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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
F r a n c e s P e r k in s , S e c r e t a r y
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isa d o r L u b in , C o m m is sio n e r
+
M o n th ly
Labor R ev iew
Hugh S. Hanna, Editor
V olum e 42, N um ber 2
F e b ru a ry 1936
+
U N IT E D ST A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F IC E
W A S H I N G T O N : 1936
F o r sa le b y t h e S u p e r in te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n , D . C . - - P r ic e 30 c e n t s a c o p y
S u b s c r ip tio n p r ic e p e r y e a r : U n i t e d S ta te s , C a n a d a , M e x ic o $3.50; o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , $4.75
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Published under authority of Public Resolution No. 57, approved
M ay 11, 1922 (42 Stat. 541), as amended by section 307, Public
A ct 2 12,72d Congress, approved June 30,1932. This publication
approved by the Director, Bureau of the Budget.
II
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
page
Wage executions for debt, by Rolf Nugent and Frances M. J o n e s...
285
Cooperation of workmen’s compensation administrations with re
habilitation agencies, by Marshall Dawson_____________________
300
Drought refugee and labor migration to California, June-December
1935, by Paul S. Taylor and Tom Yasey_______________________
312
Social security:
319
State unemployment-insurance legislation as of January 1, 1936___
New benefit plan of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey______________
324
328
Reorganization of French social-insurance system _________________
N ational R ecovery program:
Termination of National Recovery Administration________________
334
335
Meeting of Council for Industrial Cooperation____________________
P ro d u ctivity o f labor:
Working conditions and output of coal mines in China_____________
336
Productivity of coal-mine workers in Poland, 1923 to 1934_________
338
Industrial and labor conditions:
The wage earner in agriculture__________________________________
339
Common causes of discharge of office and clerical workers__________
346
Extent of piece work in the Soviet Union, 1928, 1930, and 1934____
347
Changes in population classes of the Soviet Union, 1913, 1928, and
1934-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------348
Women in industry:
Two-shift system of employment of women in Great Britain_______
349
H ealth and industrial hygiene:
Tests for industrial lead poisoning_______________________________
354
H ousing conditions:
Status of Resettlement Administration construction program at end
of 1935________________________
358
Training of managers for housing projects________________________
361
Rent subsidies inLeeds, England________________________________
362
Influence of housing on physical development of school children____
363
C ooperation:
Cooperative purchasing by farmers in the United States______ _____
364
Consumers’ cooperation among Negroes in Gary, Ind______________
369
Condition of labor banks, June30, 1935___________________________
371
Industrial accidents:
Accident experience of American steam railroads in 1934___________
373
Education:
Compulsory schooling for unemployed juveniles in Great Britain___
376
Industrial disputes:
Trend of strikes and lock-outs___________________________________
384
Analysis of strikes and lock-outs in October 1935_________________
385
Strike of longshoremen on the Gulf Coast________________________
392
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in December 1935__
395
Industrial disputes in Irish Free State, 1934______________________
399
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TTI
IV
CONTENTS
Labor turn -over:
Page
Labor turn-over in manufacturing establishments, November 1935__
400
Labor turn-over in manufacturing industries in Poland, 1933 and 1934_ 403
Labor turn-over in the Soviet Union, 1928, 1930, and 1934------------403
Wages and hours o f labor:
Average annual wage and salary payments in mining and quarrying
in Ohio, 1929 to 1934_________________________________________
405
New York— Earnings of office workers in factories, October 1935----415
417
Ceylon— Wages and labor conditions, 1934_______________________
Germany— Government wage regulation_________________________
419
Puerto Rico— Wages in various industries, 1934-35-----------------------420
Soviet Union— Average annual wages and salaries, 1928, 1930, and
423
1934________________________________________________________
Em ploym ent offices:
Operations of United States Employment Service, December 1935—
425
Analysis of November 1935 operations of United States Employment
Service______________________________________________________
425
Occupational classification of new registrants and persons placed in
employment, June 1935_______________________________________
431
Trend o f em ploym ent:
Summary of employment reports for December 1935---------------------436
Employment and pay rolls in November 1935—revised figures:
Part I.— Private employment:
Manufacturing industries_______________________________
441
Trade, public utility, mining, and service industries, and
private building construction__________________________
452
Class I railroads_______________________________________
456
Trend of private employment, by States_________________
458
Private employment and pay rolls in principal cities______
459
Part II.— Public employment:
Executive services of the Federal Government-----------------461
Construction projects financed by Public Works Administra
tion_________________________________________________
462
The Works Program____________________________________
468
Emergency-work program_______________________________
470
Emergency conservation work___________________________
471
Construction projects financed by Reconstruction Finance
Corporation_________________________________________
472
Construction projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations_______________________________________
473
State-road projects________________
475
Building operations:
Summary of building construction reports for December 1935______
476
Building construction in November 1935—revised figures:
Building construction in principal cities______________________
479
Construction from public funds______________________________
485
R etail prices:
Food prices in December 1935___________________________________
488
W holesale prices:
Wholesale prices in December 1935_______________
496
Wholesale prices in the United States and foreign countries-----------503
Cost o f living:
Family budgets in city of Bombay, India, 1932-33________________
507
R ecen t publications of labor in te r e st................
511
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T h is Issue in B rief
Wage executions at the rate oj 80 per 1,000 employees were disclosed in
a recent study made jointly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the
Russell Sage Foundation. Eliminating cases in which the same
employee was involved in more than one garnishment and those in
which more than one garnishment order was served to collect the same
debt, the rate was 42 per 1,000 employees. Extremely wide variations
in frequency of wage executions were found. Some of the factors
influencing the rate of frequency were variations in statutory pro
visions governing such executions, local practices, size of establish
ment, type of product of establishment, and wage levels. Page 285.
The rehabilitation oj workers handicapped as a result oj industrial
accidents is one of the most promising phases of workmen’s compensa
tion administration. This work requires close cooperation between
the State compensation administrations and those administering the
Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1920. A study of the effec
tiveness and possibilities of this cooperation has been made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Page 300.
During the 6 months ending December 15, 1935, 43,180 persons in
need oj manual employment entered Calijornia in private motor cars, not
including persons arriving by bus or in cars bearing California licenses.
Seventy-five percent of this number came from the drought States,
particularly from Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma,
and Texas. About 14 percent came from Oregon and Washington,
being interstate rural-labor migrants. Practically 90 percent of all
the migrants were white. Mexicans constituted 6.3 percent of the
total. These data are based on a traffic count made at the plant
quarantine stations at the State border. Page 312.
Average annual earnings oj wage and salary workers in the coal
industry oj Ohio amounted to $822 in 1934 as against $669 in 1933 and
$1,124 in 1929. The average number of coal-mine workers employed
in 1934 was 26,142 as compared with 21,731 in 1933 and 20,916 in
1929. Page 405.
The jour labor banks in operation on June 30, 1935, had deposits
aggregating $17,262,281, and total resources amounting to $19,692,385.
As compared with the preceding year, these figures represented an
increase of 8.6 percent in deposits and 2.7 percent in assets. Data
for the individual banks and for the labor banking movement as a
whole since 1920 are given on page 371.
v
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VI
THIS ISSUE IN BRIEF
A new thrift plan has recently been announced by the Standard Oil
Co. of New Jersey. The new plan, which is designed to supplement
the old-age pensions provided for in the Federal Social Security Act,
provides for different types of annuities to the costs of which both the
employees and the company contribute. Provision is also made for
the use of the participant’s credit balance in the fund, after the
purchase of the annuity, for the purchase of other kinds of insurance
or of company stock, while cash withdrawals from this balance are
allowed after years of continuous participation in the plan, and loans
may be made to employees by the trustees of the fund. Page 324.
The highest average hourly earnings for females in Puerto Rico in
193^-35 were 21.1 cents in hat and toy factories, and the lowest, 3.8 cents,
in tobacco cultivation, as shown in a tabulation in the annual report of
the commissioner of labor of the island. The same source shows that,
with very minor exceptions, in no industry were males earning on
an average as much as 45 cents per hour, while their average hourly
earnings in tobacco cultivation were 5.1 cents. Page 420.
The operation of the two-shift system of employment of women in Great
Britain was recently studied by an official investigating committee
with a view to determining whether this system, now operating under
a temporary modification of the hours-of-labor laws, should be given
statutory recognition and made permanently a legitimate method of
industrial production. The report and recommendations of the
committee are reviewed on page 349.
A reorganization of the French social-insurance system is provided in
two decree laws issued in October 1935. The laws provide for a reduc
tion in the rate of contributions for the year 1936 in order to lighten
the costs of production, a new financial management of the funds for
the purpose of covering the costs of invalidity insurance, and a number
of administrative changes. The provisions requiring a specified
number of contributions for eligibility for sickness, maternity, and
death benefits and for old-age pensions have been modified so that
eligibility now depends upon the payment of specified minimum sums.
Page 328.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M onthly Labor R ev iew
‘P ublished by the
U nited States B ureau of L abor Statistics
+
Voi. 42, No. 2
WASHINGTON
February 1936
Wage E xecutions fo r D ebt 1
Part 1.—Frequency of Wage Executions
By R olf
N ugent
and F r a n c e s M.
Jo n es2
HE purpose of this report is to present the results of a study of
levies by creditors against the wages of employees in certain
industrial establishments. The study was made jointly by the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Remedial Loans of
the Russell Sage Foundation.
At the time this study was initiated, there was a prevalent belief
that consumer debts had increased during the depression because of
reduced incomes and unemployment, that wage earners returning to
work were being harassed and their wages attached by creditors.
The investigation of wage executions was designed to supply factual
information whereby the accuracy of these impressions could be
judged, to determine the trend of such levies for the past few years,
and to measure the amounts and the relative frequency of wage
executions by geographical areas and by kinds of debt.
Materials of the Study
I nformation for the study was solicited in June and July 1934
by field agents of the Bureau in the cities in which these agents were
engaged in a cost-of-living study. Employers were asked to describe
1 The study of wage executions comprises part of a larger study of consumer debt which was initiated in
April 1934 by a committee appointed by the Consumers’ Advisory Board of the National Recovery Ad
ministration. Because no appropriation was made for its work the committee requested the assistance
of the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Russell Sage Foundation for
field investigations. Mr. Nugent of the Foundation’s staff directed the study. Following the dissolution
of the Consumers’ Advisory Board, the Russell Sage Foundation accepted responsibility for continuing the
study and increased its scope considerably beyond the original plan.
The Department of Commerce undertook to collect information concerning accounts receivable of certain
merchants and professional men in the cities in which it maintains district offices. Tabulations of these
data were published by the Department under the title, Consumer Debt Study, by H. T. LaCrosse, in
March 1935. Another section of the consumer debt study, consisting of articles by Rolf Nugent and Mary
Henderson Risk which describe several agencies for liquidating wage-earner debt in Detroit, was published
in Law and Contemporary Problems (Duke University Law School) for April 1935. The present article
comprises the third section. It is anticipated that additional sections of the study will be published during
the current year and that a final report will be made in the spring of 1937.
* Mr. Nugent is director of the Department of Remedial Loans, Russell Sage Foundation and Miss Jones
is a member of the staff of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
285
286
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
their policies with respect to wage executions, to report the number
of wage executions against all employees and new employees, during
the preceding 12 months, and to furnish a detailed record of all wage
executions during the preceding 3 months. In order to compare
wage executions against new and against old employees, the estab
lishments included were generally those which reported substantial
increases in employment. Similar data were collected by the Russell
Sage Foundation with the assistance of a group of W. P. A. workers
in several other cities, notably in New York, where information was
secured from a large railroad company and the New York
City administration, as well as from industrial establishments. In
total, information which could be used was received from 176 estab
lishments, employing 334,190 people on May 15, 1934.
These data were supplemented by tabulations made by the Russell
Sage Foundation with the assistance of W. P. A. workers of garnish
ment orders issued during certain periods in New York City and
Westchester County, N. Y., and in Detroit and Boston.
The term “wage execution” is used to include both garnishment
orders and assignments of wages presented for collection.
Garnishment orders are issued by a court and executed by a public
officer,3usually the sheriff, constable, or marshal. These orders direct
the employer of a debtor to pay part or all of the wages due the
debtor to the court officer who in turn transmits this sum to the
creditor.4 In most States, garnishments are issued after judgment.
In some States, however, a garnishment order may be issued simul
taneously with the filing of the complaint by the creditor, and in
others the garnishment order may be issued only after a levy on
property in execution of judgment has been returned unsatisfied.
In a few States, garnishment of wages is prohibited entirely.
The proportion of current wages which may be taken by a garnish
ment order varies enormously between States. The marital status
of the debtor and the nature of the debt frequently determine the
amount or proportion of wages which may be attached. Garnish
ment orders in most States are issued only against wages due and
payable on a given date. In case the amount of the debt exceeds
the amount of wages subject to garnishment, additional garnishment
orders are necessary to collect the remainder of the debt. In a few
States, however, the garnishment order serves as a continuing levy.
In New York, for instance, such an order directs the employer to
collect 10 percent of the debtor’s wages (provided such wages exceed
$12 a week) until the judgment is satisfied.
3 In some States, however, the plaintiff’s attorney may execute the order.
4 Garnishment, technically, refers to the attachment by a creditor of property which belongs to the
debtor, but which is held by a third party. The most common use of garnishment process, however,
is to attach wages, and outside of the legal profession the word “garnishment” usually implies wage attach
ment. In several States garnishment is known as trustee process.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
287
Wage assignments, unlike garnishment orders, have no relation to
court process. When a debt is secured by a wage assignment and the
debtor defaults, the creditor may merely file a copy of the assignment
with the debtor’s employer and demand payment of the amount so
assigned from the debtor’s current salary or wages. In many States,
there is no statutory reference to assignments of wages and the
validity of these instruments depends upon the right to dispose of
one’s property, subject to restrictions imposed by judicial decisions.
In some States, the assignment of wages not yet earned has been
declared to be contrary to public policy, and partial assignments
frequently have been declared to be invalid. In many States, the
use of wage assignments has been regulated by statute, but these
regulations usually affect only assignments given to secure loans.
Some States, however, have placed a limitation upon the proportion
of the current wage which may be assigned or collected under an
assignment. Others require assignments of wages to be signed by
both husband and wife, and still others require the employer to be
notified promptly of any assignment or even to accept the assignment
as a necessary condition for validity.
Frequency of Wage Executions
How common is the use of wage executions? Are the recently
employed more subject to this method of enforcing collection than
old employees? How does the frequency of wage executions vary
between cities? How many executions are garnishments and how many
are wage assignments?
For the reporting industrial establishments 5 during the period
from May 1, 1933, to April 30, 1934, the rate of wage executions was
80 per 1,000 employees. In many instances, however, executions
for more than one debt were brought against the same employee, and
in other instances, where garnishment was periodic rather than con
tinuous, more than one garnishment order was issued to collect the
same debt. For the data covering the 12-month period, it was impos
sible in most instances to distinguish between these two types of
duplication, but all duplications may be eliminated by comparing
the number of individuals against whom executions were brought
during the year with the average number6 of employees during this
period. This frequency was 42 per 1,000 employees.
Seventeen firms failed to report the number of executions against
new employees and it was necessary, therefore, to exclude the data
5 Hereafter, the phrase “reporting industrial establishments” w ill be used to refer to all employers who
furnished data, with the exception of the New York railroad company and the New York City adm inis
tration.
6 The mean of the number of employees on the pay rolls of reporting establishments on April 15, 1933,
and April 15, 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
288
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
from these companies in order to determine the relative frequency of
wage executions among new and old employees. For the remaining
157 firms, employment increased from 88,090 on April 15, 1933, to
143,386 on April 15, 1934. The net increase was 55,296. These
establishments reported 8,062 executions against old employees and
2,051 executions against new employees during the 12-month period
covered by the study. (New employees were defined for this purpose
as persons who were newly employed or reemployed, or whose hours
had increased from less to more than half time after May 1, 1933.)
For want of better figures, it is necessary to assume that all employees
at the beginning of the year were old employees and that the number
of new employees was identical with the net increase in employment.
Based upon the assumed numbers of old and new employees, the
rate of wage executions against old employees was 91 per thousand
and against new employees 37 per thousand.
Two influences minimize and another exaggerates the difference in
frequency for old and new employees. In the first place, some who
were on the pay roll at the beginning of the period were undoubtedly
considered new employees by virtue of having less than half-time
work. Also, some who were on the pay roll at the beginning of the
period must have been replaced during the period by persons newly
hired. These errors arising from the assumptions tend to overstate
the number of old employees and to understate the number of new
employees exposed to wage executions, thus understating the fre
quency for old employees and overstating it for new employees. On
the other hand, new employees, on the average, were exposed to wage
executions for a shorter time than old employees. If the increase in
employment had occurred at a regular arithmetical rate throughout
the period, the average exposure of new employees would be but half
that of old employees. From our knowledge of the general trend of
employment during this period, however, we may assume that most
reemployment occurred early in the period, and that the average
exposure of new employees was not materially less than that of old
employees.
Based upon the same assumptions, the 3-month sample is even
less satisfactory as a measure of the frequency of executions against
new and old employees. Since this sample covers the last 3 months
of the 12-month period, the number of old employees on the pay roll
at the beginning of the year is even more excessive, and the net in
crease in employment is even more inadequate as a basis for computing
frequencies. Also, the compensating influence of shorter exposure
among new employees is negligible. The 3-month sample showed
frequencies of 18 per thousand for old employees and 14 per thousand
for new employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
289
WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
In spite of the inadequacies of both sets of data for purposes of
this comparison, it seems safe to conclude that the rate of executions
against old employees was at least twice as great as the rate against
new employees.
Table 1 shows the relationship between the number of wage
executions and the number of individuals affected by them to the
average number of employees during the 12-month period among
establishments covered by the study in each city.
Table 1.— Number and Frequency of Wage Executions by Cities, May 1, 1933,
to Apr. 30, 1934
City
Atlanta, G a „ ---------- --------------------------Baltimore, M d „ ----------- --------------------Birmingham, A la---------- --------------------Boston and vicinity, Mass........... — .........
Buffalo, N . Y ......... ...............................—
Camden, N . J---------------- ------ ----------Chicago, 111----------------- ..........
Cincinnati, Ohio---- ------ --------------------Cleveland, Ohio.............. .............................
Denver, C o lo ..------- ------------------- ------Detroit, M ich------------------------------------Indianapolis, Ind-------------------------------Jacksonville, Fla--------------------------------Kansas City, Kans....... ........................ —
Kansas City, M o............ ................ - ............
Los Angeles, Calif---------------- ------ ------Memphis, T enn--------------- ............
Minneapolis-St. Paul, M inn----------------Mobile, Ala........- ................ ..........................
Newark-Jersey City, N . J— ................... .
New Orleans, La----------- -------- ---------N ew York City-Westchester County,
N . Y ________ ____ - .................. ..............
Norfolk, Va------------------- - .............. ..........
Portland, M a in e.-....................... - .........—
Portland, Oreg.......... ..................................
Richmond, V a .........................- ..................
San Francisco, Calif................ —.................
St. Louis, M o ................................... - .........Savannah, Ga....... ........................... - ...........
Seattle, W ash............................................ -Washington, D . C ....................... - ..............
Total.
Individual employ
Wage executions
ees involved
Number Average
of report number
ing estab of em
Rate per
Rate per
lish
ployees 1 Number 1,000 em Number 1,000 em
ments
ployees
ployees
5
4
6
4
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
5
3
3
3
24
3
2,377
2,485
11,852
6,027
2, 547
6,991
11,798
3, 263
2,848
1,445
3,934
1, 739
452
1,664
628
4, 337
2,923
1,550
1,506
16, 216
3,259
244
3
4,071
64
54
5
1,881
80
63
44
81
o
4
256
28
64
1,528
43
52
108
16
102.7
1.2
343.5
10.6
21.2
.7
159.4
24.5
22.1
30.4
20.6
162
3
2,027
56
50
5
888
67
45
35
58
68.2
1.2
171.1
9.3
19.6
.7
75.3
20.5
15.8
24.2
14.7
8.8
153.8
44.6
14.8
522.8
27.7
34.5
6.7
4.9
24
157
16
57
453
23
46
103
14
8.8
94.4
25.5
13.1
155.0
14.8
30.5
6.4
4.3
32
4
3
3
3
6
4
3
5
7
16, 555
4,474
244
422
3,314
2,515
3,014
400
681
4,428
341
374
14
4
345
41
17
7
20.6
334
2 367
20.2
211
83.6
57.4
9.5
104.1
16.3
5.6
17.5
14.7
47.7
174
125,888
10,053
79.9
3
5
5
8
10
9
137
83.0
45.1
9.5
33.8
13.9
4.3
7.5
13.2
30.9
5,298
42.1
11
4
112
35
13
2 7
1 Mean of number of employees at beginning and at end of year.
.
, „ A
^
2 At least 1 establishment in each of these cities failed to report the number of individuals affected. Each
such establishment, however, reported a very small number of executions and it was assumed that each
of these executions had been brought against a different employee.
Table 2 shows the distribution of reporting establishments and
their employees by groups based upon frequencies of wage executions.
The highest frequency was 1,390 executions per 1,000 employees,
reported by a railroad repair shop in Memphis; the next highest was
651 per 1,000 in a rolling mill in Birmingham; the next highest, 484
per 1,000 in a Chicago meat-packing house.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
290
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 2.— Distribution of Establishments and of Employees, by Rate of Wage
Execution per 1,000 Employees, May 1, 1933, to Apr. 30, 1934
Establishments
Employees
Number of executions per 1,000 employees
Number
Over 400_________ ____ _______ ___ _______ _ . . .
350 to 399.9______________________________
300 to 349.9____________________________________
250 to 299.9________________________________ .
200 to 249.9________________________________________
150 to 199.9________________ _______________ .
100 to 149.9___________________________
50 to 99.9______________________________________
0.1 to 49.9___________________________________
.
None_________ _______________________
Total_______ ____ ____________
_ _____ ____
4
1
1
0
0
3
4
13
96
52
174
Percent of
total
2.3
.6
.6
of
Number 1 Percent
total
1.7
2.3
7.5
55.2
29.9
6,178
10,681
1,104
0
0
1,643
2,943
10,499
77,335
15,505
1.3
2.3
8.3
61.4
12.3
100.0
125,888
100.0
4.9
8.5
.9
1 Mean of number on pay roll at beginning and at end of period.
Table 3 shows the number and proportion of garnishments and
wage assignments by cities among the executions brought during the
3-month period for which detailed information was furnished. It
should be noted that the number of executions reported for this quarter
is only slightly less than one-fourth of the number reported for the
full year. The 3-month sample, unlike the 12-month sample, excludes
regarnishments for the same debt 7 and thus tends to produce some
what lower frequencies. On the other hand, this 3-month period
appears usually to account for a somewhat larger proportion of the
annual total of garnishments. The influence of these two factors is
not material, however, and they tend to offset each other.
7
Although reporting establishments were instructed to exclude regarnishments from the 3-month sample
some regarnishments appear to have been listed by mistake. The number of such cases, however, is small
and, since a regarnishment could not be distinguished with certainty from a new garnishment against the
same employee for another debt of the same amount, no attempt was made to eliminate these items.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
291
WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
Table 3.— Garnishments and Wage Assignments, by Cities, Feb. 1 to Apr. 30,1934
Garnishments
Number
of execu
tions
City
Atlanta, Ga— . .......................................- ..........
Baltimore, M d . . .................................................
Birmingham, Ala.............................. . ................
Boston and vicinity, M ass___________ ____
Buffalo, N . Y _ . .......... ............................... .......
Camden, N . J . . .........................- ........................
Chicago, 111......................................- .........- .........
Cincinnati, Ohio........... ........................- .............
Cleveland, Ohio..................... - .........- ................
Denver, Colo---------------------------------------—
Detroit, M ic h ................- .................................
Indianapolis, Ind------ --------------------- -------Jacksonville, Fla.................- .............- ................
Kansas City, Kans................ ................ ............
Kansas City, M o....................... ............... .........
Los Angeles, C a lif....................... .....................
M emphis, T enn......................................- .........
Minneapolis-St. Paul, M inn............ ................
Mobile, A l a . . ......................... ............................
Newark-Jersey City, N . J --------------- -----N ew Orleans, La------------- ------ ---------------N ew York City-Westchester County, N . Y.
Norfolk, V a .--------- -------------------------------Portland, Maine----------- ------ ------------------Portland, Oreg................ ...................................
Richmond, Va.....................................................
San Francisco, C a lif.-----------------------------St. Louis, M o . . ------- --------- '....................—
Savannah, G a . . ---------- --------------------------Seattle, Wash— -----------------------------------Washington, D . C .------ ------------ -------------T o t a l..------------- ------- ------------------
Number
Wage assignments
Percent of
Percent of
execu
execu Number
tions 1
tions 1
46
o
1,057
9
20
1
487
30
15
0
17
o
o
54
4
17
389
14
• 14
13
i
59
80
5
2
112
11
2
4
3
28
46
o
717
7
20
1
10
13
13
6
17
0
0
54
1
8
389
14
12
11
o
26
78
2
2
112
10
2
1
3
28
100.0
100.0
0
0
340
2
0
0
477
17
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
9
0
0
2
2
1
33
2
3
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
2,500
1,603
64.1
897
67.8
100.0
2.1
43.3
100.0
100.0
44. 1
97.5
100.0
32.2
97.9
56.7
55.9
2.5
35.9
1 Percentages are shown only where there are more than 20 executions.
Causes of Differences in Frequency
T h e extrem ely wide v ariation in th e ra te of wage executions n o t
only betw een rep o rting establishm ents b u t also betw een cities is
ad eq u ate evidence th a t in tern al and external factors have an influence
upon th e ra te of wage execution. W h a t are these influences?
Obviously, variations in the statutory provisions in each State
governing both. garnishment orders and wage assignments have a
material bearing upon the extent to which these devices are used by
creditors. One may expect wide differences in the frequency of
garnishment orders between industrial establishments in Florida,
where all wages of the head of a family appear to be exempt from
attachment, or in the District of Columbia, where the head of a family
has an exemption of $100 a month, and in Georgia, where 50 percent
of wages above $1.25 a day may be attached, or Virginia, where the
exemption for heads of families is $50 a month.
It is, however, an extremely hazardous procedure to interpret the
rights of creditors and debtors by an analysis of the statutes governing
wage executions in each State. In many instances, local practices
entirely nullify statutory protections against harsh pay-roll collections,
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
In several States, for instance, the exemptions from attachment pro
vided by statute apply only if the debtor claims the exemption, and
some employers appear to discountenance the claiming of exemptions.
In another instance, where limitations are imposed by statute, the
creditor may avoid them by posting a small bond and declaring that
there is a likelihood of the debtor leaving the State.
The actual status of the wage assignment likewise is exceedingly
obscure in the statutes. Where wage assignments are regulated by
statute, one has some guide to their status. But where they rely for
their validity upon the right to dispose of one’s property, their status
has frequently been determined by the courts and, in the absence
of such decisions, by local practice.
As part of the consumer debt study, an analysis of the laws govern
ing garnishment and wage assignments was made by William F. Starr
under the direction of Prof. William 0. Douglas of the Yale Law
School.8 By reference to this analysis and, wherever possible, by
inquiries concerning local practice, the States covered by the sample of
industrial establishments were divided into three groups: (1) Those
in which wage executions were generally severe, (2) those in which
wage executions were limited but generally effective, and (3) those
in which wage executions were generally ineffective.
Even disregarding the possibility of misinterpretation arising from
peculiarities of local practice, such a classification is extremely crude.
Some States restrict garnishment by exempting a certain proportion
of wages and others by exempting certain amounts of wages. Specific
standards for such a classification, therefore, cannot be developed.
The States in the severe class are those in which the exemption appeared
to be inadequate for the support of most wage earners’ families. The
States in the limited class are those in which the exemptions appeared
to allow sufficient incomes to most wage earners’ families. The
States in the ineffective class are those in which exemptions appeared
to exclude most industrial wage earners from wage executions.
The division of States into three classes was determined largely on
the basis of the severity of the garnishment process. In the case of
Illinois, however, where the rights of the creditor are restricted with
legard to garnishment, these limitations are commonly avoided by the
use of wage assignments. This State was, therefore, listed among
those in which wage executions were severe. In allocating States to
one of the three classes, differences in wage scales were also considered
because an exemption which would exclude the majority of industrial
employees from garnishment in many southern States would not
exclude a similar proportion of employees in the northern industrial
States.
*This section of the consumer debt study has not yet been published.
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WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
The classification is as follows:
Generally severe
Alabama
Colorado
Georgia
Illinois
Oregon
Tennessee
Virginia
Kansas
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Limited
Louisiana
Massachusetts
New York
Ohio
Missouri
New Jersey
Generally ineffective
Maryland
Washington
Florida
California
District of Columbia Indiana
Table 4 shows the frequency of wage executions when the data for all
reporting industrial establishments are divided into these three classes.
The column “Rate per 1,000 (weighted average)” gives the relation
ship between the total number of executions and the total number of
employees. The column “Rate per 1,000 (mean)” shows the mean of
the individual frequencies for all establishments in the class.
Table 4.— Number and Frequency of Wage Executions, by Severity of Wage
Execution Laws, May 1, 1933, to Apr. 30, 1934
Wage executions
Relative severity of execution practice
Number Number
of estab
of em
lish
ployees
ments
Rate per Rate per
1,000
1,000
Number (weighted
average) (mean)
States where executions are—
Generally severe.........................................................
Limited____ ___ ____ _______________________
Generally ineffective...................................................
48
90
36
47,904
61,348
16, 636
8,944
776
333
186.7
12.6
20.0
114.1
13.5
17.9
All States............. .....................................................
174
125,888
10,053
79.9
42.2
The establishments in States in which wage executions are severe
account for the preponderant part of all executions and the rate per
1,000 employees in these States is much greater than in the other
two groups. It is noteworthy that the frequency in the group where
wage executions are generally ineffective is actually greater than that
for the group where executions are restricted. This may result from
misinterpretation of the statutes by us. A more likely reason, how
ever, is that this part of the sample includes several establishments
where wages are relatively high. A considerable proportion of em
ployees in these establishments may, therefore, be subject to wage
executions, even though this method of collection might be ineffective
against large groups in other employments. (See table 5.)
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Although it is clear that the degree of severity of wage-execution
laws has a material bearing upon the extent of use of this device, it
is also apparent that other factors besides legal status influence the
frequency of the use of wage executions. For instance, the frequency
of wage executions among the reporting establishments in Birming
ham was 344 per 1,000, while in Mobile, where executions are governed
by the same statutes, the rate was but 35 per 1,000. Similarly, the
frequency for Newark and adjoining cities was 7 per 1,000, while
across the State in Camden the rate was less than 1 per 1,000
(table 1).
In table 5, attempt is made to show the influence of size, kind of
enterprise, average wage, and percentage increase in employment
upon the frequency of wage executions. In order to assist in measur
ing the effect of these variables, the predominating influence upon
frequency has been removed by segregating the data into three
classes based upon severity of wage-execution laws.
Table 5.— Wage Executions in Reporting Industrial Establishments Classified
as to Size, Product, Wages, and Employment Increase, May 1, 1933, to Apr.
30, 1934
States where wage executions are generally severe
Wage executions
Number Average
of estab number
of em
lishments ployees
Item
Number of employees per establishment:
Under 200________ _______________ ________
200 to 999____________________________ . .
1,000 and over....... ............ .
...
Rate per
Rate per
1,000
Number (weighted
1,000
(mean)
average)
16
18
14
1,410
5,755
40,739
90
588
8,266
63.8
102.2
202.9
70.2
119.9
156.7
48
47, 904
8,944
186.7
114.1
21
23
4
32, 531
14,160
1,213
6, 215
2,434
295
191. 0
171.9
243.2
114.3
69.1
371.6
.......... . .
48
47, 904
8,944
186.7
114.1
Average weekly wages:
Under $15_____ ____ __________ ____________
$15 to $24.99_________________ _______________
$25 and over________________________________
17
24
7
8,040
35,394
4,470
1,613
6,997
334
200.6
197. 7
74.7
95. 8
93.7
228.4
T otal.......... ............ .
.
Product:
Postponable goods. . _________ _____
Nonpostponable goods____________ .
Miscellaneous__________________ .
Total............................ .......................
T otal_____________________________
48
47,904
8,944
186.7
114.1
Increase in employment:
Under 20 percent____ ________________
20 to 100 percent.......... ...............................................
100 percent and over______________________ .
3
25
20
1, 878
35,047
10, 979
260
6,957
1,727
138.4
198. 5
157.3
96.1
81.4
157.6
T otal. _______________________________ . .
48
47,904
8,944
186.7
114.1
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WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
Table 5.— Wage Executions in Reporting Industrial Establishments Classified
as to Size, Product, Wages, and Employment Increase, May 1, 1933, to Apr.
30, 1934— Continued
States where wage executions are limited
Wage executions
Item
Number of employees per establishment:
Under 200__________________________________
200 to 999_______________ ____________________
1,000 and over_______________________________
T otal____________________________________
Product:
Postponable goods___________________ ____ _
Nonpostponable goods_________________ _____
M iscellaneous-___ __________________________
Number Average
of estab number
of em
lishments ployees
Rate per Rate per
1,000
1,000
Number (weighted
(mean)
average)
20
45
25
1,804
20, 515
39,029
16
333
427
8.9
16.2
10.9
7.2
15.9
14.3
90
61,348
776
12.6
13.5
35
51
4
20,958
38,075
2,315
282
472
22
13.5
12.4
9.5
15.2
12.3
14.0
T otal____________________ ________ ______
90
61, 348
776
12.6
13.5
Average weekly wages:
Under $15______________ __________________
$15 to $24.99..____ ___________________________
$25 and o v e r ................ . . _____ _____ ___ _
10
58
22
6, 649
44, 026
10, 673
86
502
188
12.9
11.4
17.6
13.2
13.1
14.7
T otal____________________ _______________
90
61, 348
776
12.6
13.5
Increase in employment:
Under 20 percent___________ ____ ___________
20 to 100 percent____________________ ________
100 percent and over________________________
9
58
23
6,690
42,448
12, 210
151
432
193
22.6
10.2
15.8
19.0
12.7
13.5
T otal______ _______ ___ _______ ___________
90
61,348
776
12.6
13.5
States where wage executions are generally ineffective
Number of employees per establishment:
Under 200_________________ ________________
200 to 999____________ ____ _______ _____ _____
1,000 and over____________ ____ _____________
10
22
4
961
7, 774
7,901
6
178
149
6.2
22.9
18.9
6.6
22.8
19.4
T o ta l.,........- _______ ______________________
36
16,636
333
20.0
17.9
Product:
Postponable goods__________________________
Nonpostponable goods...................... .
........
M iscellaneous.-...................... ....................................
17
11
8
7, 069
2,798
6, 769
150
30
153
21.2
10.7
22.6
15.6
6.5
38.6
T otal________ ____________________________
36
16, 636
333
20.0
17.9
Average weekly wages:
Under $15________________ ______ ___________
$15 to $24.99_________________________________
$25 and over________ ______ ________ _____ . .
5
23
8
2,009
8, 391
6,236
29
94
210
14.4
11.2
33.6
10.7
12.0
39.4
T otal_____________________________________
36
16,636
333
20.0
17.9
Increase in employment:
Under 20 percent______ - _ ________ ___ _
20 to 100 percent______________________ -- -.100 percent and over___________ _____________
8
15
13
8, 393
4, 039
4, 204
253
37
43
30.1
9.2
10.2
48.9
7.9
10.4
T otal_________________________ __________
36
16, 636
333
20.0
17.9
4 2 7 0 4 — 36------2
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
In interpreting differences in rates of execution among establish
ments grouped by these characteristics, it is necessary to bear in
mind the fact that it is impossible to measure the influence of one
characteristic apart from the influence of another in such a small
sample. For instance, if the size of the establishment has an influence
upon the frequency of wage executions, differences in the distribu
tion by size will affect the rates of execution shown by other groupings.
This circumstance imposes a severe limitation upon the significance
of differences in rates shown in table 5.
Only among size groups are the differences in rate sufficiently
marked and consistent to warrant full credence to their significance.
It seems safe to conclude that wage executions are less frequent in
establishments employing small numbers of people than they are in
larger establishments.
The fact that differences among groupings by other characteristics
are mixed, however, does not imply that they exert no influence.
The increase in the rate of execution in the ‘'ineffective’’ section
with increases in average wage is undoubtedly significant because
exemptions which would prohibit executions against low-wage em
ployees do not prevent executions against those whose incomes were
high. The rate of execution against employees of establishments
producing postponable goods is higher than those producing nonpostponable goods for all three degrees of severity of wage-execution
laws. The difference in the weighted average rate is small, but the
difference in the mean rate is probably sufficiently marked to be
significant. It should be noted that there is no consistent tendency
among the three sections for the rate of increase in employment to
influence the rate of wage executions.
Frequency of Wage Executions Among Other Occupational Classes
How representative of all wage and salary earners in the United
States with respect to frequency of wage executions is the sample
supplied by reporting industrial establishments? It is impossible to
draw any accurate conclusions concerning the frequency of garnish
ment with regard to all employed people in the United States from
the data available. On the other hand, it is possible to suggest the
direction in which the data in the sample of reporting industrial
establishments are biased with respect to the whole.
As compared with all employed persons in the United States, the
sample is materially biased by the fact that requests for information
were not made of establishments in certain States where garnishment
of wages is prohibited. Among such States are Pennsylvania and
Texas, both of which have large industrial populations. In the
second place, the sample includes several relatively large establish
ments in cities where wage executions are notoriously frequent,
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WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
notably Birmingham and Chicago. Although the rate of garnish
ment among reporting firms was even higher in Memphis than for
these two cities, the smaller representation for Memphis in the
sample limits the influence of these figures on the weighted averages.
In spite of the fact that the samples of industrial employment are
large also for the New York and Newark areas where the frequency
is low, it seems likely that there is a disproportionate representation
in the weighted averages for areas in which wage executions are
exceedingly frequent.
The sample is also biased by the exclusion from adequate repre
sentation of the many employers who have very small numbers of
employees, and who are situated in villages, towns, and small cities.
Unfortunately only a few of the cities represented in the sample
could be called small. But in each of these cities, executions were
relatively infrequent as compared with larger neighboring cities.
There were no very small places represented in our sample, but there
is ample reason to believe that wage executions are generally rare in
such communities.
Data for comparing the frequency of wage executions among em
ployees of industrial establishments with that among employees
engaged in other pursuits are extremely inadequate. No official
reports analyzing wage executions are available and the process of
collecting data from court or pay-roll records is tedious and costly.
The only data available are those collected in New York City and
Westchester County by the Russell Sage Foundation with the help
of some W. P. A. workers. This material has been used in compiling
the three tables which follow.
Table 6 compares the rates of wage executions among employees of
the industrial establishments in New York, which have been used in
the previous tables, with those among employees of New York City
and of the railroad company which furnished data. Based upon the
3-month period for which garnishments and wage assignments were
distinguished, the greater part of the executions against employees of
the industrial establishments and the New York railroad company
were wage assignments. The executions against city employees were
entirely garnishments, since assignments of unearned wages by public
employees are invalid in New York State.
Table 6.— Comparison of Rates of Wage Executions Among 3 Groups of
Employees Studied, May 1, 1933, to Apr. 30, 1934
Employer
32 industrial establishments___ _____ ____________ - - ........ —
New York City administration---------- ------ ----------------------A large railroad company............................... - .................................
1 Estimated.
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Average
number of
employees
16, 555
i 135,000
i 43,129
Number of
executions
341
10, 691
1,550
Rate per
1,000 em
ployees
20.6
79.2
35.9
298
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
While wage executions are more frequent among employees of the
New York railroad company and of New York City than among
employees of the 32 industrial establishments included in the sample,
there appear to be still other occupational classes among which wage
executions are less frequent. Table 7 attempts to show the relative
frequency of garnishment executions by occupational groups in
Westchester County and in New York and Kings Counties in New
York State.
The population subject to garnishment was estimated from the
1930 census. Deductions were made for an estimated number of
entrepreneurs in each class and for estimated decreases in gainfully
employed in 1934. The number of Federal employees in various
occupational classes was estimated and subtracted from the totals,
since the salaries of Federal employees are not subject to garnish
ment. The number of garnishments in Westchester County are
actual figures taken from the records of the various courts in the
county. The number of garnishments in New York and Kings
Counties were estimated by increasing the number of garnishments
against each occupational class, as shown by a study of the records
of five marshals over a 4-month period, in the proportion which
the number in the sample bore to the estimated total number of
garnishments.
The method of estimating the population subject to garnishment
was exceedingly crude and the possibilities of error are great, but
the table is presented in the belief that these errors do not materially
affect its usefulness for the present purpose. The error inherent in
the method of estimation is not sufficiently large to prevent the
conclusion that in this area public-service employees (employees of
State, city, and local jurisdictions) are subject to frequent garnish
ment as compared with other occupational classes.
In comparing the rates of garnishment shown by table 7 with rates
of wage executions shown by table 1, it should be noted that table
1 includes both garnishments and wage assignments, while table 7
gives only garnishment figures.
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WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
Table 7.— Relative Frequency of Garnishment Executions in Westchester,
New York, and Kings Counties by Industrial Group
New York and Kings Counties
Westchester County
Garnishment exe
Garnishment executions
cutions in 1934
Estimated
Estimated
popula
Rate per
Rate per popula
sub B y 5 mar
tion sub
1,000 per
1,000 per tion
Estimated sons
shals
ject to
ject to
sub
sons
sub
number
during
garnish
Number
garnish
ject to
ject to
4 months for 1934 garnish
ment
ment
garnish
of 1934
ment
ment
Industrial group
Agriculture, forestry and fish
ing, and extraction of minBuilding industry----------------Manufacture and mechanical
industries:
Postponable goods----------Nonpostponable goods___
Transportation and communication---------- ------ ------------Finance____________________
Trade_______ _____________
Service industries and trades..
Professional and semiprofessional service______________
Domestic and personal service.
Public service---------- -----------Industry not specified.. ____
Total_________________
4,329
10,592
3
3
0.7
.3
2,469
58,968
8
150
2.5
12, 262
16,472
27
35
2.2
2.1
118,914
244,459
63
183
1,143
3,316
9.6
13.6
13, 275
9,798
21, 859
9,397
14
26
118
82
1.1
2.7
5.4
8.7
162, 839
86,008
251, 867
139,541
38
33
151
72
693
'599
2,735
1,311
4.3
7.0
10.9
9.4
8,720
20,502
12,970
7,443
12
33
199
12
1.4
1.6
15.3
1.6
55,244
144,766
80, 230
63, 804
24
26
412
25
431
468
7,455
450
7.8
3.2
92.9
7.1
147,619
564
3.8 1,409,109
1,035
18,751
13.3
Although garnishment figures were tabulated for Detroit, they
could not be segregated by occupational classes. An estimate of the
population subject to garnishment in Detroit was made by the
methods described above. The resulting rate was 41.6 garnishments
per 1,000 persons subject to garnishment in that city. The rate in
the present sample of industrial establishments was but 14.7 per 1,000
and this included wage assignments.
Trend of Garnishments
I n f o r m a t io n concerning the trends of garnishment orders is
almost as scarce as that concerning the occupation of those gar
nisheed. Table 8 presents the only evidence available concerning
trends. Even this evidence is not satisfactory in many respects, as
the footnotes indicate.
Table 8.— Trend of Garnishments in Boston, Detroit, and New York City,
1930 to 1934
Year
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
__________ _____ _____________________ ______
.
_____________ __________________________
...
..............................................................................
___ _____________________________
__________ _______ ____ ____________ ____ _
Boston 1
6,550
4,180
3 2,067
1,925
1, 858
Detroit
32,049
25,540
* 23,922
‘ 22,739
« 24, 262
New York
City 2
125,207
142,749
136,963
109,320
70,432
1 Cases in municipal court of the city of Boston only.
2 Total executions handled by 50 marshals who were active throughout the entire period. These figures
include property executions as well as garnishments but the former cannot be segregated. M any marshals
stated that the decline in garnishments was more precipitate than in other executions.
s The decline between 1931 and 1932 was partly due to the transfer to district courts of actions formerly
handled by the municipal court.
* Includes cases handled by the conciliation division of the Detroit common pleas court, since petitions
in that division are usually alternatives to garnishment. The division was established in October 1932.
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C ooperation o f W orkm en’s Com pensation A d m in istra
tio ns W ith R e h ab ilitatio n Agencies
B y M arshall D a w so n , of th e U n it e d S ta tes B u r e a u
of
L a bor S tatistics
HEN the first workmen’s compensation laws were enacted in
the United States, more than 20 years ago, the main task in
the minds of the legislators was to find a way to provide prompt
medical and financial aid to injured workmen. These laws gave great
impetus to the “safety” or accident-prevention movement, because
the excessive number and severity of accidents meant high insurance
costs to the employer. For the first time in our history a definite
money value was set upon the loss of a worker’s limb or life, and
humane sentiments were reinforced by economic considerations.
The work of the board or commission administering the workmen’s
compensation act expanded to include either direct activity in
accident prevention or cooperation with State and private agencies
charged with that task. But even with accident-prevention activity
and attention to giving injured workmen medical and financial aid
the program of service to victims of industrial accidents was still
incomplete.
The rehabilitation of soldiers wounded during the World War
threw a strong light upon the lack of such service to injured workmen.
A demand that injured workers be put upon the same basis as wounded
soldiers and given equal opportunities for restoration to vocational
activity compelled the workmen’s compensation administrations to
consider the injured worker’s need for “rehabilitation.” Such
rehabilitation is defined as “the rendering of a physically handicapped
person fit to engage in a remunerative occupation. The goal is to
adapt such persons by special training, advice, and assistance, to an
occupation in which they may find employment.” 1
As a rule, the early compensation acts provided meager financial
benefits and limited medical aid. The workman’s compensation often
stopped before his reemployment began. Liberalizing the financial
benefits to injured workers did not completely fill this gap. If the
workman was to be restored as nearly as possible to his condition
before he was injured, it was evident that something more than a
pension was needed. He must be refitted for an active, productive
life, instead of being left a dependent invalid.
A few States, acting independently, took prompt steps to include
rehabilitation in the scope of service rendered by the workmen’s
i Bowers,rE. L.: Is It Safe to Work?
300
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compensation administration. But such service was upon an un
certain basis of support, was in danger of being cut off by fluctuating
appropriations, and also lacked an adequate personnel and super
vision. The necessity for Federal cooperation in the program was
soon recognized.
The Federal Vocational Act of 1920 met this need. It provided a
means for the vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons, whatever
the cause of their disability, and encouraged the organization of a
service in which the States and the Federal Government would co
operate. After the national Vocational Rehabilitation Act became
effective in June 1920 and the States began to accept its benefits and
to organize their rehabilitation services, State boards for vocational
education and State compensation agencies entered into agreements
to cooperate, to the end of making the rehabilitation service practical
and effective for persons disabled as a result of industrial accidents.2
A suggested plan of cooperation between the workmen’s compensa
tion administration and the rehabilitation agency was drawn up by
the Federal Board for Vocational Education.3 The plan called for
the interchange of certain information by the rehabilitation and com
pensation agencies and the joint promotion of a program of service to
injured persons.
Such cooperation in rehabilitation is the newest and one of the most
promising phases of workmen’s compensation administration. The
degree to which this plan succeeds is one measurement of the efficiency
of workmen’s compensation administration in the rehabilitation serv
ice. The technic and devices employed in such cooperation are,
therefore, being given detailed study in the survey of workmen’s
compensation administration and insurance being carried on by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. This survey was begun in 1934, and
before the close of the following year 23 States and the Province of
Ontario had been visited. In some cases it was found that coordina
tion was “on paper” only. In other instances, however, excellent
cooperation prevailed. Further progress is now being made.
The purpose of the Bureau’s study is to throw light upon the
effectiveness of legal and administrative devices, rather than to
invite comparison between localities. Conclusions arrived at are
based upon the entire experience in all the regions visited.
The first step in the survey was the preparation of a comprehen
sive outline of the points to be covered. This was submitted, for
criticism, to outstanding specialists in workmen’s compensation
administration. The revised outline was used as a guide during
personal interviews and conferences. In studying the rehabilitation
2 Federal Board for Vocational Education. Bulletin 126: Workmen’s Compensation Legislation in
Relation to Vocational Rehabilitation. Washington, 1927, p. 9.
» The Federal Board furnishes information and supervisory service to the States through regional super
visors, and has on its staff an officer who specializes in workmen’s compensation problems.
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coordination, all of the allied agencies were visited. Clinics were
inspected. Tentative conclusions, arrived at after visiting 12 States,
were subjected to the test of conference presentation and discussion.
After 23 States and the Province of Ontario had been visited, conclu
sions were submitted in writing to supervisory officers and specialists
in rehabilitation. The conclusions so tested and approved are
presented in this article.
An outline of the situation as a whole makes the details of an
adequate cooperative program more easily understood. A general
and comprehensive view of existing conditions shows that the main
reasons for the incomplete utilization of rehabilitation opportunities
are:
(1) Failure of States to accept the Federal legislation; failure of States accept
ing that legislation adequately to match the Federal funds available for rehabilita
tion work; insufficient rehabilitation staffs in such States for handling the case
loads; lack of sufficient diversified equipment for rehabilitation needs.
(2) Understaffing of workmen’s compensation personnel, caused by cuts in
budgets as an economy measure or by the unsatisfactory method of financing the
compensation administration.
(3) Recurrent political turn-over of personnel in some States, with the result
ing inexperience and lack of knowledge about either workmen’s compensation or
rehabilitation administration.
(4) Imperfect understanding of the technique of cooperation; and, to a minor
degree, jurisdictional conflicts. In some cases, neglect of the rehabilitation agency
to cultivate a close relationship with the compensation commission. In some
cases, lump-sum settlements which have proved to be obstacles to rehabilitation.
(5) Gaps in the workmen’s compensation acts, such as lack of second injury
funds or of special rehabilitation funds.
(6) Provisions in the workmen’s compensation acts or rules for rating of in
juries and wage computations, as a result of which the workmen do not cooperate
in their own rehabilitation for fear of losing part or all of their compensation.
(7) Popular ignorance in regard to the provision for rehabilitation.
This, as noted above, is an administrative study. It is still too
early in the history of rehabilitation experience in the United States
to make a satisfactory statistical study of the subject. The reason
for this is that the statistical proof or measurements must take into
account the earnings of réhabilitants over a period of 10 to 20 years,
in order to show adequately the relation of administrative cost to
results. Since we do not have records, on a large scale, of the
earnings of rehabilitated persons during a long period of years, most
of the present statistical efforts to show the great social gains effected
by rehabilitation have been based upon an assumption that probable
future earnings of persons rehabilitated will amount to the figures
shown in the tabulations. There is, however, sufficient evidence of
a nonstatistical type, partly in the world-wide recognition of the
principle of rehabilitation and partly from numerous case studies in
which earning power has clearly been the result of a rehabilitation
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program. In this study information has been gained mainly from wide
observation of administrative performance and the consideration of
many different points of view. The success of such a method de
pends upon the cooperation, in the study, of local and regional
officials. The readiness of workmen’s compensation and rehabili
tation officials to show what they are doing and to explain their
methods and the results obtained has expedited the survey and sup
plied the factual basis upon which its conclusions rest. Proper means
were used to safeguard against any bias or undue optimism on the
part of the officials.
The law and practice essential to efficient administration will here
be considered point by point.
Effect of State Law Upon Cooperation for Rehabilitation
A p r e r e q u i s i t e to complete cooperation for rehabilitation is a
workmen’s compensation act with standard provisions affecting re
habilitation. Some of the points which should be included are dis
cussed below.
(1) Where the act defines the scope of the duties of the workmen’s
compensation commission, cooperation in the rehabilitation of injured
workmen should be mentioned. The act should indicate in general
terms the full scope of service to be rendered by a workmen’s compen
sation administration. The reason therefor is evident from the fact
that inone State the scope of service to be performed by the compen
sation’commission was so narrowly defined by the act as to lead an
administrative officer to say, when describing his duties: "I am not
interested in accident prevention.” The language of the act should
make it plain to every one that the workmen’s compensation commis
sion is interested not only in passing upon claims for compensation
but in preventing accidents and in fostering the rehabilitation of
injured workers.
(2) A satisfactory workmen’s compensation act should provide for
a “second-injury fund” and a “rehabilitation fund,” to be supported
from death benefits in cases where there are no dependents, and from
payments in first major-injury cases.4
The “second-injury fund” facilitates the reemployment of an injured
worker. A workman who has lost one eye or one arm, for instance,
will be given a total-disability rating if he loses the second eye or the
second arm. Consequently, where there is no “second-injury fund”
to take care of the excess liability in such cases, employers and insur
ance carriers may object to reemploying a partially disabled workman,
because the compensation award in event of a second injury may be
out of proportion to that injury considered by itself.
* The payments in first major-injury eases, in the one State that uses this system, amount to $75 per case
and are independent of the regular compensation benefits.
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There are two stages in the recovery of an injured workman—his
physical recovery and his restoration to earning capacity and oppor
tunity. The latter means something more than the mere return of
the injured person to work, since, without the aid of rehabilitation, he
may have to go back to work on too low a basis or at tasks unsuited
to his ability. The “rehabilitation fund” facilitates the vocational
recovery of an injured workman by providing extra compensation to
cover his increased living expenses during the period of vocational
readjustment or retraining. Such a fund may also be drawn upon for
supplementary or extraordinary expenses connected with rehabilita
tion, which are not provided for by the routine appropriations of the
State rehabilitation agency. Thus, the existence of such a special
fund, in the State of Arizona, provided a training trip to Chicago and
New York for a policeman whose trigger finger had been shot off in
an encounter with a burglar, so that he was disabled for the duties of
a patrolman. The special training fitted the injured man for success
ful “identification work” with the police department.5
In several jurisdictions special rehabilitation funds controlled by
the workmen’s compensation commissions have been looked upon as
reserve funds and allowed to pile up unused. Such accumulations
attract the attention of budget makers and legislators, and may be
diverted from their special objectives and used as a substitute for
legislative appropriations for general administration. In drafting the
section of a workmen’s compensation act which sets up a “rehabilita
tion fund”, the purposes for which the fund may be used should be
carefully defined. Freer expenditure of this special fund for current
rehabilitation needs is of course one of the best safeguards against the
loss or diversion of the rehabilitation assets.
(3) In addition to surgical care, the workman who has suffered an
amputation may need an artificial limb, and he will not be altogether
ready for retraining until this has been supplied. A provision in the
workmen’s compensation act for furnishing, as a part of the medical
aid, such artificial members and appliances as may be needed, expe
dites the work of the rehabilitation agency in handling industrialinjury cases and relieves the strain upon rehabilitation funds, because
the injured workmen then come to the supervisor of rehabilitation
prepared for immediate training or placement.
(4) The financial compensation received by an injured worker is at
best only two-thirds of his customary wages. As a rule the entire
s To persons not familiar with_the terminology of workmen’s compensation the various uses of the word
“fund” may be confusing. The literature of the subject contains frequent reference to “competitive State
fund”, “exclusive State fund,” “second injury fund”, and “rehabilitation fund.” The first two terms are
applicable in those States in which a State agency has been set up for the underwriting of workmen’s com
pensation risks. Where private insurance carriers are also in the field, as in N ew York, the State fund is
“competitive.” Where, as in Ohio, the law does not permit operations in the field of workmen’s compensa
tion by private insurance carriers, the fund is “exclusive.” The “second injury fund” and the “rehabilita
tion fund” are funds for meeting the special needs implied by their names, and are raised as described above.
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earnings of the worker are needed for the support of his family if he
has dependents. So the workman has to deprive his family of neces
saries if he makes any special expenditures upon himself during his
period of disability. He may, therefore, refuse the offer of a rehabili
tation training course, especially if he has to go elsewhere for it, be
cause of his distress over the problem of maintenance. Again, if the
workman’s healing period is prolonged, his compensation payments
will expire, under the legal provisions now in effect in some States,
before he has had time to complete his course of retraining, and, facing
destitution, he will quit the training course. For example: If a work
man loses part of his hand, and because of infection or for other reasons
the hand is very slow in healing, all his compensation may be used up
before he is ready for retraining, if he is paid only for the loss of part
of his hand. But if he is also paid for his loss of earning power during
the healing period, the payments continue for a longer time. This
gives him a better chance to retrain himself before the payments stop.
A standard workmen’s compensation act takes care of this emer
gency, by providing that compensation shall be paid, not only for the
loss of a member, but also for the loss of earning capacity during the
healing period.
(5)
The method of determining what an injured workman shall
receive is called the rating system. A workman may lose his earn
ing power as well as his limb, as the result of an industrial accident.
His compensation may be based upon either or both of these losses.
The practice varies in different States. If a workman loses a limb
or the use of it, and he is paid no compensation for the injury itself
but receives only a certain percentage of the difference between what
he earned before the injury and what he can earn afterward, he may
not be eager to retrain himself and take another job promptly. Under
such a law, he thinks that an injustice is done him if his compensation
is taken away when he is reemployed, because, even though he may
get a job, he has lost a limb and will continue to suffer that depriva
tion for the remainder of his life. But if he is paid a definite amount
for any permanent physical disability, regardless of his pay for what
ever work he can obtain thereafter, the injured man has every reason
for retraining himself and returning to work promptly.
Because some workmen’s compensation acts contain provisions
which seem unjust to the injured workman and consequently dis
courage his participation in the plan for his rehabilitation, one un
finished task in the workmen’s compensation field is the formulation
of a rating system that will accelerate instead of hinder rehabilitation.
Such a system should use both incentives and constraint. One in
centive would be a specific amount to be paid in case of loss of members
or permanent disability without any deduction, from compensation,
on the basis of what the injured person may earn in some future em-
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
ployment. An additional allowance to cover increased living expenses
during retraining is an incentive used in some jurisdictions. New
Jersey has tried the method of constraint, recognizing that “a very
serious impediment is encountered in the fact that some disabled per
sons are unwilling to submit to training. * * * In New Jersey
the permanent total disability award ceases after 400 weeks unless the
worker shall have submitted to such rehabilitation as may have been
ordered by the rehabilitation commission of that State/’ 6
Workmen’s compensation acts usually provide that if an injured
workman refuses to cooperate in the medical plan for his restoration
to health, his compensation may be suspended. It seems reasonable
also to authorize the workmen’s compensation authorities to modify
or suspend the compensation of a workman whose refusal to cooperate
with his rehabilitation is in their opinion unjustifiable. Research
into the best means of securing the hearty cooperation of injured work
men in the program of rehabilitation is needed, to guide the further
progress of workmen’s compensation legislation and practice at this
point.7
Necessity for Adequate State Appropriations
M a n y of the States have not taken full advantage of their oppor
tunity under the plan of cooperation between States and the Federal
Government. In States which have only partially matched the avail
able I ederal grants, the rehabilitation agency may be undermanned
or unsatisfactorily staffed, and the instruments available for rehabili
tation relatively^, meager. Such a condition limits the cooperation
between the workmen’s compensation commission and the rehabilita
tion agency, because of the inability of the rehabilitation staff to take
care of the cases referred to it.8
6 E. L. Bowers: Is It Safe to Work? Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1930, p. 127.
1 Dr. H. H. Kessler, medical director, N ew Jersey Rehabilitation Commission, has employed a psycholo
gist who assists in making personality studies of physically handicapped workmen, to determine the psy
chological factors which are obstacles to eliminating their dependency.
8 At the close of 1935, 3 States had not accepted the Federal legislation relating to rehabilitation, 21 had
partially matched the available Federal funds, 7 States had completely matched and 17 States had more
than matched the available Federal aid. These States are shown below:
States partially matching Federal allotment:
Alabama
Massachusetts
Arizona
Missouri
Arkansas
Montana
Colorado
Nevada
Connecticut
N ew Hampshire
Maryland
N ew Mexico
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
States fully matching Federal allotment:
Florida
Idaho
Louisiana
Ohio
North Dakota
West Virginia
New York
States overmatching Federal allotment:
California
Kentucky
Georgia
Maine
Illinois
Michigan
Indiana
Minnesota
Iowa
Mississippi
States not cooperating in rehabilitation program
Delaware
Kansas
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Texas
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Nebraska
N ew Jersey
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Virginia
Wisconsin
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND REHABILITATION
307
The ability of the rehabilitation agency to serve the workmen’s
compensation commission meets its most severe test when the
so-called “problem” industrial injury cases are faced. Typically
difficult cases include the uneducated laborer who has lost an arm,
the middle-aged workman who has suffered a back injury and must
shift to lighter work for the remainder of his life, the older workman
who is nearing unemployability for the heavy work he has always
done and which is the only work he understands, and the workman
who is rebellious because of his injury and is drifting into a so-called
neurosis. These are hard cases for vocational restoration, but the
purpose of the rehabilitation program is to provide experts who
have learned how to handle difficult cases. Unfortunately, some
rehabilitation supervisors avoid the more difficult portion of their
case load, accepting the youth of high-school age and rejecting the
older injured man who often has a family dependent upon him for
support.9
Where the appropriation for the maintenance of the State re
habilitation agency is inadequate, State directors of rehabilitation
are compelled to limit the scope of the work. They will prefer to
give attention only to the younger, better-educated, and eager
candidates for rehabilitation on the lists furnished by the work
men’s compensation commission. It will be impossible to give
sufficient study to the problems of placement, or to the perplexities
of the injured middle-aged worker who has already reached the
border line of industrial obsolescence even though his children may
not yet be in high school. No thorough study can be made of the
situation of applicants for lump-sum settlements from the workmen’s
compensation commission. When because of reduced resources the
rehabilitation director must “pick and choose” the cases he accepts
and must reject many, the workmen’s compensation commission
may abandon the rehabilitation coordination in discouragement,
explaining that it is no use to send injured workmen to the reha
bilitation agency because that office is unable to handle its case
load.
* At the instance of Wm. J. French, J r , California undertook, some years ago, to follow up the awards
to widows of industrial accident victims, and give these women vocational guidance if necessary, but
because of a drastic cut in appropriations for the workmen’s compensation commission this plan could
not be carried out. Very inadequate consideration has been given to the problem of vocational read
justment often encountered by the widow of a workman who has been killed. In many States the widow’s
compensation payments cease after a few years. Such payments are seldom large enough for complete
support, especially when the amount of the award has been computed on the workman’s part-time em
ployment. In such cases, the widow’s allowance is sometimes a mere pittance. The widow may be
compelled to change from her vocation of home maker and seek remunerative employment, for self-support
or the support of dependent children, at a time when she is least able to face the ordeal. Where a special
rehabilitation fund exists, an allowance for maintenance, during retraining at a vocational school or else
where, may well be recommended in such cases. Consideration of an amendment to compensation acts
to permit attention to the rehabilitation of the widow of a killed workman is in order.
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The Workmen’s Stake in the Rehabilitation Piogram
T h e emergencies of a technical age are putting a new emphasis
upon the value of rehabilitation. A workman no longer is placed
securely for life in some small vocational compartment. He may
be dislodged at any time from one occupation and compelled to
acquire new skills, as old techniques become obsolete and consumer
demands change. It is therefore probable that the labor movement
may become more and more interested in the rehabilitation agencies.
/The injured worker who retrains himself gets a new lease on life.
His readiness to remake himself protects him from premature obsoles
cence. The point of the old saying, “Jack of all trades and master of
n°rie”> is blunted by the current demand for flexibility, versatility,
and the readiness to learn something new. A successful rehabilitation
is of benefit to a workman not only vocationally, but also mentally and
physically.
Labor has a vital stake in the rehabilitation program. A successful
rehabilitation means that the worker who has lost an arm or a leg in
the course of his employment does not pay the added penalty of losing
also his chance for an active and useful career, or sink into the condi
tion of a passive and dependent member of society. Adequate
rehabilitation service costs something, but the lack of it costs much
more.
Administrative Aspects
T he w orkm en’s com pensation act and the legislative appropria
tions m ay provide a satisfactory basis for efficient rehabilitation
service to in ju red workm en, b u t even so, the results secured will
depend upon the a tte n tio n given to adm inistrative details of coopera
tion.
The most common cause of deficient rehabilitation service to injured
workmen is delay on the part of the compensation commission in
furnishing the rehabilitation agency with the reports of certain types
of injuries. This delay may be accidental or intentional. If inten
tional, it arises out of a theory, sometimes held by compensation com
missions, that an injured workman is not a subject for rehabilitation
until the physicians and surgeons have finished their service to him
and a final award has been made. One may call this a “closure”
rehabilitation coordination, as distinguished from a “reporting”
coordination. An unfortunate result of this theory and practice is
that many injured workmen will have become chronic cases before the
rehabilitation officials find them, if they ever find them. Injured
workmen frequently move, and where the “closure” coordination is the
administrative practice, rehabilitation officials sometimes have great
difficulty in locating the disabled men. A timely visit from the reha
bilitation officer would save some of these handicapped men from
chronic and hopeless drifting.
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A prompt reporting coordination is desirable. As soon as accidents
of certain types are reported to the workmen’s compensation commis
sion, the rehabilitation agency should be notified. A rehabilitation
agent can then call on the injured and help, early in the course of the
disability, to start planning the route to vocational recovery. This
contact is of great value in maintaining morale as well as in shaping
recovery plans.
The rehabilitation agency can render valuable service to the work
men’s compensation commission by assisting in the placement of
certain types of injured workmen, especially where preliminary job
training is necessary. The compensation commission also has much
to gain by furnishing the rehabilitation agency the names of applicants
for lump-sum settlements, in order that the rehabilitation experts
may give the commission advice in such cases if they care to do so.
Where that is not done, too often the workman gets the lump sum,
spends or loses the money, and is then reduced to destitution if not
thrown upon relief. The compensation commission, in desperation,
sometimes awards lump-sum settlements to troublesome claimants as a
means of curing a so-called neurosis. The therapeutic value of lump
sum payments has, however, been challenged.10 The competent
rehabilitation agent may in some cases be able to suggest or provide
a better means of curing the neurosis by diverting the mind of the
sufferer from himself and focussing his attention upon some useful
activity. Early attention to injured workmen by rehabilitation
agents will prevent many cases of so-called neurosis especially if a
curative workshop is available.
In a satisfactory coordination, the rehabilitation agent will
cooperate with the compensation commission by furnishing reports
on progress and end results of cases referred to him. The agent will
also watch carefully to avoid conflicts of authority. Thus, before
telling an injured workman the amount or kind of compensation he
should receive, the rehabilitation agent will take up such points with
the compensation commission or with the referee handling that partic
ular case. Occasional conferences participated in by the compensa
tion commission, the rehabilitation agent, and the Federal supervisor
of rehabilitation for the region will promote a better understanding of
the subject and more cordial cooperation of all parties to the rehabili
tation plan.
New York State Department of Education. Rehabilitation Division. Lump-Sum Settlements in
Workmen’s Compensation, by Carl Norcross. The author points out that a distinction must be made
between the effect of finality in a settlement and the form in which money is paid.
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The mechanism available for rehabilitation needs expansion and
diversification. There should be more rehabilitation clinics com
bining, under competent professional direction, physiotherapy and the
curative workshop. If special rehabilitation funds controlled by the
workmen’s compensation commissions are to be used at all for
administrative purposes, the maintenance of such clinics should be a
preferred expenditure. There should be of course an adequate staff
of skilled rehabilitation agents, prepared not only to direct the injured
workman’s vocational retraining, but to help him in employment
placement and give him sound advice upon his economic opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ survey shows, not only that addi
tional personnel and facilities are needed, but also that the existing
facilities are sometimes not used promptly and to the limit of their
service. Very cooperative relationships are found in States where
frequent contacts are maintained between the workmen’s compensa
tion commissioners and the rehabilitation officers. The excellent
results obtained in many cases justify the extension and better
support of the rehabilitation program.
The task of directing and supervising the cooperation in rehabilita
tion work between the States and the Federal Government is vested
in the Rehabilitation Division of the United States Office of Educa
tion. That office aids the perfecting of administrative technique by
publications, conferences, personal contacts, and supervision.
Cost of Rehabilitation
T h e need of aid for persons disabled by injuries is not a new thing,
but the World War presented this need on a scale vast enough to
arouse public opinion and compel attention to a duty that society
had long neglected. Social duty to the handicapped is the true basis
of rehabilitation work. But there are still some social duties which
are neglected because they are looked upon as expensive and a burden
upon the taxpayers. If the theoretical basis of rehabilitation work is
social duty, its cash basis is the appropriation that may be voted by a
legislative body. For this reason, persons and agencies promoting
rehabilitation programs try to show not only that rehabilitation
service is a duty but that it is profitable to the individual and to
society. In the main, statistics used to show the relation between
the cost of rehabilitation and the wage values produced are frankly
promotional.
Estimates of the relation of the increased earning power of réhabili
tants to the cost of rehabilitation are usually based upon the assump
tion of continued earning power over a period of 10 or 20 years. If, for
the purpose of making an estimate, this assumption is permitted, the
analyses prepared or cited by the Rehabilitation Division, United States
Office of Education, “show that the cost of rehabilitation was only an
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311
insignificant percentage of the increased earning capacity resulting
therefrom.” 11 On the same conjectural basis one writer has estimated
that “the cost of rehabilitation to the governments concerned was only
a little more than 2 percent of the probable increased earning power
during the life of the rehabilitant.” 12
In the field of rehabilitation, one is dealing with a long-term process.
Satisfactory precision measurements of results may be available by
1946. Meantime, if scientific accuracy is required, computation
must be limited to a comparison of administrative cost with the case
load handled by the rehabilitation agencies. This is done in the
following table:
Number of Cases and Cost of Rehabilitation, Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 19351
[Data cover States operating under Rehabilitation Act of 1920, exclusive of 3 States not accepting Federal
grants in aid, for which the figures are not available]
Item
Number
N u m b e r o f r e h a b ilita tio n c a s e s
Cases of all types, eligible and feasible, in process of training or placement, contacted by
Percent of all cases
_________________________________________
A p p r o p r ia tio n s a n d e x p e n d itu r e s
Federal appropriations available to States, fiscal year 1934-35, for rehabilitation purposes:
mount e x p e n d e d in S ta te s
_____________________________________________
Total amount spent by States accepting Federal law for purposes covered by act (ineluding State appropriations and gifts Put excluding a m o u n t of Federal a i d ) __________
Amount allotted for rehabilitation from F e d e r a l e m e r g e n c y funds_______________________
\
40,397
9,262
2,323
25
Amount
$1,089,858.52
1,031,818.30
1,086,122.05
840,000.00
2,957,940.35
1 Data by Rehabilitation D ivision of U . S. Office of Education, from advance figures for the “ Digest of
Annual Reports of State Boards for Vocational Education to the Office of Education, Division of Voca
tional Education” for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1935.
....................
,.
2 Rehabilitation is not considered complete until the person being rehabilitated is placed m employment.
3 As a total of “expenditures” , this figure must be corrected by the difference between the amount of
emergency relief funds “allotted” and “expended” . The exact expenditure report is not yet available
for the fiscal year ending June 30,1935.
» See printed folder (1928) W hy Your State Should Adopt Vocational Rehabilitation, also Vocational
Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, pp. 8, 9, published by that office.
la Bowers, E. L.; Is It Safe to Work, Boston and New York, Houghton Miffln Co., 1930, p. 124. That
author is reluctant to apply quantitative measurements to results achieved in rehabilitation, and does so
only to meet the demand for such tentative estimates. (“ Only the absence of any other method of measure
ment has led us into a pecuniary valuation of rehabilitation,” pp. 118,121.)
42 7 0 4 —-36----- 3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D ro u g h t R efugee and Labor M igration to C alifornia,
June^D ecem ber 1935 1
B y P aul
S.
T aylor and T om V a se y 2
HE drought which struck large sections of the United States
from 1933 to early 1935 was particularly acute on the Great
Plains. The great dust storms originating in that area scattered its
topsoil over the Nation and dramatized the problems of human
resettlement which center there. Following drought, and the depres
sion which preceded drought, streams of stricken people began to
seek refuge by migration to other regions. Undoubtedly, except for
extensive assistance from government, these creeping lines of distress
would have been vastly larger than they were.
One of the most important movements in the flight has been directed
toward California, where nearly continuous harvests use extensively
the unskilled labor of men, women, and children and offer ready
opportunity for the inexperienced to earn something, however little
that may be. The present article represents an effort to measure
the volume of this migration of refugees. Although it was impossible
entirely to segregate refugees from laborers engaged in usual inter
state seasonal migration, or from those made destitute by causes
other than drought, the results nevertheless illuminate very significant
movements of population.
On all important highways entering California, the State depart
ment of agriculture maintains plant quarantine stations where in
coming vehicles are stopped and inspected. The inspectors were
instructed to note cars whose occupants were “persons in need of
manual employment”, and to designate them by symbols on their
usual report forms, as white, Mexican, Negro, Filipino, or other. No
more precise definition of the class it was desired to count was possible,
but it was suggested that it was made up of persons moving usually
in family groups, loaded with poor equipment, and known colloquially
to inspectors as “tin-can tourists.” Filipino laborers, who almost
1 This study is part of the research initiated under Harry E. Drobish, director of rural rehabilitation,
California Emergency Relief Administration, and continued by the Resettlement Administration. Other
aspects of the movement of drought and depression refugees to California have been presented by the
senior author in Again the Covered Wagon, Survey Graphic, July 1935, and by Walter Davenport in
California, Here We Come, Colliers, Aug. 10, 1935. The cooperation of A. C. Fleury, chief of the Bureau
of Plant Quarantine, California Department of Agriculture, and the staff of inspectors at border stations
who made the traffic count of which these statistics are a compilation, is gratefully acknowledged.
2 Professor Taylor is regional labor adviser and Mr. Vasey field investigator of the United States R esettle
ment Administration.
312
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
DROUGHT REFUGEE AND LABOR MIGRATION
313
always move as groups of single men with better equipment, were also
counted. Persons entering the State by train or by bus were not
counted. No questions beyond those ordinarily required in line of
duty were asked. But physical and material conditions of refugees
and other laborers are so marked and so well known to the inspectors,
who are capable and observant men, that the results may be relied
upon with confidence.
The statistics include men, women, and children, but no classifica
tion by age or sex could be obtained. As already indicated, complete
separation of refugees from regular seasonal labor migrants between
States was impossible. Plowever, the largest group of this type—
seasonal laborers originating in California and returning to that
State—were recorded separately because their vehicles bore California
licenses. No statistical determination was made of the employment
objective of the immigrants, but it is known from field observation
that an overwhelming majority seek employment in California agri
culture. Drought and depression were the principal expelling forces.
Most of the immigrants were rural folk from farms and small towns.
An unknown, but large, number of “persons in need of manual
employment” leave California, both seasonally and permanently.
For the period under review those coming to California far exceeded
those departing, but it is unfortunate that their numbers could not
have been ascertained.
During the 6 months ending December 15, 43,180 persons, members
of parties “in need of manual employment”, entered California by
motor vehicle. This number included men, women, and children,
but did not include persons traveling by bus, or in cars bearing Cali
fornia licenses. Table 1 presents the statistics of this movement by
months, and by States of origin. The peak of immigration occurred
during the month ending September 15, which slightly anticipates the
peak demand for labor in California agriculture. The volume at the
peak was 50 percent greater than at the low point, which occurred
during the month ending December 15.
Seventy-five percent of the emigrants came from States classified
as “drought States” by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
Six of these—Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, and
Kansas—furnished 50 percent of the total. Undoubtedly a great
many of those who entered in cars bearing Arizona licenses, and some
in those with New Mexico licenses, originated in States farther east.
It is a very common practice for Oklahomans and others migrating
westward to pause for work in the cotton harvest in Arizona, in order
to obtain a temporary livelihood and funds for continuance of travel.
All or portions of the five States of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas,
Colorado, and New Mexico have recently come to be known as the
Dust Bowl. From these States came 37.4 percent of the emigrants,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
314
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
and in addition an unknown number whose cars, for the reason given
above, bore Arizona licenses. An interstate rural-labor migration,
rather than immigration of refugees, is represented largely by the
14 percent of the total migration which came from Washington and
Oregon.
Notable deviations from the fluctuations in volume characterizing
the total influx occurred in the portions of the movement which
originated in Arizona, Washington, and Montana. Migration from
Arizona dropped sharply after July 15. The early peak occurred
when demand for farm labor was rising sharply in California, and the
low points in the fall coincided with the rising demand for cotton
pickers and lettuce workers in Arizona. The peak of movement
from Montana and Washington occurred during the month ending
November 15. Probably the end of the sugar-beet harvest in Montana
and the fruit harvest in Washington accounts for this.
Table 1.— Migrants “in Need of Manual Employment” Entering California by
Motor Vehicle, June 16-Dec. 15, 1935, by Months and by State of Origin 1
Total, June 16
to Dec. 15, 1935
Number of migrants, month ending -
State of origin
N um
ber
All States.. - _ ________________ 43,180
Percent____________ ________
100.0
Drought States__________________
Oklahoma__________
Texas______________ _______
Arizona___ ______ ________ __
Arkansas____________________
Missouri______ _________ --_
Kansas___________ __ ______
Colorado_____ ______________
New Mexico_________ ________
N eb ra sk a ______ _ _________
Idaho___________ ______ _
M ontana____ ________________
U tah_____ __________
______
I o w a __________ _______
N evada__________________
North Dakota____ _________
M innesota___________________
South Dakota________________
Wyoming____________________
Wisconsin____________________
Pacific States_________________
Per
cent
July 15 Aug. 15 Sept. 15 Oct. 15 N ov. 15 Dec. 15
100.0
7,162
16.6
8,057
18.7
8,955
20.7
6,309
14.6
6,845
15.9
5,852
13.6
32,312
74.8
5,268
6,200
6,959
4, 588
4, 681
4,616
7,138
3,560
3,467
2,786
2,428
2,257
1, 659
1, 597
1,292
1,188
841
754
704
602
548
475
447
343
226
16.5
8.2
8.0
6.5
5.6
5.2
3.8
3.7
3.0
2.8
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.4
1.3
1.1
1.0
.8
.5
773
689
1,109
319
306
282
341
345
223
116
67
221
117
161
39
57
44
27
32
1, 539
740
886
514
505
357
281
364
178
130
53
145
94
149
53
45
64
85
18
1,812
755
555
576
629
645
278
273
281
213
101
145
161
151
92
82
79
51
80
1,143
376
361
484
321
390
201
212
242
170
95
99
118
66
72
115
63
30
30
862
463
310
456
361
299
236
185
183
286
334
72
97
34
184
111
126
32
50
1,009
537
246
437
306
284
322
218
185
273
191
72
117
41
108
71
118
16
6,062
14.0
941
1,012
925
1,049
1,439
696
3, 770
2,292
8.7
5.3
633
308
747
265
633
292
654
395
728
711
375
321
_________
3,261
7.6
669
574
737
450
500
331
Illinois_______________________
M ic h ig a n ______ __________
New Y ork-.. _________ _____
Ohio................................
Indiana__________ _________
Pennsylvania- - - ___________
N ew Jersey. - _______ ______
855
709
519
450
2.0
1.6
1.2
1.0
.8
.6
177
229
97
43
50
37
36
146
116
74
114
63
191
128
141
133
68
62
68
70
29
20
152
78
90
51
66
40
23
56
90
Oregon____________________ „
W ashington___ ____________
Industrial States_____
333
273
122
.3
51
10
99
63
88
27
55
75
21
28
6
1 F o r definition of m i g r a n t s “ in n e e d of m a n u a l e m p l o y m e n t ” , see text. P e r s o n s traveling in a u t o stages
are n o t i n c l u d e d in this s t u d y ; t h e y represent o n l y a s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n of t h e total i m m i g r a t i o n of this type.
F e d e r a l E m e r g e n c y Relief A d m i n i s t r a t i o n classification of States is us ed . N o t e .that p e r s o n s e n te ri ng in
cars b e a r i n g California licenses are n o t i n c l u d e d in this table, b u t a r e j n c l u d e d in t h e remaining.tables.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
315
DROUGHT REFUGEE AND LABOR MIGRATION
Table 1.— Migrants “in Need of Manual Employment” Entering California by
Motor Vehicle, June 16-Dec. 15, 1935, by Months and by State of Origin— Con.
Total, June 16
to Dec. 15, 1935
Number of migrants, month ending—
State of origin
N um
ber
Per
cent
July 15 Aug. 15 Sept. 15 Oct. 15 Nov. 15 Dec. 15
Southern States__________________
1,290
3.0
225
245
299
177
160
184
Tennessee____________ . ____
Georgia.................. ........... . ____
Louisiana____________________
Florida______________________
Alabama______ _________ . . .
K entucky____________________
M ississippi.....................................
Virginia_____________________
West Virginia..______ ________
M aryland____________________
North Carolina_______________
District of Columbia__________
South Carolina..
Delaware____________________
302
214
170
129
113
100
76
63
35
30
23
19
16
.7
.5
.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
37
16
41
47
26
9
19
16
5
1
8
57
19
43
17
17
33
8
8
8
14
7
7
7
91
68
46
29
24
11
7
36
48
22
16
9
18
6
5
2
4
22
33
4
12
19
17
26
12
7
2
59
30
14
8
18
12
10
22
5
6
6
5
6
4
New England________________ ___
255
.6
59
26
35
45
65
25
Massachusetts________________
Rhode I s la n d ______ _________
M aine_______________________
Connecticut___ _ . _________
Vermont_____________________
N ew Hampshire ____________
116
41
40
37
13
8
.3
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
39
7
5
7
16
4
3
3
14
9
12
19
3
18
18
9
13
11
4
1
8
3
8
10
13
10
7
2 L e s s t h a n o n e- te nt h of 1 percent.
Sources of Migration
D uring the same period that 43,180 persons, members of parties “in
need of manual employment”, entered California in cars licensed from
outside the State, an additional 10,194 persons in similar economic
situation entered in cars bearing California licenses. Of this combined
total of 53,374 persons, 19.1 percent were returning Californians.
Table 2 shows the movement of returning Californians, by months.
Seasonal fluctuation deviates somewhat from fluctuation in the move
ment from outside the State. Whereas the peak of the former move
ment occurred in June-July, the peak of the latter was in AugustSeptember (table 1). However, in both migrations the principal
movement occurred in the first 3 months; during the period ending
September 15, 59.3 percent of all returning Californians and 56.3
percent of all out-of-State migrants entered California.
The principal migration occurred across the Arizona border. By
these routes 55.7 percent of out-of-State migrants and 45.6 percent
of returning Californians entered California. The heavy movement
of out-of-State migrants across the Arizona border, as compared with
the Nevada and Oregon borders, is accounted for largely by refugees
from southwestern drought States and to a lesser extent by the fact
that Arizona is a source of labor which migrates seasonally to Cali
fornia. Arizona, Oregon, and Washington, particularly the first
named, represent important areas of employment for migrant laborers
who originate in California.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
316
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW---FEBRUARY 1936
Table 3.— Route of Entry of Migrants Entering California by Motor Vehicle,
June 16-Dec. 15, 1935
Total
Migrants entering via—
State and month
Number
T otal___ __________________
_________
Percent_______ _____________________________
53,374
In California cars—
June 16-July 15_____________________________
July 16-Aug. 15_____________ _______________
Aug. 16-Sept. 1 5.____________________________
Sept. 16-Oct. 15_____________________________
Oct. 16-Nov. 15_______________ . . . .
N ov. 16-Dec. 15__ _____ _ __________________
2,158
li 985
fi 909
fi 354
1,679
fi 109
Total _________ _____
Percent________ _______________________
10,194
In out-of-State cars ___________________________
Percent________ ____________ _______
43,180
Percent
Arizona
Nevada
100.0
28, 714
53.8
12,827
24.0
11,833
22.2
21.2
19.4
18.7
13.3
16.5
10.9
986
923
681
553
786
722
549
457
653
249
247
176
623
605
575
552
646
211
100.0
4,651
45.6
2,331
22.9
3, 212
31.5
100.0
24,063
55.7
10,496
24.3
8,621
20.0
Oregon
The crowding of cars of refugees from the Southwest, which is such
a conspicuous feature of their exodus, is shown plainly by table 3.
From seven selected drought States, the migrants averaged 4.8
persons per car. From all other States, including California, the
average per car was only 3.6 persons. Interestingly, the average num
ber of Californians per car who returned across the Arizona border
was 5.2, as compared with 2.9 persons per car of those who entered
via Nevada, and 3.4 persons per car of those who entered via Oregon.
