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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
Operation of idle factories by Ohio relief authorities for benefit of
unemployed_________________________________________________
Child labor in the United States, 1933, as reflected by employment
certificates issued____________
Employment conditions and unemployment relief:
Census of unemployment in Massachusetts, January 2, 1934_______
State expenditures on unemployment relief in New Zealand________
Employment offices:
Activities of United States Employment Service__________________
National Recovery program:
Wage restitutions effected by Compliance Division________________
Changes in hours and wages in cotton-garment industry___________
Committee report on scrip payment of wages and company s t o r e s
Work assignment boards in textile industries______________________
Collective agreements under the construction code________________
Cooperative societies permitted to collect brokerage under codes___
Summary of permanent codes adopted under National Industrial
Recovery Act during October 1934,.___________________________
Social insurance, pensions, and retirement:
Revision of unemployment-pension plan of General Electric Co____
Benefit payments by standard national and international unions,
1933 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Industrial and labor conditions:
Readjustment of workers displaced by plant shut-downs___________
Increase of small-scale enterprises in Germany____________________
Labor laws and court decisions:
Labor legislation enacted in 1934________________________________
Establishment of wage-collection division in New Jersey Department
of Labor-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Protection of older workers against discrimination in Louisiana_____
Workmen’s compensation:
Workmen’s compensation legislation in the United States and Canada,
1934 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Health and industrial safety:
Safety and health standards for mercantile establishments_________
Occupational death rates, 1930__________________________________
Industrial diseases and poisoning in British factories, 1933_________
Labor organizations:
Policies formulated by 1934 convention of American Federation of
Labor_______________________________________________________
Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, 1934______________________
British Trades Union Congress, 1 934.______
Trade unions in Japan, 1933____________________________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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IV
CONTENTS
Industrial disputes;
Industrial disputes in October 1934---------------------------------------------Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in October 1934------Labor agreements, awards, and decisions:
First 4 months’ operation of National Labor Relations Board---------Recent decisions of National Labor Relations Board---------------------Decisions of Automobile Labor Board-----------------------------------------Decisions of National Longshoremen’s Board-------------------------------Union-label agreement of tobacco workers in Louisville, K y ----------Housing:
Building operations in principal cities of the United States, October
1934________________________________________________________
Construction from public funds---------------------------------------------------Wages and hours of labor:
Entrance wage rates of common labor, July 2, 1934----------------------Hours and earnings in the manufacture of boys’ golf hose--------------Hours and earnings of molders and mounters in stove foundries------Average wage and salary payments in various industries in Ohio, 1916
to 1932: Part 2, by Fred C. Croxton and Frank C. Croxton-------Wage-rate changes in American industries-----------------------------------Ohio—Earnings of taxicab drivers-----------------------------------------------Pennsylvania— Labor conditions in the cotton-garment industry
under the N. R. A -----------------------------------------------------------------Canada— Average annual earnings in manufacturing, 1932-------------Great Britain— Wage agreement in cotton-textile industry------------Soviet Union— Wages, hours, and labor turn-over in 1933--------------Trend of employment:
Summary of employment reports for October 1934------------------------Trend of employment in September 1934—Revised figures-------------Employment in manufacturing industries------------------------------Employment in nonmanufacturing industries-------------------------Employment in building construction------------------------------------Employment and pay rolls in cities of over 500,000 population-Employment on class I steam railroads in the United States----Employment and pay rolls in the Federal service-------------------Employment created by the Public Works Administration fundEmergency work relief program--------------------------------------------Emergency conservation work----------------------------------------------Employment on State-road projects-------------------------------------Employment on construction projects financed by the Recon
struction Finance Corporation------------------------------------------Employment on construction projects financed from regular
governmental appropriations---------------------------------------------Retail prices:
Retail prices of food, October 1934______________________________Retail prices of coal, October 15, 1934-----------------------------------------Wholesale prices:
Wholesale prices, 1913 to October 1934---------------------------------------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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T h is Issu e in B rief
Operation by the State of idle factories for the benefit of the unem
ployed has been undertaken on a considerable scale in Ohio. Clothing
and household furnishings are being manufactured. It is expected
that the 11 factories now in operation will give employment to more
than 800 workers. As only part-time work is to be given to indi
vidual workers, however, the number of persons actually employed
is expected to be at least 50 percent more when the factories are
operating at full capacity. The employees are selected from the
relief rolls and are paid in cash for their labor. The goods are to
be sold to the relief agencies throughout the State, for distribution
to persons on relief. Page 1311.
A considerable decrease in child labor occurred in 1933, after the
industrial codes began to be effective. This is indicated by the very
decided drop in employment certificates issued to children under
16 years of age, particularly for work in factories. The regulations
regarding child labor, set up by the codes, have raised child-labor
standards in all except four States. The most pronounced effect
was noted in those occupations for which employment certificates
are generally required. These and other points are brought out in
a survey, made by the United States Children’s Bureau, of children
receiving their first employment certificates for work in manufac
turing, mechanical, and mercantile industries, messenger service, and
certain other occupations. Page 1320.
The entrance wage rates of common labor in July 1934 averaged 43
cents per hour as against 35 cents in July 1933, according to the annual
survey recently completed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics covering
a large number of establishments in all sections of the United States.
The effect of the codes in raising common labor wage rates is still
more forcibly shown by the fact that the lowest rates reported in
1934 were, with few exceptions, very much higher than the lowest
rates in 1933. Page 1452.
Earnings of taxicab drivers in Ohio were found to be between $12 and
$18 a week, in a special survey made in the early part of 1934 by the
Bureau of Business Research, Ohio State University. Only under
exceptionally favorable conditions were earnings found to exceed the
maximum. On the other hand, in Toledo and Cincinnati about 30
percent of the drivers earned less than $12 per week exclusive of tips.
Weather conditions were found to have an important influence on
earnings, although many other factors such as the initiative and ability
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
v
VI
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of the drivers and the type of company management were likewise
significant factors. Page 1477.
The mortality rates for a group of gainfully occupied males were in
general much higher for semiskilled and unskilled workers than for
other occupational or employing groups, according to a recent study of
occupational death rates by the National Tuberculosis Association.
The study covered 10 States, selected because of sufficiently satis
factory reporting of occupations. The mortality rate from all
causes for a group in selected occupations was slightly higher than
for all males in the 10 States and for all males in the United States
registration area, due largely to higher rates for heart disease, cancer,
pneumonia, and suicide in the employed group. Page 1395.
Some type of labor legislation was considered by all of the State legis
latures which met in regular session in 1934- A resume of such legis
lation (exclusive of workmen’s compensation) is shown in an article
on page 1376, while changes in the basic workmen’s compensation
laws are shown on page 1387.
The use of scrip in wage payments, but not to exceed 25 percent of the
total pay of the individual worker, was recommended by the special
committee appointed by the National Recovery Administration to
study so-called “ company stores” and wage payments in other than
lawful currency. An investigation made by the committee showed
that goods sold in company stores compared favorably in quality
with those sold in independent stores, but that food prices ranged
somewhat higher in the company stores. Page 1353.
A study of the extent to which two groups of rubber workers in Con
necticut were able to readjust themselves after the shut-down of their plants,
and the effect of the payment of a dismissal wage and other factors on
this readjustment, shows that the payment of the dismissal compen
sation was of material benefit to the workers whose service qualified
them to receive it. However, the record of these workers shows that
although the company and the community attempted to fill the gap
caused by lack of wages with terminal wages, pensions, and charity,
the workers themselves had to bear the major part of the burden.
Page 1368.
Slightly over 19 percent of the 1,808,84-0 employable persons in Massa
chusetts were totally unemployed and 5.6 percent were temporarily em
ployed on Government projects on January 2, 1934, according to an
unemployment census made by the State department of labor and
industries. Of 346,021 totally unemployed persons, about 60 percent
had been without work for a year or more; 41.5 percent for 2 years or
more; 22.5 percent for 3 years or more; and 10.2 percent for 4 years
or more. The survey also showed that approximatelyfJ17,000 vo
cationally trained persons had never-worked. Page 4332.
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MONTHLY
LABOR REVI EW
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
V O L . 39, N O . G
WASHINGTON
D E C E M B E R 1934
O peration of Idle F actories by O hio R elief A u th o rities for
B en efit of U n em p loyed
HE first experiment in this country in State operation of factories
on any considerable scale is being made in Ohio. The so-called
“ Ohio Plan”, it is explained, was adopted in order “ to end a curious
and un-American situation.” There were on the one hand approxi
mately a million persons in the State who were without work, dispos
sessed, and barely subsisting on goods and money doled out in charity,
and on the other, factories standing idle for want of orders.
Ohio Relief Production Units, Inc., was formed in the attempt to
put as many as possible of these people back to work and to open up
the idle factories, producing for relief needs. This organization is a
subsidiary of the Ohio State Relief Commission, three of whose com
missioners act as trustees. Actual operations are under the direction
of the manager of the Industrial Recovery Division of the commission.
T
Labor Policies
A l l of the employees of these State factories are drawn from the
relief rolls.
When a new factory is opened, preference is given first to the former
employees of the factory, and then to other relief clients formerly
employed in the industry. This insures an experienced labor force.
Even after the worker goes to work in the factory, his name is to be
kept on the active relief list. This has been felt to be desirable (1)
because of the possibility of their being released on account of ineffi
ciency or of their needing relief to supplement their earnings and (2)
to allow the case workers to continue their contact with the family
and thus determine whether the wage is producing the maximum
benefits. It is hoped that ultimately the regularly employed opera
tives can be removed permanently from the relief rolls.
All of the factories pay at least the code rates per hour. The working
time of each employee, however, is limited to about the number of
hours per week necessary to yield his budgetary relief requirements, as
determined by the case workers of the relief agencies. In practice
there is some variation, to conform to the shift hours of the factory.
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1311
1312
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The factories operate a morning shift of 5 hours and an afternoon
shift of 4 hours. The workers whose budgetary requirements are
such as to require 30 or 25 hours’ work are assigned to the morning
shift and work, respectively, 6 or 5 days per week. The 20-hour
workers are assigned to the afternoon shift and work 5 days per week.
Persons whose budget hours fall between the regular shift hours
mentioned are assigned to the shift providing the weekly hours of
work nearest to the number called for by their budget. Thus the
23-hour worker would be assigned to the 25-hour shift, etc. As a
matter of fact, the earnings on the 25- and 30-hour shifts usually
exceed the relief formerly received, but it is explained that “ no
worker is kept who is not able to produce full value for what he is
paid.” The workers are paid in cash.
The management and supervisory employees are exempted from
the budgetary limitation. Although in some instances the super
visors were, like the rank and file of the employees, drawn from relief
rolls, they and the management are on a full-time basis. In several
cases the factory is being managed by the former owner or manager.
It is planned, eventually, to allow the employees to work overtime,
i. e., beyond the hours set by their budgets. For this extra time they
will be paid, not in cash, but in work credits. These credits will be
redeemable only in goods produced in the State factories, selection to
be made from a catalog issued by Production Units. In this way the
individual can acquire household and other goods and thus be enabled
to raise his standard of living above the relief level.
This feature of the plan will be postponed until a sufficient variety
of goods is produced to make the work-credit plan equitable. It is
felt that it would be unfair to the employees at present when the work
credits could be redeemed for only a few articles.
Present Manufacturing Units
B y t h e first week of November 1934 Production Units had in
operation 11 factories, of which 2 each are in Delaware, Cleveland,
and Dayton, and 1 each in Toledo, Hillsboro, Mansfield, East Liver
pool, and New Philadelphia. These factories are manufacturing
clothing (women’s cotton dresses, men’s suits, work shirts, overalls,
trousers, hosiery, children’s windbreakers, pull-ons, etc.), and house
hold furnishings (stoves, tables, chairs, beds, and china).
Ohio Relief Production Units was incorporated on June 15, 1934,
and the first factory, the garment factory in Toledo, was opened on
August 1. Of the 11 factories now running, the latest was opened
November 6.1 Somewhat less than $25,000 was necessary to put the
plants into condition. It was estimated that about $150,000 would
cover the first month’s operations (materials, labor, and factory
1 A ccording to a statem en t received N o v . 20, 1934, from Ohio R elief Production U n its, a tw elfth factory,
m anufacturing b lankets and overcoating, w as expected to be opened at N e w Brem en about D ec. 7.
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OPERATION OF FACTORIES FOR UNEMPLOYED
1313
overhead), but, as it proved, the actual cost was some $6,000 under
this amount.
iigure 1 (p. 1314) shows exterior and interior views of the pottery
plant at East Liverpool (unit no. 5) which went into operation under
State control on October 8, 1934. Figure 2 (p. 1315) shows the
processes in the manufacture of men’s shirts at New Philadelphia.
It is estimated that on a full code basis these factories will require a
force of over 800 persons. It is impossible to state, as yet, how many
will actually be given employment, but as all the employees will be
on a part-time basis only, the number actually employed when the
factories are operating at full capacity will undoubtedly be at least 50
percent more. This does not include the supervisory employees and
managers who are full-time workers. The table following shows, for
the individual plants, the average monthly capacity and the estimated
number to be employed (full code basis).
DA IF
01
O P E N I N G , C A P A C IT Y , A N D E M P L O Y M E N T I N S T A T E -O P E R A T E D
F A C T O R IE S I N O H IO i
Location of unit
D a te of
opening
Articles manufactured
Average capacity per m on th
N um b er
of work
ers to be
em ployed
Clothing
U n it no. 2, D elaw are __ .
U n it no. 3, Toledo
A ug.
A ug.
U nit no. 6, C leveland
U n it no. 7, C leveland .
U n it no. 8, H illsb oro____
U n it no. 9, N e w P h ila
delphia.
U n it no. 11, D a y to n ______
N ov. 6
Oct. 16
Oct. 15
Oct. 5
S u its.
Hosiery
Overalls
W ork sh irts_____
Oct. 19
R ubberized coats, and
windbreakers.
Sept. 21
Sept. 18
Oct. 26
Chairs
3,250 chairs__________________
Stoves
2,580 sto v es__________________
H ousehold furniture.. _ 4,160 beds, or 3,086 breakfast
sets, or 865 8-piece dining
room sets.
C hina___ ._ .
2,057 42-piece sets____________
3 Garments
1 ___ do
1,040 dozen garm ents_________
576 dozen m en ’s trousers, or 864
dozen b o y s’ knickers, or 380
dozen m en ’s shirts, or 480
dozen w om en ’s dresses .2
2,700 dozen suits A ____ ______
2,800 dozen pairs h o se________
2,300 dozen overalls_________
735 dozen sh irts____________
48
112
17,333 garm en ts.
H ousehold furnishings
U n it no. 1, D elaw are U n it no. 4, D a y to n __
U n it no. 10, M ansfield
U n it no. 5, E ast L iverp ool. _ Oct.
T o ta l_______
8
_
61
53
103
43
813
1 As of first w eek of N ovem b er 1934.
? 4 s e c o n d division is contem plated for th e m anufacture of w om en ’s dresses and b o v s’ suits and c o a ts
3 A second division is contem plated for the m anufacture of m en ’s, b oys’, and girls’ h e a v f s w e a t o s
The goods pioduced in the State factories are sold by Production
Units -to the State relief commission at a price which covers cost of
production plus “ profit.” The “ profits” will go, first, to pay back
the sums borrowed from the commission to start the productive enter
prise. Thereafter these profits will be covered into the general relief
funds. As the selling price is generally lower on most articles than the
price the relief agencies have been paying, the result will be to make
the relief funds “ stretch” farther.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1314
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
F i g u r e 1.—E x t e r i o r
a n d in t e r io r Vie w s o f U n it No .
d u c t i o n u n i t s . P r o d u c i n g P o t t e r y . Ea s t
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5, O h i o R e l i e f P r o
Liv e r p o o l .
OPERATION OF FACTORIES FOR UNEMPLOYED
fig u r e
2 .—W o r k r o o m s a t u n i t N o . 9, O h i o R e l i e f p r o d u c t i o n
P r o d u c i n g M e n ’s S h i r t s . N e w P h i l a d e l p h i a .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1315
U n it s,
1316
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The goods so bought are distributed by the county relief agencies
among the persons on relief. The articles of clothing are manufac
tured without trademark or label, so that there is nothing on them to
brand them as “ relief” goods. Also, in designing such items as
dresses, a special attempt is made to secure variety in both styles and
materials. On the “ durable” goods a corporation symbol is stamped,
but is so placed as to be found only if searched for. This will give
the relief commission a means of tracing resales and still enable the
clients to escape the stigma of an obvious label.
Planning of Production and Expansion
A c q u i s i t i o n of each additional factory has been undertaken only
after a detailed study. The first step is to find a factory, which appears
suitable, in the prospective field to be entered. This having been done,
an industrial engineer inspects the plant from the point of view of value,
physical condition, transportation facilities, etc. An inventory of
equipment is obtained and analyses are made of products, raw ma
terials (kinds, sources of supply, requirements, and cost), labor and
management costs, etc. An estimate of factory costs, and cash re
quirements for new machinery, repairs, etc., is then made. If the
owner is w illin g to lease his plant for State operation a contract is
drawn up, specifying the rent to be paid for the use of the plant and
all the other conditions to be met by the contracting parties.
Regarding the policy of the corporation, the following statement is
made: 1
It is the intention of the Industrial Recovery Division to acquire no production
unit without first having carefully investigated its availability to manufacture a
specific product efficiently; it will embark upon no program of manufacture until
an estimate of probable costs in a given factory convinces the director that it
will be possible to produce goods at a cost which would theoretically sell on the
open market in competition, at a selling price which would yield a profit. In short
every effort will be made to determine in advance against going into the red.
It is pointed out that advance planning is especially necessary in
order to avoid tying up large sums of public money in materials, as
material costs and overhead expenses together form about 77 percent
of the cost of production and the labor cost only about 23 percent.
A State-wide industrial survey is now being carried on. The data
being gathered will show, for each factory in the State, the normal
pay roll, the present labor force, and the percent of capacity at which
operating. Data are also being gathered as to the idle plants—their
physical condition and suitability for relief-production purposes.
Although many plants are idle and many have been offered to the State
for operation, it has been found that relatively few can be used, mainly
because their product is not of the type needed by the relief agencies.
1
1934.
Ohio R elief C om m ission.
(M im eographed.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ohio R elief Production U n its, Inc., b y B o y d Fisher.
C olum bus, A ugust
OPERATION OF FACTORIES FOR UNEMPLOYED
1317
The information thus far obtained indicates that of the plants closed
down or operating at less than 25 percent capacity, the majority are
in industries manufacturing not consumers’ goods but durable goods,
i. e., machinery, steel, etc.
An inventory of the classes of unemployed workers on relief through
out the State is also being undertaken and it is stated that “ no plant
will be operated—at least in the beginning—unless there are available
relief workers who might be employed in it. It is conceivable that
ultimately factories might sometimes be located in a spot favorable
for raw material or on account of some other advantages, even if no
relief clients were near it. In that event the relief people would be
settled near the plant.”
With a view to obtaining an indication of the potential market
for Production Units’ products, a consumption analysis is also being
made. The planning division, with the cooperation of the county
relief agencies, has been collecting information as to the types of
articles permissible in the various counties for distribution to relief
clients, and the estimated number of articles of each kind needed for
the coming winter. This information is being classified, to show the
estimated demand. Comparison of these figures with the capacity
of the State factories will show the potential field of expansion.
Effect of the Plan
W h il e there was at first considerable criticism of the plan, rather
general approval has since been gained within the State as the people
and organizations have become acquainted with the aims and policies
of the new institution. Every effort has been made to avoid injury
to the recognized business fabric. The activities of Production Units
are to be confined to persons on relief, and to production only for
their needs. None of the product is sold on the market, all the goods
being disposed of to the county relief agencies through the State relief
commission.
The plan affects workers, factory owners, business in general, and
the taxpayers in the following ways:
Workers.—It is expected that the plan will give part-time employ
ment to an increasingly large number of unemployed, as the produc
tive activities are expanded. The proponents of the plan stated, at
the outset, that the plan had “ no proper limits short of giving factory
employment to all of the 56,000 industrial workers among the State
relief clients”, producing as many of their requirements as necessary.
It is the attitude of the administrators that if the workers produce a
surplus for exchange, “ there is no reason to limit them to the severe
and practical list of things now furnished on relief.” At the same time
it is regarded as likely that some arrangement could eventually be
made for the exchange of the surplus of Production Units for the
surplus crops of the 50,000 rural relief clients in the State.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1318
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
While only partial employment is now afforded, eventually, as
already indicated, the workers will be allowed to lengthen their
working hours, receiving for this extra time credits redeemable in
commodities. In this way these people, who through these past
few years have become accustomed to privation and self-denial, will
be enabled to restock their homes and raise their living standards,
even though they are still outside the cash market.
In addition to the improved morale resulting from gainful employ
ment and a higher level of family living, the workers will profit by
being able to regain and maintain their working skill, which tends to
diminish during long periods of idleness, and thus be ready to take
advantage of any opportunities for regular industrial employment.
Factory owners.—It is emphasized that the factories are only leased,
not owned, by the State, and whenever an owner can show that he is
financially able to resume operation of his factory and can furnish
regular and effective employment it will be turned over to him. In
the meantime he benefits from the rent which he receives and from
the fact that his plant has been put into first-class condition, his
working force is being kept intact, and their skills are being main
tained. In several cases, also, the owners have been given employ
ment by the State as managers in their own factories.
Business in general.—As Production Units is not manufacturing for
the open market, it is not in competition with individual private
manufacturers, though there is competition with the individual in
dustries. Whereas the finished articles were formerly purchased by
the relief agencies from private manufacturers, hereafter they will
be obtained from Production Units. Probably the same amounts of
public funds will be spent with private business but the distribution of
the purchases will be different, greater sums going for raw materials
and less for manufactured goods. The employees of the State fac
tories are paid in cash, however, and they are at liberty to spend their
earnings for these same kinds of articles if they choose. As to this,
the following statement is made:
We cannot guarantee that the same private manufacturer will get the same
dollar as before but he will have the same chance at the dollar in circulation.
He runs no more risk of losing out to some other manufacturer if the client rather
than the State spends the money than he would if it were private business which
had put the relief client back to work. We do not intend to perpetuate the de
pression to benefit a few. N o manufacturer, of course, would assert that he had
a vested interest in the particular relief dollar he is now getting, or that the State
should be compelled to keep 200,000 Ohio families permanently idle on relief in
order to assure his business. He can only beg us to keep as many dollars per
client in circulation as before, which the relief commission intends to do.
Tbe State office is of the opinion that its work will tend to increase
the consumption wants of the employees and to develop “ future
customers who will more freely spend their money when they again
have it.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
OPERATION OF FACTORIES FOR UNEMPLOYED
1319
Taxpayers.-—The plan may not decrease the cost of public relief but
does tend to make the relief funds go farther. This is an important
point when it is considered that the maximum monthly relief in Ohio
is about $20 per family per month. While the endeavor is made to
make the amounts available cover all the items of the family budget,
in practice there are “lean” periods in which only food needs can be
supplied. Thus the desirability is evident of adopting methods by
which the available funds can be made to go as far as possible. Also*
the “ Ohio plan” is expected to prevent an increase in the cost of
relief. The 1934 cost of relief will probably prove to be nearly double
that of 1933 and it is hoped to forestall a further rise in costs in 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C hild Labor in th e U n ited S ta te s, 1933, as R eflected by
E m p lo y m en t C ertificates Issued 1
W
ITH the passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act in
June 1933 a new method of setting labor standards—among
them child-labor standards—was introduced. Through the codes of
fair competition adopted by agreement between employers and the
National Recovery Administration and approved by the President,
child-labor standards were set up, to be effective throughout an
industry without regard to the State in which it was located. Childlabor standards extending throughout all the States had previously
existed, under two Federal laws—the first enacted about 18 years
ago—but for only a few years; moreover, those laws did not directly
prohibit child labor, although they brought about its effective regula
tion by closing the channels of interstate commerce to goods produced
under conditions contrary to the standards they set up or by taxing
heavily the profits on such goods. These laws covered only factories
and mines, whereas the codes as they have developed have applied in
general to all industrial and commercial employment.
The first code set up under the National Recovery Administration—
that for the cotton textile industry, effective July 17,1933—prohibited
the employment of children under 16. Other industries adopted
codes with the same prohibition, and in September the President’s
Reemployment Agreement, applying to industries whose codes were
still pending, extended widely the application of a 16-year minimum;
however, this agreement permitted part-time employment of children
14 or over, but not in factory work and only outside of school hours,
for not more than 3 hours a day. The end of 1933 found more than a
hundred codes adopted, all setting up the standard of a 16-year
minimum for full-time employment, and as a rule requiring the same
wages and hours for minors as for adults.
These changes in industrial regulations, which raised child-labor
standards in all except four States, had their most pronounced effect
upon the very occupations in which employment certificates are gen
erally required. Issuing officers and State labor officials gave wide
spread cooperation in the enforcement of these standards, both by
refusing to issue employment certificates to children under 16 and by
providing facilities for the issuance of age certificates to those of legal
age as a protection to the employer.
In the figures for 1933 we find, therefore, varying conditions
difficult to appraise as a whole. During, roughly, the first half of the
1
R eprints of th is report, together w ith sup p lem entary tables, can be obtained from the C hildren’s
Bureau of the U . S. D ep artm en t of Labor.
1320
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CHILD LABOR IN UNITED STATES, 1933
1321
year, the figures were affected by unemployment only. After the
passage of the Recovery Act in June, and as the number of employers
coming under the codes (with the 16-year minimum) gradually
increased, the inevitable result was a decrease in the employment of
children under 16, even though employment in general increased.
When the President’s Reemployment Agreement went into effect in
September, many children between 14 and 16 returned to school
instead of seeking employment, and a very decided drop occurred
in the number of employment certificates issued, particularly for work
in factories. This decrease continued during the remainder of the year.
This situation accentuated the downward trend in the number of
employment certificates issued to children between 14 and 16 that
has manifested itself during the past decade and that has been espe
cially marked since 1929. The number of these children receiving
first regular certificates and the rate of issuance per 10,000 children
of these ages are shown in table 1 for 41 representative cities reporting
every year from 1927 to 1933.
It is believed that these figures indicate the trend of child labor in
urban districts, although they are not entirely comprehensive for
several reasons. They are limited to children who go to work for
the first time in industries for which certificates are required—that
is, manufacturing, mechanical and mercantile industries, and messen
ger service in most States, and domestic service in a few States and
cities and only rarely include children who go to work in street
trades or agriculture, Obviously, also, the figures are affected by
the degree of enforcement of the certificate law. It should be noted
that the decrease in the number of certificates issued (table 1) is
affected by the fact that for the past 4 years unemployment has
reduced the work opportunities for children mainly in occupations
for which certificates are usually required.
T able 1 .—C H I L D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S O F A G E R E C E I V 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 I F I C A T E S A N D R A T E P E R 10,000 C H I L D R E N O F T H E S E A G E S I N C IT IE S
W IT H 100,000 OR M O R E P O P U L A T I O N R E P O R T I N G E V E R Y Y E A R 1927-33 i
C hildren 14 and 15
years of age receiving
certificates
N um ber
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.
1933.
71,655
67,199
71,857
49,082
37,051
27, 556
17,042
R ate per
10,000 ch il
dren of
these ages
978
893
930
619
460
336
210
‘ Population according to 1930 census. C ities included are: A tlan ta, B altim ore, Bridgeport, B uffalo,
C hattanooga, Chicago, D en ver, D etroit, Erie, Fort W ayn e, Grand R apids, Hartford, Indianapolis, K ansas
C ity (K an s.), K noxville, Los A ngeles, L ouisville, L ow ell, L yn n , M ilw aukee, M inneapolis, N a sh v ille,
N e w H aven , N ew York, O akland, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Pittsb u rgh , Providence, R ochester
(N . Y .), St. P au l, San Francisco, Scranton, Som erville (M ass.), South Bend, Springfield (M ass.), W ash
ington (D . C .), W ichita, W ilm in gton (D el.), and Y onkers.
97667—34------2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1322
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
The wide differences in the rates of certificate issuance in the various
cities (table 2) reflect differences in the demand for child labor, in
the types of occupations for which certificates are required, and in the
completeness of certification for first jobs. They are also influenced
by the minimum school-grade requirement and the minimum age at
which work is permitted—14 or 15. Because these situations are so
seldom the same, the rates in the different cities are not generally
comparable with one another. They indicate, however, the trend of
issuance in the respective cities. During the period under review a
number of cities showed an upward trend from 1927 to 1929, but from
1930 onward the rates in practically all have been definitely downward.
The rate of issuance in 1933 was lower than in 1932 in all but 10
of the 64 cities for which reports were received for the 2 years.
T able 2 .—T R E N D OF IS S U A N C E O F F I R S T R E G U L A R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T I F I C A T E S
T O C H I L D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S O F A G E I N C IT IE S H A V IN G 100,000 O R M O R E P O P U
L A T IO N , 1927-33 >
R ate per 10,000 children 14 and 15 years of age
C ity
A lb any, N . Y ________ _____ _
A tlan ta, G a__ ___________ ____
B altim ore, M d ________________
B irm ingham , A la______________
B oston, M ass------ --------------------B ridgeport, C onn______________
Buffalo, N . Y ......... ............. ...........
Cam bridge, M ass______________
C am den, N . J _________________
C hattanooga, T en n ----------- ----Chicago, 111--------------- ---------- .
D enver, Colo__________________
D etroit, M ic h ----- --------- ---------D u lu th , M in n _________________
E lizabeth, N . J . . . ____________
E rie, P a _________________ _____
E van sville, I n d ......... ......... ........
Fall R iver, M a ss________ _____
F lin t, M ich ___________________
Fort W ayn e, Ind ____. . . . . . . .
Gary, Ind . . --------------------Grand R apids, M ic h .
H aitford, C onn _______________
Indianapolis, In d ________ _____
Jacksonville, F la ________ ____
Kansas C ity, K a n s_____ ____ _
K ansas C ity , M o _______ _ . . .
K noxville, T en n . . ---------------Long Beach, C alif____ ________
Los A ngeles, C alif_____________
L ouisville, K v_. ______________
Low ell, M a s s ... ______________
L yn n , M a ss.......................... ...........
M em p h is, T e n n .........—
M ilw aukee, W is_______________
M inneapolis, M in n ____________
N ash ville, T en n _______________
N ew ark, N . J _____ ___________
N ew Bedford, M a s s .. ________
N ew H aven, C on n ____________
N ew Y ork, N . Y .......................... .
Oakland, Calif________________
O klahom a C ily , O kla_________
Omaha, N eb r______ __________
Paterson, N . J...______ ________
Peoria, 111__________ __________
1927
1928
(2)
(2)
62
1,426
230
(2)
1, 111
1,365
(2)
(2)
227
400
260
4 160
(2)
(2)
662
(2)
(2)
(2)
117
13
4 326
1,220
231
(2)
180
174
494
(2)
315
585
638
809
(2)
956
91
540
(2)
(2)
1,643
1,688
102
(2)
179
(2)
232
53
1,171
147
948
1,181
1,238
1,298
(2)
166
320
287
* 221
(2)
(2)
304
(2)
(2)
(2.)
138
22
4 284
855
179
(2;
196
167
261
62
248
439
840
821
597
685
80
96
(2)
(2)
1, 581
1,587
82
(2)
103
(2)
219
1 P opulation according to 1930 census.
2 N o report.
8 R eport received th at no certificates were issued.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1929
990
22
1,390
(2)
1,120
1,657
1,395
(2)
(2)
259
313
254
4 215
(2)
(2)
318
(2)
2,589
(2)
228
(2)
1 338
1,029
201
(2)
297
(2)
505
30
286
530
1,277
969
341
447
64
76
(2)
(2)
1,429
1,627
85
(2)
109
(2)
240
1930
776
17
881
116
714
747
1,081
(2)
(2)
126
100
222
4 126
(2)
(2)
221
(2)
1,695
(2)
88
(2)
4 111
551
98
(2)
157
117
221
28
171
247
918
460
203
182
64
29
(2)
(2)
860
1,211
58
«
125
(2)
78
1931
593
15
563
36
527
831
859
(2)
(2)
95
43
88
4 43
(2)
(2)
102
(2)
2,054
(2)
22
(2)
4 54
345
75
(2)
65
57
182
24
101
161
1,000
438
101
111
40
18
594
(2)
879
969
29
(2)
134
(2)
19
1932
452
7
309
20
274
676
695
(2)
565
52
21
25
4 28
30
833
77
(2)
1,062
30
5
(2)
4 23
326
60
(2)
19
31
128
19
78
105
612
337
71
62
19
24
480
842
635
766
13
30
136
717
6
1933
207
30
131
14
149
487
348
157
241
42
13
10
4 10
3
316
18
3
507
4 31
30
3
4 18
254
9
13
7
23
50
(2)
57
76
366
163
14
18
9
39
272
414
447
518
16
71
142
372
12
1323
CHILD LABOR IN UNITED STATES, 1933
T able 2 .—T R E N D OF I S S U A N C E O F 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 I F I C A T E S
T O C H I L D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF A G E IN C IT I E S H A V IN G 100,000 OR M O R E P O P U
L A T IO N , 1927-33—C ontinued
R ate per 10,000 children 14 and 15 years of age
u iiy
P hiladelphia, P a ____ _________
Pittsb u rgh , P a _______________
Portland, Oreg________________
Providence, R . I ______________
R eading, P a . . . ------------------------R ichm ond, V a---- ------- ------------Rochester, N . Y ___ - - _______
St. L ouis, M o
- - - --------- St. Paul, M in n ________________
Salt L ake C ity. U ta h ----- -------San D iego, Calif_______________
San Francisco, C alif----------------Scranton, P a __________________
Seattle, W ash _________________
Som erville, M a ss______________
South Mend, Ind
-—
Springfield, M ass----------- - --Syracuse, N . Y ________________
T ulsa, O kla_______________ ____
U tica, N . Y ______ ____________
W ashington, D . C ____________
W ichita, K an s__________ - - W ilm in gton, D e l______
____
W orcester, M ass------- ------------Yonkers, N . Y ________________
1927
1928
1929
1930
1,584
602
(2)
‘ 1,830
(2)
(2)
1,467
863
173
195
(2)
112
1,185
(2)
857
247
828
599
(2)
(2)
150
63
841
(2)
1.074
1,524
417
(2)
4 1,961
(2)
(2)
1,407
745
154
247
(2)
94
1.161
(2)
801
212
818
(2)
(2)
(2)
201
77
829
(2)
909
1,613
594
294
< 2,198
w
303
1,268
(2)
128
178
38
100
1.245
(2)
897
166
853
772
(2)
1,898
221
22
921
(2)
847
977
323
141
4 1,466
(2)
196
864
C2)
74
120
72
72
849
(2)
495
89
489
363
(2)
1,101
242
9
584
(2)
735
1931
629
196
(2)
4 1, 245
(2)
115
503
212
50
54
52
41
801
(2)
351
43
267
324
(2)
921
151
3
425
(2)
443
1932
1933
362
111
222
4 797
556
44
313
93
11
37
47
20
558
82
' 139
32
271
205
78
1,002
126
6
331
171
298
127
162
15
4 348
247
31
248
34
14
(2)
31
12
194
58
52
20
126
213
62
833
49
30
194
(2)
236
2 N o report.
3 R ep ort received th at no certificates were issued.
« R ate of 15-year-old children to population 14 and 15 years of age; law does not perm it th e issuance o
regular certificates to children under 15.
Number of Certificates Issued
Children 14 and 15 Years of Age
I n t h e States and cities reporting to the Children’s Bureau 2
35,480 children 14 and 15 years of age obtained first regular employ
ment certificates and left school for work in 1933. In addition, such
certificates were issued to 270 children in places where it was not
possible to know* whether the children were actually leaving school,3
because there was no provision for a special kind of certificate for
work during vacation and outside of school hours. In areas reporting
for all 3 years the number of certificates issued in 1933 was 73 percent
less than in 1929 and 31 percent less than in 1932. As has been pointed
out, the downward trend in the number of children of these ages
receiving certificates that manifested itself throughout the depression
years received added impetus during the last half of 1933 from the
widespread prohibition of employment of children under 16 under the
N. R. A. Most of the industries for which employment certificates
are required were affected either by codes of fair competition under the
National Recovery Act or by the regulations of the President’s Reem
ployment Agreement, under both of which full-time employment of
children under 16 is prohibited. After they went into effect, therefore,
the only work opportunities open to boys and girls of 14 and 15 in
2 18 States and the D istrict of C olum bia; 78 cities w ith 50,000 or more population in 16 other States.
3 1 State; 1 city in 1 other State.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1324
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
industries for which permits were required were as a rule in the com
paratively few establishments not displaying the Blue Eagle or not
yet covered bj7 codes, and—in some localities—in domestic and per
sonal work, frequently in the child’s own home.
In spite of the curtailing effect of the codes and the President’s
Reemployment Agreement, there were actual increases in the number
of children receiving certificates in 1933 as compared with 1932 in 6
States and 11 cities in other States. These increases, though in some
localities quite small, totaled 1,544. In view of the fact that no upturn
in business conditions was reported during the first few months of
1933 and comparatively few certificates were issued in these localities
during the last 4 months, it would seem that even a short period of
increase in business activity may be immediately reflected in an
increase in child labor.
The drop between 1929 and 1933 was much more pronounced in
some localities than in others. In areas reporting 50 or more certifi
cates in 1929, 8 States and 28 cities in 11 other States showed a drop
of 80 to 100 percent in the number of 14- and 15-year-old children.
In the District of Columbia, 2 States (New York and North Carolina),
in 6 cities (Lawrence, Lowell, Los Angeles, Wilmington, Pittsburgh,
and Huntington), and in 5 other States the drop was between 60 and
80 percent, whereas in 1 State (Connecticut) the drop was less than
50 percent. A few other localities had decreases, but in these the
number of certificates issued in 1929 was very small.
Fourteen is the minimum age required by law for general employ
ment in all the States that report the number of certificates issued,
except Maine, Michigan, and Rhode Island, which have a 15-year
minimum, and Ohio, which has a 16-year minimum.4
From the localities having a 14-year age minimum there was a
report as to age for 33,416 children receiving first regular certificates.
Of these 8,640 (26 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 1933 would show a
large decrease in the proportion of these younger children leaving
school for work. However, 14-year-old children still constituted 23
percent of the 14- and 15-year-old children receiving certificates in
1933 as compared with 29 percent in 1929.
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 20 percent of the children obtain
ing certificates in 1933 were 14 years of age, and in States having this
requirement but permitting exemptions 21 percent of the children;
4 In 1933 W isconsin passed a law raising the m in im u m age for em p loym ent during school hours to 16.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1325
CHILD LABOR IN UNITED STATES, 1933
whereas in the States with a lower educational standard, 40 percent of
the children were 14 years of age. However, even among States with
1923
1930
1931
1932
1933
——— Children 14 and 15 y e a r s o f a g e
11 '■ Children li> and 17 y e a r s o f a g e
the same legal standard, the percentages vary, indicating that the
demand for child labor and other factors, also, play a part in deter
mining the age at which boys and girls go to work.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1326
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Minors 16 and 17 Years of Age
The issuance of certificates to boys and girls 16 years of age and
over is a regular practice in about one-third of the States from which
reports either for entire States or for certain cities were received.
In these localities 5 52,397 minors 16 and 17 years of age received
certificates in 1933.
In the States and cities reporting for 1929, 1932, and 1933 the
number of certificates issued to this age group decreased 47 percent
in 1933 as compared with 1929, but increased 14 percent in 1933 over
1932. This increase may reflect greater opportunities for employment,
due not only to accelerated industrial and commercial activity, but
probably also to the exclusion of children 14 and 15 years of age during
the last 4 months of the year from occupations formerly open to them.
Jobs that lent themselves to the employment of minors under 18 had
to draw nearly all their workers from the older age group during this
period.
The change from 1932 to 1933 in the number of minors 16 and 17
years of age receiving certificates in the States reporting varied from
a decrease of 24 percent in Oregon and 14 percent in Wisconsin to
an increase of 13 percent in New York and 37 percent in Alabama ; in
the cities in other States increases of more than 100 percent were
reported for 3 cities and 50 to 100 percent for 6 cities. Decreases
were reported for a number of cities, in two of these amounting to
more than 50 percent.
The number of minors 16 and 17 years of age receiving first regular
employment certificates and the rate of issuance per 10,000 minors
of these ages are shown in table 3 for 15 representative cities reporting
each year from 1927 to 1933.
T able 3 —M IN O R S 16 A N D 17 Y E A R S O F A G E R E C E I V IN G F I R S T R E G U L A R E M P L O Y
M E N T C E R T I F I C A T E S A N D R A T E P E R 10,000 M IN O R S OF T H E S E A G E S I N C IT IE S
OF 50,000 O R M O R E P O P U L A T IO N R E P O R T I N G E V E R Y Y E A R , 1927-33 ‘
M inors 16 and 17 years
of age receiving cer
tificates
Y' ear
N um ber
1927___ . _ __________
__________
1928____________________________
1929
. .. _____________ - 1930
....................
1931
-.
. _. __________
1932
____
________________
1933-_
_
___________
25,444
26,646
34,533
25,106
21,349
18,518
20,346
R ate per
10,000
m inors of
these ages
1,250
1,289
1,637
1,168
976
833
922
i
1 P opulation according to 1930 census. C ities included are: Buffalo, C olum bus, D a y to n , Grand R apids,
M ilw aukee, N e w Orleans, N e w Y ork, Niagara Falls, R ochester, Saginaw, San Francisco, Springfield
(O hio), T oledo, Yonkers, and Y oun gstow n . Figures for Buffalo, M ilw auk ee, N ew Y ork, Niagara Falls,
R ochester, and Y onkers are for 16-year-old minors; law does n ot require certificates for m inors 17 years of
age.
1 4 States and the District of Columbia: 51 cities in 8 other States.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1327
CHILD LABOR IN UNITED STATES, 1933
Information regarding the number of children in the 14- and 15year age group and in the 16- and 17-year age group receiving employ
ment certificates and the rates per 10,000 children in each age group
are available for 14 representative cities for the period 1929-33
(table 4).
The decreases from year to year, as shown in the accompanying
chart, were relatively smaller for the 16- and 17-year-old group than
for the younger group, indicating a tendency toward the employment
of older children even before the impetus in this direction given by
the N. R. A.
T able 4 .— C H I L D R E N 14-15 A N D 16-17 Y E A R S OF A G E R E C E I V IN G F I R S T R E G U L A R E M
P L O Y M E N T C E R T I F I C A T E S A N D R A T E P E R 10,000 C H I L D R E N OF E A C H A G E G R O U P
I N C IT IE S O F 100,000 OR M O R E P O P U L A T I O N R E P O R T I N G E V E R Y Y E A R , 1929-33 >
C hildren receiving certificates
14 and 15 years of age
16 and 17 years of age
Year
N um b er
1929___________ _________ _____________________
1930___________________________________________
1931___________________________________________
1932___________________________________________
1933___________________________________________
R ate per
10,000 chil
dren of these
ages
47,353
35,173
28,156
21,757
14,120
1,231
893
702
532
349
N um ber
43,709
32,478
27,840
23,600
26, 285
R ate per
10,000 chil
dren of these
ages
1,753
1,274
1,070
890
1,000
1 P opulation according to 1930 census. C ities included are: Boston, Buffalo, F all R iver, Grand R apids,
L os A ngeles, M ilw aukee, N e w Y ork, Oakland, R ochester, San D iego, San Francisco, Som erville (M ass.),
W ashington (D . C .), and Y onkers. Figures for Buffalo, M ilw aukee, N ew Y ork, N iagara Falls, Rochester,
and Y onkers are for 16-year-old minors; law does not require certificates for m inors 17 years of age.
Education of Children Going to Work
Children 14 and 15 Years of Age
O f THE 26,565 14- and 15-year-old children for whom last grade
completed was reported in 1933, 66 percent had completed the eighth
or a higher grade. In a number of States completion of the eighth
grade is required by law before children 14 and 15 years of age can
obtain a certificate for full-time work. In a few States it is required
only for 14-year-old children, and in others neither 14- nor 15-yearold children are required to come up to this standard. Practically
all the children receiving certificates in the States in which comple
tion of the eighth grade is required for both 14- and 15-year-old
children had gone this far in school, as compared with 52 percent of
the children receiving certificates in the States having a lower stand
ard for children of these ages. In the latter group of States 26 per
cent of the children receiving certificates had not gone beyond the
sixth grade, and only 16 percent had completed one or more years of
high school, whereas in the former group all the children had com
pleted at least the sixth grade, and 44 percent had completed one or
more years of high school. In the States and cities that reported
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1328
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
grade completed for boys and girls separately 70 percent of the girls
receiving work certificates, as compared with 60 percent of the bo}rs,
had completed the eighth or a higher grade.
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 increased; it was 59 percent in 1927, 61 in 1928,
63 in 1929 and 1930, 65 in 1931, 67 in 1932, and 72 in 1933. 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.
Minors 16 and 17 Years of Age
The 1933 reports show that, as would be expected, the percentage
that had completed the eighth or a higher grade was larger in the
16- and 17-year-old group (81 percent) than in the 14- and 15-yearold group (66 percent).
Sex of Children Going to Work
I n t h e group of States and cities reporting for the 6-year period
1927 to 1932 the percentage of boys among all children of 14 and 15
receiving employment certificates decreased from 57 in 1927 to 48 in
1932. This decrease continued in 1933, the percentage dropping to
41; this is probably due in part to the restrictions on the employ
ment of minors during the last few months of that year in manufac
turing and mechanical industries—an important field for boys—and
the tendency for young girls to displace older workers in domestic
service.
Among all the 16- and 17-year-old minors receiving employment
certificates in 1933 for whom sex was reported, 50 percent were girls,
as compared with 52 percent in 1932. In the localities reporting over
the 7-year period, 1927 to 1933, there was also a decrease—50 percent
to 47 percent. From 1927 to 1932 there was a trend from boys to
girls in the older group similar to that in the younger group, but in
1933 this tendency is reversed. This shift may be due to a slightly
greater increase during the last 4 months of 1933 in the opportunities
for boys of 16 and 17 years than for girls of the same ages in occupa
tions requiring employment certificates.
Occupations of Children on Going to Work
Children 14 and 15 Years of Age
As h a s been pointed out, most of the industries in which certificates
are required for employment of children under 16 were affected during
a considerable part of 1933 by the minimum-age standards of the
codes of fair competition or of the President’s Reemployment Agree
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CHILD LABOR IN UNITED STATES, 1933
1329
ment. This fact accentuated the shift reported in recent years toward
the miscellaneous types of employment that are often unregulated
by State law—domestic service, street trades, certain types of mes
senger work and personal service, agriculture, and so forth. The
probability is that this shift is even greater than is indicated by the
figures, because in a large number of States employment certificates
are not required for many of these miscellaneous kinds of work.
Of the 13,751 children 14 and 15 years of age for whom information
concerning occupations was received in 1933, 29 percent were first
employed in manufacturing and mechanical occupations, 13 percent
in mercantile establishments, and the rest in other types of work,
including public messenger and delivery service, office work, domestic
and personal service, and miscellaneous jobs. A larger proportion
of boys than of girls started to work in manufacturing and mechanical
occupations (boys 33 percent, girls 27 percent) and in mercantile
establishments (boys 24 percent, girls 6 percent).
In the group of States and cities reporting for 1929 and 1933 the
number of children 14 and 15 years old entering manufacturing and
mechanical occupations decreased 92 percent from 1929 to 1933 and
the number entering mercantile occupations, office work, and mes
senger occupations decreased 89, 95, and 91 percent, respectively; on
the other hand, there was only a 52-percent decrease in the number
entering personal and domestic service.
In localities reporting occupations entered by children first going
to work in 1932 and 1933 a smaller proportion of the 14- and 15-yearold children were certificated for employment in mercantile occupa
tions, office work, and messenger work in 1933 than in 1932, and a
much larger proportion in 1933 than in 1932 for employment in
miscellaneous occupations including domestic and personal service.
No significant change was observed in the percentage of children
entering the manufacturing and mechanical industries, although in
comparable localities 3 percent began work in manufacturing and
mechanical industries during the last 4 months as compared with 31
percent during the entire year. In the last 4 months of the year
only 15 percent went into the various types of industrial and com
mercial employment that in general are subject to the N. R. A. codes,
as compared with 50 percent for the entire year. More than half
the certificates issued after September 1 were for work in the child’s
own home.
Minors 16 and 17 Years of Age
Of the 26,943 minors 16 and 17 years of age for whom information
concerning occupation was received, 30 percent were first employed in
manufacturing and mechanical occupations, 17 percent entered mer
cantile establishments, and 53 percent went into other types of work,
including public messenger and delivery service, office work, domestic
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1330
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and personal service, and miscellaneous jobs. As in the younger
group, a larger proportion of boys than of girls began work in manu
facturing and mechanical occupations (boys 31 percent, girls 29
percent) and in mercantile work (boys 21 percent, girls 14 percent).
In the localities reporting for the 7-year period there is apparent a
shift from manufacturing industries to domestic and personal service
even greater among these older boys and girls than among the 14- and
15-year-old children.
In the localities reporting for the 2 years 1932 and 1933 the propor
tion entering manufacturing and mechanical industries increased
significantly, whereas the proportion entering mercantile occupations,
office work, and miscellaneous occupation groups (including domestic
and personal service) correspondingly decreased. There was practi
cally no change in the proportion entering messenger service.
Evidence of Age
I t is a basic principle of child-labor regulation that the best possible
evidence of age should be required before a certificate for employment
is granted. This is one of the few means of keeping children from
going to work before attaining legal age. A birth certificate has
always been recognized as the best evidence and a baptismal record
has been held second. Other types of evidence are much less reliable.
Of the 26,331 employment certificates 6 issued to 14- and 15-year-old
children on which evidence of age was reported, 83 percent were
issued on these two types of evidence. In 6 States and 46 cities
practically all certificates were issued on such evidence. In 2 States
and 14 cities the school record of age was the predominating type of
evidence accepted. Only a very few certificates (and most of these
in one State) were issued in 1933 on the evidence of the parent’s
affidavit—the least reliable kind of evidence, since economic need
may cause the parent to overstate a child’s age so that he may
obtain employment.
The Next Step
I n 1920 reports on the issuance of employment certificates were
received from 33 cities in 18 States and from the District of Columbia,
whereas in 1933 reports were obtained from 36 States in all (19 entire
States and 79 cities in 17 other States) and the District of Columbia.
In 1930, of the boys and girls 14 and 15 years of age in the United
States at work in occupations for which certificates are usually
required, approximately two-thirds were in the States cooperating
with the Children’s Bureau.7 With the increase in the number of
cities and States reporting and with the development of a more uni6 E vidence of age was reported for 14- and 15-year-old children in 13 S tates and 88 cities.
7 U n ited States. D ep artm en t of C ommerce. Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United
States, 1930: P opulation, vol. 4. W ashington.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CHILI) LAB OK IN UNITED STATES, 1933
1331
form reporting system, the analysis of this material becomes more
valuable in showing the trend of child labor in the United States
between census years. The influence of such a factor as the 16-year
age minimum in the codes set up by joint agreement under the
N. R. A. is brought out in the employment-certificate figures for 1933,
even though the prohibition was in effect for only a few months of
the year.
Even prior to 1933 the tendency had been away from the employ
ment of minors as young as 14 and 15 toward the use of older workers.
The general acceptance of the N. R. A. standard gives encourage
ment to the hope that the 16-year minimum for full-time employment
in manufacturing and commercial establishments may be made
permanent. This increases the importance of certification of the
16- and 17-year-old workers, which is already provided for on either
a compulsory or an optional basis in a large number of the States.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND UNEM
PLOYMENT RELIEF
C ensu s of U n e m p lo y m e n t in M a ssa c h u setts, Jan u ary 2, 1934
LIGHTLY over 19 percent of 1,808,840 employable persons in
Massachusetts were totally unemployed and 5.6 percent were
temporarily employed on Government projects on January 2, 1934,
according to the returns of an unemployment census of that State.
This enumeration was undertaken as a Civil Works Administration
project under the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries.
Included in the complete returns of this census is information on race,
sex, age, duration of unemployment, heads of households, industry
and occupation, vocational training, the year in which jobless young
people under 18 years of age left school, and other significant data.
The following statistics 1have been released in advance of the publi
cation of the full report now in course of preparation.
The total population of Massachusetts as of January 2, 1934, was
4,301,931 of whom 1,808,840 are reported as employable. Of these
employables, 346,021 persons were found to be totally unemployed,
102,541, or 19.6 percent, being females, as shown in table 1.
While the percentage of employable males totally unemployed
(18.9) was somewhat lower than the percentage of females wholly
unemployed (19.6), the proportion of employable males temporarily
employed on Government projects was considerably higher than the
proportion of employable females on such work—7.3 as compared to
1.4 percent. On the other hand, the proportion of females on parttime was higher than that of males, 10.4 and 9.3 percent, respectively.
The percentage of employable males on full-time was 64.3 as compared
to 68.5 of the employable females so engaged.
S
1
M assachusetts. D ep artm en t of Labor and Industries.
Jan. 2, 1934. B oston, 1934. (M im eographed.)
1332
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M assach usetts u nem ploym en t census as of
1333
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
T able 1 . E M P L O Y M E N T S T A T U S OF T H E P O P U L A T IO N O F M A S S A C H U S E T T S , B Y
S E X , J A N . 2, 1934
------------7“ ----------------------N um ber
Percent
P opulation and em p loym ent status
M ales
T otal p opulation L . .
___
P o p u lation 14 years of age and over______
E m p loyab le persons___I _______________
E m p loym en t status:
W h olly u nem ployed __________ ______
T em porarily em ployed on—
G overnm ent projects_____ ____ _______
Private w ork_______________________
E m p loyed p art-tim e________________ _____
T otal w h olly u nem ployed or not fu lly em
p lo y e d ..____ ____________ ____________
E m p loyed fu ll-tim e__________________
N o t seeking e m p lo y m e n t2. . . _____
Fem ales
2,089,368 2, 212,563
1, 598, 666 1, 730,469
1,286,224
522, 616
Total
M ales
F e
m ales
4, 301,931
3, 329,135
1,808,840
100.0
100.0
100.0
T otal
243,480
102,541
346,021
18.9
19.6
19.1
94,724
2,144
119,381
7,217
749
54,290
101,941
2,893
173,671
7.3
.2
9.3
1.4
.1
10.4
5.6
.2
9.6
459,729
164, 797
624,526
35.7
31.5
34.5
826,495
357,819
803,144 1,689, 947
1,184, 314
2,493,091
64.3
68.5
65.5
1 T h e total num ber of fam ilies enum erated w as 1,070,970, an average of 4 (4.017) persons per fam ily.
2 Includes all children u nder 14 years of age; housew ives; stud en ts 14 years of age and over; persons unable
to work; retired and aged persons; and persons voluntarily u nem ployed for other reasons.
At the beginning of 1934 only 21,404, or 1.2 percent, of the 1,808,840
employable persons in Massachusetts were black. Of 1,785,612 em
ployable white persons, 338,851, or 19 percent, were wholly un
employed, and of 21,404 black employables 32.3 percent were without
work, based on the 1934 census findings recorded in table 2.
The percentage of black employables temporarily employed on
Government projects was 6.6, slightly above that of the white em
ployables—5.6 percent; the proportion of black employables on part
time, 11.6 percent, was also somewhat higher than the proportion of
white employables on part time—9.6 percent.
T able 2 .—E M P L O Y M E N T S T A T U S OF P O P U L A T IO N OF M A S S A C H U S E T T S , B Y B A C E ,
JA N . 2, 1934
N um ber
E m p loym en t status
W hite
W h o lly u n e m p lo y ed -. . ______
______
T em porarily em ployed:
G overnm ent projects________
______ _ .
P rivate w ork___________________________
E m p lo y ed p art-tim e__________________ ________ .
T otal num ber n ot fu lly em p lo y ed _______ _____ _
E m p loyed fu ll-tim e___________________
_____
T otal gainful workers (actual and p oten tial)_____
N o t seeking em p loym en t__________________ ____ _
..
T otal persons___________ __________ .
N um b er of fam ilies________________________ __________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Black
Other
T otal
338,851
6,908
262
346,021
100,461
2,863
171,093
1,421
30
2,476
59
101,941
2,893
173,671
613,268
10,835
423
624,526
1,172,344
10,569
1,401
1,184,314
1,785,612
21,404
1,824
1,808,840
2,465,418
26,459
1,214
2,493,091
4,251,030
47, 863
3,038
4,301,931
1,056,708
12,880
1,382
1,070,970
102
1334
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The distribution of the unemployed (including those on temporary
work) is given in table 3, by ages. While 47.6 percent of the employ
ables in the age group 14-20 years were jobless or on temporary
work, only 19 percent of those in the age group 30-34 years and 19.5
percent of those in the age group 35-39 were so reported. At every
age above 14 years the proportion of employable females reported
unemployed (including those on temporary work) is lower than that
of males.
In some cases there are substantial differences in these percentages,
for example, in the 21-24 year age group the percent of employable
males wholly unemployed or temporarily employed was 33.7, and the
corresponding percentage for females was only 21.2.
T a b l e 3 —N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y A B L E P E R S O N S A N D P E R C E N T U N E M P L O Y E D IN
M A S S A C H U S E T T S , B Y A G E G R O U P S A N D S E X , J A N . 2, 1934 1
Age groups
N um ber
em p loy
able
T otal
Fem ales
M ales
Percent N um b er Percent N um ber
u n em em p lo y unem em p loy
able
ployed
ployed
able
Percent
u nem
ployed
256
1,521
12,416
24,652
42,024
50,237
52,667
52.3
60.8
63.6
56.6
51.2
45.5
38.4
51.7
62.4
66.1
61.5
56.3
50.2
43.5
136
880
5,966
11,819
20,328
23,123
24,237
52.9
59.7
60.9
51.3
45.7
40.0
32.4
97,284
52.3
86,489
42.4
183,773
47.6
120,055
148,582
143,751
152,462
149,444
131,610
115,422
85,250
68,230
40,475
25,340
33.7
25.0
21.0
20.7
20.9
22.8
24.1
26.3
28.4
31.2
26.3
93,364
82,905
54,960
48,531
41,316
33,207
27,637
17,640
13,380
6,697
3,598
21.2
13.9
13.7
15.9
16.7
19.0
19.9
21.9
20.7
21.0
14.3
213,419
231,487
198,711
200,993
190,760
164,817
143,059
102,890
81,610
47,172
28,938
28.2
21.0
19.0
19.5
20.0
22.0
23.3
25.6
27.2
29.8
24.8
T otal, 21 years and over__________ ____ _ 1,180,621
24.5
423,235
17.4
1,603,856
22.7
1,277,905
26.6
509,724
21.7
1,787,629
25.2
14 years............ ................. ............. ........................... ..
, ,,,
---------15 y e a r s , - ........................ ..
16 years. .
........................ .. . ._
................
............... .
____
_______ _
1 7 y ea rs.
18 years
. . . . . . ___ . .. ___
- ..............
19 y e a r s ... ...................... .. . ............................ .
20 years__________________________ . . ----------T otal, 14-20 years-------
------- --------------
21-24 years--------- ---------- ------------ -------------- —
25-29 y e a r s -------- ------------------------------ ---------30-34 y e a r s.. _________ _______ _____
_____
35-39 years_____________________________ _____
. . . ----------- . . . . .
40-44 years___ . . . . _____
45-49 years----------- -----------------------------------------50-54 years_____ ______ _______________ _____
55-59 years________ ____ ____ _________ ______
60-64 years-----------------------------------------------------65-69 y e a r s ................... ............. ........... ......... ...........
70 years and over_________________ _____ _ . . .
T otal, ages k n o w n _____________________
120
641
6,450
12,833
21,696
27,114
28,430
4,537
3,782
Grand to ta l------------------------------------------
1,286,224
(2)
26.4
11,834
9,377
7,297
5,595
522,616
21.1
1,808,840
24.9
1 Includes w h o lly unem ployed and tem porarily em ployed on G overnm ent projects and private work.
2 0.04 percent.
The numbers of the wholly unemployed who were unemployed for
specified periods at the date of the census is reported in table 4.
The great duration of unemployment for such a large proportion of
these jobless people is a significant feature of this table. Of 346,021
totally unemployed, 206,214, or approximately 60 percent, were job
less for 1 year or more; 143,732, or 41.5 percent, for 2 years or more;
77,965, or 22.5 percent, for 3 years or more; and 35,344, or 10.2
percent, for 4 years or more.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1335
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEE
T able 4.—L E N G T H O F T I M E S IN C E L A S T E M P L O Y M E N T O F W H O L L Y U N E M P L O Y E D
P E R S O N S I N M A S S A C H U S E T T S , J A N . 2, 1934, B Y S E X
N um b er of w h o lly unem ployed persons
D uration of u nem ploym en t
M ales
Less than 1 m on th ..........................
1 m on th and less than 2 m onths
2 and less than 3 m on ths_______
3 and less than 6 m on th s.......... __
6 and less than 12 m on th s........ ..
12 and less than 24 m on th s_____
24 and less than 36 m on ths_____
36 and less than 48 m on th s_____
48 m on ths and over................ ........
N o t r e p o r te d ..____ _____ _____
T o t a l................................ . . .
Fem ales
T otal
6,619
8,814
11,499
29,131
33, 588
42, 241
48,378
33,247
26,767
3,196
3,593
4,184
5,388
13,074
19,023
20,241
17,389
9,374
8,577
1,698
10,212
12,998
16,887
42, 205
52, 611
62,482
65,767
42,621
35,344
4,894
243,480
102, 541
346,021
In regard to duration of unemployment, females were in a more
favorable position than males as shown by the percentages in table 5.
T able 5 .—P E R C E N T M A L E S A N D F E M A L E S F O R M OF T O T A L L Y U N E M P L O Y E D , J A N . 2,
1934, B Y D U R A T IO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T
Percent of tota lly unem ployed persons
D uration of em p loym ent
M ales
l year or m ore......................... ......... ..
2 years or m ore_______ ___________
3 years or m ore__________
________.
4 years or m o r e .______ . . . . ________
Fem ales
61.9
44.5
24.6
11.0
54.2
34.5
17.5
8.4
Of 40,436 boys and girls in the age group 14-18 years who were
totally unemployed in Massachusetts January 2, 1934, more than onehalf (20,275) left school in 1933 and less than one-fourth (9,893) in
1932. Table 6 also gives the numbers of wholly unemployed persons in
the group 14-18 years of age who left school in 1929, 1930, and 1931.
T able 6.—Y E A R I N W H IC H W H O L L Y U N E M P L O Y E D P E R S O N S I N M A S S A C H U S E T T S
14 TO 18 Y E A R S O F A G E L E F T S C H O O L (A S OF J A N . 2, 1934)
Y ear of leavin g school
Sex and present age
1930
1929
Males:
14 years of age.................... ......... .......................
15 years of age____ _ __________________
16 years of a ge__________________ _______ _
17 years of age__________ ______ ______ _
18 years of a g e .___ _____________ ____ ___
T o ta l____ _____ _______ _______________
Females:
14 years of age............................ ................ ..
15 years of age________ ____________ ____
16 years of age_________ ____ ____________
17 years of age_______________ __________
18 years of age____ _______________ ______
T o ta l___________ _____ _____ ____ _____
B o th sexes:
14 years of a g e ... . .
................ .
.......
15 years of age_____ ____________________
16 years of age___________________________
17 years of age___ _______________________
18 years of age_________________ _ ______
T o ta l_______________________________ . .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N o t re
ported
T otal
1931
1932
1933
1,943
60
393
3,970
7,083
9,847
21,353
1
5
140
681
1,440
63
676
1,937
2, 660
197
11
203
575
789
2,267
5,336
48
311
2, 958
3, 764
3,740
10,821
1
6
24
184
215
2
23
213
564
802
6
173
643
1,140
1,962
3
85
676
1,611
2,182
4, 557
67
413
2,511
2,864
3,599
9,454
2
16
189
582
1,304
2,093
72
523
3, 578
5,937
8,973
19,083
1
1
7
48
355
412
2
34
416
1,139
1, 591
1
11
313
1,324
2,580
4,229
3
148
1,352
3,548
4,842
9.893
115
724
5,469
6,628
7,339
20, 275
12
30
373
1, 056
2,565
4,036
132
916
7,548
13,020
18,820
40,436
1
1
24
171
10
14
184
474
1,261
1336
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
As shown in table 7, approximately 17,000 vocationally trained
people in Massachusetts had never worked, according to the returns
of the 1934 census.
The largest group—11,292 persons, or 66.8 percent—of the voca
tionally trained persons who had never worked were those who had
been prepared for clerical occupations. Included in this group of
11,292 persons were 7,716 stenographers, typists, etc., of whom
5,774 were females. In the professional class 2,521 were reported as
never having worked—102 being trained as draftsmen, 112 as chem
ists, 195 as artists, 414 as engineers, and 1,130 as teachers.
Those trained in the manual occupations who had never worked
numbered 2,675, among whom were 496 trained as mechanics, 216 in
the printing trades, 211 as machinists, 330 as electricians, 160 as
carpenters, and 149 as cabinetmakers.
T a b l e 7 .—D I S T R I B U T I O N O P P E R S O N S I N M A S S A C H U S E T T S W H O H A D N E V E R
W O R K E D , A C C O R D IN G TO T H E O C C U P A T IO N F O R W H IC H T H E Y W E R E T R A I N E D ,
J A N . 2, 1934
O ccupations for w hich
training w as given
N um b er of persons
w ho never worked
M ales
F e
males
T otal
159
326
40
38
57
33
210
494
148
212
140
253
1
4
1
1
1
2
1
4
234
4
160
330
41
39
57
33
211
496
149
216
374
257
88
224
312
T otal, m an u al________ 2,198
477
2, 675
M anual:
Carpenters
E lectricians - - __ ___
P ainters______ - - ____
Plum bers
T in sm ith s _
_ - _
Stationary engineers - _ _
M achinists_____________
M e c h a n ic s ______ _____
C a b in e tm a k e r s ..._____
P rinting trades
. .
Other skilled w o r k .. . .
S em iskilled w ork___ __
D om estic and personal
service_________ _____
Clerical:
Stenographers, typ ists,
etc ________ . . . . . . 1,942
Bookkeepers, account713
ants, etc______________
817
Other office w ork_______
Salesm en, e t c . ____ . . .
127
T otal, clerical. . . . . _ 3,599
5, 774
7,716
691
1,062
166
1,404
1,879
293
7, 693
11,292
O ccupations for w hich
training w as given
N um b er of persons
w ho never worked
F e
M ales m ales
Professional:
Engineers____
. . _ .
C hem ists_______________
D raftsm en_________ . . .
T eachers___________ . .
A rtists_________________
M u sicians______________
D octors and d en tists----N urses, tra in ed __ _____
L a w y ers_____ _____ _ .
O ther__________ ____
81
149
146
414
112
102
1.130
195
72
33
87
81
295
T otal, professional___
1, 368
1,153
2, 521
N o t reported_______________
266
159
425
7,431
9,482
16, 913
N o vocational tr a in in g .. . . . 23,964 11, 990
35,954
T o ta l,
414
112
102
341
95
45
29
Total
789
100
27
4
87
v o c a t io n a lly
Approximately 30 percent of the 338,014 employable persons in
Boston were wholly unemployed or on temporary work on January
2, 1934, as will be noted from table 8. The percentage unemployed
in Boston was higher than for 8 other cities in the State having a
population of 100,000 or more. Worcester with 85,334 employables
had 19.5 percent unemployed or temporarily employed. The per
centages for the other 6 cities ranged from 22.4 in Springfield to
27.3 in Lynn. In all nine cities the proportion of employable females
reported unemployed or temporarily employed was below that of the
males.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
1337
T a b u s 8 — P E R C E N T OF E M P L O Y A B L E W O R K E R S U N E M P L O Y E D i I N M A S S A C H U
S E T T S A N D I N S P E C I F I E D C IT IE S O F T H E S T A T E , B Y S E X , J A N . 2, 1934
E m p loyab le workers
P opula
tion
State and city
M ales
Fem ales
N um b er
Percent
unem
ployed
N um ber
S ta te______________ _ _
24,301,931 21,286,224
4,255,229 1,283,004
26.5
26.5
2 522, 616
518, 794
B o sto n __________________ .
2 777,266
773,656
113,137
122, 713
101,820
104, 593
2 109,459
109, 311
106,875
147, 977
2 210, 700
208,126
31.7
28.6
24.5
24.5
28.1
3 294
103,299
15,911
19,802
14, 788
14, 392
C am bridge. .
. . . . .
Fall R iv er________
L o w ell. _____ ____ . . .
L y n n . . . ______ _
N ew B e d fo r d ____ _ _. .
S o m erv ille ..
. _
Springfield . . ______ . .
W orcester _. ____ _ _ _.
.
3 225
234,715
32,494
36,420
30, 263
32, 727
3 14
33,110
32,272
44,955
3 158
62,147
24.3
25.5
23.7
20.9
T otal
Percent
u nem
ployed
< 18,465
12, 616
17, 952
3 212
23,187
N um b er
Percent
unem
ployed
21.1 21,808,840
21.3 1,801, 798
25.1
20.8
19.8
24.0
25.3
19.2
22.9
19.2
15.8
24.9
25.0
3 519
338,014
48,405
56, 222
45,051
47,119
3 14
51,575
44,888
62,907
3 370
85, 334
29.7
26.1
22.9
24.4
27.3
22.5
24.8
22.4
19.5
1 Includes w h olly u nem ployed and tem porarily em ployed.
2 Includes State or Federal in stitu tion s.
5 E m p loyed in d ivid u als in State or Federal in stitu tion s only.
* N o staff m em bers livin g in in stitu tion s.
S ta te E xp end itu res on U n em p lo y m e n t R elief in New Z ealand
ALMOST two-tliirds of the State unemployment relief expendiX X tures in New Zealand in 1933-34 were made through the unem
ployment fund. In that year there was a substantial reduction in dis
bursements for public works, including main highways, as compared
with the preceding year and an increase in expenditures for “ other
departments”, including the New Zealand railways. The total cost
of unemployment relief to the Government in 1933-34 amounted to
£4,674,283. The following table, taken from the report of the Unem
ployment Board of New Zealand for 1934, shows the changes in total
expenditures for unemployment relief and those under five major
groupings between 1926 and 1934.
S T A T E E X P E N D I T U R E S O N U N E M P L O Y M E N T R E L IE F I N N E W Z E A L A N D , 1926 T O 1934
[Pound at par=$4.87; average exchange rate, A ugust 1934, w as $4.05]
Year
1926-27__________________
1927-28_____________
1928-29_________________ .
1929-30________________
1930-31______________
1931-32._____ _______
1932-33______________________
1933-34___________________
T otal
............................ ..
97667—34------3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pub lic
W orks
D ep art
m ent (in
cluding
m ain high
w ays)
State
forest
service
Other
depart
m ents (in
cluding
N ew Zea
land rail
w ays)
£130,000
379, 565
680,393
914,109
1, 249,446
886,953
484, 554
355, 691
£14,240
27, 550
50,250
185, 400
82,000
74,000
2,000
£3,500
204,464
21,933
14, 684
12,088
185,906
5,080, 711
435,440
442, 575
Subsidies
to local
bodies
£75,106
68,566
111, 728
116,768
11,478
216
383, 862
U n em ploy
m ent
fund
T otal
£313, 209
2,216,886
3,687,897
4,130,686
£144,240
482,221
802,709
1, 415, 701
1,783, 356
3, 204,001
4,184, 755
4,674, 283
10, 348, 678
16, 691, 266
1338
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The figures show that expenditures for the State forest service and
“ other departments” reached their peak in 1929-30, or a year before
unemployment fund expenditures began and that disbursements for
public works did not reach the highest point until 1930-31, when the
unemployment fund came into existence. With the exception of
expenditures under “ other departments”, a steady decline occurred
in all years following the peak, the cost of unemployment relief having
been charged to the unemployment fund to a greater degree in each
successive year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
A ctiv ities of U n ited S ta te s E m p lo y m en t Service
Employment Opportunities in Various Sections of the Country
ITH statistics drawn from every sizable community in the
W
country, the operating reports of the United States Employ
ment Service offer some useful indications with respect to employment
conditions and relative opportunities existing throughout the country.
Reports of the Service for the 3 months ended September 30,
1934, indicate that the greatest pressure of unemployment during
that period was felt in the highly industrialized States of New York,
New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. At the opposite end of the scale in
employment, as also geographically, the three States of the Pacific
coast showed relatively the most favorable conditions, while in the
agricultural States of the Middle West comparatively favorable place
ment conditions also prevailed. The better-than-average level of
placements in agricultural States probably is of a temporary nature
and a result of increased seasonal activities in road building and
farming during the late summer and early fall.
During 15 months of operation as a unified service, the United
States Employment Service at the end of September had registered
over 13,670,000 persons seeking employment opportunities and on
that date reported approximately 7,000,000 still in the active file.
In this period a total of 7,830,000 placements in regular and temporary
jobs was made by the public employment service.
The number of persons who have registered with the Service con
stitutes over 11 percent of the total population of the country as
reported in the 1930 census, and approximately 28 percent of the
number reported gainfully employed in that year. The 7 million
actively seeking jobs through the Service at the end of September
constitute 5.6 percent of the 1930 population and over 14 percent of
the gainfully employed.
Great pressure for employment and continuing lack of work
opportunities in the highly industrialized States of the Middle
Atlantic group are strikingly emphasized by the fact that 18.6 percent
of the 1930 gainfully employed in that area were seeking work through
public employment offices in September. Registrations from this
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1339
1340
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
area, which had 21.4 percent of the total population of the country
and 22.4 percent of the total gainfully employed in the last census,
accounted for 27.9 percent of the active file. Demands from this
section, which includes the States of New York, New Jersey, and Penn
sylvania, are continuing at a higher rate than in any other section of
the country. During the 3 months ended September 30, over 30
percent of all persons registering with the employment system in the
whole country came from this area. During the same months em
ployment offices in the section were able to make only 15.9 percent
of the total placements made in the Nation.
The results reported for the New England and East North Central
districts, likewise areas of considerable industrialization, show a
different result. The registrants in the active file in New England
at the end of September constitute 13.4 percent of the gainfully
employed in 1930, while the number of new applications handled during
the last 3 months as well as the active file total at the end of September
are all well below that area’s proportion of the Nation-wide total.
In the East North Central district, comprising Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, persons registered for employment
on September 30 equal only 10.9 percent of the 1930 total of
gainfully employed. Applications in this area were also below the
section’s proportion, based on census relationship.
Approaching the Middle Atlantic area in proportion of 1930
gainfully employed now seeking employment is the Mountain States
region with 17.4 percent actively registered. While this region
accounted for considerably more than its relative number of applica
tions for work during the preceding 3 months, it made a much higher
proportion of placements, 8 percent of the country’s total being re
ported, compared to 2.9 percent of the Nation’s total of gainfully
employed who resided here in 1930 and the 3.6 percent of the total
applications in active file which were reported for these States at the
end of September.
The Pacific Coast States of California, Oregon, and Washington
reported relatively the lowest pressure by the unemployed. In this
section only 8.5 percent of the number of 1930 gainfully employed
were actively registered for employment at the end of September
(not including registrations with the California State Employment
Service, which does not report to the United States Employment
Service). Current applications also were well below the proportion
of the total during the 3 months, while the number of placements was
slightly ^higher. In the West South Atlantic States of Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas the same conditions prevailed in a
somewhat lesser degree.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
1341
I lie agricultural States of the Middle West and Old South repre
sented in the West North Central and South Atlantic groups, on the
whole, reported active files and current applications running in close
relationship with these States’ proportion of gainfully employed.
Both of these sections showed relatively high rates of placements
due, no doubt, to harvest activities during the period. In the East
South Atlantic group, which includes Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi,
and Tennessee, somewhat less favorable conditions prevailed.
Although current registrations for work were below these States’
relative proportion, the number in active file was higher and the
number of placements which could be made was considerably lower.
Placement Activities During September
D u r i n g September the number of persons placed in employment by
offices of the United States Employment Service in 30 States exceeded
the number who (during that month) registered for the first time with
the Service. In 12 States placements were double new registrations.
In 2 of these States, Idaho and South Dakota, approximately 3 place
ments per new applicant were reported while in Montana a ratio of
nearly 4 to 1 was maintained.
For the country as a whole an average of 133 new applicants regis
tered with the Service for every 100 persons placed. In August the
number of new applicants per 100 placements was 119 and in July, 110.
This excess of new applications has resulted mainly from heavy regis
trations in the industrial States of the New England, Middle Atlantic,
and East North Central districts. Registrations were highest in
Pennsylvania where the 93,715 new applications reported for Septem
ber resulted in a ratio of 4.58 new applications per placement. In
New York, which was second highest with 25,991 new applications,
the number of new applicants per placement was 1.88.
New applications with the United States Employment Service
in September showed a decline from the previous month for the first
time since May and moderate declines were reported in other fields
of activities as well. This condition was characteristic of the affiliated
or cooperating State employment services as well as the National
Reemployment Service. A rise in the number of total applications
with the State employment services, resulting from increased reregis
trations and renewals by persons who had previously registered with
the Service, was the major exception to this trend. The number of
applications in active file showed only a nominal decrease compared
to a 8.1 percent drop in new applications, a 12.2 percent decline in
total applications, and a 17 percent drop in placements as compared
with August.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1342
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 1.—G E O G R A P H IC A N A L Y S IS O F P L A C E M E N T R A T IO S , U . S. E M P L O Y M E N T
S E R V IC E , 3 M O N T H S E N D E D
P lacem ents
Geographic division
N ew E n glan d .
...
.
. . . .
...
. ____ _
M idd le A tlan tic...................
................
.................
E a st N orth Central ...............
. . . . . . ____ _
. . . . ___ ____
W est N orth C entral____________
South A tla n tic____________
_______ ____________ __
E ast South A tlan tic___
..
.......................... ...........
W est South A tla n tic_________ .
..
._ . . . .
M ou n tain ___ _ .
__
_
.
. ___
Pacific____ . . .
.
.
. ...
. . . .
T o ta l..
.
....................
S E P T . 30, 1934
.............
.
____
N ew appli
N ew appli
cations per
cations
placem ent
A ctiv e file
per place
m ent
(m onthly
average)
46,458
139,113
140,105
147,190
123,674
49,985
101, 215
70,266
65,166
63, 730
316,117
200,502
139, 540
118,671
45, 019
77, 085
38, 238
45,027
1.37
2.27
1.43
.94
.95
.90
.76
.54
.69
29. 58
42.61
23. 52
15. 78
21.42
36. 64
18.45
10.91
18.48
883,172
1, 043,929
1.18
24.06
T able 2.—P E R C E N T A G E D I S T R I B U T I O N OF O P E R A T IO N S O F U . S. E M P L O Y M E N T
S E R V IC E , 3 M O N T H S E N D E D
S E P T . 30, 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
U . S. E m p lo y m en t Service
Population in
1930
Geographic division
N ew E n glan d _______________ ____________
M idd le A tlan tic______________________ __
E ast N orth C entral_______________ ______
W est N orth C entral___ . . _____ _____
South A t la n t ic ________ .
E ast South A tlan tic........................ .................
W est South A tla n tic________ _______
M ou n tain _____ ________________________
Pacific___________________ __________ .
T o ta l___
. . ____________ _______
G ainfully
em ployed
in 1930
Place
m ents
N ew ap T otal ap
plications plications
A ctive
file
6.7
21.4
20.6
10.8
12.9
8.1
9.9
3.0
6.7
7.0
22.4
20.7
10.3
12.4
7.7
9.3
2.9
7.3
5.3
15.8
15.9
16.7
14.0
5.7
11.5
8. 0
7.4
6.1
30.3
19.2
13.4
11.4
4.3
7.4
3.7
4.3
4.9
24.8
19.3
14.7
11.4
5.7
10.5
4.8
3.9
27.9
15.5
10.9
12.5
8.6
8.8
3.6
5.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
T able 3.—P E R C E N T A G E
O F P O P U L A T IO N O F P R I N C I P A L G E O G R A P H IC A R E A S
R E G I S T E R E D W IT H O F F IC E S OF U . S. E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E , S E P T E M B E R 1934
Persons in active file of U . S.
E m p lo y m en t Service, Sept.
30, 1934
Population
in 1930
Geographic division
G ainfully
em ployed
in 1930
N um b er
N e w E n glan d ..... ...........................................
M id d le A tla n tic ._____ _______________ ______
E ast N orth C entral________________________
W est N orth C entral.
.............
South A tla n tic_______ _____ _ ____ ______
E ast South A tla n tic .. . . .
W est South A tla n tic____________________ _
M o u n ta in ____________ _______ _
. .
Pacific........ ............... ..
T o ta l.. ............................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. ...
Percent Percent
of gain
of popu fu lly em
lation
ployed
8,166, 341
26, 260, 750
25,297,185
13,296,915
15, 793, 589
9,887,214
12,176,830
3,701,789
8,194,433
3,431,167
10,957,546
10,108, 321
5,052,837
6,055,304
3, 736, 681
4,518,232
1, 394,813
3,575,019
459,059
2,037,616
1,097,154
746,717
859,158
582,863
614,166
242,331
302,626
5.6
7.8
4.3
5.6
5.4
5. 9
5.0
6. 5
3.7
13. 4
18.6
10.9
14. 8
14. 2
15.6
13. 6
17. 4
8.5
122,775,046
48,829,920
6,941, 690
5.7
14.2
1343
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T a b l e 4 —P L A C E M E N T S M A D E B Y O F F IC E S O F C O M B I N E D S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T
A N D N A T I O N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
N ew applications
per placem ent
P lacem ents
A ctiv e file per
placem ent
State
A u g u s t1
Septem
S ep tem Percent of
A u g u s t1
ber
ber
change
A u g u st1
Septem
ber
A labam a___________ _________
Arizona___________ - _ _
A rkansas----------------- .
C alifornia_______________ _
C olorado___ ___
„
—
4, 238
3,312
5, 358
13,886
3,217
5,512
1,323
5,414
5,844
2,814
+ 3 0 .1
+ .8
+ 1 .0
(2)
- 1 2 .5
1.27
.67
1.15
.89
1.01
0. 62
.59
.71
.89
1.17
26.2
19.8
8.9
15.1
21.7
16.8
15.5
7.4
10.7
25.4
C onn ecticu t- „ ___ . . . _____
D elaw are________ ____________
Florida __________________ Georgia______________ _______
___ Idaho______
3,755
954
5,685
6, 271
2,983
2,457
844
4,350
4,517
2, 532
- 3 4 .6
- 1 1 .5
- 2 3 .5
- 2 8 .0
- 1 5 .1
1.65
.70
.68
1.28
.36
2.01
.64
.68
1.76
.30
13.2
13.7
24.7
25.6
9.9
21.2
15.8
29.8
41.1
12.4
Illin o is------------------------ - _
Ind iana____ _______________
Io w a ----------------- ----------------------K an sas------------------------------------K entucky
________ _______
13,137
5, 768
7,935
5,409
3,900
13,765
5,188
7,832
4, 533
2,968
+ 4 .8
- 1 0 .1
- 1 .3
- 1 6 .2
- 2 3 .9
1.83
1.40
.67
.70
.85
1.37
1.28
.52
.74
1.07
14.1
39.0
9.2
26.6
59.3
14.4
40.5
7.6
31.4
76.8
L ou isian a. _ ------------------------. . .
M a in e. . . . . .
.................... ...
M a r y la n d ..
-- - - - - - M assa ch u setts_________________
M ich igan ____________ ________
3, 447
748
3,962
5,879
6,199
2, 500
957
3,115
4,878
4,861
- 2 7 .5
+ 2 7 .9
- 2 1 .4
-1 7 . 0
- 2 1 .6
.81
3. 82
1.28
1.63
1.46
.82
1.66
1.10
1.51
1. 55
43.3
26.8
21.9
52.3
52.5
59.9
25.9
27.1
62.1
68.0
M in n eso ta ________________ ___
M ississip p i____________________
M iss o u r i... ------------ - .- ____
M o n ta n a______________________
N eb raska-------------------- -----------
15,114
4,361
9,848
6,919
6,100
13, 766
4,438
9,533
3,889
5, 327
- 8 .9
+ 1 .8
- 3 .2
- 4 3 .8
- 1 2 .7
.66
.63
2. 25
.24
.75
.66
.50
2.07
.28
.66
9.9
20.4
22.4
7.1
11.0
9.5
18.0
23.7
11.5
12.7
N ev a d a ___ - - ------------------------N ew H a m p sh ire.- . . . _____
N ew Jersey------------------------------N ew M exico. . .
N ew Y o r k ...
----- --. -------
1,377
1,888
4,230
1,907
13,661
1,212
3, 657
4,081
3 1,157
13i 851
- 1 2 .0
+ 9 3 .7
- 3 .5
+ 1 .4
1.19
.81
2. 44
.74
2. 33
.92
.55
1.93
.91
1.88
5.0
9.0
23.4
18.3
64.3
4.8
4.8
25.7
25.9
64.2
N orth C arolina.. . . . ________
N orth D a k o t a ... _____________
O hio---- -------- --------------------------O klahom a-------------------------------O r e g o n ..._____________________
7,288
2,866
13,191
3,740
4,245
5,229
2,331
11,465
3, 744
3,281
- 2 8 .3
- 1 8 .7
- 1 3 .1
+• 1
- 2 2 .7
.90
.64
2.00
.85
.56
1.04
.68
1.89
.57
.55
11.5
9.5
21.5
66.8
21.1
15.9
11.3
23.5
65.0
27.1
___________
P e n n sy lv a n ia ..
R hode Isla n d ---------------------- . . .
South C arolina------------------------South D a k o ta -------------------------T en n essee___________________
42,701
843
7,148
4, 726
2,934
20, 473
728
5, 238
3, 257
3,188
- 5 2 .1
- 1 3 .6
- 2 6 .7
-3 1 .1
+ 8 .7
1.63
1.33
.67
.36
1. 15
4.58
1.13
.51
.35
.77
23.4
60.5
20.2
20.4
61.4
5.1
65.8
27.6
29.0
57.2
T exas.
U ta h __________________________
V erm on t______________________
V irginia___________ __________
W ashington . . . --------------------
3 19,771
3,833
1,421
6, 323
5,592
3 14, 689
3, 307
765
5,817
4, 632
- 1 3 .7
- 4 6 .2
- 8 .0
- 1 7 .2
.69
.54
.55
.78
.71
.68
.48
.88
.65
.65
9.5
8.4
9.3
12.5
27.4
12.3
8.6
18.1
14.6
32.6
W est V ir g in ia .. . ........................
W iscon sin ____________________
W y o m in g _______ ____________
D istrict of C olu m bia----- ----------
3, 753
7,603
1,467
1,312
3, 776
7.217
1,950
1,409
+ .6
- 5 .1
+ 3 2 .9
+ 7 .4
1.14
.89
.65
2. 21
.78
1.05
.41
1.71
26.8
11.4
7.3
33.1
25.2
12.3
5.3
27.1
T o ta l____________________ 3 310, 205
3 249, 611
4 - 1 7 .0
1.19
1.33
23.0
27.8
1 R evised figures.
2 N o t comparable, due to transfer of Los Angeles from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to nonreporting
S tate em p loym ent service as of Septem ber.
3 Incom plete.
4 C om puted from comparable reports only.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1344
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 . —R E G I S T R A T I O N S W I T H O F F IC E S O F C O M B I N E D S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T
A N D N A T I O N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V I C E S , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
N ew applications
State
A u g u s t2
T otal applications 1
A ctiv e file
Percent
Percent
S ep tem
S ep tem
of
A u g u s t2 ber
of
ber
change
change
A u g u st2
S ep tem
ber
Percent
of
change
A lab am a______ _
A rizona----- -------A rkansas_________
C alifornia________
C o lo ra d o ..- --------
5,388
884
6,157
12, 297
3, 254
3, 434
772
3, 835
5,227
3, 288
- 3 6 .3
- 1 2 .7
- 3 7 .7
(3)
+ 1 .0
19, 839
2, 607
17, 588
20,399
8,953
14, 476
2,340
12, 589
12,667
9,013
- 2 7 .0
-1 0 . 2
- 2 8 .4
(3)
+ .7
111, 171
26, 008
47, 767
209,127
69,940
92,856
20, 536
39,893
62, 566
71,414
- 1 6 .5
- 2 1 .0
- 1 6 .5
(3)
+ 2 .1
C onn ecticu t__ D elaw are-Florida _________
Georgia „
-- Idah o------------- ---
6,190
672
3,858
8, 005
1,077
4, 944
541
2,971
7, 937
916
- 2 0 .1
- 1 9 .5
- 2 3 .0
- .8
- 1 4 .9
9, 795
2, 279
9, 350
21, 245
3, 938
8,823
2, 663
9,461
16, 255
4,447
- 9 .9
+ 16.8
+ 1 .2
- 2 3 .5
+ 1 2 .9
49, 543
13, 077
140,152
160, 313
29, 508
52,109
13, 346
129,587
185,425
31,328
+ 5 .2
+ 2 .1
—7. ö
+ 1 5 .7
+ 6 .2
Illin o is____ Ind iana___ -- -I o w a __ .
___ Kansas
___
K e n tu ck y . ______
24, 041
8,100
5, 280
3,786
3, 320
18,883
6, 655
4,065
3, 353
3,169
- 2 1 .5
- 1 7 .8
- 2 3 .0
- 1 1 .4
-4 .5
59,163
20,142
19, 446
15, 999
6, 481
44, 415
13, 460
15, 725
14,145
7,317
- 2 4 .9
-3 3 .2
- 1 9 .1
- 1 1 .6
+ 1 2 .9
185, 559
225, 040
72,875
144, 009
231,365
197, 921
210,156
59, 398
142,145
227,864
+ 6 .7
-6 . 6
—18. 5
- 1 .3
—1. 5
Louisiana______ M ain e.- -- ----M a r y la n d ..
M a s s a c h u s e tts ----M ich igan _____ _
2, 789
2,855
5, 064
9, 562
9, 040
2,060
1,586
3,420
7, 345
7,512
- 2 6 .1
- 4 4 .4
- 3 2 .5
- 2 3 .2
- 1 6 .9
6, 271
9, 928
10, 292
15, 799
20, 341
5, 250
5,016
15, 081
12, 794
17,848
- 1 6 .3
- 4 9 .5
+ 4 6 .5
- 1 9 .0
- 1 2 .3
149,129
20, 061
86,824
307, 711
325, 426
149, 638
24, 798
84, 502
302, 961
330, 662
+. 3
+23. 6
- 2 .7
—1. 5
+ 1 .6
M in n eso ta ,-. - -M ississip p i. M issouri — -- -
9,128
2, 214
19, 708
1, 075
3, 532
- 8 .7
- 1 9 .8
- 1 1 .0
- 3 4 .8
- 2 3 .0
30, 273
8, 259
42,132
(<)
15, 416
28,975
6, 529
39, 328
(4)
12, 691
-4 .3
- 2 0 .9
- 6 .7
--_
9, 999
2, 760
22,145
1, 849
4,586
149, 564
88,870
220, 766
49, 460
66, 959
131,148
79,895
225, 650
44, 663
67,418
- 1 2 .3
- 1 0 .1
+2. 2
- 9 .7
+ .7
N evad a . _____ N e w H am p shire-.
N e w Jersey—
1,635
1,527
10, 341
- 3 1 .6
+ 3 2 .2
-2 3 . 9
- 1 8 .3
2,415
5,784
15, 254
5 2, 760
61, 259
- 9 .4
6,881
16, 955
99, 210
34, 926
878, 570
5, 796
17, 451
104, 893
s 29, 933
888, 602
- 1 5 .8
+ 2 .9
+5. 9
31,807
2, 969
3,847
19, 534
4,851
67, 650
- 1 8 .7
+ 5 0 .4
- 2 1 .9
N ew Y ork------------
1,118
2, 019
7,873
5 1 087
25, 991
N orth Carolina___
N orth D akota
Ohio --_
O klahom a________
O r eg o n ..- -----------
6, 556
1,836
26, 350
3,161
2,395
5, 452
1, 580
21,636
2,138
1,814
- 1 6 .8
- 1 3 .9
- 1 7 .9
- 3 2 .4
- 2 4 .3
18, 483
5, 803
58, 522
19, 050
6,293
16, 054
6,856
50, 526
10,170
5, 697
- 1 3 .1
+ 1 8 .1
- 1 3 .7
- 4 6 .6
- 9 .5
83,828
27,117
283, 778
249, 995
89,697
83,363
26, 439
269, 337
243, 461
88, 912
- .6
—2. 5
—5.1
- 2 .6
- .9
P en n sylvan ia_____
R hode Islan d _____
South C arolina___
South D a k o ta ____
T e n n e sse e .. --------
69, 542
1,118
4,781
1,693
3,387
93, 715
819
2,662
1,135
2,457
+ 3 4 .8
- 2 6 .7
- 4 4 .3
- 3 3 .0
- 2 7 .5
143, 941
1,873
10, 372
5, 406
14,113
140, 252
1,448
9, 968
4, 277
14,428
-2 .6
-2 2 .7
-3 .9
-2 0 .9
+ 2 .2
996,952
51,037
144, 698
96, 517
180,147
1, 044,121
47,886
144,667
94, 519
182,248
+ 4 .7
- 6 .2
—. 0
—2.1
+ 1 .2
U ta h _____ ______
V erm on t_________
V irginia___ _ __
W ashington . _ ..
13 818
2,073
787
4, 902
3, 976
5 9, 957
1,593
673
3,800
3,033
- 2 3 .2
- 1 4 .5
- 2 2 .5
- 2 3 .7
5 52, 669
llj 741
2,103
15, 594
10, 044
« 39, 076
9,172
1,523
12, 749
9,357
- 2 1 .9
- 2 7 .6
-1 8 .2
- 6 .8
5 188,026
32,166
13,198
78,710
153,117
s 181,174
28,304
13,854
84,863
151,148
-1 2 .0
+ 5 .0
+ 7 .8
- 1 .3
W est V irginia___
W iscon sin _____ W yom in g ___ . . .
District of Columbia
4, 270
6, 799
' 959
2,899
2,955
7,580
801
2,403
- 3 0 .8
+ 1 1 .5
- 1 6 .5
- 1 7 .1
9, 876
27, 226
3, 649
4, 300
8,145
24,940
3,174
3,704
- 1 7 .5
- 8 .4
-1 3 .0
- 1 3 .9
100, 715
86, 928
10, 757
43, 396
95, 213
89, 078
10,357
38,192
- 5 .5
+2. 5
- 3 .7
-1 2 . 0
T o t a l . ------- 5370, 575 5 331,831
« - 8 .1
5 915,844 s 790,296 « - 1 2 .2 s 7,127,545 s 6,941, 690
6 - ,4
N eb raska. - -
5
- 1 7 .7
+ 1 .1
1 Includes n ew applications, reregistrations, renewals.
2 R evised figures.
_
.
, „
,
. .
s N o t comparable, due to transfer of Los Angeles from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to nonreporting
State em p loym en t service as of Septem ber.
* N o t reported.
5 Incom plete.
6 C om puted from com parable reports on ly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1345
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T a b l e 6 . —V E T E R A N A C T I V IT I E S OF O F F IC E S OF C O M B I N E D S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T
A N D N A T I O N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
Veteran placem ents
V eteran
new
ap plica
tions per
place
m en t
Veteran
active
file per
place
m ent
V eteran new
applications
V eteran activ e file
A lab am a______
A rizona________
A rkansas______
C alifornia_____
C olorado______
627
169
389
2,532
447
594
149
439
992
405
- 5 . 3 0.49 0.41 10.3 9.0
- 1 1 .8 .45 .49 15.7 12.9
+ 1 2 .9 .80 .51 8.6 6.8
.68 .71 4.4 6.3
(2)
- 9 .4
.67 .59 18.6 20.5
C o n n ecticu t___
D elaw are............
F lo r id a ..- ...........
Georgia________
Id a h o ..................
374
90
451
644
257
209
85
413
449
193
- 4 4 .1
-5 .6
- 8 .4
- 3 0 .3
- 2 4 .9
Illin o is________
I n d ia n a - -..........
Iowa ________
K an sas________
K e n tu c k y _____
1,239
1,189
1,271
858
704
1,330
785
1,232
793
595
L ouisiana______
M a in e_________
M a ry la n d _____
M assach usetts .
M ich igan ______
564
130
564
774
662
M inn esota_____
M ississip p i____
M issou ri_______
M o n ta n a ............
N ebraska______
1,575
477
1,700
573
959
1,664
457
1,450
379
1,352
+ 5 .7
- 4 .2
- 1 4 .7
- 3 3 .9
+ 4 1 .0
N ev a d a ______
N ew H am pshire
N ew Jersey____
N ew M exico___
N ew Y ork _____
405
173
404
429
1,661
N orth CarolinaN orth D a k o ta ..
O hio___________
O klahom a_____
O regon. . . ____
P en n sy lv a n ia—
R hode I s la n d ...
South C arolina.
S outh D a k o t a ..
T en n essee_____
Percent of
change
Septem ber
A u g u st1
Percent of
change
Septem ber
310
76
310
1,724
299
243
73
226
700
240
- 2 1 .6
- 3 .9
- 2 7 .1
(2)
- 1 9 .7
6,476
2,654
3,335
11,227
8,297
2 , 977 —10. 7
396
25
170
340
95
341
5
114
354
64
- 1 3 .7
- 8 0 .0
- 3 2 .9
+ 4 .1
- 3 2 .6
4,360
661
10,029
10,922
2,580
4,708 + 8 .0
784 + 1 8 .6
9,608 - 4 . 2
9,903 - 9 . 3
2,670 + 3 .5
1,732
456
332
277
240
1,214
402
225
407
209
- 2 9 .9
- 1 1 .8
- 3 2 .2
+ 4 6 .9
- 1 2 .9
19,704
18,482
6,110
9,861
16,582
18,977 - 3 . 7
17,174 - 7 . 1
5,067 - 1 7 .1
9,418 - 2 4 .0
16,520
-.4
22.2
13.8
10.9
41.1
17.8
190
152
286
695
724
159
108
172
484
711
- 1 6 .3
- 2 8 .9
- 3 9 .9
- 3 0 .4
- 1 .8
10,808
2,539
5,208
22,592
3 8,288
10, 707
- .9
2,049 - 1 9 .3
3, 797 —27.1
22,338 —1.1
3 8; 843 + 6 .7
.28 6.4 5.8
.32 14.2 14.8
.68 8.8 10.6
.18 4.8 7.7
.19 4.7 3.4
512
161
1,234
166
243
463
144
991
68
257
- 9 .6
- 1 0 .6
- 1 9 .7
- 5 9 .0
+ 5 .8
10,077
6, 778
14,946
2,751
4,493
9,702
6,781
15,321
2,908
4 , 664
284
244
396
«397
1,596
- 2 9 .9
.99 1.1 1.8
+ 4 1 .0 .61 .43 9.4 5.8
- 2 . 0 2.17 1.29 17.6 20.1
.31 .32 7.7 6.7
- 3 . 9 1.01 .75 39.8 41.7
(4)
105
878
135
1,681
281
105
.0
510 - 4 1 .9
« 126
1,199 - 2 8 .7
1,632
7,102
3,301
66,012
1,419 - 1 3 .1
7,966 + 1 2 .2
« 2,649
66,513
+ .8
1,011
258
2,053
747
781
615
196
1,720
637
507
- 3 9 .2
- 2 4 .0
- 1 6 .2
- 1 4 .7
-3 5 .1
.30 5.5 8.6
.49 6.1 6.5
.67 10.3 11.3
.26 26.8 31.8
.36 9.1 13.7
296
71
1,503
282
228
187
96
1,160
166
184
- 3 6 .8
+ 3 5 .2
- 2 2 .8
- 4 1 .1
- 1 9 .3
5,560
1,576
21,225
20,001
7,109
5,262 —5.2
1, 274 - 1 9 .4
19,450 - 8 . 4
20,265 + 1 .3
6,967 - 2 . 0
3,061
135
628
751
587
2, 395 - 2 1 .8
117 - 1 3 .3
439 - 3 0 .1
466 - 3 7 .9
458 - 2 2 .0
.92 1.61 16.5 21.2
.48 .53 17.8 19.6
.33 .32 12.1 16.6
.16 . 14 8.9 13.9
.36 .37 21.4 28.0
2,817
65
207
121
211
3,847
62
140
64
171
+ 3 6 .6
- 4 .6
- 3 2 .4
- 4 7 .1
- 1 9 .0
50,617
2.405
7,594
6,681
12, 590
50,696
2,288
7,295
6,490
12,823
+ .2
- 4 .9
- 3 .9
- 2 .9
+ 1 .9
« 770
94
40
286
324
5 691
53
23
206
217
- 4 3 .6
- 4 2 .5
- 2 8 .0
- 3 3 .0
5 1fi 025 5 10 485
2,458
2 , 534
809
785
4,879
5,109
12,229 12,413
+ 3 .1
- 3 .0
+ 4 .7
+ 1 .5
1.06 1.63 11.7 22.5
.28 .06 7.3 9.2
.38 .28 22.2 23.3
.53 .79 17.0 22.1
.37 .33 10.0 13.8
+ 7 .3 1.40
- 3 4 .0 .38
- 3 .1
.26
- 7 .6
.32
- 1 5 .5 .34
.91
.51
.02
.51
.35
483 - 1 4 .4 .34 .33
149 + 1 4 .6 1.17 .72
349 - 3 8 .1 .51 .49
543 - 2 9 .8 .90 .89
498 - 2 4 .8 1.09 1.43
.33
.34
.73
.29
.25
.29
.28
.73
.38
.29
15.9 14.3
15.5 21.9
4.8 4.1
11.5 9.5
23.6 27.8
19.2
39.1
9.2
29.2
12.5
T e x a s ......... .. _. « 3,019 « 2,340
U ta h __________
402
448 + 1 1 .4
V erm on t______
95
79 - 1 6 .8
V irginia_______
618
618
.0
W ash in gton ___
956
728 - 2 3 .8
.26
.23
.42
.46
.34
.30 5.3 7.0
.12 6.1 5.7
.29 8.5 9.9
.33 7.9 8.3
.30 12.8 17.1
W est V irg in ia. .
