Full text of Monthly Labor Review : February 1932, Volume 34, Number 2

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

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

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

C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lica tio n is issu e d p u rsu a n t to th e
p ro v isio n s o f th e su n d ry c iv il a c t (41 S ta ts.
1430) ap proved M arch 4, 1921.

C o n ten ts
Special a rtic le s :
T he d ial telephone a n d u n em p lo y m e n t_____________________________
E ffect of technological changes upon occupations in th e m otor-vehicle
in d u s try ________________________________________________________
N u m b er of aged in p ublic a n d in p riv a te in stitu tio n s, 1930, b y G lenn
Steele, U n ited S ta te s C h ild ren ’s B u re a u _________________________
U nem ploym ent an d its r e lie f :
U nem ploym ent in Buffalo, N . Y., N ovem ber, 1931, a n d com parison
w ith N ovem ber, 1929 a n d 1930, b y F rederick E . C ro x to n _________
V ocational tra in in g a n d u n em p lo y m e n t____________________________
Im p o rtan c e of recreatio n in th e p re se n t u n em p lo y m en t s itu a tio n ____
Illinois— U nem plo y m en t in Chicago, O ctober, 1931_________________
M assachusetts— R ecom m endations of C om m ission on S tab ilizatio n of
E m p lo y m e n t___________________________________________________
M innesota— E m p lo y m en t tre n d s__________________________________
U nem ploym ent in foreign c o u n tries__________________________
G erm any— R elief w orks in C e n tra l G e rm a n y _______________________
Ita ly — M easures a g a in st un em p lo y m en t in T rieste P ro v in ce________
J a p a n — U nem ploy m en t in S eptem ber, 1931________________________
P o rtu g al— C ensus of unem p lo y m en t in c o n tin en tal P o rtu g a l_______
Productivity of la b o r :
C hanges in p ro d u c tiv ity of a n th ra c ite a n d b itu m in o u s coal-m ine
w orkers___________________________________
In d u stria l an d lab o r c o n d itio n s:
C alifornia— L abor c a m p s__________________________________________
N ew Jersey— Increase in fees of p riv a te em ploym ent agencies______
Mexico— M o rato riu m fo r w age earners in V era C ru z _______________
H ealth an d in d u s tria l h y g ie n e :
O ccupational h azard s from use of carbon te tra c h lo rid e _____________
O ccupational diseases in th e wood in d u s try ________________________
W ork of U nion H e a lth C en ter, New Y ork C ity ------------------------------In d u stria l accidents a n d s a f e ty :
S afety codes fo r th e p rev en tio n of d u st explosions__________________
Labor law s an d co u rt d e c is io n s:
L egislation reg u latin g ra te s of wages of em ployees on public w orks____
E m p lo y m en t c o n tra c t w ith a rtis t h eld n o t breached b y m ak in g ob­
jections or suggestions__________________________________________
E m ployee su pplyin g coal to engine h eld n o t engaged in in te rsta te
com m erce______________________________________________________
A ssum ption of risk h eld defense u n d e r F ed eral em ployers’ liability
a c t_____________________________________________________________
R ecovery u n d er com pensation a c t h eld b a r to a ctio n for w rongful
d e a th ___________________________________________________________
C ooperation:
S ta tu s of building a n d loan associations in 1930____________________
O klahom a— E stab lish m e n t of cooperative h o sp ita l__________________

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

in

Page
235
248
253

262
275
279
281
282
282
284
288
289
290
291

292
294
298
299
300
301
304
305
307
323
324
325
326
328
329

IV

CONTENTS

W orkers’ education an d tra in in g :
R ep o rt of F ed eral B oard for V ocational E d u catio n , 1930-31________
O p p o rtu n ity school of S o u th C aro lin a_____________________________
In d u stria l d is p u te s :
S trikes a n d lockouts in th e U n ited S tates in D ecem ber, 1931_______
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L abor in D ecem ber, 1931____
Labor organizations a n d c o n g resses:
R esolution of In te rn a tio n a l F ed eratio n of T each ers’ A ssociations__
M eeting of In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation for Social P ro g ress____________
Labor tu rn o v e r:
L abor tu rn o v e r in A m erican factories, D ecem ber, 1931_____________
H ousing:
B uilding perm its in p rin cip al cities of th e U n ited S tates, D ecem ber,
1931____________________________________________________________
Wages and h ours of lab o r:
W ag e-rate changes in m a n u fa c tu rin g industries, D ecem ber, 1931___
W age changes re p o rte d b y trad e-u n io n s since O ctober, 1931________
N ew Jersey— C ollection of wages in 1930-31_______________________
N ew Y ork— E arn in g s of office w orkers in factories, O ctober, 1931___
C zechoslovakia— G eneral su rv ey of w ages__________________________
H u n g ary — G eneral su rv ey of w ages________________________________
P oland— G eneral su rv ey of w ages__________________________________
R u m an ia— G eneral survey of w ages________________________________
T rend of em ploym en t:
S um m ary for D ecem ber, 1931_____________________________________
E m p lo y m en t in selected m an u fa c tu rin g in d u stries in D ecem ber, 1931 _
E m p lo y m en t in n o n m an u factu rin g industries, in D ecem ber, 1931___
T ren d of em p lo y m en t in D ecem ber, 1931, b y S ta te s ________________
E m p lo y m en t a n d pay -ro ll to ta ls in D ecem ber, 1931, in cities of over
500,000 p o p u la tio n _________
E m ployees in executive civil service of th e U n ited S tates, O ctober
a n d N ovem ber, 1931, a n d N ovem ber, 1930_________________ _____
E m p lo y m en t in building co n stru ctio n in D ecem ber, 1931___________
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I steam railro a d s in th e U n ited S ta te s _______
M assachusetts— A g ricultural em plo y m en t su rv e y s__________________
W holesale a n d re ta il p ric e s:
R e ta il prices of food in D ecem ber, 1931____________________________
R e ta il prices of coal in D ecem ber, 1931____________________________
R e ta il prices of gas in th e U n ited S ta te s ___________________________
R e ta il prices of elec tricity in th e U n ited S ta te s_____________________
Index n um bers of w holesale prices, 1890 to 1931___________________
Index num bers of wholesale prices in D ecem ber an d year, 1931_____
Cost of liv in g :
C hanges in cost of living in th e U n ited S ta te s ______________________
C ost of living in th e U n ited S tates a n d in foreign c o u n tries_________
Im m igration an d em igration:
S tatistics of im m ig ratio n for N ovem ber, 1931______________________
B ibliography:
D ism issal com pensation: A list of references, com piled by G. T.
Schw enning_____________________________________________________
P ublications relatin g to la b o r :
Official— U n ite d S ta te s ____________________________________________
Official— Foreign co u n trie s________________________________________
U nofficial_________________________________________________________

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

Page
331
334
337
339
343
343
345

349
364
366
367
370
374
392
399
411
417
419
438
441
448
448
449
451
452
453
457
457
458
459
459
463
473
476

478
493
494
496

T h is Issu e in B rief

The substitution of the dial telephone system for the manual system
decreases employment opportunities for operators by about two-thirds,
according to a study made by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics. By the end of 1930, about one-third of the telephones
in the United States were of the dial type. If the output of calls
per operator had remained the same in 1930 as in 1921, the num­
ber of operators necessary for handling the calls in 1930 for the
Bell Operating Cos. alone would have been 69,421 more than the
number actually in service. (Page 235.)
Technological changes in the motor-vehicle industry have caused im­
portant changes in the relative importance of various occupations. The
adoption of new processes has introduced new occupations and has
also resulted in some of the older occupations becoming almost un­
necessary. The outstanding occupational changes appear in con­
nection with machining operations, bench work, painting, and
machine-tool maintenance. (Page 248.)
More than 31,000 persons were being cared for in 1930 in 28 public
homes for the aged, indigent, or chronically ill, according to reports to
the United States Children's Bureau. These were city or county
homes serving a population of 13,364,989 in 26 large urban districts,
representing 16 States and the District of Columbia. In all but 2
of the 26 metropolitan areas the almshouse population was greater
at the beginning of 1931 than at the beginning of 1930. The resi­
dent population of the 145 private homes reporting showed no
appreciable change from 1930 to 1931. The reports showed that
at the end of 1930 they were running at or close to full capacity.
(Page 253.)
Cost of living in the United States was 3 per cent lower in December,
1931, than in the preceding June, and 9.3 per cent lower than in
December, 1930, as determined by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics in its semiannual survey in 32 cities. The index number of
cost of living for December, 1931, is 145.8, based on the cost in 1913
as 100. (Page 463.)
An unemployment survey of Buffalo, N. Y ., made in November, 1931,
gave the following information regarding the number and employ­
ment status of the workers of that city: Of the males able and willing
to work, 24.3 per cent were unemployed and 23.2 per cent were em­
ployed part time. Of the females able and willing to work, 21.1 per
cent were unemployed, and 16.3 per cent were employed part time.
Of the wholly unemployed males, 43 per cent had been out of work
for one year or over; the least unemployment among males was
in the age group 35 to 40 years. The most unemployment and the
least full-time employment were among the native colored group.
(Page 262.)
Approximately 624,000 workers, constituting about 40 per cent of
Chicago's working population, were unemployed on October 15, 1931,
the Illinois Department of Labor estimates in its Labor Bulletin of
November, 1931. The estimate is based on the United States Census
of Unemployment in that city for January, 1931, and on the monthly
volume of employment index for the manufacturing industries of
Chicago. (Page 281.)
v

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

VI

THIS ISSU E IN B K IEF

The importance of recreation during the present period of abnormal
unemployment was stressed at the annual recreation congress which
met at Toronto last fall. The subject was uppermost throughout
the conference, and the discussions developed a number of recommen­
dations dealing with the ways in which the recreational facilities of
the country can be used in providing employment as well as in en­
couraging and keeping up the morale of those seeking employment.
(Page 279.)
The peak in the earnings of office workers in New York State factories
was reached in October, 1930, while the first real setback in the upward
trend since 1914 took place in 1931, according to the last annual sur­
vey of earnings of factory office workers in that State made by the
State department of labor in October, 1931. With the exception of
1915 and 1922, the survey for every other year since 1914 (the date of
the first survey) has shown an increase. Weekly earnings in October,
1931, averaged $35.49 as compared with $37.48 in October, 1930, a
decrease of over 5 per cent. Men averaged $46.22 per week in com­
parison with $23.25 for women. (Page 370.)
Comparatively little is known of the toxic effects upon workers of ex­
posure to the dusts and resins of different woods. Many species of
wood, particularly those growing in the Tropics, contain active
poisons, but systematic study of the properties of these woods has
been difficult because many tropical woods have not been accurately
classified and many which are quite different botanically have been
marketed under the same commercial name. Various forms of skin
affections are the most frequent results of exposure, but serious
systemic effects may also result from work with a large number of
these woods. (Page 301.)


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

MONTHLY

LABOR R E V I E W
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
vol.

WASHINGTON

34, n o . 2

F e b r u a r y , 1932

T he D ial T elep h on e and U n em p lo y m e n t

Y THE end of 1930, nearly one-third of the telephones of the
United States were classed as dial instead of manual. The
telephones of the commercial telephone companies numbered 12,281,816 manual, 5,420,261 dial, and 201,794 unclassified. The dial
system is in use throughout the country in tiny 3-line private branch
exchanges and in small unattended rural exchanges as well as in the
great multi-office exchanges of metropolitan centers.
The number of operators at the end of 1930 employed by the Bell
Operating Cos. (which owned 86.4 per cent of the manual and 91.8
per cent of the dial telephones) was 143,979. The average number of
calls per operator per month in 1921 (when 2.7 per cent of the tele­
phones had already been converted to the dial basis) was 10,640.8.
If the output of calls per operator had remained the same in 1930, the
number of operators necessary for handling the calls made in 1930
would have been 213,400—that is, 69,421 more than the number
actually in service in the Bell Operating Cos. Similar results are
apparent among the independent companies. ^ Complete conversion
to the dial system means a loss of about two-thirds of the employment
opportunities afforded by manual operation. The period of change to
the dial is accompanied by increases in the number of employees of
certain classes, but other technological improvements which eliminate
jobs apparently more than counteract these increases. Taking 1921
as a basis and estimating the number of all employees necessary in
1930 if the output per employee had remained as in 1921, the net loss
of employment opportunities in the Bell Operating Cos. alone is
71,844.

B

Mechanism of the Dial Telephone

I f one were to visit a small automatic exchange of the Strowger
step-by-step variety, with only a hundred lines, he would see little
that is complicated or mysterious. He would first observe several
relatively conspicuous objects which, on inquiry, would prove to have
auxiliary functions. The question would naturally arise, What is
the ‘brain’ of the exchange—that is, how is a called number recog­
nized and how is a connection made between the calling party s line
and the line of the party who is called? ”
The “ brain” of the mechanism (the part that corresponds to the
plugs and the jacks of a manual board) is a small assembly of parts
known as a connector bank. A connector is an automatic switch—a
switch that is energized by the movement of the dial and not by the
hand of the operator. These automatic switches are arranged m a
235


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

236

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

bank with 10 rows or levels and with 10 switches to the row. The
rows are arranged in a semicircle, forming, roughly, half a cylinder.
Associated with each line is also a shaft with a pair of wipers, which
are used (somewhat as the cord plugs of the manual board are used)
for bringing the line of a calling party into connection with the line of
a called party by means of contact with the connector of the called
party’s line.
Leaving the central office for a moment and going to one of the
telephones of the exchange, we call the number 63. The “ 6 ” (the
tens digit on the dial) corresponds to the sixth row or level of switches
in the connector bank. When “ 6 ” is dialed, the wiper shaft of the
calling telephone goes into action (electrically energized, of course)
and is lifted to the sixth level in the connector bank. The “ 3 ” (the
units digit on the dial) corresponds to the third set of contacts in
each level (in this case, in the sixth level). When “ 3 ” is dialed,
therefore, the wiper shaft rotates within the connector bank at the
sixth level of the bank till the wipers reach the third pair of contacts.
If the line of telephone 63 is busy, a lock prevents intrusion, and
a signal (“ busy tone” or “ busy buzz”) is returned to the calling
subscriber. If the line is not busy, contact is established and the
called subscriber’s telephone rings. Talking current is automatically
supplied. The replacing of the telephones at the end of the con­
versation automatically releases the switch and restores the mech­
anism to the idle status.
Even in the simplest P. A. X. (private automatic exchange) there
are additional arrangements, such as code signals to attract the
attention of a called person who is in another office when being
called. In the rural unattended automatic exchange there are trunk
lines, represented by digits on the dial, for calling an operator at
an attended exchange, for emergency calls, for long distance, etc.
But the central feature of the automatic exchange of not more than
a hundred lines is the assembly of parts (connector^ and wipers)
known as the connector bank.
From the simple machine switchboard, just described, to the
automatic equipment of a large urban central office, there is a rapidly
increasing complexity. In an exchange of more than a hundred
lines there are selector switches for choosing the hundred group
(represented by the hundreds digit on the dial). In order to reduce
the number of selector switches, line switches are used. Trunking
arrangements in multi-office exchanges require additional devices. In
the panel system, which is said to have certain advantages for large
offices, there are decoders and decoder frames which are described
as “ mechanical card indexes” providing “ memory” for the auto­
matic “ senders.” In a word, the machinery of the dial system,
although basically simple, is too intricate in detail for clear non­
technical description.
Transition to the Dial System
T h e first commercially used automatic switchboard was installed
at La Porte, Ind., in 1892. In 1902 there were 54 automatic offices,
53 of which were operated by independent companies. Government
statistics, before 1930, fail to distinguish between manual and dial
telephones. An estimate in 1922 placed the total number of auto­
matic telephones at 513,628, or 5.1 per cent of the total of 14,662,316.

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

237

DIAL TELEPH O N E AND UNEMPLOYMENT

In the same year (1922) the number of dial telephones of the Bell
Operating Cos. was 337,868, or only 3.6 per cent of a total of 9,461,351.
But by 1930 the Bell Operating Cos. had overtaken and passed the
independent companies in per cent of change to the dial system.
At the end of 1930, 5,420,261, or 30.6 per cent of the total of 17,702,077
telephones (excluding unclassified telephones), were of the dial type
while the Bell telephones by the end of 1930 had become 31.9 per
cent dial—4,976,941 of a total of 15,583,101.
All of the 24 Bell companies have some automatic central offices.
Independent companies operate automatic equipment in 32 States.
The extension of the dial system to country districts is indicated
by the fact that by April 1, 1931, there had been 211 installations
of dial equipment of less than 500 lines, controlled by independent
companies alone. A characteristic rural network includes a number
of unattended dial offices connected by trunk lines with an operating
center, which may be either dial or manual. Often the unattended
offices are also connected with each other by trunk lines, so that a
subscriber in one community can dial directly to a subscriber in
another community.
Loss of Employment Opportunities in Selected Areas
B efore a general analysis of the whole industry was undertaken,
a somewhat detailed study was made of several exchanges and
companies. The information secured fell mainly under three heads:
(1) The transition to the dial system as indicated by number of
telephones classified as manual and dial; (2) changes in output in
terms of local exchange calls and toll calls; and (3) changes in the
total number of employees and in the numbers of specified classes
particularly affected by the dial system.
The procedure followed and the nature of the information secured
are illustrated by the following condensed and abbreviated schedule
(Table 1).
T able 1.—T E L E P H O N E S , T E L E P H O N E C A LLS, A N D P E R S O N N E L O P A S IN G L E -O F F IC E
E X C H A N G E N O W 98 P E R C E N T D IA L
Item

1925

Telephones:
18, 644
M anual _________________
Dial
___________
Average n u m b er of calls p er m onth:
Local exchange______ _____ -- 3, 368,989
60,321
Toll
............................... ............
Personnel:
Experienced sw itchboard opera­
214
tors ______- ______ ___ _____
74
Operators in train in g -______ _
C entral office installation and
13
m aintenance m en ____________

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

20,042

380
20,880

478
22,173

487
22,945

466
22,450

3, 575,102
65,302

3,438,496
73,381

4,195,446
87,540

3, 953, 536
83, 007

4, 019,404
93,177

244
35

186
1

157
0

123
6

120
4

13

29

19

18

25

All employees (all classes) :
M ale ________ __________
Fem ale__________________

102
307

155
297

147
213

115
179

123
166

113
160

T o tal__________________

409

452

360

294

289

273

The companies commonly use the term “ station” for “ telephone.”
There are several kinds of telephones, but unless otherwise indicated,
the term as used in this article refers to the so-called company station.
Company telephones include a very large proportion of all telephones.


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

238

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

In 1930, of a total of 18,438,165 telephones reported to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, 17,903,844 were company telephones.
It is highly desirable to reduce output to a standardized unit. In
the telephone industry the output consists of connections made;
that i s ,“ calls” or messages. Of course, the message is not actually
transmitted; a talking circuit is established and the subscribers
transmit their own messages. On a revenue basis, connections are
classed as local exchange calls and toll calls. There are many varieties
of both types—for example, the flat-rate single-office call, the party­
line call, etc. But the obstacles in the way of reducing the different
kinds of calls to a common denominator made necessary a simple
classification under the familiar heads local exchange calls and toll
calls.
The classes of employees most directly affected by technological
changes have been those described in company groupings as experi­
enced switchboard operators and operators in training.0 In manual
systems there is normally a large labor turnover. Often as high as
40 per cent of an operating force resign in the course of a year. In
years of rapid expansion not only resignations of operators but
increases in the demand for service have made necessary a large force
of newly recruited operators. They are on the pay rolls and are
regularly employed at switchboards, and must therefore be classed as
a regular part of the operating force.
The difficulty of maintaining normal service during the preparation
for change to dial operation makes necessary a temporary increase in
the number of operators. After the change the proportion of oper­
ators retained varies widely, the main factor being the proportion of
toll calls, because these continue to require operators.
Central-office installation and maintenance men are affected by
the change to the dial system, because of a temporary increase in
numbers during the period of installation of the dial equipment and
because of a possible permanent increase in the labor necessary for
the maintenance of automatic central offices. For a time a dispropor­
tionate number is employed in the installation as opposed to the main­
tenance of the new equipment. Most companies emplov, for a time
a relatively large number of workers for the maintenance of the new
equipment in order to have a margin of safety for the transitional
period, and there is a tendency to reduce the number as soon as the
men become familiar with the new mechanism and as soon as the
minimum number for efficient operation is ascertained. Thus far
the question as to whether or not the dial system will cause any con­
siderable permanent increase in the number of central-office installa­
tion and maintenance men can not be answered with assurance.
It is apparent that changes in the number of opportunities for
employment can not be measured merely by noting the number of
employees before and after a given technological change. Consider
the case of the exchange covered by Table 1. This exchange employed
288 operators in 1925, before the change to the dial system, and 124
m 1930, after the change. Superficially, the number of operators
displaced would seem to be the difference between 288 and 124—that
is, 164. But in the meantime the number of telephones had increased;
and the 6-year interval was marked, also, by an increase of 19 per
cent in the number of local exchange calls and of more than 54 per
cent in the number of time-consuming toll calls, which continue to
require operators even after the change to the dial basis. The prob-


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

239

DIAL TELEPH O N E AND UNEMPLOYMENT

lem, therefore, assumes this form: If the manual system had re­
mained and if there had been no increase of output per operator,
how many operators would have been required to render the increased
amount of service?
Reverting to the exchange just mentioned, there was an increase
in the number of central-office installation and maintenance men from
13 in 1925 to 25 in 1930. Here again, as in the case of operators,
the change in volume of employment is not the difference between 13
and 25, but the difference between the number actually in service in
1930 and the number which would have been necessary if the business
had expanded on a manual basis.
The usual method of calculating changes in the productivity of
labor is to correlate the changes in the number of units of labor
(preferably man-hours) with changes in the number of units of output.
In this case there are two main units of output, the local exchange
call and the toll call. In view of the difficulties of weighting or
reducing them to a common denominator, they are merely added,
though this, of course, fails to give full weight to the output side of
the labor-output equation, for toll calls obviously require more time.
In the study of selected exchanges and companies various types
were included. Some of the results are incorporated in the following
very much abbreviated tabulation, in which the exchanges are
arranged according to size (as measured by telephone calls). The
size ranges from 335,480 to 2,846,749 calls. In each case the local
exchange and toll calls are simply added, for an unweighted total.
T able 2 .—C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T O P P O R T U N IT IE S F O R O P E R A T O R S , AS M E A S­
U R E D B Y P R O D U C T IV IT Y IN T E R M S O F T E L E P H O N E C A LLS (U N W E IG H T E D ), IN
S E L E C T E D E X C H A N G E S A N D C O M P A N IE S

N um ber of operators

Exchange or company

Loss in employ­
m ent oppor­
tunities for
operators

Per cent Per cent
of dial of increase
in tele­
tele­
phones
phone
If opera­
after
calls du r­
tors
change ing tra n ­ Before After had in ­ E sti­
change change creased m ated
to dial
sition
to dial to dial
system
period
um ­
same nber
system system in
ratio as
calls

Per
cent

_________________________
_ _____________________
__________________________

84.4
96.7
100.0
100.0
11.3

i 14.7
10.9
53.1
134.2
171.4

33
60
33
42
119

15
27
16
24
270

28
67
51
98
323

13
40
35
74
53

46.4
59.7
68.6
2 75. 5
16.4

No. 1

______________________

No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No.
No.
No.
No.

7
8
9
10

_________________________
______________________
_______________________
__________________ _______

100.0
72.5
100.0
100.0
100.0

13.8
26.2
48.0
60.6
36.7

166
99
169
154
228

63
75
80
94
114

189
125
250
247
312

126
50
170
153
198

66. 7
40. 0
68.0
61.9
63. 5

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

11
12
13
14
15

_____________________________
- ________ ____________ ____ _________________________
___________________ ___ ____
_______________________ ____

100.0
100.0
100.0
98.0
95.6

24.0
114.0
33.8
19.9
34.6

165
127
213
288
455

15
19
95
124
111

205
272
285
345
612

190
253
190
221
501

2 92. 7
2 93.0
66. 7
64.1
3 81. 9

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

16
_________________________
17
________ _________________
18
.............................................
19 __________________ ___________
20 _______ __________ ____ - ..........

100.0
100.0
100.0
70.0
48.0

46.4
23.0
12.1
50. 5
18.3

232
456
591
740
2,705

17
182
310
560
1,656

340
561
663
1,114
3,200

323
379
353
554
1,546

2 95.0
67.6
< 53.2
49.7
48.3

1 Decrease.
2 Large displacem ent due to small proportion of toll calls.
3 Large displacem ent due to specialized n atu re of business.
* Small displacem ent due to part-tim e and similar labor policies and to recency of change to dial,


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

240

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

In the table preceding the large variations in the rate of increase
are due in part to variations in the length of the period of transition to
the dial system. The shortest period represented in the table is three
years. In some cases the transition has extended over several years
and in some cases it is still in progress.
In Nos. 1 and 2 the manual telephones (15.6 per cent and 3.3 per
cent, respectively, of the total number) are telephones of rural com­
munities requiring a relatively large number of operators, in pro­
portion to calls, for 24-hour service.
In No. 5, on the contrary, the manual telephones are in the urban
operating centers, and the dial telephones, only 11.3 per cent of the
total, are in rural unattended offices. The large per cent of increase
in number of calls (171.4) is due in part to natural growth over a period
of severalyears, in part to improved rural service due to the dial sys­
tem, and in part to the acquisition of new properties. But the basic
operating conditions were similar. The per cent of dial telephones
was only 11.3, but the per cent of loss of employment opportunities for
operators was 16.4. This was due largely to the fact that the instal­
lation of the dial system in even the smallest unattended exchange
eliminates three operators for the three 8-hour shifts, not counting the
time of relief and emergency operators.
Nos. 11, 12, and 16 show strikingly the importance of toll calls in
relation to number of operators. In each of these cases the toll calls
are handled either entirely or in large part by another company. In
consequence, the functions remaining to the operators are limited to
information and emergency calls and certain other special services.
The per cent of loss of employment opportunities for operators in
these three cases runs from 92.7 to 95. If operators of the companies
handling tolls were included, obviously these figures would be lower.
It is apparent that the per cent of loss of employment opportunities
varies widely, even in the cases of 100 per cent conversion to the
dial system. But if we omit exchanges with exceptional conditions,
especially those with an abnormal proportion of toll calls, which
continue to require operators, we find that under full dial operation
the number of operators required fluctuates around one-third of the
number that would have been necessary under manual operation.
This proportion (stated inversely in the last column under “ per cent
of loss of employment opportunities for operators ”) appears in Nos.
3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 17 of the above table. No. 18, which is
100 per cent dial, shows only 53.2 per cent in the last column. This
is due not so much to an exceptionally large proportion of toll calls as
to an exceptional labor policy on the part of the company. The
exchange was converted to the dial basis after the beginning of the
business depression in 1929, and the number of surplus operators was
so large that natural turnover and openings in other exchanges failed
to meet the situation. Many operators were therefore retained,
especially on a part-time basis, who would normally not be on the
pay roll. Also, the recency of the change had not allowed time for
adaptation to normal dial operation.
An impoi tant conclusion, then, is that under normal operating
conditions, complete conversion to the dial system means an average
displacement of about two-thirds of the operators. As the telephoneusing public becomes more fully accustomed to dial operation the
ratio of displacement may be expected to rise somewhat. It must be

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

' DIAL TELEPH O N E AND UNEMPLOYMENT

241

noted, also, that the recent trend has been rapidly toward the auto­
matic handling of the simpler types of toll calls. This trend, if it
continues, will further reduce the proportion of operators needed
after the change to the dial.
Loss of Employment Opportunities in the Industry as a Whole
G eneral statistics adapted to_ the purpose of this inquiry are
available only for the Bell Operating Cos. In 1930 these companies
owned 86.4 per cent of the manual telephones classified as “ company
stations” and 91.8 per cent of the dial telephones. They originated
86.4 per cent of local exchange calls and 90.4 per cent of toll calls.
On their pay rolls were 88.3 per cent of the workers in the employ of
commercial telephone companies.1
The independent companies took the lead in the change to the dial
system, and they have generally maintained their positions by efficient
and economical operation. It is a reasonable presumption that the
effects of technological changes among the independent companies are
similar in extent as well as in nature to the effects in the Bell System.
I t is a generally recognized fact in the telephone industry that an
exchange which is installing dial equipment requires a larger number
of operators during the period of preparation for the change (or
“ cut over”) to the dial. That is, in exchanges undergoing this
transition the average number of telephones per operator declines
till the change has been completed. This means that if we take the
system as a whole, but include only the manual telephones, we should
expect a decline in the average number of manual telephones per
operator. But this is not the case. The average number of manual
telephones per operator in 1921 was 72.7, and in 1930, 73.6.
If the average number of telephone calls per telephone had declined,
this might explain why the operators have been able to maintain a
virtually constant average as to number of telephones per operator.
But instead of declining, the number of calls per telephone has risen.
There was a noticeable increase in the monthly average number of
local exchange calls per telephone (137.83 in 1921 and 140.27 in 1930)
and a marked increase in the monthly average of time-consuming
toll calls per telephone (4.51 in 1921 and 5.45 in 1930).
In sum, operators have materially increased their efficiency inde­
pendently of the dial system during the past 10 years. The resulting
increased productivity per operator has combined with the change to
dial operation to reduce the number of operators necessary for han­
dling the total number of calls demanded by subscribers. What are
some of the changes, other than the transition to the dial system,
which account for increased productivity per operator?
Although we are now concerned with analyzing the effects of tech­
nological changes on employment in the entire industry, it will be
helpful to think in terms of the problem of personnel of a particular
exchange. Here is an exchange with about 3,900 manual telephones,
about 5,000,000 local exchange calls per month, and about 200,000
toll calls per month. What is the minimum number of operators
needed? The answer involves, on the one hand, the problem of
keeping constantly available to the users of about 3,900 telephones
the facilities of the exchange for making connections; and, on the
Figures are derived from d ata furnished b y In te rsta te Commerce Commission (totals) and Am erican
Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Bell O perating Cos.).


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

242

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

other hand, the problem of actually making about 5,000,000 local
exchange connections and about 200,000 toll connections each month
In order that the services of the exchange may be available to all at
all houis, it is necessary at times to have on duty more operators than
aie kept busy by the connections actually demanded. But during
much of the time the volume of calls is large enough to make it pos­
sible to allocate to each operator approximately as many calls as she
can handle efficiently.
We may assume that the switchboard equipment is modern and
flexible, permitting ready shifting of line terminals and ready con­
traction and expansion of the number of telephones assigned to a
given operating position. With equipment of this type, the problem
ol keeping the_number of operators at a minimum is chiefly the prob­
lem of maintaining at as high a level as possible the number of calls
per operator. _The natural ambition of the managers of exchanges to
maintain a high level has led in recent years to several important
improvements.
Among such changes is the very simple device known as “ restricted
repetition ’’—that is, the repetition by the operator of numbers being
called, only m case of uncertainty. The number of calls per operator’
m the case of ordinary local calls during the peak of traffic, has in this
way been increased about 10 per cent.
‘‘Straightforward trunking,” a method of handling trunked calls
bv A and B operators in multi-office exchanges, has increased the number of calls of this type, during the busy hour, about 7 per cent.
... r°bably the most important changes have occurred in the handhng of toll calls From 1922 to 1930 the average number of minutes
required to establish a toll connection was reduced from about 12 to
about 2 minutes. The difference, of course, is not a net savins- of
operating time. In 1930, 82 per cent of the toll calls were made with­
out the calling subscriber hanging up his receiver
Toll calls over distances up to about 30 miles (and frequently up
to 60 miles) are now handled usually by the same operating methods
as are used for making local exchange connections. By 1929 the toll
Oborin ^us handled (by the Bell Operating Cos.) numbered about
650,000,000 as compared with about 300,000,000 handled by the tollboard method of operation. To facilitate this trend, various improve­
ments have been made. Between points with heavy toll traffic direct
trunk lines have been installed. By 1929, 80 per cent of the toll mes­
sages handled by the Bell Operating Cos. were handled by direct circuits without intermediate switching; 17 per cent required only one
intermediate switch; and only 3 per cent required more than one
intermediate switch. For handling the messages which require switchmg a reorganization of the switching facilities of the Bell System
included the establishment of 8 regional switching centers and 147
with a«T
l°11tietS‘
°ffic®important
S in the entire
sTstem
are connected
vith
at least
one of +L°n
the more
switching
centers,
and any
W°. toll offices can be connected either directly or by means of a
ber °i Swit?hes‘ Quality of transmission is maintained
+
b7 J t
T tem ?f re.Peatars- ,A saving of time, especially on
the part of the calling subscriber, has been effected by the “ combined
line and recording plan for concentrating as far as possible, in the
hands of a single operator, the work of making a toll connection.2
Jan u ary
B G h e ra rd ia n d F . E l/Jew ett


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

- A ’ A f f ual R eport, 1930, pp. 4,29; a nd Bell System T echnical Jour“ Telephone C om m unication System of th e U nited States!” by

243

DIAL TELEPH O N E AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Many improvements have been made, but toll calls remain com­
paratively complicated and time consuming, requiring, for example,
in extreme cases, as many as 20 operators for their completion. To
use the telephone call as a unit of output without some form of
weighting of the types of calls which require more time means ob­
viously an incomplete picture of output. But changes in the number
of calls, even in a crude, unweighted form, when correlated with
changes in number of employees, indicate more adequately than do
changes in number of telephones the effects on volume of employ­
ment of technological changes other than the introduction of the dial
system. During the “ busy hours,” the number of operators on duty
in a given office is determined directly not by the number of telephones
which an operator can ordinarily manage, but by the number of calls
she can answer per minute or per hour. This in turn is affected
vitally by the technological changes (other than the introduction of
the dial system) which have just been described.
While the full extent of increased efficiency—that is, of produc­
tivity per operator—and of the accompanying loss of employment
opportunities can be measured only by weighting the more timeconsuming types of calls, the use of the unweighted call as a basic
unit of output in the following table gives a conservative approxi­
mation of the effect of other factors combined with the transition to
dial operation.
T able 3 .—C H A N G E S IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y M E N T O P P O R T U N IT IE S F O R O P E R A T O R S IN T H E B E L L O P E R A T IN G COS., 1921-1930, AS M E A S U R E D B Y PR O D U C T IV IT Y
IN T E R M S OF T E L E P H O N E C A LLS (U N W E IG H T E D )

Per
cent
Y ear

1921____
1922
1923
1924
1925 . .
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930____

tele­
phones
formed
of
total

2. 7
3.6
5. 6
8.7
12.5
15. 5
18. 7
21. 8
26.2
31.9

N um ber of telephone calls originated
per m onth

Local ex­
change

1, 220, 671, 711
1, 339, 084, 737
1,493,178, 513
1, 585, 420,196
1, 694, 318, 694
1, 815,407, 885
1, 896, 001, 798
2,012,971,131
2,165, 801, 042
2,185,811,832

Toll

39,947, 656
45, 361, 288
49, 768, 681
54,365, 214
63,044,437
71,120, 712
78,416, 363
86,132, 848
93, 893,143
84,944, 233

T otal (un­
weighted)

1, 260, 619, 367
1, 384, 446, 025
1, 542,947,194
1,639, 785, 410
1, 757, 363,131
1, 886, 528, 597
1,974,418,161
2, 099,103,979
2,259,694,185
2, 270, 756, 065

Telephone calls N u m ­
ber
per operator
of
N um ­
oper­
ber
ators
of
oper­
Per requir­
on
ators
cent ed
N um ber of
in
in ­ basis
of
(un­
service
crease 1921
weighted) over
1921 o u tput
118, 470
126,080
138, 435
139, 891
148, 856
150, 753
150, 301
153, 260
161,669
143,979

10, 641
10,981
11,146
11,722
11,806
12, 514
13,136
13, 696
13,977
15, 771

3.2
4.7
10. 2
11.0
17.6
23.5
28.7
31.4
48.2

118,470
130,107
145, 003
154,103
165,153
177, 291
185, 551
197, 269
212, 361
213, 400

Loss of em­
ploym ent
opportunities
for operators

E sti­
m ated Per
n u m ­ cent
ber

4,027
6, 568
14, 212
id, 297
26, 538
35, 250
44, 009
50, 692
69,421

3. 1
4.5
9. 2
9. 9
15. 0
19. C
22. 3
23. 9
32. 5

In 1921, the year taken as the base in Table 3, a beginning had
been made in the change to dial operation; but even so, the results
indicated in the table are not without significance. If the produc­
tivity of operators as measured conservatively by unweighted
telephone connections made by them had remained the same as in
1921, the number of operators necessary in 1930 to make the number
of connections required in 1930 would have been 213,400 instead ol
the number actually in service, i. e., 143,979. That is to say, if the
number of connections demanded in 1930 had been made manually

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

244

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

on the basis of the output per operator prevailing in 1921, 69,421
additional operators would have been needed. The per cent of loss
of employment opportunities, as measured in this way, has followed
somewhat closely, it will be noted, the per cent of telephones that
were dial-operated in each of the years included. Thus, in 1930
the per cent of dial telephones was 31.9 and the per cent of loss of
employment opportunities was 32.5. TVith the extension of the dial
program, the per cent of loss of opportunity will not increase so
rapidly, since operators for long-distance calls and for many special
services continue to be required.
Technological changes have most noticeably affected the telephone
operators; but the output of the industry is, of course, a joint product
of the work of all classes, and a well-rounded view requires inclusion
of all, and especially of the classes most directly concerned with the
installation and maintenance of plant equipment. The machine
switchboard is under the care of the central-office installation and
maintenance men. The dial system requires alterations also in
connection with those parts of the plant which are in charge of
the groups known as line and construction installation and main­
tenance men and cable and conduit construction and maintenance
men. Each of these classes was separately included in the statistics
of changes in number of employees. No attempt was made to study
the effects of such labor-saving devices as have recently been intro­
duced in the digging of trenches, the handling of poles, etc., as such
changes are not peculiar to the telephone industry. But if there
have been any marked increases in the amount of labor required
in these groups, due to change to the dial system, the increases ought
to be recognized.
The method used in estimating changes in volume of employment
in other groups is substantially the same as was applied in the case
of the operators. _ The principal final output of the work of all classes
is telephone service.
From 1921 to 1930 the total number of calls (unweighted) originated
per month in the Bell Operating Cos. increased 80.13 per cent. In
Table 4 this per cent of increase has been used to calculate the
number of employees in selected classes and in all classes that would
have been required in 1930 to render the increased amount of service
had there been no increased productivity per employee. By sub­
tracting these numbers from the numbers actually in service in 1930
we have an estimate, on the basis of productivity in terms of telephone
calls, of the changes in employment opportunities due to increased
productivity, which, in turn, was due largely to technological
improvements.
Table 4 reveals a strikingly close approximation of the net loss of
employment opportunities for all classes (71,844) with the loss of
opportunities for operators only (69,421).
The Bell Operating Cos., at the end of December, 1930, owned 86.4
per cent of all company manual stations and 91.8 per cent of all com­
pany dial stations and had on their pay rolls 88.3 per cent of all
telephone company employees. Therefore, in order to include the
independent companies it is necessary to increase by approximately
10 per cent the results obtained in the preceding tables based on Bell
companies.

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

245

DIAL TELEPH O N E AND UNEMPLOYMENT

T able 4 .—C H A N G E S IN N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y M E N T O P P O R T U N IT IE S , B E L L O P E R ­
A T IN G COS 1921 TO 1930, AS M E A S U R E D B Y P R O D U C T IV IT Y IN T E R M S O F T E L E ­
P H O N E CA LLS (U N W E IG H T E D )
N um ber of employees
1930
Class of employees
1921
A ctual

E stim ated
gain or loss
in em ploy­
On basis
m ent op­
of increase portunities
of tele­
phone calls
(80.13 per
cent)

O perators--------------------- ------ ---------------------------------Central-office installation and m aintenance m en ------Line and construction installation and m aintenance
m en
______
-______
Cable and conduit construction and m aintenance men_
O ther classes----------- ------------- ---------------------------------

118,470
11,441

143,979
23, 373

213, 400
20,609

-69,421
+2, 764

22,497
6, 363
59,959

32,686
12,174
109,942

40, 524
11, 462
108,003

i -7,838
+712
+ 1,939

T o tal________________________________________

218, 730

322,154

393,998

-71,844

1 Decline due largely to protective wires b y cabling.

An exact calculation of changes in the number of employment
opportunities based on the changing productivity of labor requires the
use of a uniform and constant unit o f labor equated with a uniform and
constant unit of output. The estimates in the preceding tables are
therefore not exact, but it is believed that they are conservative in the
sense of failing to record the full effects of technological changes on the
decline of employment opportunities in the telephone industry.
In the first place, the computations overestimate the amount of
labor and underestimate the amount of output. Up to 1930, changes
in hours per day and in length of vacations, absence from duty, etc.,
were negligible. But in 1930 there was frequent resort to parttime employment, furloughs without pay, and similar arrangements
for retaining as many employees as possible and at the same time
reducing work time and costs of operation. The economic^depression
finds free expression in reduced units of output but not in units of
labor unless labor units are reduced to a man-hour basis._
In the second place, the output side of the equation is incomplete
because of the difficulty of weighting the more time-consuming types
of calls, and because of the omission of all forms of output except palls.
A recent account by a telephone engineer listed 12 “ special services’’
and additional “ by-products,” and these in some cases not only have
considerable revenue-producing value but consume a considerable
fraction of employees’ work time. In this connection, note should be
made of the very large use of labor for capital expansion, in recent
years. The investments in fixed capital (plant and equipment) by
companies reporting to the Interstate Commerce Commission increased
from $1,853,944,975 at the end of 1921 to $4,445,139,058 at the end
of 1930. The accompanying relatively large use of labor for an excep­
tional expansion of the capital investment finds no corresponding
increase in the volume of output during the same period, as measured
by telephone calls.
96957°— 32------2


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

246

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

A final reason for considering the data conservative, as an estimate
of labor displacement resulting from technological changes, is the fact
that because of the availability of comparable statistics, the year 1921
is taken as a base, although already in that year there were 236,036
dial telephones in the Bell Operating Cos. alone. In 1921 the aver­
age number of manual telephones per operator in the Bell companies
was 72.7. Dividing the number of dial telephones in 1921 (236,036),
by this number, we find that already, in 1921 the displacement of
operators due to the dial system in the Bell System alone was
approximately 3,247.
The effects of important improvements in a large number of private
branch exchanges are excluded entirely from the above estimates.
Of course the validity of the calculations of displacement on the
basis of productivity depends on the assumption that the expansion of
the industry in terms of units of output would have occurred to ap­
proximately the same extent if the technological changes had not been
made. If the depression of 1929 had not intervened, the demands for
service would ultimately have outrun the limits of the manual system.
But there seems to be no reason to believe that between 1921 and 1930
the increased number, either of telephones or of telephone calls, was
due in any appreciable degree to the dial system or to labor-saving
methods of operation. Expansion naturally accompanied the general
growth of business and particularly the speeding up of the tempo
of life.
Meeting the Problem of Displacement

T he problem of what to do with surplus employees became acute
only after the beginning of the business depression in 1929. The dial
system was inaugurated and has been carried forward as part of a
policy of scientific study and long-term planning which has included a
serious attempt to meet the problems of labor arising out of conversion
to automatic operation. In this matter the telephone industry may
safely be said to have been exceptional, though in this field as well as
in other industries the intensification of the problem of surplus labor
by industrial crisis seems not to have been foreseen or provided for.
During the period of business expansion before 1929, technological
displacement led directly to relatively little unemployment. The
normal turnover in the operating force was very large, running as
high as 40 per cent. Operators not needed in one central office could
be transferred to another, or could usually find employment elsewhere,
and such transfers or changes were facilitated by the thorough
organization of the telephone industry. In consequence, the decline
of employment opportunities in the telephone industry before 1929
was obscured partly by resignations and rapid turnover, partly by
transfers to other offices of the telephone industry, and partly by the
absorption of the displaced workers by other industries.
Since 1929 the problem has been handled in a manner indicated in
some degree by a public announcement made by a telephone company
official in November, 1931, concerning plans fora projected “ cutover”
to dial. “ The dial employment problem is especially difficult,” it was
stated, “ and for a long time we have only felt able to express the hope
that it could be solved without a lay-off, plus a determination to avoid
one if possible. However, with the greater anxiety felt by the whole

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

DIAL TELEPH O N E AND UNEMPLOYMENT

247

community that employment should not be diminished, and the
further study we have given the situation, we now feel warranted in
promising employment to all our regular employees involved.” I t
was stated that this would not apply to temporary employees (the
general policy preceding a cut over being the engagement of operators
on a temporary basis) and that part-time work by regular employees
might be necessary for putting the plan into effect.
I t is to be noted that the arrangements described for meeting the
employment problem growing out of technological improvements,
particularly the conversion to dial operation, are concerned only with
surplus labor on the pay rolls of the telephone companies. The
larger problem of the total decline in employment opportunities
naturally lies beyond the scope of policy of a single organization or
industry and merges with the general social problem of unemployment.


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

E ffect of T ech n o lo g ica l C h an ges u p o n O ccu p a tio n s in th e M otorV eh icle In d u stry

HE effects of technological changes upon occupations in the
motor-vehicle industry are indicated in the accompanying table
and chart, which are based on the classification of wage earners by
occupations as made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its 1922,
1925, 1928, and 1930 studies of wages and hours of labor in that
industry.
In 1922 the workers in all the occupations involved in body build­
ing were classified as body builders, and all specialized sheet-metal
workers were classified as sheet-metal workers, skilled. In 1925 these
were divided to show detail for the respective occupations within each
group. The 1922 figures for body builders aiid sheet-metal workers,
skilled, are shown in the table but are not indicated on the chart.
Changes in the industry have necessitated some minor changes in
other classifications from time to time, as well as the introduction of a
few entirely new classified groups. The same method of compilation
was applied in each study and, with few exceptions, the studies
covered identical plants.
The following table shows the number of wage earners scheduled
in each occupation in each study and the per cent which the number
in each occupation is of all wage earners scheduled in the respective
study :

T

N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O P W A G E E A R N E R S IN E A C H O C C U P A T IO N , 1922, 1925,
1928, A N D 1930
N um ber of employees

Per cent of total

Occupation
1922
A pprentices______________ ___ _________
300
Assemblers, a x le .. . . . . . . . . . ______ _
763
Assemblers, body fram e.
_ ____
Assemblers, chassis and final
„ .
4,635
Assemblers, chassis fra m e .____________ . . .
364
Assemblers, m o tor. ___________ ._
___ 2,149
A utom atic operators, lath e a n d screw machine
1,673
Balancers. _ . .
_______
______
Bench hands, m achine sh o p _______________
2,190
B o d y b u ild e rs__________
.......
. . 1,604
Boring m ill operators______ ____________
392
B um pers________ ____ . _ _ ______________
C rane operators . . . . ______ ___ _ ___
C utters, cloth a n d leather. _.
.......
D ie setters____________ __________________
D ing m en ______________
Door hangers___
_ ____________
D rill press o p e ra to rs ________ _ _________ 3, 487
G ear cu tter operators _____
..
497
G rinding m achine operators.
....
2, 577
H am m erm en, forge sh o p ______ __ ____
388
O ther forge-shop em ployees. __________ ___
656
H ardeners_________________ ______ _____
667
H elpers__________________ _________ . . _ 1,042
Inspectors
. . . _________ .
....
3,005
Laborers____________________ . . ___
6, 028
Lacquer ru b b e rs_________ ____________
L ath e operators_______
. ___ __________ 2,962
Letterers, stripers, and final touch-up, h a n d ..
762
Stripers, mechanical_______________________
M a c h in is ts_________________ . . _______
1,291
M etal finishers_______________ __________
M etal panelers_____ _______________ . . .
M illing-machine operators____________ . . . 1, 605
M illw rights____. . . ___________ _______
M olders, belt, drip, etc____ ______________
Painters, g en eral.. ______________
______ 2,114
P a in t sprayers . ___ . _______
______
177
P a tte rn m a k e rs ___ . ___________________
Planer and shaper operators.............................. .
Î65

248


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

1925

1928

1930

1922

1925

1928

544
1,946
3, 091
loi 654
1, 115
4,899
2, 628

1,167
2,716
3, 268
13,475
1,125
4, 940
1,842

0.5
1.4

0.4
1.4
2 1
7.4
.8
3.4
1.8

0.8
1.8
9 1
8. 8
.7
3.2
1.2

2, 474

2,220

831
2,307
2 668
9,160
665
4, 721
1,769
137
1,608

1.7

1.4

828
323
145
237
274
209
659
8,787
1,331
5,431
1,040
1, 661
945
3, 044
8,113
16, 697
709
6, 301
990

1,129
358
217
217
224
235
672
8, 652
1,121
5, 427
850
1,833
720
4,102
8, 082
15, 654
1, 501
5, 553
676

.6
9
1
_2
9

.7

.9

1

J2

3,604
3, 397
l' 655
3, 569

3,465
4, 606
1, 947
3, 231

266
1,950
993

672
2,163
1, 600

308

401

1,202
398
212
328
523
201
523
6, 683
1,144
5,150
1,148
1,621
1,116
1,894
7, 327
11,387
1, 868
4,358
547
72
3, 432
5, 404
1 646
2,803
833
362
1,112
1,726
477
257

8.2
.7
3.8
3.0
3.9
2. 8
.7

1930
0.6
1. 7
9O
6.8
.5
3.5
1.3
1
L2

^5
6.1
.9
3.8
.7
1.2
.7
2.1
5.6
11. 6
.5
4.4
.7

9
9
4
5.6
.7
3.5
.6
1.2
.5
2.7
5.3
10.2
10
3.6
.4

2.5
2 4
1 9
2.5

2. 3
3 0
13
2.1

J2

A

3.8
.3

1.4
.7

1.4
1.0

.8
1.3

.3

.2

.3

.2

6. 2
.9
4.6
.7
1.2
1.2
1.9
5.3
10. 7
5.3
1.4
2.3
2.9

5.0
.9
3.8
.9
1.2
.8
1.4
5.4
8.4
14
3! 2
.4
1
2.5
4 0
2.1
_6

249

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES— MOTOR-VEHICLE INDUSTRY

N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF W A G E E A R N E R S IN E A C H O C C U P A T IO N , 1922, 1925,
1928, A N D 1930—C ontinued
Per cent of total

N um ber of employees
Occupation

1922

Platers
__ __________ ___ ________
Polishers and buffers._______ ________
P unch and press operators
. . . . . . __ Sand blasters, e tc ___ . .
-------------------Sanders and rough-stuff rubbers
_____
Sewing-machine operators..
Sheet-m etalw orkers. ________ . . . . . .
Sheet-metal workers, skilled
Straighteners
____
Testers, final.
. _ __________ :
. . . -----Testers, m otor a n d transm ission. _. . ------Tool and die m akers___ ________ _ ----------T op builders_______________
______ ____
T rim bench h a n d s__________________ . . . .
V arnish rubbers_____ __________ . ------W elders and braziers, h a n d ____ _ ___ _ -W elders, machine
_
...
..
W oodworking-machine operators. _________ _
O ther skilled occupations*___ _ ________ . .
O ther employees_________________ ______
Total

..

.

.

564
1,096
480
606
1,304
779
666
489
1,097
1, 428
384
501

1925

1928

1930

181
1,095
4,519
954
1,937
X, 491
3,150

358
2,030
4, 368
1,026
2, 734
1,089
2. 497

302
1,783
4,596
696
2, 383
1,284
3,071

628
741
1,433
3, 689
4, 570
947
553
783
677
1,942
3, 779
10,476

531
538
749
3,523
4, 377
1,054
357
1,197
825
1,815
5, 623
13, 210

629
337
778
5,175
4,485
1, 534
146
1,153
1,411
1,264
3,050
11,214

1922
1.0
2.0
.9
1.1
2.3
1. 4
1. 2
.9
2.0
2.5
.7
.9

1925

1928

0.1
.8
3.1
.7
1.3
1.0
2.2

0.2
1.3
2.8
.7
1.8
.7
1.6

1930
0.2
1.3
3.4
.5
1.8
1.0
2.3

.4
.5
1.0
2.6
3.2
.7
.4
.5
.5
1.4
2.6
7.3

.3
.4
.5
2.3
2.8
.7
.2
.8
.5
1.2
3.7

.5
.3

.6

8.6

3.8
3.3
1.1
.1
.9
1. 1
.9
2.3
8.3

................. ............ 56,309 144, 362 153,962 134,912 100.0 100.0 100.0

100.0

1,674
3, 748

3.0
6.7

The chart indicates the trend in employment in the various occupa­
tional classifications as shown by the per cent that the number in each
classified occupation is of the total number of wage earners covered
in each study. The chart presents many interesting implications and
indicates certain employment trends that are taking place with regard
to various phases of manufacture.1
The outstanding changes appear in connection with machining
operations, bench work, paint shops, and machine-tool maintenance.
On the basis of the comparative number of workers employed, the
chart indicates that there has been a considerable reduction in the
amount of bench work since 1922; that there lias been a rather con­
sistent decrease in the comparative number of employees required for
the operation of drill presses, lathes, milling machines, planers and
shapers, and woodworking machines; that there has been an increase
in the number required to operate boring mills and presses; that
although automatic operators decreased in 1925 and 1928 as compared
with 1922, there had been a slight increase at the time of the 1930
study.
The decided decrease in the amount of bench work as evidenced by
comparison of the four studies implies greater standardization, better
production methods, and less necessity for fitting in preparation for
assembly.
The gradual but general adoption since 1923 of pyroxylin lacquers as
a finishing material has caused decided fluctuation in the paint-shop
and finishing occupations in the industry. It has affected such groups
as letterers, stripers, and final touch-up, metal finishers, painters,
paint sprayers, sanders and rough-stuff rubbers, and varnish rubbers
and has brought into being a new group who put the final polish on
the lacquer finish and are designated lacquer rubbers by the bureau.
The number employed as letterers, stripers, and final touch-up,
painters, and varnish rubbers have been diminished considerably,
i N o detailed stu d y has recently been m ade of m achines, processes, labor-saving devices, or schemes
in the motor-vehicle in d u stry b y th e bureau, b u t such a stu d y is contem plated for the near future. A n
article entitled “ Workers, m achinery, and production, in the m otor vehicle in d u s try ” appeared in the
October, 1924, M onthly L abor Review. I t gave in detail the im provem ents in design and productive
capacity in term s of o u tp u t per wage earner of a large num ber of specified machines, processes, and shop
practices.


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

250

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

OCCU PA TIO N AL CH AN G ES IN MOTOR V E H IC L E IN D U STRY. 1922 TO 1930

Occupation

Percent o f a ll employees
/

ffppren t/ces
Assemblers, a xle
Assemblers, body fram e
Assemblers, chassis and fin a l
Assemblers, chassis fram e
Assemblers, m otor
Automatic operators, /at/reand sere*machine
Balancers
B ench hands, machine shop
Boring m ill operators
Bumpers
Crane operators
Cutters, cloth and leather
D ie setters
Bing men
Boor hangers B n //p re ss operators
Gear cutter operators
Grinding machine operators
Hammermen, torge shop
Other forge shop em ployees
Hardeners
Helpers
Inspectors
Laborers
Lacquer rubbers
Lathe operators
Letterers, sfr/pers, a n d fin a l
touch up, hand

!9£Z


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

2

3

4-

5

L,

7

8

9

io // /Z

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES— MOTOR-VEHICLE INDUSTRY

251

O CCU PA TIO N AL C H AN GES IN MOTOR V E H IC L E IN D U STRY. 1922 TO 1930— Continued

Per ce n t o b a ll employees

Occupation
/

1

3

4

5

i

7

6

9

10 II

12

2

3

4

5

6

7

6

9 / 0/ 1/ 2

Stripers, mechanical
M a c h in is t s

Meta/ finishers
Me fa ! pane/ers
Milling machine operators
Millwrights
Mo/ders, be/f, drip\ etc.
Painfers, genera/
Pam t sp ra yers
Pa ifernmakers
Planer and shaper opera/ors
Pla fers
Polishers and buffers
Punch and p ress operators
Sandblasters, etc
Sanders and rough s tu ff rubbers
Sew/ng m acb/ne operafors
Sheet m e ta / .markers
5 tra/gh teners
Testers; fin a l
Testers, m otor and transm ission
Tool and die m akers
Top builders
Trim bench hands
Varnish ru b b ers
Welders and braziers, hand

jjg|

Welders, machine

¡L

Woodworking m achine opera/ors

/
t=3 1922


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

csa 1925

era 1928

■$>»

252

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

while.the number employed as lacquer rubbers, metal finishers, paint
sprayers, and sanders and rough-stuff rubbers have decidedly increased.
The process of paint striping was being performed in 1930 in many
plants by the use of instruments. This semimechanical process,
which requires much less skill than the hand method, is a new one and
is indicated in 1930 as stripers, mechanical.
In the forge shop and the stamping departments, respectively,
a slight increase is shown for hammermen and a more decided one
for punch and press operators. These conditions appear to be
partially responsible for a rather decided increase in the comparative
number of tool and die makers reported. It is also probable that the
high percentage employed as tool and die makers in 1930 is partially
the result of an effort by employers in general, during the present
depression, to perpetuate their maintenance and repair organizations
with a view to being well equipped when business conditions improve.
It is also interesting to note the extent to which more modern
welding methods are finding a place in the industry. This is evidenced
by the number of welders and braziers, hand, which includes welders
using hand welding equipment in repairing broken cast-iron, steel,
or aluminum stock and equipment, and also welders, machine, which
includes all of the mechanical methods of welding, such as bar, butt,
flash, intermittent spot, and continuous seam used in normal processes
of production.


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

N u m b er o f Aged in P u b lic an d in P rivate In stitu tio n s , 1930
By Glenn Steele, U nited States Children’s B ureau

T IS nine years since a Federal census was taken of the number of
indigent in public institutions provided for their care. In its
Paupers in Almshouses, 1923, the United States Bureau of the Census
provided an enumeration so classified as to give statistics on the aged
dependents in county or city homes throughout the United States.
Comprehensive information on the population and cost of almshouses
in 1923-24 is also available from a report of the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics on the Cost of American Almshouses (Bulletin
No. 386). In the absence of later figures of national scope, it has
been necessary to look to much less comprehensive statistics for
recent findings relating to the extent of public institutional care of
the aged. Keen interest has been manifested in such findings, both
because of the increased number of dependent aged and because
factual data on public care have been most useful in the study to
determine future policies that should be pursued to insure old-age
security.
The census of 1930 showed that there were 6,633,805 persons 65
years of age and over in the United States, and that there were
1,700,590 more such persons in 1930 than in .1920. The effects of
increased longevity and the reduction of immigration are seen in the
increased proportion that persons aged 65 years or oyer constitute
of the total population of the United States. This proportion
advanced from 4.66 per cent in 1920 to 5.40 per cent in 1930. The
incidence of dependency in this age group is unknown, although
various estimates have been made.
The Social Work Year Book of 1929, summing up results of various
studies on the subject, found that “ most authoritative surveys indi­
cate that nearly one-third (65 years of age or over) are dependent.”
These studies were made before the beginning of the business depres­
sion and it may be assumed that the subsequent drop in employment
has advanced the proportion needing assistance, not only as it has
affected wage earners in the group but as it has deprived others of
family support.

I

Public Care of the Aged
I ncreased public effort to meet the problem has been indicated in
the marked advance in public outdoor relief for persons of all ages,
shown by recent statistics available for urban areas,1in the develop­
ment of old-age pension systems provided under State legislation,2
and in expanding action for the retirement of superannuated public
employees.
There is a question as to whether there has been any general and
recent upward swing in the trend of public institutional care for the
aged in the country as a whole. Some interesting evidence applicable
only to urban conditions has been made available through a collection
1 M onthly L abor Review, A pril, 1931, pp. 20-28: Cost of F am ily R eliefin 100 Cities, 1929 and 1930; and
U . S. C hildren’s B ureau report, Relief Expenditures, January-Septem ber, 1931.
.
. ,,
2 M onthly L abor Review , Jun e, 1931, pp. 1-14: O peration of Public Old-age Pension Systems m the
U nited States, 1930,


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

¿0 6

254

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

of data begun by the joint committee for the registration of social
statistics.3
Of 173 homes for the aged, indigent, or chronically ill which were
reporting to the joint committee on January 1, 1930, 28 were city or
county homes serving a population of 13,364,989 in 26 large urban
districts, representing 16 States and the District of Columbia.
More than 31,000 persons were inmates of these homes during
1930. An age classification was not secured whereby definite sta­
tistics of the number of aged in the group could be given, but it is
assumed that the inmates were preponderantly old people.
Eighty per cent of the total dependents in almshouses were above
50 years of age, according to the census of 1923. Comparison of the
1923 figures with previous enumerations showed that the county or
city homes were gradually being depopulated of the younger depend­
ents^ usually defective, as special institutions for their care were
provided.
Instructions to the almshouses reporting in 1930 requested that
defectives housed separately in special wings or buildings should not
be reported, but that if some defective individuals were in the general
almshouse population their numbers could be included in the reports.
In Table 1 the number of inmates during 1930 in institutions in
each of the 26 metropolitan areas from which reports were received
is shown, together with the rates per thousand population, 65 years
of age and oyer. The number of inmates in each home was calcu­
lated by adding to the enumerated institutional population of Jan­
uary 1, 1930; the admissions during the year. Persons who were
admitted during 1930, discharged, and subsequently readmitted were
counted but once, except in Detroit and Washington, D. C., where
réadmissions could not be eliminated from the count.
The rates based on population serve to show the extent to which
public care of the aged and the indigent by the institutional method
prevails in the various communities. Obviously, they do not afford
a basis for intercity comparisons of dependency, as many aged
dependents are either cared for in their own homes by public outdoor
relief or are provided for by private homes and agencies.
In Cleveland, whose city home has the relatively low rate of 25.8
persons per 1,000 population 65 years of age and over, much has been
done by private effort to maintain the needy aged in their own surroundings. Under two large endowments in that city, $213,408 was
expended during 1930 for direct relief to 458 persons of advanced age.
Other old people were cared for under the general program of out­
door relief, largely private.
The high rate shown for Duluth, 155.8, is chiefly due to the hospital
service for the poor provided by one of the homes reporting from that
area. It was found that the average length of time inmates of this
county hospital were kept under care during the year was 46 days.
This indicated a much greater turnover of cases than was usual for
county homes. In Omaha, where the rate of persons served was also
relatively high, reports were from the county hospital in which the
average period of care during 1930 was 84 days. With the exception
tJ?e local com m unity research com m ittee of th e U niversity of Chicago, cooperating w ith
to t ^ aTT°9a
TUif Commu n lty Chests and Councils. T h e w ork of th is com m ittee w as transferred
t o t e U . S. C hildren s B ureau on Ju ly 1,1930. A lthough th e bu reau w ill continue to assemble from laree
m etropolitan areas social statistics dealing w ith child welfare and related fields, th e statistical i nform ation
regarding old-age in stitu tio n al care w hich has been assembled w ill n o t be covered b y i ts reports.


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

255

AGED IN PUBLIC AND P ill VATE INSTITUTIONS

of these two areas, the community rates reported were all below 100
inmates per 1,000 population 65 years of age and over, ranging from
8.6 in Minneapolis to 81.7 in New Haven.
T able 1 —N U M B E R OF C O U N T Y OR C IT Y H O M E S R E P O R T IN G , N U M B E R OF IN M A T E S ,
A N D N U M B E R P E R 1,000 P O P U L A T IO N 65 Y E A R S OF A G E A N D O V ER , 1930
Inm ate in 1930
M etropolitan area

Berkeley, C a lif _______________________
Buffalo,'N . Y _________________________
Canton, O hio______ ___ _ ___ _ .
Chicago, 111. - ............... . . ___ __ _
C incinnati, Ohio____
__
____
Cleveland, Ohio__ __________ ____ ___
______________
D ay to n , O hio_____ .
D enver, C o l o __
D etro it, M ich _ _________ . . . . .
____________
D u lu th , M in n __ H arrisburg, P a - _______ __
__
K ansas C ity , M o . _______ . . _ ___
__
_
L ancaster, P a
M inneapolis, M in n . ____
N ew ark, N . J .
- ____ __
N ew H av en , Conn
.
- ____
Om aha, N e b r. -__ _____
T h e Oranges, N . J . .
- ________
R ichm ond, Va
__ _ _________ ___ ___
Sharon, P a
__
_______
Sioux C ity , Iow a _ _ _ _ _ ____ __
Springfield, Ill_ _
Springfield, M ass
_____ ___ _______
St. Paul, M in n
__ _ ______ _____
W ashington, D . C ____ _______ ______ _
W ichita, K a n s ___
_____ - ___ ___ -

Number
of insti­
tutions
report­
ing

1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1

Area served b y homes
N um ber

Alameda C ounty _______
E rie C o u n ty_______
S tark C o u n ty_____________
Cook C o u n ty ____________.
H am ilto n C ounty
C ity __
. __ _ ____
M ontgom ery C o u n ty __ __
D enver C ounty . _ ______
W ayne C o u n ty , ________
St. Louis C o u n t y ________
D a u p h in C o u n ty _________
Jackson C o u n ty ___________
Lancaster C o u n ty _________
H ennepin C o u n ty _________
C i t y - . l __________________
C ity ___ _ ______ ____ _
Douglas C o u n ty __ ______
Essex C ou n ty (in p a rt)____
C ity
* _______
M ercer C o u n ty ___________
W oodbury C o u n ty________
Sangamon C o u n ty ._ _
C ity _____ _
_______
R am sey C o u n ty . _______
D istrict of C olum bia______
Sedgwick C o u n ty . _______

1, 958
L 179
450
6, 639
l' 352
'832
561
234
8,373
l' 418
'481
1,186
' 390
264
843
747
1,857
91
422
159
177
309
237
409
3 710
236

Per 1,000
population
65 years of
age and over
64.9
30. 2
37.1
41. 0
35. 8
25. 8
34. 6
11. 8
0)

(2)

0)

155. 8
48. 5
44. 3
25. 0
8. 6
47.7
81.7
145.4
52.1
26.9
31.9
44. 5
28. 8
23.1
30.9

1 N ot com puted because n um ber of inm ates included persons discharged and readm itted.
2 R ate no t com puted.
3 N um ber cared for d u rin g fiscal year 1930-31.

For the purpose of comparing the statistics of 1930 with those of
a former year, the reports made by almshouses to the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics for its study of 1923-24 were used, except
in the case of Cincinnati. The report for that city for 1923 was se­
cured through the courtesy of the Helen Trounstine Foundation. The
number of inmates reported by each almshouse in the earlier study
was usually an average for the year 1923, but in a few instances
enumerations as of particular dates in 1923 or 1924 were reported.
The figures for 1930 were set up by corresponding methods, either
averages or enumerations of the institutional population being used
to correspond to the earlier data.
The figures for Washington, D. C., were for a period extending
into 1931, a daily average being reported for the fiscal year ending
in June. This was comparable to the institutional population re­
ported for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1923. Statistics of both
studies are presented in Table 2.
The rates calculated per 100,000 population for each period show
that Canton, Detroit, Richmond, and Springfield, Mass., had fewer
almshouse inmates in proportion to population in 1930 than in 1923.
In Canton and Detroit there were more persons in almshouses in
1930 than in the former period, but the increases had not kejit pace
with the increases in population in those two cities. Thus, in 4 of

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

256

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

the 20 areas for which comparable rates are shown, the 1930 rates
were lower than those of 1923, and in 16 areas the rates were higher.
Of the latter, Springfield, 111., Minneapolis, Duluth, Sioux City, New
Haven, and Washington, D. C., had the largest increases in rates per
100,000 population, according to the statistics for the two periods.
However, in Minneapolis the rate in both periods was below that
of other cities. In Duluth the statistics represent the county farm
but not the county hospital. The figures for Washington are inter­
esting, as they are reported from a home used almost solely for the
aged. The average number of those under care in this institution
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1923, was 67 per 100,000 popula­
tion as compared with an average of 97 per 100,000 population in
the home during the fiscal year 1930-31, an increase in rate of 45
per cent.
T able 3.—A V E R A G E N U M B E R i O F IN M A T E S IN C O U N T Y OR C IT Y H O M E S A N D R A T E
P E R 100,000 P O P U L A T IO N , 1923 A N D 1930
Inm ates in county or city homes
M etropolitan area

Average num ber 1
1923 a

Berkeley, Calif ___________ _ _ _ __ - __ _
Buffalo, N . Y ___________________________ _______
C anton, Ohio
_
_ _ _
Chicago, 111 - ______- _ _____ ___ ______________
Cincinnati, Ohio_________ _ __ ______
Cleveland, Ohio_____
_
__ ___ ___________
D ayton, Ohio_____________ __ __ _______ _______ D enver, Colo ____
D etroit, M ich _______ ___
. ..
___ __. ■
D u lu th , M in n .5 - - - - - ..
_ __ _
. _ ___
H arrisburg, P a- ___________ ___ ____- ___
Kansas C ity, M o ___ _
__
_ ________
Lancaster, P a
___ _ ______
_ __ . .
_____
M inneapolis, M in n
___ _______ ___
_ . _ ___
N ewark, N . J
__
_
____ ____ ____
__
N ew H aven, Conn _
_ _ _
O maha, N ebr - - - - - ........
T he Oranges, N . J . _____
- ___ . .
R ichm ond, V a _______
____ _ _
Sharon, P a - _______ _ - ________ _ _________
Sioux C ity, Iow a _______ _ - ___ _ _ ____ ___ ____
Springfield, 111_ . _ - - - - - .
_______
Springfield, M ass________- - - - - - - ___ _
_________
St. Paul, M inn-___________ _ _________________
W ashington, D . C
...... .......................................................
W ichita, K a n s______
-------

(*)
(4)

586
280
625

0)

261
123
2,278
222
186
602
119
84

«
(4)
(4)

246
318
206
67
93
122
189
304
78

1930
760
753
306
3,911
814
601
339
173
2,728
381
235
813
187
183
432
360
385
63
179
85
106
190
106
292
7 473
136

Per 100,000 population 2
1923
(4)
86.4
145.5
(4)
118.7
(4) .
112.8
46.0
160. 4
107.9
118.3
149.4
65. 5
18.7
(4)
151.3
148.4
(4)
117.4
(4)
70.2
89.3
89.4
73.0
66.9
72.7

1930
160.0
98.8
138.0
98.2
138.1
66.7
124.0
60.1
144.4
186.2
142.2
172.8
95.0
35.3
97.7
221.3
165.2
(6)
97.9
85.6
104.3
170.0
70.7
101.8
97.2
99.8

1 Except for C anton, H arrisburg, N ew H aven, and R ichm ond, for w hich enum eration of inm ates on a
particular d ay is given.
2 E stim ated as of Ju ly 1, 1923, and enum erated as of A pr. 1, 1930.
2 From reports made to U . S. B ureau of L abor Statistics, except for num ber of inm ates in C incinnati
reported b y H elen T rounstine Foundation.
5 R eports n o t available or no t on a base com parable w ith 1930.
5 R eport of one hom e excluded.
6 R ate no t com puted.
7 D aily average, fiscal year ending June 30, 1931.

Complete figures for the year 1931 are not yet available from
registration reports, but enumerations of inmates in city or county
homes on the first day of 1931 have been reported from 26 areas, and
are compared in Table 3 with the enumerations on the first day of
1930.


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

257

AGED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IN STITUTIO NS

T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF IN M A T E S IN C O U N T Y OR C IT Y H O M E S JA N U A R Y 1.1930 A N D 1931,
A N D N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E
N um ber of
inm ates
J a n . 1—

N um ber of
inm ates
Jan. 1—

Increase

Increase

M etropolitan area

M etropolitan area
1930
Springfield TYTa.<v5
W ichita Ka n a
D u lu th , M inn ____
C incinnati, Ohio _ __
Buffalo, N . Y
Sharon, Pa
N ew ark, N J
St Paul M inn
Kansas C ity , Mo
New H a v e n ,'C o n n ...
M inneapolis, M in n ...
Harriabnrg, Pa,
Om aha, N eb r________

100
117
436
791
750
85
432
279
804
317
170
235
377

u m ­ Per
1931 Nber
cent
131
148
551
977
885
98
497
319
915
360
190
262
420

31
31
115
186
135
13
65
40
in
43
20
27
43

31. 0
26. 5
26. 4
23. 5
18. 0
15. 3
15. 0
14. 3
13. 8
13. 6
11.8
11. 5
11.4

1930

204
Lancaster, P a ___ ____
200
Springfield, 111.-. ___
W ashington, D . C____ 1453
62
T h e Oranges, N . J _ .
105
Sioux C ity, Io w a_____
D etroit, M ich ------------ 2,904
D ay to n , Ohio . . . . .
356
757
Berkeley, Calif_______
R ichm ond, V a__ ____
163
296
C anton, O h io _______
591
Cleveland, O h io ... . . .
Chicago, 111
. ___ 3,960
174
D enver, Colo________

1 E num eration as of Jan. 31.

um
1931 Nber
227
218
1490
67
' 111
3, 031
370
786
169
306
606
3,941
166

23
18
37
5
6
127
14
29
6
10
15
2 19
28

Per
cent
11.3
9.0
8.2
8. 1
5.7
4.4
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.4
2.5
2.5
24.6

2 Decrease.

An array of the percentages of change shows that in all metro­
politan areas but two, populations of county or city homes were
larger at the commencement of 1931 than at the beginning of the
preceding year. However, as populations on particular dates are
subject to slight changes of no significance, the service in the last 10
areas listed may be considered as having been practically upon the
same scale at the beginning of each year.
Reports on bed facilities available from institutions in 24 areas
(shown in Table 4) give some further index of the recent trend of
public institutional care of the aged.
T able 4 .—N U M B E R OF B E D S IN C O U N T Y O R C IT Y H O M E S , JA N U A R Y 31,1930 A N D 1931
A N D IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E
N um ber of beds
M etropolitan area

Berkeley, Calif .
___
- ______
___
Buffalo,“N . Y
_____________________________
Chicago, Til
_ _
C incinnati, Ohio
- - __- - ____________ - __
Cleveland, Ohio
___ _______ -____- ___
D ayton, Ohio
__
_________ ___
D enver, Colo
____ ___ _
_ _ __ _ __
_____ _
-- _____
D etroit, M ich
_
__
D u lu th , M in n
_
______ _ _________ __- _____
H arrisburg, P a .
__ _ ______ -- ____- - - -- ______ -K ansas C ity , M o
_ _________
______
- - ___ ____
Lancaster P a
_ ____
____ _
M inneapolis, M in n
______
___ ________ _
N ew ark, N . J _ ___
_______ - __
_ _ ________ —
N pw TTftvp.n Conn
_ _________
Omaha., N ebr
___
_________ ___
T h e Oranges N I
_____
______
Biuhmnnd V a
_
_____ ____ ____
St Paul M inn
_ _ _ ______ _________
Sioux C ity , Iow a
______ - __ _________ -- -- — -Springfield, Til
_____ _______ ____ __
— _
Springfield, M ass_____ __________________________________ ____
W ashington T ) C
_ ____________ __
W ichita, K ans
________________________________ 1 On Jan . 1.


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

Jan. 31,
1930
776
819
4,100
866
609
373
175
2,828
490
1 308
808
200
200
1 440
500
415
75
200
290
115
150
105
518
120

Jan. 31,
1931
789
1,129
4,100
1,009
620
393
175
3,405
490
296
908
200
215
515
500
415
75
200
290
135
150
133
518
160

Increase or
decrease
+13
+310
+143
+11
+20
+577
-1 2
+100
+15
+75

+20
+28
+40

258

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

From the foregoing data it may be seen that in the following 19
areas there was evidence of increase in almshouse populations, either
from higher rates of service in 1930 than in 1923 or from fairly signif­
icant increases in institutional population from January 1, 1930, to
January 1, 1931: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dayton, Denver, Duluth,
Harrisburg, Kansas City, Mo., Lancaster, Newark, Minneapolis,
New Haven, Omaha, Sharon, Sioux City, Springfield, 111., Springfield,
Mass., St. Paul, Washington, and Wichita.
While conditions varied considerably in the communities repre­
sented^ the conclusions point to increasing rather than decreasing
trends in county or city home care in large urban centers. In view
of the increased number of aged and the urgent needs during the
period of economic depression beginning late in 1929 this finding is not
unexpected. Outdoor relief, both public and private, has been
greatly increased, and by its means a few large cities—notably Chicago
and Cleveland—apparently have been able to alleviate distress with­
out recourse to additional almshouse commitments. In the majority
of cities in the study, however, in spite of large expansion in outdoor
relief programs, almshouse populations were increased from 1930 to
1931.
Another factor of importance which should be noted is that, although
legislation for public pensions to the aged has been increasing, and has
been adopted by 17 States, relief through this medium was not
effective in 1930 in any of the metropolitan areas reporting except
Berkeley.
While it is too early to trace the effect of recent legislation of this
type upon the older form of institutional care, advocates of public
measures which will give financial assistance to the aged in their own
homes look forward to the elimination of public institutional care for
the able-bodied aged. In a conference on the care of the aged held
under the auspices of the Graduate School of Social Service Adminis­
tration of the University of Chicago, in March, 1930, Dr. I. M.
Rubinow, director of the conference, stated:
N o t all th e public poorhouses, alm shouses, o r c o u n ty hom es a re q u ite as
gruesom e as oth ers; b u t except th e co m p arativ ely sm a ll p ercen tag e of th o se for
w hom in stitu tio n a l care is necessary, in stitu tio n a liz a tio n of able-bodied aged is
freq u en tly unnecessary, cruel, a n d n o t in freq u en tly unnecessarily expensive.
T he psychologic effects of life in these c o n cen tratio n cam ps fo r th e aged should
offer a m ost in terestin g su b ject of in v estig atio n , b u t even w ith o u t it, in a p u rely
em pirical w ay, every social w orker is fam iliar w ith th e stu b b o rn resistan ce of
m ost old folks ag ain st co m m itm en t to a n in s titu tio n .4

Financial reports received from county or city homes in 14 areas
gave the annual costs of operation. These expenditures for main­
tenance have been related to the total number of days’ service to
institution inmates during 1930 in order to derive cost per day’s care.
(Table 5.) fine rates varied, being as low as 41 cents per day in
Cleveland and Springfield, 111., and reaching $1.84 in Lancaster.
No attempt can be made to analyze the differences in community
expenditures per day’s care, as information on the character of the
care given was not reported.
* Deuteeh Foundation. Proceedings of th e Conference on Care of the Aged, 1930.
of Chicago Press, 1931, p. 10.


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

Chicago. U niversitv
J

259

AGED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IN STITU TIO N S

T able 5 .—A N N U A L C O S T O F O P E R A T I O N , T O T A L D A Y S ’ C A R E G I V E N , A N D A V E R A G E
I able o .
p E R D A Y >g C A R E , I N C O U N T Y O R C I T Y H O M E S , 1930

A nnual
cost of
opera­
tion

N um ­
ber of
days of
care
given

Aver­
age
cost
per
d ay ’s
care

Berkeley, Calif________ $438,013
Buffalo, N . Y _________ 359, 518
73, 595
C anton, O hio_______
89,103
Cleveland, Ohio------D ayton, Ohio.
. . . . . 73,163
129,864
D u lu th , M in n ._ ------Kansas C ity, M o--------- 249, 623

278, 594
276, 844
108,640
219,458
123, 682
172,485
308, 972

$1. 57
1. 30
.68

M etropolitan area

.41

.59
. 75
.81

M etropolitan area

A nnual
cost of
opera­
tion

Lancaster, P a ------- ------ $136, 858
Omaha, N e b r. . . ------- 167, 540
30, 375
T he Oranges, N . J ------24, 877
Sioux C ity, Iow a____ .
29,490
Springfield. Ill
47, 720
Springfield, M ass------24, 710
W ichita, K an s________

N u m ­ Aver­
age
ber of
days of cost
per
care
d ay’s
given
care
74,484
156,141
22,849
38,154
71, 625
38, 516
50, 905

$1.84
1.07
1.33
.65
.41
1. 24
.49

Private Homes for the Aged
P r i v a t e homes reporting institutional care of adults under the
registration of social statistics during 1930 were chiefly homes for
the aged, although a few institutions for chronic invalids submitted
reports. It was not the purpose to include homes that charged an
admission fee of $1,000 or more.
Statistics of 145 homes in 23 metropolitan areas were tabulated.
In 18 of these areas all the homes listed made returns. Homes fail­
ing to report were in Cleveland, Denver, Lancaster, and Richmond,
one in each city, and in Chicago where the smaller homes were not
completely covered. Omissions are considered minor except for
Denver, in which an important private institution failed to report.
Of the 145 institutions, the sectarian homes, 64 in number, formed
the largest group. The nonsectarian homes included homes for
various nationality groups, private benevolent institutions, and others
of which a few were homes for incurables.
Only residents of the metropolitan areas reporting were considered
in the count of inmates. Nonresidents in regional homes or other
institutions receiving inmates from different localities were not
included. Therefore, in Table 6 the service reported is that given
to the designated districts of each community. The total institu­
tional population for the year 1930 in each home was arrived at by
adding to the enumerated population of January, 1930, the new ad­
missions during the year.
The rate per 1,000 population, 65 years and over, calculated lor
each area, shows that New Orleans had the most extensive private
home care in proportion to its aged population. There is no public
home for aged people in that city. Cincinnati was the only other city
listed that had a rate of more than 50 inmates in private homes per
1,000 population of 65 years of age and over. Rates for Buffalo,
Kansas City, Minneapolis, Richmond, and St. Paul, were somewhat
similar, ranging from 21.7 in St. Paul to 30.8 in Richmond. ^ In the
other cities the number of aged inmates in private homes during 1930
was below 20 per 1,000 population of advanced age. The rates for
Chicago and Denver would have been increased by complete reporting.


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

260

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 6 .—N U M B E R OF P R IV A T E H O M E S R E P O R T IN G , N U M B E R O F IN M A T E S , A N D
N U M B E R P E R 1,000 P O P U L A T IO N , 65 Y E A R S OF A G E A N D O V ER , 1930

M etropolitan area

N um ber
N um ber per 1,000
N um ber
of
popula­
of homes inm ates tion, 65
reporting during
years of
1930 1
age and
over

D escription of area

Bridgeport, Conn_.
Buffalo, N . Y _____
Canton, Ohio_____
Chicago, 111______
C incinnati, O hio.-Cleveland, Ohio__
C olum bus, Ohio___
D ay to n , Ohio_____
D enver, Colo.2____
Des Moines, Iowa__
D etroit, M ich____

Bridgeport, Fairfield, and S tratford_____
E rie C ou n ty (in p a rt)__________________
C ity and environs______________________
C i t y . . . ----------------------------------------------H am ilton C ou n ty ______________________
Cuyahoga C ounty (in p a rt)__________ _
Franklin C o u n ty ______________________
M ontgom ery C o u n ty __________________
D enver C o u n ty ________________________
C ity --------------------------------------------------D etroit, H am tram ck, H ighland Park,
an d th e Grosse Points.
C ity --------------------------------------------------D auphin, Perry, and C um berland C oun­
ties (in p a rt).
C ity __________________________________
Lancaster city and tow n sh ip____________
M inneapolis and E d in a ________________
C ity ____ ______ _______________________
___ do ________________________________
C ity and e n v iro n s..____________________
C ity --------------------------------------------------H enrico and Chesterfield C ounties______
Springfield and tow ns of Longmeadow and
W est Springfield.
R am sey C o u n ty _______________________

D u lu th , M in n ____
H arrisburg, P a ____
K ansas C ity, M o ...
Lancaster, P a _____
M inneapolis, M inn
N ew ark, N . J _____
N ew H aven, C onn.
N ew Orleans, La___
Omaha, N e b r_____
R ichm ond, V a ____
Springfield, M a s s..
St. Paul, M in n ___

3
10

1

20

18
9

1

2

3
1

9

83
929
22

1,966
2,013
394
15
61
167
13
784

2

100

1

42

7

524

9.7
24.8
4.1
14.6
53.3
9.0
.7
4.5
8.4
1.6

17.3
18.3
3.3
24.1

1

10

2.0

11
4
3
15
5
5
3

613
209
153
1,363
207
328
97

22.3

11

384

21.7

11.8

16. 7
68.6

17.6
30.8
10.3

1 Includes only those inm ates who were residents of area specified.
2 R eport of 1 im p o rtan t agency not included.

Comparison of Private and Public Care

A comparison of the extent of private and public home care in
each community is interesting but can be presented for only 15
metropolitan areas. The number of total days’ care given during 1930
in institutions for the aged to residents of these communities is shown
in Table 7, with figures on the amount and proportion of this care
furnished by public and by private homes.
T able 7 —N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T A G E O F D A Y S ’ C A R E G IV E N TO R E S ID E N T S B Y
P U B L IC A N D B Y P R IV A T E H O M E S F O R T H E C A R E OF T H E A G E D
D a y s ’ care given
B y public homes

M etropolitan area

B y private homes

T otal
N um ber
Buffalo, N . Y _____
C anton, Ohio_____
Chicago, 111_______
Cincinnati, O h io .-.
Cleveland, Ohio___
D ayton, O hio_____
D enver, Colod____
D etroit, M ich _____
D u lu th , M in n ____
K ansas C ity, M o ...
M inneapolis, M inn.
N ew Orleans, L a-._
Omaha, N eb r_____
Springfield, M ass...
St. Paul, M in n ____

535, 385
61, 824
1,967, 762
836, 234
340, 984
142, 028
106, 899
1,209, 082
157, 107
440, 612
243, 528
371,160
217,197
69, 238
227,848

1 Report of 1 im portant agency not included.


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

P er cent
of total

276,844
54, 320
1, 365,189
301, 158
219, 458
123, 682
62, 359
993, 265
129, 570
287, 942
58, 260

51.7
87.9
69.4
36.0
64.4
87.1
58.3
82.2
82.5
65.4
23.9

156,141
37,660
107,097

71.9
54.4
47.0

N um ber

258, 541
7, 504
602, 573
535, 076
121, 526
18, 346
44, 540
215, 817
27, 537
152, 670
185, 268
371,160
61,056
31, 578
120, 751

Per cent
of total
48.3
12.1
30.6
64.0
35.6
12.9
41. 7
17.8
17.5
34.6
76. 1
100.0
28.1
45.6
53.0

AGED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IN STITUTIO NS

261

In making this comparison, information on days’ care is preferred
to persons cared for, as it provides for consideration of the duration
of care, a factor not accounted for when population comparisons are
made. In all but four areas the public homes provided the largest
amount of service. Eliminating New Orleans, which had no public
home, there were, in fact, but three areas—Cincinnati, Minneapolis,
and St. Paul—where days’ care given by private homes in 1930 ex­
ceeded days’ care provided by public institutions. Possibly Denver
would be added to this list, if complete returns from private homes in
that area had been received. The conclusions must, of course, be
interpreted with an understanding that although some inmates are
not aged, in homes of both types, the proportion of such inmates is
larger in the public institutions.
The enumerations of inmates in private homes reported for 1930
and 1931 on the first day of January, when compared, disclosed no
appreciable change by 1931 of the number of old persons under care
in any reporting area. The rates of increase computed were not
more than 7 per cent in any area, except Duluth, where privatehome population increased 17 per cent. Such information as was
reported on capacity, as of December, 1930, indicated that the private
homes were running at or close to full capacity. Most private homes
have waiting lists, and vacancies caused by discharge or death are
soon filled. For this reason, there is little fluctuation in private-home
population, except when facilities or policies are changed. Various
requirements for admission, such as religious affiliations, nationality,
character, health, or ability to pay an entrance fee, limit the numbers
eligible for care in many private homes.
96957°— 32------3


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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
U n em p lo y m e n t in B uffalo, N. Y ., N ovem ber, 1931, and C om ­
p arison w ith N ovem ber, 1929 and 1930
B y F r e d e r ic k E . C r o x t o n , C o l u m b ia U n iv e r s it y

Introduction

HIS, the third annual study of unemployment in Buffalo, was
conducted during the first week of November, 1931, and is similar
to previous studies made in Buffalo in November, 1929, and Novem­
ber, 1930.1 This article presents certain of the more important find­
ings of the 1931 Buffalo study and compares them with the results
of the two earlier studies. In general outline the Buffalo studies are
similar to a series of five studies made in Columbus, Ohio, in the years
1921 to 1925, inclusive.1
The first of the three Buffalo studies was under the auspices of the
New York State Department of Labor, while the two later ones were
under the joint auspices of that department and the Buffalo Founda­
tion. The task of selecting the areas to be enumerated was under­
taken by the Buffalo Foundation. That organization was able to
bring to bear upon the problem a wealth of previous information and
experience concerning the city of Buffalo and the composition of its
population. Nine areas were selected as reasonably representative
of the city and certainly more satisfactory than any random selection
of blocks could be expected to be. The data were obtained by houseto-house visits within these nine areas in each year, the actual enum­
eration being done by students of State Teachers College and of the
University of Buffalo, assisted in 1929 by students of Canisius College
and in 1930 and 1931 by a number of volunteers, trained social workers,
and experienced paid enumerators. The field workers were given
detailed printed instructions, supplemented by oral discussion, and
their work was closely supervised. The data were gathered as of
Monday, November 4, in 1929, as of Monday, November 3, in 1930,
and as of Monday, November 2, in 1931.
Data were requested for all males 18 years of age or over (except
those in school) and for all females 18 years of age or over who were
usually employed in gainful occupations. Thus, all housewives were
omitted, as were also all women who worked outside the home on a
part-time basis in addition to their housework. The schedule used in
1930 and 1931 called for information for each person as to relation to
head of household, sex, age, nativity, present or last employer, indus-

T

1 R esults of th e 1929 Buffalo stu d y appeared as Special B ulletin N o. 163 of th e B ureau of S tatistics and
Inform ation of th e N ew Y ork S tate D epartm en t of Labor a n d as th e seventy-second num ber of the F ounda­
tion Forum of th e Buffalo Foundation. T h e 1930 Buffalo s tu d y is presented as Special B ulletin N o. 167 of
th e Division of Statistics an d Inform ation an d as th e seventy-third num ber of th e Foundation Forum .
Figuresfor 1931 are sh o w n in Special B ulletin N o. 172 of th e D ivision of L abor Statistics a nd in thesev en ty fifth n u m b er of th e Foundation Forum . D etails of th e C olum bus studies m ay be found in U nited States
B ureau of L abor Statistics Bui. N o. 409. T h e L abor Review for F ebruary, 1930, presented a comparison
of th e 1929 Buffalo stu d y and th e five Colum bus studies, while a comparison of th e Buffalo figures for 1929
and 1930 was given in th e Labor Review for Jan u a ry , 1931.

262

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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

263

try and occupation, employment status, and whether able to worR
and willing to work. In regard to employment status each person
was classified according to whether he was employed full time, or if
employed less than full time, what fraction of the usual full time, or if
unemployed, how long had such unemployment continued and why
was he out of work. The schedule for 1929 was essentially the same
except for the omission of the inquiries concerning whether able to
work and willing to work and except also that the inquiry as to age was
added after the study had been begun in 1929 and data of age were
obtained for but part of the unemployed rather than for all persons
as in the later studies. As indicated in the 1930 study, the questions
concerning whether able to work and whether willing to work were
included as an experiment. Answers to these questions when taken
in conjunction with the reported reason for idleness assisted in
classifying the unemployed into the major categories—(1) able and
willing to work, (2) temporarily unable to work, (3) permanently
unable to work, and (4) unwilling to work. Two years’ use of the
schedule in its present form has shown its simple but practical
qualities.
Summary of Results
T h e more important findings of the Buffalo studies may be listed
as follows:
1. Of the males who were able and willing to work, 6.2 per cent
were unemployed in 1929, 17.2 per cent were unemployed in 1930,
and 24.3 per cent were unemployed in 1931. The proportion of
males unemployed of those able and willing to work was thus over
one and one-half times as great in 1931 as in 1930 and nearly four
times as great in 1931 as in 1929. (Table 3.)
2. In 1929, 7.1 per cent of the males able and willing to work
were employed part time. This figure rose in 1930 to 18.6 per cent
and in 1931 to 23.2 per cent. Thus, the proportion of the males
able and willing to work who were employed part time was about
one and one-third times as great in 1931 as in 1930 and over three
times as great in 1931 as in 1929. (Table 3.)
3. Of the females who were able and willing to work the proportion
unemployed was about one and one-half times as great in 1931 as
in 1930 and six times as great in 1931 as in 1929. (Table 3.)
4. At each successive study there was not only a larger proportion
of men employed part time, but the part-time employment represented
a smaller fraction of full time. (Table 3.)
5. Unemployment had been of decidedly longer duration at the
time of the 1931 study than at the time of the 1930 study. In turn,
unemployment had been of longer duration in 1930 than in 1929.
(Table 8.)
6. Considering the males able and willing to work, by age groups,
it was found that the least unemployment was present among those
from 35 to 45 years of age in 1930 and among those from 35 to 40
years of age in 1931. In each year the proportion unemployed in each
age group increased steadily as the groups considered were either
younger or older. (Table 5.)
7. As previously found, it was again true in 1931 that the most
unemployment and the least full-time employment were among the
native colored group, while the least unemployment and the most
full-time employment were among the native whites.


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

264

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

8. The greatest proportions of unemployment and part-time
employment of males were present in the manufacturing and me­
chanical industries in each year. The industry groups which
employed large numbers of males and which showed the most
unemployment and underemployment were building trades, manu­
facture and servicing of automobiles, parts, and tires, and manufacture
of iron and steel and their products. In 1931 the manufacture of
airplanes was first classified as a separate industry and showed a
large proportion of males unemployed. The greatest proportion of
full-time employment was present among males engaged in profes­
sional service, the self-employed (other than building contractors),
and government employees. Nearly every important industry group
showed a greater proportion of males unemployed and underemployed
at each successive study. (Table 9.)
9. While comparable data for 1929 are not available, the figures
for 1930 and 1931 reveal a rather remarkable stability of the small
proportions of the males enumerated who were either unable or
unwilling to work. (Table 6.)
Scope of Studies

I n 1929 the enumeration included 15,164 persons of both sexes;
in 1930 information was obtained for 14,002 persons; in 1931 reports
were received for 15,625 persons. In the 1930 study the addresses
visited were those from which information was received in 1929.
While such an arrangement is desirable for the sake of comparability,
it is obvious that the total number of households (and persons)
thus enumerated in 1930 must be smaller than in 1929. In order
to offset a further dwindling of the size of the sample in 1931, the
same addresses were visited as in 1930 and in addition approximately
10 per cent additional houses were visited in each area. These
shifts in the size of the sample have introduced no selective error,
as may be seen from a consideration of the sex, nativity, and indus­
trial distribution of those enumerated each year.
In 1929, 81.3 per cent of the persons enumerated were males;
in 1930, 80.6 per cent were males; and in 1931, 80.7 per cent were
males.
At the time of writing, the 1930 census data of the nativity distri­
bution of occupied persons in Buffalo are not available and it is under­
stood will not be ready until April, 1932. If the nativity distribution
of the persons enumerated in the 1931 Buffalo study be compared with
the nativity distribution of the occupied persons 18 years of age or
over shown by the 1920 census, it is found (as would be expected)
that the proportion of native whites included in this study was con­
siderably higher than was shown by the census and the proportion of
foreign born was correspondingly lower in this study than in the
census. Comparing the nativity distribution of those enumerated in
the three Buffalo studies reveals no striking points of contrast. There
was, however, a slight increase in the proportion of native colored in
1930 and a decline in 1931.
In this rather brief presentation of findings no data are shown for
the nine individual areas enumerated. A consideration of the number
of persons enumerated in each area reveals that each area contributed
nearly the same proportion of persons to the total enumerated each
year.

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

265

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

Table 1 presents, for each of the three studies, the industry distri­
bution of all persons enumerated of both sexes. The percentage col­
umns for each year show relatively little shifting in the industrial
composition of the population enumerated in the three studies. For
the 1931 study the group “ trade and transportation—other” was
subdivided to show separate data for “ bank and brokerage” and for
“ insurance and real estate.” Likewise, in 1931 the classification
“ manufacturing and mechanical pursuits—other” was subdivided to
show separate data for “ lumber and furniture” and for “ airplanes.”
T able 1.—IN D U S T R Y D IS T R IB U T IO N O P P E R S O N S E N U M E R A T E D , 1929,1930, A N D 1931
[This table does no t include 18 persons in 1931, 58 persons in 1930, and 138 persons in 1929 not reporting as
to in d u stry group]
1931

1930

1929

In d u stry group
N um ber P er cent N um ber Per cent N um ber Per cent
Professional.. _____
___ _____
Clerical (not otherwise specified)_________ .
Domestic and personal service_____ ______ _
G overnm ent employees (other th a n teachers) __
T rade and transportation ... . . .
R etail a n d wholesale trade ___
.. . ..
Telephone and teleg rap h .__ ________ .
R ailw ay, express, gas, electric light . . .
W ater tra n sp o rtatio n ...........
. _ _____
B ank and brokerage____ __________ __
Insurance a n d real estate.
_ . . . ____
O ther________ __
M anufacturing a n d mechanical p u rsu its_____
Building trades, contractors..
. ...
Building trades, wage earners. ____ ___
Clay, glass, and stone p ro d u c ts .. . . . _
Food and kindred p ro d u c ts .. . __ ________
Iron, steel, and th eir p ro d u c ts.. .
_____
M etal products, other th a n iron a n d steel
Paper, printing, and publishing____ . . . .
W earing apparel and te x tile s..
. .
____
A utomobiles, parts, and tires. ___ _ . . .
L um ber and furniture .
A irplanes_________ _____
O ther__________ _________
Labor (not otherwise specified)_____________ .
Self-employed___
____
M isc e lla n eo u s.______. . . . __________ . . . .
Total, all industries___________ ______

579
99
972
1,139
4,803
1,963
238
1,824
89
179
239
271
6,719
341
826
100
666
1,468
194
332
448
997
320
197
830
27
1,098
171

3. 7
.6
6. 2
7.3
30.8
12.6
1. 5
11. 7
.6
1.2
1. 5
1. 7
43. 1
2.2
5.3
.6
4. 3
9.4
1.2
2. 1
2. 9
6.4
2. 1
1. 3
5.3
.2
7.0

15,607

100.0

1. 1

533
36
912
913
4, 304
1, 706
251
1, 609
100
]

\

3.8
.3
6. 5
6.6
30.9
12. 2
1.8
11.6
.7

562
116
777
919
4,487
1, 693
254
1, 757
87

3. 7
.8
5.2
6. 1
29.9
11.3
1. 7
11. 7
.6

638

4.6

696

4.6

6,181
309
770
116
594
1,299
193
331
433
950

44.3
2. 2
5.5
.8
4.3
9.3
1.4
2.4
3. 1
6. 8

6, 961
347
884
98
627
1,456
211
290
522
1,068

46.3
2.3
5.9
.6
4.2
9.7
1.4
1.9
3.5
7.1

} 1,186

8.5

1,458

9.7

42
895
128

.3
6.4
.9

78
1,063
63

.5
7.1
.4

13, 944

100.0

15,026

100.0

I

1

J

Employment Status

I n 1930 and 1931 it was possible to make a more detailed classifi­
cation of the unemployed than was done in 1929. The classification
in which an unemployed person was placed was determined by the
reason given for the fact that he was unemployed at the time of the
enumeration, rather than the reason for losing his last job. In the
vast majority of cases these two reasons were one and the same.
Table 2 shows, by sex, the employment status of all persons enu­
merated in 1931.
Because of the greater numerical importance of males, many com­
parisons of employment conditions shown by the three studies are
restricted to that sex. Comparing the figures for the three studies, it
appears that 50.2 per cent of all males enumerated in 1931 were
working full time, as against 61.4 per cent in 1930 and 82.4 per cent in
1929. Part-time employment only was had by 22.1 per cent of all
males enumerated in 1931, as against 17.8 per cent in 1930 and 6.8
per cent in 1929. Those able to work but unable to find employment
formed 23.2 per cent of all males enumerated in 1931, 16.5 per cent in


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

266

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

1930, and 5.9 per cent2in 1929. It is interesting to nòte that the males
unable or unwilling to work constituted a relatively constant pro­
portion of those males enumerated at the time of each study (4.5 per
cent in 1931, 4.3 per cent in 1930, and 4.9 per cent in 1929).
T able 2 .—E M P L O Y M E N T ST A T U S OF P E R S O N S E N U M E R A T E D , B Y SE X , 1931
[This table does no t include one male no t reporting as to cause of unem ploym ent]
N um ber

Per cent

E m ploym ent status
Fe­
males

Males
E m ployed full tim e . . . _____
Em ployed:
P a rt time_._ _____
Tw o-thirds b u t less th a n full tim e .
One-half b u t less th a n tw o-thirds
One-third b u t less th a n one-half
Less th a n one-third. _________
Fraction n o t re p o rte d ..
U n em p lo y ed ... ______
Able and willing to work
Tem porarily unable to work . .
P erm an en tly unable to work
Unwilling to w ork_____ ____ _
T o ta l..... ......... ....

Both
sexes

Males

F e­
males

Both
sexes

6,325

1,874

8,199

50.2

62.3

52.5-

2,793
952
1,033
420
379
9
3,496
2,927
92
228
249

487
145
190
72
79
1
649
633
16

3, 280
1,097
1,223
492
458
10
4,145
3, 560
108
228
249

22.1
7.5
8.2
3.3
3.0
.1
27.7
23. 2
.7
1.8
2.0

16.1
4.8
6.3

21.0
7. 0.
7. 8.
3. 2
2. 91
.1
26.5
22. 8
.7
1.4
1.6.

12, 614

3, 010

15,624

100.0

2.4

2.6
0)
21.6
21. 1
.5

100.0

100. 0

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
T able 3 .—E M P L O Y M E N T ST A TU S O F A L L P E R S O N S A B L E A N D W IL L IN G TO W O R K
B Y S E X , 1929, 1930, A N D 1931
N um ber

Per cent

E m ploym ent statu s
1931

1930

1929

6, 325
2, 793
952
1,033
420
379
9
2,927

6, 930
2, 007
856
764
261
109
17
1,863

10,157
833
374
310
79
32
38
“ 724

52.5
23.2
7.9
8.6
3.5
3.1
.1
24.3

64.2
18.6
7.9
7.1
2.4
1.0
.2
17.2

86. 7
7.1
3.2'
2.6
.7
.3
.3
«6.2

12, 045

10,800

11, 714

100.0

100.0

100.0

1,874
487
145
190
72
79
1
633

1,958
326
113
139
47
24
3
391

2, 517
148
48
62
18
12
8
«97

62.6
16.3
4.9
6.4
2.4
2.6
(*)
21. 1

73.2
12. 2
4.2
5.2
1.8
.9
.1
14.6

91.1
5.4
1.7
2. 3:
.7
.4
.3
« 3 .5

2, 994

2, 675

2,762

100.0

100.0

100.0

8,199
3,280
1, 097
1,223
492
458
10
3, 560

8,888
2, 333
969
903
308
133
20
2, 254

12, 674
981
422
372
97
44
46
« 821

54. 5
21. 8
7.3
8. 1
3.3
3.0
.1
23. 7

66.0
17.3
7. 2
6. 7
2.3
1.0
.1
16. 7

87.5
6.8
2.9'
2. 6
.7
.3
.3
“ 5.7

14, 476

100.0

100. 0

100.0

1931

1930

1929

Males
Em ployed full tim e ________ .
Em ployed p art tim e .. . ____
Tw o-thirds b u t less th a n full tim e
One-half b u t less th a n tw o-thirds
One-third b u t less th a n o n e -h a lf___
Less th a n one-third. . .
Fraction no t rep o rted___
U nem ployed________
T o ta l. _

.

Females
Em ployed full tim e _______
Em ployed p a rt tim e __ . . .
Tw o-thirds b u t less th a n full tim e .
One-half b u t less th a n tw o-thirds
O ne-third b u t less th a n one-half
Less th a n one-third____
Fraction no t reported . _
U nem ployed________
T o tal__________

Both sexes
Em ployed full tim e _______
Em ployed p a rt tim e ________
Tw o-thirds b u t less th a n full tim e. _
One-half b u t less th a n tw o-thirds. .
One-third b u t less th a n one-half .
Less th a n one-third. __
Fraction no t re p o rte d .._
U nem ployed____
Total

________
1

° This is th e ‘ ‘slack w o rk ” classification for 1929.
b Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 This is the “ slack w o rk ” classification for the 1929 study.


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

UNEMPLOYM ENT AND ITS E E L IE F

267

Only those persons who were reported as able and willing to work
at the time of the enumeration in each year are covered in Table 3,
thus excluding all persons who were temporarily or permanently un­
able to work as well as all persons who were unwilling to work.
In 1931 nearly one out of every four men able and willing to work
was unable to find employment, nearly one out of every four had
only part-time employment, and just over two out of every four were
employed full time.
Partly because they are more largely employed in clerical occupa­
tions, women showed a greater proportion of full-time employment
and a smaller proportion of part-time employment and unemploy­
ment than did men. In 1931 slightly more than one-fifth of the
females who were able and willing to work were unable to secure
employment, almost exactly one-sixth were employed part time, and
five-eighths were employed full time.
Table 4 shows the proportion of employment and the proportion
of unemployment among the persons enumerated in 1929, 1930,
and 1931 who were able and willing to work. In constructing this
table part-time employment was expressed in terms of equivalent full
time.
T able 4 .—E Q U IV A L E N T F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T O F A L L P E R S O N S E N U M E R A T E D
(B O T H SE X E S) W H O W E R E A B L E A N D W IL L IN G TO W O R K ) 1929, 1030, A N D 1931

Year

1931_________________
1930_________________
1929_________________

Per cent
ol tim e
em­
ployed

Per cent
of tim e
unem ­
ployed

Total

67.3
77.1
92.1

32.7
22.9
7.9

100.0
100.0
100.0

i P a rt tim e was reduced to its full-time equivalent. Thus, 6 men working “ tw o-thirds b u t less th a n full
tim e ” would be equivalent, in point of tim e em ployed, to 5 m en fully employed and 1 unem ployed.

Because of space limitations no tables are included in this report
dealing with the employment status of heads of households, and no
tables are here shown of employment status by nativity groups or of
employment status in the nine areas studied. Detailed tables of
these data are to be found in the New York State Department of
Labor bulletin. Briefly stated, it was found that in each year the
male heads of households who were able and willing to work showed
a smaller proportion unemployed and a larger proportion employed
part time and full time that did all males who were able and willing
to work. A comparison of the employment status by nativity groups
of the males who were able and willing to work could be made for
1930 and 1931 only, as the 1929 figures of employment status by
nativity goups include all those enumerated rather than only those
able and willing to work. In both 1930 and 1931 unemployment
was greatest for the native colored and least for the native whites
and full-time employment was greatest for the native whites and
least for the native colored. Part-time employment was least for
native whites in both years, but was greatest for native colored in
1930 and for foreign born in 1931.
In the 1930 and 1931 studies age data were requested for all persons
enumerated whether employed or unemployed. Table 5 presents
figures of employment status by age groups for the males who were
able and willing to work at the time of the 1931 enumeration.


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

268

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 5 . — E M P L O Y M E N T S T A T U S O E M A L E S A B L E A N D W I L L I N G T O W O R E B Y A G E
G R O U PS, 1931
[This table does no t include eight males not reporting as to age]
N um ber
Age group (years)

U nder
20 and
25 and
30 an d
35 a n d
40 a n d
45 and
50 a n d
55 and
60 and
65 and
70 and

20_________
under 25. _____
un d er 30___
un d er 35_____
u n d er 40______
u n d er 45___
u n d er 50_____ _
u n d er 5 5 .. . .
un d er 60. _
un d er 65_____
under 70_______
over______ ...

T o tal_____

____

Em­
Em­
ployed ployed
p art
full tim e
tim e

Per cent

U nem ­
ployed

T otal

Em ­
ployed
full tim e

Em­
ployed
part
tim e

U nem ­
ployed

Total

147
596
698
804
1,000
875
759
580
365
280
144
71

56
272
290
344
449
417
330
286
148
108
65
26

205
513
343
278
319
306
280
226
136
149
94
78

408
1,381
1, 331
1,426
1,768
1,598
1,369
1, 092
649
537
303
175

36.0
43.2
52.4
56.4
56.6
54.8
55.4
53.1
56.2
52.1
47.5
40.6

13.7
19.7
21.8
24.1
25. 4
26.1
24.1
26.2
22.8
20.1
21. 5
14.8

50.3
37.1
25.8
19.5
18.0
19.1
20.5
20. 7
21.0
27.8
31.0
44.6

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0

6,319

2,791

2, 927

12, 037

52.5

23.2

24.3

100.0

The percentage data of this table show for each age group the
proportion of that group who were employed full time, employed
part time, and unemployed. From these figures, which cover 12,037
males who were able and willing to work,"it appears that the per­
centage of unemployed was least among those males 35 to 40 years
of age; and although the proportion unemployed was only slightly
higher for those 30 to 35 and those 40 to 60, the percentage unemployed
increased steadily according as the groups considered be either
younger or older. The greatest proportion of unemployed was found
in the very young and in the very old groups.
It was found in 1930 that the minimum proportion of unemployed
was among the males 35 to 45 years of age and that from this low
point the percentage unemployed of each age group increased steadily
as the groups considered were either younger or older. If the data of
Table 5 be compared with the figures for 1930 it is seen that in each
age group a larger proportion of the males who were able and willing
to work were unemployed in 1931 than in 1930.
As shown by Table 5, the greatest proportion of males employed
part time was found among those aged from. 30 to 55, while the pro­
portion of those employed part time was least among the youngest and
oldest groups. The greatest proportion of full-time work was found
among the central age groups while the smallest proportion of full­
time work was found among the youngest and oldest groups.
The more detailed, report in the New York State Department of
Labor bulletin contains a table showing for each year the proportion
of those persons employed part time who wrere working each specified
fraction of part time. These figures reveal that at the time of each
successive study a larger proportion of males was employed “ onethird but less than one-half time” and “ less than one-third time,”
and that a smaller proportion of males was employed “ one-half but
less than two-thirds time” and “ two-thirds but less than full time.”


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

269

UNEM PLOYM ENT AND ITS R E L IE F

Cause of Unemployment
T a b l e 6 presents data of employment status and cause of unem­
ployment of all males enumerated in 1930 and 1931 and shows each
classification of the unemployed males as a percentage of all males
enumerated in each year. The year 1929 is also given, although a less
detailed classification of causes of unemployment was used in that year.
T able 6 .—E M P L O Y M E N T ST A T U S A N D C A U SE O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T O F A L L M A L E S
E N U M E E A T E D , 1929, 1930, A N D 1931
[This table does no t include one male in 1931 and 1930 no t reporting as to cause of unem ploym ent]
N um ber

Per cent

E m ploym ent statu s and cause of unem ploym ent
1931
6,325
Em ployed full tim e ____________________ _ __
__
2, 793
E m ployed p a rt tim e ___ ___ _ ______
U nem ployed.. .
....................................... ...
3,496
Able and willing to work __
. ____ _ _
2, 927
Slack w ork.
...............
...
2; 861
39
Forced retirem ent ____________ _______ __
27
Miscellaneous __ .
. _
92
Tem porarily unable to w o rk .. _
_ _ ____
72
Sickness
.
_
. _______ _______
In ju ry _____ _________ ___ - - _______ ___
20
228
P erm anently unable to w o r k _________ ______
97
Sickness_____
..
_
_
49
In ju ry ___ _____ _____
___
O ld ag e. .
____ . .
_
80
2
M iscellaneous...
_ _ _________ _______
Unwilling to w ork__ ___ .
249
238
V oluntary retirem en t______
. ___ _
10
Lazy or indifferent
.
1
Miscellaneous
.
__________________
T o ta l.. .

_

_____ . . . ____ - . 12,614

1 T his is th e “ slack w o rk ” classification of 1929.

1930

1929

1931

6,930 10,157
2,007
833
2,349
1,328
1,863
1,785 ■ 1724
57
21
94
66
28
166
96
25 . 604
42
3
226
209
15
2

50.2
22.1
27. 7
23.2
22. 7
.3
.2
.7
.6
.1
1.8
.8
.4
.6
(2)
2.0
1.9
.1
(2)

12,318

100.0

11,286

1930

1929

82.4
61. 4
17.8
6.8
20.8
10.8
10.5
15.8 ■ 15.9
.5
.2
.8
.6
.2
1. 5
.9
.2
4.9
.4
(2)
2.0
1.9
.1
(2)
100.0

100.0

2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

Considering the figures for 1931, it appears that the unemployed
males who were able and willing to work constituted 23.2 per cent of
all males enumerated; those males who were idle because of slack
work, 22.7 per cent; and those who were unemployed because of
forced retirement, 0.3 per cent. It is quite possible that some elderly
men who were actually unemployed because of forced retirement
reported themselves as unemployed because of slack work. The
distinction between these causes should be looked upon as one of
degree since, as prosperous times appear, many of those “ forcibly
retired ” may be reabsorbed into industry.
Of all males enumerated, 0.7 per cent were unemployed because of
temporary sickness or injury, while 1.8 per cent were permanently
unable to work because of sickness, injury, or old age. Only 2 per
cent were unwilling to work, 1.9 per cent because of voluntary retire­
ment and 0.1 per cent because of laziness or indifference. There is
some latitude for opinion in classifying a particular sickness or injury
as “ temporary” or “ permanent.” Even a skilled physician can not
be sure that a temporary case may not become permanent or that a
person adjudged permanently sick or disabled may not recover.
Neither is it always possible to determine unquestionably whether an
individual is unable to work because of permanent sickness or because
of the feebleness of old age. “ Old age” does not arrive at a particular
day and hour. Old age, for many, as a cause of unemployment,

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

270

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

arrives when work fitted to their years and physical condition can no
longer be had. Preceding this is a period of “ odd jobs” or “ slack
work,” and finally the wage earner discovers that he is “ old.” Retire­
ment of a voluntary sort frequently follows along the same line of
experience, except that it is coupled with the ability to secure some
support from accumulated property, from other members of the
family, or from organizations.
Table 6 shows a rather remarkable stability of the proportion of
the males enumerated who were either unable or unwilling to work
in each of the two years 1930 and 1931.
Detailed data of the unemployed males in 1929, 1930, and 1931, by
cause of unemployment, are shown in Table 7. In this table each
group of the unemployed males is expressed as a percentage of those
males unemployed from all causes in each year.
T able 7.—C A U SE O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T O F A L L U N E M P L O Y E D M A L E S E N U M E R A T E D ,
1929, 1930, A N D 1931
[This table does no t include one male in 1931 and one male in 1930 no t reporting as to cause of unem ploym ent]
N um ber

P er cent

Cause of unem ploym ent

Able and willing to w o rk .__________________________
Slack w o r k . . . _____ ___________ _____ ______ _
Forced r e tir e m e n t..___
_ .
____________
Miscellaneous . . ._ _______________________
T em porarily unable to w o rk__ _____ _ ______ ___ _
Sickness______
.
. . . . . _.
_ ________
In ju ry ____
_ ________ _______ __________
Perm anently unable to w ork. ___________ _______
Sickness"_____________________________________
In ju ry _____________ ____________ _____________
Old age________________ . _____________ __
Miscellaneous __________ _______ __________
Unwilling to work
__________________
V oluntary retirem ent ________________ _______
Lazy or indifferent-. _________________ ________
M iscellaneous______________________________
T o tal. . ___

.

______ _________

____ _

1 T his is th e “ slack work ” classification of 1929.

1929

1931

1930

2,927
2,861
39
27
92
72
20
228
97
49
80
2
249
238
10
1

1,863
1,785 • 1724
57
21
94
66
28
166
96
25
42 • 604
3
226
209
15
2

3,496

2,349

1,328

1931
83. 7
81.8
1.1
.8
2. 6
2.0
.6
6.6
2.8
1.4
2.3
.1
7.1
6.8
.3
(2)
100.0

1930

1929

79. 3
76. 0
2.4 ■ 154.5
.9
4.0
2.8
1.2
7.1
4.1
1.1
1 8 ■ 45.5
1
9 6
8. 9
.6
.i
100.0

100.0

2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

In 1931 the unemployed males who were able and willing to work
amounted to 83.7 per cent of all unemployed males; those unemployed
because of slack work formed 81.8 per cent; and those forcibly retired,
1.1 per cent. The males usually employed but temporarily unable to
work constituted 2.6 per cent of the total; those permanently unable
to work, 6.6 per cent; and those unwilling to work, 7.1 per cent.
Comparing the data of Table 7 for 1930 and 1931 it may be seen
that the proportion of the unemployed males who were unable to find
jobs because of slack work was greater in 1931 than in 1930. With
the exception of those males permanently unable to work because of
injury and old age, all groups unable or unwilling to work were pro­
portionally smaller in 1931 than in 1930. That those permanently
unable to work because of injury and old age were a larger proportion
of the unemployed males in 1931 than in 1930 may be due to the fact
that elderly men and partially disabled men who were employed
during prosperous times were displaced by younger and more ablebodied men, that a certain number of these elderly and disabled men
had become discouraged by the long-continued unsuccessful search for

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

271

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

work, and that they finally concluded that their age or disability had
rendered them permanently unemployable.
As the proportion of the unemployed males who were able and
willing to work but unable to secure employment increased markedly
each year, it follows that the proportion of those unable or unwilling
to work must fall. Thus in 1929 there were 45.5 per cent of the
unemployed males who were unable or unwilling to work, in 1930
there were 20.7 per cent, and in 1931 there were 16.3 per cent.
In comparing the persons unemployed for various reasons at the
time of the three studies it should be noted that those classified in
1930 and 1931 as able and willing to work but unable to locate jobs
because of slack work, forced retirement, or miscellaneous reasons 3
are essentially equivalent to those classified as unemployed because
of slack work in 1929. A very minor qualification is necessary,
inasmuch as a few persons reported simply as retired in 1929 may have
been forcibly retired. The number of these, however, would appear
to be quite small, since even in 1931 the males reported as forcibly
retired constituted but 0.3 per cent of all males enumerated. A very
small number of persons who were out of work but who had not yet
begun to look for work were classified as “ able and willing to work,
but unemployed for miscellaneous reasons” in 1930 and 1931.3
Such persons in 1929 were merely classed with certain others (who
were not able and willing to work) as unemployed because of “ mis­
cellaneous causes.” That this group is very unimportant is shown by
the fact that all of those males in 1931 who were able and willing to
work and unemployed for miscellaneous reasons were but 0.2 per cent
of all males enumerated.
Duration of Unemployment

T he duration of unemployment in 1929, 1930, and 1931 of the un­
employed males who were able and willing to work is shown in Table 8.
Data of the duration of unemployment of those unemployed persons
who were unable or unwilling to work are not shown in this report.
T

a b le

8.—D U R A T IO N O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T O F A L L U N E M P L O Y E D M A L E S A B L E A N D
W IL L IN G TO W O R K ,“ 1929, 1930, A N D 1931

[This table does not include 1 male in 1931,12 males in 1930, and 14 males in 1929 not reporting as to duration
of unem ploym ent]
Per cent

N um ber
D uration of unem ploym ent
1931
U nder 2 w eeks_____
_________________ 2 and under 4 w e e k s .________________________
4 and u n d er 10 w eeks_______________________
1ft and u n d er 20 weeks_______________________
2ft and u ndpr 30 weeks
_________________
30 and u n d er 40 weeks_______________________
40 and u n d er 52 w eeks______________ . ________
52 weeks and over__________________ _________
T o tal_____________ __________ _

1930

1929

1931

1930

1929

75
145
371
392
342
189
153
1,259

79
147
389
331
264
147
103
391

112
158
216
87
44
22
5
66

2.6
5.0
12. 7
13.4
11.7
6.4
5.2
43.0

4.3
7.9
21.0
17.9
14.3
7.9
5.6
21.1

15.8
22.2
30.4
12.3
6.2
3.1
.7
9.3

2,926

1,851

710

100.0

100.0

100.0

° T his is the ‘ ‘slack w o rk ” classification for 1929.
3 Those able and willing to work b u t unem ployed for miscellaneous causes include such cases as employees
who, because of a wage cu t or other reasons, had given u p th eir jobs and who were about to seek other em­
ploym ent and self-employed persons who, because of unsatisfactory business conditions, had abandoned
their undertakings and were ab o u t to seek em ploym ent.


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

272

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Of the males who were able and willing to work but who were not
able to find employment, 7.6 per cent had been unemployed less than
4 weeks in 1931, 20.3 per cent had been unemployed less than 10
weeks, and 43 per cent had been unemployed a year or longer.
Although no table of duration of unemployment for the unem­
ployed females who were able and willing to work is shown in this
article, 7.4 per cent had been unemployed less than 4 weeks in 1931,
22.3 per cent had been unemployed less than 10 weeks, and 36.7 per
cent had been unemployed a year or longer.
Cumulating certain of the figures of Table 8 shows that the duration
of unemployment of those males desiring work had been generally
longer in 1931 than in 1930 and longer in 1930 than in 1929. Slightly
fewer than one-third of the unemployed males had been out of work
10 weeks or more in 1929, while two-thirds had been out of work 10
weeks or more in 1930 and nearly four-fifths had been out of work 10
weeks or more in 1931. Just under one-tenth had been out of work a
year or more in 1929, one-fifth had been unemployed a year or more in
1930, and over two-fifths had been unemployed a vear or more in
1931.
Among the females who were able and willing to work, unemploy­
ment had been of longer duration at the time of each successive study.
The number of females who were out of work was small in 1929; but it
increased each year, and unemployment had been of slightly longer
duration in 1930 than in 1929 and of decidedly longer duration in
1931 than in 1930.
Industry Groups and Employment Status

. T able 9 shows a comparative summary of employment status by
industry groups for those males able and willing to work in 1930 and
1931. As previously explained, the industry group “ trade and trans­
portation—other” was divided to show separate data for “ bank and
brokerage and “ insurance and real estate” in 1931. Likewise, in
1931 the industry group “ manufacturing and mechanical pursuits—
other” was divided to show separate data for “ lumber and furniture”
and for “ airplanes.” Considering first the situation in 1931 for the
industry groups employing large numbers of males, the data show that
of the males able and willing to work the greatest proportion unable
to find work was in the building trades, which showed 50.5 per cent
of the wage earners and 36.2 per cent of the contractors unemployed.
ISext in order was the manufacturing and servicing of automobiles,
parts, and tires, with 40.7 per cent unable to find work; manufacturing
of airplanes, with 33.3 per cent; manufacturing of iron and steel and
their products, with 29 per cent; manufacturing of food and kindred
products, with 20.4 per cent; domestic and personal service with 19
per cent, retail and wholesale trade, with 18.9 per cent; and the rail­
way, express, gas, and electric light group, with 18.7 per cent of the
males w;ho were able and willing to work, unemployed. The smallest
proportion of unemployed among the males able and willing to work
was m the professional service group, which was followed in order by
the self-employed (other than building contractors) and Government
employees.
Of those males who were able and willing to work the greatest
proportion able to obtain only part-time employment (considering
only industry groups employing large numbers of males) was found
in the manufacture of iron and steel and their products, which showed


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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

273

51.0 per cent on part time. The percentage of males employed part
time in relation to those able and willing to work was 31.4 per cent
for building-trades contractors, 26.4 per cent in the railway, express,
gas, and electric light group, 25.1 per cent in the manufacturing and
servicing of automobiles, parts, and tires, and 23.5 per cent for wage
earners in the building trades. All other important industry groups
showed less than 20.0 per cent on part time. The smallest proportions
of the males able and willing to work who were employed part time
were in professional service, retail and wholesale trade, and selfemployed (other than building contractors).
Of the industry groups employing large numbers of males, full­
time employment was least in 1931 in the manufacture of iron and
steel and their products, which showed 20.0 per cent of the males
who were able and willing to work employed full time. Following,
in order, came building trades, wage earners, 26.0 per cent; building
trades, contractors, 32.4 per cent; manufacture and servicing of auto­
mobiles, parts, and tires, 34.2 per cent; manufacture of airplanes,
54.7 per cent; and railway, express, gas, electric light, 54.9 per cent.
All other important groups showed more than 60.0 per cent of the
males able and willing to work to be employed full time. The greatest
proportions of full-time employment were found in the groups pro­
fessional service, self-employed (other than building contractors), and
Government employees.
Considering the two major industry groups, the data for 1931 show
that of the males enumerated in the trade and transportation group
as able and willing to work, 63.5 per cent were employed full time,
18.1 per cent were employed part time, and 18.4 per cent were un­
employed. Of the males in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits
who were able and willing to work, 36.3 per cent were employed full
time, 31.8 per cent were employed part time, and 31.9 per cent were
out of work.
Comparing the employment status of males who were able and
willing to work in 1930 and in 1931 (Table 9) reveals that, with the
sole exception of paper, printing, and publishing, every industry group
showed a greater proportion of males unemployed in 1931 than m
1930. It also appears that the proportion of males employed full
time was less in every industry group in 1931 than in 1930 and that
the proportion employed part time was greater in 1931 than in 1930
for every industry group except water transportation and automo­
biles, parts, and tires. The data of Table 9 show, further, that the
industry groups having the greatest proportion of unemployed males
among those able and willing to work were in general the same in
each year, these being the building trades, automobiles, parts, and
tires, and iron and steel and their products. The smallest propor­
tions of males unemployed and the largest proportions of males
employed were shown by the same industry groups in the two years.
These were professional service, self-employed (other than contractors),
Government employees, and telephone and telegraph service.
No tables are presented in this article showing the employment
status of females by industry groups ; however, of the industry groups
which employed large numbers of females it was found in 1931 that
in the manufacture of wearing apparel and textiles 34.6 per cent of the
females able and willing to work were out of work, 37.4 per cent were
employed part time, and 28.0 per cent were employed full time. In
domestic and personal service 32.5 per cent of the females able and


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

274

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

willing to work were unemployed, 9.6 per cent were on part time,
and 57.9 per cent were employed full time. In retail and wholesale
trade 19.2 per cent of the females able and willing to work were out
of work, 10.8 per cent were on part time, and 70.0 per cent were
employed full time.
T

a b le

9 .- -C O M P A R A T IV E SU M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T ST A TU S OF A L L M A L E S A B LE
A N D W IL L IN G TO W O R K , BY IN D U S T R Y G R O U P , 1930 A N D 1931

[This table does not include 9 males in 1931 and 31 males in 1930 not reporting as to in d u stry group]
Per cent in 1931

Industry group

Professional_____________________________
Clerical (not otherwise specified)__________
Domestic and personal service_____________
G overnm ent employees (other th a n teachers)
T rad e and tran sp o rtatio n ______ __________
R etail a n d wholesale tra d e ____________
Telephone and telegraph______________
R ailw ay, express, gas, electric lig h t____
W ater tra n sp o rtatio n___ _____________
B ank and brokerage__________________
Insurance and real estate____________ "
O th e r._______________________________
M anufacturing and m echanical pu rsu its____
B uilding trades, contractors___________
B uilding trades, wage earners__________
Clay, glass, and stone products________
Food and kindred products____________
Iron, steel, a n d th eir products_________
M etal products, other th a n iron and steel
Paper, printing, and publishing________
W earing apparel a n d textiles___________
Automobiles, parts, an d tires__________
L um ber a n d fu rn itu re______________
A irplanes________________________ [
O ther_____; ______________________
Labor (not otherwise specified)_________
Self-em p lo y ed .________ __________________
M iscellaneous ________ ___________
Total, all m ales.

