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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. B. WILSON, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner
a,
MONTHLY
r
;
LABOR REVIEW
NUMBER 1
VOLUME XII
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JANUARY, 1921
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1921
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Contents.
Special articles:
Page.
Immigrant farm colonies in southern New Jersey, by Samuel Jacob........... 1-22
A national council for the printing trades, by Charles R. Walker, jr., Bureau
of Industrial Research, New York City......................................................... 23-44
Working children of Boston, by Helen Sumner Woodbury........................... 45-59
Prices and cost of living:
Retail prices of food in the United States......................................................... 60-84
Retail prices of coal in the United States.........................................................84-87
Index numbers of wholesale prices in the United States.............. ................ 88-91
Comparison of retail price changes in the United States and "foreign
countries...........................................................................................
91-93
Prices of wheat, flour, and bread since the armistice...................................... 94-96
Rents in the District of Columbia..............................................
96-98
Cost of living in Mexico.......................................................................................
98
Retail price changes in Great B ritain................................................................
99
Maximum wholesale price for apples in E n g la n d ..........................................
100
Increase in cost of living in Lisbon, Portugal.............................................. 100-102
Maximum prices for sugar fixed in Spain.........................................................
102
Wages and hours of labor:
Recent changes in union wage rates in printing and publishing trades and
in the plastering trade......................
103-107
Wage increases for clerical forces of the Naval establishm ent................... 108-110
Salaries in universities and colleges in the United States in 1920................
110
Comparison of earnings of New York State factory workers with retail
prices of food................................................................................................. I l l , 112
The three-shift system in the steel industry................................................. 113-116
Wage increases in certain foreign countries—
England....................................................................................................... 116-117
France............................
117
Java............................................................................................................. 117-119
New South Wales..........................................................................................
120
Scotland..........................................................................................................
120
Shanghai..................................................................................................... 120-121
South Australia..............................................................................................
122
The eight-hour day in certain foreign countries...............................................
123
Minimum wage:
Minimum wage law of Texas........................................................................... 124-126
Minimum wage investigations and revisions in Massachusetts......................
126
Cooperation:
Second national cooperative convention....................................................... 127-132
A ttitude of International Labor Office toward cooperation........................ 132-134
Cooperative bank established in F inland.........................................................
135
Cooperation in navigation in Italy .....................................................................
135
Agreements:
Agreement affecting employees of Haverhill (Mass.) Shoe Manufacturers
Association...................................................................................................... 136-138
Labor agreement in the trawling branch of the fishing industry............... 138-139
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Employment and unemployment:
Page
Employment in selected industries in November, 1920............................. 140-112
An industrial employment survey of the United States.................................
143
Activities of Illinois free employment offices for November, 1920........... 143,144
Employment and unemployment in certain foreign countries.................. 144-149
Report of employment exchanges in the United Kingdom..........................
150
Volume of employment in the United Kingdom in October, 1920............ 151,152
Women in industry:
The new position of women in American industry...................................... 153-157
Recent survey of woman workers in Fort Worth, Tex................................ 157-158
Industrial accidents:
Coal-mine fatalities in the United States.......................................................... 15&
Coke-oven accidents in the United States in 1919...........................................
160
Industrial hygiene and medicine:
Need for physical examination of employees................................................ 161,162
Rest periods for New York workers................................................................ 162,163
Dust hazards in grinding shops of an ax factory.......................................... 163,164
Plant measures for industrial fatigue control............. ; .......... ...................... 164-166
Detection and elimination of industrial fatigue...............................................
166
Workmen’s compensation and social insurance:
Methods of amending compensation laws...................................................... 167-171
State agencies for administering workmen's compensation and accident
prevention laws.............................................................................................. 171-174
Enforcing insurance under the New York workmen’s compensation law. 174,175
Missouri compensation law rejected by referendum.................................... 175,176
Compensation allowed for injury due to horseplay..........................................
176
Recent reports of industrial accident commissions—
California.....................................................................................
176—179
Montana...................................................................................................... 180-182
South Dakota.................................................................................................
jg 3
Progress of the mothers’ pension movement in the United States...............
184
Compensation for industrial diseases in New Brunswick................................
184
Increased unemployment benefits in Germany...............................................
185
Standard weekly payments and benefits under British Unemployment In
surance Act, 1920....................................................................... ................. 18g
Labor laws and decisions:
Decision of Secretary of Labor in the case of Ludwig C. A. K. Martens. 187-194
Recent decisions relating to the closed shop................................................. 194-197
Bulgarian law on the conscription of labor.................................................... 197-198
Industrial relations and labor conditions:
Eighth annual report of the Secretary of Labor........................................... 198-201
Migration of Negroes to northern industrial centers.................................... 201-203
Efficiency of labor on railroads..................................................................
204 905
Industrial activity in Pennsylvania.......................................................
205-207
Exodus of labor from Ohio f arms................................................................
207
The Danish Federation of Trade Unions on the labor situation................. 207-209
Industrial recovery in the devastated regions of France................................
210
Industrial depression in Japan........................................................................ 210 211
Labor conditions in the cotton textile industry of Mexico............................
211
Labor conditions in Portugal.......................................................................
211 212
Housing:
The housing situation in England................................................................ 213-221
Strikes:
Industrial controversies in New York State, 1919-20.....................................
222
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What State labor bureaus are doing:
V
Tago.
Colorado................................
223
Louisiana...................................................................... - .......................................
223
Massachusetts.........................................................................................................
224
Pennsylvania......................................
225-227
Philippine Islands................. ............................... - - ............................
227,228
Texas.....................................................................................................
228,229
Washington........................................................................................... ............ 229, 230
Current notes of interest to labor:
Success of soldier settlement plans in Canada..................................................
231
Profit-sharing scheme in certain British cotton m ills................................. 231,232
Central arbitration board for settlement of labor disputes in Sweden..................... 232
Creation of department of labor in Switzerland...............................................
232
Immigration:
Restriction of immigration to Canada.............................
233
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States..............................................................................
234-237
Official—foreign countries................................................................................ 237-241
Unofficial............................................................................................................ 241-248
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
vol.
Xu—n o . 1
WASHINGTON
Ja n u a r y , 1921
Immigrant Farm Colonies in Southern N ew Jersey.
B y Sa m u el Jac o b.
O INCREASE the number of farmers and further their welfare is
a first step toward solving labor, building, and other economic
problems. Questions as to high rents, slum quarters, tuber
culosis and sanitation, physical deterioration, criminal environments,
and tendency of aliens to remain such where they huddle together in
big cities will be simplified if an appreciable number, undesirable
otherwise, can be induced to become self-reliant food producers.
The local communities will be helped by each newcomer who shares
tax burdens, patronizes business, and increases the value of lands
by industry and thrift. The immigrant will find that as compared
■with city life country or village life makes for better health, especially
for children; that larger and better homes are available; that when
he can make a home garden and keep a cow, pigs, and poultry, food
stuffs which are really fresh may be had; that there is work to be had
for other members of'the family than the main breadwinner; that the
children have more individual attention in the schools and mingle
more with Americans; that there is a worth-while prestige and
independence in being a landed proprietor; and that in getting away
from the worst in city life to the open country he has an incentive
to develop his natural virtues of friendliness, of love of children, of
outdoor life and simple pleasures, and may achieve citizenship of the
highest type.
The Government owes a lasting debt of gratitude to such immi
grants as have not settled in the crowded cities but have gone to
tilling the soil to help feed the multitudes. Their work has been
much more extensive and important than the average man realizes.
There are many Italian, Polish, Bohemian, Slovak, Hebrew, Magyar,
and Portuguese farm settlements in the United States, to say noth
ing of the long-established and Americanized work of the Swedes,
Danes, Norwegians, Swiss, and Germans. The report of the Senate
Immigration Commission of 1909 specifies 105 colonies of the more
recent immigrants in 19 States east of the Mississippi River. No
one can look into the struggles, the defeats, and the triumphs of
these humble pioneers without a deeper sympathy and admiration
for our foreign-born farmers who are too often ignored, belittled, or
ridiculed as “ dagoes,” “ wops,” or “ hunkies.”
The purpose of this article is (1) to place specific land opportu
nities before such alien or naturalized immigrants, now in cities,
as have been trying to save enough to buy small plots of cheap
ground on which to go to farming, or on which to move, get other
employment, and utilize the help of their families in caring for home
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gardens and perhaps a cow, poultry, or pigs; (2) to help peasants fresh
from the war-torn farms of Europe; and (3) to influence the general
public to speed up all kinds of agriculture in order that importation
of foodstuffs may not be necessary, due to the disproportion of city
dwellers to farmers.
In a certain case a State official and a county agricultural agent
have consented to look after correspondence and refer those who want
to see the character of the land to two local Italian farmers who have
agreed to show the acreage in their neighborhoods and be frank in
estimating values. This plan, with modifications, is workable in any
farming region where State and county agricultural officers, cooper
ating with citizens to induce small farmers, immigrants, or others, to
settle in their local community, will exercise a “ big brother” attitude
toward the newcomers, through representatives of their civic, re
ligious, or trade bodies. Extending helping hands to immigrants
who would like to be farmers if they knew how to go about it would
supplement in an effective way the Americanization work among
adults carried on by the public schools of 1,326 communities.
What Has Been Done in the Italian Settlements near Vineland, N. J.
INASMUCH as information intended to induce immigrants and
I others to go to farming is often so indefinite as to be confusing, an
attempt has been made to localize a few successful colonies in such
a way as to show those interested where and how to go about getting
cheap plots of ground in the same neighborhood without fear that
they will be misled by real estate agents. The Italian colonies near
Vineland, N. J., have been chosen for the purpose for no special reason
other than that they are fine examples of what can be achieved by
immigrants with very little money, influence, or education. Unre
mitting toil, strict honesty, and great patience have accounted largely
for the prosperity of the South Jersey Italians. These people have
escaped the sordid cynicism common to the “ little Italies” of the
cities and have preserved much of the warm-hearted cheer and joy
in simple outdoor life that distinguish their former homeland.
In speaking of the location of these colonies, the surrounding
country within a radius of 6 or 7 miles of Vineland is meant, some of
the land lying in Atlantic, Salem, and Gloucester counties, although
the principal units referred to are Landis Township in Cumberland
County and Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County.
The panic of 1873 may be considered to be the starting point of the
Italian settlements near Vineland. In 1861 Charles K. Landis, as a
business venture, gained control of 35,000 acres of wilderness in the
immediate neighborhood of the present town. The first stake was
driven in the center of the square-mile town site and roads and
avenues were laid out, the principal ones 100 feet wide and 10 miles
long, through the almost unbroken forest. Land was sold at $20 to
$25 per acre under the stipulation that the owner build a house within
a 3rear on a site 75 feet from the road; that he plant a row of shade
trees along the roadside, sow the space along the highway to grass,
and clear at least 2J acres of land each year. Live stock was to be
kept in, not fenced out. No speculators nor real-estate men were
allowed to buy or operate on the tract and provision was made by
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which there has never been a saloon in Vineland. Due to judicious
advertising, settlers representing a population of 9,000 were reported
to be on the tract in 1866.