W iscon sin _____
W y o m in g ____
D istrict of Colu m b ia .............
.65
.50
.34
.34 13.4
.52 6.6
.23 5.5
T o ta l____
A u g u st1
S eptem ber
A u g u st1
Septem ber
A u g u st1
Percent of
change
Septem ber
A u g u st1
State
492
1,142
205
181
772 + 5 6 .9
874 - 2 3 .5
265 + 2 9 .3
230 + 2 7 .1 1.08
39,413 « 32,808 6—13.0 8 .5 7
5,345 - 1 7 .5
1,926 - 2 7 .4
6,253
8,298
(2)
.0
-3 . 7
.0
+ 2 .5
+5. 7
+ 3 .8
8.0
9.3
4.1
322
567
70
263 - 1 8 .3
456 - 1 9 .6
60 - 1 4 .3
6,589
7,489
1,133
6,171
8,116
1,086
.87 20.7 14.1
195
201 + 3 .1
3,740
3,235 - 1 3 .5
- 6 .3
+ 8 .4
- 4 .1
.57 12.4 14.5 « 22,413 « 18,842 «-13.8« 488,969 « 474,530 « - 2 . 0
1 R evised figures.
2 N o t com parable, due to transfer of Los A ngeles from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to nonreporting
S tate em p loym ent service as of Septem ber.
3 D a ta for D etroit not included.
4 N o t reported
• Incom plete.
• C om puted from com parable reports o n ly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1346
T able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
7.—P L A C E M E N T S
M A D E B Y O F F IC E S OF S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S
A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1931
N ew applications
per placem ent
Placem ents
State
A ugust 1
Septem
ber
Percent
of
change
291
714
1,616
6,428
2,422
2,401
1,146
2, 500
1,609
1,633
3,690
1,649
648
514
2,971
76
7, 612
5, 670
1,196
6, 300
560
748
3,036
55,430
—5. 5
- 5 .2
- 4 3 .6
+ 1.6
- 1 0 .3
+ 1 5 .4
-2 0 . 8
308
753
2,865
6,326
2, 699
2, 080
1,447
0
1,975
1,995
4,400
1,810
978
A rizona_________________ ____
C o lo ra d o ..- - . - ___ _________
C onn ecticu t____________ _____
Illin ois........... .. - ____ Ind iana_______ - _______ ____
Iow a_______________ _________
K ansas (not affiliated )--- Louisiana (not affiliated).........
M assach usetts—- -------- ----M ich igan ____ _________________
M in n esota-.- _________________
M issou ri____ _ --- _
N ev a d a _______________________
N e w H am p sh ire-.- __ _
-.
N e w Jersey— _________________
N e w M exico_____ . . . ________
N ew York .
Ohio_________________________
O klahom a___________ ____ ____
P e n n s y lv a n ia ____________ ____
V irginia__________________ ___
W est V irginia______
- -— ...
W iscon sin ___ _____
T o ta l____________________
0
2, 697
61
6, 289
5, 768
1,053
25,991
645
583
3,632
74,355
- 1 8 .5
- 1 8 .1
-1 6 . 1
- 8 .9
- 3 3 .7
+ 1 0 .2
A u g u s t1
Septem
ber
1. 28
1.57
1.73
2. 67
1.66
1.05
.83
0
2. 59
2. 89
1.11
3.40
1. 47
0
+ 2 4 .6
0
-1 .7
+ 1 3 .6
- 7 5 .8
- 1 3 .2
+ 2 8 .3
- 1 6 .4
4 -3 4 . 2
3.00
1.41
2.87
2.61
1.28
1.42
1.15
1. 44
1.05
1.87
A ctiv e file per
per placem ent
A u g u st1
1.30
1.84
2.32
2.21
1. 67
.83
1.09
.82
2. 63
3.00
1.30
3.30
1.28
.41
2.07
1.43
2.14
2.71
.83
11.12
.82
1.03
1.64
2.97
Septem
ber
29.3
43.4
10. 0
10.9
33.4
10.6
21.8
(2)
77.7
120.8
15.1
19.7
4.4
(2)
28.5
84.0
82.1
15.5
8.5
20.6
28.2
28.4
10.8
28. 1
14.7
48.7
18.9
11.1
34.6
5.7
25.4
59.9
94.2
150. 7
16.9
21.2
5.3
3 .8
27.2
69.7
79.1
17.6
7.2
91. 1
21.7
23.8
13.0
42.5
1 R evised figures.
2 First m onth of operation as State em p loym ent service, Septem ber.
3 N o t comparable, due to transfer of Queens C oun ty from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State
em p loym ent service as of Septem ber.
4 C om puted from comparable reports only.
T able
8.—R E G IS T R A T IO N S
W IT H O F F IC E S OF S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S ,
A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
N e w applications
States
A rizona_______- ______ . . .
Colorado___ _ .......................
C on n ecticu t_______________
Illinois________________ - - .
Ind iana____________
____
Iowa_ ____________ _______
Kansas (not affiliated) . __
L ouisiana (not affiliated)
M assach usetts___________ M ich igan __________
M in n esota___
________
M issou ri_____ ___ __ ___
N ev a d a ____________ ______
N ew H am pshire . .
____
N ew Jersey________________
N ew M exico — _______ N ew Y ork ________________
O hio----------------------------------O k la h o m a ____ _ _ ______
P en n sylvan ia ______________
V irginia - - - - - - - - _ W est V irginia_____________
W iscon sin ................. .......
T o ta l.. _____ _______
Per
Au
Sep
gust 2 tember cent of
change
395
379
1,185
1, 317
4, 943
3,745
16,881 14, 203
4,482
4,045
1,983
2,186
1, 205
1,245
2, 060
0
5, 110
4,236
5, 764
4, 895
4, 792
4,880
6,145
5, 434
831
1,436
212
0
8,024
6,152
109
86
18,049 16, 309
15,042 15, 349
1,346
997
36,846 70, 087
741
458
837
769
3,819
4, 989
139, 402 164, 596
- 4 .1
+11.1
- 2 4 .2
- 1 5 .9
- 9 .8
- 9 .3
+ 3 .3
- 1 7 .1
- 1 5 .1
- 1 .8
- 1 1 .6
- 4 2 .1
- 2 3 .3
+ 2 6 .7
0
+ 2 .0
- 2 5 .9
+ 9 0 .2
- 3 8 .2
- 8 .1
+ 3 0 .6
5+20.3
T otal applications 1
A ctive file
Per
A u
Sep
Septem Per
cent of
gust 2 tember cent of A u g u s t 2
ber
change
change
692
844
2, 999
3,049
7,664
6, 357
30, 050 25, 222
9,860
7,328
8,291
6, 850
2, 997
3,196
5, 250
0
7,886
7,002
8, 479
8,186
10,850 10, 754
14, 560 13, 949
2,122
1,434
916
0
14, 314 10, 513
203
255
47, 045 45, 569
37,454 37,707
4,815
3, 209
85,110 99, 616
1, 225
738
1,865
1,728
13,472 13,461
311,953 313,133
+ 2 2 .0
+ 1 .7
- 1 7 .1
- 1 6 .1
- 2 5 .7
- 1 7 .4
+ 6 .6
—il . 2
- 3 .5
-.9
- 4 .2
- 3 2 .4
- 1 9 .6
+ 2 5 .6
0
+ .7
- 3 3 .4
+ 1 7 .0
- 3 9 .8
- 7 .3
-. 1
5 - 1 .3
9,028
32,660
28, 723
69,161
90,018
22,065
31, 527
0
153, 553
240,943
4,292
34,753
30,462
71, 569
83, 710
13, 588
29,127
149, 638
151,528
246,091
62, 470
35,013
3,411
1,976
80, 718
5,299
601,883
99, 757
8, 567
574,013
12,135
17,802
39,429
66,424
35,626
4,330
0
76, 796
5,125
516, 310
89,124
8,992
535, 512
18,186
16,543
39,333
2,089,979 2, 357, 231
-5 2 . 5
+ 6 .4
+ 6 .1
+ 3 .5
-7 .0
- 3 8 .4
- 7 .6
- 1 .3
+ 2 .1
- 6 .0
- 1 .7
-2 1 . 2
+ 5 .1
+ 3 .4
0
+ 1 1 .9
- 4 .7
+ 7 .2
- 3 3 .3
+ 7 .6
+ .2
3 + 1 .9
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Revised figures.
3 First m onth of operation as State em p loym en t service, Septem ber.
4 N o t comparable, due to transfer of Queens C ou n ty from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State em
p loym en t service as of Septem ber.
5 C om puted from com parable reports only.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1347
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T a b l e 9 . —V E T E R A N A C T I V IT I E S O F O F F IC E S OF S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V I C E S .
A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
Veteran
placem ents
Veteran
V eteran
new ap active file
plications per place
per place
m ent
m ent
Veteran new
applications
V eteran active file
Septem ber
Percent of
change
A u g u st1
Percent of
change
37 + 8 .8
72 - 5 8 .9
272 - 1 9 .3
931 - 3 1 .0
272 + 4 .6
1,025
5,131
2,597
7,126
8,184
643 - 3 7 .3
5,289 + 3 .1
2,899 + 1 1 .6
6,993 - 1 . 9
7,478 - 8 . 6
115 - 1 6 .7
2,245
1,538 - 3 1 .5
2,479
2,273
Septem ber
A u g u st1
Septem ber
34
1.13 2.05 34.2 35.7
175
1.33 .73 38.9 54.0
337
1.19 2.45 9.1 26.1
2.83 1.72 15.0 13.0 1,349
260
.39 .59 12.3 16.2
A u g u st1
A u g u s t1
- 4 0 .0
- 2 5 .8
- 6 0 .9
+ 1 3 .4
- 3 0 .8
Septem ber
Percent of
change
3
bfl
3
<
Septem ber
State
A rizona- _____ __
C olorado__________
C o nn ecticu t_______
Illin o is_______ ____
In d ia n a------- ----------
30
132
284
476
666
18
98
111
540
461
Io w a ________ ______
K ansas (not affilia ted )__ ____ _
Louisiana (not affil-
371
468 + 2 6 .1
.37
.25
6.1
3.3
138
302
209 - 3 0 .8
.31
.44
8.2 10.9
94
(2)
283
200
22.2
.33 (2)
483
(2)
166 - 4 1 .3 1.23 1.54 44.9 77.5
113 - 4 3 .5 2.51 4. 44 9.2 18.7
(2)
348
501
10, 707
15£
(2)
255 - 2 6 .7 12,707 12,862 + 1 .2
502
+ . 2 3 1,832 3 2,112 + 1 5 .3
N e w Jersey...... .........
529
251
340
(2)
157
.64 .48 8.9 9.1
488 - 7 . 8
185 - 2 6 .3 1.27 1.27 16.6 25.2
1.21
.6 l . t
196 - 4 2 .4
(2)
. 15 (2)
3.9
47
220 + 4 0 .1 4.24 1.80 31.4 25.0
337
319
(4)
(2)
666
233 - 3 0 .9
235 - 2 6 .3
252
7
395 - 4 0 .7
N e w M e x ic o .............
N ew Y ork _________
O hio. ______ _____
O klahom a_________
23
616
800
204
.74 .79 16.5 14.9
1.51 9 .4t 52. S 59. 1
1.22 1.32 10. £ 14. £
.57 .35 8.3 8.3
17
931
971
117
M a ssach usetts_____
M ich igan __________
M i n n e s o t a ..._____
M issou ri__ __
.--
P e n n sy lv a n ia .-.
V ir g in ia .. ____
W est V irginia_____
W iscon sin _________
T o tal________
28 + 2 1 .7
718
(6)
618 - 2 2 .7
206 + 1 .0
92
- 2 .1
4,695
4,159
202
(2)
4,937
- 8 .3
4,421 - 5 . 8
4,666 + 1 2 .2
36c + 7 9 .7
181
5,492 + 1 1 .2
22 + 2 9 .4
379
416
32,234 42,405
675 (5)
816 - 1 6 .2 8,737 9,179
72 - 3 8 .5
1,695 1,702
+ 9 .8
(s)
+ 5 .1
+ .4
+ .3
1, 537 1,068 - 3 0 .5 1.23 2.96 19.3 27.7 1,886 3,160 + 6 7 .5 29,665 29,571
1,444 1,044 - 2 7 .7
21 - 4 7 .5
40
3C - 3 . 2 1.29 . 7C 46.6 34.8
31
8 .6
966
1
.
3
1,057
76
4.6
77
14.3
212 +186. 5 1.01 .36
74
2,988 3,490 +16. 8
304 - 2 1 .2
386
365 - 4 2 .4 .61 .83 4.7 9.6
634
7,940 7,048 « -2 0 . 8 1.18 1.27 17.1 22.2 8,986 8,975
6 - 2 .1 135,518 156,693
6+. 1
1 R evised figures.
2 First m on th of operation as State em p loym ent service, Septem ber.
3 D etroit not included.
4 N o t reported.
.
5 N o t comparable, due to transfer of Queens C oun ty from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State
em p loym ent service as of Septem ber.
6 C om puted from com parable reports only.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1348
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 10.—P L A C E M E N T S M A D E B Y O F F IC E S O F N A T I O N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T
S E R V I C E , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
Placem ents
N ew ap plica
tions per place
m en t
A ctive file per
placem ent
A uSepg u s t 1 tem ber
A uSepg u s t 1 tem ber
State
Septem - Percent
ber
change
A lab am a_____
A rizona_______
A rk a n sa s..........
C alifornia____
C olorado_____
4,238
1,004
5,358
13,886
2,464
5,512
1,032
5,414
5,844
2,100
+ 3 0 .1
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .0
(2)
- 1 4 .8
1.27
.49
1.15
.89
.84
0. 62
.38
.71
.89
.94
26. 2
16.9
8.9
15.1
15.1
16.8
15.7
7.4
10.7
17.5
C o n n e c tic u t.-.
Delaw are_____
F lorid a----------Georgia_______
Idah o_________
890
954
5, 685
6, 271
2, 983
841
844
4, 350
4, 517
2,532
- 5 .5
+ 1 1 .5
- 2 3 .5
- 2 8 .0
- 1 5 .1
1. 40
.70
.68
1.28
.36
1.43
. 64
.68
1. 76
.36
23.4
13.7
24.7
25.6
9.9
25.7
15.8
29.8
41.1
12. 4
I lli n o i s ........... .
Ind iana_______
Io w a__________
K an sas_______
K e n tu ck y ____
6, 811
3,069
5,855
3, 962
3, 900
7,337
2,766
5, 431
3,387
2,968
+ 7 .7
-9 .9
-7 .2
- 1 4 .5
-2 3 .9
1.05
1.18
.53
.65
.85
.64
.94
.38
.62
1.07
17.1
44.0
8.7
28.4
59.3
17. 2
45.7
8.4
33.4
76.8
L ouisiana..........
M a in e.............
M a rylan d _____
M assach usetts.
M ich igan _____
3,447
748
3, 962
3, 904
4,204
(3)
957
3,115
3,269
3, 228
81
3. 82
1. 28
1. 14
.78
( 3)
+ 2 7 .9
- 2 1 .4
- 1 6 .3
-2 3 .2
1.66
1.10
.95
.81
26.8
21.9
39.5
20.1
25.9
27.1
46.3
26.2
10, 714
4,361
8,038
6,919
6,100
10,076
4,438
7,884
3,889
5, 327
-6 .0
+ 1 .8
- 1 .9
- 4 3 .8
- 1 2 .7
.48
.63
1.99
.24
.75
.43
.50
1.81
.28
.66
7.8
20.4
23.0
7.1
11.0
6.8
18.0
24.2
11.5
12. 7
N ev a d a _________
N e w H am pshireN ew Jersey_____
N e w M exico____
N ew Y ork.......... ..
399
1,888
1,533
1,846
7,372
564
3,143
1,110
« 1, 081
6,239
+ 4 1 .4
(4)
- 2 7 .6
.51
.58
1.55
88
1. 55
6. 4
9. 0
14.6
4 .2
4.9
21.8
(s)
.50
.81
1.51
. 71
1.87
49.1
46.0
N orth CarolinaN orth D a k o ta -.
Ohio___________
O klahom a_____
Oregon________
7,288
2, 866
7,423
2,687
4, 245
5,229
2,331
5, 795
2,548
3, 281
- 2 8 .3
- 1 8 .7
- 2 1 .9
- 5 .2
- 2 2 .7
.90
.64
1. 52
.68
.56
1.04
.68
1.08
.45
.55
11.5
9.5
26. 2
89.7
21.1
15.9
11.3
29. 3
92. 2
27.1
P e n n s y lv a n ia ...
R hode I s la n d ...
South C arolina.
South D a k o ta ..
T en n essee_____
16, 710
843
7,148
4, 726
2,934
14,173
728
5,238
3,257
3,188
- 1 5 .2
- 1 3 .6
-2 6 . 7
-3 1 . 1
+ 8 .7
1.96
1.33
.67
.36
1.15
1.67
1.13
.51
.35
.77
27.6
60.5
20.2
20.4
61.4
33.2
65.8
27.6
29. 0
57.2
619, 771
3, 833
1,421
5, 678
5, 592
614,689
3,307
765
5,257
4, 632
- 1 3 .7
- 4 6 .2
-7 .4
- 1 7 .2
. 69
. 54
.55
.73
.71
68
.48
.88
.64
.65
8.4
9.3
10.7
27.4
8. 6
18. 1
13.8
32.6
3,170
3,971
1,467
1,312
3,028
4,181
1,950
1,409
- 4 .5
+ 5 .3
+ 3 2 .9
+ 7 .4
1.08
.75
.65
2.21
. 72
.62
.41
1. 71
26.6
12.0
7.3
33.1
25.6
11.9
5.3
27.1
6 235,850
« 194,181
-1 3 .0
.98
.86
21.4
23.6
M inn esota—
M ississip p i.
M issouri___
M o n ta n a .. .
N e b r a sk a ...
T exas_______
U ta h _______
V erm on t___
V irginia____
W ashin gton .
W est V irginia_______
W iscon sin ___________
W y o m in g .............. .......
D istrict of C olum biaT o ta l.
1 R evised figures.
m eS °se?v“ e l f o bf1S e S e m b w anSfer ° f L ° S A ngel®S from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State em ploy<
as ®tat© em p loym ent service b eginning Septem ber,
sen d ee as ’“ ^ Septem ber!t0 tm nsf8r of Concord from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State em p loym ent
em ^ o y m e n t>M n d œ a s t f S ep tem b er.0* QUee“ ’S C° U nty fr0m N a ti° nal E m p l o y m e n t Service to State
6 Incom plete.
7 C om puted from com parable reports on ly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1349
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T a b l e I I . —R E G IS T R A T IO N S W IT H
O F F IC E S
OF N A T IO N A L
S E R V IC E , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
N ew applications
State
REEM PLO YM ENT
T otal applications 1
A ctiv e file
Per
Per
Per
A u g u s t2 S ep tem cent of A u g u s t2 Septem cent of A u g u s t 2 September cent of
ber
ber
change
change
change
A la b a m a _____
A rizona_______
A rkansas_____
C alifornia____
C olorado_____
5,388
489
6,157
12, 297
2,069
3,434 - 3 6 .3
393 - 1 9 .6
3,835 - 3 7 .7
5, 227
(3)
1,971 - 4 . 7
19,839
1, 915
17, 588
20, 399
5,954
14, 476 - 2 7 .0
1,496 - 2 1 .9
12, 589 - 2 8 .4
12, 667
(2)
5, 964
+ .2
111, 171
16,980
47,767
209,127
37, 280
92,856
16,244
39,893
62, 566
36, 661
- 1 6 .5
- 4 .3
—16.5
(3)
- 1 .7
C o n n ec ticu t.-D elaw are_____
Florid a_______
Georgia_______
I d a h o .________
1,247
672
3, 858
8,005
1,077
1,199 - 3 . 8
541 - 1 9 .5
2,971 - 2 3 .0
7,937
-.8
916 - 1 4 .9
2,131
2, 279
9,350
21, 245
3,938
2,466
2,663
9, 461
16, 255
4,447
+ 1 5 .7
+ 1 6 .8
+ 1 .2
- 2 3 .5
+ 1 2 .9
20,820
13,077
140,152
160,313
29, 508
21,647
13,346
129,587
185,425
31,328
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .1
- 7 .5
+ 1 5 .7
+ 6 .2
Illin o is_______
In d ia n a______
Io w a _________
K an sas_______
K e n tu ck y ____
7,160
3,618
3, 094
2,581
3, 320
4, 680
2, 610
2, 082
2,108
3,169
- 3 4 .6
- 2 7 .7
- 3 2 .7
- 1 8 .3
- 4 .5
29,113
10, 282
11,155
13, 002
6,481
19,193
6,132
8, 875
10,949
7,317
- 3 4 .1
- 4 0 .4
- 2 0 .4
- 1 5 .8
+ 1 2 .9
116,398
135,022
50, 810
112, 482
231, 365
126,352
126, 446
45,810
113, 018
227,864
+ 8 .6
—6.4
—9.8
+ .5
- 1 .5
L ou isian a____
M a in e________
M a ry la n d ____
M assach usetts.
M ich igan _____
2, 789
2,855
5,064
4,452
3, 276
(4)
1,586
3,420
3,109
2,617
- 4 4 .4
- 3 2 .5
- 3 0 .2
-2 0 .1
6, 271
9,928
10, 292
7,913
11,862
(4)
5,016
15, 081
5,792
9, 662
- 4 9 .5
+ 4 6 .5
- 2 6 .8
- 1 8 .5
149,129
20, 061
86, 824
154,158
84, 483
24, 798
84, 502
151, 433
84,571
+ 2 3 .6
-2 . 7
—1.8
+ .1
M in n eso ta ____
M ississip p i___
M isso u ri______
M o n ta n a _____
N ebraska_____
5,119
2, 760
16, 000
1, 649
4, 586
4,336
2, 214
14, 274
1,075
3, 532
- 1 5 .3
- 1 9 .8
- 1 0 .8
- 3 4 .8
- 2 3 .0
19,423
8, 259
27, 572
N . R.
15,416
18, 221 - 6 . 2
6, 529 - 2 0 . 9
25, 379 - 8 . 0
N . R.
12, 691 - 1 7 .7
83,140
88,870
185,140
49, 460
66, 959
68,678
79,895
190, 637
44,663
67,418
—17. 4
—10.1
+3 0
—9. 7
+ .7
N e v a d a i _______
N ew H am pshire .
N ew Jersey_____
N ew M e x ico ____
N e w Y ork______
199
1, 527
2, d i/
1, 319
13, 758
287 + 4 4 .2
1,807
(°)
1,721 - 2 5 .7
7 948
9, 682
(6)
847
3, 847
5, 220
4,648
20, 605
981 + 1 5 .8
4,868
(s)
4, 741 - 9 . 2
7 2, 505
15, 690
(6)
2,551
16, 955
22, 414
29, 801
362, 260
2. 385
15, 475
24,175
7 24 fi34
286^ 719
+ 7 .9
N orth C arolina.
N orth D a k o ta . .
O h i o . . ................
O klahom a_____
Oregon________
6, 556
1, 836
11, 308
1, 815
2, 395
5,452
1,580
6,287
1,141
1,814
- 1 6 .8
- 1 3 .9
—44. 4
- 3 7 .1
- 2 4 .3
18,483
5,803
21,068
14, 235
6,293
16,054
6,856
12,819
6,961
5, 697
- 1 3 .1
+ 1 8 .1
- 3 9 .2
- 5 1 .1
- 9 .5
83,828
27,117
194, 654
241,003
89, 697
83,363
26, 439
169, 580
234,894
88,912
— 6
—2. 5
—12. 9
—2. 5
-.9
P e n n sy lv a n ia . .
R hode Isla n d .._
South C arolina.
South D a k o ta ..
T en n essee_____
32, 696
1,118
4, 78l
1,693
3,387
23,628
819
2, 662
1,135
2,457
- 2 7 .7
- 2 6 .7
- 4 4 .3
- 3 3 .0
- 2 7 .5
58,831
1,873
10, 372
5, 406
14,113
40, 636 - 3 0 .9
1,448 - 2 2 .7
9, 968 - 3 . 9
4, 277 - 2 0 .9
14, 428 + 2 .2
461,440
51, 037
144,698
96, 517
180,147
470,108
47,886
144, 667
94' 519
182| 248
+ 1 .9
—fi 2
—0
—2 1
+ 1 .2
7 13,618
2,073
787
4,161
3, 976
7 9,957
1,593
673
3, 342
3,033
- 2 3 .2
—14. 5
- 1 9 .7
- 2 3 .7
7 52,669
11, 741
2,103
14, 369
10, 044
7 39,076
9,172 - 2 1 .9
1, 523 - 2 7 .6
12,011 - 1 6 .4
9,357 - 6 . 8
7 188, 026
32,166
13,198
60, 524
153,117
28,304
13,854
7 2 ,728
15L 148
—12 0
+5 0
+20 2
- 1 .3
3,433
2,980
959
2, 899
2,186
2, 591
StTl
2,403
- 3 6 .3
- 1 3 .1
- 1 6 .5
- 1 7 .1
8,011
13, 754
3, 649
4, 300
84,172
47, 595
10, 757
43,396
77,411
49, 649
10; 357
38,192
—8 0
+4 3
—3 7
- 1 2 .0
477,163 8-18.8 7 5,037,566 74,584,459
8—1. 7
T exas______
U ta h _______
V erm on t___
V irginia____
W ashington _
W est V irginia_______
W iscon sin ___________
W y o m in g ___________
D istrict of C olum bia.
T o ta l_________
2
7 231,173 7 167,235 s -2 4 .9 7 603,891
R evised figures.
s
6,417
11,479
3,174
3,704
- 1 9 .9
- 1 6 .5
- 1 3 .0
- 1 3 .9
( 4)
—6 5
( 5)
(6)
’
m e S 0serv“ ePr o f SepUtemVeraDSfer ° f L ° S AngeleS fr° m N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State em ploy- O P fa tin g as State em p loym ent service beginning Septem ber
m
m
t
m
^ C° “
1 ,rom N a tl»” *> B e.m p lo y m e n t Service to State em p lo y .
C " " ty 'r0 m
7 Incom plete.
8 C om puted from com parable reports on ly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Service to State
1350
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 1 3 .—V E T E R A N A C T IV IT IE S O F O F F IC E S O F N A T I O N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T
S E R V IC E , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
Veteran placem ents
V eteran
V eteran
new ap
active file
plications
per place
per place
m en t
m en t
V eteran new
applications
V eteran a ctive file
State
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3
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bß
Q<
CO
a
p
2 -c
S O
Pm
9.0
9.8
6.8
6.3
9.8
310
42
310
1,724
124
243
36
226
700
168
- 2 1 .6
- 1 4 .3
- 2 7 .1
(2)
+ 3 5 .5
6,476
1,629
3, 335
11, 227
3,166
5,345 - 1 7 .5
1,283 - 2 1 .2
2, 977 - 1 0 .7
6,253
(2)
3,009 - 5 . 0
19.6
7.3
22.2
17.0
10.0
18.5
9.2
23.3
22.1
13.8
59
25
170
340
95
69
5
114
354
64
+ 1 6 .9
- 8 0 .0
- 3 2 .9
+ 4 .1
- 3 2 .6
1,763
661
10, 029
10,922
2, 580
1,809 + 2 .6
784 + 1 8 .6
9,608 - 4 . 2
9,903 - 9 . 3
2,670 + 3 .5
.36
.40
.14
.54
.35
16.5
19.7
42.9
13.3
23.6
15.2
29.9
4.6
12.2
27.8
383
196
194
183
240
283
130
110
315
209
- 2 6 .1
- 3 3 .7
- 4 3 .3
+72.1
- 1 2 .9
12,578
10,298
3,865
7,382
16, 582
11,984
9,696
3,529
7,145
16, 520
. 34 (3)
1.17 .72
.51 .49
.71 .61
.48 .54
. 17 .20
.34 .32
.03 .60
.29 .18
.25 .19
.33
19. 2
39.1
9.2
20. 1
14.0
5.2
14.2
7.4
4.8
4.7
3.9
(3)
13. 8
10.9
25. 1
17.5
4.5
14.8
8.4
7.7
3.4
1.6
190
152
286
347
223
175
161
915
166
243
(3)
108
172
229
209
230
144
756
68
257
29
- 2 8 .9
- 3 9 .9
- 3 4 .0
- 6 .3
+ 3 1 .4
- 1 0 .6
- 1 7 .4
-5 9 . 0
“1-5. 8
10,808
2,539
5, 208
9,885
6,456
5,382
6, 778
10, 787
2, 751
4,493
251
(3)
2,049 - 1 9 .3
3,797 - 2 7 .1
9,476 - 4 .1
6,731 + 4 .3
5,281 - 1 . 9
+ .0
6, 781
10,655 - 1 . 2
2,908 + 5 .7
4, 664 + 3 .8
138 - 4 5 .0
.61
.86
.29
.72
. 5C 9.4 6.3
.65 8.8 14.1
. 28 7. 2 6.1
.60 32.4 2.7
105
212
118
750
98 0 )
115 - 4 5 .8
«104
524 (5)
1,632
2,165
2,922
33,778
1,235
(0
2,474 +14. 3
« 2, 233
24; 108 0)
.29
.28
.42
. 3C
.29
.61
.48
. 3C
. 4£
.31
.22
.36
.52
.53
5.5
6.1
10. C
33.7
9.1
13.8
17.8
8.6
6.5
9.3
4 3 .1
13.7
15.9
19.6
296
71
52£
165
228
931
65
5,560
1,576
12,488
18, 306
7,109
20,952
2,405
5,262 - 5 . 4
1,274 - 1 9 .2
10, 271 - 1 7 .8
18, 563 + 1 .4
6,967 - 2 . 0
+ .8
21,125
2, 288 - 4 . 9
.33
.16
.36
.26
.23
.42
.42
.34
.59
. 36
.34
.32
.14
.37
.30
.12
. 2£
.31
.30
.33
. 3(
.23
12.1
8. £
21.4
5.3
6.1
8.5
5. £
12.8
13.2
8.1
5.5
16.6
13. £
28.0
7. 0
5.7
9. £
6. £
17.1
9.3
9.1
4.1
207
121
211
«770
94
4(
246
324
245
181
7(
14C
64
171
«691
53
23
185
217
187
152
6(
—32.4
-4 7 . 1
- 1 9 .0
.87 20.7 14.1
195
201
+ 3 .1
594 - 5 . 3 0.49 0.41 10.3
.30 .27 11.7
131 - 5 . 8
439 + 1 2 .9 .80 .51 8.6
992 (2)
.68 .71 4.4
.39 .55 10.1
307 - 2 . 5
A labam a_____
A r iz o n a ______
A rkansas_____
C alifornia____
C o lo r a d o ... .
627
139
389
2,532
315
C o n n ec ticu t..
D elaw are-------Florida______Georgia___
Id a h o ......... .
90
90
451
644
257
98 + 8 .9
85 - 5 . 6
413 - 8 . 4
449 - 3 0 .3
193 - 2 4 .9
.66
.28
.38
.53
.37
.70
.06
.28
.79
.33
Illin ois............. .
Ind iana_______
Io w a _________
K ansas -------K e n tu ck y -----
763
523
900
556
704
790 + 3 .5
324 - 3 8 .0
764 -1 5 . 1
584 + 5 .0
595 - 1 5 .5
.50
.37
.22
.33
.34
(3)
564
130
149 + 1 4 .6
M ain e-----------564
349 -3 8 . 1
M arylan d ____
491
377 - 2 3 .2
M assachusetts.
462
385 - 1 6 .7
M ich igan ____
1,046 1,176 + 1 2 .4
M inn esota-----477
457 - 4 . 2
M ississip p i..
M issouri______ 1.449 1,265 - 1 2 .7
573
379 - 3 3 .9
M on tan a _____
959 1,352 + 4 1 .0
N ebraska-------65
88 + 35.4
N ev a d a _______
N ew H am p173
197 (*)
shire________
247
176 - 2 8 .7
N ew Jersey___
6 369
N flw M exico
406
1,045
878 (5)
N ew Y o r k ___
N o r th Caro1,011
615 - 3 9 .2
lin a _____ . . .
258
196 —24. C
N orth D akota.
1,102
- 1 2 .1
1,253
O hio_________
543
431 - 2 0 .6
O klahom a____
781
507 - 3 5 . 1
Oregon_______
P en n sylvan ia.. 1,524 1,327 - 1 3 .0
135
117 —13. 3
R hode Isla n d .,
S o u th C aro628
43£ - 3 0 .1
lin a _________
751
South D akota.
466 -3 7 . £
587
458 - 2 2 .0
T en n essee____
T exas________ « 3,019 « 2,340
'402
U ta h _________
'448 + 1 1 .4
V erm on t_____
95
79 - 1 6 .8
V irginia______
587
588
+• 2
W a s h in g to n ...
956
728 - 2 3 .8
418
560 + 3 4 .0
W est V irginia .
508
50£
W iscon sin . . . .
W y o m in g ..
205
265 + 2 9 .3
D istrict of Co181
230 + 2 7 .1
lu m b ia _____
U
M
-
tû
bß
a
<
ö
1.08
T o ta l___ 631,473 625, 760 7 —11. 6 7. 43
187
96
344
94
184
- 3 6 .8
+ 3 5 .2
-3 5 . (
- 4 3 .0
- 1 9 .3
687 - 2 6 .2
62 - 4 . 6
- 4 3 .6
- 4 2 .5
- 2 4 .8
- 3 3 .0
- 2 3 .7
- 1 6 .0
- 1 4 .3
- 4 .7
- 5 .8
- 8 .7
- 3 .2
- .4
7, 594
7, 295 - 3 . 9
6,681
6,490 - 2 . 9
12,590 12,823 + 1 .9
«16,025 « 16,485
2,458
2, 534 + 3 .1
80£
785 - 3 . 0
3,435
4,065 + 1 8 .3
12, 229 12,413 + 1 .5
5,532
5,205 - 5 . 9
4,501
4,626 + 2 .8
1,086 - 4 . 1
1,133
3,740
3, 235 - 1 3 .5
.38 11.2 12.3 «13,427 «9,867 7- 2 1 . 01«353.451 «317,837 7 - 3 . 4
1 R evised figures.
1 N o t comparable, due to transfer of Los A ngeles from N ation al R eem p loym en t Service to State em p loy
m en t service as of Septem ber.
3 Operating as State em p loym ent service beginning Septem ber.
‘ N o t com parable, due to transfer of Concord from N ation al R eem p lo y m en t Service to State em p loy
m ent service as of Septem ber.
1 N o t comparable, due to transfer of Queens C oun ty from N atio n a l R eem p loym en t Service to State
em p loym ent service as of Septem ber.
• Incom plete.
’C om puted from comparable reports on ly
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
W age R e stitu tio n s E ffected by C om p lian ce D ivision
N ITS first year of operation the Compliance Division of the
National Recovery Administration arranged for wage restitutions
totaling approximately $2,000,000.1 Of this amount over $1,000,000
was restored to workers between October 26, 1933, and June 16, 1934,
and $900,304 was paid out to nearly 50,000 workers from June 16
to October 13, 1934. These amounts represent the difference between
actual wage payments to workers and the total that should have
been paid under code provisions. It is estimated that an additional
$1,900,000 has been collected for workers through the efforts of National
Recovery Administration field offices and local compliance boards.
In addition code authorities for 16 industries reported to the National
Recovery Administration that up to September 29 wage restitutions
of $523,120 had been paid to approximately 70,000 workers.
Wage restitutions have been made in all States in the United States.
Since June 16 the range in amounts restored has been wide, or from
$49.69 in 2 cases involving 5 workers in Vermont to $110,000 in 615
cases covering 4,879 employees in the Philadelphia area.
I
C h an ges in H ours and W ages in C o tto n -G a r m en t In d u stry
REDUCTION in working hours of 10 percent and a commensurate increase in rates of pay became operative under the code
for the cotton-garment industry on December 1, 1934, in conformity
with the recommendations of a special committee created to investi
gate the justification of such a change. The revision in the cottongarment code, whereby hours were reduced from 40 to 36 per week
without a reduction in the weekly wages of $12 per week in the southern
area, and $13 per week in the northern area, was originally ordered
by the President on August 21, 1934, to take effect 14 days later.
On September 28 the amendment was stayed by Executive order
until October 15 to allow the National Industrial Recovery Board
adequate opportunity to investigate the facts and make recommenda
tions with respect to proposed changes. Those members of the indus1 N a tio n al R ecovery A dm inistration.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Press release no. 8504, Oct. 28, 1934.
1351
1352
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
try who protested the amendment of the code expressed their willing
ness to abide by the decisions of an impartial committee on the matters
involved, and the President therefore stated in issuing the stay that
the National Industrial Recovery Board should appoint a committee
of three impartial members to hear protests, investigate the facts,
and report its recommendations by October 10.
Appointees to the special committee were D. M. Nelson, Willard
E. Hotchkiss, and W. Jett Lauck, the last named having been selected
in place of Rev. Francis J. Haas, who could not serve.
The report of the special committee was made public on October 16.1
In reviewing the issues submitted to it the committee held hearings
at the instance of the code authorities of the dress manufacturing and
men’s clothing industries. It should be pointed out that these
industries operate under working schedules more favorable to labor
than did the cotton-garment industr}^ under the original code provi
sions and that the projected change in the cotton-garment code was
undertaken to harmonize the conditions in cotton-garment manufac
ture with those obtaining in competing industries, namely those
producing dresses and men’s clothing. The committee reviewed
existing records and considered new facts and viewpoints. It did
not believe that the time available or the occasion warranted the
assembling of original new data.
The position of the code authority, as interpreted by the committee,
was that employment in the cotton-garment industry was relatively
heavy during the late phases of the depression before adoption of the
code. This was due to the fact that low purchasing power made the
buying of other than low-priced merchandise impossible. During
this period unrestricted competition led to low wages, long hours,
and related evils. With code adoption the industry reported that
the differential between costs of production of cotton garments and
competing goods was narrowed, with the result that other products
were bought, and the volume of cotton-garment sales dwindled, causing
a loss in employment.
In the course of its deliberations the committee found that the cost
of a 49-cent work shirt, to cite one example, would be raised by not
more than 5 cents under the proposed code amendment. The com
mittee also held the view that bringing substandard industries up to
the standards of competing industries was an important objective and
that the public interest and industrial stability demand that official
approval should not be given to “ pockets of production under lower
labor standards along the competitive border line of industries whose
codes enforce higher labor standards.” The committee stated that
the only material change in practice that the code amendment made
necessary was the filing of all piece rates with the code authority in
1 N ation al R ecovery A dm inistration.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Press release no. 8314.
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
1353
order that sufficient standardization could be introduced to assure
integrity of the piece-rate structure. Inequities resulting as between
high- and low-standard producers under the amendment were regarded
as no greater than would result from any general ruling. For these
reasons the committee agreed that the amendment should be sustained.
A need for study of the competition of prison-made goods, the effect
of the prison-labor compact 2 and production in sheltered workshops
was recognized and it was recommended that a commission be set up
for this purpose, to report not later than December 1. Accordingly,
the National Industrial Recovery Board announced the creation of a
special committee of three on November 5, whose duties were out
lined as including study of competition between products of the
cotton-garment industry and products of sheltered workshops and
between products of the industry and those of prison labor.3 The
committee was further directed to study the operation of the prisonlabor compact. Wholesale exemptions from code provisions were
opposed and the committee urged that nothing be done that might
undermine the efforts of the code authority in the field of securing
code compliance.
C o m m itte e R eport on Scrip P a y m e n t of W ages and C om p an y
Stores
IMITED acceptance of scrip, at not less than its par value, is
L
J recommended by the special committee appointed by the Na
tional Recovery Administration on March 16, 1934, to study so-called
“ company stores ” and wage payments in other than lawful currency.4
This committee was named in accordance with the provisions of the
retail trade code 5 and was required to report its findings to the
National Recovery Administration not later than December 1. Fol
lowing submission of the report code provisions governing scrip were
stayed until January 6, 1935.
The study of the committee was limited to company stores in min
ing, quarrying, lumbering, railroading, and manufacturing industries.
No survey was made of plantation stores, Government commissaries,
and nonprofit-making organizations, such as self-help barter exchanges,
nor was scrip issued by municipalities investigated. The field investi
gation was made in 10 eastern States where company-store and scrip
payments are most common. Information was obtained for 150
commissaries and 100 neighboring independent stores and 35 com
missaries were chosen at random to check the representativeness of
the data.
2 See M o n th ly Labor R eview , M arch 1934, p. 529.
3 N a tion al R ecovery A dm inistration. Press release no. 8647, N o v . 5, 1934.
4 Idem . Press release no. 8673, N o v . 10, 1934.
s See M o n th ly Labor R eview , M a y 1934, p. 1059, and A ugust 1934, p. 317.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1354
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Recommendations of the committee were made under two separate
groupings, the first of which dealt specifically with proposals for change
in article IX, section 4, of the retail trade code covering scrip payment
and receipt and the second with recommendations “ designed to carry
out the spirit of the first group’’ and to “ indicate some considerations
involved in correcting some of the evils which now exist in connection
with the company-store and scrip system.”
It is proposed that the retail trade code be changed to allow com
pany stores or retail stores to “ collect by offset in the form of scrip,
book credit, or otherwise” an amount equal to as much as 25 percent
of the pay of an individual in any pay period. By the terms of the
retail trade code as approved, “ a negotiable instrument issued by
any individual or private profit organization in payment of wages
shall be accepted only if it is payable in cash within 1 month of the
date of issue”, and no retailer may extend credit in goods, etc., to
other than its own employees engaged exclusively in the retail trade,
upon any employer’s guaranty or pursuant to a wage-deduction
arrangement with said employer, unless such privileges are available
to all retailers. The recommendations of the committee also include
a change in the code provisions, stating that scrip may be accepted
for cash only at its par or face value.
To insure equitable application of the provisions for scrip payments
and acceptance of scrip for cash the committee suggests the adoption
of regulations which would—
(1) Insure that the worker receive a reasonable portion of his wages in cash on
each pay day;
(2) Limit the pay period to 1 week, and limit pay hold-backs to a maximum of 1
week;
(3) Prohibit any employer of labor from requiring an employee to trade at the
company store; and
(4) Prohibit the payment of wages due in any form other than lawful money or
par checks.
The committee states that the present article IX, section 4, of the
retail trade code and identical provisions in other codes recognize the
interest of the independent merchant. Little evidence of protest
against its provisions was found.
In examining the effect of the company store there appeared few
evidences of pressure being brought to bear on employees to buy at
such stores, but the question is raised by the committee as to whether
or not the effects of impoverishment and improvidence might not
have the same effect as coercion in causing the worker to trade at the
company store. The quality of goods in company stores compared
favorably with that in independent establishments, but food prices
were 2.1 to 10.4 percent higher than those charged by independents.
Discounting scrip at 10 to 30 percent for cash was found to be a com
mon practice by merchants and other members of the community.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
1355
Commissary managers reported that a number of workers were in
perpetual debt to the commissaries. There were three instances in
which workers received no cash wages in a period of 15 years. Many
persons operating company stores believe that workers need assist
ance in handling their affairs. In the judgment of the committee,
assumption of paternalistic responsibility by employers carries with it
the obligation to accord treatment at least equal to that the worker
would receive from “ those professing no such restraining relation
ship.” The committee also expressed doubt as to social desirability of
extending paternalism beyond the unavoidable minimum.
W ork A ssig n m en t B oards in T extile In d u stries
assignment boards were set up in the cotton, wool, and
WORK
silk textile industries by Executive orders of October 16, 1934,
and a fourth order promulgated on the same date provides for a com
mon chairman for the three bodies so established and outlines the rules
and regulations under which they shall operate.1 This action is in
conformity with the recommendations of the board of inquiry for the
cotton-textile industry 2 and represents an effort on the part of the
Administration to prevent increases in the speed of operation of
machinery and the number of machines tended by individuals, known
as the “ stretch-out”, pending investigation and the establishment of
sound and adequate organization .for the regulation of work assign
ments.
By the terms of the respective orders covering the cotton, silk, and
wool textile industries, board membership is limited to three persons
to be named by the Textile Labor Relations Board and including an
impartial chairman, one representative of employers in the specific
textile division, and one representative of employees.
Cotton and silk boards.—For the cotton and silk textile industries
the orders provide that prior to February 1, 1935, no employer may
make any change in work assignments for any class of employees
whereby the work load is increased over that existing on September 21,
1934. The orders read in part as follows:
During this period the number of looms, frames, or other machines required to
be tended by any class of employees shall not be increased where the character of
the raw material, yarn, construction of cloth, preparatory processes, type of
equipment used, or character of finish or put-up is not changed. Where such
changes do occur the number of machines tended by such employees may be
increased or decreased in such manner as will not increase the amount of effort
required of the worker.
Where, during the period above referred to, a mill resumes the manufacture of
any specific product which it has made within 6 months prior to September 21,
i E xecutive Orders N os. 6875, 6876, 6877, and 6878, Oct. 16, 1934.
2 See M o n th ly Labor R eview , N ovem b er 1934, p. 1115.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1356
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1934, and where the conditions of manufacture enumerated in the preceding para
graph are not changed, then the work load formerly used on such product shall be
the guide in determining the proper work assignment.
Where, on September 21, 1934, a new style of yarn or cloth or any other new
type of product was in course of introduction or is thereafter during the period
above referred to introduced into a mill or finishing plant, a tentative work load
' may be established during the period of determining a proper work load in accord
ance with the foregoing principles.
If the code authority, or any affected employee or employer, peti
tions the proper work assignment board to consider a case prior to
February 1, 1935, the board may investigate any work assignment
increased since July 1, 1933, and the employer must show reasons for
the increase. The board may require a reduction in the individual
load if it finds that the task as set requires “ excessive effort.” Both
boards have authority to issue rules and regulations and to appoint
agents to investigate and make recommendations on procedure. Sub
ject to instructions of the President, the boards may study actual
operations in representative plants and make recommendations for
permanent regulation of work assignments.
Wool board.—The order creating the Wool Textile Work Assignment
Board makes that body responsible for administering paragraph 2 of
section 3 of the wool-textile code, which states that no employee shall
be required to do any work beyond the standard prevailing for the
particular job on July 1, 1933. In carrying out the code provision the
board is charged with observing the following principles:
(a) No employer shall extend the number of similar looms, frames, spindles
or other machines or equipment tended by any class of employee unless there is a
compensating change in the operation, including a change in the quality or charac
ter of the product or material processed or manufactured.
(b ) The Wool Textile Work Assignment Board may, on petition of any mill
which installs labor-saving machinery, after such investigation as it may deem
proper, authorize the employer to increase labor assignments to the extent only
that the amount of work required of the employees affected will not be increased
by the installation of this machinery.
(c) On petition of the representatives of labor, on its own motion, or otherwise,
the Wool Textile Work Assignment Board may investigate any case where it is
alleged that the work load has been improperly increased since July 1, 1933, in
violation of the code and may require its reduction if it finds that the assignment
has been so increased.
Rules and regulations for the three boards.—In the order establishing
rules and regulations for the cotton, silk, and wool textile work assign
ment boards the President states that all matters involving products
of more than one branch of the textile industry must be handled
jointly by the work assignment boards of the affected industries.
The boards are authorized to study the actual operation of the “ stretch
out” in] representative plants, including those they may] select and
others designated by the code authority affected and the United
Textile Workers of America. Recommendations must be submitted
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
1357
to the President before January 1, 1935, for the regulation of work
assignments. Unless cause is shown to the contrary, the order spec
ifies that the following principles be observed in making recommen
dations:
(a)
No employer shall increase the work assignments of any class of work until
he has secured authorization therefor from the district impartial chairman
(appointed by the Textile Work Assignment Board) of the district in which the
mill operates. The district impartial chairman shall authorize extensions of work
assignments only if the following conditions have been complied with:
(i) th e employer has filed with the district impartial chairman and with the
representatives of the employees affected a petition for authorization of extension
of work assignments. The petition shall include a sworn statement on a form to
be provided by the Textile Work Assignment Board indicating the conditions
which have been established at the mill as the basis for extension.
(ii) A period of 6 weeks has elapsed since the filing of the petition.
(iü) Either (a) the representatives of labor affected have not filed a protest to
the proposed extension before the end of the 6-week period, or (6) if such protest
has been filed, there has been a public hearing, with such investigation by the
district impartial chairman or his agents as he may deem advisable, and the
impartial chairman finds that the conditions which have been maintained through
out the 6-week period justify the extension.
If any employer fails to maintain existing standards of work assign
ments this is deemed sufficient cause for denial of a petition. Upon
employee petition the district impartial chairman may investigate
labor assignments established and require a reduction if indicated.
Decisions of the district impartial chairman are subject to appeal of
the appropriate textile work assignment board, whose decisions are
final.
C ollective A greem en ts U nder th e C o n stru ctio n Code
TOTAL of 7 collective agreements governing rates of pay and
other working conditions was approved up to the middle of
A
November 1934, in subsidiary branches of the construction industry,
in accordance with the provisions of section 7 (b) of the National
Industrial Recovery Act and article III, section 1, of the construc
tion code. By the terms of section 7 (b) of the Recovery Act the
President is charged with affording every opportunity to employers
and employees in any trade or industry to establish by mutual agree
ment working standards which, when approved by the Chief Execu
tive, have the same effect as a code of fair competition approved
under the National Industrial Recovery Act. In accordance with
this provision a clause was written into the construction code, stat
ing that representative groups of employers and employees within
the provisions of the industry might enter into collective agreements
covering specifically defined regions or localities. It is further stated
that the terms applying in one division are not binding in another
division. However, the entire United States may be defined as a
region.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1358
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Of the 7 agreements accepted, 2 apply to electrical workers in
Chicago and Detroit, 3 to painters in Philadelphia, Omaha, Nebr., and
Wilmington, Del., 1 to New York masons, and 1 to plumbers in
Denver. As the agreements extend to the metropolitan areas or
contiguous territory of the cities listed, the coverage is considerable.
In addition to the agreements in force, 177 have been submitted to the
National Recovery Administration for consideration, and 43 hearings
on proposed collective agreements have been held (Nov. 23, 1934).
All proposals are subject to analysis by the National Recovery
Administration, public hearing, and possible change before approval.
The construction code makes special mention of the fact that failure
to comply with such collective agreements, once they are approved,
constitutes a violation of the applicable code. To investigate com
plaints of such violations the code provides for one or more special
boards in the respective divisions of the industry, each having two
representatives of employers and of employees and an impartial
chairman.
C ooperative S o cieties P erm itted to C ollect B rokerage Under
Codes
N ADMINISTRATIVE order issued by the National Recovery
>Administration October 12, 1934, provides that no industrial
code shall be interpreted to prohibit payment of a brokerage com
mission to a bona fide cooperative association for services for which
brokerage may properly be paid. This is the third order intended to
clear up disputed points regarding the status of cooperative societies.
The first two were Executive orders issued October 23, 1933, and
February 17, 1934.1
The text of the administrative order of October 12, 1934, is as
follows:
A
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 6606-A, dated February 17, 1934, no pro
vision of any code of fair competition heretofore or hereafter approved under
title I of said act shall be so construed or applied as to make it a violation of
any such code for any member of any industry to pay or allow a brokerage com
mission to any bona fide and legitimate cooperative organization performing
services or engaged in functions for which other persons may properly be paid
such a commission. In determining whether a cooperative organization is
performing such services and functions no cognizance shall be taken of the fact
that the said cooperative organization will distribute its actual earnings, whether
acquired in the form of brokerage commissions or otherwise, to its members in
the form of patronage dividends, notwithstanding also the fact that the members
who in due course may receive a part of said brokerage commission as a patronage
dividend may be the purchasers of the product or service with which the said
commission was realized.
'For text of th ese orders see M o n th ly Labor R eview , issue of D ecem ber 1933 (p. 1416), and A pril 1934
(p. 853).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL^RECOVERYk PROGRAM
1359
S u m m a ry of P erm a n en t C odes A dopted U nder N a tio n a l In d u s
trial Recovery A ct D u rin g O ctober 1934
HE principal labor provisions of codes adopted during October
1934 under the National Industrial Recovery Act are shown in
summary form in the following tabular analysis. This summary is in
continuation of similar tabulations carried in the Monthly Labor
Review since December 1933.
In presenting the code provisions in this manner the intention is
to supply in readily usable form the major labor provisions, i. e., those
affecting the great bulk of employees in the industries covered. 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, as, for example, apprentices, learners,
and handicapped wmrkers. For complete information relative to the
exempted classes under the hours and wages sections, special provi
sions for the control of home work, sale of prison-made goods, and
studies of occupational hazards, it is necessary to refer to the original
codes. Provisions for overtime rates of pay and employment of minors
lend themselves to fairly complete analysis within a restricted space,
and code limitations thereon are described in the accompanying
tabular analysis.
A special section at the end of the table is devoted to amended
codes that have already been printed in original form.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Provisions for overtim e pay
M inors of specified age
excluded from em
p lo y m en t
B itu m in ou s road m aterial
distributing (N o v . 25).
32 per w eek, 8 in 24, 5 days in 7, general. 48 per
w eek, distributor operators or assistants re
ceivin g n ot less than $35 per w eek. 40 per
week, office. 56 per w eek, 6 days in 7, w a tch
m en. 48 per w eek, 6 d ays in 7, firem en and
plan t m en.
1K regular rate after 48
hours, distributor opera
to r s, a s sista n ts , and
laborers. V /i regular rate
a f t e r h o u r s s p e c ifie d ,
em ergency work.
U nder 16, office b oys, and
m ess or w ater boys.
U n d e r 18, g e n e r a l .
U nder 21, distributor
operators or assistants.
Book publishing
40 per w eek (in peak periods 64 per year ad di
tional, m axim um 48 in 1 w eek), 8 in 24,general.
45 per w eek, 9 in 24, m aintenance or outside
service. 6 days in 7.
IK regular rate
hours, general.
8
U nd er 16, office boys and
girls and m essengers.
U nder 18, others.
40 per w eek (in peak periods 48 per w eek during
6 w eeks in 26 w eeks), 8 in 24, 6 d ays in 7, gen
eral. 56 per w eek, w atchm en. 44 per w eek,
stock and shipping clerks and d elivery em
ployees. 40 per w eek, 8 in 24, 6 days in 7,
office.
IK regular rate after 8
hours in 24 and 40 per
w eek, general, em ergency
work, stock and shipping
clerks and delivery em
ployees.
U nder 16, general. U n
der 18, hazardous or
u n h e a lth fu l o c c u p a
tions.
40 per w eek, 8 in 24 (in peak periods 48 per w eek,
9 in 24, during 6 w eeks in 26), 6 d ays in
7, general. 56 per w eek, 6 days in 7, w atch
m en.
40 per w eek (in peak periods 48 per w eek and 8
per d a y (10 per day, shop crews, receiving and
shipping crews) during 6 w eeks b etw een Sep
tem ber and January), 8 in 24, 6 days in 7,
general. 56 per w eek, w atchm en. 44 per
w eek, firem en and engineers.
IK regular rate after 8
hours in 24 and 40 per
w eek, general, em ergency
work.
1K regular rate after 8 hours,
shop crews, receiving and
shipping crews. IK regu
lar rate after 8 hours in 24
and 40 per w eek (48 per
w eek during peak period),
em ergency work.
I K regular rate after hours
specified (overtim e lim it
ed to 8 hours per w eek in
8 w eeks per y ear). IK
regular rate after hours
specified, epidem ic, catas
trophe, or em ergency.
Floor m achinery
M etal hospital
m anufacturing
M in im u m wages (excluding apprentices
and learners)
40 cents per hour in 11 Southern States and
50 cents per hour elsewhere, general.
$6 per d ay (8 hours), d istributor opera
tors, and $4.50 per d ay (8 hours), dis
tributor laborers, on d aily basis. $14—
$15 per w eek, according to population,
office.
(Oct. 15).. $14—
$15 per w eek, according to population,
general. $11.20-$12 per w eek , according
to population, office boys and girls and
m essengers. 40 cents per hour, parttim e work.
(O ct. 27)._ 40 cents per hour, general. $14—$15 per
w eek, according to population, office.
$11.20-$! 2 per w eek, according to p o p u
lation, office boys and girls and m es
sengers (not to exceed 5 percent of office
em ployees, b ut each em ployer entitled
to 1 such em ployee).
furniture 40 cents per hour, general. $15 per w eek,
( N o v ..2).
office.
Pecan shelling (O ct. 29)___
15 cents per hour in South and 16K cents
per hour elsewhere, general. $16 per
w eek, office, w atchm en.
Pharm aceutical and
logical (N o v . 5).
28 cents per hour, laboratory or office ap
prentices (not to exceed 1 in 20 em p lo y
ees, b ut each em ployer en titled to 1 such
apprentice). 35 cents per hour, others.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
bio
40 per w eek, 8 in 24, 6 d ays in 7, general. 48 per
w eek averaged over 2 w eeks, 12 d ays in 14,
w atchm en, firemen, engineers, or outside
service. 45 per w eek, 6 d ays in 7, branch house
and shipping service. 40 per w eek, 12 per day,
em ployees on continuous processes.
after
D o.
D o.
U nder 16, office boys and
girls and m essengers.
U nd er 18, others.
MONTHLY LABOE EE VIEW
M axim um hours
Ind u stry and date
effective
1360
T A B U L A R A N A L Y S I S O F L A B O R P R O V IS IO N S I N C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T I O N A L I N D U S T R I A L R E C O V E R Y A C T I N O C T O B E R 1934
Pickle packing’(Oet. 15)—. . 22)4-32)4 cents per hour for females and
RetailTtrade in th e Territory.of H aw aii (O ct. 29).
U nder 16, general. U n
der 18, hazardous or
u n h ealth fu l
occupa
tions.
U nd er 16 (except 3 hours
per d a y on 6 d ays per
w eek or one 8-hour day
per w eek for persons 14
and 15).
1361
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$ 9 -$ ll per w eek, according to population
and store hours, general. $8-$10 per
w eek, according to p opulation and store
hours, juniors and apprentices (not to
exceed 1 in 5 em ployees up to 20 and 1 in
10 above 20 em p loyees). D ed uction s for
m eals and lodging allow ed if custom ary
prior to June 16, 1933; 25 cents per meal
or $3 per w eek, $2.50 per w eek for lodging.
40 per w eek (in peak periods 48 per w eek during 1J4 regular rate after m axi
m u m hours specified, peak
12 w eeks in 1 year), w atch m en , handlers, and
periods, em ergency w ork.
packers, workers engaged in receiving and
1)4 regular rate for all
salting operations excluded, 9 per day, gen
hours w orked on S un d ays
eral. 48 per w eek, chauffeurs, deliverym en,
and specified holidays
shipping and receiving clerks w orking in con
(w atchm en, ou tside sales
junction w ith ou tside d eliv ery em ployees,
m en, salting station em
power plant em ployees, repair and m ain te
ployees exclu d ed ).
nance. 44 per w eek, w arehouse em ployees.
56 per w eek, w atchm en. 60 per w eek during
8 w eeks in 1 year, em p loyees engaged in re
ceiving and salting. 48 per w eek, 10 per day,
during 4 w eeks in 1 year, office. R outes for
delivery salesm en to b e so planned as to re
quire 8 per day n orm ally exclusive of 1 for
lunch period. 6 d ays in 7.
According to store hours, 40 per w eek, 8 per day 1)4 regular rate for hours in
excess of tolerance allow ed,
(in peak periods, 48 per w eek and 9 per day
m aintenance and outside
during 5 w eeks in 1 year), or 44 per w eek, 9 per
service.
day (in peak periods 52 per w eek and 9)4 per
day during 5 w eeks in 1 year), or 48 per w eek,
10 per day (in peak periods, 56 per w eek, 10 per
day during 5 w eeks in 1 year), 6 days per w eek,
general. 6 per w eek tolerance, m aintenance,
and outside service. 40 per w eek, 8 per day, 6
d ays per w eek, others. 56 per w eek, 13 d ays in
14, w atchm en. U nrestricted hours applyin g to
executives, etc., b ut excluding professional per
sons, outside collectors, w atch m en , etc.: In
establishm ents w ith 20 em p loyees or less, 1 in 5
em ployees or less; in estab lish m en ts w ith over
20 em ployees, 1 in 5 em p loyees for th e first 20
and 1 in 8 em ployees above 20. 1 per day a ddi
tional on 1 d ay per w eek provided w eek ly aver
age is not exceeded.
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
273/2-40 cents per hour for m ales, accord
ing to geographic area and population,
nonseasonal w ork. 20-27)4 cents per
hour for fem ales and 25-32)4 cents per
hour for m ales, according to geographic
area, seasonal w ork in salting station of
m etropolitan areas under 100,000 popu
lation. $18 per w eek, w atchm en. $14$16 per w eek, according to population,
office. $12—$14 per w eek, office boys and
m essengers (not to exceed 5 percent of
total office em ployees where more than
1 is so classified).
A m e n d e d codes
M inim um w ages (excluding apprentices
and learners)
B uilders’ supplies trade
(Oct. 13, 1933; am ended
Oct. 25, 1934).
25-60 cents per hour, according to p opula
tion and geographic areas, general. $12
per week, office em ployees in sm all tow ns
where not more than 2 em ployed. $12-$20
per week, according to population, other
office. 75 cents per hour, truck drivers in
cities of 2,500,000 population or over.
$lfi-$50 per week, according to price of adm is
sion, senior actors. $25-$30 per week,
according to price o f adm ission, ju n io r
actors. $30 per week, $35 per week w hen
traveling, chorus in m usical productions.
Stock companies: $40 per week, not less
than 6 actors regularly em ployed, also
senior actor local jobbers; $25 per week,
other actors; $25-$35 per week, according to
season and price o f adm ission, chorus.
1 w eek's salary advance after 2 w eeks’
rehearsal, chorus paid $100 per week or
less. $30 fo r 8 perform ances or 40 hours
per week, theatrical stage, m otion-picture
m achine operators, electrical workers, e n
gineers, firem en, oilers, other skilled m e
chanics, and wardrobe attendants. $ 40 $50 per week, com pany m anagers and $30$40 per week, house treasurers, according
to whether employed by stock or other com
p a n y. SO cents per hour, w atchm en. 40
cents per hour, ushers, ticket takers, scrub
wom en, theater attendants, porters, others.
$25-$75 per week, press representatives,
according to whether em ployed by stock or
other com pany. $2.26 per hour scenic
artist.
L egitim ate theatrical (Aug.
26,1933 ¡am ended Oct. 22,
1934).
1 A m endm ents given in italics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M inors of specified age
excluded from em
p lo y m en t
M axim um hours
Provisions for overtim e p a y
40 per w eek, 8 per day, general. 44 per w eek,
yard foremen, truck drivers, etc. 48 per w eek
in sm all tow ns, w here n ot m ore th an 2 em
ployed. 6 days in 7 (night and S u n d a y watch
m en excepted).
N o general provision.
regular rate after 44 hours,
yard foremen, etc. 1'A
regular rate after 48 hours,
clerical and office and em
ployees in sm all tow ns.
U nder 16, office boys, office
girls or
messengers.
U nder 18, others.
40 per week, actors, m em bers o f chorus, theatrical
stage, m otion-picture machine operators, elec
trical workers, engineers, fire m e n , porters, oilers,
house treasurers. 8 per day (1 per day for m ea l),
except during last 7 days o f rehearsal and after
first public perform ance, rehearsals by actors in
dramatic p la ys. 7 p er day (in 10 consecutive
hours), except during last 7 days o f rehearsal and
after first public perform ance, rehearsals by actors
and chorus in m usical p la y s. 48 per week, 8 in
24, wardrobe attendants. 56 per week, 6 days in
7, w atchm en. 40 per week, 8 in 24, office em
ployees paid less th a n $35 per week. 32 per
week, scenic artists except chargem^n paid $75 or
over per week. 35 per w eek, ushers, ticket takers,
scrubw om en, theater attendants, others.
1
U nder 16 (except b y sp e
cial p erm ission), gen
eral. U nder 18, haz
ardous or unh ea lth fu l
occupations.
regular rate after 8 hours
per day and 40 per week,
office, l i é
regular rate
after 7 hours per day and 35
per week, ushers, ticket
takers, scrubw om en, theater
attendants.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Ind u stry and date
effective
1
1362
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 I N C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T I O N A L I N D U S T R I A L R E C O V E R Y A C T I N O C T O B E R 1934—C ontinu ed
SOCIAL INSURANCE, PENSIONS, AND
RETIREMENT
R evision of U n em p lo y m e n t-P en sio n Plan of th e G eneral
E lectric C o.1
PLAN for the stabilization of employment and the payment of
unemployment benefits was introduced June 16, 1930, by the
General Electric Co. The plan provided that in times of unemploy
ment, emergency cooperation and assistance should be given both
by employees not usually affected by unemployment and by the
company. Under the original plan no payments were to be made
from the fund for at least 6 months after its creation and thereafter
only to employees who had made their normal payments for 6 months.
But on December 1, 1930, before the normal plan had been in effect
the required period and an adequate reserve had been built up, an
emergency was declared by the company and the emergency pro
visions which called for contributions by employees and officials not
usually affected by unemployment became effective. During the
period from December 1, 1930, to October 1, 1934, the total amount
paid into the fund, including contributions by employees and the
company, interest, repayment of loans, etc., was $5,487,424, of which
$3,727,274 was disbursed, leaving an unexpended balance on October
1, 1934, of $1,760,150.
The fundamental principles of the original plan 2remain unchanged
in the plan now presented by the company, but the experiences of the
past 4 years have suggested the desirability of certain changes, and
the boards of administrators at the various plants agreed upon such
amendments, which have been ratified, as provided in the original
plan. The new plan became effective November 1, 1934.
One of the most important changes, and one which is said to have
been urged by employees, provides for participation in the plan, as a
mutual condition of employment, of all employees of the company
except certain specifically excluded groups. These groups include
employees or temporary workers for whom other protection against
unemployment is provided by the company and salaried employees
and temporary salaried workers whose average full-time rates are
more than $50 per week.
A
i General Electric Co. G -E em p loyees’ u nem ploym en t pension plan.
s See M o n th ly Labor R eview , June 1934, p. 1301.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Schenectady, N o v . 1, 1934.
1363
1364
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Employees contribute 1 percent of the actual weekly or monthly
earnings, when such earnings are 50 percent or more of the average
full-time rate, until normal payments have been made for each of 156
weeks, including credit for amounts paid to the normal plan in 1930,
but no payments are to be made which will reduce an employee’s
earnings below 50 percent of his average full-time earnings, and it is
provided that normal payments shall be entirely suspended in cases
of declared emergency. The company contributes an amount equal
to the employees’ payments.
The benefit payments, which were set in the original plan at a maxi
mum of $20 per week, were reduced during the emergency to a maxi
mum of $15 and the benefits are now fixed at 50 percent of average
full-time earnings but not to exceed $15 a week. If a member who
has been temporarily laid off secures employment elsewhere, the
weekly benefit payment, if any, shall be paid to him at the discretion
of the local board, but wages plus benefits may not be less than the
weekly benefit payment he would receive if totally unemployed and
may not exceed the specified maximum. No benefit payment in any
week for total or partial unemployment may exceed an amount
sufficient to make the member’s current 4-week total earnings plus
benefit payments equal to four times the weekly benefit payment he
would receive if totally unemployed. For example, an employee laid
off immediately after he has been working full time would receive no
benefit for 2 weeks, while an employee laid off after he has been work
ing on short time and earning only the amount he would receive if
totally unemployed would be eligible for benefits immediately. The
total amount paid to an employee for total and/or partial unemploy
ment may not exceed within any 12 consecutive months 10 times
the weekly benefit payment he would receive if totally unemployed.
One year s continuous service with the company is required for
eligibility for benefits.
The plan provides for loans because of illness, death in family, fire,
or other extraordinary personal emergencies or unemployment to any
employee, except temporary workers, whether a member of the plan
or not. The loans may not exceed $200 outstanding to any employee
at any time, including the loans from the 1930 emergency fund. It
is required that repayment of loans shall commence within 1 month
after the loan is granted, at the rate of 10 percent of actual earnings.
Relief payments on the basis of need, in either cash or kind, may also
be made by the local boards of the different plants to any employee
or temporary worker, whether a member of the plan or not, but are
limited to $100 in any 12 months.
Regular employees, upon leaving the service of the company for
any reason whatever, receive the amount of their total normal pay
ments reduced by all benefit or relief payments made to them less
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL INSURANCE, PENSIONS, AND RETIREMENT
1365
their proportionate share of the operating cost of the plan. From
the refund thus calculated any unpaid loan either from this plan or
the 1930 emergency fund must also be deducted. Temporary workers
receive a refund equal to their total normal and emergency payments.
B en efit P a y m e n ts by S tan dard N a tio n a l and In ter n a tio n a l
U n io n s, 1933
HE benefit services for the year 1933 of national and international
trade unions that maintain benefits are shown in the accompany
ing table. The figures are taken from the report of the executive coun
cil of the American Federation of Labor to the 1934 convention of that
organization, which points out that the outstanding change in union
benefits between 1932 and 1933 is the decline in the total amount
paid, which amounts to about $11,000,000.
T
The decline in benefits from $51,448,348.73 to $40,692,112.72 represents a
decline in every item except disability where there was an increase of over $800,000.
The decline in death benefits was approximately $3,000,000; in unemployment
benefits, over $6,000,000. These declines do not reflect a decline in needs of
members but the effects of nearly 4 years of depression. Unions as well as the
Government have had to face the problem of relief for the unemployed as a public
responsibility. The shrinking incomes of the employed make their former
generous fraternal contributions a most difficult problem. It is an extraordinary
tribute to the stability and fine feeling of obligation among union members that
the total expenditure for this purpose during the year 1933 was more than
$13,500,000.
B E N E F I T S E R V IC E S OF S T A N D A R D N A T I O N A L A N D I N T E R N A T I O N A L
T R A D E U N I O N S , 1933
A m oun t paid in benefits for—
N am e of organization
D eath
A m erican Federation of Labor_______
Air L ine P ilots’ A ssociation ____
. .
A sbestos W orkers, International Association o f________ _____
... _ _
B akery and C onfectionery W orkers’
International Union
____
Barbers’ International U nion, Journ e y m e n _ ____ _ ___ __ _________
B lacksm ith s, D rop Forgers, and
H elpers, International Brotherhood
of _ . ______ .
____ ____ __
B oiler M akers, Iron Ship Builders,
and H elpers, International Brother
hood of__ ______ _ _ _ __ ___
B ookbinders, International Brotherhood of
______ ___________ _
B oot and Shoe W orkers’ U n io n ..
B rew ery, Flour, Cereal, and Soft
D rin k W orkers, I n t e r n a t i o n a l
U nion o f ..______ ____
_____ . - .
B ricklayers’, M asons’, and P lasterers’,
International U n io n ._______ ______
1 P aid b y local unions.
2 Includes d isab ility benefits.
3 Includes old-age pensions.
4 Inclu d ed w ith sick benefits.
3 Inclu d ed w ith death benefits.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sickness
U n em
Old age
p loym ent
D is
ab ility
M is
cella
neous
$784
$784
5,365
42,118
174,084
$5, 365
i $4,000
4,000
32,500
$99,466
112, 262
119,140
231,402
9, 425
2 320, 300
9,425
3 2,118
57,800
21,750
6,140
i 4,839
i 5,057
223,949
T otal
(9
(*)
439
1,100
323,518
32,450
90,689
28,240
$350
i 710
15, 376
2$414, 621
25,982
038,571
1366
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
B E N E F I T S E R V IC E S O F S T A N D A R D N A T I O N A L A N D I N T E R N A T I O N A L
T R A D E U N I O N S , 1933— C ontinued
A m oun t paid in benefits for—
N am e of organization
D eath
Brick and C lay W orkers, U n ite d .........
Bridge and Structural Iron W orkers,
International A ssociation__________
Carmen, Brotherhood of R a ilw a y ___
Carpenters and Joiners, U nited
Brotherhood of____________________
Carvers’ Association, International
W ood _____________________________
Clerks, N ation al Federation of Post
Office_______ _________________ ___
Clerks, Brotherhood of R a ilw a y _____
C lerks’ International P rotective A s
sociation, R eta il_______ ___________
C lothing W orkers of America, A m al
gam ated _____ _____________________
C onductors, Order of Sleeping C a r ..
Coopers’ International U n ion ________
D iam on d W orkers P rotective U n io n ..
Electrical W orkers, I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Brotherhood of____________________
E levator C onstruction, International
U nion of____ _____ ______________
Engineers, International U nion of
O perating_____________ ____________
Engravers, Frien d ly S ociety o f______
Engravers’ U nion, I n t e r n a t i o n a l
P h o t o .______ _____________________
Firem en and Oilers, International
Brotherhood of____________________
Fou n d ry E m p loyees, International
Brotherhood of____________________
F u r W orkers’ U nion, In tern a tio n a l....
G arm ent W orkers, U n ited ......................
G arm ent W orkers’ U nion, Interna
tional L adies’_____ ____ ___________
Glass B ottle Blow ers’ A ssociation........
Glass C utters’ League, W in d o w _____
Glass W orkers’ U nion, A m erican F lin t.
Granite C utters’ International U n ion .
H atters, Cap and M illinery W orkers,
International U nion, U n ite d _______
H od Carriers’, B u ild ing and C om m on
Laborers’ U nion, Intern ation al____
H otel and R estaurant E m p loyees’ and
Beverage D ispensers’ International
A lliance______________________ ____
Iron, Steel, and T in Workers, A m alga
m ated A ssociation o f______________
L athers’ International U nion, W ood,
W ire, and M e ta l__________________
L aundry W orkers’ International U n
io n _____ __________________________
L etter Carriers, N ation a l A ssociation
of............................................. .....................
L ithographers’ International Associat io n ..______ _______________________
M achinists, International A ssociation
o f ..______ _________________________
M aintenan ce of W ay E m ployees,
Brotherhood of_____ ____________ __
M arble, Slate, and S tone Polishers,
R ubbers, and Sawyers, etc., Inter
n ational A ssociation of........ .................
M asters, M ates, and P ilots of America.
M eat C utters and B utcher W orkm en,
A m algam ated -..................... ............... ..
M etal W orkers’ International A sso
ciation, Sheet______________________
M ine, M ill, and Sm elter W orkers,
International U nion of....... .................
$1S, 200
U n em
Old age
p loym ent
D is
ab ility
M is
cella
neous
>$1,450
! $780
2 $46, 699
11A 900
259,458
11,900
44,
240. 93C
15,658
63,725
240,930
6,085
362,000
21,085
2,275
3,122
3,350
$362,000
...
122
522,952
148,669
374,
6 25,
0)
81,083
111,511
5,369
224
30,
2,
131,
31,024
2, 500
85, 301 1, 743,195
54. 530 1,471,949
20,
4, 500
44,000
6,400
25,
52, 761
12,042
4,067
3,350
15,
2,
3,
$20,430
750,305
7,242
4,
T otal
75,949
127,100
$11,200
478, 947
20,000
3,073
17, 341
2,720
62,000
11,200
3,000
9,500
200
647
55, 326
1,500
12,000
3.000
1,100
25,310
24,400
87.200
47,000
6,400
80,826
54,261
23,370
35.200
38, 760
27, 775
48,962
130,144
26, 520
54,295
15,969
15,969
3, 750
1,422
330
1,475
159,386 2143,016
6,977
302,401
50,458
8,100
190, 000
246,486
32,500
166,000
248,558
3,000 34,500
482,486
219,250
219, 250
7 100
50
15,162
1,000
22,000
22,000
44,000
7,860
51,860
950
9,050
7 4,789
950
2,800
1 P aid b y local u nion s.
2 Includes d isab ility benefits.
5 Included w ith death benefits.
6 P aid b y local unions; includes sick benefits.
7 Includes local union benefits.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sickness
7 10, 273
3,300
2,000
SOCIAL INSURANCE, PENSIONS, AND RETIREMENT
1367
B E N E F I T S E R V IC E S O F S T A N D A R D N A T I O N A L A N D I N T E R N A T I O N A L
T R A D E U N IO N S . 1933— C ontinued
A m ount paid in benefits for—
N am e of organization
D eath
Sickness
M in e W orkers, U n ite d ................. ........... $1,000,000
M olders’ U nion of N orth A m erica,
Intern ation al______________________
277, 288 $102,981
Oil F ield , Gas W ell, and R efinery
W orkers____________ ______ _______
4.300
Painters, D ecorators, and Paperhang172, 599
ers, B rotherhood of________________
Paper M akers, International B rother
hood o f______ ____ ____ ________ . . .
6, 803
P attern M akers’ League______ ____ _
3,394
6.300
P av in g C utters’ U n io n ______________
3,975
Plasterers’ International A ssociation,
O p era tiv e.,_____ __________________
01, 675
Plum bers and Steam F itters, U nited
A ssociation o f............. ............... ..........
117,470 121,145
11,000
Polishers, M etal, International U n ion .
P otters, N a tion al Brotherhood of O p
erative____________________________
9, 634
14,970
P rin tin g Pressm en’s and A ssistan ts’
181,692
U nion, Intern ation al______________
3,974
P u lp , S ulphite, and Paper M ill W ork
ers, International Brotherhood o f .- .
2, 700
Quarry W orkers, International U n ion .
R ailw ay E m p loyees, A m algam ated
823,
007 i 84, 307
A ssociation of Street and E le ctric .. .
R ailw ay M ail A ssociation___________
59,493
Roofers, D am p and W ater Proof
W orkers’ A ssociation, U n ited Slate,
7, 000
T ile and C om position _____________
1,375
Sheep Shearers’ U n ion _______________
Siderographers, International A ssocia
tion of____________ ________________
Stereotypers’ and E lectrotyp ers’ U n
26,900
ion, Intern ation al__________________
Stonecutters’ A ssociation, Journey
m en _______________________________
22,700
S tove M ou n ters’ International U nion7,500
S w itch m en ’s U n ion ____________ ____
130,850
4.011
T ailors’ U nion, Journeym en_________
T eam sters, Chauffeurs, Stablem en,
and H elpers, International B rother
78, 350
hood o f . _____ _____________________
312,898
Telegraphers, Order of R a ilr o a d ...........
Telegraphers’ U nion, C om m ercial........
867
6,400
T ex tile W orkers, U n ited _____________
T obacco W orkers’ International U n
io n ________________________________
400
652,125
T ypographical U nion, In tern ation al-_
U pholsterers’ International U n io n ___
27,000
W all Paper Crafts, U n ited ___________
3,950
W eavers’ P rotective A ssociation,
i 400
A m algam ated W ire________________
Railroad T rainm en, Brotherhood of_. 2,245,924
L ocom otive Firem en and E nginem en,
B rotherhood of____________________ 1, 015,980
L ocom otive Engineers, Brotherhood of. 3,122,699
999,475
R a ilw a y C onductors, Order of_______
U n em
Old age
ploym ent
D is
ab ility
M is
cella
neous
T otal
, 000,000
$223,452
603,720
4, 300
$5,900 $4, 554
183,053
1,250
408
1,424
8,053
37,210
5,399
9,456
9,000
748,071
20,000
27,107
4,000
500,000
65,675
9,013
317, 26’ $114,862
1,000
1,000
4,450
1,750
70,400
33,618
617,795
17, 450
811, 224
» 113,667
2,230
591
997,394
184,974
7,000
3,875
( 10)
• 797,418
58,172
22,700
7, 500
164,425
6,832
33,575
2,821
22, 574
25, 000
3,700
67, 673
624,415 2,110,853
201,650
100
> 500
517, 507
152, 155
882,490
78,350
335,473
867
31,400
4,100
212,975 3,668,041
8,000
236, 650
960
5,426
3,450
12,550
940, 282 2, 876,375 42,958 6,623,045
17,900
8, 750, 000
202,415 f'>919,919
2,694,846
Vs 386, 478
232, 832 252,174 154,509 12, 512, 215
121,11C 171,398 6,960 1,298,943
T o ta l__________________________ 14, 780, 206 1,665,266 13,784,043 4,678,636 4,837,730 946, 231 40,692,113
1 Paid b y local unions.
7 Includes local u nion benefits.
8 Perm anent d isab ility.
8 D isa b ility from accident.
10 M aintains u nem ploym en t benefit b ut m ade no report.
» D isa b ility.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
R e a d ju stm e n t of W orkers D isplaced by P la n t S h u t-D o w n s 1
HE fact that the major part of the burden of industrial change
as exemplified by the permanent closing of factories falls upon
the workers even in spite of well-organized community and com
pany efforts to minimize the effect of the enforced unemployment
is shown by a study of what happened to workers in two rubber
manufacturing plants located in New Haven and Hartford, Conn.,
who became unemployed when the plants were permanently closed.
The study extended over a period of 3 years and was carried out as
two separate but related investigations, the first covering a period
of 11 months after the shut-down of the plants,2 during which time
employment opportunities were approximately normal, and the
second covering the following 2 depression years.
The New Haven plant was closed in April 1929 and the Hartford
plant in August of the same year, these shut-downs occurring as a
result of a general program of the United States Rubber Co. for con
solidating scattered small plants into a few major factories. About
2,200 workers were displaced in the two factories and as the closing
of these factories involved dismissing such a large number of workers
at the same time and also since pensions and a dismissal wage were
paid to certain of the long-service workers, the shut-downs offered an
unusual opportunity to study the readjustment of displaced indus
trial workers, as well as the influence of the payment of a dismissal
wage upon such readjustment.
The L. Candee & Co. factory in New Haven, manufacturing
rubber footwear, was the oldest rubber manufacturing plant in the
United States and had an unusual number of long-service em
ployees. The plant was antiquated and much of the work was
individual in character, the work of some departments consisting
almost entirely of hand work. About 60 percent of the workers
were women. More than half of the workers were Italians and many
married couples worked there, while many of the younger workers
were related to the older employees, so that in a sense the plant
formed a community by itself. The Hartford Rubber Works was
T
1 Y ale U niversity. In stitu te of H u m an R elations. After the shut-dow n. Part 1.—T he readjustm ent
of industrial workers displaced b y 2 plan t shut-dow ns, b y E w an Clague and W alter J. Couper. Part
2 — Former L. Candee workers in the depression, b y E . W igh t Bakke. N ew H aven , C onn., 1934.
2 A sum m ary of the earlier stu d y w as published in the A pril 1931 issue of the M o n th ly Labor R eview
(p. 69).
1368
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
1369
a tire manufacturing plant and its processes were more mechanized
and specialized. The employees were practically all men, many of
them single, and there was no single nationality predominating as
in New Haven, although native second-generation Americans formed
the largest single group—about one-fourth of the total. The New
Haven plant closed at a time when business was still good and when
there were opportunities to find other work, but the Hartford plant
closed shortly before the onset of the depression so that opportuni
ties for securing employment soon ceased.
Upon the notice of the impending shut-down the New Haven
company took steps to assist in the readjustment of the employees.
Workers were allowed to take time off to look for work during the
4 weeks which elapsed between the announcement and the final
closing of the plant, while the employment department made every
effort to place workers in other plants, eligible workers were retired
from service under the existing pension plan, and for all other longservice workers a dismissal wage of 1 week’s pay at current earn
ings was given for each year of service if they had had at least 15
years’ service or if they were 45 and had had 10 or more years of
service. Under this provision 116 employees, or about 15 percent,
received payments ranging from $137 to $2,088, with a median of
about $400. At the Hartford plant the same procedure was fol
lowed and pensions and dismissal wages were paid on the same
basis. However, the number eligible for pension was very small
and 126 employees, or about 10 percent, received a dismissal wage.
As the number of workers, therefore, who were eligible for pen
sions and for dismissal wage varied so much in the two plants, and
there was so much variation in other factors, the shutdown of the
plants offered an excellent opportunity for a comparative study of
the degree of success with which these workers adjusted themselves
to the change and to trace the influence upon that adjustment of
such factors as age, nationality, skill, dismissal wage, community
efforts to assist readjustment, and the general employment condi
tion in the industrial area.
Composition of the Groups Studied
I n t h e survey of the two groups of workers, 729 were listed in
New Haven and 1,105 in Hartford, schedules being secured for 244
men and 428 women in New Haven and 8 women and 526 men in
Hartford. Age and sex were important factors in the securing of
the proportionately larger number of schedules in New Haven, as
that plant had an overwhelming majority of women at the younger
ages as well as a high proportion of older workers, neither of which
classes are as mobile as the group of younger men in Hartford who
97667—34------6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1370
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
accounted for a large part of the unsecured schedules since they had
in most cases undoubtedly left the city in their search for work. Also
the distinctly family constitution of the Candee plant was a factor
in decreasing the mobility of these workers even among the younger
men.
While both of the plants employed a great many foreign-born
workers as well as first generation native-born, the nationality of the
workers did not appear to have been of any great importance in
indicating a tendency toward migration, but it was rather the dif
ference between business conditions in the two places, New Haven
not having had any high degree of prosperity in the preceding years
while Hartford had been industrially prosperous for many years, and
had, therefore, furnished an attractive labor market, especially for
men drifting from the depressed textile centers of New England.
The basic factor, therefore, in the relative mobility of the working
forces of the two plants, appeared to be an economic one—the condi
tion of business. The migratory workers of Hartford were the ones
who were missed in the survey, and this fact is considered to make the
results more directly comparable, as it made for a greater similarity
in the groups in the two places.
An analysis of the service records of the workers showed that
about 37 percent of the force in New Haven had worked 10 years or
more on a total working-time basis, that is, exclusive of shut-downs
and temporary absences, while 121 had exceeded 15 years, and 87
had records of 20 years and over. The average length of service in
this plant was 9.9 years while in Hartford the average was only 5.4
years, in the latter plant there being only a handful of extra-long
service workers and a very large proportion of men in the groups
under 2 years. In many instances in Hartford the short-service
workers were not the younger employees as in New Haven, but were
older workers, even over 40 years of age, who had recently joined
the force.
Length of Time Out of Work
A c l a s s if ic a t io n of the workers according to the period of time
which elapsed before a permanent job was secured showed that in
Hartford only 9 of the 534 workers surveyed did not try to find work,
while among the 672 in New Haven there were 84 who did not try to
find new jobs. The difference between the two places in the number
seeking jobs was largely due to the sex differences in the working forces
of the two plants. In New Haven 69 women (for the most part
because they were housewives or older women who had decided to
retire from industry) and 15 men did not look for other work, while
in Hartford only 9 were recorded as not looking for work. Every
effort was made to narrow the number classified as looking for work
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
1371
to persons who had made a determined effort to find employment,
and in all doubtful cases the decision was made against the worker;
that is, everyone who could possibly be classed as not having looked
for employment was put in that group. This was done so that the
group listed as not being able to find a job in nearly a year of effort
should not be exaggerated by figures on length of time out of work.
In New Haven of the 228 men seeking work 140 secured their
first permanent job in somewhat less than 3 months, while of the 358
women looking for work 231 found work within that period. In
Hartford 305 of the 523 who sought work were placed within 3
months. In this tabulation jobs which were strictly temporary were
not counted, but jobs which were given and accepted in good faith
on a permanent basis were considered as permanent even though the
worker was laid off later because of slack work.
There seemed to be little difference between the sexes in the time
it took to find the first job, but there was a very decided difference
when the age of workers was taken into account, as a very definite
handicap was evident for workers over 45. Of all men over this age
seeking work, only 43 percent found jobs within the 3 months, while
71 percent of those workers under 45 were permanently placed.
Among the women the corresponding percentages were 44 and 67.
In many cases these first placements were not permanent, as 43 percent
of the Hartford men lost their first job after varying periods of service,
over half of them being unemployed again within about 2 months.
In New Haven only 46 percent of those finding work were still
employed on their first job at the close of the survey. The total loss
of working time amounted to 40 percent of the available working time
for New Haven workers during the 11 months and to 43 percent for
the Hartford workers in a period of about 10 months. But on the
closing date of the survey the majority of those who had actively
sought work had a more or less satisfactory job, slightly over 70
percent in Hartford and almost 74 percent in New Haven being
employed on that date while others had had work some time during
the period.
Reduced Earnings of Displaced Workers
T h e amount of unemployment, however, does not measure the
total losses of the workers, as the earnings were much reduced.
The average weekly earnings of the New Haven men on the bestpaid jobs they were able to secure after the shut-down were barely
more than 80 percent of the rubber-company rates, with a still
greater loss among the women, while among the Hartford workers a
greater decline was suffered, the average on the new job being approx
imately 70 percent of former earnings. For the workers in New Haven
the net effect of unemployment upon incomes in a period of about 1
year after the shut-down was a loss of about 50 percent of their income
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1372
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
during the preceding year with the rubber company. This difference
was largely made up for workers receiving the dismissal wage; although
their earnings losses were more severe than for the others, the dis
missal-wage payments brought their total income up to more than
83 percent of their income during the preceding year.
The families of these workers had been able to get along during the
period with very little recourse to relief from the social agencies. A
large number of the families either owned their own homes or were
in the process of purchasing them, and insurance was very widely held.
The use of credit figured rather largely in carrying some of the famdies
through the unemployment period. The debts were in the form of
commercial loans, borrowings from friends or relatives, credit given by
the merchants, or back rent due to the landlord. In New Haven only
20 families applied for relief at any time during the period.
In summing up the result of the study it is said that it is clear
The major part of the burden of industrial change, if these two cases are
typical, falls upon the workers. Despite the efforts which were made by the
company and by the community in each case, the majority of the workers had
to take care of themselves, and suffer whatever losses wrere involved. Never
theless, the payment of a dismissal wage to a selected group of workers was of
material benefit to them and their families during the readjustment. The
results of its use in these two cases were so uniformly good as to justify its exten
sion to other workers and other industries.
For example, there were many workers at both the New Haven and Hartford
plants who might well have been entitled to a dismissal wage on the basis of
their investment of time and skill with the company—men and women who fell
short of the service required (10 years for workers 45 years and over, and 15
years for others) in order to qualify. A minimum of 5 years would have brought
into the fold a large group of middle-aged and younger workers who were markedly
handicapped in making the readjustment. On the other hand, the authors of the
report believe there is every reason for keeping the dismissal wage entirely dis
tinct from unemployment insurance. The former is essentially an indemnity
for the probably permanent loss of job and skill, the latter is to cover the tem
porary readjustment involved in changing jobs. The experiences of the United
States Rubber Co. workers serve to emphasize the fact that the dismissal wage
must take its place as a most important device for the establishment of greater
security for the industrial worker.
Study of Workers in the Candee Plant
T h e extended study covering the former New Haven workers during
the entire 3-year period showed that there was a steady decline among
these workers in working time and wages. The readjustment shown
by the first study during the 11-month period was not one toward
steady work but to a set of jobs which produced a decreasing amount
of work and wages in each succeeding year. The older men were
found to be in a particularly unfavorable position, and the best records
were made by the groups aged 30 to 44 years. There was a decline in
average earnings from the 1928 figure of $1,250.41 for the men and
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
$761.89 for the women to $557 and $385.73, respectively, during the
third year following the lay-off. The burden fell heavily on the
skilled men, whose average earnings by the third year had fallen to $34
less than those of the unskilled and $98 less than those of the semi
skilled men. This fact apparently indicates that the qualities which
help men to rise to skilled jobs and high wages while they are at work
do not assist them to readjust satisfactorily to new jobs, and that the
readjustment entails the acceptance of work of less skill and at lower
wages with its resulting blow to the worker’s standard of living and
status.
The report states that the cumulative effect of the loss of jobs and
wages was felt by the entire community, some of this loss being
evidenced in the growth of antisocial attitudes, and in the ill effects on
health, on initiative, and on industrial efficiency as well as on family
life. In spite of the fact that the company and the community
attempted to fill the gap caused by lack of wages with terminal wages,
pensions, and charity, “ the fact stands out that the 3 years found the
workers themselves bearing 65 percent, 88 percent, and 86 percent
of that burden, respectively. In spite of the efforts of the company
and the community, it is still the worker himself who must drastically
revise his standard of living, search for alternative methods of main
tenance when he faces unemployment, and through such efforts
shoulder most of the load. In spite of mounting relief funds, unem
ployment is still predominantly the workers’ problem.”
Increase of S m a ll-S c a le E nterp rises in G erm an y
ATA from the German census of 1933 compared with those of
1925 give the following picture of population changes in the
industrial make-up of Germany.1 The entire population of Germany
numbered 62,400,000 in 1925 and 65,200,000 in 1933—an increase of
2,800,000, or 4.1 percent. Changes in certain population groups from
1925 to 1933 are shown in table 1:
D
T able 1.—C H A N G E S I N C E R T A I N P O P U L A T I O N G R O U P S I N G E R M A N Y , 1925 T O 1933
1925
Population group
N um b er
Persons engaged in industries:
E m p lo y ed _______ __ . _______ _____ _ _____________
U n em p loyed . .
___ _____ ___ _
T o ta l_______________________________________
Ind ep en d en t (including insurance beneficiaries, those livin g
___ . . __
on incom e from savings, and o th e r s).._____
F a m ily m em bers (including children, w ives, and oth ers)____
T o ta l_______________________ ____________________ .
1 G erm any.
Statistisch es R eichsam t.
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1933
Percent
of total
popula
tion
N um b er
Percent
of total
popula
tion
31,381, 214
628, 086
32, 009, 300
50.3
1.0
51.3
26,441, 088
5,855,408
32, 296,496
40.5
9.0
49.5
3,844,430
26, 556, 889
62,410, 619
6.2
42.5
5,821, 556
27,100,409
100.0
65, 218,461
8.9
41.6
100.0
W irtschaft u nd S tatistik , issues of Apr. 1, J u ly 2, and A ug 1, 1934.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The percent of persons engaged in industries, including employed
and unemployed, as compared with total population, decreased for
the first time in the industrial history of Germany during the last
half century. This percent, 42.4 in 1882, had increased steadily to
51.3 in 1925. From this point it decreased to 49.5 in 1933. At the
same time the percent of the independent persons, including insurance
beneficiaries, those living on income from savings, and others, steadily
increased from 3.1 in 1882 to 6.2 in 1925 and to 8.9 in 1933. The third
group, family members, decreased from 54.5 percent in 1882 to 42.5
percent in 1925 and to 41.6 percent in 1933.
Table 2 shows changes in the number of persons engaged in specified
groups of industries:
T able 3.—P E R C E N T O F T O T A L P E R S O N S
E N G A G E D IN
I N D U S T R I E S , 1925 A N D 1933
G RO UPS
OF
Percent of total
persons engaged in
industries
Group of industries
1925
A griculture and f o r e s t r y ...____ _ _____
M anufacturing and handicraft in d u s
tries
_
__
Com m erce and tran sp ortation ... _______
C ivil s e r v i e e ___ ___
_
__ . . . .
D om estic service. ________ ___________
T o ta l___ __________________
S P E C IF IE D
... ..
1933
30.5
28.9
42.1
16.4
6.6
4.4
40.4
18.4
8.4
3.9
100.0
100.0
These figures show that the proportion of persons engaged in com
merce, transportation, and civil service increased at the expense of
the proportion of persons engaged in agriculture, forestry, manufac
turing, and handicraft industries during the period 1925 to 1933.
The decrease of the number of the establishments and persons
engaged in the “ combines” 2 of the principal branches of industries,
producing capital goods and consisting mostly of large-scale under
takings, is shown by the figures in table 3 for 1925 and 1933. For
example, in 1925 the combines formed 47.1 percent of the establish
ments in the hard coal or anthracite mining industry as against 40.1
percent in 1933, while the number of persons engaged in the com
bines of this industry formed 72.8 percent of the total number engaged
in the industry in 1925 as compared with only 48.1 percent in 1933.
2 T h e term “ com bine ” is used to m ean a group of industrial undertakings, m erged or consolidated
into one business u n it along vertical lines, as, for instance, an autom obile undertaking, w hich includes coal
m ines, steel plants, etc., as w ell as the autom obile factory proper.
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T able 3.—P E R C E N T E S T A B L IS H M E N T S A N D P E R S O N N E L OF “ C O M B I N E S ” I N S P E C
I F I E D I N D U S T R I E S F O R M O F T O T A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S A N D
T H O S E I N D U S T R I E S , 1925 A N D 1933
P E R S O N N E L OF
Percent of industry
Ind u stry
E stablish m en ts
1925
Hard coal (anthracite) m ining ___ .
Soft coal (bitum inous) m in in g ... . .
Iron and steel p roduction____
. ____ .
M etal w orking.
. . . ... .
M achine construction
____ _. _ _ .
C hem ical in d u stry ______ ____
Paper w orking ________
Electro-technical in d u s t r y _________ . . .
...
47.1
44.1
13.1
7.7
1.6
4.7
19.0
5.0
1933
40.1
42.4
9.0
4.6
1.1
4.6
20.4
5.8
Personnel
1925
72.8
70.7
62.2
49.1
26.9
36.8
45.1
54.6
1933
48.1
54.8
53.4
40.6
18.4
34.4
43.2
32.1
According to the same official source, in the wholesale trade, con
sisting mostly of large-scale establishments, the number of estab
lishments decreased by 16 percent and the number of persons engaged
decreased by 22.1 percent, from 1925 to 1933.
In certain branches of industries producing consumers’ goods or
rendering services, and consisting mainly of small-scale establish
ments, we see a reverse picture—an increase. For instance, from
1925 to 1933, the number of persons engaged in bakery, butchery, and
cleaning and dyeing businesses increased by about one-fourth, in
dairy and laundry businesses by more than one-tliird, and in the
barber-shop trade by about two-thirds.
In contrast to the wholesale trade, the retail trade shows an increase
in number of establishments by 7.6 percent and in number of persons
engaged by 11.5 percent from 1925 to 1933. Retail stores selling
various merchandise increased in number by 16.7 percent and persons
engaged in these stores by 52.5 percent; food and confectionery stores
increased by 12.9 percent and persons engaged in these stores by 15.1
percent; shops dealing in hygiene and sanitary appliances increased
by 34.6 percent and persons engaged therein by 28.4 percent; and
shops dealing in various special wares increased by 31.2 percent and
persons engaged in these shops by 25.9 percent.
The growth of the handicraft and small-scale undertakings in indus
tries and trades is attributed, in the main, to the fact that a great
number of unemployed workers have become independent workers
through small-scale undertakings.
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Labor L egislation^ E nacted in 1934
URING the legislative year of 1934, the legislatures of nine
States 1 met in regular session as did also the legislature of
Puerto Rico. Special sessions also were convened in some of these
States and in several States whose legislatures were not scheduled to
meet during the year.2 In most cases special sessions were called for
the purpose of considering unemployment relief and other emergency
legislation, and hence labor legislation was enacted in only a few
States. The Seventy-third Congress met in a second session com
mencing January 3, 1934, and continued until June 18, 1934, but as
the labor legislation passed therein has already been noted in a
previous issue of the Monthly Labor Review,3 the present article
covers only the action taken by the State legislatures.
D
Contract of Employment
T he legislature of Louisiana passed two interesting and unique acts
of concern to labor. One act (no. 133) prohibits contracts of employ
ment wherein employees are forbidden to engage in any competitive
business upon the termination of the contract. The act declares all
such contracts null and void and the courts of the State cannot issue
injunctions to enforce any contract containing such provisions. The
second act (no. 226) makes it unlawful for an employer with 25 or
more employees to establish age limits for the employment of workers
under 50 years unless such employer has provided an old-age pension
system, with certain liberal benefits.4 In Iowa any violation of the
law prohibiting inquiries concerning the religious affiliations of per
sons seeking public-school employment has been made a misdemeanor
(ch. 140, special session).
1 K en tu ck y, Louisiana, M assachusetts, M ississip p i, N ew Jersey, N e w Y ork, R hode Island, South Caro
lina, and Virginia.
2 Special sessions were held in Arkansas, California, Colorado, D elaw are, Illinois, Iow a, Kansas, K en
tu ck y , L ouisiana, M aine, M ichigan, M inn esota, M issouri, N ew H am pshire, N e w Jersey, N e w M exico,
N ew Y ork, Ohio, P enn sylvan ia, R hode Island, Texas, V erm ont, W est Virginia, and W isconsin.
