The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ROYAL MEEKER, Commissioner
MONTHLY
LABOR REVIEW
VOLUME X
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NUMBER 1
JANUARY. 1920
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CONTENTS,
Page,
Special articles:
1-2G
• Tlie International Labor Conference, by Mrs. V. B. Turner_______
Cost of living in the United States—Furniture and house fur
nishings____________________
27-34
Quantity-cost budget necessary to maintain a single man or woman
in Washington, D.C_____ _________________________________
35-44
The British national health insurance system, 1911-1919. by Henry
J. H arris___________________________
45-59
Industrial Relations:
Prelimniary statement of President’s industrial conference______
60-68
Prices and cost of living:
Retail prices of food in the United States______________________
69-89
Comparison of retail food prices in 50 cities in the United States_
90-92
Index numbers of wholesale prices in the United States_________
92, 93
Comparison of retail price changes in the United States and foreign
countries________________________________________________
93-95
Retail price changes in Great Britain_________________________
95, 9G
Changes in cost of living in the United States, 1913 to October, 1919_ 97. 9S
Changes in cost of living in the District of Columbia____________
9S, 99
Production, colst storage holdings, and wholesale and retail prices
of butter and cheese, by Elma B. Carr_______________________ 100-114
Cost of living in Germany, 1916 to 191S-------------------------------------114-117
Wages and hours of labor:
Wages and hours of labor in woodworking industries___________118-141
War-time changes in wages___________________________________ 141-144
Wages of women in hotels and restaurants in the District of
Columbia__________________________________________________144-14S
Cost of living in relation to wage adjustments_________________ 148-152
Increases in pay of policemen in the District of Columbia_\_____1G3-155
Increases in British army pay------------------------------------------------ 156,157
Standard rates of pay of officers and crews of Italian merchant
marine. Translated by Alfred Maylander____________________ 15S-173
Shorter working day in German coal mines____________________ 173-177
Have wage increases improved the economic condition of German
workers?__________________________
178.179
Minimum wage:
American minimum wage laws at work________________________
180
Cooperation:
Activities of British cooperative societiesduring 1917--------------------1S1-183
Vocational education:
Minnesota plan for the reeducation and placement of cripples, by
Oscar M. Sullivan_________________________________________ 1S4-1S9
Agreement providing part-time instruction for textile workers--------1S9,190
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
hi
IV
CO NTENTS.
Employees’ representation:
Page.
Works councils and shop committees in the United States_______ 101-101
Application of industrial council plan to British civil service------ 105,106
Employment and unemployment:
Employment in selected industries in November, 1010___________ 107-201
Report of employment exchanges in the United Kingdom________
202
Volume of employment in the United Kingdom in October, 1010__ 203, 204
Employment of disabled ex-service men in Great Britain_________ 205-207
Women in industry:
Women in the Government service_____________________________ 208-217
Industrial accidents:
New basis for measuring accident frequency and severity rates----- 218, 219
Industrial hygiene and medicine:
A standard method of sickness reporting_______________________ 220-223
Study of influenza-pneumonia among wage earners_____________ 223, 224
Advantages of industrial clinics in general hospitals____________ 224, 225
Physiologic needsof womanworkers in relation to incomes_______ 225, 226
The use of psychiatry in industrial medicine______________ 1— 226-229
Workmen’s compensation:
Comparison of compensation laws in the United States, including
1919 legislation, by CarlHookstadt__________________________ 230-247
Reports of industrial accident boards:
Idaho__________________________________________________ 247,248
M aryland______________________________________________ 248, 249
M ontana_______________________________________________ 249-251
Medical treatment for Government employees under Federal com
pensation act-------------------------------------------------------------------- 251-254
Social insurance:
Attitude of Medical Society of the State of New York toward com
pulsory health insurance___________________ ___ _________ __ 255-258
Report of British Departmental Committee on old-age pensions___ 25S, 259
Accident insurance law of France amended to include occupational
diseases__________________ _______________________________ 259-261
Social insurance in Portugal____________________ ’____________ 261-265
Labor departments:
Proposed organization of New York State Department of Labor__ 266-269
Strikes and lockouts:
“ V acations” in the printing industry in New Yorw City, by A. J.
P o rten ar_________________________________________________ 270-279
Berlin metal workers’ strike________________________________ 279-2S1
Immigration:
Immigration in October, 1919_______________________________ 2S2,283
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United S ta te s______________________________________ 284-2S8
Official—foreign countries___________________________________ 289-295
Unofficial__________________________________________________ 295-303
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
VOL. X—NO. 1
WASHINGTON
JANUARY, 1920
The International Labor Conference,1
By Mrs. V. B. T urner.
HE first world labor conference was in session in Washington
from October 29 to November 29, 1919. Called in accordance
with the provisions of the labor convention in the Peace
Treaty, and meeting in the Pan American Building, which is dedi
cated to the cause of Pan American peace and progress, the conference
had a definite purpose—the adoption of measures looking toward the
promotion of industrial peace, without which no national peace is
really possible.
In welcoming the delegates Hon. William B. Wilson, United
States Secretary of Labor, emphasized the fact that since the days of
“ Moses, as the spokesman, the angel, the walking delegate, of the
brick makers of Israel, until the present time, the relationship that
should exist between employers and employees, the best means of
securing the acme of production while safeguarding those who toil,
and the equitable distribution of that which has been produced, have
been ever present questions.” The proper solution of these problems,
upon which the progress of the world depends, he continued, must
include the spiritual nature of man as well as his material comfort,
and can not be arrived at hastily. Universal justice and harmony
are not to be achieved overnight. The slow process of experimenta
tion must be followed, in which the bad must be rejected, the good
retained, and all so adapted that nothing could occur that would
“ destroy the basis of the structure of modern civilization, the demo
cratic institutions that exist in numerous nations of the world; for
after all, of what avail the plow, the sail, or land or light or life, if
freedom fail?”
1 T h is a r tic le w a s prepared for in se rtio n in th e D ecem ber issu e o f th e M o n t h l y L abor
R e v ie w , but th e co n feren ce had n o t a d jo u rn ed w hen th e D ecem ber is su e w e n t to press,
and it w a s th o u g h t a d v isa b le to hold th e a r tic le for th e p resen t num ber. In th e m ean
tim e a copy w a s g iv e n to th e co nferen ce, w h ich had it m im eograph ed for general
c ircu la tio n .
T h e fu ll te x t o f th e d r a ft c o n v e n tio n s and reco m m en d ation s adop ted by th e In te r
n a tio n a l C onference w ill be pu blished in th e February is su e o f th e M o n t h l y L abor
R e v ie w .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1]
1
2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Preliminary to the permanent organization of the conference the
report of the international organizing committee was presented for
adoption. This committee, appointed to assist the Government of
the United States of America in making necessary arrangements for
the International Labor Conference, consisted of seven members, ap
pointed by the United States of America, Great Britain, France,
Italy, Japan, Belgium, and Switzerland, as follows:
United States of America: Dr. J. T. Shotwell (provisionally), professor at
Columbia University.
Great Britain : Sir Malcolm Delevingne, K. C. B., Assistant Under-Secretary
of State, Home Office.
France: Mr. Arthur Fontaine, Councillor of State, Director of Labor.
Italy : Mr. di Palma Castiglione, Inspector of Emigration.
Japan : Dr. M. Oka, formerly Director of Commercial and Industrial Affairs
at the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce.
Belgium : Mr. E. Mahaim, professor- at Liège University.
Switzerland: Mr. W. E. Rappard (provisionally), professor at Geneva Uni
versity.
Mr. Arthur Fontaine, Director of the Labor Department of the
French Ministry of Labor, had been elected chairman of the com
mittee, and Mr. H. B. Butler, Assistant Secretary of the British
Ministry of Labor, had been appointed secretary. The agenda for
discussion and action by the conference, as set forth in the annex to
the labor convention included in the Peace Treaty, embraced the fol
lowing subjects :
1. Application of the principle of the S-hour day or of the 4S-hour week.
2. Question of preventing or providing against unemployment.
3. Women’s employment :
(a) Before and after childbirth, including the question of maternity benefit.
( b ) During the night.
(c) In unhealthy processes.
4. Employment of children :
(a) Minimum age of employment.
( b ) During the night.
(c) In unhealthy processes.
5. Extension and application of the international convention adopted at.
Bern in 1906, on the prohibition of night work for women employed in industry,
and the prohibition of the use of white phosphorus in the manufacture of
matches.
The committee’s report pointed out that the conference would also
have to deal (1) with the appointment of the governing body of the
International Labor Office, and (2) the approval of rules of pro
cedure.
Through a questionnaire sent out to the different countries, infor
mation was secured regarding existing legislation and practice in
respect to the various subjects enumerated in the agenda, together
with proposals from the respective Governments as to how these
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
3
subjects should be dealt with in the conference. Upon the informa
tion thus obtained the organizing committee based the suggestions for
draft conventions and recommendations which it submitted to the
conference, in the form of four reports, as a basis of discussion.
The Make-Up of the Conference.
According to the terms of the labor convention in the Peace Treaty
each State adhering to the convention is entitled to four delegates in
the International Labor Conference, two of these delegates to be ap
pointed by the Government, one by the employers’ organizations,
and one by the workers’ organizations. “ Each delegate may be ac
companied by advisers, who shall not exceed two in number for each
item on the agenda of the meeting. When questions specially
affecting women are to be considered by the conference, one at least
of the advisers should be a woman." The non-Government delegates
and advisers are to be chosen from the most representative employers’
and workers’ organizations, if such exist, in their respective coun
tries.
While all the delegations at the conference were not as complete
as possible under the labor convention, a number of the countries had
full representation, chief among which were Belgium, Canada,
Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. Fourteen of the
40 countries represented sent only Government delegates, for reasons
temporary in their nature, as explained to the conference.
Through the failure of the United States Senate to ratify the Peace
Treaty, the United States was not entitled to official representation in
the labor conference except through the courtesy of the visiting del
egates, and this courtesy was promptly extended. In a motion in
troduced by Baron Mayor des Planches, Government delegate from
Italy, and unanimously adopted by the conference, the United States
employers and workers were requested to send delegates. Mr.
Samuel Gompers was appointed to represent labor. The employers
did not send a representative. Delegates from the United States,
however, did not have the privilege of voting.
On the question of the admission of the German and Austrian dele
gates the organizing committee recommended “ that in anticipa
tion of their admission to the League of Nations and in view of
their expressed willingness to cooperate in the work of the labor
organization, Germany and Austria are hereby admitted to member
ship in the international labor organization with the same rights and
obligations possessed by the other members of the labor organization,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3]
4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
according to the terms of the treaties of peace signed at Versailles
on the 28th day of June, 1919, and at St. Germain on the 10th day
of September, 1919/’
Opinions on such admission, unfavorable and favorable, were
freely expressed. It was argued, on the one hand, that the war his
tory of the countries in question precluded their joining with the
Allied peoples on the same basis; while, on the other hand, it was
pointed out that if legislation were adopted enforcing the 8-hour clay
or the 48-hour week, Germany and Austria could not’ possibly be ex
pected to apply such legislation if they had not been invited to
join in the proceedings. Again, it was suggested that if admitted
to the labor organization there would also be lacking opportunity
for these countries to injure industrial interests of other countries.
Economic reasons eventually prevailed and the recommendation was
adopted. Owing, however, to a delay in obtaining passage and the
unexpected brevity of the conference the German and Austrian dele
gates did not come to the United States.
It is interesting to note that the delegate representing the French
employers voted against the recommendation and the delegate repre
senting Belgian employers abstained from voting, while the Govern
ment and labor delegates from those nations voted in favor of it.
Delegates were present from the following 40 countries: Argentina,
Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba,
Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Great'Britain,
Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nicara
gua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Persia, Peru, Poland, Portugal,
Koumania, Siam, Salvador, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzer
land, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
Among these delegates were 19 women, who represented their various
countries in the capacity of advisers. On several occasions, as sub
stitutes for regular delegates, they addressed the conference on sub
jects pertaining to the employment of women and children.
Organization of the Conference.
Permanent organization was not effected until October 31, 1919,
when Hon. William B. Wilson, United States Secretary of Labor, was
made president of the conference. Secretary Wilson voiced his ap
preciation of the honor conferred upon the American Government
and the American people through this courtesy to him, and re
emphasized a thought to which he had given expression in his open
ing address, as follows:
Mankind has had two great economic problems to solve. The first of
these problems was the problem of production, the means of producing suf-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4]
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
5
iieient by which the m aterial comfort of the people of the world might be
secured. The inventive genius of man has solved that question to a very
great extent. There is no longer any fear that the people of the world can
not produce sufficient to provide for the material comfort of all that may be
born into it, provided there is ample opportunity to work under proper safe
guards, and that the things that are produced are equitably and justly
distributed.
If we can solve the question of giving' to all the people an opportunity for
employment under proper safeguards and secure the equitable distribution of
that which is produced we will have achieved the greatest material ideals that
have been conceived in the human mind. To the solution of these problems
you are bringing your wisdom and your experience, but the problems will not
be solved as the result of the brilliant conceptions of any one mind. The
problems of production and the other problems that man has solved have been
solved by the process of adding one idea to another, building the structure one
stone upon another until it is completed. That is the task now before the
International Labor Conference—the task of finding the material and fitting
it into its proper place in the structure.
Right Hon. G. hi. Barnes, member of the British War Cabinet, for
the Government representatives, Mr. Jules Carlier (Belgium), rep
resenting the employers’ group, and Mr. Léon Jouhaux, secretary of
the General Confederation of Labor, France, representing the
workers’ delegates, were elected vice presidents, while Mr. H. B.
Butler was made secretary general. A committee of selection (or
steering committee) was named from the three groups as follows:
Government! Delegates.
Sir Malcolm Delevingne, Great Britain; Dr. Felipe Espil, Argen
tina; Mr. Arthur Fontaine, France; Mr. E. Mahaim, Belgium; Dr. S.
Neumann, Denmark; Mr. M. Oka, Japan; Mr. di Palma Castiglione,
Italy; Dr. Adolfo Posada, Spain; Hon. Gideon D. Robertson, Can
ada; Mr. Charles Spinka, Czecho-Slovakia ; and Dr. Hans Sulzer,
Switzerland.
Employers’ Delegates.
Mr. Francis X. Hodacz, Czecho-Slovakia; Mr. Louis Guerin,
France; Mr. D. S. Marjoribanks, Great Britain; Mr. Ferdinando
Quartieri, Italy; Mr. Sanji Muto, Japan; and Mr. Alfonso Sala,
Spain.
Workers’ Delegates.
Mr. Corneille Mertens, Belgium; Mr. Léon Jouhaux, France; Mr.
G. II. Stuart-Bunning, Great Britain; Mr. J. Oudegeest, Nether
lands; Mr. Francisco L. Caballero, Spain; Mr. H. Lindqvist, Sweden.,
Committees to confer and report on various parts of the agenda,
a committee on standing orders, and one on admissions were nom-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6
MONTHLY LABOIt REVIEW.
mated by this committee and afterwards approved by the confer
ence.
Program of the Conference.
The 8-Hour Day.
The question of the 8-hour day or 48-liour week, the first item of
the agenda, was presented to the conference by the Hon. G. N.
Barnes, Government representative from Great Britain, who moved
“ that the draft convention on the 48-hour week prepared by the
organizing committee be adopted by the conference as the basis for
discussion, but that the question of its application to the tropical and
other countries referred to in the third paragraph of article 405 of
the treaty be referred in the first instance for consideration by the
special committee which shall report to the conference.”
The organizing committee suggested the principle of the 48-hour
week instead of the 8-hour day for two reasons:
1. Greater elasticity is possible in the arrangement of the hours
of work and the adoption of a half holiday, or even a whole holiday,
on Saturday or some other day of the week, by enabling a longer
period than 8 hours to be worked on other days;
2. The weekly day of rest is possible through the 48-liour week,
whereas the principle of the 8-hour day by itself would not neces
sarily help to secure this rest period.
In his argument for the 48-hour week Mr. Barnes emphasized the
fact that while increased production must be had, it could be secured
only through a better organization of industry, by humanizing the
conditions of labor. Long hours of labor would not, in his opinion,
contribute to that end. The basic 8-hour day would not give the
leisure the workers desired and needed. The recommendations should
be sufficiently elastic to meet the requirements of special industries
and to provide for unusual emergencies such as might arise due to
fire, flood, etc. To illustrate this point he said:
It is true that an 8-hour day, if spread evenly over a week, makes a 48hour week. But there is no reason why it should be spread evenly over every
day in the week if industries can be better served otherwise. For instance,
there is laundry work, which as I know and all of you know has its busy spell
in certain days of the week, and I should provide for it accordingly. Again,
there are some countries in which Saturday afternoon work is unknown. I
should make a provision for that by a longer working day in the days preceding
S aturday; and therefore I put the proposition to you in the form of a 48-liour
week instead of an 8-liour day. I am inclined to think if that be adopted, we
shall, to some extent, avoid or prevent troubles arising from overtime.
Tlie point was also made that it would be difficult to bring coun
tries in which industry is not highly organized to the 8-liour level.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[0 ]
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
7
The employers objected to an immediate vote upon this subject
and later through Messrs. D. S. Marjoribanks (Great Britain) and
Jules Carlier (Belgium) presented a substitute plan, the draft of
which was not signed by the Dutch, Italian, and Canadian employer
representatives.
While accepting the principle of the 8-hour day or 48-hour week,
they would subject the rule to certain modifications, including those
relating to maintenance and increase of output, existing agreements,
normal distribution, and reconstruction of industry in the devastated
areas, and the following specific conditions:
Special conditions have to be considered in regard to intermittent work and
with regard to workers engaged either in special occupations or in work which
is done after working hours.
Special consideration must be given to work executed by order of an official
authority, in the interests of national defense, to maintain public service, and in
connection with urgent work the execution of which is imperative either to
prevent or to repair accidents which might stop work.
The limit of 48 hours per week or 8 hours per day may be exceeded and
extended to a maximum of an average week of 56 hours in those industries
where continuous processes are carried out by successive shifts.
Industries subject to changes of weather or which are, because of unforeseen
circumstances, subject to periods of enforced idleness will have special regula
tions enabling them to make good for the loss of time arising from such enforced
idleness. And with suitable control this will apply also in cases of idleness aris
ing from “ force majeure.”
Where the character or nature of the work demands, the legislations or agree
ments made between employers and workpeople may extend the duration of a
working day beyond 8 hours, it being understood that the authorized maximum
of additional hours per year should not exceed 300.
The bureau of international labor may, in exceptional cases, and pending the
restoration of normal conditions of production, call for international agreements
to make further exceptions in favor of certain industries whose products are
indispensable for food supply and for transport by land and water. The dura
tion of these exceptions must be strictly limited, and in no case will they exceed
five years.
Energetic opposition to the employers’ plan was voiced by the
workers’ delegates. Mr. Léon Jouhaux (France) insisted that the
workers must have both the 8-hour day and the 48-hour week and
that these should be the maximum working periods, and he intro
duced an amendment to Mr. Barnes’ motion to that effect. Mr.
Gompers (United States), on being given the privilege of the floor,
pointed out that according to this plan the working week might be
increased to 56 hours, and not only that, the authorized maximum of
additional hours per year might reach 600 and still further excep
tions be made in exceptional cases which might impose additional
hours. The history of industry, he asserted, shows that " there is
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7]
8
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
more produced by the workers, everything else being equal, in an
8-hour day than in a 10 or 12 hour day.”
In the lengthy general discussion of the motion which followed,
the usual arguments for and against the application of the principle
of the 8-hour day were made and several amendments offered.
Those opposed to the application of this principle emphasized the
fact that increased production is the greatest present necessity.
War debts must be paid and foreign competition and immediate
economic needs met. Shorter hours would mean less production, and
the French employers’ delegate said that the introduction of the
8-hour day in France had resulted in a 15 to 20 per cent reduction
in production. If production should be cut down, the workers would
be the first to suffer. I t was further asserted that this limitation of
working hours would not be practicable in seasonal industries such as
agriculture and lumbering, in continuous industries, and others;
that it would be the deathblow of small industries and would prevent
starting new ones; and that in countries like Canada and the United
States, where the labor question is a separate one in each Province
and State, difficulties of agreement would result from the different
interests of the different national political divisions.
In reply to these arguments it was maintained that the question
of increase in production was not overlooked in the limitation of the
length of the working time. Experience gained in the war and
scientific investigation had demonstrated the fact that the longer the
hours of work the less the production. As regards the application
of shorter working hours in the continuous industries the difficulty
of granting a weekly day of rest could be met by an increase of
shifts, and these could be easily manned for the reason that in the
electrical industries only a small number of workers are required for
the necessary fourth shift and in the chemical and steel industries
the labor required is largely unskilled labor which Is readily ob
tained. A delegate from Czecho-Slovakia pointed out that the
National Polish Assembly wished the same law applied to agricul
ture as governed in other industries, because the attraction of town
life and shorter hours induced the laborers to leave the farms. A law
of this character, he said, had been in force in Poland, a newly created
State whose economic questions were hard to solve, for nearly a year
and no serious objections to it had been made. The 8-hour day in
some form is moreover an accomplished fact in many countries. To
question its adoption, remarked the Government delegate from Neth
erlands, would be like trying to rediscover America. The social and
ethical importance of the 8-hour day and the 48-hour week was espe
cially emphasized. The worker must not only “ be protected against
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8]
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
9
undue fatigue, but also must be insured reasonable leisure and oppor
tunities for recreation and social life.’’
The motion, with all the amendments and suggested changes, was
finally referred to a committee composed of 15 delegates, 5 from
each section, for consideration. The final report upon the subject
apart from its application in tropical countries was made by Mr.
Arthur Fontaine, Director of the Labor Department of the French
Ministry of Labor, in the form of a draft convention.
In general the convention provides an 8-hour day and a 48-hour
week applicable in “ all industrial undertakings public or private,
and to all branches thereof of whatsoever kind, other than under
takings in which only members of the family are employed.”
A recognition of the impossibility of a rigid application of this
principle, however, resulted in the adoption of a number of im
portant and far-reaching exceptions:
The provisions of the convention shall not apply to persons holding positions
of supervision or management, or employed in a confidential capacity.
Where by law, custom, or agreement between employers’ and workers’ or
ganizations (or where no such organizations exist, between the employers’ and
workers’ representatives) the hours of work on one or more days of the week
are less than eight, the limit of eight hours may be exceeded on the remaining
days of the week by the sanction of the competent authority, or by agreement
between such organizations or representatives: Provided, however, That in no
case under the provisions of this paragraph shall the daily limit of eight hours
be exceeded by more than one hour.
Where persons are employed in shifts it shall be permissible to employ per
sons in excess of 8 hours in any one day and 48 hours in any one week, if
the average number of hours over a period of three weeks or less does not exceed
8 hours per day, and 48 per week.
The limit of the hours set by the convention may be exceeded “ in
the case of accident, actual or threatened, of urgent work to be done
to machinery or plant, or of ‘ force majeure,’ but only when necessary
to avoid serious interference with the regular working of the under
taking.” In continuous processes, also, where the work is done by
a succession of shifts, the working hours may be extended, but not
to exceed 56 in the week on the average. Limitation of hours shall
not affect holidays. Agreements may be made in exceptional cases
whereby the daily limit of work may be exceeded so long as the aver
age weekly hours and the period covered by such arrangement do
not exceed 48.
Commerce, agriculture, and shipping are not included in the 8hour provision.
The rate of overtime is fixed at not less than time and a quarter.
The convention is to be carried out by the posting of notices in the
works or other suitable place, or “ by such other method approved by
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9]
10
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Hie Government,” which state the conditions of employment fixed for
the particular industry. It shall be an offense against the law not
to observe the regulations posted. “ The provisions of the convention
may be suspended in any country by order of the Government, in the
event of war or other emergency endangering the national safety.”
July 1, 1921, is the time set for carrying the terms of the conven
tion into effect.
Mr. Crawford (workers’ delegate from South Africa) made an
earnest appeal for the deletion of the clause u other than undertakings
in which only members of the family are employed, on the ground
that such a change would tend to abolish ‘ sweating,’ ” but his motion
was defeated.
The difficulties in the application of the 8-hour day and 48-hour
week convention to countries in which “ climatic conditions, the im
perfect development of industrial organizations, or other special
circumstances, make the industrial conditions substantially differ
ent, ’ were set forth in the report of a subcommittee appointed to con
sider this particular phase of the subject, and headed by the Eight
Hon. G. X. Barnes (Great Britain).
The position of Japan presented the greatest problem. The report
points out that only in the last few years has any rapid advance in
the organization of industry in that country been made. Factory
legislation applies only to women and children, and prescribes a
working day of 13 hours as a maximum. In the case of male workers
there is no regulation of hours. The restrictions of the factory act,
moreover, apply only to factories employing more than 15 persons,
and as much of the work is home work a large proportion of the
operations are not subject to a limitation in hours. In the silk indus
try, for instance, which employs 900,000 workers, 53 per cent do not
come under the scope of the law. Overtime to the extent of two or
three hours a day is common. In the silk industry an additional hour
of overtime is allowed on 120 days in the year.
In view of all these facts, the Japanese employer and Govern
ment delegates felt that Japan would be unable to adjust her indus
trial organization to meet the conditions of the 8-hour convention in
the required time and requested modifications, at the same time signi
fying her intention “ to accelerate the unqualified adoption of the
rule in harmony with the general trend of the world.”
Mr. Shichiro Muto, as substitute for the Japanese labor delegate,
on the contrary urgently advised that'Japan be treated precisely as
the other adhering countries were treated, setting forth his views in a
minority report. He protested in the name of Japanese labor and
of public opinion in Japan that Japan is not a tropical country, but
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10]
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
11
climatically like the United States, Italy, and Spain; that Japanese
industry lias developed so wonderfully during the war that Japan is
at least the industrial peer of Italy and Spain; that family industry
is rapidly being transformed into the industry of modern factories.
The 8-liour clay, he maintained, is being adopted in an increasing
number of factories, especially at Osaka, the Manchester of Japan.
The opposition of Japanese employers to the introduction of the
8-liour day and the 48-hour week is due to their desire to retain their
advantageous position, secured through exploitation of the workers,
and the Government desires to protect the employers at the expense
of the workers, who, because of limitations placed upon organiza
tions, are unable to speak for themselves. In his opinion, the ineffi
ciency charged against the Japanese worker is due to the prolonged
hours of labor, which exhaust his energies.
The workers’ delegates generally supported this position, urging
that while Japan is taking her place in the world as a first-class
power in every respect, she is gaining an advantage by pleading
industrial inferiority, and an effort was made by Mr. Jouluiux
(France) to reduce the time in which Japan might comply with the
main convention to two years. Mr. Barnes maintained that if Japan
were required to accept the full 8-liour convention she would be
reducing her production 60 per cent; that she had not now the ma
chinery to meet the modifications already agreed to and could not
obtain it in less than three years. Mr. Jouhaux’s motion was there
fore defeated.
The committee recommended that Japan be given five years for
applying the provisions of the main convention, and that in the
meantime there be allowed certain modifications, which were enu
merated in the text, and which in themselves will result in a con
siderable advance upon existing conditions. It suggested that coal
mining be brought under the scope of the convention at once. The
silk industry should have a 60-liour week, while all other industries
“ might be operated on a basis of a 9|-hour daily maximum, or a
57-hour week.” The unit for the factory should be 10 persons in
stead of 15, as hitherto. The 48-hour week should also apply to
minors under 15 years of age. A weekly rest period of 24 consecutive
hours should be provided for, and overtime regulated in accordance
with the provisions of the main convention.
As regards India the committee recommended a 60-hour week for
those industries under the factory law, and urged that the Govern
ment modify its definition of a factory in such a way as to reduce
the unit of 50 persons now recognized as constituting a factory. In
view of the fact that China is still very largely an undeveloped
country, that very little modern machinery is used, and that the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 11]
12
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
population is not industrialized, the Chinese delegate asked for an ex
tension of time in the framing of any recommendation on the subject
of Chinese industry. The committee therefore suggested that China
adhere to the principle of factory legislation and submit for the con
sideration of the Chinese Government the possibility of adopting
the 10-hour day or 60-hour week for adult workers, and an 8-hour
day or 48-hour week for employed minors under 15 years of age.
. It also suggested that the weekly day of rest be granted, and that
all factories employing more than 100 workers be included in the
projected legislation.
The South African and tropical-American delegates stated that
the main provisions of the convention as drafted would be applied
in their countries. The only exceptions might be in the case of coal
mining and sugar refining and a few other industries. Persia has no
factories, and Siam little industry, so that no application of the
8-hour day need be made to them. Greece and Eoumania have been
so devastated by war that special consideration was necessary in
their case, application of the convention being postponed to 1928 and
1924 in the case of certain Grecian industries, and to 1924 for indus
tries in Eoumania. The draft convention on the 8-hour day was finally adopted by a
substantial majority.
The following resolution on the 8-hour day passed by the Inter
national Congress of Working Women, which met in Washington
just prior to the International Labor Conference, was submitted to
the conference:
The first International Congress of Working Women requests the first Inter
national Congress of Labor of the League of Nations that an international
convention establish:
(1) For all workers a maximum 8-hour day and 44-hour week.
(2) That the weekly rest period shall have an uninterrupted duration of at
least one day and one-half.
(3) That in continuous industries a minimum rest period of one half-hour
shall be accorded in each 8-hour shift.
Unemployment.
The second question on the agenda of the conference, viz, that of
preventing or providing against unemployment, was of such a com
plex nature that the committee of which Mr. Max Lazard (France)
was chairman decided to divide the matters for investigation among
three subcommittees. The conclusions reached by these subcommit
tees were finally adopted by the committee as a whole and presented
to the conference in the form of: (1) A draft convention divided into
three articles, dealing, respectively, with statistics, employment, and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12 ]
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
13
reciprocity in the question of insurance against unemployment; (2)
A draft recommendation consisting of four articles, two of which
relate to the employment of workers, one to insurance against un
employment, and one to work undertaken by or on behalf of public
authorities; (3) Four resolutions addressed to the governing body of
the International Labor Office; (1) A draft convention on reciprocity
in the treatment of foreign workers in all matters relating to the protection of labor.
The three articles of the draft convention provide, in general,
that the States ratifying the convention shall communicate to the
International Labor Office at intervals of not less than three months
all available information and statistics regarding unemployment
and the most successful measures taken to reduce unemployment.
Furthermore, in States acceding to the convention, systems of free
employment exchanges or agencies under a central management shall
be established. Committees made up of employers and employees
shall act in the capacity of advisers in carrying on the work of these
exchanges, which is all to be coordinated by the International Labor
Office in agreement with the States concerned.
The convention also directs that in the 'States ratifying it bene
fits from established unemployment insurance systems shall, upon
terms agreed to by the States concerned, be extended to workers from
other States employed in those States.
In connection with the convention it was recommended that the
establishment of employment agencies charging fees be prohibited,
that existing agencies of this character operate under State licenses,
and that practical measures be taken to abolish them. The recom
mendations would also prohibit the recruiting of workers in one of
the States ratifying the unemployment conventions with the view
of their employment in another except as agreed upon by the coun
tries concerned and after consultation with the employers and em
ployees in the industries concerned. Effective systems of unemploy
ment insurance should be established, managed either by the State
or by State-aided associations, and furthermore the “ International
Labor Conference recommends that each State member of the perma
nent organization shall take measures with a view to coordinating
the execution of work undertaken by or on behalf of the States and
by public authorities with a view to reserving as far as practicable
the work in question for periods of unemployment and for districts
most affected by such unemployment.”
The draft resolutions dealt with the best means of collecting and
publishing information regarding unemployment, and information
relative to agricultural workers, in connection with which it was
1551G9°—20---- 2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
f 13]
14
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
provided that the International Labor Office should arrange with the
International Institute of Agriculture at Rome for the transmission
of information collected by that body on the subject of agricultural
employment. The question of the migration and protection of for
eign workmen should be left to an international commission, which,
while giving due regard to the sovereign rights of each State, should
report upon measures for the protection of such workers.
A special draft convention relative to reciprocity of treatment of
foreign workers provided that “ the States ratifying this convention
or acceding to it shall reciprocally admit to the benefit of the laws
and regulations having regard to labor protection, as well as the
right of lawful organization, the workers belonging to one of these
States and employed in another, together with their families.”
A minority report offered by Mr. Baldesi (Italy) set forth his
opinion that a more equitable distribution of raw materials would
be a means of preventing unemployment. He proposed that, Con
sidering that the question of unemployment is closely related to that
of the distribution of raw materials and the means of maritime
transport and freight rates, considering further that the question
can only be effectively dealt with by the Council of the League of
Nations, it is recommended that the Council should undertake to
examine and solve the problem.”
The labor delegates from France and Switzerland and the Polish
Government delegate called attention to the condition of unemploy
ment in the devastated countries now due to a dearth of raw ma
terials and urged the adoption of Mr. Baldesi’s motion. The em
ployers’ delegates generally opposed it on the ground that it was
outside of the sphere of the International Labor Conference, which
was trying only to regulate and improve labor conditions, to inter
fere with the rights of property. The question of ocean transport
also entered into the discussion, and it was clear that an international
control of freight rates, suggested in Mr. Baldesi’s motion, would meet
the disapproval of all mercantile seafaring nations. In fact, the
employers’ delegates from France and Switzerland, because of the
complexities of the subject of unemployment and the general char
acter of the recommendations, would have referred the committee re
port to the governing body, but this motion was lost, as was also Mr.
Baldesi’s.
The report as subsequently adopted contained two important
amendments: (1) European States were limited to one-half the total
membership of the international commission designed to study the
regulation and protection of workers migrating from one country
into another; (2) A substitute for the draft convention on the reci-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[14]
IN TERNATIO NAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
15
procity of treatment of foreign workers was adopted, which, as
finally drafted, reads:
The general conference recommends that each member of the international
labor organization shall, on condition of reciprocity and upon terms to be
agreed between the countries concerned, admit the foreign workers (together
with their families) employed within its territory to the benefit of its laws
and regulations for the protection of its own workers, as well as to the right
of lawful organization as enjoyed by its own workers.
These amendments would give those nations to which workers
would naturally migrate an equal voice on the commission, and at
the same time leave to these nations the determination of the com
position and of the civic rights of their population.
Employment of Women.
In reporting upon the employment of women, especially as regards
night work, Miss Constance Smith (Great Britain), who made to the
conference the only report presented by a woman, stated that the
committee had in the main confined its work to the extension and
application of the Convention of Bern, 1906, which prohibits night
work for women in industry. While the principle embodied in that
convention was, the chairman stated, unanimously supported by the
committee, it was apparent that the great industrial changes which
had developed since that time and the establishment of the League
demanded a redrafting of the convention and the insertion of some
new material, if it was to be an efficient international instrument.
According to the Bern Convention the limitations respecting night
work apply only to undertakings employing more than 10 men or
women. During the war it was necessary for several countries to sus
pend their factory laws and admit women to night work. This experi
ence did not lessen the undesirability of night work for women, but
rather strengthened that point of view, for the reason that while dur
ing that period it wTas found possible to supply certain safeguards
in the large factories, in the small establishments where such safe
guards are most needed they had with greatest difficulty been intro
duced. The proposal wTas made, therefore, that the limitation as to
the numbers employed be removed, but that the original provision to
the effect that the convention should in no case apply to “ undertak
ings in which only the members of the family are employed ” be re
tained.
In order to make the definition of industrial undertakings as nearly
identical as possible in all the draft conventions presented to the con
ference, the following substitute was suggested for the original d ra ft:
It is incumbent upon each contracting State to define the term “ industrial
undertaking.” The definition shall in every case include—
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[15]
16
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
(a) Mines and quarries and extractive industries of every kind.
( b) Industries in which articles are manufactured, altered, repaired,
ornamented, finished, or adapted for sale, or broken up or demolished, or ma
terials are transformed (including the generation, transformation, and trans
mission of motive power, electric, hydraulic, etc., shipbuilding, laundry work).
(c) Construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, alteration, or demo
lition of any building, railway, tramway, harbor, dock, pier, canal, inland
navigation, road, tunnel, bridge, viaduct, sewer, drain, well, telegraphic, tele
phonic installation, electrical undertaking, gas work, waterwork, or other work
or construction, and the preparation for and the laying foundation of any such
work or building.
The laws of each individual country shall define the line of division which
separates industry from agriculture and commerce.
The question of the adherence to the convention of certain countries
hampered by climatic or backward industrial organization, of which
India may serve as an example, was also one of the difficulties met
by the committee. To facilitate this adherence a new article wTas in
troduced which provided that in countries covered by article 405,
clause 3, of the Peace Treaty the application of the provisions of fhe
convention might be suspended in “ such industrial undertakings as
may be defined in that respect by the Government of the country, pro
vided that they should continue to be applicable to all establishments
which are factories by the national law.” The difference, for in
stance, in the definition of a factory in India and in Europe, and the
divergence in the application of factory law, are such that the execu
tion of the convention would be impossible in India unless exceptions
were made.
Under the Bern Convention the prescribed rest period consists of
11 consecutive hours, including the time from 10 p. m. to 5 a. m., from
which no exception is permissible. An effort was made by the Italian
workers’ delegate to extend the rest period to 6 a. m., making an ab
solute night rest of 8 hours. This proposed change injected into the
discussion a consideration of the shift system, which had already been
made the subject of a minority report by Mrs. Laura Casartelli Cabrini (Italy), in which she advocated an uninterrupted night rest of
8 hours’ duration, thus leaving 16 hours to be divided into two 8-hour
shifts.
It was contended that in industries in which the shift system is used
this division of rest and working periods would be impossible, and the
French employers’ representative introduced a motion to the effect
that the employment of women be authorized from 4 a. m. to 10 p. m.
or 5 a. m. to 11 p. m., providing that the work of each shift be broken
by one hour of rest. Both of these motions were defeated and the
majority report adopted.
Perhaps the most advanced step taken by the conference was in
the nature of the draft convention which was adopted concerning the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 16 ]
INTERNA TIO NA L LABOR CONFERENCE.
17
employment of women before and after childbirth. This con
vention. as finally approved, provides that (a) a woman wage
earner shall not be employed during the six weeks immediately fol
lowing confinement; (5) she shall have the right to leave her work
six weeks before confinement, upon submitting a doctor’s certificate
stating that her confinement will probably take place in six weeks’
time; and (c) she shall not be deprived of the benefits allowed, in case
of mistake in estimating the probable time of confinement. In each
case she is entitled to a maternity benefit paid either by the State or
by means of a system of insurance. The amount of this benefit was
left to the determination of the Government of each country, but it
must be u sufficient for the full and healthy maintenance of the mother
and the child.” Free medical attendance is also granted. No woman
may be dismissed during such absence until her absence has exceeded
a “ maximum period to be fixed by the competent authority in each
country.” Creches are permitted. This convention, like the others,
excepts undertakings in which only members of the same family are
employed.
It should be noted also that it is not, like the other conventions,
confined to industrial undertakings, but includes all women wage
earners. As reported in by the committee it followed the form of the
other conventions in this respect, but on motion of Mr. Jouliaux
(France) its application was extended to commercial occupations.
Mr. Jouliaux gave as his reason for this amendment the fact that
about two-thirds of the women employed are in commercial under
takings. The adoption of a provision for maternity care and benefits
which would affect only one-third of the women employed would, in
his opinion, be “ preposterous ” and should not be adopted. It may
be observed that while Mr. Jouhaux’s statement is doubtless true, it
is also probably true that there are relatively more single than mar
ried women in commercial work.
Among those who favored the majority report some apprehension
was felt that the insertion of “ commercial undertakings ” might en
danger the indorsement of the convention by the several Governments,
and it was noticeable that several of the Government delegates ab
stained from voting on the proposition. Miss Mac Arthur (Great
Britain) made an unsuccessful effort to abolish creches. The Indian
Government was requested to make a study of this phase of the em
ployment of women and report to the next conference.
Employment of Children.
The report of the committee dealing with the minimum age of em
ployment of children in industry was presented to the conference by
Sir Malcolm Delevingne, chairman of the committee and Government
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[171
18
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
delegate from Great Britain, in tlie form of a draft convention. A
unanimous decision had been reached fixing the age of admittance of
children into industry at 14 years. In doing this the committee had,
the chairman said, kept in view two objects: First, to obtain a real
advance over existing conditions and, second, to make proposals
which would be likely to meet with general acceptance. While the
committee desired to fix a higher age than 14 years it had been felt
that Government sanction could not be obtained, and that the age of
14 would be a real advance in many countries.
One of the difficulties met in reaching this decision was as to allow
ing exceptions through the transitional period in the case of coun
tries where the age for leaving school under the educational law had
not been fixed as high as 14 years. I t was urged that it might be im
possible for those countries to so order their educational systems as to
fill in the gap between the school-leaving age and the age when the
children could be given employment, but the committee decided by a
majority vote that the time fixed—January, 1922—should stand.
A still greater difficulty presented itself in the matter of what
modifications should be made in the case of countries with special
industrial or climatic conditions. These countries, the chairman
said, might be considered as constituting two groups: (1) Japan;
(2) India, China, Persia, and Siam. An agreement was reached
with Japan, whereby (a) the minimum age should be 14, but a child
over 12 years of age might be permitted employment if he had
finished the course in the elementary school; (5) the provision in
the present law admitting children under 12 to certain light and easy
employments should be repealed; (c) as regards children between 12
and 14 who have been employed the Government reserved the right
to make transitional regulations.
In the case of India and other oriental countries the committee
did not present a final recommendation on the ground that the ques
tionnaire issued by the organizing committee did not reach India in
time for consideration before the delegates left for America, and a
proposal was made that the question of the minimum age of the em
ployment of children as regards these countries be brought up at the
International Labor Conference of 1920, when the Governments
would have had opportunity to consider it.
A counter proposal was made by Miss Margaret Bondfield, speak
ing for the British workers’ delegate, to the effect that “ children
under 12 should not be employed (a) in factories working with
power, employing more than 10 persons; (b) in mines and quarries;
(c) on railroads; (d) on docks.”
In urging her amendment Miss Bondfield said that in drafting it
care had been taken to select industries which were not small native
[IS]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE.
19
industries, but which in the main were those supervised by western
people and should have western safeguards. While the educational
system was doubtless insufficient at present to meet the situation, one
of the best ways of securing quick governmental action in this matter
was, she asserted, to prohibit child labor.
Mr. Chatterjee, Government delegate from India, opposed the
amendment, insisting that time was needed to create public senti
ment for such a radical departure, while Mr. Joshi, workers’ dele
gate, earnestly supported it for the reason given by Miss Bondfield
in proposing it. The report with the amendment in question was
adopted.
Night work in industrial establishments was prohibited for minors
under 18 years of age with the following exceptions :
A rt. 3. The prohibition of night work shall not apply to young persons over
the age of 16 who are employed in the following industries or work which is
required by the nature of the process or to avoid the waste of fuel or material
to be carried on continuously, day and night.
(a) Manufacture of iron and steel; processes in which reverbatory or re
generative furnaces are used; and galvanizing of sheet metal and wire (except
the pickling process).
(b) Glassworks.
(c) Manufacture of paper.
(<]) Manufacture of raw sugar.
[(e) Gold mining reduction works.]1
A r t . 4. The prohibition of night work for young persons over 16 years of
age may be suspended.
(a ) If [in case of serious emergency the] 1 public interest requires it.
(b) When some emergency which the employer could not control or foresee,
and which is not of a periodical character, occurs to interfere with the normal
¡working of the undertaking.
A r t . 5. The provisions of the present convention are applicable to girls of
less than 18 years of age whenever these provisions involve greater restrictions
on the period of employment than those provided by the Bern Convention on
the Night Work of Women of the 26th day of September, 1906.
The period of night rest shall comprise 11 consecutive hours and
shall include the period between 10 p. m. and 5 a. m,, except in
tropical countries where work is suspended in the middle of the day.
Here the period of night rest may be less than 11 hours if compensa
tory rest is given during the day. In bakeries where night work is
prohibited for all workers, the hours 9 p. m. to 4 a. nr. may be sub
stituted for the hours of rest fixed by the convention. Coal and lig
nite mines are also exceptions to this provision.
As in the case of hours of employment of women, the question of
the shift system entered into the discussion. To meet the case of
countries where the national law requires that a longer period of rest
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 A m endm ent.
[19]
20
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
should be allowed during the course of the shift, the committee
recommended that “ in industries in which work is divided into two
shifts the first shift may begin at 4 a. m. and the second may finish at
10 p. m., or the first shift may begin at 5 a. m. and the second may
finish at 11 p. m.” On the motion of Mr. Baldesi (Italy) this entire
paragraph was deleted.
It was furthermore found necessary to modify the convention in
its application to Japan and India. As to Japan, 15 years of age
for the first three years after the convention becomes operative and
after that time 16 years of age was substituted for 18 years as pro
vided in the convention. As to India, the convention applies only
to such persons as come under the factory act, and for boys, 14 years
was substituted for 18 years. In the regions devastated by war the
prohibition of night work for minors between 14 and 16 was referred
to the International Labor Conference of 1921. The entire conven
tion is to come into force not later than July 1, 1922.
The resolutions on child labor passed by the International Congress
of Working Women and submitted to the conference are interesting
in view of the action taken, as presenting standards toward which
future international labor conferences may strive.
Employment of Children.
(a)
Minimum aye.—No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any
gainful occupation unless he is 16 years of age, has completed the elementary
school, and has been found by a school physician or other medical officer
especially appointed for that purpose to be of normal development for a child
of his age and physically fit for the work at which he is to be employed.
No young person under 18 years of age shall be employed in or about a mine
or quarry.
The legal workday for young persons between 16 and 18 years of age shall be
shorter than the legal workday for adults.
(h) During the night.—No minor shall be employed between the hours of
6 p. m. and 7 a. m.
(c)
In unhealthy processes.— Prohibition of the employment of minors in
dangerous or hazardous occupations or at any work which will retard their
proper physical development.
Administration.
(1) Work permits.—A yearly medical inspection by medical officer appointed
for that purpose by the authorities, records of which shall be kept.
(2) Lists of employed minors with their hours of work shall be posted in
all workrooms in which they are employed.
(3) The number of inspectors, and especially women inspectors, employed by
the factory or labor commission shall be sufficient to insure regular inspection
of all establishments in which children are employed and such special inspections
and investigations as are necessary to insure the protection of the children.
We further recommend compulsory continuation schools for minors until the
age of 18.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 20]
IN TERNA TIO NA L LABOR CONFERENCE.
21
Unhealthy Processes.
The report of the committee on unhealthy processes was made by
Dr. Legge (Great Britain), chairman, in the form of recommenda
tions and not as draft conventions. This was a disappointment to
some of the groups who felt that the committee’s suggestions on this
important subject should have been presented in a more binding
form.
The recommendations as to processes applied only to lead poison
ing and to anthrax. In the case of lead poisoning the committee
recommended that “ in view of the danger involved to the function
of maternity and to the physical development of children, women
and young persons under the age of 18 years be excluded from em
ployment in the following processes :
(a) In furnace work in the reduction of zinc or lead ores.
(b) In the manipulation, treatment, or reduction of ashes containing lead,
and in the desilvering of lead.
(c) In melting lead or old zinc on a large scale.
(d) In the manufacture of solder or alloys containing more than 10 per
cent of lead.
(e) In the manufacture of litharge, massicot, red lead, white lead, orange
lead, or sulphate, chromate or silicate (frit) of lead.
(f) In mixing and pasting in the manufacture or repair of electric accumu
lators^
(р) In the cleaning of workrooms where the above processes are carried on.
It was further recommended that the employment of women and
young people in processes involving the use of lead compounds be
permitted subject only to the following conditions:
(a) Locally applied exhaust ventilation so as to remove dust and fumes at
the point of origin.
(b) Cleanliness of tools and workrooms.
(с) Notification to Government authorities of all cases of lead poisoning,
and compensation therefor.
( d ) Periodic medical examination of the persons employed in such processes.
(e) Provision of sufficient and suitable cloakroom, washing, and messroom
accommodation, and of special protective clothing.
if) Prohibition of bringing food or drink into workrooms.
Furthermore, in industries where soluble lead compounds can be
replaced by nontoxic substances, use of soluble lead compounds should
be strictly regulated.
For the purposes of this recommendation, a lead compound should
be considered as soluble if it contains not more than 5 per cent of its
weight (estimated as metallic lead) soluble in a quarter of 1 per cent
solution of hydrochloric acid.
As regards anthrax the report recommended that “ arrangements
should be made for the disinfection of wool infected with anthrax
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[21 ]
22
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
spores either in the country exporting such wool, or, if that is not
practicable, at the port of entry in the country importing such wool."
Recommendation was also made for the establishment of an effi
cient factory inspection service in each country belonging to the
international labor organization where it does not already exist,
and also for the creation in each country of a Government service
whose duty it shall be to safeguard the health of workers and to
keep in touch with the International Labor Office.
All three of these recommendations were adopted.
White Phosphorus in Match Factories.
On a motion presented b}" Sir Malcolm Delevingne (Great Britain)
the conference unanimously adopted a resolution recommending to
“ all members of the international labor organization which have not
yet done so that they should adhere to the international convention
adopted at Bern in 1906, on the prohibition of the use of white
phosphorus in the manufacture of matches.”
The Governing Body of the International Labor Office.
Steps were taken at the conference to effect a permanent organi
zation of the International Labor Office through the creation of a
governing body. This body is composed of 24 members, 12 represent
ing the various Governments, 6 representing employers and 6 repre
senting labor, elected by the different groups. The Government rep
resentatives will be nominated by the following countries : Belgium,
France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Spain,
Argentina, Canada, Poland, and, pending the appointment of the
United States representative, Denmark.
The employers’ representatives are : Sir Allan Smith, Great Britain ;
Mr. Louis Guérin, France; Mr. Pirelli, jr., Italy; Mr. Jules Carlier,
Belgium; Mr. F. Hodacz, Czecho-Slovakia ; and, pending the ap
pointment of a representative of the United States employers, Mr.
Schindler, of Switzerland.
The workers’ representatives are: Mr. Léon Jouhaux, France; Mr.
J. Oudegeest, Netherlands; Mr. Stuart-Bunning, Great Britain; Mr.
H. Lindqvist, Sweden; and, pending the appointment of a repre
sentative of the United States, Mr. Draper, of Canada.
Reservation was made in each group for the United States rep
resentative and in the labor group for the German representative.
The Latin-American delegates entered a written protest against
the fact that the 20 Latin-American nations had been assigned only
1 place out of a total of 24 places in the governing body. They
contended that if the conference is to be an international and not a
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 22 ]
Wt
INTERNA TIO NA L LABOR CONFERENCE.
23
European conference, a more equitable system of representation
must be devised. In this remonstrance against wliat was considered
an unfair discrimination against non-European nations, they were
joined by the delegates from South Africa, on the part of whom
Mr. Gemmill, employers’ representative, introduced a resolution
providing “ that this conference expresses its disapproval of the
composition of the governing body of the International Labor Office,
inasmuch as no less than 20 of the 24 members of that body are
representatives of European countries.”
Mr. Fontaine (France), speaking for himself, explained that the
delegates were selected in accordance with the act setting up the
conference, and while the composition of the body was not perfect
he called attention to two facts: (1) The governing body will sit
at Geneva, and will meet every two months. It would therefore be
more convenient for members from European countries to attend
than those farther away. (2) Through a system of grouping, small
countries having no industries might be able to decide important
questions affecting countries having great industries or large mining
operations. The resolution was, however, adopted by a vote of
44 to 39.
The governing body elected Mr. Albert Thomas (France) pro
visional director general of the International Labor Office under the
League of Nations, and Mr. Arthur Fontaine (France) permanent
chairman. The office will be located provisionally in London.1 The
next meeting of the governing bod}' will be held in Paris, January
26, 1920.
Eegulations, covering the composition, officers, order of procedure,
etc., of the conferences, as well as the election of the members of the
governing body of the International Labor Office, were adopted.
Admission of Other Countries.
The discussion of the question of the admission of other countries
into membership in the International Labor Conference brought out
a decided difference of opinion regarding the construction to be placed
upon the article in the Peace Treaty relating to membership in the
international labor organization.
A decision in the case of Luxemburg, of the Dominican Republic,
and of Mexico was readily reached, for the reason that the organiza
tion is composed of Governments and that participation in the con
ference by the representatives of any nation must be preceded by
an application for membership from the Government of the nation.
There had been no official request for membership on the part of the
1Sunderland
House, Curzon Street, W. I.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[23]
24
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Governments of Luxemburg,1 tlie Dominican Republic, and Mexico at
the time of the discussion, and therefore the committee on applica
tions reached the unanimous opinion that no recommendation could
be made on an application ¿presented by third parties.
As regards Finland the committee was unable to present a unani
mous report. The majority report presented by Mr. Gino Baldesi
(Italy) favored the admission of Finland. Flis reasons for such ad
mission were that Germany and Austria had been admitted, and
that the Supreme Council at Paris had, on October 2, received two
requests for admission to the conference, one from Finland and
one from Norway, neither of which Governments was at that time
a member of the League of Nations. The Supreme Council de
cided that the question of the admission of Finland, Norway, and
also the Netherlands should be left to the approaching conference
at Washington. Hon. N. W. Rowell (Canada), in presenting the
minority report, based his objections to the admission of Finland on
the ground that the conference had no power to admit Finland to
the international labor organization. The Supreme Council, he con
tended, had no right to interpret the treaty. Admission to the inter
national labor organization must come through the League of Na
tions. lie moved that for these reasons the conference recommend
to the League of Nations the immediate admission of Finland, and.
that her delegates be welcomed to an informal participation in the
conference. The admission of Germany and Austria was not a par
allel case because Germany had asked before she signed the treaty
that she be admitted to the League of Nations and also to the inter
national labor organization.
Senator Half red von Koch (Sweden) maintained that the Su
preme Council had the power to interpret the treaty until the League
of Nations came into existence, and urged the admission of Finland
on the additional ground of her industrial organization and the
assistance her former experience in such conferences would be.
Delegates from both employers’ and workers’ organizations, he said,
were in Washington ready to participate in the conference. Sir
Malcolm Delevingne (Great Britain) supported Mr. Rowell’s motion,
while Mr. Stuart-Running, speaking for the British workers’ dele
gation, defended the minority report. It may be said that the work
ers’ representatives generally favored admitting Finland. Finally,
the majority and minority agreed on the following:
The conference, without giving a ruling on the question of principle, wel
comes the delegates nominated by Finland to attend the Washington meeting,
and invites these delegates to take part in the conference on the same condi-
1Later
on Luxemburg applied for admission into the conference and was admitted.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[24]
INTERNA TIO NA L LABOR CONFERENCE.
25
tions as obtain in the case of other countries which have not adhered to the
covenant of the League of. Nations.
Agenda for the Conference of 1920.
The agenda for the conference of 1920 was not determined. A
large number of proposals were made in the bulletins from day to
day, among which were a revision of the standing orders in regard
to the composition of the governing body and the position of agri
cultural workers, but the conference decided to leave the final se
lection of subjects to the governing body, who, from the suggestions
and resolutions sent in from the various sections would be in a posi
tion to know which subjects were of the greatest importance.
All questions relating to seamen were referred to the special con
ference on employment at sea.
Opinions Regarding the Conference.
Two very distinct attitudes toward the functions of such a confer
ence as this prevailed. Some of the more radical members believed
that it was the function of the conference to set maximum standards
toward which the various States were to strive; the other group be
lieved it advisable for the conference to set up immediately attainable
maximums, to keep their feet upon the ground, as it were, within the
region of practicalities.
Those who had hoped that the conference might be a more forwardlooking body were disposed to be critical of the lack of action on many
points. Those viewing the conference from the other angle expressed
great satisfaction at what had been accomplished. I t was, as one of
the delegates remarked, the first time that representatives of Govern
ments, employers, and workers had come together internationally to
seek a solution of industrial problems and to recommend measures
for the alleviation of working conditions. This fact in itself should
establish a sound basis for further social legislation.
At first glance the changes recommended do not appear material. It
is doubtless true that the action on the 8-hour day is simply a “ mark
ing of tim e” for many nations which were represented in the con
ference, and which have already adopted that or a better working
schedule. It did, however, crystallize opinion upon the subject, and in
the case of Japan and tropical countries the modifications agreed to,
if carried out by those countries, effect an important reduction of
hours. The general age of the admission of minors to industry was
set at 14 years, while the limit for admission of minors into night
work was advanced from 16 to 18 years. Substantial changes in this
respect were recommended for Japan and India. If the convention
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[25]
26
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
dealing with the employment of women, especially as regards ma
ternity care and benefits, is indorsed by the various Governments,
a marked advance over existing legislation will have been made and
a very necessary protection afforded the future of the race.
Genuine regret was expressed at the absence of delegates from the
United States from the conference, and the opinion voiced that their
presence would undoubtedly have affected the results.
A greater unity of spirit prevailed than might have been expected,
from a gathering representing such conflicting interests. While the
different groups naturally wished and tried to protect the interests of
their own countries, and in some cases to gain advantages for them,
there was a real effort, as evidenced by the concessions made in commit
tees and in debate, to take such action as would not only secure the end
for which the conference was called, but would from its practical
nature commend it to the Governments to which it must be submitted
for approval and indorsement.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 26]
Cost of Living’ in the United States—Furniture
and House Furnishings,
IT V connection with the cost-of-living-survey articles which have
I been appearing in the M onthly L abor R eview for several
months, the following table presents a summary of expendi
tures for furniture and house furnishings. In order to show enough
cases to make the figures authoritative, data from a number of cities
have been combined. The table has been divided into two sections.
The following northern cities are included in the first group:
Boston, Mass.
Bridgeport, Conn.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Columbus, Ohio.
Des Moines, Iowa.
Detroit, Mich.
Duluth, Minn.
East St. Louis, 111.
Evansville, Ind.
Fall River, Mass.
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Kansas City, Kans.
Kansas City, Mo.
Lawrence, Mass.
Manchester, N. H.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Newark, N. J.
New York, N. Y.
Omaha, Nebr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Portland, Me.
Providence, R. I.
St. Louis, Mo.
St. Paul, Minn.
Scranton, Pa.
Syracuse, N. Y.
Trenton, N. J.
Wichita, Kans.
Wilmington, Del.
The following southern cities are included in the second group:
Atlanta, Ga.
Baltimore, Md.
Birmingham, Ala.
Charleston, S. C.
Dallas, Tex.
El Paso, Tex.
Houston, Tex.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Little Rock, Ark.
Louisville, Ky.
Memphis, Tenn.
Mobile, Ala.
New Orleans, La.
Norfolk, Ya.
Oklahoma City, Okla,
Richmond, Va.
Savannah, Ga.
Under each of these groups the data as to the average number of
articles purchased per family in a year, with the average expenditure
per family and per article, are shown by income groups and for all
incomes. The total number of families represented in the northern
group of cities is 6,180; in the southern group, 1,983.
In the case of a few items, such as “ pictures, frames, and other
ornaments,” and “ other laundry utensils,” when the number of
articles could not be ascertained, or if given would be meaningless,
only the average cost per family has been given.
Under the several items, “ expenditure ” per family and per article
is shown instead of “ cost.” This is due to the fact that a great deal
of furniture is bought on installments and the payments often extend
over a period of more than a year. In such cases the amount paid
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[27]
28
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
during the year was reported rather than the total cost of the article.
For this reason the figures in the table do not give any. definite clue
to the expensiveness of the articles purchased.
As the requirements of the survey limited the families scheduled to
those having at least one child and having kept house in the locality
a year, and as most families scheduled had been actually keeping
house several years, the expenditures for furniture and house fur
nishings were largely devoted to upkeep. Few new outfits of furni
ture were reported, the articles purchased being bought to replace old
ones that had outlived their usefulness, or, in some instances, to meet
the requirements of a growing family or to supply the demands of a
higher standard of living than the family had been accustomed to in
the past.
A V ER A G E E X P E N D IT U R E P E R FAM ILY IN ONE Y E A R FO R F U R N IT U R E A N D HOUSE
FU R N ISH IN G S, B Y ITEMS OF E X P E N D IT U R E A N D INCOME GROUPS.
Northern Cities.
Average expenditure per fam ily foritems of furniture and
house furnishings by families having an income of—
Item.
Number of families.......................
Average persons per fam ily.......
$900
and
under
$1,200.
$1,200
and
under
$1,500.
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
163
4.3
1,322
4.5
2,155
4.7
1,329
4.9
720
5.3
316
5.8
175
6.8
6,180
4.9
2.8
$3.14
$1.11
3.1
$4.07
$1.33
3.7
$5.99
$1.63
4.3
$7.06
$1.63
4.7
$8. 81
$1.89
6.6
$11.99
$1.80
3.5
$5.05
$1.46
0.3
$0.08
0.2
$0.12
0.2
$0.20
0.2
$0.15
0.3
$0.23
0.5
$0.09
0.2
$0.14
$0.28
$0.75
$0.86
$0. 83
$0. 67
$0.18
$0. 61
1.5
$1.27
1.7
$1.60
1.9
$1.70
2.2
$2.03
2.8
$2.72
3.4
$3.41
1.8
$1.70
$0.84
$0.96
$0.89
$0. 94
$0.98
$0.99
$0.92
0.7
$1.86
$2. 71
0.6
$2.53
$4.32
0.7
$3.32
$4. 81
0.7
$3.57
$5.43
0.9
$4. 74
$5.53
$5.32
$5.11
0.7
$2. 83
$4.28
0.1
$1. 30
$8.80
0.1
0.1
$1.70
$1.95
$11.61 $13.03
0.1
$1.77
$13.82
0.2
$2.76
$17. 82
0.2
$2.46
$13.89
0.1
$1.72
$11.88
Carpets:
Average yards per fam ily..................
2.6
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $2.12
Average expenditure per yard.......... $0.83
Matting:
Average square yards per fam ily. . .
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.05
Average expenditure per square
yard...................................................... $0.75
Linoleum and floor oilcloth:
Average square yards per fam ily. . .
1.3
Average expenditure perfam ily___ $1.05
Average expenditure per square
vard...................................................... $0.80
Chairs and stools:
0.5
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fa m ily ...
$1.18
Average expenditure per article___ $2.31
Tables:
0.1
Average number per fa m ily ..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.42
Average expenditure per article___ $5.69
Couches, davenports, sofas, etc.:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.88
Average expenditure per article___ $12.99
Bureaus, chiff oniers, d res sing tables:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
0.04
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.51
Average expenditure per article. . . $11.95
W riting desks:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Bookcases and magazine racks:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.02
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. 09
Average expenditure per article. . . . $5.00
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All in
comes.
Under
$900.
$1,800 $2,100
and
and
under under
$2,100. $2,500.
$2,500
and
over.
1.0
0.1
$1.50
$18.48
0.1
$1.87
$21.85
0.1
$2.28
$26.56
0.1
$2. 46
$26.08
0.1
$3.16
$33.25
0.1
$4.39
$30.74
0.1
$2.06
$23.58
0.1
$1.05
$10.46
0.1
$1.03
$13. 64
0.1
$1.63
$16.77
0.1
$1.70
$18.79
0.1
$1.54
$18. 71
0.2
$3.70
$20.23
0.1
$1.33
$14.80
0. 01
$0.06
$5.75
0.01
$0.13
$10.10
0.02
$0.19
$12.02
0. 01
$0.22
$15.85
0.02
$0.28
$12.57
0.02
$0.20
$11.67
0.01
$0.14
$10.82
0.02
$0.01
$7.50
0.01
$0.11
$9. 97
0.01
$0.14
$13.29
0.02
$0.19
$11.20
0.03
$0.44
$15.61
0.02
$0.57
$33.00
0.01
$0.13
$12.41
[28]
COST OF LIVING— FURNITURE AND HOUSE FURNISHINGS.
29
A V E R A G E E X P E N D IT U R E P E R FAM ILY IN ONE Y E A R FO R F U R N IT U R E A N D HOUSE
FU R N ISH IN G S, B Y ITEMS OF E X P E N D IT U R E A N D INCOME GROUPS—Continued.
'Northern Cities—Continued.
Average expenditure per family for item s of furniture and
house furnishings by families having an income of—
Item.
Under
$900.
Clocks:
Average number per fam ily___ . . . .
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.12
Average expenditure per article___ $1.90
Mirrors:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Pictures, frames, and other ornaments:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.09
Hatracks, costumers, and hall trees:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.02
Sideboards, buffets, china closets:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.03
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.71
Average expenditure per article---- $23.20
Bedsteads:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $1.02
Average expenditure per article___ $7.54
Bed springs:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.50
Average expenditure per article___ $4.82
Mattresses:
0.2
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.95
$5.36
Average expenditure per article —
Pillows:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.13
$1.47
Average expenditure per article---Blankets:
0.4
Average number per fam ily.............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $1.09
$2.90
Average expenditure per article---Quilts and comforts:
Average number per fam ily.............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.52
Average expenditure per article___ $4.05
Sheets:
0.4
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.47
$1.25
Average expenditure per article---Pillow cases:
0.7
Average number per fam ily..............
$0.25
Average expenditure per family —
Average expenditure per article___ $0.35
Spreads:
0.05
Average number per fam ily.............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.12
Average expenditure per article___ $2.37
Pitchers, wash bowls, etc.:
$0.01
Average expenditure per fam ily---Dishes and glassware:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.54
K nives, forks, spoons, etc.:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.10
Stoves, ranges, and heaters:
0.3
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $4.80
Average expenditure per article___ $15.97
K itchen cabinets:
0.04
Average number per fam ily..............
$0.61
Average expenditure per fam ily---Average expenditure per article---- $16.68
Kitchen utensils (pots, pans, etc.):
Average expenditure per fam ily.. . . $0.52
155169°—20-----3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All in
comes.
$900
and
under
$1,200.
$1,200
and
under
$1,500.
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
$1,800
and
under
$2,100.
$2,100
and
under
$2,500.
$2,500
and
over.
0.1
$0.19
$2.44
0.1
$0.25
$2.66
0.1
$0.36
$3.41
0.1
$0.30
$3.16
0.1
$0. 60
$4.66
0.1
$0.62
$5.67
0.1
$0.29
$3.09
0.02
$0.05
$2.52
0.02
$0.04
$2.56
0.02
$0.05
$2.60
0.02
$0.08
$4.02
0.03
$0.15
$4. 64
0.01
$0.07
$12.50
0.02
$0.06
$3.02
$0.32
$0.38
$0.48
$0.02
$1.02
$0.82
$0.45
$0.01
$0.02
$0.04
$0.10
$0.08
$0.02
$0.03
0.1
$0.91
$16.67
0.1
$1.16
$20.75
0.1
$1.81
$27.37
0.1
$1.74
$26.73
0.1
$3.57
$33.14
0.1
$3.24
$33.38
0.1
$1.48
$23.93
0.2
$1.74
$9.21
0.2
$1.72
$10.39
0.2
$2.64
$13.29
0.2
$2.92
$13.58
0.2
$3.52
$14.63
0.3
$4.39
$16.33
0.2
$2.21
$11.68
0.1
$0.76
$5.58
0.1
$0.78
$6.23
0.2
$1.17
$7.31
0.2
$1.38
$7.82
0.2
$1.61
$7.39
0.3
$2.10
$7.66
0.1
$1.00
$6.70
0.2
»1.38
$6.66
0.2
$1.62
$7.82
0.2
$2.17
$8.68
0.3
$2.52
$9.59
0.3
$2.57
$9.77
0.4
$4.07
$9.37
0.2
$1.89
$8.18
0.1
$0.16
.$1.39
0.1
$0.19
$1.64
0.1
$0.21
$1.78
0.2
$0.28
$1.75
0.2
$0.28
$1.45
0.2
$0.42
$2.05
0.1
$0.21
$1.64
0.4
$1.19
$3.00
0.5
$1.63
$3.33
0.6
$2.12
$3.54
0.6
$2.17
$3.51
0.7
$2.57
$3.78
0.8
$2.92
$3.76
0.5
$1.78
$3.39
0.1
$0.49
$3.40
0.2
$0.66
$3.69
0.2
$0.85
$3.61
0.2
$0.90
$3.87
0.2
$0.92
$4.85
0.4
$1.56
$3.50
0.2
$0.73
$3.70
0.9
$1.05
$1.24
1.1
$1.41
$1.28
1.5
$1.92
$1.31
0.2
$2.16
$1.36
2.1
$2.98
$1.40
2.5
$3.55
$1.45
1.3
$1.65
$1.31
1.5
$0.55
$0.38
1.8
$0.70
$0.40
2.0
$0.85
$0.42
2.1
$0.90
$0.43
3.0
$1.31
$0.44
3.5
$1.48
$0.42
1.9
$0.77
$0.41
0.1
$0.29
$2.86
0.1
$0.40
$3.02
0.2
$0.48
$3.01
0.2
$0.58
$3.31
0.2
$0.85
$3.63
0.3
$1.05
$3.35
0.1
$0.45
$3.10
$0.03
$0.02
$0.02
$0.03
$0.04
$0.01
$0.02
S0.S7
$1.35
$1.86
$2.76
$2.20
$2.93
$1.59
$0.21
$0.27
$0.38
$0.49
$0.72
$1.04
$0.35
0.2
$3.99
$16.34
0.3
$4.81
$18.46
0.2
$5.69
$22.98
0.2
$4.99
$20.18
0.3
$7.11
$25.25
0.3
$7.96
$29.00
0.3
$5.05
$19.79
0.02
$0.33
$13.73
0.02
$0.33
$18.11
0.02
$0.43
$19.05
0.01
$0.26
$21.13
0.02
$0.19
$11.90
0.04
$0.93
$23.34
0.02
$0.36
$17.43
$0.71
$0.98
$1.15
$1.46
$1.76
$1.87
$1.07
[29]
30
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
A V ERAGE E X P E N D IT U R E P E R FAM ILY IN ONE Y E A R FO R F U R N IT U R E A N D H OUSE
FU R N ISH IN G S, B Y ITEMS OF E X P E N D IT U R E A N D INCOME GROUPS—Continued.
Northern Cities—Continued.
Average expenditure per fam ily for item s of furniture and
house furnishings by families having an income of—
Item.
Under
,«1900.
Refrigerators:
0.1
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily---- SO. 66
Average expenditure per article---- 811.93
Brooms and brushes:
$1.02
Average expenditure per fam ily---Carpet sweepers and vacuum cleaners:
0.02
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily---- $0.08
$4.30
Average expenditure per article---Mops:
0.4
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily---- SO. 13
SO. 38
Average expenditure per article---Tablecloths, cotton:
0.1
Average number per fam ily..............
SO. 15
Average expenditure per fam ily---$1.21
Average expenditure per article---Tablecloths, linen:
0.01
Average number per fa m ily ..............
Average expenditure per fam ily---- $0.02
$3.00
Average expenditure per article. . . .
Napkins, cotton:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Napkins, linen:
AvPiro.p'H nn m h fir per fa m ily ..
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article---Towels, cotton:
1.4
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. 33
SO. 24
Average expenditure per article
Towels, linen:
0. 04
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per family . . . $0.02
$0.37
Average expenditure per article---Table oilcloth:
0.5
Average square yards per fam ily. . .
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.15
Average expenditure per square
yard..................................................... $0.31
Lamps, lam p chimneys, gas mantles,
and electric bulhs:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.70
Pianos and players:
Average number per fam ily..............
0. 01
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. 25
Average expenditure per article---- $40. 00
Talking machines:
Average number per fam ily..............
0. 04
Average expenditure per fam ily___ 81. 23
Average expenditure per article___ $33.33
Other musical instruments:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ ........
Average expenditure per artiele___
Records, rolls, etc.:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. IS
W indow shades:
0.4
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.31
SO. 74
Average expenditure per article---Screens, window and door:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.3
A v en g e expenditure per fam ily___ $0.16
Average expenditure per article___ $0. 61
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$900
$1,200
and
and
under .under
$1,200. $1,500.
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
$1,800
and
under
$2,100.
$2,100
and
under
$2,500.
All in
$2,500 comes.
and
over.
0.05
SO. 60
$12.38
0.05
$0.71
$14.74
0.1
$0.97
$16.57
0.1
SO. 91
$16.77
0.1
$1.33
$16.78
0.1
$1.17
$18.68.
0.1
$0.81
$15.16
$1.31
$1.50
SI. 61
$1.71
$1.73
$2.04
$1.52
0.1
81.36
$12.65
0.1
$0.92
$13.44
0.1
80.54
$9.73
0.03
$0.14
$4.56
0.05
$0.33
$7.16
0.1
$0.60
89.73
0.1
$1.48
$14.16
0.3
$0.11
$0.42
0.3
$0.13
$0.40
0.3
$0.16
$0.46
0.3
$0.18
$0.56
0.4
$0.22
$0.53
0.4
$0.21
$0.49
0.3
$0.14
$0.45
0.2
$0.26
$1.44
0.2
$0.39
$1.57
0.4
$0.57
$1.63
0.4
$0.66
$1.63
0.5
$0.81
$1.79
0.6
$1.06
$1.81
0.3
SO. 47
$1.60
0.01
$0.04
$4.04
0.02
SO. 11
14.62
0.05
$0.17
$3.68
0.1
$0.32
$4.12
0.1
$0.44
$4.43
0.1
$0.22
$3.01
0.04
$0.15
$4.08
0.2
SO. 03
$0.17
0.2
$0.04
$0.19
0.3
$0.06
$0.22
0.4
$0.07
$0.19
0.8
$0.15
$0.19
$0.24
$0.25
0.3
$0.06
80.20
0.01
$0. 01
$0.75
0.05
$0.03
$0.51
0. 04
$0.02
$0.45
0.1
$0.07
$0.51
0.3
$0.11
SO. 38
0-3
$0.07
$0.24
0.1
$0.03
$0.45
1.9
$0. 44
$0. 24
2.5
$0. 65
SO. 26
3.0
$0.87
$0. 29
3.6
$1.00
$0.28
4.5
$1.46
$0.32
5.4
$1.55
$0.31
2.7
$0. 76
$0.28
0.04
80.01
$0.39
0.1
$0. 05
$0.45
0.2
$0.08
$0. 51
0.2
$0.10
$0.50
0.2
$0.11
$0.54
0.5
$0.26
$0.47
0.1
$0.06
$0.48
0.9
$0.29
0.9
$0.32
1.0
$0.38
1.0
$0.34
1.2
$0.44
1.4
$0.49
0.9
$0.33
$0.34
$0.35
$0.36
$0.34
$0.38
$0.35
$0.35
SO. 99
81.22
$1.39
$1.65
81. 86
$2.60
81.32
0.03
81. 94
$64.23
0.05
$3.52
$72.29
0.1
0.1
0.1
$9.42 $13. 85
$8.11
$96. 20 $107.60 $101. 79
0.1
$8.19
$79.61
0.1
$5.43
$87.86
0.05
81. 70
$37. 54
0.07
$2.92
$39.34
0.1
$4.00
$49.19
0.1
$5.91
$59.11
0.1
$5. 71
$64.46
0.1
$8.61
$65. 53
0.1
$3.50
$47.32
0.01
SO. 17
S32.32
0. 01
$0.33
$25. 26
0. 01
$0. 20
$19.14
0.03
$0.63
$25.39
0.04
81.13
$27.56
0.02
$0.12
$6.73
0.01
$0.33
$24.54
SO. 52
$1.00
$1.55
$2. 57
$3.10
$4.24
$1.38
0.8
$0. 54
$0.71
0.6
$0.49
$0.80
0.9
$0.73
$0.83
0.8
$0.62
$0.78
1.3
$0.95
$0.76
1.0
$0.87
$0.88
0. S
$0.60
$0. 78
0.4
$0. 26
$0. 68
0.6
SO. 42
SO. 74
0.7
$0. 56
$0.84
0.7
$0.54
$0.79
0.8
$0.59
$0.79
0.9
$0.74
$0.79
0.6
$0.44
$0. 77
[30]
1.0
COST OF LIVING
FURNITURE AND HOUSE FURNISHIN GS.
31
A VERAGE E X P E N D IT U R E P E R FA M ILY IN ONE Y E A R FO R F U R N IT U R E A N D HOUSE
FU R N ISH IN G S, B Y ITEMS OF E X P E N D IT U R E A N D INCOME GROUPS—Continued.
Northern Cities—Concluded.
Average expenditure per fam ily foritems of furniture and
house furnishings by families having an income of—
Item .
Under
$900.
Curtains, draperies, portières, sofa
pillows:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.03
Tubs:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fa m ily .. . . SO. 10
$1. 21
Average expenditure per article---Wash boilers:
Average number per fam ily..............
0. 04
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. 07
$1. 79
Average expenditure per article---Washboards:
0.2
Average number per fam ily.............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.11
Average expenditure per article___ $0.54
Wringers:
0.03
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.17
$5. 70
Average expenditure per article —
Irons:
Average number per fam ily. . . . ___
0. 02
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.11
$5. 83
Average expenditure per article---Washing machines:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.01
Average expenditure per fam ily—
$0.09
Average expenditure per article---- $14. 50
Other laundry utensils:
Average expenditure per fam ily---$0.03
Toys, sleds, carts, etc. :
Average expenditure per fam ilv___ $2. 20
B aby carriages and gocarts:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.2
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $1.93
Average expenditure per article. . . . $11. 21
Sewing machines:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. 70
Average expenditure per article. . . . $10. 36
Other furniture and furnishings:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.27
Total average expenditure per
fam ily..........................................
$30. 00
$1,800 $2,100
and
and
under under
$2,100. $2,500.
All in
$2,500 comes.
and
over.
$800
and
under
$1,200.
$1,200
and
under
$1,500.
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
$1.08
$1.54
$2.06
$2. 44
$2.93
$3.44
$1.76
0.1
$0.11
$1.24
0.1
$0.14
$1.43
0.1
$0.13
$1.50
0.1
$0.13
$1.50
0.1
$0. 20
$1. 47
0.1
$0.17
$1.42
0.1
$0.13
$1.43
0.1
$0. 25
$2.56
0.1
$0. 24
$2.44
0.1
$0.30
$2.43
0.1
$0. 34
$2. 70
0.2
$0. 37
$2.34
0.1
$0.37
$2.98
0.1
$0. 27
$2.50
0.2
$0.12
$0. 56
0.2
$0. 14
$0.59
0.3
SO. 15
$0. 60
0.2
$0.15
$0.60
0.2
SO. 15
$0.64
0.3
$0.19
$0.61
0.2
30.14
$0.59
0.1
$0. 30
$5. 73
0.04
$0.26
$5.82
0.04
$0.23
$5.27
0.04
$0.17
$4.06
0.04
$0.15
$3.84
0.02
$0.10
$4.50
0.04
30.24
$5.38
0.1
$0.14
$2.09
0.1
$0. 22
$2. 57
0.1
$0.32
$2. 71
0.1
$0.42
S3.17
0.1
$0. 37
$3.27
0.2
$0.36
$2. 08
0.1
$0. 25
$2.67
0.02
$0. 28
$12. 42
0.03
$0.71
$20.98
0.04
$1.45
$35. 57
0.1
$2.06
$41.12
0.03
$0.96
$30.26
0.04
$1.60
$40.04
0.03
$0.96
$27.98
$0. OS
$0.12
$0.12
SO. 13
$0.23
$0.11
$0.11
$2.98
$4. 28
$5.05
$5. 55
$5.40
$4.56
$4.32
0.2
$2. 87
$14. 98
0. 2
$2. 29
$15. 24
0.2
$3.01
$16.32
0.1
$2.36
$17. 32
0.1
$2.14
$19. 29
0.1
30.70
310. 27
0.2
$2. 51
$15.61
0.1
$1.65
$19. 80
0.1
$1.61
$21.12
0.1
$1. 77
$25. 86
0.1
$2. 01
$28.40
0.1
$1.88
$23. 76
0.04
$1.02
$25.57
0.1
$1.67
$22.51
$0.82
$1.08
$1.45
$1.86
$2.46
$2.28
$1. 28
$45. 60
$58. 70
$80. 26
$91. 65 $111.37 •$121. 78
$68.12
Southern Cities.
Number of fam ilies.........................
Average persons per fam ily...........
Carpets:
Average yards per fam ily...................
Average expenditure per fa m ily ___
Average expenditure per yard..........
Matting:
Average square yard per fa m ily ___
Average expenditure per fa m ily ___
Average expenditure per square
yard......................................................
Linoleum and floor oilcloth:
Average square yard per fa m ily ----Average expenditure per fa m ily ___
Average expenditure per square
yard......................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
63
4.5
406
4.7
562
4.8
456
5.1
302
5.3
130
5.7
58
G.3
1,983
5.0
1.3
$1. 48
$1.17
2.3
$2.42
$1.05
3.4
$4.17
$1.24
4.0
$6.28
$1.28
4.5
$7.51
$1.68
4.0
$8. 76
$1.91
6. 7
$9.38
$1.40
3.8
$5.19
$1.37
0.8
$0.48
1.3
$0.73
1.3
$0. 71
0.8
$0.56
1.2
$1.20
1.0
$0.86
2.1
$1.76
1.2
$0.79
$0.61
$0.55
$0.55
$0.68
$0.96
$0.87
$0.85
$0.67
1.4
$0. 86
1.1
$0. 79
1.3
$1.18
1.2
$1.23
1.4
$1.47
2.0
$2.03
0.6
$0.67
1.3
$1.19
$0.62
$0.73
$0.93
$1.03
$1.02
$1.02
$1.14
$0.91
32
M O N TH LY LABOE KEVIEW,
S o use
<F U R N ISH IN G S, B Y ITEM S OF E X P E N D IT U R E A N D INCOME GROUPS—Continued.
a v e r a g e e x p e n d it u r e p e r f a m il y in o n e y e a r f o r f u r n it u r e a n d
Southern Cities—Continued;
Average expenditure per fam ily foritems of furniture and
house furnishings by families having an income of—
Item.
Chairs and stools:
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Tables:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Couches, davenoorts, sofas, etc.:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Bureaus, chiffoniers, dressing tables:
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
W riting desks:
Average number per fa m ily..........
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article. . . .
Bookcases and magazine racks:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Clocks:
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Mirrors:
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Pictures, frames, and other ornaments:
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
Hatracks, costumers, and hall trees:
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Side boards, buffets, china closets:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Bedsteads:
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Bed springs:
Average number per fa m ily..........
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Mattresses:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
Average expenditure per article___
Pillows:
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
Average expenditure per article___
Blankets:
Average number per fa m ily............
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
Average expenditure per article___
Quilts and comforts:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
^^Average expenditure per article___
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
Average expenditure per article___
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All in$2,500 comes.
and
over.
Under
$900.
$900
and
under
$1,200.
$1,200
and
under
$1,500.
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
$1,800
and
under
$2,100.
$2,100
and
under
$2,500.
1.0
$1.54
$1.62
0.8
$2. 26
$2. 76
1.0
$3. 24
$3.27
1.0
$3. 68
$3.55
0.9
$3.90
$4.41
1.1
$5.13
$4.72
0. 9
$4.38
$4.88
1 0
$3 .3 5
$3.52
0.2
$1.35
$7.08
0.1
$1. 41
$9.69
0.2
$2.30
$11.16
0.2
$3.22
$14.52
0.2
$2.40
$14.24
0.2
$3.17
$16.57
0.2
$5.25
$21. 75
0 2
$2.46
$12.88
0.1
$0. 94
$14.81
0.1
$1. 42
$21.31
0.1
$1.84
$20. 70
0.1
$1. 89
0.1
$3. 66
$28.35
0.1
$2.27
$30. 93
0.1
$3.02
$35. 00
0 1
$2. 08
823. 55
0.1
$1.17
- $8.22
0.1
$1.17
$11.32
0.1
$1.90
$14.25
0.2
$2. 88
$17. 98
0.1
$2. 84
$24.51
0.2
$3.99
$24.66
0.2
$3.14
$18.20
$2. 28
$16. 97
0. 01
$0. 07
$9.17
0 02
$o" 12
$7. 61
0 09.
$0 19
$11.03
0 01
$12.58
$17. 42
$10. 50
0. 01
$0.09
$18.50
0.01
$0.13
$9.13
0 01
$0.04
$5.13
0 01
80 11
$8.38
$15 ! 00
$9.70
0.1
$0.15
$1.85
0.1
$0.16
$1.91
0.1
$0. 27
$2. 79
0.1
$0.19
$2.85
0.1
$0. 24
$2.58
0.1
$0. 29
$4.01
0.1
$0 .1 7
$2.53
0 1
$0. 22
$2. 63
0. 02
$0. 002
$0.10
0. 01
$0.01
$3.03
0. 02
$0. 06
$3.31
0 01
$0.02
$3.00
0 01
$0.03
$4.00
$0 ] 03
$1.50
$0.82
$0. 40
01
o 03
0 09
$0. 03
82. 99
$0.23
$0.35
$0. 26
$0.31
$0.30
$0.02
$0.11
$0.08
$0.14
$0. 06
0.1
$0. 97
$12.20
0. 04
$0.83
$21.03
0.1
$1.86
$22. 76
0.1
$1.91
$23.59
0.1
$1.93
$26. 43
0.1
$3. 77
$36. 64
0.1
$4. 24
$35.14
0 1
$1. 84
$24.88
0.2
$1.22
$7.00
0.2
$2. 05
$10.02
0.3
$2.99
$11.05
0.2
■$3.02
$12.17
0.2
$2.32
$12,28
0.2
$3.43
$15.05
0.2
$2.34
$12.32
0 2
$2. 66
$11.50
0.1
$0.40
$4.17
0.2
$0. 88
$4. 84
0.2
$1.06
$5. 42
0.2
$1.11
$5.62
0.2
$1.19
$7.35
0.2
0.2
$1.57
$1.09
$9.73 . $5.29
0 2
$1.07
$5.85
0.2
$1.45
$6.54
0.2
$1.82
$7.44
0.3
$2.14
$8.01
0.2
$1.67
$7. 85
0.3
$2. 71
$9.86
0.2
$2. 89
$12.66
0.03
$0. 03
$1.00
0.1
$0.16
$1.35
0.1
$0.20
$1.59
0.1
$0.18
$1.82
0.1
$0.17
$1.54
0 1
$0.15
$1. 86
0.2
$0. 60
$2.52
0.4
$1.18
$3.36
0.4
$1.73 I $2.01
$4.02
$4.38
0.6
$2.40
$4.31
0.6
$3. 03
$4.74
$3.08
$5. 77
0. 5
$1. 88
$4.16
0.1
$0.37
$2.91
$0. 43
$3.48
0.2
$0. 60
$3. 81
0.2
$0.66
$3.57
0.3
$0.92
$3.53
0.2
$0. 91
$4.41
0.2
$1.09
$5.29
0.2
$0. 65
$3.72
0.7
$0.97
$1.29
1.1
$1. 48
$1.33
1.3
$1. 80
$1.39
1.6
$2. 47
$1.51
2.0
$3. 06
$1.55
2.4
$1.55
2.6
$3.62
$1.41
1.5
$2.24
$1.46
0.1
[32]
$0.31
$0.08
0.3
$3. 30
$10.63
0.2
$ 2. 11
$8. 52
0 1
$0.17
$1.59
COST OF LIVING— FURNITURE AND HOUSE FURNISHINGS.
33
AVERAGE EXPENDITURE PER FAMILY IN ONE YEAR FOR FURNITURE AND HOUSE
FURNISHINGS, BY ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE AND INCOME GROUPS—Continued.
Southern Cities—Continued.
Average expenditure per fam ily for item s of furniture and
house furnishings by fam ilies having an income of—
Item.
Under
$900.
Pillow cases:
1.4
Average number per fa m ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.53
Average expenditure per article___ $0.38
Spreads:
0.1
Average number per fa m ily ..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.34
Average expenditure per article___ $5.38
Pitchers, washbow ls,etc.:
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Dishes and glassware:
Average expenditure per fa m ily .... $1.26
K nives,forks, spoons,etc.:
Average expenditure per fa m ily ... $0.14
Stoves,ranges, and heaters:
A veragenum berpcr fa m ily ............
0.2
Average expenditure perfam ily___ $1.87
Average expenditure per a rticle___ $9.83
K itchen cabinets:
Average number per fam ity...........
0.1
Average expenditure p erfa m ily ...
$1.48
Average expenditure perarticle__ $13.36
K itchen utensils (pots, pans, etc.):
Average expenditure p erfam ily___ $0.61
Refrigerators:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
0.1
Average expenditure p erfa m ily ...
$0.57
, Average expenditure per a r tic le ... $7. 20
Brooms and brushes:
Average expenditure per fam ily... $1. 63
Carpet sweepers and vacuum cleaners:
Average number per fam ily..........
0.02
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
$0.06
Average expenditure per article. . . $3.50
M ops:
A verage number per fam ily............
0.2
Average expenditure per fam ily. . .
$0.10
Average expenditure per article___ $0.43
Tablecloths, cotton:
Average number per fam ily.............
0. 03
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.05
.Average expenditure per article___ $1.50
Tablecloths, linen:
Average number per fam ily..
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure perarticle___
Napkins, cotton:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
N apkins, linen:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Towels, cotton:
Average number per fam ily..............
1.0
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.26
Average expenditure per article___ $0.28
Towels, linen:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article. . . .
Table oilcloth:
Average square yards per fa m ily .. .
0.8
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.25
Average expenditure per square
yard..................................................... $0.32
Lamps, lamp chimneys, gas mantles,
and electric bulbs:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.53
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All in
comes.
$900
and
under
$1,200.
$1,200
and
under
$1,500.
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
$1,800
and
under
$2,100.
$2,100
and
under
$2,500.
$2,500
and
over.
1.4
$0. oo
$0. 40
1.8
$0.75
$0. 43
2.0
$0. 84
$0.41
2.4
$1.01
$0.42
2.7
$1.30
$0.48
3.1
$1.29
$0.42
1.9
$0.82
$0.42
0.1
$0.34
$3.30
0.1
$0. 42
$3.42
0.2
$0. 51
$3.08
0.2
$0.69
$3.87
0.4
$1.21
$3.35
0.2
$0.60
$2.92
0.2
$0.52
$3.39
$0.03
$0.07
$0.06
$0.06
$0.07
$0.02
$0.06
$0. 78
$1.22
$1.44
$2.46
$2.68
$2.06
$1.49
$0.15
$0.54
$0.21
$0.54
$1.24
$0.19
$0.41
0.3
$4.86
$16.72
0.3
$4. 17
$14.55
0.4
0. 3
$6.16
$7.09
$19.10 $19. 12
0.4
$8. 63
$23.01
0.5
$10. 70
$22. 99
0.3
$5.64
$17.80
0.1
$0.89
$14. 53
0.05
0. 1
$1.14
$1. 40
$24.
80
$21.30
0.1
$1.42
$22.61
0.1
$2.11
$28.70
0. 03
$1.50
$43. 50
0.1
$1.30
$21.24
$1.42
$1.50
$1.33
$1.67
$1.14
0. 1
0.1
$1.95
$1.94
$17.66 $19. 05
0.1
$2.86
$22. 87
0.2
$3.28
$21. 17
0.1
$1. 78
$17. 26
$0. 69
$&. 94
0.1
$1.29
$14.99
0.1
$1.61
$15. 92
$1.84
$2.00
$2.30
$2.33
$2.51
$2.64
$2.13
0.01
$0.01
$1.91
0.02
$0.07
$3.92
0.02
$0.30
$17.24
0.05
$0. 77
$16.66
0. 01
$0. 04
$2. 75
0.03
$0.10
$2.88
0.02
$0.2
$10. 77
0.3
$0.14
$0.48
0.5
$0.25
$0.52
0.5
$0. 23
$0.50
0.5
$0. 28
$0.60
0.5
$0.28
$0.55
0.5
$0. 26
$0.49
0.4
$0.23
$0.52
0.1
$0.19
$1.49
0.3
$0.43
$1.59
0.4
$0.71
$1.87
0.4
$0.76
$1.88
0.4
$0. 79
$2.10
0.7
$1. 65
$2.23
0.3
$0.54
$1.82
0.01
$0.02
$2.50
0.02
$0.08
$3.62
0.02
$0.08
$4.38
0.03
$0.16
$4.78
0.1
$0.43
$5.35
0.1
$0.35
$2.86
0.03
$0.11
$4.16
0.1
$0.01
0.2
$0.04
0.4
$0.08
0.6
$0.12
0.7
$0.14
1.0
$0.24
0.3
$0.07
0.01
$0.01
$0. 67
0.04
$0.02
$0.39
0.1
$0.05
$0.58
0.3
$0.12
$0.42
2.1
$0. 47
$0.23
2.5
$0.67
$0.27
3.2
$0.86
$0.27■
3.7
$1. 03
$0.28
4.3
$1. 23
$0.28
5.0
$1.56
$0.31
2.9
$0.78
$0.27
0.03
$0.01
$0.39
0.01
$0.02
$1.27
0.03
$0.02
$0.67
0.05
$0.04
$0.79
0.1
$0.03
$0.50
0.1
$0.04
$0.42
0.03
$0.02
$0.66
0.8
$0.30
0.9
$0.33
0.8
$0.29
0.8
$0.34
0.7
$0.29
0.8
$0.29
0.3
$0.18
$0.36
$0.38
$0.37
$0.40
$0.39
$0.37
$0.37
$0. 65
$1.02
$1.08
$1.41
$1.78
$1.47
$1.07
[33]
0.04
$0.02
$0.48
34
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
AVERAGE EXPENDITURE PER FAMILY IN ONE YEAR FOR FURNITURE AND HOUSE
FURNISHINGS, BY ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE AND INCOME GROUPS—Concluded.
S o u th e r n C itie s —Concluded.
Average expenditure per fam ily for item s of furniture and
house furnishings by families having an income of—
Item.
Under
$900.
Pianos and players:
0.02
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.04
Average expenditure per article___ $2.50
Talking machines:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.02
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.48
Average expenditure per article___ $30.00
Other musical instruments:
Average number per fam ily..............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article. . . .
Records, rolls, etc.:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.28
W indow shades:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.6
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0. 45
Average expenditure per article___ $0.81
Screens, window and door:
Average number per fa m ilv ..
0. 2
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.18
Average expenditure per article___ $1.02
Curtains, draperies, portières, sofa
pillows:
Average expenditure per fam ilv___ $0. 55
Tubs:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fa m ily ___ SO. 17
Average expenditure per article___ $1.38
W ash boilers:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
0.02
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.01
Average expenditure per article___ $0.50
W ash boards:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.2
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.10
Average expenditure per article___ $0.54
Wringers:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
0.02
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.02
Average expenditure per article___ $1.50
Irons:
Average number per fa m ily .............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ SO. 04
Average expenditure per article___ 10.48
Washing machines:
Average number per fa m ily .............
Average expenditure per fam ily___
Average expenditure per article___
Other laundry utensils:
Average expenditure per fa m ily ___ SO. 06
Toys, sleds, carts, etc.:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $2.20
B aby carriages and gocarts:
Average number per fa m ily ..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $1.77
Average expenditure per article___ $12.38
Sewing machines:
Average number per fam ily..............
0.1
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.84
Average expenditure per article___ $8.83
Other furniture and furnishings:
Average expenditure per fam ily___ $0.55
Total average expenditure per
fam ily........................................... $31.82
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All in
comes.
S900
and
under
$1,200.
$1,200
and
under
$1,500.
0.03
S2. 05
$64.00
0.04
0.1
$6.91
$2.44
$59.72 $108.71
0.1
$8.60
$96.21
0.1
0.1
$10. 08 $22.31
$97.91 $101.72
0.1
$5.30
$92.37
0.1
$1.51
$27.80
0.1
$2.52
$33.78
0.1
$3.29
$49.93
0.1
$5.81
$53.21
0.1
$8.63
$61.74
0.1
$3.02
$43.75
0.1
$3.36
$44.12
0.01
SO. 11
$22.50
0. 01
$0.12
$21.50
0. 01
$0.22
$25.38
0.01
$0.08
$12.00
0. 01
■$0.04
$5.00
0.0.1
$0. 41
l i i 00
O 01
SO 14
$19. 03
$0.70
$0.96
$1.05
$2. 20
$3.85
$2.32
$1.33
0.8
$0.59
$0.77
0.9
$0.77
$0.89
1.0
$0.94
$0.93
0.9
$1.16
$1.33
1.2
$1.18
$1.02
0.9
$0.98
$1.11
0.9
$0.86
$0.96
0.3
$0.26
$0.79
0.3
$0. 28
$0.83
0.5
$0. 45
$0.96
0 4
$0.44
$0.98
0 9
$1.05
$1.17
$1.03
$0.98
$0°41
$0.94
$0.78
$0.86
$1.39
$1.90
$1.40
$1.93
$1.18
0.2
$0. 27
$1.32
0.3
$0.38
$1.33
0.3
$0.35
$1.30
0.2
$0.32
$1.35
0.3
$0.37
$1.43
0.2
$0.30
$1.25
0.2
$0.33
$1.35
0.1
$0.08
$1.23
0.1
$0.10
$1.39
0.1
$0.09
$1.45
0.05
$0.09
$1.72
0.1
$0.10
$1.65
0.1
$0.10
$1.96
0.1
$0.09
$1.44
0.2
$0.13
$0.54
0.2
$0.12
$0.53
0.3
$0.15
$0.56
0.2
$0.13
$0.57
0.2
$0.12
$0.59
0.3
$0.15
$0.54
0.2
$0.13
$0.55
0.01
$0.03
$1.67
0.02
$0.10
$5.08
0.01
$0.03
$7.75
0.01
$0.06
$5.78
0.03
$0.13
$4.50
0.1
$0.14
$2.14
0.1
$0.35
$2.61
0.1
$0.26
$3.97
0.2
$0.47
$2.89
0.1
$0.25
$4.95
0.01
$0.12
$17.60
0.01
$0.14
$14.00
0.03
$0.65
$22.19
0.01
$0.09
$11.67
$1,500
and
under
$1,800.
$1,800 $2,100
and
and
under under
$2,100. $2,500.
$2,500
and
over.
0 01
$0.03
$5.09
0.1
$0.54
$3.95
0.1
$0.29
$2.90
0 01
$0. 1 1
lie . 8i
$0.05
$0.07
$0.07
$0.10
$0.06
$0.06
$0.07
$4.15
$5.13
$6.59
$7.87
$8.24
$9.30
$5.93
0.1
$1.38
$11.01
0.1
$1.87
$12.67
0.1
$1.68
$12.15
0.1
$1.46
$12.24
0.1
$1.99
$16.89
0.02
$0. 76
$44.00
$1.64
$12.53
0.1
$1.54
$15.59
0.1
$3.00
$29.11
0.1
$2.24
$31.91
0.1
$2.31
$34.90
0.1
$2. 77
$31.42
0.1
$2.38
$34.50
0.1
$2. 32
$26.74
$0.73
$1.36
$1.48
$2.02
$2.47
$1.64
$1.42
$47.45
$05.34
$80.68
$97.83 $119.83 $125.91
$74.59
[34]
0.1
Quantity-Cost Budget Necessary to Maintain
Single Man or Woman in Washington, D, C.1
are presented here tentative quantity and cost budgets
necessary for the maintenance of a single man and a single
woman in the clerical service of the Government in Wash
ington, D.
at a level of health and decency, the cost of the items
included being based on prices prevailing in the National Capital in
August and September, 1919.
I t should be stated that on November 1 car fares were advanced
to 6 | cents, thus increasing the expense for this item to $16.50, and
bringing the total budget, including savings, to $1,067.78 in the case
of a single man and to $1,151.15 in the case of a single woman. The
other items in the budget have changed but little, if at all.
hese
T
Summary of Annual Budget.
Single
Single
m an.
w om an.
1. Room (2 in a room) $15 per month per person_______
$180. 00 $180. 00
2. B oard:
Regular table board, two meals on week days, three
on Sunday, $6 per week________________________
312. 00
312.00
Lunch, 25 cents per day, 313 days_________________
78. 25
78.25
Other food, fruit, confectionery, etc., 25 cents per
week--------------------------------------------------------------13. 00
13.00
3. Clothing------------------------------------------------------------158.36
240.15
4. L aundry------------------------------------------------------------52. 00
65.00
5. Toilet supplies, etc_______________________________
15. 00
10 .00
6 . Health—medical charges, dentist, oculist____________
32.00
43. 00
7. Religious organizations—10cents per week__________
5. 20
5.20
8 . Labor organizations______________________________
5. 00
5.00
9. Newspapers_____________________________________
8. 40
8 .40
10. Books and magazines (no special allowance—see t e x t ) _ _________________
11. Car f a r e ________________________________________
37.20
37.20
12. Amusements, recreation, etc_______________________
39. 00
20. 00
13. Vacation (no special allowance—see te x t)_____________________________
14. Educational purposes (no special allowance—see tex t) _ _________________
15. Other incidentals________________________________
26. 00
20.00
Total (not including savings)_______________
16. Savings—10 per cent of total expenses_____________
961.41
96.14
1.037.20
103. 72
Total (including sav in g s)______ :____________
1,057.55
1,140.92
1 For summary report of this Bureau’s study to determine the cost of maintaining the
family of a Government employee in Washington at a level of health and decency and the
cost involved in reaching such determination, see M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w for December,
1919, pp. 22 to 29.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[35]
35
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
36
Itemized Details of Budget—Rent.
Room, $15 per month____________________________________ $1S0.00 per year.
An investigation covering 50 houses in different sections of the city,
including commercial boarding houses and private houses, developed
that the approximate minimum cost of a clean and fairly comfortable
room in a house with bath facilities was $15 per month per person
for two in a room.
A very few rooms sufficiently good to be livable were found at a
slightly lower monthly rental, but these were very few in number and
usually in private families where spare rooms were rented without
much regard to or understanding of prevailing rates. At present, the
prevailing rate seems to be $17.50 per month for two in a room, but a
sufficient number were found at $15 per person to suggest that this
sum may be taken as a minimum. This is the prevailing price per
person at the Y. M. C. A. for two in a room.
The investigation covered all sections of the city. In general, very
slight variations in price were found between sections for similar
accommodations.
The allowance of $15 a month is considerably lower than the rate
for rooms at the Government dormitories for women, where $20 per
month per person is charged. Single rooms are rented for $20 or
double rooms for $10.
Food.
Table board (2 meals on week days and 3 on Sundays), $6
per w eek------------------------------------------------------------------$312. 00 per year.
78. 25 per year.
Lunches (313 days at 25 cents per d ay)------------ --------------Other food, fruit, confectionery, sodas, etc., 25 cents per
w eek_______________________________________________
13. 00 per year.
Total__________________ _________________________
403. 25 per year.
The prevailing rate for table board—2 meals on week days and
3 meals on Sundays—is $6 per week, in good, and moderately good
places. The lowest seems to be $22 per month, and the places
found at this rate were unprepossessing. On the other hand, $30
per month is now quite frequent for board at regular boarding
houses.
Board at the prices just cited includes, almost invariably, only
two meals on week days, leaving the midday lunch as an extra ex
pense. Probably the lowest priced lunch available is that known as
the “ box lunch ” served from wagons in the streets and costing 20
cents. The box lunch usually consists of two sandwiches, a piece of
pastry and a piece of fruit. It is possibly sufficiently nutritious for
the midday lunch of an office worker but in very many cases will be
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[36]
QUANTITY AND COST BUDGET FOR SINGLE MAN OR WOMAN.
37
supplemented by such items as coffee, milk, a banana, an apple, at an
additional expense of 5 or 10 cents.
An additional allowance of 25 cents per week is made in this
budget for fruit, sweets, and other minor food items. These are not
absolutely necessary, but most persons living in boarding houses find
some supplementary expenditure, especially for fruit, highly de
sirable.
The rate for board at the Government dormitories for women is
$25 a month for two meals a day—but board in the dormitories is
available only to women who occupy dormitory rooms. Thus the
total cost for board, 2 meals a day, and lodging at the Government
dormitories is $45 per month—somewhat higher than the minimum
allowance in this budget.
Clothing.
Clothing, man (including repairing and cleaning)__________$158.36 per year.
Clothing, woman--------------- ---------------------------------- -------- 240.15 per year.
The clothing articles, listed below, as the minimum necessary for
a single man are, with two exceptions, identical with that worked
out for the husband in the family budget recently prepared. As in
both cases the man is presumed to be a Government employee, it
would seem that the minimum clothing requirements should be
about the same. The two exceptions are cleaning and pressing and
miscellaneous, both of which are considerably increased for the
single man’s budget, for the reason that the man living alone is
usually unable to do the mending and repair work which a wife
usually does, and thus the life of many garments is considerably
shortened. Rather than attempt, however, to increase the number
of garments on this account (for which no good information
exists) it has seemed better to allow a more liberal sum for miscel
laneous and for cleaning, pressing, and repairing. Therefore, the
miscellaneous item is increased from $3 to $15 per year, which allows
an additional $1 per month for replacement, etc., and the item for
cleaning, pressing, and repairing is increased from $6 to $31.20' per
year. Information on this latter point was derived from inquiries
made at the local Y. M. C. A., which indicates that the average sum
spent by low-salaried residents at that place was: For pressing, 1
suit 4 times a month at 40 cents each; cleaning and pressing 4 times a
year, at $1.50 each time: and about 50 cents per month for repairs.
