,451,137
2,158,049
2, 757, 999
2, 535, 601

1932
A u g u st. . . . _
. _______ _
Septem ber .
O ctob er______ _
_______ _
N ov em b er
.
. .
D e c e m b e r .. . ______________

3,256
5, 957
8,901
10, 715
13, 727

16,966
18, 563
19, 908
21,690
20,289

264, 253
259, 237
247, 090
255,411
277,109

5, 223,810
5,102, 750
5,109,173
5, 355,428
5, 772,852

44.0
43.6
42. 9
43.2
45.1

23.2
22. 7
22.6
22. 1
22. 7

1, 991,985
1,849, 768
1, 720, 577
1, 768,602
2, 073,101

16,511
15, 437
14, 512
11,680
4,857
2,822
1,568
2,046
3,881

23,178
20, 731
19, 083
17, 732
13, 082
11,479
13, 437
15, 269
17,134

315, 364
330,874
313,518
309,101
282, 545
256,197
239, 449
235, 590
226, 375
232,632

6, 013, 612
6,000, 958
5, 598,855
5, 331, 252
5, 038, 640
4,856, 942
4,463,841
4,124, 288
3,849, 222
3, 744,860

46.2
47.4
52.7
46.3
44. 7
(>)
(*)
26.3

23. 7
24. 1
22.2
22.6
21.6
(>)
0)
17.1

2, 372, 066
2, 455,428
2,165,891
1, 938, 910
1,801,930
1, 726, 676
1, 647,155
1, 530,452

1933
Jan u ary______________________
F eb ru ary . . .
_______
M a rch ___ __
.
_
A p r il. . . _____ _ . . . ______
M a y ______ _________ ______ __
Jun e___ _ _ _________ ______
J u ly __________________________
A u g u st. _ ______
______
Septem ber_____
. . . .
O ctob er_________________ .

Great B ritain and N orthern Ireland

Great
Britain

H u n gary

Irish Free
State

C om p u lsory insurance
Year and date (end of
m onth)

W h o lly unem p lo y e d

N u m ber

N u m ber T rade-unionists un- CornpulT em p o ra ry stop- o f persons
sory inpages
registered
surance—
w ith em num ber
ploym en t
unem exchanges Christian
ployed
Social
N u m ber
(B udaD em opest)
cratic

1927___________________
1928_____________________
1929__________________
1930_________________
1931______________
1932________________

899, 093
980, 326
994, 091
1,467, 347
2,129, 359
2, 272, 590

7.4
8.2
8.2
11.8
16.7
17.6

263, 077
309, 903
268, 400
526, 604
587, 494
573,805

2. 3
2. 6
2. 2
4.3
4.6
4.5

1,107,000
1, 355, 000
1, 281,000
2, 297,000
2, 668,000
2, 757, 000

852
951
977
1,026

15,322
21,339
27, 635
29, 772

21 100
22’ 721
20,860
22,176
25, 230
3 62,817

1932
A u gu st___ . . . ___
Septem ber
. .
O ctober_____ _______ . .
N o v e m b e r ______ ____ __
D ecem b er________________

2, 215, 704
2, 279, 779
2, 295, 500
2, 328,920
2, 314, 528

17.4
17.9
17.9
18.2
18.1

731,104
645,286
515, 405
520,105
461, 274

5. 7
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.6

2,859,828
2, 858,011
2, 747,006
2, 799,806
2, 723, 287

947
1,022
1,091
1,072
1,106

28,186
27,860
28, 654
29, 336
30,967

3 57,081
3 80,923
3 70,067
3 102, 747
3 102,619

1933
J a n u a r y ...
_____ . . . __
Febru ary
____ . . . ___
M arch
. . . . . .
A p ril. _
___ _ . . .
M a y ___
. . .
Jun e________ _____________
J u l y .. ___________________
A u gu st___ ______________
S eptem ber________________
O ctober______ ____ ______

2,422,808
2, 394,106
2, 310,062
2, 200,397
2, 128, 614
2, 029, 185
2, 000, 923
1,970, 379
1,976.870
21,974,000

18.9
18.7
18.0
17.2
16.6
15.8
15. 6
15.4
15.4
15.4

532, 640
520,808
511,309
536,882
497, 705
468,868
506,850
488, 365
398,214
2 362,000

4.2
4. 1
4.0
4. 2
3.9
3.7
4.0
3. 8
3.1
2.8

2, 903,065
2,856, 638
2, 776,184
2, 697, 634
2, 582, 879
2, 438,108
2, 442,175
2, 411,137
2, 336, 726
2,298,753

1,178
1,210
1,131
1,080
1,104
1,061
938

31,431
30,955
29,771
28, 521
26, 778
26,209
24,881

2 P rovision al figure.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3 R egistration area extended.

3 95, 577
3 88, 747
3 82, 503

3 70, 039
3 65, 296
3 60, 578
3 56, 230
3 58 ’ 037
3 71,586

1524

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

S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T I N F O R E I G N C O U N T R I E S — Con tinued

Y ear an d date (end o f m onth)

Ita ly

Japan

Latvia

N u m b e r o f u n em ­
p lo y e d registered

Official estim ates,
u n em ployed

N um ber
u n em ­
ployed
rem ain­
ing on
live reg­
ister

W h o lly
u nem ­
plo ye d

P artially
u n em ­
p loyed

N u m b er

1927.
1928.
1929
1930.
1931.
1932.

278,484
324, 422
300, 787
425,437
734,454
1, 006, 442

97,054
38,457
16,154
23, 408
28, 721
33,468

368,465
413, 248
489,168

1932
A u g u s t___________
Septem ber_______
O ctober__________
N ov em b er_______
D ecem b er____

945,972
949,408
956,357
1,038, 757
1,129,654

33, 666
37,043
32, 556
36,349
37,644

1933
Jan uary__________
F eb ru ary_________
M a rch ____________
A p r il_____________
M a y ______________
Jun e______________
J u ly ______________
A u g u s t___________
Septem ber_______
O ctob er__________

1, 225,470
1, 229,387
1, 081, 536
1,025,754
1, 000,128
883, 621
824,195
888, 560
907,463
962,868

33,003
34, 506
29,129
51,871
45,183
38,815
4 229, 217
4 259, 640

1927_
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932_

N u m ber
u nem ­
plo ye d reg­
istered b y
e m p lo y ­
m ent ex­
changes 5

U n em p loy m en t in­
surance societies—
u n em ployed

N u m ber

Percent

5.2
5.9
6.9

3,131
4, 700
5, 617
4,851
8, 709
14, 582

26,868
22,009
27, 775
41, 281
87,659
162,638

9.0
6.9
7.5
9.7
18. 2
30.1

509, 580
505,969
503,958
484,213
463,403

7.1
7.0
7.0
6.7
6.4

9,650
8,762
13,806
17, 621
17, 247

116, 524
126, 510
128,961
142, 554
188,252

22.9
24.9
25.2
27. 6
31.5

444,032
438, 250
424, 287
414, 392
429, 295
428,708
418,177

6.1
6.1
5.8
5. 7
5.9
5.9
5.8

14,777
13, 886
13,087
10, 377
5,993
3,769
3,690
3,930
3,017

226, 709
187,652
165, 367
147, 531
123, 447
117,805
118,346
113,988
116, 237
119,092

37.6
31.1
27.3
24.3
25.3
22. 5
22. 6
21.9
22. 4
23.0

N e w Zea­
land

Y ea r and date (end o f m on th )

Percent

N etherlands

N o rw a y

T rade-unionists (10
u n io n s ) u n e m ­
p lo y e d

N um ber

8, 561
6,502
5,902
7,175

P oland

R u m ania

N u m ber
N u m ber
u n em ­
u n em ­
p lo y e d reg­
p lo y e d re­
istered
m
aining
on
w ith em ­
liv e regis­
p loym en t
ter
offices

P ercent

N u m b er
u nem ­
p loyed re­
m aining on
live reg­
ister

23,889
21, 759
19,089
19, 353
27,479
33,831

165, 340
125, 552
129, 450
226, 659
299, 502
255, 582

10,373
7,288
25, 338
35,851
38, 890

2, 895
5, 037
41,430
51, 549

14, 790

25.4
19.2
15.4
16.6
23.3
30.8

56, 332
55,855
54, 549
52, 477
52, 533

13,084
14, 358
15, 512
16,717
20, 735

26.9
29.3
31.6
34.2
42.4

27, 543
31,431
35,082
38,807
41, 571

187, 537
147,166
146,982
177,459
220, 245

29, 654
21,862
28,172
30,651
38,471

51, 698
49,971
51,035
53,171
55, 477
56, 563
57,169
56,750
2 56, 694

19, 249
19, 673
18,992
17,678
15, 335
13, 532
12, 995
14, 204

39.3
40.0
38. 5
35.7
30.9
27.2
26.0
28.4

40, 642
42,460
42,437
39,846
35, 803
30, 394
25,918
27, 459
32,848
35,223

264, 258
287, 219
279, 779
258, 954
235, 356
224, 566
213, 806
204, 364
200,030
211,926

44,797
45, 371
44, 294
37, 532
30, 336
24, 685
21,084
20,173
17,551

1932
A u gu st___
Septem ber.
O ctober. __
N ovem b er .
D ecem ber.
1933
J a n u a ry -..
F eb ru a ry ..
M a r c h ____
A p ril_____
M a y ______
Ju n e______
J u ly______
A u gu st___
Septem ber.
O ctober. __

2 P rovisional figure.
4 N ew series, coverage extended in m id d le o f year 1932.
5 Includes n ot on ly w orkers w h o lly u n em p loyed bu t also those in term itten tly e m p lo y e d .


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1525

TEE N D OF E M P LO Y M E N T
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T I N F O R E I G N C O U N T R I E S — C on tinued

Saar T e r­
ritory

Y ea r an d date (end of
m onth)

N um ber
o f u nem ­
ployed
regis­
tered

Sw eden

Sw itzerland

Trade-unionists
u n em ployed

U n em p loy m en t funds

W h o lly u n em ­
p lo y e d

P artially u n e m ­
p lo y e d

N um ber Percent
N u m ber Percent N u m ber

1927________________________
1928________________________
1929________________________
1930________________________
1931________________________
1932________________________

6, 591
9, 286
20,963
41,373

31, 076
29, 716
32,621
42,016
64,815
89,922

12. 0
10. 6
10. 7
12. 2
17. 2
22.8

1932
A u gust ___
___________
S e p t e m b e r . . _________ . .
O ctober. . . . ______ _
N o v e m b e r . ________ . . .
D e ce m b e r .. __________ .

38,858
40, 320
40, 728
41,962
44,311

80,975
86, 709
92,868
97,666
129,002

20.0
20.7
22.2
23.8
31.4

36,
38,
42,
50,
66,

600
070
300
500
053

7.6
7.8
8.7
10.3
13.3

1933
January .
. . . .
....
F eb ru a ry ___. . . _
M a r c h ______
. . . __
A p ril___________ ______
M ay _
. . . .
Ju n e___ ______ ______ ______
J u ly _______________________
A u g u st. . .
. . . .
S e p te m b e r ..

45, 700
45,101
42,258
40,082
37, 341
36,492
35,053
34, 840
35,287

120,156
118,251
121,456
110,055
93,360
89, 485
83, 771
76, 686
77,013

28.8
27.4
28.4
26.1
22.2
21.1
20.0
19.7
19.6

83,400
81, 800
60, 698
49,100
43, 600
40,958
39, 200
39, 200
38, 578

17.0
16.5
12.0
9.8
8. 7
8.0
7.8
7.8
7.3

21719°— 33------17


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Y u go­
slavia

2. 7
2. 1
1. 8
3. 4
5. 9
9 1

N u m ber
o f unem ­
ployed
regis­
tered

Percent

2 0
1 i
1 7
7 2
12 1
12.2

14, 761

53, 400
52,967
52,100
55, 700
59, 089

11.1
10.8
10.6
11.3
11.9

11,940
10,985
10, 474
11, 670
14, 248

56,000
57,400
52,575
47, 400
44,100
40,431
37, 500
38, 400

11.4
11.6
10.4
9.6
8.9
7.9
7.5
7.6

23, 574
25, 346
22,609
19, 671
15,115
14,492
11,710
9,841
10,043

RETAIL PRICES
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor has since 1913 collected, compiled, and issued, as of the
15th of each month, retail prices of food. From time to time the
work has been expanded by including additional cities and articles.
The Bureau now covers 51 localities well scattered throughout the
continental United States and also the Territory of Hawaii. Retail
prices are secured for 45 of the principal articles of food.
In order that current information may be available of tener, the
Bureau is now collecting these prices every 2 weeks. The plan was
inaugurated during August 1933 and prices are being collected every
other Tuesday.
Retail prices of coal were collected on January 15 and July 15 for the
years 1913 through 1919 from the cities covered in the retail-food
study. Beginning with June 1920, prices have been collected on the
15th of each month. No change has been made in the dates for the
collection of retail prices of coal. A summary of prices and index
numbers for earlier years and for current months is shown in a section
of this publication.