2 See M o n th ly Labor R eview , A ugust 1934, p. 348.
* For a more extended sum m ary of this act see p. 1386 of this issue.
1376
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1377
Child Labor
Two States, Iowa (ch. 243, joint resolution, special session) and West
Virginia (H. J. Res. No. 1, p. 581, special session),5ratified the Federal
child labor amendment. This makes a total of 20 States which so far
have approved the amendment to the Constitution of the United
States regulating the employment of child labor. New York (ch. 146)
prohibited the employment of children under 16 in the erection, etc.,
of buildings, and also (ch. 638) amended the education law for chil
dren. Minors under 16 completing a 4-year high-school course are
excused from the provisions of the education law. Eligible applicants
for employment certificates, although unemployed, may attend parttime school. The amended law also prohibits the improper use of
employment certificates and provides penalties for any violations of
the school-attendance law. The legislature of Massachusetts passed
two laws in respect to children. One law (ch. 114), which amended
the street-trades law, provides that badges issued to minors may
under certain circumstances also authorize the sale of magazines and
other periodicals. The second act (ch. 292) requires that violations
of certain sections of the child labor law must be reported to the de
partment of industrial accidents. The act also amends the law in
another respect, namely that the employment of any minor in viola
tion of any provision of the child labor law constitutes serious and
willful misconduct under the section of the workmen’s compensation
law relating to double compensation for illegally employed persons.
Hours of Labor
M o n t a n a limited the hours of labor of persons employed in retail
stores, etc., to 8 per day and 48 per week (ch. 8, special session).
The act is applicable only to cities of 2,500 or over and registered
pharmacists are exempt from the act. In New York the law limiting
the hours of labor of female employees over 16 years in restaurants
is now applicable to cities of 50,000 or more (ch. 740) instead of to
cities of the first and second class, as formerly. The law limiting the
hours of labor of male messengers under 21 years was also changed
(ch. 741). Such messengers employed by telegraph or messenger
companies are now protected by law in any city, wherever employed,
instead of only in cities of the first or second class. By chapters 36
and 37 the New York Legislature extended until March 1, 1935, the
act establishing a 5-day week for all public-works projects and the
application of the 8-hour day to highway and waterworks construction
outside of cities and villages.
s R atified D ec. 12, 1933.
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Wages
T h e New York Legislature (ch. 745) amended the labor law and
penal law, requiring that all employers must pay wages at the time
specified in the act or else be subject to the penalties of the law.
The Washington payment-of-wage law was enlarged to cover coercion
of employees of corporations in the purchase of meals and lodging
(ch. 2 0 ) /
Wages on 'public works.—By an amendment (ch. 347) New York
declared that the first larger civil division under the prevailing-wagerate law shall be as follows—(1) city or village; (2) township; (3)
county; (4) the counties contiguous to the county in which the phys
ical work is to be prepared. The New York Legislature also decreed
(ch. 747) that advertised specifications for all construction contracts
of public works must include a minimum hourly rate of wage for
laborers as well as working men or mechanics. This provision was
formerly limited to highway contracts. In New York a new section
was added (ch. 171) to the penal law, prohibiting the refunding of
wages under personal-service contracts. The law is applicable to
any person threatening to prevent or terminate employment of a
person and requiring the receipt of anything of value or of any part
of an employee’s wages, where the prevailing wage rate is specifically
stipulated. This law is commonly referred to as the “ kickback law. ”
Minimum wages.—A standard minimum wage law was enacted in
Massachusetts (ch. 308). In Illinois the legislature at its third
special session (p. 115) made an appropriation of $52,261.50 to the
department of labor for the administration of the minimum wage
law approved on July 6, 1933.
Garnishment of wages.—By chapter 49 (special session), Montana
exempted from attachment wages of $10 or less. Massachusetts
increased for a period of 2 years the amount of wages exempt from
attachment by trustee process on claims for necessaries furnished to a
dependent or his family (ch. 74). New York also acted in the matter
of wage assignments (ch. 738). Such assignments must hereafter be
in writing and the wages must be at least $12 a week. A limitation
of 10 percent of the assignor’s wages is also provided. The manner
of serving, etc., a writ of garnishment was considered in Washington
(ch. 44, special session).
Protection of wages of employees, etc., of contractors.—The Massa
chusetts act providing security for payment for labor and materials
was enlarged so as to include the rental of certain appliances and
equipment (ch. 351). In Rhode Island (ch. 2105) contractors for
work on roads and bridges involving a price in excess of $500 must
furnish a bond for the protection of their employees.
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1379
Safety and Health
T h e safety of persons engaged in caisson work was provided for in
Louisiana (Act No. 71). The act regulates the labor of persons so
engaged as regards physical examinations, hours of labor, rest periods,
and rate of decompression. Louisiana also considered the health of
female employees (Act No. 207). Penalties for violating the law
requiring seats for female employees were increased—the minimum
fine from $25 to $50 and the maximum from $50 to $100. Massachu
setts (ch. 255) now requires the heating of workrooms during the
winter months. Massachusetts also authorized (ch. 132) the impo
sition of fees in the rules and regulations pertaining to structural
painting. By chapter 139, the legislature of New York has pre
scribed that contractors engaged in the cleaning of windows must
provide the equipment required by law and the rules of the industrial
board. The Industrial Board of New York (ch. 144) was empowered
to make rules for the construction of structures as well as of buildings
and the guarding of dangerous machinery in connection with the
same. All mercantile establishments in New York must post the
labor laws and rules (ch. 166). Formerly establishments with less
than 3 employees were excepted. A stricter and more comprehen
sive law governing the manufacture, etc., of bedding was also passed
in New York (ch. 771). Puerto Rico enacted legislation regulating
the manufacture, possession, storage, transportation, etc., of explo
sives (Act No. 67). An enlarged safety code for coal miners was
adopted in Kentucky (ch. 100). The act regulates the department
of mines and minerals and provides safety and health regulations for
miners. The employees of the department are protected against
injury by the provisions of the workmen’s compensation law. At the
extra session in Kentucky (ch. 21) the law passed at the regular
session was reenacted, with the addition of a new section (56). This
section, which requires each coal operator to pay a fee of $7.50 for
each mine-scale inspection to the department of mines and minerals,
was probably added because the fee provided in the previous law
expired on July 1, 1934. An annual inspection of boilers is provided
by chapter 295 in Mississippi, and the State factory inspector is
empowered to require boiler inspection reports from persons subject
to the act. An amendment (ch. 292) regarding the payment to the
inspector of factories of a fee based on the number of persons em
ployed, requires that a report must be made on or before the fifth
day of each month showing the number of women and children em
ployed. This applies to such persons performing clerical work as well
as those engaged in the factory or cannery.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Labor Departments, etc.
I n Kentucky (ch. 155) a reorganization of State departments was
accomplished. Article 21 of the act continued the workmen’s com
pensation board as an independent agency, while article 14 abolished
the children’s bureau, all its duties, etc., being transferred to the
department of public welfare. A wage-collection division was
created in the New Jersey Department of Labor (ch. 91), while in
Massachusetts (ch. 331) a division of occupational hygiene was
established in the department of labor and industries. The South
Carolina Legislature (Act No. 779) changed the date for submitting
statistical reports of operation, etc., to the department of agriculture,
commerce, and statistics. The reporting period now covers July 1
to June 30, instead of November 1 to October 31. The return of the
schedule must be made on or before August 5, rather than December 5
as formerly. The legislature of New York (ch. 155) provided that
any designated officer of the department of labor is empowered to take
testimony and issue subpenas. The legislature of this State (ch.
702) abolished the minimum penalty of $20 for a first offense under
the labor law or violation of a departmental order, and in place
thereof fixed a fine of not more than $50 for such first offense.
Employment Agencies
I owa at a special session passed two acts amending the private
employment agency law. By chapter 18 the annual license fee was
fixed at $50 irrespective of the population of the city wherem the
agency operates. Chapter 17 amended the law regarding the limi
tation and application of fees, and hereafter such fee provisions will
not apply to agencies procuring employment in any profession for
which a license is required by law, nor to the furnishing of vaudeville
or other amusement enterprises. Every agency must hereafter fur
nish to the commission a form of contract, which must provide that
no fee in excess of $1 shall be collected in advance of the procurement
of employment, and no license will be issued unless the contract con
tains this provision. In Louisiana a State employment service under
the commissioner of labor and industrial statistics was created (Act
No. 234); this step was taken in order to take advantage of the
national employment system law. The following States also accepted
the provisions of the national employment agency law, commonly
referred to as the Wagner-Peyser Act, during 1934: Iowa (ch. 16,
special session), Kentucky (ch. 554), New Jersey (ch. 130), New
Mexico (ch. 15), and West Virginia (ch. 77). The State of New
Jersey (ch. 239) appropriated $54,700 for operating employment
offices under the Federal act.
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1381
National Industrial Recovery Act
I n s e v e r a l States statutes were enacted in 1934 supplementing
the provisions of the Federal act. Some of these statutes give force
of law to N. R. A. codes and in some cases suspend the operation of
the antitrust act. The following States enacted either original
legislation or amendatory laws during the year: Colorado (ch. 17,
special session), Illinois (p. 183, third special session), Mississippi
(ch. 207), New Jersey (ch. 37), New Mexico (ch. 18, special session),
South Carolina (Act No. 1213), Washington (ch. 50), and West
Virginia (ch. 86).
Prison Labor 6
D u r i n g 1934 several State legislatures considered the question of
prison labor and prison-made goods. The following States passed
laws taking advantage of or extending the provisions of the HawesCooper Act divesting prison-made goods of their interstate character,
and thereby regulated the sale of such goods within their own borders:
Mississippi (ch. 296), New Jersey (ch. 118), New York (ch. 326),
Rhode Island (ch. 2106), and Virginia (ch. 319). Montana passed an
act at the special session (ch. 9) exempting the sale and transporta
tion into the State of prison-made farm-machinery parts for use,
etc., on farm machinery now owned and requiring repairs. Kentucky
passed two acts. One act (ch. 31) authorized the Governor to sign
the compact of fair competition for the prison industries of the
United States under the N. R. A.; the other act (ch. 5, special session)
created a prison revolving fund. The department of public welfare
was charged with the duty of providing employment for State prisoners
and the raising of revenues through the employment of prison labor,
and also of selling products to other State departments. Mississippi
(ch. 147) renacted the State penitentiary law and provided for the
appointment of a board of commissioners of the prison on and after
January 1, 1936. West Virginia (ch. 22, special session 1933) merely
provided that the State road commissioner and not the commission
should regulate and control the manufacture of license plates, etc.,
at the State penitentiary.
Sunday Labor and Legal Holidays
K e n t u c k y (ch. 49) exempted from the provisions of the Sunday
law telegraph and telephone companies, public service or utility
systems, and taxis. The operation of moving pictures and filling
stations and the holding of chautauquas and operas are no longer
construed as work within the meaning of the Sunday labor law.
The retail sale of ice and fuel are now permitted under the Sunday
law in Massachusetts (ch. 354), while in South Carolina (Act No.
6 For legislation on th is subject in more detail see M o n th ly Labor R eview , N ovem b er 1934, p. 1122.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
850) women and children are prohibited from employment on Sun
days in mercantile and manufacturing establishments. Armistice
Day (Nov. 11) was made a legal holiday in New York (ch.
180), and the Legislature of Massachusetts made the Sunday laws
applicable to Armistice Day between the hours of 7 a. m. and 1 p. m.
(ch. 283).
Anti-Union Contract and Anti-Injunction Laws
L o u isia n a (Act No. 203) regulated the issuance of injunctions,
etc., in labor disputes, and (Act No. 202) prohibited the making of
coercive employment contracts. Washington (ch. 7) defined and
limited the powers of the courts of the State in the granting of in
junctions, and declared the public policy of the State in relation to
the issuance of such injunctions. The Massachusetts Legislature
amended the procedure in equity cases in the matter of general
issuance of restraining orders (ch. 381). The amended act provides
that if a bill shows that relief is sought in a labor-dispute case, no
order shall be issued unless notice has been given to the opposite
party of the time and place of the hearing on the application for such
an order.
Mechanics’ Liens
I n s e v e r a l States the mechanic’s lien law was enlarged to provide
greater security and additional liens on property for the value of
labor expended. Louisiana (Act No. 145) created a lien on oil, etc.,
wells, and in Kentucky (ch. 157) additional security was provided
for the payment of claims for labor and materials. In New Jersey
the legislature extended liens to other water-front erections (ch. 129)
and to wells, etc. (ch. 171). The latter lien does not apply
where labor is to be paid for within 2 weeks from the date of per
formance or does not exceed $200. New York (ch. 608) defined
the term “improvement” under the mechanic’s lien law so as to
include drawings prepared, although not used, in connection with
the improvement. In addition to this act, New York adopted five
acts amending in some way the procedure or coverage of the
mechanics’ lien law (chs. 697, 698, 699, 700, 701).
Retirement and Pensions
Old-age pensions.7—Iowa at a special session (ch. 19) passed an
old-age pension law applicable to needy persons 65 years of age,
provided such person has been a citizen for 15 years, a resident of
the State for 10 years, and of the county for 2 years. The act provides
a maximum of $25 a month, and is to be administered by the county
boards under a State commission. A referendum was submitted in
Kentucky (ch. 59) proposing an amendment to the constitution
? For principal features of old-age pension law s see M on th ly Labor R eview , June 1934, p. 1339.
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
1383
authorizing the general assembly to enact legislation for the paying
of old-age pensions. The old-age pension law in Hawaii was clarified
by an act of the special session (no. 31), and hereafter the county
treasurer, instead of the old-age pension commission of the county,
must issue an old-age pension certificate to the claimant. Another
act (no. 39) of the special session in Hawaii changed the name of
the boards administering the old-age pension laws in the counties
to the old-age pension commission and the board of child welfare.
In two States at special sessions—Ohio (Second Session H. B. No.
16) and Pennsylvania (Act No. 65)—appropriations were made for
old-age pension payments. In the former State $3,000,000 was
provided, while in the latter State a portion of an appropriation
for relief purposes was made available for old-age assistance.
Retirement— Hawaii (Act No. 10, special session) enacted a law
changing the method of financing the territorial employees’ retire
ment system. In New Jersey (ch. 160) certain State employees were
granted the right to withdraw from the retirement system, and may
receive back payments plus 4 percent. Massachusetts (ch. 360)
amended the State employees’ retirement law in several minor
respects.
Small Loans
F o u r States (Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Vir
ginia) legislated on the subject of small loans. As there is some
connection between this subject and wages, mention of such legis
lation would seem to be justified. Kentucky enacted a law (ch. 17)
licensing and regulating businesses which advance or loan money to
the extent of $300 or less. A limitation of the interest rate to 6
percent is provided in this State. Any person loaning money at
more than 10 percent in Louisiana is prohibited by Act No. 123
from employing garnishment process against any legally exempt
salary, etc., of a debtor in an effort to enforce payment of a debt.
By chapter 179 Massachusetts further regulates the business of
making small loans. The amended act provides that in any action
upon a loan a verdict for the plaintiff must not exceed the amount
required to discharge the loan at the time of such verdict. Virginia
(ch. 46) merely permits certain associations making small loans to
amend their charters so as to become banks of deposit and discount.
Cooperative Associations
T h e Mississippi Legislature extended the powers of cooperative
associations so as to promote the activities of the Tennessee Valley
Authority (ch. 289). Virginia (ch. 369) amended the credit-union
law as regards meetings and voting of members of such unions.
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Investigative Commissions
I n M a s s a c h u s e t t s the legislature, by the adoption of five resolves,
provided for new or the extension of existing investigative commis
sions. Chapter 44 (resolves) authorized the Department of Labor to
investigate employment in siliceous industries. The commission to
investigate the advisability of licensing contractors and builders was
extended under chapter 34 (resolves). Discrimination against per
sons in employments on account of age is the subject for investiga
tion by a commission appointed under chapter 39 (resolves). A
study of unemployment insurance was asked for by chapter 42 (re
solves). Chapter 25 (resolves) extended the authority of the com
mission on interstate compacts affecting labor and industry.
Miscellaneous
N e w Y o r k (ch. 825) revised the homework law. The new act
applies to all residences except 1- or 2-family houses in cities of less
than 200,000 and in villages and towns. It also defines an employer
more specifically and work is restricted to persons whose names are
on “ homework certificates” issued by the department. A minimum
fee of $25 is to be paid by employers.
Railroad police were considered in Kentucky and Massachusetts.
In the former State the new act (ch. 122) no longer requires the filing
of certain information in the county courts. In Massachusetts
(ch. 233) armed guards are forbidden to be employed in a strike.
Licensed policemen must have been employed at least 2 months
prior to the strike.
Absent-voting legislation was under consideration in special sessions
in Iowa (ch. 13) and Washington (ch. 41).
In New Mexico an act (ch. 32, special session) requires public
boards, etc., to award all contracts for printing, etc., to certain resi
dents of the State. Peddlers’ licenses were the subject of legislation
in New Jersey (ch. 119), and Mississippi (ch. 267) authorized the
procuring of group insurance for public employees of the State or
political subdivisions.
In Massachusetts the legislature ratified the interstate compact
for establishing uniform standards for conditions of employment,
especially as to minimum wages (ch. 383). State housing and slum
clearance was considered in two States—Illinois (p. 159, third special
session) and West Virginia (ch. 89, special session). Puerto Rico
(Act No. 16) amended the homestead commission law to cover the
construction of homes of public employees of the insular government.
Preference is given to local labor and domestic materials in public
works by many States. During the legislative year of 1934 the fol
lowing States took some action on this subject: Iowa (ch. 14, special
session), Louisiana (Act No. 144), and New Jersey (chs. 90, 92).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
1385
Some States enacted laws or amended existing laws governing the
examination and licensing of workmen. Those States legislating on
the licensing of barbers, etc., included Iowa (ch. 30, special session),
Kentucky (ch. 139), Massachusetts (chs. 260, 299), Rhode Island
(ch. 2110), and West Virginia (ch. 82, special session).
The removal of licenses of electricians and plumbers was the sub
ject considered in Massachusetts (ch. 347), while the licensing, etc.,
of chauffeurs received the attention of the legislators in New Jersey
(ch. 49), Iowa (ch. 55, special session), and Virginia (chs. 153, 154,
389). The latter State amended the law governing the licensing of
pilots (ch. 211), the amended act providing that pilots’ licenses issued
by the board of pilot commissioners shall expire on the last day of
each year.
E sta b lish m e n t of W age-C ollection D ivision in N ew Jersey
D e p a r tm en t of Labor
Y THE provisions of chapter 91, Acts of 1934, New Jersey estab
lished a wage-collection division in the department of labor.
Prior to the enactment of this law the New Jersey Department of
Labor had somewhat limited authority to assist wage earners in the
collection of their claims, by an act of 1899 (ch. 38), subsequently
amended by chapter 249, Acts of 1932.1 The new law extends greater
power to the labor department to hear and determine controversies
pertaining to wages. In the investigation of any claims for wages the
commissioner of labor may summon the offending employer in all
cases involving $200 or less, and he may subpena witnesses, administer
oaths, take testimony, and after a hearing, must make known his
decision. Upon filing a certified copy of the award with the court of
common pleas in the county in which the defendant resides, the
award shall become a judgment and have the same effect as judg
ments in suits heard and determined by courts of competent
jurisdiction.
Any employee to whom wages are due and unpaid may file a claim
in the wage-collection division of the State department of labor. The
same is entered on a wage-collection docket, maintained by the
department and thereupon this department must issue a summons to
the defendant informing him of the time, place, etc., of the hearing
which shall be conducted by the commissioner of labor in a summary
manner. Legal process of the wage-collection division is operative
in every section of the State and may be served by either a constable
or a process server of the department of labor. Either party may
appeal from a judgment of the department to the county court of
B
1 See M o n th ly Labor R eview , October 1933, p. 780.
97667—34------8
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common pleas within 20 days but such appeal is granted at the
pleasure of the department of labor only upon certain terms.
In the appeals court new evidence may be adduced and the hearing
shall be conducted in a summary manner without a jury. A claimant,
however, may bring an action in a law court and stand trial by jury
upon payment of the required jury fees. No other fees are permitted
under the law, except, however, that certain taxed costs of service,
etc., according to the table of court costs, may be charged.
P ro tectio n of O lder W orkers A g a in st D iscr im in a tio n in
L ou isian a
HE Legislature of Louisiana has passed a law approved by the
Governor of the State on July 12, 1934 (Act No. 226), making it
unlawful for an employer to fix an age limit of under 50 years, in the
employment of workers.
The act is applicable to employers having 25 or more employees.
In other than hazardous occupations or those requiring unusual skill
and endurance the only elements to be considered in the employ
ment or rejection of employees shall be physical or mental fitness,
experience and trustworthiness. Employers are excepted from the
provisions of the act if an old-age pension system has been provided
for the employees with a required period of service of not more than
35 years and the pension allowances are not less than $45 a quarter.
The text of the law is as follows:
T
Section 1. U n la w f u l to f ix c e r ta in a g e l i m i t s .— It shall be unlawful for any
individual, partnership, or corporation, employing labor in Louisiana, and
having 25 or more employees, to adopt any rule for the discharge of said em
ployees and for the rejection of apphcations for employment of new employees
upon any age limit under 50 years, except where the said individual, partnership,
or corporation, have adopted a system of old-age pension for the pensioning of
employees with periods of service no greater than 35 years and with pension
allowances of no less than $45 per quarter.
Sec . 2. E le m e n ts f o r e m p l o y m e n t .— The elements for employment shall not be
determined by age, but shall be governed by the mental and physical fitness, and
by the experience and trustworthiness of the employee or applicant; except in
hazardous occupations or occupations requiring unusual skill and endurance.
Sec . 3. V i o l a t i o n s .—-Every person, firm, partnership or corporation who shall,
either as principal or agent, violate the provisions of this act, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and on conviction shall be fined no more than $500 or be im
prisoned in the parish jail no more than 90 days or shall suffer both fine and
imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
W ork m en ’s C o m p en sa tio n L egislation in th e U n ited S ta te s and
C anada, 1934
i\L L of the seven States with workmen’s compensation laws whose
XA. legislatures met in regular session during 1934, made some
change in the basic law.1 Special sessions of the legislatures of two
other States (Michigan and Ohio) were called, at which amendatory
laws were passed. Mississippi and South Carolina, 2 of the 4 States 2
still without the benefits of workmen’s compensation legislation, also
had legislative sessions, but no definite action was taken toward
placing such a law on the statute books.
The Seventy-third Congress of the United States, during the second
session, made the first material change in the Federal Longshore
men’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act passed in 1927 and
later made applicable to private employees in the District of Colum
bia. The amendatory act gives to the deputy commissioner the
power to suspend payments whenever an employee unreasonably
refuses medical or surgical treatment. The schedule benefit period
in permanent partial disability cases was reduced, but in such cases
compensation is to be paid during the healing period and in addition
to other benefits listed in the schedule. The Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics has already printed the complete text of the amendatory law
and hence will not repeat the changes in this resume.3
Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands were the only two Terri
torial possessions whose legislatures met in 1934. No change was
made in the basic workmen’s compensation law of Puerto Rico, and
from unofficial reports received from the Philippine Islands the law
in operation in that possession also remains unchanged.
In Canada legislative action was taken in only two Provinces
(Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan).
United States
T he amendments to existing laws in each jurisdiction during 1934
are shown in the following pages.
1Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
2 Arkansas, Florida, M ississippi, and South Carolina.
3 See M o n th ly Labor R eview , A ugu st 1934, p. 350.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Kentucky
engaged in the operation of glass-manufacturing
plants, quarries, sand mines, and other siliceous industries may,
under the provisions of chapter 89, voluntarily subject themselves to
coverage under the workmen’s compensation law for the disease of
silicosis. Certain qualifications and limitations have been attached
to the privilege of covering emplojmes in these industries by the
legislature. In cases of silicosis claims an application must be filed
within 1 year after the last exposure to silicosis. Whenever a claim
is presented to the board for disability on account of silicosis the
board must appoint physicians to examine the employee.
E m plo yers
Louisiana
B y A ct N o. 29, the legislature of Louisiana amended the section
of the workmen’s compensation law limiting the time for payment of
compensation claims. In cases in which the injury does not result
at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations shall not apply
until 1 year after the injury develops. In all such cases, however,
the claim is barred unless action has been started within 2 years from
the date of the accident.
Massachusetts
T h e Massachusetts workmen’s compensation act was amended by
several acts. The surviving children of the employee are benefited
by chapter 250, which relates to payment of compensation in death
cases. The amendatory law provides that if there is no surviving
wife or husband of a deceased employee, the amount which would
have been payable under the act for the use of a widow and the benefit
of the children must be paid in equal shares to all such surviving
children of the employee. By chapter 252, the legislature of Massa
chusetts has provided a speedier method of payment of workmen’s
compensation in certain cases. The amendatory act requires that
priority must be given by the department of industrial accidents to
the hearing of cases where there is a question of liability, etc., and
the insurers cannot agree. Hereafter, by the provisions of chapter
292, violations of certain sections of the child-labor law must be
reported to the department of industrial accidents and the employ
ment of a minor in violation of any provision of the child-labor law
constitutes a serious and willful misconduct under section 28 of
chapter 152, General Laws, 1932, relating to double compensation for
illegally employed persons. The effect of issuing a policy of work
men’s compensation insurance without the approval of the State
insurance commissioner applies now to a violation of any part of
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
1389
the workmen’s compensation law rather than only to certain sections
(ch. 137). This act also amended certain sections of the general
insurance law.
Michigan
A ct N o. 15 (special session) provides a new method of taking a
judgment under the workmen’s compensation law. Hereafter the
State department of labor may give to the opposing party, as well as
to the insurance carrier, a 7-day notice of the judgment whenever an
award of compensation has been due and unpaid for a period of
8 days. At the expiration of the 7-day period, if the judgment is
unpaid, the law requires the labor department to issue a certificate of
judgment to the circuit court, and upon the payment of the filing fee
a judgment must be rendered by the court. The judgment of the
circuit court may be reviewed by the State supreme court only on
questions of law.
New Jersey
A t t h e regular session in New Jersey the coverage of relief workers
was considered. By chapter 8, the provisions of the 1933 law (ch. 81)
declaring all relief work to be casual employment was extended until
January 31, 1935. By the provisions of chapter 12, New Jersey
created a temporary emergency relief administration and provided
(secs. 11, 12, and 13) for the payment of compensation to persons
sustaining injuries while engaged on work-relief projects. At a
special session in 1933, this State, by chapter 456, authorized the
using of the second-injury fund to cover any defalcations in the
workmen’s compensation bureau of the department of labor.
New York
S e v e n acts affecting the workmen’s compensation law were passed
by the New York Legislature in 1934. Chapters 303 and 769 may be
considered together. By the latter act the legislature excluded per
sons on “ work relief” from the benefits of the workmen’s compensa
tion law. A special law (ch. 303), however, was passed to take care
of this type of worker. Such worker, while unable to receive the
benefits provided under the basic New York workmen’s compensa
tion act, may receive family relief, medical services, and an allowance
of $3,500, exclusive of funeral benefits in case of death or permanent
disability. Funds from relief appropriations are used to pay the com
pensation awards. The occupational-disease section of the work
men’s compensation law was amended by including compensation
for dermatitis caused by the use of or direct contact with brick,
cement, lime, concrete, or mortar (ch. 743). Chapter 694 amended
legislation passed in 1933 (chs. 384, 774) which created a special fund
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
for the payment of benefits in cases where 7 years have elapsed after
an accident or death, and either the case has been closed without an
award or 3 years have expired since compensation has been paid.
By the 1934 amendment another class of cases is payable out of the
fund, namely those cases in which death resulting from the accident
occurs after the lapse of time specified in the above two cases. The
new act also provides that the employer or insurance carrier is relieved
of the payment of $300 into the fund. Medical, etc., experts also
may be paid from the fund, but with a limit of $100. Three members
of the board may review a claim and make an award against the fund
for reopened cases, provided two of the three members of the board
vote for it. Chapter 299 fixes the minimum compensation for perma
nent total disability at $15 for any injury (formerly limited to loss of
both eyes).
By chapter 695, the legislature of New York deprived an employee
of the right to sue a fellow employee as a third party. This act pro
vides that the right to compensation under the workmen’s compen
sation law shall be the exclusive remedy of an employee whenever he
is injured or killed by the negligence of another person in the same
employ. What constitutes prima facie evidence of the employer’s
failure to secure compensation is specifically declared by chapter 735.
Ohio
T he Industrial Commission of Ohio was given full power and
authority to administer the State workmen’s compensation law
(H. B. No. 110, second special session).
Rhode Island
W orkmen’s compensation was extended to the State National
Guard by chapter 2123.
Virginia
One act was passed by the Virginia Legislature affecting the basic
workmen’s compensation act. Chapter 45 merely corrects the wording
of the workmen’s compensation law in relation to the maximum com
pensation period for marked disfigurement of the head or face.
C anada
T he legislation enacted by Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan amend
ing their compensation laws is given below.
Nova Scotia
T he workmen’s compensation law in this Province was amended
in several respects by chapter 33. Medical and surgical aid and
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
1391
nursing services hereafter may not be furnished to an injured em
ployee for more than 30 days, and this period may not extend beyond
60 days from the date of disability. This provision changed a former
benefit whereby the employee was entitled to medical aid only during
the period of 30 days from the disability date.
The board is now commissioned, whenever a party has objected to
a claim, to hear the case within 45 days after the entering of the
objection. Changes affecting the payment of compensation for per
manent total and partial and temporary total and partial disability
were also made, according to the brief summary of laws in the Labour
Gazette (p. 748), August 1934.
An amendment to the workmen’s compensation act provides that
average earnings and earning capacity shall in no case be deemed to
be below $10 per week in partial disability cases. The provision
applies only to accidents happening after the passing of the amend
ment (May 2, 1934) and in cases where the workman’s rate of re
muneration is such that if he had worked 6 days a week his earnings
would have been at least $10 per week. In cases of total disability,
however, the amount of compensation heretofore payable is not to
be reduced by virtue of the amending act. Compensation for dis
ability is 60 percent of average earnings, so that the minimum pay
ment in total disability cases covered by the amendment will be $6
per week. Formerly the minimum for permanent total disablement
was $5 per week, unless the average earnings of the workman were
less than that amount when compensation equal to average earnings
was paid.
Saskatchewan
T h e occupational disease schedule was enlarged in this Province
so as to include dermatitis due to any process involving the use of or
direct contact with acids and alkalies or any acids and oils which
may cause dermatitis. The time within which a report for hernia
must be made was changed from 24 hours to 72 hours. (Bill no. 57,
assented to April 7, 1934.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
S a fety and H ea lth S tan d ard s for M ercan tile E sta b lish m en ts
ENERAL regulations for the protection of the life and health of
workers employed in wholesale and retail trade establishments
G
have been developed by the Secretary of Labor’s Committee on
Standards for Safety and Health for N. R. A. Codes.
These regulations are intended to apply to practically all of the
subdivisions of the two main industries, in accordance with the pro
visions of the majority of the codes approved by the National
Recovery Administration, customarily as follows:
Every employer shall provide for the safety and health of his employees during
the hours and at the places of their employment.
Standards for safety and health shall be submitted by the code authority to
the Administrator for approval within 6 months after the effective date of the
code.
General minimum standards for the safety and health of workers
in manufacturing industries were previously prepared and published
by the committee.1 These have been used as a basis for approxi
mately 95 safety and health standards for individual industries, fur
nished by the committee to the respective code authorities, or to
deputy administrators.
The standards formulated for the mercantile establishments are
as follows:
Minimum Standards for the Safety and Health of Workers in Mercantile
Establishments
G e n e r a l 'p ro v is io n s
T he se requirem en ts shall n o t supersede an y legal req u irem en t w hich stip u la te s
higher stan d ard s.
The minimum requirements set forth shall apply to all installations made after
the date of adoption of these regulations, and to all existing installations and
conditions which are not in accordance with these regulations, provided that
where safety equipment has been provided, such equipment may remain in use
until such time as it needs to be replaced, upon a proper showing to the Adminis
trator that the devices afford adequate protection.
The code authority, subject to the approval of the Administrator, may modify
these requirements in particular cases only where the regulations are shown for
i For these standards see M o n th ly Labor R eview , M a y 1934 (p. 1089).
1392
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
1393
any reason to be impracticable and/or not warranted by the protection afforded,
provided equivalent or better protection is secured by other means.
In all cases where a specific safety code is cited as minimum requirements, it
is understood that such a code is subject to revision according to subsequent
developments, and that any changes shall be acted upon by the code authority
within 30 days after the receipt of such revision. All action shall be reported to
the Administrator for approval.
S p e c i a l p r o v is io n s
1. L ig h t i n g .— The illumination shall be in accordance with the suggested reg
ulations given in part 3 of Code of Lighting: Factories, Mills, and Other Work
Places ( A -ll), approved by the American Standards Association.
2. V e n t i l a t i o n a n d s a n ita tio n .- —The sanitation and ventilation shall be in
accordance with suggested requirements in the Safety Code for Industrial San
itation (Z-4.1), approved by the American Standards Association.
3. M a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s e s . — If any manufacturing process is carried on upon
the premises of a mercantile establishment, the standards of safety and health
applicable to the corresponding manufacturing industry shall be complied with.
4. F ir e p r e v e n tio n a n d p r o te c tio n . — (a) All mercantile buildings of more than
two stories in height shall be provided with at least two exits from each floor,
one of which may be an elevator. These shall be remote from each other and
be plainly marked. Exits should be located so that no point on a floor is more
than 150 feet from an exit. Exception: Buildings of fire-resistive construction
or equipped with automatic sprinklers, with ground plan not exceeding 6,000
square feet.
(b) Inside stairways should preferably be enclosed for their entire length with
walls of masonry or other fire-resisting material.
(c) Exit doors shall remain unlocked from the inside during working hours.
(d) Fire doors shall be kept free from all obstructions.
(e) Every hinged door which serves as an exit for more than 30 persons shall
open outward, but shall not obstruct the passageway of other exits or from other
floors.
(f) Mercantile buildings of more than two stories in height, if not of fireresistive construction, or equipped with automatic sprinklers, shall be provided
with exits and stairways conforming to the requirements of section 22 in the
Building Exits Code (A-9), approved by the American Standards Association.
All store buildings constructed after the effective date of these regulations shall
comply with the above code.
(g) Mercantile buildings shall be provided with some form of fire extinguish
ment in conformity with the standards of the National Fire Protection Associa
tion.
(h) Electric wiring and equipment shall be installed in conformity with parts
1 and 30 of the National Electrical Code (C—1), approved by the American
Standards Association.
5. E le v a to r s a n d e s c a la to r s . — Construction, installation, maintenance, and oper
ation of elevators, dumbwaiters, and escalators shall be in conformity with the
requirements of the Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, and Escalators
(A-17), approved by the American Standards Association.
6. B u i l d i n g c o n s tr u c tio n a n d e q u ip m e n t. — (a) On stairways, ramps, elevator
landing platforms, and other places where slipping may be especially hazardous,
the walkway surface shall be provided with a nonslip wearing surface.
(6) Steam boilers and other heated pressure vessels shall be in accordance with
the “ Boiler Code” of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
(c) It is recommended that machinery (such as elevator machines) which might
cause unusual vibration or excessive noise be mounted so as to avoid such a
condition, as by the use of shock-absorbent material.
(d) Suitable seats, with backs where practicable, shall be provided for all
workers whose duties can be performed in a sitting position. Such seats shall be
of a type to provide comfort for the workers.
7. O p e r a tin g r u le s . — (a) Aisles and passageways shall be kept clean and free of
materials, containers, rubbish, or other obstructions.
(6) Artificial light meeting the requirements of section 1 shall be turned on
before daylight fades to the specified intensity.
(c) Lighting fixtures shall be cleaned often enough to keep the intensity of
illumination above the prescribed minimum values. Where dependence is
placed on daylight, windows shall be kept clean enough to fulfill their purpose.
(d) Floors and other walkway surfaces shall be kept in good repair, free from
accumulations of oil and water. All dangerous projections from walkways shall
be eliminated.
(e) Materials shall be piled so that they will not easily fall, or be displaced by
vibration or jolts.
(/) Fire extinguishers, fire hose, and automatic sprinklers shall be kept in oper
able condition. Fire extinguishers shall be protected from freezing, and if of the
soda-acid type they shall be recharged at least once a year. The approach to
fire hose and fire extinguishers shall be kept free from obstructions. Fire doors
shall not be obstructed.
(:g ) Discarded material of a flammable nature shall be placed in self-closing
metal containers which shall be emptied at least once daily.
(h) Flammable material shall not be stored under stairways.
(■i ) No unnecessary accumulation of combustible materials shall be permitted.
8. A u x i l i a r y o c c u p a tio n s .— The standards of safety and health established by
other code authorities for particular industries shall apply to such work in mer
cantile establishments as would be included in such other industry if carried on
alone, such as packing and unpacking goods, crating, shipping, motor trucking,
repair work, storage and warehousing, and public services.
9. R e p o r ts o f i n j u r i e s .— Records of all injuries or illnesses occurring while at
work, which cause death or disability, or require medical attention other than
first aid, shall be kept by the employer on standard forms approved by the Admin
istrator, and reports of same made monthly to the code authority, to be used for
analysis of causes and accident prevention. Such reports shall be available to
the Administrator.
N o t e .— The specific safety codes for individual operations, referred to in these
standards, may be obtained from the American Standards Association, 29 West
Thirty-ninth Street, New York, N. Y.
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
1395
O ccu p ation al D eath R ates, 1930 1
HE mortality rates among employed persons in 10 States in
which occupation returns were sufficiently complete to justify
their compilation have been computed by statisticians of the National
Tuberculosis Association and the United States Bureau of the Census.
The study covers gainfully occupied males between the ages of 15 and
64, and the data include a table showing all deaths occurring among
the gainfully occupied in the 10 selected States—Alabama, Connect
icut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, and Wisconsin—one covering the entire classification of
occupations according to the United States Census Bureau index of
occupations, numbering 532, and tables including all deaths among
the gainfully occupied and deaths in those occupations in which the
number was at least 500. The occupational data were, in general,
narrowed down to the latter grouping, as it was decided that rates
covering smaller groups would be subject to the variations inherent in
small numbers.
Because of the fact that the occupation has generally not been satis
factorily reported on death certificates, preliminary studies were made
to determine the adequacy of these reports, a comprehensive educa
tional campaign was carried on among State and city registrars of
vital statistics and undertakers who fill out the occupational inquiries
on death certificates, and a pamphlet published by the Bureau of
the Census, giving information on occupations and outlining the
need and importance of death rates by occupation, was distributed,
largely through State registrars, to a large number of persons. These
steps, together with the use by a number of States of a new form of
death certificate in which the occupational data are more specific,
paved the way for better reporting for the purposes of the study.
It was at first intended to use mortality data for a 3-year period, but
for various reasons it was found necessary to limit the period to the
year 1930. The 10 States included in the study have 38 percent of the
total population of continental United States, and the gainfully occu
pied men in these States comprise 39 percent of all gainfully employed
men. Various factors affect a study of this kind, such as the frequent
changing of occupations, particularly as a result of ill health or old age,
with the result that at death there may be little or no connection be
tween the occupation last engaged in and the one which was the cause
of disablement. Also, in addition to the effect on survival of the haz-
T
1 N ation al T uberculosis A ssociation. D eath rates b y occupation, based on data of the U n ited S tates
C ensus Bureau, 1930. E d ited b y Jessam ine S. W h itn ey. N e w York, 50 W est F iftieth Street, 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1396
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
ards of different occupations, there is the effect of economic or social
status, or of different standards of living. Difficulties arise when an
attempt is made to classify an occupation by economic status, since
there may be many different classes within one general classification.
In making such classifications, however, the economic status of the
majority of the group must, of necessity, be the standard.
In table 1 the occupied males have been grouped in seven main
classes, consisting of professional persons; proprietors, managers, and
officials; clerks and kindred workers; skilled workers and foremen;
semiskilled workers; unskilled workers; and agricultural workers. Al
though agricultural workers do not represent an economic class in the
same sense as do the other six groups, inclusion of farmers with pro
prietors, managers, and officials, and of farm workers with unskilled
workers would distort the mortality rates of these groups.
At the time the Federal census was taken in April 1930, 14,013,367
men between the ages 15 to 64, inclusive, were employed in the 10
States, and during the calendar year 1930 the deaths of 121,951 oc
cupied men were recorded, giving an average general death rate of 8.7
per 1,000. Standardized death rates based on the age distribution of
all gainfully occupied males in the 10 States were computed, since some
occupations, such as watchmen, for example, have a preponderance of
old, while others have mainly young men.
Table 1 shows specific and standardized death rates for the seven
social-economic classes by age groups, including all deaths reported in
the 10 States between the ages of 15 and 64, inclusive.
T a b l e 1 . — N U M B E R O F D E A T H S A N D D E A T H R A T E S P E R 1,000 F R O M A L L C A U S E S
A M O N G G A I N F U L L Y O C C U P IE D M A L E S 15 TO 64 Y E A R S O F A G E I N 10 S T A T E S , B Y
A G E A N D S O C IA L -E C O N O M IC C L A S S , 1930
A ge groups
25 to 44
15 to 24
Social-econom ic class
D eath s
G ainfully
occupied
m ales
D eath s
82, 656
72,972
44, 773
28,199
616, 637
474, 090
333, 936
634, 348
382, 099
252,249
520,991
187
227
143
84
1,420
1,304
1,018
2,019
1, 122
897
2,440
2. 26
3.11
3.19
2.98
2. 30
2. 75
3.05
3. 18
2.94
3.56
4. 68
372,415
787,122
378,960
408,162
1,130, 413
816,463
1, 524,979
1, 323,657
709, 263
614, 394
1,193,432
1,291
3, 277
1,760
1,517
4, 645
3,117
7,431
8,101
4,443
3, 658
11,437
3.47
4.16
4. 64
3.72
4.11
3.82
4.87
6.12
6. 26
5. 95
9.58
275, 205
167. 524
78,262
1,560
528
352
5. 67
3. 15
4.50
568,684
393,913
230,835
7, 200
2, 332
1,905
12. 66
5. 92
8. 25
2,735, 630
8, 615
3.15
7,148,481
39, 299
5. 50
Professional m en
__________
_________
Proprietors, m anagers, and officials-------------W holesale and retail dealers - _______ O thers____________________
------Clerks and kindred w orkers_________ A gricultural workers
________ -- ----- --Skilled workers and foremen - ____________
Sem iskilled w orkers________ ____ ______
M anufacturing_________________________
O thers_____________________________ . . .
U nsk illed workers — -------- -----------------------F actory and b u ild in g construction la
borers_______________ - ---------------Other laborers------------------ ------------------Servant classes------------------- ----------T o ta l________________________________
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Specific
death
rates
(per
1,000)
Specific
death
rates
(per
1,000)
G ainfully
occupied
m ales
1397
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
T a b l e 1 .— N U M B E R O F D E A T H S A N D D E A T H R A T E S P E R 1,000 F R O M A L L C A U S E S
A M O N G G A I N F U L L Y O C C U P IE D M A L E S 15 TO 64 Y E A R S OF A G E I N 10 S T A T E S , B Y
A G E A N D S O C IA L E C O N O M IC C L A S S , 1930—C ontinued
A ge groups
T otal
45 to 64
Social-econom ic class
G ainfully
occupied D eath s
m ales
181,537
Professional m en . _ . . .
566,331
Proprietors, managers, and officials ___
268, 782
W h olesale and retail dealers________
297, 549
Others ______ ___________________
469, 427
C lerks and kindred w ork ers___ _
A gricultural w orkers____ _____________ 1 717, 777
Skilled workers and forem en.. __ . __ 867,077
585, 757
Sem iskilled w orkers. . . . _____________
353,897
M a n u f a c t u r in g ..____ ____
____
231,860
O th ers.. . .
.............. .......................
741, 350
U nsk illed workers .
________ ______
F actory and b u ild in g construction
laborers___ . ........
.................. 338, 652
262, 210
Other laborers __
.
___
140,488
S ervant classes_____________________
T otal
.
..
. . . . __ _____ 4,129, 256
Specific
S tand Specific
death
death G ainfully
ardized
occupied D eath s death
rates
rates
(Der
(per
m ales
rates 1 1,000)
1,000)
4,428
12,440
6, 625
5,815
13, 793
13, 479
23, 282
22, 281
13, 093
9,188
32,248
7.00
7. 38
8.17
6.65
7. 40
6. 21
8.12
9. 86
10. 03
9. 62
13.10
6.96
8.72
9. 57
7. 92
6.22
6.71
8. 54
8.76
9. 06
8.36
13.13
1,182, 541 19,899
823,647
6,911
449,585
5, 438
17. 93 14, 013, 367 121,951
17. 26
8. 18
11.76
8.70
16.83
8.39
12.10
2,950
8,936
4,722
4, 214
7,728
9,058
14,833
12,161
7, 528
4, 633
18, 371
16. 25
15.78
17. 57
14.16
16. 46
12. 62
17.11
20. 76
21. 27
19. 98
24.78
11,139
4,051
3,181
74, 037
32. 89
15.45
22. 64
636, 608
1,426,425
692, 515
733,910
2, 216,477
2, 008,330
2, 725, 992
2, 543, 762
1,445, 259
1, 098, 503
2,455,773
8. 70
1 Standardized according to age d istrib u tion of all gain fu lly occupied m ales in 10 selected States.
Table 2 compares the rates for gainfully occupied males in selected
occupations with those for all males in the 10 selected States and all
males in the United States registration area.
T a b l e 2 .—D E A T H R A T E S F R O M S P E C I F I E D C A U S E S P E R 100,000 M A L E S
D eath rates per 100,000 m ales 15 to 64 years of age
10 selected States
Cause of death
D iseases of the h e a r t __________ ___ __ _
__ __
T uberculosis, all forms___________ _ _ ____ _________
T uberculosis of the respiratory sy ste m . . .
____ _
Other forms of tu bercu losis. _ __________ _______
_____
Cancer and other m alignant tum ors . . _____
P n eu m o n ia . _______________________ _ .
______
________
N e p h r itis .. _______________ ___ ___
Cerebral hemorrhage and softening of the brain________
Suicide
_____
. . .
A ppendicitis
.
.
_____ _____
_________
A ccidental traum atism b y fall
____ . . . _. _______
D iab etes m ellitu s
___ ___________________
Ulcer of the stom ach and d uod en u m .
______
Cirrhosis of th e liver . ___ ___ . . . .
.
______
A lcoholism (acute or chronic)________ . .
. __ _____
H ernia, in testin al o b str u c tio n __________ _ ._
__
A ccidental burns (conflagration excep ted )_______ _ . .
A ccidental absorption of poisonous gas______ _ ____
A cu te rheum atic fever, chronic rheum atism , osteoar
thritis, and gout . _____________________ ________
A ll other causes of d eath _________ _____
_______
T o ta l. . . . _____ . . __________
. -------- . . . .
A ll m ales in
U n ited States
registration
area
A ll m ales
G ainfully
occupied males
in selected
occupations
159.7
99.1
91.4
7.7
65.9
63.6
63.1
49.2
30.9
20. 1
16.0
11.5
11. 5
9. 2
8.8
8.0
4.4
3.9
170.5
92.4
84.6
7.7
77.9
63.7
56.8
43.9
31.9
19.7
18.7
12.5
12.2
10.2
10.5
7.8
3.9
5.3
174.4
95.1
87.4
7.8
81.3
69.0
57.6
41.7
35.2
20.7
19.3
12.0
13.5
10.6
11.9
8.4
4.1
5.9
2.6
270.4
897.9
2.9
231.5
872.4
906.5
2.6
242.9
The mortality rate from all causes for the group in selected occu
pations is shown to be slightly higher than that for either of the other
two groups, due largely to higher rates for heart disease, cancer,
pneumonia, and suicide in the employed group. The highest rates
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
for the chronic incapacitating diseases such as tuberculosis, nephritis,
and cerebral hemorrhage not immediately fatal were found among
“ all males” due, it is considered, to the fact that many suffering from
these diseases are unemployable for long periods. Alcoholism and
cirrhosis of the liver, and ulcer of the stomach and duodenum were
somewhat higher in the employed group, while the rates for accidents,
except for accidental burns, were also higher than for the other two
groups. The report states that “ although, when the entire popula
tion is considered, tuberculosis is now seventh in rank in the country
as a whole as a cause of death, this table shows that it is the second
cause of death among men aged 15 to 64 years in the United States,
and also the second cause of death among gainfully occupied men in
the same age group.”
In d u stria l D iseases and P o iso n in g in B ritish F actories, 1933
N GENERAL, the incidence of cases of poisoning from many of
the recognized industrial hazards showed continuing improvement
in British factories and workshops in 1933, according to the latest
report1 of the senior medical inspector of factories.
Special investigations of health hazards made during the year
included a study of cases of cancer of the nose occurring at a nickel
refinery works, of the risk of silicosis among sand-blasters, and of the
effects of French chalk in the production of fibrosis of the lungs.
Table 1 shows the number of cases of disease resulting from the use
of some of the more important industrial poisons for certain years
from 1910 to 1933.
I
T a b l e 1 .— N U M B E R O F O A SE S OF P O IS O N IN G A N D O F I N D U S T R I A L D IS E A S E S A M O N G
F A C T O R Y W O R K E R S I N G R E A T B R IT A I N F O R S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S , 1910 T O 1933
1910
D isease
Lead poisoning:
C ases______________ __ _ . . . . . _ _ ________
D ea th s__________ _ _ ____ __________ _________
M ercury poisoning:
Cases ___________ _______________________
_. . . .
D e a th s ... . . . . ___________________ ._
Arsenic poisoning: C a s e s . ___ _____
__
_ ..
Carbon bisulphide poisoning: Cases
A niline poisoning: Cases
Chronic benzene poisoning:
Cases _________
__
D eath s.
T oxic jaundice:
C ases. _____ . . . .
. . .
D eath s___
Anthrax:
C ases__ ____ __________________ _
... . ...
D e a t h s ________ ___________ . . . _ _____________
E pith eliom atous ulceration:
C ases______________
..
. . .
D ea th s___ _____
___ _ _ . . .
. . .
Chrome ulceration: C ases_______ ____ . . . . .
1 Great B ritain. H om e Office.
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F actory D ep artm en t.
1920
1930
1932
1931
1933
505
38
289
44
265
32
168
21
182
23
168
19
10
1
7
5
3
6
2
1
3
1
5
30
i
2
24
12
24
2
1
1
6
51
9
1
7
2
3
2
48
11
43
6
21
4
16
1
21
2
45
1
126
194
36
95
156
46
65
131
44
77
143
40
73
A nnual report for the year 1933.
L ondon, 1934.
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
1399
The number of cases of lead poisoning, including fatal cases, was
the smallest in any of the years covered in the report and with the
exception of one case in the manufacture of lead arsenate no new
source of poisoning from lead had arisen during the year. Cases of
anilinism and toxic jaundice were fewer than in the preceding year,
but of the two cases of chronic benzene poisoning reported one ended
fatally in 1934.
An increase in the number of reported cases of anthrax was due
entirely to contact with hides and skins. The report states that as
no satisfactory method has yet been devised for the disinfection of
these raw products and there is no apparent prospect of such a method
being discovered, the use of imported infected material will continue
to be a source of risk.
Cancer of the bladder resulting from exposure to certain chemicals—
aniline and allied intermediate dyestuffs—has been a problem for
some years. An intensive study was carried out during the past 2
years in Huddersfield where large works manufacturing intermediate
dyestuffs are situated. The earliest recorded death among these
workers from a new growth of the bladder occurred in 1900 and from
that time to the end of 1932, 31 further deaths from this cause were
registered among these workers, while 71 cases were reported among
workers outside the chemical industry. It was found that the average
age at death of the chemical workers dying from this disease was 53.2
years, while among nonchemical workers it was 63.6 years—an
important point in considering the cause of the disease. The occupa
tion of chemical laborer was the only one in which there were a number
of fatal cases, all other occupation groups having only one case each
over the 33-year period with the exception of cotton dyers among
whom two cases were reported.
Since the chemical workers handled a variety of chemicals it was
impossible to identify a particular chemical as the cause, although
exposure to aniline, benzidine, alpha- and beta-naphthylene and their
derivatives appeared to predominate in the history of these cases.
If the disease is discovered in the early stages an operation carries the
probability of a complete recovery but the growth becomes malignant
in the later stages and even though operated upon there is probability
of recurrence. While efforts to reproduce the disease in animals have
been only partially successful, it appears that preventive measures
should include the prevention of absorption by the removal of dust
and fume and the avoidance of contact of the skin with these products.
Statistics of deaths from silicosis and asbestosis have been collected
in the past few years and in all the cases recorded there was no doubt
as to the cause of death, in the majority of cases the diagnosis having
been confirmed by post-mortem examinations. The report contains
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
particulars of 53 deaths from asbestosis or asbestosis with tuberculosis
and 469 deaths from silicosis or silicosis with tuberculosis.
Table 2 shows the number of- deaths from silicosis and asbestosis
alone or complicated with tuberculosis, the average age at death, and
the number of years of exposure to either type of dust.
T able 2 .—N U M B E R
O F D E A T H S F R O M S IL IC O S IS A N D A S B E S T O S IS I N G R E A T
B R IT A I N , A V E R A G E A G E A T D E A T H , A N D D U R A T IO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T
D isease
Silicosis
- - _ _ _ _ _ __ _____
Silicosis w ith tuberculosis ___________ _______ - - A sbestosis
__ __
____ _ __
_______ - -A sbestosis w ith tu b e r c u lo s is __ __________ _ _____
N um ber
of deaths
204
265
35
18
Average
age at
death
54.3
52.4
41.0
38.2
D uration of em p loym ent
(years)
L ongest
Shortest
60.0
67.0
27.0
18.0
2.3
2.0
3.5
2.3
Average
34.4
31.5
13.4
9.6
The largest number of fatal cases occurred in the pottery industry—an industry in which workers tend to remain throughout their entire
working life. In this industry there were 111 deaths from silicosis
and 109 from silicosis and tuberculosis or about 47 percent of the
total number of deaths from the combined causes. Next in impor
tance in the number of deaths from this cause was the sandstone
industry, followed by metal grinding, sand-blasting, and the manu
facture of scouring powders. The average duration of employment
which is synonymous with duration of exposure to dust was longest
in the pottery industry and shortest in the scouring-powder industry
and in sand-blasting, there being very little difference in the rates for
the latter two industries. Sand-blasting, which is of more importance
because of the number of workers involved, is said in the report to
have been shown to be an extremely dangerous occupation. The
risk of the process is such that the use of substitutes for siliceous
material is advised wherever possible, and in other cases enforcement
of the strictest precautions with initial and periodic medical examina
tion of the workers.
Reporting of cases of skin disease is not compulsory, but during the
year there were 988 cases reported, 18 of which were nonindustrial
and wrong-diagnosis cases. The causative agents in the reported
cases included alkalies, sugar, oil, chrome, turpentine and substitutes,
dyes, chemicals, friction and heat, petrol, benzol, dough, acids, paraf
fin, French polish, nickel compounds, and accelerators.
There were 149 accidents from inhalation of gases and fumes, 14
of which were fatal. Eighty of the accidents, including nine fatalities,
were due to carbon monoxide, the next most important causes being
inhalation of the fumes of nickel carbonyl, chlorine, carbon dioxide,
sulphur dioxide, sulphureted hydrogen, and hydrocyanic acid.
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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
P olicies F o rm u lated by 1934 C on ven tion of A m erican
F ed eration of Labor
ATIONAL affairs, in unprecedented degree, occupied the atten
tion of the annual convention of the American Federation of
N
Labor which was held in San Francisco, Calif., October 1-12, 1934.
In large part the resolutions and debate centered upon the attitude
of the workers toward the National Recovery program, their experi
ence under N. R. A. codes and decisions of the various adjustment
agencies, and the position of organized labor on proposed govern
mental plans and measures for social security. Internal matters
were subordinated to the broader questions of general welfare. At
the same time the convention took action dealing with organization
affairs that established the principle of industrial organization in
those industries, particularly the mechanized industries operated on
a mass-production basis, to which the traditional American Federa
tion of Labor policy of craft autonomy cannot be successfully applied.
National Recovery Program
I n i t s report to the convention, the executive council of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor held that history will interpret the National
Recovery Act “ primarily as labor legislation” the effectiveness of
which “ will depend upon the success with which it helps labor to
become an effective balance force in the industrial world.” From
that viewpoint the council reported fully upon results and develop
ments during the year under the act.
W ages .—Reviewing wages under N. R. A. codes, the report stated
that in industries in which wages had been most severely depressed,
as for example in the cotton-textile and furniture industries, the
minimum wages fixed in the codes had raised hourly wage rates for
an overwhelming majority of the workers. The council held it un
fair, however, to judge the effect of codes by increases in hourly
rates, since “ it is upon the amount in the pay envelop at the end of
the week that the worker and his family must live”, and “ in many
industries codes have meant a very real decrease in wages and earn
ings rather than an increase, and large numbers of workers find
97667—34------7
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
themselves today in a less-favored position, economically, than they
were a year ago.”
The convention endorsed the executive council’s report on wages
and declared that—
For labor one of the most disturbing aspects of the whole situation is the lack
of protection given to the wage standards of skilled craftsmen. Codes of fair
competition have failed to protect these groups, with the result that actual wage
decreases have resulted in some trades. With a few exceptions, such as the men’s
clothing industry, hosiery, and the graphic arts, wage scales above the minimum
have not been written into the code. The net result of it all would seem to be
that codes must be drastically revised “ to increase minimum wages, to eliminate
groups of workers now below the minimum rates, and to protect wages of higherpaid groups of employees.”
Hours.—The executive council declared that “ the measure of the
success of the attempt to regulate hours of work is the number of
persons who are still seeking jobs. Judged in such figures of unem
ployment, the codes have as yet fallen far short of what was hoped
and expected of them a year ago.” The report then analyzed in
detail the code provisions for working hours, and estimated the ground
lost and gained in the movement to shorten hours and to increase
employment through that channel.
The question of the shorter workday as an agent of economic re
covery became one of the vital issues of the convention. President
Green emphasized it in his opening address, with the statement that
the American Federation of Labor insists that “ the hours of labor
in America shall be reduced to a point where the slack of unemploy
ment shall be taken up, and for that reason we stand unflinchingly
for the application of the 6-hour day and the 5-day week in this
country.”
President Green’s position was unanimously supported in the
adoption of the report of the committee on the shorter workday,
which declared for the establishment of a 30-hour week with no
reduction in weekly pay, and recommended that that objective be
declared the “ paramount purpose” of the fifty-fourth convention.
The committee moreover recognized the “ compelling need of having
the 5-day, 6-hour week written into the laws of our land.” The
executive council of the Federation was directed by the convention
to “ spare no efforts to have legislation enacted that will give man
date and vitality to the 30-hour workweek.”
Collective bargaining.—Declaring that “ employer resistance to
organization in bona fide unions was by no means destroyed or even
weakened” by the adoption of section 7 (a) of the National Recovery
Act, the report of the executive council points to discrimination
against union members and to the creation of company unions as the
means taken to prevent real collective bargaining. Many delegates
discussed section 7 (a), emphasizing the constructions which have
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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
1403
been put upon it and the extent of governmental efforts to secure its
enforcement. Plans to combat the further growth of company
unionism were incorporated in the organizing program.
Labor relations boards.—The executive council’s report reviewed the
record of the year’s activity on the part of the various adjustment
boards created under the N. R. A., dwelling specifically on the Cotton
Textile Board, the Petroleum Labor Policy Board, the Bituminous
Coal Board, the Automobile Labor Board, and the National Labor
Board and its successor, the National Labor Relations Board. The
point made by the council was that most of the extralegal bodies,
such as the Cotton Textile Board, the Automobile Labor Board, and
the original National Labor Board, which were created “ without
definite statutory powers, without the ability to make and enforce
decisions, and based only upon the consent of the employers and
employees concerned, have in the short space of a year been proven
entirely inadequate to meet the situation.” On the other hand
boards which have statutory existence, such as the National Long
shoremen’s Board, the National Steel Relations Board, and the
National Labor Relations Board, have been given definite duties and
responsibilities. The executive council expressed the opinion that
“ in the short time they have been in existence they have acted with
courage, promptness, and definiteness, to resolve some of the most
weighty problems in industrial relations.”
The Secretary of Labor, in her address to the convention on October
5, spoke at some length on the adjustment machinery which has been
created, and urged that it be given a fair trial. She said in part:
The Government has established boards to make judicial findings of fact and
to arbitrate if both parties to a dispute agree, and to maintain continuously a
machinery for effective industrial relations in cases where the principal parties
cannot quickly and peacefully agree. It seems fitting, proper, and reasonable
that this system should be given every trial by all parties should differences arise.
* * * The boards constitute the machinery with which disputes can be
settled as to which union and what representatives have been chosen to represent
the employees and they can arbitrate as impartial agencies of Government when
so requested. The Conciliation Service can and does daily make hundreds of
adjustments that prevent strikes and conciliates and mediates between the
parties, its main purpose being to bring them together in such a way that they
may settle their own differences by agreement and accord and therefore avoid
the more formal recourse to the boards which function when there can be no
agreement in a reasonable time.
While the Government does not prevent strikes or prevent employers from
closing down their industries it would be a forward-looking step, where differences
arise, to utilize the services of the impartial agencies set up as constituted groups
for the purpose of keeping industrial peace for the benefit of employers and labor
and in the public interest. I am confident that these agencies will gather author
ity by custom, by habit, and by the sanctions of common acceptance. * * *
Moreover, the necessities of making a sober reasonable factual presentation and
argument before the boards will bind together the membership of both workers’
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and employers’ organizations in order to secure the benefits of able presentation
of their cases. It is bound also to bring out facts and the real purposes of labor
will be served by that. * * *
Neither labor nor capital can or should be coerced. There is often confused
thinking on this point and one hears many loose statements about the Govern
ment taking a two-fisted attitude in industrial disputes. One group wishes the
Government to coerce employers and force them to do certain things in a dispute
and the other group wants Government to coerce labor to stop strikes and go
back to work and let things alone. In order to preserve the democracy under
which we live, Government should not dictate actions of any one economic group
and it is folly to allow hysteria to lead us to these immoderate appeals to Govern
ment dictation. Arbitration is more in American character. There the parties
submit the points on which they cannot agree to an agency for arbitration and
abide by the decision. This is often a wise and constructive method and a short
cut out of another expensive controversy.
The present agencies constitute a pattern which should prove of lasting value
to the Republic, for they point the way in future disputes, where collective
bargaining breaks down, to bring about adjustments speedily, harmoniously, and
in keeping with the American tradition of fairness and justice to all. When
disagreements arise and the parties concerned, can voluntarily agree to submit
the issues to arbitration the machinery will be available for them to use in their
own best interest and that of the public as well, but it should not take the form
of compulsion.
Social-Security Program
T h e executive council directed the attention of the convention to
the steps taken by President Roosevelt to formulate a program for
social security, beginning with the appointment of a special committee
with the Secretary of Labor at its head, instructed to study various
aspects of social insurance. In that connection the council, while
advocating and supporting social-insurance measures, took the posi
tion that any legislative provisions for the “ casualties of industrial
and social forces are only supplementary to the reorganization of
business on a stable basis, social planning for the adjustment of pro
duction to social needs and standards, and job planning on an exten
sive scale.”
The convention itself showed a very active interest in the general
subject and was called upon to consider and debate many resolutions
dealing with all phases of social insurance. Unemployment insurance
figured most prominently in the various resolutions introduced into
the proceedings. Some of these supported the Lundeen bill (H. R.
7598) introduced into the last Congress, while others endorsed the
principles of Federally aided State insurance incorporated in the
Wagner-Lewis bill of the last Congress. Still others presented new
plans. The convention reaffirmed its support, given at the 1933
convention, of the program outlined in the Wagner-Lewis bill.
While sharp criticism of the old-age security legislation and admin
istration in some States was brought into the discussion of that sub
ject, the convention expressed regret that the National Government
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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
1405
and 20 State governments “ have failed thus far to respond to this
great and humane requirement” of extending protection to old age,
and directed that every possible effort be made to remedy this
grievous situation.”
A resolution introduced by a delegate representing the Massachu
setts State Federation of Labor pointed to a direct connection be
tween discrimination against workers over 40 years of age and work
men’s compensation legislation, because of the “refusal of insurance
companies to provide insurance protection for employers who have
workers in hazardous occupations or who employ workers 40 years
or older.” To combat this growing danger, the resolution called for
the enactment of legislation making mandatory upon all States the
adoption of the exclusive State-fund system of compensation insur
ance. The discussion on this resolution brought out some of the
dangers resulting from compensation laws and decisions through
which, as one delegate expressed it, “ we find ourselves in the position
that we are losing the benefits that were originally called for in the
various schedules of the compensation laws.” The convention
unanimously endorsed the extension of the principle of insurance
through State-controlled funds exclusively, to all States having work
men ’s compensation laws.
The executive council of the American Federation of Labor was
directed by a resolution introduced by a delegate from the Inter
national Typographical Union to institute a study of health insur
ance, with a view to incorporating in organized labor’s program for
social justice the movement for “better distribution of adequate
medical services.”
Education
T h e traditions of organized labor in its relation to free schooling
were carried on in the report of the executive council and the action
of the convention dealing with public education. With the warning
that “we are facing the passing of the public schools”, the committee
on education presented the results of a survey of the effects of economy
programs upon school efficiency, the loss of educational opportunities
in communities where retrenchment had closed schools entirely, and
the decrease in salaries and increase in teaching load which practically
the entire teaching staff of the country has had to accept. This
report resulted in the adoption of a declaration that “the organized
labor movement of America, the American Federation of Labor,
whole-heartedly and unreservedly pledges itself to the defense of
the public-school system of America, to its full and complete restora
tion, to the maintenance of educational standards for the develop
ment of character, culture, and citizenship, and to the principle of
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equal educational opportunity for all the children of America, regard
less of race, creed, or social status.”
With specific reference to the Federally aided program of vocational
education, the convention referred to the executive council for action
a resolution calling for the appropriation of adequate funds for the
support of vocational education and for the restoration of the Federal
Board for Vocational Education to its former independent status.
The emergency education program of the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration was declared to be “ in line with American
labor’s concept of the expanding field of education” in which adult
workers must be permitted to share.
The movement for workers’ education sponsored by organized
labor was reviewed in the report of the executive council and was
presented more fully to the convention in an address by Spencer
Miller, Jr., secretary of the Workers’ Education Bureau of America,
and in the report of the committee on education. The committee
stated that—
The year 1933-34 has witnessed a phenomenal growth in American workers’
education. Both in the range of interest and the number of workers and students
enrolled, the past year’s record stands as the high-water mark since the Workers’
Education Bureau was established in 1921. The vast increase in the member
ship of the new unions and the new extension of organization of wage earners into
industries not formerly organized has provided stimulus to interest which has
been most pronounced.
A p p re n tic e sh ip .—The Massachusetts State Federation of Labor
sponsored a resolution which directed attention to the program of the
Federal committee on apprentice training appointed by the Secretary
of Labor at the direction of the President. The resolution held that
organized labor should cooperate fully in the work of the Federal
committee and the State agencies acting with it, since “ this program
will not interfere with existing agreements covering apprenticeship
where these have been incorporated in N. R. A. codes or craft agree
ments, but, on the contrary, will give organized labor an oppor
tunity to promote the type of training which it has always favored
as a method of inducting youths into skilled jobs.” The convention,
however, adopted instead the report of the committee to which the
resolution was referred, which substituted for the resolution the
following recommendation:
This resolution does not state all the actual conditions which exist in the con*
ditions of apprenticeships now in effect in our industries, neither does it advocate
the establishing of a definite ratio of apprentices, to the number of journeymen
workmen employed. In lieu of the resolution your committee recommends that
the executive council be instructed to make a thorough study of existing con
ditions of apprenticeship and to prepare necessary legislation for the regulation
of apprenticeship and the adequate training of apprentices.
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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
1407
International Affairs
S p e a k i n g of the recently acquired membership of the United States
in the International Labor Organization, the executive council stated
that “ the American labor movement recognizes its responsibility to
cooperate with and further the aims of the International Labor
Organization. The International Labor Organization can lend to the
American labor movement the support of its international informa
tion and experience in setting up labor standards in various indus
tries.”
In substantial token of its interest in and desire to cooperate with
the International Labor Organization, the American Federation of
Labor invited its director, Dr. Harold Butler, to attend the San
Francisco convention as the guest of the Federation. In his ad
dress to the delegates, Dr. Butler gave a succinct review of the
origin, principles, practices, and objectives of the international
group, concluding with the remark that it is because the International
Labor Organization “ is shaped in conformity with American ideals of
cooperation and free discussion that we warmly welcome the help
that the United States more than any other country can give, and
that we look to the powerful support of the American Federation of
Labor as embodying the concepts of liberty and justice which have
inspired the labor movement of this country. We would say to you
in the words of St. Paul: ‘Come over and help us.’”
Continued friendly relations with the Pan-American Federation of
Labor were reported and the executive council was directed to take
up for consideration the matter of reaffiliating with the International
Federation of Trade Unions, the president of which, Mr. Walter M.
Citrine, of England, addressed the convention. In closing his ad
dress Mr. Citrine said that the trade-union movement of Europe
“ cannot accomplish much without your virile assistance, your ma
terial, your moral, and your financial help.”
It is to you we look, and my purpose in coming here is to try if I possibly can
to show you that our struggle is your struggle, that the battle of democracy is
being fought in Europe and may be decided in Europe. I come to you for help.
I cannot believe you will refuse it.
Organization Progress
A c o n s id e r a b l e part of the report of the executive council to the
convention dealt with the year’s record in organizing new industries,
creating new local unions, and expanding those already in existence.
The outstanding achievement reported was the success in organizing
hitherto unorganized mass-production industries, chiefly the auto
mobile, rubber, cement, and aluminum industries.
Another noteworthy record, cited in the report, is the organization
of 40 directly affiliated unions of workers in various forms of com
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mercial agriculture. Some of these unions cover farm laborers,
others include workers who pick and pack fruits and vegetables, and
still others function in connection with greenhouses and landscape
gardening.
Workers in gasoline filling stations and allied occupations have also
responded to a vigorous organizing campaign and have established
56 directly affiliated local unions. In all, the number of unions in
direct affiliation to the American Federation of Labor—that is, those
which do not come within the jurisdiction of existing national or
international bodies—increased from 673 in 1933 to 1,788 in 1934.
Of the general growth in membership the report sa37s:
The paid-up membership of the American Federation of Labor in August 1934
was 2,823,750. While this figure represents the members whose per capita tax
to the Federation is fully paid to date, there are many others who are just as
loyal trade-unionists and who are just as desirous to have the trade union repre
sent them in collective bargaining, but who are unable to keep their dues fully
paid to date because of inadequate employment. On the basis of reports from
our international unions and careful examination of the records of local unions
affiliated directly with the American Federation of Labor, we estimate that the
total organized strength of the labor movement at the beginning of September
1934 was 5,650,000.
Convention action which introduced a new organizing policy,
amounting to a fundamental change, came in connection with the
great number of unions, some of them with very large memberships,
which have been organized as directly affiliated local unions. These
are in the mass-production industries for the most part, and the
question of the final form which such organization should take was
one of the most important before the convention. While the dis
cussion bearing on craft and industrial organization forms did not
reach the floor of the convention to any extent, the problem was
thoroughly threshed out in the committee that finally submitted to
the convention the following recommendation, which was adopted
unanimously.
The evidence presented in the hearings before the committee conclusively
indicates that to deal effectively with the question of organization and with the
fundamental questions involved there should be a clear and definite policy out
lined by this convention that will adequately meet the new and growing conditions
with which our American labor movement is confronted.
During recent years there have developed new methods. This has brought
about a change in the nature of the work performed by millions of workers in
industries which it has been most difficult or impossible to organize into craft
unions. The systems of mass production are comparatively new and are under
the control of great corporations and aggregations of capital which have resisted
all efforts at organization. * * * We consider it our duty to formulate
policies which will fully protect the jurisdictional rights of all trade unions
organized upon craft lines and afford every opportunity for development and
accession of those workers engaged upon work over which these organizations
exercise jurisdiction. * * *
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
1409
However, it is also realized that in many of the industries in which thousands
of workers are employed a new condition exists requiring organization upon a
different basis to be most effective.
To meet this new condition the executive council is directed to issue charters
for national or international unions in the automotive, cement, aluminum, and
such other mass-production and miscellaneous industries as in the judgment
of the executive council may be necessary to meet the situation.
An important move reflecting the increase in size and responsibil
ities of the American Federation of Labor was the decision to increase
the membership of its governing body from 11 to 18. The executive
council elected at the fifty-fourth annual convention is composed of
William Green, United Mine Workers of America, president; Frank
Morrison, International Typographical Union, secretary; Martin
F. Ryan, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, treasurer; and 15 vice
presidents, who, in the order of their ranks, are: Frank Duffy, United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; T. A. Rickert, United Gar
ment Workers; Matthew Woll, International Photoengravers’ Union;
John Coefield, United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters;
Arthur O. Wharton, International Association of Machinists; Joseph
N. Weber, American Federation of Musicians; G. M. Bugniazet,
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; George M. Harri
son, Brotherhood of Railway Clerks; Daniel J. Tobin, International
Brotherhood of Teamsters and Chauffeurs; William L. Hutcheson,
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; George L. Berry,
International Printing Pressmen’s Union; John L. Lewis, United
Mine Workers; David Dubinsky, International Ladies’ Garment
Workers’ Union; Harry C. Bates, Bricklayers, Masons, and Plaster
ers International Union; and Edward J. Gainor, National Association
of Letter Carriers.
T rades and Labor C ongress of C anada, 1934
RGANIZED labor in Canada celebrated its fiftieth anniversary
in its annual convention of 1934.1 This convention, which
O
opened on September 10, was held in Toronto, where the first con
vention of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada met in 1884.
The gathering was one of the largest in the history of the organization,
with 373 delegates in attendance. The average paid-up membership
represented was 103,424. To estimate the full strength of the organi
zation, the secretary reported that that figure should be increased by
50 percent, to allow for members who were in arrears on account of
unemployment.
U nem ploym ent a n d relief .—Problems of unemployment and relief
engaged much of the time and attention of the meeting. The con
vention declared for the adoption of a national contributory unem1 D ata are from Canada, D ep artm en t of Labor, Labor G azette, October 1934, p p. 922-928, and C anadian
Congress Journal, October 1934, p p. 9-16.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
ployment-insurance system, for which the executive council reported
an increasingly strong public demand. Another measure recom
mended to decrease unemployment was the carrying out of Federal,
Provincial, and municipal building programs, with the stipulation
that all unemplojmd workers should be given opportunity to work on
these projects, irrespective of their public relief status. The con
vention held that fair-wage regulations should be made to apply to
all relief work, including that done in relief camps established for
single men, and that a maximum 6-hour day should be adopted on
relief work and Government undertakings.
Relief as a Federal responsibility was advocated by the congress to
provide “ adequate direct relief and its uniform application to all
needy workers throughout the Dominion.”
Hours of labor.—Without making a specific limitation upon working
hours, the convention went on record as favoring “ a shorter work day
and work week in conformity with the producing power of the
Nation”, and instructed the official representatives of the Trades
and Labor Congress and of the Provincial federations to work for the
enactment of legislation to that end.
Wage legislation.—'The convention called for amendments to the
Federal Fair Wage Act which would broaden and extend its applica
tion to all work involving Federal funds, whether classed as relief
works or public works, and for the appointment of efficient inspectors
to insure full compliance with the provisions of the fair-wages acts.
On the matter of minimum-wage legislation for men, the report of
the executive council pointed out that since the movement had
expanded considerably since the 1933 convention, it was important
to have a declaration of policy to be pursued by the congress, espe
cially in view of the fact that policies adopted by organized workers in
the different Provinces toward that type of legislation were conflicting.
The convention, however, did not declare for or against the principle
of minimum wages for men; instead, it drew up and adopted a series
of recommendations by which “ any apparent need for minimum
wages for men, fixed in the same manner as minimum wages for
women, * * * will be obviated.” These recommendations include
the following declarations:
It is our studied opinion that any such laws must provide for cooperation with
bona fide unions, as it is only by full recognition of union agreements being
accepted as the schedule to be enforced that the breaking down of established
conditions can be avoided. Any legislation which ignores this fundamental
principle of collective agreements should be vigorously opposed, as should also
schedules fixed arbitrarily by legislative bodies without consultation and agree
ment with the trade-union organizations of the classes of workers covered by
the same.
E xem ptions are dangerous a n d should be p ro h ib ited , as all w age earners are
en titled to th e full p ro te c tio n th a t such legislation m ay be able to give.
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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
1411
The right to organize in unions, free from any control whatever by employers
or their agents should be clearly stated in the legislation.
* * * Trade unions only should be given the right to represent wage
earners’ interests in the negotiation of collective agreements and on any joint
bodies created for the purpose of framing, administering, or enforcing industrial
control legislation, as individuals are unable to carry out such functions.
Social legislation.—In addition to national contributory unemploy
ment insurance, Provincial sickness and invalidity insurance and Fed
eral old-age pensions were urged, and instructions were given to work
for the liberalization of workmen’s compensation laws in Ontario and
Quebec. Labor representation on compensation boards will be sought
in Provinces where such appointments have not been made.
Other legislation.—Other matters upon which the congress will
undertake to secure the enactment of desired legislation include free
textbooks in public schools, examination and licensing of all persons
engaged in steamfitting and allied trades, and bringing printing estab
lishments under factory laws and regulations. One of the important
decisions was to press vigorously “ for legislation which will fully
protect workers in the exercise of their rights to organize and bargain
collectively through representatives of their own choosing and pro
hibit company unions from having any legal status or official recog
nition in respect to collective bargaining and agreement.” At the
same time the position was taken that any legislative proposal for
the incorporation of trade unions should be opposed.
B ritish Trades U n ion C ongress, 1934
HE sixty-sixth annual meeting 1 of the British Trades Union
T
Congress was held in Weymouth, September 3-7, 1934. It was
attended by 575 delegates representing 165 organizations with a total
membership of approximately 3,295,000.
The principal proceedings of a distinctly economic nature concerned
a declaration for a 40-hour working week without reduction of wages
or earnings, and a carefully worked out plan for the socialization of
the iron and steel industry. The plan calls for the creation, by act
of Parliament, of a central corporation to which would be transferred,
by purchase, the ownership and control of existing enterprises. In
dustrial relations would be handled through works councils set up by
the trade unions functioning in the industry.
One resolution adopted by the convention urges an amendment to
the unemployment and the health insurance laws to provide for nonmanual workers whose income is not in excess of £500, instead of the
present £250 limit.
1 Canada.
D ep artm en t of Labor.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor G azette, October 1934, p p . 931-933.
1412
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
For several days before the formal opening of the meeting on Sep
tember 3, the British Trades Union Congress held a centennial me
morial celebration in honor of the “ Tolpuddle martyrs”—six farm
laborers of Dorset who were sentenced to penal servitude in the
colonies for attempting, in 1834, to form an agricultural laborers’
union. One very interesting feature of the celebration was the
dedication of six memorial cottages which the organized labor move
ment of Great Britain has built in honor of the “ six men of Dorset. ”
These cottages will be maintained by the organized workers to pro
vide homes for aged agricultural workers.
T rade U n io n s in Jap an , 1933
OME statistics on trade unions in Japan are published in the
July 29, 1934, issue of the Indian Labor Journal from which
the following table is reproduced:
S
T R A D E -U N I O N M E M B E R S H I P I N J A P A N , 1933, B Y I N D U S T R Y A N D S E X
M em bership
Ind u stry
N um ber
of unions
M ale
M achine and tools-- _______________________ - _
C hem ical ______________________________________________
T extile
. . _ ________ _____ _________________
Food and d r in k .. _
__
___________ _
M is c e lla n e o u s ,___
____________________
M in in g ,, . .
.
_________________ _ _ .
Gas and electricity__ ___ _ ___________________________
T ransport
.
______ ___________ _
P ost, telegraph, and telephone service- C ivil engineering and construction
_
,
_ _
Others .
.
______ . . .
T otal
_
.
Fem ale
T otal
80
89
39
25
140
20
23
94
n
50
375
86, 507
20,632
7,741
5,382
17, 447
5, 597
9,204
149,976
2,901
10, 452
47, 251
2,052
2,430
8,458
941
2,195
114
102
2, 255
2
1
2,973
88, 559
23,062
16,199
6,323
19,642
5,711
9,306
152,231
2,903
10,453
50,224
942
363,090
21, 523
384, 613
A comparison of the 1933 trade-union figures with those of the
preceding year shows an increase of 10 unions and 6,988 members.1
The Japanese Trade Union Congress comprises the main group of trade
unions. Several new organizations were established during 1933: The Eastern
Trade Union Congress (K a n t o R o d o K u m i a i K a i g i ), with tendencies toward the
Left Wing, and the Japanese Industrial Army (N i h o n S a n g y o G u n ), the Japanese
Communication Workers’ Union (N ih o n T e is h in J u g y o i n K u m i a i ) , and the
Japanese Industrial Labor Club ( N ih o n S a n g y o R o d o K u r a b u ) , which uphold the
principles of national socialism.
1 International Labor Office.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ind u strial and Labor Inform ation, G eneva, A ug. 6, 1934, p. 213,
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
In d u stria l D isp u tes in October 1934
HILE October witnessed a definite recession in numbers in
W
volved in industrial disputes, repercussions of the general
textile strike and the longshoremen's strike of preceding months were
still evident, as well as several sizable outbreaks in other industries.
There were reopenings of a number of strikes in both northern and
southern textile mills, the workers claiming discrimination against
union members when mills were opened after the general strike in
September. The silk and rayon dyeing and printing industry, which
had not been greatly affected by the general textile strike, experienced
the largest dispute in the country during October. Twenty-five
thousand workers in this industry centered around Paterson, N.J.,
walked out on October 25 demanding wage increases and shorter
hours. The strike was still in progress at the close of the month.
The second largest industrial dispute was the strike of meat cutters
in the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.'s stores in Cleveland and the
closing of all this company’s stores on October 27, throwing over 2,000
persons out of work. Settlement of the dispute was imminent at the
close of the month, the National Labor Relations Board presenting
a seven-point peace proposal on October 31.
The Food Workers’ Industrial Union called a strike of over 1,100
restaurant workers in New York City, demanding a 6-day, 48-hour
week with increased wages and recognition of union. This dispute
was settled within 8 days, with no change in the existing 54-hour week
but with a $1 increase in wages to those earning $15 per week or less.
The number of industrial ^disputes, workers involved, and mandays lost during each of the months from January 1933 to October
1934, and for the years since 1928, are given in table 1. Similar
information about industrial disputes in previous years is not avail
able, the only complete record being the number of disputes which
began each year since 1919. Figures for the months January to
August 1934 have been revised and represent the latest known infor
mation about industrial disputes occurring during that time. These
figures are not final, however, and may be further revised as additional
data are procured. Figures for September and October are prelim
inary and in very few cases represent information which has been
confirmed by the parties concerned in the disputes.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Subsequent tables give various analyses of disputes data for
August, this being the latest month for which verified information is
available. In all of these tabulations disputes involving fewer than
6 workers and less than 1 day have been omitted. The number of
man-days lost is an estimate based on the number of employees
within a given establishment who stopped work or were thrown out
of work because of the dispute and the number of days these persons
would probably have worked had there been no dispute. It will be
noticed that the industry and occupation classification differs from
that listed in previous reports. The present classification conforms
to that used by the Census Bureau and the Division of Trend of
Employment of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Future tables will
use this revised classification.
1
T a b l e .—N U M B E R OF I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S B E G I N N I N G IN E A C H Y E A R 1919 T O
1927, A N D N U M B E R , W O R K E R S I N V O L V E D , A N D M A N -D A Y S L O S T , 1928 T O O C T O B E R
1934
N um b er of d isputes
Y ear or m on th
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.
1933.
T erm i
nated
during
year or
m onth
In ef
fect at
end of
year or
m onth
687
934
674
901
829
1,574
656
913
667
880
817
1,544
31
21
7
21
12
30
32
35
39
47
50
52
84
99
125
98
52
30
21,169
19,989
47,463
36,874
64,891
61, 330
139,099
211, 524
298,480
219,846
139,208
45, 612
251,829
113,215
348,459
551,930
664,689
576,535
1,505,408
1, 570,512
3,873,662
3,659,502
1, 298,113
404,993
37
43
54
85
95
78,165
115,542
120, 715
170,697
224, 254
100,882
215,221
114, 517
428.000
109.000
653, 202
915,673
1,343,835
2, 257, 229
2,088,120
1, 594,301
1,969, 661
1,710,084
4.159.000
1.595.000
Started
during T otal
year or in pi og
ress
m onth
3,630
3,411
2,385
1,112
1933
Jan uary................... .........
F e b r u a r y .--.....................
M arch _______ .________
A p r il.- - ............................
M a y __________________
Ju ne__________________
J u ly __________________
A u g u st_______ ____ _
Septem ber____________
O ctober______________
N o vem b er____________
D ecem b er____________
1934
January...............................
F ebruary________ _____
M a r c h ................................
A p ril__________ ______ _
M a y _________ ________
J u n e...... ............. ............. ..
J u ly ......................................
A u g u st................................
Septem ber L .....................
October 1............................
1
Started
prior to
year or
m onth
W orkers M aninvolved d ays lost
in d is
in d is
putes
p utes
during
during
year or year or
m on th
m onth
Prelim inary.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
58
31
21
7
21
12
1,553
1,249
1,301
1,035
734
629
903
653
894
808
1,562
12
32
35
39
47
50
52
84
99
125
98
52
75
67
98
80
140
137
240
246
223
129
67
60
87
99
133
119
187
187
292
330
322
254
165
112
55
64
94
72
137
135
208
231
197
156
113
82
30
37
43
54
85
95
80
79
141
184
196
141
124
146
120
131
110
116
184
238
281
236
244
240
224
241
73
73
130
153
186
116
150
136
114
98
120
94
104
110
120
94
104
110
143
438,374 31,556,947
266,305 9,975, 213
160,457 2,730,368
284,443 6,386,183
244,144 6,462,973
813,134 14,818,846
1415
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
The number of disputes beginning in August and the total in
progress during August, together with workers involved and mandays lost, is given in table 2. The industries included in textiles and
their products, and the food and the lumber industries experienced
the greatest number of disputes in August. Almost three times as
many man-days were lost in the industries connected with textiles
and their products as in the next most seriously affected industries,
mining and construction.
T a b l e 2 .—I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S B E G I N N I N G I N A N D I N P R O G R E S S I N A U G U S T 1934,
A N D M A N -D A Y S L O S T , B Y I N D U S T R Y
Beginning in
A ugust 1934
In d u stry and S tate
T o ta l______ __ .
_ _____________ _ __________________
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d t h e i r p r o d u c t s , n o t i n c l u d i n g m a c h i n e r y ________ ______ _____________ _______ _________ .
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills______________
C utlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge
tools__________________ ____________ _ _ _______ ______
Plum bers’ supplies and fixtures__________________________
S toves_______ ________ . . . ________
________________ .
Structural and ornam ental m etalw ork . .
. _____ _
T ools (not including edge tools, m achine tools, files, and
saws) (hand to o ls)____________________________________
O th e r .......................
.
_
M a c h i n e r y , n o t i n c l u d i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n e q u i p m e n t ___
Fou n d ry and m achine-shop p rod ucts_____________________
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n e q u i p m e n t __________ . __________________
A utom obiles, bodies, and p arts___________________________
N o n f e r r o u s m e t a l s a n d t h e i r p r o d u c t s ________ _____ ____
A lu m in u m m anufactures_____ . . _______________________
Brass, bronze, and copper p rod ucts__________________ . .
S m elting and refining—copper, lead, and z i n c __ ______
Stam ped and enam eled w a r e . __________________ . . .
L u m b e r a n d a llie d p r o d u c t s ________ . . __________________
F u rn itu re____ _____ . . . ______ _ . . . ___ _____________
S aw m ills_________
. . . . ____ _ _.
. ________
Other . . . __ _____ . . . . . . . . .
_ ____ ___ _____
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s _______ ___________ ______
Brick, tile, and terra cotta _______________ . . . ________
G l a s s _____________________ ____ ___________________ . .
M arble, granite, slate, and other products ______________
T e x tile s a n d t h e i r p r o d u c t s ______ _______________________ .
Fabrics:
C otton g o o d s .._______ _ _________________ __________
C otton sm all w ares____ ________________ ____ ._
D y ein g and finishing te x tile s . _____ _ __________ . .
K n it good s__________ _____ ______ . . . _______ _______
S ilk and rayon good s. __________ ___________________
W oolen and w orsted goods___ ________________ _____
O ther_______________1 ______ . . . _ _______________
..
W earing apparel:
C lothing, m en ’s __________ __________________ ________
C lothing, w om en ’s . ____ _______________________ ____
M e n ’s furnishings (n eck w ear)____ ________________ . .
M illin ery ___ ____ _____ _______
_ ____________ . . . . .
Shirts and collars_________ _. . . . . ________________
L e a t h e r a n d it s m a n u f a c t u r e s _______________________ . . .
B oots and sh oes______________ ______________________
Other leather goods________________ _____________________
F o o d a n d k in d re d p r o d u c t s ..
. . . . __________________
B a k in g ______________ ________ _______ _____ _____________
B everages_________ ____ _____________________________
.
C anning and preserving -------------- --------------------------- .
Flour and grain m ills
. . ___________________ ___
Slaughtering and m eat p ack in g______________________ ____
O th er._______ ________________________ _______ ___________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
In progress in
A ugust 1934
N um
N um
N u m N um ber
ber of
ber of w ork ber of of w ork
ers in
dis ers in dis
p u te s
p u te s volved
volved
M an-days
lost in
A ugust
1934
' 146
57,460
240
114,517
1, 710, 084
4
1
691
300
11
1
2,807
300
62, 217
5, 400
3
391
1
1
1
4
100
1,005
50
509
2, 700
23,115
1, 350
7, 587
5
5
1
1
6
4
368
368
160
160
9, 574
8,610
2
21
11
10
964
2, 318
478
1,840
3
1
2
523
251
272
21
17,737
1
2
11
11
2
2
9
5
1
1
2
24
12
10
2
6
3
2
1
33
600
243
1,439
1,439
563
563
10, 020
8,626
330
100
964
2, 761
511
1,840
410
1,465
1,093
272
100
33,078
16, 200
5; 865
22,296
22, 296
14, 561
14, 561
173,166
149, 996
7, 590
1,300
14, 280
45, 605
2, 529
36,166
6,910
30,406
22,186
5,920
2,300
617,530
5
1
4
5
5
1
1
12,356
50
1,894
16, 233
1,260
330
80
324, 042
600
16, 778
225,494
31,032
7, 590
720
4
2
1
1
3
18
10
8
30
10
4
1
1
13
1
321
129
70
11
344
3,500
2,684
816
5,739
532
1,110
80
106
3,711
200
2,103
1,057
840
66
7, 208
21,627
13,793
7,834
31,574
8,860
4, 618
80
848
15,968
1,200
2
625
4
4
1
1,894
14,383
106
1
80
3
2
1
1
2
15
7
8
11
4
2
1
295
129
70
11
144
2,998
2,182
816
2,204
172
1,065
80
3
1
687
200
1416
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 2 —I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S B E G I N N I N G I N A N D I N P R O G R E S S I N A U G U S T 1934
A N D M A N -D A Y S L O S T , B Y I N D U S T R Y — C ontinu ed
Beginning in
August 1934
Industry and State
N um
ber of
dis
putes
Tnharr.o m a n u fa c tu r e s
____
- - _______ ___ Cigars and cigarettes
Paper an d p rin tin g
__
Boxes paper
_______________
Paper and pulp
_ _____ _____ _____ ___ ____ _
Printing and publishing:
Book and job
___ __ _ _ _ --------___ ________
Newspaper and periodicals
C h em icals a nd allied p ro d u cts
_ _
Petroleum refining
______ _______
Soap
- ______________ _____ — R ubber p ro d u cts
____
_______
Other rubber ffoods
_ _____ ___ ___ _ ________
TVfiscellaneons m a n u fa c tu r in g
Flectric light power and manufactured eas
Broom and brush
_ _ _ _ _ _
____
—
Furriers and fnr factories
_________ -- - ______
____ _______ - _______ _____
E xtraction o f m in era ls
Coal mining
_________
Metalliferous mining
_ _ ____ ___ Quarrying and nonmeta,Hie, mining ________ _
—
Hrtide petroleum producing
_
_
T ran sp ortation a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n .
Water transportation
__ _ _ _
—
Motor transportation--------------------------------------------------Flectric railroad
_ __ _
_ _ _ __ —
T rade
__
Wholesale
_ ____ _____
- ____ —
■Retail
- -- _____ ___ - ___ - ------------D o m e s tic and persona! service
Hotels restaurant^ and hoarding bouses
T.aimdries
_______
_ - --- ------ - - Dyeino- cleaning, and pressing
__ _ _ _ _ _ ____
-------------Other
_
_ --------Professional
Professional pursuits
____
Femiprofessional pursuits
- ___
P llild in g a n d c o n str u c tio n
Buildings exclusive of PWA
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
All other construction (bridges, docks, etc., and PWA
buildings)
______ ________ - ------------A g r ic u l tu r e
Agriculture
R e lie f w o rk
O th e r
_ _
__
_
_ ___
___ —
In progress in
August 1934
N um um Number
ber of N
of of work
work ber
ers in
dis
ers in putes
volved
volved
Man-days
lost in
August
1934
1
1
7
1
2
22
22
858
102
695
3
3
9
1
3
3,224
3, 224
1,157
102
949
31,976
31, 976
6,303
204
5, 695
3
1
1
47
14
400
1
1
1
5
400
414
414
3,000
1
4
11
8
1
1
1
11
2
8
1
5
2
3
4
70
2, 930
5,040
4, 807
51
175
7
754
39
608
107
301
148
153
128
3
2
2
1
1
3
3
0
1
1
4
20
14
3
2
1
15
4
10
1
8
2
6
1
2
1
43
75
10
8
3
1, 095
352
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
13
6
47
59
445
45
400
542
542
3,030
30
70
2, 930
13,000
7, 716
5,718
219
7
8,838
2,105
6, 626
107
092
148
544
193
6
78
99
10
04
19
45
11,395
10, 392
165
239
10, 550
1,350
9, 200
0, 650
6, 650
20,090
240
70
19, 780
213,866
63, 566
149, 041
1,182
77
131,588
18, 465
112,695
428
4,594
324
4,270
2, 728
162
1,461
1,035
70
603
513
90
211,079
202, 010
5
2
2
2
1
743
8,010
8,016
831
28
7
3
3
4
1
1,003
8,010
8,616
1,201
28
9, 069
40,410
46,416
4,351
308
7
Table 3 shows the number of disputes which started in August
and the total in progress during the month, by States. The two
interstate disputes which began in August were strikes occurring
among knit-goods workers and rabbit-fur workers, both in the New
York and New Jersey area. The four interstate disputes starting
before but continuing into August were two strikes of dredge and tug
workers in the Great Lakes district, a strike in a clay-production
company which had establishments in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a
general strike of slaughterhouse workers in the New York and New
Jersey area.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1417
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
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 N D IN PR O G RESS D U R IN G
A U G U ST 1934 A N D W ORKERS IN V O L V E D , B Y STA TES
In progress in
A ugu st 1934
B eginning in
A ugu st 1934
State
T o ta l________________________ ____ _________ _____
A la b a m a -. ________ - - ------------------------------------A r k a n s a s .___ _ ______ _______
___ _ ____ _
C a lifo rn ia -. _____________________________________
Colorado .
----. _________
C o n n e c t ic u t ___ _________________ _______ _____
D istrict of C olu m bia___ - - - - - - ____ ___ - __
Georgia__ ______ _____________ __________________
Illin o is- ______________ ____ _____________ ______
In d ia n a _____ - __ ____ _ _________ _ ________
K an sas. __________ ______ _____________ ______
M aryland _______ _____ - - - - - _________ ____
M assach usetts. . ______ ________________ _______
M ich igan .............. ........ ........................................... .......
M inn esota . . ___________________ ___ . . .
M ississip p i___________________ . ________________
M isso u ri.
__ _______ _____ ___
. _
M o n ta n a . - - - - - . __ _ _________
. .
N ebraska . _________ _______ __________________
N e w H am p shire. ______ . _ . ......................
N ew Jersey_____________________ _____ _______ _
. _______
N ew Y ork . - . . . _____. _ . . ______
N orth C arolina___ . _ _________________ _____ ___
Ohio
_________________ ___ _ _ .......................... .
O klahom a________ ___ . . . ... ...................................
Oregon .
- - - - - _ .
.
__
P e n n s y lv a n ia __ ____ _
_ _ _______
R hode Isla n d ___
____
_
__ _ .
South C arolina. _________ ________ _ ______ ___
T en n essee______ ____ - - - - - - T ex a s____________ ___ _______
. . . ___
V irg in ia . __________ . __
______ _____ __
W ashington
.
.
_
W est V irginia.
__
_ _
_____
_
W isconsin _
__
__ ____ _
In te rsta te. . . . . ______________________________
N um
ber of N u m b er of
workers
d is
in volved
putes
N um
ber of
dis
putes
M an-days
lost during
A ugu st
N u m b er of
1934
workers
in v o lv ed
146
57, 460
240
114,517
1,710,084
1
1
4
650
68
8,153
8
i
2
6
6
1
4
i
8
i
4
12
13
1
1
8
4
i
i
4
3
1
2
10
36
2
25
2
2
43
3
1
1
2
2
3
13
13
6
12, 784
68
8,153
50
1,360
22
676
4,454
2, 667
7
18
1,005
459
6,000
160
311
5, 712
12
453
2, 484
15, 781
181
4, 645
57
281
18,166
481
275
1,674
114
2, 050
148
2, 591
3, 052
18,166
318,038
340
32,153
1,350
9, 289
440
14, 234
36,606
40,844
77
126
12,319
8, 505
108, 000
160
5,473
149,164
108
7,959
16,370
226,144
1,667
65,030
1,374
531
223,198
8,872
2,475
30,132
456
43, 750
1,353
54,113
55,802
233,632
1
1,360
22
85
2, 675
1,475
7
4
2
400
170
2
61
1
1
8
25
12
123
2,196
5, 076
11
1
2
30
3
1
1
2, 452
12
281
11,117
481
275
1,674
1
3
10
7
2
200
148
1,922
1, 565
14, 800
The disputes beginning in August distributed by industry group
and number of workers involved are given in table 4. Seventy-four
percent of these disputes involved between 20 and 500 workers each.
The two disputes which involved over 5,000 workers each were the
strike of knit-goods workers in the New York and New Jersey area
and the strike of lettuce workers in the Salinas Valley in California.
The latter included workers engaged in packing and loading as well
as field laborers.
97667—34------8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1418
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 4 .-- 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 U G U S T 1934, C L A S S IF IE D
N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S A N D IN D U S T R IA L G R O U PS
BY
N um b er of disputes beginning in A ugu st 1934, in
w hich the num ber of workers in volved w as—
Ind u stry group
T o ta l _____________________________ - ----------------------------------------------
1,000
500
100
20
T otal 6 and
and
and
and
and
under under under under under
20
1,000 5,000
100
500
5.000
and
under
10.000
6
9
1
1
4
21
58
50
2
1
9
5
7
8
21
2
1
2
9
15
11
1
1
8
8
2
4
7
3
2
146
10,000
and
over
1
M anu fa ctu rin g
Iron and steel and their products, n o t including
m achinery
M achinery, n ot including transportation equipm t
i j•
n m ir n m n n t
4 ransportauon
g q u i p i i i c i i t ----------------------------------------------M r\r>
fn rrA
o m
c a
n d tibd iipc iur n
s ------------------IN
ULiIcI
l Un
lio
l J Ioc tloa ll o
auivj
p ri n
uH
u tuup/ tf o
triage;
d nt icct ct oi ----------------------------------- -o lU IIc , L ic iy , a
d lnl dvl g
laOD f‘njT’n
! L/Cl
T extiles and their products
L eather and its m anufactures.
Food and kindred products
---------------------------------
Paper and prin tin g—
---------- --------------------------------------------P V m m iV n lc a n d c illip d T r r o d n c t 5?
4
4
5
1
6
21
3
i
1
4
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
TVTicppllcmPAric’ LLLdM
m n o nLliCtL
f f i c tUn U
r iU
r i IP5’----------------------------------------IVLioUtJIIcliicULlo
1
1
3
5
1
N o n m a n u fa ctu ri ng
E xtraction of minerals
u
1
11
T rade
5
4
T tn
l duilnilcgr a
aU
nU
d O
oo
mUoCt iUo U
TU
l -------------------- -------- _ _ _ ___ __
.D
Ui ll
Un
U^
5 tLI
8
2
2
1
\ griculture etc
R elief work
Other
3
3
1
1
6
3
5
3
4
4
1
1
1
1
1
The size of disputes ending in August according to duration in
working days is given in table 5. Almost 46 percent of these disputes
lasted 6 days or less. The greatest number of disputes lasting over 30
days occurred in the food industries. Most of these took place in
meat-packing plants in the New York area, Texas, and one in Indiana,
and were called by the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen in a futile effort for union recognition.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1419
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T a b l e 5 - N U M B E R O F I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S E N D I N G I N A U G U S T 1934, C L A S S IF IE D
B Y I N D U S T R I A L G R O U P A N D D U R A T I O N I N W O R K IN G D A Y S
N u m b er of d isputes en d in g in A ugu st 1934
w ith duration of—
In d u stry group
Total
6 days 7 to
or
12
less days
T o ta l_______ _________________________________ . . . .