These items would total $31.20 per year.
On account of the difference in occupation, the clothing of the
single woman will vary considerably from that of the Government
worker’s wife. While the housewife will wear her “ better ” clothing
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[37]
38
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
two or three times a week, and usually only when the weather is
favorable, the working woman must appear every day in the week, in
all varieties of weather, dressed in clothes of good quality kept neat
and clean. In order to withstand this more strenuous wear, a
greater quantity and perhaps a better quality of clothing must be
provided for the Government worker than for the housewife.
In preparing the clothing budget for the single woman, the quan
tities allowed in the study of wage-earning women made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics for the calendar year 191G have been
followed rather than the quantity budget recently prepared for the
Government worker’s wrife. In a few instances even the quantities
approved in the wage-earning women study have been decreased in
order to bring this budget to a bare minimum.
The cost of the wage earners’ budget in the 1916 study was ap
proximately $125. Since that time clothing prices in Washington
have undoubtedly increased not less than 100 per cent. In the light
of such an increase, the total of the following budget, $240.15, ap
pears sufficiently niggardly.
The following are the clothing budgets for a single man and a
single woman in the Government service:
U N IT PR IC E, R EPLA CEM ENT P E R Y E A R , A N D A N N U A L COST OF CLOTHING FO R
SINGLE MAN A N D SINGLE W OMAN IN GOVERNM ENT SERVICE IN W ASH IN G TO N ,
D. C.
Unit
price.
Article.
Annual
replace
ment.
Yearly
cost.
S in g le m a n .
H ats, felt.........................................................
Hats) straw ...............................................
Suits, winter (w ool).............................................................
Suits) summer (wool)...........................................................
Overcoat..................
R aincoat..........................................
Shirts, cotton.............................................
Union suits, sum m er...............................
Union suits, winter (part w ool)...................
Pajamas.....................................................
Socks, cotton.....................................................
Shoes, high...........................
Shoes, low .....................................................
Repairing, whole soles..............................
Repairing, half soles, including h eel.......................................
Rubbers.......................................
Gloves, k id .................................................
Collars..........................................................
T ies...............................................................
Handkerchiefs............................................
Garters.......................................................
B elts.................................................................
Suspenders..............................................
Umbrella................................
Cleaning, pressing, and repairing....................................................
Miscellaneous...........................................................................
X
u . 00
2.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
15.00
2.00
1.50
3.50
2.50
.50
7.50
7.50
3.50
2. 50
1.25
3.00
.25
.50
.25
.35
1.50
.75
4.00
1"
1
.1
"if
5
3
1
i
12
1
l'
1
1
1
12"*
3
8
2
l3
3
T otal......................................
15S.36
S in g le w o m a n .
S u it......................................................... ; ...........
Coat........................................................................
Shirt waists, w h ite ..........................................
Waist, dress............................................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$2.00
2.00
20.00
20.00
10.00
2.50
10.00
4.50
3.50
2.50
6.00
7.50
3.75
3.50
2.50
.63
1.50
3.00
1.50
2.00
.70
.50
.75
1.33
31.20
15.00
[38]
75.00
75.00
2.50
10.00
i
X
1
37.50
25.00
12.50
10.00
QUANTITY AND COST BUDGET FOR SINGLE M AN OR W O M AN.
39
UNIT PRICE, REPLACEMENT PER YEAR, AND ANNUAL COST OF CLOTHING FOR
SINGLE MAN AND SINGLE WOMAN IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN WASHING
TON, D. C.—Concluded.
Unit
price.
Article.
Annual
replace
ment.
Yrearly
cost.
S in g le w o m a n —Concluded.
Dress, one-piece, wool serge....................................................................................
Skirts, white, w a sh ....................................................................................................
Dress, afternoon or p arty...........................................................................................
H ats.................................................................................................................................
Shoes:
L ow ........................................................................................................................
H ig h .........................................................................................................................
R epairs..................................... .................. .........................................................
Heels........................................................................................................................
Gloves...........................................................................................................................
Stockings (cotton)................................................................... ................................
Stockings (silk).............................................................................................................
Corset............................................................................................................................
N ightgowns.................................................................................................................
Petticoats, white m uslin..........................................................................................
Corset covers................................................................................................................
Union suits, year-round wear.................................................................................
Silk petticoat............. , ...............................................................................................
Handkerchiefs.............................................................................................................
Kim ono.......................................................................................................................
Umbrella.......................................................................................................................
Rubbers........................................................................................................................
Cleaning and pressing...............................................................................................
Miscellaneous expenses, to include hairpins, hair nets, combs, collars and
cuffs, purse, veils, dress shields, sanitary supplies, w atch repairs, e t c ...
T otal............................................................................. ....................................
$25.00
5.00
40.00
10.00
$12.50
10.00
20.00
20.00
9.50
9.50
12.00
12.00
3.00
.40
2.50
• S3
2.25
6.00
3.00
1.60
2.50
6.80
2.25
6.00
1.50
3.00
2.00
2.00
1.00
1.00
7.00
.25
6.00
3.00
1.50
3.00
4.00
5.00
7.00
2.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
6.00
15.00
240.15
Laundry.
Laundry, man, $1 per week_______________________________ $52 per year.
Laundry, woman, $1.25 per week_____________________________ 05 per year.
Assuming only sufficient changing of clothing to insure ordinary
cleanliness, a man’s laundry, done at a steam laundry, costs at pre
vailing prices approximately $1.67 per week.
Inquiries made at a large local laundry showed the average bill
for 200 laundry bundles left by young men to be 78 cents. This
relatively small average was attributed by the manager to the fact
that the bundles often include only collars and shirts, indicating that
the soft laundry is done either by washerwomen or by the men them
selves. At the Y. M. C. A., an average of 385 laundry bills in Sep
tember was $1.10. Some of these clearly included more than a
week’s laundry, and the opinion there was that the low-salaried man
averaged about 80 cents per week, many of these men washing small
articles, such as handkerchiefs and socks, in their rooms.
In view of these indications, it would seem that an average of $1
per week is about the lowest sum for which a man can have sufficient
laundry work done to maintain reasonable cleanliness, and in allow
ing this sum, moreover, it was assumed either that soft work is done
by washerwomen at a lower cost than that of the steam laundries or
that the man does some of his laundry work.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[39]
40
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
Inquiries among woman workers indicate that $1.25 per week is the
lowest average amount which could be allowed for laundry. In the
summer when a considerable amount of white clothing is being worn,
the laundry expense would doubtless be higher than $1.25 a week,
but in the winter season many woman workers secure their laundry
for only $1 a week, so that an average of $1.25 seems within reason.
It is assumed, of course, that the work will be done by a washer
woman rather than by a steam laundry.
Toilet Supplies.
Toilet supplies and services, man___________________________$15 per year.
Toilet supplies, wom an____________________________________ 10 per year.
This group includes for men a long list of items—tooth paste, tooth
brusn, hand soap, shaving soap and brush, razor, hair brush, comb,
shoe polish, and hair cutting. The prevailing price for hair cutting
is 50 cents. An average of one hair cut every three weeks would
thus amount to $8.50 per year. For the other items listed, no' precise
data exist regarding the number of units needed per year. But
assuming that a man shaves himself and polishes his own shoes, it
would seem that the minimum yearly expense for these items would
be at least $6.50.
For women the item includes expenditures for toothbrushes, tooth
paste, toilet soap, shampoo soap, hairbrush, comb, shoe polish, talcum
powder, face powder, toilet water, etc.
Health.
Health, man----------------------------------------------------------------------- $32 per year.
Health, woman----------------------------------------- _------------------------ 43 per year.
This item includes expenditures for medical attention in case of
sickness, medicines, dentist, and occulist. No information exists re
garding the necessary expenses for these purposes by a single man in
Government employment or in occupations of analogous character.
The investigation of wage-earning women in Washington, made by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1916, showed that the average ex
penditure for these purposes by the group of self-supporting women
covered by the investigation was $22.54 per year. For women with
incomes of $800 or over, however, the average expenditure was ap
proximately $32 per year; and this sum may be taken as a more
accurate measure of the necessary expenditure by wage-earning
women at that time, as the maintenance of health is rarely a subject
of extravagance, the expenditures tending to rise constantly with
increasing income.
The allowance for health for the single woman is $43. In the
absence of data regarding the health expenditures of single men, it
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[40]
QUANTITY AND COST BUDGET FOR SINGLE MAN OR WOMAN.
41
may be assumed as probable that the average man has a smaller
expenditure on this item than the average woman. Therefore, the
allowance here made for the single man, $32, the same amount
as was spent by single women in 1916, would seem reasonable, as the
increase in the cost of all medical service between 1916 and 1919 has
probably been at least 33-J per cent. Allowing this rate of increase
for women, the necessary cost of maintaining good health is placed
at $43.
Religious Organizations.
Religious organizations------------------------------------------------------$5.20 per year.
Attendance at almost all churches or religious associations involves
a practical obligation to make some contribution. The sum of 10
cents per week for this purpose seems a fair minimum in the case of
both men and women.
Labor Organizations.
Labor organizations---------------------------------------------------------------$5 per year.
*
Membership in labor organization is now so frequent among all
classes of workers, including the clerical staff of the Government,
that expenditures for this purpose must be recognized. The clerical
workers’ organization is known as the Federal Employees’ Union,
the dues being 50 cents a month or $5 per year in advance. Em
ployees in the mechanical divisions, however, such as machinists, car
penters, printers, etc., affiliate usually with the regular craft unions,
where dues are as a rule considerably higher than in the Federal
Employees’ Union.
Newspapers, Books, and Magazines.
Newspapers______________________________________________$8.40 per year*.
Books and magazines------------------------------------------------------------------Nothing.
*
The reading of a daily newspaper is so customary and so de
sirable as an incident to intelligent citizenship that an expenditure
for this purpose may be regarded as a necessity. The Washington
daily papers are not uniform in their subscription rates, the two
most expensive costing $8.40 per year. This sum is here allowed,
as the individual should be free to choose the paper he prefers and
in any case the difference is not large.
No special provision is here made for the purchase of magazines,
books, and other reading matter. I t is assumed that the free public
libraries can be availed of by those who are seeking to live with close
economy. Any special expenses along this line, due to individual
tastes, would, under this budget, have to be charged to the amuse
ment and recreation allowance.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
141]
42
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Car Fare.
Car fare (744 rides)------------------------------------------------------- $37.20 per year.
Although a few single men and women may be fortunate enough
to secure a comfortable room sufficiently near their office to render
car fare unnecessary, the larger portion of them are obliged to ride
to and from their work. In view of this it seems reasonable to allow
two car rides per day for each working day, or 600 rides in total.
Some additional car riding, such as that incident to visiting
friends and attending lectures, concerts, or movies occasionally is
almost inevitable. Therefore a minimum of six round-trip rides per
month is allowed for this purpose.
Amusements, Recreation, Etc.
Amusements, recreation, etc., man___________________________ §39 per year.
Amusements, recreation, etc., woman________________________ 20 per year.
The average single man, particularly a young man, living in a
boarding house, will inevitably feel it necessary to make some ex
penditures for amusements. Membership in the Young Men’s Chris
tian Association probably offers the greatest return of wholesome
amusement for the least money. This will cost $15 per year. In
addition, there will be at least occasional outside amusements, such
as the moving pictures, excursions, and games. In the case of the
normal young man, moreover, there will be the expenses of courtship,
which, as a matter of custom and pride, will be paid at the sacrifice
of almost anything else.
Ao data are available for this class of expenditures for men. For
women the investigation of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1916
developed that the average expenditures for amusements by the wageearning women covered by that investigation was only $7.44 per
year. This average was unduly low, because the study included a
number of women at such very low earnings that they had absolutely
no expenditures on amusements of any kind. If these had been elim
inated, the average would have been between $10 and $12 per year.
For the reasons above cited, and particularly because when young
men and young women have their amusements together custom pre
scribes that the man bears the expense, it seems reasonable to assume
that the minimum expenditure for amusements should be consider
ably higher for single men than for single women. In vieAv of this,
and in view of the increased costs of most amusements, an allowance
of 75 cents a week for this item seems very moderate.
Single women, as a rule, living in boarding houses will feel the
necessity for a reasonable amount of amusements. Assuming that
some of these exuenses will be met by young men, the amount allowed
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[42]
^
QUANTITY AND COST BUDGET FOR SINGLE MAN OR WOMAN.
43
in this budget need not be very large. However, it seems reasonable
that the average young woman will spend at least $20 a year for
amusements and recreation. This figure will provide simple amuse
ment for only about one night a week.
Vacation.
Vacation______________________________________________________ Nothing.
No special provision is here made for vacations. Under the regu
lations of most Government departments in Washington a reasonable
amount of annual leave with pay is granted. This permits a vaca
tion without loss of pay. Tt is not felt that special provision for the
expenses of out-of-town vacations should be regarded as absolutely
necessary in a minimum budget of health and decency.
Education.
Educational purposes___________________________________________ Nothing.
In the case of younger men particularly, it is highly desirable that
additional school attendance, such as the law school, business college,
and art school should be encouraged. This practice, moreover, is quite
common among Government employees. No special allowance for
this item, however, is made in the budget on the grounds (1) that
such expenditure is normally limited to a rather short period, and
(2) that the ambitious man attending school in the evenings almost
always effects considerable reduction in the amount of money spent
for amusement and vacation.
Incidentals.
Other incidentals, man___________________________________ — $26 per year.
Other incidentals, woman__________________________________ 20 per year.
This group includes a large number of items which, for the most
part, are either inexpensive or of only occasional occurrence; such
items, for instance, as stationery, stamps, notebook, pocketbook, oc
casional use of telephone and telegraph, and tobacco. The only
pertinent information on the cost of the miscellaneous items is the
study made by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics of wage
earning women in Washington in 1916. This study showed an
average expenditure on other incidentals of about $13 per year by
the wage-earning women with incomes of $600 or more covered by
that investigation. Using this as a guide and allowing for increases
in the cost of most articles it would seem reasonable to allow 50
cents a week for this miscellaneous group as a necessary minimum
for a single man, and $20 a year for a single woman.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[43]
44
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Savings.
Savings, m a n __________________________ •.------------------------- $96.14 pex* year.
Savings, w om an________________________________________ 103.72 per year.
In tlie budget proper no provision is made for savings (i. e., bank
account, insurance, etc..), it being felt that savings should be regarded
rather in the nature of profits than as an item of expense. The im
portance of savings, whether in the form of a bank deposit, insur
ance, or property investment, is universally recognized. The only
point of dispute is as to the amount that should be considered as
essential. An amount equivalent to 10 per cent of living expenses
would seem to be very reasonable.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[44]
The British National Health Insurance System,
1911- 1919.
By H e n r y J. H a r r is .
B
Y TH E act of December 16, 1911, which came into operation
on July 15,1912, a system of compulsory health and invalidity
insurance was introduced into Great Britain. The following
pages summarize the provisions of this act as amended by the legis
lation of 1913, 1918, and 1919. The Bureau of Labor Statistics pur
poses in the near future to publish a more complete account of this
system, in bulletin form.
Industries and Occupations Included.
The general rule is that the insurance includes all persons, men and
women, 16 years of age or over, under any contract of service for
which remuneration is paid. The most important limitation on this
general rule relates to nonmanual employments. Persons employed
at other than manual labor whose annual remuneration exceeds
£250 1 are not included. Prior to July 1, 1919, this limitation was
£160. Under the present law those whose earnings from employ
ment fall between £160 and £250 may be exempted if they make ap
plication before January 1, 1920.
The official Handbook of Approved Societies (1915) sums up the
groups required to be insured as follows:
1. Persons in employment by way of manual labor.
2. Persons in any employment at a rate of remuneration not exceeding in
value £160 [now £250].
3.
Persons engaged in some regular occupation and wholly or mainly de
pendent for their livelihood on the earnings derived from that occupation and
whose total income, including earnings, does not exceed £160 [now £250] per
year.
4. One who has been an insured person for five years or upward.
5.
One who has been an employed contributor and being of the age of 60
or upward, who shows to the satisfaction of the insurance commissioners (now
the Ministry of H ealth), that he or she has ceased to be insurable as an em
ployed contributor.
1 Owing to tlie fluctuation in value of the British pound sterling conversions are not
made in this article. Normally the value of the pound sterling is $4.8665 ; the shilling,
24.33 cen ts; the penny, 2.03 cents.
155169°—20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4
[45]
45
46
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
It will be noted that there is now practically no age limit, though
pecuniary benefits are not paid after the age of TO is reached. The
employments include agriculture, industry, commerce, transportation,
and public service.
The persons exempt from the insurance are those who have rights
to sickness and other benefits from certain specified sources, such as
railway employees, school-teachers, etc., who are entitled to such
benefits from existing funds. Casual employments are exempt unless
the employment is in the regular line of the employer’s trade or
business.
If the person employed within the general terms of the law can
prove that (1) he is in receipt of any pension or income of the
annual value of £26 or more and not dependent on his personal exer
tions, or (2) that he is ordinarily and mainly dependent on some
other person for his livelihood, or (3) that he is dependent for his
livelihood on earnings derived from an occupation which is not em
ployment as already defined, then lie may be granted exemption by
the authorities.
Voluntary insurance is permissible to persons who are not engaged
in any employment which will make them employed persons within
the meaning of the law, provided they are engaged in some regular
occupation and are wholly or mainly dependent for their livelihood
on their earnings from this occupation; such earnings may, however,
not exceed £250 annually.
Disability Provided For.
The insurance is intended to provide for inability to work due to
some specific disease, or bodily or mental disablement; the pecuniary
relief commences with the fourth day of such incapacity, while the
medical relief is available from the beginning of sickness. There
are two types of disability recognized by the law ; first, that usually
known as temporary disability; second, that usually termed in
validity. The first is expected to include cases lasting less than six
months in a year, and the second, cases of longer duration or even
permanent total disability. The system is therefore a combined
sickness and invalidity insurance system. The presence of the in
validity feature is responsible for the complicated financial arrange
ments of the system. Accidental injuries which receive benefits
under the Workmen’s Compensation Act are not usually included, but
disability due to other accidents not covered by the compensation
act does entitle to benefits, unless by some legal process compensation
or damages equal to or in excess of the regular benefits is secured.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
146]
BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.
47
Tlie carriers of the insurance may themselves take steps to secure
such compensation or damages.
For the women included in the insurance, provision is made for
inability to work on account of childbirth. The uninsured wife of
an insured man also receives this benefit.
The Benefits.
The benefits provided by the insurance are divided into two
groups—those administered by the insurance committees and those
by the “ approved societies.”
The insurance committees have charge of: 1. Medical benefit; 2.
Sanatorium benefit. The approved societies have charge of cash
benefits, as follows: 8. Sickness benefit; 4. Disablement benefit; 5.
Maternity benefit; 6. Additional benefits. It will be noted that there
is no funeral benefit.
(1) Medical benefit.—This consists of such medical treatment as
can consistently with the best interests of the patient be properly
undertaken by a general practitioner of the usual professional skill.
It also includes the provision of medicines and of such medical and
surgical appliances as are approved by the regulations issued by the
insurance commissioners—that is, by the Ministry of Health. As
soon as a person is accepted as a member by an approved society
this benefit becomes available without any waiting period. The
benefit must be provided immediately on the beginning of the dis
ability.
Voluntary contributors are entitled to medical benefit in the same
manner as the regular contributors, but if their annual income ex
ceeds a certain amount, no right to this benefit exists. Their dues,
however, are reduced 1 penny weekly.
In the rare cases where the insurance authorities are satisfied that
the insured persons in any area are not receiving adequate medical
service, they may make special arrangements to provide such service,
or they may allow the beneficiaries to provide themselves with serv
ice and pay them for the cost of it.
(2) Sanatorium benefit.—This consists of treatment in a sana
torium or in a similar institution, or at home, to insured persons
suffering from tuberculosis or such other diseases as may be desig
nated by the Ministry of Health (formerly by the Local Government
Board). At the present time this benefit is practically a tuberculosis
benefit.
(3) Sickness benefit.—This consists of a periodical payment to in
sured persons rendered incapable of work by some specific disease
or by bodily or mental disablement of which notice has been given,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[47]
48
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
commencing on the fourth day of such incapacity and continuing
for a period not exceeding 26 weeks. If the disability continues
longer than 26 weeks, the disablement benefit (described below) be
gins. These two benefits cease when the age of TO is reached, as the
old-age pension begins at that age. Sickness benefit is not paid in
maternity cases. As some supervision of the beneficiary is required,
the sickness benefit is not paid while the patient resides outside of the
United Kingdom.
If this benefit is drawn for a period of 26 weeks, application for
benefit for another case of sickness will be approved only when at
least 12 months have elapsed from the date of last receipt of benefit.
The societies are authorized to refuse or suspend the benefit, if
the sickness was caused by misconduct or if recovery is delayed by
failure to observe the rules.
The “ ordinary ” rate of sickness benefit is 10 shillings per week
for men and 7 shillings 6 pence per week for women. These rates
apply to persons who took out insurance on or before October 13,
1913; those entering after this date are termed k‘ late entrants ’ and
receive lower benefits as described below.
The sickness benefit is payable only after the contributor has been
insured 26 weeks and has paid 26 contributions. If a person ceases
to be insured and then later again becomes an employed contributor,
a waiting period is again required; as the law expresses it “ he shall
be treated as if he had not previously been an insured person.”
The class of insured persons known as “ late entrants,” i. e., those
who became insured after October 13, 1913, are temporarily entitled
to reduced benefits only. Until a late entrant has been insured for
104 weeks and has paid that number of weekly contributions, the
rates of benefit are: For men, 6 shillings per week; for women, 5
shillings per week.
(4) Disablement benefit— This consists of a periodical payment
in case of a disease or disablement which has exhausted the sickness
benefit. The rate is 5 shillings per week for men and women alike
and continues for the duration of the disablement. A waiting period
of 104 weeks, for which a like number of contributions has been paid,
is required. The benefit begins on the day after sickness benefit has
been exhausted.
(5) The maternity benefit.—This consists of a sum of money,
payable after contributors have been insured 42 weeks (formerly 26
weeks). An insured man is entitled, on the confinement of his wife,
to receive from his society the sum of 30 shillings, the benefit being
the wife’s property. If the wife is also insured, she is entitled to
receive from her society a further sum of 30 shillings, making in all
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B R IT IS H N A T IO N A L H E A L T H IN S U R A N C E SY ST EM .
49
CO.shillings. In order not to place in a:i unfavorable position the in
sured woman whose husband is not insured, the double benefit of GO
shillings is paid to her also, in this case the whole amount coming
from her society. An unmarried woman is entitled, on confinement,
to a benefit of 30 shillings.
The maternity benefit does not carry with it the right to any med
ical attendance or medicines, nor may the insured woman receive
any sickness benefit for four weeks after the date of confinement,
unless there is some disease or disablement not connected directly
or indirectly with the confinement. However, the model rules issued
by the commissioners state “ a woman in respect of whom this benefit
is payable must be attended in her confinement by a duly qualified
medical practitioner or by a midwife possessing the prescribed quali
fications.”
The 30 shillings benefit paid in respect of a wife’s insurance, car
ries with it the obligation to abstain from remunerative employment
for four weeks after the confinement.
In order to make sure that the maternity benefit reaches the widest
possible group of insured women, it is payable even though the
woman has already exhausted her 26 weeks of sickness benefit or even
if she has been suspended from sickness benefit on account of arrears.
Similarly, even if the husband is in arrears or is otherwise dis
qualified, the wife’s society must pay the 60 shillings benefit.
An additional aid in maternity cases is provided by section 10
(4) b of the act of 1911, under which no regard is to be taken of
arrears of contributions during the two weeks before and four weeks
after confinement in the case of an insured married woman. This
is equivalent to exemption from contributions for these six weeks.
(6)
Additional benefits.—Section 37 of the 1911 act provides that
where the actuarial valuation of an approved society shows that there
is a surplus over liabilities, the society may provide, for its members
and their dependents, certain additional benefits. The fourth sched
ule appended to the 1911 act gives a list of the permissible extensions
of benefits. These may be summed up as consisting of increases in the
ordinary benefits, especially in cases where a member has dependents,
an addition to the old-age pension provided by the act of 1908, grants
to members in distress, etc. But no part of such a surplus may be
used to pay a funeral benefit.
As the annual reports of the insurance commissioners make no
mention of the societies taking any steps in this direction, it may be in
ferred that none have been instituted. The original act contemplated
that such additional benefits could be generally provided after about
18 years of operation of the system, but the changes introduced by
the act of 1918 postponed the date of such increases to about 35 years.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[49]
50
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Sources of Income.
The funds of the insurance system are derived from three sources:
(1) The contributions of the insured person; (2) the contributions of
the employer; (3) grants from the national treasury.
Contributions.—The so-called “ employed rate ” is as follows: The
contributions for men are 7 pence weekly, for women Gpence weekly.
This is divided as follows: The man pays 4 pence, the employer 3
pence; the woman pays 3 pence, the employer 3 pence. These
rates, it will be noted, are 44flat” rates, being uniform for the whole
class of 44employed contributors.”
“Employed contributors” form the great majority of the insured
persons, but there are special groups of so-called “ low-wage earners ”
for whom special provision is made. The rates for insured persons in
this category (who must be 21 years of age or over and whose wages
must not include board or lodging) are as follows:
RATES
OF W E E K L Y
C O N T R IB U T IO N S FO R LOW -W AGE E A R N E R S .1
Amount contributed b y —
Employer lor—
Rate of pay per working day.
N ot more than Is. 6cl .................................................................................
Over Is. 6d. but not more than 2 s ______________________________
Over 2s. but not inoro than 2s. 6d.............................................................
1 G reat B rita in .
1918. p. 69.
Men.
Women.
P ence.
Pence.
6
5
i
Employee.
Parliament.
P ence.
Pence.
5 Nothing.
4
1
3
3
T he s ta tu t e s r e la tin g to N a tio n a l H e a lth In su ran ce.
1
1
Nothing.
L ondon, Juno,
Arrears.—The provisions as to arrears are liberal, but are not easy
to describe in brief. Arrears due to sickness or disablement and, in
the case of woman members, due to maternity, are disregarded in
making up the accounts. The general principle is that any loss
which a society suffers by the nonpayment of a member’s dues in one
year shall be made good to the society by the reduction of his benefits
in the following year. The arrears of one year are canceled in the
next year, even if no benefit is claimed, so that the member in
arrears makes, as it were, a fresh start each year. To avoid any re
duction of benefits, a member may, at the end of a contribution year,
pay off his arrears, but must do so not later than 13 weeks after the
end of a contribution year. By the act of 1913, a member who
wishes to pay off any arreas which arose during unemployment
can do so by paying only that portion of his contribution which fell
to his share and not that part which the employer would have paid.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[50]
B R IT IS H N A TIO N A L H E A L T H IN S U R A N C E SY ST EM .
51
Low-wage earners who are contributors must, in case of arrears, pay
(lie State’s contribution of 1 penny per week.
Financial Administration.
The finances of the system are based on a plan of level premiums ;
that is, the contributions are uniform for all ages regardless of the
higher sickness and disablement rates in the older age groups. As
this plan provides both sickness and invalidity insurance, the accumu
lation of a reserve is necessary. This combination makes the plan
extremely involved and very difficult to present in brief form.
The weekly dues of 4 pence for men and 3 pence for women are
paid by deductions from wages ; the employer adds 3 pence to each of
these amounts and affixes special stamps of the proper value to the
card of the employee on the dates when wages are paid. The stamps
are purchased from the post office, which deposits the receipts in the
national health insurance fund. From this fund the money is drawn
for the payment of benefits and for expenses of administration.
The portion of the expense defrayed by the National Government
was, at the start, two-ninths of the cost of benefits and of administra
tion for the men, and one-fourth of these expenditures for the women.
The cost of administration in the societies may not exceed 41 pence
per member annually. If there is a deficiency in the administration
account, an assessment must be levied on the members.
The rates of dues and the schedule of benefits of the system were
computed on the basis of being self-sustaining for a person who
entered the insurance at the age of 16 ; but for a person who entered
at a later age the contributions were not considered to be sufficient
to provide the benefits. The system thus began with a liability
which was estimated as being £87,000,000. To cover this amount
each person entering the insurance has credited to him a theoretical
credit—called a “ reserve value.” At the start this amount was to
be made up by setting aside as a sinking fund a portion of the
weekly dues of each contributor, as follows : F or the men, one and
five-ninths pence; for the women, one and one-half pence. By the
act of 1918 the deduction in the case of women was made one and
one-sixth pence. It was originally estimated that these deductions
would cancel the “ reserve values ” at the end of a period of about
18 years; it is now believed that this period will be somewhat longer
than that.
A special committee appointed in 1916 to make a study of the
finances of the system reported that the funds available for women’s
benefits were inadequate, and recommended that part of the de
ductions just described should be devoted to current expenses. The
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 51 ]
52
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
1918 law provided (sec. 1) that part of the sums should be ap
plied to the accumulation of two special funds—the central fund
and the contingencies fund ; the central fund is to receive one-eighth
and the contingencies fund seven-eighths “ of a sum representing,
in the case of men, four-ninths and in the case of women threeninths pence for each weekly contribution paid in respect of a
member of a society.”
The central fund is intended to meet any deficit arising out of an
abnormal rate of sickness. It receives in addition to the above-men
tioned sum, and the interest which has accumulated on it, a sum of
£150.000 annually from Parliament.
In general it may be said that the purpose of the contingencies
fund is to meet any deficit which appears when an actuarial valuation
is made; however, the amounts apportioned to any one society be
long to the credit of that society and may not be used to meet a
deficit in any other society.
Besides these two funds, the 1918 act also creates a women’s
equalization fund, to be used in assisting societies in meeting their
liabilities arising out of the sickness claims of women. It is dis
tributed to the societies pro rata on the basis of the number of mar
ried woman members. It is understood that Parliament will grant
each year in addition to its weekly contribution of 2 pence for each
insured woman, the sum of £250,000 for this purpose. In general, it
may be said that this fund is to meet the disabilities due to child
bearing.
General Administration.
The Ministry of Health Act of June 3, 1919, made a number of im
portant changes in the administration of the insurance system. This
act, as far as it applies to health insurance, is now in force and other
powers are being added to it from time to time. The powers and
duties of the new ministry include the supervision and administra
tion of the entire insurance system.1
The general organization of the health insurance system for Eng
land and Wales is shown in the following outline. A similar organi
zation obtains for Scotland and for Ireland, where the Scottish insur
ance commissioners and the Irish insurance commissioners take the
place of the insurance commissioners for England and Wales (now
a subdivision of the Ministry of Health).
1A s u m m a ry o f th e a c t is g iv e n in th e M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w f o r A u g u st, 1919, pp.
227, 228.
T h e te x t o f th e a c t is g iv e n in P u b lic H e a lth R ep orts, O ct. 10, 1919, pp.
2 2 3 3 -2 2 4 1 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[52]
BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.
53
National Health Insurance Joint Committee, j
National Health Insurance Joint Committee.
Prior to June, 1919, the system was in the charge of four bodies
known as insurance commissioners, there being one each for England,
Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Over these four boards was an organi
zation composed of representative's of each, called the National Health
Insurance Joint Committee, a federated body whose principal func
tion was to take charge of all matters common to the four boards,
especially the actuarial problems.
By the terms of the Ministry of Health Act, the joint committee
will in the future be composed of the Minister of Health as chair
man, the Secretary for Scotland, the Chief Secretary for Ireland,
and one other person appointed by the minister to represent the
Welsh insurance system. Except for this change of personnel, the
previous constitution of the joint committee and its rights and duties
are unchanged. All of the powers and duties formerly belonging to
two of these bodies, the insurance commissioners for England and the
insurance commissioners for Wales, are henceforth to be exercised by
the Ministry of Health, and all their employees are transferred to the
new ministry. The act specifically provides that it does not affect
the powers and duties of the Irish insurance commissioners. The
Scottish insurance commissioners also are not affected to any mate
rial extent.
The most important work carried on by the joint committee is that
relating to the actuarial features of the insurance; this includes, for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
153]
54
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW.-
instance, the calculation of the rates of contributions, reserve values,
etc. An actuarial advisory committee has aided the joint committee
since the commencement of the act.
Until the passage of the Ministry of Health Act, there was attached
to the joint committee a special committee on medical research, to
make special investigations on matters relating to any disease to
which the insured persons are subject. The expense of these investi
gations is provided for by special appropriations by Parliament,
the amount of 1 penny per insured person being* granted. In the
future this research committee is to be entirely independent of the
insurance system.
Insurance Commissioners.
In the future, the administration will be divided into three parts,
one for England and Wales, and one each for Scotland and Ireland.
The insurance commissioners (now a subdivision of the Ministry
of Health), as the board for England has always been entitled, may
be used as typical in describing the scope and organization of these
bodies. The commissioners may appoint such officers, inspectors,
and other employees as they see fit, subject to certain supervision of
the higher authorities ; they may sue and be sued and hold property.
They have authority to issue regulations authorized by the insurance
laws ; they approve the statutes and supervise the administration of
the approved societies.
The commissioners have an advisory committee to give advice and
assistance in making regulations for the administration of the laws ;
this committee consists of representatives of the employers, of the
approved societies, of the medical profession, and of such other per
sons as the commissioners may appoint, of whom at least two must
be women. The advisory committee has a membership of about 150
persons, and a large proportion of the membership of the English
committee consists of persons wrho are also members of the advisory
committee of the National Health Insurance Joint Committee.
Approved Societies.
When the plans for the health insurance system were formulated,
the United Kingdom was covered by a network of friendly societies,
trade-unions, commercial insurance companies, sick clubs, establish
ment funds, and similar voluntary organizations which provided a
variety of benefits for sickness, accidental injury, superannuation,
etc. Many of these organizations had a long history of usefulness in
providing relief for distress from these causes, and it was decided
to use the societies as the carriers of the pecuniary benefits. The in
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[54]
BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.
55
surance laws therefore provide that the insured persons shall group
themselves into self-governing bodies—the organizations just named—•
which shall be responsible for the administration to their mem
bers of the pecuniary benefits provided by the system. These so
cieties, if they meet the requirements of the law, are recognized by
the insurance commissioners as “ approved societies/' The general
requirements are that the society shall be self-governing, not con
ducted for profit, and generally be in a position to carry out the pro
visions of the law. In order to permit any organization to continue
such activities as are not covered by the law, the societies may have
a special section for administering the provisions of the insurance
acts, whose accounts must be kept separate from other activities.
Special arrangements are made for federating societies whose mem
bership is not large enough to provide an adequate basis to carry the
risks of an influenza epidemic or similar tax on their resources. These
societies were required to enact by-laws which were submitted to the
commissioners for approval and which complied with the general
scheme of administration. They could accept such members as they
saw fit, except that they could not reject an applicant solely on
account of age.
A person may not be a member of more than one society for the
purpose of State insurance.
The principal functions of the approved societies are the payment
of cash benefits, the keeping of records of the members, and the super
vision of beneficiaries.
The distribution of the insured persons among the various types of
approved societies is shown in the following table, which gives the
membership in England in April, 1913, the latest date for which this
information has been reported:
M E M B E R S H IP OE A P P R O V E D SO C IE T IE S OF S P E C IF IE D T Y P E IN E N G L A N D , FO R
T H E QUARTER. E N D IN G A P R . 13, 1 9 1 3 .1
Number of members of societies formed b y —
Sex.
Total
number Friendly
Other
of m em societies
friendly
bers.2 ! w ith
societies.
branches.
Tradeunions.
Industrial
Em
Collect assurance ployers’
ing
provident
com
societies. panies.
funds.
948,885
205,599
396,105 2,162,396
267,554 1,597,000
78,665
20,432
Total .................................... 10,533,220 2,387,939 2.468.615
< .
11.154.484
-
663,659 3,759,396
99,097
Men
.......................................... 7,279,368 1,877,051 1,816,266
510,888 ; 652,379
\Vmn p,n . ............... ................ 3,253,852
1 G reat B rita in . N a tio n a l H e a lth In su ra n ce J o in t C om m ittee. R ep ort fo r 1 913—14 on.
th e a d m in istr a tio n o f th e N a tio n a l In su ra n ce A c t (Cd. 7 4 9 6 ), p. 498.
2 T he to ta l num ber o f m em bers is th e n u m b er o f m em bers w h ose c o n trib u tio n card s
h ad been fo rw a rd ed to th e com m ission in tim e fo r u s e in m ak in g up it s report.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[55]
56
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
Insurance Committees.
For each comity and county borough of the United Kingdom there
is a body called an insurance committee, which has charge of the
medical and sanatorium benefits. The members of these committees
in England and Wales are appointed by the Ministry of Health.
The committees must be composed of not less than 40 nor more than
80 members, consisting of representatives of the insured persons, of
the county government, of the medical profession, and other persons
appointed by the Ministry of Health.
Each committee must make such arrangements with duly qualified
medical practitioners in the county as will assure to the insured
persons adequate medical attendance and treatment. The committee
prepares a list of doctors who are willing to attend insured persons
and this list, called the “ panel,” must be duly published. Usually
it is displayed in each post office as well as distributed among the
insured persons. Each of the latter may select from the panel the
doctor whom ho desires for his physician.
The committee must also prepare and publish lists of persons or
firms who are willing to supply drugs, medicines, and appliances to
insured persons in accordance with regulations made by the authori
ties. The committee must make in advance an agreement with the
druggists (“ chemists”) as to the schedule of prices for drugs, etc.,
subject to the approval of the authorities.
Ihe administration of the sanatorium benefit was originally in
the hands of the committees entirely; later, special grants were made
by Parliament to various local organizations engaged in combating
tuberculosis, but since the enactment of the Ministry of Health law,
all this work has been placed in charge of the ministry. Under the
insurance law of 1911, the insurance committees are allowed 1 shill
ing 3 pence annually per insured person in their areas for the pur
poses of the sanatorium benefit. It is understood that Parliament
will make special grants from time to time to promote the construc
tion of sanatoriums for the use of the whole population. In 1911 the
finance act provided for this purpose £1,500,000, which was dis
tributed among the four countries on the basis of population. The
local government authorities and the National Treasury each defray
one-half of the deficit arising from the extension of this benefit to
dependents of insured persons. This part of the original plan was
modified by having the National Government’s grant made directly
to the local authorities in a given area, instead of to the insurance
committee.
Under the present arrangement, therefore, the Ministry of Health
has the per capita allowance from the national health insurance fund
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[uG]
m
»
BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.
57
in addition to grants from local government bodies and from the
National Treasury for this purpose. Up to the end of 1917, in 32
of the 49 counties of England and in 55 of the 78 county boroughs
of England, comprehensive agreements were in force between in
surance committees and the local authorities, under which treatment
in approved sanatoriums (for indoor patients) and the services of a
tuberculosis dispensary organization for nonresident patients (in
cluding dispensary treatment and the services of a tuberculosis health
officer for examining applicants for sanatorium benefit, advising as
to the treatment, etc.) were provided for the insurance committee by
the local authorities. In addition to the services just mentioned,
most of the agreements provide for visiting and nursing services.
Under the plans above mentioned there has been a marked increase
in the facilities available for tuberculosis treatment by the insurance
committees. In June, 1914, the number of approved tuberculosis dis
pensaries was 255 and the number of beds in approved residential in
stitutions was 9,200; in August, 1917, the dispensaries numbered 370
and the number of beds had increased to 11,700. This increase was
made in spite of the many difficulties caused by the war.
Deposit Contributors’ Fund.
As the societies could reject an applicant for any reason except age,
it was expected that there would be a number of persons who, on
account of ill health or other reason, could not obtain membership.
For this group a special organization, “ the deposit contributors’
fu n d” (originally called the post-office fund), was created. It was
expected that this fund would have close to a million members, but
at the close of the year 1916, the number was only about 270,000.
The deposit contributors are entitled to such benefits as the sum to
their credit will provide. They may, for instance, draw sickness
benefit only until they have exhausted the amount standing to their
credit. Such contributors are in a distinctly less favorable position
than the regular contributors.
Operations of the System.
Three reports on the operations of the system have been published;
one for the year 1912-13, one for 1913-14, and one for 1914-1917. This
last report was printed in 1918, while the war was still in progress,
and for reasons of public policy gave no data as to membership.
The data in these reports are given separately for each of the four
countries and not always in the same form for all countries. The
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[57]
58
M O N T H L Y LABOE REVIEW.
following table shows the total receipts and expenditures of the
English national health insurance fund, 1912 to 191G :
R E C E IP T S A N D E X P E N D IT U R E S OF T H E N A T IO N A L H E A L T H IN S U R A N C E F U N D
OF E N G L A N D , 1 9 1 2 TO 1 9 109
Period.
Expenditures.
Receipts.
July 15, 1912, to Jan. 11, 1914........
Jan. 12 to Dec. 31, 1914...................
1915.......................................................
1916.......................................................
s.
d.
£
26,661,618 15 7
18,305,962 11 i l l
20.438,129 7 3'
19,016,790 0 61
£
d.
14,360,746 11 5
18,071,611 16 2
20,159,712 4 10
18,881,840 19 11
1 G reat B r ita in . N a tio n a l H e a lth In su ra n ce J o in t C om m ittee. R eport for 1913—14 on
th e a d m in istr a tio n o f n a tio n a l h e a lth in su ra n ce (Cd. 7 4 9 6 ), p. 503.
N a tio n a l H e a lth
In su ra n ce F u nd A cco u n ts fo r period J a n . 12 to D ec. 31, 1914. H . o f C. P ap er 38 o f
1917, p. 2. N a tio n a l H e a lth In su ra n ce J o in t C om m ittee R ep ort on th e a d m in istr a tio n
o f n a tio n a l h e a lth in su ra n ce d u rin g th e y e a rs 1 9 1 4 -1 9 1 7 (Cd. 8 8 9 0 ), p. 256.
The following table shows the membership, the total expendi
ture for benefits by the approved societies, and the expenditure per
member for pecuniary benefits in the four countries :
N U M B E R O F M EN A N D W OM EN IN S U R E D IN A P P R O V E D SO C IE T IE S IN T H E
U N IT E D K INGDOM A N D A M O U NT S P A ID FOR S IC K N E S S, M A T E R N IT Y , AN D
D IS A B L E M E N T B E N E F IT S , 1 9 1 3 -1 9 1 G .1
Average amount paid
per member per week
for—
Amount paid for—
Y ear.
Number oi
members.
Sickness
benefits.
Maternity Disable
Ail
ment
benefits. benefits.3
benefits.
1913.
£
£
£
£
M en.................................... 9,394,961
4,388,112 1,222,647
0)
W om en.............................. 4,053,108 2,166,575
42,909
(*)
191!.
M en.................................... 9,625,562
W om en............................. 4,131,825
5,083,736
2,126,736
1,259,339
210,913
1915.
M en....................................
W omen..............................
(8)
(3)
4,647,769
1,656,173
1,136,395
182,503
589,922
251, 727
1916.
M en....................................
W om en..............................
(3)
(3)
4,366,189
1,426,542
1,089,138
171,130
770,022
375,967
£
5,610,759
2,209,484
Sick
ness
bene
fits.
Ma
ter
nity
bene
fits.
Disa
ble All
ment bene
bene fits.
fits.3
Pence. P ence. Pence Pence.
2.16 0.60
(■)
2.76
2. 46
.05
()
2. 51
2. 43
2.37
.60
.23
0.07
.05
3.10
2.05
6,374,086
2,090,403
2.22
1.84
.54
.20
.28
.28
3.04
2.32
6,225,349
1,973,639
2.06
1.56
. 51
.19
.36
.41
2.93
2.16
146,418 6,489,493
45, 762 2,383,411
G reat B rita in . N a tio n a l H ea lth In su ra n ce J o in t C om m ittee R ep ort on th e ad m in is
tr a tio n o f n a tio n a l h e a lth in su ra n ce d u rin g th e y ea rs 1 9 1 4 -1 9 1 7 (Cd. 8 8 9 0 ) pu 11
and 238.
2 D isa b le m e n t ben efit p a y m en ts began in J u lv , 1914.
3 N o t reported.
The general appropriations out of the National Treasury to the
insurance system are made to the National Health Insurance Joint
Committee. These have been as follows:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.
59
A P P R O P R IA T IO N S TO T H E N A T IO N A L H E A L T H IN S U R A N C E JO IN T C OM M ITTEE
FOR T H E F ISC A L Y E A R S 1 9 1 2 -1 3 TO 1 9 1 9 -2 0 4
Y ear.
1912 13
...........................
1913 14
1914 15
1915-16 ...................................................
Amounts
appropriated.
£37,570
207,227
1,218,964
618,275
1 G reat B rita in . T rea su ry .
2 E stim a te s fo r 1920.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Y ear.
Amounts
appropriated.
1916-17...................................................
1917-18...................................................
1918-19...................................................
1919-20 2.................................................
E stim a te s fo r c iv il services, 1 9 1 4 -1 9 2 0 .
£208, 709
269,746
636,798
1,064,605
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
Preliminary Statement of President's Industrial
Conference.
N November 20 the President announced the appointment of
a group of seventeen to sit as an Industrial Conference, begin
ning December 1. This call was in accordance with the sug
gestion of the public group in the recent industrial conference sum
moned by the President in October.1
The President’s letter of appointment reads as follows :
In accordance with the suggestion given me by the public group of the
recent industrial conference I am calling a new body together to carry on this
vitally important work, and I trust you will give me the pleasure of naming
you as one of its members.
Guided by the experience of the last conference, I have thought it advisable
that in this new body there should be no recognition of distinctive groups, but
that all of the new representatives should have concern that our industries
may be conducted with such regard for justice and fair dealing that the
workman will feel himself induced to put forth his best efforts, that the
employer will have an encouraging profit, and that the public will not suffer
at the hands of either class. It is my hope that this conference may lay
the foundation for the development of standards and machinery within our
industries by which these results may be attained.
It is not expected that you will deal directly with any conditions which
exist to-day, but that you may be fortunate enough to find such ways as will
avoid the repetition of these deplorable conditions.
The conference will meet at a place to be hereafter designated in this city on
December 1 next.
The new Conference has been meeting in secret session. Its mem
bership consists mainly of citizens prominent in public life, many of
whom are well known in political circles. Hon. Wm. B. Wilson,
Secretary of Labor, was made chairman, and Herbert Hoover, for
mer Food Administrator, was elected vice chairman. The other
members are Thomas W. Gregory, former Attorney General under
President Wilson; George W. Wiekersham, Attorney General in
the Taft administration; Oscar S. Straus, Secretary of Commerce
and Labor in the Roosevelt administration; Henry M. Robinson,
former member of the Shipping Board and recently appointed a
member of the Bituminous Coal Wage Commission; Prof. Frank
W. Taussig, former chairman of the Tariff Commission; ex-Govs.
1 F or an a cco u n t o f th is conferen ce see M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w for N ovem ber, 1919,
pp. 4 0 -4 9 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
61
Samuel W. McCall (of Massachusetts), Martin H. Glynn (of New
York), and Henry Carter Stuart (of Virgina) ; William O. Thomp
son, president of Ohio State University; George T. Slade, rail
way official of St. Paul, Minn. ; Julius Rosenwald, president of
Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago, 111.; Owen D. Young, lawyer, vice
president of the General Electric Co.; Henry J. Waters, president
of the Kansas State Agricultural College; Stanley King, lawyer,
secretary of the W. H. McElwain Co. (shoe manufacturers) and
former assistant to the Secretary of War in handling industrial rela
tions for that department; and Richard Hooker, of the Springfield
(Mass.) Republican.
The preliminary statement of the Conference, which was issued
on December 29, 1919, consists principally of an outline or proposal
of a system of Federal administrative machinery for the adjustment
of industrial relations. It omits any extended statement of indus
trial principles and theories, and its proposed machinery of adjust
ment does not displace or interfere with any existing machinery.
Briefly the suggestions of the Conference provide for the establish
ment of a national industrial tribunal and regional boards of inves
tigation and adjustment. If either or both sides to a controversy re
fuse to designate representatives, the tribunal may function as a
board of inquiry under the chairman and four members of the panels
set up. The tribunals and boards proposed function along geo
graphical lines and not along lines of industry. The proposals of the
Conference do not affect in any way industrial relations in the shop
or the establishment, except in so far as appeal is made from the
latter for the services of adjustment of the tribunal or regional
boards.
The appointment of the members of the proposed tribunal and
boards is concentrated in the hands of the President and the Senate.
u The plan which follows,” the Conference states, “ does not pro
pose to do away with the ultimate right to strike, to discharge, or
to maintain the closed or the open shop.”
A part of the preliminary report of the Conference is a statement
of its views as to the relation of public utility and Government em
ployees to the proposed scheme of adjustment of industrial relations.
In public utilities the Conference holds it essential that there should
be “ some merging of responsibility for regulation of rates and serv
ices and the settlement of wages and conditions of labor.” It would
deny to Government employees engaged in the administration of
justice or the maintenance of public safety or order “ to join or
retain membership in any organization which authorizes the use
of the strike or which is affiliated with any organization which
authorizes the strike.”
155169°—20-----5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[61]
62
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The report of the Conference is reproduced in fu ll:
Preliminary Statement of Industrial Conference.
I. Introduction.
The Industrial Conference, convened by the President in Washington on
December 1, issues this statement in the desire that certain tentative proposals
be given considerate study by interested individuals and organizations through
out the country. It will reassemble on January 12 and will then carefully
consider any constructive criticisms that may be submitted to it.
The Conference does not deem it useful at this time to enter upon a dis
cussion of the causes of industrial unrest. It believes rather that its most
important immediate contribution is the suggestion of practical measures which
will serve to avert or postpone industrial conflicts.
In confining itself to the proposal of machinery for the adjustment of disputes,
the Conference is far from wishing to exaggerate the importance of the me
chanical as contrasted with the human elements in the situation. Our
modem industrial organization, if it is not to become a failure, must yield to
the individual a larger satisfaction with life. It makes possible a greater pro
duction of material things. But we have grown so accustomed to its complexity
that we are in danger of forgetting that men are to-day more dependent on
each other than ever before. The spirit of .human fellowship and responsibility
was easier to maintain when two or three worked side by side and saw the
completed product pass from their hands. Yet their^ cooperation was actually
less necessary because each by himself was more nearly capable, if circum
stances demanded, to meet the needs of life. To-day we have a complex in
terweaving of vital interests. But we have as yet failed to adjust our human
relations to the facts of our economic interdependence. The process toward
adjustment, though slow, nevertheless goes on. The right relationship between
employer and employee in large industries can only be promoted by the deliber
ate organization of that relationship. Not only must the theory that labor is
a commodity be abandoned, but the concept of leadership must be substituted
for th at of mastership. New machinery of democratic representation may be
erected to suit the conditions of present industry and restore a measure of
personal contact and a sense of responsibility between employer and em
ployee. The more recent development of such machinery with the cooperation
of organized labor is a hopeful sign. But back of any machinery must be the
power which moves it. Human fellowship in industry may be either an empty
phrase or a living fact. There is no magic formula. It can be a fact only if
there is continuous and sincere effort for mutual understanding and an unfail
ing recognition that there is a community of interest between employer and
employee.
Pending the growth of better relationships between employers and em
ployees, the practical approach to the problem is to devise a method of pre
venting or retarding conflicts by providing machinery for the adjustment of
differences. The Conference believes that it is possible to set up a more effec
tive series of tribunals for the adjustment of disputes than at present exists.
To he successful, such tribunals must be so organized as to operate promptly
as well as impartially. There must be full participation by employers and em
ployees. There must be representation of the public to safeguard the public
interest. The machinery should not be used to promote unfairly the interests
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 62]
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
6a
of organizations, either of labor or of capital. The plain fact is that the
public has long been uneasy about the power of great employers ; it is becoming
uneasy about the power of great labor organizations. The community must be
assured against domination by either. On the other hand, there must be equal
assurance that such machinery will not be used to discriminate against organi
zations of employees or of employers. Both should be protected. The right of
association on either side should not be affected or denied as a result of the
erection of such tribunals.
The plan which follows does not propose to do away with the ultimate
right to strike, to discharge, or to maintain the closed or the open shop. It is
designed to bring about a frank meeting of the interested parties and cool and
calm consideration of the questions involved, in association with other persons
familiar with the industry.
The plan is national in scope and operation, yet it is decentralized. It Is
different from anything in operation elsewhere. It is based upon American
experience and is designed to meet American conditions. To facilitate dis
cussion, the plan submitted, while entirely tentative, is expressed in positive
form and made definite as to most details.
II. Plan for boards of inquiry and adjustment.
1. National tribunal and regional boards.—There shall be established a Na
tional Industrial Tribunal, and Regional Boards of Inquiry and Adjustment.
2. National Industrial Tribunal.—The National Industrial Tribunal shall
have its headquarters in Washington, and shall be composed of nine members
chosen by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Three shall represent
the employers of the country and shall be appointed upon nomination of the
Secretary of Commerce. Three shall represent employees and shall be ap
pointed upon nomination of the Secretary of Labor. Three shall be repre
sentatives of the public interest. Not more than five of the members shall
be of the same political party.
The tribunal shall be, in general, a board of appeal. Its determinations on
disputes coming to it upon an appeal shall be by unanimous vote. In case it
is unable to reach a determination, it shall make and publish majority and
minority reports which shall be matters of public record.
3. Industrial regions.—The United States shall be divided into a specified
number of industrial regions. The Conference suggests 12 regions with boun
daries similar to those established under the Federal Reserve system, with
such modifications as the industrial situation may make desirable.
jh Regional chairmen and vice chairmen.—In each region the President
shall appoint a regional chairman. He shall be a representative of the public
interest, shall be appointed for a term of three years and be eligible for re
appointment.
Whenever in any industrial region, because of the multiplicity of disputes,
prompt action by the Regional Board is impossible, or where the situation
makes it desirable, the National Industrial Tribunal may in its discretion
choose one or more vice chairmen and provide for the establishment under
their chairmanship of additional regional boards.
5.
Panels of employee's and employees for regional boards.—Panels of em
ployers and employees for each region shall be prepared by the Secretary of
Commerce and the Secretary of Labor, respectively, after conference with the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[63]
64
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
employers and employees, respectively, ©f the regions. The panels shall be
approved by the President.
At least 20 days before their submission to the President provisional lists
for the panels in each region shall be published in such region.
The panels of employers shall be classified by industries; the panels of em
ployees shall be classified by industries and1subclassified by crafts. The names
of employers and employees selected shall be at first entered on their respective
panels in an order determined by lot.
The selection from the panels for service upon the Regional Boards shall he
made in rotation by the regional chairm an; after service the name of the one
so chosen shall be transferred to the foot of his panel.
6. Regional Boards of Adjustm ent.—Whenever a dispute arises in a plant or
group of plants which is not settled by agreement of the parties or by existing
machinery, the chairman may on his motion, unless disapproved by the National
Industrial Tribunal, and shall at the request of the Secretary of Commerce or
the Secretary of Labor or the National Industrial Tribunal, request each side
concerned in such dispute to submit it for adjustment to a Regional Board of
Adjustment. To this end each side shall, if willing to make such submission,
select within not less than two nor more than seven days, at the discretion of
the chairman, a representative. Such selection shall be made in accordance
with the rules and regulations to be laid down by the National Industrial Tri
bunal for the purpose of insuring free and prompt choice of the representatives.
When both sides shall have selected their representatives the chairman shall
take from the top of the panels for the industry concerned, or in the case of
employees for the craft or crafts concerned, names of employers and employees,
respectively. The representatives selected by the two sides shall be entitled
to a specified number of peremptory challenges of the names so taken from
their respective panels. When two unchallenged names of employers and em
ployees shall have been selected in this manner, they, with the chairman and
the representatives selected by the two sides, shall constitute a Regional Board
of Adjustment.
The appointment of representatives of both sides shall constitute an agree
ment to submit the issue for adjustment and further shall constitute an agree
ment by both sides that they will continue, or reestablish and continue, the
status that existed at the time the dispute arose.
The Board of Adjustment so constituted shall proceed at once to hear the
two sides for the purpose of reaching a determination. Such determination
must be by unanimous vote. In case the board is unable to reach a determina
tion the question shall, unless referred to an umpire as provided in section 9,
pass upon appeal to the National Industrial Tribunal.
7. Regional hoards of inquiry— l i either side to the dispute fails, within the
period fixed by the chairman, to select its representative, the chairman shall
proceed to organize a Regional Board of Inquiry. Such Regional Board of
Inquiry shall consist of the regional chairman, two employers selected in the
manner specified from the employers’ panel, and two employees selected in like
manner from the employees’ panel and of the representative of either side that
may have selected a representative and agreed to submit the dispute to the
board. If neither side shall select a representative within the time fixed by
the chairman, the Board of Inquiry shall consist of the chairman and the four
panel members only.
Upon the selection of a representative, within the specified time, the side
concerned shall be entitled to the specified number of peremptory challenges as
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[64]
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
65
provided above. The representative shall have the right to sit on the Board of
Inquiry and to take full part as a member of such board in the proceedings
thereof.
The Board of Inquiry as so constituted shall proceed to investigate the
dispute and make and publish a report, or majority and minority reports, of the
conclusions reached, within 5 days after the close of its hearings, and within
not more than 30 days from the date of issue of the original request by the
chairman to the two sides to the dispute, unless extended on unanimous request
of the board or the National Industx-ial Tribunal. It shall transm it copies of
this report or reports to the Secretaries of Commerce and of Labor, respectively,
and to the National Industrial Tribunal, where they shall be matters of public
record.
8. Transformation of the regional hoards of inquiry into regional boards of
adjustment.—At any time during the progress of the inquiry at which both sides
shall have selected representatives and agreed to submit the dispute for adjust
ment, the Board of Inquiry shall become a Board of Adjustment by the admis
sion to membership on the board of such representatives. The side or sides
which appoint representatives after the date iixed in the original request of the
chairman shall, because of its delay, suffer a reduction in the number of per
emptory challenges to which it otherwise would have been entitled.
The Board of Adjustment so constituted shall proceed to the determination
of the dispute as though it had been organized within the period originally fixed
by the chairman.
9. Umpired— When a Regional Board of Adjustment is unable to reach a
unanimous determination it may by unanimous vote select an umpire and
refer the dispute to him with the provision that his determination shall be
final and shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous determination
of such Regional Board.
10. Combination of regions.—Whenever the questions involved in a dispute
extend beyond the boundaries of a single region, the regions to which the dis
pute extends shall, for the purpose of such dispute, be combined by order of
the National Industrial Tribunal, which shall designate the chairman of one
of the regions concerned to act as chairman in connection with the dispute in
question.
Two employer members and two employee members shall be chosen from
the combined panels of the regions involved in the dispute, under rules and
regulations to be established by the National Industrial Tribunal. The mem
bers representing the two sides to the dispute shall be chosen as in the case
of a dispute in a single region.
A Regional Board of Inquiry or of Adjustment constituted for a dispute
extending beyond the boundaries of a single region shall have the same rights
and powers conferred upon a Regional Board for a single region.
11. Effect of decision.—Whenever an agreement is reached by the parties to
a dispute or a determination is announced by a Regional Board of Adjust
ment, or by an Umpire, or by the National Industrial Tribunal, the agreement
or determination shall have the full force and effect of a trade agreement,
which the parties to the dispute are bound to carry out.
12. General provisions.—In connection with their task of inquiry and ad
justment, the Regional Boards and the National Tribunal shall have the right
to subpoena witnesses, to examine them under oath, to require the produc
tion of books and papers pertinent to the inquiry, and their assistance in all
proper ways to enable the boards to ascertain the facts in reference to the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[65]
66
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
causes of the dispute and the basis of a fair adjustment. Provision shall be
made by law for the protection of witnesses and to prevent the misuse of
any information so obtained.
All members of the tribunal and boards heretofore described, including the
chairman and vice chairman, shall be entitled to vote.
The President shall have the power of removal of the members of the tri
bunal and boards.
In the presentation of evidence to the tribunal and the boards each side shall
have the right to present its position through representatives of its own
choosing.
The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor in making nomina
tions for the National Industrial Tribunal and in preparing and revising the
regional panels of employers and employees shall from time to time develop
suitable systems to insure their selections being truly representative.
The National Industrial Tribunal, the Regional Boards of Adjustment,
and the Umpires shall in each of their determinations specify the minimum
period during which such determinations shall be effective and binding. In
case of emergency a Regional Adjustment Board or the National Industrial
Tribunal may, after hearing both sides, alter its determination by abridging
or extending the period specified.
13. Special provisions.—The terms of office of members of the National In
dustrial Board shall be six years ; a t the outset three members, including one
from each group, shall be appointed for a term of two years, three members
for a term of four years, and three members for a term of six years ; there
after three members, one from each group, shall retire at the end of each
period of two years. Members shall be eligible for reappointment.
The regional panels provided for in section 5 shall be revised annually by
the Secretaries of Commerce and of Labor, respectively, in conference with the
employers and employees, respectively, of each region.
14. Relation of boards to existing machinery for conciliation and adjust
ment.—The establishment of the National Industrial Tribunal and the Regional
Boards described shall not affect existing machinery of conciliation, adjust
ment, and arbitration established under the Federal Government, under the
governments of the several States and Territories or subdivisions thereof, or
under mutual agreements of employers and employees.
Any industrial agreement made between employers and employees may, by
consent of the parties, be filed with the National Industrial Tribunal. Such
filing shall constitute agreement by the parties that in the event of a dispute
they will maintain the status existing at the time the dispute originated until
a final determination, and that any dispute not adjusted by means of the ma
chinery provided through the agreement shall pass on appeal to the National
Industrial Tribunal for determination, as in the case of a dispute submitted
on appeal from a Regional Board.
III. Objects of plwi.
The main objects of the above plan are to secure national coordination and
to stimulate the formation of bodies for local adjustment. The requirement of
unanimity of agreement has by experience in the United States proved re
markably successful and should assure such confidence that neither side can
rightfully refuse to submit to adjustment. A precedent condition of such sub
mission is that the interruption of production shall be delayed. The frank
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[66]
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
67
meeting of the parties in controversy together with other men skilled in ques
tions at issue always gives promise of settlement. On the other hand, refusal
to submit to the board not only inaugurates a legal inquiry but also prejudices
the obstinate party or parties in public opinion. Moreover, the fact that mem
bership on the board of inquiry is available to either party or to the conflict sin
gly would tend further to weaken the position of the other. When both parties
join, the board at once becomes a Board of Adjustment, and conflict ceases
by agreement until a determination is reached.
IV. Statement as to public utility industries.
*
The plan here proposed presents greater difficulties in application to certain
public utilities than to competitive industry. The continuous operation of
public utilities is vital to public welfare. As the capital invested is employed in
public use, so is the labor engaged in public service; and the withdrawal of
either with the result of suspending service makes the people the real victim.
While continuous operation of all utilities is conducive to the general con
venience of the people, that of some of them is essential to their very ex
istence. Of the latter class the railways are a conspicuous example and bear
the same relation to the body politic as do the arteries to the human body.
Suspension produces practical social and economic anarchy and may impose
hardship even to the point of starvation upon large sections of the com
munity. The interruption in such essential public utilities is intolerable.
The Conference believes that a plan of tribunals or Boards of Adjustment
and Inquiry should be applied to public utilities.-but in the adaptation of the
plan two problems present themselves. First, governmental regulation of
public utilities is now usually confined to rates and services. The Conference
considers that there must be some merging of responsibility for regulation of
rates and services and the settlement of wages and conditions of labor. Such
coordination would give greater security to the public, to employee, and to
employer. Second, is the problem whether some method can be arrived at that
will avert all danger of interruption to service. These matters require further
consideration before concrete proposals are put forward.
V. Statement as to Government employees.
The Government is established in the interests of all the people. It can be
conducted effectively only by those who give to its service an undivided allegi
ance. The terms and conditions of employment in the Government service are
prescribed by law. Therefore no interference by any group of Government
employees, or others, with the continuous operation of Government functions
through concerted cessation of work or threats thereof can be permitted.
The right of Government employees to associate for mutual protection, the
advancement of their interests, or the presentation of grievances can not be
denied, but no such employees who are connected with the administration of
justice or the maintenance of public safety or public order should be per
mitted to join or retain membership in any organization which authorizes the
use of the strike or which is affiliated with any organization which authorizes
the strike.
The Conference is not now expressing an opinion upon the propriety of the
affiliation of other classes of Government employees with organizations which
authorize the use of the strike.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[67]
68
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The principles above stated are not to be construed as inconsistent with the
right of employees individually to leave the public service. It is, further, an
essential part of the application of these principles that tribunals shall be es
tablished for prompt hearing of requests and prompt remedy of grievances.
The legislation of the Nation, the States, and the municipalities should be
improved in such a way as to prevent delay in hearings and to enable speedy
action when there are grievances.
TV. Further work of the Conference.
On reconvening the Conference will continue its consideration of tribunals
for the furtherance of industrial peace in general industry in the light of what
ever criticisms and suggestions the publication of its tentative plan may call
forth. It will receive reports of investigations that are being made for it. On
the basis of such reports and of further study of these and the other subjects
within its field, the Conference hopes that it may be able to contribute some
thing more toward the better industrial relations described in the words ad
dressed to it by the President when he called it into being—relations in which
“ the workman will feel himself induced to put forth his best efforts, the em
ployer will have an encouraging profit, and the public will not suffer at the
hands of either class.” To this end it invites the cooperation of all citizens
who have at heart the realization of this ideal of a better industrial civilization.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T
he
P
r e s i d e n t ’s
I n d u s t r ia l C o n f e r e n c e .
i
[68]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
Retail Prices of Food in the United States.
HE retail prices of 22 articles 1 of food combined showed an in
crease of 2 per cent in the United States on November 15,1919,
as compared with October 15,1919. The increase in November
as compared with the average for the year 1913 was 92 per cent, the
same percentage of increase that was shown in August. These two
months represent the greatest increase shown during the 6 -year period.
Of the 44 articles for which comparison can be made during the
month period, 22 increased in price. The articles which increased
during the month from October to November were: Strictly fresh
eggs, 13 per Cent; onions and sugar, 10 per cent each; raisins, 9 per
cent; butter, 6 per cent; storage eggs and prunes, 4 per cent each;
canned salmon, fresh milk, and potatoes, 3 per cent each; rice and
bananas, 2 per cent each; evaporated milk, oleomargarine, cheese, lard,
Crisco, bread, flour, and macaroni, 1 per cent each; tea and coffee, less
than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
Nut margarine, corn meal, rolled oats, corn flakes, Cream of Wheat,
cabbage, canned peas, and canned tomatoes remained at the same
price as in October.
The following articles decreased in price: Pork chops, 5 per cent:
ham, 4 per cent; bacon, 3 per cent; round steak, plate beef, hens,
navy beans, and oranges, 2 per cent each; sirloin steak, rib roast,
chuck roast, lamb, baked beans, and canned corn, 1 per cent each.
The 22 articles combined showed an increase of 5 per cent for
November, 1919, as compared with November, 1918.
The articles which increased during the year period, November,
1918, to November, 1919, were: Onions, 73 per cent; prunes, 64 per
cent; coffee, 55 per cent; raisins, 44 per cent; rice, 26 per cent;
potatoes, 18 per cent; sugar, 16 per cent; canned salmon and storage
eggs, 14 per cent each; butter, 13 per cent; flour, 10 per cent; strictly
fresh eggs, 9 per cent; fresh milk, cheese, and lard, 6 per cent each;
tea, 5 per cent; bread, 4 per cent; and corn meal, 2 per cent. The
articles which decreased wTere: Navy beans, 24 per cent; plate beef,
18 per cent; bacon, 13 per cent; chuck roast, 12 per cent; round steak
and rib roast, 6 per cent each; lamb, 5 per cent; ham, 4 per cent; sirloin
steak and pork chops, 3 per cent each; and hens less than five-tenths
of 1 per cent.
1 Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham,
lard, hens, flour, corn meal, eggs, butter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
70
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
A V ER A G E R E T A IL PRICE AN D P E R CENT OF INCREASE OR DECR EA SE NOV. 15, 1919,
COM PARED W ITH NOV. 15, 1918, A N D OCT. 15,1919.
Per cent of increase (+ )
or decrease ( —) Nov.
15, 1919, compared
with—
Average retail price.
Unit.
Article.
Nov. 15, Oct. 15,
1919.
1918.
Sirloin steak......................................
Rnund steak
.............................
Rib roast
.................................
Chuck’roast
.....................
Plate beef..........................................
..........................
Porlr chops
Bacon
..................................
TTam..................................................
Lamb.................................................
TRvns..................................................
Pound__
.......do.......
.......do.......
.......do.......
.......do.......
Cents.
40.5
38.5
32.0
27.5
21.2
Cents.
39.8
36.9
30.6
24.5
17.6
Nov. 15,
1919.
Cents.
Nov. 15,
1918.
Oct. 15,
1919.
39.3
36.2
30.2
24.2
17.3
- 3
- 6
- 6
-12
-18
- 1
—2
- 1
- 1
- 2
- 3
-13
- 4
- 5
-
5
3
4
1
2
.......do.......
.......do.......
.......do.......
.......do.......
.......do.......
43.3
58.3
52.4
35.1
39.3
44.3
52.8
52.4
33.9
40.2
42.1
51.0
50.5
33.4
39.2
Salmon, canned ............................. .......do.......
Milk, fresh
............................. Quart.......
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened)...... 15-16 oz.
can.
Butter............................................... Pound__
Oleomargarine
.................... .......do.......
31.3
15.4
34.8
16.0
16.6
35.7
16.4
16.8
+14
+ 6
+ 3
+ 3
+ 1
66.8
71.1
42.6
75.4
43.0
+13
+ 6
+ 1
40.6
34.2
35.8
42.4
36.1
37.5
72.0
35.8
43.0
36.4
37.8
81.0
+ 6
+ 6
59.2
10.1
7.3
6.6
9.2
61.8
10.2
7.4
6.6
9.2
14.1
25.2
19.5
17.3
12.5
14.1
25.2
19.7
17.6
12.3
3 .8
6 .3
3.9
6.9
4.5
17.0
18.9
Tint margarine
Cheese................................................
...............................
Yvard
Orisoo
.............................
Eggs, strictly fresh............................
_ do......
.......do.......
.......do.......
.......do.......
Dozen......
"Eggs storage.....................................
Bread.................................................
Flour.................................................
C o r n m e a l ..........................................
Rolled oats
.......do.......
Pound*...
Pound---...... do.......
.... do......
C orn fla k e s
C ream of ^ ^ h ea t
M acaron i _
R ic e
...............................................................
R e a n s | navy............ .........................
ft-oz pkg
2 8 - o z .~ p k g .
Pound.__
.......do.......
.......do.......
Potatoes............................................ .......do.......
Onions............................................... .......do.......
C abbage
.................................. . ..do......
B ea n s baked
No. 2 can.
Corn canned-- do......
Peas canned
do......
Tomatoes, canned __ _. ..
do......
Pound_
_
Sugar, granulated.............................
Tea ............................................... ...... do.......
Coffee................................................. .......do......
Prunes............................................... .......do.......
Raisins.............................................. .......do.......
T)ozen. .
Bananas
.......do.......
Oranges.
74.1
5 4 .1
9.8
6 .7
6.5
1 4 .0
16.1
3.3
4 .0
4.5
17.1
19.1
19.1
16.1
67.9
30.8
71.0
47.6
19.1
16.1
12.5
71.2
47.8
18.4
15.8
29.0
20.9
39.3
55.3
30.2
22.7
39.9
54.2
1 0 .8
1 1 .4
22 weighted articles combined..........
(0
(2)
+ 9
+ 14
+ 4
+ 1
+ 1
+ 1
+13
+
4
+
1
+ 1
4* l
+10
+ 2
(2)
(2)
+ 2
- 2
+26
-24
+ 3
+ 10
+18
+73
(2)
-
+16
+ 5
+55
(2)
(2)
1
1
+10
0)
(4)
+64
+44
+ 4
+ 9
- 2
+5
+ 2
1 Decrease of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
3 No change in price.
3 Baked weight.
* Increase of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
For the 6 -year period—November, 1913, to November, 1919—the
increase in the prices of the 22 articles of food combined was 84
per cent. Articles which increased more than 100 per cent were:
Eiee, 102 per cent; bread, 104 per cent; potatoes, 105 per cent; corn
meal, 113 per cent; flour, 124 per cent; lard, 129 per cent; and sugar,
131 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[70]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
71
AVER A G E R E T A IL PRICE A N D PE R CENT OF INC R EA SE OR D ECR EA SE NOV. 15 OF
EACH SP E C IFIE D Y E A R COM PARED W ITH NOV. 15, 1913.
Per cent of increase ( + ) or de
crease ( —) Nov. 15 of each
specified year compared with
Nov. 15, 1913.
Average retail price Nov. 15U nit.
Article.
1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918
as.
1919
Cts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Sirloin steak...................
Round steak..................
R ib roast.........................
Chuck roast....................
Plate beef.......................
Pou nd. .
. .. d o ___
. .. d o ___
. . . d o ___
... do. . . .
25.4
22.8
19.7
16.3
12.4
25.4
23.5
20.4
16.7
12.7
25.7
22.8
19.9
16.2
12.0
27. C
24.3
21.(1
17. (1
12.o
31.7
29.6
25.0
21.2
16.3
40.5
38.5
32.0
27.5
21.2
39.3
36.2
30.2
24.2
17.3
+
+
+
+
3
4
2
2
+ 1
C1)
+ 1
- 1
- 3
+
+
+
+
+
6
7
7
4
3
+
+
+
+
+
25
30
27
30
31
+
+
+
+
+
59
69
62
69
71
+
+
+
+
+
55
59
53
48
40
Pork chops.....................
Bacon..............................
H am .................................
Lam b...............................
H en s................................
. . . d o ___
. ..d o ... .
... do. . . .
. . .d o . . . .
... do. . . .
21.6
27.3
27.0
18.5
20.5
21.8
28.1
27.3
19.2
20.5
20.9
27.3
26.8
19. 8
20.3
23.4
29. 8
33. 2
22.2
23.8
34.5
48. 2
42.6
30.1
29.5
43.3
58.3
52.4
35.1
39.3
42.1
51.0
50.5
33.4
39.2
-f* 1
+ 3
+ 1
+ 4
0)
- 3
(i)
- 1
+ 7
- 1
+ 8
+ 9
+ 23
+20
+ 16
+
+
+
+
+
60
77
58
63
44
+
+
+
+
+
100 +
114 +
94 +
90 +
92 +
95
87
87
81
91
Salmon, canned............
Milk, fresh......................
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened).
B utter..............................
0 1mm argftri n ft...............
19.8 20.8 28.7 31.3 35.7
. . .d o . . . .
Q uart... 9.1 9.0 8.9 9.6 12.8 15.4 16.4 - 1 - 2 + 6 + 41 + 69 + 80
16.8
15-16 oz.
can.
P o u n d .. 38.6 39.4 36.6 43.7 52.8 66.8 75.4 + 2 - 5 + 13 + 37 + 7 + 95
43.0
. . .d o . . . .
N ut margarine..............
Cheese..............................
L a rd ................................
Crisco...............................
Eggs, strictly fresh___
...d o ....
__d o . . . . 22.5 23.0 23.2 29.2 34. 6 40. 6
__d o . . . . 15.9 15.6 14.5 25.6 32.6 34.2
...d o ....
D ozen ... 49.5 45.0 45.8 51.4 58.1 74.1
Eggs, storage.................
Breacl___ .“ ....................
Flour................................
Corn m eal.......................
Rolled oats ..................
__d o __ _
P ou n d 2.
P o u n d ..
. . . d o ___
_d o . . . .
Corn flakes ...................
Cream of W heat___ ...
Macaroni.....................
R ice..................................
Beans, n a v y ...................
8-oz. pkg
28-oz.pkg
P o u n d ..
. ..d o ....
... d o . . . .
Potatoes..........................
O nions. ...' ................... .
Cabbage...........................
Beans^baked.................
Corn, canned..................
. . . d o ___
__do . . . .
__do . . . .
N o.2 can
... do. . . .
Peas, canned..................
Tomatoes, canned .......
Sugar, granulated .......
Tea....................................
Coffee...............................
...do. .. .
...do. .. .
P o u n d ..
. .. d o ___
. . . d o ----
Prunes.............................
R aisins.............................
Bananas..........................
Oranges...........................
__do___
__d o . .
D ozen...
. . . do. . . .
5.0
3.3
3.1
6.4
3.7
3.3
8.7
8.8
1.9
1.5
7.0
3.7
3.2
8.4
5.7
3.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
35.8
43.0 + 2 + 3 +30
+ 80 + 91
36.4 - 2 - 8 +61 + 105 + 115 + 129
37.8
81.0 - 9 - 8 + 4 + 17 + 50 + 64
54.1 61.8
9.8 10.2 +28 +40 +68 + 98 + 96 + 104
6.7 7.4 + 12 + 12 +73 + 106 + 103 + 124
6.5 6.6 + 7 + 3 +23 + 129 + 110 + 113
9.2
14.1
25.2
19.7
9.0 9.1 11.4 14. O 17.6 + 1 + 3 + 5 + 31 + 61 + 102
8.5 13.6 18.9 16.1 12.3
1.7
3.3
3.5
5.1
3.2
5. 8
3.3
4.0
3.9 -2 1
6.9
4.5
17.0
IS. 9
-1 1
+84 + 68 + 74 + 105
19.1
16.1
5.4 6.2 6.5 8.6 9.5 10.8 12.5 + 15 +20 +59 + 76 + 100 + 131
54.5 54.7 54.6 54.6 61.7 67.9 71.2 G) (*) G) + 13 + 25 + 31
29.8 29.6 29.9 29.9 30.2 30.8 47.8 - 1 G) G) + 1 + 3 + 60
13.3 13.8 16.6 18. 4 30.2
12.5 13.7 14. 8 15. 8 22.7
39.9
54. 2
22 weighted articles
combined....................
1 No change in price.
2 Baked weight.
9.9
6.8
7.1
( ')
+ 1 G) + 21 + 48 + 76 + 84
3 Increase of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
* Decrease of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
[71]
72
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
R E L A T IV E R E T A IL PRIC ES OF FOOD IN T H E U N IT E D STATES ON OCT. 15 A N D N O V .
15, 1919, A N D NOV. 15, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, A N D 1918.
[The relative price is the per cent that the average price on the 15th of each month ia
of the average price for the year 1913.]
«
Nov. 15—
1919
Article.
U nit.
Oct. Nov.
15.
15.
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
Sirloin steak................................
Round steak...............................
Rib roast......................................
Chuck roast.................................
Plate beef.....................................
Pork chops..................................
B acon...........................................
H am ..............................................
H e n s.............................................
Milk...............................................
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Lard..............................................
Eggs, strictly fresh....................
Bread.............................................
Flour.............................................
Com m ea l....................................
R ice...............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sugar, granulated......................
T ea................................................
Coffee............................................
P ou n d ..
. . . do. . . .
...d o .. . .
. ..d o .. . .
. . . d o ___
. . . d o ----. . . d o ___
. . . d o . . ..
...d o .. . .
Q u art...
P o u n d ..
... do. . . .
.. .d o .. . .
D ozen ...
PoundU
P ou nd..
... do. . . .
. . . d o ___
. . . d o ___
. . . d o ___
...d o .. . .
. . . d o ___
157
165
155
153
145
211
198
195
189
180
186
192
228
209
177
221
220
199
224
207
131
159
155
162
153
151
143
200
189
188
184
184
197
195
230
235
179
224
220
202
229
227
131
160
100
102
100
102
102
102
101
100
97
102
101
102
101
144
100
99
104
100
107
99
100
100
100
105
103
104
105
104
104
102
97
101
103
104
99
131
114
112
109
101
83
113
101
99
101
102
101
99
98
99
101
100
95
100
95
105
92
133
122
113
107
104
97
119
100
100
106
108
106
107
106
111
111
114
112
109
114
132
135
149
150
174
126
105
198
157
100
100
124
133
127
132
134
165
179
159
138
144
138
156
207
168
176
208
235
131
183
174
114
102
159
173
162
172
175
206
216
195
185
173
174
184
216
215
172
203
217
161
194
196
125
103
22 weighted articles combined
. .. d o ___
188
192
105
105
104
126
155
183
1 Baked weight.
Trend in Retail Prices of 22 Food Articles, Combined, by Months.
HE chart on the opposite page shows the curve in the retail
cost of 22 of the most essential foods 1 for the United States
for each month from January, 1913, to and including Novem
ber, 1919. The logarithmic chart is used because the percentages of
increase or decrease are more clearly seen than on an arithmetic
chart.2 The chart is the> result of an aggregate of actual prices so
weighted that each commodity may have an influence equal only
to its relative importance. The price of each, commodity to be in
cluded in the aggregate for each month has been multiplied by a
number representing the importance of that commodity in the aver
age family consumption. These weighted products of the several
commodities to be combined are added, and computed as percentages
of the aggregate, similarly computed, for the year 1913. The re
sulting index numbers show the trend in the retail cost of the several
articles combined.
T
1 See note on page 69.
2 For a discussion of the logarithmic chart, see article on Comparison of arithmetic and
ratio charts, by Lucian W. Chaney, M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w for March, 1919, pp. 20-34.
Also, The “ ratio ” chart, by Prof. Irving Fisher, reprinted from Quarterly Publications
of the American Statistical Association, June, 1917, 24 pp.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[72]
TREND IN RETAIL PRICES OF 22 FOOD ARTICLES, COMBINED, FOR THE UNITED STATES, BY MONTHS, JA N U A R Y , 1913, TO N O
VEMBER, 1919. [AVERAGE FOR 1 9 1 3= 100.]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- I
CO
74
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Since September, 1915, there has been a steady increase in the
cost of these 22 articles of food. In December, 1918, the cost of these
foods was 87 per cent above the 1913 average. In January, 1919,
there was a slight decline. February prices declined 7 per cent, but
from that date until June the prices advanced. In June there was
a decline of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent. July prices increased
3 per cent. August prices showed a further increase of 1 per cent,
which month became the high-water mark. In September, there was
a decrease of 2 per cent; in October, a further decrease of two-tenths
of 1 per cent 5 but in November, there was an increase of 2 per cent
which brought the cost up to the previous high-water mark in
August. Using the average cost in the year 1913 as the base, or 100,
the relative figure representing the November cost was 192, or an
increase of 92 per cent over the year 1913.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
75
Retail Prices of Food in 50 Cities on Specified Dates.
Effort is made by the Bureau to secure quotations on similar grades
of commodities in all cities. There are, however, some local customs
which must be taken into consideration when any comparison is made
of the prices in the different cities. The method of cutting sirloin
steak in Boston, Mass.; Manchester, N. H .; Philadelphia, Pa.;
Providence, R. I.; and Portland, Me., differs from that in other
cities. The cut known as “ sirloin ” in these five cities would be in
other cities known as “ porterhouse.” There is in these cities, owing
to the methods of dividing the round from the loin, no cut that cor
responds to that of “ sirloin ” in other cities. There is also a greater
amount of trimming demanded by the retail trade in these cities than
in others. This is particularly true of Providence, R. I. These, to
gether with the fact that almost all the beef sold in these cities is of
better grade, are the main reasons why the retail prices of beef in
these cities are higher than in others.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[75]
76
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
AVER A G E R E T A IL PRICES OF THE PR IN C IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR NOV. 15
[The prices shown in the tables following are computed from imports sent monthly to the Bureau by retail
Atlanta, Ga.
Article.
Nov. 1 5 -
Unit.
1913 1914 1917 1918
Cts.
Baltimore, Md.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
1919. 1919.
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
1919.
1919.
1913 1914 1917 1918
C ts. C ts. Cts. C ts. C ts. Cts. C ts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
24.1 30.9 38.7 37.8 38.3 22 .8 22.4 31.1 44.7 39.8 39.4
2 2 .2 28.0 35.6 34.4 35.3 21.3 2 0 .8 30.4 43.6 38.7 37.1
Sirloin stea k .................................. .
Round stea k ....................................
Rib roast..........................................
Chuck roast......................................
Plate beef..........................................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
24.2
21.3
19.0
15. 8
9.9
Pork chops............................. .........
B acon................................................
H am ...................................................
Lamb.................................................
H ens...................................................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
25.0 22.7 36.3 42.5
31.1 3 0 .0 50.1 61.8
30. 8 30.0 43.2 53.8
20 .2 19.3 32.1 38.1
2 1 . 0 20.4 31.7 38.6
Salmon (canned)............................
Milk, fresh.......................................
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened).
B utter. . 1............. ............................
Oleomargarine................................
23.5 27.0 28.2 30 .6
Lb
25.5 28.0 32.5 33. 5
Q t . . 10. 6 10.6 17.5 2 0 . 0 22.5 25.0 8.7 8.7 12. 0 17.0 16.0 16.0
17. 4 17.9
16.1 16.4
(2)
L b .. 39.8 39.4 55.1 65.7 74.1 76.5 38.4 40.3 53.9 69.6 72.1 78.1
Lb .
40. 8 40.4
44.3 44.4
N ut margarine................................
Cheese................................................
Lard...................................................
Crisco.................................................
Eggs, strictly fresh........................
38.7 40.4
36.2 36.1
Lb
L b .. 25.0 25.6 34.7 42.2 39.9 42.2 23.3 23.3 35.8 41.7 42.8 42.8
L b .. 15.3 15.5 32.8 35.1 35.1 36.5 15.0 14.8 32.7 34.5 34.1 35. 5
Lb
35.1 35. 9
34. 4 35.3
Doz. 40.0 36.9 50.1 67.6 64.7 71.8 45.9 42.0 58.0 73.1 65.5 76/3
Eggs, storage......
........
Bread........7......................................
F lour.................................................
Corn meal.............
Rolled o a ts.......................................
Lb.s
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
Com flakes........................................ ( 4)
Cream of W h e a t............................ (5)
Macaroni........................................... Lb .
R ice................................................... L b ..
Beans, n a v y .................................... Lb .
Potatoes............................................ L b ..
Onions............................................... Lb
Cabbage............................................ L b ..
Beans,” baked.................................. (6)
Com, canned................................... (6)
5.6
3.5
2.6
8.6
2.3
18.9 23.8 30.0 27.9 28.1 17.5 18.4 25.3 34.9 31.5 32.1
16.1 2 0 .2 25.9 21.9 2 2 .8 15.0 15.4 2 2. 0 30.3 25.7 24.4
9.7 15.0 20 .0 16.2 17.4 12.2 13.4 17.5 23.4 19.3 17.9
41.7
57.2
53.8
36.1
40.0
41.5
56.7
54.0
36.5
38.4
18.2
21.5
27.5
18.0
19.8
24.0
31.0
19.0
33.3
45.1
46.8
31.3
20 .2 2 0 . 0 29.6
46.2
59.1
59.3
39.2
40.2
43.2
49.4
56.8
34.5
43.6
39.8
46.2
54.4
32.5
41.2
^3. 5 52. 8 60 0 60.5 33.1 29.9 44. 0 57 9 57 7 61.1
6 . 0 10.1 1 0 .0 10 .0 10.0 5.5 5.7 9.2 9.7 9.6 9 . 6
7.1 6 . 8 7.2 7.3 3.1 3.7 6 . 8 6.9 7.5 7 . 7
5.4 5.7 5.7 5.6 2.6 2.7 6.4 6.2 5.8 5 . 0
10.5 10,6
8.2 7 . 8
3.7
2.8
14. 0
24. 7
20.3
8.6 11.1 14.4 17.0
18-8 17.9 35. 0
1.8
4.0
5.9
4.4
5.7
14.0
24.4
20.3
17.3
14.5
5.0 5.0
8. 4 8.2
6.2 6.2
16.1 15.9
20.3 20.4
9.0
1.8
13.0
23.4
18. 6
9.0 11.4 14.1 18.3
19.0 17.8 12.2
1.5
3.0
4.9
3.8
4.1
Peas, canned.................................... (6)
20.4
Tomatoes, canned.......................... (6)
14.2
Sugar, granulated.......................... L b .. 5.7 6.7 11.0 10.9 11.8
T ea..................................................... L b .. 60.0 60.0 78.4 88.6 87.1
Coffee................................................. L b .. 32.0 33.0 29.2 30.7 49.8
20.4
14.5
13.5 4.8 5.7 9.6 10.4
91.3 56.0 56.0 64.9 73.3
49.8 24.4 24.4 28.1 29.8
Prunes...........................
Lb
R aisins...........................
Lb
Bananas............................................
Oranges............................................
24 4
21. 5
18.0 19.2 25. 3
16.1 18.1 21 0
31. 8
54.1
3 7. 7
40.6
13.1
23.3
18.2
18.0
11.9
3.8 3 . 7
5. 8 6. 4
3. 8 4 . 0
16.1 15.8
19.1 18.1
18.7
14. 6
10.9
73.0
45.0
18.4
15.2
11.0
71.1
46.1
17 3 18 5 29 5 30, 0
14 6 15. 9 21. 9 22 6
33 5 31. 8
59.1 59.1
1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is known as “ porterhouse” in most of the cities included in
this report, but in this city it is called “ sirloin” steak.
2 15-16 ounce can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[76]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
77
1913, 1914, 1917, 1918,1919, A N D OCT. 15, 1919, FOR 19 CITIES.
dealers.
As some dealers occasionally fail to report, the number of quotations varies from month to month.}
Birmingham, Ala.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Nov. 15—
Nov . 15—
Oct. Nov.
Cct. Nov.
15,
15,
15,
15,
1919.
1919. 1919.
1913 1914 1917 1918 1919.
1913 1914 1917 1918
1913 1914 1917 1918
Nov. 15—
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
40.5
37.0
33.5
28.9
22.1
39.1
37.3
31.7
26.4
17.6
39.1
36.8
31.3
26.2
17.9
134, 0
35.0
23.9
16.2
C ts .'
138. 8
36. 0
24.6
17.8
MBS
42.1
30.7
24.9
'55. 0 160.7 1 60 . 2 22.2
56.8 55. 7 55.7 19.4
38.5 39.9 41.3 16. 4
30.8 30.7 30.9 15.2
11. 7
23.0
20.6
17.8
15.8
31.1
28.9
24.3
22.0
39.0
36.5
31.1
27.1
22 3
42.0
62.5
52.0
38.3
38.6
43.0
58.3
55. 0
37.5
38.2
42.5
57. 6
53.6
39.2
37.1
22.4
24.6
31. 0
20.5
24.3
24.8
27.2
33. 0
22.0
24.0
35.3
45.8
44.3
33.6
32.6
46.9
54. 5
56.7
37.7
44.6
49.9
48.9
56.9
37.4
45.5
46.5
47.9
54.8
37.0
45.5
21.0
23.0
28. 0
17.2
19.6
34.9
46.0
4°. 4
27.6
29.7
42.1
53.0
52.9
30.8
38.7
27.8 31.4
ÌÓ.Ó 10.4 15.2 20.0
34.7
25.0
17.7
75.0
44.6
38.4
30.0 32.0
25.0 8.9 8.9 14.0 16.5
17.9
79.0 38.2 37.5 51.7 63.8
45.4
33.3
16.4
16.7
68.3
42.5
34.3
0
17.0 8.0 8.0 14.0
17.0
71.1 38.1 39.0 50.6
42.4
40.1
40.0
36.0
37.8
59.3
39.2
41.5 23.4 23.1 32.6 35.9
36.2 15. 8 15.5 32.9 34.4
38. 7
67.3 60.6 64.8 73.7 90.2
35.8 35.0
42.2 42.2 21.5 21.5 33.4
37.1 37.3 14.2 14.3 31.5
36.1 36.7
92.9 102.1 48.5 45.0 59.5
38.3
32,7
55.0
9.6
7.5
5.3
11.2
60.0 35.2 34.2 47.7 55.1
9. 6 6. 0 6.1 9.1 9.1
7.6 3. 6 4.1 7.5 6.7
5.3 3.5 3.8 7.6 7.1
11.0
64,7 30.6 28.7 42.8
9.7 0 . 6 5.2 9.8
7.9 3 . 0 3.5 6.4
7.3 2 . 6 2.9 7.4
7.9
52.6
10.0
6.3
6.0
14.7
25. 7
20. 6
17.5
15.0
14.6
25.9
21. 0
17.8
14.0
4.9
7.6
5.5
18.4
19.2
5.0
8.4
5.4
17.9
18.9
C ts.
Cts.
28.0
23.0
19.4
16.5
10.0
28.5
24.0
20.9
17.1
12. 0
C ts.
34.0
31.0
25. 0
20.2
10.3
23.0
34.0
32.0
21.9
19.3
21.3
35.0
31. 0
22.4
17.5
34.8
53. 0
44. 5
32.5
28.6
41.7 39.2 56.1 69.1
*
23.0 23.1 34.1 45.3
15.1 15.5 32.9 33.5
39.0 36.0 48.8 64.8
32.5 30.0 45.0 55.5
5.4 5.5 10.6 11.7
3.6 3.7 7.1 6.9
2.5 2.5 5.0 5.3
8.2
7.9 12.4 14.2
19.4 17.0
2.2
1.8
3.6
5.5
4.1
4.4
5.4 6.4 10.4 10.8
61.3 61.3 73.9 82.9
28.8 28.8 33.3 32.6
15. 0 16.4
15.3
C ts.
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
9.6
7.8
7.8
8.1
Cts.
19.8
21.2
26.3
15.6
20.0
C 's.
Cts.
42.9
43.3
51.5
26.7
39.1
42.7
41.2
51.1
25.6
37.5
28 7 32 3
16. Ò 16.0
16 0
65.4 70.0
41. 6
33.3
16.0
16.2
74.7
42.5
34 0
40. 9
33.4
36. 0
72.7
34.2
40.9
34.7
35.9
79.0
57.6
10.0
6.9
6.2
7.6
59.0
10.0
7.0
6.3
7.6
13.1
24.0
20. 0
17.4
11.6
12.9
24.1
19.4
17.7
11.5
3.0
6.3
4. 9
13.9
18.4
3.1
6.4
4.8
13.9
18.2
17.5
16.3
10.9
66.2
46.2
17.7
16.4
11.0
66.0
46.6
28.7
18. 8
42. 3
60. 2
28.0
20.0
42.2
58.5
73.9
3.4
3.4
3.2
6.1
3. 8
17.6
21.3
3.5
6.4
4.5
17.5
21.0
3.2
5.6
2.8
3.8
22.0
14.8
11.6
89.1
49.5
21.7
14. 4
20.3 5.4 6.0 10.2 10.7
87.1 58.6 58.6 64.8 65.3
49.6 33.0 32.1 34.4 34.8
20.6
17.0
10.9
66.3
53.0
20.1
15.8
10.9 5 . 3 6.1 9 . 9
66.6 4 5 .0 45.0 53 .9
52.7 29.3 29.3 29.5
10.6
63.0
30.0
33.3
20.4
40.0
50.3
30.0
20.9
41.6
31.8
20.8
29.0
22.9
46.9
61. 7
1.7
1.4
3.5
5. 8
16.8 19.3
15.0 15.4
62.1
3 Baked weight.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9.3 11.3
19 6
1.8
1.0
6 28-ounce package.
6 No. 2 can.
* 8-ounce package.
155169°—20----- 6
9 .3
[77]
16. 6
14.0
C ts.
35.9
32.4
28.7
24.2
17.3
14.0
24.7
21.9
17.5
11.5
9.4 11.8 13.9
18.4 16.9
C ts.
37.3
34.0
29.9
25.0
18 3
14.0
24.7
21. 6
17.1
11.7
9.4
Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
1919. 1919.
Ì3.7
15.1
19.2
14.5
78
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
A V ER A G E R E T A IL PRIC ES OF TH E P R IN C IP A L A R TIC L ES OF FOOD FO R NOV. 15,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Chicago, 111.
Unit.
Article.
N ov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1919.
1919.
1919. 1919. 1913 1914 1917 1918
1913 1914 1917 1918
N ov. 15—
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
Sirloin steak.....................................
Round steak....................................
Rib roast. . .
...................
Chuck roast......................................
Plate beef..........................................
L b ..
L b ..
Lb
L b ..
L b ..
24. 7
21.4
19.5
15.9
12.0
26. 3
23.4
21.1
17. 7
12.7
29.7
26.5
24.5
20.6
16.2
37.3
34.1
31.3
27.6
20.6
36.6
32.5
28.9
24.3
17.0
37.0
32.5
29.6
24.3
17.0
25.0
22.4
18.6
17.0
12.6
24.7
21.7
18.9
17.1
12.4
29.0
27.0
22.6
20.6
15.6
36.6
33.9
28.0
26.2
19.8
37.6
34.5
28.3
24.3
17.4
37.1
33.4
27.8
24.0
16.7
Pork chops.......................................
Bacon.................................................
H am ...................................................
Lamb.................................................
H ens...................................................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
19.3
32.4
32.3
19.3
17.4
19.7
31.9
33.1
20.1
18.1
31.2
49.7
44.5
28.2
25.8
37.7
59.5
52.5
33. 7
31.5
41.0
54.6
54.0
33.1
33.1
36.8
54.2
52.3
32.9
33.3
21.6
28.1
35.7
18.1
19.9
22.0
29.6
33.5
19.7
19.4
33.1
46.7
44. 1
28.8
29.4
41.0
56.4
54.5
32.4
37.4
44.9
49.8
56.2
31.6
39.2
41.7
48.3
54.2
31.9
37.3
Salmon (canned)............................
Milk, fresh........................................
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened)
B u tter .. T............. ............................
Oleomargarine...............................
30.1 31.7 34.9
Lb
Q t.. 8.0 8.0 11.9 14.0 15. 0
15. 3
(i)
L b .. 36.5 36.4 49.2 65.3 67.8
40.4
Lb
N ut margarine................................
Cheese................................................
Lard...................................................
Crisco..
Eggs, strictly fresh.........................
35.3 35.5
33.4 33.5
Lb
L b.. 25.3 25.0 37.4 40.4 44.4 44.6 24.0 24.0 34.8 39.0 42.4 41.9
L b .. 15.0 15.1 30.9 32.7 34.6 34.4 16.3 16.1 33.2 34.2 36.2 36.1
38.4 37.6
35. 5 36. 3
Lb
Doz. 39.8 35.8 49.6 67.7 65.6 74.2 50.0 47.7 60.5 75.8 75.8 84.2
Eggs, storage....................................
Bread................. ...............................
Flour.................................................
Corn meal......... ...............................
Rolled oats.......................................
Doz. 30.3 28.6 41.1 51.3 56.1 58.2 35.7 32.3 43.1 53.4 61.5 63.1
Lb.2 6.1 6.2 10.1 10.2 10.7 10.6 5.6 5.7 9.9 10.0 9.7 9.3
L b .. 2.9 3.4 6.4 6.3 7.1 7.3 3.2 3.7 6.9 6.7 7.4 7.6
L b .. 2.9 2.9 6.9 6.5 6.7 6.7 3.6 3.4 7.6 6.2 6.5 6.6
9.4 9.6
7.0 7.1
Lb
Corn flakes........................................ (3 )
Cream of W h e a t............................. (4)
Macaroni........................................... Lb
R ice................................................... L b ..
Beans, n a v y ................................... Lb.
Potatoes............................................ Lb
Onions............................................... Lb
Cabbage............................................ L b ..
Beans, baked................................... (5 )
Corn, canned.................................... (5 )
9.Ò
1.7
12.8
24.1
17. 8
9.3 11.4 13.7 16.6
19.0 15.7 11. 8
1.2
2.7
4.5
2.6
3. 4
29.1 30.0 35.0 36.1
36.2
15.0 8.0 8.0 12.0 15.0 15. 7 16.0
16.8 17.1
15.5
73.6 40.7 40.9 53.0 68.8 73.8 79.8
43.7 45.5
41. 7
13. 0
24. 4
18. 0
16.7
12.0
3.4 3.8
5. 9 6. 8
4.5 4. 6
16. 6 16.2
17.6 17.4
9.0
2.0
14.2
24.4
18.6
9.5 11.8 14.5 18.0
19.4 14.6 11.9
1.2
3.3
5.5
3:1
3.2
Peas, canned.................................... (5 )
17.5 17. 5
Tomatoes, canned.......................... (5 )
15.5 15. 8
Sugar, granulated........................... L b .. 5.1 5.7 8.5 10.6 12.4 13.2 5.4 6.3 9.7 ÌÒ. 8
T ea..................................................... L b .. 55.0 55. 0 58. 8 60.4 63.7 64.7 50. 0 50.0 55. 6 66.7
Coffee................................................. L b .. 30.7 30.0 28.7 28.6 44.4 44.8 26.5 26.5 29.5 30.5
Prunes.................
Lb
Raisins.............................................. L b ..
Bananas............................................
©ranees______________________
J
1 15-16 ounce can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
16. 3 17.9 28. 9
15. 0 15. 7 20. 2
35. 6
52.8
2 Baked weight.
[78]
28.9
23.3
38. 7
52.3
14.5
24.6
19.2
18.4
11.7
4.1 4.0
5.6 6.8
4.7 4.5
16.3 15. 7
18.9 19.3
18. 6
16.2
11.0
73.8
49.3
18. 7
16.0
12.7
72.8
50.2
17. 9 18. 6 29. 4
14.3 15.6 22.1
46.0
57. 8
28. 3
22. 8
46.4
57. 7
3 8-ounce package.
79
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
1913,1914, 1917,1918,1919, A N D OCT. 15, 1919, FO R 19 C IT IES—Continued.
Denver, Colo.
Detroit, Mich.
Los Angeles, Calif.
N ov. 15—
N ov 15—
N ov. 15—
Oct. N ov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1918. 1919.