During the fat years and period of high prices which followed the
civil war, speculation was rife. In the consequent reaction many a
farmer in the Vineland section was brought to ruin, his land eaten
up by mortgages, and his property swept away.
In this time of distress one of the three Italians who had come with
the other farmers suggested to Mr. Landis that the soil and climate of
Vineland would appeal to his countrymen if its advantages could be
placed before them and that the Italians would make desirable
farmers. Mr. Landis acted at once, by obtaining the assistance of a
New York Italian newspaper to advertise for immigrants to found
an Italian colony near Vineland. Most of the patrons came from
northern Italy by way of New York, where they congregated, swept
streets, picked rags, or worked at whatever they could get to do.
An old map of the town, made in 1877, shows 56 parcels of real estate
in the hands of Italians. East Vineland, or “ New Italy,” as it is
called, was founded in 1885, 4 miles east of Vineland, and the present
population for miles around is purely Italian. It has two Italian
Catholic churches, good public schools, but no town site, factories, or
industries other than farming and fruit raising. It is an agricultural
colony in every sense, and the well-kept, productive farms, decent
farm buildings and houses, and pleasant vineyards, proclaim it
successful.
Few of the settlers had any considerable sum of money and they
bought the land in small tracts of from 10 to 60 acres, though usually
about 20, uncleared, for $20 or $25 per acre, paying $20, $50, or $100
down on a contract for a deed when paid for, interest at 6 per cent.
The new owner usually erected a small frame cabin and began to
clear the land. Duiing the summer he worked by the day for
neighbors; in the berry season the whole family hired out as berry
pickers. Some of the settlers worked on a railroad or in the several
mills, glass works, and factories, putting in every spare moment on
their own land. A few chickens and a horse were the first live-stock
purchased and nearly every man was able to make a living from his
farm and poultry the second or third year and meet his payments
by his outside day labor. Several paid for their first tracts in three
years and at once began to buy more land. Many of the new farms
were very sandy and some were swamps that had to be drained with
mattock and spade and cleared foot by foot. Almost all of the first
comers or their sons are now well-to-do citizens with fine farms,
good buildings, houses and lots in town, and money in the banks or
loan association. Since 1890 many have bought out previous owners,
usually Americans, and settled on cleared land. All have passed
through seasons of depressed agriculture that proved their ability
to hold fast and, by persevering industry, weather financial crises,
and outlast the thrips, the rot, and the blight to which many American
farmers were forced to succumb. The historical facts in the foregoing
have been gleaned from the report of the United States Senate
Immigration Commission of 1909, and from interviews with citizens.
Vineland, in Cumberland County, N. J., the nearest incorporated
place of any size to the colonies described, is 35 miles south by
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southeast of Philadelphia, about 120 miles from New York City,
and 28 miles from Atlantic City. It is a thrifty, well-laid-out town,
which the 1920 census states has a population of 6,799, and which
the enterprising citizens hope to increase co 16,834, making it a
second-class city, by extending the borough limits to take in all
of Landis Township, offering the farmers, for their consent, electric
light and water mains along the principal roads and equitable varia
tions in the rates of taxation for the several districts. Cumberland
County has 61,348 population, but the number of Italians therein has
not yet been reported. In 1910 there were 1,735 foreign-born Italians
and 1,382 American-born Italians in the county, not all of them
in farm families, for many were in business or in industrial pursuits in
the good sized towns of Bridgeton (14,209), Millville (12,451), and
Vineland (5,282), with a combined population of 31,942 of the
55,153 people in the county at that time. The combined population
of the three towns in 1920 is 35,813, as against the rural population
of 25,535 in the county.
Present Condition of Italian Farmers in Cumberland County.
The tables below, abstracted from the United States Census
returns, show for 1910 and 1920 farm data for Cumberland County
and for the Italian farmers of the county.
ACREAGE A N D V A LUE OF FARMS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N. J., AND OF FARMS
OPERATED BY ITALIAN FARM ERS OF THAT COUNTY, 1910 AND 1920.
Farms of Cumberland County.
Operated by Italian-born
farmers.1
Total.
Item.
1910
1920
1910
1920
Number of farms operated by:
Owners....................................
Managers....................- ...........
Tenants....... - .........................
2,142
62
520
2,481
64
549
236
2
23
Total.....................................
2,724
3,094
261
158,553
96,829
141,714
90,676
9,091
6,614
$9,613,815
622,521
1,207,260
$17,523,635
1,706,623
2,423,846
$1,500,145
103, 825
122,058
11,443,596
21,654,104
1,726,028
Land in farms............. .................
Improved land.............................
Value of farm property:
Land and buildings.............
Implements and machinery
Live stock...............................
Total.....................................
.acres..
.do—
321
_,.......
21
342
i Census officials enumerated farms according to the birthplace of their owners; consequently there
is no way to segregate the farms owned or rented by American-born Italians. The Vineland Chamber
of Commerce estimates the number of such farms in Cumberland County at 120 and their vaiue at 1500,000.
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STOCK A N D PO ULTRY ON FARMS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N. J., AN D ON FARMS
OF ITALIAN FARM ERS OF T H A T COUNTY IN 1920.
Number of animals and
poultry of each kind on
farms of—
Kind of stock.
Cumberland
County.
Farms reporting domestic animals.
Stock and poultry reported:
Horses.......................... ..............
Mules...........................................
Cattle..........................................
Dairy cows.................................
Sheep
Swine...........................................
Goats..........................................
Chickens.....................................
Turkeys......................................
D ucks..........................................
Geese _.... ....................................
Guineas.......................................
Pigeons.......................................
Hives of bees.....................................
Eggs produced.............. .dozens..
Italian-born
farmers.1
2,425
301
4,919
486
8,569
5,846
183
6,480
53
280,598
251
1,530
273
2,072
7,616
181
1,476,887
340
25
292
240
456
16
12,257
5
31
2
229
46,666
1 See footnote to preceding table.
From the tables above it is seen that there were on January 1, 1920,
in Cumberland County 321 farm owners and 21 farm tenants, who were
born in Italy, and that they own farm property worth $1,726,028.
It is estimated by the Vineland Chamber of Commerce that there are
120 farms in Cumberland County owned or rented by American-born
Italian descendants for which by reason of the make-up of the census
schedules statistics could not be segregated from the schedules for
farms owned by all classes of persons born in the United States. The
value of these farms is conservatively placed at $500,000, and may with
propriety be counted as a part of the Italian colony statistics when
added to the census figures. It may therefore be said that the value
of farm property owned by Italians and Italian descendants in Cum
berland County is approximately $2,226,028. In the report to the
United States Treasurv on November 15, 1920, the combined deposits
of the three banks in Vineland amounted to $4,875,362.71, of which the
part owned by Italians is placed by the Chamber of Commerce at 30
percent, or $1,462,608.81. These figures., however, include deposits
from Italians over the line in Atlantic County and of course are exclu
sive of deposits by Italians banking at Briageton and Millville. As
indicative of the intangible property held by Italians they are inter
esting, but not very useful for comparative purposes. It is estimated
that 50 Italians in Landis Township paid income taxes last year. In
connection with property owned and wealth added to that of southern
New Jersey by Italian settlers it should be borne in mind that sta
tistics have been obtained for but one county, that of Cumberland.
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The size of crops of each specified kind raised on farms of Cumber
land County and of the Italian farmers therein in 1919 are shown
below:
CROPS OF EACH SPECIFIED KIND HARV ESTED IN 1919 ON FARMS OF CUMBERLAND
COUNTV, N. J., A N D ON FARMS OF ITALIAN FARMERS.
Crops of each speci
fied kind raised on
farms of—
Cumberland
County.
Kind of crop.
Italianborn .
farmers.1
Quantity.
Corn...............................................bushels.
W heat.................................................d o ...
O a ts...................................................d o ...
R y e..................................................... d o ...
Hay and forage.................................tons.
Potatoes....................................... bushels.
Sweet potatoes................................. d o ...
Apples...............................'...............d o ...
Peaches.............................................. d o ...
Pears...................................................d o ...
Plum s................................................. d o ...
Cherries.......... .................................. d o ...
N uts.............................................. pounds.
Grapes................................................ d o ...
Strawberries.................. .............. quarts.
Blackberries and dewberries.... .d o ...
Raspberries.......................................do. ..
Loganberries..................................... d o ...
Cranberries........................................d o ...
693,095
85,076
13,358
8,321
52,719
605,009
246,033
83,062
98,025
35,762
399
998
969
520,616
1, 832,295
227,937
3,582
4,000
87,097
24,785
278
170
20
550
14,348
100,156
633
10,300
1,356
3
15
241,483
293,773
152,509
1,400
4,000
5,100
Value.
$291,651
138,410
491,071
393,969
59,868
456,698
39,530
Green peppers
Green beans...
Onions.............
Lettuce............
Green peas___
Tomatoes........
Cucumbers__
$64,216
17,583
13,772
13, 740
12,793
9,984
5,380
1See footnote to table on p. 4.
The more prosperous of the Italian farmers are ambitious to own
labor-saving machinery and it is estimated that they have 15 plow
tractors and 200 motor trucks, mostly of the 1-ton capacity, in use
in Cumberland County. In the past year there were shipped into
Vineland about 50 cars of commercial fertilizer, composed of nitrates
from South America, sheep manure from the Dakotas, tankage from
Omaha, Kansas City, and Chicago, fish guano, and hydrated lime.
About 120 cars of stable manure were also hauled to the farms. It
is said that the Italians set the pace for the native farmers hi buying
fertilizers but do not always use them as intelligently as could be
desired.
Taxes Paid by Italians.
Some figures are given below indicative of the part Italians take
in helping to pay public expenses by improving uncleared lands in
East Vineland district, the valuations for which are considered low.
The data were supplied by Mr. G. E. Smith, tax collector for Landis
township, who estimates that there are about as many more Italian
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taxpayers in other parts of the township. It is impracticable an
this time to segregate the total taxation paid by Italians in the town
ship or in the county.
L A N D IS T O W N S H IP .
Poll tax assessed, entire township..............................................................
1, 881
Valuation on which county, State, and State school taxes are appor
tioned........................................................................................................... $3,414,563.00
Total tax rate for the year 1920 per $100 of valuation............................
3. 98
Apportionment of taxes as follows:
State road................................................................................................