136
62
Iron and steel and their products, not including mach in ery________ ____ _______ ____ _ _. _______ __
M achinery, n ot including transportation eq u ip m en t.
Nonferrous m etals and their p rod ucts_______________
L um ber and allied products_________________________
Stone, clay, and glass products______________________
T extiles and their products__________ ____________ .
Leather and its m anufactures __________________ _.
Food and kindred p rod ucts_________________________
Tobacco m anufactures______________________________
Paper and prin tin g_____ _________ _________________
C hem icals and allied products______________________
R ubber products___ . . . ______ ___________________
M iscellaneous m anufactures________________________
E xtraction of m inerals ._ ____ __________ ________
T ransportation and com m unication_____ ___________
T rad e_______ . .
____________ . . . ______ _
D o m estic and personal service_________________ . . .
Professional
. . . . .
.
____ _____ _
B u ild ing and construction_________________ _. . . . .
A griculture_________
. . . _________ ______ _ .
R elief w ork ___________________ . _____________
3
5
3
8
3
16
8
26
1
7
i
i
3
14
ii
7
3
1
9
2
4
1
3
4
2
7
5
9
26
19 to
24
days
25 to
30
days
31 to
60
days
Over
60
days
8
9
3
22
6
1
1
1
2
5
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
8
4
5
1
1
3
1
2
13 to
18
days
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
1
2
1
10
1
1
1
1
C o n cilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in O ctober 1934
B y H ugh L. K e r w in , D irec tor of C onciliation
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service,
exercised her good offices in connection with 65 labor disputes
during October 1934. These disputes affected a known total of
32,514 employees. The table following shows the name and loca
tion of the establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred,
the nature of the dispute (whether strike or 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.
In addition to the cases shown, the commissioners of conciliation,
at the request of the Textile Labor Kelations Board, handled 40
disputes in the textile industry, and held hearings and elections in
the oil and railroad crafts at the request of the special boards rep
resenting those industries.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W orkers
in v o lv ed
D uration
C om pany or industry and
location
N ature of
controversy
C raftsm en concerned
Present statu s and term s of
settlem ent
Cause of dispute
W ages, hours, and w orking con
ditions.
G arm ent w ork ers__
A sked closed shop _________ . . .
Iron w ork ers... ____
M etal p olish ers___
Increase prom ised, b u t not paid
b y local contractors.
V iolation of a g re em en t.. _______
Plasterers and carpenters.
Jurisdiction of in stallation of composition trim for interior.
S trik e. ____
E m p loyees_________
A lleged in tim id a tio n ___ . . .
L ane School building, Chicago, T h reatened
strike.
111.
M other Lode Gold M ines, Jack- L ock ou t___
son, Calif.
T ennessee S tove F ou n d ry Co., Strik e______
Chattanooga, T en n .
K e lly ’s Axe M anufacturing Co., C o n t r oversy.
Charleston, W . Va.
C leveland Tractor Co., C leveland, ____ d o ______
Ohio.
E a k in Lum ber Co., F enw ick, S trik e.
W . Va.
Carpenters and cem en t finishers.
M iners_____________
W ages and u nion recognition
M olders .
S t r ik e _____
H eubschm an & Bro., In c., C leve C o n t r oversy.
land, Ohio.
M ississip p i R iver project, Peoria, ____ d o --------111.
C alpa Products Co., Fairm ount T h reatened
L am p Co., and Sheffield Lam p
strike.
C o., P hiladelphia, Pa.
St. Louis hospital b uilding, St. ___ do ____
L ouis, M o.
H e d g e s-W a lsh -W e id n e r
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Co.,
W aterworks project, H am m ond,
Piqua,
E n d in g
1934
S ep t. 21
1934
N ov. 8
Oct.
D i
In d i
rectly rectly
167
130
25
1
A djusted. C om pan y agreed to
p a y increase under protest.
A dju sted . C om pan y agreed to
com p ly w ith w age rates and im prove conditions.
A djusted. Carpenters to cu t and
fit trim : plasterers to cem ent
joints, etc.
A djusted.
Satisfactory adjust
m en t after reference to regional
board.
P en d in g_______________________
Sept. 28
Oct.
2
15
10
Oct.
3
Oct. 11
65
125
Oct.
1
Oct.
9
40
200
Oct.
2
Oct. 22
500
Oct.
5
Oct.
6
D ischarges and con d ition s. _ .
U nclassified . Referred to regional
board.
U nable to adjust. P la n t closed___
Ax m akers ________
W orking conditions
P en d in g____ _________
Tractor w o r k e r s ___
A sked tim e and a half for overtim e and sen iority rights.
A sked u nion recognition and im
proved conditions.
______
L um ber w orkers___
__ do_ _
E ak in Lum ber Co., Sum m erville, ___ do _ __
W . Va.
C herry R iver B oom & Lum ber ------ d o ______ T im b er w ork ers.. .
C o., R ichw ood, W . Va.
Ind.
Orr F elt & B lan k et Co.,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Ohio.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A djusted. U nion recognition and
40-hour week: w ages to be fixed
later.
P en d in g ________________ .
B eg in
nin g
C o n t r o- C arpenters v. pile
versy.
drivers.
S trik e. . . _ F elt and blanket
workers.
Jurisdiction of m astic flooring___
__
d o ____________________
Wages; rein statem ent
d iscrim ination.
w ith o u t
J u risd ictio n .. ________________
C ollective bargaining
W orking conditions.
refused.
(■)
Oct. 29
600
400
Oct. 19
250
25
(>)
U nclassified. Referred to regional -_ -d o ___
board.
A djusted. Signed agreem ent; in Oct. 1
crease to 32J.fi cents per hour instead of code m in im u m of 28
cents.
____ d o ______________________
. . . _ d o __
A djusted. Increase of 3Jfi cents
per hour; insurance plan also
reinstated.
P en d in g ________________
A ug.
8
Oct.
3
U nable to ad ju st________
S ep t. 27
N ov.
8
165
40
Oct.
6
150
600
__do __
100
400
Oct. 27
750
3, 000
0)
Oct.
8
300
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Ironw orkers. ____
W orden A llen Co., M ilw aukee,
W is.
1420
L A B O R D I S P U T E S 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 I N G T H E M O N T H O F O C T O B E R 1934
Car w ood
M anufacturing Co., ____ d o . ___
W inder, Ga.
H ou ston E lectric C o., H ou ston, T h reatened
Tex.
strike.
'
G arm ent w ork ers. . .
W orking con d ition s____ ____ ____ P en d in g ..................... ......... ............... .
Street-railw ay
bus m en.
D ischarges, in tim idation,
discrim ination alleged.
and
and
P end in g. Referred to regional
board th en back to C onciliation
Service.
P en d in g _________________________
Ironworkers
W ages and working conditions___
R etail clerks
D airy workers
L . B . L ockw ood Co., C leveland, ------ d o ______
Ohio.
T extile w orkers____
A dju sted . Agreed on arbitration. _
A dju sted . Increase of 5 cents per
hour, sen iority rights, and recog
nition.
V iolation of w age agreem ent on A dju sted . B ack w ages for over
overtim e work.
tim e to b e paid; sen iority rights
adjusted.
A sked wage increase; signed A dju sted . R eturned to work;
final decision b y N . L . R . B .
agreem ent.
N o nu n ion m en being em ployed A dju sted . U nion m en em ployed
on boilerwork.
to com plete job.
R efusal to arbitrate wage r a te s -. . A dju sted . A greed on arbitration
for future disputes.
D ischarges for union affiliation___ A dju sted . A ll returned; glass in
d ustry code to be followed.
D ischarged workers____ ________ U nab le to adjust. R efused to re
in state.
W ages and working con d ition s___ A dju sted . Increase of 3’A cents
per hour; m in im u m , 32}£ cents;
collective bargaining and im
proved conditions.
____d o . ______________ __________ ____d o ____ ____ _____________ ____
M ayflow er H otel, Jacksonville,
Fla.
St. M a r y ’s C ollege, South B end,
Ind.
Scranton Street R ailw ay Co.,
Scranton, Pa.
Florida G lass M anufacturing Co.,
Jack sonville, Fla.
R ath P ack in g C o., W aterloo,
Iow a.
B irch V a lle y L um ber Co., Tioga,
W . V a.
Strike.
___
C o n t r oversy.
S trike______
111.
V ictor F ou n d ry Co., Peoria, 111___ ------ d o ______
C o n t r oversy.
S trik e.. . . .
C o n t r oversy.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Packing w orkers___
Lum ber w orkers___
T im ber w ork ers.. .
E lectrical w orkers.. . Jurisdiction of raceways for con
d uits for “ Stop and G o ” sig
nals.
F ou n d ry w orkers__ D ischarge of tw o m en for union
a ctiv ity .
Inside workers and W ages and c o n d itio n s.-..................
dairy team sters.
L ongshorem en__ _ V iolation of late agreem ent b y
em p loym ent of nonunion m en.
A dju sted . Agreed on equal d is
tribution of w ork b etw een elec
tricians and laborers.
A dju sted . R eturned; satisfactory
agreem ent.
P en d in g _____ ____ _______________
Oct.
4
Oct.
Oct.
5
6
Oct. 15
Oct. 11
75
35
Oct.
8
Oct. 22
260
Oct.
do.
A dju sted . R eturned to
satisfactory agreem ent.
work:
100
(l)
5
Oct.
9
4
Sept. 25
Oct.
15
12
35
15
25
Oct.
5
Oct.
18
407
1, 628
Oct.
9
Oct.
11
3
52
Oct.
1
Oct. 13
(0
__do_ —
Oct.
9
200
800
A ug.
6
Oct.
8
50
200
Oct.
2
Oct.
5
18
Oct.
9
Oct.
19
Oct.
6
A djusted.
R eturned;
further Oct. 1
hearing b y N a tio n a l Longshore
m en ’s Board.
Operating engineers. N onresident workm en and use of A dju sted . C om pan y agreed to __do_ . . .
u nskilled w orkm en.
em p lo y resident w orkm en regis
tered at em p lo y m en t agency.
Satisfactory
agree -__do_ . . .
B ridge build ers____ W ages and w orking con d ition s___ A dju sted .
m en t.
A nth racite m in ers.—
450
-_-do_ . . .
55
60
54
Oct.
2
400
200
Oct.
4
800
52
Oct.
8
30
Oct. 19
556
144
1421
S ch m id t C onstruction Co. and ____ d o ______
E p p el C onstruction Co., Peoria,
111.
Great V a lley Coal Co. and Merri- Strik e_____
m ac M in es, P u lask i and M o n t
gom ery C oun ties, Va.
1 N o t y e t reported.
.
C o n t r o- B rick layers. ______
versy.
T h reatened T ransit w ork ers.. . .
strike.
L ock ou t____ Glass w orkers______
O key Selm an Log Contractor, ____ d o ______
T ioga, W . V a.
C om m ercial L igh tin g C o., Peoria, -------d o ______
W estern D airy Products Co., Spo
kane, W ash.
A m erican H aw aiian Steam ship
C o., sailing from San Francisco
to C hina.
M ississip p i R iver project, Peoria,
111.
W a it e r s ____
Saturday closing hours__________
W ages__________________________
i
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
W oodw ard Iron C o., Bessem er, . . . do ___
A la.
R etail clerks, W est Frankfort, 111- _ Strike . . .
Oak G rove D airy Co., C linton, T h reatened
strike.
Iow a.
(i)
Oct.
1422
L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y C O N C I L I A T I O N S E R V I C E D U R I N G T H E M O N T H O F O C T O B E R 1934—C o ntinu ed
W orkers
in v o lv ed
D uration
C om pan y or in d u stry and
location
M erchant tailors, W ashington,
D . C.
S. Brooks M anufacturing Co. and
Standard U pholstering Co.,
D en ver, Colo.
M ad ison C onstruction C o., E dw ard sville, 111.
Fisherm en, B oston, M a ss.............
S ilk d y e and p rin t works, Pater
son, N . J.
H affelfinger W all Paper C o.,
Y ork, Pa.
G reenbaum T an n ery, M ilw au
kee, W is.
*
N urre C o., B loom ington , In d -----
(in
ThrPiifPTiP.d
strike.
Controversy.
___ d o_____
Asked signed agreem ent providing closed shop.
Timhp,r workers
W orking conditions
__do__ ________ - ____ d o ______________ _________- _____
D ischarge of 1 w orker______ ____
M eat pack ers______
Discharges in v iolation of existin g agreem ent.
A lleged in tim id a tio n and violation of section 7 (a) of N . I. R . A.
Stretch-out sy stem em p loyed to
reduce force; m ills closed, then
reopened w ith part of former
workers.
A sk ed increase of 25 p e r c e n t ___
S team fitters
M eat p a ck ers______
T ex tile w ork ers____
T'hìro&torifìd
strike.
C o n t r oversy.
do
____ do............
Cause of d isp ute
Trilling station s
versy.
W est Side L au n d ry C o., R acine, ____ do..........
W is.
Post-office b u ild in g, M inneapolis,
M in n .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C raftsm en concerned
Present status and term s of
settlem ent
B eg in
ning
E n d in g
1934
Oct. 5
1934
__________
____ d o ___________________________
Oct. 12
P en d in g _____________
A djusted. Increase of 15 percent Oct. 1
allowed.
W orking agreem ent and w a g e s.-- A dju sted . Satisfactory agreem ent- Oct. 15
Laborers
--
____
__
A sked w age increase____________
F isherm en
P rin t an d d y e workers.
W allpaper erafts
W age increase and recognition__
Wapfi inoreasp, and shortor hours
T an n ery workers
W orking conditions
G lass w orkers
A djusted. R eturned to work Oct. 17
w ith 6 cents per hour increase.
P e n d in g ._____ _______ ___________ Oct. 22
_ d o ____
___do___
V iolation of a g re em en t.__________ ____ d o___________ ____ ________
___ d o____________________________
L au n d ry w orkers___
W age increase; v iolation of agreem en t alleged.
M illw righ ts, sheetm etal and iron
w orkers.
Jurisdiction of in stallation of art
m etal partitions and m etal
counters.
50
0)
A dju sted . A greed to call off -__do_ _ O ct. 21
strike.
A dju sted . Agreed to reinstate Oct. 6 O ct. 19
worker w hen practicable.
A djusted. Agreed on new senior- S ep t. 15 Oct. 4
it y rights satisfactory to workers.
A dju sted . C om pany a g r e e d to A ug. 20 Sept. 11
abide b y N . I. R . A . provisions.
U nable to a d ju st_________________ __ d o ____ Oct. 25
U p h olsterers_______
T ailors
In d i
D i
rectly rectly
250
11
650
212
1,900
500
430
12
19
70
30
Oct. 16
70
10
Oct.
150
Oct. 25
3,200
8,000
9
67
Oct. 26
73
10
Oct. 27
19
5
Oct. 29
31
60
Oct. 20
____ d o_________ _______________ _
Oct. 24
U n ab le to adjust. Referred back
to regional board.
A djusted. Increase of 10 percent;
reinstated tw o m en laid off for
union a ctiv ity .
A djusted. Jurisdiction
settled
and m en returned to work.
Oct. 10
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
1,000
1
0)
•
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a n k Car S tation s, In c., Carload
Gas S tation s, In c., C leveland,
Ohio.
W est V irginia P u lp & Paper Co.,
C ass, W . V a.
Pardee-C urtain L um ber C o., Bergoo, W . V a.
F irehouse heatin g p lan t, N e w
port, K y .
J. D ecker Packing C o., M ason
C ity, Iow a.
John M orrell Packing C o., O t
tu m w a, Iowa.
L aw nsd ale M ill, Seneca, S. C ------
N ature of
controversy
R etail clerk s..
P ainters______
T ruck drivers.
W ilson R ubber C o., C anton, Ohio- Strik e............
R ubber workers.
1
117
104
____d o ____________________________
Sept.
1
135
15
____d o ____________________________
U nclassified. Referred to Board
of Labor R ev iew .
P en d in g __________ ______________
Oct. 31
Oct. 25
------ d o .----- ------------- ------------- ------- -
Oct. 19
(0
A sk ed a m in im u m of $27.50 per ------ d o............ ...........................................
week.
W age scale for p ainters__________ ____d o____________________________
D ischarge of union drivers______ A djusted. U nion drivers rein
stated . Som e em p loyed else
w here.
A djusted. P revailin g rate to be
Scale of wages.
fixed after in vestigation of rates
in surrounding cities.
A sked 25 percent w age increase P en d in g_________________________
and signed agreem ent.
Oct. 31
(0
(0
(0
Oct. 31
Oct. 29
2
0)
Oct. 29
Oct. 15
Oct. 30
(')
86
Oct. 20
N ov.
300
3
158
22, 243
10, 271
1423
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Oct.
Saw m ill and tim ber W orking conditions,
workers.
Shirt w orkers______ W ages and hours...
Carpenters.
1 N o t y e t reported.
Oct. 20
L on gsh orem en -......... N on u n ion m en em p lo y ed ___
B u ild in g trad es____ Prevailing rates for b uilding.
C arpenters, D an ville, V a.................. C o n t r oversy.
T otal.
P en d in g _________________________
____do_......................................................
R ubber - garm ent W orking con d ition s_________
workers.
Bridge and steel W age increase, 40-hour w eek.
workers.
C hem ical workers—- A sked 10 percent increase___
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Chicago R ubber C lothing Co., .........d o -...........
R acine, W is.
L akeside B ridge & Steel C o., M il -------d o - .........
w aukee, W is.
B elle A lk ali Co., B elle, W . V a ___ T h reatened
strike.
Longshorem en, Portland, Oreg___ Strike______
Post-office building, Berea, O hio— C o n t r oversy.
R itter L u m ber C o., M ab en , W . Strike______
Va.
R ossm an & W eaver Shirt Co., ------ do---------E lizab eth ville, Pa.
A tla n tic & Pacific T ea C o., M il C o n t r oversy.
w aukee, W is.
Post-office building, Seattle, W ash- ____ d o______
T ruck drivers, Erie, P a ____ _____ T h reatened
strike.
LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND
DECISIONS
F irst 4 M o n th s’ O peration of N a tio n a l Labor R ela tio n s Board
HE National Labor Relations Board established working relationships with existing Government offices, recognized the prin
ciple of majority representation for collective bargaining and held
elections to choose such representatives, and acted on over 200 cases
in its first 4 months of operation.1 In addition the Board initiated re
search of various kinds, both as an aid in the determination of con
troversies submitted to it and for possible use in connection with
future legislative proposals. Decisions of the Board are reviewed
elsewhere in this issue.2 In this summary policies established and
cases handled are considered.
Relation to mediation work and the Department of Labor.—The Board
has taken the position that, as a quasi-judicial body organized pri
marily to decide on matters connected with the interpretation of
section 7 (a) of the National Recovery Act, it should not devote its
time to mediation work. To do so, the Board believes, would delay
the consideration of cases brought up for decision, and might expose
it to accusations of partiality to one group or the other if it was later
called upon in a judicial capacity to decide any of the issues involved
in a particular case. Nevertheless, the Board has found that it could
not refuse to mediate in certain instances and has done so in 6 out of
31 cases heard formally during its existence. In this field the regional
labor boards are stated to have jurisdiction and to have done much
valuable work. However, wishing to avoid any confusion or duplica
tion between the Conciliation Service of the Department of Labor
and the regional boards, the Board and the Department of Labor,
after conferences, arrived at a mutual understanding of the duties of
each body. A distinction is made between cases involving apparent
violations of section 7 (a), in which the regional boards are expected
to act, and those in which no such violation appears and in which the
Department of Labor will mediate. Either agency may request the
assistance of the other and the fullest cooperation must be maintained.
1 See N ation al Labor R elations Board, Press releases of A ug. 14, 19, Sept. 26, Oct. 29.
2 See p. 1427.
1424
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
1425
Relation to National Recovery Administration.—The National Labor
Relations Board and the National Recovery Administration also have
worked out principles to govern their relationship. It has been agreed
that in cases in which the Board has found a violation of section 7 (a)
and in which the company involved has not, within the time allotted,
made restitution in accordance with the Board’s recommendations,
the Compliance Division of the National Recovery Administration
will, upon submission of the Board’s decision, remove the official
insignia (the Blue Eagle) from the offending company. Under nor
mal conditions if this action is followed by an employer’s petition for
restoration of the insignia, the Board is expected to make an investi
gation of the facts and recommend to the Compliance Division the
terms under which the restoration may be made. If the Compliance
Division has reason to feel that this procedure should not be followed,
it may initiate a joint conference with the National Labor Relations
Board. The understanding is, according to the Board’s statement,
that so long as the Compliance Division has the responsibility for
removing the insignia it must have discretion in its removal and
restoration.
As to cases of code violations other than or in addition to those
involving section 7 (a), as, for example, if a strike is called because
an employer is alleged to have violated the wage or hour provisions
of a code, and there is also complaint of violation of section 7 (a),
the case normally goes to the local regional labor board and not to
the local compliance officers of the National Recovery Administra
tion. Once a regional board takes jurisdiction, it has been decided,
it should be free to determine all questions involved, including code
violations, subject to review of the National Labor Relations Board,
if it appears that such determination would be helpful in ending the
controversy. In all other cases, findings of code violations (other
than sec. 7 (a) violations) are regarded as in the jurisdiction of the
appropriate compliance officer.
Procedure of regional labor boards.—Proper organization of the
regional labor boards is stated to be the key to successful enforce
ment of section 7 (a), and one of the chief aims of the National
Board is the strengthening of these boards. The Board has ini
tiated changes in the territorial coverage, personnel, and procedure
of the regional bodies, taking into account economic factors. In
the past the respective chairmen of the regional boards have car
ried much of the responsibility of the labor-relations work. Because
this cannot be continued in fairness to the chairmen, it is proposed
to employ full-time paid directors in the various regions, assisted
by the necessary staffs. The existing chairmen will continue to
serve as representatives of the public when this plan is perfected.
To expedite hearings and the disposition of cases, each board will
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1426
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
consist of panels representing industry, labor, and the public, located
at strategic points, and when a case arises the director will go to
the locality to take charge and if a hearing is necessary the panel
will sit with him. The Board sees the need for more standardized
methods of procedure and comprehensive and uniform statistical
records of the work.
New industrial boards.—The report states that the National Labor
Relations Board is not ready to recommend the creation of addi
tional industrial boards, such as are allowable under Joint Resolu
tion No. 44, or to grant statutory powers to existing industrial
boards. This position was taken because the Board’s study of
these questions had not been completed and also because existing
boards had not as yet requested such action. As matters stood
when the report was made, the National Labor Relations Board
felt that industrial boards should not be set up unless the workers
affected were substantially organized in unions or the industry was
was not too far flung geographically. Under other conditions it
was believed that the use of existing machinery would prove less
costly and cause less confusion.
Cases acted upon.—During its first month of activity the Board
was occupied with 92 cases which were pending at the time of the
retirement of the National Labor Board. Of this total, analysis
showed that 23 cases did not warrant further consideration; 34 were
being prepared for hearing when the report was issued; and 35 were
either heard by the Board or referred to the regional boards for
further action or to the proper enforcement agencies. In the sec
ond month of operation the Board acted upon 51 cases involving
alleged violations of section 7 (a) of the National Industrial Re
covery Act. Not all of these cases were formally heard, as 22 cases
were disposed of either by reference back to the regional board for
further investigation or for show-cause hearings, or by determining
that no further action was needed, etc. Seven cases were trans
mitted to the N. R. A. for removal of the Blue Eagle because of
noncompliance with the Board’s decisions. The Board also arbi
trated two cases in the month ending September 9; in one an award
was made, but in the other, because of the highly technical questions
involved, the award was delayed. A total of 57 cases was acted
upon in the third month. Eleven cases were formally heard, in 6
of which decisions were reached; 8 decisions were rendered in cases
pending at the close of the preceding month. Cases transmitted
to the National Recovery Administration for removal of the Blue
Eagle totaled 8; the National Recovery Administration removed the
insignia in 7 cases but was prevented by an injunction from doing
so in the eighth. Two cases were sent to the Department of Justice
for appropriate action. In all, 35 cases were considered during the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
1427
month but were not formally heard; as in the preceding month,
such cases were disposed of in various ways, including reference
back to the appropriate regional board or to special agents of the
National Labor Relations Board for further testimony, ordering
show-cause hearings, etc. In addition, 2 petitions for appeal from
regional board findings were submitted and denied. Further factual
material was submitted in the wage arbitration case held over at
the end of the second month’s operation. A coastwide seamen’s
strike was prevented through the action of the Board in initiating
conferences that resulted in union recognition.
No record of regional labor board activities during July has been
made available. In August and September the National Labor
Relations Board states that the regional boards handled 1,477 cases
involving nearly 600,000 workers. Of these cases, 409 were settled
by agreements and 146 as a result of decisions or recommendations.
R ecen t D ecisio n s of N a tio n a l Labor R ela tio n s Board
EINSTATEMENT of discharged employees to their former
positions was ordered in 6 of 16 decisions rendered by the Na
tional Labor Relations Board between October 3 and November 1,
1934. In two decisions it ruled that the complaints of the unions
that employees were discharged because of union membership or union
activity were not adequately supported by the evidence; in one of
these decisions the Board recommended that the company place one
discharged employee in some other department, and as vacancies
occurred to give to that employee and another one who had been
transferred an opportunity to demonstrate their efficiency in their
former jobs, and in the other decision the Board ruled that while
the company had not been guilty of discrimination it had, by delaying
negotiations, weakened the position the union had previously gained.
In five decisions the Board ordered that elections by secret ballot
should be held under the supervision of the National Labor Relations
Board to determine by what person, persons, or organization the
employees desired to be represented for the purpose of collective
bargaining.
The Board held in one decision that the organization representing
the majority group should negotiate for the whole group, but refused
to pass upon the merits of the seniority question involved in the
dispute between the two unions. In another case the Board awarded
an increase of 25 cents per thousand in the price to be paid for the
manufacture of hand-made 5-cent cigars. The Board ruled in
another instance that the complaint of the union that the company
had refused to bargain collectively had not been sustained, but the
R
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Board criticized those activities of the company which indicated its
hostility to unionism.
A summary of the Board’s decisions follows.
Johnson Bronze Co. and International Brotherhood of Foundry Employees
F o ur complaints were made against the Johnson Bronze Co., of
New Castle, Pa., by the International Brotherhood of Foundry
Employees, Local No. 92: Refusal to bargain collectively in good
faith; improper formation and encouragement of a company union;
discriminatory discharges; and violation of the wage provisions of
the code for the industry. The last complaint was referred to the
Compliance Division of the National Recovery Administration.
The Board found that the company had violated section 7 (a) of
the National Recovery Act by refusing to bargain collectively with
the representatives of the employees except upon the condition
that the union organizer, who was not an employee, be excluded from
the meeting; by interfering with the self-organization of employees
through encouraging the formation and growth of a company union;
and by the demotion of one employee and the lay-off of another for
union activities.
On October 3, 1934, the Board ordered the company to take the
following steps to bring about a condition in harmony with the law:
To meet with the representatives of the employees without excluding
any representatives merely because they were not employees; to
refrain from contributing financially to, and from assisting in adver
tising or encouraging, any organization of employees; and to offer
reinstatement to the men who lost their positions because of union
activities.
The Board stated that unless within 5 days the company had
agreed to carry out these steps the case would be referred to the
Compliance Division of the National Recovery Administration and
to other agencies of the Government.
Acting in a mediatory capacity, the Board recommended that
certain other employees be reinstated; that the union refrain from
calling any further strikes without making all reasonable efforts to
adjust the grievances; and that the company endeavor as soon as
possible to arrive at an agreement with the union which would end
the existing friction and provide a method for the peaceful adjustment
of complaints.
Trenton Mills, Inc., and an Employee
T h is case involved the alleged discriminatory discharge on August
11, 1933, of a man who had been employed as a knitting operator for
2 years by the Trenton Mills, Inc., of Trenton, Tenn. The case was
heard on July 16, 1934, by the Atlanta Regional Labor Board, which
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1429
on July 24 recommended that this worker be reinstated. The com
pany appealed to the National Labor Relations Board, which allowed
the appeal and held a hearing on October 11, 1934.
After reviewing the evidence the Board found that the employee
had been discharged, because of his efforts to organize his fellow
employees, in violation of section 7 (a) of the National Recovery Act.
The Board concurred with the conclusion reached by the Atlanta
Regional Labor Board and on October 30, 1934, ordered his reinstate
ment, as follows:
Unless within 7 days from the date of this decision Trenton Mills, Inc., notifies
this Board in writing that it has offered to reinstate Ralph Knox at once to his
former position, the case will be referred to the Compliance Division of the
National Recovery Administration for appropriate action.
Vyn Storage Transfer Co. and International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers
As t h e Vyn Storage Transfer Co. of Grand Haven, Mich., failed
to comply with the findings of the Detroit Regional Labor Board
announced on June 6, 1934, which recommended the reinstatement
of three employees with back pay, and the arbitration committee
failed to make an award in the case of a fourth employee, this case
was referred to the National Labor Relations Board.
The Board found that during March 1934 the majority of the
trucking employees of the company joined the International Brother
hood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers Local Union
No. 406, and that 4 men who had been employed by the company for
periods ranging from 4 to 18 years had been discharged after being
questioned by the manager as to their participation in the union.
On October 31, 1934, the Board decided that the company had
violated section 7 (a) of the National Recovery Act by the discharge
of the four men and declared that the case would be sent to the proper
enforcement agencies of the Government unless within 10 days the
company had notified the Board that it had offered these men im
mediate full reinstatement.
Harry Abels Machine Shop and an Employee
T h e Harry Abels Machine Shop of Healdton, Okla., having failed
to comply with the recommendations of the Kansas City Regional
Labor Board, on August 20, 1934, by reinstating Virgil Reneau to
his former position with back pay, the case came before the National
Labor Relations Board for a hearing.
The worker in the case, who had been employed for 3 years at the
machine shop, was discharged on September 21, 1933; and on Novem
ber 10, 1933, the proprietor of the shop testified under oath that the
employee had been discharged because he was attempting to organize
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a labor organization, and not because of inefficiency or insubordina
tion. The Board found that the company had violated section 7 (a)
of the National Recovery Act, and had by its discharge of this man
interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in their self
organization, and on October 10, 1934, issued an order giving the
company 10 days in which to offer Reneau “ immediate and full
reinstatement” upon penalty of reference of the case to the Compli
ance Division of the National Recovery Administration and to other
agencies of the Government.
Chicago Defender, Inc., and Four Newspaper Unions
T h e Chicago Defender, a weekly newspaper having a national cir
culation among Negroes, on June 16, 1934, discharged 19 members
of Typographical Union No. 16; 6 members of Mailers’ Union No.
8; 7 members of Web Pressmen’s Union No. 7; and 3 members of
Stereotypers’ Union No. 4. These union men were all of the skilled
workers in the plant, all but 3 of them being white men. They were
immediately replaced with nonunion Negroes.
The company claimed that the reason for discharging the union
workers and supplanting them with Negroes was to meet the criticism
of Negro readers of the paper who insisted that Negroes only should
be employed at the plant. The Board found, however, that the real
motive of the company was to save money. The unions accept
Negroes to membership, and three of the discharged men were Negroes.
Despite the fact that the company for 6 months had secretly been
making its preparations for a change, it did not in any way take the
matter up with the unions.
In its decision on October 19, 1934, the Board directed the company
to reinstate the discharged employees within 10 days, to pay them
the wages they had lost, and to negotiate with the unions in an
endeavor to bring about acceptable modifications of the agreement
with the unions. The Board urged the unions to make every reason
able effort in such negotiations to reach a satisfactory adjustment
with the company, taking into account its financial condition and its
desires in the matter of substituting Negroes for white workers. The
Board also authorized the Chicago Regional Labor Board to modify
or strike out the provision for back wages, if satisfied upon a hearing
that the company was financially unable to make such restitution.
Hildinger-Bishop Co., Cosmopolitan Amusement Co., Inc., et al., and
Independent Projectionists and Stage Employees’ Union
Two members of the Independent Projectionists and Stage Em
ployees’ Union, regularly employed by the Victory Theater, and one
employed by the Princess Theater, were discharged on April 15, 1934,
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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
1431
as a consequence of a closed-shop agreement with Local 359 of the
International Alliance of Stage Employees and Motion Picture
Machine Operators.
The Labor Relations Board found that the Victory and Princess
Theaters are 2 of 7 theaters in the Hildinger-Bishop group or chain
in Trenton, N. J. Each theater in the group is operated by a house
manager, who deals directly with the theater’s own employees, and it
is not the practice to shift employees from one theater to another.
The Board therefore ruled that the theaters constituted separate
units for the purpose of collective bargaining.
In the case of the Victory Theater, since the two men discharged
were its only employees in the craft involved, and had through their
duly chosen representative, the Independent Union, made efforts to
bargain collectively during March and April 1934, the Board held
that the Cosmopolitan Amusement Co., operating the theater, had
violated its obligation under section 7 (a) by negotiating the closedshop agreement with a union representing none of its employees in
the Victory Theater. On October 25, 1934, the Board ordered the
case transmitted to the Compliance Division of the National Recovery
Administration and to the enforcement agencies of the Federal
Government unless within 7 days the Cosmopolitan Amusement Co.
notified the Board that it had offered to reinstate the men to their
former positions and would recognize and deal with the Independent
Union as its employees’ exclusive agency for the purpose of collective
bargaining.
In the case of the Princess Theater, while the discharge took place
at the same time and under the same circumstances, the Board found
that in this instance section 7 (a) provided no redress. Since the
man involved was the sole employee of the Princess Theater in the
categories of workers comprising the membership of the rival unions
concerned, the Board found the various obligations of the employer
under section 7 (a) inapplicable in this case.
Leonard Bros, and Confectionery and Bakery Workers’ Union
C o n f e c t io n e r y and Bakery Workers’ Union No. 200 filed com
plaint that Leonard Bros., of Fort Worth, Tex., had violated section
7 (a) of the National Recovery Act by the discharge of two workers
and the transfer of another.
The Board, in its decision on October 3, 1934, held that the local
had failed adequately to support its contention that this action had
been taken because of the employees’ union membership or activity.
In the cases of the men discharged, the Board found no direct con
vincing evidence that the company was aware of their union affiliation
at the time of discharge. It found that the transfer had been ar
ranged because of the employee’s personal dissatisfaction with his
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wages and conditions of work, and it did not, therefore, constitute an
interference with the self-organization of the employees.
The decision pointed out, however, that one of the men had been
discharged in a summary manner and that a nonunion man who had
been discharged during the same period was subsequently given an
opportunity by the company to demonstrate his capability. Acting
in its mediatory capacity, the Board recommended that the company
demonstrate its good faith by making an effort to place this man on a
job in some other department, and that as vacancies occur in the
bakery, it give both discharged men, at their request, the opportunity
it afforded to the nonunion man.
National Aniline & Chemical Co. and Allied Chemical Workers’ Union
I n t h e case of the Allied Chemical Workers’ Local No. 1 8 7 0 5
against the National Aniline & Chemical Co., of Buffalo, N. Y., the
National Labor Relations Board ruled on October 3, 1934, that it is
not a fulfillment of the collective-bargaining requirement of section 7
(a) for an employer merely to receive the representatives of his em
ployees, discuss terms of employment with them, and act upon such of
the demands put forth as are satisfactory to him.
“ The statute imposes duties consistent with its purposes”, said
the Board; “ it contemplates that the demands of the employees, or
modifications of such demands, if acceptable to the employer, be
embodied in an agreement, and that such an agreement bind both
parties for a certain period of time.” While a collective agreement
need not necessarily be reduced to writing, the Board pointed out that
in this case there was a dispute between the parties as to whether
the plant notice correctly embodied the terms which the company had
indicated were acceptable to it during the conferences with the union.
In such cases, said the Board, “ the resulting agreement, unless
reduced to writing, will be so impractical of enforcement and so
fruitful of disputes concerning terms that an insistence by an em
ployer that he will go no farther than to enter into an oral agreement
may be evidence, in the light of other circumstances in the case, of a
denial of the right of collective bargaining.” In this case, however,
the circumstances were such that the Board, while stating that the
company had taken a narrow legalistic view of its obligations, found
that there was no definite denial of the right of collective bargaining.
At the present time there is some doubt as to the number of the
company’s employees who desire to be represented by the union for
the purpose of collective bargaining. In order to determine this
question the Board announced that it was prepared to conduct an
election at any time upon request from the union, supported by a
substantial number of employees.
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1433
Knoxville Gray Eagle Marble Co. et al. and Central Executive Council of
Marble Workers of Knoxville
T h e National Labor Relations Board, on October 31, 1934, an
nounced that it bad ordered an election by secret ballot of the em
ployees of each of five marble companies at Knoxville, Tenn., to be'
held November 7 between 9 a. m. and 6 p. m., at the Federal Building
of Knoxville.
The election was requested by the Central Executive Council of
Marble Workers of Knoxville and was granted on the basis of testi
mony and evidence received at Atlanta, Ga., September 18, and at
Knoxville, Tenn., October 8.
The companies whose workers are to be polled are: Appalachian
Marble Co., Knoxville Gray Eagle Marble Co., Gray Knox Marble
Co., Tennessee Producers Marble Co., and Candora Marble Co.
Ballots will be cast by employees of the Appalachian Co. who were
on its pay roll August 31, 1934. The date of June 17, 1934, is fixed
as the basis for participation by employees of the other four companies.
Detroit Board of Street-Railway Commissioners, Motor Coach Operators’
Association, and Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway
Employees
T h is case came before the National Labor Relations Board on
petition of the city of Detroit. The Board was asked to determine
whether the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Rail
way and Motor Coach Employees or the Motor Coach Operators’
Association should represent the city’s bus employees for the purposes
of collective bargaining. The Motor Coach Operators’ Association
also filed a petition, asking the Board for recognition as the collectivebargaining agency for the bus employees.
For many years the Amalgamated Association has represented the
employees of the Detroit transportation system, and its officers have
been recognized by the city as the spokesmen for collective bar
gaining. In the summer of 1933 the Amalgamated Association voted
to change the existing seniority rules, and the city incorporated these
changes in an agreement effective November 1, 1933. By the new
seniority rules the street-car employees were enabled to establish a claim
to jobs on certain bus routes newly acquired by the city. As a result
of the change in seniority rules, a majority of the bus employees left
the Amalgamated Association and formed the Motor Coach Operators’
Association.
On October 24, 1934, the Board ruled that the transportation
system of Detroit constitutes a single unit and that in dealing col
lectively with its employees the city should recognize the Amalga97667—34------9
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mated Association as the spokesman for both street-car and bus
employees.
The Board said:
In holding that the transportation system as a whole is the proper unit for col
lective bargaining and that Local 26, representing the majority of the employees,
should negotiate for all, we pass in no way upon the merits of the seniority ques
tion involved. That question must be settled by the city. In view of the acute
ness of the problem, however, we recommend to the city, with all due defer
ence, that it immediately submit the issues to some impartial person or body for
consideration and recommendations. We also suggest that Local 26, as evi
dence of its good faith, should agree with the city to abide by such recommenda
tions. Needless to say, if such a policy is adopted, the impartial person or body
which hears the case should hear all sides of the controversy, including the views
of the bus men, through individuals or through such representatives or organi
zation as they may designate.
York County Cigar Manufacturers’ Association and Cigar Makers’ International
Union of America
An i n c r e a s e of 25 cents a thousand in the price to be paid for the
manufacture of hand-made 5-cent cigars was awarded by the Na
tional Labor Relations Board on October 26, 1934.
The workers engaged in the manufacture of hand-made cigars in
York County, Pa., requested through their union representatives
increases in the rates paid per thousand for 3-for-10-cent and 5-cent
cigars. Being unable to agree, the parties submitted the issue to
arbitration by the National Labor Relations Board and agreed to
abide by its decision.
The Board ruled that an increase from $6.20 to $6.45 per thousand
in the basic rates to be paid for the manufacture of hand-made 5-cent
cigars was warranted and would not impose an undue burden upon
the industry. On the question of a rate to be paid for the manu
facture of 3-for-10-cent cigars, the Board was of the opinion that it
would be unwise to grant any increase, and therefore found that the
existing rate of $5.50 per thousand should remain unchanged.
Gordon Baking Co. and Bakery Wagon Drivers’ Union
Two questions were submitted to the National Labor Relations
Board for its decision by Local 51 of the Bakery Wagon Drivers’
Union representing its members employed at the West Side plant of
the Gordon Baking Co. of Detroit, Mich. The questions were
whether the West Side plant of the company was an appropriate
unit for collective bargaining; and whether the conduct of the com
pany in connection with the union’s proposal of an agreement covering
working conditions of the drivers at the West Side plant amounted
to a failure on the part of the company to bargain collectively,
fe In the decision of the Board on October 3, 1934, it ruled that the
union had sustained its contention that the West Side plant was an
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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
appropriate unit for collective bargaining, but that the union had
failed to support its contention that the company had failed to
bargain collectively with the union. The Board, in its mediatory
capacity, recommended the preparation of a list of drivers of both
plants, who were no longer employed by the company as a result of
the dispute, from which the company should hire drivers in the order
of their seniority.
D ecisio n s of A u to m o b ile Labor Board
AY-OFF was the greatest single issue involved in the 153 cases
J brought before the Automobile Labor Board for decision in the
period from May 23 to October 31, 1934. Next in importance were
cases of alleged discrimination, closely followed by discharge. Only
a scattering of cases heard dealt with questions of seniority or rein
statement, exclusively. In the great majority of decisions rendered
the action of employers in discharging or laying off employees was
upheld. These facts are disclosed in the separate decisions of the
Board made available recently.1
The Automobile Labor Board was established by the National
Recovery Administration on March 27, 1934, in accordance with the
President’s settlement of a threatened strike in the industry on March
25.2 This Board, consisting of one labor representative, one industry
representative, and a neutral member, who is chairman, was empow
ered to pass on all questions of representation, discharge, and dis
crimination. The President stated that the Board’s decisions would
be final and binding on all affected parties. No change in the status
of this body has taken place since the inception of the National Labor
Relations Board. It continues to function under sanction of the
President without having been established by law.
In the statement following, the decisions of the Automobile Labor
Board are classified by kind of case, that is whether discrimination,
discharge, lay-off, reinstatement, or seniority was the primary cause
of controversy between employer and employees.
I
N u m b er
Cause of controversy:
o f cases
Alleged discrimination________________________________ 38
Discharge___________________________________________ 33
Lay-off--------------------------------------------------------------------- 68
Reinstatement_______________________________________
4
Seniority status______________________________________ 10
Total--------------------------------------------------------------
153
The prevalence of lay-off as a cause of controversy is evident in
the above statement, 44.4 percent of the decisions rendered having
1 See D ecisions of A utom obile Labor Board, M a y 23-O ct. 31, 1934, N os. 1-153 (m im eographed).
2 See M o n th ly Labor R eview , M a y 1934, p p. 1061, 1082.
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dealt with such cases. In some instances the issue raised was that
the lay-off was improper, the employee often taking exception to
being included in a lay-off covering a group within a given depart
ment. In lay-offs taking effect after May 18, 1934, when the Board
established fixed rules on lay-off and rehiring, employees have often
questioned wdiether or not the rules were properly applied in their
individual lay-offs. Such cases are classified as erroneous lay-offs or
alleged erroneous lay-offs in the decisions but are not separately
shown in the preceding statement. The interest of employees in
securing decisions on lay-offs was obviously connected with the desire
to obtain reinstatement in their jobs as promptly as possible and to
accomplish this they sought to establish their seniority rights within
the plant where they were regularly employed. This was equally
true in the cases of discharge. Where alleged discrimination was the
reason given for submitting a case, various questions were involved.
One of the earliest cases brought up for decision, in which discrimi
nation was alleged, was that of a woman employee who claimed that
her lay-off was improper. In the course of hearing it developed that
the lay-off was in accordance wTith a plant policy to employ not more
than one person in a family, with the object of spreading the work
among the greatest possible number of families and thus reducing
distress resulting from the depression. There were other instances
in which discrimination was charged and in which testimony estab
lished the reasons for lay-off or discharge to be union activity, in
subordination, inefficiency, dissatisfaction on the part of the employee
with the kind of work available, or the completion of a specific piece
of work.
In the following statement the 153 decisions are classified by the
party
upheld
in the Board’s decision:
AT
r
J
1
N u m b er
Board’s decision upheld—
°1cases
Employer______________________________________________________
82
Employer, but employees retainedrights to reemployment-------------36
Employee_____________________________________________________
28
No case (includes cases closed by employee quitting 3) -------------------7
Total_______________________________________________________
153
If the number of cases in which the employer was upheld in laying
off or discharging employees and those in which his action was
endorsed with the further stipulation that employees be reinstated
as soon as possible are taken together, the number of cases upholding
the action of employers is 118. This total represents 77.1 percent
of the cases in which decisions were rendered. Since a large propor
tion of the cases heard covered questions as to the propriety of lay
offs, the fact that the employers were so frequently upheld did not
s In one of these th e decision of th e Board p ointed out th at th e evidence had sustained th e claim of the
com pany; th e em ployee had q uit, how ever, closing th e case.
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1437
mean permanent loss of employment to the workers involved. In 36
cases the decision as rendered definitely stated that employees should
not forfeit their seniority rights when reemployed, by virtue of tem
porary loss of their jobs, or that they be reinstated at once, or on a
given date, or when work became available. The 28 cases in which
labor’s claims were upheld by the board meant prompt reemployment,
or reemployment at the first opportunity, maintenance of seniority
rights, etc. In one instance the board stated that a complainant
“ ought to be reemployed” but did not actually make a ruling for
technical reasons. The 7 cases classified under “ no case” include
5 in which the employee quit his job without waiting for a settlement,
1 in which the employee had been returned to work in a job for which
his experience fitted him, and 1 in which the case was settled by
agreement.
D ecisio n s of N a tio n a l L o n g sh o rem en ’s Board
HREE decisions were made in October 1934 by the National
Longshoremen’s Board, consisting of Rt. Rev. Edward J. Hanna,
Edward F. McGrady, and O. K. Cushing, which was appointed by
President Roosevelt as a result of the Pacific coast strike of long
shoremen last summer.
In each of these cases there were three main issues before the
board—those of wages, hours, and hiring and dispatching. The
proposals of the International Longshoremen’s Association were as
follows:
1. An increase in the basic wage from 85 cents to $1.
2. Limitation of hours of work to 6 per day, 30 hours per week.
3.
Hiring and dispatching through the International Longshore
men’s Association halls, under regulations established by a joint
committee.
T
Longshoremen—Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
On O c t o b e r 12, 1934, the board handed down its decision in the
controversy between the International Longshoremen’s Association,
acting on behalf of various locals whose members perform longshore
labor, on the one hand, and the Waterfront Employers of Seattle,
Portland, and San Francisco, and the Marine Service Bureau of Los
Angeles, on the other hand. The decision was given pursuant to an
agreement dated August 7, 1934, between the above-named parties.
According to the terms of the agreement, the decision of the board
shall constitute a series of agreements between the parties to the
arbitration which shall be binding on each of the parties for the
period to and including September 30, 1935, and which shall be
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considered as renewed from year to year unless terminated by a
written notice 40 days prior to the expiration date.
The arbitrators awarded an increase in the basic wage rate of 85
cents to 95 cents per hour; a 6-hour day, and a 30-hour week; and
provided that the hiring of all longshoremen should be through halls
maintained and operated jointly by the International Longshoremen’s
Association and the respective employers.
The increases in the rates of pay established by this award were
retroactive to July 31, 1934.
Grain Handlers—Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle
A d e c is io n Was handed down on October 17, 1934, in a dispute
between the International Longshoremen’s Association, acting on
behalf of various locals whose members perform labor as grain
handlers, and Kerr Gifford & Co., Inc., Northern Wharf & Ware
house Co., and Northwestern Dock & Elevator Co., employing grain
handlers at Portland, Oreg., and Vancouver and Seattle, Wash.
The award was made pursuant to an agreement, dated September
6, 1934, between the parties to the dispute. As in the longshore
men’s case the agreement provided that the decision of the arbi
trators shall constitute a series of agreements to be binding upon the
parties through September 30, 1935, and continuing from year to
year unless terminated by a written notice, given at least 60 days
prior to the expiration date.
The Board awarded a basic wage rate of not less than 80 cents per
hour for straight time, nor less than $1.20 per hour for overtime; a
6-hour day; and a 30-hour week. The demand with respect to hir
ing was not granted. The method of hiring was referred to the
parties to be settled by agreement. .
The award became effective at 8 a. m. on October 19, 1934.
Dock and Terminal Workers—Portland, Oreg.
A n a w a r d was made by the Board, on October 17, 1934, in a dis
pute between the Pacific Coast District Local No. 38, of the Inter
national Longshoremen’s Association, acting on behalf of its Port
land local, whose members perform labor on docks or terminals, and
the Interstate Terminals, Ltd.; Luckenbach Steamship Co., Inc.;
Christenson Hammond Line; Oceanic Terminals; International
Stevedoring Co.; McCormick Steamship Co.; and Supples Dock, Inc.
The Board awarded a basic wage rate of not less than 70 cents per
hour for straight time, nor less than $1.05 per hour for overtime
work; a 6-hour day; and a 30-hour week. The demand with respect
to hiring was not granted. The method of hiring was referred to the
parties to be settled by agreement.
The award became effective at 8 a. m. on October 19, 1934.
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1439
U n io n -L a b el A g reem en t of T obacco W orkers in L ouisville, Ky.
OBACCO Workers International Union, Local No. 185 of Louis
ville, Ky., entered into a 2-year agreement with the Brown &
Williamson Tobacco Corporation, on December 12, 1933, which pro
vides for a closed shop in all the plants operated by the company in
the United States, and for the use of the union label on all products
of the company.
A code of shop practices, incorporated in the agreement, provides
for a 5-day, 40-hour week; for time-and-one-half rate for overtime
work; for double-time rate for work performed on Sundays, New
Year’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, Decoration Day, Fourth of
July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day; that no
person, male or female, under the age of 16 years shall be employed
in the plant or plants of the company; for the check-off system for
the collection of union dues; and for a board of conciliation and arbi
tration to which shall be referred all differences that may arise during
the life of the agreement.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HOUSING
B u ild in g O p eration s in P rin cip al C ities of th e U n ited S ta te s,
O ctober 1934
N MARKED contrast with the usual seasonal trend, building
operations in the principal cities of the United States showed a
Isubstantial
gain in October 1934. Compared with the previous
month, the estimated cost of new residential buildings increased 19.5
percent, the cost of new nonresidential buildings advanced 30.2
percent, while the estimated cost of additions, alternations, and
repairs was 36 percent higher than in September. The total building
operations during the month increased 17.2 percent in number and
29.7 percent in value. Although private construction was appreciably
higher in October than in the month preceding, the value of contracts
awarded by the Federal and State Governments for buildings in these
766 cities decreased to $2,257,505 as compared with $3,800,070 in
September.
This information is based on reports received by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics for 766 identical cities having a population of 10,000
or over. The permit data are collected from local building officials
on forms mailed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, except in the
States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and
Pennsylvania, where the State departments of labor collect and forward
the data to the Federal Bureau. The cost figures shown are the
estimates made by prospective builders on application for their
permits to build. No land costs are included. Only building projects
within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are shown. The
Federal and State contract figures are collected from the various
officials who have the power to award contracts.
Comparisons, by Geographic Divisions, September and October 1934
T able 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 766 identical cities having a popula
tion of 10,000 or over, by geographic divisions.
1440
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1441
HOUSING
T a b l e 1 .— E S T I M A T E D C O S T O F N E W B U I L D I N G S , O F A D D I T I O N S , A L T E R A T I O N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U I L D I N G C O N S T R U C T I O N I N 766 I D E N T I C A L C IT IE S
A S S H O W N B Y P E R M I T S I S S U E D I N S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R ¡1934, B Y G E O -
N ew
residential build in gs
(estim ated cost)
N e w nonresidential build in gs
(estim ated cost)
Geographic d ivision
Septem ber
1934
N ew E n g la n d ______
M idd le A tla n tic ____
E ast N o rth C entralW est N orth Central.
S outh A tla n tic...........
E a st South C entralW est South C entralM o u n ta in ........ ............
P acific....... ......... .........
T otal
Percent
Septem ber
age
1934
change
October
1934
$831, 740
3, 626,191
1, 713, 950
627, 001
994,260
143,040
418,813
165,250
1, 214, 457
$1,162,785
4, 475, 450
1, 249, 737
729,682
1, 268,062
142,730
804,840
284,900
1, 518,637
+ 3 9 .8
+ 2 3 .4
- 2 7 .1
+ 1 6 .4
+ 2 7 .5
- 0.2
+ 9 2 .2
+ 7 2 .4
+ 2 5 .0
9, 734,702
11, 636,823
+ 1 9 .5
A dd ition s, alterations, and
repairs (estim ated cost)
$1,336,008
2,986,203
2, 998, 037
1, 014,990
3,370, 501
485, 719
755,226
129,396
1, 576,033
14, 652,113
October
1934
$2,109, 748
4,136, 322
3,861, 232
1, 238, 583
2, 688,601
657, 370
920, 093
141, 364
3,325,123
+ 5 7 .9
+ 3 8 .5
+ 2 8 .8
+ 2 2 .0
-2 0 .2
+ 3 5 .3
+ 2 1 .8
+ 9 .2
+ 1 1 1 .0
19,078, 436
+ 3 0 .2
T otal construction (estim ated
cost)
Geographic d ivision
N ew E n g la n d _________ ____
M id d le A tla n tic______
E a st N o rth C en tral______
W est N orth C entral___
South A tla n tic ___ _
E a st South C entral________
W est South C en tral____
M o u n ta in ____________
Pacific________ _________
T o ta l_______________ .
Per
Septem ber
centage
1934
change
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
$1,865,081
4, 324, 507
2, 234, 222
799,456
2, 373, 667
618,161
486, 606
269, 776
1, 635,128
$1,892, 794
8, 335,637
2,831, 210
986,090
1,857,612
597,776
690,947
319, 829
2, 356,371
+ 1 .5
+ 9 2 .8
+ 2 6 .7
+ 2 3 .3
-2 1 . 7
- 3 .3
+ 4 2 .0
+ 1 8 .6
+ 4 4 .1
14, 606, 604
19,868, 266
+ 3 6 .0
P ercen t
age
change
N um
ber of
cities
October
1934
Per
centage
change
$4,032,829
10, 936,901
6,946, 209
2,441, 447
6, 738,428
1, 246,920
1, 660, 645
564, 422
4, 425, 618
$5,165, 327
16, 947,409
7, 942,179
2,954,355
5,814, 275
1,397,876
2,415,880
746,093
7, 200,131
+ 2 8 .1
+ 5 5 .0
+ 1 4 .3
+ 2 1 .0
- 1 3 .7
+ 1 2 .1
+ 4 5 .5
+ 3 2 .2
+ 6 2 .7
109
171
177
68
73
36
46
23
63
38, 993, 419
50, 583, 525
+ 2 9 .7
766
Comparing October with September, there was an increase in the
value of new residential buildings in 7 of the 9 geographic divisions.
The increase for the country as a whole was 19.5 percent. In the
West South Central States the increase was over 90 percent.
The value of nonresidential buildings increased over 30 percent
comparing these 2 months. All geographic divisions except the
South Atlantic showed increases in this class of structure.
Seven of the nine geographic divisions showed increases in the
value of additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings.
The South Atlantic was the only geographic division not showing an
increase in the value of total building construction comparing October
with September.
It will be noted that the indicated expenditures for repairs were
greater than for either new residential buildings or new nonresidential
buildings. Loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administra
tion are undoubtedly responsible for the marked pick-up in repairs.
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 766 identical cities, by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1442
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 2 .—N U M B E R
O F N E W B U IL D I N G S , O F A D D I T IO N S , A L T E R A T I O N S , A N D
R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U I L D I N G C O N S T R U C T I O N I N 766 I D E N T I C A L C IT IE S ,
AS S H O W N B Y P E R M I T S I S S U E D I N S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential
buildings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
A dd ition s, altera
tions, and repairs
T otal construction
Geographic division
S ep tem
ber 1934
October
1934
Septem
ber 1934
October
1934
S ep tem
ber 1934
October
1934
S ep tem
ber 1934
N ew E n glan d _______
M id d le A tla n tic_____
E ast N orth C e n tr a l..
W est N orth C en tral..
South A tla n tic______
E ast South C e n tr a l..
W est South C en tral..
M ou n tain ___________
Pacific______________
189
341
274
194
235
77
190
53
331
221
534
247
249
334
65
322
72
401
747
1,199
1,435
734
477
194
340
168
972
995
1,459
1,756
845
632
226
475
184
1,080
2,599
6,155
3,688
1, 711
3,351
1,421
1,549
713
4,650
2,974
7,518
3, 767
1,889
3,976
1, 563
1, 705
718
5,616
3,535
7,695
5,397
2, 639
4,063
1,692
2,079
934
5,953
4,190
9,511
5,770
2,983
4,942
1,854
2,502
974
7,097
T o ta l_________
Percentage change .
1,884
2,445
+ 2 9 .8
6,266
7,652
+ 2 2 .1
25,837
29,726
+ 1 5 .1
33,987
39,823
+ 1 7 .2
October
1934
Comparing October with September, 7 of the 9 geographic divisions
showed increases in the number of new residential buildings. Each of
the nine geographic divisions showed increases in the number of new
nonresidential buildings and in the number of additions, alterations,
and repairs.
Table 3 shows the estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and
the number of families provided for in such dwellings for which
permits were issued in 766 identical cities, by geographic divisions.
T able 3 .—E S T I M A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R O F F A M I L I E S P R O V I D E D F O R I N T H E
D I F F E R E N T K I N D S O F H O U S E K E E P I N G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M I T S W E R E
I S S U E D I N 766 I D E N T I C A L C IT IE S I N S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
1-family dw ellings
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
S ep tem
ber 1934
October
1934
N ew E n glan d ___________
M idd le A tla n tic________
E ast N orth C entral_____
W est N orth C entral.
South A tlan tic_____ ____
E a st South C entral. ___
W est South C entral_____
M ou n tain ________ ____ _
P acific____ _____________
$777,440 $1,122,785
1,283, 291 2,071,820
1, 280, 675 1,159,755
611,901
696, 207
830,664 1,169,467
109, 540
123, 730
354,155
403,774
158, 750
234,500
1,029,944 1,257,387
T o ta l_____________
Percentage c h a n g e _____
6,436, 360
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8,239,425
+ 2 8 .0
2-fam ily dw ellings
Fam ilies pro
vid ed for
Sep
tem ber October
1934
1934
E stim ated cost
Fam ilies pro
vid ed for
S ep tem
ber 1934
October
1934
Sep
tem ber
1934
O cto
ber
1934
180
293
272
188
221
74
168
51
305
213
475
232
239
315
59
271
69
374
$48,300
177,800
66,800
15,100
37,296
0
22,750
6,500
108,513
$26,000
311,980
50,900
23,000
55,595
12,000
370,795
1,000
104,650
15
59
13
12
21
0
14
2
36
10
79
14
6
28
10
84
1
31
1,752
2,247
+ 2 8 .3
483,059
955,920
+ 9 7 .9
172
263
+ 5 2 .9
1443
HOUSING
T able 3 .—E S T I M A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R O F F A M I L I E S P R O V I D E D F O R I N T H E
D I F F E R E N T K I N D S O F H O U S E K E E P I N G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M I T S
W E R E I S S U E D I N 766 I D E N T I C A L C IT I E S I N S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y
G E O G R A P H IC D IV I S I O N S — C ontinu ed
T otal, all k in d s of housekeeping
dw ellings
M u ltifam ily dw ellings
Geographic division
E stim ated cost
Fam ilies pro
vid ed for
Sep
tem ber October
1934
1934
S ep tem
ber 1934
October
1934
N e w E n glan d ___________
$6,000
M id d le A tla n tic. _____ 1, 664, 500
E ast N orth C entral_____
0
W est N orth C en tral_____
0
South A tla n tic__________
10, 500
E ast South C en tra l.. . . .
20,000
W est South C entral_____
32, 500
M o u n ta in ______ ____ ___
0
P acific______________ - - .
61, 000
$14,000
2, 088,500
39,082
8,800
43,000
7,000
24, 221
14,000
150, 600
4
521
0
0
4
14
32
0
28
T otal ______
_ 1, 794, 500
Percentage ch an ge. ___
2, 389, 203
+ 3 3 .1
603
Fam ilies pro
vided for
E stim ated cost
October
1934
Sep
tem ber
1934
6
705
18
20
19
4
19
8
63
$831, 740 $1,162,785
3,125,591 4,472,300
1,347,475 1, 249, 737
627,001
728,007
878,460 1,268, 062
129,540
142, 730
409,405
798, 790
165, 250
249,500
1,199,457 1, 512, 637
199
873
285
200
246
88
214
53
369
229
1,259
264
265
362
73
374
78
468
862
+ 4 3 .0
8, 713, 919 11, 584, 548
+ 3 2 .9
2,527
3, 372
+ 3 3 .4
S ep tem
ber 1934
Octo
ber
1934
Increases in the estimated cost and the number of families provided
for were shown in the case of 1-family dwellings, 2-family dwellings,
and apartment houses, comparing October with September. There
was an increase of over one-third in the number of family-dwelling
units provided in housekeeping dwellings comparing these 2 months.
Table 4 shows the index numbers of families provided for and 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 O F F A M IL IE S P R O V I D E D F O R A N D O F I N D I C A T E D
E X P E N D I T U R E S F O R B U I L D I N G O P E R A T IO N S A S S H O W N B Y P E R M I T S I S S U E D
I N P R I N C I P A L C IT IE S O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S
[M o n th ly average, 1929= 100]
Ind icated expenditures for
M o n th
1929
Septem ber_______________ _______________
O ctober________________ ________________
1930
Septem ber________________________________
O ctober_________________________ _______ _
1931
Septem ber— . ________ __________ _____
O ctober. ___________________ ____ _______
1932
S ep tem b er.. ________________ ____________
O ctober____________________ ____ ________
1933
.
_________________
___________________ . .
1934
Sep tem b er______________ ________________
O ctober. ___________________ ____ _______
Septem ber— .
O ctober_________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Fam ilies
provided
for
N e w resi
dential
buildings
N e w non- A dd ition s, T otal b u ild
residential alterations, ing con
buildings and repairs struction
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
7.4
9.9
5.7
6.8
12.6
16.4
32.0
43.5
12.3
16.0
1444
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The index numbers of families provided for, of new residential
buildings, of new nonresidential buildings, and of total building oper
ations were all higher in October 1934 than for either September 1934
or October 1933 or for October 1932.
The index number of additions, alterations, and repairs for October
1934 was higher than for October of any year since 1930, and was
higher than for any month since August 1931.
Comparisons, October 1934 with October 1933
T a b l e 5 show s th e e s tim a te d co st of new re sid e n tia l b u ild in g s, of
new n o n re sid e n tia l b u ild in g s, of a d d itio n s, a lte ra tio n s, a n d re p a irs,
a n d of to ta l b u ild in g o p e ra tio n s in 756 cities h a v in g a p o p u la tio n of
10,000 or over, b y g eo g rap h ic divisions.
T able 5 —E S T I M A T E D C O ST OF N E W B U IL D I N G S , OF A D D I T I O N S , A L T E R A T I O N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U I L D I N G C O N S T R U C T I O N I N 756 I D E N T I C A L
C IT IE S AS S H O W N B Y P E R M I T S IS S U E D IN O C T O B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings
(estim ated cost)
Geographic division
N ew nonresidential buildings
(estim ated cost)
Per
centage
change
October
1933
October
1934
Per
centage
change
October
1933
October
1934
N ew E n g la n d -____________
M id d le A t la n t ic ______________
E ast N orth C en tral___ _______
W est N orth C entral ________
South A tla n tic___ - ___ __
E ast South C entral
_ ____
W est South C entral_____ _____
M o u n t a in .______________ ____
P acific------------- -------------------
$1,481,445
2,344, 390
910,147
596,565
757,510
98,525
339,974
100,800
1,387, 809
$1,157,335
4,475,450
1,246,237
700, 732
1, 268,062
142, 730
784, 775
281, 900
1, 518,637
- 2 1 .9
+ 9 0 .9
+ 3 6 .9
+ 1 7 .5
+ 6 7 .4
4-44.9
+ 130.8
4-179. 6
+ 9 .4
$1,799,466
4,114, 351
2,106,881
1,385,200
2, 060, 928
323, 314
1,223,276
206,689
3,351,555
$2,110,571
4,137,892
3,859,632
1,222,013
2,638,217
657,370
921,163
141,214
3,325,123
+ 1 7 .3
+. 6
+ 8 3 .2
- 1 1 .8
+ 2 8 .0
+ 1 0 3 .3
- 2 4 .7
- 3 1 .7
- .8
T o ta l___________________
8,017,165
11,575,858
+ 44. 4
16, 571,660
19,013,195
+ 1 4 .7
A dd ition s, alterations, and re
pairs (estim ated cost)
Geographic division
October
1933
N ew E n g la n d ________________ $1,620,462
4,713,881
M id d le A tla n tic .-- -------------E ast N orth Central ----------- - 1,349,147
604,913
W est N orth C entral__________
South A tla n tic ------------------------ 1, 767,818
324,516
E ast South C entral----------------571,049
W est South C en tral_____ _____
180,426
M o u n ta in ----------------------- ------P a c ific ..-------- -------------------------- 2,039,399
T o ta l------------ -------------- 13,171,611
October
1934
Per
centage
change
$1,882, 554 + 1 6 .2
8,336,262 + 7 6 .8
2,827,625 +109. 6
975,662 + 6 1 .3
+ 4 .7
1,851, 512
597, 776 + 8 4 .2
677, 218 + 1 8 .6
315,836 + 7 5 .1
2,356,371 + 1 5 .5
19,820,816 + 5 0 .5
T o ta l construction (estim ated
cost)
October
1933
October
1934
$4,901,373
11,172,622
4,366,175
2, 586,678
4, 586, 256
746, 355
2,134, 299
487,915
6,778,763
37,760,436
$5,150,460
16,949,604
7,933,494
2,898,407
5,757,791
1,397,876
2,383,156
738,950
7, 200,131
50,409,869
N um
ber of
Per
cities
centage
change
+ 5 .1
+ 5 1 .7
+ 8 1 .7
+ 1 2 .1
+ 2 5 .5
+ 8 7 .3
+ 1 1 .7
+ 5 1 .5
+ 6 .2
+ 3 3 .5
109
173
175
65
72
35
43
21
63
756
Comparing October 1934 with the corresponding month of the
previous year, there was an increase of 44.4 percent in indicated
expenditures for new residential buildings, all divisions except the
New England showing increases.
Indicated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings increased
14.7 percent in value. Comparing October 1934 with October 1933,
there was an increase of over 50 percent in the estimated cost of
additions, alterations, and repairs. All nine geographic divisions
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1445
HOUSING
showed increases in the value of changes made to existing structures;
the increases ranged from 4.7 percent in the South Atlantic States to
over 100 percent in the East North Central States.
Table 6 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new
nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations reporting for October 1933 and October 1934,
in 756 identical cities, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 6 —N U M B E R OF N E W B U IL D I N G S , O F A D D I T I O N S , A L T E R A T I O N S , A N D R E
P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U I L D I N G C O N S T R U C T I O N I N 758 I D E N T I C A L C IT IE S , AS
S H O W N B Y P E R M I T S IS S U E D I N O C T O B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential
buildings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
A dd ition s, altera
tions, and repairs
T otal construction
Geographic division
October
1933
October
1934
October
1933
October
1934
October
1933
October
1934
October
1933
N ew E n glan d _______
M id d le A tla n tic_____
E ast N o rth C en tra l.,
W est N orth C en tra l..
South A t la n t ic ...........
E a st South C e n tr a l..
W est South C e n tr a l..
M o u n ta in ................. .
Pacific_______ ______
286
420
208
177
215
46
121
33
342
223
534
246
243
334
65
309
70
401
935
1,445
1,429
857
521
129
377
223
875
993
1,466
1,748
836
631
226
471
183
1,080
2, 527
6,115
2,898
1,420
2,926
851
1,389
547
3,997
2,969
7,520
3,761
1,851
3,967
1,563
1,668
714
5, 616
3,748
7,980
4,535
2,454
3, 662
1,026
1,887
803
5, 214
4,185
9, 520
5, 755
2,930
4,932
1,854
2,448
967
7,097
T o ta l____ ____
Percentage change . . .
1,848
2, 425
+ 3 1 .2
6, 791
7, 634
+ 1 2 .4
22, 670
29,629
+ 3 0 .7
31, 309
39,688
+ 2 6 .8
October
1934
The number of new residential buildings, of new nonresidential
buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, showed marked in
creases, comparing October 1934 with the same month of 1933. The
total number of building construction projects increased by more
than 25 percent, comparing these 2 months.
Table 7 shows the estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the
number of families provided for in new dwellings for which permits
were issued in 756 identical cities during October 1933 and October
1934, by geographic divisions.
T able 7.—E S T I M 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 I D E D F O R I N D I F F E R
E N T K I N D S OF H O U S E K E E P I N G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M I T S W E R E IS S U E D
I N 756 I D E N T I C A L C IT IE S I N O C T O B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
2 -fam ily dw ellings
1-family dwellings
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
Fam ilies p rovided
for
October
1934
Octo
ber
1933
October
1934
N ew E n g la n d __________ $1, 229, 390 $1,117, 335
M idd le A tlan tic____ _. 1,864,840 2, 071, 820
E a st N orth C en tra l.. . . .
865,147 1,156, 255
W est N orth C entral. .
583, 265
670, 257
South A tlan tic . . . . . .
693,910 1,167, 267
94,525
E a st South C entral.
123, 730
244, 624
W est South C entral____
383, 709
232, 500
M o u n ta in _______________
100,800
P acific___________ ______ 1, 208,109 1, 257,387
268
371
190
174
200
45
113
34
320
215
475
231
234
314
59
258
68
374
1,715
2,228
+ 2 9 .9
October
1933
T o ta l_____________
Percentage change______
6,884,610
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8,180, 260
+ 1 8 .8
E stim ated cost
Fam ilies pro
v id ed for
Octo
ber
1934
October
1934
Octo
ber
1933
$99, 555
280,750
45, 000
13, 300
23, 700
4,000
20, 350
0
88, 300
$26,000
311,980
50, 900
20,000
55, 595
12,000
370, 795
0
104, 650
28
74
9
5
20
2
13
0
30
10
79
14
4
28
10
84
0
31
574,955
951,920
+ 6 5 .6
181
260
+ 4 3 .6
October
1933
1446
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 7 .—E S T I M A T E D C O S T A N D N U M B E R O F F A M I L I E S P R O V I D E D F O R I N D I F F E R
E N T K I N D S O F H O U S E K E E P I N G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M I T S W E R E I S S U E D
IN 756 I D E N T I C A L C IT IE S I N O C T O B E R 1933 A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S — C ontinued
T otal, all k in d s of housekeeping
dwellings
M u ltifam ily dw ellings
Geographic division
E stim ated cost
October
1933
Fam ilies provided
for
October
1934
Octo
ber
1933
N e w E n glan d _______ _ .
M id d le A tlan tic_________
E a st N orth C entral_____
W est N orth C entral_____
South A tlan tic__________
E a st South Central _
W est South C entral_____
M ou n tain _______________
Pacific__________________
$21, 500
194,200
0
0
39,900
0
75, 000
0
90, 400
$14, 000
2,088, 500
39,082
8,800
43,000
7,000
24,221
14, 000
150,600
12
71
0
0
31
0
60
0
43
T o ta l________ ____
Percentage change
421,000
2,389, 203
+ 467.5
217
E stim ated cost
Fam ilies pro
vid ed for
Octo
ber
1934
October
1934
Octo
ber
1933
6 $1,350,445 $1,157,335
705 2,339, 790 4, 472, 300
910,147 1, 246, 237
18
596,565
699,057
20
757, 510 1, 265,862
19
142, 730
4
98, 525
339,974
778, 725
19
100,800
246,500
8
63 1,386,809 1,512,637
308
516
199
179
251
47
186
34
393
231
1,259
263
258
361
73
361
76
468
7,880,565 11, 521,383
+ 4 6 .2
2,113
3,350
+ 5 8 .5
October
1934
862
+ 2 9 7 .2
October
1933
The value of 1-family dwellings, of 2-family dwellings, and of
apartment houses for which permits were issued in October 1934 was
much higher than the value of such buildings reported in October
1933, according to reports received from 756 cities. The number of
family-dwelling units provided in each type of structure was also
much higher during October 1934 than during October 1933.
Permits were issued during October for the following important
building projects: In Hamden, Conn., for a high-scliool building to
cost over $600,000; in Milton, Mass., for a school building to cost over
$250,000; in Worcester, Mass., for a hospital building to cost $230,000;
in the Borough of the Bronx for apartment houses to cost over
$325,000; in Brooklyn, N. Y., for apartment houses to cost over
$1,300,000; in Chicago, 111., for an amphitheatre to cost $500,000; in
Detroit, Mich., for factory buildings to cost over $300,000; in Shorewood, Wis., for a school auditorium to cost $240,000; in San Francisco,
Calif., for institutional buildings to cost over $670,000 and for school
buildings to cost over $730,000; in San Jose, Calif., for a civic
auditorium to cost $390,000; and in Baltimore, Md., for a factory
building to cost $1,000,000. Contracts were awarded by the Procure
ment Division of the Treasury Department for buildings at the
Immigration Station, New York, to cost over $350,000, and for the
excavation and foundation of a new post-office building in St. Louis,
Mo., to cost over $300,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1447
HOUSING
C o n str u c tio n from P u b lic F u n d s
ABLE 1 shows for the months of September and October 1934
the value of contracts awarded for Federal construction projects
to be financed from the Public Works Administration fund, by geo
graphic divisions.
T
T a b le 1 . — V A L U E O F 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 I O N
P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M P U B L IC W O R K S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N F U N D S D U R I N G
S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S *
B u ild ing construction
R iver, harbor, and floodcontrol projects
P u b lic roads
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
N ew E n g la n d ---...................M id d le A tla n tic________ _
E ast N orth C en tra l---------W est N orth C entral_______
South A tla n tic .----------------E ast South C entral......... ..
W est South C entral_______
M o u n ta in ________________
Pacific_________________ -
$60,380
182,512
518,667
203,596
2,372,263
31,314
53,917
80,036
109,833
$8,207,528
639,190
315,740
121,581
449,554
114,158
42,386
176,595
213,023
$93,491
4,143,649
1,013,549
4,544,341
2,439,881
795,209
193,875
4,115,410
649,457
$584,575
3,344,170
1,994,194
3,447,235
2,571,447
1,747,614
156,485
2,535,414
1,014,899
0
$58,999
1, 506,108
852,072
2,839,272
12,000
1,136,380
138, 295
853, 247
$524,076
873, 004
1, 846,367
1,465,913
879,479
1,433,943
3,154,158
1,939, 561
42, 760
T otal . . . -------- --------Outside continental U nited
S ta te s .................... ............. -
3,612,518
2, 279, 755
17,98S, 862
17,396,033
7,396,373
12,159, 261
755,846
7,110
0
0
0
81, 650
Streets and
roads 3
N aval vessels
R eclam ation projects
Forestry
Geographic division
Septem
ber
1934
Sep
tem
ber
1934
Octo
ber
1934
Septem
ber
1934
Octo
ber
1934
Septem ber
1934
N ew E n glan d .................... .
$3,972
M idd le A tla n tic...................... 39,182
E ast N orth C e n tr a l.............
4,980
W est N orth C entral____ -0
South A tla n tic ............- ......... 208,628
E ast South C entral___ ___
0
W est South C entral_______
1,291
M o u n ta in — ........................ .. 282,475
Pacific....................................
147,758
0
$37,757
24,272
0
76, 825
0
1,709
237,314
0
$3,010
63,295
0
0
24,309
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$17,531
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$600
3,802, 775
29,684,002
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 $41,861 $22,062
0
0
0
$2,200
2,318
0
0
0
0
0
6,470
0
1,083,890
0
0
43,270
0
0
T o ta l_______________
Outside con tin en tal U nited
S t a t e s ..- .. --------------------
688, 286
377,877
90,614
17,531
33,487,377
1,129,360
41,861
30,850
34,350
1,039
0
0
3,500
0
0
0
W ater and sewage
system s
M iscellaneous
October
1934
Octo
ber
1934
T otal
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
N ew E n glan d —. ....................
M id d le A tla n tic......................
E ast N orth C en tra l.............
W est N orth C en tral..........-South A tla n tic .......................
E ast South C entral...............
W est South C entral..............
M o u n ta in ________ ____ ___
Pacific.........................................
$3,125
1,200
0
39,413
8,050
0
0
1,000
0
0
$1,151
0
0
22,145
0
0
43,830
3,941
$22,490
95,660
87,970
3,789
194,089
25,712
24,322
28,214
42,653
$35,358
526,854
20, 823
19,595
509,966
32,488
61,961
5,131
36,039
$186,468
4,584,497
3,173,135
5,643,211
8,086,492
864,235
1,410,385
8,448,205
31,486,950
$1,351,537
5,422,126
4,223,458
5,054,324
4,531,465
3,328,203
3,423,169
6,021,735
1,353,932
T o ta l............. .................
O utside continental U nited
S tates-------- ---------------------
52,788
71,067
524,899
1, 248,215
63,883,578
34, 709,949
0
0
46,895
332,209
840, 591
422,008
1 Prelim inary—subject to revision.
2 Other than those reported b y th e B ureau of P u b lic R oads.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1448
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Contracts were awarded during October 1934 for Federal publicworks projects to cost over $35,000,000. This is a decrease of nearly
$30,000,000 as compared with September. The reason for the
decrease is that during September contracts were awarded for the
Grand Coulee Dam and Power Plant in the Columbia River Basin
to cost over $29,000,000. Comparing October with September there
were increases in the value of awards for river, harbor, and flood-control
work and for miscellaneous construction projects. The value of con
tracts awarded during October amounted to more than $5,000,000 in
each of the following geographic divisions: Middle Atlantic, West
North Central, and Mountain.
Contracts were awarded during the month for the following large
projects: In Wisconsin, for the construction of a dam to cost over
$1,600,000; in Mississippi, for river, harbor, and flood-control work
to cost over $1,100,000; in Montana, for a spillway at the Fort
Peck Dam site to cost over $1,100,000; and in Texas for dredging
Port Isabel to Brownsville Canal to cost over $1,300,000.
Table 2 shows the value of contracts awarded from Public Works
Administration funds for all non-Federal projects during September
and October 1934, by geographic divisions.
T able 3 .—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 N O N F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C
T IO N P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M P U B L I C W O R K S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S >
B u ild ing construction
Streets and roads 2
FUNDS
W ater and sewage
system s
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
N e w E n glan d ________ _______ $2, 918,265
M id d le A tla n tic_______________ 4, 527,897
E ast N orth C entral___________
1,713, 777
W est N orth C entral___________ 3, 600,735
South A tlan tic.................... ...........
948, 514
E a st South C en tral........... ...........
504,848
W est South C entral............ .........
531,438
M ou n tain _____________________
54, 500
Pacific_________ ______________
408,093
$2, 618,650
5,057,983
790, 232
1,928, 645
424,702
435,643
757,041
246,074
2,847,551
T o ta l___ __
__________
O utside continental U nited
S tates____ ___________ ____
15,208,067
15,106, 521
3,285,207
0
71, 266
0
$600,107 $1,975,893
510,076
333,517
860, 694
290, 260
541, 252
647,036
350, 000
497, 684
142,950
291,451
124,198
0
0
0
155,930
63, 760
1 Prelim inary—subject to revision.
2 Other than those reported b y th e Bureau of P u b lic R oads.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
$195,127
823,056
1, 661,284
1,163,260
310,694
361,489
992,881
449,017
3,884,445
$1,145,974
2,185,907
2,814,873
2,192,072
1, 255, 576
344, 786
966,179
412, 587
419,745
4,099,601
9,841,253
11, 737,699
0
0
80,841
1449
HOUSING
T able 3 .—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 N O N F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C
T I O N P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M P U B L IC W O R K S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N F U N D S
D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV I S I O N S -C o n tin u e d
Railroad construction
and repair
M iscellaneous
T otal
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
N ew E n glan d _________________
M idd le A tla n tic_______________
E a st N orth C entral___________
W est N orth C entral___________
South A tla n tic________________
E a st South C entral___________
W est South C entral___________
M o u n ta in _______ ___ _________
Pacific_______________________
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$4,442, 882
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$158,908
34,200
388,257
658,493
638, 586
0
13,487
8,685
9, 980
$314,302
0
347, 591
615,087
18, 220
11, 500
1,346,258
26,458
0
$3,872,407
5,895,229
4,624,012
5, 963, 740
2,247,794
1,009,287
1,662,004
512,202
4,458,448
$6,054,819
12,020, 289
4,242,956
5,382,840
2,196,182
1,083,380
3,069,478
685,119
3,331,056
T o ta l_____ _____________
Outside continental U nited
S tates________ ____ _________
0
4,442,882
1,910, 596
2,679,416
30,245,123
38,066,119
0
0
0
0
0
152,107
Non-Federal public-works construction projects are financed from
loans and grants allotted by the Public Works Administration. For
the most part, these awards are made to State governments or to
political subdivisions thereof. In a few cases, loans are made to
private firms. Most of the money loaned to private firms has been
granted to railroad companies. In the case of allotments to States,
cities, and counties, the Federal Government grants outright not
more than 30 percent of the cost of construction. Loans made to
private firms must be paid in full within the time specified in the
loan contract. Interest is charged on all loans.
Contracts were awarded during October for non-Federal Public
Works Administration construction projects valued at over
$38,000,000, an increase of nearly $8,000,000 as compared with the
previous month. Comparing October with September, increases were
shown in the value of awards made for all types of construction except
building. Contracts awarded in the Middle Atlantic States totaled
over $12,000,000. During the month, awards were made for the
following important projects: Additional contracts on the Tri-Borough
Bridge in New York valued at over $1,400,000 and a contract for a
dam and spillway for power and irrigation project at Pecos, Tex.,
amounting to over $1,300,000.
Table 3 shows the value of contracts awarded or force-account work
started on Federal construction projects financed from appropriations
made by Congress direct to Federal departments, September and
October 1934.
97067—34----- 10
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1450
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 3 .—V A L U E
OF C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D FO R F E D E R A L
C O N S T R U C T IO N
P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N M E N T A L A P P R O P R I A T IO N S ,
S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV I S I O N S !
R iver, harbor, and floodcontrol projects
P u b lic roads
B u ild ing construction
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
N ew E n glan d ___________
M idd le A tlan tic— ........._.
E ast N orth C entral_____
W est N orth C entral___
South A tlan tic__________
E ast South C e n tr a l... . .
W est South C entral_____
M ou n tain ____ ____ _ . . .
Pacific.....................................
$121,662
70, 996
445, 571
19, 397
1,139, 500
56,425
22, 200
3,140
39,324
$27, 303
183, 699
395,180
404, 354
225,055
204,985
53,910
6,481
10,953
0
0
$461,255
46,642
0
54, 270
0
381,072
423,013
0
0
$345,337
1,288, 742
0
98,454
0
716, 762
422,483
$50,749
39, 543
309,034
10, 721
3,126
190,129
883,084
3,178
121, 656
$24,490
48, 280
137, 660
18,825
49,157
776,961
3,689, 242
0
77,113
T o ta l_____________
O u ts id e
c o n t in e n t a l
U n ited S ta tes...................
1,918,215
1,511,920
1, 366, 252
2,871,778
1, 611, 220
4,821,728
8,475
3,585
0
0
0
0
R eclam ation projects
N a v a l vessels
Streets and roads 2
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
October
1934
$2,550
4,345
0
0
4,859
0
4,360
0
0
$7,161
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$7, 568,000
7,128,000
0
0
271,600
0
0
0
706,400
0
0
0
$13,000
7,700
0
11,000
84,987
52,279
0
0
0
$13,000
7,700
0
8,000
69,000
43,500
172, 526
16,114
7,161
15,674,000
3 175,166
< 146,400
3,614
28,750
0
205,900
0
0
N ew E n glan d ___________
M id d le A tla n tic_________
E ast N orth C en tral_____
W est N orth C entral..........
South A tla n tic__________
E ast South C entral......... .
W est South C entral..........
M o u n t a in ..........................
Pacific............... ....................
0
0
$2,670
3,088
115,934
0
0
0
50,834
T o ta l_____________
O u ts id e
c o n t in e n t a l
U n ited S ta tes...................
W ater and sewage
system s
T otal
M iscellaneous
Geographic division
Septem ber
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
October
1934
N ew E n glan d . _________
M id d le A tla n tic________
E ast N orth C en tra l..........
W est N orth C entral_____
South A tla n tic __________
E ast South C entral......... .
W est South C entral_____
M ou n tain _______ _____ _
P a c if ic ................................
0
0
0
0
$58, 594
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$5,050
0
0
0
5,700
$5,115
0
1,577
0
165,833
0
7,880
0
6,455
$9,157
4,073
0
0
13,537
0
15,470
0
76, 758
$184,687
110, 539
1,220,107
92,848
1,490, 687
300,824
924,164
472,377
693,561
$7,631,500
7,368,397
878,177
1,724,921
576,958
1,080,400
3, 770,982
792,243
1,342,907
T o ta l__________ . .
O u ts id e
c o n t in e n t a l
U n ited S tates_________
58,594
10, 750
186,860
118,995
3 5,495,994
< 25,171,685
6,450
0
15, 570
0
34,109
238,235
1 Prelim inary—Subject to revision.
2 Other than those reported b y the Bureau of P u b lic R oads.
3 Includes $6,200 not allocated b y geographic divisions.
< Includes $5,200 not allocated b y geographic divisions.
Contracts awarded during October totaled over $25,000,000.
This is nearly five times as great as the value of contracts awarded
during September. Comparing October with the previous month,
increases were shown in awards for road building, river, harbor, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1451
HOUSING
flood-control work, and naval vessels. Contracts shown in table 3
are in addition to work financed from the Public Works Administra
tion fund. (See tables 1 and 2.)
Table 4 shows the value of public-building and highway-construc
tion awards as reported by the various State governments, October
1933 and September and October 1934.
T able 4 .—V A L U E O F P U B L I C -B U I L D I N 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 , O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R
A N D O C T O B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
V alue of awards for p ub lic buildings
V alue of awards for h igh w ay
construction
Geographic division
October
1933
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
October
1933
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
N ew E n glan d _______________
M idd le A tla n tic_____________
E ast N orth C entral__________
W est N orth C entral_________
South A tla n tic----------------------E ast South C entral__________
W est South C entral...... .............
M o u n t a in ___________________
Pacific______ _____ ______ . . .
$262,617
842,089
910, 608
25,865
215, 545
0
492,865
29, 621
182,278
$237,191
840, 235
167,096
182, 087
321,268
200, 747
412,647
2,811
264,702
$28,600
266,926
329,365
0
108,906
0
67,923
550
68,743
$326, 531
418,688
1,929,455
824,682
181,780
36,190
297,090
42,401
1,124, 208
$639,544
3,522,968
4,462,838
281,544
446,959
258,267
1,015,147
349,104
852,302
$204,275
345,564
1,440, 075
392,459
394,393
921,816
0
29,777
2,194,525
T o ta l____________ _____
2,961,488
2,628,784
871,013
5,181, 025
11,828,673
5,922,884
During October 1934 contracts were awarded by the various
State governments for public buildings to cost $871,000. This is
less than half the value of such awards made during September 1934
or October 1933. During October 1934, contracts were awarded for
highway construction and maintenance projects to cost nearly
$6,000,000. This is nearly $800,000 greater than the value of such
awards during October 1933, but nearly $6,000,000 less than the
value of awards made during September 1934.
The values shown in table 4 do not include projects financed from
the Public Works Administration fund.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
E n tran ce W age R ates of C o m m o n Labor, J u ly 2, 1934
A N INCREASE of 22.9 percent in the average entrance wage rate
Jl JL for common labor in July 1934 as compared with July 1933 is
disclosed by the annual study of the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Reports covering 173,188 adult male common laborers
receiving entrance rates on July 2, 1934, were received from estab
lishments in 13 important industries employing large numbers of
this type of labor.
The term “ common labor” has many interpretations in various
industries and even in different localities or plants in the same in
dustry. Also, the rates of pay are increased by some employers after
a stated length of service, or after a certain degree of fitness for the
job has been developed. These factors make difficult the publication
of strictly comparable data concerning common labor. Therefore
to present data which will reflect the changes in wage rates for com
mon labor from year to year, the Bureau has confined its surveys to
the rates paid to adult male common labor when first hired and has
construed the term “ common labor” to mean workers having no
specific productive jobs or occupations, who perform physical or
manual labor of general character requiring little skill or training.
While in some cases two rates have been reported by an establish
ment (as, for example, one for white laborers and one for colored or
Mexican workers), these distinctions have not been maintained in the
tabulations. It is apparent that the lowest rates are shown in those
geographic divisions where there are large numbers of colored or
Mexican workers.
Although similar data for these 13 industries have been collected
since 1926, the tabulations do not cover identical establishments over
the 9-year interval, due to the expansion to secure a more representa
tive coverage of each industry. With the exception of the general
contracting industry, the firms furnishing this information also supply
the Bureau with monthly data concerning employment.
In table 1 are shown the weighted average entrance rates for the
years 1926 to 1934, inclusive, for each of the 13 industries, for their
combined total, and for the total omitting general contracting.
These average rates are computed by multiplying the common labor
1452
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1453
entrance rate per hour in each plant by the number of common labor
ers working at such rate, and dividing the aggregate for all plants in
the industry by the total number of common laborers reported for
these plants. In like manner, the aggregates for all industries are
divided by the total number of common laborers included in the
survey to obtain the average hourly entrance rate for all industries
combined.
The average entrance rate per hour on July 2, 1934, for all 13
industries combined was 43 cents. This rate is 8 cents or 22.9 percent
above the level of the average rate in July 1933, and 1.9 cents or 4.2
percent below the average of July 1928 in which year 44.9 cents, the
highest average entrance rate, was reported.
With the exception of the iron and steel industry, the year 1933
shows the lowest average entrance rate for each industry, as well as for
all industries combined. The 1934 average entrance rates, without
exception, indicate a material advance in the average entrance rate in
each industry not only over the year 1933, but also over the years
1932 and 1931 (with the exception of automobiles and public utilities),
and in 5 industries, cement, foundry and machine-shop products,
iron and steel, petroleum refining, and slaughtering and meat packing,
the 1934 average rate is the highest shown in the 9-year period during
which the Bureau has been collecting such information.
With the exception of the automobile, and the iron and steel indus
tries, the 1934 survey covered a greater number of common laborers
in each industry than the survey of 1933, the total in 1934 being
21,268 greater than in 1933. This increased coverage is due almost
entirely to the improvement in the general employment situation
between July 1933 and July 1934.
The highest average hourly entrance rate, 54.9 cents, was shown
in the automobile industry, and the lowest average rate, 33.1 cents,
appeared in the sawmill industry. The average rate, however, in
the last-named industry was higher than the average rate for this
industry for any year since 1926, due primarily to the adoption of the
N. R. A. code; to the same cause must also be ascribed the fact that
in practically every industry the lowest rate reported in 1934 was
higher than the lowest rate in 1933.
In the following table, as previously stated, the data do not relate
to identical establishments, due to the expansion during the 9-year
interval in the number of firms supplying this information to the
Bureau, and, therefore, the figures for any given year are not strictly
comparable with averages for other years.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1454
T able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1
.— A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E N T R A N C E W A G E R A T E S E O R A D U L T M A L E
COM
M O N L A B O R , J U L Y O F E A C H Y E A R , 1926 T O 1934
Average hourly entrance rates (in cents) in —
Ind u stry
1934
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
46.1
40.7
40.1
43.1
37.1
42.7
40.9
33.6
42.8
47.9
41.5
42.0
47.1
46.3
42.2
39.2
44.2
37.8
43.2
41.4
32.2
42.5
44.0
41.7
39.8
48.2
57.2
39.4
37.2
46.0
38.4
42.5
42.3
31.7
44.3
45.4
42.2
42.9
47.4
49.9
37.8
37.8
45.9
39.8
42.5
42.2
32.0
44.0
45.7
42.0
42.8
48.3
48.2
38.0
37.9
44.8
39.0
42.1
41.9
31.6
43.2
48.1
41.8
44.6
47.0
57.7
33.9
37.2
42.9
38.2
41.8
39.1
27.7
37.2
47.5
41.7
44.6
42.6
62.0
28.9
30.6
39.6
34.8
31.8
32.9
21.5
35.6
42.1
34.6
41.5
39.9
46.5
24.7
29.5
i 37.1
31.8
33.6
31.6
20.8
32.6
40.7
32.3
38.7
38.3
54.9
36.9
44.7
43.5
40.1
43.2
39.3
33.1
40.3
52.6
43.9
41.8
45.5
A ll industries------ ------------- ------------------- 42.8
A ll industries except general contracting. 40.9
42.6
40.4
44.9
44.1
43.7
42.1
43.1
41.6
41.2
40.7
38.1
37.6
i 35.0
i 34.2
43.0
42.3
A utom ob ile___________________ _____________
B rick, tile, and terra cotta ----------------------------C em en t. __________________________________
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and su p p lies.
Fou n d ry and m achine-shop p rod ucts________
Iron and steel---- -------------- --- ------------L eather------------ ---------------------------------- — --L um ber (saw m ills)------------- ------------------- . .
Paper and p u lp ---------------------------------------------Petroleum refining---------- ------------------------Slaughtering and m eat packing---------------------P u b lic u tilitie s . . . . ------------- . . . ---------General contracting---------------------------------------
i R evised .
The maximum entrance wage rate, $1 per hour, was reported in
the general contracting industry in the East North Central States,
while the minimum rate, 10 cents, was in the public utilities industry
in the South Atlantic States, and 18 cents, next to the lowest rate
paid, was shown in the foundry and machine-shop industry in the
West South Central States. The lowest rate reported in the general
contracting industry, 20 cents, was in the South Atlantic States.
The East North Central States, in which the greatest number of
common laborers working at entrance rates was covered, showed an
average of 47 cents for the 52,406 employees reported, while the
lowest average rate, 32.7 cents, appeared in the West South Central
States.
In table 2 are shown the number of common laborers receiving the
entrance rate in reporting establishments in each of the 13 industries,
their distribution by geographic divisions, and the maximum, mini
mum, and average common labor entrance rates per hour on July 2,
1934, for each industry and each geographic division, and for the
United States as a whole.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1455
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 2 .—H O U R L Y E N T R A N C E W A G E R A T E S F O R A D U L T M A L E C O M M O N L A B O R
A N D N U M B E R O F C O M M O N L A B O R E R S R E C E I V IN G E N T R A N C E W A G E R A T E S
I N E S T A B L IS H M E N T S S U P P L Y IN G R A T E S A S O F J U L Y 2, 1934
Geographic d ivision 1
Ind u stry
Autom obile:
L ow ____ _____ _____
H ig h _______________
A verage. _________
Brick, tile, and terra
COt/t;£i •
L ow ____ ___________
H ig h _______________
A verage____________
C em ent:
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage____________
Electrical
m achinery,
apparatus, and supplies:
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage _____ _____
F ou n d ry and m achineshop products:
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage______ _____
Iron and steel:
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage____________
Leather:
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage____________
Lum ber (saw m ills):
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage____________
Paper and pulp:
L ow ________________
H ig h __ ____________
A v e r a g e .. _________
Petroleum refining:
L ow ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage____________
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
L o w ________________
H ig h _______________
A verage__ _________
P u b lic u tilitie s :3
L o w ________________
H ig h __ ____________
A verage____________
General contracting: 4
L o w _____ _________
H ig h _______________
A verage_____ ______
N ew M id E ast W est South E ast W est
N orth N orth
South M o u n P a
E n g dle
A tlan South
Cen C en
Cen C en
tain
cific
land A t
tic
tral
lantic tral
tral
tral
Cl.
32.0
45.0
41. 6
Ct.
40.0
62. 5
55.8
Ct.
38.0
62.5
54.6
Ct.
50.0
62.5
54.8
Ct.
(2)
(2)
(2)
35.0
40.0
38.6
35.0
50.0
38.5
35.0
50.0
39.8
35.0
40.0
37.5
44.0
47.0
44. 5
40.0
47.5
44.3
40.0
50.0
47.7
35.0
57.5
51. 5
40.0
50.0
42.2
34.0
60.0
43.7
37.0
40.0
38.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
35.0
55.0
39.1
32.0
54.0
41.3
32.0
62. 5
41.3
35.0
43.0
40.1
25.0
44.0
29.6
25.9
40.0
32.8
37.0
47.0
44.5
35.0
50.0
43.9
37.0
55.0
45.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
25.0
44.0
40.0
27.5
47.5
32.7
32.0
56.3
48. 5
32.0
62.-5
46.9
32.0
45.0
38.5
24.0
40.0
31.0
26.0
40.0
39.6
30.0
45.0
32.0
30.0
35.0
32.6
20.0
42.5
31.1
23.0
40.0
35.8
23.0
28.5
24.8
24.0
28.5
25.1
23.0
27.5
24.0
32. 5
46.0
41.5
35.0
50.0
41.6
32.0
50.0
41.9
33.5
45.0
40.8
30.0
51.8
34.1
30.0
36.0
32.4
27.0
36.0
31.2
52.0
58.9
56.3
52.0
56.0
52.4
43.0
55.0
51.0
36.0
50.0
47.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.0
58.0
49.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
42.5
52.0
46.4
40.0
46.5
45.3
30.2
45.0
43.2
(2)
(2)
(2)
27.5
67.5
46.4
31.5
70. 5
48.7
22.5
75.0
48.0
25.0
50.0
37.7
10.0
50.0
34.0
40. 0
70.0
46.3
30.0
87.5
46.4
30.0
100.0
52.7
35.0
78.8
44.2
20.0
50.0
36.7
24.0
44.0
33.0
A ll industries:
10.0
20.0
23.0
L o w ____ ______
27.5 30.0
51.8
H ig h _______________
70.0 87. 5 100.0
78.8
47.0
43.2
33.6
A v era g e-......................
43.3 45.2
N um b er receiving entrance rates in each
geographic d iv isio n ___ 10,153 28,822 52, 406 24,534 14,809
Ct.
(2)
(2)
(2)
Ct.
(2)
(2)
(2)
24.0
39.0
30.8
24.0
30.0
25.7
34.0
35.0
34.8
30.0
38.0
34.0
18.0
45.0
34.5
Ct.
30.0
43.5
39.0
Ct.
45.0
50.0
47.2
N um
ber re
ceiving
en
U nited
States trance
rates
in each
in d u s
try
Ct.
54.9 13,017
35.0
50.0
41.5
36.9
4,997
50.0
51.0
50.8
44. 7
1,583
43. 5
2,160
(2)
(2)
(2)
40.0
55.0
43.4
40.1 13,819
(2)
(2)
(2)
38.5
45.0
41.8
43. 2 18,354
40. Q
45.0
40.5
39. 3
32.5
50.0
44.2
33.1 16,991
38.0
49.5
42.4
40.3 17,803
50.0
50.0
50.0
52.0
62.0
54.8
52.6
30.0
38.5
37.3
40.0
44.0
43.9
42.5
44.0
44.0
43.9 17,368
22.5
45.0
33.1
20.0
40.0
29.5
22.5
59.4
44.7
25.0
65.0
42.8
41.8 18,615
30.0
50.0
37.2
25.0
55.0
35.5
40.0
65.0
50.9
40.0
87.5
55.4
45.5 39,170
22.5
62.5
34.1
18.0
62.5
32.7
22.5
65.0
46.4
25.0
87.5
46.9
43.0 173,188
7,486 14,403
24.0
46.5
41.9
3,892
5,419
5,138 15,437
1 N e w E ngland: C onnecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, N ew H am pshire, R hode Island, V erm ont. M id d le
A tlantic: N ew Jersey, N ew Y ork, P enn sylvan ia. E ast N orth Central: Illinois, Indiana, M ichigan, Ohio,
W isconsin. W est N orth Central: Iow a, Kansas, M inn esota, M issouri, N ebraska, N orth D a k o ta , South
D akota. South A tlan tic: D elaw are, D istrict of C olum bia, Florida, Georgia, M arylan d, N o rth Carolina,
South Carolina, Virginia, W est Virginia. E ast South C entral: A labam a, K en tu ck y , M ississip p i, T en
nessee. W est South C entral: A rkansas, Louisiana, O klahom a, Texas. M ou n tain : A rizona, Colorado,
Idaho, M on tan a, N ew M exico, N evad a, U ta h , W yom in g. Pacific: California, Oregon, W ashington.