The higher average per car among those who entered via Arizona is
largely due to the great number of Mexicans and Filipinos returning
to California by that route, who characteristically crowd their cars,
and to the fact that Arizona agriculture offers more employment to
family labor than do Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
Table 3.— Average Number of Occupants per Car of Migrants Entering Cali
fornia, June 16—Dec. 15, 1935, from Specified States
Number of
passengers
Number of
cars
Grand total___________
53,374
13, 245
4.0
Selected drought States:
Arkansas................ .
Oklahoma_________
M issouri......... ..........
N ew M exico_______
Arizona___________
Kansas........................
Texas...... ....................
2,786
7,138
2,428
1,579
3,467
2, 257
3, 560
507
1,389
490
323
732
516
832
5.5
5.1
5.0
4.9
4.7
4.4
4.3
State
Average per
car
T otal.......................
23, 215
4,799
4.8
Other drought States___
Oregon............... ................
Washington___________
California_____________
O th er s........... .................
9, 097
3,770
2, 292
10,194
4, 806
2,367
1,246
877
2,636
1,320
3.8
3.0
2.6
3.7
3.6
T o t a l.....................
30,159
8,446
3.6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
317
DROUGHT REFUGEE AND LABOR MIGRATION
Race of Migrants
P ractically 90 percent of all the migrants were classified as white.
Mexicans constituted only 6.3 percent of the total. Of all nonwhite
migrants, 41.7 percent were returning Californians, but only 19.1
percent of all returning Californians were nonwhites. Seventy per
cent of all the Mexican migrants traveled in California or Arizona
cars, principally the former. Eighty-five percent of all Filipino mi
grants traveled in cars from California, Montana, or Washington,
and more than half of them in California vehicles.
Table 4.— Major Race Groups of Migrants Entering California, June 16-Dec.
15, Î935, from Selected States
Selected States
Total
W hite 1
Mexican
Filipino
Negro
O ther2
T otal______________ _____ ____________
Percent_______________ _________
53,374
100.0
47, 777
89.5
3,382
6.3
1,211
2.3
577
1.1
427
0.8
California____________________________
Arizona______________________________
Texas...... .............. ..... ............ .........................
M ontana_____________________________
N e w M ex ico ..________ _______________
Washington__________________________
Oklahoma____________________________
Other____ ____________________________
10,194
3,467
3, 560
841
1,597
2,292
7,138
24| 285
7,860
2,268
3,165
503
1,335
2,146
7,017
23,483
1,396
963
322
62
258
668
57
173
132
66
3
4
2
36
161
97
47
253
131
85
296
102
7
20
13
243
1 “W hite” is used as an inclusive term for all not classified otherwise.
2 "Other” includes Japanese, Chinese, American Indians, and Hindus, and 294 gypsies.
Mexican Migrants
C omparison of present interstate labor migration with that of
past years is almost impossible because of failure to gather basic
statistics in the past. It is possible, however, to compare movement
of Mexican migrants into California through one of the most impor
tant points of entry, viz, Fort Yuma, during the 6 months ending
December 15, 1935, with similar movement during the same period
in 1927 and in 1928. During all three periods the data were gathered
by inspectors at the same quarantine station, with the same officer
in charge. Upon each occasion the classification Mexicans meant
essentially Mexican laborers. The comparative statistics are pre
sented in table 5.
The drop in volume of Mexican migration from 1927 to 1928»
and again to 1935, is very conspicuous. The earlier traffic counts
were made during the closing months of unrestricted Mexican immi
gration to the United States, when large and continuous accretions
to the Mexican population of California via Texas were in progress,
and when the volume of seasonal labor movement between California
and Arizona was greater than at present. In 1935, fresh immigration
from Mexico had long ceased, and local labor supplies in each of the
two States were more ample, lessening the necessity of interstate
migration.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
318
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Seasonal fluctuation in volume of migration was essentially the
same in each of the 3 years, because the migration of Mexicans
was and is predominantly a labor migration, rather than a flight of
refugees. In 1928, from June to November, 53.7 percent of the
Mexicans traveled in California cars, 24.4 percent came from Arizona,
12.6 percent from Texas, and 2.1 percent from New Mexico. In
1935, from June to December, 47.1 percent of them were in California
cars, 30.7 percent came from Arizona, 11.9 percent from Texas, and
9 percent from New Mexico.
Table 5 .— Mexicans Entering California at Fort Yuma, June 16-Dec. 15, 1927,
1928, and 1935, by Half-Month Periods 1
1927
1928
1935
Period
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
All periods___________________________
8, 270
100.0
3,660
100.0
1,994
June: Second half_____________________
July:
First half__ _____ ___________ _____
. Second half_______________________
August:
First h a lf..._________________ _____
Second half_______________________
September:
First half_______________ _____ ____
Second half_______________ ______
October:
First half_________________________
Second half. ____________________
November:
First half_________________________
Second half_______________ _______
December: First half__________________
702
8.5
306
8.4
271
13.4
808
1,049
9.8
12.7
368
485
10.1
13.3
348
405
17.5
20.3
1,202
755
14.5
9.1
309
130
8.4
3.6
145
170
7.3
8.5
573
546
6.9
6.6
230
383
6.3
10.5
148
88
7.4
4.4
520
403
6.3
4.9
277
250
7.6
6.8
66
69
3.3
3.5
652
478
582
7.9
5.8
7.0
355
290
277
9.7
7.9
7.6
112
85
87
Percent
100.0
4.3
4.4
5.6
1 Data for 1927 and 1928 from Paul S. Taylor, Mexican Labor in the United States: Migration Statistics
II, p. 5.
Significance of Migration Movement
T he movement into California of 53,374 persons, members of
parties “in need of manual employment,” during 6 months in 1935
represents a labor migration and population shift, both of them of
major import. Although the combined labor and refugee movements
constituted only about 5 percent of the total number of passengers
of all classes who entered California by motor vehicle during the
period under review, their significance is not measured in these terms.
The labor migration, which is seasonal and interstate, is of continuing
importance to farmers, to the United States Employment Service
which assists in direction of its flow, and to the schools or other
agencies which feel the social effects of its pulsations. The move
ment of refugees is an index of major problems of relief, rehabilitation,
and human resettlement with which the appropriate agencies of the
Government are grappling and must continue to grapple. Were it
not for their extensive activities, the numbers seeking refuge by flight
to California, or elsewhere, would undoubtedly be much greater than
is shown by this record.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
State U nem ploym ent>Insurance Legislation as of
Ja n u a ry 1, 1936
WS providing for unemployment insurance or unemployment
reserves had been enacted up to January 1, 1936, in nine States 1
and the District of Columbia. In addition to this, the Legislature of
North Carolina signified its desire to cooperate with the Federal social
security program by an enabling act giving the governor and council
the power to designate a commission or department to administer a
system of unemployment insurance in the event of the enactment
of an unemployment-insurance law by the United States Congress.
The 10 laws providing for unemployment insurance or reserves have
a marked similarity, except that Utah and Wisconsin set up individual
employment reserve funds with separate employer accounts, the
State acting as custodian, while the other 8 laws provide for State
wide pooled funds. Under the individual reserve plan an employer’s
account may be used only to pay benefits to his own employees, and
he is liable only to the amount of his reserve fund, while the plan of
pooling the funds spreads the risk, and is nevertheless unemployment
insurance, even though in a limited sense and for a limited time.
The following table, prepared by the Federal Social Security Board,
gives the principal provisions of the 10 acts:
1 Alabama, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wisconsin.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
319
Principal Provisions of State Unemployment-Compensation Laws, January 1, 1936
CO
to
c
State, and
citation
State admin
istrative
agency
Contributions
Type of fund
Coverage: Employers of—
Qualification
period
Employer
Employee
U n e m p lo y
ment com
p e n s a t io n
commission.
Pooled; merit
rating.
8 or more with- 0.9%, 1936; 1.8%, 1937;
in each of 20
2.7%, 1938,1939, and
1940; merit rating
weeks.
thereafter.
1%______________
California______
(Laws of 1935,
ch. 352.)
U n e m p lo y
m ent re
serves com
mission.
Pooled; sepa
rate
em
ployer ac
counts for
merit rating
only.
4 or more with- ____ do_ ____________
in each of 13
weeks.
0.45%, 1936; 0.90%,
1937; 1% thereafter; shall never
exceed 50% of
general e m
ployer rate.
District of Co
lumbia.
(Pub. Act
N o. 386,
74thCong.)
U n e m p lo y
ment come n s a tio n
oard.
Pooled; merit
rating.
U n e m p lo y
Massachusetts
ment com
(Laws of 1935,
p e n s a t io n
ch. 479.)
commission.
N ew Hampshire. Commissioner
of labor.
(Laws of 1935,
chs. 99, 142.)
New York_____
(Laws of 1935,
ch. 468.)
Industrial
com m is
sioner.
Oregon.................. U n e m p l o y
ment com(Special Ses
p ensation
sion of 1935,
commission.
ch. 70.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.do.
Pooled; sepa
rate e m
ployer ac
counts for
merit rating
only.
1 or more___
None____________
None, 1936; 1%,
1937; thereafter
50% of amount
contributed by
employer.
0.5%, 1936; 1% ------ do---------thereafter; shall
n e v e r e xc e e d
50% of general
employer rate.
or more
within each
of 20 weeks.
1%, 1936; 2%, 1937;
3%, 1938, 1939, 1940;»
merit rating thereafter.
4
or more
within each
of 13 weeks.
1%, 1936; 2%, 1937;
3%, 1938, 1939, and
1940; merit rating
thereafter.
Pooled.............. ..d o ................... 1%, 1936; 2%, 1937;
3% thereafter.
Pooled; sepa
rate e m
ployer re
serve ac
counts for
merit rating
only.
4 or
more
within each
of 20 weeks.
After 1940, commission determines merit rating on em
ployer’s 3-year experience;
minimum rate, 1J^%, maxi
mum 4%, average about 3%.
_____ After 1940, if during preceding 3
__ do
or 5 years reserve was 8-10%,
contribution rate, 2 } 4 % ' , if 1012%, rate, 2%; if 12-15%, rate,
1J^%, if 15% or more, rate, 1%.
Also guaranteed employment
accounts.
1936, $100,000; After 1940, Board determines
rate by employer’s unem ploy
1937, $125,ment hazard after 3-year bene
000; 1938,
fit experience; minimum rate
$175,000.
1 } 4 % , maximum 4%; general
rate not less than 3%.
N one_______ After 1940, commission determines merit rating on employer’s 3-year experience; minimum, 1%.
N one____
1%, 1936; 2%, 1937;
3%, 1938, 1939, and
1940; merit rating
thereafter.
8
0.9%, 1936; 1.8%, 1937;
2.7%, 1938, 1939, and
1940; merit rating
thereafter.
Merit rating
After 1940, commission determines merit rating on employer’s 3- or 5-year experience; if
reserve 8-10%, contribution
rate, 2J^%; of 10-12%, rate,
2%; if 12-15%, rate, 1^%; if
15% or more, rate 1%.
__ do__......... Advisory council to study ad
N one____ _____
visability of merit rating.
Report by March 1,1939. No
rate to be less than 1% of pay
roll.
(2)____ ____ _____ ____ do______ After 1940 commission determines merit rating on employ
er’s 3-year experience; mini
mum rate 0.7%, maximum
rate 4.7%, average 2.7%. Also
guaranteed employment ac
counts.
40 weeks’ em
ploym ent iD
104 or 26 in
52.
State resident
for year, or
employed 26
weeks
in
State during
that year.
13 weeks’ em
ploym ent in
52.
90 days’ em
ployment in
52 weeks or
130 days in
104 weeks.
60 days’ em
ployment in
52 weeks.
90 days’ em
ploym ent in
12 months or
130 weeks in
24 months.
40 weeks’ em
ploym ent in
104 or 26 in
52.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Alabama_______
(Laws of 1935,
ch. 447.)
State
Employer re
serve a c
counts.
4 or more____
3%, during first 2 years
of
contributions;
based on reserve ra
tio thereafter.
None.
.do.
W ashington. . . .
(Laws of 1935,
ch. 145.)
Unemploy
ment com
pensation
commission.
Pooled; merit
rating.
4
or more
within each
of 13 weeks.
1% .
.do.
Wisconsin............
(Laws of 1931,
spec, sess.,
ch. 20, as
am. 1933,
chs.
186,
383; 1935,
chs.
192,
272,
and
446.)
Industrial
commission.
Employer re
serve a c
counts.
8
or more
within each
of 18 weeks.
1-3% in 1936 and 1937
according to Federal
Reserve production
index; 3% in 1938,
1939, and 1940; merit
rating thereafter.
2% from July 1, 1934,
through 1937; there
after standard rate
2.7%; merit rating
provided.
None.
.do.
i M inus, in all cases, Federal amount not.credited,
a Employer contributions included in enrolled law by clerical error.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Declared void by Attorney General, N ov. 27, 1935.
After employer subject to act 20 weeks’ em
ployment in
for 2 years, if reserve per em
52.
ployee is less than $75, con
tribution rate, 3%; if $75 to
$100, rate, 1%; if $100 or more,
no contribution.
After 1940, commission deter 40 weeks’ em
ploy ment
mines merit rating on employ
within 104 or
er’s 3-year experience; m ini
26 in 52.
mum rate 2%; average, about
3%.
Merit rating provided by spe
cific provisions of law; maxi
mum 4%. Also guaranteed
employment accounts.
4 weeks em
ploym ent by
given
em
ployer.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Utah
_ _ _ Industrial
commission.
(Laws of 1935,
ch. 38.)
CO
to
CO
Principal Provisions of State Unemployment-Compensation Laws, January 1, 1936— Continued
to
to
Benefits
State
Total unemployment
Waiting period
Alabama.
Massachu
setts.
____do.
Ordinary
A m oun t w hich, plus Jan. 1, 1938__ 3 weeks in 52___ 1 to 4 within 104
weeks.
wages, equals $2 more
than benefits for total
unemployment.
$7 per w eek.. Amount which, plus ___ do............... 4 weeks in 12 1 to 4.
months through
wages, equals benefits
for total unemployment.
1938-39; there
after 3 weeks
in 12 months.
40% of wages, ____do............ N one.
Amount which,
plus
plus 10% for
wages, equals $2 more
dependent
than benefits for total
spouse, plus
unemployment.
5% for each
dependent
relative; max
imum, 65%.
50% of w a g es..
.d o .
$5 per w eek.. No provision.
N ew Hamp ........ do............... ____do_____
shire.
New York.
Minimum
50% of w ages.. $15 per week. N one.
California___ ........ do.
District
of
Columbia.
Maximum
Benefits
begin—
.d o .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-do.
If wages $10
per week or
less, 70% of
wages, but
not to ex
ceed $5.
$5 per w eek.
Maximum dura
tion’of ordinary
benefits
Additional
1 to 20 within
260 weeks.
16 weeks in 52.
No provision___
For 52 we s of
c o n tr ib u tio n s,
13 weeks of bene f i t s i n 12
months; for 104
contribut i o n s ,
20 weeks in 12
months, plus 6
weeks in en
suing 12 months.
16 weeks in 52.
Jan. 2, 1938___ 3 weeks in 52.
1 to 3 within 104
weeks.
1 to 20 within
260 weeks.
Jan. 1, 1938___ 4 weeks in 12
months.
1 to 4 within 104
weeks.
1 to 18 within 6
years;
after
these
ex
hausted, 1 to 26
for which em
ployees c o n
tributed.
1 to 24 within 6
years, to maxi
mum of 10
weeks.
Do.
No provision___
Do.
Amount
which,
plus ........ do_______
wages, equals $2 more
than benefits for total
unemployment, but not
to exceed 60% of full-time
earnings.
.d o .
No provision............ ..........
3 weeks.
3 weeks, but not
more than 5
weeks in cal
endar year.
.d o.
1 to 15 days
w ithin
52
weeks.
Do.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Partial unemployment
Rate
Ratio of benefit week to duration
of previous employment
Amount which, plus Jan. 2,1938___ 3 weeks in 52___ 1 to 4 within 104 ........ do................... 15 weeks in 52
weeks.
weeks.
wages, equals benefits
for total unemployment;
no payment if partial
benefit is less than $2.
16 weeks in 12
$18 per week. $6 per week. No provision........ .............. . Jan. 1,1938.... 2 weeks in 13___ 1 to 3 within 52 ___ d o ..
months.
weeks.
15
weeks in 52.
1
to
16
within
plus ........ do_______ 6 weeks in 52___ 1 to 4 within 104
$15 per week. N one______ Amount which,
260 weeks.
weeks.
wages, equals $1 more
than benefits for total
unemployment.
plus July 1, 1936, 3 weeks in 52___ 1 to 4 within 52 No provision___ Between % % and
$10 per week $5 per week.. Amount which,
20 weeks in 52
weeks
when
e m p l o y e r ’s
wages, equals or exceeds
if wages less
weeks as com
weekly benefit
benefit lia
benefits for total unem
than $25;
puted u n d e r
rate is $10; l t o 5
bility begins
ployment, as further
$12.50 if
ratio
provision.
when
$12.50;
1
based on en
specified in law.
wages be
to 6 when $15.
suing e m
tween $25
ployment.
and $30; $15
if wages $30
or more.
Oregon......................do— ......... ___ do...........
Utah...............
..d o .
W ashington.. ____do.
Wisconsin___ ____do.
SOCIAL SECURITY
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$7 per week
CO
324
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
N e w B enefit P lan of Standard Oil Co. o f N e w Jersey 1
THRIFT plan through which the employees of the Standard
Oil Co. of New Jersey and its domestic participating sub
sidiaries will be able to supplement the old-age pensions provided for
in the Federal Social Security Act was announced by the company in
December. The company has had, in effect, a variety of plans having
as their object improvement in the economic security of the employees.
Some of these were provided without cost to the employees and others
required contributions by the employees as a condition of participa
tion. In the first class were vacations with pay, accident, sickness
and death benefits, dismissal allowances, and annuities. The annuity
plan, which was started in the spring of 1918, was changed 4 years
ago to provide for employee contributions toward annuity credits.
In the other class, providing for employee participation, were group
life insurance and the stock subscription plan designed to encourage
thrift.
In the announcement of the new plan the company stated that
present investment and economic conditions, together with the enact
ment of the Federal Social Security Act, made it advisable to revise
the pension plan. A thorough study of annuity experience was made
by officials of the company, who secured the assistance of insurance
companies and also consulted various employee groups in working
out a new basis better adapted to the changed conditions. The plan
for the present is limited to employees in this country, because of
the new social legislation, but it is said that studies will be made to
determine whether a program can be worked out which will apply to
workers in foreign fields. In considering possible application abroad,
however, social legislation and corresponding taxes in the different
countries will have to be taken into account. For the present, the
plan provides that it may apply to such United States nationals en
gaged in foreign service as may be designated by the company. As
the benefits available to employees of the company under the pre
vious plan have in general exceeded those to which they will be
entitled under the Federal act, the new thrift plan is designed to
enable them to increase their old-age protection through the accumu
lation of these additional reserves. In drawing up the plan it was
found necessary to establish an outside limit on company appropria
tions, since the ability of the company to pay the cost of such a
program is largely dependent upon the amount of taxes imposed by
the Government, and it is impossible to forecast the extent and nature
of changes which may come with future legislation. The share of the
company in the entire program, including the thrift plan, benefit
A
1 Employees Thirft Plan, Standard Oil Co. (incorporated in N ew Jersey) and its domestic participating
subsidiaries, effective Jan. 1, 1936; and The Lamp, October-December 1935 (p. 6). N ew York, S t a n d a r d
Oil Co. of N J., 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
325
plan, lay-off, and premature retirement expenses, and all govern
ment social security taxes, is fixed, therefore, at 11 percent of the
pay roll.
Provisions of the Thrift Plan
F or th e purposes of the plan the company will establish a trust
fund designated as the thrift fund, which will be administered by
three trustees appointed by the board of directors of the company
and selected from the participants. The trustees, acting as an ad
ministrative committee, will have full and complete management
and control of the fund. It is provided that a corporate trustee of
the fund may be substituted for individual trustees.
Employees having 1 or more years of service on January 1, 1936,
and all other employees on the completion of 1 year of service are
eligible to participate. In general, part-time and casual employees,
and agents and salesmen on a straight-commission basis, may not
participate. Eligible employees may become participants by au
thorizing the employing company in writing to deduct not less than
3 percent nor more than 13 percent from their pay, which will be
paid into the fund to the account of the respective participants.
A participant in active service may suspend his contributions by
written request, but will be ineligible to resume contributions until
1 year has elapsed. Contributions will be suspended while employees
are on the inactive list unless written request for their continuance
is approved by the employing company.
The company will deposit in the fund concurrently with the em
ployee’s contribution an equal amount if the employee contributes
at the rate of 3 percent of his current compensation, but if the em
ployee contributes an amount in excess of 3 percent the company
will deposit 3 percent plus half of the employee’s contribution in
excess of 3 percent.
These contributions will continue in effect as long as the total
annual cost to the companies participating in the plan, together with
the cost to the companies of the benefit plan, lay-offs, and premature
retirements, and all Federal and State pay-roll taxes intended to
provide old-age, unemployment, and other employee benefits, does
not exceed 11 percent of the pay roll. If the total annual cost should
exceed this limit, the basis of the regular contributions will be revised
so as to limit the future annual cost to the specified maximum.
Additional contributions, to be apportioned among the participants
in an equitable manner, may be made by the company from time to
time, and a single provisional contribution will be made by the em
ploying company, not later than March 31, 1938, for each employee
entering the plan within 31 days from the date on which he first
became eligible. For participants hired during 1934 and 1935 and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
326
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
in the service December 31, 1935, this sum will amount to 3 percent
of the participant’s total compensation in 1934, 1935, and 1936, and
for all others in the service December 31, 1935, and those hired during
1936, 3 percent of their compensation during 1936.
Retirement income has been provided through group annuity con
tracts with two large life-insurance companies. For this purpose a
sum not less than the employing company’s regular contribution nor
more than twice that amount will be allotted currently by each par
ticipant out of his credit balance in the fund for the purchase of the
annuity; provided, however, that such allotment shall not be operative
during any period while contributions are suspended and may, at the
option of a participant, be reduced to not less than 3 percent or
omitted entirely after he is credited with 30 or more years of service.
Subject to these limitations, a participant may change his group
annuity allotment at the beginning of any pay period upon written
authorization to the employing company. The allotments for the
annuities consist of equal amounts of employee and company regular
contributions. These payments, when made, cease to be a part of
the fund or of any participant’s credit balance therein. The annuity
is payable in different forms. The life annuity, which is paid nor
mally upon retirement at age 65 (women 55) and ceases upon death,
yields the largest return in income. However, the participant may
elect the modified cash refund annuity, under which any contributions
by him, plus interest, which exceed the total group annuity payments
will be paid in a lump sum to his designated beneficiary. The mod
ified joint and survivor annuity plan provides that the annuity pay
ments made to the employee during his lifetime will be continued in
one-half the amount after his death to his designated joint annuitant
as long as the latter survives. Under the joint and survivor annuity
plan, payments are made to the annuitant during his; lifetime and
continued in full after his death to his designated joint annuitant as
long as the latter survives. Evidence satisfactory to the insurance
companies will be required of the insured person’s good health in
cases in which one of the modified forms of annuity is chosen.
In case of death while in service, a participant’s contributions paid
to the insurance companies, plus interest, are payable as a death
benefit. In the event of termination of service for reasons other than
death or retirement, a participant may receive a paid-up nonpartici
pating deferred annuity purchased with his own contributions, or he
may receive a cash sum equal to his own contributions plus interest,
or the insurance companies may elect to pay the amount in 12
monthly installments instead of in a lump sum. Dividends on the
group annuity contracts will be paid annually, not earlier than the
third anniversary of the contract. The dividend will be paid to the
company and transferred by it to the trustees for apportionment
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
327
among those participating in the plan on the June 30th next following
the receipt of the dividend.
A participant’s credit balance in the fund after the purchase of the
annuity may be used by him for the purchase of capital stock of the
company, which will be purchased by the trustees in the open market
on the written order of the participant. Stock certificates purchased
under this provision are to be assigned to and retained by the trustees
as long as the participant remains in the service, subject, however, to
allowed withdrawals.
Other possible uses of a participant’s credit balance in the fund
are the purchase of single-premium whole life or endowment insur
ance, or such other forms of insurance contracts as the administrative
committee shall from time to time approve, and allotments for mem
bership dues in any mutual medical and hospital association approved
by the committee.
Cash withdrawals from a participant’s credit balance in the fund
are allowed after the first June 30th following the completion of 2}i
years of continuous participation in the plan, but such withdrawals
may not exceed one-third of his own and the employing company’s
regular contributions plus one-half of the sum of all other credits to
his account exclusive of the employing company’s provisional con
tribution. Thereafter the withdrawal option may be exercised only
once during each 12-month period. In addition to such withdrawals
a participant may withdraw any stock certificates and the additional
life or endowment insurance contracts, provided he first pays into
the fund an amount equivalent to the original purchase price, though
such a substitution may not be effected more than once within a
period of 12 consecutive months.
The trustees may make loans to employees, for which securities
acceptable to the trustees may be deposited as collateral, or the loans
may be made on the stock and insurance policies of the participants
purchased under the plan.
Net earnings of the fund during each fiscal year ending June 30
shall be determined semiannually and shall be divided each fiscal
year among the employees then participating in the plan in propor
tion to their respective credit balances.
The company reserves the right to terminate any annuity contract
and as to subsequent purchases substitute another group or other form
of annuity contract or contracts with any insurance company or
companies of its selection. Also, if in the opinion of the board of
directors the purchase of annuities on a group basis becomes inadvis
able, the company may suspend entirely the operation of this section
of the plan. Also the right is reserved to amend, modify, alter, sus
pend, or terminate the plan in whole or in part, but without retro
active effect.
42704— 36------ 4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
328
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
R e o rg an isatio n o f F re n c h Social-Insurance System
WO decree laws 1dated October 28 and 30, 1935, applying respectively to workers in commerce and industry and to agricultural
workers, provide for a reorganization of the French social-insurance
system. The revised law, which becomes effective January 1, 1936,
provides for a reduction of 1 percent in the rate of contributions for
the period of 1 year.
The report to the President of the .Republic, accompanying the law,
stated that according to the latest information available approximately
8,800,000 persons were insured. Of this number more than 7,000,000
were subject to contributions, of whom about 5,500,000 were paying
their contributions regularly in spite of the unfavorable economic
conditions and the unprecedented extent of unemployment. From
1930 to 1934 insured persons paid 7,300,000,000 francs in contribu
tions, employers 7,600,000,000 francs, and the State 2,500,000,000
francs. During this period the sum of 4,500,000,000 francs was paid
for sickness, maternity, and death benefits; 1,800,000,000 francs for
invalidity and old-age pensions; and 400,000,000 francs for the admin
istrative expenses of the funds. On December 31, 1934, there were
approximately 11,000,000,000 francs in the various funds.
The report states that it had been thought that it should be possible
to reduce the rate of insurance contributions, but that an impartial
actuarial study made in the summer of 1935 under the direction of the
Ministry of Labor showed there could be no permanent reduction
in the rates of contribution, and that in the near future the present
rate of 8 percent would be insufficient because of the increased charges
due to invalidity insurance, for which no permanent fund had been
set up. Permanent lowering of the contributions would cause either
a reduction in the resources of the allotment funds, with a consequent
increase in the proportion of medical and pharmaceutical costs paid
by insured persons, or a reduction in the resources of the capital funds
which would jeopardize the pension system. The Government believed
that such a result would be unsatisfactory, but at the same time it
realized the necessity of doing everything possible to lighten the costs
of production; the double contribution by employers and workers was
therefore reduced from 8 to 7 percent for the year 1936. This change,
it was considered, did not present any risk to the public finances,
because of the exceptional resources from the social-insurance stamp
funds. The reduction in the contribution cannot be continued after
the end of 1936 unless a special law is passed. In addition, all possible
measures will be taken to reduce the growing costs of the allotment
i Report by Edwin A. Plitt, American Consul at Paris, dated N ov. 13, 1935; Journal Officiel (Paris), Oct.
31,1935; Industrial and Labor Information (Geneva), N ov. 25,1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
329
funds, to strengthen their control, and to improve methods, thus
insuring the more rapid collection of contributions, and finally to
effect every possible economy consistent with good management.
The law provides also for a new financial management of the funds,
in order to cover the costs of invalidity insurance. The measures
decided upon consist of a special deduction from the reserves of all the
funds, including the general guaranty fund. All these organizations
collected money during the first 3 months after the law went into
effect, during which time no money was paid out, and in the succeeding
months expenses were very small as a result of the ignorance of insured
persons of their rights under the system. During this period, there
fore, the funds accumulated reserves beyond their normal needs and it
appeared only fair to apply this surplus to the common good.
The grouping of the allotment funds on a regional basis provided
for in the law not only is of financial interest, but is one of the most
essential administrative reforms. These new regional organizations
will have much greater powers than the reinsurance funds which they
replace. They will have charge of the care of invalids, regulate in
validity pensions, establish uniform equitable compensation for risks
for all the funds, and assist organizations facing a deficit, acting,
within their jurisdiction, for the general guaranty fund, and thus
reducing administrative expenses. The regional grouping of funds
in 15 centers is a step toward decentralization and will be a source of
important economies, which will result in a more efficient organization
of the work. Other economies will result from the simplification in
such matters as registration, payment, and valuation of contributions,
and the granting of benefits.
In addition to providing measures for the prevention of abuses and
the simplification of the administration of the law, the new regulations
will make it more flexible and more humane by making the definition
of insured person less strict and by guaranteeing him against failures
or defaults by the employer, giving him better assurance of the right
to benefits, and protecting him against unjustified forfeiture of bene
fits. A closer coordination is established between the insurance
system and the other welfare and assistance laws.
The amount of the reserves in the various insurance funds is said
to be out of all proportion to what an economic management of the
insurance should have cost, and is too heavy a drain on the country’s
national economy, which has thereby been deprived of capital which
might have been used in productive channels. It is to correct this
situation and at the same time to safeguard the interests of the in
sured, the Minister of Labor stated, that the modifications of the law
have been introduced.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
330
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
A brief summary of the changes in the original law 2 follows.
Industrial and Commercial Employees
T he original act covered commercial, industrial, and domestic
workers earning, with allowances for children, not more than 25,000
francs per year. This coverage is extended to include home workers,
certain traveling salesmen working for one or more employers, hotel,
cafe, and restaurant employees, taxi drivers who do not own their
vehicles, baggage porters in railway stations, and female cinema and
theater attendants and cloakroom and other attendants in such
establishments.
The former method of fixing the contributions by dividing the in
sured persons into five wage classes has been given up, as it did not
operate effectively except during periods of economic stability, when
salaries and wages did not vary much from year to year. Under the
new law, contributions will be calculated on the actual salary or wage
of the insured person. However, for persons earning in excess of
12,000 francs per year no contribution will be required for earnings
in excess of that amount. The joint contribution of employer and
employee at the 7-percent rate in effect in 1936, therefore, cannot
exceed 70 francs per month.
The payment of contributions, under the law of 1930, was made
by special stamps affixed on individual cards in the case of old-age
insurance and recorded on quarterly records in the case of sickness
insurance. The payments will, beginning January 1, 1936, be en
tered on a single quarterly record sheet, upon which the employer
is required to enter the total contribution and the wage on which
the contribution is calculated. Payments will be made in cash at
post offices by employers of 10 or fewer employees and by postal
orders by those employing more than 10 people or by those having
postal banking accounts. Special provisions will be made for the
payment of contributions to the account of casual and domestic
workers. As benefits are conditioned upon the contributions the
benefits will be granted upon the basis of the regulations previously
in force until April 1, 1936; that is, 3 months after the contributory
features of the law become effective.
Irrespective of any payment made to his account, the insured per
son can, on producing his registration card and wage tickets, obtain
the benefits to which he is entitled by the deductions made for social
insurance from his wages, even if the employer has failed to pay
these amounts into the fund.
Sickness benefits.—The conditions for the receipt of sickness benefit
are much modified. Under the previous law it was necessary to have
2 A digest of t h e social-insurance l a w of A p r i l 1930 w a s p u b l i s h e d in t h e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w , S e p t e m
be r 1930 (p. 76).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
331
paid a specified number of daily contributions during a fixed period,
but under the new law there is a minimum payment for all insured
persons, amounting to a contribution of 30 francs during the two
quarters preceding the sickness or accident. If the insured person
has not fulfilled this condition he can obtain the benefit if he has paid
in at least 60 francs during the four preceding quarters. The benefit
is determined according to a scale fixed by the Minister of Labor
and cannot be less than 3 francs nor more than 18 francs per day.
The wage serving as a basis for the contributions is supposed to corre
spond to 75 days of work per quarter. The cash benefit to which
an assured person is entitled is reduced, in case of hospitalization paid
for by the fund, by one-third if he has one or more children under 16
years of age, by one-half if he is married but has no dependent chil
dren, and by three-quarters in all other cases.
When the sickness has lasted for 1 month the insurance fund pays
for succeeding months an amount equal to the daily benefit to the
account of the insured person, with a minimum of 6 francs, which
maintains the right of the insured person to benefit.
Maternity benefits.—The right to maternity benefits of woman
workers compulsorily insured and the wives of insured persons is
dependent upon the payment by the insured person of at least 60 francs
during the four quarters immediately preceding confinement, of which
15 francs must have been paid during the first of these quarters.
Formerly the right to benefit was, as in sickness insurance, dependent
upon the payment of 60 daily contributions during the preceding
3 months. In cases in which it is necessary to maintain the rights of
the insured person to benefits which might be lost because of inca
pacity for work or unemployment, the fund will pay to the account
of the insured the sum of 24 francs which assists in maintaining the
right to benefit.
Old-age insurance.—Pensions are granted, as in the past, at the age
of 60 years, but the provision that an insured person must have paid
into the scheme a minimum contribution covering 240 days’ labor each
year for at least 30 years is changed to a minimum payment of 60
francs annually for a period of 30 years. The minimum pension is
fixed at 40 percent of the average wage on which the contribution
is based.
Death benefits.—These benefits are payable to the heirs of insured
persons if the insured person has been on the register for at least 1 year
and has had at least 60 francs retained from his wages during the
four quarters immediately preceding the disease or accident causing
death. Formerly these benefits were not paid unless 1 year’s regular
contribution toward the death benefit had been paid.
Maintenance of rights during unemployment.—In case of the in
voluntary unemployment of insured persons through lack of work,
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332
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
payments are made to their accounts in order to maintain their
benefit rights under the following conditions. In order to benefit
by the unemployment guaranty an insured person must have had
at least 60 francs deducted from his wages during the four quarters
preceding his unemployment. In this case a payment of 30 francs
will be made to his account in the fund in the event of unemploy
ment covering at least 50 days of unemployment each in not more
than 2 consecutive quarters of any 1 year. This payment covers
the contributions, within certain limits, necessary for maintaining
the right to benefit.
Special insurance for wives of insured persons.—The non-wage
earning wives of insured persons are admitted to certain insurance
benefits. They are considered as compulsorily insured at an annual
wage arbitrarily fixed at 1,500 francs. Their contribution is fixed at
8 percent of this amount or 30 francs per quarter. They are not
entitled to the cash sickness benefits, and are entitled to an invalidity
pension only in case of total incapacity to attend to household duties.
Half of the contribution is applied towards the old-age pension, which
during a transitory period is fixed at 250 francs per year. Non-wage
earning married women can contract for this insurance without regard
to the husband, in their full juridical capacity.
The law also provides for the maintenance of rights of victims of
industrial accidents, war pensioners, and the beneficiaries of the laws
covering the infirm and incurable.
Agricultural Workers
T h e general provisions covering commercial and industrial workers
could not be fully applied to agricultural workers, particularly the
provision relating to calculation of contributions in accordance with
the actual wage. The number of classes is changed from five to three,
and consists of children up to the age of 16 years, women, and men.
The joint monthly contribution for individuals in these groups is 12,
16, and 20 francs, respectively. The method of payment of contribu
tions is the same as for industrial and commercial employees. The
use of postage stamps for insurance "payments may be adopted by
farm laborers.
Sickness-insurance companies and funds will have the right, as
heretofore, (o collect contributions from their members, and the
payment of sickness, maternity, and invalidity benefits will be made,
as they are at present, by the funds concerned. They are in the hands,
for the most part, of national reinsurance unions, mutual-benefit
funds, and the national pension fund for the aged.
As in the case of industry and commerce, a new system of allocating
resources is introduced, the main feature of which is a redistribution
of the supplements granted by the State. Owing to the new system
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SOCIAL SECURITY
333
it will be unnecessary to increase the burden of invalidity insurance on
employers and workers until 1940.
The special scheme for voluntary insurance in agriculture is main
tained.
Superior Council of Social Insurance
A d e c r e e 3 of December 10, 1935, provides for the permanent
section of the Superior Council of Social Insurance, under the chair
manship of the Minister of Labor. The council which has 30 mem
bers includes representatives of Parliament, of the Ministries of
Labor and Finance, and of the social insurance funds, and delegates
from hospital administrative boards, physicians, dental surgeons,
and pharmacists’ associations, and insurance and actuarial experts.
• J o u r n a l Officiel, Paris, D e c . 11,1935.
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NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
T erm in a tio n o f N ational R eco v ery A d m in istratio n
HE National Recovery Administration was terminated and certain of its agencies and functions transferred to other branches
of the Federal Government on January 1, 1936. This action was
taken by the President in Executive order of December 21, 1935,
stating that the Division of Review, the Division of Business Cooper
ation, and the Advisory Council as constituted by Executive Order
No. 7075 (June 15, 1935) should be transferred to the Department of
Commerce and the Consumers’ Division set up by Executive Order
No. 7120 (July 30, 1935) should be placed in the Department of
Labor. It was further provided that all orders and regulations
previously issued in connection with the administration of title I
of the National Industrial Recovery Act, as amended, should be
modified to the extent necessary to effectuate the transfer of duties.
The order of December 21, 1935, reads as follows:
By virtue of and pursuant to the authority vested in me by title I of the Na
tional Industrial Recovery Act (48 Stat. 195), as amended by Senate Joint Reso
lution 113, approved June 14, 1935, it is hereby ordered as follows:
1. The National Recovery Administration and the office of Administrator
thereof are hereby terminated.
2. The Division of Review, the Division of Business Cooperation, and the
Advisory Council, as constituted by Executive Order No. 7075 of June 15, 1935,
together with all of their officers and employees, files, records, equipment, and
property of every kind, are hereby transferred to the Department of Commerce.
The Secretary of Commerce is authorized and directed, under the general direc
tion of the President, to appoint, employ, discharge, and fix the compensation
and define the duties and direct the conduct of all officers and employees engaged
in the administration of the agencies transferred by this order to the Department
of Commerce, to exercise and perform in connection with the said agencies the
functions and duties now exercised and performed, or authorized to be exercised
and performed, by the National Recovery Administration, to report to the Presi
dent on all matters relating thereto, and to terminate the functions and duties
of the said agencies not later than April 1, 1936.
3. The Consumers’ Division, established within the National Recovery Admin
istration by Executive Order No. 7120 of July 30, 1935, together with all of its
officers and employees, files, records, equipment, and property of every kind, are
hereby transferred to the Department of Labor. The Secretary of Labor is
authorized and directed, under the general direction of the President, to appoint,
employ, discharge, and fix the compensation and define the duties and direct the
conduct of all officers and employees as may be engaged in the administration of
the said Consumers’ Division, to exercise and perform in connection with said
Consumers’ Division the functions and duties now exercised and performed, or
authorized to be exercised and performed, by the National Recovery Adminis
tration, and to report to the President on all matters relating thereto.
334
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NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
335
4. No person transferred by this order shall by such transfer acquire a civilservice status. Any new appointments under this order may be made without
regard to the civil-service rules and regulations.
5. All orders and regulations heretofore issued concerning the administration
of title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act, as amended, are hereby modified
to the extent necessary to make this order fully effective.
6. This order shall become effective on January 1, 1936.
M eeting o f C ouncil fo r In d u strial C ooperation 1
HE Council for Industrial Progress, formed through the efforts
of the Coordinator for Industrial Cooperation at the request of
the President, held its first session on January 6, 1936.2 Represen
tatives of 90 management and ownership groups and 30 represen
tatives of labor adopted an agenda covering formulation of a national
industrial policy, wages, hours, child labor, fair-trade practices,
internal and external competition affecting labor standards, anti
trust laws and their effect on industry, and financial aid to small
enterprises. At the suggestion of management representatives, an
item covering Government competition with private industry was
added.
The Coordinator explained that there was no intention on the part
of the Federal Government to revive the N. R. A., but that the task
was one of stimulating men of industry to think of their problems in
terms of cooperation. Through the deliberations of the Council the
President hopes to ascertain the attitude of employers and labor
toward problems of stabilization, recovery, fair-trade practices, and
unemployment.
Meeting in separate sessions, the management group chose as its
chairman John G. Paine, chairman of the board of the Music Pub
lishers Protective Association, and as secretary O. M. Porter, United
States Pulp Producers’ Association, New York. The labor group
selected as chairman William Green, President of the American Fed
eration of Labor, and as secretary I. M. Ornburn, former member
of the United States Tariff Commission.
Assignments were also made by the management and labor groups
to seven committees established by the Council. These committees
were formed following the main items of the agenda and were desig
nated as committees"on (1) National industrial policy; (2) maximum
work week, general wage and child labor; (3) fair-trade practices;
(4) competition, both internal and external, affecting American stand
ards; (5) Government competition with private enterprise; (6) anti
trust laws including the Federal Trade Commission Act, and their
effect on industry; and (7) financial aid to small enterprises.
1 Data are from Coordinator for Industrial Cooperation, press releases of Jan. 5 and 7, 1935.
2 Formation of the Council was an outgrowth of a preliminary meeting held on Dec. 9, 1935.
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PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
W orking C onditions and O u tp u t o f Coal M ines in C hina
HE coal reserve in China is approximately 248,000,000,000 tons,
according to the most recent estimate of the Chinese Govern
ment Geological Survey. Of this amount, 77.9 percent is bituminous,
20.7 percent anthracite, and 1.2 percent lignite. The major part of
this reserve is in North China where modern methods are largely used
in mine operation. In localities where the means of communication
are not good and where production is intended wholly or chiefly for
nearby consumption, coal is secured from pits or small shafts worked
by primitive methods.
In Central China, along the Yangtze Valley, a few mines are being
operated but the production is inadequate to fill the demand. The
market in the Yangtze area is still dependent upon imported coal for
industrial and household needs. From 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 tons of
foreign coal are imported annually into the Yangtze Valley, and more
than 600,000 tons are imported per annum into Canton and other
localities in South China. The above statistics are taken from an
article by the Director of the Mining Department of the Chinese
Ministry of Labor, published in the Chinese Economic Journal of
November 1935, which is also the source of the other data here
presented.
T
Coal Production
T h e coal production for China as a whole in 1931 was approxi
mately double that of 1915 and approximately triple that of 1912.
In 1932, however, when the production of the northeastern Provinces
was lost as a result of Japan’s occupation of Manchuria, the output
declined. There was, however, a gradual rise in 1933 and 1934, as
is shown in the statement following.
Tons
1912_______ ____
1913_______ ____
1914_______ ____
1915_______ ____
1916______ ____
1917_______ ____
1918_______ ____
1919_______ ____
1920______ ____
1921_______ ____
1922_______ ____
1923_______ ____
8,987,
12, 799,
14, 102,
13, 416,
15, 902,
16, 902,
18, 339,
20, 054,
21, 259,
20, 459,
21, 097,
24, 552,
Tons
862
771
339
666
616
260
502
513
610
411
420
029
1924_______ ____ 25, 768,
1925_______ ____ 24, 255,
1926_______ ____ 23,040,
1927_______ ____ 24, 172,
1928_______ ____ 25, 091,
1929______ ____ 25, 437,
1930______ ____ 26, 036,
1931_______ ____ 27,214,
1932_______ ____ 1 18, 665,
1933_______ ____ 2 19, 000,
1934_______ ____ 3 20, 000,
1 Approximate estimate.
2 Excluding production in the three eastern Provinces.
* Excluding production in the four northeastern Provinces.
336
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875
042
119
009
740
480
564
673
000
000
000
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
337
In order further to develop the industry a 4-year plan of expansion
has been adopted under which both Government-operated and private
collieries will be encouraged and the various means of transportation
will be improved.
Equipment and Working Methods
C oal mines have been worked in China for more than 1,000 years,
and primitive native methods are still being used. The movement,
however, for the adoption of modern production processes is on the
increase.
The newly opened mines, such as Chunghsing, Kailan, and Liuhokou collieries,
are all equipped with modern mechanical devices and are operated under an
efficient system of management. Even in small mines with a daily production of
one or two hundred tons, most of them are equipped with lamps, hoisting ma
chinery, and mechanical transportation devices. The native pits are usually of
the inclined type and are rarely vertical, while their construction is very crude,
whereas the newly developed collieries, with a big production, mostly have
vertical shafts leading to the underground workings.
Between 1916 and 1926 the cost of production of coal per ton
averaged $2.45 (Chinese currency), and in 1931 $3.79 (Chinese cur
rency). This increased cost was the result of (1) low production due
to unsettled local conditions; (2) inadequate and obsolete machinery;
and (3) higher wages. Despite this increase, the cost of production
was lower than in the following foreign countries in 1932 where the
costs per ton were as indicated: Japan 4.90 yen; Annam and India
$4; and Europe $8.x
Chinese laborers have a capacity for very hard work and their
standard of living is low. Their average daily pay is 50 cents 1 for an
8-hour shift.
Future Development
T h e annual production of coal in China is approximately 2 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
tons, according to the latest estimate. A per capita consumption of
0.05 ton based on a population of 400,000,000 is “much too little to
maintain the standard of an industrial nation.” In the judgment of
the Director of the Chinese Mining Department, the production and
consumption of coal in China should double the present figure and to
accomplish this he recommends the following measures:
1. Give more financial assisance to operators.
2. Exploit new mines entirely by modern process.
3. Improve mining methods in existing collieries.
4. Select appropriate and cheap motive power and try to electrify the industry
as much as possible.
5. Manage technical, labor, and business affairs on a scientific basis.
6. Give more attention to coke making and by-product extraction.
7. Improve transportation facilities.
> Average exchange rate of Yuan dollar in 1934=34.1 cents.
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338
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
8. Establish an experimental station for fuel.
9. Encourage the export of coal.
10. Enforce a protective tariff on imported coal.
Government Aid to Mines
I n r e c e n t years the great majority of the collieries in China have
been seriously affected not only by business depression but also by the
competition of foreign coal and have had recourse to the Ministry of
Industry for financial assistance. As a consequence a scheme has
been devised which provides that, upon the recommendation of that
Ministry, mine operators and bankers may directly negotiate a loan,
the terms of the loan, however, being subject to the approval of the
Ministry, “which acts as go-between and stands in the position of
guarantor.”
P ro d u c tiv ity o f Coal-M ine W orkers in Poland, 1923 to
1934
STEADY increase in output per man per shift in the coal mines
, in Poland from 1923 to 1934 is shown by an official report of the
Polish Statistical Bureau.1 During that period, the output per shift of
miners increased 127 percent, that of all underground workers 186
percent, and that of all mine workers 195 percent. In 1934 the average
production per miner was 9,336 kilograms (10.2 tons) per shift, per
underground worker was 2,611 kilograms (2.8 tons) per shift, and per
worker was 1,703 kilograms (1.88 tons) per shift. The following table
shows for each of these groups the output per man-shift in 1913 and
in each year from 1923 to 1934:
A
Average Output of Coal per Man-Shift in the Coal Mines of Poland, in Specified
Years
Average output per man
shift (in kilograms i)
Year
1913___________
1923________________
1924____________ .
1925______________
1926__________
1927________
1928____________
Average output per man
shift (in kilograms >)
Year
All
All
under mine
Miners ground
workers
workers
.
5 576
4,106
4, 700
6,035
6,902
7,414
6,991
1,710
912
1,085
1,473
1,724
1,814
1,914
1,143
577
693
938
1,120
1,191
1,267
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
All
All
under
Miners ground
mine
workers
workers
7,057
6,929
7,506
8,053
3,971
9, 336
1,874
1,888
2,063
2,182
2,463
2, 611
1,264
1,253
1,370
1,4l0
1,589
1,703
1 Kilogram=2.2046 pounds.
1 Concise Statistical Yearbook of Poland, 1935, published by the Central Bureau of Statistics of Poland,
Warsaw, 1935 (p. 147).
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
T h e Wage E arn e r in A g ricu ltu re
HE agricultural laborer who works for wages has been the
subject of an increasing amount of study and interest in recent
years. The Royal Institute of International Affairs has recently
published a book 1 in which the most important studies of the Inter
national Labor Office and of other research organizations are brought
together. The book presents an international survey of the social
and economic status and condition of wage earners in agriculture,
which, because of the almost unlimited extent of the subject itself and
the great divergence of conditions and standards among the different
countries and peoples of the world, must necessarily be treated very
broadly. This article attempts a review of some of the specific data
presented in the survey and of the outstanding trends in legislation
and collective action which it develops.
T
Proportion of Wage Earners Among Agricultural Workers
A gricultural wage earners fall definitely into three groups:
(1) The workers with a more or less permanent status, who as a rule
live with and receive maintenance from their employers in addition
to wages; (2) the seasonal workers, hired by the day or the week or
for some other stated period, or for a specified crop; and (3) the
migratory or casual laborers, hired usually by the hour or the day in
the harvesting and gathering of crops.
A variety of terms is applied to the first group, but in all cases these
workers have the status indicated in the American terms “farm
hand” and “hired man.” They are “the key men of the ordinary
farm. * * * They are presumed to command a considerable
degree of knowledge and to be experienced men.” The author of the
book under review applies the German term “free workers” to the
second group, in contrast to the “bound” servant under contract for
a definite period; this group forms, numerically, the great mass of
laborers who depend upon agriculture for a livelihood. The third
group may, and often does, contain persons who leave other employ
ment for the brief emergency periods required to gather certain
1 Howard, Louise E.
Labor in Agriculture.
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London, Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1935.
339
340
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
crops. An instance of this type of temporary agricultural employ
ment is the migration of London workers to the hop fields, and in the
United States the custom followed by many factory workers in the
eastern States of leaving their regular jobs temporarily for farm work,
such as strawberry picking in Maryland and cranberry picking in
New Jersey.
The author observes that paid workers are often considered a
minority of an agricultural working population. Although that is
true of “the world mass of agricultural populations, * * * it is
a misconception to suppose that such workers are anywhere unim
portant.” Table 1 is presented to show the proportion of wage-paid
agricultural workers of all types in the entire body of active workers
in agriculture and the relation which agricultural workers as a whole
bear to the total number of gainfully occupied in the population of
the countries for which data are available. This table combines two
tables appearing in the study under review. One shows, for the
countries selected, the actual number of workers in agriculture and
their relation to the total gainfully occupied population based upon
the latest census material available at the time the table was compiled.
To this has been added, for this article, later census material from
some of these countries, compiled by the Economic Intelligence Serv
ice of the League of Nations and published in its Statistical Yearbooks
of 1933-34 and 1934-35. The second of the tables from which data
in table 1 are drawn gives the number of paid workers known to
exist among the agricultural working populations of the selected
countries and the percentage of such workers to the total number of
gainful workers in agriculture. These data were derived from an
analysis of the occupational census of each country, and comparable
data for the most recent censuses are not available. Because census
methods in various countries differ, the coverage cannot be regarded
as identical throughout.
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341
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
Table 1.— Number and Percent of Agricultural Workers and of Wage Earners
in Agriculture, in Specified Countries and Census Years
Agricultural workers
Country and date of census
Total
Australia, 1921. . . . . . . . .
B e l g i u m , 19 2 0 _____ _ _ _ _
Bu lgaria:
19 2 0
......... .
1 9 2 6 1 . . . . . ..... .
Canada:
19 21
.......... .
1931 3_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cz e c h o s l o v a k i a :
19 21_ _ _ _ _ _ ________
1 9 3 0 1 _ _ _ _ _________
D e n m a r k , 19 21________
Es t o n i a , 19 22. . . . . . . . . .
Finland:
19 20
... . .... .
1930 i._. . . . . . . . . . . .
F r a n c e , 19 26. . . . . . . . . . .
Germany:
1925...............
1933 3. . . . . . . . . . .
G r e a t Britain:
E n g l a n d a n d Wales:
19 21......... .
1931 2...... .
Scot la nd :
1 9 21 ...........
1931 >_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
H u n g a r y , 1920_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Irish F r e e State, 19 26___
Italy:
19 21
......... .
1 9 3 1 2_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
L i t h u a n i a , 1923________
Netherlands:
19 20.......... ....
1930 i._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
N e w Z e a l a n d , 1921... . . .
Norway:
19 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1930 i_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
S w e d e n , 1 9 2 0 . . . . . . ....
S w i t ze rl an d:
19 20........... .....
1930 i........ .....
U n i t e d States:
19 2 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1930 i. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percent of
all gainful
workers
Total
Percent of
all gainful
workers in
agriculture
479, 588
610,573
22.9
19.1
166, 562
224,438
34.7
36.8
2,148,554
2,464,400
82.4
81.0
228,864
10.7
1,041, 618
1,220,700
35.0
31.1
170,328
16.4
2,346,000
1,672,900
460,878
402,422
40.3
28.3
3 33.8
65.6
885,300
37.7
151,025
76,850
32.8
19.1
1,017,929
1,107,500
8,129,824
68.9
63.4
37.7
14,338,443
9, 343, 500
362, 586
35.6
2,846,883
35.0
30.5
28.9
3,200,037
22.3
975, 289
1,059,100
6.8
5.6
592,876
60.8
162,486
198,600
2,118,145
672,129
10.1
8.9
58.2
52.1
9,782,674
8,168,900
1,087,803
97,340
59.9
982,326
136,014
46.4
20.2
3 55. 3
47.3
79.4
4, 216,462
43.1
230,749
21.2
621,500
655,200
142,021
23.6
20.6
3 26.8
399,655
64.3
336,029
412,300
963,439
36.8
35.3
40.7
459,683
413,300
10,900,322
10,722,500
1 Statistical Yearbook of the League of Nations, 1933-34, pp. 39-45.
2 Idem, 1934-35, pp. 39-47.
3 Estimated.
4 Includes salaried workers or foremen.
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Wage earners in agriculture
*
64,060
*
45.1
103,715
30.9
214,488
22.3
25.9
21.3
96,575
21.0
26.3
22.0
2,548,989
23.5
342
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Wages of Farm Laborers
An i n t e r n a t i o n a l comparison of wage rates and earnings of wagepaid farm labor is so complicated by varying customs and methods of
payment as to be practically meaningless. These variations occur not;
only between countries, but between different localities of the sau
country, between seasons, and between the different types of farm
employment, as permanent, seasonal, etc.
In an interesting computation made by the Norwegian authorities for 1930-31,
where the national average rates were taken as an index = 100, the lowest and
highest local rates stood at indexes of 88 and 119 for farm-servants’ wages and
of 69 and 142 for day workers’ wages; in Scotland, in 1931, the married plow
men’s summer weekly wage ranged from 30s. 6d. to 44s. 6d.; these are both small
countries. In larger countries the range can be very great indeed. It is notorious
in France, where the rates given in one part of the country are no guide whatever
to those given in another. In Italy, in June 1932, the average hourly rate for day
workers was calculated at 0.82 lire in one Province, but at 1.64 in another—
exactly twice as much.
Seasonal rates are equally confused.
Estonia records three seasonal rates for day workers, Latvia no fewer than six,
namely for grass mowing, the rye harvest, cereals harvest, flax harvest, cereals
threshing, roots harvest; in 1931 the day rates for these operations were respec
tively 3.21, 3.10, 2.73, 2.79, 2.69, and 2.39 lats. Other examples of the seasonal
variation of wages are, for day workers, 17.39 and 19.89, 23.40 and 26.50, 18.71
and 21.22 crowns (according to district) in Czechoslovakia (1931); 4.28, 4.71,
and 5.51 crowns in Denmark (1931); 2.00 and 3.60 pengo in Hungary (1930);
1.24 and 1.33 lire (per hour) in Italy (1931); 4.12, 4.43, 4.71, and 5.14 crowns in
Norway (1931); 3.57 and 4.71 crowns in Sweden (1931); for more permanent
workers, 209 and 287 crowns per winter and summer engagement respectively
for farm servants in Norway (1930-31), and $43 summer and $36.58 all-the-yearround average monthly cash wage (without board or lodging) in Canada (1931).
Payment in kind which, the author observes, has “from oldest times
* * * been a subject of endless dispute between master and man,”
persists and is of great importance in relation to the earnings of agri
cultural workers. It also takes many forms. Housing and food allow
ances often constitute part of the wages not only of the permanent
staff but of the seasonal workers. Wood for fuel, and*garden plots
are customary grants in Europe.
The study presents data on the recent movement of real wages,
treated as index numbers for countries for which reliable cost-ofliving indexes are available. Maintenance, allowances, and payment
in kind are included in these computations. Table 2 gives the index
of real wages, 1931 to 1933, of permanent resident farm workers, or
“farm hands”, and of nonpermanent agricultural laborers, in all
countries for which information could be secured.
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
Table 2.-—Index of Real Wages of Agricultural Laborers in Specified Countries,
1931 to 1933
[1927=100]
At
9 iH
Laborers permanently
employed
D ay laborers 1
Country
1931
Australia____ ____ _ __ . . . . ________________
Canada______
_________ . .
______________
Czechoslovakia__ __________
_
___________
Denmark_____________________________ _______ _
England and W ales. . ____
. . . ___ . ............... .
Estonia__________ ____________________
____
Finland..................... ........
. _
France_____________ _ . . .
...
_ _ __
Germany_________
. .
Hungary . . ___________
Irish Free State________ _
____
. . ...
Italy _____ . ___________ . .
___
New Zealand_____________________________ ______
Norway________ ___ ______ _____________
Poland____________
_____
Scotland_________ . . . . . . . . ___________
Sw eden.. . ............... . ._ ._ _ . _ _ _______ ______
United States_____ . . . . _
______ . . .
76
108
109
114
71
109
101
84
1932
1933
65
98
119
115
62
113
100
71
65
96
108
66
1931
1932
1933
98
95
99
100
105
114
89
92
* 108
121
82
102
81
121
99
100
99
114
82
84
119
121
73
103
82
93
94
98
99
115
78
84
56
100
83
83
91
105
83
102
65
61
1 Includes workers on day, week, or short-term contracts.
2 1930.
Legislation Affecting Farm Laborers
A griculture is very largely excluded from the application of
labor laws and progressive social legislation in general, although
“legislative omissions and exclusions have been a trifle less sweeping
in Europe” than in the newer countries.
Half the workmen’s compensation acts of Europe, more than half the child
labor acts, and most unemployment insurance acts, leave out agriculture. But
in the fields of housing, sickness, and old-age insurance, maternity protection,
family allowances, and in numerous other directions, it is becoming more common
to consider the claims of agriculture, if indeed such acts are not general acts
applying to the whole population, in which case persons engaged in agriculture
are ipso facto covered.
On the question of hours of work, definite effort has been made
to include agriculture in legislative movements limiting working hours
and some countries have actually enacted such legislation. Agri
cultural labor was brought within the province of the International
Labor Organization in 1921, but the attempt to secure the inclusion
of agriculture in the discussion of the 8-hour day in the International
Labor Conference of that year was unsuccessful.
Laws regulating working hours in agriculture were adopted in
several European countries after the World War. In some cases
they were unenforceable and have fallen into disuse; in others they
have been abrogated in subsequent political overturns. Statutory
regulation has been partially effective, however, in some countries.
One of the first legislative enactments of the Czechoslovak Govern
ment (Dec. 19, 1918) was the establishment of an 8-hour day, which
4270 4 — 36------ 5
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
applied to agriculture as well as to industry. Modification became
imperative in order to retain for agricultural workers any real advan
tage of the legally shortened workday, because an inelastic 8-hour
day proved wholly impractical. During the next few years several
decrees were issued in the attempt to make necessary adjustments.
The final outcome was the adoption of the principle of payment for
overtime. Instead of paying a higher rate for all work in excess of
8 hours, however, the practice is to calculate overtime after the
tenth hour. This applies only to day laborers, but protection is
provided for permanent and resident workers, which in turn govern
the hours of all workers. This provision is that regular farm workers
must be given 12 consecutive hours of rest (8 of which must be unin
terrupted rest at night) during each 24 hours. That, in effect, fixes
a maximum 12-hour day, the last 2 hours of which, if worked by
nonpermanent workers, are subject to overtime rates of pay.
Italy attempted in a general decree (Regulations on Agriculture,
Sept. 10, 1923) to establish a basic 8-hour day, and 48-hour week for
day workers in agricultural employment. This passed through
various amendments and modifications, and the present situation in
Italy is much the same as that in Czechoslovakia—that is, a maximum
12-hour day with extra pay for the last 2 hours. The long workday,
on the other hand, is nominally permissible in Italy only during the
summer months, or during emergency periods.
A maximum workday is established indirectly under Austrian laws
fixing mandatory rest periods. These vary from a minimum of 8
hours for night rest in one Province to 10 hours in summer and 12 in
winter in another. Required rest periods during the day as a rule
total not less than 2 hours.
Another indirect approach to regulation of hours is found in
England and Wales. In those countries agricultural wages are fixed
by wage boards which, while having no statutory control over hours,
nevertheless may set wage rates for a specified number of hours’
work in a day or a week. The week is the customary pay period, and
by limiting the hours to which a weekly wage rate applies, the author
ity conferred by the act has been so used as to establish in effect a
standard week of 48 to 50 hours in winter and 50 to 54 hours in
summer. In countries where organizations of farm laborers have
secured collective agreements, hours are regulated to some extent by
agreement.
Organization Among Farm Laborers
E m plo yer - e m flo y e e relations in agriculture are affected by the
fact that to a great extent the old personal relationship of master and
servant persists with regard to permanent workers, while, on the other
hand, the relation of the employer to a large labor force is a shifting
one. The isolation of agricultural workers and their lack of com
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
345
munication, and, until the World War, the retention of the masterand-servant status in law, have militated against organization or
collective action on their part.
Nevertheless, there is an organized labor movement in agriculture
which in a few countries has attained considerable vitality. The
International Labor Conference of 1921 adopted a convention, which
was ratified by 23 countries, granting agricultural workers the right
to organize on the same terms as those enjoyed by industrial workers.
Collective bargaining, usually through the medium of labor unions
organized and functioning in much the same manner as trade unions
in industry, “could in 1933 be stated to cover 5,000,000 agricultural
workers.” 2 Matters of primary importance, in addition to wages,
that workers try to control through the medium of the collective
agreement are hours and housing conditions.
In four countries—Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden—
working hours are regulated by detailed schedules which vary with
the season and the occupation.
Minimum housing standards are written into the agreements in
Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, and
Sweden. These standards deal primarily with the size and state of
repair of “service dwellings.” The national agricultural agreement
in Denmark calls for a minimum of two rooms and kitchen and
scullery, and requires that new or reconstructed houses must comprise
three rooms. The Swedish collective agreement, which is also
national in scope, provides that a married worker’s dwelling must
consist of at least two rooms and a kitchen; if only one room and
kitchen are supplied, the floor space must be at least 35 square meters,
and the worker whose quarters are less than that area is entitled to an
indemnity of 10 kroner per year for each 3 square meters below that
minimum. Many details of arrangements, such as heat, water and
drainage facilities, the kind of materials used for flooring, garden plots,
chicken yards, etc., are covered in the terms of the various agreements.
Although the strike is not generally associated with farm workers,
the author of the book under review points out that the assumption
that that method is not used by them is contradicted by the facts.
Strikes have occurred which “have sometimes been both severe and
prolonged”, and while some of those noted date back to the last
quarter of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth
a number of strikes have taken place since the World War. Agri
cultural strikes occurred in Poland in 1921 and 1925; in Sweden in
1919, 1920, 1924-25, and 1929-30, the last mentioned lasting nearly
2 years; in Denmark in 1921 and 1930; in Germany in 1923 (Silesia)
and 1924 (East Prussia); and in the Netherlands in 1930.
* See M onthly Labor Review, January 1936 (p. 77): Collective Bargaining by Agricultural Workers in
Various Countries.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1036
It is seldom that the incidence and course of smaller movements not amounting
to regular strikes are recorded, but occasionally the agricultural trade unions
keep note of all protests of whatever kind over a certain period. Thus the
German Social Democratic Union noted, in 1923, over 3,000 “ wage movements”
not involving cessation of work and 12 strikes involving such cessation, the
strikes affecting 37,000 enterprises and 280,000 workers; in 1924 they noted 500
“ wage movements” and 9 strikes, these affecting 2,200 enterprises and 24,000
workers; these 2 years were the years of greatest unrest among German agricul
tural workers. In Austria between January 1, 1928, and December 31, 1930,
there were 296 wage or other protest movements and 20 strikes, together affecting
68,357 persons (1,441 actual strikers) and involving the loss of 6,556 days’ work;
of these movements and strikes 132 were successful from the workers’ point of
view, 104 were compromised, and 17 were unsuccessful; further, there were 6
lock-outs affecting 144 persons and involving the loss of 1,434 days’ work; about
one-half of all these movements were in the forestry industry.
Com mon Causes of Discharge of Office and Clerical
W orkers
AMONG the most common causes for the dismissal of office or
clerical employees, carelessness heads the list, followed by non
cooperation and laziness, according to the findings of a recent survey.
Absence for causes other than illness is also a conspicuous reason for
discharge, while absence due to illness is not given as a common cause
for dismissal but is cited as an obstacle to promotion. The leading
character traits reported as preventing advancement are lack of
initiative and lack of ambition, as shown in the accompanying statis
tics from the December 1935 issue of the Personnel Journal. Seventysix corporations cooperated in this survey.
jL x .
Percentage Distribution of Most Common Causes of Discharge and of Deficiencies
Preventing Promotion
Distribution of
specified
causes—
Distribution of
specified
causes—
Most common causes reported
Pre
Of dis vent
ing
charge promo
tion
P ercen t
hack of specific skills,_ _______
In shorthand___ _________
In typewriting _ . ______
In English________ _____ __
In dictap hone__
_ _
In arithmetic______ ______
In office machines
- __
In bookkeeping___ _________
In spelling
. _ ______
In penmanship
_ _____
Character traits______ _ _____
Carelessness_______________
Noncooperation-___
Laziness..... ............ ............. .
Absence for causes other than
illness—....................................
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P ercen t
10.1
2.2
1. 6
1.6
1.3
1.3
.9
.6
.6
.0
89.9
14.1
10.7
10.3
23. 5
3.2
2.4
5. 2
1. 6
3.0
2.2
1.4
2. 7
1.8
76.5
7.9
6. 7
6.4
8.5
3.7
M ost common causes reported
Character traits—Continued.
Dishonesty____
- - ____
Attention to outside things-.Lack of initiative___________
Lack of am bition.-. . _ ___
Tardiness______
_ . . .
Lack of loyalty_____________
Lack of courtesy____ ______
Insufficient care of and improper clothing____ .
Self-satisfaction_____ _______
Irresponsibility__ - _______
U nadaptability.........................
Absence due to illness______
Pre
Of dis vent
ing
charge promo
tion
P ercen t
P ercen t
8.1
7.9
7.6
7.2
6.7
3.5
2.2
1.2
5.6
10.9
9.7
4.6
4.6
3.3
1.6
.9
.3
.3
.0
3.0
4.4
.8
1.4
2.4
347
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
One of the conclusions from a study of these findings is that “al
though the present economic disturbance has caused the educational
program in many communities to be reduced, the responsibility of the
schools for education to develop character has increased.”
E x te n t o f Piece W ork in th e Soviet U n io n , 1928, 1930,
and 1934
INCE 1930 the proportion of piece work has increased in the in
dustries and trades in the Soviet Union (U. S. S. R,.). In 1934
piece work in the woodworking industry accounted for 75 percent of
the total work-hours and in the other industries and trades for about
two-thirds of the total working time.
The following table shows the proportion that the time spent on
piece work formed of the total man-hours worked in specified industries
in 1928, 1930, and 1934.1
S
Percent of Total Working Time, in Large-Scale Industries1 in the Soviet Union,
Spent in Piece Work, 1928, 1930, and 1934
ft
Percent piece work formed of
total working time in—
Industry group
1928
All industries_______ ______ ______
_ _ .
__________ ______
Coalm ining________ ______
. . . . . . . . . . .......................................
Ferrous metallurgy_______ ___________ ___________ _
Machine construction . . _____ _________ _ _ _ _ __ _ ._ . . _
Manufacture of electrical equipment__
. . . _____________ . _
Woodworking industry_____ ' _ ____________________________ _______
.
_ . . . . ...............
Chemical industry________ ____ ____
Cotton ind ustry.._______ ____________ ___________
. . . . __ _____
Wool industry.....................
........ . . . .
_______
___________
Paper industry... _________
. ._ ____
_
__ ________ . ._
Printing and stationery industry...... ............ ........ . . . ___________ _____
1930
1934
57.5
56.7
69.6
50. 7
68.8
62.8
62.8
52.0
58.6
69.1
59.8
35.4
40.8
54. 5
64.1
60.2
52.8
51.0
49.2
64.5
58.3
51.4
51.9
2 63. 2
67.4
70.8
68.9
75.2
61.4
70.1
64.7
72.3
66.6
1 Large-scale i n d u s t r y c o m p r i s e s all industrial enterprises e q u i p p e d w i t h m e c h a n i c a l d r iv in g p o w e r a n d
e m p l o y i n g n o less t h a n 16 w a g e earners, a n d th os e e m p l o y i n g n o less t h a n 30 w a g e earners if w i t h o u t m e
ch an ic al p o w e r .
* M i n e w o r k e r s only.
1 D a t a are f r o m So vi et U n i o n ( U . S. S. R.), St at e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n , t h e U . S. S. R. in figures,
M o s c o w , 1935 (p. 244).
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348
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Changes in P opulation Classes o f th e Soviet U n io n ,
1913, 1928, and 1934
AGE earners and salaried employees doubled in number in
the Soviet Union (U. S. S. R.) during the last two decades
(1913-34). The number of persons independently engaged in smallscale farming and manufacturing decreased by about two-thirds, and
the number of middle-class landowners and merchants and “kulaks”
(well-to-do peasants hiring outside help) dwindled almost to the van
ishing point during the same period.
It is noteworthy that members of cooperatives (collective farms,
producers’ and service artels, and consumers’ associations) who be
longed neither to the middle-class landowners and “kulaks” nor to the
proletarian classes, multiplied in number about 18 times during the 5
years ending in 1934, due principally to the collectivization of agri
culture and formation of the artels for manufacturing and service
purposes.
The following table shows the changes in the population classes in
the Soviet Union in 1913, 1928, and 1934.1
W
Changes in Population Classes in the Soviet Union in 1913, 1928, and 1934
1913
1928
1934
Population class
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
All population classes . . ___________
139,300,000
100.0
152, 352,000
100.0
168, 000,000
100.0
Wage earners and salaried em ployees...
In industry______ ______________
In agriculture__________________
Members of cooperative societies 1
Independent craftsmen and peasants...
M iddle classes_____________
Landowners and merchants_____
Kulaks 2__________ ______
Other classes (students, soldiers, pen
sioners, etc.) ____ _____________
23.300, 000
17.300, 000
6,000,000
16.7
12.4
14.3
90, 700,000
22,100,000
5, 000,000
17,100,000
65.1
15.9
3.6
12.3
26,343, 000
24,124,000
2, 219, 000
4,406, 000
111, 131,000
6,801,000
1.183.000
5.618.000
17.3
15.8
1.5
2.9
72.9
4.5
.8
3.7
47.118.000
41, 751,000
5, 367,000
77.037.000
37.902.000
174.000
25,000
149.000
28.1
24.9
3.2
45.9
22.5
.1
.01
.09
3, 200,000
2.3
3, 671,000
2.4
5,769,000
3.4
Percent
1 A new population class added during the Soviet regime to the population classes existing in 1913.
2 Well-to-do peasants hiring outside help.
1 Data are from Soviet Union (U. S. S. R.), State Planning Commission, the U. S. S. R. in figures,
Moscow, 1935 (pp. 39-42).
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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
T w o -S h ift System o f E m ploym ent of W omen in G reat
B rita in
HE possibility of using the two-shift system of plant operation
as a means of adjustment to the shorter workweek toward which
industry is tending is discussed in a recent report on the two-shift
system of employment of women in Great Britain. Legislation
adopted at the close of the World War permitted the retention, for
an experimental period, of the two-shift system of employment of
women and young persons which had been widely used during the
war to increase production. In June 1934 the home department ap
pointed a committee of inquiry to study how satisfactorily that method
had operated under the temporary legalization granted it, and “to
advise whether or not this system should be continued on a permanent
basis, either with or without alteration of the existing law and pro
cedure.” The report of the committee, covering its investigation of
the system and its recommendations, has recently been submitted to
the Secretary of State for the home departments.1
While much of the report is in effect argument in support of the
committee’s recommendation that the two-shift plan be retained and
extended, the actual working out of the system in present use is also
described.
Operation of Two-Shift System
T he legislation which permits the two-shift system is a modification
of the general liours-of-labor laws applied to women and young per
sons. These general laws provide in most cases that the working
day must fall within a fixed 12-hour period; that is, between 6 a. m.
and 6 p. m., 7 a. m. and 7 p. m., or, in nontextile factories, between 8
a. m. and 8 p. m. Under the shift system the permissible hours are
from 6 a. m. to 10 p. m., and the shifts, as a rule, are from 6 a. m.
to 2 p. m. from Monday to Saturday, with a half-hour break daily,
and from 2 p. m. to 10 p. m. from Monday to Friday, with a halfhour break. This makes a working week of 45 hours on the first shift,
and 37% hours on the second. The practice is to change shifts on
alternate weeks, which gives woman workers employed on the shift
1 Great Britain, Home Office. Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of
Women and Young Persons on the Two-Shift System. London, 1935. (Omd 4914.)
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
system an average working week of 41% hours, as compared to the
average workweek of 48 hours. Weekly hours in the textile industry
average 40% hours because the customary noon closing of mills on
Saturday makes that a 6-hour day.
The law has several protective features. For example, a factory
must have formal authorization from the Home Office before it can
adopt the two-shift system, and the employer and the majority of his
employees affected must make joint application for the authorization.
The application goes first to the district factory inspector, who, before
referring it to the Home Office, satisfies himself that the workers
thoroughly understand the nature of the contemplated change, that
they are genuinely willing that the change be made, that no coercion
was used in securing their consent, and that satisfactory arrangements
have been or will be made with reference to meal time and travel
time, transportation facilities, and other phases of worker welfare.
Once an order has been issued it may be revoked only for cause,
irrespective of whether or not the two-shift system is actually being
used.
The report calls attention to the fact that the requirement of
obtaining the workers’ consent to the change of hours is without
parallel in other provisions of the factory acts. It operates in fact as
a unique form of collective bargaining and “the evidence would seem
to show that, as things now stand, the chief value of the provision to
the workers is that it enables them to safeguard their standards.”
When the employer has promised such an adjustment of wages as to enable the
shift workers to earn substantially the same amount as they were earning on the
day shift, there has been little opposition on the part of the workers to the proposed
change. On the other hand, it appears from particulars supplied to us by the
factory department that in a number of cases where the system would have
involved a reduction of wages, the workers refused consent and the proposal had
to be dropped. The committee is satisfied that the question of wages cannot be
kept out of consideration in the application of the two-shift system of industry.
Various methods of wage adjustment were found by the committee
in its investigation. In some cases thé hourly rate is adjusted to
compensate partly or wholly for the short week; several firms pay
overtime rates for the hours worked before and after the normal
hours; i. e., before 8 a. m. or after 6 p. m.; some give a bonus for shift
work ; where the piece-work system is used piece rates are increased in
amounts varying from 6 to 30 percent;
The system is not extensively used at the present time. Only
35,699 workers were found at the time of the investigation who
either were working on shifts regularly or were subject to a change
from normal working hours to the shift plan for seasonal or emergency
periods. Of these, 28,906 were women over 18 years of age, 5,169
were girls between 16 and 18, and 1,624 were boys over 16 Judging
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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
351
from the kind of processes and industries taking advantage of the
scheme, its chief value is that it affords flexibility for meeting break
downs in plant operation or sudden demands for increased output,
and provides a means whereby the complementary work of women in
continuous industries may be carried on as nearly simultaneously with
that of the men as possible. In the latter instance, the manufacture
of artificial silk and rubber tires seems to be particularly adapted to the
two-shift system. The spinning of artificial silk yarn is a continuous
process, and the work of checking, examining, and sorting yarn, and
of cleaning the jets on the processing machinery, all of which is done
by women, must be carried on as nearly as possible in step with the
spinning. In the manufacture of tires the work of the women in the
preparatory processes is necessary to balance continuous production.
Another manufactured article which requires that the finishing proc
esses follow immediately upon manufacture is yeast, which deteri
orates rapidly. The two-shift system makes it possible to wrap and
pack the yeast within the short time required.
While the two-shift system is used in a variety of manufacturing
processes, only the textile industry is operating under that plan on
a large scale. Of the 810 "live” orders in existence when the study
was made, 373 had been issued for textile plants, and over half the
number of workers affected by the system (18,960 out of 35,699) were
employed in various branches of the textile industry. Hosiery and
knit-goods manufacture had 146 of the 373 authorizations given to the
industry. The advantage of the system to this industry lies in the
fact that the industry is not only a seasonal one and one which must
make quick delivery, but is subject to fluctuations of style and
availability of raw materials. The two-shift system was said to
permit greater output on the same very expensive machinery without
increasing capital or overhead costs, and thus to give an advantage in a
highly competitive market. The textile industry as a whole uses the
system largely as a means of increasing output without increasing
costs, and where seasonality and the rapid changes required by
fashion call for peak production periods it is regarded by some in the
industry as distinctly better than sustained overtime.
Advantages and Disadvantages to Workers
T he committee, in its effort to assess the system from the viewpoint
of the women involved, directs attention first to the fact that “the
number of workers affected has so far been comparatively small”,
and that its estimates of results are in reality based largely upon indi
vidual experiences and preferences. The matter of wages, it finds, is
nearly always so adjusted that earnings for the short week compare
favorably with those of a normal workweek. The chief disadvantages
of the abnormal hours are the irregularity of meal periods, which is
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
aggravated by the practice of alternating shifts, and the loss of social
and recreational advantages which, on the other hand, is mitigated
somewhat by alternating the shift from week to week.
The conclusion of the committee from evidence given by workers,
factory inspectors, plant doctors, and employers is “that the shift
system appears to have little effect, either beneficial or adverse, upon
the health of the workers.”
Recognizing that recreational opportunities, particularly amuse
ments such as the moving-picture theaters, are limited by the system,
the committee holds that, “on the other hand, the clear morning or
afternoon and the free Saturday every alternate week, are an un
doubted advantage of the shift system by reason of the greater
opportunities it affords for outdoor exercise.” Interruption to educa
tional undertakings seems not to have occurred, chiefly because of
the lack of such efforts on the part of the workers.
On the question both of educational facilities and amusements, the
attitude of the committee is that these have not been taken care of
because so few people are involved, and that if the system were
extended a solution to both could be worked out. The same view is
expressed with regard to the transportation difficulties reported by
some of the women. These arise because not enough people are
concerned with transportation facilities at off-hours to make concerted
action feasible.
The British Trade Union Congress offered objections to the system
both generally and specifically. Perhaps the strongest criticism by
organized labor is directed against the perfunctory manner in which,
the Congress contends, the consent of the workers is secured and
against the fact that the shift system may be arbitrarily applied to
workers who had no voice whatever in its adoption, since an order,
once issued, may be revived after long periods of disuse during which
the entire personnel may have changed. The Congress contends that
a secret ballot should be used to determine the attitude of the workers
toward the inauguration of the system, and that the official authoriza
tion should lapse when the system was not actually used. Much of
the criticism by the Trade Union Congress was discounted by the
committee on that ground that evidence produced before it by the
women employed on the shift system seemed to show that the scheme
was popular among the workers themselves.
Recommendations
T h e com m ittee of inquiry recom m ends definitely th a t, as a practice
to be applied u nder sta tu to ry regulation, the system should be con
tinued and m ade perm anently a p a rt of p lan t operation and factory
m anagem ent by those desiring to use it. “ T he value of th e system
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353
to industry for a variety of purposes has been clearly established,”
the report states, particularly as a means of providing the flexibility
essential to meet changing conditions of trade and employment and
facilitating the adoption of new production methods. It is the only
practicable alternative to overtime and is preferable because it does
not fatigue the individual worker as much as overtime work does.
The increasing mechanization of industry and the introduction of
more and more complicated and expensive machinery seem, in the
opinion of the committee, likely to influence industry to depend to an
increasing extent upon the two-shift system. The fact that its use
has not been wide grows out of the uncertainty of the protection
given it by provisional legislation.
The committee, while recommending permanent legislation permit
ting the extension of the system as such, suggests changes in procedure
to meet most of the objections. Among these are:
A definite procedure for ascertaining the opinions of the workers,
free from all possibility of coercion.
Limiting the duration of orders granted to meet emergencies or
seasons, and providing for automatic expiration after a fixed period
of orders not in actual use.
The maintenance of lunchroom facilities of a high standard and
cooperation with transportation companies to secure adequate trans
portation facilities and the extension of the hours during which
“workers’ fares” are available.
No disallowance of unemployment benefits to persons who, with
reason, object to taking employment on the shift system.
The creation of an advisory body composed of leading representa
tives of employers and workers.
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
T ests fo r In d u strial Lead Poisoning
TEST designed to show the early effects following lead exposure
before the development of definite symptoms of lead poisoning
was first reported by Dr. Carey P. McCord and associates in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, May 31, 1924.1 A
recent report2 by Dr. McCord on the further use of this test was pre
sented to the Industrial Hygiene Section of the American Public
Health Association at its sixty-fourth annual meeting held in Mil
waukee in October.
An outbreak of lead poisoning occurring in the automobile industry
in the year 1934-35 has been the most important epidemic of the
disease in the past decade. The industry is said to have been prac
tically free from lead poisoning since the dry:sanding of wooden bodies
painted with lead paints was given up. An epidemic from that
cause was reported in 1924. The present epidemic occurred among
workers engaged in automobile-body manufacture. The develop
ment of one-piece all-metal bodies with stream lines has led to the
filling in of all welding depressions and other indentations with a
lead-tin alloy. The use of lead pots and torch work and the various
processes for smoothing down the leaded surfaces by power grinding,
hand filing, sanding, etc., has resulted in releasing harmful quantities
of lead dust and fumes in these workrooms. In some cases as much
as 1,100 milligrams of lead have been found to be present in 10 cubic
meters of air, which approximates the quantitity of air breathed by
the average workman during the working day, although the usual
amount of lead in this quantity of air has ranged from 10 to 40 milli
grams. As a result of this exposure there has been a high incidence
of lead poisoning, while among much larger groups of workers who
have not suffered apparent injury and have not lost time from employ
ment, proof of lead absorption has been established. On the basis of
studies in a limited number of plants it is considered possible that as
many as 4,000 workmen were injured to some extent during the
1934-35 automobile production season, although it is pointed out
that this figure is an approximation and does not represent actual
clinical cases of lead poisoning only.
A
i This test was reported in greater detail with the results of examination of 1,045 persons in U . S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 460: A N ew Test for Industrial Lead Poisoning, Washington, 1928.
1 American Journal of Public Health, October 1935, p. 1089: Basophilic Aggregation Test in the LeadPoisoning Epidemic of 1934-35.
354
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
355
It has been asserted many times during the past 10 years, the author
states, that industrial lead poisoning is declining, but while this was
true in some measure up to 1934, the real fact is that it is the severity
rather than the frequency that is declining. This is shown by the
present epidemic, in which, among the large numbers of cases, there
have been no proved deaths, little profound inflammation of the brain,
and very few instances of wrist drop or foot drop, or other severe
manifestations. The principal and almost uniform effects have been
involvement of the gastro-intestinal tract, accompanied by excessive
fatigue, and blood changes.
Working conditions which caused the recent outbreak of lead
poisoning have already been so much improved in many plants that
it is unlikely there will be large numbers of additional cases. In some
plants elaborate protective devices and methods have been introduced,
so that at least in several of the plants the lead hazards have been
brought under control. This is necessary, since no practical substi
tute for the lead-tin alloy has been found.