Per cent in 1930

Em­ Em­
Em ­ Em ­
ployed ployed U nem ­
ployed ployed U nem ­
full
p art ployed T otal full
part ployed Total
tim e tim e
tim e tim e
88.3
(>)
63.8
73.7
63.5
70.3
76.3
54. 9
51. 9
87.2
79.8
63.8
36.3
32.4
26. 0
48.2
65. 7
20.0
18.4
68. 7
42.1
34.2
37.2
54.7
44.9
0)
78.9
10. 6

4.2
0)
17.2
12.7
18.1
10.8
8.6
26.4
14.3
.8
10. 1
17.9
31.8
31.4
23.5
25.9
13.9
51. 0
58.1
20.3
35.9
25.1
26. 7
12.0
30. 7
(')
10.9
3.2

7.5
0)
19. 0
13.6
18.4
18.9
15.1
18.7
33.8
12. 0
10.1
18.3
31.9
36.2
50.5
25.9
20.4
29.0
23.5
11.0
22.0
40. 7
36.1
33.3
24.4
(>)
10. 2
86. 2

100.0
(«)
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
(•)
100.0
100.0

52.5

23.2

24.3

100.0

92.9
(>)
75.2
85.5
75.8
77.8
87.3
72.9
54.5
1

} 82.2

2.4
(')
8.6
6.2
11.4
8.3
2.9
15.7
16.2

4.7
(')
16.2
8.3
12.8
13.9
9.8
11.4
29.3

100.0
(i)
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0

6.2

11.6

100.0

49.6
44.2
47.0
65.6
74.3
41.3
25.5
69.0
46.2
39.2

28.2
22.1
17.9
21.9
13.3
39.9
55.0
19.4
32.8
33.1

22.2
33. 7
35.1
12.5
12.4
18.8
19.5
11.6
21.0
27.7

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0

\ 58.4

23.3

18.3

100.0

(i)
88.0
28.9

(0
6.1
5.3

0)
5.9
65.8

(1)
100. 0
100.0

64.2

18.6

17.2

100.0

J

]

)

Percentages no t calculated because of small num bers involved.

The data of employment status by industries in 1929 were not
tabulated in such a way that it is possible to show for separate indus­
tries the employment status of those able and willing to work, exclu­
sive of those few who were unable or unwilling to work. Comparative
data would therefore necessarily include not only those males able
and willing to work but also those unable and unwilling to work.
From such figures (not here printed) it may be seen that the impor­
tant industry groups in each year which showed the greatest propor­
tions of unemployment for males were building trades, iron and steel,
and automobiles, parts, and tires and that the industry groups
showing least unemployment and most full-time employment were
professional service, self-employed (other than contractors), and
Government employees. It also appears that at each successive
study a larger proportion of males were reported as unemployed in
each important industry. Each industry (with the one important
exception of automobiles, parts, and tires) also showed a greater
proportion of males employed part time in each successive year and
each industry showed a smaller proportion of males employed full
time at each successive study.


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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

275

Conclusion
T h e winter of 1931 has been frequently termed “ the third winter
of unemployment.” A consideration of the figures shown in this
report for November of each of the years 1929, 1930, and 1931 leads
us to look at the figures for 1929 in retrospect and to realize that what
was thought to be rather severe unemployment at the time now
appears as a relatively mild dislocation of industry. Unluckily we
lack any earlier figures which might give us a basis of comparison
with a “ normal” period. Continuing such studies as this for addi­
tional years and extending them to other cities should yield valuable
data which, if properly used, may assist in social planning to alleviate
the suffering incident to unemployment and to aid in the development
of measures to reduce involuntary unemployment and underemploy­
ment to a minimum.

V o ca tion al T rain in g and U n em p lo y m e n t

HE present national vocational-education program is in active
operation in the 48 States, the Territory of Hawaii, and Porto
Rico. The vocational education act of 1917, under which this
program is conducted, made provision for the promotion of such
education of less than college grade in agriculture, trades and indus­
tries, and home economics, to meet the obvious needs existing at
that time. No financial provision, however, was made by the act
for the salaries of commercial teachers and supervisors. In recent
years, although the system established under this law of 1917 is still
covering the groups for which it was set up, new problems have arisen
in the vocational education field which press for solution. These
facts are pointed out in Bulletin No. 159 of the Federal Board for
Vocational Education, entitled “ Vocational training and unemploy­
ment.” Various sections of this publication are summarized below.
Employment adjustment of adults.—At present in many States there
is a more or less permanent unemployment problem, especially in the
ranks of adult workers. When such workers are suddenly thrown
out of their jobs as the result of the installation of new types of
machines, or the adoption of new processes, or for certain other
reasons, it is necessary to provide for their obtaining other employ­
ment. Under existing conditions these displaced wage earners are
having more and more difficulty in obtaining new positions without
some preliminary training.
Scope of preparatory training under the act.—Apart from new condi­
tions resulting from technological unemployment, the training of
young people immediately before they leave full-time school in order
that they may have some special preparation for entrance into the
various wage-earning fields is a permanent function of any public
vocational education program, and for this youthful group the
standards now provided under the Federal vocational education act
should be continued, according to the bulletin under review. This
preliminary training, however, is clearly impracticable to meet the
requirements of adults who have lost their jobs and must obtain
whatever aid they can as quickly as possible. With dependent
families, a very large percentage of these displaced workers can not
afford to devote more than two or three weeks to intensive full-time

T


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

276

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

training to fit them for some specific employment available for them
if they receive such training. It is suggested, therefore, in the bulle­
tin, “ that existing trade-preparatory schools or courses admit unem­
ployed adults for thorough training in some specialized unit, in prep­
aration for available jobs, to the extent to which their facilities
permit and the need has been indorsed by a local representative
advisory committee. The Federal board believes that any other
procedure would probably be detrimental to the best interests of all
parties concerned.”
Part-time training for the young group.—With the primary purpose
of safeguarding the educational interests of workers between 14 and
18 years of age, _the Federal vocational education act provides for
part-time education. Certain standards were definitely incorporated
in the law for this particular group. According to Bulletin No. 159
of the Federal board, such safeguards are necessary as long as society
allows youth to leave school to go to work before completing what is
generally regarded as a desirable minimum of education for citizens
of the United States.
It is suggested by the Federal board that it is quite possible to
throw open existing part-time schools and courses to unemployed
adults for thorough training in certain specialized units by way of
preparation for available jobs, as far as the facilities of these schools
allow and the need has received the indorsement of a local represent­
ative advisory committee. The Federal board holds “ that any
other procedure would probably be detrimental to the best interests
of all parties concerned.”
Extension training for adults.—The third educational function
undei the F ederal act is the upgrading of adult workers. No special
restrictions are made for the evening classes of adult farmers, but in
the trade and industrial education established under the law the in­
struction to be offered to adult workers in evening classes is limited
to that which is supplementary to their daily occupations. Any
permanent vocational-education program on a public basis should,
the Federal board believes, preserve such a standard in providing
education to aid workers with regular employment to become more
efficient in such employment, to become more versatile in their
particular trade, or to prepare for promotion in the general line of
work m which they are engaged. Furthermore, “ To the extent to
which adult workers take advantage of the opportunities provided in
the evening school to upgrade themselves and become more resource­
ful and better qualified in their occupations, they are protecting
themselves against the loss of their jobs due to technological advances
m their occupations. It is one of the primary functions of the
evening school to render this sort of service.”
Results secured.—At present the funds made available to the
States under the Federal vocational education act are being used
for the general purposes outlined in the preceding paragraphs.
Moreover, the States and local communities are expending far more
*?r
same purposes than is required to match the allotments of
the Federal Government. The country-wide program is serving
about 1,000,000 citizens per annum. This number, however, consti­
tutes only a small part of the service that could be given, if monev
were available, “ in the way of providing opportunities for individuals
to learn to work efficiently at jobs which would be within their
reach if they had the necessary training.”


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

UNEM PLOYM ENT AND ITS R E L IE F

277

Availability of vocational training service.—Each of the 48 States,
the Territory of Hawaii, and Porto Rico, has either a vocationaleducation director or a person who exercises the functions of such a
director. In addition each of these cooperating units has a corps of
supervisors for each field of vocational education.
In brief, there is a nation-wide body of professionally qualified
persons employed by the States and local communities whose services
are available for working out training problems connected with
technological unemployment. Besides, the Federal Board for
Vocational Education has an organization of both men and women,
especially equipped in each field of vocational education, from which
State and local communities may obtain various types of aid. It
is, therefore, pointed out in the bulletin that there is no reason why
any community in this country, which has training problems relating
to the adjustment of employment, can not obtain from the State and
Federal vocational education boards certain types of advisory serv­
ice and aid in the solution of such problems.
Limitations of existing service.—Under the provisions of the Federal
act for vocational education, direct training service is limited to day
preparatory training, part-time training, and the evening extension
program. Since the problem of providing a special training service
for technologically unemployed workers was not definitely visualized
in drafting the vocational-education measure, it does not include
one class of service which seems to be required for certain individuals
displaced from industry. In illustration, various skilled workers
who have lost their jobs as a result of technological changes are
eager to receive training in order that they may secure suitable
employment. Meanwhile, having family responsibilities, these men
have taken casual or fill-in jobs, such as delivery work, truck driving,
or canvassing, to tide themselves over the emergency. The only
time that most of them have to receive training in a vocational
school is in the evening, and under the Federal act Federal funds
can not be used for instruction in evening schools for trade-changing,
or trade-preparatory purposes.
A fra n k consideration of th e p roblem reveals b u t one p ra c tic a l possibility
a t th is tim e : A local co m m u n ity m ay offer o ccupation p re p a ra to ry or jo b ­
changing courses in evening vocatio n classes to m e e t a definite need as a purely
lo cal a c tiv ity . W here th is is done, classes w ould be financed en tirely from local
o r S ta te fu n d s, o r b o th . I t is n o t possible to use F ed eral fu n d s pro v id ed un d er
th e F ed eral a c t fo r such classes. I t m ay , nevertheless, be en tirely justifiable
a n d le g itim a te for a local com m u n ity to su p p o rt c ertain classes of th is ty p e
from local fu n d s as a m a tte r of local service.
T h is is n o t a new d e p a rtu re in th e a d m in istra tio n of vocatio n al classes,
especially in th e field of com m erce. A v ery larg e n u m b er of cities m a in tain in g
evening schools h av e co n d u cte d evening com m ercial classes of a p re p a ra to ry
n a tu re as a local a c tiv ity , a n d h av e n o t been h am p ered because of th e fa c t th a t
th e re is no provision u n d e r th e S m ith -H u g h es A ct for aiding com m ercial evening
classes o u t of F ederal funds.

Indirect service available.—In addition to the direct service avail­
able to unemployed persons through contact with or enrollment in
vocational schools of the various types discussed above, very sub­
stantial services are being rendered indirectly through (1) assistance
in plant training; (2) instructor training for foremen; (3) improving
foremanship and supervision in industry; (4) cooperation with em96957°— 32------ 4

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

278

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

ployment authorities; (5) maintaining inventories of job opportunities;
and (6) promoting cooperation between employers and employees.
Training 'program not a panacea for unemployment.—The bulletin
calls attention to the fact, however, that even the best training pro­
gram that could be established for any occupation or group of occupa­
tions would not be effective if jobs were not available for the men
trained. Where there are job opportunities and men could and would
be hired for these vacancies if they were able to meet the requirements,
a training program can render a very valuable service.
Suggestions for local communities concerning the organization and
operation of special-training programs in behalf of unemployed groups.—
As a preliminary to determining the types of training to be offered,
the scope of training and the degree of service which can be rendered
to individuals by any training program, unemployed persons are classi­
fied by the Federal board in 10 groups: (1) Competent workers un­
employed as a result of the depression; (2) those whose trades have
been largely mechanized; (3) workers who have not kept up to date;
(4) specialized workers; (5) older workers; (6) those from fields of
work which are normally overcrowded; (7) unskilled labor; (8) un­
stable and migratory workers; (9) the unemployable; and (10) the
physically handicapped.
In reply to numerous inquiries, the Federal Board for Vocational
Education makes the following suggestions to local communities which
may wish to establish a special training program for the unemployed
in the present crisis. These suggestions are based on observations of
and experience with numerous types of organizations set up through­
out the United States within the past 14 years to meet special require­
ments and conditions, consideration being given to the characteristics
of the different groups of unemployed to be aided by such a program
in the existing emergency.
(1) Any special local community program for vocational education
should be highly flexible in its administrative organization. The
training service should not be separate and apart, but integrated with
some particular subdivision of the regular school system, for example,
a junior or a senior high school. A vocational emergency training
school should probably be in active operation from 8 a. m. to 10.30
p. m., regardless of regular school vacations.
(2) A vocational school for special training should not be carried on
in a regular school building. If necessary, almost any community
of reasonable size should be able to utilize at a nominal rent some
vacant loft-type or industrial-plant type of building. The main objec­
tive of the training school should be the provision of specific training
in short, specialized units and often with borrowed equipment which
can be returned upon the completion of the training unit. In order
to be of the greatest service, the school could make arrangements
with local employers and send instructors to plants rather than to
endeavor to conduct all the training in the school building.
(3) Country-wide experience in offering vocational education under
manifold conditions has shown that a necessary safeguard to the pro­
gram is the use of local representative advisory committees, including
equal numbers of responsible employers and employees in the different
fields of work in which training is offered by the school.
(4) Instructors selected for this training center should be occupa­
tionally competent and be generally recognized as able workers in
their industrial or commercial fields.


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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

279

(5) To be successful, the training center must train for definite pay­
roll jobs which are available and on which the individuals in training
can be placed after they have attained a certain employment level.
(6) Because of the great differences in mentality, education, and
experience among the individual members of the groups of unem­
ployed who may apply for vocational training, instruction can be
given to the highest advantage only on an individual or small-group
basis. From the outset there must be full recognition of the need of
such instruction and of the probably greater per capita cost.
(7) Emphasis is given to the necessity of restricting the instruction
in the various short units to the requisite job practices and to informa­
tion essential for employment.
Application of Principles to All Fields

I n t h e judgment of the Federal Board for Vocational Education,
the general type of organization and special service outlined in this
bulletin is applicable to any field of vocational training.
An Example of Emergency Vocational Training
T h e Miami public, with the aid of the Florida State Board for Voca­
tional Education, has started special vocational classes for hotel
workers. Such classes offer opportunities for local people to obtain
training for employment in the winter in hotel occupations. Formerly
many of the hotels made it a practice to bring experienced help from
the Northern cities.
The classes were conducted in a hotel which was scheduled to open
in December, 1931. An intensive plan of instruction was carried
out with an enrollment of 112 men and women, training being offered
for housework, dining room service, and iron t office jobs. The instruc­
tors had had a long and successful experience in hotel work. The
courses were arranged to cover three weeks each. The association
of local hotel men backed the scheme and promised to employ those
who successfully completed the training.
When the first announcement was made of this educational project
more than 900 men and women applied for the training. The instruc­
tors interviewed and selected prospective trainees in about the same
way as workers are hired.
These courses will be repeated as often as required at Miami to
prepare as many persons as can be placed in positions. Later on,
other instruction units may be given.
Daytona Beach was reported as being ready to institute a similar
training scheme in advance of the winter season.

Im p o rta n ce of R ecreation in th e P resen t U n em p lo y m e n t
S itu a tio n 1

HE eighteenth annual recreation congress which met at Toronto
in October devoted much attention to the _consideration of the
special responsibilities and opportunities facing the community
recreation movement as a result of the present unemployment situa-

T

1 Recreation, New Y ork, December, 1931. T he E ighteenth A nnual Recreation Congress and U nem ploy­
m ent.


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

280

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

tion. The subject was uppermost throughout the conference and
many requests were received for specific data relating to local recrea­
tion service for the unemployed. As a result of these requests a sum­
mary statement showing the types of activities carried on in different
cities was published in the December issue of Recreation. No
attempt was made to give complete data from all the cities reporting;
the effort was rather to show the possibilities for using unemployed
persons in local recreation work and for the provision of recreation
opportunities for the unemployed.
One of the first measures adopted in most cities is the use of unem­
ployed labor in the extension and improvement of recreation areas,
facilities, and buildings. Unskilled labor can be used successfully
in much of this work, and in order to develop the greatest oppor­
tunities for use of this type of labor, efforts should be directed towards
securing new areas for recreation purposes either through bond issues
and appropriations, donations of land by individuals, or the leasing or
free use of vacant areas for sufficiently long periods to justify improve­
ment. Approximately one-third of the municipal park and recrea­
tion acreage of the country has been shown by a recent study to have
been donated by public-spirited citizens. In addition many real
estate firms have, in recent years, set aside land in new subdivisions
for permanent park and recreation use. In some instances cities
have been obliged to refuse desirable areas because of lack of funds
for improvements, with the probable permanent loss of the land for
recreation purposes. It is said that a cooperative plan can be worked
out in such instances between the city, the realtor, and the unemploy­
ment committee. In such a case the realtor may donate the land,
the unemployment committee provides the labor for its improvement,
and the city may supervise its improvement and provide leadership
where this is required. Unemployed labor has been successfully
employed in the construction and beautification of recreation areas
and may be used in many types of development.
In most cities the “ white collar7’ worker presents a special problem
to the emergency unemployment committees. In some instances these
workers have been effectively used as supplementary recreation
leaders and supervisors. The employment of workers in such posi­
tions must depend upon careful selection as regards previous experi­
ence and natural ability and it is essential also that provision should
• he made for special intensive training of such workers. Those with
special abilities may be used effectively with arts and crafts groups
and in the carrying out of musical or dramatic activities. In such
specialized work it is necessary for the recreation department to
furnish reasonably adequate supervision.
The use of existing outdoor and indoor recreation facilities has
been greatly increased as a result of the recreational needs of the un­
employed, and in many cities the need for opening new centers and
expanding activities has been evident, although in many instances the
budgets have not been increased to provide for the needed expansion.
However, in many localities greater use can be made of school build­
ings, church centers, and other buildings without great additional
expense, and frequently the special expense for light, heat, and janitor
service may be provided by the school board or other agency as a
direct contribution to the unemployment recreation program.

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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F

281

In addition to the extension of the existing recreation services it
is said that there is need in many cities for establishing special centers
for the daytime use of the unemployed. There is some question of
the advisability of encouraging the unemployed to spend their time
together in large groups, although where they feel they must keep in
touch with the employment office it is obviously better to provide a
place where they may be comfortable and find something to occupy
their leisure time. Vacant stores, rooms of fraternal organizations,
and other clubrooms, which can be secured without cost, may be used
for this purpose, if they are conveniently located. It may be necessary,
also, in some cities to provide recreation centers in connection with
lodging houses. Among the activities successfully inaugurated in
such centers are participation in music and the provision of musical
programs, provision of reading material and various games, and spe­
cial entertainment programs and moving pictures.
U n em p lo y m e n t in C h icago, O ctober, 1931

OCTOBER 15,1931, there were approximately 624,000 persons
unemployed in Chicago, according to an estimate of the Illinois
ONDepartment
of Labor, published in its Labor Bulletin of November,
1931. This number constituted 40 per cent of Chicago’s gainful
workers as reported by the United States Census of April, 1930.
The estimate is based on the United States census of unemploy­
ment in Chicago for January, 1931, and on the monthly volume of
employment index for the manufacturing industries of that city,
which the Illinois division of statistics and research considers “ is
valid for all nonagricultural classes of employment as a whole.”
The steps in making the estimates are given in detail below:
1. N um ber of gainful w orkers in Chicago, April, 1930 (assum ed to be
sam e for Ja n u a ry , 1931)______________________________________ 1, 558, 949
2. N u m b er of gainful w orkers n o t a t w ork a n d n o t draw in g p ay in
Chicago (classes A to F ), Ja n u a ry , 1931, census_______________
457, 946
3. N u m b er of gainful w orkers a t w ork o r d raw ing p a y in C hicago,
Ja n u a ry , 1931 (1— 2 )_________________________________________ 1, 101, 003
4. E m p lo y m en t index (Chicago m an u factu rin g ), Ja n . 15, 1931______
77. 2
5. E m p lo y m en t index (Chicago m an u factu rin g ), O ct. 15, 1931______
64. 6
6. P e r ce n t change in em p lo y m en t, Ja n . 15, 1931, to O ct. 15, 1931,
show n b y in d e x ______________________________________________
— 16. 3
7. D ecrease in n u m b er of gainful w orkers a t w ork o r d raw ing pay ,
Ja n . 15, 1931, to O ct. 15, 1931, co m p u ted from J a n u a ry , 1931,
census a n d index (3 X 6 )______________________________________
179, 464
8. N u m b er of gainful w orkers n o t a t w ork a n d n o t d raw ing p ay
(classes A to F ), O ct. 15, 1931, co m p u ted from Ja n u a ry , 1931,
census a n d index (2 + 7 )______________________________________
637, 410

In January, 1931, classes A and B (persons out of a job and looking
for a job or on lay-off without pay) constituted 98 per cent of the un­
employed gainful workers in Chicago, and it is assumed that on Octo­
ber 15, 1931, such classes formed the same proportion of the number
of persons in classes A to F. The estimated number of persons in
classes A and B on October 15, 1931, is therefore 624,260.


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

282

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

R e co m m e n d a tio n s of M a ssa c h u setts C o m m issio n on S ta b iliza ­
tio n of E m p lo y m en t

HE major recommendations of the Special Commission on Stabili­
zation of Employment of Massachusetts, set forth in its prelimi­
nary report1to the legislature, provide for the creation of a planning
board of five members to develop a 5-year plan for State building and
construction under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, and for
licensing private employment agencies and placing such agencies
under the supervision of the department of labor and industries.
In recommending a planning board the commission lays before the
legislature a definite plan of action, as follows: When an emergency
is found to exist and is declared by the governor of the State, the
general court shall authorize “ an amount of 5-year short-term notes,
callable after one year, equal to 10 per cent of the estimated total of
the 5-year plan—or an amount sufficient to pay for half of one year’s
program.” With these funds in hand the planning board will under­
take to have a quantity of work done in the current year of emergency,
the amount to be not over 50 per cent in excess of the planned work
for the year in question. Such action, it is stated, may be taken in
one or more successive years, thus making it possible to deal with a
depression of more than one year’s duration. For example, if the
5-year plan of the State called for an expenditure of $50,000,000 for
the whole period, in any year that an emergency was found to exist
construction to the value of $15,000,000 might be initiated, represent­
ing the $10,000,000 authorized for normal construction needs plus
the $5,000,000 worth of work allowed in the emergency.

T

E m p lo y m en t T rends in M in n eso ta

THE basis of a study of employment trends in the three chief
of Minnesota, the authors of a report recently issued by
ONthecities
University of Minnesota2 have drawn certain conclusions as to
the extent of unemployment in the State as a whole and the degree
to which certain industries and groups of workers have been affected.
In using the information relative to employment trends in three cities
as reflecting the situation for the State it is emphasized that outside
these cities the State is almost entirely rural in character.
Changes in Total Employment

On t h e basis of the figures available, the grand total of employ­
ment showed an increase of 2.2 per cent from 1927 to 1928 and a
decrease of the same percentage from 1928 to 1929. For the first
seven months of 1930, as compared with the same period in 1929, the
loss in employment was 7 per cent. Estimates for July, 1931, com­
pared with July, 1930, indicate that a further decrease of 14 per cent
occurred.
During the period 1927 to 1929 the sample shows that woman
workers increased from 20 per cent of the total employed to 22 per
1 M assachusetts. Special C om m ission on th e S tabilization of E m ploym ent. P relim in ary report,
December, 1931.
2 U niversity of M innesota. E m ploym ent Stabilization Research In stitu te . E m ploym ent T rends in St.
Paul, M inneapolis, and D u lu th , b y W illiam H . Stead a n d D reng Bjornaraa.


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

283

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF

cent. During the first part of 1930 woman workers were also found
to hold their own slightly better than men, the drop in employment
having been 6.4 per cent for women as against 7 per cent for men.
It was also noted that the men maintained a high level of employment
throughout the summer, while the women enjoyed extra employment
in the holiday trades during December.
Changes in the Various Industrial Groups
D iv id in g th e w o rk ers in to six m a jo r in d u s tria l groups, th e changes
in e m p lo y m e n t as b etw een 1927 an d 1929 a n d d u rin g th e first seven
m o n th s of 1930, as co m p ared w ith th e sam e p erio d in 1930, are show n
in th e ta b le follow ing.
C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T I N SIX M A JO R IN D U S T R IE S OF M IN N E S O T A
Per cent of change
In d u stry group
1927 to 1929
W holesale- _________________________
R e ta ils - ____ ___ - - --------M anufacturing------- -------------------------- Public utilities- -------------------------------Construction 2 - - - - ---- -Miscellaneous______ - - ------- ----------

-7
+30
+1
-2 -3
-1 8
-9 -1 0

1929 to 1930 1
-4 - 5
-10-11
-8
-4 -5
-2 -3
-6 -7

1 Comparison is betw een first 7 m onths of each year.
2 St. Paul and D u lu th only.

The pronounced increase in employment in retail trade (30 per
cent) between 1927 and 1929 is evidence of the growth in employment
in personal service. Attention is also called to the relatively small
decrease in employment in construction between the first seven
months of 1929 and 1930 (2 to 3 per cent). This, it is stated, is
accounted for by the fact that Duluth had developed certain con­
struction projects.
The seasonal movements of employment in the respective industrial
groups covered showed considerable diversity. Fluctuation in the
wholesale group showed no seasonal movement and the highest rate
of fluctuation amounted to less than 5 per cent. In manufacturing,
a steady growth was found from a low in January or February to
a peak in October, 7 to 8 per cent above the low. Retail trade showed
both spring and fall peaks, and public utilities (including transporta­
tion) a 11 to 12 per cent fluctuation, from a low in February to a peak
in June or July. The miscellaneous division showed a rise of 4 to 5
per cent, between the low point, which occurred during May and the
high point in the late fall. The greatest seasonal variation occurred
in construction, or 37 to 38 per cent in the summer as compared with
the winter months.
Changes in Occupational Groups
D iv id in g the data into six major occupational groups, skilled,
semiskilled, unskilled, sales, clerical, and miscellaneous, the report
states that employment in the skilled and semiskilled groups declined
by about 5 per cent between 1927 and 1929, while that in the un­
skilled group declined only 2 to 3 per cent. It is further stated that

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

284

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

“ this seems to suggest greater pressure from technical and structural
changes on the upper two groups.” A general increase in employ­
ment was apparent from 1927 to 1929 in the sales group (4 per cent),
the clerical group (5 per cent), and the miscellaneous group (1 to 2
per cent).
In calling attention to the fact that distributive employments in
this sample show an increase at the same time that industrial employ­
ment has been decreasing, the study under review brings out the fact
that if the rate of gain of distributive employment continues and the
growing field of personal service is included, a growth of total employ­
ment is possible in spite of the decline in manufacturing employment.
In contrasting employment in the first six months of 1930 with that
in the same period during 1929, the following losses are recorded:
Skilled employment, 3 to 4 per cent; semiskilled, 6 per cent; unskilled,
11 to 12 per cent; miscellaneous, 2 to 3 per cent; clerical, 4 to 5 per
cent; and sales, 7 to 8 per cent. Thus, in this later period, 1929 and
1930, a decline in all occupational groups took place. However, the
decline in employment in manufacturing industries taken together
was 7 per cent, while that in the distributive industries was 5 per cent.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in F oreign C ou n tries

T

HE following table gives detailed monthly statistics of unem­
ployment in foreign countries, as shown in official reports, from
January, 1930, to the latest available date.
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S 1
A ustralia
Trade-unionists
unem ployed

D ate (end of m onth)
N um ber

1930
Jan u a ry ____
F eb ru ary ___
M arch .......... .
A pril_______
M a y _______
J u n e _______
Ju ly ________
A ugust_____
Septem ber. . .
O ctober_____
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber___

(2)
(2)
63,144
(2)
(2)
80, 595
(2)
(2)
90, 279
(2)
(2)
104, 951

1931
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch ______
A pril_______
M a y _______
J u n e ________
J u ly ________
A u g u st..........
S e p te m b e r.. .
October_____
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber___

(2)
(2)
113, 614
(2)
(2)
118, 424
(2)
(2)
120, 694
(2)
(2)
118,732

See footnotes a t end of table.


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

Per
cent

14. 6
18.5
20.5
23.4

25.8
27.6
28.3
28.0

A ustria

Belgium

C anada

C om pul­
U nem ploym ent insurance societies
sory in­
surance,
Per cent
num ber
of tradeunem ­
W holly unem ­
P artially unem ­ unionists
ployed
ployed
ployed
unem ­
in re­
ployed
ceipt of
benefit
N um ber P er cent N um ber Per cent

273,197
284, 543
239, 094
192, 477
162, 678
150, 075
153,188
156,145
163, 894
192, 778
237, 745
294,845

22, 542
16,085
14,030
13, 715
12,119
12, 226
15, 302
17, 747
23,693
27, 322
38, 973
63, 585

3.5
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.8
3.8
4.3
6. 1
9.3

25, 782
31, 222
28,469
36, 065
38, 761
41, 336
48, 580
51, 649
61, 623
54,804
76,043
117,167

4.0
4.9
4.5
5.8
6.1
6. 5
7. 7
8.2
9.9
8.5
12.0
17.0

10.8
11. 5
10. 8
9.0
10. 3
10. 6
9. 2
9. 3
9.4
10.8
13. 8
17.0

331, 239
334, 041
304, 084
246, 845
208, 852
191, 150
194, 364
196, 321
202, 130
228,101
273, 658
329,595

77,181
81, 750
81,305
70, 377
56, 250
62, 642
64, 644
70, 893
74,175
82, 811
93,487
128, 000

11. 1
11. 7
11.3
10.0
7.9
8.9
9. 1
9.9
10.3
11.3
13.3
17.0

112, 734
121,906
125, 972
110,139
97, 755
101, 616
116, 747
120, 669
119, 433
122, 773
134, 799

16.2
19.4
17.7
15.6
13.8
14.4
16.3
16.8
16.6
16.8
19. 2

16.0
15.6
15. 5
14.9
16. 2
16.3
16.2
15.8
18.1
18.3
18. 6

285

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS R E L IE F
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Danzig
(Free
C ity of)

Czechoslovakia

D ate (end of m onth)

N um ber
of unem ­
ployed
on live
register

Trade-union in­
surance funds—
unem ployed in
receipt of benefit

N um ber

1930
Jan u a ry ____________
F ebruary _____ ___
M arch ____ _ ______
A pril______________
M a y _______________
J u n e --------- -----------Ju ly _______________
A ugust_______ _____
Septem ber____ _____
October . . . _______
N o v e m b e r___ . .
D ecem ber________
1931
Jan u a ry ____________
F ebruary ________ . .
M arch ______. . . .
A p ril...
______ ..
M a y _______ . . ..
J u n e _______________
J u ly ..____ _________
A ugust_____ . . . .
Septem ber__
O ctober. _____ . ..

N um ber
of unem ­
ployed
registered

Per
cent

D enm ark

Estonia

Finland

Trade-union unem ­
ploym ent funds— N um ber
unem ­ N um ber
unem ployed
ployed of unem ­
remaining ployed
on live registered
N um ber P er cent register

73,891
86,156
88, 005
79, 721
77, 069
73, 464
77, 309
88, 005
104, 534
122, 379
155, 203
239, 564

39,199
40, 550
45, 567
42, 664
41, 098
37,853
46,800
52, 694
57, 542
61,213
65, 904
93,476

3.6
3.6
4.0
3.7
3.8
3.4
4. 1
4.7
5.3
5. 5
5.9
8.3

19, 282
21,153
20, 376
18, 371
16, 232
14, 975
15, 330
15,687
16, 073
17, 307
20, 272
24, 429

55, 876
59,363
47,109
33, 471
27, 966
24,807
26, 200
26, 232
27, 700
32, 880
44, 200
71,100

20.3
21.0
15.6
11.8
9.4
8.7
9.3
9.0
9.0
11.4
15.3
24.6

5, 608
4,580
3, 575
2, 227
2,065
910
762
1,039
1,414
3,282
5, 675
6,163

12, 696
11, 545
10,062
7, 274
4, 666
3, 553
4, 026
5,288
7,157
10, 279
10, 740
9, 336

313, 511
343, 972
339, 505
296, 756
249, 686
220, 038
209, 233
214, 520
228, 383
253, 518
336, 874
480, 775

104, 580
117, 450
119, 350
107, 238
93, 941
82, 534
82, 759
86, 261
3 84, 671
s 88, 600

9.5
10.0
10.0
8.9
7.6
6.6
6.6
6.9
6.8
6.9

27,081
28,192
27, 070
24,186
20, 686
19, 855
20, 420
21, 509
22, 922
24,932
28, 966

70,961
73,427
67, 725
45, 698
37,856
34,030
36, 369
35,060
35,871
47,196
66, 526
91, 216

24.2
26.0
22. 1
15.3
12.3
11.3
11.8
11.8
12.1
16.0
22.3
30.4

5, 364
4, 070
2, 765
2, 424
1,368
931
634
933
2,096
5,425
7,554

11,706
11, 557
11,491
12, 663
7, 342
6, 320
6, 790
9,160
12,176
14, 824

G erm any

France

Trade-unionists
D ate (end of m onth)

N um ber N um ber of
unem ­
unem ­
ployed
ployed
in receipt registered
of benefit

W holly unem ­
ployed
N um ber

1930
Jan u ary - . ---------------------F ebruary ------ ---------- -------M a rc h ... ------------------- .
A p r i l . ------ ----------------------M ay ______________________
Ju n e __________________
Ju ly ______________________
A ugust.
. ...
. .
S e p te m b e r--------------- ----October
--------------- ----N ovem ber_____________
D e ce m b e r.-. _ _ ____
1931
J a n u a ry .. _
- ------February _ ------- ------------ _
M arch___ . -------------------A pril---------- -------------------M ay ______________________
June______________________
Ju ly ______________________
A ugust---- --------------------Septem ber— -------------- __
October . -----------------------N ovem ber..

See footnotes a t end of table.


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

1,484
1,683
1,630
1,203
859
1,019
856
964
988
1,663
4,893
11,952

3, 217,608
3, 365,811
3, 040, 797
2, 786,912
2, 634, 718
2,640,681
2, 765, 258
2,883, 000
3,004, 000
3, 252, 000
3, 683, 000
4,384, 000

1,004, 787
1,076,441
995,972
926, 831
895, 542
896, 465
930, 777
984, 384
1,011,820
1, 061, 570
1,167, 930
(2)

28,536
40, 766
50, 815
49, 958
41,339
36, 237
35,916
37, 673
38, 524
51, 654
92,157
147,009

4, 887,000
4, 972,000
4, 756, 000
4, 358, 000
4,053, 000
3,954, 000
3,976, 000
4, 215, 000
4, 355, 000
4,623, 480
5,059, 773
5, 668,187

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

P artially unem ­
ployed

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
in receipt
Per cent N um ber Per cent of benefiit

22.0
23. 5
21.7
20.3
19. 5
18.6
20. 5
21.7
22.5
23.6
26.0
31.7

501,950
593, 380
576,153
553, 098
552, 318
578,116
631, 903
670,466
677, 627
693, 379
721, 658
(2)

11.0
13.0
12.6
12.1
12.0
12.6

2,482, 648
2, 655, 723
2, 347,102
2,081, 068
1,889, 240
1, 834, 662
1,900,961
1,947, 811
1,965,348
2,071, 730
2, 353,980
2, 822, 598

34.2
34. 5
33.6
31.2
29. 9
29. 7
31. 0
33.6
35.1
36. 6
38. 9

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

19.2
19. 5
18.9
18.0
17.4
17.7
19. 1
21.4
.2

3, 364, 770
3,496, 979
3, 240, 523
2, 789, 627
2, 507, 732
2, 353, 657
2, 231, 513
2, 376, 589
2,483, 364
2, 534, 952
2, 771, 985

13.9
14.8
15.1
15.4
16.1
16.9

22
22.0
21.8

286

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Great
B ritain

Great B ritain and N orthern Ireland

H ungary
Trade-unionists u n ­
employed

Com pulsory insurance
D ate (end of m onth)

N um ber
W holly unem ­
Tem porary stop­ of persons
registered
ployed
pages
w ith em ­
ploym ent
exchanges
N um ber Per cent N u m b er Per cent

Social-Demo­
cratic

C hris­
tian
(B uda­
pest)

N um ­
ber

Per
cent

1930
Jan u a ry ______ _ ____ _
February____
M a rc h ..
_____
A pril___ __ ___________
M ay _________ _____ _ _
Ju n e _____
___
J u ly ___________________
A ugust--- _ --_
-_ -_
S ep tem b er.. ---__ _
O ctober_______________
N ovem ber_____________
D ecem ber______________

1,183,974
1, 211, 262
1, 284, 231
1, 309, 014
1, 339. 595
1, 341, 818
1,405, 981
1,500, 990
1, 579, 708
1, 725, 731
1, 836, 280
1,853, 575

9.8
10.0
10.6
10.8
11. 1
11. 1
11.6
12.4
13.1
13.9
14.8
14.9

336, 474
371, 840
409, 785
451, 506
516, 303
569, 931
664,107
618, 658
608, 692
593, 223
532, 518
646, 205

2.8
3. 1
3.4
3.8
4.2
4. 7
5. 5
5. 1
5.0
4.8
4.3
5.3

1, 491, 519
1, 539, 265
1, 677,473
1,698, 386
1,770,051
1,890,575
2, 011,467
2, 039,702
1,114,955
2, 200, 413
2, 274, 338
2, 392, 738

1,161
1,120
983
906
875
829
920
847
874
999
975
935

21, 533
21, 309
21, 016
20,139
19, 875
18,960
19, 081
21,013
22, 252
22, 914
23,333
24,648

14. 5
14.8
14.6
13.7
13.6
13.0
13.2
14.5
16.0
16.7
17.0
17.9

1931
J anuary. - - _____
February ------------- -----M arch _____
A pril_____ ___________
M a y ___________ _____
J u n e . - _______________
Ju ly ___________________
A ugust - -_ - -September O ctober. _
N ovem ber____
D ecem ber.-_ _______ .

2, 044, 209
2,073,578
2, 052, 826
2, 027,896
2.019, 533
2, 037,480
2, 073, 892
2,142, 821
2, 217. 080
2, 305, 388
2, 294,902
2,262, 700

16.5
16. 7
16. 5
16. 3
16.3
16.4
16.7
17.3
17. 9
18.1
18. 0
17.7

618, 633
623, 844
612, 821
564, 884
558, 383
669. 315
732, 583
670, 342
663, 466
487, 591
439,952
408,117

5.0 2, 613, 749
5.0 2, 627, 559
5.0 2, 581, 030
4.6 2, 531, 674
4. 5 2, 596, 431
5.4 2, 629, 215
5.9 2, 662, 765
5.4 2, 732, 434
5. 3 2, 879, 466
3. 8 2, 755, 559
3. 4 2, 555, 088
3.2 32,568', 882

953
965
996
1,042
843
751
876
941
932
1,020

26,191
27,089
27, 092
27,129
26,131
23, 660
26, 329
28,471
28, 716
28, 998

19.1
19.8

D ate (end of m onth)

Ja n u a ry __
February-M arch____
A p ril_____
M ay ........—
Ju n e_____
J u ly _____
A ugust___
September.
October__
November.
D ecember-

Irish Free S tate

Italy

L atvia

Compulsory insurance—unem ployed

N um ber of unem ployed registered

N um ber

Per cent

W holly
u n em ­
ployed

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
rem ain­
ing on
live
register

31,592
(2)
(2)
26,027
(2)
(2)
23, 393
(2)
(2)
20, 775
22,990
25, 622

11.1

1930

9.2

8. 2
(2)
(2)
(2)

P artially
unem ­
ployed

466, 231
456,628
385, 432
372, 236
367, 183
322, 291
342, 061
375, 548
394, 630
446,496
534, 356
642,169

23,185
26, 674
28,026
24, 305
22,825
21, 887
24, 209
24, 056
22, 734
19, 081
22,125
21, 788

722,612
765, 325
707, 486
670, 353
635,183
573, 593
637, 531
693, 273
747, 764
799, 744
878, 267
982, 321

27, 924
27,110
27, 545
28, 780
26, 059
24,206
25, 821
30, 636
29,822
32,828
30,967

9, 263
, 825
6,494
3, 683
1,421
779
607
573
1,470
6,058
8,608

8

10, 022

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

N etherlands
U nem ploym ent
insurance socie­
ties—unem ployed

N um ber

Per cent

56, 535
50,957
34, 996
28, 421
26, 211
23, 678
29, 075
32, 755
35, 532
41,088
46, 807
72,191

13.9
12.5
8.6

6.9
6.3
5.5
.7
7.6

6

8.2

9.6
11.8

16.5

1931
Jan u a ry __
F eb ru ary ..
M arch___
A p ril_____
M ay _____
Ju n e _____
Ju ly ........ .
A u g u st___
September.
Oetober__
November.
D ecem ber.
See footnotes a t end of table.


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

26,167
28,681
26,825
25, 413
23, 970
23, 016
, 427
, 647
21,897
23, 427
26,353

21
21

( 2)
( 2)
( 2)

(2>
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
( 2)

( 2)

9,207
, 303
8,450
, 390
1,871
1,584
2,169
4,827
7, 470
13, 605

8
6

103, 728
99, 753
80, 525
, 860
60,189
59, 573
69, 026
70, 479
72,738
85, 966
80,382
127,516

68

3

23.4
22.2

17.7
14.3
12.2

11. 7
13.3
15.3
15.7
18.4
17.0
24.0

287

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
N orw ay

New Zealand
Trade-unionists
unem ployed

D ate (end of m onth)

Per
cent

N um ber

N um ber

Per
cent

1930
J a n u a ry __
F ebruary -M arch____
A pril_____
M ay _____
Ju n e _____
J u ly --------A ugust___
Septem ber.
O ctober__
NovemberD ecem ber..

19.0
18.9
17.8
15.8

8.5

12.2
10.8
10.8

10.9

13.4
15.7
18.0
21.4
25.5

"Ï3. 5
"Ï5.5
( 2)

1931

3

J a n u a ry —
February -M arch-----A pril_____
M ay_____
June_____
J u ly --------A ug u st.. September
O ctober—
November-

26.3

11,692
( 2)

<29,434
< 37, 598
4 36,921
4 42, 523
4 46, 359
4 48,396
4 51,018
4 51, 408

Saar T e r­
ritory

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
rem ain­
ing on
live
register

Trade-unionists
(10 unions) u n ­
employed

24.9

11,213
( 2)

5 8, 415

4 19.2

Poland

R um ania

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
registered
w ith em ­
ploym ent
offices

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
rem ain­
ing on
live
register

22,549
22,974
22, 533
19,829
16, 376
13, 939
11,997
12,923
17, 053
20, 363
24, 544
27,157

241,974
274, 708
289, 469
271,225
224,914
204, 982
193, 687
173,627
170, 467
165, 154
209,912
299, 797

12,622
15,588
13,045
13, 412
25,096
22,960
23, 236
24,209
39, 110
36,147
42,689
36,212

28, 596
29,107
29,095
28,477
25,206
22, 736
.20,869
22,431
27,012
29, 340
32,078

340, 718
358,925
372, 536
351, 679
313,104
274, 942
255,179
246, 380
246,426
255, 622
259,676

38,804
43, 270
48,226
41, 519
33,484
28,093
29, 250
22, 708
22, 969
28,800

Switzerland

Sweden

Yugo­
slavia

U nem ploym ent funds
D ate (end of m onth)

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
registered

i raae-um onisis
unem ployed

N um ber

Per
cent

W holly unem ­
ployed
N um ber

Per
cent

P artially unem ­
ployed
N um ber

Per
cent

N um ber
of unemployed
registered

1930
8,508
4.4
10,710
14. 2
4.4
45, 636
10,523
11,307
Jan u a ry ______ - ____
9,437
11,445
9,971
4.7
13.2
4.1
11,949
45, 460
F ebruary _ __________
9, 739
12, 642
4.2
7,882
42, 278
12.5
2.6
8, 882
M arch
...........................
12,
052
12,
755
2.1
5.3
38, 347
5, 203
7,522
11. 1
A p r il- __
8,704
13,129
5.4
28, 112
5, 356
2.2
8.3
7, 362
____M a y _____
6,991
17,
688
5.
7
5,
368
8.1
1.7
28, 956
6, 330
June
7,236
15,112
6.2
7.8
4, 751
1.9
27, 170
7, 095
Ju ly
________________
7.9
6, 111
19,441
8.1
5, 703
28, 539
2.3
7, 099
A ugust - ___
5, 973
26, 111
8. 3
7, 792
34, 963
9.8
2.5
7, 527
Septem ber
. ........
6, 609
23, 309
9.4
7, 399
12.2
3.0
43, 927
9,013
October
7,219
25, 793
11, 666
10. 5
57, 070
4.7
15.3
12,110
N ovem ber
- -----9,989
33,
483
10.4
22.9
21,400
6.6
86,042
15, 245
December
.
..
t
1931
11, 903
12.5
30,977
20, 551
8.3
19.8
69,437
18, 921
J a n u a r y __
14,424
12. 2
30, 879
20, 081
7.9
18.4
66, 923
20,139
_______
F ebruary
12, 029
12.4
18, 991
41,880
19. 3
5.4
72, 944
18, 292
M arch - _ ___________
11,391
10.6
27, 726
17.5
10, 389
4.0
64, 534
18,102
April .
_
. -6, 929
9.9
26, 058
9, 174
3.5
49, 807
13. 2
14, 886
M a y ______- ......................4,431
9.7
34, 266
12, 577
3.6
12. 1
45, 839
15,413
June . - ........................
6, 672
39, 000
11.3
12, 200
3.3
46, 180
12.4
17, 685
July- ________________
7,466
12.4
33, 346
9, 754
3.6
12.7
48, 590
20, 205
August
...........................
7, 753
11.2
42, 998
15,188
4.0
54, 405
13.7
21, 741
September
10,
070
13.
2
4.8
47,
200
18, 060
16.4
65, 469
24, 685
October ...................
10, 349
19.9
25,200
79,484
(2)
(2)
(2)
28, 659
N ovem ber
_____ _____
Sources: League of N ations—M o n th ly B ulletin of Statistics; International Labor Office—International
L abor Review; C anada—Labor G azette; G reat B ritain—M in istry of L abor G azette; A ustria Statistiscbe N achrichten; A ustralia—Q uarterly Sum m ary of A ustralian Statistics; G erm any Reichsarbeitsbla tt, Reichs A rbeitsm arkt Anzeiger; Sw itzerland—W irt. u . Social. M itteilungen, L a Vie Economique;
Poland—Wiedemosci Statystyczne; N orw ay—Statistiske M eddelelser; N etherlands M aandschnft;
Sweden—Sociala M eddelenden; D enm ark—Statistiske Efterretninger; Finland—B ank of Finland M onthly
B ulletin; France—B ulletin d u M arché d u T ravail; H ungary—M agyar Statisztikai Szemle; Belgium—
R evue d u T ravail; N ew Zealand—M o n th ly A bstract of Statistics; U . S. D epartm ent of Commerce
Commerce Reports; and U . S. Consular R eports.
2 N o t reported.
3 Provisional figure.
,
.
, , ,
,
4 New series of statistics showing unem ployed registered b y th e em ploym ent exchanges. Includes not
only workers w holly unem ployed b u t also those in te rm itten tly employed.
“ Strike ended. Provisional figure.


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

288

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

R elief W orks in C entral G erm an y 1

WO practical schemes for the occupation of a part of the unem­
ployed workers of Central Germany have been put into effect in
a number of cities and towns. They are described in the following
paragraphs.
Workshops for young unemployed workers.—The towns of Bitterfeld,
Geiseltal, Weissenfels, and the city of Halle have organized workshops
for the voluntary occupation of unemployed young persons. These
shops are supported by the municipal authorities in charge of the
labor situation, and the equipment, consisting of machinery, tools,
and waste scrap and raw materials, is donated by several of the fac­
tories in each of these towns. The enrollment in each of the work­
shops varies from 50 to 200 boys and young men, and provision is
being made for enlargement and the addition of new shops. The
workers receive no wages, although some of the shops provide meals
at a minimum cost. The workers may keep the articles which they
make in the shops. _ The products, however, can not be sold, and
therefore the establishment of these institutions offers little, if any,
competition to the handicraft trades. Electricity and fuel are fur­
nished free by the municipality, and small sums are given by the
labor offices in the towns for the moderate operating expenses of the
shops. It is reported that the young men show interest in their work
and that the psychological benefit which they receive from being
occupied daily in useful work, instead of walking the streets, repays
many times the very small amount of money which the shops require
for maintenance and operation.
Voluntary labor service.—In addition to the above plan, the “ Voluntary Labor Service” movement is making headway in central
Germany. _Public and private enetrprises in several towns and cities,
such as Weimar and Altenburg, have drawn up projects to be carried
out by small groups of voluntary workers. These projects are of
such a nature that they could not, under present conditions, be carried
out by private contract at the regular wages paid to laborers. For
example, a group of 40 young unemployed have accepted voluntary
service of this nature in grading the aviation field in Weimar. The
necessary tools for the work are loaned by the city, and each of the
volunteers receives 2 marks (47.6 cents)2per day plus breakfast, dinner,
and a coupon worth 60 pfennigs (14.3 cents) for use in purchasing
other food and clothing at reduced prices. The latter amount can
be paid to the worker in cash, if he so desires, at the end of the period
of labor. The working day aggregates seven hours, and the workers
live in heated barracks near the aviation field. The payment of
unemployment relief to these workers, of course, ceases during the
period of service, but the income which they receive totals somewhat
more than the relief. A similar scheme, which will require 100 volun­
tary workers for three months, was recently put into effect in Dankmarshausen. Likewise, a project will be started in Altenburg which
will require 8,000 working-days for completion.

T

1 R eport of P au l J. Reveley, U nited States vice consul, Leipzig, G erm any, N ov 2 1931
2 Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents


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

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF

289

M easures A g a in st U n e m p lo y m e n t in T rieste Province, I t a ly 1

N THE city and Province of Trieste the local intersyndicate com­
mittee of the Fascist Provincial Federation recently held a meeting
to discuss the question of unemployment relief. The committee was
composed of delegates from the industrial, agricultural, commercial
land-transport, shipping, real estate, handicraft, and professional
syndicates.
The committee adopted certain resolutions containing the proposed
measures against unemployment and invited the various syndicates
to make arrangements, in their respective fields, for assisting the
unemployed during the coming winter, as proposed by the committee.
The decisions reached by the various syndicates (workers and their
employers) are as follows:
(1)
When overtime work is absolutely necessary in any concern,
factory, or firm, unemployed labor will be utilized for it.
(2) No work is to be permitted on official holidays.
(3)
Workmen on leave of absence or vacation are to be replaced
by the unemployed.
(4)
The economic condition of all employees or laborers is to be
investigated. All those who have more than one source of income—
i. e., those who have two jobs, private sources of income or pensions,
or who own real estate, shops or businesses, even if under another
name—are to be eliminated.
(5)
Only one member of a family may be employed by a firm if the
head of the family is employed by the same concern.
(6)
Labor is not to be brought in from other districts except when
highly specialized labor is required. Foreign labor is to be absolutely
excluded,
(7)
A percentage of their wages is to be contributed by the em­
ployees for unemployment relief, the amount being deducted by
employers either weekly or monthly and remitted by them to the
Fascist Syndicate of Industries in Trieste, for deposit in the relief
fund.
(8)
Normal working hours are to be reduced from 8 to 7 hours per
day during the 5 months beginning November 1, 1931.
(9)
Contract work is to be permitted only on rare occasions and
then only with the approval of the syndicates.
(10)
All firms are to employ the greatest possible number of
workmen.
(11) No subleasing of work is to be permitted to contractors.
(12)
A percentage of all sums collected by the union through the
settlement of industrial disputes is to be deposited in the relief fund.
(13)
All requisitions for workmen are to be made through the
official employment bureau.
(14)
All firms who employ boys or apprentices in excess of 10 per
cent of all workers employed must replace the excess by heads of
families without other means of support.
(15)
Labor shifts are to be instituted in order to permit rotation of
workers and thus insure employment for at least three days each
week to each worker. (This is to be done only in case work is limited
and dismissals are contemplated.)

I

1 D ata are from report of R ollin R . Winslow, U nited States consul a t Trieste, Italy , dated Oct. 20, 1931.


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

290

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

(16) Members of the family of the owner of a firm must not be
employed in a manual capacity in the firm.
(17) One day’s work per week, beginning November 1, 1931, is to
be eliminated in bakeries.
With reference to decision (7), above, employees in firms dealing in
building equipment, foodstuffs, and wearing apparel, and those en­
gaged in theaters must contribute 3 per cent of their wages for the
relief fund. Those engaged in paper, printing, chemical, textile,
or tobacco businesses, or metallurgical and gas, water, or electric works
or industries must contribute 1 per cent of their wages.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in Jap an , S ep tem b er, 1931

HE unemployment situation in Japan was worse in the early fall
of 1931 than in the latter half of 1930, according to the Novem­
ber 26, 1931, issue of the Trans-Pacific. The Statistical Bureau of
the Japanese Home Ministry reports that the number of factories in
the Empire at the close of September, 1931, was 60,529, as compared
with 71,215 in the same period of the preceding year-—a decrease of
more than 10,000, while the number of workers dropped from 1,999,116 to 1,839,773—approximately 159,000. The shrinkage in volume
of employment is becoming more pronounced in large factories, but
the small factories are taking on additional workers.
The number of mine workers reported for September, 1931, was
258,469, or 28,494 less than for the corresponding month of 1930.
This decrease of approximately 10 per cent was due to the closing
down of mining operations. The average number of mine workers
per mine declined from 270 to 240. In 1919, when the peak of em­
ployment was reached in the mining industry, the mine workers
numbered 465,000.
Various other industries are menaced by increased depression
resulting from the high money rate subsequent to the gold efflux and
the decline of Sino-Japanese trade after the Manchurian difficulty.
In 1931 there were many bankruptcies among the large factories in
and outside of Tokyo, the Metropolitan Police Board reports, the
number of large factories under the jurisdiction of that body decreas­
ing from 637 at the close of September, 1930, to 563 at the end of
September, 1931, while the number of workers declined from 102,000
to 92,000.

T

W hile large factories are decreasing in num ber, sm all factories have been
increasing. In April, 1929, sm all factories, each em ploying less th a n 10 m en,
num bered 39,848. W ith in tw o y ears a n d a h alf th e n u m b er of such facto ries
gained b y 5,914 to 45,762 a t p re se n t in a n d a b o u t T okyo.
T hese factories a re carry in g on business on a sm all scale a n d are em ploying
experienced w orkm en dism issed from large factories. These sm all facto ries
are em ploying these tra in e d w orkm en a t ch eap er wages. Some experienced
w orkm en, w hen dism issed by factories, change th e ir residences to facto ries a n d
carry on business on th e sm allest scale possible, em ploying tw o or th re e w orkm en.
P a rts of m achinery a n d general m erchandise are m an u fa c tu re d by th ese sm all
factories.

About 200 of these small factories were springing up each month
when the report under review was prepared. In the fall of 1931 most
of them were engaged in manufacturing under contract with large
factories where the workers now in the small factories were formerly
employed. The Trans-Pacific states that over 50 per cent of these
new factories disappear shortly after they have been set up.


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

291

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF

C en su s of U n em p lo y m e n t in C o n tin en ta l P ortu gal

CENSUS of unemployed persons made in continental Portugal
on August 1, 1931, shows that 38,225 persons were at that time
unemployed, according to a report dated November 28, 1931, from
William W. Brunswick, American consul at Lisbon. The civil status
of the unemployed is given as follows:

A

N um ber
unemployed

U n m arried ______________________________________________ 18, 429
M a r rie d
____________________________________________ 17, 909
W idow ers------------------------------------------ - — ----------------1, 290
All o th e rs_______________________________________________
597
T o ta l____________________________________________

38, 225

Supplementing the information with regard to total number unem­
ployed is the table following, showing the number of persons depend­
ent upon each of the unemployed persons registered and the total
dependents.
N U M B E R OF D E P E N D E N T S O F U N E M P L O Y E D P E R S O N S
N um ber of dependents

1 _ ________________ _
2
_______________
3
_______________
4 ____________________
5_ ____________________
6 ______________________
T o ta l.

_____

Persons u n ­
employed

T otal de­
pendents

10,432
4,581
6,051
6,024
4,486
2, 895
3, 756

4,581
12,102
18, 072
17,944
14,475
22, 536

38, 225

89, 710

On the basis of this table the average number of dependents per
unemployed person is 2.3 persons. A further finding of interest in
this study is the length of the period of unemployment, as follows:
N um ber

Period of unem ploym ent—
unemployed
Less th a n 1 m o n th --------------------------------------------------- 7, 256
Betw een 1 an d 2 m o n th s__________________________
8, O il
Betw een 2 a n d 3 m o n th s---------------------------------------- 6, 013
Betw een 3 an d 4 m o n th s__________________________
3, 808
B etw een 4 a n d 5 m o n th s__________________________
1, 842
B etw een 5 a n d 6 m o n th s__________________________
1, 607
O ver 6 m o n th s .____________________________________
9, 403
285
In d efin ite __________________________________________
T o ta l__________ ____________________ ________ _ 38, 225

The largest single group of unemployed persons falls in the class
of those unemployed over six months. However, three-fourths of the
unemployed had been without work for less than six months at the
time the survey was made,


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

PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
C h an ges in P ro d u ctiv ity of A n th ra cite and B itu m in o u s C oalM in e W orkers

ECENT publications of the Bureau of Mines, United States
Department of Commerce,1 show the changes that are taking
place with regard to output per man per day in anthracite and
bituminous coal mines of the United States. From the statistics
available- two tables are here reproduced showing the changes that
have occurred in the industry as a whole and in the individual coalproducing States.
Table 1 shows that in the 20-year period, 1911 to 1930, productivity
in the anthracite industry has been falling off slightly while in the
bituminous industry an upward movement has taken place.

R

T able 1.—C O A L P R O D U C E D P R O M D E E P M IN E S P E R M A N E M P L O Y E D U N D E R ­
G R O U N D P E R D A Y W O R K E D , 1911 TO 1930, IN N E T TO N S »
Year

1911________________________
1912________________________
1913________________________
1914_____________________
1915_______________________
1916_____________________
1917_______________________
1918________________________
1919________________________
1920________________________

A n th ra­
cite 2

B itu m i­
nous

2.75
2.69
2. 67
2. 67
2. 78
2. 74
2. 89
2. 94
2. 81
2. 93

4. 01
4.24
4.16
4. 28
4. 49
4. 57
4. 51
4. 62
4. 64
4. 80

Year

1921
1922
1923 . . .
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930

A nthra­
cite 2
2. 70
2. 87
2. 70
2 53
2 60
2. 53
2. 58
2. 60
2. 64
2.63

B itum i­
nous
4. 86
4.98
5.15
5 17
5 09
5 07
5.11
5 26
5 42
5. 61

1 In m aking this com putation certain estim ates had to be m ade of the division of workers above and
below ground and of th e production of strip p its in th e years 1911 to 1913. T he probable error introduced
b y these estim ates is too sm all to im pair th e value of th e averages.
2 Beginning w ith 1923, a sm all tonnage of culm -bank coal handled through breakers and hitherto counted
as fresh-mined coal has been excluded, and th e figures are therefore not exactly comparable w ith earlier
years. T h e difference, however, is small.

Thus in 1930 anthracite workers employed underground were
producing 2.63 tons per day worked as compared with 2.75 tons in
1911. In bituminous coal mining, on the other hand, output per
underground worker in 1930 averaged 5.61 tons as against 4.01 tons
in 1911, an increase of 39.9 per cent. It is also notable that since
1926 there has been a steady rise in output per man per day in the
bituminous mines.
The trend in coal produced per man and average number of days
worked per year in 1929 and 1930 is shown for the coal-producing
States and for the anthracite and bituminous industries in Table 2.
Figures in Table 2 make it possible to see the differences in output
per man per year and per day wdien workers above ground (including
those engaged in stripping coal) are included in arriving at averages
and when only underground workers are taken into consideration.
With the exception of the averages for Indiana, Kansas, Missouri,
Montana, and North Dakota, all of which are States wdiere a high
percentage of coal is from stripping operations that have notably
1 Coal in 1929, b y P . G. T ry o n and L. M ann, and Supplem ent to W eekly Coal R eport, B itum inous
Coal Tables, 1930, b y F . G. T ryon and L. M ann.

292

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

293

PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR

high output per man (34.2 per cent, 43.1 per cent, 53.7 per cent, 35.2
per cent, and 54.2 per cent of the total product from strip mines,
respectively, in 1930), the inclusion of workers above ground serves
to lower the average output on both a yearly and a daily basis for
both 1929 and 1930.
T

a b le

2 .—C O A L P R O D U C E D P E R M A N A N D A V E R A G E N U M B E R O F D A Y S P E R Y E A R
IN 1929 A N D 1930

State

Average days
w orked by
mines

N et tons p er m an above
and below ground (in­
cluding strip coal)
Per year

Per day

N e t tons per m an below
ground (excluding strip
coal)
P e r year

P er day

1929

1930

1929

1930

1930

1929

1930

A labam a____________ ____
A rkansas__ _____________ . .
Colorado _ . .
- ______
Illinois
- - _________
In d ia n a .-- - . _________
Iowa _ .
_ . . . ______
K a n sa s..
..
___
K e n tu ck y .— . . . _
M ary lan d __ - . . . ..
M ichigan_______________ . . .
M issouri______________ ___
M ontana - ______ .
-. .
N ew M exico.. - . . - ___. . .
N o rth D a k o ta. ____ . . .
Ohio_________________ _ . .
O klahom a. ____ __ _______
Pennsylvania bitum inous
Tennessee___ __
____
Texas____________ _____
U ta h __ _______________ . .
Virginia_____ _
___
W a s h in g to n ... _
______
W est Virginia .
...
W yom ing________________ _

231
146
187
177
172
195
160
222
246
217
185
189
214
192
201
178
230
228
212
211
249
227
247
230

189
115
169
156
157
155
126
187
197
187
166
172
176
180
189
148
198
196
181
168
200
205
204
188

712
394
823
1,069
1,203
581
579
1,031
805
602
717
1, 493
811
1,310
933
597
1, 089
709
838
1,492
1,058
856
1,320
1,386

3. 08
638
3. 38
2. 70
331
2. 87
739 i 4. 40 U . 38
1,002
6.06
6. 42
7.00
1,188
7. 56
2. 98
493
3.18
501
3. 63
3. 96
904
4. 64
4. 83
3. 28
688
3.50
2. 77
2. 73
511
3. 87
4. 07
676
1,449
7.90
8. 45
3. 79
3. 85
679
6. 84
7. 50
1,351
882
4.64
4. 67
322
3. 36
3.49
4. 73
4. 82
956
3.11
3. 48
681
3. 95
639
3. 53
1, 215 i 7.09 17. 23
4. 24
932
4. 66
3. 77
822
4.01
5. 34
1,146
5.61
1,167
6. 02
6.20

820
445
951
1,108
1,058
628
467
1,181
905
661
477
1,195
953
1, 067
986
623
1,231
819
707
1,801
1,249
1, 013
1,564
1,624

737
3. 55
3. 05
365
863 1 5. 09
1,025
6. 26
999
6.15
3. 22
535
370
2.92
1,034
5. 32
772
3. 68
3. 05
556
406
2.58
1, 232
6. 32
797
4. 45
1,022
5. 56
4.91
948
3. 50
535
1,070
5. 35
3. 59
775
3. 33
623
1,498 1 8. 54
1,094
5.02
967
4.46
1,333
6. 26
1,391
7. 06

T otal, b itu m in o u s. _. _
Pennsylvania an th racite. __

219
225

187
208

1,064
487

948
460

4. 85
2.17

5. 06
2. 21

1,186
594

1,049
547

5. 42
2.64

5. 61
2.63

221

192

930

834

4. 21

4. 34

1,059

940

4. 79

4. 90

G rand to ta l___________

1929

1929

1930
3.93
3.17
1 5.11
6. 57
6. 36
3. 45
2.94
5. 53
3. 92
2.97
2.45
7.16
4. 53
5. 68
5. 01
3.61
5. 40
3.95
3.44
1 8.92
5. 47
4. 72
6. 53
7.40

1 Probably too high because of practice of m en going into mines to shoot coal and load m ine cars on days
w hen tipples and mines as a whole are not in operation.

It should also be mentioned that the net output per man, taking
into consideration workers employed above and below ground, was
highest in 1930 in three States where strip mining is prevalent,
namely, in Montana (8.45 tons per man per day), Indiana (7.56
tons per man per day), and North Dakota (7.50 tons per man per
day).
Considering output per man per day when the averages are based
on underground workers only, the highest averages of daily output
in 1930 aside from the average for Utah, which is explained in a foot­
note to Table 2, are those for Wyoming (7.40 tons) and Montana
(7.16 tons) and Illinois (6.57 tons). Here again the relatively high
averages are at least partially accounted for by special mechanical
factors, for in these three States deep-mined coal was loaded mechani­
cally to the extent of 48.6, 62.6, and 48.3 per cent of the total, respec­
tively, in 1930.
When comparing output per man per day below ground for 1929
and 1930 by States it is of interest to find that in every State except
Michigan and Missouri the average for the later year is in excess of
that for 1929.
96957°— 32----- 5

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

INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
Labor C am ps in C aliforn ia

the California Commission of Immigration and Housing
began its labor camp inspections under the revised camp
W HEN
sanitation act passed in 1915, camp operators had been paying little

attention to providing livable quarters for their workers.1 The first
efforts of the commission were along educational lines. Employers
had to be persuaded that the proposed improvements were essential
for the well-being of the workers and that good camps would result
in a more contented and efficient labor force. On the other hand,
workers had to be dealt with in order to prevent them from abusing
the equipment furnished.
The commission’s division of housing and sanitation has promoted
the construction of new camps, by assisting operators in selecting
sites and preparing plans for such camps, and has also been helpful
in connection with the remodeling of old ones. The legislation for
labor camps of the State has been based on experience gained through
the cooperation of progressive employers who constructed and are
constructing labor camps beyond the legislative requirements, which
are as follows:

1.
B unkhouses, te n ts, or o th e r su itab le sleeping places m u st be p ro v id ed a n d
m u s t be in good stru c tu ra l condition so as to afford sh elter a n d exclude dam pness
in inclem ent w eather.
2.
S uitable b u n k s or beds shall be pro v id ed for em ployees. A clear space of
20 inches m easu red from th e floor to ceiling m u s t be allow ed b etw een beds or
bunks. A m attre ss or equally com fortable bedding m u st be supplied u p o n re q u e st,
a reasonable charge fo r w hich m ay be m ad e b y th e em ployer. T icks or c o n tain ­
ers m u s t be supplied if stra w or o th e r s u b s titu te fo r m a ttre ss is used.
3.
D ining room s, k itchens, o r o th e r stru c tu re s w here food is cooked, p re p a re d
or served, m u s t be clean a n d sa n ita ry ; openings m u st be screened. C ooking
utensils, dishes, knives, forks, spoons, a n d o th e r th in g s used for e atin g m u s t be
clean, u nbroken , a n d san ita ry .
4.
C onvenien t a n d su itab le b a th in g a n d to ile t facilities m u st be p ro v id ed a n d
m a in tain ed in a clean a n d s a n ita ry sta te .
5.
G arbage, k itch en w aste, a n d refuse m u s t be placed in covered receptacles
a n d m u s t be em p tied a t le a st d aily a n d c o n ten ts bu rn ed , b uried, o r otherw ise
disposed of. D rain ag e from th e k itch en sinks m u s t be carried th ro u g h covered
drains to covered cesspools or septic tan k s, or be disposed of by som e o th e r sa tis­
facto ry m ethod.
6. A responsible person m u st be a p p o in ted to keep each cam p clean.

Many oil, lumber, and construction camps have the best of toilet
and bathing facilities. Beds, mattresses, sheets, pillows, and blankets
are furnished, the rooms are swept and cleaned and the beds are made
by persons especially hired for this work, and good food is served.
Where such conveniences are available a reasonable price is usually
charged for them. A large number of camps have reading and club
rooms for the workers. Employers find that camps of this kind elim­
inate various labor problems and make for greater efficiency and steadi­
ness in employees.
1
California.
pp. 191-197.

294

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

D epartm ent of In d u strial R elations.

F irst biennial report, 1927-1930. Sacram ento, 1931.

INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS

295

Types of Camps
T h e California camps may be grouped into two general classes—
ranch and industrial. The first group includes camps for the
cultivation of asparagus, potatoes, onions, celery, tomatoes, peas,
beets, fruit, hops, rice, cotton, citrus fruits, dates, nuts, and grains, also
for dairy products. In the second group are the construction, lumber,
mining (including coal, oil, and cement), railroad, and cannery camps

Ranch Camps
M exican labor largely predominates in the harvesting of cotton.
The division’s agents through meetings with operators and by per­
sonal contact have succeeded in having a number of camps built
which far surpass any other constructions of this kind in the cotton
belt. Wooden structures have been substituted for many of the tem­
porary tent camps. Prosecutions, however, had to be instituted hi
Fresno, Madera, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties. During Novem­
ber, 1927, the Fresno Republican assisted substantially by publish­
ing a series of illustrated articles on both good and bad conditions.
Even where there have been prosecutions there has not been much
improvement in the labor camps in the rice fields since the 1920 and
1921 season, which were so disastrous.
Sugar-beet growing is being carried on in a considerable portion of
the State. One of the more important companies making beet sugar,
which formerly operated from 40 to 50 camps in 3 counties, now has
only a few camps. Most of the beets are grown by individual farmers
in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta districts. In the southern
section of the State several companies are still operating many camps
that must be continuously inspected in order to have them meet at
least the minimum requirements. According to the report, the
camps operated by Filipino or Mexican contractors constitute a
constant problem in the delta region and other localities, as such
contractors are ordinarily not able to provide the requisite housing
and sanitary facilities.
In the Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, and San Joaquin
asparagus-growing section great improvement is reported. This is
particularly true of the cannery camps, to which reference will be
made later on. In this region Japanese and Chinese workers used
to be the most numerous of all nationals, but at present the Filipinos
predominate. Persistent inspection, with prosecutions from time
to time, has been effective. The filthy, ramshackle^ barnlike struc­
tures are being replaced by sanitary camps.
T h e m o st difficult of all places to g et resu lts is in th e C oachella Valley a n d in
Im p e ria l C o u n ty . H ere th e la b o r in th e fields is en tirely M exican. T h e'h o u sin g
conditions are th e m o st p rim itiv e a n d sa n ita ry facilities a re a b o u t on a p a r w ith
th em . F o r several years p a s t a c tiv e cam paigns h a v e been carried on a n d a n
a tte m p t m ad e to a t least o b ta in th e m inim um req u irem en ts. T h e a ttitu d e of
th e people generally in th is d is tric t h as been t h a t th e M exicans should n o t be
given b e tte r housing th a n th e y h av e in th e ir ow n co u n try . T h is is now changing.
A few of th e produce com panies a re m ak in g p e rm a n e n t im p ro v em en ts, while
o th ers are plan n in g fu tu re developm ents. T h e cam ps o p erated b y th e Pacific
F ru it E xpress, in w hich A m ericans are housed, sta n d o u t as a n exam ple of w h a t
could be done in th e w ay of cam p c o n stru ctio n in Im p e ria l Valley.

The grape, hop, and deciduous fruit camps are operated for short
periods. In 1927 a conference was held with the operators in the

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

296

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Lodi region at which the policy of the division was explained and the
requirements for each operator were laid down. Each camp was then
visited by an inspector who gave the operator first-hand instruction .
Very gratifying results were obtained.
Inspections made in the summer showed that nearly all of the
growers in that section had made an effort to comply with the require­
ments of the division. There are numerous model citrus camps, and
the associations owning them deserve, according to the report of the
division, to receive special commendation.
General ranch camps are reported as about the most backward in
the State, but improvements are being made in them.
Industrial Camps
T h e in d u s tria l ca m p s in clu d e lu m b e r, cem en t, a n d oil cam ps,
m in es, q u a rrie s, p a c k in g h ouses, a n d all ty p e s of c o n stru c tio n w ork,
su c h a s h ig h w ay , ra ilro a d , irrig a tio n , a n d h y d ro e le c tric p ro jects.

The camps of the different oil companies are built and operated
on a higher standard than any other inspected camps in California.
Hydroelectric construction camps rank next and lumber camps third.
The hydroelectric companies usually do their own work; that is, it is
not done by contract. These companies have cooperated with the
division, and their camps are operated in a satisfactory way. By
degrees the lumber camps are approaching the standards of the oil
and hydroelectric camps. It is interesting to note that the laborers
in the oil camps are mainly Americans, while the workers of the
hydroelectric and lumber camps are of various nationalities. In
construction camps, such as those for irrigation, highway and maintenance-of-way undertakings, the workers are of mixed nationalities,
with Mexicans in the majority in the central and southern part of
the State.
Several new lumber camps have been set up, and a number of the
operators have made improvements in their housing and general
conditions. An outstanding exception, however, was one of the
most important companies in Humboldt County, whose camps were
allowed to deteriorate until the workers living in them began to send in
complaints. An inspection showed that the conditions in these
camps were very bad, although these work places had been inspected
and brought up to standard only a few years ago. The agent of the
division called the matter to the attention of the district attorney
of Humboldt County and a warrant was issued for the superin­
tendent’s arrest. An inspection made a few weeks after showed
these camps to be thoroughly clean, with most of their objectionable
features eliminated. New housing has now replaced the shattered
cabins, while the rating has been changed from bad to good.
In the biennium under review it was again found necessary to
prosecute several operators of “ gyppo” logging camps.
The mining, quarry, and cement camps have also been improved.
In the desert region in the southeastern part of the State there are
several active camps. Ordinarily, there are two separate camps—
one for Americans and another for the Mexicans—which even to the
superficial observer are a great contrast. The housing for the Mexi­
cans is usually haphazard—sheds, lean-tos, with goat pens and
corrals in close proximity. The agents of the division have had to
deal severely with certain of these companies.

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

INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS

297

T he canning a n d packing-house com panies op eratin g cam ps h av e grad u ally
fallen in line w ith th e division’s cam paign for b e tte r housing a n d a d e q u a te san i­
ta r y facilities. A n in terestin g d evelopm ent h as arisen in th e can n ery cam ps.
D ue to th e fa c t t h a t w om en a re em ployed in larg e num bers, th e com panies h av e
fou n d i t necessary to estab lish nurseries. As th e re is no law governing th is
situ atio n , a group of canners req u ested th e division to a id th e m in se ttin g s ta n d ­
a rd s in building, equipm ent, a n d service. R ules h a v e been established an d
various com panies in S acram ento C o u n ty a n d elsewhere h a v e agreed to th e m
a n d are carrying th em out.

There has been more improvement in the railroad camps, in which
conditions were bad, than in any other camps. This is especially the
case with the camps for maintenance-of-way men. The full coop­
eration of the railroad companies has now been secured. This affects
their systems not only in California but also in other States. Included
in the construction contracts of one of the companies for a major
operation is the requirement that camps erected by the contractors
should be constructed in compliance with the State law. This pro­
vision was agreed upon after conferences with the division.
The division of highways is also cooperating with the division of
housing and sanitation. As an example, the building of camps to
house convicts doing road work is cited. Moreover, for a number of
years there has been a provision in the contracts of the division of
highways with road builders, requiring such builders to comply with
the camp sanitation act.
Cities which own their water and power systems have also coop­
erated with the division of sanitation and housing. One of the best
illustrations of this was shown in 1928 by the city of Los Angeles.
After the Santa Clara Valley flood, resulting from the collapse of the
St. Francis Dam, the municipal water and power department found
it necessary to set up camps at Barsdale, Fillmore, Piru, and Santa
Paula. It was planned to house 100 men in each camp. The crews,
however, were made up of from 200 to 300 men each. This, of course,
created a chaotic situation so far as accommodations for the workers
were concerned, but the division “ with the full cooperation of the
department of water and power cleared the situation and established
proper housing.”
Cooperation with Department of Education
T h e n u m b e r of ch ild re n of school age in th e cam ps an d th e n am e
an d lo c a tio n of th e n e a re s t school are re p o rte d re g u la rly b y th e cam p
d e p a rtm e n t to th e d e p a r tm e n t o f e d u c a tio n .

The population of 2,366 inspected camps in 1929 was 85,928, of
whom 17,078 were women and 18,631 were children. In the 6 months
ending June 30, 1930, the population of 995 inspected camps was
43,475, of whom 7,882 were women and 7,837 were children.


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

298

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The classification of inspected camps in 1929 and the first half of
1930 is as follows:
T able 1 .— N U M B E R O F C A M PS OF E A C H T Y P E IN S P E C T E D IN 1929 A N D 1930
N um ber of
camps
Classification
1929

Construction____________________________
Lum ber ________________________
M ining, oil, gas, q u a rry _____________
_
Railroad
.
_________
C annery and d ry y a rd _____________ _____
General ranch (fruit, vegetables, berries,
nuts, etc.)------------------- ---------------C otton ________ _ _
____
_ _
R ice. . . ___ ____ . . _
D airy
_ ______ __________ _ _ _ __
Seed
__ ____ ____
--___
Labor su p p ly . ____________________ -Pow er p lan t __________ _
___ _ _ _
Icing p la n t. ____________ ___ _______ _
T elegraph.. ____________________________
M iscellaneous_________________
___ _ T o ta l____ _ _______

. . . _________

1930
(first 6
months)

157
68
128
412
107

59
35
142
44
31

1,113
284
42
13
5

630
15
1
4

37

10
6
3
2
13

2, 366

995

Of the camp population of 85,813 for whom nationality was reported
in 1929,2 and of 42,985 for whom nationality was reported for the first
6 months of 1930,3 the following nationalities were represented by
more than 300 persons:
T

a ble

2 .—N A T IO N A L IT IE S E M P L O Y E D IN LA B O R C A M PS , 1929 A N D F IR S T H A L F OF 1930
N um ber

N um ber
1930
(first
half)

N ationality

1929

42, 051
26, 926
6, 726
2, 488
1, 254
1,074
1,064

23,437
8,971
5, 120
746
646
0
547

S p a n ish ..
_- ---G ermans ----Scandinavians.- - - __________
Slavonians. . ___
__ - A rm enians ........... ........ ____ .
H in d u s_____ _
_ ________
R ussians______ ___ _

N ationality

AmericansM exicans. _
Filip inos-. Japanese.
Italian s___
C hinese___
Portuguese.

1929

1,050
533
524
465
366
357
323

1930
(first
half)
1,022
420
468
315
0
0
0

i Less th a n 300.

In crease in F ees of P rivate E m p lo y m en t A gen cies in N ew Jersey

DIVISION of the New Jersey State Bureau of Employment
inspects and regulates private employment agencies of all kinds,
including domestic, industrial, and commercial agencies, nurses’
registries, hotel and resort agencies, and labor commissary camps.
This work is done by the director of the bureau, whose only assistant
is the farm examiner. The latter’s services are available in this
connection only for the 5 months of the year when there are not so
many farm placements.

A

2 N ationality d ata no t available for 20 cam ps w ith a population of 110.
3 N ationality d ata no t available for 11 cam ps w ith a population of 490.


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

INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS

299

Probably the most striking development relative to private employ­
ment agencies in the year 1930-31, according to the annual report,
given in the September, 1931, issue of the Industrial Bulletin pub­
lished by the New Jersey Department of Labor, was the increase in
placement fees made January 1, 1931, by the commercial and clerical
placement offices in the cities in the northern section of New Jersey.
Thirteen of these agencies were determined to raise their charges to a
full week’s salary for a clerical position. The division called attention
to the successful operation for two years of the scheme suggested by it
after the 1928 decision of the United States Supreme Court.1 When
the increase in rates was insisted upon by the private employment
offices, the division pointed out the unfairness of raising fees on the
basis of what the traffic would bear and the fact that the increase
meant a greater burden upon the jobless at a time when they were
least able to pay it. There being no legal control of the situation,
however, the move for higher fees could not be averted. During the
year many inquiries were received from employers, particularly of
domestic workers, who felt it was not fair for the agencies to take a fee
from both the worker and the employer for the placement of one
person. Most people believe that the charge is controlled by the law,
but when they are informed of the action of the United States Supreme
Court they all agree that this double fee is inequitable. I t is esti­
mated that the fees exacted and received by private employment
agencies in New Jersey for the total placements effected by them in the
year aggregate several hundred thousand dollars.
M oratoriu m for W age E arners in Vera Cruz, M exico

UNIQUE law became effective on August 22, 1931, in Vera Cruz,
by which a moratorium was declared on all debts contracted by
laborers or employees with money lenders, according to a report from
the American consul, Leonard C. Dawson, at Vera Cruz, dated Sep­
tember 10, 1931. The moratorium is established for a period of three
years for the payment of debts contracted by workers or employees
who are not earning more than 10 pesos 2 a day.
The law does not affect American interests, for, as a general rule,
the money lenders are Syrians, Poles, Russians, Mexicans, or Spaniards.
I t is presumed by the law that all actions brought to attach or
garnishee wages fall within the terms of this law unless proof to the
contrary is produced by the person bringing the action^ The law
specifies that the person designated by the defendant as his attorney
must be accepted by the court as such.

A

1 T he Supreme C ourt of th e U nited States on M ay 28,1928, held unconstitutional th e fee-fixing provision
of th e N ew Jersey private em ploym ent agency law in so far as it em powered S tate officers to fix th e price
which th e em ploym ent agent shall charge for his services. (See L abor R eview for J u ly , 1928, p. 08.)
2 T he exchange rate of th e peso was 33.4 cents in Septem ber, 1931.


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

HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
O ccu p a tio n al H azards fro m U se of C arbon T etrach lorid e

HE health hazards resulting from the industrial use of carbon
tetrachloride are discussed in an article by Dr. Elizabeth B.
Bricker in Labor and Industry, August, 1931, published by the Penn­
sylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The types of injury arising from exposure to carbon tetrachloride
include skin injuries and injuries to the general health, the kind of
injury depending on the method of use of the compound and the kind
and degree of the exposure of the individual.
The principal uses for carbon tetrachloride are as a fire extinguishing
agent and as a solvent. Because it is noninflammable and its vapors
are very heavy it is used for extinguishing small fires, where it acts
as a smothering agent by shutting off the supply of oxygen to the fire.
When used as a fire extinguisher in small inclosed spaces, gases are
generated which can not escape easily and may be concentrated in
dangerous quantities. Fatalities from the use of carbon tetrachloride
under such conditions have been reported.
The risk of fire from flammable solvents is greatly reduced by the
mixture of such solvents with carbon tetrachloride, and it is now com­
monly used for this purpose. The health hazards when it is used in
this way are those arising from the various constituents of the com­
pounds. Carbon tetrachloride is used as a solvent in two ways. It is
used to remove fats, oils, and other materials from their combinations,
a principal use of this kind being in the dry-cleaning industry, where
it is used for the preservation or the restoration of the cloth "or other
material, or it may be used in the separation of desirable constituents,
such as oils, from seeds or bones, the oils being recovered later from
the carbon tetrachloride.
The other important use as a solvent is to hold together the in­
gredients of compounds such as rubber cements, floor and furniture
waxes, shoe polishes, etc., so that they may be easily applied, leaving
the polish, cement, or other compound in the desired location after
the carbon tetrachloride has evaporated.
The affinity for fats, inherent in carbon tetrachloride as a result of
its solvent properties, is shown by its effect on the skin of workmen
where the work requires contact with this material for any length of
time. These effects depend both upon the length of the exposure and
the susceptibility of the individual. The effect of carbon tetrachloride
on the skin is to cause it to become red and dry, and, if the contact is
long continued, to cause cracks in the skin which open the way to
infections.
Injuries to the general health from the inhalation of air containing
large amounts of carbon tetrachloride range from temporary ill effects
to prolonged illness or death. The most common symptoms of ex­
posure to carbon tetrachloride are irritation of the eyes, nose, and
throat; nausea; dizziness; headache; confusion; excitement; and, with
300

T


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

HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL H YG IENE

301

prolonged exposure, loss of appetite and mental dullness. Two rapidly
fatal cases which are often cited occurred in women, one of whom was
subjected to heavy vapors from a machine in which furs were being
cleaned and the other to a high concentration of carbon tetrachloride
while having her hair shampooed.
The extent of the danger of exposure to small amounts of carbon
tetrachloride over long periods of time is not fully determined but
until more is known about these effects Doctor Bricker recommends
that the following precautions should be used in its handling:
1. I t should be used in com pletely inclosed system s as fa r as p racticab le. T h is
is a sim ple problem in som e processes, as in th e ex tra c tio n of fa ts fo r th e ir e v e n tu a l
recovery, b u t m ore difficult of a tta in m e n t in others.
2. W hen com pletely inclosed processes a re n o t feasible, a n e x h au st sy stem
should be in stalled w ith a t le a st one o u tle t n e a r th e floor (as th e v ap o rs are
heavier th a n air). T his sy stem should be k e p t in o p eratio n c o n sta n tly as long as
th e liq u id is exposed to th e a ir a n d fo r som e tim e a fte r such exposure h as ceased
so t h a t th e room o r c o m p a rtm e n t m ay be rid of all resid u al vapors.
3. A careful w atch should be k e p t on all persons w ho are, in th e slig h test
degree, exposed to th e b reath in g of th ese vapors. T h ey should p referab ly be
under th e care of a physician who is accu rately inform ed on th e n a tu re of th e
m aterial in question. On th e slig h test in d icatio n of ill h ealth arising from th e
use of th is com pound, th e w orker should be tran sferred to a job in which he is in
no w ay exposed to it.

O ccu p a tio n a l D iseases in th e W ood in d u str y

A N ACCOUNT of the effects of exposure of workers to the dusts
or resin of different woods is given in the September-October,
1931, issue of the Bulletin of the International Union of Woodworkers
(Berlin).
Although it has been demonstrated repeatedly that many species of
wood, especially those growing in the Tropics, contain active poisons,
the actual number of cases of disease reported from this cause has
always been relatively small. The relative infrequency of diseases
reported as due to this cause is accounted for by the slow action of
many of the poisons, with the result that the cause of the disease is
lost sight of, and also by the fact that many physicians are not
familiar with the occupational conditions under which the disease was
contracted and do not, therefore, associate it with the occupation.
It has been difficult to carry out systematic research, because many
tropical woods have not been accurately classified and also because
many of these woods, although they are quite different botanically,
are marketed under the same commercial name either because their
appearance is similar or they are alike in some specific technical
quality. There is also a difference in individual susceptibility to the
poisonous properties in these woods, some persons being entirely
immune to their effects, while in others the susceptibility is either
constitutional or is gradually acquired by working with the woods.
The most frequent symptoms of poisoning from wood are the various
forms of skin diseases. The skin affection may vary from a slight
reddish irritation of the skin to a general eczema. Eruptions resem­
bling measles or scarlet fever are often accompanied with intense
itching and pain, and when healing takes place there is scaling of the
skin, which may be repeated several times. Local lesions generally
appear first on all directly exposed parts of the body, but may spread
to other parts of the body either through absorption through the skin


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

302

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

or by being carried by the hands. In the more serious cases there
may be discharge of pus and scab formation, and in such cases there
may be digestive disturbances, including diabetes, kidney complaints,
etc., and tuberculosis. Among the other general effects of the
poisonous woods are palpitation of the heart, shortness of breath, and
dizziness. Persons who have once suffered from eczema may develop
a hypersensitiveness, so that even working in a room where the
poisonous woods are being handled may cause a return of the disease.
In some cases even working with ordinary harmless woods will cause
a recurrence, and in such cases the only remedy is complete change
of work.
The harmful effect of the poisonous woods is due to the volatile
poisonous oils and alkaloids which they contain. In tropical countries
their poisonous character is often recognized by the natives, who use
them in pulverized form to poison water for the purpose of catching
fish or to poison arrows.
Among the woods which are recognized as being poisonous or which
are considered potentially harmful because of the elements they
contain are the following:
The wood of the date and coconut palms, which has dark stripes
on a white ground, and the almost black wood of the Tabago palm
are all marketed under the name of zebra wood. These woods are
used in mosaic work and for buttons and walking sticks. They are
believed to be poisonous but may have been confused with zebrano
or zebra wood, which comes from Jamaica.
Moule wood (also known as iroko, odum wood, bang wood, or
momangi) is decidedly poisonous, causing irritation of the skin and
eyelids. This wood is considered one of the best building and
furniture woods from West Africa, being used as a substitute for
teak.
Ironwood coming from the West Indies causes vomiting and
inflammation of the skin.
The fibrous inner bark of various members of the magnolia family,
including the wood of the tulip tree, contains a poisonous alkaloid.
West Indian greenheart, a very hard wood resembling lignum-vitse,
contains an alkaloid called bebeerine which causes nausea, diarrhea,
and spasms.
A hard yellowish-red wood called Hydrangea paniculata, used in
making tobacco pipes, is considered to contain a poison which has
an irritating effect on the mucous membranes.
Red gum, sometimes called amber wood, or satin walnut, causes
blisters on the skin which, however, neither itch nor smart.
A large number of trees belonging to the Leguminosae family contain
poisonous properties. These include Indian rosewood or blackwood,
one of the most valuable cabinet woods, which causes itching and
urticarial eruption; a hard, yellowish-brown wood—cytisus alpinus—
which comes from central Europe and contains a powerful poison,
cytisine, which may cause inflammation of the throat, nausea,
stomach and head aches, retention or suppression of urine, giddiness,
and unconsciousness; and partridge or panako wood coming from
Brazil and Guiana, which contains an element irritating to the skin.
Saponine, which causes inflammation of the skin and general func­
tional disturbances, is found in an East Indian variety of ebony
known as siris (or sirsa) wood, in Indian purple or violet wood,

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

HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL H YGIENE

303

and in African rose or black wood. From West Africa comes a
wood of reddish color used for veneering, which is called red-water
tree, ordeal tree, or sassy bark. This wood contains a strong poison
which affects the heart. This poison is used by the natives for
ordeals or for poisoning arrows. It causes nausea, headache, short­
ness of breath, a slowing down of the heart action,_dizziness, and
loss of sensation in mucous membranes which are directly exposed
to it. The dark coccoloba from Central America used in the manu­
facture of knife handles, brush tops, and similar articles, may cause
irritation of the skin with intense itching.
Satinwood from Guiana and the Antilles and ironwood from
Jamaica cause papulo-vesicular eruptions. Other trees of the
Xanthoxylum or rue family are poisonous, arresting the sensory
powers of organic tissues and causing heart paralysis. One of the
best known of this species is zebrano or zebra wood from Jamaica.
Australian moa or moha wood, a hard kind of teak, is suspected of
being poisonous, but there is a possibility of its having been confused
with certain Ceylon and Malabar varieties of teak which are also
marketed under the name of moa. Indian^ satinwood is said to be
probably the first wood to have received scientific study of its toxic
effects. This is a heavy wood of sandy color containing an alkaloid
called chloroxylonin which causes intensely itching papulo-vesicular
eruptions. T h e dermatitis may be accompanied by nervous irritability.
The white wood of Excoecaria agallocha, belonging to the Euphorbia
family, contains a corrosive milky juice which may cause dangerous
ocular irritation.
A beautiful reddish Indian wood called renghas wood contains a
strong poison which causes itching eruptions and even wounds.
Severe cases of eruptions have been reported in persons using chairs
made from this wood which were several years old. The resin of
this wood contains caustic cardol compounds. _ Another member
of this species (Melanorrhea curitisii) causes burning pain, inflamma­
tion, pustules, fever, and general disturbances within 24 hours from
the beginning of exposure, and its toxic action is so strong it may
even cause death. In workers handling the timber it causes ulcers
which are difficult to heal. The sumach species of North America,
which belong to this family, are also extremely poisonous.
Amboyna wood, a very valuable cabinet wood of reddish-yellow
color, causes itching skin lesions.
Teak from Ceylon, which is sometimes marketed as moa or bassia
wood and which resembles mahogany, may cause very painful
inflammations of the skin accompanied by swelling and the forma­
tion of scabs. The poisoning is the result of the action of the nonsaturated resinous acids which are present in a free state._ Teak or
djati, which is the color of chocolate, causes severe skin lesions which
may last some weeks.
.
Ebony from Bombay, Makassar, and Ceylon, belonging to the JJiospyros group, is likely to cause vesicular eruptions.
African boxwood, which is used in the manufacture of shuttles and
musical instruments, contains an alkaloid which causes paralysis of the
nerve cells; inflammation of the conjunctiva, respiratory passages,
nasal mucous membrane, and larynx; and shortness of breath,
headache, and mental depression.
West Indian greenheart, also called green ebony, is used for making
walking sticks and for high-grade cabinetwork. Inflammation of the


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

304

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

skin in those handling this wood is caused by the nonsaturated
resinous acids which are present in the wood in a free state. Other
species of this wood are harmful on account of the alkaloids which
they contain.
Other woods which are suspected of being poisonous are East Indian
iron wood and the valuable brownish-red ironwood, or king’s wood,
which comes from Sumatra.

W ork o f t h e U n io n H e a lth C e n te r , N ew Y ork C ity

HE Union Health Center 1 was established in 1913 by the Joint
Board of Sanitary Control in the Women’s Garment Trades and
the institution was taken over in 1920 by the International Ladies
Garment Workers’ Union, at which time the center moved into its
own building. In 1925 the dental department was established in a
separate building some blocks from the main building. In 1928 the
facilities of the organization were opened to all trade-union members
and about 30 additional labor organizations became affiliated with it.
During that year the Union Health Center was indorsed by the Cen­
tral Trades and Labor Council. At the present time there are 40 labor
organizations affiliated with the institution.
The Union Health Center was organized for the purposes of provid­
ing medical and dental_ services at a reasonable cost to members of
organized labor and their families, and also to give health information
to and spread health education among these workers. The services
rendered include medical clinics held twice daily, a dental department
which is the largest industrial clinic in New York City, special clinics
under specialists in different branches of surgery and medicine, a
completely equipped physiotherapeutic department where light and
thermal treatments are given by a specialist, a chemical laboratory
equipped to make the various kinds of tests, an X-ray department, and
a completely furnished drug store where prescriptions are compounded
at a cost ranging from 25 to 50 cents each. Additional health care is
provided through arrangements made for the care of the sick and
convalescent in sanitariums and other institutions. The Union
Health Center also conducts the physical examinations required by
many of the unions for membership, and has charge of the certification
for cash sick benefits of members of those unions which have sickness
insurance.
The center is a nonprofit organization. Fees of $1 to $1.50 for
medical attention are charged to members of affiliated unions, and a
slight additional charge is made to members of nonaffiliated unions.
If members of affiliated unions are unemployed they receive free
treatment when it is requested by the secretaries of their unions.
An example of the work accomplished is found in the report for the
dental department. Since 1917 this department has treated 47,424
patients, who made 305,649 visits. The total income for the period
of approximately 14 years was $784,946.57. It is said that the
department has been investigated a number of times by official and
unofficial organizations, and that it has been found to give honest
dental work at reasonable charges to those most in need of it.

T

1 T he Union H ealth Center. T h e health departm ent of organized labor.
E a st Seventeenth Street, 1931.


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

1913-1931.

N ew Y ork. 131

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY
S a fety Codes for th e P reven tion of D u st E xplosions

EASURES for the elimination or reduction of the dust explosion
hazards in eight groups of industrial establishments are pre­
sented in Bulletin No. 562 of the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics, now in press. Another code, included in this bulletin,
provides for the use of inert gas for the prevention of fire and explosion.
Dust explosions have been responsible for a series of disasters
involving large losses of life and property extending over a long period
of years. It is only recently, however, that the seriousness of this
hazard has been generally recognized and measures for its control
undertaken. Following extensive research into the phenomena of
dust explosions by the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States
Department of Agriculture, the National Fire Protection Association
organized, in January, 1922, a committee on dust-explosion hazards
charged with the preparation of recommended regulations for the
prevention of fires and dust explosions in establishments subject to
this hazard. This committee was formed with the cooperation of
the United States Department of Agriculture, the present joint
sponsors thus having been closely associated in this work since the
inception of the project.
The committee of the National Fire Protection Association on
dust-explosion hazards proceeded with the preparation of the regula­
tions which form the basis of Bulletin No. 562, the reports of the
committee being adopted by the association and published as the
recommended regulations of the National k ire Protection Association.
These standards as prepared were also adopted by the National Board
of Fire Underwriters.
In 1926 the dust-explosion hazards committee of the National
Fire Protection Association was reorganized to qualify as a sectional
committee of the American Engineering Standards Committee.
This reorganization consisted merely in adding the representatives of
a few organizations which had not previously participated in the work.
Following this, the codes adopted by the committee and by the
National Fire Protection Association and the United States Depart­
ment of Agriculture were officially approved as “ Tentative American
Standards” by the American Engineering Standards Committee and
published in Bulletin No. 433 of the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Subsequently the codes were advanced to the status of
“ American Standard” by the American Standards Association,
additional codes were prepared, and original codes revised to keep
pace with developments in industry. Bulletin No. 562 includes
all the codes developed on the subject to date as follows:
For the prevention of dust explosions in starch factories^
For the prevention of dust explosions in flour and feed mills.
For the prevention of dust explosions in terminal grain elevators.
For sugar and cocoa pulverizing systems,

M


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

305

306

MONTHLY LVBOR R EV IEW

For the prevention of dust ignitions in spice-grinding plants.
For the prevention of dust explosions in wood-flour manufacturing
establishments.
For the installation of pulverized-fuel systems.
For the prevention of dust explosions in coal pneumatic cleaning
plants.
For the use of inert gas for fire and explosion prevention.
The safety codes for spice-grinding plants, for wood-flour manu­
facturing establishments, and for the use of inert gas are new codes,
while the others were revised as experience indicated to be advisable
and to cover new factors.
The code for the prevention of dust ignitions in spice-grinding plants
has been prepared as a guide to safe practice in the construction and
operation of such plants. It is stated that no serious dust explosions
have occurred during the normal operation of spice-grinding plants,
but the existing hazard to both life and property prompted the
preparation of the regulations.
The code for the prevention of dust explosions in wood-flour manu­
facturing establishments was prepared to reduce the hazards inherent
in the manufacture of wood flour, particularly the hazard of its
ignition and the propagation of a resultant fire. Proper construction
of the building and prevention of floating dust are stressed.
The code for the use of inert gas for fire and explosion prevention
contains general essentials and average necessary specifications to
make a workable code. I t provides for reducing the oxygen contents
of air, through mixing it with inert gas to a point where combustion
can not occur, within inclosures where flammable liquids, gases, or
dusts are used or handled, such as ovens, driers, machinery and
apparatus, bins, or vaults.
The research work of the United States Bureau of Chemistry and
Soils, Department of Agriculture, indicates that practically all
types of combustible dusts when mixed with air in proper proportions
can be readily ignited by external sources of heat or flame. The
importance of this industrial problem can more nearly be appreciated
when it is realized that a recent census of manufactures shows that at
least 28,000 industrial plants, employing over 1,324,000 persons and
manufacturing products of an annual value in excess of $10,000,000,000, are subject to the hazard of dust explosions. I t has been only in
recent years that direct attention has been given to the determination
of the causes of industrial plant dust explosions and the development of
control measures. Large losses of life, property, and foodstuffs are
occurring annually from explosions of this character. Many of the
explosions are occurring in lines of industry in which dust explosions
have not previously taken place. The extension to larger operating
scale, and the utilization of by-products and waste materials, resulting
in the accumulation of large quantities of explosive dusts, have greatly
increased the hazard. The introduction of new manufacturing pro­
cesses, as well as new types of mechanical equipment, have added to
the importance of dust explosion prevention.
_ Several illustrations in the bulletin show the tremendous destruc­
tion caused by dust explosions in establishments which did not come
up to the requirements of the safety codes, and the small damage
where the establishments were constructed according to the code
regulations.

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

LABOR LAW S AND COURT DECISIONS
L eg isla tio n R e g u la tin g R a tes o f W ages of E m p loyees o n P u b lic
W orks

EVERAL of the States and the Congress of the United States
have from time to time enacted labor legislation affecting con­
tractors and subcontractors engaged in the construction of public
works. This legislation has concerned the limitation of the number
of hours of workmen and preference and wage provisions. One type
of preference is that extended to local contractors, local materials, and
locally manufactured products. Another type is the employment
preference of one workman over another. A positive type of such
legislation is that limiting employment to citizens of the United
States, or to citizens or residents of the State in which the work is to
be executed, while a negative type is that prohibiting the employment
of aliens. Laws designating the rates of wages to be paid employees
on public works are another attempt on the part of the State to
regulate employment conditions.

S

I n recent years th e subject of wage fixing or the pay m en t of the pre­
vailing wage ra te has received m uch atten tio n , due to the large
am o u n t of public funds which have been appropriated for th e con­
stru ctio n of public works. Some of th e laws which have been enacted
were declared u n co n stitutional by th e courts, either because of their
violating th e rig h t of co n tract or because of discrim inatory provisions.
T h e legislation attem p tin g to fix a m inim um wage for em ployees of
co n tracto rs engaged upon public w orks m ay be divided in to tw o
classes: (1) Those having a provision th a t n o t less th a n th e cu rren t
or prevailing ra te of p er diem wages in the locality where th e w ork is
perform ed shall be paid to w orkm en; and (2) those which fix a stated
m inim um rate.
. .

During the past several years the “current rate of wages” provision
has received attention by the highest court in the land, an Oklahoma
statute being held unconstitutional by the United States Supreme
Court on January 4, 1926, in the case of Connally v. General Con­
struction Co. (269 U. S. 385). The statute was held void for un­
certainty. The court reasoned that a_criminal statute which either
forbids or requires the doing of an act in terms so vague that men of
common intelligence must guess at its meaning and may differ as to
its application lacks the first essential of “due process of law.”
Following the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the
Oklahoma case, two cases arose in New Lork State. (Morse v.
Delaney, 218 N. Y. S. 571, affirmed 218 N. Y. S. 826, and Campbell v.
City of New York, 216 N. Y. S. 141, affirmed 219 N. Y. S. 131.) The
New York law was upheld in the lower courts and the cases were then
taken to the Court of Appeals of New York, which, on February 23,
1927, upheld the constitutionality of the New York statute.^ That
court, in referring to the Connally case, said that “the decision was
merely this, that in its application to that employer, the statute,


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

307

308

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

which is very similar to our own, was too obscure and indefinite to
sustain a charge of crime.” Referring to the cases before the court
for decision, the court said:
We are m et in th e case a t h a n d b y a problem of a different order. T h ere is no
question before us now of p u n ish m en t fo r crim e. T here is m erely a questio n o f
th e regulation of a form of c o n tract. T he legislature h as said t h a t c o n tra c to rs
w orking for th e S ta te o r for its civil subdivisions shall b in d th em selv es b y a
prom ise w hich is criticized as indefinite a n d m eaningless. P lain ly th e C on­
stitu tio n of th e U n ited S ta te s h a s n o th in g to say a b o u t reg u latio n s of t h a t kind.
T he fo u rte e n th am e n d m e n t does n o t em body a provision t h a t m u n icip al c o n tra c ts
shall be perspicuous a n d definite. * * * T h e form of c o n tra c t being law ful to th e
e x te n t t h a t i t re p e a ts th e provisions of th e s ta tu te , th e re is no occasion to d e te r­
m ine th e rem edies, crim in al or civil, t h a t w ill be av ailab le to th e m u n icip ality if
th e claim shall be m ad e h e re a fte r t h a t those provisions h av e been violated.
[C am pbell v. C itv of N ew Y ork, 155 N . E . 628, affirm ed in U. S. Suprem e C o u rt,
277 U. S. 573.]

W ith in two m onths following this decision by the C o u rt of A ppeals
of N ew Y ork, th e S ta te legislature am ended section 220, ch a p te r 50,
of th e Law s of 1921, b y defining “ prevailing ra te of w ag e” and “ lo­
c a lity .” (Acts of 1927, ch. 563.) T his a c t a p p a ren tly was passed to
m ake th e prevailing ra te of wages ac t of N ew Y ork m eet th e te st as
to u n c e rta in ty laid dow n in C onnally v. G eneral C onstruction Co.

The Campbell case was taken to the Supreme Court of the United
States, which court, on April 23,1928, in a decision without an opinion
dismissed the cas on the authority of other decisions of the Supreme
Court which held that the power of the State and its agencies over
municipal corporations within its territory is not restrained by the
provision of the fourteenth amendment. (City of New York v. Camp­
bell, 277 U. S. 573.) In 1930 the Legislature of the State of New
York made the prevailing rate of wage law applicable to work in the
elimination of railroad grade crossings.
The Congress of the United States (71st Cong., 3d sess.) passed an
act (46 Stat. L. 1494, ch. 411) which was approved March 3, 1931,
providing for the payment of the prevailing rate of wages in every
contract in excess of $5,000 “ in the construction, alteration, and
repair of any public buildings of the United States.” In order to
effect the purposes of this act, President Hoover in an Executive
order (No. 5778) dated January 19, 1932, ordered that in every
contract hereafter entered into within the terms of the prevailing
rate of wage law there shall be added to the requirement of the act the
following stipulations:
I t is expressly u n d ersto o d a n d agreed t h a t th e aforesaid wages shall be p aid
unconditionally in fu ll n o t less o ften th a n once a w eek a n d in law ful m oney of th e
U n ited S tates, to th e fu ll a m o u n t accru ed to each in d iv id u al a t tim e of p a y m e n t
an d w ith o u t su b seq u en t d ed u ctio n o r re b a te on a n y account.
I t is expressly u n d ersto o d a n d agreed t h a t fo r th e p u rpose of said a c t every
person, w hile perform ing w ork of a la b o re r o r m echanic on th e pu b lic w ork
covered b y th is c o n tra c t, is to be reg ard ed as em ployed a s a lab o rer o r m echanic
b y th e co n tra c to r o r su b co n tracto r, regardless of a n y c o n tra c tu a l relatio n sh ip
alleged to exist betw een th e c o n tra c to r o r su b c o n tra c to r a n d such lab o rer or
m echanic.
I t is understoo d a n d agreed th a t th e p ay rolls of th e c o n tra c to r a n d all sub­
co n tracto rs a n d agreem ents m ad e b y th e c o n tra c to r or su b c o n tra c to r or a n y o th e r
p a rty relatin g to th e em p lo y m en t of lab o rers or m echanics, o r th e p erform ance
of th e w ork of lab o rers a n d m echanics on said building, a n d to th e w ages or
com pensation to be p a id th erefo r, a re to be open to in spection b y th e c o n tra c tin g
officer a t such tim es as th e la tte r m ay elect, pro v id ed t h a t such in spection shall
n o t interfere w ith th e p ro p er a n d orderly p rosecution of th e w ork, a n d t h a t a

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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

309

clearly legible s ta te m e n t of th e ra te s p a y ab le as aforesaid u n d er th is c o n tra c t
shall be p osted b y th e co n tra c to r in a p ro m in e n t a n d easily accessible place a t th e
site of th e w ork so t h a t such s ta te m e n t m ay be seen a t a n y tim e by persons
engaged on th e w ork.
I t is fu rth e r expressly u n d ersto o d a n d agreed th a t if i t should be fo u n d b y th e
co n tractin g officer t h a t a n y lab o rer o r m echanic em ployed b y th e c o n tra c to r or
a n y su b c o n tracto r on th e p u b lic w ork covered b y th is c o n tra c t h a s been o r is
being p a id a ra te of w ages less th a n th e p revailing ra te of w ages, as aforesaid, th e
G ov ern m en t m ay , b y w ritte n no tice to th e c o n tra c to r, te rm in a te h is rig h t to
proceed w ith th e w ork, o r such p a r t of th e w ork as to w hich th e re h a s been a
failure to p a y said prevailing wages. In such e v en t, i t is u n d ersto o d a n d agreed
t h a t th e G overn m en t m a y ta k e over th e w ork a n d p ro secu te th e sam e to com ­
p letio n b y c o n tra c t o r otherw ise, a n d t h a t th e c o n tra c to r a n d his sureties shall be
liable to th e G overnm en t fo r a n y excess cost occasioned th e G o v ern m en t th ereb y .
T his ord er shall ap p ly to all such co n tra c ts fo r w hich b ids are h e reafter invited.

During the year 1931, several States (Alaska, California, Illinois,
Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and
Wisconsin) enacted legislation governing the payment of wages to
employees engaged on public works. In several cases the law was
modeled on the Federal act. The laws of the States which have
enacted legislation oil the subject of the payment of wages to em­
ployees on public works are here reproduced, including the laws of
those States which have been declared unconstitutional by the
courts.
The opinions of the court in the Arizona and Oklahoma cases have
been noted heretofore in the publications of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Alaska
A CTS O F 1931
C hapter

68

Section 1. R a te o f w a g e . — T h a t every c o n tra c to r or su b c o n tra c to r perform ing
w ork on a n y public co n stru ctio n w ith in th e T e rrito ry of A laska shall p a y n o t less
th a n th e prevailing ra te of wages for w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re in th e region in
wffiich th e w ork is done.
Sec. 2. S u b c o n tr a c ts .— All su b co n tra c ts p erform ed on a n y p ublic co n stru ctio n
shall be, o r m ay be, redu ced to a basis of d ay lab o r for th e purpose of d eterm ining
w h eth er o r n o t su ch su b c o n tra c to r or co n tra c to rs h av e been p aid a t n o t less th a n
th e prevailing scale of wage.
Sec. 3. D e t e r m in a tio n o f w a g e — T h e T e rrito ria l B oard of R o ad C om m issioners
fo r th e T e rrito ry of A laska is h ereb y given th e a u th o rity to say w h a t c o n stitu tes
th e prevailing w age; d eterm in e w h eth er o r n o t th is law is being violated , and,
should th is law be violated, th e a tto rn e y general shall, w hen so in s tru c te d by th e
T e rrito ria l B oard of R o ad C om m issioners fo r th e T e rrito ry of A laska, ta k e im ­
m e d iate step s to enforce th e provisions of th is a ct.
Sec. 4. S c h e d u le . — All c o n tra c to rs o r su b co n tra c to rs com ing u n d e r th e p u r­
view of th is a c t shall, before th e 10th d ay of each m o n th , file w ith th e T errito rial
B oard of R oad Com m issioners, a schedule fo r th e previous m o n th , se ttin g fo rth
in d e ta il th e n u m b er of m en em ployed, a n d w ages p aid on such w ork, a n d furnish
such o th e r info rm atio n as th e T e rrito ria l B oard of R oad C om m issioners for th e
T e rrito ry of A laska m ay request.
Sec. 6 . V a l i d i t y o f a c t. — Should an y p a r t of th is a c t be declared in v alid , i t shall
n o t in v a lid a te th e rem a in d e r of th e a ct.
Sec. 6. E f f e c tiv e d a te . — A n em ergency is hereby declared, a n d th is a c t shall be
in full force a n d effect im m ediately u pon its passage a n d approval.
96957°—32------6


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

310

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

Arizona
R E V IS E D C O D E O F 1928

Chapter 24
S e c t i o n 1350. W a g e r a te , e tc .— *
*
* N o t less th a n th e c u rre n t ra te of per
diem wages in th e locality w here th e w ork is perfo rm ed shall be p a id to persons
doing m an u al o r m echanical la b o r so em ployed b y o r on b eh alf of th e S ta te or of
a n y of its p olitical subdivisions. P ersons doing m a n u a l o r m echanical la b o r em ­
ployed b y co n trac to rs o r su b co n tra c to rs in th e execution of a n y c o n tra c t w ith
th e S ta te or w ith a n y of its p o litical subdivisions sh all be deem ed to be em ployed
by or in behalf of th e S ta te o r of such subdivisions thereof.
[This a c t w as declared u n c o n stitu tio n a l in 1931 in th e case of S ta te v. J. J . G ar­
field B uilding Co., 3 P ac. (2d) 983. See L ab o r R eview for Ja n u a ry , 1932, p. 49.]

California
A C T S O F 1931
C hapter

397

1. W a g e r a te . — N o t less th a n th e general p revailing ra te of p er diem
wages fo r w ork of a sim ilar c h a ra c te r in th e lo cality in w hich th e w ork is perform ed,
a n d n o t less th a n th e g eneral p revailing ra te of p e r diem w ages fo r legal holiday
a n d o vertim e w ork, sh all be p a id to all laborers, w orkm en, a n d m echanics em ­
ployed b y o r on behalf of th e S ta te of C alifornia, o r b y o r on behalf of a n y co u n ty ,
city a n d co u n ty , c ity , tow n, d istric t, o r o th e r political subdivision of th e said
S tate, engaged in th e co n stru ctio n of public w orks, exclusive of m ain te n a n c e
w ork. L aborers, w orkm en, a n d m echanics em ployed b y c o n tra c to rs o r su b ­
co n tracto rs in th e execution of a n y c o n tra c t o r c o n tra c ts fo r p ublic w orks w ith
th e S ta te of C alifornia, o r a n y officer o r p ublic b o d y th ereo f, o r in th e execution
of an y c o n tra c t o r c o n tra c ts fo r p ublic w orks w ith a n y co u n ty , city a n d co u n ty ,
city , tow n, tow nsh ip , d istrict, o r o th e r p o litical subdivision of said S ta te , o r a n y
officer o r public body th ereo f, shall be deem ed to be em ployed u p o n pu b lic works:
S e c . 2. D e te r m in a tio n o f r a te . — T h e public bod y aw ard in g a n y c o n tra c t fo r
public w ork on beh alf of th e S ta te of C alifornia, o r on behalf of a n y co u n ty , city
a n d co u n ty , city , to w n , tow nship, d istric t, o r o th e r p o litical subdivision thereof,
o r otherw ise u n d e rta k in g a n y public w orks, shall ascertain th e general prevailing
ra te of p e r diem w ages in th e lo cality in w hich th e w ork is to be p erform ed fo r
each c ra ft o r ty p e of w orkm an o r m echanic needed to execute th e c o n tra c t, a n d
shall specify in th e call fo r bids fo r said c o n tra c t, a n d in th e c o n tra c t itself, w h at
th e general prevailing ra te of p e r diem w ages in th e said locality is fo r each c ra ft o r
ty p e of w orkm an needed to execute th e c o n tra c t; also th e g eneral prevailing
ra te fo r legal holiday a n d o v ertim e w ork, a n d i t sh all be m a n d a to ry u p o n th e
co n tra c to r to w hom th e c o n tra c t is aw arded, a n d u p o n a n y su b c o n tra c to r u n d er
him , to p a y n o t less th a n th e said specified ra te s to all laborers, w orkm en, a n d
m echanics em ployed b y th e m in th e execution of th e c o n tra c t. T h e c o n tra c to r
shall forfeit as a p e n a lty to th e S ta te o r political subdivision, d istric t, o r m unici­
p a lity on w hose behalf th e c o n tra c t is m ad e o r aw ard ed , $10 fo r each lab o rer,
w orkm an, o r m echanic em ployed, fo r each cale n d ar day , o r p o rtio n th ereo f,
such laborer, w orkm an, o r m echanic is p aid less th a n th e said stip u la te d ra te s fo r
an y w ork done u n d e r said c o n tra c t b y him , o r b y a n y su b c o n tra c to r u n d e r him ,
a n d th e said public b ody aw arding th e c o n tra c t sh all cause to be in se rte d in
th e c o n tra c t a stip u la tio n to th is effect. I t sh all be th e d u ty of such p ublic body
aw arding th e co n tra c t, a n d its officers a n d ag en ts, to ta k e cognizance of com ­
p lain ts of all violations of th e provisions of th is a c t c o m m itted in th e course of
th e execution of th e c o n tra c t an d , w hen m ak in g p a y m e n ts to th e c o n tra c to r of
m oneys becom ing due u n d e r said c o n tra c t, to w ith h o ld a n d re ta in th e re fro m all
sum s a n d a m o u n ts w hich sh all h av e been fo rfeited p u rs u a n t to th e h erein said
stip u latio n a n d th e te rm s of th is a c t: P r o v id e d , h o w e v e r, T h a t no sum shall be
so w ithheld, retain ed , o r forfeited, except fro m th e fin al p a y m en t, w ith o u t a full
investigation b y e ith e r th e division of la b o r sta tistic s a n d law en fo rcem en t of
th e S ta te d e p a rtm e n t of in d u stria l relatio n s o r b y said aw ard in g b o d y ; a n d
P r o v id e d f u r t h e r , T h a t in a ll cases of c o n tra c ts w ith assessm en t o r im p ro v em en t
districts w here fu ll p a y m e n t is m ad e in th e form of a single w a rra n t, o r o th e r
evidence of full p a y m e n t, a fte r com pletion a n d acceptance of th e w ork, th e

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S e c t io n

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

311

aw arding body shall accep t from th e c o n tra c to r in cash a sum eq u al to , a n d in
lieu of, an y a m o u n t required to be w ithheld, retain ed , o r fo rfeited u n d e r th e p ro ­
visions of th is section, a n d said aw arding body sh all th e n release th e final w a rra n t
or p a y m e n t in full. I t sh all be law ful fo r a n y c o n tra c to r to w ithhold from an y
su b co n tracto r u n d e r him sufficient sum s to cover a n y penalties w ithheld from
him by th e aw arding bod y on acco u n t of th e said su b c o n tra c to r’s failure to com ­
ply w ith th e te rm s of th is a c t, a n d if p a y m e n t h as alread y been m ad e to h u n th e
co n tra c to r m a y recover from him th e am o u n t of th e p e n a lty o r forfeitu re in a
su it a t law.
Sec. 3. R e c o r d s to be k e p t .— T h e co n tra c to r a n d each su b co n tra c to r shall keep,
or cause to be k e p t, a n a c c u ra te record show ing th e nam es a n d occupations of
all laborers, w orkm en a n d m echanics em ployed by him , in connection w ith th e
said public w ork, a n d show ing also th e a c tu a l p er diem wages p a id to each of such
w orkers, w hich records shall be open a t all reasonable h o u rs to th e inspection of
th e public body aw ardin g th e co n tra c t, its officers a n d ag en ts, a n d to th e chief
of th e division of lab o r sta tistic s a n d law enforcem ent of th e S ta te d e p a rtm e n t
of in d u stria l relations, his deputies, a n d agents.
Sec. 4. D e f i n i ti o n s .— C o n stru ctio n w ork done for irrig atio n , u tility , reclam a­
tio n , im provem ent, an d o th e r d istricts, o r o th e r public agency o r agencies, public
officer or body, as well as stre e t, sew er a n d o th e r im p ro v em en t w ork done u n d er
th e direction a n d supervision or by th e a u th o rity of a n y officer or public body of
th e S tate, or of an y political subdivision, d istrict, o r m u n icip ality thereof, w h eth er
such political subdivision, d istric t, or m u n icip ality thereof, o p erates u n d er a
freeholders’ c h a rte r heretofore or h ereafter ap p ro v ed or n o t, also a n y construction
o r re p a ir w ork done u n d e r co n tra c t, a n d p aid for in w hole o r in p a r t o u t of public
funds, o th e r th a n w ork done d irectly by a n y public u tility com pany p u rs u a n t to
o rd er of th e railro ad com m ission or o th e r public a u th o rity , w h eth er or n o t done
u n d e r public supervision o r direction, o r p aid fo r w holly o r in p a r t o u t of public
funds, shall be held to be “ p ublic w o rk s” w ith in th e m eaning of th is act. T he
te rm “ lo cality in w hich th e w ork is p e rfo rm e d ” shall be h eld to m ean th e city
a n d co u n ty , co u n ty or counties in w hich th e building, highw ay, ro ad , excavation,
o r o th e r stru c tu re , project, d ev elo p m en t, o r im p ro v em en t is situ a te d in all cases
in w hich th e c o n tra c t is aw ard ed by th e S ta te , or a n y pu b lic bod y thereof, a n d
shall be held to m ean th e lim its of th e co u n ty , c ity a n d co u n ty , city, tow n, to w n ­
ship, d istrict, or o th e r p olitical subdivisions on w hose behalf th e c o n tra c t is
aw arded in all o th er cases. T h e te rm “ general p revailing ra te of p e r diem
w ag es” shall be th e ra te d eterm in ed u p o n as such ra te b y th e p ublic b ody aw ard ­
ing th e co n tract, or au th o rizin g th e w ork, w hose decision in th e m a tte r shall be
final. N o th in g in th is a c t, how ever, shall be co n stru ed to p ro h ib it th e p a y m e n t
to a n y laborer, w orkm an, or m echanic em ployed on a n y p ublic w ork as aforesaid
of m ore th a n th e said general p revailing ra te of wages, n o r shall a n y th in g in th is
a c t be construed to p erm it a n y o vertim e w ork in v iolation of section 653c of th e
P en al Code.
Sec. 5. V i o l a t i o n s .— A ny officer, ag en t, or re p re se n ta tiv e of th e S ta te of
C alifornia, or of an y political subdivision, d istric t, or m u n icip ality thereof, who
w i l l f u l l y shall violate, or o m it to com ply w ith , a n y of th e provisions of th is a c t,
an d a n y co n tra c to r or su b co n tracto r, or a g e n t o r re p re se n ta tiv e thereof, doing
public w ork as aforesaid, who shall neglect to keep, o r cause to be k e p t, a n a c c u ra te
record of th e nam es, occupation a n d a c tu a l w ages p aid to each lab o rer, w orkm an,
an d m echanic em ployed by him , in connection w ith th e said pub lic w ork o r w ho
shall refuse to allow access to sam e a t a n y reasonable h o u r to a n y person a u th o r­
ized to in sp ect sam e u n d e r th is a c t, shall be guilty of a m isdem eanor, a n d upo n
conviction shall be punished by a fine of n o t exceeding $500, or by im prisonm ent,
n o t exceeding six m o n th s or by b o th such fine a n d im p riso n m en t in th e discretion
of th e court.
Sec. 6. C o n s t i tu t i o n a l i t y .— If a n y section, sentence, clause, or p a r t of th is a c t
is for an y reason held to be u n co n stitu tio n al, such decision shall n o t affect th e
rem aining portions of th is a ct. T h e legislature h ereby declares t h a t i t w ould have
passed th is a c t, an d each section, sentence, clause, or p a rt thereof, irresp ectiv e
of th e fa c t t h a t one or m ore sections, sentences, clauses, or p a rts be declared
u n co n stitu tio n al.