2 Figures om itted; data available for 1 estab lish m en t on ly.
3 Includes street railw ays, gas w orks, and electric power and ligh t plants.
* Includes build in g, h igh w ay, p ub lic works, and railroad construction.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1456
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
H ours and E arn ings in th e M a n u fa ctu re of B oys’ G olf H ose
STUDY of the wages and hours of labor in the manufacture of
boys’ golf hose was recently made by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics at the request of the Atlanta Regional Labor Board. Data
were obtained for a pay period ending in August 1934, for eight estab
lishments in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.
The 1,128 employees of these establishments had average earnings
per week of $10.09, for an average work week of 29.6 hours; this was
an average of 34 cents per hour. In the various occupations the
earnings ranged from a low of 30.2 cents per hour for transfer knitters
(women) to a high of 55.9 cents for machine fixers (men).
Of the 716 pieceworkers, 42.4 percent earned less than the minimum
allowable under the hosiery code for the southern States—30 cents
per hour. For these workers, therefore, the companies had to make
supplementary payments to bring the pay up to the required mini
mum.
A
H ours and E arn ings of M olders and M ou n ters in S tove F ou n d ries
N RESPONSE to a request by the Atlanta Regional Labor Board
for information pertaining to the earnings of molders and mounters
in stove foundries, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
obtained pay-roll records from 11 stove foundries in Alabama,
Georgia, and Tennessee for 1 pay period ending in September 1934.
The data showed that the molders, 744 in all, had average earnings
of $20.08 per week of 36.1 hours. This was an average of 55.6 cents
per hour, or $4.44 per 8-hour day. Four percent of the molders
earned less than $2.50 per day and 8 percent earned $6 and over
per day.
The 209 mounters had average earnings of $14.08 per week of 32.1
hours, or 43.9 cents per hour and $3.37 per 8-hour day. Of the
mounters, 9 percent earned less than $2.50 per day and 1 percent
earned $7 and over per day.
The code minimum in the southern States for both molders and
mounters is $2.20 per day as compared with a minimum of $3.20
per day for males and $3 per day for females in the northern States.
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1457
Average W age and Salary P a y m e n ts in V arious In d u stries in
O hio, 1916 to 1932: P art 2
By
F red C. C ro xto n , C olum bus , O h io , and F rank C. C ro xton , W h it in g , I n d .
HE manufacturing industry groups of leather and leather
products, liquors and beverages, metals and metal products,
other than iron and steel, are covered in this study.
These industry groups have been combined, due to the necessity
for economy in printing. This study is a continuation of the series
covering the period 1916 to 1932, published in the Monthly Labor
Review beginning in January 1934.
As explained in previous studies, changes in average wage and
salary payments do not provide any measure of changes in wage or
salary scales or rates of pay, nor do the average wage and salary pay
ments show full-time earnings for any year. Full-time earnings may
be either greater or less than the computed average wage and salary
payment.
T
Source and Scope of Study
T h e reports made annually, as required by law, to the Division
of Labor Statistics, Department of Industrial Relations of Ohio, form
the basis of this and previous studies relating to average wage and
salary payments published in the Monthly Labor Review. The
reports were furnished by Ohio employers immediately after the close
of each calendar year and show, among other items, the number of
persons employed on the 15th of each month and total wage and
salary payments during the year. Employers are not requested to
furnish, in connection with such reports, information concerning full
time, part-time, and overtime work and reduction of hours and other
plans for spreading work during slack periods.
Prior to 1924, reports were requested of all employers of 5 or more
persons and beginning with 1924 reports have been requested of all
employers of 3 or more persons. Some reports were received each
year from employers of fewer than the minimum indicated and all
such reports are included in the compilations. The number of estab
lishments reporting varied from year to year, but the returns were
from identical establishments throughout the 12 months of each
year. Reports were not requested concerning Government employ
ment and interstate transportation.
Employers in their annual reports to the Ohio Division of Labor
Statistics show the number of persons employed on the 15th of each
month. The average was computed by dividing the sum of the
number employed on the 15th of each month by 12.
In their annual returns, employers were requested to report for the
year total wage and salary payments in dollars, including bonuses
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1458
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and premiums and value of board and lodging furnished. Employers
were instructed not to include salaries of officials.
Average wage and salary payments were computed by dividing
total wage and salary payments by average number of persons
employed.
Manufacture of Leather and Leather Products
I n t h e manufacture of leather and leather products in Ohio, accord
ing to reports from practically all establishments employing three or
more persons, the average number of wage earners, bookkeepers,
stenographers, and office clerks employed declined 17 percent from
1929 to 1932, total wage and salary payments to such employees
decreased 46.3 percent, and average wage and salary payments
decreased 35 percent. Salespeople (not traveling) were omitted in
the preceding comparison, as data concerning the number employed
in 1932 were not available.
During the 17 years, 1916 to 1932, the average number of persons
employed reached the highest point in 1916 and the lowest in 1932.
Both total and average wage and salary payments reached the highest
amount in 1927 and the lowest in 1916.
The average number of persons reported employed in the manu
facture of leather and leather products in each of the three general
occupation groups is shown in table 1.
The highest average number of wage earners was reported employed
in 1916 and the second highest in 1919, while the lowest was in 1932,
with 1931 and 1930 second and third in order. The highest average
number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks was employed
in 1926 and the lowest in 1932. The average number of wage earners,
of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks, and of the general
occupation groups combined show a decline in employment each
year following 1927.
T a b l e 1 . — A V E R A G E N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S (B O T H S E X E S ) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D
I N M A N U F A C T U R E O F L E A T H E R A N D L E A T H E R P R O D U C T S , 1916 T O 1932, B Y
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S
Year
1916______________________________
1917______ __________ ______ - .........
1918....... ................. ......... ......... ...............
1919-........... — ......................... - ......... 1920_____ ________ _______________
1921______________________________
1922 .......................... ........... ...................
1923 ______ ______ _______________
1924______________________________
1925 .............................. ..................... —
1926 _____________________________
1927_______ ____ ____ _____ ______
1928______________________________
1929______________________________
1930______________________________
1931................. ............. ......................... 1932______________________________
N u m b er of em ployees
N um b er of
Bookkeepers,
Salespeople
establish
stenogra
(not travel
W age earners phers, and
m en ts
ing)
office clerks
37
18,346
1,060
161
34
17,465
1,068
160
1,049
27
16,855
161
39
17,790
1,075
156
42
16,395
1,146
158
1,078
47
144
15,947
959
58
14,876
138
16, 266
1,013
145
(')
981
55
138
15,043
60
141
933
15,855
59
16,113
147
1,176
1,165
67
137
16,351
1,049
61
130
15,538
1,039
65
15,345
126
119
13,959
)
852
13,153
12,844
749
106
)
110
1,001
0
(0
0
A ll em
ployees
19,443
18,566
17,930
18,904
17,583
17,072
15,893
17,279
16,079
16,848
17,348
17,582
16,647
16,449
14,960
14,005
13,593
i Carried w ith “ M anufactures, not otherw ise classified” in d etailed tabulation b y Ohio D iv isio n of
Labor S tatistics,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
More than 90 percent of persons employed in the manufacture of
leather and leather products are classified in the general occupation
group of wage earners. Fluctuation in employment from 1930 to
1932 in that general occupation group is shown in table 2.
Maximum employment during the 17 years was reported in Decem
ber 1919. Minimum employment was reported in June 1922, when
the number of wage earners employed was 41.7 percent below the num
ber at the peak 2% years earlier. The second lowest number reported
employed was in November 1931.
T able 2 .—F L U C T U A T I O N I N E M P L O Y M E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H S E X E S ) IN
M A N U F A C T U R E O F L E A T H E R A N D L E A T H E R P R O D U C T S , 1930 T O 19321
M onth
January...... ....................... ..
F eb ru ary, ...................... ..
M a rch , _ ________ ______
A pril______________
M a y ___________
J u n e_________ _________
J u ly ____________________
A u g u st__________________
S e p t e m b e r ___ _________
October_________________
N um b er of w age earn
ers (both sexes) em
ployed in—
1930
1931
1932
14, 975
14,805
14,547
14, 063
13,539
13,840
14,278
14,820
14,253
13, 737
12,590
13,345
13, 756
13,547
13,091
13, 023
14,221
14,379
13,941
12, 652
12,663
13, 203
13,224
12,886
12, 660
12,649
13, 017
13, 293
13, 394
13; 007
M on th
N um b er of w age earn
ers (both sexes) em
ployed in—
1930
1931
12,566
12,089
11,580
11, 709
11,958
12,175
M axim um
14, 975
M inim um
12,089
V ariation from maxim um —
N um b er
2,886
Percent
19.3
N um b er of establishm ents.
119
14,379
11, 580
13, 394
11, 958
2,799
19 5
110
1,436
10. 7
106
N ovem ber
D ecem ber
1932
1 For years 1916 to 1929 see Bureau of Labor S tatistics B u i. N o . 663.
Table 3 shows average wage and salary payments to wage earners;
to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks; and to the general
occupation groups combined in the manufacture of leather and leather
products.
The average wage and salary payments to wage earners reached the
highest amount during the 17 years in 1920 and the lowest in 1916.
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks received the highest
average amount in 1927 and the lowest in 1916. Combining the
three general occupation groups, the highest average wage and
salary payment was reported for 1927 and the lowest for 1916.
Chart 1 shows graphically average wage and salary payments to
wage earners in the manufacture of leather and leather products.
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MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
1460
T able 3.—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S I N M A N U F A C T U R E OF L E A T H E R
A N D L E A T H E R P R O D U C T S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S ‘
A verage w age and salary
p aym en ts to—
Average w age and salary
p aym en ts to—
N um
ber of
estab
lish
W age
m ents earners
Year
1916__________
1917 ________
1918__________
1919__________
1920__________
1921___________
1922_ ________
1923__________
1924_ ________
2 161
160
161
156
158
144
3 138
145
138
$571
635
770
938
1,123
1,074
1,072
1,089
1,037
B ook
keepers,
stenog A ll em
raphers, ployees
and office
clerks
$606
672
858
1,039
1,134
1,318
1,298
1,355
1,311
$574
638
776
945
1,125
1,091
1,088
4 1,104
1,105
Year
1925. ________
1926__________
1927__________
1928__________
1929__________
1930. ________
1931__________
1932. ________
N um
ber of
estab
W age
lish
m en ts earners
141
147
137
130
126
119
110
106
$1, 078
1,103
1,113
1,092
1,096
922
864
690
B ook
keepers,
stenog A ll em
raphers, ployees
and office
clerks
$1, 325
1,463
1,552
1,473
1,461
1,395
1,323
1,315
$1,096
1,129
1,144
1,118
1,122
«954
4 892
4 724
1 A verage for salespeople (not traveling) not com puted ow ing to sm all num ber in volved; in 1923, 1930,
1931, and 1932, carried w ith “ M anufactures, not otherw ise classified” , in d etailed tabulation b y Ohio
D iv isio n of Labor Statistics.
2 N um b er of establishm ents reporting em ployees; num ber reporting total w age and salary p aym en ts
w as less b y 1.
3 N um b er of establishm ents reporting em ployees; num ber reporting total wage and salary p aym en ts w as
greater b y 1.
t T otal w age and salary p aym en ts to salespeople (not traveling) deducted before com puting th is average,
as average num ber in th at group could not be determ ined from d etailed tabulation.
F i g u r e 1.—A v e r a g e W a g e a n d S a l a r y p a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s
M a n u f a c t u r e o f L e a t h e r a n d l e a t h e r P r o d u c t s , 1916 t o 1932.
in
Industries in Manufacture of Leather and Leather Products
I n this study several of the smaller industries classified by the
Ohio Division of Labor Statistics under the manufacture of leather
and leather products have been combined under “ Leather and leather
products, other.” The industries thus combined are: Leather belting
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
and hose; leather gloves and mittens; saddlery and harness; trunks
and valises; and leather and leather products, not otherwise classified.
Except in the year 1918, more than 80 percent of the wage earners
in industries classified by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics under
manufacture of leather and leather products were employed in the
manufacture of boots, shoes, cut stock, and findings. Table 4 shows
fluctuation in employment of wage earners in that industry from
1930 to 1932.
Maximum employment of wage earners during the 17 years was
reported in December 1919 and minimum employment 2%years later,
June 1922, when the number was 47.1 percent less. The second
lowest number reported employed was in November 1931.
T able 4.—F L U C T U A T I O N I N E M P L O Y M E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H S E X E S ) I N
M A N U F A C T U R E OF B O O T S, S H O E S , C U T S T O C K , A N D F I N D I N G S , 1930 T O 19321
M on th
J a n u a r y _____ _ ______
February _________ _ __
M a r c h ._ _______________
A pril_____ ____ _ ____
M a y ________ _______
J u n e .. _____ ________ _
J u ly ---------------------------A u g u st_______________
Sep tem b er________ _____
O cto b er.. _____________
N um b er of w age earners
(both sexes) em ployed
in—
1930
1931
1932
12, 251
12, 089
11,899
11,467
10,937
11, 271
11,724
12, 265
11,716
11,147
10,398
11,044
11, 546
11, 330
10,838
10,858
11,995
12,166
11, 702
10,428
10, 606
1L 131
11,271
10,987
10,809
10, 916
11, 290
11, 540
11', 551
11,037
M on th
N um b er of w age earners
(both sexes) em ployed
in—
1930
1931
1932
N ovem b er
D ecem ber
10,081
9, 664
9,452
9, 571
10,076
10, 399
M axim um
M inim um
V ariation from m axi
m um —
N um ber
Percent
N um b er of establish
m en ts_________________
12, 265
9, 664
12,166
9,452
11,551
10, 076
2, 601
21.2
2,714
22.3
1,475
12.8
45
38
40
i For years 1916 to 1929, see B ureau of Labor S tatistics B u i. N o. 653.
Table 5 shows average wage and salary payments to wage earners in
each of the industries and in the group “ Leather and leather products,
other.” These averages should be taken not as exact measures but
as approximate figures.
In the manufacture of boots, shoes, cut stock, and findings, the
average wage and salary payment was highest in 1927, second highest
in 1920, lowest in 1916, and second lowest in 1917. In the manufac
ture of tanned, curried, and finished leather, the average was highest
in 1920, second highest in 1928, lowest in 1916, and second lowest in
1917. In the group “ Leather and leather products, other”, the
average was highest in 1920, second highest in 1926, lowest in 1916,
and second lowest in 1932.
Chart 2 shows graphically average wage and salary payments in
the manufacture of boots, shoes, cut stock, and findings.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 .— A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S T O W A G E E A R N E R S I N M A N
U F A C T U R E OF L E A T H E R A N D L E A T H E R P R O D U C T S , 1916 T O 1932, B Y I N D U S T R I E S
Y ear
1916 .
1917
1918
1919 .
1920________
1921_________
1922
1923_________
1924---.............
Boots,
shoes,
cu t stock,
and
findings
$542
590
719
886
1,067
1,045
(>)
1,061
1,050
Leather,
tanned,
curried,
and
finished
$785
854
1,050
1,348
1,490
1.302
(*)
1.302
1,356
Leather
and
leather
products,
other
$628
773
873
1,015
1,227
1,184
(')
1,089
1.138
B oots,
shoes,
cut stock,
and
findings
Year
1925_________
1926 ________
1927_________
1928_________
1929— , ...........
1930_________
1931_________
1932_________
Leather,
tanned,
curried,
and
finished
$1,044
1,062
1,076
1,046
1,050
859
816
650
Leather
and
leather
products,
other
$1,325
1,370
1,415
1,441
1,430
1,344
1,242
999
$1,138
1,207
1,137
1,127
1,132
1,022
882
177
1 Inform ation concerning total w age and salary p aym en ts n ot tabulated b y Ohio D iv isio n of Labor
S tatistics for in d ivid u al industries.
Indexes of Employment and Wage and Salary Payments
I ndexes of average number of wage earners employed and total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown in
m anufacture of
Bo o t s ,
shoes,
C ut St o c k ,
and fin d in g s,
1916
to
1932.
table 6. The base for these indexes is 1926. The years covered are
1924 to 1932, during which period reports were requested each year
by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics for all establishments em
ploying three or more persons.
In the manufacture of leather and leather products, the index for
each "of the three items covered exceeded the base year in 1927. The
indexes were lowest in 1932—79.7 for average number of wage earners
employed, 49.9 for total wage and salary payments, and 62.6 for
average wage and salary payment.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1463
In the manufacture of boots, shoes, cut stock, and findings, the
index for each of the items also exceeded the base year in 1927. The
indexes, however, were lowest in 1931 for average number of wage
earners employed (82.1), and in 1932 for total wage and salary pay
ments (50.4) and for average wage and salary payments (61.2).
In the manufacture of tanned, curried, and finished leather, the
index was at the highest point in 1926 for average number of wage
earners employed and at the lowest point (79.3) in 1932. The index
for total wage and salary payments reached the highest point (102.3)
in 1927 and the lowest (57.9) in 1932, while that for average wage
and salary payment reached the highest point (105.2) in 1928 and
the lowest (72.9) in 1932.
In the group “ Leather and leather products, other”, the index for
average number of wage earners employed and also for total wage
and salary payments was highest in 1929 and lowest in 1932. For
average wage and salary payments the index was highest in 1926 and
lowest in 1932.
Charts 3 and 4 (pp. 1464, 1465) show graphically indexes for the
manufacture of leather and leather products and for the manufacture of
boots, shoes, cut stock, and findings.
T able 6 .—I N D E X E S O F A V E R A G E N U M B E R O F W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D
T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S I N
T H E M A N U F A C T U R E O F L E A T H E R A N D L E A T H E R P R O D U C T S , 1924 T O 1932, B Y
IN D U ST R IE S
[1926 = 100.0]
Leather and leather
products
Year
Boots,, shoes, cut
stock, and findings
Leather, tanned, cur
ried, and finished
Leather and leather
products, other
W age
A ver W age
A ver W age
T otal A ver W age T otal A ver
earn T otal
age
earn T otal
age
earn
age
earn
age
wage wage
wage
wage
wage
ers
ers
wage
ers
wage
ers
w age
and
(aver and
(aver and
and
(aver and
and
salary and (aver salary and
salary
age
salary
age
salary
age
age salary salary
p ay salary
n um p ay p ay n u m p a y
p ay n u m
p ay n u m p a y p a y
ber) m ents m en t ber) m ents m en t ber) m en ts m en t
ber) m en ts m ent
1924...................... 93.4
1925___________
98.4
1926___________
1927.................... 101.5
1928___________
96.4
1929___________
95.2
1930___________
1931______ ____
81.6
1932___________
79.7
92.1
96.2
98.5
97.7
93.9
98.6
92.8
96.9
98.9
64.0
49.9
83.6
78.3
62.6
85.4
82.1
82.3
69.1
63.1
50.4
80.9
76.8
61.2
98.2
98.2
97.2
90.0
85.9
79.3
88.3
77.9
57.9
99.0
81.6
77.0
94.3
81.6
51.6
33.0
84.7
73.1
63.9
95.0
91.4
94.3
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 198.3
00.0 100.0 100.0 196.7
00.0 196.9
00.0 100.0 100.0
102.4 100.9 101.7 103.1 101.3
99.0 102.3 103.3 102.1 96.2
94.2
95.5
99.0
95.0
93.7
98.5
96.1 101.1 105.2 112.4 105.0
93.4
94.6
99.4
93.2
92.2
98.9
97.5 101.8 104.4 114.2 107.2
93.8
86.6 72.5
98.1
90.7
72.9
96.3
70.6
51.6
Manufacture of Liquors and Beverages
I n t h e manufacture of liquors and beverages in Ohio during the
17 years, 1916 to 1932, the highest average wage and salary payment
to all occupation groups combined was $1,761 in 1923; the second
highest was $1,732 in 1920; and the lowest was $1,004 in 1917. The
average payment in 1932 was $1,233, which was the lowest since 1918.
In this industry group employment of wage earners and total wage
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1464
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and salary payments have declined each year since 1925 and average
payments each year since 1928.
Employment and pay rolls in this industry group were, of course,
affected by the adoption of the eighteenth amendment to the Federal
Constitution. The manufacture of distilled liquor disappears from
the Ohio reports following 1918, and the manufacture of malt liquor
following 1919. There occurred at once a great increase in employ-
F i g u r e 3.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e E a r n e r s E m p l o y e d a n d W a g e a n d s a l a r y
P a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in m a n u f a c t u r e o f L e a t h e r a n d L e a t h e r
P r o d u c t s . 1924 t o 1932.
ment and pay rolls in the manufacture of mineral and soda waters.
Following 1920, however, employment and pay rolls in that industry
began to decrease and a decline was reported each year since 1925.
Table 7 shows the average number of persons reported employed
in each of the three general occupation groups.
The highest average number was employed in each of the occupa
tion groups, except salespeople (not traveling), in 1916, and the
second highest in 1917. The lowest average number was employed
in 1932 in each of the occupation groups.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
F i g u r e 4.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e E a r n e r s E m p l o y e d a n d W a g e a n d s a l a r y
P a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c t u r e o f B o o t s , s h o e s . C u t s t o c k
a n d f i n d i n g s , 1924 t o 1932.
T able 7 .—A V E R A G E N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S (B O T H S E X E S ) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D
I N M A N U F A C T U R E O F L IQ U O R S A N D B E V E R A G E S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C
C U P A T IO N G R O U PS
N um b er of em ployees
Year
1916_____________________________
1917____________________________
1918______________________________
1919______________________
.
1920______________________________
1921. ________________
1922________________
1923______________________________
1924_______________________ ____ _
1925______________________________
1926______________________________
1927______________________________
1928______________________________
1929. __________________
1930____________________ _______
1931______________________________
1932. j ___________________________
97667—34------11
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N um b er of
estab lish
m en ts
192
179
182
167
150
121
120
124
140
147
153
155
150
164
163
175
158
W age
earners
6,461
6,342
5,820
4, 533
3, 651
2, 670
2, 234
2,194
2,015
2,139
2, 026
1,939
1,820
1,817
1,724
1,583
1,370
Bookkeepers,
stenographers,
and office
clerks
639
636
576
529
453
362
313
316
279
282
285
255
245
261
247
248
244
Salespeople
(not travel
ing)
150
168
152
144
128
129
134
127
142
131
165
163
143
163
99
91
71
All em p lo y
ees
7, 249
7,147
6, 547
5, 206
4,232
3,161
2, 681
2, 637
2,436
2, 552
2, 476
2, 357
2,207
2,242
2,071
1,922
1,685
1466
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
More than 80 percent of the employees in the manufacture of
liquors and beverages were classified each year as wage earners.
Table 8 shows for that occupation group fluctuation in employment
from 1930 to 1932.
This industry group has a high seasonal fluctuation and the varia
tion from maximum within the year exceeded 30 percent in 11 of the
17 years. Within the year, maximum employment occurred in June,
July, or August—usually in July—and minimum employment in
January, February, or December—usually in December. Maximum
employment of wage earners reported during the 17-year period was
7,368 in August 1916, and minimum employment was 1,183 in
December 1932.
T able 8 .—F L U C T U A T I O N I N E M P L O Y M E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H S E X E S ) I N
M A N U F A C T U R E O F L IQ U O R S A N D B E V E R A G E S , 1930 T O 19321
N um b er of w age earners
(both sexes) em ployed
in —
M on th
M arch ---------------------------TV/Tpiy
J u n e----- ---------- -- - - - --J u l y - ------ ---------------------O c t o b e r - .----- --------------
1930
1931
1,498
1,502
1,526
1,652
1,942
2,044
2,118
2,122
1,762
1,595
1,421
1,439
1,460
1,556
1,650
1,720
1,887
1,856
1,668
1,530
N um b er of w age earners
(both sexes) em ployed
in —
M o n th
1,312
1,320
1,291
1,378
1,470
1,717
1,468
1,408
1,356
1,249
1932
1930
1931
-------------
1,480
1,449
1,414
1,389
1,286
1,183
M axim u m ------- --------------M in im u m _________
V ariation from m axi
m um — '
N u m b e r -. - ---------P ercen t----- -----------N u m b er of estab lish
___
m en ts_________
2,122
1,449
1,887
1,389
1,717
1,183
673
31.7
498
26.4
534
31.1
163
175
158
1932
N o v e m b e r -,.
D ecem b er___ -
i For years 1916 to 1929, see B ureau of Labor S tatistics B u i. N o . 553.
Table 9 shows average wage and salary payments in the manufac
ture of liquors and beverages.
The highest average payment to wage earners and to the three
general occupation groups combined was reported in 1923, the second
highest in 1920, and the lowest in 1917. The average in 1932 was the
lowest since 1918.
T able 9.—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S I N M A N U F A C T U R E O F L IQ U O R S
A N D B E V E R A G E S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S 1
Average w age and salary
p aym en ts to—
A verage w age and salary
p aym en ts to—
Year
N um
ber of
estab
W age
lish
m ents earners
1916___________
1917____ _____
1 9 1 8 _________
1919____ _____
1920................. .
1921____ _____
1922-...............
1923__________
1924.....................
i
192
179
182
167
150
121
120
124
140
$1,170
974
1,137
1,286
1,754
1,455
1,351
1,771
1,492
B ook
keepers,
stenog A ll em
raphers, ployees
and office
clerks
$1,094
1,154
1,286
1,409
1,551
1,615
1,549
1,573
1,499
$1,172
1,004
1,160
1,308
1,732
1,483
1,393
1,761
1,516
Year
1925 __________
1926___________
1927__________
1928 _________
1929___________
1930___________
1931___________
1932___________
N um
ber of
estab
W age
lish
m en ts earners
147
153
155
150
164
163
175
158
$1,489
1,428
1,475
1,491
1,484
1,470
1,396
1,200
B ook
keepers,
stenog A ll em
raphers, ployees
and office
clerks
$1,617
1,594
1,623
1,560
1,554
1,566
1,444
1,243
A verage for salespeople (not traveling) n ot com puted ow ing to sm all num ber in volved.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1,584
1,493
1,521
1, 553
1,527
1,522
1,431
1,233
1467
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Industries in the Manufacture of Liquors and Beverages
I n t h is study, tlie manufacture of vinous liquors, malt, and liquors
and beverages not otherwise classified, has been combined under
“ Liquors and beverages, other.”
Two of the industries disappear from the reports following the
adoption of the eighteenth amendment. Data for total wage and
salary payments for 1922 were not tabulated by the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics for individual industries.
Average wage and salary payments to wage earners in each of the
industries are shown in table 10. These averages should be taken not
as exact measures, but as approximate figures.
T able 10.—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S I N M A N
U F A C T U R E OF L IQ U O R S A N D B E V E R A G E S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y I N D U S T R I E S
Year
_
1916
1917
_
1918
_
1919
_
1920________
1921_______
1922________
1923________
1924________
Liquors, Liquors,
d istilled
m alt
0)
$712
746
M ineral Liquors
and
and b ev
soda
erages,
waters
other
$940
1,010
1,154
1,263
$766
846
1,157
1,301
1, 775
1,463
(2)
1,791
1,479
$777
789
1,022
1,156
1,448
1,333
(2)
1,483
1,650
Y ear
Liquors, Liquors,
distilled
m alt
1925_________
1926— .........__
_
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1 O m itted due to error in reporting or tabulating; unable to m ake further verification.
was $651.
2 D a ta not available.
M ineral Liquors
and
and b ev
soda
erages,
waters
other
$1,476
1,406
1,447
1,460
1,456
1,434
1,365
1,161
$1,637
1,624
1,725
1,736
1,669
1,664
1,521
1,331
A verage for 1915
Indexes of Employment and Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown
in table 11 for the industry group as a whole and for the manufacture
of mineral and soda waters. The base is the year 1926. The indexes
cover the period during which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics
requested reports from all employers of three or more persons.
The indexes of employment and total payments show a decline
each year since 1925 and the indexes of average payments a decline
each year since 1928.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1468
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 1 1 .—I N D E X E S O F A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D
T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN
M A N U F A C T U R E O F L IQ U O R S A N D B E V E R A G E S A N D I N T H E M I N E R A L - A N D
S O D A -W A T E R I N D U S T R Y , 1924 TO 1932
[1926 = 100.0]
M anufacture of liquors and
beverages
Year
W age
earners
(average
num ber)
1924__________________________
1925__________________________
1926__________________________
1927__________________________
1928__________________________
1929__________________________
1930__________________________
1931__________________________
1932__________________________
99.5
105.6
100.0
95.7
89.8
89.7
85.1
78.1
67.6
M ineral and soda waters
T otal
w age and
salary
p aym en ts
A verage
w age and
salary
p aym en t
103.9
110.1
100.0
98.9
93.8
93.2
87.6
76.4
56.8
104.5
104.3
100.0
103.3
104.4
103.9
102.9
97.8
84.0
W age
earners
(average
num ber)
102.2
107.9
100.0
95.6
88.9
87.1
79.7
69. 1
57.6
T otal
w age and
salary
p aym en ts
107.6
113.2
100.0
98.3
92.4
90.2
81.3
67.0
47.5
Average
w age and
salary
p aym en t
105.2
105.0
100.0
102.9
103.8
103.6
102.0
97.1
82.6
Manufacture of Metals and Metal Products, Other than Iron and Steel
I n t h e manufacture of metals and metal products, other than iron
and steel, in Ohio during the 17 years, 1916 to 1932, the highest
average wage and salary payment to all occupation groups combined
was $1,476 in 1929 and the lowest was $715 in 1916. The average in
1932 was $1,047, which was the lowest since 1917.
The decline in average wage and salary payments from 1929 to 1932
was $461, or 32.1 percent, for wage earners; $263, or 15.1 percent, for
bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks; and $429, or 29.1 per
cent for the three general occupation groups (including salespeople,
not traveling) combined.
Table 12 shows the average number of persons reported employed
in each of the three general occupation groups.
The year 1929 shows the highest average number employed of
wage earners and of the occupation groups combined, the year 1920
shows the second highest average, 1921 the lowest during the 17
years, and 1932 the lowest since 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1469
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T TW
™ Î Æ I m ? T9,F P E R S O N S (B O T H S E X E S ) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D
I N M A N U i A O T U R E O F M E T A L S A N D M E T A L P R O D U C T S , O T H E R T H A N IR O N A N D
S T E E L , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S
N u m b er of em ployees
N um b er
of estab
lish m en ts
Year
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.
W age earners
331
339
395
409
457
432
406
456
471
488
490
506
523
544
549
544
531
Bookkeepers,
stenogra
phers, and
office clerks
24, 993
25,433
31, 800
29, 643
34, 404
22, 746
27, 523
34,148
30, 496
32,506
32, 533
31,383
32, 306
37, 744
32.061
27,879
25,046
Salespeople
(not travel
ing)
2, 229
2, 339
2,950
3, 494
3, 742
3, 395
3, 022
3, 601
3, 540
3, 622
3, 657
4,062
4,115
4, 724
4, 869
4, 493
4,022
A ll em p lo y
ees
109
107
193
121
138
134
122
123
109
175
185
185
195
234
187
97
128
27, 332
27, 879
34,943
33, 259
38,284
26, 274
30, 667
37, 873
34,144
36,303
36, 375
35, 629
36, 616
42,703
37,116
32,469
29,196
More than 85 percent of the employees in the manufacture of
metals and metal products, other than iron and steel, were classified
each year as wage earners. Table 13 shows fluctuation in employ
ment for that occupation group from 1930 to 1932. Maximum
employment for the 17-year period was 40,148 in October 1929, and
minimum employment was 20,733 in August 1921.
T 4 ? i!eM ? t; t 1 T U 0 T U A T I 0 N I N E M P L O Y M E N T OF W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H S E X E S ) i n
^ Y ^ L ^ I Î I S iY t O
M E T A L S A N D M E T A L P R O D U C T S , O T H E R T H A N IR O N A N D
M o n th
J a n u a r y ...
F e b r u a r y ..
M arch ___
A pril_____
M a y ______
J u n e_____
J u ly ..........
A u g u st___
Septem ber.
October___
N ovem b er.
N um b er of wage earners
(both sexes) em ployed
in —
1930
1931
1932
34,047
33, 715
33, 988
34, 322
33,991
32,490
31,075
30,302
30, 657
30,801
30,179
27, 397
28, 483
29,182
29, 591
29,148
28, 351
27,665
27,048
27,317
27,409
26,889
26,023
26, 300
26,435
25, 520
25,419
25,148
24,259
23, 073
24,825
25,027
24, 769
M on th
N um b er of wage earners
(both sexes) em p loyed
in —
1930
1931
1932
D ecem b er_________ ____ _ 29,160
26,069
23, 748
M axim u m __________ . . . 34, 322
M in im u m ____________ _ 29,160
V ariation from maxim um —
N u m b er______ _ . . .
5,162
P e r c e n t ____
.. .
15.0
N u m b er of establishm en ts________________
549
29, 591
26,069
26,435
23,073
3, 522
11.9
3, 362
12.7
544
531
1 For years 1916 to 1929 see Bureau of Labor S tatistics B u i. N o . 553.
Table 14 shows average wage and salary payments in the manufac
ture of metals and metal products, other than iron and steel.
The highest average payment to wage earners and to the general
occupation groups combined was in 1929. The highest average pay
ment to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks was in 1930.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1470
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The lowest average was paid to each group in 1916. The 1932 aver
age payment to wage earners and to the groups combined was the
f i g u r e 5 .— a v e r a g e W a g e a n d S a l a r y p a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u
fa c t u r e o f Meta ls and m e t a l p r o d u c t s , o t h e r t h a n iro n and s t e e l .
1916 TO 1932.
lowest since 1917. Chart 5 shows graphically average wage and
salary payments to wage earners.
T a b l e 1 4 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S I N M A N U F A C T U R E OF
M E T A L S A N D M E T A L P R O D U C T S , O T H E R T H A N I R O N A N D S T E E L , 1916 T O 1932, B Y
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S i
A verage w age and salary
p aym en ts to—
Y ear
1916 ____ ____
1917. .................
1918 _________
1919__________
1 9 2 0 .................
1921............... ..
1922_____ ____
1923
___
1924 ____ ____
N um ber of
estab
lish
m en ts
2 331
339
395
409
457
432
3 406
458
471
W age
earners
$699
786
1,113
1,128
1,416
1,180
1,154
1,311
1, 302
B ook
keepers,
stenog A ll em
raphers, ployees
and office
clerks
$815
943
1,060
1,170
1,410
1,440
1, 544
1,761
1,549
$715
802
1,110
1,137
1,422
1,222
1,199
1,360
1,333
A verage w age and salary
p aym en ts to—
Year
1925........... .........
1926 1_________
1927__________
1928 ________
1929. ________
1930__________
1931__________
1932__________
N um ber of
estab
lish
m en ts
488
490
506
523
544
549
544
531
W age
earners
$1,372
1,373
1,371
1,422
1,434
1,355
1,155
973
B ook
keepers,
stenog A ll em
raphers, ployees
and office
clerks
$1,662
1,693
1,688
1,705
1,740
1,809
1,711
1,477
$1,412
1,416
1,418
1,466
L 476
1,411
1,235
1,047
1 A verage for salespeople (not traveling) not com p u ted , ow ing to sm all num ber in volved .
2 N um b er of establishm ents reporting em ployees; th e num ber reporting total w age and salary p aym en ts
was greater b y 2.
3 N um b er of establishm ents reporting em ployees; th e num ber reporting total w age and salary p aym en ts
w as greater b y 4.
4 N o t in agreem ent w ith stu d y of A verage W age and Salary P a y m en ts in M anufactures, M o n th ly
Labor R eview , M arch 1934, due to corrections in tab ulation s of Ohio D iv isio n of Labor S tatistics after
publication of M arch stud y.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1471
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Industries in the Manufacture of Metals and Metal Products, other than
Iron and Steel
I n t h is study the manufacturing industries listed below have been
combined under “ Metals and metal products, other than iron and
steel, other”: babbitt metal and solder; metal caskets; electroplat
ing; galvanizing; bar, pipe, and sheet lead; silverware and plated
ware; smelting and refining of aluminum, brass, and copper; smelting
and refining, not from ore; metals and metal products, other than iron
and steel, not otherwise classified.
Average wage and salary payments to wage earners in each of the
6 industries and in the group “ Other” are shown in table 15. These
averages should not be taken as exact measures but as approximate
figures.
Omitting consideration of 1927 data for clocks, watches, and
materials, and 1928 data for the group “ Other” 1the highest average
wage and salary payment to wage earners was made in 1920 in 3 in
dustries, in 1927 in 1, in 1928 in 1, in 1929 in 1, and in 1930 in 1.
The lowest average payment was made in 1916 in 6 industries and in
1932 in 1.
T a b l e 15.—AVERAGE
WAGE AND SALARY PAYMENTS TO WAGE EARNERS IN MANUl 9f6 T 0 ^ 2 0 B # IINTD u lTi? E S METAL PR0DUCTS- 0THER THAN IR0N AND STEEL,
Year
Brass,
bronze,
and
alu m i
num
products
Clocks,
w atches,
and m a
terials
Copper,
tin , and
sheetiron
products
F u rn i
ture and
office
fixtures
Gas and
electric
fixtures
and
lam ps
and re
flectors
Jewelry,
in clud
ing re
ducing
and re
fining
M etals
and
m etal
products,
other
$855
891
1,183
1,368
1, 651
1,277
(0
1,468
1,435
1, 457
1, 505
1,452
1, 494
1, 564
1,466
1, 268
997
$615
750
855
998
1, 242
1, 066
(0
1, 253
1, 305
1,438
1,313
(2)
1,586
1,585
1,470
1, 305
1,113
$709
808
1, 228
1,123
1, 424
1,154
0)
1, 279
1,266
1,351
1,314
1, 300
1,357
1, 401
1,289
1,058
906
(0
(0
0)
$1,056
1,420
1.066
0)
1,295
1, 467
1,380
1,424
1,485
1, 490
1, 535
1,380
1,200
956
$594
658
806
911
1,154
1,183
0)
1,175
1,181
1,267
1, 275
1,311
1, 301
1,247
1,336
1, 222
1,095
$757
840
929
1,000
1, 253
1,366
0)
1,131
1,372
1,459
1,479
1, 526
1,455
1, 507
1,482
1,212
1,079
$820
975
1,109
1,246
1, 611
1,295
(!)
1,348
1,235
1,419
1,459
1,425
(2)
1,518
L 376
1,270
1,049
1916__________________________
1917. _ _________
___ ______
1918_____________________
1919__ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1920_______________________
1921_______________ . . .
1922______________________
1923___________________________
1 9 2 4 .. ._ _ _ ___
1925_____________
______ . . .
1926. _________________________
1927. _______________________
1928___________________________
1929 __________________________
1930___________________________
1931_________________________
1932___________________________
1 D a ta not available.
2 O m itted, due to apparent error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.
Indexes of Employment and Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown
in table 16. The base is the year 1926. The indexes cover the period
1 See n ote to table 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1472
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
during which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics requested reports
from all employers of 3 or more persons. Indexes are shown for the
manufacture of metal and metal products, other than iron and
steel, as a whole, and for each of 6 industries.
Considering the industry group as a whole, the index in 1932 was
77 for average number of wage earners employed, 54.6 for total wage
and salary payments to wage earners, and 70.9 for average wage and
1926
140
=
100.0
____A4 \
I2Ö
'/
/ /
/
\\
\
/
100 —
VN
\ \
\
\
/
/
/
\
80
V s
\
\
---- W a g e E a r n e r s ( A v e r a g e N u m b e r )
____ T o t a l W a g e a n d S a l a r y P a y m e n t s
.... A v e r a g e W a g e a n d S a l a r y P a y m e n t
\
\
\
\
60
\
4a
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
F i g u r e 6.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e E a r n e r s E m p l o y e d a n d W a g e a n d s a l a r y
PAYMENTS TO WAGE EARNERS IN MANUFACTURE OF METALS AND METAL P ROD
UCTS O T H ER THAN IRON AND S TEEL, 1924 TO 1932.
salary payments. The indexes for the industry group are not in
agreement with the study of Average Wage and Salary Payments in
Manufactures published in the Monthly Labor Review for March
1934, due to corrections in the tabulations of the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics after the publication of the study in March. Chart 6
shows indexes for the industry group as a whole.
The manufacture of clocks, watches, and materials shows the lowest
1932 index for average number of wage earners employed and for total
payments to wage earners. The manufactures of brass, bronze, and
aluminum show the lowest 1932 index for average payments to wage
earners and furniture and office fixtures second lowest.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1473
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T
1 6 .—I N D E X E S O F A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D
T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E W A G E A N D S A L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S I N
M A N U F A C T U R E OF M E T A L S A N D M E T A L P R O D U C T S , O T H E R T H A N I R O N A N D
S T E E L , 1924 TO 1932, B Y I N D U S T R I E S
able
[1926=100.0]
M etals and m etal
p r o d u c t s , o th e r
t h a n ir o n a n d
s t e e l1
Year
W age
earners
(aver
age
n um
ber)
1924___________
1925___________
1926___________
1927___________
1928___________
1929___________
1930___________
1931___________
1932___________
93.7
99.9
100.0
96.5
99.3
116.0
98.5
85.7
77.0
A ver
T otal
age
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
pay
p ay
m ents
m ent
88.9
99.9
100.0
96.4
102.9
121.2
97.3
72. 1
54.6
1924_______________
1925_______________
1926_______________
1927_______________
1928_______________
1929-- ____________
1930_______________
1931_______________
1932_______________
W age
earners
(aver
age
n um
ber)
79.3
98.0
100.0
98.7
108.7
123.1
96.0
76.3
74.2
A ver
T otal
age
wage
wage
and
salary and
salary
p ay
m ents p ay
m ent
75.6
94.9
100.0
95.2
107.8
127.9
93.5
64.3
49.2
95.3
96.8
100.0
96.5
99.3
103.9
97.4
84.3
66.2
Clocks, w atches, and
m aterials
W age
earners
(aver
age
num
ber)
A ver
T otal
age
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
p ay
p ay
m ents
m ent
94.5
42.5
100.0
0
49.1
55.4
38.8
33.6
19.3
93.9
46.6
100.0
0
59.3
66.9
43.4
33.4
16.4
Furniture and office
.fixtures
Gas and electric fixtures
and lam ps and reflectors
T otal
wage
and
salary
p ay
m ents
A v era g e W age
earners
wage
and
(aver
salary
age
num
p ay
ber)
m en t
T otal
wage
and
salary
pay
m en ts
93.1
91.5
100. 0
103. 5
104.4
133.4
87.8
71.9
65.1
86.3
90.9
100.0
106.4
106.5
130.5
92.0
69.0
55.9
W age
earners
(aver
age
n um
ber)
Year
94.8
99.9
100.0
99.9
103.6
104.4
98.7
84.1
70.9
Brass, bronze, and
alum inum products
97.7
115.7
100.0
105.8
104.6
124.0
105.4
85.3
64.1
100.6
112.0
100. 0
110.4
109.4
133.7
102.1
71.8
43.0
103. 0
96.9
100.0
104.3
104.6
107.8
96.9
84.3
67. 1
99.4
109.5
100.0
0
120.8
120.7
112. 0
99.4
84.8
Copper, tin , and
sheet-iron products
W age
earners
(aver
age
n um
ber)
101.9
106.3
100.0
94.3
94. 1
109.7
109.9
100.5
85.5
98.1
109.3
100.0
93.3
97.2
117.0
107.8
80.9
58.9
96.3
102.8
100.0
98.9
103.3
106.6
98. 1
80.5
68.9
Jew elry, including reducing
and refining
A v e r a g e W age
earners
wage
(aver
and
salary
age
num
p ay
ber)
m en t
92.6
99.4
100.0
102.8
102. 0
97.8
104.8
95.8
85.9
A ver
T otal
age
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
pay
pay
m ents
m ent
T otal
wage
and
salary
pay
m en ts
91.2
98. 2
100. 0
97.0
122.0
110.0
90.3
83.3
53.6
84.6
96.9
100.0
100.1
120.0
112. 1
90.5
68.3
39.1
A verage
w age
and
salary
pay
m ent
92.8
98.6
100.0
103.2
98.4
101.9
100.2
81.9
73.0
1 Indexes not in agreem ent w ith s tu d y of A verage W age and Salary P aym en ts in M anufactures, M o n th ly
Labor R eview , M arch 1934, due to corrections in tab ulation s of Ohio D ivision of Labor S tatistics after
publication of M arch stud y.
2 O m itted due to apparent error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.
W a g e-R a te C h an ges in A m erican In d u stries
Manufacturing Industries
HE following table presents information concerning wage-rate
adjustments occurring between August 15 and September 15,1934,
as shown by reports received from 24,206 manufacturing establishments
employing 3,439,808 workers in September.
One hundred and thirty-two establishments in 44 industries re
ported wage-rate increases averaging 6.9 percent and affecting 12,555
employees. One establishment each in four industries reported
decreases which averaged 9.1 percent and affected 553 workers.
The outstanding wage-rate adjustment was an average increase of
5 percent received by 3,920 wage earners in 5 petroleum refineries.
Fifteen establishments in the newspaper and periodical industry
gave an average increase of 9.2 percent to 1,014 workers. Two estab
lishments in the machine-tool industry reported an average increase
of 7 percent to 952 wage earners. An average increase of 9.4 percent
was given to 924 workers in 9 bakeries, and one of 7 percent affecting
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1474
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
922 employees was reported by 6 establishments in the electricalmachinery industry. The increases in each of the remaining industries
affected 483 employees or less.
T a b le 1.—W A G E -R A T E
Ind u stry
C H A N G E S I N M A N U F A C T U R IN G
M O N T H E N D I N G S E P T . 15, 1934
E stablishm ents
report
ing
T otal
num ber
of em
ployees
No
changes
1 Less than Mo of 1 percent.
D U R IN G
N um b er of em ployees
h avin g—
N um b er of establish
m en ts reporting—
A ll m anufacturing industries........ 24,206 3,439,808 24,070
99.4
100.0
100.0
Percentage of to ta l............... ..
Iron and steel and their products,
not including machinery:
B last furnaces, steel works
238
248,222
238
and rolling m ills __________
B olts, n u ts, washers, and
60
8,594
60
riv ets......................... .................
47
7,970
Cast-iron p ip e_______________
47
C utlery (not including silver
and plated cutlery) and
167
13,333
167
edge to o ls .................................
92
92
Forgings, iron and steel_____
8, 727
120
121
26,157
H ardw are___________________
84
83
9,171
P lum b ers’ sup p lies--------------Steam and hot-w ater heating
apparatus and steam S t
98
21,438
98
in gs............................................ .
202
204
25,491
S to v es..................... ................... .
Structural and ornam ental
21,041
283
m etalw ork ............. ...................
281
12, 556
62
T in cans and other tin w a r e ..
61
T ools (not including edge
tools, m achine tools, files,
137
10,159
139
and sa w s)_________________
108
W irew ork___________________
11,118
109
M achinery, not including trans
portation equipm ent:
77
77
Agricultural im p lem en ts.........
10,053
Cash registers, adding m a
chines, and calculating
16,647
29
m achines...... ............. ...............
29
E lectrical m achinery, appara
423
429
tu s, and sup p lies_____ ____
126,965
E ngines, turbines, tractors,
104
and water w heels__________
101
28,794
F ou n d ry and m achine-shop
1,584
144,100
p rod ucts..................................... 1,590
214
22,124
216
M achine tools_________ _____
R adios and phonographs........
58
39,999
58
10,531
147
T extile m achinery and p arts.
147
12
12
T ypew riters and p arts.............
11,175
T ransportation equipm ent:
33
7,038
33
A ircraft..........................................
A utom ob iles________________
317
257,189
317
Cars, electric- and steam -rail
64
64
16, 931
road................................. ...........
L ocom otives________________
4,770
10
10
Ship bu ildin g.......................... ..
33, 689
109
107
R ailroad repair shops:
20,211
393
389
E lectric railroad_____________
73, 721
Steam railroad____ ____ ____
539
539
Nonferrous m etals and their prod
ucts:
A lim inu m m anufactures____
32
32
5,938
Brass, bronze, and copper
p rod ucts____ _____________
361
357
39, 786
C locks and w atches and tim e
recording d evices--------------10,708
28
26
180
Jew elry............................... ...........
179
10, 666
L ighting eq u ip m en t...... ...........
3.980
71
71
7,984
62
Silverw are and plated w a r e ..
62
Sm elting and refining—cop
16,032
43
per, lead, and z i n c . . .............
43
Stam ped and enam eled w are.
199
198
21,907
Lum ber and allied products:
604
Fu rn itu re......................................
595
56,564
Lum ber:
614
M ill w ork_______ _______
24,445
610
S aw m ills................................
638
79, 296
638
1,952
30
T u rp en tin e and r o s i n .. ...........
30
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U ST R IE S
W age- W age- N o wage- Wage- Wagerate in- rate derate in- rate derate
creases creases changes creases creases
132
.5
(>)
4 3,426, 700
99.6
12,555
.4
553
0)
248,222
8,594
7¡ 970
1
1
13,333
8, 727
26; 144
9,165
13
6
2
21,438
25,446
45
2
1
21,021
12; 451
20
105
2
1
10,140
10,949
19
169
10,053
16, 647
6
126,043
922
3
28, 464
330
6
2
143,899
21,172
39’, 999
10,531
11,175
201
952
7,038
257,189
1
1
16,931
4,770
33,499
35
4
20, 036
73,721
4
39, 741
45
2
1
10,674
lOi 390
3; 980
7,984
34
276
175
5,938
1
16,032
2i; 898
9
9
56, 231
333
4
24, 425
79; 296
L952
20
155
1475
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—W A G E -R A T E C H A N G E S I N M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S
M O N T H E N D I N G S E P T . 15, 1934—C ontinued
Ind u stry
Stone, clay, and glass products:
B rick, tile, and terra co tta __
C em en t_____________________
G lass_______ ______ ________
M arble, granite, slate, and
other p r o d u c ts.......................
P o t t e r y . . ......................... ...........
T extiles and their products:
Fabrics:
Carpets and ru g s................
C otton goods........ ...............
C otton sm all w a r e s .. . . .
D y ein g and finishing textiles___________________
H ats, fur-felt____________
K n it goods........................ ..
Silk and rayon goods____
W oolen
and w orsted
goods_________________
W earing apparel:
C lothing, m en ’s_________
C lothing, w om en ’s . ...........
Corsets and allied garm en ts___________ _____
M e n ’s fu rn ish in g s.............
M illin e ry ....... ........... ...........
Shirts and collars________
Leather and its manufactures:
B oots and shoes..........................
L eath er_________ __________
Food and kindred products:
B ak in g____ ____________ ____
B everages___________________
B u tter__________________ . . .
C anning and preserving...........
C onfection ery................. ...........
F lo u r___ _____ _____________
Ice cream _________________ .
Slaughtering and m eat packin g ------------------------------------Sugar, b eet__________________
Sugar refining, can e_________
T obacco m anufactures:
C hew ing and sm oking tobacco and snuff........ .....................
Cigars and cigarettes________
Paper and printing:
Boxes, p a p e r .............................
Paper and p u lp ..........................
Prin tin g and publishing:
B ook and jo b ___________
N ew spapers and periodicals_______ _______ ___
C hem icals and allied products,
and petroleum refining:
Other than petroleum refin
ing:
C hem icals_______________
C o t t o n s e e d —oil, cake,
and m eal_____________
D ru ggists’ p rep arations..
E x p lo siv es-...................... —
Fertilizers_______________
P a in ts and varnishes-----R ayon and allied produ cts............................. .......
Soap ___________ ______ _
Petroleum refining.....................
R ub b er products:
R ubber boots and shoes-------R ubber goods other than
boots, shoes, tires, and inner tubes_______ ______ ___
R ubber tires and inner tu b es.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um b er of establishm en ts reporting—
D U R IN G
N um b er of em ployees
h avin g—
E stab
lish
m ents
report
ing
Total
num ber
of em
ployees
540
122
169
19,894
16, 799
44,970
540
121
108
1
i
19,894
16, 763
44', 910
36
60
237
139
5, 218
19, 302
237
138
i
5,218
19,277
25
30
644
119
15,626
153,878
9,165
30
043
117
1
2
15,626
153,578
8', 992
300
173
173
39
476
290
36,953
7,495
109,815
38,665
171
39
474
288
2
36,930
7,495
109, 364
38,488
234
177
514
53,673
512
2
53, 585
90
1,520
644
114,418
40,583
1, 520
040
4
114, 418
40,537
46
42
88
142
172
6,799
9,307
9,706
27,718
42
88
141
171
1
1
6, 799
9; 307
9,700
27, 235
6
483
358
179
117,515
32,601
357
178
1
1
117,420
32,453
95
148
1,104
473
292
619
316
398
367
70,779
28,950
4,596
104,582
43,569
17,418
11, 224
1,094
473
292
616
313
398
307
9
i
924
41
2
3
i
69,814
28,950
4,596
104, 257
43, 530
17,418
11,224
185
39
140
294
66
15
124,106
7,850
9,673
291
60
15
124,044
7,850
9,673
62
38
242
10,159
52,470
38
241
559
423
26,546
103,851
No
Wage- Wage- N o wage- W age- W agewage- rate in- rate derate in- rate derate
rate
creases creases changes creases creases
changes
i
2
3
i
23
1
10,159
52,447
23
559
421
2
26,546
103,476
375
1,448
59,755
1 432
16
59,414
341
549
56,298
534
15
55,284
1,014
118
27,668
118
27,668
82
68
32
299
559
4,744
10,587
4, 599
9,783
14,772
82
68
32
298
559
4,744
10,587
4,599
9,741
14; 772
27
107
196
43,061
15,351
67,825
27
107
191
7
11,625
7
140
38
26,157
54,538
130
38
1
5
43,061
15,351
63,905
42
3,920
11,625
1
26,132
5L 538
25
217
1476
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Nonmanufacturing Industries
D ata concerning wage-rate changes occurring between August 15
and September 15, 1934, reported by cooperating establishments in 17
nonmanufacturing industries are presented in table 2.
Increases averaging 6.8 percent and affecting 2,494 employees were
reported by 43 establishments in the electric light and power and man
ufactured gas industry, and 15 establishments in the electric-railroad
and motor-bus operation and maintenance industry showed an aver
age increase of 4.8 percent, which affected 2,013 employees. One
thousand one hundred and fifty-four workers in 5 metalliferous mines
received an average increase of 10.5 percent and 669 workers in 48
wholesale-trade establishments received one of 10.5 percent. The
wage-rate increases in the remaining industries affected 151 workers
or less, while the decreases reported affected a total of 337 workers in
5 industries.
T a b l e 3 .—W A G E -R A T E C H A N G E S I N N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S D U R I N G
M O N T H E N D I N G S E P T E M B E R 15, 1934
Industrial group
A nth racite m in in g _______ ____ _____
Percent of to ta l___________ ____
B itum inous-coal m in in g____________
Percent of to ta l________________
M etalliferous m in in g_______________
Percent of to ta l......... .......... ............
Quarrying and nonm etallic m in in g—
Percent of to ta l..... ............................
Crude petroleum producing.............
Percent of to ta l.................................
T elep hon e and telegraph.......................
Percent of to ta l................. ...............
E lectric light and pow er and m an u
factured gas............................................
Percent of to ta l.................................
Electric-railroad and m otor-bus oper
ation and m ain ten an ce.......................
Percent of t o t a l . . ____ ...________
W holesale trade.................. .....................
Percent of to ta l_____ ___________
R etail trade.............................. ..................
Percent of to ta l................. ................
H o te ls..................... ..................................... .
Percent of to ta l............... ................. .
L aundries-................................ .......... ......
Percent of to ta l____ ____________
D y ein g and clean in g................................
Percent of to ta l................................. .
B a n k s................. ................... .................... .
Percent of t o ta l......... .........................
Brokerage— ................................................
Percent of to ta l________ _______ _
In su ra n ce.....................................................
Percent of to ta l........... .......................
R eal e s ta te .............................................. ..
Percent of to ta l........... .....................
1L ess th an Ho of 1 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N u m b er of estab lish
N u m b er of em ployees
m en ts reporting—
h avin g—
E stab T otal
lish
num
m ents ber of
No
report em p loy N o
wage- W age- W age- wage- W age- W ageing
ees
rate in rate de
rate in rate de
rate
rate
creases
creases
changes
changes creases creases
160 79,088
100.0
100.0
1,426 243,129
.0
100.0
276 27,939
100.0
.0
1,140 35,569
100.0
.0
260 31,879
100.0
100.0
8,209 263,814
100.0
100.0
160
100.0
1,419
99. 5
270
97.8
1,138
99.8
257
98.8
8,209
100.0
7
.5
5
1.8
2
.2
3
1.2
3, 288 253,893
100.0
.0
100
3,245
98.7
43
1.3
251,399
99.0
2,494
138, 733
100.0
286,179
100.0
861,635
.0
137,240
.0
74,102
100.0
16,465
.0
97, 539
100.0
12, 745
.0
70,017
.0
17,487
100.0
544
97.3
16,134
99.7
57, 716
99.9
2,503
100.0
1,335
99.8
657
99.5
3,015
99.8
408
99.0
1,086
.0
841
99.5
15
2 .7
48
.3
37
.1
136, 720
i. 5
285,506
2, 013
1.5
669
.2
151
100
100
100
559
100.0
16,183
100.0
57,762
100.0
2, 503
.0
1,338
100.0
660
100.0
3,020
100.0
412
100.0
1,086
100.0
845
100.0
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
79,088
100.0
242,900
99.9
26,782
.4
95.9
35,537
99.9
31,820
99.8
263,814
1
229
.1
1,154
4.1
32
.
59
(>)
1
.2
100.0
2
.i
3
.5
5
.2
1
(0
9
100.0
«
137,240
59
0)
100.0
1
.1
4
1.0
73,992
99.9
16,403
99.6
97,443
99.9
12,482
97.9
70,017
100.0
4
.5
1.0
17,466
99.9
102
.1
62
.4
0)
263
2.1
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1477
E arnings of T axicab Drivers in O hio 1
N OHIO, as in other parts of the country, the taxicab industry has
undergone considerable change in recent years. The introduction
of the light pleasure car in the taxicab field has been the most im
portant single factor contributing to the change. Among the most
obvious effects of the adoption of cars of this type have been in
creasingly sharp competition and drastically reduced rate schedules.
In consequence, traditional methods of operation have been materially
altered during the past 6 or 7 years. These changes have likewise
had a marked influence on the earnings of the taxicab drivers.
I
Organization of Operators and Drivers
T h e r e is no recognized trade association representing all types of
taxicab operators in Ohio and very little organization of members of
the industry in local areas. So far, only two associations have been
discovered. These are the Columbus Cab Operators’ Association,
composed of the “operating companies” of Columbus, and the Ohio
Taxicab Operators’ Association, organized early in 1933 and com
posed largely of the same type of operating companies. The State
wide association is merely a nominal association organized by a part
of the industry to oppose legislation believed to be inimical to the
interests of the taxicab operators. The same individual is president
of both organizations.
The taxicab drivers in Ohio are partly organized. Those in both
Toledo and Columbus are well organized and belong to local unions
of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stable
men and Helpers. In Cleveland, on the other hand, there is no local
union, but the drivers of each of the two companies in that city have
mutual benefit associations. One of these benefit associations in
Cleveland, however, is more in the nature of a company union.
The sole operator in Akron operates on a closed-shop basis, the drivers
belonging to a local taxi and bus drivers’ union affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. There is no general organization of
taxicab drivers in Cincinnati, but the drivers employed by one com
pany belong to an independent local union, known as the Brotherhood
of Taxicab Drivers of America, which was formerly affiliated with
the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen
and Helpers.
Earnings of Drivers
B oth fares and tips contribute to the drivers’ earnings. Since few
drivers keep accurate records of the amount received in tips, reliable
statistics of total earnings of taxicab drivers are difficult to obtain.
1 D a ta are from a survey of th e taxicab in d u stry in Ohio, prepared b y S. J. Barrick, under su p er
vision of Bureau of Business R esearch, Ohio State U n iversity.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1478
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Moreover, in the case of rental-drivers, it is often impossible to obtain
trustworthy figures of earnings from fares as the amount received in
rent is the only accurate income record available from the driverrental operators.
The information on earnings given in the subsequent paragraphs
and tables was obtained from both drivers renting their cabs and
from those employed on a commission basis. The earnings from fares
in the case of drivers paid on a commission basis were taken from
pay-roll records. The earnings of the rental-drivers were obtained
from estimates of drivers and operators and from observations of
investigators.
Importance oj tips.—Although uncertain in amount, tips constitute
a substantial proportion of the taxicab drivers’ total earnings.
Failure to allow for tips, regardless of the type of operation under
which the driver is employed, would be an important omission in
calculating the total earnings of taxicab drivers.
Drivers paid on a commission basis turn in each day the amount
of the fares collected as indicated by the taximeter record. The
tips are simply pocketed and ordinarily no record is kept of the total
amount received. Rental drivers, however, make no distinction
between fares and tips. Their first concern is to meet their fixed
rental and expenses. All in excess of their fixed charges represents
their net earnings for the day, regardless of the source.
Estimates of the amount of tips received by both types of drivers
cannot be verified by records, but the marked unanimity of the
amounts reported seems to indicate that they are something more
than approximations. The estimate most frequently made in all
parts of the State is that tips average about $1 per 12-hour day.
It is obvious, however, that the amount of tips varies in direct
ratio with the volume of business.
Earnings under the rental system.—The unsatisfactory character of
the data relating to earnings of drivers under the rental system
prompted an intensive 10-day survey of earnings of drivers in Co
lumbus, where all cabs are operated on a driver-rental basis. The
findings of this survey are summarized in table 1.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1 .—A V E R A G E D A I L Y R E V E N U E E X P E N S E S A N D N E T IN C O M E O F T A X I C A B
D R I V E R S I N C O L U M B U S , O H IO , F E B . 22 T O M A R . 3, 1934
Expenses
R evenue
C om pany and shift
Fares
T ip s
T otal
R en t
Gaso
line
Other
T otal
N e t in
com e
per day
C om pan y no. 1:
D a y sh ift________________ _____ N ig h t sh ift------------- ----------------
$6.89
7. 04
$0. 57
.95
$7.46
7.99
$3.17
3.23
$1.70
1.80
' $4.87
5. 03
$2.58
2.95
A verage_______________________
6. 97
.76
7.78
3.20
1.76
4. 95
2. 77
C om pany no. 2 : 1
D a y shift -------- ---------- --------------N ig h t sh ift------ ------------------- --
7.85
7. 75
.84
.92
8. 69
8. 68
3.25
3.25
2.35
2. 36
$0. 05
.15
5. 65
5. 76
3. 04
2.92
A verage_______________________
7.82
.87
8. 69
3.25
2.35
.11
5. 71
2.98
C om pany no. 3:
D a y sh ift---------------- ------------------N ig h t sh ift______________________
6.63
6.72
.57
.66
7. 20
7.37
3.22
3.25
1.80
1.88
4. 99
5.13
2. 20
2.24
A verage-----------------------------------
6. 67
.62
7.28
3.24
1.84
5.07
2.22
C om pany no. 4:
D a y shift ______________________
N ig h t sh ift----------------------------------
5. 28
6.01
.42
.60
5. 70
6.61
2.60
2.65
1.39
1.46
3.99
4.11
1.72
2.50
A verage_______________________
5. 65
.51
6.16
2. 63
1.43
4.05
2.11
C om pan y no. 5:
D a y sh ift_______________________
N ig h t sh ift----------------------------------
6.09
7.69
.22
.29
6. 30
7.98
2.76
2. 96
1.34
1.40
4.10
4. 25
2.20
3.55
A verage_______________________
6.93
.26
7.14
2.87
1.37
4.18
2.88
C om pany no. 6:
D a y sh ift-----------------------------------N ig h t sh ift------------------------- -
6.98
7.88
.80
1.01
7.78
8.89
3.15
3.15
1.55
1.69
• .04
4.74
4.85
3.05
4.04
A verage-----------------------------------
7.43
.91
8.34
3.15
1.62
.02
4. 79
3.56
A ll com panies:
D a y sh ift- ----------------------- --------N ig h t sh ift----------------------- -- ---
6. 58
7.35
.57
.74
7.16
8.09
3. 00
3. 07
1.61
1.67
.02
.01
4. 62
4.72
2.53
3.33
A verage------------ --------------------
6.97
.66
7. 63
3.03
1.64
.013
4. 67
2.94
1 C overs a 6-day period only.
This table is largely self-explanatory. It should be noted, how
ever, that the segregation of revenue into fares and tips was par
ticularly difficult. Prior to the survey the drivers had no reason
to make a distinction between these items, as they are entitled to
the balance remaining after rent and expenses are deducted from
the gross revenue. For this reason, it is probable that the drivers’
estimates of the amount received as tips were not entirely accurate.
First-hand observations made by the investigators indicated that
tips averaged about $1 a day and this estimate appears to be more
nearly correct, especially for the period covered by the survey.
Assuming this to be true, the estimated fares should be reduced
accordingly.
In considering the average daily earnings shown for drivers in
Columbus it should be noted that the week during which the sur
vey was made happened to be what many competent observers
considered the best “ taxicab weather” in 15 years. During the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
week the city was in the grip of an intense cold wave which was
accompanied by heavy snow and ice. This fact should be kept in
mind when comparing the earnings of these rental-drivers with the
earnings of drivers in other cities.
Earnings oj drivers employed on commission basis.—The data relating
to earnings of drivers employed on a commission basis were secured
from the records of commissions paid by representative operating
companies in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo. The period covered
included weeks in January and February 1934, when business was
active but not exceptionally favorable, as when the survey for
Columbus was made. For this reason the figures for these three
cities are not exactly comparable with those for Columbus.
Table 2 summarizes the data collected for Cleveland, Cincinnati,
and Toledo. For Cleveland and Cincinnati the information is avail
able for both day and night drivers, but this breakdown cannot be
made for the drivers in Toledo. The estimate of tips at 66 cents per
day obtained from the Columbus survey is used throughout in order
to make the data comparable, although, as previously indicated, this
figure is considered low.
T able 2.—A V E R A G E D A I L Y E A R N I N G S O F T A X I C A B D R I V E R S E M P L O Y E D O N A C O M
M IS S IO N B A S IS I N C L E V E L A N D , C IN C I N N A T I , A N D T O L E D O , J A N U A R Y A N D F E B
R U A R Y 1934
C ity
C incinnati:
D a y sh ift________ _________________
N ig h t sh ift___ _ _______ ____ ______
D a y and nigh t s h ift., ................ .. . . .
C leveland:
D a y sh ift___________________________
N ig h t sh ift__________________________
D a y and nigh t sh ift_________________
Toledo:
A verage day and nigh t sh ift_________
A ll three cities:
D a y s h i f t . . . _________ ____________
N ig h t sh ift______ . ________________
D a y and n igh t sh ift_______________ .
A verage
T otal com d aily
m issions earnings
from
paid
fares
E sti
m ated
tip s per
day
N um ber
of
drivers
D riverdays
34
35
93
814
841
1,793
$1,784. 39
2,643. 65
4, 746. 64
$2.19
3.14
2. 65
$0. 66
.66
.66
$2.85
3. 80
3.31
9
22
31
132
307
439
194. 20
563. 50
757. 70
1. 47
1.84
1.73
.66
.66
.66
2.13
2.50
2.39
20
231
568. 65
2. 40
.66
3.12
43
57
144
946
1,148
2,463
1,978. 59
3,207.15
6,072. 99
2.09
2.79
2.47
.66
.66
.66
2.75
3. 45
3.13
T otal
d aily
earnings
The significant feature of table 2 is that the average earnings of
drivers in both Cincinnati and Toledo were substantially higher than
in Columbus, in spite of the more favorable weather condition pre
vailing at the time of the Columbus survey. The average earnings
of the Cleveland drivers, on the other hand, were somewhat lower,
being $2.39 per day as against $2.94.
In Toledo and Cincinnati, less than 30 percent of the drivers re
ceived less than $12 per week exclusive of tips. About 7 percent of
the Cincinnati drivers received between $12 and $13 per week, while
about 26 percent of the Toledo drivers fell in this wage group. This
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1481
is significant because in Toledo the drivers are guaranteed $12 per
6-day week. About 52 percent of the Toledo drivers earned the
minimum guaranteed and the earnings of the remainder were above
the minimum. About 25 percent of the Cincinnati drivers received
more than $18 per week, while only 5 percent of the Toledo drivers
exceeded this figure. The maximum earned by the Cleveland drivers,
exclusive of tips, was $15 per week and about 85 percent earned less
than $12 per week.
The data collected led to the conclusion that $18 a week for taxi
cab drivers in Ohio is a high average. The earnings of drivers
working 12 hours a day and 6 days a week range from $12 to
$18 a week and only under exceptionally favorable conditions do the
earnings exceed the maximum. Weather conditions are largely re
sponsible for the variations in these amounts, although many other
factors such as initiative, ability, and type of company management
are also important factors influencing drivers’ earnings.
Labor C o n d itio n s in th e C o tto n -G a r m en t In d u stry in P en n sy l
v an ia u n d er th e N. R. A.
HE cotton-garment code, as applied in the State of Pennsylvania
in February 1934, advanced the position of labor by the elimi
nation of child labor, a general reduction of working hours, and an
increase in weekly earnings for the majority of the workers. It did
not benefit the minority group of higher-paid workers materially, and
relatively few persons were found to be receiving over the minimum
wage of 32 cents per hour fixed by the code. Part-time work pre
vailed in the industry, with nearly three-fourths of the employees
working fewer than 40 hours per week and two-thirds earning less than
$13 per week, the code minimum for full-time employment. These
are the findings in a study made by Elizabeth S. Johnson, of the
bureau of women and children, Department of Labor and Industry
of Pennsylvania.1
It is stated by the author of the study under review that the survey
was made before the compliance machinery of the National Recovery
Administration was in full operation, but after the necessary period
of adjustment to the code. Therefore, the failures to comply with
code labor provisions, which affected three-fourths of the plants with
respect to wage provisions and involved 1,070, or 12 percent, of the
employees, in the plants studied, are regarded as willful. The findings
of the study in this respect are that the National Recovery Administra
tion has “ attained or closely approached its major objectives”, but
T
1 P enn sylvan ia.
D ep artm en t of Labor and Industry.
97667—34------12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor and Industry, Septem ber 1934, p p. 3-6 ,1 6
1482
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
that “ employers who refuse to pay fair wages have found numerous
subterfuges by which they can dodge the minimum wage provisions
of the codes.” * Other instances of noncompliance include falsification
of hours records, classification of experienced workers as learners in
order to pay below the scheduled rates of pay, and taking advantage
of the code provision whereby handicapped workers may be employed
at less than code rates without separating the actually handicapped
from the able-bodied workers.
For purposes of comparison the figures obtained in a study by the
bureau of women and children in October 1932 2 have been drawn
upon throughout the analysis of the information collected in the
present survey.
In the 1934 study information was obtained from representative
plants in the cotton-garment industry throughout the State of Penn
sylvania which manufacture shirts and cotton dresses principally and,
in fewer instances, work clothing, pajamas, and other cotton garments.
The number of plants and employees is shown in table 1, classified by
type of product.
T a b l e 1 .—N U M B E R OR P L A N T S A N D E M P L O Y E E S I N C L U D E D I N S U R V E Y O F T H E
C O T T O N -G A R M E N T I N D U S T R Y , F E B R U A R Y 1934, B Y T Y P E O F P R O D U C T
T y p e of product
N um b er N u m b er of
of plants em ployees
Shirts
____________________________
D resses-----------------------------------------------W ork cloth in g ------------- ---------------------Pajam as and nigh t w ear----------------------M e n ’s trousers________________________
M iscellaneous-------- ------------------------------
69
20
10
6
4
5
8,820
1,341
749
639
304
277
T o ta l____________________ _____
114
12,130
Plants were selected at random, with the exception of a few that
were included upon request of the Cotton Garment Code Authority.
Among the 12,130 persons in the 114 plants covered, 10,800 were
women and 1,300 were men. The shirt factories surveyed repre
sented 36 percent of the total in the State and employed nearly half
the 19,000 persons in this branch of the industry.
While most of the pay-roll data were for the pay period ending in
February 1934, some figures were for periods between December 1933
and April 1934. Original records were drawn upon. Executives,
office, and maintenance workers were not included in the study.
Child Labor
A mong the 12,130 persons for whom records were obtained, only
2 were children under 16 years old. Both of these minors had been
employed prior to code adoption and had been allowed to be retained.
2 P en n sylvan ia. D ep artm en t of Labor and In d u stry. Labor and In d u stry , February 1933: H ours and
Earnings in th e T extile and C lothing Industries of P en n sylvan ia, October 1932.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
This is in contrast to conditions found in the 1932 study of the cloth
ing industry, which disclosed that 1 of every 25 employees was a
child of under 16. The writer of the present study states that the
general adoption of the minimum wage was doubtless as potent a
factor in the elimination of child labor as was the child-labor pro
hibition itself, the 1932 study having shown that children’s median
earnings were approximately $3 a week, or less than half the earnings
of the woman workers. This indicates that employment of children
depended upon cheapness rather than efficiency.
Hours of Work
C o llec tio n of statistics showing hours of work was complicated
by the absence of records and the inaccuracy and falsification of
certain existing records. While the employers’ need of proof of code
compliance has resulted in the extension of records, some of the
figures available were found to be of doubtful accuracy. The data
upon which the report is based revealed a great reduction in working
time and almost universal acceptance of the 40-hour standard work
week established under the code, as compared with a work week of
59 hours or longer that existed in 1932. An analysis of records for
88 firms and 8,930 employees showed that the majority of employees
worked fewer than 40 hours per week; only one-fourth of the total
worked 40 hours; and 71 percent were recorded as employed part
time. Seasonal conditions are held partially accountable for short
time in this period, but it is stated that seasonality was not the only
factor responsible for the situation, as the period of the survey was
one of average activity. Table 2 shows a distribution of the workers
according to weekly hours and type of product.
T able 2 .—D I S T R I B U T I O N
O P W O R K E R S I N T H E C O T T O N -G A R M E N T I N D U S T R Y
A C C O R D IN G TO T H E I R W E E K L Y H O U R S , F E B R U A R Y 1934, B Y T Y P E O F P R O D U C T
W orkers, w ith specified hours, m aking—
W eekly hours
U nder 30 h o u r s,-. __________________________
30 and under 35 hours_______________________
35 and under 40 hours______ ____ _________ _
40 hours_________ ___________________ ______
Oyer 40 and not more than 54 hours________
Over 54 hours_____ ______ _____ ____________
T o ta l_________ _______________________
M edian (in h ours)............... ................. ..... .............
Shirts
D resses
Other cotton
garm ents
T otal
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
2, 356
1,175
1,548
1,414
85
7
35.8
17.8
23.5
21.5
1.3
.1
76
45
125
310
100
2
11.6
6.8
19.0
47.1
15.2
.3
468
215
310
592
99
3
27.7
12.7
18.4
35.1
5.9
.2
2,900
1,435
1,983
2,316
284
12
100.0
658
100.0
1,687
100.0
8,930
6,585
34
40
38
Per
cent
32.5
16.1
22.2
25.9
3.2
.1
100.0
35
The figures indicate a general absence of overtime work, only 3.3
percent of the total number employed being recorded as working in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1484
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
excess of 40 hours per week. The dress industry led in the propor
tion of workers employed overtime, with 15.5 percent of the total
working over 40 hours per week. This percentage is almost identical
with the percentage working in excess of 54 hours found in the 1932
study of women’s clothing workers. The excess is, therefore, laid to
lack of proper business organization and not to any set limit on the
working week.
Earnings
M e d ia n weekly earnings of all employees show a 50-percent in
crease between the period of the 1932 and 1934 studies, or from $7.51
to $11.25. Median weekly earnings of women in 1934 were $10.95,
as compared with $13.62 for men. Table 3 gives the number of men
and women in 1932 and of all workers covered in 1932 and in 1934,
classified by weekly earnings.
T a ble 3 —D I S T R I B U T I O N O F C O T T O N -G A R M E N T W O R K E R S A C C O R D IN G TO
1 a ble 3 . ■U^ ^ ^ 1E A R N I N G S ) O C T O B E R 1932 A N D F E B R U A R Y 1934
October 1932
February 1934
W eekly earnings
W om en
M en
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
A ll workers
N um
ber
Per
cent
A ll workers
N um
ber
Per
cent
- - _________
___ ___ ______
_ ________
____
$13 anil nnrip.r $15 _ __________ -$15 and over--------------------------------------
54
207
203
274
452
4.5
17.4
17.1
23.0
38.0
1,515
2,804
2,675
1,991
1,209
14.9
27.5
26.2
19.5
11.9
1,569
3,011
2,878
2,265
1,661
13.8
26.4
25. 3
19.9
14.6
3,294
5, 584
1,913
1,229
26.0
44.0
15.1
5.2
9. 7
T o ta l_________________________
1,190
100.0
10,194
100.0
11,384
100.0
12 , 682
100.0
U n der $5
$5 af|d nnrip.r $10
$10 anri nnrip.r $18
M ediae
____ ________
$13 .62
$1C.95
$11 .25
662
$7 51
The table shows that barely one-third of the women covered in 1934
received as much as $13 a week, the code minimum for full-time work,
while the men receiving the minimum weekly rate or over represent
two-thirds of all the men covered. For all workers in 1934 the percent
receiving $13 and over is 34.5 as compared with 14.9 in 1932. Wages
below $13 per week in 1934 indicate the prevalence of short working
time and also the presence of code exemptions and violations. It is
stated in the report that the effect of the minimum wage on lower-paid
workers has been more helpful to women than to men. Women’s
median earnings increased $3.41 between 1932 and 1934 and those of
men $3.31; on a percentage basis the increase was 45 for women and
32 for men. As between branches of the cotton-garment industry,
weekly earnings show considerable variation in the 1934 study.
In shirt manufacture, where part-time work was prevalent, the
median earnings amounted to $10.91 a week in contrast with $12.14
in dress manufacture and $12.28 for other cotton garments.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1485
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Analysis of the records for 92 plants having usable records showed
that 30 percent of the total employees received exactly 32^ cents an
hour, the code minimum. This was in large part the result of piece
rates established to yield the minimum wage to the worker having
average speed. Slow workers were unable to earn the minimum wage
and this made it necessary to pay them the difference between their
earnings and the minimum specified. Workers so compensated
represented one-fifth of those for whom information as to hourly
earnings was obtained and two-thirds of the group who were paid
an hourly rate of 32)£ cents. In general, among every 6 cotton-gar
ment workers studied, 1 received less than 32% cents an hour, 2
received exactly 32 %cents, 2 received between 32 and 40 cents, and
1 received 40 cents or over. Men earned the 32%-cent hourly rate
as often as women, but 19 percent of the women were paid less than
that amount as compared with 8 percent of the men. Earnings of
50 cents an hour or more were reported for 3 percent of the women
and 21 percent of the men, men having the occupations, such as
cutting, which require skill and are therefore more highly paid.
In table 4 the workers covered in 1934 are classified by hourly
earnings and type of product.
TA
ASbEA ,-~ P d TST^ P T T I 0 N 0 F W O R K E R S I N T H E C O T T O N -G A R M E N T I N D U S T R Y
A C C O R D IN G T O W E E K L Y E A R N I N G S , F E B R U A R Y 1934, B Y T Y P E O F P R O D U C T
W orkers w ith specified hourly earnings, m aking—
Shirts
H ou rly earnings
Dresses
Other cotton
garm ents
T otal
N u m C um u N u m C um u N u m C um u N u m C um u
lative
lative
la tiv e
lative
ber
p ercen t ber • p ercen t ber p ercen t ber
percent
U nder 20 ce n ts_____ _____
20 and under ‘¿ 2y2 cen ts.........
32H and under 33 c e n t s .. . .
33 and under 40 cen ts_____
40 cents and over________
T o ta l________ ______ .
M edian (in cen ts)_______
>
146
905
2,193
2,381
1,318
2.1
15.1
46. 7
81.0
100.0
6, 943
33.4
44
244
156
139
75
658
'
32.6
6.7
43.8
67.5
88.6
100.0
44
285
420
593
346
1,688
2.6
19.5
44.4
79.5
100.0
234
1,434
2, 769
3,113
1,739
2.5
18.0
47.8
81.3
100.0
9,289
33.3
As between shirt and dress factories the differences in hourly earn
ings were great. Three times as large a proportion of employees in
the dress industry earned less than 32%cents as in the shirt industry,
the percentages being 43.8 and 15.1, respectively. The study dis
closed further that low wages were more typical in contracting shops
manufacturing goods for other concerns than in regular manufac
turing shops. In the brackets of higher pay the situation was re
versed, with manufacturers’ employees paid above the minimum
rate of pay representing 54 percent of the total as compared with 47
percent in contract shops.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Handicapped Employees
U n d e r the cotton-garment code, provision is made for employment
of handicapped persons to a total of 10 percent of the employees.
When this study was made no certification or registration of the
handicapped was required nor was a minimum rate of pay for such
workers established. Only 73 firms out of the 114 covered by the
survey registered handicapped persons on their pay rolls. These
firms employed 591 persons designated as handicapped out of 9,000
employees. This group represented 6 percent of the total employed
by the 73 firms and 5 percent of those employed by the 114 plants.
In eight firms the number of handicapped exceeded 10 percent of
employees. Because of the absence of a code provision as to the
minimum wage of handicapped workers they received less than the
code minimum even for learners. Out of 466 persons, 51 percent
earned less than 25 cents an hour and 17 percent earned less than
20 cents.
Learners
T h e r e was widespread abuse of the code provision permitting
employment of learners, according to the findings in the report.
A total of 506 persons appeared on the pay rolls as learners. Investi
gation disclosed that two out of three of the employees so classified
were not really learners, having had more than 6 weeks’ experience.
Moreover, in 16 out of 57 plants employers were found to be employ
ing more than the allowable quota of learners, which the code places
at 10 percent of the total force. For all plants with learners the per
centage of learners was 7. More than one-fourth of the learners
received less than 24% cents an hour, the minimum rate of pay under
the code. Ten percent received less than 20 cents an hour.
Average A n n u al E arn ings in M a n u fa ctu r in g in C anada, 1932
HE average annual earnings of salaried employees in the manu
facturing industries of Canada in 1932 was $1,732 as compared
with $1,872 in the previous year, a decline of 7.5 percent. In the
same period the average wage in these industries showed a reduction
from $957 to $852, or 11 percent, according to the 1932 Census of
Manufactures of the Dominion. The accompanying statement from
the Canadian Labor Gazette of September 1934 gives some of the
other findings of this census.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1487
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
S T A T IS T IC S OP M A N U F A C T U R I N G I N D U S T R I E S I N C A N A D A , 1929 T O 1932
Item
N u m b er of e stab lish m en ts_______
N um b er of salaried em p loyees___
N um b er of em ployees on w ages—
C apital in v ested _______
A m o u n t paid in salaries _______
A verage salary ______
A m o u n t paid in w ages___________
A verage w age _____ __
C ost of m aterial. . . . .
V alue of production. __________
V alue added b y m anufacture____
1929
1930
1931
1932
Percent
of change
1931 to
1932
23,597
24,020
24,501
24,544
96,607
92,943
99,798
95,070
597,827
551,496
457,628
400,328
$5,083,014, 754 $5,203,316,760 $4,961,312,408 $4, 741,255,610
188, 747,672
184, 239,117
186,810, 794
164,695,605
1,954
1,982
1,872
1,732
624,302,170
551,853,649
437,734,767
341,187,718
1,045
1,001
957
852
2,066, 636,914 1,666,983,902 1,223,880, Oil
955,968,683
4,063,987,279 3,428,970,628 2,698,461,862 2,126,194,555
1,997,350,365 1, 761,986, 726 1,474, 581,851 1,170,225,872
+ 0 .2
-4 .7
- 1 2 .4
- 4 .4
- 1 1 .8
- 7 .5
- 2 2 .1
- 1 1 .0
- 2 1 .9
- 2 1 .2
- 2 0 .6
W age A g reem en t in E nglish C o tto n -T e x tile In d u str y !
MMEDIATELY after the passage of the act making trade agree
ments in the cotton-textile industry of Lancashire, England,
enforceable as law,2 the organized employers and the organized weav
ers entered into negotiations to draw up a new agreement covering
the weaving trade. The first effort failed, but after a lapse of several
weeks a committee composed of eight representatives from each side
again met and drafted a proposed agreement which was submitted
on October 19 for ratification by both organizations.
The new wage rates, if granted juridical authority under the act,
will affect about 150,000 operatives. They supplant uniform price
lists which have been in existence for many years. The new rates
are: For 4-loom weavers, 20.5d per 100,000 picks, and for moreloom weavers, 18.2d per 100,000 picks.
The new rates amount to a reduction of 5% percent on the present
wages for plain weaving on 4 looms under the uniform list, and an
advance of 4 percent on more than 4 looms. In view of the fact that
breaches of the existing agreements have resulted in serious reductions
in wages, it is felt that even with a decreased rate the new agreement,
to a large proportion of the 4-loom weavers, will mean a substantial
advance beyond their present earnings. In any event the opinion
is general that the agreement will end price cutting, since it fixes
minimum rates below which no employer can go under the terms of
the new legalization act.
The Manchester Guardian of October 20, 1934, quotes views of the
various leaders of the weavers’ organization to the effect that the new
rates may be expected to have the desirable result of eliminating
inequalities in earnings between the weavers working on 4 looms
and those working on more than that number, and probably result
I
1 B ased on reports from Alfred N u ttin g , clerk, A m erican C onsulate General, L ondon Oct. 19, 1934;
A lfred R . T hom son, Am erican consul at M anchester, Oct. 19,1934; and M anchester Guardian, Oct 18-23,
1934.
* See M o n th ly Labor R eview , A ugu st 1934, p. 387.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1488
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
in many employers reverting to the 4-loom system. An employer
is quoted in the issue of October 23 as expressing the belief that by
reducing the 4-loom rate and increasing the 6-loom rate, the agree
ment is making it more difficult for the employers to operate the
6-loom system.
W ages, H ours, and Labor T urn-O ver in th e S oviet U n io n in 1933
RECENTLY published statistical yearbook of the Soviet
Union (U. S. S. R.)1 contains information in regard to certain
A
labor conditions in the large-scale industries in that country, from
which the following data'are taken.
Table 1 shows a considerable increase in monthly money wages in
large-scale industries from 1928 to 1933. “ Large-scale industries”,
as classified in the report, cover all establishments having not less
than 16 workers and using mechanical power machines, or those
having not less than 30 workers and not using mechanical power
machines.
T a b l e l .- A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y M O N E Y W A G E S O F W O R K E R S I N L A R G E -S C A L E
I N D U S T R I E S O F T H E S O V IE T U N I O N , 1928, 1930, A N D 1933
Average m o n th ly
w age
A verage m on th ly
w age
In d u stry
Ind u stry
1928
1930
Rubles1Rubles'M etal w orking and machine construction, ineluding electrotech n ical.. - 91.29 106. 09
90. 34 100. 96
87 48 100.93
86.72 88. 78
T?nnt.wf‘RE
85. 70 88. 29
82.09 88.00
N eed le trades______________ 79. 79 81.70
Oil in d u stry ------------------------ 78.47 91.10
1933
R ubles'
152. 24
129.48
158.92
120.47
116.49
130. 03
97.21
152. 58
M etallu rgy------- ---------Food and confectionery------Paper _
...
---------W ool_______________________
C oal_______________________
W oodw orking----------- ----C otton _____ _ _______ F la x _________ _ - ______
1928
1930
1933
Rubles'
75. 61
68.06
67.04
63.73
63. 27
60.98
59.89
41. 58
Rubles'
88.30
74.71
82. 50
70. 62
76.47
72.90
64.29
47.43
Rubles'
143.41
103. 01
111.51
101. 63
133.12
115. 30
103. 67
89. 77
82. 59
126. 58
A ll i n d u s t r i e s . - . ------- 70.24
i Gold ru b le= 51.5 cents on th e basis of gold dollar. T here are no available data as to th e valu e of
ruble in relation to prices of com m odities in hom e m arkets, socialized and p rivate, in th e S oviet U nion.
Table 2 shows a decrease in the hours of labor per day of approxi
mately 1 hour from March 1928 to November 1933.
1 S oviet U nion (U . S. S. R .). S tate P lann in g C om m ission. C entral Office of th e A ccou n tancy of th e
P eople’s E con om y.
S otsialisticheskoe stroitel’stvo: S tatistich esk ii ezhegodnik. M oscow , 1934, pp.
306-349. (In R ussian.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1489
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 2.—H O U R S O F L A B O R O F A D U L T W O R K E R S I N L A R G E -S C A L E I N D U S T R I E S I N
T H E S O V IE T U N I O N , M A R C H 1928 A N D N O V E M B E R 1933
D a ily w orking hours
Ind u stry
N ovem b er
1933
M arch
1928
Coal m in in g________________________
M etallu rgy _______________________
M etal w orking and machine construetio n _______________________________
C otton ______________________________
7.32
7.88
6.90
6.99
7.91
7.84
7. 00
7. 00
A ll industries__________________
7.81
6. 99
Table 3 shows that the proportion of total hours in large-scale
industries which were paid for at piece-rate hours, increased from
53.4 percent in 1925 to 67.3 percent in 1933.
T able 3 —P E R C E N T H O U R S W O R K E D O N P I E C E W O R K F O R M E D O F T O T A L H O U R S
W O R K E D , I N L A R G E -S C A L E I N D U S T R I E S I N T H E S O V IE T U N I O N , 1925, 1930, A N D
F I R S T H A L F O F 1933
Percent hours
worked on piece
work formed of
total hours
worked in —
Ind u stry
1925
Coal m in in g _ M etallu rgy. ____
M achine construction - _ ____
E le ctro tec h n ic a l__
C hem ical- __ - __ _ Food and confectionery___
48. 5
06. 6
63.7
63.7
45.4
51. 2
_ 16.0
Percent hours
w orked on piece
work formed of
total hours
worked in —
Ind u stry
First
1930 half of
1933
54. 5
64. 1
60.2
52.8
51.0
49. 2
30.2
66. 6
66. 6
65.7
67. 2
68.4
61.9
61.7
C o tto n __
W ool_________________________
PaperPolygraphicA ll in d u stries.-
1925
First
1930 half of
1933
64.5
51.8
25.0
27.4
64.5
58.3
51.4
51.9
70. 0
64.3
62.8
62.9
53.4
57. 2
67.3
Table 4 shows the proportion and percent of establishments and
of workers engaged on January 1, 1929 and 1933, by establish
ments having a classified number of workers.
T able 4.—N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F E S T A B L IS H M E N T S A N D OF W O R K E R S I N
S O V IE T U N I O N , J A N . 1, 1929, A N D J A N . 1, 1933
Jan . 1, 1929
E stablish m en ts h avin g specified
num ber of workers
E stab lish
m en ts
N um
ber
Per
cent
of
total
2, 895
50 workers and u n d er___
1,896
51 to 100 workers _
101 to 500 w o r k e r s ___ ____
- - 2,810
712
501 to 1,000 w o rk ers.. _ 468
1,001 to 3,000 w orkers___ _ . - - - 97
3,001 to 5,000 workers____ _ - - 101
Over 5,000 w o r k e r s ______ _______
32.3
21.1
31.3
7.9
5.2
1.1
1.1
8, 979
100.0
T o ta l___ ____ _______________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Jan. 1, 1933
E sta b lish
m ents
W orkers
Workers
Per
cent
of
total
N um
ber
Per
cent
of
total
N um b er
80,500
123, 700
565, 000
437, 600
735, 200
360, 400
905,100
2.5
3.9
17.7
13.6
22. 9
11.2
28.2
2, 271
2, 602
4, 939
1, 232
961
196
201
18.3
21.0
39.8
9.9
7.8
1.6
1.6
70, 400
191,900
1, 093, 700
831, 400
1, 560, 600
709, 900
1,937, 900
1.1
3.0
17.1
13.0
24.4
11.1
30.3
3, 207, 500
100.0
12,402
100.0
6, 395,800
100.0
N um
ber
Per
cent
of
total
1490
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Table 5 shows a growth in proportion of female workers employed
in large-scale industries, from 28.6 percent of total wage earners em
ployed in 1925 to 35.5 percent in 1933.
T a b l e 5 . —P E R C E N T F E M A L E W A G E E A R N E R S F O R M E D O F T O T A L W A G E E A R N E R S
I N L A R G E -S C A L E I N D U S T R I E S I N T H E S O V IE T U N I O N , 1925, 1930, A N D 1933
Fem ale w age earners in percent of
total w age earners
Ind u stry
1925
M inerals, m in in g and w orking_____________________________________
M in in g ______________________________ ____________________________
Coal m in in g --____ _______________________________________ ____
M etal w orking and m achine construction__________________________
W oodworking_____________________________________________________
C hem ical____ __________________________________________ ___ _____ Food, drinks, and narcotics________________________________________
W orking of anim al products, in clud in g leather_____________________
T extiles, including clothing and toilet articles______ _______________
C otton ______________________________________________________
W o o l_______________________________________________________
Flax, hem p, and ju te ____ - _________________________________
Paper w orking and polygraphic in d u stry __________________________
A ll in d u stries_______________________________________________
1930
Jan. 1, 1933
24.9
8 .5
9.1
9.4
14.3
31.8
25.6
16.6
58.6
59.6
47.6
60.2
24.9
23. 7
9.7
9.6
12.2
23.4
35.5
28.4
28.5
64.3
63.7
52.2
67.8
30.3
29.1
17.8
17.5
22.8
32.0
38.9
35.4
50.3
69.9
66.9
59.9
65.9
43.8
28.6
28.8
35.5
Table 6 shows a large turn-over of labor in large-scale industries,
although a rapid decrease in both accessions to and separations from
employment is shown from 1930 to 1933.
T a b l e 6 . —T U R N -O V E R O F L A B O R I N L A R G E -S C A L E I N D U S T R I E S I N T H E S O V IE T
U N I O N , 1930 T O 1933 *
Percent of average num ber of
workers em p loyed formed b y —
Y ear
A ccessions to
em p loym ent
1930________________ ________
1931..................................................
1932_________________________
1933____________ ______ - .........
176.7
150.7
126.9
123.9
Separations
from em p lo y
m ent
152.6
137.3
136.0
122.8
1
S oviet U nion (U . S. S. R .). C entral Office of th e A ccou n tancy of P eo p le’s E con om y of th e S tate
P lan n in g C om m ission. P lanovoe K h oziaistvo, 5-6, 1934, p . 151.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry o f E m p lo y m e n t R ep orts for O ctober 1934
Comparison of October 1934 with September 1934 and October 1933
HE four tables presented below summarize the reported data
regarding trend of employment in October 1934. Employment
and pay-roll indexes, per capita weekly earnings, average hours
worked per week, and average hourly earnings, as well as percentage
changes from September 1934 and October 1933, are shown for man
ufacturing and for the nonmanufacturing groups insofar as the infor
mation is available.
The principal changes shown in these tables are briefly as follows.
Factory employment and pay rolls increased 3.3 percent and 5.2
percent, respectively, from September to October, due primarily to
gains in the woolen and worsted goods, cotton goods, silk and rayon
goods, dyeing and finishing textiles, cotton small wares, and knitgoods industries after the settlement of strikes in these industries.
Forty-five additional manufacturing industries reported gains in
employment over the month interval. Sixty of the 90 manufacturing
industries surveyed reported gains in pay rolls.
Dividing the manufacturing industries into “ durable” and “ non
durable” goods groups, the former group showed a decrease of 1.2
percent in employment from September to October, and an increase
of 1.5 percent in pay rolls. The latter group showed gains in employ
ment and pay rolls of 7.7 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
The October employment and pay-roll indexes were 62.8 and 46.4
respectively, for the “ durable” goods group, and 95 and 79.7,
respectively, for the “ nondurable” goods group.
In nonmanufacturing, 9 of the 18 industries covered showed gains
in employment and 14 showed pay-roll increases. The gain in employ
ment in the private building-construction industry was larger than
the gains shown in October of 1932 and 1933 and may be attributed
primarily to the effects of the Federal housing program. The gains
in coal mining reflected seasonal demands, and the resumption of
operations in metalliferous mines in one locality after the settlement
of labor difficulties caused an increase in employment in that industry.
The estimated increase in employment in the reporting groups
shown in table 1, other than class I steam railroads, was 255,000
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1491
1492
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
workers. Gains in factory employment were responsible for 209,000.
The estimated gain in weekly pay rolls in these groups was $11,900,000,
of which amount $6,000,000 represented factory pay-roll increases.
There was a decline of 2.3 percent in public employment comparing
October with September. The decrease was caused by the decline in
the number of workers on Public Works Administration construction
projects. Most of the other types of employment registered increases.
In contrast, the number of employees on relief work increased 2.5
percent. This was brought about by the marked pick-up in the
number of enrolled personnel in the Civilian Conservation Camps.
Private employment.—Table 1 shows the October employment and
pay-roll indexes and per capita weekly earnings for all manufacturing
industries combined, for various nonmanufacturing industries and for
class I steam railroads in October 1934 with percentage changes over
the month and year, except in the few cases, referred to in footnotes,
for which certain items cannot be computed. Table 2 shows for the
same industries as in table 1, as far as data are available, average
hours worked per week and average hourly earnings, together with
percentage changes over the month and year intervals.
T a b le 1 . —E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L I N D E X E S A N D P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y
E A R N IN G S IN A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D A N D IN N O N
M A N U F A C T U R I N G I N D U S T R I E S I N O C T O B E R 1934 A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S
F R O M S E P T E M B E R 1934 A N D O C T O B E R 1933
E m p loym en t
Percent
of change
from—
Ind u stry
Index Octo
ber 1934
Sep
tem Octo
ber
ber
1934 1933
A ll m anufacturing industries (1923-26=100)
com b in ed ___________ _______
78.3 + 3 .3
Class I steam railroads________
1 56.6 - 1 . 2
Coal m ining:
A n th r a c ite _______________
B itu m in ou s _ __________
M etalliferous m in in g _______
Quarrying and nonm etallic
m in in g ____ ____ _ _____
C rude-petroleum producing __
P u b lic utilities:
T elephone and teleg ra p h -.
E lectric light and power
and m anufactured gas
Electric-railroad and motorbus operation and m ain
ten an ce_______ _______
Trade:
W h olesale________
R eta il___ _________ ____ _
H otels (cash p aym en ts o n ly ). _
L aundries____________ _______
D y ein g and c le a n in g _________
B a n k s________________________
B rokerage________ ___________
Insurance____
- _ _________
R eal estate________ ________
B u ild ing construction________
- 1 .6
- 1 .4
Percent
of change
from—
Index Octo
ber 1934
A ver-
Octo
Sep
ber
tem Octo 1934
ber
ber
1933
1934
Percent
of change
from—
Sep
tem O cto
ber
ber
1933
1934
{1923-25=100)
61.0 “j~b. 2 + 2 .7 $18. 95 + 1 .8
(2)
( 2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
+ 4 .4
(2)
{1929=100)
58.5 + 2 .7 + 2 .8
79.3 + 1 .4 + 1 6 .6
43.3 + 2 .4 + 6 .4
{1929=100)
48.3 + 2 .6 - 2 1 .6 24.04 - ( 3) - 2 3 .7
57.6 + 1 2 .1 + 3 0 .6 18.80 + 1 0 .6 + 1 1 .9
28.2 + 9 .2 + 8 .9 21.23 + 6 .6 + 2 .4
51.8 - 2 . 9 - 2 . 6
79.5 - 2 . 8 + 1 2 .6
32.1 - . 8 + 2 .9 15. 90 + 2 .3 + 5 .8
60.8 + 1 .8 + 2 1 .4 27.83 + 4 .7 + 7 .7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
70.3
-.9
+ 2 .3
74.9 + 3 .7 + 1 1 .8 28. 22 + 4 .6 + 9 .2
85.8
_ ( 3)
+ 4 .4
80.6 + 1 .6 + 5 .8 29. 79 + 1 .6 + 1 .3
72.2
- .4
+ 2 .3
63.0
+ .9
86.2 + 1 .1
88.9 + 1 .5
84.2 - . 2
81.7 - 1 . 4
80.3 + . 4
-.5
- 5 .0
+ .7
+ .6
+ 3 .4
+ 3 .2
-.8
+ 9 .4
+ .5
- 1 .6
+ .4
- 2 7 .6
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .4
- 6 .4
68.3
72.6
65.3
64. 8
59.1
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .6
- 1 .7
+ .2
-.3
- 5 .9
+ 4 .1
+ 1 .6
+ 5 .9
1 Source: Interstate Com m erce C om m ission.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per capita w eek ly
earnings
P a y roll
(2)
(2)
(2)
( 2)
( 2)
2 N o t available.
+ 5 .4 27.87 + 1 .3 + 3 .1
+ 3 .5 26. 49
20.41
+ 1 6 .2 13.41
+ 3 .7 14. 89
+ 3 .0 18.11
31.39
- 2 9 .7 34. 04
+ 8 .5 35. 33
+ 3 .5 20. 90
- 1 . 6 23. 74
+ .3
+ .3
+ 1 .1 + 1 .2
+ 1 .7 + 6 .3
- . 2 + 3 .1
- . 2
+ 4 .7
+ . 2 + 1 .2
- 1 .0 - 3 .0
+ 3 .3 + 6 .5
+ 1 .0
+ -1
+ 2 .5 + 6 .1
3 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
1493
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 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 A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N I N G S
I N O C .T O BER 1934 I N A L L M A N U F A C T U R I N G I N D U S T R I E S C O M B I N E D A N D I N N O N
M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U ST R IE S , A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S FR O M S E P T E M B E R
1934 A N D O C T O B E R 1933
A verage hourly
earnings
Average hours worked
per w eek
Ind u stry
Percent of
change from i—
A ver
age in
Octo
ber
1934
____
A ll m anufacturing industries com b in ed , __
Class I steam railroads________________________ ____
Coal m ining:
A n th r a c ite ,,, _______ , __
. ___
B itu m in o u s_____ ____ ___________
M etalliferous m in in g ___ ____________
Quarrying and nonm etallic m in in g .,. ______________
Crude petroleum producing . . . . . . . .