T

Retail Prices of Food in October 1933

ETAIL prices of food were collected by the Bureau for two periods
during the month, namely, October 10 and 24. Prices were re­
ceived from the same dealers and the same cities were covered as have
been included in the Bureau’s reports for former periods. For Au­
gust 29, however, a representative number of reports was not received
from some of the cities, and average prices for the United States as a
whole for this date are not strictly comparable with average prices
shown for other dates. The index numbers, however, have been ad­
justed by using the percent of change in identical cities and are,
therefore, comparable with indexes of other periods.
Three commodities have been added to the Bureau’s list of food
items beginning with August 29. These items are rye bread, canned
peaches, and canned pears. Only average prices can be shown for
these articles as corresponding prices for the year 1913 are not avail­
able for the purpose of index numbers.
Data for the tabular statements shown in this report are compiled
from simple averages of the actual selling prices as reported to the
Bureau by retail dealers in the 51 cities. Comparable information
for months and years, 1913 to 1928, inclusive, is shown in Bulletins
Nos. 396 and 495; and by months and years, 1929 to 1932, inclusive,
in the January, February, and April 1933 issues of this publication.
Indexes of all articles, combined, or groups of articles combined,
both for cities and for the United States, are weighted according to

R

1526

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

RETAIL PRICES

1527

the average family consumption. Consumption figures used since
January 1921 are given in Bulletin 495 (p. 13). Those used for prior
dates are given in Bulletin 300 (p. 61). The list of articles included
in the groups, cereals, meats, and dairy products, will be found in
the May 1932 issue of this publication.
Table 1 shows index numbers of the total weighted retail cost of
important food articles and of three groups of these articles; viz,
cereals, meats, and dairy products, in the United States, 51 cities
combined, by years, 1913 to 1932, inclusive, and on specified days of
the months of 1932 and 1933. These index numbers are based on the
year 1913 as 100.
T able 1.—I N D E X N U M B E R S O F T H E T O T A L R E T A I L C O S T O F F O O D A N D O F C E R E A L S
M E A T S , A N D D A I R Y P R O D U C T S I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S B Y Y E A R S , 1913 T O 1932
I N C L U S I V E , A N D O N S P E C I F I E D D A T E S O F E A C H M O N T H , J A N . 15, 1932, T O O C T 24.
1933, I N C L U S I V E
’
’
[1913 = 100]

Year

1913_____________
1914_____________
1915 ____________
1916. ___________
1 9 1 7 .....................
1918____________
1919_____________
1920____- ________
1921____________
1922 ___________
1923_ ___________
1924_____________
1925_____________
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930_________
1931_____________
1932 ___________

A ll food C ere a ls M eats

D a iry
p ro d ­
ucts

100.0
102.4
101.3
113.7
146.4
168.3
185. 9
203.4
153.3
141.6
146. 2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
121.3
102.1

100.0
106.7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
160.4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167.2
164.1
158.0
135.9
121.1

100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
150.2
163.0
171.3
169.9
179.2
188.4
175.8
147.0
116.0

100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147.6
142.8
147.1
145.5
148.7
150.0
148.6
136.5
114.6
96.6

109.3
105.3
105.0

126.4
125.0
124.3

123.4
117.3
118.9

106.5
102.9
101.9

1932
Jan. 1 5 -. ___ F eb . 15_________
M a r. 15__________

Month

A p r. 15____
M a y 15____
June 15___
J u ly 15____
A u g. 15____
Sept. 15___
Oet. 15____
N o v . 15____
D e c. 15____

All food C e re a ls M eats

103. 7
101.3

D a iry
p rod ­
ucts

100.3
100.4
99.4
98.7

122.9
122.6
122.5
121.2
120.4
119.2
119.0
118.0
114.8

118.6
115.3
113.4
122.6
120.1
119.2
114.6
109.1
103.2

97.4
94.3
92.6
91.4
93.1
93.5
93.8
93.9
95.9

94.8
90.9
90.5
90.4
93.7
96.7
104.8
106.7
107.1
107.0
107.4
107.3
106.6

112.3
112.0
112.3
112.8
115.8
117.2
128.0
137.8
138.8
140.2
142.7
143.8
143.3

99.9
99.0
100.1
98.8
100. 1
103.7
103.5
105.7
106.9
104.4
107.8
107.3
106.3

93.3
90.3
88.3
88.7
92.2
93.5
97.7
96.5
97.5
97.8
97.9
98.6
98.4

100.1
101.0
100.8

1933
Jan. 15_____
F eb . 15____
M a r. 15____
A p r. 15____
M a y 15____
June 15____
J u ly 15____
A u g. 15____
A u g . 29____
Sept. 12____
Sept. 26____
O ct. 10_____
O ct. 24_____

The following chart shows the trend in the retail cost of all food
and of the classified groups, cereals, meats, and dairy products in the
United States (51 cities) from January 15, 1929, to October 24,
1933, inclusive.
Table 2 shows index numbers of the total weighted retail cost of
important food articles and of cereals, meats, and dairy products in
the United States based on the year 1913 as 100, and changes on
October 24, 1933, compared with October 15, 1932, and September
26 and October 10, 1933.
Table 3 shows the average retail prices of principal food articles
for the United States, and index numbers for 23 of these articles based
on the year 1913, for October 15, 1932, and September 12 and 26
and October 10 and 24, 1933.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1528
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

R E T A IL

1529

PRIC ES

T able 2 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S O F T H E T O T A L W E I G H T E D R E T A I L C O S T O F F O O D A N D
OF C E R E A L S , M E A T S , A N D D A I R Y P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S O N S P E C I­
F I E D D A T E S , A N D P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E , O C T . 24, 1933, C O M P A R E D W I T H O C T . 15,
1932, A N D S E P T . 26 A N D O C T . 10, 1933

Index 1913=100
P ercent o f change O ct. 24,
1933, com pared w ith —
A rticle

O ct. 15

D a iry p ro d u cts _______________

1933

1932

Sept. 12 Sept. 26

O ct. 10

O ct. 24

107.4
142.7
107.8
97.9

107.3
143.8
107.3
98.6

106.6
143.3
106.3
98.4

100.4
119.0
114.6
93.8

107.0
140.2
104.4
97.8

O ct. 15, Sept. 26,
1932
1933

+ 6 .2
+ 2 0 .4
-7 .2
+ 4 .9

O ct. 10,
1933

-0 .7
+ 0 .4
-1 .4
+ 0 .5

-0 .7
-0 .3
- 0 .9
-0 .2

T able 3 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S A N D I N D E X N U M B E R S O F P R I N C I P A L A R T I ­
C L E S OF FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D
O C T . 10 A N D 24, 1933

S T A T E S O N O C T . 15, 1932, S E P T . 12 A N D 26, A N D

Index n um ber 1 (1913=100)

A verage price

A rticle

Oct.
15

1933

1932

1932

Sept. Sept.
12
26

O ct.
10

O ct.
24

Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents
33.1
p o u n d -.
Sirloin steak.........................
28.9
R o u n d steak__________:____________ d o —
23.7
R ib roast.......................................... . - - d o —
17.3
C h u ck roast_________ ______ _______ d o —
11.3
Plate beef........ ........... ........................... d o —
21.5
P ork c h o p s __________ _____ ________ d o —
23.2
B acon , s lic e d .------------ ------------------- d o —
34.0
H am , s lic e d -.............................. ......... d o —
22.1
L a m b , leg o f_____________ _____ ____d o —
23.1
H ens___________ __________ ________ d o —
20.0
Salm on, red, canned------------- 16-oz. can ..
10.7
M ilk , fresh_______________________ qu a rt,.
6.1
M ilk , evaporated--------------- 1 4 H -oz. can ..
26.7
B u tter.....................
— round14.3
M argarine_________________________ d o —
22.6
Cheese__________________ __________ d o —
9.0
L a rd ___ ____________________ _____ - - d o —
19.1
V egetable lard su bstitu te-------------- d o —
34.6
Eggs, s trictly fresh-----------------------dozen,.
6.7
Bread, w h e a t .----------------------------p o u n d .
Bread, r y e —.......................... ............... d o —
3.1
F lo u r .............. ........................... - ........... d o —
3.7
C ornm eal—...........—................. - ........ d o —
7.4
R olled oats------------ --------- -------------- d o —
8.5
C orn flakes_________________________ 8-oz.package.
22.4
W h ea t cereal______________________ 28-oz.packa
ge.
15.1
M a ca ron i_______________
- - .p o u n d .
6.4
R i c e _______________________________ d o —
4.9
Beans, n a v y _________ ______ - ......... - d o —
1.5
P o ta to e s ........... ................ - ........... „ . d o —
2.8
O nion s............... ................. - ........... — d o —
2.4
-d o —
C a bbage............ ....................
6.9
P ork and bean s--------------------- 16-oz. can .
10.3
C orn, canned________________ no. 2 can .
12.6
Peas, ca n n ed -----------------------------------d o —9.0
T om atoes, ca n n ed --------- ---------do—
5.1
S u g a r .................
poun d.
68.5
T e a ________________________________ -'do—
30.3
C offee........... .............- ..................... — d o —
8.9
P r u n e s ............. - ----------------------------- d o . . .
10.7
R a is in s .___________________________ d o . . .
21.7
B ananas__________________ _______ do ze n .
30.5
O ranges..... ............- ................. ............. d o . . .
Peaches, can n ed____________ no. 2 L can .
,
Pears, can n ed................
do—

30.1
30.1
26.2 26.1
20.9 21.0
15.4
15.3
9.9
9.9
21.7 23.8
23.1 23.2
32.4 32.5
22.3 22.2
20.4 20.9
20.4 20.6
11.0
11.0
6.8
6.9
27.9 28.1
13.6 13.5
23.5 23.5
9.6
9.6
19.0 19.0
28.3 30.3
7.9
7.7
8.6
8.5
4.9
4.9
4.0
4.0
6.5
6.4
8.7
8.7
23.7 23.7
15.7
15.6
6.7
6.6
6.3
6.3
2.8
3.1
3.7
3.9
3.5
3.6
6. S
6.8
10.6
10.5
13.3
13.3
9.8
9.6
5.7
5.7
66. C 66.4
26.7 26.6
10.2
10.1
9.4
9.4
25.1 25.4
28.7 29.9
17.1
17.0
20.5 20.4

29.9
25.9
21.0
15.3
10.1
23.7
23.3
32.3
21.9
20.5
20.8
11.1
6.8
28.3
13.4
23.4
9.6
19.0
32.5
8.0
8.6
4.9
3.9
6.5
8.7
23.9
15.8
6.8
6.2
2.5
3.5
3.3
6.8
10.8
13.5
9.8
5.7
66.8
26.6
10.4
9.4
24.6
29.8
17.1
20.6

29.5
25.8
20.8
15.3
10. 1
23.1
23.3
32.0
21.5
20.5
20.7
11.1
6.8
28.2
13.3
23.2
9.5
19.0
33.4
8.0
8.6
4.8
3.9
6.5
8.8
24.0
15.8
6.8
6.0
2.3
3.4
3.2
6.9
10.9
13.5
9.9
5.7
66.8
26.6
10.6
9.4
24.7
29.7
17.2
20.5

O ct.
15

130.3
129.6
119.7
108.1
93.4
102.4
85.9
126.4
116.9
108.5

Sept. Sept.
12
26

118.5
117.5
105. 6
95.6
81.8
103.3
85.6
120.4
118.0
95.8

118.5
117.0
106.1
96.3
81.8
113.3
85.9
120.8
117.5
98.1

O ct.
24

117.7
116.1
106.1
95.6
83.5
112.9
86.3
120.1
115.9
96.2

116.1
115.7
105.1
95.6
83.5
110.0
86.3
119.0
113.8
96.2

120.2 123.6 123.6 124.7 124.7
69.7

72.8

73.4

73.9

73.6

102.3 106.3 106. 3 105.9 105.0
57.0 60.8 60.8 60.8 60.1
100.3 82.0 87.8 94.2 96.8
119.6 137.5 141.1 142.9 142.9
93.9 148.5 148.5 148.5 145.5
123.3 133.3 133.3 130.0 130.0

73.6

75.9

77.0

78.2

78.2

88.2 182.4 164.7 147.1 135.3

92.7 103.6 103.6 103.6 103.6
125.9 121.3 122.1 122.8 122.8
101.7 89.6 89.3 89.3 89.3

l N o prices w ere secured in 1913 for the articles for w h ich index n u m bers are n o t show n.


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

O ct.
10

1530

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

Table 4 shows index numbers of the weighted retail cost of food for
the United States and 39 cities, based on the year 1913 as 100. The
percents of change on October 24, 1933, compared with October
15, 1932, and September 26 and October 10, 1933, are also given for
these cities and the United States and for 12 additional cities from
which prices were not secured in 1913.
T able 4 — I N D E X N U M B E R S O P T H E T O T A L W E I G H T E D R E T A I L C O S T O P F O O D B Y
C I T IE S A N D F O R T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S , O N S P E C I F I E D D A T E S A N D P E R C E N T O F
C H A N G E O C T . 24, 1933, C O M P A R E D W I T H O C T . 15, 1932, A N D S E P T . 26 A N D O C T . 10,
1933

In dex 1913 = 100
Percent of change O ct. 24,
1933, com pared w ith —
C ity

1933

1932

O ct. 15, Sept. 26,
1932
1933

O ct. 10,
1933

O ct. 15

Sept. 12

Sept. 26

O ct. 10

O ct. 24

U nited States---------

100.4

107.0

107.4

107.3

106.6

+ 6 .2

-0 .8

- 0 .7

A tla n ta ____________
B a ltim ore-................
B irm in gh am . ..........
B oston _____________
B rid gep ort_________
B u ffalo_____________
B u tte ______________
Charleston, S .C ----C h icago____________
C in cin n ati_________
C levelan d__________
C olu m bu s_________
D allas______________
D e n v e r____________
D etroit_____________
Fall R i v e r .......... ..
H o u s to n ___________
In dian ap olis----------Jacksonville_______
K ansas C i t y ----------L ittle R o c k ________
L os A ngeles________
L ou isv ille__________
M an ch ester-----------M e m p h is __________
M ilw a u k ee.......... .
M in n ea p olis_______
M o b ile _____________
N ew ark ____________
N e w H a v e n _______
N e w Orleans______
N ew Y o r k -------------N o rfo lk ......................
O m aha______ ______
P eoria______________
P h iladelph ia_______
P ittsbu rgh _________
Portland, M a i n e ...
Portland, O reg____
P rovid en ce________
R ic h m o n d -------------R och ester__________
St. L ou is___________
St. P a u l____________
Salt L a ke C it y ------San F ran cisco_____
Savannah..................
S cranton___________
Seattle_____________
Springfield, 111.........
W ash in gton ..............

97.7
104.6
99.9
102.6

105.4
110.5
103.0
108.6

104.6
110.8
102.9
108.5

104.1
113.4
103.6
108.4

104.7
112.9
103.8
107.4

104.5

112.6

113.0

112.1

111.8

103.3
109.5
96.3
93.8

108.0
111.0
106.1
105.6

108.5
111.0
106.9
106.0

107.9
110.0
108.6
105.5

107.3
110.0
107.6
102.4

+ 7 .2
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .9
+ 4 .6
+ 3 .7
+ 6 .9
+. 5
+ 3 .9

95.4
94.7
9^.2
98.9

103.8
101.2
108.8
105.5

103.7
100.1
109.4
106.9

102.5
100.5
107.8
106.7

103.5
100.6
105.4
105.6

+. 1
+ 1 .9
+ .9
-1 .0
- 1 .2
- 1 .1
-1 . 7
- 1 .1
-.9
+. 6
-3 .3
- 1 .9
- .2
+ .5
- 3 .7
-1 .2

+ .6
-.5
+ .2
-1 .0
- 1 .2
-.3
-.6
-.5
(0
-1 .0
- 2 .9
- 1 .7
+ 1 .0
+ •1
-2 .3

+ .9

94.4
92.6
99.3
91.3
92.5
91.7
101.1
92.4
102.0
98.5

104.4
99.8
105.7
96.9
101.9
105.8
108.5
98.9
109.8
104.4

101.9
101.5
105.0
97.9
102.1
104.2
108.5
100.3
108.8
106.8

101.2
99.7
103.5
96.7
101.3
103.6
108.3
99.6
107.0
106.9

99.7
98.8
101.7
96.7
101.8
101.9
107.2
98.5
107.9
105.6

+ .3
-1 .4

105.3
106.4
99.1
109.8

106.5
112.3
107.4
112.4

109.1
113.1
107.0
115.2

109.6
113.7
106.2
116.3

108.5
112.0
105.9
114.4

93.3

98.6

101.9

101.1

100.2

105. 1
99.1

110.1
103.9

111.0
105.2

110.9 '
105.3

110.8
104.8

95.1
101.6
104.7

96.7
109.0
110.9

95.9
110.4
111.1

110.1

112.0

96.0
109.1
110.3

99.3

110.2

109.1

ÌÒ7.9

107.6

87.2
106.3

90.1
110.2

91.0
109.1

91.5
108.8

90.9
110.3

105.9
97.9

113.4
105.3

114.5
104.1

113.8
103.3

114.5
103.6

H aw aii:
H o n o lu lu ______
O ther localities.
¡N o change.