Delaware
R E V IS E D C O D E , 1915
2161. Section 46. W a g e r a te .— T h e w ages to be p aid for a legal d a y ’s^work, as
hereinbefore defined, to all classes of such laborers, w orkm en, or m echanics, upon
all such public w ork or u p o n a n y m a te ria l to be used u p o n or in connection th ere
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

312

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

w ith, shall n o t be less th a n th e p revailing ra te fo r a d a y ’s w ork in th e sam e tra d e
or occupation in th e locality in th e S ta te wdiere such public w ork, on, ab o u t, or
in connection w ith w hich such lab o r is perform ed, in its final o r com pleted form ,
is to be s itu a te d , erected, or used. E ach such c o n tra c t h e re a fte r m ad e shall
contain a stip u la tio n t h a t each such lab o rer, w orkm an, or m echanic em ployed by
such c o n tracto r, su b co n tracto r, or o th e r person on, a b o u t, or upo n such public
w ork shall receive^sueh w ages as hereinbefore provided. E ach c o n tra c t fo r such
public w ork h ere a fte r m a d e shall co n tain a provision t h a t th e sam e shall be void
an d of no effect unless th e person o r corp o ratio n m aking o r perform ing th e sam e
shall com ply w ith th e provisions of sections 44 to 47, inclusive, of th is c h ap te r;
a n d no such person or c o rp o ratio n shall be e n title d to receive a n y sum , n o r shall
an y officer, ag en t, or em ployee of th e m u nicipal co rporation of th e city of W ilm ing­
to n p a y th e sam e, or au th o riz e its p a y m e n t, from th e fu n d s u n d e r his charge or
control, to a n y such person o r corporation, fo r w ork done u p o n a n y co n tra c t
w hich in its form o r m a n n e r of perform ance v iolates th e provisions of sections 44
to 47, inclusive, of th is ch ap ter.
[This a c t applies only to th e city of W ilm ington.]

Hawaii
R E V IS E D LA W S O F 1925

Section 178 (as last am ended 1929, A ct No. 86).

W a g e r a te .— T he m inim um
p a y of laborers on public w orks th ro u g h o u t th e T e rrito ry of H aw aii shall be n o t
less th a n $3 per day.

Idaho
C O M P IL E D S T A T U T E S , 1919

Section 2324 (as am ended 1923, ch. 93).

W a g e r a te .— * * * P r o v id e d , f u r th e r ,
t h a t n o t less th a n th e c u rre n t ra te of p e r diem wages in th e locality w here th e w ork
is perform ed shall be p a id to th e laborers, w orkm en, m echanics, a n d o th e r persons
so em ployed b y o r on behalf of th e S ta te of Id ah o , o r a n y co u n ty , city, tow nship,
or o th e r m u n icip ality of said S ta te ; a n d laborers, w orkm en, m echanics, a n d o th er
persons em ployed b y c o n tracto rs or su b co n tracto rs in th e execution of a n y such
c o n tra c t or co n tra c ts w ith th e S ta te of Id ah o , o r w ith a n y co u n ty , city , tow nship,
or o th e r m u n icip ality thereof, shall be deem ed to be em ployed b y or on behalf of
th e S ta te of Id ah o , o r of such co u n ty , city , tow nship, or o th e r m u n icip ality thereof,
an d a n y person w ho certifies u p fo r p a y m e n t th e salary or w ages of a n y laborer,
w orkm an, m echanic, o r o th e r person w orking fo r th e S ta te of Id ah o , o r fo r an y
co u n ty , city , tow nship, o r o th e r m u n icip ality therein , a t a g re a te r n u m b er of
hours p er d a y th a n th e n u m b er p u t in a t a c tu a l lab o r by such person, shall be
g u ilty of a m isdem eanor.

Illinois
A C T S O F 1931
Page 573

Section 1. W a g e r a te .— T h a t every c o n tra c t to w hich th e S ta te or a n y p o litical
division or subdivision thereof, including d ep a rtm e n ts, counties, tow nships, villages, m unicipalities an d , also, d istricts, boards, a n d com m issions created p u rs u a n t
to law, is a p a rty a n d w hich requires o r involves th e em p lo y m en t of la b o rers or
m echanics in th e con stru ctio n , a lte ra tio n , a n d /o r re p a ir of a n y p ublic w ork, for
or on behalf of th e S ta te o r a n y of its p o litical divisions a n d subdivisions as afo re­
said, shall co n tain a provision to th e effect t h a t th e ra te of w age for all lab o rers
a n d m echanics em ployed b y th e c o n tra c to r o r a n y su b c o n tra c to r on th e public
w ork covered b y th e c o n tra c t shall be n o t less th a n th e prev ailin g ra te of wages
for w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re in th e city, tow n, village, o r o th e r civil division of th e
S ta te in w hich th e public w ork is located, a n d t h a t no lab o rer or m echanic em ­
ployed on th e public w ork covered by th e c o n tra c t shall be req u ired or p e rm itte d
to w ork m ore th a n eig h t h o u rs in a n y one cale n d ar d ay , ex cept in cases of ex­
tra o rd in a ry em ergency caused by fire, flood, o r d an g er to life a n d p ro p e rty , a n d
except such e x tra tim e as m ay be necessary in th e placing or loading of m aterials
or in th e s ta rtin g o r placing of a n y eq u ip m en t necessary to p e rm it th e w orking of
th e 8-hour period, or such e x tra tim e as m ay be req u ired to pro p erly finish o r p ro ­
te c t a n y perishable w ork laid du rin g th e ab ove-m entioned 8-hour period, or th e
repairing of or cleaning or housing of necessary eq u ip m en t, such e x tra tim e to be

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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

313

p aid for a t overtim e rates, a n d a fu rth e r provision th a t in case an y d isp u te arises
as to w h a t are th e prevailing ra te s of wages fo r w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re ap p licab le
to th e c o n tra c t w hich can n o t be a d ju ste d b y th e c o n tractin g officer of th e S ta te
or political division or subdivision th ereo f as aforesaid, th e m a tte r shall be referred
to th e d irecto r of th e d e p a rtm e n t of la b o r fo r d e term in atio n a n d his decision
th ereo n shall be conclusive on all p a rtie s to th e c o n tra c t except as p ro v id ed in
section 4.
Sec. 2. D e te r m in a tio n o f r a te . — I t shall be th e d u ty of th e public bod y h a v in g
a u th o rity to c o n tra c t for th e public w ork in each case to asc e rta in th e p rev ailin g
ra te of w ages as referred to herein, by such in v estig atio n s as such pub lic b o d y
m ay deem necessary, a n d to s ta te such p revailing ra te of wages in th e a d v e rtise ­
m e n t fo r proposal for th e public w ork. F o r th e purposes of th is a c t, th e ra te
th u s ascertain ed a n d sta te d shall be deem ed to be th e p revailing ra te of w ages as
relatin g to th e p a rtic u la r public w ork pro v id ed for in said p roposal: P r o v id e d ,
T h a t should n o t less th a n 10 tax p a y e rs of th e political subdivision affected in a
signed co m p lain t question th e w age so d eterm ined, th e m a tte r shall be referred to
a n ap p eal b o ard ap p o in te d in th e m an n er a n d w ith th e pow ers se t fo rth in section
4 of th is act, an d th e finding of such ap p eal b o ard shall im m ediately be m ade
know n to those w ho are bidding u pon th e work.
Sec. 3. V io la tio n s . — E v ery c o n tra c t e n tered in to p u rs u a n t to section 1 of th is
a c t shall co n tain a clause to p rovide t h a t if th e c o n tra c to r or su b c o n tra c to r shall
refuse o r fail to p a y n o t less th a n th e prevailing ra te of w age as pro v id ed in said
section 1, th e difference betw een such prevailing ra te of w ages a n d th e wages
a c tu a lly p a id to th e m echanics o r laborers shall be d ed u cte d from th e a m o u n t to
be p aid to th e co n tra c to r u n d e r th e te rm s of th e co n tra c t. T h e a m o u n t so
d ed u cted shall re v e rt to th e u n a p p ro p ria te d fu n d s of th e S ta te , or of th e con­
tra c tin g political division or subdivision thereof, a s th e case m a y b e: P r o v id e d ,
T h a t every c o n tra c t en tered in to p u rs u a n t to th is a c t sh all c o n tain a clause p ro v id ­
ing t h a t fo r a second violation of such c o n tra c t b y th e refu sal or neglect to p a y
n o t less th a n th e prevailing ra te of wages pro v id ed fo r in th e c o n tra c t as req u ired
b y th e act, o r fo r a second violatio n of t h a t p a r t of th e c o n tra c t re la tin g to w ork­
ing hours as p rovided in section 1 of th e a c t, th e c o n tra c t on w hich said violation
h a s occurred shall be declared forfeited. Such v iolation shall be sufficient cause
to b a r a n y co n tra c to r u n d e r a n y prequalification law or reg u latio n governing
co n tracts for public work.
Sec. 4. I n v e s tig a tio n . — T h e directo r of lab o r m ay , upo n his ow n in itia tiv e
a n d shall u pon a signed co m p lain t of n o t less th a n 10 tax p a y e rs in v e stig a te a n y
public w ork to ascertain w h eth er th e c o n tra c t th erefo r h as been m ad e a n d is
being com plied w ith in accord w ith th e p ro v isio n s of th is a c t. U pon finding a n y
violation of th is a c t o r of a n y c o n tra c t m ad e hereunder, th e d irecto r of lab o r
shall d irect th e enforcem ent of section 3 hereof: P r o v id e d , T h a t a n a p p e a l from
a n y finding a n d decision of th e directo r of la b o r m ay be ta k e n w ith in 10 d ay s
from th e d a te of said finding a n d decision to a n ap p eal b o ard to be convened on
call of th e said director. Such ap p eal b o ard shall, in each case, consist of th re e
m em bers, to be appointed b y th e governor from a list of persons to be su b m itte d
b y th e public body w hich is a p a rty to th e c o n tra c t, b y th e p re sid e n t of th e
concerned co n tracto rs group d esignated b y th e d irecto r of public w orks a n d
buildings, a n d b y th e p resid en t of th e larg est fed erated bod y of organized la b o r
in th e S ta te designated b y th e d irecto r of labor. T h e finding of all a p p eal b o ard s
shall be su b ject to such review b y th e co u rts as ju stice m ay require.
Sec. 4a. A c t n o t a p p lic a b le . — T his a c t shall n o t a p p ly to th e m an u factu re or
tra n sp o rta tio n , loading o r unloading, of articles a n d m aterials produced else­
w here th a n a t th e site w here th e public w ork is u n d er construction, alte ra tio n ,
or repair.
Sec. 5. P r e e x is tin g c o n tr a c t. — T his a c t shall n o t affect a n y c o n tra c t existing
on Ju ly 1, 1931.
[This a c t w as declared u n co n stitu tio n a l b y th e Illinois Suprem e C o u rt in
th e case of M ayhew v . N elson (178 N . E . 921). A digest of th is case will a p p e a r in
th e M arch, 1932, L ab o r Review .]

Kansas
R E V IS E D S T A T U T E S , 1923

Section"44-201 (as am ended 1931, ch. 214). W a g e r a te . — “ T h e c u rre n t ra te
of p er diem w ages” for th e in te n ts a n d purposes of th is a c t sh all be th e ra te of
wage p aid in th e locality as h erein after defined to th e g reater n u m b er of w orkm en,
laborers, or m echanics in th e sam e tra d e , occupation, or w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re .
In th e ev en t th a t i t be determ ined th a t th e re is n o t a g re a te r n u m b er in th e

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

314

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

sam e trad e, occupation, or on sim ilar w ork p aid a t th e sam e ra te , th e n th e average
ra te p aid to such laborers, w orkm en, o r m echanics, in th e sam e tra d e , occupation,
or w ork shall be th e c u rre n t ra te . T h e “ lo c a lity ” fo r th e pu rp o se of th is a c t
shall be th e co u n ty w herein th e phy sical w ork is being p erfo rm ed : P r o v id e d ,
T h a t w here cities of th e first o r second class a re lo cated in said counties, each
such c ity shall be considered a locality. E ig h t h o u rs sh all c o n stitu te a d a y ’s
w ork fo r all labo rers o r o th e r persons em ployed b y o r on behalf of th e S ta te of
K ansas or an y m u n icip ality of said S ta te , except in cases of e x tra o rd in a ry em er­
gency w hich m ay arise, in tim e of w ar, or in cases w here i t m ay be necessary
to w ork m ore th a n eig h t h o u rs p e r calen d ar d a y fo r th e p ro te c tio n of p ro p e rty
or h u m a n life. L aborers or o th e r persons so em ployed, w orking to exceed eight
hours p e r calen d ar day , shall be p aid on th e basis of eig h t h o u rs c o n stitu tin g a
d ay ’s w ork. N o t less th a n th e cu rre n t ra te of p er diem wages in th e locality
w here th e w ork is perform ed shall be p aid to lab o rers or o th e r persons so em ployed.
A nd laborers a n d o th e r persons em ployed b y c o n tra c to rs or su b co n tracto rs in
th e execution of a n y c o n tra c t o r c o n tra c ts w ith th e S ta te of K an sas or an y
m unicipality thereo f shall be deem ed to be em ployed b y o r on behalf of th e
S tate or such m u n icip ality so fa r as th e h o u rs of w ork a n d com pensation herein
provided are concerned. T h a t th e c o n tra c ts h e re a fte r m ad e b y or on behalf
of th e S ta te of K ansas or b y o r on behalf of a n y co u n ty , city , tow nship, or o th e r
m unicipality of said S ta te w ith a n y corp o ratio n , person, o r persons w hich m ay
involve th e em p lo y m en t of laborers, w orkm en, or m echanics shall co n ta in a
stip u latio n t h a t no laborer, w orkm en [w orkm an], or m echanic in th e em ploy of
th e co n tracto r, su b co n tra c to r, or o th e r person doing o r c o n tra c tin g to do th e
whole o r a p a r t of th e w ork c o n tem p lated b y th e c o n tra c t shall be p e rm itte d or
required to w ork m ore th a n eig h t h o u rs in a n y one c a le n d ar d a y except in cases
of ex trao rd in ary em ergency (as defined in th is a c t) ; such c o n tra c ts shall co n tain
a provision t h a t each lab o rer, w orkm an, o r m echanic em ployed b y such con­
tra c to r, subcontracto r, o r o th e r person a b o u t or upo n such public w ork shall
be p a id th e wages herein provided.

Kentucky
S T A T U T E S (C A R R O L L ’S), 1930

Section 4329. W a g e r a te . — * * * Such em ployees m ay receive such com ­
p ensation p e r d a y as m ay be allow ed b y th e fiscal c o u rt: P r o v id e d , T h a t ev ery
able-bodied m an em ployed to do m a n u a l o r d ay lab o r under th e pro v isio n s of
th is ch ap te r on th e public ro ad s shall receive th e p revailing w ages of th e v icinity
in w hich th e w ork is to be done, w hich sh all n o t be less th a n $1 n o r m o re th a n $3
p e r day, according to services rendered, except in th e case of necessary skilled
labor, forem en, a n d a ss ista n t engineers, w ho shall receive n o t m ore th a n $5 p er
d a y : P r o v id e d , T h a t a d a y ’s w ork shall consist of n o t less th a n eig h t ho u rs of
a c tu a l labor.
[This a c t applies only to em p lo y m en t on public roads.]

Maryland
P U B L IC LO C A L LAW — C O D E O F 1888

Article 4
Section 31a (as am ended 1910, ch. 94, p. 642). H o u r s o f la b o r , w a g e r a te , e tc .—
* * * P r o v id e d , f u r th e r , T h a t n o t less th a n th e c u rre n t ra te of p e r diem wages
in th e locality w here th e w ork is p erform ed sh all be p aid to laborers, w orkm en,
or m echanics em ployed b y co n tra c to rs or su b c o n tra c to rs in th e execution of an y
c o n tra c t or c o n tra c ts in a n y p ublic w ork w ith in th e city of B altim ore.

Massachusetts
G E N E R A L LAW S, 1921

Chapter 149
Section 26 (as am en d e d 1931, ch. 377). W a g e r a te . — * * * T h e w ages for
a d ay ’s w ork p a id to m echanics a n d te a m ste rs em ployed in th e co n stru ctio n ,
ad d itio n to , o r a lte ra tio n of p ublic w orks as aforesaid sh all be n o t less th a n th e
cu sto m ary a n d p revailing ra te of w ages fo r a d a y ’s w ork in th e sam e tra d e or
occupation in th e lo cality w here such p ublic w orks are u n d e r c o n stru c tio n or

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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

315

being ad d ed to or altered : P r o v id e d , T h a t no to w n in th e con stru ctio n , ad d itio n
to , or a lte ra tio n of public w orks shall be req u ired to give preference to veterans,
n o t resid en ts of such tow n, o ver citizens thereof. T h is section shall also ap p ly
to reg u lar em ployees of th e C om m onw ealth or of a co u n ty , to w n , o r d is tric t w hen
such em ployees a re em ployed in th e co n stru ctio n , a d d itio n to , a n d a lte ra tio n of
public w orks fo r w hich special ap p ro p ria tio n s are p rovided. A ny person o r con­
tr a c to r w ho know ingly an d w illfully v iolates th is section shall be pun ish ed b y a
fine of n o t m ore th a n $100.
Sec. 27. D i s p u t e s a s to w a g e s . — In case of a n y disp u te as to such cu sto m ary
a n d prevailing ra te of wages th e d e p a rtm e n t shall in v estig ate th e wages p aid in
th e tra d e or occupation in th e locality in w hich such public w orks a re u n d e r con­
stru c tio n a n d decide w h at ra te of wages shall be paid.

Montana
A C T S O F 1931

Chapter 102
Section 1.

W a g e r a te . — In

all co n tra c ts h e reafter le t for S tate, co u n ty , m unici­
pal, a n d school constructio n , rep air, a n d m ain ten an ce w ork u n d e r a n y of th e
law s of th is S ta te th e re shall be in serted in each of said c o n tra c ts a provision by
w hich th e co n tra c to r m u s t give preference to th e em p lo y m en t of b o n a fide
M o n ta n a residents in th e perform ance of said w ork, a n d t h a t th e said c o n tracto r
m u s t fu rth e r p a y th e s ta n d a rd p revailing ra te of wages in effect as p a id in th e
co u n ty se a t of th e co u n ty in w hich th e w ork is being perform ed, a n d no c o n tra c t
shall be le t to a n y person, firm , association, or c o rp o ratio n refusing to execute
a n ag reem en t w ith th e ab o ve-m entioned provisions in it: P r o v id e d , T h a t, in
co n tra c ts involving th e ex p en d itu re of F ed eral a id fu n d s th is a c t sh all n o t be
enforced in such a m an n er as to conflict w ith o r be c o n tra ry to th e F ed eral sta tu te s
prescribing a lab o r preference to h o norably discharged soldiers, sailors, a n d
m arines, a n d p ro h ib itin g a s u n law ful a n y o th e r preference or d iscrim ination
am ong citizens of th e U n ited S tates.
Sec. 2. D e f in itio n . — “ L a b o r” is hereby defined to be all services perform ed in
th e construction, rep air, or m ain ten an ce of all S tate, co u n ty , m unicipal, a n d school
w ork a n d does n o t include engineering, superintendence, m an ag em en t, o r office
or clerical w ork.
A b ona fide resid en t of M o n ta n a is h ereb y declared to be a person who a t th e
tim e of his said em ploym en t a n d im m ed iately p rio r th e re to h as lived in th is
S ta te in such a m an n er a n d for such tim e as is sufficient to clearly ju stify th e
conclusion t h a t his p a s t h a b ita tio n in th is S ta te h a s been coupled w ith in te n tio n
to m ake i t his hom e. Sojourners, o r people w ho com e to M o n ta n a solely in
p u rsu an ce of a n y c o n tra c t o r ag reem en t to p erform such labor, shall u n d e r no
circum stances be deem ed to be b o n a fide resid en ts of M o n ta n a w ith in th e m eaning
a n d for th e purpose of th is act.
Sec. 3. V io l a t i o n s . — If a n y person, firm, o r co rp o ratio n shall fail to com ply
w ith th e provisions of th is a c t th e S ta te , co u n ty , m unicipal, o r school officers
who have executed th e c o n tra c t shall re ta in $500 of th e c o n tra c t price as liq u id ated
dam ages for th e „violation of th e te rm s of th e c o n tra c t a n d said m oney shall be
credited to th e p ro p er fu n d s of th e S ta te , c o u n ty , m unicipal, o r school d istricts.
In all c o n tra c ts en tered in to u n d e r th e provisions of th is a c t a t lea st $500 of th e
c o n tra c t price shall be w ith h eld a t all tim es u n til th e te rm in a tio n of th e c o n tra c t.
Sec. 4. S a v i n g c la u s e . — If a n y p a r t of th is a c t shall be held to be u n co n stitu tio n al
such decision shall n o t affect th e v a lid ity of a n y o th e r provisions of th is act.
Sec. 5. R e p e a lin g c la u s e . — All a c ts a n d p a rts of a c ts in conflict h erew ith are
hereby repealed.
Sec. 6. E f f e c tiv e d a te . — A n em ergency existing th erefo r, w hich em ergency is
hereby declared to exist, th is a c t shall ta k e effect a n d be in force a n d effect from
a n d a fte r its passage an d approval.

Nevada
R E V IS E D LAW S, 1912

Section 3481 (as am en d ed 1929, ch. 44).

W a g e r a te . — On all p ublic w orks
carried on in th e erection of public buildings by o r for th e S ta te of N ev ad a, o r by
a n y individual, firm , com pany, o r c o rp o ratio n u n d e r c o n tra c t w ith th e S ta te of
N evada, unskilled lab o r shall be p aid fo r a t a ra te of n o t less th a n $4 p er 8-hour
d ay for each m ale person over th e age of 18 y ears who shall be em ployed a t such
Digitizedlabor.
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

316

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

New Jersey
A C T S O F 1931

Chapter 242
Section 1.

W a g e r a te , e t c — T h a t

every c o n tra c t in excess of $5,000 in a m o u n t
to w hich th e S ta te o r a n y political subdivision th ereo f is a p a rty , w hich requires
or involves th e em p lo y m en t of lab o rers o r m echanics in th e c o n stru ctio n , a lte ra ­
tion, a n d /o r rep a ir of a n y p ublic buildings of th e S ta te o r a n y political subdivision
thereof w ith in th e geographical lim its of th e S ta te sh all c o n tain a provision to
th e effect t h a t th e ra te of w age fo r a ll lab o rers a n d m echanics em ployed b y th e
co n tra c to r or a n y su b c o n tra c to r on th e public buildings covered by th e c o n tra c t
shall be n o t less th a n th e p revailing ra te of w ages fo r w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re in
th e city, to w n , village, o r o th e r civil division of th e S ta te in -which th e public
buildings are located, a n d a fu rth e r provision t h a t in case a n y d isp u te arises as
to w h a t are th e prev ailin g ra te s of w ages fo r w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re applicable
i ,ke c o n tra c t w hich c an n o t be a d ju ste d b y th e c o n tra c tin g officer, th e m a tte r
shall be referred to th e com m issioner of lab o r fo r d eterm in a tio n a n d his decision
th ereo n shall be conclusive on all p a rtie s to th e c o n tra c t: P r o v id e d , T h a t in
of th is a c t ° n al em ergency th e S °vern o r is a u th o rized to suspend th e provisions
S e c . 2. E f f e c tiv e d a te .
T his a c t shall ta k e effect 30 days a fte r its passage b u t
shall n o t affect a n y c o n tra c t th e n existing o r a n y c o n tra c t th a t m ay th e re a fte r be
en tered in to p u rs u a n t to in v ita tio n s fo r bids th a t are o u tsta n d in g a t th e tim e of
th e passage of th is act.

New York
A CTS O F 1921

Chapter 50
Section 220.

[Subdivisions (1) a n d (2) lim it a legal d a v ’s
w ork to n ig h t hours on p ublic contracts.]
6
(3)
W a g e r a te .
The w ages to be p aid fo r a legal d a y ’s w ork, as hereinbefore
defined to laborers w orkm en, o r m echanics upo n such p ublic w orks, or upo n a n y
m a terial to be used u pon o r in connection th e re w ith , shall be n o t less th a n th e
prevailing ra te fo r a d a y ’s w ork in th e sam e tra d e o r o ccupation in th e locality
W1 “ i n , e p ta t e w here such pu b lic w ork on, a b o u t, o r in connection w ith w hich
such lab o r is perform ed in its final o r co m pleted form is to be situ a te d , erected, or
used a n d shall be p aid m cash. Such c o n tra c ts sh all co n tain a provision t h a t each
laborer, w orkm an o r m echanic em ployed by such co n tra c to r, su b c o n tra c to r o r
H o u r s a n d w a g e s .—

p ro v id î3 rSOn a b ° Ut ° r UP° n SUCh PUbliC W° rk Shali be p aid th e wages h e ^ein
not^appty tcf^ am en d ed 1931> c p - 786.) E m p lo y e e s e x e m p te d . — T his section shall
S ta tio n ary firem en in S ta te hospitals;
O th er persons reg u larly em ployed in th e S ta te in stitu tio n s, except m echanics;
r +2 JjA1§me5rs>electricians, a n d elev a to r m en in th e division of-public buildings
° f S 6 -¿epa;rtm e n t of pudh.c w orks d u rin g th e a n n u a l session of th e legislature;
(d) E m ployees engaged m th e co n stru ctio n , m ain ten an ce, a n d re p a ir of high­
w ays a n d m w aterw o rk s co n stru ctio n o u tsid e th e lim its of cities a n d villages
1 he provisions of th is subdivision shall n o t be o p erativ e o r effective u p o n an v
w ork described th e re in p erform ed b y em ployees, o th e r th a n em ployees engaged
m supervisory lab o r, u n d e r a c o n tra c t h e re a fte r executed fo r w hich re q u ests fo r
bids a re ad v ertise d a fte r th is a c t ta k e s effect a n d p rio r to D ecem ber 1, 1932.
(5)
(Subdivision 5 repealed a n d new subdivision 5 add ed , 1927, ch. 563 )
« w T (al V u , Prevailing ra te of w age,” fo r th e in te n ts a n d purposes
of th is article, shall b e th e ra te of w age p a id in th e lo cality as h e rein after defined
to th e m a jo rity of w orkm en, lab o rers, o r m echanics in th e sam e tra d e o r occupa­
tion. In th e e v e n t t h a t i t be d eterm in ed t h a t th e re is n o t a m a jo rity in th e
sam e tra d e or occupation p a id a t th e sam e ra te , th e n th e ra te p aid to th e g re a te r
nu m b er m such tr a d e o r occu p atio n shall b e th e p revailing ra te : P r o v i d e d Such
g reater n u m b er c o n stitu te s a t le a s t 40 p e r c en tu m of th e lab o rers, w orkm en
or m echanics engaged in such tra d e o r o ccu p atio n ; in th e e v e n t th e re is less
th a n 40 p e r cen tu m of lab o rers, w orkm en, o r m echanics engaged in th e sam e
tra d e o r occupatio n m th e sam e lo cality p aid th e sam e ra te , th e n th e av erag e
ra te p aid to such laborers, w orkm en, or m echanics in th e sam e tra d e or occupation
shall be th e prevailing rate.

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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

317

(&)
T h e “ lo c a lity ” for th e purposes of th is article shall be th e tow n, city,
village, o r o th e r civil division of th e S ta te w herein th e physical w ork is being
perform ed.
(c) T h e “ fiscal officer,” as used herein, shall be deem ed to be, on public w ork
perform ed b y o r on behalf of th e S ta te or a co u n ty or a village, or o th e r civil
division of th e S ta te except a city, th e in d u stria l com m issioner; a n d on public
w ork perform ed b y or on behalf "of a city , th e com ptroller or o th er analogous
officer of such city.
(6) (Subdivisions 6, 7, 8, 9 ad d ed 1927, ch. 563.) F i l i n g o f s c h e d u le .— T he
fiscal officer m ay , a n d on th e w ritte n re q u e st of a n y in terested person shall,
req u ire an y person o r corp o ratio n perform ing such p ublic w ork to file w ith such
fiscal officer a schedule of th e w ages to be p aid to such laborers, w orkm en, or
m echanics. A ny such p erson or c o rp o ratio n shall, w ith in 10 d ay s a fte r th e
receip t of w ritten notice of such req u irem en t, file w ith th e fiscal officer such
schedule of wages.
(7) I n v e s t i g a t i o n .— T h e fiscal officer as herein defined m ay, on his own in itia ­
tiv e, a n d m u st, on a verified c o m p lain t in w riting of a n y person in terested ,
cause a n in v estig atio n to be m ad e to d eterm in e th e p revailing ra te of wages
in th e sam e tra d e o r occupation in th e lo cality w ith in th e S ta te w here such
public w ork is being perform ed, o r th e h o u rs of la b o r p erform ed by th e w orkm en,
laborers, a n d m echanics em ployed on such p ublic w ork, o r b o th . T h e fiscal
officer o r his agents, exam iners, a n d insp ecto rs m ay exam ine o r cause to be
exam ined th e books a n d records p e rta in in g to th e ra te of w ages p aid to th e
laborers, w orkm en, a n d m echanics on said p ublic w ork a n d th e hours of lab o r
perform ed b y such laborers, w orkm en, a n d m echanics on said public w ork.
(8) H e a r in g s .-— B efore proceeding u n d e r a co m p lain t p resen ted as provided
in subdivision 7, or before m aking a n y o rd er o r d eterm in atio n u pon a n in v esti­
g atio n m ad e u p o n his ow n in itiativ e, th e fiscal officer shall o rd er a hearing
th ereo n a t a tim e a n d place to be specified a n d shall give n otice thereof, to g eth er
w ith a copy of such com p lain t o r th e p u rp o se thereof, or a sta te m e n t of th e
facts disclosed u p o n such in v estig atio n , w hich n otice shall be served personally
o r b y m ail on a n y person o r c o rp o ratio n affected th e re b y ; such p erson o r cor­
p o ratio n shall have a n o p p o rtu n ity to be h eard in resp ect to the_ m a tte rs
com plained of a t th e tim e a n d place specified in such notice, w hich tim e shall
be n o t less th a n five d ay s from th e service of th e notice personally o r b y m ail.
T he fiscal officer in such in v estig atio n shall be deem ed to be actin g in a judicial
cap acity a n d shall h ave th e rig h t to issue subpoenas, ad m in ister o ath s, an d
exam ine w itnesses. Such subpoenas sh all be issued a n d served as provided
in th e civil p ractice a c t a n d shall h av e th e sam e effect as if issued o u t of a co u rt
of record of th e S tate. Such in v estig atio n a n d hearing shall be expeditiously
conducted, a n d upo n such hearing a n d in v estig atio n th e fiscal officer shall
determ ine th e issues raised th ereo n a n d shall m ake a n d file a n o rd er in his office
sta tin g such d eterm in atio n , a n d fo rth w ith serve a copy of such order, w ith
a notice of th e filing thereof, upo n th e p a rtie s to such proceeding, personally
or by m ail. U pon th e e n try of such o rd er affecting e ith e r th e h o u rs of labor
o r ra te of wages a n y p a rty to th e proceeding aggrieved th e re b y m ay review
th e said proceedings b y a w rit of certio ra ri w ith in 30 d a y s from th e notice of
th e filing of th e said ord er in th e office of th e fiscal officer. W hen a final d e te r­
m ination h as been reached, if th e d ete rm in a tio n is in fa v o r of th e co m p lain an t
a n d involves o r relates to th e ra te of w ages p aid on such pub lic w ork, th e com ­
p la in a n t o r a n y o th e r person affected m ay w ith in th re e m o n th s a fte r th e service
of notice of th e filing of said final o rd er in s titu te a n a c tio n a g a in st th e person
or corporation found violatin g th is a c t fo r th e recovery of th e difference betw een
th e sum a c tu a lly p aid a n d th e a m o u n t w hich should h av e been p a id as determ in ed
by said final order, from a n d a fte r th e d a te of th e filing of said verified co m plaint
or of filing re p o rt of in v estig atio n m ade on his ow n in itia tiv e w ith th e fiscal
officer, as hereinbefore provided.
(9) V i o l a t i o n s .— W hen a final d eterm in a tio n h as been rendered, a n y person or
co rp o ratio n t h a t w illfully refuses th e re a fte r to p a y th e p revailing ra te of wages
so d eterm in ed o r w illfully em ploys on such pu b lic w ork, laborers, w orkm en, or
m echanics m ore th a n th e h o u rs p e r d a y d eterm in ed b y said order, u n til modified
b y ord er of th e fiscal officer o r c o u rt, a n d th e re b y vio lates Uie provisions of th is
section shall be g u ilty of a m isdem eanor a n d u p o n conviction shall be punished,
fo r a first offense by a fine of $500 o r b y im p riso n m en t fo r n o t m ore th a n 30 days,
o r b y b o th such fine a n d im p riso n m en t; fo r a second offense b y a fine of $1,000,
a n d in ad d itio n th e re to th e c o n tra c t on w hich th e v iolation h as occurred shall be
forfeited; an d no such person o r c o rp o ratio n shall be e n title d to receive an y sum ,
n o r shall an y officer, agen t, or em ployee of th e S ta te or of a m u n icip al corporation

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

318

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

p ay th e sam e or au th o rize its p a y m e n t from th e fu n d s u n d er his charge or control
to an y such person or co rp o ratio n fo r w ork done upon an y c o n tract, on w hich th e
c o n tracto r h as been convicted of second offense in violation of th e provisions of
th is section.
A C T S O F 1930

Chapter 804.— H o u r s

o f la b o r , w a g e s , g r a d e c r o s s in g s

[This a c t am ends ch. 50, A cts of 1921 (ch. 31, Consol. L.) b y ad ding a new
article (8-A ).]
Sec. 225. [M akes ap p licable the 8-hour d ay on grade crossing elim ination
work.]
S ec . 226. W a g e r a te . — T he w ages to be p aid for a d a y ’s w ork of eig h t hours as
referred to hereinbefore, to laborers, w orkm en, o r m echanics u p o n such public
w orks shall be n o t less th a n th e p revailing ra te fo r a d a y ’s w ork in th e sam e
tra d e o r occupatio n in th e lo cality w ith in th e S ta te w here such pu b lic w ork on,
ab o u t, or in connection w ith w hich such la b o r is p erform ed in its final or com ­
p leted form is to be situ a te d , erected, or used a n d shall be p a id in cash. E v ery
c o n tra c t fo r such elim in atio n w ork, h e re a fte r e n tered in to , shall c o n tain a p ro ­
vision t h a t each lab o rer, w orkm an, o r m echanic em ployed b y a c o n tracto r, su b ­
co n tracto r, o r o th e r p erson a b o u t or u pon such p ublic w ork, shall be p aid th e
w ages herein provided.
Sec. 227. E n f o r c e m e n t o f a c t. — T h e p rocedure for ascertain in g a n d d eterm ining
th e h ours of la b o r a n d th e prev ailin g ra te of w age shall be as prescribed b y section
220 of th is c h ap te r, ex cep t t h a t th e “ fiscal officer,” referred to th erein shall in
every instance, fo r th e p urposes of th is a rticle be th e S ta te in d u stria l com m is­
sioner.
U pon th e e n try of a n y o rd er of th e in d u stria l com m issioner affecting eith er such
hours of lab o r o r ra te of wages, a n y p a rty to th e proceeding aggrieved th e re b y
m ay m ake applicatio n fo r c ertio rari w ith in 30 d ay s from th e n otice of th e filing of
such order in th e office of th e in d u stria l com m issioner. If such o rd er is n o t
review ed b y certio rari o r is so review ed a n d confirm ed a n d th e d eterm in atio n is in
fav o r of th e co m p la in a n t a n d involves o r relates to th e ra te of w ages p aid on such
public w ork, th e c o m p lain an t o r a n y o th e r person affected m a y w ith in th re e
m onths a fte r th e service of no tice of th e filing of such order, o r th e d eterm in atio n
upon certio rari if th e o rd er is review ed, in s titu te a n actio n a g a in st th e person or
corporation fou n d vio latin g th is a rticle fo r th e recovery of th e difference betw een
th e sum a c tu a lly p a id a n d th e a m o u n t w hich should h av e been p a id as determ ined
b y such ord er fo r th e p eriod follow ing th e d a te of th e filing w ith th e in d u stria l
com m issioner of th e co m p lain t o r of th e re p o rt of in v estig atio n m ad e by th e
in d u stria l com m issioner on his ow n in itiativ e.
W hen a n ord er of th e in d u stria l com m issioner h as been m ade, a n y person or
corporation t h a t w illfully refuses th e re a fte r to p a y th e p revailing ra te of w ages
determ ined b y said o rd er o r w illfully em ploys on such p ublic w ork, laborers,
w orkm en, o r m echanics m ore th a n th e h o u rs p e r d a y d eterm in ed by such order
u n til such o rd e r h as been ch anged b y th e in d u stria l com m issioner or b y th e
c o u rt a fte r a d ju d ic a tio n u p o n th e m erits, shall be guilty of a m isdem eanor an d
upon conviction shall be p unished, fo r th e first offense b y a fine of $500 o r by
im p riso n m en t fo r n o t m ore th a n 30 days, or b y b o th such fine a n d im p riso n m en t;
for a second offense b y a fine of $1,000 o r b y im p riso n m en t for n o t m ore th a n 90
days o r b y b o th such fine a n d im p riso n m en t, a n d a fte r co nviction of a second
offense no such person o r c o rp o ratio n shall be e n title d to receive a n y sum of
m oney n o r shall a n y officer, ag en t, o r em ployee of th e S ta te o r of a m unicipal
corporation o r of a b o a rd o r com m ission a p p o in te d p u rs u a n t to law p a y th e sam e
or au th o rize its p a y m e n t from th e fu n d s u n d er his charge or co n tro l to a n y such
person or corpo ratio n o r to a n y o th e r person or co rp o ratio n fo r or on a c co u n t of
w ork done upon a n y such co n tract.

Oklahoma
C O M P IL E D S T A T U T E S , 1921

Section 7255.

* * P r o v i d e d f u r th e r , th a t n o t less th a n th e
c u rre n t ra te of p e r diem w ages in th e locality w here th e w ork is p erform ed shall
be p aid to laborers, w orkm en, m echanics, prison guards, ja n ito rs in p ublic in s titu ­
tions, or o th er persons so em ployed by o r on behalf of th e S ta te , or a n y co u n ty ,
city, tow nship, or o th e r m unicipality, an d laborers, w orkm en, m echanics, or o th er

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

W a g e r a te , e tc .— *

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

319

persons em ployed b v co n tracto rs or su b co n tracto rs in th e execution of an y
c o n tra c t or co n tracts“w ith th e S ta te , or w ith a n y co u n ty , city, tow nship, or o th e r
m unicipality thereof, shall be deem ed to be em ployed by or on behalf of th e
S tate, or of such county, city , tow nship, o r o th er m u n icipality.
[This law w as declared u n c o n stitu tio n a l b y th e U n ited S tates Suprem e C o u rt
on Ja n u a ry 4, 1926, in th e case of C onnally v. G eneral C o n stru ctio n Co., 269
U. S. 385. ~ See B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics Bui. No. 417, p. 139.]

Pennsylvania
A CTS O F 1931
A ct N o. 144
[Amends th e A d m in istrativ e Code of 1929, P. L. 177]

Section 522. W a g e r a te .— T he specifications upon w hich c o n tra c ts are en tered
in to by th e C om m onw ealth fo r th e con stru ctio n , a lte ra tio n , o r re p a ir of any
public w ork shall, as fa r as possible, co n tain th e m inim um w age or w ages w hich
m ay be p a id b y th e co n tra c to r or his su b co n tracto rs for th e w ork p erform ed by
laborers a n d m echanics em ployed on such p ublic w ork, a n d such lab o rers or
m echanics shall be p aid n o t less th a n such m inim um w age or wages.
E v ery c o n tra c t en tered in to upo n such specifications shall stip u la te a p e n a lty
of an a m o u n t eq u al to tw ice th e difference betw een th e m inim um w age co n tain ed
in said specifications a n d th e w age a c tu a lly p a id to each such lab o rer or m echanic
for each d ay d u ring w hich he h as been em ployed a t a w age less th a n t h a t p re ­
scribed in said specifications. E v ery officer or person d esignated as in sp ecto r of
th e w ork to be perform ed u n d er an y such c o n tract, o r to aid in th e enforcing of th e
fulfillm ent thereof, shall, upo n o b servation or investig atio n , re p o rt to th e d e p a rt­
m en t, board, or com m ission w hich m ade th e c o n tra c t aw ard , all v iolations of
m inim um w age stipulatio n s, to g e th e r w ith th e nam e of each lab o rer or m echanic
w ho h as been p aid less th a n t h a t prescribed by th e specifications, a n d th e d ay or
days of such violation. All such pen alties shall be w ith h eld a n d d ed u cted , for th e
use of th e C om m onw ealth from a n y m oneys due th e c o n tracto r, b y th e officer or
person whose d u ty i t shall be to au th o rize th e p a y m e n t of m oneys due such contra c to r, w h eth er th e violation of th e m inim um w age stip u latio n of th e specifica­
tions is by th e co n tra c to r or by a n y of his subco n tracto rs.

Porto Rico
A CTS O F 1923
A ct N o. 11

Section 1 (as am ended 1925, A ct No. 54). W a g e r a te , e tc .— In all public w orks
co n stru cte d in P o rto Rico, w h eth er b y c o n tra c t or by a d m in istratio n , w here th e
in su lar governm ent, an y m u n icip ality of P o rto Rico, or a n y com m ission or b o ard
ap p ro v ed b y v irtu e of law , is a n in te re ste d p a rty , a n d w here i t m ay be necessary
to em ploy laborers, w orkingm en, or m echanics, th ese shall n o t be p e rm itte d or
com pelled to w ork m ore th a n eig h t h o u rs daily in a n y n a tu ra l day , excepting in
cases of e x trao rd in ary em ergency caused b y fire, in u n d atio n , or d an g er to lives
or p ro p e rty ; a n d every laborer, w orkingm an, or m echanic em ployed in a n y
insular or m unicipal public w ork shall receive n o t less th a n $1 for each legal d a y ’s
w ork perform ed.

Texas
R E V IS E D

Article 5166.

C IV IL S T A T U T E S , 1925

*
*
N o t less th a n th e cu rre n t ra te of per
h o u r wages for like w ork in th e locality w here th e w ork is being p erform ed shall
be p aid to th e laborers, w orkm en, m echanics, or o th e r persons so em ployed by
or on behalf of th e S tate, or for a n y co u n ty , m u n icip ality , or o th e r legal or p o liti­
cal subdivision of th e S ta te , co u n ty , or m u n icip ality , a n d every c o n tra c t here­
afte r m ade for th e perform ance of w ork for th e S ta te , o r fo r a n y co u n ty , m unici­
p ality , or o th er legal or political subdivision of th e S ta te , co u n ty , o r m u nicipal­
ity, m u s t com ply w ith th e req u irem en ts of th is ch ap te r. N o th in g in th e fore­
going article shall p rev e n t a n y person, o r a n y officer, agent, or em ployee of a
person or corporation, or association of persons from m aking m u tu a lly satisfac­
to ry co n tracts as to th e hours of labor, a t th e ra te s of p ay as herein provided.
W a g e r a te .— *


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

320

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
A CTS O F 1931

Chapter 46
Section 1.

W a g e r a te . —-H ereafter

th e S ta te highw ay comm ission in lettin g
co n tracts for th e constru ctio n , m ain ten an ce, or im p ro v em en t of a n y designated
S tate highw ay, shall be a u th o rized to req u ire t h a t all c o n tra c ts fo r a n y such w ork,
contain a provision t h a t no person will be em ployed, b y th e co n tracto r, to perform
m an u al lab o r in th e course of th e co n stru ctio n , m ain ten an ce or im p ro v em en t of
an y such highw ay a t a w age of less th a n 30 cen ts p er h o u r, a n d t h a t a n y violation
of an y such provision of th e c o n tra c t b y th e co n tracto r, su b co n tracto r, o r o th er
person su b ject to such provision of th e c o n tra c t, shall au th o rize th e com m ission
to w ithhold from a n y m oney d u e th e c o n tra c to r a sufficient sum to p a y an y
person such m inim um w age fo r a n y lab o r perform ed, or th e com m ission m ay, for
th e benefit of a n y such person, recover such sum on th e bon d of th e co n tracto r,
if it does n o t h a v e in its possession m oney owing th e c o n tracto r, ap p licab le for
such purposes. T h a t citizens of th e U n ited S tates a n d of th e c o u n ty w'herein th e
w ork is being proposed shall alw ays be given preference in such em p lo y m en t:
P r o v id e d a ls o , T h a t all o th e r d ep artm en ts, bureaus, com m issions a n d in s titu tio n s
of th e S ta te of T exas in all co n stru ctio n w ork of every ch a ra c te r req u irin g em ploy­
m en t of d ay lab o r sh all likewise be a u th o rized a n d em pow ered to exercise th e
sam e a u th o rity herein conferred on th e S ta te highw ay comm ission.
Sec. 2. A d v e r t i s i n g f o r b i d s . — H ereafter, in ad v ertisin g fo r b ids fo r th e con­
stru ctio n , m ainten an ce, o r im p ro v em en t of a n y desig n ated S ta te highw ay, th e
comm ission, in th e e v en t it desires to exercise th e a u th o rity herein conferred to
require a provision for such m inim um wage, shall so s ta te in th e ad v ertise m en t,
so th a t all bidders m ay be aw are of such req u irem en t in su b m ittin g bids for such
work.
Sec. 3. E f f e c tiv e d a te . — T he fa c t th a t th ere are a g re a t n u m b er of people of th e
S ta te o u t of em plo y m en t a n d of necessity h av e to w ork a t w h atev er wage is
offered, an d t h a t som e c o n tracto rs on public w ork a re req u irin g laborers to w ork
a t less th a n it costs to live, creates a n em ergency a n d a n im p erativ e public
necessitj7' th a t th e co n stitu tio n a l rule requiring all bills to be read on th re e several
days in each house, be, a n d th e sam e is, hereby suspended, a n d th a t th is a c t ta k e
effect a n d be in force from an d a fte r its passage; a n d it is so enacted.

Washington
A CTS O F 1931

Chapter 1.— E s ta b lis h m e n t

o f 'p u b lic u t i l i t y d i s tr ic ts

Section 8. W a g e r a te . — * * * E v ery co n tra c to r an d su b co n tracto r p er­
form ing a n y w ork for said public u tility d istricts o r local u tility d istricts w ithin
said public u tility d istric t shall p ay or cause to be p aid to its em ployees on such
work or u n d er such c o n tra c t or su b c o n tra c t n o t less th a n th e m inim um scale
fixed by th e resolution of th e com m ission p rio r to th e notice a n d call fo r bids on
such w ork. T he com m ission, in fixing such m inim um scale of wages shall fix th e
sam e as nearly as possible to th e c u rre n t p revailing a n d going wages w ithin th e
d istrict for w ork of like c h aracter.
[In itiativ e provision passed a t general election N ovem ber 4, 1930; proclam ation
signed by th e governor D ecem ber 3, 1930.]

Wisconsin
A CTS OF 1931

Chapter 269
Section 1. R a te o f w a g e , e tc .; p u b lic b u ild in g s . — (1) E ach co n tra c t hereafter
“ YU1®
th e erection, constru ctio n , or rem odeling of a n y public building to
w hich th e S ta te o r a n y d e p a rtm e n t thereof, is a p a rty shall co n tain a stip u latio n
th a t no laborer, w orkm an, or m echanic in th e em ploy of th e c o n tra c to r or of an y
su b co n tracto r, ag en t, or o th e r person, doing or co n tractin g to do all or a p a r t of
tffe w ork, shall be p aid less th a n th e p revailing w age ra te in th e sam e or m ost
sim ilar tra d e or o ccupation in th e c o u n ty w herein such public building is situ ated ,
w hich ra te shall be se t fo rth specifically in th e co n tract.
(2)
T he prevailing wage ra te in a n y tra d e or occupation in a n y co u n ty shall
be th e ra te p aid to a m a jo rity of all persons em ployed in such tra d e or occupation

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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

321

in such county, or if th ere is no ra te a t w hich a m a jo rity are em ployed th e n th e
prevailing wage ra te shall be th e ra te w hich is p aid to a larger nu m b er of em ployees
th a n an y o th er ra te p aid in such co u n ty fo r w ork in such tra d e or occupation.
(3) Before bids are ask ed fo r a n y w ork to w hich th is section is applicable, th e
d e p a rtm e n t or officer hav in g th e a u th o rity to prescribe th e specifications, shall
req u est th e in d u s tria l com m ission to ascertain th e p revailing w age ra te in all
tra d e s a n d occupations req u ired in th e w ork u n d er co n tem p latio n in th e county
in w hich th e w ork is to be done. U nless it shall w ithin th e y e a r h av e m ade a
d eterm in atio n of th e prevailing w age ra te in such tra d e s o r occupations in such
co u n ty , th e in d u stria l com m ission shall th ereu p o n co n d u ct a public hearing in
such co u n ty a n d m ak e such fu rth e r in v estig atio n s as m ay be necessary to enable
it to ascertain th e prevailing w age ra te fo r each such tra d e or occupation. I t
shall m ak e its d eterm in atio n w ith in 30 d ay s a fte r receip t of th e req u est a n d shall
file th e sam e w ith th e d e p a rtm e n t o r officer ap p ly in g therefor.
(4) Any officer or em ployee of th e S ta te w ho shall p ublish an y specifications or
execute a n y c o n tra c t for th e erection, con stru ctio n , or rem odeling of a n y public
building to w hich th e S ta te or a n y d e p a rtm e n t is a p a rty w ith o u t com plying w ith
th is section a n d a n y co n tracto r, su b co n tracto r, or a g e n t th ereo f who, a fte r ex ecu t­
ing a c o n tract in com pliance w ith th is section, shall p a y to or p e rm it a n y a g e n t or
su b co n tracto r to p a y an y laborer, w orkm an, o r m echanic in his or th e ir em ploy
a lesser wage for w ork done u n d er such c o n tra c t th a n th e p revailing w age ra te as
set fo rth in th e c o n tract shall be guilty of a m isdem eanor, a n d upo n conviction
shall be punished by a fine n o t exceeding $200 or b y im p riso n m en t for n o t m ore
th a n six m onths, or by b o th such fine an d im prisonm ent.
(5) I t shall be th e d u ty of th e in d u stria l com m ission to enforce th e provisions
of th is section. T o th is end i t m ay dem and, a n d i t shall be th e d u ty of every
co n tracto r a n d su b co n tracto r to fu rn ish to th e com m ission,_ copies of a n y or all
p ay rolls and m ay exam ine all records relatin g to th e wages p aid laborers, w orkm en,
or m echanics on w ork to w hich th is section is applicable.
S ec . 2. E f fe c tiv e d a te .— T his a c t shall ta k e effect upon passage an d publication.

Chapter 432
Section 1. R a te o f w a g e , e tc ., S ta te h ig h w a y .— (1) E v ery c o n tra c t to w hich th e
S ta te is a p a rty for th e co n stru ctio n or im p ro v em en t of a n y highw ay shall contain
a stip u latio n t h a t no lab o rer in th e em ploy of th e c o n tra c to r or of a n y subcon­
tra c to r, ag en t, or o th e r person doing o r co n tractin g to do all or a p a r t of th e w ork
shall be p e rm itte d to w ork a longer n u m b er of h o u rs p e r d ay or be p aid a lesser
ra te of w ages th a n th e p revailing hours of lab o r a n d ra te of w ages in th e co u n ty
or counties w here th e w ork is to be done, as se t fo rth specifically in th e co n tra c t.
(2) T h e in d u stria l com m ission shall a n n u ally ascertain a n d determ in e th e
prevailing hours of lab o r a n d th e p revailing w age ra te for com m on lab o r a n d for
such o th er classes of lab o r as th e highw ay com m ission m ay deem advisable in all
counties in w hich a n y highw ay co n stru ctio n is co n tem p lated d u rin g th e ensuing
season. T he highw ay com m ission shall n o tify th e in d u stria l com m ission of its
co n tem p lated co n stru ctio n p ro g ram as soon as th is shall h av e been d eterm ined
upo n a n d th e in d u stria l com m ission shall w ith in 30 days th e re a fte r advise_ th e
highw ay com m ission w h a t are th e p revailing h o u rs of lab o r a n d th e prevailing
w age ra te for com m on lab o r a n d for such o th e r classes of lab o r as m ay h av e been
specified in th e req u est of th e highw ay com m ission in all counties in w hich high­
w ay co n stru ctio n is con tem p lated . If a co n tem p lated c o n stru ctio n p ro je c t ex­
te n d s in to m ore th a n one cou n ty , th e p revailing hours of lab o r a n d th e prevailing
w age ra te s shall be ascertain ed a n d determ in ed jo in tly fo r th e several counties
in to w hich th e p ro ject extends, so th a t th e re shall be b u t one sta n d a rd for th e
en tire p ro ject.
,, .
. ,, ,
, . ,
(3) B y th e te rm “ prevailing h o u rs of la b o r” is m e a n t th e hours of lab o r per
d ay w orked by a larger n u m b er of w orkm en of th e sam e grade em ployed w ithin
th e co u n ty or counties (if th e co n tem p lated highw ay im p ro v em en t extends in to
m ore th a n one county) th a n are em ployed fo r a n y o th e r n u m b er of hours p er day.
B y th e te rm “ prevailing w age r a t e ” is m e a n t th e ra te of p a y p er h o u r o r p e r day
p aid to a larg er n u m b er of w orkm en engaged in th e sam e grade of lab o r a t outdoor
w ork w ithin such c o u n ty or counties th a n a n y o th e r ra te of p ay . In no event,
how ever shall th e “ prevailing w age r a te ” for an y class of lab o r be deem ed to be
less th a n a reasonable a n d living wage.
.
(4) Before m aking its d eterm in atio n of th e p revailing ho u rs of lab o r a n d p re­
vailing w age ra te fo r com m on lab o r a n d such o th e r classes of lab o r as m ay be
specified by th e highw ay com m ission in all of th e several counties in which ^highw ay co nstruction is expected to be carried on during th e ensuing season, th e indus
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

322

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

tria l com m ission shall co n d u ct one or m ore p ublic hearings of w hich notice shall
be given a t least 10 days in ad v an ce in th e official S ta te pap er. I t shall also be
th e d u ty of th e in d u stria l com m ission to con d u ct such in v estig atio n s as m ay be
necessary to keep itself advised a t all tim es as to th e hours of lab o r a n d wage
ra te s in all p a rts of th e S ta te fo r all classes of lab o r com m only em ployed in
highw ay constru ctio n w ork.
(5) I n th e e v e n t t h a t th e highw ay com m ission shall deem th e d eterm in atio n
of th e in d u stria l com m ission as to th e p revailing h o u rs of lab o r a n d prevailing
wage ra te s in an y c o u n ty to h a v e been incorrect, it m ay a p p eal to th e governor,
whose d eterm in atio n shall be final.
(6) T h e prevailing hours of lab o r a n d th e p revailing wage ra te for com m on
lab o r a n d fo r such o th e r classes of lab o r as th e highw ay com m ission shall deem
advisable shall be specifically s e t fo rth in th e specifications, ad v ertise m en ts, a n d
co n tracts for each highw ay c o n stru ctio n c o n tra c t to w hich th e S ta te is a p a rty .
(7) A ny co n tracto r, su b co n tracto r, o r a g e n t th ereo f w ho, a fte r executing a
c o n tra c t in com pliance w ith th is section, shall em ploy or know ingly p e rm it an y
laborer, w orkm an, o r m echanic to w ork a longer n u m b er of hours p e r d ay or p ay
or know ingly p e rm it to be p a id to a n y such laborer, w orkm an, o r m echanic a
lesser w age ra te th a n th e p revailing ho u rs of lab o r a n d th e prev ailin g w age ra te
as se t fo rth in th e c o n tra c t, shall be g u ilty of a m isdem eanor a n d u pon con­
viction shall be pun ish ed b y a fine n o t exceeding $200, or b y im p riso n m en t for
n o t m ore th a n six m onths, or b y b o th such fine a n d im p riso n m en t. U pon a
second conviction hereunder, in ad d itio n to such p e n a lty , th e c o n tra c t on w hich
th e violation shall h av e occurred shall be fo rfeited a n d th e c o n tra c to r or subcon­
tra c to r so convicted of a second offense shall n o t be e n title d to receive an y fu rth e r
p a y m e n t u n d e r such co n tra c t.
(8) I t shall be th e d u ty of th e highw ay com m ission to enforce th e provisions
of th is section. T o th is en d i t m ay d em an d , a n d it shall be th e d u ty of every
co n tra c to r a n d su b c o n tra c to r to fu rn ish to th e com m ission, copies of a n y or
all p a y rolls a n d m ay exam ine a ll records rela tin g to th e wages p aid laborers,
w orkm en, or m echanics on w ork to w hich th is section is applicable.
Sec. 2. E f fe c tiv e d a te . — T his a c t shall ta k e effect upon passage a n d p u b licatio n .

Chapter 441
Section 1. R a te o f w a g e , e tc ., c o u n ty s e w e r a g e w o r k . —T he com m issioners of th e
m etro p o litan sew erage com m ission c reated by c h a p te r 554 of th e Law s of 1921
a n d th e com m issioners of tfie sew erage com m ission c reated by c h a p te r 608 of th e
Law s of 1913 o p eratin g in counties w hich h av e a p o p u latio n of 500,000 o r m ore,
shall establish a m inim um w age scale fo r all em ployees a n d lab o rers of such
com m issions w hich shall n o t be less th a n th e p revailing w age p a id to sim ilar
em ployees of th e c o u n ty a n d m unicipalities of such cou n ty . T h e com m issioners
of such com m issions sh a ll in se rt in a ll c o n tra c ts fo r w ork to be done fo r th e
com m issions a provision req u irin g t h a t a m inim um w age scale be p aid b y con­
tra c to rs on all w ork done fo r such com m issions, w hich m inim um w age scale so
established shall n o t be less th a n th e prev ailin g w age scale p aid by c o n tracto rs
doing w ork for th e c o u n ty a n d m u n icipalities of such county.
Sec. 2. E f f e c tiv e d a te . — T h e provisions of th is a c t in so fa r as th e y affect th e
com m issioners of th e sew erage com m ission c reated b y c h a p te r 608 of th e Laws
of 1913 shall ta k e effect u p o n passage a n d publicatio n . T h e provisions of th is
a c t affecting th e com m issioners of th e m etro p o lita n sew erage com m ission created
by c h ap te r 554 of th e Law s of 1921 shall ta k e effect Ja n u a ry 1, 1932.

United States
S E V E N T Y -F IR S T C O N G R E S S , T H I R D S E S S IO N , 1931

Chapter 411 (46 U. S. S ta t. L. 1494).— R a te

o f w a g e s — P u b l i c b u ild in g c o n tr a c ts

T h a t every co n tra c t in excess of $5,000 in am o u n t, to w hich th e U n ited S tates
or th e D istric t of C olum bia is a p a rty , w hich req u ires or involves th e em plo y m en t
of laborers o r m echanics in th e co n stru ctio n , a lte ra tio n , a n d /o r re p a ir of a n y
public buildings of th e U n ited S ta te s o r th e D istric t of C olum bia w ith in th e
geographical lim its of th e S ta te s of th e U nion o r th e D istric t of C olum bia, shall
co n tain a provision to th e effect t h a t th e ra te of w age fo r a il lab o rers a n d m echanics
em ployed b y th e c o n tra c to r o r a n y su b c o n tra c to r on th e p ublic buildings covered
b y th e c o n tra c t shall be n o t less th a n th e p revailing ra te of w ages fo r w ork of a
sim ilar n a tu re in th e city , tow n, village, o r o th e r civil division of th e S ta te in

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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

323

w nich th e public buildings are located, o r in th e D istric t of C olum bia, if th e public
buildings are located th e re , a n d a fu rth e r provision t h a t in case a n y d isp u te
arises as to w h a t are th e prev ailin g ra te s of w ages fo r w ork of a sim ilar n a tu re
applicable to th e c o n tra c t w hich c an n o t be a d ju s te d b y th e c o n tra c tin g officer,
th e m a tte r shall be referred to th e S ecretary of L ab o r fo r d e term in atio n a n d his
decision th ereo n shall be conclusive on all p a rtie s to th e c o n tra c t: P r o v id e d , T h a t
in case of n atio n al em ergency th e P resid en t is au th o rized to suspend th e provisions
of th is act.
Sec. 2. E f f e c tiv e d a te .— T his a c t shall ta k e effect 30 d ay s a fte r its passage b u t
shall n o t affect an y c o n tra c t th e n existing o r a n y c o n tra c t t h a t m ay th e re a fte r
be en tered into p u rs u a n t to in v ita tio n s for b ids th a t are o u tsta n d in g a t th e tim e
of th e passage of th is act.

E m p lo y m en t C o n tract W ith A rtist H eld N ot B reached By
M ak ing O b jectio n s or S u g g e stio n s

AN action by a motion-picture actress for breach of employment
contract due to her objections and suggestions concerning the
INproduction
of scenes, the District Court of Appeal for the Second
District of California held that such objections and suggestions were
in the interest of her employer and contemplated by the contract.
(Goudal v. Cecil B. DeMille Pictures Corporation, 5 Pac. (2d) 432.)
The contract of employment covered a period of one year, beginning
May 19, 1925, with the option to the corporation of four yearly exten­
sions of the contract, each yearly extension to be at a specified sub­
stantial increase in compensation. The actress entered upon her
duties and the corporation twice exercised its option, extending the
period of employment to May 18, 1928. However, on September 10,
1927, she was discharged, and thereupon filed suit against her em­
ployer to recover damages for the alleged wrongful discharge.
The basic question before the court was whether such termination of
the employment was wrongful or whether it was justified by the acts
of the respondent violative of the terms of the contract. The Supe­
rior Court of Los Angeles County found that there had been no
violation of the contract and that her discharge was not justified, and
the corporation appealed to the district court of appeal for the
second district.
The claim that respondent failed or refused to perform her parts as
requested, thereby violating the contract, was based upon many in­
stances. The company cited occasions when respondent, instead of
1‘unquestioningly performing as directed by the director in charge,
called attention to inconsistencies, inaccuracies, possible improve­
ments or lack of artistic quality in the performance called for as they
appeared to her.” If the director did not make the suggested change,
the actress took the question up with the president of the corporation
and in a substantial number of instances he agreed with her and the
changes were made.
In deciding whether such action on the part of the actress was a
breach of the contract, the court said:
Suggestions a n d even objections as to th e m a n n e r of en acting th e various
scenes, w hen m ad e in good fa ith , w ere in th e in te re st of th e em ployer, in fact,
i t ap p e a rs from th e testim o n y t h a t th e y were w elcom ed a n d encouraged in m an y
instances, an d , p rio r to com m encing w ork, th e p re sid e n t of a p p e lla n t inform ed
resp o n d en t t h a t h e d id n o t w a n t m an n ik in s to w ork fo r him , t h a t he w an ted
th in k in g people, a n d th a t, if she w ould explain to him w hy she w an ted to do a
th in g in a p a rtic u la r w ay, he w ould a p p reciate it. B y th e v ery w orking of th e
c o n tra c t “ it is agreed t h a t th e services of th e a rtis t herein pro v id ed for are of a

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

324

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

special, unique, unusual, ex trao rd in ary , a n d in tellectu al c h a ra c te r.” E ven
w ith o u t th e evidence c o n trad ictin g t h a t of a p p ellan t, th e tria l c o u rt w as m ore
th a n justified in finding t h a t i t was n o t tru e th a t re sp o n d en t h a d refused or failed
to perform h e r p a r t of th e c o n tract.

Another ground urged as justifying her discharge was that she was
late, on certain occasions, in arriving on the sets at the time designated
by her employer. The court felt that this was explained, however,
by her testimony to the effect that, with the approval of her employer,
she had voluntarily assumed additional duties, relating to the cos­
tumes, and therefore the delay was caused in performing her employ­
e r’s business. The court also pointed out that the alleged breaches
of the contract consist largely of incidents prior to May, 1927, when
the corporation, for the second time, had exercised its option to con­
tinue and extend the contract for another year. The court said that
the “ exercise of the option may be considered as a declaration by
act that the past conduct of the artist was not such conduct as was
intended by the contracting parties as a justification for the termina­
tion of the contractual relations.”
The charge of failure by her to seek other employment was not
sustained by the court, because it was not shown by the corporation
that by exercise of diligence the actress could have secured employ­
ment. The court, however, did approve the deduction of the sum of
$3,000 received by the actress for other employment during the period.
The judgment awarding $34,531.23 as damages for the breach of
the contract was therefore affirmed.
E m p loyee S u p p ly in g Coal to E n gin e H eld N o t E ngaged in In ter­

state Commerce
HE test whether an employee, when injured, is engaged in inter­
state commerce, is whether he was engaged in interstate “ trans­
portation” or in work so closely related thereto as to be practically
a part thereof, according to the United States Supreme Court in the
case of Chicago & N. W. R. Co. v. Bolle (52 Sup. Ct. 59).
From the facts in the case it appears that Eugene Bolle was em­
ployed by the Chicago & North Western Railway Co. to fire a
stationary engine which was utilized to generate steam for the purpose
of heating the passenger depot and other structures used for general
railroad purposes at Waukegan, 111. The steam was also used to
heat passenger coaches while standing in the yard and sometimes
the steam was used to prevent the freezing of turntables used in both
interstate and intrastate commerce.
On the occasion in question the stationary engine was temporarily
out of order and Bolle had been using a locomotive engine as a sub­
stitute. _In the course of his work he had to accompany the engine
along with three engines used in interstate commerce, to a place
about 4 miles distant to obtain a supply of coal. He was seriously
injured while coal was being placed upon one of the engines and he
filed suit against his employer to recover damages for the injury
under the Federal employers’ liability act.
After three trials in the State courts, the final decision of the
appellate court was appealed to the United States Supreme Court
for review.

T


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

LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

325

The Supreme Court followed its decision in the case of Shanks v.
Delaware, Lack. & West. R. Co. (239 U. S. 556), in which the test
referred to above was used.
Continuing the opinion reversing the judgment of the lower court
in favor of Bolle, Mr. Justice Sutherland said, in part:
I t will be observed th a t th e w ord used in defining th e te s t is tra n sp o rta tio n ,
n o t th e w ord com m erce. T h e tw o w ords w ere n o t reg ard ed as in terch an g eab le
b u t as conveying different m eanings. Com m erce covers th e w hole field of which
tra n sp o rta tio n is only a p a rt; a n d th e w ord of n arro w er signification w as chosen
u n d erstan d in g ly a n d delib erately as th e a p p ro p ria te te rm . T he business of a
railro ad is n o t to carry on com m erce generally. I t is engaged in th e tra n s p o rta ­
tio n of persons a n d th in g s in com m erce; an d hence th e te s t of w h eth er a n em ployee
a t th e tim e of his in ju ry is engaged in in te rs ta te com m erce, w ith in th e m eaning
of th e act, n a tu ra lly m u st be w h eth er he w as engaged in in te rs ta te tra n sp o rta tio n ,
or in w ork so closely relate d to such tra n sp o rta tio n as to be p ractically a p a rt of it.
P lainly, th e resp o n d en t in th e p resen t case does n o t b rin g him self w ith in th e
rule. A t th e tim e of receiving his in ju ry , he w as engaged in w ork n o t in cid en tal
to tra n sp o rta tio n in in te rs ta te com m erce, b u t p u rely in cid en tal to th e furnishing
of m eans for h eatin g th e sta tio n a n d o th e r stru c tu re s of th e com pany. H is d u ty
ended w hen he h ad produced a su p p ly of steam fo r t h a t purpose. H e h a d n o th in g
to do w ith its d istrib u tio n or specific use. Indeed, w h a t he produced w as n o t
used or in ten d ed to be used, d irectly or in d irectly , in th e tra n sp o rta tio n of a n y ­
thing. I t is plain th a t his w ork was n o t in in te rs ta te tra n sp o rta tio n , a n d was
not so closely related to such tra n sp o rta tio n as to cause it to be p ractically a
p a rt of it.

A s s u m p tio n o f R isk H eld D e fe n s e U n d er F ed era l E m p lo y e r s’
L ia b ility A ct

SECTION hand who assumes the risk of hazard incident to
cutting steel rails without protection of his eyes will not be
A allowed
to recover damages in an action brought under the Federal
employers’ liability act, according to a recent decision of the United
States Supreme Court. (Chesapeake & Ohio R. Co. v. Kuhn, 52 Sup
Ct. 45.)
On February 9, 1926, William Kuhn, an experienced section hand
was engaged with others in repairing a sidetrack leading from the main
line of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway to a steam shovel. It became
necessary to shorten two steel rails some 6 or 8 inches. The process
used was first to cut the rail with a cold chisel and then strike it with
a heavy hammer. Tne men took turns in striking the rail, and none
of them wore goggles, asked for them, or objected to the method of
operation. While Kuhn was standing by, awaiting his turn to strike,
a steel chip from the chisel or rail struck and destroyed his eye.
Kuhn filed suit against the company for damages in the court of
common pleas, Pike County, Ohio. He alleged that the accident
resulted from its negligence in “ordering him to use a defective sledge
hammer and chisel; failing to promulgate and enforce proper rules
concerning the upkeep of tools ordinarily used, to furnish guards
or goggles for workmen’s eyes, to provide a reasonably safe place
for him to work. ”
The jury rendered a verdict in favor of the employee and it was
affirmed by the court of appeals. The Ohio Supreme Court denied
a review, and the case was carried to the United States Supreme Court.
96957°— 32—

7


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

326

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

In reversing the decision of the lower court, Mr. Justice McReynolds,
speaking for the court, said:
We th in k th e evidence clearly discloses th a t K u h n ’s in ju ry resu lted from th e
o rdinary h azard s of his em ploym ent, w hich he fully u n d ersto o d a n d vo lu n tarily
assum ed. T here w as no com plaint, no prom ise by his superior to m itig ate th e
obvious dangers. T he tria l ju d g e should h av e directed a verd ict for th e railw ay
com pany.
In cases like th is, w here dam ages are claim ed u n d er th e F ed eral em ployers’
liability a c t (45 U. S. C. A., secs. 51-59), defense of th e a ssu m p tio n of th e risk
is perm issible an d w here th e u n d isp u te d evidence clearly show s such assu m p tio n
th e tria l judge should d irect a v erd ict fo r th e d efen d an t. M oreover, in proceed­
ings u n d er t h a t a c t, w herever b ro u g h t, th e rig h ts a n d obligations of th e p arties
depend upon it a n d ap p licable principles of com m on law as in te rp re te d a n d applied
in th e F ederal courts. [Cases cited.]
T he co u rt of app eals acte d upo n th e erroneous th e o ry th a t it should follow
th e views of th e suprem e c o u rt of th e S ta te ra th e r th a n th o se of th is co u rt in
respect of questions arising u n d er th e liab ility a c t. T h a t s ta tu te , as in te rp re te d
by th is court, is th e suprem e law to be ap p lied by all co u rts, F ed e ra l a n d S ta te

R eco v ery U n d e r C o m p e n s a tio n A c t H eld B ar t o A c tio n fo r
W r o n g fu l D e a th

A

N ADMINISTRATRIX proceeding under the workmen’s compenl sation provisions of the Washington statute is estopped from suing
for the death of an employee engaged in the intrastate commerce
business of a railroad, according to a recent decision of the Supreme
Court of Washington. (Kidder v. Marysville & A. R. Co., et al ,
300 Pac. 170).
Under chapter 28 of the Washington Session Laws of 1917 and the
amendments thereto, if a common carrier by railroad is engaged in
both interstate and intrastate business, its employees engaged in
intrastate business do not come under the provisions of the act
providing for compensation, but there is thereby created as to them
a statutory right of action practically identical with that which the
Federal act provides for employees of railroads engaged in interstate
commerce.
I t appears that Kidder, the deceased employee, was in the employ of
a logging railroad at the time of his death. The administratrix
presented to the industrial insurance division of the department of
labor and industries her claim for compensation for the death of
her husband. This claim was allowed, the department finding that
Kidder came to his death “ in the course of employment within the
jurisdiction of the division of industrial insurance on or about the
24th day of March, 1927 ; that at the time of the injury, as alleged,
the workman was engaged in work within the jurisdiction of the
division of industrial insurance.”
The administratrix was awarded $5,911.75, payable in monthly
installments of $35 and $150 for funeral expenses. These monthly
payments were accepted by the widow from June, 1927, until a few
days before the trial of this action, October, 1929. It seems the widow
had filed a petition for a rehearing, _contending that the statute
referred to above (which placed liability upon a common carrier
engaged in both intrastate and interstate commerce, for injuries to
persons engaged in intrastate commerce) applied rather than the
compensatory provisions of the statute. She had previously sued

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

LABOE LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

327

the railroad company, claiming that she was entitled to recover
under the Federal employers’ liability act, but the court upheld the
ruling of the department of labor to the effect that the logging rail­
road in question was a private intrastate carrier and therefore not
within the scope of the Federal act. The department of labor had
classified the railroad for many years under the State workmen’s
compensation act and assessed percentages upon its pay roll.
After considering the facts and the remedies available, the court
reversed the judgment in favor of the widow and instructed the trial
court to dismiss the action. The court said:
We are satisfied t h a t b y h er co n d u ct a n d b y th e a d ju d ic a tio n m ad e b y th e
d e p a rtm e n t upon h er claim , re sp o n d en t is esto p p ed from m ain ta in in g th is actio n
u n d er th e S ta te s ta tu te above referred to , a n d t h a t i t m u s t be held t h a t she is
lim ited to th e rem edy w hich sh e so u g h t b y w ay of a claim fo r com pensation, her
rig h ts u n d er t h a t b ran ch of th e s ta tu te h av in g been definitely a n d finally fixed
a n d d eterm in ed b y th e p ro p e r officers of th e d e p a rtm e n t. N o a p p eal w as ta k e n
from th is a d ju d icatio n , re sp o n d en t accep ted th e benefits th ereo f, a n d th e sam e
has becom e final.


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

COOPERATION
S t a t u s o f B u ild in g a n d L o a n A s s o c ia tio n s in 1930

HE table below, from data furnished by the United States
Building and Loan League, shows, by States, the development of
these associations in 1930. These figures represent a decrease of 575
in number of associations in the United States since 1929, but an
increase of 225,545 in membership and of $128,964,939 in assets.

T
T

a b le

1 .—

C O N D IT IO N O F B U IL D IN G A N D LO A N A S S O C IA T IO N S, 1930, B Y ST A T E S
N um ­
ber of M em bers
associ­
ations

State

40
A labam a.-- - - 9
A rizona_______
66
A rk a n sa s _______
209
California______68
Colorado. _ _ ---44
C onnecticut _ . .
43
Delaware . .
D istrict of Co24
lum bia _ _____
68
Florida__________
37
Georgia___ ____
14
Id a h o ____
933
Illinois___
___
398
I n d i a n a . . ______
74
Iow a ___ _
155
K ansas__________
K e n tu ck y ______
161
102
Louisiana_______
36
M a in e .. .
-----M a ry la n d 1 ___ 1,150
227
M assachusetts___
M ichigan________
67
78
M innesota_______
47
M ississippi______
242
M issouri.
____
27
M ontana . . . ___
83
N e b r a s k a .- . -----4
N ev ad a_________

T o tal assets

41, 340
7, 250
72, 717
600, 000
121, 854
38, 000
19, 700

$29, 434, 882
4, 838, 421
44, 737, 088
510, 520, 490
60,034, 372
26,166, 906
15,488, 721

75, 253
13, 500
16, 731
8,565
945, 500
429, 447
65, 343
210, 283
182, 900
200, 930
30, 000
330, 000
513, 431
210, 722
106, 038
30, 000
282, 031
45,163
225,000
2,890

75, 404, 000
17,828, 835
6,039, 453
5, 639, 876
470, 073, 267
306, 870, 182
49, 708, 190
132, 362, 649
118,928, 259
182,358, 292
25, 000, 000
220,000, 000
562,718, 248
167,199, 813
42, 514, 855
20,462, 096
210,920, 602
21,235,125
148, 706,763
2,076, 372

State

N um ­
ber of M em bers T otal assets
associ­
ations

29
N ew H a m p sh ire ..
N ew Jersey______ 1,561
18
N ew M exico_____
N ew Y o rk . __
307
235
N o rth C aro lin a .. .
20
N o rth D ak o ta___
791
O h io ...
_____
82
O klahom a_______
31
Oregon3,445
Pennsylvania „
8
R hode Island South C arolina i __
150
23
South D ak o ta___
41
Tennessee______
154
Texas----------------24
U ta h ________ . . .
14
V e rm o n t-------- .
92
V irginia_________
73
W ashington...
63
W est Virginia
188
W isconsin . _
12
W yom ing.
. ...

$13, 793, 064
17,670
1,198, 177 1, 211, 941, 913
5, 111, 330
5, 350
440, 729, 014
595, 865
92,192, 374
95, 915
13, 385, 735
20, 000
2,583, 767 1, 244, 266, 926
139, 804, 195
255, 000
52, 000
30, 569, 103
1, 540, 585 1, 371, 223, 429
44, 480
31, 541, 252
34, 000
27, 000, 000
10, 274
6, 350, 585
25, 100
18, 399, 386
184, 760
134, 743, 150
55, 642, 704
95, 2C3
4, 749, 000
6, 325
CO, 439, 644
66, 730
298, 844
108, 261, 370
36, 252, 147
58, 800
304, 861
290, 625, 985
18,400
9, 829, 096

T o ta l. ___ 11, 767 12, 336, 754 8, 824, 119,159
14, 174
4, 492, 766
10
H aw aii__________
G rand total. 11, 777 12, 350,928 8,828, 611,925

i E stim ated.

Table 2 shows the development of these associations since 1920.
It is seen that while there has been a decrease in number of associa­
tions each year since 1927, the membership and assets have shown
a continuous increase year after year.
T

a ble

2 .—D E V E L O P M E N T O F B U IL D IN G A N D LO A N A SSO C IA T IO N S, 1920 TO 1930
N um ber
of associa­ M em bership
tions

Y ear

Assets

M ortgage loans
outstanding

G)

1920__________________________________
1921__________________________________
1922__________________________________
1923__________________________________
1924__________________________________

8, 633
9, 255
10, 009
10, 744
11,844

4,962,919
5,809,888
6,864,144
7, 202, 880
8, 554, 352

$2, 519,914, 971
2,890, 761, 621
3,342, 530, 953
3, 942, 939,880
4, 765, 937,197

G)
2 $900, 000, 000
2 1, 260, 000, 000
2 1,460, 000, 000

1925__________________________________
1926__________________________________
1927__________________________________
1928__________________________________
1929__________________________________

12,403
12, 626
12, 904
12, 666
12, 342

9,886, 997
10, 665, 705
11,336, 261
11, 995, 905
12, 111, 209

5, 509,176,154
6,334,103,807
7,178, 562,451
8,016,034, 327
8, 695,154, 220

5,085,009, 639
5,852, 689, 591
6, 584,818,419
7, 336,124,154
7, 787,405, 383

1930__________________________________

11, 767

12,336, 754

8,824,119,159

328


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

1 N o data.

2 E stim ated.

G)

COOPERATION

329

E s t a b lis h m e n t o f a C o o p e r a tiv e H o s p ita l in O k la h o m a

HE November, 1931, issue of Cooperation (New York) contains
an account of a cooperative hospital recently opened in Elk City,
Old a.
The prime mover in the formation of the new enterprise was a physi­
cian who had practiced in Beckham County for 20 years.
The prospects of the new project were favored by the fact that the
people of Beckham County had had considerable experience with
cooperative enterprises. There were already in existence there seven
cooperative cotton gins, a cooperative creamery, and a cooperative
store. There was also a cooperative association with half a dozen
branch stores in Beckham and Rogers Mills Counties.
The first step toward the cooperative hospital was taken in 1929,
with the calling together of a meeting of leading cooperators of the
district. This meeting was receptive to the idea and organization
work started. Stock was_ sold at $50 a share. The stock market
crash in 1929 put added difficulties in the way of the organizers, but
the work went on. Talks were given at the annual meetings of the
cotton gin associations and members were accepted on the basis of a
payment of $10 down and a promissory note for the other $40 per
share.
With the amount so collected and some borrowed money the hospital
was built. It is described as a fireproof modern structure 120 by 40
feet, two stories high, and containing 40 rooms.
The formal opening was held August 14, 1931, and was the occasion
for a celebration attended by cooperators from all parts of western
Oklahoma.
The hospital, it is stated, is “ owned and controlled by the patients
and prospective patients.” In order to guarantee democracy of con­
trol, the members are divided into districts. They hold district meet­
ings, discuss their problems, and send delegates to a central meeting.
The new enterprise and its basis of operation are described in the
account as follows:
“ The benefits which are to accrue to stockholders are a stock divi­
dend of 8 or 10 per cent on the investment and a patronage dividend
based on patronage. In addition to these, additional benefits are incor­
porated in the agreement which we signed with purchases of stock. No
operation is to cost any member, or member of his family, more than
$50, regardless of the kind of surgical operation it is. All other medical
and surgical bills shall be discounted 50 per cent. Also it was agreed
that dental bills were to be discounted 25 per cent and prescription
bills 33%per cent. These benefits were incorporated after an agree­
ment had been reached with a druggist, two dentists, and two doctors.
They were the principal incentives for the purchase of stock. These
discounts are a temporary expedient to make the plan attractive. It
is our object to hire as soon as practical competent men, physicians,
and surgeons and specialists, on a full-time salary basis, and have
them do the work for our stockholders and members without any
charge at all. Their salaries may be paid from a premium paid each
year by every member. We could not do this at the start for it was
not possible to get a premium from prospective stockholders in addi­
tion to the price of stock which they purchased. The depression has
kept us from getting enough money on our stock notes to build with
and we had to borrow $15,000 to pay for the building.

T


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

330

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

“ If I were to do this over again I wrould not sell stock except for
cash—at least half cash and half note. I would also incorporate in the
agreement that a premium for the support of the hospital and staff is
to be paid each year. As a preliminary step in that direction it was
decided at the last stockholders’ meeting to allow members, who wish
to do so, to pay $10 a year as premium for which they and their
families may have hospital care for $2 per day. It was further agreed
that this plan be put into operation only after 500 stockholders at
least have paid the $10. The usual charge per day is $5. It was also
decided to cut other hospital bills in half for those paying the $10
premium. At present we are charging $3 per day for room, board, and
nursing care.
“ Our hospital is built so that another story may be added, which
will increase our capacity 30 more beds. It is hoped we may be able
to collect enough money on our stock notes to do this this fall. It is
imperative that we do this, and if it were possible to borrow the money
we would do it now. The farmers in tliis country have been thor­
oughly liquidated and conditions are deplorable. If we can not collect
enough money to build the additional story needed we may not be
able to accommodate all the sick people who need to be cared for and
in that event we shall find ourselves in an embarrassing situation. It
is to be hoped this will not be the case.
“ To give an illustration of how our hospital works: A woman has
just left the hospital, happy and satisfied with this experience. She
was confined. Our charge for confinement is $15. The delivery-room
charge was $2.50. She was in the hospital five days. At $3 a day
that was $15. Total cost of confinement with best hospital facilities
was $32.50.
“ Our staff is highly competent and our members enthusiastic and
loyal. We believe we shall succeed.
“ It is planned, as soon as we are able to expand, to employ full-time
dentists as well as doctors, to have our own drug business, and to add
undertaking to our services. All of these things depend upon the
ability of the people to cooperate. We feel that the people of this
country can do everything for themselves if they will only awaken to
an understanding of the possibilities of cooperation, and apply them­
selves to the solution of their problems.”


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

W ORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
R eport of F ederal Board for V o ca tio n a l E d u ca tio n , 1930-31

OCATIONAL education programs are financed from Federal
funds, State funds, and funds provided by local communities.
The contribution from State and local funds for each Federal dollar
of expenditure was as follows in the years specified: 1925-26, $2.54;
1926-27, $2.65; 1927-28, $2.77; 1928-29, $2.99; 1929-30, $3.04; and
1930-31, $3.03.1 The expenditures from Federal funds for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1931, were $7,978,929, and from State and local
funds, $24,160,263, making a total of $32,139,192, an increase of
$2,230,293 over the preceding year. Figures for 1931 as used in this
article, are provisional and subject to final audit.
Various items of the combined Federal, State, and local expenditures
in 1930-31 are given below:

V

A m ount
expended

V ocational ag ricu ltu ra l e d u c a tio n ___________________ $9, 977, 116
V ocational tra d e a n d in d u stria l education, n o t in­
cluding p a rt-tim e general co n tin u a tio n schools______ 9, 505, 460
T rad e a n d in d u stria l p a rt-tim e general c o n tin u atio n
schools___________________________________________ 5, 303, 082
V ocational hom e econom ics e d u c a tio n _______________ 4, 751, 274
V ocational teac h er tra in in g _________________________
2, 602, 260
T o ta l________________________________________ 32, 139, 192

There were 7,944 agricultural and 3,423 home economics schools or
reimbursement units federally aided in 1930-31. The organization of
the work of trade industrial classes and schools varies so from com­
munity to community that the information regarding the number of
reimbursement units ior such education is of little significance.
In the year 1930-31 the number of teachers of vocational courses in
vocational schools federally aided was 26,859, of whom 8,651 were
females. The total enrollment in vocational schools and courses in
that year was 1,125,236. In the table following this enrollment is
recorded separately for federally aided schools and for schools operating
under State plans and having the standards established for federally
aided schools but which have not received direct financial aid from
Federal funds.
i U nited States.
ton, 1931.

Federal B oard for Vocational Education.


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

F ifteenth annual report, 1931.

W ashing­

331

332

MONTHLY LABOE R EV IEW

E N R O L L M E N T IN V O C A T IO N A L SC H O O LS O P E R A T E D U N D E R A P P R O V E D ST A T E
PL A N S F O R T H E Y E A R E N D IN G J U N E 30, 1931

Agricul­
tural

T ype of school

Schools federally aided:
_____ _______________________________ _ _
Evening .
__
P a rt-tim e ..
.
_______
T rade extension
General continuation _
All-day . .
. . __________
. . . ___ _
D ay u n it
_______
. ____ ___ ____ _____
All types

_____

Schools not federally a id e d :1
Evening
Part-tim e
T rade extension
General continuation
All-day __ _____ - -D ay u n it
. . .
A 'l types

. ___________________

.
,
--

______ _

. . . . _____
__. . ... ............
...........................
...
__________
.
...

.
.
.
.

___ _
______
_____
--

____ _ _____ ___ ____

Total:
Evening ____ _ _ __ -- - -- - _________ ___ __ _
Part-tim e
-- ___
____
_ _ _ _ _ __ ___
T rade extension ____ _____ ___ ___ _ _ _ __
General continuation ___________
_ __
__
All-day
________________________________________
D ay u n it.. — _____
. . . .
.
.
. ___
All types________

______

___

...

T o tal increase or decrease compared w ith preceding year:
Evening
___
_
- ___
Part-tim e
_
_ __ -- --__
T rade extension
__
__
____
General continuation
____
_
. . . . .
All-day ______________________________ 1________
_______ _
..
___
_______
D ay u n it _
All types _

_________________

__________

85, ,688
6, 471
6, 471

Trade
Home
and in ­
dustrial economics

Total

168, 822
342, 513
47, 471
295, 042
80, 541

124, 263
33, 541
33, 541

235, 314

591,876

228,166

1,055, 356

1,626

7, 343
606
382
224
2, 531

10, 203
9, 206
9, 206
37,944

19.172
9,812
9, 588
224
40,884
12

2,047

10, 480

57, 353

69, 880

87, 314
6.471
6.471

176,165
343,119
47,853
295, 266
83, 072

134,466
42, 747
42, 747
108, 306

377, 945
392, 337
97, 071
295, 266
323, 581
11,373

602, 356

285, 519

131, 794
11,361

409
12

132, 203
11,373
237, 361
+23, 362
+1, 585
+1, 585
+17, 673
+1,416
+44, 036

+4,
-3 9 ,
+2,
-4 1 ,
+3,

70, 362

460
291
008
229
964

+28, 628
+11, 708
+11, 708

-3 0 , 797

+47, 461

+7,125

378, 773
382, 525
87, 483
295, 042
282, 697
11,361

1,125, 236
+56,
+25,
+15,
-41,
+28,
+1,

450
998
301
229
762
416

+60, 700

1 Reports of enrollments for these schools in some States are incomplete or entirely lacking.

In the section of the report headed “ Unemployment and vocational
training” the board states:
W ith th e m ore general causes of u nem ploym ent v o cational education can not
deal directly, b u t it is concerned w ith th e unem ployed w orker him self, w h atev er
th e cause of his un em p lo y m en t m ay be. In so fa r as vocatio n al tra in in g for
some available em plo y m en t can be m ade effective for h im or fo r a n y group of
w orkers unem ployed, to fit th e m for useful em ploym ent u n d e r new conditions,
such tra in in g provides a p a rtia l rem edy for th e problem of u nem ploym ent in its
b ro ad er social aspects.
U nem ploym ent, th erefore, clearly im poses definite responsibility upo n th e
Federal a n d S ta te b o ard s fo r v o catio n al edu catio n , a n d u p o n local school au th o ri­
ties as ad m in istra tiv e agencies fo r p ro m o tin g a n d co nducting vocational tra in in g
in th e fields of ag ricu ltu ral, in d u strial, a n d com m ercial em ploym ents.

Included in the various subjects of bulletins and reports issued by
the Federal board during 1930-31 are: Training objectives in voca­
tional education in agriculture with suggestions as to ways and means
of attaining these objectives; analysis of special jobs in quality milk
production; supervised or directed practice in evening agricultural
schools; organization and teaching procedure to be followed in
evening agricultural schools—on marketing, livestock, grain, cream
or butter, fluid milk, and cotton; present practices in vocational
industrial^teacher-training institutions; fire fighting; trade preparatoiy training for small cities and rural communities.

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

W O RK ERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING

333

Vocational Rehabilitation
T h e year ending June 30, 1931, was characterized by important
developments and marked accomplishments in the field of vocational
rehabilitation of the physically handicapped, according to the fif­
teenth annual report of the Federal Board for Vocational Education.
Despite the industrial depression, the number of rehabilitations
exceeded that of the preceding 12 months by 13 per cent. A person
is not considered as rehabilitated until after a follow-up to find out
whether he is able to perform satisfactorily the job in which he has
been placed. During the year 1931 there were 5,192 persons so
rehabilitated in the States and in the District of Columbia. _ There
were, however, 869 additional persons trained and placed on jobs for
which they had been equipped but who on June 30, 1931, were still
being followed up. If this group be added to the other, the total is
6,061. Moreover, 2,455 others had been trained but not placed in
jobs because of the abnormal industrial conditions in 1931. The
record for the year under review, therefore, was 8,516 disabled persons
fitted for employment. Furthermore, 23,935 disabled persons were
in course of rehabilitation—the largest live roll carried during the
board’s administration.
D uring th e y ear 1931 th e S ta te s a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia expended from
Federal funds $932,517.90 a n d from S ta te fu n d s $956,581.10 fo r purposes covered
by th e Federal act. T h e com bined expen d itu res from S ta te a n d F ed eral fu n d s
were $1,889,099.2 A n an aly sis of th ese costs of th e re h a b ilita tio n service shows
th a t th e average cost p e r case in th e c o u n try in 1931 w as $311.68. T h is figure
is com puted by dividing th e com bined ex p en d itu res from S ta te a n d F ed eral fu n d s
for purposes covered b y th e F ed eral a c t b y th e n u m b er of persons t h a t were
placed in em ploym ent during th e year. If, how ever, th e divisor were increased
by th e nu m b er of persons who were tra in e d a n d aw aitin g placem ent, th e cost
p er case is $221.83.

In the year under review much was done toward educating em­
ployers as to the advantages of employing physically handicapped
persons. Establishments are finding that it pays to_ take on such
workers. In 1930-31 one of the largest industries in the United
States studied two groups of workers in one of its plants—one of
handicapped workers and the other of workers who had no physical
handicaps. In all other respects these two groups were comparable.
The survey, covering a year’s work experience, showed that those in
the handicapped group were in general “ more regular in attendance,
more stable in employment, and more faithful in the performance of
their work.” Despite their handicaps, or rather because of them,
such workers seemed to make more satisfactory employees than those
who had not the urge which comes from having a disability.
The findings emphasized the fact that with proper vocational
guidance and training physically handicapped persons “ can be and
are being transformed from liabilities into assets through the invest­
ment of public funds—Federal, State, and local—in this constructive
social service.”
In 1927 the staff of the Federal board in cooperation with State
workers investigated the postrehabilitation experiences of the ma­
jority of the persons who had been rehabilitated in the 1920-1924
period under the national vocational rehabilitation program. This
survey showed that such persons “ were carrying on satisfactorily,
2 Does no t include local funds.


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

334

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

that in many instances they had progressed in occupational status,
and that their experiences as a group showed great if not greater
stability in employment than that of comparable groups of ablebodied persons.”
O p p o rtu n ity S ch ool of S o u th C arolina

N 1921 th e S outh C arolina D e p artm en t of E d u ca tio n decided to

I

m eet th e needs of th e uneducated in d u strial w orkers of th e S ta te
b y startin g an experim ental college vacation school for them . T he
school of th e S outh C arolina division of th e D au g h ters of th e A m eri­
can R evolution, w hich is located a t T am assee in th e B lue R idge foot­
hills, was selected for th e venture. T h e course lasted four weeks and
during th a t tim e w as given to 19 girls an d w om en living a t th e school
and to th e sam e num ber of boys and girls, m en and wom en, living
in th e surrounding country, who cam e b y d ay and n ig h t for th e fu n ­
d am entals of education, w hich h ad never previously been offered to
th em .1
1 t i s school w as literally begun on a b arrel of flour— c o n trib u te d b y a sym ­
p a th etic wholesale m e rc h a n t of L aurens— a n d u n m easu red fa ith . I t w as ru n th e
four weeks on still m ore fa ith , good spo rtsm an sh ip on th e p a r t of th e teac h ers a n d
boarders, an d a ra re sp irit of service a n d cooperation from th e co m m u n ity , th e
d e p a rtm e n t of education a n d th e m an y o ptim istic citizens cheering fro m th e
side lines.
So successful was th e first m o n th ’s tria l school t h a t a fte r th e 1922 session, th e
‘O p p o rtu n ity School” (for th is was th e nam e t h a t grew o u t of th e p u p ils’ a ttitu d e
tow ards th e chance th e y were being given) becam e established b ey o n d p erad v en tu re an d has becom e a d istin c t p a r t of th e a d u lt p ro g ram of th e P a lm e tto S tate.

In 1923 a similar school for boys and men was held at Due West,
S. C. The girls’ school has had four different homes. In 1930,
however, both schools were conducted at Greater Erskine, the dormi­
tories of the Woman’s College being made available for the girl
workers. ^ Until these schools were started, only those already
enrolled in day schools or those educated beyond the grades were
able to attend the summer schools.
T h e o p p o rtu n ity schools are cooperative projects w hich are s ta te ­
wide in th eir appeal, backing, and clientele. T he teach ers’ salaries of
$100 each are paid b y th e d ep a rtm en t of education. T h e d ean an d
directors of th e boys’ activities receive a slightly higher com pensation.
The m oney required for th e m aintenance of these schools is co n trib ­
u ted by th e church, clubs, p atrio tic associations, textile officials,
p hilanthropic individuals, and w henever practicable b y th e stu d en ts
them selves, who are glad to p a y p a rt on all scholarships w hen th eir
financial condition perm its.

During their brief existence, up to the time the present report was
prepared, the schools have had an enrollment of 1,558, including only
students over 14 years of age who have not gone beyond the seventh
grade in the public schools. The students, of course, vary as in
regular college groups, some being alert, others phlegmatic; some
with native keenness, others with scant mental endowment. Their
common backgrounds are early deprivations, the indifference of par­
ents, or an increasing desire to equip themselves better for life. Adjust­
ment to these new educational activities is at times difficult. From
the rising hour (which is two hours later than is usual for them) until
A N ? - kef A rE dll!;a ti0h ^ B ure?:u ’ W orkers’ E ducation (a q u arterly journal of America! w orkers’
education), New Y ork, D ecember, 1930, pp . 6-10: A dventuring in A dult Education, b y W il Loi G ray.

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

W O RK ERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING

335

the 10.30-light bell, the days are replete with surprises. There are
courtesies to be shown, table manners to be considered, and dozens
of other adjustments to be made in connection with dormitory life.
As for entrance requirements, the less a prospective pupil knows,
provided he has a good body, a good mind, and good morals, the
more cordial is his welcome by South Carolina to the opportunity
school.
While the main instructions are in the three IPs, there are various
side lines. In addition to the essentials, there are special lessons and
lectures every day. Among the subjects are gardening, shrub
planting, interior decoration, home making, thrift, budgeting,
manual training, serving, cooking, health, manners, civics, citizen­
ship, taxes, simple science, letter writing, newspaper reading and
reporting, singing, supervised play, folk dancing, and dramatics.
For these educational opportunities, together with board, laundry,
books, school supplies, medical attention, and medicine, the total
cost to each student is $20. This amount, however, does not include
transportation, which varies according to the county from which
the pupil comes. Various counties and textile centers send contin­
gents in busses without charge to the students. For eight years a
mill president sent annually 32 operatives from his four plants.
The Gossett scholarships are allocated to those pupils who manifest
a desire to advance or to the younger boys and girls who plead most
earnestly for the privilege.
Every summer session has its interesting developments. Among
those in 1930 are the following: In that year the Carolina Insurance
Co. granted a loan fund for scholarships. The offer was accepted
by the student body, which voted to allow pupils to borrow the
money without interest until October 15. On October 10 one of
those who had availed himself of this convenience wrote: “ I wish
to thank you for your kindness in making it possible for me to come
up to school again this year. (It was his fifth.) I have had a hard
time saving it, though, for we have been working only three days
a week since I came home. But, if a fellow will try, he can find
a way.”
A girl in her early twenties says: “ I never get through telling my
friends what a great and grand school the ‘Opportunity SchooP is.
I also appreciate all the things you made possible for us while there.
If we are not all better, bigger men and women, boys and girls, it is
our fault, not yours.”
A boy from th e low er p a rt of th e S tate, one who is old for his years, w as so
pleased w ith E rskine College he asked if th e re w ere a n y w ay th a t he m ig h t
come th e re som e tim e as a reg u lar stu d e n t. D o cto r G rier, th e p resid en t, som e
years before h ad m ade a stan d in g offer of a scholarship to th e first “ O p p o rtu n ity ”
boy who w ould qualify fo r entrance. W hen Jo h n n y h e ard th is he dream ed
college, ta lk e d college, a n d p lan n ed college d ay a n d n ig h t, a n d m ad e im m ediate
arran g em en ts b y pay in g a fee of $5 to e n te r T extile In s titu te a t S p artan b u rg .
T his school is ru n in co njunction w ith a c o tto n m ill w hich p erm its th e p u p ils
to w ork tw o weeks an d go to school tw o w eeks. H e borrow ed th e re s t of his
en tran ce m oney from th e lo an fu n d a n d set his sail for S eptem ber 1. M uch
to Jo h n n y ’s chagrin th e financial depression set in in full force du rin g A ugust
an d th e head m a ste r w ro te him n o t to come to S p a rta n b u rg as th e m ill h ad
so cu rtailed i t could n o t ta k e on a n y m ore w orkers u n til fu rth e r notice. H e
believes th is is only tem p o ra ry , for he w rites: “ I still h av e high am bitions to
go to E rskine som e tim e . I h av e been expecting to h e a r som ething definite
from T extile. W hen I do h e a r I shall e ith e r use o r re tu rn th e loan you le t me
have. I have been stu d y in g regularly since wTe left D ue W est. M y m o th er
an d sister are also going to n ig h t school now. I th in k it is a catching disease.”

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

336

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

The opportunity schools are not in favor of all work and no play.
Every student is taught to sing—at least, each one has a chance at this
form of recreation. The yearly commencement is always a many­
angled object lesson, showing the fun, frolic, work and achievements
in the four weeks’ session. In the summer of 1930 the dean of the
boys’ school wrote a pageant, Your Plant and My Plant, which dealt
with cotton in connection with the working lives of the students.
Their school life was woven into the pageant through the dresses the
girls had made, through songs, folk dances, speeches, and references to
South Carolina’s resources, history, and industries. The boys carried
transparencies representing local mills and the spinning and weaving
of “ good cloth to clothe the world.” Spencer Miller, jr., secretary of
the Workers’ Education Bureau of America, delivered an address at
these closing exercises.
The supervisor of adult schools in South Carolina, the author of the
article under review, declares: “ Each year we try to profit by the
mistaken steering of the past and trim our sails to a more desired
haven. Loyal pupils and loyal friends have made our college vacation
schools for workers the flower of the adult work in South Carolina.”
The supervisor claims, however, that the pupils of that State are no
more responsive to such advantages than the students of other States.
She also points out that the two Presbyterian college plants utilized
for the opportunity schools are no more suitable for such purposes
than hundreds of others which are not used at all during the summer
months.
In 1929, Dr. L. R. Alderman, specialist in adult education, United
States Bureau of Education, visited South Carolina’s opportunity
schools. He expressed the hope that every State in the Union would
in the near future open its closed colleges during the summer “ to all
who were thirsting for something better than they had known.”


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

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Strikes and Lockouts in the United States in December, 1931
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
December, 1931, with comparable data for preceding months,
are presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in 1927, 1928, 1929,
and 1930, the number of workers involved and man-days lost for these
years and for each of the months, J a n u a ry 1930, to December, 1931,
inclusive, as well as the number of disputes in effect at the end of each
month and the number of workers involved. The number of man-days
lost, as given in the last column of the table, refers to the estimated
number of working-days lost by workers involved in disputes which
were in progress during the month or year specified.

D

T

1 —I N D U S T R I A L D I S P U T E S B E G I N N I N G I N A N D I N E F F E C T A T E N D O F E A C H
M O N T H J A N U A R Y , 1930, T O D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R O F D I S P U T E S ,
W O R K E R S , A N D M A N - D A Y S L O S T I N T H E Y E A R S 1927 T O 1930

a b if

N u m b er of w orkers in ­
v o lv e d in d is p u te s

N u m b e r o f d is p u te s
M o n t h a n d y ea r

1927:
1928:
1929:
1930:

T o ta l.
T o ta l.
T o ta l.
T o ta l.

1930
J a n u a r y ________________
F e b r u a r y ----------------------M a r c h __________________
A p r il___________________
M a y ____________________
J u n e ____________________
J u l y -------------------------------A u g u s t _________________
S e p te m b e r _____________
O c to b e r ________________
N o v e m b e r _________ - - - D e c e m b e r ______________
1931
J a n u a r y ______________ _
F e b r u a r y _______________
M a r c h __________________
A p r il-----------------------------M a y ____________________
J u n e ____________________
J u l y ____________________
A u g u s t _________________
S e p te m b e r _____________
O c to b e r ________________
N o v e m b e r 1____________
D e c e m b e r 1_____________
i P r e lim in a r y fig u res su b je c t t o c h a n g e .


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

B e g in n in g
in m o n th
or y ea r

I n e ffe c t
at end of
m o n th

66
59
78
51
72
47
44
26
56
52
45
60
106
81
67
76

110
70
52
42

I n effe c t
a t end of
m o n th

349,434
357,145
230,463
158,114

734
629
903
653
45
52
49
64

B e g in n in g
i n m o n th
or y ea r

21
40
38
41
29
34
30
33
44
36
29

7
20
34
27
39
49
51
54
43
59
41
35
44

N u m b e r of
m a n -d a y s
lo s t in d is ­
p u t e s ex ­
is t in g in
m o n th or
y ea r

37,799, 394
31, 556,947
9 ,9 7 5 ,2 1 3
2 ,7 3 0 ,3 6 8

9 ,2 4 0
3 7 ,480
15,017
6,379
9,329
14, O il
14, 308
15, 902
16,337
10,858
4 ,3 9 0
4,863

5,316
6,683
5,957
5 ,8 4 0
4 ,386
8,311
4 ,8 1 5
7,131
13,778
16, 007
7 ,759
5 ,144

184,730
438, 570
291,127
189, 828
185,448
144,117
141, 647
142, 738
208,184
335,916
273, 608
194,455

10,147
19, 984
26,121
26, 442
27, 588
18,437
4 9 ,574
10, 977
35,859
33, 548
13,679
5,197

2,927
12,512
28,139
22, 604
15, 735
17, 071
58,995
17,003
37,164
28, 696
14, 363
4,935

181,031
228, 329
422, 545
769, 720
402, 437
506, 097
666, 309
1 ,2 1 3 ,1 2 0
491, 024
1, 038, 063
355, 406
189, 704

337

338

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives, by industry, the number of strikes beginning in
October, November, and December, 1931, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T able 3.—IN D U S T R IA L
______________________

D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN
D E C E M B E R , 1931

OCTOBER, N O V EM B E R

AND

N um ber of disputes beginning N um ber of workers involved
in—
in disputes beginning in—
In d u strial group

B a k e rs ..._____________
B a r b e r s . .. ________
Brew ery and soft-drink w o rk ers...
Broom and brush w o rkers...
Building t r a d e s ______
Chauffeurs and team sters___
C lo th in g .. ________
Food w orkers_______. . .
F u rn itu re .................. .......
Glass w o rk e rs...
Hotel and restau ran t workers . _
Jew elry w orkers____ ____
L e a t h e r . ____ ._
Longshoremen and freight handlers
Lum ber, tim ber, and m ill w ork.
M etal trad es__________
M in ers.. ________
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
th eatrical workers. _
P aper and paper-goods w orkers____
P rin tin g and publishing_____
Steam boatm en______
Stone____ ______
M unicipal w orkers. _. _.
Telegraph and telephone workers
Textiles______. . .
Tobacco_____ ___
Other occupations___. . .
T otal

____

...

October

N ovem ­
ber

2

2
2
1

2
14
3
15
1
3
3
2
2
3
1
2
1
3
1

Decem­
ber

9
5
13

2

2

1
1

4
3
7

1

October

N ovem ­
ber

ror

18
38

22
432
107
1,686
21
38
292
146
26

1

1,050

703

455
313
1,131
910

59

—

5, 712

1

26
1,037

1

14
14
50
42

2
1

6

1,415

Decem­
ber

290
52
2, 644

500
70
488

6

6
65
40

1

1

1
4
3

23,341

40
346
8,062

30

33,548

13, 679

5,197

1

70

42

84

Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
ta ^

° gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
December, 1931, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T able 3 . N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G TN ‘DFrTHvruwT? icm
C L A S S IF IE D B Y N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S A N D B Y IN D U S T R IA L G R O U P ? '
’
N u m b er of disputes beginning in D ecember,
1931, involving—
In d u strial group
6 and under 20 and u n ­ 100 and u n ­ 500 and u n ­
der 100
der 500
der 1,000
20 workers
workers
workers
workers
B arbers_______
Chauffeurs and team sters
C lothing______
Food w o rk ers..
L eath er______
L um ber, tim ber, a n d m ill work
M etal trad es_____
M iners. _ _
M çtion-picture operators, actors, an d theatrical workers
P rin tin g a n d publishing
Stone__
M unicipal workers
Telegraph and te le p h o n e worlrer-o
O ther occupations
T o tal. ._
-----------------------


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

5
1
2

8
3
4
1

1
1
1

1
1

1

1

1
1
1

1
1
1

1

1
1
1
1

11

22

5

4

339

IN DU STRIAL D ISPUTES

In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
December, 1931, by industries and classified duration.
T ahtf 4 _N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN D E C E M B E R , 1931, BY
a b l e 4.
q R 0 U PS A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N

T

Classified d uration of strikes ending in December,
1931
In d u strial group

Over one- 1 m onth 2 m onths 7 m onths
One-half half and a nd less a nd less a nd less
m onth or less
th a n 8
th a n 3
th a n th a n 2
less
1 m onth m onths m onths m onths

__________________

LDn t bine

L um ber, tim b er, a n d m illw ork-----------------------INletal trades
- _________________ ______
M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical

Telegraph a n d telephone workers----------------------

1
3

6
1
2
1
1
1
1

1
2

2
1

1
1

1

1

-

\

1
1
1

___

1

9

4

1
18

1

1

C o n c ilia tio n W ork o f t h e D e p a r tm e n t o f L ab or in D e c e m b e r , 1931
By H

ugh

L. K

e r w in

, D ir e c t o r o f C o n c il ia t io n

HE Secretary of Labor, through the conciliation service, exercised
his good offices in connection with 45 labor disputes during
T
December, 1931. These disputes affected a known total of 5, .41
j

employees. The table following shows the name and location ol t e
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.
, .
. ,
,
,
On January 1, 1932, there were 39 strikes before the department
for settlement and in addition 38 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 77.


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

LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF D E C E M B E R ,

C om pany or in d u stry and
location

Berge-Rose Coal Co., Old Forge,
Pa.
"Wood p a tte rn makers, Quincy,

C raftsm en con­
cerned

Strike. _

M in ers..

Controversy

P a tte rn m akers___

Strike. _.

Painters
Alleged violation of union
agreem ent.
Terrazzo w o rk ers... Jurisdiction of certain kinds of
work.
Tool and die m ak ­ C onditions and overtim e work
ers.
w ithout pay.

Controversy
Strike _____

J. P . K eating, contractor, Bos­ ___ do_____
ton, M ass.
Stone cutters and carvers, B ed­ Controversy
ford, Ind.
Post office, Palm er, M ass______ ---- do______
Post office, South M ilwaukee, ___ do___ __
Wis.
M . B . K arnreich & Co. (Inc.), Strike_____
N ew Y ork C ity.
Spear U nderw ear Co., N ew ____do_____
Y ork C ity.
London Dress Co., N ew York ------do_____
C ity.
M acaroni factories, N ew York ------do_____
C ity.
Public Roads Building, Ogden, Controversy
U tah.

L a b o re rs.. . .
Stone cu tters and
carvers.

W orkers in ­
volved
Present status and term s of settlem ent

Wage c u t_____________________ A djusted—wages increased; workers
returned.
Wage cut, asked shorter hou rs... Pending________________________ _

Paid 6 2^ cents per hour; pre­
vailing wage 80 cents.
Wages cut 20 per cent_______

B ricklayers’ ten ­
ders.
B ricklayers an d la­
borers.

N ot paying prevailing wage, $1
per hour.
N ot paying prevailing wage;
bricklayers receiving 75 cents
and laborers 25 cents.
F u r workers
Claim ed p ay for work on elec­
tion day.
U nderw ear makers. Asked additional help instead
of sending work to outside
shops.
D ressm akers__
Asked increase for piecework
and recognition of N . T . W . I.
M acaroni w orkers. _
B uilding___

M etropolitan Body Co., Bridge­ ------do.__ . _ W orkers
port. Conn.
Kansas C ity W elding & M a­ Strike. . .
M ac h in ists...
chine Co., Kansas C ity, Mo.


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

Cause of dispute

use of “ h a n d y ” m en in place
of mechanics.
9-hour day.
Abrogation o
m ent.

Unclassified—settled before arrival of
commissioner.
Pending_________________________
A djusted—allowed 10 per cent in­
crease and 48-hour week; no over­
tim e work.
A djusted—referred to State depart­
m ent of labor.
A djusted—accepted 20 per cent cut;
further negotiations on Ju ly 1, 1932,
and possible restoration of p a y at
th a t tim e.
A djusted—agreed to pay $1 per hour to
tenders.
Pending__________
A djusted—allowed for election day..
Pending___________________
-do.
A djusted—allowed 8-hour day and
44-hour week w ithout cut in pay.
A djusted—prevailing wage paid, same
as on post-office building.
Pending_______________________
Unable to ad ju st.

MONTHLY LAB OK R EV IEW

H en ry S. Row Co., Philadel­
phia, Pa.
Terrazzo workers and other
crafts, Chicago, 111.
D urable Tool & Die Corpora­
tion, N ew Y ork C ity.

N atu re of
controversy

A rm y a n d N a v y H ospital, H ot
Springs, A rk.

Controversy

Laborers.

C hristian Science Church, Des
M oines, Iowa.
Oi K . E . P ark er Co., O akland,
SP
Calif.

Strike_____

Plasterers________

C ontroversy

C a r p e n te r s a n d
steam fitters.

Prevailing ra te alleged to be Pending_______
43 cents per hour; receiving
25 cents.
N onunion w orkers employed___ U nable to adjust.

Oct. 25

30

Dec. 14

Dec. 31

30

N ov. 1

Dec. 11

100

A djusted—satisfactory settlem en t____

Dec.

Dec. 28

A djusted—job continued pending de­
term ination of jurisdiction and other
questions.
P ending___________________________

N ov. 18

jq
Ox

o S tate H ospital B uilding, Allen­ Strike.
tow n, P a.
¿0 W alsh Bros., contractors, W av- ___ do.
to
erly, M ass.

B uilding_________
B ricklayers a n d
plasterers.

Smyles D ress Co., N ew Y ork ____do_____
C ity.

___ do.

H ill Electric Co., Erie, P a .....................do_____

Electricians.

.do­
Electric Sales & Service Co.,
Erie, Pa.
do.
W. M . C lark Co., N ew Castle,
Pa.
K ids N o b b y K lothes (Inc.), ____do_____
N ew Y ork C ity.
V eterans’ H ospital, A merican Controversy
Lake, W ash.
D a in ty D ress Co., N ew York Strike_____
C ity.
Springer-Cocalis, 21 theaters, ____do_____
N ew Y ork C ity .
Sales M ason Co., E . Boston, Controversy
M ass.
D epartm en t of Commerce Bldg.,
W ashington, D . C.

Strike.

Alexandria P rin t Shop, Alexan- Controversy
dria, Va.
F ederal p e n iten tiary , L atu n a, ____do_____
Tex.

1N ot reported.

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

do.
Plum bers.

W orking conditions___________
Refusal to pay prevailing wage.

A djusted—condition corrected.

do.

9

Dec.

9

Dec.

8

Dec.

1

4

A djusted—increase from 40 to 42 cents ___do___ Dec. 10
per garm ent to some, an d from 45 to
70 cents to other workers; all re­
turned.
A sked increase in piecework___ A djusted—allowed 2 cents p e r gar­ Dec. 7 Dec. 9
m ent increase to operators a n d fin­
ishers; 1 cent per garm ent to pressers.
Refusal to rotate electricians as A djusted—com pany agreed to co­ Dec. 22 Dec. 23
per union rules.
operate as far as possible in rotation
plan and to em ploy as m a n y a ddi­
tional m en as could be used.
___ do_______________________ ___ do_____________ ____ ___________
do _
do
Pending.

C lothing workers—. Alleged violation of agreem ent--.. ____do.

Dec. 16
N ov. 25

Prevailing wage discussion.

D ressm akers______ Change in piecework rates_____

.do.
A djusted—agreed to m ake sm all in ­
creases after Jan. 1,1932.
P ending___________________________

Dec. 16

M achine operators. Wages, conditions, and union
N ov. 12
recognition.
Caisson workers on Failure to p a y prevailing wage A djusted—contractors agreed to pay Dec. 15
tu n n el construc­
and nonunion workers from
prevailing wages.
tion.
outside th e State.
O rnam ental iron Protest against a decision of the A djusted—returned to w ork for p art ___do___
and m etal w ork­
building trades departm ent of
of contractors; continue protest
ers.
th e American Federation of
against th e A m erican Federation of
Labor.
L abor decision.
Em ployees_______ Wages and agreem ent; overtim e. A djusted—tem porary a g r e e m e n t N ov. 20
m ade.
Bricklayers, m a­ Prevailing wage discussion_____ P ending___________________________ Dec. 15
sons, and plas­
terers.

35

8
12

15

12
7

10

5

6

6

Dec. 19

Building trad es___

7

30
Q

Change in piecew ork._________

Signing of agreement.

30

60
75
Dec. 18

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

door
W atsontow n Sash & Door Co., Controversy Sash and
W atsontow n, Pa.
workers.
building, P hiladel­ ___ do_____ Laborers and exca­
vation m en.
phia, P a.
M onroe D ress Co., N ew Y ork S trik e ......... - D ressm akers_____
C ity.

00 Post-office

Alleged using too m an y appren­
tices in proportion to journey­
men.
Asked th a t union m en be em­
ployed.
Asked em ploym ent of local m en
on 50-50 basis.

...

25
105

Dec. 21

0

Dec. 30

19

19

Dec. 14

10

90

5

6

CO

L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H O P D E C E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued

CO

to
W orkers in ­
volved

D uration
Com pany or in d u stry and
location

C ontroversy

C arpenters______

Strike_____

F u r workers_____

___ do_____

D ressm akers_____

___ do_____

M illinery w orkers.

I. & B . Cohen and Bornzon Co., L o c k o u tN ew Y ork C ity.
Simon A ckerm an Co., N ew Strike___
York C ity.
G raham C onstruction Co. on Contro versy.
post-office building, Eatonton,
Ga.
_do_____
P ost office, Sandersville, G a___
.d o ___
Norwood-Griffin Co. on postoffice building, M adison, Ga.
T o tal___________________
i N o t reported.


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

C raftsm en con­
cerned

C lothing w orkers..
___ do___________
B uilding________
___do.
— do.

Cause of dispute

Alleged prevailing rate $7 per
day; carpenters receiving $5.
P ay for election day________ . . .

Present status and term s of settlem ent

P ending_______________________ _—

A djusted—allowed pay for election
day.
A sked increase for piecework A djusted—c o m p a n y d is c o n tin u e d
m anufacture.
a nd recognition of union.
Em ployees required to join Pending___________________________
m illinery workers’ union;
refused.
A sked revision of rates on coats—.
_do.
W age cuts and working con­
ditions.
Prevailing rates of wages not
being paid.
_do.
-do.

Begin­
ning

E nding

1931
N ov. 18

1931

N ov. 30

Dec.

Oct.

Dec. 18

4

Oct. 13

7

D irect­ In d i­
rectly
ly

20

25
65

Dec. 18

60

_do.

Dec. 21

650

-do.

Dec. 19

15

.do.
.do.

.do.
.d o .
3, 623

1, 518

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Pish hatchery near Dexter,
N . M ex.
G oldman & Son, N ew York
C ity.
B erm an & Sm ith, N ew York
C ity.
R obin Hood H a t Co., New
Y ork C ity.

N atu re of
controversy

LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND
CONGRESSES
R e so lu tio n of In ter n a tio n a l F ed eration of T each ers’ A sso cia tio n s

A T THE annual congress of the International Federation of
XJL Teachers’ Associations at Stockholm, August 13—18, 1931, a
resolution was unanimously adopted voicing that organization’s
desire to collaborate in achieving a plan of popular education suited
to present-day needs.1 The measure also urged that all children pre­
maturely apprenticed or placed in agricultural, industrial, or com­
mercial work should be given both a compulsory supplementary edu­
cation in their first adolescent years, with a view to providing a little
later on general culture, vocational training, and compulsory contin­
uation courses for these young people. The purpose of these latter
courses, which should also be available to adults, should be to continue
to develop general cultural, civic and vocational education, and to
teach essential theoretical and practical principles.
M eetin g of In ter n a tio n a l A sso cia tio n for S ocial Progress

HE fourth general meeting of the International Association for
Social Progress was held in Paris, October 19-22, 1931. The
action of the delegates included the adoption of two resolutions, one
relative to wages and the other to seasonal unemployment in the
building industry.2
The first of these resolutions declared that the object of the
association was to further any movement that might better the
position of the workers and, therefore, the delegates could not agree
to any solution of the wage problem which did not tend to raise
the living standard of the masses. A rise in real _wages _was in
part dependent on an expansion in general production which was
largely conditioned by the elimination of customs barriers. In a
period of economic depression, however, the cutting of real wages was
not the proper way to meet difficulties, since it hindered rather than
promoted economic recovery. The congress declared that the exist­
ing economic crisis could not be brought to an end without the eco­
nomic cooperation of the nations. The resolution also voiced recogni­
tion of the exceptional gravity of the world situation, urged all the
national branches of the association to make every effort to influence
Governments and public opinion in the various countries in order to
forward the international cooperative campaign for the improvement
of economic conditions.
The resolution on winter unemployment in the building industry
stated that, quite aside from the pressing necessity of carrying out

T

1 International Labor Office. In d u strial and Labor Inform ation, Geneva, N ov. 16,1931, p. 259.
2 Idem , N ov. 9,1931, p p . 191 a n d 210.


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

343

344

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

great national and international public works, the winter suspension
of activities in the building trades is not only inimical to the building
workers but is also harmful to the building industry. After noting the
successful accomplishments in various countries, particularly in North
America, along the lines of winter building, recommendation was made
by the congress that the national sections of the association devote
their attention to the campaign against seasonal unemployment in the
building industry. Action should be called for from public bodies,
which often are partly responsible, through the manner in which
orders are placed, for adversely influencing fluctuations in the building
trades.
Included in the possible means of promoting winter construction
would be cuts in “ selling prices and transport rates for building mate­
rials during the winter, the lowering of taxes affecting building work
carried out in winter, and the grant of official subsidies which might
be met by establishing a special fund, to cover the excess of expendi­
ture which migh result.”
It was also recommended that the national branches of the Associa­
tion for Social Progress unite with the employers’ and workers’ organi­
zations in the building industry to inform the public of the potentiali­
ties and importance of winter building. The association proposes to
take up this subject again when additional experience is available.
With reference to its activities in the future, the association has on
its program a study of new aspects of the hours-of-work problem and
a study of the functions of relief and insurance against social hazards,
particularly that of unemployment.