P u b lic utilities:
T elephone and telegraph________
. . . _____
E lectric light and power and m anufactured gas . . .
Electric-railroad and m otor-bus operation and
m ain ten an ce__________ __________
Trade:
W h o le s a le .._____ _ _ _ _____ _
R eta il___ ________ . . . __________
H o t e ls .. _
...
L aundries_______
. . _______
D y ein g and cleaning_________ _ .
_____________
Banks _______ ___ _
Brokerage_______________ ____
Insurance____ . . . ______ __ _
R eal e s t a t e ..
. _____
_______
B u ild ing construction._ . . . _____
... . .
A ver
age in
Octo
ber
1934
Sep
tember
1934
Octo
ber
1933
34.3
+ 2 .7
- 3 .3
Cents
55.3
29.1
26.2
35.8
33.4
35.5
-.3
+ 1 1 .5
+ 3 .2
+ 3 .1
+ 3 .5
- 2 7 .9
- 9 .3
- 8 .3
- 1 .5
+ .3
38.5
39.3
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .6
44.9
40.9
40.7
47. 1
39.1
40.4
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
29.8
Percent of
change from '—
Sep
tem ber
1934
Octo
ber
1933
- 1 .1
+ 6 .6
82.5
71.4
58.2
48.2
74.8
- 0 .8
- .3
+ 3 .2
-.2
+ .7 '
+ 2 .5
+ 2 3 .8
+ 1 1 .6
+ 9 .0
+ 3 .5
+ 3 .4
+ .4
74.9
75.7
+ 3 .3
- 3 .7
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .6
+ 1 .4
- 2 .1
61.7
(2)
+ 9 .3
+ 1 .0
+ 1.0
+ .2
-.8
- 1 .2
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
+ 3 .1
-.4
+ 2 .1
- 5 .7
+ 2 .9
- 1 .8
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
64.1
52.5
3 27.8
37.6
44.7
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
80.1
- .5
(2)
+ .7
+ .5
+ .9
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
- .4
+ 1 1 .9
+ .5
+ 6 .5
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
- .2
1 Percentage changes over year com puted from indexes.
2 N o change.
3 C ash p aym en ts on ly. T h e additional valu e of board, room, and tip s cannot b e com puted.
4 N o t available.
Public employment.—Employment by the Federal Government is of
two general classes: (1) Employment in the executive, judicial,
legislative, or military service and employment on various construc
tion projects financed by the Federal Government. (2) Employ
ment on relief work where the work itself and the system of payment
is of an emergency relief character. Data for these two types of
Federal employment are shown separately in tables 3 and 4.
T able 3 .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S I N V A R IO U S S E R V IC E S O F T H E U N I T E D
S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934 (P R E L I M I N A R Y
F IG U R E S )
E m p loym en t
K ind of service
P a y rolls
Percent
of
October
change Septem ber
Percent
of
change
Septem
ber
October
681,837
1,777
3,721
269,489
683, 505
1,846
3,700
270, 490
549,910
507, 799
- 7 .7
31,720,317
29, 280, 240
- 7 .7
17,088
17,482
+ 2 .3
1,648, 618
1, 596,996
- 3 .1
i 9,800
13,593
+ 3 8 .7
493,363
689, 604
+ 3 9 .8
T o ta l____________________________ 1, 533, 622 1,498,415
- 2 .3
155,332,871
154,830, 257
-.3
E xecutive service_________ _______ . .
Judicial service____ __________________
L egislative service____ , , _________
M ilitary service________ ________ . . . .
C onstruction projects financed b y
P . W . A _____________________________
C onstruction projects financed b y
R . F. C ______________________________
C onstruction projects financed b y direct
governm ental appropriations_________
R evised .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 0 .2
+ 3 .9
- .6
+ .4
$99,152, 554 $101,888, 573
486, 410
453, 217
976, 516
975.850
20,855,093
19, 945, 777
+ 2 .8
- 6 .8
-. 1
- 4 .4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1494
T able 4 .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S O N R E L I E F W O R K OF V A R IO U S F E D E R A L
A G E N C I E S D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934 (P R E L I M I N A R Y F IG U R E S )
P a y rolls
Percent
of
change Septem ber
October
October
E m p loym en t
K ind of service
Septem
ber
11,949,267 1,950,000
E m ergency work program--------------------391,894
E m ergency conservation work ---------------- 335,785
+ 1 6 .7
T o ta l______________________________ 2, 285,052 2,341,894
+ 2 .5
1 R evised.
2 Less than
Percent
of
change
i$50,110,074 $51,000,000
15,022,969 16,939,595
+ 1 .8
+ 1 2 .8
67,939, 595
+ 4 .3
65,133,043
of 1 percent.
Coverage of Reports
M onthly reports on trend of employment and pay rolls are now
available for the following groups: (1) 90 manufacturing industries;
(2) 18 nonmanufacturing industries, including building construction;
(3) class I steam railroads; and (4) Federal services and agencies.
The reports for the first two of these groups—manufacturing and
nonmanufacturing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, but in practically all cases the samples are sufficiently
large to be entirely representative. The figures on class I steam rail
roads are compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission and
include all employees. The data for the various Federal services and
agencies also cover all employees on the pay rolls of such organizations.
In total, these four main groups include a majority of the wage and
salary workers in the United States. Unfortunately, however, no
such complete information is available as yet for certain other large
employment groups—notably, agricultural work, professional service,
and domestic and personal service.
Changes in Method of Publishing Trend of Employment Data
As e x p l a i n e d in the October issue of the Monthly Labor Review
a change has been made in the form of publication of the trend-ofemployment reports by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Previously
these reports were published each month in pamphlet form and, in
addition, for the purpose of a convenient permanent record, the con
tents of the pamphlet were reprinted, without change, 2 months later
in the Monthly Labor Review. Under the modified plan, each issue
of the Monthly Labor Review will contain a summary of employment
data for the second month preceding the date of the Labor Review
and figures in detail for the third preceding month. Thus, under this
procedure, the present (December) issue of the Monthly Labor
Review carries in this article a summary of the October trend-ofemployment figures and in the following article the revised figures
in detail for September. As a result of this change, it will be possible
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
1495
to incorporate in the permanent trend-of-employment record, as
printed in the Monthly Labor Review, certain revisions and correc
tions which at times are made necessary in the monthly pamphlet.
At the same time those who wish the detailed information as early
as possible may secure the pamphlet, which will be published as
formerly and distributed, without charge, upon request.
T rend o f E m p lo y m e n t in S ep tem b er 1934: R evised F igu res
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the
month of September 1934. The tabular data are the same as those
published in the Trend of Employment pamphlet for September
except for certain minor revisions and corrections.
T
Employment in Manufacturing Industries in September 1934
F acto ry employment decreased 4.7 percent from August to Sep
tember and factory pay rolls declined 6.8 percent over the month
interval.
While 44 of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed each month
reported gains in employment from August to September and 1 in
dustry reported no change, the increases in employment in these
industries were not sufficient to offset the declines in the remaining
45 industries. Forty-three industries showed gains in pay rolls
and the remaining 47 had decreases.
Normally there is a seasonal expansion in employment and pay rolls
between August and September. Labor disturbances in September,
particularly in certain textile industries, combined with recessions in
employment in such important industries as automobiles, hardware,
boots and shoes, blast furnaces, steel works, rolling mills, and found
ries and machine shops contributed largely to these contraseasonal
decreases.
The general indexes of factory employment and pay rolls for Sep
tember 1934 are 75.8 and 58.0, respectively. A comparison of these
indexes with those of September 1933 shows decreases over the year
interval of 5.2 percent in employment and 1.9 percent in payrolls.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from data supplied by representative establishments in 90 important
manufacturing industries of the country. Reports were received in
September from 24,451 establishments employing 3,464,997 workers,
whose weekly earnings were $64,268,684 during the pay period ending
nearest September 15. The employment reports received from these
cooperating establishments cover more than 50 percent of the total
wage earners in all manufacturing industries of the country.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1496
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The effect of the textile strike was reflected in the marked declines
in employment shown in the cotton goods, woolen and worsted goods,
silk and rayon goods, and dyeing and finishing textile industries.
The decreases in employment in these industries between August 15
and September 15 were as follows: Woolen and worsted, 47.7 percent;
cotton, 41.4 percent; silk and rayon, 21.3 percent; and dyeing and
finishing textiles, 9.5 percent.
Comparing the levels of employment and pay rolls in the 90 separate
industries in September 1934 with those of September 1933, 46 indus
tries showed increased employment over the year interval and 52
showed increased pay rolls.
Dividing the manufacturing industries into “ durable” and “ non
durable” goods groups, the former group showed decreases in employ
ment and pay rolls from August to September of 2.7 and 8.8 percent,
respectively. The latter group showed losses of 6.2 percent in em
ployment and 4.8 percent in pay rolls. The “ durable” goods group
is composed of the following subgroups: i r o n a n d s t e e l , m a c h i n e r y ,
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT, RAILROAD REPAIR SHOPS, NONFERROUS
METALS, LUMBER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS, AND STONE-CLAY-GLASS.
Per capita weekly earnings for all manufacturing industries com
bined fell 2.2 percent from August to September and rose 3.5 percent
from September 1933 to September 1934. Gains from August to
September were shown in 39 of the 90 individual manufacturing
industries surveyed and ranged from 0.4 to 19.2 percent.
The per capita earnings shown in the following table 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).
Man-hour data supplied by identical establishments in August
and September 1934 showed a decrease over the month interval for
all manufacturing industries combined of 2.1 per cent in average hours
worked per week and an increase in average hourly earnings of 0.7
percent. Thirty-four of the industries covered showed increases in
average hours worked and 51 reported increased hourly earnings. As
all reporting establishments do not furnish man-hour information, the
Bureau’s figures on average hours worked per week and average
hourly earnings are necessarily computed from data furnished by a
smaller number of establishments than are covered in the monthly
survey of manufacturing industries. Average hours worked per week
and average hourly earnings are presented for only those manufactur
ing industries for which available information covers at least 20
percent of all the employees in the industry.
In table 1 are shown indexes of. employment and pay rolls in
September 1934 for each of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed,
for the 14 major groups and 2 subgroups into which these industries
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
1497
are classified, and for manufacturing as a whole, together with percent
age changes from August 1934 and September 1933. Per capita
weekly earnings in September 1934, together with percentage changes
from the previous month and from September of the previous year for
each of the 90 manufacturing industries and for manufacturing as a
whole, are also presented in this table. Average hours worked per
week in September 1934 and average hourly earnings, together with
percentage changes from August 1934 and September 1933, are like
wise presented for manufacturing as a whole and for each industry
for which man-hour data covering at least 20 percent of the total
employees in the industry were received.
97667—34------13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B last furnaces, steel w orks, and rolling m ills___
B olts, n u ts, washers, and r iv e ts_______________
Cast-iron p ip e_________________________________
C utlery (not including silver and plated cutlery),
and edge to o ls. _____________________________
Forgings, iron and steel________________________
Hardware
. _ _____________________________
P lu m b ers' su p p lies.
___________________
Steam and hot-water h eating apparatus and
steam f it t in g s _______________________________
Stoves
__ - ________________________
Structural and ornam ental m etalw ork _________
T in cans and other tin w are____________________
T ools (not including edge tools, m achine tools,
files, and saws) __ _ _____________________
W ire work . . . _____________________________
tr a n sp o rta tio n
Agricultural im p lem en ts______________________
C ash registers, adding m achines, and calculating
m ach in es____________________________________
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and su p p lie s ..
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water w h e e ls ..
F ou n d ry and m achine-shop p rod ucts__________
M achine t o o l s _______________________________
R adios and phonographs
___________________
T extile m achinery and p arts___________________
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T ypew riters and parts ........................ .....................
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percentage
change from—
Index
Sep-
-4 .7
- 5 .2
58.0
- 6 .8
- 1 .9
$18.55
-2 .2
+ 3 .5
2 33.3
- 2 .1
- 6 .7
Cents
*55.9
+ 0 .7
+ 9 .4
65! 3
71.7
52.1
- 3 ,8
-6 .2
-7 .7
- 3 .2
-7 .6
- 9 .1
- 1 6 .6
+ 13. 5
41.1
37.3
39.6
28.2
- 9 .7
-1 5 .2
- 2 5 .8
- 3 .3
- 1 3 .5
- 2 2 .1
- 2 7 .1
+ 2 6 .5
15.56
14.12
14.56
- 9 .5
- 1 9 .6
-.1
- 1 4 .1
-1 2 .4
+ 1 1 .4
24.1
25.5
29.7
- 1 0 .1
- 2 0 .1
+ 1 .4
-2 8 .0
-2 3 .2
+ 2 .5
64.4
55.2
48.5
(3)
+ .4
- 1 .0
+ 1 9 .6
+ 1 2 .7
+ 6 .9
76.7
47.5
45.8
59.7
- 1 .3
- 8 .6
- 1 0 .8
- 1 .4
+ 2 .4
- 7 .2
-2 6 .4
- 2 0 .0
53.2
29.1
29.2
31.0
+ .3
- 1 6 .1
- 2 3 .0
- 8 .9
+ 4 .7
- 6 .1
- 3 1 .3
- 2 7 .7
19.18
17.64
15.38
16.05
+ 1 .6
- 8 .2
- 1 3 .6
- 7 .6
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .7
- 6 .8
- 9 .4
35.7
29.8
28.5
29.1
+ 2 .0
-8 .0
-1 2 .0
- 7 .0
- 6 .6
-1 2 .0
- 1 1 .5
- 1 7 .6
53.7
59.6
53.6
54.7
- .2
+ .2
- 3 .1
- .7
+ 9 .9
+ 9 .6
+ 3 .8
+ 1 0 .6
48.8
91.6
58.6
101.0
+ .4
+ 4 .4
- .7
+ 2 .0
- 1 8 .5
+ .5
+ 8 .7
+ 9 .4
30.7
65.8
40.5
96.2
+ 1 .1
+ 1 3 .9
- 3 .1
+ 2 .8
-8 .4
+ 7 .0
+ 2 0 .2
+ 1 7 .5
20.27
19.92
19.47
19.65
+• 7
+ 9 .2
- 2 .5
+ .7
+ 1 2 .8
+ 6 .6
+ 1 0 .2
+ 7 .2
33.8
35.6
32.9
37.8
+ .6
+ 6 .9
- 2 .7
+ 1 .1
- 4 .7
- 4 .9
- 1 .8
- 6 .0
59.8
55.6
59.3
51.7
+. 5
+ 2 .2
+ .2
- .6
+ 1 0 .8
+ 1 0 .7
+ 6 .4
+ 1 0 .6
57.2
120.2
-.3
+ 3 .4
+ .9
- 3 .3
47.0
92.0
- 4 .1
+ 2 .1
+ 9 .3
- 2 .3
18.94
17.50
- 3 .8
- 1 .2
+ 8 .8
+ .8
34.9
31.1
- 3 .3
- .6
- 4 .8
-.1
54.1
55.6
- .6
- .9
+ 1 4 .2
+13. 8
78 ft
67! 8
- 1 .1
+ 1 .5
+ 1 1 .7
+ 4 0 .7
55.6
66.7
- 4 .3
- 2 .4
+ 1 9 .3
+ 6 0 .3
18.95
-3 .8
+ 1 4 .0
33.7
-4 .3
+ 1 .6
56.7
- .5
+ 1 4 .7
106.0
65.9
71.1
66.8
69.7
219.9
62.2
101.3
+ .3
+ .9
-1 .0
- 3 .1
+ 5 .4
+ 1 .1
-6 .4
+ 1 .6
+ 1 6 .9
+ 1 2 .8
+ 3 3 .4
+ 7 .1
+ 3 8 .8
+ 1 2 .3
- 2 0 .8
+ 3 9 .1
85.1
48.0
46.1
46.7
50.8
127.0
45.4
92.5
+ 1 .3
- 4 .5
- 3 .8
- 7 .2
+ 3 .7
+ 3 .2
- 7 .8
+ 6 .8
+ 3 0 .1
+ 2 0 .9
+ 5 5 .7
+ 1 3 .1
+ 4 1 .1
+ 2 2 .0
-3 0 .0
+ 7 0 .7
26.30
20.31
23. 01
19.50
22.13
18. 36
19.96
22.78
+ 1 .0
- 5 .4
- 2 .9
-4 .2
- 1 .6
+ 2 .1
-.3
+ 5 .1
+ 1 1 .1
+ 7 .3
+ 1 6 .6
+ 5 .8
+ 1 .7
+ 8 .7
- 1 0 .8
+ 2 2 .7
38.5
32.2
36.2
32.5
35.9
32.7
32.9
40.0
+ .5
- 5 .6
- 2 .4
- 5 .5
- 1 .1
- 1 .8
-.6
+ 4 .4
- 1 .4
-1 .6
+ 5 .9
- 2 .8
- 2 .8
- 2 .8
- 1 4 .9
+ 9 .3
69.2
61.3
63.6
60.0
61.7
53.3
60.7
56.9
+ .6
—.6
- .5
+ 1 .0
- .3
—. 7
+ .3
+ .7
+ 1 2 .0
+ 9 .9
+ 6 .4
+ 1 0 .5
+ 3 .3
+ 1 2 .4
+ 4 .5
+ 12.9
75.8
fifi ft
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts, n o t in c lu d -
in c lu d in g
A verage hourly
earnings 1
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
change from —
change from—
change from—
A ver
AverA ver
age in
age in
1934
1934
Sep
Sep
S ep
(3-year
(3-year
Sep tem ber A ugust S ep
tem ber A ugust Sep tem ber A ugust
Sep
Sep
average A ugust tem ber average A ugust tem ber
tem ber
1934
tem ber
tem ber
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1923-25
1923-25
1933
1933
1933
1933
1933
=100)
= 100)
T otal m a n u fa c tu r in g ..........................................................
not
A verage hours worked
per w eek 1
Percentage
change from—
Index
Sep-
Industry
M ach inery,
Per capita w eek ly
earnings 1
P a y roll
E m p loym en t
1498
T a b l e 1 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , W E E K L Y P A Y R O L L S , P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N I N G S , 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 , A N D A V E R A G E
H O U R L Y E A R N I N G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S I N S E P T E M B E R 1934 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H A U G U S T 1934 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1933
T r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u i p m e n t .........................................
A ircraft........ ......................................................................
A utom ob iles.....................................................................
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad_______ ______
L ocom otives___________________ __________ ___
S h ip b u ild in g.....................................................................
R a ilr o a d rep a ir s h o p s . . .............................. ...................
E lectric railroad_________________________ _____
Steam railroad__________________ _______ _____
N o n fe r r o u s m e t a ls a n d th e ir p r o d u c t s ________
A lu m in u m m anufactures______________________
Brass, bronze, and copper products.......................
C locks and w atches and time-recording d ev ic es.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
34.6
34.1
96.2
52.9
30.4
54.0
87.3
32.2
66.2
73.1
62.0
64.6
52.0
71.2
91.1
83.9
100.6
58.2
35.8
95.5
89.5
121.0
88.6
101.4
76.0
103.5
85.7
85.5
86.8
- 4 .4
+ .5
- 2 .2
- .4
- 4 .3
- 1 .8
- .4
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .4
- 1 7 .1
- 2 7 .6
- 1 .4
- 4 1 .4
- 8 .0
- 9 .5
+ 1 .3
- 1 .9
- 2 1 .3
-4 7 .7
+ 6 .0
+ 1 .2
+ 1 0 .0
+ .9
+ 7 .5
+ 1 6 .1
+ 6 .4
—5.9
-7 .0
- 1 .7
- 1 3 .3
-4 .2
- 1 .4
- 1 2 .6
+ 1 2 .5
+ 8 .6
- 1 6 .6
- 1 .2
- 2 5 .6
- 3 6 .5
- 1 3 .9
- 4 7 .8
- 2 0 .3
+ 1 .8
- 9 .2
- 1 0 .5
- 3 3 .9
- 6 1 .8
-. 1
- .3
+ 3 .7
- 5 .5
- .5
- 5 .5
- 3 .8
-5 .5
- 5 .3
- 6 .2
51.9
255.6
54.3
36.7
17.4
57.0
45.6
56.9
44.9
54.0
41.4
48.7
59.2
57.7
52.0
52.1
42.7
66.7
33.9
44.6
21.8
22.3
52.2
34.7
16.1
33.9
67.4
20.2
41.1
57.5
49.1
46.5
40.4
55.8
75.6
79.0
91.0
41.1
24.3
70.9
62.2
85.2
81.0
67.5
75.5
93.2
69.2
67.7
73.6
- 2 5 .8
+ 7 .7
- 1 .4
- 1 5 .3
- 2 9 .0
+ 2 .3
- 2 1 .9 + 5 8 .9
- 1 . 4 + 1 6 3 .6
+ 1 .2 + 2 4 .2
- 6 .0
+ .7
-2 .8
+ 7 .4
- 6 .2
+ .2
+ 1 .5
+ 4 .7
+ 1 .3
-3 0 . 4
-4 .8
- 9 .8
+ 9 .1
+ 2 9 .3
+ 1 6 .1 + 1 7 .8
+ 7 .8 + 13.0
+ 7 .8 + 2 3 .5
- .3
+ 19. 9
-5 .7
+ 6 .4
+ 1 .2
- 9 .1
+ 4 .6
- 1 5 .5
- 5 .6
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .6
-.6
- 3 .8
- 4 .2
- 1 .3
+ .7
+ 8 .8
- 1 5 .6
- 2 4 .1
- 3 .0
- 3 6 .2
- 8 .1
- 1 .6
- 1 3 .0
+ 1 .8
- 3 1 .2
- 4 9 .4
+ .4
-5 .2
+(<)
+ 7 .1
+ 7 .3
+ 2 7 .0
+ 2 .8
- 1 2 .1
- 1 4 .4
- 3 .3
- 9 .5
- 3 .9
+ 2 0 .6
+ 3 .6
- 2 .4
+ 3 1 .4
+ 8 .4
- 1 5 .5
- 5 .7
- 2 6 .9
- 3 6 .7
- 2 3 .4
-4 9 .6
-2 1 . 7
+ 1 3 .7
- 1 4 .9
- 9 .5
- 3 7 .8
- 6 5 .3
- 6 .6
-2 .7
- 1 3 .6
-1 .6
- 3 .3
- 2 .2
-J-5. 2
- 1 0 .7
-1 2 .2
- 5 .9
24.69
18. 86
18.88
22. 69
23.16
- 4 .5
-1 8 .8
- 1 0 .1
+ .5
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .9
- 9 .4
+ 8 .6
+ 3 0 .1
+ 1 2 .4
39.3
25.7
31.0
35.7
30.5
- 5 .1
-1 9 .9
-1 0 .9
(3)
- 1 .9
-3 .0
- 2 3 .8
-.5
+ 2 5 .7
- .4
63.1
73.1
61.4
63.5
74.8
+ 2 .3
+ .7
+ 1 .5
+ .5
+ 2 .2
+ 4 .8
+ 1 5 .0
+ 8 .2
+ 5 .3
+ 15.8
25.75
22.69
- 2 .3
- 7 .2
+ 6 .4
- .9
42.8
35.7
- 2 .7
- 7 .8
- 1 .6
- 3 .3
59.9
63.3
+ .5
- .3
+ 8 .5
+ 2 .5
16. 39
19. 12
18. 50
18. 95
18. 92
20.47
20. 30
16.83
+ 1 9 .2
- 2 .2
+ 3 .9
+ 3 .6
+ 3 .6
+ 7 .4
+ .5
- 2 .7
+ 2 .3
-.1
+ 8 .1
+ 5 .6
+ 5 .6
+ 9 .6
+ 7 .2
+ 1 6 .4
36.0
33.3
38.5
36. 2
36.2
35.9
36.9
33.4
+ 3 8 .5
- 3 .2
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .4
4-2.8
+ 7 .5
-.5
-3 .2
+ 2 3 .2
- 8 .0
-2 .8
+ 3 .2
+ .9
+ 2 .1
-3 .2
+ 8 .8
53.1
57.3
48.1
51.1
53.3
56.5
54.7
49.9
-4 .3
+ .9
- 1 .0
- .2
+ .8
- .4
+ .9
+ .2
+ 1 3 .8
+ 1 0 .0
+ 8 .9
+ 6 .7
+ 4 .6
+ 8 .8
+ 1 1 .7
+ 1 1 .0
16.06
+ 1 .2
(3)
35.5
+ 1 .1
- 8 .3
44.7
- .2
+ 6 .7
15. 47
14.85
12. 79
-1 .3
+. 5
+ 3 .9
+ 4 .1
+. 6
+ 2 2 .3
33.6
33.8
- 2 .3
+ .6
- 3 .8
- 1 1 .1
46.2
44.4
+ .7
+ .2
+ 6 .9
+ 1 0 .2
14.12
19.05
18.14
20.24
16.09
+ .5
- 2 .5
- .9
- 2 .2
+ 4 .2
+ 1 1 .0
+ 1 6 .2
- .3
+ 1 .5
-4 .8
31.5
32.9
32.4
30.3
31.3
- 1 .3
- 1 .2
- 1 .2
- 6 .8
+ 3 .3
- 5 .0
+ 6 .3
- 3 .6
- 3 .0
- 1 7 .3
44.8
57.2
56.4
67.1
50.2
+ 2 .3
- .2
+ .7
+ 4 .7
+ 1 .0
+ 1 4 .0
+ 1 0 .2
+ 4 .0
+ 1 3 .2
+ 1 3 .6
16.83
12. 53
15. 33
19.13
20.68
15. 43
13.16
15. 39
- 1 .6
+ 9 .0
-. 1
+ 8 .7
- 1 4 .1
+ 3 .8
- 1 2 .5
- 3 .2
-1 1 .2
- 3 .3
-1 .8
+ 1 1 .8
- 6 .4
+ .9
- 6 .2
- 9 .1
28.7
33.9
32.3
35.7
27.1
32.5
28.7
30.8
- 4 .0
+ 1 2 .6
- 1 .8
+ 8 .5
- 1 7 .6
-2 2 .2
-5 .9
-9 .8
58.5
37.0
46.6
53.4
72.7
47.5
46.2
50.0
+ 4 .7
- 1 .6
+ 1 .3
+ .6
- .1
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .7
+ .2
+ 1 8 .1
+ 2 .5
+ 1 0 .0
+ 9 .5
+ 2 0 .6
+ 7 .2
+ 8 .2
+ 7 .9
16.51
17. 26
15.79
13. 24
23.13
12.41
- 6 .3
- 9 .1
+ 6 .1
- .2
+ 9 .4
-3 .3
-2 .3
-1 6 .4
+ 4 .6
-2 .8
+ 3 .7
+ 9 .7
31.9
16. 69
19.57
- 7 .9
- 1 .7
- 7 .3
+ .2
33.5
35.1
- 1 3 .6
-3 .4
-9 .3
-6 .0
- 1 2 .9
- 1 6 .6
26.7
-6 .3
- 1 2 .2
61.7
—.5
+ 1 4 .6
32.6
31.6
+ 5 .8
(3)
- 2 .6
+L1
47.6
40.0
+ .8
+ .3
+ 2 .4
+ 1 4 .3
- 2 .4
+ 9 .9
38.7
- .5
+ 6 .3
- 5 .1
-2 .8
- 1 9 .6
- 5 .5
51.1
54.4
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .5
+ 1 0 .0
+ 9 .9
1499
See footnotes at end of table.
- 1 1 .4
+ 1 4 .8
- 1 1 .2
- 4 .2
- 1 2 .6
+ 1 3 .0
- 1 3 .2
+ 4 6 .7
- 2 . 0 +102. 7
+ .2
+ 1 1 .1
+ .9
+ 1 .1
-.5
+ .9
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .3
-.3
- 1 .5
- 1 5 .0
-3 2 .0
- 2 .6
-9 .6
+ 5 . 1 + 1 9 .7
+12 . 1 + 1 1 .8
+ 7 .3
+ 4 .1
+ .3
+ 1 2 .3
- .9
+ 1 1 .8
- 3 .1
-8 .7
- 9 .2
+ 3 .3
- 1 5 .8
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
L igh tin g e q u ip m e n t ...................................................
Silverw are and plated w are........ ........................... ..
Sm elting and refining—copper, lead, and z i n c ..
Stam ped and enam eled w are.....................................
L u m b e r a n d a llied p r o d u c t s ......................................
F u r n it u r e ........................................................................
Lum ber:
M illw ork ........ ...........................................................
S a w m ills.................................... ........... ...................
T u rp en tin e and rosin ........ ...........................................
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s .................................
Brick, tile, and terra cotta .................................... ..
C e m e n t.............................................................................
G l a s s ...____ _______ ______________ ____ ______
M arble, granite, slate, and other p rod ucts_____
P o tte r y ..............................................................................
T e x tile s a n d th e ir p r o d u c t s . . ......................................
F abrics________________ ___________ _________ _
C arpets and ru gs__________ _______________
C otton g o o d s...........................................................
C otton sm all w a res...............................................
D y ein g and finishing textiles.............................
H ats, fu r -fe lt..........................................................
K n it goods.................................................................
Silk and rayon goods.............................................
W oolen and w orsted goods.................................
W earing apparel..............................................................
C lothing, m en's................................................. ..
C lothing, w om en ’s . . .................................. .........
Corsets and allied garm ents...... .........................
M e n ’s furnishings_____________ _____ _____
M illin ery....................................................................
Shirts and collars....................................................
L e a th e r a n d its m a n u f a c t u r e s ..................................
B oots and shoes...............................................................
Leather...............................................................................
73.8
296.0
80.9
41.8
37.7
71.3
55.7
65.7
55.0
73.2
57.5
70.8
72.4
73.7
64.5
69.5
69.9
84.4
49.3
65.0
E m p lo y m en t
Ind u stry
O ther th an petroleum re fin in g ...................... .......
C hem icals______________________
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and meal.....................
D ruggists’ preparations_______ ______ ____
Explosives_______ _______ _______ _______
Fertilizers.. .............. ..................................
P ain ts and varnishes. _____________ _____
ayon and allied products..............................
R
Soap___________________ _ . . . _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Petroleum refining_____ _____ ____ _________
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-.1
- 4 .9
- 5 .2
+ 5 .2
+ 3 0 .2
+ 2 .6
- 1 2 .9
+ 7 .8
+ 4 .8
+ .7
- .6
+ .2
- .8
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .9
+ .6
+ 5 .1
+ 6 .2
+9. 7
- 2 .3
- 7 .3
+ 1 .0
+ 1 0 .0
+ 4 .0
+ 1 8 .6
- 7 .6
+ 4 .6
+ 4 .9
- 3 .9
+ 6 .2
+ 2 .8
- 3 .9
+ 2 .2
109.3
99.6
167.0
60.4
199.5
82.6
68.6
60.5
109.2
58.5
72.4
50.3
68.7
47.9
80.3
77.8
79.6
+ 4 .0
+ 1 .9
—9. 7
-3 .7
+ 2 .1
+ 35. S
+ 5 .9
- 1 2 .2
+ 1 0 .3
+ 3 .1
-2 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .1
+ 1 .7
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .4
+ 1 .0
+ 15. 3
+ 1 0 .4
+ 14. 2
-3 .8
+ 3 .2
+ 8 .8
+ 2 1 .8
+ 8 .2
+ 3 9 .6
-6 .8
+ 8 .4
- .3
+ 5 .0
+ 7 .5
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .6
86.5
98.5
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .0
+ 5 .8
+ 3 .9
72.4
88.2
+ 1 .1
+ 3 .8
108.6
107.6
108.0
98.1
103.0
93-2
95.0
98.8
305.5
98.6
112.9
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .2
- 2 .6
+ 3 5 .6
+ 4 .4
+ 3 .0
+ 3 1 .1
- .3
~K 4
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .1
+ 6 .7
- 1 5 .9
+ 8 .3
+ 2 .6
+ 1 5 .4
+ 5 .0
- 7 .5
- 2 .5
+ 7 .6
89.9
87.9
92.1
92.0
92.3
69.5
78.5
75.8
215.5
87.3
96.3
- .1
+. 1
- 4 .6
+ 3 4 .5
+ 2 .7
- 4 .6
+ 3 6 .5
- 2 .6
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .4
- .9
- .4
A verage hourly
earnings 1
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
change from—
change from—
change from—
change from—
S ep
A ver
A ver
A v er
tem ber
age in
age in
age in
1934
Sep
Sep
Sep
(3-year
Sep tem ber
Sep tem ber
Sep
tem
ber
S ep
average A ugust tem
A
ugust
A ugust
ber
tem
ber
1934
1934
tem
ber
tem ber
1934 A ugust
1923-25
1934
1934
1934
1934
1933
1933
1933
1933
= 100)
127.1
115.7
176. 7
81.1
204.4
93.1
80.2
77.3
121.2
76.9
88.1
64.7
73.7
63.5
95.3
86.5
105.4
(3)
A verage hours w orked
per w eek 1
Cents
$22.07
28 71
20.35
12.65
15.90
21.89
24.31
22.73
20.28
21. 72
+ 3 .3
14. 21
13.57
+ 2 .9
-¡-2. 5
17.72
18.88
+ 1 2 .6
+ 8 .1
+ 1 0 .3
+ 9 .6
+ 1 4 .3
-7 .0
+ 8 .1
+ 8 .9
+ 2 9 .5
+ 1 0 .3
+ 1 .1
+ 8 .6
+ 1 2 .0
+ 2 .0
—5.1
+ 1 .5
- 2 .8
+ 3 .9
+4 0
- 1 .5
+ 2 9 .0
+ 7 .3
+ 1 0 .9
+ 4 .5
+ 1 7 .8
40.5
38.2
+ 2 .0
- 3 .8
- 1 .9
-1 1 .9
54. Ï
75.0
m
- 1 .2
+ 8 .4
+19. 5
+ 3 .0
+ 6 .4
+ 3 .7
- .4
+ 2 .4
-3 .6
- 5 .3
- 4 .0
- .2
+ 3 .4
(s)
+ 3 .4
34.3
36.8
39.3
44.8
43.0
42.5
37.7
+ 9 .2
- 1 3 .2
- 5 .5
35.9
42.0
55.7
53.6
52.2
48.7
55.6
-4 .8
- 3 .0
0
+ 1 .5
(3)
+ 2 .5
+ .4
+ 8 .3
+ 8 .2
+ 5 .1
+ 1 .2
+ 7 .5
+ 1 4 .3
+ 1 2 .7
+ 3 .8
-1 .3
34.7
35.5
+ 1 .8
+ .3
- 7 .5
-5 .6
41.1
37.6
+ 1 .2
4-1.3
+ 1 0 .5
+ 6 .2
+ 1 .4
+ .4
+ 6 .9
+ .4
35.9
36.1
(8)
-2 .8
- 1 0 .1
49.1
52.1
- .2
+ .6
+ 1 1 .1
+ 1 3 .3
25.94
32. 72
-.4
+ 1 .8
+ 6 .4
+ 4 .2
35.7
37.1
-.3
+ 1 .1
+ 2 .4
- .9
72.0
84.4
- .1
(3)
+ 3 .6
+ 5 .9
23.83
10.61
20.01
21.38
12. 91
20.67
18.81
21.65
26. 97
- 2 .1
- .7
- 1 .6
- 7 .4
+ 4 .1
- 2 .3
+ .7
+ 1 .4
- .5
+ 7 .4
+ 1 0 .7
-.3
+ 6 .4
+ 1 2 .3
+ 5 .3
+ 9 .3
+ 1 0 .8
+ 4 .1
37.8
44.0
38.6
33.4
34.7
37.2
36.4
38.8
34.0
- 2 .8
+ 1 4 .6
+ .5
- 4 .6
+ .6
- 2 .4
- .3
+ 2 .6
- 2 .0
-1 .6
+ 5 .4
+ 2 .7
-7 .8
-2 1 .5
-4 .3
- 4 .1
- .4
- 4 .1
63.0
24.2
50.9
62.8
37.0
55.5
51.6
54.8
77.2
+• 5
- 1 4 .2
- 2 .7
- .9
+ 3 .4
+• 2
+ 1 .0
- 1 .6
+ 1 .7
+ 9 .5
+ 3 .9
+ 2 .4
+ 5 .7
+ 4 2 .7
+ 8 .0
+ 1 4 .5
+ 8 .9
+ 1 2 .5
+ 2 .3
- 1 .6
- 2 .9
MONTHLY
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s .
B ak in g ___________________
Beverages................. ........................
B u tte r ... ________ _____
Canning and preserving....... ...........
C o n fe ctio n ery _____________
Flour__________ _______
Ice cream_____________ _____
Slaughtering and m eat packing____ . .
Sugar, b e e t.......... .......................
Sugar refining, cane___ . .
T o b a c c o m a n u f a c t u r e s ...... .......
C hew ing and sm oking tobacco and snuff........
Cigars and cigarettes............... ......... .
P a p er a n d p r in t in g ................ ....... .................
Boxes, paper...... .........................
Paper and p u lp __________ ______
P rin tin g and publishing:
B ook and job ____________ _______ _
N ew spapers and p eriodicals_________ _____
C tie m ic a ls a n d a llied p r o d u c ts , a n d p e tr o le u m
r e fin in g ..............
Percentage
Index
change from—
S ep
tem ber
1934
(3-year
Sep
average A ugust tem ber
1934
1923-25
1933
= 100)
Per capita w eek ly
earnings 1
P a y roll
1500
T a b l e l . - E M p L ° Y M E N T , W E E K L Y P A Y R O L L S , P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N I N G S , 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 , A N D A V E R A G E
H O U R L Y E A R N I N G S I N M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S IN S E P T E M B E R 1934 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H A U G U S T 1934 A N D S E P T E M B E R
1933—C ontinued
O
3
3
R u b b er p ro d u cts...........................................................
R ubber boots and shoes................ ...........................
R u b b er goods, other th an boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tu b e s................. ................ ................. .
R u b b er tires and inner tubes.................................
78.4
56.4
- 2 .9
+ 2 .3
- 1 1 .7
- 1 0 .2
56.1
50.4
- 4 .6
-. 1
- 8 .6
- 1 0 .6
17.89
- 2 .3
+ 2 .6
32.6
- 6 .6
- 5 .0
49.2
+ 1.4
+ 2 .6
113.5
70.4
-2 .0
- 4 .7
- 1 7 .1
- 7 .7
83.7
47. 6
- 6 .3
- 4 .8
- 1 2 .8
- 5 .6
17.08
21.55
- 4 .4
- .2
+ 5 .4
-j-2.5
32.0
28.8
- 6 .7
+ 4 .7
- 5 .8
- 6 .5
52.3
77.9
+ 1 .6
- 1 .6
+ 6 .6
+ 1 5 .3
1 P er capita weekly earnings are com puted from figures furnished b y all reporting establishm ents. Average hours and average hourly earnings are com puted from data furnished
by a smaller num ber of establishm ents as some firms do not report m an-hour information. Figures for groups not com puted. Percentage changes over year on per capita weekly
earnings, average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings com puted from indexes. Percentage change over m onth on per capita weekly earnings in “ All industries”
also com puted from indexes.
! W eighted.
* N o change.
4 Less th an Ho of 1 percent.
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
1501
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1502
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Estimated Number of Wage Earners and Weekly Pay Rolls in Manufacturing
Industries
I n t h e following table are presented, the estimated number of wage
earners and weekly pay rolls in all manufacturing industries combined
and in the 14 groups into which these manufacturing industries have
been classified, for the years 1919 to 1933, inclusive, and for the first
9 months of 1934. These estimates have been computed by multi
plying the weighting factors of the several groups of industries (num
ber employed or weekly pay roll in the index base period 1923-25)
by the Bureau’s index numbers of employment or pay rolls (which
have been adjusted to conform with census trends over the period
1919-31) and dividing by 100. Data are not available for all groups
over the entire period shown. The totals for all manufacturing
industries combined, however, have been adjusted to include all
groups. The estimated total employment and weekly pay rolls for
all manufacturing industries combined do not include the manufactured-gas industry (which is included in the Bureau’s electric light
and power and manufactured-gas industry) or the motion-picture
industry.
T a b l e 2 .—E S T I M A T E D N U M B E R O F W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S I N A L L
M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S C O M B I N E D A N D IN I N D U S T R Y G R O U P S —Y E A R L Y
A V E R A G E S 1919 TO 1933, I N C L U S I V E , A N D M O N T H S , J A N U A R Y T O S E P T E M B E R 1934,
I N C L U S IV E
T otal m anu
facturing
Year and m onth
Iron and
steel and
their
products
M achinery,
not in clud Transpor
tation
ing trans
portation equ ip m en t
equ ip m en t
Railroad
repair
shops
N on ferrous
m etals and
their prod
ucts
E m p lo y m e n t
1919 average-- _____________
1920
1921 ______________________
1922
____ _______________
1923 _______________________
1924 ______________________
1925 _______________________
1926
_____________________
1927 _______________________
1928 _______________________
1929 ______ ________________
________ ____________
1930
1931 _______________________
1932 __________ _____ ______
1933 ______________________
1934: January
_ ________
February__ __________
M arch
- ___
April
- .
____ M a y ___ - _________
Ju ne___ _____________
Ju ly
_ _____ ____ _
A ugust - _ ______
Septem ber
___ _
8,983,900
9,065,600
6,899, 700
7,592, 700
8, 724,900
8,083, 700
8,328,200
8.484.400
8.288.400
8, 285,800
8, 785,600
7, 668,400
6, 484, 300
5,374, 200
5, 778,400
6,146,000
6,514, 200
6, 770,100
6,897,800
6,904,300
6, 791, 700
6,585,200
6, 606, 200
6,351,900
i Com parable data not available
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
858,600
926,300
572,400
722, 500
892,400
833,700
851, 200
880,200
834,900
829,800
881,000
766,200
598,400
458,100
503, 400
545, 500
572, 200
601,400
623, 700
646,000
656,400
603,900
589,300
567,000
1,026,800
1,131,700
680, 700
717,400
928,600
835,400
870,500
946,700
897,800
922, 500
1,105, 700
918, 700
687,000
494, 600
517,100
614, 700
640,100
674,400
705,100
713, 900
709, 500
690, 200
690, 200
684, 900
(0
(0
0)
(0
606,200
524,500
559,600
558, 600
495,100
541,900
583, 200
451,800
373,800
315,700
305,600
401,200
477, 300
526,300
558,400
560,100
535,900
494,800
469,400
415,900
0)
(0
0)
(0
523, 700
464,900
458,100
460,700
428, 900
404,000398, 200
353,800
309, 000
257,400
250,600
254,500
257,400
267, 600
278,700
287,300
288,300
281,100
266,100
268, 500
(>)
(>)
(>)
(')
0)
(0
(0
(0
(0
(>)
0)
(>)
209,000
164, 200
175, 200
190, 200
200,400
212,200
217, 300
219,900
214, 500
206, 600
207,400
206,900
1503
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 2 —E S T I M A T E D N U M B E R O F W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S IN A L L
M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S C O M B I N E D A N D IN I N D U S T R Y G R O U P S —Y E A R L Y
A V E R A G E S 1919 TO 1933, I N C L U S I V E , A N D M O N T H S , J A N U A R Y T O S E P T E M B E R 1934,
IN C L U S I V E —C ontinued
T otal m anu
facturing
Year and m onth
Iron and
steel and
their
products
M achinery,
not includ Transpor
tation
ing trans
portation equipm ent
equ ip m en t
Railroad
repair
shops
Nonferrous
m etals and
their prod
ucts
W eekly pay rolls
1929
1921________________________
1922________________________
1923________________________
1924________________________
1925________________________
1926_______________________
1927 .
__________
1928 _______________________
1929________________________
1930________________________
1931________________________
1932________________________
1933
________________
1934: January_________ ____
February____________
M arch ______________
A pril
........................
M ay
. _____ _____
June _ _____________
J u l y _________________
A u g u s t ____ _ - ____
Septem ber____________
Year and m onth
$198,145, 000 $23,937,000 $24,534,000
«
(0
238, 300,000 30, 531, 000 31,982,000
(■)
0)
155, 008,000 14,049, 000 16,450,000
(0
(')
165,406,000 17, 400, 000 16,982,000
(0
(0
210, 065, 000 25,442,000 24, 618, 000 $18, 532,000 $14,856,000
195, 376,000 23,834,000 22,531,000 15, 636, 000 12,972,000
204, 665,000 24, 680,000 23,843, 000 17,478, 000 12,847, 000
211, 061, 000 25,875,000 26, 310, 000 17,126,000 13,025,000
206, 980,000 24, 289, 000 25, 095,000 15, 450, 000 12,475,000
208, 334, 000 24,740, 000 26, 334, 000 17, 494, 000 11,817, 000
221,937, 000 26,568,000 31, 761, 000 18,136,000 12,255,000
180, 507, 000 21,126,000 24,197, 000 12, 076, 000 10, 316, 000
9,008, 000
8,366, 000
137, 256, 000 13, 562, 000 15,135, 000
7,164, 000
7, 012, 000
5, 793,000
93, 757,000
8, 546,000
5,652,000
8,925,
000
6,
799,
000
98,623,000
8,975,000
9, 072, 000
5, 710,000
109, 806, 000 10,134, 000 11, 260,000
6,185, 000
123,395,000 11,269,000 12, 253, 000 12, 394, 000
131,852, 000 12,650,000 13,199,000 14, 546, 000
6,578, 000
7,188, 000
136,962,000 14,006, 000 14, 311, 000 15,871, 000
7, 297, 000
136, 575,000 15,115,000 14, 713, 000 15,148, 000
7, 297, 000
131,839, 000 15,436, 000 14, 571,000 13,444,000
6,931,000
122,809,000 11, 737,000 13, 744, 000 11, 258, 000
6,578,000
126, 401, 000 11, 219,000 13, 673, 000 12,033, 000
118,089,000 10,134,000 13,152, 000
8,934, 000
6,185, 000
Lum ber
and allied
products
Stone,
clay, and
glass
products
T extiles and their products
Fabrics
W earing
apparel
T otal
(0
(0
(*)
0)
(>)
0)
0)
«
(0
(0
(0
(0
$4, 622, (100
2,865, 000
3, 039, 000
3, 452, 000
3, 826, 000
4,163, 000
4,317,000
4,441,000
4, 243,000
3,928,000
3,899,000
3,958,000
Leather
and its
m anu
factures
E m p lo y m en t
1919 average---------------------1920________________________
1921________________________
1922________________________
1923________________________
1924________________________
1925________________________
1926________________________
1927________________________
1928________________________
1929________________________
1930________________________
1931________________________
1932________________________
1933________________________
1934: Jan uary. ------------------February_____________
M arch......
.................
A pril_____________ . . .
M a y ______________ .
June___
____ .
J u ly __________________
A u g u s t ... . . . ----------S eptem ber----------i Com parable data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
863,800
821, 200
703, 000
894, 300
932,100
901,300
921,600
922, 300
864,100
848,100
876, 500
699,400
516,900
377,800
406,100
418,800
432,600
445, 400
453,700
468,400
459, 200
448, 200
450, 000
452,800
302, 700
314, 500
253,000
299, 600
351,400
346,400
352, 700
363,500
349,800
334,900
328, 500
280,800
222,800
156, 000
157,500
165,700
174,400
182,500
193, 700
202,100
200, 000
189, 900
186, 000
185, 300
1,052, 600
1,045, 300
994, 300
1, 054, 900
1,164, 400
1, 041,900
1,109, 500
1, 095, 700
1,119, 200
1,062,400
1,095,900
950,400
886, 700
794,100
952,600
988, 400
1,065,800
1,087,900
1, 070, 200
1,049, 200
993,900
961,900
946,400
685, 500
507,800
519,400
473,900
487, 800
499, 300
455,800
466,500
472,800
501,400
513,100
536,700
497, 700
472,000
401,800
418,100
385,900
442,800
471, 300
474,100
449,000
423,400
378,300
427, 200
452,800
1, 609, 400
1,612,400
1, 509,400
1, 585, 500
1, 714,300
1,545,500
1,627, 400
1, 628, 000
1, 694,400
1,651, 300
1, 706,900
1,513,000
1,421, 000
1,250, 300
1,432,700
1,437,100
1, 577,300
1, 629, 400
1,614, 700
1,565,900
1,481,100
1,399, 700
1,437,100
1,191,100
349,600
318, 600
280,100
314,600
344,800
311,700
314,200
312,700
316, 000
309,400
318,600
295,100
272,800
255,500
269, 400
268, 200
292,100
299,900
298,600
295,700
283,700
289,200
294,700
277, 200
1504
MONTHLY LAB OH REVIEW
T able a - E S T I M A T E D N U M B E R O F W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S IN A L L
M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S C O M B I N E D A N D I N I N D U S T R Y G R O U P S - Y E A R L Y
A V E R A G E S 1919 TO 1933, I N C L U S I V E , A N D M O N T H S , J A N U A R Y T O S E P T E M B E R 1934,
IN C L U S I V E —C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
Lum ber
and allied
products
Stone,
clay, and
glass
products
T extiles and their products
Fabrics
W earing
appare
T otal
Leather
and its
m anu
factures
W eekly pay rolls
$16, 549,000
1919 average........
20, 358, 000
1 920..
. ..............................................
1921.......................
13.161.000
1922
____
15,234, 000
18, 526,000
1923
____
1924
____
18, 228,000
1925
____
18.824.000
18.997.000
1926
____
1927
________________________
17.916.000
1928
____
17.454.000
1929..
. ..............................................
18.062.000
13, 464,000
1930..
________________________
8.641.000
1931
____
1932
____
4.656.000
4.900.000
1933
____
1934: J a n u a r y ...
5,075, 000
F eb ru a ry ..
5.650.000
M arch____
5.909.000
A p r il...........
6,168, 000
6.409.000
M a y ______
6.279.000
J u n e ........
J u ly ______
5.853.000
6, 205,000
A u g u st___
Septem ber.
6, 279,000
Year and m onth
$6,397,000 $17, 494,000 $ 10, 121,000 $28,440, 000
8.239.000 21, 005, 000 12.124.000 34,115, 000
5.907.000 17.235.000 10.266.000 28, 284, 000
6.442.000 17, 747,000 10, 438, 000 28.962.000
8, 726, 000 21,590, 000 10,919, 000 33.511.000
9.804.000 29.712.000
8,926, 000 19, 014, 000
8,985, 000 20,497, 000 10, 284,000 31, 795, 000
9,257, 000 20, 241,000 10.297.000 31.731.000
8.929.000 21.135.000 11.123.000 33.817.000
8.541.000 19, 510, 000 11.114.000 32.199.000
8.323.000 20.251.000 11.476.000 33.321.000
6.828.000 16.167.000
9, 680,000 27.115.000
4, 786,000 14.308.000
8.338.000 23, 799,000
2.588.000 10.367.000
5.733.000 16.947.000
2.455.000 12.664.000
5.757.000 19.394.000
2.655.000 13.647.000
5.850.000 20, 526,000
2.956.000 15,948, 000
7.473.000 24.676.000
8.414.000 26.164.000
3,081, 000 16.457.000
3.445.000 16.152.000
7.866.000 25, 277,000
3.507.000 15, 256,000
7.039.000 23.472.000
6.377.000 21.033.000
3.445.000 13.626.000
3, 205,000 13.117.000
5.716.000 19.798.000
3.098.000 13.178.000
7,297, 000 21.571.000
7, 328, 000 18, 214,000
3.081.000 10. 001.000
Foods and
kindred
products
Tobacco
m anufac
tures
Paper and
printing
$6, 978,000
7.437.000
6.040.000
6, 711, 000
7.472.000
6,654, 000
6.831.000
6.909.000
7.009.000
6.696.000
6.915.000
5, 748,000
5.035.000
4,060, 000
4.394.000
4, 716,000
5.708.000
5.896.000
5.736.000
5.512.000
5,093, 000
5.393.000
5.498.000
4.834.000
C hem icals
and allied
products
R ubber
products
«
(0
E m p lo y m e n t
1919 average. . . ________________
1920_____________________________
1921_____________________________
1922 ____________________________
1923 ___________________________
1924_____________________________
1925_____________________________
1926______________________ ____ _
1927_____________________________
1928_____________________________
1929. ___________________________
1930_____________________________
1931_____________________________
1932____ ________________________
1933_____________________________
1934: January______ ____________
F ebruary____ _____________
M arch .................... .....................
A pril__________ ___________
May________________
J u n e_______________________
J u l y ................. .............. ...........
A u g u s t.___________________
S e p te m b e r ..____ __________
Com parable data not availiable,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
733, 600
713,000
626,400
651,400
681,900
657,800
664,400
664,400
679,400
707,100
753, 500
731,100
650,500
577,100
631,000
628,700
627,800
643,100
649, 500
665,400
702,600
735,800
816,100
849,700
157,000
154,000
149,900
146,400
146,300
136, 700
132,100
125,700
129,300
125,600
116,100
108,300
99,700
88,600
82,700
75,400
85,900
89,100
89,500
84,800
86,400
84,600
90,100
89, 500
510,100
549,100
467,100
489,400
527,400
529,200
537,100
553,600
553,500
558,300
591,500
574,100
511,800
451,700
458,400
490,700
494,500
497,600
505,100
509,300
503,000
496,000
498, 200
506,100
0)
0)
(*)
(>)
342,700
322,200
334,200
355,100
346,700
342,500
384,800
364, 700
316,800
279,700
315,400
359,200
368,300
375,600
377,400
353,500
348,100
350,800
356,000
361,800
0)
137,800
123,200
141,800
141,200
142,000
149,200
149,100
115,500
99, 200
87,800
99, 300
110,100
113,600
117,000
120,900
119,700
115,000
112,700
108,400
105,300
(>)
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
1505
T a b l e 2 .— E S T I M A T E D N U M B E R O P W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S I N A L L
M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S C O M B I N E D A N D I N I N D U S T R Y G R O U P S —Y E A R L Y
A V E R A G E S 1919 T O 1933, I N C L U S I V E , A N D M O N T H S , J A N U A R Y T O S E P T E M B E R 1934,
I N C L U S I V E —C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
Foods and
kindred
products
Tobacco
manufactures
Paper and
printing
C hem icals
and allied
products
R ubber
products
W eekly pay rolls
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925.
1926
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932
1933.
1934: January____________________
February_______________ _
M arch__________ . .
A pril__________
M a y ________ ____ ________
J u n e_____________________
J u ly --------------------- -------------A u g u st...._______ _________
Sep tem b er____________
$14,879,000
16,698,000
14,333,000
14,142,000
15,296,000
15,155,000
15,268, 000
15,503,000
15,838,000
16,388,000
17,344, 000
16,593,000
14,173,000
11,308,000
11, 604,000
12,301, 000
12,352,000
12,522, 000
12,663, 000
13,296,000
14,008,000
14, 571,000
16,022,000
16,661,000
$2,386,000
2,772,000
2, 325,000
2, 206,000
2, 317,000
2,213,000
2,147,000
2, 049,000
2,025,000
1,916,000
1,819,000
1,617,000
1,336,000
' 1,052,000
944,000
886,000
1,012,000
1,019,000
1, 028, 000
1, 030, 000
1,057,000
1,052,000
1,097,000
1,119,000
$10,873,000
14,729,000
12, 259,000
12,762,000
14,304,000
14,797,000
15, 506, 000
16, 478,000
16, 501,000
16,691,000
17,771,000
17,036,000
14,461, 000
11,126,000
10, 299,000
11,045,000
11, 297,000
11,550,000
11, 847, 000
11,981,000
11,728,000
11,491,000
11,654,000
11,937, 000
(0
(')
0)
0)
$8,499,000
8,013,000
8,444,000
9,055,000
8.978,000
8,997,000
10,068,000
9,334,000
7,643, 000
5,861,000
6,179, 000
7,035,000
7,257,000
7,417,000
7,683,0C0
7,352,000
7,333,000
7, 381,000
7,487,000
7,479,000
(>)
(')
(')
(>)
$3,500, 000
3, 223, 000
3, 676,000
3,707,000
3,810,000
4,069,000
3,986,000
2,934,000
2,165,000
1,555,000
1,740, 000
2,036,000
2,261,000
2,445,000
2,546,000
2,438,000
2,306,000
2,147,000
2,039,000
1,946,000
Com parable data not available.
Index Numbers of Employment and Pay Roll Totals in Manufacturing
Industries
G eneral index numbers of factory employment and pay rolls by
months, from January 1919 to September 1934, inclusive, together
with average indexes for each of the years from 1919 to 1933, inclusive,
and for the 9-month period, January to September 1934, inclusive,
based on the 3-year average, 1923-25, as 100, are shown in the follow
ing table. A chart of these indexes also follows.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pa y R olls ,*
thManufacturing
3 y e a r average 1^23~1^2^-100
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
c
1506
E mployment
Jack Brandt. Jr.
1507
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b le it. —G E N E R A L I N 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 T O T A L S IN M A N U
F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S B Y M O N T H S —J A N U A R Y 1919 T O S E P T E M B E R 1934
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
E m p lo y m e n t
M on th
J a n u a r y ------F ebruary___
M a rch ______
A pril________
M a y ________
J u n e________
J u ly ________
A u g u s t _____
S e p te m b e r ...
O ctober-------N o v e m b e r ...
D ecem ber___
1919
1920
1921 1922
1923
1924 1925
105.3
102.0
102.4
102. 5
103.1
104.3
106.9
109.7
111.7
111.3
112.6
114.4
114.9
113.7
116.0
114.5
112.0
111.1
108.5
108.8
107.5
103.7
97.4
89.7
81.0
82.6
83.2
82.1
81.9
81.0
79.8
81.2
83.4
84.1
84.2
83.3
100.7
102.5
104.6
105.0
105.3
106.0
104.9
105.2
105.7
104. 5
103.2
101.4
100.2
101.5
101.7
99.9
96.8
93.8
91.0
92.1
94.4
95.3
94.8
96.1
82.5
84.6
85.9
85.8
87.9
89.8
88.2
91.4
94.5
97.0
99.0
100.5
96.3
98.1
98.8
98.7
98.1
98.0
97.8
99.5
101.5
102.2
101.8
101.5
1926
1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934
100.5
101.5
102.1
101.4
100.4
100.3
99.4
101.4
103.4
103.1
101.4
100.0
98.2 95.0 100.8
99.7 96.5 102.9
100.2 97.6 104.1
99.6 97. 1 105.3
99.1 97.0 105.3
99. 1 97.8 105.6
98.1 97.7 106.1
99.3 100.1 107.9
100. 5 102.2 109.0
99.6 102.6 107.7
97.4 101.7 103.6
96.1 101.2 99.8
97.3
97.4
96.9
96.3
94.8
92.9
89.5
88.8
89.6
87.7
84.6
82.3
79.6
80.3
80.7
80.7
80.1
78.4
77.0
77.1
77.4
74.4
71.8
71.0
68.7
69.5
68.4
66.1
63.4
61.2
58.9
60.1
63.3
64.4
63.4
62.1
60.2
61.1
58.8
59.9
62.6
66.9
71.5
76.4
80.0
79.0
76.2
74.4
73.3
77.7
80.8
82.3
82.4
81.0
78.7
79.5
75.8
_________
—
A v e ra g e ... 107.2 108.2 82.3 90.6 104.1 96.5 99.4 101.2 98.9 98.9 104.8 91.5 77.4 64.1 69.0 179.1
P ay rolls
J anuary-------F ebruary__
M arch______
A p r il_______
M a y ________
Ju ne_______
J u ly . ............
A ugu st____
Septem ber__
O c t o b e r .___
N o v em b er__
D ecem ber___
A v e ra g e ...
95.3
89.6
90.0
89.2
90.0
92.0
94.8
99.9
104.7
102. 2
106.7
114.0
117.2
115.5
123.7
120.9
122.4
124.2
119.3
121.6
119.8
U 5.8
107.0
98.0
82.8
81.3
81.7
79.0
77.3
75.4
71.7
73.9
73.4
72.6
71.7
73.3
69.6
72.4
74.9
73.8
77.2
80.5
78.5
83.0
87.0
89.5
93.4
95.7
94.6
97.9
102.5
103.8
107.3
107.5
103.3
103.8
104. 3
106. 6
104.5
102.9
98.8
104.1
104.1
101.8
97.5
92.4
85.7
89.3
92.5
95.1
93.7
97.6
95.4
100.8
102.4
100.0
100. 7
98.7
96.8
99.3
98.8
104.6
104.6
105.2
100.9
105.0
106.5
104.4
103.1
103.3
99.0
103.4
104. 4
107.6
104.1
103.5
98.4 96.0 102.3
104.4 101.2 109.3
105.7 102. 5 111. 6
104.5 100. 5 112.6
104.6 101.3 112.9
102.4 101.7 111.2
98. 5 99.0 107.2
101.9 103.3 112.0
101.4 104.7 112.9
102.1 108.2 112.4
98.5 105.0 104. 1
99.5 105.6 100.7
95.9
98.8
98.8
97.7
95.4
92.3
84.3
83.3
84.1
82. 2
76.8
75.2
70.0
74.3
75.6
74.4
73.4
69.7
66.2
65.9
63.4
61.3
58.1
57.6
53.5
54.6
53.1
49.5
46.8
43.4
39.8
40.6
42.9
44.7
42.9
41.5
39.5
40.2
37.1
38.8
42.7
47.2
50.8
56.8
59.1
59.4
55.5
54.5
54.0
60.6
64.8
67.3
67.1
64.8
60.5
62.2
58.0
97.4 117.1 76.2 81.3 103.3 96.1 100.6 103.8 101.8 102.4 109.1 88.7 67.5 46.1 48.5 162.1
Average for 9 m onths.
Employment in Nonmanufacturing Industries in September 1934
G a in s in employment from August to September were shown in 6 of
the 17 nonmanufacturing industries surveyed monthly by the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics and increases in pay rolls were re
ported in 5. Data for the building-construction industry are not pre
sented here, but are shown in detail under the section, Building Con
struction.
The most pronounced gains in employment and pay rolls (15 per
cent and 18.4 percent, respectively) were in the anthracite-mining
industry, reflecting seasonal activity and the resumption of operations
in a number of mines which had previous^ been affected by labor
troubles. Employment in retail trade, based on reports received
from 57,762 establishments employing 861,635 workers in September,
showed a gain of 7 percent over the month interval, and pay rolls
increased 5.2 percent. The general merchandise group, composed of
department stores, variety stores, general merchandise stores, and
mail-order houses, showed a seasonal increase of 12.7 percent in em
ployment and 10.6 percent in pay rolls, while in the remaining 52,978
retail establishments employment increased 3 percent and pay rolls
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1508
MONTHLY LAHOR REVIEW
gained 2.2 percent. The dyeing and cleaning industry reported 1.8
percent more employees in September than in August and 4.1 percent
larger pay rolls.
Employment in bituminous-coal mining increased 1.4 percent, re
flecting seasonal demands, wholesale trade establishments reported
a gain of 1.2 percent, and electric light and power and manufactured
gas showed an increase of 0.2 percent. While 11 of the nonmanu
facturing industries reported decreased employment, the declines in 6
instances were less than 1 percent. The most pronounced decrease
in employment (3.7 percent) was in brokerage establishments, which
(with the exception of a small increase in February 1934) have re
ported declines in employment each month since September of last
year. The quarrying and nonmetallic mining industry reported a
decrease of 2.6 percent in employment, and the hotel industry showed
a decline of 2.1 percent, reflecting the closing of seasonal resort hotels.
In table 5 are shown indexes of employment and pay rolls, per
capita weekly earnings, average hours worked per week, and average
hourly earnings in September 1934 for 13 of the nonmanufacturing
industries surveyed monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
together with percentage changes from August 1934 and September
1933. Similar percentage changes in employment, pay rolls and per
capita weekly earnings, as well as per capita weekly earnings are
also presented for banks, brokerage, insurance, and real estate.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls for these industries are not
available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T a b l e 5 . — E M P L O Y M E N T , W E E K L Y P A Y R O L L S , P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N I N G S , 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 , A N D A V E R A G E
HOURLY EARNINGS IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G I N D U S T R I E S I N S E P T E M B E R 1934 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H A U G U S T 1934 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1933
E m p loym en t
Ind u stry
A verage hours worked
A verage h ourly earnings >
per w eek i
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
change from—
Sep
change from— A ver change from— A v er change from—
change from— A verSep
tem ber
tem ber
age in
age in
1934
1934
Sep
S ep
Sep
(aver
(aver
Sep
Sep tem ber
tem ber
S ep
tem
ber
SeptSep
age
A ugust tem ber
A ugu st tem ber
age
A ugust
A ugu st
A ugust tem ber
1934
1934
1934
tem ber
tem ber
1934
1934
1929=
1934
1929=
1934
1934
1933
1933
1933
1933
1933
100)
100)
56.9
78.2
42.3
53.3
81.8
+ 1 5 .0
+ 1 .4
- .9
- 2 .6
- 1 .1
+ .2
+ 8 .9
+ 8 .7
+ 1 .3
+ 2 3 .6
47.0
51.4
25.9
32.4
59.7
+ 1 8 .4
+ 1 .9
- 4 .2
- 4 .8
- 2 .4
-2 2 .6
+ 1 6 .6
+ 8 .4
+ 1 0 .6
+ 3 4 .5
D ollars
24. 05
17. 02
19. 73
15. 65
27. 27
+ 3 .0
+ .6
- 3 .3
-2 .3
-1 .3
- 2 2 .7
+ 7 .0
- .3
+ 9 .2
+ 8 .8
29.2
23.6
34.6
33.0
34.4
+ 4 .3
+ 1 .3
- 4 .2
-2 .9
- .9
-2 6 .4
-2 3 .5
- 9 .8
- 3 .0
- 9 .4
Cents
83.2
71.7
56.7
47.8
80.5
0
+ 1 .1
+ .8
0
+ 2 .1
+ 3 9 .7
+ 9 .7
+ 1 3 .1
+ 1 6 .6
70.9
85.8
-.1
+ .2
+ 3 .8
+ 6 .8
72.2
79.3
- 2 .4
-.7
+ 1 1 .8
+ 1 0 .4
26. 96
29. 26
-2 .3
- .9
+ 7 .6
+ 3 .4
38.4
37.2
-1 .5
- 2 .9
+ 3 .6
-4 .4
72.8
79.8
+ 1 .0
+ 3 .6
+ 6 .7
+ 1 0 .6
72.5
-.5
+ 4 .0
62.4
- .6
+ 8 .0
27. 46
'-.1
+ 3 .9
44.5
- .9
- 3 .1
61.2
+ .8
+ 1 1 .8
85.3
87.6
84.4
82.9
80.0
0
(s)
0
+ 1 .2
+ 7 .0
-2 . 1
-1 .0
+ 1 .8
- .9
- 3 .7
-. 1
-.6
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .9
+ 7 .2
+. 4
- 2 .3
+ 1 .7
- 2 6 .2
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .7
67.4
70.8
64.3
65.9
59.0
0
0
0
(5)
+ 1 .5
+ 5 .2
-.4
+ 8 .2
+ 2 .3
+ 1 5 .6
+ 3 .8
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .2
- 2 7 .0
+ 4 .1
+ 3 .2
26. 34
19. 85
13.08
15.06
18.16
31.32
34.44
34.14
21. 32
+ .3
- 1 .7
+ 1 .6
-. 1
+ 2 .3
+ .3
- 1 .2
-1 .4
- .6
+ 4 .1
+• 4
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .4
+ 5 .9
+ .4
- 1 .1
+ 2 .7
- .4
40.6
3 40.1
46.9
39.4
40.8
0
0
0
0
- .5
+ 1 .5
- .2
- .8
+ 1 .2
0
0
(5)
0
(2)
+ 1 .0
- 5 .9
+ 2 .8
- 1 .1
0
0
(s)
(5)
63.8
3 51.4
27.5
37.6
44.5
(5)
0
(5)
(5)
+ .8
- 1 .2
+ 1 .5
+ .8
+ 1 .4
0
0
0
0
+ 4 .5
+ 1 .6
+ 1 3 .4
+ 1 .6
+ 7 .4
0
0)
0
0
0
-
1.0
+ 4 .1
-.6
- 4 .9
- 1 .5
- 1 .3
TREND
Coal m ining:
A n th racite------------------------ ------------------------------B itu m in ou s---------- ------------------------------------------M etalliferous m in in g_____ ________________________
Quarrying and nonm etallic m in in g------------------------C rude-petroleum producing------- ---------------------------P u b lic u tilities:
T elep hon e and telegraph_____________________
E lectric ligh t and power and m anufactured gas__
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and
m ain ten an ce-------------------------------------------------Trade:
W h olesale----- ---------- ---------------------------------------R eta il............... ............................. - ......... ................ .......
H otels (cash p aym en ts o n ly ) 4_____________________
L aundries------------- ------------------- -----------------------------D y ein g and cleaning______________________________
B an k s___________________ ____________ - ------- ---------B rokerage........... ......... ........... ................................... .............
Insurance........ ...................................................... ...................
R eal esta te.............................................................................
Per cap ita w eek ly
earnings 1
P a y roll
C
g
C
g
1 Per cap ita w eek ly earnings are com puted from figures furnished b y all reporting establishm ents. A verage hours and average hourly earnings are com p u ted from data furnished
b y a sm aller num ber of establishm ents as som e firms do not report m an-hour inform ation. Percentage changes over year com puted from indexes.
• N o change.
• Ju ly average hours and percentage change from June revised to 40.7 and + 1 .2 , respectively. A ugu st average hours changed to 40.3. A verage h ourly earnings revised to 51.4 in
Ju ly and 52.4 in A ugust.
4 T h e addition al value of board, room, and tip s cannot be com puted.
• N o t available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cn
1510
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Indexes of Employment and Pay-Roll Totals for Nonmanufacturing Industries
I ndex numbers of employment and pay-roll totals for 13 nonmanu
facturing industries are presented in table 6. These index numbers
show the variation in employment and pay rolls in these industries,
by months, from January 1931 through September 1934.
A revision of the indexes, similar to that made for the manufactur
ing industries, was made for the laundry and the dyeing and clean
ing industries in March 1934. The indexes of employment and pay
rolls in these industries were adjusted to conform with the trends
shown by the 1929 and 1931 census reports and this new series will
be continued until further adjustments, if necessary, are made when
1933 census data become available.
T a b l e 6 . - I N D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G
I N D U S T R I E S , J A N U A R Y 1931 TO S E P T E M B E R 1934
[12-month average, 1929=100]
A nthracite m ining
M on th
B itu m in ou s -coal m ining
P a y rolls
E m p loym en t
E m p loym en t
P a y rolls
1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934
Ja n u ary............. ..
February_______
M arch __________
A pril____________
M a y _____ _____ _
Ju ne..... ................. .
J u ly ____________
A u g u st...................
Sep tem b er______
O ctober...............
N o vem b er______
D ecem ber..............
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
61.0
54.5
64.1
63.2
67.5
58.2
63.8
57.5
53.6
49.5
56.9
—
89.3
101.9
71.3
75.2
76.1
66.7
53.7
56.4
64.9
91.1
79.5
78.4
61.5
57.3
61. 2
72.0
58.0
37.4
34.5
41.4
47.0
66.7
51.0
56.2
43.2
56.8
48.8
37.4
30.0
34.3
38.2
46.6
60.7
61.6
47.8
44.3
73.2
65.8
82.4
51.7
64.0
53.3
42.3
39.7
47.0
—
93.9
91.5
88.8
85.9
82.4
78.4
76.4
77.0
80.4
81.3
81.1
81.2
80.8
77.4
75.2
65.5
62.6
60.5
58.6
59.4
62.4
67.0
69.4
70.0
69.8
69.3
67.6
63.7
61.2
61.3
63.2
68.6
71.8
68.0
74.8
75.4
75.8
76.1
77.8
72.2
76.7
76.7
77.0
77.1
78.2
—
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
47.0
46.8
33.9
30.7
27.3
24.4
26.4
30.2
37.8
38.0
37.7
36.1 51.3
37.2 54.6
30.7 58.9
26.6 51.4
26.9 54.4
29.2 55.1
33.6 49.7
43.3 50.4
44. 1 51. 4
44.1
50.7
50.8 .............
A verage___ 80.5 62.5 51.7 ‘ 59.4 75.4 53.7 45.8 ‘ 57.7 83.2 67.4 67.9 ‘ 76.4 57.5 35.6 37.8 ‘ 53. 0
M etalliferous m ining
J a n u a r y .......... ..
F e b r u a r y ..............
M arch __________
A pril____________
M a y __________ _
J u n e .. _________
J u ly ------------------A u gu st__________
Sep tem b er______
October_________
N o v em b er______
D ecem b er_______
A verage___
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
46.9
45.0
43.3
38.3
32.2
29.5
28.6
29.3
30.5
31.9
33.3
32.4
31.5
30.0
29.4
30.0
31.5
33.0
36.8
38.9
40.7
40.6
40.6
39.6
40.3
39.8
41.7
40.8
41.0
39.9
42.7
42.3
—
55.0
54.6
52.8
51.4
49.3
46.1
41.3
40. 2
40.0
37.4
35. 1
34.3
29.7
27.8
26.5
25.0
23.8
20. 1
16.9
16.5
17.0
18. 0
18.7
18.7
Quarrying and nonm etallic m ining
18.1
17.8
17.4
16.4
17.0
18.3
19.0
21.9
23.9
25.9
25.6
26.2
25.4
26.0
25.9
27.2
25.6
26.7
25. 1
27.0
25.9
—
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
47.4
46.0
48.6
50.6
49.5
49.5
51. 1
52.4
52.4
49.4
42.3
35.1
34.8
35.1
39.3
43.4
47.3
49.5
51.6
52.6
53.2
51. i
45.3
39.7
38.8
42.0
48.7
54.3
56.6
55.6
54.7
53.3
—
50.4
54.4
58.2
62.6
62.3
60.1
57.3
55.1
51. 2
48.7
43.3
36.9
30.2
29.6
28.7
30.0
32.3
30.0
29. 1
29.7
30.5
30.1
27.1
22.1
18.1 21.3
17.4 21.0
17.8 24.1
20. 2 29.9
23.8 35.0
27.5 37.0
28.4 35.0
29.9 34.0
29.3 32.4
31. 2
28.3
24.4 .............
59.1 36.5 34.6 ‘ 40.9 44.8 21.6 20.6 ‘ 26. 1 67.4 49.0 44.9 ‘ 49.3 53.4 29.1 24.7 '30.0
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1511
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T
able
6 —I N D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U B IN G
I N D U S T R I E S , J A N U A R Y 1931 T O S E P T E M B E R 1934—C ontinued
Telephone and telegraph
Crude-petroleum producing
M on th
P ay rolls
E m p lo y m en t
P a y rolls
E m p loym en t
1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1933 1931 1932 1933 1934
January..................
February_______
M arch ..... ...............
A pril____________
M a y . . ....................
J u n e------------------J u l y . . ........... .........
A u g u st...... .............
Septem ber.............
O ctober____ ____
N o v em b er......... .
D ecem b er..............
A verage___
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
54.4
51.4
54.9
54.5
54.2
55.4
57.4
56.2
56.8
56.5
57.2
57.2
57.0
56.5
56.8
56.9
58.0
59.5
60.8
66.2
70.6
72.2
75.0
73.2
72.4
72.8
74.0
76.7
80.0
81.6
82.7
81.8
—
71.5
70.0
73.2
66.3
64.7
62.7
59.2
56.3
55.2
54.4
52.0
54.9
46.5
46.9
43.2
44.5
47.1
44.8
44.6
42.9
41.9
42.5
42.4
41.7
39.9 53.0
41.7 50. 5
42.5 52.5
40.1 53.4
41.6 56.4
40.6 56.9
42.2 60.0
42.5 61. 2
44.4 59.7
50. 1
50.3
53.2 —
83.0
82.0
81.7
81.2
80.6
79.9
79.1
78.1
77.4
76.2
75.5
74.8
74.6 70.2
73.9 69.8
73.2 70.0
72.3 70.2
70.1 70.2
69.2 70.4
68.5 71.0
68. 1 71.0
68.3 70.9
68.7 _________
68.9 _________
69.4 —
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
89.6
88.2
83.4
82.8
82.1
79.6
79.1
75.9
75.7
74.3
73.5
71.7
71.9
71.6
67.8
68.5
66.6
66.7
66.1
64.6
67.0
67.7
67.7
69.0
67.9
70.4
68.8
71.4
71.3
72.3
74.0
72.2
—
—
.........
65.7 55.3 62.2 177.2 61.7 44.1 44.1 156.0 86.6 79.1 70.4 170.4 93.7 81.1 68.2 170.8
E lectric light and power and manufac
tured gas
J anuary_________
F ebruary_______
M arch __________
A p r il___________
M a y ___________
June ___________
J u ly ..........................
A ugust ________
S ep tem b er.. _
O c to b e r ________
N ovem b er ____
D e c e m b e r ............
90.5
89.2
88.6
88.1
87.4
86.9
86.6
85.9
85.0
84.1
83.5
83.1
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
82.6
81.8
82.2
81. 2
81.7
82.4
83.1
84.0
85.0
85.6
85.8
—
98.6
99.7
102.4
97.6
98.7
98.3
97.4
96.2
94.3
93.2
93.3
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
73.0
71.6
71.9
69.4
69.9
69.9
70.0
70.9
71.8
76.2
74.5
74.4
73.8
74.4
75.6
76.8
77.6
77.8
81.1
79.9
79.3
—
Electric-railroad and m otor-bus operation
and m aintenance 3
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
70.5
71.0
71.7
72.2
72.6
73.2
73.1
72.8
72.5
70.6
70.4
69.8
69.5
69.1
69.3
69.4
69.5
69.7
70.6
71.0
70.8
—
—
—
85.6
87.1
88.1
86.6
85.1
84.8
83.3
81.9
81.2
79.0
79.7
77.8
75.4
74.8
73.6
71.8
72.2
70.2
66.4
63.8
62.5
61.5
61.7
61.9
60.9
60.6
59.4
58.1
58.2
58.0
57.4
58.2
57.8
59. 8
59. 4
59.6
59.2
60.1
62. 2
62.9
63.0
63.2
63.8
62.8
62.4
—
—
—
A verage___ 95.6 83.0 78.8 183.4 96.7 79.8 72.0 177.4 84.7 75.5 70.0 172.2 83.4 68.0 58.9 162.2
R etail trade
W holesale trade
January................
F e b r u a r y ..............
M arch ....................
A pril____________
M a y ................ .......
J u n e____ ____ _
J u ly ------- ------- A u g u st__________
S ep tem b er______
O ctober_________
N o v em b er.............
D ecem b er..............
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
83.4
83.3
82.4
83.0
83.6
83.9
84.6
84.1
84.0
84.3
85.3
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
64.1
64.5
63.9
64.6
65.7
66.8
66.3
66.5
67.6
66.4
67.4
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
91.6
105.4
84.6
83.8
87.2
88.2
88.8
88.2
83.3
81.8
87.6
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
72.6
80.3
68.8
67.7
69.5
71.5
71.8
71.6
69.5
67.3
70.8
A verage___ 86.6 78.2 77.9 183.9 83.6 67.0 60.4 166.1 89.4 80.9 81.7 185.9 86.6 69.4 64.3 169.8
D yein g and cleaning *
Laundries 3
January_________
February_______
M arch__________
A pril____________
M a y ____________
J u n e .. _________
J u ly .......................
A u g u s t _________
Sep tem b er_____
October_________
N o v e m b e r ............
D ecem ber_______
gjj
94.3
93.7
93.2
94.3
94.1
94.8
95.6
94.0
93.0
91.8
89.8
88.8
88.2
86.3
85.4
85.4
84.8
84.4
83.6
82.2
81.9
80.7
79.4
79.1
78.6
77.5
76.1
76.5
76.6
79.2
79.5
81.1
82.6
81.3
78.4
78.4
90.7
89.6
89.6
90.9
90.5
91.2
91.5
88.6
88.0
_________ 85.6
_________ 82.6
......... 81.0
78.5
78.4
79.2
80.5
82.1
84.0
84.6
83.7
82.9
80.0
76.7
75.0
74.7
73.9
71.8
69.4
66.9
65.8
64.1
61.9
61.4
60.7 61.7
58.1 61.7
55.4 62.7
56.6 64.4
57.1 66.9
59.4 68.3
58.7 68.2
60.3 66.6
63.5 65.9
62. 5 —
60.7 —
61.1 —
82.1
80.7
81.3
88.4
89.3
91.4
91.1
86.4
88.0
87.0
83.2
78.4
75.8
74.4
74.4
76.9
78.0
78.6
76.1
73.4
76.9
76.0
72.0
69.5
67.4
65.6
65.8
74.9
75.7
79.1
76.6
76.8
81.9
81.6
76.1
70.5
68.1
68.1
72.4
79.9
84.3
84.9
80.5
78.6
80.0
.....
73.7
71.2
71.7
81.9
82.1
84.5
81.8
75.9
78.3
77.2
70.8
64.4
62.4
59.0
58.5
62.5
63.8
62.4
56.9
53.4
57.9
55.8
49.6
45.9
44.2
40.2
38.9
51.7
51.0
53.7
50.0
50.0
57.1
57.4
52.5
47.3
46.8
46.3
51.7
60.8
65.1
64.1
58.9
56.7
59.0
__
__
.........
57.3 49.5 i 56.6
A verage___ 93.1 83.5 78.8 81.5 88.3 70.1 59.5 ‘ 65.2 85.6 75.2 74.3 177.4 76.1
See footnotes a t end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1512
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b le 6 .—I N D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U K IN G
I N D U S T R I E S , J A N U A R Y 1931 T O S E P T E M B E R 1934—C ontinued
H otels
Month
E m p loym en t
P a y rolls
1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934
J a n u a r y ................
February................
M arch ....................
A pril____________
M a y ____ _______
Ju ne____________
J u ly ____________
A ugu st__________
Septem ber______
October_________
N o vem b er______
D ecem ber______
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
84.3
84.0
82.7
80.1
■78.0
78.4
77.6
77.0
75.4
74.3
73.2
73.8
73.8
72.4
71.9
71.9
73.6
75.6
77.1
78.7
77.0
75.8
77.6
81.5
84.8
86.4
86.6
85.7
86.2
86.3
86.2
84.4
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
55.2
57.6
60.8
65.2
66.6
66.5
65.9
66.2
65.6
64.5
64.3
A verage___ 91.7 79.0 74.9 »85.3 85.4 64.5 54.4 165.1
1 Average for 9 m onths.
* N o t including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equ ip m en t and railroad
repair-shop groups, m anufacturing industries, table 1.
».Revised to conform w ith average show n b y 1931 Census of M anufactures.
Employment in Building Construction in September 1934
T able 7 is based on returns made by 10,939 firms engaged in public
and private building-construction projects not aided by Public Works
Administration funds. These reports include all trades, from excava
tion through painting and interior decoration, which are engaged in
erecting, altering, or repairing buildings. Work on roads, bridges,
docks, etc., is omitted. The reports cover building operations in
various localities in 34 States and the District of Columbia.
For purposes of comparison in this study, all reports were reduced
to a 1-week basis if not originally so reported.
In September the average weekly earnings were $23.17, the same
as the earnings of workers employed by the identical firms in August.
These are per capita weekly earnings, computed by dividing the total
amount of the weekly pay roll by the total number of employees—
part time as well as full time.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1513
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
The average hours per week per man—29 in September and 29.1
in August—were computed by dividing the number of man-hours
by the number of workers employed by those firms which reported
man-hours.
The average hourly earnings—80.1 cents in September and 79.6
cents in August were computed by dividing the pay roll of those firms
which reported man-hours, by the number of man-hours.
T T ? ^ Z % rE M P L 0 Y M E N T ' P A Y R O LLS, a v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n i n g s , a v e r a g e
H O U R S P E R W E E K P E R M A N , A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E
g S ^ f ^ S S B? 5 f f i 3 1 ? 1i <a r o U B ™ Y I N S E P T E M B E R 1934, A N D P E R C E N T A G E
[ Figures in italics are n ot com piled b y th e Bureau of Labor S tatistics b ut are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating State bureaus]
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
N um b er S ep tem
ber 1934
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
+ 1 .8 $23.17
(2)
29.0
-.3
29.8
+ 3 .1
Average
hourly
earnings 1
Percentage change 1
from A ugu st 1934 I
+ 1 .8 $1,972,620
Average
hours per
w eek per
man 1
Septem ber 1934
A ll lo c a litie s .--......... 10, 939 85,120
A verage
w eek ly
earnings
A m o u n t S ep tem
ber 1934
3
z
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
o
t-i
D
-o
a
P ay rolls
A m o u n t S ep tem
ber 1934
a
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
L ocality
E m p loym en t
N um b er S ep tem
ber 1934
W)
fl
i-t
o
1 »
u
Cents
80.1
+ .6
A labam a: B ir m in g h a m .. .
95
623
(2)
11,593
+ 5 .9
18.61
+ 5 .9
California:
Los A ngeles________
San Franciseo-Oakla n d _______________
Other lo c a litie s ............
19
969
- 9 .2
20,751 - 1 2 .5
21.41
—3. 7
30.6
- .6
69.9 - 3 . 1
27 1,019 - 1 8 .4
21
227 + 17.0
20, 749 - 2 2 .5
4,382 + 12.2
20.36
19.30
- 5 .1
- 4 .1
24.7
26.9
-2 .4
+ 1 .1
82.3 - 2 . 8
71.8 - 6 . 0
67 2,215 - 1 1 .8
45,882 - 1 5 .7
20.71
-4 -5
27.5
- 1 .1
76.2 - 3 . 7
12, 794 + 2 5 .7
21.54
+ 4 .1
27.3
+ 9 .6
79.6 - 3 . 9
T h e S ta te ___ _____
62.6 + 3 .0
Colorado: D en ver _______
213
C onnecticut:
B r id g e p o r t.. _______
H artford____________
N ew H a v e n . ________
113
454 + 3 .7
255 1,043
+ .9
161
838 - 8 . 5
10, 592
24,422
22,147
+ 9 .0
+ 6 .8
- 4 .9
23. 33
23.42
26.43
+ 5 .1
+ 5 .9
+ 4 .0
31.4
33.2
36.5
+ 3 .0
+ 5 .7
+ 4 .6
75.0 + 2 .0
70.3 - . 1
72.8 - . 4
T h e S ta te _________
529 2, 335
-2 .2
57,161
+ 2 .3
24.48
+ 4 .6
34.1
+ 4 .6
72.0
(2)
D elaw are: W ilm in gton __
D istrict of C olu m bia____
99 1,068
377 4, 627
+ 1 .9
+ 9 .5
21,111
126, 090
+ 5 .5
+ 7 .6
19. 77
27.25
+ 3 .6
-1 .8
29.9
30.6
+ 2 .7
- 1 .3
66.0
88.8
+ .8
-.1
49
250 + 1 0 .1
74 1,185 + 7 .4
3,863
22, 206
+ 3 .8
+ 4 .0
15.45
18.74
- 5 .8
- 3 .2
26.1
28.0
- 3 .0
- 5 .7
59.2 - 2 . 8
66.9 + 2 .8
26,069
+ 4 .0
18.17
- 3 .6
27.7
- 5 .5
65.6 + 1 .9
15,883
+ 6 .7
16.48
+ 3 .5
27.3
+ .7
59.9 + 2 .6
Florida:
Jack sonville___ _____
M ia m i___________
T h e S ta te_________
Georgia: A tla n ta—..............
594 + 2 0 .7
123 1,435
136
See footnotes at end of table.
97667—34------14
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
964
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .1
= " ---- 7
1514
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
+
a®
a
■<
Cents
(?)
(3)
(3)
(3)
-* ■ 4
«
(3)
(3)
(3)
18.85
19. 52
23.04
19.18
+ 7 .3
+ 9 .7
+ 7 .5
+ 2 .1
26.6
26.2
30.8
26.0
+ 9 .9
+ 7 .4
+ 4 .4
- 3 .3
71.0
75.0
74.7
72.3
43,485 + 1 3 .5
21.44
+ 6 .5
29.0
+ 4 .3
73.9 + 1 .8
11,741 + 6 .5
4,829 + 9 .1
15,148 + 2 .9
21,044 + 1 2 .5
+ .4
8,527
23, 456 + 1 .5
22. 62 + 1 0 .4
18.29 + 3 .7
19.91 + 2 .4
18.49 + 4 .1
23.43 + 4 .6
17.84 - 5 . 0
27.7
27.0
30.2
29.5
31.6
31.9
+ 3 .7
- 4 .3
+ 1 .3
+ 5 .4
-.9
- 1 .5
81.1
67.9
66.4
62.8
74.1
61.3
+ 6 .2
+ 7 .9
+ 1 .5
- 1 .3
+ 5 .6
- 1 .3
-2 .2
30.4
- 1 .9
80.8
- .1
T h e S ta te ---------------
231 3,465 - 1 0 .1
84,061 - 1 2 .3
24.26
Indiana:
E v a n sv ille .-................
Fort W a y n e_________
Ind ianap olis-------------South B e n d ____ ____
63
398 + 3 0 .9
77
240 + 1 7 .6
155 1,202 + 1 .0
38
188 - 7 . 8
7,501 + 4 0 .5
4,684 + 2 9 .1
27, 694 + 8 .6
3,606 - 5 . 9
+ 6 .6
Iowa: D es M oin es----------Kansas: W ich ita ------------K entu ck y: L ou isville-----Louisiana: N ew Orleans.
M aine: P ortlan d ------------M aryland: B a ltim o r e .. . .
M assachusetts: A ll locali
t ie s .----------------- ------- —M ichigan:
D etro it------------ ------F lin t________________
Grand R ap id s----------T h e S ta te_________
M innesota:
D u lu th .......... ............. ..
M inn eap olis----------- -St. P a u l_____________
T h e S ta te_________
M issouri:
K ansas C ity 4...............
St. L ou is____________
T h e S ta te_________
$57,812 - 9.8 $27.74 + 4 -1
26,249 - 1 7 .3 19. 01 - 1 3 .1
519
97
264
60
141
761
111 1,138
364
88
105 1,315
- 3 .5
+ 5 .2
+ .5
+ 8 .1
- 4 .0
+ 6 .9
682 5,307
+ 8.1
480 3,772
206
48
104
323
+ 5 .0
+ 9 .6
- 2 .1
632 4,301
+ 4 .6
103,474
+ 9 .8
24.06
+ 5 .0
31.7
54
201 + 1 .5
206 1,650 + 7 .1
774 - 1 1 .9
150
4,003
37,422
18,485
+ 5 .4
+ 3 .3
- 5 .1
19.92
22.68
23.88
+ 3 .9
- 3 .6
+ 7 .8
+ .3
59,910
+ .7
22. 82
+ .4
275 1,791 + 7 .5
571 2,855 + 1 1 .4
43,703
75,049
+ 4 .6
+ 8 .1
24.40
26. 29
846 4,646
+ 9 .9
118, 752
+ 6 .8
25. 56
410 2,625
©
m
a
CD
(3)
(3)
137 2, 084 - 13.3
84 1,381 - 4 . 8
333 2,028
CDU
&
£
Til
CO
05
(3)
(3)
Illinois:
C hicago--------------------Other localities--------
T h e S ta te---------------
O CO
m 05
A verage
hourly
earnings 1
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
a
à
<0
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
s '0
a
¡3
G>CO
CQ05
d *-<
3o ,2
^
à
<D
CO
æ ¡3
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
CO
m 05
&<
*•*
(O
D
aCD
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
ào
Average
hours per
w eek per
m an 1
A verage
w eek ly
earnings
P ay rolls
E m p loym en t
Percentage change
from A u g u st 1934
Locality
N um b er of firms reporting
T a b le 7 . —E M P L O Y M E N T , P A Y R O L L S , A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N I N G S , A V E R A G E
H O U R S P E R W E E K P E R M A N , A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N I N G S IN T H E B U I L D
I N G - C O N S T R U C T I O N I N D U S T R Y I N S E P T E M B E R 1934, A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S
F R O M A U G U S T 1934—C ontinued
130,395
+ 5 .7
93,165 + 9 .8
4,691 + 2 9 .0
5,618 - 1 . 4
24.57
- 2 .1
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .6
+ 2 .4
32.1 + 1 .3
32.2 + 2 0 .6
27.6 + 7 .8
77.1 + 3 .4
70.7 - 2 . 3
62.8 - 6 . 8
+ 2 .3
75.8 + 2 .4
28.0
+ .7
31.2
-.6
29.7 - 1 2 .1
70.8 + 2 .3
72.1 - 3 . 6
80.3 + 2 2 .6
30.5
- 4 .4
74.4 + 4 .6
- 2 .7
-3 .0
27.8
25.5
- .4
- 1 .5
89.6 - . 2
102.8 - 1 . 7
-2 .8
26.3
- 1 .5
97.6 - 1 . 1
75.3 + 6 .4
24.70 + 4 .6
22. 77 + 1 7 .7
+ .8
17.39
N ebraska: O m aha-----------
166
735
- 9 .3
16, 673
+ 2 .1
22.68 + 1 2 .5
30.1
+ 5 .6
N ew York:
N ew Y ork C ity --------Other localities______
512 8,008
350 9,574
-2 .0
+ 5 .9
233,578
218,387
-7 .2
+ 4 .6
29.17
22.81
- 5 .3
- 1 .3
27.4
29.0
- 4 .5
- 2 .0
862 17,582
+ 2.1
451,965
-1 .8
25.71
- 3 .9
28.3
- 3 .1
90.8 - 1 . 0
+ 9 .5
18.46 + 1 0 .2
28.4
- 3 .7
65.0 + 1 4 .6
7,846 + 2 6 .0
39,843 + 6 .8
67,811 + 7 .4
9,684 + 1 2 .1
8,881 - 1 6 .2
22. 35 + 1 0 .5
24.05 + 4 .4
25.99 - 2 . 8
22.16 + 8 .6
22.77 - 8 . 5
29.0 + 1 0 .7
28.5 + 1 .1
26.4 - 1 . 9
30.0 + 6 .8
27.3 - 3 . 9
77.0 - . 4
84.4 + 3 .4
98.5 - . 6
73.8 + 1.5
83.3 - 4 . 9
T h e S ta te_________
N orth Carolina: C harlotte
Ohio:
Akron . . . ---------------C in c in n a ti5_________
C levelan d .................. ..
D a y to n --------------------Y ou n gstow n ................
T h e S ta te...................
50
-.6
351 + 1 4 .0
95
420 1,657 + 2 .3
595 2, 609 + 1 0 .6
437 + 3 .3
133
390 - 8 . 5
88
1,331 5,444
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
339
+ 6 .0
6,257
134,065
+ 6 .5
24. 63
+ .5
27. C
+.4
106.4
78.6
89.3
- .9
+ .9
+.4
1515
TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 7 . —E M P L O Y M E N T , P A Y R O L L S , A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N I N G S , A V E R A G E
H O U R S P E R W E E K P E R M A N , A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N I N G S I N T H E B U IL D
IN G -C O N ST R U C T IO N I N D U S T R Y I N S E P T E M B E R 1934, A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S
F R O M A U G U S T 1934—C ontinued
Oklahoma:
O klahom a C ity ______
T u lsa ________________
-9 .2
- 4 .0
27.2 - 1 0 .5
28.9 - 6 . 5
A verage
hourly
earnings 1
Percentage change
from A u g u st 1934
$9, 419 - 1 1 .0 $18. 04
6, 274 + 4 .5
18. 84
Average
hours per
w eek per
m an 1
Septem ber 1934
- 2 .1
+ 8 .8
rO
a
p
fc
A m o u n t S ep tem
ber 1934
522
333
■
o
u<*D
Percentage change
from A u g u st 1934
A m ou n t S ep tem
ber 1934
92
52
a
N u m b er S ep tem
ber 1934
L ocality
Percentage change
from A u g u st 1934
H
Average
w eek ly
earnings
Percentage change
from A u g u st 1934
P a y rolls
N u m b er S ep tem
ber 1934
E m p loym en t
Percentage change
from A ugu st 1934
bD
£
l
O
Pi
Ui
Cents
66.4 + 1 .1
66.3 + 1 .8
T h e S tate_________
144
855
+ 1 .9
15, 693
- 5 .4
18. 35
- 7 .2
27.9
- 8 .8
66.3 + 1 .2
Oregon: P ortlan d —........ ..
184
709
- 9 .8
16,053
- 7 .4
22.64
+ 2 .7
28.8
+ 2 .1
79.7
+ .6
Pennsylvania:«
E rie area____________
Ph iladelp h ia area____
Pittsb u rgh area______
R eading area________
Scranton area.—..........
Other areas__________
25
364 - 1 9 .3
m 3,549
- .1
232 1,819
+• 4
284 + 6 .8
U
31
156 - 9 . 3
291 2,311
- 6 .5
4 ,m
74,795
52,835
5,763
3,910
48,405
- 2 .8
+ 3 .7
+ 7 .9
+ 9 .0
- 7 .1
- 6 .0
11.74 + 20.4
21.07 + 3 .7
29.05 + 7 .4
20.29 + 2.1
25.06 + 2 .4
20.95
+ .5
16.7 + 2 3 .7
28.4 + 1 .8
SO. i
- 1 .7
29.6 + 1 .0
32.1 + 1 .3
31.5 - 1 . 3
67.4
75.4
97.0
68.5
78.7
66.3
- 3 .0
+ 1 .8
+ 6 .0
+ 1 .2
+■4
+ 1 .8
T h e S tate_____ ____
R hode Island: P rovidence.
T ennessee:
C hattanooga_________
K n oxville___________
M em p h is............ .......
N a sh v ille____________
T he S tate............ .......
Texas:
D a lla s_______________
E l P aso____________
H o u sto n ________ ____
San A n ton io.............. ..
T h e S tate__________
1,029 8,483
- 2 .8
189,982
+ 1 .9
22.40
+4- 8
29.2
+ 1 .4
77.1 + 2 .9
238 1,308
- 2 .1
28, 789
+ .6
22.01
+ 2 .8
31.0
+ 1 .0
71.2 + 2 .2
196
422
437
787
+ 7 .1
+ 9 .0
+ 7 .6
+ 3 .7
3,089 + 1 8 .7
7, 228 + 2 8 .7
7,722 + 5 .8
12,166 + 1 .0
15. 76 + 1 0 .8
17.13 + 18.1
17. 67 - 1 . 7
15. 46 - 2 . 6
25.3 + 1 1 .9
27.2 + 1 1 .5
28.8 + 5 .5
26.7 + 3 .9
62.4 - . 6
63.0 + 6 .1
61.3 - 7 . 1
57.9 - 6 . 3
223 1,842
+ 6 .2
30,205
16.40
27.2
60.4 - 3 . 2
34
38
71
80
+ 9 .6
195
681 - 6 . 5
28
100 + 9 .9
189 1,021 - 1 4 .0
94
331 + 9 .2
10,823 - 5 . 5
2,088 + 2 3 .8
18, 704 - 1 4 .8
4,978 + 13.7
+ 3 .2
15.89
20.88 + 1 2 .6
18. 32 - 1 . 0
15. 04 + 4 .1
+ 6 .7
23.8 - 2 . 5
28.7 + 1 8 .6
27.7 + 1.1
+ .4
24.7
65.3
73.5
66.7
61.5
+ 1 .2
- 4 .0
- 1 .0
+ 5 .1
65.9
+ .3
506 2,133
- 7 .6
36, 593
- 7 .3
17.16
+ .4
26.0
+ .4
U tah: Salt Lake C ity ____
134
293
+ 7 .3
6,221
+ 2 .0
21.23
- 4 .9
25.9
- 8 .5
82.2 + 4 .3
Virginia:
N orfolk -P ortsm ou th —
R ich m on d ____ ______
75
126
402
956
+ 9 .8
+ 5 .2
7, 350 + 2 1 .8
20, 086 + 6 .6
18.28 + 1 0 .9
21.01 + 1 .4
28.7
31.2
+ 8 .3
- 1 .0
63.0 + 2 .4
67.8 + 2 .6
201 1,358
+ 6 .5
27, 436 + 1 0 .3
20.20
30.4
+ 1 .3
66.3 + 2 .3
165 1,010 - 5 . 6
49
193 - 1 1 .9
80
177 + 4 .1
21, 233 - 8 . 0
4,887 - 1 5 .3
4,087 + 2 0 .5
21.02 - 2 . 5
25. 32 - 3 . 9
23.09 + 1 5 .7
22.4 - 7 . 1
28.2 - 8 . 7
24.8 + 1 1 .7
94.0 + 4 .9
89.9 + 5 .4
93.2 + 3 .6
294 1,380
30, 207
-6 .3
21.89
- 1 .0
23.5
- 5 .6
93.2 + 5 .0
3,879 + 2 0 .5
37,197 + 3 .0
19. 49
19.93
+ 4 .8
+ 2 .4
30.0
32.4
+ 1 .0
+ 4 -5
64.9 + 3 .5
60.3 - 2 . 3
T h e S ta te_________
W ashington:
S e a t t le ____ _________
Spokane_____________
T a co m a____________
T h e S tate............... .