3,414. 56
State school.................................................................................... , . . .
8,772.11
County.....................................................................................................
21, 561. 56
Local school............................................................................................
71,406. 01
28, 544. 24
Local township......................................................................................
East Vineland district, in Landis Township.
Poll tax, district exclusively Italian................................................. ..........
Valuation of improvements......................................................... $64, 250. 00
Valuation of land without improvements................................. 126, 600. 00
184
Total valuation of real estate............................................................... $190, 850. 00
Amount of tax paid on land valuation...................................... $5, 038. 68
Amount of tax paid on improvement valuation......................
2, 557.15
7,595. 83
Total tax paid on real estate..................................................... .
The amounts paid on specified items may be obtained by multiplying the valuations
by the rate as follows:
State road............................................. .............................................................. $0.10
State school................................................................................................................ 2569
County........................................................................................................................ 6315
Local school....................................................................................................... 2.139
Local township...............................................................................
8495
Total rate
3. 9769
The valuation of real estate in Landis Township is $3,011,725; the personal property
is valued at $531,900, and personal property of public utilities is valued at $55,200.
Exemptions allowed bring the total value of taxable property to $3,414,563.
Italian Settlement at Hammonton,
N. J.1
At this time the Italian development is some 4 or 5 miles away
from the borough of Vineland as a center. There are well-estab
lished settlements at East Vineland or “ New Italy ” and over the
county line in Atlantic County at Minatola and Landisville.
There are also flourishing Italian settlements in the neighborhood
of Hammonton and cheap lands to be had near by. Hammonton,
according to the 1920 census, has a population of 6,417 and has been
built up largely as a result of the agricultural prosperity of Italians.
These came from Sicily and are of the class looked upon by
many Americans as undesirables. They have lived down asper
sions and by industry, thrift, and unassuming stability of character
have gained a poise and a business standing in striking contrast
with the less independent city Italians. Berries, small fruits, and
grapes are their specialties, though some sweet potatoes are mar
keted. Each settler has a small garden from which he raises a sur1 An Interesting study of the Sicilian settlers at Hammonton, by Em ily Fogg Meade, was published in
Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 70, May, 1907.
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prising amount and variety of vegetables, enough for the greater
share of the family’s food supply the year round. Of the 5,088
population in 1910, 1,548 are classed as foreign-born whites and
1,869 as native whites of foreign or mixed parentage; probably 3,500
of the residents may be considered to be Italians or of Italian descent.
Agricultural statistics of 1920 for Hammonton and Atlantic County
are not available at present.
Italian Characteristics.
The Italians do not want to be patronized. All they want is a
chance to work their way. An illustrative incident is told by a
member of a country school parent-teachers’ association. When
some necessary funds were to be raised it was suggested that the
Italian women be not asked to contribute, but one of them standing
by at once insisted: “ We don’t want anything we can’t pay for.”
Again, a farmer who had some fine pears brought a bushel of them
to his American neighbor as a present, but let it be known that he
could make use of some old newspapers as wrappers if the neighbor
cared to give them to him.
They will not buy things they can not pay for, and while their
purchases may not be large, tradesmen welcome their patronage,
knowing that cash payment will be forthcoming. The banks report
that Italians are uniformly prompt in meeting their obligations and
are very desirable customers.
The homes of many of the Italian farmers are bare of ornaments
and are not tidy, but there is generally a marked improvement when
the owners become more prosperous. The women are said to be
poor cooks but are even more industrious than the men in field
work. Some homes are not much better than city tenements. In
certain four-room houses two rooms are taken up for storage and
sweating-out of sweet potatoes while the family lives in one
room and the kitchen. Except in winter, however, few hours
other than those spent in sleep are passed indoors, and the
tendency is always toward better living conditions. The health
of the families is generally good and physicians report the chil
dren to be heavier and more robust than Italian children of the
city tenement districts where there is often a lack of proper food,
clothing, and fresh air. There is said to be little tuberculosis, but
an epidemic like the “ flu” takes a fearful toll.
Italian farmers seldom figure in the court records for offenses
against the law, and their calls upon the poor fund of the county are
relatively small.
A prosperous Italian business man who came to Vineland 35 years
ago and who is, by reason of connection with a steamship company,
in a position to know, states that when they have gained a competence,
there is practically no desire on the part of the settlers to return to
Italy to stay. Quite a number have gone back for visits. He and
his family have toured Europe, but had no wish to live there. He
says many young Europeans prepare to meet the literacy test of the
immigration law long before they accumulate means enough to make
the trip. The person referred to stated that he had been a
shoemaker in Naples before landing in New York, and at the sug-
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gestion of a relative had come to Vineland in 1886 to accept work
in a shoe factory. Mr. Landis often consulted him about Italians
in New York who might make desirable farmers, and together they
had been instrumental in getting some settlers to come who have
since raised children, and have become well-to-do citizens.
One Italian resident who owns a good home and has a substantial
bank account was an organ grinder in the streets of New York in
his earlier days. He bought a small tract of land at Vineland and
undertook the work of clearing it of brush. Before getting it
paid for he renewed his organ grinding in New York more than
once and then settled down to farming in earnest. He has two
daughters who have been graduated from the high school, have gone
to other schools, and are teachers by profession. They are as refined
and cultured women as one would meet in any city home.
Some of the former occupations given by early settlers were
“ carpenter,” “ newsboy and bootblack,” “ proprietor of shoe-shining
parlor,” “ hod carrier,” “ dockyard laborer,” “ teamster,” and
“ laborer on railroad construction.” Many of the late comers have
been miners.
Five brothers, business men in Vineland, represent an interesting
type of the second generation of Italians. The father came to Vineland
in 1874 from Genoa. He bought a farm, to which later accessions were
made, and after his death, in 1909, 25 more acres were bought, so that
140 acres are now cultivated by his five sons as a partnership firm.
The past season 28 acres were in sweet potatoes, 26 acres were in
white potatoes, 25 acres in peach trees, and the remainder in pear
and apple trees, grapevines, and vegetables. One brother, as senior
partner, presides over the general business; one manages motor
truck routes to Philadelphia and Atlantic City; another conducts
a store distributing farm implements, a harness-repair shop, and a
horse sales exchange, and provides motorized equipment for weddings
and funerals; another operates an up-to-date blacksmith and wheel
wright shop with facilities for building motor bodies of any size; the
youngest is not yet in charge of a department but shares in the wide
interests of the firm, including ownership of various business and
residence properties in the town.
Opportunities for Employment.
There is ample employment for farm hands, and farmers have
complained of not being able to get help, even when meeting the
prices paid by the industrial plants, although there has been a dis
tinct increase of late in applications for la m work. Farm labor is
paid about $45 a month when board and lodging are furnished.
The Seabrook Farms Co. and the Waldeck Farms (Inc.) are
pioneering, as corporation-managed farms, in a field that promises
much for the increasing city populations who have had reason to
worry over where their future food supplies are to come from. The
Seabrook Farms, near Bridgeton, are the realization of the boyhood
dreams of Charles F. Seabrook, son of a market gardener, trained in
practical truck growing for “ quantity production.” The company
was incorporated in 1912 and has constantly developed its plan of
a “ factoryized” farm. Its outstanding ideas are overhead irriga
tion, heavy manuring, and production of vegetables under glass in
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winter, to keep the force busy the year round. The farms produced
and sold over $500,000 worth of crops in 1919 from 1,000 acres of
improved land, 200 acres of which are under irrigation. There were
planted this year 1,500 acres in fruit trees, so that when they get to
bearing the present force of 300 employees will have to be increased.
This is of interest in a way to those having to do with immigration
problems for the reason that 15 families of Poles and Russian refugees
fresh from Ellis Island were employed the past season. These people,
numbering about 60, are living in houses equipped with electric
lighting, running water, etc., and the manager states that he can
supply housing accommodations and labor for 100 more of the same
kind of people. Hospital and school accommodations are good, each
cottage has its home garden plot, and an ideal community center is
maintained in the farm village. One feature is life insurance in
amounts based on length of service, payable to the beneficiary of
each employee without expense to the latter. Wages are paid in
competition with the factories in Bridgeton, 4 miles away, unskilled
labor receiving $3 a day and extras.
The Waldeck Farms (Inc.), Milmay post office, controls 17,000
acres of land extending from New Italy south and east and gives
employment to 40 men the year round clearing brush land, and
perhaps 150 in the planting season. For clearing work $4 a day is
paid. The company’s tests in growing licorice root have not yet
been successful, but it is now experimenting with tobacco and other
produce in large quantities.
Minch Bros, at Bridgeton also employ a number of farm hands at
wages in competition with the factories.
Some farmers wTork in the winter season for the three glass fac
tories in Vineland, each factory employing from 10 to 20 outside
men; others take section work on the railroads. Common labor is
paid $19 to $20 a week. The sand and gravel pits give steady work
at from $5 to $6 a day. A cannery at Landisville employs about 60
people the year round and twTo other canneries operate in the berry
and fruit season.
Markets and Prices Received for Crops.
For the season of 1920 the Central Railroad of New Jersey shipped
956 cars (not always full) of farm produce from the central depot
and approximately 1,900 cars from Main Avenue and Wheat Road
stations and Landisville; in all, about 2,856 cars from the Vineland
tract. Included in these shipments were approximately 14,162
crates of strawberries, 10,000 crates of blackberries, and 106,000
crates of peaches. The relatively light shipments of berries are due
to the large purchases made by the canneries of the neighborhood.
Probably 50,000 half-bushel baskets of peaches were also taken to
Atlantic City by farmers in trucks or were carried in trucks sent out
from that city direct to the orchards. City trucks also collect other
vegetables and make a market for farmers at their doorways.
Farm products are sold through the Vineland Poultry Association,
the Peach Growers’ Association, and general associations in East
Vineland and West Vineland, but probably most of the shipping is
done through New York and Philadelphia buyers who come for an
open market. Prices received in 1920 were not so high as in 1919.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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immigrant farm colonies in southern new jersey .
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Freight, cartage, and commission charges of 10 per cent are to be
deducted from the prices quoted below.
Sweet potatoes brought from $1.25 to $2.75 per bushel at the
station in 1920, and ranged from $2 to $4 per bushel in 1919.
‘'Sweets’' can be stored from September to May or June and even
August, when they may sell for from $5 to $6 a bushel.
White potatoes, by reason of oversupply, brought approximately
$3.50 a barrel (3 bushels) at the station as against $9 a barrel at
times in 1919. During a few months in 1919 one dealer went about
from farm to farm and gathered 21 carloads of white potatoes at
$3.20 a bushel and shipped them to Atlantic City.
Peaches sent by motor truck to Atlantic City sold at from $1.50
to $2 a basket bushel) as against $1.90 to $2.40 in 1919.