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

LABOR TURNOVER
L abor T u r n o v e r in A m e r ic a n F a c to r ie s, D e c e m b e r , 1931

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics presents herewith December labor
turnover indexes for manufacturing as a whole and for 10 separate
T
manufacturing industries. The form used for compiling turnover
rates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is the weighted arithmetic
mean. The indexes for manufacturing as a whole were compiled
from reports made to the bureau from representative establishments
in over 75 industries, employing approximately 1,250,000 people;
In the 10 industries for which separate indexes are presented, reports
were received from representative plants employing approximately
25 per cent of the employees as shown for such industries by the
Census of Manufactures of 1927. In the automobile industry
schedules were received from firms employing nearly 250,000 people;
plants reporting for boots and shoes employed nearly 100,000 people;
for brick, nearly 18,000 people; for cotton, over 150,000 people; for
furniture, nearly 30,000 people; for iron and steel, over 200,000
people; for men’s clothing, about 40,000 people; for sawmills, about
40,000 people; and for slaughtering and meat packing, approximately
75,000 people.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates the bureau presents the net turnover rate. Net
turnover means the rate of replacement. It is the number of jobs
that are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that is
increasing its force the net turnover rate is the same as the separation
rate, because while more people are hired than are separated from their
jobs the number hired above those leaving is due to expansion and
can not be justly charged to turnover. On the other hand, in a plant
that is reducing its number of employees the net turnover rate is the
same as the accession rate, for while more people are separated from
the pay roll than hired the excess of separations over accessions is
due to a reduction of force, and therefore can not be logically charged
as a turnover expense.
Previous to September, 1931, the bureau had been presenting
turnover rates on both a monthly and an equivalent annual basis.
Beginning with September, 1931, however, monthly rates only will be
shown. To determine the equivalent annual rate multiply the
monthly rate by the number of times that the days of the current
month are contained in the 365 days of the year; that is, in a 31-day
month to obtain the equivalent annual rate multiply the monthly
rate by 11.77; in a 30-day month multiply the monthly rate by 12.17;
and in a 28-day month multiply the monthly rate by 13.04. To
obtain the equivalent annual rate for December multiply the monthly
rates as shown in Tables 1 and 2 by 11.77.
Table 1 shows for all industries the total separation rate, sub­
divided into the quit, discharge, and lay-off rates, together with the
accession rate and the net turnover rate.

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

345

346

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T able 1 .—A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S E L E C T E D F A C T O R IE S IN 75
IN D U S T R IE S

M o n th ly R ates
Separation rates
M onth

Accession
rate
Q uit

Lay-oil

Discharge

T otal

N et tu rn ­
over rate

1930

1931

1930

1931

1930

1931

1930

1931

1930

1931

1930

1.85
1. 60
1.94
2. 11
2.01
1.85
1.35
1.40
1. 50
1. 29
.90
.84

0. 74
.74
.94
1.14
1.12
1. 02
1.10
1.05
1.16
1. 00
.72
.66

2.70
2.50
2. 83
2. 57
2.68
3. 00
4.17
3.99
3. 14
2. 88
2. 77
2. 74

1.95
1. 75
1.75
1. 96
2. 43
3. 84
3.32
2. 40
4. 22
5. 01
3.03
2, 61

0.54
.62
.60
.53
.48
.46
.32
.36
.36
.32
.24
.21

0.19
.20
.26
.31
.28
.23
.25
.22
.24
.21
.17
.16

5.09
4. 72
5. 37
5. 21
5.17
5.31
5. 84
5. 75
5.00
4. 49
3.91
3. 79

2.88
2.69
2.95
3. 41
3. 83
5. 09
4. 67
3. 67
5. 62
6. 22
3. 92
3. 43

3. 95
3.94
4.15
3. 55
3. 28
2.92
2.51
2.71
3.27
2. 56
2. 05
2.13

2. 97
2.82
3. 67
3. 06
2. 79
2. 41
3. 02
2. 60
3.58
2. 75
3.63
3. 29

3. 95
3. 94
4. 15
3. 55
3. 28
2. 92
2. 51
2. 71
3. 27
2. 56
2.05
2.13

2. 88
2. 69
2. 95
3. 06
2. 79
2. 41
3. 02
2. 60
3. 58
2. 75
3. 63
3. 29

T o ta l____ 18. 64

11. 39

35.97

34.27

5.04

2. 72

59.65

48.38

37.02

36.59

37.02

35.65

.95

3.00

2.86

.42

.23

4.97

4.03

3.08

3.05

3.08

2.97

Jan u ary ______
F eb ru ary . ___
M arch ________
A p ril... . . . . .
M a y __________
J u n e ... . . . . _
Ju ly ---------------A ugust________
S ep tem b er..
October. . _.
N o v em b er..
D ecember____

A v e ra g e ..

1.55

1931

Comparing rates for December, 1931, with those for November,
1931, it will be found that the quit, lay-off, discharge, and accession
rates for December are all lower than for November, 1931. The
December quit and discharge rates are lower than for any month of
1931. The December lay-off rate is lower than for any month since
August, 1931. The December, 1931, quit, discharge, and lay-off
rates were lower than for December, 1930. The accession rate, how­
ever, was much higher in December, 1931 than in December, 1930.
The annual quit, discharge, lay-off, and accession rates for 1931
were all lower than the corresponding rates for 1930. The annual net
turnover rate for industry as a whole was 37.02 in 1930 and 35.65 in
1931.
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn­
over rates for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton, iron and steel,
foundry and machine shops, furniture, sawmills, and slaughtering and
meat packing for the months of December, 1930, November, 1931,
and December, 1931; and for brick and men’s clothing for the months
of November, 1931, and December, 1931.


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

347

LABOR TURNOVER
T

a b le

2 . — A VERAGE

M ONTHLY

Class of turnover rates

TURNOVER

R A T E S IN

S P E C IF IE D

IN D U S T R IE S

Decem­ N ovem ­ Decem­ Decem­ N ovem ­ Decem­ Decem­ N ovem ­ Decem­
ber,
ber,
ber,
ber,
ber,
ber,
ber,
ber,
ber,
1930
1930
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
1930
Boots and shoes

Automobiles
Q u it______________________
Discharge _______ .
L a y -o ff..______________ . .

0.50
.04
1.23

T otal separation.

1. 77
1.80
1. 77

Accession___. . . _______
N e t turnov er_____________

1.11
.33
2. 52

0.
.07
1. 36

0. 8759
. 15
4. 13

1.06
.20
2. 43

0. 50
.55
10. 17

0. 29
.41
15. 67

7. 48

3.96

2. 02

5.15

3. 69

11. 22

16. 37

16. 51
7. 48

13. 72
3.96

1.61
1.61

2. 62
2. 62

3. 60
3.60

6. 70
6. 70

3. 33
3. 33

0. 85
.27
6. 36

C otton m anufacturing

Q uit-------------- ----------------D is c h a r g e ..____
______
Lay-off______ .
. . . .

0.52
.08
.79

T otal separation.

..

1. 39

Accession
___ _______
N et tu rn o v er_______ . . .

1.17
1.17

Brick 1

Foundries and machine
shops

Furniture

1. 23
.34
3.96

0.18
.03
1.53

0. 39
.19
3.82

.31
.12
3. 68

0.19
.07
2.91

0.49
.38
5. 17

5. 20

5. 53

1. 74

4. 40

4.11

3.17

6.04

5. 75

4.15
4.15

2. 90
2.90

.72
.72

1.89
1.89

1.95
1. 95

.56
.56

2.91
2.91

3.11
3.11

1.19
.34
3. 67

Sawmills

M en ’s clothing 1

Iro n and steel

0. 40
.33
5. 02

Q uit______________________
Discharge
---------Lay-off __________

0. 54
.05
.79

0.64
.06
1.80

0. 54
.05
1.42

0.66
5. 38

0.84
.09
5.44

0.31
.08
2. 23

0.93
.27
8. 65

0. 60
.26
10. 66

T otal separation_____

1.38

2. 50

2. 01

6.11

6. 37

2. 62

9. 85

11. 52

Accession.. ______________
N et turnov er______________

.57
.57

1. 78
1. 78

.91
.91

1.62
1.62

3. 66
3. 66

.71
.71

6. 39
6. 39

4.96
4.96

.0 7

Slaughtering and m eat
packing
0.62
.30
1.44

1. 24
.36
4. 72

2. 36

6. 32

7. 80

3.01
2. 36

8.10
6. 32

8. 26
7.80

1.09
.42
6. 29

d a t a n o t c o lle c te d in 1930.

Of the 10 separate industries for which separate figures are shown,
automobiles had the highest accession rate, 13.72. The lowest
accession rate (0.91) occurred in the iron and steel industry. The
highest quit rate (1.23) was shown by the cotton manufacturing, and
the lowest (0.29) by the brick industry. Slaughtering and meat
packing registered the highest discharge rate (0.42). The lowest
discharge rate (0.05) occurred in the iron and steel industry. Brick­
manufacturing had the highest lay-off rate (15.67). The lowest
lay-off rate (1.42) was shown by the iron and steel industry. The
highest net turnover rate (7.80) was registered by the slaughtering and
meat-packing industry. Iron and steel (with 0.91) had the lowest net
turnover rate.
Table 3 shows the annual quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net
turnover rates for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton manufacturing,

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

348

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

iron and steel, sawmills, and slaughtering and meat packing for the
calendar years 1930 and 1931.
T

a ble

3 .—A N N U A L T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S

Automobiles

Boots and shoes

Class of turnover rates
1930
Quit_._ ______ __
D ischarge.
- _ Lay-off________
T otal separation

______. _ _
...
_____
_____
. ______

_____

Accession __ . ____________ _____
N et tu rn o v er.. _. _________________

18. 27
4. 78
61.06

1931
12. 03
3. £5
72.81

1930
22. 36
6. 60
28. 77

1931
19.11
4. 46
28. 74

T otal separation____ _________
____
__

____

21. 72
6. 29
28. 30

1931
16. 32
4. 53
32. 60

84.11

88. 39

57. 73

52.31

56.31

53. 45

72. 95
46. 68

41.90
39. 58

50.29
39. 32

41. 97
41.61

47 38
46. 37

1930

Accession__
N e t turnover

1930

62. 63
51.27

Slaughtering and
m eat packing

Iron and steel

Q u it.......... ............ ............ ................ ................
Discharge
_________________________
Lay-off. .
_ ______________________

C otton m anufac­
turing

1931

1930

1931

1930

1931

19. 55
3. 70
21.82

9. 48
1.24
21.18

36.06
12.68
72.41

16.17
5. 53
85.89

26. 59
9.17
64. 42

15. 61
5. 47
60.18

45. 07

31. 90

121.15

107. 59

100. 18

81.26

35.31
31.12

20.12
19. 42

89.61
89. 25

81. 16
79.17

92. 21
86. 40

80. 02
71.42

Comparing the 1931 annual turnover figures with those for 1930,
all of the six industries for which figures were compiled for both years
showed lower quit and discharge rates during 1931 than during 1930.
Automobiles, cotton manufacturing, and sawmills had higher lay­
off rates during 1931 than during 1930. Boots and shoes, iron and
steel, and slaughtering and meat packing had lower lay-off rates
during 1931 than during 1930. The accession rates for automobiles,
boots and shoes, and cotton manufacturing were higher during 1931
than during 1930. The accession rates for iron and steel, sawmills,
and slaughtering and meat packing were lower during 1931 than
during 1930. During 1930, iron and steel registered the lowest quit
rate (9.48), the highest (19.11) occurring in the boot and shoe industry.
The lowest discharge rate (1.24) also occurred in the iron and steel
industry. The highest discharge rate (5.53) was shown by sawmills.
The highest lay-off rate (85.89) occurred in the sawmill industry,
the lowest (21.18) in the iron and steel industry. The highest
accession rate (81.16) occurred in the sawmill industry, and the lowest
(20.12) in the iron and steel industry.
The enormity of labor turnover is shown by the fact that two
industries—sawmills and slaughtering and meat packing—had a net
turnover rate of over 70 during the year 1931. Cotton manufacturing
and automobiles had a net turnover rate of between 40 and 50 during
1931, and boots and shoes nearly 40. Iron and steel had by far the
best turnover records, the net turnover rate for this industry beins:
less than 20.

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

HOUSING
B u ild in g P e r m its in P r in c ip a l C itie s o f t h e U n ite d S t a te s ,
D e c e m b e r , 1931

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor received reports of building operations from 348 identical
cities having a population of 25,000 or over for the months of Novem­
ber, 1931, and December, 1931, and from 297 identical cities for the
months of December, 1930, and December, 1931.
The cost figures as shown in the following tables apply to the costs
of the buildings as estimated by the prospective builder on applying
for his permit to build. No land costs are included. Only building
projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are
shown. The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, through their departments of labor, are
cooperating with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the
collection of these data.
Table 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings,_of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 348 identical cities of the United
States, by geographic divisions.

T

T aktf 1 —E S T IM A T E D c o s t o f n e w b u i l d i n g s , o p 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 IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 348 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S
AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, BY G E O ­
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings
Families provided for
in new dwellings

E stim ated cost
Geographic division

N ew nonresidential build­
ings (estim ated cost)

Per
Per N ovem ­ D ecem ­ Per
N ovem ­ Decem­
N ovem ­ Decem­ cent of ber,
ber,
cent of ber, 1931 ber, 1931 cent of
ber, 1931 ber, 1931 change 1931
change
1931 change
-1 7 .7
-5 2 .7
-3 2 .8
-1 5 .3
-3 6 .9
-3 8 .0
- 20.8

469
2,392
507
397
498
439
990

T o tal----------- --- 23,802, 590 14, 775, 467 -3 7 .9

5,692

N ew E nglan d ------ -M iddle A tlantic- --E ast N o rth C entral----W est N o rth C en tral---South A tlan tic----- -----South C en tral. . . ---M ountain a n d Pacific-.

$2,455,350 $2,020,115
10, 562, 657 4, 994, 766
2, 276, 567 1, 529,677
1,489, 827 1, 262, 685
1, 845,462 1,164,123
1,698,717 1,052, 562
3,474, 010 2,751, 539

A dditions, alterations, and repairs
(estim ated cost)
Geographic division
Novem ber,
1931

N ew E n g lan d -..........
M iddle A tlan tic____
E a st N o rth C e n tra lW est N o rth C en tral---South A tlan tic_______
South C en tral----------M ountain and PacificT o tal—

December,
1931

Per cent
of
change

445
1,063
302
309
281
307
801
3, 508

-5 .1 $3, 098, 530 $2, 514, 570
-5 5 .6 10, 026, 591 17, 795,496
-4 0 .4 4, 807,024 5, 228, 548
- 22.2 2,138,424 3,105, 996
729, 360
-4 3 .6 11,700,188
-3 0 .1 3,146,852 4,457,316
-1 9 .1 3,163,396 4, 511, 577

-1 8 .8
+77. 5
+ 8.8
+45.2
-9 3 .8
+41. 6
+42.6

-3 8 .4 38, 081,005 38,342,863

+0. 7

Total construction (estim ated cost)

November,
1931

December,
1931

$1, 085, 982
5,233, 759
1,785, 229
539, 013
1,610,153
876,882
1,198. 719

$833, 364
4,098, 957
1,228, 943
956,756
1,015, 633
504, 557
1,373, 335

-2 3 .3
-2 1 .7
-3 1 .2
+77.
-36.
-4 2 .5
+14.

$6, 639,862
25,823, 007
8,868,820
4,167, 264
15,155, 803
5, 722,451
7,836,125

368,049
889, 219
987,168
325,437
909,116
014,435
636, 451

12, 329, 737

10, 011, 5451

-1 8 .8

74, 213, 332

63,129, 875


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

N um ­
ber of
cities
Per
cent of
change
-1 9 .2
+4.1
- 9 .9
+27.
-8 0 .8
+5.1
+ 10.2

-14.

349

350

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

The cost of all building operations for which permits were issued in
December, 1931, was $63,129,875. This is 14.9 per cent less than the
cost of all building operations during the month of November, 1931.
New residential buildings decreased 37.9 per cent in estimated cost,
and additions, alterations, and repairs decreased 18.8 per cent.
Projected expenditures for new nonresidential buildings, however,
increased seven-tenths of 1 per cent. During December, 1931, 3,508
family dwelling units were provided in new residential buildings.
This is a decrease of 38.4 per cent as compared with family dwelling
units as provided during November, 1931.
All geographic divisions showed decreases in indicated expenditures
for new residential buildings and in the number of families provided
for.
Five of the seven geographic divisions registered increases in indi­
cated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings. These increases
ranged from 8.8 per cent in the East North Central States to 77.5 per
cent in the Middle Atlantic States. Only two geographic divisions
showed decreases in the estimated cost of this class of structures.
However, the decrease in the South Atlantic States was 93.8 per cent,
the contract awarded for the United States Supreme Court building
in this geographic division during November, 1931, making the total
for that month far above normal.
Increases were shown in projected expenditures for additions, alter­
ations, and repairs in the Mountain and Pacific States and the West
North Central States. The other five geographic divisions showed
decreases in the cost of repairs.
Four of the seven geographic divisions had increased indicated
expenditures for total construction and three divisions had decreases.
The increases ranged from a low of 4.1 in the Middle Atlantic States
to a high of 10.2 in the Mountain and Pacific States. The smallest
decrease (9.9 per cent) was in the East North Central States and the
largest decrease (80.8 per cent) was in the South Atlantic States.
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 348 identical cities of the United States,
by geographic divisions.
T

2 . — N U M B E R O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R EK f m w k A W tP A A V A A P A tT ! DtIN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 348 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN N O V E M B E R , 1931, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, B Y G E O ­
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S

a b le

N ew residential
buildings

N ew nonresidential
buildings

A dditions, altera­
tions, and repairs

T otal construction

Geographic division
N ovem ­ Decem­ N ovem ­ Decem­
ber, 1931 ber, 1931 ber, 1931 ber, 1931
N ew E n g la n d ______
M iddle A tlantic _ _
E ast N o rth C e n tra l..W est N o rth C en tral-..
South A tlan tic______
South Central _ .
M ountain and PacificTotal
_ ..
Per cent of change___


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

N ovem ­
ber, 1931

Decem­
ber, 1931

N ovem ­ Decem­
ber, 1931 ber, 1931

414
867
446
349
369
402
828

281
519
272
296
246
277
634

925
1, 734
1,910
749
716
521
1, 302

540
1,158
1,045
415
542
381
1,028

1, 784
3,812
2,379
900
2,595
1,673
3, 259

1,256
2,853
1,694
617
1,902
1, 223
2,791

3,123
6,413
4, 735
1,998
3,680
2, 596
5,389

2,077
4, 530
3,011
1,328
2,690
1,881
4,453

3, 675

2, 525
-3 1 .3

7,857

5,109
-3 5 .0

16, 402

12, 336
-2 4 .8

27, 934

19,970
-2 8 .5

351

HOUSING

Permits were issued during December, 1931, for 19,970 building
projects. This is a decrease of 28.5 per cent as compared with the
number of projects for which permits were issued during November.
The number of residential buildings decreased 31.3 per cent; nonresidential buildings, 35.0 per cent; and alterations, additions, and
repairs, 24.8 per cent, comparing December with November.
Table 3 shows the index number 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. These indexes are worked
on the chain system, with the monthly average of 1929 equaling 100.
rpim T O __t n d F X n u m b e r s o f f a m i l i e s p r o v i d e d f o r a n d o f t h e e s t i m a t e d
p o ^t ' o f b u il d in 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 is s u e d i n p r i n c i p a l
C IT IE S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO D E C E M B E R , 1931, IN C L U S IV E
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
E stim ated cost of—
M o n th

1930
J a n u a ry —
F ebruary-..
M arch .........
A pril-------M ay --------June...........
J u ly ______
A ugust----Septem ber.
O ctober---N ovem berD ecem ber.
1931
J a n u a ry —
F e b ru a ry .M arch.........
A pril_____
M ay ........... .
Ju n e --------J u ly ______
A ugust----Septem ber.
O ctober__
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber.

Families
provided
for

N ew resi­
dential
buildings

34.2
43.0
57.1
62.0
59.6
54.4
49.9
48.7
51.3
58.3
52.9
45.0

29.4
34.7
47.2
51.0
48.5
45.1
44.1
43.4
44.4
44.9
42.5
37.6

39.1
40.3
53.4
64.6
51.7
43.4
35.8
36.6
30.1
33.7
23.8
14.7

30.8
30.3
40.7
48.6
39.8
33.4
27.6
33.5
24.8
25.4
19.0
11.8

T otal
building
operations

N ew non­
residential
buildings

Additions,
alterations,
and repairs

64.3
51.8
87.1
90.7
82.5
86.7
67.2
73.8
53.5
54.4
64.3

55.1
57.5
77.5
81.8
84.5
74.6
77.4
58.6
64.2
58.1
37.8
53.5

46.1
44.1
66.4
73.8
69.3
63.3
64.8
54.4
58.2
49.7
46.3
50.1

43.4
43.8
76.4
73.9
58.5
41.7
53.7
63.9
41.8
34.8
32.7
32. 9

55.5
48.6
58.0
65.2
53.0
56.5
57.8
48.3
41.0
39.8
33.6
27.3

38.9
37.9
57.1
60.6
48.8
39.4
41.7
47.3
33.5
30.8
26.2
22.3

100.1

The index number of families provided for and the index numbers
of new residential buildings, additions, alterations, and repairs, and
total building operations all reached a low point for the two-year
period in December, 1931. The index number for new nonresidential
buildings, however, showed a slight increase over November. I he
charts on pages 354 and 355 show in graphic form the information
contained in this table.
, .
Table 4 shows the number and value of contracts awarded lor
public buildings by the different agencies of the United States Gov­
ernment during the months of November, 1931, and December, 1931,
by geographic divisions.


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

352
T

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

4 .—C O N T R A C T S L E T E O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y D IF F E R E N T A G E N C I E
B ? : G E O G R A P H IC 'D m s f o N S ™ ® 1™ D U B IN G N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R

a b l e

N ovem ber, 1931

S

O F

mf,

December, 1931

Geographic division
N um ber
N ew E ngland—...................
M iddle A tlan tic______
E ast N o rth C en tral_____
W est N o rth C entral___
South A tlan tic___
South C entral_____
M ountain and Pacific—
T o tal___________

Cost

N um ber

Cost

4
14
12
4
31
15
28

$84,648
564, 399
1, 076, 727
183,895
10, 864, 710
932, 965
730,193

6
11
9
3
28
15
29

$292,011
5,145 865
358, 476
2,682 490
406 979
767’ 962
2, 248,129

108

14,437, 537

101

11, 901, 912

During December, 1931, the various agencies of the Federal
Government from which reports were received awarded contracts
for 101 building operations to cost $11,901,912. Contracts were
issued by the following Federal agencies: United States Capitol
Architect; Office of the Quartermaster General, War Department;
Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department; Supervising Architect,
Treasury Department; United States Veterans’ Bureau; and thé
Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks.
Table 5 shows the value of contracts awarded by the different
State governments for public buildings during the months of Novem­
ber, 1931, and December, 1931, by geographic divisions.
T able 5 .—C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y T H E D IF F E R E N T
S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S D U R IN G N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, B Y GEOG R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
November,
1931

December,
19311

N ew E ngland_______
M iddle A tlan tic.
E ast N o rth C entral.
W est N o rth C entral.
South A tlan tic.
South C entral. . . .
M ountain and Pacific

$131,093
2,957, 380
1, 858,459
1, 752,842
203,000
810, 779
508,225

$1,627,557
7, 835, 287
2, 308, 755
17,348
383,100
462,172
212,128

T o ta l. ______

8, 221, 778

12,846,347

Geographic division

1 Subject to revision.

Contracts awarded by the various State governments during Decem­
ber, 1931, totaled $12,846,347, an increase of over $4,000,000 com­
pared with the amount of contracts awarded by the various States
during November, 1931.
Whenever a contract is awarded by the Federal Government or
by a State government for a building in a city having a population
of 25,000 or over, the number or cost of such building is included
m the number and cost as shown in the several tables presented
herewith.
Table 6 shows^ the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, oi additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building construction in 297 identical cities having a
population of 25,000 or over for the months of December, 1930, and
Deoember, 1931, by geographic divisions.

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

353

HOUSING
T

6 . — E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 297 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S ,
AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN D E C E M B E R , 1930, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S

a ble

New residential buildings
Families provided for
in new dwellings

E stim ated cost
Geographic division

New nonresidential build­
ings (estim ated cost)

Per Decem­ Decem­ Per
Per
Decem­ Decem­
Decem­ Decem­ cent
of ber,
cent of ber,
ber,
1930 ber, 1931 cent of
ber, 1930 ber, 1931 change
1930
1931 change
change
-6 6 .4
-7 8 .0
-6 9 .0
-1 3 .7
-2 6 .7
- 66.2
-6 1 .3

514
4,933
849
358
324
679
1,730

434
1, 043
270
304
269
281
715

_ ______ 44, 768, 765 14,035, 952 - 68.6

9,387

3,316 -6 4 .7 64, 250, 488 37,488,892 -4 1 .7

$5,889,850 $1,976, 915
New E nglan d __ .
M iddle A tlantic______ 22,279,370 4, 900, 966
E ast N orth C entral___ 4, 510, 522 1, 400, 277
W est N orth C entral. .. 1,439, 879 1,242, 185
South A tlantic
. . . _ 1, 555, 675 1,140, 823
987, 397
South C entral. ______ 2, 920,149
M ountain and P acific.. 6,173, 320 2,387, 389
T o ta l..

Additions, alterations, and repairs
(estim ated cost)
Geographic division
December,
1930

December,
1931

N ew E n g lan d ________ '
M iddle A tlan tic______
E ast N orth C en tral___
W est N orth C entral___
South A tlan tic________
South C en tral________
M ountain and Pacific. .

$1, 711,738
8,300, 094
3,008,602
1,177, 908
1,143,112
883, 612
1, 748,232

$816, 487
4,074, 527
1,141,297
948, 956
991, 523
469, 454
1, 308, 571

T o ta l.....................

17, 973,298

9, 750, 815

Per
cent of
change
-5 2 .3
-5 0 .9
-6 2 .1
-1 9 .4
-1 3 .3
-4 6 .9
-2 5 .1

-1 5 .6 $8,405, 443 $2, 509, 845
-7 8 .9 13, 367,082 17, 735, 870
- 68.2 7, 992, 946 4, 848, 547
-1 5 . 1 6,059, 733 3,105, 496
-1 7 .0 9, 392, 093
695, 423
-5 8 .6 7, 453, 052 4,298, 900
-5 8 .7 11, 580,139 4,294, 811

-7 0 .1
+32.7
-3 9 .3
-4 8 .8
-9 2 .6
-4 2 .3
-6 2 .9

Total construction (estimated cost)

December,
1930

December,
1931

N um ­
ber of
Per
cities
cent of
change

$16,007, 031
43, 946,546
15, 512,070
8,677, 520
12,090, 880
11,256, 813
19,501, 691

$5,303,247
26, 711,363
7, 390,121
5,296, 637
2,827, 769
5, 755, 751
7, 990, 771

-6 6 .9
-3 9 .2
-5 2 .4
-3 9 .0
-7 6 .6
-4 8 .9
-5 9 .0

48
64
73
24
34

126,992,551

61, 275,659

-51. 7

297

26

28

Indicated expenditures for total building construction in these 297
cities decreased 51.7 per cent in December, 1931, as compared with
December. 1930. The estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, and of additions, alterations, and re­
pairs all showed decreases comparing December, 1931, with the same
month of the previous year; the decreases being 68.6 per cent, 41.7
per cent, and 45.7 per cent, respectively.
The number of family dwelling units provided decreased 64.7 per
cent comparing permits issued in these two months.
All geographic divisions showed decreases in new residential build­
ings, in additions, alterations, and repairs, in the number of families
provided for, and in total building operations.
The Middle Atlantic was the only geographic division registering an
increase in new nonresidential buildings. Decreases were shown in
the other six geographic divisions.
Table 7 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new non­
residential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of total
building operations in 297 identical cities having a population of
25,000 or over for December, 1930, and December, 1931.
Decreases were shown in the number of new residential buildings,
of new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and in total construction comparing December, 1931, with December,
1930.

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

354

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

IN D E X E S OF COST OF BUILDING OPERATIO N S.
M O N TH LY

A U E R AG E.

NEW

100

¡9 2 9

=

JO O

RESIDENTIAL.

100

75

7S

50

^'^y

2.5

k

50

. —•—
---- ----M
~--

193>9k C | S
3 |V
/y r

25

O

0
NEW

I 00

/

NON RESIDENTIAL .

/

Ns.

\
'
is; )0 /
//
// t / / 4 93 l \
y

75

\
50 V

\
\
~ V\

\

\

'0 0
75

\

y

\\

50

\
Z5

IB
0

0 0 T 0 T A L ~ INCLUDING ALTERATIONS 8r REPAIRS.

75

100
75

IS 3 0

50

N:

\ s
\

/j
/ /
~~— -»/ /

s

\

50

93 1

25

25

0
u

r

O

T


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

cd
U

or
L

<

oi
E

^
-

>

m

3

^

)

^
<

^

v-;
)

■
o

i

•
:

j
D

355

HOUSING
T

7 . —N U M B E R O P N E W B U IL D IN G S , O P A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E ­
P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 297 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN D E C E M B E R , 1930, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, B Y G E O ­
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S

a b le

N ew residential
buildings

N ew nonresidential
buildings

A dditions, altera­
tions, and repairs

T otal construction

Geographic division

N ew E ngland_______
M iddle A tlantic_____
E ast N o rth C e n tra l...
W est N o rth C en tra l..
South A tlan tic-----. . .
South C entral_____ _
M ountain a n d PacificTotal

... .

Decem­ Decem ­ Decem­ Decem­
ber, 1930 ber, 1931 ber, 1930 ber, 1931

Decem­
ber, 1930

Decem­
ber, 1931

Decem­ Decem­
ber, 1930 ber, 1931

399
1,063
620
288
295
513
897

270
499
245
291
234
251
555

598
1, 389
1,271
472
521
438
1,466

523
1,077
950
413
511
345
969

1,175
2,911
1,836
686
1, 824
1, 351
3,141

1,214
2,799
1, 590
615
1,851
1,084
2,593

2,172
5,363
3, 727
1,446
2, 640
2,302
5,504

2,007
4, 375
2, 785
1,319
2,596
1,680
4,117

4,075

2,345
-4 2 .5

6,155

4,788
- 22.2

12, 924

11, 746
- 9 .1

23,154

18, 879
-1 8 .5

I N D E X E S OF F A M I L I E S PROVI DED F O R .

o
ul
a

r
<

ul
L.

«f
<£
r

C£
Q.
<

V
<

z

ul
r
o
"3

>
"3

6
3
<

!-•
Û,
uJ
d!

U
o
o

Table 8 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of total building operations, together
with the number of family dwelling units provided for in new buildings,
in each of the 348 cities from which reports were received for both
November, 1931, and December, 1931.
Reports were received from 52 cities in the New England States;
from 68 cities in the Middle Atlantic States; from 93 cities in the East
North Central States; from 25 cities in the West North Central
States; from 39 cities in the South Atlantic States; from 35 cities in
the South Central States; and from 36 cities in the Mountain and
Pacific States.
Permits were issued for the following important building projects
during the month of December, 1931: In Boston, Mass., for a building

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

356

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

for the Massachusetts Department of Public Works to cost nearly
$1,200,000; in Brooklyn, N. Y., for a theater building to cost $450,000
and for a new tuberculosis hospital to cost nearly $5,000,000; in
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for a State asylum building to cost over
$1,200,000; in the Borough of the Bronx for a school building to cost
over $250,000; in Chicago, 111., for a nurses’ home to cost $2,000,000;
in Oak Park, 111., for a store and office building to cost $400,000; in
Peoria, 111., for an institutional building to cost $325,000 and for a
school building to cost over $450,000; in Minneapolis, Minn., for a
school building to cost $755,000; in Little Kock, Ark., for four store
buildings to cost nearly $900,000; in Nashville, Tenn., for two
amusement buildings to cost over $600,000 and for an office building
to cost $750,000.
Contracts were awarded by the Supervising Architect of the United
States Treasury Department for a post office and Federal courthouse
in Pittsburgh to cost nearly $5,000,000; for a hospital for defective
delinquents in Springfield, Mo., to cost over $1,700,000, and for a
Federal courthouse in Portland, Oreg., to cost nearly $1,200,000.
No reports were received from New London (Conn.), West New
York (N. J.), Nanticoke (Pa.), Pontiac and Port Huron (Mich.),
Zanesville (Ohio), University City (Mo.), Pensacola and West Palm
Beach (Fla.), Fort Smith (Ark.), Lexington (Ky.), Monroe (La.),
Meridian (Miss.), Muskogee (Okla.), Corpus Christi and Laredo
(Tex.), and San Bernardino and Santa Monica (Calif.).
T

a b le

8 .-

-E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931
N e w E n g la n d S ta te s
N ew residential buildings

E stim ated cost
S tate and city

Connecticut:
B rid g ep o rt..
B ristol_____
Greenwich __
H artfo rd___
M eriden___
New B ritain.
N ew H av en .
N orw alk___
Stam ford___
T o rrin g to n ..
W ater! ury._
M aine:
Bangor_____
L ew iston___
P o rtla n d ___
M assachusetts:
Beverly____
Boston i____
Brockton___
Brookline___
C am bridge...
Chelsea___ _
Chicopee___
1 Applications filed.


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

Families pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings

New nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber,
1931

D e­
cern
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

$121, 700
4, 000
133, 000
80, 000
21, 400
12, 000
68, 000
92, 200
32, 000
3, 000
30, 000

$70, 300
6, 000
24, 000
76, 300
26, 200
51, 000
58, 000
69, 500
56, 000
17, 000
10, 500

34
1
13
14
6
2
12
17
5
1
6

21
i
3
15
7
7
9
11
9
5
2

$16,100
2, 810
6, 600
40, 909
71,149
41, 005
176, 470
12, 950
5, 680
1, 750
19, 990

$7, 574
1, 225
39, 900
5, 365
11, 850
11, 890
38, 275
11,100
7,780
1,350
12, 000

$170, 335
12, 896
166, 700
159, 222
94, 359
58, 912
312, 840
114, 430
44, 655
7,300
52, 240

$90, 572
11, 942
77, 950
113, 860
41, 915
69, 432
141, 245
96, 706
83, 980
21,125
24, 050

5, 500
26, 000
26, 300

4,000
0
35, 500

2
6
8

1
0
5

425
0
5,065

78, 087
0
3, 400

7, 425
30, 000
51, 095

83, 862
7, 000
47; 804

20, 200
495, 000
24, 500
52, 000
0
, o
24, 000 1

9
79
11
9
4
2
11

5
151
6
3
0
0
5

1, 300
513, 335
59, 930
388, 520
415, 670
925
2,900

1,150
1, 986, 402
1,435
3, 450
2, 250
6, 000
1,175

50, 650
1,277, 072
133, 710
465, 090
473,117
20, 959
5, 375

29, 200
2, 644, 859
32, 994
67, 065
11, 200
10, 508
28; 275

44,450
471, 000
47, 000
93, 500
19, 700
9, 000
2,000

Decem­
ber,
1931

357

HOUSING
T

a b le

8 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued
N e w E n g la n d S t a t e s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings

E stim ated cost
S tate an d city

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

M assachusetts—Con.
E v e re tt_________
Fall R iv er---------Fitchbu rg _______
H averhill________
H olyoke..................
Law rence____ . . .
Lowell___ _______
L y n n ___________
M alden_________
M edford________
New B edford____
N ew ten _________
P ittsfield ................
Q uincy....................
Revere__________
Salem___________
Somerville_______
Springfield______
T a u n to n ________
W altham ________
W atertow n______
W orcester...... .........
New Ham pshire:
Concord_________
M anchester........ .
R hode Island:
C entral Falls____
C ra n s to n _______
E ast P ro v id en ce..
N ew port________
P aw tu ck et______
Providence______
W oonsocket...........

Decem­
ber,
1931

Families pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings

New nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

Total construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber,
1931

D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

$14,000
0
6, 500
0
0
7, 000
15,300
24, 300
19,300
101, 800
0
205, 000
92, 700
80,100
11,800
73, 000
11,000
71,450
0
50, 350
48, 300
67,300

$10, 000
3, 500
10, 700
2,200
0
0
4,650
19, 000
33,865
35,100
0
160,000
37, 500
65, 600
4,000
5,000
0
51,600
0
6,500
21,000
67,300

4
0
2
0
0
1
5
5
4
24
0
23
20
16
3
12
2
19
0
10
9
15

3
2
2
2
0
0
1
5
10
7
0
20
10
17
1
1
0
14
0
1
5
14

$40,550
2, 305
850
154,125
10, 750
11,975
685
4,405
12, 500
86, 635
4,450
12, 985
29, 389
17, 840
1,950
4.300
5, 325
22, 490
3, 598
15, 590
8, 250
19, 225

$675
10, 885
1,000
900
0
14,650
975
7,000
665
6, 525
1, 700
12, 650
97, 625
10, 685
0
4, 375
29,635
9, 550
700
1, 765
2,850
17, 000

$55,400
19, 640
8,600
165, 410
40, 550
27, 260
28, 045
40, 735
49, 370
192, 810
16, 975
238, 591
136, 796
159, 399
24, 700
105, 730
33, 875
100, 215
15, 393
70, 015
67, 575
107,628

$17,075
21, 380
29, 000
6, 275
6, 850
16, 825
11, 250
53,140
43, 257
45, 650
25, 250
227, 565
150, 025
87, 347
7, 400
22, 025
38, 585
91, 260
3, 805
12,990
24, 225
176, 930

0
6, 500

0
17,000

0
2

0
3

4,000
5,175

1,000
710

4,250
23,540

2, 535
35, 250

0
108, 200
23,900
26, 000
2,200
44, 600
3,000

0
88, 700
39,000
4,500
116,100
97, 300
0

0
25
5
5
1
14
1

0
22
8
1
9
21
0

280
14,910
14, 925
4, 300
3,000
815,535
2,750

1,022
6, 225
18, 325
4,100
3,160
15, 310
1,250

1, 720
125, 235
49, 738
33, 210
27, 430
953,960
7, 685

1,572
98,725
67, 225
17, 771
122, 990
166, 378
1,950

T o ta l_____ ____ 2,455, 350

2, 020,115
-1 7 .7

469

445
- 5 .1

3, 098, 530

2, 514, 570
-1 8 .8

6, 639, 862

5,368,049
-1 9 .2

$500
575
3,900
4, 000
44,419
10,350
5, 225
1, 800
400
0
11,065
9, 650
3,100
14, 350
302, 522
50
0
18,150
24, 200
2,700
675
23,560
650,000

$39,637
37,615
38,415
113, 000
93, 320
42,050
171,645
43, 500
24,050
13, 510
42,640
95, 715
25, 675
53, 876
408, 025
18,422
10,080
40, 714
90,626
14,475
83, 098
194,584
10,885

$25,332
2,425
23, 200
99, 000
52, 234
84, 750
26, 260
24,800
10,175
67,510
61, 400
28,100
15, 525
69, 720
484, 798
59,125
6, 536
35, 625
77, 600
4,200
6, 825
76, 288
654,886

M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S ta te s
New Jersey:
A tlantic C ity ____
Bayonne_____. . .
Belleville__ _____
B lo o m fie ld ._____
C a m d e n --- ------Clifton__________
E ast Orange. ----E lizabeth___ ____
Garfield_________
H oboken------ ---Irv in g to n _______
Jersey C ity ______
K earn y _________
M ontclair . . . ---N ew ark____- . .
New B runsw ick...
O range__________
Passaic_____ ____
P a t e r s o n .. . ------P erth A m b o y .. . .
Plainfield_______
T renton _________
U nion C ity ______

0
0
$35,000
109,000
8,000
23,000
14, 500
26,000
4, 200
0
28, 600
62, 000
22, 300
41,000
199, 200
0
0
9,200
51, 700
12,400
56,200
125,000
0

96957°—32----- 9

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

$5,000
0
18, 500
85,000
0
68, 500
6,000
23, 000
3,500
0
38, 550
6, 500
12, 000
41, 280
129, 500
8, 500
6,536
4,800
25,800
0
4,800
5,000
0

0
0
4
26
2
7
2
5
1
0
8
32
10
5
40
0
0
2
14
1
7
16
0

1
0
4
17
0
17
1
5
1
0
8
2
1
3
29
2
1
1
6
0
1
1
0

$6,400
27, 300
2,350
4,000
52, 285
15,400
146, 405
17, 500
9,700
0
7,475
9, 790
2, aOO
5, 506
63, 900
5,877
5, 322
7,950
13, 941
1,075
23, 550
10, 070
900

358
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—Continued

8 —

IN

M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S t a t e s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings

E stim ated cost
S tate and city

Families pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings

N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (esti­
m ated cost)

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber,
1931

D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

$245,400
0
32.100
24, 225
69, 800
22,467
14.000
34, 000
0
39,800
0
41, 000

$153,100
0
7.000
8.400
94,700
0
7.400
13, 300
51,800
0
27.300
77.100

24
0
3
11
26
7
4
8
0
6
0
3

13
0
1
2
21
0
2
4
14
0
4
5

$17,900
500
1, 500
6,984
220,175
3, 325
3, 600
8,800
519
57, 500
3,800
36,917

$1, 885
4,860
317,605
8, 320
57,925
3, 570
1,075
2,425
52, 7/6
2, 775
1,400
1,850

$326,279
3,000
37, 085
57, 789
321,489
29,493
26, 980
49,463
1, 769
131, 530
22, 650
89, 637

$203, 684
4,860
373, 862
42, 390
199, 735
16, 253
11, 950
24, 389
104, 576
18,937
32, 550
80,500

2,026, 300
1, 510, 900
1, 215, 000
2, 257, 200
299, 600
70, 540
53, 500
114, 000
30.000
109,700
59, 600
39, 500
23, 800
46, 500
353,450

851,000
1, 536,000
0
749, 700
121, 400
28,400
56, 500
42.100
73, 500
45.300
72,600
43, 000
4,500
37.000
110, 000

479
399
202
595
89
22
9
20
6
22
16
7
4
5
48

176
376
0
169
40
8
8
8
14
10
8
8
1
2
16

4, 643, 850
1,184, 230
286,100
1,692, 303
12,655
7, 525
11, 925
45, 369
8,500
38, 700
421, 210
.13,000
1, 775
16,650
155,165

415,150
7, 582, 003
116, 850
674, 619
79, 555
6, 799
1, 263, 575
20,400
7, 525
24,050
49, 750
750
2, 750
15,300
13,021

6, 828, 310
3, 874,982
2, 666, 864
4,863, 793
422, 539
97,415
74,105
241,124
48,650
159,060
496, 832
54, 000
26, 905
69, 090
550,995

1,622, 505
9,879, 756
933,126
2, 025, 375
226,817
50,449
1,330, 275
102, 915
90, 740
124, 710
135, 050
46,150
12, 265
71, 950
155,416

0
3,100
33, 000
6,000
5.000
2,900
60.100
18, 000
0
2.000
12.000
23, 500
11, 200
0
574, 900
165, 500
20,000
29, 200
3, 575
9,000
0
25,000

2.000
5,200
0
0
0
0
48.100
0
5,000
5.400
12, 000
0
13, 800
0
4, 500
134,400
20.000
24, 000
3, 000
3, 500
0
10, 000

0
2
2
1
1
1
15
3
0
1
3
3
2
0
117
25
4
9
1
2
0
3

1
2
0
0
0
0
14
0
1
2
3
0
2
0
1
16
1
6
1
1
0
1

9.850
2,302
2,200
200
204,100
1, 275
27, 250
201, 800
5,698
5, 720
3, 500
1,875
3, 225
5,175
145,990
28, 325
4.850
4,435
14,425
3, 750
7, 303
3,770

104, 039
5,013
1,200
4,000
1, 600
275
5, 550
545
30,980
2, 350
12.150
17, 050
750
540
677,855
5,041, 555
2,550
4,470
5,200
0
2,920
15.150

54,052
10, 654
39, 500
5,200
209,100
6, 089
97, 865
240, 515
8, 300
22, 495
20, 890
30,440
14, 595
7, 731
951, 385
572,041
82,437
52,175
28,971
15, 200
14,140
61,847

125,389
11, 978
3,850
4,000
7, 200
13, 560
290, 690
22,930
39, 720
12, 650
31, 825
20,165
14, 550
3,585
990, 985
5, 228, 317
39,905
40,015
28, 467
4, 700
4, 454
33, 785

T o ta l_________ 10,562,657
P er cent of change ..

4, 994, 766
-5 2 .7

2,392

New York:
A lb an y _________
A m sterdam ______
A u b u rn_________
B ingham ton_____
B uffalo-. _______
E lm ira ________
Jam estow n______
K ingston ______
Lockport________
M o u n t V ernon___
N e w b u r g h ..____
N ew R o c h e lle ___
N ew Y ork C ity—
T h e Bronx L__
B rooklyn 1___
M an h a tta n L..
Queens 1 ____
Richm ond i_ „
N iagara F alls____
Poughkeepsie____
Rochester_______
S ch en ectad y .. . . .
Syracuse _______
T ro y ______ ____ _
U tic a ... ______
W atertow n______
W hite P lains____
Y onkers_________
Pennsylvania:
A llentow n. ____
Altoona_________
B ethlehem ______
B u t l e r ____ _____
C hester_________
E a s to n _________
E rie_____________
H a rris b u rg ______
H a z le to n _______
Johnstow n______
Lancaster_______
M cK eesport_____
N ew C astle______
N orristow n___ .
P hiladelphia_____
P ittsb u rg h ______
R eading_______ _
S c ra n to n _______
W ilkes-Barre___
W ilkinsburg . .
W illiam sport____
Y ork____________

Decem­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

1,063 10, 026,591 17,795,496 25,823,007 26, 889, 219
-55. 6
+77. 5
+ 4 .1

E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Illinois:
A lto n___________
A urora______ _ _
Belleville________
B e r w y n ._______
1 Applications filed,


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

0
$14, 675
11,470
10,000

0
$4, 500
1, 500
12,000

0
4
5
2

0
1
1
2

$7, 000
318, 437
75, 365
2,880

$675
16,455
850
710

$13, 873
334, 784
87,560
12,880

$17, 674
25,670
3,850
13, 410

359

HOUSING
T

a ble

E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S WTE R E IS SU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—Continued

8 .—

E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S t a t e s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
Families pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings

E stim ated cost
S tate and city

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Illinois—C ontinued.
Bloomington_____
Chicago----------- C ic ero __________
D anville________
D e c a tu r...
E ast St. Louis___
E lgin___________
E vanston _______
G ranite C ity _____
Joliet___ ______
M ayw ood_______
M oline__________
Oak P a rk _______
Peoria___________
Quincy__________
Rockford
_____
Rock Islan d _____
Springfield---------W aukegan_______
Indiana:
A nderson________
E ast Chicago____
E lk h art______. . .
Evansville_____ Fort W ayne_____
G ary____________
H am m o n d______
Indianapolis_____
K okom o_________
L a f a y e t t e - ---M arion____ .
M ichigan C ity --M is h a w a k a ..___
M uncie__ ___
R ichm ond_______
South B end_____
Terre H a u te _____
M ichigan:
A nn A r b o r __
B attle Creek_____
B ay C ity ________
D earborn--- ---D etroit__________
F l i n t ______ -G rand R apids___
Ham tram ck ___
H ighland P a rk ...
Jackson. _
__
Kalamazoo______
Lansing
_____
M uskegon______
Saginaw _______
W yandotte--------Ohio:
A kron
____
A shtabula_______
C an to n .. _____
C incinnati_______
Cleveland.
Cleveland H eights
Colum bus — ___
D a y to n .____ ____
E ast C lev elan d ..
E lyria
______
H am ilton_______
Lakewood_____
L im a___________

Decem­
ber,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber,
1931

De­
cem­
ber,
1931

$7, 000
187, 550
5,800
0
3,500
28, 450
3, 500
24,000
0
7,000
0
3,400
0
86,930
3, 250
10, 000
13, 500
25, 000
38,000

$2,000
90,000
0
0
3,000
2, 500
5,000
20,000
0
0
0
15, 000
18,000
91,500
4, 600
3, 000
4,000
47, 805
26,000

2
31
1
0
1
10
1
2
0
2
0
1
0
14
2
2
6
6
9

1
15
0
0
1
1
1
2
0
0
0
3
1
14
2
1
1
9
7

7,000
0
6, 500
6,700
37,160
16, 200
5, 600
102, 350
500
0

5, 200
0
2,000

1
0
2
2
9
3
2
22
1
0

2
0
1

0

3, 500
3,000

0

8,250
6, 450
6,600

10, 700
10, 300
10, 500
45, 900
304, 350
14,182
28, 200

0
0
0

0

5, 600
7,000
5,000
98, 950

0
0
2,000
0
1, 000
0
0
7,300

0

0
0
0

19, 500
172, 200
26,447
30,400
0

0

11, 800
0
0
8, 900
11,400

2,800
5, 500
5,000
0
8,200
9,200

18,050
13,850
0
338, 700
103, 500
90, 800
34,100
40,000
0
2, 250
4,000
4,500
0

8,800
19,000
0
272,650
77, 500
24,200
12, 000
36,000
0
3,000
4,000
8,500
0 1


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

0
1
2

0
2
3
2

0
1
2
1
19
0
4
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0

3
3
3
10
56
3
7

5
33
7
7

4
0
0
5
2

2
1
0
2
2

0
0
0

3
5
0
71
33
13
6
10
0
1
1
1
0

0
0
0
0
1

3
2
0
48
15
4
2
5
0
1
1
2
0

N ew nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions a nd repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

0
0
$ 595, 715 $2,420, 205
4, 200
250
9,250
24,400
10,600
8, 425
950
8,475
9, 875
1, 215
7,500
20,500
0
0
3,000
6, 900
1,045
79, 333
465
2,170
402, 560
10,170
783,990
23, 030
84,462
1, 730
12, 250
4,100
480
1,587
28, 617
8, 530
10, 800
3,545

$7,000
1,398,189
12, 925
27, 588
27, 575
39,425
15, 735
62,000
0
86,959
2,695
7,280
18,965
140,548
7,440
29,000
21, 906
105, 502
47, 705

$3,000
2,674,988
4,200
16, 750
21,660
7,125
22,177
59,000
0
14,860
80,608
20,448
426,060
882,290
91, 362
14,010
6,878
85, 238
38,120

610
920
63,450
5, 225
18, 235
7,035
72,489
1,132,234
2,420
3,000
18,757
1, 350
225
40,575
800
10, 867
2,125

5,525
180, 720
1,515
25, 265
89, 934

747
11, 640
440
0
3, 200
50
1,150
37, 622
2,950
1,265
2,300

14, 270
1,470
70,952
83,737
68,439
27,985
84,104
1, 275,513
3,095
4,200
26,156
5,100
3, 375
43, 502
10,150
26,557
11, 800

13,515
183,998
4,905
28,182
105, 761
12,550
14, 447
138, 979
1,271
11, 100
12,623
5,800
1,230
45, 243
5,800
7,255
7,930

2, 325
16,900
1, 425
1,300
319,195
12, 727
8,940
150
260
51,115
1,170
46, 385
8,025
2, 215
1,005

1,255
5,800
56, 300
2,650
77,523
17,839
33,125
650
495
5, 565
4,585
28, 450
575
625
159,332

23, 775
33, 565
17,815
49,000
773, 423
36, 649
46,410
1, 220
5, 380
57, 225
18,744
65, 620
10, 365
14,963
18,335

10,556
13, 835
58,410
23, 350
375,085
61, 231
74, 355
1, 625
3,220
8, 546
16, 502
37, 550
8, 280
9, 735
169,362

17,603
1, 705
2,655
113, 605
336,800
5,160
13,450
23,206
130
2,360
4,355
1,315
1,350 1

4,320
1,308
1,105
120, 845
46,950
1,330
45, 450
24,144
350
905
950
10,425
75

41,368
16,380
4,405
547, 665
554,900
99,600
63,450
69, 704
1,430
6,845
10, 790
10, 640
1, 735

17,360
21, 218
1,905
447, 880
272, 925
30, 265
86,800
125,327
1,620
5, 030
6, 945
21, 909
495

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

0

360
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
8 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—Continued
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings

E stim ated cost
S tate and city

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Ohio—C ontinued.
L o ra in ...................
M a n s fie ld ._____
M arion__________
M assillon. ------.
M iddletow n_____
N ew ark_________
N o rw o o d _______
P ortsm outh______
Springfield______
Steubenville__ . .
Toledo__________
W arren_________
Y oungstow n_____
Wisconsin:
A ppleton_______
E a u Claire______
Fond d u Lac____
Green B ay______
K enosha________
M adison________
M ilw a u k e e ...___
O shkosh_________
Racine__________
Sheboygan______
Superior________
W est A llis..............

Decem­
ber,
1931

Families pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings

N ew nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

No­
vem ­
ber,
1931

D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

2
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
1
0
2

$5, 300
6,165
465
250
270
760
13,570
5, 230
885
500
11, 585
16, 820
3,245

$575
400
2,150
76, 600
34,496
3,850
0
75
850
6,900
88, 860
500
2,210

$11,125
15,175
465
750
1, 020
5, 760
41,420
7,296
12,410
5,700
24,168
39, 390
54,065

$13,075
9,910
2,900
76,675
35,809
7,350
650
370
11,475
7, 775
281, 329
6,455
16,840

2

22, 370
3,000
4, 600
4, 570
1,950
3,695
935, 577
235,050
10, 745
1, 375
1,715
5,965

775
3, 550
990
13, 965
24, 245
34, 236
30, 910
2,540
1,175
995
1,375
0

45, 595
23, 500
27,262
20, 030
44,140
59, 668
1,229, 578
236,155
13, 315
58, 717
5,525
17,251

48,375
25,367
4,110
24, 890
28,415
68,736
214,164
23, 215
13, 575
22,200
1,980
250

4, 807,024

5,228, 548
+ 8.8

8, 868, 820

7,987,168
—9.9

$5,400
7, 500
0
0
0
5,000
26,000
0
10, 300
3,000
4,000
11, 500
14,400

$12, 500
9,000
0
0
0
3,500
0
0
9,000
0
13, OOO
0
9,800

2
1
0
0
0
1
5
0
2
1
1
2
4

17,200
18,400
19, 500
11,100
15,000
29, 700
225,350
0
0
42, 300
3,000
9,100

6,700
19, 500
0
6, 500
0
31, 900
142,150
13, 275
7,000
16, 500
0
0

6
6
7
3
1
7
53
0
0
9
1
2

T o tal__________ 2,276, 567
Per cent of change___

1,529,677
—32.8

507

4
0

2
0
7
30
5
1
3
0
0
302
—40. 4

Decem­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Iowa:
B urlington______
Cedar R apids____
Council Bluffs___
D av en p o rt______
Des M oines______
D u b u q u e________
O ttu m w a________
Sioux C i t y .. ..........
W aterlo o ................
Kansas:
H utchinson............
K ansas C ity _____
Topeka_________
W ichita_________
M innesota:
D u lu th ....................
M inneapolis_____
St. P a u l.............
M issouri :
Joplin___________
K ansas C ity ..........
S p ringfield.......... .
St. Joseph...............
St. Louis.................
N ebraska:
L in c o ln .................
O m aha....................
N o rth D akota:
Fargo.......................


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

$5, 000
44,150
3, 500
29, 400
58, 050
46, 900
11, 500
36, 500
9, 600

0
$22, 200
1,000
17, 000
74, 800
24, 000
5, 000
37, 000
17,100

1
6
2
8
13
10
3
11
4

0
8
1
5
15
6
1
9
4

$5, 350
6,685
3, 800
13, 245
34, 090
3,450
300
90, 465
7,325

$200
11,332
1,300
610
9,185
2,348
16, 500
41,175
71,835

$11, 250
77,430
12, 300
74, 098
112, 555
58,448
11,800
163, 415
21,850

$1, 250
59,227
2,800
22,572
87,710
34, 249
53,600
88,525
90,165

0
9,900
22, 000
44, 000

8,900
4, 700
4, 700
23, 575

0
4
6
8

4
4
3
9

1,975
0
3,430
11,255

2,620
2,000
4,615
15,160

4,105
9,900
31, 585
65,212

11, 760
9,175
24,505
47,443

17,300
474, 850
190, 740

26,500
354, 325
104,160

6
131
35

7
93
21

6,035
41,960
1, 563, 900

7,520
855, 235
44,696

61,945
589,945
1, 799,160

65, 240
1, 247, 550
269,827

0
70,000
13,600
7,100
246, 500

3,000
80, 500
9,000
13, 500
170,100

0
26
5
3
78

2
23
2
5
44

900
62,200
2,160
6, 530
63,038

0
5,200
1, 710, 585
745
38, 980

6,525
182, 900
20, 760
18, 705
454,868

7,869
437,800
1,805,190
18,055
287,135

25,800
53,000

133,100
94,900

5
15

10
24

44, 510
54,232

3,295
101,410

72, 360
118, 747

140,755
210,285

28,000

20,500

8

5

275

500

32,775

28,800

361

HOUSING
T

a b l e

8.—E S T IM A T E D C O ST OP B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued
W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S t a t e s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings

Estim ated cost
State and city

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

South D akota:
Sioux Falls______

Decem­
ber,
1931

Families pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings
No­
vem ­
ber,
1931

D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

N ew nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions a nd repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

$42,437

$13,125

9

4

$111,314

$158,950

$154,626

$273,950

T o ta l............ ....... 1.489, 827

1,262,685
—15.3

397

309
—22.2

2,138,424

3,105,996
+45.2

4,167,264

5, 325,437
+27.8

S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s
Delaware:
W ilm ington_____
D istrict of Columbia:
W ashington...........
Florida:
Jacksonville........._
M iam i__________
Orlando-------------St. Petersburg___
T am p a........... .........
Georgia:
A tla n ta ............ .......
A ugusta........... .......
C olum bus........... .
M acon__________
Savannah_____ M aryland:
B altim ore_______
C um berland_____
H agerstow n...........
N o rth Carolina:
Asheville..............
C harlo tte...............
D u rh a m ______ _
G reensboro____
High P o in t______
R aleigh_________
W ilm ington_____
W inston-Salem __
South Carolina:
Charleston______
C olum bia_______
Greenville_______
S partan b u rg ..........
Virginia:
Lynchburg______
N ew port N ews___
N orfolk........ ..........
Petersburg---------Portsm o u th_____
R ichm ond_______
R oanoke________
W est Virginia:
C h a r le s to n ..____
Clarksburg______
H u n tin g to n _____
Parkersburg_____
W heeling................

$69, 200

$16,800

15

4

$24,875

$20,665

$320,732

$49,736

747,350

578,500

149

118

8,825,657

280,488

9,905,058

1,016,546

38,650
43,550
500
12, 700
7,650

39,500
28,300
0
19,000
1,650

12
16
1
6
8

12
9
0
1
3

34,565
79,815
565
8,500
4,525

9,105
11,200
2,720
1,300
24,340

136,640
206, 814
9,070
37,100
31,324

94,860
90,395
9,105
41,244
50,778

58,700
23,292
2,800
16, 500
14,500

24,900
3,390
3,500
16, 500
16,200

25
8
2
1
4

12
4
3
1
5

28,923
15,363
2,059
850
3, 750

10,057
1,454
475
900
1,100

198,609
48,994
12, 329
37, 765
22,530

69,073
10,131
9,287
45,331
17,400

426,000
0
0

168,000
0
4,500

109
0
0

29
0
3

595,600
915
1,155

138,200
725
445

1,476,700
3,370
6,155

668,000
1,675
5,270

0
31,530
19, 200
3, 500
16, 400
2,200
13,800
6, 500

2,400
22,050
4,900
4,900
15,000
8,300
15,100
900

0
13
5
2
12
2
6
3

2
4
2
2
7
5
4
1

220
72,475
0
662,078
590
234,540
600
8,310

125
90
2,000
36,285
9, 375
12, 555
7,200
445

6,515
115, 383
21,675
672,028
17,490
240, 624
18,800
21,353

7,110
28,511
8,720
73, 314
31,375
21,555
33, 300
22,684

5, 500
56,400
16,000
1,500

5,500
29,100
11,550
0

3
18
4
1

2
9
3
0

0
953,443
0
2,350

21,350
81,510
1,125
1,000

16,689
1, 022, 610
18,665
5,425

31,842
144,045
14,340
2,055

4,650
23, 700
67,800
400
9,600
60, 790
8,500

16,000
4,133
22,500
3,200
0
11,000
16,000

2
12
24
1
5
12
2

6
2
8
2
0
4
4

16, 580
2, 607
22,735
30,568
390
27,177
19,855

4,350
1,165
3,900
40
850
19,867
503

25,290
98,855
109,180
31,253
23,445
115,485
37,390

29,930
11, 319
58,835
3,240
6,725
64,883
22,666

14,800
3,000
8,100
0
10,200

49,350
1,500
0
0
0

6
1
4
0
4

10
1
0
0
0

3,475
3,378
3,325
1,425
6,950

8,439
400
1,225
8,287
4,100

33,875
6,378
19,830
3,870
20,505

81,094
2,500
3,535
17,257
9,450

T o ta l............ ....... 1,845,462

1,164,123
-3 6 .9

498

729,360 15,155,803
-9 3 .8

2,909,116
-8 0 .8


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

281 11, 700,188
-4 3 .6

362
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
8 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—Continued
S o u th C e n tr a l S ta te s
N ew residential buildings

E stim ated cost
S tate and city

Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings

N ew nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber,
1931

D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

Decem­
ber,
1931

N ovem ­
ber,
1931

$8,260
24, 300
20, 200

$2, 600
11, 000
14,800

9
11
17

3
6
11

$18,300
11, 550
10,825

$3, 650
27,075
2,135

$120, 903
43,648
40, 721

$18,840
43,897
26,635

17,000

8,000

4

5

263,553

867, 806

288,929

892,287

0
7,000
12,000
0
0

0
0
67,500
0
3,000

0
2
3
0
0

0
0
7
0
1

744
670
40,470
700
2,100

0
135,845
28, 790
20,400
11, 500

744
13,831
101,420
700
2,100

3,700
140, 320
106, 615
23,100
14, 500

25,160
49,400
9,250

11,300
33, 550
3,500

5
17
9

3
14
4

835
44, 775
13,621

655
11, 505
372,432

31, 303
124, 683
51,268

18,947
92,194
389,296

11,910

9,890

9

5

0

0

49, 004

12,173

0
89,500
0
57,700

11,100
76,000
0
60,840

0
24
0
17

3
11
0
13

0
1,039, 715
400
57,405

485
751,889
150
6,937

2,285
1,141, 025
400
127,503

14, 760
833,499
150
82, 203

20, 700
0
6,300
27,950
87,600

34,000
500
4,800
6, 500
10, 200

8
0
5
13
14

2
1
2
5
5

19,770
1, 650
6,420
26, 520
409, 225

12,700
4, 500
5,220
13,910
1,364, 500

100,986
1,650
25,274
151,840
529,619

68,025
5, 800
15, 780
104, 000
1,392,653

5,500
68, 665
7, 250
128,775
12,000
200, 550
16,950
696, 350
0
0
77,722
10, 725
0

31, 375
24,039
1,000
64, 000
9, 700
178,550
18,950
273,650
0
0
77,218
5,000
0

2
39
7
52
5
28
7
85
0
0
39
8
0

11
22
1
29
3
21
8
66
0
0
41
4
0

18,500
256, 206
5,192
7, 580
2,646
110,185
313, 354
148, 588
3,710
1, 650
218,794
41,750
49,449

8,791
49, 813
1,462
230,895
4,085
43, 825
62,723
73, 500
0
1,060
336,313
2,765
0

29,539
402,021
21, 871
310, 200
20, 004
353,036
340, 852
854; 623
11,422
4, 185
312,103
57,335
55; 424

43, 241
81, 924
40, 499
366, 740
17,175
255,963
87, 521
354, 040
6,112
2,675
445; 591
9,115
4, 465

T o ta l. _______ 1,698, 717
Per cent of ch an g e.. .

1,052, 562
-3 8 .0

439

307
-30. 1

3,146,852

4,457, 316
+41. 6

5, 722,451

6, 014, 435
+ 5 .1

Alabam a:
B irm in g h a m ____
Mobile ________
M o n tg o m e ry ____
Arkansas:
L ittle R o c k ._ ___
K entucky:
A shland. ______
Covington . . . . . .
Louisville. .
N e w p o r t_______
P ad u cah _______
Louisiana:
B aton R o u g e ___
N ew Orleans
.
S h re v e p o rt______
M ississippi:
Jackson . . . . . . . .
Oklahoma:
E n i d ___________
Oklahoma C i t y .. .
Okmulgee . . . . .
T u lsa___________
Tennessee:
C h a tta n o o g a ____
Johnson C ity . . .
K noxville_______
_____
M em phis
N ashville________
Texas:
Am arillo________
A u stin .. . . . . . .
B eaum ont _____
D allas. ____. . .
E l Paso. ______
F o rt W o rth ____
G alveston_____ _
H ouston________
Po rt A rth u r_____
San Angelo. . . . .
San A ntonio__ _
W aco___________
W ichita F alls. ._


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

Decem­
ber,
1931

363

HOUSING

T able 8 - E S T I M A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931—Continued
M o u n t a i n a n d P a c if ic S ta te s
New residential buildings

E stim ated cost
S tate and city

193Î

Decernber,
1931

Arizona:
$36, 500
$52, 700
Phoenix_________
13,900
Tucson ________
46,415
California:
7,000
19, 500
Alameda ______
41, 500
77,300
A]hambra _____
9,100
Bakersfield ____
16, 200
13,200
59, 959
B erkeley________
13, 750
34,857
Fresno _________
222, 800
friend ale ______
125,050
87, 550
Bong B each_____
147, 200
1,076,
669
T,ns A n g eles_____ 1,276, 064
104, 250
171, 575
O akland ______
72,
400
32, 050
P asadena________
28, 800
17, 800
R iverside__ _____
62,
500
Sacram ento______
95,250
139, 300
84,100
San Diego _____
346,
750
505, 950
San Francisco____
27,695
35, 050
S a n J o s e ________
8,
500
40, 300
S a n t a A n a_______
28,950
36, 700
Santa B arb ara___
24,
700
24,
750
S to c k to n .- __ ___
2,500
10,400
Vallejo__________
olorado:
3, 300
8,325
Colorado Springs..
111, 500
152, 800
D enver__________
0
3,500
Pueblo______ ___
M ontana:
0
0
B u tte . . _______
32,900
10,250
G reat Falls______
N ew Mexico:
24,500
24, 755
A lbuquerque.........
Oregon:
64,450
79,440
P ortlan d ________
0
4, 720
S a le m __________
U tah:
0
2,400
O gden. . . ____
17,425
43, 800
Salt Lake C ity ___
W ashington:
7,500
7,500
B ellingham ______
0
0
E v e re tt_________
111, 250
136,300
Seattle__________
16,400
57, 550
Spokane_________
14, 000
33, 500
T acom a............—
T o tal_________

3,474,010

2, 751, 539
- 20.8

N ew nonresidential
b u i l d i n g s (esti­
m ated cost)

Fam ily pro­
vided for in
new
dwellings
No-

De-

ber,
1931

ber,
1931

10
24
5
24
4
12
9
27
46
394
44
8
7
21
24
129
9
13
10
5
2

November,
193Î

10
8

$250
67,685

5,510
2
14
6, 250
106, 680
3
109, 659
5
10, 640
6
44
37,440
32
29, 200
357 1,178,306
181,159
30
11
10, 833
21,070
5
13
180, 630
39
37,910
592, 516
84
188, 475
6
2
30, 000
3,110
8
2,450
7
1
3,150

Decernber,
1931

Total construction,
including altera­
tions a nd repairs
(estim ated cost)

November,
1931

Decernber,
1931

$55, 346
122, 959

$158,220
31, 678

33, 002
1,465
88,150
275
125, 965
2,190
203, 308
1,235
70, 905
3, 750
170, 920
11,400
210, 715
270,365
1,150, 501 2,879, 858
386,404
29, 280
71, 948
225,173
47,827
61, 285
293, 232
23, 860
201,112
132, 558
242, 472 1,206, 534
249,100
18, 600
91, 844
3,400
57, 720
118,601
38,055
430.313
16,945
0

19,475
46, 075
27, 500
30, 756
51,963
245, 525
385,125
2, 646, 863
198, 367
320, 759
95, 824
114, 887
416, 914
729, 240
67,180
17, 318
151, 381
458, 578
5,554

$115,340
2,800

3
37
3

3
26
0

1, 550
139, 250
2,550

2,150
74,290
855

20,985
342,115
8,695

8,430
223, 540
5, 755

0
3

0
3

3,020
575

242, 600
150

3,720
16, 025

242, 600
17,900

8

10

10,335

18,955

52,883

57,015

21
1

15
0

41, 770
15, 342

1,197,453
660

176,740
25,772

1, 363, 855
5,042

2
8

0
6

0
6,301

700
19,146

2,500
67, 546

1,200
75,049

3
0
45
15
14

3
0
40
4
4

3, 475
895
112, 770
16, 500
6,140

14,900
430
42, 200
7, 620
44, 605

14, 525
2,450
336, 580
89, 555
54,185

24, 910
1, 255
250, 012
42,016
98, 690

990

801
-1 9 .:

3,163, 396

4, 511, 577
+42.6

7, 836,125

8,636,451
+ 10. 2

$8,915

$167,391
+87.8

$146, 745

$288, 617
+96.7

H a w a ii
H onolulu:-------------- P er cent of change

$112,821


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

$107,387
- 4 .8

65

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W age-R ate C h an ges in M a n u fa ctu r in g In d u strie s in D ecem b er,
1931

THE 16,150 manufacturing establishments from which data
wage changes were requested, 15,875 establishments,
OForconcerning
98.3 per cent of the total, reported no wage-rate changes during
the month ending December 15, 1931. These 15,875 establishments
employed 2,680,525 workers in December, 1931, or 98.2 per cent of
the 2,729,901 employees in all establishments from which wagerate changes were requested.
Decreases in rates of wages were reported by 275 establishments,
or 1.7 per cent of the total number of establishments reporting.
These decreases, averaging 9.3 per cent, affected 49,376 employees, or
1.8 per cent of all employees in the establishments reporting.
W A G E C H A N G E S O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N N O V E M B E R 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1931

In d u stry

All m anufacturing indus­
tries_________________
P e r c e n t o f t o t a l ______

Slaughtering and m eat packings
Confectionery_____ _________
Ice cream ____ _______________
F lo u r_____ _____ ____ ________
B aking_______ _______ ____
Sugar refining, cane__________
C otton g o o d s...............................
Hosiery and k n it goods.______
Silk goods___________________
Woolen and worsted goods____
C arpets an d rugs_____________
D yeing and finishing te x tile s...
Clothing, m en’s______________
Shirts and collars____________
Clothing, w om en’s___________
M illinery and lace goods______
Iron and steel________________
Cast-iron p ipe_______________
Structural-iron work__________
E oundry a n d machine-shop
products__________________
H a rd w a re ...________________
M achine tools_______________
Steam fittings and steam and
hot-w ater heating apparatus..
Stoves______________________
L um ber, sawmills........................
Lum ber, m illw ork___________
F u r n itu re ......................... ............
L eath er_______ _____________
Boots and shoes______ . . . ____
P ap er and p u lp .......... .................
Paper boxes_________________
P rinting, book and jo b...............
Printing, new spapers..................

364

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

E stab ­
lish­
ments
report­
ing

Total
num ber
of em­
ployees

16,150

2, 729,901

N u m b er of establish­
m ents reporting—
No
Wage Wage
in ­
wage
de­
changes creases creases

15, 875

275

N um ber of employees
having—

N o wage
changes

2, 680, 525

WTage
in ­
creases

49, 376

1.8

100

100

98.3

206
315
311
418
789
14
515
339
251
181
27
130
328
106
380
140
189
38
168

87,177
37, 957
10,023
16, 082
59, 519
7,935
184, 793
81, 326
49,464
44, 772
14, 513
35, 031
53, 066
15,478
25, 306
12, 561
191,196
7,761
20,254

201

313
307
416
782
13
467
331
243
170
25
116
327
105
379
134
188
38
166

20,121

133

1,073
99
144

154,224
24,103
15, 713

1,059
98
142

151, 976
23,935
15,679

2,248
168
34

103
133
628
328
418
137
274
341
298
614
427

21,474
14, 531
64, 429
18, 944
46, 540
20, 981
85, 814
64,442
23,280
52, 350
73,646

103
131
619
319
402
131
263
332
296
608
423

21.474
14.474
62, 588
18,619
44, 996
19, 546
83, 373
63,198
23,191
51, 666
73,425

57
1,841
325
1,544
1,435
2,441
1,244
89
684

1.7

86, 288
37, 653
9,989
15, 904
59, 073
7,281
164,473
80, 039
48,457
41,172
14,415
30, 916
52,880
15,428
25,286
12, 330
190,196
7, 761

304
34
178
446
654
20, 320
1,287
1,007
3,600
98
4,115
186
50
20

231
1,000

221

365

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

W A G E C H A N G E S O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N N O V E M B E R 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1931—
C ontinued

In d u stry

Chem icals___________________
Fertilizers.......................... ............
Petroleum refining_________ _
C em ent_______ ___
_____
B rick, tile, an d te rra co tta____
P o ttery ______ _______________
G lass. ____________________
Stam ped an d enam eled w a re .. .
Brass, bronze, a n d copper products___________ __________
Chew ing a n d smoking tobacco
and snuff__________________
Cigars and cigarettes________
A utom obiles........ .....................
Carriages an d w agons_______
C ar building an d repairing,
electric railroad ____ _______
C ar building a n d repairing,
steam railroad_____ ______ _
A gricultural im plem ents............
Electrical m achinery, apparatu s, an d supplies____ ____ _
Pianos____ _________ _______
R ubber boots a n d shoes______
A utom obile tires an d inner
tubes_____ ______ _________
Shipbuilding___________ . . . .
A ircraft_______ _____________
A lum inum m anufactures_____
B eet sugar___________________
Beverages____________ ____ _
Bolts, n u ts, washers, a n d rivets.
B u tte r____________ _____. . .
C ash registers, adding machines, a n d calculating machines____ ____ _______ ____
Clocks, time-recording devices,
and clock m ovem ents______
Corsets an d allied garm ents___
C ottonseed oil, cake an d m eal..
C otton, sm all w ares____ ____
C u tlery (not including silver
a nd plated cutlery) and edge
tools______________________
Forgings, iron and steel.......... .
Gas and electric fixtures, lamps,
lanterns, an d reflectors_____
H ats, fur-felt_________ _______
Jew elry..........................................
M arble, granite, slate,and other
stone pro d u cts____ _________
M en ’s furnishing goods. _____
P a in t a nd varnish____________
P lated w are_________________
P lum bers’ supplies____ _____ _
R adio...............................................
R ayon ______________________
R u b b er goods other th a n boots,
shoes, tires, a n d inner tu b e s ..
Sm elting an d refining, copper,
lead, an d zinc______________
Soap..................................... ...........
T in cans an d other tinw are___
Tools (not including edge tools,
m achine tools, files,or saw s)..
T urpentine an d rosin_________
T ypew riters an d supplies_____
W irework....................... .. __


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

E stab ­
lish­
m ents
report­
ing

T o tal
num ber
of em­
ployees

N u m b er of establish­
m ents reporting—
No
Wage Wage
in ­
wage
de­
changes creases creases

N um ber of employees
having—

N o wage
changes

Wage Wage
in ­
de­
creases creases

165
205
101
111
686
110
185
84

33,244
6,960
42i 940
14,697
21, 730
14,945
37, 798
13; 263

165
202
101
109
680
108
184
84

159

27,609

157

2

27,598

26
191
217
46

8,854
45,486
219,866
'589

26
190
216
45

1
1
1

8,854
45,480
219 851
"580

9

459

24,814

456

3

24,702

112

498
76

77,498
7| 340

497
75

1
1

77 438
7,316

217
53
8

132, 783
3,546
Hi 687

212
50
8

5
3

132,320
3 422
11,687

37
82
36
16
48
290
67
219

43,813
33; 660
6| 689
2i 609
14,927
9,388
7; 587
5,555

36
79
36
16
48
287
65
217

1
3

43 772
33 298
ß 089
2,609
14| 927
9, 372
7,545
5,546

52

15,967

52

15,967

25
28
44
102

7,439
4,095
2,692
8,846

25
28
44
100

2

7,439
4; 095
2,692
8,829

17

118
45

9,437
5i 051

116
44

2
1

9 408
5,009

42

46
39
153

5,442
5,543
11,590

46
39
151

2

5,442
5; 543
111 571

204
73
341
37
67
38
20

6,221
5; 479
15,629
5,475
A 885
18,352
24; 155

203
73
339
36
67
38
20

103

19,217

102

30
60
52

9,508
8,460
7,251

30
60
50

125
21
16
57

8,137
1,157
9; 253
6,058

125
18
16
57

3
2
6
2
1

3
2
2

1

S3, 244
6 725
42; 940
14 570
21,397
14 800
37’ 749
13; 263

235
333
49
11

24
463
124

362

42
9

19

6, 201
5,479
15,564
5, 460
4, 885
18', 352
24,155

65
15

1

19,177

40

2

9, 508
8| 460
7,200

51

2
1

3

8,137
1,145
9,253
6i 058

20

12

366

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

W age C h an ges R eported b y T ra d e-U n io n s S in ce O ctober, 1931

A

T A B U L A T IO N of union an d m unicipal wage and h o u r changes
rep o rted to th e b u reau during th e p a st m o n th and occurring
during th e p a st four m onths is presented herew ith.

There were 51,744 workers for which changes were reported, 10,095
of whom were reported to have gone on the 5-day week. In addi­
tion to wage changes tabulated there were renewals or extensions of
existing agreements affecting several hundred bakers, electricians,
clothing workers, upholsterers, compositors, electrotypers, stereo­
typers, and pressmen.
R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S , B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , O C T O B E R ,
1931, TO JA N U A R Y , 1932
H ours per week

R ate of wages
In d u stry or occupation, and locality

B uilding trades:
Bricklayers—
C edar Rapids, Iow a_________________
Des M oines, Iow a______ . . __ __ . . .
E verett, W ash............................- ..............
Carpenters—
G reat B arrington, M ass .
Sioux C ity, Iowa, and vicinity__
W ashington, P a ____________________
C em ent finishers—
B irm ingham , A la___________________
Pueblo,~ Colo____ _
______________
Electricians, E v erett, W ash _ __ _______
Engineers, hoisting, E v erett, W ash______
Glaziers, D ayton, Ohio_________________
Laborers, E v erett, W ash. _____________
P ainters—
A tlantic C ity, N . J _________________
D ayton, Ohio__ . . .
... ........
E v erett, W ash _____________________
Plasterers—
Birm ingham , Ala _________________
E verett, W ash_______ ___ __________
M em phis, Tenn__ ______ _________
P o rt Angeles, W ash., and v icin ity . . . .
Pueblo, C o lo _____________
____ .
Rochester, P a., and v ic in ity ...______
Santa B arbara, Calif________________
Plum bers—
E verett, W a s h ________ _ ._
M ilw aukee, W is... . .
___ _______
Sheet-metal workers, E v erett, W ash_____
Steam fitters—
M ilw aukee, W is____________________
Helpers _ ________________
Structural-ironw orkers, E verett, W ash___

D ate of
change

N ov. 22
Oct. 1
Jan . 1

After
change

Per hour

Per hour

$1. 50
1. 50
1.50

Before
change

After
change

$1.37%
1.25
1. 50

44
40
40

44
40
30

1.00
1.00
1.00

44
44
44

44
44
40

_do___
Oct. 1
Jan . 1

1.12 y2
1. 12%
1.12%

___do___
Oct. 26
Jan . 1
___do.......
Dec. 7
Jan . 1

.75
1.50
1.37%
1.12 %
1.37%
.75-1.00

1. 00
1. 31%
1. 37%
1.12%
1.10
.75-1.00

40
44
40
40
40
40

40
44
30
30
40
30

___do.......
Dec. 7
Jan. 1

1.45
1.25
1.12%

1.00
1.00
1.12%

40
40
40

40
40
30

___do.......
___do___
Dec. 1
Oct. 26
__do___
Dec. 2
N ov. 19

.75
1.50
1. 56%
1.37%
1. 50
1.66%
1.50

1.00
1.50
1.25
1.12%
1.31%
1.25
1.12%

40
40
40
44
44
40
40

40
30
40
44
44
40
30

Jan . 1
N ov. 16
Jan . 1

1. 37%
1.18%
1.25

1. 37%
1.00
1.25

40
44
40

30
44
30

N ov. 16
_do___ .
Jan. 1

1.06%
.62%
1.12%

.93%
.56%
1.12%

44
44
40

44
44
30

Chauffers and teamsters:
L aundry wagon drivers, Chicago, 111. ___ N ov. 1
Clothing:
Overall, shirt, and m en ’s clothing workers,
U nited States—
C u tters____________________
_____ Jan. 1
Pieceworkers_______________________ ___do___
Longshoremen:
Corpus C hristi, G alveston, H ouston, and
Te:.as C ity, T ex___________ _______ Oct. 21
M etal trades:
M olders and coremakers, Troy, N . Y ------- Dec. 3
i Various.
2 Average.


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

Before
change

Per week

$39. 50

Per week

$40. 50

35.00-42. 00
2 18.00-30.00

29. 75-35. 70
2 14.40-24.00

Per hour

Per hour

Per day

Per day

$0.80
$7. 25

«

(>)

44
44

40
40

$0.70

48

48

$6. 60

38

38

2 Per day.

367

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S , B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , O C T O B E R ,
1931, TO JA N U A R Y , 1932—C ontinued
H ours per week

R ate of wages
D ate of
change

In d u stry or occupation, and locality

P rin tin g and publishing:
Compositors and machine operators—
Bism arck, N . D ak., new spaper______
G rand Rapids, M ich.—
Job w o rk _______________________
N ewspaper, d a y ------------------------Newspaper, n ig h t----------------------M iddletow n, Ohio, new spaper----------M o u n t Vernon, N . Y .—
Job w o rk _______________________
N ewspaper, d a y --------------- --------Newspaper, n ig h t----------------------N ew Y ork, N . Y .—
Job w ork, d a y . . . -----------------------Job w ork, n ig h t------------------------Job w ork, m id n ig h t-------------------Phoenix, Ariz.—
Newspaper, d a y ------------------------Newspaper, n ig h t---------------------P aper handlers and sheet straighteners,
New Y ork, N . Y .—
D ay w o rk___________________ ____
N ight w o rk________________________
Press assistants, N ew Y ork, N . Y ,—
Job w ork, d a y ______________________
Job w ork, n ig h t------------------------------Pressm en, New Y ork, N . Y .—
Job w ork, d a y _________________ ____
Job w ork, n ig h t-------------------------------

A fter
change

Per week

Per week

Before After
change change

$46.56

$46.56

47

46

N ov. 16
__.do_ __
___do___
N ov. 1

35.00
46. 00
48.00
34.00

4 32. 00
4 38. 35
4 40. 00
35.00

44
48
48
48

40
40
40
48

Jan. 1
___do__ _
- .- d o ___

52.00
55.00
57.00

54.00
57. 00
58.00

44
45
42

44
45
42

-_-do_ _
___do__ .
___do_ _

59.00
62.00
65.00

60. 00
63. 00
66.00

44
44
44

44
44
44

Oct. 31
-_-do___

46.50
49. 50

45.00
48.00

48
48

46j^
46^

Jan . 1
__-do__ _

40.00-44. 00
43. 00-47. 00

41.00-45. 00
44.00-48. 00

44
40

44
40

-do_ -_ -d o ___

47. 50-53. 00
50. 50-56. 00

48. 50-54. 00
51. 50-57. 00

44
40

44
40

_ _do___
_ _do__ -

50. 00-70. 00
53.00-73. 00

51. 00-71. 00
54.00-74. 00

44
40

44
40

Per hour

Per hour

2 $0. 75

56

48

. 32)4- ■54

32-75

32-75

48

48

(>)
48

(>)
48

44
44
44

40
40
40

Jan .

R ailroad workers:
Chicago, 111., leverm en (tow erm en)---------- Dec.
Street railw ay workers:
Belleville, Collinsville, and E ast St.,
Louis 111., m otormen, conductors, bus
operators, and garage men......... —- ............ Jan.

1

1

1

Dec. 7
Textile workers, N ew Bedford, M ass-------M unicipal workers:
Baltim ore, M d ., dep artm en t of education
_ Jan. 1
employees________________________
P e rth Amboy, N . J --------------------------- ___ d o ___
Sacramento, Calif., State p rinting p lan t—
_ N ov. 1
B ookbinders____________________
_ _ _do___
P rin te rs________________________
___ do____
Pressm en_______________________
1 Various.
2 Average.
4 Tem porary.

Before
change

2 $0. 75

. 35- . 60

Per week

Per week

2 $17.00

2 $15.30

(')
0)

(5)
(6)
50.00
51.00
50.00

45. 46
46. 37
45. 46

6 6X
A per cent reduction for tem porary period.
6
per cent reduction.

C o llection of W ages in N ew Jersey, 1930-31

URING the year ending June 30,1931, the various State employ­
ment bureaus of New Jersey received 2,426 claims for wages,
which aggregated $176,554.67. This was an increase of 15.7 per cent
over the number of claims received in the preceding year^ and an
increase of approximately 43 per cent in the amount of claims, the
New Jersey Department of Labor reports in its Industrial Bulletin of
September, 1931.
At present this wage-collection work is handled by a supervisor, one
stenographer, and the part-time service of an examiner in charge of
six State employment offices. The supervisor and his assistant also
do the statistical work for the administration of the employment
bureau division. -Since this manner of handling wage claims was

D


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

368

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

instituted, in 1929, the work presented in this connection has expanded
25 per cent throughout the State. The percentage of expansion in
the Newark district, where the work is carried on in the administrative
office, has been greater than for the State as a whole. While this
increase is due in a substantial degree to unemployment, the pub­
licity given to the success of the only equipped bureau is also a con­
siderable factor. Recommendation was made that a field investigator
should be added to the staff doing the wage-collection work, but this
extra help was not allowed. It is stated that inability to meet the
expanded volume of business with equivalent facilities will result in
either lack of service for some of the wage claimants or by a lower
percentage of success in many cases of collection because a minimum
amount of attention must be given to each case.
The local employment bureaus located outside of Newark are so
taken up with the ordinary duties as employment agencies that they
are not able properly to take care of the legal side of wage collection.
In order to aid them in the handling of the claims submitted locally,
a monthly check-up has been inaugurated so that advice and assist­
ance can be given without delay concerning the cases in process
and with prosecutions, and finally to account for funds deposited in
settlements of claims. Moreover, form letters of notification, hearing,
etc., have been furnished the local offices to simplify and standardize
procedure. It is suggested in the report under review that the
supervisor should be accorded such aid as will allow of more personal
contact with the local bureaus so that a training and development
program can be initiated.
During the fiscal year 1930-31 over 50 per cent of all proper claims,
or $32,836.85, representing 27.9 per cent of the money involved, was
collected. The preceding year the amount collected was $32,029.26,
or about 41 per cent of the money involved in the claims.
T he am o u n t of m oney involved in th e av erag e case is now g re a te r th a n usual,
w hich accounts in a g re a t m easure fo r th e sm aller success in ra tio of m oney
collected, alth o u g h th e reasons h eretofore s ta te d a re also responsible fo r a slightly
sm aller success on th e ratio of cases successfully closed. A n o th er fa c t ex p lan a to ry
of th is condition is th e rise of th e av erag e a m o u n t of claim to $72.77, over th e
average of $58.75 for th e p revious y ear. I t is to be n o te d t h a t th is av erag e is
considerably above th e lim ita tio n of th e ju risd ictio n of th e sm all claim s division
of th e d is tric t courts.

Claims were received from every county in New Jersey, the majority
of these cases being taken up by the office in Newark, where the
supervisor of the wage collection division of the State employment
bureau is located. While it is the labor department’s policy to
collect wages without inconveniencing employers, it was necessary to
start prosecutions under the statute. (Ch. 38, P. L. 1899, as amended
by ch. 150, P. L. 1928 and ch. 235, P. L. 1929.)
The following are the results of 37 complaints made against 19
employers in police courts, district courts, and before justices of the
peace in different parts of the State:
In 16 cases wages in th e a m o u n t of $686.82 w ere p a id a n d co m p la in t d ropped
or sentence suspended.
I n five cases a fine of $50 in each case w as im posed a n d paid. This, according
to th e sta tu te , w as tu rn e d over to th e S ta te treasu rer.
I n tw o cases a v erd ict w as ren d ered a n d a fine of $50 w as im posed. T hese
m a tte rs w ere ag ain st corporations, a n d th e co u rts h av e re p o rte d in a b ility to
collect th e fine im posed, as assets could n o t be discovered sufficient to cover
these am ounts.

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

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

369

In five cases a fine w as im posed, a n d in d e fa u lt of p a y m e n t d efen d an ts were
co m m itted to th e co u n ty ja il fo r sh o rt periods.
I n nine cases th e em ployer disap p eared before w a rra n ts could be served.

The experience of the department of labor in handling thousands
of claims shows that the law is seriously in need of amendment so
that it will at least penalize corporations which continue their activi­
ties although the courts are unable to discover any assets on which
to levy the provided fine. Changes should also be made in the matter
of court jurisdiction which, as a result of the existing confusion, has
opened the way for justices of the peace in particular to receive com­
plaints from persons other than representatives of tlm State depart­
ment of labor. This last-mentioned situation makes it possible for
employers to be forced to appear in court before proper investigation
has been made, and as a consequence some decisions have no founda­
tion in fact and law.
These prosecutions were held in several of the New Jersey counties,
most of them having been handled by the Newark first criminal court
through the presiding magistrate’s courtesy. Every complaint
officially filed by the New Jersey Department of Labor was upheld
by the court.
Furthermore, through a special courtesy to the department, the
small claims division of the second judicial court of Irvington ad­
ministered, as civil matters, cases of doubtful character, and where
complicated counterclaims were presented, set these matters for
trial without the petitioner’s having to pay advance costs. This
court set aside one day a week for the hearing of all workmen’s suits
whether referred by the department of labor or presented direct to
the court. At the court’s request the supervisor of the division of
employment attended these hearings and acted as mediator on such
occasions. For three and one-half months of the year ending June
30, 1931, this service included 61 cases successfully closed which are
not included among the claims collected by the employment bureaus.
The division feels that, in addition to its actual remedying of
wrongs, it performs a valuable service in correcting the militant atti­
tude of many wage claimants^ Of all the claims received, 25.9 per
cent do not present enough evidence legally to support a case. The
petitioners in such claims all consider in the beginning that they have
a grievance. A careful explanation, however, of the facts and of the
employers’ and workers’ legal rights serves to dispel these claims.
A substantial volume of legal precedents is being developed in this
field of law which hitherto have not often been before the courts, and
such precedents have been of value in amicably adjusting disputes
involving numerous well-meaning employers who have not understood
the legal side of the wage controversies which so frequently come up
in business.
In the statement following are given the various causes of the wage
complaints in the year under review and the kinds of business in which
wage claimants were engaged.


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

370

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
C ause:
Number of complaints
R ate or to t a l____________________________________________ 5 5 5
H eld beyond p a y d a y ____________________________________368
B reach of c o n tr a c t______________________________________ 275
N o fu n d s________________________________________________222
B a n k ru p t______________________________________________ 165
E m plo y er d is a p p e a re d __________________________________ 111
P re m a tu re _____________________________________________ 84
C o u n te r c la im ..._______________________________________
77
69
D enial of d e b t_________________________________________
N one__________________________________________
54
P a id b y c h e c k ______________________________ ;__________ 45
D enied em p lo y m e n t____________________________________ 41
T im e w o rk e d __________________________________________
27
Q uality of w o rk ________________________________________
10
26
In d e p e n d e n t c o n tra c to r_______
B alance re p resen ts m iscellaneous.
K inds of business:
B uilding c o n stru c tio n ____________________________________453
M a n u fa c tu rin g ______________________
207
P a in tin g _______________________________________________ 186
R e s ta u r a n t____________________________________________ 149
C asu al____ ____________________________________________ 147
W holesale an d re ta il___________________________________ 145
117
D om estic serv ice____________________________
N eedle tr a d e s ____________ ,_____________________________ ■67
R eal e s ta te _____________________________________________ 63
T ru ck in g _______________________________________________ 62
G arag e_________________________________________________ 51
B a k e ry ________________________________________________
48
A m u sem en t____________________________________________ 43
H o te l__________________________________________________ 41
39
R oad c o n stru c tio n _____________________________________
L a u n d ry _______________________________________________ 35
33
P ublic u tility __________________________________________
A g ricu ltu ra l____________________________________________ 32
C leaning a n d d y ein g ___________________________________
27
P rin tin g _______________________________________________
20
P rofessio n al__________________________________________
15
B alance re p resen ts m iscellaneous.

E arn ings o f O ffice W orkers in N ew York S ta te F actories, O ctober,
1931

HE annual survey of office workers’ earnings in New York State
factories, made by the New York Department of Labor, is pub­
lished in the November, 1931, Industrial Bulletin of that department.
The data show that in October, 1931, the earnings of office workers
averaged $35.49, as compared with $37.48 in October, 1930, a drop of
over 5 per cent. The figure for October, 1930, however, represented
the peak in the earnings of these workers; and the decline in 1931,
according to the report, is “ the first real setback in the upward trend
evident since 1914,” every other year having shown a gain over the
previous yearexcept'191'5 and 1922.
This study of office workers’ earnings covers only those- who work
in the factory offices and does not include office help in the general
business offices of the firms away from the manufacturing plants, nor
does it include high-salaried executives and officials. Among the
types of positions represented are those of office and stock clerks,
stenographers, bookkeepers, accountants, cashiers, office managers,
superintendents, etc.

T


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

371

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Table 1 shows the average earnings of these workers in representative
New York State factories in October of each year from 1922 to 1931.
The New York Department of Labor cautions the reader against
comparing wage levels in one industry with those in another^ and
states that “ the uneven, distribution of the higher-salaried supervisory
and technical staff and the lower-paid clerical force causes differences
in the average earnings of office workers which do not reflect differ­
ences in the rates of pay for the same type of work.” The establish­
ments represented in this tabulation are those comprising the fixed
list of manufacturing plants in the State which submit regular monthly
reports for the labor market analysis of the New York Department
of Labor.
1 . — A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S OF O F F IC E E M P L O Y E E S IN R E P R E S E N T A ­
T IV E N E W Y O R K S T A T E F A C T O R IE S IN O C T O B E R O F E A C H Y E A R , 1922 TO 1931

T

a b le

In d u stry group
Stone, clay, and glass-----------M etals and m achinery W ood m anufactures_________
F u rs, leath er, a n d ru b b er
goods, _ _ _________ ___
Chemicals, oils, p ain ts, e tc , ._
P u lp a nd p a p er------ ------------P rinting an d pap er goods____
T extiles,. _____
Clothing a n d m illinery___
Food and to b acco .,
_ ...
W ater, lig h t, and pow er_____
T o tal.

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1928

1927

1929

1930

$29. 95 $30. 35 $32. 65 $32.78 $34.06 $34.40 $35.10 $34. 70 $35. 52
32. 08 33.36 34.63 35. 75 36.31 36.88 37.63 37. 72 38. 29
33. 62 34.29 35.06 36.94 39.19 39. 52 37.22 37.56 36. 74

1931
$34. 35
35.06
38.07

28. 22
26. 43
0)
34.24
26. 87
28. 62
32.19
0

28.92
27.83
0
36. 41
28.08
29. 68
33. 98
30.38

29.41
28. 80
(i)
37. 48
28.83
30. 29
34. 31
31.97

28. 75
29.45
0
38. 90
29. 36
30. 92
34.86
32.78

29.64
31.10
0
39. 91
29. 95
31.41
35.86
32. 53

29.62
32. 64
0)
40.49
29. 85
31.45
35. 86
31.79

29.82
33. 38
0)
41. 37
30.81
31.82
35.03
31. 60

29.34
34.07
0
42. 68
30.87
33. 30
36.04
30. 77

30.58
34.74
0
43. 94
33. 47
32. 60
36.49
33. 01

28.75
32.87
0
41.85
33.46
31. 27
35.10
30.64

. .. . . . . . .. 31. 20

32. 56

33. 58

34. 49

35.38

35.88

36.37

36. 94

37.48

35.49

i Separate earnings not com puted because of small num ber of employees.

In Table 2 a comparison is given of the earnings of men and women
in factory offices in New York State in October, 1931. The figures
in this table are not based on a fixed list of reporting firms, as is the
case with those in Table 1, as it is not possible to secure separate
data for men and women from all the firms nor from identical firms.
T

a b l e

2 .

-A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S O F M E N A N D W O M E N
O F F IC E S IN N E W Y O R K S T A T E , O C T O B E R , 1931

FA CTORY

W omen

M en
In d u stry group

IN

York U p-State T otal State New York U p-State
T otal State N ew
C ity
C ity

Stone, clay, and glass-------- ------- -M etals a n d m achinery_________ W ood m anufactures. . . . . . . -.
Furs, leather, a n d ru b b er goods-----Chemicals, oils, p aints, e tc ------P u lp a nd p a p er--------- -------------P rinting a n d paper goods--------------Textiles_____________ ____________
C lothing a n d m illinery____ -- —
Food a nd tobacco---------- ------ -------W ater, light, and pow er..................

0
$42. 32
49.89
39.40
48.84
0
57. 63
43.47
46.48
44.40
0

0
$41. 70
44. 02
42.02
45.33
0
61. 68
44.41
47.55
47.03
0

0
$42.44
52.66
37. 24
50.57
G) *
47.67
43.28
43.92
40.35
0

0
$21.09
24.16
22.14
21.06
0
25. 27
22.89
25.96
25.09
0

0
$24. 58
25. 38
25. 76
23. 56
0
26. 34
23. 07
28. 76
26.47
0

0
$20.22
23.68
20. 44
20.09
0
23.05
22.84
18.82
23.74
0

T o ta l....................- ......................-

46.22

50.90

43.46

23. 25

26.31

21.18

i Separate earnings no t com puted because of small num ber of employees.

In view of current interest in how the depression was affecting
the white-collar class in comparison with other groups of workers,


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

372

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

the New York department compiled a table showing the changes in
employment and pay rolls from October, 1930, to October, 1931.
This tabulation is reproduced in Table 3.
T able 3 —E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN F A C T O R Y O F F IC E S IN N E W Y O R K

S T A T E , O C T O B E R , 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H O C T O B E R , 1930
E m ploym ent
In d u stry group

Stone, clay, and glass___ ___________
M etals and m achinery______ _
W ood m anufactures________
Furs, leather, an d ru b b er goods_________
Chemicals, oils, p aints, e tc ______
P u lp an d p ap er_ _ ____
_ ________
___
P rin tin g a n d p ap er goods______ _
Textiles______
___ _ ___ _
Clothing a n d m illinery.Food a n d t o b a c c o . --- __________
W ater, light, a n d power_____ ______
T o tal___

__

______________

N u m b er of
employees,
October,
1931

P a y roll

Per cent of
change, Oc­
m ount, Oc­
tober, 1930, Atober,
1931
to October,
1931

P er cent of
change, Oc­
tober, 1930,
to October,
1931

701
13,895
1,471
2,501
3,822
329
8,798
2,267
3,862
2,902
1,244

-8 .0
-1 7 .2
-1 4 .1
-1 2 .4
-1 2 .1
-.9
- 5 .3
-1 5 .7
-1 2 .4
-7 .9
- 7 .5

$24,082
487,163
56, 002
71,916
125,618
13,845
368,181
75,848
120, 750
101,852
38,117

-1 1 .0
-2 4 .2
-1 1 .0
-1 7 .6
-1 6 .8
- 6 .7
- 9 .8
-1 5 .7
-1 6 .0
-1 1 .4
-1 4 .2

41, 792

-1 2 .3

1,483,374

-1 7 .0

The comments of the New York Department of Labor on the data
obtained in its surveys of office workers’ earnings are reproduced
below:
T he ra te of increase in office earnings h as show n considerable v a ria tio n in th e
period since 1914. D u rin g th e w ar period, th e ra te of gain becam e increasingly
g reater u n til th e y ears of 1918-1920 recorded gains of 13 a n d 14 p e r cen t. T he
depression of 1921 w as a p p a re n t in th e a b ru p t h a lt to th is ad v a n c e w hen earnings
m ade only a sligh t gain in 1921 a n d th e n could n o t q u ite h old th is level in 1922
T he up w ard tre n d began a g ain in 1923 a t a m ore m o d e ra te ra te of 4 p e r cent.
In th e follow ing y ears fu rth e r increases o ccurred b u t a t a slow er pace. F rom
1927 to 1930, earnings m ad e a n a n n u a l gain of a ro u n d V /2 p e r cent. As a resu lt
of these gam s, office earnings a t th e ir peak of $37.48 in O ctober, 1930, h a d a lm o st
doubled th e Ju n e, 1914, average o f $19.18.
M ost of th e m ain in d u stry groups shared in th e decline from O ctober, 1930 to
1931. Office earn in g s increased only in wood m an u factu res a n d rem ained ab out
co n sta n t in textiles. Losses in th e o th e r groups ranged, a s fa r as dollars a n d cen ts
are concerned, from $1.17 in stone, clay, a n d glass to $3.23 in m etals a n d m achinery.
The low er w age level is e v id e n t from th e fa c t t h a t av erage earn in g s in th e v arious
in d u stry groups ran g ed from $28.75 to $41.85 th is O ctober as com pared w ith
$30.58 to $43.94 la s t O ctober.
Office m en w ere still earn in g in 1931 roughly tw ice as m uch m oney as office
wom en. I n 1923 a n d 1924 a n d ag ain in 1930, m e n ’s earn in g s av erag ed a little
m ore th a n double w om en’s earnings, b u t in th e o th e r y ears of 1925-1929 a n d of
1931, th e y w ere slightly less th a n double. T h is difference is d u e p a rtly to th e fa c t
t h a t m ore of th e hig h er p aid positions req u irin g executive a b ility o r tech n ical
skill are held b y m en. F irm s m a y p refer to h av e m en in th ese positions. Also
w om en m ay feel less p e rm a n e n t in business a n d co nsequently a c cep t low er p ay
m ore w illingly a n d m ak e less p re p a ra tio n fo r ad v an cem en t. 'Office p a y fo r m en
averaged generally betw een $40 a n d $50 a n d fo r w om en betw een $20 a n d $30.
As a w hole, N ew Y ork C ity office w orkers earn ed m ore th a n th o se u p -S tate.
E arnings averaged o ver $5 m ore fo r w om en in N ew Y ork C ity th a n u p -S ta te a n d
alm ost $7.50 m ore fo r m en. E v e ry in d u stry show ed hig h er earnings fo r w om en in
th e c ity b u t th re e of th e in d u stries rep o rte d g re a te r earnings fo r m en u p -S tate.
th i s m ay be due to a g re a te r p ro p o rtio n of supervisory a n d tech n ical m en in
these in d u stries u p -S tate.
. Office w orkers h a v e been reduced since O ctober, 1930, n o t only in p a y b u t also
in num ber. T he ta b le of em p lo y m en t a n d p a y rolls in facto ry offices in O ctober,
1931, indicates t h a t th e n u m b er of office w orkers declined 12 p e r c en t a n d th a t

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

373

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

p ay rolls dropped 17 p er c en t from a y ear ago. E v ery in d u stry p a rtic ip a te d in th is
dow nw ard m ovem ent, w ith p a y rolls generally losing m ore rap id ly th a n em ploy­
m ent. T h e g reatest loss in b o th forces a n d to ta l earnings occurred in m etals an d
m achinery a n d th e sm allest in p u lp a n d paper.
H ow ever, th e decrease in th e p a s t 12 m o n th s h as n o t been as severe fo r office
w orkers in factories as fo r shop w orkers eith er in em ploym ent, p a y rolls o r average
earnings. T his is ev id e n t from th e following figures, w hich co m pare th e p e r­
centage of loss from O ctober, 1930, to O ctober, 1931, fo r office w orkers w ith th e
com bined to ta l of office a n d shop w orkers in factories.
Office

T otal
(office
and shop
combined)

—14. 3
E m p lo y m e n t-------------- ----------------------------------- —12. 3
P ay rolls_____________________________________ — \ 7 . P
—22. 5
Average w eekly earnings-------------------------------—5. 3
—9. 6
T he average office w orker received considerably m ore p a y p e r w eek th a n th e
shop w orker in every m ain in d u stry gro u p except th e public u tility group. In
ad d itio n , office w orkers en joyed m ore reg u lar em p lo y m en t a n d generally sh o rte r
ho u rs th a n th e shop w orkers.

96957°—32----10


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

G eneral Survey of W ages in C z ech o slo v a k ia 1

HE law of December 19, 1918, established the 8-hour working-day
and the 48-hour working-week in Czechoslovakian industries.
Overtime rates are not fixed by law, but wage agreements secured by
the labor unions usually guarantee the worker a 25 per cent increase
over the hourly rate for all overtime work. Such agreements generally
provide for a specified number of holidays with pay, varying in different
industries from 2 to 14. A law adopted in 1925 provides that workers
shall receive an annual paid vacation of 6 to 8 days. In certain
industries this period has been extended by the terms of collective
agreements. In cases of illness workers receive the regular payments
from the sickness insurance fund. If the illness continues for a period
of more than three weeks, the employer is obliged to pay the worker
10 per cent of his wages. If he is still ill at the end of five weeks, he
receives 20 per cent of his wages in addition to the regular benefits
from the sickness insurance fund. In some industries allowances are
granted to cover food, lodging, light and heat. Thus, in the brewery
industry workers receive sugar and beer in addition to their money
wages. Due to the general housing shortage, some factories have
erected dwellings for their workers and, in such cases, workers are
usually^ permitted to occupy the company houses without charge.
Deductions from workers’ wages to cover income taxes and social
insurace dues are authorized by law. The cost of social insurance,
including sickness, old-age, and invalidity insurance, is divided
equally between employer and employee. The amount of the con­
tribution for social insurance varies with the workers’ income, usually
amounting to about 18 per cent of the total money wage. All dues
for accident insurance are paid by the employer. In the higher-paid
groups of employees, deductions are also made to provide for old-age
and invalidity benefits.

T

Coal and Other Mining

T he wage agreement of December 1, 1929, concluded between the
mine workers and their employers, provides that average wages for
miners shall normally amount to 44 crowns ($1.30)2 per 8-hour shift.
It is estimated that 90 per cent of the underground workers (who
form 65 per cent of the workers in the lignite fields and 75 per cent of
those in the coal fields) work on a piecework basis. The scale of
wages is so adjusted that the earnings of the best-paid miners on
piecework are between 44 and 50 crowns ($1.30 to $1.48) per shift.
The following table shows the daily wages of the various classes of
workers:
1 T h is report was prepared b y Francis B. Stevens, U nited States vice consul, Prague.
2 Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents.

374

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

375

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

1 .—

A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S IN C O A L M IN IN G IN C ZE C H O SL O V A K IA , IN 1930
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Average daily wage

Average daily wage
Class of worker, and age

A rtisans—
U p to 18 years------18 to 20 years---------20 to 25 years---------Over 25 years---------U nderground workers—
U p to 18 years- 18 to 20 years ___
20 to 25 years.
----Over 25 years----------

Czechoslo­
vak cur­
rency

U nited
States cur­
rency

Crowns

21. 80-24. 90 $0. 65-$0. 74
.76- .88
25. 70-29. 60
. 91- 1. 07
30. 70-36. 10
1.08- 1. 20
36. 40-40.40
20. 90-22.90
23. 70-26. 70
27. 70-31. 10
31. 50-35.40

.62.70.82. 93-

.68
.79
.92
1. 05

Class of worker, and age

Surface workers—
U p to 16 years____
16 to 18 y e a r s . . . .
18 to 20 years . .
20 to 25 years __. _ _
Over 25 y e a r s ____
Fem ale workers—
U nder 18 years----18 to 20 y e a r s ------ -Over 20 years______

Czechoslo­
vak cur­
rency

Crowns

U nited
States cur­
rency

16. 90-18. 90
19. 90-21. 80
22. 80-25. 70
26. 70-30. 20
30. 50-34. 40

$0. 50-$0. 56
.59- .65
.67- .76
.79- .89
. 90- 1. 02

14. 90-17. 00
17. 80-19. 80
20. 80-22. 80

.44- .50
.53- .59
.62- .67

In addition to money wages, various allowances are granted to
miners. According to the report of the Czechoslovak Statistical
Office on miners’ wages in 1930, each married miner, male ov female,
receives a family allowance of 0.90 crown (2.7 cents) per shift, and an
additional 1.35 crowns (4.0 cents) per shift is^ allotted for every child
under 14 years of age dependent upon him for support. Each
married miner receives 8.2 tons of coal annually for household use,
while each single miner receives 4.1 tons. Other nonmonetary
payments take the form of wood for fuel, free lodging and light, and
rent allowances. In practically all districts for which statistics are
available, however, the payments in coal constitute more than 90 pei
cent in value of the total compensation paid in this form. Overtime
work in the mining industry beyond the regular 46 or 48 hour working
week is paid for at the rate of time and a quarter and work on Sundays
and holidays at the rate of time and a half. Deductions are made from
the wages of mine workers to cover sickness insurance, provisional
insurance against emergencies, and a fee for the use of company lands
for hunting or gardening.


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

376

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

The daily rate of money income and total income of workers of
different classes in various sections of the country, as well as the annual
amount of deductions for the purposes enumerated above, are given
the following table:
T

a b le

2 .—W A G E S I N M IN IN G IN C Z E C H O SL O V A K IA I N 1930
B la c k c o a l

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crow n=2.96 cents]

Cash wage per
shift
Class of worker and basin or district

Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited
slovak States slovak States slovak States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency rency rency

Class of workers:
Crowns
Pick m iners_______ _______ _ . - _ _________
51. 76
__ __ _ __ ___ .
W agoners____
39. 66
O ther a d u lt underground wrorkers __ _ __ _ __ __ 44. 80
Y oung underground workers__________ _ _ __ _ 23.80
All underground workers

________ .

T otal deduc­
T otal earnings tions
from wages
per shift
per year

_ _ _

E xpert workers
____________________ __
O ther surface workers _____________________
Y oung surface w orkers____________________
F e m a le s ...___________________________________

Crowns

Crowns

$1. 53
1.17
1. 33
.70

56. 68
42.14
48. 38
24.26

$1.68
1.25
1.43
.72

849
824
780
694

45. 33

1. 34

48. 97

1.45

827

24.48

41.32
32. 57
14. 01
18.68

1.22
.96
.41
.55

44. 64
35. 36
14. 38
20.45

1.32
1.05
.43
.61

836
720
534
600

24. 75
21.31
15.81
17.76

$25.13
24. 39
23.08
20. 54

. . ___________

35. 32

1.05

38.25

1.13

758

22. 44

Basins:
K ladno-R akovnik_____ _ ___________ _______
Pilsen-Radnice _____ _______ .
__
____
Zacler-Svatonovice ____ ____ _______ _________ .
O strava-K arvin._ ________ ______
___ ______
R osice- Oslavany_____________________ ________
O ther basins________________________________ .

38.16
37.28
34. 89
46. 52
32.06
29. 27

1.13
1.10
1.03
1. 38
.95
.87

40. 55
39. 39
36.93
50. 70
34. 25
31.20

1.20
1.17
1.09
1. 50
1.01
.92

639
709
736
874
734
642

18.91
20. 99
21.79
25.87
21.73
19.00

T otal ______________________________________

42.91

1. 27

46.38

1. 37

812

24.04

52. 71
38. 72
16. 39

$1.56
1.15
.49

57.19
41. 40
16.92

$1.69
1.23
.50

883
773
562

$26.14
22.88
16.64

All surface workers. ______ _

L ig n i t e
Class of workers:
Pick m iners______ __________
- __________ O ther a d u lt underground w o rk e rs ____________ _
Y oung underground w orkers_________________ _

45. 07

1.33

48.56

1.44

827

24. 48

E x p ert workers ________________ ____________
O ther a d u lt surface w o rk e rs _________________ Y oung surface w orkers_________________________
Females ________________ __________________

42. 05
35.00
14. 16
22.38

1. 24
1.04
.42
.66

44. 66
37. 35
14.24
23. 76

1. 32
1.11
.42
.70

880
757
628
639

26.05
22.41
18.59
18.91

All surface workers _________________________

36. 29

1.07

38. 64

1.14

785

23.24

All underground workers

__________________

Basins:
N o rth Bohem ian brow n (lignite)_________ ______
Falknov-L oket________ ______________________
South M o rav ian __________________ ___________
O ther lignite m ines in Bohem ia, M oravia, and
Silesia __________ ___ __________ ___ _____
Slovakia______________________________________

43. 54
40.41
21. 74

1.29
1. 20
.64

46. 90
43. 33
23.23

1.39
1.28
.69

828
799
619

24.51
23.65
18.32

32.11
32.79

.95
.97

33.39
33. 75

.99
1.00

683
734

20.22
21.73

T o ta l__________________ ______ ____ ______ ___

41.81

1.24

44.87

1.33

813

24.06


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

377

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

2 .—W A G E S IN M IN IN G IN C ZE C H O SL O V A K IA IN 1930—C ontinued
I r o n o re

Cash wage per
shift
Class of worker and basin or district

T otal deduc­
T otal earnings tions
from wages
per shift
per year

Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited
slovak States slovak States slovak States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency rency rency

Crowns
Class of workers:
-- - --------- 34.24
Pick m iners. _____________ - -24. 74
W agoners_______________ - -- ---------------------O ther a d u lt underground w orkers---------------------- 31. 30
Y oung underground w orkers........ .............................. 15.16

Crowns

Crowns

$1.01
.73
.93
.45

35. 29
25.28
32.51
15.36

$1.04
.75
.96
. 45

709
599
640
563

$20.99
17. 73
18.94
16. 66

All underground workers— ........ ..............- .........-

31.78

.94

32. 74

.97

676

20.01

E xpert w orkers _ _ ---. ----------------------------0 ther a d u lt surface w orkers. . . -----------------------Y oung surface w orkers---------- --------------------------Fem ales.................................................................... .......

28.81
27.19
13.08
13.48

.85
.80
.39
.40

29.85
28.17
13. 27
13. 76

.88
.83
.39
.41

708
635
498
496

20.96
18. 80
14. 74
14. 68

All surface w orkers................ — ...............................

24. 78

.73

25. 63

.76

623

18. 44

D istrict:
Bohemia, M oravia, and Silesia.
----------------Slovakia and R u th en ia--------------- --------------------

36. 40
25. 97

1.08
• 77,

37. 62
26. 77

1. 11
.79

616
667

18.23
19. 74

28. 75

.85

29.66

.88

654

19.36

35. 72
26.97
31.40
15.93

$1.06
.80
.93
.47

36. 84
27. 69
32. 32
16.11

$1.09
.82
.96
. 48

719
630
706
560

$21. 28
18. 65
20.90
16. 58

32.87

.97

33.86

1.00

699

20. 69

E xpert w orkers----------------- ---------------------------O ther ad u lt surface w orkers. ----------- -------------Y oung surface workers _ _ ---- -------------Fem ales.----------- ---------------------------------------------

30.34
27. 24
11.60
14.16

.90
.81
.34
.42

31.15
28.06
11.73
14.48

.92
.83
. 35
.43

707
654
478
499

20.93
19.36
14.15
14. 77

T o t a l . . .......................- .........- .........- ...................... .

O th e r o re s
Class of workers:
Pick m iners---- --------- ---------------- -------------------W agoners____
__
—
-- --- -----------------O ther a d u lt underground workers---------------------Y oung underground w orkers----------- ------ ---------All underground w orkers-------- --------- --------- -

All surface workers_____ ____ ______ ______ ___

27.33

.81

28.11

.83

660

19. 54

D istrict:
Bohem ia, M oravia, and Silesia..
-----------------Slovakia an d R u th en ia........................ .........................

33.56
27.91

.99
.83

34. 68
28.62

1.03
. 85

692
675

20. 48
19.98

T o ta l.............................................................................

30.55

.90

31.45

.93

683

20.22

54.83
41.21
48. 69

$1.62
1.22
1.44

757
753
898

$22. 41
22.29
26. 58

O th e r m in e r a ls
Class of workers:
Pick m iners
___________ __________ — -__________
_____________
Wagoners
O ther ad u lt underground workers_______________

53. 43
40.37
47.34

$1.58
1.19
1.40

All underground w orkers.......... ..............................

48.10

1.42

49.34

1.46

796

23.56

E xpert w orkers. . . ............................ ............................
O ther a d u lt surface w orkers...... ..................................
Y oung surface w orkers............... ......................... .........
Fem ales-................................- ..........................................

36. 47
28.12
15.00
27.03

1.08
.83
.44
.80

38.05
28. 92
15.00
27.64

1.13
.86
.44
.82

724
640

21.43
18.94

627

18.56

660

19.54

All surface w orkers...........................................- ........

30.10

.89

31.08

.92

D istrict:
M oravia and Silesia........................................................
Slovakia and R u th en ia......... .......................................

23.39
43.09

.69
1.28

24. 01
44.38

.71
1.31

592
768

17.52
22.73

1.08
——

37.44

1.11

710

21.02


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

36.37
-- -----y---

378

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Metal Tracies
T h e normal working period in the metal trades, according to the
trade agreement concluded on June 4, 1928, which regulates wages
in the metal industry, is the 8-hour day and the 48-hour week,
workers being entitled to 8 days’ vacation annually with pay. Work­
ers are usually paid by the day rate, but piecework may be adopted
under special conditions. The overtime rates for the first three
hours beyond the regular working period on week days and for a
similar period of work on Sundays or holidays vary for the different
classes of workers. Additional overtime beyond this period is paid
for at twice the usual overtime rate. Workers on night shifts from
10 p. m. to 5 a. m. receive 0.70 crown (2.1 cents) per hour above
the regular day rate. Apprentices are given a certain amount of
free time each week to permit them to complete a course in a con­
tinuation school. Certain deductions are made from wages to cover
social-insurance contributions.
Metal factories are classified into three groups paying different
wage rates. Apparently, the classification of a factory is determined
by the cost of production and the cost of li ving in the particular region
where the enterprise is located. Table 3 shows the time and piece
rates for various classes of metal workers, including the so-called
“ security ” allowance (which is added to the piece rate when the worker
is earning no more than the basic minimum wage, but is paid to all
workers on a day rate). The figures shown, therefore, represent the
actual minimum wage, according to the wage agreement. A repre­
sentative of the Association of the Metal Industry states, however,
that these rates must be increased by from 45 to 50 per cent to reflect
accurately present wage levels for metal workers.
T

a b le

3 .—

A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S IN T H E M E T A L T R A D E S O F C ZE C H O SL O V A K IA
IN 1930
E s t a b lis h m e n ts o f f i r s t c la s s
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Basic wages (including “ security” addition)

G roup of workers

E x p ert w orkers (artisans), on production work :
F irst year - ____________
______ . _______
A fter 7th y e a r 1_____ ___ __
Independent, specially qualified w orkers.- ______
Older w orkers..
____ . . . _____________ _
F o rem e n .. . . . ___________________________
W orkers n o t on production work:
17 years of a g e ... ___
_________ _
24 years of age and o v e r2_ - ■___________ . . . .
Independent, specially qualified workers . _____
Older w orkers. . . . .
_
____
- F o rem en . . ______________________________
T rained workers:
17 years of a
g
e
.
.
__
_ _______
24 years of age an d o v e r2.
________________ ...
In d ep en d en t, specially qualified w orkers___
Older w orkers_________
. . . . ______ __.
Forem en_________ ________________________

Piece rate

Tim e rate

Czecho­
slovak
currency

U nited
States
currency

Czecho­
slovak
currency

U nited
States
currency

Crowns

Cents

Crowns

Cents

2.40
3.85
4.00
4.15
4. 30
2. 25
3. 60
3.75
3.90
4.05

7.1
11.4
11.8
12.3
12.7
6.7
10. 7
11.1
11.5
12.0

2. 55
4. 00
4.15
4. 30
4. 50

..

2. 35
3. 75
3. 90
4. 05
4.25

7.5
11.8
12.3
12.7
13.3
7.0
11.1
11.5
12.0
12.6

2.25
6.7
2. 30
6.8
3.35.
.9, 9
3. 40
10. 1
3. 55
10.5
3. 60
10.7
3. 70
11.0
3.80
11.2
3. 85
11.4
4.00
11.8
1 These w orkers receive a n increase each year u p to th e seventh, after w hich th e rate is as given.
2 These w orkers receive an increase each year u p to th e tw enty-fourth year of age, after w hich the rate is
as given.
......................................................................


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

379

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

3 .—A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S IN T H E M E T A L T R A D E S O F C Z E C H O SL O V A K IA
IN 1930—C ontinued
E s ta b l i s h m e n t s o f f i r s t c la s s — C o n tin u ed
Basic wages (including “ security” addition)
Piece rate

G roup of workers

H elpers:
17 years of age__________ . ____________________
24 years of age and over A _________ ___
Independent, specially qualified w orkers___ _____
___
Older workers _ _ _ _ ______ . __
Forem en. _______
. ______ . ______
Trained female workers:
17 years of age_______ . . _
_________ . . . ___
24 years of age and o v e r2____ _____ . . .
Independent, specially qualified w orkers_____ .
Older workers_____ _ . ________________
Forew om en___________
__
. . . .
Fem ale helpers:
17 years of age______
________________________
24 years of age and over2_______________________ .
Independent, specially qualified h elpers.. . . . . . . .
___________
___ _ . . .
Older helpers
Forew om en______________ . . . _________ .

Tim e rate

Czecho­
slovak
currency

U nited
States
currency

Czecho­
slovak
currency

U nited
States
currency

Crowns

Cents

Crowns

Cents

2. 15
3. 25
3. 45
3. 60
3. 70

0. 063
.095
10.2
10.7
11.0

2. 20
3. 30
3.50
3. 70
3. 80

1. 65
2. 15
2. 20
2.25
2. 25

4. 9
6.4
6.5
6.7
6. 7

1. 70
2. 20
2. 25
2.30
2. 35

5.0
6.5
6.7
6.8
7.0

1. 60
2.10
2. 15
2. 15
2.15

4. 7
6. 2
6.4
6.4
6.4

1. 65
2. 15
2. 20
2. 25
2.30

4.9
6.4
6. 5
6. 7
6.8

2. 35
3.80
3. 95
4.10
4. 20

7. 0
11.2
11.7
12. 1
12.4

2. 50
3. 95
4.10
4.25
4.40

7.4
11.7
12.1
12. 6
13.0

2.20
3. 55
3.70
3. 85
4.00

6.5
10.5
11.0
11.4
11.8

2. 30
3.70
3. 85
4. 00
4. 20

6.8
11.0
11.4
11.8
12.4

2. 20
3. 30
3. 50
3. 65
3. 80

6.5
9.8
10.4
10.8
11.2

2. 25
3. 35
3. 55
3. 75
3. 95

6.7
9.9
10.5
11.1
11.7

2.10
3. 20
3. 40
3. 55
3. 65

6.2
9.5
10.1
10.5
10.8

2.15
3. 25
3. 45
3. 65
3. 75

6.4
9. 6
10.2
10.8

1.60
2. 10
2.15
2. 20
2.20

4.7
6.2
6.4
6. 5
6.5

1. 65
2.15
2. 20
2.25
2. 30

4.9
6.4
6. 5
6.7
6.8

1. 55
2. 05
2.10
2.10
2.10

4.6
6. 1
6. 2
6.2
6.2

1. 60
2.10
2.15
2. 20
2. 25

4. 7
6.2
6.4
6.5
6. 7

0. 064
.097
10.4
11.0
11.2

E s ta b lis h m e n ts of. s e c o n d c la s s
E xpert w orkers (artisans), on production work:
F irst year__________________ ___ _
_______
A fter seventh vearL ____
Independent, specially qualified w orkers_________
Older workers____
_ ____________ _______
Forem en.
______ _____
W orkers no t on production work:
______________
17 years of age.. _____ .
24 years of age a n d o v e r2
. _ _ ________
Independent, specially qualified workers ________
Older w orkers . . . . . _______________... . .
Forem en__________________________________
T rained workers:
17 years of age__________________________________
24 years of age and o v e r2.
Independent, specially qualified w orkers___ ______
Older workers ____ ___________________ . . .
F o re m e n __________ ___ _
. . . . . ._ _
Helpers:
17 years of a g e ______ ________ _______ ____ .
24 years of age and ov er2
_____ ___ . . . .
Independent, specially qualified w orkers. . . . .
Older w orkers..
. ___________ ___
Foremen __
..
______ ___ _
T rained female workers:
17 years of a g e . _____
____ ______
__
24 years of age and over 2
.
____ . . .
Independent, specially qualified workers____
Older workers
.
________ ___ _
F o r e w o m e n .._________ . . . ________ .
Fem ale helpers:
17 years of age.
.
.........._ _ . ___
24 years of age and over 2 _
_____ _ _ __
I n d e p e n d e n t, s p e c ia lly q u a lifie d h e lp e rs

Older helpers
Forewomen

_
. ._

___
....
._ ______ .

1 1 .1

1 These workers receive an increase each year u p to the seventh, after w hich the rate is as given.
2 These w orkers receive an increase each year u p to th e tw enty-fourth year of age, after w hich the rate is as
given.