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

107.4

113.3

114.3

95.9

114.8

115.0

+ 1 1 .7
+ 9 .2
+ 1 1 .7
+ 8 .5
+ 6 .2
+ 1 4 .3
+ 6 .8
+ 8 .7
+ 5 .6
+ 6 .7
+ 2 .4
+ 6 .0
+ 1 0 .0
+ 1 1 .2
+ 6 .0
+ 6 .6
+ 5 .8
+ 7 .1
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .0
+ 5 .2
+ 6 .9
+ 4 .2
+ 3 .7
+ 7 .4
+ 9 .0
+ 5 .5
+ 5 .8
+ 3 .9
+ .9
+ 7 .4
+ 5 .3
+ 9 .1
+ 8 .4
+ 9 .1
+ 4 .3
+ 3 .7
+ 8 .0
+ 8 .1
+ 5 .8

1 .0

-1 .8
(0
+ .4
-1 .6

-.9

+ .9

- 1 .1
-2 .0
- .6

-1 .3
+ .1

1.1
1 .0

- 1 .5
-.3
-1 .6
+ 1 .4
-.9
+ 1 .9
0)
-.4
+ .3
+ .1
-.9
- 1 .6
- .4
- .3
+ .4
- .7
+ 1 .3
- 1 .1

-

-.7
+ 1 .9
- 1 .7
+ 1 .3
- .2
-.3
0)
+ .1
-

1.1

+ 6 .6

-.8
-1 .4
- 1 .3
- .4
- .2
+ 1 .1
- .7
-. 1
-.5
- 2 .3

+ 7 .1

+ .6

+ 2 .3
+ 3 .5

-

- 2 .1
- 2 .7
- 3 .2
-1 .2
- .4
- 2 .2
-1 .2
- 1 .7

-.9

-

1 .0

- 1 .1

-

1 .0

+ .6

+ .3
-.6
+ .1

+ .9
+ .6

1531

RETAIL PRICES

Retail Prices of Coal on October 15, 1933

ETAIL prices of coal as of the 15th of each month are secured
from each of the 51 cities from which retail food prices are
obtained. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers but
do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar or bins where an
extra handling is necessary.
Average prices for the United States for bituminous coal and for
stove and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite are computed
from the quotations received from retail dealers in all cities where
these coals are sold for household use. The prices shown for bitumi­
nous coal are averages of prices of the several kinds. 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.
Table 1 shows for the United States both average prices and
index numbers of Pennsylvania white-ash anthracite, stove and
chestnut sizes, and of bituminous coal on January 15 and July 15,
1913 to 1931, and for each month from January 15, 1932, to October
15, 1933. An average price for the year 1913 has been made from
the averages for January and July of that year. The average price
for each month has been divided by this average price for the year
1913 to obtain the index number.

R

T able 1.— A V E R A G E

R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF C O A L F O R T H E
U N I T E D S T A T E S B A S E D O N T H E Y E A R 1913 A S 100, O N T H E F I F T E E N T H O F S P E C I ­
F I E D M O N T H S F R O M J A N U A R Y 1913 T O O C T O B E R 1933
Pen nsylvania
an­
thracite,
w hite
ash—
Stove

Year and m on th

Chestnut

In ­ A v ­
A v­
dex
erage
erage
1913
price
price
=100

Dois.

Dois.

In ­
Av­
dex
In ­
erage
1913
dexprice
= 100
1913
= 100

1Insufficient data.

Y ear and m on th

Stove

Dois.
January
J u ly ------------: Jan uary___
J u ly ________
: January------J u ly ________
: January___
J u ly ------------: J a n u a r y ... _
F e b ru a ry ___
M a r c h ____
A p ril M a y ________
Ju n e________
J u ly ________
A u g u st_____
S e p te m b e r.O ctober
N o v e m b e r .D e ce m b e r .-: J a n u a r y ___
F ebru ary
M arch.
A p ril____ .
M a y . _____
Ju n e.
J u ly ________
A u g u st-------S e p te m b e r ..
O cto b e r. -._

B itu m i­
nous

Chestnut

In ­
Av­
Av­
dex
erage
erage
1913
price
price
= 100

Dois.

1913: A v . for y r . _ 7. 73 100.0 7.91 100.0 5.43 100.0
Jan uary____ 7. 99 103,4 8. 15 103.0 5.48 100.8
J u ly ________ 7. 46 96.6 7.68 97.0 5. 39 99.2
1914: Jan uary____ 7. 80 100.9 8.00 101.0 5. 97 109. 9
J u ly ________ 7.60 98.3 7. 78 98.3 5. 46 100.6
1915: Jan uary____ 7.83 101.3 7. 99 101.0 5.71 105.2
J u ly ________ 7. 54 97.6 7. 73 97.7 5. 44 100. 1
1916: January 7. 93 102.7 8.13 102.7 5.69 104.8
J u ly ________ 8.12 105.2 8. 28 104.6 5. 52 101. 6
1917: Jan uary— .
9.29 120.2 9.40 118.8 6. 96 128. 1
J u ly ________ 9.08 117.5 9.16 115.7 7.21 132.7
1918: Jan uary___
9. 88 127.9 10.03 126.7 7. 68 141. 3
J u ly ________ 9.96 128.9 10. 07 127.3 7.92 145.8
1919: Jan uary___ 11.51 149.0 11.61 146.7 7.90 145.3
J u ly ________ 12.14 157.2 12.17 153.8 8.10 149. 1
1920: January — 12. 59 162.9 12. 77 161.3 8.81 162.1
J u ly ________ 14.28 184. 9 14. 33 181.1 10. 55 194. 1
1921: Jan uary____ 15.99 207.0 16.13 203.8 11. 82 217.6
J u ly ________ 14.90 192.8 14.95 188. 9 10. 47 192.7
1922: Jan uary____ 14. 98 193.9 15.02 189.8 9.89 182.0
J u ly ________ 14. 87 192.4 14.92 188.5 9. 49 174.6
1923: Jan uary____ 15. 43 199.7 15. 46 195.3 11.18 205.7
J u ly ________ 15.10 195.5 15. 05 190. 1 10.04 184.7
1924: Jan uary____ 15. 77 204. 1 15.70 199.1 9. 75 179.5
J u ly ________ 15. 24 197. 2 15.10 190.7 8. 94 164.5
1925: Jan uary____ 15. 45 200.0 15. 37 194. 2 9. 24 170.0
J u ly ________ 15. 14 196.0 14. 93 188. 6 8. 61 158.5
9. 74 179.3
1926: J a n u a r y --. _ i 1)
<>)
0)
<>>
J u ly ________ 15. 43 199.7 15. 19 191.9 .8. 70 160. 1
1927: January - - 15. 66 202.7 15. 42 194.8 9. 96 183. 3
J u ly ________ 15.15 196.1 14.81 187. 1 8. 91 163.9


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

Pen nsylvania an­
thracite,
w h ite
ash—

B itu m i­
nous

Av­
In ­
dex
erage
dex
1913
price
1913
= 100
= 100

Dois.

15. 44 199.8 15. 08 190. 6
14.91 192.9 14. 63 184.9
15. 38 199.1 15. 06 190.3
14. 94 193.4 14. 63 184.8
15. 33 198. 4 15. 00 189. 5
14.84 192. 1 14. 53 183.6
15.12 195.8 14. 88 188.1
14. 61 189. 1 14. 59 184. 3
15.00 194.2 14. 97 189.1
14.98 193. 9 14. 95 188.9
14.54 188.2 14. 45 182. 6
13. 62 176.3 13. 46 170.0
13.30 172. 2 13. 11 165.6
13. 36 173. 0 13. 16 166.3
13. 37 173.0 13. 16 166.2
13. 50 174.8 13. 28 167. 9
13. 74 177. 9 13. 52 170.8
13. 79 178.5 13. 58 171. 5
13.83 178.9 13. 60 171.9
13. 87 179. 5 13. 65 172.5
13. 82 178.9 13. 61 171. 9
13. 75 178.0 13. 53 171.0
13. 70 177.3 13. 48 170.4
13. 22 171.1 13. 00 164.3
12.44 161.0 12. 25 154.8
12. 18 157.6 12. 00 151.6
12. 47 161.3 12. 26 155.0
12.85 166.3 12. 65 159.8
13. 33 172.5 13. 12 165.8
13.45 174.1 13. 23 167.2

Dois.
9. 30
8.69
9.09
8. 62
9. 11
8. 65
8. 87
8. 09
8.17
8.14
8.01
7. 85
7.60
7. 53
7.50
7. 52
7.54
7.60
7.59
7. 51
7. 46
7. 45
7. 43
7. 37
7.17
7.18
7.64
7. 77
7.94
8.08

171.1
159.9
167.2
158.6
167.6
159.1
163.2
148.9
150.3
149.7
147.4
144.5
139.9
138.6
138.0
138.4
138.7
139.9
139. 7
138.3
137.3
137. 0
136.7
135.6
132.0
132.1
140.7
143.0
146.0
148.7

IT U M IN 0 U 5

AND

PL

OF

P R IC E S
OF C O A L
(st o v e
a n d

a n t h r a c it e

1 9 1 3

250

R E T A IL

n n s y l v a n ia

1532

NUMBERS

in d e x
B

-

S E l * 1 1 - AM N l IAL.LV, 1913 TO I9E8, INCL.

c h e s t n u t

)

1 0 0

MONTHLY, JA N U A R Y

I9 E 9

TO

DATE

250

s r >V E
C H : s n lo r
B IT OMI 4 0 U

/
\l
V

/

.200

V

\
V'

V
\u

V
V ^ ''^ C H E S
v

VVV

150

r n o r

A

;

\
b it u i

150

/ t

/
100

100

50

SO
N

("

A
H
'i s ’ |6 ’ i t '18
K 5 U F flC lt N r DATA


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

19

'2 0

21

22

'2 3

'2 4

'2 5

'2 6

27

'2 8

^

F M A M J J

192.9

A 6 0 M D J

F M A M J J A 5

1930

0 H D J

r f 1 A r i J J A 5 0

1931

MDJ

F H A M J J A S

I93Z

0 N D J F H A M J J

1933

A S 0

Ri

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

^ .S T O V /E .

200

R E T A IL

1533

PRIC ES

The preceding chart shows the trend in retail prices of stove
and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite and of bituminous coal
in the United States. The trend is shown semiannually for the
years 1913 to 1928, inclusive, and by months from January 15, 1929,
to October 15,1933, inclusive.
Table 2 shows average retail prices per ton of 2,000 pounds and
index numbers (1913-= 100) for the United States on October 15,
1932, and September 15 and October 15, 1933, and percentage change
in the year and in the month.
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E

R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF C O A L F O R T H E
U N I T E D S T A T E S ; A N D P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E O N O C T . 15, 1933, C O M P A R E D W I T H
O C T . 15, 1932, A N D S E P T . 15, 1933

A verage retail price and index
num ber

P ercent o f change
O ct. 15,1933, co m ­
pared w ith —

A rticle

P en nsylva nia anthracite:
Stove:
A verage price per 2,000 p o u n d s_____ _____ __
Index (1913-100)
C hestnut:
A verage price per 2,000 pou n ds _____________
In dex (1913-100)
B itu m in ou s:
A verage price per 2,000 poun ds ____________ ____
In dex (1913—100)

O ct. 15,
1932

Sept. 15,
1933

O ct. 15,
1933

O ct. 15,
1932

Sept. 15,
1933

$13. 79
178.5

$13. 33
172.5

$13.45
174.1

-2 .5

+ 0 .9

$13. 58
171.5

$13.12
165.8

$13. 23
167.2

-2 .6

+ .8

$7.60
139.9

$7. 94
146.0

$8.08
148.7

+ 6 .3

+ 1 .8

Table 3 shows average retail prices of coal for household use by
cities on October 15, 1932, and September 15 and October 15, 1933,
as reported by local dealers in each city.
table

3 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O F C O A L 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 , O C T . 15, 1932, A N D S E P T . 15 A N D O C T . 15, 1933, B Y C I T IE S

1932

1932

1933
C ity and kin d o f coal

C ity and kin d of coal

Atlanta, G a.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
B altim ore, M d .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e _____________________
C h estn u t_________________
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
L o w v olatile___________
R u n o f m ine:
H igh volatile----------------B irm in gham , A la.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
B oston , M ass.:
P en nsylvania anthracite:
S t o v e .. . __________ ___
C hestnut ------- -------------B ridgeport, C on n.:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e _____________________
C h estn u t___ ______ ___
B u ffalo, N .Y .:
P en nsylvania anthracite:
S t o v e .. . _____________ .
Chestnut
______________
B u tte, M o n t.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.