Strawberries, an important cash crop, brought $4' a crate (32
quarts) this year and about the same in 1919. Many women and
children gather strawberries at 2 cents a quart. There has probably
been an increase in recent planting of strawberries, but they are not
considered a profitable crop unless put on the market earlier or
later than berries from other sections.
Peppers ranged from $4 down to 50 cents for a bushel hamper,
which were about the same prices received in 1919. The first peppers
on the market bring the high prices.
Cucumbers for pickles brought from 80 cents to $4 a barrel.
Lettuce is an important crop the year round and brings from 75
cents to $4 a crate (2 dozen heads) without much variation in price
from 1919. Much of the fall and winter crop is grown in cold frames.
By reason of the sugar shortage in 1919 the market was poor for
cranberries, but brisk demands in 1920 are expected at $3 per
bushel.
Kiefer pears brought 50 cents a basket at the canneries as against
$1 to $1.50 a basket in 1919. The demand was so light that hundreds
of bushels were not gathered but were left to rot on the ground.
There was an oversupply of tomatoes in 1920, and they sold from
50 cents down to 20 cents a basket. In bulk at the canneries tomatoes
sold in 1919 at $20 a ton.
Grapes are used almost exclusively for home consumption.
Labor Conditions.
The average truck farm of from 15 to 20 acres, with a house costing
$1,500 and a barn costing $800, can probably be bought for $6,000.
Hired labor is paid from $3.50 to $4 for a 9-hour day. Women and
children get less. Trading in labor is common—that is, one farmer
and his help will work for another farmer on some special crop in
exchange for an equivalent labor return on a crop for the first man.
The man often works at outside occupations while the wife and
children run the farm. After a section hand has worked eight hours
on the railroad he may put in three or four hours on his crops daily,
possibly be allowed two weeks off by the railroad company in the busy
season, and with his labor, supplemented by that of his wife and
family, will manage to grow a very fair crop of vegetables.
A prosperous Italian farmer, who has been a member of the local
board of education for many years, is a member of the executive corn249330—21
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mittee of the Atlantic County Farm Bureau, and has been actively
in favor of all county improvements, stated that he felt it to be his
duty to have the interest of the community at heart, and that he
would do all he reasonably could to help others get a start at farming,
He said they would have plenty of very hard work grubbing and dig
ging stumps and brush, and must not expect to accomplish too much
the first year. It will be the man’s own fault, however, if he does
not succeed, for he can get plenty of work in the neighborhood at 40
cents an hour for a 10-hour day, and he can clean up his own land for
an hour or two a day after his other work is over and put in full days
at it in the winter. When he was grubbing his own land, $4 a day
would have been fabulous, and he was glad to get $1 and SI.25. He
had personally helped a number of his hired hands to get started by
selling them on contract small plots of brush land for exactly what he
had paid for it, charging no interest, but having an understanding
that if it was not paid for in five years no deed would pass. He gave
them berry plants and peach sprouts and tried to be helpful in other
ways. All of them made good with their payments. The transpor
tation problem had been solved for him by truckers coming to his
doorway to buy his peaches and potatoes.
Another farmer was solicitous that newcomers should not make the
mistake of locating too far from a shipping point, as he had done at
first, although that difficulty is now partly overcome by the use of
motor trucks. He had changed his first location and had prospered.
He also had helped a number ofltalians to get established on the land.
Comparison of Advantages of City and Farm Life.
A good many young Italians have been attracted from the farms
by the high wages, the short hours, and the care-free life offered them
in town or city industries, but most of them have plans to go back
to the land if hard times come. One man, asked as to his idea of a
preventive of the boys and girls leaving the farms, said the only cure
is to give them a money interest in their work and such home attrac
tions and sociable times with neighbors as will make them want to
stay where they are. Relatively more American boys leave the farms
for town life than Italian young men. One of the latter, a glassworker, said he could not possibly do so well on the farm as he could
where he was, at his present wages. Another Italian, middle aged,
stated that he had made good wages in the city as a barber and had
also had employment as an automobile mechanic, but that he had
made a mistake in not sticking to the farm where he was raised.
He had drawn big wages, but was compelled to spend them. His
boyhood companions who had remained on the land, who had never
handled half the ready money he had, were now independent landowners with comfortable bank accounts and in much better condition
to care for their families than he was to provide for his. He expressed
the opinion that there are many Italians in construction gangs, in
quarries, and in mines who are tired of what he termed ‘‘wage
slavery,” and would like to get possession of little farms of their own,
however much hard work is required to dig a living from them.
This is corroborative of statements by other Italian and native citizens
that of the 40 to 50 Italian farm families that came into the neigh
borhood the past year, many of the men were miners from Pennsyl-
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vania. They were attracted by the belief that their families would
be more healthful on farms; that they would be nearer Italian relatives
and friends; and that they would be more independent of employers.
Most of them originally came to visit friends, and later decided to go
to farming. They bought mostly improved lands from other Italians
or native Americans, who for one reason or another wished to sell
their holdings.
These two Italians are typical of tens of thousands of young men and
young women who have deserted the farms for city life. Some fail.
Some return, as did the barber referred to, and confess that they are
sadder but wiser than when they left. Others make good in the cities,
and it is to them that the call comes to use their influence in boards of
trade, in church and civic societies, with captains of industry, and
with the public generally to take a personal interest in locating
immigrants on virgin soils or on the farms deserted or half manned
by Americans. Help must also be extended to the present farmers in
solving their financial and marketing problems, or the cities will pay
dearly for their neglect. Life on the farms can be made so attractive
and so profitable that the young people will be glad to stay there.
The back-to-the-land movement that magazines and economists have
been urging so many years gets nowhere, for very few urbanites are
willing to go and the ones who do go are largely unfitted for the task.
The “factoryized” farm, referred to elsewhere, is a most hopeful
augury of coming days; corporations might also copy departmentstore and chain-store ideas, by putting the buying and marketing ends
of farming in the hands of experts trained for the purpose and allowing
men to run their own farms as though they were stores, after agreeing
to pay so much per hour for labor and so much commission on sales
over the other costs for fertilizers, seeds, and machinery used, and a
fair interest return on the capital invested, represented by the
appraised value of land and personal property counted as stock in
the corporation. Agricultural colleges can also largely increase their
good work, but when all is said and done the country need not expect
tranquillity until the individual “ dirt” farmers are more prosperous
than they are now. Some such national rural credits system as that
of Denmark would be helpful.
'
Factors of Citizenship.
The superintendent of the Landis Township schools reports a tota!
enrollment of 3,335 pupils of school age, of which number 1,187 are of
Italian parentage. The attendance is as follows: Central, 151;
borough, west, 158; borough, east, 450; and township schools, 428.
From a class of 52 graduating in 1920, 6 were Italians, and there are
6 of that nationality in the present senior class. Italian graduates
of the high school have frequently gone on to college. The Italian
children are bright, ambitious, and punctual in attendance, except
in the planting season, when the parents insist that they must use all
the help that they can get. As a concession, four hours is considered
a school day at that time of the year.
The Italians of Landis Township have done their share in paying
taxes for the good roads, schools, and other State institutions, and in
supporting the churches and various civic activities in the com
munity. They invested in Liberty bonds to the extent of $285,900 out
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of the total of $1,906,000 for the town, and gave an estimated amount
of $14,835.90 to the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., the Knights of Colum
bus, and for other patriotic causes through the War Chest, organized
in May, 1918, and operated until July 19, 1919. The total collections
for the township War Chest were $44,507.70. There were no draft
evaders among their young men, and the first Yinelander to be killed
in battle was an Italian. Six Italians from the township in the
service were killed or died from disease. Of the 736 soldiers regis
tered from Landis Township 149 were Italians. Of thenumber, less
than 20 were unable to read and write English, and of the others a
number were high-school graduates. Perhaps 40 per cent of the 149
were born in the United States. Two local Italians who for
physical reasons were rejected for service with the American Army
managed to get across the sea and into the Italian Army and carried
guns against Germany. In one of the Liberty loan speaking cam
paigns an old Italian made his way through the crowd to the desk and
handed over a red bandanna handkerchief wrapped around $100 and
said, “ Want no bond; want to give it.” ITe disappeared before his
name could be ascertained and is unknown to this clay.
It is difficult to state accurately how many of the 342 foreign-born
Italian farm owners and tenants in Cumberland County have become
citizens since coming to the United States. The records of the
Bureau of Naturalization show that from September 27, 1906, the date
the present naturalization law became effective, up to October 1,
1920, there had been filed in the Court of Common Pleas for Cumber
land County at Bridgeton, N. J., for all nationalities 748 declarations
of intention and 390 petitions for naturalization, from which there
were granted 397 certificates of citizenship. The 397 certificates
referred to were granted to soldiers in the American Army and to
petitioners and include all nationalities applying. Segregation from
the court records at Bridgeton of the number of certificates issued'to
Italians shows that they received 127 final papers. It seems probable
therefore that a considerable number of Italian farmers are aliens.
Of the 2,348 foreign-born males of all nationalities of voting age
enumerated in the county (including Bridgeton and Millville) in 1910,
1,081 were naturalized, 157 had first papers, 698 were aliens, and the
citizenship status of 412 was unknown. Taking these figures with
those elsewhere cpioted as to illiteracy it would seem th-at Cumberland
County citizens have a field for patriotic Americanization work
among adult foreigners through their public schools. In this con
nection attention is called to the invitation by the Division of Citizen
ship Training, Bureau of Naturalization, Department of Labor,
Washington, D. C., for such as are interested to write for assistance
that will be freely given to help organize and sustain a very important
work now in progress throughout the Nation. However, in view of
the scattered locations of the foreign farmers and their tendency to
work from daylight until dark, it will be something of a test of
their earnestness whether they will sufficiently overcome the desire
to rest their tired muscles to go perhaps long distances to a night
school. Notwithstanding their handicaps they are an intelligent set
of men, and the percentage of illiteracy is not so high among them as
among the native Jersey men. They pick up a very considerable
knowledge of English from their boys and girls in the public schools.
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They are solicitous to have their children take advantage of the
American school system, and are all the more so if illiterate them
selves. Of the 16,670 males of voting age in Cumberland County in
1910, 911, or 5.5 per cent, could not read and write. Of the 911,
442 were American-born whites, 330 were foreign-born whites (by
no means all Italians), and 139 were Negroes.