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

380
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
3 .—A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S IN T H E M E T A L T R A D E S O F C Z E C H O SL O V A K IA
IN 1930—C ontinued
E s ta b lis h m e n ts o f t h i r d c la s s

Basic wages (including “ secu rity ” addition)

G roup of workers

Piece rate
Czecho­
slovak
currency

E xpert w orkers (artisans), on production work:
F irst y e a r..................................... ......................
A fter 7th year L ___ ____________________
Independent, specially qualified workers...
Older workers................. ..........................
Forem en__________________________
W orkers no t on production work:
17 years of age__________________________
24 years of age an d over 2________________
Independent, specially qualified w orkers...
Older w orkers_____ ______ __________
Forem en____ ______________ ________
T rain ed workers:
17 years of age________________ ______ ___
24 years of age and o v e r2________________
Independent, specially qualified w orkers...
Older w orkers______________________
Forem en.......................... ................. ..........
Helpers:
17 years of age________________ ____ _____
24 years of age and o v e r2________________
Independent, specially qualified helpers___
Older helpers_______________________
Forem en___________________________
T rained female workers:
17 years of a g e ..__________ ____________ _
24 years of age and o v e r2________________
Independent, specially qualified w orkers....
Older w orkers................ .............. .............
Forew om en.................... ...........................
Fem ale helpers:
17 years of age............... .....................................
24 years of age and o v e r2___________ ____ _
Independent, specially qualified helpers___
Older helpers____ ____ ______________
Forew om en___ ____ _________________

Crowns

2. 25
3. 70
3. 85
4. 00
4.10

T im e rate

U nited
States
currency

Czecho­
slovak
currency

U nited
States
currency

Cents

Crowns

Cents

I

6.7
11.0
11.4
11.8
12. 1

2.40
3.85
4.00
4. 15
4.30

7.1
11.4
11.8
12. 3
12.7

2. 10
3. 45
3. 60
3.75
3.90

6.2
10.2
10.7
11.1
11.5

2. 20
3. 60
3. 75
3.90
4.10

6.5
10. 7
11.1
11. 5
12.1

2.10
3. 20
3.40
3. 55
3.70

6.2
9. 5
10. 1
10. 5
11.0

2.15
3.25
3.45
3. 65
3. 85

6.4
9.6
10.2
10.8
11.4

2.00
3.10
3. 30
3. 45
3.55

5.9
9. 2
9.8
10.2
10.5

2.05
3.15
3. 35
3. 55
3. 65

6. 1
9. 3
9.9
10. 5
10.8

1. 50
2. 00
2.05
2.10
2.10

4.4
5.9
6. 1
6. 2
6.4

1. 55
2.05
2.10
2.15
2.20

4.6
6. 1
6.2
6.4
6.5

1.45
1. 95
2.00
2. 00
2.00

4.3
5.8
5.9
5. 9
5. 9

1. 50
2.00
2. 05
2. 10
2. 15

4.4
5.9
6. 1
6.2
6.4

1 These w orkers receive an increase each year u p to th e seventh, after which the rate is as given.
2 These w orkers receive an increase each year u p to the tw enty-fourth year of age, after w hich the rate is
as given.

The rates of apprentices are shown in Table 4:
T

a b le

4 .—BA SIC H O U R L Y R A T E S O F A P P R E N T IC E S IN T H E M E T A L T R A D E S IN
C Z E C H O SL O V A K IA IN 1930
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Basic hourly rate in establishm ents of—

Period

Second and th ird
classes

F irst class

Czecho­ U nited
Czecho­ U nited
slovak
States
slovak
States
currency currency currency currency

F irst year (after first 6 w eeks)_______
Second y ear_____________________ .
T h ird year___________ ______ ____


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

Crowns

0.50
.70
.90

Cents

1.5
2.1
2.7

Crowns
0. 40
.60
.80

Cents

1.2
1.8
2.4

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

381

Sugar Industry
W a g e s in the sugar industry are fixed by the collective agreement
for workers in raw sugar factories, refineries, and mixed factories in
the Czechoslovak Republic, dated June 25, 1929. By the terms of
this agreement, sugar factories are divided into four groups, in each of
which a different wage scale is maintained. Groups I includes dry
refineries and combined crushing mills and refineries in or near large
industrial centers; Group I I combines mills and refineries outside
industrial centers and raw sugar factories in or near large cities;
Group I I I , other raw sugar factories; and Group IV , other refineries.
Employees in sugar enterprises are divided into two groups—the
so-called permanent employees who are engaged in the factories
throughout the year, and the so-called helpers, or seasonal workers,
constituting approximately 80 per cent of the total working force,
who are engaged in the company fields during the growing season and
join the factory force when the harvest is competed.
In addition to the basic weekly wage, workers receive allotments
determined by the cost of living in the district where they are em­
ployed and an annual bonus (payable on December 15) equal to one
month’s wages, plus a 4 per cent increase for every year of their
employment in the enterprise since 1900. Special clothing allotments
are made for seasonal workers and permanent employees on a day
wage on the following basis, payments being made in two semiannual
installments, on June 15 and December 15:
U nm arried em ployees u n d e r 18 years, 200 crow ns ($5.92).
U nm arried em ployees over 18 years, 400 crow ns ($11.84).
W idow ers a n d widows, childless o r w ith grow n children, 400 crow ns ($11.84).
W idow ers a n d widows w ith m inor children w ill receive in ad d itio n fo r ev ery child
up to 15 years (m axim um of 4 children), 150 crow ns ($4.44).
M arried em ployees, 800 crow ns ($23.68).
F o r each m inokchild up to 15 y ears (m axim um of 4 children), 150 crow ns ($4.44).

Additional allotments are made as follows:
M arried m essengers a n d those su p p o rtin g aged p are n ts, m in o r b ro th e rs or
sisters, 600 crow ns ($17.76).
Single m essengers, m arrie d w orkers receiving daily wage, an d th o se su p p o rtin g
aged p a re n ts o r m in o r b ro th e rs o r sisters, 450 crow ns ($13.32).
Single w orkers receiving d aily w age, 250 crow ns ($7.40).

A special allowance, payable in three installments, and amounting
to 4 per cent of the actual wage earned, is paid to both permanent
and seasonal workers. Furthermore, workers entitled to the special
clothing allotment receive an additional seasonal allowance amount­
ing to 5 per cent of the seasonal earnings. Helpers are guaranteed,
as a minimum seasonal wage, an amount equal to the remuneration
for a similar number of hours of work at the ^minimum day rate, plus
the 5 per cent allowance. A so-called cost-of-living allowance, amount­
ing to 5 per cent of the wage earned, is paid to seasonal workers for
each minor child dependent upon them for support. Seasonal^workers who remain with an enterprise throughout the season receive, at
its close, an additional bonus amounting to one day’s wage per week
for the number of weeks in the season. Workers in sugar enterprises
in the Province of Bohemia must be provided with approved hygienic
dwellings, including bed and bedding, fuel and light. Furthermore,
the companv is obliged to feed the workers, half the cost of this serv
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

382

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

ice being deducted from the workers’ wages. Overtime work on
working-days is paid for at the rate of time and a quarter and that
on Sundays and holidays (Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, New
Year’s Day, May 1, July 6, and October 28), and between 10 p. m.
and 5 a. m. at the rate of time and a half. According to the collective
agreement, piece rates must be sufficiently high to guarantee even
to average workers earnings better than the basic daily wage.
Seasonal workers receive paid vacations of 8 days during the first
5 years of their employment, 14 days during the next 10 years, and
thereafter 21 days. Permanent day workers are entitled to 3 days’
paid vacation annually during their first three years, 6 days during
the next two years, and thereafter 8 days.
In addition to the contributions for social insurance, workers in
the sugar industry must pay pension contributions. In the case of
workers receiving the clothing allowance and the annual bonus, the
company deducts from the wage one-sixth of the contribution, and
in the case of other workers, one-third of the contribution required.
Tables 5 and 6 show the wages and allowances of helpers, or
seasonal workers, in the various groups of enterprises :
T

a b l e

5 .—

B A SIC W E E K L Y A N D M O N T H L Y W A G E S O P H E L P E R S (IN C L U D IN G A LLO W ­
A N C E S) IN T H E C Z E C H O SL O V A K SU G A R IN D U S T R Y IN 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Basic wages (including allowances) of helpers in establishm ents in—
G roup I
Class of helper

Per week

G roup I I

Per m onth

Per week

Per m onth

Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited Czecho­ U nited
slovak States slovak States slovak States slovak States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency rency rency rency rency

( 'lass l-_ ____________________ ____
Class 2__________
_ _____ . . .
C la ss3 ______ __ __ _____
Class 4__________________________

Crowns
138
127
115
104

$4.08
3. 76
3. 40
3.08

Crowns
600
550
500
450

$17. 76
16.28
14. 80
13. 32

Crowns
127
115
104
92

G roup I I I
Class
( ’lass
Class
Class

1. _________ _________ _
2.
3.
4 _ _ __

115
104
92
80

$3. 40
3. 08
2. 72
2.37

500
450
400
350

Crowns
$3.76
3. 40
3. 08
2. 72

550
500
450
400

$16. 28
14. 80
13. 32
11.84

G roup IV
$14. 80
13. 32
11.84
10. 36

104
92
80
70

$3.08
2. 72
2. 37
2. 07

450
400
350
300

$13. 32
11.84
10.36
8.88

Helpers receiving monthly wages of 300, 350, and 400 crowns
($8.88, $10.36, and $11.84) are entitled to a cost-of-living allowance
amounting to 50 per cent; those receiving monthly wages of 450 and
500 crowns ($13.32 and $14.80) 45 per cent; and those receiving
monthly wages of 550 and 600 crowns ($16.28 and $17.76) 40 per cent.
Married helpers are entitled to two rooms, a woodshed, and a sty,
or a housing allowance of 400 crowns ($11.84) to be paid by
enterprises in Groups I and II, and 300 crowns ($8.88) to be paid by
enterprises in Groups III and IV.
All classes of helpers receive 2 cubic meters of wood for fuel, and
lighting to the value of 180 crowns ($5.33). In addition, helpers of

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

383

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

class 1 receive 60 kilograms of sugar, 4.8 tons of brown coal or 3.2
tons of black coal, and 8 quintals of potatoes or 800 square meters of
ground for planting potatoes; helpers of class 2 receive 50 kilograms
of sugar, 4.2 tons of brown or 2.8 tons of black coal, and 6 quintals of
potatoes or 600 square meters for planting them; and helpers in
classes 3 and 4 receive 40 kilograms of sugar, 3.6 tons of brown or 2.4
tons of black coal, and 4 quintals of potatoes or 400 square meters of
ground.
T

a b le

6 .—D A IL Y W A G E S A N D A L L O W A N C E S OF P E R M A N E N T E M P L O Y E E S IN T H E
C Z E C H O SL O V A K SU G A R IN D U S T R Y IN 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
A nnual allowance
for !—

D aily wages of workers in establishm ents in -

G roup I
Class and age of
workers

E xpert workers (artisan s):
Over 22 years of
age_________
U nder 22 years of
age___ ____
H elpers, male, over 18
years of age:
Qualified foremen.
O t h e r e x p e r ienced, trained
h e lp e rs_____ .
Less experienced
helpers____
Boys under 18 years
and females_______
Boys and girls under
16
______ ____

G roup II

G roup I I I

G roup IV

Clothing

Sugar
Czech- U nited Czech- U nited Czech­ United Czech­ United (kiloCzechoslo- States oslo- States oslo- States oslo­ States oslo­ States grams)3
vak
vak
vak
vak
vak
cur­
c u r­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­ rency
cu r­ rency
cur­ rency
cur­ rency
cur­ rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency

Crs.

Cents

Crs.

Cents

Crs.

Cents

Crs.

Cents

Crs.

31. 00

91.8

29.00

85.8

27. 00

79.9

25.00

74.0

200

$5. 92

30
15

28.00

82.9

26. 00

77.0

24.00

71.0

22.00

65.1

150

4.44

28.00

82.9

26. 00

77.0

24. 00

71.0

22.00

65.1

150

4. 44

15

26. 00

77.0

24. 00

71.0

22. 00

65.1

20. 00

59. 2

120

3. 55

15

59.2

18.00

53.3

120

3. 55

15

11. 50

34.0

10.15

30.0

100

2.96

10

8. 50

25. 2

7. 50

22.2

50

1.48

24. 00
14. 50
12.50

71.0
42.9
37.0

22.00
12. 50
10.15

65.1
37.0
30.0

20.00

5
—

1 In addition to th e allowances shown below, artisans over 22 years receive 15 quintals (3,307 pounds) of
lignite or 10 quintals (2,205 pounds) of black coal. M arried m en or heads of families m th e other classes
receive 12 q uintals (2,646 pounds) of lignite or 8 q uintals (1,764 pounds) of black coal.
2 K ilogram = 2.2046 pounds.

Textile Industry
A c c o r d i n g to the trade agreement of April 15, 1930, a 48-hour
working week is established for textile workers, the daily working
period being determined by the special problems ^of the individual
enterprise. Overtime beyond the specified period commands a
30 per cent increase over the normal rate on working days, a 60 pei
cent increase on Sundays, and a 100 per cent increase for night woilv
between 10 p. m. and 5 a. m., or work on holidays. (Two days at
Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter, Whitsuntide, May 1, and
October 28.)
.
The basic wage scales are indicated m 1 able /.


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

384

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 7.—BA SIC H O U R L Y R A T E S IN T H E T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y O F P R A G U E D IS T R IC T ,
C ZE C H O SL O V A K IA , 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Basic hourly
rates
B ranch of industry, and occupation Czecho­
slovak cur­
cur­
rency rency

U.S.

Cotton spinning
Spinners:
2 autom atic m achines.................1 autom atic m achine. ______
M achine tenders, first h a n d _______
O ther machine tenders over 18 years
of age..................................................
Doffers:
14 to 16 y e a rs.................................
16 to 18 y e a rs.________________
18 to 20 years___________ ____ _
Over 20 years of age____ _____ _
Spinners, ring frames:
Second h an d s............................. .
Section h a n d s ............. .................
2 frames............ ............................. .
1 frame, for filling____________
1 frame, for w a rp ..........................
Piecers.............................................
Spinners, fly frames:
Fine fram e.....................................
Jack frame .................. ..................
Drawing-frame tenders:
M en tending u p to 12 heads----Women tending u p to 12 heads.
C ard tenders:
M en tending u p to 14 m achines.
Women tending u p to 10 m a­
chines__________ __________
W omen tending u p to 14 m a­
chines_____________________
Comber tenders______________
C ard s trip p e rs .,____ _________
C ard grinders..... ............ ..............
Cleansers.___________ ____ ___
Sliver lap machine tenders, m en.
Sliver lap m achine tenders,
w om en........ ................................
O pener tenders:
M en _____ ___________________
W om en___ ____ _____________
Roving haulers__________________
T icketers........................................... .
K notters;
F irst y ear........................................
A fter first y ear...............................
Spooler tenders__________________
W inder tenders_________ ____ ____
Oilers and lam p lighters—
F irst c la s s ..------- ------------------Second class_________________
Skilled cleaners of carding and
combing m achines______________
Sweepers----------- -----------------------Section hands........................................
Helpers, day, male:
14 to 16 years......................... .........
16 to 18 years_________________
18 to 20 years________ _____ _
Over 20 years..................................
H elpers, d ay , female:
14 to 16 years------------------------16 to 18 y e a r s ..............................
18 to 20 years............................... .
Over 20 years..................................


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

Branch of industry, and occupation Czecho­
S.
slovak U.
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Flax spinning— Continued
Cr.

Cts.

T enders betw een first and second
lap m achines__________________
Loaders.............. ...................................
Speeder tenders_________________
Conveyer ten d ers............................. .

2. 75
2. 37
2.20

8.1
7.0
6.5

1.90

5.6

1.25
1.50
1.70
1.90

3.7
4.4
5.0
5.6

2. 35
2.20
1.75
1.45
1.40
2.10

7.0
6.5
5.2
4.3
4.1
6.2

1.75
1.83

5.2
5.4

Haulers.

1.90
1.70

5.6
5.0

Softeners___________ ____ _•___ . . .
Rubbing-m achine tenders.................
W eighers.______________________
T ru ck ers...............................................
Combing:
F eed ers..........................................
Fine-card tenders_____ ______
Breaker-card tenders_________
T enders betw een first an d sec­
ond lap m achines, female___
Spinners____________________
Spinners, female_____________
H elpers_________ _____ ______
H aulers______ _____________ _
T rackers.................... ....................

1.90

5.6

1. 70

5.0

1.76
2.10
2. 50
2. 37
2. 00
2. 00

5.2
6.2
7.4
7.0
5.9
5.9

1.85

5.5

2. 00
1.80
1. 85
1.65

5.9
5.3
5.5
4.9

1.50
1.65
1.70
1. 70

4.4
4.9
5.0
5.0

2.00
1.90

5.9
5.6

2. 37
1. 50
1.80

7.0
4. 4
5.3

1.15
1. 50
1.70
1. 90

3.4
4.4
5.0
5.6

1.10
1.30
1.45
1. 60

3.3
3.8
4.3
4.7

2.10

6.2

Flax spinning
Comber te n d e rs.------------------------Picker tenders.......................................
T rackers and w aste pickers----------Card tenders...................................... —
W eighers______________________ _
Lap-m achine tenders...........................

Basic hourly
rates

2.00

1.90
1. 90
2 . 00

1.60

5.9
5.6
5.6
5.9
4.7

O ilers...................................... ...............
B ander tenders__________________
W inder tenders__________________
T w ister tenders_________________
D ryers..

Cr.
1. 65
1. 70
1. 75
1.90
1.90
to

2.00

4.9
5.0
5.2
5.6
5.6
to
5.9
5.9
5.0
5.0
5.6
to
5.9
5.9
4.4
to
4.9
5.9

2.10

6.2

2.00
2.00

1. 70
1. 70
1.90
to
2.00

B alers..

2 . 00

1. 50
to
1. 65

Helpers.

Jute and hemp

Oilers____ _____ _____________
Paper-cutting machines:
P ap er cutters_______ ________
Female workers classifying and
soaking p a p e r .................. ........
Tw isting:
Tw isters, first y e a r ._____ _____
Tw isters, after first year______
T w ister tenders_____ _____ ___
B in d e rs.................. ......................
Sweepers____ ______ _________
W inder tenders________ _________

Cts.

1.90
2.00

1.90
2.00

1.80
1.80

5.6
5.9
5.6
5.9
5.3
5.3

2.00

4.7
5.6
5.5
4.7
5.9
5.6
5.6
to
5.9

2.00

5.9

1.60
1.90
1.85
1.60
2.00

1.90
1.90
to

1.80

5.3

1.50
1.65
1.65
1. 90
1.50
1. 70

4.4
4.9
4.9
5.6
4.4
5.0

Spinning of waste
W aste forem an............ ........................
W aste m en______________________
Rag m en......................................... ......
Comber tenders____ _____ _______
G rinders......... ....................................
Spinners:
1 autom atic m achine-------------2 autom atic m achines________
B inders_________________________
W orkers over 18 years of age:
Tenders of w aste machines,
skilled_________ ___________
Tenders of w aste m achines,
semiskilled________________
W omen, skilled________ ____ _
W omen, sem iskilled__________
Y oung workers:
14 to 16 years.......... ............. ........
16 to 18 years..................................

3.00
2.50
2. 50
2 . 10

2. 37
2. 37
2. 75

8.9
7.4
7.4

6.2
7.0
7.0

2.10

8.1
6.2

2.00

5.9

1.90
1. 85
1.75

5.6
5.5
5.2

1.25
1.50

3.7
4.4

385

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

7 .-B A S IC H O U R L Y R A T E S IN T H E T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y O F P R A G U E D IS T R IC T ,
C Z E C H O SL O V A K IA , 1931—C ontinued
Basic hourly
rates

Basic hourly
rates
B ranch of in d u stry , and occupation Czecho­
slovak cur­
cur­
rency rency

U.S.

Jute waste spinning
Doffers, m en........................................ .
Doffers, w om en....................................
C ard tenders, skilled____ ____ ____
C ard tenders, sem iskilled_________
Cleaners__________ ______________
Spinners, female............. .................
Binders, female....................................
Helpers:
U p to 16 years-------------- --------16 to 18 years------------------------18 to 20 years______ __________
Over 20 years________ ______
Tw isters:
F irst y ear......................................
A fter first year...............................
Ball binders.................................... —
F irst hands in rope factory.......... .
H elpers in rope factory as well as
printing plant:
14 to 16 years_________ _____ ..
16 to 18 years------------------------18 to 20 years....................... ..........
Over 20 y ears.-----------------------

Finishing—C ontinued
Cr.
2.10

Cts.

6.2

1.85
2.10

5.5

2.00
2.10

5.9

1.90
1.75

5.6
5.2

1.20
1.40
1. 55
1. 70

3. 6
4.1
4.6
5.0

1.50
1. 65
1.85
2. 50

4.4
4.9
5. 5
7. 4

1.25
1. 60
1.80
2.00

3. 7
4. 7
5. 3
5.9

1.75
1.80
1. 85
1. 95
2.05

5.2
5.3
5.5
5.8

2.20

6.5
7.1
6.7
4.4
4.9
5.2
5.4
6.7
5.4
4.4
4.9
4.7
5.6
6.7
6.7
5.9
7.4
6.7
5.9
4.9
4.4

6.2

Finishing
Pasters______________ —- ..................
Stock m en.......................................... .
Loaders, m en, over 3 years________
Loaders, w om en, over 3 years_____
Stock m en, u p to 3 years, d ay
workers :
l4 to 16 years.........................
16 to 18 years_________ ____
18 to 20 years________________
Over 20 years____________ ____
Stock women, u p to 3 years, d ay
workers:
14 to 16 years....................... ..........
16 to 18 years------------------------18 to 20 years_________ _______
Over 20 years.-----------------------


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

2.40
2 .27}4
1.50
1. 65
1. 75
1. 83

2. 27H
1.83
1.50
1.65
1.60
1.90
2.27 H

2. 275-Í

2.00

2.50
2.27 H
2.00

1.65
1.50

6.1

1. 90

5.6
5.6
6.7
5.6

1.15
1. 50
1. 70
1.90

3.4
4.4
5.0
5.6

1.10

3.3
3.8
4.3
4. 7

1.90
1.90

2. 27}¿

1. 30
1. 45
1. 60

Sewers__________ _____ __________
Coal and ash haulers_____________

Cr.

as.

1.83
2.00

5.4
5.9

1. 75
1.83
1.90
2.27^4

5. 2
5.4
5.6
6. 7

2.10

6. 2

2 .27H
2 .2 7 ^
2.15
2.00
1.83
2. 00
2. 00
2.00
2.00
2.00

6. 7
6. 7
6.4
5.9
5.4
5.9
5.9
5.9
5.9
5.9

Jute weaving and finishing

6.2

Cotton and flax weaving
W eavers of goods—
U p to 100 centim eters w ide____
U p to 120 centim eters w ide____
120 to 140 centim eters w ide____
140 to 160 centim eters w id e-----160 to 200 centim eters w id e-----200 to 240 centim eters w ide-----Over 240 centim eters w ide------Design weavers__________________
Spooler tenders, first y ear........... .......
Spooler tenders, after first year------W arpers_________________________
W arpers, sectional__________ _____
W arpers, com plicated....................... .
Creelers_________________________
W arpers and creelers, first y ear____
W omen, em broidery m achines.........
Loom cleaners----------------------------Oilers over 18 years of age........... .......
Stock keepers____________________
Size m akers-------- ----------------- -----Beamer tender helpers____________
Section h an d s____________________
Expert workers, inspectors of goods.
M easurers----------------------------------Tw isters-in and w inders---------------Twisters-in and w inders, first year..

B ranch of in dustry, and occupation Czecho­
S.
slovak U.
cur­ recur­
n
c
y
rency

W eavers of material:
U p to 52 inches__________ ____
Over 52 to 80 inches___________
Over 80in c h e s,.............................
Size m akers, skilled____________
Size m akers, semiskilled__________
C u tters-------------------------------------M angle tenders__________________
Calender ten d ers_________________
Sprinklers_______________________
Sewing-machine tenders__________
Oilers________________ _____ _____
Bag m akers.-------------- ----------------Pressm en____________________
M easurers_______________________
C utters, bag_____________________

Bleaching, dyeing, printing, and
finishing
Starch-room w orkers, contract:
Male—
3.7
14 to 16 years-------------------- 1. 25
4.7
16 to 18 y e a r s ...------ --------- 1. 60
5.3
18 to 20 years_____________ 1.80
5.9
Over 20 years_____________ 2.00
Helpers, fe m a le 3.6
14 to 16 years--------- ---------1.20
4.1
16 to 18 y e a r s ...------ --------- 1. 40
4.6
18 to 20 y e ars.......................... 1. 55
5.3
Over 20 years-------------------- 1.80
Skilled workers—
6.7
M en, over 20 years------------ 2.25
5.6
W omen, over 20 years_____ 1.90
7.4
H ighly s k ille d ............ .......... 2.50
Press feeders—
6.2
1-3 m achines.................... 2.00
6.4
3-5 m achines................... 2.15
2.20
6.5
M ore th a n 5 machines
Stock m en, adjusters, over f2.10to 6.2 to
2.275
6.7
3 years........... - ......................
5.6
1.90
Stock women, over 3 years..
Boiler tenders (plus 10 hel­
lers ($0,002) for w et w ork).
2.00
5.9
6.7
2.25
Boiler tenders, highly skilled
6.4
2.15
Tender feeders...................—

Wool
Fuller tenders, male:
Over 20 years...............................
18 to 20 years________________ A t centrifugal m achines............
Females a t te n te r fram e------ --------T enter ten d ers_______________ ___
W ringing or pressing a t v a t, m en
ov er2 0 y earso fag e-------------- -----W ringing or pressing a t v a t, women
over 20 years of a g e..........................
B rushing a n d cu ttin g machine te n d ­
ers, m en over 20 years of a g e...........
B rushing an d cu ttin g machine tenders, w om en over 20 years of a g e ..
Shearers, male:
Over 20 years_________________
18 to 20 years-------------------------

2.10

1.90
2.10

6.2
5.6
6.2

2. 20

5.6
6.5

2.00

5.9

1.90

1. 80

5.3

2.00

5.9

1.80

5.3

2.10
1.90

6.2
5.6

386

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

Skilled apprentices receive 1 crown (3 cents) per hour up to four
weeks, and in subsequent weeks, 1 crown per hour, plus a cost-of-living
bonus.
The workers receive a cost-of-living bonus of 35 per cent of the
basic hourly wage rates.
Piecework rates are high enough to insure average workers a wage
15 per cent above their earnings at the regular hourly rate to com­
pensate for the cost-of-living bonus made to day workers. Appren­
tices and inferior workers who are unable to earn the average wage
plus the 15 per cent cost-of-living increase receive proportionately
lower wages. In addition to money wages, the textile workers in dye­
ing, bleaching, and printing plants are provided with aprons and
wooden shoes, while those working with acids are completely equipped.
All married workers in cotton mills are entitled to 10 meters of cotton
cloth annually for their own use at the current factory price, and
unmarried workers may purchase up to 6 meters of cloth, according
to their needs. In mills producing unprinted woolen textiles, workers
are entitled to purchase half of the above-named amounts, and in
mills producing both cotton and woolen textiles the workers may
purchase the latter only at the discretion of the factory management.
Death benefits amounting to 50 crowns ($1.48) in the case of
workers employed less than three months, and 100 crowns _($2.96)
for workers who have been with the enterprise for longer periods are
paid by the employer to the heirs of deceased workers.
Deductions from the wages of textile workers are made to cover
one-half of contributions for sickness, old-age, and pension insurance,
the balance being borne by the employer.
Except for the tables applying specifically to the manufacture of
woolen textiles, the wage tables given above apply to workers in the
cotton, jute, and hemp industries only. The basic rate for workers
engaged in the production of silk textiles is 10 per cent higher.
Lumber Industry
T h e regular 8-hour working-day is observed in the lumber industry,
according to the wage agreement for the lumber industry for 1930,
Overtime work on working-days entitles the worker to a 25 per cent
hourly increase in southern Bohemia and a 50 per cent increase in
central Bohemia. Work on Sundays and holidays (two days at
Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, and Whitsuntide
Monday), or from 8 p. m. in southern Bohemia and 10 p. m. in central
Bohemia to 5 a. m., commands a 50 per cent increase in southern
Bohemia and a 100 per cent increase in central Bohemia.
The statement following shows the piece rates paid in central
Bohemia in 1930 to regular workers, that is, grown men at least 18
years of age who work 180 days per year, or produce 300 cubic meters
of wood per season. These rates are subject to revision during the
course of the year at the request of either the workers or the em­
ployers, in case living costs change substantially.
P er cubic m eter

Long w ood________________
10.00 crow ns
(29.6 cents).
L ogs______________________
12.00 crow ns
(35.5 cen ts).
F uel a n d shingle w ood_____
9.50-10.50 crow ns (28.1-31.1 cen ts).
P u lp w oo d ________________ 14.00-16.00 crow ns (41.4-47.4 cen ts).
Poles, fence w o o d_________
11.00 crow ns
(32.6 cents).
B a rk ______________________
9.00 crow ns
(26.6 cents).

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

387

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

In southern Bohemia, lumber workers are divided into classes on
the basis of age and period of employment Workers who have been
employed over a 2-year period, working 120 days a year, or producing
250 cubic meters of wood annually, are considered permanent.
Temporary workers are those who work at least 60 days annually at
the height of the season. The third group includes short-term
workers who are employed for less than 60 days annually. Day
workers in Class I, including men and young men over 18, receive
2.35 crowns (7.0 cents) per hour, those of Class II, including boys
from 16 to 18, women and girls over 16, 1.35 crowns (4.0 cents) per
hour, and those of Class III, composed of boys and girls under 16
years, 0.80 crown (2.4 cents) per hour. Most workers, however,
are on a piecework basis, according to the following scales:
T

a b le

8 .—

P IE C E

RATES

P A ID TO W O R K E R S IN T H E L U M B E R
S O U T H E R N B O H E M IA IN 1931

IN D U S T R Y

OF

[Conversions in to U n ited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Piece rates of w orkers in Class 1 1
T y p e of wood, or process

Class I I 2

Class I I I 3

U n it
Czecho­
slovak
currency

Crowns

U n it­ Czecho­ U nited
U nited Czecho­
ed
slovak
States
States
States slovak
cur­
cur­
cur­
currency rency cur­ rency
rency
rency

Cents

H ard beech and other wood, unpeeled.. Cu. m_.
29.6
10.00
Soft wood, peeled____________________
28.1
9. 50
.do.
24.6
8.30
Dressing wood for ties a n d m atches___ ,._do___
29.6
Soft fuel w ood_______________________ Cord m.
10.00
H a rd fuel wood_________ ____________ ...d o ___
32.6
Pine b a rk ___________________________ ...d o ___
8 . 00
23.7
Pulpw ood, including peeling:
13. 00
7 centim eters th ic k _______________
38.5
. d o ___
103.6
From 4 to 6 centim eters th ic k _____
.d o ___
35. 00
Shingle wood:
34.0
11.50
.d o ___
N o t sp lit...................................... ..........
13.00
.d o ___
38.5
S p lit____________________________
45.0
15.20
W heelw right w ood____ ______________
.d o ___
S tum p wood, split:
W hen w orking on sw am py ground,
.d o ___ 18.00-22.00 53. 3-65.1
under less difficult conditions.
_do___ 22.00-26. 00 65.1-77.0
W hen w orking un d er more difficult
conditions.

11.00

Crowns Cents Crowns

Cents

10. 50
13.00
13. 50

9. 30

34.0
32.6
28. 1
33.4
35.5
27.5

11.00

38.5
35.5
31.1
38.5
40.0
32.6

14. 30

42.3

17.00

50.3

13. 50
15.00

40.0
44.4

11.50

11.00
9. 50
11.30

12. 00

13.00
12.00

1 Includes males over 18 years .
2 Includes boys 16 to 18 years, w omen and girls over 16 years.
3 Includes boys a n d girls u n d er 16 years.

In addition to the regular money wages, lumber workers are en­
titled to dwellings and a family allowance of 112 crowns ($3.32) per
year. Permanent and temporary workers receive waste wood, or
fuel, according to their needs. Permanent workers are entitled to
purchase 2 cords of second-class wood for fuel at one-half the prevail­
ing price, and temporary workers may purchase smaller amounts,
dependent upon the number of days worked. Lumber workers en­
gaged in forest administration work receive 8 cords of fuel wood annu­
ally at half cost. All allowance of wood for fuel, however, must be
used entirely by the worker in his home. Permanent workers also
may purchase 3 cubic meters of construction timber at a 35 per cent
reduction from the current price, to permit alterations or additions

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

388

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

to their dwellings. Workers supplying their own tools receive a bonus
of 4 per cent above the normal wage for day or piece work. A deposit
of 40 crowns ($1.18) is required from workers not owning their tools.
This deposit is returned to permanent workers at the end of the year,
providingthe tools are returned in good condition.
Deductions are made from the wages of lumber workers to cover
one-half the cost of contributions for sickness, old-age and pension
insurance, the balance being paid by the employer.
Agriculture
W a g e s of agricultural workers in Czechoslovakia vary according
to wage agreements made in various sections of the country. In all
sections permanent workers receive monthly wages, whereas seasonal
workers are on an hourly basis. The regular working-day is estab­
lished by a law of December 19, 1918, at 11 hours. In Bohemia, the
length of the working-day varies at different seasons of the year, but
averages 9 hours for permanent workers and 10 hours for seasonal
workers on a daily wage. In Slovakia, the normal working-day is 11
hours. Overtime on working-days in Bohemia is paid for at the
regular hourly rate for permanent workers, while seasonal workers
receive an increase of 50 per cent. In Slovakia permanent workers in
Class I receive 1 crown (3.0 cents) for the first hour of overtime on
regular working-days and 1.70 crowns (5.0 cents) for each additional
hour, while seasonal workers receive 1.60 crowns (4.7 cents) for each
hour of overtime; permanent workers in Class II receive 0.70 crown
(2.1 cents) for the first hour and 1.30 crowns (3.8 cents) for each addi­
tional hour, and seasonal workers receive 1.20 crowns (3.6 cents) per
hour; permanent workers in Class III receive 0.50 crown (1.5 cents) for
the first hour and 0.90 crown (2.7 cents) thereafter, and seasonal workers
receive 0.80 crown (2.4 cents) per hour.3
Agricultural workers are ordinarily free on Sundays and the follow­
ing holidays: Two days at Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter
Monday, Whitsuntide Monday, May 1, and October 28. Work
done on these days is paid at the rate of time and a half in Bohemia,
and double time in Slovakia. Permanent stable workers in Slovakia
receive an allowance of 3.20 crowns (9.5 cents) for work on holidays
and seasonal stable workers an allowance of 3 crowns (8.9 cents).
Basic monthly wages were paid to regular agricultural workers in
Bohemia in 1931 on the following scale:
3 Class I includes a d u lt workers, mowers, and stable a tten d ants; Class II , boys over 18 years of age.
women, and strong girls; and Class I I I other girls and boys un d er 18.


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

389

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b l e

9

—BA SIC W A G E S O F A G R IC U L T U R A L W O R K E R S IN B O H E M IA IN 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of erown=2.96 cents]
Basic m o n th ly wages of perm anent
w orkers

D istricts raising—

Feeders,
herders,
and
shepherds

Ox feeders,
maids

Horse
feeders

Basic hourly wages of seasonal workers
in—

Class 1 1

Class I I 2

Class I I I 3

Czech­
Czech­
Czech­
Czech­
Czech­
Czech­
oslo­
oslo­ U .S . oslo­ U .S . oslo­ U .S . oslo­ U .S . oslo­
cur­ vak
cur­ vak
cur­ vak
cur­
cur­ vak
cur­ vak
vak
cur­ rency cu r­ rency cur­ rency cu r­ rency cur­ rency cur­ rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency

u. s.

u.s.

Sugar beets predomin a n tly _____ _____
Sugar beets and other
crops. __________ ..
G rain I
________
G rain 11
________
_ __
Potatoes_____
F odder ___________

Cr.

155 $4.59

150
135
120
105
95

4. 44
4.00
3. 55
3.11
2.81

Cr.

Cts.

Cr.

145 $4. 29

Cr.
130 $3.85

1.50

4.4

1.15

140
125
110
95
85

125
115
100
90
80

1.45
1.25
1.10
1.05
1.05

4.3
3.7
3.3
3.1
3.1

1.10
1.00
.95
.85
.80

Cr.

4.14
3. 70
3. 2G
2.81
2.52

3. 70
3. 40
2.96
2'. 66
2. 37

Cts.

Cr.

Cts.

3.4

1.00

3.0

3.3
3.0
2.8
2. 5
2.4

.95
.90
.80
.75
.70

2.8
2.7
2.4
2.2
2.1

1 Includes a d u lt workers, mowers, a n d stable atten d an ts.
2 Includes boys over 18 years of age, women, and strong girls.
3 Includes other girls and boys u n d er 18.

Regular workers in Bohemia receive a special bonus of 19 crowns
(56.2 cents) per month in the high-grade vegetable and sugar-beet
sections. Workers who complete the year are given an allowance
amounting to an extra month’s wage. Work during the harvest
season is usually paid on a piecework basis, securing to the average
worker a wage from 10 to 15 per cent higher than his normal earnings.
Deductions of 4 crowns (11.8 cents) per day in Bohemia and 6
crowns (17.8 cents) per day in Slovakia are made to cover the cost
of housing, fuel, light, and maintenance which are furnished by the
employers. Workers of Classes I and II engaged in digging potatoes
receive an added hourly increment of 15 heller (0.44 cent), while
those of Class III are paid an added 12 heller (0.36 cent). This
increased earning, however, is not considered as a basic wage in
computing overtime pay.
Agricultural workers in Slovakia are paid on the following basic
wage scale:
T

a b le

1 0 .—B A SIC D A IL Y W A G E S O F A G R IC U L T U R A L W O R K E R S IN SL O V A K IA IN 1931
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of crown=2.96 cents]
Basic daily wages of—
Seasonal workers

P erm an en t workers
Class

O rdinary labor H arv est season 1 O rdinary labor H arvest season 2
Czecho- U nited Czecho- U nited Czecho- U nited Czecho- U nited
Slovak S tates Slovak States Slovak States Slovak States
curcurcurcurcurcurcurcurrency rency rency rency rency rency rency rency

Crowns
Class I __________________________
C la s s II---- -- --------------- --- Class I I I __________________________

6. 30
4. 50
3. 20

Cents Crowns
18. 6
13. 3
9.5

7.25
5. 20
4. 05

Cents Crowns
21. 5
15. 4
12. 0

1 Payable for a period of 2 m onths from th e beginning of th e harvest.
2 P ayable for a period of 6 weeks from th e beginning of th e harvest.

96957°—32----- 11


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

6.90
4. 75
3. 45

Cents Crowns
20. 4
14. 1
10. 2

7. 75
5. 20
4. 30

Cents

22.9
15.4
12. 7

390

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

Workers employed in caring for horses receive an additional 2.50
crowns (7.4 cents) per day over the basic wages indicated above,
while those caring for oxen receive an extra 2 crowns (5.9 cents) daily.
Sugar beet workers receive wages on a piecework scale as follows:
Per katastraljoch 4

F irs t hoein g ____________________________________________ 24.30 crow ns
W eeding a n d se p a ra tin g ________________________________ 49.50 crow ns
Second ho ein g _________________________________________
49.50 crow ns
H arv estin g b y h a n d ____________________________________ 130.00 crow ns
H arvesting, w hen plow ed o u t___________________________ 90.00 crow ns

($0.72)
($1.47)
($1.47)
($3.85)
($2.66)

The mowing of hay and clover is also paid on a piece basis at 24.15
crowns (71.5 cents) per katastraljoch (57,600 square feet).
Regular workers engaged in the grain harvest receive a special
allowance of grain in addition to their money earnings. All workers
reaping and threshing by hand receive one-tenth of the grain produced,
those operating a mowing machine, binding, and threshing are en­
titled a thirteenth part of the output, while operators of a reaper and
binder receive a fifteenth share. Reaping and binding with thresh­
ing entitles the worker to one-twelfth of the production and other
workers engaged in threshing receive 3% per cent of the amount of
grain they handle. By agreement between the employer and the
workers, these allowances may be made in money instead of grain,
but in such cases the workers are privileged to buy enough grain to
meet their needs from the employer at the price prevailing on the
nearest grain exchange. Seasonal workers operating threshing ma­
chines receive a bonus of 1.50 crowns (4.4 cents) per day.
In addition to money wages, allowances of various kinds are paid
to agricultural workers by the terms of the collective agreements. In
Bohemia, married workers receive a hygienic dwelling with at least
one room and a woodshed. If the worker occupies his own dwelling,
he is entitled to a rent allowance, determined by the current rents
paid in that section. Workers in this group may be granted a piece
of ground for raising potatoes, with seed potatoes and fertilizer
furnished by the employer. They are further permitted to keep six
chickens, two nests of rabbits, and possibly a pig. In Slovakia,
workers of both groups must be provided with lodgings, including a
heated common room, hygienic sleeping quarters, and toilet facilities.
Beds and bedding must also be provided by the employer. The
necessary agricultural implements and tools are furnished by the
employer, but workers are responsible for any damage done to them
beyond ordinary depreciation through use. A cook, paid at the reg­
ular scale of wages, must be provided for every 20 workers.
The trade agreements further provide that married agricultural
workers shall receive allowances of food and fuel, as noted below.
4 57,600 square feet.


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

391

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

1 1 .—FO O D A L L O W A N C E S O F A G R IC U L T U R A L W O R K E R S IN B O H E M IA IN 1931
[Q uintal=220.46 pounds; kilogram =2.2046 pounds; lite r=1.0567 quarts]
Allowances to—
Item
P erm anent workers

Seasonal workers
(per 100 days)
K ilo s

Rye, barley or w heat:
G rain ___________
F lo u r___________
B u tte r or l a r d 2______
P o ta to e s3___________
M ilk «______________
Illum inating o il6-----Coal:
B lack___________
L ignite_________
W ood for fuel_______

.... 85 kilograms per m o n th ____ 10.1
.__ 60 kilograms p er m o n th ____
.__ 1 kilogram per m o n th ______
80 kilograms p er m o n th ......... 300.4
__ 1 lite r p er d a y _________ ___
... 2 liters per m o n th ...... ............
16 quintals per y ear----24 q uintals per y ear___
4 cubic m eters per year.

1 A bonus of 5 kilograms is added if th e worker is employed for 150 days.
2 G ranted only in case worker is n o t perm itted to raise a pig.
3 G ranted only in case w orker is n o t allotted la n d for raising potatoes.
4 An additional 100 kilograms is allotted for every 25-day period beyond th e 100-day season.
5 Fam ilies of more th a n 4 m em bers m ay purchase one-fourth of a liter daily for each additional member,
a t half the prevailing price.
6 G ranted only from Oct. 1 to M ar. 31.

Allowances for 6 -w e e k periods to pairs of agricultural workers in
Slovakia are as follows:
T able 13 . -F O O D A L L O W A N C E S, F O R 6-W E E K P E R IO D S , TO A G R IC U L T U R A L L A B O R ­
E R S W O R K IN G IN P A IR S , IN SL O V A K IA IN 1931
[Kilogram=2.2046 pounds; liter=1.0567 quarts]
Food allowances 1 to—
Item
P erm anent workers
70 kilograms . . . ____________ 50 kilogram s-------- -------------------____
Legumes (peas, beans, barley, or ric e )2---------- 14 k ilo g ra m s____
35 kilograms . ___ . -------------3 kilogram s__ . ____ ___
1.5 k ilo g ram s3__ . . . . ------- -2 k ilo g ra m s_____ _____ ____
3 kilogram s.. . .
---- -----Fait
__ ___
42 liters . . ___
-- -Allowance for preparing food------------------------ 25 crowns ($0.73)________________
^ o rn

Seasonal workers
60 kilograms.
40 kilograms.
10 kilograms.
40 kilograms.
3 kilograms.
3 kilograms.
3 kilograms.
42 liters.
35 crowns ($1.02).

1 To be furnished in th e articles prescribed or th eir equivalents.
2 3 of the 4 varieties to be supplied as selected b y th e employer.
3 1 kilogram to be used in th e common kitchen.

Seasonal workers in Slovakia receive, whenever they sever their
contracts with the employer and regardless of the reason therefor,
20 kilograms of grain for each six weeks of employment during the
season. If they complete the season as contracted, they are entitled
to a premium sufficient to enable them to purchase 60 kilograms of
corn and 25 kilograms of wheat at the current grain exchange prices
for September.
.
.
Deductions are made from the wages of all agricultural workers m
Czechoslovakia to cover half the cost of the insurance against sickness
and old age, the remaining half being borne by the employer. In Slo­
vakia 60 crowns ($1.78) are deducted from the first two wage pay­
ments of the season as a forfeit which falls to the employer in case the

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

392

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

worker does not complete the season according to the terms of the
contract^ Seasonal workers in Slovakia employed at piece rates have
a deduction of 6 crowns (17.8 cents) per day made to cover the cost
of their maintenance.

G eneral Survey o f W ages in H un gary 1

A CCOEDING to the latest census, taken at the end of 1930, the
I I total number of industrial workers in Hungary, excluding
those engaged in agriculture, is 1,169,797. Of this number approx­
imately 157,000 are members of labor unions.
Average Annual Earnings in Manufacturing Industries

Tire publication Statisztikai Havi Közlemenyek in its April-June,
1931, issue, gives detailed data regarding average annual earnings
during 1930, in the various branches of the manufacturing industries.
The following tables are taken from that report:
T

a b le

1.—A V E R A G E A N N U A L E A R N IN G S IN S P E C IF IE D
H U N G A R Y , 1930

IN D U S T R Y

G R O U P S IN

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pengo=17.5 cents]
Average annual
earnings per
w orker
In d u s try group
H un­
garian
cur­
rency

Iron and m etal_______________ .
M achine__ _____ __ _ ______
Public u tility electric pow er___
Earthenw are, stone and glass.. .
W ood and bone________
_____
L eather, bristle, and feather___ _
Spinning and w eaving__________

U nited
States
cu r­
rency

Average annual
earnings per
w orker
In d u stry group
H u n ­ U nited
garian States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Pengos
1,605
1,643
2,397
1,208
1, 308
1,412
1,188

$280. 88
287. 53
419. 48
211. 40
228. 90
247.10
207. 90

Clothing_____________________ _
P ap er____________ _____
Provision and convertible indus­
tries _ _____
. . . ___
Chemicals . . . .
R eproductive and decorative____

Pengos
1,418
1,434

$248.15
250.95

1,439
1,612
2,886

251.83
282.10
505.05

For all industries covered in Table 1, earnings amounted to 1,497
pengos ($26L98)2in 1930, as against 1,580 pengos ($276.50) in 1929.
The cost of living declined by 5.3 per cent.
The average annual earnings of industrial workers employed in
the various branches of the industries given in Table 1 are shown
in Table 2.
1 T his report was prepared b y Stephen H a tta la of th e American Consulate a t B udapest, H ungary.
2 Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pengo=17.5 cents.


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

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T \ ble

393

3.—A V E R A G E A N N U A L E A R N IN G S I N S P E C IF IE D BRANCHES OF IN D U S T R Y
IN H U N G A R Y IN 1930

[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pengo=17.5 cents]
Average annual
earnings per
worker

Average annual
earnings per
worker
In d u stry

In d u stry
H un­
garian
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pengôs
Iron and m etal industries:
Iron and steel m anufacturing. 1, 647 $288. 23
1,473
257. 78
Iron and steel m olding--------291. 55
W rought-iron goods------------302. 58
Cables, wire, e tc .......................
1, 729
222. 25
Enam eled goods------ ------------ 1,270
B uilding a n d locksm ith hard ­
235. 38
1,345
w are....... ...................... - ..........
232. 75
1, 330
Iro n and brass fu rn itu re ------337. 93
Semifinished m etal p ro d u c ts.. 1,931
341. 60
1, 952
Gold and silver goods_______
283. 85
1, 622
C oppersm ith goods_________
341.25
M etal foundries- . ..................... 1,950
C handeliers a n d lam p prod­
273. 35
1,562
u c ts_____________________
326. 55
P lum bing a n d fittings_______
207. 38
1,185
Finished m etal goods...............
M achine industries:
Boilers, m achines,
arms,
303. 28
boats, e tc ................... .............. 1,733
262.15
1,498
Scales. ................... ................—
263. 38
Electrotechnical goods---------- 1, 505
334.43
M usical in stru m en ts________ 1,911
Precision ap p aratu s, watches,
250. 78
1,433
etc.......................................... .
E arthenw are, stone, a n d glass
industries:
268. 28
1, 533
Lime b u rn in g . --------- ---------C em ent, fireproof, and insu­
275. 10
lating m aterial____________ 1, 572
283. 68
Asbestos shingles----------------- 1,621
Artificial stone an d cem ent
226. 98
goods____________ ________ 1,297
212. 63
1,215
Stone q u arries.------ ------------282.45
1, 614
Stone-working p lan ts----------179. 73
B rick factories______________ 1,027
424.73
Stove factories--------------------- 2,427
P o ttery a n d other earthen­
207. 90
w are......... .............. .................. 1,188
241. 33
Glass m elting---------------------- 1, 379
362. 25
2,070
Glass c u ttin g ____________ —
W ood and bone industries:
176. 05
Saw m ills___________________ 1,006
261. 98
Barrels an d woodenware------- 1,497
H ardw ood flooring an d ve­
222.43
1.271
neers___________ _____ ___
250.43
1,431
O ther w oodenw are..............
259. 00
Shades, carpenter goods-------- 1,480
217.18
L athes_____________________ 1,241
123.73
707
C anes_____________________
Picture-fram e m aking and
209.
65
1,198
g ild in g ..------ ------------------213. 68
1, 221
W ooden tools______________
222. 43
1.271
Bone and mother-of-pearl----214. 55
C hildren’s to y s_____________ 1,226
149.80
856
Broomcorn sweepers-----------R eed and straw goods, basket
161. 88
925
w are_________ ___________
289.10
Carriage a n d staves-------------- 1,652
Leather, bristle, a n d feather in­
dustries:
283.15
L eather _ _____ ______ ___ 1,618
221. 20
L eather goods, bags, saddlery. 1, 264
216. 48
O ilc lo th ....................... .............. 1,237
190. 23
Bristle, anim al hair, feather. . 1,087
222. 43
R ubber goods............................. 1, 271


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

1,666

1,866

H un­ U nited
garian States
curcur­
rency rency

Spinning and weaving industries: Pengôs
1, 233 $215. 78
C otton--- ----- --------------913
159. 78
Linen___ - - -------- --994
173.95
Flax_______________________
210. 35
J u te ________________ _____ 1,202
219. 63
W ool______________________ 1, 255
188.13
1,075
Silk_______________________
208. 60
1,192
R ibbon—. --------------188. 30
1,076
K n itted a n d woven goods___
230.48
B ra id in g __________________ 1,317
86.98
497
Em broidery an d l a c e s - . . ---297.85
Preparing plants------------------ 1,702
Clothing in d u stry :
293.48
Tailors . . - _________
- - 1,677
1, 735
303. 63
Furriers___________________
1,147
200. 73
Linen goods________________
1,196
209. 30
Style goods, um brellas— - 200. 38
1.145
Gloves, trusses_____________
252.88
1,145
H a ts _____________ - -Artificial flowers, decorative
164.15
938
feathers_________________
1,346
235.55
L eather shoes______________
Paper in d u stry :
1,
687
295.23
P ap er------------ —- ---1,359
237.83
Paper g oods.. — — --- Provision a n d convertible indus­
tries:
1,483
259. 53
F lo u rm ills .. -------------- --1,012
177. 10
Spice grinding---- - ------------298. 73
1,707
Bakeries, potato m a s h in g ---208. 25
Sugar factories____________ - 1,190
181.83
1,039
C andy factories_________
Chickory an d vegetable pack197. 23
in g .............. ............................... 1,127
68.08
389
Seed assorting.......... ........... -Salami an d canned-m eat fac1,804
315. 70
tories --- ---------- ------268.45
M ilk products______
___ 1, 534
1,252
219.10
Tobacco products__
___
294. 70
Beer a n d m a lt-- -- - - - - ------ 1,684
263. 55
Alcohol . -- --- -------------- 1,506
205. 28
Vinegar—
— ------ ------ -- 1,173
218.93
1,251
B ran d y , liquor, ru m ______
245.00
C h am p ag n e .-. ----------------- 1,400
1,400
245. 00
M ineral a n d soda w ater. ___
527. 45
W ater su p p ly (public u tility ). 3,014
311.
50
1,780
Ice______________ ____ - .........
Chemical industries:
288.
58
1,
649
Oil refining________________
Gas (public u t i l i t y ) ---- -------- 2, 416 422.80
1,425
249.
38
B riq u e tte --------------- ---------232. 75
Cornstarch________
--- 1, 330
814
142.45
M atches___________________
244.83
Glue and alb u m in ------- -- - - 1, 399
262.33
Vegetable oil------ ---------------- 1,499
209.13
Candle, soap, perfum ery------- 1,195
1,421
248. 68
Greases. ---------- ------291. 90
P ain ts, lacquers, in k , pencils. 1,668
288.93
Fertilizers--------------------------- 1,651
310.63
1, 775
A sphalt a n d p itc h . . 254.63
1, 455
Chem ical p ro d u cts----- -262.50
Chemical sundries. . .
---- 1, 500
R eproductive an d decorative in505.05
dustries________ ____ _________ 2,886

394

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

The daily working time in these industries is eight hours.
The wages are subject to a deduction of 2 per cent for income tax
and 4.64 per cent for social insurance contributions.
Hourly Wages in Certain Occupations

Hungarian Manufacturers’ Association maintains an organiza­
tion, designated as the Central Bureau of Hungarian Employers, that
fixes and registers hourly wages actually paid. This bureau classifies
labor into the following classes: Skilled laborers, machine workers,
day laborers, female workers, boys and girls, and apprentices.
The average hourly wages paid to these classes of labor on June 30,
1931j were as follows:
T he

Skilled la b o re rs-------------------------------------0. 90
M achine w o rk ers----------------------------------0. 73
D ay la b o rers---------------------------------------- 0. 50
Fem ale h e lp ----------------------------------------- 0. 44
Boys a n d girls-------------------------------------- 0. 30
A pprentices------------------------------------------ 0. 16

pengo ^15. 7 cents)
pengo (12. 7 cents)
pengo (8. 7 cents)
pengo (7. 7 cents)
pengo (5. 3 cents)
pengo (2. 8 cents)

As all collective agreements have been canceled, except in the
bakery trade, the wage scales are nominal and the wages obtained in
new employment^ are subject to bargaining. Hourly wages have
followed a declining trend, as shown in the following comparison
listing hourly wages paid in certain occupations at the end of June,
1931, and the average paid during 1930:
T

a ble

3 .—A V E R A G E H O U R L Y R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN H U N G A R Y IN
1930 A N D JU N E 30, 1931
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pengo=l7.5 cents]
Average hourly rate
1930

Occupation

H ungarian
currency

Plum bers_____________________________
Joiners________________ _ _____
Tailors_________
_ .
_
B ricklayers______________________________
D ay laborers-.- _________________
Fem ale factory h a n d s- - . ________ ______
Fem ale d ay laborers.—_________ ________

June 1931

U nited
States
currency

Pengos

0.72
.61
.64
.80
.45
.25
.38

H ungarian
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pengos
$0.13
.11
.09
.14
.08
.04
.07

0.68
.54
.44
.80
.44
.26
.34

$0.12
.09
.08
. 14
.08
.05
.06

New men are hired at present between the limitations of the follow­
ing minimum and maximum wages per hour:
Skilled la b o re rs------------------------- 0.
M achine o p e ra to rs_____________ 0.
D ay lab o re rs-------------------------------0.
F em ale h e lp ------------------------------ 0.
B oys------------------------------------------ 0.
E n g ra v e rs-----------------------------------0.
A pprentices-------------------------------- 0.

58-1.
50-0.
32-0.
23-0.
19-0.
94-1.
15-0.

55 pengo
88 pengo
51 pengo
73 pengo
33 pengd
12 pengo
24 pengo

($0.
($0.
($0.
(SO.
($0.
($0.
($0.

10-$0. 27)
09-$0. 15)
06-$0. 09)
04-$0. 13)
03-$0. 06)
16-$0. 20)
03-$0. 04)

Weekly Wages in Certain Occupations, Budapest
T h e Statistical Yearbook o f the city of Budapest, 1930, gives
detailed data regarding wages paid by 16,256 small industrial firms
employing 20 workers or fewer each and by 1,854 larger industrial

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

395

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

firms employing more than 20 men each. The data collected are
based on actual wages paid to 176,534 employees, of whom 136,893
were men and 39,641 women. These data relate solely to the city of
Budapest, and show average weekly wages in specified industries and
occupations in 1929.
T

a ble

4 .—A V E R A G E W E E K L Y W A G E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S AN D O C C U P A T IO N S
IN B U D A P E S T , 1929
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pengo=17.5 cents]
Average w eekly
wages

Average weekly
wages
In d u stry and occupation

H un­
garian
cur­
rency

Pengos
M etal industries:
Steel founders............................. 57.60
Iron fo u n d e rs-.......... --•--------- 58. 56
M etal founders_____________ 56. 64
M achine molders----------------- 37.44
C asting cleaners------------------ 30. 72
53. 76
L ocksm ith, forem en________
Locksm iths’ helpers................. 39.84
M achine setters------------------- 45.12
M old m akers_______________ 55.20
44.64
Tool repairers--------------------49.44
Iron lath e tu rn e rs__________
M etal lath e tu rn ers-------------- 42.24
49.92
Tool lath e tu rn e rs --------------B oilersm ith, firem en------------ 43.20
39.36
B oilersm iths’ helpers----------Toolsm iths, firem en------------- 46. 56
36.48
Toolsm iths’ helpers------------31.68
Shipsm iths________________
34.56
R iveters, forem en__________
30.72
R iveters___________ _______
45.12
T in sm ith s-------------------------54.72
Bronze w orkers____________
58.08
M etal-press m en___________
37. 92
Polishers__________________
24. 96
Galvanizers, fem ale------------12.48
Factory workers, fem ale------15. 36
W orkers, female-----------------E lectricians________________ 39.84
27.84
E lectricians’ helpers-----------C oppersm iths______________ 56. 64
M ac h in ists......... - ..................... 41.28
33.60
Firem en___________________
Planers____________________ 44.64
44.16
Borers---------- --------- ----------32.64
Cold-press m en____________
36.48
M achine workers, tu rret lathe
26.88
Coal passers_______________
26.40
Oilers_____________________
27.84
Boiler cleaners_____________
30.24
Crane operators-----------------20. 64
M achine w orkers, female___
19.20
M echanics’ helpers, female—
Electrical in d u stry and m anufac­
tu re of machines and precision
and m usical instrum ents:
M achine workers, first class. _ 36.00
M achine workers, second class. 24.48
F acto ry helpers------------------- 22. 08
48.00
M odelers__________________
M achine workers, female------ 20.64
30.00
W atch m akers_____________
44.64
In stru m e n t m akers, m ale___
In stru m en t m akers, fem ale... 19.20
Stone and glass industries:
64.32
Stonecutters......................... .
B rick m anufacture—
13.92
M ales_________________
9.12
Fem ales_______________
70.
56
P o tters...... ........................ ........
W ood industry:
49. 92
Lum berm en.........- - - ......... —
43.20
C o o p e rs..................................34.56
Joiners, b u ild in g ..--------------Joiners, average-size p la n ts ... 43.20
33.
60
Joiners, sm all p lan ts-----------43.20
T u rn ers____ ____ - ..................


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

U nited
States
cur­
rency

$10.08
10.25
9.91
6. 55
5.38
9.41
6.97
7.90
9.66
7.81
8.65
7.39
8.74
7.56
6.89
8.15
6.38
5. 54
6.05
5.38
7.90
9.58
10.16
6. 64
4.37
2.18
2.69
6.97
4.87
9.91
7.22
5.88
7.81
7.73
5.71
6.38
4.70
4.62
4.87
5.29
3.61
3.36

6.30
4.28
3.86
8.40
3.61
5.25
7.81
3.36
11.26
2.44
1.60
12.35
8.74
7. 56
6. 05
7.56
5.88
7.56

In d u stry and occupation

H u n ­ U nited
garian States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

L eather, brushes, hair, feather.
oilcloth, a n d ru b b er industries: Pengos
35. 46
T anners, skilled----T anners’ helpers, m ale______ 26.16
17.75
T anners’ helpers, female____
Purse a n d fancy-goods work28.52
ers......... ......................... .........
35. 21
L eather w orkers. _______
41.28
B rush m akers, m ale------- . . .
30.72
B rush m akers, female_____
Furriers, m a le .._
------------- 49. 79
38. 63
Furriers, fem ale. ----------52. 00
Glove m akers____________
43. 50
T russ m akers_______ ____
A utomobile upholsterers------- 45. 92
Textile ind u stry :
25.00
Ju te weavers, m ale . . . . . .
23. 00
J u te weavers, female ..
20.00
C otton weavers, m ale ..
20.00
C otton weavers, female---- -36.00
Rope m akers------- . . . . .
K nitters, m ale--------------------- 45.00
K nitters, fem ale.. ------ . . . 25. 00
50.00
Braiding m akers, m ale..
28.00
Braiding m akers, female
58.00
D y e rs,m a le .. . . - - - . . . 34.00
D yers, fem ale.. ------ . . . - 51.00
T apestry m a k e rs........... .
Clothing in d u s try :
M en ’s tailoring—
23.04
Beginners ------------- .
Semiskilled w orkers. . . . 31.68
Skilled workers-------------- 40.32
Pieceworkers .
------ 46.08
M en ’s ready-m ade clothing—
First-class pressers, and
machine and
hand
65. 28
w orkers...
----------C ontract pressers, and
m achine and hand
workers—
61.44
First class__________
51.84
Second class. -----Pressers and machine
workers, helpers—
First class.. ----------- 48.00
Second class______ . 42.24
W om en’s tailoring, hand
workers—
12.00
First 6 m o n th s ... ------Second 6 m o nths------------ 14.88
19.68
After 1 year
W om en’s ready-m ade clothmg—
15. 84
Beginners . . . . . ------Semiskilled w o rk e rs ____ 25. 44
Skilled w orkers.. . . . . . . 33.12
44.16
C ontractors, female.H a t m akers, m ale — ■------- 30.00
15.40
H a t m akers, female
---Cap makers, m ale---------------- 51.16
Cap makers, female— ------- 30. CO
22.17
ph comakers ______ __ _
Shoemakers, uppers, m ale----- 23. 44
Shoemakers, uppers, fem ale... 20.30
38. 00
L au n d ry workers, m ale . . .
L au n d ry w orkers, female------ 27.00

$ 6.21

4.58
3.11
4. 99
6.16
7. 22
5. 38
8.71
6.76
9.10
7. 61
8.04

4. 38
4.03
3. 50
3. 50
6. 30
7.88
4. 38
8. 75
4. 90
10. 15
5. 95
8. 93
4.03
5. 54
7.06
8.06

11.42

10.75
9. 07
8. 40
7.39
2.10

2. 60
3.44
2.77
4.45
5. 80
7. 73
5.25
2. 70
8.95
5.25
3.88
4.10
3. 55
6. 65
4. 73

396

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 4 .—A V E R A G E W E E K L Y W A G E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S A N D O C C U P A T IO N S
IN B U D A P E S T , 1929—C ontinued
Average weekly
wages
In d u stry and occupation

H un­
garian
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

P ap er in d u stry :
B ookbinding and envelopes,
skilled workers—
Penoos
F irst y e ar............................ 42 50
Second y ear_____ ______
48. 50
T h ird y ear_____ _______
54. 50
A fter 3 y ears.....................
58. 50
Food in d u stry :
M ill w orkers. ................... ........
25.92
M illers____________________
28. 62
M ill workers, female________
16. 20
B akers, kneaders___________
58.17
B utchers__________________
48.00
Sausage m ixers....................... .
51. 00
Chemical in d u stry :
Factory workers, m ale______
26.00
Factory workers, female_____ 16.00
Building trades:
Scaffold w orkers____________ 36. 00
D ay laborers, m ale.................
19. 20

$7.44
8. 49
9. 54
10. 24
4. 54
5. 01
2.84
10.18
8. 40
8.93
4. 55
2.80

Average weekly
wages
In d u stry and occupation

H un­ U nited
garian States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

B uilding trades—C ontinued.
Pengôs
D ay laborers, fe m a le ___
14. 40
C arpenters______
____
38. 40
Glaziers________ . . . .
__ 45. 00
Painters, beginners______ . . 32.64
Painters, sem iskilled___ .
52. 80
P ain ters, skilled_______ . . . 57. 00
P ap er hangers______________ 63. 36
V a rn ish e rs_________ ____
52.80
C em ent w orkers__________ _ 38. 40
P lasterers__________
. . . . 68.16
P rin tin g trades:
Lithographers, skilled ______ 75.00
Pressfeeders, f e m a le ..___ _ 32. 00
P rin ters, skilled___ ____ 62. 00
P rin ters’ helpers, m ale______
39. 50
P rin ters’ helpers, female_____ 34.00

$2.52
6.72
7. 88
5.71
9. 24
9.98
11. 09
9. 24
6.72
11.93
13.13
5. 60
10. 85
6.91
5. 95

6. 30
3. 36

Weekly Wages Paid to Members of Labor Unions, 1928 to 1931
T h e Board of Trade Unions compiled the following comparative
schedule of weekly wages paid to the members of the labor unions
employed in the various industries at the end of the years 1928, 1929,
and 1930, and on October 31, 1931:
T

a ble

5 .—W E E K L Y W A G ES O F M E M B E R S O F T R A D E -U N IO N S IN H U N G A R Y , 1928TO 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pengo=17.5 cents]
Average weekly wages on—
Dec. 31,1928

Dec. 31, 1929

Dec. 31, 1930

Oct. 31, 1931

In d u stry
H u n ­ U nited H u n ­ U nited H u n ­ U nited H u n ­ U nited
garian States garian States garian States g arian States
cu r­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency rency rency rency rency

Pengôs

L eath er_________ ____ _____
36.37
Provisions and convertibles___
38. 30
B uilding trad es_________________
52. 32
Wood an d fu rn itu re ____ . . . .
51.86
P rin tin g trades ______ - _____
51.76
Precious m etals. ________
34. 66
C lothing- ____________
. . _ 52; 88
Forw arding, shipping . . .
„ __ 42. 00
Textiles_______________________
.35. 00
Iro n and m etal __ _____
40. 44
C hem ical_______________________ _ 41. 75
Sculpture and carving_____
80. 32
M iscellaneous. _____________ . . .
31.68
D ay labor, female_____ ____ ____
26. 67
Average_____________________


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

44.00

$6. 36
6. 70
9. 16
9. 08
9. 06
6. 07
9. 25
7. 35
6.13
7. 08
7. 31
14. 06
5. 54
4. 67
7. 70

Pengôs
36.12
36. 94
53. 46
53.35
53. 01
33. 00
52. 80
42. 00
'35. 00
40. 98
35. 22
80. 32
31. 68
26. 23

$6. 32
6. 46
9. 36
9. 34
9. 28
5. 78
9. 24
7.35
6.13
7. 17
6.16
14.06
5. 54
4. 59

43. 58

7. 63

Pengôs
33. 00
36. 40
48. 88
46.32
49. 33
59. 73
45. 70
36. 66
33.10
43. 54
38. 75
62.66
28. 26
24. 24
41.89

Pengôs

$5. 78
29. 46
6. 37
33. 04
8. 55
40. 26
8.11
44.00
8.63
48. 33
10. 45
43.86
8.00
45. 70
6. 42 : 36. 66
5. 79 •31.60
7. 62
43.33
6. 78
36. 00
10.-97
49. 60
4.95
24. 66
4. 24
23.12
7. 33

37.83

$5.16
5.78
7.05
7.70
8.46
7. 68
8.00
6. 42
5. 53
7. 58
6. 30
8.68
4. 32
4.05
6. 62

397

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Coal Mining
T h e coal industry employs 34,917 miners. The normal working
time is 8 hours. Miners receive lodging for a nominal rent and a heat­
ing allowance of 3.75 metric tons of coal per annum. Electric light is
given free of charge. Of the wages, 2 per cent is deducted for income
tax and 4.64 per cent for social insurance. The Royal Hungarian
Bureau of Statistics gives the average annual wages paid during 1930
as follows:
M an ag em en t_______________
Officials, clerk s_____________
S u b o rd in ate h elp ers________
P ick m in ers________________
O th er un d erg ro u n d laborers:
M en ___________________
B oys__________________
Surface laborers :
M e n __________________
W o m en _______________
C h ild ren ----------------------

5,
3,
2,
1,

644.
510.
634.
892.

00
00
00
00

pengös
pengös
pengös
pengös

($987.
($614.
($460.
($331.

70)
25)
95)
10)

1, 245. 00 pengös ($217. 88)
618. 00 pengös ($108. 15)
1, 409. 00 pengös ($246. 58)
715. 00 pengös ($125. 13)
673. 00 pengös ($117. 78)

Agriculture

T he latest census taken December 31, 1930, gives the farm popu­
lation of Hungary as follows:
T

a b le

6 .—F A R M P O P U L A T IO N O F H U N G A R Y , 1930

Class

Owners of large estates................. .........
Owners of middle-size estates_______
Owners of sm all farms
__ _ _ . _
A gricultural servants------- ------------A gricultural laborers------- --------------T o tal.................

.. - ______

N u m b er
of wage
earners

N um ber
of de­
pendents

798
11,484
407,947
225,129
749,169

1,461
17,359
419,882
379,975
779,420

1,394,527

1,598,097

Agricultural labor in Hungary is entirely unorganized. The great
majority of workers are employed or hired by owners of large and
middle-size estates. Small farmers hire scarcely any paid labor and
help each other. Shortage in capital, together with scarcity and high
cost of agricultural credit, is a characteristic of Hungarian agrarian
production that affects the development of the wages paid in the
industry. As a result, wages are low and there is a trend toward
minimal monetary compensation and maximal payment in land for
work done. Of the total number of agricultural workers only 12 per
cent receive wages paid wholly in cash.
Statistical data are based on the size and estimated value of the
farms according to the three regions of the country and according to
counties, rental paid for the farm in cash and in land, seasonal wages
paid to male and female workers inclusive and exclusive of food,
seasonal wage scale for vineyard workers, seasonal contract labor,
and agricultural servants.
Average Daily Wage Scale

The annual report of the National Agricultural Chamber for 1930
gives the following figures showing the average wages paid per day
Digitizedduring
for FRASER
1930.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

398
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
7 .—

A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S O F A G R IC U L T U R A L W O R K E R S IN H U N G A R Y , 1930
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pengo—17.5 cents]
Average daily wages of—
M en

W omen

Children

Season
H u n g a ­ U nited H u n g a ­ U nited H u n g a ­ U nited
rian
rian
States
States
rian
States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency rency rency

Pengos
Spring _
-- - ___
- ___
Sum m er__ A u tu m n __ ...
___ _ __
W inter____________ - __ _ - ___ ________ _
____
Y early average------- ------ -----------------------------If food is furnished, above scale is reduced b y ________

2. 50
3.60
2. 60
2. 00

$0.44
.63
.46
.35

2.68
.60

Pengos

Pengos

1.80
2. 60
1.90
1.30

$0. 32
.46
.33
.23

1.30
1.90
1.40
1.00

$0. 23
.33
.25
.18

.47

1.90

.33

1.40

.25

.11

.40

.07

.30

.05

The average working time during 1930 was 150 days per annum.
Monthly Wage Scale for Seasonal Labor

Seasonal labor in general is of two kinds—excluding harvesting
and threshing, and including harvesting and threshing. Contracts
are made in each case for the season, stipulating cash payment by
the month, varying from 5 pengos (88 cents) to 45 pengos ($7. 88),
and the following additional compensation in kind: Wheat, from
220 to 660 pounds; rye, from 220 to 1,100 pounds; barley, from
220 to 1,100 pounds; bread flour, 44 pounds; cooking flour, from
5.6 to 22 pounds; vegetables, from 6.6 to 11 pounds; bacon, 8.8
pounds; lard, 2 pounds; meat, 2 to 8.8 pounds; salt, 1 to 8 pounds;
potatoes, from 16 to 44 pounds; and vinegar, 2 liters.
Certain farm workers engaged in groups exclusively for the har­
vesting and threshing, are usually paid with a share of the crop.
The share of each worker varies from 1,300 to 1,400 pounds of cereal,
in addition to board.
Annual Wage Scale of Agricultural Servants

Agricultural servants including drivers, cowmen, cattle, sheep and
swine herders, etc., are hired for the crop year beginning April 1.
Employment is permanent throughout the year. Servants receive
free lodging, $7.00 to $24.48 wages per annum, 1,200 to 1,600 pounds
of wheat, 1,400 to 1,600 pounds of rye, 200 to 800 pounds of barley,
400 to 880 pounds of corn, the use of 100 to 1,600 square meters of
garden space, 400 to 6,400 square meters of corn land, free pasture,
hay, and straw, and the keeping of 1 cow, 1 calf, 1 to 2 hogs and 6
to 12 pigs. Of course, conditions of employment change according
to occupation, region, size of the farm, and various other local factors.
Daily Wage Scale in Vineyards

Seasonal day laborers in vineyards working 112 to 140 days per
annum were paid during 1930 according to the following wage scale:

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

399

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
O pening____________________________________ 2.30 pengos ($0.40)
P ru n in g _________- __________________________ 2.90 pengos ($0.51)
H o ein g _______________________________________2.80 pengos ($0.49)
S p ray in g _____________________________________ 3.70 pengos ($0.65)
B in d in g ____________________________________ 2.30 pengos ($0.40)
P ick in g _____________________________________ 1-90 pengos ($0.33)
C arry in g _____________________________________ 2.50 pengos ($0.44)
P ressin g _____________________________________ 2.80 pengos ($0.49)
C overing___________________________________ 2.20 pengos ($0.39)

During the year there was a strong tendency to enforce crop-share
contracts instead of cash payment.
G eneral Survey of W ages in P oland 1

N EXAMINING the wage tables following, much difference
will be found even within a single industry, while to some
extent districts of the country also determine their own standard.
As a general thing wages are highest in Warsaw and the Warsaw
district, followed by the Silesia district and by Cracow. Where
mining and smelting are concerned, Silesia leads. Thus in the zinc
smelters of Silesia a wage of 14.18 zlotys ($1.59) 2 per day of 8 hours
is paid to certain skilled workers. _ This is the highest daily wage
reached in either smelting or mining. On the other hand young
surface workers in coal mines receive as little as 1.95 zlotys (21.9
cents) per day, and the average is far below $1 per day. The zinc,
coal, lead and iron industries pay the highest daily wage for highclass workers.
A short list of the highest wages paid in these industries follows:

O

D aily wages

Zinc sm elters: first-class ore sm elters in Silesia-------------------C oal m ines: m iners in Silesia--------------------------------------------L ead sm elters: first-class lead c a ste rs--------------------------------Iro n ore m ines: m iners in C racow -------------------------------------S alt m ines: m echanics in W ieliczka-----------------------------------

14.18
14.00
13.41
11.78
11.50

zlo ty s
zlo ty s
zlo ty s
zlo ty s
zlo ty s

($1.59)
($1.57)
($1.50)
($1.32)
($1.29)

Metal workers are paid much less than workers in mines, while
the textile industry, centering largely in Lodz, and very important
to Poland, pays very low wages. _
. . . .
The highest daily wages are paid to hand compositors in printing,
to baker specialists, and to masons, as follows:
H an d com positors (p rin tin g ): W arsaw
C racow .
M asons: W arsaw ----------------C racow ___________
B akers: W arsaw ___________
L odz__________ ___

22.00 zlo ty s
17.54 zlo ty s
17.84 zlo ty s
14.00 zlo ty s
17.48 zlo ty s
13.91 zlo ty s

($2.24)
($1.97)
($2.00)
($1.57)
($1.96)
($1.56)

Technical department chiefs among iron workers receive as much
as 1,946 zlotys ($218.34), per month, which is regarded^ as very
high, indeed. Laboratory chemists of the highest class^receive about
863 zlotys ($96.83) per month, heading their profession in metallurgy.
Agriculture is an important industry both because of its prevalence
in the Polish economy and its own particular features of remuneration.
1 T his report w as prepared b y Stew art E . M cM illen, A merican consul, W arsaw , and T . W . Chylinski
and Sophie Swiecicka, of th e American consulate in W arsaw.
2 Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of zlo ty =11.22 cents.


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

400

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Wages in Mining and Smelting Industries

T he average daily wages per working-day shown in the following
tables include the actual wages, the value of payments in kind
(the coal allowance in coal mines), and vacation wages. These
figures actually constitute, therefore, the total earnings of a workman
for work done, although from this wage deductions are made for
social insurance, income tax, and penalties.
In the column entitled “ Deductions,” the average deduction from
the total wage of one workman per working-day for social insurance
(sick funds, benefit fraternities, etc.) is given.
The average daily wages paid in iron mines and in zinc and lead
mines in June, 1931, and the deductions per day are shown in the
following table:
T able 1.—A V E R A G E D A IL Y E A R N IN G S I N IR O N M IN E S A N D I N Z IN C A N D L E A D M IN E S
IN P O L A N D I N J U N E , 1931

[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of zloty=11.22 cents]
Iro n mines

Occupation

M iners____ - - . ____ _ __________
U nderground workers -- --_____
Surface w orkers,- -- ------- . . . ____
Fem ale w orkers_____ ___________
Average, males____
- _____
Average, all workers_______ „

Zinc and lead mines

Average earn­ Average deduc­ Average earn­ Average deduc­
ings per day
tions per day
ings per day
tions per day
Polish U nited
States
cur­
c u r­
rency rency

nited
Polish UStates
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Polish U nited
States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Polish U nited
States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Zlotys

Zlotys

Zlotys

Zlotys

7.28
4. 73
4. 85
3. 11
5.51
5. 44

Cents

81. 7
53.1
54. 4
34.9
61.8
61. 0

0. 82
.21
.20
.19
.37
.37

Cents

9.2
2.4
2.2
2.1
4. 2
4.2

12. 13
10. 13
8. 86
3.19

$1. 36
1.14
.99
.36

9.81
8. 73

1.10
.98

2.29
1.73
1.12
.43
1. 50
1.33

Cents

25.7
19.4
12.6
4.8
16.8
14.9

In the following statement the average daily wages of workers
engaged in the extraction of petroleum in the Boryslaw district are
given for August, 1931:
D rillers, first class________________________________________ 10. 59 zlotys
Skilled help ers____________________________________________ 7. 05 zlotys
L aborers a n d w om en_____________________________________
5. 10 zlo ty s
Y oung w orkers----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. 81 zlotys

($1.19)
($0.79)
($0.57)
($0.32)

The following table shows the average daily earnings, with and
without the special allowances, in Polish coal mines in June, 1931, and
the deductions from wages on account of different forms of social
insurance. There are wide variations in the rate of pay in the different
coal regions, the highest rates being paid in Upper Silesia and the
lowest in the Basin of Cracow. The deductions are also considerably
higher in Upper Silesia, since that section has old-age insurance which
the other districts do not have.


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

401

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b l e

2

.— A V E R A G E D A IL Y E A R N IN G S I N C O A L M IN E S I N P O L A N D IN J U N E , 1931

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of zloty=11.22 cents]

Average daily
earnings
Occupation

Average daily
earnings in ­
cluding over­
tim e pay and
fam ily allow­
ances

nited Polish
Polish UStates
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency

U nderground workers. ____. . . . . .
M in ers.. . . . . .
.
. . . .
Surface w o rk e rs.. _____ . .
Fem ale w orkers____ . ._ . . . _ ____
Y oung workers, underground ____
Y oung workers, surface___________
Average, m ales.. . . . . ____
Average, all w orkers_______ _

Zlotys
9. 10
11. 55
7.87
3. 59
3.94
2. 40

$1.02
1.30,
.88
.40
.44
.27

8. 71
8. 53

.98
.96

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Zlotys

Average daily
earnings in ­
cluding over­
tim e a nd vaca­ Average daily
tion pay , family
deductions
allowances and
value of coal
allowance
Polish U nited
States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Polish U nited
States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Zlotys

Zlotys

9. 88
12. 55
8. 86
3. 85
4.19
2. 53

$1.11
1. 41
.99
.43
.47
.28

10. 38
13.12
9. 29
4.08
4.19
2. 57

$1.16
1.47
1.04
.56
.47
.29

1.06
1. 27
.85
.43
.24
.21

9. 56
9.35

1.07
1.05

10.03
9. 82

1.13
1.10

.99
.97

Cents

11.9
14. 2
9. 5
4.8
2. 7
2.4
11. 1
10.9

The daily earnings of workers in zinc and lead smelting and refin­
ing plants in June, 1931, are shown in the following tabled The table
shows the earnings with and without the special allowances.
T able 3 .—A V E R A G E D A IL Y E A R N IN G S IN Z IN C A N D L E A D S M E L T IN G A N D R E F IN IN G
IN P O L A N D IN J U N E , 1931

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of zloty= 11.22 cents]

Average daily earnings

Average daily earnings
including overtime pay
and fam ily allowances

Occupation
Polish
currency
Z in c sm e lte r s:
M e n _________________ ____________ ______________
M e c h a n ic s ______________________________________
L a b o re r s__________ ______ _______________________
L a b o re r s, fe m a le _____ ___________ ______ ________
Y o u n g w o r k e r s______ ___________________________
M u ffle a n d b r ic k d e p a r tm e n ts —
M e n _____________________________________________
W o m e n ___________________________ _____ ________
P r e p a r a tio n , c r u s h in g , a n d g r in d in g ore—
M e n _____________________________________________
O re b u r n e r s_____________________________________
W o m e n .. ________________________________
Y o u n g w o r k e r s___________________ _____ ________
S u lp h a tin g a n d o th e r c h e m ic a l o p e r a tio n s—
M e n . ............. 1 ___________________________________
W o m e n _________________________________________
Y o u n g w o r k e r s_________________________________
S m e lt in g a n d r e fin in g —
M e n ____________ ____ _________ __________________
S m e l t e r s . . ______________________________________
Y o u n g p e r s o n s _________________________ _____ _
E le c tr o ly tic refin in g — M e n .............................................. ..
M e c h a n ic a l w o r k in g o f z in c —
M e n ............ ..............................................................................
R o lle r s ....................................... .........................................
W o m e n . . . .................................... .........................................
O th er te c h n ic a l d e p a r tm e n ts —A ll w o r k e r s (a v era g e ) — ...........................................................................................
O th er n o n te c h n ic a l d e p a r tm e n ts— A ll w o rk ers ( a v ­
era g e).................................................................

Average, all workers.


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

U nited
States
currency

Zlotys

8.80
9.82
6. 19
4.14
2.82

$0.99
1.10
.69
.46
.32

9.17
4.22

Polish
currency

U nited
States
currency

Zlotys
9.76
10. 36
6.72
4. 29
2.92

$1.10
1.16
.75
.48
.33

1.03
.47

9.50
4. 33

1.07
.49

9.34
11.21
3.63
2.41

1.05
1.26
.41
.27

10.69
12. 87
3. 73
2.57

1.20
1. 44
.42
.29

8.38
3.76
2.54

.94
.42
.28

9.20
4.01
2.64

1.03
.45
.30

9.14
9.82
5. 35
10.55

1.03
1.10
.60
1.18

10.45
11.28
6.03
11.75

1.17
1. 27
.68
1. 32

11.03
13.70
4. 31

1.24
1.54
.48

11.35
14.05
4. 36

1.27
1.58
.49

8.10

.91

8.65

.97

6.03

.68

6.53

.73

8.08

.91

8.99

1. 01

402

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T able 3 —A V E R A G E D A IL Y E A R N IN G S IN Z IN C A N D L E A D S M E L T IN G A N D R E F IN IN G
IN P O L A N D IN J U N E , 1931—C ontinued

Average daily earnings

Average daily earnings
including overtim e pay
and family allowances

Occupation
Polish
currency

Lead smelters:
M e n .._______ _____________________________
Skilled w orkers_______ _________. . . . _____
Laborers___________ _____ _______ __________
W om en----------- ------------ ----------------------Y oung persons____
______________________
Preparation, smelting, a n d sulphating ore—
M en ___________________
. . .
... ...
Sm elters_____ ____ ________________ _________
Lead smelting a n d m anufacture—
M e n ___ __________________________________
Sm elters_______________ . _________________
W omen _______________
. . . .
O ther technical departm ents—All workers (average)-------------------------------------------------------------O ther nontechnical departm ents—All w orkers (averag e)--............................................................. ..............
Average, all w orkers______________________

U nited
States
currency

Zlotys

Polish
currency

U nited
States
currency

Zlotys

8

. 89
9. 58
8.03
4.20
2.14

$1. 00
1. 07
.90
.47
.24

.87
.89

8.80
9. 03

7.95
10.63
3. 87

.89
1.19
.43

. 99
11. 89
4. 05

1. 01
1. 01

8.11

.91

9.12

6.87

. 77

7.68

1. 02
.86

7.47

.84

8. 44

.95

7.88
. 58
7.22
3.93

$0.88
. 96
.81
.44
.24

7.73
7.91

8

2.11

8

.99

1. 33
.45

Wages in the Metal Industry
F o l l o w i n g are given the hourly wages paid in the metal industry
February 28, 1931. These figures include the value of all additional
payments in money or kind without deductions. No figures were
available giving the value of additional payments or deductions.
A rtisans a n d skilled w orkers
M echanics_________________
L athe o p e ra to rs____________
C a rp en te rs_________________
F o u n d ers__________________
Skilled helpers_____________
U nskilled w orkers__________
A pprentices________________
W om en____________________
Y oung persons, m a le _______
Y oung persons, fem a le _____
A verage, all occupations

1.44
1.39
1.49
1.45
1.28
0.92
0.76
0.32
0.54
0.33
0.32

zlo ty s
zlo ty s
zlo ty s
zlotys
zlo ty s
zloty
zlo ty
zloty
zloty
zloty
zloty

(16.2
(15.6
(16.7
(16.3
(14.4
(10.3
(8.5
(3.6
(6.1
(3.7
(3.6

cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)

1.17 zlotys (13.1 cents)

Wages in Manufacturing Industries
T h e manufacture of matches in Poland is a State monopoly.
There are nine factories, and the hourly earnings shown below are an
average of the wages paid to workers in all of these factories.
Skilled w orkers, m a le____
Skilled w orkers, fem a le__
Skilled helpers, m a le____
Skilled helpers, fem a le ,__
U nskilled w orkers, m a le ..
U nskilled w orkers, fem ale
Y oung w orkers, m a le ____
Y oung w orkers, fe m a le .. .
A verage, m a le s ..
A verage, fem ales

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

1.15
0.63
0.93
0.57
0.77
0.51
0.48
0.46

zlotys (12.9 cents)
zlo ty
(7.1 cents)
z lo ty (10.4 cents)
zlo ty
(6.4 cents)
z lo ty
(8.6 cents)
zlo ty
(5.7 cents)
z lo ty
(5.4 cents)
z lo ty
(5.2 cents)

0.92 z lo ty (10.3 cents)
0.54 zlo ty
(6.1 cents)

403

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

The basic wages in force in August, 1931, in certain specified in­
dustries are shown in the following table for different localities:
T

a ble

4 .—

A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S IN V A R IO U S M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN
P O L A N D , A U G U S T , 1931

Average rates
per day
In d u stry , locality, and occupation
Polish u . s.
cur­
cur­
rency rency
Petroleum extraction and refining—
Boryslaw district:
Zlotys
Drillers, borers_____ ______ . . .
10. 59
Helpers, skilled_____ . . . . ._
7. 05
Laborers, female______________
5.10
Y oung w orkers_______________
2. 81
Distillers and refiners. ____
9.28
Rectifiers of oil, kerosene, and
paraffin.
.
_ _
7.05
Helpers a n d laborers__________
5.10
W omen a n d young workers
2.81
Bakeries and flour mills—-Warsaw:
Bakers, s k ille d _____
_ ___ 17.48
B akers’ helpers___ _________
10.30
M illers______________________
13. 26
O rdinary w orkers___ . . . . . . . 11.50
Sugar refining—W arsaw:
Sugar boilers, skilled .
_
7.35
Boiler tenders and firemen____
5.41
3.91
Laborers_____________________
W omen_____
____ _ ______
2.94
Building trades:
f 11.20
M asons and carpenters______
1 13.20
1 6.72
U nskilled workers____________ { to
[ 7.84
P rinting trades—Cracow:
H and compositors _ ______ . 17. 54
Press feeders, female.
. _
8.77
Fly-boys, female__
4. 38
Chem ical works—U pper Silesia:
Skilled workers__
8.15
Skilled helpers . . . .
7.30
Unskilled w orkers. _ _____ .
6. 70
W omen
______ ____
4. 50
Young workers, apprentices__
2.05
L eather in d u stry (tanneries)—Warsaw district:
Tanners
_ _ _____________
9. 35
Skilled w orkers_____________ .
7.00
W om en__ ___________________
5.15
4. 30
Young w orkers______________
F u rn itu re m anufacturing—Posen:
Joiners
8.48
Unskilled workers
...
6. 40
Y oung workers
3. 36
Glassware plants—C ity and district
of W arsaw:
Skilled smelters—
M inim um . _____________
9. 60
M axim um ____
________ 12. 76
U nskilled workers—
M inim um ________________
3.23
M a x im u m _______ _______
5. 02
W omen.
______ ________
3. 66
M echanics’ apprentices, first
class—
M inim um _ ________ ._
2.15
M axim um . . . . . . . ____
2.87
M echanics’apprentices, second
class—
M inim um ________________
3.66
M axim um . _ ______ _____
4.31
Glassware plants—O ther localities:
Skilled smelters—
M inim um ________ _______
7.90
M axim um ___ ___ _______ 12. 05
U nskilled workers—
M inim um ___ __________ . .
3.13
M axim um _______ ________
3.72


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

$1.19
.79
.57
.32
1. 04
.79
.57
.32
1.96
1.16
1.49
1. 29
.82
.61
.44
.33
1. 26
1.48
.75
to
.88
1.97
.98
.49
.91
.82
.75
.50
.23
1.05
.79
.58
.48
.95
.72
.38

1.08
1.43
.36
. 56

.41
.24
.32
.41
.48
.89
1.35
.35
.42

Average rates
per day
In d u stry , locality, and occupation

Polish u . s.
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Glassware plan ts—O ther localities—
Continued.
W omen—
Zlotys
M inim um ________________
2. 47
M axim um ___________ ____
2. 87
M echanics’ apprentices, first
class—
M in im u m ________________
M axim um - .
2.15
M echanics’ apprentices, second
class—
M in im u m ________________
M axim um - _
3. 66
Glass-bottle works—C ity and district of Warsaw:
Skilled smelters—
M in im u m .- _____________
8.86
M a x im u m _______________ 12.04
U nskilled workers—
M inim um _____________ .
2.90
M axim um ______________
4.50
W omen—
M inim um . _____________
M axim um ___
3.21
M echanics’ apprentices, first
year—M inim um _ ________
1. 93
M echanics’ apprentices, second
year—M axim um . . . . ___
3.85
Glass-bottle works—O ther localities:
Skilled smelters—
M inim um ________ _______
6. 60
M axim um ______ _______
8. 34
U nskilled workers—
____________
2. 90
M inim um
M a x im u m _______________
3. 34
W omen—
M inim um ___ __________ 1.93
M axim um ______ _____ - .
2. 57
M echanics’ apprentices, first
year—
M in im u m .. .
1.93
M axim um
_
___
3. 27
C em ent plants—Southern Provinces:
Artisans, first class__________ .
9. 73
Grinders, first class___________
6.92
U nskilled w orkers____ ______
5.02
W omen and young workers—
M inim um ________________
2.79
M axim um . . . .
. ...
3. 35
M anufacture of bricks b y m achine—
U pper Silesia:
M achinists and skilled w orkers.
9.04
Firem en and m achinists’ helpers__ ______ ___ _
_____
7. 92
6. 90
Unskilled w orkers___
3.44
W omen
Young and unskilled workers—
M inim um ________________
3. 60
M axim um
5. 36
F lour mills—Posen:
9. 36
Skilled workers______________
Helpers (over 21 years of age)___
6. 92
Breweries—Posen:
Skilled w orkers. ___ _ _____
9. 36
6. 88
L a b o re rs ____________________
Clothing in d u stry—Warsaw:
22. 24
Tailors, first class
19.84
Tailors, second class.

$0.28
.32

.24

.41

.99
1. 35
.33
.50
.36
.22
.43
.74
.94
.33
.37
.22
.29
.22
.37
1.09
.78
. 56
.31
.38
1. 01
.89
.77
. 39
.40
.60
1.05
.78
1.05
.77
2. 50
2.23

404

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Textile industry.—The average wage given in the following tables
includes the total cash wage plus extras for output (piecework) and
bonuses; no deductions being made for sick funds, unemployment
insurance, etc.
In compiling these tables only the returns from textile plants
employing at least 20 workers were considered. Questionnaires
were sent out to 446 plants, but owing to the fact that a certain
number of these were inactive at that time, only 382 plants employ­
ing a total of 83,788 workers were included in the final compilations.
The total number of plants and workers covered by this report
are divided among the various Provinces and districts, as follows:
W arsaw P ro v in ce________________________
5 estab lish m en ts (2,340 w orkers)
Lodz P ro v in ce--------- -------------------------------- 303 establishm ents (66,709 wrorkers)
Kielce P ro v in ce--------------------------------------6 estab lish m en ts (7,676 workers)
B ialystok P ro v in ce_______________________ 11 estab lish m en ts
(782 workers)
Bielsk B iala d is tric t______________________ 57 establishm ents (6,281 w orkers)
T o ta l_____________________________ 382 e sta b lish m e n ts (83,788 w orkers)


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

405

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b le

5 —A V E R A G E H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S I N T H E
I N D U S T R Y , F E B R U A R Y , 1931

P O L IS H T E X T IL E

[C o n v e r sio n s in to U n it e d S ta te s c u r r e n c y o n b a sis o f z l o t y = 11.22 cen ts]

Average earnings—
P er week

Per hour
In d u stry and occupation

C otton, vicuna, and cotton w aste spinning:
Spinners, male
______ _____- - ________
Ring spinners, female
_
_______
O ther workers, male_ .
_ __
__ ___
O ther workers, female...
. _ ___- - - ______
Y oung persons__________ _ . . . ______________
C otton, half wool, and light wool weaving:
W eavers, male
_ _ _____________
W eavers, female
____ __________
O ther workers, male
- __ ______ _
__
O ther workers, female
- - __- ___ ___
Y oung persons
_ _ _ _______________
C otton dyeing and finishing:
P rinters a n d engravers
_
_ _______________
O ther workers, male
____________
W omen
. _
...................
___ _______ ________________
Y oung persons
Woo 1 and worsted spinning:
_________ - ___________
S pinners, male
R ing spinners, female
_______ _____ __________
O ther workers, m ale
____- _______ - _____
O ther workers, fe m a le ..______- ____________ -Y oung persons
. ______________________
Wool weaving:
W eavers, male
_ _ ______ _______
W eavers, female
____ _____ ___ _____ _
O ther workers, male
_________ _____
O ther workers, female
_ _________ _____
Y oung persons
__ ______________________
D yeing and finishing:
Fullers
_ ____________________________
O th e r w o rk e rs , m a le

_ ________________________

O ther workers, female-_ _______ - _________
Young persons________ _______________________

Polish
currency

U nited
States
currency

Zlotys

Cents

U nited
States
currency

Polish
currency

Zlotys

37.69
27.94
30. 72
24.47
19.6i

$4.23
3.13
3.45
2. 75
2. 20

9.3
8.4
12.6
7.5
5.3

30.29
26.19
45.17
25.06
19. 50

3.40
2.94
5. 07
2. 81
2.19

2.41
.81
.68
.49

27.0
9.1
7.6
5.5

96. 25
31.92
25.61
18.90

10.80
3.58
2. 87
2.12

1.16
.62
.84
.62
.45

13.0
7.0
9.4
7.0
5.0

49.94
25.08
36. 58
27.19
20.02

5. 60
2. 81
4.10
3.05
2. 25

1.13
.89
1.15
.73
.49

12.7
10.0
12.9
8.2
5.5

47. 50
38.74
50.54
30.71
20. 83

5.33
4. 35
5.67
3. 45
2.34

.84
.85
.6 6

9.4
9.5
7.4

.49

5 .5

33.54
35.61
27.92
20.12

3. 76
4.00
3.13
2. 26

0.96
.72
.78
.63
.48

10.8
8.1
8.8
7.1
5.4

.83
.75
1.12
.67
.47

Tobacco industry.—The average hourly earnings of tobacco workers
in February, 1931, are shown in the following statement:
Skilled w o rk ers_______________________________________
Skilled help ers________________________________________
U nskilled w orkers_____________________________________
W om en_______________________________________________
A verage, m ales___
96957°— 32------ 12


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

1-93
1-33
1-17
1-02

zlotys
zlotys
zlo ty s
zlotys

(21.7
(14.9
(13.1
(11.4

cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)

1.35 zlotys (15.1 cents)

406

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Chocolate and bonbon factories.—The average hourly and weekly
earnings of workers in chocolate and bonbon factories in December,
1929, are given in the following table:
T able 6.—A V E R A G E E A R N IN G S O F W O R K E R S IN C A N D Y F A C T O R IE S , D E C E M B E R
1929

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of zloty=11.22 centsl
W arsaw

Occupation

A rtisans and skilled workers
Helpers, skilled _
Unskilled workers _ _
V omen _
Young persons________________

Cracow

Average hourly Average weekly Average hourly Average weekly
earnings
earnings
earnings
earnings
Polish U nited
States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Polish U nited
States
cur­
cur­
rency rency

Polish U nited Polish U nited
States
States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency
rency rency

Zlotys

Cents

Zlotys

1.7 2
.9 6
.8 7
.6 2
.4 3

Zlotys

19.3
10 .8
9 .8
7 .0
4 .8

Cents

Zlotys

76. 68
43. 92
43. 57
28. 35
17.13

2. 27
1.85
.7 2
.6 1
.3 1

25 .5
20 .8
8 .1
6 .8
3 .5

106. 'll
85. 22
30.86
27.03
14.31

$8. 60
4. 93
4. 89
3.1 8
1.9 2

$11. 91
9. 56
3.46
3.0 3
1.61

Agriculture
Method of Computing Wages

C o m p u t a t io n s of the Polish Central Statistical Office with reference
to wages paid to farm laborers divide these workers into five separate
classes as follows: (1) Permanent farm laborers, including teamsters
and hostlers, farm help, keepers, shepherds, and general-utility men;
(2) agricultural artisans, including blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carpen­
ters, mechanics, chauffeurs, gardeners, hop growers, fish breeders;
(3) agricultural overseers, including field overseers and the other
grades of overseers and bosses in the various branches of agriculture
and breeding; (4) contract laborers; and (5) woman contract laborers.
The border line for remuneration of workers in the above five groups
is relatively wide and is difficult to define strictly. For example, the
pay of a teamster is always greater than that of a shepherd, but both
are in the first class. In the same manner, remuneration of the various
overseers differs. Considering this great variety of remuneration
(especially in cash) it was decided to compute average wages in the
five groups over a series of counties and Provinces. These compila­
tions, however, include only wages of workers conducting their own
domiciles (married or supporting families) and able-bodied workers.
Able-bodied workers mean those who are of age and capable of
undertaking all kinds of work on the farm (especially harvesting with
the scythe), or else skilled and experienced artisans capable of doing
the work for which engaged.
Remuneration of these workers, as regards wages and payments in
kind, usually differs from wages paid to the other workers (to minors,
single persons, invalids, and women), but, again, payment differs
among individuals in the several counties of a single Province and
even in the same county. Hence, the average remuneration for each
Province has been computed to include these differences as an
arithmetical average.

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

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

407

Average values of the wages received by agricultural workers were
relatively easy to ascertain, but the average remuneration in kind was
somewhat more complicated. Of necessity the prices of comestibles
paid in the various Provinces during the periods of agreements had
to be taken as a basis.
Wages of Farm Laborers

Up to the fiscal year 1928-29 wages as specified in farm laborer
agreements were expressed in rye equivalents (except in the southern
Provinces and Upper Silesia). Collective agreements, on the other
hand, specified that these wages must be paid in cash. Quarterly
wage payments were therefore made difficult to compute, as it was
necessary to figure out each time the index of rye prices as reported
by the commission to the Ministry of Labor and Public Welfare,
based on market quotations, and local market prices as paid on the
date when wages were paid.
For the purpose of simplifying these computations, wage agreements
drawn up for the fiscal year 1929-30 in the southern Provinces and in
the Provinces of Posen and Pomerania were based on wages paid in
zlotys. In the eastern Provinces the method of expressing wages in
terms of rye was retained, and owing to the drop in rye prices in
general, wages in these districts dropped from 60 to 70 per cent
accordingly, as compared with wages in the remaining Provinces.
Remuneration in Kind

Remuneration in kind is fundamentally composed of the following:
Wheat, rye, barley (excepting in the Provinces of Wilno and Nowogrodek, where all the remuneration in kind is in the form of rye).
Amounts of these products issued vary considerably.
In addition, in the Provinces of Posen and Pomerania, remunera­
tion in kind also includes 1 metric quintal of peas. In the central and
southern Provinces peas or buckwheat may be issued in small quan­
tities, as defined in agreements, providing the estate raises these
products.
Lodgings.—Computation of the value of lodgings was much more
difficult to arrive at than values of grain issued as part payment in
kind. These values for the fiscal year 1930-31 are determined on the
basis of the annual amortization installment plus insurance and in­
terest on capital invested in the building as for the fiscal year 1927-28,
with subsequent corrections and changes depending on current rates
of amortization and general building costs. The average value (for
the whole of Poland) of a 1-room lodging, such as is supplied to farm
laborers, is estimated at 74.4 Polish zlotys ($8.35) yearly. Aside from
this, agreements in Upper Silesia specify the value of a farm estate
lodging in that district as 70 Polish zlotys ($7.85); also the order of the
Minister of Labor and Public Welfare dated March 21, 1931, fixes the
rate of lodging charge to released farm laborers at 5 zlotys (56.1 cents)
per month.
Fuel.—Laborers using lodgings provided by an estate receive an
annual allowance of fuel consisting of coal, wood, or peat ranging in
different districts from 8.2 to 2.0 cubic meters. An additional cubic
meter of lumber is issued to families baking their own bread. The coal
equivalent for 1 cubic meter of firewood is taken as 2.5 metric quintals.
Livestock maintenance allowance.—Farm workers are allowed to
keep cows in the barns of the estate. The cost of maintaining one


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

408

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

or two cows, together with calves up to two months, is based on the
cost of the stall, the value of summer and winter feed, and the milk
allowance during the period when the cows are dry.
In the Provinces of Polesie and Volhynia the agreements do not
provide that milk is to be issued in exchange for nonmaintenance of
cows, whereas in the Province of Silesia workers receive only milk and
are not allowed to keep cows. In this district, however, the workers
are allowed to keep pigs, but in case of voluntary surrender of this
privilege the workers are paid an indemnity amounting to 100 zlotys
($11.22) per annum. In cases where the employer refuses permission
to keep cows in general the workers are paid a milk equivalent amount­
ing to 1,460 liters in the central Provinces, also in Wilno and Nowogrodek, and 912.5 liters in the districts of Lemberg, Stanislau, and
Tarnopol.
Land allowed jor planting potatoes and gardens.—In addition to the
17 to 58 ares3 of potato land and 2.5 to 4 ares of garden land usually
allowed to farm workers, ^there is also allowed sometimes a small
patch of land for flax growing, and an allowance in potatoes.
Other forms of remuneration in kind.—Agricultural workers are also
entitled to a certain usage of horse-drawn vehicles belonging to the
estate for purposes of transporting grain to the mill, transportation of
farm products from the fields, also when sending for the priest for
weddings, christenings, funerals, etc., or the doctor. The use of one
horse-drawn vehicle is fixed at approximately 3.72 zlotys (41.7 cents).
Other remunerations offered by estates (but the value of which has
not been included in these computations) are: Installation of electric
lighting systems in the workmen’s houses, i. e., where the estates
possess a lighting system, installation of baths, issuance of straw for
bedding, etc.
Contributions to Social Insurance

Contributions toward social insurance and welfare funds in behalf of
the farm worker are paid by the employer. These constitute a separate
form of remuneration which is given in a separate column in Table 7.
These contributions include: (a) Social insurance imposed by law,
i. e., insurance against invalidity caused by dangerous accidents
(effective for the whole of Poland), sickness (effective in the western
and southern Provinces), and old age (effective only in the western
Provinces); (6) compulsory medical aid by the employer (this is especi­
ally provided for in agreements in the central and eastern Provinces);
(c) funeral allowances (in the central and eastern Provinces); and
id) benefits to members of a deceased farm worker’s family (effective
in the central, eastern, and southern Provinces).
In Table 7 are given_ the wages paid to permanent farm laborers,
the value of remuneration m kind and of social insurance contribu­
tions paid by the employer in behalf of the employee, as figured by the
Polish Statistical Office, for the fiscal year 1930-31:
3J a re =100 square meters: 1 hectare=100 ares.


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

409

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T

a b l e

7 .—

A N N U A L R E M U N E R A T IO N O F P E R M A N E N T F A R M L A B O R E R S IN P O L A N D ,
1930-31
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of zloty=11.22 cents]
Value of—

Cash wage

Province

C entral Provinces:
W arsaw ________________
L o d z ________ __ _ ____
Kielce___________ ______
L ublin
__ _____ _____
B ialystok _____________
E astern Provinces:
Vilna
- ______ _
N owogrod___ ___ _______
Polesie____
__________
V olhynia___ ___________
W estern Provinces:
Posen__ ____________ _
Pom erania _ ___ _____
Silesia
__________
Southern Provinces:
Cracow
______ - L e m b e rg ___ ____
Stanislau
______ _
Tarnopol— ____________

M aintenance
R em unera­
Fuel
Lodgings
of livestock
tion in kind
Polish u . s .
cur­
cur­
rency rency Polish U . S. Polish U .S . Polish U .S . Polish U .S .
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency rency rency rency rency

Zlotys

Zlotys

137.4 $15.42
•153.0 17.17
135. 3 15.18
137.9 15.47
129.2 14.50

282.8 $31. 73
306.0 34.33
287.8 32. 29
265.3 29. 77
236.5 26. 54

Zlotys

$7. 72
7.93
8.42
7.78
7.16

156.6 $17. 57
156.6 17. 57
152.7 17.13
145.8 16. 36
137.1 15. 38

124.8
133.0
141.6
121.7
124.6

$14. 00
14. 92
15. 89
13. 65
13. 98

44.2
42.4
45.9
52.4

4.96
4. 76
5.15
5.88

194.5
186.8
189.8
212.8

21.82
20.96
21.30
23.88

61.9
59.4
62.7
60.1

6. 95
6. 66
7.03
6.74

210.0
228.5
149.7
152.1

23. 56
25.64
16. 80
17.07

142.9
138.7
145.3
103.5

16.03
15. 56
16. 30
11. 61

160.0
168.0
355.9

17.95
18. 85
39.93

307.9
314.8
313.4

34.55
35. 32
35.16

106.5
108.5
102.0

11.95
12.17
11.44

184.4
183.3
210.0

20. 69
20. 57
23. 56

185.4
158.3
240.2

20.80
17. 76
26.95

148. 6
133.3
120.0
120.0

16. 67
14. 96
13.46
13. 46

283.4
254.3
237.5
214.7

31.80
28. 53
26. 65
24.09

67.8
66.2
84.0
63.3

7.61
7.43
9. 42
7.10

144.0
106.8
100.2
100.2

16.16
11. 98
11.24
11.24

156.3
139.4
140.6
123.7

17.54
15.64
15.78
13.88

...

—

.............. —

L and and po­
tatoes
Polish
cur­
rency

u . s.
cur­
rency

Zlotys
C entral Provinces:
208.0 $23. 34
W arsaw____ __________
22.10
197.0
Lodz_________ ________ 27. 66
K ie lc e __________________ - 246.5
24. 01
214.0
L ublin ____________________
23. 56
B ialystok...................... ............ 210.0
E astern Provinces:
174.4
19. 57
V ilna__ -- _______ _______
21. 91
195.3
N owogrod____ __________
209.5
23.
51
Polesie__- - _ . ________ _
212.3
23.82
V olhynia-------- -----------------W estern Provinces:
29. 81
265.7
Posen-.
............. 309. 7 34. 75
P o m e ra n ia ..- . . ------- -34. 67
309.0
Silesia___________________
Southern Provinces:
18. 67
166.4
C racow___________________
17.62
Lem berg------ -- ------------- -- 157. 0
Stanislau______________ --_ 185. 3 20. 79
16. 07
Tarnopol---- ----------------------- 143.2

—

Total annual
rem uneration

Value of—

Province

Zlotys

Zlotys

68.8
70.7
75.0
69.3
63.8

Vehicles

Polish
cur­
rency

Zlotys

U .S .
cur­
rency

Polish
cur­
rency

Zlotys

U .S .
cur­
rency

E m ployer’s
CUUU1UUIIUI1S
for social in­
surance

Polish
cur­
rency

Zlotys

U .S .
cur­
rency

67.4
70.0
71.5
65.7
62.1

$7.56
7.85
8. 02
7. 37
6. 97

94. 21
96. 76
91.45
90. 25

57.0
58.6
55.4
54.7

6.40
6. 57
6. 22
6. 14

1, 223. 6
1, 256. 8
1,547. 5

137. 29
141. 01
173. 63

89.3
91.7
116.1

10.02
10. 29
13. 03

981.6
870.9
882.2
777.2

110.14
97.71
98.98
87.20

59.9
53.1
53.8
47.4

6. 72
5.96
6.04
5. 32

12.8
13.5
13.3
12.3
12.2

$1.44
1. 51
1.49
1.38
1. 37

991.2
1,029.8
1,052.1
966. 3
913.4

$111.21
115. 54
118. 05
108.42
102.48

11.8
11.3
12.2
11.2

1.32
1. 27
1.37
1.26

839.7
862.4
815. 1
804.4

13.7
14.2
17.0

1.54
1.59
1.91

15.1
13. 9
14.6
12.1

1. 69
1.56
1. 64
1.36

Wages of Other Farm Workers

As regards remuneration for other classes of workers (i. e. artisans,
overseers, and contracted labor) it should be noted that not all districts
in Poland have collective agreements embracing these classes.
In the central Provinces, woman contract workers draw cash wages
amounting to only 30 per cent of the cash wages drawn by men.

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

410

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

In the following table are given the annual wages of agricultural
artisans, overseers, and contract laborers for the various districts as
computed by the central statistical office:
T able 8 .—A N N U A L R E M U N E R A T IO N O F A G R IC U L T U R A L A R T IS A N S , O V E R S E E R S ,
C O N T R A C T W O R K E R S , A N D W O M A N W O R K E R S IN P O L A N D , F IR S T P A R T OF 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of zloty=11.22 cents]
A g r ic u ltu r a l a r tisa n s

P r o v in c e

V a lu e o f a n n u a l
r e m u n e r a tio n i

P o lis h
cu r­
rency

u. s.

cur­
rency

Zlotys
W a r s a w ___ . -----------_
. .
L o d z . ____________ . .
K ie lc e ________________________
L u b lin .
. . ______ .
B i a ly s t o k _______ . . .
. _ ____ _
V iln a
. . . . . ____
_______ _
2 923. 7 2$103. 64
N ow ogrod .
. . . .
921. 6
103. 40
P o le s ie ______. . .
. . . ______
932. 2
104. 59
V o lh y n ia
.................................. . . .
1,003.6
112. 60
P osen .
. . . . . . .
______
1,426. 4
160. 04
P o m e r a n ia . . . _ ___________ . .
1,448. 8
162. 56
U p p e r S ile s ia ________ _________
3 2, 010. 8 « 225. 61
C r a c o w .. . . .
___ . . . . .
__
1,263. 5
141. 76
L e m b e r g ___ . . . _____ __
1,107. 6
124. 27
S t a n is la u .. ____________ .
1,109. 9
124. 53
T a r n o p o l________________ ______
991.4
111. 24

A g r ic u ltu r a l overseers

S o cia l in s u r ­
a n c e c o n tr ib u ­
tio n s

P o lis h
cu r­
rency

u. s.

cur­
rency

Zlotys

62.8
62. 7
63.4
68.2
104. 1
105.8
150. 8
77. 1
67. 6
67. 7
60. 5

V a lu e o f a n n u a l
r e m u n e r a tio n 1

P o lis h
cur­
rency

Zlotys

$7.05
7. 03
7.11
7. 65
11. 68
11. 87
16. 92
8. 65
7. 58
7. 60
6. 79

1, 007. 2
1, 046 6
1 068 8
’ 981 7
928. 6
854.4
876.6
830.4
818.4
2 1, 303. 0
4 1, 307. 7
1, 926. 8
1, 055. 9
935. 0
960. 5
852. 3

C o n tr a c t la b o rers
W a r sa w .
_____ . . . . . .
L odz
. _ ___
K ie lc e . ________ __________
L u b lin .
. . .
. . .
B ia ly s t o k ... . . . .
. . . __
V iln a
. »_ _________ . . . . .
N o w o g r o d . _ ___ ______
P o le sie .
...
. . . ._ .
V o lh y n ia ___ ________
P o s e n .. . .
________ __
P o m e r a n ia . ___________ _
U p p e r S ile s ia ______________
C r a c o w .. ___ _______ _______
L e m b e r g . . . ____________
S t a n is la u ..
_________ . . .
T a r n o p o l.._ _______ _____ __

U . S.
cu r­
rency

$113 01
117 48
119 92
110 IS
104. 19
95. 86
98.35
93.17
91. 82
3146. 20
4146. 72
216.19
118. 47
104. 91
107. 77
95. 63

S o cia l in su r ­
a n c e c o n tr ib u ­
tio n s

P o lis h
cur­
rency

u. s.

cur­
re n c y

Zlotys

68 4
71 2
72 7
66 7
63 1
58. 1
59.6
56.5
55.6
95. 1
95. 5
144. 5
64.4
57. 0
58.6
52.0

7 QQ
7 48
7 08
6. 52
6. 69
6. 34
6.24
10.67
10.72
16. 21
7.23
6. 40
6. 57
5.83

W ornan w o rk ers

« 780. 5 6 $87. 57
6 797. 2 « 89. 45
e 796. 0 « 89. 31
e 747. 5 « 83. 87
« 705. 6
6 79. 17

51. 2
54. 2
54. 1
50.8
48. 0

$5. 74
6. 08
6. 07
5. 70
5. 39

6 463. 9
e 489. 3
« 479. 8
« 447. 1
e 419. 4

«$52. 05
« 54. 90
« 53. 83
« 50.16
« 47. 06

31. 5
33.3
32.6
30.4
28. 5

$3. 53
3. 74
3. 66
3.41
3.20

7 1. 226. 0 7 137. 56
7 1, 187. 8 7 133. 27
7 148. 42

89. 5
86. 7
99.2

10. 04
9. 73
11. 13

832. 8

93. 44

62. 5

7. 01

7 1, 322. 8

1 N o t including social insurance contributions.
2 N o t including reim bursem ent for use of artisan s’ own im plem ents and tools; such reim bursem ents
are n o t custom ary in th e Province of Vilna.
. 3 T rained shepherds also receive in addition a bonus of 0.75 zloty (8.4 cents) per sheep sold; 0.50 zloty
(5.6 cents) per lam b reared; 2 zlotys (22.4 cents) per stu d ram sold and one-half kilogram of wool per 50 head
of sheep sold.
\ T rained shepherds and m arried assistants receive an annual bonus of not less th a n 1 per cent of the selling
price of sheep, also a sm all am ount for rearing lambs.
6 N o t including Teschen Silesia.
6 For year of 270 working-days.
7 For year of 300 working-days.

In summing up this review of farm labor wages, it should be re­
membered that it pertains only to full-value workers maintaining
families and domiciles. The wages mentioned are basic as guaran­
teed to workers by collective wage agreements and, since there are
numerous factors tending to increase or decrease wage values, the
average as given in the review may be taken as being fairly close to
actual values and conditions.


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

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

411

Social Insurance in Agriculture

As far as overdue contributions to institutions of social insurance
are concerned, agriculture probably will be unable to pay them. The
situation of agriculture is not now expected to improve over last year
because of unfavorable crops. Especially do conditions m counties
to the right of the Vistula River make it seem so, as only 4 quintals
of rye have been threshed from one morg. Theoretically the price
should be 30 zlotys ($3.37) in Poland but actually it amounts to only
25-28 zlotys ($2.81-$3.14) for good grain. The cost of wheat pro­
duction is higher and it amounts to 35-40 zlotys ($3.93-$4.49).^ It is
impossible to plan the paying of overdue shares undei these circum­
stances. At the same time it might be added that dairy production
does not pay, prices of lumber and livestock have fallen, yud the
area of beet plantings has decreased. Only those farms which have
no debts will be able to close then balance favorably, without, how­
ever, putting aside any savings. There are very few such farms as
these. The greatest effort will be made in order to pay overdue in­
terest from overdue contributions and of course only interest will be
paid to social insurance institutions.
The only way is the granting of long-term credit with very low
interest. In the course of the present year, which is marked by a
strong deficit, the paying of capital can not be thought of, and the
present moment is very unfavorable for the introduction of any kind
of social insurance. So far the old system, which has existed in the
former Russian part of Poland, and which obliges the agricultural
employer to care for the health of his employees, has not caused any
misunderstandings or claims. The employees are satisfied with the
conditions and are rather afraid of the introduction of sick fund
institutions (Kasa Chorych). Furthermore, the counties are often
located very far one from another^ communication is difficult between
them and no guaranty could be given that the sick would be treated
promptly and properly. In the case of joining municipal and rural
sick funds, the rural funds would in reality pay for the city also and
that is why municipal and rural sick funds must not be joined.
Social insurance against old age is very useful but it would involve
large expenses in connection with establishing this new institution
and agriculture can not afford any new fees for the next few years.
The only thing that could be done would be the effecting of obliga­
tory savings in the form of purchase of special stamps and pasting
these in a booklet of the employee; after a certain time (old age or
inability to work) the employee would then get this money back.
As far as wages in agriculture are concerned, it is obvious that tne
present wages, especially in former German Poland, are higher than
the pre-war wages, while the dividends of farms decreased consider­
ably because of lower prices of agricultural products and because ol
new taxes and social dues.
___
G en eral Survey of W ages in R u m a n ia 1

N 1925 the Rumanian Government ratified the decision of the
International Labor Conference of Washington and accordingly
introduced legislation fixing the hours of labor m Rumania at eight
per day.
_________________ ___________ _____________

I

1 T his report was prepared b y Charles B. Perkins, A merican vice consul, B ucharest.

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

412

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The 8-hour day is now general in most Rumanian industries of all
classes. However, a sa result of the present general economic depression, the hours of work m most local industries have been temporarilv
reduced to seven hours or less and in some cases to as low as three per
day. in some industries the working-day has been materially re­
duced and rotation of labor has been introduced in an effort to avoid
dismissal ot employees.
Payment for Overtime
P ractically all Rumanian industries at the present time pay for
overtime on working-days the normal rate plus 25 per cent and
work on Sundays and holidays about 50 per cent over the normal rate.
in mg the prosperous period following the war overtime was sometunes paid as high as 50 to 100 per cent above the normal rate.
Legislation is now in force in Rumania providing for 25 per cent over
the normal rate as the minimum payment for overtime; this is in
with the decisions of the International Labor Conference
at YVashmgton.

Wages of Women and Minors

. W omen and minors are always paid lower wages than men engaged
m the same occupations. There is no fixed relation between the
wages of men, women, and minors, but the difference generally does
not exceed 30 per cent.
Payments Supplementary to Wages
S u p p l e m e n t a r y payments in addition to wages are not usual in
Kumaman industries, excepting for overtime. About 15 of the largest
companies engaged in mining, oil companies, and steel compames
provide housing for certain employees. Employees who have served
as long as those given housing, but for whom quarters are not provided are usuallyallowed a rent allowance of about 10 per cent of the
monthly wage. These rent allowances are available only to longservice employees who have families. The shelters provided in the oil
nelds are m the nature of barracks and are available for younger
employees without families.
Many companies allow reduced prices to employees who purchase
articles manufactured by the company.

Deductions from Wages
D e d u c t io n s fro m w ages a re m a d e fo r social in su ra n c e a n d in co m e
ta x ; o n e -h a ll o í 1 p e r c e n t o f th e w age is d e d u c te d fo r a fu n d in te n d e d
lo r th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f c h a m b e rs o f la b o r.

Social insurance deductions differ in amount and method of col­
lection m the various parts of greater Rumania. The deductions
are made m accordance with the law in effect in each section (Old
kingdom, Transylvania, Bessarabia, etc.), and are generally for oldage and accident insurance and pensions, although the use of the
amounts deducted also varies in the different districts. It has been
ound impracticable to indicate the amounts of such deductions due
to these variations.
’
„ jp c?me taxes in Rumania are assessed as follows: Incomes below
/o() lei per month ($4.50) 2are exempt; incomes above that amount are
2 Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of leu=0.6 cent.

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

413

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

taxed at the rate of 4.4 per cent on the first 4,000 lei ($24) and of
8.8 per cent on the remainder.
From the above it appears that there is a regular deduction, not
including social-insurance deductions, from the wages earned, as
follows:
Per cent
Wages below 750 lei ($4.50) per month------------------------------------------------ 0. 5
Wages between 750 lei ($4.50) and 4,000 lei ($24)----------------------------------- 4. 9
Wages above 4,000 lei ($24) per month------------------------------------------------9. 3,

Wages in Leading Industries
T h e f i g u r e s contained in Table 1 represent the average wage for
each class of labor during October, 1931, as compiled from figures
from 46 cities of Rumania. Since, in most cases, the figures are not
complete for all districts, the number of districts averaged is indi­
cated in each case. There are at present no other figures available
concerning 1931.
T able 1 .—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y W A G ES IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S A N D OCCUPA.T IO N S IN R U M A N IA , O C T O B E R , 1931
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of leu=0.6 cent]
W ood a n d fu r n itu r e in d u s tr y
Average m onthly
wages
N um In d u stry an d occupation ber of
cities R um a­ u . s .
nian cur­ cur­
rency
rency

Lei

Lei
Wnrxi giTriers
Picture-fram e m akers-----P attern makers
Piev£> makers
B illiard-table m akers------Coffin makers
C qrt m akers
T ru n k an d box m akers___
Coopers
C arpenters............- ..............