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

1933

O ct.
15

Sept.
15

Oct.
15

$6.20

$6. 52

$6.92

13. 25
12.75

13.00
12. 75

13.25
13.00

8.75

9.06

9. 25

6. 86

7. 39

7.50

5.13

5.38

6.00

13. 75
13. 50

13.75
13.50

13.75
13.50

13.00
13.00

13.75
13. 75

13.75
13. 75

12. 49
12. 24

12. 85
12.60

12.85
12.60

9.75

9.70

9.70

Oct.
15

Charleston, S .C .:
B itu m in ou s, p repared sizes. $8. 67
Chicago, 111. :
P en nsylva nia anthracite:
S to v e _____________________ 15. 75
C h e stn u t. .
--------------- 15.51
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
7.20
H ig h vo la tile ----------------9. 98
L o w v o la t ile .-------------R u n o f m in e:
7.17
L o w v o la tile . --------C incinnati, O hio:
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
5. 25
H igh v o la tile .---------- . .
7. 50
L o w vo la tile___________
C leveland, O hio:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e _____________________ 13. 69
C h estn u t----------- -------------- 13. 44
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
5.64
H igh vo la tile___________
8. 36
L o w v o la tile___________

Sept.
15

O ct.
15

$8.59

$9.92

13. 91
13.70

13.98
13.77

7. 99
10.44

8.09
10.57

7.70

7.78

5.54
7.38

6.06
7.83

12.44
12.19

12.44
12.19

5.82
8.82

6.34
9.07

1534

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

T able 3 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O F C O A L P E R T O N O F 2,000 P U N D S , F O R H O U S E ­
H O L D U S E , O C T . 15, 1932, A N D S E P T . 15 A N D O C T . 15, 1933, B Y C I T I E S — C o n tin u e d

1932

1933

C it y and kin d of coal
O ct.
15

C olum bus, O hio:
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile___________
L o w v olatile___________
D allas, T ex .:
Arkansas anthracite, e g g . ..
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
D enver, C olo.:
C olorado anthracite:
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed
Stove, 3 and 5 m i x e d ___
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
D etroit, M ic h .:
Pen nsylvania anthracite:
S to v e . .
______________
C h estn ut_________ ______ _
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile___________
L o w v olatile........... .........
R u n o f m ine:
L o w v olatile___________
F all R iver, M ass.:
Pen nsylvania anthracite:
Stove . . ____________
C h e s t n u t _____
_______
H ouston, T ex .:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Indianapolis, In d .:
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H ig h volatile___________
L o w v olatile___________
R u n o f m in e:
L o w vola tile___________
Jacksonville, F la.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
K ansas C ity , M o .:
Arkansas anthracite:
F u rn ace__________ ______
S tove no. 4 __ _
.
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
L ittle R o c k , A rk .:
Arkansas anthracite, e g g . ..
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
L os Angeles, C alif.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
L ou isville, K y .:
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh v o la tile .. _______
L o w vola tile ______ _____
M anchester, N .H .:
P en nsylva nia anthracite:
S to v e ________ _____
_
C h estn ut______ ____
M em p h is, T en n .:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
M ilw au k ee, W is.:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S t o v e .. . . ________
C h e s t n u t _______ ______
B itu m in ou s:
Prepared sizes:
H ig h v o l a t i l e . . ___ . . .
L o w vola tile.
______
M in neapolis, M in n .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S tov e_______________ _ _
C h estn ut_________ _____
B itum inous:
P repared sizes:
H igh volatile___________
L o w vola tile. _ ______

1932

Sept.
15

Oct.
15

$5.04
6. 67

$5. 50
6.88

$6.15
7. 54

14. 00
10.00

13. 50
10.00

13. 50
10. 00

14. 50
14. 50
7.61

14. 75
14. 75
7. 39

15. 00
15.00
7. 66

13.29
13.13

12. 02
12.02

12.58
12. 36

6. 03
7.26

6.30
7. 42

6. 90
7.55

6. 50

6.70

6.70

14. 50
14. 25

14. 50
14. 25

14. 50
14.25

9. 60

10. 60

11. 60

5.07
7. 71

5. 64
7. 70

5.83
8.25

6. 05

6. 50

7.13

9. 00

10.75

11.13

10. 75
12. 25
5. 64

10. 38
12. 33
5.61

10. 50
12.50
5. 61

10. 75
8. 28

10. 50
8.17

10. 50
8.17

16. 25

17. 30

17.30

4.68
7.25

5. 20
7. 44

5.61
7. 94

14.83
14.83

15. 00
15. 00

15.00
15. 00

5. 67

6. 69

6.68

15. 05
14.80

13. 25
13.00

13.25
13. 00

6.97
9. 29

7. 27
9. 37

7. 52
9. 62

17.25
17.00

15. 50
15.25

15. 50
15. 25

9. 60 10. 09
11.85 | 12. 24

9.91
12.24

O ct.
15

Sept.
15

M o b ile , A la .:
B itu m in o u s, prepared sizes. $7.16 $7. 77
N ew ark , N .J .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracijte:
S to v e _______________
12.19
12. 60
C h e stn u t________________
11.94 12.20
N e w H a ve n , C o n n .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e ........... .........
13. 65 13.50
C h e stn u t___________
13. 65 13. 50
N e w Orleans, L a .:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 8.07
9.07
N e w Y o r k , N .Y .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e . _______
12. 46 12.65
C h estn u t________
12.21 12.40
N o rfo lk , V a .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e_________
13.00 13. 50
C h e s t n u t ........... ..
13.00 13. 50
B itu m in ou s:
Prepared sizes:
H ig h volatile___________
6. 50
7.00
L o w vo la tile . ________
8.00
8. 50
R u n o f m in e:
L o w volatile .................
6. 50
7.00
O m aha N e b r .;
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 8. 77
8. 52
Peoria, 111.:
B itu m in ou s:
P repared sizes:
H ig h v olatile_________
6.11
6. 39
L o w volatile_____
Philadelphia, Pa.:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S tove _ _____
11.75 12. 25
C h estn u t__________
11.50 12. 00
P ittsburgh, P a .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
C h estn u t_______
12.88 12. 38
B itum inous, prepared sizes
4.00
4. 64
P ortlan d, M ain e:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e ____________
15.84 14. 50
C h estn u t_______
15.60 14.25
P ortlan d, Oreg.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes 11.86 12.99
P rovid en ce, R .I .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e__________
114. 50 ' 14. 50
C h e stn u t. ________
114.25 114.25
R ic h m o n d , V a .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S tove________ . .
13. 38 13. 75
C h e s tn u t .. ___
13.38 13.75
B itu m in ou s:
Prepared sizes:
H igh v o latile.......... .. .
6.83
7. 33
L o w vola tile . _ ________
7. 98
8.40
R u n o f m ine:
L o w v olatile. _ ________
6. 71
6.75
R och ester, N .Y .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S t o v e .. . . .
13. 38 13.23
C h estn u t___________
13.13 12.98
St. L ou is, M o .:
P en nsylva nia anthracite:
S tove. _ ______ ______
15.16 13.91
C h estn u t____________
15.16 13.72
B itum inous, prepared sizes
5. 45
5.61
St. Paul, M in n .:
P en n sylva n ia anthracite:
S to v e_____________________ 17.35 15.50
C h estu n u t............................ 17.10 15.25

1 T h e average price of coal delivered in bins is 50 cents higher than here show n.
delivered in bins.


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

1933

C ity and kin d o f coa
O ct.
15

$8.46

12.80
12.55

13. 90
13. 90
9.07

12.60
12.35
14.00
14.00
7.50
9.00
7.50
8.52

6. 46
9.29
12. 25
12.00
12.38
4.86
14.50
14.25
12.96
114. 75
114.50
13. 75
13. 75
7. 33
8. 40
6. 75
13.10
12.85
13.91
13.72
5. 50
15. 50
15.25

P ractica lly all coal is

R E T A IL

1535

PRIC ES

T able 3 — A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O F C O A L 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 , O C T . 15, 1932, A N D S E P T . 15 A N D O C T . 15, 1933, B Y C I T I E S — C o n tin u e d

1932

1932

1933

1933

C it y and k in d o f coal

C ity and k in d o f coal
O ct.
15

St. P a u l, M in n .— C o n td .
B itu m in ou s:
Prepared sizes:
H igh v olatile...... ......... .. $9.40
L o w v o la t ile ___________ 11.87
Salt L ake C ity , U tah:
7. 39
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
San Fran cisco, C alif.:
N e w M ex ico anthracite:
C erillos egg. . __________ 25.00
C olorado anthracite:
24. 50
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 15.00
Savannah, G a.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 2 8.45
Scranton, Pa.:
P en nsylvania anthracite:
9. 27
S tove_____________________
9.00
C h estn u t.
___________ .

Sept.
15

O ct.
15

$9. 98 $10.00
12. 33 12. 33
7.79

7.79

25.63

25. 63

25.11
15.98

25.11
16.06

Seattle, W ash .:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Springfield, 111.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
W ash in gton , D .C .:
P en nsylva nia anthracite:
S to ve ....... ........... ........... ——
C h e stn u t_________________
B itu m in ou s:
Prepared sizes:
H igh vo la tile — -----------L o w v o latile___________
R u n of m ine:
M ix e d _________ ______

O ct.
15

Sept.
15

Oct.
15

$9.86

$9.73

$9.69

3. 79

3.73

4.06

314. 46 314.45 314.45
314.15 314.15 314.15
3 8.29
310. 21

3 8.33 3 8.69
3 9. 97 310.31

3 7. 50

3 7. 70

3 7.88

2 9.94 210.04
8.81
8. 56

8.81
8. 56

2 A ll coal sold in Savannah is w eighted b y the c ity . A charge o f 10 cents per to n or half to n is m ade.
T h is a dd itional charge has been in clu d ed in the a b o v e price.
3 Per ton o f 2,240 pou n ds.


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

WHOLESALE PRICES
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices, 1913 to October 1933

T

HE following table presents the index numbers of wholesale
prices by groups of commodities, by years, from 1913 to 1932,
inclusive, and by months from January 1932 to date:
I N D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S
[1926=100]

Y ea r and m on th

1913......................... ...........
1914____________________
1915............................... —
1916____________________
1917..................... - ......... ..
1918......... - .........................
1919____________________
1920________ _______ . . . .
1921____________________
1922____________________
1923__________ ______ _
1924........... ............. ...........
1925____________________
1926_____ ______ ________
1927____________________
1928......... ............... ...........
1929____________________
1930____________________
1931____________________
1932_____ _______________
1932:
J a n u a r y .. ________
F e b ru a ry .. . _
M a rch ___ ____ . .
A p r il______________
M a y ______________
Jun e_______________
J u ly ................... .......
A u g u s t____________
S eptem ber________
O ctob er___________
N o v e m b e r _____ ._
D ecem b er_________
1933:
Jan u ary___________
F eb ru ary__________
M a rch .......................
A p r i l .. ____ _______
M a y ...........................
Ju n e_______________
J u l y ______________
A u g u s t___
. . _
S ep tem ber________
O ctob er____ _______

Farm
p rod ­
ucts

H ides
Tex­
and
F ood s leather tile
p ro d ­
p ro d ­
ucts
ucts

Fu el M etals B u ild ­ C h em ­ H ouse- M isand
furand
ing
icals
celnishligh t­ m etal m ate­
and
lanep ro d ­
ing
ing
rials
drugs
ous
ucts
goods

A ll
co m ­
m o d i­
ties

71.5
71.2
71.5
84.4
129.0
148.0
157.6
150.7
88.4
93.8
98.6
100.0
109.8
100.0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
64.8
48.2

64.2
64.7
65.4
75.7
104.5
119. 1
129.5
137.4
90.6
87.6
92.7
91.0
100.2
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
74.6
61.0

68.1
70.9
75.5
93.4
123.8
125.7
174.1
171.3
109.2
104.6
104.2
101.5
105. 3
100.0
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
86.1
72.9

57.3
54.6
54.1
70.4
98.7
137. 2
135.3
164.8
94.5
100.2
111.3
106.7
108.3
100.0
95.6
95.5
90.4
80.3
66.3
54.9

61.3
56.6
51.8
74.3
105.4
109.2
104.3
163.7
96.8
107.3
97.3
92.0
96.5
100.0
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
67.5
70.3

90.8
80.2
86.3
116.5
150.6
136.5
130.9
149.4
117.5
102.9
109.3
106.3
103.2
100.0
96.3
97.0
100.5
92.1
84.5
80.2

56.7
52.7
53.5
67 6
88.2
98.6
115.6
150.1
97.4
97.3
108.7
102.3
101.7
100.0
94.7
94. 1
95.4
89.9
79.2
71.4

80.2
81.4
112.0
160.7
165.0
182.3
157.0
164.7
115.0
100.3
101.1
98.9
101.8
100.0
96.8
95.6
94.2
89. 1
79.3
73.5

56.3
56.8
56.0
61.4
74.2
93.3
105.9
141.8
113.0
103.5
108.9
104.9
103.1
100.0
97.5
95.1
94.3
92.7
84.9
75.1

93.1
89.9
86.9
100.6
122. 1
134.4
139. 1
167.5
109.2
92.8
99.7
93.6
109.0
100.0
91.0
85.4
82.6
77. 7
69.8
64.4

69.
68.
69.
85.
117.
131.
138.
154.
97.
96.
100.
98.
103.
100.
95.
96.
95.
86.
73.
64.

52.8
50.6
50.2
49.2
46.6
45.7
47.9
49.1
49.1
46.9
46. 7
44.1

64.7
62.5
62.3
61.0
59.3
58.8
60.9
61.8
61.8
60.5
60.6
58.3

79.3
78.3
77.3
75.0
72.5
70.8
68.6
69.7
72.2
72.8
71.4
69.6

59.6
59.5
58.0
56.1
54.3
52.7
51.5
52.7
55.6
55.0
53.9
53.0

67.9
68.3
67.9
70.2
70.7
71.6
72.3
72.1
70.8
71.1
71.4
69.3

81.8
80.9
80.8
80.3
80.1
79.9
79.2
80.1
80.1
80.3
79.6
79.4

74.8
73.4
73.2
72.5
71.5
70.8
69.7
69.6
70.5
70.7
70.7
70.8

75.7
75.5
75.3
74.4
73.6
73.1
73.0
73.3
72.9
72.7
72.4
72.3

77.7
77.5
77.1
76.3
74.8
74.7
74.0
73.6
73.7
73.7
73.7
73.6

65.6
64.7
64.7
64. 7
64.4
64. 2
64.3
64.6
64.7
64.1
63.7
63.4

67.
66.
65.
64.
63.
64.
65.
65.
64.
63.
62.

42.6
40.9
42.8
44.5
50.2
53.2
60. 1
57.6
57.0
55.7

55.8
53.7
54.6
56.1
59.4
61.2
65.5
64.8
64.9
64.2

68.9
68.0
68.1
69.4
76.9
82.4
86.3
91.7
92.3
89.0

51.9
51.2
51.3
51.8
55.9
61. 5
68.0
74.6
76.9
77. 1

66.0
63.6
62.9
61.5
60.4
61.5
65.3
65. 5
70.4
73.6

78.2
77.4
77.2
76.9
77.7
79.3
80.6
81.2
82.1
83.0

70.1
69.8
70.3
70.2
71.4
74.7
79.5
81.3
82.7
83.9

71.6
71.3
71.2
71.4
73.2
73.7
73.2
73.1
72.7
72.7

72.9
72.3
72.2
71.5
71.7
73.4
74.8
77.6
79.3
81.2

61.2
59.2
58.9
57.8
58.9
60.8
64.0
65.4
65.1
65.3

61.
59.
60.
60.
62.
65.
68.
69.
70.
71.