The recent epidemic provided the author and his coworkers with the
opportunity for extended investigation of the diagnostic procedure
first used in 1924. Included in the present study were 6,900 basophilic
aggregation examinations of the blood of workers in the automobile
industry and in addition 1,100 tests were made in other lead-manu
facturing or lead-using industries, about 500 of which were control
examinations made upon workers, chiefly office employees, unexposed
to lead.
Nature of the Test
T h e basic principle in the basophilic aggregation test is the enu
meration of red blood cells containing basophilic substance. Under
normal conditions the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the
blood stream is maintained on a fairly uniform level by the orderly
entry of new cells from the bone marrow, replacing those that have
been destroyed. These cells develop in the bone marrow, going through
various stages of formation, and are thrown into the blood stream
when essentially mature, only about 1 percent exhibiting any of the
known characteristics of immaturity. However, when toxic agents
exert an action on bone marrow, and under other conditions making
physiologic demands, increased numbers of immature cells enter
the blood stream. Toxic agents which may cause this effect include
lead, benzol, toluol, xylol, and possibly arsenic and chlorinated
hydrocarbons, while an example of physiologic demands causing this
condition is found in the effects of high altitudes.
Basophilic substance is found in the immature cells. The exact
form of this basophilic substance existing in the unaltered blood is
little known, but it has long been regarded as the foremost blood-
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356
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
finding in lead poisoning. In general, reliance has been placed upon
the determination of stippled cells in making blood examinations, blit
as the different forms developed by the staining process are only
different aspects of the same material, the author believes that greater
diagnostic dependence can be placed upon the total erythrocytes
containing basophilic material. In the process of laking and staining
red cells this substance may be artificially aggregated into readily
visible masses.
As stated before, the blood of normal human adults rarely contains
more than 1 percent of basophilic aggregates, the average in the
author’s experience lying between 0.4 and 0.8 percent. In cases of
lead absorption without objective effects and in early lead poisoning
the percentage ranges from 1.5 to 4.0 percent, with occasional findings
up to 20 percent. Findings of 1.0 to 1.5 percent are considered
open to doubt, but any finding in excess of 1.5 percent suggests the
probability of lead poisoning, while findings in excess of 2 or 3 percent
indicate an increased imminence of clinical lead poisoning. The
author describes in detail the method of staining the cells and of
the count.
Results of the Examinations
T he 8,000 examinations were made in 16 plants and in the following
industries: Lead-pigment manufacture, paint and other coatings
manufacture, soldering, lead casting, lead-oxide manufacture and
application, and lead smelting. Determinations of the amount of
lead in the atmosphere, expressed in milligrams of lead in 10 cubic
meters of air, were made in some of the plants. Altogether 416
quantitative lead determinations were made and were correlated
with the results from the basophilic aggregation tests. During 1934,
stipple-cell determinations and in some instances hemoglobin measure
ments and total red-cell counts were made at the same time as the
basophilic aggregation tests. It was soon established that there was
no consistent correlation between these determinations, as among
wholly unexposed persons an occasional stipple cell was found and
approximately 90 percent of the lead workers had large numbers of
stipple cells, in the absence of clinical lead poinsoning, even after 3
months in which there was no exposure to lead. Many of the workers
regularly exhibiting stipple cells in the blood tests went through the
entire automobile-production season with no sickness or lost time.
Likewise, no significant diagnostic values were found in the routine
determination of hemoglobin percentages or in total red-cell counts.
But high percentages of basophilic aggregations without significant
changes in the hemoglobin or red-cell counts were found over and over.
Among a gioup of 2o representative controls having no exposure to
lead the lowest percentage of basophilic cells was 0.2 percent and the
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
357
highest 0.9 percent. Examination of a similar number of workers
exposed to an atmosphere containing lead to the extent of 14 milli
grams per 10 cubic meters of air showed a considerable number with
findings above 1.5 percent, the point at which clinical cases of lead
poisoning may be expected to arise. While almost uniformly it has
been found that the higher the lead content of the air the higher the
percentage of exposed workers showing positive basophilic aggrega
tion findings, it has not been found that the percentage of basophilic
cells increases with any uniformity with increases in the lead content
of the atmosphere. Occasionally a worker may show as high a
figure as 10 or 15 percent of basophilic aggregations, but the usual
range is from 2 to 6 percent. When working conditions were im
proved, with lowered quantities of lead in the air, there was a corres
ponding decrease in the number of persons showing positive tests,
although there was a lag of from 1 to 2 weeks before this drop occurred.
In a group of 25 workers formerly exposed to air containing as much
as 75 milligrams per 10 cubic meters there was a significant decrease
in the percentage of basophilic aggregations in all but three cases.
The test is of value in the determination of the degree of exposure
and the effect of preventive measures, and in the differential diagnosis
between lead poisoning and conditions simulating this disease. It
also proved to be of value in the detection of malingerers, as during
the epidemic in some plants as high as 90 percent of all exposed
workers have simulated the disease, presumably so as to be eligible
for insurance and sick benefits. As a result of technical improve
ments made by the author and others the procedure, it is said, is now
suited to application by any physician or laboratory carrying out
blood examinations.
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HOUSING CONDITIONS
S tatus o f R e se ttlem en t A d m in istra tio n C o n stru ctio n
Program at End o f 1935
ORK on one of the four “green-belt” villages to be constructed
by the Suburban Resettlement Division of the Resettlement
Administration was under way at the end of 1935, and allocations
and partial acquisition of land were reported for the three remaining
suburban developments to be provided from Federal funds. Plans
were advancing for the approximately 125 rural projects to be con
structed by the Rural Resettlement Division of the Administration.
In addition both divisions had made substantial progress in complet
ing partly finished communities taken over from other governmental
agencies after the formation of the Resettlement Administration.
The Resettlement Administration was created and was given allot
ments from relief funds by Executive order under authority granted
to the President by the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
Rexford G. T ugwell, Under Secretary of Agriculture, was named Re
settlement Administrator. The new Administration was charged
with the coordination of national measures for rehabilitation, con
servation, and land utilization. Its first concern has been to rehabil
itate the rural population, and the long-range objective is that of
lesettlement. The construction projects mentioned above are being
carried on in connection with the resettlement phase of the work
merely as a demonstration of the possibilities in this field, since an
attempt to attack the problem as a whole is financially prohibitive.
The activities of four agencies of the Government were transferred
to the Resettlement Administration, as follows; Division of Subsist
ence Homesteads of the Department of the Interior; Division of
Rural Rehabilitation of the Federal Emergency Relief Administra
tion, the Land Program of the Federal Emergency Relief Administra
tion; and the Land Policy Section of the Agricultural Adjustment
Administration. Both the Division of Subsistence Homesteads and
the Federal Emergency Relief Administration had made plans for
and done some construction either of a rural or suburban community
character. The unfinished projects of these offices were taken over
by the Resettlement Administration and their completion entrusted
W
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HOUSING CONDITIONS
359
either to the Rural Resettlement Division or the Suburban Resettle
ment Division, according as they were primarily rural or suburban.
Up to the close of 1935 all construction undertaken by the Resettle
ment Administration had been done through one or the other of these
divisions, but there is a possibility that such work may be under
taken by at least one more division. The existing organization in
cludes 11 regional offices, located in New Haven, Conn.; Madison,
Wis.; Urbana, 111.; Raleigh, N. C.; Montgomery, Ala.; Little Rock,
Ark.; Lincoln, Nebr.; Stillwater, Okla.; Berkeley, Calif.; Denver,
Colo.; and Portland, Oreg. The boundaries of the various regions
were fixed to coincide in a general way with the particular land-use
problems. It is the policy of the central office in Washington to turn
over the supervision of construction work to the regional offices as
quickly as they are able to handle the work.
Similarly, when a project is completed it passes from the jurisdic
tion of the division responsible for construction to that of the Manage
ment Division of the Resettlement Administration. Briefly the duties
of the Management Division are to take over completed community
projects, to maintain the property, to select occupants, and to license
houses either for lease or purchase.
Rural Resettlement Projects
O f t h e projects taken over from other Government agencies and
assigned to the Rural Resettlement Division for completion, 6 that
were initiated by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration have
been completed and turned over to the Management Division, as
well as 11 that were originally undertaken by the Subsistence Home
steads Division of the Department of the Interior. These 17 pro
jects, designed to house over 1,000 families, are located in Alabama
(1), Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), California (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1),
Illinois (1), Iowa (1), Mississippi (2), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (4), and
West Virginia (2). In some cases the supervision of construction
was left in the hands of the Federal Emergency Relief Administra
tion, but other projects were taken over in their entirety by the
Rural Resettlement Division.
Projects taken over but not yet completed total 23, of which 19
were Federal Emergency Relief Administration undertakings and
4 were those of the Subsistence Homesteads Division. The F. E.
R. A. projects are located in Alabama (2), Arkansas (2), Georgia (3),
Minnesota (1), Nebraska (8), New Mexico (1), South Carolina (1),
and South Dakota (1), and those started by the Subsistence Home
steads Division are in Georgia (1), Illinois (1), North Carolina (1),
and Virginia (1). No figures have been made available showing the
number of families to be housed.
427 0 4 — 36—— 6
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
None of the projects to be initiated by the Rural Resettlement
Division from funds allotted from the Emergency Appropriation
Act of 1935 have as yet been announced. It is proposed to provide
approximately 125 centers with facilities for about 12,000 families.
Suburban Resettlement Projects
T w e n t y - two projects of the Subsistence Homesteads Division of
the Department of the Interior were assigned to the Suburban Re
settlement Division for completion. Of this number it was decided to
drop three. The remaining 19 have been completed, with the excep
tion of the development at Longview, Wash., where work beyond that
originally planned has been ordered and the Hightstown, N. J., com
munity, which has been extended to a major project with an increased
allotment.
The Hightstown, N. J., project is the last planned on a self-sufficient
basis with means of livelihood provided within the community. The
final plan includes prefabricated concrete houses for 200 families.
The slabs for the houses are to be made on the location in a specially
erected plant. This factory has been so designed that it has no fixed
parts, and when the work at Hightstown is completed it may be moved
to another site. A cannery and clothing factory, where it is expected
residents will be employed, are being provided in a single building.
The factories have been built first and plans are under way for the
construction of the houses.
Plans for new communities to be established from public funds under
the Suburban Resettlement Division include four villages—in Berwyn,
Md. (near Washington, D. C.); Bound Brook, N. J.; the outskirts of
Cincinnati, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wis. Work is fairly well advanced
on the Berwyn site, but on the remaining three projects, although
options have been obtained on a substantial proportion of the land
required, work is not yet in progress.
At Berwyn about 15 acres of land have been cleared and a dam site
laid out. As detailed house specifications are complete, construction
can begin at any time. It is expected that additional funds will be
allocated to this project.
Funds allocated for all four projects, number of houses to be built,
and the acreage are shown in the following table:
Area, Prospective Dwellings, and Allocated Funds for 4 Projects Undertaken
by Suburban Resettlement Division, 1935
Location
Berwyn, M d .. ______ ____ ____________________ ___
Bound Brook, N . J.
_________________________
Cincinnati, Ohio__
.
_________________________
Milwaukee, W is.. ___
_____ _____________________
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Funds allo
cated
$5, 500, 000
6,750, 000
9,250,000
7,250, 000
Dwellings to
be provided
1, 000-1, 250
900
1,250
1,000
Area of site
(in acres)
14, 000
6, 500
7, 500
5, 000-6, 000
HOUSING CONDITIONS
361
With the possible exception of the Cincinnati settlement, these
communities will be sufficiently accessible to large cities for the
residents to earn their living in existing plants and shops. The latter
is less conveniently located for workers to commute to and from the
city than the others, and there is, therefore, a possibility that a privately owned business may be invited to establish a branch within
the community. Any factory so established would probably receive
Government aid, but there is no intention at present to set up a
Government-run plant.
In building model communities in suburban areas the Suburban
Resettlement Division secures lower land costs, and thus is able to
increase the allotment of land per family without making the cost to
the tenant or owner prohibitive. At the same time congestion in the
city is relieved and greater freedom in planning projects results.
T ra in in g o f M anagers fo r H ousing Projects
COURSE of 4 months to train students for the management of
housing projects was opened at Washington, D. C., on Decem
ber 15, 1935, with 70 students enrolled. It is expected that these
students, at the end of the training period, will be given preference in
filling positions of management in the housing projects of the Resettle
ment Administration and the Housing Division of the Public Works
Administration. The management course is being sponsored by the
National Association of Housing Officials, with the cooperation of
Government offices dealing with housing, the necessary funds having
been made available by privately endowed organizations. Among
the members of the teaching staff are Government housing officials,
university professors, apartment and house managers, journalists,
and construction-industry representatives, many of whom will act as
visiting lecturers.
Classroom and field-work methods are being used in combination.
The 4-month training period will consist of 10 weeks of instruction, of
which half will precede and the other half follow 6 weeks of field work.
The students were chosen from applicants 35 years old and over,
on the basis of fitness as determined by a check made by housing
officials in the areas where they live, and were passed upon by the
personnel departments of the Public Works Administration and the
Resettlement Administration. The student body includes both white
and negro men and women. All have had some experience in apart
ment-house management or in some other phase of the real estate
business.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
R e n t Subsidies in Leeds, England
EEDY tenants in the new municipal houses in Leeds, England,
receive subsidies toward the payment of their rent, through a
public fund created for the purpose. A survey in 1934 1showed that
12 percent of the tenants were paying the normal fixed rent, 81 percent
were receiving partial relief, and 7 percent were receiving full relief—that is, their rent was paid wholly from the fund.
More recent information 2 shows considerable improvement in the
ability of tenants to meet their rents without help. The principle
upon which the scheme works is that every tenant is responsible for
the full amount of the rent of the quarters he occupies unless he applies
for relief. The relief grants are reviewed every 6 months, and any
changes which may have occurred in the economic condition of a
subsidized tenant are taken into consideration in extending, reducing,
or disallowing relief. Thus, if a tenant had received an increase in
wages, or a member of his household had obtained employment, relief
might be decreased or refused for the next 6-month period.
On June 24, 1935, the status of tenants occupying approximately
11,000 municipal houses so far erected in the Leeds slum-clearance pro
gram was as follows: 4,548 tenants were meeting their rent inde
pendently, although only 1,924 of these had made no application for
relief; 5,026 were receiving partial relief; and 1,049 were living rent
free, the total amount of their rent being met from the subsidy fund.
The subsidy fund, or pool, is made up from local and Government
housing grants. At the time of the report quoted the weekly credit
balance in the fund amounted to £300 ($1,460)3 and the amount of
relief granted weekly was approximately £1,540 ($7,494).
This relief, which is a variant of the usual direct relief, or public
assistance, takes the form of a decreased rent. The amount to be
deducted from the fixed rental value is determined by size of family,
family income from all sources, needs, obligations, and so on. The
following scale has been adopted as the weekly income which each
tenant must have before any rent becomes payable. In addition, 5
shillings of the weekly wages of employed persons are excluded from
the determination of means.
Man alone---------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 s. 0 d. ($2. 68)
Woman alone------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 s. 0 d. ($2. 43)
Man and wife------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 s. 0 d. ($4. 62)
Children (under 10 years)------------------------------------------------- 4 s. 0 d. ($0. 97)
Children (10 to 13 years)-------------------------------------------------- 5 s. 6 d. ($1. 34)
Children (14 years and over)_____________________________
8 s. 0 d. ($1. 95)
Aged persons over 65 years_______________________________ 9 s. Od. ($2. 19)
1 See M onthly Labor Review, November 1934 (p. 1194).
3 From report of Ernest E. Evans, American consul at Bradford, England, Oct, 10, 1935.
3 Conversions Into U. § . currency on basis of par value of pound ($4.8665),
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363
HOUSING CONDITIONS
Influence of H ousing on Physical D evelopm ent of
School C hildren
DIRECT favorable result of good housing conditions upon the
health of children is indicated by an examination recently made
of school children who had moved from congested city areas to new
suburban housing projects outside Manchester, England. The study
was made by a school doctor of that city to determine the effect upon
the children’s health and development, as evidenced by increased
height and weight. He reported his findings in an article published
in the Manchester and Salford Woman Citizen, which is reviewed in
the Manchester Guardian of November 22, 1935.
While admitting that observations over a period of years would be
necessary to determine definitely the extent of the influence of im
proved housing upon children, Dr. Herd felt that the situation in Man
chester presented aspects favorable to significant comparisons.
He selected one group of children attending school in congested areas
in Manchester, another group from two schools in Wythenshawe, a
newly established community, and a third group from a northern hous
ing area which was opened about 10 years ago. The heights and
weights of these children were taken at three successive 6-month
intervals. The examinations showed, in general, that “at all ages and
in both sexes, with only a few exceptions, the children in the older
northern estate gained more in a year in both height and weight than
those more recently removed to Wythenshawe, and the latter more
than those in the city.” The comparisons in the actual average heights
and weights of children at the age of 10 in the three areas, shown in the
following table, were “typical of the results at all ages.”
Comparative Average Height and Weight of School Children, Aged 10, in
Selected Districts in Manchester, England
Weight (lb.)
Height (in.)
District
Boys
Northern Estate.
Wy thenshawe. - City area______
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52.70
50.64
49.95
Girls
53.43
50.50
49. 74
Boys
64.57
62.33
59. 73
Girl:
68.03
59.52
58.60
COOPERATION
C ooperative P urchasing b y Farm ers in th e U n ited
States
N 1929, according to the 1930 census, farm supplies valued at over
125 million dollars were purchased cooperatively by about 411,000
farms, or 6.5 percent of all farms reported. The average amount
purchased per farm was *304. In 1934 the Farm Credit Administra
tion estimates from reports in its files that a business of more than 250
million dollars was done by farmers’ cooperative purchasing organiza
tions. This includes, however, the amount of cooperative purchasing
done jointly by cooperative marketing associations, and hence is not
exactly .comparable with the 1929 figures. A description of this
cooperative purchasing movement among farmers is contained in a
bulletin of the Cooperative Division of the Farm Credit Administra
tion,1from which the following information is taken.
The cost of farm supplies is a big item in the farmer’s production
costs. In 1933, feed, seed, and fertilizer cost the farmer approximately
486 million dollars; containers, spray material, and twine, 92 million
dollars; and the cost of operating tractors, automobiles, and trucks,
380 million dollars; while other unclassified expenditures were esti
mated at 196 million dollars. In addition to these current expendi
tures there were capital expenditures of 309 million dollars for ma
chinery, tractors, autos, trucks, repairs, etc.,making a total expenditure
for productive purposes of 1,463 million dollars. In the 8-year period
1926-33 the total operating expenditures of farmers amounted to 31
percent of their total cash income.
I
Development of Cooperative Purchasing by Farmers
T he farmers have attempted to reduce the essential costs of pro
duction through collective purchasing. As early as 1850 farmers’
clubs were organized, with the purpose of saving the profits of
retailers, and since the Civil War the various general farmers’ organi
zations, including the National Grange, the Farmers Alliance, the
Farmers Union, the American Society of Equity, and the American
Farm Bureau Federation, have sponsored and developed cooperative
purchasing.
1 U. S. Farm Credit Administration. Cooperative Division. Bulletin No. 1: Cooperative Purchasing
of Farm Supplies, by Joseph G. Knapp and John H. Lister.
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COOPERATION
365
Because of the depressed condition of agriculture since the World
War, independent cooperative purchasing by farmers has also de
veloped and grown, and in recent years large-scale cooperative pur
chasing associations have been organized which serve directly the
local purchasing associations or the farmers of one or more States.
Among these large organizations are the Eastern States Farmers
Exchange, organized in 1918, which has over 50,000 members, and
buys annually more than 300,000 tons of feed, fertilizer, and mis
cellaneous supplies, valued at over 12 million dollars; the Cooperative
Grange League Federation Exchange, Inc., organized in 1920, which
serves 100,000 patrons and in the fiscal year 1934—35 distributed
farm supplies worth 24 million dollars; and the Southern States
Cooperative, Inc., started in 1922, which serves farmers in Virginia,
North Carolina, Maryland, and adjoining States and did a business
in 1934-35 of 5 million dollars.
With the growing use of automobiles, trucks, tractors, and gas
engines in farming operations, there has been a corresponding growth
in the cooperative purchase of gasoline and oil by farmers. A recent
unpublished survey by the Cooperative Division of the Farm Credit
Administration showed 644 cooperative oil associations, which did a
business of almost 32 million dollars in 1934. In 1926 the first of a
number of wholesale purchasing cooperatives was organized. These
cooperatives supply local and county associations, which distribute
the petroleum products to their members. One of the largest, the
Illinois Farm Supply Co., organized in 1927 with 8 member com
panies, or associations, nowdias 58 member associations with approxi
mately 75,000 farmer purchasers. On September 1, 1934, the 58
associations were operating 427 tank trucks and either operating or
supplying 600 retail outlets from 156 bulk-storage stations, with a
combined storage capacity of over 6,500,000 gallons. Besides petro
leum products, a number of miscellaneous items are handled, including
tires and tubes, alcohol, antifreeze radiator solutions, paint, fertilizer,
etc. The total volume of business for 1933-34 was over 3 million
dollars at wholesale values, and the retail sales of the member service
associations were over 6 million dollars.
Cooperative purchasing has also become a side line of the farmers’
cooperative marketing associations, approximately 6,000 of which
handle farm supplies. Purchasing departments or subsidiary pur
chasing corporations have been established by a number of the
large-scale cooperative marketing associations. The Land o’ Lakes
Creameries, Inc., for instance, which serves a wide area in the Central
West, did a business in 1934 of over 2 million dollars in its feed and
creamery machinery and supply departments. These departments
have paid patronage dividends of more than a million dollars in the
11 years they have been in operation.
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366
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
For the purpose of providing a medium for determining general
policies on national matters affecting the cooperative movement and
for representing them at Washington, D. C., in matters relating to
business practices, transportation, taxation, and tariffs, a large
number of farmers’ marketing and purchasing associations united in
the National Cooperative Council. It has a purchasing division
composed of 12 associations, and in addition many of the affiliated
marketing associations furnish cooperative purchasing services.
There are also a number of State cooperative councils or conference
bodies with similar functions on a State basis.
Legal Status of Farmers’ Cooperative Purchasing Associations
V ir t u a l l y every State has a law authorizing the organization of
agricultural purchasing and marketing associations. The extent of
the power conferred upon cooperative associations by these laws
varies, but either in express terms or by implication the Rochdale
principles of cooperation are generally authorized or permitted.
The use of the word “cooperative” is prohibited by the laws of a
number of States, unless the corporation is in fact cooperative or is
organized under a specified statute. The use of the word “farmer” is
forbidden in Montana unless half of the members are farmers by
occupation. Incorporation on a nonstock or membership basis is
provided for in a number of States.
In common with ordinary business corporations, cooperative asso
ciations are subject to property taxes and any specified license or
franchise taxes. Farmers’ purchasing associations are exempt from
Federal income taxes if they are in fact farmers’ cooperative associa
tions and comply with the conditions imposed by Congress for
exemption. Motor vehicles controlled and operated by farmers’
cooperative associations are exempt from regulation by the Interstate
Commerce Commission under the Motor Carriers’ Act, except as to
qualifications and maximum hours of employees and safety
provisions.
Types of Farmers’ Cooperative Purchasing Associations
C o o per ative associations for the purchase of farm supplies may be
either local (county or community) or regional. Local associations
are of the following types: (1) The informal purchasing group, which
owns no warehouses or facilities but obtains and places orders for
supplies and collects the money therefor through a committee, the
members calling at the railway or some central place for their supplies,
and which operates on a cost basis; (2) the unincorporated associa
tion, which has definite rules for operation and a manager, purchases
supplies in quantities for car-door delivery, owns no warehouses but
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COOPERATION
367
sometimes rents storage space, obtains capital through membership
fees, and may charge a management fee or commission; and (3) the
incorporated association, which obtains capital through sale of
common or preferred stock, is incorporated under State laws and may
either operate a warehouse, with supplies which members may
purchase, or act as a buying agent, usually having no facilities but
having connections or contracts with dealers or manufacturers for
trade or quantity discounts, the members paying a fee or commission
for such benefits.
Regional associations are organized to serve sections larger than
rural communities, such as several counties or parts of several coun
ties, States or parts of States, or several States. The form of organi
zation varies, but it is generally on a federated or a centralized basis.
Under the federated plan local associations combine to form overhead
wholesale purchasing organizations, while the centralized type of
association is composed of individual farmers as members and com
bines the functions of wholesaler and retailer.
Federated and centralized organizations differ as regards member
ship control and methods of operation. In the federated type each
member of the board of directors represents one or more local associa
tions; in the centralized type the directors are elected by the members
in the various electoral districts, which brings the farmer into more
direct relationship with the central organization. Regional associa
tions of the federated type operate in some cases on a brokerage or
commission basis. The goods ordered are delivered directly to the
local member associations and may be invoiced to the regional or to
the local association. In the former case the regional association
reinvoices them at a price sufficient to cover the cost of operation; in
the latter, a commission may be charged directly or included in the
price charged to the local association.
The centralized type of association usually has local representatives,
many of whom are farmers, who assemble the orders and transmit
them to the regional association, which in turn ships the goods direct
to the individual members or groups of members.
Busiress Methods
F ar m er s ’ cooperative purchasing associations, except where deliv
eries of goods are d ire ctly fro m the car to the patrons, generally pro
vide local d is trib u tio n services w hich are convenient and economical.
They utilize advertising and selling services^to a certain extent,
not for greater profits as with commercial firms but to encourage
farmer members to make the greatest possible use of the association
for their own benefit.
Operation on a strictly cash basis is desirable, and cooperative
production credit associations set up by the Federal Farm Credit
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
368
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Administration under the Farm Credit Act of 1933 now make this
possible, there being no necessity to grant credit to any farmer who
can meet the loan requirements of a production credit association.
In 1931, according to a survey of the Cooperative Division of the
Farm Credit Administration, 131 of 779 buying associations priced
their goods on the basis of cost plus handling charge, 361 on the
prevailing-price basis, and 287 on a combination of these two
methods. When the goods are sold at prevailing prices, any net
difference between these prices and the cost plus expenses is pro
rated to the purchaser in the form of patronage dividends. Many
cooperatives pay patronage dividends in the form of stock in order
to build up the capital, and frequently the initial number of shares
required for membership is acquired in this way. Patronage divi
dends furnish a means of inducing farmers to become members of
a cooperative, and, by influencing other concerns to reduce prices to
hold business, may help to lower the general level of prices for the
benefit of nonmembers as well.
A standardized bookkeeping procedure is quite generally in use,
especially among the large-scale associations of the centralized or
federated type, as it makes possible uniform bookkeeping methods
over a large territory and comparison of operating efficiency.
As the purpose of these purchasing associations is to furnish
farmers with the raw materials for their industry, high quality is a
fundamental principle of operation, price being in many cases a
secondary consideration. Such associations have therefore been
active in the development of open-formula feeds and fertilizer and
the use of viability and climatic adaptability records on seeds,
cooperating when possible with agricultural colleges and govern
mental agencies. Some cooperatives have engaged in the manufac
ture of their own supplies in order to be sure of their quality and
have extensive laboratories to analyze raw supplies and test finished
products.
Financing Cooperative Purchasing Associations
C a p it a l for the organization and operation of agricultural coop
erative buying associations is generally obtained either by membership
fees, by capital stock, or by loans or credit. Preferred stock is sold by
some associations to obtain capital, the stock usually bearing a fixed
and cumulative rate of interest, and being redeemable at the option
of the board of directors. This method of obtaining capital is not
entirely satisfactory from a financial standpoint, as the interest is
a burden as long as the stock is outstanding.
Capital is frequently accumulated through a revolving fund against
which capital stock or certificates of equity are issued. Deductions
of 1 or 2 percent of sales, for example, from the proceeds of each
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COOPERATION
369
member’s purchases, may be applied against the cost of shares, and
at the close of the fiscal year the member receives capital stock for
accumulated deductions. After sufficient operating capital has been
obtained the oldest outstanding stock is retired, and thereafter, as
new stock is issued, old stock of the same amount is retired.
Other associations build up capital by issuing patronage dividends
in stock, while some issue certificates of equity, instead of stock, to
represent earnings. The interest rate may be a fixed rate or one
currently fixed by the board of directors.
Sources of Loans
L oans for operating capital of farmers’ associations are generally
secured from banks for cooperatives and from other sources. Short
term loans may usually be obtained by financially sound coopera
tives on unsecured notes, but practically all long-term loans are
secured by mortgages on real estate or other property.
Loans for purchasing farm supplies may be secured by farmers’
cooperatives from the Central Bank for Cooperatives and the 12
regional banks for cooperatives, established under the Farm Credit
Act of 1933, which also provides that Federal intermediate credit
banks may make loans to and discount paper of farmers’ cooperative
purchasing associations. Loans from these banks for cooperatives
may, under the Farm Credit Act of 1935, also be secured for erection
and acquisition of physical facilities and the refinancing of prior
indebtedness for such purposes.
C onsum ers’ C ooperation A m ong Negroes in G ary, Ind.
HAT the cooperative movement has a place in the solution of
the economic problems of the Negro is asserted in an article in
Consumers’ Cooperation for October 1935, published by the Cooper
ative League of the U. S. A. The cooperative movement, it is said,
can contribute to the solution of the problem of the Negro in America
because (1) cooperation is self-help, and it is only through self-help
that any group may elevate itself; (2) a new spirit comes to a lowly
people when cooperation is developed among them, and a new hope
to wage earners such as mill hands and laborers who serve on boards
of directors, manage stores, and have charge of financial matters;
and (3) cooperatives develop best among groups which have a com
mon economic tie, especially racial groups, but when organized these
cooperatives affiliate with other economic groups in regional, national,
and international groups, and thus a true democracy is developed in
which minority groups may keep their self respect.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
370
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
The Negro is essentially a consumer and not a producer, since most
Negroes are small wage earners. There were 713 retail businesses
owned by Negroes in the 10 largest cities of the United States recorded
by the 1930 census, but the average annual turn-over per store was
small, being less than $8,000, and the highest yearly turn-over was
less than $25,000.
The Consumers’ Cooperative Trading Co. of Gary, Ind., is pointed
out as an example of what cooperation can accomplish among Negroes.
This cooperative society grew out of the meeting of a group of Negroes
in January 1932 to try to find some solution for their economic prob
lems. At that time the steel mills in Gary, a one-industrv town, were
all but closed and only one of the 13 banks in the city was open. As
one-lialf of the Negroes (as compared with about one-fifth of the total
population) were on relief, the situation seemed hopeless. However,
a cooperative buying club was started, though it was not easy to
induce people to contribute from their scanty resources to what was
to them “a new-fangled scheme.”
At first, orders were collected by one of the members and then filled
and delivered by a local Negro grocer, but it was found that no sav
ings were being realized in this way. As wholesalers would not sell
to the group unless it had a store, a closed store was rented and a
cooperative grocery store opened. It was chartered December 17,
1932, as the Negro Cooperative Stores Association. The fixtures
were antiquated, the stock extremely small, the manager and one
clerk had had no previous experience, and the capital was very limited .
The store struggled along, but because of lack of capital the turn
over was small, being about $200 per week.
About this time an adult class in cooperative economics was started
in the evening schools of the city and was so successful that interest
in the cooperative store increased greatly. As a result, “a 5-year
plan of cooperative action for lifting the economic status of the Negro
in Gary” was adopted. As the first item of the plan, the old store,
which was little more than a buying club, was closed, and a large
modern grocery store and meat market was opened on August 17,
1934, the name of the association being changed to the Consumers
Cooperative Trading Co. Other items of the 5-3rear plan include the
opening of a second store and forming a credit union in 1935, a third
store and an automobile service station in 1936, a fourth store, in
Indiana Harbor, in 1937, and a fifth, in East Chicago, in 1938. A
bakery is planned for 1936, a dairy for 1937, and a farm resort for
1938, by which year an annual million-dollar business is anticipated.
In October 1934 the cooperative organization had over 400 members
and the turn-over for the first year of the new program will exceed
$35,000. A credit union, organized in November 1934 (ahead of the
schedule), has over 100 members and several hundred dollars on
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
371
COOPERATION
deposit. The credit union is an important adjunct to the store as it
handles all the credit accounts of the latter, which operates on a
strictly cash basis. The young people’s branch of the organization
a miniature consumers’ cooperative with all the offices held by the
young people—has its own ice-cream parlor and candy shop.
The Consumers’ Cooperative Trading Co. is affiliated with the
Central States Cooperative League, a district league of the Coopera
tive League of the U. S. A. The members of the organized coopera
tive movement have cooperated with this Negro group, giving advice
and assistance in the organization and progress of the cooperative.
C ondition of Labor Banks, Ju n e 30, 1935
HERE were four labor banks in operation on Jane 30, 1935, with
combined deposits of $17,262,281 and total resources amounting
to $19,692,385. This was an increase of 8.6 percent in deposits and
of 2.7 percent in assets from the preceding year.
The peak of the labor banking movement was reached in 1926,
when over $108,700,000 was on deposit in 35 such banks and the total
resources amounted to more than $126,500,000. The banks in opera
tion that year had surplus and undivided profits totaling about
$3,800,000. In the next year began a decline which lasted through
1933. ’ At the end of the latter year only 4 banks were still in oper
ation. The end of 1934 showed some decline in the surplus, but
both deposits and total assets had increased during the year, an
increase which continued in 1935. In 1935 the surplus also showed
a rise of 4.3 percent.
Data for each of the banks in operation on June 30, 1935, are
shown in the following table, supplied by the Industrial Relations
Section of Princeton University:
T
T a b le 1 .— C o n d itio n o f L ab or B a n k s as o f J u n e 3 0 , 1935
Bank
Amalgamated Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago, 111.Union National Bank, Newark, N . J --- - - - - - - - - -----Amalgamated Bank of N . Y ., N ew York, N . Y -----Telegraphers’ National Bank, St. Louis, M o-----------
Share cap
ital
Surplus
and un
divided
profits
$200, 000
375.000
650.000
500.000
$63,635
82,414
23,970
156,924
$4,225, 094
2,730,661
5,807,859
4,498,667
$4,779,391
3,198,559
6, 547, 224
5,167,211
1,725, 000
326,943
17,262,281
19, 692,385
Deposits
Total re
sources
Table 2 shows the deposits and resources of each of the four banks
since its formation. As the table shows, the peak of both deposits
and assets was generally reached in 1929 or 1930. The Amalgamated
Bank of Chicago, however, had, by June 30, 1935, surpassed its 1929
figures in both deposits and resources.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
372
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- FEBRUARY 1936
T a b le 2 .— D e v e lo p m e n t o f S p ecifie d L a b o r B a n k s S in c e T h e ir F o r m a tio n
Deposits
Amalgamated banks
End of—
New York
1922_____
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929 3____
1930 1.........
193H____
1932
1933
1934
1935 1____
2___________
$2, 294, 044
2___________
3,874,276
___________
5, 795,808
___________
7, 824,520
8,449, 885
___________
___________
11,717, 589
11,673, 794
11, 349, 764
7,984,888
___________
4, 305,104
«___________
4,832,884
___________
5, 568, 713
5,807,859
Chicago
Total resources
Union
National
Bank,
Newark,
N . J.
Teleg
raphers’
N ational
Bank,
St. Louis,
M o.1
Amalgamated banks
New York
Chicago
Union
National
Bank,
Newark,
N . J.
$991,411
$1,291,411
$3,075, 564 2$2,664,913 2,498, 616
1,948,853
2,444, 247
4,256,704 2 4,279,456 2,816,117
2, 586,116 $1,262, 233 5, 558,630
6, 429, 437 2,951, 637 $1, 646,365
2,837, 296 2,303,289 6,275,498
8, 642,113 3,460, 024 2, 678, 289
3, 077,356 3,383,154 6, 585, 574
9, 305, 424 3,460,024 3,803,678
2,959, 739 3,586,153 6, 275, 876 13,128,004 3, 363, 215 4,107, 747
3, 329,833 3, 565, 601 6, 341, 251 13, 315,804 3, 756, 301 4, 017,884
2, 526, 560 3, 674,030 6, 659,455 12,845,579 3,033,182 4,325,401
2, 313, 945 3,740,404 6,473, 062
9, 364, 798 2, 723,810 4,406,597
2, 034, 372 2,460,129 4,748,983
5, 247, 200 2,420,164 3, 578,880
2, 357, 331 2, 298, 216 5,850, 074 * 5, 506, 616 2,759, 379 3,406,891
3, 722,499 3, 009, 005 4, 628, 071
6,408,153 4,280, 469 3,602, 272
4, 225, 094 2, 730, 661 4,498, 667
6, 547, 224 4, 779, 391 3,198, 559
Teleg
raphers’
National
Bank,
St. Louis,
Mod
$3, 916, 061
5,097,249
6,428,847
7,217,466
7, 749, 265
7, 489, 608
7, 563,956
7,701,328
7,420,366
5, 963, 696
6, 980.469
5, 756, 377
5,167, 211
1 Data are as of June 30.
2 Nov. 15.
3 June 29.
* Jan. 13, 1934.
Table 3 shows the trend of the labor banking movement since 1920.
T a b le 3 .— D e v e lo p m e n t o f L a b o r B a n k s in t h e U n ite d S ta t e s , 192 0 t o
Date
Dee. 31—
1920_________________________
1921_____
1922_____________
1923_________________________
1924_________
1925 2. . ____
1926.-._________________ _____
1927___ ______ _____ _
1928______________
Jun e 30—
1929__________________
1930____________________ . . . .
1931_________________________
1932________ ____ ____________
1933 3________________________
1934_________________________
1935_________________________
Number Share capital
of banks
Surplus and
undivided
profits
1935 1
Deposits
Total re
sources
2
4
10
18
26
36
35
32
27
$960, 000
1, 280, 000
2, 050,473
4, 222, 230
6, 441, 267
9, 069, 072
8,914, 508
8, 282, 500
7, 537, 500
$194, 446
255,869
742, 689
1, 353, 022
1,891,757
3,467,829
3,837, 377
3, 747,176
3,821,205
$2, 258,561
9, 970, 961
21, 901, 641
43, 324,820
72, 913,180
98,392, 592
108, 743, 550
103, 290, 219
98, 784, 369
$3,628, 367
12, 782,173
26, 506, 723
51,496, 524
85, 325,884
115,015, 273
126, 533, 542
119,818, 416
116, 307, 256
22
14
11
7
4
4
4
6, 687, 500
4,112, 500
3, 912, 500
2, 537, 500
1, 725, 000
1, 725, 000
1,725, 000
3,807, 579
3,105, 336
2,952,878
905, 896
436, 421
313, 433
326,943
92, 077, 098
59,817, 392
50,949, 570
22, 662, 514
15, 338, 505
15,899, 849
17, 262, 281
108, 539,894
68, 953,855
59, 401,164
28, 564,797
18, 653, 355
19,168, 718
19, 692,385
1 Data are from Princeton University, Industrial Relations Section, Report on Labor Banking M ove
ment in the United States, Princeton, 1929, p. 277, and additional new material furnished by the university
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 Amalgamated Bank of Philadelphia not included.
3 Dec. 31.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
A ccident Experience o f A m erican Steam R ailroads in
19341
RAIN accidents in 1934 were responsible for 256 deaths and
1,000
nonfatal injuries, including 96 deaths and 352 nonfatal
injuries to employees on duty. Train-service accidents accounted for
4,396 deaths and 15,446 nonfatal injuries, of which 312 deaths and
6,340 nonfatal injuries were sustained by employees on duty. Non
train (including industrial) accidents resulted in 227 deaths and
12,185 nonfatal injuries, of which 118 deaths and 10,298 nonfatal
injuries occurred to employees on duty. Nonfatal injuries to em
ployees include only those causing disability of more than 3 days.
The total number of deaths in all types of accidents was 4,879 in
1934, as against 5,019 in 1933, a decrease of 2.79 percent. The total
number of nonfatal injuries in all types of accidents was 28,631 in
1934, as against 27,494 in 1933, an increase of 4.14 percent. Loco
motive-miles rose from 1,050,499,000 in 1933 to 1,099,365,000 in
1934, an increase of 4.65 percent.
In a recent report issued by the Bureau of Statistics of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, from which the above data are taken,
it is calculated that during 1934, 4.23 persons were killed and 14.96
were injured per 1,000,000 locomotive-miles in train and train-service
accidents on steam railways in the United States, as compared with
4.58 persons killed and 15.68 injured during 1933.
It will be noted from these data that fatalities decreased in spite
of the fact that locomotive-miles increased and that the percentage
of increase of nonfatal injuries was slightly less than the percentage
of increase of locomotive mileage.
The number of employees killed while on duty in either train,
train-service, or nontrain accidents increased from 500 in 1933 to
526 in 1934, or 5.2 percent, while the number injured rose from
15,583 in 1933 to 16,990 in 1934, an increase of 9.03 percent. Man
hours for all employees are not available, but man-hours for class I
roads rose from 2,148,527,000 in 1933 to 2,300,815,000 in 1934, an
increase of 7.09 percent.
T
1 U. S. Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. Summary and Analysis of Accidents
on Steam Railways in the United States Subject to the InterstateCommerce Act, for the calendar year 1934.
Washington, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
373
374
M O NTHLY LABO R R E V IE W — F E B R U A R Y
1936
Part of the summary, showing the total number of persons and the
number of employees on duty killed and injured in 1933 and 1934, by
type of accident and cause, is shown in table 1.
T a b le 1 .— P e r so n s K ille d a n d In ju r e d in S te a m - R a ilw a y A c c id e n ts in t h e U n ite d
S ta te s , 1933 a n d 1 9 3 4 , b y T y p e a n d C a u se o f A c c id e n t
Total persons
Type and cause of accident
Killed
Employees on duty
Injured
Killed
Injured
1933
1934
1933
1934
1933
1934
1933
33
127
4
33
142
5
263
601
18
16
45
4
74
107
1
30
58
5
2
i
130
186
12
2
21
123
171
18
54
635
610
21
2
97
218
256
1,365
1,000
66
96
351
352
Train-service accidents:
12
Coupling or uncoupling cars or locom otives..
17
7
Coupling or uncoupling air hose____ _______
11
Operating locomotives____________ ______ _
5
6
Operating hand brakes______ _______ _____
15
14
1
Operating switches______
_____
Contact with fixed structures______________
64
54
Getting on or off cars or locomotives_______
516
417
Accidents at highway grade crossings.. . ........ 1,446 1,442
Struck or run over, not at public crossings.. . 1,792 1,725
Miscellaneous_____ ________________ _____ 737
713
246
131
834
514
176
284
3, 785
3, 607
958
4,572
254
132
909
514
192
201
3,358
4,182
994
4,710
12
17
7
6
14
1
15
18
8
117
109
246
131
834
514
176
146
1,345
31
146
2,463
254
132
909
514
192
126
1,319
55
171
2,668
Train accidents:
Collisions________________________________
Derailments___ ____ ___________ ________
Locomotive-boiler accidents_______________
Other locomotive accidents......... ........
Miscellaneous................................. . .................. _
Total, train accidents......................... 1______
Total, train-service accidents........... .
9
11
11
5
15
16
15
8
101
146
1934
10
30
. . . 4,598 4,396 15,107 15,446
329
312
6,032
6,340
Total, train and train-service accidents___ 4,816 4,652 16,472 16,446
395
408
6,383
6,692
9,200 10, 298
Total nontraiu (including industrial) accidents...
227 11,022 12,185
105
118
Grand total, all accidents________________ 5,019 4,879 27,494 28,631
Percent of increase or decrease in total accidents,
1933 to 1934__________________________ . .
- 2 . 79
+4.14
Accident rate (train and train-service) per
1,000,000 locomotive-miles________ __________ 4.58 4. 23 15.68 14.96
203
500
526 15,583 16,990
H-5. 2
0. 38
0. 37
+9.03
6. 08
6. 09
Table 2 shows the actual or probable number of days’ disability
from temporary injuries and the severity of permanent injuries in
the case of employees on duty, for the year 1934, time losses in the
case of permanent injuries being assessed according to the standard
method adopted by the International Association of Industrial Acci
dent Boards and Commissions.1
i U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 276: Standardization of Industrial Accident Statistics.
ington, 1920.
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Wash
375
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
T a b le 2 .— T r a in a n d T r a in -S e r v ic e A c c id e n ts t o R a ilr o a d E m p lo y e e s o n D u t y
a n d L e n g th o f D is a b ilit y , 1 9 3 4 , b y N a t u r e o f In ju r y
Actual or probable days’
disability
Nature of injury
Number
Number
Temporary disability:
Bruise _ ________________________________ ______
Sprain or strain_____________________ ___________
nu t or laceration
_ _ _ ____________________
Electrical shook or burn
_ ________________
O th e r b u rn
_ _________________________________
Dislocation
________________________________
Cinders or other foreign substance in eye___________
Fracture
_________________________________
N ot otherwise cla ssified _________________________
T otal------------- --------------------------- ---------------- —
Permanent disability, nonfatal:
Boss of eye
_ ____________________________
Fracture
- _________________________
Amputations:
Arm or hand
________________________
Finger
- ___________________________
Beg nr foot
- __________________________
T oe................... .....................................- .......................
T otal.........................................................................Permanent disability, subsequently fatal:
1,707
1,659
669
7
229
98
201
1,724
130
33,925
33,426
13,433
236
5,693
3,934
2,493
104,738
5,578
20
20
20
34
23
40
12
61
41
6,424
203,456
32
2
2
3,600
9,600
1,800
4,800
44
74
69
10
168,500
27,950
241,200
3,450
3,830
378
3,496
345
1201
454,300
2,260
4
34
14
15
67
1 I n c l u d e s 9 injuries classifiable as p e r m a n e n t total disability.
42 70 4— 36
7
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Average per
injury
EDUCATION
C om pulsory Schooling fo r U nem ployed Juveniles
in G reat B rita in
"TENDANCE at “authorized courses” of instruction was made
compulsory for unemployed juveniles between the ages of 14 and
18 by the terms of the British Unemployment Insurance Act of 1934.
The requirement applies not only to young persons who have been in
insurable employment and have subsequently become unemployed,
but to children past the school-leaving age (14) for whom dependents’
unemployment benefits are being paid, and to all children over the
school-leaving age who have been out of school and unemployed for
1 month. The act of 1934 also imposes a statutory obligation upon
local school authorities to provide courses of instruction for unem
ployed juveniles, through subsidies from the Ministry of Labor. In
order to receive the grant, the plans and provisions made by local
school authorities must conform to the scheme drawn up by the
Minister of Labor with the consent of the Treasury after consultation
with the Board of Education.
A memorandum on the establishment and conduct of courses of
instruction for unemployed boys and girls, issued by the Ministry of
Labor in 1934, 1 gives full details of the plan as it applies to England
and Wales. Flexibility, rather than a hard and fast program is,
however, a prime requirement of the system because of difficulties
inherent in the problem. These grow out of the shifting of the student
body between unemployment and employment, which may in some
cases produce great turn-over of individuals without materially
affecting the aggregate numbers, and in other cases, as in the opening of
new factories, may deplete entire classes.
The general purpose of the plan is not only “to prevent the demorali
zation which so soon threatens boys and girls when they are unem
ployed and have nothing to occupy their hands or their minds”, but
to serve the more definitely constructive end of giving them “the
type of mental and manual instruction which will help them to
become absorbed or reabsorbed into employment as soon as an
opportunity may occur.” The type of training provided does not,
however, include specific vocational courses.
1 Great Britain. M inistry of Labor. Memorandum on the establishment and conduct of courses of
instruction for unemployed boys and girls, England and Wales. London, 1934.
376
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EDUCATION
377
Responsibility is divided among three agencies—(1) the local school
authority, which must provide accommodations, equipment, and
teaching staff; (2) the Ministry of Labor, which is responsible for the
efficient working out of the entire project and, through its divisional
offices, for deciding who shall and who shall not be required to attend
the authorized courses; and (3) the Board of Education, which through
its inspectors, will supervise the educational aspects of the program.
Types of Courses
S e v e r a l types of training facilities are outlined, based upon the
probable average number of pupils or upon special requirements of
individuals. A junior instruction center is designed as a self-contained
unit serving only the unemployed juveniles for whom it is established
and who are required to attend. A junior instruction class is one
attached to and conducted for the special group in conjunction with
an existing institution for higher education. Where neither of these
provisions is practical because not enough unemployed juveniles are
involved, arrangements must be made to admit to the regulqx schools
those for whom courses must be provided. Special instruction courses
in institutions recognized by the Board of Education are to be made
available to unemployed boys and girls possessing higher than
average educational or industrial qualifications.
Junior instruction centers.—The basis for determining whether or
not a junior instruction center should be established is the presence,
or probable presence within a short time, of not less than 50 persons
within a radius of 5 miles who are between the ages of 14 and 18, who
have been out of work for a period of 12 consecutive working days,
and who may be required to attend.
Attendance at juvenile instruction centers is without cost to the
pupils, and the Ministry of Labor meets 75 percent of all authorized
expenditures connected with operation.
The Minister of Labor recommends that where possible a center
should be kept open continuously, and that classes should be held on
not less than 5 half days each week, with a minimum of 15 and a
maximum of 30 hours’ instruction weekly. Centers are day schools,
and “only in the most exceptional circumstances, and only if the
authority can show conclusively that it is quite impossible for them
to conduct a center in the daytime, will the Minister be prepared to
recognize an evening center.”
To develop the primary purpose of the authorized courses and to
carry out the plans of the Ministry of Labor in relation to them, the
curriculum is designed to give a much larger proportion of class time
to practical work than is usual in elementary and secondary schools.
At the same time the policy is that the work should be varied and
should not take the form of definite vocational training. Accordingly
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW"— FEBRUARY 1936
the memorandum of instructions contains a suggested curriculum
suitable for use at the centers. Where the size of a center permits,
classification first by sex and then by age groups above and below
age 16 is desirable. The course of study for the 14 to 16 years group
should constitute to some extent a continuation of school work by
providing for a larger proportion of regular school subjects than is
necessary or desirable for the older group.
While the Ministry recognizes that a rigid curriculum is not pos
sible and that “wide discretion must be left to organizers and teachers
to develop their own schemes according to conditions in each area,”
certain specific principles are laid down and suggestions are outlined.
Instruction for boys includes general information on the industrial
character and activity of the area in which the center is located, given
by means of talks, lantern slides, and actual visits to industrial and
commercial establishments. Practical work outlined includes various
kinds of shop work that can be given without elaborate equipment, such
as light metal work, cabinet work on small articles, furniture repair
and upholstering, and painting, varnishing, staining, wood carving,
etc. In the commercial field are bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing.
For girls’ instruction centers the curriculum embraces mainly sub
jects connected directly or indirectly with homemaking, and “where
possible, the work of the center should be linked up with that of the
child-welfare centers.” Cooking, laundering, and dressmaking com
prise the practical work, and physiology, hygiene, home nursing, and
first aid are proposed in addition. As with the boys, commercial sub
jects are to be made available also.
Suggested academic work for all groups includes English composi
tion, workshop and household arithmetic, history, civics, drawing,
and painting. Access to books should be made possible, either
by means of a library in the center itself or by arrangement with
public or club libraries, and guidance in reading should be given.
Physical training, organized games, and recreation are strongly advo
cated by the Ministry of Labor for all juvenile instruction centers,
but the warning is added that these can easily be overemphasized
and that “while the conception underlying the center embraces, in a
sense, the idea of a club, the boys and girls who are there enrolled must
be made to realize that it is not established entirely for their recrea
tion and amusement.” The further recommendation is made that
physical training should provide opportunity for talks on elementary
anatomy, personal hygiene, diet, and so on, and that games should
be such as to develop esprit de corps. A school magazine and a
dramatic society are suggested as affording opportunities for both
group action and handicrafts.
If the average attendance at a juvenile instruction center falls
below 40 for 4 consecutive weeks, a month’s notice of termination is
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EDUCATION
379
made to the local authority by the Ministry of Labor. If, however,
within the month average attendance rises above 40 for 2 consecutive
weeks, and there is reason to expect increased demand, the center
will not be closed. Otherwise, at the end of the month, the grant
from the Ministry of Labor is withdrawn. When a center is closed,
its program is, wherever possible, continued in junior instruction
classes.
Junior instruction classes.—Junior instruction classes are intended
only as a substitute for centers in areas where the numbers of unem
ployed boys and girls subject to the application of the act do not
justify the creation of a special center. Under normal circumstances
these classes are attached to and conducted in conjunction with an
educational institution of some kind, although not necessarily in the
same building. • If that arrangement cannot be made, the Ministry
of Labor will consider proposals from local authorities to establish
separate and self-contained junior instruction classes, “provided it
can be shown that existing needs cannot otherwise be met, and the
estimated cost is reasonable.”
Classes are to be organized when 25 juveniles subject to the act,
living within a radius of 5 miles, are or within a short time will be
unemployed. The Ministry of Labor pays 75 percent of the addi
tional cost incurred by the local authority in the operation of these
classes.
Class periods necessarily have to conform more or less to the
program fixed for the school in which classes are held. Hence con
cessions are made by the Ministry in the matter of evening classes
if the institution to which the authorized courses are attached is an
evening school. In such cases a minimum of 6 hours’ instruction
weekly is desired and no arrangement providing less than 4 hours a
week is approved. On the other hand, attendance may not be re
quired on more than 4 nights a week. Wherever possible, however,
day classes are to be arranged. The general principles and policies
governing the curriculum for junior instruction centers are equally
applicable to the classes.
A junior instruction class ceases to be eligible to the financial support
of the Ministry of Labor when average weekly attendance falls below
20 for 4 consecutive weeks. Upon the disbanding of the subsidized
class, the pupils are if possible transferred to established schools. If
a local authority desires to continue its junior instruction classes
after they are no longer eligible to receive the full statutory grant,
the Minister of Labor may, subject to definite conditions, allow a
grant-in-aid on the basis of 50 percent of the approved additional
expenditure involved.
Admission to existing educational institutions.—The mandatory
character of the juvenile instruction scheme is not carried beyond the
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380
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—FEBRUARY 1936
special centers and classes. When neither of these plans is feasible
because of limited numbers, the Ministry of Labor recommends that
local authorities make some practicable arrangement with existing
schools by which the unemployed juveniles of their respective areas
may be given opportunities comparable to those in areas that are
larger or where unemployment is more extensive. In such cases,
the grant-in-aid goes not to the local school authority but to the
institution, the Minister acting in loco parentis in the payment of
such fees, expenditures for supplies and equipment, and so on, as he
approves.
Certification, Attendance, and Discipline
A dministration of the juvenile ¡instruction clause of the Unem
ployment Insurance Act as it relates to compulsory .attendance is a
function of the Ministry of Labor. In certain specified instances
the Ministry has delegated its authority to cooperating school boards
and juvenile employment bureaus carrying on vocational guidance
activities. Elsewhere the agencies of the Ministry of Labor are
responsible for requiring the attendance in junior instruction centers
and classes of those to whom the act applies. A formal notice is
used, which goes to the parent or guardian if a young person is under
16 years of age, and directly to the person concerned if he is over 16.
The obligation to attend authorized courses commences after a week’s
unemployment for boys and girls who have had work since leaving
school, and after not less than a month for children who have just
left school.
Enforcement takes two forms: For juveniles who are receiving
unemployment-insurance benefits in their own right and those who
as dependents are included in the amount of benefit paid to insured
unemployed workers, failure to attend classes will be penalized by
loss of benefits. For others, the customary compulsory schoolattendance procedure will be followed, through regular schoolattendance officers. Proceedings may be instituted under the com
pulsory education laws if necessary, and the Ministry of Labor pays
the cost of actions against juveniles for whom it is responsible.
The act permits disallowance of benefit as a disciplinary measure
for misbehavior in class, but the Ministry feels that that is an ex
treme action which should be resorted to only in the most difficult
cases. While discipline admittedly presents problems when widely
different types of young persons are thrown together in schools
which they are required to attend, often against their wishes, the
Ministry points out that methods ordinarily used in public schools
are scarcely applicable to boys and girls who have been wage earners,
and that new techniques must be developed, preferably along the
lines of strengthening the “club spirit.”
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EDUCATION
381
Teaching Staff
T h e Ministry of Labor recognizes that “the difficulty of satis
factory staffing is inherent in the scheme”, and that “some method
of adjusting expenditure on staff in relation to the rise and fall of
the numbers in attendance” is necessary. Consequently definite
rules regarding the proportion of staff to pupils are incorporated
in the memorandum. Further, the Ministry recommends and
strongly urges that “the teachers should be appointed not so much
on their academic qualifications as on their ability to handle boys
and girls over the age of 14 and to develop a sense of esprit de corps
among those attending the courses.”
There should be no difference in status between qualified teachers in a center
and teachers in any other educational institution, and it should be recognized
that success as an instructor in a center rightly establishes a claim to qualities
of personality and leadership beyond the ordinary. It has been found from
experience that skilled craftsmen, even with no teaching experience, frequently
prove themselves excellent instructors in practical subjects; their skill alone so
impresses the young mind that they find no difficulty in imparting their knowl
edge and in maintaining discipline.
Certified teachers engaged for work in junior instruction centers
and classes will receive the standard rate of pay, and for pension
purposes they will be given full credit for the teaching hours so spent.
Financial Arrangements
T h e Ministry of Labor is financially responsible for 75 percent
of the cost of instituting, equipping, and operating junior instruction
centers, provided all expenditures have been approved by the Min
ister. The cost of building new accommodations or adapting exist
ing buildings solely for the use of instruction centers will be met in
full by the Ministry; when such adaptations or new buildings con
stitute permanent improvements in school property, however, the
school authority must meet 50 percent of the cost. When buildings
must be erected to accommodate instruction centers, the Ministry
“will not generally be prepared to approve for grant the cost of
permanent buildings of brick or stone.” Because of the uncer
tainty of the continuance of juvenile unemployment in any given
area, the erection of buildings of a semipermanent character is
directed.
Similarly, while the equipment of the centers must be ample for
the work outlined, elaborate and expensive machinery is not con
sidered necessary. The Ministry issues price lists of equipment of
a type suitable for use in centers, and approval of expenditures for
permanent equipment will be conditioned upon the purchase of
the type recommended.
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382
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-—FEBRUARY 1936
Transportation expenses for boys and girls who are required to
attend courses are paid under the following regulations:
1. No payment for those who live less than 2 miles from the course and
attend only one session a day.
2. The cost of the single journey to be paid for those residing between 2 and
4 miles from the course, if they attend only one session a day.
3. Return fares to be paid for those residing more than 4 miles from the
course.
4. For those attending two sessions a day and returning home in the middle
of the day, return fares to be paid for the midday traveling for those residing
more than 1 mile from the course * * *.
5. The expenditure in respect of any one boy or girl not to exceed 2s. 6d. per
week or 6d. per day, save in exceptional circumstances approved by the Minister.
6. Every endeavor to be made to obtain all possible concessions in the matter
of fares from transport companies.
The local authority is made responsible for seeing that traveling
allowances are actually spent on transportation to and from classes.
Juveniles who use their own bicycles as transportation may be paid a
weekly allowance for wear and tear not to exceed the allowance to
which they would be entitled daily if they used public conveyances.
Average Attendance, 1934
T he Unemployment Insurance Act was enacted in June 1934. On
July 9 the Minister of Labor issued the first instructions for putting
into operation the compulsory schooling for unemployed juveniles
called for by that act. Between then and the close of the year, 61
plans for juvenile instruction centers or classes had been approved.
The report of the Ministry of Labor for the calendar year 1934 con
tains a table, reproduced below, showing the numbers of centers and
classes in operation in Great Britain during the year, and the average
number of boys and girls in attendance during the first week of each
month. The highest average daily attendance was 19,075 in the
week ended December 12, and the aggregate number in attendance
during the year was about 113,500. Up to September 3, however,
the figures include only those in the 16 to 18 year group, as the
younger children were not covered by the unemployment-insurance
law either with regard to benefits or to compulsory schooling before
that date.
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383
E D U C A T IO N
Average Attendance at Junior Instruction Centers and Classes of Unemployed
Juveniles in Great Britain, 1934
Average attendance
Number of
courses open
Week ended
Centers Classes
Jan. 3
.. _ - _____ - - ___ - --- --Feb. 7______ ____________________________
Mar. 7 . ____ ____ ___
__ - - — —
Apr. 4 1 . .
. , ..........................- -- ______
M ay 2 „ ____ _ ______
June 6______- _ - - .
_____
July 4 . - . - - __
___ - ____ ------ ____
Aug. I 1 _____ _
Se pt . 5 1_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Oc t. 3
________________________________
N ov. 7 ________ ___ _____ ___ ____________
Dec. 5 --------------- -------------- ----------------------
i
Holiday periods.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
27
125
126
25
124
119
115
64
88
101
105
111
3
19
20
1
14
18
17
13
13
13
12
13
With claims
for benefit
Without claims
for benefit
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
1, 556
6, 576
6,203
1,157
5,182
4,860
4, 601
3,179
5,663
6, 668
6, 590
6,558
696
3,188
2,913
645
2,286
2, 278
2, 087
1,160
2,332
2,294
2,305
2,150
1,486
6,117
5,742
1,029
5, 796
5,317
4,890
3,271
5, 776
6,262
6,578
7, 555
460
1,322
1,221
231
1,321
1,134
963
669
1,406
1,515
1,790
2, 624
Total
4,198
17, 203
16, 079
3, 062
14,585
13, 589
12, 541
8, 279
15,177
16,739
17, 263
18,887
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T re n d o f S trik es and L ock-O uts
HERE were 87 strikes and lock-outs beginning in December 1935,
according to preliminary information available at the time this
report went to press. This is a decrease of approximately 20 percent,
as compared with the previous month, and a decrease of 14 percent as
compared with December 1934. The disputes beginning in December
were comparatively small, averaging about 175 workers each. There
were 110 strikes and lock-outs which began at some earlier date and
continued into December. These brought the total number of dis
putes in progress during the month to 197, in which approximately
62,000 workers were involved.
An analysis of strikes and lock-outs in December, based on detailed
and verified information, will appear in the Monthly Labor Review
for April 1936.
T
S tr ik e s a n d L o c k -O u ts , J a n u a r y 1934 t o D e c e m b e r 1935 1
Num ber of strikes and lock-outs—
Year and month
Beginning—
Prior
to
month
In
month
In
prog
ress
during
month
1934
January _______________
February__________ ______
M arch__________ ______
April_____________ .
M a y ..- _____________
Ju n e .. ________________
Ju ly ---------------------------A ugust______ ____ ________
Sep tem b er_________
October__________________
Novem ber____________
December____________
34
49
61
73
103
111
126
114
109
110
99
100
98
94
161
210
226
165
151
183
150
187
130
101
132
143
222
283
329
276
277
297
259
297
229
201
83
82
149
180
218
150
163
188
149
198
129
128
1935
January ________
February______________
M arch.. _____ - . . .
April__ _______ _
M a y ___________________
Jun e______ ____
J u ly________________
A ugust......................... .........
September..........................
October____ ____ _____
November 2__________
December 2.......... ...........
73
80
99
111
127
121
106
112
122
118
116
110
138
146
171
170
165
160
160
210
136
169
107
87
211
226
270
281
292
281
266
322
258
287
223
197
131
127
159
154
171
175
154
200
140
371
113
92
Workers involved
in strikes and
lock-outs—
M an-days
idle during
month
Begin
ning in
month
In prog
ress dur
ing
month
49
61
73
103
111
126
114
109
110
99
100
73
81, 650
89, 562
91, 559
185, 282
145,830
56,244
180, 268
80, 071
423,915
69,441
37,869
25,004
106, 734
160,713
128,886
229,552
234,364
119, 509
250,328
162,980
480,318
104,207
94,494
73, 279
822,400
867,912
1,237,055
2, 333, 230
1,956,868
1,565, 601
2,221, 663
2,188, 239
4,136,108
909,459
969i 061
384,353
80
99
111
127
121
106
112
122
118
116
110
105
81,043
62,268
51,411
67,453
101,904
38,921
68,192
69,149
453,044
92,357
27, COO
15,000
92, 479
94,286
94,809
121,347
150,166
119,547
129,807
134, 763
499; 575
131,901
100,000
62,000
719, 669
824, 312
927,144
1,164, 013
1, 685, 572
1,265,009
1,229, 066
1,157,099
2 ,932j 573
1, 710, 599
1,162,000
816,000
Ended feet at
in
end of
month month
1 Strikes and lock-outs involving fewer than 6 workers or lasting less than 1 day are not included in this
table, nor in the tables m the following article. Notices or “ leads” regarding strikes are obtained by the
Bureau from 670 daily papers, labor papers, and trade journals, as well as from all Government labor boards
Schedules are sent to representatives of all parties in the disputes in order to get detailed and first-hand
information. Sine© schedules for all strikes during the last 2 months have not yet been returned, these
figures are given as preliminary. D ata for previous months are essentially accurate, although they cannot
be considered absolutely final. Occasionally later information is received which might slightly alter these
figures. These corrections will be included in subsequent reports.
2 Preliminary.
384
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385
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
A nalysis o f S trikes and L ock-O uts in O ctober 1935
HERE were 169 new strikes and lock-outs in October 1935, involv
ing over 92,000 workers. Counting the strikes and lock-outs
which began prior to but continued into October, there were 287
disputes in progress during the month, involving nearly 132,000 work
ers. These disputes resulted in an average of nearly 13 man-days
of idleness in October for each worker involved.
Of the 169 strikes and lock-outs which began in October, 33 involv
ing 24,698 workers were in the textile industries, 18 involving 8,308
workers were in the transportation and communication industries, 15
involving 1,399 workers were in retail trade, and 13 involving 38,747
workers were in the bituminous-coal-mining industry. Some of these
coal strikes resulted from failure to reach agreements in various dis
tricts at the conclusion of the general bituminous-coal strike in
September. In all but two of these districts, agreements were signed
and the strikes settled before the close of October. (See December
1935 Monthly Labor Review, p. 1577.)
T
Table 1.— Strikes and Lock-Outs in October 1935, by Industry
I n p ro g re s s d u r in g
O c to b e r
B e g in n in g in
O c to b e r
I n d u s try
M and a y s id le
d u r in g
O c to b e r
N um ber
W o rk ers
in v o lv e d
N um ber
W o rk e rs
in v o lv e d
- - ...............- ------ ---------
1G9
92,357
287
131,901
1 ,710,599
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts, n o t in c lu d ■ n o r m a c h in e r v
_ _ ________ ____
4
1,725
995
7
2
1
2,575
995
100
22,577
1,087
2,300
1
50
500
1
2
480
950
1,440
17, 250
2
1
1
5
4
i
4
1
1
1
1
27
14
98
36
62
1,390
1,360
30
343
68
125
105
45
4,4 5 3
1, 642
406
2,1 0 0
¿U5
1,747
468
1, 279
43,371
1,572
828
744
18,920
18,440
480
3,052
1, 292
1,250
75
8,0 0 2
220
9,7 0 2
3,068
220
300
126,535
3,7 3 5
22,944
24,405
5,0 6 0
All in d u str ies _____
B la s t f u rn a c e s , s te e ly w p rk s, a n d ro llin g m i l l s ------
2
C u t l e r y ( n o t i n c lu d in g s ilv e r a n d p la te d c u t le r y )
S te a m a n d h o t- w a t e r h e a tin g a p p a r a t u s a n d
_______________ —
s te a m f it tin g s
M ach in ery,
not
in c lu d in g
1
1
480
250
tr a n sp o r ta tio n
F o u n d r y a n d in a c liin e - s h o p p r o d u c t s . ----------------
T ran sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t___________________
Vu t omo ' iles bodie*5 pn<i p a r t s
_ _____________
SV»ir\ViililHintr
__ _ ____ ______
V
t l lis
c <uiu
^ t l l l III PIP DFO il 11P I S—
_________
n onnfnnH
n ie r rAuIIQ
us m
m aefta
—
A lu m i n u m m a n u f a c t u r e s ___________ ___________
S m e ltin g a n d re f in in g — c o p p e r, le a d , a n d z i n c . . S ta m p e d a n d e n a m p ip ri w a r e
__________ ___
L U n U l" ! ClI 111 d lllb U |UUUUV.Wi3--------------- T\/T?ll\T7nrV c»nH nlrm iriP'
_ _________ ______
1nereri n c n arrm s — ------__ _________________
lUggiUfe
cj n n
1c qti
H
Oct
WmI I I<ilIlia
ctli-U.
n io ir «o ni m
f l o*liioG pn rinudui iur tti ii ta - . -----------___________
» to n e , cid-y,
D -inlr tilo qrtH te r r a P.nt.ta
____. . . . . _____ ___
rJT C
n vAf lllies
ln o <
o 1in
d tLllCii
h o ir
1 111
n| «run un ilP
___________ _______
u vTnA o. . - - - ------------
3
2
1
650
620
30
4
343
1
1
1
1
11
7
1
1
2
2
1
1
68
125
105
45
896
467
147
25
257
970
64
906
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
7
3
6
3
3
33
24,698
83
3
1,589
u
Fabrics:
D y e in g a n d f in is h in g te x td p .s
____________
Q 'U r o n H r o v n u ernnds
____ _____ ___ - W O O lo ll d u ll w u i o t c u g u u u o — - - - - - - - - - - - -
3
i
1
3
4
50
8,3 1 9
1,124
3
10
7
1
90
62,915
25,085
4,445
31,365
2,020
3,990
27,161
386
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 1.-—Strikes and Lock-Outs in October 1935, by Industry— Continued
Beginning in
October
Industry
T extiles a n d th eir p ro d u cts—Continued.
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, men’s______
___
Clothing, women’s_______________
M en’s furnishings______________
Hats, caps, and millinery____. _ _ _
Shirts and collars______'_____
Hosiery________________ .
Knit goods_________________
O th er____________ ____ ____
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s _____ _ _______
Boots and shoes___ _________
__ _ . . . Other leather goods. . . . _____ __________
Food a n d kindred p ro d u cts........... ................
Baking______ _______ _______ _ . . .
Beverages_________
__________ . _
Canning and preserving...................... . . .
___
Confectionery........... . . ” .............. ...........
...
Flour and grain mills....................... . .
Slaughtering and meat packing_________
Sugar beet___________________
Other________________________ _. ______ .
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s __________ _______ . . .
Cigars___ _ _______________
Paper “a n d p r in tin g ______ ____ ___ _
Boxes, paper......................... . . . . .
Paper and pulp_______________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job_________ _____
______
Newspapers and periodicals.........................
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts_________ _____
Other... __________________________
R ubb er p ro d u cts______________________
Rubber boots and shoes..............................
M iscellaneous m a n u fa c tu r in g ___ _____
Electric light, power, and manufactured gas___
Furriers and fur factories___________ _______
Other........................ ...........................
E xtraction o f m in er a ls__________________
Coal mining, anthracite...____ ___________
Coal mining, bituminous______ ____ ____ _
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining. ____. . . .
Crude petroleum producing_________
T ra n sp o rta tio n a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n ___ . . . . .
Water transportation_____ ___________
Motor transportation______________ _
Telephone and telegraph_______ __________
Radio broadcasting"and transmitting....................
T rad e__________________________
Wholesale_______________________________
R etail____ _____ __________ ____ _______
D o m estic a n d p erson al service_____________
Hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses... .
Personal service, barbers, beauty parlors........ .
Laundries-______ ______________ ________
Elevator and maintenance workers (when not
attached to specific industry)__________
O th er...___________ ______ _
P rofession al service____________________ .
Recreation and amusement_______
B u ild in g a n d c o n s tr u c tio n _____ ___________
Buildings, exclusive of P. W. A _________
All other construction (bridges, docks, etc., and
P. W. A. buildings) ________________
A gricu lture, e tc ______ ______ ___
Fishing.................................. ..................
Other_____ ________________
R elief w ork a n d W. P . A__________ . . .
O th er n o n m a n u f a c t u r in g in d u s tr ie s ......... .........
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number
Workers
involved
5
2
1
2,236
1,250
33
3
6
1,087
8, 747
5
5
3
2
14
4
263
878
278
600
2,550
551
2
4
2
1
1
132
1, 365
334
120
48
1
1
4
353
353
290
In progress during
October
Mandays idle
during
Workers October
Number involved
9
10
4
3
4
11
1
g
9
7
2
18
5
i
2
4
2
2
1
i
i
1
7
1
3
3,689
5,231
162
217
1,182
10,379
320
904
1,283
683
600
3, 025
561
300
132
1,365
334
185
48
100
353
353
1,364
200
1,119
- 22,185
48,151
2,607
2,411
15,903
81,011
320
10,814
17,143
13, 590
3,553
39,616
4,751
6,900
2, 785
16,860
3, 784
3,940
96
500
5.648
5.648
25,293
1,400
23,532
1
245
1
2
i
1
i
i
7
1
4
2
17
2
13
1
1
18
13
3
1
1
16
1
15
5
2
7
38
70
70
20
20
908
148
440
320
40,241
781
38, 747
700
13
8,308
7,959
212
11
126
1,599
200
1,399
1,089
33
1
2
1
1
1
1
10
1
6
3
18
2
13
1
2
24
16
6
1
1
18
1
17
9
3
1
2
7
38
70
70
20
20
1,150
148
667
335
40,249
781
38, 747
700
21
12,683
12, 019
527
11
126
1,666
200
1,466
1,301
49
150
46
35
326
560
560
80
80
12,760
740
7,585
4,435
815,022
3,117
810,889
852
164
160,302
155,797
4,105
22
378
20,064
3,200
16,864
18,562
455
300
1,151
1
2
6
1, 050
411
411
265
104
1
2
2
12
8
6
1,050
411
411
684
323
6
16,650
2.077
2.077
5,310
2,197
161
2,600
2,200
400
3,421
72
4
3
1
2
14
6
361
6,600
2,200
4,400
6,880
185
3,113
51.400
33,000
18.400
27,269
2,925
2
2
6
3
3
2
1
1
10
3
2
387
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
New York, Pennsylvania, and California were the three States
experiencing the greatest number of new strikes and lock-outs in
October. Thirty-six strikes and lock-outs, involving 7,547 workers,
began in New York during the month. In Pennsylvania there were
33 new strikes and lock-outs involving 10,022 workers, and in Cali
fornia there were 14 new disputes involving 1,485 workers.
In progress during the month were 8 strikes and lock-outs which
extended into two or more States. The most important of these
were the strike of longshoremen in the Gulf ports of Texas, Louisiana,
Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, which began October 1 (see
p. 392), and the strike of employees of hosiery dyeing and finishing
plants in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, which began
October 18 and continued into November.
Table 2 .— Strikes and Lock-Outs in October 1935, by States
Beginning in Octo
ber
In progress during
October
State
N um
ber
All States,
A l a b a m a ... . . . . . . .
A r k a n s a s ..... -....
California-. . . . . . . . .
Connecticut........
District of C o l u m b i a .
Ge or gi a..... .......
Illinois. . . . . . . . . . —
I n d i a n a ... ..... ...
K e n t u c k y ---------L o u i s i a n a .... -....
M a i n e ... ..... ....
M a r y l a n d . . . . . . ...
Massachusetts-----M i c h i g a n . . . . . . ....
M i n n e s o t a - - - - ----Mi ss is si pp i.... ----Mi ssouri___________
N e w J e r s e y -------N e w M e x i c o .......
N e w Y o r k . ...... .
N o r t h Carolina.....
O h i o ............ .
O k l a h o m a .. ..... .
O r e g o n . . . . . . . . . ...
P e n n s y l v a n i a -----R h o d e Island.... .
S o u t h C a r o l i n a ----T e n n e s s e e . ........
T e x a s ..............
V e r m o n t ....... ...
Virginia----------W a s h i n g t o n - ......
W e s t Virginia-----W i s c o n s i n . ..... —
Interstate- - - - - - - - - -
Workers
involved
169
92,357
5
1
14
3
1
1
8
2
1
2
20,906
155
1,485
1,350
7
699
405
910
5,000
55
5
8
7
2
1
1
4
1
36
1,299
883
801
215
127
25
8,398
272
7,547
8
2
2
33
1
1
1
2
1
1
5
1
2
6
2,174
22
196
10,022
340
140
70
48
700
25
643
32
415
26,991
N um
ber
287
11
2
20
6
2
2
12
3
2
2
1
6
15
9
7
1
1
18
2
52
2
16
2
4
49
3
4
4
2
1
3
8
2
5
8
Workers
involved
131,901
25,804
655
6,359
1,826
79
715
1,327
1,000
5,314
55
935
1,409
4,036
899
1, 764
127
25
13,192
308
9,019
1,700
3,524
22
607
13, 562
670
1,050
462
48
700
200
1,638
97
1,722
31,051
Man-days
die during
October
1,710,599
510,317
12,120
47,564
12,426
107
6,451
20,269
16,180
117,512
165
5,610
3,870
59,706
11, 620
30,312
127
225
86,399
2,732
79,235
13,100
52,898
165
2,180
84,216
9,205
20,685
7,281
153
852
3,085
25,901
1,655
29,913
436,363
The size of each of the 169 strikes and lock-outs which began in
October, measured in terms of number of workers involved, is indi
cated in table 3.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
388
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
More than half of the disputes were small—each one involving fewer
than 100 workers. Only 11 of the 169 disputes involved as many as
1,000 workers. The largest was that of the Alabama coal miners who
were unable to get a satisfactory settlement when the general coal
strike was called off in September and who continued to strike until
the middle of November. (See December 1935 Monthly Labor
Review, p. 1578.)
T a b l e 3 .— S tr ik e s a n d L o c k -O u ts B e g in n in g in O cto b er 1 9 3 5 , C la ssifie d b y N u m b e r
o f W ork ers I n v o lv e d
Num aer of st rikes an d lock-c uts in vhich tl ie numbei of worl cers inv Dived was—
Industrial group
All industries__________________________ .
Total
100
500
1,000 5.000
10,000
6 and 20 and and
and
and
and
under under under under under under and
20
100
1,000 5,000 10.000 over
600
169
26
4
3
4
11
2
33
5
14
1
4
1
1
7
1
64
49
19
2
1
2
4
1
1
5
5
1
3
1
2
2
6
1
1
M a n u fa c tu r in g
Iron and steel and their products, not ineluding m achinery., __________________
Transportation equipm ent.. __________ ..
Nonferrous metals and their products_____
Lum ber and allied products______________
Stone, clay, and glass products__________
Textiles and their products______________
Leather and its manufactures_____________
Food and kindred products______________
Tobacco manufactures__________ _________
Paper and printing____ ____________ ____
Chemicals and allied products________
Rubber products____ __________________
Miscellaneous manufactures________ _____
1
3
1
2
2
1
2
6
1
13
2
6
1
1
1
10
2
6
1
1
1
5
N o n m a n u f a c t u r in g
Extraction of m inerals___________________
Transportation and com m unication... ___
T rade....... . . . .
. . . _ _____________
D omestic and personal service...............
..
Professional service________ ________ ____
Building and construction. _ _____________
Agriculture, etc.. - . . . . ________________
Relief work and W. P. A .............. ....................
Other nonmanufacturing in du stries... . . __
17
18
16
5
2
6
2
10
3
2
4
3
3
1
1
2
1
10
9
5
4
1
4
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
2
1
1
1
1
Matters of union organization were the major issues in 79 of the
169 strikes and lock-outs beginning in October, while wages and hours
were the major issues in 59. The 79 organizational disputes were
small, on the average involving only 30.5 percent of the workers.
The 59 wage and hour disputes involved 61.9 percent of the total
number of workers.
The major issues in the 26 disputes classified under *‘other’’ in
volved such things as objections to working under certain foremen
or managers, seniority rights, allocation of work, changes in wagepayment methods, penalties for poor work, and delayed payment of
wages.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
389
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Table 4.— Major Issues Involved in Strikes and Lock-Outs Beginning in October
1935
Workers involved
Strikes and lock-outs
Major issues
Number
All issues---------- -------- -------------------------------------- —
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
169
100.0
92, 357
100.0
59
29
3
17
3
3
3
1
79
16
13
26
10
1
13
31
2
3
26
34.9
17.1
1.8
10.0
1.8
1.8
1.8
.6
46.8
9.5
7.7
15.4
5.9
.6
7.7
18.3
1.2
1.8
15.3
57,093
41, 497
9,389
3,501
757
784
1,150
15
28,213
1.230
17,313
7,083
1,477
61
1,049
7,051
15
104
6,932
61.9
45.0
10.3
3.8
.8
.8
1.2
W agps a n il h o u r s
__________ _ ________ _____
W p gc in c r e a s e
_______________________
W age d ecrease
__________________________
Wage increase, hour decrease_____
- __ _ -AVage decrease, hour increase
______________
Wages and other c a u ses_______________________
TTnnr increase
________ ______________
TTonr decrease
_______ _____________
___
- O rgan iza tio n
______
Recognition
____________________
Recognition and wages
________________
Cllosed shop _
__________________________
Violation of agreement_________ ________________
F>i seri min ati on
________________
M is c e lla n e o u s .____
_____ ___________________
S y m p a th y ..._______________________________
Jurisdiction
_________________ _____
______________________ _______
Other
(>)
30.5
1.3
18.8
7.7
1.6
(1) 1.1
, ,
7 .6
(')
.1
7.5
-----------------
i Less than Ho of 1 percent.
The average duration of the 171 strikes and lock-outs which ended
in October was approximately 23 calendar days. More than onethird of the 171 strikes and lock-outs were terminated in less than 1
week after they began. Five of them had been in progress for 3
months or more. The most important of these was the strike of bay
and river bargemen against 15 operators in San Francisco and Stockton, Calif., which began in July and was finally settled during the
early part of October with grants of wage increases and some signed
agreements. The others were small strikes against individual com
panies.
Table 5.— Duration of Strikes and Lock-Outs Ending in October 1935
Number of strikes and lock-outs with duration
of—
Industrial group
All industries.
Total
H
1 week month
2 and
1 and
3
and
Less
less m onths
less
and
than 1 less
than 2 than 3 or more
less
week than H than 1 m onths m onths
month month
171
58
5
3
37
31
25
15
1
1
5
Manufacturing
Ircrn and steel and their products, not includ
ing machinery................... .............................. —
Machinery, not including transportation
equipment............................................... ..............
Transportation equipment.................................
Nonferrous metals and their products................
Lumber and allied produ cts......................... —
Stone, clay, and glass products...........................
Textiles and their products........................ .........
Leather and its manufactures______________
Food and kindred products------------------------Paper and printing-----------------------------------Chemicals and allied products________ _____
Rubber products....................................................
Miscellaneous manufactures................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
X
3
2
15
3
44
5
13
3
X
X
3
1
2
X
4
X
7
1
X
1
1
X
2
h
i
3
2
X
2
5
8
1
7
11
1
X
4
1
6
1
1
1
1
390
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 5.— Duration of Strikes and Lock-Outs Ending in October 1935—Contd.
Number of strikes and lock-outs with duration
of—
Industrial group
Total
Y
1 week month
2 and
1 and
3
Less
and
less
less
and
onths
th a n l
less
than 2 than 3 m
less
week than Y than 1 m onths m onths or more
month month
Nonmanufacturing
Extraction of minerals.........................
Transportation and communication.
Trade........................................................
Domestic and personal service-------Professional service......................... .
Building and construction................. .
Agriculture, etc .................................... .
Relief work and W. P. A ............... .
Other nonmanufacturing industries.
13
17
14
6
2
10
1
7
2
5
6
12
6
3
i
3
3
1
3
i
2
3
1
1
2
4
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
As indicated in table 6, 6.3 percent of the workers involved in the
171 strikes and lock-onts which ended in October obtained settlements
by negotiating directly with their employers. For 44 percent of the
workers, settlements were worked out between employers and union
representatives. Government conciliators and labor boards assisted
in working out the settlements of 55 disputes which involved 38.8
percent of the workers. The workers were represented in these nego
tiations by union representatives in most of the cases. Thirty-four
of the one hundred and seventy-one strikes and lock-outs were termi
nated without any formal settlements. In these cases the matters
in dispute were simply dropped and the workers returned to work
without any formal settlements, or else they lost their jobs when new
workers were hired to fill their places or when the employers discon
tinued operations by moving the plants or going out of business.