12
27
16
17
9
36
34
34
40
43

3,117.50
2, 525.55
2, 550. 00
1.980.00
3,333.33
2.325.00
2,351.76
2, 293.83
2,448. 50
2, 731.16

Average m onthly
wages
NumIn d u stry and occupation ber of
cities R um a­ u . s .
nian cur­ cur­
rency
rency

$18.71
15.15
15.30
11.88
20.00
13.95
14.11
13.76
14.69
16.39

Saw tenders__________ -B asket workers- ----------Hardwood-floor layers___
W heelw rights-.
-----M akers of wooden house­
hold articles_____ _ _
W ood car vers_______Wood tu rn e rs________ C abinetm akers....................

29
20
27
43

2, 590.21
1,950. 00
3,128.96
2,223.95

$15. 54
11.70
18.77
13.34

12
39
39
43

1,883.33
2, 574.67
2, 786.08
2, 643.35

11.30
15.45
16.72
15.86

13
33
38
44
23

3,138.46
2,386.67
2, 500.26
2, 798.64
2,257.39

$18.83
14.32
15. 00
16. 79
13.54

45
40
35
44

3,085.24
3, 571. 50
3, 922. 57
1,818. 55

$18. 51
21.43
23.54
10. 91

38
41
43
33
17

2,947.37
3,158.24
2, 591.49
3,296. 09
3,417.06

17.68
18. 95
15. 55
19. 78
20. 50

F ood in d u s tr y
Brewers______
Sweets makers.
B akers_______
Cooks_______
P a stry makers.

17
34
45
40
42

3,890. 59
2, 710. 59
2, 640. 07
2,376.50
2, 538.34

$23.34
16.26
15.84
14.26
15.23

D ough m akers__________
Casings m akers_________
M eat-preserves m akers___
M illers -_ ------------- --Bread-rolls m ak ers........ .

M e ta llu r g ic a l a n d m e c h a n ic a l i n d u s t r y
Copper-plate workers
Firearm s m akers-----Sharpeners_________
Boiler m akers_______
Coppersm iths______

Cutlers.____________

B lacksm iths-------F irem en-------- ---------P la te rs______ ______
L ocksm iths________


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

24
26
34
27
35
30
45
38
19
44

3,090.25 $18. 54
18.06
3,009.62
13.47
2,244.41
18.91
3,151. 52
16. 08
2, 679.83
13.15
2,191.33
12. 99
2,165. 24
12. 98
2,162.63
19.44
3, 240.00
15. 37
2,561.39

F itte rs ------- ------------------D riv ers_________________
M o u n te r s ___ - ------------Shoesmiths_____________
M achinery a n d bicycle
repairers______________
T u rn ers___- --- - - --T in sm ith s__________ -Fou n d ry m en ________ Toolmakers--------- ----------

414

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1.—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y W A G E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S A N D O CCUPAT IO N S IN R U M A N IA , O C T O B E R , 1931—Continued
E x tr a c tiv e i n d u s tr ie s
Average m onthly
wages
NumIn d u stry and occupation ber of
cities R u m a­
nian cur­ cur­
rency
rency

u. s.

M iners________________

11

Lei

2, 998.18

$17.99

Average m onthly
wages
NumIn d u stry and occupation ber of
cities R um a- U. S.
ni an cur- currency
rency

D rillers_______________ _

Lei

4

2,425.00

22
16
43

1,902.73
2, 228.13
2,186. 51

36
35
29
30

2,178. 33
2, 564. 29
2, 070. 79
2, 914.73

$14.55

H i d e a n d f u r in d u s t r i e s
Furriers___________ _____
Footw ear m ak ers.________
Fur-vest m akers____ . . .
Strap m akers___________

38
45
42
43

2,750.79
2, 342. 00
1, 983. 57
2,240.00

$16. 50
14. 05
11.90
13.44

Combers
Saddle m akers _.
T anners

___

T e x tile i n d u s t r y
Felt-cloth makers.
D y e rs-.-...... .........
Rope m akers____
B rush m akers___

21
36
36
31

2,430. 95
2, 710. 28
2, 018.89
2, 204.26

$14. 59
16. 26
12.11
13.23

C h u ilt m a k e r s _________
U p h o ls te re rs___ ______
K nitters ____ _______
W eavers_______________

$13. 07
15.39
12.42
17.49

Wages in Leading Industrial Cities
T a b l e 2 shows the wages paid in the leading industrial city of
various sections of Rumania such as the Old Kingdom, Transylvania,
Bessarabia, Bukowina, and the Banat. These figures are monthly
wages for the month of October, 1931.
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y W A G E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S IN F IV E L E A D IN G IN D U S T R IA L C IT IE S O F R U M A N IA , O C T O B E R , 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of leu=0.6 cent]
Average m o nthly wages in—

In d u stry and occupation

B ucharest
(Old
Kingdom)

Cluj (T ran ­
sylvania)

Kishineff
(Bessarabia)

C ernauti
(Bukowina)

Tem esvar
(B anat)

R um a­
R um a­ U . S. R um a­
R um a­
R um a­ U . S.
nian
cur­ nian
cur­ nian
cur­ nian
cur­ nian
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency rency

u. s.

W ood and fu rn itu re industry:
Wood gilders____________
Picture-fram e m akers____
P a tte rn m akers_________
Sieve m akers____________
B illiard-table m akers____
Coffin m ak ers......................
C art m akers____________
T ru n k an d box m akers___
C o o p ers...............................
C arpenters______________
Saw tenders_____________
B asket w orkers__________
Hardwood-floor layers____
W heelw rights___________
M akers of w ooden house­
hold articles___________
Wood carvers___________
Wood tu rn e rs___________
C abinet m akers...... ............


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

Lei

u. s.

Lei

Lei

u. s.

Lei

Lei

4, 500
4, 500
5, 000
3, 500
6, 000
4,500
5,400
4, 500
4, 000
6,000
5, 200
4, 000
5,200
5, 000

$27. 00
27. 00
30. 00
21.00
36. 00
27.00
32. 40
27. 00
24.00
36. 00
31.20
24.00
31.20
30.00

4,666
2, 400
3,200
2, 800
5, 500
2, 800
2, 000
4, 250
2,400

24. 00
14.40
19.20
16. 80
33.00
16. 80
12.00
25. 50
14.40

2,300
2, 500
2, 000
3, 600
3,200
1, 500
1, 500
2,000
2,200

13. 80
15. 00
12.00
21. 60
19. 20
9.00
9.00
12.00
13.20

2,100
2,100
2,100
2,100

12. 60
12. 60
12. 60
12. 60

2,100
2,100

3,000
6, 500
6, 500
5,000

18.00
39. 00
39.00
30. 00

4,600
3,840
4,200

27. 60
23. 04
25.20

3, 000
3,000
3,400

18. 00
18. 00
20. 40

2,100
2,100
2,100
2,100

4,000 $24. 00
3,200 19,20
3,200 19.20

2,400 $14. 40
2,000 12.00
2,200 13.20
1,600
9.60

3,000
3, 500
3, 000

$18. 00

4,000
2.700
2.700
2, 600
2,800
2,600

24.00
16.20
16. 20
15. 60
16.80
15.60

12.60
12.60

4, 000
2,800

24. 00
16.80

12 60
12.60
12.60
12.60

2,600
4, 000
3, 600
3,000

15. 60
24.00
21.60
18.00

3,100 $18. 60

21.00

18.00

415

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 2 .—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y W A G E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S IN F IV E L E A D ­
IN G IN D U S T R IA L C IT IE S O F R U M A N IA , O C T O B E R , 1931—Continued
Average m o n th ly wages in—

In d u stry and occupation

Bucharest
(Old
Kingdom)

Cluj (T ran ­
sylvania)

Kishineff
(Bessarabia)

u. s.

u. s.

5,000 $30. 00
4,000 24.00
4, 500 27.00
3, 500 21.00
4, 000 24. 00
4,500 27.00
3,000 18.00
3,000 18.00
5,000 30.00
4,500 27.00

4,500 $27.00
5,600 33. 60
6,000 36.00
4, 500 27.00
4,000 24.00
4,500 27.00
2, 800 16.80
3, 800 22.80
3, 500 21.00

5,000 $30. 00
2,500 15.00
3, 300 19.80
2, 500 15. 00
2, 500 15.00
2, 300 13. 80
1,800 10.80
2,000 12. 00
6, 500 39. 00
2,000 12.00

4, 000
4,000
3, 200
3, 600
4, 000
3, 200
3, 000
3, 000
4, 500
3, 500
5, 000
5, 000
5, 500
3,000

24.00
24.00
19. 20
21. CO
24.00
19. 20
18.00
18. 00
27. 00
21.00
30. 00
30. 00
33.00
18. 00

5, 300
3,200
4, 200
5,500
5,500
3, 200
3, 300
3,700
3, 600
3, 800
4,200
6, 500
5,800
2,000

31.80
19.20
25.20
33.00
33.00
19. 20
19.80
22.20
21.60
22.80
25. 20
39. 00
34. 80
12.00

1,800
1,600
1,600
,100
i; 800
1,800
2,000
1,800
2,200
2,600
3,300
3, 600
4,000
1,800

10.80
9.60
9. 60
12.60
10. 80
10 80
12.00
10. 80
13. 20
15. 60
19.80
21. 60
24.00
10.80

5, 000
6, 000
6, 000
5, 500
5,000

30. 00
36. 00
36. 00
33.00
30.00

3, 800
4,800
4, 220
4, 800
5, 200
2,880

22.80
28.80
25. 32
28. 80
31. 20
17.28

3, 200
3, 000
1,800
2, 800

19.20
18.00
10. 80
16.80

5,000
3, 000
4, 500
3, 000
2,500
3, 000
3,500

30.00
18. 00
27. 00
18. 00
15. 00
18.00
21.00

5,000
2,400
3, 000
4, 220
2,400

30.00
14.40
18.00
25. 32
14. 40

4,500

27.00

2,400
2,000
2,200
2,000
1, 700
2,000
1,800

3, 000
4, 000
4, 000
3, 000
3, 000
4, 000
3,000
4,000

18.00
24. 00
24. 00
18. 00
18. 00
24.00
18. 00
24.00

4, 800
2,520
3, 380
2, 680
4, 500
2, 340
2,480

28.80
15.12
20.28
16. 80
27. 00
14. 04
14.88

2,200
1,600
1. 500
2, 000
2,300
1,800
2,000

C ernauti
(Bukowina)

T em esvar
(B anat)

u. s.

R um a­
R um a­
R um a­ U. S. R um a­ U . S. R um a­
nian
cur­ nian
cur­
cur­ nian
cur­ nian
cur­ nian
cur­ rency
cur­ rency
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency
rency rency rency rency rency rency
Food ind u stry :
Brewers_______ _____ ___
Sweets m akers.............. . _
B a k e rs _________________
Cooks.. ________________
P a stry m akers_________
D ough m akers_________
Casings m akers__ _ . . .
M eat preserves m akers___
M illers.. . . . __________ _
Bread rolls m akers __
M etallurgical a n d mechanical
industries:
Copper-plate w orkers___
Firearm m akers________
Sharpeners. ____________
Boiler m a k e r s . . . _______
Coppersm iths_______ . . .
C utlers_________________
B lacksm iths____________
F irem en________________
P la te rs........... .............
Locksm iths__ _________
F itte rs________________
D rivers___ ____________
M o u n ters.___________ . .
Shoesmiths_____
M achinery an d bicycle repairers____________
T urners.
_________ __
T insm iths____ ____ _
F oun d ry m akers______ .
Tool m akers______ . . .
E xtractive industries, miners.
H ide a nd fur industry:
F u rrie rs ... . .
_____
Footw ear m akers________
Fur-vest m akers___ _____
Strap m akers____________
Combers
__________ .
Saddle m akers______
T anners_______________
Textile ind u stry :
Felt-cloth m akers___
D yers_________________ .
Rope m akers____________
B rush m akers__________
C huilt m akers_______
U pholsterers.............. ...........
K n i t t e r s ..............................
W eavers_____ __________

Lei

Lei

Lei

2

Lei

Lei

3,000 $18. 00
2,100 12. 60
2,100 12. 60
1,200
7. 20
2,100 12. 60
2, 400 14. 40
1,800 10. 80
1,800 10. 80
2,100 12.60

5,000
4,000
3, 500
4,500
4,500
5, 000
3,000
3, 500
2, 500

$30.00
24.00
21.00
27.00
27.00
30.00
18.00
21.00
15.00

27.00
24.00
21.00
25. 20
22.80
16. 80
16. 80
15. 60
18.00
18.00
24. 00
24. 00
25.20
16.80

2,100

12.60

2,100
2,100
2,100
2,100
2,400

12. 60
12. 60
12. 60
12. 60
14. 40

2, 400
2,100

14.40
12.60

4, 500
4, 000
3, 500
4, 200
3, 800
2, 800
2, 800
2,600
3, 000
3,000
4, 000
4, 000
4, 200
2,800

3, 000
2,100
2,100
2,100

18. 00
12.60
12. 60
12. 60

3. 000
2,100
2, 800
4,200
3, 000

18.00
12. 60
16. 80
25.20
18.00

14.40
12.00
13. 20
12.00
10. 20
12.00
10.80

1,800
1,800
1,800
1,800

10. 80
10. 80
10. 80
10.80

1,800

10.80

3, 500
3, 500
2, 000
2, 500
2, 000
2, 500
2,800

21.00
21.00
12.00
15. 00
12. 00
15. 00
16.80

13.20
9.60
9.00
12. 00
13. 80
10.80
12. 00

2,100
1,800

12.60
10. 80

2, 100
1, 200
1,800

12.60
7.20
10. 80

4,000
2, 000
2, 000
2, 200
3, 000
2, 000
2,500

24.00
12. 00
12.00
13.20
18.00
12.00
15.00

Wages in the Oil Industry
T a b l e 3 contains data showing the wages paid to employees of oil
companies in Rumania. These figures were furnished by a repre­
sentative of an oil company operating near Ploesti, Rumania and are
said to be applicable to the large oil companies operating in Rumania.
It is understood that the smaller companies which are completely
controlled by domestic capital pay wages as low as 60 per cent of
those paid by the larger companies.

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

416

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 3 .—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y W A G E S IN T H E O IL IN D U S T R Y I N R U M A N IA
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of leu =0.6 cent]
Average m onthly wages
Occupation
R um anian
currency

U nited States
currency

Lei

R u m an ian field engineers_______________________________________ . .
Production m en (in charge of a l e a s e ) . __
. . . . _________________ _
Production m en (in charge of a group of wells)_______________________
Helpers to ab o v e .__
.
. . . . .
. . .
_____ . _______
D rilling foremen. _ _ __ ___
__
__ _
Drillers ________________ . . . . ____ ____________ ______________
D rillers’ h e lp e rs ______ ______________
__ ____ ______________ _
Oil field mechanics ______________________________________________


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

20.00015.000-

25,000
$120. 00-$150. OQ
20,00090. 00- 120. 00
10, 000
60.00
2, 350
14.10
15.000- 20,000
90. 00- 120.00
13.00014, 00078.00- 84.00
3,000
18.00
5,000- 6, 000
30.00- 36.00

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry for D ecem b er, 1931

MPLOYMENT increased 0.7 per cent in December, 1931, as
compared with November, 1931, and pay-roll totals increased

E

Vhe' industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the
total pay rolls for one week, for both November and December,
together with the per cents of change in December, are shown in
the following summary:
SUM M A RY

O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L
D E C E M B E R , 1931

TO TA LS, N O V E M B E R A N D

P a y roll in 1 w eek

E m p loym en t
E sta b ­
lish ­
m en ts

Industrial group

N ovem ­
ber, 1931

Percent
of
D ecem ­ change
ber, 1931

N o v em ­
ber, 1931

D ecem ­
ber, 1931

16,560 2,795,244 2,797,386 1 - 0 . 2 $58,166,184 $58,125,551
1 M a n u fa c tu r in g :
__ _ . _
6,422,377
6,611,283
—1. 5
307,395
312,183
1,434
U. C o a l m i n i n g . . __ 3,101,869
3,146,911
—4. 4
108, 857
113, 909
160
A nth racite___________________
3, 320, 508
3,464,
372
-f-l). i
198, 538
198, 274
_______ 1,274
B itu m in ou s
660,154
675,326
3
.
0
31,565
32,546
246
3
m in in g
4 . Q u a r r y in g a n d n o n m e t a lli c
442,672
519,326
9
.
1
23,998
26,403
787
m in in g
__ ______
.5. C r u d e p e t r o le u m p r o d u c ­
503,501
476,941
+
1
.0
15,926
15,766
274
in g
____ —
—1.0 20,308,019 20,319,603
658,515
665,218
!g P u b lic u tilit ie s
_
___ 11,933
8,817, 525
8,
534,
998
0
.
5
292,772
294,
208
8,066
T elephone and telegraph------7,292,200
7, 459, 048
- 1 .1
230, 884
233, 453
3, 371
Pow er ligh t and w ater _
E lectric railroad operation
and m aintenance, exclusive
4, 209,878
4, 313,973
-2 .0
134,859
137, 557
496
nf oar shops ______________
10,513,974 11,295,705
14,157 439,335 500,004
7 T rade
_ __
2, 229, 337
2,284,814
—0.
5
75,433
75,847
2,
709
W holesale
________ _____
9, 066, 368
8, 229,160
424, 571 + 16. 8
363, 488
________________ 11, 448
R etail
2 2,310,061 2 2,259,421
—
2«
i
144,820
147,939
2,338
'8. Hotels
_ ____
—
402,870
525,044
25,145 —33.0
37,507
889
9. C a n n in g a n d preserving----996,147
1,015,844
-1 .0
50,593
57,188
861
10 L aiindries
227,163
249,844
—
5.
8
11,241
11,934
362

Percent
of
change

1 - 0 .2
- 2 .9

11. D yeing a n d c lean in g --------

49,841 4,541,263 4,572,588

T o ta l

+0.7 101,371,846 ¡101,655,164

e c a p it u l a t io n

by

- 1 4 .8
+ 5 .6
+ 0 .1
+ 3 .3
-2 . 2
- 2 .4
+ 7 .4
- 2 .4
+ 1 0 .2

-23.3
-1 .9
-9 .1
+0.3

L ------------- —

1

R

- 4 .2
- 2 .2

G e o g r a p h ic

D

iv is io n s

GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION 3
512,713
514, 515
8,105
N e w E ngland
____________
8,604 1, 384, 509 1, 381,090
M idd le A tlantic
____________
1,199,
940
1,155,
860
E ast N orth Central
____ ___ 10, 309
293, 300
290, 874
5, 252
W est N orth Central
________
493,170
497,
296
5,160
South A tlantic
___ ______
190, 823
193, 738
2, 578
E ast Smith Central __ __________
152,833
152, 223
3,092
W est Smith C entral__ _________
92, 743
96, 229
1,977
M ountain
__ ___________
255, 976
256,019
P a c if ic ________ _____ - ------- --------- 4, 764
49,841 4,541,263 4,572,588
Ml divisi^m s
i

- 0 . 4 $11,123, 251 $11, 220,170
—0. 2 33,041, 336 32,924, 811
26,889, 575 27,552, 681
+ 3 .8
6, 724,112
6, 655,150
+0. 8
8, 583,762
8, 750, 966
- 0 .8
2, 930, 038
3,007,
974
—1. 5
3, 265, 093
3, 261,144
+ 0 .4
2, 221,129
2,
304,
512
—3.6
6, 233, 368
6, 337, 938

+ 0 .9
- 0 .4
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .0
- 1 .9
- 2 .6
+ 0 .1
- 3 .6

101,371,846 101,655,104

+ 0 .3

+ 0 .7

wpiVhtpd r>pr cent of change for th e com bined 54 m anufacturing industries, repeated from T able 1,

&n^ N e w

sffAsa'«sgrffis&sk ;u d,room
,

C o ^ e r tic u t, M aine, Massachusetts, ] ^ w H ^ p s h i r e , Rh^de Inland, V ^ m o n L JVL’dd/e

G ^ & A i S o s a W a k a i i a , O klahoma, T exas. M o u n t a i n : Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
.Z n t S N e w m ! E
N evad a U tah, W yom ing. P a c i f i c : California, Oregon, W ashington.
4 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.


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

418

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Three of the 15 industrial groups included in the summary table on
the preceding page reported increased employment, the retail-trade
group reporting an increase of 16.8 per cent, reflecting the Christmas
trade, while the crude petroleum and the bituminous-coal mining
groups reported increases of 1 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively.
Increased pay-roll totals were also reported in three groups, retail
trade showing a gain of 10.2 per cent over the month interval, crude
petroleum reporting an increase of 5.6 per cent in earnings, and the
telephone and telegraph group reporting a gain of 3.3 per cent in
pay-roll totals, coupled with a decrease of 0.5 per cent in employment.
The remaining 11 groups reported losses in both employment and
earnings over the month interval. Decreases of 1 per cent or less were
reported in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and laundries, and declines
ranging from 1.1 per cent to 3 per cent were shown in power, light,
and water, electric-railroad operation, hotels, and metalliferous min­
ing. Anthracite _mining reported 4.4 per cent fewer employees in
December than in November, and the dyeing and cleaning group
reported a decrease of 5.8 per cent in number of workers over the
month interval. Seasonal decreases in employment and pay roll of
9.1 per cent and 14.8 per cent, respectively, were reported in quarrying
and nonmetallic mining, while the canning and preserving industry
reported the usual large seasonal declines in number of workers and
earnings in December.
The East and. West North Central and the West South Central
geographic divisions reported increases in both employment and pay­
roll totals from November to December, and the New England
division reported increased earnings coupled with a small decline in
employment. The remaining five divisions reported a falling off in
each item over the month interval.
P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H
N O V E M B E R , 1931, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1930

P e r cent of change
D ecem ber, 1931, com­
Per capita
pared w ith—
weekly
earnings in
December,
1931
N ovem ber D ecember,
1931
1930

In d u strial group

1. M anufacturing (54 industries)
2. Coal mining:
A n thracite___
B itum inous___
3. M etalliferous m ining _
4. Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining
5. C rude petroleum producing
6. P ublic utilities:
Telephone and telegraph
Pow er, light, and w ater _
Electric railroads___
7. Trade:
W holesale . . .
R etail______ _
8. H otels (cash paym ents only) 3
9. Canning and preserving___
10. Laundries______
11. D yeing and cleaning______

$20. 74

.

T otal. _
1 Less th an one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 T he additional value of board, room, and tips can n o t be com puted.


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

-(»)

-1 3 .1
9A

28.49
16.72
20.91
18. 45
31. 62

+ 4 .4

21 5
-1 9 .7
5 4

30.12
31.58
31.22

+ 3.9
-1 .2
- 0 .4

+ 0 .9
19
2 4

29.55
21. 35
15. 60
16. 02
17. 60
20. 21

- 5 .6
- 0 .1
+14.7
-1 .0

22. 23

0 1

-4 .'3
+ 0 .8

A9
- 8 .4
- 2 .7
67
8 3
y. y

419

TREND O F EMPLOYMENT

Per capita earnings for December, 1931, given in the preceding
table must not be confused with full-time weekly rates_of wages;
they are actual per capita weekly earnings computed by dividing the
total number of employees reported into the total amount of pay roll
in the week reported, and the “ number of employees” includes all
persons who worked any part of the period rcpoi ted- that is, parttime workers as well as full-time workers. Comparisons are made
with per capita earnings in November, 1931, and with December, 1930.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of October
and November instead of for November and December, 1931; con­
sequently, the figures can not be combined with those presented in
the summary table.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S

N u m b er on p ay roll
In d u stry

Class I railroads................. — ...........

Oct. 15,
1931

Nov. 15,
1931

1,210,426

1,154, 540

Per
cent
of
change

-4 6

A m ount of p ay roll in
entire m onth
October,
1931

Novem ber,
1931

$164,636,799

$148, 646,952

Per
cent
of
change

- 9 .7

The total number of employees included in this summary is 5,727,128
and their combined earnings in one week amount to approximately
$136,000,000.
E m p lo y m en t in S elected M a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in
D ecem b er, 1931
C o m p a ris o n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o t a ls in M a n u f a c tu r i n g In d u s ­
t r i e s in D e c e m b e r , 19 3 1 , w ith N o v e m b e r, 1931, a n d D e c e m b e r , 1930

and earnings in manufacturing industries
decreased 0.2 per cent in December, 1931, as compared with
EMPLOYMENT
November, 1931. Measured by changes in the indexes of employ­

ment and pay-roll totals over the year interval, there was a decrease
of 13 per cent in employment from December, 1930, to December,
1931, while pay-roll totals showed a falling off of 24.5 per cent over
the 12-month period.
, , , .
The per cents of change in employment and pay-roll totals m
December, 1931, as compared with November, are based upon returns
made by 13,916 establishments in 54 of the principal manufacturing
industries in the United States, having in December 2,521,161 employ­
ees, whose combined earnings in one week were $52,296,003.
The index of employment in December, 1931, is 65.3, as compared
with 65.4 in November, 1931, 67.3 in October, 1931, and 75.1 in
December, 1930; the index of pay-roll totals for December, 1931,
is 50 9, as compared with 51.0 for November, 1931, 53.7 for October,
1931, and 67.4 for December, 1930. The monthly average for 1926
equals 100.

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

420

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

The leather and the vehicles groups, of the 12 groups of industries
upon which the bureau’s indexes of employment and pay-roll totals
are based, reported both increased employment and earnings from
November to December, while three additional groups reported
increases in pay-roll totals coupled with slight losses in employment
over the month interval. The remaining 7 groups reported decreases
in both items, the greatest declines occuring in the tobacco products,
lumber, and stone-clay-glass groups.
Employment and earnings in each of these 12 groups in December,
1931, was below the level of December, 1930, the decreases in earnings
in each instance being more pronounced than the decline in employ­
ment. The leather group reported the smallest loss in employment
over the 12-month period, 1.9 per cent, while the greatest decrease
in number of employees, 23.2 per cent, was shown in the lumber
products group.
Increased employment in December, as compared with November,
was reported in 15 of the 54 manufacturing industries on which the
bureau’s indexes of employment and earnings are based, and increased
pay-roll totals were shown in 17 industries. The most pronounced
gains over the month interval were shown in the automobile industry,
which reported an increase of 20.6 per cent in employment coupled
with an increase of 13.3 per cent in pay-roll totals. Substantial
gains in employment were also reported in the agricultural imple­
ment, boot and shoe, fertilizer, and slaughtering industries.
The cigar and cigarette industry reported the greatest decline in
employment from November to December (10.9 per cent), labor
disturbances in one section of the country causing a pronounced
decrease in number of workers in this industry during the December
pay period reported. Decreases in employment ranging from 10.8
per cent to 5.9 per cent were shown in the stove, brick, sawmill,
shirt and collar, cement, steam fitting, and carriage and wagon
industries. The losses in employment over the month interval in
rubber boots and shoes, pianos, men’s clothing, furniture, pottery,
carpets, and chemicals ranged from 4.2 per cent to 3.1 per cent;
the remaining 24 industries showed declines of less than 3 per cent.
Increased employment in December, 1931, as compared with
December, 1930, was shown in three industries—chewing and smoking
tobacco, hosiery and knit goods, and cane sugar refining. Pay-roll
totals however, in these three industries in December, 1931, were below
the level of December, 1930. In the remaining 51 manufacturing
industries, decreases in both employment and pay-roll totals were
shown over the year interval. The agricultural implement industry
reported the greatest losses in both items from December, 1930, to
December, 1931,49.5 per cent in employment and 54.7 per cent in pay­
roll totals. Decreases in employment over the 12-month period
ranging from 30.7 per cent to 36.3 per cent were shown in the brick, fer­
tilizer, machine tool, and piano industries. Decreases in employment
of over 20 per cent were reported in the sawmill, structural-iron work,
foundry, steam fittings, cement, steam-railroad car building and
repairing, and carriage and wagon industries. The iron and steel
industry reported 16.7 per cent fewer employees in December, 1931,
than in December, 1930, and employment in the automobile industry
was 12.7 per cent below the level of the corresponding month of the
previous year. The cotton goods and the boot and shoe industries

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

421

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

reported but slight losses in employment in December, 1931, as
compared with December, 1930, cotton goods showing a falling-off of
only 1.2 per cent in employment over the year interval, and boots and
shoes reporting a decrease of only one-tenth of 1 per cent.
In Table 1 are shown the number of identical establishments
reporting in both November and December, 1931, in the 54 manufac­
turing industries on which the bureau’s indexes of employment and
pay-roll totals are based, together with the total number of employees
on the pay rolls of these establishments during the pay period ending
nearest December 15, and the amount of their weekly earnings in
December, the per cents of change over the month and the year
intervals, and the index numbers of employment and pay-roll totals
in December, 1931.
The monthly per cents of change in employment and earnings for
each of the 54 separate industries are computed by direct comparison
of the total number of employees and the amount of weekly earnings
in identical establishments for the two months considered. The per
cents of change over the month interval in the several groups and in
the total of the 54 manufacturing industries are computed from the
index numbers of these groups, which are obtained by weighting the
index numbers of the several industries in the groups by the number
of employees or wages paid in the industries. The per cents of change
over the year interval in the separate industries, the group indexes,
and the general indexes are computed from the index numbers of
employment and pay-roll totals.
T able 1.—C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L

M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 11931, P E R
C E N T OE C H A N G E O V ER A Y E A R IN T E R V A L , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S O F 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, D E C E M B E R , 1931

In d u stry

Establishments
rep o rt­
ing in
both
N o­
vem ­
ber
and
De­
cem­
ber,
1931

F o o d a n d k in d re d p ro d u c ts . 2,082
Slaughtering an d m eat
packing_____________ _ 207
C onfectionery___________
320
Ic e crea m ___________ _ .
315
F lour___________________
424
B aking ___________ _____
802
14
Sugar refining, cane_____
T extiles a n d th e i r p ro d u c ts 2,430
C otton goods-----------------516
351
H osiery a n d k n it goods___
251
Silk g o o d s _
_____
184
W oolen an d w orsted goods.
C arpets an d ru g s________
27
D yeing an d finishing tex­
130
tiles--------- ------------------339
C lothing, m en ’s __ _______
106
Shirts a n d collars. ______
385
C lothing, w om en’s ___ _
141
M illinery and lace goods...
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir
p r o d u c ts ... ____ _____ 1,984
190
Iron a nd steel______ . . .
38
Cast-iron p ip e .. . .
174
Structural-iron w ork_____
1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

96957°— 32------13

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

Em ploym ent

Pay-roll totals
Per cent of
change

Per cent of
change
N um ber
on pay
N o­
vem ­
roll,
Decem­
ber
ber, 1931 to D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

A m ount
D e­
of pay
N o­
cem­
roll
­
(1 week) vem
ber,
Decem­ tober
1930,
D
e­
to D e­ ber, 1931 cem­
cem­
ber,
ber,
1931
1931

221,529

- 0 .1

88,112
38,368
10,146
16,208
60, 760
7,935
523,934
184, 799
86, 698
49,464
45,069
14,513

+ 3 .2 - 2 .9
- 1 . 3 - 1 .5
- 2 . 1 - 8 .8
- 2 . 5 - 6 .9
- 1 . 4 - 7 .0
- 2 . 7 + 0 .3
- 1 . 2 - 5 .6
+0. 5 - 1 .2
- 1 . 5 + 1 .1
+ 0 .2 -1 4 .1
- 2 .1 - 5 .3
- 3 .1 - 3 .1

35,031
54,441
15,478
25,825
12,616

+ 0 .6 -1 0 .8
-4 .2 -3 .0
- 9 . 0 - 9 .3
- 0 ) -1 7 .2
- 0 . 9 - 8 .8

450,001
191, 222
7, 761
20,828

-0 .3
+ 0 .9
-1 .2
- 2 .3

D e­
cem­
ber,
ay ­
1930, E m ­ Proll
to D e­ ploy­
m
ent
totals
cem­
ber,
1931

- 0 .7 -1 2 .9

87.7

80.5

+ 5.1
- 0 .2
- 3 .4
- 9 .6
- 2 .8
-4 .9
- 0 .9
+ 1 .2
- 2 .1
+ 1 .3
-1 .4
- 6 .5

-1 1 .7
-1 2 .5
-1 4 .0
-1 7 .7
-1 3 .0
-1 0 .9
-1 8 .1
-1 7 .8
-1 0 .4
-2 5 .6
-1 4 .0
-1 4 .6

93.3
89.2
68.7
85.7
86.8
80.0
72.8
73.8
84.5
70.9
66.0
63.1

87.1
79.0
63.8
75.3
80.4
70.6
55.8
56.8
68.8
57.9
55.2
44.9

768, 681 + 1 .5
845, 410 - 0 . 5
177, 933 -1 4 .7
543,728 - 2 . 2
231,856 - 3 . 8

-1 8 .8
-1 4 .2
-2 7 .3
-2 5 .5
-1 8 .3

83.0
66.8
65.3
73.5
67.5

71.5
42.8
42.9
55.4
49.9

-3 8 .1
-4 0 .0
-2 7 .2
-4 1 .1

58.8
63.0
49.1
62.2

38.0
37.1
37.0
44.5

- 4 .8 $5,156,062

-2 0 .5
-1 6 .7
-1 1 .4
-2 5 .6

Index num ­
bers Decem­
ber, 1931
(average
1926=100)

2,120,100
645, 249
311, 985
373,168
1, 498, 666
206, 894
8,062,887
2, 219, 647
1, 337, 839
829, 510
832, 481
275, 802

8,807,372
3,416, 568
134, 975
458, 382

+ 1 .1
+ 2 .2
+ 2.1
- 3 .4

422

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 1 —C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
M ANUFACTURING E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, P E R
C E N T OF C H A N G E O V ER A Y E A R IN T E R V A L , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S O F E M P L O Y ­
M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S , D E C E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued
Establishments
report­
ing in
both
N o­
vem ­
ber
and
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

In d u stry

E m ploym ent

Pay-roll totals
Per cent of
change

Per cent of
change
N u m b er
D e­
N o­
on pay
vem ­ cem­
roll,
ber,
ber
Decem­
1930,
ber, 1931 to D e­ to D e­
cem­ cem­
ber,
ber,
1931
1931

Index n u m ­
bers Decem­
ber, 1931
(average
1926=100)

A m ount
D e­
of p ay
N o­
roll
vem ­ cem­
ber,
(1 week)
E m ­ Pay­
ber
Decem­
D e­ to1930,
roll
ber, 1931 tocem­
De­ ploy­
m
ent totals
cem­
ber,
ber,
1931
1931

Iro n a n d steel a n d th eir
p ro d u cts—C ontinued.
Fou n d ry and machine-shop
1,095
products_____________
100
H ardw are__ _______ ___
145
M achine tools----- Steam fittings an d steam
a n d hot-w ater heating
106
ap p aratu s______ - ----136
Stoves__________________

L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c ts ... 1,450

159,297
24,118
16,086

21, 543 - 6 .6 -2 2 .2
15,206 -1 0 .8 -13. 6

138,315

Lum ber, saw m ills.. ---- -Lum ber, m illw ork. ------F u rn itu re ---------------- ---

664
350
436

67,280
21,594
49,441

L eath er a n d its p ro d u c ts__

433

111, 448

140
L eather_________ . . .
283
Boots a n d shoes............ .......
P aper a n d p rin tin g — _ . .. 1,755
Paper a n d p u lp ______ — 390
301
Paper boxes__ . .
—
622
Printing, book a n d jo b ..
442
Printing, new spapers..

C hem icals a n d allied p ro d ­
u c ts ___ . . . -- -----

Chemicals _.
------ ------ -Fertilizers___ _ . . . ------Petroleum refining—
..

471
165
205
101

S tone, clay, a n d glass p ro d ­
u c ts __ _________ . . . 1,094
C em ent------ . . .
Brick, tile, a n d te rra co tta.
P o tte ry ...
. .
---- -Glass-----------------------------

M etal p ro d u cts, o th e r t h a n
iro n or steel_________

Stam ped an d enameled
w are__________________
Brass, bronze, and copper
products______________

T obacco p ro d u c ts ------ --

..

Chewing and smoking
tobacco and snuff.. . . . .
Cigars and cigarettes------

-7 .1 -23.2

- 9 .3 -2 8 .2
- 2 . 5 -1 8 .7
- 4 .2 -1 4 . 0

+5.1

-1 .9

48.0
53.5

31.5
33.8

- 9 .2 -38.3

44.7

917,914 -15. 1 -4 6 . 4
381, 047 - 1 . 1 -3 1 .9
834, 562 - 5 . 5 -2 8 . 0

1,792,964

+6.6 -13.7

460, 597 - 3 . 6 -1 9 .2
1,332, 367 +11.3 -1 1 .4

227,428

-0 .2

-7 .6

6,631,385

76,312
23, 628
52, 869
74, 619

83,144

- 1 . 1 - 8 .6
- 2 . 9 - 7 .1
+ 1 .2 -1 1 . 5
+ 0 .2 - 3 .0

1, 607, 802
475, 355
1,662, 826
2,885, 402

-1 .4 -17.3

2,254,590

+0.2 -13.8

- 3 . 3 -2 2 .4
- 4 .8 -14. 6
+ 3.1 -1 6 .6
+ 0 .7 - 6 .5

-1 .5 -21.7

33,244
6,960
42,940

- 3 .1 -1 2 .5
+ 3 .8 -3 5 .2
- 0 .1 -1 8 .4

844, 572
107, 722
1,302,296

- 3 . 4 -1 7 .3
+7. 8 -4 1 .3
- 0 .1 -2 3 .3

1,682,521

- 8 .4 -33.3

-5 .1 -19.6

256

44,148

-0 .6 -12.2

91

16,295

- 1 .1

- 8 .1

165

27,853

- 0 .4 -1 4 .2

224

54,445

-9 .5 -15.2

26
198

8, 854 + 1 .6 + 1 .3
45, 591 -1 0 .9 -1 7 .3

328,766 + 8 .8 -16.9
222, 774 +20.6 -12. 7
607 - 5 . 9 -2 1 .0

304,844 -1 4 . 5
326, 538 -1 5 . 3
278, 079 - 6 .6
773, 060 - 2 . 0

39.7
46.5
56.9

72.4
69.9
73.0

88.4
77.6
81. 5
86. 7
105.1

71.0
80.7
48.5
67.3

51.7

40.1
37.2

30.6
25.4
34.3
38.6

48.6
57.9
46.0

84.4
61.5
74.6
83.2
105.1

66.7
74.2
41.2
64.1

36.9

-3 5 .4
-4 9 .1
-2 7 .9
-2 0 .7

49.1
37.3
69.0
65.4

34.9
21.8
50.7
52.6

860,994

-1 .5 -27.2

63.6

46.8

305,626

- 2 .1

-2 2 .9

66.2

49.8

555,368

- 1 .1

-2 9 .0

62.3

45.6

785,561

-8 .6 -24.0

73.7

62.5

130,223 + 6.1 - 3 .8
655,338 -10. 5 -2 6 .4

88.8
71.8

79.2
60.5

5,561,838 +13.3 -13. 5
11,069 - 9 .4 -3 0 .9

55.5
61.6
31.2

46.7
27.7

8,366,684

+4.3 -22.3

45.7

760, 632

- 0 .6 -1 4 .5

71.1

68.2

-2 1 .7

2, 033,145

- 3 .1 -3 0 .8

49.0

43.2

242,770

- 0 .4 -16.9

5,761,460

69.0

56.0

10,057

+ 7 .7 -4 9 . 5

196, 680

+ 7 .7 -5 4 .7

36.8

26.7

229
54
9

137, 269
3, 572
13,020

- 0 . 8 -18. 5
- 3 . 5 -3 6 .3
- 3 .6 - 8 .2

3,396,101
83, 008
229,950

- 2 . 1 -2 7 .6
- 0 .2 -4 5 .1
- 3 .5 -1 8 .7

72.7
29.8
69.8

60.5
21.7
53.0

38
84

44,920
33,932

- 0 .2 - 3 .3
+ 0 .7 -1 0 . 6

971, 018
884, 703

+ 6.1 -1 6 .5
+ 4 .2 -2 0 .9

64.9
93.9

46.1
83.3

-0 .2 -13.0 52,296,003

-0 .2 -24.5

65.3

50.9

480

25, 704

- 0 .9 -1 1 .7

504

79,681

- 1 .2

M iscellaneous i n d u strie s__

496

Agriculture im plem ents—
Electric m achinery, ap p a­
ratu s, an d supplies----Pianos an d o rg an s..
---R ubber boots an d sh o es.. .
A utomobile tires and inner
tu b es.
____
___
Shipbuilding________ . . .

82

T o ta l—54 in d u s tr ie s
used in c o m p u tin g
index n u m b e rs of
e m p lo y m en t
and
p a y ro ll ---- -- _ . . . 13,916 2,521,161


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

418, 059 - 8 .1 -4 0 .2
286,392 -1 7 .6 -2 9 . 0

2,133,523

-8 .5
- 0 .1

89,173

220
47

38.9

- 2 .4
+ 7 .0

14, 697 - 6 . 9 -2 1 .7
21, 733 -1 0 .1 -30. 7
14,945 - 4 . 7 -1 4 .3
37,798 + 0 .1 - 9 .3

A utom obiles... . . . ____
Carriages a n d wagons__
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railroad. ______
Car building and repairing,
steam -railroad_________

57.4
60.4
50.1

22,163
89, 285

111
688
110
185

Vehicles for la n d tra n s p o r­
ta tio n _______________ 1,251

+ 3 .4 -3 7 .5
- 1 .9 -3 1 .3
+ 1 .5 -4 0 .3

+ 0 .6 -2 3 .3 $3,298,223
427, 695
- 1 . 2 -1 5 .9
- 0 .3 -3 6 .0
367,078

+0.5 -26.3

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

423

The trend of employment and pay-roll totals in 31 additional
manufacturing industries, surveyed but not yet included in the
bureau’s weighted indexes of employment and earnings, is shown in
Table 2 following. The combined total of these 31 industries shows
a falling off in employment of 3.8 per cent in December as compared
with November, while pay-roll totals decreased 4.7 per cent over the
month interval. These industries have been added to the bureau’s
trend of employment survey since February, 1929, but have not been
combined with the 54 manufacturing industries upon which the
bureau’s indexes of employment and earnings are based due to lack
of information concerning the bureau’s index base year, 1926.
Three of these 31 industries reported gains in both employment
and earnings from November to December, while three industries
reported gains in employment only, and three additional industries
reported increased pay-roll totals combined with losses in number
of employees. The tin-can industry reported an increase of 2.7
per cent in employment from November to December, and the air­
craft industry reported 2.4 per cent more employees over the month
interval. The typewriter and typewriter-supplies industry reported
a gain of 1.9 per cent in employment in December as compared with
November, and the remaining three industries in which increased
employment was shown reported gains of less than 1 per cent. The
greatest falling off in employment over the month interval was re­
ported in the radio industry, in which a drop of 22.2 per cent was
shown. Beet sugar reported a season loss of 11.3 per cent in em­
ployment from November to December, and decreases ranging from
7.5 per cent to 3 per cent were reported in the marble-granite-slate,
jewelry, cottonseed oil-cake-meal, butter, plumbers’ supplies, forg­
ings, turpentine, cotton small wares, and clock industries. The de­
creases in the remaining 14 industries were less than 3 per cent. A
comparison of employment and earnings over the year interval is
available for 9 of these 31 industries. With the exception of the
rayon industry, in which no change in employment over the 12month interval was reported, the remaining industries reported de­
creases in both employment and earnings. The radio manufacturing
industry reported a decline in employment between December,
1930, and December, 1931, of 40.7 per cent. The level of employ­
ment in the aircraft industry in December, 1931, was 24.5 per cent
below the level of December, 1930, and the jewelry industry reported
a decrease of 20.7 per cent in number of workers over the 12-month
period. Employment in the beet-sugar industry in December, 1931,
was 16.1 per cent below the level of December, 1930, and the cashregister industry reported 12 per cent fewer employees in December,
1931, as compared with the corresponding month of 1930.


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

424

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 2 .—C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN D E C E M B E R
1931, W IT H N O V E M B E R , 1931, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1930, IN SP E C IF IE D M A NUFACTUR­
ING IN D U S T R IE S , F O R W H IC H D A T A F O R T H E IN D E X BA SE Y E A R (1926) A R E N O T

E m ploym ent

In d u stry

A ircraft________ _ ____
_ _______ ______
A lum inum m an ufactures.______ _____
Beet sugar______ ____ _
_ ___________
B e v e ra g e s ___
____
__________
Bolts, n u ts, washers, a n d rivets— _______
B u tte r... _ _.
__ _ . _
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating m a c h in es-.. - _________ ____ . .
Clocks, time-recording devices, a n d clock
m ovem ents___ _______ _______ _____
Corsets and allied garm ents..- _ . . . _ . . .
Cottonseed oil, cake, and meal . .
C otton, sm all w ares. ..............
......
......
C utlery (not including silver an d p lated cutlery) and edge to o ls.. __
____
Forgings, iron and steel . _____ ____________
Gas and electric fixtures, lam ps, lanterns, and
reflectors
____ _
..
______
H ats, fur-felt ____ _____ _ . .
J e w e lr y ..____
. . ___________ .
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone produ c ts___ ______ _ ________ _
M en ’s furnishing goods___
P a in t and varnish___ ____ _
_____
Plated w are________________
____
P lum bers’ supplies__ - _____
___
R ad io ____ . _ . . . . _ ______ _ ..
R a y o n .._
. . . ____ ___
. .
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tubes . . . . ______________
Smelting and refining copper, lead, a n d zinc. __
Soap..
_ -_ . . . _____. . . . . .
Tools (not including edge tools, m achine tools,
files, or saws) __ ______ __ ___ _
T in cans, and other tin w a re ._______
T u rp en tin e and rosin____ ___
...
Typew riters a n d supplies____
___
W irew ork________________________ . .

T o ta l______________ ' ______

Establishments
report­
ing in
both
N o­
vem ­
ber
and
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

36
20
48
310
68
219

Pay-roll totals

P er cent of
change
N um ber
on pay
roll, D e­
cember,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber
to
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

D e­
cem­
ber,
1930,
to
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

6, 689 + 2 .4 -2 4 .5
3,135 - 0 .5
0
14, 927 -1 1 .3 -1 6 .1
10, 540 - 2 . 2 - 6 .8
7,591 - 0 .1
0
5,555 - 5 .3
0

Per cent of
change
A m ount
of pay
roll (1
week)
Decem­
ber,
1931

N o­
vem ­
ber
to
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

$217, 218 - 2 .5
66,357 + 6 .6
294,396 -2 3 .7
281,457 - 4 .6
143', 540 + 1 .0
134,485 - 5 .1

D e­
cem­
ber,
1930,
to
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931
-2 4 .0
(i)
-29. 5
-1 5 .8
0
0

52

15,967

+ 0 .2 -1 2 .0

418,494

25
28
44
102

7,439
4,095
2, 692
8,846

- 3 .0
- 2 .8
- 5 .4
- 3 .2

C1)
(0
(l)
0

122,096 -1 5 .3
65, 230 - 6 .3
37; 816 - 3 . 7
149,118 - 1 .4

0
0
(i)
0

118
46

9, 437
5,146

- 1 .0
- 3 .7

0
0

183, 080
94,886

- 3 .5
- 4 .6

(i)
0

46
39
153

5,442
5, 543
11, 590

133, 595
96, 400
257,357

- 0 .4
- 1 .3
- 0 .9

(i)
(i)
-2 4 .5

220
80
350
38
67
39
20

6,433 - 7 .5
0
5, 946 + 0.5
(i)
16, 082 - 0 .8 - 8 . 8
5,490 - 0 . 7
0
4,885 - 4 . 2
0
18, 869 -2 2 . 2 -4 0 .7
24,155 - 1 .1
0

164, 502 - 9 .1
87, 999 -1 0 .2
397, 914 - 1 .1
129, 718 + 5 .8
87, 753 - 4 .3
421,265 -1 5 .3
426,879 - 0

(i)
(i)
-1 8 .2
(l)
(i)
-3 6 .0
- 8 .3

103
30
65

19, 217
9, 508
8, 770

- 0 .8
- 2 .0
- 1 .3

-6 .2
C1)
0

397,475
188; 460
208,951

- 1 .0
- 8 .9
- 1 .7

-1 6 9
(i)
0

125
52
21
16
64

8,137
7, 251
1, 157
9,253
6,438

+ 0 .9
+ 2 .7
- 3 .4
+ 1 .9
-1 .0

0
(1)
(!)
0
0

152,189
155,905
16,182
166,977
131,854

+ 0 .5
+ 0 .9
—6. 3
-4 .8
-0 .7

(l)
0
0
(i)
0

2, 644

276, 225

-3 . 8

0

5, 829, 548

-4 .7

0

- 2 .9
0
- 0 .3
0
- 6 .5 -2 0 .7

+ 2 .2

-2 5 .4

1 D ata no t available.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 N o change.

The total number of employees and the amount of earnings in
these 31 industries shown in the foregoing table have been combined
with totals of the 54 manufacturing industries shown in Table 1, in
presenting the total of all manufacturing industries in the summary
table, and in the following table which presents a recapitulation of
manufacturing industries by geographic divisions.
This recapitulation of the combined 85 manufacturing industries
by geographic divisions shows increased employment and earnings
in December, as compared with November, in the East and West
North Central divisions, while increased pay-roll totals coupled with
decreased employment was reported in the New England States.

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

425

TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT

Decreased employment and earnings were shown in the six remain­
ing divisions, the greatest falling-off over the month interval being
reported in the Mountain division, due largely to the seasonal decline
in the beet-sugar industry in that section. The level of employment
and earnings in December, 1931, in each of these nine divisions was
considerably below the level of December, 1930, the South Atlantic
division reporting the least change over the year _interval and the
Mountain division reporting the greatest decrease in each item.
T able 3 .—T R E N D O F 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

E S T A B L IS H M E N T S B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S , N U M B E R O F E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
R E P O R T IN G F O R B O T H N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y ­
E E S ON PA Y R O L L A N D A M O U N T O F W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D
P E R C E N T S O F C H A N G E O V ER T H E M O N T H A N D Y E A R IN T E R V A L S

Geographic division

N ew E n g lan d ----------------------M iddle A tla n tic -----------------E ast N o rth C entral ________
W est N o rth C entral ------------South A tlantic- -----------------E a st South C entral
--------W est South C e n tra l.. -- - --M o u n tain -- . ----------- -------Pacific______________________
All d iv is io n s ..-

_____

N um ber
of estab­
lishments
reporting N um ber on
in both
pay roll
N ovem ­ December,
1931
ber and
Decem­
ber,
1931

Per cent of change

Per cent of change

N ovem ­ Decem­
ber,
ber,
1930,
1931,
to D e­ to D e­
cember, cember,
1931
1931

A m ount of
N ovem ­ Decem­
pay roll
ber,
(1 week)
ber,
1931,
1930,
D ecember,
to D e­ to D e­
1931
cember, cember,
1931
1931

2,058
3,992
3,961
1,737
1,932
709
778
443
950

344,486
827, 597
844, 374
154, 284
326,097
104, 61&
69, 719
31,836
94,375

- 1 .7
- 1 .3
+ 4 .5
+ 1 .2
-2 .0
-2 .0
-1 .7
-1 0 .2
-5 .3

-1 1 .7
-1 3 .4
-1 5 .1
-1 2 .5
-6 .0
- 8 .7
-1 7 .4
-2 8 .1
-1 7 .5

$6, 776,832
18,288,862
18, 761,302
3,396,939
5,186, 280
1, 536, 750
1, 371,400
710,604
2, 096, 582

+ 0 .3
-1 .8
+ 3 .5
+ 2.1
- 2 .1
- 1 .2
- 2 .1
-1 3 .9
- 6 .8

-2 1 .7
-2 5 .1
-2 4 .3
-2 0 .2
-1 8 .7
-2 3 .2
-2 7 .2
-3 0 .3
-2 9 .8

16, 560

2,797,386

i -0 .2

i -13.0

58,125,551

i -0 .2

i -24.5

i W eighted per cent of change for th e combined 54 m anufacturing industries, repeated from Table 1,
m anufacturing industries.

P e r C a p ita E a r n in g s in M a n u f a c tu r i n g In d u s trie s

A c t u a l per capita weekly earnings in December, 1931, for each
of the 85 manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, together with per cents of change in December, 1931, as
compared with November, 1931, and December, 1930, are shown in
Table 4.
Per capita earnings in December, 1931, for the combined 54 man­
ufacturing industries upon which the bureaus indexes of employment
and pay rolls are based, were less than one-tenth of 1 per cent lower
than for November, 1931, and 13.1 per cent lower than for December,
1930.
The actual average per capita weekly earnings in December, 1931,
for the 54 manufacturing industries were $20.74; the average per
capita earnings for all of the 85 manufacturing industries surveyed
were $20.78.
Per capita earnings given in Table 4 must not be confused with
full-time weekly rates of wages. They are actual per capita weekly
earnings, computed by dividing the total number of employees re­
ported into the total amount of pay roll in the week reported, and
the “ number of employees” includes all persons who worked any
part of the period reported—that is, part-time workers as well as
full-time workers.

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

426

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 4 —P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN
D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H N O V E M B E R , 1931, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1930

Industry

Food and kindred products:
Slaughtering and m eat packing____________ ______ __________
C onfectionery___ _______ ____ ____ __________ _____ ________
Ice cream _______ _______ _________________ ________________
F lour______ _______________ ______________________________
B aking_______________________________________ ____ _____ _
Sugar refining, cane.................................................................. ...........
Textiles and th eir products:
C otton goods________ ________________________ __________
Hosiery and k n it goods.............................. ..........................................
Silk goods_________________________ __________ ___________
Woolen and w orsted goods__________________ ____ __________
C arpets and rugs_________________________________________
D yeing a n d finishing textiles______________________ ____ ___
Clothing, m en’s ______________ _____________________________
Shirts a nd collars___ ______________________________________
Clothing, w om en’s ____________ ______ ____ _________________
M illinery a n d lace goods..................................................................
Iro n and steel and th eir products:
Iro n and steel_____________ ____________________ ____ _____
Cast-iron p ip e __________ _______ __________ ____ __________
Structural-iron w o rk______________________________________
F o u n d ry and machine-shop products_______________________
H ard w are________________________ _______________________
M achine tools____________________________________________
Steam fittings and steam an d hot-w ater heating ap p aratu s____
Stoves______________ ____________ ____ _______________ ____
L um ber and its products:
Lum ber, saw m ills_________ ______________________________
Lum ber, mill w ork_________ _______________________________
F u rn itu re _____ _________________ _______ ______ _______ ____
L eather and its products:
L eath er__________________________________________________
Boots and shoes___________ _______ _______ ________________
P ap er and printing:
Paper and p u lp ............................................. .................................
Paper boxes______________________ ____ _______ _____ ______
Printing, book and jo b __________ _______ ____ _____________
Printing, newspapers and periodicals..............................................
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals_____________________ ____ ______________________
Fertilizers______________ _______________________ _____ ____
Petroleum refining______ ________________________ ____ ____
Stone, clay, and glass products:
C em ent_________________________ ____ ______ ______ ______ _
Brick, tile, and terra co tta_________________________________
P o ttery .......................... ............................. ............ ...............................
Glass______________________________ _____ _____ ________ ____
M etal products, other th a n iron a n d steel:
Stam ped and enam eled w are______________________ ________ _
Brass, bronze, and copper products____________________ ____
Tobacco products:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff____________________
Cigars and cigarettes_____________ _________________________
Vehicles for land transportation:
A utomobiles____________________ _________ ________________
Carriages and wagons_______________ ______________________
C ar building and repairing, electric-railroad_________________
C ar building and repairing, steam -railroad.__________________
M iscellaneous industries:
A gricultural im plem ents___________________________________
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies_____ __________
Pianos and organs______ _______ _____ ____ ____ _____ _____
R u b b er boots and shoes___________________________ ________
Autom obile tires a n d inner tu b e s___________________________
Shipbuilding______________________________________________
Industries added since F ebruary, 1929, for which d ata for th e index
base year (1926) are n o t available:
A ircraft__________________ _______ ______________ __________
A lum inum m anufactures__ _____ _____________________ _____
B eet s u g a r .......................... ................................ ................ ...................
Beverages______________ ___________ ___________ __________
Bolts, n u ts, washers, a n d riv ets__________________ ______ ____
B u tte r__________ _______ _____ _____________ _______ ________
Cash registers, adding m achines, and calculating m ach in es.. . . .
1 N o change.
2 D a ta no t available.


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

of change com­
Per capita Per cent
pared w ith—
weekly
earnings in
December, November,
December,
1931
1931
1930

$24.06
16.82
30.75
23.02
24.67
26.07

+ 1.8
+ 1.1
- 1 .3
- 7 .3
- 1 .3
-2 .2

- 9 .1
-1 1 .0
- 5 .7
-1 1 .8
- 6 .5
-1 0 .7

12.01
15.43
16.77
18.47
19.00
21.94
15.53
11.50
21.05
18.38

+ 0.7
- 0 .6
+ 1 .0
+ 0.7
- 3 .6
+ 0 .9
+ 3.9
- 6 .2
- 2 .2
- 2 .9

-1 6 .9
-1 1 .1
-1 3 .5
- 9 .6
-1 1 .8
- 9 .4
-1 1 .7
-1 9 .6
-1 0 .4
-1 0 .3

17.87
17. 39
22.01
20. 70
17.73
22.82
19.41
18.83

+ 1.3
+ 3.4
- 1 .1
+ 2.7
- 0 .7
+ 1.8
- 1 .6
- 7 .7

-2 7 .9
-1 7 .9
-2 0 .9
-1 8 .7
-1 8 .8
- 6 .6
-2 3 .1
-1 7 .9

13.64
17.65
16.88

- 6 .4
+ 1.4
- 1 .3

-2 5 .4
-1 6 .7
-1 6 .3

20.78
14.92

- 1 .3
+ 4 .0

-1 1 .8
-1 1 .3

21.07
20.12
31.45
38.67

- 2 .1
- 1 .9
+ 1.8
+ 0.5

-1 5 .1
- 7 .7
- 5 .8
- 3 .4

25.41
15.48
30.33

- 0 .3
+ 3.9
- 0 .1

- 5 .6
- 9 .6
- 6 .1

20.74
15.02
18.61
20.45

- 8 .1
- 5 .9
- 1 .9
- 2 .1

-1 7 .4
-2 6 .7
-1 5 .7
-1 2 .5

18.76
19.94

- 0 .9
- 0 .8

-1 6 .0
-1 7 .6

14. 71
14.37

+ 4 .5
+ 0.4

- 4 .8
-1 1 .1

24.97
18.24
29.59
25.52

-6 .0
- 3 .7
+ 0.3
- 1 .8

- 1 .2
-1 2 .7
- 3 .4
-1 1 .4

19.56
24.74
23.24
17.66
21.62
26.07

(0
- 1 .3
+ 3 .4
+0.1
+ 6.4
+ 3.4

-1 0 .3
-1 1 .3
-1 4 .2
-1 1 .5
-1 3 .7
-1 1 .5

32. 47
21.17
19. 72
26. 70
18.91
24.21
26.21

-4 .8
+ 7 .2
-1 4 .1
- 2 .4
+1.1
+ 0 .2
+ 2.1

+ 0.8
(2)
-1 6 .2
- 9 .8
(2)
(2)
-1 5 .3

427

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

TiBLE 4 —P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A NUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S IN

D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H N O V E M B E R , 1931, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1930—•
C ontinued

Per capita
weekly
In d u stry

Per cent of change com­
pared w ith—

December, N ovember, December,
1931
1931
1930

Industries added since February, 1929—C ontinued.
Clocks time-recording dp,vines, and clock m ovem ents_________
Corsets and allied garm ents
__
__ ________ ________
Cottonseed oil, cake, and meal _
__ ______ ___________
Cotton small wares
_
___ __
_____ -- — - C utlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge tools
Forgings iron and steel
_ _ ------------- ------Gas and electric fixtures, lamps, lanterns, and reflectors_______
H ats, for-felt
___________________________________ _____
Jew elry
_
_________ _______ _____ _____
M arble granite slate, and other stone products _____ ______
M en’s furnishing goods
_ ___ _______________________
P a in t and varnish
_ ____________________________
Plpted ware
_ __________________________
Plum heps’ supplies
__________________________
P ad in
_ _ ______________________ _____
R ayon
- - _____ _____ -- ______- ---------------R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes, tires, and inner tu b e s—
Smelting and refining copper lead, and zinc
- _____
- —
—
Snap
____
Tools (not including edge tools, m achine tools, files, or saws) —
Tin cans and other tinw are
_________ ___ _____
___ —
T urpentine and rosin
_____________________________
Typew riters and supplies
_______________________________
W irework
_ __________________________________________

$16.41
15.93
14.05
16.86
19.40
18.44
24. 55
17. 39
22.21
25. 57
14.80
24.74
23.63
17.96
22. 33
17.67
20.68
19. 82
23.83
18. 70
21.50
13.99
18. 05
20.48

-1 2 .6
- 3 .5
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .8
- 2 .5
- 0 .9
+ 2.5
-1 .0
+ 6 .0
- 1 .7
-1 0 .6
- 0 .4
+ 6 .5
- 0 .1
+ 8 .8
+1-1
- 0 .2
- 7 .0
- 0 .5
-0 .4
- 1 .7
- 3 .0
- 6 .5
+ 0.3

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

- 4 .6
(2)
(2)
-1 0 .1
(2)
(2)
+ 7 .6
-8 .2
-1 1 .3
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

2 D ata not available.

In d e x N u m b e rs o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o t a ls in M a n u f a c tu r i n g
In d u s trie s

T a b l e 5 shows the general indexes of employment and pay-roll
totals in manufacturing industries by months from January, 1923, to
December, 1931, together with the average indexes for each of the
years 1923 to 1931, inclusive.
T able 5.—G E N E R A L IN D E X E S O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN MAN­
U FA CTU RIN G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, T O D E C E M B E R , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Pay-roll totals

Em ploym ent
M onth

1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
106. 6 103.8 97.9 100.4
108.4 105.1 99.7 101.5
110.8 104.9 100.4 102.0
110.8 102.8 100.2 101.0
110.8 98.8 98.9 99.8
110.9 95.6 98.0 99.3
109.2 92.3 97.2 97.7
108.5 92.5 97.8 98.7
108.6 94.3 98.9 100.3
108.1 95.6 100.4 100.7
Nov __ 107.4 95.5 100.7 99.5
D e c ... 105.4 97.3 100.8 98.9

J a n __
F e b ...
M a r ..
A p r-.M ay ..
J u n e ..
J u ly ...
Aug
Sept .
Oct

97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6

91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92.2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5

95.2
97.4
98.6
99.1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98.6
99.3
98.3
94.8
91.9

90.2
90.3
89.8
89.1
87.7
85.5
81.6
79.9
79.7
78.6
76.5
75.1

73.1
74.1
74.8
74.5
74.1
72.2
70.4
70.0
69.6
67.3
65.4
65.3

95.8 98.6 93.9 98.0 94.9
99.4 103.8 99,3 102. 2 100.6
104.7 103.3 100.8 103.4 102.0
105.7 101. 1 98.3 101.5 100.8
109.4 96.5 98.5 99.8 99.8
109.3 90.8 95.7 99.7 97.4
104.3 84.3 93.5 95.2 93.0
103.7 87.2 95.4 98.7 95.0
104.4 89.8 94.4 99.3 94.1
106.8 92.4 100.4 102.9 95.2
105.4 91.4 100.4 99.6 91.6
103.2 95.7 101.6 99.8 93.2

89.6
93.9
95.2
93.8
94.1
94.2
91.2
94.2
95.4
99.0
96.1
97.7

95.5
101.8
103.9
104.6
104.8
102.8
98.2
102.1
102.6
102.3
95.1
92.0

87.6
90.7
90.8
89.8
87.6
84.1
75.9
73.9
74.2
72.7
68.3
67.4

62.3
67.0
68.5
67.4
66.6
62.5
59.1
58.5
55.4
53.7
51.0
50.9

Av._ 108.8 98.2 99.2 100.0 96.4 83.8 97.5 83.7 70.9 104.3 94.6 97.7 100.0 96.5 94.5 100.4 80.3 60.2


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

428

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Index numbers of employment and pay-roll totals for each of the
54 separate industries included in the bureau’s general indexes and
for each of the 12 groups of industries are shown in Table 6 for each
month of 1931, together with average indexes for each of the years
1923 to 1931, inclusive.
The average general index of employment for the 12 months of 1931
was 15.3 per cent below the average index for 1930, and the average
index of pay-roll totals was 25.0 per cent below the average for 1930.
In computing these general indexes and group indexes the index
numbers of the separate industries are weighted according to the rela­
tive importance of the industries.
Following Table 6 are two charts made from index numbers showing
the trend in employment and earnings for each month of the years
1926 to 1931, inclusive.
T able 6 .— IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G
IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y TO D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S, 1923 TO 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]

Food a n d k in d red pro d u cts
G eneral index
G roup index

Y ear and m onth

1923 average...............
1924 average_______
1925 av erag e............ .
1926 average_______
1927 average............. .
1928 average_______
1929 average.............
1930 average.............
1931 av erag e............ ..

Slaughtering
and m eat
packing

Confectionery

Ice cream

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

108.8
98.3
99.3
100.0
96.4
93.8
97.5
83.7
70.9

104.3
94.6
97.7
100.0
96.5
94.5
100.4
80.3
60.3

111.1
106.4
101.3
100.0
99.4
98.4
99.4
94.5
88.3

106.3
104.4
99.9
100.0

118.4
111.8
102. 6
100.0
99.9
101.0
103.2
100.2
89.8

116.3
103.2
98.1
100.0
96.5
93.0
92.3
85.9
82.4

107.0
99.9
96.4
100.0
97. 9
93. 3
94.1
86.2
75.6

103.9
100. 3
101. 3

99.8
101.7
97.0
85.7

122. 9
115.1
104.4
100.0
99. 5
99. 5
101.0
97.1
90.8

73.1
74.1
74.8
74.5
74.1
73.3
70.4
70. 0
69.6
67.3
65.4
65.3

63.3
67.0
68.5
67.4
66.6
63.5
59.1
58.5
55.4
53.7
51.0
50.9

89.9
89.3
87.9
87.0
88.0
88.1
87.6
87.6
89.4
89.0
87.8
87.7

90.9
89.3
86.9
85.9
87.3
87.3
85.9
84.5
85.1
83.6
81.1
80.5

96.6
94.0
90.2
89.4
90. 6
90.2
89.1
88.2
88.3
89.0
90.4
93.3

101.7
96.3
90.2
90.0
91.6
91.0
89.5
86.5
85.3
84.9
82.9
87.1

83.1
83.9
82.3
78.1
78.6
77.3
69.2
74. 0
89. 5
93. 0
90. 3
89.2

81.1
79.1
77.2
73.2
73. 3
72. 5
59. 8
67.1
82. 6
83. 4
79. 1
79.0

100. 0

100. 0
94. 0
92 4
91. 9
87. 6
80.6

P ay­
roll
totals
96 8
93 1
98 3
100 0
93 4
93 1
93 0
87 6
78.2

1931
Ja n u a ry ..................
F eb ru ary _________
M arch ______ . . .
A pril______ _______
M a y ... . . . .
Ju n e ________ _____
J u ly ---------------------A u g u st.____ ______
Septem ber___ _ ..
O c to b e r______ __
N ovem ber___ . .
D ecem ber_______ _


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

74 3
74 7
76. 2
78. 5
83. 7
90 3
94 5
93 2
86 8
76 7
70 1
68.7

73
7fi
76
79
82
87
90

9
2
9
4
6
3
7

87 6
82 4
71 8

66 1
63! 8

429

TEEN D OF EMPLOYMENT

T a-rtf fi —IN D E X E S O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A NUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y TO D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S , 1923 TO
1931—C ontinued

Food a n d k in d red p ro d u cts—C ontinued
Sugar refining,
cane

Baking

Flour
Y ear a nd m onth
Em plovm ent

Payroll
totals

Em ploym ent

Payroll
totals

Em ploym ent

Payroll
totals

Textiles a n d th e ir p roducts
G roup index
Em ploym ent

Payroll
totals

C otton goods

Em ploym ent

Payroll
totals

1923 average—.
1924 average—.
1925 average—.
1926 average—.
1927 average—
1928 a v erag e 1929 a v erag e 1930 a v erag e1931 av erag e-

114.2
108.1
103. 1
100. 0
99. 3
100.0
102.1
97. 0
88.2

110.9
108.2
102. 5
100.0
99.4
102.1
105.3
99.9
84.2

99.2
100. 5
98.7
100.0
101.4
100.9
102.1
96.8
90.5

94.8
98.4
97.1
100.0
102. 2
101.6
103.5
98.5
87.1

106.8
104.6
104.5
100.0
98.8
91.1
94.0
91.6
81.7

104.6
105.4
104.6
100.0
98.8
94.9
98.5
94.4
80.0

116.1
102.4
103.7
100.0
101. 3
96.3
97.0
83.7
77.3

116.4
101.0
104.2
100.0
103.0
95.6
97.2
77.0
65.7

120.3
99.9
101.1
100.0
105.0
95.2
95.5
80.6
75.4

123.5
99.6
101.1
100.0
108.5
91.7
94.3
73.3
64.9

1931
Jan u a ry ------F e b ru a ry ----M arch ______ ,
A pril_______
M a y ......... .
Ju n e ________
J u ly ________
A ugust_____
S e p te m b e r...
O ctober_____
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber—

90.4
89.0
87.7
87.9
86.3
85.3
90. 5
90. 0
88.9
88. 5
87. 9
85.7

87.7
87.9
85.2
84.4
84. 1
81.5
86.7
86.4
83.3
84.0
83.3
75.3

90.5
90.0
90.6
90. 1
91.7
91.9
92.5
91.6
91.2
90.1
88.0
86.8

89.6
89.5
88.9
87.5
89.7
89.7
88.8
86.7
86.7
85.1
82.7
80.4

81.4
79.9
82.2
83.5
79.1
80.7
84.2
84.3
82.8
79.8
82.2
80.0

79.3
82.3
84.5
83.5
79.5
81. 6
86.8
82.1
79.7
75.4
74.3
70.6

75.5
78.6
81.0
80.1
79.8
77.5
76.1
77.6
78.3
76.0
73.7
72.8

64.8
72.3
75.4
71.4
68.9
65.5
64.2
66.9
65.0
61.7
56.3
55.8

73.2
73.3
76.8
77.3
79. 1
77.0
76.2
75.0
75.4
74. 1
73.5
73.8

65.3
65.8
69.8
71.4
72.6
68.1
65.8
64.3
62.4
60.1
56.1
56.8

Textiles a n d th e ir p ro d u cts—Continued
Y ear and m onth
H osiery and
k n it goods

1923 average...
1924 average...
1925 average...
1926 average. _.
1927 average...
1928 av erag e1929 a v erag e 1930 av erag e1931 a v erag e -

102 1
92 6
100 2
100 0
99 0
04 7
98 1
87 .5
81.3

1931
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch ______
A pril_______
M a y _______
J u n e _______
J u ly -----------A ugust.. . ——
S e p te m b e r...
O ctober_____
N ovem ber__
December----

75 0
79 3
80 1
80 6
81 4
81 9
79 9
81 3
81 0
84 5
85 8
84.5


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

Silk goods

Woolen and
w orsted goods

C arpets and
rugs

102.1
94. 0
101.7
100.0
100. 9
99. 5
101.8
93. 0
88.0

99.9
91. 8
102. 3

106.8
81.9
72.2

95.2
101.2
100.0
104.1
95.9
101. 4
66.0
57.2

67.0
71.7
76.1
77.2
78.2
77.1
75.2
76.6
69.7
69.5
65.1
63.1

50.2
62. 8
64. 6
64. 6
65.4
63.0
60.4
59.0
52.6
50.9
48.1
44.9

92.9
95. 5
95. 4
93. 5
91. 2
86.0
82.7
84.1
86.0
82.9
82. 5
83.0

85.9
96. 2
94. 5
90. 6
84. 7
76. 2
73. 7
77.4
76. 6
70.9
70.4

106.5
98. 1
100.7

93.9
88.6
102.7
100.0
99.2
100.2
100.9
81.7
64.5

124.5
113.3
110.7
100.0
99.7
95.0
96.0
77.7
75.4

126.7
114. 1
110.6

102. 2
97. 3
104.3
84. 6
69.9

99.8
94. 1
103.1
100.0
98.4
96.9
98.0
86.5
73.9

100. 6
94.4
96. 3
72.7
68.1

102.5

64.4
72. 0
73. 4
72.9
74. 7
72. 4
64.4
67. 2
67. 4
70. 6
70. 3
68.8

81.6
84.3
83.2
80. 7
76.9
67.4
63.6
65.3
69. 5
73.0
70.7
70.9

70.8
78.6
76.2
71.9
66.9
58. 1
55. 6
58.9
59.2
62. 4
57. 2
57.9

68.8
74.8
76.4
71.7
77.4
80.9
84.8
86.6
81.4
68.6
67.4
66.0

61.9
71.9
73.0
65.4
72. 4
74. 5
78.6
81.4
68.3
58.1
55.9
55.2

91. 3
82. 9
96. 4
100. 0

100. 0

D yeing and
finishing
textiles

100. 0

101. 0

110. 1

100. 0

102. 8
101. 0

102. 2
87.9
80.7

71,5

430

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

9*—IN D E X E S t o 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 i n MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y TO D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S , 1923 T O
1931—C ontinued
—

Iro n a n d steel
a n d th e ir
pro d u cts

Textiles a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts—Continued

Y ear and m onth

Clothing,
m en’s

Shirts and
collars

C lothing,
wom en’s

M illinery and
lace goods

G roup index

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

1923 average . ____
1924 average _ __ _
1925 average.. _
1926 average_______
1927 average .
1928average____ . .
1929 average_______
1930 average. _
1931 average.. ____

118.6
106.9
103.1
100.0
97.8
92.2
91.9
80.4
74.6

128.4
111. 0
105.8
100.0
97.3
89.0
88.2
67.9
56.2

118.9
100.6
103.3
100.0
95.0
92.2
92.7
81.1

117.1
97.5
103.2
100.0
96.3
89.9
90.8
70.9
57.1

126.3
111.9
105.6
100.0
105.4
105. 4
105.4
94.2
85.3

124.4
108.6
109.3
100.0
107.4
105.2
105.1
87.2
70.3

138.1
120.3
117.1
100.0
95.6
93.5
93.1
85.1
76.4

133.1
117.1
115.8
100.0
96.8
92.7
91.1
78.4
63.8

108.5
93.8
95.0
100.0
93.2
91.5

102.7
89.1
93.3
100.0
91.9
92.8

1931
Jan u a ry _______ . . .
F eb ru ary __________
M arch __ .
A pril..................... ...
M a y __________ .
Ju n e ____
Ju ly ______________
A ugust_____ ____ .
Septem ber______ .
October_____
N o v em b er..
D ecem ber___

75.6
77.5
76.1
72.8
73.3
76.3
78.7
79.8
77.0
69.7
66.8

71.2

53.9
62.9
66.2
58.2
50.7
55.6
62.1
65.0
59.3
54.8
43.0
42.8

52.9
59.1
62.4
62.8
62.7
57.8
59.4
59.1
59.0
57.0
50.3
42.9

93.6
98.6
98.3
93.2
84.9
74.1
80.1
85.4
80.2
73.5
73.5

87.8

72.1
85.3
93.8
83.7
72.4
62.4
57.2
63.5
73.6
67.4
56.6
55.4

76.8
82.4
88.3
84.4
76.5
72.4
67.9
77.4
79.6
75.2
68. 1
67.5

63.3
73.0
86.1
77.7
60.9
56.6
51.4
66.6
68.3
60.0
51.9
49.9

71.6

56 8
60.4
62.0
60. 7
57.8
52.0
47.3
45 0
41 1
40 0
37 6
38.0

72.3
67.2

71.5
74.2
75.1
74.9

72.7

71.4
72.4
74.6
75.9
71.8
65.3

98.9
84.8
66.3

72.0
72.6
71.9
70.3
67.4
65.1
63.3
62.1
60.3
59.0
58.8

Pay­
roll
totals

102.6
79.2
49.9

Iro n a n d steel a n d th e ir p ro d u cts—Continued
Y ear and m onth
Iron and steel

Cast-iron pipe

Structuraliron work

F oundry and
machine-shop
products

H ardw are

1923 average.. . _ _ _
1924 average______
1925 average___. . .
1926 average.
1927 average.. _
1928 average .
1929 average_______
1930 average.
1931 average____ __

102.1
95.4
97.9
100.0
92.9
90.9
94.7
84.5
70.0

97.3
91.3
96.4
100.0
91.4
92.7
99.3
79.8
51.8

94.3
98.2
95.6
100.0
89.8
80. 1
76. 1
67.4
55.6

92.8
97.8
96.2
100.0
88.1
75.9
75.5
65.6
46.3

100.8
91.7
92.5
100.0
94.9
95.0
102.1
92.2
71.1

93.9
86.3
91.5
100.0
95.0
97.9
104.4
89.0
57.4

115.3
93.0
93.1
100.0
93.8
92.3
104.3
87.8
65.0

110.7
87.2
90.6
100.0
92.4
92.8
108.1
81.5
49.1

113.4
104.2
103. 6
100.0
92.2
88.9
91.9
78.8
65.3

102.0
95. 7
98. 4
100.0
90.9
88.4
93. 7
68. 5
47.4

1931
Jan u a ry ______
F eb ru ary ____
M a r c h ... . . .
A pril___
M a y ___._
J u n e _____
J u ly ---------------------A ugust_____
September
O cto b er...
N ovem ber. _
D ecem ber____

74.8
75.1
76.2
76.2
74.2
70.7
09.7
68.2
65.6
63.5
62.5
63.0

58.8
64.9
67.8
67.3
62.1
54.1
48.3
46.2
40.4
38.3
36.3
37.1

53.8
56.8
58.5
60.6
61.0
59.2
58.0
56.5
53.3
51.1
49.7
49.1

46.8
50.6
54.6
58.2
55.8
48.6
48.6
44.2
37.7
36.7
36.2
37.0

78.9
75.8
75.4
74.1
72.5
71.2
71.9
72.1
69.3
65.6
63.7
62.2

67.4
64.6
63.9
60.7
60.8
58.7
61.0
57.8
54.1
49.0
46. 1
44. 5

71.9
72.3
72.3
70.9
69.5
66.6
63.3
60.9
60.1
58.1
57.1
57.4

56.9
59.1
59. 9
58.2
56.4
51.6
46. 5
43. 5
40. 7
39. 9
37. 7
38.9

69.7
69. 2
69.3
68.8
68.0
66.7
64.4
62.0
61.5
61.8
61.2
60.4

53 5
54.1
55. 2
53. 6
53. 2
48. 8
44. 3
44 2
39 3
42 2
40 8
40.1


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

431

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

m ATjTTr n TfC"!")TEXT'S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M ANUFACTURING
1N D U*STr 7 e ! l V N IU R Y TO D E C T M B E R , 1931, A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S, 1923 TO
1931—Continued

Iro n a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts—C o n t’d.

M achine tools
Y ear and m o n th
Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Steam fittings
and steam and
hot-w ater h eat­
ing apparatus
Em ­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

1923 average----------1924 average_______
1925 average. ______
1926 average.._ . . . .
1927 average---------1928 a v e r a g e .-----1929 av erag e..--------1930 average----------1931 average-----------

98.1
82.0
85.8
100.0
92.8
100.8
129.8
98.7
62.6

88.5
74.9
83.4
100.0
92.2
107.5
139.8
90.2
48.4

103.3
98.6
100. 1
100.0
92. 5
82. 2
78. 5
65. 2
54.8

98.0
95. 4
y/. 4
100.0
91. 9
81. 9
78. 8
58. 7
40. 7

1931
Jan u a ry ----------------F ebruary --------------M arch.
. . . ..
A pril--------------------M a y .. ___________
J u n e.
......
J u ly ______________
A ugust-----------------Septem ber--------- —
O c to b e r________
N o v e m b er..
.
D ecem ber... ---------

74.4
73.0
72.9
70.8
68.7
65.3
61.1
54.3
55.8
54.4
50.2
50.1

56.6
57.6
58.3
56.1
54.5
50.6
49.1
44. 1
39.8
40. 2
36.6
37.2

60.9
60.0
60. 1
57.7
55.8
54.6
53.2
51.4
51.0
53. 4
51.4
48.0

49.8
49. 9
47. 4
44.7
41.9
40.0
38. 5
37.4
34. 3
38. 3
34. 3
31. 5

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

116.3
100.3
97.8

113.9

1923 average.
1924 averag e...
1925 averag e...
1926 averag e...
1927 average...
1928 averag e...
1929 a v erag e1930 average. .
1931 av erag e1931
J a n u a ry .........
F e b ru a ry ----M arch --------A pril_______
M a y -----------J u n e -----------Ju ly -----------A ugust-------Septem ber. —
O ctober------N ovem ber. . .
D ecem ber—

Fu rn itu re

97.8
100.0

52. 7
60.0
64.7
65.4
64.8
62.6
54.8
60.0
63.8
64.3
60.0
53. 5

38.5
47.1
50.3
50.0
50.3
46.0
39.4
43.4
48.0
48.7
41.0
33.8

54.1
54.3
54.1
54.3
54.6
54.1
52.0
51.8
50.7
49.8
48.1
44.7

G roup index

Em ploym ent

Payroll
totals

88.9
64.7
40.8

115.1
108.0
103.6
100.0
91.0
86.7
85.9
67.7
48.3

106.5
102.8
101.7
100.0
92.4
88.0
86.9
65.0
37.1

43.1
44.7
45.4
44.1
45.0
43.9
41.1
40.5
39.5
37.4
33.7
30.6

50.9
50.6
50.3
51.1
51.6
51.6
49.3
48.3
47.0
45.7
43.8
39.7

40.0
40.3
41.2
40.1
41.8
41.9
38.7
37.1
36.1
33.2
29.9
25.4

102.4
99.6
100.4
100.0
93.1
88.8

Leather

97.4
89.7
89.9
72.9
62.7

109.6
96.9
98.7
100.0
98.4
95.4
92.2
85.2
76.6

107.0
95.7
97.5
100.0
97.2
93.7
93. 2
83.0
70.0

58.6
66.5
70.9
68.2
66.5
64.5
70.2
72.9
65.4
54.6
45.6
48.6

77.6
77.6
78.4
77.6
77.3
77.3
79.2
80.1
77.5
74.6
71.6
69.9

69.9
72.0
73.8
73. 3
73.8
73.1
74.2
75.7
70.6
65.6
60.1
57.9

113.9
100. 6
101.8

110.7
100.3
101. 9
100. 0

100. 0

89. 2
85. 5
83.1
63. 9
52.2

94.2
90.7
95.6
100.0
98.2
93.2
97.0
66.6
46.6

97.9
92.8
92.8
85.0
79.2

53 6
54 8
55 0
55 2
56 0
54 3
53,1
52 6
49 3
48 0
47 7
46.5

44.9
47.1
47. 6
47. 7
49.1
47. 3
44. 6
43. 5
38. 7
36. 6
34. 7
34.3

62.7
63. 7
63.4
62.2
61.5
60.4
58.5
60. 5
61.4
61. 5
59.4
56.9

48.4
52.2
52.4
49.7
48.7
45.8
43.6
45.6
46.9
46.3
40.8
38.6

76.7
79.4
82.3
81.5
79.9
78.8
83.6
85.7
83.3
78.3
68.9
72.4


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

Payroll
totals

Lum ber,
sawmills

L eath er a n d its products

100.4
95.2
99. 1
100.0
96.1
92.5
95.9
75.2
61.0

100 0

100. 0

91.9
87.8
87.9
68.9
51.9

95.5
98.0
101. 8
100. 0
89. 2
85. 6
82.8
61.0
43.0

101. 5
101. 2
103 0

110.0
104.4
102.5

90.4
84.7
87.3
64. 1
44.7

C ontinued

Lum ber, millwork

101.0

Em ploym ent

91.2
87.6
90.8
74.3
60.6

L u m b e r a n d its p ro d u cts—
Year and m onth

G roup index

Stoves

100.0

L u m b e r a n d its products

Boots and shoes

101. 6
102.9

117.0
102. 8
103. 6

100. 0

100. 0

97.7
91.9
92.9
85. 0
79.9

97. 6
88. 0
89. 0
70.1
60. 6

76.5
79. 9
83. 3
82. 5
80. 6
79. 2
84.7
87.1
84. 7
79. 2
68.2
73.0

55.4
64. 9
70.1
66. 8
64. 4
62. 1
69. 0
72. J.
63. 9
51. 5
41. 4
46. 0

111.1

432

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T able 6 . —IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y TO D E C E M B E R 1931, A N D
1931—C ontinued

Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S , 1923 TO

P aper a n d p rin tin g

Y ear and M onth

G ro u p in d e x Paper and pulp

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Printing, book
and job

P rin tin g , news­
papers

P ay­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Paper boxes

Em­
ploy­
m en t

P ay­
roll
totals

P ay­
roll
totals

1923 average ______
1924 average_______
1925 average_______
1926 a v e r a g e -._____
1927 average_______
1928 average_______
1929 average______
1930 a v e ra g e ______
1931 average_______

96.5
96. 7
97.3
10«. 0
100. 1
99.2
101. 3
98.3
90.5

89.7
91. 7
94.3
100. 0
101.2
101.5
106. 0
101.9
89.0

104.6
98.6
98.7
100.0
97.5
94.4
95.5
91.3
80.8

97.6
94.4
96.8
100.0
96. 6
94.9
98. 2
89.8
70.3

98.9
98.2
98.8
100. 0
96.8
94.0
96.0
89. 7
82.1

91.3
93.3
95.6
100.0
99.0
99.4
103.3
92.9
79.6

96.1
97.9
97.5
100.0
100.3
99.2
102.6
99.5
89.7

87.8
90.8
93. 1
100.0
102. 1
101. 6
105.8
102.6
87.6

89. 5
93.1
95.4
100.0
103.4
105.2
108.3
108.5
105.6

84.5
89.7
93.0
100.0
104 6
107.4
112.8
112.3
106.6

1931
Jan u ary _____ __
F ebruaryM arch- ............
A pril--- _ ___ _
M a y .-- -_ _ _
.
J u n e . .. _ _ __ _ _
J u ly ______________
A ugust___________
Septem ber.- ______
October _
__
N ovem ber__
D e c e m b e r_____

93.6
92.5
92.4
92.0
92.0
90.2
89.5
89.2
88.4
89.0
88.6
88.4

93.9
93.3
94.5
93.4
92. 7
89.6
86.8
86.3
83.9
84.9
84.2
84.4

82. 5
82. 4
82.0
82.0
82.6
81.0
81.1
81.2
79. 5
79. 6
78.4
77.6

74.9
77.9
77. 1
75. 5
75.2
71.2
68. 1
69. 5
64. 2
65.4
63.6
61. 5

82.8
81.7
81. 9
82.0
81.4
80.9
80. 1
81. 1
83. 1
84. 7
83.9
81. 5

79.8
80.6
83.0
82. 1
81.7
79.8
76.9
78.0
77.7
82.8
78.4
74.6

96.8
94.8
93.0
91.9
91. 5
88. 7
88. 1
88.4
86.0
85.3
85.7
86.7

97.3
94.0
94.4
92. 6
90.9
87.5
85.2
85.0
80.8
79.8
80. 6
83.2

107.1
105.8
107.9
107.6
107. 7
106.2
104.5
102. 6
103. 0
105. 1
104.9
105.1

108.1
107.2
110.4
110.2
110.3
107.9
104.8
102.2
103.2
105.0
104.4
105.1

S to n e , clay,
a n d g lass
p ro d u c ts

C h e m ic a ls a n d a llie d p ro d u c ts
Y ear and m onth
G ro u p in d e x

Chemicals

Fertilizers

Petroleum
refining

G ro u p In d e x

1923 average..1924 average_______
1925 a v e ra g e ___ _1926 average___
1927 average_______
1928 average_____
1929 average_______
1930 average____
1931 average___

101.8
93.1
95.8
100.0
96.6
93.4
99.4
92.9
77.7

98.2
91.0
94.2
100.0
99.1
95.9
102. 3
94.5
75.7

104.9
96. 2
97.3
100.0
100.0
99.3
103.2
94. 3
85.6

96.6
92. 5
94.3
100. 0
103.7
103.3
107. 1
94. 1
81.7

96.2
86.9
95.1
100.0
91.2
95.4
95.2
89. 5
62.9

91.8
83.6
90.6
100.0
94.0
97.1
94.7
87.5
56.2

99.7
91.8
94.0
100.0
94.6
84.8
96.5
92.6
73.5

102.1
91. 7
95.2
100.0
95.6
87.2
99.1
95.9
73.4

100.2
97.0
97.9
100.0
94.5
89.7
86.6
73.1
59.7

93.5
95.2
97.3
100.0
94.2
89.6
85.3
87.3
47.9

1931
Jan u ary ______
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch -. .
. __
A pril_____________
M ay . _________ _
J u n e ... -_
-_ _ _
J u ly ______________
A u g u st...
. ___
Septem ber_______
October
N ovem ber__ ___
D ecem ber......... .........

84.5
83.9
82.2
86.8
80.6
75.3
74.5
73.1
74.3
73.9

81.7
83.7
80.6
83.7
79.8
75.2
74.1
71.7
71.8
71.5

73.5
74.2
93. 7
116.4
72.9
44.5
41.3
44.2
50.1
49.0
46.8
48.5

66.6
66.5
78.3
105.4
66. 5
44. 2
40.7
40.8
44.0
41.3
38.3
41.2

81.0
79.7
71.5
77.9
78.1
75.4
73.7
71.6
69.9
68.8
67.4
67.3

81.8
83.1
74.8
79.7
79.2
75.1
73.8
70.5
68.4
66.6
64.2
64.1

45.9
50.7
53.1
54.7
55.7
53.6
47.8
47.3
45.4

67.7
66.7

84.3
87. 5
87.2
84.1
82.9
81.0
80.5
78.6
80.5
82.2
76.8
74.2

57.5
58.8
61.1
63.6
65.1
64.9
61.2
60.7
59.8

72.0
71.0

90.8
90.5
88.8
86.6
85.0
83.8
84. 5
82. 6
85.2
85. 5
83.3
80.7

57.1
54.5
51.7

43.1
40.3
36.9


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

433

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T able 6.—IN D E X E S O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A NUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y TO D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S, 1923 TO 1931—
C ontinued

M etal prod­
u cts, o th e r
tli a n iron
a n d steel

S to n e, clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts—C ontinued

Y ear and m onth

1923 average...
_ __
1924 average_____ _
1925 average..- ____
1928 averag e...
. .
1927 average_______
1928 average_____ .
1929 average_____
1930 average____ ._
1931 average_______

Cem ent

Brick, tile, and
terra cotta

P o ttery

G roup index

Glass

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em ­
ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

Em­
ploy­
m ent

109.0
108.9
105. 3
100.0
95.8
87.7
81.1
74.1
59.2

104.2
107.9
104.9
100.0
96.5
88.3
81.0
71.5
50.4

99.3
97.4
98.9
100.0
94.3
84.9
80.5
63.1
46.8

95.1
98.5
99.1
100.0
94.1
82.8
76.9
55.3
32.6

93.7
100.6
98.3
100. 0
94.5
95.3
94.2
84. 7
76.0

85.8
95.1
96.3
100.0
94.2
93.4
91.0
74.7
58.8

101.1
91.4
94.4
100.0
94.2
92. 9
94. 6
81.3
70.4

92.6
88.2
93.4
100.0
93.4
94.3
97.3
78.3
62.6

102.6
95.1
99.2
100.0
92.9
92.8
97.6
79.1
68.0

56.1
56.9
60.0
63.9
66. 1
64.2
64. 5
61.3
58.2
56. 9
52. 7
49. 1

44.4
50.3
53.2
57. 6
61. 1
60.4
56.3
52.8
48.2
45. 3
40.8
34.9

43.9
44. 5
47. 7
51.1
52.7
52.9
50.9
48.8
46.9
43.2
41. 5
37.3

32.0
34.0
36.8
38. 5
39.4
37.9
34.6
32.5
30.8
27.6
25.7
21.8

78.5
79.5
79. 1
80.6
82.1
77.9
71.7
73.9
73.8
73.5
72.4
69.0

60.1
65.4
67.4
70.6
69.0
58.5
48.9
53.7
51.7
55.2
54.2
50.7

67.3
70.1
72.2
72.9
74.0
76. 1
69. 1
70.9
72.3
69.3
65. 3
65.4

59.3
67.3
69.1
68.1
69.0
69.5
61.3
61.9
61.4
58.0
53.7
52.6

69.7
70.7
71.3
71.0
70.4
69.3
67.8

Pay­
roll
totals
101. 5
93. 0
99.4
100. 0
91.6
96.1
102.8
74.1
55. 5

1931

J a n u a r y ____ _. ..
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch ________ . . .
A p r il..____ _______
M a y ________ _ ..
Ju n e ____________ .
Ju ly -------------------A u g u st...
.. . .
Septem ber________
October___________
N ovem ber____ ____
Decem ber. __ ____

M etal p roducts, o th e r t h a n
iron a n d steel— C ontinued

66.1
68. 4
65.2
64.0
63.6

58.6

62.4

64.0
63.1
61.6
57.9
53.2

51.9
50.1
49.1
47.5
46.8

T obacco p ro d u cts

Y ear and m onth
Stam ped and
enameled
ware

Brass, bronze,
and copper
products

G ro u p in d e x

Chewing and
smoking tobac­
co and snuff

Cigars and
cigarettes

1923 average.. . . . . .
1924 average_____ .
1925 average . . . ._ .
1926 average ___ .
1927 average.. . . .
1928 average_______
1929 average_______
1930 average____ . .
1931 average . . . _ .

105.2
94. 7
99.0
100.0
88.9
88.8
90.4
77.9
70.6

109.3
93.2
100. 2
100.0
90.6
90.4
91.1
71.8
58.8

101.3
95.2
99.2
100.0
94.5
94.4
101.1
79.7
66.7

98.9
92.9
99. 1
100.0
92.0
98.0
107.4
74.9
54.2

116.9
109. 8
107. 5
100.0
98. 1
96.0
93. 6
89.5
81.3

114.0
108.9
105. 7
100.0
97.1
93. 5
92.8
84. 1
69. 3

105.4
105. 2
97.0
100.0
97.7
95.2
89.3
89.5
86.1

100.1
101. 2
98.3
100.0
97.7
94.1
89.6
87.7
79.3

118.3
110.4
109.0
100.0
98.1
96.0
94.2
89.5
80.7

115.9
109.9
106.7
100.0
97.0
93.4
93.2
83.7
68.1

1931
Jan u a ry ___ __ . . _
F eb ru ary _________
M arch ___ _________
A pril_____________
M a y _____________
Ju n e _____________
Ju ly ______________
A u g u s t___________
Septem ber- ______
October_______ . .
N ovem ber________
December_________

68.6
72.7
72.7
73.8
72.3
72. 6
70.8
70.2
70.7
69.2
66.9
66.2

54.8
67.0
67.3
67.3
63.9
62. 0
55.6
56.7
56.3
54.5
50.9
49.8

70.2
69.8
70.7
69.7
69.5
67.7
66.3
64.2
64.4
63.3
62.6
62.3

60.1
60.6
62.7
61.5
60.7
56.3
52.2
50.0
47.7
47.0
46.1
45. 6

77.7
85.6
85.0
82.1
82. 7
81. 7
81. 3
81. 0
81.4
81.8
81.4
73. 7

68.2
69. 3
72. 4
69. 5
72. 3
72.6
71.4
70.2
66.4
68.5
68.4
62.5

93.7
93.8
92. 2
79.8
84.6
81.8
80.7
83.3
82.4
84.9
87.4
88.8

87.2
88. 1
84.3
73.9
78.7
77.1
76.8
78.5
75.1
78.0
74. 6
79.2

75.6
84.6
84.1
82.4
82.4
81.7
81.4
80.7
81.3
81.4
80.6
71.8

65.9
67.0
71.0
69.0
71.5
72.0
70.8
69.2
65.4
67.3
67.6
60.5


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

434

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

6^—IN D E X E S O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN MANTJFAGTTTIIT1VG
1931—(Xmtinued JA N U A R Y T 0 D E C E M B E R , 1931, A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S, i d ^ T O

Vehicles for la n d tra n sp o rta tio n

Y ear and m onth

G roup index

Em­

1923 av erag e 1924 a v erag e1925 a v erag e1926 av erag e 1927 av erag e 1928 a v erag e1929 average..
1930 average. .
1931 a v erag e -

Em­

Carriages and
wagons

Em­

ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

ploy­
m ent

P ay ­
roll
totals

109. 6
97.2
99.8

107. 7
94.3
100. 7

93.0
87.0
99.0

92.0
83.8
102.4

108.8
90.8

111.3
116.9
83.7
67.7

90.3
114.4
118. 7
74.6
53.0

78. 7
76. 7
78.6
56.7
36.5

38.9
59.4
65.9

34.5
36.4
37.9
40.8
41. 5
37. 1
38.1
37.1
36.4
33.6
33. 1
31.2

100. 0

1931
Jan u a ry _____
F e b ru a ry ____
M arch______
A pril________
M a y ________
Ju n e ________
J u l y .. .. ........ .
A ugust______
Septem ber___
October_____
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber___

Automobiles

100.0

90.8
95.8
99.8
78.3
61.9

91. 6
98. 3
105. 3
75.1
53.4

66.7
66.9
67.8
68.3
68.3
65.3
61.8
60.4
59.3
52.2
51.0
55.5

49.4
61.0
63.5
64.7
65.6
58.0
51.6
49.8
44.3
43.7
43.8
45.7

ploy­
m ent

Pay­
roll
totals

100. 0 100. 0 110000.2
.0
91. 2

69.9
71.5
75.2
76.8
79. 1
74.3
68.8

67.0
65.4
51.7
51. 1
61.6

68.8

73.5
60.4
51.8
49.0
40.4
40.3
41. 2
46.7

Car building
and repairing,
electric-railroad

108.3
95.0
100.4
100.0

Em­

ploy­
m ent

112.7
100.0

99.6

100.0

Pay­
roll
totals

110.1

97.8
100. 5
100.0

83.6
82. 1
84. 1
61.8
36.9

100.9
94.9
91.9
86.9
75.5

101. 1

35.2
38.4
40.9
40. 9
42. 6
40. 0
38.8
37.5
36. 6
33.2
30. 6
27.7

79.7
79.7
79.4
78.9
77. 7
76.5
74. 2
72.5
72.4
72.0
71.7
71.1

77.1
78.3
79.5
77.9
76.2
74.4
70.8
67.9
66.4
67.5

96.2
93.9
87.6
72.7

68.6
68.2

Car building
and repairing,
steam-railroad

Em­

ploy­
m ent

123.8
105.8
100. 6
100.0

90.3
83.5
85. 1
72.9
56.0

63.1
62.1
60.6
59.9
58.2
56. 7
54.7
53.8
52.9
51.4
49.6
49.0

Pay­
roll
totals
120.9
102.8

99.4
100.0

92.3
85.4
92.3
74.8
52.5

58.2
61.5
59.9
59.6
56.9
54.4
50.1
49.3
46.6
45. 5
44.6
43.2

M iscellaneous in d u stries

Y ear and
m onth

Grou p
index

Electrical
Agricultural m achinery, Pianos and
im p lem en ts apparatus,
organs
and supplies

R ubber A utom obile ov. , ...
tires and
Shipbuildboots and
shoes
inner tubes
mg

Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em E m ­ P a y E m ­ P ay­
ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll plov- Pay- ploy­
roll ploy­ roll
m ent to ta ls m ent to ta ls m ent to ta ls m ent to ta ls m ent toroil
ta ls m ent to ta ls m ent to ta ls
1923 average.
1924 average.
1925 average.
1926 average.
1927 average.
1928 average.
1929 average.
1930 average.
1931 average.

90.7
94. li
100.0
99. 5
91. 0
110. 7
94.1
75.1

1931
Jan u a ry .........
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch _____
A pril_______
M a y _______
J u n e _______
J u ly ...............
A ugust_____
S e p te m b e r...
O ctober.........
N o v e m b e r...
D ecem ber__

82.2
81.3
79.4
79.3
78.0
76. 5
73.6
71.0
i 1.2
69.9
69. 3
69.0

m 3


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

98.1
89.0
92.8
100.0
100.9
91.9
112.3
92.7
65.3

101.3 89.8 101.3 97.0
81.2 75.2 95.1 94. 7
93.6 90.8 92.1 92.2
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
91.9 92.2 95.1 95.7
106.8 111.8 93.9 95.9
121.1 125.3 118.3 121.5
92.3 85.6 101. 6 102. 0
47.8 37.4 80.9 71.4

73.1 77.6
73.6 75.8
72.4 66.4
71.9 59.9
72.0 49.7

68.3

63.1
62. 5
57.8
57. 3
55. 7
56. 0

43.9
35.2
31.3
31.0
32.0
34.2
36.8

66.8
66.6
53.7
43.6
36.3
32.0
27.6
24.0
23.2
23.5
24.8
26.7

87.9
87.7
87.0
86.2
84. 3
82.4
79. 7
77.1
77.3
75.6
73.3
72.7

78.8
80.5
80.5
78.9
78.1
73.0
68.9
69.0
64.3
62. 7
61.7
60.5

105.3 94.9 116.7
99.9 96.6 82. 7
98.9 97.8 97.1
100.0 100.0 100.0
90.4 87.4 103. 3
77.1 74.3 101.1
66.6 63.8 97. 6
47.4 41.1 80.2
35.7 26.1 66.3
43.3
42.1
42.4
41.5
39.1
31.8
29.1
34.5
32.2
31.4
30.9
29.8

33.1
30.6
32.5
31.6
27.4
22.9
19.3
23.5
24.7
23.6
21. 7
21.7

107. 2
76. 6
97. 7
100.0
107. 7
101 0
99. 3
74. 2
50.0

69.7 54. 7
68.1 47. 4
55.8 34. 9
61.7 43. 9
63. 5 45. 6
66.2 48.1
67.0 51.1
62.4 51. 8
69.5 57.1
69. 5 57. 0
72.4 54. 9
69.8 53.0

91.1 88.2 108.6 103.0
88.6 88.1 90.2 88.8
102. 2 100.4 92.
90.3
100.0
100.0

100. 0 100.0

97.3 98.2 104.8 105.8
103.3 105.7 82,
83.0
104.1 101.8 105.3 108.1
77.6 73.4 114. 116.4
68.6 57.6 95.8 88.0
68.
68.1

68.3
69.0
72.5
73.3
71.1
69.4
67.3
65.5
65.1
64.9

59.0 103.7 98.3
60.9 100.3 96.2
63.3 97.6 92.3
65.1 100.3 94.9
69.4 98.2 96.6
70.5 98.0 89.8
60.2 94.8 84.0
58.0 88.9 81.4
48.1 90.5 77.4
47.1 89.8 82.0
43.5 93. 3 80.0
46.1 93.9 83.3

435

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
MONTHLY INDEXES 1926 - 1931.

'

M O N TH LY

AVERAGE.

1926=100.

EMPLOYMENT

105

1926
,.!•***
100
19317

\

/ '
192.9

95

95

'V ~ - -

.
'l 9 2 8

-------- —

—

\

•-

90

90

---

193^
65

65

\ v.
80

80
^**'V
V

75

\

—V .
1931

75

\
-v -----

70

70

s
\
___

65

65

60

60

55

55

v SO

50
JAN .

FEB.

MAR.


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

APR.

MAY

JUNE JULY

AUG. SEPT

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

436

m onthly

labor

MANUFACTURING
MONTHLY INDEXES
M O N TH LY

AVERAGE.

r e v ie w

INDUSTRIES
1926-1931.
1926=100.

PAY-ROLL T O TA LS

I OS

192 9

I OO

95

90

1930

as

80

75

70

65

60

55

JAN

FEB


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

MAR.

APR. MAY

JUNE JULY

AUG, SEPT

OCT,

NOV,

DEC.

SO

437

TREND OP EMPLOYMENT
T i m e W o rk e d in M a n u f a c tu r i n g I n d u s tr ie s in D e c e m b e r , 1931

as to working time in December were received from 12,401
establishments in 64 manufacturing industries. Two per cent of these
establishments were idle, while 49 per cent were operating on a full­
time basis, and 49 per cent were operating part time.
An average of 87 per cent of full-time operation in December was
shown by reports received from operating establishments included
in this tabulation. In the establishments reporting part-time opera­
tion, the average percentage of full-time operation was 73 per cent.
These percentage hgures show no change in operating time from the
percentages shown in the previous month’s compilation.
R epo rts

T a ble 7.—P R O P O R T IO N O F F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A NUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S

BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN D E C E M B E R , 1931
Per cent of estab­
lishm ents in
w hich employ­
ees worked

Establishm ents
reporting

Average per cent of
full tim e reported
by—

Industry
Total Per cent
num ber
idle

Food a n d k in d red p ro d u cts. ________ _

Slaughtering and m eat packing
Confectionery---------- ------- -- ----------Ice C ream _______ _____ _
. . ----F lo u r______________ . . _________ _
. . . . .
------Baking ________ . . .
Sugar refining, cane
_ __________

Textiles a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts—

___ . . .

C otton goods______________ _________
Hosiery and k n it goods... ----------------Silk goods------------- -- ---------- . . .
W oolen a n d worsted g o o d s .------- -------___________
C arpets and rugs
D yeing and finishing textiles
C lothing, m en ’s___________ ___ ___
Shirts a n d collars__________ ___ ___
Clothing, w om en’s_______ __________
M illinery and lace goods . ---------------

1

1,710
167
266
233
388
644
12

1, 997

476
308
236
173
23
123
246
75
. 239
98

(9

3

3

58

0)

8
7
8
2

54
59
72
53
39
45
53
56
69
58

2

22

1
1
1

4

-----

1, 671

Iron and steel________ _____________
Cast-iron p ip e ... . _____________ . Structural-iron w o rk ... . . ----------F ound ry and m achine-shop products—
H ardw are
_____
M achine tools_______________ . . . . . .
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater
heating ap p aratu s_____________ _____
Stoves_____ ____________ ____________

139
32
154
942
64
122
98
120

2

L u m b e r a n d its p ro d u cts___ . __ -------

1,122

2
3

Iro n a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts

Lum ber, saw m ills_____ . . . . . . .
Lum ber, m illw ork__________ . ----F u rn itu re .- __________ ___________

L eath er a n d its p r o d u c t s ___. . . .

Leather
_____
Boots a n d shoes______________________

P ap er a n d p r in tin g .. .

. . .
Paper and p u lp ___________ _ ___ ____
Printin g , new spapers-------------------------

C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts

. _____
Chemicals— ____ ____________________
Fertilizers___________________________
Petroleum refining___________________

1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
9 6 9 5 7 ° — 3 2 -------1 4


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

466
303
353

370

121
249

1,545

313
264
573
395

349
131
151
67

75
77
65
65
66
89
50

1

5
9
1
1
2

1

1
1

1
2

1

3

2

1
3

All oper­ Establish­
ments
ating
estab­
operating
lishm ents p a rt tim e

P a rt
tim e

Full
tim e

24
23
35
34
32
11
50

39

45
39
27
43
61
55
39
37
23
40

77

95

98
93
94
91
98
90

91

88
92
95
89
83
87
90
92
93
91

73

79

90
'.9
83
71
80
81

76

73
80
81
75
72
77
77
81
72
78

66

24
9
27
24
17
16

71
81
71
75
83
82

77
62
82
73
70
73

69
57
75
65
64
68

11
15

88
83

67
72

62
67

29

24
25
39

36

46
31

58

34
44
56
89

66

62
60
91

69

73
74
60

62

54
67

42

64
56
44
11

32

37
37
9

78

75
79
82

82

87
80

91

82
88
92
99

93

92
91
99

69
67
71
71

72

75
71

79

73
79
82
90

78
79
77

86

438
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
7.—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S
B Y E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN D E C E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued

E stablishm ents
reporting

Per cent of estab­
lishm ents in
w hich employ­
ees worked

Average per cent of
full tim e reported
by—

In d u stry
Total Per cent
num ber
idle

S to n e , clay , a n d g lass p r o d u c ts ________
C em ent_______ _ . . . ...........................
Brick, tile, and terra co tta____________
P o ttery ________ _ _ ___ _ . _____ . . .
Glass________________________________

695
83
371
100
141

M e ta l p ro d u c ts , o th e r t h a n Iro n a n d
s te e l___ _____ _ ______________________
Stam ped and enameled w are_____
Brass, bronze, and copper products____

207
73
134

T o b a c c o p r o d u c ts ____ _ __ _ ______
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuffCigars and cigarettes_________________

207
24
183

V ehicles fo r la n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n _______
A utom obiles__ . . . ______________ . .
Carriages and wagons__ _________
Car building and repairing, electric-railroad
________ __ __________ _
C ar building and repairing, steam railroad___________________ ______ _____

1,073
168
40

M isc e lla n e o u s i n d u s t r i e s - .. _______ .
A gricultural im plem ents__________ . .
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and
supplies______ _____________ _____
Pianos and organs _ ______ . ________
R ubber boots and shoes____ _______
Autom obile tires and inner tubes___
Shipbuilding-____________ ___________

407
75
169
41
7
34
81

n d u s trie s a d d e d in 1929 a n d 1930_______
R a d io __________________________
R ay o n ___________________ ______ _
A ircraft_____________________________
Jew elry__ ________________ ____
P a in t and varnish___ _________ ____
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes,
tires, and inner t u b e s __
. . . . .
Beet sugar_____________ _. ________
Beverages. _ ____________ _______ _
Cash registers________________________
Typew riters____________ _______

1,048
33
10
33
137
334

T o ta l_________ _________ _____ _

0)

100
45
292
50
14
12, 401

All oper­ Establish­
ating
m ents
estab­
operating
lishm ents p a rt tim e

44
69
35
22
71

40
8
45
71
23

85
97
80
78
95

68
72
65
72
79

1

29
27
30

71
71
70

80
81
80

72
74
71

4

40
42
40

56
58
56

87
88
87

77
79
77

1
5

48
38
35

52
62
60

88
84
84

77
74
74

391
474

P a rt
tim e

16
23
20
7
6

4

0)

Full
tim e

70

30

95

82

34

66

85

77

2
5

31
31

67
64

84
82

77
74

1

18
27
43
12
69

81
73
57
88
27

82
83
90
77
95

78
76
82
74
82

60
70
40
76
45
58

40
30
60
21
55
42

89
95
90
95
85
90

73
84
83
76
73
75

1
2

46
93
67
56
57

53
4
33
44
43

87
98
90
88
82

77
65
68
73
54

2

49

49

87

73

0)

4
(')
3
1

0)

1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.

E m p lo y m en t in N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g In d u strie s in D ecem b er,
1931

I N THEfollowing table are presented data for 14 groups of nonmanufacturing

industries, the totals of which also appear in the summary table of employ­
ment and pay-roll totals.
The retail trade group reported large gains in both employment and earnings,
from November to December, reflecting the Christmas trade, and the crude
petroleum groups also reported gains in both items. The bituminous coal mining
industry reported a slight increase in number of workers, coupled with a decrease
of 4.2 per cent in employee’s earnings, while the telephone and telegraph group
reported a decrease of 0.5 per cent in employment combined with an increase in
pay-roll totals of 3.3 per cent. The remaining 10 groups reported losses in both
employment and earnings over the month interval, the decreases in employment
ranging from 0.5 per cent in the wholesale trade group to 33 per cent in the
canning and preserving group.

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

439

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T h e level of em ploym en t an d p ay-roll to ta ls in each of th ese 14 groups in
D ecem ber, 1931, was considerably below th e level of th e corresponding m o n th of
1930. L aundries rep o rte d th e le a st change in em p lo y m en t o ver th e y e a r in te rv a l,
4 9 p e r cent, w hile th e g re a te st decline was show n in th e canning a n d p reserving
in d u stry w hich registered a dro p of 33.9 p e r cen t in n u m b e r of w orkers over th e
12-m onth period. D ecreases in em plo y m en t over th e y e a r in terv al, ranging
from 19.2 p er cen t to 27 p er cent, w ere rep o rte d in a n th ra c ite m ining, q u arry in g
an d nonm etallic m ining, crude petro leu m producing, a n d m etalliferous m ining.
T he decreases in pay-ro ll to ta ls in these 14 groups over th e 12-m onth period
were, w ith one exception (telephone a n d te le g ra p h ), m ore pro n o u n ced th a n th e
declines in em ploym ent.
T able 1 —C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M 4N U F A C TU R IN G t E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R ,
n t P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E O V ER A Y E A R IN T E R V A L , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S, D E C E M B E R , 1931

Industrial group

E stab ­
lish­
ments
report­
ing in
both
No­
vem­
ber
and
D e­
cem­
ber,
1931

lbO
------------A nthracite - - B itum inous-------------------------- 1,274
M etalliferous m ining _ ---246
Q uarrying and nonmetallic
"m ining --------- --------------787
C rude petroleum producing—
274
Telephone and telegraph_____ 8, 066
Power, light, and w a ter,__
3, 371
Electric railroad operation and
m aintenance, exclusive of car
496
shops __ -- - - --- ---- -2, 709
W holesale____ -- -11, 448
R etail___________ ___
2, 338
H otels__
- -----889
Canning and p re s e rv in g ------861
Laundries .
- ------------D yeing and cleaning . . . . — 362

Pay-roll totals

Em ploym ent

Per cent of
change

Per cent of
change
N um ber
on pay
roll,
Decem­
ber, 1931

Nov.
to
Dec.,
1931

Dec.,
1930,
to
Dec.,
1931

A m ount of
pay roll
(1 week) N ov.
Decem­
to
ber, 1931 Dec.,
1931

Dec.,
1930,
to
Dec.,
1931

Index num ­
bers, Decem­
ber, 1931
(average
1929=100)

E m ­ P ay ­
ploy­ roll
m ent totals

- 1 .4 -2 1 .2
- 4 . 2 -3 2 .7
- 2 . 2 -4 2 .7

80.6
83. 2
59.1

75.4
57. 5
44.8

- 9 .1 -2 3 . 2
+ 1 .0 -2 4 .8
- 0 .5 - 9 .3
- 1 .1 -1 2 .5

442, 672 -1 4 .8 -3 8 .4
503,501 + 5 .6 -2 8 .9
8,817, 525 + 3.3 —8. 5
7, 292,200 - 2 .2 -1 4 . 2

67.4
65. 7
86. 6
95. 6

53. 4
61. 7
93. 7
96. 7

134,859 - 2 . 0 -1 0 .0
75,433 - 0 .5 - 9 . 0
424, 571 +16.8 - 7 . 7
144, 820 - 2 .1 -1 0 . 1
25,145 -3 3 .0 -3 3 .9
56, 593 - 1 . 0 - 4 .9
11,241 - 5 .8
- 7' 2

4, 209, 878 - 2 .4 -1 2 .2
2, 229, 337 - 2 .4 -1 4 .8
9,066, 368 +10.2 -1 2 .6
2,259,421 - 2 . 2 -1 7 . 6
402, 870 -2 3 .3 -3 5 .7
996,147 —1.9 —11. 4
227,163 - 9 . 1 -1 4 .9

84.7
86.6
89.4
92.0
80.9
0)
0)

83. 4
83.6
86.6
85.4
65. 6
0)
(>)

108,857
198, 538
31, 565

- 4 .4 -1 9 . 2 $3,101,869
+0.1 -1 2 .2 3, 320,508
660,154
- 3 . 0 -2 7 .0

23,998
15,926
292,772
230, 884

1 D a ta no t available.

In d e x e s

of

E m p lo y m e n t

an d

P a y -R o ll T o t a ls
I n d u s trie s

fo r

N o n m a n u f a c tu r in g

I ndex num bers of em p lo y m en t an d pay -ro ll to tals, b y m onths, fo r th e period
from Ja n u a ry , 1930, to D ecem ber, 1931, fo r 12 of th e 14 n o n m an u factu rin g in d u s­
tries appearing in th e preceding table, are show n in T ab le 2. Index num bers
for th e laundering an d th e dyeing a n d cleaning groups are n o t p resented, as d a ta
for th e index base y ear (1929) are n o t available.


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

[M onthly average, 1929=100]

A nthracite B itum inous M etallifer­
mining
coal mining ous m ining

Quarrying
and nonmetallic
mining

C rude
petroleum
producing

Telephone
and tele­
graph

Power,
light, and
w ater

Y ear and m onth

Operation
and m ain­
tenance
of electric
railroads 1

Wholesale
trade

R etail
trade

Hotels

440

T able 2.—IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S F O R NONM ANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO D E C E M B E R , 1931

C anning
and pre­
serving

E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P ay ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­ E m ­ P a y ­
ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll ploy­ roll
m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals
1930
Janu ary . _________ 102.1 105.8 102.5 101.4
F e b ru a ry ____________ 106.9 121. 5 102.4 102.1
M arch _______________ 82.6 78. 5 98.6 86.4
A pril________________ 84.1 75.0 94.4 81.7
M a y _____
__ _____ 93.8 98.8 90. 4 77.5
J u n e ________________
90.8 94.3 88.4 75.6
J u l y . . . ______________ 91.6 84.0 88.0 68.9
A ugust______________
80. 2 78.8 89. 2 71. 1
S ep tem b er....................
93.8 91.6 90. 5 74.9
October___ __________
99.0 117.2 91.8 79.4
97.2 98.0 92. 5 79. 1
N ovem ber................
D ecem ber.. _______ _ 99. 1 100.0 92.5 77.7

Average........... .
1931
Jan u a ry __________ . . .
F eb ru ary . __________
M arch _________ _____
A pril____ _ ______
M ay. . . .
______
Ju n e ___ _________ _
J u ly _________________
A ugust____ _____
Septem ber.......... ............
October___________
N ovem ber___________
D ecember________

Average____ . . .

95.7
92.3
90.9
89.3
87.5
84.6
80.5
79.0
78.1
77.2
72.8
70.1

92.7
92.5
90.8
88.3
85. 6
81. 6
71.9
71. 0
69.9
68. 6
63.4
59.9

79.6
79.8
83.0
87.4
90.8
90.3
89.9
89.3
87.7
84.7
78.3
70.2

71.9
73.5
80.0
85.4
90.2
90.9
85.5
85.8
82.5
79.3
66.8
59.9

92. 7
90.8
89.3
86.8
89.8
90.2
89.9
87.7
85.0
85.2
83.6
77.4

94.0 101.6 105.1 99.6 99.7
88.6 100. 2 101.9 98.8 100.4
91.3 99.4 105.8 99.7 102.1
86.6 98.9 103.4 100. 7 102.6
85.4 99.7 103. 2 103. 4 104. 5
87.1 99.8 103.4 104.6 107.8
88.5 100.0 106.6 105.9 106.7
86.0 98.8 102.5 106. 4 106.6
84.0 96.8 102. 2 105.2 106. 1
82.6 94.5 100. 9 104.8 105.6
80.0 93.0 97.9 103.4 103.7
77.2 91. 6 101.3 103.2 106.3

97.1
95.1
94.4
95.2
95.2
94.8
95. 3
92.9
91.8
91.0
89. 3
88.8

97.8
95.7
95.4
97. 1
96.0
97.0
95.6
92. 1
90.5
88.9
87.7
88.6

100.0 100.0 98.9 99.7
98.5 98.3 94.4 96.0
97.7 99.7 93.9 . 95.5
97. 3 97.9 97.3 97.5
96.8 97. 4 96.7 97.3
96. 5 98.6 93.9 96.8
96.0 96.0 89.0 91. 7
95.0 93.6 85.6 87.6
94.8 93.6 92.0 92.4
94. 2 92.9 95.5 95.1
92.6 91.0 98.4 96.8
92.0 91.3 115. 1 107.7

100.4
102.4
102.4
100. 1
98.0
98.0
101. 3
101.5
100.1
97.5
95.2
93.5

100.3
103.8
104.4
100.3
98.4
98.1
99.8
98.6
97.1
95. 5
93.6
91.5

46.1
45.7
49.7
74.8
65. 7
83.0
126.3
185.7
246.6
164. 7
96. 7
61.6

50. 3
51. 5
50.8
72.6
66.9
81. 5
112.7
172.0
214.8
140.0
82.9
57. 4

98.5 103.9

96.1

93.4

95.3

93.4

81.3

83.2

78.0

84.3

79.3

87.4

85.9

97.9 102.9 103.0 104.3

93.4

93.5

96.0

95.9

90.6
89.5
82.0
85.2
80. 3
76. 1
65.1
67.3
80.0
86.8
283.5
279.8
280.5

89.3
101.9
71. 3
75.2
76. 1
66.7
53. 7
56.4
64.9
91. 1
279.5
278.4

93.9
91. 5
88.8
85.9
82.4
78.4
76.4
77.0
80.4
81.3
81. 1
81.2
83.2

73.3
68. 3
65.2
58.6
54.4
52.4
50.4
50. 6
53.6
56. 2
54.6
52.3

68.3
65. 3
63. 5
63.9
62. 4
60.0
56.2
55.8
55.5
53.8
52.8
51.2

71.5
70.0
73.2
66.3
64. 7
62.7
59.2
56.3
55.2
54.4
52.0
54.9

61.7

86.9
86.6
86.4
86.8
85.9
85. 3
85.6
84.8
84.0
82.7
81.5
79.9
84.7

89. 5
88.2
87.4
87.4
87. 1
87. 1
86.8
86. 5
86.1
85. 2
84. 1
83.7

65.7

90.5 96.3
89.2 94.8
88.6 97.9
88. 1 95.0
87. 4 94. 1
86.9 95.0
86. 6 93.3
85.9 92.3
85.0 92. 1
84. 1 91.6
83. 5 89.7
83. 1 92.7
86.6 93.7

85.6
87. 1
88. 1
86.6
85. 1
84.8
83. 3
81.9
81.2
79.0
79.7
77.8

59.1

50.4
54.4
58.2
62.6
62.3
60. 1
57.3
55.1
51.2
48.7
43. 3
36.9
53.4

74.8
73.2
72. 2
69.8
67.8
65.0
65. 3
62.4
61. 2
60.4
57.6
58.2

57.5

55.0 64. 4
54.6 66. 6
52.8 70.0
51.4 76.1
49.3 75.0
46. 1 72.3
41.3 71.0
40. 2 68.9
40.0 66.6
37.4 64.5
35. 1 59.3
34.3 53.9
44.8 67.4

83.4

86.6

87.5 90.0 89.4 95.0 91.0
88.4 87. 1 86. 7 96. 8 93.7
89.1 87.8 87.5 96.8 93.4
85.2 90.1 88. 3 95.9 89.9
84. 7 89.9 88.0 92.5 87.7
84. 1 89. 1 87.6 91.6 85.4
83. 3 83.9 83.3 93. 3 85.2
82. 1 81.8 80. 3 92.8 83.8
81.4 86.6 83. 5 90. 6 81.9
79.9 89:8 84. 6 88. 5 79.7
79. 7 90.9 85. 4 85.9 77.1
77.8 106.2 94. 1 84. 1 75.4
83.6 89.4 86.6 92.0 85.4

75.4

99.2 98.6
97.8 99. 7
96.7 102.4
97.1 97.6
97.6 98.7
97.2 98.3
96.7 97.4
95.9 96.2
94.7 94.3
92.7 93. 2
91. 3 93.3
90. 3 91.2
95.6 96.7

i N ot including electric-railroad car building an d repairing see vehicles group, m anufacturing industries, Table 1, et seq.