As the population records for the 1920 census are not yet available
in detail, figures from the census of 1910 are used as illustrative of
certain characteristics of the people of Cumberland County. In that
year there were 27,844 males and 27,309 females; there were 16,670
males of voting age, of whom 12,113 were native whites of native
parentage, 1,430 were native whites of foreign or mixed parentage,
2,348 were foreign-born whites, 775 were Negroes, and 4 were Indians,
Chinese, or Japanese. Of persons 10 years old and over, 1,963 were
illiterate; these included 849 native whites, 822 foreign-born whites,
and 292 Negroes. Of persons 10 to 20 years of age, inclusive, 187
were illiterate. Relative to school age and attendance, the total num
ber of persons within the ages of 6 to 20 years, inclusive, is given as
15,750, of whom 9,920 were attending school; of persons within the
ages of 6 to 14 years, inclusive, there were 9,295 enumerated, of whom
8,191 were attending school. Of the latter number, 5,879 were
native whites of native parentage, 1,605 were native whites of foreign
or mixed parentage, 297 were foreign-born whites, and 410 were Ne
groes. The dwellings enumerated were 12,786, accommodating
13,189 families.
At the recent general election the Italian women in Vineland
borough entitled to suffrage cast relatively as many ballots as the
Italian men and were thoroughly interested in the election. A full
vote was out and the Italians cast about 500 ballots in the total of
1,936. In the first precinct of Landis Township, a country precinct,
out of a total of 1,128 enrolled, only 590 men and women voted.
Opportunities for Prospective Farmers.
Farm Land in Vicinity of Vineland.
'T'HERE is ample room and there are exceptional opportunities
1 around Landisville, Buena, Richland, and south of Milmay,
along the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, for Italian immigrants
who have just arrived at Ellis Island or for those who have been here
longer and are willing to work 15 or 20 acre plots of ground in the
same way that led to the success of the many Italian settlers in
Cumberland and Atlantic counties. This conclusion is concurred in
by L. G. Gillam, of the State department of conservation and
development, Trenton, N. J., who spent two days with the writer
prospecting the land and interviewing representative Italian and
American property owners in the neighborhood as well as at “New
Italy,” or East Vineland, Landisville, and elsewhere, in trips covering
60 miles. The land referred to is in brush and in an undeveloped
state, but some of it is as good for agricultural purposes if cleared as
was that about Vineland borough originally.
Arrangements have been made by which the Land Registry, Depart
ment of Conservation and Development, Trenton, N.J., acting through
Mr. Gillam, will attend to correspondence, and refer prospective
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Italian settlers to John Casazza, East Vineland (Vineland P. O.), N.
T., and Felix Donato, Landisville, N. J. These men generously agreed
k> donate their time to go with newcomers over the lands in their neigh
borhoods and give the facts as to property values. Mr. Casazza and
■Mr. Donato are not land agents, but are well-to-do farmers, who have
been helpful to many of their countrymen in past years and are
dependable citizens. In case inquiries are made as to lands not
near the homes of the gentlemen named, the services of Albert E.
Wilkinson, Mays Landing, N. J., county agricultural agent for Atlantic
County, will be called on, he having offered to give such assistance
as may be practicable. If Italians desire to write in their own
language, it is suggested that they address their letters to Mr.
Casazza or Mr. Donato, inclosing stamps for replies.
It is recommended that inexperienced men hire out as farm hands
for such time as will demonstrate whether or not it is best for them
to buy land. Employment can be readily found. There have been
cases of disillusionment near the borough of Vineland, where native
Americans have paid to agents boom prices for land not justified by
its earning power. It is believed, however, that an average of $20 per
acre is reasonable for small tracts of uncleared land from properties
herein described. No one need think he will have an easy road to
wealth; the opportunities, however, are as good as ever for those who
will work as hard as did the present Italian proprietors.
Inquiries will receive prompt attention if addressed to “ The Land
Registry, Department of Conservation and Development, Trenton,
N. J.,” regarding tracts of land described below. As there are wide
variations in soil values, possible purchasers should protect them
selves by seeing the land in person.
1. Lying along the main highway between Buena and Richland and within 1 mile
of the railroad, 1,500 acres of good land, uncleared, with sufficient elevation for farming
purposes. In the fall of 1920 owner was willing to sell in 10 and 15 acre plots for an
average of $20 an acre.
2. Between Buena and Richland along State road and parallel with railroad, 272
acres. Land has on it a new 5-room house and a new 4-room bungalow, with probably
an acre of cleared ground around each house. The land is in brush and was offered in
1920 at an average price of $50 per acre. I t is about 2 miles from Landisville, and
the soil is the best of its kind for sweet potatoes, peppers, etc.
3. In the Richland neighborhood part of a large estate could be purchased in 1920
at $20 per acre.
4. Near Richland, from 300 to 400 acres, in tracts to suit, at about $20 an acre in 1920.
5. Near Richland, two estates, one of 700 acres and the other of 600 acres, managed
by an executor who asked in 1920 about $7 an acre if bought as a whole; would proba
bly sell in small tracts.
6. Four miles south of Elmer Post Office, 52 acres of partly improved land with a
building that can be converted into a 6-room house at an expenditure of $200, th e
whole offered in 1920 for $1,800, or would sell in tracts of 10 acres or more; plenty of
day labor in the neighborhood; initial payment may be small, and time in which to
complete the contract for deed at the option of the buyer.
7. On main highway from Mays Landing to Richland, 500 acres of brush and wood
land; top soil sandy with a gravelly subsoil. Entire tract could be bought in 1920 for
approximately $8 an acre.
8. On the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, south of Risley Station, 800 acres of
brush land; light sandy to sandy loam nature with a gravelly subsoil; price in 1920
about $10 an acre.
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Farms In New jersey A t Large.
The following excerpts are from New Jersey for Progressive Farm
ers, a booklet printed in 1920 by the Department of Conservation
and Development, Trenton, N. J.:
Though many of our farms are yielding high returns, there are now available for
immediate and future development a million acres of land quite as good as most of
that now in profitable culture. Three hundred and fifty thousand acres of the best
grain and fruit land occupy the valleys and hillsides of Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic,
Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties. Six hundred and fifty thousand acres lie
in the southern half of the State, where the soil is light and easily worked and the
growing season long.
Some land in south Jersey is of little value for agricultural purposes and should
remain in forest, but the impression that it all is sterile is altogether wrong.
New Jersey can offer no public land, but much of that which is available can be
purchased for less than the assessments on so-called “ free lands” in other States.
Uncleared land can be secured for from $5 to $20 an acre; cleared land without build
ings for $20 an acre; run-down farms with buildings for as little as $50 an acre, while
farms in good condition can often be obtained for from $60 to $100 an acre, depending
upon location and other conditions. From these low figures prices range upward,
yet with many opportunities to acquire good farms upon better terms than those that
rule in other States. There are also opportunities to rent.
New Jersey’s repute has suffered not a little through the ill-advised—sometimes
conscienceless—efforts of boomers, who, with no knoudedge of the diversity of our
soils and with no knowledge of or interest in the requirements for successful farming,
have advertised tracts of land for farming enterprises, especially fruit and poultry
raising, in a way that has brought disappointment to many. The State and its
official agencies stand for none of these efforts. There is no bonanza to be found
here and no effort is made to attract farmers or families wrho hope to find an easy
living on the land. Our appeal is made to those who seek opportunity to practice
and to develop their skill as farmers under agreeable living conditions and where
success may be assured through honest work intelligently directed.
The land registry of the department is maintained to advise prospective settlers
regarding suitable locations. It gives, without charge, definite and trustworthy
information about farming opportunities and conditions and assists in securing farms
adapted to the inquirer’s needs, experience, and financial ability. It is in touch
with available properties in every part of the State, ranging from uncleared land and
run-down farms to highly developed farms of all sizes and types. Correspondence is
invited.
National and. State Sources of Information.
ETOR the benefit of students in Americanization schools and immiA grants generally who would like to learn of land opportunities
in other States than New Jersey, it may be said that there is perhaps
not a State in the Union where agricultural officers will not be glad
to answer inquiries addressed to them. A number of the States
issue bulletins descriptive of farms for sale or rent. As an instance,
the New York department of farms and markets printed in 1920 an
illustrated booklet of 425 pages, giving the location, description of
buildings and soil, nearness to railroads, price, etc., for over 4,000
such farms. The commissioner of agriculture, Albany, N. Y., states
that he is desirous of getting in touch with those seeking to be
informed as to New York farms and will be pleased to give assistance
and advice. The same helpful spirit will be found among the Federal
officials in Washington.
The United States Department of Agriculture will answer free of
charge practically any question as to drainage, irrigation, engineering,
farm organization, cost of production, land settlement, farm life, or
other farm problems, and while it does not undertake to quote prices
at which given farm lands may be bought or recommend localities,
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it will refer inquirers to reliable State or other officials who will
answer them. Its administration of the Federal act in aid of States
developing a good-roads program, its system of up-to-date market
reporting, its trained workers who combat animal and vegetable dis
eases and study to improve the live-stock and plant industries, its
Weather Bureau, its corps of experts on soil chemistry and those in
the State experiment stations, and its many other activities are in
constant service to the farm population.
The United States Treasury Department, through its Federal Farm
Loan Bureau, will answer inquiries as to the workings of the latter.
Under restrictions farmers may borrow up to half the purchase price
of a farm at 5| per cent interest and have 341 years in which to pay
off the mortgage, if the land bank appraisers decide that the price
is a fair one.
The Post Office Department has been working for some years on a
plan to link together the farm colonies and the city markets and for
a time had an experimental parcel-post service to deliver goods at a
special rate direct from the farmhouse to the city patron. This was
discontinued July 1, 1920, for lack of appropriations. At present a
similar service in 10 or 12 communities is given in the star-route
service, where Government motors are provided but not at the special
rate. Lists of farmers and their commodities were provided the con
sumers and the latter sent their orders by mail on terms of payment
agreed on and promptly received their produce in safe and economical
containers minus the complained-of profit to the middleman. In
1919 mo tor-transport routes to the number of 36 were designated in
different parts of the country, and the scheme contemplated the
building of 15,000 miles of post roads independent of State initiative.
On some of the routes dairy and other farm products were delivered
by motor trucks from outlying communities and distributed at cost
to the local city housekeepers.
The Department of the Interior will answer inquiries as to public
lands and surveys and the construction and operation of irrigation
works in the arid States under the reclamation act. The depart
ment is in charge of the construction of the Government railway from
the coast to the interior of Alaska which will open to settlement a
vast domain of agricultural lands. The Commissioner of Education
administers the endowment fund for the support of colleges for the
benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts.
The Department of Labor through its Division of Information in
the Bureau of Immigra tion, Washington, and its branch in the United
States Barge Office, New York City, has as one of its statutory duties
' “to promote a beneficial distribution of aliens admitted into the
United States among the several States and Territories desiring immi
gration,” and publishes useful information as to the resources, prod
ucts, and physical characteristics of each State and Territory.