1536


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

1537

W H O L E S A L E PRICES
I N D E X N U M B E R S OE S P E C IF IE D G R O U P S O P C O M M O D IT IE S
[1926=100]

Year

Raw
m ate­
rials

1913__________
1914__________
1915__________
1916
. .
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922__________
1923__________
1924__________
1925__________
1926__________
1927__________
1928__________
1929 _________
1930
_______
1931
____
1932 .

68.8
67.6
67. 2
82.6
122.6
135. 8
145.9
151. 8
88. 3
96.0
98.5
97.6
106.7
100.0
96.5
99. 1
97. 5
84. 3
65. 6
55.1

Sem im anu- F in ­
ished
factured p ro d ­
ucts
arti­
cles

N on agricultural
co m ­
m o d i­
ties

A ll
co m ­
m o d i­
ties
other
than
farm
p ro d ­
ucts
and
foods

69.4
67.8
68.9
82.3
109. 2
124. 7
130. 6
149.8
103.3
96.5
99.2
96.3
100.6
100.0
95.0
95.9
94. 5
88.0
77.0
70.3

69.0
66.8
68.5
85. 3
113.1
125.1
131.6
154.8
100.1
97.3
100.9
97.1
101.4
100. 0
94.6
94.8
93.3
85.9
74.6
68.3

70.0
66.4
68.0
88.3
114.2
124.6
128.8
161.3
104.9
102.4
104.3
99.7
102.6
100.0
94.0
92.9
91.6
85.2
75.0
70. 2

74.9
70.0
81.2
118. 3
150.4
153. 8
157.9
198. 2
96.1
98.9
118.6
108.7
105.3
100.0
94.3
94.5
93.9
81.8
69.0
59.3

M o n th

1932:
Jan uary___
F e b r u a r y ..
M a r c h .. . .

J u ly _______
Septem ber.
O cto b e r___
N ovem ber.
D e ce m b e r ..
1933:
Jan uary___
F e b r u a r y ..
M a r c h _____
A p r il.. . . .
M a y ____ __
J u ly ----------A u g u st------S ep tem b er.
O cto b e r-----

Raw
m ate­
rials

Semim anu- F in ­
facished
tured p ro d ­
arti­
ucts
cles

A ll
co m ­
N on - m od i­
agrities
other
culthan
tural
com ­
farm
m o d i­ p ro d ­
ties
ucts
and
foods

58.3
56.9
56.1
55. 5
53.9
53.2
54.7
55.7
56.2
54.6
54.2
52.1

63.1
61.9
60.8
59.6
58.1
57.6
55. 5
57.9
60.7
60.7
58.9
57.7

72.1
71.4
71.5
71.1
70.3
70.0
70.5
70. 7
70.4
69.6
69.3
68.4

70.3
69.6
69.3
68.9
68.1
67.8
68.0
68. 5
68.7
68.1
67.5
66.5

71.7
71.3
70.9
70.9
70.4
70.1
69.7
70.1
70.4
70.2
69.8
69.0

50.2
48.4
49.4
50.0
53.7
56.2
61.8
60.6
61.7
61.8

56.9
56.3
56.9
57.3
61.3
65.3
69.1
71.7
72.9
72.8

66.7
65.7
65.7
65.7
67.2
69.0
72.2
73.4
74.8
75.4

64.9
63.7
63.8
63.7
65.4
67.4
70.7
72.0
73.7
74.4

67.3
66.0
65.8
65.3
66.5
68.9
72.2
74.1
76.1
77.2

Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices

A s u m m a r iz a t io n of the weekly index numbers for the 10 major
groups of commodities and for all commodities combined as issued
during the month of October 1933 will be found in the following
statement:
I N D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R I C E S F O R W E E K S O F O C T . 7, 14, 21, A N D 28, 1933
[1926 = 100]

W e e k ending—
G rou p
O ct. 7

O ct. 14

O ct. 21

O ct. 28

A ll com m od ities_____________________________ ______

71.3

71.1

70.4

70.9

F arm p rod u cts_____ _____ ______ ______ - ..................... ...........
F ood s.................... ......... ....................... ............ .............................
H ides and leather p rod u cts____ __________ _______________
Textile p ro d u cts. .............................. .........................................

57.5
65.0
91.8
76.3
73.4
82.4
83.7
72.7
81.1
65.0

56.7
64.8
88.8
76.2
73.8
82.3
83.9
72.7
81.2
65.0

54.2
63.7
88.8
76.2
74.0
82.0
83.6
72.6
81.3
64.9

55.6
64.2
87.7
76.3
74.5
82.4
83.5
72.7
81.3
65.2

M etals and m etal p rod u cts.................. ..................... ...............
B u ild in g m a t e r ia ls ........................................................ ...........
Chem icals and drugs_______________ __________ ________
H ouse-furnishing g ood s............... .................................. ..........
M iscellaneous_____________ _______ ________ ______ ________


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1538

M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W

Purchasing Power of the Dollar, 1913 to October 1933
C h a n g e s in the buying power of the dollar expressed in terms of
wholesale prices from 1913 to October 1933 are shown in the follow­
ing table. The figures in this table are reciprocals of the index
numbers. To illustrate, the index number representing the level
of all commodities at wholesale in October 1933 with average prices
for the year 1926 as the base, is shown to be 71.2. The reciprocal
of this index number is 0.01404 which, translated into dollars, and
cents becomes $1,404. The table shows that the dollar expanded so
much in its buying value that $1 of 1926 had increased in value to
$1,404 in October 1933 in the purchase of all commodities at wholesale.
The purchasing power of the dollar for all groups and subgroups
of commodities for the current month will be found on page 1543.
P U R C H A S IN G

POW ER

OP TH E

D OLLAR EXPRESSED
P R IC E S

IN

TERM S

OF W H O L E SA L E

[1926=$!]

Y ea r and m on th

1913. __________________
1914. _________________
1915. __________________
1916____________________
1917. __________________
1918____________________
1919____________________
1920____________________
1921____________________
1922____________________
1923............. ................... ..
1924. _________________
1925 _____________ ____
1926____________________
1927____________________
1928. __________________
1929 __________________
1930____________________
1931____________________
1932____________ _______
1932: Jan uary__________
F eb ru a ry ________
M a r c h ___________
A p ril_____________
M a y _____________
Ju n e_____________
J u ly --------------------A u g u st___________
Septem ber_______
O c t o b e r _________
N o v e m b e r ______
D ecem b er_______
1933: Jan uary__________
F eb ru ary _______
M a r c h ...................
A p ril_____________
M a y _____________
Ju n e_____________
J u ly ______________
A u gu st___________
S eptem ber___. . .
O ctob er__________

Farm
p rod ­
ucts

F ood s

H ides
and
leath­
er
p ro d ­
ucts

T ex­
tile
p ro d ­
ucts

Fuel
and
ligh t­
ing

M etals
B u ild ­ C h e m ­ H ouse- M isand
furning
icals
celm etal
ish
and
m ate­
lanep ro d ­
ing
drugs
rials
ous
ucts
goods

$1. 399 $1. 558 $1. 468 $1. 745 $1. 631 $1.101 $1. 764 $1. 247 $1. 776 $1. 074
1.404 1.546 1.410 1.832 1. 767 1.247
1.898 1. 229 1.761 1. 112
1.399
1.529 1.325 1.848 1.931 1.159
1. 869
.893
1.786 1. 151
1.185 1. 321 1.071 1.420 1. 346
.858
.622 1.629
1.479
.994
.775
.957
.808
1.013
.949
.664
1.134
.606
.819
1. 348
.676
.840
.796
.729
.916
1.014
.733
.549
.744
1.072
.635
.772
.574
.739
.959
.764
.865
.637
.944
.719
.664
.728
.584
.607
.611
.669
.666
.607
.705
.597
1.131
1.104
.916
1.058
1.033
.851
1.027
.870
.885
.916
i. 066 1. 142
.956
.998
.932
.972 1.028
.997
.966
1.078
1. 014 1. 079
.960
.898
1.028
.915
.920
.989
.918 1.003
1.000 1.099
.985
.937
1.087
.941
.978
1.011
1. 068
.953
.911
.998
.950
.923 1.036
.969
.983
.982
.970
.917
1.000 1.000 1. 000 1.000 1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
1.006 1.034
,929 1.046 1.133 1.038 1.056
1.033 1.026 1.099
.944
.990
.824
1.047 1.186 1. 031 1.063
1.046 1.052 1.171
.953
1.001
.917 1.106 1.205
.995
1.048 1.062 1.060 1. 211
1.133 1.105
1.000 1.245 1.274 1.086 1.112 1.122 1.079 1.287
1.543 1. 340 1.161 1.508 1.481
1.183 1.263
1.261 1.178
1.433
2.075 1. 639 1. 372 1.821
1.422 1. 247 1. 401 1.361 1.332 1. 553
1.894 1. 546 1. 261 1.678 1.473 1.222 1.337
1.321 1.287 1. 524
1. 976 1.600 1.277 1.681
1. 464 1.236 1.362 1.325 1.290 1.546
1.992 1.605
1. 294 1.724 1.473 1.238 1.366 1.328 1.297 1.546
2.033 1.639
1.333 1.783 1.425 1. 245 1.379
1.344 1.311 1.546
2.146 1.686 1.379 1.842 1.414 1.248
1. 399 1.359 1.337
1. 553
2.188 1. 701 1.412 1.898 1.397 1. 252 1.412 1.368 1.339
1.558
2.088 1. 642 1.458 1.942 1.383 1.263 1.435
1.370 1. 351 1. 555
2.037 1.618 1.435 1.898 1.387 1.248 1.437
1.364 1. 359 1.548
2.037 1. 618 1.385
1.799 1.412 1.248 1.418 1.372 1.357 1.546
2.132 1.653 1.374 1.818 1.406
1.245 1.414 1.376 1.357 1. 560
2.141
1.650
1.401
1.855 1.401
1.256 1.414 1. 381 1.357 1.570
2. 268 1.715 1.437 1.887 1.443
1. 259 1.412 1.383 1.359 1.577
1.792 1.451
2.347
1.927 1. 515 1.279 1.427 1.397
1.372 1.634
2.445 1.862 1. 471 1. 953 1.572 1.292 1.433
1.403 1.383 1.689
2. 336 1.832 1. 468 1.949 1.590 1.295 1.422 1.404 1.385 1. 698
2. 247 1.783 1.441
1.931
1.626 1.300 1.425 1.401
1.399 1.730
1.992 1.684 1.300
1. 789 1.656 1.287 1.401 1.366 1.395
1.698
1.880 1. 634 1. 214 1.626 1. 626 1. 261 1.339 1.357 1.362 1.645
1.664
1. 527 1.159 1.471
1. 531 1. 241 1.258 1. 366 1. 337 1. 563
1. 736 1. 543 1.091
1.340 1.527 1.232 1.230 1.368 1.289
1. 529
1.754 1.541
1.083
1.300 1.420 1. 218 1. 209 1.376 1.261
1. 536
1.795 1. 558 1.124 1.297 1.359
1. 205 1.192 1.376 1. 232 1. 531


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All
com ­
m o d i­
ties

$1.433
1. 468
1.439
1.170
.851
.762
.722
.648
1.025
1.034
.994
1.019
.966
1.000
1.048
1.034
1.049
1.157
1.370
1. 543
1.486
1.508
1.515
1.527
1.553
1.565
1.550
1.534
1.531
1.553
1.565
1.597
1.639
1.672
1.661
1.656
1.595
1. 538
1.451
1.439
1.412
1.404

1539

W H O LE S A LE PRICES

Processing Taxes and the Price Index

The Agricultural Adjustment Act provided that “ to obtain
revenue for extraordinary expenses incurred by reason of the national
economic emergency, there shall be levied processing taxes * * V ’ 1
In accordance with this act, the. Secretary of Agriculture established
a processing tax of 30 cents a bushel on wheat effective July 10, 1933.
There was also declared effective August 1, 1933, a processing tax of
4.2 cents per pound on cotton. On September 14, the Secretary of
Agriculture announced a processing tax, effective October 1, on leaf
tobacco of 1.7 cents per pound for Maryland tobacco and 3 cents per
pound for tobacco from other States.
In all cases these taxes are to be collected by the Bureau of Internal
Kevenue on “ the first domestic processing” of each raw material.
No tax is to be paid by the purchaser of the raw materials when such
materials are to be used for purposes of feeding or otherwise by the
farmer. The tax is to be paid by the purchaser of the raw materials
when such materials are to be processed or converted into other items
for further sale.
As considerable portions of these raw materials are not purchased
for processing it is not justifiable to include these taxes in regular
market quotations. The index number of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, showing the general trend of wholesale commodity prices,
represents market prices and therefore prices used in the calculation
of these indexes for articles subject to the processing tax do not include
such taxes.
In order that the effect of processing taxes on the index numbers
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics may be shown, there has been cal­
culated a series of wholesale price indexes for the major and sub­
groups of farm products upon which taxes have been assessed, for the
period during which they have been effective. The following tabular
statement shows the comparison of the regular series of index numbers
of the Bureau for farm products with the indexes based upon prices
including processing taxes.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S OF F A R M P R O D U C T S W IT H A N D W IT H ­
O U T P R O C E S S IN G T A X E S
Other farm
products

Grains

A ll farm products

M o n th

J u ly ................................................... .......................
A u gu st______________________________________
S e p t e m b e r .................... ...................... ...............
O cto b e r ._________________________ _______ _

W ith ou t
tax

W ith tax

73.4
64.6
63.9
58.2

83. 2
77.5
76.8
71.1

W ith o u t
tax

W ith tax

62.5
61.2
61.2

67.7
66.8
67.5

W ith o u t
tax
fin i
57.6
57.0
55.7

W ith tax

62.5
62.1
61.2

It will be seen from the above that the index numbers of the
individual groups of farm products have been affected by the process­
ing tax. The index number for grains for October, excluding the
tax on wheat, was 58.2 as compared with 71.1 when the tax was
included, showing a differential of over 22 percent between the two
figures. The index number for other farm products for the same
month, excluding the tax on cotton and tobacco, was 61.2. Includ­
ing these taxes the index is 67.5. The differential between the two
1 P t. 2, sec. 9, par. a, H .B . 3835, app roved M a y 12, 1933.