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

95.9

96.2

99.2

2 Revised.

48.9 46. 1
48.3 48. 6
53.0 50. 3
59.6 57. 1
56.0 56.0
70.6 58.6
102.2 74. 2
142.9 104. 7
180. 1 129.4
108. 1 77. 6
60.8 48. 1
40. 7 36.9
80.9 65.6

§
O
w
t-1
«1
>
w
o
w
<
HH
3

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

441

T rend of E m p lo y m en t in D ecem b er, 1931, by S ta te s
N T H E following ta b le are show n th e flu ctu atio n s in em p lo y m en t a n d e arn ­
ings in D ecem ber, 1931, as com pared w ith N ovem ber, in certain in d u strial
groups, b y S tate to tals. These ta b u la tio n s have been p rep ared from infor­
m atio n secured directly from rep o rtin g estab lish m en ts a n d from d a ta supplied by
cooperating S tate agencies. T he flu ctu atio n s in em plo y m en t a n d earnings over
th e m o n th in terv al in th e com bined to ta l of th e 15 in d u strial groups included in
th is m o n th ly survey are presented, to g eth er w ith th e changes in th e m a n u fa c tu r­
ing, public u tility , hotel, wholesale tra d e , re ta il tra d e , b itu m in o u s coal m ining,
crude petroleum producing, q u arry in g a n d nonm etallic m ining, m etalliferous m in­
ing, laundries, a n d dyeing an d cleaning groups. In presen tin g d a ta concerning th e
public u tility group, th e to ta ls of th e telephone a n d telegraph, w ater-light-pow er,
a n d electric-railroad operation groups have been com bined a n d a re p resented
as one group in th is S ta te com pilation. D ue to th e ex trem e seasonal flu ctu atio n s
in th e canning an d preserving in d u stry , a n d th e fa c t t h a t d u rin g ce rta in m o n th s
th e a c tiv ity in th is in d u stry in a n u m b er of S tates is negligible, d a ta for th is
in d u stry are n o t presented separately. T he n u m b er of em ployees a n d th e am o u n t
of w eekly earnings in N ovem ber a n d D ecem ber, as rep o rted b y id en tical e sta b ­
lishm ents in th is in d u stry , a re included, how ever, in th e ta b u la tio n of “ all g ro u p s”
b y S tates.
_
_
"As th e a n th ra c ite m ining in d u stry is confined en tirely to th e S ta te of P en n sy l­
vania, th e changes rep o rted in th is in d u stry in th e su m m ary ta b le are th e flu ctu ­
atio n s in th is in d u stry b y S ta te to ta l.
W here th e id e n tity of a n y re p o rtin g com pany w ould be disclosed b y th e p u b li­
catio n of a S ta te to ta l for a n y in d u stria l group, figures fo r th e group do n o t a p p e a r
in th e se p arate in d u stria l group ta b u la tio n , b u t h a v e been included in th e S tate
to ta ls fo r “ all groups.” D a ta a re n o t p resen ted fo r a n y in d u stria l group w here
th e b u re a u ’s rep resen tatio n covers less th a n th re e establishm ents.

I


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

442

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

t0 F 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 ID E N T IC A L ESTA B k T ? ^ ^ ? ^ T T ^ i i i > i r0V E M B E :R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, B Y S T A T E T O T A L S, FO R 11 IN ­
D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D T O T A L O P A L L G R O U P S C O M B IN E D

[Figures in italics are not compiled b y th e B ureau of L abor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating S tate organizations]
T o tal—all groups
State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
m ents

A labam a..
A rkansas,.
A rizo n a-..
California.
Colorado..

466

439
375

1,317

542

ConnecticutD elaw are___
Florida_____
Georgia____
Id a h o ............

986
130
514
603
156

Illinois___
I n d ia n a ...
Iow a_____
K ansas___
K entucky.
Louisiana.........
M ain e...............
M ary lan d___...
M assachusetts.
M ichigan_____

1,385
1,404
1,203
656
946
473
525

M anufacturing

N um ber Per
A m ount
N um ­
on pay
of pay roll Per ber of
cent estab­
roll D e­ cent
(1
week)
of
of
cember, change
December
change lish­
1931
1931
m ents
51, 863

14, 743
11, 664

207,070
35,162

-0 .5

$695,422

-1 .8

282,466

-1 .1

-0 .3

- 2 .3

130,155 - 0 .9
8,596 - 1 . 8
21, 716 -1 2 .2
61,984 - 1 .7
8,805 -1 2 .3

303,044

+0.9

131,128
49, 103
30, 371
60,908

+ 0 .5
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .1
- 3 .6

31, 636
35, 797

-0 .7
-2 .9
-0

689 82,184
7,612 346,305

- 0 .6

241, 940

5,413,811

810, 675

+ 0 .6
- 0.4
- 2 .6

-2 .3

- 3 .1

2, 686,187 - 2 .1
180, 089 - 2 .1
452, 572 - 8 .4
915,498 - 0 .8
183,909 -1 3 .0

7,333,557

+1.2

2, 880, 545
1,085, 996
686, 675
1, 025, 692

+ 1 .7
+ 1 .9
+ 0 .1
- 7 .3

518,496
711, 864

- 1 .8
+ 7 .3

1,696,130
8,234,604

-2 .0
- 1.4

1,441

288, 867 +11.9

7,044,426

+ 5 .7

M innesota.
MississippiM issouri__
M o n tan a__
N e b ra sk a ...

1, 095
397
1,137
285
660

66, 950
11, 251
111, 230
8, 653
26, 629

- 3 .9
- 3 .6
+ 3 .3
- 3 .3
+ 2 .9

1, 566, 048
155,997
2, 528,221
242, 031
625, 501

- 3 .7
+ 0 .9
+ 3 .8
+ 0 .7
+ 1 .8

N ew Jersey._
N ew M exico.
N e v ad a _____
N ew Y o r k ...

391
1,460
138
82
3, 234

27, 279
211,319
4,857
1,160
533, 659

N o rth Carolina___
N o rth D ak o ta____
O hio____________
O klahom a_______
Oregon.................... .

1,036
292
3, 257
595
575

P ennsylvania. ._
R hode Is la n d ...
South C aro lin aSouth D a k o ta ...
Tennessee_____

193

33, 247

71

2,543

175
1,080

129
588
49
146
277
41

1,065

607
488
185
163
181
165

9,397

117,691

13,939

A m ount
of pay roll Per
(1 week) cent
of
Decern
ber, 1931

-0.9

$445,219

-7.3

62, 218

-2.9
-5.6
-9.1

+ 1 .5

-2.8

130,986

- 9 .6

Ì,011,744

-5 .9

311,904

-1.8

-2.8
+1. 2

109,348
2,112,458
5, 680 + 3 .7
119, 655
12,384 -2 4 .5
223,276
47, 747 - 0 .7
585, 601
4, 780 - 21.0
91, 284

188,817

-2 3 .1
-

+4- 4

+1.2

+ 0 .3
+ 0 .5
-5 .8

18, 515
28,863

- 4 .4
+0 9

271, 744
543,298

329 66,309 -1.8 1,073,847
1,057 161,916 - 1 .7 3, Ó21,108
469 186,386 +10.5 4,793,118

2.2

-2 3 .9

+ 2.1 4,084,548
2, 089,452
565,677
401, 904
320,836

96,122
26, 547
17,125
18,927

11.2

-

+ 2.6

- 0 .9
- 0 .3
- 4 .2

- 5 .7
+12.4

-0 .9
-1 .9
+6.5

286
78
528
64
131

32, 728
6,755
60,444
3,069
13,899

-4 .2
752,224
-1 .5
78,530
+ 4 .4 1,270,897
- 7 .8
69,193
+ 4 .3
323,357

- 3 .7
+ 0 .5
+ 7 .9
- 6 .7

-2 .2
483,068
- 1 .1 5,206, 343
- 2 .4
99, 691
- 4 .6
35, 208
+ 0 .9 13,921, 795

+ 3 .6
146
- 2 .3
2 759
+ 0 .6
23
- 7 .1
14
+ 0 .3 21,719

23,197

-2.2

+ 5 .3

82,387
3,592
362,485
26, 958
28,478

- 0 .5
- 1 .9
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .5
- 3 .5

1,101,448
88, 740
7,748, 678
658, 358
642,040

- 0 .8
- 3 .0
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .5
- 3 .5

438
63
1,479
101
182

257, 794
8,380
16,470

+1.0

3,912
549
405
226
774

635,994
55, 378
49, 286
6,118
66, 784

- 0 .9 13, 788, 402
- 0 .6 1,172, 617
+ 0 .7
549, 758
+ 1 .2
153, 546
1, 051,376
-0 )

-0 .2
+ 3 .2
- 1 .1
+ 4 .1
- 0 .3

1,883
269
180
47
279

355, 620
42,154
44, 543
2,293
45, 669

-1.0
-2.1
+ 0 .5
0)
- 1 .3

594

67,895

- 0 .6

-1 .1

295

38, U7

T exas___
U ta h ___
V erm ont.
V irginia..
W ash in g to n ...
W est VirginiaW isconsin___
W yom ing____

N um ber Per
on pay
roll D e­ cent
of
cember- change
1931

256
340
849
875
728

1,201

150

15, 647
10,132
65,127
53, 737
87,194

143,908
7,258

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 Includes laundries.
3 N o change.


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

- 4 .1
- 1 .1
- 0 .8
- 6 .8
-1 .6

-0 .1
- 0 .4

1, 730, 643
362, 767
216,861
1,158, 599

1, 230, 607
1, 656, 760

2,784,1®2
213, 788

+ 1 .7
+ 1 .3
- 2 .4
- 5 .5
- 6 .1

-1 .7

-3 .3

75
121
222
270
192

852
26

188,763
516
197

356,731

75,373
1,211

- 4 . 0 4,615,145
- 2 .3
8,596
-9 .6
7,418

-1.6

8,799,256

- 2 .7

978, 661
33,896
5,457,008
- 0 .7
200, 257
- 5 .6
326, 244

+ 2.1

6,909,823
846,907
471, 550
49, 770
690, 597

-

0.8

- 3 .3
- 3 .5
-

6.1

+ (')
+ 3 .7
- 0 .9
+11.9

-1.6

-1 .7 1,003, Oil

- 8 .5
- 1 .3
-1 .9

26,062
33, 222

- 7 .7

1,913

-4 .6

- 7 .7
- 9 .2

- 0 .5
- 2 .5

5,029
5,710
44,195

109,520

+ 2.6

379, 383

-1.0
-0.2
-1.2

111, 883
120, 214
774,609
525,778
712,076

,021,568

53, 902

- 6 .3
+ 0.2

- 3 .7
11.2
+ 2 .0
+ 0 .6
- 10.8
-

443

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

/'i /'iutt) \ uTonisi m r Ti'iVTPT O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L E STA B ° L M H M E N T S IN ^ N O V E M B eT a N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, BY S T A T E T O T A L S F O R 11 IN ­
D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D T O T A L O F A L L G R O U P S C O M B IN E D C ontinued
'Figures in italics are not compiled b y th e Bureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
6
by cooperating S tate organizations]
R etail trade

Wholesale trade

State

A labam a. A rkansas—
A rizona. —
CaliforniaC olorado..

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

N um ber Per
on pay cent
roll D e­
of
cember, change
1931
649

18
22

203

23

'708

5%

1 033
93
766
394
130

+ 0 .5
(3)

-1 .2
- 0 .4

- 1 .3
- 4 .8
- 0 .9
- 3 .4
- 4 .2

711, 423

+17.2

4,797 +26.5

93,457

+18.2

123
14
51
39
21

6,007
235
1,297
2,917
543

+19.4
+12.4
+ 11.7
+17.8
+ 7 .5

119,746
3,785
31, 783
46,991
10,446

+ 7.1
+ 6.3
+13.8
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .8

57

16,988

+2.7

442,703

47

35,770
39', 049
20,495
14, 580

- 2 .9
- 4 .5
- 4 .8
+ 2 .1

302
127
44
198

—1. 2
-4 . 0

17, 349
10, 328

- 4 .4
- 0 .9

59
68

59
40
27
25

1 191
1* 272
' 741
615

—1. 3
-1 . 8
+0. 5
-3 .8

L ouisian a.........
M aine________
M arylan d------M assachusetts .
M ichigan-------

32
14

744
387
1 8 If.

23; 464 -1 0 .1

-0 .2
-1.1

11,818
457, 855

-1 .0
-1 .1

+ 7 .4

33,992 +25.7

82

25
4 ,m

3,159 +12.5

A m ount
Per
cf pay roll cent
(1 week)
of
Decem­
ber, 1931 change
$51,168
44» 45#
29, 098

42,684. +3.1

21

517

- 7 .4

-0 .5

N um ber Per
on pay cent
roll D e­
of
cember, change
1931

+u. 4

37
1 153
182

-0 .3

Illinois-----In d ia n a ----Iow a_____
K ansas----K entuck y ..

15

5,804

129,137

+ 1 .7

35,417
1,882
2l', 797
lb 705
i, 125

60
9
53
32
9

13
682

$19, 200

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

+ 0 .6
—1. 1
- 0 .9
—1. 5
- 6 .5

ConnecticutD elaw are—
Florida_____
Georgia------Id a h o ______

1 KOlf.

A m ount
Per
of pay roll cent
(1 week)
of
December, change
1931

2,082

1,704 +13.6

—0.9

+ 4 .4

+0.2

8,101 +18.5
4,297 + 16.4
1,720 +16.9
1,834 + 3 .5

152, 902
96,943
29, 929
37,101

+12.9
+35.2
-0
- 0 .4

4,177 +12.3
1, 309 +10.8

65, 323
26,065

+ 8.1
+ 5 .6

16,154 +24.3

364,824

+15. 2

112,327
6,505 +24-7
68,845 + 8.S 1,547,934

+9.7
+5.7

62

1,542

- 0 .2

'52; 747

- 5 .1

157

M innesota.
MississippiM issouri—
M o n tan a .—
N ebrask a-.

66
5
57
12
40

4,166
133
5,391
228
1,084

+ 0 .6
+ 0 .8
- 0 .1
- 3 .4
+ 0 .6

125, 278
2,919
143,751
8, 256
31,437

- 1 .6
+ 0 .3
- 4 .3
+ 1 .4
- 1 .3

351
72
144
22
90

9,639
595
8,657
496
1,872

- 5 .7
+14.4
+19. 0
+12.7
+10.3

178,688
7,394
175, 097
11,983
37,753

+ 1.6
+5. 6
+ 7.8
+ 2.4
+ 5.7

N ew H am pshireN ew Jersey-------N ew M exico-----N ev ad a________
N ew Y ork______

15
34
6

185
810
50

—4.1
+ 0 .6
0

5, 332
25, Oil
1,776

- 8 .0
+ 0 .2
- 6 .4

50
410
10

740 +17.1
11, 617 +30.6
130 +21.5

13,300
259, 778
2,371

+ 7.1
+18.8
+ 8.3

206

6,087

- 0 .9

210,290

+ 0 .4

227

64,128 +21.6 I, 561, 843

+12. 2

13,143
7,452
127, 239
28,112
46,420

- 3 .7
- 8 .4
- 1 .2
- 3 .5
- 3 .4

445
11
680
44
66

2,118 + 2 .2
276 + 5.7
35,838 +20.2
1,915 +12.4
2,018 + 9 .4

36,018
5,387
722, 572
45, 330
47, 649

- 0 .6
—0. 5
+13.4
+ 1 .8
+ 1.5

- 3 .2
+ 4 .3
- 0 .8
- 4 .7
- 0 .8

336
146
92
18
70

34,185
5,740
1,051
301
4,996

+15.5
+11.2
+16.8
+15.8
+18.6

720,056
126, 859
12,403
5,417
86, 231

+12.2
+5. 6
+ 6 .3
+ 4 .0
+15.9

-1 .9

56

8,189 +12.5

162,848

N orth Carolina _
N o rth D a k o ta O hio__________
O klahom a_____
Oregon------------

22
16
Ififi
46
57

488
235
4 381
950
1, 525

P ennsylvania. ..
R hode Is la n d .. South CarolinaSouth D a k o ta Tennessee—

149
52
20
7
50

4,082
1, 446
259
125
1,093

- 1 .3
- 8 .7
-0 . 8
+ 0 .3

114, 725
34,749
6,709
4, 210
24', 407

Texas
U ta h ____
V erm ont.
V irg in ia-

60

2 720

+0.9

78,662

W ashington.. .
W est Virginia.
W isconsin___
W yom ing------

94
42
47
9

16
5
41

447
112
1,485

2 512
694

1 SSI

46

1 Includes wholesale trade.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 N o change.


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

(3)

-2 . 5
- 0 .1
- 0 .9
+ 1 .5

(3)

+ 1 .8

13,123
3062
30,101

- 5 .3
- 0 .3
- 0 .8

10
27
367

1,084 +36.5
412 + 7 .3
3,465 +25.3

- 0 .7
—5.1

76,453
22,064

- 4 .9
- 8 .1

143
54

8,151 +25.9
1,249 +20.2

- 2 .1

1,750

- 3 .4

10

- 2 .6
(3)

-2 .0

48,759

-2.1

60

11,252 +20. 5
144

+ 4 .3

+6.9

15, 263
7, 358
61,947

+18.4
+0. 5
+14.0

151,332
22, 649

+16.1
+ 4.9

4,116

—2. 5

184,717

+21.2

444

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B ­
L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, BY S T A T E T O T A L S, F O R 11 IN ­
D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D T O T A L O F A L L G R O U P S C O M B IN E D —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y th e B ureau of L abor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating S tate organizations]
Public utilities

State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
m ents
121

N um ber Per
on pay
roll De­ cent
of
cember, change
1931

A m ount
of pay roll Per
(1 week) cent
of
Decem­
ber, 1931 change

-0 .4

$50, 252

+ 2 .3

25

1,245

-2 .4

$13, 037

- 1 .3

45, 433

+ 2 .8

6,151

-1 .0

436
11, 754
1,267

+ 6 .9
+ 0 .3
- 5 .2

7,461
215, 630
20,297

+14. 7
- 1 .3
-5 .0

1,043 - 2 .1
272 + 0.7
1,276 +47. 2
1, 437 - 0 .5
239 - 7 .4

15,864
3, 770
19,648
15,160
3,808

- 5 .4
- 3 .7
+76.1
+ 0.2
-1 1 .1

136
31
185
182
57

10, 767
1,163
4,541
7,608
754

Illinois_______ . . .
In d ia n a ________ .
Iow a. ----------------K ansas_______ . .
K entucky________

131
433
286
299

59

74, 451

155
173

N um ber Per
on pay
roll D e­ cent
of
cember, change
1931

-0 .8

C onnecticut______
D elaw are.. ..........
Florida_________
G eorgia.______
Idah o____________

39

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
m ents

1,618

208

BO

A m ount
Per
of p ay roll cent
(1 week)
of
December, change
1931

2,210

A labam a______ -A rkansas___ .
A rizona. _____ _ .
California. .
... .
C o lo ra d o _______

65

Hotels

1,507 +10.9
46,115

11, 340
10,843
6,486
7,650
4,851
3,346

Louisiana______
M aine
______
M ary lan d .. . . . .
M assachusetts__
M ichigan______ .

89,
136

M innesota_____ .
M ississippi— . . .
Missouri
. ..
M ontana _ ____.
N ebraska_______

243
198
214
116
301

13,922
2,425
24,529
2,852
6,826

New H a m p sh ire ...
New Jersey__ . .
New M exico. _ .
N evada__ . . . .
New Y ork________

13, 506
49,677

41, 667 +10.8

18

i76, 501

- 1 .1

-9 .7

14
257
34

- 0 .9
-0 .3
0)
- 0 .5
- 0 .5

359,942
33,313
139,684
233, 792
18,628

-0 .2
+ 1 .9
+ 7.1
+ 3 .7
+ 7.9

20
6
44
26
14

-1 .7

3,834,958

- 3 .4

2 61
69
58
34
32

-1 .9

- 1 .9
-2 .8
-1 .2
-3 .4

- 1 .5
-2 .4

1,446,963

307,128
277,677
156,061
192,948
122,125
98, 586

+0.3
-3 .4

366,074
1, 595,970

- 1 .5
- 3 .8
-0 .7
- 2 .5
+ 3 .4

145
269
58
40

N orth C arolina___
N orth D akota____
Ohio. . . . . . . . .
O klahoma_____ .
Oregon______ . .

-4 . 1
-2 .7
+ 0 .1
-2 .0
- 0 .4

20
7

773

10,933
3,054
2,598
958
1,812

+1. 9

- 3 .3

- 2 .7
+ 1 .8
- 3 .1
-0 .7

10,047

200,865

+1.9

-3 .4

39,847
29,891
10, 531
21,869

- 6 .3
- 2 .8
- 4 .6
- 3 .9

2,117 + 3.2
520 -3 8 .1

26, 061
8,082

1,374
5,545

+0.3
-3 .3

19,319
88,415

+ 0.1
-2 2 .9

-6 .3
-1 .8

17
91
75

4, 741

399, 358
55,415
741, 458
96,032
190, 411

-5 .0
+3. 3
- 0 .5
+ 5.9
+ 2 .4

63
23
85
19
39

3, 278
670
4,970
302
1,861

- 2 .5
+ 1 .4
-2 .4
- 3 .8
- 5 .1

47, 519
6,271
68,176
5, 206
24, 382

- 5 .4
- 1 .7
- 1 .1
- 3 .6
- 3 .2

2,469 - 6 .1
24,555 - 0 .9
626 -1 2 .6
384 - 2 .8

6,043

+0.9

73,211
833,804
14, 753
12, 237

-1 .8
+ 1 .8
- 4 .6
- 2 .9

+3.9

7
57
14
10
223

191
3,825
342
130
31,027

- 9 .5
- 8 .7
- 0 .6
- 6 .5
- 2 .6

2,515
60,637
4,392
2, 561
554, 511

-1 4 .1
- 6 .3
+ 1.9
-1 1 . 3
- 0 .9

78
171
470
237
188

2,134
1,272
33,398
6,976
6,187

- 0 .8
-1 .4
-0 . 1
-2 .0
- 1 .1

46, 778
33,651
940, 519
181, 037
182,916

- 0 .1
- 1 .2
- 2 .1
“f"l. 4
+ 0.8

25
21
164
43
43

1,150
410
9,630
942
1,211

- 4 .3
- 6 .2
- 2 .6
- 1 .4
- 3 .4

13,642
5, 049
143, 933
10,463
20, 208

- 2 .2
- 7 .5
- 2 .5
- 2 .4
- 3 .1

P en n sy lv an ia.. . . .
R hode Islan d _____
South Carolina. . _
South D a k o ta ... _.
Tennessee________

675
36
70
127
250

56,252
4,017
1, 795
1,295
5,445

- 1 .4
-1 .9
-5 . 1
+ 3 .3
-1 .3

1,751, 040
126, 387
44,169
35, 244
136,397

- 0.5
- 1.0
- 4.4
+ 2.7
+ 3.5

147
15
17
16
42

9,843
391
592
336
2,556

- 3 .0
+ 7.4
+ 0 .7
- 2 .6
-2 .7

147,051
6,053
5,918
4,554
26,958

- 3 .7
+ 1.7
+0. 7
- 2 .6
- 2 .5

T e x a s . ______ . . .
U tah____________
V erm ont____ _____
Virginia__________

66
122
106

18

8,908

360,989

—S. 8

53

3,867

- 0.7
- 0 .6
- 4 .1
- 8 .6

39,184
9,486
5, 220
28,050

- 1 .5
- 3 .4
- 9 .1

- 4 .0
- 3 .0
—5 1
- 3.7

37,117
8', 964
(4)
3,137

- 3 .6
- 3 .8

W ashington ._ ._
W est V irg in ia ____
W isco n sin _____ .
W y o m in g _______

424

17

207
113

26,120

-3 .5

819, 328

316, 786

1,927
1,088
6,585

- 4 .6
-4 .7
+ (3)

47, 305
28, 571
173,931

10, 531
6, 607

- 0 .9
-2 .8
_ (3)
- 4 .7

384, 644

42

19, 015

47

469

1N o change.
2Includes restaurants.
s Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
4 A m ount of pay roll not reported.


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

+ 0 .4

341,856
191, 762
12,931

+ 1.5

-2 .4
-3 .7
+ 0 .6

+ 2 .0
-3 . 3

—9.9
- 0 .6

18
18
31

69
18
248
12

625
397
2,195
2,436
704

1, 460
184

-4 .4

75, 564.

- 3 .6
-3 .4
- 7 .9

- 3 .5

- 0 .5

445

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B ­
L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, B Y S T A T E T O T A L S , F O R 11 IN ­
D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D T O T A L O F A L L G R O U P S C O M B IN E D —C ontinued
[Figures in italics are no t compiled b y th e B ureau of L abor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating State organizations]
C rude petroleum producing

B itum inous coal m ining
N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
m ents

State

N um ber Per
on pay cent
roll De­
of
cember, change
1931

N um ­
A m ount
Per
of p ay roll cent ber of
estab­
(1 week)
of
lish­
December, change
m ents
1931

-1 .5

$85,674

SI 2 -11.3

4, 737 -15.8

44

6,090

+ 6 .4

134,126 +11.1

S3
52
23
12
155

7,524

-0 .1

155,262

6, 861
2,699
1,363
27,663

+ 3 .1
+ 5 .1
+ 0 .4
-2 .2

177, 766 + 7 .3
63, 436 +23.8
24,153 + 7 .4
406,038 -1 2 .6

IS

1,279

-4 -0

20,304 +18.6

17
11

1,186
1,082

+4. 9
+ 1 .8

26,975
37, 735

+ 2 .1
+ 6 .9

13

2,030

+ 2 .6

42, 666

+ 3 .3

42

C o lo ra d o ._______

4

33

Illinois ___
In d ia n a .. ______ I o w a . ______ -Kansas _
__K ftntuoky
_____

M ary lan d .. . . .

M is s o u ri___
M o n ta n a ... .

-

N ew M exico.. ----

+2.3

66
19

Pennsylvania . . . .

387

12,402 + 4 .1
1, 224 +15.9
56, *86

+ 0 .4

-0 .4

$154, 753

- 4 .2

4

27

+ 3 .8

485

+10.5

1,010
202

+ 2 .7
-1 .0

25,157
4,222

+ 3 .0
+ 4.9

10

176

+ 0 .6

5,401

+ 6 .2

5

42 -1 2 .5

1,281

+ 3 .2

4

56

+ 9 .8

2,107

+ 5 .8

- 3 .1

2,930

- 2 .1

72 -1 2 .2
5,114 + 4 .2

1,310
146,929

- 3 .0
+ 9 .5

- 2 .0

9,675

+ 4 .3

189, 357 - 7 .2
20, 235 +12.1

6
67

-3 +

20

868,173

4, 425

33
8

4

Ohio
_____ O klahom a.. ------

A m ount Per
cf pay roll cent
(1 week)
of
Decem­
ber, 1931 change

- 4 .7

8, 794

Alabama___ _ __
A rkansas,.. . ------

N um ber P er
on pay cent
roll D e­
of
cember, change
1931

94

348

____
_____
- 6 .1

Tennessee_______

21

3,794

+ 0 .3

42,595

U ta h ____________

14

2,604

+ 9 .8

77, 749 +31.7

Virginia________

30

4,879

+ 0 .7

60,366

W ashington
W est Virginia . . .

11
268

1,583
42,956

- 0 .8
-2 .3

W yom ing_______

33


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

4,213

+ 0 .6

- 3 .4

47

3,333

-1 .3

100,823

48,153 +14.9
669, 517 -1 4 .3

9

421

- 0 .7

10, 383

- 1 .1

+ 0 .3

6

183

- 2 .1

5, 654

—12. 8

130,184

- 2 .9

446

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

-P^ 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 ID E N T IC A L E S T A B ­
L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931 B Y S T A T F T O T A T S EOT? n tm "
D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D T O T A L O F A L L G R O U P S ^ 'C O M M N E D -C o n tn u e d
N'
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y th e B ureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued by
cooperating S tate organizations]
*
Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining
State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

N um ber
P er
on pay
roll D e­ cent
of
cember,
change
1931

A labam a.

ArkansasA rizona.
CaliforniaColorado..
ConnecticutDelaw are__
Florida____
Georgia____
Id a h o ______
Illinois___
In d ia n a .. .
Iow a_____
K ansas___
K entucky.

-

11.8

8 -5- 72.5.9
250
526
447
1,055

- 5 .3
+ 1 .3

+ 2.8

- 3 .5

,620 - 3 . 0
207 + 1.0
462 - 1 .3
707 -2 1 . 5

(*)

310
284 -3 4 .4

M innesota..
M ississippi.
M issouri__
M ontana__
N e b ra sk a ...

113
21
585
37
91

N ew H am pshire .
N ew Jersey_____
N ew Mexico____
N ev ad a________
N ew Y ork______

169 - 9 .6
60 -1 1 .8

Pennsylvania. _
R hode Isla n d . .
South Carolina.
South D a k o ta..
Tennessee_____
Texas___
U tah ____
V erm ont.
V irginia..
W ashington...
W est VirginiaW isconsin___
W yom ing____
1 No change.
2 Includes stone crushing.
3 D ata no t given,


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

A m ount
N um ­
of pay roll Per ber of
cent
(1 week)
estab­
of
December,
change lish­
1931
ments
9,549 -1 4 .6
20, 259

19.7

222 -3 6 .8

N um ber
Per
on pay
roll D e­ cent
of
cember,
change
1931

m

13.7

458 -2 2 .5

1,942
268

+24.2
-5 7 . 1
-7 .6
-1 7 .8
-3 8 .9

20.8

-

1,035

$10, 050

- 7 .!

124, 451
54, 583
23,798

-

+ 0 .5
-1 4 .5

+ 1 .3

54,033

+ 0.5

234 +67.1

3,936

+67.8

33, 079 -1 1 .9
3,870 -13.6
10, 226 - 4 .6
6,834 -31. 1
4,176 - 1 .9
8,028 -33.8

7,563 -19.9

7,721 -3 9 .5

9,162

- 1 .9

132, 612

- 3 .3

2,086 -1 1 .5
223 -5 0 .8
12, 244 - 4 .9
649 - 21. 1
1,003 -6 7 .9

1, 572

-

20.6

34,070

-1 7 .1

2.8

52, 703 -1 8 .8
3, 233 -11. 3
38,971 -2 0 . 7

(>)

29, 214
3, 296

+ 5 .4
-2 4 .4

117
814
346

+ 1 .7
- 8 .9
- 3 .6

2,808

17,978
10, 357

+ 2 .9
+ 3 .0
- 9 .4

869 + 7 .0
125 + 11.6

17, 044
3,959

+ 4.2
+33.0

1,618
305

+ 0.1
+ 6.6

51, 727
5,081

+ 0 .3
- 0 .5

2,806

-0 .4

66, 702

+ 2.6

34, 323 -1 8 . 7
-

1.8

-

1.2

-11.1
-SI. 3

2,334
1,067

150

-

3, 819 -1 8 .8
1,914 - 10.2

1,808 -1 4 .2

167
24
1, 294

2.8

6,058 -1 5 .8
12, 584 - 4 .8
5,888 + 4 .8
13, 615 -1 0 .9

+ 6 .3

2,785

A m ount
of pay roll Per
(1 week) cent
of
Decem­
ber, 1931 change

4,715 - 4 .8
1,936 +0. 3
813 -1 8 .0

2,209

L o u isia n a ..___
M aine_______
M aryland____
M assachusetts.
M ichigan_____

N o rth Carolina .
N orth D ak o ta..
Ohio_______. . . .
Oklahom a_____
Oregon________

M etalliferous m ining

+ 0 .4

+ 0.8

117 -1 4 .0
450

+0. 2
-30. 4

743
454
18, 048

-50.7
-32.9
-13.9

17, m
51, 229
13, 796

+ 8.2
+ 6 .3

2, 541
4,969

■25.9
-14.1

3,504

0

712

+ 0.8

-1.5

447

TREND OF EM PLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B ­
L IS H M E N T S IN N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931, B Y S T A T E T O T A L S, F O R 11 IN ­
D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D T O T A L O F A L L G R O U P S C O M B IN E D —C ontinued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y th e B ureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating S tate organizations]
Laundries

S tate

A labam a_________
Arkansas_________
Arizona _______
C a lifo rn ia _______
Colorado_________

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
m ents
6

18
5

i 64

11

N um ber Per
on pay
roll De­ cent
of
cember,
1931 change
602

D yeing and cleaning

A m ount
Per
of pay roll cent
(1 week)
of
December, change
1931

- 3 .1

$7,080

394

—1.8

923

- 2.2

6,885

114,545

+ 0 .5

14; 872

- 1 .1

- 2 .1
+ 6 .8
+ 5 .3
-1 .1

28,470
1,318
4, 344
5,751

- 3 .2
+ 1 .1
+ 7 .0
- 3 .7

—I.4

24,941
26,890

474
5,428

-1 .4

5,526

- 2 .4

- 0.1

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
m ents
5

N um ber Per
on pay
roll D e­ cent
of
cember, change
1931

A m ount
of p ay rol Per
(1 week) cent
of
Decem­
ber, 1931 change

202

- 3 .6

$2, 633

+ 1.4

10

139

-8 .6

2,913

-1 2 .4

14
3
5
4

317
43
52
140

- 7 .0
- 4 .4
- 1 .9
- 3 .4

7,985
824
861
1,969

- 9 .4
- 7 .2
+ 2.7
- 1 .5

6

57

- 9 .5

1, 078

-1 0 .0

5

183

- 3 .2

2,923

- 3 .1

379 -16.5

6,311

-16.8

-0 .7

- 4.O

Connecticut______
D elaw are______ _
F lorida___________
Georgia_________
Id a h o ____________

31
2
7
10

1,378
94
357
543

Illinois-.....................
In d ia n a __________
Iowa
. _ _
K ansas___________
K e ntucky________

i 21
20
4
8
20

1, 677
245
233
928

Louisiana. ______
M aine__________
M ary lan d ..
M assachusetts.
M ichigan________

20

1,759

+2.8

29,503

-0 .5

7

26

1,885

- 0 .9

29,487

- 3 .8

18

524

- 4 .6

11,386

- 6 .4

M innesota_______
M ississippi
M issouri .- M ontana___ . . .
N ebraska____ .

13
6
36
13
10

849
275
2,829
350
831

- 2 .5
—1.4
- 0 .2
- 2 .8
+ 0 .2

15,825
2,940
44; 675
7,337
14,429

- 2 .5
- 5 .2
- 2 .2
-2 . 3
+ 2 .6

10

330

- 4 .3

6,456

- 7 .1

17

480

- 6 .8

8,972

- 9 .4

3

29

- 3 .3

593

- 3 .1

N ew H am pshire - __
New Jersey_______
New M exico______
N evada_________
N ew Y ork_______

16
32
6
4
63

307
3,234
288
70
7,045

- 2 .8
+ (2)
-4 . 0
- 2 .8
- 1 .9

5,148
71; 599
4, 870
1, 567
137,179

- 7 .1
- 0 .1
- 2 .4
-8 . 6
- 1 .9

7

344

- 1 .4

9,433

-1 1 .3

26

837

- 6 .5

18, 945

-1 2 .1

N orth C arolina___
N orth D akota
Ohio. ___________
O k la h o m a _______
Oregon.................. .

11
8
64
3
5

769
165
4, 258
357
354

- 1 .3
- 2 .4
-1 . 2
- 6 .1
- 1 .9

8,903
2,854
77,866
5,386
6,448

- 1 .2
- 2 .4
- 4 .1
- 5 .9
- 4 .5

5

73

0

1, 024

-1 0 .8

30
6
4

1, 518
200
39

- 3 .1
- 3 .4
- 2 .5

29, 230
3, 027
956

- 7 .9
- 8 .9
- 5 .8

Pennsylvania___
Rhode Island
South Carolina___
South D akota „ .
Tennessee________

48
20
8
4
14

3, 724
1,184
357
98
1,144

- 0 .2
-2 .0
- 2 .2
(3)
- 1 .7

63,873
22, 577
3,956
T 556
12,590

- 0 .5
-1 .0
-1 .8
+ 1 .2
- 4 .6

25
10

1,085 - 4 .6
428 -1 5 .9

21, 664
8, 698

-1 1 .3
-1 1 .4

13

325 -1 0 .7

6,193

-1 5 .8

21

1,394

445

-1 .0
+ 0 .8
- 0 .9
- 1 .4
- 0 .9

4,162
3,468
13,364
6,842

- 4.6

-0 .8
-1 . 7
- 2 .4
+ 0 .8
-1 . 7

Texas____________
U ta h _____________
V erm ont- . . .
Virginia__________
W ashington ............

8

609

- 1 .0

10,214

+ 2 .5

6

95

- 4 .0

2,082

- 6 .9

8
12

672
625

- 0 .3
- 2 .0

8,632
14,884

+ 0 .7
- 3 .1

16
9

313
124

- 2 .2
- 5 .3

4, 956
2,752

- 5 .9
-1 0 .6

W est V irg in ia..- _.
W isconsin ______
W y o m in g ...............

18
i 28
5

1,042

700

- 1 .7
- 0.6
- 4 .1

16,387

11,027

- 5 .0

9

191

- 0 .5

3,349

- 6 .0

l' 846

—6. 2

94

1 Includes dyeing and cleaning.
1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
8 No change.


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

-9 .3

448

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

E m p lo y m en t and P ay-R oll T o ta ls in D ecem b er, 1931, in C ities
of Over 500,000 P o p u la tio n
N T H E following ta b le is presen ted th e flu ctu atio n s in em p lo y m en t a n d e arn ­
ings in D ecem ber, 1931, as com pared w ith N ovem ber, in 13 cities of th e
U nited S ta te s h av in g a p o p u latio n of 500,000 o r over. T hese flu ctu atio n s a re
based on rep o rts received from id en tical estab lish m en ts in each m o n th .
T hese city ta b u la tio n s include all estab lish m en ts re p o rtin g in th e 15 in d u stria l
groups in these 13 cities, a n d also a d d itio n a l em p lo y m en t in fo rm atio n secured
from banks, in suran ce com panies, garages, a n d o th e r estab lish m en ts in th e se 13
cities. B uilding co n stru ctio n d a ta are n o t included in th ese to ta ls, as in fo rm a­
tio n is n o t av ailab le fo r a ll cities a t th is tim e. T h e m o st p ronounced increase in
em ploym ent a n d earnings is show n in th e city of D etro it, d u e largely to th e im ­
proved em ploym en t con d itio n in th e a u to m o b ile in d u stry in D ecem ber over
N ovem ber. D ecreased em p lo y m en t is show n in only tw o cities, C hicago an d
P hiladelphia. Increased earnings w ere re p o rte d in ea c h of th ese 13 cities, w ith
th e exception of San F rancisco, in w hich a decrease of 0.7 p e r c en t in earnings w as
com bined w ith a sm all increase in em ploym ent.

I

E M P L O Y M E N T IN C IT IE S OE 500,000 P O P U L A T IO N OR O V ER

C ity

N ew Y ork C ity _______
Chicago, 111__ ________ _
Philadelphia, P a _________
D etroit, M ich _ _ _ ____
Los Angeles, C a l if ______
Cleveland, Ohio____ ______
St. Louis, M o ______ _ .
Baltimore, M d ___
... ..
Boston, M ass___ _______
P ittsburgh, P a __ _________
San Francisco, C alif_____Buffalo, N . Y ____________
M ilw aukee, W is__________

A m ount of p ay roll (1
N um ber N u m b er on pay roll
week)
of estab­
lishments
Per
Per
reporting
cent
cent
in both
of
of
N ovem ­ Novem ber, December, change N ovember, December,
change
ber and
1931
1931
1931
1931
Decem­
ber, 1931
820
1,725
£58
461
423
766
457
400
2, 785
279
834
222
273

139, 530
209, 456
119, 404
151, 545
51, 265
73, 497
66,048
49, 299
82, 721
51,890
36, 542
42, 256
40, 339

145, 657
209, 374
118,664
176,656
54, 054
75, 744
68, 377
50,063
82, 954
53, 463
36, 686
42, 446
41, 936

+ 4 .4
-(>)
- 0 .6
+16.6
+ 5 .4
+3.1
+ 3 .5
+ 1 .5
+ 0.3
+ 3 .0
+ 0.4
+ 0.4
+ 4 .0

$3, 707, 219
5, 607, 476
2, 921, 309
4, 287,076
1, 337,036
1, 691, 969
1,486, 293
1,047,966
2, 234, 301
1,175, 625
989, 795
1,053,881
912,857

$3, 715, 755
5, 682, 735
2, 989, 050
4, 517, 374
1, 368, 503
1, 710, 293
1, 560,104
1,060, 336
2, 262, 761
1,197, 544
983,140
1, 069, 906
915, 230

+ 0 .2
+ 1.3
+ 2.3
+ 5.4
+ 2.4
+ 1.1
+ 5 .0
+ 1 .2
+ 1.3
+ 1.9
- 0 .7
+ 1.5
+ 0.3

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

E m p lo y ees in E xecu tive Civil Service of th e U n ited S ta te s,
O ctober and N ovem ber, 1931, and N ovem ber, 1930
S T A T E M E N T is here given, fo r specified m o n th s, of th e n u m b er of officers
a n d em ployees in th e executive civil service of th e U n ite d S ta te s G overn­
m ent. T he figures a re com plete except fo r te m p o ra ry em ployees in th e field
service of th e P o st Office D e p a rtm e n t. T h e n u m b er of such em ployees varies
considerably, m ain ly because of seasonal dem ands, th e p rin cip al d em an d for
th em being d u rin g th e C h ristm as m ail ru sh . T he te rm of service usually is very
short.
As in d icated by th e title of th is article, th e figures do n o t include th e legislative,
judicial, A rm y, o r N a v y services.
T he figures are com piled by th e several d e p a rtm e n ts a n d offices a n d se n t to
th e U n ited S tates C ivil Service C om m ission w here th e y are assem bled. T h ey
are here published b y co u rtesy of th e com m ission a n d in com pliance w ith th e
d irection of Congress. D a ta re la tin g to salaries p a id h av e n o t been collected.
Because of th e im p o rtan ce of W ashington as a gov ern m en t cen te r, th e figures
are given for th e D istric t of C olum bia sep arately . T hese figures a re inclu d ed
in th e g ran d to ta l fo r th e e n tire service.
T he to ta l n u m b er of executive civil em ployees of th e U n ited S ta te s, n o t c o u n t­
ing p o st office field em ployees a t th e en d of N ovem ber, 1931, w as 614,262, of
w hich 578,933 w ere p e rm a n e n t em ployees a n d 35,329 w ere te m p o ra ry em ployees
ta k e n on for a lim ited period of service. In th e y e a r in te rv a l, N o v em b er 30,
1930, to N ovem ber 30, 1931, th e re w as a gain of 16,622 em plovees o r 2.78 per

A


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

449

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

cent. D u rin g th e m o n th ending N ovem ber 30, 1931, th ere w as a loss of 4,533
em ployees or 0.73 p e r cent. A nalysis of th e figures shows, how ever, a gain of
932 p e rm a n e n t em ployees d u rin g th e m o n th ending N ovem ber 30, 1931, w ith a
loss of 5,465 te m p o ra ry em ployees. D u rin g th e month_ of N ovem ber, 1931,
16 608 em ployees d ropped o u t of th e service because of resignations, te rm in a tio n
of a p p o in tm en t, d e a th , a n d o th e r causes, a n d th e re w ere 12,075 new em ployees
b ro u g h t in to th e service. T h is gives a tu rn o v e r ra te of 1.96 p e r 100 in th e
m o n th w hich it will be observed w as tw ice th e tu rn o v e r ra te in th e W ashington
personnel. T h e n u m b er em ployed in th e D istric t of C olum bia a t th e end of
N ovem ber, 1931, w as 69,894.
E M P L O Y E E S IN E X E C U T IV E C IV IL S E R V IC E OF T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , O C T O B E R
A N D N O V E M B E R , 1931, A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
E ntire service

D istrict of Columbia
Item

November,
1930

pp.rma.Tip.nt employees __ ___
Tem porary employees (not
including those in field
service of Post Office D e­
----------------partm ent)
Total

.

62,714

October,
1931
65,316

November, November,
1930
1931

4, 740

4, 538

37,407

40, 794

35,329

71, 052

70, 056

69,894

597, 640

618, 795

614, 262

D istrict of Columbia

Number

Item

Separations in N ovem ber, 1931
M onthly tu rn o v er rate, N o ver

578,933

578, 001

8, 338

G ain or loss

N ovem ber 1930 to N ovem b er, 1931
Ootnbor IOTI t.n Nnvp.mhp.r. 1931

560, 233

65,356

November,
1931

October,
1931

_

_______
__

Per cent

—1,158
—162

—1. 63
—. 23

E ntire service

Number

Per cent

+16, 622
—4, 533

+2.78
—. 73

D istrict of Columbia

E n tire service

685
847
0. 98

12, 075
16, 608
1.96

E m p lo y m en t in B u ild in g C o n stru ctio n in D ecem b er, 1931
M P L O Y M E N T in building co n stru ctio n decreased 10.7 p e r c en t in D e­
cem ber, 1931, as com pared w ith N ovem ber, a n d p a y rolls decreased 14.1
p e r c en t d u rin g th e sam e period. T h is in fo rm atio n is based on rep o rts
received from 6,575 firm s engaged in b uilding o p eratio n s in 43 cities covered by
th e F ed eral b u reau a n d 2,162 ad d itio n a l firm s in various localities in P en n sy lv an ia,
C alifornia, M assachusetts, W isconsin, a n d th e city of B altim ore, M d.
As show n by th e following tab le, th ese firm s re p o rte d a com bined em ploym ent
of 88,136 for a w eek en d in g n ear D ecem ber 15 as com pared w ith 98,735 for a
sim ilar period in N ovem ber. T h e to ta l p a y roll fo r th ese em ployees w as $2,401,068 for a w eek ending n e a r D ecem ber 15 as com pared w ith $2,793,869 for a sim ilar
period in N ovem ber.
,
. , ,
In th e 43 cities covered b y th e F ed eral b u reau , re p o rts were received from
6 575 id en tical c o n tracto rs a n d su b co n tracto rs whose to ta l em p lo y m en t for a week
ending n ear D ecem ber 15 w as 58,215 as com pared w ith 65,629 fo r a sim ilar period
in N ovem ber. T his is a decrease of 11.3 p er cent. N ine cities re p o rte d increased
em plo y m en t ranging from 0.4 p e r c e n t fo r W ilm ington to 67.4 p e r c e n t for
T ulsa. T hese 6,575 firm s re p o rted a com bined p a y roll of $1,587,518 fo r a_ week
en d in g n e a r D ecem ber 15 as com pared w ith $1,863,115 fo r a sim ilar period in
N ovem ber. T his is a decrease of 14.8 p er cent. E ig h t cities show ed increased
p ay rolls ranging from 0.7 p e r c e n t for C h a rlo tte to 41.5 p e r c en t fo r T ulsa.
T h e d a ta for th e five cities in P en n sy lv an ia, based on re tu rn s from 1,003
id en tical firms, show a decrease of 11.6 p er cen t in em p lo y m en t a n d 14.3 p e r cent
in pay-roll to tals. E rie em plo y m en t increased 5.8 p e r cent.
.
E m p lo y m en t an d pay-roll info rm atio n fo r C alifornia, show n for th e fiist tim e
in th is rep o rt, covers 201 id en tical firm s whose com bined em p lo y m en t a n d p ay

E


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

450

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

rolls decreased 6.4 an d 10.2 p er cen t, respectively, w hen D ecem ber is com pared
w ith N ovem ber.
D ecreased em plo y m en t a n d p a y rolls are also re p o rted for th e city of B altim ore
a n d th e S tates of M assach u setts a n d W isconsin.
D a ta concerning th e build in g c o n stru ctio n in d u stry ap p earin g in th e following
ta b le have n o t been included in th e su m m ary ta b le show n a t th e beginning of
th is tre n d of em plo y m en t article:
C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A LS IN T H E B U IL D IN G C O N ­
S T R U C T IO N IN D U S T R Y IN ID E N T IC A L F IR M S , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1931

Locality

A k r o n ...... ............
A t l a n t a ____ ___
B irm ingham . _____ . .
B ridgeport. . . _____ _ . .
C h arlo tte ... . . . . . . . . ---C in c in n a ti1 . .
C leveland____. . . . ______
D allas___
.
. .
___
D enver______ . . . . ------Des M oines
. .
D e tro it...
. ...
D u lu th __________ ______
F o rt W a y n e .._ ________ .
G rand R ap id s_____
____
H artfo rd . ______________
H ouston_________________
In d ia n a p o lis... . . . . . . . .
Jacksonville ._
K ansas C ity 2
Louisville
... .. . . . .
M em p h is...
_____ . .
M iam i . . . . . . . . . .
M in n eap o lis.._ __________
N ashville___ ____________
N ew H a v en _______ ____
N ew O rleans____ _______ _
N orfolk-Portsm outh.
. .
Oklahom a C i ty .. _______
Omaha ...............
........
Portland, M e .. . ______
Portland, Oreg______ ____
Providence. _____ . . __
Richm ond _
St. L o u is._. . ____ . . __
St. P a u l_________________
Salt Lake C ity ____ _______
Seattle. . . _____ ______
Spokane.. _ . . .
T u ls a .. _____ _ ________
W ashington, D . C
W heeling
_ __________
W ich ita____________ _ . . .
W ilm ington_____ _ ______
T otal, 43 cities___

N u m ­ N u m b er on p ay roll
A m ount of p ay roll
ber of
Per cent
week ending near—
week ending near—
firms
of
report­
change
ing
N ov. 15
Dec. 15
N ov. 15
Dec. 15
80
122
77
120
34
483
442
109
186
70
468
49
103
78
242
88
172
50
217
115
88
73
216
62
181
124
85
95
113
75
172
225
148
457
114
82
173
34
38
500
53
59
103

635
1,305
601
838
323
3,263
4,137
796
912
696
5,428
221
677
407
2,108
652
1,526
363
2,158
974
789
1,378
2,106
723
2, 599
2,122
516
1,300
950
620
1, 199
2,701
1, 325
3, 492
1, 656
427
1, 276
141
325
9, 579
335
435
1,615

450
1,241
585
746
307
3,096
2,947
828
865
614
4, 723
240
546
394
1,723
553
1,374
413
1, 711
1, 019
820
1, 533
1,657
810
2, 204
1, 757
513
1,268
715
522
894
2, 266
1,189
3,082
1,309
372
1, 236
112
544
8, 792
239
384
1,622

-2 9 .1
- 4 .9
- 2 .7
-1 1 .0
-5 .0
- 5 .1
-2 8 .8
+ 4 .0
-5 .2
-1 1 .8
-1 3 .0
+ 8 .6
-1 9 .4
-3 .2
-1 8 .3
-1 5 .2
-1 0 .0
+13.8
-20. 7
+ 4.6
+ 3 .9
+11.2
-2 1 .3
+12.0
-1 5 .2
-1 7 .2
-.6
-2 .5
-2 4 .7
-1 5 .8
-2 5 .4
-1 6 . 1
-1 0 .3
-1 1 .7
-2 1 .0
-1 2 .9
-3 . 1
-2 0 .6
+67.4
-8 . 2
-2 8 .7
-1 1 . 7
+ .4

$15,856
23, 087
11, 530
27, 235
5, 891
100, 377
140, 422
17, 491
25, 450
17, 451
154,947
3,968
14,911
9, 478
68, 767
14,139
47,831
5, 575
70, 223
20,037
19, 109
29, 741
58, 245
12,821
96, 743
42, 490
11, 636
29, 538
24, 413
17, 523
31,409
73, 662
30, 318
119, 606
46,087
12,420
35, 307
3, 262
7, 482
303, 209
8,184
9, 717
45, 527

$9,688
20, 789
10, 725
20, 965
5, 932
90, 310
97,141
18,145
23, 858
14, 590
128,211
5, 347
13, 664
9, 453
52, 546
11,775
42,235
6,811
57, 510
21, 287
16, 067
33, 542
49, 830
14, 110
75,177
33, 518
10, 567
28, 977
18, 290
14, 060
23,821
62, 666
28,162
102, 406
36,838
9, 717
34,861
2, 667
10, 585
268, o91
5, 431
7, 877
38, 976

Per cent
of
change
-3 8 .9
-1 0 .0
- 7 .0
-2 3 .0
+ .7
-1 0 .0
-3 0 .8
+ 3.7
- 6 .3
-1 6 .4
-1 7 .3
+34.8
- 8 .4
-.3
-2 3 .6
-1 6 .7
-1 1 .7
+22.2
-1 8 .1
+ 6.2
-1 5 .9
+12.8
-1 4 .4
+10.1
-2 2 .3
-2 1 .1
-9 .2
- 1 .9
-2 5 .1
-1 9 .8
-2 4 .2
-1 4 .9
- 7 .1
-1 4 .4
-2 0 .1
-2 1 .8
- 1 .3
-1 8 .2
+41.5
-1 1 .5
-3 3 .6
-1 8 .9
-1 4 .4

6, 575

65, 629

58, 215

-1 1 .3

1,863,115

1, 587, 518

-1 4 .8

Philadelphia 3____________
P ittsb u rg h 3 __ _ _
R eading 3___ . __________
Scranton 3________________
E rie 3__________________

607
265
60
42
29

5, 247
2, 380
462
285
208

4,674
2,060
415
216
220

-1 0 .9
-1 3 .4
-10. 2
-2 4 . 2
+ 5 .8

155, 634
80,131
11,859
6, 792
5, 076

130, 936
72, 024
9,140
5, 345
4,912

-1 5 .9
-1 0 .1
-2 2 .9
-2 1 .2
- 3 .2

Total, 5 cities. _ _ . . .

1,003

8, 582

7, 585

-1 1 .6

259,492

222,357

-1 4 .3

Los Angeles 3____ . .
San Francisco-O akland 3__
California (including all
localities)3. . . _______ _

52
75

3, 959
4, 418

3,496
4,102

-11. 7
-7 .2

99, 527
103, 539

79, 540
98,943

-2 0 .1
- 4 .4

201

11,146

10, 428

- 6 .4

266,485

239, 436

-1 0 .2

Baltimore, M d .3_____ ____
M assachusetts 3 .
W isconsin 3______________

160
730
68

2,195
8, 915
2, 268

2, 025
7,840
2,043

-7 . 7
-12. 1
- 9 .9

55,825
295,100
53,852

47, 301
254, 767
49, 689

-1 5 .3
-1 3 .7
- 7 .7

8, 737

98, 735

88,136

-1 0 .7

2, 793,869

2,401,068

-1 4 .1

G rand total, all localitie s ... _ _______ _

1 Includes Covington and N ew port, K y.
2 Includes both K ansas C ity, K ans., and K ansas C ity, Mo.
3 D ata supplied by cooperating State bureaus.


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

451

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

E m p lo y m e n t on C lass I S tea m R ailroads in th e U n ited S ta te s

T

HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to Novem­
ber, 1931, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having operating
revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index numbers pub­
lished in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed from
monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission, the
monthly average for 1926 being used as the base.
T able 1.—I N D E X O F E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I S T E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO N O V E M B E R , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]

M onth
Jan u a ry _________ _______ F eb ru ary _______ _____ ____
M arch __________________ A pril, _________ ________
M ay __________
________
June
___ _ _____
J u ly ______________________
A ugust
-----Septem ber___
____
—
__
___
October
N ovem ber., . , --------D ecem ber__________ ______
A verage..

_________

1929

1928

1930

1931

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107.1
108.2
109.4
107.8
107.3
105.2
99.4

96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99. 2
98.0
98.1
99.0
99.7
100. 8
99.0
96.0

95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99.7
99.9
100.7
99.1
97.1

95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100.2
101.6
102.9
102.7
102. 8
103.4
101.2
98.2

95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99.5
99. 1
98.9
95.7
91.9

89.3
89.0
89.9
91.7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7

88.2
88.9
90.1
92.2
94.9
96. 1
96.6
87.4
96. 8
96. 9
93.0
88. 8

86.3
85.4
85. 5
97. 0
88. 6
86.5
84.7
83. 7
82. 2
80.4
77. 0
74. 9

73.7
72. 7
72. 9
73. 5
73.9
72. 8
72.4
71. 2
69. 3
67. 7
64. 5

104. 1

98.3

97.9

100.0

97.5

92.9

93.3

83.5

171.3

1 Average for 11 m onths.

T able 2 .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S OF R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , N O V E M B E R ,

1930, A N D O C T O B E R A N D N O V E M B E R , 1931
[From m onthly reports of In te rsta te Commerce Commission. As d a ta for only the more im p o rtan t occu­
pations are shown separately, th e group totals are no t th e sum of th e item s under the respective groups]
N um ber of employees at
m iddle of m o n th
Occupation

T otal earnings

N ov. 15, N ovem ber,
1930
1931

October,
1931

N ovem ­
ber, 1931

N ov. 15,
1930

Oct. 15,
1931

Professional, clerical, and general.
Clerks_____________________
Stenographers and ty p ists----

242,839
134,521
22,474

213,562
115,455
19,911

209, 224 $35,233,582 $31,554,435 $29,720,407
113,086 18, 262, 624 16,187,748 15,023,441
2,617,660 2,479,268
2,906,532
19,461

M aintenance of w ay and stru ctu res----Laborers, extra gang and work

293,534

264,289

234,886

26,543,586

28,799

23,649

18,105

1,946,167

151,695
376,973
79,549
48,046
82, 705

143,141
322,984
67,191
43,334
70, 213

125,159
313,116
64, 788
42,066
68, 295

9,766,946
46,758,153
10,984,697
6,955,261
8,593, 256

31, 654

26, 769

26, 278

2,923,088

2, 459,281

2, 292,091

40,536

34,381

32,674

2,887,638

2,432,201

2,108, 231

t r a in _____________________________

Laborers, track and roadw ay sec­
tio n ________ ______ _______ ___
M aintenance of equipm ent and sto res,.
C arm en________________________
M achinists_________ ____ ______
Skilled trades helpers----------------Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power p lan ts, and stores)--------Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power p lan ts, and stores).
T r a n s p o r ta tio n , o th e r t h a n tr a in , e n ­
g in e a n d y a r d ------------------------------------

S tation agents__________________
T e le g ra p h e rs,

te le p h o n e r s ,

and

tow erm en____________________
Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platform s)----------------------Crossing and bridge flagmen and
g a te m e n --------------------------------------T r a n s p o r ta tio n (y a r d m a s te r s , s w itc h
te n d e r s , a n d h o s tle r s )..............................
T r a n s p o r ta tio n , tr a in a n d e n g in e --------

R oad conductors----------------------R oad brakem en and flagmen------Y ard brakem en and y a rd helpersRoad engineers and m o to rm en —
Road firemen and helpers............. .
All employees.


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

172,791
28,349

153,712
27, 249

150,136
27,105

21, 302,482
4,391,919

23,525, 799 19,495,096
1, 535, 791

1,032,633

9,225,986 7,003,005
39,195,506 35,620,205
9,152,923 8, 289,738
6,042,693 5,428, 597
7,083,088 6,367,696

19, 560,726 18, 218,805
4,371,294 4,097, 744

20,954

18, 709

18,458

3, 209,579

2,960,458

2,812,695

27,059

22, 743

21,632

2, 368,815

2,116, 001

1,832,883

19,408

18,710

18,663

1, 506, 232

1, 442,819

1,421,852

19,402
272, 703
30, 734
59, 886
46, 559
36, 541
37,150

16, 751
239,128
27,196
52, 466
41,076
32,087
32, 723

16,417
230,761
26,107
50,605
39,878
30,924
31, 588

3, 745, 771
52, 572,008
7,067, 319
9,869, 203
7, 739, 573
9,436, 009
6,872, 920

3,192,146 3, 030, 751
47,608,187 42, 561, 688
6, 557, 793 5,892,090
9,069, 307 7,988,732
6,749, 894 6,046, 778
8, 753, 469 7, 786,014
6,325, 617 5,624,313

1, 378, 242 1, 210, 426 1,154, 540 186,155, 582 164,636,799 148,646,952

452

MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W

In Table 2 the total number of employees on the 15th day each
of November, 1930, and October and November, 1931, and pay-roll
totals for the entire months are shown.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
A gricu ltu ral E m p lo y m en t Surveys in M a ssa c h u setts

T

HE monthly surveys of employment and earnings made by the
Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries have been
expanded to cover agricultural employment. A press release of the
Massachusetts department states that employers of agricultural labor
are being requested to report separately for year-round employees,
seasonal employees, and employed members of their families, and to
give amount of cash pay roll, estimated value of board and lodging if
provided, and number of employees covered by the pay roll, for the
pay period including or ending nearest the 15th of the month, exclu­
sive of owners, partners, tenants, managers, and overseers.
Only a limited number of employers are reporting as yet, but
efforts are being made to extend the inquiry, in order to make it more
fully representative of employment conditions in agriculture in the
State. The 66 employers or employing establishments which reported
for October and November, 1931, included 25 nurserymen, wholesale
florists, or landscape gardeners; 20 dairy or stock farms; 13 farms
or market gardens; 5 fruit growers; 2 cranberry growers; and 1 leaftobacco raiser. These establishments employed a total of 991 wage
earners in November, as compared with 1,418 in October. The
decrease is reported to have been due to the releasing of seasonal
labor employed primarily in fruit and cranberry packing.


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

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R etail Prices of Food in D ecem b er, 1931

I T HAS been the custom of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to pub­

lish each month the retail prices of food and coal, by cities, and
index numbers of individual food articles for the United States for all
years back to 1913. Rates of electricity for household use and price
per 1,000 cubic feet of gas, by cities, have been published for June
and December of each year.
In the interest of economy in the cost of printing, these detailed
statistics are eliminated from current publications, only summaries
for the United States and limited comparisons being shown. Com­
parable information with that shown in previous publications is on
record in the files of the bureau and available to those desiring to make
use of it.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices and index numbers
of food on December 15, 1930, November 15 and December 15, 1931,
and the average for the year 1931. These prices are simple averages
of actual selling prices reported monthly by retail dealers in 51 cities.
The index numbers are based on the average prices in 1913.
T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S O P FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D

ST A T E S ON D E C E M B E R 15, 1930, N O V E M B E R 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1931, A N D F O R
T H E Y E A R 1931
Average price
Article

Sirloin steak __ __________
R ound steak _ _________
R ib roast __ . _ _______
C huck ro a s t,.
__________
P late b e e f __ . . . . ____

U nit

P o u n d ..
__ do_ _ ___
_ _ d o _____
_ do
_ _do___

Index num bers (1913==100.0)

Dec.
15,
1930

N ov.
15,
1931

Dec.
15,
1931

Y ear
1931

Cents

Cents Cents

Cents

42.9
37.7
31. 6
24.6
16.9

37.3
32.3
27.3
20. 2
13.3

36.3
31.3
26. 7
19. 6
13.1

Dec.
15,
1930

Nov.
15,
1931

Dec.
15,
1931

39.4
34.4
28.9
21. 5
14. 3

168. 9
169.1
159. 6
153. 8
139.7

146. 9
144. 8
137. 9
126. 3
109.9

142 9
140.4
134 8
122. 5
108. 3

155 1
154 3
14fi* n
124’ 4
1182

149. 5
153.0
191. 4
164. 6
150. 2

119. 0
118. 9
155. 4
138.1
137.1

103. 8
112. 2
147. 6
131. 7
134.3

138 6
134 8
170 6
156 1
145.5

Pork chops
_ ____ ___ ___ ___ do____ __
Bacon, sliced. . ____ _ ___ _ do__
H am , sliced
_ do _
Lam b, leg of _ __
_ do _ _ _ _
H en s___ _____ _
_ __
_ _do ___

31.4
41.3
51. 5
31.1
32.0

25.0
32.1
41. 8
26.1
29. 2

21. 8
30. 3
39.7
24. 9
28. 6

29.1
36.4
45.9
29. 5
31. 0

Salmon, red, canned. . . . .
__ do ___ __
M ilk, fre s h ..
. .
_____ Q uart
M ilk' evaporated _ . . . . 16-oz. can
B u tte r
Pound ______
_ do___ _
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r
su b stitu tes).

34.3
13. 5
9.9
42. 5
24.5

29.9
12. 0
8.8
37. 3
18.9

29. 6
11. 6
8.8
36. 5
18.8

32. 6
12. 3
9.1
35. 4
20.0

___d o ______
Cheese . .
....
__ do___ _
L ard
.
. . .
__ __do_____ _
Vegetable lard substitute
Eggs, strictly fresh _
Dozen
B read ____ _
__ Pound _

33. 2
16.7
23.8
41. 6
8. 5

26. 8
12. 2
22.4
39. 7
7. 3

26. 2
11. 2
22.0
38. 5
7. 2

28 1
13. 3
23.2
31. 7
7. 6

Flour
..
Corn meal _ ___________
Rolled oats
_________
Corn flakes
_____
W heat cereal_______ _

4.1
5.2
8.6
9.3
25.3

3.3
4.2
7.8
8.8
23.1

3.3
4.1
7.9
8.7
23.0

3. 6
4.6
8.1
9.0
24.1

96957°— 32—

__ -do __ _ __
___ do___
____do ..
8-oz. package..
28-oz. package.

15


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

Year
1931

151. 7

134.8

130.3

138.2

111.0

97.4

95.3

92.4

150 2
105. 7

121. 3
77. 2

118 6
70.9

127 1
84. 2

120 6
151. 8

115.1
130.4

111. 6
128. 6

91. 9
135. 7

124. 2
173.3

100. 0
140.0

100.0
136.7

109.1
153.3

453

454

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

P R IC E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S ON D E C E M B E R _15, 1930, N O V E M B E R 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1931, A N D FO R
1 H E Y EA R 1931—C ontinued

Average price
Article

U nit

M acaroni__________
Rice______________
Beans, n a v y _______
Potatoes___________
O nions____________

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

Cabbage___________
Pork and beans____
Corn, canned______
Peas, canned_______

------do___
No. 2 can.
___ do___
___ do___

Tom atoes, c a n n e d ...
Sugar_____________
T ea_______________
Coffee_____________
P runes____________
R aisins____________
Bananas___________
Oranges___________

Index num bers (1913=100.

Dec.
15,
1930

N ov.
15,
1931

Cents

Cents Cents Cents

18.6
9.2
9.7
2.9
3.9

Dec.
15,
1931

Year
1931

16.1
7.5
6.3
1.7
4.4

16.0
7.4
6.2
1.8
5.2

16.9
8.2
7.8
2.3
4.3

3.7
10.7
14.9
15.7

3.0
10.2
12.1
13.6

3.4
10.2
11.9
13.5

3.8
10.2
13.4
14.2

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

11.5
5.9
76.9
38.5

9.7
5.6
75.1
31.8

9.6
5.5
75.1
31.5

10.3
5.7
75.4
33.8

----- d o ....
----- do___
D ozen___
___ do___

13.1
11.4
29.0
35.7

10.7
11.4
24.4
35.3

10.5
11.5
24.8
31.3

11.8
11.3
26.2
35.1

W eighted food index.

Dec.
15,
1930

Nov.
15,
1931

Dec.
15,
1931

0)

Y ear
1931

105.8

86.2

85.1

94.3

170.6

100.0

105.9

135.3

107. 3
141.4
129.2

101.8
138.1
106.7

Ï5Ô.0

137.2

116.7

138. 1
105.7

103. 6
138.6
113.4

Table 2 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years
and by months for 1930 and 1931. The articles within these groups
are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes,
wheat cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
T able 2 . IN D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL CO ST OF C E R E A L S , M E A T S

A N D D A IR Y
P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , 1913 TO D E C E M B E R ,’1931
[Average cost in 1913=100.0]

Y ear and m onth

1930: Average for y e a r...
J a n u a r y ______ _
F e b ru a ry ____ . .
M arch . . . _ __
A pril. _________
M a y . ________
J u n e _______ .
Ju ly _______________
A ugust__
S e p te m b e r... __
October. _. . . . . .
N ovem ber___ _
December_____

Cereals M eats

158.0
162.9
161.6
160.9
160.3
159.8
160.1
158.6
156.9
156.4
154.4
152.4
151.6

175.8
183.6
183.1
183.0
183.3
181.5
179.9
175.2
169.9
173.3
171.1
164.0
161.6

D airy
prod­
ucts
136. 5
138.9
138.5
137.6
138.9
137.0
133.7
133.9
137.4
138.8
137.8
135.3
129.8

Year and m onth

1931: Average for year.
Jan u a ry _________
F eb ru ary _______
M arch __________
A pril___________
M a y ____________
J u n e ______
Ju ly ____________
A ugust__________
Septem ber______
O ctober_________
N o v e m b er.............
D ecember...............

Cereals M eats

135.9
147. 1
144.6
142.4
138.9
137.7
136.3
134.3
132.0
130.2
129.8
129.1
127.8

147.0
159. 5
153.4
152.5
151.4
149.3
145.7
147.8
149.1
147.7
142.7
135.4
129.3

D airy
prod­
ucts
114. 6
123.6
120.2
120.5
116.5
110.3
108.3
109.6
111.9
114.3
117.0
114.4
111.4

. Table 3_shows by index numbers the trend in the retail cost of food
m the United States from 1890 to 1931. The number of articles in­
cluded in the index number for each year has not been the same
throughout the period, but a sufficient number have been used fairly

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

455

W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES

to represent food as a whole. From 1890 to 1907, 30 articles were
used; from 1907 to 1913, 15 articles; from 1913 to 1920, 22 articles;
and from 1921, 42 articles. The relatives for the period have been
so computed as to be comparable with each other.
T able 3 —IN D E X N U M B E R S SH O W IN G T H E T R E N D IN T H E R E T A IL C O ST OF FO O D
IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , BY Y E A R S, 1890 TO 1931
[Average for year 1913=100]

Y ear

1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900

Index
num ber
69.6
70. 6
69. 3
71.0
67. 8
66. 5
64. 9
65. 4
67.1
67. 7
68. 7

Year

1901
1902
1903 _
1904
1905
1906 1907
1908
1909
1910
1911________

Index
num ber
71.5
75.4
75.0
76.0
76.4
78.7
82.0
84.3
88.7
93.0
92.0

Year

1912________
1913________
1914________
1915________
1916________
1917________
1918________
1919________
1920________
1921________
1922________

Index
num ber
97.6
100.0
102.4
101.3
113.7
146.4
168.3
185.9
203.4
153.3
141.6

Year

1923________
1924________
1925________
1926________
1927________
1928________
1929________
1930________
1931________

Index
num ber
146.2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
121.3

The curve shown in the chart (p. 456) pictures more readily to the
eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the index
numbers given in the table.
C o m p a ris o n of R e ta il F o o d C o s ts in 51 C itie s

Table 4 shows for 39 cities and the United States the percentage
of increase or decrease in the retail cost of food in December, 1931,
compared with the average cost in the year 1913, in December, 1930,
and November, 1931. For 12 other cities comparisons are given for
the 1-year and the 1-month periods; these cities have been scheduled
by the bureau at different dates since 1913. The percentage changes
are based on actual retail prices secured each month from retail
dealers and on the average consumption of these articles in each city.
The consumption figures which have been used since January, 1921,
are given in the Labor Review for March, 1921 (p. 26). Those used
for prior dates are given in the Labor Review for November, 1918
(pp. 94 and 95).
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched­
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
December schedules were received from 99.2 per cent of the firms in
the 51 cities from which retail prices of food are collected.
Out of about 1,230 food reports 12 were not received—1 each in
Bridgeport, Butte, Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, and Norfolk, and
2 each in Boston, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
Out of about 350 bread reports 1 was missing in Little Rock.
A perfect record is shown for the following named cities: Atlanta,
Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charleston (S. C.), Cincinnati, Colum­
bus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Jack­
sonville, Kansas City, Louisville, Manchester, Milwaukee, Minneapolis,
Mobile, Newark, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Omaha,
Peoria, Philadelphia, Portland (Me.), Portland (Oreg.), Providence,
Richmond, Rochester, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City, San Fran­
cisco, Savannah, Scranton, Seattle, Springfield ( 111.), and Washington.

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

456

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

I b5

145

125

105
JAN. FEB MAR. APR. MAV JUN. JUL

AUG. S E P OCT. NOV. DEC.

T able 4 —P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL CO ST OF FO O D IN D E C E M B E R ,
1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E C O ST IN N O V E M B E R , 1931, D E C E M B E R , 1930, A N D W IT H
T H E A V E R A G E CO ST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, BY C IT IE S

C ity

Percent­ Percentat;e decrease
Decern ber, 1931,
age in­
compar ed w ith—
crease
Decem­
ber, 1931,
compared Decem­ N ovem ­
w ith 1913 ber, 1930 ber, 1931

U n ite d S ta te s ___

14.3

16.7

2.0

A tla n ta _______ .
B altim ore_______
B irm ingham ___ __
Boston ______
B ridgeport
___

11.9
18.5
10.1
17.9

18.6
16.4
22.4
17.5
13.4

3.0
1.7
2.7
4.8
1.4

B u f f a l o ___
B u tte _
Charleston, S. C___
Chicago ______ _
C in cin n ati___ ___
Cleveland ______
C olum bus________
D allas____________
D enver _______

10.3
17.8
26.3
19.7
6.6
12.7
5.7

21.4
10.0
17.2
15.4
17.6

8.6
0.8
1.2
2.3
2.9

19.6
17.7
18.6
13.3

2.1
1.4
12.0
1.7
1.5
2.3
11.9
1.4

D etro it___ . .
_
F all R iver
_____
H ouston _ _
___
Indianapolis
- _

11.0
13.3
8.7

18.8
15.6
17.6
17.4

Jacksonville . . _
K ansas C i t y _____
L ittle Rock
Los Angeles . .

5.3
13.5
4.0
8.0

21.0
15.5
21.4
12.6

2.8
0.6
1.4
0.8

Louisville ..............
M anchester ___ . . .
M em p h is_____ _ _
M ilw aukee____
M inneapolis
.

7.7
10.8
4.9
15.1
14.2

17.9
17.5
18.6
16.7
17.8

0.5
6.3
1.9
3.6
2.4

i Increase.


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

C ity

M o b ile ______ N e w a r k ._____ .
N ew H a v en .. ___
N ew Orleans______
N ew Y ork. _ _ _
N orfolk_________
O m aha._________
Peoria
P hiladelphia______
P ittsb u rg h . . .
Portland, M e _____
Portlandj Oreg____
P ro v id en c e _____
R ichm ond . . . . _
Rochester________
St. Louis____ _ .
St. P a u l..
Salt Lake C ity ____
San Francisco. . . .
S avannah________
Scranton_____
Seattle . .
_ _ _ _
Springfield, 111___
W ashington______
Hawaii:
H onolulu
O ther localities.

Percent­ Percentaf ;e decrease
Decern ber, 1931,
age in­
compar ed w ith—
crease
Decem­
ber, 1931,
compared Decem­ N ovem ­
w ith 1913 ber, 1930 ber, 1931

14.0
22.5
12.2
19.4
5.7
22.3
11.7
7.1
18.5
18.6
13.7
1.1
15.1
21.6
13.2
22.1

19.0
15.4
15.7
18.0

2.2
3.8
1..
0

15.8
19.5
19.7
20.1
12.9

4.4
3.6
2.6
1.0
2

18.2
15.3
10.0
15.0
16.8

3.6
4.0
0.5
4.3
1

15.4
17.5
17.4
13.8
16.5

1.4
2.6
0.8
1.2
3

18.9
16.0
11.2
23.0
16.7

1. 1
3.1
1.2
2.4
2

8.8
7.6

.7
0.2
10

457

WHOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES

R etail Prices of Coal in D ecem b er, 1931

ETAIL prices of coal are secured in each of the 51 cities in
which retail food prices are obtained. The prices quoted are
for coal delivered to consumers but do not include charges for storing
the coal in cellar or bins where an extra handling is necessary.
Average prices for the United States for bituminous coal and for
stove and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite are computed
from the quotations received from retail dealers in all cities where
these coals are sold for household use.
The table shows the average prices of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds
and index numbers for the United States on December 15, 1931, m
comparison with the average prices on November 15, 1931, and De­
cember 15, 1930, together with the percentage change in the year and
in the month.

R

AViTRAflF R F T at l P R IC E P E R 2 000 P O U N D S O F C O AL F O R T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S ,
A N D P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E 6 n D E C E M B E R 15, 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H D E C E M ­
B E R 15, 1930, A N D N O V E M B E R 15, 1931

Average retail price on—
Article

Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove—
,
Average price per 2,000 pounds.
Index (1913=100.0)---------------C hestnut—
Average price per 2,000 pounds.
Index (1913=100.0)......................
B itum inous:
Average price per 2,000 pounds----Index (1913=100.0)----------------------

Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( —), December,
1931, compared
w ith—
Nov. 15,
1931

Dec. 15,
1930

N ov. 15,
1931

Dec. 15,
1931

Dec. 15,
1930

$15.13
195.9

$15.00
194.2

$15.00
194.2

- 0 .9

0.0

$14. 89
188.1

$14. 96
189. 1

$14. 97
189.1

+ 0 .5

+ 0.1

$8.94
164.4

$8.23
151.4

$8.19
150.8

- 8 .4

- 0 .5

R eta il Prices of G as in th e U n ited S ta te s

AVERAGE net prices in the United States per 1,000 cubic feet of
manufactured gas based on a consumption of 3,000 cubic feet,
and index numbers showing the trend since April, 1913, are shown m
the following table. The index numbers are based on the price in
April, 1913.
P P T C F P E R 1 000 C U B IC F E E T O F M A N U F A C T U R E D GAS A N D I N D E X N Ï Ï M .
B E R IN S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S OF E A C H Y E A R 1913 A N D 1928 TO 1931 FO R T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S

aV Ï7T? a

D ate
iQiq.
A-nril
lyio. Api
li-------------------------löÄj. J truc--------------------------D ecem ber--------- --------D ecem ber____________


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

Average
net price
$0.95
1. 21
1.22
1. 22
1. 21

Index
100.0
127. 4
128. 4
128.4
127.4

D ate

1930: Ju n e- -------------------- December
---- -- 1931: June
---- D ecem ber___

Average
net price
$1.21
1.18
1.18
1.16

Index

127.4
124.2
124. 2
122. 1

458

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

R e ta il Prices of E lectricity in th e U n ited S ta te s

A

VERAGE retail prices per kilowatt hour of electricity for domesl tic consumption in the United States and index numbers based
on the price in December, 1913, are shown on the following table:

A V E R A G E N E T P R IC E P E R K IL O W A T T -H O U R O F E L E C T R IC IT Y A N D IN D E X N U M ­
B E R IN S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S O F E A C H Y E A R 1913 TO 1931 F O R T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S
[December 1913=100.0]

D ate

1913:
1914:
1915:
1916:
1917:
1918:

D ecem ber___
D ecem ber___
D ecem ber___
D ecem ber___
Decem ber.
June__ . ____
D ecem ber___
1919: Ju n e________
D ecem ber___
1920: June__ _ _ _ _
D ecem ber___
1921: M ay .
____
Septem ber___
D ecem ber___


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

Aver­
age
price
per
kilo­
w atthour

In ­
dex

D ate

100.0
96.3
93.8
91.4
88.9
88.9
93.8
93.8
92.6
92.6
95.1
95.1
95.1
95.1

1922: M arch______
Ju n e________
Septem ber___
D ecem ber___
1923: M arch_____
June
Septem ber___
D ecem ber___
1924: M arch
June
Septem ber___
D ecem b er,. _
1925: J u n e ... _____
D ecem ber___

Cents
8.1
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7.2
7.6
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7

Aver­
age
price In ­
per
kilo­ dex
w atthour

D ate

Cents
7.7
7.6
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.3
7.3

95.1
93.8
93.8
92.6
92.6
92 fi
91.4
91.4
91.4
91 4
91.4
91.4
90.1
90.1

1926: June
D ecem ber___
1927: June________
D ecem ber___
1928: June

A ver­
age
price In ­
per
kilo­ dex
w atthour

Cents
72
7.2
7.1
7.1
70

88 9
88.9
87.7
87.7
8fi 4

1929: June
... .
D ecem ber___
1930: June

fi fi

6.7
6.7

82.7
82.7
81 5

1931: Ju n e ______ _
D e ce m b e r...

6.5
6.5

80.2
80.2

W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES

459

In dex N u m b ers of W h olesale Prices, 1890 to 1931

HE following table shows the index numbers of wholesale prices
by years from 1890 to 1931, inclusive, and by months from Jan­
uary, 1930, to December, 1931, inclusive, for the all-commodities
group. The base used in computing these indexes is the average for
the calendar year 1926. The number of commodities since 1913
included in the compilation is 550. Prior to 1913 the indexes are
based on a more limited number of items, but for comparative pur­
poses these index numbers are comparable throughout the entire
period. Beginning with January, 1932, the number will be increased
from 550 to 784, with the revised information extending back to and
including January, 1926. Also, beginning with January, 1932,
revised weights will be introduced into these compilations.

T

IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S , A L L C O M M O D IT IE S , B Y Y E A R S F R O M
1890-1931, IN C L U S IV E , A N D B Y M O N T H S F R O M JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO D E C E M B E R , 1931,
IN C L U S IV E

Y ear

Index
num ber

Year

Index
num ber

1S90
1891
1892
1898
1894

56. 2
55. 8
52. 2
53.4
47.9

1911 _______________
1912________ ________
1913________ _______
1914
_____________
1915____ _____ _____ —

64.9
69.1
69.8
68.1
69.5

1895
1896
1897
1898

48. 8
46. 5
46.6
48. 5

1916
_____________
1917
______ _____ _
1918________________
1919___ ____ ________

85.5
117. 5
131.3
138.6

1899
1900
1901
1902

52. 2
56.1
55. 3
58. 9

1920 ________________
1921________________
1922 ________________
1923 ..............- ................

154.4
97.6
96.7

1903
1904
1905
1906

59. 6
59. 7
60.1
61. 8

1924 ________________
1925 ________________
1926_________________
1927 __________ _____

98.1
103.5

1907
1908
1909
1910

65. 2
62. 9
67. 6
70.4

1928 ________________
1929 _______________
1930_________________
1931 ________________

97.7
96. 5
86.3
71.1

100.6
100.0
95.4

Y ear and m onth

Index
num ber

1930—J a n u a r y ________
F eb ru ary ________
M a r c h .._ ______
A p r il....................
M a y -----------------Ju n e ____________
J u ly ____________
A ugust ------------S eptem ber..
O ctober..
. ...
N ovem ber___ . . .
December ---------

93.4
92.1
90.8
90.7
89.1
86.8
84.0
84.0
84.2
82.6
80.4
78.4

1931—Jan u ary ________
F eb ru ary -----------M arch_______ .
A pril------------- .
M a y -----------------Ju n e _________ .
J u ly ____________
A ugust--------------Septem ber.. -----O ctober---- --------N ovem ber---------December_______

77.0
75.5
74.5
73.3
71.3
70.0
70.0
70.2
69. 1
68.4
68.3
66.3

Index N u m b ers of W h olesale Prices in D ecem b er an d Year,
1931

HE index numoer of wholesale prices as computed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor
shows a decrease for December. This index number, which includes
550 commodities or price series weighted according to the importance
of each article and based on the average prices for 1926 as 100.0, was
66.3 for December as compared with 68.3 for November, showing a
decrease of nearly 3 per cent. When compared with December, 1930,
with an index number of 78.4, a decrease of about 15 per cent has been
recorded.

T


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

460

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Farm products as a group decreased 5 per cent from the November
level, due to lower prices for corn, oats, rye, wheat, calves, cows,
steers, hogs, lambs, poultry, dried beans, cotton, eggs, lemons, oranges,
and tobacco. Barley, onions, potatoes, and hay, on the other hand,
averaged higher in December.
Among foods price decreases were reported for butter, fresh and
cured meats, flour, lard, raw and granulated sugar, corn meal, and
evaporated milk, resulting in a net decrease of 4 per cent for the group
as a whole. Coffee, oleomargarine, bananas, and rice averaged higher
than in the month before.
Decreases in the average prices for most hides and skins, chrome
calf leather, several types of shoes, and suit cases and bags caused the
hides and leather products group to decline 2% per cent.
T R E N D OF W H O LESA LE

P R IC E S .

In the group of textile products cotton goods, silk and rayon, and
other textile products declined sharply, while woolen and worsted
goods declined slightly from November to December. The textile
group as a whole declined about 2){ per cent.
Advancing prices of anthracite and bituminous coal were offset by
declining prices for gas, Pennsylvania crude petroleum, fuel oil, and
gasoline, with the result that the index number for the fuel and lighting
group as a whole was forced down 2 per cent.
Up and down fluctuations in the prices of the items composing the
metals and metal products group produced little change on the group
as a whole, but with a downward tendency. Iron and steel products,
nonferrous metals, and other metal products decreased, while agricul­
tural implements and automobiles showed no change.

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

Wh o lesale

and

r e t a il

46 i

t r ic e s

Paint materials and other building materials declined in December.
No change was reported for brick, cement, and structural steel, while
a minor increase was reported for lumber. The group as a whole
showed a decrease of less than 1 per cent.
Minor price recessions during December occurred in drugs and
pharmaceuticals and mixed fertilizers, while chemicals advanced
slightly and fertilizer materials showed no change. Both furniture and
furnishings in the group of house-furnishing goods continued to
decline in the month.
Prices of cattle feed, paper and pulp, crude rubber, automobile
tires, and other miscellaneous articles showed decreases during the
month. The group of miscellaneous commodities as a whole averaged
5 per cent lower than in November.
, 17
Raw materials, semimanufactured articles and finished products all
averaged lower than in the month before. _In the large group of nonagricultural commodities, including all articles other than farm pioducts, and all commodities other than farm products and foods December
prices showed a downward tendency.
.
Between November and December decreases took place m 24U
instances, increases in 56 instances, while in 254 instances no change
occurred.
IN
X N
UM
R S OF W H O L E S A L E PM
R IC
S IE
BY
U NDUE jiA
i'iu
mB
D Ei ,™
O DEIT
S G R O U P S A N D S U B G R O U P S OF COM[1926 = 100.0]

C om m odity groups and subgroups

December, November, December,
1931
19S1
1930

Y ear
1931

Purchasing
power of
the dollar,
December,
1931

All commodities-------------

78.4

68.3

66.3

71.1

$1. 508

Farm products_______________
G rains----------------------------Livestock and p o u ltry ..........
O ther farm products----------

75.2
64.0
76.3
78.1

58.7
51.3
55. 7
63.1

55.7
47.0
51.7
61.2

64.8
53.0
63.9
69.2

1.795
2.128
1. 934
1. 634

73.8
82.1
75.4
69.4

1.468
1.250
1. 582
1. 515

85.9
60.2

Foods_______________________
B u tte r, cheese and m ilk---M eats___________________
O ther foods______________

81.8
89.4
• 89.2
74.5 I

70.9
80.9
67.7
68.5

68.1

H ides and leather products----H ides and s k i n s . . . . . -------L eather________ ____ ____
Boots and shoes--------------O ther leather products-----

91.2
69.4
91.5
97. 7
104.2

81.3
49.0
78.8
92. 5

86.2

1.259
2.049
1.272

101.0

79.4
48.8
78.6
89.2
99.2

93.7
101.3

1.008

Textile products........ .............. —
Cotton goods____________
Silk and ray o n ---------------Woolen and w orsted goods.
O ther textile p roducts------

72.4
79. 7
51. 7
82. 3
57. Í

60.7
64.7
43.9
71.9
47.4

59.2
62.8
42.0
71.5
45.0

65.3
71.3
45.1
76.1
52.6

1. 689
1.592
2.381
1. 399

Fuel and lighting m aterials.
A nthracite coal----------B itum inous coal--------Coke..................................
Gas__________________
Petroleum pro d u cts----

70.5
89.6
89.1
83.8
95.4
51.1

65.0
94.2
83.7
81.4
.1
42.5

63.6
94.8
83.8
81.1

1. 572
1.055
1.193
1.233

39.6

63.4
91.1
84.6
82.4
(>)
39.5

85.8
85.2
52.6
92.1
99.4
90.3

87.6
87.0
59.9
94.0
98.9
92.9

1.166
1.174
1. 901
1. 086
1.006
1.107

M etals and m etal products. .
Iron and steel--------------Nonferrous m etals--------A gricultural implements.
Automobiles--------------O ther m etal products—
i D ata not yet available.


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

90.0
88.0

69. 7
94.9
99.5
95.2

100

86.2
86 .0

53.5
92.1
99.4
90.5

80.0
63.2
66.0

O

1.121

2. 222

2.525

462

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S A N D SU B G R O U P S O F C O M ­
M O D IT IE S —C ontinued

C om m odity groups and subrgoups

December, November, December,
1931
1930
1931

Year,
1931

Purchasing
power of
the dollar,
December,
1931

Building m aterials_______________________
L u m b er________________ _____ . ____
Brick_____ __________________________
C em ent . . _________________________
Structural steel_______________________
P a in t m aterials. . . . ____ . . _____ ..
O ther building m aterials. -------------- .

84.4
78. 1
81. 6
90.6
81. 7
72.4
97.1

74.0
64.2
79. 5
74.6
81.7
64.6
88.1

73.3
64.3
79. 5
74.6
81.7
62.8
86.3

77.6
68.6
80.6
79.4
83.1
68.3
91.3

$1. 364
1. 555
1. 258
1.340
1. 224
1. 592
1. 159

Chemicals and drugs_________________ . . .
C hem icals.. . . . . . . . . . .
...
Drugs and p h a rm a c e u tic a ls ..._____ .
Fertilizer m aterials___________________
M ixed fertilizers______ _____
_____

84.8
89. 1
65. 5
81.4
90.6

74. 7
78.8
60.7
70.1
77.7

74.7
79.0
60.4
70.1
77.1

78.0
81.2
62.4
76.8
82.0

1. 339
1. 266
1. 656
1.427
1. 297

H ousefurnishing goods. _____ . ---------F u rn itu re ___________________ _______
Furnishings______ _ ________________

91.3
95.5
87.6

83.1
84. 5
81.8

81.0
82. 7
79.5

87.4
91.0
84.3

1.235
1. 209
1. 258

M iscellaneous___ ________ . . . ---------- -C attle feed_______________
_ .
P a p e r and p u lp ____ _______________
R u b b er__________ .
....
----Autom obile tires. -------------- --------O ther miscellaneous___ _____________

66.9
78. 2
83.6
18.6
51. 3
86.9

59.7
59.8
80.8
9.6
45.7
77.7

56.9
53.9
79.2
9.5
41.2
75.2

61.3
62.7
81.1
12.8
45.3
81.6

1. 757
1. 855
1.263
10. 526
2.427
1. 330

R aw m aterials_____ . . . . . ------- ------- -Sem im anufactured articles ______________
Finished products______ _ --------- --------N onagricultural commodities _. _______ . .
All commodities less farm products and foods.

74. 2
74.3
81.9
79.4
79.0

62.0
04.4
73. 2
71.0
71.8

60.2
62.2
71.0
69.3
70.4

65.6
68.4
75.4
73.0
73.3

1. 661
1. 608
1.408
1.443
1.420


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

COST OF LIVING
C h an ges in C ost of L iving in th e U n ited S ta te s

A FTER several years of comparative stability in the cost of living,
A a definite downward movement was witnessed m the past two
vears. From December, 1929, to December, 1931, the cost of living
decreased 14.9 per cent. In December, 1931,'the cost of living
declined 3.0 per cent from that of June, 1931. The cost of living
index in December, 1931, 145.8, as based on 1913 as 100, was the
lowest recorded during the past 14 years, being only 2.4 per cent
higher than it was in December, 1917.
.
,
In the period of inflation, prior to the war, the prices of iood,
clothing, and house-furnishing goods were considerably higher than
the prices of the other commodities. The high level after the war was
reached in June, 1920, for most of the items with the exception ol
rents, which continued to advance through 1924, and miscellaneous
items which were still increasing through 1930 and have since then
shown only a slight drop.
i.0
The cost of living still stands well above the level ol 1913 14.3 per
cent above for food prices, 35.5 per cent for clothing, 36.2 per cent lor
rent, 68 per cent for fuel and light, 67.1 per cent for house-lurmshmg
woods and for miscellaneous items 105.4 per cent. For all items
combined the per cent is 45.8. In some instances the current reces­
sion has tended to restore the 1913 situation. Food and clothing
stand closer to the earlier level than at any time since 1916. 1he
degree of price decline from December, 1929, to December,1931 is
considerably less than the drop of 19.5 per cent from June, 1 0 - 0 , to
December 1921. While there is no evidence that the bottom ol me
decline has been reached, the rate of recession has been somewhat
retarded in the past 6 months.
. ,v •
Table 1 shows the index numbers which represent changes m the six
groups of items entering into living costs in the United States from
1913 to December, 1931. These index numbers include prices
obtained from 51 cities on food and from 32 cities on various articles
of clothing, rent, fuel and light, house-fumishmg goods, and miscel­
laneous items, weighted in accordance with their importance m the
family budget, and based on 1913 as 100.
.
Since the food group represents the largest and most significant
expenditure of the wage-earner’s family—about one-third ol the
working-man’s budget—the trend of these prices will be considered
first In December, 1931, the food prices were 16.7 per cent lower
than in December, 1930, and 3.4 per cent lower than m the preceding
6-month period ending December, 1931. They have been declining
steadily in the past two years and the present index is 9.3 per cent
lower than the index in December, 1916. Since the peak of prices m
June, 1920, the decrease in food in December, 1931, is 47.8 per cent.
During the previous depression in 1921 the drop m food prices from
June 1920, to December, 1921, was 31.6 per cent and the drop from
December, 1929. to December, 1931, was 27,7 per cent.
463


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

464

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

Clothing prices are 7.2 per cent less than six months ago In the
year period from December, 1930, to December, 1931, the decrease
,o o „ r i ltT i m a g e d 11.4 per cent. Considering the peak of Jane,
1920, the decline averaged 52.9 per cent.
in?nntS jn1? o Cember’ 1931>were 7 Per cent lower than in December,
1J30, and 10.3 per cent lower than in December, 1929. Since June
1925 rents have been on the decline. Due to the enactment of rent
laws during the war period, this item did not increase in the same
degree or at the same time as the prices of most of the other com­
modities. Since the^ peak of rents was reached in December, 1924
the movement of this item has been continuously downward’ The
December, 1931, index figure is still 36.2 per cent higher than in 1913
and compares favorably with June, 1920. Changes in the housing
standard and other local influences affect the rent situation in the
different cities and therefore _rent figures should be used only to
indicate fluctuations in rents in the various cities as compared with
the rent level m that city in the base period.
Fuel and light figures showed a decrease of 4.1 per cent in 1931 as
compared with 1930. The increase between June, 1931, and December, 1931, averaged 1.6 per cent due to seasonal fluctuations, prin­
cipally m the price of coal. The trend of this group has not been
io 9 i i j° that of other groups. The drop of commodity prices in
1931 .had very little affect on the prices of coal, gas, and electricity.
t
h°use furnishings declined 25.5 per cent from the peak in
June, 1920, to December, 1921. The decline continued until Deceminoo 9 can uPward trend was evidenced that lasted through
1J-3. bince then the drop has been constant and in the period
between December, 1929, and December, 1931, house-furnishing
gooe s declined 15.5 per cent. The drop of the year period ending
ecember, 1931, was 11.3 per cent; for the 6-month period between
June and December, 1931, it was 5.6 per cent.
Miscellaneous items did not change materially as compared with
the pievious year. The trend of individual items comprising this
group is not uniform. Street-car fares have been on the upward
lend m recent years. The slight increases reported in five cities
iQ9 Q o l m S penod were occasioned by tobacco prices. Between
, . and 1931 miscellaneous items decreased only 0.8 per cent, and
curing the year period from 1930 to 1931 the decrease was only 1 1
per cent. 4 or the current period the drop was only 0.6 per cent.


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

465

COST OF LIVING
TE N T E E m O ? N T O C o “ T O T U v r a
Index num bers

D a te
Food

C loth­
ing

R en t

HouseFuel and furnish­ M iscel­
laneous
ing
light
goods

A ll
it e m s

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

1914__ ____________________
191 5
m fi
___ ----------1917__ ____________________
1918_______________________

105.0
105.0
126.0
157.0
187.0

101.0
104.7
120.0
149.1
205.3

(*)
101.5
102.3
100.1
109.2

101.0
101.0
108.4
124.1
147.9

104.0
110.6
127.8
150.6
213.6

103.0
10*7
1U<.
119
9
Ilo. O
1lw . O
K
1
A
K
IDO. oQ

103.0
105.1
118.3
142.4
174.4

214.5
268.7
287.5
258.5

114.2
125. 3
134.9
151.1

145.6
156.8
171.9
194.9

225.1
263. 5
292.7
285.4

om
ZUI.
or»Q o

— -

184.0
197.0
219.0
178.0

173. 2

D ecem ber 1919______________________

‘A
i
¿[JO.4

177.3
199.3
216.5
200.4

TVTqv 1QS>1
--Septem ber, 1921_____________________
D ecem ber 1921__ _______________ ____

144.7
153.1
149.9

222.6
192.1
184.4

159.0
160.1
161.4

181.6
180.9
181.1

247.7
218.0

208.8
oZU/. oq
oUO. o
Z

180.4
177.3
174.3

T\/Tcirph 1Q99,
June 1Q92

175.5
172. 3
171.3
171.5

160.9
160.9
161.1
161.9

175.8
174.2
183.6
186.4

206.2
202.9
202.9
208.2

203.3
om
ZUI. £
om
ZUI. 1i
200.

166.9
166.4
166.3

X) ecem ber 1922___ *___________________

138.7
140.7
139.7
146.6

Junp 1Q92
_____
--------DCpit/illUCl,
------- —
D ecem ber 1923__ ___ ________________

141.9
144.3
149.3
150.3

174.4
174.9
176.5
176.3

162.4
163.4
164.4
166.5

186.2
180.6
181.3
184.0

217. 6
222, 2

200.3
onn q
O
om
ZUI. i1
201. 7

168.8
169 7
172.1

221.3

A v era g e, 1913---------------------------D ecem ber
D ecem ber
D ecem ber
D ecem ber,
D ecem ber

1

D ecem ber iQ9,o

_ _ __

_ _ _ _ - __ - _____ --

222.4

A

A(\

(\n
(\AQ
o
o

¿KJKJ.

170.4

143.7
142.4
146.8
151.5

175.8
174.2
172.3
171.3

167.0
168.0
168.0
168.2

182. 2.
177.3
179.1
180.5

216.0

201.1
om Ii
ZUI.
om I
ZUI.
om
ZUI. /

155.0
165. 5
159.7
161.8

170.6
169.4
168.2
166.7

167.4
167.1
165.4
164 2

176.5
186.9
180.7
188.3

214.3
214.3
210.4
207.7

202.7
or\9 oK
ZUo.
203. 3
zuo. n
y

173.5
177 Q

158.5
155. 9
152.6
155.8

164.9
162.9
162.6
161.9

162.1
160.2
157.6
155.9

180.8
183.2
177.2
181.3

205.2
204.6
201.1
199.7

204.5
OAK 1I
ZUo.
ZUo. o
207.1

173.4

161.3
160.5
158.9
153.0

153.7
151.9
149.6
146. 5

175.2
178.7
172. 8
175.0

198.5
197.7
195.7
188.3

207.3
207. 9
208.
208.1

170.2

D ecem ber 1930____________________ —

154.8
158.0
147. 9
137.2
118.3
114.3

146.0
135.5

142.0
136.2

165.4
168.0

177.0
167.1

206.6
205. 4

150.3

D ecem ber 1931______________________

D/ouDiiiut/i, i*'“"
Tuna 1Q97
T itti A

1Q9S'

---------

__ __
_

_ _ -

__ __
- - - - -

1
i

009

170 fi

175 6

171 3

o

1 No change.

Table 2 shows the per cent of decrease in the price of electricity in
32 cities since December, 1913. Considering the year period from
December, 1930, to December, 1931, this utility decreased 16 per
cent but no change was reported for the current 6-month period the
decline from 1913 to December, 1931, still being represented by 19.8
per cent.


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

466
T

a b le

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
2. P E R C E N T O F D E C R E A S E IN T H E P R IC E OF E L E C T R IC IT Y A T S P E C IF IE D
P E R IO D S AS C O M P A R E D W IT H D E C E M B E R , 1913
Per cent
of de­
crease
from D e­
cember,
1913

D ate

D ecember, 1914.
D ecember, 1915.
D ecember, 1916.
December, 1917.
December, 1918June, 1919_____
D ecember, 1919..
June, 1920_____
December, 1920..
M ay, 1921_____
September, 1921.
December, 1921..
M arch, 1922____

3.7
fi. 2
8.6
11.1
6.2
6.2
7.4
7.4
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9

Per cent
of de­
crease
from D e­
cember,
1913

D ate

June, 1922_____
September, 1922.
December, 1922M arch, 1923___
June, 1923_____
September, 1923.
December, 1923.
M arch, 1924____
June, 1924_____
September, 1924.
December, 1924.
June, 1925_____
December, 1925.

6.2
6.2
7.4
7.4
7.4
8.6
8.6
8. 6
8.6

8.6
8.6

Per cent
of de­
crease
from D e­
cember,
1913

D ate

June, 1926_____
December, 1926.
June, 1927_____
December, 1927.
June, 1928_____
December, 1928~_
June, 1929_____
December, 1929.
June, 1930______
December, 1930.
June, 1931_____
December, 1931.

11.1
11.1

12.3
12.3
13. 6
14.8
17.3
17.3
18.5
18.5
19.8
19.8

The per cent of decrease in the total cost of living in each of the
32 cities and in the United States, from June, 1920, December 1930
and June, 1931, to December, 1931, is presented in Table 3 In the
period between June, 1920, and December, 1931, the decreases in the
3*. cities ranged from 28.1 to 39.9 per cent and averaged 32.7 per cent
i I V n!fed1States- In the year from December, 1930, to Decem­
ber, 1931, the decreases ranged from 6.6 to 12.9 per cent and averaged
9.3 per cent for the United States.
Considering the 6-month period from June, 1931, to December, 1931
the decreases for the 32 cities ranged from 0.9 to 5.7 per cent, and
for the United States averaged 3 per cent.
T

a ble

3 .—

P E R .C E N T O F D E C R E A S E IN CO ST OF L IV IN G IN S P E C IF I F D C T T T F ^
JU N E , 1920, D E C E M B E R , 1930, A N D JU N E , 1931,TO D E C E M B E R . m P
Per cent of decrease from-

C ity

Decem­
June,
1920, to ber, 1930,
to D e­
Decem­
ber, 1931 cember,
1931

A tla n ta _____
B altim ore___
B irm ingham .
B oston_____
Buffalo_____
Chicago_____
C in c in n a ti...
Cleveland___
D enver_____
D etro it_____
H ou sto n ____
Indian ap o lis..
Jacksonville...
Kansas C ity ..
Los Angeles...
M em phis____
M inn eap o lis..

36.1
29.2
36.3
31.6
31.5
31.9
28.1
31.9
33.3
39.9
33.5
34.0
35.1
34.5
28.1
32.0
28.8

10.2

8.4
12.9
9.5
10.4
9.9
9.3
9.7
8.6
12.2

8.8
10.5
10.5
8.2
8.2

9.9
7.7

June,
1931, to
Decem­
ber, 1931

4.6
2.6
4.2
2.0
4.1
3.7
3.0
2.8
3.4
5.7
2.8
3.7
4.7
3.9
2.1
3.8
2.8

P R m vr

Per cent of decrease from—C ity

M obile__________
N ew Orleans_____
N ew Y ork_______
N orfolk_________
P hiladelphia_____
P ittsb u rg h ______
P o rtland, M e ____
P o rtland, Oreg___
R ichm ond_______
St. Louis_________
San Francisco____
S avannah________
Scranton_________
S eattle___________
W ashington_____
A v e ra g e , U n ite d
States_________

Decem­
June,
June,
1920, to ber, 1930, 1931, to
to D e­
Decem­
Decem­
ber, 1931 cember, ber, 1931
1931
33.3
29.3
30.7
33.0
29.5
29.9
30.1
34.2
30.3
31.9
29.5
36.1
28.4
29.7
30.9
32.7

10.6

9.0
9.3
9.7
8.5
9.3
7.7
6.8
8.2
11.0
8.8
9.7
9.3

3.5
.9

3.2
3.4
3.1
3.6
2.1
2.4
2.1
4.5
3.3
4.8
3.0
2.8
2.8
3.0

representative number of grocers, meat dealers, bakers, and
airymen m each of the 51 cities report regularly by mail their retail
price on each of 43 standard articles of food. These prices are
—
A


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

467

COST OF LIVING

weighted according to their importance in the family budget and then
applied to the average food price in the year 1913 in order to obtain
the index figure for the current period.
Retail prices on coal, wood, gas, and electricity are also reported
by mail. All other cost of living data, covering prices on 32 articles
of male clothing, 38 articles of female clothing, 28 house-furnishing
commodities, and 14 miscellaneous items are secured by personal
visits of agents of the bureau.
Rent data are secured from real-estate operators and trust com­
panies for dwellings such as are occupied by wage earners and moder­
ately salaried families and the same dwellings are reported as long as
they continue to be representative. The number of rents secured m
each city varies according to the population and ranges from 450 to
In the practice of economy, and due to the high cost of printing, the
bureau is now publishing only the initial figures for the individual
cities, for the periods of high prices, and for the 6-month periods
beginning with June, 1928, through December, 1931. Data on piices
for all intervening periods can be obtained from the Monthly Dab or
Review of August, 1931.
.
, . , 1A
Table 4 shows the per cent of change m the cost of living lor 19
cities for each of 6 groups of items from December, 1914, to December,
1931.
T able 4 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO D E C E M B E R ,

Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for
C ity and date
Food

B altim ore, M d.:

Clothing

R ent

HouseFuel and furnish- Miscel­
laneous
light
ng goods

All
item s

D ecember, 1915
June, 1920--------December, 1920 _
June, 1928--------D ecember, 1928_.
June, 1929--------December, 1929_
June, 1930--------D ecember, 1930_.
June, 1931-------December, 1931.

i 4.1
no. 9
75. 6
52.9
51 9
53 8
56. 7
47. 2
36.9
18. 7
14.4

2.7
191.3
159.5
68.1
68.3
67.5
67.2
65.9
58.1
51.6
41.9

i 0.2
41.6
49.5
66.7
65.7
65.2
63.4
62.4
61.3
59.8
56.3

0.5
57.6
79.0
82.0
87.3
80.7
86.1
80.9
85.6
78.7
83.9

5.6
191.8
181.9
103.2
102.0
100.4
99.4
95.6
86.0
72.1
66.8

1 1.4
111.4
112.9
118.7
120.9
119.8
120.2
127.0
126.5
125.6
124.5

i 1.4
114.3
96. 8
73. 7
73.9
73.8
75.1
71.6
65. 8
55.8
51. 8

D ecember, 1915June, 1920-------December, 1920June, 1928.........December, 1928_
June, 1929-------D ecember, 1929June, 1930-------D ecember, 1930June, 1931-------December, 1931-

1 3
105. 0
74 4
45. 0
50. 5
47. 1
53. 2
43. 7
36. 7
14. 6
12.8

6.6
211.1
192.7
80.2
80.4
79.0
79.0
78.3
72.6
66.7
58.0

1.1
16.2
25.8
52.2
51.6
50.7
49.2
47.1
44.7
41.8
38.4

1.1
83.6
106.0
90.4
96.7
87.7
94.3
88.7
95.7
85.3
86.0

8.4
233.7
226.4
123.1
118.4
118.4
118.0
113.6
107.6
97.4
89.9

1.6
91.8
96.6
90.2
94.4
92.1
92.9
92.5
92.3
92.3
91.3

1.6
110.7
97.4
64. 8
68.2
65. 4
68.4
63.1
59. 2
47.1
44.1

2 4
115. 7
78. 5
51 6
54 9
54. 6
57. 9
47. 2
35 8
16.0
6.7

8.9
210.6
168.7
71.7
72.4
71.2
71.0
70.0
62. 0
52.3
45.4

1.2
46.6
48.5
72.7
69.4
67.0
66.5
65.0
62.5
56.5
50.4

3.2
69.8
74.9
126.7
128.5
123.2
127.0
122.9
126.7
121.3
124.8

7.1
199.7
189.2
105.4
104.2
104.4
104.2
105.0
96.4
84.0
72.4

3.5
101.9
107.4
117.8
117.8
118.9
119.1
120.4
118.4
116.4
114.2

3.5
121.5
101. 7
78. 7
79. 6
78. 8
80.0
76. 0
69.4
58. 3
5i. 8

B oston, M ass.:

Buffalo, N. Y.:

D ecember, 1915
June, 1920-------December, 1920June, 1928-------D ecember, 1928.
June, 1929-------December, 1929.
June, 1930-------December, 1930.
June, 1931------December, 1931.

• Decrease.


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

468

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T abI e 4 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO D E C E M B E R ,
1931—Continued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food

C h ic ag o , HI.:
D ecember, 1915_________________
June, 1920______________ ______
December, 1920 _________________
June, 1928
______ _ _______
D ecember, 1928 ______ _________
June, 1929_____________________
D ecember, 1929 _ ____________ __
June, 1930______________________
D ecember, 1930 ________________
June, 1931'
__________
D ecember, 1931 _________________
C lev elan d , O h io :
D ecember, 1915_________________
June, 1920_____ ____________ D ecember, 1920 ______ _____ _
June, 1928______________________
D ecember, 1928_________________
June, 1929- ____________________
December, 1929. - ______________
June, 1930- _ _________ _______
D ecember, 1930 __ _ -- - ____
June, 1931__
____ _______ _____
D ecember, 1931_________________
D e tro it, M ic h .:
December, 1915
_ __________
June, 1920. _ ___
D ecember, 1920- ____June, 1928__ _ _ . ________
December, 1928 ___- _____
. June, 1929____ ___ __________ ___
December, 1929 ______
__
June, 1930
December, 1930 - __ - ____
June, 1 9 3 1 ___ _ _ _ ______ _____
D ecember, 1931__- - ________
H o u s to n , T ex.:
D ecember, 1915_______________ June, 1920____ ___ - _____ _____ Dp.eemher, 1920
June, 1928
- _____ __
December, 1928. - . ________
June, 1929- _______ ___________
D ecember, 1929 _ . ______ _ _ __
June, 1930_______ _ __ ________
D ecember, 1930 _______ _____
June, 1931____________
D ecember, 1931_________________
Jac k so n v ille , F la .:
D ecember, 1915_________________
June, 1920_ - __________________
December, 1920 ____________
June, 1928
_ _ __ _________
December, 1928___________ -- June, 1929__
__ ______________
December, 1929 ________ __ . .
June, 1930. - _________________
D ecember, 1930 _________ ______
June, 1931- ______ ______________
D ecember, 1931__________ _ _
L o s A ngeles, C alif.:
December, 1915
_ __________
June, 1920 _ - __________
December, 1920 ________
June, 1928
- __ __________ D ecember, 1928_________ ______
June, 1929- _____ 1______________
December, 1929- _____________
June, 1930
________________
December, 1930________ _ _____
June, 1931 . _________________
D ecember. 1931------- ---------------i Decrease.


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

Clothing

R ent

House- M iscel­
Fuel and furnish­
light ing goods laneous

AH
ite m s

2.7
120.0
70.5
59.4
62.4
63.0
67.3
56.9
45.6
26.7
23.1

7.5
205.3
158.6
53.3
52.1
51.5
49.2
47.7
37.2
30.3
19.5

i0 .1
30.1
48.9
86. 8
83.6
80.3
77.2
75.1
71.1
64.4
56.5

i 0.9
60.4
83.5
51. 2
56.5
50.7
56.7
51.5
54.8
49.5
52.5

5.9
215.9
205.8
96.0
97.2
97.4
97.0
92.1
82.7
67.7
57.8

3.0
87.5
96.5
98.5
101.7
101.7
102. 9
101.7
104.5
103.3
98.6

3.0
114.6
93.3
71.5
73.1
72.3
73.7
69.1
62.2
51.8
46.2

1.4
118.7
71.7
50.6
48.5
50.6
47.0
42.0
29.5
9.6
4.1

2.0
185. 1
156.0
65.7
63.9
63.9
63.2
61.6
52.1
41.8
36.8

.1
47.3
80.0
61.8
60.5
59.5
58.9
56.4
55.3
48.6
41.0

.3
90.3
94.5
161.3
163.7
160.5
163. 1
160. 2
162.5
158.0
159.5

4.7
186.5
176.8
90.2
89.2
89.4
88.8
87.7
75.5
64. 4
58.3

1.4
117.9
134. 0
118.1
119.0
117.9
118.3
125.3
124.2
118.6
119.0

1.4
120.3
107.3
76.3
75.4
75.7
74.3
73.3
66.2
54.4
50.0

4.1
132. 0
75.6
53.5
55.7
59.2
57.9
47. 6
32.6
14.7
7.7

2.3
208.8
176.1
64.3
62.5
62.5
61.7
59. 6
50.2
44.0
33.1

2.1
68.8
108.1
79.1
78.2
77.3
77.8
73.2
60.0
45.4
31.0

1.6
74.9
104.5
73.2
77.0
72.8
77.5
67.2
71.0
61.4
59.3

8.7
206.7
184.0
81.4
81.2
81.2
79.4
76.7
66.5
58.8
49.3

3.5
141.3
144.0
128.8
131.1
130.4
130.6
131.1
125.1
123.7
118.1

3.5
136.0
118.6
76.4
77.4
78.1
77.8
72.3
61.6
50.4
41.9

i 1.0
107.5
83. 2
45.6
51.4
51.1
55.8
43.0
32.8
11.2
9.5

2.7
211.3
187.0
85.8
86.4
84.7
84.1
82.8
65.6
63.8
52.5

12.3
25.3
35.1
30.4
30. 1
27.5
27.1
25.7
23.8
20.0
12.3

1.9
55.1
74.2
29.2
33.6
29.1
31.8
25.3
24.0
18.9
16.8

6.1
213.9
208. 2
132.0
131.1
129.0
129.5
127.2
113.8
110.0
99.1

1.3
90.4
103.9
89.7
89.3
92.1
92.5
92.5
92.3
92.1
92.9

1.3
112, 2
104.0
64. 1
66.4
66.1
68.0
62.3
54. 7
45.2
41.1

1.3
90. 1
65.6
36.4
40.0
37.4
40.8
31.9
28.4
8.4
1.4

10.5
234.0
209.3
85.0
84.6
83.9
82.4
80.4
71.9
65.4
49.7

i 6.9
28.9
34.1
32.3
27.4
19.8
13.2
3.2
i 1.5
i 5.9
i 9.7

(2)
72.6
92.6
74.4
78.9
77.1
75.0
70.6
66.3
64.0
61.0

15.1
224.2
222.3
119.2
119.6
117.8
113.9
110.5
103.3
89.9
81.7

1.3
102.8
105.6
105.1
105.1
105.1
101.0
102.4
101.0
100.2
97.6

1.3
116.5
106.2
68.3
69. 1
66.9
65.8
61.0
56.9
47.4
40.5

14. 1
90.8
62.7
34.9
44.7
41.2
40.9
30.9
21.0
3.1
5.7

2.8
184.5
166.6
71.4
70.5
69.3
69.3
68. 1
60. 2
50. 7
40.0

12.7
42.6
71.4
54.1
49.8
45.2
43.7
39.8
36.9
31.3
25.7

.4
53.5
53.5
56.5
51.5
50.6
51.4
45. 6
47.6
47. 0
46.6

6.3
202.2
202.2
110.7
108.4
106. 5
105. 9
103.6
93.0
77.8
71.2

i 1.9
86.6
100.6
107. 2
110.9
111. 1
111.7
110.2
110.2
107.7
103.5

1 1.9
101.7
96.7
67. 4
71.0
68.9
68.7
63. 7
58. 1
48.2
45. 1

2 No change.

469

COST OF LIVING

T able 4 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST OF L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO D E C E M B E R ,
1931—Continued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food

Mobile, Ala.:

Clothing

R ent

HouseFuel and furnish­ M iscel­
light ing goods laneous

AH
item s

_____________
______
1920
_
____
- - ___
_____
1928
__
__ __ __ ____
1929
_______ _____ ___ 1930
__
_ __
__ _______ _ - 1931
_ _________

i 1.0
110. 5
73.5
45.4
49.6
47.5
49.0
39.6
33.0
12.1
7.4

2.0
137.4
122.2
47.5
48. 1
47.2
47.2
46.8
40.0
34.1
26.2

' 1.9
34. 6
53.6
41.0
41.6
41.0
40.6
38.9
36.3
32.5
24.6

(2)
86.3
122.3
90.0
92. 1
84.0
85.8
81.2
8 58.6
49.6
49.7

4.1
177.9
175.4
93.3
92.3
87.9
87.3
85.6
73.5
57.5
50.6

1 0.4
100.3
100.7
107.3
108.3
108.1
108.3
108.1
107. 5
105 4
102.3

i 0.4
107.0
93.3
63.5
65.7
64.0
64.8
60.3
54.4
43.0
38.0

___________
_ _
1920 __ __ _
___________ - 1928
______ _
______ ___ ____
1929
_ _ _____ _
___________
1930
__ ________
_______
1931. _ _ _ - _____

1.3
105.3
73.5
47.5
53.0
50.6
54.9
43.7
35.9
19.6
14.4

4.8
241.4
201.8
90.3
88.4
87.8
85.9
85.5
82.2
67.6
56.5

'. 1
32.4
38. 1
69.3
68.6
67.6
66.1
65.1
63. 1
61.5
58.4

'. I
60. 1
87.5
94.4
96. 3
92.0
95. 1
85.7
90.9
86.3
90.4

8.4
205. 1
185.9
97.8
96.4
96. 2
95.4
90.5
85.5
62.5
52.3

2.0
111.9
116.3
118.6
118.8
121.4
122.9
123.3
123 7
123.5

2.0
119.2
101.4
74.4
76.3
75.5
77 1
71.7
67. 5
57. 1
52.0

December,
June 1920
December,
June, 1928
December,
.Tune 1929
December,
June, 1930
December,
June, 1931
December,

1915

.8
107.6
76.3
50.2
55.0
51.9
55.8
43.3
36.7
15.0
9.8

.8
176.5
153.6
71.6
71.8
71.3
70.4
68.7
66.2
57.7
46.2

.1
70.8
90.8
41.7
29. 6
38.8
37. 1
36.0
33.3
32.6
29.3

(2)
110.0
128.9
95.6
100. 3
94.3
92.7
87.3
97.0
83.6
83.0

.6

December,
June, 1920
December,
June, 1928
December,
June, 1929
December,
June, 1930
December,
June, 1931
December,

1915

.3
101.7
68. 1
51.3
51.7
50.0
56. 1
42.6
34.4
20.8
17.0

3.6
219.6
183. 5
76.5
74.0
72.6
71.2
69.7
64.9
57.6
42.0

'. 3
28.6
38.0
67. 1
63.8
59.9
56.5
54.0
51.2
45.8
40.3

1.8
66.8
96.0
81. 5
87.3
85.4
86.3
86. 5
95.8
80.5
91.7

6.9
187.4
183. 4
85.4
83.9
84. 1
84.7
83.2
75.3
63. 2
54. 1

2.1
165.9
147.8
66.5
64.8
65.8
65.6
65.4
60.4
55.7
47.9

.2
14.5
20.0
21.5
20. 9
19.8
19.8
19.9
19.3
17.9
17.0

.4
83.9
113.5
98.4
102.4
94. 1
101.9
96.9
99.9
95.3
97.3

6.2
190.3
191.2
112.5
112.3
112.3

3.0
158. 6
122. 1
50.8
49.4
48.4
47.8
44.8
38.4
32.9
23.3

' 10.9
33.2
36.9
20.9
16.4
11.0
8.2
5.4
2.4
i 1.3
' 6.2

i 1.0
46.9
65.9
51.6
63.0
51.4
61.8
49.7
55.5
36.4
40. 1

2.9
183.9
179.9
80. 5
80. 1
79. 7
81.0
78.6
69.7
65.8
56.8

Dftp,p,mbftr,
June, 1920
December,
June, 1928
December,
.Tune, 1929
December,
June, 1930
December,
June, 1931
December,

1915

December,
.Tune, 1920
December,
June, 1928
December,
June, 1929
December,
June, 1930
December,
June, 1931
December,

1915

New York, N. Y.:

Norfolk, Va.:

1920

____ _
_ -- __-

1928
1929 __

__ _ _ _ _
__ _ ___
1930
___
_ _
_____ _
1931 __ _ _ ______ -

P hilad elp h ia, P a.:

____ ____

1920

____
1928 ____
_
-__ _ _ _ _
__
1929 ______
_ ___
1930
__ _ ______
______ _
1931
_ _ _______

P o rtlan d , M e.:
December,
June, 1920
December,
.Tune 1928
December,
June, 1929
December,
June, 1930
December,
June, 1931
December,

1915

_ _ _
_ __
1928 _ _ _ _ _
_
_ _ _ _
1929 _ _
____ ___
1930
__ ___________ ___
1931__ _ _ ______ - -

'2 .0
114.5
78.7
54.2
57.0
54.3
55.7
45.9
38.5
20.5
17.2

December,
June, 1920
December,
June, 1928
December,
June, 1929
D ecember,
June 1930
December,
June, 1931
D ecember,

1915-____ _ ________
___
1920 __
_
____
_____
1928
__ __ ______
_________ _ 1929
__ _ _____
___
_ __
1930
_ _ ______
______ _
1931______ ______ ___

' 3.8
107. 1
60.9
36.6
41.8
41.4
43.7
34.2
17.8
8.2
6.0

_

1920

P o rtla n d , Oreg.:

165.0
160.5
85.7
86. 1

85.2
83.0
80.4
73.5
63.8
56. 1

112. 1

111.9
105.8
99.2
91.0

120.6
.6

108.4
106. 3
114.6
118.2
118.0
119.3
118.6
119.0
119.0
118.3
1.2
102.8

122.3
121.4
120.3
121.2
121.2

121.4
120.7
118.5
117.6
1.4
89.4
94.3
88.8

97.3
97.3
97.1
97. 1
95.9
95.9
95.7
13.1
79.7
81. 1
76.4
78.0
77.3
77.7
86.6

85.1
83.6
82.9

.6
122.2

109.0
71.5
74. 1
72.3
73.5
67.9
64.8
54.0
48.8
1.2
113.5
100.7
75.3
74.5
73.1
75.0
69.0
64.5
55.3
50.5
1.4
107.6
93. 1
63.8
66. 6

64.8
65.8
61.5
57. 2
48.2
45.1
i 3.1
100.4
80.3
50.5
52.4
50.7
51.6
49. 1
41. 5
35.2
31.9

1 Decrease.
2 No change.
2 T he decrease is due prim arily to th e change in consum ption and price accompanying the change from
m anufactured to n atu ral gas.

96957°— 32----- 16

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

470
T

a ble

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
4 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO D E C E M B E R
1931—C ontinued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food

Clothing

R ent

House- Miscel­
Fuel and furnish­
light ing goods laneous

All
ite m s

S an Francisco a n d O akland, Calif.