W est Virginia: W h eelin g.
W isconsin: A ll lo c a lities..
- 5 .4
56
199 + 15. 0
156 1,866
+ .5
1 A verages com puted from reports furnished b y 10,491 firms.
2 N o change.
3 D a ta not available.
4 Includes b oth Kansas C ity, M o., and K ansas C ity, K ans.
1 Includes C ovington and N ew port, K y .
6 E ach separate area includes from 2 to 8 counties.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 3 .5
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
1516
Employment and Pay Rolls in September 1934 in Cities of Over 500,000
Population
F luctuations in employment and pay-roll totals in September
1934 as compared with August 1934 in 13 cities of the United States
having a population of 500,000 or over are presented in table 8. These
changes are computed from reports received from identical establish
ments in each of the months considered.
In addition to reports received from establishments in the several
industrial groups regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau,
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.
T able 8 .—F L U C T U A T I O N S I N E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y B O L L S I N S E P T E M B E R 1931
A S C O M P A R E D W IT H A U G U S T 1934
C ities
N ew York C ity . ----Chicago, 111-------------P hiladelphia, P a ------D etroit, M ic h ----------L os A ngeles, C alif----C leveland, O hio-------St. Louis, M o ----------B altim ore, M d ---------B oston, M ass-----------Pittsb u rgh , P a ---------San Francisco, C a lif..
Buffalo, N . Y_ -------M ilw aukee, W is--------
N um b er of
establish
m ents re
porting in
both
m onths
12,867
3, 7S5
2,921
1,804
2,685
2,188
2,590
1,236
3,616
1,505
2,037
913
830
N um b er on pay roll
A m oun t of p ay roll
(1 week)
A ugust
1934
A ugust
1934
562,355
319,473
206,358
274, 587
120, 870
116,509
118,303
73,561
148,820
119,855
75, 726
58,871
59, 443
Per
centage
change
from
Septem ber A ugust
1934
1934
579,592
329,009
204, 548
256,113
123, 590
116,028
119,149
73,793
152,008
118,171
77, 713
58,912
59, 381
Percentage
change
from
A ugust
Septem ber
1934
1934
+ 3 .1 $14,708, 514 $14, 872,067
7,573, 290
7,521, 592
+ 3 .0
4,559,465
4,611,828
-.9
5,425,951
6,630,119
- 6 .7
2,907,534
2,891,219
+ 2 .3
2,468,146
2,622,683
- .4
2,438,073
2, 501,096
+ .7
1,445, 335
1,449,547
+. 3
3,472, 737
3,441, 716
+ 2 .1
2, 384,469
2, 528,940
-1 .4
1,857,065
1,888,354
+ 2 .6
1,250,809
1,257,694
+ .1
1, 245,870
-. 1
1, 261,747
+ 1 .1
+ .7
-1 .1
- 1 8 .2
+ .6
- 5 .9
- 2 .5
-.3
+ .9
- 5 .7
- 1 .7
-.5
- 1 .3
Employment on Class I Steam Railroads in the United States
R eports of the Interstate Commerce Commission for class I rail
roads show that the number of employees, exclusive of executives
and officials, decreased from 1,006,361 on September 15, 1934, to
999,729 on October 15, 1934, or 0.7 percent. Data are not yet
available concerning total compensation of employees for October
1934. The latest pay-roll information available shows a decrease
from $128,261,020 in August 1934 to $121,368,674 in September
1934, or 5.4 percent.
The monthly trend of employment from January 1923 to Octo
ber 1934 on class I railroads—that is, all roads having operating
revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by index numbers published
in table 9. These index numbers, constructed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, are based on the 3-year average, 1923-25, as 100.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1517
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 'J.—I N D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T O N CLASS I ST E A M R A ILR O A D S I N T H E
U N I T E D S T A T E S , J A N U A R Y 1923 TO O C T O B E R 1934
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
M onth
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
January______________
F e b r u a r y .. ___
M arch _______________
A pril_________________
M a y . . ___ _________
Ju ne_________________
J u ly __________________
A ugu st_______________
Sep tem b er___________
October______________
N o v em b er___________
D ecem b er____________
98.4
98.6
100.4
101.9
104.8
107.1
108.2
109.2
107.7
107.1
105.0
99.1
96.7
96.9
97.3
98.8
99.1
97.9
98.0
98.9
99.6
100.7
98.9
96.0
95.5
95.3
95.1
96.5
97.7
98.5
99.3
99.5
99.7
100.4
98.9
96.9
95.6
95.8
96.5
98.6
100.0
101.3
102.6
102.4
102.5
103.1
101.0
98.0
95.2
95.0
95.6
97.1
99.1
100.7
100.7
99.2
98.8
98.5
95.5
91.7
89.1
88.7
89.7
91.5
94.4
95.8
95.4
95.5
95.1
95.2
92.7
89.5
88.0
88.6
89.8
91.9
94.6
95.8
96.3
97.1
96.5
96.6
92.8
88.5
86.1
85.2
85.3
86.7
88.3
86.3
84.5
83.5
82.0
80.2
76.9
74.8
73.5
72.6
72.7
73.4
73.8
72.7
72.3
71.0
69.2
67.6
64.4
62.5
61.1
60.2
60.5
59.9
59.6
57.7
56.3
54.9
55.7
56.9
55.8
54.7
53.0
52.7
51.5
51.8
52.5
53.6
55.4
56.8
57.7
57.4
55.8
54.0
54.1
54.6
55.9
56.9
58.5
59.0
58.7
57.8
57.0
156.6
A verage________
104.0
98.2
97.8
99.8
97.3
92.7
93.1
83.3
70.6
57.8
54.4
1 Prelim inary.
—
2 56.9
2 Average for 10 m onths.
Table 10 shows the total number of employees by occupations on
the 15th day of August and September 1934, and by group totals on
the 15th day of October 1934; also, pay-roll totals for the entire
months of August and September 1934. Total compensation for the
month of October is not yet available. In these tabulations data for
the occupational group reported as “ executives, officials, and staff
assistants’’ are omitted. Beginning in January 1933 the Interstate
Commerce Commission excluded reports of switching and terminal
companies from its monthly tabulations. The actual figures for the
months shown in the following table therefore are not comparable
with the totals published for the months prior to January 1933. The
index numbers of employment for class I railroads shown in table 9
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.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1518
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
T a b l e 1 0 . —E M P L O Y M E N T O N C L A SS I S T E A M R A IL R O A D S , A U G U S T T O O C T O B E R
1934, A N D P A Y R O L L S F O R A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
[From m on th ly reports of Interstate C om m erce C om m ission. A s data for o n ly the more im portant occu
pations are show n separately, the group totals are not th e sum of th e item s under the respective groups.
E m p loym en t figures for October 1934 are available b y group totals on ly at th is time]
N um b er of em ployees at
m iddle of m onth
T otal earnings
Occupations
Professional, clerical, and general_______________
C lerks---------------------------------------------------------Stenographers and ty p is ts __________________
M aintenance of w a y and structures-------------------Laborers, extra gang and work train ------------Laborers, track and roadw ay section -----------M aintenan ce of equ ip m en t and s to r e s ..-.----------C arm en____________________________________
Electrical w orkers---------------------------------------M ach in ists_________________________________
Skilled trades helpers_______________________
Laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants,
and stores)_________________ _____________
C om m on laborers (shop, engine houses,
power plants, and stores)-------------------------Transportation, other than train, engine and
yard---------------------------------------------------------------Station agen ts______________________________
Telegraphers, telephoners, and tow erm en----Truckers (stations, warehouses, and p lat
form s)----------------------- ------------------------------Crossings and bridge flagm en and g a te m e n ..
Transportation (yardmasters, sw itch tenders, and
hostlers)______________________________________
Transportation, train and engine-----------------------Road conductors___________________________
R oad brakem en and flagm en _______________
Y ard brakem en and yard helpers----------------Road engineers and m otorm en--------------------Road firemen and helpers-----------------------------
Septem ber
1934
Septem
ber 1934
166,480
87,110
15, 579
231, 792
30,138
113, 775
273,864
56, 721
8, 615
38, 277
60,379
165,499
86, 536
15,519
222, 386
26,761
109, 529
269, 980
56,259
8, 501
37,824
59, 332
164, 888 $23, 574, 285
11, 772,026
1, 959, 542
217, 939 19, 707,458
1,857, 742
7,131,955
269, 720 31,922, 381
7,505,990
1, 224, 736
5,191, 871
5,899,182
$22,793, 727
11, 240,155
1,903,173
17,842,875
1,457, 580
6, 266,156
29,496,187
6,838, 230
1,141, 281
4,808, 534
5,359,333
21,081
20,888
1,657,824
1, 577,214
17,973
17,952
1,178, 211
1,060, 314
125,568
23,839
14,837
126,051
23, 799
14, 821
14, 652,103
3, 540,939
2,128,403
14,106,996
3,359, 209
2,039, 615
17,725
16,867
18,296
16, 886
1,442,185
1,145,996
1,423, 256
1,132, 394
12, 529
209,880
23, 368
48, 371
35,689
28, 358
30,905
12,388
210, 057
23, 310
48, 503
35, 774
28, 514
31, 277
2, 210,129
36,194, 664
5,191, 283
7,043,811
4, 756,454
6,901,371
4,984,852
2,117,625
35,011,264
5,029, 232
6,872, 677
4, 559,851
6,723,290
4,866,101
999, 729 128, 261, 020
121,368, 674
A ll em p loyees------------------------------------------- 1,020,113 1,006, 361
October
1934
A ugust
1934
A ugust
1934
125,185
12, 259
209,738
Employment and Pay Rolls in the Federal Service, September 1934
C o m pa r in g September with August, there was an increase of 5,000
in the number of employees in the executive departments of the
United States Government. Comparing September 1934 with the
corresponding month of the previous year, there was an increase of
95,222 employees. Information concerning employment in the ex
ecutive departments is collected by the Civil Service Commission
from the various departments and offices of the United States Gov
ernment, and figures are tabulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employment data for the legislative, judicial, and military services
are collected and compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
United States Department of Labor.
Table 11 shows the number of employees in the executive depart
ments of the Government. Data for employees working in the Dis
trict of Columbia are shown separately. Approximately 13 percent
of the employees in the executive departments work in the city of
Washington.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1519
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 1 1 . —E M P L O Y E E S I N T H E E X E C U T I V E S E R V IC E O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S
S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
D istrict of C olum bia
Item
Perma
n en t
T em
po
rary1
T otal
N um b er of em ployees:
Septem ber 1933_________
63, 376 6, 482 69,858
A ugu st 1934. __________
81,811 9, 254 91, 065
Septem ber 1934_________
83,931 8, 626 92,557
Gain or loss:
Septem ber 1933 to S ep
tem ber 1934___________ +20, 555 +2,144 +22,699
A ugu st 1934 to Septem
ber 1934_______________ + 2 ,1 2 0 -6 2 8 + 1 , 492
Percentage change:
Septem ber 1933 to Sep
+32. 43 + 3 , 308 + 32.48
tem ber 1934________
A ugu st 1934 to S ep tem
ber 1934_____________ _ + 2 . 59 - 6 . 79 + 1 .6 4
Labor turn-over Septem ber
1934:
4,922
3,305 1, 617
A d d itio n s2....... ................. 1,040 2, 245
3, 285
Separations 2 __________
1. 25 18.09
3.58
Turn-over rate per 1 0 0 ...
E n tire service
O utside the D istrict
Perma T em p o
rary1
n en t
Perm a T em p o T otal
rary1
nen t
T otal
459,147 57, 610 516, 757 522,523 64,092 586,615
498, 299 387,473 3585,772 580,110 396, 727 3670,837
501,822 87,458 589, 280 585,753 96,084 681,837
+42, 675 +29,848 +72,523 + 63, 230 +31,992 +95,222
+3,523
-1 5
+ 9 .2 9 +51.81
+ 3 , 508 +5,6 4 3
-6 4 3 + 5 ,0 0 0
+ 1 4 .0 3 + 1 2 .1 0 + 49. 92 + 1 6 . 23
+ 0 . 71
- 0 .0 2
+ 0 .6 0
+ 0 .9 7
-0 .6 6
+ 0 . 74
7,841
4,341
0.87
20,986
19,868
22. 71
28,827
24, 209
4.12
11,146
5, 381
0.92
22, 603
22,113
22.94
33,749
27,494
4.05
1N o t in clud in g field em ployees of th e P ost Office D ep artm en t.
2 N o t in clud in g em ployees transferred w ith in th e G overnm ent service as such transfers should n ot be
regarded as labor turn-over.
3 R evised .
Table 12 shows employment in the executive departments of the
United States Government by months, January to September 1934,
inclusive.
T a b l e 1 2 . —E M P L O Y M E N T I N T H E E X E C U T I V E D E P A R T M E N T S O F T H E U N I T E D
S T A T E S B Y M O N T H S , 1934, F O R D IS T R IC T O F C O L U M B IA , O U T S ID E D IS T R I C T OF
C O L U M B IA , A N D T O T A L S
M onth
January........................
F ebruary__________
M a r c h .,.....................
A pril______________
M a y ..............................
D istrict
of Co
lum bia
O utside
D istrict
of Co
lum bia
T otal
M on th
78,045
79,913
81,569
83,850
85,939
1 530,094
1 531,839
541,990
560, 258
573,147
1 608,139
1 611,752
623,559
644,108
659,086
J u n e...............................
J u ly ............................
A u gu st...... ............... .
S ep tem b er...................
D istrict
of Co
lum bia
Outside
D istrict
of Co
lum bia
T otal
87,196
87,978
91,065
92,557
573,898
1 583,531
1 585,772
589, 280
661,094
1 671,509
1 676,837
681,837
i R evised .
Over the 9-month period there was an increase of 14,500 in the
number of employees in the Federal executive departments in the
city of Washington. The number of such employees outside the
Capital City increased by 59,186 over this period.
Table 13 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay rolls
in the various branches of the United States Government during
August and September 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1520
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 1 3 . —N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S O F P A Y R O L L S I N T H E V A R IO U S
B R A N C H E S OF T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S G O V E R N M E N T , A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R
1934
N um b er of em ployees
A m oun t of p a y roll
Branch of service
A ugust
E xecutive service__________________ __________
M ilitary service______________________ ________
Judicial service ___ ______ ______ ____________
L egislative service___________________ ________
T o ta l..... ........... ............. ...................
Septem ber
Septem ber
A ugust
1 676,837
268,712
1,690
3,723
681,837
269,489
1,777
3, 721
1 $98,467,579
20, 501,900
439,014
977,966
1 $99,152, 554
20,855,093
486,410
976,516
• 950,962
956,824
1 120, 386,459
1 121,470, 573
1 R evised.
Table 14 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay rolls
for all branches of the United States Government, by months, from
December 1933 to September 1934, inclusive.
TABLE 1 4 . —N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S O F P A Y R O L L S F O R A L L
B R A N C H E S OF T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T , B Y M O N T H S , D E C E M B E R
1933 T O S E P T E M B E R 1934, I N C L U S I V E
E xecutive service
M on th
N um
ber of
em
ployees
A m oun t
of pay
roll
M ilitary service
N um
ber of
em
ployees
A m oun t
of pay
roll
Judicial service
L egislative
service
N um
N um
ber of A m o u n t ber of
em
em
of pay
p lo y
roll
p lo y
ees
ees
A m ount
of pay
roll
1933
D ecem ber______________ 608,670
$82, Oil, 601
263, 622 $17, 656,909
1,872 $432,435
3,864
$886, 781
77,450, 498
83, 524,296
84,837,493
85,090,283
89, 577,479
91, 540, 629
95,184,175
1 98,467,579
1 99,152,554
262,942
263,464
266, 285
266,923
266,864
267,038
268,257
268,712
269,489
1,780
1,742
1,854
1,904
1,913
1,881
1,750
1,690
1,777
3,845
3,852
3,867
3,865
3,862
3,878
3,713
3,723
3,721
871,753
926,363
928,368
926,484
940,666
944, 758
978,908
977,966
976,516
1934
January________________
F ebruary______________
M arch ----------- --------------A pril________ - ------M a y ___________________
J u n e___________________
J u ly ____________________
A u gu st_________________
S ep tem b er_____________
608,139
611,752
623, 559
644,108
659,086
661,094
1671,509
1676,837
681,837
18, 499, 516
19, 532,832
19,050,158
18,816,636
19,210,150
19, 539, 020
20,391,629
20,501,900
20,855,093
417,000
430,843
443,505
432,401
442,896
439,170
434,736
439,014
486,410
1 R evised .
Employment Created by Public Works Administration Fund, September 1934
D u r in g the month ending September 15, 1934, there were 550,000
employees working at the site of Public Works Administration con
struction projects. This construction is financed wholly or in part
from the Public Works Administration fund. These workers were
paid nearly $32,000,000 for their month's work.
Employment on Construction Projects, By Type of Project
T able 15 shows, by type of project, employment, pay rolls, and man
hours worked during the month of September11934 on Federal projects
financed by the Public Works Administration fund.
1 W henever th e m onth of Septem ber is spoken of in this stu d y it is assum ed to m ean the m onth ending
S ep t. 15.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1521
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 1 5 . —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 O N F E D E R A L
P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D FR O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D ,
D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y T Y P E O F P R O J E C T
[Subject to revision]
A m oun t of N um ber of A verage
man-hours earnings
p ay rolls
worked
per hour
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
31, 542
230,179
54, 590
16,428
17, 688
16,050
7,436
1,210
15, 305
$2,137, 260
9, 572,675
3,896,083
853,485
1,952, 769
1, 592, 542
571,089
62,866
1,281,546
2,665,123
19,103,938
5, 740,139
1,544,977
2,341,287
2, 608,556
714, 260
94,602
2,130,181
$0.802
.501
.679
.552
.834
.611
.800
.665
.602
$3,019,608
14,000,357
5,504,686
684,198
2,164, 338
2, 380,746
266,619
120,249
1,368,466
390, 428
21,920, 315
36,943, 063
.593
29, 509, 267
T y p e of project
N um ber
of wage
earners
B u ild ing c o n s tr u c tio n __ _________________ .
P u b lic roads____ ____ ______________________ _
R iver, harbor, and flood con trol______________
Streets and roads 1______________ ________
N a v a l vessels___________ ___________________
R eclam ation______________________________ .
Forestry____ . . . _________ _ _______ .
W ater and sew erage. . . ____________ _______
M iscella n eo u s.. . ____________ _________ . . .
T o ta l__________ ______ _______
.
1 Other than those reported b y th e Bureau of P u b lic R oads.
Federal projects are financed entirely by allotments made by the
Public Works Administration to various departments and agencies of
the Federal Government. The construction work is aone either by
commercial firms to whom contracts are awarded by the Federal
agencies or by day labor hired directly by such agencies.
There were over 390,000 people working at the site of Federal con
struction projects. This is a decrease of over 60,000 as compared with
the month of August. The decrease was caused mainly by the com
pletion of many public-roads projects. Increases were shown in river,
harbor, and flood control, naval vessels, and reclamation projects,
comparing these 2 months.
Although employment on road building showed a large decrease,
nearly 60 percent of the workers on Federal construction projects
were employed on this type of work. More than 54,000 were engaged
in river, harbor, and flood-control work and over 31,000 in building
construction.
Table 16 shows, by type of project, employment, pay rolls, and man
hours worked during the month of September on non-Federal construc
tion projects financed from the Public Works Administration fund.
T a b le 1 6 . —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 O N N O N -F E D E R A L
P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN I S T R A T IO N F U N D D U R
IN G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y T Y P E O F P R O J E C T
[Subject to revision]
T y p e of project
B u ild ing con stru ction ____ ___________________
Streets and roads___ _____ ___________________
W ater and sew erage______________ __________
Railroad con stru ction _____________________ _
M iscellaneous____________ _____ _____________
T o ta l_____ ___________________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A m oun t of N um b er of Average
man-hours earnings
p ay rolls
worked
per hour
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
42, 622
20,130
32, 046
31,411
952
$2,694, 379
1,074, 553
1, 795,146
1, 676, 466
62, 531
3,122, 620
1, 672, 656
2, 606,822
3, 331, 037
88,988
$0. 863
.642
.689
.503
.703
$6,104, 731
1, 686,143
4, 355, 251
521,484
416,696
127,161
7, 303,075
10,822,123
.675
13,084,305
N um ber
of w age
earners
1522
MONTHLY LABOll REVIEW
Non-Federal projects are financed by allotments made from the
Public Works Administration fund to a State or political subdivisions
thereof, or in some cases to commercial firms. In the case of allot
ments to States and their political subdivisions, the Public Works
Administration makes a direct grant of not more than 30 percent of
the total construction cost. The public agency to which the loan is
made finances the other 70 percent. In some cases this 70 percent is
obtained as a loan from the Public Works Administration; in other
cases, the loan is obtained from outside sources. Where the loan is
made by the Public Works Administration it bears interest and must
be paid within a given period.
No grants are made to commercial firms. Commercial allotments
consist entirely of loans. By far the largest part of the commercial
allotments have been made to railroads. Railroad work falls under
three headings: First, construction, such as electrification, laying of
rails and ties, repairs to buildings, etc. ; second, building and repairing
of locomotives and passenger and freight cars in railroad shops; third,
the building of locomotives and passenger and freight cars in com
mercial shops.
Data concerning employment created by railroad construction is
shown in table 16. Employment in railroad car and locomotive shops
is shown in table 19, page 1523. Employment in commercial car
and locomotive shops is shown in table 20, page 1524.
Employment on Construction Projects, by Geographic Divisions
T a b l e 17 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during September 1934 on Federal construction projects financed
from the Public Works Administration fund, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 1 7 .—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 O N F E D E R A L
P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N F U N D , D U R
IN G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]
W age earners
Geographic division
N um ber W eekly
em
average
ployed
N um b er of Average
A m oun t of man-hours earnings
p ay rolls
per hour
w orked
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
17, 657
42,317
52, 541
51,097
56, 560
45, 049
48, 717
43,820
25,392
15,966
39, 627
51,129
48,956
53, 528
43,125
46,739
42, 306
24, 017
$1, 243,930
2, 416,945
2, 923, 378
2, 293, 289
3, 027, 618
2,144, 867
2, 033, 498
3,449, 283
2, 016, 685
1,920,505
3, 934, 907
4, 537,445
3, 897, 658
5, 285, 791
4, 647,067
4, 253, 783
5,053, 313
2,675, 780
$0. 648
.614
.644
.588
.573
.462
.478
.683
.754
$853, 256
1,803,816
1, 679, 950
1, 505,125
2, 948,827
995,456
914, 803
3, 238. 568
1, 215,151
T otal continental U n ited S tates, 383,150
7, 278
O utside continental U n ited S tates------
365,393
6,453
21, 549, 493
370,822
36, 206, 249
736,814
.595
.503
15,154,952
353,958
390,428
371,846
21,920, 315
36, 943,063
.593
1 29, 509, 267
N ew E n glan d ________________________
M id d le A tla n tic ..------ -----------------------E ast N orth C entral__________________
W est N orth C entral—--------- --------------South A t la n t ic ------------------------------E ast South Central — - — — —. —
W est South C entral__________________
M ou n tain ____________________________
P acific-----------------------------------------------
Grand t o t a l________ ______ ____
i Includes $14,000,357, estim ated valu e of m aterial orders placed for public-road projects w hich cannot be
charged to an y specific geographic d ivision .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1523
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Table 18 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during September 1934 on non-Federal projects financed from the
Public Works Administration fund, by geographic divisions.
T a bu s 1 8 .—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 O N N O N -F E D E R A L
P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN I S T R A T IO N F U N D D U R
IN G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV I S I O N
[Subject to revision]
W age earners
Geographic division
N ew E n glan d ________________________
M idd le A t la n t ic ____________________
E ast N orth C entral__________________
W est N orth C e n tr a l_________________
South A tla n tic_______________________
E ast South C en tral__________________
W est South C entral.......... ............. ...........
M o u n ta in ____________________________
Pacific_______________________________
N um ber
W eekly
em
ployed average
A m ount of N um b er of Average
man-hours earnings
p ay rolls
per hour
worked
V alue of
material
orders
placed
19,844
20, 765
18, 303
15, 573
26, 352
4,293
4,763
7,120
9, 753
16, 466
17,883
15, 647
13,082
23, 227
3, 605
3,920
5,640
7, 943
$1, 257, 671
1, 266,045
1,163,576
789,319
1, 605, 447
217, Oil
190, 255
364,695
430, 311
2, 026, 748
1,693, 700
1,442, 870
1, 008, 091
2, 692, 739
366, 694
337, 365
574, 614
644, 785
$0. 621
.748
.806
.783
.596
.592
.564
.635
.667
$1,583,707
2,876,882
2,603, 016
1, 706,498
1,822,689
341,686
736, 540
547, 286
757,021
T otal continental U nited S tates. 126, 766
O utside continental U n ited S ta tes___
395
107, 413
343
7, 284,330
18, 745
10, 787, 606
34, 517
.675
.543
12,975,325
108,980
107,756
7, 303,075
10,822,123
.675
13,084,305
Grand to ta l___________ ____ ___
127,161
Table 19 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked in
railway car and locomotive shops operated by railroads on work
financed from the Public Works Administration fund during
September 1934, by geographic divisions.
T a b le 1 9 . —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 I N R A IL R O A D
S H O P S O N W O R K F I N A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L I C W O R K S A D M IN I S T R A T IO N F U N D
D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]
Geographic division
N ew E n glan d __ _________________ _______ . . .
M id d le A t la n tic ... __________________________
E ast N orth C en tral__________________________
W est N orth C entral__________________________
South A tla n tic ___ ______________ ______ _____
E ast South C entral_________ _______ ________
W est South C en tral______________ _______ ___
M ou n ta in ____________________ _____________
P a c if ic .................. ................... ............... ......................
T o ta l..
________ ____ _________________
N um ber
of wage
earners
N um b er of Average
A m oun t of
earnings
p ay rolls man-hours
per hour
worked
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
475
6,118
3,719
1,267
1,145
2,854
1,966
799
3,446
$47,484
354, 281
363,177
59,907
129,005
297,115
100, 691
32, 787
192,916
70,802
544, 589
562,048
90, 780
194, 670
485,431
166, 015
51. 787
311', 156
$0. 671
.651
.646
.660
.663
.612
.607
.033
.620
$21,129
227,813
164,800
22, 289
802,846
56,357
48, 879
18,115
60,507
21, 789
1, 577, 363
2,477, 278
.637
1,422,735
Table 20 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked in
commercial car and locomotive shops on contracts financed from the
Public Works Administration fund during September 1934, by
geographic divisions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1524
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 3 0 —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 IN C O M M E R C IA L
C A R A N D L O C O M O T IV E S H O P S O N C O N T R A C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC
W O R K S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N F U N D D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]
N um b er of
N um b er of
A m ount of
w age earn pay rolls m an-hours
worked
ers
Geographic division
N ew England
__............ .......
- __
M idd le A tlan tic- - __ ______________________
E ast N orth Central ________ - _
____ __________
W est N orth C entral_____________________
_______
South A tlan tic _ ________ _____ _____ _______________
E ast South Central
.............. ......
_.
____
T o ta l____________
_________ ________________ .
Average
earnings
per hour
153
6,701
2. 359
'532
764
23
$12, 579
584,880
199,411
37,573
81, 561
3,560
24,437
922, 701
295,125
75,513
131, 560
7,695
$0. 515
.634
.676
.498
.620
.463
10, 532
919, 564
1, 457,031
.631
Table 21 shows expenditures for materials from the beginning of
the Public Works Administration program in August 1933 to Sep
tember 15, 1934.
T a b l e 3 1 . —V A L U E O F M A T E R IA L O R D E R S P L A C E D O N P U B L IC W O R K S P R O J E C T S ,
B Y T Y P E O F M A T E R IA L
[Subject to revision]
V alue of m aterial orders
placed—
T y p e of m aterial
Aircraft (n ew )___________________________ ________________ ______________
Airplane parts - _________________________________ - - __________________
A lum inum m anufactures___________ _ __ __________ ____________________
_____________
_____
A m m un ition and related products
A sb estos. _____________________________________
. . __________________
A w nings, ten ts, canvas, e tc _________ ____ _______ _
__________________
B elting, m iscellaneous______
____ ____ ____ _
.................. ....... ... .......
B oat b uilding, steel and w ooden (sm a ll).. . ________________________________
_______ . .
B olts, nuts, washers, e tc_________________________ ______
Carpets and rugs_____________________________ ____________ ___________
Carriages and w agons ____________ . . .
____________ . . . _________
Cast-iron pipe and fittings___________ _
__ _ . . ______________________
C em en t_______________ ______________ _____ ______________________________
C hem icals___ . . . ______ ___________________ _____ _______ _ __________
C lay products .
________ . . ______ _________________ ___ _ ________
C o a l.* _____________
. ________ _____________________ . . . . . ________
Com pressed and liquefied gases
. .
. .
.
____________ ___ _______
Concrete products_______________________________ ___________________ ___
Copper products _______ . ________________________________________________
______
_____ ____ __
Cordage and tw in e ____ _ _____________________ .
Cork products _ _____ _________________ _ _____________________________
C otton goods______________ _______________________ ______________________
Creosote
_________ ___________ __________________ __________________ Crushed ston e___ _____ ____
. ..
.
__________ ________
Doors, shutters, and w in dow sash and frames, m olding and trim (m eta l)___
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and su p p lie s ... ____________________ _____
Elevators and parts . . ______________ _____ ___ _______ _____
. ________
E ngines, turbines, tractors, w ater w heels, and w in d m ills__ ______________
E xplosives
________ _________________________ .
..
. ____ _ . .
F elt goods___ . ____________________________________ . . _____________ .
F ir e a r m s .__ ___ ____
_____________________________ ___ _ _____________
Forgings, iron and steel . _______ ____________ . . __ .
____ _________
Foundry and m achine-shop products, not elsewhere classified______________
Furniture, ncluding store and office fixtures __________________ _______ __
G lass______ . . . ___ _______________________________
__
_____
Hardware, m iscellaneous__________ _____________________________ ________
Instrum ents, professional and scientific______ _______________________ ___
Jute goods
_____________________ ______
. . . __ ____ __________
L ighting eq u ip m en t________________________ _______________ ___
______
._ .
.
. _____________ ___ .
L i m e __________ ______ - __ . _.
Linoleum _____ ___ ______________________________________________________
Locom otives, oil-electric___________________________________________________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
From begin
D uring
ning of
m onth ending
program to Sept. 15,1934
A ug. 15, 1934
$4,284, 890
4,386,812
95,208
578,800
50, 742
141, 715
14, 568
776,502
1,705,002
30,505
16,948
6,220,944
54,465,005
164,207
4, 562,345
513,190
143, 225
6,406,808
318, 799
173,885
35,951
65,968
446, 748
17,374,394
1,808,134
19,981,953
32,965
2,661,483
1,949,900
149, 668
748,789
2,756,810
50,931, 502
694,946
287, 763
1,827,825
1,288,935
33,374
1,064,367
96,788
10,213
512,766
$51,292
6, 686
13, 662
1,952
5,875
3,578
6,394
76,946
5,764
11,408
1,269,067
6,138,499
19,520
1,157,472
89,013
15,459
1, 039, 556
44,149
6,931
5,943
4,344
199
2,203, 249
170,161
2,217,174
30,998
554,008
208,259
6,199
152
76,864
5,491,560
102,384
19,616
285,192
76,902
4,182
102,959
18,612
2,524
1525
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 2 1 .—V A L U E O F M A T E R IA L O R D E R S P L A C E D O N P U B L IC W O R K S P R O J E C T S ,
B Y T Y P E O F M A T E R IA L —C ontinued
[Subject to revision]
V alue of m aterial orders
placed—
T y p e of m aterial
From begin
D uring
ning of
m onth ending
program to Sept. 15,1934
Aug. 15, 1934
Tinnnmnt.i vp.s , stftam
_ _ ________________________
Tmmhp.r and t.irnbpr products
__ _ _ ___________________ __________
M achine tools .
- __ _ _ __ _____ _ _______________________________
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone products _ ____________________ ___
M attresses and bed springs___________ ___________________________________
M eters (gas, w ater, etc ) and gas generators
_____________________________
M inerals and earths, ground or otherw ise treated__________________ _______
M otor vehicles:
Passenger __ _ _ __________________ ________________________________
Trucks
_
___________ _____ ___________________________
N a ils and spikes
__
__________
. . ____________________________
N onferrous-m etal alloys, nonferrous-metal products, except alum inum , not
elsewhere classified
_ __ _____ ______ _______ _____ _______________
P ain ts and varnishes
_ ____ ____ _____ _________________________ _____
Paper products___
________________ - _______
___ - - - _________
P av in g m aterials and m ixtures __ ________ _ __ _ __________ ______ ____
Petroleum products
_____ __ ___ _________________ ______________
Photographic apparatus and m aterials_____________ - ______ _____ ______
P laning m ill products
______ __________________________________________
P lum bing supplies
- _____ - ____
- ____________________
P u m p s and pum ping e q u ip m e n t _____________________ _______________ ___
R adio apparatus and s u p p lie s __________ _ _____________________ ________
R ail fastenings, excluding spikes
________ __ ________ ___ ____________
R ails, steel
____ -. . ____ . _______ _ __
R a ilw a y cars:
___ . ___ _
__
.......
.................
Freight
M ail and express__ _____ _ _____ ____ _ ____ ___ _
__ _____
Passenger
_ _ _ ______ _______ _.
____ ______ ___ ___ _______
Refrigerators and refrigerator cabinets, including mechanical refrigerators----R oofing, built-u p and roll; asphalt shingles; roof coatings, other than p a in t ...
R ubber goods
.
._ ._ . ______________ . . __ _________________
Sacks and b a g s _____ _________ . . _________________ __________________
Sand and gravel______________________ ___________________________________
Sheet-m etal w ork
_
____________ . .
. .
______ __ ____ _______
Sm elting and refining, lead ___________________ . ____ _______ _____________
S m elting and refining, zinc. . ________ ___________ . . _________________
_____
______________________________________
Springs, steel____________
Steam and hot-water heating apparatus _____________ ___ _________________
Steam and other packing, pipe and boiler covering, and gaskets ______ ____
Steel-works and rolling-m ill products, other than steel rails, including struc
tural and ornam ental m etal w ork .
___________
____________________
Stoves and ranges (other than electric) and warm-air furnaces__ ___ . . .
Sw itches, ra ilw ay____________________ ______________ ___________________
Theatrical scenery and stage e q u ip m e n t .._________ ___ ___ _____ _______
T ools, other than m achine tools ____________ ___________________________
U pholstering m aterials, not elsewhere classified _________ . . ________
W all plaster, w all board, insulating board, and floor c o m p o s itio n _______ ._
W aste_____ 1_________________________________
__
.
_______
W in d ow and door screens and weather strip . _____________
___________
W indow shades and fix tu re s... _________________________ ________________
W ire, drawn from purchased rods _______________ ___ . ______ _ . ____
W irework, n ot elsewhere classified . ______ ____ ____ ________ _________
W rought pipe, w elded and h eavy riveted ______________ _________________
O ther_______ _____ __________
_______________________ _________________
T o ta l_____
. . . . . . . . ...................... ......... . . . _____ _________ ___
...
$6,837,064
23,248, 276
2,896, 686
6,127,066
12,918
111,433
80,379
$2, 507,125
485,992
709,952
1,971
31,812
15,418
153,187
397,174
479,697
165,980
234,647
21,354
757,607
1,065,887
19,337
7,691,560
13,334,089
10,575
2,187,020
3,968,064
5,371,933
568,056
4,789,105
17,376,626
64,613
97,725
6,142
864,721
1,668,961
133,246
375,130
521,421
476,655
8,823
78,719
286, 739
34,523,901
429,443
6,802,435
528,589
1,168, 574
195, 790
15,310
29,505,047
1,685,394
103,331
17,409
538,024
2,509, Oil
359,088
350, 000
23,518
159,072
21,167
915
3,440,252
103,697
12,443
102
30,115
299,470
72,936
68,186,123
96,309
767,648
25,701
2,665,902
81,838
796; 552
16, 671
60,541
29,711
2, 224,357
450,436
228,623
19, 813,934
5,998,169
41,219
6,071
199
262,702
2,561
195,655
4,620
8,716
15,041
88,331
132,518
31,039
2, 763,929
461,120, 773
44,487,057
120, 750
From the beginning of the Public Works Administration program
to August 15, 1934, purchase orders were placed for materials to cost
over $460,000,000, affecting nearly all branches of industry. The total
purchases of steel-works and rolling-mills products, including steel
rails, amounted to more than $85,000,000; cement, over $54,000,000;
foundry and machine-shop products, nearly $51,000,000; railway cars,
nearly $42,000,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1526
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
During the month of September orders were placed for materials
valued at over $44,000,000. It is estimated that the fabrication of the
materials for which orders were placed during September will create
approximately 105,000 man-months of labor.
Table 22 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked by
employees since the inception of the Public Works Administration
program in August 1933 to September 1934.
T a b l e 2 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 D U R I N G A U G U S T
1933 T O S E P T E M B E R 1934 O N P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S
A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D , B Y M O N T H
[Subject to revision]
N um b er of
w age earners
M onth
A m oun t of
pay rolls
N um b er of
m an-hours
worked
Average
earnings
per hour
V alue of m a
terial orders
placed
1933
A u gu st__________________ ____ _____
___ __________________
September^
October 1___________ ______________
N ovem b er 1________________________
D e cem b er1- , ______________________
4, C99
33,830
121,403
254, 784
270,408
$280,040
1,961,496
7,325,313
14,458,364
15,424, 700
539,454
3,920,009
14,636,603
27,862,280
29,866, 249
$0. 519
.500
.500
.519
.516
$202,100
1,622,365
3 22, 513, 767
24,299,055
24,850,188
1934
Jan uary------------------------------------------February 1_________________________
M arch 1______ ______ ______________
A p r il1________________ ___________
M ay 1_____________ __________ _____
June 1__ --- ___________ ____
J u l y 1--------------- -------------------------------A u g u st______ ______________________
Septem ber. .
______
- ..
273, 583
295,741
292,696
371,234
491,166
592,057
624,286
602,581
549, 910
14,574,960
15,246,423
15,636,545
17,907,842
25,076,908
32, 783,533
33,829,858
35,142, 770
31, 720,317
27,658,591
28,938,177
29,171,634
31,559,966
44,912,412
58,335,119
59,436,314
59,943,328
51,699,495
.527
.527
.536
.567
.558
.562
.569
.586
.614
23,522,929
24,565,004
3 69,334,408
3 66,639,862
3 49, 720,378
3 57,589,895
3 49,299,174
3 46,961,648
3 44,487,057
261,369,009
468,479,631
. 558
505,607,830
T o ta l............ .....................................
1 R evised .
2 Includes orders placed for naval vessels prior to October.
3 Includes orders placed b y railroads for new eq u ip m en t.
The total earnings over the 14-month period amounted to more
than $260,000,000. This construction program has provided, at the
site of the construction project, nearly 470,000,000 man-hours of labor.
The earnings have averaged nearly 56 cents per hour over the 14month period.
It is estimated that the manufacture of materials for which orders
have been placed will create nearly 1,400,000 man-months of labor.
This only accounts for the labor in fabrication of material in the form
in which it is to be used. For example, only labor in manufacturing
brick is counted, not the labor in taking the clay from the pits or in
hauling the clay and other materials used in the brick plant. In fab
ricating steel rails only the labor in the rolling mill is counted, not
labor created in mining and smelting the ore, nor labor in the blast
furnaces, the open-hearth furnaces, nor the blooming mills.
Emergency Work Relief Program
D u r in g the week ending September 27 nearly 1,400,000 people
were given employment by the emergency work program of the
Federal Relief Administration.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND
OF
1527
EM PLO YM EN T
Table 23 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay roll for
workers on the emergency work program for weeks ending August 30
and September 27.
T a b l e 2 3 . —N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S O F P A Y R O L L S F O R W O R K E R S
O N E M E R G E N C Y W O R K R E L I E F P R O G R A M , A U G . 30 A N D S E P T . 27, 1934
[Subject to revision]
N um b er of em ployees w eek
ending—
A m oun t of p a y roll w eek
ending—
Geographic division
A ug. 30
Sept. 27
A ug. 30
Sept. 27
N ew E n g la n d - ___ _____________ _____________
M id d le A t la n t ic ___ _______ __________________
E ast N orth C en tral_______________ - ________
W est N orth C entral__________________________
South A tla n tic. ______________________________
E ast South C en tral-------------------- ------------------W est South C entral___ _______________________
M ou n ta in _____________________________________
Pacific________________________________________
93,500
167,227
217,179
185,973
143,851
118,074
141,010
61,177
83,843
110, 649
171,974
268,147
220,649
189,483
115,396
157,914
64,945
88,383
$1,080,328
2,774,873
2,199,905
1,352,122
938,941
627,996
971,873
694, 546
976,921
$1,333,656
2,911,195
2, 646,963
1,613,626
1,187 183
539,814
1,146,601
762,313
1,013,176
T o t a l __ ___________ - . - ____________
Percentage change - - _______________________
1,211,834
1,387, 540
+ 1 4 .5
11,617, 505
13,154. 527
+ 1 3 .2
Table 24 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay roll
for workers on the emergency work relief program, by months, from
the inception of the work in March to September, inclusive.
T a b l e 3 4 —N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S O F P A Y R O L L S F O R W O R K E R S
O N E M E R G E N C Y W O R K R E L IE F P R O G R A M , B Y M O N T H S , 1934
M on th
N um b er
of em
ployees 1
A m oun t of
pay roll
M on th
N um b er
of em
ployees 1
A m oun t of
p a y roll
M arch
________________
A pril ___________________
M a y . _____________ -Ju ne_____________________
22,934
1,176,818
1,341,853
1,478,200
$842,000
38,953,678
42,214,039
42,221,757
J u ly _____________________
A u gu st__________________
Septem ber_______________
1,706,455
1,908,993
1,949,267
$47,244,553
54,792,488
50,110,074
Average weekly em ploym ent.
Over $276,000,000 has been disbursed for pay rolls over the 7month period.
Emergency Conservation Work
T h e r e were more than 335,000 men in the Civilian Conservation
Camps on September 30. Due to the end of an enrollment period,
this is a decrease of approximately 50,000 as compared with August.
Table 25 shows employment and pay rolls for Emergency Conserva
tion Work during the months of August and September 1934, by
type of work.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1528
MONTHLY LAB OH REVIEW
T a b l e ‘i o .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S I N T H E E M E R G E N C Y C O N S E R V A T IO N
W O R K , A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
N um b er of em ployees
A m oun t of p a y rolls
Group
A ugust
Enrolled personnel------------------------------- ---------—
R eserve officers-----------------------------------------------E ducational a d v is e r s ... ---------------------------------Supervisory and te c h n ic a l1-----------------------------T o ta l___________________________________
Septem ber
A ugust
Septem ber
346,805
6,092
1,095
2 31,348
294,969
6,163
1,098
3 33,555
$10,830, 714
1,522,675
175,669
3,834,768
$9, 211,878
1,540,109
176,362
4,094,620
385,340
335,785
16,363,826
15,022,969
1Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
2 28,493 included in th e executive service table.
3 28,842 included in th e execu tive service table.
For the month of September employees engaged in Emergency
Conservation Work drew over $15,000,000. In addition to their pay,
the enrolled personnel receives free board, clothing, and medical
attention.
Information concerning employment and pay rolls for Emergency
Conservation Work is collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from the War Department, Department of Agriculture, Treasury
Department, and the Department of the Interior. The pay of the
enrolled personnel is figured as follows: 5 percent are paid $45 per
month; 8 percent, $36 per month; and the remaining 87 percent,
$30 per month.
Table 26 shows employment and pay rolls in the Emergency Con
servation Work from the beginning of the program in May 1933 to
September 1934, inclusive.
T a b l e 2 6 .—N U M B E R O P E M P L O Y E E S E N G A G E D I N T H E E M E R G E N C Y C O N S E R
V A T IO N W O R K F R O M M A Y 1933 TO S E P T E M B E R 1934
Month
1933
M a y .............. . . .
June__________
J u ly ---------------A u gu st_______
Septem ber........
October.........
N ovem b er____
D ecem b er.........
N u m b er of
em ployees
A m oun t of
p ay roll
M on th
191,380
283,481
316,109
307,100
242,968
294,861
344, 273
321, 701
$6,388, 760
9,876, 780
11,482, 262
11,604,401
9,759,628
12,311,033
14,554, 695
12,951, 042
1934
Jan uary_________________
F ebruary__________ ____
M arch___________________
A p ril__________ _____ . . .
M a y _____________________
June . . . ___ ____________
J u ly _____________________
A u g u st. . . . . . . -------. . .
S eptem ber______ _______
N um b er of A m oun t of
em ployees
p ay roll
331,594
321, 829
247,591
314, 664
335,871
280,271
389,104
385,340
335,785
$13,581,506
13,081,393
10,792,319
13,214,018
14,047,512
12,641,401
16,032,734
16,363,826
15,022,969
Employment on State-Road Projects
D u r i n g the month of September there were over 250,000 employees
working on road projects financed by State governments. This is an
increase of 17,000, as compared with the previous month.
Table 27 shows the number of employees engaged in building and
maintaining State roads during the months of August and September
1934, by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1529
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 2 7 —N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S E N G A G E D I N T H E C O N S T R U C T IO N A N D M A I N
T E N A N C E OF S T A T E R O A D S D U R I N G A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N 1
M aintenance
N ew
N um b er of
em p loyees
Geographic division
Sep
A ugust tem ber
N e w E n glan d ____ ______ 15,018
M id d le A tla n tic_________ 4,201
8, 252
E a st N orth C en tral_____
W est N orth C en tral_____ 5,634
South A tla n tic_______ __ 9,474
1,966
E ast South C entral_____
W est South C entral_____ 4,894
1,400
M o u n ta in _______ _____ _.
2.701
Pacific__________________
T otal, continental
U n ited S tates___
Percent»™ o.h»nve
O u ts id e
continental
U nited S ta tes_________
Grand t o t a l . . ____
14,071
5,869
11,487
6, 220
10,169
2,880
6,282
2,148
2,739
N um b er of
em p loyees
A m oun t of pay roll
A ugust
S ep tem
ber
A ugust
Sep
tem ber
A ugu st
$758,566
318,994
426,186
217,362
209,088
98,858
234,626
81,900
198, 235
$590,852
342.563
597,790
231,827
193, 789
119,040
232,419
132,862
174,858
7,079
56,158
27,712
18, 340
31, 575
12,128
13,170
7, 560
6. 477
7,465
60,564
30,887
17,316
32,318
12,293
12,419
8, 351
6,710
$565,087
2,832, 652
1,699,130
933,522
1,346, 783
420,000
881,913
544,739
659, 261
$581,196
2,960,348
2,113,130
972,804
1,375,652
432,348
844,957
576,022
530,457
9,883,087
10, 386,914
+ 5 .1 0
8,261
9, 391
10,396, 305
53, 540
61,865
+ 15.55
2, 543,815 2,616,000
+ 2 .8 4
180,199 188,323
+ 4 . 51
0
0
61,865
0
0
2,543,815 3,324, 464
83
71
180, 270 188,406
53,540
A m oun t of p a y roll
9,891,348
S ep tem
ber
1 E xcluding em p loym ent furnished b y projects financed from public-w orks fund .
Pay rolls for State road workers amounted to over $13,600,000
during the month of September, This is an increase of over $1,500,000
as compared with the previous month. Of the State road workers,
75.3 percent were engaged in maintaining existing roads and 24.7 per
cent in building new roads.
Table 28 shows the number of employees engaged in the construction
and maintenance of State roads, January to September 1934, inclusive.
T able 2 8 . —N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S
E N G A G E D IN T H E C O N ST R U C T IO N A N D
M A I N T E N A N C E O F S T A T E R O A D S , J A N U A R Y TO S E P T E M B E R 1934, IN C L U S I V E i
N um b er of em ployees w ork
ing on State roads
N um b er of em p loyees w ork
ing on State roads
M on th
M on th
N ew
January_____ _____
F ebruary_________
M a rch ____________
A pril. . _________
M a y ______________
25,345
22,311
19, 985
21,510
27,161
M a in te
nance
136,440
126,904
132,144
136,038
167,274
N ew
T otal
161, 785
149, 215
152,129
157,548
194,435
Ju n e_______ _ .
Ju ly ______________
A ugu st__________ _
Sep tem b er.............. ..
37, 642
45,478
53,540
61,865
M a in te
nance
170,879
168,428
180,270
188,323
T otal
208,521
213,906
233,810
250, 188
1 E xcluding em p loym ent furnished b y projects financed from the public-w orks fund.
Employment on Construction Projects Financed by the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation, September 1934
F o r the month ending September 15 more than 17,000 people were
employed by contractors working on construction projects financed
by loans made by the Self-Liquidating Division of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation.
Table 29 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation, by type of project.
97667—34------15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1530
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
3 9 —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 O N P R O J E C T S
F I N A N C E D B Y T H E S E L F -L I Q U I D A T I N G D IV IS IO N OF T H E R E C O N S T R U C T IO N
F I N A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y T Y P E OF P R O J E C T
table
[Subject to revision]
N u m b er of
N u m b er of
A m oun t of
w age
m an-hours
p ay roll
earners
w orked
T y p e of project
A verage
earnings
per hour
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
Railroad construction____________ _______
B u ild ing con stru ction ............. ............. .............
Bridges____ _____ ________________________
R eclam ation ______________________________
W ater and sew age________________ ____ . . .
M iscellaneous____ ______ ____________
_
14
2,642
5, 111
2, 559
4, 908
1,854
$1,155
247,209
431,994
170,450
593,051
204,759
2, 504
218,140
515,370
369, 591
832, 553
292, 911
$0. 461
1.133
.838
.461
.712
.699
$4,189
189,535
1,206,135
110, 603
470,513
519,663
T o ta l................................. ...........................
17,088
1,648, 618
2,231,069
.739
2,500,638
Table 30 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
contracts financed by the Self-Liquidating Division of the Recon
struction Finance Corporation, by geographic divisions.
table 3 0 —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 O N P R O J E C T S
F I N A N C E D B Y T H E S E L F -L I Q U I D A T I N G D IV I S I O N O F T H E R E C O N S T R U C T I O N
F I N A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N D U R I N G S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]
Geographic division
N um b er of
N um b er of
A m oun t of
w age
m an-hours
p ay roll
earners
w orked
Average
earnings
per hour
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
N ew E n g la n d ____ _____ ____________ ____
M idd le A tla n tic_____________ _____ ______
E ast N orth Central __________ __________
W est N orth C entral______________________
South A tlan tic - .................. ................. .............
E ast South C entral___ _______ ___________
W est South C e n t r a l...______ ____________
M o u n ta in .......................................................... .
Pacific___________________ ____
0
4,084
250
0
555
104
967
2,611
8,517
0
$410,025
31,409
0
17,961
5,609
77,312
173,677
932,625
0
411,304
29,879
0
41,956
18,996
101,567
372,896
1,254,471
0
$0. 997
1.051
0
.428
.295
.761
.466
.743
0
$883, 631
46,009
0
10,956
7, 534
34,415
117,636
1,400,457
T o ta l................ ......... ..................................
17,088
1,648,618
2, 231,069
.739
2,500,638
Nearly 50 percent of these workers were employed in the three
Pacific States. Over 4,000 were employed in the Middle Atlantic
States. Hourly earnings were less than 30 cents in the East South
Central States and over $1.05 in the East North Central States.
Table 31 shows data concerning employment, pay rolls, and man
hours worked during the months, April to September inclusive, on
construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corpo
ration.
T able 3 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 O N P R O J E C T S
F I N A N C E D B Y T H E S E L F -L I Q U I D A T I N G D IV IS IO N OF T H E
F I N A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N , A P R IL TO S E P T E M B E R 1934
R E C O N S T R U C T IO N
[Subject to revision]
M on th
A pril.................................... ............... ...............
M a y ............ ........... .................. ......... ......... .........
June _________ _ . __________ _
J u l y . . . ________ _____________ . . .
A u gu st...................................... ............. ...........
S eptem ber________
____ ________ ____ _
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um b er of A m oun t of N u m b er of
wage
of p ay
man-hours
earners
roll
worked
18, 638
19, 274
19,218
17, 760
17,149
17,088
$1,518,479
1,636,503
1,743, 318
1,624,924
1, 688, 012
1,648, 618
2, 302, 739
2,334,060
2,412,342
2,183, 560
2, 286,286
2, 231,069
A verage
earnings
per hour
$0. 659
.701
.723
.744
.738
.739
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
$2, 297,479
2,120,498
2,189,538
2,332,554
2, 303,516
2,500,638
1531
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Table 32 shows the value of material orders placed by contractors
working on Reconstruction Finance Corporation construction projects
by types of materials.
T able 32.—M A T E R IA L S P U R C H A S E D D U R I N G M O N T H E N D I N G S E P T . 15, 1934, F O R
P R O J E C T S F I N A N C E D B Y T H E S E L F -L I Q U I D A T I N G D IV IS IO N O F T H E
S T R U C T IO N F I N A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N , B Y T Y P E OF M A T E R IA L
RECON
[Subject to revision]
T y p e of m aterial
Cast-iron pipe and fittings_________
C em ent
C lay p r o d u c ts ___ _____________ __
Coal _
Com pressed and liquefied g a s e s ... .
Concrete p rod ucts________ ________
Copper products
Cordage and tw in e ..
Crushed stone
Electrical m achinery and sup p lies—
E xp losives_________ ____ ____ . .
Fou n d ry and m achine-shop prod
u cts_____________________________
F elt goods . . .
Fuel oil
Gasoline
Hardware
.
___ ____
L ubricating oils and greases________
Lum ber
V alue of m a
terials pur
chased
$50,045
252,369
11,893
2, 290
2,805
80,007
199,399
1,718
5,701
89,589
110,967
154, 557
2,287
3,998
39,530
84,711
3,221
95,204
T yp e of m aterial
V alue of m a
terials pur
chased
M arble, granite, and other stone
p rod ucts_________________________
M otor veh icles_____________________
N ails and spik es___________________
P lum b in g su p p lies_________________
P u m p s and p um p ing eq u ip m en t___
R a i l s ______ _______________________
R ubber g o o d s _____________________
Sand and g r a v e l___________________
Sheet m etal w ork _____________ ____
Steam and hot-w ater heating appa
ratu s_____________________________
Steel-works and rolling-m ill prod
u cts______________________________
T ools______________________________
W ire_______________________________
M iscellaneous ___________________
1,040,236
9, 607
43.154
69,544
T o ta l___ ____________________
2, 500,638
$18,537
3,916
1,019
32,257
3,977
3,466
2,022
46, 676
6,376
29, 560
Employment on Construction Projects Financed from Regular
Governmental Appropriations
B e g i n n i n g with July the Bureau of Labor Statistics began col
lecting data concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours of
work on all construction projects financed by appropriations made
by the Congress direct to the various Federal departments and units.
In accordance with the request of the Secretary of Labor, the direc
tor of procurement has caused the following paragraph to be inserted
in all Government contracts:
The contractor will report monthly, and will cause all subcontractors to report
in like manner, within 5 days after the close of each calendar month, on forms
to be furnished by the Department of Labor, the number of persons on the
respective pay rolls, the aggregate amount of such pay rolls, the man-hours
worked, and the total expenditures for materials. He shall furnish to the
Department of Labor the names and addresses of all subcontractors on the
work at the earliest date practicable, provided that the foregoing shall be appli
cable only to work at the site of the construction project.
Whenever a contract is awarded by a Government department,
the Bureau is immediately notified of the name and address of the
contractor. Forms are then mailed to the contractor, who mails
his report to the Bureau showing the number of men on the pay
rolls, amount of pay rolls, number of man-hours worked, and the
value of material orders placed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
J 532
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
The following tables show data concerning such work on construc
tion projects on which work has started since July 1. The Bureau
has no data for projects that were under way previous to July 1, 1934.
Table 33 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
projects on which work started subsequent to July 1, financed from
direct appropriations to the various Government agencies.
T able 3 3 .—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 O N P R O J E C T S
O N W H IC H W O R K S T A R T E D S IN C E J U L Y 1 F I N A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N
M E N T A L A P P R O P R I A T IO N S F O R S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y T Y P E S O F P R O J E C T S
[Subject to revision]
N um b er of
A m oun t of N um b er of
wage
man-hours
p ay rolls
earners
worked
T y p e of project
A verage
earnings
per hour
V alue of
material
orders
placed
B uilding con stru ction ____ _____ _________
Public roads_____________ _ _____________
R iver, harbor, and flood con trol__________
Streets and roads______ ______
________
N a v a l vessels__________ ____ _____________
W ater and sew erage____ ____ ____________
M iscellaneous_____ _________ ____________
4,210
3,018
1,926
296
30
94
226
$242,441
165,295
51,804
12,040
2,339
4,075
15,369
337, 695
295, 678
87,723
20,044
2,439
6,949
23,157
$0. 718
.559
.591
.601
.959
.586
.664
$582,323
183,566
28,950
29,829
1,083
8,784
7,757
T o ta l____ ____ _____________________
9,800
493,363
773, 685
.638
842,292
There were nearly 10,000 workers on this new construction work
during the month ending September 15, and these men drew nearly
$500,000 for their month’s pay. The average hourly earnings
amounted to 64 cents, and the earnings ranged from 56 cents per
hour for public roads to 96 cents per hour for naval vessels.
Table 34 shows for the month of September employment, pay rolls,
and man-hours worked on construction projects started since July 1
which are financed from regular governmental appropriations, by
geographic divisions.
T able 3 4 .—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 O N P R O J E C T S
O N W H IC H W O R K S T A R T E D S IN C E J U L Y 1 F I N A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N
M E N T A L A P P R O P R I A T IO N S F O R S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
[Subject to revision]
Geographic division
N um b er
of wage
earners
A m oun t
of pay
roll
N um b er of
man-hours
worked
Average
earnings
per hour
V alue of
material
orders
placed
N ew E n glan d ____________________________
M idd le A t la n t ic _____________________ __
E ast N orth C entral______________________
W est N orth C entral____ _____________
South A tla n tic_________ _ _______________
E ast South C entral_____ .
. __________
W est South C en tral______________________
M o u n ta in ___ ______ ______ ________ . _
Pacific_______________________________ . . .
230
1,210
2, 331
424
1,674
482
967
1,015
1,086
$19, 439
71,370
132, 057
24.121
44, 940
31,199
33,115
43, 624
71, 719
30,010
131,177
177, 699
36, 447
68, 783
63. 608
57,093
63,825
104, 974
$0. 648
. 544
.743
.662
.653
.490
.580
.683
.683
$17.218
9, 824
261,081
59, 210
72,461
29. 352
75, 787
3,450
53, 702
T otal continental U nited S tates____
O utside con tin en tal U nited S tates. _____
9,419
381
471, 584
21, 779
733,616
40,069
.643
.543
1 766, 251
76,041
9, 800
493, 363
773, 685
.638
i 842, 292
Grand to ta l_____________________ _
1 Includes $183,565 estim ated valu e orders placed for public-road projects w hich cannot be charged to
an y specific geographic division .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1533
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
More than 2,300 men were employed in the East North Central
States and over 1,600 in the South Atlantic States. Workers in the
East South Central States earned an average of 49 cents per hour.
In the East North Central States the workers earned an average of
over 74 cents per hour.
Table 35 shows for the months of August and September employ
ment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction projects
starting since July 1 which are financed from regular governmental
appropriations.
T able 35 .—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 O N P R O J E C T S
O N W H IC H W O R K S T A R T E D S IN C E JU L Y 1, F I N A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N
M E N T A L A P P R O P R I A T IO N S F O R A U G U S T A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
[Subject to revision]
N um b er
of wage
earners
M on th
A u g u st___________________________________
Septem ber.................... ........... ........................ ..
5, 601
9,800
A m ount
of pay
rolls
$329,440
493, 363
N um b er of
man-hours
worked
557, 747
773,685
Average
earnings
per hour
$0. 591
.638
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
$150, 506
842,292
Table 36 shows the value of material orders placed during the month
ending September 15 for use on construction projects on which work
has started since July 1 financed from regular governmental appro
priations, by type of material.
Purchase orders were placed during the month ending September 15
for materials to cost over $800,000.
T a b l e 3 6 . —M A T E R IA L O R D E R S P L A C E D D U R I N G T H E M O N T H E N D I N G S E P T . 15,1934,
F O R U S E O N C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O J E C T S O N W H IC H W O R K H A S S T A R T E D S IN C E
J U L Y 1, F I N A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N M E N T A L A P P R O P R I A T IO N S , B Y T Y P E
OF M A T E R IA L
[Subject to revision]
T y p e of m aterial
A sp h alt.......................... .............................
Cast-iron pipe and fittin gs...................
C e m e n t.____ ________________ _____
C lay p rod ucts..........................................
C oal________________ _______ ______
Concrete p r o d u c ts.................................
C rushed s to n e_____________________
Electrical m achinery and su p p lie s ...
F ou n d ry and m achine-shop prod
u cts........................................ ...................
F u el o il.......................................................
G asoline......................................................
H ardw are.......... ....................... .................
Insu lation m aterials...............................
L um ber and tim ber p rod ucts______
M arble, granite, e tc.................... ...........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
V alue of m a
terial orders
placed
$7,270
1,598
32,170
13,219
5,923
2,331
2,515
10,748
24,848
1,015
2,832
15,025
30,780
235,314
16,175
T y p e of m aterial
N ails and sp ik es............... ......................
P aints and v a r n is h e s ............................
P lum b in g su p p lie s .................................
P u m p s and p um p ing eq u ip m en t___
R oofin g........................................................
Sand and gravel.......................................
Sheet-m etal w ork ............... .....................
Steam and hot-water heatin g.......... ..
Steel-works and rolling-m ill produ cts...........
W ire.............
W irew ork ..
O th er ..........
T otal.
V alue of m a
terial orders
placed
$5,664
14,884
20,893
2,117
32,843
8,279
2,818
3,679
268,315
1,054
2,315
77,668
842,292
RETAIL PRICES
R e ta il P rices o f F ood , O ctober 1934
URING October 1934 the index number (1913 = 100) of prices
of foods at retail throughout the United States, as computed
D
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dropped 1 point, from 116.4 for
the September 25 period to 115.4 for the October 23 period.
A downward movement in the price of meats governed the price
change for foods as a whole. Although cabbage, onions, and white
potatoes showed more marked declines than meats, decreases for
these three vegetables were balanced in the “ Other foods” group by
seasonal increases in the prices of eggs and oranges.
The 42 foods included in the index are grouped as follows:
Cereals.—White bread, flour, corn meal, corn flakes, rolled oats,
wheat cereal, macaroni, and rice.
Meats.—Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, sliced bacon, sliced ham, leg of lamb, and hens.
Dairy 'products.—Fresh milk, evaporated milk, butter, and cheese.
Other foods.—Lard, eggs, potatoes, sugar, tea, coffee, canned red
salmon, oleomargarine, vegetable lard substitute, navy beans, onions,
cabbage, pork and beans, canned corn, canned peas, canned tomatoes,
prunes, raisins, bananas, and oranges.
T a b l e 1 .—I N D E X E S O F T H E A V E R A G E R E T A I L C O ST O F 42 F O O D S P U R C H A S E D B Y
W A G E E A R N E R S I N T H E L A R G E R C IT IE S O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S B Y C O M M O D IT Y
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934
[Percent of change Oct. 23, 1934, compared w ith Oct. 24, 1933, and Sept. 25 and Oct. 9,1934
Percentage change Oct. 23,
1934, compared w ith —
Index (1913=100)
A rticle
1933
1934
Oct. 10
Oct. 24
107.3
143.8
107.3
98. G
105.9
100.6
143.3
106.3
98.4
104.7
A ll foods__________
Cereals__________
M e a ts ._ . ________
Dairy products____
Other foods________
* N o change.
1534
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sept. 11 Sept. 25
116.8
151.6
133.8
105.4
108.8
116.4
151. 7
131.7
105.3
108.7
1933
Oct. 9
Oct. 23
Oct. 24
115.6
152.0
128.4
105.4
108.1
115.4
151.8
126.4
105.4
108.8
+ 8 .3
+ 5 .9
+ 1 8 .9
+ 7 .1
+ 3 .9
1934
Sept. 25
- 0 .9
+ .1
- 4 .0
+ .1
+ .1
Oct. 9
-0 .2
-. 1
- 1 .6
(•)
+ .6
1535
RETAIL PRICES
Recent changes in the prices of 23 staple foods are indicated in the
retail prices shown in table 2.
T a b l e 3 —R E L A T I V E R E T A I L P R IC E S OF 23 S T A P L E F O O D S F O R T H E L A R G E R C IT IE S
OF T H E U N IT E D STATE S
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934
[1913=100]
1934
1933
A rticle
Cereals:
Bread, w hite, w h ea t____ ____ p o u n d ..
F lour_______ ______ ____ ______ do_-_
__ __do
Corn m eal_____________
R ice____________________ ______ d o -----M eats:
Sirloin steak .....................- . ______ d o___
R ound steak------------------ ____ d o ___
R ib r o a s t . ........................ - ______ d o___
C huck roast------------------- ______ d o ___
P late beef -------------------- ______ do
Lam b, leg of____________ ----------d o___
Pork chops- -------- ------- - ______ d o----B acon, sliced ___________ ______ d o___
H am , s lic e d ____________ ______ d o ___
R oasting ch ickens---------- .........__do___
D airy products:
M ilk , fresh................... ....... _____ quart .
B u t t e r _________________ - --.p o u n d .C heese__________ ______ ______ d o___
Other foods:
L ard___________________ ...........-d o ----E sg s, fresh_____________ ___ dozen-P otatoes________________ ______ do - _
Sugar, granulated----------- ______ d o----T ea ___________________ - ______ d o ___
C oflee__________________ ______ d o------
Oct 9
Oct. 23
Oct. 10
Oct. 24
Sept. 11
Sept. 25
142.9
148.5
130.0
78.2
142.9
145.5
130.0
78.2
150.0
154.5
153.3
95.4
150.0
154.5
153.3
95.4
150.0
154.5
156.7
95.4
150.0
154.5
156.7
94.3
117.7
116.1
106.1
95.6
83.5
115.9
112.9
86.3
120.1
96.2
116.1
115.7
105.1
95.6
83.5
113.8
110.0
86.3
119.0
96.2
137.0
138.1
122.7
114.4
97.5
134.9
154.3
128.1
159.1
117.8
136.2
137.7
124.2
115.6
98.3
133.3
135.7
129.3
159.9
120.2
133.1
133.6
121.2
111.9
95.9
130.7
130.5
129.6
156.1
117.8
130.7
130.5
120.7
110.6
95.0
127.0
128.6
127.0
153.5
116.4
124.7
73.9
105.9
124.7
73.6
105.0
129.2
85.9
110.4
130.3
84.3
109.5
131.5
83.8
108.6
130.3
85.1
107.2
60.8
94.2
147.1
103.6
122.8
89.3
60.1
97.1
135.3
103.6
123.0
89.3
91.1
99.4
123.5
103.6
132. 5
93.0
93.0
102.0
117.6
103.6
132.9
93.6
93.7
103.5
111.8
103.6
132.5
94.0
93. 7
109.0
105.9
103.6
132.7
94.3
The Bureau receives biweekly prices for 78 articles of food. Average
prices of these foods for the larger cities of the United States are shown
in table 3.
T
able
3 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R IC E S O F 78 F O O D S F O R T H E L A R G E R C IT IE S O F T H E
U N IT E D STATE S
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934
1934
1933
Article
Cereal foods:
Flour, w heat, w h ite - . ____ ..p o u n d ..
Corn m eal___________ _________ d o----R olled o a ts__________ _________ d o___
Corn flakes_________ -8-oz. p ack age..
W heat cereal________ 28-oz. p ack age..
R ic e ,. _____________ . . ...p o u n d _
M a c a ro n i..--------------- _________ do ___
B akery products:
Bread, w hite, w h eat. _________ d o___
Bread, rye. -------------- _________ d o___
Bread, w hole w h e a t.. _________ d o___
Cake, p ou n d — .......... .......... ....... d o ___
Beef:
Sirloin s t e a k ------------- _________ d o ___
R oun d s t e a k ------------ ................._do___
R ib roast____________ .................. d o___
C huck r o a s t ............... ................ -d o ___
P la te ________________ _________ d o___
i N o t reported prior to January 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Oct. 24
Sept. 11
Sept. 25
Cents
4.9
3.9
6.5
8.7
23.9
6.8
15.8
Cents
4.8
3.9
6.5
8.8
24.0
6.8
15.8
Cents
5.1
4.6
7.0
8.3
24.2
8.3
15.8
Cents
5.1
4.6
7.1
8.4
24.2
8.3
15.8
Cents
5.1
4.7
7.2
8.4
24.3
8.3
15.9
Cents
5.1
4.7
7.2
8.4
24.3
8.2
15.9
8.0
8.6
8.4
8.9
8.9
22.9
8.4
8.9
9.0
22.8
8.4
8.9
9.0
22.8
8.4
8.9
9.0
22.8
29.5
25.8
20.8
15.3
10.1
34.8
30.8
24.3
18.3
11.8
34.6
30.7
24.6
18.5
11.9
33.8
29.8
24.0
17.9
11.6
33.2
29.1
23.9
17.7
11.5
8.0
8.6
(>)
(0
29.9
25.9
21.0
15.3
10.1
0)
(0
Oct. 9
Oct. 23
Oct. 10
1536
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 3 .—A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC E S OF 78 FOODS FO R T H E L A R G ER C IT IES OF T H E
U N IT E D ST A T ES—Continued
O C TOBER 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D OCTOBER 1934
Article
1933
Oct. 10
Lamb:
C en ts
Leg.................................................pound.
21.9
Rib chops.........................................d o ...
(')
Breast............................................... d o ...
(’)
Chuck or shoulder........................d o ..
0)
Pork:
Chops................................................d o ...
23.7
Loin roast........................................ d o ...
0)
Bacon, sliced...................................d o ...
23.3
Ham, sliced.....................................d o ...
32.3
Ham, w h o le ................................ .d o ...
(0
Ham, picnic, sm o k e d ................d o . ..
(0
Salt pork........................................do
0)
Veal:
Cutlets............................................ d o ...
(»)
Poultry:
Roasting chickens........................ d o ..
20.5
Fish:
Salmon, canned, pink........16-oz. can.
0)
Salmon, canned, red__________d o ...
20.8
Dairy products:
Butter-------------------------------- pound.
28.3
Cheese..............................................d o ...
23.4
M ilk, fr e sh .............................. ..q u art.
11.1
M ilk, evaporated........ . . 14^-oz. can.
6.8
Cream............................................... pint.
(0
Fats and oils:
Lard, pure____ _____
pound.
9.6
Lard, compound....... ....................d o ...
0)
Vegetable lard substitute_____ d o ...
19.0
Oleomargarine............................... d o ...
13.4
Eggs— ................................................dozen.
32.5
Fruits, fresh:
Apples-------------------------------- pound.
(>)
Bananas-------------------------------dozen.
24.6
Lemons.................
d o ...
0)
Oranges.............................................d o ...
29.8
Vegetables, fresh:
Beans, green................................pound.
(■)
Cabbage...........................................do .
3.3
Carrots........................................ .bunch.
(*)
Celery...............................................stalk.
0)
Lettuce.............................................head.
0)
Onions....................... ................. pound.
3.5
Potatoes........ ................................. .d o ...
2.5
Sweetpotatoes................................ d o .. .
0)
Spinach_______
d o ...
(0
Fruits, canned:
Peaches................................ no. 2H can.
17.1
Pears................................................ d o ...
20.6
Pineapple.........................................d o ...
(0
Vegetables, canned:
Asparagus............................... no. 2 can.
0)
Beans, green..................................do . .
(>)
C o m .................................................d o ...
10.8
Peas...................................................d o ...
13.5
Tomatoes......................................... d o ...
9.8
Pork and beans...............................16-oz.can.
6.8
Fruits, dried:
Peaches-------------------pound.
(>)
Prunes.............................................. d o ...
10.4
Raisins............................................ do___
9.4
Vegetables, dried:
Black-eyed peas............................ do___
(')
Lima beans____ _____________ do___
(■)
N avy beans....................................do___
6.2
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar, granulated......................... do___
5.7
Com sim p.........................................24-oz.can.. (»)
Molasses_____________________ 18-oz.can.. 0)
Beverages:
Coffee_____________________ pound..
26.6
Tea................................................... do___
66.8
Miscellaneous foods:
Peanut butter................................do___
(■)
Salt, table....................................... do___
0)
Soup, tomato................................ 10H-oz.can.. (0
Tomato juice................................ 13^-oz.can.. (*)
1 N ot reported prior to January 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1934
Oct. 24
Sept. 11
S ep t. 25
Oct. 9
Oct. 23
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
21.5
25.5
33.8
10.8
18.8
25.2
32.7
10.7
18.5
24.7
32.1
10.6
18.2
24.0
31.3
10.6
17.9
(>)
(0
(0
32.4
27.0
34.6
42.8
26.2
17.5
21.6
28.5
23.5
34.9
43.0
26.0
17.5
22.1
27.4
22.5
35.0
42.0
25.4
17.3
22.2
27.0
21.9
34.3
41.3
24.3
16.8
22.0
(0
32.6
32.6
32.3
32.2
25.1
25.6
25.1
24.8
14.0
21.4
13.9
21.3
13.9
21.4
13.7
21.3
32.9
24.4
11.5
6.8
14.4
32.3
24.2
11.6
6.8
14.3
32.1
24.0
11.7
6.7
14.4
32.6
23.7
11.6
6.7
14.2
14.4
11.8
19.1
14.2
34.3
14.7
12.3
19.3
14.3
35.2
14.8
12.4
19.4
14.6
35.7
14.8
12.6
19.3
15.0
37.6
5.7
23.6
28.9
37.0
5.7
24.0
28.0
37.0
5.6
23.9
27.9
35.9
5.7
23.7
28.6
39.4
8.5
3.3
5.0
9. 1
9.6
4.2
2.1
4.7
8.3
8.0
3.1
4.9
8.6
9.3
4.0
2.0
4.3
7.3
7.9
2.9
4.9
8.3
8.8
3.8
1.9
3.9
6.8
8.6
2.7
4.8
8.2
8.2
3.7
1.8
3 .7
6.6
18.9
21.8
22.6
19.1
22.1
22.6
19.2
22.3
22.7
19.2
22.4
22.6
(>)
(>)
24.3
11.7
11.5
17.1
10.3
6.7
24.4
11.7
11.6
17.1
10.3
6.8
24.4
11.9
11.9
17.1
10.3
6.9
24.5
11.8
12.1
17.3
10.3
6.9
(')
15.5
11.5
9.7
15.7
11.5
9 .7
15.7
11.5
9.7
15.8
11.4
9.7
0)
(■)
7.6
9.9
6.0
8.0
9.9
6.2
8.0
9.9
6.5
8.0
9.9
6.5
5 .7
12.9
13.9
5.7
12.9
14.0
5.7
13.0
13.9
5.7
13.2
13.9
27.7
72.1
27.9
72.3
28.0
72.1
28.1
72.2
16.9
4.3
8.1
8.7
17.0
4.3
8.1
8.7
17.0
4.3
8.1
8 .8
17.2
4.3
8.1
8.6
(>)
0)
(0
23.1
0)
23.3
32.0
20.5
(')
20.7
28.2
23.2
11.1
6.8
(>)
9.5
0)
19.0
13.3
33.5
0)
24.7
(>)
29.7
0)
0)
(0
0)
3.2
3.4
2.3
(>)
(')
17.2
20.5
(>)
10.9
13.5
9.9
6.9
10.6
9.4
6.0
5.7
(*)
C1)
26.6
66.9
C)
(')
(>)
(0
1537
RETAIL PRICES
Food prices decreased from September 25 to October 23, 1934, in
39 of the 51 cities reporting to the Bureau. For one city there was
no change. Eleven cities showed slight increases.
These 51 cities have been grouped into 5 regional areas as follows:
North Atlantic.—Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Fall River, Manches
ter, Newark, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Port
land (Maine), Providence, Rochester, and Scranton.
South Atlantic.—Atlanta, Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville,
Norfolk, Richmond, Savannah, and Washington (D. C.).
North Central.—Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit,
Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha, Peoria,
St. Louis, St. Paul, and Springfield (111.).
South Central.—Birmingham, Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, Louis
ville, Memphis, Mobile, and New Orleans.
Western.—Butte, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland (Oreg.), Salt Lake
City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Table 4 presents index numbers for 39 cities and percents of price
change for all of the 51 cities for specified periods in 1933 and 1934.
T a b l e 4 —IN D E X E S OF T H E A VERAGE R E TA IL COST OF 42 FOODS P U R C H A SE D B Y
WAGE E A R N E R S IN T H E L A RG ER C ITIES OF T H E U N IT E D ST A TES B Y CITIES
O C TOBER 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D OCTOBER 1934
[Percentage change Oct. 23, 1934, compared with Oct. 24, 1933, and Sept. 25 and Oct. 9, 1934]
Percentage change Oct. 23,
1934, compared w ith—
Index (1913=100)
City
Oct. 10
United States...........
North Atlantic area:
Boston................
Bridgeport
Buflalo_______
Fall River_____
Manchester__
Newark_______
New Haven___
New York........P h iladelph ia...
Pittsburgh-----Portland, Me
Providence........
1933
1934
1933
1934
Oct. 24 Sept. 25
Oct. 9
Oct. 23
115.6
115.4
+ 8 .3
-0 .9
-0 .2
+ 7 .8
+ 7 .0
+ 6 .5
+ 8 .5
+ 7 .2
+ 7 .8
+ 8 .9
+ 5 .7
+ 7 .5
+ 9 .4
+ 7 .4
+ 7 .3
+ 6 .9
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .0
-1 .0
-1 .6
-.4
-1 .2
+ .2
+ .1
-.1
- 2 .3
+ 1 .3
- 1 .5
-.5
-1 .7
-1 .8
+ .4
+ .5
- .4
+ .5
-.7
+ 1 .2
+ .2
+ .6
-.8
+ 2 .2
-.4
+ .1
-.9
-.6
+ 8 .7
+ 9 .1
+ 6 .3
+ 9 .3
+ 5 .8
+ 9 .4
+ 7 .8
-2 .6
-.3
-.6
- 1 .8
-.6
- 1 .8
- 1 .1
-1 .4
+ .4
—1.0
- 1 .1
- 1 .1
-.5
—. 5
<*)
107.3
106.6
116.8
116.4
108.4
107.4
115.9
114.6
115.3
115.7
119.0
114.6
114.9
117.0
121.9
120.9
119.1
114.8
112.1
106.7
108.3
109.8
113.7
116.3
110.8
105.3
111.8
105.6
107.2
108.5
112.0
114.4
110.8
104.9
121.4
116.2
116.9
116.0
123.3
121.0
123.4
113.4
120.9
115.1
116.2
116.7
121.8
121.1
121.9
113.4
119.5
114.0
115.7
115.6
121.6
120.3
120.1
112.3
110.1
109.1
ÏÎ8.2
117.7
116.9
117.1
Scranton______
South Atlantic area:
Atlanta_______
Baltimore_____
Charleston, S.C.
Jacksonville___
113.8
ÌÌ4.4
120.6
ÌÌ9.2
117.8
117.1
104.1
113.4
107.9
99.7
104.7
112.9
107.3
98.8
114.8
124.3
114.6
109.2
116.9
123.6
114.8
110.0
115.4
122.7
115.2
109.1
113.9
123.2
114.1
107.9
Richmond-------
112.0
110.3
124.0
122.8
121.2
120.6
114.8
115.0
125.6
125.0
123.5
123.5
+ 7 .4
-1 .2
110.0
108.6
105.5
110.0
107.6
102.4
120.0
115.9
114.5
119.0
115.9
113.0
117.8
115.1
112.6
117.0
115.0
112.1
+ 6 .3
+ 6 .9
+ 9 .5
+ 9 .3
- 1 .7
- .8
-.8
-l. 1
W a s h in g to n ,
D . C ................
North Central area:
Chicago..............
Cincinnati____
Cleveland_____
Columbus_____
• N o change.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Oct. 9
Oct. 24 Sept. 11 Sept. 25
—.7
—. 1
—.4
+ .1
1538
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
OCTOBER 1933 A N D SE P T E M B E R A N D OCTOBER 1934
Percentage change Oct. 23,
1934, compared with—
Index (1913=100)
City
1933
Oct. 10
N o r th C e n tr a l
area—Con.
D etro it................
Indianapolis___
Kansas C ity ___
M ilw a u k ee____
M inneapolis___
O m aha.................
P e o r ia .................
St. L ou is______
S t. P a u l .............
Springfield, 111..
South C entral area:
B irm in gham ___
D a lla s_________
H ou ston _______
L ittle R ock ____
L o u isv ille_____
M em p h is........ ..
M o b ile ...............
N e w O r le a n s ...
W estern area:
B u tte ...................
D en ver________
Los A ngeles___
Portland, Oreg.
Salt Lake C ity .
San F r a n c isco ..
S eattle............... ..
107.8
1933
Oct. 24 Sept. 11 Sept. 25
105.4
99.7
101.7
107.9
105.6
101.1
100.2
118.3
109.8
118.1
118.9
120.5
114.5
107.9
107.6
121.6
101.2
103.5
107.0
106.9
Oct. 9
Oct. 23
115.3
106.2
115.8
119.4
118.6
118.1
108.9
116.4
119.0
119.0
113.5
115.4
107.4
115.1
120.3
117.9
120.0
119.0
111.1
110.6
118.7
Oct. 24 Sept. 25
+ 9 .4
+ 6 .5
+13.8
+10.7
+12.3
+10.5
+ 5 .8
+10.4
+11.7
+ 8 .3
103.6
102.5
103.6
103.3
117.0
114.7
117.8
114.4
115.6
113.2
115.3
113.5
96.7
103.6
99.6
96.7
101.9
98.5
111.1
112.3
112.1
109.6
111.7
110.5
108.5
111.7
109.4
108.1
111.7
109.3
106.2
105.9
116.3
116.6
117.3
116.4
+ 9 .6
+10.9
+ 8.3
+ 9 .9
100.5
101.3
95.9
91.5
108.8
103.3
100.6
101.8
110.4
103.5
104.9
110.5
104.1
106.9
101.9
117.4
112.0
111.2
106.4
106.6
+ 10.6
111.2
111.1
96.0
90.9
110.3
103.6
100.2
117.1
109.8
102.0
118.5
105.2
106.0
102.8
113.4
112.5
1934
+ 11.2
-2 .4
- 2 .5
- .6
+ .3
- .3
- 2 .5
- 2.2
-1.0
-1.0
- 1 .4
-
2.1
+ 9 .8
+14.2
+ .2
11.8
- 1 .3
+
+14.9
+ 3 .4
+10.4
+13.2
+ 2 .9
+ 8.6
- .8
0)
-1.1
- 1 .9
-.2
+.1
+.7
+ 1.1
-.9
+ 1.0
- 3 .4
+ 1.1
Oct. 9
-0.1
-
1.1
+ .5
-.8
+.6
-.4
- .9
- .2
+.3
-.5
-.3
+.3
- .4
-.3
0)-.1
- 1 .5
+.6
- .7
- 1 .1
- .6
+.8
- 4 .3
+ 1.2
1 N o change.
Tlie trends of the retail cost of food from 1913 to date are shown
in table 5 for commodity groups.
T able 5 . IN D E X E S OP TH E A VERAGE R E TA IL COST OP 42 FOODS PTTR CITA SET) r v
m o d Ft y g™
¥ s IN T H E LA R G ER c i t i e s o p t h e ■
u n i t e d 1t a t e C
s H b | E E omY
1913-34, IN C L U SIV E
[1913=100]
Year and
month
All
foods
Dairy
Cere
als Meats prod
ucts
Other
foods
Year and
month
All
foods
Dairy
Cere
Other
als Moats prod foods
ucts
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
121.3
102.1
99.7
160.4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167.2
164.1
158.0
135.9
121.1
126.6
B y ye ars
1913.
1914
1915.
1916
1917.
1918
1919
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
100.0
100.0
102.4
101.3
113.7
146.4
168.3
185.9
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
100.0
106.7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147.6
100.0
103.8
100.1
125.8
160.4
164.5
191.5
236.8
156.1
147.0
154.3
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
19311932.
1933.
150.2
163.0
171.3
169.9
179.2
188.4
175.8
147.0
116.0
102.7
142.8
147.1
145.5
148.7
150.0
148.6
136.5
114.6
96.6
94.6
154.3
169.8
175.9
160.8
152.4
157.0
148.0
115.9
98.6
98.3
1539
RETAIL PRICES
T a b l e 5 .—I N D E X E S O F T H E A V E R A G E R E T A I L C O S T O F 42 F O O D S P U R C H A S E D
B Y W A G E E A R N E R S I N T H E L A R G E R C IT IE S O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S , B Y C O M
M O D I T Y G R O U P S -C o n tin u e d
1913-34, I N C L U S I V E
Year and
m onth
A ll
foods
D airy
CereM oats prod
als
ucts
Other
foods
Y ear and
m on th
All
foods
D a iry
O ther
CereM eats prod
als
foods
u cts
B y m o n t h s fo r 1933 a n d 1934
1933
Jan. 15.............
94.8
112.3
99.9
93.3
94.1
Feb. 15..........
90.9
112.0
99.0
90.3
84.8
M ar. 15_____
90.5
112.3
100.1
88.3
84.3
84.3
Apr. 15............
90.4
112.8
98.8
88.7
M a y 15_____
93.7
115.8
100. 1
92.2
89.0
June 15______
96.7
117.2
103.7
93.5
94.9
Ju ly 15______
104.8
128.0
103.5
97.7
110.3
Aug. 15_____
Aug. 29
Sept. 12. __ _
Sept. 26. _ .
Oct. 10______
Oct. 24______
N o v . 7______
N o v . 21_____
Dec. 5 ______
D ec. 19______
106. 7
107. 1
107.0
107.4
107.3
106. 6
106.7
106. 8
105.5
103. 9
137.8
138.8
140. 2
142.7
143.8
143.3
143.4
143.5
142.5
142.0
105.7
106. 9
104.4
107.8
107.3
106.3
105.9
104.1
101. 2
100.4
96.5
97. 5
97.8
97.9
98.6
98.4
98.6
98.5
98.7
94.7
110.2
109. 2
109. 4
107. 2
105. 9
104.7
105. 2
106.5
105.0
103.8
1934
Jan. 2_______
Jan. 16. - _ .
Jan. 30______
Feb. 13______
Feb. 27______
M ar. 13_____
M ar. 27_____
Apr. 10______
Apr. 24- _
M a y 8 ______
M a y 22_____
June 5_______
June 19___
Ju ly 3_______
Ju ly 17______
Ju ly 31______
A ug. 14___ __
A ug. 28_____
Sept. 1 1 - ----Sept. 25_____
Oct. 9 _______
Oct. 2 3 ............
104.5
105.2
105.8
108.3
108.1
108.5
108.0
107.4
107.3
108.2
108.4
108.4
109.1
109. 6
109.9
110.4
111.8
115.3
116.8
116.4
115. 6
115.4
142.4
142.5
142.8
143.3
143.4
143.4
144.7
144.7
144.0
144.2
144.4
145.7
146.5
146.6
147.7
149. 0
149. 6
150.8
151. 6
151.7
152. 0
151.8
100.8
102.3
103.0
106. 7
107.8
109.1
109.7
110.5
112.6
114.9
115. 3
116.1
117.8
120. 0
120.5
120. 2
121. 1
129. 2
133.8
131.7
128.4
126.4
95.7
96.0
95.9
102.6
101.8
102.3
101.1
99.7
99.0
99.9
99.9
100.4
101. 1
101.1
100.8
101.6
103.4
105.6
105.4
105.3
105. 4
105.4
104.6
105.8
106.7
106. 5
105.7
104.8
104.1
102.7
102.1
102.4
102.7
101.2
101.2
101.2
101.4
101.9
103. 8
107. 2
108.8
108.7
108. 1
108.8
The accompanying chart shows the trend in the retail cost of all food
and of the classified groups, cereals, meats, dairy products, and other
foods in the United States (51 cities) from January 15, 1929, to
October 23, 1934, inclusive.
History and method.—In 1904 the Commissioner of Labor of the
Department of Commerce and Labor published retail prices of the
foods shown to be most important in the wage earners’ market basket
by a study of family expenditures in 1901.1 Price quotations were
secured for 30 foods from 1890 through 1903. Annual statistics
from 1904 to 1933 have been published in various bulletins on retail
prices. Since July 1915 the Monthly Labor Review has included
much information on this subject. Additions to and modifications
in the foods priced and the cities reporting have been made from time
to time. An index of the cost of food at retail is now computed,
weighted by purchases in 1918-19. Weighted average prices for
1913 are used as the base. The weights used in constructing this
index are based on the quantities of 42 foods purchased by wage
earners and low-salaried workers.
Subject to certain minor qualifications, Bulletin No. 495, “ Retail
Prices 1890-1928”, may be used as a reference for the history and
statement of method used in computing the indexes of the cost of
food that wage earners buy.
1 E igh teenth A nnual R eport of th e C om m issioner of Labor, 1903.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1540
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
1541
Data for the tabular statements shown in this report are compiled
from averages of actual selling prices. Since August 15, 1933, the
Bureau has collected food prices every 2 weeks in order that current
information may be available. Prior to this time prices related to
the 15th of the month. Reports are now received for 78 commodities
from retail dealers in 51 cities. In addition to the 42 articles in the
index, 3 commodities were added to the Bureau’s list of lood
items beginning with August 29, 1933. These items are rye bread,
canned peaches, and canned pears. Thirty-one food commodities
were added beginning January 30, 1934. These items are lamb chops,
breast of lamb, chuck or shoulder of lamb, loin roast of pork, whole
ham, picnic ham, salt pork, veal cutlets, canned pink salmon, laid
compound, whole-wheat bread, apples, lemons, canned pineapple,
dried peaches, fresh green beans, carrots, celery, lettuce, sweet potatoes,
spinach, canned asparagus, canned green beans, dried black-eyed
peas, dried lima beans, com sirup, molasses, peanut butter, table salt,
tomato soup, and tomato juice. Two food commodities, cream and
pound cake, were added beginning March 13, 1934. Weights for
these additional foods are to be computed in the near future so that
they may be included in the food-cost indexes.
R e ta il P rices o f C oal, O ctober 15, 1934
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
R
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 Muxico anthracite in those cities where these
coals form any considerable portion of the sales for household use.
An average price for the year 1913 has been made from the aver
ages 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.
Table 1 shows retail prices per ton of 2,000 pounds and index num
bers of Pennsylvania anthracite and bituminous coal for the United
States on October 15, 1933, and September 15 and October 15, 1934,
and percentage change for October 1934 as compared with October
1933 and September 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1542
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Table 2 shows retail prices of anthracite and bituminous coal for
household use by cities on October 15, 1933, and September 15 and
October 15, 1934, as reported by local dealers in each city.
T a b l e 1 . —A V E R A G E 'R E T A IL P R IC E S F O R T H E T Y P E S O F C O A L P U R C H A S E D B Y
W A G E E A R N E R S I N T H E L A R G E R C IT IE S OF T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934
[Percentage change Oet. 15, 1934, com pared w ith Oct. 15, 1933, and Sept. 15, 1934]
A verage retail price per
ton of 2,000 pounds
R ela tiv e retail nrices
(1913=100)
Percentage
change Oct. 15,
1934 com pared
w ith —
A rticle
1933
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e___________________
C h e stn u t_______________
B itu m in ou s_________________
T a b l e 2 . —A V E R A G E
1933
1934
1934
1933
1934
Oct. 15
Sept. 15
Oet. 15
Oct. 15
Sept. 15
Oct, 15
Oct. 15
Sept. 16
$13.44
13.23
8.08
$13. 25
13. 05
8.31
$13.32
13.11
8. 35
174.0
167.1
148.7
171.4
104.9
153.0
172.4
165.7
153.6
-0 .9
- .8
+ 3 .3
+ 0 .6
+. 5
+ .4
R E T A I L P R IC E S OF A N T H R A C IT E A N D
P E R T O N OF 2,000 P O U N D S , B Y C IT IE S
B I T U M IN O U S
COAL
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934
1933
1934
C ity and k ind of coal
A tlanta, Ga.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
B altim ore, M d.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S t o v e .................. ...........
C h estn u t___ ___________
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
Low v o la tile_______
R un of mine:
H igh v o la tile________
Birmingham', Ala.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
Boston, M ass.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e . . . ____________ .
C h estn u t_______________
Bridgeport, Conn.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e __________ _______ _
C h e s t n u t .______ _____
Buffalo, N . Y.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e __________________
C h estn u t_______________
B u tte, M ont.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
C harleston, S. C.:
B itu m in ou s, p r e p a r e d
sizes_________________ __
Chicago, 111.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e ___________________
C h e s tn u t __________ ____
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile__________
Low v o la tile................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1933
1934
C ity and kind of coal
Oct.
15
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
$6. 92
$7. 02
$7. 02
13. 25
13.00
13.00
12. 75
9. 25
9.38
7. 50
7. 36
6.00
6.27
13. 75
13.50
13. 75
13. 50
13. 75
13. 75
13. 50
13. 50
12.85
12. 60
12. 90
12. 65
9. 70
9. 79
9.92
9. 92
13. 98
13. 77
13. 73
13.48
8.09
10. 57
8. 21
9. 90
Chicago, 111.— C ontinued.
B itu m in ou s—C ontinued.
R u n of mine:
Low v o la tile_________
13.00
C incinnati, Ohio:
12. 75
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh v o la t ile _________
9.38
Low volatile -C leveland, Ohio:
7. 36
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e ___________________
6. 29
C h estn u t_______________
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
13. 75
H igh volatile
13. 50
Low volatile
C olum bus, Ohio:
B itum inous:
13. 50
Prepared sizes:
13. 50
H igh v o l a t i l e - ._____
Low v o la tile __________
D allas, Tex.:
12. 90
Arkansas anthracite, eg g . . .
12. 65
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
D en ver, Colo.:
9.80
Colorado anthracite:
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ix e d ..
Stove, 3 and 5 m ix ed . . . .
10.00
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes
D etroit, M ich.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
13.82
S to v e . _
13. 57
C hestnut
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
8. 24
H igh volatile
10.01
Low v o la tile .....................
Oct.
15
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
$7. 78
$7. 71
$7.71
6. 06
7. S3
5. 85
7. 50
5. 85
7. 50
12.44
12.19
12. 29
12.04
12.48
12. 23
6. 34
9. 07
6.81
8. 79
6. 75
8. 79
6.15
7. 54
6. 44
7.72
6. 47
7. 70
13. 50
10. 00
13. 50
10. 25
13. 50
10.25
15. 00
15. 00
7. 66
15. 50
15. 50
7. 90
15. 50
15. 50
7.81
12. 58
12 36
12.10
12.06
12 27
12.15
6. 90
7.55
7.17
8. 52
7 17
8. 52
1543
RETAIL PRICES
T a b l e 2 . —A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R IC E S OF A N T H R A C IT E ! A N D B I T U M IN O U S
P E R T O N O F 2,000 P O U N D S , B Y C IT IE S — C ontinued
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D
1933
1933
C ity and kind of coal
Oct.
15
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
D etroit, M ich .—C ontinued.
B itu m in o u s—C ontinued.
R u n of mine:
Fall R iver, M ass.:
P en n sylvan ia, anthracite:
________________
S tove
C hestnut
H ouston, Tex.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
Indianapolis, Ind.:
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh v olatile__________
L ow v o la tile _____ ____
R un of m ine:
How volatile
Jacksonville, Fla.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
K ansas C ity , M o.:
Arkansas anthracite:
Furnace
S tove, no. 4 . . ----------. . .
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
L ittle R ock, Ark.:
Arkansas anthracite, egg .
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
Los A ngeles, Calif.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
L ouisville, K y.:
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile.
L ow v o la tile __________
M anchester, N . H.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
C h estn u t........................... ..
M em p h is, T enn.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
M ilw aukee, W is.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e . _________________
C h estn u t—.............. .............
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile
L ow v o la tile ____ _____
M inneapolis, M inn.:
P en n sy lv a n ia anthracite.
Stove
C h estn u t-----------------------B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile
How volatile
M ob ile, Ala.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
N ew ark, N . J.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
S t o v e . . . -------- ---------------C h estn u t________________
N ew H aven , Conn.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S tove
C h estn u t-----------------------N ew Orleans, La.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
N ew York, N . Y.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e-----------------------------C h estn u t—.............. .............
O C T O B E R 1934
1934
C ity and k ind of coal
$6 70
$7.98
$7. 98
14. 50
14. 25
14.17
13.92
14. 50
14. 25
11.60
10.83
11.25
5. 83
8. 25
6.38
8.49
6. 42
8. 55
7.13
7. 65
7.45
11.13
11.00
11.13
10. 50
12. 50
5.61
10.71
11.35
6. 29
10.78
11.40
6.31
10.50
8.17
10. 50
8.17
10.50
8.17
17. 30
16.78
16. 78
5. 61
7.94
6.16
7.98
6. 25
7. 79
15. 00
15.00
15. 50
15. 50
15. 33
15. 33
6. 68
7.17
7.18
13. 25
13.00
13.41
13.16
13. 55
13.30
7. 52
9. 62
8. 00
10.44
7. 98
10.70
15. 50
15.25
15. 55
15. 30
15.80
15. 55
9. 91
12.24
10. 25
12. 94
10.31
12.97
8.46
8.60
8.64
12. 70
12.45
12. 90
12.65
13.20
12.80
13. 90
13.90
13. 55
13. 55
13. 65
13. 65
9.07
9. 60
9. 93
12.60
12. 35
12. 50
12.25
12.45
12.20
COAL
Oct.
15
1934
S ep t.
15
Oct.
15
N orfolk, Va.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e______________ ____ $14.00 $13. 00 $13.50
C hestnut
_____ ___ 14.09 13. 00 13.50
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
8.00
8. 0 <
H igh volatile__________
7. 50
9.00
Low v o l a t i l e ______ 9.00
9. 5f
R u n of mine:
7.63
Low v olatile........... .........
7. 50
7. 88
Omaha, N ebr.:
8.64
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 8. 52
8. 55
Peoria, 111.:
6.66
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 6.46
6. 73
Philadelphia, Pa.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e ....... ..................... ......... 12.25 11.25 11. 25
C h estn u t_______________ 12.00 11.00 11.00
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
12. 75 12. 75
S to v e ___________________
C hestnut . ___________ 12.38 12. 75 12. 75
4.22
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 4.86
4. 20
Portland, M aine:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e_____________ _____ 14. 50 14.50 14. 50
C hestn u t______________ _ 14.25 14.25 14. 25
Portland, Oreg.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 12.96 12.08 11.59
Providence, R . I.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e........... ......... ......... .
114. 75 14.75 14. 75
C hestnut ._ ___________ 114. 50 14. 50 14. 50
R ich m on d, Va.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e___ _______ _______ 13. 75 13.00 13.00
C h e s tn u t ................. ........... 13. 75 13.00 13.00
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
7. 50
H igh volatile__________ 7. 33
7.07
8.83
8.40
L ow volatile____ •_____
8.87
R u n of mine:
7.50
6.75
Low v o la tile ...............
7. 75
R ochester, N . Y .:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e__________ ____ ___ 13.10 13.10 13.10
C h estn u t________________ 12.85 12.85 12.85
St. Louis, M o.:
P enn sylvan ia anthracite:
S to v e____ ______________ 13.91 13.81 13. 70
C h e stn u t.. . ___________ 13.72 13. 63 13.51
5. 56
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 5. 50
5.63
St. P au l, M inn.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite:
S t o v e ________ _________ ' 15.50 15. 55 15.80
C h estn u t__ _____________ 15. 25 15. 30 15. 55
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile------ --------- 10.00 10.11 10.15
Low v olatile__________ 12.33 13.10 13.10
Salt Lake C ity, U tah:
7.38
7. 38
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes. 7.79
San Francisco, Calif.:
N e w M exico anthracite:
Cerillos egg ___________ 25.63 25. 63 25.63
Colorado anthracite:
E gg----------------- ------------- - 25.11 25.11 25.11
B it u m in o u s , p re p a r e d
sizes____________________ 16.06 15.04 15.04
Savannah, Ga.:
B it u m in o u s , p re p a r e d
sizes......................................... 210.04 2 9. 70 210. 03
i T h e average price of coal delivered in b in s is 50 cents higher than here sh ow n . P ractically all coal is
delivered in b in s.