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1540

M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W

series was more than 11 percent. For all farm products for the month
of October, the index number of the regular series is 55.7 as compared
with 61.2 with all taxes added, showing a differential of 11 percent
between the two indexes.
The corn-hog ratio has been announced as effective November 5,
with the following provisions: Until December 1, the tax on corn is
announced as 5 cents per bushel of 56 pounds, and effective Decem­
ber 1, the rate of tax shall be 20 cents per bushel of 56 pounds. For
hogs, the following taxes have been announced: Effective November
5, 50 cents per 100 pounds live weight; December 1, $1 per hundred­
weight; January 1, 1934, $1.50 per hundredweight; and February
1, 1934, $2 per hundredweight. The effect of these latter taxes will
be shown in the November index.
Wholesale Price Trends During October 1933
W h o l e s a l e commodity prices continued their rise during the
month of October. The index number of the general level of whole­
sale prices showed an advance of one half of 1 percent, maintaining
the upward movement which was begun in March of the present year.
This index which includes 784 commodities of price series weighted
according to their relative importance in the markets and based on
the average prices for the year 1926 as 100 rose from 70.8 for Septem­
ber to 71.2 for October.
The index for October averaged the same as for September 1931
when the index number was also 71.2. As compared with October
1932 when the index number stood at 64.4, the present level shows
an increase of more than 10 percent over that of a year ago. The
index for October is over 19 percent higher than that for February
when prices had reached their low point with an index of 59.8.
The all commodities index, which indicates the trend in the general
level of wholesale prices, shows that prices for October were 25 per­
cent below the level of June 1929 when the index stood at 95.2.
Prices for the current month averaged higher than in the correspond­
ing month of the year before for the fifth consecutive time in the past
3 years.
. Between September and October increases in prices were reported
m 199 instances, decreases in 185 instances, while in 400 instances
no changes were shown.
The group of fuel and lighting materials again showed the largest
pnce advance with the group as a whole rising by more than 4% per­
cent over the previous month. Increased prices took place in the
averages for bituminous coal, coke, and petroleum products. The
wholesale prices of anthracite, however, showed a slight decrease.
The house-furnishing-goods group registered the second largest
advance in average prices. This group increased by nearly 2% per­
cent from September to October. Both furniture and furnishings
shared m the upward movement.
Continued strengthening of prices of brick and tile, cement, lumber,
structural steel, and other building materials caused the group of all
building materials to advance nearly 1}'2 percent over the month


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W H O LE S A LE PRICES

1541

before. Prepared paint and paint materials registered slightly declin­
ing prices.
Metals and metal products as a whole continued on the up grade
during October due to further advancing average prices of agricultural
implements, iron and steel products, and motor vehicles. On the

other hand nonferrous metals showed a general weakening of prices,
while plumbing and heating fixtures remained at the September levels.
The index for the group as a whole rose by more than 1 percent.
The sharp up turn in market prices of textile products, which has
been in evidence since the low point was reached in February, was
considerably slowed down. The group as a whole showed only a
fractional increase during October. The subgroups of clothing and
woolen and worsted goods advanced, while cotton goods, knit goods,
silk and rayon, and other textile products declined.
21719°—33------ 18


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1542

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

The miscellaneous group of commodities showed a very slight
recovery. Advancing prices for crude rubber, paper and pulp, and
other miscellaneous items outweighed declining prices for cattle feed,
with automobile tires and tubes showing no change in average prices
between the 2 months.
Declining prices of hides and skins, leather, and boots and shoes
exerted greater influence on the hides and leather products group
than did advancing prices for other leather products and forced the
group as a whole to show the greatest decrease of any of the 10 major
groups of commodities with a drop of more than 3 % percent from the
previous month.
Wholesale prices of farm products, which had shown sharp advances
up to 2 months ago, showed a further reaction in October and dropped
by over 2 percent as compared with September. The group as a
whole, however, still remains 36 percent above February, the low
point reached during the year, and about 19 percent higher than the
corresponding month of last year. Radical reductions in the market
price of grains and lesser declines in calves, cows, steers, dressed
poultry, cotton, oranges, hops, and fresh vegetables were mainly
responsible for the decrease. Hogs, eggs, lemons, leaf tobacco, and
wool showed price increases between the 2 months.
Manufactured food products as a whole showed a downward move­
ment by falling slightly niore than 1 percent in October as compared
with September. The index for the month was nearly 20 percent
above the low of February of this year and 6 percent higher than
October a year ago.
Among food items which showed price increases during the month
were butter, bread, rice, dried fruits, canned vegetables, fresh beef,
and fresh pork. Items showing weakening prices were flour, maca­
roni, corn meal, cured beef, cured pork, lamb, mutton, raw and granu­
lated sugar, and vegetable oils.
The chemicals and drugs group showed no change in the general
level of prices during October. Declining prices for chemicals and
drugs and pharmaceuticals were offset by advancing prices of fertilizer
materials and mixed fertilizers.
. The group of raw materials, including basic farm products, pig tin,
pig lead, crude rubber, and similar articles, showed a fractional
increase during the month. Semimanufactured articles declined
slightly to a level of 20 percent above a year ago. Finished products
prices moved upward by nearly 1 percent and were slightly more than
8 percent over October of last year.
The nonagricultural commodities group whicn includes all com­
modities except farm products advanced by about 1 percent within
the month. The combined index for all products exclusive of farm
products and processed foods shows an increase of about 2% percent
between September and October and a rise of more than 10 percent
over October a year ago.
Raw materials were 27% percent higher in October than in February
when the low point was reached. Semimanufactured articles were
over 29 percent higher in October than in February. In the same
period finished products advanced by 14 percent, nonagricultural
commodities by 16 percent, and all commodities, eliminating farm
products and foods, by 17 percent.

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W H O LE S A LE
IN D E X

NUM BERS

OF

1543

PRICES

W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S
C O M M O D IT IE S

AND

SU BG RO U PS

OF

[1926=100.0]

G roups and subgroups

O ctober
1932

Septem ber
1933

A ll com m od ities__________________________________________

64.4

70.8

F arm produ cts------------------------------------------------------------------

46.9
34.4
45.0
52.1
60.5
60.5
64. 1
52.2
56.4
65.4
72.8
84. 6
49.6
64.1
81.9
55.0
62.5
56.2
50.9
30.8
56.5
67.7
71.1
88.7
81.1
76.7
104.6
104.4
47.4
80.3
84.7
80.4
92.7
50.7
67.5
70.7
75.3
79.0
56.6
68.3
67.5
81.7
80.0
72.7
79.8
55.9
63.4
66.5
73.7
74.7
72.8
64.1
44. 6
42.7
73.4
7.3
82.1
54.6
60.7
69.6
68.1
70.2

57.0
63.9
46.7
61.2
64.9
65.8
84.7
66.8
51.5
64.5
92.3
98.9
84.1
85.4
84.6
76.9
81. 1
91.3
74.8
34.5
82.7
76.5
70.4
82.0
84.7
79.7
90.4
101. 5
49.6
82.1
83.2
80.3
90.4
68. 5
74.7
82.7
82.6
90.8
82.0
77.3
74.7
82.4
85.9
72.7
78.8
56.8
66.6
67.8
79.3
80.5
78.4
65.1
43.2
64.2
82.2
14.9
78.1
61.7
72.9
74.8
73.7
76.1

B u tter, cheese, and m ilk -------------------------------------------

F u el and lighting m aterials----------------------------------------------

E le c tr ic ity ___________________________________________

A ll com m od ities other than farm products and foods __
i D ata n ot yet available.


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O ctober
1933

71.2
55.7
58.2
45.4
61.2
64.2
66.0
85.0
62.5
51.0
64.4
89.0
98.9
71.2
83.2
85.1
77. 1
84.8
88.8
74.7
32.0
84.5
75.3
73.6
81.8
89.8
82.6
(0
0)
52.7
83.0
83.7
82.4
90.9
67.0
74.7
83.9
84.6
91.2
84.2
76. 1
74.7
86.8
87.1
72.7
78.6
56.8
67.6
68.3
81.2
82.8
79.8
65.3
43.2
60.4
82.4
15.6
78.6
61.8
72.8
75.4
74.4
77.2

Purchasing
pow er of
the dollar
O ctober
1933

$1,404
1.795
1.718
2.203
1.634
1.558
1. 515
1.176
1. 600
1.961
1.553
1.124
1.011
1.404
1.202
1.175
1.297
1.179
1.126
1.339
3.125
1.183
1.328
1.359
1.222
1.114
1. 211
1.898
1.205
1.195
1.214
1.100
1.493
1.339
1.192
1.182
1.096
1.188
1.314
1.339
1.152
1.148
1.376
1.272
1. 761
1.479
1.464
1.232
1.208
1.253
1. 531
2. 315
1. 656
1.214
6.410
1.272
1.618
1.374
1.326
1.344
1.295

1544

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

Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign Countries

N THE following table the index numbers of wholesale prices of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of
Labor, and those in certain foreign countries, have been brought
together in order that the trend of prices in the several countries may
be compared. The base periods here shown are those appearing in
the original sources from which the information has been drawn, in
certain cases being the year 1913 or some other pre-war period.
Only general comparisons can be made from these figures, since, in
addition to_ differences in the base periods, and the kind and number
of articles included, there are important differences in the composi­
tion of the index numbers themselves. Indexes are shown for the
years 1926-32, inclusive, and by months since July 1931.

I

IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D
E IG N C O U N T R IE S

C ou ntry.

U nited
States

Bureau
C om p u tin g a g e n c y ... o f L abor
Statistics

Base period.

1926

(100)

IN FOR

1

A u s­
tralia

Austria

B elgium

Bureau
of
Census
and
Statistics

Federal
Statis­
tical
Bureau

M in istry
o f In ­
dustry

1911

JanuaryJune
1914

( 1, 000)

STATES AN D

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

China

L abor

General
Statis­
tical
Bureau

D o m in ­
ion
Bureau
of
Statistics

General
Statis­
tical
Bureau

N ational
T a riff
C om m ission,
Shanghai

A p ril
1914
(100)

1926
(100)

1926
(100)

1913
GOO)

1926
(100)

(Paper)
125

(G o ld )
55

502

(Paper)

(Silver)
155 i

( 100)

(G old )
47

C om m odities.

1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0
64.8

1, 832
1,817
1, 792
1,803
1, 596
1,428
1,411

1932
January_____
F eb ru a ry ____
M a r c h _______
A p ril................
M a y ................
Ju n e_________
J u ly_________
A u gu st______
S e p t e m b e r ...
O ctober______
N o v e m b e r ___
D ecem ber___

67.3
66.3
66.0
65.5
64.4
63.9
64.5
65.2
65.3
64.4
63.9
62.6

1.414
1, 449
1,438
1, 431
1, 408
1, 390
1, 397
1.415
1,441
1,404
1,382
1, 367

1933
January_____
F eb ru ary____
M a r c h _______
A p ril_________
M a y _________
Ju n e...............
J u l y . . ..............
August______
S eptem ber___

61.0
59.8
60.2
60.4
62.7
65.0
68.9
69.5
70.8

1, 344
1, 330
1, 333
1, 358
1, 406
1, 439
1,455
1,452

1 Q uotations, 154 since January 1932.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

123
133
130
130
117
108

112
114
112

113
112

116
115

112
112
110

111
111
108
108
106
107
107
108
109

111
108
108

744
847
843
851
744
626
532

100.0
102.4
109.8
117.0
94.6
79.1
70.3

100.0
97.7
96.4
95.6
86.6
72.1
66.7

192.5
192.4
166.9
152.2
230.4

557
554
548
539
526
514
512
524
533
529
525
522

75.7
75.9
75.9
72.4
71.7
71.7
69.2
67.9
66.9
64.5
63.3
62.5

69.4
69.2
69.1
68.2
67.4
66.4
66.4
66.7
65.9
65.0
64.7
64.0

146.5
151.9
164.2
189.8
213.0
226.6
230.2
239.6
281.6
293.9
289.0
337.8

521
512
504
501
502
507
506
501
496

63.5
62.4
61.0
61.5
62.1
61.3
62.6

63.9
63.6
64.4
65.4
66.9
67.6
70.5
69.4
68.9

346.0
344.7
343.4
351.2
357.3
357.8
353.2

100.0
104.4
101.7
104.5
114.8
126.7
112.4
119.3
116.7
115.7
113.6
111.8
111.3
109.8
108.7
106.9
107.5
108.6
107.6
106.7
104.5
104.2
104.5
103.4
101.7
100.4

1545

W H O L E S A L E PRIC ES

I N D E X N U M B E R S OF 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 IN F O R E IG N
C O U N T R I E S — C on tin u ed

C o u n try .

C om p u tin g a g e n c y ---

C zecho- D en m ark
slovakia

F in lan d

France

G erm an y

In d ia

Ita ly

Japan

Central

Central
Bureau
of Sta­
tistics

General
Statisti­
cal B u ­
reau

F ederal
Statisti­
cal B u ­
reau

D ep art­
m ent,
e tc.,3
Calcutta

R iccard o
Bach i

B a n k of
Japan,
T okyo

1926
( 100)

1913

1913

( 100)

( 100)

July
1914 (100)

1913

( 100)

( 100)

O ctober
1900 (100)

118

120

(P aper)
126

400

(P aper)
72

(Paper)
144

^ g f.* !.1
tistics

Base p er io d .

C om m od ities-

July
1914 (100)

(G old )
69

2944

1926.
1927.
1928.
1929
1930.
1931.
1932.

2 968
2 969
2 913
118.6
107.5
99.5

1932
Jan uary-------F eb ru a ry ----M a r c h ---------A p ril-----------M a y ................
J u n e . . . .........
J u ly -------------A u gust--------S e p te m b e r .O ctob er------N o v e m b e r ..
D ecem b er—1933
January— .
F e b ru a r y ..
M a r c h ------A p ril______
M a y .........Ju n e______
J u ly _______
A u gu st----Septem ber.
3 P aper revised.