1913 1914 1917 1918
1913 1914 1917 1918 1919. 1919. 1913 1914 1917 1918 1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
22. £
20.3
16.7
15.3
9.9
22.1
21. 1
17.9
15.3
10.7
28.2
26.2
22. C
19.7
13.8
35.7
31.9
27.0
24.0
17.3
33.3
30.1
26.4
21.0
14.1
33.6
29.9
25.8
21. 2
14.2
25.6
20.6
20. C
15.2
11.4
23.3
20.4
18.7
15.6
11.9
29.4
26.8
23.5
19.3
15.4
35.3
32.5
28.0
24.0
19.0
37.8
32.5
29.5
22.7
16. 6
36. 7
32.1
29.6
22.2
16.0
23. £
21.4
18. £
16. C
13.4
23.7
21.2
19.7
15.9
13.4
26.5
24. C
22.2
18. £
15.7
32. £
31.4
26.2
24.6
20.0
31.1
28.1
26.2
19.7
15.6
31.7
28.7
26.4
19.6
16.0
20.4
28. t
29.2
15.2
18.5
21.0
30.6
31.7
17. 1
18.8
34.6
50.6
46.8
29. 8
27.8
39.9
59.3
57.1
30.4
32.3
45.3
54.8
57.2
27.8
36.7
42.6
53. 7
55.0
28.3
35.4
19.4
22.3
27.0
15.1
19.2
20.4
25. C
29.0
16.4
18.3
32.6
45.8
42.0
28.6
29.3
39.8
55.8
55. 6
33.1
35.5
45.1
49.2
56.6
34.4
39.3
41.8
46.7
53.7
33.3
36.8
26.0
33.5
35. C
18.6
26.3
26.6
34.5
36.3
19.3
26.3
36.8
52.7
52.2
29.7
32.6
46.4
65.7
61. £
33.4
44.5
44.7
58.5
59.1
29.7
46.0
46.8
56.8
59.0
30.8
46.8
26.9 29.2
8.4 12.0 12.8
35.6
12.7
16.4
71.0
42.2
36.1
29.3 31.3
12.8 9.0 9.0 12.0 15.0
16.6
74.3 37.1 38.9 50.5 67.0
41.5
34.6
16.0
16.1
71.5
41.4
35.8
29.8
16.0 10.0 10.0 12.0
16.5
76.7 39.7 42.6 48.5
41.8
36.1
14.0
43.1
14.0
14. 8
73.4
45.4
45. 8
16.0
14. 9
74.1
45.3
35.6
44.9
37.9
35.5
64.0
35.3
44.9 22.3 22.7 34.2 41.0
38.4 16.4 15.8 33.3 34.0
37.7
75.8 41.0 37.0 58.2 76.1
34.9
42.0
35.5
36. 6
70.7
34.4
43.1 19.5 20.0 34.2
36.5 18.1 17.3 30.9
36.9
80.8 58.8 52.9 62.5
40.8
34.6
36.4
44.7
34.9
34. 8
77.6
36.0
44.0
34.6
36.5
83.5
55.0
11.2
6.1
6.1
8.7
62.8 32.2 29.3 41.1 51.0
11.2 5.6 5.9 9.2 9.5
6.2 3.1 3.5 6.6 6.5
5.9 2.9 3.2 8.3 6.6
8.6
57.4
10.2
7.2
6.9
8.6
59.9 37.0 35.5 44.9
9.9 6.0 6.5 8.9
7.4 3.5 4.0 6.3
7.2 3.4 3.8 7.6
8.3
56.8
9.3
7.2
7.4
63.0
9.4
7.2
7.6
9.0
63.8
9.7
7.3
7.5
8.7
14.7
25.0
19.5
17.1
13.2
14.6
24.8
19.3
17.8
13.2
14.1
25.0
19. 4
18.1
11.8
14.2
25.0
J$. 6
Î8.5
11.3
13.2
24.4
17. 6
16.3
11. 0
13.0
24.4
16.9
16.5
10.6
3.4
6.4
2.7
17.6
17.7
4.1
7.1
3.9
17.7
17.5
2.6
3. 7
3.3
6.2
4.1
16.0
19.8
3.5
6.6
4.1
16.2
19.3
2.0
3.7
3.2
3.4
3.7
4.9
3.0
18.0
19.1
4.1
6.1
3.0
17.7
18.5
19.2
15.2
12.4
70.5
49.2
19.5
15.2
12.6 5.2 6.1 8.8 10. 6
70.4 43.3 43.3 57.6 61.3
49.8 29.3 30.0 29.9 30.3
18.0
16.6
11.1
63.3
49.2
18. 6
16.9
13.0 5.3 6.3 8.4
64.0 54.5 54.5 57.1
49.0 36.3 36.3 30.3
10.6
67.8
30.4
18.2
15.3
11.7
68.8
46.5
18.9
15.3
12.4
69.1
45.0
28.3
21.0
43. 2
50.1
29.6
23.6
43.5
53.6
31. 4
21.1
31. 7
52.5
31.0
23.5
36.3
54.0
29.0
19. 6
40.0
41.3
27.0
21.0
41. 7
38.9
8.4
35.0 39.0 48.5 64.5
26.1 26.1 35.1 39.3
16.0 15.8 34.4 34.7
45.0 38.0 52.8 67.9
33.0 30 0 44.4 54.0
5.5 5.6 9.9 12.0
2.5 3.0 5.7 6.0
2.6 2.7 6.1 5.9
8.6
1
1.6
8.6 11.6 15.0
18.6 15.7
1.2
2.9
4.9
2.8
3.7
5.1 5.8 8.9 11.4
52.8 52.8 57.7 64.1
29.4 29.4 30.0 30.9
18.2 19.0
14.3 15.1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.4
f
1.7
8.4 11.8 14.1
19.1 14.6
1.1
2.7
5.5
16.4 19.1
13.6 15.8
4 28-ounce package.
7.7
8.Ò 10.2
17. 3
1.9
1.7
15.1
13.3
5 N o. 2 can.
[79]
67.1
81.1
Ì4.Ó
15. 9
18.4
15. 8
80
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
A V ER A G E R E T A IL PRICES OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R TIC L ES OF FOOD FO R NOV. 15,
New Orleans, La.
Milwaukee, V. is.
Article.
Unit.
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1919. 1919. 1913 1914 1917 1918 1919. 1919.
1913 1914 1917 1918
Nov. 15—
Cts.
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Sirloin stea k .....................................
Round steak....................................
Rib roast...........................................
Chuck roast......................................
Plate beef..........................................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
r,h..
L b ..
23.6
21.6
18.4
16.2
12.1
23.3
21.7
18.7
17.0
12.8
28.0
26.9
22.9
20.5
15.2
34. 0
32.9
27.7
25.6
19.6
36.0
34.0
28.9
25.7
18.1
34. 6
32.7
27.8
24.4
17.0
21.5
19.0
18.0
11.9
11.9
22.2
20.1
19.3
14.5
12.1
27.3
23.8
22.8
18.6
15.1
32.5
29.6
29.2
22.3
19.2
31.7
29.2
28.3
22.1
18.2
31.3
28.1
27.8
20.6
17.9
Pork chops........................................
Bacon.................................................
Ham ...................................................
Lamb.................................................
Hens...................................................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
19.6
27.8
28.2
19. 0
17.2
19.3
28.2
27.7
19.6
17.7
31.0
47.5
43.0
29.8
23.8
37.9
55.9
51.7
33.5
31.2
41.7
54.0
52.7
34.0
32.5
37.3
50.9
50.6
32.3
30-3
24.5
30.5
26.0
20, 5
20.5
23.9
31.9
27. 0
20.9
22.3
36.0
53.0
45.0
29.5
29.7
45.0
63.5
51.0
37.5
39.3
47.2
55.5
49.5
38.5
43.5
45.2
52.3
46.3
37.3
42.7
31.9 34.0 36.6
Salmon (canned)
....................... L b ..
27.8 29.6 37.4 36.9
Milk, fresh........’ .............................. Q t .. 7.0 7.0 11.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 9.8 9.8 13.6 16.0 18.5
16. 5
16.9 17.1
Milk, o,vapors,tori (unsweetened)
(2)
B u tte r .. T............. ............................ L b .. 36.6 37.7 49.8 66. 5 71.8 76 3 38.1 39.5 51.2 66. 6 71.5
43.4
42.4 42.8
L b ..
36.7
18.7
16.5
76.1
44.3
34.4 35.1
N ut mar garin a
L b ..
Cheese................................................ L b .. 22.3 22.3 34.4 42.7 42. 0 42.0 21.9 22.8 34.8 43.1
Lard................................................... L b .. 16.0 16.3 32.4 34.9 36.3 36.7 15.0 14.6 31.4 34.8
37.6 36.8
Lb .
Eggs, strictly fresh......................... Doz. 45.0 38.3 48.3 63.8 65.1 73.5 41.3 34.4 46.1 64.8
36.2
42.9
36.4
39.1
69.3
Cts.
Eggs, storage....................................
Bread.................................................
Flour..................................................
Corn meal.........................................
Boiled oats ..................................
Doz. 33.0 29.0 41.4 49.8 55.8 58.6 30.0 28.8 39.7 51.6 57.2 61.0
Lb. 3 5.7 6.3 9.8 9.2 10.0 10.1 4.8 5.3 9.0 9.2 9.2 9.2
L b.. 3.1 3.7 6.4 6.5 7.4 7.5 3.7 3.9 7.8 7.3 7.5 7.5
L b .. 3.3 3.6 7.7 6.7 6.7 6 .4 2.8 2.9 7.0 6.2 5.8 5.5
8.7 8.9
8.4 8 .2
L b ..
(4)
Corn flakes
(5 )
Cream of W heat
Macaroni
Lb .
R ice.......... ........................................ L b ..
Beans, n a v y ..................................... L b..
Potatoes............................................ L b ..
Onions.............................................. L b ..
L b ..
Cabbage.............
(6 )
Beans, baked - - Corn, c a n n e d .................................................... (6 )
Peas, canned............. .....................
Tomatoes, canned
Sugar, granulated..........................
T ea.............................'.......................
Coflee.................................................
36.1
42.0
35.9
39.5
62.3
9.0
1.7
14.2
25.3
19.0
9.5 11.5 14.3 17.6
19.5 14.6 11.6
1.2
2.8
4.8
2.6
3.S
(6)
(6)
L b .. 5.3 6.0 8.8 10.8
Lb. . 50. C 50. t 58.6 65.1
L b .. 27.5 27.5 27.0 26.6
Prunes............................................... L b ..
Raisins............................................... L b ..
Bananas............................................
Oranges.............................................
1 4 .2
2 5 .4
18. 4
17.7
11.5
3.4 3.6
6.2 7.1:
2.8 3 .4
16.3 16.2
18.2 17.8
17.5
17. 0
11.8
68.2
47.1
15.8 15.6 29.9
14.7 15. 1 20.8
40. 0
57.9
7.5
2.2
14.1
24.8
11.4
7.5 10.1 12.2 14.8
17.3 15. t 11.4
2.1
4.2
5.2
4.2
4.2
5.0 4.9
5. { 6.7
5.0 4.5
17.6 17.2
17.6 17.8
IS. 4
14.9
10.9
67.1
42.5
17.8
15.1
11.1
68.6
42.5
17.0 18.5 33.3
15.5 16.6 19.2
25.0
65.0
31.3
22.5
25.0
41.0
17.8
16.4
13.7 5.1 6.1 9.6 10.5
69.1 62.1 62.1 61.2 63.4
47.5 25.7 25.0 27.4 27.2
28.6
22.8
39.3
58.6
14.4
24.8
11.3
15.1
11.6
1
1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is known as "porterhouse” in most of the cities included
in this report, but in th is city it is called "sirloin” steak.
2 15-16 ounce can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[80]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
82
M O N T H L Y LABOE REVIEW ,
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R TIC L ES OF FO OD FO R N OV 15,
San Francisco, Calif.
St. Louis, Mo.
Article.
Unit.
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1919.
1919.
1919.
1919.
1914
1918
1913
1917
1913 1914 1917 1918
Nov. 15—
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Cts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Cts.
C ts.
Cts.
C ts.
Sirloin steak...................................
Round steak..................................
Rib roast.........................................
Chuck roast....................................
Plate beef............... ........................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
26.6
23.6
20.1
16.0
12.4
27.3
25.0
20.0
16.5
14.2
29.6
28.9
24.9
20.5
16.7
37.3
36.8
30.8
25.3
20.9
34.5
34.4
29.5
21.3
17.7
34.5
34.5
28.6
20.8
17.5
21.0
19.7
21.3
15.5
14.3
21.0
20.3
22. 0
15.5
14.8
24. 0
23.6
23.4
16.7
16.2
33.0
32.1
30.5
23.9
22.1
29.5
28.5
28.6
20.4
16.9
29.1
28.1
28.7
20.4
17.3
Pork chops.....................................
B acon...............................................
H am ...... ...........................................
Lam b...............................................
H en s...............................................
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
17.8
25.8
27.3
18.3
16.5
20.3
27.5
27.5
19.3
18.0
30.1
48.0
45.6
29.5
24.8
39.5
56.5
55. 0
32.6
32.2
39.7
49.4
54.0
31.1
32.8
36.7
48.2
52.8
32.2
31.9
24.2
34.4
32. 0
17.0
24.8
24.5
35.7
33.0
18.8
24.3
36.3
53.7
48.8
28.9
33.4
44.9
60.5
56.2
34.5
49.9
43.0
59.2
57.5
32.4
47.3
43.2
59.1
55.7
31.4
47.9
Salmon (canned)...........................
Milk, fresh......................................
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened)
B utter..............................................
Oleomargarine...............................
28.5 31.9 33.4
Lb
Q t .. 8.8 8.8 13.0 14.0 16.0
(i)
15. 8
L b .. 38.1 38.5 52.2 67.3 72.1
39.9
Lb
N ut margarine............................
Cheese..............................................
Lard.................................................
Crisco...............................................
Eggs, strictly fresh.......................
35.4 35.6
35.5 35.0
L b ..
L b .. 20.3 21.8 35.3 42.6 40. 7 41.3 21.0 21.0 32.4 39.3 44.7 44.4
L b .. 12.9 14.5 31.5 31.6 32.2 31.5 17. 7 17.9 32.2 33.6 37.4 36. 8
38. 5 38.9
35. 8 35. 8
Lb
Doz. 38.9 33.3 47.1 67.6 60.3 71.9 65.0 55.8 63.8 84.4 79.1 88.7
Eggs, storage_____ _____ ______
Bread..........................................
Flour...............................................
Corn meal............... ........................
Rolled oats.................................. ...
D 0 7 ,. 32.5 28.0 39.3 49.9 54.0 57.8 40. 7 34; 3 45.1 54.7 60.7 60.8
Lb.2. 5.6 6.0 10.4 10.0 10.0 10.0 5.9 6.0 9.3 10.0 10.0 11.7
L b .. 2.9 3.4 6.1 6.3 6.8 6.9 3.4 3.9 6.1 6.9 7.1 7.2
L b .. 2.5 2.6 6.4 5.2 5.7 5.5 3.5 3.7 7.4 7.3 7.1 7.2
8.6 8.5
L b ..
6.5 6.4
Corn flakes..................... ,................
Cream of W h ea t.......... ................
Macaroni.........................................
R ice..................................................
Beans, n a v y ...................................
0)
L b ..
Lb .
Lb
(3 )
8.1
13.4
24.3
18.2
8.7 11.2 13.7 16.9
18.7 15.2 11.9
34.2
25.0 28.1 31.6 33.4
16.0 10.0 10.0 12.1 14.0 14.2 15. 0
15.1 15.2
16.2
78.5 40.4 38.8 50.1 68.3 73.5 74.3
38. 8 38.5
40.5
13.2
24. 4
18.0
16.8
11.7
8.5
14.2
24. 7
14. 7
8.5 io. 8 Ì4. i 35.3
17.4 15. C 10.3
Potatoes.......... ...............................
Onions..............................................
Cabbage..........................................
Beans, baked.................................
Corn, canned............................ .
L b ..
L b ..
L b ..
Peas, canned..................................
Tomatoes, canned........................
Sugar, granulated.........................
T ea...................................................
Coffee...............................................
( 5)
17.9
16.3 16.0
(5 )
14.5 15.2
13.3
L b .. 5.1 5.6 8.8 10.9 12.8 13.0 5.4 6. Ò 8.1 iÔ. 5 10.8
L b .. 55.0 55.8 63.2 70.1 73.1 72.0 50. C 50. C 53. £ 57. ( 59.5
L b .. 24.4 24.8 28.2 28.7 45.7 46.7 32.0 32.0 30.5 31.4 45.3
Prunes.............................................
R aisins............................................
Bananas..........................................
Oranges.................................... .......
L b ..
L b ..
115-16 ounce can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.8
1.3
3.1
4.4
3.0
3.9
(8 )
(5 )
3.7 4.1
6.1 6 . 8
4.3 4.2
15.1 15.6
16.5 16.7
17.0 19.3 30.2
16.8 17.4 21. 3
32. 9
49. 9
2Baked weight.
30.2
22.6
36.0
44.4
1.9
1.8
3.1
3.4
3.1
2.6
3.3
4.4
14.2
24.6
15.8
16.0
9.8
3.6
5.2
18.4 18.6
18.7 18.0
14.7 17.1 23.6
13.2 13. 8 18.3
46. 0
54.2
38 -ounce package.
17.5
13.4
10.8
58.9
44.7
22.4
20.3
46.0
57.7
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
83
1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, 1919, A N D OCT. 15, 1919, FO R 19 CITIES—Concluded.
Seattle, Wash.
N ov 15—
N ov 15—
1913
1914
19,17
1918
Cts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Oct. 15, N ov. 15,
1919.
1919.
C ts.
C ts.
23.6
20.6
20.0
15.6
12.8
22.8
20.8
19.0
14.6
12.4
26.7
25.3
22.1
18.3
15.4
36.3
35.3
31.2
25.9
21.1
36.0
33.4
29.3
22.5
18.3
24.0
32.0
30.0
18.4
24.2
23.5
33.8
30.0
17.6
23.0
39.6
52.2
43.4
29.6
28.3
47.9
62.8
52.4
35.4
39.3
48.9
61.5
58.1
32.5
42.8
45.1
59.2
58.5
32.2
42.3
10.0
9.5
28.8
12.0
30.5
15.0
40.8
39.4
54.2
68.9
34.1
15.0
15.4
73.9
40.2
34.2
15.0
15.5
74.5
40.4
22.8
16.9
21.4
16.0
30.8
30.7
38.8
33.8
59.2
57.9
66.6
88.1
36. 8
43.0
38.5
41.2
82.5
36. 7
43.0
39. 1
42. 1
90.1
37.5
5.6
2.9
3.2
33.6
6. 0
3.4
3.4
48.8
10.4
5.9
7.4
57.4
10.3
6.3
7.3
64.8
11.5
6.6
7.4
8.7
66.6
11.5
6.8
7.3
8. 7
14.8
27.1
16.5
18.1
11.8
14.9
16. 3
18.3
11. 9
3.0
5.5
4.6
21.5
20.4
3.7
7.1
4. 9
21.6
20.3
21.3
17.7
10.9
63.3
47.8
20.6
17.6
11.6
63.2
48.2
27.3
21.3
50.0
56.1
27.7
22. 4
6 14.3
56.6
7.7
8.6
11. 1
18. 7
14.5
16.8
1.4
1.3
2.2
4.5
2.5
4.0
6.1
50.0
28.0
6.6
50.0
30.0
8.9
55.0
31.2
10.9
60.4
32.1
14.4
13.4
17.7
15.2
«28 -ounce package.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Washington, D. C.
*
35.2
32.6
28.5
22.2
17.8
1913
1914
1917
1918
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
1919.
Cts.
Cts.
26.5
22.5
21. (
17.6
12.8
27.1
24.4
21.0
17.8
12.7
36.0
33.2
27.7
23.7
18.4
51.0
47.8
39.4
34.8
23.7
48.8
44.4
36.8
29.0
18.9
21.4
26.4
31. 3
19.1
21.3
23.4
26. 8
31.2
21.0
20.0
37.0
49.2
43.2
33.7
31.1
51.3
58.9
57.1
40.9
44.5
49.8
52.6
58.4
38.4
45.8
45.2
50.0
56.3
39.0
45.3
9.0
9.0
26. 9
14.0
33. 9
17.0
40.3
41.4
53.4
70.0
23 0
18.0
10 1
74A
43 O
24 5
is! 0
10 5
7s! 1
42 6
23.5
15. C
23.5
14.6
35.4
32.5
39.5
34.8
3^ 0
42.5
36.1
47.9
42.3
64.5
78.2
20 2
42.’ 8
35.6
37 2
71.7
35.0
5. 7
3.8
2.6
32.5
5.7
4.1
2.8
45.3
10.1
7.3
6.7
57.6
10.1
6.9
5.8
60.5
10.1
7.8
5.6
10 2
62.1
9.9
7.7
5.6
12 0
24 0
IQ Q
is! 2
14 n
24* 8
20* 4
is! l
3.9
0 0
0 2
14* Q
IQ* 1
4* k
14 7
18* 9
12 0
10* 2
ii.i
77.9
48.4
1Q 0
17* 4
ll! 5
75.9
47.7
9.4
9.4
1.8
1.4
5.1
57. 5
28.8
«No. 2 can.
[83]
Oct. 15,
1919. '
5.7
57. 5
28.8
12.1
20 1
14.4
3.3
3.3
3.5
r> 2
9.6
63.0
28.6
10.5
72.1
29.7
17 7
14.8
20 4
16.0
.............
e Round.
47.9
43.3
37.0
29.0
18.6
84.3
3.7
22 1
31 3
44 2
56! 3
44* k
57! 6
84
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
R E TA IL PRICES 0 7 T H E PRIN C IPA L ARTICLES OP
B utte,
Mont.
Bridgeport,
Conn.
Charleston, Cincinnati,
Ohio.
S. C.
Columbus,
Ohio.
Article.
Unit.
Cls.
Cfs.
Cls.
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Sirloin steak.....................................
Round steak.....................................
Rib roast...........................................
Chuck roast......................................
Plate beef..........................................
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
50.3
47.8
36.5
28.5
15.5
51. 1 31.8
46.9 26.7
37.3 24.9
29.2 17.4
15.9 11.8
31.8
27.1
24.1
17.9
12.7
37.0
36.4
30.0
24.2
18.8
37.7
37.2
30.0
25. 4
18.8
30.8
29.8
25.4
19. 2
17.5
30. 4
29.5
25.7
19.1
17.4
36.4
34.4
30.0
25.8
18.5
35.9
32.9
28.7
25.1
18.5
Pork chops.......................................
Bacon
H am ...................................................
Lamb.................................................
Hens...................................................
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
47.7
60.3
36.2
44.0
45.0
54. 8
59i 8
35.4
43.5
44.2
62.0
59.6
27.7
32.8
40.9
60.0
59.5
26.9
30.6
44.4
56.0
52.3
39.2
49.2
44.7
55. 4
53.0
41.1
47.9
40.8
46.5
52.5
39.0
38.3
38.1
44.8
49.5
29.4
36.6
38.0
49.2
54.2
27. 5
37.7
37.3
49.1
51.6
30.0
32.1
Salmon (canned).............................
Milk, fresh........ ...............................
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened).
Butter...............................................
Oleomargarine.................................
L b ...
Q t . ..
(2)
L b ...
L b ...
37.8
16.0
16.8
66.3
41.8
37.9
18.0
16.0
69.7
41.3
44.0
15. 5
17.9
68. 7
45.0
43.2
15.6
18.3
70.2
46.3
32.4
23.5
16.7
68.6
45.0
33.1
24.7
16.9
73.6
45.0
34.3
14.0
15. 5
72. t
41.1
35.5
15.0
16.2
76.4
42.0
34.3
14.0
16.7
73.1
42.4
31.9
14.7
16. 5
77.2
42.7
N ut margarine................................ L b ... 35.4
Cheese.. ......................................... L b ... 42.6
Lard................................................... L b ... 35.8
Crisco................................................. L b ... 36.5
Eggs, strictly fresh......................... D o z .. 87.6
35. 4
43.2
35.6
36.3
96.3
44.7
38.8
43. 7
73.9
46.3
38.6
44.0
87.1
45.7
41.2
37.3
37.9
56.7
45.7
41.9
38.3
39.0
68.6
34.3
41.7
32.1
34.5
63.0
34.6
43.4
32.1
35.1
74.0
35.0
42. 2
33.7
36.2
64.2
35.2
43.0
34.2
36.5
77.2
I)oz.. 60. 2
L b 3. . 10. 7
L b ... 7.3
L b ... 7.9
L b ... 9.7
62.2
10. 4
7.4
8.8
9.7
60.0
12.3
8.0
7.9
9.3
62.8
12.4
8.1
8.0
9.4
54.8
10.0
7.8
5.7
10.4
57.0
10.0
7.7
5.3
10.4
55.5
9.9
7.1
6.0
8.2
59.3
9.9
7.4
5. 5
56.2
9.8
6.9
6.3
9.4
60.6
9.8
6.9
5.8
10.2
13.5
23.9
22.5
16.9
11.8
13.5
23.8
23.0
17.0
11.5
14.6
30.0
20.0
15.3
13.4
14.5
30.0
20.3
16.7
12.9
14.9
25.0
21. 1
14. 4
14.5
14.9
25.0
21.9
14.8
14.8
13.8
24.8
16. 7
17.4
10.9
13.9
24.8
17. 1
17.8
10.7
14.3
25.0
18.6
17. 5
14.1
24.9
19.8
18.2
11.3
Potatoes............................................ L b ... 3. 4
Onions............................................... L b ... 6.2
Cabbage............................................. L b ... 4.3
Beans, baked...................................
16.5
(6)
Corn, canned....................................
21.9
(6)
3.5
6.3
4.4
16.2
21.3
2.7
5.7
4.8
22.4
18.4
3.5
6. 5
18.8
4.7
7.5
6.4
15.4
21.2
4.7
7.9
5.9
15. 4
21.0
4.3
5.8
4.6
15.2
17.2
4.3
6.5
4.5
15.7
16.7
6.8
5.7
16.7
16.4
Peas, ca n n ed ..................................
(6)
Tomatoes, canned..........................
(«)
Sugar, granulated........................... L b ...
Tea..................................................... L b ...
Coffee................................................. L b ...
20.5
16.3
11.0
63.0
46.7
20.0
16.2
11.0
60.8
47.6
18.6
18.0
12.4
75.0
58.1
18.8
17.9
13.7
74.4
56.8
22.1
15.6
10.9
81.2
47.6
21.8
15.6
11.1
81.3
4S.4
17.6
15.1
11.4
77.3
42.4
17.1
15.3
14.4
77.1
42.5
16.4 16.5
15.3 14.9
11. 1 12.6
82. 1 82. 1
50.5 49.3
Prunes...............................................
Raisins...............................................
Bananas............................................
Oranges.............................................
29.9
21.8
38.7
61.0
29.2
23.0
40.6
61.2
27.0
19.4
47. 5
53.8
26.5
21.5
47.5
56.6
29.2
21.3
42.9
51.5
30.0
22.5
44.0
47.0
26.2
20.2
36.4
46.6
28.3
22. 1
39.0
41.9
24.5
21.8
39. 1
51.5
Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1919. 1919. 1919. 1919. 1919. 1919. 1919. 1919. 1919. 1919.
C ts.
Eggs, storage....................................
Bread.................................................
Flour..................................................
Corn meal.........................................
Rolled oats.......................... .............
Corn flakes.......................................
(4)
Cream of W h e a t.............................
(5)
Macaroni........................................... L b ...
Rice.................................................... ■ L b ...
Beans, n avy..................................... L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
D o z ..
D o z ..
5 .1
22 .2
7.3
11.6
4.4
4.1
7.4
5. 1
16.6
16.5
31.5
24.2
42.1
53.1
1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is known as “sirloin” in most of the cities included in this
report, hut in this city is called “ rum p” steak.
2 15-10 ounce can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[84]
85
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
FO O D F O R 31 C IT IE S ON OCT. 15 AND NOV. 15, 1919.
F all R iver, Mass.
D allas, Tex.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Cts.
Cts.
Oct.
15,
1919.
H ouston, Tex.
Indianaoolis,
Inch
Jacksonville,
Fla.
K ansas City,
Mo.
Nov.
15,
1619.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
33,7
33.4
25.3
22.6
16.7
35.2
34.4
26.9
24.3
17.4
37.9
35.5
27.7
23.0
16.0
38. 8
36.1
28.5
22.8
16.1
34.8
31.9
26.0
20.5
15.7
34.5
31.5
25.7
19.8
15.0
41.8
59.3
50.0
35.6
37.8
40.5
51.1
54.7
37.5
36.0
39.6
49.3
53.4
35.0
34.4
42.7
55. 5
52.7
34.0
43.2
43.7
52.9
50. S
34.3
43.4
41.3
55.2
54.0
28.9
33.8
37.4
52.7
53.2
29.1
33.8
32.8
19.8
16.8
68.9
43.1
33.8
20.0
16.5
74.3
42.9
28.2
13.7
16.9
71.5
44.3
28.3
14.0
17.2
75.7
44.1
34,4
20.0
16.6
72.9
43.3
37.5
20.0
16.8
77.1
43.6
32.9
15.3
17.3
70.8
41.2
33.1
16.0
17.7
76.4
41.3
36.5
42.6
35.6
36.9
106.3
37.3
39.1
34.2
33.7
57.2
37.3
39.6
33.7
33.8
67.7
35.2
42.3
33.4
37.3
65.6
35.6
45.1
34.0
37.5
74.7
38.3
40.6
35.5
37.4
68.8
39.0
41.2
35.6
38.4
76.3
35.9
44.1
37.8
39.3
63.0
35.4
44.4
38.3
39.8
70.9
60.9
10.9
7.7
8.4
9.7
63.1
10.9
7.7
8.8
9.8
52.5
9.2
7.3
5.9
9.8
56.6
9.2
7.4
6.0
9.8
57.8
9.7
7.2
6.1
9.4
59.4
9.7
7.1
5.6
10.0
57.0
10.0
7.7
5.7
10.9
60.0
10.0
7.7
5.5
10.8
50.0
10.0
6.7
7.0
11.1
59.3
10.0
7.0
6.9
11.6
13.9
27.0
19.4
18.6
13.7
14.5
25.1
22.5
17.2
12.0
14.2
25.5
22.9
17.3
12.1
14.5
24.8
19.6
15.9
12.6
14.6
24.8
20.1
16.1
12.4
14.8
25.6
20.8
19.5
12.1
14.7
25.1
21.5
19.4
11.9
15.1
25.0
20.7
16.2
14.2
15.0
25.2
20.6
16.1
13.9
15.0
26.1
18.7
19.1
13.0
15.0
25.9
19.0
18.7
12.3
5.0
6.2
5.8
18.6
20.0
5.1
7.1
6.3
18.8
21.3
3.6
7.1
4.4
16.5
20.0
3.5
7.1
4.4
16.4
20.5
4.4
6.3
5.5
18.2
17.9
4.6
6.9
5.6
18.3
17.9
3.7
7.1
4.8
18.1
18.0
3.9
7.6
4.7
18.1
18.4
4.8
7.7
6.5
17.8
20.2
4.8
8.0
6.4
17.4
20.9
4.1
7.6
4.4
17.0
16.4
4.3
7.9
4.5
17.3
16.4
20.3
15.1
11.9
85.4
53.3
21.6
15.3
12.8
76.0
55.0
20.9
16.1
11.0
59.0
49.2
20.8
16.9
11.3
59.5
50.3
19.6
14.4
11.3
65.4
44.5
19.7
14.6
16.3
64.4
45.7
17.1
16.2
11.3
84.7
51.4
17.5
15.9
13.3
85.0
51.0
22.1
15.4
11.3
86.9
53.7
21.4
15.4
13. 2
84.3
53.8
16.4
15.8
12.7
81.7
48.3
16.8
15.5
13.0
78.8
47.5
31.3
21.3
39.3
50.5
30.2
22. 8
41.0
59.9
25.1
22.3
39.8
52.6
25.8
23.2
40.3
49.2
28.2
19.1
37.1
49.3
28.1
18.5
39.2
49.2
30.0
24.4
30.6
49.1
31.3
24.7
34.3
49.9
33.3
25.3
38.3
45.0
33.7
25. 1
40. 0
35.0
31.9
23.3
46.0
53.0
29.6
25. 4
51.7
57.3
Cts.
Cls.
Cts.
34.2
32.9
29.8
24.2
21.8
36.9
36.6
31.3
26.4
22.9
1 59.8
48.0
33.9
26.3
1 59. 5
47.1
34.4
26.6
32.5
32.5
25.8
22.4
18.3
32.8
32. S
26.7
22.5
IS. 8
42.3
56.9
55.0
37.0
35.0
44.8
53.6
57.1
32.5
35.3
46.5
49.8
54.3
33.9
46.7
43.9
49.0
52.6
33.5
46.3
41.0
64. 1
50. 0
38.3
38.3
35.5
19.0
17.2
67.1
37.5
36.9
21.0
18.1
71.8
37.0
33.4
15.0
16.2
66.0
40.1
33.6
15. 7
16.6
68.9
41.4
36.9
42.8
34,9
36.1
57.5
35.7
43.3
36.8
36.8
65.0
36.3
42.9
35.3
37.3
91.6
10.0
7.3
6.3
10.8
61.3
10.0
7.6
6.9
10.9
• 13.9
26.4
20.0
18.8
13.4
3 Baked weight.
* 8-ounce package.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
» 28-ounce package,
a No. 2 can.
8 6
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
R E T A I L P R IC E S O F T H E P R I N C I P A L A R T IC L E S O F
L ittle R ock,
Ark.
A rticle.
L ou isville,
K y.
M anchester,
N . H.
I
M em phis,
T enn.
U n it.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts .
C ts .
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
C ts .
C ts.
C ts .
C ts .
Sirloin s te a k .................................
R oun d s te a k ................................
R ib roast........................................
C huck roast..................................
P la te b eef......................................
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
35.6
33.3
30.0
23.7
17.8
34.7
32.5
27.9
23. 7
17.7
33.3
31.3
27.2
22. S
19.1
33.1
30.4
26.2
22.3
18.5
1 54.6
49.2
31.6
28.1
1 54. 5
47.8
30.3
26.6
36.5
34.0
29.3
24.2
18. 8
36.3
33.6
28.2
22.8
18.1
P ork ch o p s........ ........................
B a co n ........
..........................
H a m ..................................
L a m b ..............................................
H e n s................................................
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
43.8
55.5
53.5
36.9
36.3
41.3
55.9
53.2
35.6
34.4
42. 1
54.8
53.9
30.0
37.6
37.6
52.0
48.8
29.2
37.9
48.1
50. 1
51.3
35.4
46.4
44.3
47.8
48. 9
36.1
45.9
42.4
55.9
54.1
37.5
37.2
40.7
53.6
54.6
38.0
36.6
S alm on (can n ed )........................ L b ...
M ilk, fresh ..................................... Q t . . .
M ilk, evap orated (unsw eet- (2) . . .
en ed ).
B u tte r ............................................. L b ...
O leom argarine............................. L b ...
34.2
20.0
18.1
34.2
20.0
18.2
31.8
15.0
16.5
32.3
15.0
17.2
35.5
15.0
17.7
36.2
15.0
18.1
36.2
18. 0
17.8
35.7
19.3
17.3
69.7
44.5
73.8
43.5
72.0
44.7
77.5
43.8
70.9
42.9
76.4
43.4
72. 7
43.1
76.9
43.1
N u t m argarin e............................ L b ...
C h eese............................................. L b . . .
L ard ................................................ L b ...
C risco.............................................. L b . . .
E ggs, strictly fresh .................... D o z ..
38.5
41.4
38.5
39.5
59.8
37.8
42.5
39.8
39.8
68.6
35.0
40. 7
34. 7
35.0
60.5
33.5
41.8
34.8
35.2
74.7
33.5
42.9
36.9
38.2
84.4
34.8
42.9
37.8
38.6
104.5
42.3
41.2
36.3
37.9
63.6
40.8
42.1
36.6
36.8
68.7
E ggs, s to r a g e ...............................
B read ..............................................
F lo u r ...............................................
Corn m e a l.....................................
R olled o a ts....................................
D o z ..
L b .s .
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
57.0
10.0
7.4
5.8
11.1
61.4
10.0
7.4
5.6
11.1
55.0
10.0
7.3
5.5
9.7
59.3
10.0
7.3
5.2
9 .8
60.9
9 .5
7.7
7.4
9.7
63.8
9.5
7.9
7.4
9.7
57.5
10.0
7.4
5. 5
10.8
56.3
10.0
7.4
5.3
10.9
Corn flakes....................................
Cream of W h e a t................ ........
M acaroni........................................
R ic e .................................................
B ean s, n a v y ......... ......................
(«)- —
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
14.8
25.4
18.6
17.4
13.6
14.6
25.4
19.0
17.0
13.1
14.0
25.7
18.0
18.4
12.4
14.0
25.9
17.5
18.5
12.1
14.9
25.1
23.5
16.7
12.4
14.9
25.0
24.0
17.1
12.5
14.3
24.4
19.7
16.6
13.6
14.2
24.3
18.7
16.5
13.9
P o ta to e s .........................................
O nions............................................
Cabbage..........................................
B ean s, b a k e d ...............................
Corn, can n ed ................................
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
(0 ---(•)•-
4.1
7.2
5.3
17.1
17.8
4.2
8.0
5.7
16.6
17.9
3.9
5.3
4.8
16.1
17.9
3.7
5.8
4.6
15.8
18.0
3.2
6.3
3 .5
18.2
21.8
3.4
6 .3
3.7
18.4
21.8
4.6
6.9
5.3
18.7
18.8
4.5
7.9
5.1
18.0
18.3
P e a s, can n ed ..............................
T om atoes, can n ed ......................
Sugar, gran u lated ......................
T e a ..................................................
C offee..............................................
(6)-.- .
( 6j - ~ L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
18.2
15.0
12.0
86.4
52.5
18.4
14.9
17.6
87.4
51.7
17.9
15.0
11.1
79.1
48.1
17.9
15.3
11.7
79.9
49.3
21.0
17.5
11.2
61.9
51.0
21.3
18.3
11.2
61.9
51.9
18.8
16.2
11.5
89.9
53.5
18.5
16.2
21.5
89.9
52.3
P ru n es............................................ L b ...
R aisin s............................................ L b ...
B a n a n a s.....................................
D o z ..
Oranges.......................................... D o z ..
20.7
23.3
34.4
54.7
27.5
23.2
36.3
52.9
27.2
20.5
37.1
44.5
29.8
23. 1
36.7
45.0
27.6
23.0
40.0
56.1
28.5
24.4
38.8
56.6
28.4
21.3
40.5
55.3
35.8
24.2
40.6
49.0
< w
1 T h e steak for w h ich prices are here q uoted is k n ow n as “ porterhouse” in m o st of th e cities in clud ed in
tin s report, b u t in th is c ity it is called “ sirloin ” steak .
1 15-16 ounce can.
♦
[S S ]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r
PRICES
1*
87
COST OF LIVING.
FOOD FO R 31 C ITIES ON OCT. 15 A N D NOV. 15, 1919 —Continued.
Minneapolis,
Minn.
Oct.
15,
1919.
%
AND
Nov.
15,
1919.
Newark, N . J.
New Haven,
Conn.
Norfolk, Va.
Omaha, Nebr.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Mobile, Ala.
Oct.
15,
1919.
C ts .
C ts..
C ts.
32.4
29.1
25.4
20.8
13.9
C ts.
C ts.
31.9
29.5
25.9
20.4
13.8
32.9
32.3
30.0
23.9
19.8
32.7
32.3
29.5
23.4
19.3
44.1
45.0
35.9
27.6
IS. 9
44.6
45.2
3\ 8
26.3
18.5
52.6
47.7
37.6
30.9
52.7
46.9
36.9
30.6
44.1
39.9
36.6
26.6
18.8
44.9
40.0
34.8
25.9
18.3
36.4
32.5
26.0
22.2
16.2
34.8
31.6
25.8
21.0
15.0
40.1
55.4
54.2
27.6
30.1
36.8
54.5
51.0
28.9
28.8
45.9
60.0
54.5
35.0
43.8
46.8
58.8
52.3
33.6
41.4
47.2
47.6
50.0
36.6
41.5
44.7
46.1
50.0
35.4
41.6
48.1
54.7
57.9
37.8
46.4
43.6
53.7
55.2
37.1
45.6
43.0
52.6
48.3
38.3
46.0
42.3
50.6
50.0
37.4
44. S
41.1
56.3
56.5
32.0
33.5
38.6
54.7
55.0
31.9
32.9
42.1
13.0
17.7
41.9
13.0
17.8
33.3
17.5
17.6
34.5
22.0
18.0
35.4
16.7
15.7
37.8
17.3
15.7
36.6
16.0
16.5
36.5
16.0
16.5
30.7
21.0
16.0
34.7
21.0
16.2
37.1
15.2
17.5
37.5
15.2.
17.6
66.6
41.1
71.9
41.4
70.9
44.9
76.9
44.5
75.3
42.7
79.1
42.5
66.3
42.9
70.4
43.1
72.6
47.2
76.4
45.8
70.9
44.2
75.8
44.2
33.1
40.2
35.0
38.0
62.9
33.1
41.4
35.5
38.0
71.8
41.8
41.2
37.2
36.5
61.4
40.9
43.7
38.9
38.9
75.0
35.7
43.9
38.6
36.4
82.7
35.5
43.9
37.2
36.2
86.6
36.4
42.7
35.5
35.7
84.9
36.2
42.8
36.4
35.6
96. 5
39.0
41.6
37.8
38.3
64.3
39.0
41.7
39.2
37. S
75.7
35.3
42.5
38.1
40.0
64.3
35.8
43.6
37.6
39.7
73.2
55.0
9.6
7.2
6.3
7.7
58.5
9.6
7.4
6.4
7.7
58.0
9.6
7.1
6.3
11.1
64.5
9.6
7.1
6.0
11.2
63.1
9.8
7.4
7.5
8.9
64.3
9.8
7.5
7.3
8.9
59.1
10.6
7.3
7.5
9.9
63.3
10.6
7.5
7.8
9.6
57.3
9.9
7.5
6.0
10.2
61.8
9.9
7.6
5.9
10.1
56.4
10.0
6.8
6.6
9.0
59.5
10.0
7.0
6.7
9.2
14.5
25.2
17.2
17.8
11.6
14.6
25.4
17.3
18.8
11.6
14.7
25.5
19.2 :
16.6
14.1
14.7
25.2
19.1
16.2
14.2
12.4
23.9
21.0
17.1
12.7
12.3
24.1
21.8
17.2
12.3
13.9
24.4
20.8
17.3
12.4
14.2
24.5
20.7
17.4
12.1
14.6
25.5
19.2
18.1
13.5
14.4
25.8
19.3
19.0
14.0
14.7
25.6
19.5
18.2
13.4
15.0
25.9
21.6
18.6
13.2
3.5
5.9
2.8
18.7 :
17.4
3.4
6.7
3.8
18.4
17.5
4.8
7.3
5.2
18.5
19.5
4.8
7.3
5.6
18.2
19.8
4.5
6.8
4.8
15.0
20.7
4.3
7.3
4.4
14.9
20.6
3.3
6.9
3.8
17. 7
21.9
3.5
7.2
3.7
17.6
21.7
4.3
7.5
5.2
14.3
20.5
4.0
7.8
4.6
14.1
20.8
4.2
6.6
4.1
20.1
17.8
4.3
7.8
4.4
20.0
18.3
17.1
16.7
12.3
64.5
53.1
16.9
16.4
13.4
62.6
53.0
18.9
15.8
11.3
79.2
46.3
19.6
15.7
23.0
78.4
46.2
19.9
15.2
10.9
56.4
45.8
19.8
15.8
11.0
56.6
46.1
21.6
16. 1
11.1
61.4
50.0
22.1
16.1
11.6
62.9
50.5
21.7
17.5
11.3
80.9
52.1
21.2
18.0
11.5
83.7
52.1
18.4
17.2
12.1
76.6
52.2
18.9
17.5
13.1
76.9
52.4
27.9
18.4
41.7
57.8
29.4
19.4
44.3
57.8
27.1
19.8
30.5
56.1
27.8
25.2
30.0
41.7
29.9
19.9
39.1
63.8
28.2
21.6
40.4
65.0
29.2
20.9
35.8
56.4
28.9
24. 1
37.9
61.3
28.3
21.1
38.9
53.6
31.3
21.8
39.5
50.0
29.4
23.9
43-8
55.9
29.9
25.8
46.3
58.9
&28-ounce package.
6 No. 2 can.
8 Baked weight.
i 8-ounce package.
•
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[87]
88
m onthly
labor
r e v ie w
,
R E T A I L P R IC E S O F T H E P R I N C I P A L A R T IC L E S O F
Peoria, 111.
Article.
Unit.
Sirloin steak...............................
Round steak..............................
Rib roast.....................................
Chuck roast................................
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
Lb
Pork chops.................................
Bacon...........................................
Ham .............................................
Lam b...........................................
Hens.............................................
Portland, Me.
Portland, Oreg.
Providence,
R .I .
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
Nov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
C ts.
Cts.
Cts.
C ts.
Cts.
C ts.
1 56.4
47.5
31. 1
24. S
i 55.3
46. 8
31. 1
24.4
30. 5
29.8
28.2
21.6
15.5
30. 6
29. 1
27.9
20.9
15.9
66.3
55.0
41.2
35.6
65.3
53. 6
42.0
34.8
47.6
49.9
54.5
34. 1
46.2
47.6
48.8
52.8
33.5
45.4
44.8
58.6
57. 5
31.0
38.3
41.5
55.6
52.9
30.7
37.5
53.3
50.2
62. 7
40.9
48.5
48.7
48. 1
61. 1
41. 4
47.2
33.3
14.3
17.7
33.3
14.5
17.3
34.9
15.0
17.4
39.1
15.9
17.1
40.8
15.9
17.2
39.8
16. 5
17.2
40.0
17.0
17.4
69.3
44.3
72.9
44.5
71.3
44.0
76.9
44.6
74.1
43.1
74.1
43.0
67.9
41.0
72.3
40.5
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
D o z ..
35.9
43.3
36.7
39. 5
63.2
35.5
43.7
36. 1
38. 7
74.4
35.9
44.4
36.2
38.3
81.8
35.9
44.8
37.1
38.0
98.3
38. 5
42.9
40.9
41.9
74.6
38.6
43.8
40.7
42.1
87.9
34.6
42.2
36.4
37.4
87.7
35.0
42.8
36. 6
37.4
104.7
D o z ..
L b 3..
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
57.0
10.0
7.7
6.5
9.5
60.8
10.0
8.0
6.3
9.1
60.9
11.0
7.4
7.0
8.2
67.4
11.0
7.6
6.9
8.3
64.2
9.9
6. 5
7.7
9.0
69.5
10.7
6.8
7.6
9.1
61.4
10.6
7.9
6.6
8.9
62.8
10.6
8.0
6.4
9.3
Corn flakes..................................
(4)
Cream of W heat........................
(5)
Macaroni...................................... L b ...
R ice......................... ; .................. L b ...
Beans, n a v y ............................... L b ...
14,7
26.6
19.1
17.5
12.4
14.7
26.0
19.1
17.9
12.2
14.3
25.0
22. 7
15.7
12.0
14.3
25.2
23.0
16.6
12.1
14.5
27.9
19. 1
17.1
11.9
14.6
28.2
18.7
18.8
11.8
14.1
24.8
21.7
17.4
11.9
13.9
24.7
22.6
17.4
11.7
Potatoes...................................... L b ...
Onions.......................................... L b ...
Cabbage....................................... L b ...
Beans, baked.............................
(•)
Corn, canned..............................
00
3.6
7.3
4.5
18.5
17.4
3.6
7.5
4.4
18.0
17.4
2.9
6. 0
2.3
19.3
21.0
3.4
6.3
2.7
20.0
19.8
3.1
4.9
3.7
23. 4
22.3
3.3
5.6
3.4
21.9
22.3
3.6
6.2
3.8
16.8
20.2
3.7
6.6
4.1
16.4
20.0
Peas, canned.............................
00
Tomatoes, canned.....................
00
Sugar, granulated..................... L b ...
T ea............................................... L b ...
Coffee........................................... L b ...
18.6
16.3
12.0
73.4
48.9
18.5
15.9
13.1
73.7
46.9
20.7
19.5
10.9
63. 5
50.6
20.8
19.0
11.0
63.6
51.0
22.3
18. 7
11.0
63.2
50.7
22.5
18.4
11.8
63.2
50.4
20.2
16.8
11.0
59.9
52.2
19.8
17.3
11. 1
60.2
52.1
27.6
20.6
37.1
61.5
28.1
24.3
38.3
64.7
23.9
19. 7
43.8
59.6
25.2
20.9
45.0
64.6
30.5
21.4
39.3
66.2
29.0
22. 8
42.0
64.3
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Cts.
C ts.
33.2
31. 7
24.8
21. 6
16. 0
32. 5
30.3
24.3
21. 2
15. 3
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
L b ...
39.1
54.9
54.9
33. 6
34.7
34.9
51.2
52.3
31.3
32.5
Salmon (canned).......................
Milk, fresh..................................
Milk, evaporated (unsweetened).
B utter..........................................
Oleomargarine...........................
L b ...
Q t. . .
(2)
32.9
14.3
17.6
L b ...
L b ...
N ut margarine...........................
Cheese..........................................
Lard.............................................
Crisco............................................
Eggs, strictly fresh...................
Eggs, storage..............................
Bread............................................
Flour............................................
Corn meal....................................
Rolled oats.................................
Prunes.........................................
R aisins........................................
Bananas......................................
Oranges........................................
L b ...
L b ...
I)oz.
D o z ..
30.4
21.4
31.7
22.4
1 10. 5
t 11.0
52. 5
53.7
Oct.
15,
1919.
1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is known as “ porterhouse” in most of the cities included in
this report, but in this city it is called “ sirloin” steak.
215-16 ounce can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
89
PRICES AKD COST OF LIVING,
F O O D F O R 31 C IT IE S O N OCT. 15 A N D N O V . 15, 1919—C oncluded.
R ich m on d, V a.
R och ester, N . Y .
S t. P au l, M inn.
Salt Lake,
U tah.
Scranton, Pa.
Springfield, 111.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
Oct.
15,
1919.
N ov.
15,
1919.
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
42.2
38.9
34.7
28.8
23.2
42.3
38.5
32.7
27.9
22.3
38.8
36.3
30.9
27.8
18.9
38.0
35.0
30.6
27.2
18.8
33.4
29.3
27.1
22.3
14.4
31.3
27. 5
27.3
21.9
13.7
33.2
29.6
25.4
21.3
15.8
30.9
28.8
25.3
43.2
37.5
34.4
27. 5
17.4
33.4
32. 7
24.5
20. 5
16.3
22.8
15.1
44. 1
38.8
34.9
28.9
18.8
44.4
01.5
51.8
40.4
45.0
43.1
48.5
49.0
39.4
41.3
44.8
43.6
50.9
32.0
43.4
41.4
42. 4
49.1
30.1
41.1
38.4
48.6
52. 1
25.7
30.3
35.4
47.4
48.8
25.9
28.9
43.5
53.7
55. 8
27.3
34.4
41.3
53.7
53.0
27.4
35.6
48.1
57.0
55.0
41.6
46.6
45.1
53.7
50.0
39.9
45.5
39.5
50.0
51.3
33.3
31.0
37.6
45.7
48.8
33.3
33.0
27.2
15. 7
17.1
27.4
16.7
17.1
33.7
14.0
16.8
35.8
14.5
17.3
36.8
13.0
17.4
36.9
13.0
17.4
33.8
12.5
17.0
35.0
12. 5
16.9
37.4
14.0
15.8
39.2
15.0
16.1
35.3
16.7
18.2
35.6
16.7
18.3
73.6
43.9
79.8
43.8
69.4
43.1
72.9
44.6
66.9
40.5
72.9
41.1
70.3
42.8
74. 4
42. 9
43.4
69.6
44.4
72.7
44.3
77.8
45.4
36.8
43.5
36. 4
38.6
64.0
37.3
43.4
37.4
38. 7
76.9
34.3
41.2
35.8
36.1
74.2
34.6
42.0
36.4
36.7
94.4
34.6
40.8
35.5
41.0
62.4
34.6
41.9
35.4
41.2
73.8
38.4
42.9
39. 7
42.9
70.4
39.3
42.7
39.8
42.3
82.7
36.9
41.5
37.4
37. 5
72.6
37.6
41. 1
37. 5
37.9
36.3
43.5
36.3
41.9
61.1
36.0
44.6
36.3
40.2
72.8
60.2
64.5
61.2
58.9
.1
.1
7.3
8.9
10
6
10.1
6.2
59.9
10.0
63.1
7.4
9.2
7.9
8.7
10.4
10.0
7.4
6. 5
10.1
61.1
7.8
9.0
10.5
10.0
58.0
7.5
7.0
7.4
60.5
9-4
7.5
6.5
7.8
65.2
7.4
6.9
7.1
56.9
9.2
7.3
.6
14.5
25.5
19.2
18.6
11.9
14.4
25.6
19.2
19.0
14.726. 1
19.0
17.8
12.9
14.2
25.4
.6
18.0
15.2
14.2
25.4
12.0
14.8
26.4
19. 5
17. 7
13.0
15.0
27.1
19.8
18.4
14.9
27.5
18.9
18.8
12.7
3.2
3.1
4.6
4.6
19.4
18.1
3.3
3.4
.7
2 .5
16. 5
3.4
6.3
3.0
16.3
3. 8
2 .5
18.9
17.5
3.2
6.7
3.5
19.3
18.0
4.3
18.6
17.1
4.1
6 .9
4.4
18.2
17.2
16.7
16.3
11.9
63.9
50.1
17.1
16.0
13.8
63.4
50.8
18.1
17.5
78. 5
56.4
17.3
17.2
15.3
85.3
50.1
17.9
16.7
13.9
85.3
50.6
29.8
19.4
55.0
56.8
29.1
22.9
55.0
58.4
22.3
50.0
57.5
30.5
23.8
41.3
51.6
31.7
25.0
38.3
52.2
7.6
6.3
10.8
11.1
7.7
6. 1
10.8
58.5
14.8
25. 7
18.6
17.8
14.0
14.7
25.7
18.7
19.1
14.0
13.6
24.5
20.5
17.8
13.8
24.8
4.8
.5
5. 7
14.7
19.2
4.8
6.9
5.1
14.9
19.4
2.7
3.5
14.8
19.5
2.9
6.4
3.4
15.2
19.8
22.4
18.4
11.3
83.3
47.4
19.1
17.3
10.9
61.0
45.1
33.3
21.9
45.4
50.9
27.4
19.4
40.3
57.6
10.6
6
22.1
16.9
11.2
81.9
47.1
31.7
20.1
44. 7
55.4
10.0
12.1
6.2
10.0
20.8
18.0
12.1
19.7
17.4
11.0
63.3
46.4
28.7
21.8
41.1
57.2
6
8.0
6.2
21.0
6.1
66.2
21
6
4
[89]
88.6
21.8
18.0
14.8
5. 4
19.3
18.1
20.0
20.0
18.0
17.2
12.3
79.9
58.6
18.5
17.0
il.O
64.7
49.8
19.1
17.5
18.8
23.1
51.0
56.4
28.3
20.9
34.6
57.5
« N o. 2 can.
i P ound.
3 B aked w eight.
8-ounce package.
« 28-ounce package.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11.8
20.8
11.6
67.2
50.0
27.9
21.8
34.6
58.6
12.8
6.6
31.5
31.4
19.9
15.5
10.0
7.6
6.7
10.4
90
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 50 Cities in
the United States.
HE table following shows for 39 cities the percentage of in
crease or decrease in the retail cost of 22 food articles1 com
bined, in November, 1919, compared with the average cost in
the year 1913, in November, 1918, and in October, 1919. For 11
other cities, comparisons are given for the one-year and .one-month
periods. These cities have been scheduled by the Bureau at different
dates since 1913.
The average family expenditure is based on the prices sent to the
Bureau each month by retail dealers, and on the average family
consumption of these articles in each city.
The amounts given as the expenditures in November, 1918, and in
October and November, 1919, represent the amounts necessary to buy
a year’s supply of these 22 food articles when purchased at the aver
age retail prices charged in the months specified. This method
makes it easier to note the increase over the year 1913. The year1913 has been selected for the comparison because it was the last
year before the war when prices were normal.
No attempt should be made in this table to compare one city with
another, as the average number of persons in the family varies ac
cording to the city, and these 22 food articles represent a varying
proportion of the entire food budgets according to locality. This
table is intended to show merely comparisons in the retail cost of
these 22 food articles for each city. Effort is made to secure prices
on similar grades of commodities in all cities. Local customs, how
ever, must be taken into consideration. For example:
1. In Boston. Mass.; Fall River, Mass.; Manchester, N. H .; New
Haven, Conn.; Portland, Me.; and Providence, R. I., very little
fresh plate beef is sold, and prices are not secured from these cities
for this article.
2. The cut of beef known as “ sirloin ” in Boston, Mass.; Man
chester, N. H .; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Providence, R. I., would be
known as “ porterhouse ” in other cities. In these four cities, owing
to the method of dividing the round from the loin, there is no cut
that corresponds to “ sirloin ” in other cities. There is also a greater
amount of trimming demanded by the trade in these cities.
3. The most of the sales in Newark, N. J., are on whole ham in
stead of the sliced, as in other cities.
While it is advised that comparisons should not be made as be
tween cities, without taking these and other facts relative to local
1 Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, Chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham,
lard, hens, flour, corn meal, eggs, butter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee,
and tea.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[90]
91
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
customs and transportation into consideration, the figures do repre
sent a trend in the retail cost of these articles to the average family
in each city.
RETAIL COST OF 22 FOOD ARTICLES l COMBINED, IN NOVEMBER, 1919, COMPARED
WITH THE COST IN OCTOBER, 1919, NOVEMBER, 1918, AND WITH THE AVERAGE COST
IN THE YEAR 1913, BY CITIES.
A verage fa m ily exp en d itu re for 22 food
articles, com bined.
C ity.
Percentage increase N ovem ber,
1919, com pared w ith —
1919
1913
N o v em
ber,
1918.2
N o v em
ber,
1918.
1913
October.2 N o v em
ber.2
A tla n ta ................................................
B a ltim o r e ..........................................
B irm in gh am ......................................
B o s to n .................................................
B rid g ep ort.........................................
$361.00
335.15
377. 53
388.16
$660. 67
681.16
712.05
692.27
683. 91
$680. 22
662.23
741. 97
723.12
675. 71
$701.35
. 96
771. 53
735. 00
695.16
94
99
104
89
B u ffa lo ................................................
B u tte ....................................................
C harleston........ .................................
Chicago................................................
C in cin n ati..........................................
318.15
606. 76
469. 49
. 74
605. 96
608. 77
612.83
464. 87
679.34
637. 74
626.39
620. 0*
478. 71
699.39
653. 52
645. 31
95
101
634. 80
633. 84
702. 55
440. 51
618. 45
676. 58
648. 88
716.30
452.35
658.91
686. 52
94
658.04
750. 58
463. 47
672. 57
697. 84
695. 74
635.58
682.08
647.28
713. 78
721.18
657. 07
694. 52
658. 29
90
89
70
89
92
348. 60
336. 48
338. 26
668
666
October,
1919.
6
8
6
2
2
2
5
8
6
8
3
1
2
32
94
91
4
3
i
3
3
2
3
C levelan d ............................................
C olum bus ......................................
D a lla s ..................................................
D en v er................................................
D e tr o it................................................
354.01
F a ll R iv er..........................................
H o u ston ..............................................
In d ia n a p o lis.....................................
J a ck so n v ille.................... .................
R ansas C ity, Mo..............................
375.51
345. 23
377.10
340.12
680. 86
680. 96
608. 97
672.38
618.23
L ittle R ock ........................................
Los A n g e les......................................
L o u is v ille ..........................................
M anchester........................................
M em p h is............................................
390.14
284. 84
363. 85
366. 01
368. 46
694.09
466. 73
674.06
683. 87
684.91
716.01
467. 83
687. 50
687.16
718.04
735. 88
483. 59
687. 24
704. 27
744.70
M ilw aukee..........................................
M inn eap olis.......................................
M obile..................................................
N e w a r k ...............................................
N e w H a v e n .......................................
327. 25
319.98
592. 86
560. 73
i 690. 69
677. 91
709. 68
639. 78
614. 70
720. 88
670.31
696. 85
644.83
624. 79
773.06
671. 74
708.93
N ew O rleans.....................................
N ew Y ork ..........................................
N orfolk................................................
O m a h a ................................................
P eoria..................................................
369. 29
355.36
694. 83
661. 59
680. 48
609. 98
592. 73
703.62
665. 95
688.19
653. 20
632.97
700. 58
692.03
700. 49
662.54
636.07
90
95
P h ila d elp h ia......................................
P ittsb u r g h .........................................
Portland, Mo..................................
Portland, O reg.................................
P ro v id en ce........................................
352.19
350. 35
672. 20
667.06
679. 22
469.53
739. 95
676.56
680. 75
704.38
475. 73
753.62
92
94
266.03
380. 85
659. 66
646. 23
680.02
455. 40
721.64
Richmond.......................................
346. 40
664.03
611. 13
613.58
576. 91
436.47
684.19
617. 77
634.37
607.05
450.10
694. 63
636. 62
649.42
619. 85
459.06
101
5
99
6
75
5
2
2
468.96
632.23
471.32
611.90
699.66
467.00
650.96
484.99
648. 79
708.01
479.50
663.21
490.69
658. 06
711. 22
77
92
85
2
3
5
4
100
8
2
R o ch ester...........................................
S t. L o u is ............................................
S t. P a u l..............................................
Salt L ake C ity................................
San F ran cisco...................................
S cra n ton .............................................
S ea ttle..................................................
Springfield, 111..................................
W ashin gton , D . C ...........................
395. 41
247.36
335.02
364.92
376.96
334. 52
326. 36
261.87
271.48
335.98
265.35
354.82
1 See footnote on p. 90.
2Cost of year’s supply at prices charged
in specified month.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101
102
3
9
97
95
9
84
98
79
98
5
5
6
8
3
6
6
4
2
90
84
94
88
1l
2
2
24
4
7
5
9
90
87
3
2
2
3
3
( 4)
4
1
2
151
0)
31
1
5
3
9
7
(“)
(4)
( 5)
2
4
2
1
1
2
4
1
2
2
3
2
3
5
4
4
4
4
7
2
1
1
(5)
s Decrease.
■*Decrease of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
6 Increase of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
[91]
2
92
MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW.
As may be seen in the table, the average family expenditure in
creased in November in all but 2 of the 50 cities. In New Orleans
and Louisville, the decrease was less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
In Newark, Peoria, and Washington, the increase was less than fivetenths of 1 per cent. In 10 cities the expenditure increased 1 per
' cent, each; in 18 cities, 2 per cent, each; and in 10 cities, 3 per cent,
each. In Birmingham, Memphis, Houston, New York, and Port
land, Me., the increase was 4 per cent; in Dallas, 5 per cent; and in
Mobile, T per cent. During the year period, from November, 1918,
to November, 1919, Minneapolis showed the greatest increase, or 11
per cent. Three cities decreased as compared with a year ago, as
follows: Baltimore, 2 per cent; Newark, 1 per cent; and New Haven,
less than five-tenths of 1 per cent. As compared with the year 1913
the cities showing an increase of 100 per cent and over were as
follows: Washington, 100 per cent; Richmond, Detroit, and Charles
ton, 101 per cent, each; Memphis, 102 per cent; and Birmingham,
104 per cent.
--------------------
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the
United States.
HOLESALE prices in the United States reached new high
levels in November, the Bureau’s weighted index number
standing at 230 as compared with 223 for October, an in
crease of 3 per cent. Marked increases occurred in the groups of
farm products, food, etc., cloths and clothing, and liouse-furnishing
goods, the index numbers rising from 230 to 240, from 211 to 219,
from 313 to 325, and from 264 to 299, respectively. Smaller increases
were shown in the metals and metal products, lumber and building
materials, and chemicals and drugs groups. On the other hand, the
index number for fuel and lighting decreased from 181 to 179, while
that for the miscellaneous group remained unchanged.
Among the important commodities whose wholesale prices aver
aged higher in November than in October were cotton, grains, alfalfa
hay, cattle, tobacco, butter, cheese, coffee, eggs, salmon, rye and
wheat flour, apples, corn meal, fresh beef, mutton, molasses, oleo
margarine, oleo oil, rice, tea, onions, potatoes, cotton and woolen
goods, silk, anthracite coal, coke, crude and refined petroleum, iron
and steel products, spelter, brick, pine lumber, turpentine, rosin,
shingles, sulphuric acid, glycerin, alum, grain and wood alcohol,
caustic soda, tableware, household furniture, bran, and cotton-seed
meal. Timothy hay, hides, hogs, poultry, beans, buckwheat flour,
lemons, oranges, prunes, lard, hams, lamb, veal, tallow, ingot copper,
linseed oil, cottonseed oil, and jute were lower in November than in
October, while sheep, canned goods, codfish, herring, mackerel,
W
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[92]
p r ic e s aftd
93
COST OF LIYDsTG.
raisins, glucose, milk, salt, sugar, vinegar, shoes, carpets, leather,
gasoline, matches, plate and window glass, lime, cement, putty, paper,
rope, rubber, soap, and wood pulp were practically unchanged in
price.
Comparing prices in November, 1919, with those of a year ago, it is
seen that the index number for farm products increased from 221 to
240, that for food articles from 206 to 219, and that for cloths and
clothing from 256 to 325. During the same time the index number
for fuel and lighting increased from 171 to 179, that for lumber and
building materials from 164 to 236, and that for house-furnishing
goods from 226 to 299. The index number for miscellaneous commo
dities, including such important articles as cotton-seed meal and oil,
jute, malt, lubricating oil, newsprint paper, rubber, starch, soap,
plug tobacco, and wood pulp increased from 203 to 220, while that
for metals and metal products decreased from 188 to 164 and that for
chemicals and drugs from 215 to 176 in the same period of time.
INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES, OCTOBER
AND NOVEMBER, 1919, AND NOVEMBER, 1913 TO 1918, BY GROUPS OF COM
MODITIES.
[1913=100.]
1919
N o v em b er—
Group.
Oct. N o v .1 1913
F arm p rod ucts.............................................................................
F o o d , e t c ........................................................
C loths a n d c lo th in g .................................................................
F u e l and lig h tin g .......................................................................
M etals an d m etal p ro d u c ts.....................................................
L u m ber an d b u ild in g m a te r ia ls .........................................
C hem icals an d d ru g s.................................................................
H o u se-fu rn ish in g good s..........................................................
M isc ella n e o u s...........................................................
A ll co m m o d ities.........................................................................
230
211
313
181
161
231
174
264
240
219
325
179
164
236
176
299
1914
1915
101 101 102
106
100 96 107
105
93
81
95
105
99
96
100
146
150
146
155
160
104
155
123
135
98
103
144
105
99
96
98
100
100
220 220 100
230
101
223
1916
98
104
94
142
99
1917
212
1918
221
184
198
155
174
134
240
155
166
206
256
171
188
164
215
226
203
183
206
1 P relim in ary.
Comparison of Retail Price Changes in the
United States and Foreign Countries.
HE index numbers of retail prices published by several foreign
countries have been brought together with those of this
Bureau in the subjoined table after having been reduced to a
common base, viz, prices for July, 1914, equal 100. This base was
selected instead of the average for the year 1913, which is used in
other tables of index numbers compiled by the Bureau, because of the
fact that in some instances satisfactory information for 1913 was not
available. For Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, and the
city of Borne, Italy, the index numbers are reproduced as published
in the original sources. With one exception all these are shown on
the July, 1914, base in the source from which the information is
T
155169°—20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[93]
94
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
taken. The index numbers for Rome are based on the first half of
1914. The index numbers here shown for the remaining countries
have been obtained by dividing the index for July, 1914, as published,
into the index for each month specified in the table. As shown in
the table, the number of articles included in the index numbers for
the different countries differs widely. These results should not,
therefore, be considered as closely comparable one with another.
In one or two instances the figures here shown are not absolutely
comparable from month to month over the entire period, owing to
slight changes in the list of commodities included at successive dates.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E T A IL P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S A N D C E R T A IN
O T H E R C O U N T R IE S.
[July, 1914—100.]
France: Fam ily budget, 13
Year and month.
United
Canada:
Australia:
States:
food stuffs;
46 foodstuffs; 29 60
22 foodstuffs;
cities.
30 towns.
45 cities.
W eighted.
Weighted.
Weighted.
1914.
Ju ly ..........................
1915.
January...................
A pril........................
July..........................
October...................
1916.
January...................
A pril..... .................
Ju ly ..........................
October...................
1917.
January...................
February................
March.......................
A pril........................
M ay..........................
Ju n e.........................
Ju ly..........................
A ugust.....................
Septem ber..............
October...................
N ovem ber..............
December...............
1918.
January...................
February................
March......................
A pril........................
K a y..........................
Jun e.........................
July..........................
A ugust....................
Septem ber..............
October...................
N ovem ber..............
December...............
1919.
January...................
February................
March......................
A pril........................
Mav............. ............
June.........................
July..........................
A ugust.....................
Septem ber..............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100
100
100
103
99
108
101
101
107
113
131
133
107
105
105
105
105
107
109
119
129
131
130
125
112
112
114
125
125
130
130
142
148
149
143
146
150
154
152
154
125
126
126
127
127
127
126
129
129
129
129
128
138
141
144
145
159
160
157
157
157
159
163
165
157
158
151
151
155
159
164
168
175
177
179
183
129
130
131
131
132
132
131
128
128
131
133
134
167
169
170
169
171
172
175
181
179
182
182
184
181
169
172
178
181
180
186
188
184
140
141
143
145
146
147
147
148
186
181
176
180
182
185
186
155
13
97
98
Denmark:
Fam ily food Cities over
budget;
10,000 popu
5 persons.
(except
Weighted. lation
Paris).
Weighted.
i Quarter beginning that month.
[94]
Paris only.
Weighted.
100
1 100
100
1 110
120
128
1 123
146
1 133
1 137
1 141
1146
134
132
129
135
i 154
139
1 171
147
1 184
183
i 200
184
i 211
191
i 239
218
i 244
206
1 260
238
1 977
248
227
248
257
208
264
261
238
259
158
166
173
187
186
1 293
212
i 288
114
120
118
95
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E T A IL PRICES IN TH E U N IT E D STATES A N D CERTA IN OTHER
CO U N TR IES—Concluded.
[J u ly , 1 9 1 4 = 3 0 0 .]
Its iyGreat Britain:
foodstuffs; 7 foodstufEs;
Year and month. 21600
40 cities
towns.
W eighted.
(variable).
N ot
weighted.
1914.
July..........................
October...................
100
112
100
1915.
January...................
April........................
July..........................
October...................
118
124
1321
140“
108
113
1916.
January...................
April........................
July..........................
October...................
1917.
January...................
February................
March......................
April ...................
May
...................
J une .......................
July..........................
A ugust.....................
September ............
October .................
November..............
December...............
1918.
January...................
February................
March .................
April ...................
May
...................
June .....................
July..........................
August
Septem ber..............
N ovember
D ecem b er.............
1919.
January ...............
February .............
New Zealand:
Norway:
59 foodstuffs; Fam ily food
Rome:
Fam ily food
25 towns.
budget.
Weighted.
W eighted.
budget;
5 persons.
Weighted.
i 100
104
107
95
127
100
145
149
161
168
133
132
132
132
111
187
189
192
194
198
144
154
161
164
167
171
172
178
188
124
127
206
197
206
205
206
208
207
206
207
208
210
218
216
229
233
229
116
111
111
121
120
123
136
137
143
142
148
166
157
197
199
191
177
181
199
221
247
236
239
253
267
230
230
1 January-July.
213
207
204
209
217
216
100
281
? 113
113
2 121
2 128
116
118
119
2 124
3 160
120
127
126
126
127
128
128
127
127
129
130
130
132
199
203
208
219
235
249
254
259
258
243
230
232
225
206
207
214
115
142
141
142
142
143
144
148
148
2 Quarter beginning th at month.
100
2 107
112
112
133
134
134
137
139
139
139
141
141
142
144
150
200
202
220
April........................
May
...............
June
.................
July
44 towns.
Weighted.
111
120
202
201
202
100
102
Sweden:
21 articles;
214
2 130
2 134
2 142
2 152
160
166
170
175
175
175
177
181
187
192
200
212
221
275
275
227
235
247
258
261
268
280
284
310
320
330
279
278
278
276
271
269
269
339
334
331
337
328
319
310
279
3 August.
Retail Price Changes in Great Britain.
HE following table gives for Great Britain the increase in the
cost of food and general family expenditure for January to
December, 1919, over July, 1914. The food items included
in this report are: Bibs and thin flank of beef, both British and
chilled or frozen; legs and breast of mutton, British and chilled or
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[95]
96
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
frozen; bacon, fisli, flour, bread, tea, sugar, milk; butter, fresh and
salt; cheese, margarine, eggs, and potatoes.
The table gives percentages of increase, and is not one of relative
prices, as is the table given for the United States. When making
comparisons this should be borne in mind, and to obtain the relative
price it is necessary to add 100 to the percentage as given, i. e., Janu
ary, 1919, the increase is 130, the relative price being 230.
The figures represent two comparisons:1 First, the increase in price
based on the same quantities as used in July, 1911; second, the in
crease in the cost of living, based on the change in the quality of the
standard of living. In other words, the increase in column one of
the table shows what the wage earner paid for the same quantities
of food, while the figures in column two give the change that results
from a substitution of one kind of food for another to meet war
time conditions.
The same method is used in family expenditures, the third column
showing percentage of increase of all articles and the last column
giving approximate figures, based on the increase in cost of all other
articles and the estimated changed consumption of food.
P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E IN FO OD A N D A L L IT E M S IN G R EA T B R IT A IN , NOVEM B E R , 1914, 1915, 1910, 1917, A N D 1 9 18, A N D JA N U A R Y TO D E C E M B E R , 1919, AS
C O M PA R E D W IT H JU L Y , 1914.
[C om piled from th e B r itis h L abour G azette.]
All items in family budget.
Food.
Year and month.
T)ppi?mhor 1916
Tlf'TiP.TTihor 1917
December^ 1918...........................................
1919.
Jan u ary.........................................................
February.......................................................
March.............................................................
A p r il..............................................................
M ay.................................................................
June................................................................
Julv ............................................................
August............................................................
Septem ber.....................................................
October..........................................................
N ovcmber.....................................................
December......................................................
Retail prices
(assuming
same
quantities).
16
■ 44
2 84
105
129
130
130
120
113
107
104
109
117
116
122
131
134
Expenditures
(allowing for
estimated
changes in
consumption).
59
GO
79
77
79
87
81
87
97
108
103
113
119
116
Retail prices
(assuming
same
quantities).
a GO
4 £5
5 120
5 120
5 120
5 115
5 110
6 105
8 105
105-110
115
115
120
125
125
Expenditures
(allowing for
estimated
changes in
consumption).
95
90
90-95
90
95
90
95
100
110
105
110-115
115-120
110-115
lF o r a more complete explanation, see article by Prof. W . F . Ogburn, pp. 169 and 1/0 m the
M onthly L a b o r R e v ie w for May, 1919.
a Including tax on sugar and La.
s Not including taxes.
4 Including taxes.
5 The increase, excluding additional taxation, is 7 per cent less.
6 The increase, excluding additional taxation, is 6 per cent less.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[96]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
97
Changes in Cost of Living in the United States,
1913, to October, 1919.
HE following table is an estimate, made by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, of the average increase in tlie cost of living
in the United States since 1913. The Bureau lias not complete
retail price data back to 1913 and it has taken the average increase
in the prices of the different groups of items- for a number of indus
trial centers for the period from December, 1914, to June, 1919.
While it is not held that the prices in these industrial centers neces
sarily agree with prices in every section of the country, yet the ex
perience of the Bureau goes to show that the changes in prices in the
industrial centers used are fairly representative of changes in the
country generally except as to rents.
From data relating to food prices and to the wholesale prices of
other groups of commodities, the changes from 1913 to December,
1914, and from June, 1919, to October, 1919, have been computed and
the increases for these periods added to those from December, 1914,
to June, 1919. The final results are shown in the table.
Rents are a purely local matter and changes in rents in a given
locality can be obtained only by a special study in that locality.
However, the percentage of increase in rents as well as in the other
groups of items in the industrial centers mentioned have been ap
plied to the increase shown in this table.
The first column in the table shows the average per cent of total
expenditure that is devoted to the different groups of items—food,
clothing, etc. This per cent is based on figures obtained from over
12,000 families in 92 localities, in a careful survey of the cost of
living recently made by the Bureau. The second column shows the
average per cent of increase in the prices of the several groups from
1913, to October, 1919. The third column is the product of the first
and second columns and shows the per cent of increase applied to
the total family budget. To illustrate: 38.2 per cent of the total ex
penditure goes for food; food costs have increased 80.7 per cent;
this makes the per cent of increase in the price of food, as related to
the total family expenditure, 30.8 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
98
M O N TH LY LABOB REVIEW.
E S T IM A T E D
TER
C E N T OF IN C R E A SE IN COST OF L IV IN G
ST A T E S FROM 1913 TO OCTOBER, 1919.
THE
U N IT E D
Average
per cent Per cent
Per cent
of in
of in
of total
crease
crease as
expendi in prices applied
ture.
from 1913 to family
to Octo budget.
ber, 1919.
Items of expenditure.
Food................................................
Clothing..........................................
Housing..........................................
Fuel and lig h t..............................
Furniture and furnishings........
Miscellaneous.......................... ....
Total
IN
.............................
38.2
16.6
13.4
5.3
5.1
21.3
80.70
139. 30
17. 75
45.07
139.62
81.31
30.8
23.1
2.4
2.4
7.1
17.3
83.1
Changes in Cost of Living in the District of
Columbia.
RICES recently secured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
show that the cost of living in the District of Columbia in
creased 88.4 per cent from 1913 to November, 1919. The
increase from April, 1919, to November, was 8.0 per cent. For the
longer period named, the changes in the several groups of items
entering into the family budget ranged from 3.4 per cent for housing
to 156.7 per cent for furniture and furnishings.
The following table shows the per cent that the average expendi
ture for each group of items is of the average total expenditure per
family, and the per cent of change in prices for each group and for
all items from 1913 to December of each year from 1914 to 1918,
inclusive, and to April and November, 1919. It also shows the in
creases from April to November, 1919. The latter figure, 8.0, does
not agree with the per cent that would be derived from a computation
based on the figures shown for April and November, respectively.
The explanation of this is that the column showing the increase from
April to November is based on the prices of comparable articles at
these two dates. Articles that were not on sale at both dates were not
used. On the other hand, the figures comparing November, 1919,
with December, 1914, have been derived by comparing November,
1919, prices with December, 1918, prices, without reference to April
prices, so that a direct comparison between the two columns, April
1919, and November, 1919, should not be made.
P
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[98]
#
+
99
PRICES ARTD COST OP LIVING.
C H A N G E S IN COST OF L IV IN G IN W A SH IN G T O N , D. C., FROM 1 913 TO N O V E M
B E R , 1919.
Per cent
of increase
from
April,
Novem
1919, to
ber,
Novem
1919.
ber, 1919.
Per cent of increase from 1913 to—
Items of expenditure.
Per
cent of
total
expenditure.
December—
April.
1919.
1914
1915
1916
Food.......................................................
Clothing.................................................
H ousing.................................................
Fuel and lig h t......................................
Furniture and furnishings...............
Miscellaneous.......................................
38.2
3.7
16.6 i 4.0
13.4 (2)
5.3
3.0
5.1 1 1.0
21.3
(2)
4.3
i.4
1 1.5
3.0
5.2
.4
19.9 67.0 97.9
18.3 53.7 104.1
13.7 i 3.4 i 1.5
10.5 28.6 45.1
29.2 70.4 125.1
15.3 44.3 55.9
Total...........................................
.9
1.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 Decrease,
15.4
1917
48.6
1918
75.2
91.5
101.1
i 1.4
46. 1
123.7
57.4
100.4
155.3
3.4
47.1
156.7
62.7
4.7
22.6
4.1
3.4
14.0
4.9
72.5
88.4
8.0
2 No change.
100
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Production, Cold-Storage Holdings, and Whole
sale and Retail Prices of Butter and Cheese.
By E l m a B. C a re .
HE preservation of food from seasons of greatest production
to seasons of scarcity should tend to make prices more uniform throughout the year. It not only takes care of an over
supply, preventing waste, but it provides a supply in seasons when
certain foods, in the fresh state, could be had only in small quanti
ties, if at all.
In this article an attempt is made to show the relation between
the amount of butter and cheese in cold storage, the amount pro
duced, and the trend in wholesale and retail prices.
The wholesale prices shown are those compiled each month by
this Bureau from weekly quotations published in the Chicago Dairy
Produce. The retail prices are averages computed from reports
sent to this Bureau each month by retail dealers in Chicago.
Figures showing production and cold-storage holdings have been
taken from monthly statements of the Bureau of Markets of the
Department of Agriculture. Figures giving production prior to
1918 are not available. Figures showing cold-storage holdings rep
resent the amounts held in cold-storage warehouses on the first of
each month. Figures showing receipts, or the movement into stor
age, and deliveries, or the movement out of storage, are not available
prior to September, 1919. Although prior to this date it is not
known just how much butter was received or delivered by coldstorage warehouses during each month, the difference between the
holdings on the first of any month and the holdings on the first of
the following month does represent the net amount stored or with
drawn from storage during the month.
Figures showing exports and imports are taken from monthly
statements of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the
Department of Commerce.
By adding to the total production for each month, the amount held
in storage and the amount imported, and subtracting the amount
exported and the amount held in storage on the first of the next
month, the amount available for consumption during each month has
been computed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
Creamery Butter.
The storage season for butter may be said to begin in May and end
in April. Storage holdings are increased during May, June, July,
and August, and hence these months are known as “ storing months.”
Storage holdings are decreased during the months from September to
April, inclusive. These months are known as “ distributing months.”
September is sometimes a storing month if the season is late. The
largest amount held in storage on the first of any month during a
season is known as the “ peak load ” for the season. As shown in
Table 1, about three-fourths of the peak load is stored during June
and July; most of the distribution is within the months of October
to March, inclusive. About one-fourtli of the peak load is usually
withdrawn during December. Table 1 shows, also, the percentage
of the peak load that Avas on hand from the previous season and the
percentage that was carried over into the folloAving season.
T a bl e 1 .— M O N TH LY P E R C E N T OF IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A SE IN STORAGE
H O L D IN G S OF C R EA M ER Y B U T T E R , B A S E D ON T H E P E A K LOAD FO R EA CH
PE R IO D , M AY, 1907, TO A P R IL , 1919.
Per cent of increase.
Per cent of decrease.
Per
cent
Period (M ay- on
April).
hand
May May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct.
1.
1907-1916 i .......
1916-17 2...........
1917-182...........
1918-19 2...........
6.9
1.1
2.5
10.2
3.7
o. 6
5.9
2.7
43.8
45.4
36.5
36.0
33.8
44.7
36.3
38.8
11.8
3.2
13.5
12.3
0.2
8.9
3 5.3
11.7
13.0
10.4
6.0
6.9
Nov. Dec. Jan.
15.0
22.5
21.3
16.6
24.6
14.4
28.5
20.3
16.1
14. 8
19.2
7.8
Per
cent
on
hand
at
Feb. Mar. Apr. end
of
pe
riod.
12.4
13.8
7.3
12.4
8.7
9.2
3.9
12.1
3.1
3.4
4.0
2.6
6.9
2.6
9.8
9.5
1 Figures taken from Bulletin No. 776 of the Bureau of Markets, Department of Agriculture.
2 Computed from m onthly reports of the Bureau of Markets.
3 Per cent of increase.
The 1919-20 season vs ill not be completed until May 1, 1920, but
figures are given in Table 2 which show the amount of creamery
butter produced each month since January, 1918, the total cold-storage
holdings on the first of each month, and the monthly net increase or
decrease in storage holdings since August, 1916. Table 2 shows, also,
the amount of butter exported, imported, available for consumption,
and Avholesale and retail prices in Chicago each month since August,
1916.
The relation between the amount of butter produced, the amount
in storage, the amount available for consumption, and wholesale
prices is shoAvn also in the chart on page 103 for each month, January,
1918, to June, 1919. Later figures are not shown because no further
information is available for production. For the same reason, figures
prior to January, 1918, Avere not charted. The production figures
giA7en in Table 2 for July, August, and September are only pre
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[101 ]
102
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
liminary and are subject to change. The information as shown in
the chart, however, covers an entire storage season.
T a b l e 2 .— PR O D U C T IO N , STO R A G E H O L D IN G S , E X P O R T S , IM P O R T S, AM OUNT
A V A IL A B L E FOR C O N SU M PT IO N , A N D W H O L E SA L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S OF
C R EAM ERY B U T T E R , BY M O N TH S, A U G U ST , 1 9 16, TO S E P T E M B E R , 1919.
Year and
month.
Average price
per pound in
Number of
N et in
Chicago.
Number
Number of Number of crease ( + ) or Number ofpounds pounds
available
pounds
pounds in decrease ( —) of pounds
im
exported.3 ported.3 for con
in storage
produced.1 storage.2
Whole R e
(pounds).3
sumption.4 sale8
tail«
(cents). (cents).
1916.
A ugust,.........
Septem ber. . .
Oetober
N o v em b er...
Dpp.om her___
1917.
Jammry.........
February__
Aprjl......... .
May ..............
July
___
A u g u st.........
September __
Oetober..........
Novem ber__
Deeember___
94 518,871
104,964,478
95 640,774
84,741,182
¿ L 158'731
+ 10,445,607
- 9,323,704
-10,899,592
-23,582,451
-15,162,217
2,429,200
4,779,279
8,065,203
4,580,020
2,298,548
5, 784
33,336
28, 740
48,878
32,725
30.0
32.3
34.5
38.8
38.3
34.4
37.2
39.4
42.4
43.6
45 996.514
30 454,200
15'932,420
6,296,854
-15,542,314
-14,521,780
— 9,635,566
- 3,595,569
1,888,825
296,062
487,386
343,519
20,789
16;709
10,291
167,558
38.0
40.7
40.0
42.8
43.8
46.6
44.5
48.4
2 701,285
9 010,869
47,' 846' 514
86 482,667
100 839,277
106 475,760
100 114,760
11, 468Í551
+ 6,309,584
+ 38,835,645
+38,636,153
+ 14,356,610
+ 5,636,483
— 6,361,000
-22^646; 209
-30,398,605
569,283
679,362
266,852
348; 808
429,264
275,017
262;800
1,345,740
25,937
76,634
192', 795
74,591
52,464
14,795
463,424
19i; 763
39.0
38.2
37.6
40.0
42.5
43.1
44.2
48.1
43.1
43.4
43.2
44.8
48.4
48.7
49.2
53.0
1918.
January..........
February___
March.............
April...............
44,357,118
42,389,031
49,086,028
57,331,653
47,069,946
26,617,921
18,808,303
14,607,017
-20,452,025
- 7,809,618
- 4,201,286
- 4,214,040
4,195,551
821,421
4,309,478
3,636,006
747,154
29,617
5,274
20,188
61,360,746
49,406,845
48,983,110
57,929,875
48.6
48.9
44.3
41.5
54.4
54.7
50.6
46.0
M ay................
June...............
July................
August...........
Septem ber. . .
October..........
N ovem ber.. .
December___
85,563,665
104,385,066
97.440,132
85,148,447
72,396,845
63,889,623
45,741.353
45,560,340
10,392,977
13,117,864
49,717.202
89,174,933
101,693,310
89,813,628
82,795,392
65,909,540
+ 2,724,887
+36,599,338
+39,457,731
+ 12,518,377
-11,879,682
- 7,018,236
-16,885,852
-20,691,179
1,266,918
578,111
320,323
337,188
631, 739
2,186,346
4,677,742
3,233,992
2,251
11,609
1,439
26,703
508,815
192,856
78,933
30,628
81,574,111
67,219,228
57,663,517
72,319,585
84,153,603
68,914,369
58,028,396
63, U48,155
42.0
42.0
43.2
44.3
53.7
55.4
61.0
67.0
47.5
46.8
48.0
49.0
57.5
61.5
65.3
72.7
1919.
January..........
F ebruary.. . .
March.............
April...............
52,189,198
44,342,568
54,822,396
67,487,317
45,218,361
37,258,698
24,624,036
12,280,472
- 7,959,663
-12,634,662
-12,343,564
- 2,621,544
4,452,371
3, 726,840
4,127,635
8,475,366
644,252
363,761
661,980
219,932
56,340,742
53,614,151
63,700,305
61,853,427
61.8
49.3
60.2
61.5
71.3
53.5
63.9
67.1
M ay................
June................
Ju ly ................
August...........
Septem ber...
October..........
N ovem b er.. .
December___
103,941,021
USt 357,493
787,921,650
772,749,399
7 57,877,563
(8)
(8)
(8)
759,803
893,245 84,298,609
810,763
508,925 58,332,334
654,887 754,555,206
633, 764
2,395,139
961,718 763,473,234
1,387,148
496,442 766,559,112
2,918,389 2,123,39S
(8)
1,108,896 1,553,263
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
55.6
51.3
51.2
53.3
56.9
64.6
68.6
68.1
62.4
57.5
57. 1
58.4
60.3
67.8
73.6
74.4
9,658,928 + 19,775,854
29,434,782 +60,723,321
90,158,103 +33,387,567
123,545,670 + 7,842,744
131,388,414 — 9,572,255
121,816,159 -21,342,086
100,474,073 7—26,797,840
773,676,233
(8)
1 Figures from Bureau of Markets, Department of Agriculture. Figures showing production prior to
1918 not available.
2 Number of pounds in storage on the first of each m onth. Figures from Bureau of Markets.
8 During the month. Export figures do not include any amount sent in Army transports. Only the
amount sent in merchant vessels is included.
4 The amount available for consumption equals total production, plus storage at beginning of month,
plus imports, minus exports, minus storage at end of month.
6
The wholesale prices shown are those compiled each m onth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
weekly quotations published in the Chicago Dairy Produce.
6 The retail prices are averages computed from reports sent to the Bureau of Labor Statistics each month
by retail dealers in Chicago.
7 From preliminary reports of Bureau of Markets, Department of Agriculture, and subject to change.
8 Information not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[102]
PRICES AXD COST OF LIVING.
103
On May 1, 1917, at the beginning of the 1917-18 season, there were
a little over 21 million pounds in storage. During the months from
May to October storage holdings showed a net increase of a little
tt!
ct:
UJ
zr
Storage Season 1917-18.
over 103^ million pounds. The average wholesale price for these
months was 39.5 cents. During June and July the net amount stored
was almost 771 million pounds. The average wholesale price for these
two months was 37.9 cents. From October 1 to May 1, 1918, there
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[103]
104
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
was a net withdrawal from storage of 96 million pounds. The aver
age wholesale price during these months was 45.5 cents. In December
there was a net decrease in storage holdings of 30 million pounds.
The average wholesale price in December was 48.1 cents. During
the storing months of this season, exports of butter totaled a little
over 2 million pounds and imports about 419 thousand pounds. Dur
ing the distributing months, exports totaled over 144 million pounds
and imports almost 14 million.
By proclamation of July 9, 1917, the export of butter was pro
hibited except by virtue of a special license. Butter was included in
the presidential license proclamations of October 8, 1917, and Janu
ary 10, 1918. Butter was in the list of restricted imports, April 22,
1918.1
During the period from May, 1917, to April, 1918, the average
differential between wholesale and retail prices was 5 cents.
Storage Season 1918-19.
On May 1, 1918, at the beginning of the 1918-19 season, there were
a little over 10 million pounds in storage. During the months from
May until September, storage holdings showed a net increase of
slightly over 91 million pounds.
The total production from May until September was 3721; million
pounds. The average wholesale price for these months was 42.9
cents. During June and July the net increase in storage holdings
was 76 million pounds. The total production for these two months
was approximately 202 million pounds. The average wholesale price
for these two months was 42.6 cents. The movement into storage of
such a large proportion of the amount produced no doubt prevented
a glutted market and a consequent decline in price. From September
until May, 1919, there was a net withdrawal from storage of 92
million pounds. The average wholesale price for these months was
58.7 cents. During December there was a net withdrawal of a little
more than 204 million pounds. The average wholesale price in
December was 67 cents.
Creamery butter was included in the export conservation list of
May 17, 1918.1 During the storing months, from May to September,
exports totaled 24 million pounds and imports 40 thousand pounds.
During the months of distribution, September to May, 1919, exports
totaled 314 million pounds and imports 2J million.
On August 28, 1918, there was commandeered for the use of the
Army, Navy, and Allies, between 25 and 30 million pounds of cream-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 W ar In d u str ie s B oard, B u lle tin No. 21, p. 16.
[104]
S
PR IC E S AND COST OF
*
LIVING.
105
ery butter. The wholesale price for September showed an increase
of 10 cents per pound and the retail price an increase of 9 cents, as
compared with prices in August.
In October there was the largest amount exported since May. Pro
duction decreased approximately 8 million pounds; there was a net
withdrawal from storage of 7 million pounds; the wholesale price
advanced 1 cent. In November, 1918, the wholesale price increased
6 cents per pound and the retail price, 4 cents. Production was 18
million pounds less than in October, but there was a net decrease of
almost 17 million pounds in storage holdings. Over 41 million pounds
were exported.
In December the wholesale price advanced another 6 cents, and the
retail price 7 cents, although production was practically the same as
in November, and there was a net decrease of 20 million pounds in
the amount in storage. During December, however, 3 million pounds
were exported.
The wholesale price for January, 1919, was 62 cents; for February,
49 cents; and for March, 60 cents. The amount produced in February
was almost 7 million pounds less than in January. During February,
however, there was a net decrease in cold storage holdings of 12|
million pounds, which was greater by 5 millions than the net decrease
during January. The Creamery Journal,1 in commenting on the drop
in prices in February and the advance in March, states that in addi
tion to an unusually heavy production in midwinter, which swamped
the market and made selling difficult, the Government returned butter
which was commandeered but which was said not to be up to quality.
It further states that in March the Food Administration decided to
take the commandeered butter, and much of it went to England, and
that this, together with the fact that consumption increased in March,
caused the market to advance. The Purchase, Storage, and Traffic
Division, Quartermaster Corps, of the War Department has stated
that when shipment overseas was suspended there was a surplus of
some 5 million pounds of canned and commercial butter, which was
then in storage. About 1^ million pounds of this was turned back to
the manufacturers from whom it was bought and the balance was
sold to dealers, and while some may have been exported by the dealers
or manufacturers, and concerning which they would have no records,
a great deal of it probably was retained in this country.
The wholesale price in April was 62 cents. During this month,
storage holdings showed a net decrease of 2 million pounds, but over
8 million pounds were exported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 Feb. 15, 1919.
[105]
106
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
During the season 1918-19, the average differential between the
wholesale and retail price wTas 5 cents, approximately the same as for
the 1917-18. season.
Storage Season 1919-20.
As previously stated, the 1919-20 season will not be completed
until May 1, 1920, but as much information as is available at this
time is given in Table 2. On May 1, 1919, at the beginning of the
season, there were approximately 9-J million pounds in storage.
During May, June, and July, 1919, production increased. From
May until August there was a great decrease in the amount exported.
Prices declined, but not so much as they probably would have done
had these not been the months when the greatest amounts are put into
storage.
Figures showing receipts, or the movement into storage, and de
liveries, or the movement out of storage, are shown in the following
statement for September, October, and November, 1919:
Receipts.
Deliveries.
September____________________________ 12, 520, 318 21, 90S, 798
October______________________________ 12,885,354 33, S92,164
November____________________________ 10,141, 492 36, 558, 305
A noticeable feature in October and November is the large amount
of butter imported. Of the total amount of 2,123,298 pounds im
ported in October, 2,118,151 pounds came from Canada. The next
largest amount imported, 5,181 pounds, came from Denmark. In
November, out of a total of 1,553,263 pounds imported, 1,539,792
pounds came from Canada and 13,471 pounds from Denmark.
The amount of butter exported during these two months was much
less than during the same months of the previous year. In No
vember, 1919, the amount imported wTas 344,367 pounds more than
the amount exported.
The wholesale price in November was about 8 cents higher and the
retail price about 9 cents higher than in November, 1918.
In December, 1919, the wholesale price was only 1 cent higher and
the retail price only 2 cents higher than in December, 1918.
Table 3 shows comparisons over two storage seasons, May, 1917,
to April, 1918, and May, 1918, to April, 1919. Table 4 gives infor
mation for the first six months of 1918 and 1919 similar to that given
in Table 3, by seasons.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[106]
*
107
IE IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G ,
T able 3.— COMPARISON OF PRODUCTION, STORAGE HOLDINGS, EXPORTS, IM
PORTS, AMOUNT OF CREAMERY BUTTER AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMPTION, BY
SEASONS, MAY, 1917, TO APRIL, 1918, AND MAY, 1918, TO APRIL, 1919.
Item.
In storage at beginning of season..........................................................................
Produced during season......................................................................................
Imported during season.........................................................
Total.........................................................................
Exported during season......................................................................................
In storage at end of season....... ......... .........................................
Total...........................................................................
Available for consumption.......................................................
Mav, 1917, to
April, 1918.
May, 1918, to
April, 1919.
P o unds.
P ounds.
2,701,285
0)
1,894,636
10,392,977
818,966,950
2,743,159
832,103,086
0)
17,139,582
10,392,977
27,532,559
34,014,571
9,658,928
43,073,499
788,429,587
0)
1 Information not available.
T a b l e 4 . — COMPARISON OF PRODUCTION, STORAGE HOLDINGS, EXPORTS, IM
PORTS, AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMPTION, AND AVERAGE WHOLESALE
AND RETAIL PRICES OF CREAMERY BUTTER FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS
OF EACH YEAP, 1918 AND 1919.
First six months of—
Item.
1918
Total production..............................................................................
Average monthly storage holdings.............................................
N et amount of previous season’s'storage holdings marketed....................
N et amount placed in cold storage for current season..................... . . . .
Total exports..........................................................................................................
Total im ports..............................................................................................
Total amount available for consumption............................................
Average wholesale price......................................................................................
Average retail price.............................................................................................
1919
Pounds
P ounds.
383,112,561
21,769,004
36,676,969
39,324,225
14,807,485
816,093
366,473,913
C en ts.
442,139,993
26,412,546
35,559,433
80,499,175
22,352,778
3,292,095
378,139,568
C en ts.
44.6
50.0
56 6
62.6
The following table shows the per cent of the total stocks of butter
held by creameries, retail dealers, wholesale dealers, meat packers,
cold-storage houses, and by miscellaneous dealers. This information,
published in Food Surveys of the Department of Agriculture, is
available for January and July, 1918, and for January, 1919. The
information was secured and the paper published as a war-time
emergency, and was discontinued after July 1, 1919. The table is
given here to show that the proportion of the total commercial stocks
held b}^ the different groups was fairly constant, with the exception
of that held by meat packers, which, in January, 1919, was more
than double the proportion held by this group in January, 1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[107]
108
M O N T H L Y LABOE R E V IE W .
T a b l e 5 .— P E R CENT OF TO TAL STOCKS OF CR EA M ER Y B U T T E R H E L D BY
C R E A M E R IE S, COLD STO R A G E W A R E H O U SE S, W H O L E SA L E D E A L E R S , R E
T A IL D E A L E R S , A N D BY M IS C E L L A N E O U S D E A L E R S , JA N U A R Y A N D JU L Y ,
1918, A N D JA N U A R Y , 1919.
[From Food Surveys, June and August, 1918, and February and March, 1919, published by Bureau of
Markets, D epartm ent of Agriculture.]
Percentage of total
stocks1 held by
each group.
Total stocks.
Group.
1918
Total, all groups......................................................
Creameries.........................................................
Cold storages.....................................................
Wholesale dealers............................................
Wholesale dealers in butter, eggs,
and cheese..............................................
Meat packers.............................................
Other wholesale dealers.........................
Retail dealers...................................................
Miscellaneous....................................................
Bakers............... ........................................
Oleomargarine manufacturers..............
Cheese factories........................................
Other miscellaneous................................
1919
January.
July.
January.
P ounds.
P ounds.
P ounds.
183,686,073 176,143,419 162,028,916
11,017,614 13,526,964
8,717,972
44,538,589 38,558,001 32,937,707
23,168,122 22,084,232 19,080,323
14,088,714
5,058,679
4,020,729
10,082,845
4'961,748
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
13,630,918
5,895,423
2,557,891
6,026,056
1,974,222
505,988
370', 196
802,133
8,608,502
9,189,417
1,282,404
(2)
1,292,914
501,947
56,268
61'222
673,477
1918
1919
Janu
ary.
July.
100.0
13.2
53.2
27.7
100.0
17.8
50.6
29.0
100.0
14.1
53.1
30.8
16.8
6.0
4.8
17.9
7.7
3.4
13.9
14.8
2.1
5.9
2.6
.7
.5
.4
1.1
2.0
.8
.1
.1
1.1
Janu
ary.
1 N ot including retail stocks.
2 R etail stocks not secured by Bureau of Markets.
s D etailed information not available.
American Cheese.
The storage season for cheese is not so clearly defined as that for
blitter. It may be said to begin either in May or June and end in
April or May. In this article the storage season has been taken as
beginning in May, although in both May, 1917, and May, 1918, over
2 million pounds net were withdrawn from storage.
An exceptionally large quantity of American cheese was placed in
cold storage during the 1917-18 season. At the beginning of the sea
son there were approximately 7} million pounds in storage. This
was reduced during May by a net withdrawal of almost 3 million
pounds. There was an increase each month from June to October
in the amount in storage. On October 1 there were 92 million pounds
in storage. This amount represents the peak load of the season.
From this date until the end of the season the net withdrawal from
storage was almost 68 million pounds. The average wholesale price
during the months when more cheese was being stored than was
being withdrawn was 22 cents and during the months when more
was being put upon the market than was being stored was 23 cents.
On May 1, 1918, at the beginning of the 1918-19 season, there were
211 million pounds in storage. A net withdrawal of 2 million
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
109
PR IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
pounds was made during the month of May. During June, July,
and August almost 111 million pounds were produced. During
these months a net amount of 34 million pounds was stored. The
average wholesale price during these months was 23 cents. In Sep
tember there was a reduction of approximately 4| million pounds
in production and, although there was a net withdrawal of 14|
million pounds from storage, the price advanced to 28 cents. De
cember shows the lowest production, with a net release from storage
of 5£ million pounds. The price in December was 35 cents. In
February, 1919, the price dropped 10 cents per pound, gradually
rising to 30 cents in May.
On May 1, 1919, at the beginning of the 1919-20 season, there were
only 6^ million pounds in storage warehouses. To this sum was
added a net increase of TO million pounds during May, June, July,
and August. A net sum of 50 million pounds of this amount was put
in during June and July. The average wholesale price for these
months was 31 cents. The July price was the highest since January,
when the price was 36 cents.
The passage of cheese through trade channels is more difficult to
follow than that of butter, but the following tables and the chart
are given in order to show as nearly as it is possible to show it what
influence factors affecting the supply have upon the trend in prices.
T a b l e 6.— MONTHLY PER CENT OP INCREASE OR DECREASE IN STORAGE HOLD
INGS OF AMERICAN CHEESE, BASED ON THE PEAK LOAD FOR EACH SEA
SON, MAY, 1907, TO APRIL, 1919.
Percent of increase.
.Per cent of decrease.
Per
Per
cent
cent
on
Season
on
hand
(M ay-April.) hand
May May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. N ov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. atend
of sea
1.
son.
1915-171........... 17.1
1917-181........... 9.6
1918-19 4........... 43.1
2.9
2 2.6
2 3.5
27.2
26.3
19.1
40.5
37.9
30.4
12.3
23.1
1.1
5.3
3 .5
25.6
7.2
6.5
14.4
8.5
7.0
13.6
11.1
9.4
9. 8
23.0
14.9
8.3
15.9
12.0
10.1
10.5
9.6
5.5
3.1
14.7
1.0
1 Figures taken from B ulletin No. 776 of th e Bureau of Markets, Departm ent of Agriculture.
2 Per cent of decrease.
3 Per cent of increase.
4 Computed from m onthly reports of the Bureau of Markets.
155169°—20----- 8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[109]
15.4
25.9
11.6
(Available For Co n su m pt io n
N e t I n c r e a s e o f (Am o u n t i n
Totrl Production
N e t De c r e a s e o f A m o u n t i n S t o r f i q e
S torage
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
[ 110]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
110
RMER1CRN CHEESE
111
P R IC E S AÎSTl) COST OF LIV IN G ,
T a bl e 7 . — P R O D U C T IO N , STO R A G E H O L D IN G S, E X P O R T S, IM P O R T S, AM OUNT
A V A IL A B L E FO R C O N SU M PT IO N , A N D W H O L E SA L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S
OF A M ER IC A N C H E E S E , B Y M O N TH S, S E P T E M B E R , 1916, TO S E P T E M B E R , 1919,
Y ear and
m on th .
N et in
N um b er
Number crease ( + ) or Number
Number
of pounds of pounds decrease ( —) of pounds of pounds
produced.1 in storage.2 in storage
exported.3 imported.3
(pounds).2
Average price
per pound in
Number
Chicago.
of pounds
available
for con
sumption.4 Whole
sale.5 Retail.8
1916.
September.. .
October.........
November.. .
December... .
C ents.
C en ts.
36,413,591
1,218,162
35,195,399 + 5,239,125
40,434,524 — 5,724,076
34,710,448 “7 2,855,469
3,303,404
5,970,313
3,644,915
4,036,169
2,826,220
2,540,315
1,113,006
662,207
18.1
18.9
23.3
23.0
January.........
February___
March............
April.............
31,854,979 _ 11,439,543
20,415,436 — 6,574,635
13,840,801 — 4,884,517
8,956,284 — 1,438,069
8,101,103
7,241,648
7,577,082
5,283,007
376,650
273,103
278,412
497,888
21.8
21.5
23.9
23.1
32.1
32.9
31.8
32.7
May...............
June..............
July...............
August..........
September.. October.........
November.. December... .
7,518,215 — 2,949,426
4,568,789 + 27,365,164
31,933,953 + 30,483,340
62,417,293 + 19,557,438
81,974,731
10,475,265
92,449,996 — 7,210,815
85,239,181 — 5,157,821
10,833,219
80,081,360
7,109,161
10,901,054
2,236,144
366,222
2,006,683
464,967
951,465
1,132,991
505,387
1,128,515
1,138,165
507,868
293,002
274,066
543,703
515,803
23.8
22.4
21.1
21.8
23.9
23.7
22.9
22.3
33.4
33.6
33.9
34.2
34.4
36.8
37.4
36.6
1917.