All of the States have colleges or departments in State Universities
devoted to agriculture, all of which cooperate with the United States
Department of Agriculture, and offer special inducements to students
interested in farming. Many provide special, short, or correspond
ence courses in the different branches of farm work. With a few
exceptions free tuition is offered to residents of the State in which the
college is located. In all of them opportunities are found for some
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students to earn part of their expenses by their own labor. The
expenses were formerly from $125 to $300 for the school year. Each
State has also some department of its government especially fostering
agriculture. Arranged alphabetically by States the post-office
addresses of such educational institutions and the official titles of
those in charge of State departments of agriculture are appended.
State Schools Teaching Agriculture.
Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala.
College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
College of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.
College of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. *
State Agricultural College of Colorado, Fort Collins, Colo.
Connecticut Agricultural College, Storrs, Conn.
Delaware College, Newark, Del.
College of Agriculture, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
Georgia State College of Agriculture, Athens, Ga.
The State House, Boise, Idaho.
College of Agriculture, University of Illinois, Urbana, 111.
Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.
Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, Iowa.
Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kans.
College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Universitv
Station, Baton Rouge, La.
° ’
y
College of Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, Me.
Maryland State College of Agriculture, College Park, Md.
Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass.
Michigan Agricultural College, East Lansing, Mich.
College of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, University Farm, St. Paul, M in n
Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, Agricultural College, Miss.’
College of Agriculture, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
Montana State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Bozeman, Mont.
College of Agriculture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr.
College of Agriculture, University of Nevada, Reno, Nev.
New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, Durham, N. H
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, State University of New Jersey New
Brunswick, N. J.
Nev/ Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, State College, N. Mex.
New York State College of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. Y.
North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering, Raleigh, N. C.
North Dakota Agricultural College, Agricultural College, N. Dak.
College of Agriculture, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, Stillwater, Okla.
Oregon Agricultural College, Corvallis, Oreg.
Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa.
Rhode Island State College, Kingston, R. I.
Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina, Clemson College, S. C.
South Dakota State College, Brookings, S. Dak.
College of Agriculture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, College Station, Tex.
Agricultural College of Utah, Logan, Utah.
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Burlington, Vt.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va.
State College of Washington, Pullman, Wash.
College of Agriculture, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W. Va.
College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WTyo.
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Slate Officials in Charge of Agriculture.
Alabama: Commissioner of Agriculture, Montgomery.
Arizona: Secretary of State, Phoenix.
Arkansas: Commissioner of Bureau of Mines, Manufactures, and Agriculture, Little
Rock.
California: Secretary of California State Agricultural Society, Sacramento.
Colorado: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Fort Collins.
Connecticut: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Hartford.
Delaware: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Dover.
Florida: Commissioner of Agriculture, Tallahassee.
Georgia: Commissioner ox Agriculture, Atlanta.
Hawaii: Secretary of Territorial Board of Agriculture, Honolulu,
Idaho: Superintendent of Department of Farm Markets, Boise.
Illinois: Director of Department of Agriculture, Springfield.
Indiana: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Indianapolis.
Iowa: Secretary of Department of Agriculture, Des Moines.
Kansas: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Topeka.
Kentucky: Commissioner of Agriculture, Frankfort.
Louisiana: Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration, Baton Rouge.
Maine: Commissioner of Agriculture, Augusta.
Maryland: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Kensington.
Massachusetts: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Boston.
Michigan: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, East Lansing.
Minnesota: Secretary of State, St. Paul.
Mississippi: CommisAoner of Agriculture and Commerce, Jackson.
Missouri: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Jefferson City.
Montana: Commissioner of Agriculture and Publicity, Helena.
Nebraska: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Lincoln.
Nevada: Secretary of State, Carson City.
New Hampshire: Commissioner of Agriculture, Concord.
New Jersey: Secretary of Department of Agriculture, Trenton.
New Mexico: State Land Commissioner, Santa Fe.
New York: Commissioner of Agriculture, Albany.
North Carolina: Commissioner of Agriculture, Raleigh.
North Dakota: Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, Bismarck,
Ohio: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Columbus.
Oklahoma: Commissioner of Agriculture, Oklahoma City.
Oregon: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Salem.
Pennsylvania: Secretary of Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg.
Philippine Islands: Director of Agriculture, Manila.
Porto Rico: Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, San Juan.
Rhode Island: Secretary of State Board of Agriculture, Providence.
South Carolina: Commissioner of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industries, Columbia.
South Dakota: Commissioner of Immigration, Pierre.
Tennessee: Commissioner of Agriculture, Nashville.
Texas: Commissioner of Agriculture, Austin.
Utah: Secretary of State, Salt Lake City.
Vermont: Commissioner of Agriculture, St. Albans.
Virginia: Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration, Richmond.
Washington: Commissioner of Agriculture, Olympia.
West Virginia: Commissioner of Agriculture, Charleston.
Wisconsin: Commissioner of Agriculture, Madison.
Wyoming: Secretary of State,, Cheyenne.
Conclusion.
'“THE census of 1920 shows the population of 48 States and the
District of Columbia to be 105,708,771, of whom about 54,300,000
are in cities or towns of over 2,500 population and about 51,400,000 are
on farms or in communities having less than 2,500 population. There
are also 12,148,7382 people living outside of the continent but under
2 These figures are made up of the 1918 statistics for the Philippine Islands, 10,350,640; the 1917 statistics
for the Virgin Islands, 26,051; and the 1920 statistics for Alaska, 54,899; Panama Canal Zone,22,858; Guam,
13,275; Hawaii, 255,912; Porto Rico, 1,299,809; American Samoa, 8,056; and military and naval, etc.,
service abroad, 117,238.
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the American flag. There are 13,736,505 more people in continental
United States than there were in 1910 and 29,714,196 more than
there were 10 years earlier, or an increase within the past 20 years of
something less than 1,800,000 people of the number that were in the
United States in 1860, at the beginning of the Civil War, when the
population was 31,443,321.
The latest official figures from the Bureau of Immigration as to
arrivals of aliens in the United States cover the seven months ending
July 31, 1920, and show that 329,950 immigrants and 121,659 non
immigrants had arrived between January 1 and that date and that
149,668 emigrant and 75,247 nonemigrant aliens had departed in
the same period. Complete figures for the months following July
are not available, but for the port of New York alone are estimated
as follows: August—arrivals 57,900, departures 37,000; Septem
ber—arrivals 70,000, departures 23,500; October—arrivals 74,600;
departures 25,500. Total estimated aliens admitted August 1 to
November 1 number 285,900 and departures number 108,000.
Official reports from central and southern Europe state that only
lack of room on ships prevents an overwhelming flow of immigration
to the United States of war sufferers, mostly headed for industrial
centers already overcrowded. There are 311,000 applications for
passports on file in the Polish foreign office alone. Galicians, Semites,
Turks, Syrians, and Greeks make up the greater part of the arrivals
at New York, but all nationalities are in the throng. The character
of the incoming peoples is not that of the races that have made this
country great. They and their children will have to be reckoned
with. The undertaking to Americanize them is a very big one.
No help, however small, should be ignored in pointing out to them
and to urbanites who are willing to work with their hands, whether
immigrants or not, a way to get possession in due time of a few acres
of land.
It is believed that more can be accomplished by committees
from local communities, giving sympathy and practical help in a
small way to immigrants who would go to settlements already
established, or would in small groups go to new territory, than is
practicable by city societies attempting to found and maintain colonies
in a more wholesale manner. Many peasants come from crowded
villages and not from isolated farms; they naturally seek their own
people, who can speak their language, and hence gravitate to where
their friends or relatives are. If a few families get a start as farmers
they will gradually attract others of their kind, and soon a settlement
will be established of homogeneous people. The growth will be
slow, but will bo more apt to be free from disintegrating elements.
Where more pretentious colonies are established and natural selection
has not been allowed to have its place there are apt to be shirkers and
jealousies that may wreck the enterprise.
The Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society of New York,
supported from the Baron de ITirsch philanthropy, has exercised
great intelligence and expended large sums of money in locating
Kussian Hebrews on the land. The society’s contribution has been
of great value to the public welfare, but it has failed in some of its
communities because the men it sought to help had little aptitude
for farming and wanted to make money in an easier way than by
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muscular exertion. When thrown on their own resources many of
them were not adapted to stand alone or be neighborly as farmers
and soon sold out and went elsewhere. Rosenhayn, near Vineland, is
an example, where thé Hebrews have largely sold their properties to
Italians, who are prospering where the Hebrews failed. Woodbine,
N. J., is a community started as a Jewish farm colony under the best
of auspices, but which is now a thriving manufacturing town, largely
because the Hebrews could make more money in manufacturing than
they could at farming. The Russian Hebrews, however, should not
be considered to be failures as farmers because of the two instances
cited; they have been successful at other places.
Immigrants are often timid and lack initiative, but it is largely
ignorance of where to go to get farm work and the dire need of ready
money that forces many peasants to take up work in construction
gangs or whatever comes to hand. This is proved not only by what
their leaders say, but by the way Italians in the mines of Pennsyl
vania gravitate toward farm colonies, as at Vineland, and city Italians
give up better paying jobs to seek summer work on farms near cannery
centers, as at Albion and Geneva, N. Y.
There are many farm-raised immigrants in the United States who
want work; there is much idle land and there are many vacant farm
houses; it is largely a matter of local enterprise to bring them
together. The America of to-morrow will be the better if it is done
without delay.
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A National Council for the Printing Tracies.
B y C h a r l e s R . W a l k e r , j r ., o f t h e B u r e a u o f I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h ,
N e w Y o r k Cit y .
HERE has been a strong tendency all over the world in the past
three years and notably since the armistice to set up national
industrial councils representative of both employers and work
ing people. It has been especially strong in England and Germany,
where well-organized employers’ associations and trade-unions fur
nished the constituent bodies for the new industrial federation. Joint
councils for employers and employees have also become popular in
America as instruments for tackling the problem of industrial rela
tions, but they have for the most part been confined to “ shop com
mittees” and plant councils, and to nonunionized workers. Three
industries, however, have established the beginnings of industrial
government on a national scale in the United States—printing, elec
trical, and clothing.
The stated objects of some of the British councils promised little
short of a fundamental transformation of industry from its structure
to the motives of its leaders. Indications are that the transformation
has been indefinitely postponed, but despite this the councils have
concrete achievements behind them. The American ones have acted
with success upon such imperative issues as unemployment, stand
ardization of shop practices, and wage scales over large areas, uniform
ity in working conditions, and the settlement of industrial disputes.
Both because the subjects with which they deal are of fundamental
social interest and because the movement is a universal one it has
seemed worth while to treat in some detail the history of the Inter
national Joint Conference Council of the Printing Trades, which
is the oldest in America and the most active as a national council.