Table 6.— Methods of Negotiating Toward Settlement of Strikes and Lock-Outs
Ending in October 1935
Strikes and lock-outs
Negotiations toward settlements carried on by—
Number
Percent of
total
Workers involved
Number
Percent of
total
100.0
Total------------------------- ------------ ------------------------------
171
100.0
59,109
Employers and workers directly...... ..................................
Employers, and representatives, of organized workers
directly..................................................... ...........................
Government conciliators or labor boards........................
Private conciliators or arbitrators.......................... ............
Terminated without formal settlem ent............................
11
6.4
3,701
6.3
69
55
2
34
40.3
32.2
1.2
19.9
25,981
22,958
2,125
4,344
44.0
38.8
3.6
7.3
The results of the 171 strikes and lock-outs which ended in October
are indicated in tables 7 and 8. Seventy-eight of the disputes, in
cluding 53.4 percent of the total number of workers involved, re
sulted in substantial gains to the workers. Little or no gains were
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
391
IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S
obtained by 13.9 percent of the workers involved in strikes and
lock-outs, and 32.3 percent obtained compromise settlements.
The workers obtained substantial gains as a result of 48.0 percent
of the wages-and-hours disputes and 44.5 percent of the disputes over
union-organization matters. They obtained little or no gains from
26.7 percent of the wages-and-hours disputes and from 37.3 percent
of the organization disputes.
In speaking of the results of strikes and lock-outs, it should be kept
in mind that the results are interpreted and classified according to
the degree in relation to causes, to which workers have benefited from
the strike settlement. Because of the many complex and intangible
factors involved in any labor dispute, it is impossible categorically to
define the results in absolute terms. The Bureau attempts to evaluate
all the circumstances and to measure in relative terms whether the
settlement resulted in workers gaining or losing the demands or issues
which originally caused the dispute.
Table 7.—Results of Strikes and Lock-Outs Ending in October 1935
Workers involved
Strikes and lock-outs
Results
Percent
of total
Number
Number
Percent
of total
Total--------------- ----------------------------------------------------
171
100.0
59,109
100.0
Substantial gains to workers________________ ____
Partial gains or compromises.- ------- ----------------------Little or no gains to workers-----------------------------------Jurisdiction or rival unions------------------------------------Undetermined.____ _________________________ _____
N ot reported---------------------------- ----------------------------
78
36
51
4
1
1
45.6
21.1
29.8
2.3
.6
.6
31, 592
19,118
8,197
154
38
10
53.4
32.3
13. 9
.3
.1
(>)
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Table 8.— Results of Strikes and Lock-Outs Ending in October 1935, in Relation
to Major Issues Involved
Number of strikes and lock-outs resulting in—
Major issue
All issues
___________________________
W ages a n d h o u rs
_____
Wage increase
Wage decrease
Wage increase, honr decrease
Wage decrease, hour increase
Wages and other causes
Hour increase
Hour decrease
O rgan iza tio n
____
Recognition
_____
Recognition and wages
Recognition, wages, and hours
Recognition and other causes
Closed shop
___
Violation of agreement
Discrimination
.
________ ____
M iscellan eou s .
____________ . .
Sym pathy .
Different unions competing for control.
Jurisdiction
Other____ _______________ __________
4 2 7 0 4 - 3 6 - ------8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Total
Sub
stan
tial
gains to
workers
Partial
Little
gains
or no
or com gains
to
pro
workers
mises
171
78
36
51
60
29
14
16
24
10
6
6
3
6
1
5
7
10
15
4
1
2
4
4
1
83
37
15
16
22
1
12
1
16
28
1
1
3
23
31
9
4
4
1
5
5
12
2
7
1
9
4
6
4
N ot re
ported
1
1
1
1
7
5
12
1
4
1
1
5
13
1
6
1
4
3
15
6
Juris
diction
Un
or rival deter
union mined
settle
ments
4
1
3
1
1
392
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
S trik e o f L ongshorem en o n th e G u lf Coast
RIOR to 1921 most of the shipping companies using ports on the
Gulf Coast had collective agreements with the International
Longshoremen’s Association. After the strikes of 1921 and 1923, the
ports east of the Mississippi River operated on a nonunion basis.
In the west Gulf ports, however, practically all the cargo handling
continued to be done by members of the longshoremen’s local unions.
Wages in the east Gulf ports were lower than those in the west.
Working conditions in New Orleans were less satisfactory than those
found in any other port.1
Union organization along the entire Gulf Coast strengthened dur
ing 1934. The number of locals doubled in Texas, the Lake Charles
workers secured union recognition, and union membership increased
considerably in the east Gulf ports. Concurrently, independent
unions not affiliated with the International Longshoremen’s Associa
tion became more active. The New Orleans Steamship Association
signed an agreement with the Louisiana Longshoremen’s Association,
an independent union,2 effective until April 1937. The agreements
with these independent unions provided for lower wage rates than
those set in the International Longshoremen’s Association contracts
in the Texas ports. As a consequence, when Texas International
Longshoremen’s Association locals asked for higher wages, shippers
stated that no higher wages could be paid as long as rates were lower
in the Gulf ports.
Dissatisfaction and agitation increased during the spring of 1935.
Early in September the International Longshoremen’s Association
threatened a strike in the east Gulf ports if wages were not increased
and the International recognized as the bargaining agency. The 23
large shipping operators concerned refused this demand and the strike
was called on October 1. The strike inconvenienced but did not
prevent the unloading of boats, as nonunion workers and members
of the independent unions were hired.
Because the Texas longshoremen felt that they had a stake in the
outcome of the east Gulf strike, the Texas and Lake Charles locals
joined the strike on October 10, resulting in a general longshore strike
involving 7,500 men in all ports from Pensacola, Fla., to Corpus
Christi, Tex. The specific demands of the west Gulf group were a
5-cent increase in hourly rates, retention of Lake Charles in the
Texas agreement, union recognition in New Orleans and in east Gulf
ports, and termination of all agreements in September 1936 (the same
date as that set in the Pacific coast contracts). The steamship com
panies intimated that they were willing to grant wage increases for
the Texas ports, with contracts to expire in June 1936 or June 1937,
P
1 U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 550, Washington, 1932, p. 88.
2 The term “independent” as used in this article refers to longshoremen’s unions not affiliated with the
International Longshoremen’s Association.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ports A ffected by the L ongshoremen S trike
October 1935
hH
§
ö
dQC
co
co
co
394
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
but contended that no settlement was possible as long as the union
insisted on the inclusion of New Orleans and other east Gulf ports in
the agreement. The union contended that most of the steamship
lines serving New Orleans also entered Texas ports, and that there
should be contract arrangements at all ports.
Because of the relatively greater union strength in the west Gulf
ports, the strike was more effective there than at New Orleans. How
ever, within a few days the Texas ports were reopened with nonunion
men, many of whom were housed in warehouses near the piers.
Unloading, nevertheless, was seriously crippled, due to shortage of
men and interference by union pickets. In Houston several hundred
colored members of the International Longshoremen’s Association
withdrew and organized an independent union, the Lone Star Colored
Longshoremen’s Benevolent Association. An independent white
union was also organized. Both unions made contracts with the
Houston Maritime Committee, which continued the local custom of
dividing the work equally between white and colored workers. A few
days later, Lake Charles shipping interests signed an agreement with
the Louisiana Longshoremen’s Association, including the same pro
visions as the Lone Star contract. This action so increased the
tension that the Governor of the State closed the port for several
weeks, after a disturbance near the pier in which several persons were
killed. Shippers at Beaumont, Tex., organized a maritime associa
tion and offered a contract to the International Longshoremen’s
Association locals, who rejected it, insisting on a coast-wide agreement.
During the last week of October, the president of the International
Longshoremen’s Association, visited Texas and threatened a general
shipping boycott on Atlantic and Pacific coasts if the strike was not
satisfactorily settled. With the situation becoming steadily worse
and a general longshoremen’s strike about to be called, the Secretary
of Labor, on November 23, appointed a mediation board and asked
that strikers immediately return to work and remain at work pending
proceedings before the board. The board was faced with an extremely
confused situation involving various groups of shipping interests—
coastwise, intercoastal and deep sea—and small companies as well as
large companies dependent upon advice from their New York offices.
Also, there were the rival independent unions with signed contracts
which they were unwilling to have abrogated, whereas the Interna
tional Longshoremen’s Association insisted that it should be the
bargaining agent for all the Gulf ports.
The board proceeded to hold hearings in each city, seeking the best
solution for the existing conditions found in each individual port.
Some shipping representatives at first refused to meet with the board.
On December 2, the intercoastal steamship companies having offices
in New York City notified their Houston representatives to negotiate
with the International Longshoremen’s Association at Texas and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S
395
Lake Charles, and to abide by the decisions of the board regarding
the settlement at the east Gulf ports.
A number of settlements were concluded during December. At
Houston the International Longshoremen’s Association agreed to
issue a charter to the independent colored union, allowing all its mem
bers, who were actually engaged in longshore work before the strike, to
join the new International Longshoremen’s Association local. Three
of the four coastwise companies entered into agreements with the
I. L. A. on the west Gulf coast and the two intercoastal shippers
signed agreements with the I. L. A. at the Texas and New Orleans
ports. Thus, for the first time in 12 years, two large shipping com
panies entered into contracts with the International Longshoremen’s
Association at New Orleans. These agreements provide for a day
rate of 80 cents per hour, $1.20 for overtime and for work on Sundays
and holidays, and 15 cents per bale for stowing cotton by hand.
The board conducted an election at Mobile, Ala., which resulted in
a vote of 961 for representation through the International Long
shoremen’s Association as against 19 for representation through the
independent unions. The I. L. A. was thereupon declared to be the
bargaining agent and the contracts of the independents were taken
over by the I. L. A. Since the members of the Mobile Maritime Com
mittee were also the leading operators at Gulfport, Miss., and Pen
sacola, Fla., they agreed to enter into agreements, for the latter ports,
similar to the Mobile settlement.
At Lake Charles the independent unions were unwilling to submit
to arbitration and continued to work under the contracts which
obtained during the early period of the strike.
No settlement was reached during December with the 21 deep-sea
shipping companies whose ships loaded and discharged cargo at all
of the Gulf ports.
C onciliation W ork of th e D ep artm en t of Labor in
Decem ber 1935
B y H ugh L . K e r w in , D irector of C o n c iliatio n
URING December 1935 the Secretary of Labor, through the
Conciliation Service, exercised her good offices in connection with
50 disputes, which affected a known total of 15,652 employees. Of
these disputes 24 were adjusted, 3 were referred to other agencies, 5
were “unclassified”, and 18 were still pending. The table following
shows the name and location of the establishment or industry in
which the dispute occurred, the nature of the dispute (whether strike
or lockout, or controversy not having reached the strike or lockout
stage), the craft or trade concerned, the cause of the dispute, its
present status, the terms of settlement, the date of beginning and
ending, and the number of workers directly and indirectly involved.
D
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CO
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of December 1935
CO
05
Nature of
controversy
H. C. Cook Printing Co.,
Steubenville, Ohio.
Park Drop Forge Co., Cleve
land, Ohio.
Controversy
Sulphite Paper Co., Port
Huron, Mich.
Shell Petroleum Co., Wood
River, 111.
Central Ohio Steel Products
Co., Galion, Ohio.
Hunter Picture Frame Co.,
New York City.
Gaseteria
Station,
Terre
Haute, Ind.
Tauber Bros., Chicago, 111----Milwaukee Waste Paper Co.,
1 Milwaukee, Wis.
Standard Oil Co., Sugar
Creek, Mo.
Reiset Dress Co., Atlanta, Ga.
Paramount Theaters, Chi
cago, 111.
Motor Products Co., Detroit,
Mich.
Automobile workers, Port
Huron, Mich.
Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn
Railroad, Boston and Lynn,
Mass.
Morris Shoe Co., New York
City.
Weiner Provision Co., Akron,
Ohio.
Vermont Marble Co., Proctor,
Vt.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cause of dispute
Craftsmen concerned
Printing pressmen------- Wages, union recognition, and
collective bargaining.
Drop-forge workers....... Wage rates for apprentices............
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Commis
sioner
assigned
Assignment
com
pleted
1935
Dec. 1
1935
Pending_______ _____ __________
Oct. 15
Dec. 14
Dec.
2
Dec. 17
1
Dec.
3
Dec. 10
700
Dec.
2
Dec.
175
Adjusted; 10 cents per hour in
crease to 3 apprentices; increase
to machinists.
Unclassified;
settled by parties
Controversy Paper workers________ Discharge of union officer. ............
concerned.
Pending...........................................
.
Threatened Engineers........................ Wage dispute and interpretation
of existing agreement.
strike.
Adjusted;
satisfactory
settlement.
Lock-out___ M achinists-..................... Wage cuts from 25 to 75 percent. .
Threatened
strike.
___ do_____
Controversy
Frame makers................
Shoe workers...................
Office workers.................
Strike--------- Marble workers............
1,300
25
Oct. 15
Dec. 13
4
3
Dec.
Dec.
2
4
Dec. 4
Dec. 10
7
100
28
400
Dee.
2
Dec. 17
9
Dec.
Dec.
6
2
Dec. 15
Dec. 10
21
70
Dec.
4
Dec. 17
Motor-accessory mak Asked collective bargaining..........
ers.
M etal workers................ Alleged violation of seniority Adjusted; satisfactory settlement..
rights.
Railroad workers........... Asked collective bargaining.......... ____do................... —.............................
Controversy
6
207
N ov. 29
Filling-station workers . One worker laid o ff................. .......
Lock-out___
7
18
Adjusted; worker reinstated with
pay.
Adjusted; worker reinstated_____
Adjusted; closed shop and in
crease of 20 percent.
Adjusted; accepted arbitration
under industrial relations plan.
Adjusted; satisfactory settlement..
Adjusted; returned to work pend
ing negotiations.
Pending..............................................
Strike--------- Upholsterers_________
Threatened Waste-paper handlers
and teamsters.
strike.
Controversy Mason tenders................ Asked increase from 63 to 75 cents
per hour.
____do............ Dress manufacturers__ Wages and working conditions...
Strike..........- Theater workers............ Working conditions.........................
Threatened
strike.
In
direct
ly
Collective bargaining refused........ Pending...............................................
Discharge of a worker.....................
Asked closed-shop agreement-----
Threatened
strike.
Controversy
D i
rect
ly
1,300
350
250
20
Pending................................................
N ov. 22
Wage cut of 20 percent
Unclassified; case pending in court.
Dec. 10
Dec. 14
50
Low wages and working condi
tions.
Unclassified; conditions somewhat
improved.
N ov. 28
Dec. 26
600
.do.
850
300
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Company or industry and
location
Workers involved
Controversy
Refinery workers.
Alleged discharges
activity.
Machinists, Oakland, C a lif... Threatened
strike.
Building trades, Buffalo, ControversyN . Y.
Colonial Molasses Co., Wil Threatened
strike.
liamsburg, N . Y.
Mack Truck Co., Chicago, 111- Controversy.
Machinists______
........do.................................................
Building-trades work
ers.
Syrup-plant w orkers...
Working conditions.......................
Starlight Refining Co., Earns
City, Pa.
1 N ot yet reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Casket m akers..
Shoe workers-------Printing pressmen.
Wages, hours, and collective bar
gaining.
Asked signed agreement; com
pany refused.
Reinstatement of former workers
as agreed.
Wages________________________
Wages, hours, and conditions___
Adjusted; agreed to reinstate those
discharged when business war
rants.
Adjusted; reinstated those dis
charged; all remained at work.
Pending___ _____________ ______
6
Dec. 12
Dec. 12
Dec. 20
Dec.
Dec. 11
6
Dec.
7
28
1
Dec.
5
26
Adjusted; satisfactory agreement.
P en d in g...................... .....................
Dec. 1
Dec. 17
Dec. 14
Adjusted; company signed agree
ment satisfactory to workers.
Pending......... .....................................
Dec. 16
Glass workers___
Wages and working conditions...
Adjusted; satisfactory settlement..
Dec. 11
Asked increase and closed shop.. Pending.
Reinstatement of 8 strikers_____ ___ d o ....
Wages and working conditions... ----- d o.—
Dec. 24
400
175
200
8
1,800
160
113
___ do....................................................
Ang. 18
0)
Radio workers________
Oct.
1
-do.
1,200
62
Dec. 18
Asked union wage scale and agree Adjusted; signed union agree
ment with union wages.
ment.
Alleged discrimination for union Adjusted; no discrimination; those
laid off recalled.
activities.
Proposed wage cut____ _________ Unable to adjust; cut maintained
by operators.
Adjusted; agreed to continue rota
Working conditions___
tion as asked.
Pending______________________ _
___ do...... .........................
25
0)
Dec. 20
Dec. 17
5
Shoe workers................ .
Dee. 17
600
Pending_______________________
Dec.
Employees....................... Violation of agreement.
700
20
Adjusted; seniority rights restored.
Working conditions...................... ___ d o....................................................
Longshoremen________
Dec. 16
Dec. 17
July 1
N ov. 29
Oil-field workers______
Envelope makers_____
(i)
Dec. 10
General dissatisfaction_________
Teamsters______ _____
1,107
N ov.
Working conditions...................... .
Dispute relative to seniority
rights.
Jurisdiction of work on polishing
machines.
Filling-station workers. Seniority rights_____ , _________
7
0)
Unclassified; referred to N ew York
office of company.
Pending................................................
Leather workers.
Sand and gravel work
ers.
Machinists___________
15
Adjusted; satisfactory settlement— Dec.
Fish canners........
Drivers______
Mechanics___
Truck drivers.
2
35
(1)
Dec. 18
30
30
Dec. 13 —_do___
15
330
Dec. 23
Dec. 29
Dec. 16
Dec. 21
Dec. 21
300
207
10
(0
Dec. 28
(')
Discharge of 4 workers.
Adjusted; workers reinstated-------
Sept. 15
Dec. 23
4
92
D rivers.____ _________ W orking hours_______
Adjusted; agreed on starting time;
other questions to be arbitrated.
N ov. 18
Dec. 27
20
800
Lunch-room workers.. .
IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S
Hamilton Casket Co., Chi Strike............
cago, 111.
Selby Shoe Co., Ironton, Ohio. ___ do...........
Wm. Byrd Press, Richmond, Controversy.
Va.
Robt. H . Foederer, Inc., Strike__
Philadelphia, Pa.
California Packing Co., Ter ___ do— .
minal Island, Calif.
Cambridge Glass Co., Cam Controversy.
bridge, Ohio
Coal drivers, South Bend, Ind Strike..
United Air Lines, Chicago, Ill- ____do.
Truck drivers, Philadelphia, ........do.
Pa.
American Aggregates Corp., Threatened
Massillon, Ohio.
strike.
Oakes Manufacturing Co., Strike_____
Waukegan, 111.
Sinclair Petroleum Co., M il Controversy.
waukee, Wis.
White Eagle Refinery, Cas ____do_____
per, Wyo.
Levinson Radio Stores, Chi ____do...........
cago, 111.
Union Envelope Co., Rich ........ do_____
mond, Va.
Coal teamsters, Springfield, Threatened
111.
strike.
Longshoremen, St. Louis, Mo. Strike______
and East St. Louis, 111.
Ettlebrick Shoe Manufac Controversy.
turing Co.
Bingham Co., Cleveland,
..d o -------Ohio.
Lunchroom workers, New
..d o ...........
York City.
..d o ...........
Bakery workers, Oakland,
Calif.
Auto mechanics.
for union
GO
CO
CO
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of December 1935— Continued
CO
oo
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of settle Commis
sioner
ment
assigned
E m p lo y ees........... .
Discharges for union affiliation... Pending___ _______ ____________
Neckwear w orkers..
Company refused to renew agree Unable to adjust; case pending in ...d o ___
court.
ment with union.
Unionization of w orkers............... Adjusted; agreed on unionization.. Dec. 24
Fortnum & Mason, Inc., New Strike..
York City.
W m. H. Block Co., Indian ___ do.
apolis, Ind.
Ladies’ tailors.
Total.
1 N ot yet reported ,
Coopers------- ---------
Carpenters and iron
workers.
Wages and working conditions... Adjusted; allowed 40-hour week,
hand coopers 60 cents per hour
and machine operators 50 cents.
Tailoring department discon Unable to adjust................................
tinued.
Jurisdiction of installation of re Unable to adjust jurisdiction.
volving doors in new store.
(>)
Dec. 16
Dec. 18
Dec. 27
1936
Jan. 2
Dec. 20
Jan.
7
Dec.
Jan.
3
9
D i
In
rect direct
ly
ly
210
8, 375
7, 277
1930
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Restaurant workers .
1935
Workers in
volved
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — F E B R U A R Y
1935
Dec. 2
Welsh-Hartman
Co.,
St. Controversy
Louis, Mo.
Morris Kornberg Co., New Strike............
York City.
N . Raub Restaurant, Chi Controversy.
cago, 111.
Owensboro Cooperage Co., ........do............
Owensboro, K y .
Assign
ment
com
pleted
399
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
In d u strial D isputes in Irish F ree State, 1934 1
HE number of industrial disputes in the Irish Free State and
the number of workers involved in them increased in 1934 as
compared to 1933, but the total of working days lost through strikes
was considerably less. During the year 99 disputes occurred, involving
9,288 workers and resulting in a total of 180,080 working days lost.
The number of days lost on account of strikes during the preceding
year was 200,126.
The causes of the 99 stoppages are analyzed thus: Wages, 49;
engagement or dismissal of workers, 24; trade-union questions, 11;
hours of labor, 2; other causes, 13. The workers’ claims were granted
in full in 41 cases, and partially granted in 33; 18 strikes were lost,
and 7 remained unsettled at the end of the year. Direct negotiation
was the method of adjustment in 65 cases, voluntary conciliation in
23, and voluntary arbitration in 5. The Government, through the
trade and industries branch of the Department of Industry and
Commerce, interceded in 20 of these disputes.
The industries in which strikes occurred during 1934, the number of
workers involved, and the total working time lost are shown in the
following table:
T
Number
of
Industrial Disputes, Number of Workers Involved, and Working
Time Lost, in Irish Free State, 1934, by Industry
Industry
Work
Dis ers in
putes volved
Days
lost
Industry
Chemical_______________
Printing and paper _
Building, etc____________
Rail, tram, b u s . . ------Other transport_________
Retail tr a d e s__________
Public-utility serv ices---Others_______________ --
All industries____________
99
9,288
180,080
Mining and quarrying____
Food, drink, tobacco______
Textile_____________ ____
Clothing, boots__________
Furniture, woodwork____
Engineering and shipbuild
ing--------------- --------------
7
7
4
6
6
346
872
1,185
459
242
24,454
7,522
11,961
7,266
2,162
10
406
5,989
Work
D is ers in
putes volved
2
2
30
2
4
4
8
7
1 Data are from report of Edwin J. King, American vice consul at Dublin, Oct. 26, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
55
1,050
1,712
1,800
445
350
237
129
D ays
lost
665
31,400
35,383
6,900
24,790
9,198
10,985
1,405
LABOR TURN-OVER
Labor T u rn -O v e r in M an u factu rin g Establishm ents,
N ovem ber 1935
ESPITE a modetate rise in separations and a sharp decline in
accessions, the hiring rate at representative manufacturing
establishments remained above the separation rate in November
1935. According to the monthly survey of labor turn-over made by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the accession rate fell from 5.23 per
100 employees in October to 3.63 in November. At the same time,
the separation rate rose from 3.13 to 3.55 per 100 employees.
The turn-over rates shown in the following tables represent the
number of changes per 100 employees on the pay rolls during the
month. These data were compiled from reports received by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics from more than 5,000 representative
manufacturing establishments in 144 industries. Nearly 2,200,000
workers were employed by the firms reporting to the Bureau in
November.
D
Trend by Months
A lthough the total separation rate was higher in November than
in October, both the quit rate and the discharge rate declined. These
declines, however, were more than offset by an increase in the lay-off
rate which advanced from 2.03 in October to 2.58 in November.
Compared with the corresponding month of last year the total
separation rate shows a substantial reduction.
The monthly trend of labor turn-over for manufacturing as a
whole is shown in table 1 for 1934 and the first 11 months of 1935.
Table 1.— Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (per 100 Employees) in Representa
tive Factories in 144 Industries
Class of rate and Aver Jan.
year
age
Quit rate:
1935_________
1934________
Discharge rate:
1935_________
1934________
Lay-off rate:1
1935................_
1934________
Total separation
rate:
1935________
1934_________
Accession rate:
1935.......... .
1934________
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
M ay June
July
Aug. j3ept.
Oct.
Nov. Dec.
0.89
0. 76
.90
0. 73
.85
0.75
.93
0.93
1.11
1. 21
1.01
0.83
.94
0. 90
.70
0.86
.75
1.05
1. 55
0.89
. 73
0. 77
.62
0. 58
.19
. 18
.18
.18
.19
.17
.21
.20
.23
. 17
.22
.20
.18
.20
. 19
.21
. 19
. 19
. 16
.21
. 19
.20
. 15
.15
3. 02
2.10
2. 35
1.88
1.85
2. 32
2.08
2. 60
2.04
3. 00
3. 65
3.46
3.48
2. 57
2.96
2.70
3. 56
1.95
3.41
2.03
4. 38
2.58
3. 78
2. 72
4.10
3.04
3. 43
2.79
2.89
3.24
3. 22
3.73
3. 38
4. 38
4.88
4. 49
4. 60
3. 67
3.85
3. 77
4. 50
3.19
5.12
3.13
5. 30
3.55
4. 55
3.45
4. 74
6. 33
5.81
4.23
6. 71
3. 79
6. 33
3. 63
5.18
3. 01
4.19
3.18
3. 58
4.17
3.71
4. 60
3. 24
4. 95
3. 61
5. 23
4. 09
3. 63
4.32
6.14
i Including temporary, indeterminate, and permanent lay-offs.
400
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LABOR TURN-OYER
401
402
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — F E B R U A R Y
1936
Analysis for 12 Industries
R eports received from representative plants in 12 industries
employing at least 25 percent of the workers in each industry, as
measured by the 1933 Census of Manufactures make possible special
tabulations for these industries in table 2.
The highest accession rate in any of the 12 industries was reported
by the slaughtering and meat-packing industry, the lowest by petroleum
refining. Petroleum refining also registered the lowest quit rate.
The highest was shown in the automotive industry. The men’s
clothing industry showed the lowest discharge rate and automobiles
and sawmills the highest. Sawmills registered the highest lay-off
rate and iron and steel the lowest. The highest total separation rate
was indicated in sawmills and the lowest in iron and steel.
Table
2
.— Monthly Turn-Over Rates (per 100 Employees) in Specified
Industries
Automobiles
Class of rates
1.42
.33
2.85
4. 60
7.89
1934
1.18
.29
2. 21
3.68
17.46
0.65
. 13
3. 25
4.03
17. 30
Cigars and cigarettes
Quit rate.....................__
Discharge rate..............
Lay-off rate...................
Total separation rate...
Accession rate...............
1. 00
. 17
1.38
2.55
1.79
1.30
.27
.60
2.17
3.18
(9
(9
(9
(9
(')
Furniture
Quit rate___ ______
Discharge rate........ .
Lay-off rate............
Total separation rate.
Accession rate............
0. 64
.29
3.31
4.24
2. 38
0. 71
.26
2.24
3. 21
5. 71
1935
0. 44
. 15
3. 22
3.81
2.16
1 Rates not available.
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0.39
. 12
2.27
2.78
1.68
0.62
.14
2.43
3.19
2.28
1934
0. 61
. 12
1.87
2. 60
1.65
0. 47
.12
3. 63
4. 22
2.61
Cotton manufacturing
1.11
.25
2.48
3. 84
4.17
1. 24
.28
2.14
3. 66
5. 82
0. 93
.29
4. 09
5.31
3.93
Iron and steel
0.43
. 15
4. 44
5. 02
3. 33
0.79
.08
1. 35
2. 22
2.51
Petroleum refining
Quit rate.......... .........
Discharge rate.........
Lay-off rate_______
Total separation rate.
Accession rate______
Bricks
No
No
No October No
No October No
vember October
1935 vember vember
1935 vember vember
1935 vember
1935
Quit rate..... ..............
Discharge rate...........
Lay-ofl rate............
Total separation rate.
Accession rate______
Boots and shoes
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
1.12
. 11
1. 29
2. 52
2. 50
1.44
.42
5.44
7.30
5.12
0.67
. 13
6.13
6. 93
5.31
1934
0. 67
.20
5. 49
6. 36
6.78
0.38
.16
10. 77
11.31
10. 76
Foundries and machine
shops
0. 75
.25
1. 65
2.65
4.51
0. 79
.30
2. 40
3. 49
4. 52
0.46
. 17
2. 78
3.41
4.10
Men’s clothing
0. 62
.07
1.78
2.47
1. 65
0.77
.05
2.66
3.48
2.74
0.83
.06
2. 54
3. 43
3.14
0. 42
.06
3. 73
4. 21
3. 03
Slaughtering and meat
packing
Sawmills
1.33
.33
6. 53
8. 19
4.67
1935
0. 94
.43
6.38
7. 75
4.35
0.82
.26
6.47
7. 55
8.28
0. 77
.21
5. 09
6. 07
9.01
0. 66
.35
12.71
13. 72
11. 57
403
LABOR TURN-OVER
Labor T u rn -O v e r in M a n u factu rin g In d u stries in
Poland, 1933 and 1934 1
N THE building trades of Poland the entire labor force was changed
about two and one-half times in 1933, but the turn-over was some
what less in the following year. Official figures which appear in the
following tables, showing the labor turn-over in large-scale and
medium-sized manufacturing industries indicate that the building
industry had the largest turn-over of labor.1 Next in order were the
foodstuff industries, in which the labor force was changed about one
and one-half times a year. The lowest turn-over occurred in the
chemical industry, paper, and printing and graphic trades, in which
the labor force was changed only by about 50 percent.
I
Labor Turn-Over in Manufacturing Industries in Poland, 1933 and 1934 1
Separation rate 2
Accession rate 2
Industry
1934 '
1933
1934
1933
All industries---- ---------- ------------------------ ----- --------- -
95
87
83
80
Stone, glass, and ceramic
__
___
M etal _
__ ___________________________________
Chemical
________________________________
Textile
_
_
_______________________________
______________________________
Paper
Leather
______________ ___________
Timber
________________________ ____ _
Foodstuff
_______________ ________ -Clothing
_ ________________________ —
Building
________________________
Printing and graphic
____________________
145
75
44
67
50
65
122
157
127
269
50
137
70
35
54
38
76
106
168
94
235
56
135
72
35
47
41
71
112
156
85
244
46
122
57
26
46
30
64
108
168
94
230
53
1 Large- and medium-scale industries are composed of the establishments employing 20 or more workers.
2 Rates based on average number normally employed.
Labor T u rn -O v e r in th e Soviet U n io n , 1928, 1930, and
1934
HE turn-over of labor in certain industries of the Soviet Union
(U. S. S. R.) is shown in the following table for the years 1928,
1930, and 19342. Decreases in both accession and separation rates
occurred in all of the industries covered, from 1930 to 1934, except
crude-petroleum production in which there were slight increases.
Coal mining showed the greatest decrease in both accession and sep
aration rates, while the smallest decrease in accession rates was found
in the cotton industry and in separation rates in machine building
and electrical equipment.
T
i Concise Statistical Yearbook of Poland, 1935, published by the Central Bureau of Statistics of
Poland, Warsaw, 1935 (p. 146).
2 Data are from Soviet Union (U. S. S. R .), State Planning Commission, The U . S. S. R. in Figures,
Moscow, 1935 (p. 246).
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404
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Labor Turn-Over Rates in Large-Scale Industries 1 in the Soviet Union, 1928,
1930, and 1934
Accession rates 2
Separation rates 2
Industry
1928
1930
1934
1928
1930
1934
All industries-------------- ----------------------------- --------- - ..........
100.8
176.4
100.5
92.4
152.4
96.7
Coal mining _____ _ ___
_______ —
C m b e -p e t.rn len m production
________________
F e r r o u s m e t a ll u r g y
__ ____________________
Machine b u i ld i n g a n d e le c tric a l e q u i p m e n t .
I ro n - o r e m in i n g
_______________________
Chemical i n d u s t r y
______________________
C o t to n i n d u s t r y
________________ ______
140.4
36.0
78.0
62.4
160.8
81.6
37.2
307.2
98.4
163.2
148.8
301.2
150.0
48.0
90.7
101.0
75.8
79.3
123.1
88.9
46.9
132.0
42.0
69.6
50.4
141. 6
68.4
31.2
295.2
90.0
145.2
96.0
288.0
123.6
62.4
95.4
92.1
69.9
74.6
111.5
80.5
43.1
1 Large-scale industry comprises all industrial enterprises equipped with mechanical driving power and
employing no less than 16 wage earners, and those employing no less than 30 wage earners if without
mechanical power.
2 Rates based on average number of workers on pay roll.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
A verage A n n u a l Wage and S alary P aym ents in M ining
and Q u a rry in g in O hio, 1929-34 1
HE average annual wage and salary payment in 1934 to persons
employed in coal mining in Ohio was $822; in fire-clay mining,
$760; in limestone quarrying, $932; and in sandstone quarrying,
$807. The average annual wage and salary payment was higher
in 1934 than in 1931, 1932, and 1933 in coal mining and higher than
in 1932 and 1933 in each of the other three industries. Superin
tendents and managers are not included in coal mining but are
included in the other three industries.
The average number of persons reported employed in 1934 was
higher than in any year since 1926 in coal mining, higher than in
any year since 1930 in limestone quarrying, and higher than in 1932
and 1933 in fire-clay mining and in sandstone quarrying.
T
Source and Scope of Study
T h is study is based on reports made annually by employers, as
required by law, immediately after the close of each calendar year to
the division of labor statistics, Department of Industrial Relations of
Ohio.
Reports covering employment, wage and salary payments, produc
tion, etc., are requested of all mines and quarries, regardless of the
number of persons employed. Cooperative mines and those in which
the owner does his own work also are requested to supply production
data. The returns are compiled promptly by the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics, and an annual report covering mines and quarries
was published for 11 of the 19 years, 1916 to 1934. Reports have not
been published in printed form for the years 1930-34, but mimeo
graphed copies of important tables have been made available.
i B y Fred C. Croxton, Columbus, Ohio, and Frederick E. Croxton, Columbia University. An article
in the M onthly Labor Review for November 1935 presented similar data for mining and quarrying for
1916-33. A series of articles covering average annual wage and salary payments in other industries in
Ohio was published in the M onthly Labor Review beginning in January 1934, a second series began in
April 1935, and a third series will begin shortly.
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405
406
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
The annual reports made by employers show the number of persons
employed, on both tonnage and time basis, on the 15th of each month
or the pay roll nearest the 15th. The averages were computed by
dividing the total of the monthly figures by 12. Employers are
requested to report total wage and salary payments in dollars,
including bonuses and premiums and value of board and lodging
furnished, but are instructed not to include salaries of officials. The
average annual wage and salary payment was computed by dividing
the total wage and salary payment for the year by the average number
of persons employed. These averages should not be taken as-exact
measures but as approximate figures. Average annual wage and
salary payments as here computed do not show full-time earnings,
as employers are not requested to furnish, in connection with their
annual reports, full information concerning number or proportion
of employees on full time, part time, and overtime. Employers are
requested to report the number of days worked in certain occupations
in coal mining, and, within classified groups, the number of days
other types of mines and quarries are in operation. Average full-time
earnings may be either greater or less than the computed average.
The changes in the averages from year to year do not afford any
measure of changes in wage or salary scales or rates of pay.
Coal Mining
T h e average number of persons (not including superintendents and
managers) reported employed in and around coal mines in Ohio in
1934 was 26,142, which was an increase of 4,411, or 20.3 percent, over
1932. The 1934 average was higher than in any year since 1926 and
only 1,302, or 4.7 percent, below 1926. These averages do not include
persons engaged in cooperative mining and owners who do their own
work.
Total wage and salary payments to wage earners in coal mining in
Ohio in 1934 were greater than in any year since 1929. The 1934
payments exceeded 1933 by $6,856,652, or 47.8 percent, and were
$2,031,811, or 8.7 percent, below the 1929 payments.
The average annual wage and salary payment to wage earners and
office help combined (“office help” comprised less than 1 percent of
the total number reported employed) in 1934 was $822, which was
higher than in 1931, 1932, and 1933. The average in 1934 was $153,
or 22.9 percent, above 1933 and $302, or 26.9 percent, below 1929.
During the 19 years, 1916-34, the highest average number of
persons, exclusive of superintendents and managers, reported em
ployed in and around coal mines was 50,078 in 1918 and the lowest
13,601 in 1928. The second highest average was in 1920 and the
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
407
second lowest in 1932. The average in 1934 was higher than in 7
(1927-33) of the 18 preceding years, but 23,936, or 47.8 percent,
lower than in 1918. Persons engaged in cooperative mining and those
who do their own work are not included in these averages.
Maximum employment (exlusive of superintendents and mana
gers) in coal mining was 56,850 in November 1922, and minimum
employment 5,499 in May 1932. Employment was second lowest
in April 1922. The percentage fluctuation in 1934 was less than in
15 of the 18 preceding years.
In 1934 the average number of days worked by pick miners in
pick mines was lower than in any year since 1922; by loaders (hand),
including drillers and shooters in machine mines, the highest since
1930; and by employees in strip mines, higher than in 1933. The
reports of the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics state than in com
puting these averages “average days worked per pick miner, loader,
and employee of strip mines, are weighted according to number
employed in each classification.”
The highest total payment to wage earners, including both tonnage
and time workers, was made in 1920 and the second highest in 1923.
The lowest total payment to wage earners was made in 1932 and the
second lowest in 1933. Total payments to wage earners in 1934
were higher than in 5 of the preceding 18 years, but $60,007,720, or
73.9 percent, lower than in 1920.
The highest average annual payment during the 19 years, 1916 to
1934, was in 1920, and the second and third highest were in 1923 and
1926. The lowest average annual payment was in 1932, the second
and third lowest were in 1933 and 1.916. The average annual pay
ment in 1934 was higher than in 4 (1916 and 1931 to 1933) of the
preceding 18 years, but $853, or 50.9 percent, lower than in 1920.
The 1934 index of employment was 95.3, of total wage and salary
payments 51.6, and of average annual wage and salary payments
54.2.
Table 1 shows employment and wage and salary payments in coal
mining in Ohio, 1929 to 1934. Chart 1 shows average annual wage
and salary payments to employees in and around coal mines in Ohio,
1916 to 1934. Chart 2 shows indexes of average number of persons
employed and total and average annual wage and salary payments
in coal mining in Ohio, 1916 to 1934. The base used in computing
these indexes is 1926. Data for superintendents and managers are
not included in the charts.
42704— 36------ 9
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WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
C h a r t 2 .— i n d e x e s
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of average n um ber
Em ployed and to ta l and average
C o a l m i n i n g , 1916-34 (1 9 26= 100)
in
annual W
a g e
a n d
sa l a r y
p a y m e n t s
O
CO
410
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 1.-—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments in Coal Mining in
Ohio, 1929 to 1934 1
Number of mines------ ------------------------
1932
1931
1930
1929
Item
1934
1933
784
860
4 908
22, 500
14,734
21,731
26,142
23,917
23,842
23,188
22,060
20,858
20, 075
22,925
18,946
16,810
20,101
21,227
23,079
23,833
23,848
23,965
9,057
11,185
15,034
18,892
20, 248
21,776
21,113
21,125
19,914
18,777
17,144
17,171
19,403
21,962
24,020
25,989
27,338
26,813
25,471
26,036
26,360
25,395
25,029
23,935
24,223
25, 611
26,884
27,898
28.312
28, 545
3,890
16.2
17,426
76.0
10,194
37.3
4,610
16.1
2 679
2 672
3 808
20, 916
21,923
20,932
21,700
21,440
19,618
18, 788
19, 276
18,478
20,470
21,366
22,411
23, 248
23,264
22,837
22 , 686
22,081
21,347
20,554
20, 661
20, 604
21,086
21,738
22,899
23,192
23,390
4,786
2,836
P e r s o n s e m p lo y e d >
Average number_______________ ____ _
Number on 15th of—
January-------- ------ ----------------------February-------------- --------------------March---------------------------------------April--------------- ------ -------------------M ay____________________________
June_____________________ ______
July___________________ _______
August---------------------------------------September___________________ —October------ ----- . . -------- --------------November_______________________
December________________________
Variation from maximum—
Num ber. ___________________
P ercen t.------- --------- -----------D a y s w o rk ed p e r yea r
20.6
12 .1
10,222
5,499
6 ,2 11
(a v e r a g e )
Pick miners in pick mines_____________
Loaders (hand), including drillers and
shooters in machine mines__________
Employees of stripping mines_________
201
151
154
144
167
137
187
181
177
190
171
155
124
145
148
173
162
211
W a g e a n d s a la r y p a y m e n ts
Total payments to—
Office help_______________________ 6 $277,587 $257,995 $339,723 $217,320 $211,335 $289,003
Wage earners_____________________ «23,223,857 20,405,126 16, 691,396 9,491, 590 14,335,394 21,192,046
Total _____ _____ ______________ 23, 501,444 20,663,121 17,031,119 9,708,910 14, 546,729 21,481,049
542,683
6 721,985
679, 755
535,217
430,817
406,549
Superintendents and managers_____
Grand total_________ __________ 624,223,429 21, 342,876 17, 566, 336 10,139,727 14,953,278 22,023,732
822
669
1,124
943
757
659
Average annual p aym en t 6____________
In d ex es
(1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 . 0 ) 5
Average number em ployed.......................
Total payments.................................. ...........
Average annual payment ___________
76.2
56.5
74.1
79.9
49.7
62.2
82.0
40. {
49.9
53.7
23. S
43. 5
79.2
35. C
44.1
95.3
51.6
54.2
1 Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, November 1935.
2 Number of mines reporting employees; the number reporting total wages and salary payments was
greater by 2 .
2 Number of mines reporting employees; the number reporting total wage and salary payments was
greater by 1 .
4 Number of mines reporting employees; the number reporting total wage and salary payments was
greater by 15.
5 N ot including superintendents and managers.
6 N ot including payments to employees for the production of 149,396 tons in 1 mine.
Fire-Clay Mining
T h e average number of persons, including all inside and outside
employees, reported employed in fire-clay mining in Ohio in 1934 was
681, which was 107, or 18.6 percent, higher than in 1933, and 804, or
54.1 percent, lower than in 1929.
Total wage and salary payments to wage earners in 1934 exceeded
the 1933 payments by $162,150, or 53.7 percent, and were less than
the 1929 payments by $1,301,343, or 73.7 percent.
The average annual wage and salary payment, considering all inside
and outside employees (including superintendents and managers),
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
411
in 1934 was $760, which was $162, or 27.1 percent, above the 1933
average and $485, or 39.0 percent, below the 1929 average.
During the 19 years, 1916 to 1934, the highest average number of
persons, including superintendents and managers, employed inside
and outside fire-clay mines in Ohio was 1,703 in 1925 and the lowest
was 550 in 1932. Following 1927 the average number decreased
each year until 1933, when there was a slight increase over the pre
ceding year, with a greater increase in 1934. The 1934 average was
higher than in 2 (1932 and 1933) of the 18 preceding years, but
1,022, or 60 percent, lower than in 1925.
Less than 150 days during the year was the operating time of 13 out
of 110 fire-clay mines in 1926, 18 out of 108 in 1929, 68 out of 82 in
1932, 66 out of 83 in 1933, and 57 out of 81 in 1934. In supplying
this information, employers were instructed to “enter number of full
days mine was in operation, reducing part time to full time before
entering figures.”
Total wage and salary payments to wage earners and to the three
occupation groups combined were highest in 1924 and lowest in 1932.
Following 1924, payments decreased each year until 1933. In both
1933 and 1934 payments increased over the preceding year. Total
payments in 1934 were $2,117,042, or 80.4 percent, lower than in 1924.
Considering all employees, including superintendents and managers,
in fire-clay mining, the highest average annual payment during the
19 years, 1916 to 1934, was $1,666 in 1924, with a decrease each year
until the lowest average, $532, was reached in 1932. The average
increased in 1933 and again in 1934. The average in 1934 was lower
than in 16 of the 18 preceding years and $906, or 54.4 percent, below
the 1924 average.
The 1934 index of employment was 40.9, of total wage and salary
payments 20.9, and of average annual wage and salary payments 51.1.
The base used in computing these indexes is 1926. Data for super
intendents and managers are included.
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412
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — F E B R U A R Y
1936
Table 2.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments in Fire-Clay Mining
in Ohio, 1929 to 1934 1
Item
1930
1929
Number of mines..... ............................................
Average number of persons employed 9_____
>108
1,485
1932
1931
1933
107
1,266
3 98
965
82
550
20
36
17
23
28
14
5
20
52
16
9
3
1934
4 85
«88
574
681
44
31
26
13
D a y s in o p e r a tio n
Less than 100 days............ - ________________
100 but under 150 days....................... - ..............
150 but under 200 d a y s.__________________
200 but under 250 days..................... .................
250 but under 300 days........ ...............................
300 days and over________________ ____ ___
8
10
17
32
30
11
24
8
7
2
2
22
9
5
3
8
3
W a g e a n d s a la r y p a y m e n ts
Total payments to:
Wage earners__ ______ _______________ $1,765,712 $1, 299,534 $704,467 $247, 373 $302,219 $464,369
4,046
Office help.......... .............. ............................
11,014
8,455
11, 049
6,083
4,779
48,809
72,430
61,967
39,368
36,304
Superintendents and managers________
71,710
T otal......................................................... — 1,848,436
Average annual paym en t 9.......... .....................
1,245
In dexes
1,380,419
1,090
777,483
806
292,824
532
343,302
598
517,224
760
76.1
55.8
73.4
58.0
31.4
54.2
33.1
34.5
13.9
40.2
40.9
20.9
51.1
(1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 . 0 ) 9
Average number employed_______ ________
Total payments.....................................................
Average annual paym ent..... .............................
89.2
74.7
83.8
11.8
35.8
1 Data for earlier years were published in the m onthly Labor Review, November 1935.
3 Number of mines reporting employees and days in operation; the number reporting total wage and
salary payments was greater by 1 .
3 Number of mines reporting employees; the number reporting days in operation was less by 1 and the
number reporting total wage and salary payments was less by 2 .
* Number of mines reporting employees and total wage and salary payments; the number reporting days
In operation was less by 2 .
3 Number of mines reporting employees and total wage and salary payments; the number reporting days
In operation was less by 7.
• Including superintendents and managers.
Limestone Quarrying
T h e average number of persons reported employed in limestone
quarrying in Ohio in 1934 was 2,992, which was 502, or 20.2 percent,
higher than in 1933, and 699, or 18.9 percent, lower than in 1929.
Total payments to all employees in 1934 were greater than in 1933
by $642,867, or 30 percent, and less than in 1929 by $2,874,812 or
50.8 percent.
The average annual wage and salary payment, considering all
employees (including superintendents and managers), in 1934 was
$932, which was $71, or 8.2 percent, above the 1933 average and
$602, or 39.2 percent, below the 1929 average.
During the 19 years, 1916 to 1934, the highest average number
of inside and outside employees, including superintendents and
managers, employed in limestone quarrying in Ohio was 4,149 in
1925 and the lowest 2,390 in 1932. Following 1927 the average
number employed decreased each year until 1933, when the average
increased over the preceding year. The average in 1934 also in
creased over 1933, but was 1,157, or 27.9 percent, lower than in 1925.
Less than 150 days during the year was the operating time of 49
out of 120 limestone quarries in 1926, 40 out of 121 in 1929, 77 out
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
413
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
of 137 in 1932, 87 out of 132 in 1933, and 81 out of 129 in 1934.
Employers were instructed to “enter number of full days the quarry
was in operation, reducing part time to full time before entering
figures.”
Total wage and salary payments to all occupation groups com
bined were highest in 1927. Total payments decreased each year
following 1927 and reached the lowest amount during the 19 years
in 1933. Total payments in 1934 exceeded the payments in 1932
and in 1933. Total payments in 1934 were $3,378,997, or 54.8
percent, lower than in 1927.
Considering all employees including superintendents and managers,
the highest average annual payment during the 19 years, 1916 to
1934, was $1,534 in 1929 and the lowest, $716 in 1916. The second
lowest average was $861 in 1933. The average payment in 1934
was $71 above 1933, but was lower than in 15 of the 18 preceding
years, and $602, or 39.2 percent, below the highest annual average
(1929) during the 19 years.
i The 1934 index of employment was 75.7, of total wage and salary
payments 47.9, and of average annual wage and salary payments
63.3. The base is 1926. Data for superintendents and managers
are included.
Table 3.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments in Limestone Quarrying
in Ohio, 1929 to 1934 1
Item
Number of quarries..-........ ........... ..............
Average number of persons employed » ...
1929
1931
1930
1932
1933
1934
a 121
3,691
123
3,330
135
2,770
137
2,390
3 131
2,490
*133
2,992
21
19
22
31
14
14
21
27
22
44
9
39
34
25
18
13
6
48
29
32
17
6
5
61
26
26
8
7
4
63
18
23
13
7
5
D a y s in o p e r a tio n
Less than 100 d a y s ........... ...........................
100 but under 150 days........ .........................
150 but under 200 days...................................
200 but under 250 days..................................
250 but under 300 days...................................
300 days and over_____________________
W a g e a n d sa la r y p a y m e n ts
Total payments to—
Wage earners................................... ......... $4,999,347 $4,124,449 $2,725,918 $1,787,633 $1,783,592 $2,418,140
164,414
232,264
202,979
196,522
350.970
Office help............. ......................... .........
260,263
205,151
312,200
280,463
257,100
220,838
164,724:
Superintendents and managers............
T o ta l.....................................................
Average annual payment *-------------------In dexes
5,662,517 4,665,175 3,215,282 2,211,450 2,144,838 2,787,705
932
861
1,401
1,161
925
1,534
(1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 . 0 ) «
Average number employed_____________
Total payments...............................................
Average annual paym ent______________
93.3
97.3
104.2
84.2
80.2
95.2
70.1
55.3
78.9
60.4
38.0
62.8
63.0
36.9
58.5
75.7
47.9
63.3
1 Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, November 1935.
a Number of quarries reporting employees and days in operation; the number reporting total wage and
salary payments was greater by 1 .
* Number of quarries reporting employees; the number reporting days in operation and total wage and
salary payments was greater by 1 .
* Number of quarries reporting employees and total wage and salary payments; the number reporting
days in operation was less by 4.
* Including superintendents and managers.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Sandstone Quarrying
T h e average number of persons reported employed in sandstone
quarrying in Ohio in 1934 was 938, which was 155, or 19.8 percent,
higher than in 1933; and 425, or 31.2 percent, lower than in 1929.
Total wage and salary payments to all employees in 1934 were
greater than in 1933 by $240,672, or 46.6 percent, and less than in
1929 by $876,089, or 53.7 percent.
The average annual wage and salary payment, considering all
employees (including superintendents and managers) in 1934 was
$807, which was $148, or 22.5 percent, higher than in 1933; and $391,
or 32.6 percent, lower than in 1929.
The highest average number of inside and outside employees, in
cluding superintendents and managers, employed in sandstone
quarrying in Ohio during the 19 years, 1916 to 1934, was 2,118 in
1917, the lowest was 676 in 1932, and the second lowest was 783 in
1933. The average in 1934 was lower than in 16 of the 18 preceding
years and 1,180, or 55.7 percent, lower than in 1917.
Less than 150 days during the year was the operating time of 10 out
of 44 sandstone quarries in 1926, of 10 out of 33 in 1929, of 13 out of
22 in 1932, of 13 out of 24 in 1933, and of 12 out of 24 in 1934. Em
ployers were instructed to “enter number of full days quarry was in
operation, reducing part time to full time before entering figures.”
Total wage and salary payments to all occupation groups combined
were highest in 1927, and lowest in 1932. The total payments de
creased each year following 1927 until 1933, when there was an in
crease over the preceding year and a further increase in 1934. Total
payments in 1934 were lower than in 16 of the 18 preceding years and
$1,694,010, or 69.1 percent, lower than in 1927.
Considering all employees, including superintendents and managers,
the highest average annual payment during the 19 years, 1916 to
1934, was $1,336 in 1927, and the lowest $659 in 1933. The 1934
average payment was lower than in 14 of the 18 preceding years and
$529, or 39.6 percent, lower than in 1927.
The 1934 index of employment was 51.1, of total wage and salary
payments 34.1, and of average annual wage and salary payments
66.7. The base is 1926. Data for superintendents and managers
are included.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 4.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments in Sandstone Quarrying
in Ohio, 1929 to 1934 1
1929
Item
1934
1933
1932
1931
1930
33
1,363
30
1,368
32
1,071
676
24
783
24
938
Less than 100' days______________________
100 but under 150 d a y s ...-----------------------150 but under 200 days_______________ . . .
200 but under 250 days----------- ----------------
8
2
2
6
8
5
5
18
10
10
1
300 days and over. . A -----------------------------
7
3
4
3
3
3
5
3
11
1
6
3
4
Number of quarries____ _______ _________
Average number of persons employed 1........
22
D a y s in o p e r a tio n
4
3
7
2
1
2
3
5
3
1
3
W a g e a n d s a la r y p a y m e n ts
Total payments to—
Wage earners..............
............... ......... $1.460,379 $1,377,244
57,496
48, 582
Office help____ ____ _________________
182,462
123,788
Superintendents and managers........... ..
T ota l.......................................................... 1, 632,749
1,198
A verage annual p aym en t2. . . ............ .........
In d ex es
$815,369 $373,187 $414.024 $632,823
89,452
40, 236
45, 235
46,764
61,729
78,602
96,455
67,461
1,617,202 1,001,276
1,182
935
487,412
721
515,988
659
756, 660
807
58.4
45.1
77.3
36.8
42.7
23.3
54. 5
51.1
34.1
66.7
(1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 . 0 ) 1
Average number employed--------------- -----Total payments— .......................................... .
Average annual payment............. ...................
74.3
73.6
99.1
74.6
72.9
97.8
22.0
69.6
' Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, November 1935.
2 Including superintendents and managers.
Gypsum Mining
C e r t a in data for gypsum mining for 1916 to 1930 were published
in the Monthly Labor Review for November 1935. Fewer than three
mines were in operation in 1931 to 1934, and therefore tabulations
could not be made by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics without
disclosing information concerning individual mines. Average annual
wage and salary payments were not computed owing to the small
number of persons involved.
E arnings o f Office W orkers in N e w Y o rk S tate
Factories, O ctober 1935
E
ARNINGS of office workers in New York State factories in
October 1935 averaged $32.80. This was 1.1 percent higher than
in October 1934 but 12.5 percent lower than the peak ($37.48) recorded
in October 1930 by the New York State Department of Labor, which
has been making annual surveys of office workers’ earnings in the
factories of that State since 1914. In several industry groups earnings
were lower in October 1935 than a year previous, but the decreases
in these groups were more than offset by increases in others.
The workers covered in the survey included office clerks, stenog
raphers, bookkeepers, accountants, cashiers, stock clerks, office man
agers, *>nd superintendents. TheJestablishments represented were
the manufacturing plants which submit reports for the labor market
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
416
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
analysis published each month by the New York Department of
Labor in its Industrial Bulletin.
The figures in table 1, taken from the Industrial Bulletin (Albany)
for November 1935, show average weekly earnings of office workers
in the various industry groups in October of each year from 1926
to 1935. The New York Department of Labor cautions the reader
against comparing average wage levels in one industry with those
in another because of the uneven distribution of the higher-salaried
supervisory and technical staff and the lower-paid clerical force in
different industries.
Table 1.— Average Weekly Earnings of Office Employees in Representative
New York State Factories in October of Each Year, 1926 to 1935
Average weekly earnings in October—
industry
1927
1926
1928
1929
1930
1932
1931
1933
1935
1934
All industries..._______ ____________ $35. 38 $35.88 $36. 37 $36.94 $37.48 $35. 49 $31. 86 $31.85 $32.45 $32. 80
Stone, clay, and glass._______________
Metals and machinery____ __________
Wood manufactures....................... ..........
Furs, leather, and rubber goods______
Chemicals, oils, paints, e t c . . ...............
Pulp and paper.........................................
Printing and" paper goods................... .
Textiles_____ _____ _________________
Clothing and millinery..................... .
Food and tobacco.................. ....... ............
Water, light, and power...........................
34. 06
36.31
39.19
29. 64
31.10
0)
39.91
29.95
31.41
35.86
32.53
34. 40
36.88
39.52
29. 62
32.64
(*>
40.49
29.85
31.45
35.86
31.79
35.10
37.63
37.22
29. S2
33. 38
(‘1
41.37
30.81
31.82
35.03
31.60
34.70
37. 72
37. 56
29.34
34.07
0)
42.68
30.87
33.30
36.04
30. 77
35. 52
38.29
36.74
30. 58
34.74
0)
43. 94
33. 47
32.60
36.49
33. 01
34. 35
35. 06
38.07
28. 75
32. 87
0)
41.85
33.46
31.27
35.10
30.64
31.48
31.27
32.04
24. 73
29.93
(>)
37. 25
29.35
27.63
33.10
31.59
28.83
32.39
30.31
24.72
30.64
(')
36.44
31.76
26.24
31.90
30.24
27. 74
34.29
30.59
23. 72
31.00
(>)
36.71
29. 97
25.38
31.86
34.10
26.47
35. 30
30.05
24.51
30.41
(‘)
36.13
29. 51
26.28
32.84
34.68
1 Separate earnings not computed because of small number of employees.
A comparison of the earnings of men and women in factory offices
in New York State in October 1935 is given in table 2. The figures in
this table are not based on a fixed list of concerns as are those in table
1, because of the fact that separate data for men and women are not
obtainable from all of the firms or from identical firms each year.
Table 2.—Average Weekly Earnings of Men and Women in Factory Offices in
New York State, October 1935
Men
Industry
Women
Total
State
New
York
City
UpState
Total
State
New
York
City
All industries...............................................................
$42. 04
$42.84
$41. 53
$21. 23
$22.97
Stone, clay, and glass................................................
Metals and machinery______________________
Wood manufactures_________ _______________
Furs, leather, and rubber goods______________
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc........................... ..........
Pulp and paper......................... .............................. .
Printing and paper goods........................................
Textiles.......... ............ ......................... .............. .........
Clothing and millinery............... .............................
Food and tobacco......................... .............................
Water, light, and power...........................................
0)
(»)
37.82
33. 45
35.25
35.61
0)
51.11
38. 36
39.90
42.74
0)
0)
(>)
22.49
21.43
22.30
21.07
0)
23.25
21.34
23.16
24.14
P)
42.09
40.07
32.74
42.10
0)
47.26
35.30
39.09
39.87
0)
(0
43.44
42.32
31.24
45.05
0)
40.03
34.26
37.33
35.72
0)
i S eparate earnings n o t com puted because of sm all n u m b er of employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
20.57
18.88
20.21
20. 21
0)
22.02
19.71
21.73
23.48
(»)
UpState
$20.14
0)
19.99
18.13
19. 27
19.87
0)
20.36
19.17
18.80
22.84
(>)
417
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Employment in New York factory offices increased 4.1 percent
from October 1934 to October 1935 and total pay rolls, 5.2 percent.
Table 3, taken from the Industrial Bulletin for November 1935, shows
employment and pay rolls in October 1935 together with the percent
of change from October 1934.
Table 3.—Employment and Pay Rolls in Factory Offices in New York State,
October 1935 Compared With October 1934
Pay roll
Employees
Number,
October 1935
Percentage
change, Octo
ber 1934-October 1935
Amount,
October 1935
Percentage
change, Octo
ber 1934-October 1935
All industries_______________________
38,700
+ 4 .1
$1,269,484
+ 5 .2
Stone, clay, and glass________________
Metals and machinery___ ________
Wood manufactures
Furs, leather, and rubber goods______
Pihamicals, oils, paints, etc__________
Pulp and paper. ___________________
Printing and paper g o o d s___________
Textiles ___________________________
Clothing and millinery__________ ___
Pood and tobacco
________ _____
Water, light, and power.. __________
666
+ 1 .7
+ 10 .1
+ 4 .3
+ 1 .2
- 2.6
+ 2.9
+ .4
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .5
+ 3 .4
+ 3 .2
17,629
453,300
35, 641
56,662
107, 730
9,780
284,978
63,386
78,615
108,802
52,961
- 3 .0
+13.3
+ 2 .5
+ 4 .5
-4 .5
+ 2 .4
- 1 .2
+ 2 .4
+ 6 .1
+ 6.6
+ 5 .0
Industry
12,842
1,186
2,312
3,543
284
7,888
2,148
2,991
3,313
1,527
Wages and Labor C onditions in C eylon, 1934
ILLAGE labor is employed in the cultivation of paddy (rice in the
husk) on approximately 850,000 acres in Ceylon. The workers
are ordinarily the owners or lessees of the land and their relatives, but
quite often are hired laborers.
Data on wages and working conditions in Ceylon are given in the
Annual General Report for 1934 on the Economic, Social, and Gen
eral Conditions of the Island, which is the source of the information
in this article.
The main crops produced on the estates are tea, rubber, and coco
nuts. Imported male labor from South India (Tamil or Telugu) is
used almost wholly on tea estates and for the most part on rubber
plantations. The workers on the coconut estates are largely Ceylo
nese, but include a few Indians.
At the close of 1934 the Indians on estates numbered approxi
mately 675,000, or over 65,400 more than at the close of the preceding
year. The total number of estate laborers who arrived at the island
during 1934 was 140,607 and the total number who left 54,790, the
net increase being 85,817.
The new rates of wages fixed for Indian laborers on tea and rubber
estates since November 16, 1934, under ordinance no. 27 of 1927, is
shown, in table 1.
V
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418
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 1.— Daily Minimum Wages for Indian Laborers on Tea and Rubber
Estates, Nov. 16, 1934
[Average exchange rate of rupee in November 1934=37.49 cents in U. S. currency]
Locality
Up country___________________________________________
Midcountry______________________________ _____ _
Low country_______________________ ______ _____
. _
Men
Women
Children
R upees
R upees
R upees
0. 49
.43
.41
0. 39
.35
.33
0. 29
.25
.24
A substantial number of laborers are engaged in various under
takings connected with the port of Colombo; among these are steve
dore coolies and workers in coalyards and marine-engineering works.
In 1927 a commission created to investigate the earnings of Colombo
harbor workers recommended the rates given in table 2, which the
employers accepted.
Table 2.— Wage Rates of Harbor Workers in Colombo
[Average exchange rate of rupee in 1934=37.88 cents in U . S. currency]
Load
ing
cargo
D is
charging
cargo
R upees
R upees
Work period
Day:
Full._____________________
Broken periods (6. a. in. to
1 2 m.)_____________ _ _
12 m. to 6 p. m ____________
Every half or part thereof.. .
1.75
1.60
1.00
.87
. 90
.80
1.2 0
.20
Load
Dis
ing
charging
cargo
cargo
Work period
Night:
Full
Half__________________
Broken periods—every hour
between 6 p. m. and mid
night_______________
R upees
R upees
2 3. 50
1.75
2 3.20
1.60
i.3 0
i.3 0
1 Subject to the qualification that wages by the hour for any fraction of a half day or half night shall not
exceed the wages payable for the whole of that half day or half night.
2 A full night’s wage is payable when a laborer works from 6 p m. to any fraction of the night beyond
midnight.
The wages fixed by the Government for labor paid by the hour and
the day are shown in table 3.
Table 3.— Wage Rates for Specified Grades of Labor in Effect in 1934
[Average exchange rate of rupee in 1934=37.88 cents in U. S. currency]
Grade of labor
Minor supervisory grades_________ ____ ___ _____
Tradesmen..................... ................ ................... .
Semiskilled labor.............. ............ .........
Unskilled labor............. ..............................................
Trade apprentices........ ......................................
Women and boys_________________ ______
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Nonfactory labor
Rates per hour
Rates per day
Minimum
Maximum
Minimum
Maximum
R upees
R upees
R upees
R upees
/
\
f
\
Factory labor
0.48
.31
.36
.20
. 12
.08
0.81
.63
.53
.35
.20
.10
.14
.18
.03
.10
3.84
2.48
2.88
1.60
.96
.64
.80
.24
6.48
5.04
4.24
2.80
1.60
1 .1 2
1.44
.80
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
419
The law provides that estates employing Indian workers must pay
them monthly. Laborers in Colombo are frequently paid by the
week or fortnight.
On most of the Ceylon estates resident laborers are provided with
free lodging. In Colombo a few establishments make a similar
provision for their workers. Indian employees of the stevedore
contractors are usually lodged in a “kittangi”—a kind of barracks
where one large room constitutes the men’s sleeping quarters.
Free medical treatment at the estate hospital, if there is one, or at
the nearest Government hospital is available for estate laborers.
Other laborers whose monthly earnings in wages are under 50 rupees
may have free treatment at Government hospitals. Female laborers
on estates are allowed free housing accommodations and medical care
for 1 month following confinement.
Sick and indigent Indian workers are sent back to India at the
expense of the immigration fund. Most estates provide pensions for
deserving laborers who can no longer work. Free meals are usually
given daily to children. Voluntary compensation is paid to workers
injured in the course of their employment. At the close of 1934 an
ordinance to provide compensation for wage earners injured in the
course of their work was signed by the governor, and it was expected
that the measure would be promulgated early in 1935.
In Colombo trade unions are well organized and influential. At the
time the report under review was prepared the state council had under
consideration a bill making provision for the registration and control
of trade unions and according them certain legal privileges.
G o v ern m en t Wage R eg u latio n in G erm any
HEN the present German Government came into power in
1933, an extended program for the reduction of unemployment was started. It was explained by the Government authorities
that Government expenditures for public works, industrial subsidies,
labor service, etc., were intended solely for the creation of new em
ployment, and therefore wages could not be increased. A rise in
wages was promised upon improvement of economic conditions in the
country.
In order to justify the prohibition of an increase in wages, prices
were also to be kept down. This promise, however, proved difficult
to carry out, and prices, especially those of foodstuffs, increased.
This resulted in a marked reduction of “real” wages of many individual
workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—FEBRUARY 1936
In order to meet this situation, an Executive order, based upon the
national labor law of January 20, 1934,1 was issued on October 15,
1935,2 which gives greater latitude to the labor trustees in the regula
tion of labor conditions, including wages.
The order provides that changes in the existing wage schedules for
any particular industry or any new wage schedules which may be
drawn up by the labor trustee may be made retroactive. If the
period of retroactivity is longer than 1 month, the approval of the
State ministry of labor is required. This provision confers consider
able additional power upon the labor trustee, and increases the
latter’s control over the workers and employers.
Under the national labor law the labor trustee, after consultation
with the district board of experts, had the power to regulate condi
tions of labor, including the establishment of wage schedules. His
regulations were required to be published in the Reichsarbeitsblatt,
the official journal of the Ministry of Labor. Under the Executive
order of October 15, 1935, it is provided that the labor trustee may,
by written order, change wage schedules for any individual establish
ment or section thereof, or for specified groups of workers, without
consultation with the district board of experts and without making
any public report. This is a further step in conformity to the National
Socialist Labor policy of elimination of the old system of wage agree
ments reached through collective bargaining between the former
trade unions and employers’ associations and the substitution therefor
of wage orders ( Tarifarduungen) by the labor trustee.
Wages in V ario u s In d u stries in P u e rto R ico, 1934-35
HE highest average hourly earnings for females in Puerto Rico
were slightly over 21 cents in 1934—35, according to the following
tabulation based on the annual report of the commissioner of labor
of the island for that year. The workers receiving such compensation
were employed in hat factories and a toy factory. The lowest
average hourly earnings for females were 3.8 cents in tobacco culti
vation; 4.9 cents in coffee cultivation; 5 cents in coffee-crushing
mills and in trunk factories; 6.1 cents in fruit cultivation; 6.5 cents
in chocolate factories; and 6.6 cents in fruit packing; 13,882 females
averaged 6.8 cents in tobacco stripping.
With the exception of a pottery shop where one man’s average
hourly earnings were 74 cents, there was only one industry'—refrigerating plants—in which the average hourly earnings for males are
reported as high as 44.1 cents; 3,449 males in the building trades
earned on the average 19.3 cents per hour, while the average for
T
1 Published in the M onthly Labor Review for M ay 1934 (pp. 1104-1116).
1 Germany. Reichsgesetzblatt, Berlin, Oct. 15, 1935, pp. 1140, 1241.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
421
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
males in tobacco cultivation was 5.1 cents; in ice-cream plants,
5.6 cents; in coffee cultivation, 5.8 cents; in volatile-oil factories,
6.1 cents; and in dairies, 6.7 cents.
The average hours actually worked per week in the industries cov
ered in the accompanying statistics ranged from 19.3 for males in
fertilizer plants to 84 for males on wharf work and 98 for males in an
ice-cream plant.
Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings and Hours of Labor, by Sex, in Various
Industries in Puerto Rico, Fiscal Year 1934—35
Industry
Alcohol distilleries: M ales.......................... ..................
Alcoholado factories:
Males..................... .....................................................
Females...................................................- ..................
Artificial jewel factories: Females....... .............- .........
Automobile repair shops: Males.................................
Bakery shops:
M ales.................................. ........................................
Females....................... ............. - ..............................
Barber shops and beauty parlors:
M ales..................... .......................- .............. ............
Females............................................. .........................
Bed and bedspring factories: M ales--------- --------—
Breweries:
M ales___________________ ________________ Females________ ______ - ......................................
Broom factories: M ales.----------------------- -----------Building trades: Males__________________ ______
Button factories:
Males--------------------- ---------------------------------Females----------------------------------------------------Carpenter shops: M ales_____________ _______ ___
Casket factories: Males_____________________ ___
Cheese factories: M ales------------------------------------Chocolate factories:
Males.....................................- .........- ------ ---------Females----------------------- ---------------------------Cigar factories:
M ales..........................................................................
Females............................. ..................- ....................
Cigarette factories:
M ales______________________ - ....................... —
Females.................................. ....................................
Cinemas and theaters:
M ales............................................. - ........................—
Females.................................. - ................ ..............
Coflee-crushing mills:
M ales........ .................................... - ...........................
Fem ales.................... .................................................
Coflee cultivation:
M ales___________ ________________ ___ _____
Females....................... ..............- .........- ....................
Coflee roasting: Males....... ............ ..........- ..................
Corrugated-box factories:
M ales...........................................................................
Females..................... ............................. - - - ..............
Cracker factories: Males------------------ ------ ---------Dairies: Males....................... .........................................
Electric plants: Males..................................- ................
Electric-sign shops: M ales__________ _______ ___
Electro-mechanic shops: Males..................................
Fertilizer plants: M ales------------------------------ Foundries, machine and blacksmith shops: Males.
Average
hours
per week
N um Number of ber of
em
estab
ploy
lish
ees
ments 1
1
Average earnings
Per w eek
Full
time
Actu
Per
ally
hour
worked
Full
time
Ac
tual
$8.72
$6.26
3.71
3. 34
5.59
52
60.6
43.5 $0.144
45
37
23
136
240
46.4
46.9
48.0
50.0
44.3
43.0
46.2
48.1
.184
3.90
3. 61
5.81
9.20
139
1,025
2
63.0
48.0
56.0
48.0
.147
.187
9.26
9.00
8.25
9.00
76
154
15
85
51.6
48.0
48.4
51.0
48.0
43.4
.1 2 2
6.29
6.23
8
12
.143
.137
6.86
6.86
6.63
5.95
24
11
220
66
3
3,449
52.0
48.0
48.0
48.6
49.7
31.0
48.0
35.4
.094
.088
.145
.193
4.89
4.22
7.00
9.36
4. 71
2.74
7.00
6.82
136
140
115
37
3
47.8
44.0
52.0
51.1
53.0
29.7
27.8
49.2
46.4
53.0
.226
.115
.169
.140
.095
10.80
5.06
8.79
7.15
5.06
6.71
3.20
8.31
6.49
5.06
29
7
54.1
48.0
32.5
21.4
.1 1 1
624
538
47.4
40.8
37.8
34.5
1
1
8
9
45.0
35.8
39
18
203
20
29.0
34.1
9
40
30
95
16
1,387
232
10
3
1
1
2
166
1
1
26
21
2
3
1
122
20
1
20
88
2
2
2
1
31
44
119
498
301
4
11
123
268
132
6
4
4
10
.084
.077
.1 2 1
8.86
6.00
.065
3.12
3.61
1.40
.152
.202
7.20
8.24
5.75
6.97
45.0
35.8
.345
.189
15.56
6.76
15.56
6.76
31.4
22.6
. 186
.143
5.39
4.87
4.20
4.49
51.4
48.0
41.9
48.0
.1 2 2
.050
6.27
2.40
5.12
2.40
49.0
47.8
57.0
34.5
31.5
56.4
.058
.049
.119
2.84
2.34
6.78
2.0 1
46.0
48.0
49.9
76.4
62.3
48.0
47.6
43.9
52.7
46.0
41.5
44.5
75.6
60.7
48.0
47.6
19.3
53.5
.226
.089
.138
.067
10.43
4.27
10.43
3.71
.2 1 2
.193
.153
.255
.160
6.88
5.12
13.21
9.25
7.30
11.19
8.43
1.56
6.74
6 .12
5.08
12.87
9.25
7.30
4.92
8.58
i When the earnings of males and females are reported separately, the smaller number of establishments
are included in the larger. Whan the earnings of males and females are each reported by 1 establishment
it is the same establishment.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
422
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings and Hours of Labor, by Sex, in Various
Industries in Puerto Rico, Fiscal Year 1934-35— Continued
Industry
Fruit industry:
Canning plants:
Males________________________________
Females____________________________
Fruit cultivation:
M ales_________________________________
Females_______ __________________ _
Packing:
M ales____________________ _ _______
Females________
__ . ___________ .
Paste and candies:
M ales___________ _____ _____ _____ ___
Females_______ _____ _____________
Furniture factories: Males......... ...................................
Gas plants: Males______ __________________
Hat factories:
M ales__________ _____________________ __
Fem ales.._________________________
Ice plants: Males_______________ . .
Ice-cream plants: Males__________________ .
Laundries:
M a le s..................... ............ . .
Females__________________________
Machine-repair shops: Males________ . .
Marble works: Males _________
Medicine-manufacturing plants:
M ales______________
Females______________
Milk-pasteurization plants:
M a les.__________ .
Females_________ _______
Mirror factories: Males______
Mosaic factories: Males
Needlework:
Caps:
Males ___________
Females__________ _______
Children’s garments:
M ales________ . . . . _
Females________ __________
Handkerchief and table linen:
M a le s ................. .
Females__________
M en’s clothing:
M ales_____________
Females_____________
Miscellaneous:
M ales. _________________________
Females___________
Mosquito netting: Fem ales...
Neckties: Females_____
Women’s underwear:
M ales_____________
Females_____________
Nickel-plating shops: Males________________ . .
Pastry shops: M ales__________
Potteries: M ales. _________
Printing and typography shops:
Males_______ ______
Females________________
Quilt and mattress factories:
M ales___________
Females______________
Refrigerating plants: M ales__________________
Salt mines: M ales____________ _____
Sawmills: M ales__________
School-notebook factories:
Males _____ ______________
Females....................................... .............................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um
ber of
estab
lish
ments
N um
ber of
employees
Average
hours
per week
Average earnings
Per week
Full
time
Per
ally
hour
worked
Full
time
Ac
tual
4
4
75
449
49.4
47.5
40.2 $0.090
.076
43.2
$4.44
3. 61
$3. 62
3.31
17
2
521
47
50.5
49.5
34.9
31.0
.083
.061
4.19
3. 02
2.89
1.90
7
5
101
68
51.4
46.4
27.0
19.8
.116
.066
5.96
3.06
3.13
1.31
9
3
15
2
27
27
216
50
51.6
48.0
47.7
57.3
48.9
31.9
45.5
53.3
. 127
.068
.132
.236
6.55
3. 26
6.29
13.52
6.24
2.19
5.99
12.59
7
4
24
143
129
274
2
34.3
32.6
51.9
98.0
.272
1
40.5
40.0
60.5
98.0
2
160
263
26
9
49.5
47.4
43.7
48.5
27
19
2
1
6
1
1
11.0 1
.164
.056
8.44
9. 85
5. 50
9.34
6.89
8.50
5.50
47.4
40.1
43.7
48. 5
.088
.080
.376
. 181
4. 35
3.79
16.43
8.78
4.19
3.19
16.43
8.78
47.7
45.5
47.7
43.6
.139
. 118
5. 37
6.66
6. 66
5.16
91
4
3
44
54.1
54.0
48.0
44.9
51.9
54.0
48.0
38.1
. 135
7. 30
6.50
. 166
. 186
8.00
8.00
8.36
7.09
1
7
48.0
48.0
48.0
48.0
.083
.077
4.00
3. 70
4.00
3.70
23
11
48
1,442
40.0
38.1
28.1
28.9
. 198
.137
7.92
5.22
5.58
3.98
17
25
166
1,044
37.6
38.5
28.6
28.2
.164
.140
6.16
5. 39
4.70
3. 97
184
8. 00
6.98
4. 34
72
11
2
7
6
3
.2 1 1
.12 0
7.00
6.50
24
1,12 0
41.7
38.9
36.3
31.9
. 192
. 136
12
92
699
4
4
38.5
39.3
48.0
48.0
35.5
34.2
24.0
48.0
. 192
.078
. 179
8. 59
.10 1
4.87
102
1
6
86
1
40.0
40.0
45.3
50.8
54.0
27.0
31.4
36.6
49.3
54.0
. 199
.123
. 174
. 141
.740
7.96
4.92
7.88
7.16
4.00
45
3
292
13
46.8
46.2
44.4
46.2
.194
. 100
9.08
4. 65
6
6
2
1
1
32
56
3
152
4
44.7
42.1
45.3
48.7
54.0
43.1
40.8
45.3
48.7
54.0
.156
.092
.441
.091
.134
6. 97
20.00
20.00
1
1
1
2
48.0
48.0
48.0
48.0
.062
.104
3.00
5.00
3.00
5.00
22
24
1
2
17
26
2
35
1,438
5.29
7. 39
3.06
3.87
4.44
7.25
6.81
2.68
4.31
4.87
5.36
3. 87
6. 37
6. 98
4.00
8.64
4.65
6. 75
3. 75
4. 44
7.25
423
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings and Hours of Labor, by Sex, in Various
Industries in Puerto Rico, Fiscal Year 1934—35— Continued
Industry
Shoe factories:
Males
.
. _ ___- __________
_____
___
Females
_
Silversmiths’ and watchmakers’ shops: Males _ . .
_____ ____
Slaughterhouses: Males
Soap factories:
Males _____ __________ - - ___________
Females
- ________ ___________ ___
Soda-water factories: M ales. ......
.... ..................
Sugar industry:
Cane cultivation:
Males_____________
_____- .
-Females.......................................................
Factories:
Males
______
____ __________ - -Females _________
. . .
Telephone industry:
Males
.
................................
Females
_______ _________________
Tin-can factories: Males____ ______________ _ Tinware shops: Males____
_______ Tobacco industry:
Cultivation:
Males _________ - ............................. - - F e m a les________ _________ ___
___
Stripping:
Males
. .............. ..................... ..............
Fem ales.____ ______ . ........ . - ______
Toy factories:
Males
___________________ - ___________
Females
_________________ _ _ _ _____
T r a n s p o r t a t io n (passenger and cargo): Males____
Trunk and suit-case factories:
Males .
-- _______ _______ - - Females
_ - ___________ - - ____
Vermicelli factories:
Males
________________ _________
Females
_
_ ________
Wharves: Males
__ __ ____- - _____________
N um
ber of
estab
lish
ments
105
2
9
3
N um
ber of
em
ployees
232
9
21
19
1
1
3
13
58
170
16, 627
2
2
21
40
11,267
Average
hours
per week
Average earnings
Per week
Full Actually
time worked
Per
hour
Full
time
Ac
tual
$5.25
3. 90
14. 21
6. 73
$4.86
3.28
14.21
6. 73
47.7
40.6
48.6
40.1
44.2 $0. n o
34.2
.096
.292
48.6
40.1
.167
48.0
48.0
53.5
48.0
48.0
53.2
.125
6.00
6.00
.100
.10 2
4.80
5. 46
4.80
5.41
52.9
48.0
30.4
25.7
.109
.076
5.76
3.65
3. 34
1.96
9.43
4. 60
7. 53
3. 43
20
77.3
63.9
61.4
47.4
.1 2 2
2
1
1
1
11
89
166
13
35
64.0
44.8
48.0
48.3
64.0
44.8
41.8
43.2
. 193
. 139
.219
.220
14.09
8. 64
6. 67
10.58
14.09
8. 64
5.84
9. 47
22
8
344
70
48.8
48.0
43.9
37.5
.051
.038
2. 35
1.82
2.14
1. 43
55
55
1,321
13,882
53.6
48.0
48.0
42.2
.1 1 1
.068
5. 94
3. 26
2.86
3
76
49.1
35.5
56.1
49.1
35.5
48.8
.159
.206
7. 83
7. 50
11.55
7. 83
7. 50
10.04
1
1
.072
.2 1 1
5.32
37
2 ,122
3
20
48.0
48.0
40.2
38.0
.151
.050
7.24
2.40
6.07
1.90
39
36
45.5
48.0
54.0
67.6
43.8
45.9
54.0
84.0
.202
.113
.061
.268
9.19
5.42
3. 30
18.11
8.83
5. 22
3. 30
2.25
1
3
2
1
11
3
10
3,562
A verage A n n u a l Wages and Salaries in th e Soviet
U n io n , 1928, 1930, and 1934
AVERAGE annual wages and salaries in specified industries and
¿ X . trades in the Soviet Union (U. S. S. R.) are shown in the
following table for the years 1928, 1930, and 1934.1 Wages increased
from 1930 to 1934 in all of the industries and trades covered. The
increases ranged from 84 percent in the building trades and in largescale industry, to 100 percent in public utilities, and 114 percent in
agriculture.
1 Data are from Soviet Union (U. S. S. R.), State Planning Commission, The U.S. S. R. in Figures, Moscow
1935 (pp. 233 and 234).
42704— 36-
-10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
424
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Average Annual Wages of Workers in the Soviet Union, 1928, 1930, and 1934,
by Industry or Trade Groups
[Gold ruble=51.5 cents at former par; paper ruble in which wages are quoted=20 cents, Jan. 1, 1936]
Average annual wages in Industry or trade group
Large-scale industry *........... ........ ...... ............. ................
Building trades........................................................................
Transportation.......... ........................................... ............
Railroad transportation......... ................... ............
Communication (post, telegraph, telephone, radio, etc.)
Trade...................................................................................
Public catering...................................................................
Banking........................ ............................................................
State offices and institutions.............................................
Education and health protection............ ..................
Public utilities....................................................................
Agriculture........... ......................................... ...................
State farms and mac.hine-tractor stations..................
Forestry...............................................................................
Fishing................................................................................
1934
1930
1928
R u b le s
R u b le s
R u b le s
1,908
1,991
1,982
1,919
1,560
1,537
1,227
2,299
2,121
1,801
1,630
1,194
1,185
1,257
1,808
1,035
1,082
1,064
1,030
760
893
778
1,199
1,047
917
814
557
608
497
889
870
996
861
859
776
783
623
981
783
665
696
327
816
1 Large-scale industry comprises all industrial enterprises equipped with mechanical driving power and
employing no less than 16 wage earners, and those employing no less than 30 wage earners if without me
chanical power.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
O perations of U n ited States E m ploym ent Service,
Decem ber 1935
ONTINUED high levels of relief-works placements characterized
Employment Service activities during December. Preliminary
reports from 39 employment services operated in connection with the
United States Employment Service show little decline in placements
of this nature from November peak levels. However, these services
report a decrease of 5.5 percent in placements with private employers
and on public works projects at prevailing wages. On this basis a
Nation-wide total of approximately 660,000 placements of all charac
ters is indicated for the month, 520,000 on relief works projects and
140,000 in private and public employment.
Reports of registration activities show an average decline of 4.5
percent from November levels. Projected on a national scale a total
of 490,000 new registrations is indicated for December. A slight
increase, 4.5 percent, in the total number of job seekers actively
seeking work is shown in the early reports. If this increase holds for
the remaining services, a total of 8,774,000 active job seekers is
indicated for the year-end active file.
Veteran placements decreased 2.3 percent in the reporting services.
Projection of this decrease would give a total of 50,000 veteran place
ments, including both private and public work and relief projects.