1918.
26.6
27.7
29.6
32.9
January......
February__
March.........
April...........
8,551,575
8,451,388
12,793,552
19,202,292
69,248,141 _ 8,521,713
60,726,428 —12,513,391
48,183,037 — 9,872,403
38,310,634 — 13,671,839
776,583
921,244
2,669,003
9,462,723
667,358
550,353
494,232
1,239,959
16,964,063
20,623,888
20,491,184
24,651,367
23.4
25.8
23.9
21.3
37.5
37.7
38.1
35.3
May.............
June............
July............
August........
September..
October.......
November..
Decmber...
33,190,847
42,391,489
36,819,027
31,695,294
26,998,447
19,899,779
13,028,605
9,967,360
24,638,795 — 2,023,528
22,615,267
10,923,708
33,538,975 + 17,354,794
50,893, 769 + 6,221,167
57,114,936 —14,614,581
42,500,355 — 8,228,341
34,272,014 — 7,787,535
26,484,479
5,595,823
13,194,311
10,120,740
5,656,901
2,326,324
1,270,205
549,816
740,859
715,763
1,615,421
1,999,375
471,640
451,956
14,481
37,072
8,016
12,181
23,635,485
23,346,416
14,278,972
23,599,759
40,357,304
27,615,376
20,083,297
14,859,601
21.3
22.0
22.9
24.6
27.9
33.8
33.3
35.0
34.3
34.2
34.5
35.7
37.6
39.5
40.4
43.2
11,989,816
12,524,012
19,830,742
22,965,4-23
20,888,656 _ 4,767,578
16,121,078 — 5,751,698
10,369,380 — 3,137,766
7,231,614 —
594,422
384,554
397,016
963,109
1,722,721
106,350
19,382
16,122
166,363
16,479,190
17,898,076
22,021,521
22,004,487
36.3
26.3
29.4
29.6
43.9
38.9
38.5
40.5
6,636,192
12,477,707
37,501,294
62,645,144
76,660,790
81,359,470
72,888,936
62,297,741
1,732,286
2,335,099
988,788
805,213
671,334
1,144,403
1,765,781
1,058,462 30,109,297
80,281 19,711,095
35,225 7 3,527,109
1,375,617 7 11,464,224
1,656,053 7 15,315,497
1,787,603
(8)
3,547,276
(8)
(8)
30.4
29.9
31.1
30.2
28.2
28.3
30.5
30.3
42.4
42.5
44.1
44.6
44.8
44.4
44.6
45.0
1919.
January......
February. . .
March.........
April...........
May............ 36,624,636
June............ 46,989,500
July.............7 29,624,522
August........ 7 24,909,466
September. . 7 19,029,458
October.......
(8)
November..
( 8)
December...
(8)
+ 0 ,841,515
+ 25,023,587
+ 25,143,850
+ 14,015,646
+ 4,698,680
— 8,470,534
—7 10,591,195
1
2
8
4
6
6
7
8
Figures from Bureau of M arkets, D ep artm en t of A griculture. Figures show in g prod uction prior to
1918 n ot available.
N um b er of pounds in storage on th e first of each m on th . F igures from B ureau of Markets.
D uring th e m on th . E x p o rt figures do n o t in clu d e a n y am o u n t se n t in A rm y transports. O nly th at
a m ou nt sen t in m erchan t v essels is in clud ed .
T he am ou n t a vailab le for con su m p tion eq u als prod uction p lu s a m o u n t in storage at b eg in n in g of
m o n th , p lu s im p orts, m in u s exp orts, m in u s am ou n t in storage at en d of m on th.
T h e w holesale p rices sh ow n are th ose com p iled each m o n th b y th e B u reau of Labor S ta tistics from
w eek ly quotations p u b lished in th e C hicago D airy P rodu ce.
The retail p rices are averages com p u ted from reports sen t to th e B ureau of Labor S ta tistics each m on th
b y retail dealers in Chicago.
From prelim inary reports of B u reau of M arkets, D ep artm en t of A griculture, and sub ject to change.
Inform ation n ot y e t availab le.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
tlU]
112
M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W ;
T a b l e 8 .— C O M PA R ISO N OF PR O D U C T IO N , STO R A G E H O L D IN G S, E X P O R T S, IM
PO R T S, A M O U NT OF A M ER IC A N C H E E S E A V A IL A B L E FOR C O N SU M PT IO N , BY
SE A SO N S, MAY, 1 9 17, TO A P R IL , 1918, A N D M AY, 1918, TO A P R IL , 1919.
Item.
Mav, 1917, to
April, 1918.
May, 1918, to
April, 1919.
P ounds.
P ounds.
Tn sf.orn.gft at beginning of season ..........................................................................
Produced during season .........................................................................................
Tmported dnring season..........................................................................................
7,518,215
0)
7,858,411
24,638,795
281,300,841
4,918,359
310,857,995
T otal..................................................................................................................
Exported during season..........................................................................................
In stornge at end of season .............................. ..................................................
38,998,240
24,638, 795
38,042,319
6, 636,192
Total
...........................................................................................................
Available for consumption.....................................................................................
63,637,035
0)
44,678,511
266,179,484
1 Information not available.
T a b l e » .— C O M PA R ISO N OF PR O D U C T IO N , STO R A G E H O L D IN G S , E X P O R T S , IM
PO R T S, AM OUNT A V A IL A B L E FOR C O N SU M PT IO N , A N D A V E R A G E W H O L E
SA L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S OF A M E R IC A N C H E E S E FO R T H E F IR S T S IX
M O N TH S OF E A C H Y EAR , 191 8 A N D 1919.
First six months of—
Item.
1919
1918
P ounds.
Total production...............................................................................................................
Average m onthly storage holdings... ...........................................................................
N et amount of previous season’s storage holdings marketed ___
_ __
N et amount placed in cold storage for current season............ t .............................
Total exports.................................................................................................. - ................
Total im ports....................................................................................................................
Total amount available for consumption____ _____ ___________
124,581,143
43,953, 717
46,632,874
10,923,708
37,144,604
6, 566,698
129,712,403
C en ts.
P ounds.
150,924,129
12,287,437
14,252,464
30,865,102
7,534,785
1,446,960
128,223,666
C en ts.
23.0
36.2
Average wholesale price..................................................................................................
Average retail price.........................................................................................................
30.3
41.1
T a b l e 1 0 .— P E R . C E N T OF TO TAL STO C K S OF A M E R IC A N C H E E S E H E L D BY
M A N U F A C T U R E R S, COLD ST O R A G E W A R E H O U SE S, W H O L E SA L E D E A L E R S ,
A N D BY M ISC E L L A N E O U S D E A L E R S , JA N U A R Y A N D JU L Y , 1918, A N D JA N
U A R Y , 1919.
[From Food Surveys for June and August, 1918, and February and March, 1919, published by Bureau
of Markets, Department of Agriculture.]
Percentage of total
sto c k s1 held by
each group.
Total stocks.
Group
1919
January.
July.
January.
P ounds.
P ounds.
P ounds.
1141,639,322 74.163.338 ‘61,028,598
T otal, all groups...............................................
Manufacturers................................................ 32,663,463 16,994,056 10,243,466
Cheese factories...................................... 24,673,360 14.953.338
9,370,469
Creameries..............................................
872,997
7,990,103
2,040,718
Cold storages................................................... 51,528,174 22,408,467 17,629,587
W holesale dealers.......................................... 53,402,057 34,068,286 32,689,178
W holesale dealersin butter, eggs, and
cheese..................................................... 20,826,152 14,912,998 11,244,585
W holesale grocers.................................. 16,997,355
5,838,176
7,683,206
Meat packers........................................... 12,086,783
7,864,029 12,995,307
Other w holesaledealers.......................
3,491,767
2,611,110
3,608,053
R etaildealers................................................. 20,061,612
6,886,973
M iscellaneous..................................................
4,045,628
692,529
466,367
51,468
Condensarles............................................
300,531
Bakers.......................................................
211,286
205,424
Other miscellaneous..............................
180,712
209,475
(4
1N ot including retail stocks.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1919
J anuary. July.
100.0
100.0
23.1
17.4
5.6
36.4
37.7
22.9
14.7
20.1
12.0
20.2
2. 8
30.2
45.9
10.4
10.6
4.8
1.0
.4
.3
.2
2 Figures showing retail stocks not available.
[ 112]
Janu
ary.
100.0
16.8
15.4
1.4
28.9
53.6
18.4
9.6
21.3
4.3
PRICES? AXfD COST OF LIVING.
113
Export Figures.
The export figures used in this article in Tables 2, 3, and 4 for
butter and in Tables 7, 8, and 9 for cheese have been those published
by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Depart
ment of Commerce. These figures include only the amount of butter
or cheese exported in merchant vessels. While Table 11 shows that
the total amount of both butter and cheese exported during the 12
months ending June 30 of each year, 1913 to 1919, has greatly in
creased in the 6 years, this table and the figures in the tables referred
to above take no account of the amount of butter that was sent out
of the country during the period of the war on army transports. The
amount sent on army transports, however, may be considered as
supplying home needs, as all of this amount so sent was used for our
own soldiers, with the exception of 4,970,000 pounds purchased by
the French Government. However, in Table 12 is given the monthly
amount of butter sent on army transports from June, 1917, to May,
1919. This information has been furnished by the Transportation
Service, Quartermaster Corps, of the W ar Department. Similar
information for cheese is not available, by months. However, the
Subsistence Division of the Quartermaster Corps, W ar Department,
has stated that the total amount of cheese exported in army trans
ports during 1918 was 371,252 pounds, and that the total amount
from January 1 to May 1, 1919, was 3,842,719 pounds, making a total
since the beginning of 1918 of 4,213,971 pounds.
T a b l e 1 1 .— N U M B E R OF P O U N D S OF B U T T E R A N D C H E E S E E X P O R T E D D U R
IN G T H E 12 M O N TH S E N D IN G JU N E 30 O F E A CH Y E A R , 1913 TO 1919.
Number of pounds exported in
merchant vessels.
Year ending June 30.
1013...............................................
1914...............................................
1915...............................................
1916................. .............................
1917...............................................
1918...............................................
1919...............................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[113]
Butter.
Cheese.
3,585,600
3,693,597
9,850,704
13,503,279
26,835,092
17,735,966
33,739,960
2,599,058
2,427,577
55,362,917
44,394,251
66,050,013
44,303,076
18,794,853
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
114
T able 1 2 .—N U M B E R OF PO U N D S OF B U T T E R E X P O R T E D IN ARM Y TRANSPORTS^
B Y M ONTHS, JU N E , 1917, TO MAY, 1919.
:—............. J
Month.
1917.
Number of
pounds.
Month.
62,000
June..........
Ju ly ...........
August__
September
October...
November.
December.
68,000
262,000
528.000
460.000
1918—Concluded.
J u ly ............................
August.......................
Septem ber................
October.....................
Novem ber................
December..................
1919.
1918.
154.000
672.000
1.274.000
704.000
1.312.000
1.274.000
January..
February
M arch....
April........
f a y .........
June......
Number of
pounds.
1.244.000
1.720.000
3.104.000
3.114.000
1.230.000
8.162.000
January___
February...
March.........
April............
M ay.............
4.482.000
2.788.000
862,000
1 4,850,000
2 1,090,000
Total
39,416,000
1 Includes 3,972,000 pounds purchased by the French Government.
2 Includes 998,000 pounds purchased by the French Government.
Cost of Living in Germany, 1916 to 1918.
UPPLEM ENT 21 to the bulletin of the German Bureau of
Labor Statistics contains the results of an investigation into
the cost of living of German urban families made by the war
committee on consumers’ interests.1 The investigation covers the
month of April, 1918. I t was preceded by three investigations
covering April and July, 1916, and April, 1917. The results of the
first two investigations were discussed in detail in the M o n t h l y
R ev iew of March, 1918 (pp. 13-28), and a brief account of the gen
eral results of the third investigation was given in the M o n t h l y
L a b o r R e v i e w of February, 1919 (pp. 602-603). Owing to lack of
space only a brief comparison of the general results of the first,
third, and fourth investigations can be given here.
The investigation of April, 1918, having covered families of the
same income classes as the investigations of April, 1916 and 1917,
the general results of these three investigations are comparable.
The average expenditures in April, 1918, per unit of consumption
for food, rent, clothing, fuel, light, and miscellaneous items, as com
pared with the same kind of expenditures in April, 1916 and 1917,
are shown in the following table:
1Statistisches Reichsamt, Abteilung für Arbeiterstatistik. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der
S
Lebenshaltung im vierten Kriegsjahre.
Berlin, 1919.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(21.
[114]
Sonderheft zum Reichs-Arbeitsblatt.)
m
115
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING .
A V E R A G E E X P E N D IT U R E S O F G E R M A N U R B A N F A M IL IE S P E R U N IT O F
T I O N , A P R I L , 1916, 1917, A N D 1918.1
A p ril, 1910.
A p ril, 1917.
CONSU M P
A p ril, 1918.
Ite m .
A m o u n t. P e r c en t. A m o u n t. P e r c en t. A m o u n t. P e r c e n t.
M a rk s.
F o o d ...........................................................................
F u e l a n d l i g h t . . . . .................................................
R e n t...... ....................................................................
T a x e s .........................................................................
C lo th in g , sh o es, re p a irs ......................................
L a u n d ry , s o ap , s o d a ...........................................
H o u se h o ld u te n s ils , c h in a , g la s s w a re ...........
B ooks a n d n e w s p a p e rs .......................................
C a r fa re s ...................................................................
P h y s ic ia n , m e d ic in es ..........................................
B a rb e r, b a t h s .........................................................
In s u r a n c e ................................................................
D u e s for so cieties..................................................
A m u s e m e n ts , s p o r ts ...........................................
G ifts ...........................................................................
W ages, a n d t i p s ........... ........................................
M iscellan eo u s.........................................................
T o t a l .............................................................
M a rk s.
M a rk s.
39.04
2.70
7.99
2.32
5.70
1.44
.48
.92
1.17
1.09
.39
2.25
.79
1.09
1.94
2.27
3.29
52.14
3.61
10.67
3.10
7.61
1.92
.64
1.23
1.56
1.46
.52
3.01
1.06
1.46
2.59
3.03
4.39
38.57
4.11
8.51
1.82
7.49
1.96
.99
1.78
1.18
.91
.44
1.58
.61
.36
1.72
.92
2. 63
51.03
5.44
11.26
2.41
9.91
2.59
1.31
2.36
1.56
1.20
.58
2.09
.81
.48
2.27
1.22
3.48
51.57
5. SI
8.92
2.83
18.03
2.52
1.46
2.31
1.90
1.69
.58
2.74
1.00
.69
1.78
.74
2.99
47.95
5.40
8.29
2.63
16.75
2.34
1.36
2.15
1.76
1.57
.54
2.55
74.87
100.00
75.58
100.00
107.56
100.00
.94
.64
1.65
.69
2.79
1 O w in g to t h e g re a tly d e p re c ia te d v a lu e of th e m a rk , c o n v ersio n s in to U n ite d S ta te s m o n e y a re n o t
m a d e in t h is ta b le . N o rm a lly th e v a lu e of th e m a r k is 23.8 c en ts.
According to the preceding table the average monthly expendi
tures of German urban families in April, 1918, per unit of consump
tion, amounting to 107.56 marks, show a considerable increase over
those in April, 1916 and 1917, which varied but slightly. Not only
the total expenditures have greatly increased but all individual items
of the household budgets, with the exception of wages and tips,
show an increase. Such regular increases in all items of the budgets,
which in the case of food and of clothing are very considerable, can
not be ascribed to fortuitous causes but is due to general price
conditions.
While the absolute figures merely indicate how much prices have
risen in 1918 as compared with 1916 and 1917, the relative figures
give an entirely different picture. They show that in 1918 the ex
penditures for food formed a smaller percentage of the budget than
in the two preceding years, while on the other hand expenditures for
clothing represented 16.75 per cent of the entire budget as against
7.61 and 9.91 per cent, respectively, in 1916 and 1917. A striking fact
in the average German budget shown here is that rent forms such
a relatively small percentage of the budget and that in 1918 this
percentage was even lower than in 1917. This is probably due to
energetic enforcement of legislation against rent profiteering. The
relative expenditure for fuel and lighting was practically the same in
1918 as in 1917. The average per cent of expenditure in 1918 for the
principal groups of items of cost of living of German urban families
is compared in the next table with that of white families in indus
trial centers of the United States.1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 M o n t h l y L aboe R e v ie w , August, 1910.
P. 118.
116
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
COM PARATIVE P E R CENT OF FAM ILY E X P E N D IT U R E FO R T H E SE V E R A L ITEM S OF
E X P E N S E IN GERM ANY A N D T H E U N IT E D ST A T ES IN 1918.
Per cen t of total ex
penditure.
Item .
Germany.
Food.............................................
Clothing.......................................
R en t.............................................
F u el and lig h t............................
Furniture and furnishings.. . .
Miscellaneous.............................
U nited
States.
48.0
16.7
8.3
5.4
1.4
20.2
38.2
16.6
13.4
5.3
5.1
21.3
100.0
100.0
This comparison shows that the average relative expenditure of
German families for food was much larger and that for rent and for
furniture considerably smaller than the expenditure of American
families for the same items, and that the average relative expendi
ture for clothing, fuel and light, and miscellaneous items was prac
tically the same in the case of both nations’ urban families.
The average amount and per cent of expenditure for food and the
average consumption of food per unit of consumption of German
urban families in April, 1916, 1917, and 1918, are shown in the fol
lowing table:
A V ER A G E E X P E N D IT U R E FO R A N D CONSUM PTION OF FOOD B Y GERMAN U R BA N
FA M ILIES P E R U N IT OF C O N SUM PTIO N, A P R IL , 1916, 1917, A N D 1918.
Amount of expendi
ture.
Per cent of expendi
ture.!
Consumption per
unit.
Article.
April, April, April, April, April, April, April April, April,
1916. 1917. 1918. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1916. 1917. 1918.
M aries. M a r k s . M a r k s .
Food consumed in the household:
Bread, rolls, e tc ................................. 3.44
3.51
4.28
9. 69 10.42
.85
.68
Other bakery goods, cakes, e tc ___
.82
2.02
2.39
Flour, grits, farinaceous foods, e tc . 1.48
1.97
2.08
5.85
4.17
Potatoes............................................... 2.06
3.72
1.43
5. SO 4.24
B utter, lard, margarine, o il............ 4.16
3.17
4.33 11. 72
9.42
M eat, sausage, h a m ,etc................... 6.55
7.59
7. 54 18. 46 22.53
Conserved m e a t................................. 1.18
.24
.30
3.32
.71
Fish, smoked and fresh; crabs, e tc . 1.14
1.18
3.21
1.73
3.50
F ish canned........................................
.46
.25
1.30
.74
E ggs...................................................... 2.36
2.05
6.65
3.07
6.08
Milk, fresh ........................................... 2.23
2.26
2. 89
6.28
6.70
Milk, conserved.................................
.55
.45
.40
1.55
1.34
Cheese, cottage cheese, e t c .............. 1.01
.93
1.11
2.84
2. 76
Vegetables .fresh and dried; fruit. 1.35
1.87
2.60
3.80
5.55
Canned fruits and vegetables........
.73
.65
.64
2.06
1.93
.85
.Tam, preserved fruit, e tc................. 1.02
2.95
2.87
2.52
Sugar....................................................
.77
.59
.76
1.75
2.17
Cocoa, chocolate, sw eets..................
.70
.45
.45
1.97
1.34
Snices, salt, vinegar, lem o n s..........
.57
.91
.98
1.61
2.70
Coffee, pure and in niixtures.......... 1.06
.33
2.99
.27
.98
Coffee substitutes..............................
.40
.57
.78
1.13
1.69
Nonalcoholic drinks, tea, etc..........
.42
.38
.49
1.18
1.13
Food substitu tes...............................
.34
.33
.35
.96
.98
Other foodstuffs................................
1.60
.67
1.05
1.88
3.12
T otal................................................. 35.50
Alcohol, tobacco,cigars........................... 1.53
Food and beverages consumed outside the h ou se........................................ 2.01
33.69
2.21
Grand to ta l..................................... 39.04
38.57
2.67
L b s.
9. 70
1.86
4.71
8.43
9. 81
17.08
.68
3.92
L b s.
18.31 18.53
1.03
.44
3.21
4.42
37.02 24.11
1.90
1.19
3.36
4.28
.83
.09
1.54
.89
.35
6.95 M2.00 2 7.00
6.55 3 8.45 3 8.14
.91
2.51
.80
.74
5.88
3.75
5.32
1.45
1.92
.97
6.68
1.96
1.37
1.72
2.61
1.98
1.02
.31
2.22
.61
.49
.20
1.77
.76
.88
1.11
.79
3. 64
44.14
3. 76
90.94
3.92
87.35
5.73
85.59
7.29
3.67
5.14
6.92
7.12
L bs.
19.74
.92
3.51
48.07
1.45
3.24
.54
1.71
2 8.00
3 9. 51
.87
6.31
1.78
3.38
1.86
.53
.95
51.57 100.00 100.00 100.00
1 The percentages shown for the individual food item s are based on- the total expenditure fcr food
consumed in the household and not on the grand total of the table.
2 Number,
s Quarts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
tH6]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
117
The total monthly expenditure for food per unit of consumption
fell from 39.04 marks in 1916 to 38.57 marks in 1917 and rose to 51.57
marks in 1918. In April, 1918, the expenditure for bread, potatoes,
vegetables, and jam increased considerably, and only in the case of a
few less important foodstuffs the expenditure decreased as com
pared with April, 1917. If the percentual expenditure for the indi
vidual food articles consumed in the household is considered it is
found that in 1918 the expenditure for meat, sausages, ham, etc.,
formed only 17.08 per cent as against 22.53 per cent in 1917, a fact
due to the lowering of the meat ration. The relative expenditure
for potatoes formed 4.24 per cent of the total expenditure in 1917
and 8.43 per cent in 1918, owing to the doubling of the potato ra
tion in the latter year. That for bread decreased from 10.42 per cent
in 1917 to 9.70 per cent in 1918. The expenditure for jam and pre
served fruit rose from 2.52 per cent in 1917 to 6.68 per cent in 1918,
owing to a greatly increased ration. The relative expenditures for
all other foodstuffs underwent less marked changes.
The data relating to the consumption of the individual food
stuffs show that on the whole there was a slight improvement in
April, 1918, in the food supply as compared with April, 1917. The
^consum ption of potatoes was twice as large as in 1917; that of bread
also shows an increase. Meat was practically the only important
foodstuff of which the consumption had decreased.
The present investigation has brought out the fact that the family
budgets of all income classes covered showed an excess of expendi
tures over income which had to be made up for through the spending
of former savings or the contracting of debts. In the three preceding
investigations family budgets showing a deficit were found only in
the three lowest income classes, i. e., those with incomes of under 100
marks, over 100 to 200 marks, and over 200 to 3001marks, Avhile the
investigation covering April, 1918, has revealed that households with
an income of over 300 to 400 marks had the largest deficits and that
even in households with incomes of over 40Q to 500 marks, and of
over 500 marks, the excess of expenditures over income was consider
able. The average monthly deficit per gainfully engaged person was
20.34 marks in the case of workers’ families and 49.33 marks in that
of low-salaried officials.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
tH7]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
Wages and‘Hours of Labor in W oodworking^
Industries.
N THE following tables are presented statistics concerning hours
and earnings of employees in such woodworking industries as
were included in the recent industrial survey. Comparisons
are also made with similar figures for earlier years gathered by the
Bureau in previous investigations. The particular woodworking
industries included in the survey were the manufacture of lumber,
planing-mill products (sash, doors, and blinds), and furniture. The
investigation of the furniture industry was confined to establish
ments engaged in the manufacture of plain or upholstered wooden
furniture.
In each of the three industries the attempt was made to include in
the survey a sufficient number of carefully selected establishments to
give results that could be depended on as fa'irly typical. Table 1
shows what States were included in each industry, and the number of
establishments and the number of employees in each State.
I
T able 1.—N U M B E R OF E ST A BLISH M EN TS A N D N U M B E R OF E M PL O Y EES IN
LU M BER , MILL W ORK, A N D F U R N IT U R E IN D U ST R IE S, B Y STATES.
State.
Arkansas
.
.... ... ............................
California,
............................................
FJoriria,
.....................
Oeorgia,
...........................................
Tdaho
.............
Illinois
...............................................
I n d ia n a ..............................................................
Towa
.
............................
Louisiana, ...............................................
Maine
Mar viand _
...............................................
Massachusetts
........................................
Michigan..............................................................
Minnesota,
........................................
Missi ssi ppi
Missouri*
. . .
.............
Montana
N ew Jersey
N ew Y ork...........................................................
North Carolina...................................................
Ohio..........
...............................................
Oregon
Pennsylvania.....................................................
South Carolina
Tennessee.............................................................
T exas.
Virginia ..
Washington
West Virginia .
Wisconsin............................................................
Total..........................................................
118
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
THE
Lumber industry.
Miilwork industry. Furniture industry.
Number
of es
tablish
ments.
Number
of em
ployees.
Number
of es
tablish
ments.
Number
of em
ployees.
6
6
681
1,113
936
968
614
316
15
1,004
7
262
9
295
6
610
8
8
4
206
301
213
6
8
3
8
6
1,178
438
4
6
676
805
1,291
3
459
7
681
6
7
6
8
5
9
9
8
6
1,321
'353
901
365
830
832
1,779
' 659
625
141
18,022
[ 118]
Number
of es
tablish
ments.
Number
of em
ployees.
10
10
1,006
1,364
5
8
11
230
915
2,276
8
485
92
1,167
623
459
13
3
8
555
146
343
2
14
7
10
14
466
12
968
4
119
5
497
6
859
9
1,389
105
5,379
111
11,471
119
WAGES a ÍsÍD HÔfiîtS OF LABOR.
&
Owing to the conditions under which the survey was carried out it
was impossible to obtain data for all establishments for the same pay
roll period. In normal times the spread of pay-roll periods over a
reasonable time would make comparatively little difference in the
results. At the time of the present survey, however, industry was
so unsettled and conditions were changing so rapidly that the dif
ference of two months in the time when particular establishments
were visited might make material differences in the character of the
information obtained. To assist the reader in estimating the effect
of changing conditions upon the material herewith presented, there
is shown in the following table for each industry the number of pay
roll periods falling in each month of the survey.
T able 2 .—N U M B E R OF PAY-ROLL PE R IO D S IN SPEC IFIED M ONTHS.
Industry.
Lumber.....................................................
Mill work....................................................
Furniture..................................................
^
Total
number
of pay
roll
periods. Sept.
141
105
111
Number of pay-roll periods in -
Oct.
9
1
12
1
Nov.
8
4
3
Dec.
15
45
45
Jan.
70
19
23
Feb.
Mar.
12
25
8
19
15
Apr.
4
4
In the different industries the following percentages fell within the
four months, December, January, February, and March: Sawmills,
90 per cent; planing mills, 77 per cent; furniture, 96 per cent; the
three industries combined, 87 per cent. The information is presented
as of the year 1919. In no one of the industries, so far as could be
ascertained, wTere there any changes in rates of wages during the
progress of the survey.
The information concerning hours and earnings on which Tables
4 and 5 are based was obtained directly from the pay rolls or other
records of the companies by agents of the Bureau. Other information
was obtained from responsible officials in personal interviews.
Wherever the records of the company failed to indicate the time
actually worked by piece workers during the selected pay-roll period,
arrangements were made to have such a record kept for a future
period from which the data were afterwards copied. In all cases
the figures copied by the agents represented hours actually worked
and earnings actually received.
As the material comes into the office the figures for hours and
those for earnings are both in incommensurable form on account
of inequalities in the length of pay-roll periods and in the time
worked by different individual employees. Before they can be pre
sented in tabular form it is necessary to reduce both hours and earn
ings to a common denominator. The comparable figures selected for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1191
120
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
use in Tables 4 and 5 are hours worked per day and per week, and
earnings per hour and per week. These figures are obtained in the
following manner:
The hours per day of each employee are obtained by dividing the
number of hours worked by him during the pay-roll period by the
number of week days, holidays omitted, in the pay-roll period. Thus
in the case of pay rolls for a single week containing no holiday, the
hours worked by each employee during the pay-roll period are divided
by six, whether the employee worked on each of the six days or not.
Similarly the hours actually worked by an employee in any establish
ment during a pay-roll period containing 13 workdays were divided
by 13, regardless of the number of days on which the employee
worked. The resulting figure represents the number of hours per
day that the employee would have worked, if his time had been uni
formly distributed among the week days of the pay-roll period.
All one-week pay rolls included in the survey of these industries
were six-day pay rolls. The half-monthly and monthly pay-roll
periods, however, showed considerable difference in length. Table 3
shows for each industry the number of schedules covering each speci
fied number of work days.
T able 3 .—SCHEDULE D ISTR IB U TIO N B Y N U M B E R OF W O R K D A Y S IN PAY-ROLL
PE R IO D .
Number of schedules in pay-roll period covering—
Industry.
One
week
or 6
work
days.
Two weeks, one-half month,
or—
u
work
days.
12
work
days.
13
work
days.
14
work
days.
One month or—
24
25
work work
days. days.
26
work
days.
Total
num
ber of
sched
27
work ules.
days.
Lumber..........................................
\T ill work .
Furniture
55
19
20
20
18
2
3
7
4
8
9
1
3
27
2
1
3
1
79
141
105
111
T otal...................................
209
3
59
23
19
4
10
3
27
357
By using the average number of hours per week day as a factor
it is possible to obtain a figure for the average number of hours
worked per week by multiplying that factor in every case by 6.
With one-week pay rolls the result represents approximately the
original figure for hours per week actually worked. Such variations
as are found are due to the fact that the average hours per day as
given in the table are the averages of the hours of individual em
ployees, with no weight to represent the proportion of the pay-roll
period worked by different individuals. In the case of longer pay
rolls, however, the resulting figure is hypothetical. It represents the
number of hours per week that the employees would have worked
in a six day week if their working hours had been distributed uni
formly over the week days of the entire pay-roll period.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1201
WAGES AND fitOliDS OF LABOR*
a
121
This figure of hours worked per week is no more useful for com
parisons of hours in different occupations or industries than is the
figure of hours per day. I t has the advantage, however, of enabling
comparisons to be drawn between the hours actually worked on the
average by people in each occupation and the full-time hours of the
same occupation.
By full-time hours per week is meant the number of hours that
is thought of in the occupation as constituting a normal week’s
work—the number of hours the employee regularly expects to work
and the employer expects him to work. This figure was obtained
from the officials of the various establishments by the agents of the
Bureau. The difference between average actual hours per week and
average full-time hours per week is an indication of the degree of
irregularity of employment among the employees to whom the
figures apply.
Combining hours per day or hours per week computed from the
records of one-week pay rolls with those computed from longer pay
rolls introduces a disturbing factor which must not be lost sight
of in using the figures for comparative purposes. The figures for
a group of employees computed for four weeks combined will differ
from those computed for the same group of employees for any one
of the same four weeks separately. This difference is always in the
same direction, though varying in degree. The causes of it are two
fold.
The first cause is related to the conduct of employees who remain
on the pay roll throughout the four-week period. In any one week
a certain percentage of these employees will be absent a number of
days and consequently will show abnormally low hours per day.
During the same week another group will do an unusual amount of
overtime work and will show abnormally high hours per day. But
while the percentages in these low and high groups in different weeks
will run fairly uniform, the individuals in the groups change from
week to week. The effect of this is to offset wdiolly or in part the ab
normally high attendance record of an employee in one week by a
normal or even abnormally low attendance record of the same em
ployee in the other three weeks. The corresponding effect upon the
hours per day of those with low-attendance record in any one week
need not be shown at length.
So far as persistent employees are concerned the longer the period
covered by the pay roll from which the data are obtained the smaller
will be the number of employees found in the very high and very low
hour groups and the larger the number in the intermediate groups.
This movement, however, will have comparatively little effect upon
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1211
122
MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW.
tlie final average; in fact, if the movement were perfectly symmetri
cal at both ends of the scale, the final average would remain un
affected.
The second cause is connected with the amount of labor turnover
in different establishments. The number of short-time employees
who leave permanently, and the equal number who take the places
of those who leave, may be nearly the same from week to week.
But the effect of this movement is cumulative, and will be approxi
mately twice as great in a two-week period, and four times as
great in a four-week period, as in any one of the weeks making up
these longer periods. For this effect there is no offsetting factor.
So far as this influence is concerned, therefore, the longer the pay
roll period, the lower will be the average hours per day.
For these reasons it is inadmissible to use the figures of average
hours per week day or average hours per week for very close com
parisons, without making allowance for the relative number of short
and long pay-roll periods on which the averages are based. For
practical purposes, however, the figures are sufficiently comparable
to give a fairly accurate representation of relative hours of labor
in different States, industries, or occupations, and of the percentage
of the full time of each occupation which- the employees in that
occupation actually worked.
For comparative purposes the earnings of each employee are
reduced to the form of average earnings per hour by dividing his
total earnings for the pay-roll period by the total number of hours
worked by him during the period. The resulting figure indicates
how much he would have earned each hour he worked if his earnings
had been distributed uniformly over all the hours actually worked
by him during the period.
By multiplying the average hourly earnings of a group by the pre
viously computed average hours per week worked by the same group,
a figure is obtained which represents closely the average actual weekly
earnings of the group. In the case of one-week pay rolls this process
brings us back practically to the average actual earnings for the week
as computed directly from the actual earnings of the individual
employees as reported on the schedules. For employees with longer
pay-roll periods, however, the average is not the average of what was
actually earned in any one week, but the average of what would have
been earned if they had worked the same number of hours on each
week day of the pay-roll period. In some respects it is a more
significant figure than the actual earnings for a single week; for in
general the longer the pay-roll period from which average weekly
earnings are computed, the more nearly typical may the resulting
average be assumed to be.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 122]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
♦
»
123
One other somewhat variable factor involved in the figure for
average actual weekly earnings should be pointed out. The practice
of working fewer hours on Saturday than on other week days, while
by no means universal, is widely prevalent, and the number of hours
worked on Saturday varies more or less from establishment to estab
lishment. Whenever fewer hours are worked on Saturday than on
other days the theoretical figure for actual weekly earnings described
above will express exactly what it professes to express (namely, the
amount that would have been earned in a week if the earnings had been
uniformly distributed) only in the case of employees for whom Satur
days constituted one-sixtli of the total number of days worked by
them. In all other cases the figure will vary by a few cents from
theoretical exactness. If the number of Saturdays exceeds one in
six, the computed weekly earnings will be somewhat too low; if the
number is less than one in six the earnings will be correspondingly
high. Careful experiment has shown, however, that these variations
offset one another so largely that the net result is a variation of a
cent or two at the most in the weekly average for the group, a varia
tion so slight that it may be entirely disregarded.
Average actual earnings per week in each occupation, computed as
described above, are brought into comparison in the tables with
average full-time weekly earnings in the same occupation. In a
general way the ratio of full-time earnings to actual earnings might
be expected to be identical with the ratio of full-time hours to actual
hours. As a matter of fact, however, these ratios may vary to a con
siderable extent. Actual earnings per week include the week’s share
of all extra pay for overtime and of all premiums and bonuses. Full
time earnings, on the other hand, represent what an employee can earn
by working exactly the normal full-time hours of the establishment.
The factor of extra pay for overtime, included in computing actual
hourly earnings, was in general eliminated in computing full-time
earnings. In those instances, however, which were comparatively rare
in these industries, in which the normal working day consisted of a
certain number of hours at a basic rate, and an additional hour or two
at an increased rate, the extra pay for such additional hours was in
cluded in the full-time earnings. Each bonus had to be considered
separately. Those that could be earned in regular time, as, for
example, bonuses for regularity of attendance, were included; those
that could be earned only by working overtime were excluded; while
those earned partly in regular time and partly in overtime, as indi
cated by the relative amount of overtime work performed, were dis
tributed accordingly. The result of eliminating these factors of
extra pay for overtime and bonus is to reduce the ratio of full-time
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[123]
124
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
earnings
& to actual earnings
o somewhat below the ratio of full-time
hours to actual hours.
Owing to the necessary space limitations of an article of this na
ture it is possible to present in detail only a part of the information
gathered during the survey. In the millwork industry alone are the
data presented for all occupations included in the survey. In the
other industries only those occupations have been shown in detail in
which considerable numbers of employees were found. In the fur
niture industry the occupations given separately include 8,778 em
ployees out of a total of 11,471. In the lumber industry 17,555 out of
18,022 employees are represented. In the figures for each industry as
a whole are included the data for the occupations omitted in the de
tailed tables. The details here omitted will be presented in the final
report on these industries. With the aid of the explanations already
given as to the method of constructing the tables and the uses to
which they may be put, the figures may be left to speak for
themselves.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
"W
*
[124]
♦
T a ble 4 .—A V E R A G E A C T U A L A N D E U L L -T IM E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN W O O D W O R K IN G I N D U S T R I E S , B Y O C C U P A T IO N , S E X , A N D S T A T E .
155169°—20---- 9
Lumber.
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
[125]
125
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
19.44
23.27
26.99
Lumber—Continued.
A verage a ctu a l earnings.
A verage a ctu a l hours worked.
O ccupation, sex , and S tate.
N um ber
of estab
lish
m en ts.
D uring on e p a y period.
D uring one p a y period.
N um b er
of em
p loyees.
Per
w eek
d ay.
Per
week.
Full-tim e
hours
per w eek.
W eekly
pay
periods.
B iw eekly
and sem i M onthly
m on thly
pay
periods.
pay
periods.
Per
hour
Per
week.
F u ll-tim e
earnings
per w eek .
E d g e r m e n , m a l e —Concluded.
r i 26i
F lo rid a ................................................
G eorgia................................................
I d a h o ....................................................
L ou isian a ........................................
M aine........................................
M ichigan..................; .......................
M innesota...............................
M ississip p i..........................................
M on tan a..............................................
N o rth C arolina..............................
O regon.................................................
P e n n sy lv a n ia ....................................
S ou th Carolina........................
T en n essee........................................
T e x a s ..............................................
V ir g i n i a ...,........................................
W ash in gton ............................
W est V irginia...............................
W iscon sin ...........................................
T o ta l.....................................
6
8
3
s
7
6
4
6
3
7
6
7
6
7
5
8
9
8
6
140
12
9
17
17
8
15
23
15
10
12
12
12
12
12
48.7
58.6
57.5
57.4
60.6
45.1
52.0
108.1
100.5
97.5
104.8
107.6
107.9
105.5
104.6
112.3
50.9
54.6
97.5
17
17
16
16
15
56.7
120.0
60.0
128.2
314
54.7
108.9
870
46.6
50.0
82.3
232.2
242.0
174.2
236.3
181.6
205.7
180.3
177.7
215.0
220.0
123.3
250.0
205.5
236.6
200.0
60 3
62.0
48 0
60 0
58 6
60.0
59 9
60.0
50.4
59.8
48.0
60.0
60.1
59.2
60.0
60.2
48.0
59.7
60.0
$15.82
15.76
9.5
7.6
8.9
9.9
49.8
56.4
43.2
57.0
57 4
52.2
51 0
47.4
42.6
52.2
43.2
53.4
50.9
54.6
39.0
57.0
45.6
53.4
59.4
8.4
50.4
57.5
6.5
7.4
7.0
7.1
7.1
6.3
8.4
39.0
44.4
42.0
42.6
42.6
37.8
50.4
60.1
60.0
50.8
60.4
61.4
48.0
60.0
11.05
15.28
8.3
9.4
7.2
9 5
9 6
8.7
5
7.9
7.1
8.7
7.2
8.9
8.5
9.1
8
24.66
25.17
$19.73
50.31
39.00
$75.94
78.65
99.27
42.31
53.11
40.43
96.14
90.41
80.29
105.19
51.25
83.75
51.79
135.62
90.30
19.72
42.66
48.00
58.61
21.00
77.00
51.32
112.50
145.26
113.38
52.00
20.62
49.26
30.92
16.36
16.53
18.18
20.66
$0,345
.239
.538
.425
.439
.403
.502
.379
.573
.341
.787
.454
.358
.377
.426
.354
.706
.473
.397
$17.18
13.48
23.24
24.23
25.17
21.04
25.60
17.96
24.41
17.80
34.00
24.24
18.18
20.58
16.61
20.18
32.19
25.26
23.58
$20,86
14.72
25.82
25.51
25.12
23.58
30.09
22.72
28.92
20.76
' 37.76
27.23
21.51
22.36
25.54
21.18
33.88
28.24
23.84
103.06
.450
22.68
25.30
37.79
.242
.280
.394
.249
.206
.477
.291
9.44
12.43
16.55
10.61
8.78
18.03
14.67
14.53
16.78
19.53
15.18
12.65
22.91
17.47
L a b o r e r s , m a le .
A la b a m a .............................................
A rk ansas.............................................
C alifornia............................................
F lo rid a .............
..........................
G eorgia................................................
Id a h o ....................................................
L ou isian a............................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6
6
7
6
8
3
8
1,000
'798
859
531
243
1.042
46.8
52.9
52.1
149.3
93.4
105.3
73.9
82.7
77.3
169.8
157.3
115.4
163.0
12.01
11.64
15.42
25.15
37.83
12.88
39.75
19.63
70.70
39.63
29.37
78.16
«
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
W eekly
p ay
periods.
B iw eekly
and sem i M onthly
m on thly
pay
periods.
p ay
periods.
1 26
T able 4 .—A V E R A G E A C T U A L A N D F U L L -T IM E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN W O O D W O R K IN G I N D U S T R I E S , B Y O C C U P A T IO N , S E X , A N D S T A T E —C ontd.
P
8
6
366
477
670
1,168
388
582
1,167
283
788
293
698
695
1,547
'556
521
Total.................................
141
5
7
6
4
6
3
7
6
7
6
8
5
9
9
53.8
50.7
48.7
48.6
105.8
100.4
77.1
97.2
90.3
102.7
49.0
46.4
48.5
209.5
141.6
188.3
163.8
9.0
8.7
6.9
6 .6
8 .2
53.8
52.2
41.4
39.6
39.0
48.6
34.8
49.8
49.0
43.8
85.4
48.0
34.8
39.6
49.2
50.3
60 0
60.0
48.2
50.9
59.7
48 0
60.0
60.1
58.9
60 0
60.3
47 4
59.9
60.0
7.1
42.6
6 .6
6.5
8 .1
137.5
2 1 0.2
5.8
8.3
8 .1
84.9
106.5
82.6
51.8
106.3
15,542
49.6
91.5
29
44
36
27
28
15
41
15
16
25
36
18
33
52
46.4
53.0
154.7
126.0
186.7
140.8
173.0
154.7
7.3
5.9
8 .0
5.8
18.54
20.05
14.35
|
R3 37
40.36
23.02
51.63
54.94
78.30
27.79
48 15
39.82
70 81
77.63
14.49
27 41
29.59
41.39
15.10
34.54
41 22
38 25
59! 17
74 18
68 !61
55.9
14.13
31.98-
60 0
60.0
50.7
60 1
61.4
48 0
60.0
58.9
60 0
59.9
60.0
51.3
59.5
48.0
60.0
60.2
55.6
60.0
60.6
48 0
60.0
60.0
11 25
16.89
12.26
12 73
13.66
340
316
.386
.297
472
205
518
381
*257
292
’312
!295
513
18 54
90 07
15.98
11.76
18 41
23.12
17.84
24 03
1^ 79
24 86
12 88
15 47
16 84
18 71
17.65
!-317
18 03
18 07
1? 73
12 79
11 04
14.16
17 85
15 48
15.60
63.05
.345
14.70
19.23
35.02
251
*299
440
298
9
14
9?
15
7
14
291
22 88
24 03
23 44
19.04
LLZli
M a c h in e fe e d e r s , m a le .
Alabama.....................................
Arkansas.....................................
California....................................
Florida.......................................
Georgia.......................................
Idaho..........................................
Louisiana....................................
Maine..........................................
Michigan.....................................
Minnesota......... .........................
Mississippi..................................
Montana.....................................
North Carolina...........................
Oregon........................................
Pennsylvania.............................
South Carolina...........................
Tennessee...................................
Texas........... .............................
Virginia.....................................
Washington................................
West Virginia.............................
Wisconsin...................................
Total.................................
6
6
6
7
2
8
7
4
4
6
3
5
6
5
5
52.4
48.1
53.2
55.0
47.0
57.1
57.3
10
132.2
6.3
70.4
78.5
76.4
196.7
233.0
8.3
8.7
103.9
5.0
116.5
107.0
90.7
216.8
181.9
227.6
172.4
116.3
92.1
115.6
182.2
250.0
105.2
121.3
6
6
32
9
38
31
89
18
26
40.0
116.8
120
668
54.0
99.1
6
8
11
7
41
16
9
60.0
56.7
2
5
7
9
58.7
58.1
55.4
94.8
98.6
85.3
8.9
37.8
49.2
49.8
52.2
39.6
30.0
51.6
55.0
53.4
46.2
48.6
40.8
57.6
42.0
57.6
58.7
58.1
39.0
54.0
39.0
48.6
53.4
11.25
40.15
178.1
7.8
46.8
56.5
16.38
38.33
143.2
7.1
9.4
7.9
9.7
42.6
56.4
47.4
58.2
60.0
60.0
53.3
60.0
46.00
48.17
8 .2
6 .8
8 .6
123.4
247.0
165.5
208.8
9.2
8.9
7.7
8.1
6 .8
9.6
7.0
9.6
9.8
9.7
6.5
9.0
6.5
8.1
10 27
11.35
16.99
20.77
19.94
16.96
16.81
17.47
19.27
18.34
30.88
49.25
12 61
37 81
92 77
68.16
*201
51.34
34.96
54 99
48.29
104 41
34 09
27.58
48.73
37 53
83.37
92 05
83! 32
488
313
277
350
!396
.321
486
285
587
419
*298
333
342
!327
558
290
81.05
2 1 .0 0
38 79
44.40
30.30
79 35
65!85
73.25
83.79
110.00
49
15 08
17 92
71
21
21 92
56
96
64
12 27
23 41
10 15
20 77
18 69
18.30
15.60
19 83
22 18
24 05
24 13
17 47
17 90
18 75
22 QO
20 06
23.95
19.29
23 92
17 70
28 17
25 14
17 94
18 *8
20 54
.'336
19 27
13 34
17.66
21 70
19 25
17 ! 94
19.83
26 81
23 74
20.16
.390
18.25
21.13
781
33 27
[768
43 22
36 78
46! 09
46 88
40 06
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
Maine..........................................
Michigan.....................................
Minnesota...................................
Mississippi..................................
Montana.....................................
North Carolina...........................
Oregon........................................
Pennsylvania............................
South Carolina...........................
Tennessee...................................
Texas..........................................
Virginia......................................
Washington................................
West Virginia.............................
Wisconsin...................................
*
S a w y e r s , b a nd, m a le.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4
57.4
123.9
120.3
184.5
270.0
44.90
90.53
88.31
113.28
140 48
216.00
776
! 792
47.85
127
Alabama.....................................
Arkansas....................................
California...................................
Florida.......................................
T able 4 .—A V E R A G E A C T U A L A N D F U L L -T IM E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S I N W O O D W O R K IN G IN D U S T R IE S , B Y O C C U P A T IO N , S E X , A N D S T A T E —C on td .
^
Lumber—Concluded.
00
A verage a ctu a l earnings.
A verage actu a l hours w orked.
Occupation, sex, and State.
N um ber
of estab
lish
m ents.
D uring one p a y period.
D uring one p a y period.
N um ber
of em
ployees.
W eekly
Pay
periods.
B iw eekly
and sem i M onthly
m on thly
pay
periods.
pay
periods.
Per
w eek
day.
Per
week.
Full-tim e
hours
per week.
W eekly
pay
periods.
B iw eekly
and sem i M onthly
m on thly
Pay
pay
periods.
periods.
Per
hour.
Per
w eek.
Fu ll-tim e
earnings
per w eek.
S a w y e r s , b a n d , m a l e —Concluded.
Georgia................................................
Id a h o ..................................................
L ou isian a............................................
M aine...................................................
Michigan.............................................
M innesota...........................................
M ississippi..........................................
M ontana..........................................
N orth Carolina..........................
Oregon.................................
P en n sylvan ia ....................................
S outh Carolina.............. ..............
T en n essee.....................................
T ex a s...................................................
V irginia...............................................
W ashin gton .......................................
W est V irginia....................................
W iscon sin ...................................
T otal.........................................
3
3
5
5
5
4
4
3
6
5
6
8
4
9
8
8
6
120
4
60.0
13
7
58.1
58.4
10
12
14
9
9
10
10
10
13
11
14
15
12
20
12
249
120.0
104.0
60.0
65.0
59.6
109.9
126.0
86.0
115.0
107.8
122.4
52.4
54.7
105.0
58.4
120.0
66.5
60.0
130.8
57.3
113.1
$66.00
100.88
$156.00
157.00
66.64
109.67
71.26
105.77
205.43
188.85
200.34
9.9
7.2
9.7
9.7
7.9
9.9
7.6
8.3
9.9
7.9
9.9
8.7
9.1
7.3
9.7
7.2
59.4
43 2
58 1
58.4
47.9
59.4
45.6
49 8
59 4
47 4
59.4
52.4
54.6
43.8
58.2
43.2
48.0
60.6
60.0
48.0
60.0
58.4
60.0
59.9
60.0
51.3
59.5
48.0
60.0
60.2
58.8
60.0
60.2
48.0
59.3
60.0
$48.00
39.00
84.10
202.7
8 .7
52.2
57.5
41.96
85.1 5
158.5
8.0
48.0
54.0
44.4
52.2
55.8
45.0
55.8
60.0
60.0
52.7
60.6
61.5
48 0
60.0
17.36
23.33
240.0
180.0
160.3
261.7
222.2
212.4
207.5
247.8
240.0
150.8
250.0
202.9
211.9
8.0
10.1
«
55.03
36.83
54.00
42.57
36.53
73.50
121.04
74.83
37.02
34.72
35.46
86.45
. 0Q
81.24
66
251.28
157.24
144.00
110.03
137.50
195.64
137.40
161.82
$0.700
.892
.950
.632
.625
.853
.817
.942
.618
1.160
.618
.701
.634
.799
.600
1.029
.645
,641
$41.58
38.53
55.03
36.83
29.63
50.67
37.26
46.91
36.71
54.98
36.71
37.02
34.62
35.00
34.92
44.45
30.96
38.84
$42.00
42.82
56.97
36.25
36.32
51.11
49.03
48.43
36.86
55.67
37.08
42.15
37.38
47.93
35.92
49.39
38.54
38.47
.768
40.09
43.69
.331
.370
.481
.354
.276
557
.412
15.89
19. 98
21.36
18 48
15.40
25 07
22.99
19.87
22.17
24.99
02
16.89
20 72
24.72
S e tt e r s , m a l e .
A labam a.............................................
A rkansas.............................................
California.......................................... .
F lorid a.................................................
Georgia................................................
Id a h o ...............................................
L ou isian a............................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
6
6
7
6
8
3
8
12
11
10
8
57.1
58.3
23
14
15
55.5
56.8
55.5
115.1
127.2
107.7
104.0
133.5
173.4
8
240.0
187.8
220
9.0
7.4
8.7
9.3
7.5
9.3
II
20 54
15.87
22.66
41 49
52.58
28.28
57 89
60.10
85.78
74.17
84.00
104.59
21
g
o
H
w
tT
ed
t-<
C
w
w
<1
ii
3
«
7
6
4
6
3
7
6
7
6
8
5
9
9
8
6
12
14
16
14
19
13
12
11
11
11
11
17
24
19
14
60.0
Total.......................................
141
311
54.5
A ll occupations, United S ta te s..
141
18,022
50.3
55.2
58.3
59.5
49.4
59.1
50.2
49.4
111.8
119.0
95.2
115.5
105.5
98.3
118.1
120.0
87.5
118.5
9.2
8.5
8.6
8.7
7.5
8.4
7.1
8.6
9.8
8.4
7.5
8.4
8.3
9.3
55.2
51.0
51.6
52.2
45.0
50.4
42.6
51.6
59.1
50.4
45.0
50.4
42.0
51.6
55.8
58.7
60.0
59.9
60.0
52.1
59.5
48.0
60.0
60.1
58.8
60.0
60.2
48.0
59.7
60.0
24.00
47.83
194.4
8.3
49.8
57.0
20.43
48.33
99.34
159.3
7.2
43.2
59.1
15.05
34.1
67.70
7.3
8.6
7.4
8.9
7.8
8.1
8.9
8.0
8.2
8.0
8.2
7.7
8.9
43.8
51.6
44.4
53.4
46.8
48.6
53.4
48.0
49.2
48.0
49.2
46.2
53.4
46.5
56.2
48.9
57.6
47.9
51.1
58.1
48.7
53.4
52.2
52.6
51.5
58.1
$28.33
22.75
21.80
21.01
24. 78
20.27
19. 83
23. 02
2 1 . 63
$61.95
$87.76
191.3
203.8
250.3
193.4
168.3
260.5
235.0
126.1
250.0
183.7
230.3
22.20
30.15
20.52
16.52
46.25
63.00
36.90
38.93
62.88
48.05
21.63
18.32
17.99
49.99
48.00
52.50
88.26
109.72
112.03
116.24
101.45
121.90
82.25
48.03
100.00
107.27
108.66
22 20
21.62
27.24
20.15
9.7 no
16! 48
25.52
25.08
21.63
18.35
18.05
18.30
24.82
23 94
22.10
19. 79
28.76
29.15
21 91
21.42
24.05
21.01
28.39
27 54
23.79
.446
22.21
25.95
.360
15.55
20.03
$0.625
428
483
$27.38
22 60
91 45
$33. 02
24. 54
23. 40
*>31
435
373
481
241
94 85
21 14
IQ Q2
.404
.424
.528
.386
.602
.327
.599
.486
.336
.354
.401
.303
.591
.464
.393
93 OP
24 ! 73
31.59
23.13
Millwork.
[129]
B e n c h h a n d s, m a le .
California............................
Georgia................................
Illinois..................................
Iow a......................................
Massachusetts.....................
Michigan..............................
Minnesota............................
New Y ork...........................
North Carolina..................
Ohio......................................
Pennsylvania.....................
Tennessee............................
Wisconsin............................
14
7
9
6
8
8
4
13
3
8
14
T otal.........................
132
55
42.4
51. 8
105.0
122
45.5
5 3 .9
8X0
105.2
189.9
6
13 i
72
54
65
231
35
100
143
35
196
46.7
52.7
51.2
48.3
53.4
49.1
50.8
46.1
58.4
104
1,374
49.3
100.9
189.9
8.2
49.2
52.5
2 2 .5 7
15
7
489
113
51
210
26
150
51
42.2
41.3
47.6
52.7
47.1
48.7
52.7
84.2
164.3
75.2
109.7
7.1
7.4
7.6
8.9
7.8
7.8
8.9
42.6
44.4
45.6
53.4
46.8
46.8
53.4
47.8
56.1
48.9
58.6
47.6
51.6
58.5
18.06
10 67
14.71
15.21
15.32
15. 75
15.31
4
91.7
103.6
94.5
81.6
95.3
108.3
2 1 .15
22 51
IP 4p
19 ! 59
44.47
43.07
21 1 5
42.05
39.56
22 09
29 01
52.04
45.14
.447
37.25
.343
18.32
460
420
16 78
2l! 46
22 03
41.58
87.76
,451
22.19
37.20
62. 75
.424
245
*20Q
985
395
9Q1
267.
18.06
10 88
14 P9
15 22
15 21
13 62
14! 26
9Z
9. A r
Z
25. 36
9 96 . 44
AA
Z
■41. 04
23.18
Io. 45
23.34
■¿9. Q(J
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
Maine...............................................
Michigan...........................................
Minnesota........................................
Mississippi.......................................
Montana............... ..........................
North Carolina................................
Oregon...............................................
Pennsylvania................................ .
South Carolina................................
Tennessee.........................................
Texas................................................
Virginia.............................................
W ashington.....................................
West Virginia..................................
W isco n sin .....,..* .........................
Z i. 00
18.89
23.48
L a b o re rs, m a le .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9
6
7
8
4
88.3
104.6
21 18
30.54
25.50
26.01
20.23
IQ 7/ O
£
XO.
110r;. h
uq
o
16 31
I O . m4
15 85
15.54
129
California.............................
Georgia................................
Illinois..................................
Iowa......................................
Massachusetts.....................
Michigan............... ..............
Minnesota............................
Millwork—Concluded.
Average actual earnings.
Average actual hours worked.
Occupation, sex, and State.
Number
of estab Number
of em
lish
ments. ployees.
During one pay period.
,
During one pay period.
Per
week
day.
Per
week.
Full-time
hours
per week.
Weekly
pay
periods.
Biweekly
and semi Monthly
monthly
Pay
periods.
pay
periods.
Per
hour.
Per
week.
Full-time
earnings
per week.
Laborers, m a le — Concluded.
£130]
New York........................................
North Carolina................................
Ohio................................................
Pennsylvania..................................
Tennessee.........................................
Wisconsin........................................
13
3
8
13
4
5
100
58
83
120
42
260
49.3
50.1
49. 8
48. 9
49.4
57.6
102.9
T otal......................................
102
1, 756
48.5
93.6
California..........................................
Georgia.............................................
Illinois...............................................
Iowa..................................................
Massachusetts..................................
Michigan............. ' ...........................
Minnesota..............
.............
New York........................................
North Carolina................................
Ohio....................
.................
Pennsylvania..............................
Tennessee.........................................
Wisconsin.........................................
15
7
9
6
8
8
4
13
3
8
14
4
6
337
94
119
199
108
92
91
224
53
142
202
42
321
42.9
51.3
44.9
54.5
45.2
54.7
54.2
49.1
52.8
49.3
52.1
49.5
58.3
84.7
107.8
Total......................................
105
2,024
49.3
100.9
8.2
6. 7
83
8.1
8.3
8.6
49.2
40 2
49 8
48 6
49. 8
51.6
52 7
51 7
50 8
54 2
51. 2
57.9
$14.53
12. 81
14. 72
13.97
13.45
27.58
164.3
7.9
47.4
53.1
14.74
29.89
188.5
7.1
8.6
7.3
9.2
7.5
8.6
9.0
8.2
7.3
8.2
8.3
8.3
8.9
42.6
51.6
43.8
55.2
45.0
51.6
54.0
49.2
43.8
49.2
49.8
49.8
53.4
47.0
56.0
49.0
58.0
47.6
54.1
58.1
50.5
52.1
51.6
53.0
52.0
57.9
26.60
20. 43
21.71
20.59
22.80
21.19
20.42
22.52
16.09
20. 75
24. 46
19. 47
18.24
43.84
8.2
49.2
52.8
22.13
75. 7
94 7
96. 2
$. 296
.257
.301
.320
.283
.257
$14.56
10.33
14.99
15.55
14. 09
13. 26
$15.71
13.26
15.31
17.14
14.40
14.56
$62. 75
.321
15. 22
16.69
83.22
.563
.408
.486
.388
.504
.396
.360
.467
.310
.433
.450
.391
.325
23. 98
21.05
21.29
21.42
22.68
20. 43
19. 44
21.86
13.58
21.30
22.41
19. 47
17.36
26.25
22.84
23.56
22.04
23.94
21.42
20.83
23.21
16.13
22.17
23.55
20.25
18.01
83. 22
.435
21.40
22.34
$19.58
.85- 71
31.08
M a c h in e h a n d s , m a le.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
73.4
113.7
98.7
106.3
81.0
100.8
96.3
188.5
«
36.17
46.08
39.21
36.92
26.46
58.45
41.90
35.62
39.02
«
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Weekly
pay
periods.
Biweekly
and semi Monthly
monthly
pay
periods.
pay
periods.
ISO
T able 4.—AVERAGE ACTUAL AND FULL-TIME H O U R S AND EARNINGS IN WOODWORKING IN D U STR IES, BY OCCUPATION, SE X , AND STATE—Contd.
•
«
*
L a b o re rs, fe m a le .
Iow a...............................................
W isconsin......................
Other States...................
3
3
6
67
82
76
56.0
51.1
48.3
107.2
91.3
89.3
180.3
9.1
7.9
7.4
54. 6
47.4
44.4
60.0
55.5
49.5
11.97
9.46
11.44
24.34
17. 79
23.82
57.05
.222.
.185
.272
12.12
8. 77
12.08
13.02
10.05
13. 47
T otal......................................
12
225
52.8
96.9
180.3
8.1
48.6
54.7
11.27
20.93
57.05
.225
10.94
12.20
A ll occuoations, m ale...................
All occupations, female.................
105
12
5,154
225
49.1
52.8
97.8
96.9
174.5
180.3
8.1
8.1
48.6
48.6
52.8
54.7
20. 24
11.27
35. 73
20.93
71.68
57.05
.401
.225
19. 49
10.94
20. .36
12.20
A ll occupations, male and female
105
5,379
49.2
97.8
175.0
8.1
48.6
52.9
20.05
34.71
70.39
.393
19.10
20.63
52.8
53.4
52.2
43.2
51.0
54.0
52.2
51.6
54.6
54.6
52.2
52.8
48.0
56.8
57.9
55.9
46.8
54.6
56.7
54.9
53.3
56.0
57.5
55.8
59.2
48.0
$21.03
19. 39
22.82
22. 89
21.80
19.10
20.35
18.59
20.97
20.02
20.53
18.58
23.88
$46.30
43.10
26.25
$0,423
.383
.390
.531
.436
.'377
.390
.332
.391
.347
.399
.327
.498
$22.33
20.45
20.36
22.89
22.24
20.36
20.35
17.13
21.35
18.95
20.53
17.27
23.88
$24.02
22.18
23.31
24.57
23.77
21.33
21.36
17. 72
21.77
19.94
22.07
19.37
23.88
22. 05
Furniture.
*
142
153
39
122
213
75
158
54
40
132
72
231
18
55.0
53.8
51.9
43.3
52.1
53.6
52.2
57.8
57.5
54.7
51.9
48.6
48.0
T otal......................................
89
1,449
51.6
108.0
8.6
51.6
55.7
20.64
40.48
.396
20.43
Illin o is.............................................
Indiana.............................................
Maryland.........................................
Massachusetts.................................
Michigan...........................................
Missouri....................................
N ew Jersey......................................
N ew Y ork........................................
North Carolina................................
Ohio...........................................
Pennsylvania..................................
Tennessee............... ..............
W isconsin....................................
10
10
5
8
11
8
2
14
7
9
12
5
9
167
239
58
118
459
90
18
238
98
86
209
79
240
50.9
54.4
48.6
48.7
51.1
52.7
55.0
51.6
55.0
47.5
53.6
48.4
46.4
105.2
104. 9
116.9
50.4
53.4
49.8
48.6
49.8
52. 8
55.2
51.0
42.0
49. 8
53. 4
48.6
53.4
57.0
58. 5
55. 2
52. 6
54. 0
55. 7
55. 3
56.0
52.6
53 6
57.3
55. 9
59.0
’ 18.61
17. 28
18. 92
19. 39
19. 05
19.02
24. 73
20.02
13.21
16 16
19. 05
14 34
17.24
48 09
27 73
27.19
421
21 22
115.3
8.4
8.9
8.3
8.1
8. 3
8-8
9.2
8.5
7.0
8.3
8.9
8.1
8.9
T otal......................................
110
2,099
51.2
104.6 .................
8.5
51.0
55.9
18.55
LI8IJ
10
10
5
3
8
7
12
4
6
10
5
8
1
F in is h e r s , m a le .
100.8
116.4
'
110.8
91.1
113.2
113.9
100.3
86.3
121.1
108.5
8.8
8.9
8.7
7.2
8.5
9.0
8.7
8.6
9.1
9.1
8.7
8.8
8.0
.
45.61
60.28
37.43
43. 98
34.92
34.83
39. 98
403
362
456
*387
! 281
20 02
111 80
14.78
35.03
28Q
1322
17.19
19.01
36.83
.358
18. 26
19.98
24.93
50 40
33.32
19 02
131
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
106.3
102.1
98.6
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
C a b in e tm a k e r s , m a le .
Illinois...............................................
Indiana.............................................
Maryland.........................................
Massachusetts.................................
Michigan...........................................
Missouri............................................
N ew Y ork........................................
m- North Carolina................................
O hio..................................................
iZj Pennsylvania..................................
Tennessee.........................................
W isconsin........................................
Other States....................................
F u r n i ture —C o n tin u e d .
Average actual eAnings.
Average actual hours worked.
Occupation, sex, and State.
Number
of estab Number
of em
lish
ments. ployees.
During one pay period.
During one pay period.
Per
week
day.
Per
week.
Full-time
hours
per week.
L a b o r e r s , m a le .
[132]
Illin ois
Indiana,
Maryland
Mass ach ii setts
Michigan
Mi spon ri
]NJp,'WrJersey
N p,w V ork
N orfh Carolina
13.20
14.84
43.02
31.49
28.26
.389
.314
,384
.402
.401
.356
.502
.354
.297
.361
.357
20.54
17.52
20.51
20.81
19.40
19.50
24.81
19.32
13.54
18.63
19.06
22.01
18.23
21.31
21.63
21.61
20.03
25.50
20.18
15. 44
20.16
20. 40
56.0
13.64
8.8
9.3
8.9
8.7
8. 1
9.1
8.2
9.0
7.6
8.6
8.9
52.8
55.8
53.4
52.2
48.6
54.6
49.2
54.0
45.6
51.6
53.4
57.0
58.0
56.0
54.3
54.0
56.3
50.9
56.2
51.9
55.8
57.2
20.23
18.38
22.76
20.81
21.29
19.50
24.81
19.32
14.10
18.43
19.63
111
1,835
50.5
99.7
10
10
225
323
55
292
539
146
25
318
205
148
219
55.6
52.9
52.3
51. 7
54.9
49. 2
54.5
52.6
49.7
54.2
107.1
111. 1
105.0
88.5
116.3
85.7
.265
49.8
108.3
T otal......................................
Ohio
Pennsylvania,
Tennessee
98.5
26.72
8.3
W isconsin.......................................
g
u
g
27.63
44.4
48.6
44.4
48.6
51.6
2
14
7
10
X2
5
9
8.4
8.5
8.5
8.6
7 .9
8.9
9.3
8.6
7.4
8.1
7.4
8.1
8.6
50.4
51.0
51.0
51.6
47.4
53.4
55.8
*
Full-time
earninge
per week
$18.27
13.13
13.36
17.67
16.14
13.80
14.12
14.94
11.89
14.36
14.98
12.61
14.39
$34.00
24.17
20.52
100.3
99.4
99.7
Per
week.
$16.23
11.42
11.93
16.82
14.27
13.11
14.11
13.88
9.90
12.44
11.59
10. 97
13.31
$15.49
12.09
13.53
16.82
15.31
13.11
14.11
13.88
9.20
11.27
12.33
10.97
13.17
52.3
51.3
52.1
51.3
49. 4
53.7
55.8
52.6
51.5
46.5
44.5
48.8
47.4
Per
hour.
$0.322
.224
.234
.326
.301
.246
.258
.263
.223
.256
.261
.224
.258
56.8
58.7
57.2
54.3
53.8
56.5
55.9
56.2
53.3
56.2
57.4
56.6
55.9
162
381
42
156
330
102
7
132
128
65
92
in
187
10
10
5
Biweekly
Weekly and semi Monthly
monthly
pay
pay
periods.
periods.
pay
periods.
29.18
20.37
33.54
17.74
M a c h in e h a n d s , m a le .
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Massaeh ii sett S
Miehigan
g
Mjssonn
"New Terse y
"New "York
TCrvrfh Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania ..................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
11
7
2
14
6
10
12
98.3
94. 2
118.0
105.0
«
38.86
28.48
42.83
32.84
«
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW
Biweekly
Weekly and semi Monthly
monthly
pay
pay
periods.
periods.
pay
periods.
132
T able 4 .—AVERAGE ACTUAL AND FULL-TIM E HOURS AND EARNINGS IN WOODWORKING IN D U STR IES, BY OCCUPATION, SE X , AN D STATE—Contd.
ê
«
Tennessee..
Wisconsin..
5
8
115
366
51.3
46.2
116.2
8.6
8.9
51. 6
53.4
56.0
59.1
18.37
17.11
34.18
.354
.310
18. 37
16.55
19. 72
18.25
Total.
108
2,976
53.0
105.6
8.7
52.2
56.0
19.68
35.80
.349
18.22
20.05
5
2
2
5
6
6
3
147
25
16
22
24
78
19
18
50.9
48.5
47.3
46.4
53.3
48.0
93.2
8. 4
8.1
7.9
7.7
8. 8
8.0
7.5
7. 9
8. 6
8. 7
8.4
50. 4
48.6
47. 4
46.2
52 8
48 0
45.0
47. 4
51 6
52. 2
50. 4
54.3
57. 0
52 0
50.0
53. 8
57.3
50.5
53.3
55 7
53. 7
53.5
25.52
19. 74
31.60
28. 97
21.50
21.30
45.34
.499
.397
.671
.621
. 409
.445
.350
.439
.450
.463
.493
25.15
19. 74
31. 60
28. 97
21.60
21.30
15.75
20. 81
23.22
24.17
24.22 ,
27 08
22.57
34. 87
30.59
21. 98
25.28
17.68
23.39
25.05
24. 87
25.87
U pholsterers, m a le.
Total....................
3
2
48
17
45. 4
50.0
50. 6
50.5
112.0
96.9
128.0
109.5
111.5
20. 98
20.99
25.34
24.22
46.67
34.37
44.19
54.00
37.18
44
419
49.4
102.1
8.2
49.2
54.4
24.18
41.38
.476
23.42
25.86
111
10,556
51.7
104.5
8.5
51.0
55.2
18. 70
35.20
.349
17.80
19.39
Illinois................................
Indiana..............................
Massachusetts..................
Michigan............................
Missouri.............................
New York.........................
Pennsylvania...................
Tennessee.........................
Other States.....................
4
5
4
6
2
3
5
2
3
16
22
6
86
3
22
30
10
9
53.4
53.8
51.8
50.2
47.2
53.7
43.9
42.4
50.0
89.4
108.6
48.6
54. 0
51. 6
48.6
47.4
51.0
43. 8
42.6
52.8
51. 9
59.2
53.0
53. 9
53.7
54.0
54.0
56.2
54.2
14. 76
11.51
13.62
12.59
10.35
12.49
11.00
8. 40
11.50
21.94
18.77
119.7
8. 1
9.0
8.6
8.1
7. 9
8.5
7.3
7.1
8.8
18.63
.270
. 198
.267
.244
.217
.233
.246
.200
.164
13.12
10. 69
13.62
11.86
10.35
12.49
11.00
8. 40
8.66
14.01
11.70
13.98
13.17
11.63
13.37
13.29
11.16
8.91
T otal.......................
34
204
49.3
101.0
8.1
48.6
54.4
12.01
21.35
.235
11.42
12. 78
Illinois................................
Indiana..............................
Massachusetts..................
Michigan............................
Missouri.............................
New Y ork.........................
Pennsylvania...................
Tennessee.................... .
W isconsin.........................
Other States.....................
4
4
2
7
2
2
8
2
3
1
9
73
8
90
10
12
52
11
33
3
54.5
47.6
48.4
44.9
51.5
49.0
48.9
99.2
104.0
8.1
8.8
7.9
7.6
7.5
8.6
7.8
8.2
7.8
8.0
48.6
52. 8
47.4
45.6
45.0
51.6
46.8
49.2
46.8
48.0
51.9
59.8
54.0
54.0
50.3
54.0
-54.1
56.1
55.0
48.0
10.01
9.36
10. 91
8.83
11.47
10.52
8.00
24.22
17.53
13.80
.245
.174
.198
.210
.195
.223
.208
.166
.155
.288
11.93
9.19
9.36
9.58
8.83
11.47
9.73
8.00
8.13
13.80
12.72
10.39
10.69
11.36
9. 70
12.03
11.24
9.30
9.50
13. 81
T otal.......................
35
301
49.5
8.0
48.0
55.4
10.35
All occupations, male__
ISSU
F in is h e r s , f e m a l e .
' 96.2
22.75
L a b o re rs, fe m a le .
76.4
104.2
48.0
98.0
........................... I
17.24
12.75
16.25
17.40
I ............................
.195
9.36
10. 79
133
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
88.9
WAGES AND HOURS OE LABOR.
Illinois...........................
Indiana................ ..........
Maryland.......................
Massachusetts................
Michigan........................
New York.......................
North Carolina...............
Ohio...............................
Pennsylvania................
Wisconsin......................
Other States..................
Furniture—Concluded.
Average actual earnings.
Average actual hours worked.
Occupation, sex, and State.
Number
of estab Number
of em
lish
ments. ployees.
During one pay period.
During one pay period.
Per
week
day.
Per
week.
Full-time
hours
per week.
Weekly
pay
periods.
Biweekly
and semi Monthly
monthly
pay
periods.
pay
periods.
Per
hour.
Per
week.
Full-time
earnings
per week.
M a c h in e h a n d s , fe m a le .
[134]
Indiana.....................................
Massachusetts.................................
Michigan.........................................
New York.............................
Pennsylvania................................
Other States.........................
2
2
3
6
4
2
•
33
!2
44
17
15
7
54.0
47.2
46.7
52.7
48.8
54.0
106.2
103.0
108. 5
8.9
7.9
7.9
8.5
8.3
9.0
53.4
47.4
47.4
51.0
49.8
54.0
59.8
54.0
52.9
54.0
54.3
54.0
$11.88
11.98
. 14.20
13.94
13.39
15.60
$18.96
23.17
20.62
$0.180
.254
.211
.263
.265
.289
$9.61
11.98
11.42
13. 94
13.39
15. 60
$10.77
13.73
12.76
14. 93
14.36
15.62
T otal......................................
19
128
54.6
104.7
8.3
49.8
55.1
13.66
21.02
.235
11.70
12.95
A ll occupations, female.................
A ll occupations, male and female.
60
111
915
11,471
49.0
51.4
101.0
104.3
8.1
8.5
48.6
51.0
54.9
55.2
11.10
18.05
19.37
34.08
.214
.338
10.40
17.24
11.72
18.78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
#
«
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Weekly
pay
periods.
Biweekly
and semi Monthly
monthly
pay
penods.
pay
periods.
134
Table 4.—AVERAGE ACTUAL AND FULL-TIME HOURS AND EARNINGS IN WOODWORKING INDUSTRIES, BY OCCUPATION, SEX, AND STATE-Contd.
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR.
135
The woodworking industries here considered are noteworthy for
the small number of female employees engaged in them. No women
were found engaged in the manufacture of lumber. In planing mills
there were 225 females out of a total of 5,379 employees. In the
furniture industry 915 female employees were found in a total of
11,528 employees; female employees therefore constituted 7.9 per
cent of the total number included in the survey of this industry. In
1915, the date of the last previous investigation of the industry by
the' Bureau, the corresponding figures were 325 in a total of 25,576, or
a trifle over 1| per cent.
In 1919 the 915 female employees in the furniture industry were
found in five occupations, and constituted 10.5 per cent of the total
number in these occupations. The occupations, the number of
women in each occupation, and the percentage which females consti
tute of the entire number of employees in the occupation are as fol
lows:
T able 5 — N U M B E R A N D PE R CENT OF FEM ALES IN THE FU R N IT U R E IN D U ST R Y .
Females.
Occupation.
Total
employees.
Number.
Finishers...........................
Laborers.................................... .
Machine han ds............ .............................
Sanders, h an d ......................................
Veneerers..................................
Total.................
2,136
3,104
739
420
301
128
248
8,702
915
Per cent.
14 1
4.1
33 6
8.1
10 5
lo r only three of these occupations, namely, finishers, laborers,
and machine hands, are detailed figures given in the general table
just presented. The following brief analysis includes as well the
two occupations, hand sanders and veneerers, previously omitted.
The earnings of female employees in the different occupations are
from 7 to 12 cents per hour below those of males in corresponding
occupations. In general, the larger the percentage of females in an
occupation the lower the earnings of both males and females and
the smaller the difference between the two figures. These facts may
be clearly brought out by grouping the occupations according to the
proportion of women in them and comparing the average wages of
men and women in the different groups. The results of such pro
cedure are herewith shown.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
136
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
T able 6 ^ -H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S B Y OCCUPATIONS C LASSIFIED ACCORDING TO
PER C ENTA G E OF FEM A LES.
Number of—
Per cent
of
females.
Number of occupations.
Males.
Employees. Females.
Three occupations w ith 1 to 10 per cent fem ales---Two occupations w ith 10 to 50 per cent fem ales-----
2,769
5,827
2,875
366
549
Average hourly
earnings.
6.3
19.1
0.407
.352
.274
Females.
0.235
.200
Wages of men and women in different occupations, therefore, seem
to vary inversely as the proportion of women in the occupations,
whether because the women more easily find an entrance into the
lowT-paid occupations, or because the entrance of women into an occu
pation tends to lower the scale of wages in that occupation. Prob
ably both influences are at work, the one enhancing the effect of the
other.
On their face the figures for the earnings of men and women re
spectively in the furniture industry seem to furnish an illustration
of the generally accepted view that women are paid less than men
for the same kind and amount of work. A further analysis of the
figures, however, on the basis of the respective earnings of male and
female piece and time workers, seems to point to a different con
clusion. The details of the analysis require too much space for a
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w article.
They will be given in full in the
forthcoming Bulletin dealing with those industries. They may be
summarized as follows:
Whether we include figures from all establishments in which the
five occupations under consideration were found, or only those from
establishments in which both males and females were found in the
several occupations, or, finally, only those from establishments in
which both male and female piece and time workers were found, the
earnings of male piece workers are found to exceed those of female
piece workers more than the earnings of male time workers exceed
those of female time workers. The last basis of comparison may be
considered the most reliable, in spite of the fact that it very much
reduces the numbers included, since it also diminishes the proba
bility that the differences discovered are due to other causes than
the sex of the employees or the method of wage payment.
Establishments with both male and female piece and time workers
were found for only two occupations, finishers and machine hands.
The data from these establishments is presented in the following
table :
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
*
137
T able 7 .—MALE AN D FEM ALE PIECE A N D TIME W O RKERS, IDEN TIC A L E ST A BLISH
M ENTS.
Males.
Occupation.
Piece.
Num
ber.
m
Females.
Time.
Earn
ings.
Num
ber.
Piece.
Earn
ings.
N um
ber.
Time.
Earn
ings.
N um
ber.
Earn
ings.
Finishers.....................................
Machine hands...........................
110
27
$0. 482
.409
125
89
$0,327
.390
27
20
$0.266
.237
16
11
$0. 216
.205
T otal.................................
137
.468
214
.353
47
.254
27
.212
The female timeworkers whose record is summarized in the table
just presented were paid wages averaging 14.1 cents less per hour
than the male timeworkers in the same occupations. Apparently,
therefore, women were doing equal work with men and receiving
only 60 per cent of the pay. But the comparative hourly earnings of
pieceworkers seem to indicate that in these occupations women were
worth less than men; for, while working at the same piece rate,
female pieceworkers earned 21.4 cents per hour less than male piece
workers; that is, their earnings were only 54.3 per cent of the
earnings of the male pieceworkers. If, then, it is to be assumed that
when men and women are working at the same occupation they are
doing the same kind of work, this comparison would seem to indi
cate that in this particular case female timeworkers were paid more
rather than less than male timeworkers in proportion to the amount
of work they were doing. This condition suggests the necessity of
using caution in applying the doctrine of “ equal pay for equal
work " for men and women.
In the following tables are shown relative hours and earnings for
selected occupations in the three woodworking industries for the
years for which the Bureau had the necessary data. The figures for
1913 are in all cases used as the base. The comparison is necessarily
confined to those occupations for which the requisite information is
at hand in comparable form. Owing to certain differences in the
method of tabulating the data for 1919 as compared with the
method followed in earlier years, it is impossible to compute rela
tives for male laborers. Moreover, female employees wTere not tabu
lated separately in any furniture occupation in earlier years, and
consequently can not be included in the table of relatives.
There is presented in the table not only relatives for selected oc
cupations but also relatives for each industry as a whole.' It seems
desirable to point out certain features of the method by which those
relatives were computed. In the first place the averages of hours
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[137]
138
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
and earnings on which the 1919 relative is based cover only selected
occupations. In earlier years the relative has been based on all wage
earning employees found in the establishments visited. Those em
ployees who did not fall within any of the selected occupations were
grouped in the tables under the caption “ other employees.” This
was done, not because of any value that was supposed to attach to
figures for this heterogenous group, but because it was feared that
the omission of these employees might seriously affect the averages
for the industry as a whole. Careful experiments carried out by the
Bureau indicate that, if the selected occupations include low-paid
groups, such as laborers, in proportion to their numbers in the in
dustry, the omission of “ other employees ” has little effect upon
industry averages.
In the second place, it should be stated that the industry averages
given in the table are based on all of the occupations listed in the
several industries and not on those to which limitations of space
made it necessary to confine the present article. The total number
of selected occupations used in computing the industry relative was
7 in the furniture industry and 10 in the lumber industry. In the
millwork industry no occupations were listed in addition to the
three included in this report.
Finally no attempt has been made to base the relatives on data
from identical establishments. With the changes that the lapse of
time since the last investigation has brought about in the different
establishments, the plan of confining the comparison to data from
identical establishments would have two disadvantages. I t would
in some cases seriously limit the numbers on which the comparative
figures are based; in other cases it might give undue weight to
changes in hours and earnings taking place in one or another of the
limited number of establishments covered, when those changes did
not reflect conditions in the industry as a whole. The present rela
tives are based on the entire body of information available for each
year for which a relative is shown.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR,
139
T a b l e 8 — A V ER A G E A N D R E L A T IV E F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K , HOURLY
E A R N IN G S A N D F U L L -T IM E E A R N IN G S PE R W E E K , IN W OODW ORKING IN
D U S T R IE S , BY OCC U PA TION , SE X , A N D Y EAR .
Lumber.
Relative.
Average.
Occupation, sex, and year.
Doggers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
E dgennen, male:
1913...................................................
1 9 1 5 ...............................................
1919...................................................
Laborers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Machine feeders, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Sawyers, band, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Sawyers, circular, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Sawyers, gang, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Sawyers, resaw, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Setters, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Trimmer operators, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
All occupations, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Num
ber of Number
estab
of em
lish
ployees.
ments.
Full
time
hours
per
week.
Full
Hourly time
earn weekly
ings.
earn
ings.
Fulltime
hours
per
week.
Full
Hourly time
earn weekly
ings.
earn
ings.
334
345
136
939
1,099
471
61.2
61.3
57.8
80.184
.178
.358
811.22
10.83
20.69
100.0
100. 2
94.4
100.0
96.7
194.6
100.0
96.5
181.2
361
348
140
754
756
314
61.0
61.0
57.5
.268
.252
.450
16.28
15.32
25.76
100.0
100.0
94.3
100.0
94.0
167.9
100.0
94.1
155.4
361
348
141
28,835
36,569
15,542
61. 1
61.3
55.9
.171
.157
.345
10.40
9.58
19. 27
100.0
100.3
91.5
100.0
91.8
201.8
100.0
92.1
184.9
253
269
120
1,531
1,679
668
61.1
61.2
56.5
. 186
.176
.390
11.34
10. 74
21.70
100.0
100.2
92.5
100.0
94.6
209.7
100.0
94.7
186.3
288
286
120
554
572
249
60.9
61.0
57.5
.557
. 539
.768
33.90
32. 75
44.06
100.0
100.2
94.4
100.0
96.8
137.9
100.0
96.6
128.9
92
76
30
123
98
37
62.0
62. 1
57.3
.513
.462
.748
31.71
28. 27
42. 77
100.0
100.2
92.4
100.0
90.1
145.8
100.0
89.2
132.4
71
81
34
SO
93
46
61.4
61.8
56.2
.311
.289
.520
19.02
17. 74
29.14
100.0
100.7
91.5
100.0
92.9
167.2
100.0
93.3
150.6
138
152
67
192
215
111
60.7
60.9
55.2
.261
.240
.471
15. 77
14. 57
25.90
100.0
100.3
90.9
100.0
92.0
180.5
100.0
92.4
160.3
361
348
141
782
687
311
61.0
61.2
57.0
.258
.239
.446
15.71
14. 56
25.49
100.0
100.3
93.4
100.0
92.6
172.9
100.0
92.7
158.8
346
345
139
538
564
273
61.0
61.1
57.3
.217
.203
.405
13.20
12.34
23.18
100.0
100. 2
93.9
100.0
93.5
186.6
100.0
93.5
171.9
361
348
141
34,328
39,879
18,022
61.1
61.1
56.1
. 185
. 169
.360
11.26
10.30
20.13
100.0
100.0
91.8
100.0
91.4
194. 6
100.0
91.5
177.9
M illw o rk .
Bench hands, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Laborers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Machine hands, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
All occupations, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
339
346
104
5,119
4,931
1,374
54.4
54.3
52.5
80.318
.317
.451
817.00
16.91
23.48
100.0
99.8
96.5
100.0
99.7
141.8
100.0
99.5
138.1
317
329
102
5,267
5,224
1,756
56.8
56.7
53.1
.183
.184
.321
10.34
10. 40
16. 69
100.0
99. 8
93.5
100.0
100.5
175.4
100.0
100.6
161.4
339
347
105
6 ,1£>4
5,973
2,024
55.6
55.5
52.8
.294
.283
.435
16.09
15.46
22.34
100.0
99.8
95.0
100.0
96.3
148.0
100.0
96.1
138.8
339
347
105
16,540
15,727
5,154
55.6
55.4
52.8
.266
.263
.401
14.54
14.29
20.36
100.0
99.6
95.0
100.0
98.9
150.8
100.0
98.3
140.0
[139]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
140
T abm i 8 .— A V ER A G E A N D R E L A T IV E F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E EK , HOURLY
E A R N IN G S A N D F U L L -T IM E E A R N IN G S P E R W E E K , IN W OODW ORKING IN
D U S T R IE S , BY O C C U PA T IO N S, S E X , A N D Y E A R — Concluded.
Furniture.
Relative.
Average.
Num
ber of Number
of em
estab
ployees.
lish
ments.
Occupation, sex, and year.
Cabinetmakers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919..................................................
Finishers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Carvers, hand, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Chair assemblers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Machine hands, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Upho'sterers, ma e:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919........................................'..........
Veneerers, male:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
All occupations, ma e:
1913...................................................
1915...................................................
1919...................................................
Full
time
hours
per
week.
Full
Hourly time
earn weekly
ings.
earn
ings.
Full
time
hours
per
week.
Full
Hourly time
earn weekly
earn
ings.
ings.
199
203
89
3,184
3,176
1,449
57.2
57.0
55.7
$0.234
.240
.396
$13.30
13.62
22.05
100.0
99.7
97.4
100.0
102.6
169.2-
100.0
102.4
165.8
228
238
110
5,287
5,300
2,099
57.2
56.9
55.9
.207
.208
.358
11.81
11.80
19.98
100.0
99.5
97.7
100.0
100.5
192.9
100.0
99.9
169.2
82
97
36
355
321
111
55.1
55.5
52.9
.319
.322
.511
17.41
17.73
26.98
100.0
100.7
96.0
100.0
100.9
160.2
100.0
101.8
155.0
23
31
26
562
591
521
57.5
57.6
54.4
.197
.211
.362
11.27
12. 09
19. 69
100.0
100.2
94.6
100.0
107.1
183.6
100.0
107.3
174.7
226
232
108
6,700
5,817
2,976
57.6
57.5
56.0
.218
.223
.349
12.50
12. 74
20.05
100.0
99.8
97.2
100.0
102.3
160.1
100.0
101.9
160.4
54
62
44
635
755
419
55.8
55.3
54.4
.296
.312
.476
16.42
17.12
25.86
100.0
99.1
97.5
100.0
105.4
160.8
100.0
104.3
157.5
123
124
69
698
640
389
57.2
57.0
56.3
.218
.218
.340
12. 45
12.34
19.14
100.0
99.7
98.4
100.0
100.0
156.0
100.0
99.1
155.7
228
223
111
17,378
15,173
7,964
57.3
57.1
55.7
.222
.224
.369
12.64
12.74
20.55
100.0
99.7
97.2
100.0
100.9
168.2
100.0
100.8
162.6
The industrial survey covered eight industries for which the Bu
reau had material on hand for the calculation of industry relatives.
That the increases in earnings in the industries included in this report
may be compared with increases in the other five industries, the rela
tives of each industry are given in the following table:
T a b l e 9 .—R ELA TIV E EA RN IN G S P E R HOUR IN EIGHT IN D U ST R IE S, 1913 TO 1919.
[1913=100.]
Year.
Cigars.
Clothing,
men’s.
100
h
')
i)
l)
*)
152
100
0)
C1)
(1)
U)
«
171
1913................................
1914................................ ■
1915................................
1916................................
1917................................
1918................................
1919................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Furni
ture.
Hosiery
and Lumber.
and un Iron
steel.
derwear.
100
U)
103
U)
(!)
U)
154
100
103
0)
i 1)
U)
0)
184
i Not reported.
[140]
100
103
101
0)
C)
i 1)
221
100
U)
91
0)
U)
(l)
194
Millwork.
100
C1)
99
U)
(')
0)
151
Silk
goods.
100
100
C1)
0)
C1)
0)
191
WAGES AND H O U R S OF LABOR.
141
An examination of this table shows that while employees in the
lumber industry have received increases in earnings considerably in
excess of the average for the eight industries and of the 75 per cent
increase in the cost of living since 1913, both the furniture industry
and the millwork industry have failed to keep pace with the general
movement. On the contrary, the millwork industry is at the bottom
of the list in this respect, and the furniture industry only slightly
better off. How far that condition is to be! attributed to the effect of
the war, and how far to the existence of large numbers of compara
tively small, isolated, and unorganized plants in those industries, it
is impossible to determine.
War-Time Changes in Wages.
HE National Industrial Conference Board has recently pub
lished a report on wages in several important industries, from
1914 to 1919.1 The report includes data for boot and shoe,
chemical, cotton, metal, paper, rubber, silk, and woolen manufac
turing. The period covered is approximately that of the war, in
cluding that immediately following the signing of the armistice.
A large number of tables are given showing for the leading occupa
tions or occupation groups of each industry the number of workers
for whom the data are reported; the average hours worked per week;
the average hourly and weekly earnings; and the relative hourly
and weekly earnings for the period covered, using the figures for
1914 as a base.
The following table contains summaries of the items named above
for each of the industries included in the study:
T
A VERAGE ACTUAL A N D R ELA T IV E H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y
FIE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1914 TO 1919.
E A R N IN G S IN SPECI
Boot and shoe manufacturing: 14 establishments.
Males.
Pay roll for
one week
in—
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
■
Total
num
ber of
work
ers.
Aver
age
hours
per
week.
7,575
7,259
8,241
7,373
7,349
7,419
50.3
50.8
51.1
49.9
49.2
48.0
Females.
Average actual
earnings—
Per
hour.
Per
week.
$0.292
.302
.325
.388
.489
.539
$14.70
15.33
16.60
19.36
24.04
25.90
Relative
earnings—
Total
numher of
work
Per Per
hour. week. ers.
100
104
112
133
167
185
100
104
113
132
164
176
3,841
3,605
4,191
4,308
4,305
4,667
Aver
age
hours
per
week.
47.9
49.3
50.5
47.0
47.7
47.7
'
1 W ar-tim e ch a n g es in w a g es. Septem ber, 1 9 1 4 -M a r ch , 1919.
feren ce B oard. B o sto n , Septem ber, 1919. 128 pp.
155169°—20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
10
[141]
Average actual
earnings—
Relative
earnings—
Per
hour.
Per
week.
Per Per
hour. week.
$0.192
.193
.207
.243
.298
.308
$9.18
9.53
10.45
11.42
14.24
14.69
100
101
108
127
155
160
100
104
114
125
155
160
N a tio n a l I n d u str ia l Con
142
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
AVERAGE ACTUAL AND R E LA T IV E H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y EA R N IN G S IN SPECI
FIE D IN D U ST R IE S, 1914 TO 1919—Concluded.
Chemical manufacturing: 12 establishments.
Females.
Males.
Pay roll for
one week
in—
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
Total
num
ber of
work
ers.
Aver
age
hours
per
week.
3,551
3,865
4,724
6,700
6,946
5,942
55.5
56.0
55.8
57.1
60.1
53.5
Average actual
earnings—
*Per
hour.
Per
week.
10.232
.237
.289
.359
.445
.490
$12.85
13.26
16.10
20.50
26.80
26.20
Relative
earnings—
Total
num
ber of
Per Per work
hour. week. ers.
100
102
125
155
192
211
Aver
age
hours
per
week.
Average actual
earnings—
Relative
earnings—
Per
hour.
Per Per
hour. week.
Per
week.
100
103
125
160
209
204
Cotton manufacturing : 15 establishments.
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
5,187
5,736
5,650
5,842
4,925
5,797
52.9
53.0
53.5
50.7
53.7
43.9
$0.189
.189
.221
.280
.385
.389
$10.00
10.05
11.85
14.22
20.60
17.10
100
100
117
148
204
206
100
101
119
142
206
171
4,924
5,166
5,052
5,202
5,138
5,943
50.9
51.8
51.8
51.0
50.4
41.0
$0.152
.152
.186
.222
.304
.312
$7.70
7.89
9.65
11.36
15.37
12.75
100
100
122
146
200
205
100
103
125
147
200
166
Metal manufacturing: Males, 12 establishments; females, 13 establishments.
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
35,552
43,696
55,924
64,156
71,635
56,253
45.5
52.1
53.8
53.6
53.5
49.0
$0.289
.282
.317
.371
.495
.502
$13.18
14.90
17.22
20.09
26.80
24.75
100
98
110
128
171
174
100
113
131
152
203
188
669
926
1,767
1,741
2,331
2,006
43.3
46.1
45.8
47.3
46.1
46.0
$0.149
.169
.194
.223
.309
.314
$6.45
7.82
8.92
10.55
14.35
14.50
100
113
130
150
207
211
100
121
138
164
222
225
Paper manufacturing: Males, 32 establishments; females, 15 establishments.
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
8,505
8,976
9,602
9,520
9,830
9,579
53.3
52.5
51.0
51.0
50.0
49.8
$0,239
.243
.295
.374
.448
.450
$12.73
12.75
15.03
19.03
22.40
22.40
100
102
124
157
188
189
100
100
118
150
176
176
779
856
968
889
941
986
42.3
44.3
46.3
45.3
47.5
41.3
$0.177
.178
.191
.230
.294
.297
$7.47
7.85
8.80
10.43
13.95
12.24
100
100
108
130
166
168
100
105
118
140
187
164
Rubber manufacturing: Males, 8 establishments; females, 6 establishments.
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
9,612
12,701
15,863
19,225
16,722
21,918
48.8
48.3
48.7
48.9
49,6
48.0
$0.288
.310
.382
.466
.575
.612
$14.00
14. 95
18.60
22.80
28.60
29.35
100
108
133
162
200
212
100
107
133
163
204
210
1,819
1,992
2,479
3,397
3,501
3,431
53.2
54.1
51.6
51.7
52.2
51.1
$0.174
.189
.208
.228
.247
.292
$9.25
10.20
10.76
11.80
12.94
14.90
100
109
120.
131
142
168
100
110
117
128
140
161
$0.156
.157
.193
.215
.285
.312
$7.49
8.02
9.52
10.75
14.06
15.10
100
101
124
138
183
200
100
107
127
144
188
202
$8.70
7.89
10.30
12.69
16.42
13.46
100
97
119
150
197
196
100
91
118
146
189
155
Silk manufacturing: 29 establishments.
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
4,897
4,922
5,010
4,778
4,151
4,539
51.2
53.1
49.6
50.2
50.0
50.1
$0,230
.238
.284
.309
.431
.453
$11.77
12.66
14.10
15.50
21.54
22.69
100
104
124
134
188
197
100
108
120
132
183
193
6,312
6,456
6,794
6,619
6,095
6,178
48.2
51.2
49.2
50.0
49.3
48.5
Wool manufacturing: 20 establishments.
Sept.,1914..
Sept.,1915..
Sept.,1916..
Sept.,1917..
Sept.,1918..
Mar., 1919..
9,105
8,957
9,875
9,558
9,406
7,868
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
53.8
51.5
54.0
55.0
55.0
46.0
$0,215
.214
.251
.308
.424
.405
$11.52
11.05
13.51
16.97
23.21
18.61
100
100
117
143
197
188
100
96
117
147
202
162
[142]
6
6
7
7
7
6
943
648
243
279
576
635
52.0
48.8
51.8
50.5
50.0
41.0
$0.167
.162
.199
.250
.329
.328
143
W AGES AND H O U R S OF LABOR.
While the figures show, with few exceptions, an increasing hourly
rate of earnings throughout the period, the weekly earnings show
small increases, or, in several instances, decreases, between September,
1918, and March, 1919. This is due to the shorter hours worked in
1919, the reduction in a number of cases being considerable.
The following table shows the average hourly earnings in several
occupations in the industries covered by the report, arranged in order
beginning with the highest based on wages in March, 1919. The
earnings of males and females are shown separately.
COMPARISON OF AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS IN DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS IN
SEPTEMBER, 1914 AND 1918, AND MARCH, 1919.
Average hourly earnings.
Piece or
time
workers. September, September, March,
Occupations.
1914.
1918.
1919.
M a le s.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
Stitchers (boot and shoe)............... .
Coremakers (m etal).................................
Holders (m etal)........................................
Finishers (boot and shoe).......................
Patternmakers (m etal)...........................
Bottomers (boot and shoe)....................
Molders (m etal)........ ...............................
Lasters (boot and shoe)............... ..........
Assemblers (m etal)..................................
Toolmakers (m etal).................................
Blacksmiths (m etal)................................
Upper leather cutters (boot and shoe)
Machinists (m eta l)...................................
Makers (boot and shoe)..........................
Machine operators (m etal).....................
Skilled labor (chem icals)........................
Sole leather cutters (boot and shoe)...
Sorters (w ool)............................................
Coremakers (m etal).................................
Upper leather cutters (boot and shoe).
Assemblers (m etal)..................................
Machine tenders (paper).........................
Loom-fixers (cotton)...............................
Fitters (boot and shoe)...........................
Unskilled labor( silk)..............................
Weavers (w ool)........................................
Weavers (silk)...........................................
Machine operators (m etal).....................
Weavers (w ool).........................................
Unskilled labor (chemicals)...................
Beatermen (paper)..................................
Sole leather cutters (boot and shoe)__
Unskilled labor (m etal).......................... .
Foundry labor (m etal)........................... .
Finishers and cuttermen (paper)........ .
Weavers (silk).........................................
Reelers, winders, and spoolers (wool)..
Calendermen (paper)................................
Calendermen (rubber)..............................
Unskilled labor (rubber).........................
Unskilled labor (wool)..............................
Warpers (silk).............................................
Miscellaneous labor (paper)....................
Spinners (cotton).......................................
Makers (rubber).........................................
Spinners (w ool)..........................................
Rag sorters (paper)....................................
Weavers (cotton)........................................
Weavers (cotton).......................................
Finishers (w ool).........................................
Carders (wool).............................................
Finishers (boot and shoe)........................
Carders (cotton).........................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Piece__
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
Time__
Piece__
Time__
Piece__
..d o .......
Time__
..d o .......
Piece__
Time__
Piece__
..d o .......
Time__
Piece__
..d o .......
Time__
..d o .......
. ..do„___
..d o .......
. ..d o .......
Piece__
Time__
..d o .......
Piece__
Time__
Piece__
Time__
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
Piece__
Time__
..d o .......
..d o .......
Piece__
Tim e__
..d o .......
..d o .......
..d o .......
Piece...
[143]
$0.365
.304
.309
.330
.380
.340
.363
.315
.307
.356
.328
.331
.324
.324
.325
.300
.271
.296
.297
.289
.307
.309
.262
.274
.251
.252
.216
.265
.225
.210
.232
.254
.216
.218
.227
.302
.201
.204
.225
.205
.201
.226
.202
.190
.191
.182
.206
.198
.180
.215
.177
.217
.187
$0,628
.688
.666
.540
.603
.570
.606
.562
.558
.557
.567
.559
.572
.555
.551
.526
.469
.586
.518
.499
.502
.530
.514
.482
.472
.521
.441
.454
.472
.408
.440
.405
.438
.431
.407
.433
.418
.403
.375
.388
.384
.375
.465
.422
.361
.407
.405
.417
.377
.391
.376
.357
.437
$0,687
.651
.642
.638
.638
.626
.621
.612
.603
.594
.592
.591
.587
.586
.577
.574
.552
.552
.541
.539
.530
.520
.505
.486
.477
.471
.467
.461
.457
.446
.440
.428
.426
.425
.420
.419
.417
.414
.409
.409
.406
.406
.406
.401
.398
.394
.392
.389
.389
.385
.384
.383
.380
144
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
C O M P A R IS O N O F A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N I N G S IN D I F F E R E N T O C C U P A T IO N S IN
S E P T E M B E R , 1914 A N D 1918, A N D M A R C H , 1919—C o n clu d ed .
Average hourly earnings.
Piece or
time
worker. September, September, March,
1919.
1918.
1914.
Occupations.
Males—Concluded.
Time__
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
Piece__
$0.226
.176
.175
.215
.172
.177
.158
.166
.162
$0.368
.349
.351
.317
.377
.310
.339
.339
.345
$0.373
.361
.356
.352
.352
.351
.349
.343
.329
Piece__
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
. ..do......
Time__
Piece__
. ..do......
9 Spinners (wool)
......................................... . ..d o .....
10 Carders (cott.rm)
........ ........................ . ..do......
44 Spoolers warper*2 and twistprs (notion) ....................... . ..do......
12 Upper leather cutters (hoot and shop,) .
................ Time__
13 Drawers (wool)
....................................... . ..do......
44 Warpers (silk)
.................................... Piece__
15 Carders (wool)
.................................................... Time__
16 Fpinnp.rs (notion)
........................................ ...d o ......
17 Reeler«
2 wilder*2 and spoolers (wool) f........................ . ..do......
18 Spinners (wool)
_ ... ..................................... . ..do......
19 Finishers (wool)
_____ _________ _ - . ..do......
op Finishers and cuttermp.n (pa,por)
....................... . ..do......
............................... . ..do.......
21 Fitters (hoot and shoo)
....................................... ...do.......
22 Rag sorters (paper)
23 Drawers (cotton)
..................................... . ..do......
24 Spoolpr€I( cotton)
........................................ ...do......
25 Winders (silk)
...................................................... Piece__
26 Rag sorters (paper) ...................................................... . ..do......
....................................................... Time__
27 Winders (silk)
28 Unskilled lahorors (notion)
............................... . ..do......
. ..do......
29 Carders (notion)
30. Quillers ( s i l k ) ........... — — -.................................... . ..do......
.215
.421
.392
.322
.364
.336
.347
.314
.306
.320
.303
.288
.271
.286
.262
.296
.278
.277
.295
.274
.271
.233
.274
.276
.233
.229
.318
.230
.254
.218
. .442
.418
.353
.352
.350
.342
.331
.323
.315
.310
.302
.296
.296
.294
.291
.289
.283
.281
.280
.276
.272
.270
.269
.268
.268
.257
.248
.237
.237
54 UastPTS (hoot and shop,)
.....................................
5.^ Ppnolpys w^rpp.rs twisters (notton) ............................
T>yp.r,s (wool)
....................................
.................
57 Misceli fulfils lahnr (hoot; and shop.)
58 Carder*2(nottrvn)
.................................
5Q Unskilled lahnr (notion)
...............................
.............................
m Oppffpys and pinfrprs (cotton)
hi Spinners (notion)
....................................
62 Spinners (wool)
....................................
Females.
1 Finishers (wool)
..........................................
2 Weavers (wool)
....................................
.....................................
3 Weavers (silk)
.......................................
4 WrPAvers (notion)
5 Fitters (hoot, and qhne)
............................
0 Weavers (notion)
..........................................
7 Feelers winders and spoolers (wooli ............................
8 Spinner^ ( n n t t . o n ....................................
.201
.154
.155
.195
.190
.172
.141
.157
.161
.150
.173
.146
.146
.137
.135
.129
.136
.176
.142
.181
.131
.139
.134
.129
.142
.154
.130
.117
.112
.200
.221
Wages of Women in Hotels and Restaurants in
the District of Columbia.1
A
SURVEY of the wages paid to women in hotels and restau
rants, apartment houses, and hospitals in the District of Co
lumbia, was made during the months of June, July, and
August, 1919, by agents of the District Minimum Wage Board.