But a special enterprise of the printers adds to the interest of the
history. The high cost of living has emphasized for everyone the
changing value of the dollar, and the consequent havoc brought to
wages, salaries, and contracts. The printing industry is the only one
that has attempted in any scientific and thoroughgoing fashion to
equalize the real value of wages, both from place to place and from
year to year, on anything like a national scale. They have done so
by introducing into wage contracts a clause calling for periodic wage
adjustments in accordance with the cost of living, and by attempting
to equalize wages throughout competitive zones. The story of this
pioneer activity is perhaps the most vital chapter in the council’s
history.
I propose to give (1) a general picture of the industry, its nature,
the organizations in it, and their development, pointing cut how they
make a reasonable groundwork for the enterprise; (2) a history of the
early meetings leading to the creation of the council; (3) the council’s
structure, its activities, and authority; (4) the council at work, telling
the story of its principal achievements in the working out of a wage
policy, the settlement of the 44-hour week controversy, the stand-
T
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ardization of wage scales, and sliop practices, the creation of an inter
national arbitration agreement; (5) its proposed activities—district
councils and standardization of contracts; (6) a word of evaluation,
indicating if possible its permanent place in the industrial structure.
A rough picture of the industry, its craft lines, its commercial
peculiarities, and its organized groups will exhibit the groundwork
upon which the new council is building, and hence in a measure its
hope of success.
Printers divide their trade into newspaper printing and book and
job work. We are here concerned only with the unionized section
of the book and job pi inters. Craft lines within the trade, at first
indistinct, have emerged with the growth of mechanical improve
ments until they comprise compositors, pressmen, stereotypers and
electrotypers, bookbinders, and photo-engravers. All of these crafts
were at one time included in a single union, the International Typo
graphical, founded at Cincinnati in 1852. The pressmen set up an
organization of their own hi 1882,1 the photo-engravers in 1900, the
bookbinders in 1892, the stereotypers and electrotypers in 1902.
Each of these separate unions has now its own national body and
subordinate locals.
Intercraft organizations have grown up, however, so there is still a
considerable measure of solidarity among the ‘‘allied trades.” For
the city or district there are local allied printing trades councils
embracing all crafts, and for a national body the councils send their
representatives to the International Allied Printing Trades Council.2
The employers’ associations (book and job) are the International
Association of Employing Stereotypers and Electrotypers, the Amer
ican Photo-engravers Association, the United Typothetse of America,
and the Employing Printers of America. The latter is an open-shop
organization and does not enter into this history. The United
Typothetae was formed in 1887 and is the oldest association of master
printers that has a continuous history down to the present time.
The development of labor relationships between these organized
bodies of employers and unionists, culminating in the national
council, has been a slow but continuous growth. In the first 30
years of its history the International Typographical Union had no
direct relations of a friendly character with employers, but in 1885
an event occurred that broke the ground for national collective
dealing. The International established a defense fund for the
support of unions on strike and thus acquired an effective control
over locals in need of strike money. From that date on the Inter
national officers acquired increasing control over the bargaining of
local unions and began to deal directly with groups of employers.3
Trade-unions met the Typothetse in conference for the first time
in 18983 The meeting resulted in an agreement for the peaceable
adoption of the 9-hour day. Collective bargaining on a national
1 Formally organized and recognized, 1889.
2 This body is owner of the Allied Printing Trades union label,
s The local councils enforce the rules established for their protection. They are also active in other
trades’ matters, such as assisting in the enactment of labor legislation, opposing hostile legislative meas
ures, adjusting disputes between unions and employers and between the unions themselves.—The Indus
trial Education Survey of the City of New York, Report of the Committee Authorized by the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment in 1918. P a r ti,p . 28.
4The conference was between the pressmen, the Typographical Union, and the United Typothetae.
It resulted in an agreement (signed at Syracuse, N. Y ., Oct. 12, 1898) inaugurating the 91-hour day on
Nov. 21,1898, and the 9-hour day, or 54-hour week, on Nov. 21, 1899.
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scale was established in 1902, by an agreement entered into between
the pressmen and the Typo the tae providing for arbitration of wage
scales and shop practice. Another step was taken in 1917, when the
Closed Shop Branch of the Typo theta? signed an “ international arbi
tration agreement” with the International Typographical Union.
The stereotypers and electrotypers likewise have an agreement with
with their employers.5 In addition to these national agreements a
large number of “contracts” exist between local unions and the
employers which in many instances are underwritten by the Inter
national Union.
Thus when the printers decided upon joint action between employ
ers and trade-unionists, early in 1919, they had certain precedents
for their action. They had also the actual instruments of organiza
tion on both sides for carrying out their purposes. The International
Joint Conference Council, created April 21, 1919, is composed on the
employers’ side of representatives of the Closed bhop Branch of the
United Typo theta', and the International Association of Employing
Stereo typers and Electrotypers, and on the employees’ side of
representatives of the four international unions—the compositors
(typographical), pressmen, bookbinders, stereotypers and electrotypers. The photo-engravers are not members of the council.
' Besides a favoring historical development there are certain char
acteristics of the industry itself that tend to make a national cooper
ative effort natural and its success probable. These are: (1) The
prevailing number of small plant units into which the industry is
divided. This condition creates a varying multitude of shop rules,
shop conditions, and wage scales which it is to everyone’s advantage
to standardize through a national body. (2) The industry is com
posed largely of American workmen and is therefore racially homo
geneous and organizable; (3) the printers’ work is for the most
part nonseasonal, and the amount of unemployment small; (4) the
unions in the trade have a long history and a record of distinguished
leadership.
These characteristics can be briefly illustrated:
(1) The total number of wage earners in the printing industry
according to the 1914 census was 272,092. Of these 141,644, or 52
per cent^worked in plants of 50 workers or less;6 whereas in the steel
industry, for example, out of a total of 248,716 workers in the steel
and rolling mills, 194,429, or 78 per cent, were, in 1914, in shops of
500 or more.7
(2) A conception of the ratio between American and foreign-born
printers can be gained by examining conditions in New Tork City,
which does one-fourth of the printing and publishing in the United
States.8 According to the If 10 census there were 16,826 compositors,
linotypers, and typesetters in the city. Of these 11,534, or 68 per
cent were native born. Of the 3,668 pressmen in the city, 2,109, or
79 per cent, were native born. Compared with other skilled trades,
s For a list of the national agreements in force at the present tim e in the printing industry, see p. 38,
footnote 40.
“United States Census of Manufactures, 1914, vol. 2, p. 636, Table 22.
7United States Census of Manufactures, 1914, vol. 2, p. 224, Table 43.
^
8The value of the product in printing and publishing for 1914 for New 1 ork City was $2a0,96i,612 (Census
of Manufactures, 1914, vol. 1, p. 993); for the United States, $901,534,000 (Abstract of the Census ot Man
ufactures, 1914, p. 152).
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such as carpentry, with 70 per cent foreign born, or brick and stone
masonry, with 68 per cent foreign born, the contrast is striking.9
(3) The amount of seasonal work for the printers is probably less
than for any other class of skilled workers. The Industrial Education
Survey of New York, 1918, states that in book and job shops the
minimum number employed during the year is 90 per cent of the
maximum number employed.10 An analysis of trade-union members
unemployed in Massachusetts in six principal industries shows that
least unemployment was experienced by transportation and the
printing and allied trades. The order in which the industries fall
according to percentage of unemployment is: (1) Building; (2) textile
manufacturing; (3) boot and shoe manufacturing; (4) iron and steel
manufacturing; (5) printing and allied trades; (6) transportation.
The building trades show great fluctuation—between 3 and 34 per
cent, with an approximate average of 16 per cent. The printers
show little fluctuation, varying from 3 to 12 per cent, with an
approximate average of 6 per cent.11
(4) The printers’ trade-unions are among the oldest in the United
States. Several were in existence before 1800, and Typographical
Union No. 6 of New York dates its unbroken history from 1809.
Their leadership has been of a high quality and occasionally distin
guished. Horace Greeley was president of Typographical Union
No. 6 in 1850. Ely Moore, who became labor's first representative
in Congress, was a New York printer and trade-unionist. He was
president of the National Trades-Union in 1834-35, and in 1838-39
political editor of the New York Evening Post. Other prominent
members of Typographical Union No. 6 were John W. Reid, the
journalist, and George W. Peck, who was governor of Wisconsin
in 1891-1895.u
_
.
It is impossible to give a picture of trade-unionism among Ameri
can printers without mentioning its fraternal and benefit features.
As Prof. Barnett points out in his monograph on the printers, they
have always regarded their beneficiary features not as aids in the
enforcement of trade regulations, but as fully worth while on their
own account. Like many trade-unions they early established funeral,
sickness, and unemployment benefits; since 1892 the International
Typographical Union has maintained a home for aged or sick
printers, and since 1908 a system of old-age pensions. The pressmen
ikewise have a home for their aged members, a tuberculosis sanita
rium, and a well-equipped school for presswork apprentices,
r
Informal Beginnings.
■“THE origin of the International Joint Conference Council in the
A printing industry is probably traceable to a conversation.
Several weeks before the first informal conference an employer and
a trade-unionist had a chat on the state of the trade. The industry
seemed wholly enveloped in a cloud of trouble. Id. C. L. was hitting
the journeyman printers with a particular punch. Most of them
8 Industrial Education Survey of the City of New York, 1918, Pt. 1, p. 24.
10 Idem, p. 26.
11 Public Document, No. 15. Forty-ninth Annual Report on Statistics of Labor for the year 1918, p.
40, Pt. IV.
12 New York Typographical Union No. 6, Chs. X III a n ! X L I, prepared under the direction of John
Williams, commissioner of labor, State of New York, 1913.
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were working under three-year contracts which barred any read
justment to meet the new level of prices. Many employers faced
an unfair competition. Widely fluctuating wage scales made the
cost of production cheap in one part of the country and dear in
another. The two men agreed that an informal conference between
employers and trade-unionists Inight bring to light some measures
of relief. They resolved to suggest such a meeting to their respective
organizations.
A conference was held between representative employers and
trade-unionists in Washington on February 3, 1919.13 The temporary
chairman opened the meeting with a mild “ cooperation ” speech.
He cautiously suggested that employers and employees were meeting
“ with the possible view of encouraging a relationship that might
prove profitable to both.” The body did not regard itself as a
council of any authority. It was “ clearly understood that every
one present represented himself. ”
Despite informality and the absence of special authority, the
conferees vigorously "discussed the critical issues of the industry.
They took up uniform shop practices, the desirability of negotiating
simultaneously with all unions, guaranteeing of contracts, unfair
competition and the advisability of a standard cost system for the
industry. It was a foreshadowing of the work of the council for
the next 18 months.