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

102.3
101.4
101.4
100.7
99.5
97.3
98.0
97.9

100.1
99.5
99.1
99.0
96.6
96.3
95.5
94.6
96.3
98.3
98.3
97.4
96.5

Statisti­
cal D e ­
partm ent

1913

98
90
84
90

695
642
645
627
554
502
427

134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6
110.9
96.5

148
148
145
141
116
96
91

602.0
495.3
461.6
445.3383.0
328.4
303.7

236.7
224.6
226.1
219.8
181.0
153.0
161.1

94
93
92
89
88
87
89
89
90
90
91
90

439
446
444
439
438
425
430
415
413
412
413
413

100.0
99.8
99.8
98.4
97.2
96.2
95.9
95.4
95.1
94.3
93.9
92.4

97
97
94
92
89
86
87
91
91
91
90
88

316.6
314.4
315.0
311.3
305.1
297.4
295.7
295.9
299.6
298.6
298.2
295.8

159.5
161.4
158.5
154.1
150.3
146.4
147.7
155.8
167.4
169.1
177.9
184.6

122

9(1
89
89
88

123
123
125
126
128

89
90
90
90

411
404
390
387
383
403
401
397
395

91.0
91.2
91.1
90.7
91.9
92.9
93.9
94.2
94.9

88
86
82
84
87
89
91
89
88

292.0
■286.3
281.3
279.1
278.8
281.2
278.9
278.3
275.8

185.0
179.6
177.4
176.2
176.8
179.6
182.1
180.0
182.4

163
153
153
150
130
114
117

100

118
119
117
115
114
113
115
117
119
118

120
119
117
124
123

101
102

3 D ep artm en t o f C om m ercia l Intelligence and Statistics.

1546

M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W

I N D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN F O R E IG N
C O U N T R I E S — C on tinued

C o u n try ____________

Jugo­
slavia

N ew
N eth er­
Zealand
lands
revised

C om p u tin g a g e n c y ..

N a­
tional
B ank

Census
Office
Central
Central Central
Bureau
and
of C en ­
Bureau
Bureau Office
of L a­
Statis­
sus and
o f Sta­
o
f
Sta­
o
f
Sta­
bor
Sta­
tics
Statis­
tistics
tistics
tistics
tistics
Office
tics

N or­
w ay

P oland

South
Africa

Spain

Sweden

S w it­
zerland

U nited
K in g ­
d om

B oard Federal B oard
L a bor
of
of
D ep a rt­
T rad e
Trade
m ent

July

1926
(100)

1913
(100)

1909-13
(1,000)

1913
(100)

1927
(100)

1910
(1,000)

1913
(100)

1913
(100)

C om m od ities—..........

55

48

180

95

73

188

74

160

1926_________________
1927_________________
1928_________________
1929_________________
1930_________________
1 9 3 1 ...______________
1932.................................

100.0
103.4
106.2
100.6
86.8
72.9
65.2

145
148
149
142
117
97
79

1553
1478
1492
1488
1449
1346
1297

157
149
137
122
122

88. 7
100. 0
101.0
95.7
82.3
70.5
61. 7

1387
1395
1354
1305
1155
1119
1031

181
172
167
171
172
174
173

149
146
148
140
122
111
109

144. 5
142.6
144.6
141. 2
126.5
109. 7
96.0

89.1
85. 2
84.4
82.1
71.9
62.6
61.1

67.8
67. 3
67. 8
66.1
65. 4
64. 9
65.6
62.6
61. 8
63.9
64.7
64.8

84
83
82
80
79
78
76
75
76
77
77
76

1344
1330
1325
1316
1313
1308
1308
1308
1311
1304
1286
1273

123
123
122
120
120
120
122
123
123
123
124
123

63.9
64. 6
63. 8
65.3
66. 1
61. 8
60.4
60.2
60. 2
58.8
58. 4
56.1

1083

176
178
180
181
177
174
172
171
170
169
170
169

109
110
109
109
109
108
108
108
110
109
108

101.4
99. 6
98. 7
97.7
95. 6
94. 5
93.6
95.0
94. 8
94.8
92. 4
91.8

63. 7
63. 4
63. 0
61.6
60. 6
59.0
58.8
59. 9
61. 4
60.8
60. 8
60. 8

67.6
68.4
67.0
66.3
64.9
66.1
63.7
60.7
60.7

75
74
72
71
72
73
73
73
75

1266
1315
1316
1315
1323
1321
1327
1325

122
121
121
121
121
121
121
122
123

56.3
57. 9
57.9
57.6
56. 8
58.2
58. 2
53.9
54. 9

982

169
168
166
164

106
106
105
105
106
106
108
108
109

91.3
90.1
90. 0
91.1
91. 6
91.2
91. 7
90.9
91.0

60.3
59. 5
58. 7
58.5
59. 7
61. 2
61. 5
61. 7
62.0

1932
Jan uary------------- . . .
A p ril_____

_________

J u ly ...............................
A u g u s t _____________
O ctober_____________

1933
Jan uary____ ______ _
A p ril— ......................
Ju n e________________
J u ly .........................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1062
1002
978

1013
1072

no

(100)

78

1924
(100)

150

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
Official— United States
C o n n e c t i c u t .— Agricultural

gardens.

Experiment Station.

New Haven, 1933.

Circular 91: Unemployment

10 pp.

This bulletin, prepared at the request of the Connecticut Unemployment
Commission, contains information regarding the best utilization of garden plots
by families suffering from the depression.
------ Department of Public Welfare.
Hartford, 1933.

Report for the two years ended June 30, 1932.
(Public Document No. 28.)

209 pp.

Contains data on public provision for the poor, private provision for the aged,
child care, etc. Gives reports for individual homes for the aged.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .—Department

of Banking and Insurance.

Office of the Com­

missioner of Banks.

Credit unions: Statutes of the Commonwealth of M assa­
chusetts, General Laws, Chapters 167; 171; 266, sections 52-55, and amend­
ments to December 31, 1931. [Boston, 1932?] 32 pp.

M il w a u k e e , ( W is c o n s in ).—

[Board of School Directors.]

ment.

40

Street Trades Depart­

Annual report, July 1, 1932-July 1, 1933.
pp., charts. ( Mimeographed .)

■
------ M ayor’s Housing Commission.

Report.

Milwaukee,

Milwaukee, 1933.

1933.

28 pp., maps,

charts, plans.
N ew

Y o r k .—

Department of Labor.

Division of Statistics and Information*

Public work in the State of New York— laws and regulations as of July 1, 1933.
Albany, 1933. 14 PP-

------ -------- Employment Service.
tion in the laundry industry.
( Mimeographed .)

Division of Junior Placement.
New York, 1933.

Job informa­
[Various paging.] Illus.

Prepared for the guidance of employment workers dealing with placements in
occupations in the industry covered.
------ Department of Social Welfare.

Volume, distribution and cost of child
dependency in New York State for the year ending December 31, 1931, by James
H. Foster and Robert Axel. Albany, 1933. 109 pp., maps, charts.

The foreword points out that this is the first attempt to study the various
aspects of child dependency on a State-wide basis, with particular reference to the
situation in the individual counties. At the close of 1931 there were in New York
108,592 dependent children in institutions, foster homes, and families aided by
boards of child welfare, of whom 91.6 percent were public charges or under public
supervision, while only 8.4 percent were maintained through private philanthropy.
The net disbursement for the care of dependent children in 1931 amounted to
$34,934,039, of which 80.9 percent was paid from public funds and 19.1 percent
from private philanthropy. “ For the entire State, the total cost of child care
amounted to an expenditure of $2.77 per capita of population— $2.24 from public
funds and $0.53 from private philanthropic sources.”
C a r o l i n a .— Department of Labor.
Rules and regulations of the depart­
ment of labor relative to the employment of children under 16 years of age;
Standards of the department of labor for grading industrial plants, effective
June 1, 1933. Raleigh [1933]. 10 pp.

N orth

O k l a h o m a .—

Department of Labor.

Oklahoma City, 1933.

Bulletin No. 12-C: Women in industry.

51 pp.

Contains the laws of Oklahoma relating to women in industry.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1547

1548

M ONTHLY

P e n n s y l v a n i a .—

L A B O R R E V IE W

Department of Labor and Industry.

employment of m inors.'

Harrisburg, 1938.

Regulations

affecting

23 pp.

-------------- Special Bulletin No. 36: Women workers after a plant shutdown.
pared by Bureau of Women and Children.

[Harrisburg], 1933.

Pre­

18 pp.

Reviewed in this issue.
F r a n c i s c o ( C a l i f o r n i a ) . — Committee for the Survey of Unemployment
Relief Administration. Report. San Francisco, 1933. 122 pp., charts.
The activities and expenditures of the various relief agencies in the city are
reported, and an account is given of special studies of families receiving relief.
San

S t a t e s .— Department of Commerce.
Bureau of Mines. Bulletin 878:
Coal-mine accidents in the United States, 1931, by W. W. Adams, L. E. Geyer,
and L. Chenoweth. Washington, 1933. 104 PP-

U n it e d

Reviewed in this issue.
•----------------------------------------

Bulletin 374- M etal-m ine accidents in the United States during the

calendar year 1981, by William W. Adams.

Washington, 1933.

36 pp.

Reviewed in this issue.
-------------- -—— Mineral resources of the United States, 1930. Part I I — Nonmetals.
Washington, 1932.

876 pp., charts.

The section on coal includes statistics of number of mine workers, days worked
by the mines, length of the working day, output per man, and strikes, suspensions,
and lockouts, in 1930 and earlier years.
—— -------------- Minerals yearbook, 1982-33. Washington, 1933.
Includes a short section on safety in mining in 1932.

819 pp., charts.

-------------- Bureau of the Census.
1933.

255 pp.

Manual of joint causes of death.
( Third edition.)

Washington,

This volume is for use in the compilation of mortality statistics where two or
more causes of death are given either as primary or secondary causes or in other
relations, in order to insure comparability when the statistics are compiled in the
usually accepted manner on the basis of the single cause of death.
------ Department of Labor.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bulletin No. 582:
Occupation hazards and diagnostic signs; a guide to impairments to be looked
for in hazardous occupations. Washington, 1933. 52 pp. (Revision of
Bulletin No. 306.)

-------------- -------Bulletin No. 586: Wages and hours of labor in the lumber industry
in the United States, 1932.

Washington, 1933.

67 pp.

---------------------- Bulletin No. 587: Wages and hours of labor in rayon and other
synthetic yarn manufacturing, 1932.

Washington, 1933.

32 pp.

------------—- ■
— —■Bulletin No. 589: Wages and hours of labor in the leather industry,
1932.

Washington, 1933.

102 pp.

---------------------- Bulletin No. 590: Labor legislation, 1931 and 1932.
1933.

Washington,

186 pp.

-------------- Children’s Bureau.

Proceedings of child health recovery conference,
held on the call of the Secretary of Labor, in Washington, D.C., October 6, 1983.
Washington, 1933. 57 pp. ( Mimeographed .)

Some account of this conference was given in the Monthly Labor Review for
November 1933 (p. 1090).
— — ---------------- Publication No. 218: Employed boys and girls in Rochester and
Utica, N .Y ., by Alice Channing.

-------------- Women’s Bureau.

Washington, 1933.

74 PP-

Bulletin No. 110: The change from manual to dial
operation in the telephone industry, by Ethel L. Best. Washington, 1933.
15 pp.

Reviewed in this issue.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1549

P U B LIC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G TO LA B O R

Bureau of Indian Affairs.
( Mimeographed .)
Report on activities under the Indian emergency conservation work program.

U n it e d

S t a t e s .— Department

Indians at work.

of the Interior.

Washington [1933],

8 f pp., illus.

---- — ■
—-—- Office of Education.

Bulletin, 1982, No. 17, National Survey of
Secondary Education: Monograph No. I f — Programs of guidance, by William
C. Reavis. Washington, 1983. I f f pp., diagrams.

In the judgment of the author, the necessity for guidance services in the
secondary schools arises from the nature of the demand for modern secondary
education; the shifts in the social and economic order to which the secondaryschool student must make adjustments; the adolescent’ s need for counsel and
guidance; and the need of eliminating waste in educational processes.
---------- -—1-—-— ——■Monograph No. 21— Instruction in the social studies, by
William G. Kimmel.

Washington, 1983.

105 pp.

Outlines and analyzes social studies in both junior and senior high schools and
gives suggestions for improving the teaching of social studies.
■
—-— Federal Board for Vocational Education.

Bulletin No. 169, Agricultural
Series No. f f : Analysis of special jobs in farm forestry— Timber farming for
profit, including woods management and free planting of marginal, submarginal,
and idle lands. Washington, 1938. f 2 pp.

This pamphlet was prepared for the use of teachers of vocational agriculture
in instructing persons on jobs having to do with production of timber crops.
■
—-—- Interstate Commerce Commission.

Bureau of Statistics. Accident Bulle­
tin No. 101: Summary and analysis of accidents on steam railways in the
United States subject to the Interstate Commerce Act, calendar year 1932.
Washington, 1933. 88 pp., charts.

Data from this summary are published in this issue of the Monthly Labor
Review.

Official— Foreign Countries
B e l g i u m .— Ministère

de l’Intérieur. Office Central de Statistique.

statistique de la Belgique et du Congo Belge, 1933.
paging.]

Brussels, 1983.

Annuaire
[Various

This statistical yearbook includes data on cooperation, various types of socialinsurance funds, workers’ dwellings, strikes and lockouts, and industrial accidents,
together with data on the number of employees in different industries. While
some of the statistics in the volume are for 1932, most of them are for earlier years.
C a n a d a .— Bureau

of Statistics.

The Canada year book, 1983.

Ottawa, 1933.

I l f 6 pp., maps.

Gives statistics on wages, employment and unemployment, production, prices,
cost of living, trade-union membership, fatal industrial accidents, workmen’s
compensation, strikes and lockouts, old-age pensions, the cooperative movement,
immigration, etc. Information on 1932 labor legislation from this publication is
given in this issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
------ ------ Seventh Census of Canada, 1931.

Bulletin No. X X X I : Gainfully
employed 10 years of age and over for Canada and the Provinces, 1931. Ottawa,
1933. 23 pp.

Of the 3,924,533 persons 10 years of age and over gainfully employed in 1931
in Canada, 3,258,614 were males and 665,919 were females.
C e y l o n .— [Registrar

General and Director of Commercial Intelligence?] Annual
general report for 1982 on the economic, social, and general conditions of the
island. Colombo, Ceylon Government Press, 1983. 101 pp., map, charts.
( Compiled from the reports of the government departments.)

Includes some data on housing, labor, wages, and cooperative societies.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1550

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

Dirección General de Estadística. Censo de personas sin trabajo
ano 1932 {artículo transitorio del decreto legislativo No. 5A. de 16 de julio de
1932). San José, 1933. 35 pp.

C osta _ R ica.

Census of unemployed workers in Costa Rica.
F e d e r a t e d M a l a y S t a t e s .— Labor

1932.

Kuala Lumpur, 1933.

Department.

Annual report for the near

63 pp.