Transcripts of the pay rolls were obtained, for the week or half month
or month preceding the visit, from 193 establishments, including 50
hotels, 135 restaurants, 5 apartment houses, and 3 hospitals. A total
of 2,209 women were employed in these establishments, distributed as
follows: 1,010, or 46 per cent, in hotels; 1,055, or 48 per cent, in res1 W ages o f w om en in h o te ls and r es ta u r a n ts in th e D is tr ic t o f C olum bia. D is tr ic t of
C olum bia M inim um W age B oard, W a sh in g to n , Oct. 10, 1919. 23 pp. B u lle tin No. 3.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[144]
W AGES AUD H O U E S OF LABOR.
»
145
taurants; 130, or 6 per cent, in hospitals; 14, or 0.6 per cent, in apart
ment houses. Employees in practically all the manual and clerical
positions open to women, except those in the laundry, were included
in the survey.
Three important characteristics of the hotel and restaurant busi
ness were found to influence the money wage received by women em
ployees. First among these is the unsteadiness of employment. Of
the 153 women on the pay rolls of three hotels, 68, or 44 per cent,
worked less than a full month. Of the 127 women on the pay rolls of
two other hotels, 49, or 39 per cent, worked less than a full half
month. Assuming that the same number in this latter group would
have failed to work the full pay period in the other half month, 98,
or 77 per cent of this group would have worked less than a full month.
Such irregular attendance and constant shifting from job to job
makes earnings considerably less than rates of pay and this differ
ence must be borne in mind in considering the analysis of the wage
rates.
The second factor influencing wages is the tips received by maids,
elevator operators, and waitresses. Reports as to the amount re
ceived in tips were secured by the board from women in these occu
pations. Tips reported to be received by elevator operators—aver
aging about 35 cents a week—are too small to affect earnings. Eight
maids stated that they received no tips, seven stated the amount to
be “ very little,” and the average for those giving actual figures was
$1.22 a week. This again is too small an amount to make any appre
ciable addition to wages. Very few waitresses are employed in
hotels other than in the help’s dining room, where practically no tips
are given. The average tips received by waitresses in restaurants
was $4.62 a week. As the waitresses were found to be among the
best paid employees, the generally low wages of the women are not
offset by the value of tips.
The third factor influencing wages is the prevalence in this in
dustry of other than money compensation. Of the 2,209 women, 6
per cent received room and meals, 65 per cent received three meals
a day, 9 per cent received two meals a day, 3 per cent received one
meal a day, and 17 per cent received only a money wage. For the
purpose of ascertaining the value in money of the total wage, in
cluding such additional compensation, the Board assumed the cost
of board as $6 a week and of room as $3 a week. These figures were
arrived at from the minimum cost of board and room for a selfsupporting woman in the mercantile trades set by the recent Mer
cantile Wage Conference. These figures are considerably higher
than the estimated cost of furnishing such board and room, as given
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[145]
146
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
by the hotel managers. They are higher than the actual value of
the room or board, or both, tendered the employee in lieu of wages,
because the employee’s hours may be so arranged that only two
meals instead of the three allowed can be secured conveniently, or
she may have to provide her own meals on the seventh day each
week, if she works a six-day week, or she may, as several stated they
did, find the meals provided by the hotel unpalatable. As these
figures are the only actual figures available, however, the report
allows as the money value of room and meals $9 a week for room
and board, $6 for three meals a day, and a proportionate amount
where less than three meals per day were received.
Analysis of the Wage Situation.
All wage material is presented in the report separately for groups
of employees according to the amount allowed them in room and
meals, so that the total money value of the wages received by all
groups may be compared with exactness. Wages in hotels are usu
ally based on a monthly rate. In order to make these rates compar
able to those paid by the week in restaurants and other industries,
these monthly rates have been reduced to weekly rates by multiply
ing them by 12 and then dividing by 52.
The wage situation in the hotel industry is summed up in the fol
lowing table:
NUMBER AND PER CENT OF WOMEN EMPLOYED IN HOTELS CLASSIFIED BY RATE
OF WAGES PER WEEK AND BY ROOM AND MEALS ALLOWED PER DAY.
Number.
Woman employees whose rates of wages per week were—
Comnensation in addition
to wages.
Under
17.
66
Nothing...................................
132
8
15
T otal.............................
221
Three meals............................
$8
89
and
under
$10.
$10
and
under
$11.
$11
and
under
$12.
$12
and
under
$13.
$13
and
under
$14.
$14
and
under
$15.
$15
and
under
$16.
5
155
2
59
6
29
1
169
23
1
42
2
11
1
14
8
9
46
4
57
4
Í5
1
14
1
8
6
25
4
56
101
524
19
366
19
116
329
84
56
19
50
1
24
91
1,010
1.0
2.7
5.9
5.5
0.2
1.1
4.1
1.0
2.7
5.2
2.1
5.9
4.8
21.1
15.3
100
100
100
100
1.9
4.9
.1
2.4
9.0
100
$7
and
under
$8.
4
7
and
under
$9.
$16
and Total.
over.
Per cent.
5.0
29.6
2.0
11.2
2.2
8.9
8.8
21.1
15.6
46.2
6.3
1.0
8.0
10.5
3.0
1.9
11.5
32.6
8.3
5.5
4.0
1.3
Nothing...................................
65.3
25.2
42.1
4.1
T otal.............................
21.9
Room and three m eals, ---Three meals............................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
147
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
This table shows that 65 per cent of the women receiving room and
board in addition to wages were paid less than $7 a week; 65 per cent
of those receiving three meals a day were paid less than $10 a week;
68 per cent of those receiving only a money wage were paid less than
$10 a week, 77 per cent less than $12 a week, and only 15 per cent $16
or over.
The next table shows wage conditions among restaurant em
ployees.
NUM BER A N D P E R CENT OF WOMEN EM PLO Y ED IN R E ST A U R A N T S, C LASSIFIED
B Y R A TE OF W AGES PE R W E E K AN D B Y M EALS ALLO W ED PE R DA Y .
Number.
Woman employees whose rates of wages per week were—
Compensation in addition
to wages.
U n
der
87.
$7
and
un
der
$8.
88
and
un
der
89.
89
and
un
der
$10.
$10
and
un
der
$11.
$11
and
un
der
$12.
$12
and
un
der
$13.
$13
and
un
der
$14.
$14
and
un
der
$15.
Three meals............................
Two m eals..............................
One m eal.................................
13
42
18
37
26
5
142
44
7
72
14
2
158
10
1
18
16
224
23
14
5
69
5
1
35
43
2 - 9
825
196
34
T otal.............................
73
68
193
88
169
34
247
19
75
37
52
1,055
$15
and
un
der
$16.
$16
and Total.
over.
Per cent.
Three meals............................
1.6
Two m eals.............................. 21.4
One m eal................................. 52.9
4.5
13.3
14.7
17.2
22.4
20.6
8.7
7.1
5.9
19.1
5.1
2.9
2.2
8.2
27.1
11.7
1.7
2.5
8.3
2.5
2.9
4.2
1.0
5.2
4.6
100
100
100
T otal.............................
6.5
18.3
8.4
16.0
3.2
23.4
1.8
7.1
3.5
4.9
100
6.9
The wage situation in the restaurant industry may be summarized
as follows: Of the women receiving three meals a day 82 per cent
were paid less than $10 a week, and 78 per cent of those receiving
two meals a day were paid less than $12 a week. The one-meal
figures are not comparable, since most of the women in that group
work only part time.
Comparing these figures with those presented for the hotel in
dustry, it will be seen that the wage rates prevailing in the res
taurants of the District were considerably higher than those found
in the hotels.
Hospitals were classed with hotels and restaurants in this study,
because the women employed in hospitals, exclusive of the nurses,
perform work very similar to that performed by women employed in
hotels. Of the 130 women working in hospitals, 28 per cent re
ceived room and three meals, 69 per cent received three meals, and
2 per cent one meal a day in addition to their money wage. Over
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
148
MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW.
half, 54 per cent, of the women receiving room and meals were paid
less than $7 a week, and of those receiving board alone, 97 per cent
were paid less than $10 a week.
It was found that the average apartment house employs few
women, the most general occupations being telephone and elevator
operating. The 14 women for whom data were collected received a
straight money wage and all of them were paid less than $14 a week.
Wage conditions were, therefore, found to be worse in hospitals and
apartment houses than in hotels and restaurants.
Using the estimates of the value of room and board accepted as a
working basis, it is found that of the 2,209 women employed in this
industry 72 per cent of those employed in hotels, 43 per cent in restau
rants, 82 per cent in hospitals, and 100 per cent in apartment houses
were receiving less than $16 a week or its equivalent. A further
analysis of the wages of all the women reveals striking differences
between the wages of those receiving a straight money wage and
those receiving a money wage supplemented by room and meals.
Those who received only a money wage were the poorest paid, 85 per
cent of them receiving less than $16 a week. On the other hand, the
best paid women were those in the three-meal group, only 48 per cent
of them receiving less than the $10, which, when board is provided,
has been considered as equivalent to $16 a week. The women receiv
ing both room and board were between these two groups, 62 per cent
being paid less than $7 per week, the figure estimated as the equivalent
of a $16 money wage. This difference between the real wages of the
group receiving only a money wage and of the groups receiving room
or meals or both can not be accounted for on an occupational basis,
for it applies within each occupation as well as to the whole industry.
It seems evident from the figures presented in the report that a
“ substantial number of woman employees ” in hotels, restaurants,
hospitals, and apartment houses “ are receiving wages inadequate to
supply them with the necessary cost of living and maintain them
in health and protect their morals.”
Cost of Living in Relation to Wage Adjustments.
H E adjustment of wages to the cost of living has been effected
in some instances in a somewhat haphazard way by applying
to local conditions the results of surveys of cost of living cov
ering communities far distant or giving a composite of the country
as a whole. In comparatively few instances have wages been in
creased as the result of the careful and scientific study of prices and
living costs in the immediate vicinity of the plant, which after all
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U4S]
^
^
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOE.
0
0
0k
149
determine the expenditures of the employees whose wage scales are
to be adjusted.
IIow one firm employing more than 1,000 people set about to de
termine the increase in the cost of living as affecting its own employees
immediately and then to make a wage adjustment that should ade
quately compensate for the increase, is described in some detail in
an article on cost of living in relation to wage adjustments published
in the Bulletin of the Taylor Society (New York) for October, 1919
(pp. 29 to 46). The purpose of the investigation was to set up and
adopt a standard method for readily making comparisons in the cost
of living from year to year and to determine the relative percentage
of increase, with this percentage as a guide, to ascertain whether or
not the advance in the daily earnings of the various classes of workers
has shown the same relative per cent of increase as has the cost of
living, and then, if classes have not been advanced proportionately,
to adjust the rates for such classes to the extent due them as de
termined by the findings.
The management took the position that an educational campaign
was necessary to bring employees to realize that production is the
only possible remedy for scarcity of goods, which in turn is the
reason for high prices, and that any interference with production by
strike or otherwise merely aggravates the trouble and results in in
tensifying the very condition against which they protest. To quote
from the report:
There is no better place to begin such a campaign than in our own factories
and among our own workmen, and it is plainly up to the management to take the
initiative. This means a careful analysis of the wage conditions, due regard
being given to the current purchasing power of the dollar, and practical appli
cation of our findings to the solution of our own problem. We believe it fair
and practical to “ give more in order to get more,” and in the recognition of
the relative increase in living cost, as compared with the relative increase in
wages in any given period, we are only laying the foundation for better condi
tions and better relations between men and management, which in turn will lead
to the ultimate end of maximum production from' any given set of conditions
or facilities; and for the coincident results, such as maximum wages, minimum
costs, low labor turnover, equitable profits on capital invested, and mutual
success and satisfaction to all concerned, viz, the worker, the manager, the
owner, and the community of which these three are members.
If we do not recognize this factor in our wage relations, then we are bound
to pay for it one way or another. Briefly, when an individual finds his in
come does not permit him to maintain the standards of living to which he has
been accustomed (to say nothing of reaching the higher standards which
human nature inherently desires as men advance in years) he soon gets into
a frame of mind where he is torn between (a) lowering his standards of living
by omitting certain articles of diet—making the old suit last another year,
moving to cheaper quarters, or practicing other economies or substitutions—and (&) “ hitting the boss for a raise.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[149]
150
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-
It seems that the individual does not let himself be “ torn ” very far in
either direction. He quickly acts in the direction of (b), and if the answer is
not favorable or not promptly given, individual dissatisfaction soon arises, and
like the proverbial bad apple in a barrel of otherwise good ones, he soon con
taminates the others. The manager soon sees an element of unrest increasing;
strikes may, and in fact do follow, as witnessed by the hundreds of them oc
curring of late, all of which have had as their motive, or at least a part of
that motive, the “ recognition in wages of the increasing cost of living.” Why
then, should we overlook the obvious, or dodge the inevitable? Should we not
expect to meet the increasing cost of labor as we do the increasing cost of raw
materials by providing in the selling price of our respective products a suitable
margin for increased labor costs, which in the main will, and do result, more
from increased cost of living than from any other cause?
The questionnaire prepared for the purpose of obtaining from the
employees their actual standard of living was sent to 280 workers
equally divided among unskilled, skilled, and highly skilled. Only
15 per cent were returned completely filled out, and 33.4 partially
filled out. The computations are based on the average family of
five—father, mother, two boys aged 15 and 9, respectively, and a girl
aged 7—this family consisting of 3.6 adult males as measured by
well-known dietary standards.1
The report goes into considerable detail in presenting the results
of the survey. I t is stated that an examination of the questionnaire
showed that the same articles used in the same quantity by the stand
ard family of five in the years 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, and 1919 could
be purchased in 1913 for $4.06 per day and in May, 1919, for $7.39
per day, an increase of 81.6 per cent in daily living cost. This per
cent of increase was accordingly adopted as the basis upon which
to make the wage adjustment. The following table is compiled from
the tabulations in the report. It shows the relative daily living
costs for 1913, 1915,1917, 1918, and to May, 1919, with per cent of in
crease in 1919 over 1913.
R E L A T IV E D A IL Y L IV IN G COSTS IN 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, A N D TO M AY, 1919.
1919 2
1913
1915
1917
1918
Filed....................................................................Shelter..................................................................
SI.9534
1.205
.353
.555
S2.2538
1.328
.364
.556
S3.1025
1.65
.363
.597
13.5164
2.125
.483
.659
$3.8939
2.336
.463
.691
99.3
93.9
31.2
24.5
Total.........................................................
4.0664
4.5018
5.7125
6.7835
7.3839
81.6
Item.
F o o d ...................................................................................
C l o t h i n g ..........................................................................
Daily
cost.
Per cent
increase
over 1913.
1 See 18th annual report of the U. S. Commissioner of Labor, 1908, p. 102.
2 To May, 1919.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4150]
^
^
^
151
WAGES AHD HOURS OF LABOR.
In compiling the data on actual wages paid, the management in
cluded only factory departments and classified these into productive
and nonproductive labor. The daily wages for each department
were obtained by going through the pay roll for each year and se
curing the daily earnings for each representative class or group of
work in that department. In this manner wages were found for both
productive and nonproductive labor and the per cent increase com
puted for each year concerned. The two classes of labor were then
combined and the average daily earnings computed for the years
1013, 1915, 1917, 1918, and to May 28, 1919. Percentage increases
for these years were then computed and used in the comparisons with
the increased cost of living in the same years. As a result it was
found that the average wages in all departments rose from $2.48 in
1913 to $4.15 in 1919 prior to May 28, or 67.1 per cent.
R ELA T IV E D A IL Y R A TE S OF W AGES IN 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, B EFO R E AN D A F T E R THE
WAGE A DJUSTM ENT OF MAY 28, 1919.
1919
Item.
Productive labor...........................
Nonproductive labor....................
Both classes..................................
1913
$2.44
2.53
2.48
1915
$2.53
2.49
2.51
1917
$3.03
3.07
3.05
1918
$3.27
3.35
3.31
After adjustment
of May 28.
Before
adjust
m ent of
Per cent
May 28. Amount.
of
increase
over 1913.
$4.00
4.31
4.15
$4.37
4.46
4.41
79.1
76.3
77.7
Governed thus by an increase in the cost of living of 81.6 per cent
and an increase in wages of 67.1 per cent, it was apparent that an ad
justment was due which would bring the current daily wages into
the same relation with the daily cost of living in 1919 as prevailed in
1913. The management thereupon decided to put through a wage
advance in recognition of this discrepancy as shown by 81.6 per cent
increase in the cost of living and 67.1 per cent increase in wages for
the same period.
Although it developed that some classes of labor had advanced
more than others during the period since 1913, it was decided to
make no discrimination, and a wage advance varying from 2-J cents
to 8 cents per hour on all classes of labor was put into effect.
The report states that in the adjustment the margin of difference
between 81.6 per cent and 67.1 per cent, namely, 14.5 per cent, was
cut to 3.9 per cent. That is, the increase in the wages after adjust
ment was 77.7 per cent as against 67.1 per cent before the adjust
ment. This difference of even 3.9 per cent was not intentional, it is
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[151]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
152
declared, for all classes of labor were brought up 81 per cent or
better from the prevailing 1913 daily wage.
But when averaging the individual rates for each man in a department, and
then averaging these composite rates for all departments, the new scale rang
ing from $3.60 (or $0.45X8 hours) minimum, to $7.20 (or $0.90X8 hours)
maximum, gave, when weighted by the number of men receiving these rates
(or those in between a new average of $4.41, and this is 77.7 per cent higher
than the average of $2.48 for all classes in 1913. The next wage adjustment
involving recognition of cost of living will, we intend, make up for this slight
deficiency, for we will have the benefit of this research to increase the accuracy
of our aim. Further, there was not the same number of men in each depart
ment in 1913 as in 1919, and this variation further accounts for the variation
in the weighted average of daily earnings for the two years 1913 and 1919,
respectively, i. e.,. there was a proportionately greater number of low-rated
men in the 1919 average than in the 1913 average, and that has had its effect
in reducing the average wage for 1919, although all classes of labor have as
“ classes ” the same relative increase of 81.6 per cent over their 1913 average
daily wages.
The result of this voluntary action on the part of the management
is briefly summed up in the report in the following words:
(1) The majority of our men when they received this raise, and knew the
circumstances under which it was given, were highly pleased with the com
pany’s attitude. Many of them expressed .their personal satisfaction to their
foremen, to their fellow workers, and to their friends in neighboring plants.
(2) It further established their faith in the watchfulness of the management
over the conditions affecting the workers, and showed the workers that it was
not necessary for them to resort to the prevalent methods of securing attention
or recognition.
(3) It paved the way for further action on the part of the management in
its work of installing scientific management principles to the operation of the
business, and through this practical demonstration of the interpretation of
Taylor’s statement that the “ principal object of management should be to
secure the maximum prosperity for the employer, coupled with the maximum
prosperity for each employee,” our men have taken hold in a hearty manner
and are assisting in many ways to achieve the ideals so admirably set forth
in Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The cost of this increase, as distributed over our annual production, will be
relatively insignificant, for while this wage increase averaged 0.0364 cents per
hour applied to each of 1,184 men, or, expressed otherwise, it was approximately
10 per cent increase in its net effect on our annual pay roll, we can see wherein
the reduction of wasted effort and the practice of other economies as the result
of improved methods of management will more than compensate for this
increase.
But this is not the end of it all! By standardizing our method, and by
semiannual or quarterly review of the changing prices, we will continue to
make adjustments in recognition of the cost of living whenever conditions
w arrant such action. In other words, it will be treated as a perfectly proper
and legitimate factor in our business affairs.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[152 ]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
•
153
Increases in Pay of Policemen in the District of
Columbia.
ARLT in December, 1919, Congress passed a bill granting the
policemen of the District of Columbia an increase in their
basic compensation. This bill was approved and became law
on December 5. The act (Public No. 94) is the final result of
much investigating and discussion by Congress and is of special
interest by reason of the circumstances which surrounded its passage.
For a considerable length of time an agitation had been going on
to increase the salaries of the policemen of the District of Columbia.
Owing to the delay of Congress to act, the policemen, who were
organized, affiliated their organization with the American Federa
tion of Labor. The policemen’s organization had a constitution pro
hibiting them from striking. A controversy immediately arose be
tween the policemen and the District of Columbia Commissioners,
who were opposed to this affiliation. This controversy attracted lit
tle attention in Congress until the police of Boston, who were
similarly organized and affiliated, went on a strike in spite of their
constitutional prohibition and left that city defenseless against looting mobs. This, bringing the matter to the attention of Congress,
hastened action on the bill and also led finally to the amendment of
paragraph No. 9. By this paragraph, as amended, the policemen
are forbidden to become members of, or affiliated with, any organi
zation that uses the strike as a means of settling controversies. This
section, as amended, reads as follows:
E
^
#
Pab. 9. tyo member of the Metropolitan police of the District of Columbia
shall be or become a member of any organization, or of an organization af
filiated with another organization, which itself, or any subordinate, component,
or affiliated organization of which holds, or claims, or uses the strike to
enforce its demands. Upon sufficient proof to the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia that any member of the Metropolitan police of the District
of Columbia has violated the provisions of this section it shall be the duty of
the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to immediately discharge such
member from the service.
Any member of the Metropolitan police who enters into a conspiracy, com
bination, or agreement with the purpose of substantially interfering with or
obstructing the efficient conduct or operation of the police force in the District
of Columbia by a strike or other disturbance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300 or by
imprisonment of not more than six months, or by both.
No officer or member of the said police force, under penalty of forfeiting the
salary or pay which may be due him, shall withdraw or resign, except by per
mission of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, unless he shall have
given the major and superintendent one month’s notice in writing of such
intention.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[153]
154
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
In the Senate it was sought by the so-called Meyer’s amendment
to extend the provisions of this paragraph to all organizations of
Government employees, but this failed to secure the approval of
the House, and the measure was finally passed without the amend
ment.
The act is an amendatory act, amending chapter 623 of the Acts of
1901 as amended by chapter 3056 of the Acts of 1906. Paragraph 2
of the original act is amended so as to place the policemen under
the provisions of the civil-service laws. The provisions having to do
with the classification of privates were also altered. There will be
three classes for privates as formerly, but the periods of service in the
respective classes are changed so that after one year’s efficient service
privates in class 1 are automatically promoted to class 2, and, after
two years’ efficient service in class 2, they are automatically promoted
to class 3, which is the highest class for privates.
Paragraph 8 of the original act fixes the basic salaries of the mem
bers of the entire police force. This paragraph was amended by the
new act, increasing the salaries of all the policemen from privates of
the first or lowest class to the major and superintendent. One of the
features of this paragraph is that its provisions are made retroactive
from August 1, 1919. In the appropriation bill (Public No. 6), of
July 11, 1919, making appropriations for the District of Columbia,
temporary increases were made in the salaries of the members of the
police force, so that the present increases are not so great as they
appear to be when compared with the basic salaries as fixed in 1906.
In addition to the increased salaries allowed by this act the policemen
also receive the $240 annual bonus allowed to District and Federal
employees. The basic salaries of 1906, the temporary salaries of the
appropriation act of July 11, 1919, and the new basic salaries as fixed
by the present act, together with the present salaries plus the bonus,
and the accumulated retroactive pay figured on a basis of 4£
months are shown in the following table, which also shows the
changes made by this law in the salaries of the park watchmen who
are henceforth to be known as the park police. The park police are
Federal employees as distinguished from District of Columbia em
ployees and constitute no part of the Metropolitan police force of the
District of Columbia.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[154]
ft
^
155
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
COM PENSATION
OF
THE
M ETROPOLITAN POLICE A N D
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
PARK
POLICE
OF THE
Salary under law of—
December 5, 1919.
Position.
July 11,
1919.2
1906 i
Major and superintendent
$4,000
Assistant superintendents
2.500
Inspectors............................
1,800
Police surgeons...............
600
Captains...............................
1.500
L ieutenants.........................
1,320
Sergeants..............................
1,250
Privates, Class 3 .................
1,200
Privates, Class 2.................
1,080
Privates, Class 1.................
900
Park police:
Lieutenant.............................................................»
First sergeant...........................................................
Sergeants...................................................................
Privates............................ ......................................
Including Retroactive
bonus of accruals in
$240.
pay. <
Basic
salary.s
*4,000
2,500
2,000
840
2,000
1,600
1,400
1,320
*4,500
3.000
2.400
1,600
2.400
1,080
1,800
1,660
1,560
1,460
5 *4,500
6 3,000
2.640
1,840
2.640
2,240
2,040
1,900
1,800
1,700
$173.61
173.61
138.89
263.89
138.89
138.89
190.97
118.05
125.00
131.94
« 1,200
« 950
«900
«840
1,900
1,700
1,580
1,360
2,140
1,940
1,820
1,600
243.05
260.42
236.11
180.55
2.000
1,200
1 Chapter 3056, Acts of 1906.
2 Public No. 6, July 11,1919.
3 Public No. 94, Dec. 5,1919.
1 On basis of 4$ m onths, Aug. 1 to Dec. 5, 1919.
* Employees receiving more than $2,500 per year are not allowed the bonus.
« Under Public No. 314, Mar. 1,1919.
The extra allowances made to policemen of the Metropolitan police
force who are mounted on horses, motor vehicles, or bicycles are also
increased. The following table gives the amount of these increases:
E X T R A A L L O W A N C E S FO R SP E C IA L SE R V IC E OF M E T R O P O L IT A N PO L IC E OF
T H E D IS T R IC T OF C OLUM BIA.
Allowance under law of—
Service.
1906 i
Mounted on own horse....................................................................
Mounted on own motor vehicle..........................................
Mounted on bicycle......................................................................
1 Chapter 3056, Acts of 1906.
2 Public No. 6, July 11,1919.
3 Public No. 94, Dec. 5,1919.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$240
(6)
50
July 11,
1919.2
$480
360
60
Dec. 5,
1919.3
$540
480
70
Retro
active
accrual
in pay.«
$20.83
41.67
3.47
4 On basis of 4 | months, Aug. 1 to Dec. 5, 1919.
«None.
[155]
156
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
Increases in British Army Pay.1
NDER the provisions of two royal warrants issued as army
orders on September 13, new rates of pay, half pay, and
retired pay for officers, and increases in the pay and pension
of soldiers are established.
In the case of officers the new rates of pay, which operate as from
July 1, 1919, are granted in consideration of the present high cost
of living and will be subject, after five years, to revision, either up
ward or downward, to an extent not exceeding 20 per cent, according
as the cost of living rises or falls. After July 1, 1924, a further re
vision may take place every three years. These provisions do not
apply to other ranks.
During the war increases in rates of pay were granted at various
dates. In the following table, however, the rates in force at August,
1914, and immediately prior to the operation of the new scales only
are given for comparative purposes. It should be noted, however,
in considering the comparison, that prior to the recent changes,
captains, lieutenants, and second lieutenants received allowances
of £2 [$9.73] a month for each child (up to a maximum of four)
and majors received a similar allowance of £1 [$4.87] a month.
These allowances were not in operation at August, 1914, and they
will cease as from January 1, 1920.
R A T E S OF PA Y A N D AM O U NT OF A L LO W A N C E S OF C E R T A IN O F F IC E R S IN T H E
B R IT IS H ARM Y A T A U G U ST , 1914, JU N E , 1919, A N D JU L Y , 1919.2
Rank and date.3
Lieutenant colonel:
August, 1914..........................................
June, 1919....................................
July, 1919................................................
Major:
August, 1914..........................................
June, 1919...............................................
July, 1919...............................................
Captain:
August, 1914..........................................
June, 1919...............................................
July, 1919................................................
Lieutenant:
August, 1914..........................................
June, 1919...............................................
July, 1919................................................
Second lieutenant:
August, 1914..........................................
June, 1919...............................................
July, 1919................................................
Lodging,
Regimental
light, and fuel
pay (per day)«.
allowance
(per day).
Ration and
messing
allowance
(per day).
Total, includ
ing command
pay for lieuten
ant colonel
(per day).
$5.60
6.93
11.56
$1.26
$1.28- .55
2. 07- 1.30
$0.51
.51
$8.07
$9.94- .55
16.57 or 15.67
3.89
5.60
7.66
.91- .30
.95
2. 07 or . 95
.08
.59
.51
4. 89-, 30
7.14
10.24 or 9.12
2.82
4.38
5. 72
.65
.67
2. 07 or . 67
.08
.59
.51
3.55
5.64
8.29 or 6.89
1.58
3. 77
3 . 89
.59
.61
1.58 or . 61
.08
.59
.51
2.25
4.97
5.98 or 5.01
1.28
3.41
3.16
.59
.61
1.58 or . 61
.03
.59
.51
1.95
4.60
5.25 or 4. 28
iF rom The Labour Gazette (L ondon). October, 1919, p . 420.
2 Conversions in this and the following table are made on the basis of £ 1 = $4.867.
3 The rates quoted are the initial rates for each rank. In most cases officers received higher rates after
certain periods of service.
4 Including, at June, 1919, the bonus paid to all officers who had not been released by 1st May.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[156]
WAGES A3STD HOUES OF LABOE.
157
The new warrant provides for lodging, light, and fuel allowances
for married officers at higher rates than for those unmarried, and
also grants furniture allowance to married men. In the above table,
where two rates are quoted for July, 1919, the higher rate applies to
married men and includes furniture allowance; the lower rate ap
plies to unmarried men. As regards ration and messing allowances,
no ration allowance was paid at August, 1914, but rations were
allowed to those serving abroad; a messing allowance was paid, but
this has been discontinued as from July, 1919.
The revised rates of pay for warrant officers, noncommissioned
officers, and men also date from July 1, 1919, and it is provided that,
where transfer to the new rates involves a loss of emoluments, the
soldier may continue to receive his old rates until circumstances
render them equal to or less than the new rates.
The following table shows a comparison between the new rates of
pay for certain ranks in infantry regiments and those at the outbreak
of war and at June, 1919:
RATES
OF RAY FO R C E R T A IN R A N K S IN IN F A N T R Y R E G IM E N T S IN
B R IT IS H ARM Y A T A U G U ST , 1914, J U N E , 1919, A N D JU L Y , 1919.
THE
Proficiency pay per day (if
qualified).
Regimental pay per day.
Rank.
Aug., 1914. June, 1919.1 July, 1919. Aug.,1914.2 June, 1919.3 July,1919A
Regimental sergeant major___
Regimental quartermaster ser
geant...........................................
Company sergeant major..........
Company quartermaster ser
geant...........................................
Sergeant........................................
Corporal........................................
Private..........................................
$1.22
$2.01
$3.41
$0.12
$0.12
.97
.97
1.64
1.64
2.92
2.43
.12
.12
.12
.12
.85
.57
.41
.24
1.52
1.12
6.91
6.73
2.31
.12
.12
1. 70
.12
.12
1.22 $0. 06 or .12 $0.06 or .12
6.67
. 06 or . 12
.06 or . 12
$0.12
.12
1 Including bonus paid to all soldiers who had not been released b y 1st of May, but excluding war pay
of Id. (2 cents) per day for each year’s service since Aug. 4,1914.
2 After 2 years’ total service.
3 After 6 months’ total service.
4 After 1 year’s total service.
6 The nominal rates at June, 1919, were 3s. 8d. (89 cents) for corporals and 2s. 9d. (67 cents) for privates;
but it was provided that no corporal should actually receive less than 3s. 9d. (91 cents), and no private
less than 3s. (73 cents). Where proficiency pay was earned, Id. or 3d. (2 or 6 cents), respectively, of this
pay was merged into the rates of 3s. 9d. (91 cents) and 3s. (73 cents).
e 3s. 6d. (85 cents) after 2 years’ service.
In addition to the increases in pay, there have also been additions
to the separation allowances. In August, 1914, the allowance for a
wife for sergeants, corporals and privates was 7s. 7d. ($1.85) per
week with an additional Is. 2d. (28 cents) per week for each child.
In June, 1919, the allowance for a wife was 15s. ($3.65) for sergeants,
and 12s. 6d. ($3.04) for corporals and privates, with extra allowances
of 10s. 6d. ($2.56) for the first child, 8s. ($1.95) for the second, 5s. 6d.
($1.34) for the third, and 4s. ($0.97) for each additional child. This
scale remains in operation under the new warrant, but it is subject to
revision on January 1, 1920.
155169°—20----H I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[157]
158
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
*
Standard Rates of Pay of Officers and Crews of
Italian M erchant Marine.
Translated by Alfred Maylander.
1
A Vita Marittima e Commerciale1 reports the results of a collecj tive agreement concluded by Italian shipowners and the Sea
men’s Federation (Federazione dei Lavoratori del Mare). The
agreement which became effective July 1, 1919, fixes standard rates
of pay, hours of labor, and working conditions of the navigating and
engineer officers, surgeons, pursers, petty officers, seamen, carpenters,
cooks, bakers, stewards, etc., of the Italian merchant marine. The
principal results of the agreement are reproduced below in the tables
and annotations to the tables.
Steamships.
Officers.
The following two tables show the standard monthly rates of the
basic pay, bonuses, clothing, entertainment, and active sea service
allowances, pension-fund contributions, and wage increases of officers
in the passenger and cargo service of transatlantic and subsidized
steamship lines and of those in the cargo service of independent ship
owners.
1 L a V ita M a rittim a e C om m erciale, A u g u st, Septem ber, and O ctober, 1919.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[158']
Genoa.
W AGES AND H O U E S OF LABOE
159
S T A N D A R D M O N T H L Y R A T E S O F P A Y ( I N L I R E 1) O F O F F I C E R S O F I T A L I A N
T R A N S A T L A N T IC A N D S U B S ID IZ E D S T E A M S H IP C O M P A N IE S , A N D O F O F F IC E R S
IN T H E CARGO S E R V IC E O F IN D E P E N D E N T S H IP O W N E R S , E F F E C T IV E JU L Y I
1919.
Cost of liv
ing.
Forfeiture
of shore
leave.
Increase granted by the R oyal Maritime
Commission, effective July 1,1919.
Transatlantic Companies.
O bh
w-2
Q
a
Grand total.
c3
£
A ctive sea-service allowance.
i
Borne
by the
Govern
m ent on
requsitioned
vessels,
on others
b y the
ship
owners.
Total.
i-«
£
Borne
by the
ship
owner.
War risk.
Gross tonnage.
Contribution to pension fund.
Class cf vessel and cceupaticn.
Clothing and entertainment allowance.
Bonuses.
P a s s e n g e r lin e r s.
Captain, chief engineer........ Over 10,000.... 1,000 75.00
Under 10,000.. 800 60.00
First mate, first engineer, Over 10,000___ 000 45.00
surgeon.
Under 10,000.. 500 37.50
Second m ate, second engi- Over 10,000.... 400 30.00
ncer.
Under 10,000.. 350 26.25
Third mate, third engineer. Over 10,000___ 250 18.75
Under 10,000.. 250 18.75
< hief purser............................ Over 10,000.... 500 37.5Ö
Under 10,000.. 425 31.87
Second purser.........................
200 15.00
20 150
20 150
20 130
50 50 150.00
50 50 120.00
GO 40 90.00
120 1615.00 120 1735.00
120 1370.00 120 1490.00
120 1095.00 100 1195.00
20 130
20 130
50
50
40 75.00
40 60.00
120 972.50 100 1072.50
120 850.00 100 950.00
130
130
130
130
130
130
50
50
5Ò
50
50
50
40
40
40
40
40
40
120
120
120
120
120
120
650 48.75
450 33.75
300 22.50
20 150
20 13(0
20 130
50
50
50
50 97.50
40 67.50
40 45.00
120 11,SO 25
1S00 25
120 911.25 100 1011.95
120 727.50 100 827.50
200 15.00
20 130
50
40 30.00
120 605.00 100 705.00
30 120 100
30 120 100
50 86.25
50 71.25
120 1124.37 120 1244.37
120 1001.87 120 1121.87
120 100
120 100
50 86.25
50 71.25
120 1094.37 120 1214.37
120 971.87 120 1091.87
100 100
100 100
100 100
40 52.50
40 45.00
40 37.50
120 788.75 100 888.75
120 727.50 100 827.50
120 666.25 100 766.25
100 100
40 30.00
120 605.00 100 705.00
30 120 100
30 120 100
50 86.25
50 71.25
120 1124.37
120 1001.87
26
20
20
20
20
20
52.50
37.50
37.50
75.00
63.75
30.00
788.75
666.25
663.25
972.00
880.62
605.00
100 888.75
100
100 766.25
100 1072.00
100 980. 62
100 705.00
Cargo lin e r s.
Captain, chief engineer........
First mate, first engineer...
Second mate, second engin-eer.
Third mate, third engineer.
..........
Subsidised Companies.
P a s s e n g e r a n d cargo lin e r s
i n th e M e d ite r r a n e a n serv
ice.
Italiana and Sicilia:
Captain—
Group 1.............................
Group 2.............................
Chief engineer—
Group 1............................
Group 2 ............... .............
First mate,first engineer—
Group 1............... .............
Group 2.............................
Second mate, second engi
neer.
Third mate, third engi
neer.
Marittima:
Captain—
Group 1................... ........
Group 2........................
575 43.12
475 35.62
575 43.12
475 35.62
....
350 26.25
300 22.50
250 18.75
200 15.00
575 43.12
475 35.62
....
N o rm a lly th e v a lu e o f th e lira is 19.3 cen ts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[150]
90 1214.37
90 1091.87
160
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
S T A N D A R D M O N T H L Y R A T E S O F P A Y (IN L IR E ) O F O F F IC E R S OF IT A L IA N
T R A N S A T L A N T I C A N D S U B S I D I Z E D S T E A M S H I P C O M P A N I E S , E T C .— C o n cld .
Subsidized Companies—Concluded.
©
Basic salar;
ft
o
d
’S
'S
o
o
.s
*03
©
fl
©
flc3
tù
fl
a
O
c
>
o ^
g .g
o
Ü
©
o*
flc3
►
O
^ ©
+3 -g
>*2
'gd'
o
fl w
c3
w
bo Q
®a
go
o
fl
M
©
Ü
©
03
©
©
o
<
JGrand tota:
§
Forfeiture
of shore
leave.
i
Gross tonnage.
Borne
by the
ship
owner.
War risk.
Class of vessel and occu
pation.
a
I1—1stH
J
d
I Cost of liv
ing.
'd
Borne
by the
Govern
m ent on
requsitioned
vessels,
on ethers
by the
ship
owners.
*03
Total.
Bonuses.
©*
S
o3
£O
P a s s e n g e r a n d cargo lin e s
i n the M e d ite r r a n e a n serv
ice— C o n ti n u e d .
Chief engineer—
Group 1............. ..............
Group 2 ............................
First mate,first engineer—
Group 1............................
Group 2............................ .................
Second"mate, second engineer.
Third mate, third engineer.
575 43.12
475 35.62
120 100
120 100
50 86.25
50 71.25
120 1094.37
120 971.87
90 1184.37
90 1061.87
350 26.25
300 22.50
250 18.75
100 100
100 100
100 100
40 52.50
40 45.00
40 37.50
120 788.75
120 727.50
120 666.25
75 863.75
75 802.50
75 741.25
200 15. OC
100 100
40 30.00
120 605.00
75 680.00
Independent Owners.
O cea n cargo service.
Captain, first engineer.........
Up to 4,500___
4,501 to'7,000..
Over 7,000.......
First mate, second engineer. Up to 4,500....
4,501 to 7,000..
Over 7,000.......
Second mate,thirdengineer. Up to 4,500___
4,501 to 7,001...
Over 7 ,0 0 .......
350
380
415
220
250
275
120
120
120
100
100
100
100
ICO
100
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
40
40
40
40
40
40
87.00
92.25
98.25
52.50
57.00
62.25
33.00
37.5
41.25
120 1007.00
120Ì1047.25
120 1093.25
120 712.50
120 747. 00
120 787.25
120 563.00
120 597.50
120 626.25
120 1127.00
120 1167.25
120 1213.25
100 812.50
100 847.00
100 887.25
ICO 663.00
100 697.50
100 726.25
505
535
570
305
330
360
190
215
240
120
120
120
100
100
10C
100
100
100
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
40
40
40
40
40
40
75.75
80.25
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
920.75
955.25
995. 50
660.75
689. 50
724.00
528.5 0
557.25
586.00
120 1040.75
120 1075.25
120 1115.50
100 760.75
100 789.50
100 824.00
100 628.50
100 657.25
100 686.00
340
120
120
120
100
100
100
100
100
100
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
40
40
40
40
40
40
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
731.00
748.25
759.75
499.75
534.25
563.00
120
120
120
100
100
100
100
100
100
580
615
C oastw ise cargo service.
Captain, first engineer.........
Up to 4,500....
4,501 to 7,000..
Over 7,000.......
First mate, second engineer. Up to 4,500....
4,501 to 7.000..
Over 7,000.......
Seeond mate, third engineer. Up to 4,500___
4,501 to 7,000...
Over 7,000.......
45. 75
49.50
54.00
28.50
32.25
36.00
M e d ite r r a n e a n cargo service.
Captain, first engineer.........
Up to 1,500....
1,501 to 3,000..
Over 3,000.....
First mate, second engineer. Up to 1,500___
1,501 to 3,000..
Over 3,000.......
Second mate, third engineer. Up to 1,500__
1,501 to 3,000..
Over 3,000__
365
165
195
220
(!)
(i)
0)
51.00
53.25
54.75
24.75
29.25
33.00
i The basic salary for these grades is fixed by individual contract.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[160]
851.00
868.25
879.75
599.75
634.25
663.00
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOE.
161
N otes R elating to A ll Shipping Lines.
"War bonus for active sea service.—Officers are granted a daily war
bonus amounting to 6 lire in the case of captains and chief engineers
and to 5 lire in that of officers of lower rank for each day of actual
navigation in all seas and while stopping in ports of the Adriatic and
Ionic Seas and in those of the Aegean coast, Libya, the Red Sea, and
of Italian Somaliland. The computation of this bonus is based on
the assumption that under normal conditions a steamer navigates on
an average of 20 days per month, with the exception of steamers of
the subsidized companies Marittima and Italiana in the Mediter
ranean service, in the case of which 15 days is assumed to be the aver
age number of days of actual navigation.
Infected ports.—If a steamer sails for ports officially pronounced
infected and does not go into quarantine, its officers and crew are
entitled to a bonus for the period beginning with the departure from
the last port preceding the infected port and ending with the arrival
in the next port. In the case of transatlantic and subsidized lines
this bonus is to amount to 15 per cent of the basic pay and in the case
of steamers of independent owners to 10 per cent.
N otes R elating to T ransatlantic and Subsidized Lines.
Pension fund.—These companies contribute to the pension fund of
each officer a sum equal to 7.5 per cent of his basic pay.
Profit sharing.—The navigating officers, engineers, and surgeons
of passenger steamers are to receive a share of the steamer’s receipts
of every voyage and of the savings in the consumption of coal and
lubricants. This share may not be less than 10 per cent of their
basic pay. The pursers are to share in a somewhat greater measure
in the savings in the commissary department.
Service premiums.—Ships’ officers shall be entitled to a service
premium of 10 per cent of their monthly basic pay for each five years
of continuous service in the same grade. This provision shall be
applicable to not more than four quinquennia. If in case of promo
tion the new salary, owing to the formerly drawn service premiums,
is inferior to the salary received before promotion the promoted offi
cer shall be entitled to the difference between the two salaries.
Service in a higher grade.—An officer intrusted with the duties of
a higher grade than his own shall be entitled to the pay of the higher
grade if he is employed on steamers of transatlantic companies, and
to a bonus equivalent to three-fourths of the difference between his
own pay and that of the higher grade if he is employed on steamers
of subsidized companies.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[101]
162
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Hours of service in 'port and at sea.—The hours of actual service
of ships’ officers shall be eight hours per day in offices on land as well
as on board in port and at sea.
Overtime.—Work performed beyond the normal hours of service
on Sundays, May 1. and all legal holidays shall be compensated at the
rate of 1 lira per hour. Work performed in anchoring a ship or in
weighing anchor on arrival and. departure, in moving the ship while
in port, in the loading and unloading of mail and baggage, in calcu
lations of navigation, as well as all work performed in the interest
of the safety of the ship, passengers, and cargo, shall not be con
sidered as overtime work.
Night watch in port.—One navigating officer and one engineer must
alternate in remaining on board nights and on holidays in case of
possible emergency. These officers shall bo entitled to 24 hours’ leave,
beginning at 8 a. m. of the day following the night watch, unless
the commanding officer disposes differently for very serious reasons
of service.
Annual leave.—If compatible with the exigencies of the service
ships’ officers shall be granted 20 days of annual leave. In case that
for unforeseen service reasons the company should not be able to
grant such leave the officer shall be entitled to extra pay for the days
of leave lost. Extraordinary leave not in excess of three days shall
not be deducted from the annual leave.
D iscm barkmen t Giving to disarmament. — Officers disembarked
owing to the putting out of commission of their ship or for any
other service reason shall hold themselves at the disposal of the com
pany and shall be entitled to full pay and sustenance for the entire
duration of their disembarkment. They shall, however, be obligated
to render service on board or on land and in the localities determined
by the company.
Sickness.—In case of sickness officers shall be entitled to full pay
for the first six months, half pay for the next six months, and to onethird of their pay for further six months. If the sickness has been
caused by the service, the officer shall in addition to full pay be en
titled to sustenance up to his full recovery, but not for a period in
excess of 18 months.
Industrial accidents.—If an officer becomes the victim of an in
dustrial accident while in service, and consequent to such accident is
discharged by the company he shall receive as compensation of all
his claims arising from the accident a sum equal to four years’ pay
in case of permanent total disability and to two years’ pay in case of
permanent partial disability. I f the accident is fatal, his surviving
heirs (wife, descendants, ascendants, and collaterals up to the third
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 162]
«
163
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
degree) shall receive a sum equivalent to four years of liis pay as
full compensation of all their claims.
First-class sustenance.—Captains, chief engineers, and surgeons
shall be entitled to first-class sustenance.
N otes R elating to T ransatlantic Companies Only.
Clothing allowance.—These companies grant to their officers a
monthly clothing allowance of 20 lire.
Bonus for compilation of the pay roll.—The officer charged with
the compilation of the pay roll and the paying of the crew receives
a monthly bonus of 25 lire.
N otes R elating to Subsidized Companies Only.
Entertainment.—The captains of the subsidized companies Italiana, Marittima, and Sicilia receive a monthly allowance of 30 lire
for entertainment.
Bonus for electric light service.—An allowance of 30 lire per
month granted for electric light service shall be divided by the two
engineer officers of lower grade.
1 oyages beyond the Straits.—The following monthly bonuses, are
to be paid to officers of cargo steamers of the companies Italians and
Sicilia for voyages beyond the Straits:
Captain, chief engineer______________________________ 125 lire.
First mate, first engineer_____________________________ 75 m*e.
Second and third mate, second and third engineer_______ GOlire.
Officers of passenger and cargo steamers of the company Marittima
are to receive the following bonuses for each voyage beyond the
Straits :
To B om bay.
T o B e n a d ir .
Captain, chief engineer____________
200 lire.
250 lire.
First mate, first engineer__________________ 100 lire.
140 lire.
Second mate, second engineer_______________ 50lire.
00 lire.
Third mate, third engineer______________
40lire. GOlire.
As each steamer on an average makes four such voyages, the officers
of steamers sailing beyond the Straits receive monthly about one-third
of the bonus specified above.
Steamers stationed abroad.—On steamers stationed abroad officers
are to receive the following monthly bonuses :
Captain, chief engineer_______________________________ 50 lire
First mate, first engineer_____________________________ 30 lire
Second mate, second engineer_________________________ 20 lire
Third mate, third engineer____________________________ 15 lire
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[163]
164
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
V
N otes R elating to Independently Owned Steam ers.
General.—The rates of pay shown in the table relate exclusively to
officers with certificate of master of ocean steam vessels or of first
engineer and are to remain in force as long as the standard freight
rate from Cardiff to Genoa remains higher than 12 shillings in
gold. The rate of pay of officers not possessing such certificates is
to be fixed by individual agreement with the shipowner.
Hours of service in port.—The actual hours of service in port
shall be eight hours per day during winter and nine hours during
summer for deck officers as well as engineer officers.
Division of the watch.—During navigation the watch of the deck
officers shall be divided into two turns and that of the engineer offi
cers into three (4 and 8).
The watch of the deck officers shall begin after the vessel has left
port and is in a condition satisfactory to the captain. That of the
engineer officers shall begin with the firing of the boilers preparatory
to departure.
Maintenance of auxiliary machinery.—During navigation the en
gineer officers shall perform the usual maintenance and repair work
on winches and other auxiliary machinery.
Night watch.—One deck officer and one engineer officer shall alter
nate in staying on board nights and on holidays in case of possible
emergencies.
Crew.
In the following tables are shown the standard rates of basic pay
and all bonuses and allowances of all members of the crews of trans
atlantic and subsidized steamship lines and of those in the service of
independent shipowners.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
i 104]
165
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR,
ST A N D A R D M O N TH LY R A TE S OF PA Y (I N L I R E 1) OP M E M B E R S OF T H E CR EW S
O F IT A L IA N M E R C H A N T ST E A M E R S, E F F E C T IV E JU L Y 1, 1919.
Transatlantic Companies.
B on u ses.
O c c u p a tio n .
B asic
pay.
B o rn e b y th e
sh ip o w n er.
C ost of
liv in g .
B o a ts w a in ....................................
B o a tsw a in ’s m a te ......................
C a rp e n te r 2 ..................................
C a rp e n te r’s m a t e 2..................
B r a z ie r ....................................
Q u a rte rm a s te r............................
A b le sea m a n 3 ............................
O rd in a ry sea m a n :
F i r s t class 3...........................
S econd class 3......................
A p p re n tic e 3__ : ....................
N u rse, m ale:
F ir s t c la s s .............................
S econd c la s s ........................
N u rs e , fem ale:
F ir s t c la s s .............................
Second c la s s ........................
F ir e m a n , firs t le a d in g ..........
F ir e m a n , le a d in g .......................
M a c h in is t......... L ........................
C hief e le c tric ia n .......................
E le c tric ia n .............................
F ir e m a n 3.....................................
T r im m e r .......................................
C hief s te w a rd ............................
S eco nd s te w a rd ..........................
L in en -ro o m s te w a rd 4..............
S te w a rd ( c a b in ) ..............
S te w a rd e ss (c a b in )....................
S te w a rd (d in in g ro o m ):
F ir s t c la s s ............................
S econd c la s s ........................
C ab in b o y ....................................
P a n try m e n :
F ir s t c la s s .......................... .
Second c la s s ........................
Sales c le rk ....................................
S econd cook &..............................
T h ir d cook...................................
C hief b a k e r ..................................
S econd b a k e r ..............................
S econd p a s tr y cook 6................
B u tc h e r ........................................
Oh i ef sto re k e e p e r.......................
Second s to re k e e p e r..................
T h ir d s to re k e e p e r.....................
S to rek e e p e r for th e c r e w ........
W ar
ris k .
In c rease
B o rn e b y th e g r a n te d
b y th e
G o v e rn m e n t
on re q u is itio n e d R o y a l
M ari
vessels, on
tim e
T o ta l.
o th e rs b y th e
s h ip o w n ers.
Com
m is
sio n , ef
F o rfei fec tiv e
C ost of t u r e of J u l y
liv in g . sh o re 1,1919.
le a v e.
A c tiv e
seaserv ice
allo w
an ce.
G ra n d
to ta l.
160
140
150
130
150
125
110
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
40.00
35. 00
37. 50
32. 50
37.50
31.25
27.50
no
no
no
110
no
no
100
470. 00
445.00
457.50
432.50
457. 50
426.25
397.50
50
50
50
50
50
50
20
520.00
495.00
507.50
482.50
507. 50
476.25
417.50
75
70
50
90
90
90
40
40
40
30
30
30
18.75
17. 50
12.50
70
70
70
323.75
317. 50
292.50
20
20
20
343. 75
337. 50
312.50
110
100
90
90
40
40
30
30
27. 50
25.00
100
100
397.50
385.00
20
20
417. 50
405.00
100
90
160
140
150
150
130
130
100
160
100
100
85
80
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
25 00
22.50
40.00
35.00
37. 50
37.50
32. 50
32.50
25.00
40.00
25.00
25.00
21.25
20.00
100
100
no
no
no
no
no
100
100
no
100
100
100
100
385.00
372.50
470.00
445. 00
457.50
457.50
432. 50
422. 50
385. 00
470.00
385. 00
385. 00
366.25
360. 00
20
20
50
50
50
50
50
20
20
50
20
20
20
20
405.00
392. 50
520.00
495. 00
507.50
507.50
482. 50
442.50
405. 00
520. 00
405. 00
405. 00
386. 25
380.00
65
60
50
90
90
90
40
40
40
30
30
30
16.25
15.00
12. 50
70
70
70
311.25
305. 00
292.50
20
20
20
331.25
325.00
312.50
120
85
80
140
120
120
110
100
no
120
100
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30.00
21.25
20.00
35.00
30.00
30. 00
27. 50
25. 00
27. 50
30.00
25.00
21.25
30.00
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
410.00
366. 25
360. 00
435. 00
410. 00
410. 00
397.50
385.00
397.50
410. 00
385,00
366. 25
410. 00
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
430.00
386. 25
380. 00
455. 00
430. 00
430. 00
417. 50
405. OO
417. 50
430.00
405. 00
386.25
430.00
85
120
1 N o rm a lly th e v a lu e of t h e lir a is 19.3 c e n ts.
... .
, ,
2 C arp en ters a re e n title d , to a m o n th ly allo w an ce of 3 lire as c o m p e n sa tio n for th e u se of th e n o w n tools,
W hich a re t o b e in s u re d fo r 300 lire a t th e e x p en se of th e sh ip p in g c o m p a n y .
3 A b le se a m e n r a te d a s s te e rs m e n , c a rg o w a tc h m e n , c a p ta in of th e h o ld , as w ell as firem en , o ilers, ch ief
g u a rd s , a n d s ea m e n a n d a p p re n tic e s a ssig n e d to w in ch es a re e n title d to a m o n th ly b o n u s of 5 lire.
4 A lin en -ro o m s te w a rd is c arrie d o n [y on s te a m e rs w ith a c c o m m o d a tio n s fo r m o re th a n 100 c a b in p assen g e rs
6 T h e w ages of t h e chief cook a n d c h ief p a s tr y cook are to b e re g u la te d b y in d iv id u a l c o n tra c t.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[165]
1G6
MONTHLY LAHOR REVIEW.
ST A N D A R D M O NTH LY R A Î E S OF PA Y (IN L IR E ) O F M E M B E R S OF T H E CREW S
OF IT A L IA N M ER C H A N T ST E A M E R S, E F F E C T IV E JU L Y 1, 191 9 — C ontinued.
Subsidized Companies.
B or Luses.
O c c u p a tio n .
In
crease
g ra n t
e d by
B orne
th e
b y th e
R oyal
s h ip
M ari
ow ner.
tim e
B a
C om T o ta l.
sic
m is
p ay .
sion
effec
F o r tiv e
Cost
Cost fe i J u ly
,
of W a r of
tu r e
1919.
liv ris k . liv
of
ing.
ing. shore
leave.
B orne b y
th e G ov
e rn m e n t
o n re q u i
sitio n e d
vessels, on
o th e rs b y
th e s h ip
ow ners.
G ra n d to ta l
i n th e
M ed ite rra n e a n
Sea.
Ita li
ana
and
S i
c ilia .
M a rit
tim a
i n th e
M ed
ite r
ra n e a n
S ea.
I ta li
ana.
M a r it
tim a .
457.50
445.00
438.75
445.00
432.50
100 385.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
20.00
37.50
37.50
37.50
37.50
37.50
15.00
507.50
495.00
488.75
495.00
482.50
405.00
495.00
482.50
470.25
482. 50
470. 00
400.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
337.50
325.00
312.50
332. 50
320.00
307.50
1
B o a tsw a in i .................................
D o .2.........................................
B o a ts w a in ’s m a t e ......................
( a r p e n t e r 3...................................
D o.4..........................................
A b le s e a m a n 5 .............................
O rd in a ry se a m a n :
F ir s t c la s s 3.............
S e co n d c lass 8......................
A p p re n tic e 5.................................
N u rse, m a le :
F ir s t c la s s .............................
S econd c la s s .........................
N u rse, fe m a le .................... .........
F ire m a n :
F ir s t le a d in g i .....................
D o 2.........................................
M a c h in is t......................................
C hief e le c tr ic ia n .......................
E le c tric ia n ...................................
F ir e m a n , d o n k e y b o ile r..........
F ir e m a n 5.................................
T r im m e r .............................
C h ief s te w a r d 0..............
D o.7.......................
D o.2....................................
S econd s te w a rd ..........................
S te w a rd ( c a b in ) .........................
S te w a rd e ss ( c a b in ) ...................
S te w a rd (d in i n g r o o m ) .........
C ab in b o v ...................................
C h ief c o o k 6............................
D o .'..................................
D o.2....................................
S econd c o o k 6..............................
D o .s........................................
T h ird c o o k ...................................
K itc h e n a t t e n d a n t ....................
B a k e r .............................................
P a s try c o o k .................................
P a n tr y m a n :
F ir s t c la s s ...........................
S econd c la s s ........................
S to rek e e p e r............................
A c tiv e seasen d e e
allo w an ce.
150
140
135
140
130
100
90
90
90
90
90
90
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
30
30
30
30
30
70
00
50
90
90
90
40
40
40
30 17.50
30 15.00
30 12.50
70 317.50
70 305.00
70 292.50
20.00
20.00
20.00
110
100
100
90
90
90
40
40
40
30 97 50
100 397.50
100 385.00
100 385.00
20.00
20.00
417 5,0
417 ^0
30 2 5 ! 00
2 0 .0 0
405.00
405.00
150
140
140
140
125
130
120
90
150
145
130
90
75
70
60
45
175
145
125
120
100
85
65
95
95
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
40
30 37. 50
50.00
f)0 00
50.00
50.00
50.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
50.00
50.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
507.50
495.00
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
n o 457.50
445 on
n o 445,00
110 445.00
110 426.25
100 422.50
100 410.00
100 372.50
n o 457.50
110 451.25
n o 432.50
100 372.50
100 353.75
100 347.50
70 305.00
70 2S6.25
n o 488.75
n o 451.25
100 416.25
100 410.00
100 385.00
100 366.25
70 311.25
100 378.75
100 378.75
37.50
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
37. 50
37. 50
37.50
15.00
15.00
15.00
37.50
37.50
37.50
15. CO
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
37.50
37.50
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
495.00
495.00
476.25
442.50
430.00
392.50
507.50
501.25
482.50
392.50
373.50
367.50
325.00
308.25
538.75
501.25
436.25
430.00
405.00
386.25
331.25
398.75
398.75
482. 50
482.50
463. 75
437.50
425.00
387.50
495.00
488.75
470. 00
387. 50
362.50
320.00
301.25
520.25
488.75
431.25
425.00
400.00
381.25
326.25
.393.75
393.75
95
70
85
90
90
90
40
40
40
30 23. 75
30 17.50
30 21.25
378.75
347.50
366.25
20.00
20.00
20.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
398.75
367. 50
386.25
393.75
362.50
381.25
37.50
35.00
33.75
35.00
32.50
25.00
35.00
35.00
31.25
32.50
30.00
22.50
37.50
36.25
32.50
22.50
18.75
17.50
15.00
11.25
43. 75
36.25
31.25
30.00
25.00
21. 25
16.25
23. 75
23. 75
110
no
110
no
no
100
100
100
1 O n a ll lines of th e Ita lia n a , a ll lin e s of th e S icilia w ith t h e e x ce p tio n of t h a t N ap les-C ag iiari, a n d on
th e B o m b a y , S o m a lia , B en a d ir, M assaua, R e d S ea, A le x a n d ria , a n d S a lo n ik i lin e s of th e M a r ittim a .
2 O n th e less im p o r ta n t lines of th e M a rittim a a n d on th e lino N ap les-C ag liari of th e S icilia.
B See fo o tn o te i of th is sectio n of th is ta b le a n d fo o tn o te 2 of p re c ed in g sec tio n .
4 See fo o tn o te 2 of th i s se c tio n of t h i s ta b le a n d fo o tn o te 3 of p re c e d in g sec tio n .
5 See fo o tn o te 3 of p re c e d in g s e c tio n of t h is ta b le .
6 O n th e B o m b a y a n d S o m a lia lin e s of th e M a rittim a a n d on th e A le x a n d r ia lin e of th e Ita lia n a .
7 O n a ll lines of th e I ta lia n a , on a ll lin es of th e S icilia w ith th e e x ce p tio n of th e N ap les-C ag liari lin e, a n d
o n th e B e n a d ir, M assaua, R e d S ea, A le x a n d ria , a n d S a lo n ik i lines of th e M a r ittim a ,
8 O n a ll lines.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[16GJ
WAGES AND HOUKS OF LABOE.
167
ST A N D A R D M O N TH LY R A T E S OP PA Y (IN L IR E ) OF M E M B E R S O F T H E C R EW S
OF IT A L IA N M ER C H A N T ST E A M E R S, E F F E C T IV E JU L Y 1, 1919— C oncluded.
Independent Owners.
B oi luses.
O c cu p atio n .
B o a ts w a in 1...................................
P ro v isio n m a s te r.........................
A b ie s e a m a n (s te e rs m a n )____
S e a m a n .........................................
D o . ......... .................................
A p p re n tic e 2............. ...................
D o.............................................
D o ............................................
F ir e m a n , first le a d in g h ..........
F ir e m a n .........................................
't r im m e r ....................................
C o o k ...............................................
S te w a rd ..........................................
C ab in b o y :
U n d e r 21 y e a r s ..................
21 y ears or o v e r.................
B o rn e b y th e
G o v e rn m e n t Increase
g ra n te d
on
B o rn e b y
re q u isitio n e d b y th e
th e s h ip
R oyal
A ctiv e
vessels,
on
ow ner.
M ari
seaB asic G ra
o th e rs b y
tim e
T o ta l. service G ra n d
p a y . tu ity .
th e sh ip
C
om
a
llo
w to ta l.
ow ners.
m ission,
an ce.
effective
J u ly 1,
. F o r
1919.
Cost
ost feitu re
of
W a r ■ Cof
of
liv
ris k .
living. shore
ing.
leave.
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
170
130
120
G0
80
30
40
C»0
170
140
110
155
100
5
5
5
80
100
5
5'
5
5
5
90
00
9090
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25.
25
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
42.50
32.50
30.00
15.00
20.00
7.50
10.00
15.00
42.50
35.00
27.50
38.7525.00
110
100
100
70
70
70
70
100
110
100
100
100
100
472.50
412.50
400.00
295.00
320.00
257.50
270.00
295.00
472. 50
425.00
387.50
443.75
375.00
50
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
50
20
20
20
20
522.50
432.50
420.00
315.00
340.00
277.50
290.00
315.00
522.50
445.00
407.50
403.75
395. Of)
90
90
25
25
30
30
20.00
25.00
70.
70
320.00
345.00
29
20
340.00
365.00
1 O p tio n al.
2 F o r th e lirs t 6 m o n th s of serv ice th e b a sic p a y is from 30 to 40 lire (15.79 to $7.72), a fte r G m o n th s
from 40 to-flO lire ($7.72 to $11.58).
N otes R elating to A ll Shipping Lines.
War bonus for active* sea service.—What lias been said about this
bonus in the notes relating to rates of pay of ships’ officers is also
applicable to crews, with the sole difference that in the ease of crews
this bonus amounts to 2.50 lire per day for petty officers, and to 1 lira
for all other members of the crew.
Infected ports.—The note relating to officers is also applicable to
crews.
Monthly leave.—Provided that the captain thinks it compatible
with the exigencies of the service, each member of the crew shall be
granted 24 hours leave per month of service. Such leave is to be
taken in the home port, and if not used each month may be accumu
lated during the same year. Accumulated leave which can not be
used owing to service exigencies is to be compensated with one day’s
pay for each day of leave lost. On steamers of independent owners
such compensation of lost leave is only compulsory if the member
of the crew has served continuously for at least one year on steamers
of the same owner.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[167]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
168
Donkey boiler -fireman.—The fireman assigned to the donkey boiler
is to receive a monthly bonus for the maintenance, heating, and
operation of this boiler. On steamers of the transatlantic and sub
sidized lines this bonus shall amount to 10 lire, and on steamers of
independent owners to 15 lire.
Notes R elating to T ransatlantic and Subsidized Lines.
Profit sharing.—The deck and engine crew of transatlantic com
panies receive a share of the traffic receipts of each voyage and of
the savings in fuel and lubricants; the cooks, stewards, storekeepers,
etc., share in the receipts from the sale of food. The subsidized
companies grant only to the engine crew a share of the savings in
fuel and lubricants.
Linen and bedding.—Petty officers, mechanics, electricians, and
stewards are furnished linen and bedding by the companies.
Uniforms.—These companies furnish two uniforms per year to the
deck and cabin crews. The trans-Atlantic companies pay one-half
of the cost of the uniforms and the subsidized companies one-third.
Hours of labor at sea,—At sea the watch of the deck crew shall be
divided into two turns, four hours of watch alternating with four
hours of rest, with relief from 4 to 6 p. m., and from 6 to 8 p. m.
during the watch below.
The watch of the engine crew shall under normal conditions be
divided into three turns, four hours of watch and eight hours of rest.
In no case shall a fireman attend more than three furnaces or
handle more than 4 tons of coal during 24 hours.
Work performed in excess of these hours shall be considered over
time work, unless performed in the interest of the safety of the ship,
passengers, or cargo.
Apprentices under 16 years of age shall be excluded from night
watch service and may not work more than 10 hours per day with a
two-hour intermediate rest.
The hours of labor of the cabin and kitchen crew and captains of
the hold shall be regulated according to the exigencies of the service.
Watch at sea,—The watch at sea begins for the engine crew: (a)
With the firing of the boilers if this takes place before noon of the
day previous to departure; (b) at noon of the day previous to de
parture if the boilers are being fired within the 24 hours of the
day previous to departure; and (c) at noon of the day of departure,
if the boilers are being fired on the day of departure. The first
watch shall be given four hours off duty before it begins its turn.
On arrival in port and after termination of the watch the crew
shall be given eight hours off duty before being called upon to do
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
169
port service. The watches off duty must also be given eight hours
off before being called upon for service.
For the deck crew the watch at sea begins at noon of the day of
departure. On departure and on arrival of the vessel each member
of the deck crew must be at his post and remain there until the vessel
has settled into its course or anchored. On the arrival in port and
after the vessel has been anchored the crew on duty must, after
termination of the watch, be given four hours off before being called
upon for port service, nor may the watch which on arrival was off
duty be called upon for service until it has had four hours off.
Hours of labor in port.—The normal daily hours of labor in port of
the entire crew shall be eight, distributed as follows: During the sum
mer from 7 to 8 a. m., 9 to 12 noon, and 2 to 6 p. m. During the winter
from 8 a. m. to 12 noon, and from 1 to 5 p. m. When traffic or special
local conditions require it, the captain of the vessel may order a differ
ing arrangement of the hours of labor. The total daily hours of labor
may, however, not exceed eight.
Stewards and cabin boys assigned to waiting on ships’ officers shall
with the exception of days of departure be given shore leave after
supper, but must return on board by 10 a. m. of the following day.
Overtime.—The notes on this subject relating to officers apply also
to the crew. Compensation for overtime to be made at the following
rates per hour: Petty officers, 0.60 lira ; able seamen, 0.50 lira ; ordi
nary seamen, cabin and mess stewards, and boys, 0.10 lira.
On arrival in the home port or in an Italian port of final destination
the crew off watch duty may not be compelled to work overtime unless
this is required for the safety of the ship, passengers, and cargo.
Loading and unloading.—With the exception of captains of the
hold assigned to watching the cargo, the deck crew assigned at what
ever hour to the loading or unloading of cargo shall be entitled to
extra pay at the rate of 0.50 lira per ton, 0.05 lira per empty barrel,
0.25 lira per head of large animals, and 0.10 lira per head of small
animals, if the work is performed on a piecework basis. Otherwise
the crew shall receive regular overtime pay for such work.
Night watch in po rt— Nights and on holidays one-half of the deck
crew and one-third of the engine, cabin, and kitchen crew must stay
on board against possible exigencies. On steamers of subsidized
companies on which the deck crew numbers 15 or more men and on
those of transatlantic companies on which the deck crew numbers
24 or more men the deck crew shall also be divided into three turns.
Members of the crew on actual night watch duty are on the fol
lowing day entitled to a continuous rest equal in duration to that
spent on night watch duty and in any case of not less than six hours.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
170
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Mechanics, electricians, and members of the cabin and kitchen
crew, who have remained on board for night watch duty, are entitled
to leave beginning at noon on the following day.
N otes R elating to Independently Owned: Steamers..
General.—The rates of pay shown in the preceding tables are to
remain in force as long as the standard freight rate from Cardiff to
Genoa remains at 23 shillings in gold.
Hours of labor at sea-.—At sea the watch of the deck crew shall be
divided into two turns alternating every four hours with relief from
4 to Gp. m. and from 6 to 8 p. m. during the watch below.
The watch of the engine crew shall under normal conditions be
divided into three turns, four hours of watch and eight hours of rest.
The work of firemen shall be so regulated that as a rule each fire
man shall handle from 4 to 5 tons of coal per day.
On steamers which can turn around to the right and left firemen
shall receive a supplemental monthly bonus of 19 lire and trimmers
one of 12.50 lire.
In case of sickness of firemen and trimmers the other firemen and
trimmers must divide the turn of the watch in the most convenient
manner, subject to approval by the chief engineer and without claim
to extra pay.
Members of the crew who have not completed the fourteenth year
of age arc exempt from night work and may not work more than 10
hours of every 24 hours.
Watch at sen.—The watch at sea begins for the engine crew with
the firing of the boilers preparatory to departure.
On arrival in ports in which the steamer stops more than 24 hours
and the watch at sea is discontinued the deck watch must wipe and
clean the engine aided by the fatigue watch. After this work has
been finished these two watches are entitled to six hours’ rest before
doing port service.
The watch below deck resumes port service after having had its
leave.
For the deck crew the watch at sea begins after the vessel has left
port and after the deck is in a condition satisfactory to the captain.
At sea the deck crew in addition to navigating service must also
attend to the cleaning and maintenance of the steamer from 6 a. m.
to 6 p. m. during summer and from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. during winter.
Hours of labor in port.—The normal daily hours of labor for the
entire crew (deck and engine) shall be eight hours during the winter
and nine hours during the summer, distributed as follows: During the
summer from 6.30 to 8 a. m .; from 8.30 a. m. to 12 noon; from 2 to 6
p. m. During the winter from 8 a. m. to 12 noon, and from 1 to
5 p. m.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[170]
171
WAGES ASD HOUES OF LABOE.
♦
The hours of labor of the cabin, mess-room, and kitchen crew will
be determined by the captain in accordance with the exigencies of
the service.
Overtime.—Overtime work on Sundays, May 1 (where this holiday
is observed by other classes of workers), and on holidays considered
legal holidays in the various ports in which the vessel is stopping
shall be compensated at the rate of 0.70 lira per hour in the case of
petty officers, of 0.60 lira in the case of able seamen, and of 0.50 lira
in that of ordinary seamen and apprentices. On the above holidays
the crew must perform two hours’ service in cleaning quarters.
The kitchen and cabin crew shall not be entitled to extra compen
sation for the discharge of its duties nor shall extra compensation be
paid to any member of the crew for work performed in the interest
of the safety of ship, passengers, and cargo.
Night watch in 'port.—Nights and on holidays one-lialf of the crew
must remain on board against possible exigencies. Unless otherwise
provided, the captain shall designate one or more persons for active
watch service, who on the following day shall be entitled to as many
hours of rest as were spent by them on night watch duty.
On holidays half of the crew not on watch shall be excused from
presenting themselves on board, unless for service reasons all or part
of them were previously requested to be present.
Sailing Vessels.
A tentative collective agreement as to the rates of pay and work
ing conditions of officers and crews of sailing vessels has been submit
ted by the Italian Seamen’s Federation (Federazione dei Lavoratori
del Mare) to the shipowners. The latter have agreed to pay the
wages stipulated in the schedule shown below, but have not con
sented to the working conditions laid down in the tentative agree
ment, which are still under discussion by the two parties. The rates
of pay agreed upon are the following:
ST A N D A RD M ONTHLY R A TES OF PA Y (IN L IR E i) OF OFFICERS A N D
ITA L IA N SAILING VESSELS, EFFEC T IV E JU L Y 1, 1919.
Rate of pay.
Rate of pay.
Occupation.
Occupation.
Captain
Mato,
Rnat.swa.in
steward
W ith
board.
.............
................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CREW ON
540
400
350
315
With
board.
Without
board.
700
500
450
415
Able seam an................................
Ordinary seam an.......................
B ov.................................................
Apprentice....................................
1 Normally the vaine of a lira is 19.3 cents.
[171]
300
250
200
150
V/ithout
board.
400
350
300
250
172
M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.
Notes.
Cost-of-living bonus.—In addition to tlie monthly rates of pay
shown in the preceding table the officers and crew are entitled to
receive a cost-of-living bonus. Shipowners are to pay this bonus to
the Seamen’s Federation for the purpose of establishing the cooper
ative society Garibaldi. The monthly bonus of captains has been
fixed at GO lire, that of the mate at 50 lire, and that of the crew at
45 lire.
Captains with certificate.—If the captain or mates are in posses
sion of certificates as masters of ocean vessels or of long coastwise
trade (Gran Cabotaggio), the monthly rate of pay, with board, of
the captain shall be 1,100 lire, of the first mate 800 lire, and of the
second mate 500 lire. In such a case, however, the captain and the
ships’ officers shall not be entitled to compensation in case of short
age of the crew, nor shall the captain receive 2 per cent of the freight
receipts.
Voyages beyond the Straits.—On voyages beyond the Straits the
entire personnel of the ship shall be entitled to a bonus of 100 lire
per month.
Shortage of crew.—If for any reason whatever the crew is short
one or more persons and these can not be replaced, their pay and
board shall be distributed among the crew, inclusive of the captain.
Share of the freight receipts.—In addition to his contractual pay
the captain shall receive 2 per cent of the freight receipts of each
voyage.
Infected parts.—Whenever a vessel undertakes voyages to infected
or malarious ports, the crew shall be entitled to a bonus of 20 per
cent of the basic pay from the day of the departure of the vessel
for the infected port up to the date of arrival at this port and from
the day of departure from the infected port up to the day of arrival
in the port of destination.
Extension of enrollment.—If on expiration of the enrollment
the vessel is in a foreign port and the crew ships for the home
voyage, it shall be entitled to a bonus of 15 per cent of the basic pay
for the entire period of extension of the enrollment.
Changes in ivage rates.—If during the period of enrollment the
pay rates shown in the preceding table are increased or decreased
by order of the Seamen’s Federation, such increases or decreases
shall be applicable to the crew.
Monthly leave.—Members of the crew shall, if in the opinion of
the captain this is compatible with the exigencies of the service, be
entitled to 24 hours’ leave for each month of service, such leave to
be granted during sojourn in ports. I f for service reasons such
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[172]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR,
#
^
173
lein e can not be granted the leave lost shall be compensated for
with double pay.
Hours of labor at sea.—"Watch service at sea shall be performed
according to usage. The watch below may, however, not be called
upon for service except in the interest of the safety of ship and cargo
in cases of force majeure.
If during a voyage the crew is ordered to throw the ballast over
board, such work shall be considered extra work and be compen
sated at the rate of 1 lira per ton, unless the throwing overboard of
the ballast is done for reasons of safety of the vessel and cargo.
Hours of labor in port.—In port the hours of labor shall be the
same as those observed by the customhouse. Sundays, May 1, and
legal State holidays shall be considered holidays.
Overtime.— Work performed on week days beyond the regular
hours of labor shall be compensated at the rate of 1 lira per hour,
and overtime work on holidays at 1.5 lire per hour.
Accidents. All members of the crew shall be insured by and at
the cost of the shipowner against industrial accidents for the period
and on the basis of the monthly rates provided for in the accident
insurance law. Any member of the crew who has not been or can
not be insured shall be compensated by the shipowner in the same
manner as if he had been insured.
Shorter Working* Day in German Coal Mines.
C
OAL miners of the Ruhr district in Germany having made de
mands for a six-hour shift, the minister of labor, in accord
ance with a decree of June 18, 1919, appointed a commission
to investigate the question of working hours in the Ruhr mining in
dustry. The mine owners’ associations, the three great miners’ as
sociations, and the salaried employees’ associations were represented on
this commission. There were in addition medical representatives and
experts from other mining districts. The commission, with Dr. Ernst
Francke presiding, sat 18 times and thoroughly examined the ques
tion of the reduction of working hours in the hard-coal mines of the
Ruhr district. Experts named by the commission were called to give
evidence, and mines, specified by mine owners as well as by miners,
were visited for inspection. An article in Soziale P raxis1 reports the
results of the inquiry as follows:
The commission divided the field of inquiry into two parts. First, the socio
political aspect was considered, particularly from the point of view of health
considerations. Then the economic and technical side of the problem was
discussed.
1 Soziale Praxis und Archiv für Volkswohlfahrt.
155169°—2 0 -— 12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[173]
Berlin, August 28, 1919,
174
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Tlie commission was unanimous in stating th at from the point of view of
health a shorter shift would be advantageous. Already the shortening of the
shift by If hours, taken in conjunction with other factors, showed unmistakable
results. It was not possible to supply a statistical statement showing the
exact extent to which the improvement was the result of shorter hours or was
produced by the other factors. It is certain, however, that the shorter shift
played a very important part, and it is to be expected that the full effects of
the shortening of the shift by 1A hours will be seen in the better state of health
of the workers. It has not been possible to reach the position which had been
attained before the outbreak of the war, but taking all conditions into consid
eration, this position lias almost been reached. The miners’ representatives
and the mine owners’ representatives draw opposite inferences from this
ascertained fact.
The miners’ representatives held that a further reduction of working hours
would serve a good purpose. The mine owners’ representatives considered such
a reduction unnecessary. The improvement in the food supply played an im
portant part, and an increase of rations—particularly of fats was recom
mended by all members of the commission.
It was no easy task to make an international comparison, because of vary
ing customs. A long discussion took place on this point. In the opinion of
the miners’ representatives the German miner is worse off than the British
miner. The mine owners’ representatives were of the opinion that he is
better off. Both sides agreed that miners have a longer shift in Belgium and
France than in Germany. A great deal of time was spent in dealing with the
question of the effects of the reduction of working time by one and one-half
hours— (1) on the working tim e; (2) on the time for hauling coal; and (3)
on the output.
The parties were unable to arrive at an agreement. The employers declared
that in any event they feared a further reduction of output as a result of
shorter hours. The workers, however, while admitting a slight reduction
during the transition period, regarded the shortening of working hours as
the best means in the long run of encouraging a man to take pleasure in
his work and thus increase his output. It would also have the effect of en
couraging men to take to mining as an occupation and thus increase the
supply of labor. In this way the total output would be increased.
The employers regard the diminished output since the reduction of hours as
a proof of their contention. The percentage of diminution is attributable to
the reduction of hours and is, to say the least, in proportion to the reduction
of hours. A further proportionate diminution must be anticipated as the result
of a further reduction of hours. Probably a still further diminution even
will result, because with diminished production almost the same amount of
nonproductive work is involved, with the result that the final effect will be
more adverse. The fact that any reduction of hours affected not the nonpro
ductive part of the shift but the actual work of production brought about still
worse results.
On the last point the workers had other views. They regarded it as prac
ticable that, by means of arrangements which were to be discussed later, the
reduction of hours might affect the nonproductive part of the shift and not
the time spent in actually getting the coal.
The nonproductive part of the shift can (in the opinion of the workers) be
shortened if the men be conveyed to and from the coal face. Some of the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[H i]
*
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
»
175
workers’ representatives were of the opinion that a regular service by means
of a cable railway would have this effect. The employers and the other
workers’ representatives, however, were of the opinion that it would not be
advantageously practicable and that previous experience in transporting the
workers to and from the actual place of work did not justify the hope that
this method would be a success. Furthermore, the employers pointed out
that the technical preparations for such a transport would take a long time.
Nevertheless, they made a general recommendation that improvements should
he made in this direction after the miners’ representatives had expressed their
willingness to cooperate.
The workers’ representatives maintained, moreover, that the feared dimi
nution of output would be avoided if various technical improvements were
introduced. Special mention was made of an increased number of trucks
and tubs for use in the pit and improvements in the use of compressed air.
The employers, however, replied that everything possible had been done along
these lines; that only a slow and slight increase in production could be an
ticipated; and that such measures would only slightly reduce the unfavorable
effects of shorter shifts.
“ More miners ” was unanimously agreed upon to be the most effective means
of compensating for shorter hours. A larger supply of labor is dependent in
turn on more housing accommodation and on the general condition of the labor
market, and last, but not least, on an amendment of the unemployment grant.
Improvement along these lines would require time.
But if it be calculated th at the former level of output could be attained by
these means there still remains the technical difficulty that if the “double
hauling shift” is maintained this haulage is crowded into such a brief space
of time that it could not be dealt with except by completely changing the
methods of haulage. It was unanimously agreed that such a change would
involve a long period and heavy cost. The workers’ representatives therefore
suggested that hauling should be done during three shifts. The employers ob
jected that this would mean a disproportionate increase in the number of
workers, and that the repair work would be seriously affected, because though
the few available hours under a triple haulage shift system might be sufficient
for repair work in the headings they would be utterly inadequate for repair
work in the shafts, main haulage ways, self-acting inclined planes, and the es
tablishments above ground. Therefore a technical limit is set which is in
surmountable. The miners, however, considered that there would be sufficient
time for repair work in the shafts, main haulage ways, and pitheads. The
workers, basing their arguments on the above-mentioned views as to technical
and economic problems, have come to the conclusion that a shortening of the
shift might perhaps result' in a slight temporary reduction of output, but that
this would soon be changed into a considerable increase in total output.
The employers, on the other hand, are convinced that a shortening of the shift
would inevitably result in a substantial diminution of output and that only a
partial compensation would be possible even if a long period were allowed to
secure an increased supply of labor, to build dwellings and to transform the
plant and machinery. The scientific members of the commission supported
this view.
The effect on the economic side of the m atter would be seen in increased cost
of production for mining enterprises. This, in turn, would bring about in
creased prices for coal and increased prices generally, and it would inevitably
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[175]
176
M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.
cause a further drop in the value of the mark. The three sections of the com
mission were of one mind on these points. The workers, however, maintained
that the effects of a four-shift system on output would bear such fruitful re
sults throughout the whole of the industry, trade, and commerce of the country
as to compensate for the expected unfavorable results.
There was perfect agreement in regard to the severe shortage of coal which
is to be expected during the coming autumn and winter. This was realized
after the coal commissioner’s representative had made his report. A comparison
of this year’s conditions with last year’s shows th at no stocks have been laid in ;
output has dropped to two-thirds of the norm al; the Entente demands many
millions of tons of coal. Truly, a disconsolate picture.
With due consideration of the socio-political questions involved,
particularly questions of health, also technical and economic questions
and the situation with regard to the coal supply, the various sections
of the commission tabled the motions which follow. In order to
render agreement easier of attainment the miners’ representatives
postponed the date for introduction of the six-hour shift to four
months from the date fixed in their original motion, and the mine
owners’ representatives dropped a part of their own original motion
in favor of the wording of a motion as drawn up by the scientific
representatives.
Miners’ Motion.
1. That the National Government be asked by the commission to
approach the other Powers with the proposal that the six-hour shift
be introduced for work below ground in coal mines by means of an
international convention. (Vote: 6 for; 12 against.)
2. That the commission should be declared a permanent institution
by the minister of labor, in order that he may be in a position to inves
tigate all technical and other preparations for the introduction of
the six-hour shift, which shall become effective not later than Febru
ary 1, 1920. (Vote: 6 for; 12 against.)
Scientific Representatives’ Motion.
1. The same as (1) above. (Vote: See paragraph 1 above.)
2. That the commission be declared permanent—retaining its pres
ent powers and authority—by the minister of labor. It shall continue
to investigate by means of expert equipartisan committees whether
all technical and other preparations to render possible the introduc
tion of the six-hour shift are being carried out in the individual mines
and by all authorities concerned. The commission shall meet again at
the end of November in order to examine the evidence and decide
whether or not the six-hour shift can be introduced on February 1,
1920, without endangering the coal supply of Germany. (Vote: 6 fo r;
12 against.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[176]
W AGES AND H O U R S OF LABOR.
177
Mine Owners’ Motion.
1. That the commission request the National Government to ap
proach other Powers forthwith through diplomatic channels for the
purpose of bringing about an international convention with rdspect
to the introduction of the six-hour shift in hard-coal mines. (Vote:
0 for; 12 against.)
2. That the commission be declared permanent—retaining its pres
ent powers and authority—bj^ the minister of labor. It shall continue
to investigate by means of expert equipartisan committees from among
its midst whether all technical and other preparations for the pur
pose of increasing the output are being carried out in the individual
mines and by all authorities concerned. The commission shall meet
again at the end of November in order to examine evidence and de
cide whether a further reduction of the hours of labor of workers
below ground in mines be feasible without endangering the coal supply
of Germany. (Vote : 6 fo r; 12 against.)
Possible Harmful Effects of a Shorter Shift.
In this connection an article in the Deutsche Tages-Zeitung on
possible harmful effects of a shorter shift deserves mention. The
Essen correspondent of this paper writes as follows: 1
The considerable reduction of working hours obtained by the miners as a
result of their determined action appears to the great bulk of the miners to
go not nearly far enough, so that they are pressing for a six-hour shift. At
miners’ meetings the impression is always given that the shortened hours are
necessary on account of undernutrition. But the attentive observer in the
Rhenish-Westphalian mining district will discover that the free time resulting
from the seven-hour shift is not devoted to recreation, but to subsidiary work
done for money. This practice has increased to such an extent that it en
dangers the employment of others. Thus the building workers make an ap
peal in the Westfälische Allgemeine Zeitung to the local miners not to take
the bread out of the mouths of the bricklayers by working seven to eight hours
a day in addition to their mining shift. Similar complaints have been made
from. Bochum and Recklinghausen. This abuse not only contributes to keep
the coal output down, but it also increases unemployment in many trades and
makes it permanent. In every town there are thousands of unemployed ob
taining relief at a high cost to the State. This supplementary work of the
miners robs these men of the possibility of earning their own living. Of the
5,000 unemployed in Essen, more than 2,000 could find work if no supplementary
work were being done.
1 Q uoted in D ie K onjunk tur, B erlin , J u ly 10, 1919.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[177]
178
M ONTHLY
LA BO R R E V IE W .
Have Wage Increases Improved the Economic
Condition of German Workers?
HE question as to whether wage increases have improved the
economic condition of German workers is discussed in the
Metallarbeiter-Zeitung,1 the official organ of the German
Metal Workers’ Federation, which is one of the largest and most in
fluential of German trade-union organizations. The question is an
swered in the negative, and the salient points in this discussion are
here quoted in full :
T
Before the war it was obvious that only a part of the rise in wages wrung
from the employers by the workers was a gain, as the greater part w as swal
lowed up by the ever-increasing rise in the cost of commodities. The workers
are seeking a net improvement of their living conditions, which finds some ex
pression in the fact that the national wealth lias risen in value by about 98,000,000,000 marks yearly, and the struggle for the distribution of this increase
between employers and employed goes on. Had it not been for the tradeunions, almost the whole of it would have gone into the pockets of the em
ployers. The struggle by the trade-unions was for the raising of the status of
the workers, and the justice of it was acknowledged by all but the most selfish
and overreaching of the employers. The revolution has done much to en
large the political freedom of Germany, but the economic position resulting
from the war presses heavily on the people and threatens to crush them. The
workers, manual and nonmanual, do not always find the rise in wages and
salary enough to make ends meet. The war has reduced the purchasing power
of money and it is still falling. The prices of all necessaries of life have risen
very seriously for various reasons; shortage and the fact that demand ex
ceeds supply is a principal cause, but the substitution of a paper for a gold
currency and the loss of the war itself are important factors. The result
has been a widespread demand for higher wages, and since November, 1918.
the wages have risen considerably, but no one can assert that the conditions of
living have improved; it is impossible that they should, because the prerequi
sites are wanting.
If all wages and salaries were doubled to-morrow this would not necessarily
represent improvement of the condition of manual and nonmanual workers,
but rather an opposite tendency. This may be illustrated by the following
example: Before the war the daily milk supply of Düsseldorf was 130,000 liters
[34,342.8 gallons], and this was equivalent to one-third of a liter [0.352 quart]
per capita based on a population of 400,000. The daily supply at present is
20,000 liters [5,283.5 gallons], or one-twentieth of a liter [0.0528 quart] per
capita. Were the income of Düsseldorf multiplied by three the milk supply
would not be increased, and a similar line of argument applies throughout the
whole country. Taking milk only, there is no more to be h a d ; there is a
great shortage of milch cows, and those there are get bad food and too little
of it. One of the results is that a portion of the milk is held up by profiteers
for higher prices. Throughout the whole country there is only one-half of the
foodstuffs that it contained before the war. This condition can not be
remedied by raising wages and salaries or by the issue of paper money. In-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M eta lla rb eitcr-Z eitu n g , S tu ttg a r t, A u g u st 9, 1919.
[178]
*
WAGES A X n H O U E S OF LABOE.
0
m
179
crease of production at home and increase of import from abroad is the onlycure. There is food enough abroad if we can pay for it, but we have not the
means. Foreigners will have nothing to do with German paper money, and
we must pay either in gold or goods. Since the revolution the gold reserve of
the national bank has fallen from 2,500,000,000 to 1,000,000,000 marks ,1 and
the difference has been used to purchase foodstuffs. This high road to
bankruptcy can not be followed for long; we must export goods, and to im
prove the conditions of life we must produce. If goods produced in Germany
are too dear—and high wages and feeble effort may have this result—we are
at once faced by foreign competition; no one will buy our goods; our conditions
of living will be made worse; and any person who advises the workers other
wise is only fooling them. Socialization will not alter the state of affairs unless
it affects the quantity and kind of goods produced. I t will come, however,
and whether sooner or later depends on a variety of circumstances, not the
least of which will be the attitude of the Entente toward us. But socialization
will do no good unless it brings with it a great increase in production of goods,
and the mere raising of wages and salaries is purely illusory. Every increase
of wages entails an equivalent rise in price; for wages plus the employer’s
profit determine the price of goods. At present, however, profits are not on
the up grade. Hence the mere rise of wages has effects analogous to the injec
tion of morphine.
The need of the hour is a fall in prices and a rise in production. The
Government, by paying out 1,500,000,000 marks for foodstuffs, has undoubtedly
taken a right step, but the results of this step will be jeopardized if it is
followed by further demands for an increase in wages and if production is
checked by constant strikes. The strike to-day is a two-edged weapon; the
workers need not renounce it as a weapon, but it should only be used after full
and serious consideration of the evil conditions under which we are living and
in no case without the fullest regard for trade-union principles.
1 O w ing to th e flu ctu a tin g v a lu e o f th e G erm an m ark co n v ersio n s are n o t m ade.
par v a lu e o f th e m ark is n o rm a lly 2 3 .8 cen ts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1791
T he
MINIMUM WAGE,
American Minimum Wage Laws at Work.
MERIC AN Minimum Wage Laws at Work is the title of an
article by Dorothj7W. Douglas of Seattle, Wash., appearing
in the December, 1919, issue of the American Economic
Review. The writer sketches briefly the historical development of
legislation on this subject in Australia and Great Britain and, some
what more fully, in the United States. Two general types of laws
are represented by the acts of Massachusetts and Oregon, respectively,
the former not being actually enforceable, while the latter, developing
under circumstances somewhat different, provides penalties for noncompliance.
The conflict of interest between the success of the business and the
welfare of the worker was formally recognized in some of the earlier
laws, and is in evidence in the attitude and action of employer repre
sentatives on wage boards. Actual cost of living as shown by weekly
budgets is not fully persuasive; “ usually the wage finally agreed
upon lags about a dollar behind the original budget,” which is itself
commonly too low.
There is also found to be a lack of flexibility in administration,
especially in the face of such rapid industrial changes as have been
experienced in the past two or three years. Another weakness is held
to exist in the lack of centralized authority in the commissions, whose
hands are tied too closely by the requirements of dependence on the
action of advisory boards. These latter are likely to be partisan, and
inclined to debate, while the employee representatives are probably
neither able nor courageous enough to stand up against those of the
employers.
Recommendations are made under three heads: First, the need for
a real living standard ; second, the need for a more flexible standard;
third, the need for centralization of administrative responsibility.
Under the first, the findings of such an agency as the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics would furnish a basis, while the same
data would afford a standard for adjustments from time to time. To
meet the ends of the third suggestion it is proposed that minimum
wage laws be enforced by a bureau in the department of labor of the
State, with a special deputy commissioner of labor at its head.
It is also strongly urged that there be a campaign to secure public
interest and confidence in the work of the commissions and adequate
appropriations to carry on their work.
180
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[180]
COOPERATION.
Activities of British Cooperative Societies
During 1917.1
HE following particulars relating to industrial cooperative
societies in the United Kingdom are based upon returns made
direct to the Ministry of Labor, supplemented by information
supplied by the Cooperative Union and the chief registrar of
friendly societies.
At the end of 1917 there were in the United Kingdom 1,465 indus
trial cooperative societies, with an aggregate membership of 3,831,896; a total share, loan, and reserve capital of £81.770,273 ;2 a total
trade (distributive and productive) of £272,746,849 ;3 and a total
profit—before deduction of interest on share capital—of £18,023,879.
Excepting for decreases in the number of societies—due mainly to
amalgamation—and in the amount of profit, these figures show con
siderable growth as compared with 1916, there being an increase in
membership of 268,127, or 7.5 per cent; in capital of £3,832,537, or
4.9 per cent; and in trade of £35,221,714. or 14.8 per cent. The profit,
on the other hand, showed a decrease of £934,509, or 4.9 per cent. As
regards the increase in trade, it should be remembered that the
higher level of prices has had an important bearing on the increased
value of sales.
The total number of persons directly employed by the societies
was 156,945,3 and the total wages paid during the year amounted to
£11,611,976,3 compared with 154,622 employees and £10,391,245 in
wages in 1916.
Distribution.
At the end of 1917, 1,339 retail and two wholesale industrial socie
ties were engaged in distribution. These societies had an aggregate
membership of 3,790,448; a total share, loan, and reserve capital of
£73,010,227 ; sales amounting to £216,951,643, and a profit on distribu
tion—before deducting interest on share capital—of £17,114,849;
while the total number of persons employed in distribution by the
societies was 100,756, and the total wages paid £7,042,322.
Of the total profit of £17,114,849, a sum of £15,922,596 was made
by the retail societies, and £1,192,253 by the two wholesale societies.
1 Labour G azette, L ondon, N ovem ber, 1919, pp. 4 6 5 -4 6 7 .
2 T h e par v a lu e o f th e B r itis h pound ste r lin g is $ 4 .8 6 6 5 , o f th e s h illin g 2 4.33 cen ts and
o f th e pen n y 2.03 cen ts. O w ing to th e flu ctu a tin g e x ch a n ge rate no a tte m p t is m ade in
th is a r tic le to m ake co n v ersio n s in to U n ited S ta te s m oney.
3 T h ese figures are e x clu siv e o f th e num ber a nd w a g e s o f p erson s em ployed in a g r ic u l
tu re by in d u str ia l so c ie tie s, and o f th e sa les and tr a n sfe r s of a g r ic u ltu ra l produce by
th e s e so cie ties.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[181]
181
182
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
In the case of the retail societies the greater part of the profit was
distributed to the members as a dividend on purchases at an average
rate of Is. 8-^-d. in the pound sterling in England and Wales, 2s. 5fd.
in Scotland, and Is. Id. in Ireland, the average for the United King
dom being Is. 9|d. Compared with 1916, these rates of dividend
showed a decrease of old. in England and Wales, 4|d. in Scotland,
2jd. in Ireland, and 5fd. for the United Kingdom. Nonmembers
usually receive dividends at one-lialf these rates.
The English and Scottish wholesale societies paid to members a
dividend on purchases of 3d. and old. in the pound sterling, respec
tively. This was a decrease of 2d. in the case of the English Whole
sale Society and of 2^d. in the case of the Scottish Wholesale Society.
Profit-sharing with employees'—Of the total 1,339 retail societies,
132, employing 15,255 persons and paying wages amounting to
£1,096,565 in their distributive departments, allotted out of the profits
a total of £43,425 to their employees as a bonus on wages, this being
equal to 4 per cent.
Production.
In 1917, there were 1.108 industrial cooperative societies of various
types engaged in production, consisting of 985 retail and 2 wholesale
distributive societies having productive departments, and of 121 asso
ciations for production only; these consisting of 4 corn-milling socie
ties, 39 breadmaking and other consumers’ societies, and 78 associa
tions of workers.
The following table shows by industry groups the number of per
sons employed, the amount of wages paid and the amount of sales,
during 1917:
N U M B E R OF PE R SO N S EM PL O Y ED , AM OUNT PA ID IN W AGES, AM OUNT OF SALES
D U R IN G 1919 B Y CONSUM ERS’ A N D W O R K E R S’ COOPERATIVE PRODUCTIVE SOCIE
T IE S, B Y IN D U S T R Y GROUP.
Consumers’ societies.
Industry group.
Number of
employees.
Workers’ societies.
Amount
paid in
wages.
Amount
of sales.
Number of
employees.
Amount
paid in
wages.
Amount
of sales.
Food and tobacco.......................
Clothing........................................
Soap, candles, and sta r ch .. .
Textiles..........'..............................
Building, quarrying, and
woodworking...........................
Printing........................................
Metal, engineering, and shipbuilding.....................................
Other industries.........................
15,435
21,233
1,701
2; 641
£
1,535,310
1,455,994
135,578
157,237
£
42,864,120
4,620,108
2,122,604
1,029,119
167
4,036
£
15,010
289,595
£
192,816
1,621,474
1,623
129,672
971,269
2,940
1,853
356,533
143,791
778,888
543,422
144
941
17,021
87,453
53,779
312,486
563
2,453
59,560
147,427
214,144
360,180
391
48
32,428
4,679
86,159
15,863
Total, 1917.........................
Total, 1916.........................
Per cent of increase ( + ) or decrease ( —) .................................
48,819
50,498
3,991,430
3,771,286
52,532,585
46,340,593
7,350
7,625
575,858
518,942
3,253,846
2,592,210
-3 .3
+ 5 .8
+13. 4
-3 .6
+ 11.0
"b25. 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[182]
COOPERATION'.
*
183
Profit-sharing with employees.—Of the 1,108 societies engaged in
industrial production, 126, employing 10,432 persons in production,
with wages amounting to £823,689, allotted a sum of £51,110 to these
employees as a bonus on wages, this being equal to 6.2 per cent. Of
the total amount £10,162 was allotted by 81 retail distributive so
cieties, £7,533 by 3 consumers’ productive societies, and £33,415 by 42
associations of workers.
Phare of employees hi mmiagement.—Sixty-nine of the 78 associa
tions of workers for production, with sales amounting to £3,227,210,
or 99.2 per cent of the total sales of the associations at work in 1917,
made returns showing the extent to which their employees and others
shared in the membership, capital, and'management of the associa
tions. The returns showed that the total membership of the 69
associations was 25,279, of whom 4,819, or 19.1 per cent, consisted of
employees; 15,884, or 62.8 per cent, of other individuals; and 4,576,
or 18.1 per cent, of other societies. Of the 7,254 persons employed
by the associations, 4,819, or 66.4 per cent, were members of the
associations emplojdng them.
Of the £889,839 share and loan capital, £157,124, or 17.7 per cent,
belonged to employees ; £340,505, or 38.3 per cent, to other individual
members; and £321,597, or 36.1 per cent, to other societies. The re
maining £70,613, or 7.9 per cent, consisted of loans from nonmembers,
including bank overdrafts.
The total number of directors or committeemen of the associations
was 660, of whom 274, or 41.5 per cent, were employees of the associa
tions; 255, or 38.6 per cent, were other individual members; and 131,
or 19.9 per cent, were representatives of other (shareholding) societies.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[183]
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.
Minnesota Plan for the Reeducation and Place
ment of Cripples.
By OSCAR M. SULLIVAN .1
C
ORRECT systems and correct methods for the rehabilitation
of cripples bid fair to be the subject of as much interchange
and conflict of views in the years just ahead as has been the
case for some time with similar topics in the field of workmen’s com
pensation. I t is the purpose of this article to call attention to the
Minnesota plan for the reeducation and placement of cripples in the
belief that it has many features which might well be considered by
other States when casting around for standards for such legislation.
In language the reeducation act' is almost identical with the Massa
chusetts act, pioneer in the field. The chief essentials in which it dif
fers are that authority is placed under the State board for vocational
education instead of the industrial accident commission, and that the
scope includes all cripples. For the phraseology, the combination of
conciseness of expression with comprehensiveness, due acknowledg
ment is made of indebtedness to the Bay State framers of social
legislation.
The Minnesota act has been in force since July 1, 1919; hence the
interpretation that has been given it and the system that is being
built around it are now fairly clear. In brief, it can be characterized
as a phase of the State’s activities in industrial education, adminis
tered by the case-work method, and recognizing fully the special
relation to the State’s other activities on behalf of labor. All these
characteristics we believe are significant and mark what is destined
to become a distinct type of rehabilitation work.
An Activity of the Department of Education.
To begin with, the assignment of the work to the department of
education is not fortuitous or due to local reasons. In any State
there are likely to be two other departments of government which
could be given consideration as proper sponsors for it. They are
1 D irecto r o f reed u ca tio n , M in n eso ta D ep a rtm en t o f E d u cation .
184
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[184]
VOCATIONAL E D U C A TIO N .
185
the department of public welfare or charities and the industrial ac
cident commission or labor department. To assign it to the former
would mean that the State considered it as something undertaken
out of sympathy in order to alleviate distress. The handicapped
man would join the “ three d’s—dependents, defectives, and delin
quents.” To gve it to the industrial agencies would not be objec
tionable, since it would be connecting it closely with the compen
sation system. It would, however, be illogical to divert to another
branch of the government something which is predominantly a mat
ter of education and vocational guidance. By placing the work with
the department of education it is recognized as akin to the other
educational activities of the State, an opportunity offered the indi
vidual because it is for the public good.
From the standpoint of administration it places the work in close
touch with the other parts of the State’s educational system and
makes easy of reference the data which the State has in connection
with industrial education. This perhaps would not make up for
lack of correlation with the compensation system, if such were a
necessary result. But it is not. The Minnesota act requires a plan
of cooperation between the board for vocational education and the
department of labor and industries, subject to the approval of the
governor. The two departments have chosen to make the connection
an organic one by giving the same person the direction of the compen
sation division and the division of reeducation. Correlation of work
is, therefore, assured. This plan is, of course, not the only feasible one
for securing effective cooperation. The essential thing is that the
connection between the two activities should be genuine and con
tinuous rather than formal and perfunctory.
The case-work method implies individual treatment for each case.
The division is without funds or authority to start a central institu
tion for the care and training of cripples and has not as yet found
any need for such an institution. The policy of the division is to let
a contract for instruction in each case with a suitable institution,
teacher, or industrial establishment. This has been found perfectly
feasible so far, and much more immediately practical than the or
ganization of a new school. Should subsidized workshops for certain
types, such as the blind, the paralytic, or the tubercular prove to be
necessary, it is expected that these will be launched by private agencies
and a subsidy covering the cost of the training given by the division
for each new person trained. This would permit the workshop to
be on a business basis, which is desirable, and still avoid the objection
always advanced against the entrance by the State into the business
field.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
186
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
Two features in the qualification part of our law seem to us to have
particular merit. One is that there is no poverty test. This is a corol
lary of the assignment of the division to the department of education.
The training is given as a public duty, not as a charitable need. The
other feature is that only bona fide residence in the State at the time
the disability was incurred is required of the beneficiary. There is
no one-year settlement harking back to the old poor laws. It is
possible for the State, therefore, to undertake the reeducation of a
man, for instance, who has just moved to the State intending to re
main and who suffers an accident while engaged in one of the State's
industries. The legal possibility squares with the moral obligation.
Public Relief not a Function Under the Law.