New registrations of veterans, on the basis of partial reports, are
indicated at approximately 22,000 for the month. Veteran active
file totals increased 5.0 in the reporting services, a gain which, if felt
in all services, would increase the veterans’ active file to 540,000.
C
A nalysis o f N ovem ber 1935 O perations o f U n ited States
E m ploym ent Service
UE to the heavy pressure of placement activities in connection
with the W. P. A. program during the month of November,
reports for the month were delayed and it was possible to publish
D
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
425
426
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
in the January issue of the Monthly Labor Review only a preliminary
estimate of operating totals. Detailed reports for November are
now available for all public employment services except the Alabama
National Reemployment Service and the Illinois, Kansas, and Min
nesota State Employment Services.
Operating summaries of the reporting services show a total of
636,499 placements during the month of November, 499,067 on relief
works projects, and 137,432 in private employment or on public works
projects at prevailing wage rates. Estimates based on incomplete
reports from the four missing services indicate that approximately
40,500 placements were made, 28,500 on relief works projects and
12.000 in private employment and on public works projects in these
services. Including these estimates, a total of approximately 677,000
placements is indicated for the country, 527,500 on relief works
projects and 149,500 in private employment and on public works
projects at prevailing wages.
New applications received by the reporting services in November
numbered 478,052, a decline of 18.3 percent from the previous month’s
volume in the same services. Including the estimates for the services
which have not submitted final reports, a country-wide total reaches
526.000 new registrations for November.
The active file of the reporting States contained the registrations of
7,983,904 job seekers on November 30, a decline of 3.9 percent from
the total reported for the same States at the end of October. Includ
ing the estimates for the services which have not submitted final
reports, a total active file for the country numbers 8,387,000 job
seekers.
During November 46,888 placements of veterans were reported,
including placements on relief projects. Estimates for the four non
reporting services increase the month’s placement of veterans to an
indicated total of 51,000 for the entire country.
Registrations of 19,544 veterans were received in the reporting
services. Estimates for the missing services raise this figure to an
indicated Nation-wide total of 22,000. The active file of veterans
registered for employment in the reporting States was 485,647.
Including estimates from the missing services a total of 516,000 is
indicated for the entire country.
Detailed State-by-State summaries of November activities for the
reporting States follow. All percentage changes are based on directly
comparable reports.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
427
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 1.— Operations of Offices of Combined State Employment and National
Reemployment Services, November 1935
New applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Total applica
tions 1
Active file
Per
Per
Per
Per
cent
cent Novem cent
N o
cent
Public
N ov. 30 change
change
change Relief 2 vem change
and
ber
from
from
from
ber
private from
Oct. 31
October
October
October
+ 0.5 7,983,904
-4 0 .1 499,067 478,052
-1 8 .3 1,021,776
-3 4 .9 3, 393
-4 3 . 5 9, 976
-5 1 . 1 30, 938
-2 9 .8 9,116
«
2,594
8,208
37,104
6,920
0)
5,064
1,727
306
2,811
2,282
1,476
-5 3 .5 5,829
-2 4 .3 1,197
- 22.8 2,477
-5 8 .5 17,073
-5 0 .2 3,149
5, 917
1,278
3,924
8,819
2,920
Illinois s__________ 14,047
8,243
Indiana__________
6,356
Iowa_____________
Kansas 5....... ............ 12, 386
2, 111
K entucky________
2,085
4,558
4,836
1,696
1, 705
-4 5 .1 11,962 10,802 +31.2
-3 0 .4 3,685 8,889 -2 4 .1
+ 6.0
-2 6 .5 1,520 6,712
+ 4 .9
-2 9 .1 10,690 3,923
406 8,898 + 102. 2
-4 6 .8
28,023
21,289
23,269
10,030
15,882
+13.7
+91.0
123, 205
185, 241
82, 322
81, 694
209, 243
Louisiana................ . 1,506
2,386
M ain e... _______
7,134
M aryland________
5,292
Massachusetts____
Michigan_________ 17,370
1,506
1,203
1,045
2,999
2,889
0 1,417
- 10.6
-1 8 .3 1,183 5,722
-4 1 .7 6,089 7,052
- 10.8 2,293 30,183
-5 6 .4 14,481 22,470
-2 8 .3
+60.9
+ 21 . 5
—19.1
+ 3 .6
4, 575
9, 596
12,273
44,392
32,157
+23.3
+ 4 .6
+11.4
- 5 .1
+10.9
53,939
40, 327
107,998
334,847
204,035
-5 1 .2
-5 .3
+ 7 .3
+ 3 .9
-2 1 .5
Minnesota 5_______ 15, 776
M ississippi_______ 11, 480
Missouri__________ 29, 819
2,400
M ontana_________
Nebraska___ ____ _ 7,298
3,119
1,317
5,437
2,332
2,247
-5 7 .3 12, 657 5,193
-4 8 .2 10,163 6,090
-2 2 .4 24, 382 18,662
68 2,776
-4 9 .4
-7 0 .2 5,051 4,856
- 12 .2
—46. 5
-2 6 .0
+ 9 .8
+■7
18, 350
12, 538
38,869
10.048
+ 4 .2
-3 0 .8
+ 3 .4
12.001
-2 6 .1
77, 650
157,554
322, 710
46.128
48,765
1,856
3, 785
21,404
5,845
32,120
1, 115
564
3,829
1,382
12,665
741 1,029
- 4 .0
-2 3 .9 3,221 1,468
-1 7 .0 17, 575 25, 777
-5 3 .2 4,463 2,164
-2 5 .5 19,455 48, 408
+4.1
+. 3
+ 1.0
-4 1 .8
—41. 6
2,430
3, 558
38,539
4,008
90,446
-1 3 .2
+31.4
North Carolina____ 17. 406
North Dakota_____ 3,391
Ohio.......... ................ 59, 097
Oklahom a............... 20, 944
5,159
O regon... -----------
3,937
810
9,557
1,385
2,008
-4 0 .0 13, 469 13, 394
-6 8 .5 2,581 2,697
-3 3 .9 49,540 27,199
-3 7 .8 19. 559 5,479
-4 4 .3 3,151 4, 420
+17.1
—23. 4
- 7 .9
—33. 5
+15.7
29,106
7,929
72,090
19,671
12, 387
+14.4
-2 7 .0
Pennsylvania-......... 88,593
1,676
Rhode Island_____
South Carolina------ 8,073
South D akota_____ 6, 53É
Tennessee________ 15,134
5,767
431
1, 571
-3 7 .6 82,826 32,163
-1 6 .9 1,237 3. 233
-5 4 .4 6,499 7,323
-2 8 .2 4,425 3,602
-1 2 .5 13,481 7, 758
-2 5 .7
5. 1
- 3 .8
—5. t)
- 12 . 2
T exas............. .......... 26, 760
7,155
U tah_____________
Vermont............ ....... 1,220
5, 247
Virginia__________
W ashington-............ 8, 746
5,356
1,318
651
2,402
-3 2 .1 21,404 19, 443
-4 9 . 1 5,837 2,036
777
566
-4 3 .1
-5 1 .5 3,025 9, 061
-5 0 .7 6,344 7, 367
West Virginia_____ 8,176
Wisconsin................. 27,90(
W vnmim?
2,17i
District of Colum2,747
b ia ..------ ----------
1, 950
3,752
85l
United States 3------ 636,499 137,432
(4)
5, 375
12,415
43,898
11, 735
1,982
2, 439
12, 960
2,619
7,556
Connecticut______
1,503
Delaware.. ______
5,288
Florida........ ............
Georgia..................... 19, 355
Idaho................ ......... 4,625
Arizona_________
Arkansas_________
California________
C olorado... ______
Nevada__________
New Hampshire__
New Jersey_______
New Mexico______
New York________
2,112
1,653
2,222
2,550
+ 22.8
+51.9
-3 6 .3
-2 4 . 2
16,473
72, 225
14,191
-2 3 .2
+ 7.8
-4 1 .0
-2 4 .3
12,409
2,198
19,199
19,125
6, 279
+ .2
+26.9
+33.3
10.2
-
- 5 .4
-1 5 .3
- 3 .6
+34.6
+.3
+5.1
+ 3 .4
+ 8.1
+ 2 0 .8
22.8
-
+
33, 512
92,196
331,100
79,485
-1 6 .4
68, 946
13,646
147,737
246, 961
29, 232
+ 1.6
-1 5 .4
- 9 .0
-1 4 .8
-2 0 .4
-.7
+ 7.1
-1 6 .1
+ 6.6
22.2
-
- 1 .5
-2 8 .4
+ 3 .6
-
6.8
-1.0
+14.2
11.8
-
7,596
29,068
309,128
+ 2 .0
57, 379
-3 7 .1
-3 3 .2 1,019, 998
+ 8 .7
- 7 .4
- 3 .6
+ 4 .2
+ 2 .5
172, 758
37,067
345,947
141,896
102,892
- 6 .5
-1 5 .7
+ 7 .3
+14.0
64,350
5,129
19,155
10, 405
19,041
- 1 .5 1,252,973
59,918
+13.9
+48.8 ] 33,905
40,077
+ 7.3
+50.4 232, 291
+ 8.1
-1 4 .1
- 2 .5
-1 4 .3
- 1 .5
—25.1
+3. o
—30. 3
—13. 4
42,974
9,564
2,402
16,529
14, 662
+ 4 .4
+14.3
- 3 .2
-2 7 .5
10.1
244, 389
37,813
13,024
123,429
190,688
-3 2 .9 6,226 7,304
-4 2 .4 24,148 19,452
1,45'
-5 9 .7 1,31!
-2 3 .0
—28. 9
—30. 5
20, 794
45, 249
4,299
+ 6 .4
- 8 .5
-9 .2
116,753
140,679
12,675
+ 12.8
3,715
—6.0
6,604
- 3 .1
43,088
+25.3
- 6.1
197
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Includes only security-wage placements on relief works projects.
+
10.0
- 4 .4
+61.7
-
+6 0
-
1.0
-2 0 .4
+ 8.0
.0
- 5 .3
+ 3 .0
- 3 .1
+ 2 .0
.... .
ivrinnr»..
a N ot including reports of Alabama National Reemployment Service and Illinois, Kansas, and M inne
sota State Employment Services.
* Report not yet available.
.
* State Employment Service data not included.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
428
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 2.
Operations of Offices of State Employment Services, November 1935
N ew applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Reporting States......... 252,505
Total applica
tions 1
Per
Per
Per
Per
Public cent
N o
cent
N o
cent
cent
and
change Relief 2 vem change vem change N ov. 30 change
private from
ber
from
ber
from
from
October
October
October
Oct. 31
62,283
-3 2 .3 190, 222 239,442
-2 4 .5 461, 246
Arizona____________
California_____ _____
Colorado___________
Connecticut______ _
Delaware___________
780
33,006
5,048
5,401
1,503
440
9,791
1,159
1,353
306
-6 6 .4
340 1,194
-4 5 .9 23,215 32,042
- 6 .7 3.88S 3,745
-5 2 .6 4,048 4,525
-2 4 .3 1,197 1,278
+ 9 .6 1,980
-3 8 .8 57,304
-4 5 .8 5,348
-2 6 .8 8,560
+ 7 .8 2,198
Id a h o -.____________
Illinois______ _______
Indiana______ _____ _
Iowa_______________
Kansas (not affiliated).
2,017
(3)
6,291
2,757
(3)
465
-4 8 .0
1,552
1,768
3, 711
2,364
-2 5 .4
-1 7 .8
2,580
393
6,553
4,228
(3)
Louisiana__________
Massachusetts______
M innesota..... ............
Missouri....................
N evada____________
1, 506
2,938
(3)
11,342
815
1, 506
1,452
-2 9 .3
-
0
1,417
1,486 18, 2 1 0
-2 8 .3 4,575
+ 5 .5 23,441
+23.3
1, 501
707
-2 6 .5
+ 8 .3
9,841
108
9,801
712
N ew Hampshire......... 1,579
New Jersey................. 16,215
New Mexico________ 1,990
New York__________ 18, 619
North Carolina_____ 17,406
95
3,092
376
9,666
3,937
North D akota.............
486
Ohio _____________ 33,417
Oklahoma__________
2,899
Oregon_____________
2,217
Pennsylvania. _____ 50,359
108
6,424
426
813
3,260
Rhode I sla n d ______
Tennessee____ ____ _
Texas______ ____ _
Vermont_____ ______
Virginia........ ............ .
1,372
6,252
6,182
636
310
976
872
654
489
West Virginia_______ 1,098
Wisconsin__________ 13,464
W yoming__________
943
District of Columbia. 2,747
488
2,582
410
2,550
1,220
- 8.6 3,489, 846
+17.4
- 12 .2
-3 8 .7
-1 7 .3
- 3 .6
- 6 .1
3,817
+26.2
2 2 .8
- 1 .0
15, 523
13. 263
+ 8 .4
12,132
278,722
36| 214
48| 116
13; 646
- 1 .1
—13. 7
+10. 7
—21.8
—. 7
-1 5 .4
14, 682
-2 9 .8
105,525
48', 867
-1 5 .8
- 2 .9
1 .6
53,939
131,660
—51 2
-.4
-2 8 .7 19,850
+ .4 1,463
-3 4 .5
-1 6 .4
128,965
4 , 930
+ 9 .4
+ 4 .9
-3 7 .9 1,484
754
-2 4 .5 13,123 22,468
-7 1 .5 1,614
994
-1 6 .2 8,953 37, 530
-4 0 .0 13,469 13,394
+ 8 . 8 1,250
+ 1 .4 32,920
-3 6 .0 1,763
-4 7 .6 72,009
+17.1 29,106
—13.7
+3.1
-3 3 .8
-3 7 .8
+14.4
13,246
256,039
27,499
6 6 5 , 245
172,758
—3. 5
+ 1.6
-7 8 .7
378
382
-1 1 .7 26,993 20,551
-4 5 .8 2,473 1,311
-5 4 .2 1,404 2,406
-4 6 .2 47,099 21,130
- 1.8 1,105 -3 3 .3
- 6.6 53, 257 +19.6
-3 2 .4 3,599 -3 0 .6
+25.1 8,244 +118. 2
-2 5 .7 27,428 -2 7 .4
3,734
204; 480
26,122
74^ 809
775; 079
—22.5
+14. 0
—2 . 2
+13.4
1,062
5,276
5,310
566
147
- 5 .3 4,606 +17.8
- 1 .3 12,188 +112. 4
+ 2 2 .1 10,683 +32.1
+ 3 .6 2,402
-3 .2
-4 9 .8 1,761 -4 2 .1
53,906
100i 166
56,134
13,024
18; 950
+ 9 .7
- 2 .9
-2 4 .1
— .0
+ 2 .3
24,310
78,414
5; 445
43,088
+ 3 .6
+25.3
1 0 .6
+ 6 .5
- 7 .1
-3 5 .2
-4 3 .1
-4 1 .4
(3)
(3)
3,014
3,919
5,500
777
904
-2 0 .5
610 1,864
-3 1 .3 10 , 882 12, 790
-6 4 .3
533
566
- 6 .1
197 3, 715
-
(3)
(3)
(3)
- 20.6 4,243
-2 7 .6 29,088
-3 7 .0 1,668
- 6.0 6,604
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
; Includes only security-wage placements on relief works projects.
* Report not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Active file
+
1 1 .8
+
—4. 6
+ 1.8
- 6.2
- 3 .1
(3)
(3)
+.
6
+2 6
- 6 .5
-.8
—2 6
+8 6
429
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T a b le 3 .— O p e r a tio n s o f O ffices o f N a t io n a l R e e m p lo y m e n t S e r v ic e , N o v e m b e r 1 93 5
N ew applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Total applica
tions 1
Active file
Percent
Percent
Percent
No- change No- change
Public change
from N ov. 30
vemfrom
from rtelief2 vemand
October
October
private OctoOct. 31
ber
ber
ber
75,149
-4 5 .3 308,845 238,610
-1 1 .0 560,530
+ 2 .4 4,494, 058
-6 .0
4,595
12,415
10,892
6,687
1,542
2,439
3,169
1,460
-1 1 .3
-4 3 .5
-6 2 .2
-4 1 .3
(3)
1,400
8,208
5, 062
3,175
(3)
3,084
16,473
14,921
8,843
+33.9
+33.3
-1 .6
+40.9
(3)
21,380
92,196
52, 378
43,271
-1 7 .9
-.7
- 8 .7
-1 0 .6
Connecticut____
Florida................. .
Georgia..................
Id a h o ....................
Illinois...................
2,155
5,288
19', 355
2,608
14,047
374
2,811
2,282
1,011
2, 085
-5 6 .2 1,781 1,392
-2 2 .8 2,477 3,924
-5 8 .5 17,073 8,819
-5 1 .1 1,597 1,152
-4 5 .1 11,962 10,802
- 8 .4 3,849
-4 1 .0 19,199
-2 4 .3 19,125
+11.8 2,462
+31.2 28, 023
-1 0 .4
+34.6
+ .3
-1 6 .6
+ 3 .4
20,830
147,737
246,961
14,550
123, 205
+ 7 .6
-9 .0
-1 4 .8
- 8 .1
+ 6 .6
Indiana________
Iowa.....................
Kansas________
K entucky............
M ain e..................
1,952
3,599
12,386
2, 111
2,386
847
2,472
1,696
li 705
1,203
-4 6 .1 1,105
-3 3 .2 1,127
-2 9 .1 10,690
406
-4 6 .8
-1 8 .3 1,183
2,336 -2 7 .5 5, 766
2,484 +20.7 10,006
+ 4 .9 10, 030
3,923
8,898 +102. 2 15,882
5, 722 +60.9 9,596
+ 7 .3
+16.3
+20.8
+91.0
+ 4 .6
79,716
33, 455
81,694
209, 243
40, 327
-2 9 .4
+• 6
-2 8 .4
+ 3 .6
—5.3
Maryland............
M assachusetts...
M ichigan.............
Minnesota_____
Mississippi_____
7,134
2,354
17,370
15', 776
11,480
1,045
li 547
2,889
3i 119
1, 317
-4 1 .7 6,089 7,052
+18.2
807 11,973
-5 6 .4 14,481 22,470
-5 7 .3 12, 657 5,193
-4 8 .2 10,163 6,090
12,273
20,951
32,157
18,350
12, 538
+11.4
-1 1 .7
+10.9
+ 4 .2
-3 0 .8
107,998
203,187
204,035
77,650
157,554
+ 7.3
+ 6.9
—21.5
+ 3 .4
-6 .8
Missouri_______
M o n ta n a ...........
Nebraska.............
N evada................
New Hampshire.
18,477
2,400
7, 298
1,041
2", 206
3,936
2,332
2,247
408
469
-2 0 .7 x4,541
68
-4 9 .4
-7 0 .2 5,051
633
-1 9 .8
-2 0 .2 1,737
8,861
2,776
4,856
317
714
-2 2 .8 19, 019
+ 9 .8 10,048
+ .7 12,001
967
+13.6
- 7 .3 2,308
- 5 .3
+. 1
-2 6 .1
- 7 .9
+43.5
193, 745
46,128
48,765
2,666
15,822
-6 .9
+14.2
—11.8
+16.7
-1 3 .2
N ew Jersey.........
New Mexico___
N ew York...........
North D akota...
O h io ...................
5,189
3,855
13', 501
2,905
25,680
737
1,006
2,999
'702
3,133
+43.1 4,452 3,309
-3 8 .4 2,849 1 ,17C
-4 5 .3 10, 502 10,878
-6 6 .0 2,203 2, 315
-5 6 .4 22, 547 6,648
- 2 . 2 5, 619
-4 5 .9 2,245
- 3 .7 18,437
-2 6 .1 6,824
-1 1 .7 18,833
- 4 .4
-3 9 .4
- 5 .2
-2 5 .8
-1 0 .3
53,089
29,880
354,753
33, 333
141,467
- 3 .8
+ 6 .8
+ 2 .4
-1 4 .9
—1.0
Oklahoma...........
Oregon.................
Pennsylvania__
Rhode Island—
South Carolina..
18, 045
2 ,942
38,234
' 304
8,073
959
1,195
2i 507
129
1,574
-3 3 .5 17, 086 4,168
-3 4 .6 1,747 2, 014
-2 1 .5 35,727 11, 03i
21f
175
-4 5 .6
-5 4 .4 6,499 7,323
-3 3 .9 16, 072
+ 6 .2 4,143
-2 5 .6 36,922
521
- 2 .7
- 3 .8 19,155
+ 4 .3
-1 6 .5
+34.0
-1 2 .0
+48.8
115,774
28,083
477,894
6, 012
133,905
+ 8 .0
+15.9
- 1 .2
—4.2
-1 4 .1
South D akota...
Tennessee...........
Texas. ............... .
U tah.....................
V irginia............ .
6,538
8! 882
20,578
7,155
i 611
2,113
'677
4,484
li 31S
li 733
-2 8 .2
-1 9 .3
-3 1 .4
-4 9 .1
-5 3 .7
4,425 3, 602
8,205 3,839
16, 09' 13,94;
5,83' 2, 03f
2,878 8,15'
- 5 .6
-2 1 .2
—8.
- 25 .:
-2 7 .2
10, 405
6,853
32,291
9, 564
14,768
+7.3
-1.C
-2 .4
+14.
-25.2
40, 077
132,125
188,255
37,813
104,47£
-2 .5
—21.3
—19.3
+ 8 .0
—6. 5
Washington___
West Virginia...
W isconsin.........
Wyoming............
8, 746
7,078
14,43€
1, 23C
2 ,40i
1,465
1 ,17(
444
- 5 0 .'
-3 6 .
-5 7 .
-5 4 .
6,344
5 , 6I1
13,26'
78(
-13.4
-2 3 .
—31.
-2 5 .
14,662
16,551
16,16
2,63
-10.1
+9.
—22 . (
—10.
190,688
92,44,.
62,26.
7 ,23(
+ 3 .0
—3.2
—5. 2
+20.8
Reporting States.
383,994
Alabama.........—
A rizo n a ...............
Arkansas_______
California............
Colorado...............
(3)
3,053
9,976
7,723
5,227
7,36'
5 ,44C
6,662
888
+36.9
+51.9
-1 5 .0
+43.0
+21.5
-4 0 .3
+ 3 .6
-1 2 .2
-4 6 .5
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Includes only security-wage placements on relief works projects.
5 Report not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
430
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 4.— Veterans’ Activities of Offices of Combined State Employment and
National Reemployment Services, November 1935
N ew applications
State
Place
ments 1
United States 2____
46,888
Alabama....................
A rizona....................
Arkansas.............. .
California..................
Colorado....... ............
(3)
394
630
4,364
768
Connecticut..............
Delaware...................
Florida.......................
Georgia.......................
Idaho..........................
November
Percent
change from
October
19, 544
-2 3 .8
(3)
Active file
N ov. 30
485,647
ÔÔ
2,117
Percent
change from
Oct. 31
- 1 .9
142
190
2,823
254
+13.6
.0
-3 9 .1
-3 6 .5
4,608
30,456
4,889
- 3 .1
-1 1 . 4
+ 5 .8
-2 1 . 5
653
116
331
686
300
291
41
151
234
160
-1 6 .1
+20.6
-5 8 .7
-2 1 .2
+ 6 .0
5, 232
851
7,399
10, 789
1,688
+14.7
- 4 .9
-1 5 .9
- 2 .3
+ 6 .4
Illinois 4__________
Indiana............. .........
Iowa______________
K ansas4.....................
K entu ck y.................
1,050
797
724
954
281
416
404
303
94
243
+37.7
-2 9 .9
+14.3
-2 3 .6
+38.9
8,518
13, 632
6, 057
5,360
13, 358
+ 7 .3
- 7 .9
+ 3 .6
-2 2 .9
+ 6 .4
Louisiana...................
M aine................. .......
Maryland........... .......
Massachusetts_____
Michigan...................
164
209
770
516
1,067
53
284
189
1,252
1, 477
-3 2 .0
+60.5
-1 6 .7
-2 7 .3
+11.6
4,188
3,196
6,245
21, 504
13, 771
-4 9 .8
-4 .5
+ 2 .7
+ 1.1
-2 0 .4
M innesota4...............
M ississippi________
M issouri....................
M ontana...................
Nebraska...................
1,266
371
2,044
221
571
197
83
806
93
155
-4 6 .8
-4 7 .1
-2 4 .7
-1 0 .6
-3 0 .2
5,950
6, 012
20, 453
2,781
3,192
+14.3
-1 8 .7
+ 5 .6
+19.3
- 6 .3
N evada......................
N ew Hampshire___
New Jersey................
New M ex ico ........... .
N ew York.................
178
285
1,640
624
2,148
54
55
1,104
72
1,694
-2 3 .9
-1 4 .1
- 5 .9
-4 8 .2
-4 2 .8
544
2,237
21, 667
3,304
60, 583
+50.7
-5 .6
- 4 .1
-1 .7
+ 1.3
North Carolina____
North Dakota.......... .
Ohio_______ ______ _
Oklahoma...................
Oregon......... ...............
733
268
4,173
886
615
281
84
1,080
189
259
- 2 .8
-1 6 .8
- 5 .3
-3 3 .7
-1 0 .1
7, 676
1,887
24,585
10,452
7,349
-.7
- 3 .5
+10.9
-1 6 .7
+ 6 .4
Pennsylvania............
Rhode Island.............
South Carolina..........
•South Dakota....... .
Tennessee....................
5,121
160
400
484
1,321
1,223
106
119
97
202
-3 0 .7
+ 9 .3
-3 8 .3
- 9 .3
-2 7 .9
59,535
3,601
5, 906
2, 514
12, 660
+ 2 .0
+ 11.6
-9 .7
+ .4
-1 1 .5
Texas............................
U tah.............................
Vermont......................
Virginia.......................
Washington___ ____
3,549
609
70
253
967
571
52
17
252
224
-1 4 .5
- 7 .1
-5 2 .8
-7 .7
-1 6 .7
14, 684
2, 474
460
6,274
13, 591
-1 4 .1
+37.3
+ 1 .5
-1 .2
+ 5 .7
West V irginia...........
Wisconsin_________
Wyoming.....................
District of Columbia.
565
2, 213
197
282
204
978
70
222
-2 3 .9
-2 7 .4
-1 8 .6
-9 .0
6,632
10, 389
980
3,417
-1 .6
+ 1 .6
+23.9
+24.7
>Includes public, private, and relief projects placements.
2 N ot including reports of Alabama National Reemployment Service and Illinois, Kansas, and M inne
sota State Employment Services.
3 Report not yet available.
4 State Employment Service data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
431
O ccupational Classification of N e w R eg istra n ts and
Persons Placed in E m ploym ent, Ju n e 1935
NLIKE the restricted field of activities of many public employ
ment offices in the past, the large-scale operations of offices
operating under the United States Employment Service now embrace
all types of occupations—professional and executive, skilled, inter
mediate, and unskilled. Detailed occupational classifications of
activities of the Employment Service during June 1935 reflect the
wide field covered by the occupations of the registrants served by
employment offices.
During June, 1,538 different occupations were included among the
662,066 persons who registered with the Employment Service. In
the same month 1,210 occupations were represented in the 253,444
placements which were reported.
A list of the occupations in which the largest degree of activity was
reported is published herewith. This list of registrations and place
ments, classified by occupations, is made up of all occupations in
which 500 or more new registrations were received or 200 or more
placements were made. The 292 occupations include 84.0 percent
of the new registrations and 93.2 percent of the placements.
The month of June 1935 was a period of heavy registration by re
lief employables in connection with the relief works program. As a
result a greater than average representation of unskilled occupations
will be found among the classifications of new registrants.
The effect of extensive construction work and road-building activity
in connection with public works projects is clearly evident in the
classification of persons placed. In many of the construction occupa
tions the number of placements materially exceeded the number of
new applicants registered.
A wide variety of occupations was represented in the classifications
not included in the table, many of which were of a professional or
technical nature. The registration of 62 physicians and 45 dentists
during June is a case of this nature. Another example of occupations
outside of the field to which public employment offices often were
formerly confined is furnished by the placement of 136 professional
musicians and 2 ship captains.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
432
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Occupational Classifications Represented in New Applications and Placements
by United States Employment Service, June 1935
N ew applications
Placements
Occupation
Total
Men
Women
Total
Men
662,066
556,397
84.0
477,131
394,355
82.7
184,935
162,042
87.6
253,444
236, 224
93.2
217, 604
203,179
93.4
35,840
33,045
92.2
Actors................................................ .....................
267
Advertising workers........................................... .
166
Advertising workers, direct mail........................ .
23
Apprentices____ _________ _______________
2,300
Asphalt rakers................................. .............. I.."
83
Asphalt top shovelers, axmen..........................
35
Assemblers.................................. ......... .........
1, 385
Automobile washers................... ...... ........... .......
332
Bakers...................................... ............................
560
Bakers, breads and sweet doughs........ .............. .
610
Barbers____ ____________ ________________
1,223
Berry pickers........................................................
354
Blacksmiths________ ___________ _______ _
799
Boilermakers.............................. ............................
505
Bookkeepers............................................. ..........
1,155
Bookkeepers, assistant..........................................
680
Bookkeepers, general ledger.................................
1,054
Brakemen................................... ...........................
553
Bricklayers.................................................. ...........
866
Bricklayers, journeymen...... ...............................
406
Bridgemen............................ ..............................
94
Bus boys and bus girls.......................... ...............
508
Butchers and meat cutters...................................
1,661
Cabinetma kers_______________ _____ _____ "
674
Cannery workers______________ ___________
2,383
Canvassers...................... .......................................
157
Car loaders and unloaders...................................
377
Carpenters................... ...........................
1,323
Carpenters, finish.._________ ______________
1,688
Carpenters, form ................................................
548
Carpenters, general........... ...................................
5,655
Carpenters, journeymen.......... .............................
378
Carpenters, rough.................................................
2,289
Cement handlers................................ ....................
129
Chauffeurs_______ _________ _______________
2,193
Chauffeurs (dump truck)....................... ........... "
623
Chicken pickers...__________________
124
Chippers..................................................................
395
Cleaning men............ .........................................
135
Clerks.................................. ...... ...................... ""
817
Clerks, census takers and enumerators...............
43
Clerks, clerk-typist................................ ............ .
1,649
Clerks, file..............................................................
1,202
Clerks, general office..........................................
14,072
Clerks, shipping.....................................................
1,637
Clerks, statistical.................. .................................
188
Clerks, stock.............................................. ..........
1,242
Clerks, timekeeping............................... ........
1,680
Clerks, miscellaneous, not elsewhere classified ..
902
Coal workers (bituminous)........ ........................ .
1,323
Concrete rubbers....................... .............................
44
Cooks.........................................................
1,028
Cooks, first........... ..................................... —II—"
992
Cooks, general......................................... IIIIII I
5,810
Cooks, second.......................... ......................
854
Cooks, short-order..____ _______ _______
669
Cotton choppers...............................
III"208
Cotton pickers..................
" I"
617
Counter men and counter women......... ...............
2,128
Cutters, stone_______________ ____________
215
Dairy hands....................
""
1,091
Deck hands........ .................................
I"
307
Deliverymen.................................
——"III
2,177
D ishwashers—wipers..__________________ I.I"
522
Dishwashers—wipers, hand...... ..................
1,077
Domestic workers (mother’s helpers)_________
4,861
Domestic workers, private home......... ................
4,431
Domestic workers, general and cooking..............
14, 207
Drag tenders..............................................
164
Dumpers (paver or grader)...................
I"
53
Electricians.......................
H”
1,003
Electricians, house or building.................IIIIIIII
1,085
Engineers, civil and surveyors_______
"
715
Engineers, stationary...........................................
981
191
141
4
1,941
83
35
1,027
331
549
595
1,218
175
797
505
709
401
683
552
866
406
94
459
1,653
673
733
76
375
1,323
1,685
548
5,643
378
2,284
129
2,186
623
45
394
121
517
20
488
436
7,558
1,608
136
1,154
1,648
537
1,322
44
579
688
1,794
644
582
94
382
531
214
1,075
302
2,168
375
787
24
16
54
164
50
1.003
1,056
715
981
76
25
19
350
107
171
140
135
203
200
230
109
27
11
29
1,700
66
21
49
28
61
9
619
465
266
215
46
87
1,035
278
165
1,031
1,276
1,876
4,047
466
1,551
271
275
716
106
111
142
60
164
189
124
837
27
177
34
179
223
12
147
319
245
1,020
171
145
1,217
106
139
3
122
203
200
159
109
27
11
28
1,026
66
21
22
7
29
9
619
465
266
189
46
87
477
138
165
1,031
1,276
1,875
4,045
466
1,550
271
273
716
20
111
140
44
155
70
32
453
27
127
30
175
147
12
147
109
132
269
107
109
1,159
1
32
137
13
154
103
180
235
457
256
626
693
1,316
3,918
184
250
170
212
126
56
88
103
179
235
454
181
495
4
2
19
184
250
170
212
126
56
All occupations, June 1935...
292 occupations listed below.
Percent of total in sa m p le...
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
358
1
11
15
5
179
2
446
279
371
1
49
8
1
1,650
81
2
3
12
5
7
79
1
14
300
23
1,162
766
6, 514
29
52
88
32
365
1
449
304
4,016
210
87
114
235
1.597
1
16
5
9
147
290
4,837
4,415
14,153
3
29
Women
71
1
674
27
21
32
26
558
140
1
2
1
2
86
2
16
9
119
92
384
50
4
4
76
210
113
751
64
36
58
66
1
3
75
131
689
1,314
3,899
433
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Occupational Classifications Represented in New Applications and Placements
by United States Employment Service, June 1935— Continued
Placements
N ew applications
Occupation
Total
Men
7,342
7,249
Farmers..........................................................................
4,012
4,294
Farmers, croppers.......................................................
8,891
9,175
Farmers, tenant—................. ....... ...............................
39,
764
43,199
Farm h a n d s.................... ...........................................
65
65
Fine grade men (construction)...................... .........
1,487
1,487
Finishers, cement........................................................
223
223
Finishers, concrete pavem ent-....................... .........
69
69
Finishers, fresno..........................................................
10
10
Finishers, joint and lip curb.....................................
601
602
Firemen, railroad................ .................................. 2,689
2,690
Firemen (stationary)................. ........................ .......
175
175
Flagmen........................................... .............................
3,299
3,332
Foremen, overseers, superintendents---------------1,119
1,120
Foremen, building and construction........... ...........
732
735
Foremen, road construction........ .........................
337
337
Foresters-............................................................ - .........
4
117
Forewomen...... .............................................................
53
53
Form setters............................. ............................ .......
121
121
Form setters, concrete paving..................... ............
1,902
2,247
Fruit and vegetable pickers......................................
1,174
1,213
Gardeners.......................................................................
44
44
Grubbers..... ..................................................................
5,075
5,081
Guards, watchmen, doorkeepers..............................
19
19
Hammer and saw m en.............................................1,718
1,721
Handy men................. - ...............................................
171
180
Harvest hands..........................................................
529
542
Helpers, building and hand trades........................
2,015
2,019
Helpers, carpenters......................................................
68
68
Helpers, cement finishers..........................................
784
784
Helpers, electricians................................ ...................
14
14
Helpers, form setters_________________ _______
875
877
Helpers, machinists.............................. .....................
964
965
Helpers, mechanics.....................................................
499
500
Helpers, painters..........................................................
582
582
Helpers, steam fitters..................................................
742
745
H erdsm en.....................................................................
3,920
6,649
High school graduates, no experience....................
734
734
Hod carriers....... ...........................................................
505
592
Hospital attendants and orderlies..........................
16
2,173
Housekeepers................................................................
4
1,392
Housekeepers, farm......................... ........................ 48
15,340
Housekeepers, home...................................................
250
253
H ousem en....................................................................
596
615
Housemen, general.....................................................
5
7
Housemen, rug beaters...................... - .....................
28
31
Housemen, wall washers................... ....................
95
100
Housemen, window cleaners............................. —
24
650
House mothers— ........................................................
36
5,861
Housewomen and day workers.........................
Housewomen and day workers, general cleaning
18
6,560
(home)................................................................
Housewomen and day workers, general cleaning
8
631
(office)................................................................ 7
5,553
Housewomen and day workers, washing, ironing.
1,001
1,545
Inspectors, examiners....................................- ..........
447
448
Iron workers, structural...........................................
11
23
Interviewers................................................ ...............
3,660
3,878
Janitors (caretakers)-------- ----------------------------99, 725
Laborers (general).................................. - ................ 100,840
709
712
Laborers, bridge, steel, concrete......... .................
1,419
1,420
Laborers, cement and concrete........ ....................7,714
7,
709
Laborers, construction general--------- ------------1,232
1,233
Laborers, excavating.................................. ..............
220
220
Laborers, fill and fin is h ........................................
54
54
Laborers, foundation footings..................... ...........
3,496
3,
503
Laborers, road and highway...................................
389
389
Laborers, sewer.................................. .......................
133
133
Laborers, wrecking....................................................
1,622
1,624
Laborers, y a r d ..........................................................
93
2,682
Laundresses, laundrymen......................................
689
689
Linemen.......................................................................
953
955
Loggers.........................- ..............................................
792
792
Longshoremen, stevedores.......... ..........................
963
965
M ach inists................... - ............................... - ..........
552
552
Machinists, repair....................................................
1
240
M a id s........................................................................
4
1,303
Maids, chamber or upstairs....................................
13
7,352
Maids, general...........................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
93
282
284
3,435
1
1
33
1
3
113
345
39
6
3
9
13
4
2
1
1
3
2,729
87
2,157
1, 388
15, 292
3
19
2
3
5
626
5,825
Women
M en
Total
Women
52
80
30
8,517
256
1,444
566
204
143
3
426
249
473
263
297
428
119
179
409
4,504
658
168
751
148
1,373
855
190
974
109
153
120
63
96
85
91
93
291
142
131
210
1,876
255
723
139
168
196
8
2,226
29
8,439
256
1,444
566
204
143
3
426
249
460
263
297
428
119
179
409
4,038
619
168
749
148
1,369
854
173
974
109
153
466
39
120
63
96
85
91
93
291
114
1
10
1,866
250
720
139
166
190
5
3
70
2,156
4,453
258
1,774
6,542
4,513
60
623
5,546
544
1
12
218
1,115
3
1
5
1
260
1,779
191
360
156
303
26, 542
4,502
4,794
15,563
2, 757
2,050
224
40,181
2,691
248
251
177
105
110
452
2
7
2
2, 589
2
2
239
1,299
7,339
88
61
418
359
2,435
28
131
209
5
169
360
149
281
26,408
4, 501
4,792
15, 562
2,757
2,050
224
40,179
2,691
248
251
6
22
7
22
134
1
1
2
171
105
110
452
88
61
2
14
416
359
2,421
434
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Occupational Classifications Represented in New Applications and Placements
by United States Employment Service, June 1935— Continued
N ew applications
Placements
Occupation
Total
Maids, kitchen__________ ______ ________
Maids, nurse__________________________
Maintenance and utility m en___________
Managers, restaurant and hotel_________
Managers, store_______ ____ ________ ___
Masons, brick....................................................
Masons, stone___________ _______ _______
Mechanics, automobile_________________
Messengers and office boys______________
M essengers, miscellaneous____ __________
Miners_______ ____ - ............ .........- ..........._.
Miners, b lasters..._____________________
Miners, pick and shovel men.................... .
Miners, tunnel (not under air pressure). . .
Mixers______ _________________________
Molders, iron____ _______ ______________
Mortar makers_____ ______ ____________
Muckers, tunnel_______________________
Musicians (including music teachers)____
Nurses, registered or trained_____________
Oilers, greasers.______ ____________ _____
Operators (machine)___________________
Operators, bulldozer____________________
Operators, concrete mixers.............................
Operators, concrete paver mixers________
Operators, crane, gasoline..______ _______
Operators, crusher (crusher or gravel plant)
Operators, drill press......................................
Operators, elevator passenger____________
Operators, grader, blad e...............................
Operators, grader, elevating..........................
Operators, hoist.................................................
Operators, jack hammer.................................
Operators, Le Tourneau............ ....................
Operators, motor grader________________
Operators, motor patrol......... ............... .......
Operators, power sewing________________
Operators, punch press..............................
Operators, road rollers____ _____________
Operators, shovel, gasoline______________
Operators, shovel, steam________________
Operators, tractor..______ ______________
Operators, tractor (under 30 horsepower)..
Operators, tractor (60-80 horsepower)_____
Operators, underwear, hosiery___________
Packers, wrappers, craters___ __________
Painters_______________ _______________
Painters, bridge and guard rail__________
Painters, brush_________________ _______
Painters, decorator..........................................
Painters, general................................................
Painters, house....................... ......................
Painters, paperhanger......................................
Peelers........ .........................................................
Pick and shovel men________ _____ _____
Pile drivers___________ ________________
Pipe layers, sewer, water, g a s .....................
Pipe-line workers................................. ...........
Plasterers...........................................................
Plasterers, general___ ______ ____________
Plum bers.________ ____________________
Porters................................................................
Porters, pantry and cleaning____ ________
Powdermen......................................... ................
Practical nurses.................................................
Pressers.................................................................
Pressers, ironers_______ ____ ____ _______ _
Pressmen...... ......................................................
Pruners (tree).....................................................
Puddlers.......................................... ...................
Pumpm en.......................................................
Quarry hands........ ....................................... .
Rakers or spreaders.........................................
Riveters, bridge.—________ _____________
Riveters, structural....................... ..................
Rodmen..................... ............. ............... .........
Salesmen................. ............... ............. ..............
Salesmen, commission_____________ ____ _
Salesmen, department store general.............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,218
3,312
694
689
842
315
634
4, 402
1,820
287
2, 502
1,528
6, 351
202
139
793
297
121
1,280
958
752
1,415
161
234
39
141
55
725
626
552
45
226
792
27
58
55
1,811
836
268
276
257
634
588
888
690
2, 668
1,122
170
881
562
2,825
1,664
556
103
1,426
96
224
396
276
873
1,704
1,716
838
295
2,956
435
1,050
534
100
54
564
322
26
58
874
347
1,593
283
2,504
Men
662
13
694
479
787
315
634
4, 400
1,805
275
2,501
1,528
6, 347
202
139
793
296
121
946
71
752
929
160
234
39
141
54
661
520
552
45
226
790
27
58
54
112
687
268
276
256
634
588
888
277
1,053
1,116
169
879
555
2,820
1,662
549
33
1,425
96
224
396
275
871
1,704
1,714
827
295
73
311
420
528
100
54
538
322
26
55
791
346
822
251
497
Women
556
3,299
210
55
2
15
12
1
4
1
334
887
486
1
1
64
106
2
1
1,699
149
1
413
1,615
6
1
2
7
5
2
7
70
1
1
2
2
11
2,883
124
630
6
26
3
83
1
771
32
2,007
Total
441
391
229
16
13
403
382
296
105
130
241
2
83
210
233
40
154
125
136
40
672
193
457
244
120
292
150
88
27
1,124
270
116
822
111
182
237
265
94
734
967
158
665
291
1,679
29
569
285
324
266
123
80S
511
286
253
1,914
153
142
962
150
500
434
166
73
137
444
150
298
62
216
180
88
417
205
105
27
159
87
194
612
Men
208
1
228
8
12
401
382
296
103
120
239
2
83
210
233
40
154
125
123
5
672
164
457
244
120
292
150
79
22
1,124
270
116
822
111
182
237
8
72
734
967
158
664
291
1,679
17
319
284
324
265
123
805
511
281
146
1,914
153
142
962
150
500
430
164
70
137
19
120
79
62
215
180
81
417
205
105
27
159
54
140
163
Women
233
390
1
8
1
2
2
:o
2
13
35
29
9
5
257
22
1
12
250
1
1
3
5
107
4
2
3
425
30
219
1
7
33
54
449
435
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Occupational Classifications Represented in New Applications and Placements
by United States Employment Service, June 1935—-Continued
Placements
N ew applications
Occupation
Total
Salesmen, drugs and cosmetics________________
Salesmen, dry goods_______ _____ ____________
Salesmen, food products_____________________
Salesmen, groceries.__________________ ______
Salesmen, fruits and vegetables_______________
Salesmen, meats_____________________________
Salesmen, ready-to-wear, women’s ____________
Salesmen, route sales_________________________
Salesmen, shoes_____________________________
Salesmen, so lic ito r s__ _____ ______ . _______
Salesmen, variety___________________________
Sawmill workers . . . . ____. . . . .
..
Seamstresses. _____________________
____
Seamstresses, dressmakers_____ _____
Seamstresses, plain sewing___________________
Section hands (track workers) . . .
Service men (station attendants)________ ______
Shearm en______ _________________ _____ .
Shoe repairmen_____________________________
Social and welfare w orkers.______ ____________
Sprayers___________ ____ ___ _____ __________
Steam fitters____________ ____________________
Stenographers_______________________________
Stenographers, general_______________________
Structural-steel workers __
Structural-steel erectors (steel)
_ _ _
Teachers (school)__________ 1________________
Teachers, primary______________ ____________
Teachers, grammar school____________________
Teachers, high school________________________
Team owners______ ______ ____ ________ ____
Teamsters-drivers.. ------------------------------------ -Textile workers______________ ____ _______ ___
Textile workers, spinners ______ ___ ___
Textile workers, spoolers_____________________
Textile workers, weavers_____________________
Textile workers, winders_____________________
Tobacco workers________________________ ___ Tool and die makers . . ________ _________
Truck drivers. . . ------------- --------------------------Truck drivers (3-5 tons)______________________
Truck drivers (1^ -3 tons)____________________
Truck drivers (1J-S tons or less)------- -- ------------Truck o w n e r s________________ ____________
Truck owners (flat)
______ - - ___________
Truck owners (gravel and paving dump) _____
Truckers, unloaders, etc_____________ ________
T ypists______________________ ______________
Typists, general____________________ . . . - Upholsterers, furniture_______________________
Waiters-------------------------------------- ------ -----Waiters, arm_______________________________
Waiters, counter------- ------ --------------------------Waiters, fountain or soda............................... ..........
Waiters, tray------ ------------ ----------------------------Weavers, mattress------ ---------------------------------Welders, acetylene _________________________
Welders, electric
__ ______________________
Wood choppers
__ _________________
Wood mill workers - _______________________
Woodsmen
_
__
___________
Yard workers______- -----------------------------------Yard workers, grass cutters----------------------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
674
784
549
3,417
978
701
566
560
379
370
1,963
2, 288
2,785
h 274
9,268
2,377
2 , 106
148
860
542
119
510
1,590
7,635
336
121
773
876
2,103
1,202
193
2, 369
1,433
829
719
3,054
1,029
872
354
5,019
5,985
9,048
5, 223
229
205
822
1,132
737
2, 614
288
1,978
1,471
1,770
562
2,532
17
505
537
441
480
956
450
222
Men
503
210
483
2, 759
807
627
51
549
319
294
289
2,287
11
6
25
2,372
2,105
148
832
146
110
509
143
663
336
121
282
126
590
685
190
2, 367
810
360
81
2,332
137
220
354
5,017
5,982
9,045
5,217
227
204
822
1,123
117
426
283
549
263
528
369
687
13
505
536
441
470
956
449
221
Women
171
574
66
658
171
74
515
11
60
76
1,674
1
2, 774
1,268
9, 243
5
1
28
396
9
1
1,447
6,972
491
750
1,513
517
3
2
623
469
638
722
892
652
2
3
3
6
2
1
9
620
2,188
5
1,429
1,208
1,242
193
1,845
4
1
10
1
1
Total
95
37
77
134
37
28
125
37
113
317
263
613
145
31
309
1,109
' 108
100
233
85
160
37
106
855
397
123
40
2
4
2
835
2,185
15
3
4
102
20
13
151
1,719
3,816
6,010
4,937
470
183
2, 599
'270
184
710
160
600
558
287
135
816
130
76
182
1,213
123
497
885
587
Men
33
4
57
104
21
27
1
36
100
180
7
613
8
1,109
107
100
121
40
158
37
7
77
396
123
22
2
1
1
834
2,184
4
3
3
75
1
10
151
1,718
3,815
6,009
4,936
470
183
2,597
268
4
36
71
87
85
59
62
139
129
74
182
1, 213
123
497
882
586
Women
62
33
20
30
16
1
124
1
13
137
256
145
31
301
1
112
45
2
99
778
1
18
3
1
1
1
11
1
27
19
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
180
674
89
513
473
228
73
677
1
2
3
1
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
S um m ary o f E m ploym ent R e p o rts fo r D ecem ber 1935
Comparison of December 1935 with November 1935 and December 1934
PPROXIMATELY 322,000 workers were returned to jobs in
December in the industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Weekly pay rolls in these industries were $13,300,000
greater in December than in November. Compared with the corre
sponding month of 1934, December 1935 showed 693,000 more
workers on the pay rolls of these industries and $38,100,000 more in
weekly wage disbursements.
Factory employment decreased by 29,600 (0.4 percent) over the
month interval, but pay rolls rose by $4,300,000 (2.8 percent).
Over the year interval, the gains were 545,000 (8.3 percent) in em
ployment and $27,260,000 (21.2 percent) in pay rolls. The durablegoods group of industries showed a loss of 0.5 percent in employment
over the month, and the nondurable-goods group a loss of 0.4 percent.
Both groups showed gains of 2.9 percent in pay rolls. Forty-one
manufacturing industries shared in the employment gains over the
month interval and 61 in the pay-roll gains.
Among individual industries, the most pronounced gains in employ
ment over the month interval were in the electric- and steam-car
building industry (9.1 percent), boots and shoes (6.4 percent), wirework (4.4 percent), and agricultural implements (4.1 percent). Em
ployment in the cast-iron pipe industry increased 3.1 percent and
gains of 3 percent each were shown in the iron and steel forgings and
the textile machinery industries. Among the remaining 34 industries
reporting employment gains were such important industries as auto
mobiles (2.3 percent), book and job printing (2.3 percent), foundries
and machine shops (1.8 percent), cotton goods (1.8 percent), slaughter
ing and meat packing (1.8 percent), newspapers and periodicals
(1.2 percent), machine tools (1.4 percent), silk and rayon goods (2.1
percent), and blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills (1.0
percent).
Seasonal declines in employment were reported in December in
beet sugar (39.2 percent), canning and preserving (18.9 percent),
radios and phonographs (15.3 percent), jewelry (9.5 percent), ce
ment (9.4 percent), stoves (8.0 percent), and cottonseed oil-cake-meal
(7.8 percent). The soap industry reported a decrease of 6.2 percent
436
A
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
437
in employment over the month interval and losses ranging from 3
percent to 3.9 percent were reported in steam and hot-water heating
apparatus, men’s furnishings, flour, millwork, explosives, shirts
and collars, and aircraft.
In the 17 nonmanufacturing industries for which information is
available, aggregate employment showed an estimated gain of 351,000
over the month interval and weekly pay rolls advanced $9,000,000.
Retail trade absorbed the largest number of workers (342,300),
anthracite mining added 15,300, and bituminous-coal mining took
on 13,700. A comparison with December 1934 shows 150,000 more
employees in the 17 nonmanufacturing industries in December
1935, and $10,800,000 more in weekly pay rolls.
During December employment in the various services of the
United States Government registered a 40.9 percent increase over
November. Monthly pay rolls of $272,317,854 were 23.3 percent
higher than in the previous month. (See table 3.)
An increase of 1,182,000 in the number of workers employed on
The Works Program was largely responsible for the gain in employ
ment in December. In the regular agencies of the Federal Govern
ment small increases in the number of employees occurred in the
executive, judicial, and military branches; a slight loss, however, was
registered in the legislative service. On construction work employ
ment on construction projects financed by the Public Works Admin
istration declined 14.5 percent. Decreases in the number of wage
earners employed occurred also on construction projects financed
by regular governmental appropriations and on construction projects
financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
In the relief activities of the Federal Government employment
and pay rolls on the emergency work program showed a sharp drop
in December. A moderate loss was also reported in the number of
workers engaged on the emergency conservation program. (See
table 4.)
Private employment.—Table 1 shows employment and pay-roll
indexes and average weekly earnings in November 1935 for all manu
facturing industries combined, for various nonmanufacturing indus
tries, and for class I steam railroads, with percentage changes over
the month and year intervals, except in the few cases referred to in
footnotes, for which certain items cannot be computed. Table 2
shows for the same industries as in table 1, so far as data are avail
able, average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings,
together with percentage changes over the month and year intervals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
438
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 1.— Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in All Manufacturing Industries
Combined and in Nonmanufacturing Industries, December 1935 (Preliminary
Figures)
Employment
Industry
All manufacturing industries
combined_____________ ____
Class I steam railroads 1______
Coal mining:
Anthracite_______________
Bitum inous__________ _ _
Metalliferous mining_________
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining____________________
Crude-petroleum producing___
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph. __
Electric light and power
and manufactured gas___
Electric-railroad and motorbus operation and maintenance_____ _
______
Trade:
Wholesale-_______ _______
Retail_____ ____ _________
General merchandisingOther than general
merchandising______
Hotels (year-round) 3_________
Laundries___________________
Dyeing and cleaning_______ _.
Banks____________
_____
Brokerage___________________
Insurance________ ______
Building construction________
Percentage
chahge from—
Index,
Decem
ber
1935
No
vem
ber
1935
D e
cem
ber
1934
- 0 .4
- 1 .3
+ 8 .3
+ 2 .4
(1 9 2 3 -2 5 =
100)
84.6
55.1
Average weekly
earnings
Pay roll
Percentage
change from—
Index,
Decem
ber
1935
N o
vem
ber
1935
De
cem
ber
1934
Percentage
change from—
December
1935
D e
cem
ber
1934
+ 3.1
(2)
+11.9
(2)
(1 9 2 3 -2 5 =
100)
(1 9 2 9 =
100)
76.6
(2)
+ 2.8 +21.2 $22. 29
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1 9 2 9 =
100)
57.3 +23.0 - 7 .0
79.1 + 3 .9
-.8
53.5 + 1 .8 +20.5
55.4 +95.3 + 5 .9
69.5 + 6.0 +21.9
43.2 + 9.0 +46.9
43.1
72.2
- 7 .7
- 1 .1
+ 2 .4
- 8 .3
29.7
59.9
- 7 .4 +25.8
+ 5 .2
+ .7
69.6
- .3
-.1
75.6
+ 1 .0
+ 3.3
29.25
+ 1.4
+3.4
86.8
-.9
+ 3 .8
86.0
+ 3 .2
+ 9 .8
31.48
+ 4.0
+ 5 .8
70.5
-.8
-.7
66.1
+ 3 .6
+ 6.1
29. 81
+ 4.3
+ 7.0
68.6 + 2.6
69.4 + 9.5
104.9 +27.9
+ 5.9
+ 4 .8
+ 6.0
27. 43
19. 62
16. 79
+ 2 .2
-2 .4
- 2 .8
+ 3.7
+ 2 .3
+ 1.8
+ 4.1 + 4 .5
+ 3 .2
-.9
+ 1.1 + 6.6
- 4 .4
+ 3.5
+ .3 +1.9
+ 5 .0 +19.4
+ 1.2 + 2.7
- 4 .3 +14.5
22. 68
13. 75
15.71
17. 74
31.71
35.71
36.59
25. 10
+ .8
-. 1
+ 1.3
-.6
+ .1
+ 1.4
+ 1.1
+ 2 .6
+ 2.7
+ 2 .2
+ 4.5
+ 2.1
-.2
+4. 2
+ 2.0
+ 9 .6
86.8
+• 4
93.3 +10.3
133.7 +31.6
82.7
80.8
81.1
73.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
+ 3 .2
-.8
-.2
- 3 .8
+2.1
+ 2 .4
+4.1
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .4
+2.1
+ 3 .5 + 14.6
+ .1
- 6 .7
+ 4 .9
62.1
64.2
67.5
52.9
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
28.08 +58.7 +13.9
22.75 + 2 .0 +22.9
24.91 + 7.1 +21.9
17.39
30. 09
1 Preliminary; source—Interstate Commerce Commission.
2 N ot available.
3 Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N o
vem
ber
1935
+ 6 .4
+22.8
+ 9 .8
439
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T a b le 2.-— H o u r s a n d E a r n in g s in D e c e m b e r 193 5 in A ll M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u s tr ie s
C o m b in e d , a n d in N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s (P r e lim in a r y F ig u r e s)
Average hours worked
per week
Industry
De-
Percentage
change
from i—
Average hourly
earnings
De-
Percentage
change
from *—
1935
N o
De
vem cember
ber
1934
1935
38.8
(2)
+ 2 .6 +10.5
(2)
(2)
57.1
(2)
+ 0 .7
(2)
+ 1 .2
(2)
33.5 +50.2 + 8 .9
28.7 + 4 .4 + 14.6
42.5 + 6 .8 +21.2
35.4
- . 8 +16.8
38.5 + 6 .4 + 6.1
83.1
80.6
58.5
48.8
78.2
+ 3 .2
-1 .7
+ .3
+ 1 .5
- .3
+ 1 .6
+ 9 .5
+ 2.1
-.5
-.5
38.5
40.0
-1 .5
+ 1 .8
- 1 .0
+ 3 .5
78.4
78.5
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .8
+ 5 .3
+ 2 .4
47.0
+ 4 .0
+ 4 .4
62.6
+ .8
+ 2 .4
42.4
43.3
41.9
43.9
48.3
41.2
41.2
(2)
(2)
(2)
31.2
+ 1 .7 + 3 .7
+ 2.1 + 2 .5
+ 6 .6 + 3 .9
+ 1 .2 + 2.1
.0 + 2 .6
+ 1 .5 + 5 .0
+ .2 - 2 . 0
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
+ 3 .3 +14.9
64.5
49.1
41.4
52.4
3 28.2
36.6
42.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
80.5
+ .5
-3 .5
-8 .6
-.8
.0
.0
-.5
(2)
(2)
(2)
-.4
-.8
-.3
- .9
-.1
+ .1
+ .1
-.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
-3 .0
1935
No
De
vem cember
ber
1934
1935
C e n ts
All manufacturing industries combined..................................
Class I steam railroads------ -------------------------------------------Coal mining:
Anthracite-------------------------------------------- ------ --------Bituminous_______________________________________
Metalliferous mining__________________________________
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining---------------------------------Crude-petroleum producing______________ ______________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph________ ___________ _______
Electric light and power, and manufactured gas...........
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and main
tenance........................................ ............................................
Trade:
Wholesale____________ _____________________ ____
Retail................................. .........- ........................... ..................
General merchandising__________ ____ ___________
Other than general merchandising_____ ____ _____
Hotels (year-round)____________________________________
Laundries______________________________ ___ _______
Dyeing and cleaning___ _______________________________
Banks______________________
- -- ________________
Brokerage.______
_______________
. -----------------Insurance______
.
____ ______ ___ ____________
__________________ ___________
Building construction
1 Percentage changes over year computed from indexes.
2 N ot available.
* Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
Public employment.—Employment created by the Federal Govern
ment is of two general classes: (1) employment either in the executive,
judicial, legislative, or military services, and on various construction
projects financed by the Federal Government; and (2) employment
on relief work, where the work itself and the system of payment is of
an emergency-relief character. Data for these two types of Federal
employment are shown separately in tables 3 and 4.
427 0 4 — 36------- 11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
440
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
T a b le 3 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in V a r io u s S e r v ic e s o f t h e U n ite d S ta t e s
G o v e r n m e n t, D e c e m b e r 1935 (P r e lim in a r y F ig u r e s)
Employment
K ind of service
Total service____ ___________
Per
centage
change
December November
3,957,661
2,809,210
Executive service_________ ____ __
816,185
' 801,608
Judicial service__ ___________
1,933
1,901
Leeislative service. ____ ____
4,975
5, 063
M ilitary service______________ .
285, 673
285,117
Construction projects—
Financed by Public Works Adm inistration.. ____________
2 231, 692
3 271, 111
Financed by Reconstruction Finance Corporation.. . _______
7,786
9, 793
Financed by regular governmental appropriations-. . _________
56, 780
63,912
The Works Program 4______________ 2, 552,637 ‘ 1,370, 705
P ay roll
November
Per
centage
change
+40.9 $272,317,854 $220,806,894
+23.3
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .7
- 1 .7
+ .2
December
125,631, 309 1119,365,726
512, 027
492,917
1,187, 061
1, 203,502
22, 301,838
22, 263,895
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .9
- 1 .4
+ •2
-1 4 .5
2 16, 360, 315
3 19,512,866
-1 6 .2
-2 0 . 5
869,459
1,001,408
-1 3 .2
-1 1 .2
+86.2
3, 707,963
101,747,882
4, 077, 395
i 52,889,185
- 9 .1
+92.4
1 Revised.
2 Includes 9,203 wage earners and $446,783 pay roll covering Public Works Administration projects
financed from Emergency Relief Administration Act, 1935.
3 Includes 3,422 wage earners and $149,545 pay-roll covering Public Works Administration projects
financed from Emergency Relief Administration Act, 1935.
4 Data covering Public Works Administration projects financed from Emergency Relief Administration
Act 1935 funds are not included in the Works Program and shown only under Public Works Administra
tion.
T a b le 4.-—E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls o n R e lie f W ork o f V a r io u s F e d e r a l
A g e n c ie s , D e c e m b e r 1935 (P r e lim in a r y F ig u r e s)
Employment
Group
Per
cent
age
December November change
Pay roll
December
November
Per
cent
age
change
All groups_______ ________________
575,163
890,428
-3 5 .4
$23,750,329
$32,211,377
-2 6 .3
Emergency Work program...... ..........
Emergency Conservation work_____
68, 558
2 506, 605
i 346,470
3 543,958
-8 0 .2
- 6 .9
1,844,813
2 21,905,516
8, 253,626
3 23,957, 751
-7 7 .6
-8 .6
1 Revised.
2 41,052 employees and pay roll of $5,550,475 included in executive service.
3 46,621 employees and pay roll of $6,418,511 included in executive service.
Coverage of Reports
M o n t h l y reports on employment and pay rolls are now available
for the following groups: (1) 90 manufacturing industries; (2) 17 non
manufacturing industries, including building construction; (3) class I
steam railroads; and (4) Federal services and agencies. The reports
for the first two of these groups—manufacturing and nonmanufactur
ing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
but in practically all cases the samples are sufficiently large to be
entirely representative. The figures on class I steam railroads are
compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission and include all
employees. The data for the various Federal services and agencies
also cover all employees on the pay rolls of such organizations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
441
In total, these four groups include a majority of the wage and salary
workers in the United States. Unfortunately, however, information
is not available for certain other large employment groups—notably,
agricultural work, professional service, and domestic and personal
service.
E m ploym ent and P ay R olls in N ovem ber 1935: R evised
Figures
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the
month of November 1935. The tabular data are the same as those
published in the Employment and Pay Kolls (formerly Trend of
Employment) pamphlet for November except for certain minor
revisions and corrections.
T
Part I—Private Employment
Manufacturing Industries
Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in November 1935
F or November the index of factory employment stood at 84.9
and the index of pay rolls at 74.5 (1923-25 average equals 100).
Compared with the previous month, the index of employment showed
a decrease of 0.4 percent and the pay-roll index a decrease of 0.7
percent. Despite these recessions, approximately 675,000 more
workers (10.4 percent) were employed by manufacturing industries
in November 1935 than in the corresponding month of 1934 and
weekly wage disbursements showed a gain of $30,500,000 (25.2 per
cent) in comparison with a year ago.
The most significant increase in employment from October to
November was the gain of 10.1 percent in the automobile industry.
Pay rolls in this industry rose 19.5 percent. In former years, employ
ment in the automobile industry declined in November. The general
introduction of new models at an earlier date than in previous years,
however, advanced the usual periods of expansion in this industry by
approximately 2 months. Increased activity in the electric- and
steam-railroad car building and the locomotive industries in Novem
ber was indicated by the gains in employment of 14.9 percent and 7.3
percent, respectively. Gains ranging from 4.0 percent to 6.2 percent
were shown in slaughtering and meat packing, wirework, woolen and
worsted goods, cotton small wares, men’s furnishings, and agricultural
implements.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
442
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — F E B R U A R Y
1936
The largest declines in employment from October to November
were seasonal. Employment in the canning and preserving industry
decreased 39.5 percent over the month interval.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from reports supplied by representative establishments in 90 manu
facturing industries. The base used in computing these indexes is
the 3-year average, 1923-25. In November 1935, reports were
received from 23,491 establishments employing 4,068,004 workers
whose weekly earnings were $88,552,442. The employment reports
received from these cooperating establishments cover more than
55 percent of the total wage earners in all manufacturing industries
of the country and more than 65 percent of the wage earners in the
90 industries included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly
survey.
Per capita weekly earnings in all manufacturing industries com
bined were $21.77 in November, a decline of 0.2 percent over October.
Some of the establishments that report employment and pay-roll
totals do not report man-hours. Consequently, average hours and
average hourly earnings are computed from data supplied by a
smaller number of establishments than are used in computing per
capita weekly earnings and indexes of employment and pay rolls.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, average hours worked per
week, average hourly earnings, and per capita weekly earnings in
manufacturing industries in November are presented in table 1.
Percentage changes from October to November 1935 and from
November 1934 to November 1935 are also given in this table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T a b le 1 .— E m p lo y m e n t , P a y R o lls , H o u r s, a n d E a r n in g s in M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u s tr ie s , N o v e m b e r 1935
•
Average hours worked
per week 3
Average hourly
earnings 2
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
change from—
change from—
change from—
Novem change from— Novem change from—
ber
ber
Novem
Novem
Novem
1935
1935
ber
ber
ber
(3-year Octo N ovem (3-year Octo Novem 1935
Novem
Novem
Octo
1935
Octo
Octo Novem
1935
average
average
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
1923-25 1935
1923-25 1935
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1935
1935
1935
= 100)
= 100)
C e n ts
All in d u s tr ie s 3_________ _____ _____ ________ - -
84.9
- 0 .4
+10.4
74.5
- 0 .7
+25.2
$21. 77
D urable goods 3_________________________
N o n d u ra b le goods 3_ .___________________
76.1
94.5
+ 1 .6
- 1 .8
+22.2
+ 2 .2
68.1
82.6
+ 2.7
- 4 .0
+47.7
+ 7 .8
76.8
76.2
83.2
51.2
+ .5
+ .8
+ 1 .9
+ .9
+16.0
+15.6
+15.2
+ 3 .9
65.1
66.4
69.6
30.4
-.6
+ .4
- 1 .6
+ 5 .2
80.9
65.2
56.8
95.6
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .2
+ 2 .2
-2 .5
+ 2 .5
+27.8
+25.1
+52.5
67.9
51.5
55.7
60.0
58.7
108.5
58.6
95.3
+ 1.7
-1 .5
-.7
-5 .2
+19.1
+15.5
+ 1 .2
+ 6.4
71.3
138.4
+ 3 .3
+ 4 .2
9 3 .8
123.8
109.5
- 0 .2
+ 13.4
37.8
- 1 .0
+11.1
56.7
+ 0.4
+ 1.6
24.47
19.07
+ 1.1
- 2 .2
+20.9
+ 5 .6
39.3
36.4
- .3
- 1 .9
+ 15.8
+ 5 .7
61.1
52.6
+ .8
-.4
+ 2 .7
+ .2
+47.3
+59.2
+55.0
+15.2
23.23
24.10
21.62
16.09
- 1 .1
- .4
- 3 .5
+ 4 .2
+26.9
+37.9
+34.0
+11.5
37.5
36.4
37.9
32.4
- 1 .6
-.3
-3 .6
+ 3 .2
+24.7
+38.3
+31.7
+ 8 .7
61.6
66.3
57.0
49.1
+ .5
0
-.2
+ .8
+ .8
-.2
+ 1 .2
0
+ 5 .7
+ 6.1
+ 7 .0
- 7 .8
+18.3
+43.9
+62.9
+ 59.6
21. 54
24.71
22. 71
20.94
+ 3 .6
+ 2 .7
+ 4 .7
- 5 .5
+15.4
+12.2
+30.7
+ 4 .7
40.9
40.2
41.0
37.4
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .8
- 5 .3
+ 15.0
+ 9 .7
+30.5
+ 8 .0
52.8
61.5
55.8
56.0
+ 1 .3
+ .2
+ 1 .3
0
+ .4
+ 3 .4
+ .2
- 3 .4
41.4
86.0
44.7
91.5
- 4 .6
-1 1 .0
- 2 .9
- 8 .7
+29.4
+28.4
+ 8 .5
+15. 2
22. 57
22. 21
21.14
20.07
- 6 .2
-9 .7
- 2 .1
-3 .7
+ 8 .3
+11.0
+ 7 .5
+ 8 .5
38.9
38.3
36.1
37.2
- 5 .8
-1 0 .1
- 3 .7
- 5 .3
+ 7 .5
+ 9 .0
+ 5.1
+ 5 .2
58.1
57.0
58.6
53.7
-.2
+ 1.1
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .3
+ .3
+ 1.7
+ 2 .0
+ 2.1
+22.7
+ 14.2
71.1
135.5
+ 4.4
+ 9 .3
+46.9
+43.4
22. 63
24.13
+ 1.1
+ 4 .9
+ 19.3
+25.4
42.1
41.5
+ .7
+ 4 .5
+15.2
+21.9
53.7
58.2
+ .6
+ .5
+ 4 .8
+ 3 .2
+. 8
+ 6 .2
+20.4
+55.5
+ 3 7 .9
23.99
39 .4
+69.2
- 1 .0
+ 14.0
+ 6 .5
24.04
- .1
+ .3
+ 1 4 .6
145.0
+ 8 .8
39.0
-
1.0
+ 2 .5
60.4
61.8
+ .8
+ 1.1
+ 5 .6
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .6
88.5
- 2 .4
+ 6 .2
26.59
- 3 .7
+ 3 .6
38.5
- 4 .2
+ 1 .4
69.5
+ .4
+ 1 .4
D u r a b le go o d s
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts, n o t in
c lu d in g m a c h in er y 3_ .____ ______________
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills..
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets........ ................
Cast-iron pipe............. ............ ..........................
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cut
lery), and edge tools........... ...............................
Forgings, iron and ste e l.......................................
Hardware.................. ...........................................
Plumbers’ supplies.................................................
Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and
steam fittings____ ____ _____________ ____
Stoves__________________ _________________
Structural and ornamental metalwork______
Tin cans and other tinware________________
Tools (not including edge tools, machine
tools, files, and saw s).. .............................. .
Wirework 3_____ ____ _____________ _______
M ach in ery , n o t in c lu d in g tra n sp o r ta tio n
e q u ip m e n t _________ _____ ___ ________ ____
Agricultural implements......................................
Cash registers, adding machines, and calcu
lating machines...................................................
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
78 .9
-K 6
+ .7
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
Employment
444
T a b le I .— E m p lo y m e n t , P a y R o lls , H o u r s, a n d E a r n in g s in M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u s tr ie s , N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 5 — C o n tin u e d
Employm ent
M ach inery, n o t in c lu d in g tra n sp o r ta tio n
e q u ip m e n t—Continued
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water wheelsFoundry and machine-shop products_______
Machine tools___ ____________ __________
Radios and phonographs_____ _____ _______
Textile machinery and parts_______________
Typewriters and parts_______________ _____
T ra n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t_________________
Aircraft_____________ ___________________
Automobiles____ _
- _______________
Cars, electric- and steam-railroad___________
Locomotives________________
_________
Shipbuilding_______________________ _____
R ailroad repair s h o p s ___________ ____ - ............
Electric railroad__________________ _______
Steam railroad______________________ _____
N onferrous n eta ls a n d th eir p ro d u cts 3____
A l l u m i n u m m a n u f a c t u r e s 3... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Brass, br on ze , a n d c o p p e r p r o d u c t s ___
___
C l o c k s a n d w a t c h e s a n d t i m e -r ec or di ng
de v i c e s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Jewelry__________________________________
Lighting e q u i p m e n t _________ _______ ______
Si l v e r w a r e a n d pl at ed w a r e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
S m e l t i n g a n d refining— copper, lead, a n d zinc.
S t a m p e d a n d e n a m e l e d w a r e 3_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Average hourly
earnings 2
Index
Index
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Novem change from— Novem change from—
change from—
change from—
change from—
ber
ber
NovemNovemNovem1935
1935
ber
ber
ber
(3-year
(3-year
Octo Novem 1935
Octo Novem
Novem average
Octo Novem 1935
Octo Novem 1935
average Octo
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
1923-25
1934
1934
1934
1935
1935
1935
1934 1923-25
1934
1935
1935
= 100)
= 100)
C e n ts
75.4
103.0
77.6
100. 1
271.6
66.0
107.5
101.0
447.8
115.5
45.9
22.8
82.3
55.7
65. 1
55.0
93.1
83. 0
89.0
+ 0 .1
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .7
-2 .7
+ 2 .6
+ 2 .1
+ 9 .4
+• 1
+10.1
+14.9
+ 7 .3
+ 3 .1
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .3
+• 3
+ 2 .5
+15.3
+40.1
+ 17.6
+42. 6
+26.6
+ 8 .6
+ 1 .3
+62.4
+78.8
+72. 1
+41.7
-3 9 .2
+ 18.8
+ 7.9
-.9
+ 8.9
+19.1
+12.5
+23.6
64.6
76.1
65.3
90.2
179.8
54.4
99.3
101.5
358.9
116.7
47.4
10.1
72.5
54.5
59.3
54.2
78.5
77.0
72.9
+29.2
- 0 .9
+ 1 .5 +52.2
+ 1 .1 +40.1
+ .8 +71.5
- 3 . 2 +36.7
+ • 1 +25.3
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .7
+17.5 +109.7
- 3 . 1 +67.3
+19.5 +127. 5
+15.6 +58.0
+ 6 .0 -3 9 .2
+ 3 .0 +34.3
+ 2 .6 +22.7
-1 .2
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .7 +24.6
+32.8
+ .1
+ 1 .4 +25.6
+ .6 +42.1
$23. 50
27. 01
24. 00
26. 85
20.52
22.51
23.60
29.58
25.42
30.42
21.60
23.19
25.54
27.51
27.09
27. 61
22.50
22.47
23. 77
-1 .0
-. 1
0
-.9
-.5
- 2 .4
+ .6
+ 7 .4
- 3 .2
+ 8 .5
+ .6
- 1 .2
-.2
+ 1 .5
-2 .2
+ 1 .6
- 1 .2
+ 1.1
-1 .8
+11.9
+8. 3
+ 19. 1
+20.0
+ 8 .3
+15.7
+ .4
+29.2
- 6 .4
+32.0
+11.8
-. 1
+12.9
+13.7
+4. 1
+14.3
+11.5
+ 11.6
+15.1
38.6
38.9
40.0
42.6
39.0
36.7
40.9
39.8
41.6
40.7
35.3
37.0
32.9
40.6
43.4
40.4
41.1
40. 7
41.2
- 2 .0
0
+ .3
- 1 .4
- 3 .5
- 2 .9
+ .5
+ 7 .0
+ 1 .2
+ 8.5
- 2 .8
0
-1 .8
+. 5
- 2 .9
+ 1 .0
- 1 .4
- 1 .0
- 1 .0
+12.9
+. 8
+18.5
+18.5
+15.0
+12.0
- .9
+25.5
+ 7 .9
+29.0
+ 7 .6
+ 1 .7
+ 8 .2
+ 4 .8
+ 1 .7
+ 5 .8
+12.0
+ 7 .4
+16.4
60.6
69.5
59.9
63.0
52.7
61.5
57.6
74.1
65.3
75.0
61.2
62.7
76.7
67.6
61.4
68.2
54.3
54.7
57.7
+ 1 .3
-. 1
-.2
+ .5
+ 3 .1
+ .3
+ .2
+ .4
+ .8
+• 3
+ 3 .4
- 1 .1
+ 1.1
+ .3
-.2
+ .4
+ .4
+ 1 .7
-.9
-1 .2
+ 7 .0
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .2
-6 .0
+ 3 .1
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .5
-5 .6
+ 2 .3
+ 3 .1
-2 .9
+ 3 .1
+ 7 .6
+ 1 .5
+ 8 .1
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .7
-1 .3
94.4
84.0
86.9
73.0
88.0
116.2
+ 2 .4
- 5 .6
90.7
65.4
83.5
60.5
61.9
101.0
+ 4 .3
-1 4 .8
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .6
21. 72
20.47
22. 70
23. 50
22. 70
20. 76
+ 1 .8
-9 .8
+ 2 .3
+• 1
+ 2 .9
-1 .9
+15.3
-5 .2
+14.2
+ 4 .6
+ 13.0
+15.7
45.0
38. 1
41.9
40.9
40.3
40.7
+ 1 .8
-1 2 .4
+ .7
+ .7
+ 1.5
- 2 .4
+ 11.0
-, 1
+17.8
+ 4 .4
+ 8 .9
+12.8
48.3
52.4
54.2
56.9
56.2
51.1
+• 2
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .5
-.7
+ 1 .3
+ .2
-2.6
+15.2
45.0
+L1
-7.4
+40.2
+ 3 .6
+44.0
+ 6 .7
+33.4
+43.1
+ 4 .0
-. 1
-2 .6
+ .9
+ 2 .7
+ 3 .1
+21.6
+ 9 .2
+26.1
+ 1 .8
+ 18.1
+23.9
+33.9
18.05
-4.9
+16.4
40.0
-5.0
+15.8
45.0
+18.1
59.3
-5 .8
+33.3
18.33
-4 .7
+12.5
40.5
- 5 .4
+16. 1
44.8
+ .2
-1 .7
+34.2
+ 9 .8
39.6
26.5
- 5 .4
-1 0 .1
+65.0
+24.4
18.83
17. 77
- 3 .7
- 6 .3
+23.4
+13.4
40.9
38.9
- 4 .9
- 4 .9
+24.1
+ 14.7
45.9
46.5
+ 1 .3
- 1 .3
+.5
+ (<)
L um b er a n d allied p r o d u cts.......... ......................
56.0
F u r n i t u r e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lumber:
M i l l w o r k ___________ .. - - - - - - -----Sawm il ls_____________________________
77.0
-1 .2
48.7
36.0
-1 .7
- 4 .1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average hours worked
per week 2
-.2
+ . .*)
+ 4 .2
+ 3 .1
-.6
0
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
100.7
+ .4
+ 9 .0
65.8
+ 1.9
+37.4
13. 63
+1. 6
+25.7
56.4
34.6
49.6
98.4
27.4
70.0
- .5
- 2 .0
- 6 .2
+ .9
- 1 .7
+ 2 .0
+ 8 .0
+15.7
+ 2 .9
+11.2
-4 .2
+ .4
43.9
23.4
33.3
91.2
17.7
54.6
-1 .3
-2 .2
-5 .3
+• 4
-1 0 .9
+ 2 .4
+23.3
+41.8
+13.3
+26.7
+ 2 .3
+14.5
20.34
17. 49
19.88
21.73
21.24
20.79
- .9
-.2
+ .9
-.5
-9 .3
+ .3
+14.1
+23.1
+ 9 .8
+14. 1
+ 6 .7
+13.8
37.2
39.0
34.8
36.9
32.9
38.7
- .8
- .3
+ 1 .8
-1 . 1
-9 .6
- .3
+12.9
+21.8
+ 7 .6
+ 8 .0
+14.7
+10.5
55.2
45. 1
57.2
59.0
64.7
53.4
+ .2
-.2
-.7
+ .5
+ .2
-.2
+ 2 .5
-.8
+ 1 .9
+ 5 .5
- 6 .1
+ 4 .8
T extiles a n d th eir p r o d u c t s _________________
F a b r ic s _____________ ____________________
Carpets and rugs______________________
Cotton goods__________________________
Cotton small wares____________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles .....................
Hats, fur-felt________ ________ - ................
Knit goods__________ _________________
Silk and rayon goods________ __________
Woolen and worsted goods_____________
Wearing apparel____________ ____ _________
Clothing, men’s___________ ___________
Clothing, women’s____________________
Corsets and allied garm ents........................
M en’s furnishings_____________________
M illinery.
_
_ __ _______________
Shirts arid collars_______________ ____
97.0
96.1
82.6
90.6
89.4
111.7
82.8
117.6
72.5
103.1
94.8
88.9
121.9
85.1
109.7
50.1
109.8
-.7
+ 1 .6
- 2 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 4 .8
+ 2 .5
- 2 .3
+ .2
- 6 .5
+ 4 .7
- 5 .7
- 6 .2
-7 .4
- 2 .1
+ 5 .3
-1 7 .0
- 1 .0
+ 6.7
+ 7.1
+37.4
- 3 .8
+11.2
+22.2
+12.7
+ 6.3
- 3 .3
+37.5
+ 5 .8
+10.7
+ 5 .5
- 4 .7
-6 .2
-1 5 .5
+ 8 .4
79.7
82.6
70.5
76.8
78.6
88.2
69.6
120.0
60.9
79.4
69.2
64.4
81.3
78.7
84.1
34.9
111.3
- 5 .7
-.8
-4 .6
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .7
-.3
- 2 .2
-.6
-1 0 .7
+ .5
-1 5 .4
-1 3 .8
-2 1 .3
-3 .2
+ 4 .0
-2 9 .1
-.3
+12.1
+ 13.9
+61.7
+ 1 .5
+21.5
+20.5
+12.3
+ 11.2
- 2 .2
+48.1
+ 8 .0
+23.6
0
-2 .5
-3 .9
-2 2 .6
+13.2
15.99
15.92
18.95
13.35
17.02
18.54
19.86
17.48
15. 40
17. 69
16. 22
16. 98
16. 79
15. 01
14.84
16. 62
13.36
-5 .0
-2 .4
-2 .6
-1 .5
-1 .0
-2 .8
+ .1
-.8
- 4 .5
-4 .0
-1 0 .3
- 8 .1
-1 5 .0
-1 .2
- 1 .3
-1 4 .6
+ .6
+ 5 .1
+ 6 .4
+ 17.4
+ 5 .6
+ 9 .3
- 1 .6
-.5
+ 4 .7
+ 1 .2
+ 7 .6
+ 2 .1
+11.5
- 5 .4
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .2
- 8 .5
+ 4 .3
34.5
36.1
34.5
36.0
37.7
35.1
28.4
37.2
35.2
36.3
30.9
29.0
31.0
31.4
33.6
-2 .8
-1 .6
-2 .8
- 1 .1
-1 .8
-2 .5
+ 4 .8
- .3
-3 .8
-3 .5
- 6 .1
- 7 .3
-7 .7
-.3
-2 .3
+ 7 .9
+ 6.3
+18.6
+ 7 .2
+ 6 .7
- 5 .5
- 1 .2
+ 6.1
+ 4 .5
+10.7
+ 9.3
+15.2
+ 8 .5
-.2
+ 6 .8
46.0
44.1
55.4
36.9
45.3
52.7
68.1
47.8
43.7
48.8
50.3
56.9
50.1
46.0
35.0
- 2 .1
-.7
-.9
-.5
+ 1 .3
+• 2
-2 .3
-.6
-.5
-.6
- 4 .4
-.7
-9 .4
+ .7
-4 .4
—1.5
0
+ .4
-1 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 5 .1
- 1 .9
-1 .3
-2 .9
-2 .4
- 6 .1
-4 .4
-1 1 . 1
+ 3 .8
-7 .5
35.5
- .3
+ 9 .4
38.1
+ .5
-3 .0
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s _______ _____
Boots and shoes............... .......................................
L eath er..__________ ___________ ____ _____
82.3
77.8
100.3
- 5 .0
- 7 .3
+ 3 .4
+ .9
- 2 .5
+12.4
66.6
56.1
101.4
- 9 .8
-1 4 .9
+ 2 .0
+ 9 .2
+ 2 .7
+23.7
17.22
15. 69
21.78
- 5 .0
-8 .2
-1 .3
+ 8 .2
+ 5 .3
+ 9 .9
34.0
32.4
38.9
- 4 .0
-5 .3
-1 .5
+ 8.2
+ 7 .8
+ 7.6
52.2
50.9
56.0
-.8
- 1 .4
0
+ 1.3
+ .8
+ 1 .6
Food a n d kin dred p r o d u cts____ _ . _ ______
Baking.......................................................................
Beverages..................................................................
Butter
Canning and preserving.....................................
Confectionery........ .................................................
Flour. ________________ __________________
Ice cream .. ______ _______________________
Slaughtering and meat packing....... ..................
Sugar, beet........................................................ .
Sugar refining, cane5. . ..........................................