.
1 A ll coal sold in Savannah is w eighed b y the city . A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is m ade. This
addition al charge has been included in th e above price.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1544
T able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
2.
AVERAQE^R^TAIL^PRraE^|O^^ANTnRA^ITE^AND^J3ITUMrNOUS
COAL
O C T O B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R A N D OCTOBER 1934
1933
1934
City and kind of coal
Oct.
15
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove_______________
$8.81 $8. 94 $8. 63
Chestnut...... ...........
8. 56
8.69
8. 38
Seattle, Wash.Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9. 69
9.78
9. 82
Springfield, 111.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 4.06
4. 54
4. 54
Washington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove_____________
314.45 314. 30 314. 30
Chestnut____ _____
314.15 14. 00 ! 14.00
1933
1934
City and kind of coal
Oct.
15
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
Washington, D . C.—Contd.
Bituminous:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____ _
3$8. 69 3$9. CO 3$9.00
Low volatile.................. 310. 31 310.47 310.47
Run of mine:.
M ixed________________ _ 3 7.88 3 8.02 •’ 8.02
“Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
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.
Table 3 shows for the United States average retail prices of Penn
sylvania white-ash anthracite stove and chestnut sizes, and of
bituminous coal on January 15 and July 15, 1913 to 1932, and for
each month from January 15, 1933, to October 15, 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1545 %
RETAIL PRICES
T able 3 .—A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC E S FO R T H E T Y P E S OF COAL PU R C H A SE D BY
W AGE E A R N E R S IN T H E L A R G ER C IT IES OF T H E U N IT E D STA TES
1913-34, IN C L U SIV E
Pennsylvania anthra
cite, white ash—
Year and
month
Stove
A v
erage
price,
2,000
lb.
Chestnut
Stove
Av
erage
Rela Av Rela price,
tive erage tive 2,000
price price, price lb.
(1913 2,000 (1913
=100) lb. = 100)
D o l.
1913: Yr. av.
Jan__
Ju ly ...
1914: Jan__
J u ly ...
1915: Jan__
Ju ly..1910: Jan__
J u ly ...
1917: Jan___
July—
1918: Jan__
Ju ly ...
1919: Jan__
J u ly ...
1920: Jan__
J u ly ...
1921: J a n ....
J u ly ...
1922: Jan— .
J u ly ...
1923: Jan__
Ju ly ...
1924: Jan__
J u ly ...
1925: Jan__
J u ly ...
1926: Jan___
J u ly ...
1927: J a n ....
J u ly ...
7. 73
7.99
7.46
7.80
7.60
7.83
7.54
7.93
8.12
9.29
9.08
9.88
9.96
11.51
12.14
12. 59
14.28
15.99
14.90
14.98
14.87
15.43
15.10
15. 77
15. 24
15. 45
15.14
(i)
15.43
15. 66
15.15
Pennsylvania anthra
cite, white ash—
Bituminous
D o l.
100.0
103.4
96.6
100.9
98.3
101.3
97.6
102.7
105.2
120.2
117.5
127.9
128.9
149.0
157.2
162.9
184.9
207.0
192.8
193.9
192.4
199.7
195.5
204.1
197.2
200.0
196.0
(i)
199.7
202.7
196.1
7.91
8.15
7.68
8.00
7.78
7.99
7.73
8.13
8.28
9.40
9.16
10.03
10.07
11.61
12.17
12. 77
14. 33
16.13
14. 95
15.02
14.92
15.46
15.05
15. 76
15.10
15.37
14.93
(■)
15.19
15.42
14.81
Rela
tive
price
(1913
= 100)
Year and
month
100.0
100.8
99.2
109.9
100.6
105.2
100.1
104.8
101.6
128.1
132.7
141.3
145.8
145.3
149.1
162.1
194.1
217.6
192.7
182.0
174.6
205.7
184.7
179.5
164.5
170.0
158.5
179.3
160.1
183.3
163.9
1928: Jan__
July—
1929: Jan__
J u ly ...
1930: Jan__
J u ly ...
1931: Jan__
July—
1932: Jan__
J u ly ...
1933: Jan__
F e b ...
M ar...
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e..
J u ly ...
A u g ...
S ep t...
O c t-..
N o v ...
D e c ...
1934: J a n ....
Feb_.M ar...
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e ..
J u ly ...
A u g ...
Sept...
O c t--.
A v
erage
price,
2,000
lb.
D o l.
D o l.
100.0
103.0
97.0
101.0
98.3
101.0
97.7
102.7
104.6
118.8
115.7
126.7
127.3
146.7
153.8
161.3
181.1
203.8
188.9
189.8
188.5
195.3
190.1
199.1
190. 7
194.2
188.6
(>)
191.9
194.8
187.1
5.43
5.48
5.39
5. 97
5.46
5.71
5.44
5.69
5.52
6.96
7. 21
7.68
7.92
7. 90
8.10
8.81
10.55
11.82
10.47
9.89
9.49
11.18
10.04
9. 75
8.94
9.24
8.61
9.74
8.70
9.96
8.91
Rela
tive
price
(1913
= 110)
15.44
14.91
15. 38
14.94
15.33
14.84
15.12
14.61
15.00
13. 37
13.82
13. 75
13.70
13. 22
12.44
12.18
12.47
12.85
13.33
13.44
13.46
13.45
13.44
13. 46
13. 46
13.14
12. 53
12. 60
12.79
13.02
13. 25
13. 32
Chestnut
Av
erage
price,
2,000
lb.
Av Rela
erage tive
Rela price, price
tive 2,000 (1913
price
lb. = 100)
(1913
= 100)
D o l.
199.8
192.9
199.1
193.4
198.4
192.1
195.8
189.1
194.2
173.0
178.9
178.0
177.3
171.1
161.0
157.6
161.3
166.3
172.5
174.0
174.3
174.0
174.0
174.3
174.2
170.1
162.2
163.0
165.5
168.5
171.4
172.4
Bituminous
15.08
14. 63
15.06
14.63
15.00
14. 53
14.88
14.59
14.97
13.16
13.61
13.53
13.48
13.00
12.25
12.00
12.26
12. 65
13.12
13.23
13.26
13.24
13.25
13.27
13.27
12.94
12.34
12.40
12.60
12.83
13.05
13.11
D o l.
190.6
184.9
190.3
184.8
189.5
183.6
188.1
184.3
189.1
166.2
171.9
171.0
170.4
164.3
154.8
151.6
155.0
159.8
165.8
167.1
167.5
167.2
167.4
167.7
167.6
163.5
155.9
156.7
159.2
162.1
164.9
165.7
9.30
8.69
9.09
8.62
9.11
8.65
8.87
8.09
8.17
7.50
7.46
7.45
7.43
7.37
7.17
7.18
7.64
7. 77
7.94
8.08
8.18
8.18
8.24
8.22
8.23
8.18
8.13
8.18
8.23
8.30
8.31
8. 35
171.1
159.9
167.2
158.6
167.6
159.1
163.2
148.9
150.3
138.0
137.3
137.0
136.7
135.6
132.0
132.1
140.7
143.0
146.0
148.7
150.6
150.6
151.6
151.3
151.5
150.5
149.5
150.5
151.5
152.6
153.0
153.6
1 Insufficient data.
The accompanying 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 by months from January
15, 1929, to October 15, 1934, inclusive.
97(>fi7— 34-
18
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ot
o
WHOLESALE PRICES
Scop e o f W h olesale Price R eports
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor collects prices of important commodities at wholesale.
An index number is compiled from 784 of the individual price series to
show the trend of wholesale commodity prices. Each item is weighted
according to its relative importance in the country’s markets and the
average for the year 1926 is used as the base in calculating this index.
The list of articles is classified into 10 major groups of related commod
ities, which in turn are broken down into subgroups of closely related
items. The method used in the compiling of the data and in calcu
lating the index is explained in the introduction to Bulletin No.
493, Wholesale Prices 1913 to 1928, issued by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Yearly and monthly indexes by groups of commodities have been
constructed for a period since January 1890. To this series has been
spliced the index of wholesale prices extending back to the year 1840,
taken from the report of the Committee on Finance of the United
States Senate on Wholesale Prices, Wages, and Transportation, other
wise known as the “Aldrich report.” The series of indexes used for the
years 1801 to 1840 is that compiled by Prof. Alvin H. Hansen, Uni
versity of Minnesota. A combination of these series gives an index
number of wholesale prices by years since 1801 and by months since
1890.
The number of commodities included in the index has varied con
siderably from time to time. Since January 1926, 784 individual price
series have been included, 234 of which were added during the revision
in 1931. Detailed monthly data for the added individual items for
the years 1926 to 1930, inclusive, have not been published. Annual
averages for the 234 added items, however, will be found in Bulletin
No. 572. Monthly statistics for all items for the year 1931 are con
tained in Bulletin No. 572.
For monthly and yearly statistics prior to 1931 reference is made to
previous reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.1 Monthly prices
and indexes since January 1932 are shown]m|the* monthly reports
> Bulletins Nos. 27, 39, 45, 51, 57, 63, 69, 75, 81, 87, 93, 99, 114, 149, 181, 200, 226, 269, 296, 320, 335, 367, 390,
415, 440, 473, 493, 521, and 543.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1547
1548
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
entitled “ Wholesale Prices.” Averages for the years 1932 and 1933
will be found in the December issues for these years.
Since January 1932 the Bureau has calculated and issued a weekly
index number of wholesale prices. Indexes are published only for the
10 major groups of commodities and the special group, “All commodi
ties other than farm products and foods.” Weekly prices of individual
items are not published in any form.
The apparent discrepancy between the monthly index and the
average of the weekly indexes is caused partly by the fact that the
months and weeks do not run concurrently and partly by the necessity
of using “ pegged” prices when current weekly information is not
available.
W h olesale P rices, 1913 to O ctober 1934
ABLE 1 presents index numbers of wholesale prices by groups
of commodities, by years from 1913 to 1933, inclusive, by months
from January 1933 to October 1934, inclusive, and by weeks for
October 1934.
T
T a b l e 1 .—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
[1926=100
Period
B y years:
1913_______ ______
1914..___ ________
1 9 1 5 .-.__________
1916_____________
1917...........................
1918............................
1919______ _______
1920_____________
1921...................... .
1922_____________
1923_____ ____ _
1924.............. .............
1925....... ............ .
1926_____ _____ _
1927...........................
1928.................... .
1929_____ ____ — .
1930................. .........
1931_____________
1932................ ...........
1933___ ____ _____
B y months:
Hides Tex Fuel Metals Build Chem House- Misfurand
and
Farm
celicals nishing
and metal
tile
prod Foods leather prod
laneand
ing
Prod mate
prod ucts light
ucts
drugs
rials
ing
goods ous
ucts
ucts
71.5
71.2
71.5
84.4
129.0
148. 0
157.6
150. 7
88.4
93.8
98.6
100.0
109.8
100.0
99.4
105. 9
104.9
88.3
64.8
48.2
51.4
64.2
64.7
65.4
75.7
J04. 5
119.1
129.5
137.4
90.6
87.6
92.7
91.0
100.2
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
74.6
61.0
60.5
42.6
40.9
42.8
44.5
50.2
53.2
60.1
57.6
57.0
55.8
53.7
54.6
56.1
59.4
61.2
65.5
64.8
64.9
64.2
64.3
62.5
68.1
70.9
75.5
93.4
123.8
125.7
174.1
171.3
109. 2
104.6
104.2
101.5
105.3
100.0
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
86.1
72.9
80.9
57.3
54. 6
54. 1
70.4
98.7
137.2
135.3
164.8
94.5
100.2
111.3
106.7
108.3
100.0
95.6
95.5
90.4
80.3
66.3
54.9
64.8
61.3
56.6
51.8
74.3
105.4
109.2
104.3
163. 7
96.8
107.3
97.3
92.0
96. 5
100.0
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
67.5
70.3
66.3
90.8
80.2
86.3
116.5
150.6
136.5
130.9
149.4
117.5
102. 9
109.3
106.3
103.2
100.0
96.3
97.0
100.5
92.1
84.5
80.2
79.8
56.7
52.7
53.5
67.6
88.2
98.6
115.6
150.1
97.4
97.3
108.7
102.3
101.7
100.0
94.7
94.1
95.4
89.9
79.2
71.4
77.0
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
72.6
56.3
56.8
56 0
61.4
74.2
93.3
105.9
141. 8
113.0
103. 5
108.9
104.9
103.1
100. 0
97.5
95.1
94.3
92.7
84.9
75.1
75.8
93.1
89.9
86.9
100.6
122.1
134.4
139.1
167.5
109.2
92.8
99.7
93.6
109.0
100.0
91.0
85.4
82.6
77.7
69.8
64.4
62.5
89.8
68.1
69.5
85.5
117.5
131.3
138.6
154.4
97.6
96.7
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0
64.8
65.9
68.9
51.9
51.2
51.3
51.8
55.9
61.5
68.0
74.6
76.9
77. 1
76.8
76.4
66.0
63.6
62.9
61.5
60.4
61.5
65.3
65.5
70.4
73.6
73.5
73.4
78.2
77.4
77.2
76.9
70.1
69.8
70.3
70.2
71.4
74.7
79.5
81.3
82.7
83.9
84.9
85.6
71.6
71.3
71.2
71.4
73.2
73.7
73.2
73. 1
72.7
72.7
73.4
73.7
72.9
72.3
72.2
71.5
71.7
73.4
74.8
77.6
79.3
81.2
81.0
81.0
61.2
59.2
58.9
57.8
58.9
61.0
59.8
60.2
60.4
62.7
65.0
68.9
69.5
70.8
71.2
71.1
1933:
January........ .
February_____
March_______
A p ril..................
M ay_________
Ju ne....................
J u ly .................
A u g u st..............
S eptem ber____
October______
N ovem b er____
D ecem b er____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
55.7
56.6
55.5
All
com
modi
ties
68.0
68.1
69.4
76.9
82.4
86.3
91.7
92.3
89.0
88.2
89.2
77.7
79.3
80.6
81.2
82.1
83.0
82.7
83.5
CO. 8
04.0
65.4
65.1
65.3
65.5
65.7
70.8
1549
WHOLESALE TRICES
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O LESA LE P R IC E S—Continued
[1926=100]
Period
By months—Contd.
1934:
January______
February.........
March_______
April________
M ay_________
June_________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
B y weeks ending:
Oct. 6, 1934______
Oct. 13, 1934_____
Oct. 20, 1934______
Oct. 27, 1934........ .
Hides Tex Fuel Metals Build Chem HouseMisFarm
and
and
furtile
and metal
ing
icals nishcelprod Foods leather prod
and
mate
laneucts
prod ucts light
prod rials drugs
ing
ing
ucts
ucts
goods ous
All
com
modi
ties
58.7
61.3
61.3
59.6
59. 6
63.3
64.5
69.8
73.4
70.6
04.3
66.7
67.3
66.2
67.1
69.8
70.6
73.9
76.1
74.8
89. 5
89.6
88.7
88.9
87.9
87. 1
86.3
83.8
84. 1
83.8
76.5
76.9
76.5
75.3
73.6
72.7
71.5
70.8
71.1
70.3
73. 1
72.4
71.4
71.7
72.5
72.8
73.9
74.6
74.6
74.6
85.5
87.0
87.1
87.9
89. 1
87.7
86.8
86.7
86.6
86.3
86.3
86.6
86.4
86.7
87.3
87.8
87.0
85.8
85.6
85. 2
74.4
75. 5
75.7
75.5
75.4
75.6
75.4
75.7
76.5
77.1
80.8
81.0
81.4
81.6
82.0
82.0
81.6
81.8
81.8
81.7
67.5
68.5
69.3
69. 5
69.8
70.2
69.9
70.2
70.2
69.7
72.2
73. 6
73.7
73. 3
73.7
74.6
74.8
76.4
77.6
76.5
71.0
71.0
70.9
70.8
75.2
74.8
74.9
75.4
84.3
84.4
84.6
84.5
70.2
70.1
70.0
69.9
75.5
75.4
74.8
75.0
85.7
85.6
85.6
85.5
85.4
85.2
85.0
85.2
77.3
77.1
77.2
77.2
82.8
82.8
82.8
82.8
70.1
69.7
69.7
69.8
76.6
76.4
76.2
76.2
Purchasing Power of the Dollar at Wholesale, 1913 to October 1934
C h a n g e s in the buying power of the dollar expressed in terms of
wholesale prices from 1913 to October 1934 are shown in table 2.
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 1934 with average prices for the year 1926
as the base is shown to be 76.5. The reciprocal of this index number
is 0.01307 which, translated into dollars and cents, becomes $1.307.
Table 2 shows that the dollar expanded so much in its buying value
that $1 of 1926 had increased in value to $1.307 in October 1934 in
the purchase of all commodities at wholesale.
The purchasing power of the dollar for all groups and subgroups of
commodities for the current month in comparison with the previous
month and the corresponding month of last year will be found on
page 1562.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1550
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 3 .—P U R C H A S IN G P O W E R OF T H E D O L L A R E X P R E S S E D I N T E R M S O F W H O L E
S A L E P R IC E S
[1926=$!]
Period
B y years:
1913._......................
1914_____________
1915....................— .
1916_____________
1917_____________
1918_____________
1919. ___________
1920_____________
1921...........................
1922_____ ____ _
1923______ _____ 1924....................... .
1925_____ ____ _
1926. ___________
1927. ___________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930_____________
1931_____________
1932_____________
1933. ___________
B y m onths:
Hides Tex
Fuel Metals B uild Chem House- MisFarm
and
and
furand
ing
icals nishcelprod Foods leather tile
light metal
mate and
laneucts
prod prod
prod
ing
ucts
ing
rials
drugs
ous
ucts
ucís
goods
All
com
modi
ties
$1. 399
1.404
1.399
1.185
.775
.676
.635
.064
1.131
1.066
1.014
1.000
.911
1.000
1. 006
.944
.953
1.133
1.543
2. 075
1.946
$1. 558 $1. 468 $1. 745 $1. 631 $1.101 $1. 764 $1. 247 $1. 776 $1. 074
1.546 1.410 1.832 1.767 1.247 1.898 1.229 1.761 1.112
1. 529 1.325 1.848 1.931 1.159 1.869
.893 1.786 1. 151
1.321 1.071 1.420 1.346
.858 1.479
.622 1.629
.994
.957
.808 1.013
.949
.664 1.134
.606 1.348
.819
.840
.796
.729
.916
.733 1.014
.549 1.072
.744
.772
.574
.739
.959
.764
.865
.944
.637
.719
.728
.584
.607
.611
.669
.666
.607
.705
.597
1.104
.916 1.058 1.033
.851 1.027
.870
.885
.916
1.142
.932
.956
.998
.972 1.028
.997
.966 1. 078
1. 079
.960
.898 1.028
.915
.920
.989
.918 1.003
1.099
.941
.985
.937 1.087
.978 1.011
.953 1.068
.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
1.034
.929 1.046 1.133 1.038 1.056 1.033 1.026 1.099
.824 1.047 1.186 1.031 1.063 1.046 1.052 1.171
.990
1. 001
.917 1.106 1.205
.995 1.048 1.062 1.060 1.211
1.105 1.000 1. 245 1.274 1.086 1.112 1.122 1.079 1.287
1.340 1.161 1.508 1.481 1.183 1.263 1.261 1.178 1.433
1.639 1.372 1.821 1.422 1.247 1.401 1.361 1.332 1. 553
1.653 1.236 1. 543 1.508 1.253 1. 299 1.377 1.319 1.600
$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
1.617
2. 347
2.445
2. 336
2.247
1.992
1.880
1.664
1.736
1. 754
1,795
1.767
1.802
1.792
1.862
1.832
1.783
1.684
1.634
1.527
1.543
1.541
1.558
1.555
1. 600
1.451
1.471
1.468
1.441
1.300
1.214
1. 159
1.091
1.083
1.124
1.134
1.121
1. 927
1.953
1.949
1.931
1.789
1.626
1.471
1.340
1.300
1. 297
1.302
1.309
1.515
1. 572
1.590
1.626
1.656
1.626
1.531
1. 527
1.420
1.359
1.361
1.362
1.279
1. 292
1.295
1.300
1.287
1.261
1. 241
1. 232
1. 218
1. 205
1. 209
1.198
1.427
1.433
1.422
1.425
1.401
1.339
1.258
1. 230
1. 209
1. 192
1.178
1.168
1.397
1.403
1.404
1.401
1.366
1.357
1.366
1.368
1.376
1.376
1.362
1.357
1.372
1.383
1.385
1.399
1.395
1.362
1.337
1.289
1.261
1.232
1. 235
1. 235
1.634
1. 689
1.698
1.730
1.698
1.645
1.563
1.529
1.536
1. 531
1.527
1.522
1.639
1.672
1. 661
1.656
1. 595
1.538
1.451
1. 439
1.412
1.404
1. 406
1.412
1. 704
1. 631
1. 631
1. 678
1. 678
1.580
1.550
1. 433
1. 362
1. 416
1. 555
1.499
1.486
1.511
1.490
1. 433
1. 416
1.353
i.314
1.337
1.117
1. 116
1.127
1.125
1.138
1.148
1.159
1.193
1.189
1.193
1.307
1. 300
1.307
1. 328
1.359
1.376
1.399
1.412
1.406
1. 422
1. 368
1.381
1.401
1.395
1.379
1.374
1.353
1.340
1.340
1.340
1.170
1.149
1.148
1.138
1.122
1.140
1.152
1.153
1.155
1.159
1.159
1.155
1.157
1.153
1.145
1.139
1.149
1.166
1. 168
1.174
1. 344
1.325
1.321
1. 325
1. 326
1.323
1.326
1.321
1. 307
1.297
1. 238
1.235
1.229
1. 225
1.220
1. 220
1. 225
1.481
1.460
1.443
1.439
1.433
1.425
1.431
1.425
1.425
1.435
1.385
1. 359
1.357
1.364
1.357
1.340
1.337
1.309
1.289
1.307
1.408
1.408
1.410
1.412
1.330
1.337
1. 335
1.326
1.186
1.185
1.182
1.183
1.42
1.427
1.429
1.325
1. 326
1. 337
i.4 3 i
1. 333
1.167
1.168
1.168
1.170
1.171
1.174
1.176
1.174
1. 294
1.297
1.295
1.295
1. 427
1.435
1.435
1.433
1.305
1.309
1.312
1.312
1933:
Jan uary______
February_____
M arch-----------A pril_________
M a y --------------June--------- . .
J u l y -------------A u g u s t . . ------Septem ber-_.
October---------N o v em b er.. .
D ecem b er____
1934:
January---------February_____
M arch________
A pril_________
M a y __________
Ju ne__________
J u ly __________
A u g u st_______
S eptem ber____
O ctober___ __
B y weeks ending:
Oct. 6, 1934______
Oet. 13, 1934_____
Oct. 20, 1934______
Oct. 27, 1934_____
1. 222
1.222
1. 224
1.208
1.208
1. 208
1.208
Index Numbers and Purchasing Power of the Dollar of Specified Groups of
Commodities, 1913 to October 1934
I n t a b l e 3 the price trend since 1913 is shown for the following
groups of commodities: Raw materials, semimanufactured articles,
finished products, nonagricultural commodities, and all commodities
other than farm products and foods.
In the nonagricultural commodities group all commodities other
than those designated as “ Farm products” have been combined into
one group. All commodities with the exception of those included in
the groups of farm products and foods have been included in the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1551
WHOLESALE PRICES
group of “ All commodities other than farm products and foods.”
The commodities included under the designations of “ Raw materials”,
“ Semimanufactured articles”, and “ Finished products” are:
T a b l e 3 .- I N D E X N U M B E R S OF SP E C IF IE D GROUPS OF C O M M O DITIES
[1926=100
Year
1913,......... ..
1914________
1915________
1916________
1917...... .........
1918________
1919................
1920________
1921________
1922________
1923.................
1924________
1925________
1926________
1927..................
1928................
1929________
1930 _______
1931________
1932.................
1933................
All
com
Nonmodi
Semities
Fin agriRaw manuother
fac- ished culmate tured
than
tural
prod
rials
com farm
arti ucts modi
prod
cles
ucts
ties
and
foods
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
56.5
74.9
70.0
81.2
118.3
150.4
153.8
157.9
19S. 2
96.1
98.9
118.6
108.7
105.3
69.4
67.8
68.9
82.3
109.2
124.7
130.6
149.8
103.3
96.5
99.2
96.3
100.0
100.0
95.0
95.9
94.5
94.3
94.5
93.9
81.8
69.0
59.3
65.4
100.6
88.0
77.0
70.3
70.5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
69.0
66.8
68.5
85. 3
113.1
125.1
131.6
154.8
100.1
97.3
100.9
97.1
101.4
100.0
94.6
94.8
93.3
85.9
74.6
68.3
69.0
70.0
66.4
68.0
88. 3
114. 2
124.6
128.8
161. 3
104.9
102.4
104.3
99.7
102.6
100.0
94.0
92.9
91.6
85.2
75. 0
70. 2
71.2
Month
1933:
January.. _
February..
April
M ay............
June______
July
August___
September.
October___
November.
December..
1934:
January___
February..
March.
April......... .
M ay
SemiRaw manufacmate tured
rials
arti
cles
50.2
48.4
4Q 4
50 0
53. 7
56.2
01 8
60.6
61.7
61.8
62.4
61.9
64.1
66.0
65.9
65.1
05 1
07 3
July
August___
SeptemberOctober___
08 3
71.6
73.9
72.1
NonFin agriculished tural
prod com
ucts modi
ties
All
com
modi
ties
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
56.9
56. 3
66.7
65.7
64.9
63.7
67.3
57 3
61.3
65.3
67! 2
69.0
65.4
67.4
66.5
68.9
71.7
72.9
72.8
71.4
72.3
73.4
74.8
75.4
75.2
74.8
72.0
73.7
74.4
74.2
74.0
74.1
76.1
77.2
77. 2
77.5
71.9
74.8
74.3
73.9
73 7
76.0
77.0
77.2
77.1
75.0
76. 1
76.2
76.2
78.3
78.7
78.5
78.6
77.8
78.4
77.6
78.3
78.3
78.0
79 Q
79 7
78 9
72.6
71.8
71.5
80.1
79.2
7 9 .2
66.0
1552
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Table 4 shows the purchasing power of the dollar in terms of the
special groups of commodities as shown by index numbers contained
in table 3. The period covered is by years from 1913 to 1933, in
clusive, and by months from January 1933 to October 1934, inclusive.
The method used in determining the purchasing power of the dollar
is explained on page 1549.
T a b l e 4.— P U R C H A S I N G P O W E R O P T H E D O L L A R A S D E T E R M I N E D B Y 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 B Y S P E C IA L C O M M O D IT Y G R O U P S
[1926=$!]
Period
1913________
1914________
1915________
1916 ___
1917 .
1918
1919
1920- _
1921 ,
1922________
1923________
1924________
1925________
1926________
1927________
1928_________
1929________
1930...............
1931 1932________
1933________
All
com
Nonmodi
Semities
Fin agriother
Raw manuculfac- ished tural
than
mate tured
com farm
rials prod prod
ucts modi prod
ucts
ties
ucts
and
foods
$1.453 $1.335 $1. 441 $1.449
1. 479 1.429 1.475 1.497
1.488 1. 232 1.451 1.460
1.211
.845 1.215 1.172
.884
.816
.665
.916
.736
.650
.802
.799
. 685
.633
.760
.766
.659
.505
.646
.668
1.133 1.041
.999
.968
1.042 1.011 1.036 1. 028
1.015
.843 1.008
.991
1.025
.920 1.038 1.030
.937
.994
.986
.950
1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
1.036 1.060 1.053 1.057
1.009
1.026
1. 186
1.524
1.815
1.770
1.058
1.065
1.222
1.449
1.686
1.529
1.043
1.058
1.136
1. 299
1.422
1.418
1.055
1.072
1. 164
1.340
1.464
1.449
$1.429
1.506
1.471
1.133
.876
.803
.776
.620
.953
.977
.959
1.003
.975
1.000
1.004
1.076
1.092
1.174
1.333
1.425
1. 404
Period
All
com
Nonmodi
Semities
Fin agricul- other
Raw manufac- ished tural
than
mate tured
com farm
rials prod ■ prod
ucts modi prod
ucts
ties
ucts
and
foods
1933:
January___ $1. 992 $1. 757 $1.499 $1. 541
February. . 2. 066 1. 776 1. 522 1.570
March____ 2. 024 1. 757 1.522 1.567
April_____ 2.000 1. 745 1.522 1.570
M ay............ 1. 862 1.631 1.488 1.529
June______ 1.779 1.531 1.449 1.484
July______ 1.618 1.447 1.385 1.414
A ugust... _ 1.650 1.395 1.362 1.389
September. 1.621 1.372 1.337 1. 357
October___ 1.618 1. 374 1.326 1.344
November. 1. 603 1.401 1.330 1.348
December.. 1.616 1.383 1.337 1. 351
1934:
January___ 1.560 1.391 1.316 1.333
F e b r u a r y ..
M arch.........
A p r il...........
M a y .............
Ju n e______
J u l y .. .........
A u gu st____
Sep tem b er.
October___
1.515
1.517
1. 536
1.536
1.486
1.464
1.397
1.353
1. 387
1.337
1.346
1.353
1.357
1.372
1. 376
1.377
1.393
1.399
1.299
1.295
1.297
1.285
1.279
1.279
1. 263
1.248
1.263
1.314
1.312
1.312
1.305
1.300
1.300
1.285
1.276
1.289
$1,486
1.515
1.520
1.531
1.504
1.451
1.385
1.350
1.314
1.295
1.295
1.290
1.277
1.271
1.274
1.272
1.267
1.279
1.276
1.277
1.277
1.282
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices and Purchasing Power of the Dollar by
Subgroups of Commodities, January to October 1934
T h e monthly price trend as shown by index numbers of the sub
groups of closely related items comprising the general index number
of wholesale prices for the period from January to October 1934
is shown in table 5. These indexes are the regular series compiled
and issued monthly by the Bureau, using the average for the year
1926 as 100. Comparable indexes from January 1913 to December
1925 will be found on pages 11 to 33, inclusive, of Bulletin 543,
wholesale prices, 1930. On pages 3 to 10, inclusive, of Bulletin 572,
wholesale prices, 1931, will be found the indexes for the period from
January 1926 to December 1931. Indexes for January 1932 to May
1934 inclusive, will be found on pages 199 to 201, inclusive, of the
July, 1934 Monthly Labor Review.
The purchasing power of the dollar in terms of the indexes is also
shown in the table. The average for the year 1926 represents $1.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T a b l e 5 — IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PR IC ES A N D PU R C H A SIN G PO W ER OF T H E DO LLA R , JA N U A R Y 1934 T H R O U G H O C TO BER 1934
Farm products
M onths
Grains
Foods
Textile products
Hides and leather products
Live
B ut
All
stock Other
ter, Cereal Fruits
farm farm
and Meats Other All
and prod
cheese, prod vege
prod
foods foods
poul ucts
and
ucts tables
ucts
milk
try
All
Wool Other All
Other hides
Silk en and textile
Boots Hides Leath leather
textile
and Cloth Cotton K nit
wor
and
and
and
er
prod leather ing goods goods rayon sted prod prod
shoes skins
ucts prod
goods ucts ucts
ucts
Index n u m b e r s
[1926==100]
63.7
63.2
62.3
58.8
63.9
72.4
74.8
86.0
88.1
85.0
41.1
48.2
49.5
49.2
47.8
48.3
48.8
56.2
64.1
55.3
67.4
68.3
67.7
65.7
65.0
69.4
70. 5
73.1
74.4
75.4
58.7
61.3
61.3
59.6
59.6
63.3
64.5
69.8
73.4
70.6
65.0
69.1
68.9
66.5
67.1
73.0
74.8
77.3
76.2
77.1
85.8
85.7
85.3
84.8
87.3
89.2
88.9
91.0
91.9
91.0
68.0
71.7
71.6
67.9
68.2
70.1
68.2
65.6
06.0
67.6
48.9
53.3
56.5
57.3
60.0
62.2
63.4
69,4
76.6
70.0
64.0
64.1
63.5
62.1
60.8
62.8
64.5
68.9
70.0
71.0
64.3
66.7
67.3
66.2
67.1
69.8
70.6
73.9
76. 1
74.8
98.5
98.4
98.5
98.5
98.5
98.4
98.0
97.9
97.9
97.7
77.2
78.0
73.4
76.7
73.5
70. 1
66.6
57.4
60.4
59.7
79.9
80. 1
79.7
78.4
76.3
75.3
75.1
71.3
70.6
70.5
87.0
86.9
86.7
86.7
86.8
86.8
86.8
86.8
86.5
85.9
89.5
89.6
88.7
88.9
87.9
87.1
86.3
83.8
84.1
83.8
87.5
87.2
87.2
85.7
82.7
82.6
81.9
79.5
79.7
79. 1
86.5
88.6
89.1
88.2
86.3
86.0
85. 1
86.4
87.8
86.6
70.6
67.0
65.6
64.2
65.3
62.8
59.5
59.3
59.9
60.5
29.7
31.0
29.4
28.4
26.5
25.0
24.5
24.4
24.3
2 1. ö
84.3
84.3
84.0
82.0
81.0
80.8
80.7
78.9
78.0
74.8
76.9
77.8
78.5
78.9
77.3
74.8
69.6
69.7
68.5
76.5
76.9
76.5
75.3
73.6
72.7
71.5
70.8
71.1
70.3
P u rc h a sin g power
WHOLESALE PRICES
January______
February...........
M arch________
April_________
M a y ...................
June__________
J u ly .___ _____
August_______
September____
October______
[1926 =$1|
January______
February_____
M arch________
April...................
M a y ....................
June............ .......
J u ly ....................
August_______
September____
October_______
$1. 570 $2.433 $1.484 $1. 704 $1.538 $1. 166 $1,471 $2.045 $1. 563 $1. 555 $1,015 $1. 295 $1. 252 $1.149 $1,117 $1.143 $1. 156 $1,416 $3. 367 $1.186 $1.300 $1.307
1.582 2. 075 1.464 1.631 1.447 1. 167 1.395 1.876 1.560 1.499 1.016 1.282 1.248 1.151 1.116 1.147 1.129 1.493 3.226 1.186 1.285 1.300
1.605 2.020 1.477 1.631 1.451 1. 172 1.397 1.770 1. 575 1.486 1.015 1.362 1.255 1.153 1. 127 1. 147 1. 122 1. 524 3.401 1.190 1.274 1.307
1.701 2.033 1. 522 1. 678 1.504 1.179 1.473 1.745 1.610 1.511 1.015 1.304 1. 276 1.153 1. 125 1.167 1. 134 1. 558 3. 521 1.220 1 267 1.328
1. 565 2.092 1. 538 1.678 1.490 1. 145 1.466 1.667 1.645 1.490 1.015 1. 361 1.311 1.152 1.138 1.209 1. 159 1 531 3. 774 1.235 1.294 1.359
1. 381 2. 070 1.441 1. 580 1.370 1.121 1.427 1.608 1.592 1.433 1.016 1.427 1.328 1.152 1.148 1. 211 1.163 1.592 4.000 1.238 1.337 1. 376
1.337 2. 049 1.418 1.550 1.337 1. 125 1.466 1. 577 1.550 1.416 1.020 1.502 1.332 1. 152 1. 159 1.221 1. 175 1.681 4.082 1.239 1.437 1.399
1.163 1.779 1.368 1.433 1.294 1.099 1.524 1.441 1.451 1.353 1.021 1.742 1.403 1.152 1. 193 1.258 1.157 1.686 4. 098 1.267 1.435 1.412
1.135 1.560 1.344 1.362 1.312 1.088 1.515 1.305 1.429 1.314 1.021 1. 656 1.416 1.156 1.189 1. 255 1.139 1. 669 4. 115 1. 282 1.447 1.406
1.176 1.808 1.326 1.416 1.297 1.099 1.479 1.429 1.408 1.337 1.024 1.675 1.418 1.164 1.193 1.264 1.155 1.653 4. 032 1.337 1.460 1.422
1553
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T a b l e 5 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S OE W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S A N D P U R C H A S I N G P O W E R O F T H E D O L L A R , J A N U A R Y 1934 T H R O U G H O C T O B E R 1934—
C ontinued
F u el and lighting m aterials
M on th s
A n
thra
cite
B itu
m i
nous
coal
E lec
Coke
tricity
Gas
M etals and m etal products
A ll
Agri
Petro fuel
and
cu l
Iron
leum
tural
and
lig
h
t
prod
ing
im ple steel
ucts m ate
m en ts
rials
B u ild ing m aterials
All
N onM otor fer P lu m b m etals Brick
and
v eh i
ing and
and
rous
cles m etals heating m etal
tile
prod
ucts
Ce
m ent
P a in t
Other A ll
L u m and P lu m b Struc build b u ild
p
ain
t
ing
and
tural
ing
ing
ber
m a te h eating steel m ate m ate
rials
rials rials
[1926 = 100]
81.5
81.2
81.2
78.1
75.7
76.9
78.6
79.9
81.3
82.0
90.8
91.1
91.1
93.7
94.6
95.0
95.7
96.2
96.3
96.4
83.5
92.3
90.8
83.5
91.8
89.3
83.4
88.5
89.4
92. 2
84.3
88.3
84.5
88.9
94.6
85.0
90.6
97.5
85.6
92.4
99.2
99.2
85.6
92.6
85.6
95.2
99.3
85.6 ............. .............
51.1
50.3
48.7
49.4
50.7
50.6
51.3
51.6
51.3
50.4
73.1
72.4
71.4
71.7
72.5
72.8
73.9
74.6
74.6
74.6
85.2
85.2
85.2
85.2
91.1
91.1
92.0
92.0
92.0
92.0
83.6
86.3
86.3
87.3
90.2
88.6
86.7
86.6
86.5
86.2
96.9
97.8
97.8
97.8
97.3
95.0
94.6
94.6
94.7
94.7
66.1
65.8
66.3
68.0
68.1
68.5
68.8
68.9
68.4
68.1
72.5
72.7
72.7
76.2
75.0
75.1
75.0
75.0
71.6
68.1
85.5
87.0
87.1
87.9
89.1
87.7
86.8
86.7
86.6
86.3
86.6
87.2
88.5
90.7
91.2
91.1
91.3
91.3
91.3
91.2
93.9
93.9
93.9
89.7
89.4
93.9
93.9
93.9
93.9
93.9
87.4
78.4
87.3
79.3
86.4 . 79.7
87.2
79.8
85.9
80.3
86.3
80.3
85.3
79.8
79.9
81.8
82.3
79.5
82.0
79.4
72.5
72.7
72.7
76.2
75.0
75.1
75.0
75.0
71.6
68.1
86.8
86.8
86.8
86.8
94.5
94.5
92.5
92.0
92.0
92.0
89.8
90.3
89.9
90.4
92.0
92.0
90.9
90.0
89.8
89.3
86.3
86.6
86.4
86.7
87.3
87.8
87.0
85.8
85.6
85.2
P u r c h a s in g p o w e r
[1926 = $1]
Jan uary____________
F ebruary___________
M arch______________
A pril_______________
M a y _________ ____ _
June________________
J u ly ........................ .
A u gu st________ ____
S ep tem b er........... ...
O ctober.........................
$1.227 $1.101 $1.198 $1.083 $1.101 $1.957 $1.368 $1.174 $1.196 $1,032 $1,513
1.232 1.098 1.198 1.089 1.120 1.988 1. 381 1.174 1.159 1.022 1.520
1.232 1.098 1.199 1.130 1.119 2. 053 1.401 1. 174 1.159 1. 022 1. 508
1.280 1.067 1.186 1.133 1.085 2.024 1.395 1. 174 1.145 1.022 1.471
1.321 1.057 1.183 1.125 1. 057 1.972 1.379 1.098 1.109 1.028 1. 468
1. 300 1.053 1.176 1.104 1.026 1.976 1.374 1. 098 1.129 1.053 1.460
1.272 1.045 1.168 1.082 1.008 1.949 1.353 1.087 1.153 1.057 1.453
1.252 1.040 1.168 1.080 1. 008 1.938 1.340 1.087 1.155 1.057 1.451
1.230 1.038 1.168 1.050 1.007 1.949 1.340 1.087 1.156 1.056 1.462
1.220 1.037 1.168 - .........- ....... 1.984 1.340 1.087 1.160 1.056 1.468
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.379 $1.170 $1.155 $1.065 $1.144 $1.276
1.376 1.149 1.147 1.065 1.145 1. 261
1. 376 1.148 1.130 1.065 1.157 1.255
1.312 1.138 1.103 1.115 1.147 1.253
1. 333 1.122 1.096 1.119 1.164 1.245
1.332 1.140 1.098 1.065 1.159 1.245
1.333 1.152 1.095 1.065 1.172 1.253
1.333 1.153 1.095 1.065 1.222 1.252
1.397 1.155 1.095 1.065 1.215 1.258
1.468 1.159 1.096 1. 065 1.220 1.259
$1.379 $1.152 $1.114 $1.159
1.376 1.152 1.107 1.155
1.376 1.152 1.112 1.157
1.312 1.152 1.106 1.153
1.333 1.058 1.087 1.145
1.332 1.058 1.087 1.139
1.333 1.081 1.100 1.149
1.333 1.087 1. I l l 1.166
1.397 1.087 1.114 1.168
1.468 1.087 1.120 1.174
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Ind ex n u m b e r s
J a n u a r y .. _________
February___________
M arch______________
A p r il...........................
M a y ________________
J u n e ...____ ________
J u ly ------------------------A u g u s t..........— .........
Septem ber__________
O c to b e r........................
Cn
. H ouse furnishing
goods
C hem icals and drugs
M on th s
All
D rugs Ferti
M ixed chem
C hem and
lizer
ferti
icals
phar
icals m aceu m ate lizers
and
rial
drugs
ticals
M iscellaneous
A ll
A uto
houseFur Furni fur- m obile C attle Paper
and
tires
n ish
feed
ture
nishpulp
and
ings
ing
tubes
goods
Semim anR aw
u fac
m ate tored
Other
A ll
R u b m iscel m iscel rials
arti
ber,
lane lane
cles
crude
ous
ous
A ll
com
N on- m odi
ties
agriA ll
F in
other com
culished tural
than m o d i
prod com farm
ucts m od i prod ties
u cts
ties
and
foods
In d ex n u m b e rs
January__________ _________
February__________________
March_____________________
April___ __________________
M a y . __
June
July___________ . .
August — __ . . .
September__________________
October__________ __________
78.8
78.8
79.0
78.6
78.6
78.6
78.4
79.2
80.3
81.1
65.2
71.5
71.9
72.2
72.8
73.1
73.0
72.7
72.7
73.5
68.4
69.2
69.5
68.7
66.4
67.9
67.6
64.8
66.4
65.7
71.2
72.5
72.6
72.7
73.2
73.4
72.8
73.0
73.0
73.0
74.4
75.5
75.7
75.5
75.4
75.6
75.4
75.7
76.5
77.1
82.9
83.0
83.2
83.5
84.1
85.1
84.8
84.6
84.8
84.4
78.8
79.2
79.8
79.9
80. 1
79.0
78.5
78.9
78.8
79.0
80.8
81.0
81.4
81.6
82.0
82.0
81.6
81.8
81.8
81.7
43.2
43.5
44.6
44.6
44.6
44.6
44.6
44.7
44.7
44.7
68.5
73.4
79.6
76.1
72.5
86.9
88.8
104.0
100.7
97.6
83.0
82.7
82.7
83.6
83.7
83.5
82.4
82.4
82.4
82.4
18.9
21.4
22.8
24.6
27.7
27.7
29.9
31.7
31.5
28.6
81.8
83.2
83.2
83.2
83.6
83.1
82.3
81.0
81.4
81.1
67.5
68.5
69.3
69.5
69.8
70.2
69.9
70.2
70.2
69.7
64.1
66.0
65.9
65.1
65.1
67.3
68.3
71.6
73.9
72.1
71.9
74.8
74.3
73.9
73.7
72.9
72.7
72.6
71.8
71.5
76.0
77.0
77.2
77.1
77.8
78.2
78.2
79.2
80.1
79.2
75.0
76.1
76.2
76.2
76.6
76.9
76.9
77.8
78.4
77.6
78.3
78.7
78.5
78.6
78.9
78.2
78.4
78.3
78.3
78.0
72.2
73.6
73.7
73.3
73.7
74.6
74.8
76.4
77.6
76. 5
P u rc h a s in g pow er
WHOLESALE PRICES
[1926=100]
[1926 =$1]
$1.269 $1.534 $1.462 $1.404 $1. 344 $1. 206 $1. 269 $1. 238 $2. 315 $1.460 $1.205 $5. 291 $1. 222 $1.481 $1. 560 $1. 391 $1.316 $1. 333 $1. 277 $1. 385
1. 269 1.399 1.445 1.379 1.325 1.205 1.263 1.235 2.999 1.362 1.209 4. 673 1.202 1.460 1.515 1.337 1.299 1.314 1.271 1. 359
1.266 1.391 1.439 1.377 1. 321 1.202 1.253 1.229 2.242 1.256 1.209 4.386 1.202 1.443 1.517 1.346 1.295 1.312 1.274 1. 357
1. 272 1.385 1.456 1.376 1. 325 1.198 1.252 1.225 2. 242 1.314 1.196 4.065 1.202 1.439 1.536 1.353 1.297 1.312 1. 272 1.364
1. 272 1.374 1.506 1.366 1.326 1.189 1.248 1.220 2.242 1.379 1.195 3.610 1.196 1.433 1.536 1.357 1.285 1.305 1.267 1.357
1. 272 1.368 1.473 1.362 1.323 1.175 1.266 1. 220 2. 242 1.151 1.198 3.610 1.203 1.425 1.486 1.372 1.279 1.300 1.279 1.340
1. 274 1.370 1.479 1.374 1. 326 1.179 1.274 1.225 2. 242 1.-126 1.214 3.344 1. 215 1.431 1.464 1.376 1.279 1.300 1. 276 1.337
July
.962 1.214 3.155 1.235 1.425 1.397 1.377 1.263 1.285 1. 277 1. 309
1.263 1.376 1.543 1.370 1.321 1.182 1. 267 1. 222 2. 237
A ugust
.993 1.214 3.175 1.229 1.425 1.353 1.393 1.248 1.276 1. 277 1. 289
September
_________ ___ 1.245 1.376 1. 506 1. 370 1. 307 1. 179 1.269 1. 222 2. 237
October.......................................... 1.233 1.361 1.522 1.370 1. 297 1.185 1.266 1.224 2.237 1.025 1.214 3.497 1. 233 1.435 1.387 1.399 1.263 1.289 1. 282 1. 307
January..
February
_
.
... .
ATarrh
April
ATa y
Ju n e
1555
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1556
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Wholesale Price Trends During October 1934
a steady rise for the past 6 months wholesale commodity
prices showed a reaction during October and decreased by nearly 1.5
percent from the high point of the year (September). The index of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of
Labor declined to 76.5 percent of the 1926 average as compared with
77.6 percent for September. The October index receded to within a
fractional point of the August index, losing practically all the gain
made in September.
The October index registered an advance of nearly 7.5 percent over
October 1933, when the level was 71.2 percent of the 1926 average.
The increase since October 1932, when the index was 64.4, amounts
to 18.8 percent. As compared with October 1931, when the level was
70.3, present prices are higher by 8.8 percent. When compared with
October 1929, with an index of 95.1, they are down by 19.5 percent.
The general level in October was 28 percent over the low point of 1933
(February) when the index was 59.8 but is more than 20 percent
below the high point reached in 1929 (July) with an index of 96.5.
The downward trend in prices from September to October was
widely distributed with 8 of the 10 major groups showing declines.
Of the 784 items included in the index, lower prices were recorded for
196 items and higher prices for 122 items; 466 items showed no change
in price. Changes in prices by groups of commodities are as follows:
F o llo w in g
T a b l e 6 .—N U M B E R
OF IT E M S
Group
C H A N G IN G I N
O C T O B E R 1934
P R IC E
FRO M
SEPTEM BER
TO
Increases
Decreases
Farm products.......................
Foods........................................
Hides and leather products.
Textile products...................
Fuel and lighting materials.
Metals and metal product?.
Building materials................
Chemicals and drugs______
House-furnishing goods___
Miscellaneous____________
16
51
4
14
8
4
7
10
5
3
45
38
15
34
7
18
10
9
8
12
6
33
22
64
9
108
69
70
48
37
T o ta l.._____________
122
196
466
N o change
Raw materials, including farm products, raw silk, crude rubber,
and other similar commodities, registered a decline of 2.4 percent.
They are 16.7 percent above the October 1933 level. Finished prod
ucts, among which are included more than 500 manufactured articles,
declined 1.1 percent below the September level and are 5 percent above
a year ago. Semimanufactured articles, including such items as
leather, rayon, iron and steel bars, wood pulp, and other similar goods,
declined by four-tenths of 1 percent; the present index, 71.5, compares
with 71.8 for September and 72.8 for a year ago.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
äw
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1558
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
1559
The combined index for all commodities exclusive of farm products
and processed foods also registered a fractional decrease between
September and October but was higher than a year ago by 1 percent.
The nonagricultural group, which includes all commodities except
farm products, dropped 1 percent to a point 4.3 percent higher than
a year ago.
The greatest decline from September to October was recorded by the
farm-products group, with the average decreasing nearly 4 percent.
Important articles in this group contributing to this drop were
sweetpotatoes, with a 24-percent decline; hogs, 21 percent; white
potatoes, 13 percent; rye and onions, 12 percent; live poultry and cows,
10 percent; calves and steers, 7 percent; wheat, 5 percent; and cotton,
4 percent. Oranges, on the other hand, increased 23 percent; fresh
milk at San Francisco, 18 percent; tobacco, 16 percent; lemons, 15
percent; and eggs, 6 percent. The present level of farm products,
70.6, is approximately 27 percent above that of a year ago. It is
more than 50 percent higher than October 1932. As compared with
October 1929, however, farm products are down by 32 percent.
The foods group declined 1.8 percent to 74.8 percent of the 1926
average, showing an increase of 16.5 percent over October 1933 when
the index was 64.2. It is 23.6 percent over October 1932 when the
index registered 60.5. The current wholesale food price index is 16
percent lower than October 1930, and 26 percent below that of Octo
ber 1929 when the indexes were 88.8 and 101.4, respectively. Im
portant price declines in this group were reported in October for wheat
and rye flour, meats, coffee, lard, granulated sugar, cheese, oleo oil,
and glucose. Higher prices were recorded for butter, raw sugar,
oleomargarine, oatmeal, cornmeal, macaroni, canned fruits and vege
tables, and most vegetable oils.
Textile products, declined 1 percent to a new low for the year.
Average prices of woolen and worsted goods are lower by 4 percent;
cotton goods, 1.4 percent; other textile products, including burlap
and hemp, nine-tenths of 1 percent, and clothing eight-tenths of 1
percent. The present index, 70.3, is 8.8 percent lower than October
a year ago when the index was 77.1.
Falling prices of cattle feed, crude rubber, and cylinder oils forced
the group of miscellaneous commodities down three-fourths of 1 per
cent to 69.7 percent of the 1926 average. All subgroups in the hides
and leather-products group showed decreases ranging from one-tenth
of 1 percent for leather to 1.2 percent for hides and skins. The Octo
ber index for the group, 83.8, is four-tenths of 1 percent below the
September level.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1560
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Declining prices of brick and tile, lumber, paint and paint materials,
plumbing and heating materials, and other building materials caused
the building materials group to show an average decrease of one-half
of 1 percent. Average prices of cement and structural steel were
unchanged. Building material prices are now higher by 1.5 percent
than October 1933. The present index, 85.2, compares with 83.9
for a year ago. Current prices are on the average approximately
20 percent higher than 2 years ago and 11 percent lower than the
general average for October 1929.
Metals and metal products were lower by four-tenths of 1 percent,
due to declining prices of certain iron and steel products, nonferrous
metals, and plumbing and heating materials. The subgroups of
agricultural implements and motor vehicles were unchanged. Present
prices are 4 percent higher than a year ago.
The group of house-furnishing goods also registered a slight decrease,
amounting to one-tenth of 1 percent. Higher prices for furniture
were offset by declining prices of furnishings.
Chemicals and drugs was the only group which showed an increase
during the month. The October index, 77.1, was three-fourths of
1 percent over September with an index of 76.5.
Advancing prices of anthracite and bituminous coal, electricity,
and gas were counterbalanced by a decrease of 1.8 percent in petroleum
products. The subgroup of coke showed no change during the month.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ index, which includes 784 price
series weighted according to their relative importance in the country’s
markets, is based on the average prices of 1926 as 100.
Index numbers for the groups and subgroups of commodities for
October 1934 in comparison with September 1934 and October of
each of the past 5 years are contained in the accompanying table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1561
WHOLESALE PRICES
T a b l e 7.—I N D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PR IC ES BY GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M O DITIES
[1926 = 100]
Groups and subgroups
Octo
ber
1934
Sep
tem
ber
1934
Octo
ber
1933
Octo
ber
1932
Octo
ber
1931
Octo
ber
1930
Octo
ber
1929
All com m odities___ ____________ ______ ___
76.5
77.6
71.2
64.4
70.3
83.0
95.1
F arm products______ ____________________
G rains______________________________
Livestock and po u ltry________________
O ther farm products_________ . _______
70.6
85.0
55.3
75.4
73.4
88.1
64.1
74.4
55.7
58.2
45.4
61.2
46.9
34.4
45.0
52.1
58.8
44.3
57.6
64.2
82.5
72.1
82.4
86.1
104.0
99.1
98.8
109.0
Foods____________________ ____ _________
B utter, cheese, and m ilk ._____ _______
Cereal products______________________
F ruits and vegetables.______ _________
M eats__________ ________________
O ther foods.._______
H II
74.8
77.1
91.0
67.6
70.0
71.0
76.1
76.2
91.9
66.0
76.6
70.0
64.2
66.0
85.0
62.5
51.0
64.4
60. 5
60.5
64.1
52.2
56.4
65.4
73.3
86.1
70.0
68.2
71.1
69.7
88.8
98. 5
77.7
90.6
96.7
79.2
101.4
106.0
88.2
108.4
106.7
97.3
H ides and leather p roducts_______________
Boots and shoes__________________
H ides and skins__________________ 3 1 L eather__________
.m in i
O ther leather products____________ H U
83.8
97.7
59.7
70.5
85.9
84.1
97.9
60.4
70.6
86.5
89.0
98.9
71.2
83.2
85.1
72.8
84.6
49.6
64. 1
81.9
82.5
93.1
50.0
80.7
101.1
96.6
100.3
83.6
90.7
104.8
110.3
106.1
117.9
114.2
106.7
Textile products___________________
C lothin g ..___________________ H U H ”
C otton goods_________________ I
K nit goods_____________________ H I "
Silk and rayon_________________ 111.11
Woolen and worsted goods______ IIIIH
O ther textile p ro d u c ts........................H II.
70.3
79.1
86.6
60.5
24.8
74.8
68. 5
71.1
79.7
87.8
59.9
24.3
78.0
69.1
77.1
84.8
88.8
74.7
32.0
84.5
75.3
55.0
62.5
56.2
50.9
30.8
56.5
67.7
63.0
73.9
59.7
59.2
41. 7
64.6
72.4
74.7
83.9
77.0
75.0
47.0
75.0
80.7
89.5
89.1
98.5
87.5
79.6
86.7
91.9
Fuel and lighting m aterials___________
A nthracite___ ________________
B itum inous coal_________ ____ "
Coke________________________
E lectricity..................................I
Gas________________________ H U H
Petroleum products____ _____ I I I I I I I H '
74.6
82.0
96.4
85.6
0)
(>)
50.4
74.6
81.3
96.3
85.6
95.2
99.3
51.3
73.6
81.8
89.8
82.6
92.3
100.5
52.7
71.1
88.7
81.1
76.7
104.6
104.4
47.4
67.8
94.2
83.6
81. 5
102.1
100.8
39.2
77.6
89.7
89.2
83.9
97.3
99.7
59.4
83.1
91.2
92.0
84.4
94.4
93.1
70.8
M etals and m etal p roducts______________
A gricultural im plem ents____ _____ I "
Iron and steel......... ................. .................
M otor vehicles_______________ H U
Nonferrous m etals______ .
” ” ”
Plum bing and heating.....................IIIIIII
86.3
92.0
86. 2
94.7
68.1
68.1
86.6
92.0
86.5
94.7
68.4
71.6
83.0
83.7
82.4
90.9
67.0
74.7
80.3
84. 7
80.4
92.7
50.7
67.5
82.8
85.6
81.7
95.4
54.9
81.6
87.9
94. 5
87.1
96.3
69.7
83.4
99.8
97.6
94.5
106.0
104.6
92.2
Building m aterials............... ..............
Brick and tile ____ __________
C em ent______ _______________
L um ber........ .............
1.-1.11111111111
P a in t and p ain t m aterials_____________ "
Plum bing and heating________
Structural steel______________________
O ther building m aterials—.......... I I I .I I I H
85.2
91.2
93.9
82.0
79.4
68.1
92.0
89.3
85.6
91.3
93.9
82.3
79.5
71.6
92.0
S9.8
83.9
84.6
91.2
84.2
76.1
74.7
86.8
87.1
70.7
75.3
79.0
56.6
68.3
67. 5
81.7
80.0
76.1
82.6
75.1
65.2
77.0
81.6
81.7
82.0
86.3
87.7
91.7
79.8
85.4
83.4
81.7
91.8
95.9
94.0
85.6
95.6
99.8
92.2
97.0
97.1
Chemicals and drugs_______________
Chem icals__________________ II II I I I I I H
D rugs and pharm aceuticals.._______
Fertilizer m aterials_____ ______________I
M ixed fertilizers___________
I
77.1
81.1
73.5
65.7
73.0
76.5
80.3
72.7
66.4
73.0
72.7
78.6
56.8
67.6
68.3
72.7
79.8
55.9
63.4
66. 5
75.6
79.7
61.6
70.2
77.2
86.7
90.5
67.5
83.6
92.9
94.0
99.3
71.4
90. 1
97.4
House-furnishing goods........ ......................
Furnishings__________________
F u rn itu re _________
IIIIIIIIH
81.7
84.4
79.0
81.8
84.8
78.8
81.2
82.8
79.8
73.7
74.7
72.8
81.0
79.8
82.4
92.1
90.9
93.4
94.7
93.9
95.5
M iscellaneous___________ ________________
A utomobile tires a n d tu b e s......................
C attle feed____ _____ _______________
Paper and p u lp___ ________________ H I
R ubber, crude............... ....................
O ther miscellaneous................................. H I
69.7
44.7
97.6
82.4
28.6
81.1
70.2
44.7
100.7
82.4
31.5
81.4
65.3
43.2
60.4
82.4
15.6
78.6
64.1
44.6
42.7
73.4
7.3
82.1
66.6
46.0
49.4
80.5
10.2
86.9
74.7
50.1
89.6
85.1
16.9
92.0
83.2
53.9
130.4
88.7
40.7
99.7
R aw m aterials____________________________
Sem im anufactured articles______________ H I'
Finished products_______ ____ ____________
N onagricultural commodities______________
All commodities other th a n farm products
and fo o d s .................... ....... .............................. .
72.1
71.5
79.2
77.6
73.9
71.8
80.1
78.4
61.8
72.8
75.4
74.4
54.6
60.7
69.8
68.1
61.5
65.2
75.1
72.6
79.9
76.8
85.4
83.1
97. 1
94.7
94.2
93.2
78.0
78.3
77.2
70.2
72.9
82.1
91.6
1D a ta not y et available.
97667— 34------ 17
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1562
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b le 8 .—P U R C H A S I N G P O W E R OF T H E D O L L A R , E X P R E S S E D I N T E R M S OF W H O L E
S A L E P R IC E S , B Y G R O U P S A N D S U B G R O U P S O F C O M M O D IT IE S , O C T O B E R 1933 A N D
S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R 1934
[1926=$1]
Groups and subgroups
A ll com m od ities---------------------------- -----------------------------------------------Farm products
____ _________________________________________
Grains
____ _____
_____________ _____ ____ ____
_______
L ivestock and p o u l t r y .____________ _________________________
Other farm products _ ___ _________________________________
Poods
_______________ ________________________________
Butter, cheese, and m ilk
__ _____________
Cereal products
___________________________________ _______
Bruits and vegetables
_ _ ______________________________
M eats
-- ______________ _____________________ _______
Other foods
__ _____________ ______________________________
H ides and leather products __ __ ________________________________
B oots and shoes
- _______________________________________
H ides and skins
_ __________________________ __________
____ ____ _____________________________________
Leather
Other leather products
_____________________________________
T extile products _________________________________________________
C lothing
___________ ___________ ___ - _____________ ___
C otton goods
_____ _______________________________ _______ K n it goods
_______________________________________________
Silk and rayon
_ _______ _____________ __________________
W oolen and w orsted goods_______________ _ __________________
Other textile products _______________________________________
F u el and lighting m a te r ia ls ______________________________________
A nthracite
__ ____________________________ _______________
B itu m in ou s coal ___ ____ ____________________
____________
C oke
____
____ ___ _____ ___ _________________________
E lectricity - __ ______________________________________________
G as___ __ _________ ________________________________________
Petroleum p rod ucts___________________________________________
M etals and m etal products ______________________________________
Agricultural im p lem en ts______________________________________
Iron and steel __
________________________ '________________
M otor vehicles _
___________________________________________
Nonferrous m etals_____________________________________________
P lum b in g and h eatin g. _ ____________ __ _________________ _
B u ild ing m aterials
___ _________________________________________
Brick and tile _______________ ________________________________
C em ent _ _______ - _________________________________________
Lum ber __ ________ ___________________ ____________________
P ain t and pain t m aterials
__________
________
P lum b in g and heating _ _______
- _____________________________
Structural s t e e l ____
Other b uilding m aterials _____ _ ______________________
C hem icals and drugs______________________________________________
C h e m ic a ls __ _________________________________________________
D rugs and pharm aceuticals____________________________________
Fertilizer m aterials____________________________________________
M ixed fertilizers_________________________________ ____________
House-furnishing g o o d s ____________________ _____________________
Furnishings
___________ _ _____________________________ -Furniture
_ _ _______ ____________________________________
M iscellaneous . ______ __________________________________________
A utom obile tires and tu b es___ _______________
______________
C attle feed
______ __________________________________________
Paper and p ulp ______________________________________________
R ubber, crude
____________________ __________________ ___
Other m iscellaneous _________________________________________
R aw m aterials ____________________________________________________
Remimanufactured articles
_
____________________
Finished products __ _ - _______________________________________
N onagricultural com m odities
__ __
__
_______
_________
All com m odities other than farm products and foods_______________
October
1933
Septem ber
1934
October
1934
$1. 404
$1. 289
$1. 307
1. 795
1.718
2.203
1. 634
1. 362
1.135
1. 560
1. 344
1.558
1.515
1.176
1. COO
1.961
1. 553
1.124
1. 314
1.312
1.088
1.515
1. 305
1.429
1.189
1.416
1.176
1.808
1. 326
1.337
1.297
1.099
1.479
1. 429
1.408
1.193
1.024
1. 675
1.418
1.164
1. 422
. 264
1.155
1.653
4. 032
1. 337
1.460
1. 340
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
1.083
.995
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
. 618
1. 374
1. 326
1. 344
1. 295
1
1.021
1.656
1.416
1.156
1.406
1.255
1.139
1.669
4.115
. 282
1.447
1.340
1. 230
1.038
1.168
1.050
1.007
1.949
1.155
1.087
1.156
1.056
1.462
1. 397
1.168
1.095
1.065
1.215
1.258
1. 397
1.087
1.114
1
1. 307
1.245
1. 376
1. 506
1. 370
. 222
1.179
1.269
1. 425
2. 237
.993
1. 214
3.175
1. 229
1.353
1. 393
1. 248
1. 276
1. 277
1
1
1.220
1.037
1.168
(>)
(01.984
1.159
1.087
1.160
1. 056
1. 468
1.468
1.174
1.096
1.065
1.220
1. 259
1.468
1.087
1.120
1. 297
1. 233
1. 361
1. 522
1. 370
1.224
1.185
1.266
1.435
2. 237
1. 025
1. 214
3. 497
1.233
1.387
1. 399
1.263
1.289
1.282
J D a ta n ot y e t available.
W h o lesa le P rices in th e U n ited S ta te s an d in F oreign C ou n tries
IS! 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
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1563
WHOLESALE PEICES
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 1926-33, inclusive, and by months since January 1932.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PR IC ES IN T H E U N IT E D ST A TES A N D IN
FO R E IG N C O U N TR IES
C o u n try .
U nited
States
A us
tralia
Bureau
of
C ensus
S tatistics
and
Statistics
Bureau
Computing a g en cy ... of Labor
Austria
B elgium
Bulgaria
Canada
C hile
C hina
Federal
S tatis
tical
Bureau
M inistry
of In
dustry
and
Labor
General
S tatis
tical
Bureau
D o m in
ion
Bureau
of
S tatistics
General
S tatis
tical
B ureau
N a tion al
Tariff
Commis»
sion,
Shanghai
1926
(100)
1911
(1,000)
JanuaryJune
1914
(100)
A pril
1914
GOO)
1926
(100)
1926
GOO)
1913
GOO)
1926
GOO)
Commodities-
784
92
(Gold)
47
(Paper)
125
(Gold)
55
567 1
(Paper)
(Silver)
155 2
1926.................
1927...............
1928 ______
1929 .............
1930 ............
1931.................
1932 ............
1933 ............
1932
100.0
B ase p eriod.
Jan uary_____
F ebruary____
M arch ______
A p r il............. :
M a y ...............
J u n e .................
J u ly ________
A u g u st.......... ..
S ep tem b er__
October...........
N o v em b er__
D ecem ber___
1,832
1,817
1, 792
1,803
1,596
1,428
1,411
1,409
123
133
130
130
117
108
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
112
112
61.0
59.8
60. 2
60.4
62. 7
65.0
68.9
69. 5
70.8
71.2
/l. 1
70.8
1,344
1,330
1,333
1,358
1,406
1,439
1, 455
1,464
1,481
1,445
1,414
1,436
72.2
73. 6
73. 7
73.3
73. 7
74.6
74.8
76. 4
77.6
1,456
1,452
1, 459
1,471
1,456
1,463
1,483
95. 4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0
64.8
65.9
67.3
66.3
66.0
112
108
114
113
116
115
112
112
110
111
111
108
100.0
744
847
843
851
744
626
532
501
102.4
109.8
117.0
94.6
79.1
70.3
61.8
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
521
512
504
501
502
507
506
501
496
489
485
484
484
483
478
474
470
472
471
474
470
100.0
97.7
96.4
95.6
86.6
72.1
66.7
67.2
69.4
69.2
69.1
108
106
107
107
108
109
111
108
108
109
108
108
67.4
66.4
66.4
66.7
65.9
65.0
64.7
64.0
116.7
115.7
113 6
8
.3
109.8
108. 7
106.9
107.5
63.5
62.4
61.0
61.5
62.1
61.3
62.6
60.9
62.4
61.0
62.1
60.8
63.9
63.6
64.4
65.4
66.9
67.6
70.5
69.4
68.9
67.9
68.7
69.0
346.0
344.7
343.4
351.2
357.6
357.8
353.2
355.8
351.5
338.5
330.2
322.0
108 6
107 fi
lOfi 7
104 fi
104 2
104. 5
103. 4
101. 7
100. 4
.3
99. 9
98.4
59.1
62.6
61.7
61.6
63.0
64.2
64.2
70.6.
72.1
72.0
71.1
71.1
72.1
72.0
328.6
331.4
336.9
342.6
343.1
351.7
352.5
354.1
97 2
98 0
9fì fi
94 6
94 9
95 7
97.1
1934
January.......... .
F ebruary____
M arch _______
A pril________
M a y ___ _____
J u n e..................
J u ly ............ .
A u g u s t............
S ep tem b er___
109
110
112
110
110
110
no
113
108
1 R evised for com m odities since January 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
104.4
101. 7
104.5
114.8
126. 7
112.4
103.3
146.5
151.9
164.2
189.8
213.0
226.6
230.2
239.6
281.6
293.9
289.0
337.8
68.2
1933
J a n u a r y .____
F ebruary____
M a rch _______
A pril................
M a y _________
J u n e_______
Tuly..................
A ugust............ .
Sep tem b er___
October______
N o v em b er___
D ecem b er___
100.0
192.5
192.4
166.9
152.2
230.4
346.0
72.0 1
1Q uotations, 154 since January 1932.
119.3
111
111
100
97.3
1564
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
I N D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E SA 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 I G N C O U N T R I E S — C ontinued
Czecho
C oun try----------------- slovakia
C om puting a g en cy .
1926 ........... ............. 1927...............................
1928_______________
1929_______________
1930. _____________
1931_______________
1932........... ............... 1933_______________
1934
Jan uary______ ____
February__________
M arch_____________
A p ril______________
M a y .............................
J u n e_______________
J u ly ________ ____ A u g u st.................. ..
S eptem ber--------------
France
Ger
m an y
India
Ita ly
Japan
Jugo
slavia
N a
tional
B ank
(Gold)
69
3944
3968
3969
3913
1932
Jan uary___________
February__________
M arch-------------------A p ril______________
M a y ----------------------Ju ne— ---------------J u ly _______________
A u g u st. ---------------Septem ber--------- .
O ctober. ___ _____
N o vem b er_________
D ecem b er..................
1933
Jan uary___________
F ebruary__________
M arch______ _____ _
A p r il______________
M a y .......... ................ .
Ju ne_______________
J u ly _____ _____ _
A u g u st____________
Septem ber_________
O ctober___________
N ovem b er_________
D ecem b er_________
F inland
Central S ta tisti Central General Federal D ep art
B ank of
Bureau cal D e Bureau S ta tisti S tatisti m ent, Riccardo Japan,
B achi
etc .,5
part
of Sta cal B u cal B u
of Sta
T okyo
C
alcutta
reau
m
en
t
tistics
reau
tistics
Ju ly
B ase period................ 1914(100)
C om m odities______
D en
mark
3Paper revised.
4N ew gold parity.
118.6
107.5
99.5
96.3
102.3
101.4
101.4
100.7
99.5
97.3
98.0
97.9
1913
(100)
1926
(100)
1913
(100)
1913
(100)
Ju ly
1914(100)
1913
(100)
October
1900(100)
1926
(100)
118
120
(Paper)
126
400
(Paper)
72
(Paper)
140
56
55
148
148
145
141
116
96
91
87
602.0
495.3
461.6
445.3
383.0
328.4
303.7
279.5
236.7
224.6
226.1
219.8
181.0
153.0
161.1
179.5
97
97
94
92
89
316.6
314.4
315.0
311.3
305.1
297.4
295.7
296.6
299.6
298.6
298.2
295.8
159.5
161.4
158.5
154.1
150.2
146.4
147.7
155.8
167.4
169.1
177.9
184.6
67.8
67.3
67.8
292.0
286.3
281.3
279.1
278.8
281.2
278.9
278.3
275.8
274.1
272.9
275.3
185.0
179.6
177.4
176.2
176.8
179.6
182.1
180.0
182.4
180.4
178.7
175.5
67.6
68.4
67.0
66.3
64.9
275.7
274.6
275.2
273.1
272.6
272.2
269.8
271.4
269.9
175.5
177.5
176.9
176.9
176.2
174.5
174.1
176.9
179.2
62.9
63.6
63.3
63.0
64.1
65. 6
62.8
61.1
63. 2
163
153
153
150
130
114
117
125
118
119
117
115
114
113
115
117
119
118
100
101
102
98
90
84
90
89
94
93
92
89
88
119
87
89
89
90
90
91
90
96.6
96.3
95.5
94.6
96.3
98.3
98.3
97.4
96.5
96.2
95.7
95.0
117
124
123
90
89
89
123
123
125
126
128
127
128
129
94.6
94.3
81.1
80. 8
80. 2
80. 5
85.1
83. 9
<84.0
130
131
129
128
128
128
129
134
135
100.1
99.5
99.1
99.0
4
4
4
4
4
4
120
122
695
642
645
627
554
502
427
308
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
89
90
90
90
90
90
89
411
404
300
387
382
403
401
397
397
397
403
407
91.0
91.2
91.1
90.7
91.9
92.9
93.9
94.2
94.9
95.7
96.0
96.2
90
90
90
89
89
89
89
90
90
405
400
394
387
381
379
374
371
365
96.3
96.2
95.9
95.8
96.2
97.2
98.9
88
88
• D ep artm en t of Com m ercial Intelligence and Statistics,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6
110.9
96.5
93.3
100.1
100.4
86
87
91
91
91
90
88
88
86
82
84
87
89
91
89
88
88
88
89
90
89
88
89
90
90
89
89
89
100.0
103.4
106.2
100.6
86.8
72.9
65.2
64.4
66.1
65.4
64.9
65.6
62.6
61.8
63.9
64.7
64.8
66.1
63.7
60.7
60.7
61. 5
63.1
62.3
1565
WHOLESALE PRICES
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 I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D I N
F O R E I G N C O U N T R I E S —C ontinued
C oun try.
N ew
N eth er
Zealand N orw ay
lands
revised
C om pu tin g agen cy.
Central
Bureau
of Sta
tistics
Census
and
S tatis
tics
Office
1913
(100)
1909-13
(1,000)
1913
(100)
48
180
95
B ase period.
C om m od ities.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.
1933.
South
Africa
Central
Office
of Sta
tistics
Office
of Cen
sus and
Statis
tics
Board
of
T rade
Federal
Labor
D ep art
m ent
Board
of
Trade
1913
(100)
1928
(100)
1910
(1,000)
1913
(100)
Ju ly
1914
GOO)
1924
(100)
(Paper)
58
238
188
160
78
150
Central Central
B ank
Bureau
of Sta
of
tistics R eserve
145
148
149
142
117
97
79
74
1, 553
1,478
lj 492
1,488
1,449
1,346
1,297
1,308
203.2
84
83
82
80
79
78
76
75
76
77
77
76
1, 344
1, 330
1, 325
1, 316
1,313
1,308
1,308
1, 308
1,311
1, 304
, 286
1,273
123
123
1, 266
122
121
121
121
121
121
121
122
157
149
137
122
122
122
202.6
191.9
185.7
178.0
175.1
170.3
180.2
1932
J a n u a r y ... . .
F ebruary___
M arch ______
A p ril_______
M a y ________
Ju ne.......... ..
J u ly ________
A u g u st_____
S ep tem b er...
O ctober.........
N o v e m b e r ...
D e c e m b e r .. .
1933
J a n u a ry____
F ebruary___
M arch ______
A p ril_______
M a y ......... ..
J u n e________
J u l y . . . ..........
A u g u st_____
S ep tem b er...
O ctober____
N o v em b er—
D e c e m b e r ...
.
75
74
72
71
72
73
73
73
75
75
76
77
1
1.315
1.316
1,315
1, 323
1, 321
1,327
1, 325
1.317
1.317
1,318
1, 320
1934
Ja n u a ry____
February___
M arch ______
A p ril_______
M a y _______
J u n e________
J u ly ________
A u g u st_____
S ep tem b er-..
79
80
79
79
77
76
77
78
77
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1, 336
1.339
1.340
1, 332
1,340
1, 337
1, 336
1,342
122
120
120
120
122
123
123
123
124
123
123
123
122
122
120
122
122
123
123
123
124
127
126
U n ited
Sw eden S w itz e r K ing
land
dom
Poland
Peru
164.6
163.0
163.8
162.7
164.3
175.3
176.5
174.0
174. 0
176.4
177. 6
173.1
100.0
96.3
85.5
74.6
65.5
59.1
68.2
68. 3
67.9
69.3
69.8
67.6
65.0
64. 6
63.1
61.9
61.0
59.7
172.2
172.1
173. 7
178.6
178.4
180. 0
181.0
182.1
184. 2
186.6
186. 3
186.9
59.3
60. 4
59.8
59.9
59. 6
60.1
60.6
57.9
58.1
57.9
57.6
57. 6
186.8
186. 6
184.1
187.4
187.8
189.8
188.8
191.4
57.8
57.6
57.3
56.8
56. 0
55.8
55.9
55.8
54.9
1,387
1, 395
1, 354
1, 305
1,155
1,119
1,031
1, 029
149
146
148
140
1,083
109
1, 062
1, 002
122
111
109
107
110
109
109
109
108
108
108
110
978
no
982
106
106
105
105
106
106
108
108
109
109
1,013
1,072
1,047
1,193
1,171
1,102
109
108
110
110
112
112
112
113
113
114
114
114
114
144.5
142.6
144.6
141.2
126.5
109.7
96.0
91.0
89.1
85.2
84.4
82.1
71.9
62.6
61.1
60.7
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
91.3
90.1
90.0
91.1
91.6
91. 2
91.7
90. 9
90.8
90.7
91.0
91. 3
60.3
59.5
58.7
58.5
59.7
61.2
61.5
61.7
62.0
61.8
61.9
61.9
91.8
91.4
90.9
89.6
89.0
89.0
88.9
89.8
89.1
63.0
63.4
62.5
61.9
61.7
62.4
62.3
63.6
63.4
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O fficial— U n ite d S ta te s
M aryland .— Department of State Employment and Registration.
a n n u a l r e p o r t (f is c a l y e a r e n d e d S e p te m b e r 8 0 , 1 9 3 3 ) .
48 pp.
M il w a u k e e P ublic S chools .—Extension Department.
ment.
A n n u a l r e p o r t, J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8 - J u l y 1 , 1 9 8 4 .
c h a r ts .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
T h ir te e n th
B a ltim o r e , [1 9 8 3 ? ].
Street Trades Depart
M ilw a u k e e , 1 9 8 4 .
4 5 p p .,
Includes sections on enforcement of street trades law, permit and badge in
spection in schools, and Newsboys’ Republic Organization.
O h io .— Industrial Commission. F o u r th a n n u a l G r e a te r C le v e la n d I n d u s t r i a l S a f e t y
C a m p a ig n , M a r c h 1 to A u g u s t 3 1 , 1 9 3 4 , s p o n s o r e d j o i n t l y b y D i v i s io n o f S a f e t y
a n d H y g ie n e , I n d u s t r i a l C o m m is s io n o f O h io , a n d C le v e la n d S a f e t y C o u n c il.
[C o lu m b u s ], 1 9 3 4 27 pp.
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
P e n n sy lv a n ia .— Department of Labor and Industry.
Bureau of Women and
Children.
C o tto n g a r m e n t w o r k e r s i n P e n n s y l v a n i a u n d e r th e N . R . A . — A
s t u d y o f h o u r s a n d e a r n in g s i n F e b r u a r y 1 9 3 4 , b y E l i z a b e t h S . J o h n s o n . H a r r i s
b u rg , 1 9 3 4 .
15 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
A survey of 114 plants employing over 12,000 workers in the manufacture of
cotton garments, in which the wage level, standards of working hours, employ
ment of children, learners, and handicapped workers are treated. Comparisons
are made between conditions prior to and since code adoption. Failures to com
ply with code provisions are tabulated. Data from this study are given in this
issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
U n it e d S t a t e s .— Congress. House of Representatives. Committee on Labor.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in s u r a n c e : H e a r in g s ( 7 3 d C o n g ., 2 d
F e b r u a r y 1 2 , 2 1 , 1934■
P a r t 1.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 -
------ Department of Labor.
S e s s .) o n
68 pp.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r i n b itu m in o u s - c o a l m i n i n g , 1 9 3 3 .
67 pp.
II. R . 7 5 9 8 ,
B u lle tin N o . 6 0 1 :
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 8 4 -
---------------------B u l l e t i n
ti m e s to 1 9 2 8 .
in g to n , 1 9 3 4 -
N o . 6 0 4 ' H i s t o r y o f w a g e s i n th e U n i t e d S ta te s f r o m c o lo n ia l
R e v i s i o n o f B u l l e t i n N o . 4 9 9 w ith s u p p le m e n t, 1 9 2 9 - 8 3 . W a s h
5 7 4 PP-
--------------------- B u l l e t i n
N o . 6 0 9 : D i s c u s s i o n s o f la b o r la w s a n d th e ir a d m i n i s t r a
t i o n a t th e 1 9 3 3 c o n v e n tio n o f th e A s s o c i a t i o n o f G o v e r n m e n ta l O ffic ia ls i n
I n d u s t r y o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a , C h ic a g o , III.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 8 4 .
171 p p .
--------------------- R e p o r t
o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s D e le g a tio n a t th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r
C o n fe r e n c e , J u n e 1934■ W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 - 1 6 p p . ( R e p r i n t f r o m S e p te m b e r
1 9 3 4 M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w .)
---------- -—-------- S e r i a l
g e s te d r e m e d ie s .
L a b o r R e v ie w .)
N o . R . 1 3 2 : L a b o r c o n d itio n s i n s u g a r -b e e t f ie ld s , a n d s u g
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 8 4 - 6 p p . ( R e p r i n t f r o m J u l y 1 9 3 4 M o n t h l y
--------------------- S e r i a l
N o . R . 1 6 6 : O p e r a tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t in s u r a n c e s y s t e m s
i n th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d f o r e i g n c o u n tr ie s . W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 PP- ( R e
p r i n t f r o m M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w f o r J u n e , J u l y , A u g u s t, a n d S e p te m b e r 1 9 3 4 .)
--------------------- S e r i a l
N o . R . 1 6 9 : S t a t u s o f r e lie f , e tc ., w o r k e r s u n d e r w o r k m e n ’s
c o m p e n s a tio n la w s . W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 - 1 2 p p . ( R e p r i n t f r o m S e p te m b e r 1 9 3 4
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w .)
1566
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1567
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
U n ited S t a tes .— Department of Labor.
Immigration and Naturalization Serv
ice.
E d u c a tio n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a p p r o v e d b y th e S e c r e ta r y o f L a b o r , i n a c c o r d a n c e
w ith s e c tio n 4 ( E ) o f th e I m m i g r a t io n A c t o f 1 9 2 4 W a s h in g to n , J u n e 1 , 1 9 3 4 .
30 pp.
Published for the information of officers of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, including technical advisers in foreign countries, American consuls, and
alien students desiring to come to the United States to study.
-------- ;----- United States Employment Service. B u l l e t i n N o . I I : P r o c e d u r e f o r
g iv in g effe ct to th e p r o v is io n o f th e W a g n e r - P e y s e r A c t r e g a r d in g s t r ik e s o r
lo c k o u ts .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 • 9 p p .
This pamphlet defines terms such as strike and lockout, and outlines conditions
under which persons may be referred to employment openings in establishments
involved in labor disputes.
-------------------- F ir s t y e a r ’s w o r k o f th e U n ite d S ta te s E m p l o y m e n t S e r v ic e . W a s h
in g to n , 1934■ 3 PP(R e p r in t fr o m
o f th e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s .)
O c to b e r
1934
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w
------ Department of the Interior. Office of Education.
V o c a tio n a l E d u c a tio n B u l
le tin N o . 1 7 3 : T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f s o c ia l in te llig e n c e th ro u g h p a r t - t i m e e d u c a
tio n — A s t u d y m a d e f o r th e c o m m itte e o n p a r t - t i m e e d u c a tio n o f th e A m e r ic a n
V o c a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 6 7 p p ., illu s .
The character of the part-time school is undergoing a change. A tendency to
engage adult workers has reduced the number of jobs available to very young
persons. As a result the part-time schools are closed, or reemployment classes
are organized, or classes are established for over-age students and jobless adult
workers.
----- - Federal Civil Works Administration for Pennsylvania. T h e C iv il W o r k s
A d m in is tr a tio n p ro g ra m in P e n n s y lv a n ia , N o vem b er 15 , 1 9 3 3 -M a r c h 3 1 , 1934R e p o r t o f th e A d m i n i s t r a t o r .
H a r r is b u r g , 1 9 3 4 152 p p .
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
------ Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
Publications Division.
to b u lle tin s { M a y 3 1 , 1 9 3 3 - S e p te m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 3 4 ) .
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 •
In dex
37 pp.
■—-— Federal Housing Administration.
M o d e r n i z a t i o n c r e d it p l a n .
B u lle tin N o .
1 , R e la tin g to c r e d it in s u r a n c e f o r th e a lte r a tio n , r e p a ir , a n d im p r o v e m e n t o f r e a l
p r o p e r t y a s p r o v id e d f o r i n “ T itle I ” o f th e N a t i o n a l H o u s in g A c t,
W a s h in g
to n , 1 9 3 4 2 4 p p ., fo rm s.
------Government Printing Office.
C h ild r e n ’s B u r e a u [o f th e U . S . D e p a r tm e n t o f
L a b o r ] a n d o th e r p u b lic a tio n s r e la tin g to c h ild r e n .
L i s t o f p u b lic a tio n s r e la tin g
to a b o v e s u b je c t f o r s a le b y S u p e r in te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n , D . C .
W a s h in g to n , M a y 1 9 3 4 .
15 p p .
{ P r ic e l is t 7 1 —-16th ed .)
O fficial— Foreign C ou n tries
A lberta (C anada ).-—Bureau of Labor.
34-
E d m o n to n , 1 9 3 4 •
A n n u a l r e p o r t f o r th e f i s c a l y e a r 1 9 3 3 —
36 pp.
Classified weekly wage rates for wage earners only are given by sex for the
week of greatest employment in the year under review.
FRANCE.-—Ministère du Travail. A n n u a i r e s ta tis tiq u e , 1 9 3 3 . P a r i s , 1 9 3 4 [ V a r io u s p a g in g .]
Contains statistics of welfare institutions, cooperative and mutual credit or
ganizations, wages and hours of labor, employment and unemployment, savings
and insurance funds, and accidents, for different years, the last year given in the
majority of cases being 1931.
-------------- S t a t i s t i q u e
a n n u e lle d e s i n s t i t u t i o n s d ’a s s is ta n c e , 1 9 3 1 .
P a r is , 1934-
Ix v i, 71 p p .
Statistics of the assistance given in France in 1931 and earlier years to the
aged and permanently incapacitated, hospital and medical care of the sick,
maternity and infant care, care of the insane, and aid to large families.
G öteborg (S w ed e n ). — Statistiska Byrâ. S t a t i s t i s k â r s b o k f o r G ö te b o rg , 1 9 3 4 •
G ö te b o rg , 1934■
332 pp.
The yearbook contains statistical information for the city of Göteborg, Sweden,
on protection of children, trade agreements, activities of employment agencies,
unemployment, cooperation, and other matters of interest to labor.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1568
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
G reat B r it a in .— Census Office.
tio n ta b le s .
L on don , 1934-
C e n s u s o f E n g la n d a n d W a le s , 1 9 3 1 : O c c u p a
680 pp.
Occupational shifts between 1921 and 1931 as developed by the 1931 census of
occupations were reviewed in the Monthly Labor Review for September 1934
(p. 652).
— — Department of Overseas Trade. N o . 5 8 7 : E c o n o m ic c o n d itio n s i n C a n a d a
( 1 9 3 3 - 3 4 ) , b y F . W . F ie ld .
L o n d o n , 1934■
160 pp.
Among the subjects on which information is given in chapter VIII of this
report, by the senior British trade commissioner in Canada and Newfoundland,
are immigration, land settlement, employment, strikes and lockouts, wages and
hours of labor, old-age pensions, unemployment relief, wholesale and retail prices,
and cost of living.
——- Inter-Departmental Committee on Migration Policy. R e p o r t. L o n d o n ,
193493 p p.
( C m d . 4 6 8 9 .)
------ Ministry of Health. Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind.
R e p o r t o f th e s u b c o m m itte e o n m a r k e tin g a n d o th e r m a tte r s a f fe c tin g th e e m p l o y
m e n t a n d v o c a tio n a l t r a i n i n g o f b lin d p e r s o n s .
L on don , 1934•
71 p p . , m a p .
In connection with its report on the marketing of the products of blind labor
the committee discusses workshops for the blind, home work, training of the
blind, second-grade workshops, stock records, and costing.
-——- Permanent Consultative Committee on Official Statistics. G u id e to c u r r e n t
o ffic ia l s t a t i s t ic s o f th e U n ite d K i n g d o m , 1 9 3 3 .
L on don , 1934•
545 pp.
L eague of N a t io n s .— Economic Intelligence Service.
1 9 3 3 -3 4 .
G en eva, 1 9 3 4 .
i c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
3 6 5 p p . , c h a r ts .
W o r ld e c o n o m ic s u r v e y ,
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r
In addition to information on production and consumption, trade, finance, etc.,
the volume gives data on prices, wages, unemployment, and labor legislation.
------------- W o r ld p r o d u c tio n a n d p r ic e s , 1 9 2 5 - 1 9 3 3 . G e n e v a , 1934■
1 4 3 p p .,
c h a r ts .
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r i c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
M e x ic o .—-Departamento del Trabajo.
S e g u n d a m e m o r ia .
M e x ic o C i t y , 1 9 3 4 •
256 pp.
A report on the organization and activities of the Department of Labor in
Mexico, including information on labor inspection, labor unions, industrial safety
and hygiene, social welfare work, industrial disputes, wages, cost of living, hours
of labor, etc.
N ew S outh W ales (A ustra lia ).-—-Registry of Friendly Societies and Trade
Unions. R e p o r t f o r th e 1 2 m o n th s e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 3 . S y d n e y , 1 9 3 4 38 pp.
Sections are devoted to'the administration of the Friendly Societies Act, the
Workmen’s Compensation Act, operations of friendly societies, trade unions, and
statistics of both the friendly societies and trade unions.
N ew Z ea lan d .— Department of Labor. F o r ty - th ir d a n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e f i n a n
c ia l y e a r A p r i l 1, 1 9 3 3 , to M a r c h 3 1 , 1934■
W e llin g to n , 1934■
25 pp.
Summarizes the unemployment and accident situation for the year, shows the
work done under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act and other labor laws, and
lists the industrial associations and unions of workers and of employers.
------ Unemployment Board. R e p o r t, 1934■ W e llin g to n , 1 9 3 4 • 1 8 p p . , c h a r t.
A summary statement on volume of unemployment, State expenditures for
unemployment relief, and related information. Reviewed in part in this issue of
the Monthly Labor Review.
N orw ay .—-Statistiske Centralbyrá. S t a t i s t i s k d r b o k f o r N o r g e , 1 9 3 4 • O s lo , 1 9 3 4 .
278 pp.
Includes information on social insurance, cost of living, cooperation, unem
ployment, employment service, wages, strikes and lockouts, trade agreements,
labor unions, housing, welfare work, and other matters of labor interest.
Q ueenslan d (A ustralia ). — Public Service Commissioner. F o u r te e n th a n n u a l
r e p o r t, f o r th e y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1934■
B r is b a n e , 1 9 3 4 •
23 pp.
A review of wage adjustments and amendments to labor law with summary
statements on current problems.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1569
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
S cotland .— Department of Health.
R e p o r t o n i n c a p a c i t a t i n g s ic k n e s s i n th e i n
s u r e d p o p u l a t i o n o f S c o tla n d d u r in g th e y e a r J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 2 , to J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 3 .
E d in b u r g h , 1 9 3 4 4 6 P P -, d ia g r a m s .
Statistical data based on this report were published in the October 1934 issue
of the Monthly Labor Review (pp. 843-845).
S oviet U nio n (U. S. S. R.).— State Planning Commission. Central Office
of the Accountancy of the People’s Economy. S o ts ia lis tic h e s k o e s tr o ite V s tv o :
S t a t i s t i c h e s k i i e z h e g o d n ik .
M oscow , 1934-
6 2 4 PP-
( I n R u s s i a n .)
Data on wages and hours, woman labor, etc., taken from this report, are given
in this issue.
S w e d e n .—-Socialdepartementet. Riksforsakringsanstalten. [B e r a tte ls e ], d r 1 9 3 3 .
S to c k h o lm , 1 9 3 4 -
31 p p .
Annual report on operations of State social-insurance system in Sweden during
1933, including insurance against industrial accidents. Table of contents and
r6sum4 given in French.
U k r a in e (S oviet U n io n —U. S. S. R.).—State Planning Commission. D y n a m i c s
o f p r o d u c t i v i t y o f la b o r .
K h arkov, 1931.
127 pp.
( I n U k r a in i a n .)
Deals with productivity of labor in Ukraine during the period 1927-30, by
industries and occupations.
U n official
A merican F ed era tio n of L abor .
Executive Council.
c o n v e n tio n , S a n F r a n c is c o , C a lif ., O c to b e r 1 , 1 9 3 4 p p . , c h a r ts .
R e p o r t to th e 5 4 th a n n u a l
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 4 . 1 5 7
Reviewed in this issue.
B rookings I n s t it u t io n . Institute of Economics.
C o tto n u n d e r th e A g r ic u ltu r a l
A d j u s t m e n t A c t— d e v e lo p m e n ts u p to J u l y 1 9 3 4 , b y H e n r y I . R ic h a r d s . W a s h
in g to n , 1 9 3 4 129 pp.
( B r o o k in g s I n s t i t u t i o n P a m p h l e t S e r ie s N o . 1 5 .)
The scope of the volume is limited to a narrative and descriptive statement.
While some results of the legislation are shown, appraisal of the merits of the
program is left until a later date.
B u r eau of R ailw ay N ew s and S ta tistic s .
R a i l w a y s t a t i s t ic s o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s o f A m e r i c a f o r th e y e a r e n d e d D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 1 9 3 3 , c o m p a r e d w ith th e
o ffic ia l r e p o r ts f o r 1 9 3 2 a n d re c e n t s t a t i s t ic s o f f o r e ig n r a i l w a y s , p r e p a r e d b y
S la s o n T h o m p s o n .
C h ic a g o , 1 9 3 4 •
1 3 1 p p . , m a p , c h a r ts .
Includes statistics of number and compensation of railway employees and
accidents on railways in 1933 and earlier years.
H ack er , L ouis M. A s h o r t h i s to r y o f th e N e w D e a l. N e w Y o r k , F . S . C r o fts &
C o ., 1934■
1 5 1 p p . , c h a r ts .
The background, theory, and application of the New Deal are considered
separately in this volume and the action taken is evaluated. Special appendixes
are devoted to the legislative record of the Seventy-third Congress and the course
of recovery as traced in index numbers.
H ardy , C harles O.
T h e h o u s in g p r o g r a m o f th e c i t y o f V ie n n a .
B r o o k in g s I n s t i t u t i o n , 1934■
I f ® p p . , p la n s , U lu s .
I nt ern a tio n a l U n io n of F ood and D r in k W o r k er s .
1 9 3 1 -3 3 .
Z u r ic h , 1 9 3 4 .
41 PP-
W a s h in g to n ,
R e p o r t o f a c tiv itie s ,
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
Report on the activities of the secretariat and the management committee of
the union, submitted to the sixth international congress at Amsterdam, AugustSeptember 1934, including financial statements and membership statistics.
J udd , C ha rles H .
& C o ., 1 9 3 4 .
E d u c a tio n a n d s o c ia l p r o g r e s s .
285 pp.
N ew
Y o r k , H a r c o u r t, B r a c e
A discussion of what the author considers the major problems affecting the
schools in the United States.
L a w r en c e , D a v id .
I n c ., 1 9 3 4 .
B e y o n d th e N e w D e a l.
321 p p .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N e w Y o r k , M c G r a w - H i l l B o o k C o .,
1570
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
L o r im er , F r a n k , and O sborn , F r e d e r ic k .
D y n a m i c s o f p o p u la tio n : S o c ia l a n d
b io lo g ic a l s ig n if ic a n c e o f c h a n g in g b ir th r a te s i n th e U n ite d S ta te s .
N ew Y o rk ,
M a c m il l a n C o ., 1934■
4 6 1 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts .
Discusses population trends in relation to size of community, race or national
origin, and occupation or economic status; causes of population trends; and the
possibilities of social control of these trends. There are extensive charts, tables,
and bibliographical references.
M acartney , C.*A. H o u r s o f w o r k a n d e m p lo y m e n t. L o n d o n , S . IF. 1 , L e a g u e o f
N a t i o n s U n io n , 1 5 G r o sv e n o r C r e s c e n t, 1934■
96 pp.
M cC l u r e , W allace .
W o r ld p r o s p e r it y , a s s o u g h t th ro u g h th e e c o n o m ic w o r k o f
th e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s .
N e w Y o r k , M a c m il l a n C o ., 1 9 3 3 .
613 pp.
M anchoukuo Y ea r B ook , 1934.
B u r e a u , 1934■
T o k y o , E a s t - A s i a t i c E c o n o m ic I n v e s tig a tio n
3 5 2 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts , il l u s .
The 1934 edition of this year book, previous editions of which were for 1931
and 1932-33, describes the geography, history, natural resources, administration,
economic policies, etc., of the country. There are chapters on education, religion,
social welfare institutions, and labor and immigration. The chapter on labor
and immigration contains data on wages and working hours, cost of living, in
dustrial disputes, trade unions, and number of factories and workers in various
industries.
M in n e so t a , U n iv er sity o f . Employment Stabilization Research Institute.
V o c a tio n a l in te r e s t s c a le s : A n a n a l y s i s o f th re e q u e s tio n n a ir e s i n r e la tio n to
o c c u p a tio n a l c la s s if ic a tio n a n d e m p lo y m e n t s ta tu s , b y I s a b e l R . B e r m a n , J o h n
G . D a r le y , a n d D o n a ld G . P a te r s o n .
M i n n e a p o l i s , 1934■
3 5 p p . , c h a r ts .
N ational C onsu m ers ’ L ea g u e .
1 5 6 F if th A v e n u e , 1934■
L a b o r la w s o f tw e lv e s o u th e r n S ta te s .
1 3 PP-
N e w Y o rk ,
N ational T ub erc u lo sis A sso c ia tio n .
D e a th r a te s b y o c c u p a tio n , b a s e d o n d a ta
o f th e U .S . C e n s u s B u r e a u , 1 9 3 0 , e d ite d b y J e s s a m i n e s S . W h i t n e y . N e w Y o r k ,
5 0 W e s t 5 0 th S tr e e t, 1 9 3 4 .
3 2 p p . , c h a r t.
Reviewed in this issue.
P it k in , W a l ter B.
tio n .
T h e c h a n c e o f a l if e tim e : M a r c h in g o r d e r s f o r th e lo st g e n e r a
N e w Y o r k , S i m o n & S c h u s te r , 1 9 3 4 282 pp.
A suggested plan of action for the “ lost generation”, consisting of persons now
in their twenties, thirties, and early forties, to enable them to obtain homes, jobs
paying enough to support three people, existence on a comfort level, a general
system of medical service, reduction of debts, and considerable leisure.
S h e f f ie l d S ocial S urvey C o m m ittee .
S u r v e y P a m p h le t N o . 5 : A re p o rt on
th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f a d u lt e d u c a tio n i n S h e ffie ld , p r e p a r e d b y G . P . J o n e s .
[S h e f
f ie ld ? ], 1 9 3 2 .
38 pp.
A history of the more permanent and continuous adult educational institutions
established in Sheffield, England.
S h o tw ell , J ames T., Editor. T h e o r ig in s o f th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O r g a n iz a
tio n .
New_ Y o r k , C o lu m b ia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 .
2 v o ls .
( P u b lis h e d f o r
th e C a r n e g ie E n d o w m e n t f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e i n th e s e r ie s T h e P a r i s P e a c e
C o n fe r e n c e , H i s t o r y a n d D o c u m e n ts .)
S pa ffo r d , C. H.
T h e le g a l a s p e c t o f i n d u s t r i a l d is e a s e s (s e c tio n s 4 3 a n d 4 4 o f th e
W o r k m e n ’s C o m p e n s a tio n A c t [G r e a t B r i t a i n ] , 1 9 2 5 ) .
L o n d o n , B u tte r w o r th
& C o ., L t d . , 1934■
263 pp.
W atson , W. F.
T h e w o r k e r a n d w a g e in c e n tiv e s : T h e B e d a u x a n d o th e r s y s te m s .
L o n d o n , H o g a r th P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 .
46 pp.
( D a y to D a y P a m p h l e t s N o . 2 0 .)
U n iv e r s it y . Institute of Human Relations. A f t e r th e s h u t- d o w n .
P a r t I . — T h e r e a d ju s tm e n t o f i n d u s t r i a l w o r k e r s d is p la c e d b y tw o p l a n t s h u t
d o w n s , b y E w a n C la g u e a n d W a lte r J . C o u p e r .
P a r t I I .— F orm er L . C an dee
w o r k e r s i n th e d e p r e s s io n , b y E . W ig h t B a k k e .
N e w H a v e n , C o n n ., 1 9 3 4 .
1 5 3 p p . , c h a r ts .
Y ale
Reviewed in this issue.
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@FedFRASER