Perhaps the greatest difference of opinion in regard to the re
habilitation of cripples centers around the question whether certain
things of a public-relief nature should be provided by the State.
Included under this head would be occupational therapy and other
special medical treatment, artificial limbs, and, greatest of them all,
maintenance during training. Our act neither enjoins nor pro
hibits any of these. The question has been definitely faced by the
State board for vocational education, however, and a rule adopted
which holds none of them to be within the province of the division.
We believe the decision is based upon sound public policy. In the
compensation cases who form a large per cent of the disabled persons',
all of the items above referred to are covered by the provisions of the
law. They are cared for through a sound social insurance method, and
could only be harmed by being offered public charity besides. Many
of the railroad cases, another class, receive in damages under the
liability acts greater amounts even than the workers under compen
sation, hence for these also a public relief scheme is inapplicable.
For the other cases, the victims of private accidents and disease, the
ideal method would be another resort to the social insurance idea,
namely, to provide in a universal health-insurance act limited spe
cific indemnities for such cases. Creation of a public relief fund
now would only serve to put off the day when the question would be
met properly, and prolong treatment by public charity of a problem
that should be cured by social insurance. For the present many
cases without means can be handled by securing temporary positions
and giving them night-school training. Others can be cared for
through existing public and private relief agencies. The Minne
sota division has already entered into definite arrangements for co
operation in such cases with the central councils of social agencies
in Minneapolis and St. Paul and the Social Service Club of Duluth.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 186]
VOCATIONAL ED U C A TIO N .
jffP
^
^
18 7
The position taken by the board for vocational education does not
mean that the division will not be of all the service possible in an ad
visory way as regards medical treatment, prosthesis, etc. Excellent
results have already been secured in this line in the compensation cases
and should eventually be secured in the others also. It is not the
policy of the division to wait for an application, but on the first word
of a serious accident', through the department of labor, the hospitals,
the clipping service, or otherwise, steps are immediately taken to get
in touch with the injured person and from that time on contact' with
the case is continuous.
The cases that have already come before the division present a wide
variety. They include compensation accidents and railroad accidents,
farm accidents, hunting accidents, street accidents, and impairments
due to disease. It seems probable that the estimate made in 1918 by
the governor’s commission which studied the subject will be fully
borne out. They reported that the probable number of cripples in
Minnesota in any one year was between 900 and 1,000. This, of
course, applies only to those seriously enough impaired to need
rehabilitation.
The advisability of including all cripples under the law, not merely
those which are the result of industrial accident, appears when the
administrative problems of the work are disclosed. If the other crip
ples are not included in the provisions of the reeducation law some
other agency, public or private, must take care of them. There will
thus be a duplication of effort and a scattering of energies, when the
situation calls for a most decided and effective concentration of ener
gies. In addition, there is the fact that the social reasons for solving
the problem in the one case are the same as in the other.
The Minnesota division has not inaugurated its work by launching
a survey. The reasons for this are several. It was felt that the
appropriation was so limited that it would be best to spend it all on
direct work for cripples, especially as the general size of the field
and the principles which should govern the work were known. In
the second place, employers have been rather overworked with sur
veys of recent years, and it was felt best not to begin this new
activity with something which might irritate them. Finally, it was
felt that very satisfactory information could be gathered by the divi
sion as it handles each case, and that when this is supplemented by
a gradual canvass made by the factory inspectors of the State department of labor as they make their regular inspections, it would give
practically a complete survey without the expense and disadvantage
of a formal undertaking of this character.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[187]
188
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Placement of Cripples.
Another feature of the act which is important is that the place
ment is directly under the division of reeducation and not a coopera
tive activity of the State employment bureau. The division has its
own placement officer, and in order to keep him in touch with the
regular employment work it is arranged so that his headquarters are
in the State headquarters of the free employment service. In this
manner it is possible to give more specialized attention to the place
ment of handicapped persons than could be secured in any other
way. Another consideration also makes this arrangement essential.
One of the biggest tasks ahead of the division is to educate employers
to give disabled persons a chance. The division can and will under
take this, while a regular employment service would probably be
unwilling or unable to do so. Many employers still have an idea
that insurance companies will raise their rates if they hire handi
capped persons. Such an act was made illegal in Minnesota by the
1919 legislature, but it takes time for the information to spread. It
is felt, however, that the bulk of the indisposition to hire impaired
persons is due to an underestimate of their capacity. Only a pro
longed and vigorous campaign of education will overcome this.
Text of the Reeducation Act.
Such, therefore, are the principles embodied in the Minnesota
plan for reeducation and placement of cripples. Its enabling act is
not so long as to frighten a body of legislators or to make them feel
that they are plunging into a gigantic experiment involving unknown
financial liabilities. Yet it makes a full grant of power and meets
the situation in a manner to accomplish a large amount of good
without preliminary delay. To those States which have been re
luctant to take action because they feel that a new public institution
or a new experiment in public relief was involved, the enabling act
and the plan it stands for are offered for consideration. The text
of the act, which was approved April 26, 1919, is as follows: 1
AN ACT Empowering the State board for vocational education to establish a division for
the reeducation and placement of persons disabled in industry or otherwise, permitting
cooperation with the Federal Government, and making an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:
S ec tio n 1. There is hereby established, under the direction and control of
the State board for vocational education, a division for the training and in
struction of persons whose capacity to earn a living has in any way been
destroyed or impaired through industrial accident or otherwise: Provided,
That at the time when the accident or disability was incurred they were resi
dents or citizens of the State of Minnesota. The said board shall in its
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 Chapter 365, Laws 1919.
[188]
189
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.
regular reports to the legislature describe in detail the work of the division
and may from time to time issue bulletins containing information relative
thereto.
S ec. 2. The employees of the said division shall he appointed and their
salaries determined by the said board. The division shall be furnished with
suitable quarters in the State capitol, and the board may expend for salaries
and other necessary expenses of such division such amounts as shall be ap
propriated by the legislature.
Sec. 3. The State board for vocational education and the department of
labor and industries or any agency which may succeed it in the administration
or supervision of the workmen’s compensation act, shall formulate a plan of
cooperation with reference to the work of said division. Such plan, shall be
effective only when approved by the governor of the State.
S ec. 4. The said division shall aid persons who are incapacitated as de
scribed in section 1 in obtaining such education, training, and employment
as will tend to restore their capacity to earn a livelihood. The division may
cooperate with the United States Government, and as a part of such coopera
tion may extend the benefits of this act to any civil employee of the United
States disabled while in the performance of his duty, without regard to the
residence or citizenship of such employee, if In the judgment of the board the
benefits offered by the Federal Government are sufficient to compensate for the
cost. The division may of its own accord establish or maintain, or in co
operation with local boards of education assist in establishing or maintaining,
such courses as it may deem expedient, and otherwise may act in such manner
as it may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act.
S ec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Agreement Providing Part-Time Instruction
for Textile W orkers .1
ITH the rapid increase in the number of part-time tradeextension classes being organized, an instruction agreement
between the employer, employee, and the public school be
comes more and more desirable. At a recent conference in Sylacauga,
Ala., of representatives of the State board for vocational education,
employers in textile mills, and the Federal agent' for industrial educa
tion for southern region, the following written agreement was
entered into by a mill and State officials:
W
It is proposed to organize a scheme of textile manufacturing instruction
under the following conditions:
(a) Type of school.—The type to be employed is the part-time trade exten
sion, combined with an evening school. (This combination is explained below.)
(h) Board of control— The school is under the direction and control of the
Mignon board of education.
(c) Length of term.—Instruction is to be given for 48 weeks of 3 hours
per week, aggregating 144 hours under the part-time system; and 48 weeks
of one hour per week, aggregating 45 hours, under the evening system.
1 From Vocational Summary, October, 1919, p. 109.
155169°—20-----13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[189]
Washington.
190
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
(d) Plan of organisation.—The .hour of part-time instruction is to be the
closing hour of the working day on employer's tim e1 classified as part-time
instruction, followed immediately by one-half hour, in continuous session, for
the first two meetings per week on employee’s time, classified as evening in
struction. Assuming two groups operating under the above plan, one group
is to meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, known as group A, and the other
group Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of each week, known as Group B.
(c) Time of meeting.—Group A is to meet Monday and Wednesday, from
5 to G.30 p. m. ; and Friday, 5 to G p. m. B is to meet Tuesday and Thursday,
5 to 6.30 p. in. ; and Saturday, 7 to S a. m.®
(/) Financial.—Fixing $1.50 per hour as the rate of compensation for
teachers employed, local funds must provide 371 cents per hour for one-fourth
of the salaries of teachers; State funds 37-J cents per hour for one-fourtli of
the salaries of teachers; and Federal funds 75 cents per hour, or one-lialf of
the salaries of teachers. All other expenditures are to be provided for by the
local board.
(g)
Supervision,—The State board for vocational education through its fund
for teacher training and supervision is to provide adequate assistance to local
teachers in organizing material for teaching purposes without cost to the local
board.
(u ) Course of study.—A general mill course in textile instruction is to be
offered. The course is divided into three main groups under the respective
headings of carding, weaving, and spinning. Group A recites as follows : Mon
day, carding; Wednesday, weaving; Friday, spinning. Group B—Tuesday,
carding ; Thursday, weaving ; Saturday, spinning.
(¡) Students.—Fifteen operatives regularly employed in the Sylacauga Mills
who are 1G years of age or over are to be selected for each group. If the de
mand for the course exceeds 30, a waiting list is to be established and enrolled
in the order of application and selection.
( / ) Teachers.—Three teachers for each group, one for carding, one for weav
ing, and one for spinning, are to be provided. The teaching group is to be made
up of second hands, overseers, or higher officials. Teachers are to be paid at
the rate of $1.50 per hour for the first year’s work, $1.75 for the second year,
and $2 for the third and succeeding years.
(/;) Plant and equipment.—Plant, equipment, and supplies are to be fur
nished by the local board of education. Instruction will be given in the mill,
community building, or school building. Well lighted, heated, and ventilated
rooms, with adequate blackboard, seating, and writing facilities, with ready
access to the entire mill equipment, is to be considered the minimum require
ment.
»
M
1 By continuing the class for one-half hour on employees’ time it is thought that dis
interested pupils will be eliminated from the class. This is the company’s method p-.
avoiding “ deadheads ” on company time.
2 The change was made at the Saturday session on account of the plant being in opera
tion only one-half day and to avoid the difficulties arising from pay day.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
[1801
EMPLOYEES’ REPRESENTATION.
Works Councils and Shop Committees in the
United States.
RECENT study on works councils in the United States,1 by
the National Industrial Conference Board, furnishing another
evidence of the widespread interest in plans for representa
tion of employees in industry, covers 1TG companies or corporations
having works councils in 225 different industrial plants, affecting
approximately 500,000 workers. In addition to those plans created as
a result of awards of the National War Labor Board, the Shipbuild
ing Labor Adjustment Board, and other Government agencies, there
are 105 which were voluntarily put in operation by employers. The
term u works council,” which has not been generally adopted in this
country, was determined upon, the report states, as being more definite
and exact than that of “ shop committee ” which has been commonly
used.
Owing to the comparatively brief experience of nearly all the
existing committees, no recommendation as to the establishment of
works councils is made in the report, which gives a brief account of
their development from the comparatively recent date of 1901, when
the first known example of a works committee was formed at the
plant of the Nernst Lamp Co., in Pittsburgh. The report makes
a distinction between the principle of collective dealing by employees
of individual establishments with their employers and collective
bargaining which involves recognition of labor unions as organiza
tions, and states that the institution of works councils includes
acceptance of the former principle only.
A tabulation of works councils by industries shows that 144 were
found in the metal trades, while 81 were distributed over other in
dustries, and that in the distribution by size of establishment the
majority were found in plants having over 500 workers. Of particu
lar interest was the distribution according to the extent of tradeunionism. There were 81 plants from which information was re
ceived on this subject, and but 2 of these were “ closed nonunion shops ”
and one other nominally so. Out of about GO firms reporting the
1 National Industrial Conference Board.
O ctober, 1919.
135 p p .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Works councils in the United States.
R esearch report No. 21.
[191]
191
Boston,
192
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
percentage of union labor in their employ only 8 had no union
members, while the number of trade-unionists in the majority of the
establishments ranged from 20 to 90 per cent of the force.
The details of organization, the scope of the plans, and the func
tions and activities of the works committees are dealt with in consid
erable detail, but it is in the chapter on “ Experience with works
councils ” that the main interest lies, since heretofore, owing to their
brief existence, there has been little information collected as to the
results attained by the committees. There are various factors which
affect the success of such attempts which must be taken into consid
eration, the report states, such as “ the individual circumstances
under which they were formed, differences in type of organization, the
character of relations between employer and employees, the person
ality of the management, the type of employees, the size of establish
ment, and industrial conditions prevailing at the time of their in
troduction.”
It is stated that only a small minority of the councils have been
entirely given up or have failed to work satisfactorily, and in most
of these cases the committees were established by governmental
agencies to meet war emergencies. In general, it is said that the
committees have had a beneficial effect on labor conditions, although
in a few instances they seem to have aggravated labor troubles.
They evidently have been of some effect in reducing labor turnover,
but there seems to be only a small amount of evidence of an increase
in productive efficiency through their influence or of reduction of
tardiness or absenteeism. There was evidence in most cases report
ing that a conservative type of employee had been elected to member
ship, although approval of the ones selected was by no means unani
mous. In general it was found that the committees have been in
strumental in improving the relations between management and em
ployees, and 28 establishments reported that labor difficulties have
decreased or been entirely eliminated through the agency of the
committees.
Definite testimony of the effect of the councils on the spread of
unionism was given in 13 cases, 7 of which reported an increase in
union membership, while among the remainder it decreased. The
report as a whole seems to show such a diversified experience that it
is difficult to generalize as to the effect of the councils, although the
conclusion was^ reached as a result of the investigation that they are
“ worthy of unprejudiced consideration on the part of American
industry.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYEES ’ REPRESENTATION.
193
Shop Committees and Industrial Councils.1
N INVESTIGATION has recently been made under the direction of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce having
for its purpose the consideration of the problem of labor adjust
ment, through the medium of shop committee systems, particu
larly as it might relate to the development of such plans in industrial
plants in New Jersey.
Preceding this study a series of conferences were held in Newark
by the chamber of commerce to which several large industrial estab
lishments were invited to send both employer and employee representa
tives. At the second meeting a committee, with representatives of
organized labor and of capital, employees and employers of plants
having shop committees, and the public, was appointed to study the
systems and make recommendations. This committee after a third
conference recommended that a national conference should be called
and also that the chamber of commerce should authorize a thorough
investigation of the question.
With this as a background a special study was made of the
systems in 13 establishments which were decided upon as embodying
practically all the features to be found in any of the systems now
in force.
In speaking of the various types of shop committee plans the
writer of the report of the investigation says:
Whatever name or form a shop committee may assume, it may be, broadly
speaking, desciibed and distinguished by three features: It involves the
election of delegates by the workers of the shop; the constitution of these dele
gates into one or several committees; the dealings between such committee or
committees and the management either in a joint committee session or through
individual delegates or delegations and interviews.
The writer does not cover any new ground in the discussion of the
objects and functions of shop committees, the subjects mentioned as
being within the province of shop committees being practically the
same as those which have been advocated by the majority of writers
on the subject. I he analysis of the relation of shop committees to
labor unions, however, is both comprehensive and illuminating. The
discussion covers the possibility of substituting shop committees for
unionism, the dangers to be found in a destructive rivalry, recogni
tion of the unions, centralization of power in union organization,
the shop committee as a means toward filling the breach within the
1
N e w J e r s e y S t a t e C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e .
B u re a u o f S ta te R ese arch .
S h o p c o m m it
te e s a n d i n d u s t r i a l c o u n c ils . P t s . I a n d I I . P r e p a r e d b y P a u l S t u d e n s k y , s u p e r v i s o r o f
s ta ff on in d u s tr ia l re la tio n s .
N e w a rk , J u ly , 1919, 63 p p .
“ N e w J e r s e y , ” C o n s e c u tiv e
N o. 18.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
194
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
union organization, and shop committees in union shops. The
opinion is expressed that owing to the possibility of rapid organization of workers in individual establishments it is becoming increas
ingly difficult for employers to adopt a neutral attitude toward the
labor unions, and that “ only the development of an appreciation on
the part of the employers of the need of labor organization and on
the part of the latter of the value of shop committees can prevent an
undesirable conflict.” “ Company unions,” the writer believes, pre
sent little opportunity for the establishment of amicable relations,
but this must be secured through recognition of the unions and par
ticipation by them in the development of shop committees, and
through this utilization of the shop committee the evils connected
with centralization of power in the hands of a few labor officials may
be corrected. Without this he considers there is danger of a de
structive rivalry between the two types of organization which will
inevitably result in the destruction of one or the other of them.
The failure of the unions to keep the organization democratic
enough to suit the rank and flle of the workers may be remedied, in
the writer's opinion, by utilizing the workshop committees to give a
larger amount of authority to the average member while thus leaving
the leaders opportunity to devote their attention to the broader
problems of the labor movement.
Industrial councils are advocated as a means of stabilizing con
ditions throughout whole industries or over all the industries of
certain areas—local, State, national, and international. Councils
have now been agreed upon by representatives of employers and em
ployed in six industries: Clothing, electrical, harbor marine, long
shore, ocean marine, and printing, while plans for councils covering
a certain area include the International Labor Conference, National
(United States) Industrial Conference, Canadian National Indus
trial Conference, New Jersey Industrial Council, New York State
Labor Board, and industrial community councils. The question lias
been raised as to whether industrial councils combined with shop
committee systems will supersede labor unions. To the writer this
does not seem probable, since in a measure there will always be a
conflict of interests.
The 13 shop committee systems considered in the report are
divided into 5 groups representing the following types: The War
Labor Board plan; the combination of a shop committee system with
unionism; the Bockefeller plan; the Federal plan, and the cooperative plan with representation on the board of directors.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[194 ]
W
W
^
^
EMPLOYEES’ REPRESENTATION.
195
Application of Industrial Council Plan to
British Civil Service.
HE subcommittee of the Interdepartmental Committee of the
British Government, appointed to draw up a plan by which
the Whitley industrial council scheme might be applied to the
administrative branches of the civil service, submitted its report in
March, 1919, which was approved by the War Cabinet and was consideied on April 8 at a conference of representatives of associations
covering practically the whole of the administrative, clerical, manipu
lative, and manual civil services and officials of the Government de
partments concerned. This report was noted somewhat at length
in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for July, 1919 (pp. 123-126). The
matter wTas subsequently referred to a committee of 30 representing,
in equal numbers, the Government departments and the civil-service
associations, and its report was on July 3 submitted to a joint con
ference of official representatives and representatives of the staff
associations presided over by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
was adopted with certain modifications. This report of the national
provisional joint committee was noted in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w
for August (p. 132).
Following the adoption of this latter report a national council for
the administrative and the legal departments of the Government
was established, and on July 23 a committee of five official repre
sentatives and five staff representatives was appointed to draw up
a model constitution.1 This has been done and has been circulated by
the Treasury, together with a letter recommending that steps be
taken to form departmental councils on the lines indicated. The
model constitution consists of 26 paragraphs dealing with member
ship, officers, objects and functions, committees, etc. Paragraphs 13
to 16, covering objects and functions, are as follows:
T
13.
General objects.—The general objects of the council shall be to secure the
greatest measure of cooperation between the administration, in its capacity as
employer, and the general body of the staff, in matters affecting the depart
ment, with a view to increased efficiency in the department combined with the
well-being of those employed; to provide machinery for dealing with griev
ances ; and generally to bring together the experience and different points of
view respecting conditions of service within the department.
14.
Functions.—The scope of the council shall comprise all matters which
affect the conditions of service of the staff in the department, and its functions
shall include the following:
(I) Provision of the best means for utilizing the ideas and experience of the
staff.
1 D a ta ta k en from th e Labour G azette, London, Septem ber, 1919 (p. 3 7 1 ),
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[195]
196
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
(II) Means for securing to the staff a greater share in and responsibility
for the determination and observance of the conditions under which their
duties are carried out.
(III) Determination of the general principles governing conditions of service,
e. g., recruitment, hours, tenure, and remuneration, in so far as these matters
are peculiar to members of the staff of the department.
(IV) The encouragement of the further education of the staff, and their
training in higher administration and organization.
(V) Improvement of office machinery and organization, and the provision of
opportunities for the full consideration of suggestions by the staff on this
subject.
(VI) The consideration of proposed legislation so far as it has a bearing
upon the position of members of the staff in relation to their employment in the
department.
(VII) The discussion of the general principles governing superannuation
and their application to the members of the staff in the department.
15. Promotion and discipline.—Without prejudice to the responsibility of
the head of the department for making promotions and maintaining discipline,
it shall be within the competence of the council (1) to discuss any promotion in
regard to which it is represented by the staff side that the principles of promo
tion accepted by or with the sanction of the national council have been violated ;
and <2) to discuss any case in which disciplinary action has been taken if it is
represented by the staff side that such a course is desirable.
16. Questions common to two or more departments (including the * * *
department), not being general questions, shall be reported to the national coun
cil. The council may request the national council to appoint a chairman for
interdepartmental meetings for the consideration of such questions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
♦
[196]
m
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
Employment in Selected Industries in
November, 1919.
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics received and tabulated reports
concerning the volume of employment in November, 1919, from
representative establishments in 13 manufacturing industries.
Comparing the figures of November, 1919, with those of identical
establishments for November, 1918, it appears that in 10 industries
there was an increase in the number of persons employed, while in 3
there was a decrease. The largest increase, 29.8 per cent, is shown in
automobile manufacturing, and the greatest decreases—33.7 and 26.9
per cent—appear in iron and steel and in car building and repairing,
respectively.
Eleven of the 13 industries show an increase in the total amount of
the pay roll for November, 1919, as compared with November, 1918,
and two show a decrease. The most important percentage increases—
68.4, 67.4, 59.5, and 52.1—appear in men’s ready-made clothing, silk,
automobile manufacturing, and boots and shoes, respectively. De
creases of 33.5 and 25.3 per cent are found in iron and steel and car
building and repairing. The large increases over last year are due to
the fact that the figures for last year were affected by the signing
of the armistice and the epidemic of influenza.
T
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHM ENTS IN N O V EM BER,
1918, AND N O V E M B E R ,-1919.
Industry.
Automobile manufacturing...
Car building and repairing...
Cigar manufacturing...............
Men’s ready-made clothing...
Cotton finishing........................
Cotton manufacturing.............
Hosiery and underwear..........
Iron and ste el............................
Leather manufacturing...........
Paper making............................
Silk..............................................
W oolen.......................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number on pay
Estab
Per
roll in No
lish
cent
vember—
ments
of
report Period
mcr ease
ing for
of
(+ ) or
Novem pay roll.
de
ber,
1918
1919
crease
both
(
-).
years.
46
71
56
53
36
18
53
64
99
34
53
50
50
1 w eek..
. . .do.......
J month
1 w eek..
. . .d o ___
«■--do----. . .d o ___
. . .d o .. . .
£ month
1 w eek..
.do___
2 w eek s.
1 w eek..
121,491 157,661
56,621 63,569
76,992 56,307
18,848 17,525
18,782 20,569
13,730 15,684
48,227 53,953
33,291 34,139
174,320 115,601
16,159 17,624
28,934 30,216
14,197 16,901
43,432 47,474
[197]
Amount of pay roll
in November—
1918
1919
+29.8 $3,119,036 $4,974,783
922,484 1,403,470
+ 12.3
-2 6 .9 4,818,950 3^ 597;519
287,626
367,317
- 7.0
+ 9.5
347,899
586,009
+ 14.2
249,532
340,517
714,700
+ 11.9
911,189
585,280
+ 2.5
445,013
-3 3 .7 11,598,124 7,714,218
314,337
+ 9.1
426,873
+ 4.4
602,938
737,943
+ 19.0
697,689
416,816
694,792
+ 9.3
986,447
197
Per
cent
of
increase
(+ ) or
de
crease
(-)•
+ 59.5
+52.1
-2 5 .3
+ 27.7
+ 68.4
+ 36.5
+ 27.5
+31.5
-3 3 .5
+ 35.8
+ 22.4
+ 67.4
+42.0
198
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
The table following shows the number of persons actually working
on the last full day of the reported pay period in November, 1918, and
November, 1919. The number of establishments reporting on this
question is small, and this fact should be taken into consideration
when studying these figures.
C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S O N T H E L A S T F U L L
D A Y 'S O P E R A T IO N IN N O V E M B E R , I9IS, A N D N O V E M B E R , 1919.
Industry.
Automobile manufacturing............................
Loots and shop.8.................................................
Car build in0, find repairing.............................
Cigar m armfantaring........................................
Men's ready made clothing............................
Cotton finishing.................................................
Cotton manufacturing.....................................
Hosiery and underwear...................................
Tron and steel.....................................................
Leather manufacturing...................................
Paper making....................................................
.........1 .....................................................
Silk
Woolen................................................................
Establish
ments
reporting
for
November,
both years.
Period of
pay roll.
1 w eek. . . .
. . .do ........
^ m onth...
1 w eek___
. . .do ........
. . .do ___
. . .d o ..........
. . .d o ..........
J m onth...
1 w eek. .: .
. . .do ........
26
weeks__
41
w eek___
26
27
53
12
5
14
33
24
77
20
23
2
1
Number actually work
ing on last full day of
reported pay period
in November—
Per cent
of Increase
(+ ) or de
crease ( —).
1918
1919
73,243
11,904
66,458
3,895
4,006
9,442
23,194
14,177
125,897
12,357
16' 046
106,541
14,058
50,817
4,136
4,360
10,603
26,734
15,397
87,664
13,092
15,881
+45.5
+ 18.1
—23.5
+ 6.2
+ 8.8
+ 12.3
+ 15.3
+ 8.6
—30.4
-1-5.9
— l.o
8,803
32,621
10,715
37,055
+ 2 1 .7
+ 13.6
Comparative data for November, 1919, and October, 1919, appear
in the following table. The figures show that in 12 industries there
was an increase in the number of persons on the pay roll in November
as compared with October and in one a decrease.
The largest increases in the number of people employed appear in
iron and steel, 17.3 per cent: cigar manufacturing, 12.0 per cent;
men’s ready-made clothing, 5.6 per cent; and silk, 5.1 per cent. A
decrease of 1.5 per cent is shown in cotton manufacturing.
In comparing November, 1919, with October of this year, eight
industries show an increase in the amount of money paid to em
ployees and five a decrease. The most important increase is one of
20.9 per cent in cigar manufacturing, while iron and steel, men’s
ready-made clothing, and silk show percentage increases of 17.4, 11.9,
and 11.2, respectively. The most important decreases are 4.2 per cent
in cotton manufacturing and 2 per cent in automobile manufacturing.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
♦
[1BS1
199
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYM ENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHM ENTS IN OCTOBER AND
NOVEM BER, 1919.
Industry.
Automobile manufactur
ing.....................................
Boots and shoes.................
Car building and repair
ing.....................................
Cigar manufacturing........
Men’s ready-made cloth
ing......... ...........................
Cotton finishing.................
Cotton manufacturing__
Hosiery and underwear..
Iron and steel.....................
Leather manufacturing...
Paper making....................
Silk.......................................
W oolen................................
Estab
lish
ments
report Period
pay
ing for ofroil.
October
and No
vember.
Number on pay
roll in—
Per
cent
of increase
( + ) or
October, Novem
de
ber,
1919.
crease
1919.
(-).
Amount of pay roll
in—
October,
1919.
Per
cent
of increaso
(+ ) or
November, de
1919.
crease
(-).
47 1 week. 156,758
71 . ..d o .... 62,332
157,513
63,569
+ 0.5
+ 2.0
5,077,859
1,386,625
4,973,797
1,403,470
- 2.0
+ 1.2
56,251
15,488
56,6 &
17,441
+ 12.6
3,304,840
301,069
3,620,650
364,042
+ 9.6
+ 20.9
...d o .... 19,964
.. .do—
14,794
.. .d o .... 56,165
33,896
. . .do—
Amonth 113,026
I w eek. 17,246
...d o .... 29,602
2 weeks 15,513
1 week. 46,470
21,087
15,192
55,307
33,914
132,576
17,380
30,216
16,300
46,816
+ 5.6
+ 1.7
— 1. 5
+ .1
+ 17.3
+ .8
+ 2.1
+ 5.1
+ .7
541,177
321,872
974,032
582,666
7,573,544
424,765
742,997
606,272
936,082
605,314
331,921
933,185
580,683
8,888,311
423,466
737,943
674,398
970,100
+ 11.9
+ 3.1
- 4.2
— .3
+ 17. 4
- .3
- .7
+ 11.2
+ 3.6
57
51
46
17
56
64
100
33
53
47
4S
4 month
1 w eek.
A comparatively small number of establishments reported as to
the number of persons working on the last full day of the reported
pay periods. The following table gives in comparable form the
figures for October and November, 1919. The small number of
establishments represented should be noted when using these figures.
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHM ENTS ON THE LAST FULL
D A Y ’S OPERATION IN OCTOBER AN D N O V EM BER, 1919.
Establish
ments
reporting
for
October
and
November.
Industry.
Automobile manufacturing............................
Boots and shoes.................................................
Car building and repairing............................
Cigar manufacturing.........................................
Menhs ready-made clothing............................
Cotton finishing.................................................
Cotton manufacturing.....................................
Hosiery and underwear...................................
Iron and steel.....................................................
Leather manufacturing...................................
Paper making.............
Silk.......................................................................
Woolen.................................................................
27
27
54
13
4
14
34
23
82
18
25
30
45
Period of
pay roll.
Number actually work
ing on last full day
of reported pay pe Per cent of
riod in—
increase.
(+ ) or dccrease (—)
October, November,
1919.
1919.
1 w eek___
.. .do..........
J m onth...
1 w eek___
.. .do...........
.. .do...........
.. .do...........
...d o ...........
J m onth...
1 w eek___
.. .do...........
2 weeks. . .
1 w eek___
108,386
12,473
51,480
4,642
3, S20
10,862
26,921
15,329
88,343
12,672
16,527
11,093
37,645
106,744
13,491
51,129
4,676
3,825
11,012
27,090
15,421
103,958
12,839
16,434
12,507
37,900
- 1.5
+ 8.2
— .7
4- . 7
+ •i
+ 1.4
+ -6
-f . 0
+ 17.7
-1- 1. 3
— .6
+ 12.7
+
-7
Changes in Wage Rates.
During the period October 15 to November 15, 1919, there were
increases in all of the 13 industries. Of the establishments report-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 9 9 Ì
200
MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW.
ing, many did not answer the inquiry relative to this item, but in
such cases it is not likely that changes were made.
Automobile manufacturing: One plant reported an increase of
approximately 10 per cent, but made no other statement. In one
firm 1.8 per cent of the people received 8.3 per cent increase in wages.
Five per cent of the men in one establishment received an increase of
6 per cent. One concern granted a 4 per cent increase to 9 per cent of
the employees, and another shop gave an increase of 1.89 per cent to
43.3 per cent of the force. All of the men in one plant received an
increase of 1 per cent. Two concerns reported a few individual
increases.
Boots and shoes: One concern gave an increase of 29 per cent to 5
per cent of the pieceworkers and 12 per cent to 14 per cent of day
help. About 25 per cent of the employees in one plant received a 25
per cent of the pieceworkers and 12 per cent to 14 per cent of day
affecting 15 per cent of the men in one, and 10 per cent in the other.
An increase of 23 per cent to 8| per cent of the force was granted by
one firm. Twelve per cent of the employees in one concern received
an increase of 18 per cent, while one establishment gave an increase
of 12| per cent to 20 per cent of the force. Two plants reported a 2
per cent increase affecting 3 per cent of the men in each. One firm
reported an increase but gave no further data.
Car building and repairing: One car building shop granted a 12^
per cent increase to 16f per cent of its employees. Several increases
were reported by the railroads in accordance with the national agree
ment made valid by the Director General of Railroads.
Cigar manufacturing: One establishment reported a 33 per cent
increase to 90 per cent of the force. Increases ranging from 4^ to
27-f per cent affecting 70 per cent of the employees were given by one
firm. All of the men in one concern received an increase of 25 per
cent. Two factories reported a 20 per cent increase, affecting all
of the employees in one firm and 90 per cent of the men in the other;
this second firm also gave an increase of 10 per cent to 10 per cent of
its employees. Four concerns gave an increase of 10 per cent,
affecting all of the force in two plants, 95 per cent of the men in the
third, and 40 per cent of the employees in the fourth. Sixty per
cent of the help in one factory received a 5 per cent increase. One
concern reported an increase to all of its men but made no state
ment concerning the percentage of the increase.
Men’s ready-made clothing: One establishment reported increases
ranging from 10 to 25 per cent affecting 75 per cent of the force. All
of the employees in one concern received an increase of about 15 per
cent. One plant granted a $6 per week increase to all of the force.
One establishment that reported an average increase of $5 per week
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 200]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
*
+
201
gave no further data, and four other concerns granted an increase of
$5 per week, affecting all of the men in two establishments, 90 per
cent of the employees in the third establishment, while the fourth
failed to mention the proportion of the force affected.
Cotton finishing: One concern reported an increase of 10 per cent
affecting 5 per cent of the employees.
Cotton manufacturing: All of the men in one establishment re
ceived an increase of 12| per cent and all of the force in another
plant were increased about 10 per cent.
Hosiery and underwear: One mill gave a 75 per cent increase to
15 per cent of the force, while another concern granted an increase
of 5 per cent, but failed to state the number affected. One plant
reported an increase but made no other statement.
Iron and steel: One plant granted a 10 per cent increase to 40
per cent of the force, while another concern gave increases ranging
from 5 to 10 per cent which affected 5 per cent of the employees. One
mill increased the 40 per cent bonus to 55 per cent, affecting all em
ployees except bar mill rollers, heaters, and brick masons, and also
gave a 9 per cent increase to 98.1 per cent of the force. Twenty per
cent of the men in one plant received an increase of 6 per cent.
Leather manufacturing: An increase of 10 per cent affecting
per cent of the men was reported by one establishment and another
firm gave a 7 per cent increase to 80 per cent of all female employees.
Paper making: One establishment granted an 8 per cent increase to
97 per cent of the force. One firm reported increases of 10 to 25
cents per day affecting 10 per cent of the force. One concern gave
several individual increases.
Silk: An increase of 20 per cent to 66§ per cent of the employees
was reported by one firm. Three concerns gave 10 per cent increases
affecting all of the men in one, 10 per cent of the force in the second,
but the third failed to state the per cent of the employees affected.
All of the men in one establishment received an increase of about 10
per cent. Eighty-two per cent of the force in one firm received a 9
per cent increase and about 18 per cent of the men in another mill
received an increase of approximately 9 per cent. Two factories
granted an increase of 7 per cent to 30 per cent of their force. One
concern gave 90 per cent of the force a 5 per cent increase, and in
another mill all hands were increased $1 per week.
Woolen: One firm reported a 10 per cent increase to 10 per cent of
the employees.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[201 ]
202
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Report of Employment Exchanges in the
United Kingdom.
S REPORTED by the British Labor Gazette for November,
1919, the operations of the employment exchanges for the
five weeks ending October 10, 1919, are summarized a?
follows:
The average daily number of registrations, of vacancies notified,
a n d of vacancies filled during the five weeks was 15,781, 5,876, a n d
3,628, respectively.
Compared with the previous month, the daily average of regis
trations showed an increase of 11 per cent, while the daily average
of vacancies notified and vacancies filled showed decreases of 13.6 per
cent and 14.3 per cent, respectively. The marked increase in the
number of registrations was due to the unemployment caused by the
railway strike and the Bidders’ dispute. Concurrently with an in
crease in applications for work there were decreases in the daily
average number of vacancies notified and vacancies filled.
In the principal occupational groups the daily average number of
applications from adults Avas 13,867— 10,298 men and 3,569 women.
There were 4,396 vacancies reported— 2,340 men and 2,056 women.
The average daily number of positions filled was 3,628. When com
pared with the previous month there Avas a decline of 16 per cent
among men and 5 per cent among women.
The occupational groups i n which there Avere the largest number
of positions filled by m e n A v e r e : E n g i n e e r i n g , shipbuilding* and con
s t r u c t i o n of vehicles, 21 per cent; building, 20 per c e n t ; and trans
port, 10 per cent. Sixteen per cent were general laborers. Over 50
per cent of the women were placed i n domestic service, 9 per cent in
agriculture, and 6 per cent in textiles.
As regards juveniles, the daily average of registrations was 1,914,
AA'hile that of vacancies notified Avas 980. T h e daily average n u m b e r
ox vacancies filled during the m o n t h as compared with the previous
m o n t h shoAved a decrease of 24 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
203
Volume of Employment in the United Kingdom
in October, 1919.
HE following figures as to the condition of employment in
Great Britain and Ireland in October, 1919, as compared with
September, 1919, and October, 1918, have been compiled from
figures appearing in the British Labor Gazette for November, 1919.
Similar information for July was published in the October L a b o r
R
e v i e w
.
In comparing October, 1919, with September, 1919, relative to the
number of employees, respective increases of 4, 3.2, 3.1, and 3 per cent
are shown in glass, cement, corset, and lace trades. The largest
decreases—5.7 and 4.8 per cent—appear in iron and steel and seamen.
The aggregate earnings of employees in October, 1919, as com
pared with September, 1919, show increases in every industry. The
worsted, glass, pottery, and woolen trades show respective per
centage increases of 8.2, 7.9, 6.7 and 6.6.
In October, 1919, as compared with October, 1918, as to the number
of persons employed, dock and riverside labor shows an increase of
72.4 per cent; the cement trade, an increase of 69.7 per cent; the food
preparation trades, an increase of 40.1 per cent; quarrying, an
increase of 38.6 per cent; and the printing trade, an increase of 38.4.
per cent. The largest decrease—5.6 per cent—appears in iron and
steel.
Comparing October, 1919, with October, 1918, on the question of
earnings of employees, increases of 71.6, 71.2, 68.2, 65.6, and 63.5 per
cent are shown in cement, cotton, food preparation, printing, and
brick trades, respectively. Fourteen trades show increases ranging
from 26.6 to 60.6 per cent, while linen shows an increase of 6.8 per
cent, and the tailoring trade, an increase of 1 per cent. There were
no decreases during the period mentioned.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[203]
204
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
V O LU M E O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E U N I T E D K IN G D O M (G R E A T B R IT A IN A N D I R E
L A N D ) IN O C T O B E R , 1919, A S C O M P A R E D W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1919, A N D O C T O B E R , 1918.
[Compiled from figures in the Labour G azette, London, N ovem b er, 1919.]
Industries and basis of
com parison.
Coal m ining:
A verage num ber of days
w ork ed ....................................
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Iron m ining:
A verage num ber of days
w ork ed ....................................
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Quarrying:
Average num ber of days
w ork ed ....................................
N um ber of e m p lo y e e s ..........
P ig iron: N um ber "of furnaces in
b la s t................................................
Iron and steel works:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
N um ber of shifts w ork ed . . .
T in plate, steel, and galvanized
sheet trades: N um ber of mills
in op eration ..................................
Cotton trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of empIoVees..........
W oolen trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
E arnings of em p loyees..........
W orsted trade:
N um ber of em ployees............
Earnings of em p loyees..........
H osiery trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
Jute trade:
N um ber of em p lo y ees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
L in en trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
Silk trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em ployees..........
Carpet trade:
N um ber of em p lo y ees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
Lace trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
B leaching, printing, dyeing, and
finishing:
N um ber of em p lo y e es...........
Earnings of em ployees..........
B oot and shoe trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em ployees..........
Leather trades: N um ber of employees 2.........................................
Tailoring trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em ployees..........
Shirt and collar trade:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
JNo report.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per cent of
increase ( + ) or
decrease ( —) in
October, 1919, as
compared w ith —
Sept.,
1919.
October,
1918.
- 0 .4
+ .9
- 1.4
+ 2 3 .0
- 1 .7
+ 2.1
.5
+ 4.0
- 5 .4
+ .2
- 2.2
+ 3 8 .6
(>)
—20.5
-5 .5
-
5.6
9.3
+ 5.5
+ 4 4 .9
+ 1.5
+ 2 .4
+ 20.1
+ 71.2
+ .8
+ 6.6
+ 9.8
+ 3 9 .7
+ 1.4
+ 8.2
+ 10.7
+ 4 6 .4
•+■ • v
+ 3 .2
+ 5.1
+ 2 6 .6
— .6
+ .5
+ 3.2
+ 3 1 .9
+ .4
+ .8
- 2.1
+ 6.8
+ 1 .0
+ .9
+ 8.9
+ 34.1
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .7
+ 2 8 .9
+ 52.1
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .6
+ 2 1 .3
+ 47.3
+ 1.7
+ 2 .8
+ 13.3
+ 4 4 .2
+ 1.2
+ 3 .0
+ 17.2
+ 4 0 .5
-
(8)
0.6
+ 1.7
+ .4
+ •7
+ 1.0
+ 1.9
+ 2 .9
+ 14.5
+ 2 9 .8
Industries and basis of
comparison.
Other clothing trades:
Dressmaking and m illinery—N um ber of em ployees....................................
W holesale m antle, costum e,
blouses, etc.—N um ber of
em ployees—
L on d on ...............................
M anchester........................
G lasgow ..............................
Corset trade—N um ber of
e m p lo y e e s ............................
W oodworking and furnishing:
Number of em p lo y ees2
B rick trade:
N um ber of e m p lo y e e s ..
Earnings of em p loyees..........
Cem ent trade:
N um ber of em p lo y ees...........
Earnings of em p lo y e es.__
Paper, printing, and bookbindin g trades:
Paper trades—
N um ber of em ployees
reported b v tradeu n io n s ............................
N um ber of em ployees
reported b y em ployers
Earnings of em ployees
reported b y em ployers
P rin tin g trades—
N um ber of em ployees
reported b y tradeu n io n s 2.......................
N um ber of em ployees
reported b y em ployers
Earnings of em ployees
reported b y em ployers
Bookbinding trades—
N um ber of em ployees
reported b y tradeunions 2..........................
N um ber of em ployees
reported b y em ployers
Earnings of em ployees
reported b y em ployers
P otter y trades:
N um ber of em p lo y ees...........
E arnings of em ployees..........
Glass trades:
N um ber of em p loyees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
Food-preparation trades:
N um ber of em p lo y ees...........
Earnings of em p loyees..........
D ock and riverside labor: N um ber of em ployees..........................
Seamen: N um ber of em p loyees.
2 Based on u nem p loym en t.
[204]
Per cent of
increase ( + ) or
decrease ( —) in
October, 1919, as
com pared w ith —
S ep t.,
1919.
October,
1918.
+ 1.6
+ 2 8 .2
- 1 .3
+ 2 .2
(3)
+ 2. fi
+ 2.6
+ 5.6
+ 3 .1
+ 19.5
+ .3
0)
4- .4
+ 1.4
+3fi. 1
+ 6 3 .5
+ 3 .2
+ 4 .0
+ 6 9 .7
+ 7 1 .6
(>)
0)
+ 1.5
+ 18.9
+ 2 .2
+ 5 5 .0
— .3
-
+ 2 .4
+ 38.4
+ 4 .3
+ 65.6
1.2
+ .3
-
+ 1.2
+ 2 5 .1
+ 1.4
+ 4 0 .9
+ 1.9
+ 6 .7
+ 12.1
+ 3 2 .5
+ 4 .0
+ 7 .9
+ 3 4 .8
+ 6 0 .6
+ .8
+ 2 .1
+4 0 .1
+ 6 8 .2
- 2 .0
- 4 .8
+ 72.4
+ 2 0 .5
* N o change.
1.9
EM PLOYMENT AND U NEM PLOYM ENT.
205
Employment of Disabled ex-Service Men in
Great Britain.
HROUGH a royal proclamation the British Government re
cently launched a new scheme for the employment of disabled
ex-service men having for its primary object a more rapid
absorption into industry of men disabled in the war by means of a
closer cooperation of employers. Any employer who engages to
adopt this plan will have his name enrolled upon a national list
called the “ King’s National Roll ” and is entitled to use upon his
correspondence an official device “ indicating that lie recognizes the
national obligation to the disabled and that his share therein is
gladly undertaken.” The scheme, which is reminiscent of the cita
tion awarded by the United States War and Navy Departments to
employers guaranteeing to reemploy 100 per cent of their former
employees who had entered the service, is said to be an application of
the “ Rotliband scheme ” and “ Rotherham scheme,” from the former
of which it derives the “ National R oll” and the royal appeal; from
the latter the 5 per cent limit and the correspondence device.
Briefly summarized the scheme as adopted is as follows:
T
E v e ry e m p lo y e r in th e U n ite d K in g d o m w ho em ploys 10 o r m o re w o rk e rs
is a sk e d to u n d e rta k e to em ploy a s m a n y d isa b le d e x -serv ic e m en a s possible,
w ith a m in im u m of 5 p e r c en t o f h is to ta l e sta b lish m e n t. T h o se e m p lo y e rs
w ho can a b so rb m o re t h a n 5 p e r c e n t a re stro n g ly u rg e d to do so. E m p lo y e rs
m a y c o u n t to w a rd th e ir p e rc e n ta g e a n y d isa b le d m en a lre a d y in th e ir em ploy
o r in t r a in in g in th e ir p re m ise s, a n d a lso a n y v a c a n c ie s th e y h a v e g u a ra n te e d
to th e M in istry of L a b o r to le a v e open fo r d isa b le d m en in tr a in in g e lsew h ere .
T h e special p e rc e n ta g e s to be a d o p te d fo r p a r ti c u l a r tr a d e s h a v e been in d ic a te d
by th e a d v is o ry c e n tra l bodies, b u t w h e re su c h a c tio n lia s n o t y e t been ta k e n ,
o r w h e re th e re c o m m e n d a tio n issu e d does n o t fit local c irc u m s ta n c e s , lo ca l
te c h n ic a l a d v is o ry c o m m itte e s w ill p re sc rib e th e p e rc e n ta g e .1
As indicated in the summarization of the scheme, the plan has
been discussed with a majority of the staple trades in Great Britain.
By some it has been adopted as it stands, while others have accepted
it with modifications.
No dilution of skilled labor is contemplated by the adoption of this
scheme, nor does it vitiate any arrangements regarding training
already existing between the Ministry of Labor and the trade advis
ory committees. It is suggested that the eligibility of disabled men
for training be decided upon through agreements between employers
and trade-unions. In case the training given in institutions for this
purpose is insufficient to meet the requirements of any trade the Min1 T h e L a b o u r G a z e tte , L o n d o n , S e p te m b e r , 1 9 1 9 , p. 3 7 1 .
155169°— 20—
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
14
[205]
206
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
ister of Labor may require tlie employer to furnish training in his
own establishment for the positions guaranteed by him.
In order that there shall be no detrimental effect upon existing rates
of wages “ the wages of trained disabled men will,” according to the
royal proclamation, “ be fixed according to agreements made on
their behalf with the trade advisory committee. With regard to
untrained disabled men on work not normally performed by skilled
men, wages will be fixed by the special arrangements in operation
for the settling of wages questions in trades where such arrangements
exist, and in other trades disabled men should, generally speaking,
receive the district rate of wages. Exceptional cases in which the
earning capacity of the disabled man is abnormally reduced may, in
the last resort, be referred to the local technical advisory committee,
the local employment committee, or the appropriate trade body. In
no case must the possession of a disability pension be taken into
account in computing the rate of wages.” 1
The proclamation further points out that “ a 1disabled man " is,
technically speaking, (a) any man in possession of a disablement
pension, (b) any man who has received from the Ministry of Pen
sions a gratuity for a minor disablement or aggravation of a com
plaint, and who is adjudged by the local employment committee to
be incapacitated, either wholly or in part, from following his normal
occupation.” 2
Since the publication of the royal proclamation the scheme has
been extended to undertakings in which fewer than 10 workers are
employed, thus reaching every employer of labor in the United King
dom. From the last report—November 4, 1919—5,088 3 firms have
adopted the scheme, interest in which is rapidly increasing. These
firms employ 725.000 workers and have agreed to give positions to
46,000 disabled men.
Among the important branches of industry in which this method
of placing disabled soldiers is being tried out are: 24 municipalities;
6 electrical works; 5 tramways; 12 gas companies; 4 newspapers; 6
shipping companies; 7 engineering firms; 6 provision firms; 5 cloth
ing and boot manufacturers ; and 4 printing establishments. Some of
the firms are now establishing training centers for the men they wish
to employ.
In the civil service, apart from the industrial departments, the
number of disabled men employed on October 27, 1919, had passed
the established 5 per cent, and Sir Robert Horne, the minister of
1 M a n c h e s te r (E n g la n d ) G u a r d ia n , S e p t. 15, 1 9 1 9 , p. 7.
2 Id em .
8 G r e a t B r it a in .
M in is tr y o f L a b o r. M o n th 's W o rk , N o v em b er, 1 9 1 9 , p. 8 3 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2061
^
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
207
labor, estimated tliat by December 1 it would be at least 8 per cent
of the total number employed. In the industrial departments of
the Government the number of disabled men employed is not
definitely known, but available information indicates that it is over
5 per cent. The railways have not been able to guarantee employing
a definite percentage of disabled men, but they have taken on from
3 to 4 per cent of them in addition to the number of their own men
who are being reabsorbed into the service.
m
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T2071
*
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
Women in the Government Service.1
Oil many years people interested in securing equality of oppor
tunity for woman workers have felt that this equality did not
exist in the Government service, the place above all others
where every citizen of the country should be assured of equal oppor
tunity. Because of the tremendous influx of women into new occupa
tions during the war, and the consequent general recognition of their
abilities along many different lines, it was felt that the time was ripe
for discovering to what extent the new attitude toward woman
workers had penetrated the various branches of the Government
service. With this object in view the Women’s Bureau of the United
States Department of Labor arranged to make a study of positions
in the Government service open by examination to women as com
pared with those closed to women. The study was begun in Septem
ber, 1919. Part I, which emphasizes the fact that women were ex
cluded from 60 per cent of the examinations held from January 1,
1919, to June 30, 1919, was completed on October 16, and submitted
to the Civil Service Commission on October 27.
On November 5, 10 days after receiving the report, the Civil
Service Commission passed a ruling opening all examinations to both
women and men, leaving it to the discretion of the appointing officers
to specify the sex desired when requesting certification of eligibles.
On November 19, a bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator
McLean, of Connecticut, amending the statute now in force which
dates back to 1870 and provides that at the discretion of the head of
any department women may be appointed to any clerkship in the
Government service. The amendment provides that in requesting a
register of eligibles for appointment the nominating and appointing
officials shall not specify sex unless sex is a physical barrier to the
proper performance of the duties to be fulfilled.
Thus one of the ends desired has already been almost completely
accomplished. Once the facts were assembled the rapidity with
1 T h is sum m ary of th e report on w om en in th e G overnm ent service by th e W omen’s
B ureau o f th e U n ited S ta te s D ep artm en t o f Labor w a s prepared by th a t bureau.
208
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 208 ]
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
209
which the remedy was supplied gives rise to a hope that Part I I of
the report, showing an equally serious discrimination in the matter
of appointments and entrance salaries, may have as satisfactory a
result.
The entire report was submitted both to the Civil Service Com
mission and to the Joint Commission on Reclassification of Salaries.
A subcommittee of the latter on the employment conditions of
women in the civil service has incorporated the material in its report
to the committee on employment policies which has been adopted
and passed on to the commission.1
Exclusion of Women from Examinations.
The largest employer of labor in the country and the employer of
the greatest variety of labor, the United States Government, has as
its employment agent the Civil Service Commission. This commis
sion is responsible for securing the proper person for almost every
position in the Government service except those of unskilled labor,
in some States, and those filled by presidential appointment. The
appointment of women to any Government position is still regulated
by a statute written in 1870 which declared that women may in the
discretion of the head of any department be appointed to any of the
clerkships therein authorized by law. From this statute has sprung
the custom of opening examinations to both sexes or closing them to
either sex at the discretion of the head of any department, regardless
of the fact that neither rule nor law covers the examination itself.
When a vacancy occurs for which the Civil Service Commission has
no register of eligible persons, the head of the bureau in which the
vacancy occurs informs the Civil Service Commission of its needs,
indicating whether a man or a woman is desired for the position or
whether no discrimination will be made. The decision in this mat
ter is based upon the needs of the particular bureau. Barring women
or men from any examination, however, bars them not only from the
special occupation for which the examination is given but from all
kindred occupations. All other bureaus which may require services
of the same or like quality as those specified in the examination are
confined to a register made up exclusively of one sex when the oppo
site sex might be as acceptable or preferable; or they must ask for
a special examination in which no sex line is drawn; or they must
seek the woman or man desired among those already in the Govern
ment service. The bureau asking for the examination in the first in
stance may, without question, require the services of men only or
1 T h is a r tic le sum m arizes th e rep ort o f co n d itio n s a s found during th e period covered
and, o f course, ta k es no accou nt o f th e recent rulin g o f th e C ivil Service C om m ission.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
210
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
women only, but by closing the examination to either sex, all other
bureaus are restricted in the choice of service or forced to call for
special examinations entailing an additional expenditure of time and
money.
From January 1, 1919, to June 30, 1919, the Civil Service Com
mission held examinations to obtain eligible people for vacancies in
260 different types of positions, exclusive of manufacturing and me
chanical positions in the ordnance factories, quartermaster depots,
and navy yards, and exclusive of unskilled labor positions.1 Women
were excluded from examinations for 59.6 per cent of these occupa
tions, tests for 155 of the occupations being open to men only. In
the scientific and professional positions women were excluded from
examination for over 61 per cent of the positions. In the mechanical
and manufacturing services 87 per cent of the occupations were
closed to women. Tests for clerical services of all kinds, however,
except seven (15.9 per cent) were open to women. Of the 260 occu
pational examinations, the per cent closed to women, distributed
according to service for which examinations were held, was found to
be as follows: Biological science, 61.5; physical science, 61.5; medical
science, 75; engineering, 67.5; economic and sociological, 100; mis
cellaneous professional (editorial work, teaching, and nursing), 30;
managerial and other expert office service, 25; clerical, 15.9; me
chanical and manufacturing, 87; domestic, reformatory, and rural,
83.3. Nearly 38 per cent of the examinations were open to men anti
women; 2.7 per cent to women only; and 59.6 per cent to men only.
Character of Examinations Closed to Women.
With more than 800,000 women in scientific or professional pur
suits outside the Government service, with more than 2,000,000
women working in private manufacturing and mechanical establish
ments, with over 600,000 in clerical occupations in private employ,
the question naturally arises as to what is the character of the Gov
ernment work in which women are not allowed to participate.
During the first six months of 1919, examinations were held for
33 occupations involving field and laboratory experimentation.
Women were permitted to take examination to conduct or assist in
the conduct of experiments in food preparation in materials requisite
to the home, in fertilizers and soils, in horticulture, plant diseases,
cereal diseases, injurious and beneficial plant worms, fiber produc
tion, paper fibers, and for the conduct of experiments on materials
1 T he num ber o f ex a m in a tio n s held a lw a y s outnum bers th e different k in ds o f p osition s
for w hich e x a m in a tio n s are g iv en , because it is o ften n ecessary to rep eat te s ts a t in te r
v a ls in order to secure th e n ecessa ry num ber o f qualified people.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WOMEN- IN INDUSTRY.
211
and devices suitable for naval uses. But they were not permitted
to take tests for the conduct of investigations relating to animal
parasites, to the mechanical properties of wood, to drug and oil plant
cultivating, to tobacco breeding, to the introduction of new plants, to
the relation of climates to agriculture, to aeronautics, to oil and gas
field conditions, to colors and dyes, or to study the physiology of gas
poisoning.
Women are permitted to study human diseases and plant diseases,
but the Bureau of Animal Industry excludes them from its 1919
examinations for investigating animal parasites and performing
administrative work in that connection.
The Navy Department was willing to use either men’s or women’s
knowledge to secure materials and devices most suitable for naval
uses, but the Forest Service wanted only men to determine the physi
cal and mechanical properties of wood, and women were therefore
excluded from the examination.
Women are acting as assistant weather observers for the Weather
Bureau, and assistant horticulturists for the Department of Agricul
ture, but they are not permitted to take tests in climatology in its
relation to agriculture. They are testing foods and drugs to deter
mine their nutritive and medical quantities, but they are barred from
examination in the testing of dyes.
The Harvard Medical School has recognized the value of one woman
doctor’s studies in industrial poisoning by appointing her assistant
professor of industrial medicine. But our Government delegates to
men only the study of the effects of gas poisoning.
As to the work of collecting information from original sources,
out of examinations in the first half of 1919 for 16 different kinds of
positions, 4 were open to women. If qualified, a woman may collect
and compile information concerning shipments, receipts, and prices
of food products in producing centers and large markets or may in
vestigate methods and costs of marketing food products; she may
collect or aid in collecting statistics on the production, consumption,
and movement of mineral commodities in world trade; or she may
assist in making surveys to determine the prevalence, causation, and
prevention of human diseases. But the examinations bar her from
securing the latter information if the position calls for a graduate
of a medical college and carries with it the responsibility of recom
mending preventive and controlling measures. By the same policy
she is kept from collecting information on the acreage conditions and
yields of the various crops, or data regarding farm animals, nor may
she investigate the volume and movement, the marketing and distri
bution, the supply and consumptive demand of foreign trade in farm
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-212
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
and nonm ami factored food products as long as the 1919 register of
eligible men is still good. Investigating matters relating to the
organization and operating of cooperative food producers’ associa
tions is also a closed field for women’s service. The Bureau of E f
ficiency, by calling for men only in its 1919 examination, excludes
women from conducting any of its investigation into the organization
and procedure of Government departments. Less unusual is the
Bureau of Mines’ exclusion of women from investigating causes of
accidents.
Women have acted and are acting as aids in restoring our handi
capped and disabled sailors and soldiers to a normal frame of mind ;
they have taught and are teaching boys how to do mechanical tasks
with their dismembered hands and arms; they are being employed
as well as men for private and public employment offices. The
Federal Board for Vocational Education, however, has believed
that men are best able to learn of the desires and latent capabilities
of our boys; that men only can advise and assist them in securing
suitable training and employment; that men only have a knowledge
of trades and systems of vocational education. All the examinations
for such important service, are, therefore, open only to men.
All but two of the examinations given in the first six months of
1919 for inspection and law enforcement positions were closed to
women. The food and drug inspection station at San Francisco per
mitted women to take the test for examining official samples of food
and drugs, but in 1919 the Bureau of Chemistry at Washington ex
cluded women from the tests for inspecting proprietary medicines
or foods and drugs in general. Meat and live-stock inspection, dis
infection of foreign seeds and plants, inspection of wood warehouses,
and enforcement of our horticultural and game laws can only be
done by men while the present register of eligibles holds good.
Women may, if qualified, examine requests for patents in our Patent
Office along with men, but they may not search or examine patents
for the Purchase, Storage, and Traffic Division of the War Depart
ment if they must take an entrance examination for the position.
The Navy Department has recognized the value of women as drafts
men, since all its examinations, whether for general engineering
work or for specific lines of aeronautical, ordnance, ship, electrical,
radio, or buildings drafting, may be taken by either men or women.
Other divisions, as the Engineers’ Department and Patent Section
of the War Department, the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics, and the Bureau of Public Eoads, did not admit women
to draftsman examinations.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 212 ]
9
9
9
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
213
Some of the positions listed above from which women were ex
cluded in the examinations given in the first six months of this year
are undoubtedly such that their duties can be performed more
satisfactorily by men than by women; for other positions there
may be no women with sufficient experience to qualify. But a care
ful study of the exclusions indicates very clearly that the majority
of scientific and professional positions which women were not per
mitted to enter in some departments are very similar in character to
work women are doing and have done in other Government depart
ments or in private establishments.
As long as it remains customary to permit any examination to be
closed to one or the other sex because of the needs of one bureau
the Civil Service Commission will not be able to marshall all avail
able ability before the department appointment officials for choice.
With all examinations opened to persons of either sex, the country
would know what storehouses of training and experience it had to
draw from, the appointment officials would have a wider field from
which to choose, and the women of the country would have their
opportunities for service immeasurably increased.
Entrance Salaries of Women Compared With Those of Men.
The discriminating policy that prevailed in examinations up to
November 5, resulting in barring women from a large proportion of
the higher grades of service, is reflected naturally in the positions to
which women are appointed and in the relative salary levels. One
outcome of vital bearing is the overwhelming concentration, 91 per
cent, of woman appointees in the clerical service. This massing in
turn carries with it the depression of salaries toward the old-time
woman's level, a figure traditionally below that which any number
of men qualified to fill the positions will accept.
In order to get definite facts as to the entrance salaries of women
compared with those of men, a study was made of the salaries paid
to persons appointed to the Government service during the months
of January and February, 1919. With the exception of persons
working for nominal salaries or persons whose salary was paid in
part only by the United States, and with the exception of manufac
turing, mechanical, and unskilled laboring positions outside of Wash
ington and similar positions in Washington to which no women were
appointed, all appointments, whether for the departmental service
in Washington, or for the field service, in the ten departments and
under seven commissions were included in the study.
In the first two months of 1919, 7,959 appointments, exclusive of
those specified above, were made to the Government service. Of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
214
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
these 4,689 (58.9 per cent) were women and 3,270 (41.1 per cent)
were men.
The positions filled during this period ranged from
charwoman to Federal Trade Commissioner. The salaries ranged
accordingly from $210 a year to $10,000 a year; but the majority of
appointees received neither one extreme nor the other. Over 86 per
cent of all women were appointed at salaries ranging from $900 to
$1,299 a year. Only 36 per cent of the men were appointed to
positions at these salaries.1
The following table shows the number and per cent of women
and men entering the Government service during the first two
months of 1919, classified according to entrance salaries and char-'
acter of appointment:
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF W O M E N A N D M E N R E C E IV IN G A P P O IN T M E N T S IN T H E
G O V E R N M E N T S E R V IC E A T E A C H S P E C IF IE D E N T R A N C E S A L A R Y D U R IN G J A N U
A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1919, B Y C H A R A C T E R O F A P P O IN T M E N T .
Salary group.
Probational.
Tem porary.
W o
m en.
W o
m en.
143
U nder $600......................................
42
$600 and under $700....................
37
$700 and under $800....................
42
$800 and under $900.....................
206
S900 and under $1,000..................
730
$1,000 and under 81,100..............
SI,100 and under $1,200.............. 1,956
534
SI,200 and under $1,300..............
36
5s1 300 and nnder $1,400..............
51
SMOO and under $1,500..............
16
8L800 and
Q00 pnd
$9*000 and
$2*100 fmd
$2*400 and
$2 500 end
$3*000 and
£3 600 and
£4 000 and
000 and
§5
under
under
under
nnder
$L9°0..............
$2,000
$2,100
$2,200 ............
10
121
2
under $2,500..............
under $3,000 ..
under $3,600..............
under $4,000..............
under $5,000..............
o v e r ._
T o ta l..................................... 3,818
Men.
93
45
89
56
42
150
289
203 .
39
85
112
56
3
161
12
8
Men.
112
48
101
51
28
23
10
19
82
118
151
47
239
32
13
19
7
112
72
161
35
34
117
57
71
S
39
7
3
34
27
4
15
40
35
9
4
4
1,615
12
0
1
30
64
SO
24
3
6
4
10
6
760
1,306
E x cep ted .1
W o
m en.
8
2
2
7
19
7
6
1
37
3-
Men.
1
4
5
3
60
12
3
57
6
2
1
2
3
3
1
1
105
W o
m en.
2 202
3
3
30
3
31
4
7
13
11
11
48
19
13
349
Per cent.
Total.
72
62
59
343
888
2,009
810
69
67
35
17
21
4
7
1
2
6
6
7
1
1
4,6S9
Men.
W o
m en.
4.3
.5
1.3
207
96
193
76
128
267
364
424
/. 3
18.9
42.8
17.3
286
119
.7
.4
1
1.2
86 1.6
122 1.5
8
262
23
104
24
40
5
58
115
163
44
33
23
3,270
.5
.1
.2
(2)
(2)
.1
.1
.2
(2)
(2)
Men.
6.3
2.9
5.9
.3
3.9
2
8.2
11«2
13.0
2. 6
3.7
8.8
3.6
.2
8.0
.7
3.2
.7
1.2
.2
l.S
3.5
5.0
.3
1
1.1
.7
100.0 100.0
1 Excepted appointments are those to positions which are excepted from examination by law or by
executive order.
2Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
The table shows very clearly that as the salary advances the pro
portion of woman appointees receiving it decreases very rapidly.
Only 4.7 per cent of the women as compared with 26.9 per cent of
the men were engaged at rates ranging from $1,300 to $1,899. Posi1T h e proportion of men and women receiving the higher salaries is greater in positions
w h ic h are excepted from civil-service examination and in temporary positions. Only 1 8 .0
per c e n t of the woman appointees received excepted or temporary appointments, whereas
5 0 .0 per cent of the men received these kinds of appointments.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[214]
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
4^
^
™
215
tions carrying from $1,900 to $2,499 went to less than one-half of
1 per cent of the women, but to nearly 8 per cent of the men.
Twenty-five hundred dollars but under $3,000 a year was paid to less
than one-third of 1 per cent of the women but to 8.5 per cent of the
men; while $3,000 a year and over was received by only two women,
or less than one-tenth of 1 per cent of the woman appointees, whereas
100, or over 3 per cent of the men appointees, received over $3,000 a
year. As a whole, therefore, about 4G per cent of the men, as com
pared with slightly over 5 per cent of the women, received more than
$1,299 a year, in spite of the fact that the prevailing policy of ap
pointing men as messengers resulted in twice as large a proportion
of men as women being paid less than $900 a year.
The concentration of women’s appointments within the $900 and
under $1,300 group corresponds closely with the concentration of
their appointment within the clerical services, as stated in the open
ing paragraph of this section. Ninety-one per cent of the 4,089
women appointed in January and February of 1919 went into clerical
occupations of one type or another. Forty-eight and one-half per
cent of the men’s appointments were made to these positions. Even
within the clerical group concentration of the sexes occurs. Men
predominate in the supervisory positions, in those requiring special
training and experience, and, at the other end of the scale, as office
messengers.* Women predominate as stenographers, typists, and
in index, filing, statistical, and other kinds of general office work.
The fact that influences other than the numbers of men and women
available for the particular positions are at work in determining
whether clerical work shall he done by a man or a woman is shown by
an analysis of the number of people of each sex passing the examina
tion. when compared with the proportion of positions filled by
each sex.
In the first six months of 1919, 59 per cent of the persons passing
the clerical tests were women, whereas 72 per cent of the appointments
in the first two months of 1919 were women.
This discrepancy is largest among persons holding clerk positions,
that is, persons who have passed the general clerk examination in
spelling, arithmetic, penmanship, letter writing, and copying and
correcting manuscript, and who are assigned to various office positions
throughout the Government service. With a slightly larger num
ber of men passing these examinations than women, 80 per cent of
the positions were filled by women. For file and cataloguing clerk
positions 74.5 per cent of the successful applicants were women al
though 84 per cent of the vacancies wTere filled by women. Eighty-six
and one-half per cent of the positions in which various office appli-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[215]
216
MONTHLY LABOil REVIEW.
i
ances are used were filled by women although they constituted but 81
per cent of those passing the examinations. Only in stenographic
and typewriting positions do the percentage of appointments of
woman eligibles fall within three points of each other. When special
training is required the situation is reversed. Almost 30 per cent of
the eligibles were women while only 15 per cent of the positions were
filled by women. Approximately the same ratio between eligibles
and appointments existed in the messenger service.
Another condition that appears to influence the proportion of men
and women appointed to various positions is the weaker bargaining
power of women. All applicants for probational positions state in
their examination papers the minimum salary which they will accept.
With the exception of messenger positions and card perforation ma
chine operator positions the minimum salary advertised by the Civil
Service Commission for clerical positions is $900 a year. Among
the applicants for probational clerical appointments in the months
of January and February, 274 women as against 36 men agreed to
accept the minimum offered or less; among the temporaries 131
women and 66 men agreed to accept $900 or less; and as to the ex
cepted positions at this salary or less 21 women and 1 man agreed
to accept them. In other words, of the 529 applicants who expressed
willingness to accept the advertised minimum or less, over 80 per cent
were women.
A study of the relative salaries prevailing in this clerical group
where the numbers emphasized are the largest, also bears witness to
the weaker bargaining power of women. Although the salary re
ceived by the largest single group of people doing clerical work of a
varied nature fell between $1,100 and $1,199 for both men and women,
36 per cent of the male appointees received more than this amount as
against 16 per cent of the female appointees. The highest salary for
a man in this group was $2,400, for a woman $1,800 a year. In the
minor clerk positions, the largest single group of women received
from $1,000 to $1,099 per year. A similar group of men got from
$1,200 to $i,299 per year. The prevailing rate for woman typists
was $1,000 to $1,099, for man typists between $1,100 and $1,199.
Stenographers of both sexes received $1,200 to a larger extent than
any other salary. A slightly larger proportion of man than woman
stenographers received over this amount.
Under clerical work requiring special training and experience and
original thought are included law clerks, correspondence clerks, and
clerks especially qualified to be intrusted with special kinds of office
work. Although 14 women passed the law-clerk examination, none
was appointed to this position during January and February of 1919.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[210]
*
♦
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
m
#
21 7
They were appointed as correspondence clerks and special experts in
the Bureau of War-Risk Insurance at salaries ranging from $1,100 to
$2,000. Men taking the same positions received from $1,200 to $3,500.
As to the positions requiring education and experience, few
women were appointed to managerial, supervisory, office organizing,
or secretarial positions. Of the 15 women receiving such positions,
only one earned an amount commensurate with the responsibility sup
posedly involved in these positions. The others received $1,200,
$1,400, and $1,600. Some men received the low rates that women did,
but over half received $2,000 and over.
As statisticians, work requiring college graduation and some practi
cal experience, women accepted positions at $1,200, $1,800, and $2,000.
Men secured $1,800, $3,000, and $4,000 jobs. Of the four women tak
ing positions as verifiers of income and excess profit tax returns, two
received $1,400, one $1,800, and one $2,000. Nine men appointed to
these positions received less than $1,400, but 103 received over $2,000.
A further study of the appointments of women as scientific investi
gators, collectors of statistical data, or in other positions requiring
education and experience, shows the same condition. In the majority
of the occupations to which women and men were appointed in any
numbers, although men frequently received lower entrance salaries
than women, the proportion of man appointees to the higher paid posi
tions in each occupation was always in excess of the proportion of
woman appointees to these positions.
Not until the entrance salaries to be paid in each occupation are
fixed for probational, temporary, and excepted positions in accordance
with the responsibilities and difficulties of the tasks to be undertaken,
not until the classes of work within each occupation are so well deter
mined and their salaries fixed so that the persons marking examina
tion papers will be able to mark each applicant’s class and salary
status on the examination paper, will it be possible to eliminate the
inequalities which have arisen through custom in the beginning sal
aries offered to women and men.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[217]
9
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
New Basis for Measuring Accident Frequency
and Severity Rates.
T A meeting of the committee on statistics and compensation
insurance cost of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions held at Harrisburg’, Pa.,
December 8 to 5, 1919, the following resolution was adopted chang
ing the unit for measuring both accident frequency and accident
severity rates:
Resolved, That accident rates, both frequency rates and severity rates, be
computed on the basis of 1,000 hours’ exposure instead of 3,000 hours’ ex
posure, as heretofore.
The unit of measure for both frequency and severity accident
rates, which has come to be generally used, is the “ 300-day worker,”
sometimes called “ full-time worker.” This hypothetical worker is
supposed to work 10 hours a day for 300 days in the year, or 3,000
hours per year.
The committee on statistics and compensation insurance cost at its
first meeting considered very carefully the question of a proper unit
for measuring accident rates and decided to adopt the only unit
then in actual use, namely, the “ 300-day worker.”
The “ 300-day worker ” was chosen as the standard measure for
accident rates because (1) it is absolutely necessary to have a com
mon unit for measuring accidents in all occupations, all industries,
all States, and all countries; (2) the “ 300-day worker” had been
recommended as the standard unit for computing accident rates by
the Permanent International Committee on Social Insurance and the
International Institute of Statistics and was in use in Germany and
Austria at the time the committee on statistics took up the matter of
standardization of accident statistics; (3) it was alleged that most
workers did work about 10 hours a day and about 300 days in the
year. It was further argued that while the “ 300-day worker ” did
conform closely to the normal worker, still he was merely an ab
straction, a unit of measure, and would measure exposure to accident
just as accurately for an 8-hour day as a 10-hour day, for a 200-day
218
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[218]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
W-
V
219
year as a 300-day year. The use of this unit, it was maintained, did
not suggest a 10-hour day or a 300-day year as the ideal and proper
working day and industrial year.
In fact both employers and employees do regard the “ 300-day
worker” as suggesting what the ideal working day and working
year should be. The secretary of the National Safety Council has
pointed out that the 8-hour day is becoming the standard working
day and suggested that the unit measure be made 2,400 hours per
year instead of 3,000 hours, so as more nearly to reflect the yearly
working time. A 2,000-hour year was also considered by the com
mittee on statistics and compensation insurance cost, but it was
recognized by all members of the committee that any standard unit
of measure which suggested the length of time men do or should
work is undesirable.
In view of the fact that the working time, both the hours per day
and the days per year, varies widely from plant to plant, from indus
try to industry, from city to city, from country to country, and from
year to year, it was thought best by the committee to cut loose en
tirely from a unit of measure that could be misunderstood as, in any
way, implying what the proper working time should be. The
adoption of 1,000 hours’ exposure rids us forever of any such implica
tion and gives a unit which is convenient in size and will remain
unaffected by changes in the working day or variations in the work
ing year. The 1,000-hour exposure is a stable, scientific, math
ematical unit of measure, which is what is needed for the measure
ment of accident rates. It has the further advantage that accident
rates measured by any other unit of exposure may be readily ex
pressed in terms of the 1,000-hour unit and vice versa. For in
stance, all accident rates computed in units of the “ 300-day worker ”
may be converted into rates per 1,000 hours’ exposure by dividing by
3. Frequency rates are to be expressed in rates per thousand thou
sand (1,000,000) hours’ exposure of the working force, instead of per
thousand “ 300-day workers.” Severity rates are to be expressed as
days lost per thousand hours’ exposure of the working force, instead
of days lost per “ 300-day worker.” In both instances the new rates
can be derived from the old rates by dividing by 3.
♦
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r210T
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICINE.
A Standard Method of Sickness Reporting.
N ORDER to promote the adoption of a standard method of
sickness reporting by as many establishments and sick-benefit
associations as possible, two plans for recording and reporting
sickness among industrial employees and sick-benefit associations have
been prepared by the Public Health Service. They were formulated
by a special committee on industrial morbidity statistics, Vital
Statistics Section of the American Public Health Association, in
cooperation with the Public Health Service and with the advice and
assistance of other Government bureaus.1 Both plans are based on
the same principles, but the first is considered preferable as offering
possibilities for much greater detail in personnel records. In both it
is considered essential that a diagnosis of each case of sickness causing
disability be recorded.
Plan A.
According to plan A an individual personnel card is kept for
every employee to be considered, whether the individual becomes sick
or not. For this card the following form, 4 by 6 inches in size, is
suggested:
I
M O D E L FO R M F O R P E R S O N N E L A N D S IC K N E S S C A R D —FA C E .
1 Sickness records for industrial establishments. Public Health Reports, Nov. 14, 1919,
pp. 2593-2604. United States Public Health Service, Washington.
220
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[220 ]
221
IN D U ST R IA L H Y G IE N E AND M E D IC IN E .
The reverse side of the card is as follows :
M O D E L F O R M F O R P E R S O N N E L A N D S IC K N E S S C A R D —R E V E R S E S ID E .
R eco rd of A bsences from Sickness a n d N o n in d u s tria l In ju rie s.
14. D a tes of A bsence.
B eginning.
End.
15. D ays
L o st
T h ro u g h
Illness.
16. Sickness or N o n in d u s tria l In ju r y
C ausing D isab ility (D iagnosis).
17. B y
w hom
nosed.
D iag
-
18. R em ark s:
I_________________ ______________________ _______________ F o rm A-1-1919-TJ. S. P u b lic H e a lth Service.
When personnel cards of any form are already kept, uniformity in
sickness records may be secured by certain modifications.
From these personnel cards monthly tabular statements can be
made showing the number of workers, the number of cases of
sickness occurring among them, and the sickness rate per 1,000
persons, for any group of workers. “ Tabs” or “ signals” in certain
divisions of the top of the card are suggested, to designate sex, color,
and age group. Thus, a blue signal in the left third of the top of
the card might indicate “ white male, under 25 years,” in the middle
third, “ 25 to 44 years,” and in the' right third “ 45 years and over.”
A red signal might be used for white females, a yellow one for colored
males, and a green one for colored females. At the end of the month
the number of workers of each sex, color, and age group in any occu
pation, or department, or for the plant could be recorded quickly
from these tabs. A distinct signal, for any illness, attached at the
time to the card and removed at the end of the month, will facilitate
the keeping of the sickness record.
Reports to the Public Health Service, to plant managers, or officials
of sick-benefit associations should give the information provided for
in the following model form:
1551G90—20----- 15
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[221 ]
222
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
M ODEL FORM
OF PE R SO N N E L R ECO RD FO R R E PO R T S.
*
(N a m e of p la n t or sick-benefit associatio n .)
N u m b e r of em ployees (or m e m b e rs ) o n th e la st d ay o f ......................................, 1 9 ...
(M o n th )
M a1es.
T o ta l (b o th sexes).
D e p a rtm e n t
(or occupation).
A ll
ages.
U n
d er
25.
45
A ll
25 to a n d
44. over. ages.
U n
d er
25.
25 to
44.
F e m a 'e s .
45
All
a n d ages.
over.
U n
d er
25.
25 to
44.
45
and
o v e r.
•*
:::::::
I
!
T o ta l
..........
A form is also given for a report showing a list of cases of dis
abling sickness each month, the cases being listed separately. Such
a report shows the name of employee, sex, age, occupation (or de
partment), and record of sickness, including date on which sickness
began and ended, number of days lost from work during the month,
and diagnosis. These two reports will provide for monthly tabu
lation of the incidence of sickness and of severity, the latter in terms
of sick days, of each disease or of all sickness among employees by
sex, age, occupation, or department. The data contained in these
reports will supply material for tables giving information desired
for various uses.
Plan B.
This is a much simplified plan designed for those plants and sickbenefit associations which find it impossible to keep a personnel card
for each employee. It affords a record from which can be made a
monthly statement of the number of employees or members of sickbenefit associations employed in the various occupations of the de
partment.
The Public Health Service invites industrial establishments and
employees’ sick-benefit associations to take up the question of sick
ness records and reports with the statistical office with a view to es
tablishing active cooperation, and offers to furnish upon request
forms for reports as outlined in the article or adapted to records
already existing. “ The need for accurate knowledge of disease prev
alence is a vital one,” according to the article, and “ unless sickness
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 222 ]
IN D U ST R IA L H Y G IE N E AND M E D IC IN E .
223
among a group of persons is expressed in the form of a rate, there is
afforded no basis for comparison with sickness among other groups
°f persons, nor can the increase or decrease of sickness among any
group be measured.”
Study of Influenza-Pneumonia Among Wage
Earners.
KtI\IP IC AN I facts concerning the mortality from the in
fluenza epidemic of 1918-19 are brought out by Lee K.
Irankel and Louis I. Dublin 1 in a paper read before the vital
statistics section of the American Public Health Association meeting
at New Orleans. The data cover the period from October 1. 1918, to
June 30, 1919, and are limited to the policyholders of the indus
trial department of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., which
represent over 12,000,000 people, white and colored, male and fe
male. of all ages except early infancy and extreme old age. The
group is well distributed over the United States and Canada and
the results are considered to be generally applicable to the working
population of the United States.
Oi 105,552 policy claims paid during the period under investiga
tion, 70,729 deaths were due to influenza-pneumonia. Slightly more
than three-fourths of these deaths occurred during the months of
October, November, and December, 1918, 31,471 occurring in October
alone. When related to the number of years of life exposed, these
deaths indicate an annual rate of 774 per 100,000 during the ninemonth period. As against these ratings for the epidemic period
there was a rate of 152 per 100,000 during the 12 months ending
September 30, 1918. The difference between 774 and 152 per 100,000.
namely, G22, is regarded as an approximate measure of the effect of
the epidemic.
The chief interest in the statistics centers around the incidence of
deaths in relation to sex, color, and age. The respiratory diseases
under normal conditions show a higher mortality among males than
females. For example, in the seven years from 1911 to 1917, the
mortality rates of males showed an excess of 18 per cent over females
among white people, and of 30 per cent among colored. During the
period from October, 1918, to June, 1919, however, the rates for males
and females respectively were 789 and 763 among whites, and 767 for
both males and females among colored people. There is, altogether,
a suggestion that the excess mortality caused by the epidemic did not
S
1
I n f lu e n z a m o r t a l i t y a m o n g w a g e e a r n e r s a n d t h e i r f a m ilie s . B y L e e K . F r a n k e l a n d
L o u is I. D u b lin . R e p r i n t e d f r o m A m e r ic a n .J o u r n a l o f P u b li c H e a l t h , V o l. I X , N o . 1 0
O c to b e r , 1 9 1 9 , p p . 7 3 1 - 7 4 2 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[223]
224
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
operate on the sexes as the normal mortality from influenza-pneu
monia had in previous years.”
Normally, the incidence of respiratory diseases is much higher
among colored than among white persons, the period from 1911 to
1917 showing an excess of 72 per cent of colored over white males
and 56 per cent of colored over white females thus affected. It was
found that during the period of the epidemic the situation was
reversed, the first three months showing a rate of 1,522 per 100,000
for colored males as against 1,844 per 100,000 for white males; and
of 1,504 per 100,000 for colored females against 1,723 for white
females.
While during normal times influenza-pneumonia affects primarily
the first age period, from one to four years, and the period of late
middle and old age, the statistics of the epidemic show the highest
rate among whites to be the period from 25 to 34 years, which in
normal times shows the minimal rate. The authors conclude that “ we
are concerned in this epidemic with a disease or group of diseases
which behave very differently from the way in which the disease
known by the same names affected the community in previous years.”
Advantages of Industrial Clinics in General
Hospitals.
N A paper read before the National Safety Council, Cleveland,
Ohio, in October and reprinted in Modern Medicine,1 Dr. D. L.
Eclsall, of the Massachusetts General Hospital, explains the ad
vantages offered by the industrial clinic when it is operated in con
nection with a general hospital. He states that it is hardly to be
expected that each individual industrial establishment will have in
its employ a group of leading men in all the various lines of clinical
and scientific medicine, and that for this reason hospitals, particu
larly those connected with medical schools and with the staffs that
the latter have, will always need to be centers for the study and
treatment of difficult cases and for the investigation of problems,
however far health establishments in industrial plants may progress.
He is convinced that no other method than a special clinic goes so
far to insure good service to the patients and no other method so
stimulates and enlightens the interest of the hospital staff in general
in this important health factor. Likewise, by no other means, he
declares, is it possible to group the cases together in such manner
that the results of study can be analyzed and made available, and in
I
1 In d u stria l c lin ic s in g en era l h o sp ita ls, hy D. L. E d sall, M. D.
N ovem ber, 1919, pp. 575—577.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[224]
In M odern M edicine,
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICINE.
225
no other way does there occur such an accumulation and repetition of
experience as to make evident and important problems that had been
unrecognized or had seemed of little significance.
To be really useful and successful several things appear to be necessary.
The clinic should be in charge of a physician whose greatest interest is in the
work, and he should be on sufficient salary to enable him to spend most or all
of his time at the work. This is necessary in order that he may properly
develop his clinic and be free to make visits to factories in order to accumulate
constantly increasing knowledge of industrial processes, and in order to deter
mine day by day whether in doubtful cases seen in the clinic the work really
explains a part or the whole of the effect upon health. Much of his time will
be needed also in making studies in the clinic, in factories, and in the labora
tory of the problems that are frequently suggested; and in this he will have
many opportunities to keep occupied voluntary or paid assistants.
Another essential element in the clinic’s success will be a trained social
worker who is familiar with factory conditions and industrial processes as well
as with general social conditions.
Dr. Edsall believes that the1primary value of such a clinic has been
the better care of the patients, and that equally obvious are the oppor
tunities offered for furnishing new knowledge and thus improving
conditions through carefully planned studies and through accumula
tions and analyses of records.
The largest possibilities of useful development, according to Dr.
Edsall, lie in the research that can be carried out “ if the clinic acts
as a center for coordinating the problems that are unearthed in it
with the health and technical departments of the industries, on the
one hand, and on the other, the men and facilities that are found in
medical schools and hospitals.” He suggests that “ there are among
these two groups and their equipment the possibilities of attacking
all sorts of problems and, not infrequently, of solving them. Re
search developments that will control or do away with hazards are,
in the opinion of the writer, in the long run far more important than
the diagnosis and treatment of a group of cases, important as the
latter is.”
Physiologic Needs of Woman V/orkers in
Relation to Incomes.
C
OMMENTING on the results of investigations by Greenwood,
Hodson, and Tebb dealing with the metabolism of female mu
nition workers, which have recently been published by the
British Food (War) Committee of the Royal Society,1 the Journal
of the American Medical Association2 says:
1 G reenwood, M., H odson, C., find Tebb, A. E . : R eport on th e m etab olism of fem ale
m u nition w orkers, Proc. Roy. Soc., section B, 9 1 : 6 2 (A ug. 6 ) , 1919.
2 Journal o f th e A m erican M edical A sso cia tio n , N ov. 15, 1919, p. 1533.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[225]
226
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The war lias for tlie first time made considerable demands on women to
expend tlieir energies in toil of an exacting sort. Hence the need of including
them in the newer calculations of food requirement in relation to industry.
* * # Grouping the operations of these persons (female munition workers)
in the sequence of severity of the labor involved, it is concluded that light
turning and forging need about 100 calories per square meter per hour. The
data for other operations are as follows: For tool setting, heavy turning,
stamping, finishing, and shell hoisting, 125 calories; for gauging, walking, and
carrying, 160 calories; for more arduous labor, 180 calories. Translating these
findings into food fuel requirements for the entire day, after allowance is
made for culinary and alimentary waste, etc., the needs amount to 2,800, 3,100,
3,500, and 3,800 calories, respectively, per day. The figures cited show that
the energy requirement of the lightest class of workers may be only about
three-quarters that of the heaviest. Nevertheless, the remuneration of the
kind of work conducted by the latter is often much less than that of several
operations calling for many fewer calories. Even after making allowance for
one and a half nonworking days, the weekly calory requirement of the two
most unlike groups ranges from 17,000 at one extreme to 21,500 at the other.
Any scheme of remuneration that aims to make returns adequate to keep the
cost of food at a reasonably low proportion of the total income must take
into account the decidedly greater food needs of those who often represent the
least well-recompensed group. Thus, a food allowance of $10 a week which
just suffices for the less active worker must be augmented to $13 in case the
greater effort is expended. As the English experts now remind us, in any
scientific appraisement of the income needed to maintain an accepted standard
of living, it is essential to determine the minimal expenditure necessitated by
the occupation of the wage earner. Variations in the physiologic demand
translated into terms of money may nowadays he not inconsiderable.
--------------------
The Use of Psychiatry in Industrial Medicine.
N
r EUROPSYCHIATRY proved itself of undisputed value in
the medical history of the war. Its application to indus
trial medicine now appears to be accepted as a logical conse
quence, and references to the training and work of the industrial
psychiatrist, the psychiatric nurse, and social worker are common,
although their meaning is still somewhat cryptic so far as the
average reader is concerned. It is, therefore, of special interest to
see outlined clearly a probable field for the activities of the psychia
trist in industrial medicine and a goal toward which his work may
be hopefully directed during the near future. A lucid statement as
to what seems to be a reasonable application of psychiatry to in
dustrial hygiene under the present limited understanding of this
branch of medicine, combined with the limitations imposed upon its
practice by industrial conditions, is presented by Dr. Stanley Cobb,
neuropsychiatrist in industrial hygiene of the Harvard Medical
School, in the Journal of Industrial Hygiene.1
A pplications- of p sy ch ia try to in d u str ia l hygiene, by S tan ley Cobb.
tr ia l H ygien e, Novem ber, 1919, pp. 3 4 3 -3 4 7 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
¡.226]
Jou rn al of Ind u s
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICINE.
227
Dr. Cobb believes that much of the chaos in industry to-day is due
f° tbe unhealthy mental condition of the workers, and that this un
healthy condition is only the natural consequence of long endurance
of an environment which ignores the fundamental needs of human
nature and thus represses normal emotional and mental expression.
He considers it no exaggeration to agree with Carleton Parker in
saying that “ Modern labor unrest has a basis more psychopathological than psychological, and it seems accurate- to describe modern
industrialism as mentally insanitary.”
Stated in nontechnical language, the practical usefulness of in
dustrial psychiatry lies in the study of the individual worker and his
environment. The author thinks that a hopeful aspect of the present
situation is the fact that the technical literature in the fields of
political economy, education, industrial management, psychology,
medicine, and social service shows “ a feeling of broad lmmanitarianism, a desire to understand each member of the industrial system as
an individual, and a reaction against the old system of exploiting
labor to produce wealth.”
Tie believes that the careless methods of reasoning regarding hu
man nature which are a part of the orthodox tests must be exchanged
^
for intelligent analysis of human motives, and that by so doing vari
ous phenomena such as business confidence, the release of work en
ergy. the decay of workmanship, decline in the thrift habit, and
labor unrest may be properly interpreted. He quotes Parker to the
effect that the workman has about “ 10 instinct unit characters”
which require satisfaction in the same degree as is usually provided
for the college student. The same author in discussing the I. W. W.
states that in the thwarting of these instincts and the limiting of the
. opportunities of the worker to obtain the happiness, personal de
velopment, and aid when sick that he needs, a state of mind amount
ing to an industrial psychosis is induced and that the I. W. W. are
merely symptoms showing the neglect in these respects of industrial
workers in this country. These “ mentally insanitary ” conditions
may be corrected not only by shorter hours and increased pay but by
the education of children so that they may learn how to use their
leisure time properly.
Dr. Cobb believes that economists are outdistancing physicians in
abandoning cut and dried methods and ideas, and that in developing
mental hygiene in industry the physician must forget orthodox
psychiatry and substitute an individual psychology which will take
into consideration the reaction of individuals to their environment.
A hypothetical case is cited of what is commonly known as
” nervous breakdown ” in a department store employee, which might
ijpr
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.227]
228
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
have been prevented by a half-hour interview of an intelligent
psychiatrist, leading to a little material assistance and a simple read
justment of the woman’s personal problem. Such cases, variously
called “ neurasthenia,” “ psychasthenia,” and “ psychoneurosis ” are
common in wards and dispensaries, it is stated, where the doctors do
little for them, the need being for an investigation and readjust
ment of the patients’ personal problems. These conditions and need
for this kind of treatment are found not only among people posi
tively ill but among the restless, inefficient, and the radical elements
of society. “ Peabody and his collaborators found an interesting
example of this in the cases of Effort Syndrome studied at U. S. A.
General Hospital No. 9. A striking number of the histories showed
that in civil life these men drifted from one employment to another,
never breaking down enough to consult a physician, but adding their
number to the shifting, inefficient labor element so costly to em
ployers. It took the rigor of army life, with no possibility of escape
by moving on, to bring out their symptoms. Before these people
have left their work or have been fired for inefficiency, they should
be interviewed by some one competent to understand them and their
probable troubles. At such times advice from a physician, the loan
of some money, a visit to a sick child or wife, or any of the thousand
possible personal and individual aids, might save the worker from
becoming soured, keep him from joining the ranks of the discon
tented, and prevent the development of a litigant and paranoid .
personality. * * * ”
When the instincts for self-assertion, creation, and excitement are
suppressed through the workings of the present industrial system the
result is an abnormal frame of mind which is evidenced in striking,
drinking, etc., unless some outlet for the workers’ energies is pro
vided. This whole field is so large, however, that Dr. Cobb believes
the average industrial physician will be satisfied to watch for and
treat sympathetically the psychotic symptoms as they appear in
individuals.
In regard to the claims made as to the value of mental tests of appli
cants for industrial positions, he believes that they are of use from
the point of view mainly of determining subnormal individuals,
although they are of service in reducing misfits in shops—a condi
tion conducive to mental breakdowns.
While mental fatigue has received much attention from psychic
trists, Dr. Cobb thinks that overwork is not the fundamental cause of
neuroses or psychoneuroses but that these are fundamentally emo
tional breakdowns. Although the symptoms are similar to those of
neuromuscular fatigue, this is cured by simple rest, which is not the
case in the nervous diseases under discussion.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 228 ]
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICINE.
229
The mechanism of such a neurosis is typically something like th is : An indi
vidual is in an intolerable situation which he is constitutionally unable to domi
nate; the reaction of a neurosis sets in with depression of spirits, irritability,
preoccupation, self-pity, etc., but a conventional cause for the decreased effi
ciency must be found to rationalize the situation, so the individual calls it
o\eiwork. Obviously with this idea of overwork in mind the symptom usu
ally acquired is fatigue or asthenia, but frequently symptoms more closely asso
ciated with the work are developed, such as paralysis of parts of the body neces
sary for work, muscular pains making work impossible, tremors, or even epilep
tiform seizures. * * * Work may of course be an etiological factor, but
not through so simple a mechanism as accumulated fatigue. Work that re
presses emotional cravings often brings out neuroses, just as satisfactory work
is the greatest curative agent we have for these conditions. Let us no longer
fool ourselves into thinking that overwork, per se, is the cause of mental break
down.
The problems of industrial psychiatry, therefore, summed up briefl}r
are: Prevention of mental breakdowns by giving the worker the
proper environment and removing causes of discontent, and treating
such cases from an individual standpoint, as well as considering as
psychiatric cases those persons who until recently have been given
such unsympathetic names as “ the groucher,” “ the kicker,” “ the
trouble maker,” and “ the hobo.”
A reasonable application of psychiatry to industry under present
conditions would seem to be as follows:
L Physical examination of all applicants lor work.
2. Mental examination by (a) a period of training and observation, or (b)
through mental tests.
3. Keeping in personal touch with employees by means of (a) good foremen,
(b) a system for watching individual efficiency, or (c) a sympathetic staff
with a psychiatric point of view in the employment management office, thus
salvaging the men who might otherwise be tired.
4. Training the industrial physician to a knowledge of how human nature is
constituted, not in conventional terms, but in the light of a dynamic and living
psychology that considers the behavior of human beings in terms of instinctive
sources of energy, integrated into motives, these motives needing outlet through
energy transformation into satisfactory activity.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
*
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION.
C om parison o f C om pensation L aw s in th e U n ited
S ta te s, In clu d in g 1919 L e g isla tio n .1
By Carl H ookstadt.
1ST1917 the Bureau of Labor Statistics made a comparison of the
principal features of the workmen’s compensation laws of the
several States and Territories. This was published as Bulletin
240. Since then 33 jurisdictions have amended their compensation
laws, while 5 new States2 have been added to the list of those hav
ing such laws.
At present 42 States, the 3 Territories of Alaska, Hawaii, and
Porto Rico, and the Federal Government have workmen’s compensa
tion laws upon their statute books.3 These laws range widely as re
gards both coverage and amount of benefits provided. In some of
the States the scale of benefits is so low and the scope so limited that
the compensation act is practically no improvement over the former
employers’ liability system.
Especially is this true of the recent Alabama act, which exempts
all employers having less than 16 employees ; provides no administra
tive commission ; does not require employers to insure ; and, the great
est weakness of all, permits settlements for less than the statutory
amount of benefits. Furthermore, settlements between the em
ployer and employee are final and not subject to review, except that
cases in which periodical payments continue for more than six
months may be modified on the ground of increase or decrease of
incapacity due solely to the injury.
In attempting a comprehensible comparison of the various acts
it is necessary to concentrate upon the more important features. The
scope of an act—in other words, what industries are covered, what
persons are compensated, and what exemptions are made—is perhaps
of foremost importance. The amount of compensation received is
probably the next important feature of a compensation law. This
includes the compensation scale, the length of time for which compen
sation is paid, the maximum and minimum limits, the amount of
1 T he p resen t a r tic le is a sum m ary o f a fo rth co m in g bu lletin.
2 A labam a, M issouri, N o rth D akota, T en nessee, and V irginia.
3 N o rth C arolina, Sou th C arolina, Georgia, F lorid a, M ississip p i, A rkansas, and th e D is
tr ic t of Colum bia are th e only ju risd ic tio n s s till w ith o u t such la w s.
230
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2301
W O R K M E N ’S CO M PE N SA TIO N .
23 1
medical service provided, and the length of the waiting period. Other
important features are the administrative system, provisions as to
insurance, and tvoe of injuries covered.
Compensation Systems.
Compensation laws may be either compulsory or elective. A com
pulsory law is one which requires every employer within the scope of
the compensation law to accept the act and pay the compensation
specified. There is no choice. An elective law is one in which the
employer has the option either of accepting or of rejecting the act,
but, in case he rejects, the customary common-law defenses are abro
gated. The requirements as to insurance constitute another basis of
classification. On this basis the laws may be classified as compulsory,
including all laws in which some form of insurance is required, or
optional, including laws in which no insurance is required. The fol
lowing table shows the compensation States grouped according to
these two classifications :
COMPENSATION STATES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO W H E T H ER LAW IS COMPEL.
SORY OR ELECTIVE.
Compensationcompulsory
Insurance required
(12).
California.
Hawaii.
Idaho.
liiinois.
Maryland,
New York.
North Dakota.
Ohio.
Oklahoma.
Utah.
W ashington.
Wyoming.
Compensation
Insurance not
required
(1).
Arizona.
Insurance required
(27).
Colorado.
Connecticut.
De’aware.
Indiana.
Iowa.
Kentucky.
Maine.
Massaehusetts.
Michigan.
Missouri.
Montana.
Nebraska.
Nevada.
N ew Hampshire.
New Jersey.
New Mexico.
Oregon.
Pennsylvania.
Porto Rico.
Rhode Island.
South Dakota.
Tennessee.
Texas.
Vermont.
Virginia.
W est Virginia.
Wisconsin.
elective
Insurance not
required
(5).
Alabama.
Alaska.
Kansas.
Louisiana.
Minnesota.
•
It will be noted that of the 45 compensation States1 13 are com
pulsory and 32 are elective as to compensation provisions, while 39
are compulsory and 6 elective as to insurance requirements.
1 For tlie sake of simplicity all jurisdictions are referred to as States.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[231]
232
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
[232]
WORKMEN’S
NO
C O M P E N S A T IO N
LAW
C O M P E N S A T IO N
E L E C T IV E :
f R E Q U IR E D
IN S U R A N C E J
[ N O T R E Q U IR E D
C O M P E N S A T IO N
IN S U R A N C E
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CO M PULSOR Y:
f R E Q U IR E D
[N O T
R E Q U IR E D
COMPENSATION
LAWS
19Î9
233
WORKMEN 7S COMPENSATION.
Very considerable differences appear in the methods provided by
the laws of the 39 States in which insurance is obligatory. Thus the
State may make provision for the carrying of such insurance, and
require all employers coming under the act to avail themselves of
such provision; or the State fund may simply offer one of alternative
methods. Again, the State may refrain entirely from such action,
but require insurance in private companies, stock or mutual; and
lastly, self-insurance may be permitted, i. e., the carrying of the risk
by the individual, subject to such safeguards as the law may prescribe.
The following table shows the groupings on the bases indicated:
COMPULSORY INSURANCE STATES, CLASSIFIED AS TO D IF F E R E N T K IN DS OF IN SU R
ANCE A LLOW ED .
State fund
(17).
Exclusive
(8).
Private insurance
(31).
Competitive
(9).
C alifornia........................ C alifornia...............
Colorado.......................... Colorado..........................
C onnecticut...........................
D elaw are.............................
H a w a ii.................................
Idaho 1.............................. I d a h o 1 ................
Illin o is..................................
In d ia n a ........ ................... ..
I o w a ......................................
K en tu ck y ..............................
M aine........................................
M aryland.................. ... M aryland............
M assachusetts......................
M ichigan.......................... M ichigan..................
Missouri...............................
M ontana.......................... Mont a n a .......... ...........
N ebraska........... ....................
Nevada.
New York.
North Dakota
O hio3..............
Oregon............
Pennsylvania.
Porto Rico__
Utah.
Washington---W est Virginia *.
W y o m in g .......
New
New
New
New
Hampshire ■
Jersey..........
Mexico........
Y o r k ...___
Self-insurance
(31).
California.
Colorado.
Connecticut.
Delaware.
Hawaii.
Idaho.
Illinois.
Indiana.
Iowa.
Kentucky.
Maine.
Maryland.
Michigan.
Missouri.
Montana.
Nebraska.
New
New
New
New
Hampshire.5
Jersey.
Mexico.
York.
Oklahoma.......
Ohio.3
Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island.
South Dakota.
Tennessee........
Texas...............
U tah.................
Vermont..........
Virginia *.........
Rhode Island.
South Dakota.
Tennessee.
Utah.
Vermont.
Virginia.4
Wisconsin.
West Virginia.*
Wisconsin.
1 Idaho permits self-insurance. Employers who carry their own risk may insure in authorized guaranty
companies.
2 The N ew Hampshire law requires employers accepting the act to furnish proof of solvency or give bond,
but makes no other provision for insurance.
3 Ohio permits self-insurance, but all employers are required to contribute their proportionate share to
the State insurance fund surplus.
4 Self-insurers required to contribute 4 per cent of their premiums to commission’s maintenance fund.
* West Virginia has practically an exclusive State insurance system. Self-insurance is allowed, but
employers desiring to carry their own risk must contribute their proportionate share to the administrative
expenses of the law.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[233]
234
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Broadly speaking, the laws may be divided into four main groups
or combination of groups, namely: (1) Exclusive State fund, (2)
competitive State fund, (3) private insurance, either stock or mu
tual, and (4) self-insurance or where employers are permitted to
carry their own risk. In most cases the employers have the option
of several kinds of insurance. This does not hold true, however, of
the States having strictly exclusive systems. In these cases no other
form of insurance is permitted.
It will be noted that six States have such exclusive systems. In
three of these, Nevada, Oregon, and Porto Rico, compensation is
elective and insurance is therefore not absolutely compulsory, since
employers need not accept the act, but should they accept, insur
ance in the State fund is compulsory. In North Dakota,
Washington, and Wyoming both compensation and insurance
are compulsory. In these six States the State becomes the
sole insurance carrier. It classifies the industries into groups ac
cording to hazard, fixes and collects premiums, adjudicates claims
and pays compensation. Two other States (Ohio and West Vir
ginia) are nearly exclusive in character. They allow no private
casualty company to operate, but permit self-insurance. Ohio per
mits employers to carry their own risk, though all such employers
are required to contribute their proportionate share to the State in
surance fund surplus. Self-insurers, however, are not permitted to
insure their risk in private companies. West Virginia has practically
an exclusive State insurance system. It permits no private insur
ance, but does allow self-insurance. The employers, however, who
desire to carry their own risk must contribute their proportionate
share to the administrative expenses of the law.
In the other 31 States having compulsory insurance laws some form
of competition exists, or at least the employer is given an option as
to the method of insuring his risk. In nine of these States1the laws
provide for a State fund through which the State conducts a work
men’s compensation insurance business in competition with private
liability companies. Private casualty companies, however, are per
mitted to write compensation insurance in all of these States. Idaho
differs somewhat from the other States having competitive State
funds. It allows employers to carry their own risk and also permits
substitute insurance schemes if the benefits provided equal those of
the act. Self-insurers, however, as evidence of satisfactory security,
may furnish a surety bond or guaranty contract with any authorized
surety or guaranty company. Moreover, the attorney general has
1 C alifornia, C olorado, Idaho, M aryland, M ichigan, M ontana, N ew York, P en n sylvan ia,
and U tah.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
w o r k m e n
’s
c o m p e n s a t i o n
.
235
held that the words “ guaranty contract” includes insurance con
tracts.
Of the 39 compulsory insurance States, 31 permit private com
panies to operate, the only exceptions being the G exclusive States
of Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Porto Rico, Washington, and
Wyoming, and the States of West Virginia and Ohio.
Thirty-one States allow employers to self-insure or carry their
own risk, the exceptions again being the exclusive States and Massa
chusetts and Texas. Employers who avail themselves of this privi
lege are required either to give proof of their financial solvency and
ability to pay compensation or to furnish bonds or other security, or
to do both. In several States such employers are also permitted to
secure their compensation payments by guaranty insurance.