99.7
113.6
153.0
70.1
76.1
85.2
75.8
61.5
82.8
239.9
76.8
- 7 .0
-.9
- 6 .1
- 1 .9
-3 9 .5
-5 .9
-1 .7
-6 .4
+ 4 .0
- 2 .8
-5 .5
-8 .5
-1 .6
+ .7
-7 .8
-1 3 .9
-6 .9
-2 .4
- 3 .1
-2 4 .2
+26.4
-1 7 .9
91.5
99.7
151.2
54.4
84.3
73.7
67.7
51.2
77.7
202.7
62.4
- 5 .9
- 1 .1
- 4 .1
- 2 .1
-4 0 .7
- 9 .1
-8 .2
-5 .2
+ 2 .8
+19.1
- 8 .7
- 4 .8
+ 1 .1
+ 6 .3
-3 .5
-3 .7
-3 .7
+ 7 .0
+ 2 .0
-2 2 .8
+37.7
-1 4 .3
20.90
22.07
29. 70
20. 40
13. 37
15.73
22. 42
26. 14
23.19
20.33
20.40
+ 1 .2
-.2
+ 2.1
-.2
-2 .1
-3 .4
-6 .5
+ 1 .3
-1 .2
+22.5
- 3 .3
+ 4 .1
+ 2 .7
+ 5 .4
+ 4 .5
+11.7
+ 3 .3
+ 9 .5
+ 5 .2
+ 1 .7
+ 9.1
+ 4 .5
40.0
41.0
38.4
- .2
-.2
+ .5
+ 2 .7
+ 5 .4
+ 6 .5
52.8
53.9
78.0
+ 2 .7
+ .6
+ 2 .1
+ 1 .3
-2 .2
+ .2
33.8
37.6
41.0
45.6
41.1
48.5
36.5
-8 .6
- 2 .1
-7 .0
+ 1 .3
-.7
+25.0
-.8
+ 8 .2
+ 5 .6
+10.0
+ 5 .3
-3 .7
+ 9.7
- 3 .2
38.6
42.2
55.0
56.8
56.4
42.4
55.0
+ 4 .9
-.7
+ .5
+ .5
-.2
-1 .6
- 2 .3
+ 4 .5
-1 .3
+ .6
+ .6
+ 5 .7
-2 .2
+ 8 .3
T obacco m a n u f a c t u r e s .__ ____
_________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff_____
Cigars and cigarettes........................... ..................
59.7
66.2
58.8
-.5
+ .1
-.7
- 6 .7
-1 0 .3
-6 .2
48.9
63.7
47.0
- 3 .2
- 2 .6
- 3 .3
+ .2
+ 2 .4
-.2
14.58
14. 47
14.60
- 2 .7
-2 .7
-2 .6
+ 7 .3
+13.9
+ 6 .3
35.8
34.1
36.1
- 3 .8
- 2 .3
- 3 .7
+ 4 .2
+ 7.3
+ 3 .5
40.2
42.6
39.9
+ .2
-.2
+ .5
+ 3 .0
+ 6 .3
+ 3 .0
Paper a n d p r in tin g ____ ___ _______________
Boxes, paper_____________________________
Paper and pulp........................... ........................
98.7
92.9
109.0
+ .4
+ .4
- .1
+ 3 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .0
88.0
89.1
91.7
-.2
- 2 .9
- 1 .7
+ 6 .4
+ 9 .6
25.10
19. 62
21.33
-.6
38.6
40.7
40.3
- 2 .9
- 1 .0
+ 5 .4
+ 9 .7
+ 9 .6
68.6
48.3
53.1
- .1
-.6
-.4
+ 1 .0
-2 .4
- 1 .7
+ 4 .4
+ 6 .4
+ 9 .3
-.8
+11.8
S to n e , c la y , a n d glass p r o d u cts-------------------Brick, tile, and terra cotta...................................
Cem ent-_________________________________
Glass__ ____ ________________ _____ - .............
Marble, granite, slate, and other products__
Pottery--------- --------- ------------ ------ ------------N o n d u ra b le goods
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3.3
O
H
§
tr1
Q
«1
§
2
H
¡>
e
¡>
w
o
+.5
Oi
Employment, Pay Rolls, Hours, and Earnings in Manufacturing Industries, November 1935— Continued
Employment
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s —Continued
Pap er a n d p r in tin g —Continued
Printing and publishing:
Book and job........... _............................
Newspapers and periodicals_____ _____
C h em icals a n d allied p r o d u cts, a n d petrole u m r efin in g _____________
Other than petroleum refining...................
Chemicals...................... .......................
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and meal________
Druggists’ preparations______ ____ _____
Explosives______ ____________
Fertilizers...........................................
Paints and varnishes____________ . .
Rayon and allied products_____________
Soap.................................... .
Petroleum refin in g ............. ...........
R ubb er p r o d u c ts 3........................
Rubber boots and sh oes8.................... ..............
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tubes_________ ____ ____
Rubber tires and inner tubes______ _______
Average hours worked
per week 3
Average hourly
earnings 2
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
change from—
change from—
change from—
Novem change from— Novem change from—
ber
ber
Novem
Novem
Novem
1935
1935
ber
ber
ber
(3-year
Novem (3-year Octo Novem 1935
Octo Novem 1935
Octo Novem 1935
Octo Novem
average Octo
average
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
1923-25
1923-25
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1934
1935
= 100)
= 100)
C e n ts
89.1
101.2
+ 1 .1
+ .5
+ 2 .2
+ 1 .4
78.4
93.1
+ 0 .2
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .4
+ 3.0
$27. 44
33.49
- 0 .8
+ .4
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .0
37.5
36.9
- 0 .5
0
+4. 1
-.1
73.6
89.9
- 0 .4
+ .2
- 0 .1
+ 3 .4
112.4
112.9
109.5
98.1
100.3
89.9
83.9
109.3
356.1
103.7
110.3
82.7
58.5
-.6
-.7
+ .5
-8 .6
- 1 .3
+ .2
-5 .6
+ .1
-.2
-1 .6
-.5
-.1
-.8
+ 3 .5
+ 4 .6
+ 4 .9
+ 8 .4
-4 .9
-1 .9
- 8 .0
+ 9 .6
+ 11.0
-.9
- 1 .4
+ 6 .2
-3 .5
91.1
99.2
101.9
104.2
94.7
80.2
72.5
94.0
263.3
98.3
98.8
70.3
50.1
- 1 .5
-.9
+ 1 .8
- 7 .3
- 5 .2
-. 1
- 7 .7
- .9
-. 1
- 3 .0
-3 .3
- .7
- 5 .2
+ 9 .0
+11.3
+12.3
+28.0
-2 .2
+12.6
+ 4 .0
+19.7
+ 13.7
+ 6 .3
+ 2.1
+21.0
+ .6
23.19
21. 29
25. 60
10.13
20. 34
24.94
12. 61
23.95
19. 58
23 02
27. 60
22.99
19. 07
- .8
-. 1
+ 1 .3
+ 1 .4
-4 .0
- .3
- 2 .2
- 1 .1
+ .2
- 1 .4
- 2 .8
- .6
- 4 .5
+ 5 .4
+ 6.4
+ 6.9
+17.9
+ 2 .6
+15.0
+ 13. 1
+ 9 .2
+ 2 .7
+ 7 .2
+ 3 .6
+ 13.9
+ 4 .2
38.1
39.4
40.2
47.9
37.3
37.3
34.9
40.4
38,0
38.1
34.5
35.9
36.5
- 1 .3
-.8
+ 1.0
- .6
- 6 .7
+ .3
- 3 .1
- 1 .9
0
- 2 .3
- 2 .8
- 1 .1
- 4 .5
+ 5 .4
+ 5 .8
+ 7 .9
+12.3
- 1 .2
+ 8 .3
+13.5
+ 6 .2
+ 1 .0
+ 1.5
+ 2 .6
+ 11.6
+ 5 .2
61.0
54.2
63.6
21.3
55.0
66.9
36.1
59.3
51.5
60.5
80.5
66.3
52.3
+ .8
+1. 1
+ .3
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .0
-.6
+ .8
+ .9
0
+ .8
-.1
- .3
+ .2
+ 1.7
+ 1 .6
+ .2
+ 5 .7
+ 3 .4
+ 4 .5
-1 .2
+ 3 .5
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .0
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .8
—. 5
130.7
69.8
+ 1 .5
-1 .2
+16.6
+ 1 .6
113.7
59.9
- 2 .5
+ 1 .6
+33.5
+ 18.8
20.21
27. 20
-3 .9
+ 2 .8
+ 14.5
+17.0
38.7
33.5
- 4 .2
+ 3.1
+15.7
+11.8
52.3
81.8
-. 2
0
- 1 .5
+ 5 .7
1 Per capita weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes. Percentage changes
over month in the groups and in “ All industries” also computed from indexes.
2 Computed from available man-hour data—all reporting establishments do not furnish man-hours. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes. The average hours
and average hourly earnings in the groups and in “ All industries” are weighted.
H * ?®F capita weekly earnings, average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings have been revised over a period of months and are presented in table 2. An explana
tion of the changes accompanies that table.
* Less than Ho of 1 percent.
, * Data revised as follows: Sugar refining, cane—September 1935 average hours 38.9, percentage change from August 1935, +2.9, from September 1934, +1.9; October 1935 average
hours, 36.7, percentage change from September 1935, —5.7, from October 1934, —1.1; September 1935 average hourly earnings, 60.8 cents, percentage change from August 1935, +1.5,
from September 1934, +9.1; October average hourly earnings, 59.1 cents, percentage change from September 1935, —2.8, from October 1934, +5.2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
446
Table 1.
447
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Revised Per Capita Weekly Earnings, Average Hourly Earnings, and Average Hours Worked
Per Week
Revised indexes of employment and pay rolls were presented in
the September 1935 pamphlet and the December issue of the Monthly
Labor Review for certain groups and industries in which a recheck
of the basic material disclosed certain mechanical errors. Correspond
ing revisions have been made in per capita weekly earnings, average
hourly earnings, and average hours worked per week. The revised
averages together with percentage changes over month and year are
presented in table 2.
Averages and percentage changes over month and year for any one
industry or group are presented beginning with the first month in
which a revision for that industry or group was necessary. Revised
figures are indicated by asterisks.
Table 2.— Revised Per Capita Weekly Earnings, Average Hourly Earnings,
and Average Hours Worked per Week in Manufacturing Industries
All industries combined
[Revised figures are indicated by asterisks]
Per capita weekly earnings
Average hourly earnings
Average
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
year
month
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
C e n ts
m s
November_______ $17.71*
17.97*
December_______
Percentage change
from—
Percentage change
from—
Percentage change
from—
Year and month
Average hours worked
per week
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
-2 .5 *
+ .8*
+7.4*
+ 9 .7
51.9
52.5
+ 0 .8
+ .6
+16.4
+18.0
34.4
34.2
- 3 .6
—.6
- 9 .1
—9.1
1934
January...................
February. ______
M arch....................
April____________
M ay____________
June.......... ..............
18.01*
19.02*
19. 55*
19.96
19.81
19.48*
+ .4
+5.8*
+2.7*
+2.1*
- .5 *
- 1 .6
+12.2*
+18.4*
+26.8*
+26.1*
+19.2*
+13.3*
53.3
53.1
53.1
54.1
55.1
55.0
+ .9
+ .2
+ .4
+ 1 .9
+ .9
+ .5
+20.8
+22.4
+23.8
+27.3
+30.2
+31.2
33.7
35.8
36.3
36.2
35.4
34.9
-.9
+ 6 .2
+ 1.7
0
—1.4
—2.2
- 7 .8
—4.0
+ 1 .9
””2.1
—10.1
—15.8
July .
_________
August__________
September_______
October_________
November_______
December_______
18.60
18.89
18. 55*
18.95*
18.87*
19. 73
- 4 .0
+ 1.7
- 2 .2
+1.8*
-.5
+4. 5*
+ 8 .2
+5.1
+ 3 .4
+4.3*
+ 6 .5
+10.4
55.6
55. 5*
55.9
55.3*
55.4
56.0
+ 1.1
0 *
+ .7
-1 .1 *
0
+ 1 .1
+31. 7*
+16.2*
+10.0*
+7.1*
+6.3*
+6.8*
33.4
34.0*
33.3
34.3*
34.1
35.2
- 4 .3
+ 1 .8
—2.1
+ 2 .7
—. 6
+ 3 .2
-19.2*
-9 .9 *
—6.4*
—3.1*
—. 1*
+3.6*
January _______
February________
March__________
April____________
M ay ------ ------------
20.00
20.94*
21.09
21.17
20.78
+ . 7*
+4.3*
+ .8
+ .1
-1 .6
+10.7*
+9.1
+7.1*
+5.0*
+3.8*
56.4
56.7
56.8
57.1
57.1
+ .4
+ .4
+ .4
+ .5
0
+6.2*
+6. 5*
+6.4*
+ 5 .0
+ 4 .1
35.2
36.4
36.6
36.4
òò. 8
0
+ 3 .7
+ .3
—. 5
—1.6
+4.5*
+2.2*
+ .7*
+ .3
0
J u ly .........................
August _________
Septem ber............
20.54
20.12
20.85*
21.14
-1 .3 *
- 1 .6
+ 3 .8
+1.4*
+4.1*
+ 6 .8
+ 9 .0
+13.0*
57.5
56.9
56.8
56.3
+ .3
-.9
-.2
-.9
+ 3 .8
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .6
0
35.4
35.2
36.6
37.4
-.8
—.6
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .2
1935
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 1 .5
+ 5 .4
4"^»/
+12.3
448
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 2.—Revised Per Capita Weekly Earnings, Average Hourly Earnings,
^ i and Average Hours Worked per Week in Manufacturing Industries— Con.
Aluminum manufactures
[Revised figures are indicated by astericks]
Per capita weekly earnings
Average hourly earnings
Percentage change
from—
Year and month
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
Percentage change
from—
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
Percentage change
from—
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
C e n ts
1934
July........................ $15.93*
14.80*
August....................
September_______ 16. 59*
19.04*
O ctober............ .
November_______ 19.89
20.82*
December..........
Average hours worked
per week
-15.0*
-7 .4 *
+13.4*
+14.9*
+ 4.1
+4.7*
-9 .9 *
-1 6 . 7*
-1 .3 *
+6.8*
+13.0*
+20.3*
55.3*
54. 8*
53.1
53. 2*
53.0*
53.4*
+2.0*
- .2 *
-2 .7 *
+ .2
- .7 *
+ . 8*
+37.3*
+28. 5*
+16.8*
+16.1*
+13.9*
+13.8*
34. 5*
29.7*
36.0
38.0
37.3*
38.1*
-7 .0 *
-14.7*
+22.4*
+5. 6*
-1 .8 *
+2.1*
-19.6*
-25.4*
- .3 *
+2.6*
+2. 7*
+7.6*
1935
January..................
February. ............
March____ ______
April____________
M ay____________
June____________
19.31
20.82
21.30
21.33
20.99
20.34
- 7 .5
+ 8 .3
+ 1 .3
-.2
- 1 .3
- 2 .6
+23.0*
+13. 5*
+12.1*
+8.1*
+6. 9*
+8.8*
54.7
53.2
54.8
54.1
53.9
53.9
+ 1.3
- 2 .8
+ 2 .0
- 1 .3
0
+ .2
+11. 5*
+6. 6*
+5.0*
+2.6*
+1.7*
-1 .4 *
35.3
39.1
38.9
39.4
38.9
37.7
- 8 .5
+11.1
- .8
+ 1.0
- 1 .3
- 2 .8
+7.9*
+6.5*
+8.1*
+5.9*
+2. 8*
+.5*
J u ly ..____ ______
A ugust...................
September_______
18.88
21.08
21.35*
- 7 .8
+11.5
+ . 9*
+18.0*
+42.0*
+26. 6*
54.4
53.9
54.5*
+1.1
- 1 .3
+ .9 *
-2 .2 *
-3 .4 *
+ .3*
34.7
39.1
39.1*
- 8 .7
+13.0
0*
-1 .4 *
+30. 6*
+6. 7*
Stamped and enameled ware
ms
September.
O ctober...
November.
December.
16.12
16. 68*
16.52
16.22
2.8
- 1 .3
+ . 2*
2.2
+6.3*
+11.5*
+ 0 .4
+ 6.1
+ 4 .5
+15.4*
+16.2*
+26.8*
-
+3.2*
-
- .
6
*
45.5
45.5*
46.1
47.7
35.5
36. 8*
35.8
33.9
1934.
January___
February...
March.........
April...........
M ay............
June............
16.23
17.45
18.22
18. 09
18.34
18.07
July_____
August___
September.
October__
November.
December.
17.01
16.99
16.83
17.90
18. 01
19.02
+0.4*
-1 .6
+ 1 .3
- .2
+3.1
+ .2
+20.4*
+18.5*
+23.4*
+20. 5*
+23.2*
+24.8*
33. 7*
36.7*
38.0
37.7
36.7
36.0
0*
+7. 9*
+ 3 .5
- 1 .3
- .8
- 1 .9
+0. 7*
+5.1*
+5.5*
+1.9*
-5 .3 *
-11.3*
50.6
50.6
49.9
50.7
50.3
51.4
+ 1 .0
+ .2
+ .4
-.4
+ 2 .4
4*- 6
+29. 2*
+23. 5*
+11.4*
+11.0*
+ 8.4
+7.6*
33.6
33.8
33.4
35.3
35.7
37.0
- 6 .4
-3 .2
+ 7.3
+ 1.1
+ 3.1
-18.1*
-16.4*
-6 .6 *
-2 .0 *
+• 7*
+ 9.3
+ 1 .0
- 2 .1
+ 1 .2
+ .2
+ .2
+ .1
51.5
50.2
51.1
51.0
50.3
50.6
+. 6
+ 8 .2
+7.6*
+ 7.5
+ 8 .0
+ 5 .0
+5.3*
35.2
38.1
38.6
37.8
36.6
35.3
- 4 .6
+ 8 .2
+ 1 .6
- 2 .8
- 3 .4
- 3 .6
+ 4 .3
+ 4 .6
+2. 7*
+ 1.1
- 1 .5
-3 .3 *
+ 3 .8
+13.3
+ 21. 8 *
50.3
49.8
50.8*
-.6
-.8
+ .2 *
+4.1*
+ 2 .2
+2.2*
34.5
38.0
39.2*
- 2 .3
+10.8
+4.5*
+ 1 .0
+11.2*
+20.0*
-.8
+ 21. 8 *
-
1.6
+15. 6*
+10.4*
-
6.2
+ 1 .7
+. 5
- 2 .7
+ 7 .4
+ .8
+ 5 .5
1935
January___
February...
March.........
April_____
M ay........ .
J u n e ..........
18.14
19.14
19.78
19.39
18.46
17.95
- 3 .7
+ 5 .8
+ 2 .4
- 2 .5
- 3 .3
-
2.8
July...........
August___
September.
17.42
19.02
19.97*
-
2.8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
48.1*
47.8
48.3
48.2
50.2
50.1
+ 9 .7
+4. 7*
+5.4*
+ 2. 5*
+2. 5*
+ 6. 8*
+7.3*
+15.9*
+ 11. 0*
+ 10. 6*
+ 8. 6*
+ 6 .7
+ 1 .4
449
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 2.—Revised Per Capita Weekly Earnings, Average Hourly Earnings,
and Average Hours Worked per Week in Manufacturing Industries— Con.
Rubber boots and shoes
[Revised figures are indicated by asterisks]
Per oapita weekly earnings
Average
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
year
month
1933
18. 00
18. 77
18.47
18.08
- 5 .1
+ 2 .0
- 1 .8
+ 1 .9
4-4 3*
+20 0*
+42 0*
+32 9*
+4. 0*
+4.8*
-4 .2 *
- 3 . 9*
January_________
February _______
March__________
April____________
M ay____________
June.........................
17.13
16.82
17.27
18.21
18.27
17.98
- 5 .1
- 2 .2
+ 2 .7
+ 5 .4
+ .3
- 1 .5
July_____________
A u g u st-________
September . _____
October_________
November_______
December_______
17. 56
18.29
17.89
17.88
18.31
19.30
Janu ary________
February________
M arch....................
April____________
M ay____________
June . ________
July____________
A u g u st_________
September _____
M ay____________
J UU0_----------------July------------------August-------- -— Septem ber......... .
October_________
November_____ _
December...............
Percentage change
from—
Percentage change
from—
Percentage change
from—
Year and month
Average hours worked
per week
Average hourly earnings
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
year
month
Preced Preced
ing
ing
year
month
C e n ts
45. 5*
45.5*
46.5*
48. 3*
+17.0*
0 *
+ . 2*
+4.1*
+28.9*
+23.4*
+23.9*
+36. 5*
39.6*
39.3*
37.3*
39.1*
-12.8*
- .8 *
-3 .9 *
+3.4*
+14.2*
+13.3*
+8.9*
+9. 9*
+9. 9*
+7.2*
+28.9*
+29.8*
+10.4
+ 4.4
46. 6*
46.4*
46.3
46.6
47.0
46.4
-4 .5 *
+1.1*
- .2
- .2
+ .9
- 1 .3
+10. 0*
+31.8*
+31.6
+31.3
+32.3
+34.3
37. 6*
32.8*
34. 5
36.5
36.6
35.6
-3 .0 *
-3 .5 *
+ 5.2
+ 7.7
+ .3
- 2 .7
+28.0*
+23.4*
+29. 9*
+39.9*
+ 5.3
-12.5*
+ 4 .8
- 1 .1
- 2 .3
+ 2 .9
+ .5
+ 6 .7
+ 2 .7
- .4 *
+2. 5*
+ 3 .5
+ 5 .9
+10.9
47.3
48.4
49.2
50.5
52.9
52.6
+ 1 .9
-.6
+1. 4
+ 3 .3
+ .2
+ .2
+20.5
+18.4
+ 2 .6
+ 6 .0
-j-b. 0
+ 2 .0
36.8
34.9
32.6
33.4
34.6
36.7
+ 3 .4
-3 .6
- 6 .6
+2.1
+ .3
+ 6 .4
-1 1 .3
-1 1 .3
- 5 .0
- 2 .3
+2.0*
+4. 9*
19.19
18. 37
19.01
18. 36
18.08
17.58
- 1 .1
- 3 .5
+ 2 .3
- 3 .4
- 1 .5
- 3 .0
+15.6*
+14.0*
+13.6
+ 4.1
+ 2 .3
+ . 8*
51.6
50.9
52.2
52.7
53.3
52.3
- 1 .1
- .6
+. 6
+1. 0
+ i.i
—1. 5
+ 5 .7
+3. 9
+ 6 .0
+6.1
+ 5 .9
37.2
36.1
36.4
34.9
33.9
33.6
0
- 2 .7
+ 1.7
- 4 .1
- 2 .9
- 1 .5
+8.2*
+ 9.1
+5. 5*
- 6 .0
-9 .1 *
- 7 .9
18.22
19.00
19. 25*
+ 3 .5
+5.1
+ .8*
- .5 *
+5. 7*
+9. 0*
- .4
—. 8
+ . 4*
+ 3 .5
+3t4
+2.3*
34.8
36.6
37.0*
+ 3.9
+ 5 .8
+ .5*
- 7 .5
+ 1.6
+9.3*
+ 0 .3 *
+ 1 .1 *
+ 1 .3 *
- 1 .9 *
- .2 *
+ 4 .0 *
+ 3 .4 *
+ 6 .3 *
+ 2 .4 *
+ 3 .1 *
35. 2*
35.8*
31. 6*
32.7*
3 6 .6
- 1 1 .3 *
+ 2 .9 *
- 7 .6 *
+ 2 .8 *
+ 4 .9 *
- 1 2 .8 *
- 7 .9 *
- 1 .5 *
+ 3 .1 *
+ 8 .9 *
1934
1935
52.3
51.9
52.0*
<
Wirework
1935
M ay __________
June____________
July____________
A u gu st_________
S e p te m b e r _
__
20. 38*
20. 61*
17.90*
18.11*
20. 93
- 1 1 .0 *
+ 4 .0 *
- 6 .4 *
- .7 *
+ 6 .0 *
-7 .9 *
- 3 . 6*
+ 5 .3 *
+ 4 .8 *
+ 1 2 .6 *
57. 7*
57.2*
56.7*
55. 5*
5 7 .0
—
Durable-goods group
1935
M ay
_______
June __________
July
________
A u g u st_________
fip p tp m b p .r
___
22. 66*
- 2 . 2*
22.26
21.57*
22.55*
23.05
- 1 .9 *
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3 .0 *
+4. 2*
+1.9*
+2.9*
+2.9*
+ 8 .4
+10.7
+20.4
60.9*
61.4*
60.9
60.7
60.3
+ 0 .2
+ .7 *
—.7
—.3
—.7
+2.7*
+3. 4*
+1.9*
+1.4*
+ .9 *
36.6
ut). U
oO. Z
9*7. U
(\
<xi
38.0
- 2 .4
-1 .6
-2 .2
+ 4 .8
+ 2 .7
-0.4*
-.6*
+ 5 .1 *
+ 8 .3 *
+ 1 7 .6 *
450
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 2 . Revised Per Capita Weekly Earnings, Average Hourly Earnings,
and Average Hours Worked per Week in Manufacturing Industries—Con.
Nondurable-goods group
[Revised figures are indicated by asterisks]
Per capita weekly earnings
Percentage change
from—
Year and month
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
¡9 3 6
M a y ........................
June.........................
July_____ _______
August___ ______
September........ .
October_________
Average hourly earnings
$18. 95*
18. 90
18.76
19. 27
19. 44
19.47
Average hours worked
per week
Percentage change
from—
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
Percentage change
from—
Average
Preced Preced
ing
ing
month
year
C e n ts
-1 .3 *
-.7
0*
+3.1*
+1.6*
-.6
+4. 2*
+5.3*
+ 5 .5
+ 6 .9
+7.3*
+ 6 .7
53.7
54.0
53.4*
53.4
52.9
52.8*
- 0 .2
+ .2
- .7 *
-.2
- .8
.0*
+5. 2*
+4.3*
+2.0*
+1.9*
- .3 *
+.6*
35.0
34.9
35.3
36.2
36.9
37.1
- 1 .1
- .3
+ 1.1
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .9
+• 5*
- 0 .6
+ 2.5
+ 4.9
+ 5.9
+ 6 .9
+6.5*
+ .8
+ .7
+ .9
+ .7
+ 1 .3
35.1*
34.1*
32.6*
35.9*
37.1
-1 .7 *
- 2 .8
-4 . 1
+ 9. 5*
+3.1*
- 2 2*
—5 2*
+ 7 9*
+ 19. 7
+30. 5*
+3.1*
+3. 2*
+ 2.7
+ 1. 7*
+1.2*
37.3
37.0*
36.0
38. 3*
39.7
- 1 .3
- . 5*
-2 . 4
+6.7*
+ 4 .2
+ 2. 0 *
+ 10.4*
+13. 3*
+6.2*
+5. 5*
+5.0*
+3.8*
+4. 3*
33.4
33.1
32.4
33.7
35.3
- 4 .6
- 1 . 5*
—1. 2
+ 4 .0
+ 4 .4
—2 8
—2 0*
-j-3
+8! 4*
+14. 6*
Iron and steel group
1935
M a y____________
June____________
July______ ____
A u gu st...................
September______
21. 70*
20.91*
19. 83*
22.11*
22.93
- 2 . 2*
- 3 . 6*
-4 .9 *
+ 9 .9
+3.5*
-1 .2 *
-5 .3 *
+9.0*
+22. 3*
+34. 7*
61.7
61.5
61.1
61.1
61.4
- 0 .3
-.2
-.5
+ .2
+ .5
Nonferrous group
19SS
M ay............
June............
July.............
August___
September.
20.51
20. 52
19. 91
21.03*
21.77
-1 .0 *
+ .1 *
- 2 .9
+5.6*
+ 3 .4
+1.1*
+ 3.1
+4. 3*
+11.4
+13. 5*
54. 4*
54.9*
54.9*
54. 5*
54.4
+ 0 .6
+ .7
-.2
- .9 *
-.5
-1.0*
+ . 7*
Rubber group
1936
M ay_______ ____
June........ ...............
July------------------August__________
September.............
22. 62
22.51
21.78
22. 65
23. 55
-5 .3 *
- .6
-2 .4 *
+3. 8*
+ 4 .3
+3. 6*
+ 4 .6
+7. 7*
+ 13.4*
+20. 5*
69.3*
69.6*
68.2*
68.3*
68.1
-0 .6 *
+ .4
- .4 *
- .6 *
-.3
Indexes and Estimates of Factory Employment and Pay Rolls, January 1934 to November 1935
Indexes of employment and pay rolls for all manufacturing indus
tries combined, for the durable-goods group and for the nondurablegoods group, by months from January 1934 to November 1935,
inclusive, are given in table 3. Estimates of employment and weekly
pay rolls for all manufacturing industries combined are also given in
this table.
The diagram on page 451 indicates the trend of factory employment
and pay rolls from January 1919 to November 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E mployment & Ry e R olls in Manufacturing Industries
3 -y e a r average 1 ^ 2 3 1 ^ 2 ^ 1 0 0
T ,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U.S.Department of Labor
bureau of labor statistics
Washington
t j
index
Numbers
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Index
Numbers
cn
452
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW'— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 3.— Indexes and Estimates of Employment and Pay Rolls in All Manu
facturing Industries Combined and Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in
the Durable- and Nondurable-Goods Groups 1
[Indexes based on 3-year average, 1923-25=100]
Indexes
Year and month
Estimated
number
of wage
earners
Estimated
pay rolls
(1 week)
All manufac
turing indus
tries combined
Durable-goods
group
Nondurablegoods group
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
193i
January________________
February_____________
March_________________
April___________________
M ay_____ ____ _________
June_____________ ____
6,154,300
6, 522, 500
6, 778,300
6,906,100
6,912, 600
6, 799, 900
$109, 806,000
123, 395,000
131, 650,000
136,962,000
136, 575,000
132,040,000
73.4
77.8
80.9
82.4
82.5
81.1
54.0
60.6
64.7
67.3
67.1
64.9
59.9
63.6
67.2
70.1
71.6
70.9
41.6
47.9
52.8
57.4
58.6
56.9
88.0
93.1
95.5
95.6
94.2
92.2
69.7
76.9
79.9
80.0
78.1
75.1
July........................................
August________________
September______________
October________________
November______________
December______________
6, 601, 700
6, 674,400
6,360, 200
6,569, 500
6,443,200
6, 544, 400
123,011,000
126, 603, 000
118,089,000
124,138,000
121, 085,000
128,593,000
78.8
79.6
75.9
78.4
76.9
78.1
60.5
62.2
58.0
61.0
59.5
63.2
67.5
66.2
64.4
62.9
62.3
64.4
49.9
49.9
45.5
46.4
46.1
50.4
90.9
94.1
88.3
95.0
92.5
92.8
73.9
77.9
74.0
79.6
76.6
79.5
Average___________
6,605, 600
125,996,000
78.8
61.9
65.9
50.3
92.7
76.8
January_______ _________
February______________
March_________________
April............................... ___
M ay___________________
June__________ _________
6, 604, 000
6,817,300
6,914, 600
6, 914, 300
6,803,800
6, 677,400
130, 705,000
140, 618,000
143,927,000
144, 075,000
139, 325, 000
135,044,000
78.8
81.3
82.5
82.5
81.2
79.7
64.2
69.1
70.7
70.8
68.5
66.4
66.2
69.4
71.0
71.8
71.4
69.7
52.5
58.6
60.5
61.8
260.1
57.6
92.3
94.1
94.9
94.1
91.7
90.4
79.2
82.5
83.8
82.3
*79.2
*77.6
July_____________ ______
August_________________
September______________
October_______________
November______________
6,672,900
6,859, 200
7,000,000
7,137, 700
7,118, 700
132,886,000
141, 596, 000
146, 693,000
152, 514,000
151,557,000
79.6
81.8
83.5
85.2
84.9
65.3
69.6
72.1
75.0
74.5
69.4
70.5
71.2
74.9
76.1
55.6
*58.9
60.6
66.3
68.1
90.6
94.0
96.7
96.2
94.5
77.7
83.2
86. 9
86.0
82.6
1935
i Comparable indexes for earlier years will be found in the March 1935 and subsequent issues of the
M onthly Labor Review.
* Revised.
Trade, Public Utility, Mining, and Service Industries, and Private Building
Construction
Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in November 1935
in employment were reported in 6 of the 17 nonmanufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from October
to November and 7 reported larger pay rolls. The largest percentage
gain in employment (3.4 percent) was in brokerage firms. The bituminous-cpal mining industry showed 2.4 percent more employees on
the pay rolls, but 6.1 percent less in weekly wage disbursements.
The observance of the Armistice Day holiday in many localities
accounted in large measure for the pay-roll decrease. Metalliferous
mines reported a further expansion in employment (1.9 percent), this
being the fourth consecutive monthly gain.
G a in s
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
453
Wholesale trade also showed an increase in employment for the
fourth consecutive month, the 0.9-percent gain bringing the November
index to 86.4, the highest point recorded since April 1931. Employ
ment gains were shown in many separate lines of wholesale activity,
the most pronounced of which were seasonal increases in farm products
and assemblers and country buyers. Other lines of wholesale trade
in which gains were reported were drugs and chemicals, electrical
goods, general merchandise, jewelry, paper and paper products,
hardware, and metals and minerals.
Reports received from 50,694 retail-trade establishments employing
890,221 workers in November showed a net gain of 1.0 percent
in employment over the month interval. Increased fall buying was
reflected in the substantial gain in employment in the general-mer
chandising group, composed of department, variety, general-mer
chandising, and mail-order establishments. The November employ
ment index for this group (101.6) is 4.6 percent above the October
index and exceeds the level reported in November of any year since
1929. The remaining 45,923 retail-trade establishments reporting
to the Bureau showed a decrease in employment of 0.2 percent.
Among the lines of retail trade in which expansion was shown were
automobiles, furniture and housefurnishings, and drugs.
Among the industries which showed decreased employment were
anthracite mining (20.7 percent), building construction (7.2 percent),
quarrying and nonmetallic mining (6.5 percent), dyeing and cleaning
(5.1 percent), and crude-petroleum producing (2.2 percent).
In the aggregate, there were 2,800 fewer workers on the pay rolls of
the 17 nonmanufacturing industries in November than in October
and $2,316,000 less in weekly wage disbursements.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, per capita weekly earnings,
average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings in
November 1935 for 13 of the trade, public utility, mining, and service
industries, together with percentage changes from October 1935 and
November 1934, are shown in table 4. Similar information, except
indexes of employment and pay rolls, is also presented for private
building construction. Man-hour data and indexes of employment
and pay rolls are not available for banking, brokerage, or insurance
establishments, but the table shows percentage changes in employ
ment, pay rolls, and per capita weekly earnings for these three
industries.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T a b le 4.— E m p lo y m e n t , P a y B o lls , H ou rs, a n d E a rn in g s, in S e le c te d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g In d u s tr ie s , N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 5
Employm ent
Average hours worked
per w eek1
Average hourly
earnings1
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
change from—
change from—
change from—
change from—
change from—
N o
N o
vember
vember
N o
N o
N o
1935
1935
vember
vember
vember
(aver Octo
(aver Octo
1935
1935
1935
N
o
Octo
Octo
N
o
No
Octo
N
o
N o
age
age
ber
ber
ber
vember
vember 1929
ber
ber
vember
vember
vember
1929
1935
1934
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1934
1935
1935
= 100)
= 100)
Coal mining:
Anthracite___________ - ......................- ..............
B itum inous............................................................
Metalliferous mining.....................................................
Quarrying and nonmetallic m in in g ................. .......
Crude petroleum producing___________________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph---------------------------Electric light and power and manufactured
gas-------- -------- --------------- ------ ---------------Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and
maintenance----------- -------------------- --------Trade:
Wholesale............................................................... .
Retail.........................................................................
General merchandising___________ _____
Other than general merchandising______
Hotels (cash payments only)3____ _____________
Laundries_____________ ______ ________________
Dyeing and cleaning____________________ _____
Banks..................................... ............................... ...........
Brokerage___________________________ ________
Insurance__________ ___________ ___________ _
Building construction_______ ______ _______ ___
81.5
81.3
76.3
«
(*)
«
«
46.6
76.1
52.6
46.7
73.0
-2 0 .7
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .9
-6 .5
-2 .2
-2 3 .2
-4 .6
+21.8
- 5 .7
- 7 .4
28.4
65.5
39.6
32.1
56.9
-4 9 .3
- 6 .1
+ 2 .4
-1 2 .2
-1 .7
-4 4 .5
+12.3
+38.9
+ 9 .2
-3 .6
$17.69
22.29
23.45
17.28
28.66
-3 6 .0
-8 .3
+ .5
- 6 .1
+ .5
C e n ts
-2 4 .8
+ 9 .3
+14.6
+ 9 .7
-1 .7
80.5
82.2
58.2
48.1
78.7
-2 .4
+ 2 .0
-.3
+ 1 .3
+ .9
+ 2 .6
+ .8
76.4
-2 .2
+ 3 .9
39.3
- 1 .5
+ 1 .5
77.3
+ .5
+ 1 .7
-2 7 .8
+17.8
+14.1
+15.7
+ 4 .0
22.3
27.3
39.7
35.6
36.5
-3 3 .8
- 9 .0
+ .8
- 8 .0
0
39.1
- 3 .1
+11.3
+ .6
-1 .3
+ 2 .0
69.8
- .3
-.1
74.9
~ ( J)
+ 3 .7
28.87
+ .2
+ 3 .9
87.6
+ .3
+ 2 .5
83.4
-1 .2
+ 4 .8
30.26
-1 .5
+ 2 .3
71.1
~ ( 3)
- 1 .0
63.8
-.4
+ 3 .2
28. 60
-.3
+ 4 .2
45.1
-.7
+ 2 .4
62.2
+ .2
+ 2.1
86.4
84.6
101.6
80.1
+ .9
+ 1 .0
+ 4 .6
-.2
+ 1 .5
+ 1.1
+ 1 .7
+ .9
66.9
63.4
82.0
59.6
+ .1
+• 3
+ 2 .8
-.3
+ 4 .2
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .6
26.65
19.60
16.63
22.45
-.8
- 1 .2
-1 .8
-.2
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .2
+• 5
+ 1 .6
41.7
42.3
39.4
43.2
-.7
-.2
-.5
-.2
+ 2 .6
+ 3.1
+ 4 .9
+ 2 .3
63.3
51.1
45.6
52.9
-.3
+ .2
-.4
+ .4
- 1 .5
- 1 .3
-3 .0
-.9
-.1
-.8
- 5 .1
- .1
+ 3 .4
-.4
-7 .2
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .2
+ .7
+ 1 .8
+11.1
+ .7
-.7
64.8
66.7
55.4
(«)
w
(*)
<«)
+ .7
-.6
- 9 .4
+ .2
+ 3 .5
+• 5
-1 1 .3
+ 3 .8
+ 4 .7
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .2
+14.3
+ 3 .4
+ 4 .0
13. 71
15.63
17.90
31.56
35.15
36.03
24.63
+ .8
+ .3
-4 .5
+ .3
+• i
+ .9
-4 .4
+ 2 .7
+ 3 .4
+ 2 .1
-.5
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .7
+ 4 .8
48.1
40.7
41.1
+ .2
0
- 3 .1
(*)
(«)
w
- 5 .3
+ 2 .7
+ 4 .0
-2 .3
(<)
(*)
(<)
+ 6 .9
28.2
36.7
42.9
(<)
0)
0)
81.0
+ .7
+ .3
-1 .4
+ .1
-.4
-.8
(<)
(*)
w
-. 1
(*)
(<)
(«)
30.3
(*)
(* )
M
+ .9
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
ndustry
Per capita weekly
earnings1
Pay roll
1
Per capita weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Average hours and average hourly earnings are computed from data furnished
by a smaller number of establishments as some firms do not report man-hour information. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes.
3 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
* The additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
* N ot available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
455
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Trade, Public U tility , M ining, and Service Industries,
January 1934 to November 1935
Indexes of employment and pay rolls in 13 trade, public utility,
mining, and service industries and 2 subdivisions under retail trade
are shown by months in table 5 for the period January 1934 to Novem
ber 1935.
Table 5.— Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries, January 1934 to November 1935 1
[12-month average, 1929= 100]
Anthracite mining
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Bituminous-coal
mining
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Metalliferous mining
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
75.8
76.1
77.8
72.2
76.7
66.0 76.7
80.0
81.1
81.6
74.3
75.3
77.9
51.3
54.6
58.9
51.4
54.4
55.1
59.6 39.6
66.1 40.3
67.5 39.8
45.0 41.7
49.1 40.8
64.7 41.0
44.3
44.3
45.0
46.0
44.4
46.0
25.4
26.0
25.9
27.2
25.6
26.7
30.1
29.9
30.9
31.8
31.4
31.5
39.7
38.8
42.0
48.7
54.3
56.6
36.9
37.3
40.5
45.3
49.5
50.4
21.3 20.8
24.1
29.9
35.0
37.0
24.9
28.9
32.8
33.8
77.0
77.1
78.2
79.3
79.8
79.7
70.0
73.4
77.1
74.3
76.1
49.7
50.4
51.4
57.6
58.3
57.0
35.9
45.8
60.1
69.8
65.5
39.9
42.7
42.3
43.3
43.2
44.4
45.2
46.3
48.9
51.6
52.6
25.1
27.0
25.9
28.2
28.5
29.4
31.1
33.4
35.4
38.7
39.6
55.6
54.7
53.3
51.8
49.5
42.1
50.9
51.0
50.0
50.0
46.7
35.0
34.0
32.4
32.1
29.4
23.6
34.4
36.3
35.4
36.5
32.1
January...........
February____
M arch,.............
April................
M ay..... ............
Ju n e.................
64.1
63.2
67.5
58.2
63.8
57.5
62.9
64.4
51.4
52.6
53.5
56.8
73.2
65.8
82.4
51.7
64.0
53.3
57.5
64.3
38.9
49.9
49.5
July...................
A ugust............
September___
October............
November.......
December........
53.6
49.5
56.9
58.5
60.7
61.6
49.4
38.7
46.0
58.8
46.6
42.3
39.7
47.0
48.3
51.2
52.3
37.5
28.3
38.2
55.9
28.4
Average.
59.6
Crude-petroleum
producing
Month
Employ
ment
54.2
77.2
55.9
Pay rolls
Electric light and
power and manu
factured gas
Electric-railroad and
motor-bus opera
tion and mainte
nance 2
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
73.2
72.4
72.8
74.0
76.7
80.0
74.9
74.2
74.0
74.9
76.0
76.7
53.0
50.5
52.5
53.4
56.4
56.9
55.5
54.9
56.0
56.7
57.8
59.2
70.2
69.8
70.0
70.2
70.2
70.4
70.5
70.0
69.8
69.7
70.0
70.2
69.0 73.9 82.2 82.7
67.9 72.9 81.2 82.2
70.4 75.3 81.7 382.3
82.4 82.6
68.8 73,
71.4 73.7 83.1 83.3
71.3 74.4 84.0 383.9
July..............
August........
September..
October___
November..
Decem ber..
81.6
82.7
81 8
79.5
78.8
78.7
77.4
76.3
75.1
74.7
73.0
60.0
61.2
59.7
60.8
59.0
59.5
59.9
58.9
60.9
57.9
56.9
71.0
71.0
70.9
70.3
69.9
69.7
70.3
70.5
70.4
70.0
69.8
72.3
74.0
72.2
74.9
72.2
73.2
70.3
71.5
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January___
February—
March____
April............
M a y .. ........
June.............
56.9
29.6
Telephone and tele
graph
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934
Average. 77.7
48.9
26.7
41.6
21.0 22.2
75.7
75.5
73.8
74.9
74.9
85.0
85.6
85.8
85.8
85.5
83.6
83.8
384.8
386.8
86.9
387.4
87.6
73.8
74.4
75.6
76.8
77.6
77.8
78.0
78.3
79.4
79.0
79.8
79.8
70.5
71.0
71.7
72.2
72.6
73.2
71.2
71.0
71.3
71.4
71.6
71.7
59.2
60.1
62.2
62.9
63.0
63.2
62.9
63.1
63.4
63.3
63.6
63.9
81.1
79.9
79.3
80.6
79.6
78.3
81.5
82.8
84.5
84.4
83.4
73.1
72.8
72.5
72.2
71.8
71.0
71.5
71.2
71.0
71.1
71.1
63.8
62.8
62.4
63.0
61.8
62.3
63.4
63.3
64.0
64.1
63.8
77.9
72.1
62.2
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years for all of these industries, except year-round hotels, will be found
in the February 1935 and subsequent issues of the M onthly Labor Review. Comparable indexes for yearround hotels will be found in the September 1935 issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
2 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equipment and railroad
repair-shop groups, manufacturing industries, table 1.
* Revised.
42704— 36-------12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
456
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 5.— Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries, January 1934 to November 1935— Continued
Wholesale trade
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Total retail trade
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Retail trade—general
merchandising
Retail trade—other
than general mer
chandising
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934
January...........
February.........
M arch.............
April.................
M a y ...............
June..................
80.6
81.2
81.8
82.1
82.8
82.3
84.2
84.6
84.0
83.2
82.5
82.1
60.3
61.0
62.0
63.1
62.6
62.8
63.9
64.6
65.2
64.8
64.6
64.6
59.0
58.8
59.8
61.2
61.5
61.4
59.7
59.3
60.4
62.5
62.0
62.5
85.0
90.1
91.0
92.0
90.6
July...................
A ugust............
September.......
October............
November.......
December........
82.2
82.5
83.5
84.3
85.1
85.0
82.1
82.7
83.7
85.7
86.4
63.8
62.7
63.6
64.5
64.2
64.8
64.6 79.0 79.3 60.1
64.8 77.8 78.0 58.4
67.2 81.7 81.8 60.6
66.8 82.6 83.8 61.9
66.9 83.7 84.6 61.9
66.2
91.1
60.5
59.3
62.5
63.2
63.4
83.0
81.2
91.5
94.2
99.9
128.4
69.5
66.9
74.0
77.3
101.6 80.2
99.0
92.8
75.1
Average. 82.8
63.0
79.8
79.6
81.5
82.5
82.9
82.6
79.5
79.2
80.2
83.5
82.2
82.2
82.1
60.9
86.6
Year-round hotels
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1935
87.3 71.1
86.2 68.9
71.5
94.4 74.0
91.3 74.5
91.2 73.9
73.5
72.3
74.1
77.5
76.3
76.7
78.0
78.2
79.3
80.3
80.5
80.5
77.4
77.3
78.0
80.7
79.8
79.8
56.5
56.7
57.4
58.5
58.8
58.8
56.9
56.6
57.6
59.4
59.0
59.5
85.5
83.1
92.2
97.1
72.0
69.5
77.2
79.8
82.0
77.9
76.9
79.1
79.5
79.4
81.3
77.7
76.7
79.1
80.3
80.1
58.2
56.6
57.8
58.7
58.1
59.4
58.1
57.2
59.4
59.8
59.6
88.6
79.2
Laundries
Employ
ment
58.0
Dyeing and cleaning
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January.......................... ...........................
February........................... ........................
March_____________ ______________
A p r il...__________________________
M ay__________________ ____ ______
June______________________________
76.4
78.9
80.4
81.5
81.8
81.9
80.3
81.1
80.8
81.1
81.6
81.3
57.2
60.9
62.2
62.7
62.9
62.9
62.2
63.5
63.9
63.6
63.7
63.5
78.5
78.4
79.2
80.5
82.1
84.0
79.6
79.6
79.7
80.0
81.1
82.3
61.7
61.7
62.7
64.4
66.9
68.3
63.9
64.1
64.6
65.5
66.6
68.2
68.1
68.1
72.4
79.9
84.3
84.9
70.3
69.6
72.5
79.9
80.9
83.6
46.8
46.3
51.7
60.8
65.1
64.1
50.4
49.8
53.5
61.9
61.7
65.7
July....... ............ ......................................
August......................................... .
September........................... ..............
October___________ _________ ____
November....................................
December________ ________________
80.4
80.0
80.0
80.9
80.6
80.0
80.3
80.7
81.1
81.6
81.5
61.5
60.2
61.0
62.7
62.4
62.2
62.1
62.0
63.1
64.3
64.8
84.6
83.7
82.9
81.7
80.3
79.5
84.4
84.2
83.0
81.9
81.3
68.2
66.6
65.9
64.8
63.7
63.3
70.9
69.2
67.9
67.1
66.7
80.5
78.6
80.0
80.3
75.8
72.4
81.7
79.4
82.1
80.4
76.3
58.9
56.7
59.0
59.1
53.9
51.1
61.5
58.2
63.1
61.1
55.4
Average.......................................... 80.2
61.6
81.3
64.9
77.1
56.1
Class I Railroads
A ccording to reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission
there were 984,319 workers exclusive of executives and officials em
ployed in November by class I railroads—that is, roads having oper
ating revenues of one million dollars or over. This is 2.0 percent lower
than the number employed in October (1,004,902). The total com
pensation in November of all employees except executives and offi
cials was $132,687,315 compared with $142,107,244 in October, a
decrease of 6.6 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
457
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
The Commission’s preliminary index of employment for November,
taking the 3-year average 1923—25 as 100, is 55.8. The October index
is 56.9.
Table 6 shows the total number of employees by occupations on the
15th day of October and November 1935 and total pay rolls for these
entire months. In these tabulations, data for the occupational group
reported as “executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
Beginning in January 1933 the Interstate Commerce Commission
excluded reports of switching and terminal companies from its
monthly tabulations. The actual figures for the months shown in
the table, therefore, are not comparable with the totals published
for the months prior to January 1933.
Table 6.— Employment and Pay Rolls on Class I Steam Railroads, October and
November 1935
[From monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission As data for only the more important
occupations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sums of the items under the respectn e
groups]
____________ __
Number o f e m ployees at middle
of month
Total earnings
(monthly)
Occupation
Octo
ber
1935
N ovem
ber
1935
October
1935
November
1935
All employees---------------------------------------------------------- 1,004,902
984, 319 $142,107,244
$132,687, 315
163,397
85,33?
15,392
218, 722
30,067
109,480
274,626
57, 977
8,433
37,951
60, 504
163,498
85,419
15,423
196, 783
22,018
98,303
274,935
58,100
8,434
38,177
60, 569
25,122,504
12,544,093
2,090, 790
19, 961,297
1,932,999
7,420,963
36,126, 791
8, 632,430
1,343,457
5,970,482
6,719,248
24,612,658
12,173,326
2,057,606
17,148,099
1,289,414
6,001, 740
34,095,776
8,064,313
1,271,850
5,598,833
6,272,221
20,480
20,532
1,806, 683
1, 740,256
18,034
124,112
23, 411
14,182
18,397
16,451
18,068
123,390
23,402
14,120
18,068
16,411
1,307,922
15,892,833
3,748,870
2,226, 781
1,751,013
1,203, 795
1,221,574
15, 209,915
3, 599, 629
2,136,915
1,584, 355
1,192, 284
12,154
211,891
23,556
48,283
36,136
28, 603
30,956
12,180
213,533
23,460
48, 544
36, 716
28,769
31,053
2,340, 763
42, 663,056
5,963, 840
8,316,846
5,781,762
8,065,869
5,840, 215
2,293, 357
39,327, 510
5,476,115
7,545,075
5,404, 340
7, 391,376
5,344, 691
Professional, clerical, and general-------------------------------Clerks____________________________________ _____
Stenographers and typists-----------------------------------Maintenance of way and structures.—- -----------------------Laborers, extra gang and work train-------------- -------Track and roadway section laborers---------------------Maintenance of equipment and stores------------------------C arm en ...------- -----------------------------------------------Electrical workers___________________________ : Machinists_____________________________________
Skilled trades------------------------------------- ------------- -Laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants, and
stores)------- ------------------------ ------ --------------------Common laborers (shop, engine houses, power
plants, and stores).........................................................
Transportation, other than train, engine, and yard------Station agents__________________________________
Telegraphers, telephoners, and towermen--------------Truckers (stations, warehouses, and platforms)------Crossing and bridge flagmen and gatemen...... .........Transportation, yardmasters, switch tenders, and
hostlers....... — ------ -------- .----------------------------------Transportation, train and engine------------------------------Road conductors-----------------------------------------------Road brakemen and flagmen........ ;-----------------------Yard brakemen and yard helpers------------------ -----Road engineers and motormen--------------------------- Road firemen and helpers.----------------------------- -
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
458
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Trend of Private Employment, by States
C hanges in employment and pay rolls from October to November
1935 are shown by States in table 7 for all groups combined (except
building construction) and for all manufacturing industries combined.
Data for nonmanufacturing groups which were formerly published in
this table are omitted from the present analysis, but will be furnished
on request.
The percentage changes shown in the table, unless otherwise noted,
are unweighted—that is, the industries included in the manufacturing
group and in the grand total have not been weighted according to
their relative importance.
T a b le 7 .— C o m p a r iso n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in I d e n tic a l E s ta b lis h m e n t s
in N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 5 , b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s a n d b y S ta t e s
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
Total—All groups
Geographic divi N um
sion and State ber of
estab
lish
ments
New E n g la n d ___
Maine_________
New Hampshire.
Vermont_______
M assachusetts...
Rhode Island___
Connecticut____
13,802
768
654
448
2s, m
1,263
2,049
M iddle A tla n tic ..
New Y ork...........
N ew Jersey____
Pennsylvania__
E ast N o rth C entr a l_________
Ohio. ________
Indiana________
Illinois_________
Michigan______
Wisconsin______
N um
ber on
pay roll
Novem
ber 1935
824,463
50,063
35,051
16, 399
Per
Per
cent Amount cent
N um N um
age of pay roll age ber
of ber on
change (1 week) change
estab
pay roll
from
from lish N ovem
Octo Novem
Octo
ber
1935
ments
ber
1935
ber
ber
1935
1935
91, 492
184,966
- 0 .3 $17,114,650
-.8
890,054
- 1 .4
651,852
- 2 .8
328, 231
-.7
9, 4 9 0 ,0 8 5
-.4
1,742,609
+ 1 .2 4,011,819
39,593 1,861,115
17,832 814,868
3,747 271,538
9,014 774, 709
- 1 .1 43,655,528
- . 5 20,617,238
+• 6 6,373,471
- 2 . 2 16, 664,819
u e, m
18,946 1,899.008
8,229 529,303
1 ,7 9 8
% m
3, 509
61 , 0 0 6
West
North
C entral_____
Minnesota......... .
Iowa.....................
Missouri_______
North D a k o ta ...
South D a k o ta ...
Nebraska______
Kansas................
1 9 4 ,7 3 0
4 9 8 ,1 1 3
502,681
1 7 4 ,1 8 3
Manufacturing
Per
Per
cent
Amount cent
age of
roll age
change (1pay
week) change
from
from
Octo Novem Octo
ber 1935
ber
ber
1935
1935
- 3 .3
- 4 .5
- 5 .6
-4 .8
3,145
262
183
121
554,108
41,115
28,081
10,328
-3 .7
1 ,5 4 8
3 5 3 ,9 3 3
- .3
- 7 .1
+ .6
4 ,8 6 5 ,6 1 3
409
622
71,431
150, 230
- 5 .1
+ .4
+ .3
1,247,042
3, 217| 493
—9. 2
+ .i
- 3 .6 4,967 1,104,065
- 1 . 2 31 , 9 5 0 4 0 4 , 3 6 8
+ .6 * 756 237,386
- 7 . 8 3 , 3 6 1 4 6 3 ,3 1 1
-1 .3
- ( i ) $10,727,048
-.9
697, 517
-.6
496,165
+ 2 .2
203, 219
—.5 24,843,141
9 ,8 0 1 ,5 6 1
+ .7
5,392,845
- .5
9 ,6 4 8 ,7 8 5
+ 1 .5 46,348,186
- . 5 12,439,645
+ 2 .8 6,621 1,399,257
- . 4 2,219 374,041
+ 1.9 33,779,356
-.7
8,983,465
+ 1 .3
4 ,3 3 7 ,8 6 0
1 1 ,4 9 1 ,3 0 1
+ 1 .7
-1 .5
+ 1 .7
3 ,8 5 8 ,5 3 3
-1 .3
+(>)
+ 5 .8 14,230,958 +11.3
- .3
831
3 ,0 3 6
786
749
1 5 8 ,9 6 9
3 1 5 ,8 6 0
4 1 1 ,1 0 3
139, 385
+ .5
+ 6 .5
1 - .8
3 ,5 3 3 ,3 7 8
7 ,1 7 1 ,5 1 5
1 0 ,9 7 1 ,0 5 9
3 ,1 1 9 ,9 3 9
- 4 .1
— 5. 0
—6. 5
—. 1
—2.0
—s o
+ 8
- 3 .6
+ 2.1
+ .3
+ 3 .7
— .7
+ 6 .3
7- 1 . 1
11,046 399,414
- .9
8,755,709
- . 4 2,127 181,431 - 2 .0 3,930,498
+ .1
1,967
85,660
- .5
1,945,151 - 1 . 2
355
35,921 - 2 . 2
816,043 —1. 5
1,738
55,026 - 1 . 9 1,155,477 - 1 .7
382
27, 536 - 2 .5
568,220 —2.0
3,265 161, 859 - 1 .3 3,519, 579 +(>)
772
78,915 - 2 .5
1.66L612 +1. 5
550
5,041
+ .7
112, 767 + 1 .5
44
698
-.7
16,807 —1 1
439
5, 525
-.4
114,137 - 2 . 7
32
1,761 + 3 .6
36,113 + 1 .0
1,384
33,001 - 1 . 7
713,836 + 1.1
157
11,983 - 2 .1
267,186 + 3 .3
»1 ,7 0 3 1
5 3 ,3 0 3
+ .6
1 ,1 9 4 , 763
+ .3
385
3 4, 617
+ .3
6 7 0 ,5 1 7
- 1 .1
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
............
2 Includes construction, municipal, agricultural, and office employment, amusement and recreation
professional services, and tracking and handling.
’
3 Includes laundering and cleaning, and water, light and power.
* Includes laundries.
5 Includes automobile and miscellaneous services, restaurants, and building and contracting
' Includes construction, but does not include hotels, restaurants, and public works
7 Weighed percentage change.
inclu des construction, miscellaneous services, and restaurants.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
459
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T a b le 7 .— C o m p a r iso n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in I d e n tic a l E s ta b lis h m e n t s
in N o v e m b e r 19 3 5 b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s a n d b y S ta t e s — C o n tin u e d
Manufacturing
Total—All groups
Per
Per
cent Amount cent N um N um
age of pay roll age ber of ber on
change (1 week) change estab pay roll
from
Novem from lish N ovem
Octo ber 1935 Octo ments ber 1935
ber
ber
1935
1935
Per
Per
cent Amount cent
age of pay roll age
change (1 week) change
from
Novem from
Octo ber 1935 Octo
ber
ber
1935
1935
482,819
8,207
+ 0 .4 $7,977,736 + 0.7
175,021 - 2 . 2
- 5 .7
?- 1 .9
1 ,3 6 1 ,8 9 4 1 - 2 . 8
120, 401
+ .8
+ •9
- 1 . 5 1,068,799 + 1 .2
1,172,924 —2.6
- 1 .1
+ 2.1 1,955,132 + 2 .2
+ 1 .5
786,708 +3. 4
+• 6 1,057,822 + 3 .0
279,035 -j"5. 3
+ 3.4
Geographic divi N um
sion and State ber of
estab
lish
ments
N um
ber on
pay roll
Novem
ber 1935
10,900
234
751,937
12,927
1,594
1 0 6 ,7 1 7
1,062
2,109
1,257
1,319
722
1,489
1,114
+ .7
40, 936
-.2
93,839
+ .3
143, 401
146, 439 + 2.1
66, 215 + 1 .4
99, 602
41,861 + 13.9
4 ,5G4
1,507
1,278
1,208
571
S o u th A tla n tic ..
Delaware______
Maryland...........
Dist. Columbia .
Virginia_______
West Virginia.. .
North Carolina..
South Carolina..
Georgia................
Florida________
+ 1 .2 $13,762,214
288,693
- 3 .4
- 0 .4 2, 641
- 1 .4
78
647
6 8 ,5 9 5
-.6
982,068
+ .3
1,710, 722
3, 250, 450 - 5 .9
2,137, 423 + 1.9
909,122 + 3 .0
1, 529, 666 + 1.8
707, 021 + 11.0
36
426
241
577
196
357
183
3, 571
60,477
54,164
135, 264
59, 288
75,819
17,434
+ 1.0
- .8
+ .8
+ 3 .7
+ .3
4.329,543
1,651,198
1,459,203
969,126
250, 016
+ .2
- 1 .4
+ .4
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .6
902
266
310
229
97
155,333
32,953
62,207
49,633
10, 540
+ .6
- 3 .3
+• 2
+ 3 .9
+ .5
2,479,887
635,751
1,005,311
696,996
141,829
150,850
16,552
41, 367
38, 324
+ .1
- 1 .6
+ .8
+ .2
3,055,913
268,750
739,936
829,933
+ .3
- 1 .8
+ .4
-.2
799
86
212
126
70,953
7,951
21,103
10,110
1,342,453 + (*)
109.725 - 6 .1
321, 952 “ 1. 1
--. /
208,079
5 1 607
+ .1
1 ,2 1 7 ,2 9 4
+ 1 .1
375
3 1 ,7 8 9
-.7
- 5 .1
-. 1
+ .7
-. 3
127,387
18,888
11,002
9, 560
44, 543
6, 642
13, 933
19, 389
3,430
-.5
+ 3 .2
- 5 .9
- 1 .2
- 2 .5
-.5
+ 4 .8
- 2 .5
- 1 .3
3,006,539
498,233
234,979
267,449
1,008, 734
139, 715
318,80S
445,877
92, 749
+ 1.7
+ 1.2
- 5 .5
- 5 .8
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .5
+ 4 .7
+ 3 .8
-1 .7
537
81
51
47
173
24
38
94
29
40,715 - 5 .5
5,458 —1. 5
4,266 -1 3 .4
2, 224 - 6 . 7
16,884 - 7 . 2
866 - 4 . 3
2,389 + 1.1
7, 608 - 1 .9
+ .3
1,020
901,881 + 2 .8
128, 383 —5.8
92,181 —10. 9
59,852 —6. 2
370,368 + 7 .5
13,655 —7. 5
—. 9
52,657
154,816 +18.1
29,969 - 0)
- 4 .9 10,237,07G
- 7 .0 2,085,94C
1,098,997
- 8 .6
7, 0 5 2 , 1 3 9
- 3 .6
- 4 .9
- 8 .2
- 9 .6
1, 764
474
255
207,397 - 9 .5
46, 225 -1 1 .2
27,094 -1 4 .3
- 3 .1
1 ,0 3 5
1 3 4 ,0 7 8
5, 106,862 - 7 .9
1,023,650 —12.9
568, 548 —16. 3
3 , biJ+y ooJf.
—4- 8
-■ 4
2 ,2 4 7 ,0 4 9
- .3
246,593
78,962
86, 512
64, 545
16, 574
W est S o u th C entrai_________ 4,064
512
Arkansas.______
996
Louisiana............
Oklahoma_____ 1,411
Texas.................... 1 ,1 1 ,5
4,595
774
473
354
1,246
384
567
539
258
Pacific ............ . 6,441
W ashington__ 3,150
Oregon ______ 1,353
California______ U, 9 3 8
408,295
89, 576
48,720
E ast S o u th C entrai....... ............
Kentucky______
T ennessee..........
Alabama_______
Mississippi_____
M o u n ta in __
M ontana______
Idaho__________
W yoming______
Colorado........ .....
New Mexico___
Arizona________
Utah ________
Nevada________
269, 999
— 7 .8
7 0 2 ,6 9 7
- .i
- 3 .6
—. 3
+ 3 .0
+3. 1
+ 1 .8
» Less than Ho of 1 percent.
<Weighted percentage change.
» Includes banks, insurance, and office employment.
Private Employment and Pay Rolls in Principal Cities
A c o m p a r i s o n of November employment and pay-roll totals with
October totals in 13 cities of the United States having a population of
500,000 or over is made in table 8. The changes are computed from
reports received from identical establishments in each of the months
considered.
In addition to reports included in the several industrial groups
regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau, reports have also been
secured from establishments in other industries for inclusion in these
city totals. As information concerning employment in building
construction is not available for all cities at this time, figures for
this industry have not been included in these city totals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
460
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 8.—Fluctuations in Employment and Pay Rolls in Principal Cities,
November 1935 as Compared With October 1935
Cities
Number of
establish
ments re
porting in
both
months
New York C ity................
Chicago, I II.. .................
Philadelphia, P a ..............
Detroit, M ich_________
Los Angeles, C a lif..........
Cleveland, Ohio...............
St. Louis, M o .- ...............
Baltimore, M d ________
Boston, M ass. ...............
Pittsburgh, P a________
San Francisco, Calif........
Buffalo, N . Y___..............
Milwaukee, W is_______
14, 206
3, 726
2, 674
1,507
2, 466
1,846
1,701
1,297
3,454
1,593
1,528
1,063
709
Number on pay roll
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October
1935
October
1935
657,006
358,130
221,882
304, 964
129, 213
135, 341
124,156
81,068
161, 757
183,916
85,165
68,159
69, 219
Per
cent
age
change
from
November October
1935
1935
656,174
363,037
221,049
333,305
129, 791
134, 328
123,126
80, 262
161,440
187,134
83,933
68,817
69,198
Per
cent
age
change
from
November October
1935
1935
- 0 .1 $17,258,584 $17,114,083
+ 1 .4
8, 963, 442
8,997,150
-.4
5,288, 273
5,238,823
+ 9.3
8,568, 204
9,830, 326
+ .4
3, 262, 740
3, 281,831
-.7
3,309, 644
3, 298,142
-.8
2, 724,143
2, 726, 637
- 1.0
1, 770,988
1, 748,012
-.2
3,845, 686
3,723,626
+ 1 .7
4,405, 980
4, 379,130
- 1 .4
2, 262, 707
2, 228,894
+ 1.0
1, 650, 203
1,669, 726
1,638,659
1,655, 584
- 0 .8
+ .4
-.9
+14.7
+ .6
-.3
+ .1
- 1 .3
-3 .2
- .6
- 1 .5
+ 1.2
+ 1.0
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Part II—Public Employment
E m p lo y m e n t created by the Federal Government includes employ
ment in the regular agencies of the Government, employment on the
various construction programs wholly or partially financed by Federal
funds, and employment on relief-work projects.
Construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
are those projects authorized by title II of the National Industrial
Recovery Act of June 16, 1933. This program of public works was
extended to June 30, 1937, by the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Act of 1935.
The Works Program was inaugurated by the President in a series
of Executive orders by authority of Public Resolution No. 11 approved
April 8,1935. Employment created by this program includes employ
ment on Federal projects and employment on projects operated by
the Works Progress Administration. Federal projects are those con
ducted by Federal agencies which have received allotments from the
Works Program fund. Projects operated by the Works Progress
Administration are those projects conducted under the supervision of
the W. P. A.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
461
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
The emergency-work program consists of projects authorized by
the Federal Emergency Relief Administration since April 1, 1934.
This program of providing employment through relief-work projects
is being rapidly curtailed as The Works Program gets under way.
The emergency conservation program (Civilian Conservation Corps),
created in April 1933, has been further extended under authority of
the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
A summary of Federal employment and pay-roll statistics for
November is presented in table 9.
Table 9.—Summary of Federal Employment and Pay Rolls, November 1935 1
[Subject to revision]
Employment
Class
November
Federal service:
2 800,488
Executive___________________
1,901
Judicial_____________________
5,063
Legislative__________________
285,117
M ilitary____________________
Construction projects:
3 271,111
Financed by P. W. A ________
9,793
Financed by R. F. C_________
Financed by regular govern
63,912
mental appropriations______
The Works Program ____________ 1,225,394
Relief work:
343,695
Emergency work program____
Emergency conservation work.. » 543,958
October
797, 259
1,885
5,120
281,654
Per
centage
change
Pay roll
October
November
Per
centage
change
+ 0 .4 $119, 299, 543 2$119,911, 829
494,927
492,917
+ .8
1, 210, 304
1, 203, 502
- 1 .1
21,893, 635
22, 263,895
+ 1 .2
- 0 .5
- .4
- .6
+ 1 .7
< 308, 632
9,192
-1 2 .2
+ 6 .5
3 19, 512,866
1,001,408
< 21, 692,439
952, 790
-1 0 .0
+ 5.1
59,091
631,940
+ 8 .2
+93.9
4,077,395
50,159,119
4,193,129
29, 447, 788
- 2 .8
+70.3
644, 639
« 550, 650
-4 6 .7
- 1 .2
8,253,626
5 23,957, 751
17,785, 219
« 24,830, 752
-5 3 .6
- 3 .5
5 Based on November reports received up to Dec. 21, 1935.
. . .
.
2 N ot including 642 employees transferred but not reported by department to which they were assigned.
3 Includes 3,331 wage earners and a pay roll of $145,347 on projects financed from the Emergency Relief
Appropriation Act of 1935.
* Includes 1,184 wage earners and a pay roll of $54,380 on projects financed from the Emergency Relief
Appropriation Act of 1935.
« 46,621 employees and a pay roll of $6,418,511 included in executive service.
«46,979 employees and pay roll of $6,590,152 included in executive service.
Executive Service of the Federal Government
E m p l o y m e n t in November in the executive branches of the Federal
Government was 16 percent greater than in the same month of the
previous year. (See table 10.)
The information concerning employment in the executive depart
ments is collected by the Civil Service Commission from the different
departments and offices of the United States Government. The
figures are tabulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
462
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 10.—Employees in Executive Service of the United States November 1934,
October 1935, and November 1935 1
District of Columbia
Outside District of
Columbia
Entire service
Item
Perma Tem
nent porary
Number of employees:
November 1934_______
October 1935 .................
November 1935_______
Gain or loss:
November 1934 to N o
vember 1935________
October 1935 to Novem
ber 1935_______ ____
Percentage change:
November 1934 to N o
vember 1935________
October 1935 to Novem
ber 1935____________
Labor turn-over, Novem
ber 1935:
Additions 4........... ..........
Separations4........ ...........
Turn-over rate per 100____
87,601
101,993
103,073
+15,472
Total
Perma Tem Total
nent porary 1
Perma Tem
nent porary 2 Total
8,138 95, 739 509,057 85,142 594,199 596, 658 93,280 689,938
8, 549 110, 542 578,805 107,912 686,717 680,798 116,461 797,259
8,081 111,154 3589,375 99,959 689,334 692,448 108,040 800, 488
-5 7 +15,415 +80,318 +14,817 +95,135 +95,790 +14,760 +110,550
+1,080
-468
+612 +10, 570 -7 ,953 +2,617 +11,650 - 8 , 421
+3,229
+17. 66
- .7 0
+16.10 +15. 78 +17.40 +16.01 +16. 05 +15.82
+16. 02
+1.06 -5 .4 8
1,634
1,190
1.16
1,207
947
11.39
+ . 55
+1. 83
-7 .3 7
+ . 38
+1. 71
-7 .2 3
+ . 41
2,841
2,137
1.93
16,980
9,937
1. 70
18,185
22,061
17. 50
35,165
31,998
4.65
18,614
11,127
1. 62
19,392
23,008
17.28
38,006
34,135
4.27
1 Based on November reports received up to Dec. 21, 1935.
2 N ot including field employees of the Post Office Department or 21,346 employees hired under letters
of authorization by the Department of Agriculture with a pay roll of $853 625.
3 Includes 3,914 persons transferred from several State emergency relief administrations which adminis
tered relief activities partially financed by funds received from the Federal Emergency Belief Adminis
tration.
4 N ot including employees transferred within the Government service, as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.
The most pronounced increases in employment in the executive
departments of the Federal Government during November occurred
in the Treasury Department and in the Works Progress Administra
tion. Substantial gains, however, were shown by the Resettlement
Administration, the Department of Labor, the Navy Department,
the Post Office Department, and the Federal Emergency Adminis
tration of Public Works. The largest loss in the number of employees,
on the other hand, was reported by the War Department. There were
also appreciable decreases in the number of workers employed by the
Tennessee Valley Authority, the Department of Commerce, and the
National Recovery Administration.
Construction Projects Financed by the Public Works Administration
D u r in g November 1 271,000 employees were working at the site of
Public Works Administration construction projects. Compared with
the previous month, this is a loss of 37,500 workers. Pay-roll dis
bursements for the month were somewhat in excess of $19,500,000
and the value of material orders placed was approximately $29,000,000.
Federal construction projects are financed by allotments made by
the Public Works Administration to the various agencies and depart
ments of the Federal Government from funds provided under the
1 Unless otherwise expressly stated, when November is referred to in this section, it may be accepted as
meaning the month ending N ov. 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
463
National Industrial Recovery Act. The major portion of the Federal
housing program now under way, however, is financed by funds
provided under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
The work is performed either by commercial firms, which have been
awarded contracts, or by day labor hired directly by the Federal
agencies.
Non-Federal projects are financed by allotments made by the
Public Works Administration from funds available under either the
National Industrial Recovery Act or the Emergency Relief Appro
priation Act of 1935. Most of the allotments have been made to the
States and their political subdivisions, but occasionally allotments
have been made to commercial firms. In financing projects for the
States or their political subdivisions from funds appropriated under
the National Industrial Recovery Act, the Public Works Adminis
tration makes a direct grant of not more than 30 percent of the total
construction cost. When funds provided under the Emergency
Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 are used to finance a non-Federal
project, as much as 45 percent of the total cost may be furnished in
the form of a grant. The remaining 55 percent or more of the cost
is financed by the recipient. When circumstances justify such action,
the Public Works Administration may provide the grantee with the
additional funds by means of a loan. Allotments to commercial
enterprises are made only as loans. All loans made by the Public
Works Administration carry interest charges and have a definite date
of maturity. Collateral posted with the Public Works Administra
tion to secure loans may be offered for sale to the public. In this way a
revolving fund is provided which enlarges the scope of the activities
of the Public Works Administration.
Commercial loans have been made, for the most part, to railroads.
Railroad work financed by loans made by the Public Works Admin
istration falls under three headings: First, construction work in the
form of electrification, the laying of rails and ties, repairs to buildings,
bridges, etc.; second, the building and repairing of locomotives and
passenger and freight cars in shops operated by the railroads; and
third, locomotive and passenger- and freight-car building in commer
cial shops.
Information concerning the first type of railroad work, i. e., con
struction, is shown "in table 11, page 464. Employment in car and
locomotive shops owned by the railroads and in commercial car and
locomotive shops is shown in a separate table. (See table 13, p. 466.)
Details concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during November on construction projects financed by Public Works
Administration funds are given, by type of project, in table 11.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
464
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 11.—Employment and Pay Rolls on Construction Projects Financed From
Public Works Funds, November 1935
Wage earners
Type of project
Maxi
mum
number Weekly
employed average
0)
M onthly
pay roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours Average
worked
earnings
during
per hour
month
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects—financed from N . I. R. A. funds
16,182,923
$0.689
$14,103,555
Building construction 3......... ............
Forestry________________________
Naval vessels.............. .........................
Public roads 4~ ____ _____________
13,816
99
28,547
(«)
11,344
96
28,188
64,357
917, 788
4,486
3, 395, 771
2,667,500
1,067,106
8, 405
4,129, 662
5,153,450
.860
.534
.822
.518
1,917, 269
2,337
2, 255,168
4,850,000
Reclamation____________________
River, harbor, and flood control----Streets and roads________________
Water and sewerage.-------------------Miscellaneous...................................
14,986
23, 387
3, 858
282
1, 539
14,177
20, 421
3,335
231
1,462
1, 545, 588
2, 272,382
189,927
16,058
148,064
2,211,985
2,973,352
384,463
24,909
229, 591
.699
.764
.494
.645
.645
2,300,780
2,549, 315
158,546
19,903
50, 237
All projects. .....................................
3 150,871
143,611 $11,157, 564
Non-Federal projects—financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All p ro jects..---------- ------------ -----Building construction____________
Railroad construction____________
Streets and roads._________ ____ _
Water and sewerage............................
Miscellaneous___________________
113,429
53,369
2.629
15,108
35, 473
6,850
93,200
43, 651
2,371
12, 274
29,384
5, 520
$7,871,224
9,417, 231
$0.836
$14,131,553
3,925,481
178, 645
890,372
2,408,148
468,578
4,187,658
272, 261
1,254,038
3,031,037
672, 237
.937
.656
.710
.794
.697
7,504,352
33,115
1,597,915
4,093,936
902, 235
Non-Federal projects—financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds
3,331
2,717
$145,347
217,411
$0. 669
$444, 254
Building construction_______ ____
Electrification___________________
Heavy engineering_______________
Reclamation____________________
1,280
34
49
6
1,042
24
35
6
51,790
1,678
1,280
78
80,120
2,525
1,290
116
.646
.665
.992
.672
173,069
10,416
215
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads________________
Water and sewerage----------- ------ Miscellaneous___________ ________
17
1,114
703
128
15
866
635
94
329
56,857
26,078
7,257
640
79,695
43,952
9,073
.514
.713
.593
.800
75,750
171,780
13,024
All projects_____________ ______ _
1
Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
Includes weekly average for public roads.
3
Includes pay-roll data for 91 wage earners employed on Federal housing projects financed from Emer
gency Relief Appropriation Act, 1935.
* Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
* N ot available; average number included in total.
1
Compared with October, the number of employees engaged on
Federal construction projects decreased by approximately 30,000 in
November. Losses in employment occurred in six of the various types
of projects. Small increases in the number of workers employed were
registered on forestry, naval vessel, and building-construction projects.
Public-road projects showed the most marked decrease in employ
ment during the month.
Employment on non-Federal-construction projects financed under
the National Industrial Recovery Act declined in November. All
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
465
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
types of projects except the miscellaneous group showed fewer
workers employed in November than in October. Nearly half of
the total number of employees were engaged on building-construc
tion projects.
On non-Federal projects financed under the Emergency Relief
Appropriation Act of 1935, there was an increase of 2,147 in the
number of workers employed in November. Employment on heavy
engineering work; reclamation projects; river,harbor and flood-control
work; and miscellaneous projects is shown for the first time. Over
two-thirds of the total number of employees were engaged on buildingconstruction work and street and road projects.
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction
projects financed by Public Works funds in November are shown in
table 12, by geographic divisions.
Table 12.— Employment and Pay Rolls on Construction Projects Financed From
Public Works Funds, November 1935
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed 1
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Weekly
average
Number of Average
man-hours
earn
worked
ings per
during
hour
month
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects—financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All divisions.
150,871
New E ngland3...........
M iddle A tlan tic3----East North Central3.
West North C entralSouth Atlantic............
9,529
20,044
19,467
16, Oil
28,080
East South Central...........................
West South Central_____ ______
M ountain---- ------ ------------ --------Pacific........................... ........................
Outside continental United States.
20,560
12,083
12, 368
10,409
2,320
143,611 $11,157, 564
16,182,923
$0. 689
9,193
19,205
18,175
15,178
26, 598
897,100
1,944, 000
1,323,541
697,750
2,024,345
1,119, 526
2,481,436
1, 784,358
1, 285, 689
3,014,041
.801
.783
.742
. 543
.672
474,633
1,215,152
1,062,722
517,690
2,021,195
19,828
11,856
11,643
9,796
2,138
1,382,263
422,232
1,282, 585
1,069, 876
113,872
2,305,625
911,619
1, 790,408
1,257,523
232,698
.600
.463
.716
. 851
.489
1,644,867
141,130
1,179,823
873,090
123,253
Non-Federal projects—financed from N . I. R. A.
All divisions.
113,429
93, 200
$7,871,224
9,417, 231
$0. 836
$14,131,553
.797
.969
.887
.776
.700
1,320, 756
4, 240,170
2,187,186
1,542,055
797,392
.626
.617
. 805
.910
.739
396,761
1, 728,698
415,840
1,473,366
29,329
New England............
M iddle Atlantic-----East North C entralWest North Central.
South Atlantic_____
7,995
26, 552
20,106
15,881
9, 323
6,577
22,382
16,421
12,899
7,437
539,811
2,241,081
1,381, 643
1,082, 620
508,098
677,480
2, 312, 266
1, 557, 392
1,395,883
725,538
East South Central...................
West South Central................... .
M o u n ta in ....................................
Pacific........ .............. .....................
Outside continental United States.
4,383
10, 635
4,842
13,486
226
3,415
8, 781
3,912
11, 205
171
184,397
534,877
325,403
1,058,181
15,113
294,794
866,415
403,978
1,163,021
20,464
i Maximum number employed during any one week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
., ,
.
a Includes $4,945,000 estimated value of material orders placed for public-road projects which can o
"
V
o
Relief Appropriation Act, 1935 funds.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
„
Federal housingprelects n n .n c d from Em ergent,
466
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 12.— Employment and Pay Rolls on Construction Projects Financed From
Public Works Funds, November 1935— Continued
Wage earners
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed
Geographic division
Weekly
average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours Average
earn
worked
ings per
during
hour
month
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Non-Federal projects—financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds
All divisions_____________________
3,331
2, 717
$145, 347
217,411
$0.669
$444,254
New England___________________
Middle Atlantic_________________
East North Central______________
West North Central_____ ________
South A tlan tic.-..................................
447
244
518
971
606
356
197
417
802
514
18,101
12, 253
27,725
48,058
16,313
33,202
13, 239
27,810
77,193
33, 716
.545
.926
.997
.623
.484
69,947
18,443
52,538
95,780
82,043
East South Central......... ....... ......
West South Central______________
Mountain_________ ____ _________
Pacific_____________ ____ ________
Outside continental United States .
169
122
226
128
98
182
3,297
4, 675
13, 207
7,016
6,081
16,977
.470
.769
.778
37,490
24,901
49,760
28
23
1,718
2,177
.789
13,352
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked during November
in railway car and locomotive shops on projects financed by the Public
Works Administration fund are shown in table 13, by geographic
divisions.
Table 13.— Employment and Pay Rolls in Railway Car and Locomotive Shops
on Work Financed From Public Works Administration Funds, November 1935
Number of wage
earners
Geographic division
Maximum
Semi
number
monthly
em ployed1 average
All divisions, railroad and commereiai shops.................................
3,480
(2)
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
$338,731
Number of
man-hours Average
earnings
worked
during
per hour
month
499,999
$0. 677
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
(2)
Railroad shops
All divisions______ ____________
2, 510
2,395
$206, 828
294,031
$0. 703
$272,322
N ew E ngland .._______________
Middle Atlantic_______________
East North Central........................
East South Central____________
447
696
390
977
447
668
334
946
53,163
33, 494
26,984
93,187
72,774
49, 315
39,134
132, 808
.731
.679
.700
.702
14,744
101,992
47, 609
107,977
Commercial shops
All divisions___ ____ __________
970
(2)
$131,903
205,968
$0. 640
(2)
Middle Atlantic_______________
East North Central........................
West North Central___________
South Atlantic..............................
East South Central............ .
..
West South Central____ _____ _
33
475
22
326
62
52
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
3, 678
84, 536
4, 326
31,361
3,990
4,012
5,475
122,992
7,696
52,110
9, 480
8,215
.672
.687
.562
.602
.421
.488
(J)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1 Maximum number employed during either semimonthly period by each shop.
* Data not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
467
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Compared with October, there was a gain of 856 in the number of
workers employed ]during November in railway-car and locomotive
shops on work financed from Public Works Administration funds.
Monthly Trend
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked at the site of
Public Works Administration construction projects from the beginning
of the program in July 1933 to November 1935 are shown in table 14.
Table 14.—Employment and Pay Rolls, July 1933 to November 1935, Inclusive,
on Projects Financed From Public Works Funds
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
$579,068,281
934,995,998
267
4, 719
39, 535
146, 747
255,512
300,758
26,433
131,937
1, 784,996
6, 353,835
11,552,547
13, 091,587
35,217
206,990
3,296,162
12,029, 751
21,759, 245
24,391,546
.751
.637
.542
.528
.531
.537
(2)
3 202,100
1,628, 537
3 23, 351,150
24, 568, 577
25, 702, 750
January------ ---------------------------------February................................................ .
March________ ______ _____ _______ _
April............ .............. .................................
M ay.....................—...................................
June................. .................. .........................