December, 1915________________
June, 1920____________________
December, 1920_______
~
June, 1928___________________
December, 1928______________
June, 1929____________________
December, 1929_____________
June, 1930__________________
December, 1930____________ I"
June, 1931___________________ ~~
December, 1931_____

14.3
93.9
64.9
41.5
48.0
45. 1
48.7
40. 4
32.0
15.8
10.3

2.5
191.0
175.9
82. 9
83.4
82.8
81.5
77.9
72.0
66.3
57.5

10.7
9.4
15.0
35.7
33. 5
31.9
30.4
28. 1
26. 1
24. 2
20.2

10.1
47. 2
66.3
45. 9
47. 5
43.7
40. 3
3 28. 7
32.0
28.8
30.6

6.0
180. 1
175.6
102. 0
99. 0
97. 8
e? A.
100. 6
91. 6
79.3
66.6

i 1.7
79.6
84.8
79.6
83. 2
83.4
82.5
80. 9
82.0
79. 1
78.7

1 1.7
96.0
85. 1
58.8
61.7
60. 1
60.8
55.9
51.5
42.8
38. 1

December, 1915________________
June, 1920___________________ ""
December, 1920____________
June, 1928____________________
December, 1928_______________
June, 1929_____________________
December, 1929_______________
June, 1930___________________
December, 1930________________
June, 1931_____________________
December, 1931_______________

1.3
91.7
63.5
31. 1
35.0
33.9
35. 1
25. 2
17.7
1.5
14.7

.8
212. 1
171.5
68.8
69.0
68. 2
67.7
66.0
61.4
58.0
44.6

1 1.4
33.5
58.6
35.9
33.9
32.7
28.3
27.0
19.6
15.8
9.5

1 1.3
65.3
94.4
56.9
59.6
55.8
56. 1
54.2
56.2
50. 7
40.9

1.8
207. 2
206. 6
120. 8
118. 8
117.9
117.2
113. 7
110. 1
98. 5
89.0

1.2
83.8
91.5
81.9
87.0
83.8
84.5
84.7
83.8
83.8
82.3

1.2
109.4
98.7
56.6
59. 1
57.2
57.2
53. 1
48.3
40.7
33.9

December, 1915________________
June, 1920________________ _____
December, 1920________________
June, 1928_____________________
December, 1928________________
June, 1929_____________________
December, 1929________________
June, 1930_____________________
December, 1930________________[
June, 1931_____________________
December, 1931_____________ _

i 2.8
102.3
54.1
36.9
40.8
43.7
45.9
38. 1
22. 5
12.2
8.8

1.2
173.9
160. 5
68.8
68.3
66.6
66.6
64.6
59. 7
55.7
45.9

1 2.4
74.8
76.7
55.5
54. 1
52.4
52. 1
50. 1
47.8
44.4
37.5

1.2
65.8
78.7
57. 1
62.9
62. 1
65.8
65.5
64.0
54.0
61.5

8.5
221.2
216. 4
133. 5
132.6
131.7
132. 6
132.4
128.0
114. 5
103. 1

i 1.0
90.4
95.5
97.4
97.4
98.8
98.8
98.6
97. 6
96.6
94.6

i 1.0
110. 5
94. 1
65.8
67. 1
67. 7
68.7
65.4
58.4
52.3
48.0

December, 1915________________
June, 1920_____________________
December, 1920______________
June, 1928_____________________
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929_____________________
December, 1929_______________ I
June, 1930_____________________
D ecember, 1930_______________ I
June, 1931_____________________
December, 1931________________

.6
108.4
79.0
55.5
58.2
58.4
57.4
49. 1
41.3
22.8
17.8

3.7
184.0
151. 1
67.0
65.2
64.4
62.3
60.5
55.4
49.7
39.7

1 1.5
15.6
24. 7
32.7
31.0
30. 5
30.0
29.7
28.7
28.2
27.9

(s)
53.7
68.0
38.8
41.0
38.0
39. 7
36. 2
36.6
32.5
34.9

6.3
196.4
194. 0
102.2
99.4
100. 0
100. 2
100. 4
93.0
86.6
79.9

.4
68.2
73.9
73.6
73.8
74.0
74.3
73.8
76.8
75.7
75.3

1.0
101.3
87.8
59.7
60. 2
60.0
59. 2
55. 5
51. 8
43. 0
39.0

S a v an n ah , G a.:

S eattle, W ash.:

W ash in g to n , D. C.:

1 Decrease.
2 No change.
m anufactured^to natura?

t0 th e change in consumPtion and Price accom panying the change from

T ab le 5 shows th e changes in th e cost of living from D ecem ber,
1917, to D ecem ber, 1931, for 13 cities. T h e table is constructed in
th e sam e m an n er as th e preceding one and differs from it only in the
base period and in th e length of tim e covered.


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

471

COST OF LIVING

T able 5 .—C H A N G E S IN CO ST OF L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, T O D E ­
C E M B E R , 1931

Per cent of increase over December, 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date

A tla n ta , G a .:
December, 1918__ ______ ____
June, 1920- _ __ _______
December, 1920_________ _ __ _
June, 1928.
____________ .. _
D ecember, 1928 _
__ _
June, 1929
___- ____
December, 1929 _ ________
June, 1930
__ _ _ ______
December, 1930-_ ___ ___
June, 1931__ _
- __ - ___
D ecember, 1931 _ _ __ _
B ir m in g h a m , A la.:
December, 1918__ _ _ _ _ __
June, 1920__
___ _
_______
December, 1920-__ _ _ ____June, 1928-_
__ ___ ___ __
December, 1928__ ______ _____ _
June, 1929__ ________ _______
D ecember, 1929 _____ ____ ____
June, 1930.. .
_ D ecember, 1930__ _____ ___
June, 1931__ _______ _____ ____ _
Decem ber, 1931 __ ____________
C in c in n a ti, O h io :
D ecember, 1918 _________ ___
June, 1920_______ _
D ecember, 1920 __ __ _____ _
June, 1928-_
________ _ _ _
December, 1928__ __ _______ _
June, 1929-. _
D ecember, 1929 __
__ _____
June, 1930 __ __
D ecember, 1930__
_ __ ____
June, 1931_____ - __ _
December, 1931-_ ___
_ ____
D enver, C olo.:
December, 1918_ _
_ __ _
June, 1920
_ _ _____
D ecember, 1920_ __
___
June, 1928__ ______ _ _ _ _ _
D ecember, 1928__
____
_ _
June, 1929__ _ _______ - - December, 1929____ _ _________
June, 1930-_ _ -- _____ _
December, 1930______
__ __ _
June, 1931___ _____ _________ - Decern be,r 1931_____
_ ___
In d ia n a p o lis , I n d .:
D ecem ber 1918____
__ _ _ _
June, 1920,__ _____ - - - - __
Decem ber, 1920
__
______
June, 1928 ___
__ - _____
D ecember, 1928 _ ____ _
____
June, 1929___ _______ December, 1929___
__
June, 1930
_______
-- - -D ecember, 1930_
__
_______
June, 1931
- . ___
___
D ecember, 1931
__ __
K a n s a s C ity , M o .:
D ecember, 1918 _ _
________ _
June, 1920
___
___
D ecember, 1920 _____
_____
June, 1928 _ _ __ _ - ____
December, 1928__
_ _________
June, 1929
__ - - ____
December, 1929 _ ____
June, 1930
_____
_____
D ecember, 1930
___
__ _____
June, 1931 ________ - ___
D ecember, 1931_ __ _ _ _______
M e m p h is , T e m i.:
D ecember, 1918 _ _________
_
June, 1920- _ ________ ____ - -D ecember, 1920_________ _______
June, 1928___________________ _
Decem ber, 1928...... .............. ..............

Food

Clothing

R en t

House- M iscel­
Fuel and fur
nishlight
nggoods laneous

All
ite m s

19.0
34.0
12.8
' 1.0
2.9
.3
.1
i 7.9
i 13.1
i 24.2
i 29.2

29.1
80.5
56.5
.2
.4
.3
1.6
12.8
1 6.4
18.5
1 16.7

14.0
40.4
73.1
38.9
38.2
37.5
35.9
32.8
30.8
28.3
19.6

17.0
61.0
66.8
31.8
36.3
28.4
31.6
2 11.6
11.6
3.6
4.8

24.9
65.0
58.4
15.2
24.9
14.6
14.1
11.2
8.0
1.7
1 5.7

14.8
34.6
39.7
35.6
35.3
33.0
34.2
31.8
30.5
28.2
28.7

19.7
46.7
38.5
13.9
15.6
13.6
13.5
7.9
4.5
i 1.7
i 6.2

17.7
36.4
11.9
i 4.7
i 2.2
'3 .9
i 2.8
i 8.9
' 14.0
' 30.6
i 33.2

23.9
66.4
45.1
14.3
14.2
i 4.3
i 5.0
1 5.9
1 9.1
i 13.1
120.1

8.1
40.3
68.5
59.4
54.8
50.8
40.8
35.9
23.5
15.1
1.5

22.8
55.3
74.2
37.1
43.4
35.5
38.8
33.2
38.5
25.3
24.9

19.4
55.6
48.1
13.9
12.3
10.6
10.5
9.3
2.7
i 5.4
i 11.0

13.8
28.7
30.4
28.2
27.2
26.1
27.2
26.4
25.1
24.2
24.1

17.0
41.9
33.3
13.7
14.2
12.3
11.8
8.2
3.8
i 5.6
1 9.6

15.3
38.7
10.3
i .5
.4
2.5
4.5
i 1.2
' 8.0
i 20.4
' 24.2

33.8
96.7
73.5
1 3.9
i 5.5
1 5.8
i 6.4
17.1
1 8.7
1 17.5
1 22.4

.2
13.6
25.0
57.1
57.1
56.9
56. 7
54.5
52.8
49.3
43.9

10.0
26.9
34.1
61.1
61.6
60.8
70.9
63.6
69.7
59.2
64.6

25.7
75.5
66.7
15.4
14.7
13.6
13.1
11.6
8.7
1.4
l 5.1

20.4
47.6
53.4
49.7
49.6
49.7
51.2
51.5
49.4
51.5
50.3

17.3
47.1
34.7
21.0
21.2
21.8
23.1
20.1
16.6
9.1
5.8

20.0
41.5
7.9
i 8.6
' 6.3
i 7.4
' 6.8
' 11.9
i 19.9
' 28.7
' 30.6

40.1
96.8
78.3
8.4
8.2
8.0
7.9
7.0
5.5
2.3
1 6.5

12.8
51.9
69.8
55.8
54.1
52.3
51.1
49.4
47.8
43.1
37.1

8.1
22.3
47.1
26.9
39.3
2 19.0
29.2
22.6
27.4
7.9
7.1

22.6
60.2
58.9
20.5
19.8
17.4
16.0
15.3
12.4
8.1
1.2

14.8
35.4
38.8
33.4
33.8
38.8
38.7
38.0
37.6
36.9
36.5

20.7
50.3
38.7
14.9
16.3
15.6
16.1
13.0
9.7
3.8
.3

17.8
49.0
11.0
' 1.8
'.3
1.8
2.0
i 2.7
i 14.2
126.5
129.1

32.4
87.9
72.3
4.3
3.2
3.0
2.4
1.2
1 1.6
i 10.4
i 19.4

1.6
18.9
32.9
31.3
30.4
28.4
27.9
25.9
23.9
16.8
11.3

19.8
45.6
60.3
29.2
32.3
26.1
31.0
24.8
30.2
23.8
23.7

18.9
67.5
63.0
13.7
12.6
12.7
11.7
9.0
5.6
i 4.7
i 12.4

21.9
50.4
47.5
52.3
52.0
52.3
52.0
51.8
50.4
49.5
49.2

19.1
50.2
37.6
18.2
18. 5
17.7
18.8
16.1
10.8
3.0
1.8

17.3
44.9
10.2
i 5.4
i 6.0
i 5.3
i 2.2
i 8.6
i 15.8
i 24.9
i 28.9

40.7
104.5
76.3
2.7
2.9
2.4
1.8
1.5
1.0
1 1.7
19.9

5.4
29.4
63.9
24.8
23.8
21.1
20.1
19.4
19.8
17.4
16.3

18.0
35.2
55.1
28.7
26.8
26.3
23.9
24.0
22.0
19.7
14.3

31.1
73.0
68.7
6.8
5.6
5.1
3.4
2.1
i 1.1
i 6.2
i 11.5

15.6
37.1
40.3
35.0
37.8
37.0
36.9
36.9
44.3
44.0
42.3

19.6
51.0
39.5
11.2
11.3
11.0
11.7
9.0
7.7
2.9
i 1.1

20.3
38.8
7.0
i 8.1
i 4.9

27.7
77.5
59.0
1.5
.2

(3)
35.9
66.2
46.3
43.7

26.8
49.7
105.4
60.0
68.8

25.4
67.1
53.9
16.0
14.8

16.1
38.8
43.2
36.9
37.7

18.3
46.4
39.3
16.4
17.5

2 T he decrease is due prim arily to th e change in consum ption and price accompanying the change from
3 No change.

anufactured to n atu ral gas.
Digitized formFRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

472

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T able 5 —C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, TO D E ­
C E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued

Per cent of increase over December, 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
M e m p h is , T e n n .—Continued.
June, 1929__ _ _______ ________
December, 1929 ____
___ ____
June, 1930._ . . . . _________ ____
December, 1930._ . . . ______ ____
June, 1931__ . _ . _______ _ ____
December, 1931 . . . _ ________
M in n e a p o lis , M in n .:
December, 1 9 1 8 ..___
_ _ __
. . .
_ _
June, 1920___ _
December, 1920. _
. . .
June, 1928 _ ___. . .
....
December, 1928.
.
_ _ . _
June, 1929... . . . . . . . . _____ ___
December, 1929 _
__ _ ___
June, 1930 _ _
_
____
December, 1930. _
June, 1931. __ _________ ___
December, 1931. _
_
N ew O rle a n s, I,a .:
____
December, 1918 _ _ _
June, 1920 ------ . . .
_______
D ecember, 1920------------- ------- -June, 1928 _
December, 1928.. __ ___ _ _ __
June, 1929. ___
_
_.
____
December, 1929 _ _ __ ______ _
June, 1930------ -___ ___ _
_
December, 1930 _ __ _ ______
June, 1931.. __ _ _ .__ . . .
December, 1931
______
P it ts b u r g h , P a .:
December, 1918 __ ___ _____
June, 1920
____ _ ___
December, 1920___
___ _
June, 1928 __ __
__ _____
December, 1928 ___
_._
____
June, 1929____ _ _ _ _ _ _
December, 1929
__
_ _
June, 1930__ _
__ _
December, 1930. _ ____ _ __ __
June, 1931. _
December, 1931
R ic h m o n d , V a.:
D ecember, 1918 _
June, 1920--.
___
__ _____
D ecember, 1920._ _ _ __ _ _
June, 1928_______ ________ _
December, 1928
June, 1929. ___ _________
December, 1929 . . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _
June, 1930. __ _ _____ _ _ _ _ _ _
D ecember, 1930. _
___ _ _
June, 1931. ____________ __ _ _
December, 1 9 3 1 ._______________
S t. L o u is, M o .:
D ecember, 1918
_ __
June, 1920___ _
___ ______
D ecember, 1920. — __ _
June, 1928___ _
___ _____
December, 1928,
_ __ _ ___
June, 1929.. _____ _ _
____
December, 1929 ___
___
June, 1930
_ _ _ _____
December, 1930. _ __ _ ______
June, 1931__ __
___ _____
D ecember, 1931 __ ____ _ _
S c r a n to n , P a .:
December, 1918 ._
__
___ _
June, 1920 ____ _ __
December, 1920.__
___ _ ____
June, 1928
____
___
December, 1928.
_ _
____
June, 1929. _ _____________
December, 1929. __ _ _ ____
June, 1930 _ ____ ___ _ ______
December, 1930 _ ______________
June, 1931__ _ __ ________ _
December, 1931_______________

Food

Clothing

R ent

House- Miscel­
Fuel and furnish­
light ing goods laneous

All
ite m s

16.0
15.1
i 10.6
i 19.2
i 31.3
1 34.2

10.1
i .l
i.6
i 2.4
i 4.8
i 10.4

42.6
40.6
39.6
35.8
29.8
18.4

2 63.6
55.3
58.9
57.9
48.3
48.3

13.8
13.9
13.3
10.7
6.2
1.9

38.5
38.6
39.6
38.8
35.5
35.2

16.8
16.5
14.7
10.4
3.4
1.5

17.7
50.0
13.0
1.6
.7
1.8
3.9
i 1.0
i 9.4
1 21.2
i 25.5

33.5
76.7
63.6
i 1.1
i 1.5
i 1.8
i 2.8
i 3.5
14.4
i 8.8
i 16.2

1.1
10.7
36.8
27.2
27.5
25.6
25.2
23.6
23.5
21.4
19.8

14.7
36.9
60.3
45.2
44.8
41.9
44.3
46.2
39.9
41.6
44.3

18.1
65.5
65.8
12.3
10.5
10.5
10.9
10.6
7.8
3.7
1 2.7

12.3
31.3
37.6
34.6
34.5
36.7
36.6
36.3
37.0
35.4
36.1

15.8
43.4
35.7
15.8
15.2
15.4
16.2
14.1
10.6
5.0
2.1

16.6
28.6
10.7
i 6.8
i 3.2
i 4.3
i 1.8
19.8
i 15.0
i 30.3
i 30.3

36.8
94.9
69.4
13.1
13.1
12.6
12.6
12.0
.1
i 2.7
i 9.7

(3)
12.9
39.7
55.9
54.8
53.6
51.3
49.2
45.3
43.0
38.7

19.7
36.3
41.5
34.5
28.4
2 14.9
18.1
12.4
14.4
i 6.5
4.1

23.8
75.9
63.9
17.9
17.9
15.9
15.7
14.8
10.2
5.9
1.5

15.9
42.8
57.1
46.1
46.8
45.9
45.8
46.5
46.5
43.1
45.2

17.9
41.9
36.7
18.2
19.5
17.8
18.8
14.8
10.2
1.2
.3

18.8
36.5
14.3
i 3.8
2.1
.6
1.2
i 5.6
i 13.4
i 24.2
1 29.2

35.9
91.3
75.4
4.2
3.5
2.9
2.1
1.5
i 3.9
i 9.4
i 13.3

7.6
34.9
35.0
72.8
71.6
68.3
67.1
64.9
63.7
56.8
52.3

9.2
31.7
64.4
85.6
86.0
85.6
86.0
85.1
84.4
83.1
83.8

26.3
77.4
78.1
15.9
16.4
15.1
14.6
13.5
6.6
.4
1 6.4

16.3
41.2
46.3
46.9
46.9
48.1
47.5
47.9
47.5
46.9
45.6

19.8
49.1
39.3
22.3
24.4
23.2
23.2
19.9
15.2
8.4
4.5

20.5
36.1
11.9
i 3.8
13.1
1 5.0
i 3.4
i 8.0
i 14.9
i 27.2
i 29.2

33.8
93.6
69.0
5.0
5.4
4.2
4.2
3.3
2.0
i 2.4
i 8.6

1.0
12.5
25.9
30.6
28.9
28.3
27.0
26.5
25.5
24.4
21.8

11.8
36.1
62.2
43.9
47.5
42.0
44.7
38. 5
42.0
33.1
37.6

26.3
75.4
70.0
33.8
32.7
32.4
31.3
30.0
26.6
18.6
15.5

9.0
32.4
36.0
41.0
40.9
40.2
41.0
40.4
41.0
40.6
40.3

17.9
43.8
33.3
15.3
15.7
14.2
14.9
12.5
9.3
2.4
.3

18.0
46.2
8.8
i 3.5
i 2.2
1.4
1.5
i 6.7
i 14.9
i 24.9
i 29.8

32.4
89.7
70.0
3.1
2.5
1.7
.8
(3)
i 1.4
i 10.7
i 19.2

2.7
29.8
42.4
76.3
74.2
71.8
69.2
66.0
59.5
53.0
44.0

4.8
19.6
42.6
18.9
23.1
22.5
33.4
21.8
29.1
12.4
20.7

21.8
73.1
70.2
21.6
19.5
17.8
16.2
16.9
15.4
5.9
1.6

14.5
37.6
43.2
37.2
38.7
38.4
44.2
44.6
42.1
41.5
39.2

16.7
48.9
35.4
19.9
20.4
20.5
21.7
18.3
13.9
6.2
1.4

21.3
41.4
17.8
2.4
4.3
2.9
6.5
1.8
18.1
i 20.3
i 22.8

34.4
97.7
76.5
16.2
15.3
15.2
13.7
13.5
10.7
3.9
i 7.1

.5
17.2
18.5
71.7
71.7
68.1
63.9
60.5
59.1
53.2
51.8

24.7
43.5
67.3
69.0
72.2
65.0
67.6
60.2
66.1
61.3
69.5

27.0
62.8
62.0
30.1
29.3
26. 5
26.0
26.0
22.9
18.2
7.3

21.4
47.9
50.4
56.2
57.8
57. 5
57.3
57.3
56.8
55.2
55.2

21.9
51.5
39.1
26.9
27.8
26.3
27.3
23.5
19.5
11.8
8.4

.

1 Decrease.
2 T h e decrease is due prim arily to the change in consum ption a nd price accom panying the change from
3 n 0 change.

m anufactured to n atu ral gas.

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

473

COST OF LIVING

C ost of L iving in th e U n ited S ta te s and in F oreign C ou n tries

HE trend of cost of living in the United States and foreign
countries for specified months of 1920, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1931
is shown in the following table. The number of countries included
varies according to the information available. Several countries
publish a general index, and an index number for food only, while
others omit clothing, and in some instances also rent. The table
shows the trend in the cost of food, clothing, fuel and light, and rent,
together with the general index for all items for the countries for
which such information is published in the original sources.
Caution should be observed in the use of these figures, since not
only are there differences in the base periods and in the number and
kind of articles included, and the number of markets represented, but
there are also radical differences in the method of construction of the
indexes.

T

I N D E X N U M B E R S O F C O S T O F L IV IN G F O R S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D S IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S A N D IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S

C ountry

nited C anada Bel­
- . ------ _ UStates
gium

Food,
cloth­ Food,
ing, fuel cloth­
and ing, fuel
and
C o m m o d itie s i n ­ light,
light,
cluded__________ rent,
house
rent,
furnish­ sun­
dries
ings,
etc.

Bureau D ep art­
of La­ m ent of
C om puting agency.. bor
Sta­
tistics Labor

Base period_______

G e n e ra l:
1920—Av. for year1928—
June
D ecem ber—1929—
June _
D ecem ber—1930—J u n e -. .
D ecem ber.. .
1931—J u n e . _____
D ecem ber—.
Food:
1920—Av. for y ear.
1928—J u n e . D ecem ber—.
1929—J u n e ______
D ecem ber.. .
1930—J u n e ______
December—.
1931—J u n e _____
D ecember.

Czecho­ D en­
slova­ m ark
kia

Ger­
m any Ireland

Ita ly

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
ren t,
sun­
dries

Com­
M inis­
Federal
D epart­ Central mission
for
try of Office of m ent of Statis­
S tudy Statis­
Labor Statis­ Statis­ tical
tical
of
Cost
and In ­ tics
Office of L iv­ B ureau
tics
d u stry
ing

D epart­
m ent of
Indus­
try and
Com­
merce

M uni­
cipal
A dm in­
istra­
tion

July,
1914

JanuaryJune,
1914

1921

July,
1914

1913

i 200
_ 170
171
170
171
167
161
150
146

i 190
155
158
156
160
157
151
138
135

204
216
213
228
224
223
204

734
725
726
5 105
5 105
5 101
« 101
« 96

i 178
153
156
155
158
148
137
118
114

i 202
146
154
149
161
151
138
111
107

203
218
208
227
201
200
177

843
820
817
5 117
s 115
5 108
« 109


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

France

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Food, Food, Food,
cloth­ cloth­ cloth­ Food,
ing, fuel ing, fuel ing, fuel cloth­
and ing, fuel,
and
and
rent,
light,
light,
light,
taxes,
rent,
rent,
rent,
taxes,
etc.
sun­
sun­
dries
dries
etc.

1913

See footnotes on next Page.

F in ­
land

July,
1914

2 262

6 167
i 162
6157
7154

e 140
i 132
8 123
1 119

Janua ry June,
1914

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

JanuaryJune,
1914

1913-14

1219
1260
1215
1207
1108
1083
1020

3 341
4 519
3 531
4 556
4 565
4 572
4 597
4 589

151
153
153
153
148
142
138

1126
1186
1103
1090
937
903
842

s 344
4 544
4 555
4 590
4 589
4 593
4 636
4 642

152
153
154
152
143
135
131

e 168
? 168
« 156
9165

6 156
1 156
s 139
9 155

442'
530
538
544
549
531
508
488
455
520
533
541
548
523
499
458

474

M ONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

IN D E X N U M B E R S O F COST OF LIVING F O R S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D S IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S A N D I N F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S -C o n tin u e d
^

U nited
States C anada

C o u n try .

Food,
cloth­ Food,
ing, fuel cloth­
and ing, fuel
C o m m o d itie s i n ­ light,
and
clu d ed__________ rent,
light,
house
rent,
furnish­ sun­
ings,
dries
etc.

C om puting agency.

Base period.

B ureau
of La­ D ep art­
bor Sta­ m ent of
tistics Labor

1913

1913

1 259
163
162
161
160
159
153
146
136

1 232
157
157
157
156
155
148
137
127

1920—Av. for year.
1 195
1928—J u n e ______
177
Decem ber. __
181
1929—
Ju n e ______175
December.
179
1930—
J u n e ______173
Decem ber.
175
1931—J u n e _____
165
Decem ber.
168

1 200

Bel­
gium

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Czecho­ D en­
slova­ m ark
kia

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
taxes,
etc.

F in ­
land

France

Ger­
m any Ireland

Italy

Food,
Food, cloth­
cloth­ ing, fuel
ing, fuel and
rent,
light,
taxes,
rent,
etc.
sun­
dries

Food, Food,
cloth­ cloth­
ing, fuel ing, fuel
and
and
light,
light,
rent,
rent,
sun­
sun­
dries
dries

Food,
cloth­
ing, fuel
and
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

M inis­
try of Office of D epart C entral
Labor Statis­ m ent of Statis­
Statis­ tical
and In ­ tics
tics
Office
dustry

1921

July,
1914

July,
1914

Com­
D epart­
mission
Federal m ent of M uni­
for
Statis­
Indus­ cipal
S tudy
Admin­
of Cost tical try and istra­
B
ureau
C om ­
of L iv­
tion
merce
ing

January June,
1914

JanuaryJune,
1914

1913-14

1048
1055
1055
1051
1046
1034
1004

3 485
4 581
4 591
4 604
4 604
4 626
4 610
4 552

170
173
172
170
167
150
140

2 692
559
555
555
549
509
448
421

1436
1452
1456
1455
1407
1290
1067

3 296
4 504
4 515
4 539
4 602
4 607
4 633
4 596

144
151
149
153
149
151
145

2 611
407
408
425
453
473
457
424

1430
1430
1476
1476
1467
1467
1373

3 190
4 275
4 300
4 300
4 350
4 350
4 350
4 350

126
126
126
127
130
131
132

2 108
400
408
408
410
410
422
473

July,
1914

JanuaryJune,
1914

C lo th in g :
1920—Av. for year1928—
June_
D ecem ber...
1929—
June_
D ecem b er...
1930—J u n e _______
D ecem ber.. _
1931—
Ju n e _
D ecem ber...

F uel a n d lig h t:

R e n t:

158
157
157
157
156
156
153
152

1920—Av. for year1 151
1 142
1928—J u n e _______
158
157
D ecem b er...
156
157
1929—
Ju n e ______154
___________
158
D ecem ber...
152
158
1930—
June_
150
160
Decem ber. _.
146
160
1931—J u n e _______
142
158
D ecem ber...
136
158
1 December.
2 July.
3 A pril-June.


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

242
250
256
262
262
260
251

1033
1023
998
5 147
3 145
5 137
3 131

170
175
194
213
205
198
184

819
842
842
3 125
« 126
3 126
3 124

209
211
224
227
406
405
403

261
278
306
3 47
3 50
3 53
3 54

! 355

« 182
7 172
6 161
7 157
2 563

e 184
7 178
« 174
7 168
2 130

200
7 200
«

« 203
7 203

4 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
5 In gold.
6 April.

7 October.
3 M ay.
9 N ovember.

475

COST OF LIVING

I N D E X N U M B E R S O F C O S T O F L IV IN G F O R S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D S IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S A N D IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued

C ountry

N etherlands

N or­
w ay

All
com­
modi­
ties

Food,
cloth­
ing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Commodities
in­
cluded__________

nited South
Switzer­ UKing­
Poland Sweden land
Africa
dom

India

Food,
clothing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sundries

Food,
clothing,
fuel,
light,
rent

Food,
cloth­
ing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Food,
cloth­
ing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sun­
dries

Food,
clothing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sundries

Food,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sundries

Office
B u reau C en tral C en tral Board Federal Minis- of Cen- T v
of
Statis­ Statis­ of So­ Labor try of sus and
C om puting agency. _ Statis­
tical
cial
tical
Office Labor Statistics
Office Office W elfare
tics

19111913

Base period

G e n e ra l:
1920—Av. for year.
1928—
June_
• D ecem ber...
1929—J u n e _____ _
D ecem ber.. _
1930—J u n e ______
D ecem ber...
1931—J u n e ______
D ecem ber...
Food:
1920—Av. for year.
1928—
June_
D ecem ber...
1929—
June_
D ecem ber.. „
1930—J u n e ______
D ecem ber...
1931—J u n e ______
D ecem ber.. .
C lo th in g :
1920—Av. for year1928—
June_
D ecem b er...
1929—
June_
D ecem ber...
1930—
June_
D ecem b er...
1931—
June_
D ecem ber. __
F u e l a n d lig h t:
1920—Av. for year1928—
June_
D ecem ber...
1929—
June_
D ecem ber...
1930—
June_
D ecem ber....
1931—
June_
D ecem ber...
R e n t:
1920—Av. for year1928—J u n e ______
D ecem ber.. .
1929—
June_
Decem ber. _.
1930—J u n e ______
D ecem ber...
1931—J u n e ______
D ecem ber...

July,
1914

Jan u ­
ary,
1914

1 222
170
168
169
167
162
157
154

10 302
195
184
181
180
177
173
167

122
125
123
126
116
118
106

1 240
169
164
165
162
152
145
141

io 319
171
161
156
157
151
147
137

143
147
139
144
120
123
107

io 336
1 169
1 166
1 164
i 161
159
154
148

169
169
169
171
171
171
148

171
163
162
161
159
153
152

124
137
141
151
147
152
149

io ]47
179
179
175
175
174
174
173

56
58
58
58
58
58
58

2 270

o 165
7163
o 160
7 158
2 287

o 140
» 137
e 130
1 128

June,
1914

6 181
1 178
« 175
7 170
2 372

o 160
7 156
o 155
7 150
2 130

e 205
7 205
« 206
7205

July,
1914

1914

July,
1914

Food,
groceries,
rent

Food,
clothing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sundries

B u re au Census
of Cen- and
sus and Statistics
StatisOffice
tics

1Q11

July,
1914

179
132
131
132
129
129
126
123

183
146
148
147
150
140
121
109

175
‘ 175
* 173
* 180
* 180
n 171
12 157
n 149

178
8 162
s 162
8 161
8161
8 158
»155
8 145

178
118
115
118
112
112
108
106

142
145
144
148
137
116
101

2164
154
152
161
155
149
134
128

168
147
152
147
147
144
137
124

« 181
156
160
159
151
138
125
123

245
8 146
9 144
8 144
» 142
8 139
» 135
8 128

2 230
168
170
170
175
170
175
170
175

158
143
143
143
143
141
143

178
8 179
8 178
8 175
«175
8 175
8 175
8 174

2 118
151
150
153
152
153
154
154
154

172
172
172
172
158
158
158

114
8 189
8 190
8 191
8 191
8 189
8187
8 185

224
161
162
161
162
158
156
150

2 252
165
168
160
167
154
155
145
148

156
158
155
157
151
149
141

156
160
147
159
138
141
127
132

166
169
167
165
160
155
145

2 430
220
220
218
215
213
205
195
190

136
136
134
135
132
131
127

177
177
181
181
185
185
187

2 390

1 D ecem ber.
2 July.
1 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
6 April.
7 October.


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

July,
1914

A u stra ­ New
Zea­
lia
land

8 M ay.
s N ovem ber.
£
10 June.
11 Q uarter ending w ith M ay.
12 Q uarter ending w ith N ovember.

IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tistic s of Im m ig r a tio n for N ovem ber, 1931
B y J . J . K t tn n a , C h i e f S t a t i s t i c i a n U n i t e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f I m m ig r a t io n

OTH the inward and outward passenger movement during
November show a decrease from the average for the preceding
four months of the current fiscal year. In that month 12,731 aliens
were admitted and 25,589 departed, while the monthly average for
the period from July 1 to October 31, 1931, was 20,793 admitted and
29,234 departed. During the same month 16,823 American citizens
returned and 23,224 departed, as against an average of 46,331 arrivals
and 47,530 departures in the preceding four months. There was also
a decline in debarments as well as in deportations. In November last
573 aliens were debarred from entering the United States and 1,524
were deported under warrant proceedings, as compared with a monthly
average of 727 and 1,593, respectively, for the preceding four months.
Over four-fifths of the admissions during November came in at the
seaports, mainly New York. At this port, which continues to be the
principal point of landing for arrivals from overseas, 8,252, or 80 per
cent, of the seaport admissions, entered the country, while only 2,061
aliens came in at the other seaports. Aliens admitted at Canadian
border ports during the same months numbered 1,883 and at Mexican
border ports 535.
Of the 573 aliens debarred this month, 493 were turned back at the
land border stations and 80 at the seaports. Of the latter only 26
were rejected at New York, and all but 3 of these arrived without
proper immigration visas. At the other seaports less than 3 per cent
of the applicants in November failed to gain admission to this country
but most of the debarred were seamen or stowaways coming without
proper visas.
The statistics for November, 1931, show a decrease in immigration
from Europe as well as from Canada and Mexico compared with the
previous month, 1,760 immigrant aliens coming from Europe, 631 from
Canada, and 162 from Mexico, as against 2,206, 1,030, and 184 immi­
grants from these respective sources during October, 1931. On the
other hand, emigration to all countries increased from 10,857 in
October to 11,318 in November, about 3 emigrant aliens now going to
Europe for permanent residence for every immigrant admitted from
that Continent.
Less than one-tenth of the 95,902 aliens of all classes admitted to
the United States from July 1 to November 30, 1931, were immigrants
charged to the quota, 6,709 being recorded as of this class. During
the corresponding period a year ago, 40,989 quota immigrants were
admitted and in the same period two years ago 59,984 were admitted.
Quota aliens born in the Irish Free State show the largest decrease
from 6,245 to 321, or 94.9 per cent, since last year.
Other principal classes entering the country from July to November
last include 41,074 aliens who came in under the immigration act of

B

476


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

477

IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION

1924 as returning residents; 34,154 as temporary visitors for business
or pleasure; 13,464 as persons passing through the country on their
way elsewhere; 5,476 as natives of nonquota countries, principally
Canada; and 4,430 as husbands, wives, or unmarried children under
21 years of age, of American citizens. In the five months from July
to November, 1930, 9,766 aliens of the last-mentioned class entered
the country, and during a like period two years ago 16,896 of this
class were admitted.
Of the 95,902 aliens admitted from July to November last, 66,989
were bom in Europe, 8,177 in Asia, 387 in Africa, 975 in Australia, New
Zealand and other Pacific islands, and 19,374 in Canada, Mexico, and
other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
IN W A R D A N D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T , JU L Y TO N O V E M B E R , 1931
Inw ard

Period

1931
J u ly ------------A ugust__
Septem ber----October,
N ovem ber___
T otal__

O utw ard

Aliens
Aliens
de­
de­
Aliens adm itted
Aliens departed
United
barred
ported
States
U nited
from
after
S tates
citi­
enter­
enter­
N on­
citizens T otal ing i E m i­ N on­
zens T otal ing 2
Im m i­ im
m i­
em i­ T otal
de­
grant grant
grant grant T otal arrived
parted

3,174
4,090
5,017
3,913
2, 899

12, 361
16, 580
20,940
17,096
9, 832

15, 535
20,670
25, 957
21, 009
12,731

30,944
59, 372
62, 581
32,427
16,823

46,479
80,042
88, 538
53, 436
29,554

19,093 76,809 95, 902 202,147 298,049

761 7,428 20,450
657 9,541 23,009
684 8,733 20, 393
806 10,857 16, 525
573 11,318 14,271

27,878
32, 550
29,126
27, 382
25, 589

74, 839
98,445
71, 373
62, 398
48, 813

1,681
1, 584
1,446
1,663
1,524

3, 481 47, 877 94,648 142, 525 213, 343 355,868

7,898

46,961
65, 895
42, 247
35,016
23, 224

1 These aliens are not included among arrivals, as th ey were not perm itted to enter the U nited States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th ey having entered the U nited States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.


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

BIBLIOGRAPHY
D ism issa l C o m p en sa tio n : A L ist o f R eferen ces
C om piled b y G. T . S c h w e n n i n g , U n i v e r s i t y

of

N o r t h C a r o l in a

HE payment of dismissal compensation to workers who lose their
jobs throngh no fault of their own gives promise of becoming a sig­
nificant phase of modern labor relations. The growing interest in this
new practice and the numerous adoptions of dismissal-wage plans by
American industries during the present depression are evidence that
this labor-management policy has taken root and that it has developed sufficient momentum to forehadow a considerable movement in
the future.
In the United States and England, dismissal allowances appear to
fiave taken their place with pensions and unemployment insurance as
a management device for rewarding long-service employees and for
stabilizing workers’ incomes. While it can not be looked upon as the
solution to the problem of unemployment, discharge compensation is
^ lnA USed increasingly by progressive managements to mitigate the
hardships of technological unemployment. Its wider use may also
have the effect of inhibiting indiscriminate firing. To the worker
such compensation is of value in helping him to make the economic and
psychological readjustment necessitated by discharge, even if it does
not compensate him fully for the loss of his job.
Abroad, such payments are in most cases compulsory. Most Latin
American countries, several European countries, Japan, and China
nave enacted dismissal-wage laws. These laws stipulate that from
1 weUl t(J 2 ye^rs n(?^ce of dismissal be given or in lieu thereof a sum
equal to from 1 week s to 20 weeks’ earnings. In the United States
where discharge allowances are paid this is done voluntarily, only
three States Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey—having passed
a modified form of dismissal-wage law. It is now being suggested that
the several States enact modern legislation on the subject.
Already a considerable body of material has been published on this
new mdustnal relations policy. The sources are, however, widelv
scattered and not generally known. The following bibliography has
been compiled to aid those interested in the movement.

T

Books and Reports
A m e r ic a n

M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c ia t io n

M ethods of m inim izing th e effect of business depression on th e w orking
S O n n ’ ? 0 E P e'St G ‘ D ra p e r a n d E lean o r H. P ark . N ew Y ork, 1931
oU pp. (I t s P ersonnel series No. 12.)
Discusses th e use of th e dismissal wage as one m ethod of assisting workers who m ust be dis­
charged for lack of w ork.

~ i T ™ PeC/ n n tirem ?n t a d ju stm e n ts, b y George W. V ary.
o p p. {I t s G eneral m an ag e m en t series No. 89.)

New Y ork, 1929.

Discusses th e dismissal-wage plans of th e B ethlehem Steel Co. and several unnam ed firms

478

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

479

BIBLIOGRAPHY— DISMISSAL COMPENSATION
A m e r ic a n M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c ia t io n .

T he U n ited S tates R u b b er C o.’s use of a dism issal wage, by E. xi. L ittle.
New Y ork, 1930. ( I t s P ersonnel series No. 6.)
Gives th e details of the dismissal-wage plan of the U nited States R ubber t o. and reasons
for its adoption.
A s s o c ia t e d I n d u s t r ie s o f M a s s a c h u s e t t s .

Age as a facto r in em ploym ent.

I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s C o n fe re n c e .

B oston, 1930.

(M im eographed.)

Com m ends th e w ider use of th e retirem ent wage.
C a r n e g ie E n d o w m e n t
a n d E d u c a tio n .

for

I n t e r n a t io n a l

P eace.
^

D i v i s io n

In te rn a tio n a l C onciliation, N ovem ber, 1927, No. 234.
y ear 1927. N ew Y ork, 1927. 546 pp.

o f I n te r c o u r s e

D ocum ents for th e

Pages 507-511 contain th e tex t of th e Italian L abor C harter.
C h ase, Stuart.

M exico; A S tu d y of Two Americas.
338 pp.

New Y ork, T he M acm illan Co., 1931.

C ontains (pp. 281-283) a discussion of th e labor provisions of the M exican law .
C h a se , St u a r t, and o t h er s.

, ,,

,

,

.

,

,

Soviet R ussia in th e Second D ecade. A jo in t su rv ey of th e tech n ical stall
of th e first A m erican trad e-u n io n delegation to th e Soviet U nion. New
Y ork, Jo h n D ay Co., 1928. 374 pp.
Discusses th e effectiveness of th e legal provisions against a rbitrary discharge of workers in
Russia.
M in is tr y o f I n d u s tr y , C o m m erce, a n d L a b o r.
T hree of th e rece n t la b o r law s p ro m u lg ated by th e N atio n al G o vernm ent
of th e R epublic of C hina. N an k in g [1930]. 24 pp.

C h in a .

Pages 12-14 give th e tex t of the provisions of th e Chinese factory law of D ecember 30, 1929,
dealing w ith dismissal compensation.
D o uglas, P aul H .

T he C olum bia C onserve Co.: A unique experim ent in in d u stria l dem ocracy.
Chicago, U niversity of C hicago Press, 1925.
C ontains (p. 29) a description of th e dismissal-wage plan of the company.

F ran zke, A. L.

_

.

,

.

,,

N unn B ush & W eldon Shoe Co., M ilw aukee, Wis. R ep o rt m ade fo r th e
Jo in t D enom inational In d u stria l R elations Com m ission, F eb ru ary
13, 1925.
T h e firm ’s policy regarding lay-offs is described on pages 19, 20.

C. W.
,
T he W orks C ouncil: A G erm an ex p erim en t in in d u stria l dem ocracy,
bridge (E ngland ), C am bridge U n iv ersity Press, 1928. 305 pp.

G u il l e b a u d ,

I n d u s t r i a l R e l a t i o n s C o u n s e l o r s ( I n c .) .

Cam ,

...

U nem ploym ent In su ran ce in G re a t B rita in : T h e n a tio n a l system a n d a d d i­
tio n al benefit p lan, by M ary B. Gilson. N ew Y ork, 1931. 560 pp.
C ontains (pp. 87-92, 405-439) a description and discussion of dismissal-wage paym ent plans in
use in B ritish firms.

I n t e r n a t io n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e .

A m e r ic a n S e c tio n . ^

E m p lo y m en t regu larizatio n in th e U n ited S tates of America.
1931. 84 pp.

W ashington,

Pages 57-60 give descriptions of dismissal-wage plans of several American firms.
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e .

A nnual review , 1930.

G eneva, 1931.

502 pp.

C ontains m any references to the practice of the p aym ent of the dismissal wage in various c o u n trie s Bolivia (p. 263), C hina (pp. 263, 491), France (p. 491), Jap an (p. 492), Panam a (p. 266), Soviet Russia
(pp. 492, 493).

-------In d u stria l Life in Soviet R ussia, 1917-1923. G eneva, 1924.
Studies a n d reports, series B, E conom ic conditions, -No. 14.)

260 pp.

(I ts

Critical analysis of Soviet R ussia’s extensive legislation regarding labor relations, and provisions
dealing w ith dismissal compensation.


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

480

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e .

In te rn a tio n a l su rv ey of legal decisions on la b o r law (S upplem ent: U n ited
S tates an d index), 1928. G eneva, 1929.
Discussion of the principles of A merican labor law , and court cases dealing w ith labor contracts.

------ - In te rn a tio n a l survey of legal decisions on lab o r law , 1929.

G eneva, 1930.

The survey has been published since 1920 and contains num erous court decisions in foreign countries
on disputes over dismissals.

------ O rganization of in d u stry a n d la b o r conditions in S oviet R ussia.
1922. 83 pp.

G eneva,

G overnm ent regulations concerning th e engagement and dismissal of R ussian workers are given
on pages 27-29.

------ W orks Councils in G erm any, b y M arcel B erth elo t. G eneva, 1924.
( I t s Studies a n d rep o rts, series B, E conom ic conditions, No. 13.)

138 pp.

Critical analysis of G erm an works councils and th e legal provisions regarding dismissals.
I t a l ia n H is t o r ic a l S o c ie t y .

T he C orporativ e S ta te , b y D r. A lberto Pennachio.
162 pp. ( I t s P ub licatio n s, vol. 4.)

N ew Y ork, 1927.

Ita ly ’s C harter of Labor, law dealing w ith discharge indem nities, and a sym pathetic
exposition of Fascist Ita ly ’s in d u strial legislation.

E. H.
Principles involved in th e p a y m e n t of dism issal wages.
( I n D onald, W. J.
H an d b o o k of B usiness A d m in istratio n .
M cG raw -H ill B ook Co., 1931, p p . 1117-1120.)

L it t l e ,

N ew Y ork,

A careful presentation of th e principles underlying the voluntary paym ent of dismissal
compensation.

Co. P o lic y h o ld e r s S e r v ic e B u r e a u .
N otice of dism issal fo r ho u rly w orkers. New Y ork, 1931.

M e t r o p o l it a n L if e I n s u r a n c e

R eport on advance notice of dismissal to hourly workers.

--------------T he dism issal wage.

N ew Y ork, 1931.

S tu d y of in d u stry ’s use of th e dismissal wage as a personnel m anagem ent policy.

— 7------ —• T he use of research in em p lo y m en t stab ilizatio n .

A re p o rt on a p p ly ­
ing research to ste a d y personnel, p re p a re d fo r th e research com m ittee of th e
New E n g lan d Council. New Y ork [1929?]. 32 pp.
Commends th e use of two weeks’ dismissal pay as a last resort in perm anent lay-off.

N a t io n a l A s s o c ia t io n o f M a n u f a c t u r e r s .

C om pany plan s to red u ce a n d allev iate un em p lo y m en t, b y Noel S argent.
New Y ork, O ctober 9, 1930.
Address (in m ultigraphed form) b y the m anager of the industrial relations departm ent of the
N ational Association of M anufacturers in w hich he defines the dismissal wage as “ paym ent of
special com pensation to an employee when the em ployer is forced to dispense w ith his services.”
Discusses four types of dismissal wage.
N a t i o n a l I n d u s t r i a l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d ( I n c .) .

Lay-off a n d its p rev en tio n .

N ew Y ork, 1930.

86 pp.

Tells (pp. 36-71) how dismissal wages m ay be used when laying off older workers.
N a t io n a l J o in t I n d u s t r ia l C o u n c il f o r t h e F l o u r M il l in g I n d u s t r y .

E lev en th a n n u a l re p o rt, 1929-30. L ondon, 1930.
------ T w elfth an n u a l re p o rt, 1930-31. L ondon, 1931.
These two reports give details of discharge compensation paid b y the B ritish flour-milling indu stry
to workers laid off on account of rationalization.

R ep rin t from m in u tes of evidence ta k e n before th e R o y al C om m ission on
U nem ploym ent Insurance, T h irty -e ig h th day, F rid a y , Ju ly 17, 1931. L on­
don, 1931.
R eport of oral evidence given b y Sir A lbert H um phries, chairm an of Flour M illing Em ployers Federa­
tion of E ngland, regarding th e B ritish flour milling in d u s try ’s dismissal-wage plan where workers
lose th eir jobs through rationalization.


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

481

BIBLIOGRAPHY— DISMISSAL COMPENSATION
N ew Y ork.
1

C o m m itte e o n S t a b i l i z a t i o n o f I n d u s t r y f o r th e P r e v e n tio n o f U n e m -

Less u n em ploym en t th ro u g h stab ilizatio n of operations. A re p o rt to
F ran k lin D . R oosevelt, G overnor of th e S ta te of New Y ork. A lbany,
1930. 96 pp.
Pages 88-90 give th e details of various com pany dismissal-compensation plans and a draft of
a State dismissal-wage act.

C. H .
,
T he degree to w hich a n em ployer should ta k e step s to deal w ith unem ploy­
m en t arising o u t of ra tio n alizatio n in his facto ry .
_
( I n T w en ty -n in th L ecture Conference fo r W orks D irectors, Forem en,
a n d Forew om en, held a t Balliol College, Oxford, Sept. 26—30, 1929,
pp. 46-51.)

N orthcott,

A careful statem en t of the principles underlying the paym ent of discharge compensa­
tion, and a description of the plan used b y Row ntree & Co., of Y ork, England.

E.
J a p a n ’s E conom ic P osition: T h e progress of in d u strializatio n .
M cG raw -H ill B ook Co., 1930. 504 pp.

O rchard, J ohn

,T
v ,
N ew York,

S tatem ent regarding Jap a n ’s dismissal-wage law, and th e voluntary practice of paying workers
a leaving g ratu ity , even in cases of strike activity.
P r e a u , G a s t o n , a n d R if f a r d , P ie r r e .

Les D élais de P réavis en M atière de C ongédiem ent d E m ployes et d O uvriers.
Paris, L a R évue des Q uestions P ru d ’hom m ales, 1929.
Discusses th e period of notice due to employees and laborers in France before dismissal. Classi­
fies occupations, advance notice due to each class of workers in th e various D epartm ents of France,
and indem nities for u n ju st discharge.

P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y . D e p a r tm e n t
I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s S e c tio n .

of

E c o n o m ic s

and

S o c ia l

I n s titu tio n s .

C om pany plans for th e reg u larizatio n of p la n t o p eratio n a n d em ploym ent.
P rin ceto n , 1930. 16 pp. (M im eographed.)
Brief description of a few com pany dismissal-wage plans.

______________ D ism issal com pensation.
graphed.)

P rin ceto n , 1931.

An analysis of various com pany dismissal-wage plans.
plans. C ontains a brief bibliography.

R o ss, E d w a r d A .
T he Social T rend.

46 pp.

(M im eo­

Lists 49 companies th a t have adopted such

^

N ew Y ork, C e n tu ry Co., 1922.

235 pp.

C hapter III: “ F o r a legal dismissal wage,” discusses the dismissal wage in R ussia under the Czar
and under K erensky. Principles underlying the paym ent of dismissal compensation.
SCHOM ERUS, F R IE D E R IC H .

„

,

Die soziale B etrieb sp o litik der Je n a e r Zeiszwerke m it besonderer B eruecksichtigung der C arl-Z eisz-S tiftung zu Jen a. G oettingen, V andenhoeck &
R u p rech t, 1930.
S tatem ent of the Carl Zeiss C o.’s dismissal-wage policy, b y th e com pany’s personnel director.

_____System of em ploym en t a t th e C arl Zeiss W orks.

Jen a, C arl Zeiss Co., 1910.

S tatem ent of the com pany’s motives in adopting a formal dismissal-wage plan.
S t a t u t e o f t h e C a r l Z e is s S t if t u n g in J e n a e s t a b l is h e d b y E r n s t A b b e .

Jena, Y opelius [n. d.J.

(E nglish tra n sla tio n of th e 1906 revision.)

C ontains th e text of the dismissal-compensation plan of the C arl Zeiss Works.
T annenbaum , F rank.

T he M exican A grarian R evolution.
543 pp.

N ew Y ork, T he M acm illan Co., 1929.

Discusses (p. 304) the compensation payable hy law to M exican workers unjustly discharged.
C o n g ress.
S e n a te .
C o m m itte e o n E d u c a tio n a n d Labor.
U nem ploym ent in th e U n ited S tates. H earings (70th Cong., 2d sess.) on
S. R e s . 219, Dec. 11, 1928-Feb. 9, 1929. W ashington, 1929. 517 pp.

U n it e d S t a t e s .

An extensive discussion of various plans for stabilizing em ploym ent and earnings for workers,
including dismissal wages.


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

482

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

U n it e d S t a t e s .

D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r .

L abor legislation of A rgentina.
No. 510.)

B u rea u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s

W ashington, 1930.

124 pp

(I ts

B ulletin

Gives the text of A rgentina’s dismissal-wage law.

— - — -— L ab o r iegisiation
( I t s B ulletin No. 494.)

of

U ruguay.

W ashington,

1930.

70 pp.

C ontains th e text of several laws passed in U ruguay th a t provide for dismissal compensation.

------------------- W orks council m o v em en t in G erm any, by
ington, 1925. 114 pp. ( I t s B ulletin No. 383.)

Boris Stern.

W ash-

H isto ry of th e G erm an works council m ovem ent, and an analysis of the present law dealing w ith dis­
missals.

------ P r e s i d e n t ’s E m e r g e n c y C o m m itte e f o r E m p lo y m e n t.
O utline of in d u stria l policies a n d p ractices in tim e of red u ced o p eratio n a n d
em ploym en t. W ashington, 1931.
Commends th e use of dismissal com pensation in cases of perm anent lay-off.

J. D.
A pplied Personnel A d m in istratio n .

Wa lters,

New Y ork, Jo h n W iley & Sons, 1931.

Brief discussion (pp. I l l , 112) of the use of dismissal wages b y industrial firms th a t recognize
their responsibility tow ard their workers whom th e y discharge for technological considerations.
W e b b , S id n e y .

T he W orks M an ag er T o-day.
162 pp.

N ew Y ork, L ongm ans, G reen & Co. [19171

Urges, in C hapter II I, a w eek’s dismissal notice or a week’s pay in lieu of notice.

D.
M anagem ent a n d technological unem ploym ent.
( I n Schw enning, G. T.
M an ag em en t Problem s. C hapel H ill
v ersity of N o rth C arolina Press, 1930, pp. 73-102.)

W o lf, H arry

U ni­

Shows how several companies have m ade use of the dismissal wage in m itigating techno­
logical unem ploym ent.

Articles in Periodicals
A b s o r p t io n

of

d is c h a r g e d

m e n ’s

c l o t h in g

cutters

in t o

other

trades

M onthly L ab o r Review , O ctober, 1929, pp. 186-190.
An investigation of the new jobs found b y employees of H a rt, Schaifner & M arx, whose jobs had
been purchased b y th e com pany when th ey were dismissed.

E. E.
T he lab o r in s titu te a t R utgers.
A m erican F ed eratio n ist, A ugust, 1931, pp. 936-942.

A gger,

A conference of economists and labor leaders held a t R utgers U niversity to consider the
problem of unem ploym ent recom m ended th a t organized labor urge the paym ent of dismissal
com pensation to stead y workers who lose th eir jobs through no fault of their own.
A NEW METHOD OF PLACING DISPLACED MEN.

M o n th ly L ab o r Review , O ctober, 1929, pp. 190, 191.
R eport on th e value of the com pany’s dismissal-wage plan to employees discharged b y R ow ntree
& Co., of York, England.
A n IND U STRIA L COUNCIL AND RATIONALIZATION.

W elfare W ork (W elfare W orkers In s titu te , L ondon), M arch, 1931, p. 281.
H ow w orkers were compensated b y the flour-milling in d u stry in England when they lost their
jobs on account of rationalization.
A n o t h e r c o m p a n y in a u g u r a t e s a d is m is s a l - w a g e p l a n .

F a cto ry a n d In d u s tria l M anagem ent, M arch, 1931, p. 442.
D etails of the dismissal-wage plan of the H ills Bros. Co., of N ew Y ork.

S.
In d u s tria l councils in G erm any.
A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of P olitical a n d Social Science
N ovem ber, 1920, pp. 48-53.

A u f iia e u s e r ,


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

BIBLIOGRAPHY— DISMISSAL COMPENSATION

483

B o n u s e s f o r d is c h a r g e d w o r k e r s in t h e U n it e d S t a t e s .

In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
F eb ru ary 10, 1930, p. 195.
Discussion of the U nited States R u b b er Co.’s dismissal-wage paym ent plan.

A.
E m p lo y m en t, wages, a n d in d u stria l relatio n s: T ren d s a n d developm ents.
F a cto ry a n d In d u s tria l M anagem ent, Ju n e, 1930, pp. 1379, 1380.

B ow ers, G len n

Brief discussion of dismissal-wage plans adopted b y industries in th e U nited States, since
1926, to m itigate th e hardships of technological unem ploym ent.

N.
T he M exican co n stitu tio n of 1917 com pared w ith th e co n stitu tio n of 1857.
A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of P o litical a n d Social Science, M ay,
1917, pp. 92-102.

Branch, H .

C ontains th e dismissal-wage provisions of th e law of Mexico.

J. D o u g l a s .
T he m an u factu rers a n d th e unem ployed.
C u rren t H istory, Ju ly , 1931, pp. 517-520.

B row n,

M odern labor policy of enlightened m anagem ent includes dismissal compensation for com ­
bating the effects of unem ploym ent during th e present depression.

F.
L a concen tratio n ind u strielle et l ’in d em n isatio n des tra v a ille u rs congédiés.
L ’In te rn a tio n a le Syndicale C h rétien n e (C onfédération In te rn a tio n a le
des S yndicats C hrétiens, U tre c h t, H ollan d ), 7ème A nnée, No. 4,
1929, pp. 50-55.

B ru ssel,

Describes th e technological unem ploym ent resulting from the concentration of the Euro­
pean m argarine in dustry, and th e dismissal-compensation plan of the Jurgens Co. of
Oss, H olland.

W. J.
T he re a d ju stm e n t of w orkers displaced by p la n t shutdow ns.
Q uarterly Jo u rn a l of Econom ics, F e b ru a ry , 1931, pp. 309-346.

C la g u e, E w a n , and C o u per ,

A stu d y of th e value of a dismissal wage in readjusting w orkers discharged b y the U nited
States R ubber Co. incident to closing its N ew E ngland plants.

------ W hen shutdow n cam e: A dism issal w age in p ractice.
Survey G raphic, F e b ru a ry 1, 1931, pp. 447-480, 513, 514.
T he use of th e dismissal wage in helping th e U nited States R u b ber C o.’s w orkers m ake the econoj
mie readjustm ent necessitated b y discharge.
C o m p a n y c o m p e n s a t e s w o r k e r s l a id o f f .

Forbes, D ecem ber 1, 1928.
Editorial demanding th a t workers be com pensated for th e loss of their jobs when this loss is due to
managem ent, and an account of dismissal wages paid b y th e T h u n d er B ay Paper Co. of P o rt A rthur,
Ontario.
C o m pen sa ted em plo y ee s w ho w e r e d r o ppe d .

Forbes, Septem ber 1, 1928, p. 29.
Editorial on th e A. N ash Co’s, scheme of com pensating workers whose jobs were destroyed b y
the introduction of labor-saving m achinery.
C o n d it io n s i n J a p a n .

.

In d u stria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G en ev a),
Ju n e 2, 1930, pp. 294, 295.
A t a conference held in A pril, 1930, factory inspectors of Japan decided to apply the law
concerning dismissal notice and indem nities to tem porary workers.

C orbett, H enry D .

A m ore ra tio n a l re tire m e n t p lan.
Jo u rn al of Business of th e U n iv ersity of Chicago, O ctober, 1931, pp.
407-413.
A rgum ent favoring dismissal allowances in preference to pension schemes in use in
A merican industries.
C o w d r ic k , E d w a r d S.

D ulling th e axe of dismissal.
N atio n ’s Business, O ctober, 1930, pp. 47-49, 212, 213.
Discusses th e dismissal wage as a new labor policy.


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

484

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

D a v is , H o r a c e B .

T he G erm an lab o r courts.
P olitical Science Q uarterly, S eptem ber, 1929, pp. 397-420.
T h e place of th e G erm an labor courts in lim iting the em ployer’s right to discharge workers.
D e m a n d s o f s a l a r ie d e m p l o y e e s in G r e e c e .

In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L abor Office, G eneva),
F e b ru a ry 10, 1930, pp. 171, 172.
R eport of the dismissal notice adopted a t a m eeting held in December, 1929, attended b y repre­
sentatives of th e Federation of Salaried Em ployees, the G eneral Confederation of Labor, the
League of M erchants, the Companies’ Association, the Association of Banks, and high G overn­
m en t officials.
D is m is s a l a l l o w a n c e s f o r G e r m a n e m p l o y e e s .

In d u stria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm atio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
F eb ru a ry 10, 1930, p p . 175, 176.
D etails of a request m ade to the G overnm ent b y the G erm an Federation of Salaried Employees
for legislation increasing dismissal allowances to a m axim um of a year’s salary in cases where
employees lose th eir positions because of rationalization.
D is m is s a l in d e m n it ie s .

In d u s tria l R elations, Chicago, M ay, 1931, p. 176.
A dispatch from Tokyo says th a t more th an 8,000 workmen, discharged from the naval dockyards
and arsenals as a consequence of restriction of activities un d er the London naval treaty, were granted
“ liberal discharge allowances.”
D is m is s a l w a g e .

A m erican M achinist (N ew Y ork, N. Y .), A pril 16 (p. 606), Ju n e 18 (p. 939),
Ju ly 2 (p. 9), Ju ly 23 (p. 166), A ugust 20 (p. 299), S ep tem b er (p. 374),
A rgum ents for and against the paym ent of the dismissal wage.
D is m is s a l -w a g e p l a n s .

F a cto ry an d In d u stria l M anagem ent, S eptem ber, 1931, p. 362.
Q uotation from a stu d y m ade b y th e N ational In d u strial Conference B oard showing th a t S3
American firms p ay dismissal allowances under formal and 30 under informal plans.
D is m is s a l w a g e s f o r t e m p o r a r y w o r k e r s in j a p a n .

M onthly L abor Review , A ugust, 1930, p. 182.
D o uglas, P aul H .

Technological unem ploym ent.
A m erican F ed eratio n ist, A ugust, 1930, pp. 923-950.
T h e dismissal wage is comm ended as one means of m aking the a djustm ent necessitated by
technological unem ploym ent.

G.
A S ta te dism issal-w age act.
Survey, Ja n u a ry 15, 1931, pp. 426, 427.

D ra per, E rnest

D raft of a plan for a S tate dismissal-compensation law.
E ig h t l o o m s a g a in .

T extile W orker, A pril, 1931, pp. 25-28.
Discussion of th e efforts of J. Spencer (L td .), of B urnley, England, to end a strike of its workers
caused b y th e introduction of the 8-loom system b y paying three m onths’ dismissal wages to the
workers displaced.
E m p l o y e r s i n B r a z il m u s t p a y i n d e m n i t i e s f o r d is m is s a l s .

C om m erce R ep o rts, M ay 18, 1931, p. 430.
S tatem ent regarding Brazilian w orkers’ legal claim to compensation if discharged for trade-union
affiliation or p articipation in trade-union activities.
E m p l o y e r ’s p l a n f o r h e l p i n g d i s m i s s e d

w o rk ers.

In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
D ecem ber 17, 1928, p. 365.
Discussion of R ow ntree & Co.’s dismissal-wage plan.
E x p e r ie n c e

of

a

group

of

em ploy ers

w it h

the

lay-o ff

M o n th ly L ab o r Review , S eptem ber, 1930, pp. 21-23.
T h e use of advance notice and th e dismissal wage in cases of lay-off,


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

pro b lem

.

485

BIBLIOGRAPHY— DISMISSAL COMPENSATION
F a c ts f o r w o r k e r s : U n e m p l o y m e n t a n d it s r e m e d ie s .

In te rn a tio n a l B ookbinder, O ctober, 1930, p p . 550-552.
Suggests th a t discharge compensation be p aid to w orkers w ho are laid off.
G e r m a n w o r k s c o u n c il l a w .

M onthly L ab o r Review , M ay, 1920, pp. 172-181.
Discussion of the origin and m ain provisions of th e G erm an works council law.

B., a n d R i c h e s , E . J.
E m ployers’ a d d itio n a l u n em p lo y m en t benefit schem es in G reat B ritain .
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
M arch, 1930, pp. 348-394.

G il s o n , M a r y

A n analysis of vo lu n tary dismissal-wage plans of a dozen or more B ritish industries.

J. B. S.
A m algam ated unionism .
T he N ew R epublic, O ctober 28, 1931, pp. 294—297.

H ardman,

Achievements of the A m algam ated C lothing W orkers of America in securing dismissal wages
for workers discharged for technological reasons.

D.
D ism issal w ages: A n o th er step to w ard in d u stria l security.
In d u s tria l R elations, M ay, 1931, pp. 144—146.

H a w k in s , E v e r e t t

Gives the discharge-compensation plans of a large n um ber of companies.

------ L e tte r to th e ed ito r in re th e legal sta tu s of dism issal com pensation.
In d u stria l R elations, C hicago, O ctober, 1931, p. 316.
Discusses the legal statu s of volu n tary dismissal-compensation paym ents.

------ Solving th e u nem p lo y m en t problem .
In d u s tria l R elations, Ju ly , 1931, pp. 225-226.
H ow th e H ills Bros. Co. uses th e dismissal wage as a solution to seasonal, cyclical, a nd techno­
logical unem ploym ent.

H ow R

ow ntree

&

Co. ( L t d .)

of

Y o r k , E n g l a n d , d e a l s w it h t e c h n o l o g ic a l

U N EM PLO Y M EN T.

L aw a n d L abor, A pril, 1930, pp. 94-96.
S tatem ent regarding new industries started b y R ow ntree & Co. to afford em ploym ent for some
of th e employees it laid off p erm anently due to technological im provem ents in the plant.
I n d e m n it y f o r u n e m p l o y e d b o a t m e n in

Greece.

In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm atio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
D ecem ber 10, 1928, p. 344.
Decree of th e Greek C ham ber, of N ovem ber 18, 1928, granting indem nity to boatm en who lost
their jobs on account of the mechanical loading of vessels.
I n d u s t r ia l e m p l o y m e n t c o d e .

B ulletin of th e T a y lo r Society, F e b ru ary , 1931, pp. 19-24, an d O ctober, 1931,
p p . 181-185.
Holds th a t it is in d u stry ’s responsibility to compensate the worker for the loss of his job.

12 p e r c e n t m o r e m e n o n p a y r o l l
T he Business W eek, D ecem ber 3, 1930, pp. 7, 8.

I nd u stry k e e ps

than

it

needs.

Gives th e names of a num ber of companies paying a dismissal wage.
I n t e r n a t io n a l F e d e r a t io n
plo y ees.

of

C o m m e r c ia l , C l e r ic a l a n d T e c h n ic a l

E m­

In d u s tria l an d L ab o r In fo rm atio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
Ju n e 2, 1930, p. 298.
T h e insurance employees’ section of the above federation held a conference a t Vienna, in M arch,
1930. A t th e conference th e program of dem ands drafted included “ longer periods of notice and
higher indem nities for dismissal.”
L a b o r l e g is l a t io n in

R u m a n ia .

In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva), Sep­
tem b er 9, 1929, pp. 335-340.
A discussion of the provisions of th e R um anian law dealing w ith discharge indem nity.

96957°— 32----- 17


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

486

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

M e e k e r , E oyal.

In d u s tria l hazards.
M o n th ly L ab o r R eview , S eptem ber, 1919, pp. 1-8.
H eld th a t “ in d u stry should be required to pay a ‘ dismissal wage to employees discharged
for no fault of th eir ow n.”
M e s s r s . R o w n t r e e ’s s u b s i d y s c h e m e .

In d u stria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm atio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
Septem ber 8, 1929, p. 346, a n d S ep tem b er 30, 1929, p. 470.
M it ig a t in g d is c h a r g e in in d u s t r y .

In fo rm atio n Service (F ed eral C ouncil of th e C hurches of C h rist in A m erica,
N ew Y ork), S ep tem b er 29, 1928, p. 4.
Describes th e A. N ash Go.’s use of a dismissal wage w hen technological progress eliminated
jobs in th e firm.

J.
O ccupational re a d ju stm e n t of displaced skilled w orkm en.
Jo u rn al of P olitical E conom y, A ugust, 1929, pp. 473-489.

M yers, R obert

A stu d y of w h at happened to cutters in th e Chicago clothing m arket who received com­
pensation for th e loss of their jobs.
O hse, H erm an.

T h e new w orkm en’s councils legislation.
A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of P olitical a n d Social Science,
N ovem ber, 1920, pp. 54-60.
Legal protection of G erm an w orkers against discharge.

J.
An analysis of J a p a n ’s cheap labor.
Political Science Q uarterly, M ay, 1929, pp. 215-258.

O rc h a rd , D oro thy

Discussion of vo lu n tary and compulsory pay m en t of dismissal allowances in Japan.
P ic a r d , R o g e r .

F rench legislation on th e dism issal of w orkers.
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva), J a n ­
u ary , 1931, pp. 1-24.
T ext and critical analysis of the French act of Ju ly 19, 1928, dealing w ith the dismissal of
w orkers and dismissal compensation.

A B r it is h f l o u r -m il l in g s c h e m e .
B ulletin of th e In te rn a tio n a l M an ag em en t In s titu te , F e b ru ary , 1931, pp.
31, 32.

R a t io n a l iz a t io n i n p r a c t i c e :

Shows how dismissal compensation is used on a national scale in alleviating technological
un em p lo y m en t.

R o ss, E d w a r d A.
A legal dism issal wage.
M o n th ly L ab o r Review , M arch, 1919, pp. 15-19.
Discusses th e use of the dismissal wage in R ussia u nder th e Czar and under K erensky, and
states the principles underlying th e p ay m en t of dismissal allowances.
R u k ey ser, M erryle Stanley.

H ow progressive em ployers m eet th e challenge of u n em ploym ent.
Forbes, J a n u a ry 1, 1931, p. 13.
Brief description of dismissal-wage schemes of 10 companies.
S a l a r ie d E m p l o y e e s in C z e c h o s l o v a k ia .

In d u s tria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
F eb ru a ry 10, 1930, p. 174.
R eport of dem ands su b m itted to Parliam ent b y th e Czechoslovak Association of Salaried E m ­
ployees w hich included longer notice of dismissal.
S c h a e ffe r , H a ns.

T h e resu lts of th e council m o v em en t in G erm any.
A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of P olitical a n d Social Science,
N ovem ber, 1920, pp. 41-47.
Quotes an d discusses th e provisions of th e G erm an labor law on the formation and
functions of factory councils in protecting w orkers from discharge.


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

BIBLIOGRAPHY— DISMISSAL COMPENSATION

487

S C H O M E R U S , F R IE D E R IC H .

In d u stria l cooperation in th e C arl Zeiss W orks.
In d u strial Psychology M onthly, F eb ru ary , 1928, pp. 59-63.
Gives th e com pany’s reasons for paying dismissal compensation.

G. T.
In d u s try ’s responsibility fo r u n em ploym ent.
Social Forces, O ctober, 1931, pp. 112-119.

SC H W EN N IN G ,

Gives th e features of several A merican a n d European com pany dismissal-wage plans.

------ T h e w orker’s legal rig h t to his job.
A m erican F ed eratio n ist, Ja n u a ry , 1932, pp. 26-32.
Statem ent regarding th e extent and scope of dismissal-compensation laws; evaluation of the
effectiveness of th e dismissal-compensation law m ovem ent to give the w orker a legal claim to his
job; a n d the need for sim ilar legislation in the U nited States.
S e is h i, I d e i.

T he unem ploym ent problem in Ja p a n .
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
O ctober, 1930, pp. 503-523.
Includes a discussion of the effect of th e custom of giving discharge allowances in Japanese
in d u stry on the problem of unem ploym ent.
S in z h e im e r , H u g o .

T he developm ent of lab o r legislation in G erm any.
A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of P olitical an d Social Science,
N ovem ber, 1920, pp. 35-40.
D evelopm ent of G erm an labor laws, including the works council law of February 4,1920,
which protects workers from arb itrary discharge.

T . G.
In d u stria l relations in th e Zeiss works.
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview (In te rn a tio n a l L abor Office, G eneva),
A ugust, 1930, p p . 177-198.

Spa tes,

A sym pathetic analysis of the dismissal-compensation plan of the Carl Zeiss Co., located
a t Jena, G erm any. T h e plan has been in successful operation for more than 35 years.
Sta r r ett, H . P .

Com m ercial ag en ts su b ject to im p o rta n t Ita lia n decision.
C om m erce R ep o rts, S ep tem b er 1, 1930, p. 559.
Decision of th e Suprem e C ourt of Ita ly holding th a t Italian agents of foreign firms are
entitled to in d em n ity if their agency is restricted or w ithdraw n w ithout due advance notice.

M.
A m erican experim ents w ith u n em p lo y m en t insurance.
Survey G raphic, April, 1929, pp. 57, 58, 75, 76.

St ew a r t , B ryce

“ T h e solution for unem ploym ent compensation appears to lie in the dismissal wage.”
T e r m in a t io n o f C o n t r a c t s in G r e e c e .

In d u stria l a n d L ab o r In fo rm a tio n (In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva),
Ju n e 2, 1930, pp. 301, 302.
S tatem ent regarding a notice of dismissal decree b y the Greek Parliam ent.
T h e d is m is s a l w a g e .

F a cto ry an d In d u s tria l M anagem ent, M arch, 1930, pp. 536, 537.
Gives several com pany dismissal-wage plans in actual operation.
T h e d is m is s a l w a g e .

In d u s try (A ssociated In d u strie s of M assach u setts, B oston), A ugust 22, 1931,
p. 5.
Sum m ary of a report on compulsory and v o lu n tary paym ent of dismissal wages m ade by the
N ational In d u strial Conference Board.
T h e d is m is s a l w a g e .

M onthly L abor Review , April, 1930, pp. 1-5.
Gives details of several dismissal-wage plans in the U nited States,
several foreign countries which have enacted dismissal-wage laws.


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

Europe, and Japan, and lists

488

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T h e d is m is s a l w a g e .

Service L e tte r on In d u s tria l R elatio n s (N a tio n a l In d u s tria l C onference
B oard, N ew Y o rk ), O ctober 30, 1931, pp. 1-3.
Report of th e N atio n al In d u stria l Conference B oard’s stu d y of th e dismissal-wage movem ent.
U m b r e it , P a u l .

T he program of socialized in d u stria l m anagem ent.
A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of P olitical a n d Social Science,
N ovem ber, 1920, pp. 61-65.
Postw ar conditions in G erm any resulting in the enactm ent of present labor laws, includ­
ing laws dealing w ith dismissal com pensation.
U nem plo y m en t am ong sea m en .

M onthly L abor R eview , Septem ber, 1919, pp. 169, 170.
D ismissal allowances recommended b y th e C entral Association of G erm an Shipowners to com­
pensate 60,000 to 70,000 seamen for th e loss of th eir jobs w hen the Allies took over the G erm an ship­
ping and shipbuilding in d u stry as ordered b y the peace conference.
U n e m p l o y m e n t c o m m it t e e p l a c in g r u b b e r w o r k e r s .

C onnecticut In d u s try (M a n u factu rers’ A ssociation of C o nnecticut, H a r t­
ford), O ctober, 1929, p. 13.
Brief statem en t regarding th e U nited States R ubber Co.’s dismissal-wage plan.
W olm an, L eo .

Some observations on u n em p lo y m en t insurance.
{ I n A m erican Econom ic A ssociation, Proceedings, D ecem ber, 1928, p p .
23-29.)
Discusses dismissal-wage schemes as a new form of u nem ploym ent insurance.

A. II.
U nem ploym ent— W h a t a b o u t it?
Personnel (A m erican M an ag em en t Association, New Y ork), F e b ru a ry ,
1931, pp. 116-123.

Y oung,

Indicates how discharge allowances m ay be used to assist w orkers who m ust be laid off.

Articles in Newspapers
C otton m en

get

bo n u ses.

T rans-P acific (T okyo), M ay 21, 1931, p. 8.
Account of 750,000 yen in the form of retirem en t allowances paid to three executives of one Japanese
Arm.
D o c k y a r d s t r ik e in

Y okohama en d s.

T rans-Pacific (T okyo), M arch 28, 1929, p. 30.
An account ofalO -day strike of 4,500 workers th a t was term inated w hen the firm agreed to unusuall y
liberal dismissal allowances beyond the legal requirem ents.
E m plo y ees o p W orld g et tw o w e e k s ’ pa y .

New Y ork Tim es, M arch 5, 1931, p. 16.
Dismissal com pensation paid to employees of th e W orld and the Evening W orld w ho lost their jobs
w hen these two papers were sold to th e Scripps-H ow ard new spapers.
F i n d i n g w o r k f o r d i s p l a c e d m e n : R e s u l t s o f R o w n t r e e ’s e x p e r i m e n t .

M anchester G u ard ian , A ugust 12, 1929, p. 5.
R eport on th e results of R ow ntree & Co.’s dismissal compensation used to assist w orkers dis­
m issed for technological reasons.

40- day s p i n n i n g s t r i k e i s e n d e d .
T rans-Pacific (T okyo), Ju ly 23, 1927, p . 12.
In settling its strike, th e firm agreed to p a y generous dismissal com pensation to the workers it
dismissed.
H a m a m a t s u s t r ik e is f in a l l y s e t t l e d .

Ja p a n A dvertiser, A ugust 9, 1926, p. 1.
A strike of 1,000 workers th a t lasted more th a n three m onths ended when th e com pany agreed to
th e p aym ent of liberal dismissal allowances.
H o s h i d r u g s t r ik e b r o u g h t t o f in is h .

T rans-Pacific (T okyo), J u n e 26, 1930, p. 10.
Account of th e paym ent of 31,000 yen to 410 m en dismissed b y the firm.


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

BIBLIOGRAPHY----DISMISSAL COMPENSATION
J a p a n ’s

in d u s t r ia l

d is p u t e s t o

489

c o n t in u e .

T rans-Pacific (T okyo), A pril 24, 1930, p. 13.
R ationalization and the depression are causing m uch unem ploym ent and labor unrest in Japan.
T he labor m ovem ent is concentrating its efforts to secure allowances for the workers th a t are dism issed.
f i r m g iv e s w o r k e r s $585,000 o n
New Y ork Tim es, Ju n e 11, 1931, p. 1.

J a panese

d is c h a r g in g t h e m .

R eport on discharge allowances paid to 3,000 w orkers dismissed b y a Japanese firm due to lack of
business.

Iv a v a s a k i C o.

l e t s o u t 3,000 m e n .
T rans-Pacific (T okyo), Ju ly 30, 1927, p. 14.

R eport of large sum s paid in the form of dismissal allowances b y two firms th a t discharged m any
workers.

L abor

and

f a r m e r s ’ t r o u b l e s in c r e a s e .

T rans-Pacific (T okyo), D ecem ber 17, 1927, p. 17.
A statem ent showing th a t 884 labor disputes involving over 70,000 workers took place during 1927.
“ A total of 170 cases were stated to be the result of agitation for discharge and retirem ent allowances.”

L abor

troubles

m o r e t h is

m onth.

T rans-Pacific (T okyo), S ep tem b er 26, 1929, p. 12.
T he discharging of workers b y two bus companies in Tokyo resulted in strikes bordering on sabo
tage. Discharge allowances were an item in the disputes.

L abor

u n rest

h it s in d u s t r ia l

f ir m s t h r o u g h o u t

J a pa n .

T rans-P acific (T okyo), M ay 14, 1931, p. 13.
W hen th e Yokoham a D ockyard Co. dismissed 998 employees for lack of business, the firm distrib­
u ted 254,000 yen in retirem ent allowances to those laid off.

M en

M ic h e l in

l a id o f f g e t

bo nu ses.

New Y ork Tim es, Ju ly 18, 1930, p. 5.
N atu re of th e $700,000 in bonuses paid to 700 employees w hen the M ichelin Tire Co. closed its
A m erican plant.

M ic h e l in

w i l l e n d t i r e m a k in g h e r e .

New Y ork T im es, S eptem ber 11, 1930, p. 22.
Discussion of th e dismissal bonuses paid to w orkers w hen the p la n t was sh u t down perm anently.

C o. t r o u b l e i s e n d e d .
T rans-P acific (T okyo), M arch 6, 1930, p. 12.

M

u s l in

N

ew

D ismissal wages constituted a p a rt of the settlem ent of the strike.

H

il l s

B ro s,

w a g e p l a n a im s t o r e a s s u r e w o r k e r s .

Jo u rn al of C om m erce, Ja n u a ry 31, 1931, p. 9.
Brief statem en t of th e H ills Bros. Co.’s motives in adopting a formal dismissal-wage plan.

P

o l ic e

here

cla sh

w it h

p r o l e t a r ia n s

over

m il l

d is p u t e .

T rans-Pacific (T okyo), A pril 17, 1930, p. 15.
Account of a strike in a spinning m ill near T o k y o . M anagem ent stated th a t it had a special fund
of ab o u t 16,000,000 yen which could be used in paying dismissal wages to discharged workers.
t o g iv e $500,000 t o e m p l o y e e s .
New Y ork T im es, F e b ru a ry 28, 1931, p. 3.

P u l it z e r s

R eport of compensation paid to employees of th e W orld and the Evening W orld a t the tim e of the
sale of these tw o papers.

S h ip y a r d

w o r k e r s d is c h a r g e d .

T rans-P acific (T okyo), M ay 14, 1931, p. 11.
A shipbuilding firm a t N anasaki paid 200,000 yen in dismissal allowances to 500 workm en it laid off.

S t r ik e

in

M

u s l in

C o.

is

settled .

J a p a n A dvertiser (T okyo), A ugust 11, 1926, p. 1.
T h e p ay m en t of com pensation was a factor in bringing th e dispute to an end.

T

he

longest

s t r ik e .

T rans-P acific (T okyo), A pril 28, 1928, pp. 4, 13.
In ending a strike th a t lasted 217 days and concerned 1,000 families, the firm involved agreed (1)
to p a y 400 yen in dismissal allowances to each of the 700 workers discharged and (2) to p ay the sum
of 80,000 yen into the strike fund as a special allowance. T he strike cost the com pany 380,000 yen
in dismissal allowances.


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

490

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T ru scon St e e l C

o. w orkers

w alk

out.

J a p a n A dvertiser (T okyo), S eptem ber 17, 1926, p. 3.
T h e am o u n t of dismissal allowances was one of the principal dem ands formally presented to the
m anagem ent b y the workers.

U. S. E m b a s s y a s k e d t o a c t i n s e t t l i n g g r e a t O s a k a
T rans-Pacific (T okyo), Ja n u a ry 23, 1930, p. 14.

s t r ik e .

A strike resulted when th e Japanese p la n t of the General M otors Corporation discharged 800
workers and paid them only the legal 14 days’ dismissal allowance. T he strikers dem anded more
liberal compensation for those discharged.

W

a ld o r f e m pl o y e e s g et la st day r e c e ip t s .

New Y ork Tim es, A pril 3, 1929, p. 15.
S tatem ent of dismissal com pensation p aid its employees w hen they were discharged due to the
closing down of the old H otel 'Waldorf-Astoria.
e m p l o y e e s s h a r e $23,000 g i f t .
New Y ork Tim es, M ay 4, 1929, p. 10.

W aldorf

Laws and Decrees
B o l i v i a . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

A ct (N ovem ber 21, 1924) respecting salaried em ployees in com m erce an d
in d u stry . (T ran slatio n b y In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s
L egislative series, 1924— B olivia 2.)
-------------- A ct an d decree (J a n u a ry 8, 1925): S alaried em ployees. (T ran slatio n
by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1925— B olivia 1.)
T h e above tw o laws provide for compensation in cases of u n just discharge of salaried employees.

B r a z il . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

D ecree No. 17096 (O ctober 28, 1925) issuing new reg u latio n s for h a rb o r
au th o rities. (T ran slatio n by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s
L egislative series, 1925— B razil 2.)
T ext of law dealing w ith th e em ploym ent and discharge of seamen, and providing for dismissal
compensation.

C h i l e . L a w s , s ta tu te s , eic.

A ct No. 4053 (Septem ber 8, 1924) p ro viding th a t co n tra c ts of em p lo y m en t
shall be reg u lated by th e provisions laid dow n th erein . (T ran slatio n by
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1924— Chile 2.)
-------------- D ecree No. 857 (N ovem ber 11, 1925): S alaried em ployees. Legis­
lativ e decree No. 442 (M arch 20, 1925) respecting th e w elfare of w orking m o th ­
ers a n d respecting creches. (T ran slatio n s by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office,
G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1925—-Chile 1, 3.)
D ecree No. 217 (April 30, 1926): H ygiene an d safety. (T ran slatio n
by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1926— Chile 2.)
-------------- D ecrees No. 103 (F eb ru ary 2, 1927), No. 636 (April 28, 1927), No.
1442 (A ugust 26, 1927), an d No. 1469 (S eptem ber 1, 1927): S alaried em ployees.
(T ran slatio n s by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series
1927— C hile 1.)
’
T h e above are the texts of C hile’s laws providing for th e compulsory paym ent of dismissal wages
in cases of arb itrary discharge.

E

c u a d o r . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

D ecree No. 24 (M arch 4, 1927) respecting th e p rev en tio n of in d u s tria l
accidents. (T ran slatio n by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s
L egislative series, 1927— E c u ad o r 1.)
"
A ct (O ctober 6, 1928) respecting th e in d iv id u al c o n tra c ts of em ploy­
m ent. (T ran slatio n by In te rn a tio n a l L abor Office, G eneva, i n i t s Legis­
lativ e series, 1928— E cu a d o r 1.)
T ext of E cuador’s laws containing provision for dismissal compensation for workers.


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

BIBLIOGRAPHY— DISMISSAL COMPENSATION

491

F r a n c e . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

Lois, décrets, arrê té s co n cern an t la rég lem en tatio n du trav ail. D ocum ents'
réunis p a r le M inistère d u T ra v a il e t de la P révoyance sociale. Paris,,
L ibrairie A d m in istrativ e B erger-L evrault, 1930.
T h e complete French L abor Code. Page 22 gives th e text of the labor act of Ju ly 19,1928, deal­
ing w ith dismissals and dismissal compensation.

-------------- Seam en’s Code, D ecem ber 13, 1926. (T ran slatio n by In te rn a tio n a l
L abor Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1926— F rance 13.)
Provides for dismissal compensation in cases of u n ju st discharge.

G e r m a n y . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

A ct of Ju ly 9, 1926: D ism issal of salaried em ployees. (T ran slatio n by I n ­
te rn atio n al L abo r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1926— G erm any 7.)
Lays dow n tim e lim its for giving notice of dismissal to salaried employees.

G r e e c e . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

A ct No. 2112 (M arch 11, 1920) respecting o bligatory notice of th e te rm in a ­
tio n of th e c o n tra c t of em plo y m en t of p riv a te em ployees. (T ran slatio n
by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1920—
Greece 3-4.)
------ -------- L egislative decree (April 21, 1926) respecting a rb itra tio n an d concilia­
tio n in disputes to w hich salaried em ployees are p arties. (T ran sla tio n by
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1926— Greece 3.)
B oth of th e above laws of Greece m ake provision for th e p aym ent of compensation in cases of irregular
term ination of labor contracts.

G u a t e m a l a . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

D ecree No. 1434 (A pril 30, 1926) p rom ulgating th e lab o r act. (T ran sla­
tio n b y In te rn a tio n a l L abor Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1926—
G u atem ala 1.)
C ontains provision for discharge indem nity.

I taly.

L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

D ism issal of em ployees (tra n sp o rt u n d ertak in g s). (T ran slatio n by I n te r­
n atio n al L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1925— Ita ly 8.)
■ - .. .......... L egislative decree No. 2338 (N ovem ber 29, 1925) respecting th e dis­
m issal of persons em ployed by u n d ertak in g s carry in g on p ublic tr a n s p o rt
services u n d er a concession. (T ran slatio n b y In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office,
G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1925— Ita ly 8.)
Includes provisions covering th e dismissal of employees.

J a p a n . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

O rdinances (N o. 152 a n d 153) u n d er th e facto ry act. (T ran slatio n by
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1 9 2 6 J a p a n 1.)
T ext of Japanese legislation dealing w ith compensation for u njust discharge.

M a in e .

D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r a n d I n d u s t r y .

L abor law s of M aine.

A ugusta, 1931.

C ontains (pp. 32, 33) the text of th e M aine law covering dismissal notice a nd com pensation in
lieu of notice.

------ L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
R evised S ta tu te s, 1916, ch. 49, sec. 35.
C ontains provision for dismissal compensation.

M

a ssa ch u setts.

D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r .

L abor law bulletin No. 9.

B oston [n. d.].

Contains (p. 30) th e tex t of the law concerning discharge allowance.

------ L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
G eneral Laws, 1921, ch. 149, sec. 159.
T h e text of th e State’s law dealing w ith dismissal notice and allowances is given on page 3039.

M

e x ic o .

L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

D ecree N o. 87 (A pril 6, 1921) respecting conciliation a n d a rb itra tio n bo ard s.
(T ran slatio n b y In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative
series, 1921 (P t. I I ) — Mexico 1.)

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

492

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

M e x ic o .

L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

D ecree No. 2308 (A ugust 13, 1923) respecting th e lab o r a c t of th e S ta te of
Jalisco. (T ran slatio n b y In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s
L egislative series, 1923— Mexico 1.)
D ecree No. 279 (M ay 4, 1925) to p rovide for com pensation fo r in d u s­
tria l accidents (Y u catan ). A ct (D ecem ber 30, 1925) u n d er artic le 4 of th e
co n stitu tio n respecting lib e rty to w ork. (T ran slatio n s b y In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r
Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1925— Mexico 1, 2.)
——-------- O rder (M arch 1, 1927) to p ro v id e t h a t th e M in istry of In d u stry ,
Com m erce, a n d L ab o r shall deal w ith all la b o r d isp u tes in th e m ining a n d
petroleum in d u stries in th e R epublic. (T ran slatio n by In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r
Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1927— Mexico 1.)
All of these M exican laws have provisions dealing w ith compensation for discharge.
N ew

J ersey.

D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r .

L abor law s adm inistered' by th e S ta te of N ew Jersey D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r
T ren to n , 1921.
Gives (pp. 26, 27) the law relating to th e paym ent of discharge indem nity.

------ L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
Com piled S ta tu te s, 1910, sec. 79, p. 3039.
N ew Jersey’s law relating to th e p aym ent of discharge indem nity.
R u s s ia .

L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

O rder (N ovem ber 9, 1922) of th e A. R. C. E. C. respecting th e bringing in to
operation of th e L ab o r Code of th e F. R. S. S. R. (T ran slatio n b y I n te r­
n atio n al L ab o r Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1922— R ussia 1.)
Text of Soviet R ussia’s L abor Code (before th e revision of 1929) w hich contains provisions for
th e p ay m en t of dismissal com pensation in cases of un ju st discharge.
Y u g o s l a v ia .

L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.

L egislative decree (S eptem ber 25, 1926) respecting th e legal relatio n s betw een
jo u rn alists a n d new spaper p roprietors. (T ran slatio n by In te rn a tio n a l
L abor Office, G eneva, i n i t s L egislative series, 1926— K ingdom of th e
Serbs, C roats, a n d Slovenes 1.)


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

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O fficial— U n ited S ta te s
N e w Y o r k .— D e p a rtm e n t of L abor. S p e c i a l B u l l e t i n N o . 1 7 1 : C o u r s e o f f a c t o r y
e m p lo y m e n t m N e w Y o r k S t a t e f r o m 1 9 2 1 to 1 9 3 0 , p r e p a r e d b y D i v i s io n o f
S ta tis tic s a n d In fo r m a tio n .
A lb a n y , 1 9 3 1 .
1 7 7 p p . , c h a r ts .

P rep ared for th e convenience of those w ho m ak e use of th e c u rre n t sta tistic s on
em plo ym ent in N ew Y ork S ta te factories, w hich a p p e a r m o n th ly in th e In ­
d u stria l B ulletin publish ed by th e N ew Y o rk D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r.
D a k o t a .— W o rk m en 's C om pensation B ureau.
S ix th b ie n n ia l r e p o r t, f o r th e b ie n n iu m
[ B is m a r c k , 1 9 3 1 ? ] 8 8 p p .

M inim um W age D e­

N orth

p a rtm e n t.

e n d in g J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .

T e n n e s s e e .— D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
D ivision of M ines. T h i r ty - s ix th a n n u a l
r e p o r t o f th e m in e r a l re s o u r c e s o f T e n n e s s e e , 1 9 3 0 .
N a s h v ille , [1 9 3 1 ? ].
lfO
p p . , c h a r ts , U lu s .

Includes, am ong various o th e r d a ta , w age a n d accid en t statistics.
W a s h i n g t o n .— D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r a n d In d u stries.
A n n u a l re p o rt o f coal
m in e s , f o r th e y e a r e n d in g D e c e m b e r 8 1 , 1 9 3 0 .
O ly m p ia , 1 9 3 1 .
14 pp.

In 1930 coal p roductio n in W ashington S ta te to ta le d 2,290,990 to n s, w ith 3,110
m en em ployed an d th e m ines op eratin g 204 days. C om pared w ith th e preceding
year, th ere w as a decrease of 300,676 to n s in p ro d u ctio n , 178 in th e n u m b er of
m en, a n d of 18.3 in th e n u m b er of d a y s th e m ines w ere in o peration.
—-— ------ C o m p ila tio n o f i n s u r a n c e a n d m e d ic a l a i d a c ts a d m in is te r e d b y D e p a r t ­
m e n t o f L a b o r a n d I n d u s tr ie s .

O ly m p ia , 1 9 3 1 .

36 pp.

U n i t e d S t a t e s .— Civil Service Com m ission.
F o r ty - e ig h th a n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e
fisc a l y e a r en d ed J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 1 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
101 p p .

T here w ere 616,837 em ployees in th e executive civil service on Ju n e 30, 1931;
of these, 71,693 w ere em ployed in th e D istric t of C olum bia. T h e P o sta l Service
h ad 316,259 em ployees, or 51.27 p e r c en t of th e to ta l. On Ju n e 30, 1931, th ere
w ere 468,050 positions su b ject to co m p etitiv e ex am in atio n u n d er th e civil service
a c t. T he n u m b er of retire m e n ts for age du rin g th e y ear w as 3,888.
— — D e p a rtm e n t of Com m erce.

B ureau of F oreign a n d D om estic Com m erce.

D o m e s tic C o m m e r c e S e r ie s N o . 5 : C o m m e r c ia l a n d i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n iz a tio n s
o f th e U n ite d S ta te s .
R e v is e d e d itio n , S e p te m b e r , 1 9 8 1 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 8 1 .
3 8 6 pp.

---- —------- ------- S t a t i s t i c a l a b s tr a c t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , 1 9 3 1 .
898 pp.

W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .

------ -—— B ureau of M ines.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .

A n n u a l r e p o r t f o r th e f is c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 8 0 , 1 9 8 1 .
61 p p .

The work of the health and safety branch of the bureau during the year
-Deluded chemical and pathological studies of asphyxia by carbon monoxide, studies
of chemical warning agents for fuel gases, and the physical examination of miners.
Special field studies were made of health conditions among miners and of the inci­
dence of silicosis, while laboratory studies were carried out on the toxicity and
health hazards involved in the use of a number of chemicals.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.

B u reau of L ab o r S tatistics. B u l l e t i n N o . 5 4 5 :
B u i l d i n g p e r m its i n th e p r i n c i p a l c itie s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s i n 1 9 8 0 .
W ash ­
in g to n , 1 9 8 1 . 9 4 p p .

A dvance sum m aries of th e in fo rm atio n o b tain ed in th is su rv ey of build in g p e r­
m its issued in 1930 w ere p u blished in th e L ab o r R eview fo r M arch , A pril, a n d
M ay, 1931.

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

493

494

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

U n i t e d S t a t e s .— Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. B u l l e t i n
N o . 5 4 7 : W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r i n c a n e - s u g a r r e fin in g i n d u s t r y , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
27 pp.
'

An advance sum m ary of tlie d a ta o b tain ed in th is survey w as published in th e
L abor R eview for F e b ru a ry , 1931 (pp. 134-140).
-------------- W om en’s b ureau.

B u l l e t i n N o . 8 9 : T h e i n d u s t r i a l e x p e r ie n c e o f w o m e n
w o r k e r s a t th e s u m m e r s c h o o ls , 1 9 2 8 to 1 9 3 0 , b y G la d y s L . P a lm e r .
W a s h in g to n ,
1931.
6 0 p p . , i l lu s .

An acco u n t of th e w ork h isto ry a n d econom ic sta tu s of 609 w om an stu d e n ts of
4 in d u strial sum m er schools.
------ F ederal B oard for V ocational E du catio n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .

F if te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t, 1 9 3 1 .

129 pp .

R eview ed in th is issue.
G overnm ent P rin tin g Office. L a b o r : C h ild la b o r , w o m e n , s tr i k e s , w a g e s ,
w o r k m e n ’s i n s u r a n c e , a n d c o m p e n s a tio n .
L i s t o f p u b lic a tio n s r e la tin g to a b ove
s u b je c ts f o r s a le b y S u p e r i n t e 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 ash ­
in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
32 pp.
( P r i c e l i s t 3 3 — 1 7 th e d .)

------Interstate Commerce Commission.

F o r ty - fif th a n n u a l r e p o r t.

W a s h in g to n ,

1931. 380 pp.
Includes d a ta on n u m b er of em ployees of Class I railw ays in Ju ly , 1931, w ith
com parative figures for th e sam e m o n th of 1929 a n d 1930, a n d of n u m b e r of p e r­
sons killed a n d in ju red in railw ay accidents in various years.

------ T reasu ry D ep a rtm e n t.

B ureau of In te rn a l R evenue.

f o r 1 9 2 9 , c o m p ile d f r o m in c o m e - ta x r e tu r n s a n d
e s ta te -ta x r e tu r n s .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
429 pp.

S t a t i s t i c s o f in c o m e
in c l u d i n g s t a t i s t i c s f r o m

------ ;-------Public H e a lth Service.
in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .

A n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e f is c a l y e a r 1 9 3 1 .
3 5 4 p p . , c h a r ts , i l lu s .

W ash ­

T h e re p o rt contains a s ta te m e n t of th e a ctiv ities of th e office of in d u stria l
hygiene a n d sa n ita tio n du rin g th e y ear w hich included stu d ies of th e effects of
different d u sts; a stu d y of th e h azard s in th e in d u stria l use of poisonous su b ­
stances, including rad iu m in th e d ial-p ain tin g in d u stry ; a survey of th e w ork of
em ployee m utual-b en efit associations a n d various o th e r special studies.

Official-—Foreign C ou n tries
E s t o n i a .— B ureau C en tra l de S tatistiq u e.
1930.
T a llin n , 1 9 3 1 .
2 3 9 p p ., m a p s.

A n n u a i r e d e la s t a t i s t iq u e a g r ic o le ,

C ontains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to a g ricu ltu re in E sto n ia in 1930,
including prices a n d wages, lab o r conditions, p ro d u c tiv ity , etc.
M inistère de 1 In s tru c tio n P ub liq u e e t des Affaires Sociales. L a p r o te c tio n
T a llin n , 1 9 3 1 .
48 p p . , i l l u s .
C ontains a sum m ary of th e rep o rts of th e lab o r inspectors in E sto n ia fo r 1931,
including cases of law violations, in d u stria l disputes, a rb itra tio n by la b o r in ­
spectors, in d u stria l accidents an d diseases, a n d p rev en tiv e m easures a g a in st
accidents, etc.
T he heads of th e m ain tab les are in F rench a n d E sto n ian , an d th e re is a F ren ch
résum é.
d u t r a v a il e n E s to n ie e n 1 9 3 0 .

F r a n c e .— B ureau d e là S ta tistiq u e G énérale.

A n n u a i r e s t a tis tiq u e , 1 9 3 0 .

P a r is ,

[ V a r io u s p a g i n g .]
T h e F ren ch sta tistic a l yearbook for 1930 co n tain s com plete sta tistic s on all
phases of th e n atio n a l life in F ra n c e a n d its colonies a n d p ro te c to ra te s. T h e
sta tistic s of in te re st to lab o r include those relatin g to v o catio n al ed u catio n ,
p ro d u ctio n in different in d u stries, wages, h o u rs of labor, savings, insurance,
an d in d u stria l accidents.
1931.


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

495

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR

F r a n c e .— Com m ission S upérieure de la Caisse N atio n ale des R e tra ite s p o u r la
Vieillesse. R a p p o r t s u r l e s o p é r a tio n s e t la s i t u a t i o n d e c e tte c a is s e , 1929.
P a r i s , 1931. 114 PP-

T he an n u al re p o rt of th e F rench n a tio n al old-age re tire m e n t fu n d for th e y e a r
1929.
——— M inistère de la S an té Publique.

R a p p o r t d u c o n s e il d ’a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s u r le
f o n c tio n n e m e n t e t l ’a c tiv ité d e l ’O ffice N a t i o n a l d ’H y g ie n e S o c ia le d u 1 er
ja n v ie r a u 31 décem bre 1 9 3 0 . P a r is , 1 9 3 1 .
19 p p .

R e p o rt of th e a d m in istra tiv e council of th e F ren ch N atio n al B ureau of Social
H ygiene for th e y ear 1930.
------ M inistère des T rav au x Publics.

D irection des M ines. S t a t i s t i q u e d e
l ’i n d u s t r i e m in é r a le e t d e s a p p a r e i ls à v a p e u r e n F r a n c e e t e n A lg é r ie , 1 9 2 9 .
P a r i s , [1 9 3 1 ? ].
128, 210 pp.

T he an n u a l re p o rt of th e F rench B ureau of M ines fo r th e y ear 1929. In
ad d itio n to sta tistic s of p ro d u ctio n of coal a n d m etal m ines, th e n u m b er of w orkers
a n d w ages a n d hours of lab o r are given, as well as a s ta te m e n t of th e operatio n s
of th e sickness a n d old-age a n d in v alid ity funds.
■
—— M inistère du T ra v a il e t de la P rév o y an ce Sociale. Conseil S upérieur du
T rav ail. T r e n te —q u a tr iè m e s e s s io n , n o v e m b r e 1 9 3 0 . P a r i s , 1 9 3 1 . 2 7 8 p p .
T he proceedings of th e 1930 session of th e F rench Superior L ab o r C ouncil.
T he subjects on th e ag en d a included legislation on ap p ren ticesh ip , hygiene an d
safety in places ren te d fo r in d u stria l or com m ercial use, a n d ap p licatio n of
p ro tectiv e lab o r legislation.
G r e a t B r i t a i n .— H om e D e p a rtm e n t.
W e lf a r e P a m p h l e t N o . 8 : C lo a k r o o m s ,
w a s h in g f a c i l i t i e s , d r i n k i n g w a te r , a n d s a n i t a r y a c c o m m o d a tio n i n f a c t o r i e s
a n d w orksh ops.
London, 1931.
2 6 p p . , d ia g r a m s , il l u s .
2 d ed.

------ R o y al C om m ission on U nem p lo y m en t Insurance.

A p p e n d i x e s to th e m i n ­
u te s o f e v id e n c e ta k e n b e fo re th e c o m m is s io n , P a r t I V : M e m o r a n d a b y th e
M i n i s t r y o f L a b o r o n u n e m p lo y m e n t i n s u r a n c e i n o v e r se a c o u n tr ie s .
London,
1 9 3 1 . 3 9 p p . , c h a r ts .

L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s .— C om m ission of
p lo y m e n t.
G eneva, M a y 5 , 1 9 3 1 .
B o s to n , A m e r i c a n a g e n t.)

In q u iry for E u ro p ean U nion.
20

pp.

N e t h e r l a n d s .— Comm issie v an O nderzoek n a a r
van Zeeschepen. R a p p o r t . T h e H a g u e , 1 9 3 1 .

( W o r ld

P eace

U nem ­
F o u n d a tio n ,

den A rbeidsduur a an Boord
68pp.

R ep o rt of th e com m ission fo r in v estig atio n of d u ra tio n of lab o r on b o ard th e
ocean-going ships of 28 lines sailing u n d e r th e D u tc h flag, covering 5,768 seam en.
D a ta on th e d u ra tio n of lab o r are p resen ted in ta b u la r form , b y occupations.
—— D ep artem en t v an A rbeid, H an d el en N ijverheid.

C e n tr a a l v e r s la g d e r a r b e id s in s p e c tie i n h e t K o n i n k r i j k d e r N e d e r la n d e n o v e r 1 9 3 0 .
T he H ague,
1931.
[ V a r io u s p a g i n g .] D ia g r a m s , i l l u s . ( I n D u tc h w ith s e p a r a te E n g lis h
s u m m a r y .)

A re p o rt on lab o r inspection in th e N e th erlan d s in 1930. Am ong th e subjects
covered are legislation fo r p ro tectio n of lab o r, in d u stria l accid en ts a n d diseases,
accident p revention, social insurance, w elfare w ork, etc. A d etailed su b ject
index is appended.
—— ------- V e r s la g o v e r h et h a v e n to e z ic h t u itg e o e f e n d i n 1 9 3 0 . T h e H a g u e , 1 9 3 1 .
71 p p .

A re p o rt on h a rb o r inspection in 1930 in th e N eth erlan d s. Includes d a ta on
conditions of labor, accidents, etc.
N e w S o u t h W a l e s ( A u s t r a l i a ) . — B ureau of S ta tistic s.
N e w S o u th W a le s
s t a t i s t ic a l r e g is te r f o r 1 9 2 9 - 3 0 .

S ydn ey, 1931.

763 pp.

Includes d a ta relatin g to housing, ren ts, prices, an d wages.


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

496

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

N o r w a y .— S tatistisk e C en tralb y râ.
A r b e id s le d ig h e ts te llin g e n
v e d d e o ffe n tlig e a r b e id s k o n to r e r . O s lo , 1 9 3 1 .
103 p p.
S t a t i s t i k k , V i l i , 1 6 5 .)

1 5 ja n u a r 1 9 3 1 ,
( N o r g es O ffic ie lle

A re p o rt on u n em p lo y m en t in N orw ay as of Ja n u a ry 15, 1931, a n d on th e
activities of th e em p lo y m en t offices.
-------------- T a riffia v ta le r o g a r b e id s k o n f lik te r , 1 9 3 0 . O s lo , 1 9 3 1 .
26 pp.
(N o rg e s

Offisielle Statistikk

V I I I , 1 6 4-)

A re p o rt on w age ag reem en ts a n d in d u stria l disp u tes in N orw ay during 1930,
including figures fo r earlier years.
Q u e e n s l a n d ( A u s t r a l i a ) . — R e g istrar

of F rien d ly Societies, B uilding Societies,

a n d In d u s tria l a n d P ro v id e n t Societies. F o r ty - s ix th r e p o r t, c o n ta in in g a
g e n e r a l r e v ie w o f f r i e n d l y s o c ie tie s i n Q u e e n s la n d , l i s t s o f s o c ie tie s to M a r c h 3 1 ,
1 9 3 1 , a n d f i n a n c i a l a n d n u m e r ic a l s ta te m e n ts f o r th e y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
B r is b a n e , 1 9 3 1 .
28 pp.
S w e d e n .— [S ocialdepartem entet.] Socialstyrelsen.
f o r h a lla n d e n a f o r la g r e p e r s o n a l i o ilm a n t j d n s t .
p p . , c h a r ts .

A n s t d l ln i n g s - och
S to c k h o lm , 1 9 3 1 .

a v lò n in g s -

145*, 114

C ontains info rm atio n a n d sta tistic s in reg ard to th e lab o r conditions of civil
serv an ts in Sw eden from 1927 to 1930, including legislation, wages a n d salaries,
hours of labor, etc.
------ ------ ------ A r b e ts in s ta lle ls e r och k o lle k tiv a v ta l s a m t f ò r l i k n i n g s m d n n e n s
verksam h et â r 193 0 .

S to c k h o lm , 1 9 3 1 .

157 pp.

A re p o rt on in d u stria l disputes, tra d e ag reem ents, a n d conciliation of d isp u tes
in Sweden in 1930. Includes d a ta on d u ra tio n a n d causes of disputes, a n d results
o btained th ro u g h conciliation.

U n o ffic ia l
C a r p e n t e r , N il e s .
T h e s o c io lo g y o f c i t y lif e .
C o ., 1 9 3 1 .
502 pp.

N e w Y o rk , L o n g m a n s , G reen , &

T he effect of city life on social d evelopm ent is th e su b ject of special a tte n tio n
in th is w ork in w hich th e origin a n d use of th e city is shown. T h e a u th o r also
deals w ith th e physical settin g of cities, gov ern m en t, a n d m eth o d s of supplying
city needs. C ity a n d regional plan n in g is th e su b ject of a special ch ap ter.
C l a r k , H a r o l d F.
E c o n o m ic th e o r y a n d c o r re c t o c c u p a tio n a l d i s t r i b u ti o n .
Y o r k , C o lu m b ia U n iv e r s ity , 1 9 3 1 .
176 p p .

N ew

An effort to find o u t w h eth er generally accepted econom ic principles will
shed an y light upo n th e problem of th e n u m b er of persons th e re should be in each
occupation, an d w h at, if an y , is th e responsibility of public ed u catio n in th e
m a tte r of bringing a b o u t p ro p er occup atio n al d istrib u tio n .
C l a r k , J a n e P e r r y . D e p o r ta tio n o f a lie n s f r o m th e U n ite d S t a t e s to E u r o p e .
N e w Y o r k , C o lu m b ia U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 . 5 2 4 PPC o n f e r e n c e o n P e r m a n e n t P r e v e n t a t iv e s o f U n e m p l o y m e n t .
d e liv e r e d a t th e c o n fe re n c e , J a n u a r y 2 8 - 2 7 , 1 9 3 1 , W a s h in g to n , D . C .
B e lv e d e r e P r e s s ( I n c . ) , 1 9 3 1 .
100 pp.

A d d resses
B a ltim o r e ,

T his conference was organized b y th e th ree n a tio n a l religious o rg an izatio n s
representing th e P ro te sta n t, C atholic, a n d Jew ish churches in A m erica. T h e
subjects covered in th e addresses w ere: S tabilization, u n em p lo y m en t in su ran ce,
public w orks a n d co n stru ctio n program s, a n d m o ral a n d eth ical im plications.
An account of th is conference was given in th e L abor Review , M arch , 1931
(P 66).
D e u t s c h e G e s e l l s c h a f t f ü r G e w e r b e h y g i e n e . S c h r if te n a u s d e m G e s a m tg e b e it d e r G e w e r b e h y g ie n e , H e f t 3 6 : I n te r n a tio n a le Ü b e r s ic h t ü b e r G e w e r b e k r a n k ­
h e ite n , n a c h d e m B e r ic h te n d e r G e w e r b e a u fs ic h ts b e h ö r d e n d e r K u l t u r l ä n d e r ü b e r
d ie J a h r e 1 9 2 7 b is 1 9 2 9 .
B e r lin , 1 9 3 1 .
162 pp.

C ontains a review of in d u stria l diseases in various countries.

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

497

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
F a n c h e r , A l b e r t . G e ttin g a jo b a n d g e ttin g a h e a d .
B o o k C o. { I n c .) , 1 9 3 1 .
166 p p .

N ew

Y o r k , M c G r a w - H ill

This book, according to the preface, is based on the actual experiences of men
who have proved the success of the methods described.
G a r r is o n , E l is h a
1932.
329 pp.

E.

T h e r id d le o f e c o n o m ic s .

N ew

Y o rk ,

M a c m il l a n

C o .,

H all , T . H ., ed ito r a n d com piler.

C u r r e n t c o n f lic tin g v ie w s o n u n e m p lo y m e n t
in s u r a n c e .
C h ic a g o , N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h B u r e a u , 2 3 8 E a s t E r i e S tr e e t, 1 9 3 1 .
148 pp.
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)

H obson , J. A.
1931.

T h e e c o n o m ic s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t.
152 pp.

N ew

H u b e r t , R e n é , a n d o t h e r s . L e s a s s u r a n c e s s o c ia le s .
P a r i s , L ib r a i r i e D a llo z , 1 9 3 1 .
672, 22* pp.

Y o r k , M a c m il l a n

C o .,

I I . L e f o n c tio n n e m e n t.

This is the second part of a study of the French social-insurance system. This
volume deals with the provision for the enforcement of the act, and contains the
text of the many regulatory decrees and orders which have been issued.
I n s t i t u t e f o r S c i e n c e o f L a b o r , K u r a s h i k i , J a p a n . R e p o r t AJo. 1 : A n e s s a y
o n th e p o p u la tio n o f J a p a n i n th e li g h t o f s o c ia l b io lo g y , b y G . T e r u o k a .
K u r­
a s h ik i, 1 9 3 1 .
19 pp.

------ R e p o r t N o . 2 : O n th e in flu e n c e o f f a c t o r y w o r k o n th e p s y c h o - p h y s ic a l f u n c tio n ,
b y H . K ir ih a r a .

K u r a s h ik i, 1 9 3 1 .

9 pp.

------ R e p o r t N o . 3 : S t u d i e s o n th e in flu e n c e o f th e d a y a n d n ig h t s h if t s y s te m u p o n
th e p h y s io lo g ic a l f u n c t i o n s o f la b o r e r s ,
11 p p .

by

T . Is h ik a w a .

K u r a s h ik i,

1931.

------ R e p o r t N o . 4 : O n th e v a r ia tio n s o f b o d y w e ig h t o f y o u n g w o r k in g g ir ls e m p lo y e d
i n d a y a n d n ig h t s h if t w o r k , b y T . Y a g i.

K u r a s h ik i, 1 9 3 1 .

19 p p .

I n t e r n a t io n a l I n s t it u t e o f A g r ic u l t u r e .
I n t e r n a t i o n a l y e a r b o o k o f a g r i­
c u ltu r a l s t a t i s t ic s , 1 9 3 0 - 3 1 .
R o m e , 1 9 3 1 . x x x ix , 8 2 8 p p .
{ I n E n g lis h a n d
F r e n c h .)
I n t e r n a t i o n a l S o c i e t y f o r C r i p p l e d C h i l d r e n ( I n c .) .
R e s o lu tio n s a d o p te d
b y th e s e c o n d w o r ld c o n fe r e n c e o n th e p r o b le m o f th e c r i p p le , h e ld a t T h e H a g u e ,
N e th e r la n d s , J u n e 2 8 , J u l y 3 , 1 9 3 1 , a n d th e s t o r y o f T h e H a g u e c o n fe re n c e .
E l y r i a , O h io , 1 9 3 1 .
43 pp-

The crippled children’s charter, adopted at this meeting, includes provisions
concerning vocational training and placement.
J a u n i a u x , A . C e n t a n n é e s d e m u tu a lité e n B e lg iq u e .
1 6 2 p p . , i l lu s .

B r u x e lle s , U E g la n tin e , 1 9 3 0 .

A review of the accomplishments of mutual-aid organizations in Belgium
during the past century.
K n o o p, D o u glas.
T h e r i d d l e o f u n e m p lo y m e n t.
{ L td .) , 1 9 3 1 .
192 pp.

London,

M a c m il l a n

&

C o.

L orentz, A. M .
T h e r ig h t to w o r k , o r h o w to s t a b i l i z e i n d u s t r y a n d e m p lo y m e n t.
B o s to n , R ic h a r d G . B a d g e r , 1 9 3 1 . 1 5 4 PPM a s o n , L u c y R a n d o l p h . S t a n d a r d s f o r w o r k e r s i n s o u th e r n i n d u s t r y . N e w Y o r k
C i t y , N a t i o n a l C o n s u m e r s ’ L e a g u e , a n d A t l a n t a , S o u th e r n C o u n c il o n W o m e n
a n d C h ild r e n i n I n d u s t r y , 1 9 3 1 . 4 6 PP-

Prepared by the general secretary of the Young Women’s Christian Associa­
tion of Richmond, Va., this pamphlet is intended especially for the use of the
Southern Council on Women and Children in Industry. It gives for the sepa­
rate Southern States the main legislative provisions concerning the employment
of women and children, educational requirements, age limits, laws concerning
night work and hours of labor, voluntary action in respect to the employment
of women at night in textile establishments, etc. Some discussion is also given
as to the need for the various safeguards suggested, and of the attitude of em­
ployers, workers, and the general public toward such provisions.

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

498

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

M c C a l l u m , E. D.
T h e ir o n a n d s te e l i n d u s t r y i n th e U n ite d S ta te s :
A s t u d y in
i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n iz a tio n .
L o n d o n , P . S . K in g & S o n ( L td .) , 1 9 8 1 .
3 3 8 hyp.
m a p s , c h a r ts .
’

C o\ ers th e im portance, g row th, size, geographical d istrib u tio n , a n d stru c tu re of
th e iron an d steel in d u stry , processes of p roduction, in d u stria l com binations,
m ark etin g of th e p ro d u ct, a n d labor. T h e sections on la b o r include d a ta on
Avages an d earnings, hours of work, accidents, trade-unionism , com pany unionism ,
em ployee stock OAvnership, etc.
M c C r a c k e n , D u a n e . S t r i k e i n j u n c ti o n s i n th e n e w S o u th .
U n iv e r s ity o f N o r th C a r o lin a P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 .
290 pp.

C h a p el H ill, N

C

A stu d y of th e in ju n ctio n as a legal rem edy, th e case fo r a n d ag a in st injun ctio n s
in in d u strial disputes, an d th e effects of in ju n c tio n s in th e new S outh.
M c G r e g o r , A. G .
W o r ld d e p r e s s io n to w o r ld p r o s p e r it y .
L o n d o n , P S K in a &
Son

( L t d .) ,

1931.

118

pp.

M i n n e s o t a , U n i v e r s i t y o f . E m p lo y m e n t S tab iliz a tio n R esearch In s titu te .
B u lle tin s , V o l. 1 , N o . 2 : E m p lo y m e n t tr e n d s i n S t . P a u l , M i n n e a p o l i s , a n d
D u lu th , b y W i l l i a m H . S te a d a n d D r e n g B jo r n a r a a .
M in n e a p o lis , U n iv e r s ity
o f M in n e s o ta P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 .
1 3 5 p p . , c h a r ts .

A stu d y of em plo y m en t tre n d s in each of th e th ree cities, St. P au l, M inneapolis,
an d D uluth, an d in th e S ta te of M innesota as a whole. R eview ed in th is issue of
th e L abor Review.
N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o f S o c ia l , W o r k . P r o c e e d in g s a t th e f if ty - e ig h th a n n u a l
s e s s io n , h e ld m M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n . , .L in e l j - 2 0 , 1 9 3 1 .
C h ic a g o , U n iv e r s ity
o f C h ic a g o P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 .
702 pp.

T he p redom inan t su b ject fo r discussion a t th is m eeting was unem p lo y m en t,
over a dozen papers being centered on th is problem . A m ong th e co n trib u tio n s
A v e r e . M h a t haA e A\e learned a b o u t unem p lo y m en t ; H oav case-Avorking agencies
have m e t unem plo y m en t; T h e effect of a n unem p lo y m en t situ a tio n in fam ily
societies; Is unem p lo y m en t p erm a n e n t; In te rn a tio n a l asp ects of u n em p lo y m en t;
U nem ploym ent insurance; T he G o v ern m en t’s co n trib u tio n ; U n em p lo y m en t
insurance by in d u stry ; Use of p ublic w orks in th e tre a tm e n t of u n em p lo y m en t;
and Public an d p riv a te relief during th e c u rre n t u n em p lo y m en t em ergency.
N a t i o n a l I n d u s t r i a l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d ( I n c .) .
in s u r a n c e .
N e w Y ork, 2 j 7 P a r k A ven u e, 1931.

U n e m p lo y m e n t b e n e fits a n d
127 pp.

In th is stu d y , in w hich th e la te st in fo rm atio n regarding th e o p eratio n of u n em ­
ploym ent-benefit plan s in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d u n em p lo y m en t-in su ran ce
system s in foreign co untries is b ro u g h t to g eth er, th e conclusion is reach ed t h a t
because of th e com plexity of th e causes of u n em p lo y m en t i t is largely a n uninsurable risk, i h e difficulties of ap p ly in g insurance principles in th e case of
cyclical unem ploym en t a re considered to be insuperable, while th e causes of
depressional unem p lo y m en t v a ry so m uch a t different periods t h a t i t is reg ard ed
as im possible to arriAre a t a dependable basis fo r insurance calculations.
P rengow ski

P io t r .

W o r k e r s ’ f a m i l y a llo w a n c e s .

L o n d o n , W i l l i a m s & N o r g a te

\ L t a 1931. 96 pp.
The a u th o r favors th e extension of fam ily allow ances a n d suggests t h a t a n
in te rn a tio n a l a d ju s tm e n t of th e a m o u n ts p aid b y em ployers in th is conn ectio n
Avould be a highly useful objective fo r th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, th e I n t e r ­
n atio n al Conferences of L ab o r S tatistician s, a n d th e L eague of N ations.
R e a l , C l a u d e e t R u l l ie r e , H u m b e r t .
G . D o m e t C ie , 1 9 3 1 .
34-6 p p .

L a f o u r r u r e et la p e lle te r ie .

A histo ry of th e fu r in d u stry in F rance
em ployees’ organizations.

A v ith

’
a section on em ployers’ a n d

R ed fo rd , A r t h u r .
T h e e c o n o m ic h is to r y o f E n g la n d ( 1 7 6 0 - 1 8 6 0 )
L o n g m a n s , G r e e n & C o ., 1 9 3 1 .
221 p p .


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

P a r is

N ew

Y ork

’

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
R

499

F . G u id e to i n d u s t r i a l a n d s o c ia l le g is la tio n , w ith s p e c ia l r e fe r e n c e to th e
lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t s e r v ic e .
L o n d o n , G ee & C o. { L t d .) , 1 9 8 1 .
318 pp.

o berts,

R u s s e l l S a g e F o u n d a t i o n . S e ttin g u p a p r o g r a m o f w o r k r e lie f, h y J o a n n a C .
C o lc o r d .
N e w Y ork, 1 9 31.
23 pp.

T his p a m p h le t contain s in fo rm atio n th a t will la te r be published by th e
R ussell Sage F o u n d a tio n as P a r t I I of a book e n title d “ E m ergency W ork R elief.”
I t describes th e concepts u nderlying w ork relief a n d th e a c tu a l step s to be ta k e n
in setting up a p lan of w ork relief.
—— L ib rary . B u lle tin N o . 1 0 9 : U n e m p lo y m e n t r e lie f. N e w Y o r k , 1 3 0 E a s t
2 2 d S tr e e t, O c to b e r, 1 9 3 1 .

4 pp.

A selected a n d a n n o ta te d b ibliography on u n em p lo y m en t relief in th is c o u n try .
M o st of th e references are to rec e n t m aterial.
Sa m u els, H .
T h e la w r e la tin g to i n d u s t r y .
( L td .) , 1 9 3 1 .
24-1 p p .

L o n d o n , S ir I s a a c P itm a n & S o n s

A com prehensive stu d y of E nglish in d u stria l law, covering appren ticesh ip , con­
tr a c t of em ploym ent, wages, conditions of w ork in factories a n d w orkshops a n d
m ines, em ployers’ liability , trad e-u n io n s a n d tra d e associations, n a tio n a l in su ran ce
of em ployees, schem es of cooperation an d v o lu n ta ry welfare, an d conciliation a n d
a rb itra tio n of lab o r disputes.
S h a r p , W a l t e r R ic e .
T h e F r e n c h c iv il s e r v ic e : B u r e a u c r a c y i n tr a n s i t io n .
Y o r k , M a c m il l a n C o ., 1Q 31. 5 8 8 p p .

N ew

T his stu d y of govern m en tal m eth o d s in F ran ce deals especially w ith th e p e r­
sonal, political, an d socio-econom ic facto rs in go v ern m en t ra th e r th a n w ith th e
conditions of recru itm en t, train in g , com pensation, p rom otion, etc. T h e a u th o r
considers t h a t governm en tal a n d unofficial b u reau cracy in t h a t c o u n try is in a
s ta te of tra n sitio n from th e highly in d ividualized conditions p rio r to th e w ar to
th e m ore “ ra tio n a liz e d ” an d specialized tech n iq u e of m an ag e m en t p revailing a t
th e p resen t tim e.
S o u t h a r d , F r a n k A.
A m e r ic a n i n d u s t r y i n E u r o p e .
B o s to n a n d N e w Y o r k ,
H o u g h to n , M i f f l in C o ., 1 9 3 1 .

264 pp.

S t a m p , S i r J o s i a h . P a p e r s o n g o ld a n d th e p r ic e le v e l.
S o n { L t d .) , 1 9 3 1 .
127 pp.

L o n d o n , P . S . K in g &

T i p p e t t , L. H . C .
T h e m e th o d s o f s t a t i s t ic s : A n in tr o d u c tio n m a i n l y f o r w o r k e r s
i n th e b io lo g ic a l sc ie n c e s .
L o n d o n , W i l l i a m s & N o r g a te { L t d .) , 1 9 3 1 .
222
p p . , d ia g r a m s .
U n io n H e a l t h C e n t e r .
T h e h e a lth d e p a r tm e n t o f o r g a n iz e d la b o r , 1 9 1 3 - 1 9 3 1 .
N e w Y o r k , 1 3 1 E a s t 1 7 th S tr e e t, 1 9 3 1 .
50 pp.

R eview ed in th is issue.


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

o

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