New Hampshire’s compensation law* is exceptional in that em
ployers who accept the act must furnish proof of financial solvency
or deposit adequate security, but the law makes no other provision as
to insurance.
Scope or Coverage.
h<o State compensation act, even when full use of the elective pro
visions is taken into account, covers all employees. The nearest ap
proach to universal coverage is the New Jersey act, which includes
all employees, except casual laborers, public officials, and public em
ployees receiving salaries in excess of $1,200. The principal ex
emptions, in the order of their importance, perhap, are: Nonhazardous employments; agriculture; domestic service; numerical exemp
tions, i. e., excepting employers having less than a specified number
of employees; public employees; casual laborers or those not em
ployed for the purpose of the employer’s business; and employ
ments not conducted for gain.
Hazardous Employments.
The following 13 States include only hazardous employments:
Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana,
New Hampshire, New' Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and
Wyoming. In these States the industries covered are enumerated in
the act. In Alaska only mining operations are included, but, in the
other States, the principal hazardous employments are covered, in
cluding manufacturing, mining, transportation, and construction
work.
Numerical Exemptions.
Twenty-two States exempt employers having less than a stipulated
number of employees from the operation of the act, as shown in the
following table:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[235]
236
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
NUMERICAL EX EM PTION
STATES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO NUM BER OF EMPLO Y EES E X E M PT E D .
Employers haying less than—
3 em
ployees
(6).
4 em
ployees
(3).
Kentucky. Colorado,
Oklahoma. New Mexico.
Porto Rico. New York.
Texas.
Utah.
Wisconsin.
6 employees
(2).
10 em
ployees
(1).
11 em
ployees
(2).
16 em
ployees
(1).
Maine.
Alaska.
Rhode Island.
Connecticut.
Delaware.
Kansas.
New Hampshire.
Ohio.
Missouri.
Tennessee.
Vermont.
Virginia.
Alabama.
5 employees
(7).
Agriculture and Domestic Service.
Hawaii and New Jersey are the only States which include agri
culture and New Jersey the only State which includes domestic
service. In all other States these employments are excluded.
Public Employees.
The following 26 States include all public employees, including
both State and municipal: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Mis
souri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vir
ginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
In the following 12 States the inclusion of public employees is only
partial: Alabama, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massa
chusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Porto Rico, Vermont, Washington,
and Wisconsin.
In the following 7 States public employees are exempted: Alaska,
Arizona, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, and
Texas.
In addition to the foregoing exclusions, many States have special
exemptions of more or less importance, the most frequent being the
exclusions of highly paid employees, outworkers, and clerical occu
pations. Maine also excludes logging and Tennessee excludes coal
mining.
Per Cent of Employees Covered.
The foregoing exclusions have to do only with the statutory scope
of the compensation laws. But what do these various inclusions and
exclusions really mean when applied in each State? How many
employees are actually excluded through the nonliazardous, or nu
merical, or agricultural, or domestic service exemptions? Then
again, how does the same statutory exclusion affect different States?
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[236]
w o r k m e n
^
’s
c o m p e n s a t i o n
.
237
The exemption of agriculture in Rhode Island, for instance, is of
little importance as compared to a similar exemption in Texas.
In the following table an attempt has been made to compute the
percentage of employees covered by the compensation acts of the
various States. The computations, though based upon a detailed
analysis of the Federal occupation census figures, are in some cases
merely estimates, and no claim is laid to such accuracy as the percent
ages would suggest. The aim has been, however, to maintain uni
formity of treatment as between States, so that while the percentage
of error for a given State may be considerable, the percentages given
would show the relative status of each State with a reasonable degree
of accuracy. The States are arranged in descending order of per
centage of employees covered. All employees in employments cov
ered by the compensation law are included irrespective of whether
or not the employers in the elective States have accepted the act.
C O M P E N S A T IO N S T A T E S A R R A N G E D IN D E S C E N D IN G O R D E R OF P E R C E N T A G E O F
EM PLO YEES COVERED.
State.
New Jersey...............................................
H aw aii.......................................................
99.8
92.6
Pennsylvania.......................................
Massachusetts........................ ; ................
Michigan...............................................
Rhode Islan d.....................................
Connecticut............................................
New Y ork...............................................
W est Virginia..........................................
88.8
87.8
83.1
82.9
81.9
80.1
80.1
Indiana..............................................
Minnesota.................................................
Ohio...........................................................
N evada......................................................
California..................................................
W isconsin.................................................
U tah...........................................................
Maine.........................................................
Nebraska................................................
79.4
79.0
76.3
76.2
76.2
75.4
74.4
72.9
70.4
Idaho..................................................
Missouri..................................................
Colorado..................................................
Delaware...................................................
Iowa...........................................................
68.7
K e n tu c k y ................................... .................
i
^
Per cent of
employees
covered.
66.1
63.1
62.9
62.7
60.2
State.
South Dakota
Now Hampshire
Illinois...................................
Vermont .
Arizona. .
Washington
Montana.
Per cent of
employees
covered.
58 0
66 0
55 ?
5? 4
61 5
50.9
Oregon
Texas........
North Dakota.................................
Wyoming
Maryland
Virginia.
45 9
45.8
Tennessee.
Kansas........
Oklahoma
Louisiana.
A labam a..
A laska..................................................
New Mexino
37 2
36 9
35 9
35 2
33 6
31.2
30.7
Porto Rino
20.5
48 7
47 9
46.8
Waiting Period.
In most of the States, an injury to be compensable must cause
disability for a certain length of time, no compensation being paid
during this time. This noncompensable preliminary period is known
as the “ waiting period.” In two States (Oregon and Porto Rico)
there is no such waiting time, compensation being paid for all in
juries producing any disability. The most common provision is that
155169°—20---- 16
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[237]
238
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
disability must continue for more than one week, this being found
in 22 States. Utah and the Federal Government require a waiting
period of 3 days, 7 States of 10 days, and 13 of 2 weeks. In 21
States the waiting period is abolished entirely if the disability con
tinues longer than certain specified periods.
The following table classifies the States according to length of
waiting period :
*
i
COMPENSATION STATES, CLASSIFIED BY LENGTH OF WAITING PERIOD.
No waiting
period
( 2) .
Oregon.
Porto Rico.
3 days
1 week
( 2) .
( 22).
Utah.
California.
United States. Connecticut (none if disabled
over 4 weeks).
Hawaii (none if partially dis
abled).
Idaho.
Illinois (none if disabled 4 weeks).
Indiana.
Kansas.
Kentucky.
Louisiana (none if disabled 6
weeks).
Michigan (none if disabled 6
weeks).
Minnesota.
Missouri (none if disabled over
6 weeks).
Nebraska (none if disabled 6
weeks).
Nevada (none if disabled 2
weeks).
North Dakota (none if disabled
over 1 week).
Ohio.
Oklahoma (none if disabled 3
weeks).
Texas.
Vermont.
Washington (none if disabled
over 30 days).
West Virginia.
Wisconsin (none if disabled over
4 weeks).
10 days
(7).
Colorado.
Maine.
Massachusetts.
New Jersey
Pennsylvania.
S ou th D a k o ta
(none if disabled
6 weeks).
Wyoming (none if
disabled over 30
days).
2 weeks
(13).
Alabama (none if
disabled 4 weeks).
Alaska (none if dis
abled 8 weeks).
Arizona (none if
disabled over 2
weeks).
Delaware (none if
disabled 4 weeks).
Maryland (1 week
if totally and
permanently dis
abled).
Montana.
New Hampshire.
New Mexico.
New York (none if
disabled over 7
weeks).
R h o d e I s la n d
(none if disabled
over 4 weeks).
Tennessee (none if
disabled 6 weeks).
Virginia.
Compensation Scale.
The actual amount of benefits received by injured workers is de
pendent upon the percentage scale, the weekly maximum, the periods
for which compensation is paid, and the maximum amount payable
in any individual case. The following table shows the maximum
period and maximum amount of compensation for each State in case
of death, permanent total disability, and partial disability:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2381
w o r k m e n
’s
c o m p e n s a t i o n
239
,
MAXIMUM PER IOD S A N D MAXIMUM AMOUNT OP COMPENSATION PA Y A B LE I N CASE
OF D EATH, PER M A N E N T TOTAL D ISA BILITY , AN D PA R TIA L D ISABILITY.
Permanent total
disability.
Death.
Partial disability.
States.
Weeks.
Amount.
Weeks. Amount.
Amount.
Weeks.
300
Alabama.
A laska...
Arizona..
California
Colorado.
300
550
$5,000
400
240
312
4.000
5.000
3,125
Life.
Life.
Life.
4,000
During disability.
240
During disability.
$4,800
4,000
3 years’ earnings.
2,600
Connecticut
Delaware. . .
Hawaii........
Idaho..........
Illinois........
312
285
312
400
416
5.000
520 ................
475
4,000
312
5,000
Life...................
Life.....................
520
285
312
150
416
5,000
Indiana. ..
Iowa.........
Kansas. . .
Kentucky
Louisiana.
300
300
260
335
300
5,000
500
5,000
400 .................
416 ................
416
5,000
400 ................
300
225
416
335
300
Maine...............
Maryland........
Massachusetts.
Michigan........
Minnesota___
300
416
500
300
300
3,500
4,250
4,000
$5,000
6,000
6,000
4.000
3,800
4,000
500
Life,
500
500
550
Missouri..............
Montana.............
Nebraska............
N evada...............
New Hampshire
300
400
350 .
Death or remarriage.
3,000
300
life .
Life.
Life.
300
New Jersey...
New M exico..
New York___
North Dakota.
Ohio.................
300 ....................
300 ....................
Death or remarriage,
Death or remarriage.
416 I
5,000
400
520
Life.
Life.
Life.
Oklahoma___
Oregon...........
Pennsylvania.
Porto R ico ...
Rhode Island,
Not covered.
Death or remarriage.
300 ...................
4,000
300
500
Life.
500
South Dakota.
Tennessee.......
Texas...............
U tah................
Vermont.........
Virginia..........
W ashington..
West Virginia.
Wisconsin___
W yoming.......
United States.
378
400
360
312
260
3,000
5,000
3,500
300
4,000
Death or remarriage.
Death or remarriage.
320 I
4,500
.................I
3,000
Death or remarriage.
500
4,200
5.000
4.000
6.000
300
During disability.
500
300
3,500
4,000
400
150
300
433
300
300
During disability.
3,500
During disability.....................................
During disability.
3,750
5.000
4.000
5.000
300
104
300
2,500
300
Life.
550
401
Life.
260
3.000
5.000
4,000
312
300
300
312
260
500
Life.
Life.
780
5,000
300
Life.
4,000
.........
340
......... During disability.
5,500 .................................
........... During disability.
5,000
2,000
4.500
1.500
Per Cent of Wages.
In all but three States (Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming) the
amount of compensation is based upon wages. A number of States,
however, provide fixed lump sums for certain injuries, but apply the
percentage system to all others. In most of the States the prescribed
percentage remains uniform for all injuries. A few States have
varying percentages for different types of injuries, and in several
States the percentage varies with conjugal condition and number of
children.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[239]
240
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
In 18 States1 the amount of compensation is 50 per cent of the
employee’s wages; in 4 States,2 55 per cent; in 9 States,3 60 per cent;
in 3 States,4 65 p.er cent; and in 8 States5 and the Federal Govern
ment, 66§ per cent.
Weekly Maximum and Minimum.
The compensation benefits based upon percentage of wages are
usually modified by weekly maximum and minimum limits which
may materially affect the amounts, though to what extent depends,
of course, upon the wage level. Two States (Alaska and Wyoming)
have no maximum or minimum provisions; 5 States,6 have a weekly
maximum of $10 or under; l 7 has a maximum of $11; 118 have a
maximum of $12; 7,9 of over $12 and under $15; 8,10 of $15; 6
States11 and the Federal Government have a maximum of over $15
to $18; 2 States12 have a maximum of $20 or over; while 3 States13
provide monthly pensions of fixed amounts.
Death.
The benefits for death in most cases approximate three or four
years’ earnings of the deceased employee. The methods provided for
determining compensation for death vary somewhat. Two States 14
provide for fixed absolute amounts without reference to wages or
length of time, and one State 15 proportions the amount of compensa1 A labam a (in crea sed to 60 per cen t in certa in c a s e s ), A lask a, A rizona, C olorado, Con
n e c tic u t, D elaw are, Illin o is (in creased to 65 per cen t in certain c a se s ), M aryland, M on
tan a , N ew H am p sh ire, N ew M exico, Oklahom a, P o rto Rico, R hode Islan d , T en nessee, Ver
m ont, V irg in ia , and W est V irgin ia.
2 Idaho, Indian a, L ou isian a, and Sou th D akota.
8
H a w a ii (to ta l d isa b ility o n ly ; p a rtia l, 50 per c e n t; death , 25 to 60 per c e n t), Iow a,
K a n sa s (specified in ju ries, 50 per c e n t), M aine, M ichigan, N evada (to ta l d isa b ility o n ly ;
p a rtia l, 50 per c e n t; death , 15 to 6 6 | per c e n t), P en n sy lv a n ia , T exas, and U tah.
4 C alifornia, K entu ck y, and W iscon sin .
6 M a ssa ch u setts, M innesota, M issouri, N ebraska, N ew J ersey (d eath , 35 to 60 per c e n t),
N ew York, N orth D akota, and Ohio.
0 C olorado, L o u isia n a , N ew H am p sh ire, a nd V irg in ia , $ 1 0 ; P orto R ico, $7.
7 T en nessee.
8 A labam a (in crea sed to $15 in certa in c a se s ), Idaho, Illin o is (in creased to $15 in cer
ta in c a se s ), K entu ck y, M aryland, N ew J ersey, N ew M exico, Ohio (d ea th and perm an en t
to ta l d isa b ility , $ 1 5 ),P en n sy lv a n ia , South D akota, and W est V irginia.
9 M ontana and V erm ont, $ 1 2 .5 0 ; Indian a, $ 1 3 .2 0 ; C onnecticut, death and p a r tia l d is
ab ility , $18, oth er d isa b ilitie s, $14 ; M ichigan, $14 ; R hode Islan d , to ta l d isa b ility , $14,
oth er d isa b ilitie s, $10 ; W iscon sin , $14.63.
10 D elaw are, Io w a , K a n sa s, M aine, M innesota, M issouri, N ebraska, and T exas.
11 U ta h , $16 ; H a w a ii and O klahom a, $18 ; M a ssa ch u setts, death and specified in ju ries,
$10, oth er d isa b ilitie s, $ 1 6 ; N evada, $ 9 .23 to $ 1 6 .6 2 ; N ew York, $15 to $ 2 0 ; F ederal
G overnm ent, $15.38.
32 C alifornia, $ 20.83 ; N orth D akota, $20.
15 Oregon, W a sh in g to n , and W yom ing.
14 A la sk a and W yom ing.
16 P o r to Rico.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 4 0 ]
w o r k m e n ’s
0.
c o m p e n s a t io n
.
241
tion to the earning capacity and number and needs of dependents of
deceased. Six States 1 provide for annual earnings for three or four
years. The large majority of States, however, apply a wage percent
age for specified periods. Of these, 2 States 2 pay death benefits for
less than 300 weeks; 13 3 for 300 weeks; 7 4 for over 300 but under 400
weeks; 7 5 for 400 to 500 weeks; while 6 States6 and the Federal Gov
ernment provide benefits until the death or remarriage of the widow.
Twenty-two States also place a limit upon the maximum amount pay
able in any one case. These maximum amounts range from $3,000 in
New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming to $6,000 in Alaska.
The Oklahoma law does not cover fatal accidents.
Permanent Total Disability.
+
Most States recognize the fact that a permanently disabled work
man is a greater economic loss to his family than if he were killed
outright at the time of the accident, and, consequently, provide greater
benefits than in case of fatal accidents. Eighteen States 7 and the
Federal Government provide that for permanent total disability com
pensation payments shall continue for the full period of the injured
workman’s life. Three States 8 pay benefits for 312 weeks or less; 7
States9 for 400 but under 500 weeks, 13 States10 for 500 to 550
weeks; and one State 11 for 9 to 15 years. Alaska and Wyoming pro
vide fixed absolute amounts, while Porto Rico proportions the amount
of compensation to the wage and age of the injured workman. Nine
teen States also place a limit upon the maximum amount payable in
any one case. These maximum amounts range from $3,000 in South
Dakota to $6,000 in Alaska and Michigan.
1 C alifornia, K ansas, N ew H am pshire, 3 years ; Illin o is, South D akota, and W isconsin
four years.
’
2 V erm ont, 260 w eeks ; D elaw are, 285 w eeks.
3 A labam a, Indian a, Iow a, L ouisiana, M aine, M ichigan, M innesota, M issouri New Jer
sey, N ew M exico, P en n sy lv a n ia , Rhode Islan d, and V irginia.
* C olorado, C onnecticut, H a w a ii, and U tah, 312 w e e k s ; K entucky, 335 w eeks • Nebraska
350 w e e k s ; T exas, 360 w eeks.
’
’
0 A rizona, Idaho, M ontana, and T en nessee, 400 w eeks ; M aryland and Ohio 416 w eeks •
M a ssa ch u setts, 500 w eeks.
’
*
6 N evada, N ew York, N orth D akota, Oregon, W ashington, and W est V irginia.
7 A rizona, C alifornia, C olorado, Idaho, Illin o is, M aryland, M issouri, M ontana, Nebraska.
N evada, N ew York, N orth D akota, Ohio, Oregon, Sou th D akota, U tah , W ashington and
W est V irginia.
8 V erm ont, 260 w e e k s; N ew H am pshire, 300 w e ek s; H a w aii, 312 w eeks.
9 Iow a, L ou isia n a , N ew J ersey, and T exas, 400 w e e k s ; K an sas and K entu ck y 410
w e e k s ; D elaw are, 475 w eeks.
Indian a, M aine, M a ssa ch u setts, M ichigan, Oklahom a, P en n sy lv a n ia , R hode Islan d and
V irgin ia , 500 w e ek s; C onnecticut and N ew M exico, 520 w e ek s; A labam a, M in n e so ta ’ and
T en n essee, 550 w eeks.
11 W isconsin.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[241]
242
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Partial Disability.
Two methods for compensating partial disabilities are generally
provided for. One method is based upon the percentage of wage
loss occasioned by such disability, payments continuing during in
capacity but subject to maximum limits. The second method is the
adoption of a specific schedule of injuries for which benefits are
awarded for fixed periods, the payments being based upon a per
centage of wages earned at the time of the injury. Usually both
methods of payment are provided for. The practice in most States is
to pay a percentage of the wage for fixed periods for certain enumer
ated injuries and for all other injuries a percentage of the wage loss
during disability. The number of injuries specified in the schedule
varies in the different States, but provision is generally made for
the loss of arm, hand, leg, foot, eye, fingers, and toes, and parts
thereof.
In 36 States the schedules for enumerated partial disabilities are
stated in terms of weeks. In 23 of these States1 the amounts pro
vided are in lieu of all other compensation benefits except medical
service; in 10 States 2 and the Federal Government compensation is
also paid for temporary total disability during the healing period in
addition to the schedule amounts; in Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, compensation is paid for total disability during the healing
period and for partial disability thereafter, in addition to the sched
ule amounts; while Maine provides for continuing partial disability
payments in addition to those provided by the schedule but not
over 300 weeks in all. These facts should be borne in mind, there
fore, in considering the following comparative table:
1 A labam a, Colorado, D elaw are, H a w a ii, Idaho, In d ian a, Iow a, K an sas, K entucky,
L ouisiana, M aryland, M ichigan, M innesota, M ontana, N ebraska, N ew M exico, N ew York,
O klahom a, P en n sy lv a n ia , T en nessee, T exas, V irg in ia , a nd W iscon sin .
2 C onnecticut, Illin o is, M issouri, N evada, N ew J ersey, Ohio, Oregon, Sou th D akota, U tah,
and V erm ont.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
12421
^
▼
w o r k m e n ’s
c o m p e n s a t io n
243
.
NUM BER OF W EEK S FOR WHICH COMPENSATION IS PA Y A BLE FOR S P E C IF IE D
IN JU R IE S IN THE SE V ERA L STATES.
Loss of—
State.
Arm
Lit
In Mid
Sight Hear
(at
dex dle Ring
ing,
fin tle Leg (at Foot. Great Other of
shoul Hand. Thumb. fin fin ger.
fin hip)
toe. toe. one one
der).
ger. ger.
ger.
eye. ear.
Ala.1...........
Colo.1..........
Conn.2........
Del.1...........
H aw aii1. . .
200
208
208
194
312
150
104
156
158
244
Idaho 1.......
111.2..............
Ind.1...........
Iowa 1........
Kans.1........
200
200
250
225
210
150
150
200
150
150
K y .i............
La.1.............
Maine 3. . . .
Md.1............
Mass.4.........
200
200
150
200
50
150
150
125
150
50
Mich.1.........
Minn.1........
Mo.2............
Mont.1 . . . .
N ebr.1........
200
200
220
200
225
N ev.2..........
N. J.2..........
N . Mex.1. . .
N . Y .1........
O hio2.........
CO
35
38
35
18
38
30
13
30
20
7
25
15
9
20
60
46
30
25
30
60
60
40
60
20
35
40
30
37
15
30
35
25
30
12
20
30
20
20
CO
50
50
50
12
45
30
30
30
12
30
20
25
25
12
150
150
165
150
175
60
60
55
30
60
35
35
40
20
35
260
200 ■
150
312
200
217
150
110
244
150
65
60
30
CO
60
O kla.1 ___
Oreg.2..........
Pa.1............
R . I.4..........
S. Dak.2___
250
416
215
50
200
200
329
175
50
150
Tenn.1........
T ex.1..........
Utah 2 ........
Va'1.............
V t.s.............
Wis.1...........
200
200
200
200
170
320
150
150
150
150
140
240
125
104
130
135
205
30
18
38
10
4
13
15
175
208
182
194
288
38
9
15
30
15
15
180
175
200
200
200
125
125
150
125
125
15
30
60
25
30
20
20
18
20
12
15
20
15
15
12
200
175
150
175
50
125
125
125
150
50
30
30
32
15
30
20
20
32
12
20
15
15
20
9
15
175
175
195
ISO
215
39
35
20
46
35
30
30
15
30
30
22
20
10
25
20
17
15
9
15
15
CO
101
35
69
30
39
20
35
15
26
12
50
12
35
12
30
12
20
CO
60
30
60
40
70
35
45
20
35
25
32
30
30
15
30
20
20
20
21
12
20
15
12
Hear
ing.
both
ears.
35
52
139
156
16
100
104
104
113
128
60
312
6
10
20
15
10
100
100
150
100
no
50
25
150
100
30
20
25
25
12
10
10
10
10
12
100
100
100
100
50
125
125
140
125
150
30
30
35
15
30
10
10
12
6
10
100
100
100
100
125
40
156
160
217
175
140
288
175
173
125
100
205
125
30
30
15
38
30
11
10
6
16
10
108
100
100
128
100
150
277
150
50
125
30
43
10
17
12
15
175
381
215
50
160
12
30
12
10
100
173
100
50
100
15
15
9
15
10
14
175
200
180
175
170
300
125
125
125
125
120
180
30
30
15
30
20
25
10
10
6
10
8
8
100
100
100
100
100
140
50
100
87
40
260
160
135
156
416
150
150
43
40
170
160
1 Payments under this schedule are exclusive of or in lieu of all other payments.
2 Payments under this schedule are in addition to payments for temporary total disability during the
healing period.
3 Payments cover total disability. Partial disability may be compensated at end of periods given for
not over 300 weeks in all.
4 Payments under this schedule are in addition to all other payments.
Comparison of Benefits.
Thus far the various compensation factors have been treated as
individual units. In the following table an attempt has been made
to determine what benefits would be received under each compensa
tion law in a given accident. Four representative types of injuries
were taken as follows: (1) Death, (2) loss of major hand at wrist,
(3) total disability for a period of 4 weeks, and (4) total disability
for a period of 13 weeks. The waiting period was deducted in com-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[243]
244
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
puting the benefits for both of the disability items and for the loss
of the hand in case compensation for temporary total disability was
provided by law.
The example taken was that of a married man, 35 years of age,
receiving $21 a week, and having a dependent wife, 30 years of age,
and three normal dependent children, 3, 6, and 9 years of age. In
computing the life expectancy of the injured man or his widow the
American experience table of mortality was used.
The maximum benefits in each case have been given. The amounts
computed for death include burial expenses where such are provided
by law. It has been assumed that the loss of the hand resulted in a
total disability of 26 weeks and a subsequent partial disability of
50 per cent for life. Several States have no schedules of specified
injuries, and in such States the compensation for loss of the hand
has been based upon the given percentage of wages for the given
number of weeks limited by the maximum amounts. In such States,
together with those States which provide for a continuing partial
disability in addition to the specified scale, both compensations have
been given, i. e., compensation for total disability only and compen
sation for total plus partial disability. Compensation for total dis
ability during the healing period has been included in the amounts
given for those States which provide for such benefits. For the
total disability accidents, as already noted, the waiting period in
each case has been taken into consideration and deducted from the
amount of the compensation.
It has been the purpose to take an example which is most typical
of all States and conditions. It is admittedly true that the specific
example and the four items taken will result in a higher scale for
some of the States than would have resulted had a different example
been taken or had the whole scale of compensation benefits been
considered. For example, compensation for the death of a married
man with three children would result favorably for such States as
Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, New York, and West
Virginia, which pay compensation until the death or remarriage of
the widow.
In computing the money benefits no account has been taken of the
present value of such benefits. A fixed lump sum paid outright at
the time of the injury of course exceeds the present worth of the
same amount paid in weekly installments over a period of years.
In comparing the computed benefits, therefore, it is necessary to take
this fact into consideration.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
245
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION.
COMPARISON OF B E N E FIT S PAID U N D E R THE W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION LAWS
OF THE SE V ERA L STATES.
Money benefits received in typical cases.
Total disability
accident.
State.
Death.
Loss of
4 weeks. 13 weeks.
2 Includes compensation for partial disability.
* Fatal accidents not covered.
4 10 per cent deducted to cover employee’s contributions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[245]
}
I
I
I
1
2,033
1,575
1,890
2,212
1,859
1,500
1,915
2,100
3,276
1,348
358
2 11,954 1
to
3.000
3.000
4,300
4,536
4,094
2,557
3,100
14,869
10,249
4,468
3,050
17,582
$1,890
2,400
273
2 4,000
2,853
1,040
1,911
1,659
2,562
1,733
2,402
2,3l0
1,890
1,575
1,800
1,733
1,575
2 2,678
1,575
844
2 4,844
1,890
2,100
2,674
1,575
2,450
2,606
240
2 1,679
2,095
1,155
3-416
3,640
2,150
2,100
4 2,005
2,100
GO CO
$3,250
4,800
4.000
3.276
3,125
3,376
4,994
5,100
7,315
4.000
3.565
3.880
3.276
4,075
3.565
3,500
4,325
4.000
3,780
3.880
4,300
4,275
5,050
15,672
3.000
3,250
3,540
15,647
17,582
5,150
(3)
I 13,837
5,406
Alabama.
A lask a...
Arizona..
California........
Colorado..........
Connecticut. . .
Delaware.........
Hawaii.............
Idaho...............
Illinois.............
Indiana............
Iowa.................
Kansas.............
Kentucky........
Louisiana........
Maine...............
Maryland........
Massachusetts.
Michigan____
Minnesota___
Missouri..........
Montana..........
Nebraska........
N evada............
New Hampshire.
New Jersey..........
New Mexico____
New York............
North Dakota__
Ohio......................
Oklahoma............
Oregon..................
Pennsylvania___
Porto R ico...........
Rhode Island.
South Dakota.
Tennessee........
T exas...............
U tah.................
Vermont..........
Virginia.. . . . . .
W ashington...
West Virginia.
Wisconsin___
W yoming........
United States.
150.40
21.00
42.00
40.95
25.71
31.50
42.00
37.80
31.65
54.60
34.65
25.20
37.80
36.00
34.05
32.40
21.00
36.00
37.80
42.00
42.00
21.00
42.00
59.63
20.00
30.86
21.00
28.00
56.00
42.00
42.00
4 45.36
30.86
28.00
21.00
29.70
21.00
37.80
45.00
31.50
20.00
36.35
31.50
40.95
38.88
50.00
earning capacity.
$163.SO
136.50
133.50
163.80
115.71
136.50
136.50
151.20
138.60
177.45
138.60
138.60
151.20
144.00
150.15
145.80
115.50
162.03
163.80
168.00
182.00
115.50
182.00
193.80
110.00
138.86
115.50
182.00
182.00
108.00
136.50
4147.42
138.86
91.00
136.50
150.15
136.50
151.20
158.40
126.00
110.00
157.50
126.00
177.45
174.00
176.00
246
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
Medical Benefits.
The following tabular statement shows briefly the maximum
medical benefits provided under the various compensation laws:
MAXIMUM PERIODS AND AMOUNTS OF MEDICAL SERVICE UNDER VARIOUS COM
PENSATION LAWS.
Maximum
period.
State.
Alabama........................ 60 days.........
Alaska............................
Arizona..........................
California....................... U n lim ited ..
Colorado.....................
60 days.........
Maximum
amount.
1100
Unlimited.
$200
State.
New Jersey
New Mexico
New Vork
North Dakota
O hio...
4 weeks l
2 weeks
00 days l
Unlimited
.do__
00 davs i
Unlimited
20 days
Unlimited
4 weeks
12 weeks
30 days
9, weeks 1
Unlimited
2 weeks
Connecticut...................
Delaware....................
Hawaii..........................
Idaho...................
Illinois...................
U nlim ited. .
2 -weeks........
U nlim ited. .
........d o ...........
8 w eek s1
Unlimited
§150
Unlimited
> $200
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsvl vania
Porto Pico
Rhode Island
Indiana...............
Iow a........................
Kansas....................
Kentucky...............
Louisiana...............
30 days 1. . . .
4 w eeks........
50 davs.........
90 davs.........
Unlim ited. .
Unlimited.
1 $100
$150
$100
$150
South Pakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont ..
Maine...............
Maryland.............
Massachusetts___
Michigan...................
Minnesota...........
30 d a y s ' ___
' $100
Unlim ited. .
$150
2 w eek s1___ U nlim ited. .
90 days......... ___ do .
__ d o ' . . .
' $100
Missouri...............
Montana...............
Nebraska........
N evada.............
New Hampshire.
8 weeks
2 weeks
U nlim ited. .
00 days i
8200
$50
$200
U nlim ited. .
Maximum
period.
Virginia .
W ashington..
W est Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States...............
30 d ays
Unlimited 2
Unlimited
c.Odays 1
Unlimited
........do...........
Maximum
amount.
1 $50
$50
do
1 $200
1 $100
1 $250
1 8100
Unlimited
do
$150
$100
$500
$100
Unlimited
do 2 $600
Unlimited
$100
Unlimited.
'Additional service in special cases or in discretion of commission.
E m ployees must pay one-half of medical cost.
It will be noted that three States (Alaska, Arizona, and New
Hampshire) furnish no medical service except that in fatal cases
involving no dependents the expenses of last sickness shall be paid
by the employer. Six compensation acts1 provide unlimited service.
Nine laws place no limitation upon the period during which medical
treatment shall be furnished, but do limit the amount; while nine
limit the period, but do not limit the amount. All of the other laws
place limitations upon both period and amount.
Administration.
Some responsible administrative body is necessary to insure to the
injured workman his rights under the law, and to see that he re
ceives the full amount of his compensation immediately and regu1 California, Connecticut, Idaho, North Dakota, Porto Rico, and the Federal Govern
ment.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[240]
WORKMEN ?S COMPENSATION.
0
247
larly. Eleven1 of the 45 States, however, have no such administra
tive body. In these States compensation matters are settled directly
by the parties concerned and in case of dispute the question is taken
to the courts for adjudication.
------- ------------
Reports of Industrial Accident Boards.
Idaho.2
HE Industrial Accident Board of the State of Idaho submits
as its first annual report an account of the operations of the
law for a period of 10 months. Being of the nature of an in
troductory report, several pages are given to an account of compensa
tion legislation in the United States, and more in detail to the history
of the law of Idaho and the organization of the administrative board.
An analytical statement sets forth the general provisions of the law
of the State.
During the 10 months covered by this report there were 3,849 acci
dents reported, of which 3,083 have been finally disposed of. The
law provides for a seven-day waiting period, and 1,463 cases of
injury were of such brief duration as to receive no benefits on this
account. Awards were made in 1,565 nonfatal cases, aggregating
$69,293.62, or an average of $44.28 per case. In 18 fatal cases the
awards aggregated $95,664.74, or an average of $5,314.71. The same
average for 720 nonfatal and 43 fatal cases unsettled would bring
the actual and estimated awards and compensation for the first 10
months up to $425,372.49. To this should be added hospital bills
totaling $56,354.40, making $481,726.49 as the total amount of benefits
accruing to injured workmen during the first 10 months’ operation
of the law.
Computation is made of the wage loss actually suffered by reason
of the waiting period of seven days prescribed by the act. This
amount is based on the average reported wage of $4.15 per day, and
aggregates $60,116.90. As the law provides for benefits on a basis
of 55 per cent of the wages, it is evident that the injured workman
bears not only the 45 per cent wage loss in every case, but the total
of this additional $60,116.90 by reason of such a moderate waiting
period as the seven days provided for by the Idaho statutes.
The nature of the industries of the State is clearly reflected in
the classification of accidents by industries, 1,209 occurring in lum-
T
1 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
2 First annual report of the Industrial Accident Board of the State of Idaho from
January 1, 1918, to October 31, 1918. Boise, 1918. 24 pp.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[247]
248
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
ber and timber, and 1,067 in mining, quarrying, and metallurgy, these
two groups furnishing more than two-thirds of the 3,083 closed cases
of accidents under consideration. Manufacturing afforded but 112
cases, while construction furnished a larger number—197 in all. The
nature of the industries also affects the number of fatal accidents,
the report stating th a t:
Tile death rate in Idaho has gone far beyond the national standard, which is
0.932, or less than 1 per cent, while our experience has proven 1.584, or over
14 per cent; that is, in every 100,000 accidents in Idaho there would be 1,584
deaths, while according to the national standard there should be but 932.
There are two very good reasons for th is : First, the proportion of workmen
in the two hazardous industries of lumbering and mining is greater in Idaho
than in the average State; second, our lumbering operations In great part are
carried on in hilly country, which also is subject to continued snowfall and cold
weather, with resultant increase in hazard far above let7el country and more
moderate climatic conditions.
A suggestive incident relates to tlie refusal of a municipality to
insure its liabilities under the law, it claiming a right to carry its
own risk. Two serious accidents occurred to its employees during
the year, so that it “ finds itself confronted with a liability approxi
mately ten times greater than would have been the cost of insuring
with the State fund as contemplated by the law.”
The law permits payments to nonresident alien dependents only
in proportion as the country of citizenship permits payment in cor
responding circumstances; but difficulty has been experienced by the
commission in discovering the provisions of the laws of residence of a
number of claimants, and in view of the extreme unlikelihood of any
practical reciprocal adjustment ever being made, this provision
would seem to be more of a burden than any practical benefit, unless
the purpose is to exclude nonresident alien beneficiaries.
Maryland.1
HIS report is limited to a brief statement of the operations of
T
the board, the value of laws of this type being regarded as
so fully established as to require no discussion. During the year
42,570 reports of industrial accidents were received, of which 5,015
claims were disposed of during the year; 163 were claims based on
deaths. Claims were allowed in 4,826 cases and disallowed in 387
cases; 129 cases remained pending, as against 310 pending cases
remaining from the preceding year. Benefits awarded aggregate
$884,919.24, of which $120,930 was reported as medical expense on
accidents not resulting in claims.
1 F ou rth ann ual report o f th e S ta te In d u stria l A ccid en t C om m ission of M aryland, for
th e year Novem ber 1, 1917, to October 31, 1918. B altim ore, 1919. 40 pp.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2481
W O R K M E N ’s CO M PE N SA TIO N .
^
A.
249
Out of 5,015 claims through the year, 163 were for fatalities, 6 for
permanent total disability, and 458 for permanent partial disability.
Mining and quarrying furnished 263 accidents, manufacturing 2,058,
and construction 1,544.
A State accident fund is maintained in competition with other in
surance systems, having in force at the end of the year 1,438 policies.
This is a comparatively small fraction of the 9,456 employers insured
under the act, but an encouraging growth is indicated in the fact
that, as compared with the past year, the net premiums show an in
crease of 46 per cent, the total for the year covered being almost equal
to the combined premiums of the two preceding years. The loss
record was 49.6 per cent on the premiums written and the expense
ratio was 8.4 per cent. A catastrophe reinsurance of 4 per cent
and a catastrophe reserve of 10 per cent bring the total cost of
insurance up to 72 per cent on the premiums written. This report
was regarded as “ exceedingly gratifying ” in view of the number of
inexperienced workmen employed in numerous war activities. The
fund was the subject of an audit by the State auditor during the year,
and though some minor errors in bookkeeping were disclosed, the
books and accounts were reported as “ correct.” Assets aggregate
$369,921.63, with a total net surplus of $199,046.96.
Montana.1
HE Industrial Accident Board of Montana is charged with the
T
administration not only of the compensation law of the State
but also with the inspection of mines and steam boilers. Nearly
one-half of the present volume is taken up with an account of its
inspection work and a reproduction of the laws enforced by it.
In the portion devoted to the compensation law, several pages are
given over to a general consideration of the principles involved; a
reproduction of the opinion of the Supreme Court of Montana in
the case of Shea v. North Butte Mining Co., in which the consti
tutionality of the compensation law was upheld; discussions of par
ticular features of the law, medical and hospital service, waiting
period, coverage, State funds, etc. The problem of the crippled
workmen is considered at some length, and rehabilitation is strongly
urged. It is estimated that the 609 permanently crippled men,
reported during the four years of the operation of the law, could
be restored to industry at a total cost not exceeding one-half of the
1 Fourth annual report of the Industrial Accident Board, for the 12 months ending
June 20, 1919. Helena, 1919. 437 pp.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[249]
250
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
economic loss represented by their food alone, and that their restora
tion to industry would give a net gain of $280,000 a year. It is
recommended that a rehabilitation fund be formed by contributions
from employers in cases where fatal accidents occur leaving no bene
ficiaries or dependents, as is done in the State of New York to provide
a fund for compensating second injuries resulting*in total disability.
A point of interest is the number of cases (in excess of 6,000) that
have come before the board for adjudication during the period of its
existence without a single appeal being taken to the courts from the
rulings made. The case taken to the supreme court was on a
friendly suit for the purpose of securing an authoritative ruling as
to the construction of the law.
Three plans of insurance is permitted: First, self-insurance; sec
ond, insurance in a private company; and third, insurance in a State
fund. Under the first and last plans there have been practically no
disputes and very few delays in settlement, the State fund showing
but 14 cases in which the payment of compensation was delayed be
yond the day when it was due. “Unfortunately, under plan 2, many
of the insurance companies are dilatory in the payment of compensa
tion, and in many cases the first payment on disability cases has not
been made until 90 days after the accident, due to the necessity of
the claim being sent to the eastern office of the company for adjust
ment.”
The statistical tables show the accidents, awards, etc., under each
insurance plan, separately. Risk classes are reported on separately
as to the rates, incomes, benefits, and balances in the State fund. The
total assets of the fund amount to $500,462 at the end of the year,
with an available balance of $94,279. The premium income for the
year covered by the report was $181,709, of which $68,708 was paid
out in compensation. For the four fiscal years during which the
fund has been in existence the premium income was $386,390, of
which $64,835 has been expended for compensation, distributed as
follows: For temporary total disabilities, 40 per cent; for permanent
partial disabilities, 18 per cent; for fatal injuries, 27 per cent; doctors
and hospital bills, 11 per cent; funeral expenses, 2 per cent.
The report shows 1,970 employers under the act as of 'June 30,
1919, with 50,386 employees; of these, 64 employers with 24,848 em
ployees are self-insurers; 874 employers with 10,857 employees are
insured in private companies; and 1,032 employers with 14,681 em
ployees are insured in the State fund. During the year 1918-19,
5,475 accidents were reported, of which 122 were fatal; 1 caused a
permanent total disability; 151, permanent partial disability; and
5,201, temporary total disability.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[250]
♦
WORKMEN’s COMPENSATION.
251
A computation is made of the time and wage loss on account of
accidental injuries during the four years covered by the law. The
total time loss is given as 256,738 days, entailing a wage loss of
$1,075,085, or an average of $4.19 per day. The greatest loss is
132,677 days in mining other than coal, the wage loss being $573,693;
next in order is smelters, 30,435 days, with a wage loss of $125,407.
Coal mining and logging and lumbering come next in rank. Evi
dently, in addition to the above, should be considered the loss due to
accidental death; 688 fatalities have been reported, the average age
of the decedents being 33 years. On the basis of the American
experience table of mortality, these deaths represented a time loss
of 22,015 years, or at the average daily wage in the State a wage
loss of approximately $30,000,000.
Medical Treatm ent for Government Employees
Under Federal Compensation Act.
OTV the Employees’ Compensation Commission of the United
States Public Health Service has dealt with the problems in
volved in securing proper and adequate medical service for
injured Government employees is explained by Dr. John W. Trask,
medical director of the commission, in the October issue of Modern
Medicine.1 The experience of the commission is not only interest
ing, but, being practically suggestive, ought to be of value to all who
are concerned in the provision of hospital benefits for large numbers
of employees.
4 he benefits provided by the United States Employees’ Compensa
tion Act to employees of the Government injured in the performance
of duty are of three classes : (4) Medical and hospital treatment ; (2)
money compensation for loss of wages in excess of three days; and
(3) money compensation to the surviving dependents of employees
dying as a result of injuries. Dr. Trask’s article concerns only the
first of these classes, which is covered by the following section of
the law :
H
£
That immediately after an injury sustained by an employee while in the
performance of his duty, whether or not disability has arisen, and for a reason
able time thereafter, the United States shall furnish to such employee reason
able medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies unless he refuses to
accept them. Such services and supplies shall be furnished by United States
medical officers and hospitals, but where this is not practicable shall be fur1 Medical and hospital treatment under United States compensation act.
Trask. In Modern Medicine, October, 1919, pp. 489-495.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[251]
By John W.
252
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
nished by private physicians and hospitals designated or approved by the com
mission and paid for from the employees’ compensation fund. If necessary for
the securing of proper medical, surgical, and hospital treatment, the employee in
the discretion of the Commission, may be furnished transportation at the ex
pense of the employees’ compensation fund.
♦
Reasonable medical service is defined by Dr. Trask as unlimited
medical service.
It [the law] provides that medical service for an injury shall be furnished
for a reasonable time after the injury. As a reasonable time will be as long
as the injured person has need of treatment on account of the injury, the
service is coexistent with the need thereof.
The provision that the medical and hospital service furnished shall be
reasonable limits it to that which may properly be considered to be effective in
bringing about the restoration of damage done by the in ju ry ; that is, the
restoration in so far as possible of the injured person to the physical condition
possessed by him previous to the injury. This implies efficiency of the service
rendered.
The problem, then, becomes entirely one of bow best to secure
efficient medical and hospital service for Government employees who
may be injured while at work in any part of the country. As most
injuries-are of an emergency nature and require immediate treat
ment, it is necessary that such treatment be available wherever em
ployees are located. Such provision has been made by the dispensary
service furnished by the War Department at its arsenals, principal
ordnance plants, and supply depots, and by the Navy Department at
its navy yards; and the United States Public Health Service has
cooperated by making freely available to all beneficiaries of the com
pensation act its hospitals and dispensaries, wherever located. When,
however, the injury occurs in a locality in which no Government
hospital or dispensary is provided, it must be treated by a physician
or at a hospital designated by the commission; and as United States
hospitals and medical officers have a relatively limited distribution,
the designation of such hospitals and physicians involves problems of
great importance for which the commission has found the best solu
tion only through its experience in dealing with them. In this con
nection Dr. Trask says:
The idea was first field tfiat tfie necessary medical, surgical, and hospital
service for injured employees could be best obtained wherever Government
hospitals and dispensaries were not available by the designation and use of
hospitals, as it was believed that the hospital represented group medicine; that
the injured employees could be sent to the hospitals and there would receive
the attention of whatever specialist the nature of their various injuries indi
cated, be it the general surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, ophthalmologist, neurolo
gist, roentgenologist, pathologist, or bacteriologist; that the question of medical
and surgical treatment could be left to the hospital; and that only where
there was no Government hospital or dispensary, or private hospital, would
there be need of designating private physicians.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[252]
♦
W O R K M E N ’S C O M PE N SA TIO N .
253
The commission, however, early found that leaving the question of medical
and surgical treatment to the hospital was not a practicable arrangement;
that the hospital service as relates to bed, board, and nursing was in most city
hospitals a thing quite apart from the furnishing of the efficient medical and
surgical attention implied by the Federal compensation act. Patients sent to
hospitals were frequently given scant consideration. If assigned to a particu
lar physician, it was often to one of lesser experience. Often the cases seemed
to be left entirely to the inadequate attention of the busy resident staff. This
was true in general, excepting in the proprietary hospitals in the smaller
towns. It was true even of the better hospitals, one might say of the best
hospitals, of the larger cities.
I his point is illustrated by detailed accounts of several cases in
which suffering was entailed and recovery delayed by inefficient
treatment given the patients at the hospitals to which they were sent.
The commission has now adopted the method of designating, in con
nection with each hospital, one or more competent, well-trained
surgeons of established reputation, and it requires that every com
pensation case going to the hospital shall be placed under the im
mediate care of one of the designated physicians. Under this ar
rangement the hospital renders its bill for hospital care and the
surgeon renders his bill for professional attention. “ This insures
to the injured employee the personal and interested service of a com
petent physician, and gives to him the same close attention he would
receive as a private patient of a reputable, competent practitioner.
If the services of other specialists or consultants are required, the
attending surgeon secures such services, submitting bills therefor.”
When the commission first began the designation of physicians
and hospitals the question of the required qualifications of the phy
sicians or surgeons selected seemed to present a serious problem, as
it was feared that the charges of highly qualified, experienced men,
particularly surgeons, would be exorbitant. Experience soon proved,
however, that the commission could not afford any but the most
competent men available in the locality, as the handling of injury
cases by men of insufficient training or experience frequently resulted
in the making of permanent cripples, particularly in bone and joint
injury cases, which might have been prevented by the services of
competent orthopedic surgeons. In this connection Dr. Trask saj^s:
The commission was happy and, in a measure, surprised to find that the bills
presented by the well-trained and experienced surgeons were in general no
greater than the bills presented for treatment of similar cases by men of in
adequate and insufficient training. In fact, the charges made by the most
competent men have been on the whole the most reasonable, particularly so
when the much better service rendered is considered. A permanent cripple is
a charge against the commission as long as he lives. Every employee restored
to work, every cripple prevented, is an economy.
155169°—20-----17
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[253]
254
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
Another question which had to he decided by the commission after
due consideration was whether or not to adopt a schedule of rates
or charges for medical services. The decision was against such a
fee schedule.
The plan adopted was to use as great care as possible in designating under
the provisions of the act, only men with adequate training and considerable
experience in surgery, of mature age, and of established reputation in their
respective communities; and then to explain to those appointed that the pur
pose of the commission' was to secure service; that in bone or joint injuries the
commission expected X-ray examination and control; that where there appeared
to be any reason therefor, neurologists, pathologists, or other specialists should
be called in consultation; that the purpose of the commission was to make the
best possible restoration of the injured person; and that as regards charges the
commission merely expected that the charges would be reasonable for the
service rendered.
The commission has found that this arrangement was acceptable to and
welcomed by the class of men they selected—a class of men whose services it
would have been impossible to obtain under the limitations of a fee schedule—and this notwithstanding the fact that the fees actually charged have been
within the limits of any reasonable fee schedule which might have been adopted..
Should the commission find one of its designated surgeons giving inadequate
service or making unreasonable charges, it has recourse to cancellation of his
designation; but there have been exceedingly few instances in which this has
been called for.
The plan now followed by the commission is to designate the
physician and then to ask him to indicate the hospital he would like to
use for the injury cases requiring hospital treatment. The injured
employee is sent to the surgeon or physician, and, if a hospital case,
he is then sent to the hospital, or, if the injury is serious, he is sent
direct to the hospital and the physician is notified. The patient is
usually placed in the general ward of the hospital, but a private room
and special nurse are allowed when, in the opinion of the physician,
such are necessary. In fact, any service actually needed by the patient
is allowed. In the event of a patient who is assigned to a ward de
siring a private room for his own convenience he may secure one by
paying the difference between the ward rate and the rate for the
room.
The experience of the commission is summed up briefly as follows:
(1) In Government hospitals and dispensaries the service rendered varies
with the training and personality of the members of the staffs.
(2) In non-Government hospitals good medical and surgical service is usually
not obtained unless the cases are put in charge of selected physicians or surgeons
paid by the commission.
(3) Paying the “ doctor’s ” bills for an injured employee is not synonymous
with furnishing reasonable medical and surgical service.
(4) Reasonable and adequate medical and surgical service can be obtained
only from conscientious physicians and surgeons with good training and
experience.
[2d4]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL INSURANCE,
A ttitude of Medical Society of the State of New
York Toward Compulsory Health Insurance.
fT ^ H E attitude of the Medical Society of the State of New York
I toward compulsory health insurance, proposed for legislative
' enactment, is set forth in a report drawn up by a special com
mittee appointed by the president of the society to study the subject
of compulsory health insurance with special reference to its relation
ship to the medical profession, which report was adopted by the
house of delegates of the society on November 22, 1919. The report
gives a brief resume of the subject, outlines the provisions of the
proposed legislation, and concludes with a statement of findings and
a recommendation that the medical society “ unqualifiedly oppose the
enactment by the Legislature of the State of New York of any law
instituting a system of compulsory insurance against sickness because
of its menace to the public health of the State.” The committee’s
statement, together with its findings and recommendation, as adopted
is as follows:
The essential components of all compulsory health insurance schemes are
two: First, the provision of a cash indemnity during a relatively brief period
of incapacity to labor due to illness; secondly, the provision to the insured and
their dependents during a determinate time of so-called medical benefits which
comprise medical, dental, and nursing attendance, hospital and sanatorium
accommodations, maternity attendance, drugs, and all necessary medical and
surgical supplies.
The proponents of this legislation rest their demand for the institution of
this scheme in America upon two main allegations: First, that a very large
amount of poverty is due to illness causing consequent unemployment and loss
of income; secondly, that a vast amount of the population receives inadequate
and insufficient medical attendance; that is, that medical attendance is grossly
deficient both as to quantity and quality.
With the general features of the measures proposed for the legislative enact
ment of the compulsory health insurance scheme in this State your committee
will deal only in the briefest manner; the matter is familiar to you. It is pro
posed to establish an administrative machinery radiating downward from a
division of the State industrial commission composed of a certain number of
commissioners appointed by the governor who, in turn, appoint a chief of the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[255]
255
256
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
bureau of health insurance. Subordinate to the commission and acting under
regulations made by the commission function the boards of directors of the
local funds composed of three members elected by the employer members of
the local fund, three elected by the employees and one additional elected by
these six. All the affairs of the funds are administered locally by these boards
of directors. Each local fund employs a medical officer who is permitted to
practice and who is practically the medical supervisor of the administration
of the benefits of the act. The medical profession is not represented upon any
executive body under the proposed law, but is permitted to function solely
through advisory committees, local and State. Its sole statutory representa
tive has an administrative, not an executive function.
After consideration of the evidence put forward by the proponents of this
legislation in support of their statement that a large proportion of the poor
have been impoverished through unemployment caused by illness, your com
mittee finds that none of this evidence is unimpugnable and that it rests upon
largely a priori reasoning. The preponderence of evidence is against the fact
that any considerable amount of impoverishment is caused by illness; moreover
in those cases where impoverishment is caused by illness, it is due to the longenduring disability preceding death occurring in the chronic diseases, especially
tuberculosis, chronic heart disease, cancer, chronic joint infections, renal and
vascular disease which cause a disability long exceeding the period of 26 weeks
during which the insured is entitled to benefits under the scheme. The statistics
of the labor bureau of New York State show that in the main disability from
all causes, including accident, injury, and illness, is the source of, on the
average, only 5.7 per cent of unemployment, about the same amount as that
caused by weather conditions (5.6 per cent) or a little less than half that caused
by labor disputes ( 10.6 per cent), or one-thirteenth that due to lack of work
(74.6 per cent). A survey entitled “ Poverty in Baltimore and Its Causes;
Study of Social Statistics in the City of Baltimore,” by the Alliance of Chari
table and Social Agencies, McCoy Hall, Baltimore, Md., November 15, 191S, gives
strong evidence of the small part illness plays in the cause of poverty; more
over, it evidences strikingly the fact heretofore stated as to the relationship of
prolonged disability not covered in any scheme for health insurance to the
relatively few cases of impoverishment due to sickness. Your committee would
find, therefore, that short illnesses causing ephemeral disability bear no rela
tion to poverty; that where impoverishment is caused by illness it is in all in
stances due to long-continued disability; and that illness is but a very minor
cause of unemployment as compared even to the conditions of the weather or
labor disputes.
Your committee is unable to find any available evidence that will bear in
spection proving that, in the main, medical attendance in this State is grossly
deficient in quantity or grossly defective in quality. If these facts were true
it is unable to satisfy itself that the people of this State would receive a larger
and closer degree of medical attention where one physician may care for either
2,000 or more patients as permitted under this scheme than they now receive
where the proportion of physicians to population is about as 1 is to 780. More
over, your committee is satisfied that the quality of medical attention would no
more be benefited in the United States than it has in Germany, Austria, and
Great Britain, by the conversion of medical practice from its present plan into
an enormous scheme wherein the practitioner would be employed from year to
year under contract, and in the final analysis subject to lay dictation as to
means and methods of practice.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[256]
*
SOCIAL IN S U R A N C E .
♦
257
Your committee feels very strongly that the inquisitorial powers which would
be conferred upon the State industrial commission and its agents, and upon
the local boards of directors must be considered in its effect upon the public
health, and especially as to the role it might assume in submerging and nulli
fying the activities of the present State department of health which has played
so large a part in the reduction of morbidity and mortality by means of pre
ventive, not palliative, medicine.
There is no uncertainty about the evidence that the relative morbidity rate,
mortality rate, infant-mortality rate, and maternal-mortality rate has been
much more materially reduced in the United States during the past 20 yeai's
than it has been in Germany and Austria, where compulsory health insurance,
not alone, but the whole scheme, including invalidity and unemployment insur
ance and old-age pensions, have been in force. It can, therefore, be seen that
compulsory health insurance, as such, plays a very small part in the reduction
of length and severity of illness, and that on the whole it has been of extremely
little value medically in those countries, while it has been the cause of a pro
found deterioration in medical service and medical morale. Even in England,
where it has been in operation for a comparatively short time, it has proven
so defective and ineffective for the purpose for which it was instituted that
it is now proposed to inaugurate the plan of State medicine to supplant it.
Your committee therefore finds:
1. There is no necessity for the institution of a scheme covering the major
portion of the population of the State, providing for the institution of contract
medical practice on a colossal scale in order to furnish medical attendance and
other services.
2. In those countries where this scheme has been in operation for many
years it has caused a deterioration in medical morale and medical service, and
that its effect in this State would be the same; that is, a lessening in the
quality of medical service.
3. In comparison with those countries where this scheme has been in opera
tion, the United States shows a more marked reduction in mortality rate, both
general and as affecting maternal and infantile mortality rate. Apparently the
morbidity rate under the scheme has doubled instead of being diminished in
Germany and Austria since the institution of the social-insurance plan.
4. There is danger of the scheme gradually undermining the functions so
extremely valuable to the community at present subserved by the State depart
ment of health.
5. Owing to the paucity of accurate and unimpeachable data collected by
means of an unbiased investigation, your committee recommends that the legis
lature of 1920 be requested to appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the use
of the health department and such other departments in association with it
as it requires for the purpose of making a survey of the State of New York
to determine the amount and character of illness in its economical relation to
the Commonwealth.
6. If additional legislation is to be enacted, it should provide for a greater
development of existing agencies for preventive medicine, together with the
extension on a large scale of the present county and municipal functions for
both preventive and remedial medicine, and it should make further provision
for the inauguration of more widely extended utilization of the present insti
tutional clinical facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of disease in order
to facilitate the access of the entire population of the State to modern methods
in the practice of medicine.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[257]
258
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Your committee therefore recommends that the house of delegates, and,
through them, the Medical Society of the State of New York, unqualifiedly
oppose the enactment by the Legislature of the State of New York of any law
instituting a system of compulsory insurance against sickness because of its
menace to the public health of the State.
Report of British Departmental Committee on
Old-Age Pensions .1
HE departmental committee appointed by the Treasury in
April, 1919, “ to consider and report what alterations, if any,
as regards rates of pension or qualification should be made in
the existing statutory scheme of old-age pensions” have presented
their report.2
Old-age pensions were first introduced in the year 1908. The rate
was 5s.3to those whose yearly means did not exceed £21 a year (about
8s. a week), while reduced pensions were payable to those whose in
comes exceeded £21 but did not exceed £31 10s. a year (about 12s.
a week). The pensioner must have attained the age of T0; must be a
British subject, resident in the United Kingdom; and must not be in
receipt of poor relief (other than medical or surgical relief). There
were also certain disqualifications for convicted criminals, for pauper
or criminal lunatics, and for those who “ had habitually failed to
work according to their ability, opportunity, and need.”
Various changes, mostly of detail, were made by an amending act
of 1911. During the latter part of the war and up to the present
time an additional allowance of 2s. 6d. a week has been given to pen
sioners whose means do not exceed the statutory limit (of £31 10s. a
year) ; and existing pensions have not been reduced or revoked in
consequence of increase of means if such increase was due (1) to
separation allowances or voluntary allotments; (2) to temporary
voluntary assistance, up to 5s. a week, to meet the increased cost of
living; or (3) to additional earnings, provided that the total means
do not exceed 30s. a week.
The total number of persons in receipt of old-age pensions on
March 31, 1919, was 920,198, of whom 911,700 were in receipt of the
additional allowance granted during the war. Over 90 per cent of
the pensions were of the full value of 5s. The number of claims
made during the year ended March 31, 1919. was 142,084. The
number of claims rejected, or pensions revoked, during the year was
1 Reprinted from the Labour Gazette, London, November, 1919, p. 465.
2 Cmd. 410. Price, 3d. net.
s Owing to present fluctuations in value of the English pound conversions are not made
into United States money. Normally the par value of the pound is $4.87.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL INSURANCE.
#
259
47,7GG; and in addition G,G15 claims lapsed, or were withdrawn, etc.
The number of pensioners who were reported to have died during the
year was 105,74G. The total amount paid in pensions rose from
£8,468,000 in the year ended March 31, 1910, to £12,607,000 in the
year ended March 31, 1916. The amount in the last financial year
(ended March, 1919) was approximately £11,731,000, to which must
be added the additional allowance, amounting to £5,997,000.
I he majority report, signed by the chairman and nine other
members of the committee, makes the following recommendations:
(1) Rate of pension to-be increased to 10s. a week, absorbing the
additional allowance of 2s. Gd.
(2) Abolition of means qualification.
(3) Qualifying age to remain at 70, pending inquiry as to the
possibility of extending the scope of the insurance acts. (The com
mittee emphasize the need for this inquiry, as an integral part of the
whole question of “ public assistance” on a reformed basis.)
(4) Outdoor relief, or “ home assistance,” not to be a disqualifica
tion for receipt of pension.
Other recommendations deal with eligibility of aliens—in which
connection it is recommended that the British-born wives of aliens
should not be disqualified—with the qualifying period of residence,
and with other matters. It is suggested that the “ failure to work ”
qualification, which is virtually inoperative, should be abolished.
Seven members of the majority append reservations; five of the
seven favor an increase in the amount of the pension (to 12s. Gd. or
15s.) and a reduction in the age to 65.
Seven members of the committee present a minority report, con
curring in the increase of the rate of pension to 10s. (one of the
seven recommends 12s. Gd.), and in certain other proposals of the
majority, but not in the abolition of the means limit. The}7 recom
mend, however, that the means limit should be doubled, i. e., that
it should be £42 a year for a full pension, and £63 a year for any
pension at all.
Accident Insurance Lav/ of France Amended to
Include Occupational Diseases.1
accident insurance law of France was amended by the law
T HEThe
of October 25, 1919, so as to include occupational diseases.
occupational diseases covered by the law are specifically
mentioned in an annexed schedule. Such diseases may be either
acute or chronic but must result from regular occupation in any of
1 Journal Officiel de la République Française, Paris,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[259]
Oct. 27, 1919 p. 11973.
2G0
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
the industries named. This list is subject to revision by subsequent
legislation.
The employer is responsible for sickness of this class occurring
within a period of one year from the date on which the employee
quits work. That responsibility, however, diminishes in proportion
to the length of time intervening between the date of quitting service
and the date when sickness results in incapacity to labor. If during
this period the incapacitated person lias other employment, in the
same class of establishment, the last employer becomes jointly re
sponsible for a portion of the compensation provided for by the
original act.
If, by reason of the inexcusable fault of either of the employers,
the health of an employee is affected, the employer at fault may be
held for an increased proportion of the compensation payable. The
last employer is responsible for the payment of the entire compensa
tion, having recourse against the former employers for recovery of
the portion due from them.
Employers, making a declaration that in their processes of manu
facture they no longer employ substances causing any of the indus
trial diseases mentioned in this law, are subject to its provisions only
in cases where disability occurs within one year from the date of
such declaration. Making false declarations is a penal offense.
A person incapacitated by such sickness and demanding compen
sation must notify the mayor of the commune within 15 days from
the date such incapacity begins.
The scope of the national accident fund (law of July 11, 1868) is
extended to include sickness and death due to occupational diseases.
Insurance rates are to be promulgated within six months and must
be sufficient to cover the risks without the necessity of drawing upon
the subsidy mentioned in the original act.
Employers becoming liable to compensation may relieve themselves
of their liability by depositing the capitalized value of the pensions
awarded with the national retirement fund (caisse National des
Retraites) , which for this purpose shall prepare present-value tables
based upon the mortality of victims of occupational diseases and of
their survivors. Until such tables have been prepared the capitalized
value of pensions shall be determined in accordance with tables in
use for Government pensions in pursuance of the law of July 20,
1886.
Public administrative regulations shall determine the conditions
under which guaranty ant, insurance companies may insure em
ployers against the risks covered by the present law.
It is a violation of law for any person whatever, by threats, gift,
promise of money, payment of medical charges or for medicine, to
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[260]
*
SOCIAL INSURANCE.
261
entice or attempt to entice any person suffering from industrial dis
eases to any clinic, physician, or pharmacy against the will of the
sick person. The latter has the right to designate the physician or
druggist he wishes to be employed.
The following industrial diseases and industries are specifically
mentioned as being covered by the amended act:
Class 1.—Lead and its compounds.
Disability due to lead colic, articular rheumatism, extensor paralysis, hys
teria, nephritis, gout.
Industries: 1. Lead smelting and refining; 2. Casting, rolling, and adjusting
oi lead or its alloys; 3. Manufacture of type from lead alloys; 4. Manufacture
of tin vessels with lead alloys; 5. Soldering with lead alloys; 6. Operating
typesetting machines which use lead alloys; 7. Plating with lead alloys; 8.
Casting toys made of lead alloys; 9. Manufacture of tin-foil caps for bottles,
using lead alloys; 10. Melting old cans; 11. Handling lead type; 12. Manufac
ture of lead compounds (white lead, minium, litharge, chromate of lead, etc.) ;
13. Color mixing, lead base; 14. Painting with lead colors; 15. Manufacture of
lead accumulators; 16. Manufacture of drying compounds and lead varnishes;
17. Manufacture of pottery and stoneware having a lead enamel; 18. Decorat
ing porcelain with lead compounds; 19. Enameling of metals with lead enamel;
20. Varnishing or lacquering with lead products; 21. Dyeing with lead colors;
22. Glass polishing with pewter.
Class 2.—Mercurial poisoning.
Sickness: Mercurial stomatitis, mercurial palsy, nutritive disorders due to
mercurial poisoning, mercurial cachexy, mercurial paralysis.
Industries: 1. Distillation of mercury; 2. Manufacture of incandescent
lamps and radiographic ampulla with the aid of mercury tubes; 3. Manufac
ture of mercurial barometers, manometers, and thermometers; 4. Gilding, sil
ver plating, and mercurial plating; 5. Manufacture of salts of mercury (azotete,
chlorurets, cyanure, etc.); 6. Carotting of furs; 7. Furrier, employing mer
cury ; 8. Bronzing and damaskeening with salts of mercury; 9. Taxidermy, em
ploying salts of m ercury; 10. Manufacture of gun primings with fulminates of
mercury.
Social Insurance in Portugal.1
B
Y decrees Nos. 5636 to 5639, inclusive, the Republic of Portugal
recently inaugurated the policy of compulsory insurance
covering sickness, invalidity, old age, and industrial acci
dents.
¿Sickness insurance.—The first of these decrees relates to sickness
insurance. Insurance is obligatory for all persons 15 to 75 years of
age engaged in any honorable occupation, whose annual income or
1 B o le tin da Previdgn cia Social.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A no II, No. 7, Octubro a M aio de 1919.
L isbon.
262
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
earnings does not exceed 900 escudos.1 All sucli persons are required
to become members of a compulsory mutual insurance association by
the payment of a weekly or monthly premium. The employer is au
thorized to deduct such dues from the wages of the employee and
make regular payment into the fund.
As a temporary measure members are divided into three classes,
paying 0.50, 0.40, and 0.30 escudos, respectively, as monthly pre
miums.
Benefits vary with the class in which insured, and continue for one
year, divided into four periods, as follows:
AM OUNT OF D A IL Y CO M PEN SA TIO N PA Y A B LE , BY CLASS A N D BY PE R IO D .
Period.
Class.
Class N o l
Class N o 2
Class N o 3
.........................................................................
....................................................................................... ..
.................... _................................. ........................................
F irst
30 d ays.
Second
30 d ays.
T hird
30 d ays.
L ast
275 d ays.
E scudos.
E scudos.
E scudos.
E scudos.
0.30
.24
.16
0.22
.18
.12
0.14
.12
.08
0.10
.08
.06
The scale of compensation is subject to revision every second year.
Membership for six months entitles any member, in addition to the
pecuniary benefits, to baths and open-air treatment; and for two
years to certain death benefits, etc., payable to his survivors. After
three months’ membership the insured and his wife and children
under 14 years of age are entitled to free clinical service and
medicine.
Persons whose annual earnings, wages, or income exceed 900 escu
dos are required to pay a premium as follows: From 900 to 1,850
escudos, 0.50 escudo; from 1,850 to 3,800 escudos, 1 escudo; from 3,800
to 5,000 escudos, 2 escudos; over 5,000 escudos, 3 escudos.
A mutual insurance association must be established in each mu
nicipality. In municipalities where a mutual sick benefit associa
tion is in operation it must, within GO days from the date of the
decree, reorganize on the basis of a compulsory insurance association.
In Lisbon and Porto six mutual associations shall be established in
each ward.
Invalidity and, old-age insurance.—Insurance against invalidity
and old age, and for compensation to survivors is compulsory for all
persons earning less than 900 escudos, with the exception of the fol
lowing classes: Public officials entitled to pensions; soldiers employed
as laborers; infirm persons incapable of earning one-third average
1 O w ing to flu ctu a tio n s in exch ange value no a ttem p t is m ade in th is a r tic le to m ake
conversions in to U n ited S ta te s money. The norm al value of th e escudo is $1.08.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL INSURANCE.
W
lW
263
wages and entitled to free subsistence; wage earners, employees, and
establishments already insured.
Invalidity is defined as absolute inability, due to natural causes,
to perform any work.
The municipal officials of each parish shall cause a census to be
taken of all classes of employees between the ages of 15 and 65 years.
The insurance is under State supervision, under the direction of
the Institute of Compulsory Social Insurance. The insured is en
titled to a deferred annuity, and a pension is provided for the sur
viving widow and for orphans.
The fund is constituted (1) by a 6 per cent assessment on all sal
aries or wages up to 900 escudos, payable by the employer, (2) by a
like assessment of If per cent payable by the employee, and (3) by
an annual subsidy by the State of 13.33 escudos for each soldier re
cruited. Payments are made by special stamps placed in the book
held by the insured. The proportion of funds payable by employers,
employees, and the State is subject to revision every second year.
In case of invalidity the annuity varies with the number of pre
miums paid into the fund: (1) Payment of 235 weekly premiums
(47 payments per year for five years) entitles the insured to a pension equal to one-sixtli of the total deferred annuity which may be
acquired under the law; (2) payment of 470 weekly premiums (from
6 to 10 years, inclusive), to a pension equal to one-third of full an
nuity; (3) of 705 weekly premiums (from 11 to 15 years, inclusive),
to one-half of full annuity; (4) of 940 weekly premiums (16 to 20
years, inclusive), to two-thirds of full annuity; (5) of 1,175 weekly
premiums (21 to 25 years, inclusive), to five-sixths of full annuity;
and (6) of 1,410 premiums (after 30 years) to full annuity.
The full old-age annuity becomes payable when the insured reaches
70 years of age, provided the full 1,410 premiums have been paid.
A transitory period of 25 years is established, in order to provide
for those whose age at the time old-age insurance is effected does not
permit them to make the full number (1,410) of weekly payments.
Those who are 45 years of age at the time the fund is instituted will
receive 75 per cent of the full annuity, those over 50 years of age 50
per cent, and those over 60, 25 per cent.
Annuities for dependents may be provided for by the payment of
1 per cent of the earnings of the person insured, and are graduated
in amount according to the number of years of membership of the
insured and amount of premium paid.
The children of deceased insured persons not entitled to old-age or
invalidity pensions but who have paid the required premiums, shall
be paid 10 escudos per month for the six months following the death
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[203]
264
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
of the insured. In case a widow is left without children she is to
receive 50 escudos, payable in five monthly installments. Where
there is neither widow nor children, ascendants are to be paid 60
escudos.
Any mutual aid association in existence which provides pensions
for inability to labor may become associated with the Social Insur
ance Institute by transferring its invalidity, old-age, and widows’
and orphans’ funds to the institute.
All mutual sickness funds, parish councils, and labor associations
are required to aid the institute in its supervision, for the purpose
of carrying into effect the provisions of this decree.
Industrial accident insurance.—Industrial accident insurance is
compulsory for every person employed by another in any branch of
labor, either mental or physical. Every employer is required to in
sure his salaried employees and wage earners. The benefits consist
of free medical attendance, medicine, and the pecuniary compensa
tion.
Industrial accidents include injuries due to accident, functional
disturbances, and industrial poisoning arising in the course of the
employment and sickness proven to be due to the employment.
The establishment, employer, State, and administrative corpora
tions (municipalities) are respectively responsible to their employees
for the payment of compensation for industrial accidents. These
may transfer their individual responsibility to mutual associations,
recognized insurance companies, or the compulsory sickness insurance
fund.
Each municipality must establish one or more mutual employers’
or mixed accident insurance associations for the sole purpose of
effecting this insurance and maintain a register of all employers,
wage earners, salaried persons, etc.
The pecuniary compensation provided for is as follows: For
death, 20 per cent of the annual earnings of the deceased to the
widow, so long as she remains such, 15 to 60 per cent to the children
(boys under 14, girls under 16), according to the number, and there
being no children, 10 per cent to each of the dependent ascendants,
but not to exceed 40 per cent in all; for disability— (a) permanent
total, 66§ per cent of annual earnings, (b) permanent partial, 50 per
cent of wage loss, (c) temporary total, during disability, 66| per
cent of earnings, (d) temporary partial, 50 per cent of wage loss.
Compensation is computed on full annual earnings up to 900
escudos plus one-half of earnings in excess of that sum.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL INSURANCE.
265
The cost of the insurance is to be borne by the employer, deduc
tions for this purpose from employees’ earnings being prohibited.
Every employer who fails to insure as provided for must deposit
with the Minister of Labor cash, a mortgage, guarantee, or bond in a
sum equivalent to the reserve required to comply with this decree.
Insurance I n s titu te —& Compulsory Social Insurance and General
Provident Institute is established for the supervision of all classes
of compulsory insurance.
♦
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[265]
LABOR DEPARTMENTS.
Proposed Organization of New York State
Department of Labor.
r MPEESSED with the necessity for simplifying the government
of the State of New York, the governor appointed, in January,
1919, a nonpartisan reconstruction commission to make a report
on retrenchment and reorganization in the State government. This
commission has issued a summary, which is part one of its complete
report.1
In prosecuting its inquiry the commission found that in nearly
every State public attention has been forcibly drawn to the necessity
of reducing expenditures or at least of holding them to the lowest
point consistent with the proper discharge of public functions and
fair conditions of employment.
The commission also found that the movement for economy and
efficiency has passed beyond the stage of protest and discussion.
Between 1911 and 1917 (when the movement was temporarily checked
by the war) a number of States instituted commissions of inquiry
for the purpose of discovering more business-like methods in State
administration. Ali of these commissions are substantially agreed
that economy and responsible government can only result from :
1. The consolidation of offices, boards, and commissions into a few great
departments of government, each of which is responsible for the conduct of a
particular major function such as finance, health, welfare, or public works.
2. Vesting the power of appointment and removal of department heads in
the governor ; making him in fact, as well as in theory, the responsible chief
executive of the State. There is a difference of opinion as to the desirability
of confirmation of the governor’s nominations by the senate.
3. A consolidated budget system with accounting control over spending
officers.
Thirty-eight States have enacted legislation providing for a con
solidated budget system with varying provisions as to methods of
preparation, legislative review, and enactment into law. Half of
these States have placed upon the governor the responsibility for
initiating the budget.
1 Sum m ary o f R eport o f R eco n stru ctio n C om m ission to G overnor A lfred E. Sm ith on
R etren ch m en t and R eorgan ization in th e S ta te G overnm ent, Oct. 10, 1919. A lbany, N. Y.,
1919. 44 pp.
2G6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2GG]
LABOR DEPARTMENTS.
267
The State government of New York, it is proposed, sliall be reorganized with the following departments: Executive department;
department of audit and control; department of taxation and finance;
department of attorney general; department of state; department of
public works; department of conservation; department of agriculture
and markets; department of labor; department of education; de
partment of health; departments of mental hygiene, charities, and
correction; public service commissions; departments of banking and
insurance; department of civil service; department of military and
naval affairs.
Proposed Organization of a Department of Labor.
The commission proposes that a department of labor shall be or
ganized as follows:
1. P la c e a t th e h e a d o f th e d e p a rtm e n t o f la b o r a n in d u s tr ia l com m ission
c o n sistin g o f five m em b e rs a p p o in te d by th e g o v e rn o r, w ith th e ad v ic e a n d con
se n t o f th e se n a te , fo r te rm s o f five y e a rs.
2. The industrial commission will appoint a director of labor, who shall be
the administrative head of the department and serve during good behavior.
3. The commission will also appoint a secretary, who will prepare the
calendar for the commission, do the general administrative and secretarial
work of the commission and serve as secretary to the industrial council.
4. The present counsel and his assistants will be transferred to the at
torney general’s office if the attorney general is made appointive.
o. The industrial council will be reorganized under a chairman who by
specific provision may not be a member of the commission and will establish .
in the important industries of the State representative subcouncils of em
ployers and employees for the discussion and action upon common problems
of industry and for consultation by the commission and the industrial council.
The 10 members of the council will be appointed by the governor for terms of
five years, two terms ending each year. The chairman will continue to be
chosen by vote of the members of the council and will hold office at the
pleasure of the council.
G. The department will be organized with a staff and seven bureaus, as fol
lows : Industrial staff; bureau of adm inistration; bureau of employment;
bureau of statistics and inform ation; bureau of inspection; bureau of media
tion and arbitration; bureau of workmen’s compensation; bureau of the State
insurance fund.
The head of the bureau of administration will be the secretary of the de
partment.
The head of the industrial staff will be the chief of the industrial staff.
The head of the bureau of employment will be the chief of the bureau of
employment.
The head of the bureau of statistics will be the chief statistician.
The head of-the bureau of inspection will be the chief of the bureau of
inspection.
The head of the bureau of mediation and arbitration will be the chief of
the bureau of mediation and arbitration.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 267 ]
268
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The head of the bureau of workmen’s compensation will be the chief of the
bureau of workmen’s compensation. His deputies will be known as deputy
commissioners of compensation.
The head of the bureau of the State insurance fund will be the manager
of the State insurance fund.
The heads of all these bureaus will be in the competitive class under civil
service excepting the secretary.
7. The duties of the present bureau of industries and immigration with
reference to the education of aliens, will be transferred to the department
of education. The other functions of the bureau will be transferred to the
State and local health and police departments.
8 . The present division of industrial hygiene in the bureau of inspection
will be combined with the bureau of industrial code and the bureau of women
in industry in o single industrial staff.
9. In connection with the development of the bureau of employment a bill
will be passed providing that all private employment agencies in the State shall
be licensed and shall pay a fee of $250. The industrial commission will license
everywhere in first and second class cities. Half the fees of such cities and all
of the fees elsewhere will go to the State industrial commission for the support
of the bureau of employment.
The bureau of employment will develop a program including the following
subjects:
(1) The organization of the labor market to bring about extensive dove
tailing of winter and summer trades and to stimulate the use of subsidiary
trades.
(2) D ire c tin g la b o r to new o c c u p a tio n s w h e n c h a n g e s o f in d u s tr ia l s tr u c tu r e
r e s u lt in d isp la c e m e n t fro m chosen o c cu p a tio n s.
(3) R e se rv in g c e rta in p lac es in in d u s tr y fo r o ld e r m en a n d w om en and
le a v in g th e y o u n g e r g e n e ra tio n th e ta s k o f fin d in g a n d fo rc in g f r e s h op en in g s
f o r th em se lv es.
(4) Concentrating attention upon the need for industrial training, including
“ vestibule” or preliminary training, where such training does not lead to
“ blind-alley ” employment, training in plants to increase efficiency while gain
fully employed, and training in trade and business schools. This should be
done with the State and local departments of education and with private edu
cational institutions.
(5) D ire c tin g boys a n d g irls a w a y fro m “ b lin d - a lle y ” em ploym ent.
( 6 ) Testing periodically and comprehensively the amount of unemployment.
This should be done by the bureau of employment in cooperation with the
bureau of statistics and information.
(7) In cases of seasonal employment or depression urging employers to
shorten hours rather than discharge employees.
10. The bureau of statistics and information will cooperate with the bureau
of employment in the issuance of employment statistics covering the largest
possible number of employees and in the preparation of statistics on wages and
the cost of living. The funds of the bureau of statistics for this and other
purposes will be increased and statistical field agents will be provided.
11. The bureau of mediation and arbitration will take a larger part in set
tling industrial disputes. It will be organized under a chief who will have a
panel of 20 representative citizens who will act as mediators and arbitrators
when called upon, and such assistants as are required to make investigations
and gather statistics.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[268]
LABOR DEPARTMENTS.
269
12. Tlie woitc of the bureau of workmen’s compensation will be so arranged
as to limit drastically the number of reviews by and appeals to the commission.
A careful codification will be made of the decisions of this bureau. A medical
social-service staff will be created in this bureau to follow up cases.
13. The State insurance fund will be placed in a bureau separate from the
bureau of workmen’s compensation and immediately under the director. An
annual audit of the fund will be made by the superintendent of State insurance.
14. If a minimum wage or health insurance legislation is passed, the admin
istration will be provided for in new bureaus under the director of labor and
not in independent new departments.
15. The above recommendations will require only statutory changes.
155160"—20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
18
[269]
♦
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.
“ Vacations ” in the Printing Industry in New
York City.
By A. J. PORTENAR.
HE recent trouble in the printing industry in New York City
was a strike in the sense that a large number of workmen quit
work at the same time for the accomplishment of a common
purpose, yet it was never officially authorized nor officially acknowl
edged as a strike by either the local unions involved or by their inter
nationals. There was, however, an essential difference in the respec
tive attitudes of the locals and internationals, in that the locals in
fact, though unofficially, supported the strike; while the interna
tionals opposed it and eventually compelled the return of the men to
work. Demands for an increase of $14 per week and the establish
ment of the 44-hour week were the inciting causes of the outbreak,
but before it was ended another issue had been injected—namely, the
supremacy of international authority—and this latter issue finally
became the more important of the two.
The workers in the printing industry are organized into five craft
unions, each headed by an international, which is the parent body
and issues its charters to subordinate unions located in various print
ing centers. These five are the International Typographical Union,
which embraces all composing room employees; International Printing
Pressmen and Assistants’ Union; International Stereotypers and
Electrotypers’ Union; International Photo-Engravers’ Union; Inter
national Brotherhood of Bookbinders.
These international unions, while each reserves complete autonomy
within its craft, have been organized into an alliance known as the
International Allied Printing Trades Association. The subordinate
local unions are organized into the Allied Printing Trades Councils
in their localities. The local unions are responsible to their respective
internationals; the local councils are responsible to the International
Printing Trades Association.
T
270
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[270]
-4P
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.
271
Among other purposes, the internationals allied in the association
have mutually agreed that, in the event of a secession by locals of
any one of them, they will support each other in suppressing the
secession. The following excerpt from the agreement illuminates
this point :
That when any union or members or group of members subordinate to any
one of the five international unions making up the International Allied Printing
Trades Association secede from the parent organization, the five international
unions will join in a general movement against the seceders, and to the end
that the supremacy and authority of the international organizations affected
may be clearly and permanently established, the five international unions
pledge their moral and financial support. In other words, and in a more concise
form of expression, the five international unions of the printing trade, namely,
the International Typographical Union, the International Printing Pressmen
and Assistants’ Union, the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders, the Inter
national Stereotypers and Electrotypers’ Union and the International PhotoEngravers’ Union, propose to stand firmly together in the protection of the juris
diction rights of each one of the international organizations, and to that end
pledge their united treasures to the success and permanency of the principles
herein enunciated.
Early in 1919 most of the craft unions in the printing industry in
New York City agreed to make a united demand for a flat increase of
$14 a week and the establishment of a 44-hour week, to become effective
October 1, 1919. The unions not participating in this movement were
Electrotypers’ Union No. 100 and Stereotypers’ Union No. 1, which
for some time have had the 44-hour week, and Photo-Engravers’
Union No. 1, which will get it on January 1, 1920. The following are
the unions which entered into this agreement to present these uniform
demands, and their minimum scales at that time were:
Typographical Union No. 6, $36.
Printing Pressmen’s Union No. 51, scales which varied from $31
to $46.
Franklin Union No. 23 (cylinder press feeders), $30.
Job Press Feeders’ Union No. 1, $22.
Mailers’ Union No. 6, $28. (The mailers have local autonomy, but
are subordinate to the International Typographical Union.)
Bookbinders’ Unions Nos. 1, 6,11, and 22, an average of $36.
Bookbinders’ Union No. 43 (female), $18.50 to $22.
Paper Cutters’ Union No. 119, $36. (Paper cutters are subordinate
to the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders.)
Paper Rulers No. 9, $36. (Paper rulers are subordinate to the In
ternational Brotherhood of Bookbinders.)
The officials of each of these unions, upon making this agreement to
present uniform demands, stated that their contracts terminated not
later than September 30, 1919. Therefore all of them were presum
ably in a position to enforce these demands without breach of contract.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[271]
272
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Before this agreement had been made Pressmen’s Union No. 51,
Franklin Union No. 23, and Job Press Feeders’ No. 1, all of them
subordinate to the International Printing Pressmen’s and Assistants’
Union, had been drifting toward a break with the parent body. They
charged that there had been misappropriation of f unds by the interna
tional officers, and there was also much dissatisfaction with the law
governing the referendum. These local unions, together with locals
of the same craft in other cities, had previously started a proceeding
for an accounting. The locals in New York City had declined to pay
their per capita tax, depositing it with a trust company pending a
decision of the lawsuit. Under the laws of the International Printing
Pressmen and Assistants’ Union any local which fails to pay per
capita tax is automatically suspended at the end of three months. The
International Printing Pressmen’s Union naturally held that the de
posit of the money elsewhere did not constitute payment, and notified
the delinquent locals that the penalty of expulsion would be enforced
when the three months’ period had ended.
This condition was known to all the other locals in the industry,
but at that time it did not seem to be regarded as an obstacle to the
united action proposed. The demands were made known to the
employers on April 14, and the pressmen’s unions took part in all
conferences without objection from anyone at that time.
Immediately after the presentation of these demands there was
held in Chicago, on April 21, a meeting of what is known as the
Joint International Conference Council, which is a newly created
body composed of representatives from the employers’ organizations
on the one side and the five international presidents on the other.
The employer delegates from New York brought to the attention of
the conference the demands of the local New York unions. The
outcome of this conference was a proposition that the 44-hour week
be established throughout the industry on May 1, 1921, and that each
of the representatives at the conference would go back to his or
ganization and ask for the ratification of that agreement.
The convention of employers thereafter ratified the agreement.
On May 28 a referendum vote was taken throughout the jurisdiction
of the International Typographical Union on the question, Shall
the 44-hour week become effective May 1, 1921? Typographical
Union No. 6 of New York City voted “ No ” by a vote of 5,656
against and 618 for, but in spite of this heavily adverse vote, the
proposition was carried throughout the country by a majority of
12,470. The pressmen’s International Union also held a referen
dum vote which ratified the proposal by more than a two-thirds
majority.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1272]
♦
m
m
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.
273
Regardless of these referendum votes, the local New York unions
continued to press their demands for $14 increase and a 44-hour
week, effective October 1, 1919. All of the unions previously men
tioned continued to act in concert, including the unions of pressmen,
cylinder feeders, and job press feeders, which were now approaching
the time when their expulsion would automatically ensue because of
their refusal to pay per capita tax to their international. Some time
in June a conference was held in the office of Typographical Union
No. 6 between the international and local officials. Later conflicting
reports were made to the membership explaining what had happened
at that conference. President Marsden G. Scott, of the International
Typographical Union, declared in a circular letter issued on Sep
tember 25 that he had emphatically stated at that conference that
Typographical Union No. 6 would not be permitted to press the
demand for the 44-hour week in view of the action of the refer
endum. President Leon Rouse of Typographical Union No. 6 was
equally emphatic in saying that Mr. Scott had refused to commit
himself in any way at that time. The officials of Typographical
Union No. 6 based their contention that they had a right to press for
the 44-hour week on the authority of a resolution adopted by the
Scranton convention (1917) :
Whereas, The International Typographical Union was responsible for the
eight-hour day in the printing industry; and
Whereas, the Saturday half-holiday in the book and job offices throughout
the international jurisdiction lias become an established feature, necessitating
three-quarter hours overtime five days per week to make up for sam e; There
fore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the International Typographical Union that
a week’s work in the book and job trade should consist of 44 hours of eight
hours the first five days and four hours on Saturday; and, be it further
Resolved, That subordinate unions be instructed to negotiate scales in the
book and job offices under above provisions whenever practical.
The international officers held that the referendum ATote fixing
May 1, 1921, as the time for establishing the 44-hour week was bind
ing on all the membership.
On July 1 the situation became complicated by the expulsion of
Franklin Union, No. 23 (cylinder feeders), for nonpayment of per
capita tax.
On August 2 Pressmen’s Union No. 51 and Job Press Feeders No. 1
were also expelled for the same reason. Nevertheless these unions
continued to take part in conferences held with the local association
of employers until some time in September. At that time the em
ployers’ conference committee gave notice that they would no longer
confer with any organization not affiliated with its international and
with the American Federation of Labor. The so-called “ outlaw”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[273]
274
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
unions then withdrew, with the understanding that their interests
would be cared for by President Rouse, of Typographical Union
No. 6.
Conferences continued through August and September without
any definite result until early in September. Bookbinders’ Unions
Nos. 1, 6, and 43; Paper Cutters No. 119; Paper Rulers No. 9; and
Mailers No. 6 declared at a conference between the employers and
the unions that they were mistaken in their previous statements to
the effect that they had no contracts outstanding beyond September
30; that in fact they had arbitration agreements which extended be
yond that date. Therefore they would accept the increase of $(>
which had previously been offered by the employers and would agree
to the postponement of the 41-hour week until May 1, 1921. They
qualified this, however, by saying that if better terms were obtained
by any other union, then such terms were automatically to be ex
tended to them.
As scon as the three pressroom unions had been declared " out
lawed ” by their international the formation of new Nos. 51, 23, and 1
was begun. A small minority of the membership of those unions had
remained loyal to the international, and these formed the nucleus for
the new organizations. For a considerable time there were few accretions to these new unions.
On September 5 there were two pressmen working in the press
room of the Publishers’ Printing Co. who carried cards in the r.ew
No. 51. The remainder of the pressroom force were members of the
outlawed unions. The officers of the old union demanded that these
two men be discharged. The demand was refused and nearly the
whole force, with the exception of these two men, quit work imme
diately.
On September 30 there was posted in the pressrooms of all the
members of the Printers League and the Typotlietae (closed shop
division) the following notice: “ On and after October first, only
pressmen and feeder members of the international will be employed
in this office.”
The posting of this notice meant a lockout in the pressrooms of the
organized commercial job shops of New York City, for practically
their entire working forces were members of the unions which had
seceded from their international, the act of secession being the re
fusal to pay per capita tax, with their consequent expulsion. The
morning of October 1 therefore found the pressrooms deserted,
but the composing-room forces working. All the other unions had
either not been involved originally or had withdrawn from the con
troversy as above stated.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[274]
+
“
STRIKES AKD LOCKOUTS.
00
0
*
275
There can be no question that the sympathies of both the officers
and the rank and file of Typographical Union No. G were with the
” outlawed ” unions. These men had in many cases been working
together for years. In addition, they were still animated by the
common purpose to secure the 44-hour week immediately. The offi
cers of No. G declared that they would do nothing which would im
peril their regular standing inside of their international, but at the
same time showed no inclination to modify their demands in any
particular, but no order to quit work on October 1 in support of
these demands was officially given, and there is no evidence to show
that such an order was unofficially promulgated.
On the morning of October 1, 139 men working in the composing
room of the Technical Press were laid off without notice, on the
ground that there was no work for them. On the same morning
three men were laid off in the Carey Press on the same ground, but
the members of the union working in that shop declared that those
laid off had all been prominent in agitating for the wage increase
and shorter work week. Be that as it may, this body of about 150
men immediately divided itself into committees of three or four to
notify the members working in all the other shops of what had liappened and to ask them to quit work. This they could not do as
strikers, for none of the procedures laid down by law previous to the
declaration of a strike had been complied with. Meetings were held
in the various shops, with the result that individual “ vacations ” im
mediately became extremely popular. Before night 1,000 men had
gone on vacation, and before the week had ended the number was
about 3,800. Thus, on October Gthere were on the street about 2,500
members of Pressmen’s Union No. 51, 2,500 members of Franklin No.
23 (feeders), and about 500 members of Job Press Feeders No. 1.
These had all been locked out by the employers. Also, there were ap
proximately 3,800 members of Typographical Union No. G “ on
vacation.”
A meeting of Typographical Union No. 6 was held on October 5,
at which the executive committee recommended the passage of a
resolution ordering the vacationists back to work. The president
told them the resolution must be passed, so that no charge of violat
ing international law relating to strikes could be made against the
unions. The resolution was adopted, but it was plain that neither
officers nor members had the slightest intention of living up to it.
An unofficial organization was formed among the “ vacationists,”
called the 44-50 Club, which in a measure performed the usual duties
of a strike committee.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[275]
276
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Throughout October conferences were held with the employers
which were utterly barren of result. The employers renewed their
offer of a $6 advance and expressed a willingness to arbitrate the
whole question. Typographical Union No. 6 refused both of these
offers. The pressroom unions could not enter the conferences, be
cause the employers refused to recognize them. The unions held
frequent meetings which were very largely attended, but which re
sulted only in the adoption of dilatory motions expressing confidence
in the officers and directing them to seek further conferences with the
employers. So the whole month of October passed without any
particular change in the situation, both parties refusing to recede in
the slightest degree from the positions they had taken.
During that month the question of support for the men on the
street became extremely urgent. The pressroom unions expended
all the funds they had for the maintenance of their members. Typo
graphical Union No. 6 could not legally levy an assessment for strike
purposes. They overcame the difficulty by sending to the referendum
a proposition for a 10 per cent assessment for the benefit of the
“ unemployed.” This proposition could hardly fail of adoption,
because the “ unemployed” made up an actual majority of the mem
bership. It was carried with slight opposition. The proceeds of
this assessment, however, were entirely insufficient to pay the benefit
of $12 a week which had been voted, and which was increased to $15
the following week, and the special funds of the union had to be de
pleted to support the “ vacationists.”
One of the most irritating features of the whole difficulty was that
the international officers came to New York, conferred with the
employers, issued newspaper statements condemning the “ vacations,”
but did not confer with the officers of the local union nor appear at
any of the frequent meetings which were held. This attitude of the
international officers created such an intense feeling of resentment
that it was an important factor in keeping up the determination of
the rank and file to stay out. On November 2 all the officers of the
international executive council except the president appeared before
Typographical Union No. 6 and urged the men to return to work.
Their mission was fruitless.
The issue of wages and hours had by this time become subordinate.
The international officers frankly confessed that their object in coming
to New York was to beat down secession. The employers knew that
even if they could get their compositors back, they would nevertheless
be unable to go very far unless they could man their pressrooms; but
they believed that if the support of Typographical Union No. 6 was
withdrawn from the seceding unions the latter would collapse. As
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[276]
*
«
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.
27 7
a matter of fact, the members of the seceding unions were making
application in the new pressroom unions in continually increasing
numbers throughout October and early November, and that movement
would have been greatly accelerated had it not been for the determined
attitude of the “ vacationists ” in Typographical Union No. 6.
The compositors and pressmen on the street knew that the financial
resources of their respective organizations were getting very low, but
they held out in the belief that the employers also were being subjected
to terrific financial strain, and that tliej^ might crack first. Everybody
knew that a great deal of work was leaving the city, some of it on
temporary contracts and some permanently diverted. Employing
printers in other cities, notably Cincinnati, made strenuous efforts to
grab New York work. The unions were encouraged in their expecta
tions by the fact that a number of employers did actually enter into
agreements with them to pay a $G advance, work 44 hours, hire
membeis of the outlawed unions, and make a final adjustment of
wages and hours whenever an agreement had been reached with the
employers association: but when the attempt was made to carry out
these agreements, all the other unions represented in the Allied Print
ing Trades Council, with the exception of Typographical Union No. 6,
refused to work with the seceding pressmen, and refused to do any
work for any shop that employed them. Such shops could not get
any plates or photo-engravings, could not get any bindery workers
oi send their work to an outside bindery, or have anything clone
outside of their composing rooms or pressrooms. Some employers
carried out the agreement in spite of this handicap, but most of them
who were willing to make such agreements declined to settle trouble
in one department if by consequences they invited trouble in another.
The situation was that the pressroom unions were being discriminated
against more severely than nonunion men by all the unions except
Typographical Union No. 6, and No. 6 itself was drifting into a
position where it might also become an outlawed union.
On October 29 the employers’ conference committee sent a letter
to President Rouse of Typographical Union No. 6 renewing the
offer of an immediate advance of $6, all other matters to be sub
mitted to arbitration, an answer to be given not later than November
3, and refusing any further conferences.. The purpose of this com
munication was to compel No. 6 either to accept the arbitration of
fered or definitely refuse it.
A resolution passed by the Scranton convention of the Interna
tional Typographical Union (1917) reads:
We recommend that the executive council be instructed to suspend the
charter of any union which violates its contract or which refuses fair arbi
tration in any dispute which may arise under that contract or in the negotia
tion of a new agreement.
[277]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
278
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Acceptance would naturally mean the end of the difficulty; re
fusal would give the international executive council the legal right
to intervene.
At a meeting on November 9 Typographical Union No. 6 by a
vote of 2,500 to 17 refused arbitration. Shortly thereafter the ex
ecutive council came to New York and the following letter was sent
to Typographical Union No. 6:
N ew Y ork , November 22, 1919.
Mr. L eon R o u se , President,
New York Typographical Union No. 6,
D e a r S i r : The executive council of the International Typographical Union
has reached the conclusion that the present situation in the printing industry
in the jurisdiction of New York Typographical Union No. G has reached the
point where attempts will be made to inaugurate open-shop or nonunion con
ditions in some commercial office composing rooms that have previously been
union unless some remedy is immediately applied.
The council further says that the position of New York Typographical Union
No. 6 in refusing to arbitrate the question of the time the 44-liour week shall
go into effect in these offices is contrary to the declared policies of the Inter
national Typographical Union, and is a menace to other subordinate unions.
In view of these facts and for the purpose of protecting the interests of New
York Typographical Union No. G, and the International Typographical Union,
the executive council directs that New York Typographical Union No. G at its
meeting to-morrow, November 23, order its members who are taking so-called
vacations to return to work in all offices on Monday, November 24, 1919, and
that it instruct its officers to accept arbitration as a method of settling any
disputes at present in controversy. It then expects that the members will re
turn to work in compliance with the order of the union.
In case New York Typographical Union No. G at its meeting on Sunday,
November 23, 1919, fails to comply with this order of the executive council,
that body will be compelled to take action authorized by section 2, Article X.
of the International Typographical Union constitution, which reads as follows:
S ection 2. Any subordinate union which shall fail to make reports required
by law or the executive council, or which shall neglect or refuse to obey any
law or legal mandate of the International Typographical Union, or executive
council, may be fined or have its charter suspended by the executive council.
At a meeting held on November 23, following the receipt of this
letter, the executive committee of the local typographical union
recommended the adoption of a resolution in line with the mandate
of the international union. Some of the members advocated the
repetition of a previous performance—namely, to pass the resolution
to return to work, but not t6 comply with it. After a bitter debate,
the resolution was adopted by a divided vote.
The men returned to their work the next morning and the eight
weeks “ vacation ” in the book and job shops of the printing industry
of New York City was ended. The pressmen had preceded the com
positors back to work in most shops, the certain defeat of their seces
sion movement being plain to them. They accepted the amnesty of-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[278]
STRIKES AKD LOCKOUTS.
279
fercct by their international union, which required only that they sur
render their cards in the old unions and take out cards in the new
ones, even giving them credit for all dues paid to the outlawed unions.
After the men had returned to work, negotiations for the selection
of an arbitrator were begun, and all the issues concerning wages and
hours wi]l be submitted to him. The 44-liour week will almost cer
tainly be postponed until May, 1921, but some further increase of
wages will probably be added to the flat $6 already obtained.
Two significant facts have been brought out during the trouble.
One is that there exists a considerable group who are ready to re
nounce their international allegiance upon slight provocation. This
fact foreshadows the inevitable struggle for control between the
radical and conservative elements throughout the whole body of
organized labor. The second is that compulsory arbitration, which
is bitterly opposed whenever embodied in proposed legislation, was
in this instance imposed by an international union on one of its locals.
0
Berlin Metal Workers’ Strike .1
HE strike of Berlin metal workers began on September 17, 1919,
and by September 30 it was affecting nearly four-fifths of the
persons employed in the Berlin metal-working industry, the
total on strike being about 100,000. It arose out of the aw;;rd of Au
gust 21 made by the conciliation board appointed to settle a previous
strike. This award divided the workers into five wage groups. The
rates were to be fixed by a joint commission. The commission failed
to come to an agreement, and the workers’ representatives who broke
off negotiations sent an ultimatum on September 16 to the heads of
eight firms threatening to strike if their demands were not granted
within 24 hours.
The commission had made 19 partial awards, which failed to sat
isfy the workers, who thought that the awards meant reduced wages
and assignment to lower wage groups. The chairman of the new con
ciliation board, formed after the break-off of negotiations, published
on September 16 a reply to the men’s complaints, in which lie states :
T
4^
The award on August 21 provided live classes of wages, payable on first en
gagement. In addition three service bonuses were to be paid after certain
fixed periods of employment. These bonuses were to apply to individual
workers in each branch who showed special ability and industry or were em1 From v a rio u s issu es o f V orw ärts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B erlin , Septem ber 13 to October 18, 1919.
[279]
280
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
ployed on work dangerous to health, and not, as the Metal Workers’ Union
asserts, to whole (occupational) groups of workers.
As five classes were to be fixed, it was clearly the task of the commission to
place the most highly qualified workers in the first class, the least qualified in
the fifth class, and the rest in the three intermediate classes.
The minimum wages so far accorded in the partial awards are almost with
out exception higher, and in no case lower, than existing minimum wages.
A different account of the dispute, which throws the blame on the
employers, was given by a representative of the commission at a
general meeting of the Berlin Metal Workers’ Union on September
22. He said:
“ After four meetings, resulting in 19 partial awards, negotiations
were broken off. The employers strongly opposed the commission’s
ruling that workers who perform severe work dangerous to health
should be included in the first category, and refused to give way on
this point.”
The strike began in small departments of a few firms and spread
rapidly. The strikers were vital to the industries, so that lockout
measures became necessary. From 500 the number of strikers had
risen by September 22 to 5,000; and three days later to 18,000. On
September 26 the large Siemens works had to be closed, as the fire
men had struck, and 60,000 workers were out of employment. By
September 30 the number of firms affected was 125; there were
31,300 men on strike and 72,300 were locked out. Seldom has a strike
begun so vaguely as this one. Hitherto definite demands have
formed the basis of every dispute. The latest dispute has arisen
because it was assumed the employers were trying to bring about a
reduction in wages.
The commission of 15, appointed by the Metal Workers’ Union to
formulate the workers’ demands, drafted an agreement which was
presented to the employers during the first week in October. By
October 9, 40 firms had signed the agreement and work had been
resumed, and a week later this number had been doubled. Mean
while the strike continued to spread in concerns the owners of which
refused to come to an agreement. At some works the strikers were
replaced by voluntary workers organized as an emergency corps
(technische Nothilfe) ; and as a protest the commission of 15, on
October 17, ordered a general strike of electrical workers. On the
same day, however, a proposal was put forward by the minister of
labor and accepted by the employers’ association and the Metal
Workers’ Union. The electrical workers agreed to resume work the
same evening. The proposal is as follows:
1 . Negotiations for the division of workers into five wage classes are to be
undertaken, and worked out in sections before the chairman of the arbitration
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[280 ]
#
STRIKES AKD LOCKOUTS.
#
281
court. If an agreement be reached it shall be binding on both parties. If no
settlement be reached, the court of arbitration shall give a final decision.
2. The court of arbitration shall consist of 4 neutral members with 3 em
ployers and 3 workers as assessors.
3. The neutral members shall be appointed, after consultation with both
parties, by the minister of labor.
4. The award of August 21 shall remain valid. In the fifth wage class the
increases shall be raised by sums ranging from 5 to 10 pfennigs, in accordance
with the concession already made.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[281]
IMMIGRATION,
Immigration in October, 1919.
HE following tables, prepared by the Bureau of Immigration of
the Department of Labor, show the total number of immigrant
aliens admited into the United States in each month from
January, 1913, to October, 1919, and the numbers admitted in each
fiscal year, 1915 to 1919, and in October, 1919, by nationality. The
total departures of emigrant aliens in October, 1919, numbered
25,447.
T
IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D IN T O T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S
J A N U A R Y , 1913, TO O C TO BER , 1919.
19 19
Month.
January..........................
F ebrurary.....................
M arch.............................
A p ril...............................
M a y.................................
J u n e ................................
J u ly ................................
A u gu st...........................
S ep tem b er....................
O ctober..........................
N o vem b er.....................
D ecem ber......................
1913
40,141
59,150
90,958
136,371
137,262
176,261
138,244
126,180
136,247
134,440
104,671
95,387
1914
44.708
46,873
92,621
119,885
107,796
71,728
60,377
37,706
29,143
30,416
26,298
20,944
1915
15,481
13,873
19,263
24,532
26,069
22,598
21,504
21,949
24,513
25,450
24,545
18; 901
1916
1 .293
24,710
27,586
30,560
31,021
30,764
25,035
29,975
36,398
37,056
34,437
30,902
1 D ecrease.
282
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2S2]
1917
24,745
19,238
15,512
20,523
10,487
11,095
9,367
10,047
9,228
9,284
6,446
; 987
6
Num ber.
Per cent
increase
over
preceding
m onth.