298,069
311,381
307, 274
382,220
506,056
610, 752
12, 646,241
14,348, 094
14,113, 247
18, 785,405
25,942, 387
33,808, 429
23,409,908
26, 544,346
25, 501,446
32, 937, 649
46,052, 698
59,873, 309
.540
.541
.553
.570
.563
.565
24, 206, 352
25,269,537
< 69, 766,559
3 68,526,223
3 50,468,427
3 60, 797,939
J u ly ................................ ...........................
A u g u st.......................................................
September...... ...........................................
October.................. ............ .......................
November______ __________ _______
December______ _______ ____________
644, 729
629,907
575, 655
527,883
503,985
410,236
34,845, 461
36.480,027
32, 758, 795
30,263, 279
30, 664, 356
23,655,422
60, 736, 768
61,925, 300
53,427,096
47,910, 342
49,004,023
36, 238, 781
.574
.589
.613
.632
.625
.653
3 53,377,997
3 54,192,443
3 50,878,000
3 51,756,945
55,044,382
3 45, 766,286
January......................... .............................
February........................................... .........
March...... ........................................... .......
A p r il......................................................
M a y .-............................... .........................
June............................................................
304,723
272,273
281,461
333,045
394,875
414, 306
18,462, 677
16,896,475
17,400, 798
20,939, 741
24,490,087
25,386,962
27,478,022
25,144,558
26,008,063
31,387, 712
36, 763,164
38,800,178
.672
.672
.669
.667
.667
.654
3 30,746,857
29,264, 484
27,276, 566
31,645,166
3 36,893,840
3 42,017, 642
July..................... ................ .......................
August.........................................................
September..................................................
October.._________________________
November..................................................
405,332
394, 509
344, 520
308,632
271, 111
24,968, 785
25,292, 656
22, 772,317
21,692,439
19, 512,866
37,845,047
37,133,989
32,478,773
30,358,351
26,317, 564
.660
.681
.701
.715
.741
41,936,424
46,954, 714
3 40,988,896
34, 608,853
28,951,684
Year and month
Maximum
number of
wage
earners1
July 1933 to November 1935, inclusive.
m s
July..................... ......................... ..............
A ugust.----------------------------------------September...... .................. .......................
October________ _____________ _____
November................... ...............................
D ecem b er...................................... ...........
19Si
1935
Average
earnings
per hour
$0. 619 $1,076, 789, 330
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-roads projects.
2 Orders placed for materials during July and August 1933, with exception of public-roads projects in
cluded in October 1933.
3 Includes orders for materials placed for naval vessels prior to October 1933.
3 Includes orders placed by railroads for new equipment.
From the beginning of the Public Works Program in July 1933
through November 1935, pay-roll disbursements have amounted to
approximately $580,000,000; the value of material orders placed has
been in excess of $1,076,000,000; and nearly 935,000,000 man-hours
of employment have been provided at the construction site.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
468
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
The Works Program
M o r e than 1,225,000 workers were employed at the site of con
struction projects financed by The Works Program during Novem
ber,1 which, compared with the previous month, is an increase of
593,000.
A detailed record of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
on projects financed by The Works Program in November is given
in table 15, by type of project.
Table 15.—Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by The Works
Program, November 1935
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum Weekly
number
aver
employed 1 age
Number of Aver
M onthly man-hours
age
earn
pay-roll
worked
ings
disburse
during
per
ments
month
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects
All p ro jects.................................................
168,234 152, 234
$0.445
$9, 214,916
Building construction________________
Electrification........................ ............... .
Forestry_____ ____ ____________ _____
Grade-crossing elimination___________
H eavy engineering.......... ................ ...........
Hydroelectric power plants. .................
Plant, crop, and livestock conservation.
25,910
394
21, 090
2, 642
61
496
22, 584
23, 916
353
19, 976
2,132
58
393
17, 790
$8,391, 581 18,870, 799
1,309,168
16, 680
1, 098,173
113,130
3,968
9,908
799, 637
2, 689,848
44,106
3, 250,914
250,430
6,474
63, 061
2,364, 793
.487
.378
.338
.452
.613
.157
.338
807, 517
68, 725
800,199
237, 037
4, 524
708,819
463.888
Professional, technical, and clerical........
Public roads............ .............. ......................
Reclamation________________________
River, harbor, and flood control______
Streets and roads.______ ____________
Water and sewerage______ __________
Miscellaneous____________ _____ _____
6,632
15, 776
24,107
33, 998
7,160
1,001
6, 383
6,632
12,699
23, 697
31, 111
6, 704
911
5,862
468,195
644, 507
1, 030, 297
2, 245, 588
335, 840
38, 583
277,907
764, 035
1, 557,991
2,525, 551
3,880,391
717, 600
101, 706
653,899
.613
.414
.408
.579
.468
.379
.425
47,194
647, 256
1,836,164
2, 751, 756
231,970
26, 451
583,416
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
All projects ................................................. 231,057,160
$41, 767, 538 89,156, 008
$0. 468 4$14,836,346
Conservation _________ _______
Highway, road, and street. _________
Housing______________________ ____
Professional, technical, and clerical____
Public building_________________
Publicly owned or operated utilities
62, 523
428j 886
12, 258
56,860
84,567
78,196
1, 962, 387 4,851, 294
14, 618,148 35,175, 665
2 5 8 , 671
361, 285
3, 395, 701 5, 031,663
4,486,321 7,379,902
2, 666,999 5,828,405
.405
. 416
. 716
.675
608
.458
987,127
6,893, 647
16, 275
103, 284
1,905^ 374
1,821,740
Recreational facilities 6____________
Rural electrification and electric utilities _________________
Sanitation and health________________
Sewing, canning, gardening, e t c . . . ___
Transportation_________ ________
Not elsewhere classified_____ ________
171, 291
9, 524, 790 17, 241,113
.552
2,140,166
39,959
1, 534,841
1, 361,397
711, 764
1, 206; 560
480
.353
. 305
476
.415
30 256
123, 535
205, 519
304 442
304, 981
1,155
44, 781
65, 713
17, 745
41; 003
83, 262
4, 343,998
4, 459,162
1,494, 477
2, 905, 782
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 This total differs from the sum of the individual items since 7,818 employees worked on more than one
type of project.
3 Represents number of workers on the pay roll during month ending November 15. During week
ending November 30 there were nearly 2,500,000 workers employed on projects operated by W. P. A.
4 Value of material orders placed during the month ending N ov. 30, 1935.
8 Exclusive of electric utilities.
• Exclusive of buildings.
1When the month of November is referred to in this section, it may be accepted as meaning the month
ending Nov. 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
469
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
The number of workers employed on Federal projects increased by
nearly 40,000 in November. All types of projects except heavy
engineering shared in the gain. Hydroelectric power-plant projects
shown for the first time in November employed 496 workers. The
most marked increase in the number of workers employed was regis
tered on river, harbor, and flood-control work.
In comparison with October the number of workers employed
during November on projects operated by the Works Progress
Administration increased by 554,000. Employment showed marked
gains on every type of project. Highway, road, and street work and
recreational-facility projects accounted for more than half of the total
number of employees. Average hourly earnings were highest on
housing projects and lowest on sewing, canning, and gardening work.
A comparison by geographic divisions of employment, pay rolls,
and man-hours worked in November on projects financed by The
Works Program is given in table 16.
Table 16.—Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by The Works
Program, November 1935
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maximum Weekly
number
employed 1 average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours Average
earnings
worked
during
per hour
month
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects
All divisionss— ----------------------
168, 234
152, 234
$8,391,581
18,870,799
$0.445
$9, 214,916
New England—. ...............................
Middle Atlantic_________ ____ —
East North Central.......... .............
West North Central........................
South Atlantic..................................
10, 538
24,132
20,803
18,082
30,858
8,846
22,133
18, 269
16,173
29, 286
601,353
1,392,587
1,097,899
868,105
1,104, 281
1,248,698
2,498,490
2,351,810
1,813,728
3,193,996
.482
.557
.467
.479
.346
328,144
1, 009, 764
1,025,966
868, 131
878, 675
East South Central.........................
West South Central................... .
M ountain-------- --------- ------------Pacific------ -----------------------------Outside
continental
United
States..................... .........................
8,184
8,631
22,089
19,856
7,554
7,833
19,973
17, 570
238, 793
280, 708
1, 286, 683
1, 404,696
728,274
849,433
2,485, 583
3, 219,565
.328
.330
.518
.436
144, 243
157,188
487, 454
2,094,452
5,029
4, 565
114,060
477,907
.239
802,019
Projects operated by the Works Progress Administration
All divisions....................................
31, 057,160
$0.468 <$14,836,346
$41, 767, 538
89,156,008
.446
.641
.446
.405
.246
.219
.236
.419
.492
New England
Middle Atlantic
East. "North Central
West "North Central
Smith Atl an tin
30,368
358[778
263,412
72,122
12l’ 223
908, 628
22,438,214
9,144,325
1,870,895
2,348; 979
2,038,311
35,015,075
20,494,430
4, 623,432
9,538, 248
East- Smith Central
West Smith Central
76,199
59’ 279
Z Ì , 961
37; 818
1,520, 540
i; 331,651
1,117,659
h 086, 647
6,943,017
5,631, 610
2,664,304
2, 207,581
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
,
. . .
2 Includes data for 32 wage earners and material orders placed valued at $1,418,880, for which a distribution
by geographic division is not available.
3 Represents number of workers on the pay roll during month ending November 15. During week
ending November 30 there were nearly 2,500,000 workers employed on projects operated by W. P. A.
4 Value of material orders placed during the month ending November 30, 1935, for which a distribution
by geographic division is not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
470
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Monthly Trend
The monthly trend of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked on projects financed by The Works Program from the begin
ning of the program in July 1935 to November 1935 is shown in table
17.
Table 17.—Employment and Pay Rolls, July to November 1935, Inclusive, on
Projects Financed by The Works Program
[Subject to revision]
onthly
Maximum M
pay-roll
number
employed1 disburse
ments
Month and year
Number of Aver Value «f
material
man-hours
age
orders
worked
earn
placed
during
ings per during
month
hour
month
Federal projects
July to November 1935, inclusive______ _______
July_______________ ____ ____ ____
A ugust_______________ _______ ___________
September...... .............. ...................................
October......... ................ ................. .....................
November........ ...................................................
5,131
32, 672
76, 524
129,064
168, 234
$19, 882, 206
43,751,238
276, 839
1, 215, 990
3, 754, 773
6,243,023
8, 391,581
603,318
2,791,802
7, 815,795
13, 669,524
18, 870,799
$0. 454 $24,858, 780
.456
.436
.480
.457
.445
164,004
1,684, 347
4,071,945
9,723,568
9, 214,916
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
August to November 1935, inclu sive.....................
A ugust............................................................
September................................ .................. ..............
October............. ................ .................
November____________ ____ _______ _______
$79,992, 206 170,028,165
113, 299
259, 315
502,876
1,057,160
3, 291,324
11,728, 579
23, 204, 765
41, 767,538
5,977, 766
24,517,735
50, 376, 656
89,156,008
$0.470 $28,364,089
.551
.478
.461
.468
3, 202,136
2,089, 324
2 8, 236, 283
14,836,346
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
J Revised.
From July to November 1935 pay-roll disbursements in The Works
Program have amounted to nearly $100,000,000 and the value of
material orders placed has exceeded $53,000,000. Approximately
214,000,000 man-hours of employment have been provided at the
site of construction.
Emergency^Work Program
T h e number of workers engaged on the emergency-work program
during the week of November 28 totaled 100,388. Compared with
the week ending October 31, this is a decrease of approximately
270,827 workers. Pay rolls decreased 64 percent, dropping from
more than $3,358,000 for the week ending October 31 to less than
$1,212,000 for the week ending November 28. (See table 18.)
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TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
471
Table 18.—Employment and Pay Rolls for Workers on Emergency-Work
Program, Weeks Ending October 31, and November 28
Number of employees
week ending—
Amount of pay roll
week ending—
Geographic division
Nov. 28
Oct. 31
Nov. 28
Oct. 31
All divisions.------- --------------------- ------- --------
100, 388
371, 215
$1, 211,423
$3,358,849
New England...........................................................
Middle Atlantic--------------------- ---------------- East North Central............... ................................
West North Central-------------- ---------------------South Atlantic.............. ......................... - ..............
45,960
26,188
7,116
1,694
6,802
113, 468
59,301
11,926
32,924
70,118
574,835
325,052
80,754
23,517
67,055
1,337,169
754,994
132,678
198,716
402,139
East South Central----- ------------ ------------------West South C e n tr a l........ ............................... .
Mountain.
__________ - __________ ______
Pacific
- - _______ ____________________
666
4,388
2,525
5,049
16, 395
51,891
7,116
8,076
4,938
30,634
32,458
72,180
74,905
270,201
73,619
114,428
The monthly record of the number employed and pay-roll disburse
ments of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration from the
beginning of the program through November 1935 is given in table 19.
Table 19
Month
1 9 8 J,
-Employment and Pay Rolls for Workers on Emergency-Work
Program, April 1934 through November 1935
Number of
employees
Amount of
pay roll
Month
1935
April—-_____
M ay_______
J u n e .............
1,089, 762
1,362,014
1, 504, 838
$38, 416, 747
42, 669, 240
42,423, 574
J u ly ...............
August—........
September__
October_____
November—
December___
1, 725,466
1,924, 066
1,950,108
1,996,822
2,159, 038
2,324,894
47,352,424
54,914,792
50, 288, 868
53, 901, 325
62,833, 046
62, 335, 691
Number of
employees
Amount of
pay roll
January_____
February___
March______
April_______
M ay_______
June_______
472,091
459, 730
402,018
308,838
228, 546
021, 060
$71, 683, 578
63, 621, 526
62, 865, 956
62, 344,399
64, 559,740
54, 382,876
July-----------August_____
Septem ber.. .
October_____
November__
928, 772
411,350
883,968
644, 639
343,695
53, 136,833
38, 977, 577
21, 147, 711
17, 785,219
8 , 253, 626
The decline in employment and pay rolls on the emergency-work
program continued in November. According to preliminary figures,
the estimated number of workers employed during the month was
343,695. This does not mean, however, that during any given
week this total was reached. Because of the fact that a limit is
placed on the earnings of employees, not more than 70 percent of the
total worked at any one time.
Emergency Conservation Work
E m p lo y m e n t in Civilian Conservation Camps showed a moderate
decline in November. Compared with the previous month, there was
a decrease of 6,692 in the number of workers employed. (See table
20.) Losses in employment occurred in all groups of workers with
the exception of educational advisers.
42704— 36------ 13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
472
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 20.— Employment and Pay Rolls in Emergency Conservation Work,
October and November 1935
Number of employees
Amount of pay rolls
Group
November
All groups.......................... ..............
_
______
Enrolled personnel___________________ _____
Reserve officers________ _____ ______________
Educational advisers 1_______ ._ ______ ____
Supervisory and technical2_________________
October
November
October
543,958
550, 650
$23,957,751
$24,830, 752
480,140
9,607
2, 227
3 51,984
480,145
9,754
2,224
* 58, 527
14,994,771
2,013,114
381, 297
3 6,568,569
14,994,927
2,448,401
380, 259
4 7,007,165
1 Included in executive service table.
2 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
3 44,394 employees and pay roll of $6,037,214 included in executive service table.
1 44,755 employees and pay roll of $6,209,893 included in executive service table.
The employment and pay-roll data for emergency conservation
workers are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the
War Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department
of Commerce, the Treasury Department, and the Department of the
Interior. The monthly pay of the enrolled personnel is distributed
as follows: 5 percent are paid $45, 8 percent, $36; and the remaining
87 percent, $30. The enrolled men, in addition to their pay, are
provided with board, clothing, and medical services.
Construction Projects Financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
E m pl o y m en t and pay rolls on projects financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation increased during November. These projects
provided employment for 9,793 workers in November as compared
with 9,192 employees in October. Pay-roll disbursements of $1,001,000 were nearly $50,000 greater than in October.
Data concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration during November are given in table 21, by type of project
Table 21.—
—Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation by Type of Project, November 1935
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Number
of wage
earners
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
All projects.............................. _
9,793
$1, 001,408
1,344, 234
$0.745
$1,411,338
Bridges__________ _____
Building construction..........
Reclamation______
Water and sewerage______
Miscellaneous___________
1,920
69
91
6, 720
.993
193, 671
6, 581
7,789
691, 810
101,557
198,429
8,790
16,335
969,513
151,167
.976
.749
.477
.714
.672
469,538
11,805
1,424
897,160
31,411
Type of project
Average
earnings
per hour
Employment declined during the month on all types of projects
except water and sewerage work. On these projects a substantia]
gain was registered in November.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
473
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
The Dumber of employees, the amounts of pay rolls, and man
hours worked on construction projects financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation in November are shown in table 22, by
geographic divisions.
Table 22.— Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by the Recon
struction Finance Corporation, by Geographic Division, November 1935
Geographic division
All divisions____________ _ _ . _ .
__
Middle A tlan tic.. ____________________
East North Central________________
West North Central___________________
West South Central. ____________ . .
Mountain ______ .. _ _. ___________
Pacific_______________________
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
9,793
$1,001,408
1, 344, 234
$0. 745
$1, 411, 338
10
238
14
156
91
9,284
950
17,108
1,570
26,000
7,789
947,991
1,145
15,265
3, 334
30,143
16, 335
1, 278,012
.830
1.121
.471
.863
.477
.742
5, 740
28,700
Number
of wage
earners
Average
earnings
per hour
2,879
1,424
1,372,595
Construction Projects Financed From Regular Governmental Appropriations
A moderate increase occurred during November in the number
of workers employed at the site of construction projects financed
from regular governmental appropriations. Compared with the
previous month, the gain in employment was 8 percent. Pay-roll
disbursements, on the other hand, were $116,000 less in November
than in October.
Whenever a construction contract is awarded or force-account
work is started by a department or agency of the Federal Govern
ment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is immediately notified on
forms supplied by the Bureau, of the name and address of the con
tractor, the amount of the contract, and the type of work to be
performed. Blank forms are then mailed by the Bureau to the con
tractor or Government agency doing the work. These reports are
returned to the Bureau and show the number of men on pay rolls,
the amounts disbursed for pay, the number of man-hours worked on
the project, and the value of the different types of materials for
which orders were placed during the month.
The following tables present data concerning construction projects
on which work has started since July 1, 1934. The Bureau does not
have statistics covering projects which were under way previous to
that date.
Detailed statistics of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
in November on construction projects financed from direct appro
priations made to the various Federal departments and agencies
are shown in table 23, by type of project.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
474
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 23.— Employment on Construction Projects Financed from Regular
Governmental Appropriations, by Type of Project, November 1935
Number of wage
earners
Type of project
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number
of man
hours
worked
during
month
60, 372 $4,077, 395
6,559,665
430
5, 294
10,104
30,086
402
420,381
1,190,153
1, 552, 537
45,087
545,167
1, 429,180
2,669,005
61,337
.771
.833
.582
.735
1,193,559
1,851,942
2,822,900
15,364
11, 501
3, 331
6
1,440
10, 234
2,976
5
1, 271
652, 633
137,003
225
79, 376
1,391,911
334,170
210
128,685
.469
.410
1. 071
.617
589,009
135,653
127
81,851
Maximum Weekly
number
em ployed1 average
All projects_______________________
Building construction______________
Naval vessels____________________ Public roads 3. . . __________________
Reclamation______________________
River, harbor, and flood control_____
Streets and roads--------------------------Water and sewerage... _____________
Miscellaneous_____________________
8 63,912
6, 788
10,330
(9
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
$0.622 $6,690,405
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
8 Includes weekly average for public roads.
8 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
4 N ot available; average number included in total.
Four of the various types of projects showed gains in employment
during November. Naval vessel construction with 2,001 more
workers employed in November than in October registered the most
pronounced increase. The greatest number of man-hours worked
during the month, 2,669,005, was on public-road projects.
Statistics of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked in
November on construction projects financed from regular govern
mental appropriations are given in table 24, by geographic divisions.
Table 24.— Employment on Construction Projects Financed From Regular
Governmental Appropriations, by Geographic Division, November 1935
Number of wage
earners
Geographic division
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed i
Weekly
average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number
of man
hours
worked
during
month
60,372 $4,077,395 6,559,665
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
All divisions__________________________
63, 912
New England._____ __________________
Middle Atlantic_____________ ____ ____
East North Central___________________
West North Central___________________
South A tlantic......................... .....................
6,367
7,889
7, 325
9,079
8,071
6,101
7, 257
7,072
8, 735
7, 665
551,641
628,413
376, 080
363,994
677, 478
801, 297
842, 207
607, 085
706, 104
975, 587
$0. 622 2$6,690,405
.688
.746
.619
.515
.694
528,185
855, 444
128, 041
188,880
684, 746
East South Central........................... ............
West South C entral..................... ...............
M ountain_________ __________________
Pacific.______________________________
Outside continental United States______
4,151
8, 560
6,991
4,898
581
3, 979
7,356
6,889
4,772
546
187,370
356, 561
471,537
423,489
40,832
482, 781
782, 650
719, 667
563, 241
79, 046
.388
. 456
.655
.752
.517
194, 582
527, 049
80, 403
659, 380
20, 795
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public roads.
8 Includes $2,822,900 estimated value of orders placed for public-roads projects which cannot be charged
to any specific geographic division.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
475
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
State-Road Projects
The number of workers employed and the amounts of pay roll for
the construction and maintenance of State roads decreased in Novem
ber. In comparison with October, employment declined 19.6 percent
on new road construction and 5.6 percent on maintenance work. Of
the 171,625 employees engaged on these projects during the month,
18.9 percent were employed in the construction of new roads and
81.1 percent in maintenance work.
Details concerning employment and pay rolls in building and
maintaining State roads in October and November are given in table
25, by geographic divisions.
Table 25.—Employment on Construction and Maintenance of State Roads by
Geographic Division, October and November 1935 1
New roads
Geographic division
Number of
employees
Novem Octo
ber
ber
All divisions...... ................
32,487
New England__________ 11,618
Middle Atlantic________ 1,282
East North Central____
2,899
West North Central____ 2, 086
South Atlantic________
7,347
East South Central_____ 1,947
West South Central____
2, 389
M ountain_____________
853
Pacific________________
2, 066
O utsid e co n tin en ta l
United States. . - __
Maintenance
Amount of pay roll
Novem
ber
October
Number of
employees
Novem Octo
ber
ber
Novem
ber
October
40, 390 $1,-379, 386 $1,811,278 139,138 147, 324 $5, 776,639 $6,339,021
14,943
1,831
4,815
3,704
8,372
1,995
1,885
901
1,944
540,115
81,005
158,062
55, 914
138, 754
92, 798
92,102
51,198
169,438
683, 369
129, 819
275, 651
151,436
190,168
90,377
78,417
68, 214
143,827
8,665
32, 740
20,044
16, 399
27,487
10,073
13,101
5,423
5,040
6,189
33, 291
24,493
19,244
27,465
11, 504
13,479
6, 251
5, 221
558,145
1,175, 611
853,741
608,176
871,857
335,058
590,082
331, 863
441,469
377,360
1,151, 244
1,048,017
712,887
1,051,993
449,142
653,827
440,957
439,368
166
187
10, 637
14,226
1 Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from Public Works fund.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Amount of pay roll
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Sum m ary o f B uilding C o n stru c tio n R ep o rts for
Decem ber 1935
B
UILDING construction activity declined moderately in Decem
ber. Tlie value of building construction for which permits were
issued in December in the principal cities of the United States totaled
$76,000,000, a decrease of 3 percent in comparison with the $78,400,000
reported by the same cities in November. In spite of this decline, the
value of construction permits issued in December was within 15 per
cent of the August peak. Decreases occurred in new residential con
struction and in additions, alterations, and repairs to existing build
ings. The value of permits issued for new nonresidential buildings
during December, on the other hand, showed a 21.9 percent increase
over November.
A marked improvement, however, was shown in building construc
tion activity comparing December 1934 with December 1935. The
value of construction permits issued in December 1935 was 150.4
percent greater than in the corresponding month of 1934. All classes
of construction shared in the increase.
Comparisons, December 1935 with November 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 793 identical cities for
November and December 1935 is given in table 1.
Table 1.— Summary of Building Construction in 793 Identical Cities, November
and December 1935
Number of buildings
Class of construction
Decem
ber
1935
Per
Novem cent
ber
age
1935
change
Estimated cost
December
1935
November
1935
All construction_______________ _____
25,438
34,987
-2 7 .3 $76, 020,923 $78,412,145
N ew residential buildings______________
N ew nonresidential buildings__________
Additions, alterations, and repairs______
3,834
4,577
17,027
4, 771
6,997
23,219
-1 9 .6
-3 4 .6
-2 6 .7
23, 507,818
36, 535,188
15,977,917
30,816,843
29,971,247
17,624,055
Per
cent
age
change
-3 . 0
-2 3 .7
+21.9
-9 .3
The number of buildings for which permits were issued in Decem
ber showed a 27-percent decrease as compared with November.
Decreases occurred in all classes of construction. Measured by the
476
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
477
BUILDING OPERATIONS
value of permits issued, the estimated cost of construction in Decem
ber was approximately $2,400,000 less than in the previous month.
A gain of more than $6,560,000 in the value of construction permits
issued for new nonresidential buildings was offset by losses for new
residential construction and for additions, alterations, and repairs
to existing buildings.
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number of
families provided for by dwellings for which permits were issued in
November and December 1935 are shown in table 2.
Table 2.— Summary of Estimated Cost of Housekeeping Dwellings and of
Number of Families Provided for in 793 Identical Cities, November and
December 1935
Estimated cost of housekeeping Number of families provided
for in new dwellings
dwellings
Kind of dwelling
December
1935
Per
Novem centage
ber 1935 change
Per
Decem
November centage
1935
change ber 1935
All types__________________ _________ $22,875, 298 $30, 751,843
-2 5 . 6
5, 523
8, 030
-3 1 .2
18, 513,105
1,222, 568
11, 016,170
-1 4 .4
-3 9 .1
-4 3 .0
3, 533
289
1,701
4,325
431
3, 274
-1 8 .3
-3 2 .9
-4 8 .0
15,854,491
1-family ___
- ________________
744,257
2-family 1 _____ _____________ ______
M ultifam ily2 ............. ... -- _____ 6,276, 550
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Compared with the previous month, the estimated cost of house
keeping dwellings for which permits were issued in December declined
26 percent. Decreases in expenditures were indicated for all types
of dwellings. The number of families provided for by all types of
dwellings decreased 31 percent. The largest loss was shown in the
number of families provided for in multifamily dwelling units.
Comparisons, December 1935 with December 1934
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 779 identical „cities for
December 1934 and December 1935 is presented in table 3.
Table 3.—Summary of Building Construction in 779 Identical Cities, December
1934 and 1935
Number of buildings
Class of construction
December
1934
Per
centage
change
4-24. 7 $75, 307, 224 $30, 078, 607
+150. 4
7, 220, 025
12, 710, 086
10,148,496
+224. 4
+182. 7
+57.2
Per
centage December
1935
change
Decem
ber 1935
Decem
ber 1934
All construction-----------------------------------
25,344
20, 328
N ew residential buildings______________
N ew nonresidential buildings— ---------Additions, alterations, and repairs. ------
3, 803
4,575
16, 966
1,486 +155.9
3, 508 +30.4
15,334 +10.6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Estimated cost
23,420,920
35,932,158
15,954,146
478
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Permits were issued for 2,317 more new residential buildings in
December 1935 than in the same month of the previous year. Pro
nounced gains also occurred in the number of new nonresidential
buildings and in additions, alterations, and repairs to existing struc
tures. The increase in December 1935 over December 1934 in the
estimated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings was more
than $23,000,000; for new residential buildings, the gain was in
excess of $16,000,000; and for additions, alterations, and repairs to
existing buildings the increase was nearly $6,000,000.
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number of
families provided for in such dwellings is given for the months of
December 1934 and December 1935, in summary form, in table 4.
Table 4.—Summary of Estimated Cost of Housekeeping Dwellings and of Num
ber of Families Provided for in 779 Identical Cities, December 1934 and 1935
Estimated cost of housekeeping Number of families provided
for in new dwellings
dwellings
Kind of dwelling
December
1935
All types___
_
1-family_____
2-family 1___ . _
M ultifam ily2. . .
.
_
_
...
.
December
1934
Per
Decem
centage ber
1935
change
Decem
ber 1934
Per
centage
change
$22, 788,400
$7,141, 025 +219.1
5,494
1,907
+188.1
15,769,908
739, 442
6, 279, 050
5, 607,800 +181. 2
487, 675 +51.6
1, 045, 550 +500. 5
3, 504
286
1,704
1,371
152
384
+155. 6
+88.2
+343. 8
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
The number of families provided for in new dwellings in December
1935 registered a 188 percent increase over the corresponding month of
1934. The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings for which per
mits were issued in December was $15,647,000 greater than in the
same month of the previous year. All types of family dwelling units
showed substantial gains.
'
Important Building Projects
P erm its were issued during December for the following important
building projects: In Fitchburg, Mass., for two school buildings to
cost nearly $950,000; in Mount Vernon, N. Y., for a school building
to cost over $400,000; in the Borough of Manhattan for apartment
houses to cost $1,350,000, for office buildings to cost $750,000, for
post offices to cost nearly $900,000; in the Borough of Queens for
apartment houses to cost over $1,000,000; in Rochester, N. Y., for
school buildings to cost over $400,000; in Troy, N. Y., for a school
building to cost nearly $550,000; in Pittsburgh, Pa., for school
buildings to cost $900,000; in Detroit, Mich., for a school building
to cost over $1,000,000; in Cincinnati, Ohio, for school buildings to
cost more than $800,000; in St. Louis, Mo., for public buildings to
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
479
BUILDING OPERATIONS
cost over $3,000,000; in Sioux Falls, S. Dak., for a city hall to cost
$400,000; in Nashville, Tenn., for school buildings to cost nearly
$700,000; in Oklahoma City, Okla., for a court house to cost over
$1,100,000; in Long Beach, Calif., for school buildings to cost more
than $400,000; and in Seattle, Wash., for school buildings to cost
nearly $800,000. Contracts were awarded by the Procurement
Division of the United States Treasury for an extension to the
National Archives Building in Washington, D. C., to cost over
$1,300,000, and for buildings in the National Zoological Park in
Washington to cost nearly $800,000.
B uilding C o n stru ctio n , N ovem ber 1935: R evised
Figures
ETAILED figures on building construction, as compiled by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month of November 1935,
are presented in this article. The data are the same as published in
the monthly pamphlet for November, except for certain minor revi
sions or corrections.
D
Building Construction in Principal Cities
I n s p i t e of the usual seasonal decrease, the value of building per
mits issued in November was higher than for any previous month in
1935 except October and August. The total value of permits issued
during the month was $78,193,000, a decrease of 11.0 percent com
pared with the October valuation of $88,041,000. Details are shown
in table 1.
During the first 11 months of 1935 permits were issued for build
ings valued at.more than $752,000,000. This was an increase of
$300,000,000, or more than 66 percent, compared with the corre
sponding period of 1934. During the period, dwelling units were
provided for 69,300 families, a gain of 155 percent compared with the
same months of 1934.
Table 1.— Summary of Building Construction in 777 Identical Cities, October and
November 1935
Number of buildings
Class of construction
Percent
age
change
Novem
ber 1935
Octo
ber 1935
All construction............................. . . .
34,831
47,806
-2 7 .1
New residential buildings______ . .
New nonresidential buildings_______
Additions, alterations, and repairs___
4, 770
6,914
23,147
6,097
9,825
31,884
-2 1 .8
-2 9 . 6
-2 7 .4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Estimated cost
Novem
ber 1935
October
1935
$78,193,199 $88,041,302
30,781,559
30,094,875
17,316, 765
34,865, 503
30, 736, 244
22, 439,555
Percent
age
change
-1 1 .2
-1 1 .7
- 2 .1
-2 2 .8
480
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
The information in the current survey is based on reports received
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 777 identical cities having a
population of 10,000 or over. The data are collected by local building
officials on forms mailed by the Bureau, except in the States of
Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and
Pennsylvania, where State agencies collect and forward the informa
tion to the Bureau. The cost figures shown in the accompanying
tables are estimates made by prospective builders on applying for
permits to build. No land costs are included. Only building projects
within the corporate limits of the 777 cities covered are included
in the study. The figures, however, do include the value of contracts
awarded for Federal and State buildings in the cities covered. In
November 1935 the value of Federal and State awards amounted to
$8,133,000 as against $8,562,000 in October and $7,341,000 in
November 1934.
Index numbers of indicated expenditures for each of the different
types of building construction and of tbe number of family-dwelling
units provided are given in table 2. The monthly trends for the major
classes of building construction and for the number of family-dwelling
units provided during 1933, 1934, and the first 11 months of 1935 are
shown graphically by the accompanying charts.
Indexes
Families Provided For
v
/r>c/ex
/OO
(F/onfh/y ujneraye /SOS • /OO )
/7 d eX
Num bers
N um bers
/oo
70
70
OO
OO
oo
OO
/9 3 Q f
f= --—
Jan
I #
= ^ =
\
FeO
A/ar
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
.
|
//pr
___!______ L
A/at/
/fJ O j
June
|
Ja/y
—L
1
n/cyx Jap/ OcF
//on
Sec.
481
BUILDING OPERATIONS
In d e x e s
sf 1/alue y Building Construction
(Mon//?yMxeraye 7S79w
/00)
/nJear
/V am iers
700
New
Mar
Re s i d e n t i a l
Ja/ztbars
ZOO
75
75
50
50
75
75
/ 935 >
C"?______1______ 1 _ . VSSf* * . 1
Jàn. Feb.
Mar J p r
M ay Jane
Fay.
S ep/
i
O c/
f
A/ox
Pec.0
No n r e s i d e n t i a l
ew
700
1
Ja/y
700
75
75
50
50
75
LA..
75
Nn
OJan
Fed
Mar
Jpr
May
I
y 933' |
Jane J a /y J /J -
5ep/
|
O c/
A/ox
A d d i t i o n s , A l t e r a t i o n s , and Repairs
PecP
700
/do
75
75
50
50
¿93*.
75
~~L
~~
JT -
-- -
L._
O\Jan.
v* | ^
75
- - Fed
M ar
Jpr
T otal
M ay
June
Building
J a /y
Jay.
S ep/
O c/
//o x
Co n s t r u c t io n
o
Pec.
700
zoo
75
75
50
50
75
Jan.
75
I93JM,
Fed.
M ar
L L -J
Jpr
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ay
June
i /9 3 4 \\
J a /y
Jay
Sep/
O c/
/Vox
Pep.
0
482
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 2.— Index Numbers of Families Provided for and of Indicated Expenditures
for Building Construction
[Monthly average, 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures for—
Month
Families
provided
for—
New resi
dential
buildings
Total
New non Additions,
residential alterations, construc
tion
buildings and repairs
1929
October........... .................... ...............................
November........................... - .............. ..............
64.4
51.7
61.6
44.8
107.9
89.6
115.2
95.2
85.7
68 1
58.3
52.9
44.9
42.5
53.5
54.4
58. 1
37.8
49.7
46.3
33.7
23.8
25.4
19.0
34.8
32.7
39.8
33.6
30.8
26.2
9.5
6.4
6.6
4.9
12.6
21.8
22.8
14.9
11.0
13.0
6.5
12.1
5.2
8.6
13.1
10.3
30.1
18.3
12.1
11.0
9.9
8.2
6.8
5.9
16.4
16.1
43.5
31.2
16.0
13.7
7.3
8.5
16.6
18.9
20.0
20.8
20.6
20.6
19.0
24.5
22.6
5.1
5.6
11.4
13.0
14.2
16.1
15.3
15.5
14.2
19.1
16.9
11.1
13.9
18.6
21.2
19.9
24.4
22.2
32.5
25.2
27.4
26.8
27.9
29.7
41.6
45.5
47.2
43.6
50.9
54.8
46.8
50.9
39.3
10.9
12. 5
19.2
21.6
22.0
24.3
24.1
28.5
24.0
28.2
25.0
1930
October___________ _________ __________
November_______________________ _____ _
1931
October..................... .........................................
November__________ _____ _____ ________
1932
October_____ _____________________ ____
November_____________________________
1933
October____ ___________________________
November......................................... ..................
1984
October...............................................................
November_____________________________
1935
J a n u a ry ..________ ______________ _____ _
February_____________ _________________
M arch.._________ ________________ _____
April__________________________________
M ay.............................................. .......................
June_____________ ____________________
July________ __________________________
August_____ ______ ____________________
September___________________ ________
October___________ ____________________
November_______ ____________________
Comparison of November with September 1935
A lth o u g h for the country as a whole the value of buildings for
which permits were issued in November fell 11.2 percent short of the
October level, three geographic divisions (New England, West North
Central, and East South Central) showed increases. The increase in
New England was especially pronounced, amounting to nearly 30 per
cent. This was mainly caused by the issuance of permits for large
school buildings in Boston. In only one geographic division, the
Middle Atlantic, was there an increase in indicated expenditures for
residential buildings. New nonresidential buildings showed gains in
the New England, West North Central, West South Central, and
Pacific regions. The sharpest declines in total construction during
the month were reported for the Mountain and East North Central
divisions.
A detailed analysis by geographic divisions is given in table 3.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
483
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Table 3.—Estimated Cost of Building Construction in 777 Identical Cities,
October and November 1935
N ew residential buildings
(estimated cost)
New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
All divisions______ ______ _
Percent
age
change
November
1935
October
1935
$30, 781,559
$34,865, 503
2,448,965
10, 765,680
6,902, 235
1,481,486
3, 221,938
264, 280
1,334, 734
412,883
3,949,358
2,534,115
10,532,935
8,107,455
1,685,121
4,036,178
772,837
2,028,790
700, 627
4,467,445
New England_______ ______
Middle A tla n tic......................
East North Central________
West North C entral..............
South Atlantic_____________
East South Central_________
West South Central________
M ountain................ .................
Pacific_____________ _______
October
1935
-1 1 .7
$30,094,875
$30, 736, 244
- 2 .1
- 3 .4
+ 2 .2
-1 4 .9
-1 2 .1
-2 0 .2
-6 5 .8
-3 4 .2
-4 1 . 1
-1 1 .6
3,433,612
11,047,363
4,018, 627
1,554,389
2, 727, 560
1, 566, 673
2,307, 529
271,139
3,167,983
1,419,009
12,105,951
7,630,505
927,135
2,970,492
576, 474
2, 266,517
583, 088
2, 257, 073
+142.0
- 8 .7
-4 7 .3
+67.7
-8 .2
+171.8
+ 1 .8
-5 3 .5
+40.4
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
Geographic division
November
1935
October
1935
Percent
age
change
November
1935
Total construction
Per
cent November
1935
age
change
October
1935
Per
cent
age
change
Num
ber of
cities
All divisions______________ $17,316, 765 $22, 439,555
-2 2 .8 $78,193,199 $88,041, 302
-1 1 .2
777
New England_____________
Middle Atlantic___________
East North Central________
West North Central_______
South Atlantic.........................
East South Central________
West South Central_______
M ountain... _____________
Pacific_______ ____________
- 7 .0
-3 5 .8
-1 2 .5
-2 0 .7
- 4 .8
-3 6 .0
-2 0 .0
+17.5
-3 1 .6
+28.8
-1 2 .1
-2 7 .3
+ 5 .2
-1 2 .3
+ 9 .6
-1 6 .0
-3 1 .5
- 5 .4
114
174
181
71
81
24
51
23
58
2,045, 236
5,165,074
3,112, 751
879, 722
2,495, Oil
495, 934
682, 980
470, 227
1,969,830
2,199,975
8. 044,848
3, 557, 533
1,109, 698
2,619, 820
774, 509
853, 225
400, 267
2,879, 680
7,927,813
26,978,117
14, 033,613
3, 915, 597
8, 444, 509
2, 326,887
4, 325, 243
1, 154, 249
9,087,171
6,153,099
30, 683, 734
19, 295,493
3,721,954
9, 626, 490
2, 123,820
5, 148, 532
1, 683,982
9,604,198
Living quarters for 8,033 families will be provided in the residential
buildings for which permits were issued in November. (See table 4.)
This is a decrease of 7.9 percent compared with the number of family
dwelling units provided by the residential buildings for which permits
were issued in the previous month. With the exception of October,
however, the number of family-dwelling units provided in November
was greater than in any other month in 1935.
Table 4.— Estimated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in 777
Identical Cities, October and November 1935
Number of families provided for
Kind of dwelling
November
1935
October
1935
Percent
age
change
Estimated cost
November
1935
October
1935
Percent
age
change
All types . _________________
8,033
8, 722
- 7 .9
$30,716, 559
$34. 491, 333
-1 0 .9
1-family..........................................
2-family 1_____ ______________
Multifamily 8 _______________
4, 325
436
3,272
5,633
450
2,639
-2 3 .2
- 3 .1
+24.0
18,478,521
1, 232,368
11,005,670
23,593, 287
1,342,189
9,555,857
-2 1 .7
-8 .2
+15.2
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
» Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
484
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
The decline in the number of family-dwelling units provided was
caused by the usual seasonal falling off in the number of 1-family
and 2-family dwellings. By contrast, a decided increase was reported
in the number of family-dwelling units provided in apartment
houses. This increase was especially conspicuous in the Middle
Atlantic States.
Comparison of November 1935 with November 1934
A ll types of construction showed sharp gains over the correspond
ing month of 1934. The most pronounced increase was shown in
residential building. The gain in indicated expenditures in this type
of construction for the country as a whole was three times greater in
November 1935 than in the same month of 1934. All geographic
divisions, except the West South Central, showed increases of over
100 percent. In the East North Central States the gain amounted
to nearly 500 percent. About half of the improvement in the East
North Central States can be accounted for by the West Side housing
project in Cleveland, Ohio, costing over $3,000,000. Details by
geographic division are shown in table 5.
Table 5.—-Estimated Cost of Building Construction in 769 Identical Cities,
November 1934 and November 1935
New residential buildings (estimated
cost)
New nonresidential buildings (esti
mated cost)
Geographic division
November
1S35
November
1934
Percentage
change
November
1935
November
1934
All divisions___________
$30, 683, 503
$9,970, 619
+207.7
$30, 202,067
$18, 521,893
+63.1
New England__________
Middle Atlantic________
E ast North Central_____
West North Central____
South Atlantic________
E ast South Central..........
West South Central____
M ountain...........................
Pacific................... -..........
2,448,965
10, 773,480
6, 852,135
1,443,005
3, 217,138
264,280
1, 322, 259
412,883
3, 949,358
999,425
3,438,095
1,160,440
648,828
1,374, 752
91, 638
875, 634
177,918
1,203,889
+145.0
+213. 4
+490.5
+122.4
+134.0
+188.4
+51.0
+132.1
+228.1
3,433, 612
11,085, 213
4,024,813
1, 551,809
2,727, 560
1,640,185
2,299, 753
271,139
3,167,983
1, 362, 139
8, 278, 655
2,424,439
1,449,183
1,501,821
185,323
1,408,445
320,014
1, 591,874
+152.1
+33.9
+66.0
+ 7 .1
+81.6
+785.0
+63.3
-1 5 .3
+99.0
Additions, alterations, and repairs
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
November
1935
Total construction
November Percent
November
age
1934
1935
change
N um
ber of
cities
November Percent
age
1934
change
All divisions_____________ $17,394,085 $12,925,721
+ 3 4.6 $78, 279, 655 $41,418, 233
New E nglan d___________
M iddle Atlantic_________
E ast North Central______
West North Central-..........
South A tlantic.................
E ast South Central______
West South Central............
M ountain..............................
Pacific__________________
+49.4
+32.1
+ 6 4.5
+45.9
+33.4
+ .5
-1 1 .4
+99.4
+13.3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2,045,236
5,168,859
3,195,484
876,147
2,492, 761
500,434
675,107
470,227
1,969,830
1,368,705
3,911,914
1,942,916
600,324
1,868,436
497,957
761, 700
235,788
1, 737,981
Percentage
change
7,927,813
27,027, 552
14,072,432
3,870,961
8,437,459
2,404,899
4, 297,119
1,154,249
9,087,171
3, 730, 269
15, 628, 664
5, 527, 795
2, 698, 335
4,745,009
774,918
3,045, 779
733,720
4,533, 744
+89.0
769
+112.5
+72.9
+154. 6
+43.5
+77.8
+210.3
+41.1
+57.3
+100.4
114
175
176
70
80
25
48
23
58
485
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Table 6 shows, by type of dwelling, the number and estimated cost
of dwelling units provided by the housekeeping dwellings for which
permits were issued in 769 identical cities in November 1934 and
1935.
Table 6.—Estimated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in
769 Identical Cities, November 1934 and November 1935
Estimated cost
Number of families provided for
Kind of dwelling
November
1935
All types............... ..................
1-family
______________
2-family1
____________
Multifamily 2____________
November Percentage
1934
change
November
1935
November
1934
Percentage
change
7,989
2, 798
+185. 5
$30, 618,503
$9,962, 619
+207.3
4,283
438
3,268
1,923
217
658
+122.7
+ 101.8
+396. 7
18,379,965
1,236,868
11,001,670
7,520, 744
556, 175
1,885, 700
+144.4
+ 122.4
+483.4
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Nearly three times as many dwelling units were provided in these
cities in November 1935 as in the corresponding month of 1934.
More than twice as many dwelling units were provided in 1-family
and 2-family dwellings and nearly five times as many dwelling units
were provided in apartment houses.
Construction, .From Public Funds
I n c o m p a r i s o n with October, there was a pronounced increase in
the value of awards for Federal construction projects in November.
The largest gain occurred in awards for reclamation projects, for
naval vessels, and for streets and roads.
Data concerning the value of contracts awarded and force-account
work approved during the months of October and November for con
struction projects financed from Public Works Administration funds,
from Works Progress Administration funds, and from regular govern
mental appropriations are shown in table 7, by type of construction.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
486
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 7.— Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on
Construction and White-Collar Projects Financed from Federal F unds1
The Works Program 2 Regular governmental
appropriations
Total
Type of construction
November
1935
October
1935
November
1935
October
1935
November
1935
October
1935
All types...................................... $234,144, 305 3 $137,414,918 $78, 877,623 $50, 449,907 $94, 302, 378 3$38,845, 518
Building.......................................
Electrification.............................
Forestry...................................... .
Heavy engineering.....................
Hydroelectric power p la n ts-..
Naval vessels................ ..............
Plant, crop, and livestock con
trol______________________
Public roads:
Roads__________________
Grade-crossing elimination.
Railroad construction and
r ep a ir ..._________________
Reclamation________________
River, harbor, and flood con
trol______________________
Streets and roads <__________
Water and sewerage system s..
White-collar projects___
Miscellaneous_________
36,364,880
2, 539,917
0
281, 601
0
73,292,600
3 37,129,993
3 407,162
3,478
1,354,700
418,532
2,344, 800
4,305, 872
977,968
2, 339, 612
0
91, 777
0
2,344,800
1,354, 700
418, 532
6, 447, 745
3 280, 230
3,478
2, 322, 881
113,061
3 9,388, 238
66,420
73, 292,600
944,500
25,116, 854
41,168, 354
7,571,483
43,050,985 21,437, 337
3, 704,956 7, 571, 483
12,487,362 16, 892,020
3,704,956
3, 300, 000
39,321,353
0
3 8,240,910 38,133,061
3 7, 001, 646
154,100
159, 600
8,926,143
7, 572,756
10, 790, 226
646,153
1,014,139
17,913,091
2,089, 511
12,885,453
3 1,808, 608
3 3, 111, 567
14,481,034
366,531
29, 700
3 1, 808, 608
3 1,075, 285
1,392,323
2,223
39, 649
2, 679,423
55,971
59,075
93,521
375,437
5,020,132
1,005,000
9,500
646,153
290,900
Public Works Administration
Non-Federal
Type of construction
Federal
N . I. R. A.
Novem
ber 1935
All types______________
October
1935
November
1935
E. R.. A. A. 1935 5
October
1935
November
1935
October
1935
$8, 737, 602 $12, 699, 773 $16,364,053 $17,482,000 «$35,862,049 7$17, 937, 720
Building________________
1,916, 747
Electrification___ ________
Forestry_________ _____
0
Heavy engineering
Naval vessels__________
0
Public roads:
Roads________________
2, 838,997
Grade-crossing elim ination..
Railroad construction and repair...
Reclam ation.. ___ . . . . . .
490, 820
River, harbor, and flood control___ 2, 442,688
Streets and roads *______
1,036,950
Water and sewerage systems
0
White-collar projects_____
Miscellaneous_____ .
11, 400
1, 595, 269
0
5, 798,740 10,182,974 « 25,348, 544
87, 244
7 9, 515,767
60, 512
189,824
3,361,372
5,446, 769
963,166
737,325
326,948
15, 889
3, 300,000
0
3, 684,434
3,186,322
953,026
5, 050, 206
543, 372
71,000
1,844,149
7, 554, 755
116,498
15, 309
387,035
7, 730,583
253,035
394,557
1, 295, 794
223, 761
112,016
Preliminary, subject to revision.
t!orP°eS n0t include data for that part of the Works Program operated by the Works Progress Administra3 Revised.
4 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads
5 N ot included in the Works Program. '
®Includes $3,494,670 low-cost housing project (Housing Division, P. W. A )
7 Includes $2,569,975 low-cost housing project (Housing Division, P. W. A.).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
487
BUILDING OPERATIONS
The value of public-building and highway-construction awards
financed wholly by appropriations from State funds, as reported by
the various State governments for November 1934, October and
November 1935, is shown in table 8, by geographic divisions.
Table 8.— Value of Public-Building and Highway-Construction Awards Financed
Wholly by State Funds
for highway con
Value of awards for public buildings Value of awards
struction
Geographic division
November
1935
October
1935
November
1934
November
1935
October
1935
November
1934
All divisions._____ _________
$535,838
$1, 213,520
$1,310, 548
$3,900,917
$3,125,671
$4,955, 644
New England_______________
Middle Atlantic____________
East North Central_________
West North Centra!_________
South Atlantic______________
East South Central................ .
West South Central_________
Mountain__________________
Pacific....................... ....................
4,000
412, 330
35, 782
29,465
2,035
0
0
34
52,192
20, 628
185,573
57,736
165,375
470,009
0
310,061
1,248
2,890
62, 534
11,387
623,889
33, 397
21,224
0
544,631
0
13,486
237,035
410.809
412.809
201,723
295,542
124, 958
1,413,267
72, 626
732,148
292,386
428,046
65,497
119,492
138,032
192, 703
690,127
133,548
1,065,810
364, 224
1,317,954
1,010,027
890,360
39,344
177,914
98,951
26,110
939,760
The value of awards for State building projects for November 1935
was considerably less than in either October 1935 or November 1934.
Contracts awarded for highway construction, which are wholly
financed from State funds, were greater in November 1935 than
during the previous month, but about 20 percent less than in the
corresponding month of the previous year.
42704— 36------- 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
Food Prices in D ecem ber 1935
3
T ETAIL food costs rose during December, continuing the upward
JLV trend that began in July. The index advanced from 81.5 per
cent of the 1923-25 average on November 19 to 82.5 on December 31.
Although food costs in December 1935 were 25.7 percent above the
low level of December 15, 1932, they were still 21.9 percent below the
level of the corresponding period of 1929. When converted to a 1913
base the index for December 31 is 130.7.
The most significant group changes during the month were in
creases in the cost of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and meats,
and decreases in the cost of eggs, fats and oils, and sugar and sweets.
In addition, the group indexes increased slightly for cereals and
bakery products, and decreased slightly for beverages and chocolate.
Fruit and vegetable costs rose 6.7 percent, as a result of the 8.0
percent advance made by the fresh items in the group. Lettuce was
the only fresh vegetable the price of which declined. Potato prices
rose 2.6 percent; the advances were most pronounced in the Middle
Atlantic and East North Central areas. Prices of all other fresh
vegetables advanced as they usually do at this season, and some of the
advances were substantial. The price of spinach, for example, rose
37.5 percent and green-bean prices advanced 72.9 percent. Apples
rose 13.7 percent with 45 of the 51 cities reporting higher prices.
Lemon prices advanced 5.0 percent. The price both of oranges and
of bananas declined 8.9 percent. The retail cost of canned fruits
and vegetables dropped 0.5 percent. Prices for all items in this sub
group, except pears and asparagus, were lower. The largest decline,
2.5 percent, was made by canned corn. Dried fruit and vegetable
costs fell 0.7 percent, largely as the result of a 2.0-percent drop in the
price of prunes, and a 1.6-percent decline in navy beans. The only
price advances in the group were made by dried peaches which rose
2.9 percent, and black-eyed peas which increased 0.5 percent.
Increases in prices of all items in the dairy-products group resulted
in a 2.4-percent rise in the group index. Butter prices rose 4.5 per
cent, with higher prices reported by 49 of the 51 cities. Fresh milk
advanced 0.9 percent, due to increases of approximately 1 cent a
quart in Chicago, St. Louis, and Salt Lake City. The advance in
cheese prices was general throughout the country and averaged 2.5
percent. Evaporated-milk prices rose 5.2 percent, and cream 0.9
percent.
Meat costs rose 1.0 percent during December, despite the fact that
the normal seasonal price movement for items in the group is down488
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
489
ward at this time of the year. Price advances were made by all
meats except pork. The largest increases were made by the various
cuts of lamb, advances ranging from 3.7 percent for leg, to 6.4 percent
for chuck. The rise in beef prices ranged from 0.3 percent for chuck
roast to 2.3 percent for sirloin steak. Increases were most pronounced
in the New England and Middle Atlantic States. The price of
roasting chickens rose 3.6 percent and veal cutlets 1.8 percent.
Declines were made by all pork items with the exception of ham.
The largest decreases were made by chops which dropped 2.2 percent,
and loin roast which fell 2.1 percent. Nearly all the cities which
reported higher prices for these items are in the South Central,
Mountain, and Pacific areas.
Egg prices, which reached their seasonal peak in the early part of
November, declined 9.0 percent during December. The downward
movement was most marked in the Pacific, Mountain, and New
England areas. Only eight cities, five of which are in the South
Atlantic area, reported advances.
The cost of fats and oils declined 2.8 percent. The price of lard
dropped 5.9 percent with 47 cities reporting declines which ranged
from 0.5 percent in Portland, Oreg., to 12.2 percent in Washington.
Lard compound, which is closely related to lard in price movement,
fell 4.4 percent. A decline of 1.3 percent in oleomargarine prices and
a 0.9-percent rise in salad oil prices were the only other changes of
significance in this group.
The drop of 0.9 percent in the index for sugar and sweets was due
largely to a decline of 1.2 percent in sugar prices.
The combined cost of cereals and bakery products rose 0.6 percent.
The price of white bread advanced 1.0 percent, with increases reported
by 17 cities and decreases by 4. The increases were general and most
marked in cities in the Middle Atlantic area. Rye bread and cake
each rose 0.4 percent in price, and soda crackers fell 0.4 percent.
Wheat flour and rice were the only cereals whose prices did not
decline. Flour rose 0.2 and rice 1.4 percent. Price declines of 1.1
percent for macaroni, 0.9 percent for hominy grits, 0.6 percent for
corn meal, and 0.5 percent for wheat cereal complete the list of
significant changes in this group.
The group index for beverages and chocolate dropped 0.3 percent.
There was no change in the price of coffee, the most important item
of the group. The price of tea and cocoa fell 0.3 and 0.2 percent,
respectively. Chocolate prices continued the downward trend with
an average decline of 2.7 percent for December.
Indexes of retail food costs by major commodity groups in December
and November 1935 are presented in table 1. This table also shows
the comparative level of costs in December of the indicated years
since 1929.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
490
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 1.— Indexes of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities Combined,1 by Commodity
Groups
December and November 1935 and December 1934, 1933, and 1929
[1923-25=100]
1935 2
1934 2
1933 2 19292
Commodity group
Dec.
31
Dec.
17
All foods________ . . _____________
82.5
82.0
Cereals and bakery products______
M eats___________________ ______
Dairy products__ ____ __________
Eggs------------------------------------------Fruits and vegetables_____________
Fresh_______________________
Canned_____________________
Dried______________________ .
Beverages and chocolate___________
Fats and oils-------------------------------Sugar and sweets_________________
95.6
98.2
79.4
77.2
62.7
61.4
79.6
58.6
67.6
81. 2
66.4
95.4
97.1
78.8
80.5
61.3
59.8
79.6
58.5
67.6
82.3
66.5
Nov.
19
Nov.
5
82.0
81.5
80.4
74.5
74.8
69.2
105.7
95.3
97.4
78.2
82.8
60.7
59.2
79.7
58.4
67.5
83.1
66.7
95.0
97.2
77.5
84.9
58.7
56.8
80.0
59.0
67.8
83.5
67.0
94.9
97.1
75.1
86.7
55.4
53.1
79.8
59.4
67.8
85.1
67.1
92.0
76.6
75.4
74.7
57.8
55.3
83.1
57.3
73.4
68.5
63.5
92.0
76.5
75.3
80.4
57.8
55.2
83.3
62.5
73.2
66.8
64.3
86.4
65.0
66.2
65.7
68.4
68.8
73.3
58.7
68.0
47.7
63.7
97.8
117.6
100.5
128.7
103.7
104.1
94.6
106.9
105.3
90. 7
75.1
Dec.
3
Dec.
18
Dec.
4
Dec.
19
Dec.
15
1 The indexes for individual cities, computed by weights representing purchases of all foods, are combined
with the use of population weights.
2 Computed with revised weights and based on prices of 42 foods prior to Jan. 2, 1935, and of 84 foods since
that date.
Of the 84 foods included in the index, 42 rose in price, 39 showed
decreases, and for 3 no change was reported. Average prices for these
84 commodities for 51 large cities combined are shown in table 2.
This table compares average prices in December with those for
November 1935.
Table 2.— Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities Combined 1
December and November 1935
1935
Article
Cereal and bakery products:
Cereals:
‘ Corn flak es.-............ ---------8-oz. package..
‘ Corn m ea l............. ------- --------- pound..
‘ Wheat flour______ --------------------do___
Hominy grits............ ------- 24-oz. package..
‘ Macaroni____ _____ ------- --------.p o u n d ..
‘ Rice........... .............. . ...........................do----‘ Rolled oats................. .......................... do___
‘ Wheat cereal............. ------- 28-oz. package-.
Bakery products:
‘ Bread, white.............. ................... ..p o u n d ..
‘ Bread, whole wheat. .......... - .............. do___
Bread, rye_________ ------------------- do___
Cake............................ .......................... do___
Soda crackers______ ............... ..........do----Meats:
Beef:
‘ Sirloin steak....... ....... ................... .......do___
‘ Round steak.............. ------------------- do___
‘ Rib roast__________ ------- --------- do___
‘ Chuck roast............... ------------------ do____
‘ P la te ................... ....... .......... ................ do___
Liver............................ ...........................do___
Veal:
Cutlets......................... ...........................do___
Dec. 31
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
Nov. 19
C en ts
C ents
C en ts
C en ts
Nov. 5
8.1
5.0
5.4
9.1
15.3
8.7
7.4
24.1
8.1
4.9
5.4
9.2
15.4
8.6
7.4
24.2
8.1
5.0
5.4
9.1
15.4
8.6
7.4
24.2
8.1
5.0
5.4
9.2
15.5
8.5
7.4
24.3
8.1
5.0
5.4
9.2
15.5
8.5
7.4
24.2
8.6
9.5
9.2
24.2
18.0
8.6
0.5
9.2
24.3
18.0
8.6
9.5
9.2
24.2
18.1
8.5
9.5
9.1
24.1
18.1
8.5
9.5
9.1
24.0
18.1
38.8
34.9
30.9
23.9
17.2
25.0
38.0
34.6
30. 6
23.7
16.9
25.0
38.0
34.5
30.7
23.8
16.9
24.9
38.0
34.4
30.5
23.8
16.8
24.8
39.0
35.1
30. 7
24.0
16.9
24.8
41.4
41.0
40.9
40.7
40.8
i The indexes for individual cities, computed by weights representing purchases of all foods, are com
bined with the use of population weights.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
491
RETAIL PRICES
Table 2.—Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities Combined1 Con.
December and November 1935
Continued
1935
Article
Meats—Continued.
Pork:
‘ Chops.......................
Loin roast_______
‘ Bacon, sliced........ .
Bacon, strip ..........
‘ Ham, sliced............
Ham, whole............
Salt pork.................
Lamb:
Breast___ _______
Chuck.................. .
‘ Leg...........................
Rib chops...............
Poultry:
‘ Roasting chickens.
Fish:
Salmon, pink.........
•Salmon, r e d ..........
Dairy products:
‘ Butter.............................
•C h eese..........................
Cream...........................
‘ M ilk, fresh...................
‘ M ilk, evaporated.........
•E ggs........................................
Fruits and vegetables:
Fresh:
Apples.....................
‘ Bananas....... ..........
L em ons...............
‘ Oranges_________
Beans, green_____
•Cabbage___ ____
Carrots...................
Celery.....................
Lettuce......... ........
‘ Onions...... ............
‘ Potatoes________
Sp inach................
Sweetpotatoes___
Canned:
Peaches...................
Pears......................
P ineapple............
Asparagus______
Beans, green____
•Beans with pork..
‘ C orn.....................
•Peas........................
•Tom atoes_______
Tomato soup____
Dried:
Peaches..................
‘ Prunes_________
‘ Raisins_________
Black-eyed peas..
Lima beans_____
‘ N avy beans_____
Beverages and chocolate:
‘ Coffee...........................
‘ Tea................................
Cocoa.............................
C hocolate....................
Fats and oils:
‘ Lard, p u re..................
Lard, compound____
‘ Vegetable shortening.
Salad oil—................. .
Mayonnaise________
‘ Oleomargarine--------Peanut butter______
Sugar and sweets:
‘ S u g a r...........................
Corn sirup____ _____
M olasses................—
Strawberry preserves.
C. 31
Dec. 17
Dec. 3
N ov. 19
Nov. 5
n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
_____pound—
..............do___
..............do----..............do___
..............do___
..............do___
..............do___
35.0
29.5
44.2
38.4
50.0
33.5
28.4
34.1
28.7
44.4
38.2
49.6
32.9
28.6
35.4
29.8
43.8
38.4
49.8
32.8
28.6
35.8
30.1
44.2
38.9
49.9
32.9
28.5
33.4
28.1
45.4
39.5
50.3
33.2
28.9
..............do___
______ do___
..............do___
..............do___
13.5
23.0
29.0
35.5
13.2
22.8
28.5
34.9
13.1
22.4
28.6
34.4
12.9
21.6
28.0
33.8
12.6
21.4
27.5
33.5
..............do___
32.1
31.2
31.1
30.9
30.8
...16-oz. can..
..............do___
13.3
25.0
13.3
24.8
13.3
24.6
13.2
24.5
13.2
24.2
............pound..
.............d o___
.......... V> pint.
______quart..
_14t$-oz. can..
............dozen..
40.6
27.7
14.6
11.6
7.2
40.2
39.9
27.6
14.7
11.6
7.1
41.9
39.7
27.4
14.7
11.5
6.9
43.1
38.8
27.1
14.5
11.5
6.8
44.2
35 4
26.9
14.5
11.5
6.8
45.1
............pound..
...............d o ___
_____ dozen.
_______ do_..
____ pounds.
_______ d o ...
...........bunch.
_______stalk.
............„head_____ pound.
............... d o ...
_______ d o ...
_______ d o ...
5.5
6.4
33.1
30.9
19.6
3.6
6.1
9.9
8.0
4.2
2.3
8.7
3.5
5.2
6.5
32.5
31. 1
16.1
3.3
5.9
9.3
8.4
4. 1
2.3
8.5
3.4
5.1
7.1
31. 5
32.0
13.3
2.9
5.4
9.2
9.6
4.1
2.3
6.8
3.3
4.8
7.0
31.5
33.9
11.3
2.7
5.0
8.9
9.3
3.9
2.3
6.3
3.1
4.6
6.5
31.1
33.0
12.1
2.6
4.8
8.6
9.3
3.8
1.9
6.1
2.8
..n o . 2y 2 can.
...............d o ...
.............. -d o ...
___ no. 2 can.
................d o ...
___16-oz. can.
___ no. 2 can.
............. .d o —
________d o ...
. . l(Bi-oz. can.
19.1
22.6
22.6
25.7
11.5
7.1
11.5
16.2
9.3
8.0
19.1
22.6
22.5
25.7
11.5
7.1
11.6
16.2
9.3
8.0
19.1
22.5
22. 5
25. 7
11.6
7.1
11.7
16.2
9.3
8.0
19.1
22.6
22.6
25.7
11.5
7.2
11.8
16.4
9.4
8.0
19.3
22.5
22.6
25.7
11.5
7.0
11.8
16.3
9.4
8.0
............pound.
..........— do—_______ d o ...
_______ do—.
...............d o ...
.............. .d o ...
16.9
10.0
9.5
8.7
9.9
5.8
16.9
9.9
9.5
8.7
9.9
5.8
16.6
10.0
9.6
8.7
9.9
5.8
16.4
10.2
9.6
8.6
9.9
5.9
16.3
10.2
9.6
8.6
9.9
5.9
...............d o ...
................d o ...
____8-oz. can.
,8-oz. package.
24.3
67.9
10.9
17.1
24.3
67.9
10.9
17.2
24.2
67.9
10.9
17.3
24.3
68.1
10.9
17.5
24.3
68.1
10.9
17.6
............pound.
............. d o .. .
________d o ...
________ pint.
........... V i pint.
______pound.
________d o ...
18.9
16.2
22.0
24.8
16.9
18.8
21.3
19.3
16.4
22.0
24.8
17.0
18.6
21.5
19.8
16.9
22.0
24.8
17.0
18.6
21.8
20.1
16.9
22.0
24.8
16.9
19.0
21.9
21.0
17.1
22.0
24.9
16.9
19.0
22.0
_______ do—.
___ 24-oz. can.
___18-oz. can
______ pound
5.8
13.7
14.4
20.3
5.8
13.7
14.4
20.4
5.9
13.8
14.4
20.3
5.9
13.8
14.4
20.2
5.9
13.8
14.4
20.3
i The indexes for individual cities, computed by weights representing purchases of all foods, are com
bined with the use of population weights-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
492
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Details by Regions and Cities
R e t a il food costs increased in 45 of the 51 cities included in the
index. Four cities reported slightly lower costs, and there was no
change in the remaining two. The largest average increases were
made by cities in the East Central area.
Food costs rose most sharply in Peoria where there was an increase
of 3.5 percent. The increase was due largely to higher prices of butter,
poultry, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Omaha reported the largest
reduction in costs, 0.6 percent, as a result of lower prices for a number
of items including eggs, lard, and various cuts of beef and pork.
In order that rising prices may be viewed in their proper perspective,
it is well to note that the current level of food costs is still 10.3 percent
below the level which prevailed in December 1930.
Index numbers of average retail costs of all foods, by cities, for
December and November 1935, and for December of earlier years as
indicated, are shown in table 3.
Table 3.— Indexes of the Average Retail Cost of all Foods, by Cities,1 December
and November 1935 and December 1934, 1933, 1932, and 1930
[1923-25=100]
1935 2
1934 2
1933 2
1932 2 1930 2
Region and city
Dec.
31
Dec.
17
Dec.
3
Nov.
19
Nov.
5
Dec.
18
Dec.
4
Dec.
19
Dec.
5
Dec.
15
Dec.
15
Average: 51 cities
combined................
82.5
82.0
82.0
81.5
80.4
74.5
74.8
69.2
70.2
64.7
92.0
New England.
80.6
80.5
80.4
80.3
79.1
73.1
74.3
69.2
70.0
66.0
94.0
78.5
86. 5
81. 7
82. 7
85. 9
80. 7
80. 2
78.3
86. 7
81.2
82.9
85. 6
81.0
79.9
78.2
86.4
81.5
82.7
86.0
80.6
80.1
78.3
86.5
81.5
82.3
85.8
80.3
79.6
77.2
85.1
80.9
80.4
83.9
78.8
79.2
71.2
78.8
74.5
74.8
76.3
74.7
73.1
72.1
79.2
75.0
74.6
79.3
74.0
74.2
67.3
72.7
69.3
70.6
73.2
70.1
70.2
68.7
73.4
70.0
70.7
73.0
71.0
69.8
65.3
68.6
63.9
65.0
69.0
65.0
64.0
94.0
93. 0
90. 0
90. 4
97.1
92. 4
91.2
Boston................
Bridgeport_____
Fall R iv e r ..........
Manchester____
N ew H aven____
Portland, M aine.
Providence...........
M iddle A tlantic........
83.5
83.0
83.1
82.6
81.5
75.9
76.1
70.7
72.0
66.6
92.2
Buffalo..................
Newark...........
N ew York___
Philadelphia..
Pittsburgh___
Rochester___
Scranton.........
82.3
84. 5
84. 5
85. 0
80. 2
82.2
79.3
82.0
84.7
84.1
84.2
80.1
81. 7
78.9
81.6
84.4
84.0
84.9
80.1
80.9
78.9
80.5
82.4
83.6
83.9
80.0
80.0
78.9
79.1
84.0
82.7
82.7
78.9
79.4
77.5
73.2
78.0
76.9
76.9
74.0
72.8
72.1
72.3
78.3
77.7
76.6
73.9
72.7
72.1
68.8
72.0
72.2
71.3
67.3
67.9
69.1
69.3
72.7
73.9
72.5
68.6
68.5
70.3
65.0
70.0
69.5
65.4
62.3
61.6
63.5
90. 7
93. 2
93. 2
92. 5
90 7
88. 3
92.2
East North C entral-
82.4
81.8
81.6
80.8
79.9
72.8
72.9
68.0
68.8
62.2
92.6
Chicago................
Cincinnati______
Cleveland.........
Columbus, Ohio.
D etroit_________
Indianapolis____
M ilwaukee..........
Peoria_________
Springfield, 111...
83.2
85. 7
80. 4
83. 6
82. 0
81. 7
83. 4
84.1
80.3
82.6
84.9
79.6
83.2
80.9
81.3
83.9
82.9
80.9
81.7
85.3
79.8
83.0
81.3
80.9
83.8
82.4
81.3
80.8
84.7
79.1
82.6
80.8
79.9
82.5
81.3
79.9
79.7
83.2
79.1
81.6
79.5
78.5
81.5
80.4
78.5
73.5
76.0
71.5
75.1
70.8
72.2
74.8
72.1
72.0
73.0
76.0
71.8
75.1
71.4
72.9
75.1
74.7
71.7
68.6
68.3
67. 7
69.4
66.9
67.5
67.6
69.7
65.9
69.4
70.1
68.1
69.2
67. 7
68.3
69.7
71.0
67.8
64.5
63.4
60.7
61.2
58.0
62.7
65.6
63. 2
61.3
95. 7
98 5
89 1
92 8
88. 5
91 7
92. 2
92. 5
91.6
w R h 'th e^ e^ p o p lS a tlo n ^ efg h ts.’ COmputed by weights representinS purchases of all foods, are combined
since°thaPtUdateWith r6ViPed weights and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
based uPon Pr>ces of 42 foods prior to Jan.
1, 1935, and of 84 foods
493
RETAIL PRICES
Table 3.— Indexes of the Average Retail Cost of all Foods, by Cities,1 December
and November 1935 and December 1934, 1933, 1932, and 1930— Continued
[1923-25=100]
1934 2
1935 2
Region and city
West North Central.
1933 2
Dec.
5
1932 2 1930 2
Dec.
15
Dec.
15
Dec.
31
Dec.
17
Dec.
3
Nov.
19
Nov.
5
Dec.
18
Dec.
4
Dec.
19
85.1
84.8
85.0
84.1
82.1
76.6
77.1
69.2
70.2
64.0
91.9
68.8
72.1
66.3
68.9
71.1
69.4
73.2
66. 7
70.4
71.9
66.3
65.7
61.2
63. 5
63.2
91.6
94.8
89.5
92.0
91.9
Kansas C ity____
Minneapolis........
Omaha_________
St. Louis_______
St. Paul................
82.6
87.7
81.1
87.8
84.1
83.2
86.6
81.8
86.6
84.4
83.1
87.3
82.1
86.9
83.9
82.7
86.4
81.5
85.5
83.4
80.8
84.7
80.0
82.9
81.4
76.9
78.2
74.7
76.6
76.6
77.9
78.8
74.3
77.1
77.2
South Atlantic....... ...
83.3
82.9
82.2
81.9
81.1
74.8
74.4
69.1
69.5
63.1
91.8
65.5
72.0
70.3
64.9
69.1
67.0
68.2
72.0
64.8
72.6
69.5
66.2
69.9
67.4
69.3
72.5
59.2
66.2
63. 5
60.3
63.7
60.8
63.7
65.2
89.7
92.2
92.8
91.1
95. 5
87.8
91. 7
94. 6
Atlanta________
Baltimore______
Charleston, S. C.
Jacksonville____
Norfolk.
_____
Richmond______
Savannah______
W ashington,D.C
80.6
85.8
82.9
80.3
84.0
79.8
83.3
86.2
80.8
86.1
82.3
79.8
83.2
78.5
82.9
85.7
79.6
84.9
81.9
79. 5
82.2
77.6
82. 3
86.2
78.7
84.6
82.0
78.8
81.8
78.1
81.5
85.7
78.6
83.8
81.8
78.0
80.7
76.4
82.0
84.9
72.6
77.2
73.4
72.5
74.9
71.8
74.7
77.0
72.4
77.0
73.3
71.5
75.1
71.7
74.6
76.0
East South Central..
78.9
77.9
77.5
77.0
76.9
71.8
71.6
65.4
65.8
60.4
91.1
Birmingham____
Louisville______
M emphis______
M obile_________
74.0
89.0
79.6
77.2
72.6
88.4
79.6
76.8
72.1
88.0
79. 6
76.8
71.8
87.0
78.8
76.4
72.5
86.3
77.5
75. 4
67.9
80.8
74.8
71.4
67.9
80.2
74.7
71.1
62.0
70.9
68.7
65.2
62.8
70.6
68.4
65. 5
58.3
63.9
62.0
60.9
90.0
94. 2
89. 4
92. 2
West South Central-
79.7
79.6
79.6
79.2
78.3
75.6
75.4
68.6
69.0
62.5
91.5
75.8
74.8
73.2
77.0
74.5
75.2
72.9
77.4
68.2
66.9
66.3
72.0
69.8
66.5
65.2
72.2
63.3
58.8
59.3
66.8
93.4
88. 3
91. 2
93.1
D allas_________
Houston_______
Little Rock____
New Orleans___
79.7
80.3
78.9
85.0
80.5
79.9
78.5
83.4
80.5
79.1
78.5
83.9
79.7
78.1
78.1
84.5
79.3
77.3
77.2
83.1
M ountain____ _____
84. 7
84.9
84.9
83.8
83.4
76.8
77.4
67.3
68.4
64.8
87.6
Butte________ .
D enver......... ..
Salt Lake C it y ..
77.9
86.9
82.1
78.7
86.6
83.1
78.9
87. 3
82.3
78.2
86.3
81.1
76.7
86.0
80.7
73.7
79.3
73.4
74.4
79.1
75.4
62.1
70.0
64.2
63.6
70.7
65.9
62.2
66. 7
62. 4
88.2
88. 5
85. 9
Pacific_____________
79.6
78.6
79.4
79.3
78.0
73.2
73.8
67.9
69.4
66.4
88.4
Los Angeles.........
Portland, Oreg_.
San Francisco__
Seattle...................
75 6
79.9
83.3
81.8
74.0
80.1
82.4
81.6
75.0
80.3
83.7
80.9
75.5
80.1
83.0
80.9
73.8
78.9
81.8
SO. 4
70.1
71.6
76.8
74.0
70.4
73.1
77.5
75.1
61.9
65.3
72.0
68.3
66.8
65.8
73. 4
69.4
62.4
65.7
72.2
65. 4
84.9
84.7
94. 3
86.2
1 The indexes for individual cities, computed by weights representing purchases of all foods, are com
bined w ith the use of population weights.
. A
. ... , .
2 Computed with revised weights and based upon prices of 42 foods prior to Jan. 1, 1935, and of 84 foods
since that date.
Retail Food Costs, 1929 and 1932
R e v i s e d indexes of retail food costs by commodity groups have
been completed for each of the 12 pricing periods in 1929 and 1932.
These data are given in table 4. This table, together with table 4
of the October issue of the Retail Prices pamphlet, makes available all
the revised indexes that have been completed to date. Indexes for
the remaining periods since 1929 are being computed and will^be
released from time to time in future issues of this pamphlet as they
are completed. The chart which follows table 4 shows the trend in
the retail cost of all foods from 1919 to 1935, inclusive.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
494
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 4.— Indexes of Retail Food Costs in 51 Large Cities Combined,1 by Com
modity Groups, by Months, 1929 and 1932
Cereals and bakery
products
Meats
Total
Fresh
Canned
Dried
Beverages and choc
olate
Fats and oils
Jan. 15...... .......................
Feb. 15................................
Mar. 15________ ______
Apr. 15_______________
M ay 15.................. .............
June 15....................... .......
102.7
102.3
101.4
100.8
102.4
103.7
98.4
98.2
98.2
98.2
98.0
97.7
117.6
116. 7
118.6
120.7
122.6
123.3
105.1 105.0
105.7 101.0
105.2 87.4
102.9 76.4
102.1 80.6
101.4 85.7
88.2
88.7
86.9
87.3
93.1
98.2
86.6
86.9
84.7
85.1
91.8
97.8
96.0
96.6
97.1
97.3
97.8
98.1
98.2
100. 2
101.3
101.7
102.4
102.5
110.7
110.8
110.9
111.0
110.8
110.5
94.1
93.7
93.8
93.7
93.5
93.4
76.7
75.4
73.5
72.8
72.6
72.3
July 15................................
Aug. 15______ _________
Sept. 15---------- -----------Oct. 15........ .......................
N ov. 15____ __________
Dec. 15................................
106.5
108.1
108.0
107.6
106.7
105.7
97.9
98.7
98.6
98.4
98.2
97.8
125.9
125.9
124.7
121.6
118.8
117.6
101.6
101.9
103.0
103.5
102.0
100.5
91.3
99.5
108.9
120.3
129.5
128.7
107.2
111.0
107.6
105.5
103.9
103.7
108.3
112.6
108.6
106.1
104.2
104.1
98.5
98.6
96.3
95.2
94.9
94.6
103.5
104.6
107.1
108.4
108.5
106.9
110.6
110.4
110.2
110.1
108.9
105.3
93.3
93.6
93.4
92.6
91.8
90.7
72.6
75.0
75.9
76.5
76.2
75.1
Jan. 15........................... .
Feb. 15_______________
Mar. 15_______________
Apr. 15_________ ____
M ay 15_______________
June 15...............................
72.8
70.4
70.7
70.3
68.5
67.6
78.1
77.7
77.2
76.4
76.3
76.2
81.1
77.3
78.6
78.3
75.5
74.2
73.1
70.6
69.9
67.1
65.1
64.0
62.1
51.6
46.4
44.3
44.5
45.3
63.4
63.8
67.0
70.7
67.7
66.6
62.3
63.1
67.1
71.6
68.3
67.3
77.7
76.8
75.9
74.9
74.1
71.0
61.6
60.0
57.6
56.4
55.7
55.3
78.4
77.4
76.9
76.0
74.9
74.4
59.9
55.9
54.2
52.6
51.0
48.8
61.7
61.0
59.7
58.1
56.3
55.7
July 15-----------------------Aug. 15_______________
Sept. 15..............................
Oct. 15________________
N ov. 15-- __________ _
Dec. 15........................ .......
68.3
67.1
65.9
66.3
65.6
64.7
75.6
74.7
74.3
73.9
73.3
71.1
79.3
76.7
75.8
73.1
70.0
66.8
63.8
65.0
65.4
65.4
65.8
65.7
49.3
56.7
49.9
73.2
78.4
80.6
62.6
56.3
53.0
51.3
50.4
51.8
62.4
55.1
51.3
49.7
49.0
50.7
72.7
72.4
71.6
68.5
67.6
66.8
55.1
54.8
54.4
53.2
50.6
49.5
74.2
73.7
74.6
74.5
73.8
72.8
49.8
50.7
51.2
50.4
49.9
48.9
56.5
57.7
58.2
58.9
58.8
58.5
1929
1932
Eggs
Dairy products
Month and day
Fruits and vegetables
Sugar and sweets
All foods
[1923-25 = 100]
i The indexes for individual cities, computed by weights representing purchases of all foods, are based
upon prices of 42 items and combined with the use of population weights.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
R E T A IL P R IC E S
495
R e t a i l food prices in Hawaii are given in the biweekly press
releases showing prices of foods by cities. Copies are available upon
request.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
W holesale Prices in Decem ber 1935
Summary
HE course of wholesale commodity prices continued upward
in the first week of December. During the two succeeding
weeks, however, the trend was reversed and between the week
ended December 7 and the week of December 21 the all-commodity
index declined 0.6 percent. A rise of 0.2 percent in the final week
of December partly offset this loss and the composite index for the
month was 80.9 percent of the 1926 average, a gain of 0.4 percent
over November.
Important factors contributing to the December rise were sub
stantial increases in group indexes for farm products, foods, and
hides and leather goods, coupled with moderate advances for the
fuel and lighting and miscellaneous groups. The increases reported
for these groups more than counterbalanced the fractional declines
shown for textile products, metals and metal products, building ma
terials and chemicals and drugs groups. The index for the house
furnishing goods group remained unchanged.
At the close of 1935 the composite index of wholesale prices was
35.2 percent above the low point of the depression (Mar. 4, 1933).
The recovery during the 34-month interval was shared by all of the
commodity groups, but the farm-products index with an increase of
93.1 percent shows the most striking gain. (See table 1.) Food
prices during the period have advanced 59.7 percent, and increases
of more than 40 percent are shown for both the index of hides and
leather products and the textiles index. The smallest change—11.0
percent—was reported in the prices of metals and metal products,
but the decline for this group during the period of contracting prices
(1929-32) was much less severe than for many of the other commodity
groups.
Although wholesale prices have now recovered a substantial part
of the depression losses, the price level of all commodity groups at
the close of 1935 was still below the 1929 average. For all commod
ities, the index for the week of December 28, 1935, was 15.4 percent
below the average for 1929. Despite the vigorous upswing of farm
product prices since the spring of 1933, it is this group that has the
496
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
497
WHOLESALE PRICES
most ground still to gain before reaching the 1929 level. Prices of
fuel and lighting materials, however, were closer to the 1929 average
than those for any other of the commodity groups.
Table 1.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices for the Week Ending Dec. 28,
1935, Compared with Mar. 4, 1933, and the Year 1929
[1926 = 100]
Commodity group
All commodities_________________________________________
Dppm products
- __________________ _______
"Foods
- _______________ ________ ____
T T id p n d leather prodlifits
__ _______ _______
Textile prodn fits
_____ _______________
Fuel and lighting materials
_______ ____ — —
Metals and meted products
__________ ____ _
T3nilding materials
_ ________________________
fThemifials and drugs
__________ _______ ______
TTnnse-fnrnishing goods
_ ___________ ___ ________
TVTiseel lan eoi is fiommodities__________________ _____ ______
All commodities other than farm prodnfits and fo o d s _______
Mar.
Dec.
28,1935 4,1933
80.6
78.4
85.3
96.4
72.8
75.6
85.9
85.1
80.0
82.2
67.5
78.8
59.6
40.6
53.4
67.6
50.6
64.4
77.4
70.1
71.3
72.7
59.6
66.2
Per
centage
change,
Mar. 4,
1933 to
Dec.
28,1935
Year
1929
Per
centage
change,
1929 to
Dec.
28,1935
+35.2
95.3
-1 5 .4
+93.1
+59.7
+42.6
+43.9
+17.4
+ 11.0
+21. 4
+ 12.2
+13.1
+13.3
+19.0
104.9
99.9
109.1
90.4
83.0
100.5
95.4
94.2
94.3
82.6
91.6
-2 5 .3
-1 4 .6
-1 1 .6
-1 9 .5
- 8 .9
-1 4 .5
-1 0 .8
-1 5 .1
-1 2 .8
-1 8 .3
-1 4 .0
____ ____
Weekly Fluctuations in December
F arm product prices fluctuated erratically during December. Be
tween the first and second weeks the group index rose 0.1 percent.