Some data on wages of laborers on rubber and copra estates are given in the
report.
Bureau de la Statistique Générale. Annuaire statistique, 1932.
[ Various paging.]
Contains statistics of welfare institutions, cooperative and mutual agricultural
credit organizations, wages and hours of labor, unemployment, savings and
insurance funds, and accidents.
P r a n c e .-

Fans, 1933.

Home Office.

G r e a t B r it a in .

and workshops.

Welfare Pamphlet No. 5: Ventilation of factories
London, 1933. 51 pp., diagrams, Ulus. (Second edition.)

An illustrated description of various types of factory ventilation systems.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O f f i c e .— International survey of legal decisions on labor

law, 1931. Geneva, 1933.
agent, Boston, Mass.)

372 pp.

(W orld Peace Foundation, American

The countries covered are England, France, Germany, Italy, and the United
States.
Department o f Industry and Commerce. Report for 1932
[of "proceedings in connection with the administration of the factory and workshop acfs]. Dublin, [1933]. 15 pp.

I r is h F r e e S t a t e .—

Japan.

Cabinet Imperial.

Bureau de la Statistique Générale.

tique de I Empire du Japon.
and French.)

Tokyo, 1983.

159 pp., charts.

Résumé statis(In Japanese

Section IX of this report deals with labor and includes among other material
a census of labor, and data on operations of employment offices, strikes and lock­
outs, unemployment statistics, and wages, the latest figures on the last-mentioned
subject being for 1931.
L e a g u e of N a t io n s .

Economic Intelligence Service.

1932—33. Geneva, 1933.
agent, Boston, Mass.)

3 j5

pp.

World economic survey,
( World Peace Foundation, American

I he confusion of prices, and wages and social policy are the subjects of two
chapters.
N eth erlan ds.

Departement van Socialezaken.

uitgeoefend in 1932.

The Hague, 1933.

Verslag over het haventoezicht,
58 pp.

Annual report on harbor inspection in the Netherlands in 1932, including in­
formation on accidents, industrial disputes, unemployment, and other labor
conditions.
Statistiske Centralbyrâ. Norges bergverksdrift, 1932. (Opgaver over
bergverksdriften pa svalbard for aret 1931.) Oslo, 1933. jO pp.

N orw ay.

Annual report on mining activities in Norway in 1932, with data as to number
of workers engaged in mining and amounts paid in wages.
-------------- Statistisk àrbokfor Kongeriket Norge, 1933. Oslo, 1933.
258 pp.
Among the subjects covered in this statistical yearbook are unemployment,
work of employment offices, industrial disputes, collective agreements, tradeunion membership, wages, social insurance, cooperative societies, production,
and prices and cost of living. The data on some of these subjects come down to
1933. The section giving international comparisons includes figures on prices
and cost of living, industrial disputes, unemployment, and trade-union member­
ship in various countries.


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1551

P U B LIC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G TO LA B O R

( N o r w a y ) . — Arbeidskontor.
Arsberetning, 1932. Oslo, 1933. 27 pp.
Annual report of the Oslo Employment Office for the year 1932, including
data on applications for jobs and workers, and on jobs filled, by industries and
principal occupations.
P o l a n d .— Chief Bureau of Statistics.
Concise statistical year-book of Poland,
O slo

1933.

Warsaw, 1933.

170 pp., map.

[In English.]

Contains statistical information for Poland up to 1933, the subjects covered
including employment; salaried employees; workers employed on public works;
unemployment; employment service; social insurance, including unemployment
insurance; wages and salaries; and cost of living.
Q u e e n s l a n d ( A u s t r a l i a ) .— Registrar-General’s

and Australian statistics.

Brisbane, 1933.

Office. A B C of Queensland
336 pp., map.

Practically the official yearbook of Queensland, presented under the authority
of the State government, and giving a statistical survey of the condition and
activities of the State. Some of the labor subjects are industrial accidents, labor
organizations, work of industrial courts, labor disputes, retail price indexes, rents,
unemployment and unemployment relief and insurance, basic wages, and
“ weighted average nominal weekly rates payable to adult males for a full week’s
work.”
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s .— Labor Department.
Annual report, for the year 1932.
Singapore, 1933.

31 pp.

The report gives some data on wages of estate laborers.
S w i t z e r l a n d .— Caisse

Nationale Suisse d ’Assurance en cas d ’Accidents.

port annuel et comptes pour Vexercice, 1932.

[Berne?], 1933.

Rap­

J+6 pp.

Report on the operation of the Swiss National Workmen’s Compensation Fund
for the year 1932. The number of enterprises subject to compulsory insurance
at the end of 1932 was 42,994, an increase of 586 over the number included in the
previous year.
T o k y o (J a p a n ) . — Municipal Office. Bureau o f Statistics. Statistical abstract
for Tokyo, 1931.

Vol.IV.

Tokyo, 1933.

163 pp., charts.

Labor statistics, including daily wages, industrial disputes, etc., are given in
part VIII of this publication.
U n i o n o f S o u t h A f r i c a .— Office of Census and Statistics.
Official yearbook of
the Union and of Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland, No. 14,
1931-1932. Pretoria, 1933. 1080 pp., maps, charts.

Includes chapters on labor and industrial conditions, prices, social conditions
(including data on old-age pensions, etc.), and mines (employment, average pay,
accidents).

Unofficial
F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r . Executive Council.
Report to the fiftythird annual convention, Washington, D.C., October 2, 1933. 128 pp., charts.

A m e r ic a n

Data on benefit payments by standard national and international unions
during 1932, taken from this report, are given in this issue of the Monthly Labor
Review. A report on the recent convention of the federation including a review
of the report of the executive council, was published in the Monthly Labor Review
for November (pp. 1120-1131).
Familienpolitik, Probleme, Ziele und Wege.
fiir Standesamtswesen Gmb H., 1933. 77 pp.

B aum er, G ertrud.

Berlin, Verlag

Deals with the family as a social problem, including the influence of the depres­
sion upon the family, family welfare work, family responsibility, education,
protection of youth, etc.


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1552
B in g h a m

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
W alter V an D y k e ,

and M

^ New York, Harper & Bros., 1931.

oore,

320 pp.

B r u c e V i c t o r . H ow to interview
(,Second printing.)

I lie writers discuss the various problems connected with conducting satisfac­
tory personal interviews with a view to providing a dependable technique for
various types of interviews. There is a classified and annotated bibliography.
B lo d g ett, H a r v e y
millan Co., 1933.

A.

M akin g the most o f your income.

N ew

180 pp.

York, M a c­

’

c

A n experiment in adul
education:, Training for the unemployed in the New York City continuation
schools. New York, Public Library, 96th Street Branch, 1932. 19 nv chart
illus.
’

C i v i c C o m m i t t e e f o r A d u l t L i t e r a c y ( N e w Y o r k ).

Includes an account of the summer session of 1932 in the Brooklyn boys’ con­
tinuation school, giving data as to causes and period of unemployment of student
body, etc.
C o n f e d e r a z io n e

N a z io n a l e

a n d ls p a n is h )0me’

[1 9 3 3 ? ]'

S i n d a c a t i F a s c is t i d e l l ’ I n d u s t r i a
128 VV'

L a carta

{In Italian> French, English, German,

The Fascist labor charter or code in effect in Italy.
A l l is o n .
The cotton cooperatives in the
York, D. Appleton-Century Co., 1933. 268 pp., mans

G e e , W il s o n , a n d T e r r y , E d w a r d

Southeast

New

Social S c o n c e s ™ h ° n

Um versUy ° f

Virginia Institute for Research in the

Reviews the general situation of the cotton farmer; analyzes the cooperative
cotton-marketing associations set up in the Southeastern States, from the point of
view of finance, marketing agreements, field service, membership and deliveries,
marketing policies and procedures, etc.; and discusses the situation under Federal
aid.
Mothers’ assistance in Philadelphia— actual and potential
costs: A study of 1,010 families. Hanover, N .H ., Sociological Press, 1933117 pp. (Studies m Social Economy, Carola Woerishoffer Graduate Depart­
ment of Social Economy and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College.)

H a l l , E l iza b e t h L

A study of 1,010 familes who, through the death of their heads (married men
residing in Philadelphia), either were or might become charges upon the Mothers’
Assistance Fund of that city. The purpose of the study was to arrive at some
method of estimating, with a reasonable approach to accuracy, the maximum
amount of money needed to carry the fund for a given period in a large city like
Philadelphia. It was made in normal times, the deaths of the men whose families
were studied having occurred between December 1, 1923, and May 31, 1924
inclusive, and the figure indicated may therefore, it is pointed out, be taken also
as the minimum for times of depression.
Effects of the War on economic and social life in Finland
New
Haven Yale University Press,1933. 125 pp. (.Economic and Social History
of the World War, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Division of

H arm aja, L eo .

I2jC 0 7 l07YLvCS CLTlCL Jl i XSIOTIJ . )

Summary data are given on housing conditions, wages, hours, industrial con­
flicts, cost of living, etc.
H u g h e s , H u g h f . Cooperation here and abroad: A brief survey o f cooverative
achievement.
M inneapolis, M idland Cooperative Oil Association, 1933. f 8 pp

A vividly written account giving a brief history of the Rochdale Pioneers and
of their predecessor, Robert Owen, showing the development of certain types of
agricultural cooperative organizations and of consumers’ cooperative societies.
Incorporates the results of the writer’s life-long interest and long experience
with cooperative organizations (as director of markets of the Minnesota Depart­
ment of Agriculture).


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P U B LIC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G TO LA B O R
I n d i a n a p o l i s C o u n c il o f S o c ia l A g e n c i e s .

of a recreation survey of Indianapolis.
charts.

1553

The leisure of a people: Report
5/1 pp., maps,

[Indianapolis?], 1929.

The report deals with the various facilities provided in Indianapolis for the
use of leisure time. A bibliography is appended.
I n s t it u t f ü r K o n j u n k t u r f o r s c h u n g .

Berlin, 1933.

Konjunkturstatistisches Handbuch, 1933.

384 pp.

Contains general economic statistics for Germany for 1933 and earlier years.
Chronic illness in New York City. New York, Columbia
University Press, 1933. Vol. 1, 258 pp., charts; Vol. I I , 287 pp., charts;
appendixes. (Studies of the Research Bureau of the Welfare Council of New
York City, No. 5.)

Ja r r e t t , M ir y C.

This survey of the care of the chronic sick in New York City shows the extent
of the problem presented by the large number of persons who are chronically
disabled. The first volume deals with the different problems arising out of
such a large amount of disability, and the second with the care of the chronic
sick by different types of voluntary agencies.
J o h n C r e r a r L i b r a r y , C h ic a g o . N R A : The new deal for business and indus­
try— a bibliography, M ay-August 1933, together with a list of official publica­
tions of other new governmental agencies. Compiled by Jerome K . Wilcox.
Chicago, American Library Association, 1933. 78 pp.
The cotton textile industry of the Southern Appalachian Pied­
mont. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1933. 188 pp.,
maps, charts.

L em e r t, B en F.

A study of the cotton-textile industry of this region and of the reasons for its
growth. An exhaustive analysis of costs in comparison with those of the New
England textile regions indicates a lower labor cost in the Piedmont, which,
combined with its other natural advantages, seems to promise a continued devel­
opment, if the industry continues to meet the market’s demands.
and d e G r u c h y , C l a r e . Salvaging old age in industry.
San Francisco, Calif., Old Age Center, 1933. 7 pp.
M eh nert, K laus.
Youth in Soviet Russia. ( Translated by Michael Davidson.)
New York, Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1933. 270 pp.
M a r t i n , L i l l i e n J .,

Deals with organization and education of children, youth, and adults, includ­
ing students in the higher institutions of learning, the youth on socialized largescale farms, etc.
N e w S u r v e y o f L o n d o n L if e a n d L a b o r .

London, P. S. King & Sons, Ltd., 1933.

Volume V : London industries, I I .
435 pp.

H. A.

We move in new directions. New York, W. W. Norton &
284 VPP atch, B uel W .
Land settlement for the unemployed. [Washington, D.C.],
Editorial Research Reports, 1933. (Vol. II, No. 15,, pp. 271-287.)

Overstreet,

Co., Inc., 1933.

Reviews various attempts, by legislative enactment or actual experiment, to
forward subsistence-homestead plans. * Written with special reference to the
work of the Subsistence Homesteads Division under the N.R.A.
Housing in Philadelphia, 1932, by Ber­
Philadelphia, 1600 Walnut Street, 1933. 38 pp., maps,

P h il a d e l p h ia H o u s in g A s s o c ia t io n .

nard J. Newman.
diagrams, illus.

The book of opportunities— A dictionary of jobs: Personal
sidelights on 3,500 American occupations. New York, G. P. Putnam’s Sons,
1933. 410 pp. (Revised edition.)

P l a t t , .R u t h e r f o r d .

Includes descriptions of the latest jobs and professions and suggests that there
are novel fields of work ahead.
Bulletin, Vol. 12, No. 1: Women’s wages compared with living
costs and general community standards, 1914-1032. Portland, Oreg., 1033 ,
15 pp., chart.

R eed C o lleg e.


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

Unemployment and the child. Being the
report on an inquiry into the effects of unemployment on the children of the unem­
ployed and on unemployed young workers in Great Britain. London, Long­
mans, Green & Co., 1933. 137 pp.

S a v e t h e C h il d r e n F u n d ( L o n d o n ).

Children, young people, and un­
employment: A series of enquiries into the effects o f unemployment on children
and young people. _ Part I I , Austria, Great Britain, Poland. Geneva, Switzer­
land, 15 Rue Lévrier, 1933. 99 pp.

Sa v e t h e C h il d r e n I n t e r n a t io n a l U n io n .

Bulletin No. 16: Research in farm laboi—
scope and method. Prepared under the direction of the Advisory Committee
on Social and Economic Research in Agriculture. New York, 230 Park Avenue,
1933. 84 pp., charts.

S o c ia l S c ie n c e R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l .

F l o r a M.
A bibliography on fam ily relationships. New York,
National Council of Parent Education, 60 East Forty-second Street, 1932
273 pp.

T hurston,

Compiled for the use of professional leaders and students concerned with family
problems.
W e l f a r e C o u n c il o f N e w Y o r k C i t y .

vey of work for boys in Brooklyn.

Research Bureau.

New York, 1931.

Study 7: A sur­
319 pp., maps, charts.

“ This survey of work for boys in Brooklyn is an attempt to give the general
lay of the land as regards the organized service to boys in the borough, to measure
roughly the needs of neighborhoods for additional recreational and social service
for children, and to learn something of what adolescent boys themselves think
about their social-recreational affairs. Its aim was solely to provide Brooklyn
social agencies with information which would be useful in planning their programs
of service.”


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