9,852
10,586
14,105
16,860
15,093
17,987
18,152
20,597
26,584
32,418
i 8.3
7.5
33.2
19.5
• 110.5
19.2
.9
13.5
29.1
21.9
1918
6.356
7,388
6,510
9,541
15,217
14,247
7,780
7,862
9,997
11,771
8,499
10' 748
283
IMMIGRATION",
Classified by nationality, the number of immigrant aliens admitted
into the United States during specified periods and in October, 1919,
was as follows:
IMMIGRANT A LIENS ADMITTED INTO THE U N ITED STATES DURING SPECIFIED
PER IOD S AND IN OCTOBER, 1919, BY NATIONALITY.
Year ending June 30—
Nationality.
African (black).............. ...................................
Armenian...........................................................
Bohemian and Moravian...............................
Bulgarian, Serbian, Montenegrin.................
Chinese...............................................................
Croatian and Slovenian..................................
Cuban........................................
Dalmatian, Bosnian, Herzegovinian...........
Dutch and Flem ish.........................................
East Indian..............................
English.....................................
Finnish...................................
I rench...................................
German.....................................
Greek................................
Hebrew.............................................................
Irish..........................................................
Italian (north)................................
Italian (south)................................
Japanese..................................................
Korean......................................................
L ithuanian...........................................
Magyar........................................................
M exican..............................................................
Pacificlslander...............................................
Polish...................................................
Portuguese..............................................
Roumanian..............................................
Russian...............................................................
Ruthenian (Russniak)........................
Scandinavian..............................................
Scotch..................................................
Slovak.................................................................
Spanish.....................................................
Spanish-Ameriean................................
Syrian.......................................................
Turkish...................................................
W elsh..........................................................
W est Indian (except Cuban).................
Other peoples............................................
T otal...................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Octo
ber,
1919.
1915
1910
1917
1918
1919
5,660
932
1,651
3,500
2,469
1,912
3,402
305
6,075
82
38,662
3,472
12,636
20,729
15,187
26,497
23,503
10,660
46,557
8,609
146
2,638
3,604
10,993
6
9,065
4,376
1,200
4,459
2 .933
24,263
14,310
2,069
5,705
1,667
1,767
273
1,390
823
1,877
4,576
964
642
3,146
2,239
791
3,442
114
6,433
80
36,168
5,649
19,518
11,555
26,792
15,108
20,630
4,905
33,909
8,711
154
599
981
17,198
4,502
12.208
953
4,858
1,305
19,172
13,515
577
9,259
1,881
676
7,971
1,221
327
1,134
1,843
305
3,428
94
5,393
69
32,246
5,900
24,405
9,682
25,919
17,342
17,462
3,790
35,154
8,925
194
479
434
10,438
10
3,109
10,194
522
3,711
1,211
19,596
13,350
244
15,019
2,587
976
5,706
321
74
150
1,576
33
1,179
15
2,200
61
12,980
1,867
6,840
1,992
2,002
3,072
4,057
1,074
5,234
10,168
149
135
32
17,602
17
668
2,319
155
1,513
49
8,741
5,204
35
7,909
2 ,231
210
5,823
282
105
205
1,697
23
1,169
4
2,735
68
26,889
968
12,598
1,837
813
3,055
7,910
1,230
2,137
10,056
77
160
52
28,844
0
732
1,574
89
1,532
'103
8,201
10,364
4,224
3,032
231
845
112
56
102
170
27
194
8
898
26
5,217
119
2,779
'620
475
713
1,227
T, 067
5^ 103
914
3
3)
9
4,095
1
168
701
69
194
5
2,367
1,740
' 197
1,251
'431
82
983
948
3,388
793
1,369
2,097
278
732
314
608
1,223
247
148
193
59
326,700
298,826
295,403
110,018
141,132
32,418
P U B L IC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G TO LA BO R.
Official—United States.
C a l if o r n ia .—Industrial
accident commission. Tunnel safety rules, effective
December 1, 1919. Sacramento, 1919. 139 pp.
----- Laws, statutes, etc. Labor laws of California. Prepared by the Cali
fornia State Library. Sacramento, 1919. 261 pp.
D is t r ic t of C o lu m b ia .—Minimum, Wage Board. Wages of women in hotels
and restaurants in the District of Columbia. Washington, October 10,
1919. 23 pp. Bulletin No. 3.
This report is summarized on pages 144 to 148 of this issue of the M o n t h l y
L abor R e v ie w .
I daho .—Industrial
accident board. First annual report from January 1, 1918,
to October 31, 1918. Boise, 1918. 21, pp.
A summary of this report appears on pp. 247 and 248 of this issue of the
M o n t h l y L abor R ev iew .
M aryland .—State
industrial accident commission. Fourth annual report for
the year November 1, 1917, to October 31, 1918, inclusive. Baltimore, 1919.
1,0 pp.
This report is summarized on pp. 248 and 249 of this issue of the M o n t h l y
L abor R ev iew .
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .—Bureau
of Statistics. Forty-sixth quarterly report on em
ployment in Massachusetts, quarter ending June 30, 1919. Boston, 1919.
20 pp.
Reports increased activity in all important industries and trades, particularly
in the building trades, boot and shoe and textile industries, and in iron and steel
manufacturing, and an increase in the demand for labor. The total number of
strikes recorded during the quarter was 161, compared with 65 during the pre
ceding quarter. Returns received from 1,129 labor organizations in Massa
chusetts, representing an aggregate membership of 249,737, give the number of
members unemployed for all causes at the close of June, 1919, as 12,637, or 5.1
per cent of the total number, in contrast with 13.4 per cent unemployed at the
close of March, 1919.
----- State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration. Annual report for the year
ending December 31, 1918. Boston, 1919. 98 pp. Public document No. 1,0.
“ The chief labor troubles were 163, in which one or both parties were un
willing to abandon hostile action.” In such disputes, summarized as cases of
mediation, the board sought the parties and proffered its advice, suggestions,
and assistance. The board’s services were sought in 222 petitions, including 59
for determining as normal the conditions of business concerns having a history
of labor troubles, and 163 joint applications for arbitration. Ten of the latter
were filed in 1917; three of recent origin are pending. In 39 cases a mutual
settlement was effected, 2 applications were withdrawn, the contention having
been abandoned, and the remaining 119 resulted in awards covered in the report.
284
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[284]
PUBLICATION'S RELATING TO LABOR.
M i c h i g a n . —Department
1919.
766 pp.
285
of Labor. Thirty-sixth annual report. 1918. Lansing,
Contains reports on inspection of factories, workshops, stores, hotels, res
taurants, coal mines, and boats, on Michigan free employment bureaus and
private employment agencies, prison and reformatory statistics, and labor laws.
In 1918, 15,592 factories and workshops were inspected, as compared with 14,262
for the previous year. The number of women employed in the industries of
the State during 1918 was 95,349, an increase of 19,337, or 25.4 per cent, when
compared with 1917. The number of children employed was 1,651, being an
increase of only 26 over the number for 1917. During the year 51,110 accidents
were reported, this being 6,962 less than the number reported for 1917. For
the fiscal year ending November, 1918, the work of Michigan free employment
bureaus shows an increase of 8,010 placements over the previous year, the totals
being respectively 108,463 for 1917, and 116,473 for 1918.
M in n e s o t a .—Department of Labor and Industries.
Court decisions, Attorney
General’s opinions, Department of Labor advice, relative to the Workmen’s
Compensation Act. St. Paul, September, 1919. 8 J) pp. Bulletin No. 16.
M o n ta n a .— Industrial Accident Board. Fourth annual report for the 12 months
ending June 30, 1919. Helena, 1919. 1/37 pp.
A brief digest of this report appears on pages 249 to 251 of this issue of the
M o n t h l y L abor R ev ie w .
N ew M exico .—State Mine Inspector.
ing October 31, 1918.
Seventh annual report for the year end
Albuquerque, 1918. 101 pp.
The output of coal for the year was 4,037,726 short tons valued at $9,876,361;
the production of coke 607,241 tons valued at $2,448,494.57. No labor dis
turbance was reported and the relations between employer and employees are
stated to have been amicable. Employment at the mines was as follows:
Miners, 3,070; day men in mines, 837; boys in mines, 45; day men on top, 876;
boys on top, 45; total employed, 4,837; men employed at coke ovens, 315.
N ew Y ork .—Reconstruction Commission.
Summary of report to Governor Al
fred E. Smith on Retrenchment and reorganization in the State government.
October 10, 1919. Albany, 1919. 1+1} pp. Charts.
A digest of the proposed reorganization of the New York department of labor
appears on pages 266 to 269 of this number of the M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w .
——
University. State-aided evening vocational schools.
1919. 37 pp. Bulletin No. 6 8 8 .
Albany June 15
The purpose is to define the kinds of evening vocational schools entitled to
special aid under the provisions of section 605, article 22 of the education law,
as amended by chapter 531, Acts of 1919, to describe the plans of organization
and administration which experience seems to show are the most satisfactory,
and to indicate to communities the proper procedure required to enable them to
secure State aid. The text of the law, effective Aug. 1, 1912, is included.
Department of Health. Health of Ohio coal miners. Abstract of a
report by Emery R. Hayhurst. Columbus, 1919. 2J) pp. Reprint 1903
(from Ohio Public Health Journal, Feb.-May, incl., 1919).
O h io .
Portions of the material used in this report, particularly those relating to
mortality, how miners cope with sickness and death hazards, community medical
facilities, and general conclusions, appeared in an article by Dr. Hayhurst on
Protecting the health of soft-coal miners by prevention of disease, in Modern
Medicine, July, 1919, and was summarized in the September, 1919, issue of the
M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w , pages 291-294. The report also considers working
conditions, health hazards by chief occupations, housing conditions and local
health administration, and sickness—types and extent.
155169°—20-----19
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[285]
286
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
State Industrial Accident Funds. Report on examination and audit,
as of June 30,1919. Salem, 1919. 4 pp.
P h il ip p in e I sla n d s . Bureau of Labor. Labor. Boletín trimestral. Vol. 1,
No. 1. Manila, March, 1919. I l l pp.
O regon .
The first issue of a quarterly publication of the Bureau of Labor. The chief
aim is stated to be “ to offer the laborers of#these islands a source of general
information relative to labor.” The publication will also contain articles rela
tive to interisland migration of laborers, of which the bureau has charge and
for which the Philippine Legislature lias this year appropriated the sum of
350,000 pesos ($175,000), and other data referring to matters of interest to
laborers. This issue contains tables showing the daily wages paid to laborers
and carpenters employed by the provincial government in the construction of
roads, bridges, and provincial buildings; wages of laborers in agriculture, in
dustry, and commerce during the years 1911 and 1917, statement on strikes
in 1919, and other data, part of which is in English. The agricultural laborer
received in 1911 an average daily wage of about 0.64 pesos ($0.32), in a
majority of cases including food and in a few, both food and lodging, and in
1917 an average daily wage of about 0.668 pesos ($0.334), which represented
an increase of 0.028 pesos ($0.014) daily or 4.38 per cent in the six years;
while the industrial and commercial Filipino laborer in 1911 earned an average
daily wage of about 0.88 pesos ($0.44), and in 1917 and a great part of 1918,
1.28 pesos ($0.64), which means an increase of 0.40 pesos ($0.20) or 45.45
per cent.
State Board of Vocational Education. Courses of study. Elec
tricity: Shop, drawing, mathematics, safety, equipment, references. Madi
son, 1919. 16 pp. Monograph No. 2.
■----------------------- Sheet metal: Shop, drawing, mathematics, science, safety, equip
ment, references. Madison, 1919. 11 pp. Monograph No. 4 .
U nited S ta tes . Civil Service Commission. Civil-service act, rules, statutes,
and executive orders. Revision of the rules of April 15, 1903, with notes
on the miles by the commission and legal decisions, amended to July 1, 1919.
Washington, 1919. 110 pp.
------ Congress. Joint Committees on Labor. National employment system.
Hearings on S. 6 8 8 , A bill to provide for a national employment system ;
S. 1H2, H. R. 4305, bills to provide for the establishment of a national
employment system and for cooperation with the States in the promotion
of such system, and to regulate the expenditure of moneys that shall be
appropriated for such purposes. Parts 1 and 2. Washington, 1919. Pp.
1-277, 281-715. 6 6 th Congress, 1 st session.
------ Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census. M ortality statistics,
1917. Eighteenth annual report. Washington, 1919. 597 pp.
------ Department of the Interior. Bureau of Education. The Federal execu
tive departments as sources of information for libraries, compiled by
Edith Ouerrier. Washington, September 1, 1919. 204 PP- Bulletin No. 7 4 .
W is c o n s in .
The author has outlined briefly the functions of the various departments of
the Federal Government and characterized the features of the publications of
each department of special interest to librarians. The general subjects treated
in the publications of the Department of Labor are listed and grouped by
bureaus. The recent bulletins and other publications of the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics are listed in full, and matters pertaining to labor
bibliographies and indexes are given special mention.
--------------- Bureau of mines.
Abstracts of current decisions on mines and min
ing reported from January to May, 1919. Washington, 1919. 175 pp.
Bulletin 181. Law serial 19.
Includes decisions relating to damages for injuries to miners.
[286]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
287
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
U n ited S ta tes . Department of Labor.
tion laws and regulations.
Bureau of Naturalization. Naturaliza
Washington, October 10, 1919. 39 pp.
Includes the provision of the act of July 19, 1919, relating to naturalization.
Children’s Bureau. Laws relating to “ mothers’ pensions ” in the
United States, Canada, Denmark, and New Zealand. Washington, 1919.
3 1 6 pp. Legal series No. If, Bureau publication No. 63.
A digest of this volume was published in the December, 1919, issue of the
pages 347 and 348.
Maternity benefit systems in certain foreign countries, by'Henry
M o n t h l y L abor R ev ie w ,
J. Harris. Washington, 1919.
lication No. 57.
206 pp.
Legal series No. 3.
Bureau pub
Sources of information ” are listed at the end of the sections dealing with
the various countries (except Prance and Luxemburg) included in the report,
and a bibliography arranged by country is found on pages 195-206.
Information and Education Service. Division of public works and
construction development. Economics of the construction industry. Wash
ington, 1919. 263 pp. Charts.
Report of an investigation “ of those general economic factors which, taken
together, determine the financial success or failure of a prospective invest
ment in improved real estate and which, consequently, investors are in the
habit of considering before undertaking the improvement of real estate.” The
division was organized to “ stimulate the interest of the Nation in public and
piivate construction ” with a view to the creation of buffer employment for
labor during the period of transition of manufacturing interests from war to
peace production. As to the stimulation of private construction, it was decided
that this should take the form of supplying authentic data to assist the indi
vidual investor to judge for himself whether or not it would be profitable for
him to build.
The provision of such data meant an investigation of the
volume of deferred construction, of the recent course of construction-material
prices, of wages in the construction industry, of land values and rents, and
of mortgage-loan conditions.” The more important findings of the investiga
tion concern the following m atters: Deferred construction, recent construction,
pi ices of construction materials, wages in the construction industry, cost of
construction, land values and rents, and mortgage loans.
'
"
"
7
. I'^nining Service. Courses of instruction for workers in cotton
mills, including directions for installing a training department and a sum
mary of information which every worker in a cotton mill should possess.
Washington, 1919. 64 pp. Training bulletin No. 25.
7
Courses of instruction in piano making; together with a sec
tion on player pianos, pneumatic actions, piano actions, and keys. Wash
ington, 1919. 67 pp. Training bulletin No. 22.
Industrial training in the overalls industry. The organization
and conduct of training in the industrial establishments for operators and
cutters. Washington, 1919. 57 pp. Training bulletin No. 18.
Training for shirt workers. A plan for organizing and con
ducting training for workers in the industry. Washington, 1919 5 9 pp
Training bulletin No. 19.
~7
7
Training in industrial plants. A manual for American indus
tries setting for the theory and practice of industrial training. Wash
ington, 1919. 30 pp. Training bulletin No. 1 4 .
"
.------- ------ Training in the men’s suit and overcoat industry. An out
line of the organization and conduct of training for cutters, pressers,
machine operators, and hand sewers in the industry. Washington, 1919.
83 pp. Training bulletin No. 16.
Training in the paper-box industry. Washington, 1919.
Training bulletin No. 15.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[287]
75
pp.
288
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Department of Labor. Training Service. Training in th e shoe
Washington, 1919. Illustrated. Training bulletin No. 21.
----------------------- Training workers in the women’s cloak, suit, and skirt industry.
A plan for the organization and conduct of training for cutters, pres sens,
machine operators, and hand sewers in the industrial establishments.
Washington, 1919. 83 pp. Training bulletin No. 17.
----------- — Women’s Bureau.
The eight-hour day in Federal and State legis
lation. A brief summary of the various “ eight-hour laws ” in effect
in the United States: 1919. Washington, October 15, 1919. 19 pp. Bulle
tin No. 5.
U nited S t a te s .
industry.
The employment of women in hazardous industries in the
United States. A brief r 6 sum 6 of State and Federal laws regulating the
employment of women in hazardous occupations: 1919. Washington, 1919.
8 pp. Bulletin No. 6 .
----------- ---------- Night-work laws in the United States. Brief summary of State
legislation regulating night work for women. Washington, October 15,
1919. 5 pp. Bulletin No. 7.
------ Interstate Commerce Commission. Division of Statistics. Thirtieth an
nual report on the statistics of railways in the United States for the year
ended December 81, 1916. Washington, 1919. 959 pp.
------ Treasury Department. Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Annual re
port for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1919. Washington, 1919. 244 pp.
Document No. 2844------ ------ ------
Contains a section relating to the tax on the employment of child labor.
------ ---------- Public Health Service.
Health insurance, the medical profession,
and public health. Including the results of a study of sickness expectancy.
By B. S. Warren and Edgar Sydenstricker. Washington, 1919. 16 pp.
Reprint No. 516 from the Public Health Reports, April 18, 1919, paces
775-789.
The principal points which suggest themselves for the consideration of health
insurance, both from the viewpoint of the physician and of the public health
official, according to the authors, a r e : The sickness expectancy, i. e., the amount
of sickness for which medical and surgical service must be provided; Methods
of providing adequate medical and surgical relief; and Methods of adequate
prevention of sickness. These points are considered in detail, and a scheme of
organization outlined which has been suggested as following the general out
lines of a plan for coordination approved by the Annual Conference of State
and Territorial Health Officers with the Public Health Service, May, 1916.
The proposed organization is stated to be about as follows:
1. Make the State commissioner of health an ex officio member of the State
health insurance commission.
2. Detail a medical director from the State health department to assist the
commission in supervising the administration of the medical benefits and to act
as health advisor and director.
3. Detail district medical directors from the State health department to aid
in the administration of the medical benefits in their respective districts.
4. Detail from the State health department a sufficient number of local med
ical officers to act as medical referees and to sign all disability certificates, and
to perform such other duties as may be authorized by law or regulation.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 288 ]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR,
289
Official—Foreign Countries.
A ustralia . Court of conciliation and arbitration.
Commonwealth arbitration re
ports. Vol. 12. A report of cases decided and awards. Including conferences
convened by the President or Deputy President during the year 1918.
Melbourne. [1919.] 988 pp.
------ (N ew S outh W a l e s ). Board of Trade [Declaration of 8 th October, 1919,
as to the living wage to be paid to adult male employees, etc.] Sydney,
1919. 10 pp. Price, 6 d. Published in Government Gazette No. 287 of
10th October, 1919.
This cost of living study was made by the New South Wales Board of Trade
in order to determine the living wage to be paid to adult male employees in that
State. In making the study the Board of Trade followed the principles laid
down in a previous study which w ere: That the determination of the average
cost of living should be based upon the average requirements of the lowest paid
class of workers ; that this in turn should be based upon the average sized family
of this class; and that the standard should be sufficiently high to meet the re
quirements for a normal mode of living.
As a result of the study the Board determined that the average cost of living
had increased to £3 17s.1 per week and accordingly this was fixed as the living
wage for adult employees which should be paid in the area studied. The
amounts apportioned to different items were as follows:
£. s. d.
Food and groceries________________________________________ __ 1 11 4
Rent__________________________________________________________ 15 7
Fuel and light_________________________________________________
3 0
Clothing and boots____________________________________________
14 0
Other items__________________________________________________
13 1
3 17 0
----------------------- Second interim report on the prevalence of miners’ phthisis and
pneumoconiosis in certain industries. Report upon the constitution and
cost of a technical commission of inquiry into miners’ phthisis and other
diseases affecting miners. Sydney, 1919. 57 pp.
, The first interim report, which was noted in the June, 1919, issue of the
page 358, contained recommendations for the appoint
ment of a technical commission of inquiry for the purpose of conducting an in
vestigation into the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among miners, and pointed
out the fact that such an inquiry conducted by independent medical and
scientific specialists was alone likely to provide the data upon which a sound
judgment upon the matter of the report could be based. The present report
contains complete proposals, including an estimate of cost, for the formation of
such a commission, which should consist of at least four eminent scientists,
besides a radiologist, a zoologist, a physicist, and an efficient corps of assistants
M o n t h y L abor R ev ie w ,
--------------- Department of Labor and Industry.
Industrial Gazette. Special
supplement. Vol. 16, No. 2. August, 1919. Industrial conditions in Great
Britain and the United States of America. Report of investigations by the
Hon. G. S. Beeby. Sydney, 1919. IS7 pp. Price Is.
Some of the subjects dealt with in this study are Factors of u nrest; Present
problem in Great Britain and the United States of America (including Indi
vidualism v. State control in U. S. A. and The Whitley plan in Great Britain) ;
1 Conversions are n o t made owing to fluctuating value of th e pound.
par valu e o f th e E n g lish pound is $4.87.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Normally th e
290
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Collective bargaining; Industrial welfare; Industrial hazards, including work
men’s compensation and social and unemployment insurance ; Methods of pro
duction ; Profit-sharing; Child and female labor; and Industrial research. The
report also gives some suggestions for immediate reforms.
------
( T a s m a n ia ) .—Industrial Department.
Chief inspector of factories.
Fourth annual report for 1918-19 on factories, wages boards, shops, etc,,
Hobart, 1919. 26 pp.
Includes reports on the administration of the Factories Act, 1910, with its
amendments; the Wages Boards Act, 1910, with its amendments; the Shops
Closing Act, 1911, with its amendments ; and the Footwear Act, 1918. Inspec
tions under these acts numbered over 8,500.
C anada .—Civil Service Commission.
The classification of the civil service of
Canada. Setting forth classes of positions and rates of compensation for
each class. Revised after hearing officers and employees in the service.
Ottawa, September, 1919. 858 pp. Price 50 cents.
Report of transmission to accompany the classification of the
civil service of Canada. Describing the schedules for the classification
of positions and the standardization of compensation, explaining their need,
basis, and use and the method of their preparation, and including a
discussion of the problem of personnel in the civil service of Canada with
recommendations for a comprehensive employment policy and plan. By
Arthur Young and Company. Ottawa, 1919. 82 pp.
■
— — ------
------
( O n t a r i o ) .—Department of Public Works.
Third annual report of the
trades und labor branch, including the reports of the superintendent of
trades and labor, chairman of the board of stationary and hoisting en
gineers, chief factory inspector, chief inspector of steam boilers, inspector
of labor agencies, 1918. Toronto. 1919. 72 pp. Illustrated.
Contains reports of employment bureaus of the Province of Ontario for the
year ending October 31, 1918. During this period 26,407 men applied for work,
28,217. or 87.92 per cent, of whom were referred to positions. Only 55.9 per cent
of the 41,525 calls for men could be filled. The number of women applying for
work was 15,617, or whom 11,538 were referred to positions. In addition to
these, 10,031 days’ work was found for casual employees. Of the 23,844 requests
for women workers, 73.21 per cent were filled. The number of employment
offices in the Province (11 in 1918) was to be increased by more than 50 per cent
during 1919.
F r a n c e ( D é p a r t e m e n t d e l a S e i n e ) . —Office
public des habitations à bon marché.
Les cités jardins du Grand Paris. No. 1. Règlement intérieur (1 ) . Paris,
1918. 10 pp. No. 2. Compte rendu moral des travatix du conseil d’adminis
tration de 6 Juillet 1916 au Ier Janvier 1918. Paris, 1918. 24 pp. No. 3.
Exposition de la reconstruction. Paris, 1919. 4 VP- Ho. 4- Voeu émis le 9
Mai 1919 par le conseil d’administration de l’Office Public d’Habitations a
bon Marché du Département de la Seine. Paris, 1919. 2 pp. No. 5. Appli
cation des maxima de valeur locative aux maisons individuelles construites
dans des cités-jardins créés par les Offices publics d’Habitations a Bon
Marché ( 1 ). Paris, 1919. 7 pp. No. 6. Compte rendu des travaux du
conseil d’administration de l’Office Public d’Habitations a Bon Marché du
Département de la Seine pendant l’année 1918. Paris, 1919. 14 pp.
Six pamphlets giving the regulations and scope of the Public Office of Low-cost
dwellings of the Department of the Seine. A more extended report of this office,
including the preliminary plans submitted by a number of architects appointed
to examine and report upon the problem of garden cities for the Department of
the Seine, was given in th e July, 1919, issue o f th e M o n t h l y L abor R ev iew
(pages 262 and 263.).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[290]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
291
Statistisches Reichsamt, Abteilung für Arbeiterstatistik. Beiträge
zur Kenntnis der Lebenshaltung im vierten Kriegs fahre. Berlin 1919.
76 pp. 21. Sonderheft zum Reichs-Arbeitsblatt.
Ge r m a n y .
A Supplement to the bulletin of the German Statistical Office, Division for
Labor Statistics, giving the results of an investigation into the cost of living of
German urban families during the fourth year of the war. The principal re
sults of this investigation are summarized in the present issue of the Review
on pp. 114 to 117).
G reat B r it a in .— Civil Service Arbitration Board.
( Conciliation and arbitration
board for Government employees.) Awards and agreements. Vol. I—1 st
May, 1917, to 1st August, 1919. London, 1919. 200 pp. Price, 4s. 6 d. net.
Coal Industry Commission. Vol. I. Reports and minutes of evidence on
the first stage of the inquiry. Vol. II. Reports and minutes of evidence on
the second stage of the inquiry. London, 1919. ' 4 1 4 , 1,219 pp. Cmd. 359,
Comd. S60. Price, 3s. 6 d. net and 7s. net.
Articles dealing with the situation in the British coal industry and the reports
of the Coal Industry Commission were published in the M o n t h l y L abor R ev iew
for May, 1919, pages 109 to 114; August, 1919, pages 78 to 86; and October, 1919,
pages 23 to 30.
Ministry of Transport. Railway working. Statement showing the results
of working the railways during the period of Government control of the
railways in Great Britain (5 August, 1914-81, August, 1919) and Ireland
{1 January, 1917-31, August, 1919). London, 1919. 13 pp. Cmd. 402. Price,
2 d net.
•
National Relief Fund. Report on the administration, up to the 30th June,
1919 (in continuation of Cmd. 1 6 ). London, 1919. 14 pp. Cmd. 356. Price,
2 d. net.
Department of Statistics. Index numbers of Indian prices 1861-1918.
Calcutta, 1919. II, 24 pp. Charts. No. 996. Price, As. 13 or 1 s. 3 d.
I n d ia .
There was a rise of 125 per cent in the average level of prices as compared
with the standard period 1873, the rise being 189 per cent in the articles of impoit and 99 per cent in those of export. A table which shows the unweighted
index numbers of the average prices of the main groups of articles with their
subheads in 1918 and for six months of 1919, as compared with 1913, the pre
war year which is taken as 100, indicates the average rise during the war
period for all articles to be as follows: 1914, 103; 1915, 106; 1916, 129; 1917,
137; 1918, 157; 1919, 190. The greatest rise in 1918 wa? 150 per cent in the
group metals and coal,” and the least 24 per cent in “ miscellaneous.” In
“ textiles ” the increase was 67 per cent, and in “ food and drink ” 43 per cent.
The general average price for all groups for 1918 increased by 57 per cent,
the rise being 147 per cent in articles of import and 29 per cent in those of
export. The greatest rise in the first half of 1919 was 102 per cent in the
group “ food and drink.”
"
' Prices and wages in India. Thirty-fourth issue.
V, 278 pp. Charts. No. 971. Price, 2 Rs. or 3 s.
Calcutta, 1919.
In three p a rts : Wholesale prices, retail prices, and wages. Regarding wages,
returns from some industrial establishments indicate that, except in the paper
industry of Bengal and the rice milling industry of Burma, there was a general
rise in industrial wages in 1918 as compared with the preceding year, and with
the prewar period. The general averages of index numbers computed on the
rates of wage earners in different industries during January of each year from
1915 to 1918, as compared with the prewar period (January, 1914), are stated
in the following table:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[291]
292
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
I N D E X N U M B E R S S H O W I N G M O V E M E N T OF I N D U S T R I A L W A G E S IN I N D I A D U R I N G
J A N U A R Y , 1914 T O 1918.
Industries.
1914
Cotton, Bombay.......................................................
Wool, Cawnpore.............................................................
Mining (coal), Bengal..................................................
Tea, Assam.......................................................
Brewing, Punjab.........................................................
Jute, Bengal.......................................................
Paper, Bengal....................................................
Rice, Rangoon...................................................
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
1915
103
112
100
102
102
101
99
100
1916
103
1917
10G
108
117
100
108
109
103
109
100
99
100
121
101
99
100
1918
129
118
116
119
130
103
lOO
100
Ministero per l'Industria, il Commercio e il Lavoro. Direzione Gene
rale del Credito, della Cooperazione e delle Assicurazioni private. Atti
del Consiglio della Previdenza e delle Assicurazioni sociali. Sessione del
1916. Rome, 1918. 323 pp. Annali del eredito e della previdenza, series
II, voi. 17. Prima sessione del 1918. Rome, 1919. 202 pp. Annali del
credito e della previdenza, series II, voi. 22. Seconda sessione del 1918.
Rome, 1919. 234 pp. Annali del credito e della previdenza, series II,
voi. 23.
I ta ly .
These three volumes contain the minutes of the session of 1916, anchof the first
and second sessions of 1918 of the Italian Social Insurance Council. The sub
jects under discussion at these sessions were the recognition and approval of
the by-laws of scholastic and other mutual aid societies, of sickness and old-age
insurance funds of railroad employees, of the old-age and invalidity insurance
fund of workers in the Sicilian sulphur mines, the regulations for the carrying
out of the decree of August 23, 1917, relating to compulsory agricultural acci
dent insurance and the premium rates for this insurance, the new annuity
rates proposed by the National Insurance Institute, and the regulations for
the auditing of the financial condition and for the liquidation of life insurance
companies.
---------------Direzione Generale del Credilo, della Coopcrazione e delle Assicura
zioni private. Provvedimenti in materia di economia e di finanza emanati
in Italia in seguito alla guerra europea. Parte quinta: dal 1° Gennaio
1917 al SO Giugno 1917. Rome, 1919. 51/3 pp. Annali del credito e della
coopcrazione, series II, voi. 10, part 5. Parte sesta: dal 1° Luglio 1917 al
SI Dicembre 1917. Rome, 1919. 336 pp. Annali del credito e della previ
denza, series II, voi. 10, part 6.
These two volumes’form parts 5 and 6 of a compilation, economic and finan
cial1, of laws, decrees, etc., enacted in Italy during the European war.
Bureau of General Statistics. Statistical résumé of the Japanese
Empire. 33d year. Tokio, 1919. 185 pp.
Japan.
The publication gives general statistics for the Japanese Empire and colonies,
among others tables showing wages and earnings of workers in various occu
pations by sex and by year, 1912 to 1916. It gives a list of life insurance com
panies, capital invested, number of members, also mutual aid societies for gov
ernment employees and cooperative societies.
Board of Trade.
Price, Is.
N ew Zea l a n d .
pp.
Third annual report.
Wellington, 1919.
33
Considers the increases in the cost of living, the efforts at price regulations,
the control of trade and industry, and the policies suggested to prevent or
control monopolies. It is stated that from July, 1914, to May, 1919, the cost of
living increased 42 per cent. In discussing the control of industry in connec
tion with the campaign against rising prices it is stated that the ends to be
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[292]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
♦
293
ach iev e d by G o v e rn m en t c o n tro l a re ( a ) to keep a liv e c o m p e titiv e In d u stry ,
a n d (b ) to c o n tro l m onopoly. I t is re co m m e n d e d th a t, in o rd e r to c a r r y oui
th e p o lic ies o f th e b o a rd a n d to c o n tro l in d u s tr y effectively, th e r e be e sta b lish e d
a D e p a rtm e n t o f In d u s tr ie s a n d C om m erce, c o n sistin g o f “ a m in is te r o f in d u s
tr ie s a n d com m erce, a B o a rd o f T ra d e , a s e c re ta ry o f in d u s tr ie s a n d com m erce
a s e c re ta ry to th e b o a rd .” I t is u rg e d t h a t th e b o a rd be g iv en p o w e r ( a ) t«
in v e s tig a te th e o rg a n iz a tio n a n d b u sin e ss c o n d u ct of in d u s try , e sp e cially p ro
te c te d in d u s tr ie s a lre a d y in e x is te n c e ; (b ) to re q u ire a n n u a l a n d special
re p o rts fro m b u sin e sse s a n d in d u s tr ie s ; (c ) to in v e s tig a te a n d m a k e re co m
m e n d a tio n s, a n d in s u ita b le c a s e s to e n fo rc e re c o m m e n d a tio n s w h e re in frin g e
m e n ts o f th e C o m m e rc ia l T r u s ts A ct a r e a lle g e d ; (d ) to in v e s tig a te tr a d e con
d itio n s in a n d w ith o th e r c o u n trie s , p a r tic u la r ly in r e g a rd to th e o p e ra tio n of
m onopolies a n d t r u s t s ; (e ) to d e te rm in e a n d p re v e n t u n f a ir m e th o d s o f com
p e titio n ; ( f ) to b rin g a b o u t im p ro v e m e n ts in th e m e th o d s o f a c c o u n tin g u se d
by b u sin e sse s, p a r tic u la r ly w ith re sp e c t to a c c u ra te a n d u n ifo rm m e th o d s o f
c o st a c c o u n tin g ; a n d (g ) to in v e s tig a te a n d re p o rt upon tr a d e a sso c ia tio n s a n d
c o n tro l th e ir a c tiv itie s .
------National Provident Fund. Actuarial examination for the triennium ended
31st December, 1916. Wellington, 1919. 5 pp. Price 6d.
----- ------- Eighth annual report of the board for the year ended 31st December,
1918. Wellington, 1919. 3 pp. Price, 3d.
R o u m a n ia
Direcfiunea Generalâ . a Statisticei. Anuarul Statistic al Romaniei. 1915-1916. Bucharest, 1919. xxx, 3Jf3 pp.
¥
T h e official s ta tis tic a l y e a rb o o k o f R o u m a n ia fo r th e y e a rs 1915 a n d 1916
c o n ta in in g s ta tis tic a l d a ta on clim ato lo g y , o rg a n iz a tio n , p o p u la tio n , a g ric u ltu re ,
m e a n s o f c o m m u n ica tio n (ra ilro a d s , n a v ig a tio n , ro a d s, p o sts, te le g ra p h , a n d te le
p h o n e ), com m erce, in d u s try , sto c k com panies, finance, p u b lic in s tru c tio n , a n d
a d m in is tra tio n of ju s tic e . T h e d a ta on in d u s try sh o w t h a t a t th e end o f 1915
a to ta l o f 53,470 w o rk e rs, am ong w h ic h w e re 4,679 fe m a le w o rk e rs, w e re
em ployed in 837 fa c to rie s e n co u ra g ed by th e S ta te th ro u g h g r a n ts o f sp e c ia l
p riv ile g es. T h e a n n u a l p a y ro ll o f th e s e fa c to rie s w a s 49,795,673.60 lei
($9,610,565). D a ta on w o rk m e n ’s in s u ra n c e show t h a t in th e fiscal y e a r 1913-14
a to ta l o f 217,772 p e rso n s w e re in su re d . O f th is n u m b e r 193,883 w e re m ale s
a n d 23,889 fe m a le s. M edical a id in c ases o f sic k n e ss w a s g iven in 385,652 cases
to in s u re d p e rso n s a n d in 91,742 c ases to m em b e rs of t h e i r fa m ilie s.
( Z u r i c h , C a n t o n ) . Statistisches Bureau. Die Ergebnisse der
eidg. Berufszdhlung vom 1. Dezember, 1910, in den politischen Gemeinden
des Kantons Zürich. Winterthur, 1919. 59 pp. 3 maps. Statistische
Mitteilungen betreffend den Kanton Zurich. Heft 131.
S w it z e r l a n d
T h e re s u lts o f th e S w iss o c c u p a tio n a l c en su s o f D e cem b er 1, 1910, in so f a r
a s th e y re la te to th e com m unes o f th e C a n to n Z u ric h . A c co rd in g to th is c en su s
th e p o p u la tio n w a s d is trib u te d am o n g th e v a rio u s o c c u p a tio n s a s fo llo w s;
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 9 3 ]
294
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
D ISTR IBU TIO N OF THE G A INFULLY ENGAGED PO PULATION OF THE CANTON
ZÜRICH, BY SEX, OCCUPATION, AN D CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNES, 1910.
Gainfully
engaged
persons.
Character of the
communes.
Gainfully
engaged
females.
Number of persons engaged in -
Num
Per
Admin
ber of Popu
1,000
istra Per
Per
com lation.
gain
tive
Trans1,000
munes.
Num of Num fully Farm Indus" Com porta- service, sonal
serv
ber. popu ber. en ing.
merce. tion. liberal ice.
try.
gaged
pro
lation.
per
fessions.
sons.
Rural:
Farming—
Over 70 per cent.
Over GOto 70 per
cent..................
Over 40 to 60 per
cent..................
Industrial—
Over 40 to 60 per
cent..................
Over 60 to 70 per
cent...................
Over 70 per cent.
Urban.........................
T otal................
36 18,608 10,250
551 3,985
389 8,072
1,574
233
158
189
28
27 16,688
8,549
515 2,982
347 5,609
2,253
310
197
195
30
34 26,826 13,115
508 4,252
324 6,922
4,754
674
325
377
63
1,494
196
43 75,249 35,614
473 11,574
325 11,632 18,810
28 80,096 38,281
16 70,465 34,364
2 215,983 101,252
478 13,205
488 11,551
469 30,431
345 6,910 25,205 3,101 1,441
336 3,02C 26,178 2,740 L U
300 1,933 54,322 26,059 7,70S
2,437 1,045
1,350 274
1,084 227
8,922 2,311
186 503,915 241,470
479 77,980
323 44,098 133,096 35,554 11,984
13,611 3,127
A cco rd in g to th e p re ce d in g ta b le th e p e rc e n ta g e of g a in fu lly em ployed p e r
sons is m u ch la rg e r in th e r u r a l com m unes o f th e C a n to n Z ü ric h th a n its in
d u s tr ia l a n d u rb a n com m unes. T h e p e rc e n ta g e o f g a in fu lly em ployed fe m a le s
is la rg e s t in fa rm in g c o m m u n itie s a n d lo w est in th e la rg e cities. O f th e g a in
fu lly em ployed p o p u la tio n o f th e C a n to n , 55.1 p e r c e n t w e re e n g ag ed in in d u s try ,
18.3 p e r c e n t in fa rm in g , a n d 14.7 p e r c e n t in com m erce.
Städtisches Arbeitsamt.
1918. Zürich. 1919. 31 pp. Chart.
------- ( Z ü r i c h , C i t y ) .
Geschäftsbericht für das Jahr
T h e a n n u a l re p o rt o f th e m u n ic ip a l la b o r office o f th e c ity o f Z ü ric h on th e
a c tiv itie s o f th e c ity ’s m u n ic ip a l a n d p riv a te e m p lo y m en t offices d u rin g 1918.
T h e a c tiv itie s of th e m u n ic ip al em p lo y m en t office d u rin g th e five-year p e rio d
1914-1918 a r e sh o w n in th e fo llo w in g t a b l e :
STATISTICS OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT OFFICE OF ZÜRICH,
1914-1918.
Applicants.
Vacant situations.
Situations filled.
Year.
1914.........
1915.........
1916.........
1917.........
1918.........
Male.
Female.
8,471
10,286
13,008
12,906
13,506
2,713
2,096
3,414
3,504
3,123
Total.
11,184
12,382
16,422
16' 410
16,629
Male.
16,485
14!599
12,524
1L328
13,446
Female.
2,630
2,891
3,137
2', 647
2,237
Total.
19,115
17,490
15,661
13,975
15,683
Male.
6,904
7,645
10,252
9'904
11,020
Female.
Total.
1,694
1,538
8,598
9,183
12,464
lfi 912
12,698
2 ,212
2 ,008
1,678
Transient
and nonresident
appli
cants.
9 533
3’, 582
3,073
2,550
2,053
T h e r e s u lts fo r 1918 show a n in c re a s e of 219 in th e n u m b e r o f v a c a n t s itu a
tio n s, o f 1,708 in th e n u m b e r o f a p p lic a n ts, a n d o f 786 in th e n u m b e r o f s itu a
tio n s filled. T h e re p o rt s ta te s t h a t th e te rm in a tio n o f th e w a r a n d th e conse-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[294]
PU B LIC A TIO N S R ELA TIN G TO LABOR.
295
q u e n t ch an g e s in th e econom ic s itu a tio n h a v e e x e rc ise d a s tro n g in flu e n ce on th e
la b o r m a rk e t a n d c au se d a c o n sid e ra b le d e c re a se in th e d e m a n d fo r lab o r, b u t
t h a t Z ü ric h w a s s p a re d a n a c u te c risis. I n a d d itio n to th e v a c a n t s itu a tio n s
sh o w n in th e p re c e d in g tab le , 10,537 te m p o ra ry s itu a tio n s fo r la u n d re ss e s, c h a r
w om en, a n d fe m a le d a y la b o re rs w e re re g is te re d a n d 10,396 of th e s e w e re filled.
A c co rd in g to th e d a ta sh o w n in th e p re c e d in g ta b le th e n u m b e r o f m ale a n d
fe m a le a p p lic a n ts p e r 100 v a c a n t s itu a tio n s w a s 99.6 a n d 71.6, re sp ec tiv e ly , a n d
t h a t o f a p p lic a n ts o f b o th sex es 86.1. O f th e m a le a p p lic a n ts, 6,786 w e re sk ille d
w o rk e rs, 1,414 a g r ic u ltu r a l w o rk e rs, a n d 5,246 u n sk ille d w o rk e rs.
T h e n u m b e r of p riv a te e m p lo y m en t offices o p e ra tin g in Z ü ric h in 1918 w a s 29.
T en o f th e s e w e re fre e e m p lo y m en t offices a n d th e o th e r 19 w e re o p e ra te d fo r
p rofit. T h e 29 offices com bined re g is te re d 21,507 v a c a n t s itu a tio n s a n d 15,773
a p p lic a n ts, a n d w e re a b le to fill 7,412 (34.4 p e r c e n t) of th e fo rm er.
F o r th e y e a r 1918 th e m u n ic ip a l e m p lo y m en t office re ce iv e d a S ta te su b sid y
of 14,713 f ra n c s ($2,839.60), a c a n to n a l su b sid y o f 3,000 f ra n c s ($ 5 7 9 ), a n d a
su b sid y o f 750 fra n c s ($144.75) fro m th e Z ü ric h C a n to n a l F e d e ra tio n fo r th e
em p lo y m en t o f u n em p lo y ed fo r p a y m e n t in k in d (N a tu ra lv e rp fle g u n g ).
In
a d d itio n , th e C e n tra l Office o f th e S w iss E m p lo y m en t E x c h a n g e s c o n trib u te d
2,000 fra n c s ($386) to th e co sts of a d m in is tra tio n .
Unofficial.
The Annals. Vol. 86,
No. 175. The railroad problem— a discussion of current railway issues.
Philadelphia, November, 1919. 252 pp.
A m e r i c a n A c a d e m y o f P o l i t i c a l a n d S o c ia l S c i e n c e .
T h is v olum e is d ev o te d la rg e ly to th e c u r re n t issu e s a s to ra ilw a y re g u la tio n
a n d th e p a rtic ip a tio n o f la b o r in th e m a n a g e m e n t o f ra ilro a d s . I t s fo u r p a r ts
c o n ta in a rtic le s on (1 ) G o v e rn m e n t o p e ra tio n , (2 ) C u rre n t p ro p o sa ls fo r re g u
la tio n , (3 ) U n ifica tio n o f te rm in a ls , a n d (4 ) R a ilw a y efficiency a n d la b o r.
A m ong th e a rtic le s o f sp e c ia l in te r e s t to la b o r a re W om en in th e r a ilr o a d
w o rld , by P a u lin e G o ld m a rk ; S h o u ld la b o r p a r tic ip a te in m a n a g e m e n t, by
G lenn E . P lu m b ; a n d R a ilw a y efficiency a n d la b o r, by C a p ta in O. S. B e y er, jr .
Study and report upon judicial control over
legislatures as to constitutional questions, by Jackson H. Ralston. Or
dered prepared and printed in pamphlet form by St. Paul convention of
the A. F. of L. Washington, 1919. 80 pp.
A r n o t , R . P a g e . Facts from the coal commission. Compiled by R. Page Arnot
{Secretary Labour Research Department), for the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain, with a foreword by Robert Smillie and Frank Hodges.
London, Labour Research Department, 25 To thill Street, Westminster,
S. W. 1, 1919. IfO pp. Diagram.
A m e r ic a n F e d e r a t io n o p L a b o r .
A rtic le s c o n ta in in g a c c o u n ts o f th e co al com m ission, in c lu d in g th e re co m
m e n d a tio n s o f th e S a n k e y re p o rt, w e re p u b lis h e d in th e M ay a n d A u g u st, 1919,
is s u e s o f th e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w , p a g e s 109 to 114 a n d 78 to 8 6 r e
sp e c tiv ely .
L’Hygiène dans la Reconstruction des Usines. Paris, 1919.
275 pp. Illustrated.
B arg ero n, L .
A m o n o g rap h on in d u s tr ia l h ygiene. I n v iew o f th e re c o n s tru c tio n o f fa c
to rie s in th e d e v a s ta te d re g io n s o f n o r th e a s te r n F r a n c e th e a u th o r, b a sin g h is
re c o m m e n d a tio n s on h is p ra c tic a l e x p e rie n c e s a s f a c to ry in sp e c to r, o u tlin e s
g u id in g p rin c ip le s o f shop h y g ien e to be o b se rv ed in th is re c o n s tru c tio n w o rk .
H e e x p re ss e s g r e a t f e a r t h a t in th e h a s te o f re e s ta b lis h in g p ro d u c tio n s c a n t
c o n sid e ra tio n w ill be g iv en to i n d u s tr ia l h y g ie n e in th e re b u ild in g a n d equip-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[295]
296
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
m e n t o f th e fa c to rie s. T h e v olum e is d iv id e d in to te n c h a p te rs d e a lin g w ith
th e fo llo w in g s u b je c ts : (1 ) T e m p e ra tu re o f th e w orking p la c e ; (2 ) lig h tin g ;
(3 ) effects o f co m p re ssed a i r ; (4 ) d u s t ; (5 ) fo u l a n d h u m id a i r ; (6 ) i n s ta lla
tio n s fo r p e rs o n a l h y g ie n e ; (7 ) sp itto o n s, p r iv ie s ; (8 ) fa c to rie s o f poiso n o u s
s u b s ta n c e s a n d e x p lo s iv e s; (9 ) food a n d d r in k s ; a n d (10) sp o rts. I n a d d i
tio n to la y in g dow n p rin c ip le s o f i n d u s tr ia l h y g ien e th e a u th o r d e sc rib e s
n u m e ro u s a p p lia n c e s fo r th e p ra c tic a l c a rry in g o u t o f th e s e p rin c ip le s . T h e
te x t is c o p io u sly illu s tra te d .
Justice and the
poor. A study of the present denial of justice to the poor and of the agencies
making more equal their position before the law with particular reference
to legal aid work in the United States. By Reginald Heber Smith. New
York, 576 Fifth Avenue, 1919. 271 pp. Charts. Bulletin No. 18.
C a r n e g ie F o u n d a t io n fo r t h e A d v a n c e m e n t o f T e a c h in g .
T h is b u lle tin c o n s titu te s th e second in a s e rie s o f s tu d ie s o f leg a l e d u c a tio n
a n d c o g n ate m a tte r s t h a t is in c o u rse o f p u b lic a tio n by th e C a rn e g ie F o u n d a tio n ,
u n d e r th e g e n e ra l c h a rg e o f A lfre d Z. R eed. I t se ts f o r th th e d e fe c ts in th e
a d m in is tra tio n o f th e la w w h ic h w o rk in effect a d e n ia l o f ju s tic e to th e p oor
o r th e ig n o ra n t ; a n d th e agencies, s u p p le m e n ta ry to th e e x is tin g m a c h in e ry ,
w h o se o b jec t is to re m e d y th e s e d e fec ts. “ T h e outcom e a n d th e o b je c t o f th e
re p o rt is th e e ffo rt to p ro v e t h a t th e s e v a rio u s agencies, i f p ro p e rly a r tic u la te d
w ith th e e x is tin g sy ste m o f th e a d m in is tra tio n of ju stic e , c an be m ad e to
se cu re, so f a r a s h u m a n m ea n s c an do, th e p ra c tic a l e q u a lity of a ll m en b e fo re
th e la w a n d to a ffo rd to a ll c itiz e n s w ith o u t r e g a rd to w e a lth o r r a n k o r ra c e th e
m ea n s fo r a p ro m p t, in ex p e n siv e, a n d f a ir a d ju d ic a tio n o f th e ir c o m p la in ts.”
Cours d’economie politique. Livre deuxième. Le travail et les
questions ouvrières. Revised edition. Paris, F. Alcan, 1917. 581 pp.
C olson , C.
T h is book is a c o u rse o f stu d y in econom ics a n d d e a ls w ith la b o r p ro b lem s in
a v e ry d e ta ile d w ay . I t s tu d ie s th e re la tio n b e tw ee n p o p u la tio n a n d la b o r p ro
d u c tiv ity ; th e M a lth u s ia n th e o ry ; m o rta lity ; im m ig ra tio n a n d its effects on
la b o r s ta n d a r d s ; a n d th e effect o f in c re a s e d p ro d u c tio n on w ages. I t gives a
h is to ric a l su rv e y of v a rio u s la b o r o rg a n iz a tio n s ; a stu d y o f w ages, h o u rs, r e s t
p e riods, a p p re n tic e sh ip , c o o p e ra tiv e a sso c ia tio n s, la b o r c o n tra c ts , un io n s, em ploy
e r s ’ o rg a n iz a tio n s, s trik e s , lo ck o u ts, m in im u m w age, etc.
A sp ecial c h a p te r is d e v o te d to so cial in su ra n c e . I t t r e a ts o f th e th e o ry of
in su ra n c e , p ro b a b ility a n d risk s, p re m iu m s, w o rk m e n ’s c o m p e n sa tio n a n d em ploy
e rs ’ lia b ility , p e n sio n s, m u tu a l h elp a sso c ia tio n s, S ta te su b sid ie s. I t gives th e
a d v a n ta g e s a n d d is a d v a n ta g e s o f v a rio u s sy ste m s in d iffe re n t c o u n trie s, th e
legal m e a su re s ta k e n by d iffe re n t g o v e rn m e n ts w ith a v iew to w a rd th e h e a lth
a n d s e c u rity o f w o rk e rs, a n d e n d s w ith a d isc u ssio n on th e v a lu e of co m p u lso ry
S ta te in su ra n c e . T h e r e s t o f th e book d e a ls w ith p u b lic a n d p riv a te c h a ritie s ,
a n d th e m e a n s o f in c re a s in g th e w e lfa re o f th e w o rk e rs. T h e re is a ta b le o f
re la tiv e in c re a s e in w a g es a n d cost o f liv in g in F ra n c e , 1810-1910.
aro ld.
The co a l i n d u s t r y . Dangers of nationalization. Second impres
sion. London, L o n g m a n s , Green é Co., 1919. 18 pp.
Cox, H
T h is p a m p h le t is b a se d u p o n ev id en ce given by th e a u th o r, e d ito r o f th e
E d in b u rg h R eview , b e fo re th e C oal C om m ission.
Deutscher Buchbinder-Verband. Bericht des Vorstandes, 1918. Berlin, 1919.
75 pp.
T h e a n n u a l re p o rt of th e d ire c to ra te of th e G e rm a n B o o k b in d e rs’ F e d e ra tio n
fo r 1918. W ith re sp e c t to th e la b o r m a rk e t th e re p o rt s ta te s t h a t in th e first
10 m o n th s o f 1918 th e n u m b e r o f u n e m p lo y e d m a le b o o k b in d e rs nevei* exceeded
0.6 p e r c e n t a n d t h a t o f fe m a le w o rk e rs 1.6 p e r cen t. In N o v em b er, ho w ev er,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[296]
297
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
th e re sp e c tiv e fig u res in c re a s e d to 2 a n d 2.7 p e r cent, a n d in D ecem b er to 4.5
a n d 6.5 p e r cent. T h e m em b e rsh ip in c re a s e d slig h tly d u rin g th e firs t q u a r te r
a n d d e c re a se d d u rin g th e second q u a r te r by 324, b u t in th e th ir d q u a r te r it in
c re a se d a g a in by 1,911, a n d th e p h e n o m e n al in c re a s e o f 15,608 is re p o rte d fo r
th e l a s t q u a r te r o f 1918. On J u n e 30, 1914, th e fe d e ra tio n h a d 16,413 m ale
a n d 15,968 fe m a le m e m b e rs ; t h a t is, b o th se x e s w e re eq u ally re p re se n te d . A t
th e end o f 1918 th e com position o f th e m em b e rsh ip h a d u n d e rg o n e a v ery
g re a t change, fo r th e m ale m em b ers n u m b e re d only 10,591, a n d th e fe m a le
26,378. T h e re p o rt p o in ts o u t t h a t th is d is p a rity in th e m em b e rsh ip of th e
tw o se x e s e x e rc is e s a n u n fa v o ra b le in flu e n ce upon th e finances o f th e fe d e ra
tio n , b e c a u se th e a d m in is tra tiv e e x p e n d itu re s fo r fe m a le a n d m ale m em b ers
a re th e sa m e w h ile th e m em b e rsh ip fees o f fe m a le m em b e rs a re c o n sid era b ly
lo w e r t h a n th o se o f th e m ale m em bers. T h e to ta l re c e ip ts o f th e fe d e ra tio n
d u rin g 1918 a m o u n te d to 675,376.53 m a rk s ($160,739.61) a n d th e e x p e n d itu re s
to 429,664.75 m a rk s ($102,260.21). W ith th e ex cep tio n o f a d m in is tra tiv e costs,
u n e m p lo y m en t b e n efits w ith 55,650.60 m a rk s ($13,244.84) a n d sic k ben efits w ith
81,870.15 m a rk s ($19,485.10) w e re th e tw o la rg e s t ite m s o f th e e x p e n d itu re s.
T h e fe d e ra tio n is a tte m p tin g to b rin g a b o u t a n a tio n a l collectiv e a g re e m e n t
( R e ic h s ta rifg e m e in s c h a ft.)
T h e re p o rt re g re ts th e la c k of in te r e s t d u rin g th e w a r by affiliated n a tio n a l
fe d e ra tio n s in th e b o o k b in d e rs’ in te r n a tio n a l s e c re ta ria t. T h e G erm an , A u s
tr ia n , a n d H u n g a ria n fe d e ra tio n s w e re th e only c o n trib u tin g fe d e ra tio n s in
1916, a n d in 1917 even th e H u n g a ria n F e d e ra tio n fa ile d to m ak e c o n trib u tio n s .
Deutscher Holzarbeiter-Verband. Jahrbuch, 1915. Berlin, 1919. 352 pp.
T h e y e arb o o k fo r 1915 o f th e G e rm an W o o d w o rk e rs’ F e d e ra tio n . T h is y e a r
book d e a ls w ith th e effects of th e w a r on th e w o o d w o rk in g in d u s try , th e jo in t
i n d u s tr ia l lea g u e o f th is in d u s try , th e w a g e m ovem ent, th e collective a g re e
m e n ts in fo rc e a n d new ly concluded, th e m em b e rsh ip m ovem ent, th e fin an c ia l
re p o rt o f th e fe d e ra tio n , m o n th ly ’u n e m p lo y m en t s ta tis tic s , a c c id e n t s ta tis tic s ,
etc. T h e d a ta on a c c id e n t s ta tis tic s w ill be d isc u sse d in a n a rtic le in th e
M o n t h l y L abo r R e v ie w .
The Italian emigration of our times.
vard University Press, 1919. 556 pp.
F oerster , R obert F .
Cambridge, Har
A stu d y o f th e I ta lia n e m ig ra n t in h is v a rie d re la tio n s b o th to I t a l y a n d to
th e c o u n trie s to w h ic h he goes, a n d o f th e in flu en ces a ffe c tin g e m ig ra tio n .
F o u r c h a p te rs d e a l w ith I t a l i a n e m ig ra tio n to th e U n ite d S ta te s . I ta lia n
im m ig ra n ts in v a rio u s sk ille d a n d u n sk ille d o c cu p a tio n s a re d isc u sse d , one
c h a p te r b e in g d ev o te d to th e sm a ll s h a re ta k e n by th e I t a l i a n im m ig ra n t in th e
a g ric u ltu re o f th is c o u n try . “ T h e I t a l i a n E x p e rie n c e ” giv es in fo rm a tio n a b o u t :
C o n sid e ra tio n s o f em ploym ent, w ages, s a v i n g ; H o u s in g ; F o o d ; T h e q u e stio n of
h e a l t h ; A ttitu d e o f th e A m e ric a n e m ploying a n d la b o rin g c lasses. A bib lio
g ra p h ic a l in d e x a p p e a rs on pp. 537-546.
K ., a n d D u b l i n , L o u i s I. Influenza mortality among wage
earners and their families. A preliminary statement of results. Reprinted
from American Journal of Public Health, Vol. IX, No. 10, October, 1919,
pp. 731-742.
F r a n k el , L ee
T h is p a p e r is su m m a riz e d on p a g es 223 a n d 224 o f th e p re s e n t issu e o f th e
M o n t h l y L abo r R e v ie w .
List of references on workshop committees. In Special
Libraries, Industrial Number. Boston, Mass., October, 1919. Pp. 203-208.
G ea rh a rt, E dna B .
A n n o ta te d b ib lio g ra p h y o f books a n d m a g a z in e a rtic le s , in c lu d in g re fe re n c e s
to p rin te d p la n s in o p e ra tio n . A p a r ti a l lis t o f firm s t h a t h a v e in a u g u ra te d
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[297]
298
M ONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW.
som e fo rm o f re p re s e n ta tiv e sh o p c o m m itte e p la n w a s p u b lis h e d in th e M o n t h l y
L a b o r R e v ie w fo r S ep tem b er, 1919, pp. 123-125.
Die Verfassung des Deutschen Reiches vom 11. August, 1919. Ber
lin, Carl Heymanns, Verlag 1919. lf88 pp. Taschen-Gesetzammlung 19.
G ie s e , F.
T h e te x t o f th e new G e rm a n c o n s titu tio n w ith c o m m e n ta rie s. A t r a n s la tio n
o f th e so c io -p o litic al p ro v isio n s o f th e n ew c o n s titu tio n w a s p u b lis h e d in th e
D e cem b er issu e o f th e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w (pp. 132 to 13 5 ).
Profit sharing. A solution of the problem between
capital and labor as it appears to one who is affiliated with neither.
Council Bluffs, Iowa [1919 J. 8 pp.
H o n e g g e r , H a n s . Godin und das Familistère von Guise. Zürich, 1919. I l l
pp. 'Lurcher Volkswirtschaftliche Studien. New series, No. 6.
H arl, M r s. C h a r les M.
A h is to ry of th e life o f J e a n B a p tis te A n d ré G odin a n d o f h is p ra c tic a l life
w o rk , th e fa m ilis tè re se ttle m e n t a n d p ro d u c tiv e a sso c ia tio n a t G u ise ( F r a n c e ) .
J o s e p h i n e . Women’s wages. A study of the wages of
industrial women and measures suggested to increase them. New York,
Columbia University, 1919. 179 pp. Studies in history, economics, and
public law, vol. 89, No. 1.
H u t c h in s o n , E m il e
T h e a u th o r a n a ly z e s th e w ag e d a ta g a th e re d by v a rio u s F e d e r a l a n d S ta te
ag en c ie s a n d co m m issions, th e effects o f m in im u m w a g e le g isla tio n , tra d e u n io n ism ,. a n d v o c a tio n a l e d u c a tio n up o n w o m en ’s w ages, a n d p o in ts o u t
m e th o d s w h ic h m ay be e x p ec te d to r e s u lt in a n im p ro v e m e n t in w om en’s
i n d u s tr ia l s ta tu s .
Eter
nal vigilence is the price of success. Address of the president, Arthur A.
Childs, Ninth annual convention, the Greenbrier—the White Hotels, White
Sulphur Springs, W. Va., September 16-19, 1919. [2V. p, . 1919.~\ 19 pp.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f C a s u a l t y a n d S e c u r i t y U n d e r w r it e r s .
T w o s u b je c ts to w h ic h c o n sid e ra b le a tte n tio n is given a re w o rk m e n ’s com
p e n sa tio n in s u ra n c e a n d a c c id e n t a n d h e a lth in su ra n c e . O f th e first, th e to ta l
w r itte n in s u ra n c e fo r 1918 by th e 40 sto c k c o m p an ies w ritin g com pensation
in s u ra n c e w a s $94,861,458, w h ic h w a s a g a in in p re m iu m incom e o f o v er
$30,000,000. T h e u n d e rw ritin g p ro fit w a s only $197,933. In 1917 on a p re m iu m
incom e of $64,640,671, 32 o f th e sto ck c o m p a n ies to o k a n u n d e rw ritin g loss of
$935,712. T h u s a d ecid ed im p ro v e m en t w a s re fle cte d fo r th e y e a r. T h e d e
m an d fo r a c c id e n t a n d h e a lth in s u ra n c e d u rin g 1918 is c a lle d “ p h e n o m e n a l.”
“ P ro b a b ly th e d ire c t a n d in d ire c t h a z a rd s ô f th e w a r, to g e th e r w ith th e
s c a re c re a te d b y th e in flu e n za p a n d em ic, w e re la rg e ly re sp o n sib le fo r th e
in c re a s e o f o v er n in e m illio n in p re m iu m s. T h e to ta l a c c id e n t a n d h e a lth
p re m iu m incom e o f 75 sto ck c o m p an ies w a s $49,696,511. T h e com bined e x
p e rie n c e on b o th a c c id e n t a n d h e a lth in s u ra n c e show ed a n u n d e rw ritin g loss
of $748,228. F o r tu n a te ly fo r th e c o m p a n ies w ritin g th e s e k in d s o f in s u ra n c e
th e a c c id e n t lo sse s w e re c o n sid e ra b ly below n o rm a l, n o tw ith s ta n d in g th e in
c re a se in a u to m o b ile a c c id e n ts.”
Vol. 1, No. 7.
November, 1919. pp. 369, 120 pp.
J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r ia l H y g ie n e .
New York, Ma-cmillan Co.,
An a r tic le by D r. P e n te a d o B ill on T h e e le s tro s ta tic m eth o d of d u s t collec
tio n a s a p p lie d to th e s a n ita r y a n a ly s is o f a ir, w h ic h w a s p re se n te d a s h is
th e s is fo r th e d e g ree o f D o cto r o f P u b lic H e a lth , gives a v e ry specific a n a ly s is
o f th e m eth o d w ith th e co n clu sio n s t h a t :
“ T h e e le c tric a l p re c ip ita tio n m eth o d o f d u s t co llection in th is s e rie s show ed
62.1 p e r c en t g r e a te r a v e ra g e r e tu r n s th a n th e P a lm e r w a te r s p ra y sa m p le r, fo r
th e sa m e a m o u n t o f a ir a n d u n d e r id e n tic a l co n d itio n s.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[298]
PUBLICATIONS "RELATING
TO
LABOR.
299
“ T h e P a lm e r su sp e n sio n s c a n give f a c titio u s c o u n ts b e ca u se o f a g g lo m e ra tio n
o f p a rtic le s in a q u e o u s su sp en sio n . F o r th is re a so n th e a c tu a l n u m b e r of
p a rtic le s p re s e n t m ay be h ig h e r t h a n th o se re p o rte d .
“ T h e e le c tric a l p re c ip ita tio n a p p a ra tu s , a s u se d in th is stu d y , is f a r too
b u lk y fo r o rd in a ry field w o rk , b u t can be sim plified a n d m a d e p o rta b le .
“ T h e m eth o d o f e le c tric a l p re c ip ita tio n h a s c e rta in a d v a n ta g e s over th e
P a lm e r, viz :
“ ( a ) A bsence o f su sp e n d in g m edium .
“ ( b ) U n in te rru p te d p a ssa g e o f a ir.
“ (c ) F a c ility o f d e te rm in in g th e p e rc e n ta g e o f d u s t p re s e n t in th e a ir in th e
sa m p le stu d ie d , a n d th e p e rc e n ta g e o f a ir d u s t re p re s e n te d by th e w e ig h t o f
to ta l sed im en t.
“ T h e se co n clu sio n s seem to w a r r a n t f u r t h e r stu d y o f e le c tric a l p re c ip ita tio n
o f d u s t a s a p p lie d to th e s a n ita r y a n a ly s is o f a ir .”
O th e r a rtic le s a r e on F la tf o o t a n d its p re v e n tio n , by D r. E d w a rd H . B r a d
fo rd ; R e p o rt on c e rta in o rg a n s in a case o f f a ta l p o iso n in g by a rs e n iu re tte d
h y d ro g e n gas, by S h e rid a n D e lé p in e ; T h e h e a lth h a z a rd s a n d m o rta lity s t a
tis tic s o f so ft-c o al m in in g In Illin o is a n d O hio, by E m e ry R. H a y h u rs t, w hose
a rtic le on th e s u b je c t w h ich a p p e a re d in M odern M edicine fo r Ju ly , 1919, w as
su m m a riz e d in th e S ep tem b er, 1919, issu e o f th e M o n th ly L a b o r R eview , p a g es
291 to 294; a n d A p p lic a tio n s o f p s y c h ia try to in d u s tria l hygiene, by D r. S ta n
ley Cobb, a d ig e s t o f w h ich is p u b lis h e d in th is issu e o f th e R eview , p a g es 226
to 229.
L abry, R aoul.
L’Industrie Russe et la Révolution. Paris, 1919. 288 pp.
A re v ie w
o f R u s s ia n in d u s try d u rin g th e re v o lu tio n b a se d on th e a u th o r ’s
p e rs o n a l e x p erien c e s, a n d on official a n d unofficial in fo rm a tio n g a th e re d by
h im d u rin g th e re v o lu tio n w h ile a tta c h e d to th e I n s t i t u t F ra n ç a is a t P e tro g ra d . F o llo w in g th e in tro d u c tio n th e a u th o r d e v o te s th e first c h a p te r to a d is
c u ssio n o f th e d e v elo p m en t o f th e social d e m o c ra tic p a r ty a n d th e re v o lu tio n a ry
o rg a n iz a tio n o f th e R u s s ia n w o rk in g class, a n d in d e sc rib in g th e in d u s tr ia l co n d i
tio n s in R u s s ia d u rin g th e w a r u p to th e tim e of th e re v o lu tio n . O th e r c h a p
te r s d e a l w ith th e in d u s tr ia l policy of th e p ro v isio n a l g o v e rn m e n t a n d o f th e
so v ie t ; in d u s tria l B o lsh ev ism a n d its effect, a n d in d u s tr ia l c o n d itio n s in th e
U k ra in e u n d e r h e tm a n S k o ro p a d sk i. T h e vo lu m e c o n ta in s n u m e ro u s s t a ti s
tic a l d a ta on w ages, em ploym ent, o u tp u t, p ric e s, etc., a n d it in c lu d e s 'th e te x t of
th e re g u la tio n s r e la tin g to th e c o n tro l o f p ro d u c tio n , sa les, a n d sto ra g e o f first
m a te ria ls by th e w o rk e rs a n d th e m a n a g e m e n t a n d th e o rg a n iz a tio n o f n a tio n
a liz e d e s ta b lis h m e n ts ; th e d e cre e e s ta b lis h in g th e N a tio n a l E conom ic C ouncil,
a n d t h a t re g u la tin g w a g es
th e m e ta llu rg ic a l e sta b lish m e n ts o f P e tro g ra d a n d
its su b u rb s.
L a u n a y , L . de.
Problèmes Économiques d’après Guerre.
Paris, 1919. 819 pp.
I n th is v olum e th e a u th o r, a m in in g e x p e rt a n d m em b e r o f th e I n s t i t u t de
F ra n c e , d isc u sse s th e p o s tw a r econom ic p ro b lem s o f F ra n c e , o u tlin e s a re c o n
s tru c tio n p ro g ra m , a n d p re a c h e s a n econom ic w a r a g a in s t G e rm an y . H is re co n
s tru c tio n p ro g ra m c o v ers th e fo llo w in g s u b je c ts : (1 ) I n d u s t r i a l o rg a n iz a tio n ;
(2 ) su p p ly o f ra w m a te ria ls a n d econom ic d e fe n s iv e ; (8 ) t r a n s p o r ta ti o n ;
(4 ) la b o r ; a n d (5 ) n a tu r a l re so u rce s.
In d isc u ssin g p o s tw a r in d u s tr ia l o rg a n iz a tio n th e a u th o r con d em n s collectiv e
o rg a n iz a tio n o f in d u s try u n d e r s ta te c o n tro l a n d a d v o c a te s fr e e a sso c ia tio n ,
a s th e b e st m e a n s o f w h ic h h e re co m m e n d s th e e x te n siv e e s ta b lis h m e n t in in d u s
tr y a s w ell a s in a g ric u ltu re o f s y n d ic a te offices fo r th e purpose o f sa le, pur-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1299 ]
300
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
c h a se , a n d sc ie n tific r e s e a r c h , so -c a lle d “ c o m p to irs.” N e x t, h e e m p h a s iz e s th e
g r e a t a d v a n ta g e s o f s c ie n tific sh o p m a n a g e m en t, sp e c ia liz a tio n , q u a n tity p ro
d u c tio n o f sta n d a r d iz e d s t a p le a r tic le s , eco n o m y in th e c o n su m p tio n o f fu e l, a n d
b e tte r u s e o f th e fo r c e s o f n a tu re .
W ith r e s p e c t to th e su p p ly o f r a w m a te r ia ls h e r ec o m m en d s in th e first p la c e
th a t by c o n c er ted a c tio n th e A llie s sh o u ld fo r y e a r s to co m e lim it th e su p p ly
o f G erm a n y w ith fo r e ig n raw m a te r ia ls , f u r n is h in g h e r o n ly w h a t sh e n e e d s fo r
f e e d in g a n d c lo th in g h e r o w n p o p u la tio n , p o in tin g o u t th a t su ch a p r o c e ss o f
s ta r v in g G erm a n in d u str y w o u ld p r e v e n t G erm a n y fr o m r ec o v er in g h er fo r e ig n
tr a d e a n d le a v e h e r w ith o u t m e a n s to r en ew h o s tilitie s . H e th e n r e v ie w s th e
f a c ilit ie s fo r p r o v isio n in g F r a n c e w ith t h e p r in c ip a l r a w m a te r ia ls su ch a s
c o tto n , w o o l, silk , rubb er, o ils an d f a t s , iron , copper, tin , n ic k e l, a n d p h o sp h a te s.
U n d e r th e h e a d in g tr a n s p o r ta tio n h e d is c u s s e s th e to n n a g e lo s s o f F r a n c e
th r o u g h G erm an su b m a r in e a c t iv it ie s an d p r o p o ses to r e p la c e i t th r o u g h e x
te n s iv e sh ip b u ild in g , th e p u r c h a s e o f to n n a g e from E n g la n d a n d A m e ric a , con
t in u a tio n o f tr a n sp o r t a g r e e m e n ts w ith fo r e ig n c o u n tr ie s h a v in g a la r g e
m e r c h a n t m a rin e, d e v e lo p m en t o f F r e n c h p orts, an d c r e a tio n o f fr e e z o n e s in
th em . H e p o in ts o u t th e d e fe c ts o f th e F r e n c h r a ilr o a d s y s te m , a n d d is c u s s e s
th e p ro p o sed c o n str u c tio n o f tr a n s v e r s a l lin e s , th e p r o g r ess in r a ilr o a d c o n
str u c tio n d u rin g th e w a r , th e s c a r c ity o f r o llin g sto c k , th e fu tu r e fin a n c ia l r ég im e
o f th e r a ilr o a d c o m p a n ie s an d a d v o c a te s th e sp ee d y c o n str u c tio n o f th e lo n g
p r o je c te d tu n n e l u n d e r th e E n g lis h C h a n n el. H e c a lls a tte n tio n to th e a d v a n
ta g e s o f r iv e r a n d c a n a l tr a n s p o r ta tio n o v er r a ilr o a d tr a n s p o r ta tio n a n d rec o m
m e n d s e x te n s io n o f th e n e t o f c a n a ls an d g e n e r a l im p r o v em e n t o f r iv e r s and
w a te r w a y s . F in a lly he a d v o c a te s e x t e n s iv e b u ild in g o f good n a tio n a l road s
fo r w a g o n a n d a u to m o b ile traffic u n d er th e su p e r v isio n o f a b oard m o d eled
a fte r th e E n g lis h ro a d board.
A s c o n c er n s th e la b or q u e s tio n , th e a u th o r e n tir e ly ig n o r es th e so c ia l la b or
p r o b le m s a n d lim its h im s e lf to a d is c u s s io n o f d e m o b iliz a tio n m e a s u r e s an d
o f th e s h o r ta g e o f m a le la b o r c a u se d by th e g r e a t lo s s o f lif e d u rin g th e w a r .
A s r e m e d ie s fo r t h is s h o r ta g e h e rec o m m en d s m ore r a tio n a l u s e o f m a le lab or,
in tr o d u c tio n o f th e T a y lo r sy s te m , in c r e a se d e m p lo y m en t o f fe m a le la b o r in
o c c u p a tio n s u s u a lly n o t filled by w om en in p r e w a r tim e s b u t fo r w h ic h w a r
e x p e r ie n c e h a s sh o w n th em to be su ite d , a n d fin a lly g r e a te r u s e o f fo r e ig n
( I t a lia n , S p a n ish , P o lis h ) an d c o lo n ia l la b or ( T u n is ia n s , K a b y les, M oroccan s
a n d C h in e s e ).
T h e la s t c h a p te r o f th e v o lu m e i s d e v o te d to a d is c u s s io n o f fu e l p ro b lem s
a n d o f g r e a te r e x p lo ita tio n o f th e fo r c e s o f n a tu re .
M
M e d ic in e .
Vol. 1, No. 7. Chicago, The Modern Hospital Publishing
Co., November, 1919. pp. 549-650.
odern
U n d e r th e t it le o f T h e scop e o f th e p h y sic a l e x a m in a tio n in in d u s tr y , D r.
C. D . S e lb y o u tlin e s th e m a in p o in ts to be o b ser v e d in su c h a n e x a m in a tio n o f
e m p lo y e e s a n d g iv e s th e p la n in o p era tio n a t th e T o led o p la n t o f th e N a tio n a l
M a lle a b le C a s tin g s Co. A n a r tic le b y D r. C h a r le s A. L a u ffe r on I n d u s tr ia l
h e a lth h a z a r d s c o n sid e r s su ch h a z a r d s u n d er th e c la s sific a tio n o f ( 1 ) p o iso n s
d u sts , fu m e s, g a s e s ; ( 2 ) h e a t, h u m id ity , v e n t ila t io n ; ( 8 ) lig h t in g ; (4 ) c r o w d
in g ; ( 5 ) fire p e r il; ( 6 ) a s s o c ia tio n w ith d is e a s e d e m p lo y e e s ; a n d c o n sid e r s
v a r io u s r e m e d ia l m e a su r e s s u g g e s te d fo r d e a lin g w ith th em . D r. F r a n k w o o d
E, W illia m s d is c u s s e s N e r v o u s a n d m e n ta l d is e a s e a s a p rob lem in p u b lic
h e a lth , w ith th e c o n c lu sio n th a t th e im p o r ta n c e o f su c h d is e a s e in t h is r e la tio n
l ie s “n o t a lo n e in th e n u m b er sla in , th o u g h th e n u m b er is la r g e ; n ot a lo n e in th e
n u m b er o f liv e s c rip p le d a n d b la ste d , th o u g h th e n u m b er is la r g e r ; n o t in th e
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[300]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
301
b u rd en o f exp en se e n ta ile d , th o u g h it is en o u g h to g iv e a n y c o m m u n ity p a u s e ;
b u t in th e d a m a g e d o n e to s o c ia l str u c tu r e b y th e s tr u g g le s a t a d ju s tm e n t an d
c o m p r o m ise o f in d iv id u a ls o r d a in e d to fa ilu r e — m ore o fte n th a n n o t fa ilu r e
w it h c o n se q u e n c e s m ore th a n in d iv id u a l— u n le s s p r o te c te d a n d s a fe g u a r d e d by
a c o m m u n ity m a n ife s tin g a d e g r e e o f u n d e r s ta n d in g g r e a te r th a n h a s e v e r y e t
b een sh o w n . I n f e c t io n s m a y be e r a d ic a t e d ; n e r v o u s a n d m e n ta l d is e a s e m a y
b e la r g e ly red u c ed in n u m b er, th o u g h it m a y n o t b e so r e a d ily d o n e a w a y w ith .
B u t th e c o n se q u e n c e s o f n e r v o u s an d m e n ta l d is e a s e m a y be e lim in a te d by an
in te llig e n t, p e r s is te n t p u b lic h e a lth e ffo r t.”
O th er a r tic le s o f s p e c ia l in te r e s t a r e H e a lt h e d u c a tio n in in d u s tr y , by D r.
W . A. E v a n s ; M er cu ria l p o iso n in g , by D r. R. P . A lb a u g h ; M a lin g e r in g — in v o lv
in g th e p ro b lem o f g e ttin g sic k or in ju r e d e m p lo y e e s b a ck to w o rk , b y D r.
J u d so n 0 . F i s h e r ; C o lu m b ia U n iv e r s ity h e a lth se r v ic e , b y D r. W illia m H .
M c C a s tlin e ; H o w T u s k e g e e I n s t it u t e is p r o m o tin g b e tte r h e a lth c o n d itio n s in
th e S o u t h ; a n d I n d u s tr ia l c lin ic s in g e n e r a l h o s p ita ls, b y D r. D . L. E d s a ll. A n
e x t r a c t fr o m th e l a s t a r tic le a p p ea r s on p a g e s 224 a n d 225 in t h is is s u e o f th e
M o n t h l y L abor R e v ie w .
T o m . Labor’s interest in safety. An address delivered at the fifth an
nual meeting of the Ontario Safety League. Toronto, 1919. 8 pp.
M u t o , S a n j i . Employers and workers. The urgent need for universal labor
legislation in the matter of sickness, pensions, relief to families of deceased
workers, industrial, and moral training, etc. An appeal. Washington, Octo
ber, 1919. 21 pp.
M
o o r e,
T h is a p p ea l b y a J a p a n e s e e m p lo y er o f la b o r on a la r g e sc a le fo r m a n y y e a r s
Is in te n d e d to c a ll a tte n tio n to so m e o f th e m o re im p o r ta n t m e a su r e s d e sig n e d
fo r th e fu r th e r a n c e o f th e r e lie f o f e m p lo y e e s a n d o p e r a tiv e s a n d t h e ir fa m ilie s ,
a n d th e im p r o v e m e n t o f th e ir p h y s ic a l a n d m o r a l w e lfa r e , w h ic h h a v e b een
a d o p ted b y s e v e r a l la r g e in d u s tr ia l e sta b lis h m e n ts a n d G o v ern m en t w o r k s in
J a p a n . I t s p u rp o se is to p o in t o u t “ th e u r g e n c y o f e m b o d y in g in u n iv e r s a l la b or
le g is la t io n a m in im u m o f r e lie f m e a su r e s w h ic h s h a ll m a k e su ffic ien t p r o v isio n
fo r th e s u b s is te n c e o f w o r k m e n a n d th e ir f a m ilie s in d is t r e s s fr o m c a u s e s b eyon d
t h e ir c o n tr o l.”
N
C i v i c F e d e r a t i o n . Laws of France, 1919. To'wn planning and repara
tion of damages caused by the events of the tear. Translation by Roscoe
Pound. New York, Metropolitan Tower, October, 1919. 51 pp.
a t io n a l
U n d e r th e to w n p la n n in g la w , e n a c te d M arch 14, 1919, e v e r y c ity in F r a n c e
o f 10 ,0 0 0 in h a b ita n ts a n d m o re i s o b lig a te d to w o r k o u t, p rio r to M arch 15 ,
1922, a c o m p r e h e n siv e p la n c o v e r in g a ll m a tte r s o f m u n ic ip a l d e v e lo p m en t
(r o a d s, sq u a r e s , p la y g r o u n d s, p a rk s, m o n u m en ts, p u b lic b u ild in g s, e t c .) , in
c lu s iv e o f w o r k s a n d u t i l it i e s fo r th e c o n v e n ie n c e a n d h e a lth o f th e p u b lic
(w a te r w o r k s , se w e rs, e t c .) .
I n d u s t r i a l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d . Wartime changes in wages. Septem
ber, 191^-March, 1919. Boston, September, 1919. 128 p. Research report
No. 20.
N
a t io n a l
M
o n th ly
A d ig e s t o f t h is r ep o rt a p p e a r s on p a g e s 141 to 144 o f t h is is s u e o f th e
L abor R e v ie w .
----- Works councils in the United States.
Research report No. 21.
Boston, October, 1919.
135 pp.
A n a c co u n t o f th e o p e r a tio n o f w o r k s c o u n c ils in 225 e s t a b lis h m e n ts in th e
U n ite d S ta te s . A l is t o f in d u s t r ia l c o n c er n s h a v in g a fo r m o f e m p lo y ee r ep re
s e n ta tio n a n d a b ib lio g ra p h y a r e ap p en d ed . A d ig e s t o f t h is r ep o rt a p p e a r s on
p a g e s 1 9 1 a n d 192 o f t h is n u m b er o f th e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w .
1 5 5 1 6 9 °— 20-------20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 0 1 ]
302
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
S a f e t y C o u n c i l . Safe practices.
No. 30. Trucks and wheelbar
rows. Chicago, 168 N. Michigan Avenue. [1919.] 12 pp. Illustrated.
Price, 25 cents.
N a t i o n a l T r a n s p o r t W o r k e r s ’ F e d e r a t i o n . Report of the eighth annual gen
eral council, Newcastle-on-Tyne, June 6th and 7th, 1918. London, 8, St.
Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square, W. C. 2. [1918.] 106 pp.
N a t i o n a l W o m e n ’s T r a d e - U n i o n L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a . English women in the
labor and cooperative movements. Three speeches delivered before the
seventh biennial convention of the National Women’s Trade-Union League,
Philadelphia, June 2-7, 1919. Chicago, 64 West Randolph Street. 1919.
27 pp.
N
a t io n a l
T h e sp ee c h e s a r e on, W o m en a n d th e la b o r w o r ld , by M a rg a r et B o n d fle ld ;
w o m en a s c o o p e r a to r s, b y M rs. E le a n o r B a r to n ; a n d W o m en w o r k e r s o f E n g
la n d , b y M a ry M a ca rth u r.
-----
Women in trade-unions in the United States. Chicago, 64 West Randolph
Street. 1919. 15 pp.
A b r ie f o u tlin e o f th e h is to r y o f th e w o m e n ’s tr a d e -u n io n m o v e m e n t in th e
U n ite d S ta te s.
W o r k m e n ’s C o m p e n s a t i o n S e r v i c e B u r e a u . Manual classifications
code. Workmen’s compensation,. Revised April 1, 1919. New York, 1919.
66 pp.
N e w J e r s e y S t a t e C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e . Bureau of State Re* ¿arch. Joint
industrial council for New Jersey.. In ‘ New Jersey,’ Vol. VI, No. 10.
Newark, July, 1919. Pp. 133-140.
N
a t io n a l
A te n t a t iv e p la n fo r a jo in t co u n c il d e v e lo p ed th r o u g h th e in v e s tig a tio n s
m a d e by t h e B u r e a u o f S t a t e R e se a r c h , w h ic h p ro v ed th e n e e d fo r su c h a co u n
c il in th e S ta te .
----- ----- Shop committees and industrial councils. Parts I and II. ‘ New
Jersey,’ Section 2, Vol. VI, No. 10. Newark, July, 1919. 63 pp. Consecu
tive No. 18.
T h is rep o rt, th e r e s u lt o f an in v e s t ig a t io n by th e B u r e a u o f S ta te R e se a r c h ,
d is c u s s e s th e g e n e r a l n e e d fo r r e o r g a n iz a tio n a n d fo r g r e a te r co o p e ra tio n be
tw e e n th e d iffe r e n t fa c to r s c o n c er n e d in la b o r p ro b lem s an d d e sc r ib e s th e
sh o p c o m m itte e p la n s in fo r c e in 13 e s ta b lis h m e n ts . T h e s e p la n s in c lu d e e x
a m p le s o f a ll th e d iffe r e n t t y p e s o f sh o p c o m m itte e s y s te m s in fo r c e in t h is
c o u n tr y . In th e a p p e n d ix e s a r e g iv e n sy n o p tic a l ta b le s o f sh o p c o m m itte e s y s
te m s ; p la n s fo r th e e sta b lis h m e n t o f in d u s tr ia l c o u n c ils ; la b o r ’r. v ie w s on
“ c o m p a n y u n io n s ” a n d “ sh o p c o m m itte e s ,” an d , u n d e r th e t i t le o f “A n e w
m o tiv e in in d u s tr y ,” a d e sc r ip tio n o f th e s y s te m a t th e R o c k I s la n d A r se n a l
an d th e r ep o rt o f th e B r it is h b u ild in g tr a d e s. A d ig e s t o f t h is r ep o rt a p p ea r s
o n p a g e s 193 a n d 194 o f t h is n u m b er o f th e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w .
ertram .
A reasonable revolution. Being a discussion of the State
bonus scheme—a proposal for a national minimum income. London,
George Allen and Umvin (Ltd.), 1919. 78 pp.
P ic k a r d , B
An a m p lific a tio n o f th e S ta te b o n u s id e a o r ig in a lly p u t fo r w a r d b y D e n n is
M iln er in h is p a m p h let, S ch em e fo r a S ta te B o n u s.
T h e a u th o r, h o w ev e r,
s t a t e s th a t in so m e p a r ts o f th e b ook th e m e th o d o f p r e s e n ta tio n is c o lo red by
h is o w n p e r so n a l v a lu a tio n o f th e S t a t e b o n u s sc h e m e. T h e p r o p o s a ls co n
ta in e d in t h is sc h e m e a r e su m m a r iz e d in th e w o r d s o f Mr. M iln er a s f o llo w s :
( a ) T h a t e v e r y in d iv id u a l, a ll th e tim e , sh o u ld r e c e iv e fr o m a c e n tr a l fu n d
so m e s m a ll a llo w a n c e in m o n e y w h ic h w o u ld b e j u s t su fficien t to m a in ta in l ii e
a n d lib e r ty i f a ll e ls e fa ile d .
'
(b) T h a t a s e v e r y o n e i s to g e t a s h a r e fr o m t h is c e n tr a l fu n d , so e v e r y one
w h o h a s a n y in c o m e a t a ll sh o u ld c o n tr ib u te a sh a r e e a c h in proportion to h is
c a p a c ity .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 0 2 ]
*
P U B L IC A T IO N S RELA TIN G TO LABOR.
303
lan L eague.
Labor's plan for Government ownership and democracy
in the operation of the railroads. Based on statements by Glenn E. Plumb
before the Interstate Commerce Committee of the United States Senate,
with additional material. Washington, Jf47~458 Munsey Building 1919
82 pp. Pamphlet No. 1.
P o r t l a n d C e m e n t A s s o c ia t io n .
Accident prevention bulletin. Vol 5 No 6
November-December, 1919. Chicago, 111 West Washington Street 1919
Pp. 79-150.
This issue contains the proceedings of the cement sectional meeting of the
National Safety Council’s eighth annual congress held in Cleveland, October
1 to 4, 1919.
- LUMB P
E p is c o p a l C h u r c h .
Joint commission on social service. Third
triennial report submitted to the General Convention, 1919. New York
Church Missions House, 1919. ix, 191 pp.
Greatest prominence is given to a consideration of the problem of industrial
relations, which is placed foremost among the special problems examined on
account of its “ urgent and intrinsic importance.” The history of social and
industrial movements in the United States is traced and analyzed, and the
report finds that we are “ confronted with a larger issue than we have yet
commonly or consciously faced. It revolves about the question of what is or
should be after all the proper relation between work, religion, and life.”
S t e e l e , R u e u s . Aces for industry. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1919
98 pp.
An aigument, in the form of a narrative, for the establishment of apprentice
schools in industrial plants, the claim being that industrial intelligence, skill,
and loyalty could be developed through this means.
W a d i a , B. P. A memorandum on labor problems in India.
London Victoria
House Printing Co. {Ltd.), July, 1919. 12 pp.
The author is president of the Madras Labor Union and fraternal delegate
from the first trade-union in India to the British Labor Party and the Parlia
mentary Committee of the Trades-Union Congress. The exceptional labor con
ditions in India are explained in the text of the memorandum and emphasized
by appendixes containing letters from Indian trades-unions.
—— Statement submitted to the joint committee on Indian reforms. London
Indian Parliamentary Committee, 1 Robert Street, Adelphi, WC 2 1199
8 pp. Price, 2d.
Brief exposition of the conditions surrounding labor in India, concluding
with an earnest “ appeal to the Joint Committee to enable the Indian laborer to
obtain some political power, to set his feet on the road of political advancement,
and thereby of his own uplift.”
W a r r e n , K a t h e r i n e . List of refei'ences on labor turnover. In Special Libraries,
Industrial number. Boston, Mass., October, 1919. Pp. 198-208.
W e e k s , E s t e l l a T. Reconstruction programs.
A comparative study of their
content and of the viewpoints of the issuing organizations. Prepared for
the _Research section, Industrial committee, War work council of the
National Board, Young Women’s Christian Associations. New York, The
Womans Press, 1919. 95 pp. Chart.
Various reconstruction programs are analyzed and their chief points com
pared without any attempt being made to argue for or against them. There is a
foreword by Herbert N. Shenton, of the Council of National Defense; an intro
duction entitled “ What is reconstruction?” ; four parts, in which the material
analyzed is grouped under the heads of Working men and women—their life
and work. Collective bargaining, Individual Democracy, and International
labor problems; a postscript headed A new spirit and a new road; and a bibli
ography of programs of reconstruction.
[303]
P ro testa nt
^
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SERIES OF BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
[The publication of the annual and special reports and of the bimonthly bulletin was
discontinued in July, 1912, and since that time a bulletin has been published at irregular
intervals. Each number contains matter devoted to one of a series of general subjects. Tkese
bulletins are numbered consecutively beginning with No. 101, and up to No. 236 they also carry
consecutive numbers under each series. Beginning with No. 237 the serial numbering has been
discontinued. A list of the series is given below. Under each is grouped all the bulletins
which contain material relating to the subject matter of that series. A list of the reports and
bulletins of the Bureau issued prior to July 1, 1912, will be furnished on application. The
bulletins marked thus * are out of print.l
Wholesale Prices
* Bui. 114. TVhoIesale prices, 1890 to 1912.
Bui. 149. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1918.
• Bui. 173. Index numbers of wholesale prices in the United States and foreign
countries.
Bui. 181. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1914.
Bui. 200. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1915.
Bui. 226. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1916.
Bui. 269. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1918. [In press.]
Retail Prices and Cost of Living.
* Bui. 105. Retail prices, 1890 to 1911 : Part I.
Retail prices, 1890 to 1911: Part II—General tables.
* Bui. 106. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1912 : Part I.
Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1912 : Part II—General tables.
Bui. 108. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1912.
Bui. 110. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1912.
Bui. 113. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1912.
Bui. 115. Retail prices, 1890 to February, 1913.
* Bui. 121. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer.
Bui. 125. Retail prices, 1890 to April, 1913.
Bui. 130. Wheat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer.
Bui. 132. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1913.
Bui. 136. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1913.
* Bui. 138. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1913.
Bui. 140. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1913.
Bui. 156. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1914.
Bui. 164. Butter prices, from producer to consumer.
Bui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected by the war.
* Bui. 184. Retail prices, 1907 to June, 1915.
Bui. 197. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1915.
Bui. 228. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1916.
Bui. 266. A study of family expenditures in the District of Columbia.
Bui. 270. Retail prices, 1913 to 1918. [In press.]
*>
[In press.]
Wages and Hours of Labor.
Bui. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in
selected industries in the District of Columbia.
Bui. 118. Ten-hour maximum working-day for women and young persons.
Bui. 119. Working hours of women in the pea canneries of Wisconsin.
* Bui. 128. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1890
to 1912.
* Bui. 129. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture indus
tries, 1890 to 1912.
* Bui. 131. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, 1907 to 1912.
* Bui. 134. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe and hosiery and knit goods
industries, 1890 to 1912.
* Bui. 135. Wages and hours of labor in the cigar and clothing industries, 1911 and
1912.
Bui. 137. Wages and hours of labor in the building and repairing of steam railroad
cars, 1890 to 1912.
Bui. 143. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1913.
Bui. 146. Wages and regularity of employment and standardization of piece rates
in the dress and waist industry of New York City.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(I)
Wages and Honrs of Labor— Concluded.
Bui. 147. Wages and regularity of employment In the cloak, suit, and skirt industry.
Bui. 150. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1907
to 1913.
Bui. 151. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry in the United
States, 1907 to 1912.
* Bui. 158. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture indus
tries, 1907 to 1913.
Bui. 154. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe and hosiery and under
wear industries, 1907 to 1913.
Bui. 160. Hours, earnings, and conditions of labor of women in Indiana mercantile
establishments and garment factories.
Bui. 161. Wages and hours of labor in the clothing and cigar industries, 1911 to
1913.
Bui. 163. Wages and hours of labor in the building and repairing of steam railroad
cars, 1907 to 1913.
Bui. 168. Wages and hours of labor in the iron steel industry, 1907 to 1913.
Bui. 171. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 1, 1914.
Bui. 177. Wages and hours of labor in the hosiery and underwear industry, 1907
to 1914.
• Bui. 178. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1914.
Bui. 187. Wages and hours of labor in the men’s clothing industry, 1911 to 1914.
• Bui. 190. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1907
to 1914.
* Bui. 194. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 1, 1915.
Bui. 204. Street railway employment in the United States.
Bui. 214. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1916.
Bui. 218. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1915.
Bui. 221. Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories.
Bui. 225. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture indus
tries, 1915.
Bui. 232. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1916.
Bui. 238. Wages arid hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing,
1916.
Bui. 239. Wages and hours of labor in cotton goods manufacturing and finishing,
1916.
Bui. 245. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1917.
Bui. 252. Wages and hours of labor in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry.
Bui. 259. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1918.
Bui. 260. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1918.
[In press.]
Bui. 261. Wages and hours, of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1918.
Bui. 262. Wages and hours of labor in cotton goods manufacturing and finishing,
1918. [In press.]
Bui. 265. Industrial survey in selected industries in the United States, 1919. Pre
liminary report. [In press.]
Employment and Unemployment.
* Bui. 109. Statistics of unemployment and the work of employment offices.
Bui. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in
selected industries in the District of Columbia.
Bui. 172. Unemployment in New York City, N. Y.
Bui. 182. Unemployment among women in department and other retail stores of
Boston, Mass.
Bui. 183. R eg u la rity o f em ploym ent in th e w om en’s ready-to-w ear garm en t in d u stries.
Bui. 192. Proceedings of the American Association of Public Employment Offices.
* Bui. 195. Unemployment in the United States.
Bui. 196. Proceedings of the Employment Managers’ Conference held at Minneapolis,
January, 1916.
Bui. 202. Proceedings of the conference of the Employment Managers’ Association of
Boston, Mass., held May 10, 1916.
Bui. 206. The British system of labor exchanges.
Bui. 220. Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Association of
Public Employment Offices, Buffalo, N. Y., July 20 and 21, 1916.
Bui. 223. Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(II)
Employment and Unemployment—Concluded.
Bui. 227. Proceedings of tlie Employment Managers’ Conference, Philadelphia, Pa.,
April 2 and 3, 1917.
Bui. 235. Employment system of the Lake Carriers’ Association.
Bui. 241. Public employment offices in the United States.
Bui. 247. Proceedings of the Employment Managers’ Conference, Rochester, N. Y.,
May 9-11, 1918.
Women in Industry.
Bui. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in
selected industries in the District of Columbia.
* Bui. 117. Prohibition of night work of young persons.
Bui. 118. Ten-hour maximum working-day for women and young persons.
Bui. 119. Working hours of women in the pea canneries of Wisconsin.
* Bui. 122. Employment of women in power laundries in Milwaukee.
Bui. 160. Hours, earnings, and conditions of labor of women in Indiana mercantile
establishments and garment factories.
* Bui. 167. Minimum-wage legislation in the United States and foreign countries.
Bui. 175. Summary of the report on condition of woman and child wage earners in
the United States.
Bui. 176. Effect of minimum-wage determinations in Oregon.
Bui. 180. The boot and shoe industry in Massachusetts as a vocation for women.
Bui. 182. Unemployment among women in department and other retail stores of
Boston, Mass.
Bui. 193. Dressmaking as a trade for women In Massachusetts.
Bui. 215. Industrial experience of trade-school girls in Massachusetts.
Bui. 217. Effect of workmen’s compensation laws in diminishing the necessity of
industrial employment of women and children.
Bui. 223. Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war.
Bui. 253. Women in the lead industry.
Workmen’s Insurance and Compensation (including laws relating thereto).
Bui.
Bui.
Bui.
Bui.
* Bui.
Bui.
• Bui.
Bui.
Bui.
101.
102.
103.
107.
126.
155.
185.
203.
210.
Bill. 212.
Bui. 217.
Bui. 240.
Bui. 243.
Bui. 248.
Bui. 264.
Care of tuberculous wage earners in Germany.
British National Insurance Act, 1911.
Sickness and accident insurance law of Switzerland.
Law relating to insurance of salaried employees in Germany.
Workmen’s compensation laws of the United States and foreign countries.
Compensation for accidents to employees of the United States.
Compensation legislation of 1914 and 1915.
Workmen’s compensation laws of the United States and foreign countries.
Proceedings of the Third Annual Meeting of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.
Proceedings of the conference on social insurance called by the Inter
national Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.
Effect of workmen’s compensation laws in diminishing the necessity of
industrial employment of women and children.
Comparison of workmen’s compensation laws of the United States. •
Workmen’s compensation legislation in the United States and foreign
countries.
Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.
Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.
Industrial Accidents and Hygiene.
Bui. 104. Lead poisoning in potteries, tile works, and porcelain enameled sanitary
ware factories.
Bui. 120. Hygiene of the painters’ trade.
* Bui. 127. Dangers to workers from dusts and fumes, and methods of protection.
Bui. 141. Lead poisoning in the smelting and refining of lead.
* Bui. 157. Industrial accident statistics.
Bui. 165. Lead poisoning in the manufacture of storage batteries.
* Bui. 179. Industrial poisons used in the rubber industry.
Bui. 188. Report of British departmental committee on the danger in the use of
lead in the painting of buildings.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(Ill)
Industrial Accidents and Hygiene—Concluded.
* Bul. 201. Report of committee on statistics and compensation insurance cost of the
International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commis
sions. [Limited edition.]
Bul. 205. Anthrax as an occupational disease.
Bul. 207. Causes of death by occupation.
* Bul. 209. Hygiene of the printing trades.
Bul. 216. Accidents and accident prevention in machine building.
* Bul. 219. Industrial poisons used or produced in the manufacture of explosives.
Bul. 221. Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories.
Bul. 230. Industrial efficiency and fatigue in British munition factories.
Bul. 231. Mortality from respiratory diseases in dusty trades.
Bul. 234. Safety movement in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1917.
Bul. 236. Effect of the air hammer on the hands of stonecutters.
Bul. 251. Preventable death in the cotton manufacturing industry.
Bul. 253. Women In the lead industry.
Bul. 256. Accidents and accident prevention in machine building. (Revised.)
Bul. 267. Anthrax as an occupational disease. (Revised.) [In press.]
Conciliation and Arbitration (including strikes and lockouts).
* Bul. 124. Conciliation and arbitration in the building trades of Greater New York.
Bul. 133. Report of the industrial council of the British Board of Trade on its in
quiry into industrial agreements.
Bul. 139. Michigan copper district strike.
Bul. 144. Industrial court of the cloak, suit, and skirt industry of New York City.
Bul. 145. Conciliation, arbitration, and sanitation in the dress and waist industry of
New York City.
* Bul. 191. Collective bargaining in the anthracite coal industry.
Bul. 198. Collective agreements in the men’s clothing industry.
Bul. 233. Operation of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act of Canada,
Labor Laws of the United States (including decisions ef courts relating ts labor).
* Bul. 111. Labor legislation of 1912.
* Bul. 112. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1912.
* Bul. 148. Labor laws of the United States, with decisions of courts relating theret©,
Bul. 152. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1913.
* Bul. 166. Labor legislation of 1914.
* Bul. 169. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1914,
* Bul. 186. Labor legislation of 1915.
* Bul. 189. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1915.
Bul. 211. Labor laws and their administration in the Pacific States.
* Bul. 213. Labor legislation of 1916.
Bul. 224. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1916.
Bul. 229. Wage-payment legislation in the United States.
Bul. 244. Labor legislation of 1917.
Bul. 246. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1917.
Bul. 257. Labor legislation of 1918.
Bul. 258. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1918. [In press.]
Foreign Labor Laws.
Bul. 142. Administration of labor laws and factory inspection in certain European
countries.
Vocational Education.
Bul. 145. Conciliation, arbitration, and sanitation in the dress and waist Industry of
New York City.
Bul. 147. Wages and regularity of employment in the cloak, suit, and skirt Industry.
* Bul. 159. Short-unit courses for wage earners, and a factory school experiment.
Bul. 162. Vocational education survey of Richmond, Va.
Bul. 199. Vocational education survey of Minneapolis.
Bul. 271. Adult working-class education in Great Britain and the United States,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(I V )
Labor as Affected by the War.
Bui. 170.
* Bui. 219.
Bui. 221.
Bui. 222.
Bui. 228.
Bui. 230.
Bui. 237.
Bui. 249.
Foreign food prices as affected by the war.
Industrial poisons used or produced in the manufacture of explosives,
Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories.
Welfare work in British munition factories.
Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war.
Industrial efficiency and fatigue in British munition factories.
Industrial unrest in Great Britain.
Industrial health and efficiency. Final report of British Health of Muni
tion Workers Committee.
Bui. 255. Joint industrial councils in Great Britain.
Miscellaneons Series.
* Bui.
Bui.
* Bui.
Bui.
117.
118.
128.
158.
* Bui. 159.
* Bui. 167.
Bui. 170.
Bui. 174.
Bui.
Bui.
Bui.
Bui.
208.
222.
242.
250.
Bui. 254.
Bui. 263.
Bui. 268.
Prohibition of night work of young persons.
Ten-hour maximum working day for women and young persons.
Employers’ welfare work.
Government aid to home owning and housing of working people in foreign
countries.
Short-unit courses for wage earners, and a factory school experiment.
Minimum-wage legislation in the United States and foreign countries.
Foreign food prices as affected by the war.
Subject index of the publications of the United States Bureau or Labor
Statistics up to May 1, 1915.
Profit sharing in the United States.
Welfare work in British munition factories.
Food situation in Central Europe, 1917.
Welfare work for employees in industrial establishments in the United
States.
International labor legislation and the society of nations.
Housing by employers in the United States. [In press.]
Historical survey of international action affecting labor. [In press.]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(V)
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Descriptions of occupations, prepared for the United States Employment Service, 1918-19.
Boots and shoes, harness and saddlery, and tanning.
Cane-sugar refining and flour milling.
Coal and water gas, paint and varnish, paper, printing trades, and rubber goods.
Electrical manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance.
Logging camps and sawmills.
Medicinal manufacturing.
Metal working, building and general construction, railroad transportation, and ship
building.
Mines and mining.
O ffice employees.
Slaughtering and meat packing.
Street railways.
Textiles and clothing.
Water transportation.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(V I)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
@FedFRASER