In the following week, however, the index fell 2.4 percent due to sharp
decreases in prices of livestock and poultry, cotton, eggs, apples, hay,
and potatoes. Grains, on the other hand, were higher. An increase
of 1.4 percent marked the trend of wholesale farm-product prices
during the last week of the year. Livestock and poultry recovered
virtually all of the loss of the previous week and grains continued
upward.
Wholesale food prices declined steadily through the week ended
December 21, then remained unchanged the following week. Weak
ening prices of fruits and vegetables, meats, and certain cereal products
were mainly responsible for the decrease. The December 28 food
index, 85.3, was approximately 12 percent above the index for the
corresponding week of 1934.
Following a slight decline in early December, the hides and leatherproducts group again turned upward, and in the week ended Decem
ber 28 the index for this group reached 96.4, a new high for the year.
Pronounced increases in prices of hides and skins were chiefly re
sponsible for the rise. The increase for the group as a whole during
December amounted to 1.7 percent.
Textile-product prices eased off slightly toward the middle of
December. During the latter part of the month, however, strength
ening prices for certain cotton textiles, raw silk, and hemp resulted in
an upward tendency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
498
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Throughout December a downward course was followed by the fuel
and lighting-materials group. This was caused by lower prices for
bituminous coal. Due primarily to falling prices of the nonferrous
metals, the index for the metals and metal-products group averaged
lower during the last week of December. Certain iron and steel items
and motor vehicles also were fractionally lower. Agricultural imple
ments and plumbing and heating fixtures were steady.
Minor decreases were registered in the building materials group
each week in December. Average prices of lumber and paint
materials were lower. Brick and tile, on the other hand, advanced.
Cement and structural steel prices remained at the level maintained for
the past 6 months.
The chemicals and drugs group index averaged lower during the 4
weeks of December. The index fell 0.9 percent in the month interval.
Average prices of chemicals and fertilizer materials were lower.
Mixed fertilizer advanced during the last of the month. Drugs and
pharmaceuticals were unchanged.
Following the slight advance from November to December, the
house-furnishing goods group remained stable. Average prices of
both furniture and furnishings were stationary.
In the first week of December cattle feed prices declined slightly
followed by rising prices during the next 2 weeks. They again
weakened slightly toward the last of the year. The tendency of crude
rubber prices was upward throughout the 4-week period. A firmer
tone was recorded in paper and pulp prices during the week ending
December 28.
Industrial commodities represented by the group of “all commodi
ties other than farm products and processed foods” moved to a
fractionally lower level during the latter part of December. The index
dropped from 78.9 for the first 2 weeks to 78.8 for the last 2 weeks.
Table 2 shows index numbers for the main groups of commodities
for each week of December and the high and low weeks of 1935.
Table 2.— Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodi
ties for Each Week of December and the High and Low Weeks of 1935
[1926=100]
High
Low
Dec.
28
Dec.
21
Dec.
14
Dec.
7
All c o m m o d itie s ...___
80.6
80.4
80.8
80.9
Sept. 21
81.0
5
77.9
Farm products________________
Foods . . . . _________
Hides and leather products_____
Textile products_________________
Fuel and lighting materials_______
Metals and metal products_____
Building materials_____________
Chemicals and drugs- _______
House-furnishing g o o d s __________
Miscellaneous commodities
... . _
All commodities other than farm products
and foods___________ ______
78.4
85.3
96.4
72.8
75.6
85.9
85.1
80.0
82.2
67.5
77.3
85.3
96.2
72.7
75.7
86.2
85.2
80.2
82.2
67.5
79.2
85.8
95.4
72.8
75. 7
86.3
85.3
80.5
82.2
67.4
79.1
86.4
94.8
72.9
75.9
86.4
85.4
80.7
82.2
67.4
Apr.
Sept.
Dec.
N ov.
Nov.
N ov.
Sept.
Mar.
Jan.
Jan.
81.8 Jan. 5
86.6 ___do___
96.4 Apr. 6
73.1 _ _do___
75.9 Mar. 9
86.4 Mar. 23
86. 3 Apr. 6
81.6 July 27
82.3 June 15
71.0 Sept. 7
75.6
78.5
85.6
68. 7
73.8
84.9
84.3
78.4
81.7
66.8
78.8
78.8
78.9
78.9
Nov. 16
79.0
77.2
Commodity group
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date
20
28
28
23
30
23
21
2
5
12
Index
Date
Jan.
Apr.
Index
6
499
WHOLESALE PRICES
T h e increase of 0.4 percent in wholesale prices in December carried
the composite index to 80.9 percent of the 1926 average, a new high
for the year. Compared with the corresponding month of 1934, the
all-commodity index for December shows an increase of 5.2 percent.
Half of the 10 major commodity groups—farm products, foods,
hides and leather products, fuel and lighting materials, and miscel
laneous commodities—increased during the month. Textile prod
ucts, metals and metal products, building materials, and chemicals
and drugs decreased. House-furnishing goods remained unchanged
at the November level.
An indication of changes within major commodity groups that
influenced the rise in the composite index is given in table 3.
Table 3.— Number of Commodities Changing in Price from November to
December 1935
Commodity group
Increases
Decreases
No change
------------------------------ --------- ---------------
181
103
500
Harm products
- -- ____________________________
Hoods
_________________________ —
TTjdps and lp.at.hftr prodnot.s
_ _________________________
____- ________________ _____
Textile products
Hllftl and lighting materials
____ _ _____________________
Metals and metal prndnnts
_______________________
_____________ - --------Hnjlding mn.tftrift.ls
_ _ _
Ohp.mjeals and drugs
____ ____ ____________________ Honsft-fnmishing gnods
______________________
Miscellaneous
_____ _____ _____________ - -
42
51
17
24
11
14
7
5
1
9
20
27
8
14
5
7
13
5
0
4
5
44
16
74
8
109
66
79
60
39
All commodities.-
The index for the group of “all commodities other than farm prod
ucts and processed foods” declined 0.1 percent from November to
December. This industrial group has fluctuated within a narrow
margin of 1 percent during the year, indicating that the changes in
the general index in 1935 were due primarily to the fluctuation of
farm products and food prices.
Non agricultural commodities advanced 0.2 percent in December,
which brought the index for commodities of this class to 81.3, or 4.5
percent above a year ago.
The raw materials group, which includes basic farm products and
other commodities in the raw state, advanced 0.6 percent during the
month and is 6.3 percent above December 1934. The group of semi
manufactured articles, on the contrary, declined 1.3 percent. Despite
the sharp drop in December, the index for this group, 75.2, is approxi
mately 6 percent above a year ago.
The large group of finished products, including more than 500
manufactured items, rose 0.5 percent in December to equal a previous
high reached in September—83.1. Compared with the corresponding
month of 1934, this group shows an advance of 4.5 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
500
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 4 shows index numbers for the groups and subgroups of
commodities for each month of 1935 and the average for the year 1935.
Index numbers of wholesale prices by groups and subgroups of com
modities for each year since the base year, 1926, are given in table 5.
Table 4.-—Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups of
Commodities, 1935
[1926 = 100]
Group and subgroup
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. M ay June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
All commodities...... .................... 78.8 79.5 79.4 80.1 80.2 79.8 79.4 80.5
Farm products____ __________
Grains__________________
Livestock and poultry___
Other farm products_____
Foods______________________
Butter, cheese, and milk__
Cereal products.................
Fruits and vegetables____
M eats__________________
Other foods_____________
Hides and leather products___
Boots and sh o es,. . . . ..
Hides and s k in s ...
. .
Leather_________________
Other leather products___
Textile products___________
Clothing________________
Cotton goods....................
Knit goods______________
Silk and rayon__________
Woolen and worsted goods.
Other textile products........
Fuel and lighting materials___
Anthracite______________
Bituminous coal_________
Coke___________________
Electricity______________
Gas____________________
Petroleum products______
Metals and metal products___
Agricultural im plem ents..
Iron and steel___________
Motor veh icles.. . . . . . . .
Nonferrous metals_______
Plumbing and heating___
Building materials__________
Brick and tile___________
Cement_________________
Lumber_________________
Paint and paint materials.
Plumbing and heating___
Structural steel__________
Other building m aterials..
Chemicals and drugs________
Chemicals_______________
Drugs and pharmaceuticals_________________
Fertilizer materials______
Mixed fertilizers_________
House-furnishing goods______
Furnishings_____________
Furniture_______
_____
Miscellaneous_______________
Automobile
tires and
tubes_________________
Cattle feed__________ . . .
Paper and pulp ________
Rubber, crude__________
Other miscellaneous______
Raw materials______________
Semimanufactured articles___
Finished products_________ _
All commodities other than
farm products..........................
All commodities other than
farm products and fo o d s ___
1D ata no t y e t available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
80.7 80.5 80.6 80.9 80.0
77.6
88.8
73.3
76.6
79.9
83.5
91.6
62.8
8i. 6
76.2
86.2
97.1
71.1
74.3
85.0
70.3
78.4
84.1
63.5
28.6
73.8
68.8
72.9
82.3
96.3
86.4
89.9
87.6
48.8
85.8
92.7
85.7
94.1
67.6
68.0
84.9
91.1
93.9
79.9
79.0
68.0
92.0
90.3
79.3
84.5
79. 1
87.4
78.4
76.8
82.7
87.0
91.9
63.6
87.9
77.2
86.0
97.2
69.6
74.6
84.6
70.1
78.5
83.3
63.6
28.1
73.6
68.6
72.5
82.3
96.4
88.8
90.3
87.7
48.7
85.8
93.6
86.1
93.6
67.2
67.1
85.0
90.6
93.9
80.5
78.8
67.1
92.0
90.3
80.4
86.5
78.3
82.8
85.8
72.1
81.9
82.9
92.1
63.2
91.6
73.4
85.4
97.2
66.6
74.2
84.6
69.4
78.5
82.4
62.5
27.3
73.1
67.7
73.0
81.1
96.3
88.8
88.3
88.6
49.8
85.7
93.6
86.0
93.6
67.1
67.2
84.9
90.2
94.4
79.9
79.4
67.2
92.0
90.1
81.5
88.1
80.4
87.9
85.9
74.5
84.5
84.9
93.3
67.3
94.3
76.2
86.3
97.2
71.2
74.9
84.6
69.2
78.5
81.8
61.6
27,6
73.1
67.5
72.8
75.5
95.4
88.7
87.8
88.0
51.0
85.9
93.6
86.0
93.6
68.2
67.1
84.6
89.7
94.9
79.9
79.2
67.1
92.0
89.4
81.0
87.2
80.6
83.2
87.6
75.0
84.1
77.7
92.3
66.4
97.0
77.7
88.3
97.2
76.1
79.6
84.4
69.4
78.5
82.7
60.4
27.6
73.5
68.2
73.1
73.0
95.7
88.7
88.7
92.0
52.2
86.6
93.6
86.6
94.4
69.2
67.1
84.8
89.3
94.9
79.8
79.9
67.1
92.0
89.8
81.2
87.5
78.3
76.9
84.8
74.3
82.8
74.6
90.5
68.7
94. 5
77.2
88.9
97.3
78.0
80.5
84.4
70.1
80.7
82.5
59.5
27.2
75.6
68.9
74.2
74.0
96.1
88.7
90.2
95.2
53.2
86.9
93.6
87.1
94.7
69.1
66.2
85.3
89.2
94.9
81.6
79.8
66.2
92.0
90.0
80.7
86.3
77.1
78.3
82.8
72.9
82.1
74.0
92.7
65.1
93.3
76.7
89.3
97.8
79.8
80.2
84.4
70.2
80.7
82.0
59.9
27.9
76.4
69.1
74.7
77.0
96.5
88.6
87.8
94.0
52.9
86.4
93.6
87.0
94.7
66.1
68.8
85.2
89.1
94.9
81.7
79.1
68.8
92.0
89.7
78.7
84.6
79.3 79.5 78.2 77.5 78.3 78.8
79.3 83.5 86.4 77.9 76.6 82.5
91.6 92.0 86.6 83.1 87.4 85.1
71.4 70.4 70.3 73.5 72.8 73.4
84.9 86.1 85.0 85.1 85.7 83.7
75.7 76.0 76.9 81.1 83.7 79.8
94.6 96.8 98.9 97.2 97.2 94.1
60.5 60.0 59.1 63.2 63.7 63.6
102.0 102.9 97.1 94.3 97.5 94.5
78.6 80.8 81.2 80.8 77.5 77.7
89.6 90.9 93.6 95.0 95.4 89.6
98.3 98.3 98.8 99.6 100.1 98.0
80.4 83.8 92.9 96.0 96.5 80.8
80.2 83.0 86.6 88.1 87.6 80.1
84.4 84.5 85.0 86.3 87.1 85.0
70.9 71.8 72.9 73.4 73.2 70.9
80.5 80.8 80.8 80.7 81.0 79.8
82.5 83.2 84.6 85.8 86.0 83.4
60.2 61.6 63.2 63.2 62.2 61.8
31.0 32.9 35.1 35.0 33.7 30.2
76.4 76.9 79.1 80.7 81.0 76.1
69.1 69.9 68.3 68.5 68.1 68.5
74.1 73.0 73.4 74.5 74.6 73.5
78.6 80.6 82.5 83.0 82.9 79.7
96.0 96.2 98.0 98.5 98.7 96.7
88.6 88.6 88.8 88.9 89.6 88. 6
86.7 87.5 86.3 86.2 (0
0)
91.8 91.9 89.0 86.6 (•)
(>)
52.4 50.6 50.1 52.5 52.8 51.3
86.6 86.6 86.5 86.9 86.8 86.4
93.6 93.7 93.7 94.6 94.6 93.7
87.1 86.8 86.9 87.0 86.9 86.7
94.7 94.3 92.9 93.8 93.6 93.9
66.9 68.6 70.9 71.3 70.6 68.6
71.1 71.1 71.1 71.1 71.1 68.9
85.4 85.9 86.1 85.8 85.5 85.3
89.0 88.8 88.3 88.3 88.9 89.4
94.9 94.9 95.5 95.5 95.5 95.3
82.0 82.1 82.0 81.8 81.5 81.1
78.6 80.8 81.9 80.3 80.0 79.8
71.1 71.1 71.1 71.1 71.1 68.9
92.0 92.0 92.0 92.0 92.0 92.9
90.1 90.3 90.5 90.6 90.0 90.1
78.6 80.2 81.1 81.2 80.6 80.5
84.3 86.9 88.3 88.4 87.7 86.9
73.1
66.5
73.3
81.2
84.3
78.2
70.7
73.1
66.2
72.8
80.7
84.1
77.2
70.1
73.0
66.3
72.8
80.7
84.1
77.3
69.2
73.8
66.0
72.9
80.7
84.2
77.1
68.7
74.2
65.9
73. 1
80.6
84.1
77.1
68.7
74.3
65.7
74.5
80.5
83.9
77.1
68.4
74.0
65.7
68.6
80.4
84.0
76.8
67.7
73.8
66.8
68.1
80.5
84.0
77.0
67.3
73.8
67.2
67.8
80.5
84.0
76.9
67.1
74.2
67.2
67.9
80.6
84.2
76.9
67.5
74.7
67.5
67.6
81.0
84.7
77.1
67.4
74.7
64.5
67.7
81.0
84.7
77.1
67.5
73.9
66.3
70.6
80-6
84.2
77.0
68.3
47.5
116.2
81.5
26.5
80.4
76.6
71.2
80.8
47.5
109.0
80.9
26.2
80.1
77.4
71.7
81.5
46.6
102.2
80.6
23.5
80.1
76.6
71.8
81.7
46.3
104.9
80.4
23.7
79.0
77.5
72.3
82.3
45.0
107.0
80.0
24.9
79.4
77.6
73.5
82.4
45.0
92.2
79.7
26.0
80.1
76.4
73.9
82.2
45.0
78.6
79.7
25.0
80.1
75.8
72.8
82.0
45.0
71.3
79.7
24.5
80.0
77.1
73.2
83.0
45.0
67.9
79.7
24.0
80.0
77.3
74.4
83.1
45.0
71.6
79.7
26.0
80.2
77.1
76.3
82.7
45.0
69.1
79.4
27.1
80.2
77.2
76.2
82.7
45.0
70.8
79.2
27.2
80.2
77.7
75.2
83.1
45.7
88.3
80.0
25.4
80.0
77.1
73.6
82.2
78.9 79.4 79.5 79.9 80.0 80.0 79.8 80.6
80.8 80.9 81.1 81.3 80.2
77.7 77.4 77.3 77. 2 77.6 78.0 78.0 77.9
77.8 78.3 78.8 78.7 77.9
501
WHOLESALE PRICES
Table 5.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices, by Groups and Subgroups of Com
modities, 1927-35
[1926=100]
1929
1928
1927
Group and subgroup
1935
1934
1933
1932
1931
1930
All commodities. . ------------------ ------- -----
80.0
74.9
65.9
64.8
73.0
86.4
95.3
96.7
95.4
78.8
82.5
85.1
73.4
83.7
79.8
94.1
63.6
94.5
77.7
89.6
98.0
80.8
80.1
85.0
70.9
79.8
83.4
61.8
30.2
76.1
68.5
73.5
79.7
96.7
88.6
0)
0)
51.3
86.4
93.7
86.7
93.9
68.6
68.9
85.3
89.4
95.3
81.1
79.8
68.9
92.0
90.1
80.5
86.9
73.9
66.3
70.6
80.6
84.2
77.0
68.3
45.7
88.3
80.0
25.4
80.0
77.1
73.6
82.2
80.2
65.3
74.5
51.5
70.5
70.5
72.7
88.7
67.5
62.9
66.6
86.6
98.1
68.6
75.0
86.6
72.9
82.5
86.5
63.2
26.7
79.7
73.1
73.3
80.1
94.5
84.8
91.8
93.4
50.5
86.9
89.6
86.7
95.9
67.7
72.6
86.2
90.2
93.2
84.5
79.5
72.6
90.8
90.3
75.9
79.6
72.1
67.1
72.5
81.5
84.1
79.0
69.7
44.9
89.4
82.7
26.5
82.1
68.6
72.8
78.2
76.9
51.4
53.1
43.4
55.8
60.5
60.7
75.0
61.7
50.0
61.1
80.9
90.2
67.1
71.4
81.1
64.8
72.2
71.2
58.9
30.6
69.3
72.5
66.3
82.2
82.8
77.9
94.3
97.5
41.0
79.8
83.5
78.6
90.2
59.6
67.1
77.0
79.2
86.1
70.7
73.3
67.1
83.1
82.7
72.6
79.6
56.3
65.9
64.5
75.8
76.6
75.1
62.5
42.1
57.9
76.6
12.2
76.2
56.5
65.4
70.5
69.0
48.2
39.4
48.2
51.4
61.0
61.3
66.4
58.0
58.2
60.7
72.9
86.1
42.1
65.1
90.1
54.9
63.0
54.0
51.6
31.0
57.7
67.9
70.3
88.4
82.0
77.7
104.7
101.3
45.4
80.2
84.9
79.4
94.1
49.8
66.8
71.4
77.3
77.2
58.5
71.1
66.8
80.9
79.5
73.5
79.5
57.7
66.9
69.3
75.1
75.4
75.0
64.4
41.1
46.0
75.5
7.3
83.7
55.1
59.3
70.3
68.3
64.8
53.0
63.9
69.2
74.6
81.8
73.1
72.4
75.4
69.8
86.1
93.7
60.2
86.2
101.4
66.3
75.9
66.1
60.9
43.5
68.2
75.1
67.5
91.1
84.6
82.4
98.8
98.7
39.5
84.5
92.1
83.3
94.8
61.9
84.7
79.2
83.6
79.4
69.5
79.4
84.7
83.1
84.8
79.3
83.0
62.8
76.8
82.0
84.9
82.2
88.0
69.8
46.0
62.7
81.4
12.8
88.0
65.6
69.0
77.0
74.6
88.3
78.3
89.2
91.1
90.5
95.5
81.5
96.6
98.4
80.9
100.0
102.0
91.0
101.3
105.5
80.3
86.2
84.7
80.0
60.2
79.0
84.2
78.5
89.1
89.4
84.0
97.7
97.3
61.5
92.1
95. 0
89.1
100.3
82.4
88.6
89.9
89.8
91.8
85.8
90.5
88.6
87.3
93.3
89.1
93.7
68.0
85. 6
93.6
92.7
91.4
94.0
77.7
51.3
99.7
86.1
24.5
95.5
84.3
81.8
88.0
85. 9
104.9
97.4
106.1
106.6
99.9
105.6
88.0
97.8
109.1
93.9
109.1
106.3
112.7
113.2
106.4
90.4
90.0
98.8
88.5
80.4
88.3
93.1
83.0
90.1
91.3
84.6
94.5
93.1
71.3
100. 5
98.7
94.9
106.7
106.1
95.0
95.4
94.3
91.8
93.8
94.9
95. 0
98.1
97.7
94.2
99.1
71.5
92.1
97. 2
94.3
93. 6
95.0
82.6
54. 5
121.6
88.9
42.3
98.4
97.5
93.9
94. 5
93.3
105.9
107.3
105.4
105.8
101.0
105.5
93.6
96. 5
107.0
97.6
121.4
109.9
148.6
126.3
108.2
95.5
93.2
100.4
90.1
83.7
100.1
95.4
84.3
91.7
93.6
84.6
96.6
94.9
72.0
97.0
99.3
93. ô
102.9
94.0
95.1
94.1
95.6
95.9
90.5
93.1
95.1
95.2
96.7
95.6
100. 5
72.6
94. 6
97.3
95.1
93.7
96.7
85.4
63.4
138.1
91.4
46.4
96.9
99.1
94. 5
95.9
94.8
99.4
100.9
98.9
99.2
96.7
103.9
94.4
96.7
92.7
98.0
107.7
102.6
120.3
109.2
102.8
95. 6
95.8
97.1
91.9
87.1
97.8
98.2
88.3
96.3
100.3
94.4
102.9
98.0
72.7
96.3
99.7
94. 2
100.4
92.8
92.0
94.7
95.7
96.7
93.1
96.3
92.0
94. 7
95.4
96.8
99. 6
88. 4
96.2
93. 0
97.5
97.4
97.7
91.0
74.9
117.8
93.8
77.9
98.8
96. 5
94.3
95.0
94.6
77.9
78.4
71.2
70.2
75.0
85. 2
91.6
92.9
94.0
Farm products.. ________ - -------------Grains---------------------- ----- ------------------Livestock and poultry
---------------- . . .
Other farm products___________________
Foods. ________________ ______ _____
Butter, cheese, and m ilk. . ------- -------Cereal products. -------------- -------------Fruits and vegetables--------- -----------------Meats_________________ - ----------------. ----------Other foods.. __________
Hides and leather products------------------------Boots and shoes_______________
____
Hides and skins. _________ - --------Leather. ________________ . _________
Other leather products............. ...............
Textile products________________________
Clothing_____________ . . . . -------- .
Cotton goods_______ _____ ____________
Knit goods_________ __________ _______
Silk and rayon_____________ _________
Woolen and worsted goods-------------------Other textile produ cts------------------------Fuel and lighting materials-----------------------Anthracite----------------------------------------Bituminous coal______________________
Coke _ ______________________________
Electricity____________________________
Gas__________________ ______ _________
Petroleum products___________________
Metals and metal products------------------------Agricultural implements---------------------Iron and steel__________
. ----------Motor v e h ic le s_________ - -------------Nonferrous metals ------------ -------------Plumbing and heating. ------- ------ -------Building materials________ _ -- ------------Brick and tile___________ ___________
C e m e n t________________ ____________
Lumber_____________ ____ ____ -- Paint and paint materials--------------------Plumbing and heating-------------------------Structural steel. . . . . ---------- . . . --Other building materials---------------------Chemicals and drugs---------------- ------------Chemicals_____________ _____ ________
Drugs and pharmaceuticals------------------Fertilizer materials_________ _________
Mixed fertilizers _________
- ----------House-furnishing go o d s.. ------------------------Furnishings___________________________
F u rn itu re_____ ___________ ___ _____
Miscellaneous_______ ___ ______ _________
Automobile tires and tubes. -------------Cattle feed.. ________________
_____
Paper and pulp_______________________
Rubber, crude.. _____________________
Other miscellaneous___________________
Raw materials. _ . . ______________________
Semimanufactured articles------------------------Finished products________________________
All commodities other than farm products—
All commodities other than farm products
and foods— ------------- --------------------------i Data not yet available.
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502
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Commodity Groups
I n d e x numbers of wholesale prices by commodity groups, by years
from 1926 to 1935, inclusive, and by months from January 1934, to
December 1935, are shown in table 6.
Table 6.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities
[1926 = 100]
Period
B y years:
1926____________
Hides Tex
Farm
and
tile
prod Foods leather prod
ucts
prod ucts
ucts
Fuel Metals
Chem HouseMisand Build
furand metal
ing
icals nishcellight prod mate and
laneing
in g
rials
drugs
OUS
ucts
goods
All
commodi
ties
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.
96.7 107.7
95.6
88.3
96.3
94.7
97.5
96.8
91.0
95.
101.0 121.4 95.5 84.3 97.0 94.1 95.6 95.1 85.4 96.
99.9 109.1
94.2
90.4
83.0 100.5
95.4
94.3
82.6
95.
90.5 100.0 80.3
78.5
92.1
89.9
89.1
92.7
77.7
86.
74.6
86.1 66.3 67.5 84.5 79.2 79.3 84.9 69.8 73.
1927______________
99.4
1928.___ _______ 105.9
1929____________ 104.9
1930___________
88.3
1931____________ 64.8
1932____________ 48.2
1933___________
51.4
1934....________
65.3
1935____________ 78.8
1934:
January_____ _ 58.7
February______
61.3
March_________
61.3
April__________
59.6
M ay____ ____
59.6
June___________
63.3
July----------------- 64.5
A ugust________
69.8
September_____ 73.4
October______ _ 70.6
November_____
70.8
December______
72.0
1935:
January _______ 77.6
February____ _
79.1
March_________
78.3
April__________
80.4
M ay__________
80.6
June.. _______
78.3
Ju ly ----------------- 77.1
A ugust________
79.3
September_____
79.5
October________
78.2
N o v em b er____
77.5
December____ _
78.3
61.0
60.5
70.5
83.7
72.9
80.9
86.6
89.6
54.9
64.8
72.9
70. 9
70.3
66.3
73.3
73.5
80.2
79.8
86.9
86.4
64.3
66.7
67.3
89.5
89.6
88.7
88.9
87.9
87.1
86.3
83.8
84.1
83.8
84.2
85.1
76.5
76.9
76.5
75.3
73.6
72.7
71.5
70.8
71.1
70.3
69.7
70.0
73.1
72.4
71.4
71.7
72.5
72.8
73.9
74.6
74.6
74.6
74.4
73.7
85.5
87.0
87.1
87.9
89.1
87.7
70.3
70.1
69.4
69.2
69.4
70.1
70.2
70.9
71.8
72.9
73.4
73.2
72.9
72.5
73.0
72.8
73.1
74.2
74.7
74.1
73.0
73.4
74.5
74.6
85.8
85.8
85.7
85.9
66.2
67.1
69.8
70.6
73.9
76.1
74.8
75.1
75.3
79.9
82.7
81.9
84.5
84.1
82.8
82.1
84.9
86.1
85.0
85.1
85.7
86.2
86.0
85.4
86.3
88.3
88.9
89.3
89.6
90.9
93.6
95.0
95.4
73.5
72.6
75.9
80.5
75.1
75.8
81.5
80.6
64.4
62.5
69.7
68.3
64.
65.
74.
80.
86.6
74.4
75.5
75.7
75.5
75.4
75.6
75.4
75.7
76.5
77.1
76.9
77.8
80.8
81.0
81.4
81.6
82.0
82.0
81.6
81.8
81.8
81.7
81.3
81.2
67.5
68.5
69.3
69.5
69.8
70.2
69.9
70.2
70.2
69.7
70.6
71.0
72.
73.
73.
73.
73.
74.
74.
76.
77.
76.
76.
76.
86.6
86.6
84.9
85.0
84.9
84.6
84.8
85.3
85.2
85.4
85.9
86.8
85.8
85.5
79.3
80.4
81.5
81.0
81.2
80.7
78.7
78.6
80.2
81.1
81.2
80.6
81.2
80.7
80.7
80.7
80.6
80.5
80.4
80.5
80.5
80.6
81.0
81.0
70.7
70.1
69.2
68.7
68.7
68.4
67.7
67.3
67.1
67.5
67.4
67.5
78.
79.
79.
80.
80.
79.
79.
80.
80.
80.
80.
80.
86.8
86.7
86.6
86.3
86.2
85.9
86.6
86.9
86.4
86.5
86.9
71.4
77.0
86.2
85.3
86.3
86.4
86.7
87.3
87.8
87.0
85.8
85.6
85.2
85.0
85.1
86.1
The price trend since 1926 is shown in table 7 for the following
groups of commodities: Raw materials, semimanufactured articles,
finished products, commodities other than farm products, and com
modities other than those designated as “Farm products and foods.”
All commodities, with the exception of those included in the groups
of farm products and foods, have been included in the group of “All
commodities other than farm products and foods.” The list of com
modities included under the designations of “Raw materials”,
“Semimanufactured articles”, and “Finished products” is contained
in the October 1934 issue of the Wholesale Prices pamphlet.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
503
WHOLESALE PRICES
Table 1.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Special Groups of Commodities
[1926=100]
Year
1926_______
1927_______
1928_______
1929_______
1930_______
1931_______
1932_______
1933_______
1934_______
1935_______
All
com
Semimodi
Fin
;Raw m anu- ished
ties
facmate tured
prod other
than
rials
arti
ucts
farm
cles
prod
ucts
All
com
modi
ties
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
96.5
99.1
97.5
84.3
65.6
55.1
56.5
68.6
77.1
94.3
94.5
93.9
81.8
69.0
59.3
65.4
72.8
73.6
95.0
95.9
94.5
71.9
74.8
74.3
73.9
73.7
72.9
72.7
77.0
70.3
70.5
78. 2
82.2
94.6
94.8
93.3
85.9
74.6
68.3
69.0
76.9
80.2
94.0
92.9
91.6
85.2
75.0
70.2
71.2
78.4
77.9
76.0
77.0
77. 2
77. 1
77.8
78.2
78.2
75.0
76.1
76.2
76.2
76.6
76.9
76.9
78.3
78.7
78.5
78.6
78.9
78.2
78.4
88.0
M o n th
1934:
January--.
February.
M arch___
April------M ay_____
June-----July--------
64.1
66.0
65.9
65.1
65.1
67.3
68.3
Year
M o n th —
All
All
com
com modi
Semities
anu- Fin modi
Raw mfacties
other
ished other
than
mate tured
prod than farm
rials
ucts
arti
farm prod
cles
prod ucts
ucts
and
food:
Con.
1934—Con.
August___
SeptemberOctober.-November.
December
1935:
January...
February
March___
April------M ay------June__ _
July-------August__
September.
O ctober...
November.
December.
71.6
73.9
72.1
72. 2
73.1
72.6
71.8
71.5
71.1
71.0
79.2
80.1
79.2
79.3
79.5
77.8
7S.4
77.6
77.7
77.8
78.3
78.3
78. 0
78.0
78. 0
76.6
77.4
76.6
77.5
77.6
76.4
75.8
77.1
77.3
77.1
77.2
77.7
71. 2
71.7
71.8
72. 3
73.5
73.9
72.8
73.2
74.4
76.3
76.2
75.2
80.8
81.5
81.7
82.3
82.4
82. 2
82.0
83.0
83. 1
82.7
82.7
83.1
78.9
79.4
79.5
79.9
80.0
80.0
79.8
80.6
80.8
80.9
81.1
81.3
77. 7
77.4
77.3
77.2
77. 6
78.0:
78. 0
77.9
77.8
78.3
78.8
78. 7
W holesale Prices in th e U n ited States and in Foreign
C o u n tries
N THE following table the index numbers of wholesale prices of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor, and those in certain foreign countries, have been brought
together in order that the trend of prices in the several countries may
be compared. The base periods here shown are those appearing in
the original sources from which the information has been drawn, in
certain countries being the year 1913 or some other pre-war period.
Only general comparisons can be made from these figures, since, in
addition to differences in the base periods, and the kind and number
of articles included, there are important differences in the composi
tion of the index numbers themselves. Indexes are shown for the
years 1926-34, inclusive, and by months since January 1933.
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
504
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign Countries
Country.....................
United
States
Bureau
Com puting agency.. of Labor
Statistics
Belgium
Australia
Austria
Bulgaria
Bureau
of
Census
and
Statistics
Federal M inistry General
Statis of Labor
Statis
tical
and Social
tical
Bureau Welfare Bureau
Canada
Chile
China
Domin
ion
Bureau
of
Statistics
General
Statis
tical
Bureau
National
Tariff
Commis
sion,
Shanghai
Base p erio d ..............
1926
(100)
1911
(1,000)
Ja n u a r y June
1914
(100)
April
1914
(100)
1926
(100)
1926
(100)
1913
(100)
1926
(100)
Com m odities............
784
92
47
(Paper)
125
(Gold)
55
567 1
(Paper)
(Silver)
155 2
1926...........................
1927..............................
1928..............................
1929.........................
1930______________
1931______ ________
1932............. ...........
1933......................... .
1934......................... .
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0
64.8
65.9
74.9
1,832
1,817
1,792
1,803
1,596
1,428
1,411
1,409
1,471
123
133
130
130
117
108
112
108
110
744
847
843
851
744
626
532
501
473
100.0
102.4
109.8
117.0
94.6
79.1
70.3
61.8
63.6
100.0
97.7
96.4
95.6
86.6
72.1
66.7
67.1
71.6
195.5
192.4
166.9
152.2
230.4
346.0
343.6
100.0
104.4
101.7
104.5
114.8
126.7
112.4
103.8
97.1
61.0
59.8
60.2
60.4
62.7
65.0
68.9
69.5
70.8
71.2
71.1
70.8
1,344
1,330
1,333
1,358
1,406
1,439
1,455
1,464
1,481
1,445
1,414
1,436
108
106
107
107
108
109
111
108
108
109
108
108
521
512
504
501
502
507
506
501
496
489
485
484
63.5
62.5
61.0
61.5
62.1
61.3
62.6
60.9
62.4
61.0
62.1
60.8
63.9
63.6
64.4
65.4
66.9
67.5
70.5
69.5
68.9
67.9
68.9
69.0
346.0
344.7
343.4
351.2
357.6
357.8
353.2
355.8
351.5
338.5
330.2
322.0
108.6
107.6
106.7
104.5
104.2
104.5
103.4
101.7
100.4
100.3
99.9
98.4
72.2
73.6
73.7
73.3
73.7
74.6
74.8
76.4
77.6
76.5
76.5
76.9
1,456
1,452
1,459
1,471
1,456
1,463
1,483
1, 500
1,493
1,493
1,470
1,459
109
110
113
112
110
110
110
110
108
108
109
109
484
483
478
474
470
472
471
474
470
467
466
468
59.1
62.6
61.7
61.6
63.0
64.2
64.2
65.7
65.5
66.2
64.8
63.8
70.6
72.1
72.1
71.1
71.1
72.1
72.0
72.2
72.0
71.4
71.2
71.2
328.6
331.4
336.9
342.6
343.1
351.7
352.5
354.1
352.6
344.2
343.3
341.8
97.2
98.0
96.6
94.6
94.9
95.7
97.1
99.8
97.3
96.1
98.3
99.0
78.8
79.5
79.4
80.1
80.2
79.8
79.4
80.5
80.7
80.5
80.6
80.9
1,459
1,451
1,443
1,444
1,458
1,466
1,479
1,498
1,495
1,498
110
109
109
109
110
111
112
111
110
109
109
109
472
466
464
531
552
555
553
552
560
574
582
64.5
64.3
64.2
66.0
64.7
64.3
64.2
64.0
64.4
66.6
71.4
71.9
72.0
72.5
72.3
71.5
71.5
71.6
72.3
346.7
340.3
336.7
334.9
339.3
339.6
342.4
343.3
346.2
99.4
99.9
96.4
95.9
95.0
92.1
90.5
91.9
91.1
1933
Ja n u a ry ......................
Febru ary...................
M arch____________
A pril...........................
M a y ............................
Ju n e______________
J u l y . . .........................
A u g u s t.......... ..........
September.................
October.__________
N ovem ber.................
D e cem b e r............
1934
Ja n u a r y ............. .......
Febru ary.......... .........
M arch.........................
A pril______ _______
M ay _________ ____
Ju n e ............................
Ju ly .............................
A u g u st....................
Septem ber............
October_________
Novem ber________
Decem ber_________
1935
Ja n u a ry ____ ____ _
Febru ary_________
M arch_____ ______
A pril____________ _
M a y ____ _________
Ju n e ______________
Ju ly ------------------A u gust___________
Septem ber________
October___________
Novem ber.................
Decem ber..................
1 Revised for commodities since January 1934,
Quotations, 154 since January 1932.
»
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
72 7
72.6
m
3
505
WHOLESALE PRICES
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign Countries
— Continued
Country.
Czecho
slovakia
Den
mark
Finland
France
Ger
many
India
Italy
Japan
Nether
lands
Central Statisti Central General Federal Depart
of Central
Bureau cal D e Bureau Statisti Statisti ment, Riccardo Bank
Japan, Bureau
Computing agency of Sta
Bachi
part
of Staof Sta cal Bu cal Bu e tc .,8
Tokio
tistics
reau
ment
tistics
reau Calcutta
t ics
Base period.
July
1914 (100)
1913
(100)
1926
(100)
1913
(100)
1913
000)
July
1914 (100)
1913
(100)
October
1900 (100)
1913
(100)
Commodities.
(Gold)
69
118
120
(Paper)
126
400
72
(Paper)
140
56
48
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.
1933.
1934.
3 944. 0
3 968. 0
3 969. 0
3 913. 0
118.6
107. 6
99.5
96.3
83.9
163
153
153
150
130
114
117
125
132
100
101
102
98
90
84
90
89
90
695
642
645
627
554
502
427
398
376
134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6
110.9
96.5
93.3
98.4
148
148
145
141
116
96
91
87
89
602.0
495. 3
461.6
445.3
383.0
328.4
303.7
279.5
273.0
236.7
224.6
226.1
219.8
181.0
153.0
161.1
179.5
177.6
145
148
149
142
117
97
79
74
78
96.6
96.3
95.5
94.6
96.3
98.3
98.3
97.4
96.5
96.2
95.7
95.0
117
124
123
122
123
123
125
126
128
127
128
129
90
89
89
88
88
89
90
90
90
90
90
89
411
404
390
387
383
403
401
397
397
397
403
407
91.0
91.2
91.1
90.7
91.9
92.9
93.9
94.2
94.9
95.7
96.0
96.2
88
86
82
84
87
89
91
89
88
88
88
89
292.0
286.3
281.3
279.1
278.8
281.2
278.9
278.3
275.8
274.1
272.9
275.3
185.0
179.6
177.4
176.2
176.8
179.6
182.1
180.0
182.4
180.4
178.7
175.5
75
74
72
71
72
73
73
73
75
75
76
77
94.6
94.3
<81.1
<80.8
<80.2
<80.5
< 85.1
< 83.9
<84.0
<83.8
< 84.2
<84.2
130
131
129
128
128
128
129
134
135
135
136
135
90
90
90
89
89
89
89
90
90
90
90
90
405
400
394
387
381
379
374
371
365
357
356
344
96.3
96.2
95.9
95.8
96.2
97.2
98.9
100.1
100.4
101.0
101.2
101.0
90
89
88
89
90
90
89
89
89
89
88
88
275. 7
274 6
275.2
273.1
272.6
272.2
269.8
271.4
269.9
271.8
274.1
275.9
175.5
177.5
176.9
176.9
176.2
174.5
174.1
176.9
179.2
181.8
181.1
181.1
79
80
79
79
77
76
77
78
77
77
77
78
< 84.5
< 85.1
<85.3
< 84.9
<85.7
<86.1
<88.0
< 86.0
<85.9
< 85.6
< 86.2
< 86.2
135
135
132
132
131
130
131
134
136
139
139
139
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
91
92
91
350
343
335
336
340
330
322
330
332
342
348
354
101.1
100.9
100.7
100.8
100.8
101.2
101.8
102.4
102.3
102.8
103.1
103.3
94
90
87
88
91
91
91
89
89
93
92
277.2
278.4
288.3
296.1
302.3
307.8
310.1
322.9
329.6
351.3
181.5
184.1
183.5
182.3
182.4
180.2
180.2
1S2. 9
188.9
194.0
193.6
191.9
78
77
75
76
75
75
74
73
75
78
1933
January___
February..
March........
April...........
M ay ..........
June______
J u l y -----------
August___
September.
October___
November.
December..
1934
January—
February..
M arch........
April...........
M ay............
June______
July....... —
August........
September.
October___
November.
December—
1935
January___
February. .
March........
April—........
M ay............
June______
J u ly ...........
August____
September.
October___
November.
December..
8 Paper revised.
< N ew gold parity.
8 Department of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
506
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign
Countries—-Continued
New
Country_________ Zealand Norway
(revised)
Computing agency
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
Base period______ 1909-13
(1,000)
United
Sweden Switzer King
land
dom
Yugo
slavia
Board
of
Trade
Federal
Labor
Depart
ment
Board
of
Trade
N a
tional
Bank
1910
(1,000)
1913
(100)
July
1914
(100)
1930
(100)
1926
(100)
238
188
160
77
«200
55
1 387
1, 395
1,354
1,305
1,155
1,119
1,032
1,047
1,143
144.5
142.2
144.6
141.2
126. 5
109.7
96.0
91.0
89.8
100.0
87.8
85.6
85.7
88.1
100.0
103.4
106.2
100.6
86.6
72.9
65.2
64.4
63.2
91.3
90.1
90.0
91.1
91.6
91.2
91.7
90.9
90.8
90.7
91.0
91.3
84.7
83.5
82.7
82.8
84.3
86.2
86.8
87.2
87.8
87.5
87.6
87.6
67.6
68.4
67.0
66.3
64.9
66.1
63.7
60.4
60.7
61.5
63.1
62.3
91.8
91.4
90.9
89.6
89.0
89.0
88.9
89.8
89.1
89.6
89.4
89.0
88.8
89.2
88.2
87.7
87.2
87.9
87.3
89.0
88.4
87.8
87.5
87.8
62.9
63.6
63.3
63.0
64.1
65.6
62.8
61.1
63.2
63.6
62.7
62.3
88.3
87.6
86.4
87.1
87.6
88.6
89.9
91.4
92.2
93.3
92.8
92.1
88.3
88.0
86.9
87.5
88.2
88.4
88.0
88.4
89.6
91.1
91.2
91.4
64.5
63.9
63.0
62.9
64.0
63.9
63.3
64.8
67.8
70.0
71.2
71.6
Peru
Poland
South
Africa
Central
Bureau
of Sta
tistics
Central
Bank
of Re
serve
Central
Office
of Sta
tistics
Office
of Cen
sus and
Statis
tics
1913
(100)
1913
(100)
1928
(100)
95
(Paper)
58
Commodities__ _
180
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930_____________
1931_____________
1932,........................
1933_____________
1934_____________
1, 553
1,478
1 , 492
1,488
1,449
1,346
1,297
1,308
1,330
157
149
137
122
122
122
124
203. 2
202. 6
191.9
185.7
178.0
175.1
170.3
180.2
188.1
100.0
96.3
85.5
74.6
65.5
59.1
55.8
1,266
1,315
1,316
lj 315
1,323
1 , 321
lj327
1,325
1 , 317
1,317
1,318
1,320
122
121
121
121
121
121
121
122
123
123
122
122
172.2
172.1
173. 7
178.6
178.4
180. 0
181.0
182.1
184.2
186.6
186. 3
186. 9
59.3
60.4
59 8
59.9
59. 6
60.1
60.6
57. 9
58.1
57.9
57. 6
57. 6
1,336
1,339
1, 340
lj 332
1,340
lj 337
lj 336
1,342
lj 337
lj 338
1,340
lj 338
120
122
122
123
123
123
124
127
126
127
126
125
186.8
186. 6
184.1
187.4
187. 8
189 8
188.8
191.4
190.9
187.9
187.0
185.3
57.8
57. 6
57.3
56.8
56. 0
55 8
55.9
55 8
55. 0
54.4
53. 6
53.4
1, 345
1,360
1,365
lj 367
1,371
1,382
1,395
1,403
lj 430
1,446
1,428
125
125
126
125
125
126
127
128
128
130
130
131
186.3
188. 2
191. 2
190.6
190. 4
191. 5
190.7
188. 6
186.7
188.0
188.1
52.7
52. 2
52.1
52.2
52. 7
52. 6
52.9
53. 6
54.2
54.5
54.4
14Q
146
148
140
122
111
109
107
114
1933
January . _ _____
February________
M arch.. ____
April_____ ______
M ay. __________
J u n e.. ________
July____________
August__________
September_______
October _ ____ _
November
. ...
December _______
983
106
106
105
1,013
105
106
106
1,072
108
1,122
109
109
110
110
108
1934
January . _____
February ______
M arch________ _
A p ril... _.
M ay____________
June____________
July____________
August_________
September_______
October_________
N ovem ber..
December.. _ _ _
1,193
1,171
112
112
112
113
113
114
1,102
114
114
114
1,109
114
115
115
1935
January_______ _
February___ _ .
M arch_____ _ . . .
April____________
M ay______ _ . .
June_____ ______
July_____________
A u g u s t.________
September_______
October_________
November_______
D ecem ber..............
« Revised for commodities since January 1930.
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1
1,074
115
115
115
1,044
115
115
116
1,069
116
1,080
115
117
118
118
115
COST OF LIVING
F am ily Budgets in th e C ity o f Bom bay, India, 1932-33
HE average monthly income of 1,469 wage earners’ families in
Bombay City, September 1932 to June 1933, was 50 rupees 1 anna
7 pies, and their average monthly expenditures, 45 rupees 15 annas
9 pies,1 as disclosed through an inquiry made by the Bombay Labor
Office.2 Approximately 64 percent of these families were those of
wage earners in the cotton-mill industry. More than 90 percent of
the workers covered were Hindus and approximately 5 percent were
Mohammedans. The investigation was restricted to the predom
inantly working-class section of the city, a 3-percent sample being
adopted. Some of the other findings of this survey are given below.
Slightly more than one-third of the family units covered were joint
households, namely, groups of relatives living together as distinguished
from natural families. A natural family is defined in the report as one
including “persons who, generally speaking, have a right to be fed,
housed, and clothed by the head of the family; that is to say, the wife
and unmarried children of an individual.”
The average number of persons residing in the families covered by
the study was 3.70 (men 1.33, women 1.26, and children under 14
years of age 1.11). Furthermore, persons depending upon the average
families but not residing with them were shown to average 0.65 per
family.
Although women partially supplement the income of the breadwinner, their
contribution is comparatively little. * * * Considering earners in natural
and joint families separately, it is seen that in 71.43 percent of natural families
the only earner is the head of the family. In 23.73 percent of the cases both the
head of the family and his wife work. In the remaining cases the earners are
either sons or daughters, while very rarely the man has more than one wife whom
he sends to work. While, however, in the case of natural families, in the majority
of cases the head is the only earner, in joint families the story is somewhat dif
ferent. In only 31 percent of the cases is the head of the family the only earner.
In nearly 28 percent of these cases the head of the family and another adult male,
usually his brother, are earners. In a considerable proportion of cases, or about
16 percent, the two workers are the head of the family and an adult female. In
9 percent of the cases both the head of the family and the wife go to work. In
the remaining cases two or more males or females are also earners.
Table 1 shows the average number of workers in the family by sex
and by income groups.
1 Average exchange rate of rupee in June 1933=31.1 cents in United States currency; anna= one-sixteenth
of a rupee; pie= one-twelfth of an anna.
2 Bombay. Labor Office. Report on an enquiry into working-class-family budgets in Bombay C ity.
Bombay, 1935.
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508
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Table 1.—Average Number of Wage Earners and Dependents in 1,469 Families
in Bombay City, September 1932 to June 1933, by Income Groups
[Average exchange rate of rupee in June 1933=31.1 cents]
Average number of workers in the
family
M onthly income group
(Indian currency)
Men
Women
Children
under 14
Average
number of
dependents
Total
Total
All incomes...... ............................................
1.19
0.34
1.53
2.17
3. 70
Under 30 rupees..........................................
30 to 40 rupees_______________ ______
40 t o 50 rupees______________________
50 to 60 r u p e e s..____________________
60 to 70 rupees______ ___________ ____
70 to 80 rupees__ _____ ______________
80 to 90 rupees.. ............... ............... .......
90 rupees and o v e r ....................................
.98
1.04
1.07
1.23
1.30
1.52
1.79
1.75
.12
.32
.41
.38
.31
.39
.48
.24
1.10
1.37
1.48
1.61
1.62
1. 91
2.27
1.99
2.05
1.83
2.02
2.17
2.73
2.46
2.65
2.66
3.15
3.20
3. 50
3.78
4.35
4. 37
4.92
4.65
0.01
.01
The proportion which the different items of expenditure constituted
of the total average expenditure is shown in table 2, for all families
and for families at various income levels. It will be noted that the
higher the income the lower is the percentage for rent and the higher
the percentage for miscellaneous items.
Table 2.— Distribution of Monthly Expenditures of 1,469 Families of Wage
Earners in Bombay City, 1932-33
[Average rate of exchange of rupee, June 1933=31.1 cents; anna= Ho of a rupee; 1 pie=M 2 of an anna]
Item of expenditure
Expenditure of
all families (av
erage monthly
income Rs. 50
la. 7 p.)
Amount
Percentage distribu
tion of families—
Expenditure of m onthly income
of—
Per Under Rs. 30 Rs. 40 Rs. 50 Rs. 60 Rs. 70 Rs. 80 Rs. 90
to
to
to
to
to
and
to
cent Rs. 30 Rs.
40 Rs. 50 Rs. 60 Rs. 70 Rs. 80 Rs. 90 over
Total monthly expendi R s . a . p .
ture...................................... 45 15 9 100.00 100.00 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00 100.00 100.00 100.00
F o o d ......................................
Fuel and ligh t......................
Clothing__ ____ _________
Household necessaries____
R ent____________ ____ _
Miscellaneous.......................
21 6 10
3 4 4
3 9 0
0 1 0
5 14 3
11 12 4
46.60
7.11
7. 75
.13
12.81
25.60
45.61
8. 29
8.72
.11
16. 59
20.68
46.12
7.50
8.18
.14
15.22
22.84
46.67
7.24
7.76
.08
13.22
25. 03
47.47
7.15
7.77
.12
12. 38
25.11
47. 51
6.95
7.73
.10
11.76
25.95
47.30
6.68
7.49
.16
11.08
27.29
46.60
6. 50
7.84
.13
10. 73
28.20
44.97
6.24
6.59
.33
10.16
31.71
Food
T h e average monthly expenditure on food per family amounted
to 21 rupees, 6 annas, 10 pies. Approximately 98 percent of the
families reported buying rice, which together with patni (unpolished
rice) accounted for nearly 13 percent of the total average monthly
expenditure.
The proportional expenditure for various items in the average house
hold budget is reported in table 3.
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COST OF LIVING
Table 3.—Percentage Distribution of Average Monthly Expenditures for Various
Articles of Food by 1,469 Families of Wage Earners in Bombay City, 1932-33
Item
Percent
of total
expendi
ture
All foods.
46.60
Cereals____ _________
Bajri_______ _____
Jowari-.................
Patni____________
R ice.—. ..............
Wheat________ _
Other cereals_____
P u lses......... ...................
Gram______ _____
Tur D al....................
Other pulses............
Chillis..............................
Condiments and spices.
Fish..................................
Ghee.
16.95
1.90
.40
2.94
10.04
1. 53
.14
2.41
.09
1.06
1. 26
.25
2. 55
3.49
Item
Meats:
M utton....... .........
Other........... .........
M ilk.............................
Oils:
Cocoanut oil........
Gingily........ .........
Other oils.............
Onions_______ _____
Potatoes---------------Refreshments........
Salt_________ ______
Sugar, raw...................
Sugar, refined.............
Sweetmeats.................
Tea................................
Tea, ready-made___
Vegetables and fruits.
Other foodstuffs.........
Percent
of total
expendi
ture
1.88
.45
2.69
.58
1.06
.02
.35
.40
1. 52
.4 0
.02
1.99
1.04
.90
.74
4. 71
1.52
Housing
O f t h e 1,469 families under discussion, approximately 74 percent
were living in 1-room tenements, and in 145 cases these dwellings were
shared by 2 families. Twenty-five percent of the families were found
to be living in 2-room tenements. The average floor space per person
was 31.26 square feet, but in 74.48 percent of the cases the average
floor space available per individual was only 29.34 square feet. In
addition to overcrowding, the water supply and sanitation in the
working-class districts leave a great deal to be desired. Notwith
standing this congestion and rackrenting in Bombay city, in certain
sections well-ventilated buildings at cheap rents are vacant. As
a possible explanation of this, it is suggested in the report that the
workers like to live not only near their relatives and friends but also
near their work places. Of the 1,469 heads of families, 23.55 percent
reported that they required less than 10 minutes to get to their work
and 52.21 percent required from 10 to 20 minutes.
Miscellaneous Expenditures
As i n d i c a t e d in table 2 , the miscellaneous group of expenditures
constituted 25.60 percent of the total average monthly expenditures
for the 1,469 families. It was of course impossible to get data on all
miscellaneous items, and the record for the group is, therefore, more
or less incomplete because of the difficulty the purchasers had in
remembering such items. Moreover, in some cases workers were not
willing to give an exact account of their expenditures for liquor,
cigarettes, etc.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Among the nonluxury items which call for special comment is the expenditure
incurred for payments to dependents and the expenditure incurred for traveling
to and from the native place. While dealing with the composition of the family
it has been shown that the average family has 0.65 dependents living away from
the family. * * *. Nearly one-third of the families incur expenditure on this
account and those making remittances to dependents remit slightly over Rs. 6 per
month. This would indeed be a heavy drag on the slender resources of the family
especially in cases where the remittance is intended not for near relatives but for
distant ones. At the same time these remittances maintain the industrial worker’s
link with the village, to which he returns in times of stress and difficulty and where
he expects to be fed and looked after when he is out of employment. It is note
worthy also that no less than 84 percent of the families reported expenditure on
traveling to and from their native place.
The average monthly expenditure for medical fees and medicines
for all families as disclosed in the budgets was 3 annas, while the aver
age expenditure of families actually incurring these expenses was found
to be 1 rupee 8 annas. Only 13 percent of the families, however,
reported any expenditures of this kind. The suggestion is made that
this is “perhaps an indirect tribute to the medical facilities which are
available to the poor.”
Despite the fact that 44 percent of the heads of families were liter
ate, “only 15 percent of them spend money on newspapers.”
Indebtedness
A t th e time of the inquiry about two-thirds of the families were
receiving on an average of approximately 8 rupees more per month
than they were spending, and about one-third of the families reported
an average deficit of approximately 4 rupees per month. Practically
75 percent of the families, however, were in debt, the average indebted
family owing three and one-lialf times as much as its monthly income.
Unemployment, sickness, and the cost of marriages, accounted for
61.88 percent of the causes reported for household debts.
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR
INTEREST
January 1936
Apprenticeship
An explanation of the organization, the administration and the objectives of the
program, of apprentice training. Washington, Federal Committee on Appren
tice Training, 1935. 12 pp., mimeographed. (Bui. No. 2.)
This pamphlet is intended to answer requests for general information concerning
the Federal-State apprentice program. It gives a brief history of the program,
outlines the functions of the Federal committee and the State and trade advisory
committees, and gives specific answer to the question: How can a young person
secure an apprenticeship?
Cooperative Movement
Consumers’ cooperation. A selected list of references compiled by Agnes H.
Campbell. New York, Russell Sage Foundation Library, 130 East 22d
Street, December 1935. 6 pp. (Bui. No. 134.)
Cooperative societies'—statistical summaries, 1925-34- London, Registry of
Friendly Societies, 1935. 3 pp.
The summaries included relate to retail, wholesale, and productive societies,
other than agricultural societies, registered under the industrial and provident
societies acts, 1893 to 1928.
Economic and Social Problems
The British immigrant, his social and economic adjustment in Canada. By Lloyd
G. Reynolds. Toronto, McGill University, 1935. 364 pp., maps, charts.
(Social Research Series No. 2.)
A study of the typical ways in which British immigrants have fitted into or
failed to fit into the occupational and social life of Canadian urban centers. The
four parts of the volume deal respectively with: Selective and distributive factors
in British immigration to Canada; the occupational and residential segregation of
British immigrants in Montreal; the adjustment experience of British immigrant
groups; the maladjusted immigrant.
The author suggests an immigration policy which, he states, is “more restrictive
and more highly selective than any in the previous history of Canada.”
The condition of clerical labour in Britain. By F. D. Klingender. London, Martin
Lawrence, Ltd., 1935. 117 pp.
This study of clerical workers in Great Britain gives a historical review of social
and economic conditions of clerks from the middle of the 19th century to the
present. The emphasis is placed upon salaries and changes in salary rates, the
great increase in the number of clerical workers, especially women, and what
the author calls the “proletarianizing” process they have undergone. A signifi
cant factor in that process, the author holds, has been the loss of the characteristic
feeling of security in clerical work, resulting from recent unemployment.
An economic appraisal of the New Deal. By Walter E. Spahr. New York,
Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1935. 27 pp. (Pamphlet No. 6.)
A critical discussion of monetary policies under the New Deal and the theory
underlying the National Industrial Recovery Act.
511
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— FEBRUARY 1936
Farm tenancy in the United States, 1925-35— a beginning of a bibliography. Com
piled by Louise O. Bercaw and Helen E. Hennefrund. Washington,. U. S.
Bureau of Agricultural Economics, November 1935. 86 pp., mimeographed.
(Agricultural Economics Bibliography No. 59.)
References to material on social, economic, and labor conditions are included
Industrial organization in India. By P. S. Lokanathan. London, London
School of Economics and Political Science, 1935. 413 pp. (Studies in
Economics and Commerce, No. 4.)
An examination of the structure and efficiency of industrial organization in
India, including the origin, development, characteristics, and future of the
managing-agency system which is peculiar to that country. In the author’s
judgment, Indian industry will gain more by eliminating defects than by abolish
ing the system. The last chapter of the volume deals with the efficiency of
industrial labor in relation to wages and the standard of living
Insurgent America: Revolt of the middle-classes. By Alfred M. Bingham. New
York, Harper & Bros., 1935. 253 pp., charts.
This study of social forces in America is based upon the premise that “the
break-down of the capitalist system presents a problem in social engineering, a
solution to which can be sought by7 scientific methods.” The effective application
of such methods, however, according to this author, requires political action,
which in turn calls for a new political party “in which working-class and middleclasses may bring their joint pressure to bear on the same side of the struggle.”
Labor in agriculture— an international survey. By Louise E. Howard. London,
Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1935. 339 pp.
Reviewed in this issue.
A list of American economic histories. By Everett E. Edwards. Washington,
U. S. Department of Agriculture Library, November 1935. 25 pp., mimeo
graphed. (Bibliographical Contributions No. 27.)
The contents of each book listed in the bibliography are shown, and most of
the entries are accompanied by references to magazine reviews.
Organization des échanges et création de travail. By Edgard Milhaud and others.
Paris, Recueil Sirey, 1934. 404 pp.
A collection of papers dealing with economic questions, originally published
in the French Annals of Collective Economy during the year 1934.
Organizing prosperity. By David Lloyd George. London, Ivor Nicholson &
Watson, 1935. 107 pp.
A memorandum on unemployment and reconstruction, stating the problem
and recommending machinery to deal with it. A national development board is
proposed to survey resources, and prepare and approve plans for land develop
ment, industrial organization, etc. The State, under the plan, would guarantee
capital loans.
Profit and social security: A study of costs, claims, and controls under capitalism.
By Nelson B. Gaskill. New York, Harper & Bros., 1935. xviii, 260 pp.
On the theory that present-day society must “abandon the search for a solu
tion of economic ills by the process of negation”, the author, a former member
of the Federal Trade Commission, presents a brief for “the retention both of the
private property device and the capitalistic system” through the positive process
of regulation of competition, costs, and prices.
Six years of the agrarian crisis, in figures and diagrams. Moscow, International
Agrarian Institute, 1935. 140 pp. (In Russian.)
Contains statistical information in regard to agricultural production in various
countries, with data on prices.
Social planning for Canada. By the research committee of the League for Social
Reconstruction. Toronto, Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd., 1935. 528 pp.
Chapters are devoted to a code for labor; health and welfare services; distribu
tive services, including consumers’ cooperative societies; and a housing program.
A social survey of Plymouth {England). London, P. S. King & Son, 1935. 36 pp.
This preliminary report of a social survey of Plymouth, made under the auspices
of the Department of Economics of the University College of the South-West of
England, deals primarily with housing conditions, particularly population density
and overcrowding. Income in relation to a standard “poverty line” is also
covered.
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513
Toynbee Hall: Fifty years of social progress, 1884-1934.- By J. A. R. Pimlott.
London, J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1935. 315 pp., map, illus.
A history of the founding and development of “the mother of settlements”,
of its influence upon social service in England and elsewhere, and its contribution
to workers’ education and kindred movements. The last chapter presents a
brief discussion of social settlements throughout the world that are “offspring” of
Toynbee.
Trade and economic conditions in China, 1933-1935. Report by A. H. George.
London, Department of Overseas Trade, 1935. I l l pp.
Annexes included with this report cover trade and economic conditions in
Hongkong and South China, and in Manchuria.
What the depression has done to cities. By Clarence Eugene Ridley. Chicago,
International City Managers’ Association, 850 East 58th Street, 1935.
55 pp., chart, illus.
An account, by 13 authorities on municipal activities, of the effects of the
depression on civic and welfare services of various cities and the measures which
have been taken to maintain them in the face of reduced appropriations and
resources.
Employment and Unemployment
Interview aids and trade questions for employment offices. By Lorin Andrew
Thompson, Jr., and associates. New York, Harper & Brothers, 1936.
173 pp.
Embodies the results of the Cincinnati Employment Center’s efforts to develop
standard procedure for the registration and classification of applicants. For use
in interviewing workers who claim competence in skilled trades, trade questions
with answers are provided.
Housing
The amended modernization credit plan. Washington, Federal Housing Adminis
tration, 1935. 31 pp.
Contains regulations, as amended July 15, 1935, which are made a part of the
Federal Housing Administrator’s contract of insurance, with explanatory material
and other official information for the guidance of insured institutions operating
under title I of the National Housing Act. This bulletin supersedes bulletins
1 and 2 of the Administration.
Complete program, better selling of better housing. Washington, Federal Housing
Administration, 1935. 42 pp., illus.
A plan for stimulating and coordinating sales effort for better housing in every
community.
First annual report of the Federal Housing Administration. Washington, 1935.
28 pp., map, charts. (House Doc. No. 88, 74th Cong., 1st sess.)
The report covers operations for the period commencing with the approval of
the National Housing Act on June 27, 1934, and ending December 31, 1934.
Housing in Philadelphia, 1934■ By Bernard J. Newman. Philadelphia, Phila
delphia Housing Association, 1600 Walnut Street, 1935. 31 pp., illus.
Discusses the existing situation in Philadelphia with respect to housing needs,
insanitation, dwelling construction, demolitions, sheriff’s sales, and rents. A
description of the Carl Mackley houses financed through a Federal Government
loan is included.
The proceedings of the Purdue [University] Research Foundation Homes Conference,
June 1, 1935. Lafayette, Ind., 1935. 56 pp., illus.
The Resettlement Administration. Washington, U. S. Resettlement Administra
tion, 1935. 28 pp., illus.
A descriptive pamphlet touching upon the organization and work of the
Resettlement Administration. The status of the construction work of the
Administration at the end of 1935 is described in an article in this issue of the
Monthly Labor Review, which includes some data from this pamphlet.
Industrial Accidents, Health, and Hygiene
Accident experience and cost in California metal mines. By S. H. Ash. Washing
ton, U. S. Bureau of Mines, 1935. 32 pp., mimeographed. (Information
Circular 6861.)
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Accident experience and direct costs in some Colorado coal mines, 1929-38. By
E. H. Denny and F. R. Jennings. Washington, U. S. Bureau of Mines,
1935. 22 pp., mimeographed. (Information Circular 6860.)
The cost of industrial accidents in Illinois for the year 1932. By Peter T. Swanish.
Chicago, Illinois Department of Labor, Division of Statistics and Research,
1935. 29 pp., mimeographed.
Industrial-accident data for 1932 and previous years, and distribution of 1932
injuries and compensation costs by causes, industry, sex, and age. The number
of compensable accidents reported for 1932 was 25,462, of which 453 were fatal
and 25,009 were nonfatal. Compensation payments in 1932 totaled $7,473,622.
Congres International des Accidents et des Maladies du Travail, V IIme, Bruxelles,
du 22 au 26 juillet 1935: Rapports. Brussels, Secrétariat Général, 23, Rue
du Commerce, 1935. 3 vols.
The first volume of this report of the 7th International Congress on Industrial
Accidents and Diseases deals wdth the pathology of pain and with injuries caused
by electricity; the second with injuries to the skull and hand and fingers; and the
third, covering occupational diseases, deals with the effects and measurement of
industrial dusts and coal mine gases, and investigations as to the causes of carbonmonoxide asphyxia.
Effects of the nxtro derivatives of benzol upon the organism■—an experimental clinical
investigation. Khar’kov, Soviet Union, Ukrainian State Institute of Pathol
ogy and Labor Hygiene, 1935. 318 pp., charts, illus. (In Russian.)
Falls of coal and rock on man-trips in bituminous coal mines. By C. W. Owings.
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Mines, 1935. 7 pp., mimeographed. (Infor
mation Circular 6863.)
Describes a number of accidents, involving man-trips, indicates probable
causes, and shows ways of preventing similar accidents.
Final report, fifth annual Greater Cleveland industrial safety campaign, promoted
by Industrial Commission of Ohio, Division of Safety and Hygiene, and the
Cleveland Safety Council, cooperating with all allied industries of Greater
Cleveland; accident prevention contest, A pril 1 to September 80, 1985. Colum
bus, Ohio Industrial Commission, 1935. 16 pp., charts.
The report shows that 60.19 percent of the 1,117 firms participating in the
accident-prevention contest operated during the six months without a single
chargeable lost-time accident.
Health and human progress: An essay in sociological medicine. By René Sand.
London, Kegan Paul, French, Trubner & Co., Ltd., 1935. 278 pp.
The author discusses the differences between social classes writh regard to
physical and mental characteristics and prevalence of sickness, and various
factors in relation to health, such as heredity and environment, occupation,
economic condition, and education, and points out the lines along which progress
may be directed. A bibliography is included.
The health and safety of worn,en in industry. Washington, U. S. Women’s Bureau,
1935. 23 pp. (Bui. No. 136.)
Industrial health and safety hazards, especially as they affect employed women,
are discussed in this report, and certain essential standards are outlined.
Opium and labor. Geneva, International Labor Office, 1935. 67 pp. Studies
and Reports, Series B, No. 22. (American agent: World Peace Foundation,
Boston.)
An account of an investigation into the extent of opium smoking among workers
and its effects upon conditions of life and labor.
Regulations respecting the protection of persons working in compressed air. Quebec,
Department of Labor, 1935. 15 pp. In English and French. (Order
in Council No. 544 of February 22, 1935.)
Some observations as to safety hazards in Iff Northern Colorado sub-bituminous coal
mines. By E. H. Denny. Washington, U. S. Bureau of Mines, 1935.
15 pp., mimeographed. (Information Circular 6862.)
Summary and analysis of accidents on steam railways in the United States subject
to the Interstate Commerce Act, for the calendar year 193/b Washington,
Interstate Commerce Commission, Bureau of Statistics, 1935. 93 pp.,
charts. (Accident Bui. No. 103.)
Reviewed in this issue.
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Industrial Relations
History of Labor in the United States, 1896-1932. Vo]. I ll: Working conditions,
by Don D. Lescohier; Labor legislation, by Elizabeth Brandeis. New York,
Macmillan Co., 1935. xxx, 778 pp.
This volume concludes the new series prepared as a continuation of the original
two-volume history by John R. Commons and associates (published by Macmillan
Co. in 1918), volume IV, dealing with labor movements from 1896 to 1932, having
been previously released.
The section on working conditions deals with changes in occupations and
characteristics of the wage-earning population, hours, wages, extent of unemploy
ment, unemployment relief measures, and employment policies. The section on
labor legislation reviews specific laws enacted between 1896 and 1932, discusses
administrative and enforcement machinery and methods, the rapidly increasing
tendency toward the legislative method of meeting labor problems, and the
relation between labor legislation and the Constitution as developed through
court decisions. The introduction to volumes III and IV, by John R. Commons,
which is included in vol. I ll, analyzes developments and trends in the 40 years
intervening since the period covered by the earlier history.
Report of the commission appointed to enquire into the disturbances in the copper
belt of Northern Rhodesia. London, [Colonial Office], 1935. 65 pp., map,
plan. (Cmd. 5009.)
A detailed account of a strike of copper-mine workers in Northern Rhodesia
and measures taken to effect a settlement. Sections are also devoted to wages,
taxation, rations, and unemployment.
Steel— dictator. By Harvey O’Connor. New York, John Day Co., 1935.
383 pp., illus.
International Labor Organization
Federal States and labor treaties: Relations of Federal States to the International
Labor Organization. By William Lonsdale Tayler. New York, 1935. 171
pp. (Published by William Lonsdale Tayler, executive secretary, National
Committee for the I. L. O., 405 West 117th Street, New York City.)
This study is concerned in considerable part with the original drafting of the
article in the International Labor Organization constitution which deals with the
special situation of member Federal States with limited authority in matters of
labor legislation. It also reviews the experience of such Federal States as Aus
tralia, Canada, and Switzerland in the ratification of conventions, and describes
briefly the peculiar problems of the United States as a member of the International
Labor Organization.
The International Labor Organization. By William Gorham Rice. Washington,
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 10 pp. (Serial No. R. 318, reprint
from December 1935 Monthly Labor Review.)
The International Labor Organization and social insurance. Geneva, International
Labor Office, 1936. 219 pp. Studies and Reports, Series M, No. 12. (Amer
ican agent: World Peace Foundation, Boston.)
Covers the development of social insurance, the work of the International
Labor Office in this field, and the draft conventions and recommendations adopted
by the International Labor Conference covering workmen’s compensation, sick
ness, invalidity, old-age, and widows’ and orphans’ insurance, noncontributory
pensions, and maintenance of migrant workers’ pension rights.
Labor Legislation.
Proceedings of the Second National Conference on Labor Legislation, Asheville, N. C.,
October \- 5 , 1935. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor, Division of
Labor Standards, 1935. 118 pp. (Bui. No. 3.)
An abbreviated account of the proceedings of this conference was given in the
November 1935 Monthly Labor Review.
Negro in Industry
Industrial commission on Negro affairs. Hearings (74t,h Cong., 1st sess.) before
Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, June
18, 1935, on H. R. 5733, to create an industrial commission on Negro affairs.
Washington, 1935. 41 pp.
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The duties of the commission provided for in this bill would include the study
of the Negro’s economic status and the labor questions in which he is basically
interested; the encouragement of industry and thrift among Negroes; the promo
tion of the general welfare of Negroes in industrial pursuits; and the working out
of plans for the solution of the various problems that confront the Negro race in
this country.
Occupations
Index of occupations (alphabetical arrangement). Washington, Works Progress
Administration, 1935. 463 pp., mimeographed. (Circular No. 2a.)
This index is based mainly upon the occupational titles of the Alphabetical
Index of Occupations, Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, and was issued
in the belief that it would make possible the uniform coding of occupations and
the standardizing of labor inventory reports.
Planning
Establishment of a national planning board. Washington, United States Senate,
Committee on Commerce, 1935. 4 pp. (Report No. 974, to accompany S.
2825, 74th Cong., 1st sess.)
National planning board of 1935. Hearing (74th Cong., 1st sess.) before the
Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, June 13, 1935, on S. 2825,
a bill to provide for the establishment of a national planning board and the
organization and functions thereof. Washington, 1935, 46 pp.
First annual report of progress made by the New Jersey State Planning Board,
Trenton, 1935. 147 pp., maps, charts.
Reports on planning surveys and studies of the State covering the physical,
social, and economic make-up. The existing legislation on planning is reproduced
in an appendix.
Prices and Cost of Living
Family expenditure. By R. G. D. Allen and A. L. Bowley. London, London
School of Economics and Political Science, 1935. 145 pp. (Studies in
Statistics and Scientific Method, No. 2.)
This study is concerned with the variations in family expenditures within a
class, rather than with average expenditures for different classes within the
population. The book attempts to fill a gap in knowledge on this subject and to
relate the whole to the mathematical theory of economics.
Die Grosshandelspreise in Deutschland von 1792 bis 1934. By Alfred Jacobs and
Hans Richter. Berlin, Institut für Konjunkturforschung, 1935. I l l pp.,
charts. (Sonderhefte Nr. 37.)
A report on wholesale prices in Germany from 1792 to 1934.
Report on an enquiry into working class family budgets in Bombay City. Bombay,
Labor Office Secretariat, 1935. 44 pp.
Reviewed in this issue.
Relief Measures and Methods
Annual report of public assistance division, board of public welfare, District of
Columbia, July 1, 1934, to June 30, 1935. Washington, 1935. 64 pp.,
chart, mimeographed.
Digest of blind assistance laws of the several States and territories, as of October 15,
1935 (revised). Washington, Federal Emergency Relief Administration,
Division of Research, Statistics and Finance, 1935. 11 pp., mimeographed.
Gives in tabular form for each State the principal provisions of its blind-assist
ance law.
Digest of State and Territorial laws granting aid to dependent children in their own
homes, as of November 1, 1935. Washington, Federal Emergency Relief
Administration, Division of Research, Statistics, and Finance, 1935. 26 pp.,
mimeographed.
Tabulates, State by State, the principal provisions of the children’s aid acts, with
special reference to their acceptability under the Federal Social Security Act.
Final report of Illinois Governor’s Commission on the Relief Problem, submitted June
1, 1935. Springfield, 1935. Various paging, mimeographed.
. Covers such subjects as methods of relief (public works, direct relief, rehabilitation), social legislation (poor laws, aid for dependent children, old-age security,
unemployment compensation), and organization of a welfare program and its
financing.
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First annual report, Puerto Rico Emergency Relief Administration, August 19, 1933,
to August 31, 1934. San Juan, 1935. 571 pp., charts, folders, illus.
On relief, May 1935. Washington, Federal Emergency Relief Administration,
Division of Research, Statistics, and Finance, 1935. 47 pp.
A collection of pictorial charts, based on statistics from the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration, the Committee on Economic Security, and Brookings
Institution, presenting various aspects of the relief problem.
Social Insurance
Administration of public employment offices and unemployment insurance, Canada,
France, Sweden, and Switzerland. New York, Industrial Relations Counselors,
Inc., 1935. 395 pp., maps, charts.
This volume is the third in a series of studies on the administrative aspect
of public employment services and unemployment insurance. Emphasis is
placed upon the administrative features of public employment services rather
than upon their placement services, as was planned when the series was started,
because of the interest in the United States in the subject of unemployment
insurance and the fact that this form of social insurance is administered in large
measure by placing organizations.
Grundriss der Reichsversicherung. By Lutz Richter. Stuttgart, W. Kohlhammer, 1935. 100 pp.
_
#
. . .
Reviews the condition of present-day social insurance in Germany, including
sickness, invalidity, old-age, accident, and miners’ insurance, from the point
of view of reforms instituted by the National Socialist regime.
The New York unemployment insurance law. Albany, New York Department of
Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance, 1935. 31 pp.
The workings of the New York unemployment insurance law covering the
points most frequently raised by the employers and workers are explained in
this pamphlet.
Railway Retirement Act of 1935. Washington, United States Senate, Com
m ittee on Interstate Commerce, 1935. 4 pp. (Report No. 1363, to ac
company S. 3151, 74th Cong., 1st sess.)
Retirement system for employees of carriers. Hearings (74th Cong., 1st sess.)
before a subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate Commerce, United
States Senate, July 11, 15, and 22, 1935, on S. 3151, a bill to establish a
retirement system for employees of carriers subject to the Interstate Com
merce Act. Washington, 1935. 236 pp.
Report presented pursuant to Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925. London,
Government Actuary, 1935. 23 pp.
Thirteenth annual report of the board of trustees of the New Jersey State employees’
retirement system, [July 1, 1934> 1° June 30, 1935], Trenton, 1935. 29 pp.
Wages and Hours of Labor
Annual earnings of railroad employees, 1924-33. Washington, Office of Federal
Coordinator of Transportation, Section of Labor Relations, 1935. 198 pp.}
charts
Advance data from this survey were published in the July 1935 Monthly
Labor Review.
Average annual wage and salary payments in Ohio, 1916 to 1932. By Fred C.
Croxton, Frederick E. Croxton, and Frank C. Croxton. Washington,
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1935. 181 pp., charts. (Bui. No. 613.)
A psychologist looks at wage-incentive methods. By Richard Stephen Uhrbrock.
New York, American Management Association, 20 Vesey Street, 1935.
32 pp., charts. (Institute of Management Series 15.)
Emphasizes the increasing recognition on the part of efficiency engineers of
the problem created by the antagonism of workers to wage-incentive systems,
and points out that a technique which vitally affects men’s earnings cannot be
successful in the long run unless the workers understand and appreciate the
procedure.
Earninqs and hours of labor in the baking industry, 1933 and 1934. Washington,
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 17 pp.
(Serial No. R. 325, reprint
from December 1935 Monthly Labor Review.)
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Regulations 'prescribed by the Secretary of Labor as to the procedure to be followed
in predetermining prevailing rates of wages. Washington, U. S. Department
of Labor, September 30, 1935. 5 pp.
To limit hours of service [of certain employees engaged in interstate commerce by
railroad]. Hearings (74th Cong., 1st sess.) before a subcommittee of the
Committee on Interstate Commerce, United States Senate, June and
July 1935, on S. 1562, a bill to amend section 62, chapter 3, title 45, of the
Code of Laws of the United States of America. Washington, 1935. 183 pp.
The aim of the proposed legislation -was to promote the safety of employees
and travelers upon the railroads by limiting the hours of service of railroad
employees. The evidence presented at the hearings covered in this report
aimed to show the influence of long working hours upon the efficiency and health
of train dispatchers. One of the exhibits shows the mortality experience of
train dispatchers from 1919 to April 1, 1935, by age,‘y ears of experience, and
cause of death.
Union scales of wages and hours in the building trades in 1934 and 1935. Wash
ington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1935. 12 pp. (Serial No. R. 306,
reprint from November 1935 Monthly Labor Review.)
Wages and hours of labor in petroleum refineries. Washington, U. S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 1935. 15 pp. (Serial No. R. 311, reprint from Novem
ber 1935 Monthly Labor Review.
Women in Industry
Report of the departmental committee on the employment of women and young
persons on the two-shift system. London, Home Office, 1935. 97 pp.
(Cmd. 4914.)
Reviewed in this issue.
Workmen’s Compensation
Annual report of Workmen’s Compensation Department, Kansas Commission of
Labor and Industry, for fiscal year ending June 30, 1935. Topeka, 1935.
41 pp., pasters, charts.
The report shows that 59 fatal and 6,364 nonfatal injuries were reported in
Kansas during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1935. The data are not given by
counties and municipalities as in previous years. Compensation in 3,030 cases
closed during the year, shown by industry and by extent of disability, amounted
to $514,396.45, and medical costs in 2,428 cases, to $143,654.18. Tabulations
of injuries reported for an 8-year period are given by industries and by causes.
Annual statistical report of Ohio Industrial Commission, 193J. A statistical study
of all accident and occupational-disease claims filed with the Industrial
Commission of Ohio during the calendar year 1934, with a summary of the
years 1926-1934, inclusive. Columbus, 1935. 27 pp.
The report shows a total of 159,248 occupational injury claims filed in 1934,
including 956 fatalities, 5 permanent total disabilities, 1,443 permanent partial
disabilities, and 156,844 temporary injuries. Of the temporary injuries, 108,229
involved no time loss, 18,514 a time loss of 7 days or under, and 30,101 a time
loss of more than 7 days. The year 1934 showed an increase in number of
occupational-injury claims over 1933, in which a total of only 130,316 claims
were registered.
Youth Problems
Youth and leisure: A survey of girls’ organizations in England and Wales. By
Madeline Rooff. Edinburgh, T. and A. Constable, Ltd., 1935. 264 pp",
maps, charts, ill us.
Girls’ clubs and organizations and the social, recreational, educational, and
religious activities of various youth groups are described. There are also in
cluded discussions of economic and social conditions and of housing in relation
to leisure.
Youth in the depression. By Kingsby Davis. Chicago, University of Chicago
Press, 1935. 47 pp., illus.
Briefly reviews some of the effects of recent adverse industrial and economic
conditions upon the young people of this country and also gives information on
youth movements in other countries.
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General Reports
Annual general report for 1984 on the economic, social, and general conditions of
the Island of Ceylon. Colombo, [Registrar General and Director of Com
mercial Intelligence?], 1935. 131 pp., map, diagrams, illus.
Data on wages and labor conditions from this report are given in this issue of
the Monthly Labor Review. Among other subjects treated in the volume are
population, health, housing, production, and public works.
Annual report of the Commissioner of Labor of Puerto Rico, 1934-35. San Juan,
1935. 121 pp., charts.
Reviews the activities of the various divisions of the Department of Labor of
Puerto Rico during 1934-35, and gives data on wages and working hours, collec
tion of wage claims, industrial disputes, industrial accidents and workmen’s com
pensation, retail prices of food, women and children in industry, and workmen’s
settlements. Some of the wage figures are given in this issue of the Monthly
Labor Review.
Annual report of the Governor of Puerto Rico, [fiscal year ending June 30, 1935],
San Juan, 1935. 198 pp., maps, charts, folders.
The text of this report reviews various governmental activities. The tables
and exhibits include statistics on public works, agriculture, trade and commerce,
health and vital statistics, education, wages, working hours, and employment.
Annual report of the director of the Institute for Science of Labor, Kurasilci, Japan,
for 1984■ Kurasiki, 1935. 40 pp., chart.
In the year under review the research projects completed under the auspices
of the Institute included those on the following subjects: The environmental
conditions of labor, labor physiology and psychology, qualifications of workers,
occupational diseases and accidents, and national nutrition.
Anuario general de estadistica [de Colombia], 1984. Bogotá, Departamento de
Contraloria, 1935. 596 pp., maps, charts.
Includes statistics of social welfare; prices of principal foods; daily wages in
manufacturing industries, by locality and industry, in 1934; and daily agricul
tural wages, with and without board, by locality, in March 1935.
Concise statistical year book of Poland, 1985. Warsaw, Chief Bureau of Statistics,
1935. 235 pp., map. (In English.)
A general statistical yearbook including data on prices, family budgets, wages,
employment, work of employment exchanges, labor turnover, labor organizations,
strikes and lock-outs, collective bargaining, vacations with pay, social insurance,
and cooperative societies.
Conference of British Commonwealth statisticians, held at Ottawa, Canada, from
September 18 to October 9, 1935. Report and resolutions. Ottawa, J. O.
Patenaude, I. S. O., 1935. 49 pp.
The discussions and recommendations reported in this publication concern
the securing of greater uniformity in statistics on production, trade, prices,
employment and unemployment, wages and hours of labor, cost of living,
industrial disputes, industrial accidents, and other subjects.
Economic conditions in Iran (Persia), July 1985. Report by S. Simmonds. Lon
don, Department of Overseas Trade, 1935. 55 pp., map.
A section on social questions discusses briefly cost of living, wages, employment,
education, and health and hygiene.
Estonia— population, cultural and economic life. Tallinn, Central Bureau of
Statistics, 1935. 225 pp., map, charts, illus. (In English.)
Social insurance, production, and the cooperative movement are among the
topics covered.
Report of the New Zealand Department of Labor, April 1, 1934, to March 81, 1935.
Wellington, 1935. 24 pp.
Reviews operations under various legislative acts concerning labor and pre
sents data on industrial accidents, minimum wage rates fixed under the concilia
tion and arbitration act, legal decisions, apprenticeship, and rent restriction, and
lists of employers’ and workers’ organizations.
o
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