“ When you have shop rules that in some instances cause two
men to work where under another shop rule they work one, it is hard
to get away from competition.” Shops differed extraordinarily in
such things as rules about “ struck work,” holidays, sanitary condi
tions, number of men on jobs. In the long run it was better for
everyone to have a standard.
Next, an employer in New York related that he made agreements
with 16 different unions. He was negotiating wage scales all the
year round. Why not a single conference and a single agreement?
Another competition problem was discussed, “ the bedroom shop. ”
In certain small establishments the whole family works. Costs are
reduced to a minimum and the proprietor undersells the ordinary
printer, who, if he is under agreement to pay standard wages, must
either cut them or go out of business. This situation is a constant
menace to the standard of living of the journeyman printer. And
besides, many of the small shops end in bankruptcy and demoralize
the industry. Surveys of the printing industry showed that many
of them operate without cost finding or even accounting systems of
any kind, and the proprietors, not knowing their condition run at a
loss. As a solution a universal use of some standard system of cost
finding was proposed.
The conference closed with the formulation of plans for another
meeting at which “ organizations and not simply persons” should
be represented so that the cooperative measures suggested might
take concrete shape.14
is The conference comprised seven representative employers, and the hoard of governors of the In ter
national Allied PrintinefTrades Association.
14 Other subjects touched on in the conference were the so-called “ individual strike _where employees
leave and call it a “ walk-out of dissatisfied workers ” and the authority of employers’ associations o v er
their own members;
24933°--21 ----- 3
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The second meeting was held in Cincinnati, March 10 and 11, 1919.
It was called in the stenographic report a “ General conference of
employers in printing and the allied trades and of the printing and
allied trades-unions.” The conference opened with observations
upon the general trend toward joint organizations of employers and
employees the world over. Developments in Germany and the English
Whitley councils came in for remark.
When the printers turned their attention to America they grew
very concrete, grappling with the problem of guaranteeing contracts
with trade-unions. One employer related two examples of revolt.
In one, after entering into a contract, underwritten by the interna
tional union, the local defied the international and struck. This was
against its own laws and the international’s. The other case was of
alocal which refused to have its international underwrite its contract.
Discussion from both sides favored underwriting, although it was
clear that it furnished only an imperfect guaranty. One union leader
remarked: “ When the local union says, ‘We don’t want this under
written, we want to make this a local proposition with you, and the
employing printer consents, it is impossible for the national union to
make the local * * * comply with the law and have the con
tract underwritten.” He urged the inclusion in every contract of
a provision for underwriting. In the event of violation either by the
local union or by the local employer there would remain two other
parties to compel the third.
A suggestion that all the unions in the various printing crafts
together underwrite every contract was discussed, but appeared
under present conditions impractical.
Uniformity in wage scales was urged. It was pointed out that
whenever a city has a scale greatly in advance of the surrounding
country employers and employees moved away, leaving a great deal
of idle machinery in the deserted city. If a uniform scale were in
force, employers and employees would stay at home.
At the third meeting, held in Chicago, April 21, 1919, the constitu
tion of the International Joint Conference Council of the Commercial
and Periodical Branches of the Printing Industry was adopted.15
The council later received the formal ratification of its constituent
bodies. These organizations are:
Employees.—International Typographical Union; International Printing Pressman
and Assistants’ Union; International Brotherhood of Bookbinders; International
Stereotypers and Electrotypefs Union.
.
Employers.—Closed Shop Branch United Typothetæ of America; Printers League
of America; International Association of Electrotypers.
Structure of the Council.
council is at present composed of 16 members, 8 from each
THE
side, although certain problems connected with the proper basis
of representation are still under discussion.
The constitution adopted at the April 21, 1919, meeting outlines
the general objects in the following terms:
To promote the spirit of cooperation and to deal with the problems of the industry
in a way to insure the protection of the interests of all concerned, the establishment
u Proceedings, Joint Conference of the Representatives of International Unions and Representatives of
Employers’ Associations of the Printing Industry and Allied Trades, Chicago, Hi., Apr. 21, 1919, p. ol
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of an international joint conference council, made up of representatives of employers
and employees, which, shall be thoroughly informed as to conditions and interests
of all parties in the industry and in a position to suggest for ratification regulations
which shall eventually become the law of the industry, is considered essential.
One of tlie life-giving ideas behind the council movement in
America, whether it be in the shop, district, or Nation, is the convic
tion that there should be no outsiders as regulators. This is clearly
one of the ideas in the above quotation. Those daily acquainted
with the industrial structure are best fitted to work out the machinery
of adjustment.
The traditional principle of voluntary arbitration as a means of
settling industrial disputes is reaffirmed in the second paragraph of
the preamble.
Controversies between employers and employees can and should be adjusted
through voluntary agreements to refer disputes to boards of conciliation and arbitra
tion composed of representatives of employers and employees in the industry affected.
This restating of the principle came at a time when it was being
questioned and weakened by a series of strikes and propaganda for
direct action among a group of New York trade-unionists.
TW constitution is careful to specify that the council is primarily
a constructive, policy-making body rather than a judicial one:
The International Council is to devote its activities not primarily to disputes, to
the fixation of wage scales, the making of specific wage agreements and the like, but
to matters of policy.
The “ scope of activities" suggested under Section III of the con
stitution covers the whole field of industrial relations. The con
stitutional suggestions may be summarized as follows :
(а) Outlining of general trade policies.
(б) Consideration of any legislation affecting the trade.
(c) Uniform working hours and shop practices.
(d) Cooperating with Government to maintain selling prices.
(e) Consideration and review of the causes of any disputes which may arise in the
industry.
(/) Apprenticeship; the improvement of process, designs, and standards of work
manship; consideration of improvements of processes, machinery, organization, ap
propriate questions relating to management, and the examination of industrial ex
periments; utilization of the practical knowledge and experience of employees;
utilization of inventions designed by employees or employers.
(g) Wage adjustment boards.
(h) Consideration of any matters of interest to the trade, whether industrial, edu
cational, economic, legislative, or hygienic.
Nearly all of these activities have been touched upon in the actual
work of the council. Under clause (e) it has dealt with the whole
question of industrial disputes by advocating the formation of sepa
rate local and national boards of arbitration for each branch of the
industry, thus delegating the judicial function to machinery outside
of, though affiliated with, itself. This is treated under the sub
division “ cardinal point No. 5” (see p. 38).
The method of expressing the council’s authority is clearly set
forth. Each side submits a “ bill of particulars” for action in the
form of resolutions. These must be unanimously passed by the
International Council and ratified by the constituent bodies, parties
to the agreement, before they can be effective. When so passed and
so ratified they “ shall be binding upon all parties to this agreement
and shall become the law of the trade.”
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In order to carry out its objects, the council recognizes as the
“ proper and legitimate agencies” through which to function, local
unions, chapels, and shop committees affiliated with the respective
international unions which are parties to the agreement, local allied
printing trades councils, and local associations of employers in the
respective trades dealing with the unions under the agreement. The
local groups majr submit to the council, “for consideration and action,
any proposal of mutual interest,” if not in conflict with the constitu
tion of the International Joint Conference Council.
The effect of the International Council will be to strengthen existing
organizations on both sides by giving sanction to all local agreements
between unions and employers, after they have been underwritten
by their respective international unions. “ In the event that any
local union or local employer violates or disregards the terms of this
agreement, the action of such recalcitrant union or emplojmr shall be
publicly disavowed by the International Council and the aggrieved
parties shall be furnished with an official document to that effect.”
The council is not an exclusive organization but may “ receive
applications from organizations of either employees or employers
who have not ratified this agreement and by unanimous vote may
admit such applicants to all privileges and responsibilities of this
agreement.”
Two “ constitutional ” points should perhaps be specially mentioned.
The council is presided over by joint chairmen, and a unanimous vote
is necessary “ to carry any resolution involving the establishment of
general principles affecting any of the trades parties to this agree
ment.” Examples of this would be the action taken in the adoption
of the 44-hour week, or the international arbitration agreement. The
council is jointly financed by the bodies represented in it.
The Council at Work.
HTTIE constitution of the council was adopted at the April 21,
1919, meeting, but ratification by referendum of the constituent
bodies took place during the following summer months, and was fully
accomplished only when the electrotypers approved the document at
their September convention.16 The photo-engravers who were present
at the early meetings withdrew and set up a joint industrial council
of their own.
In the records of the 12 meetings, held roughly at intervals of
six weeks from February 3, 1919, to July 9, 1920, several outstanding
issues can be distinguished from incidental business. These are:
The 44-hour week issue, the “ five cardinal points of a labor policy,”
a cost-of-living clause for contracts, a standard international arbi16
The pressmen did not technically ratify the constitution till their convention in November, although
an informal vote taken earlier indicated the approval of the rank and file. For a complete record of rati
fication by constituent bodies, see:
Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York, August 4, 1919, pp. 4, 5.
Minutes of Proceedings, Executive Council, United Typothetæ of America, Chicago, July 18, 19, 1919.
Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York, September 18, 1919, p. 3.
Synopsis of Proceedings of International Association of Electrotypers, Twenty-second National Con
vention, St. Louis, September 26, 27, 1919, in Bulletin, October, 1919, Vol. V, No. 54, p. 251.
The Typographical Journal, Official Paper of International Typographical Union, vol. 55, No. 2, August,
1919,p. 45.
The American Pressman, Vol. X X X , No. 1, December, 1919, p. 40.
The International Bookbinder, Official Journal of the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders, Vol.
X X , No. 10, October, 1919, p. 347.
The International Stereotypers and Electrotÿpers Union Journal, vol. 14, No. 7 July, 1919, p. 101.
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tration agreement for all unions, tlie apprenticeship question, dis
trict councils, and standardization of contracts. Nearly all of these
issues were touched on in some form by question, resolution, or brief
discussion at the earlier meetings. Some, like the decision on the
44-hour week issue, received early action, while others like the
“ Cardinal points of a labor policy” began early, but ran through
several meetings before their implications appeared, and their state
ment was perfected and approved. One or two, like the proposal
for district councils, which were hinted at early, received attention
through several meetings and still await final action.
The building of the council and the instruments for accomplishing
its purposes have been notably gradual and unforced. Receiving
an initial impulse from the havoc that the H. C. L. was making in
wage scales, the representatives attempted to work out with the
utmost frankness an agreed basis for wage policy. Once established,
nearly every concrete measure has grown out of this basic platform.
Forty-four Hour Week Issue and the New York Controversy.
HTHE prospect of a 44-hour week in the printing industry had
*■ long been considered.
It was pointed out that it was the
part of wisdom to introduce the change nationally and on the same
day. Tne printers vividly recalled that when the reduction from
nine to eight hours was made, a nation-wide strike had resulted and
immense losses for both sides. Representatives of the New York
unions were present at the April 21 meeting and stated that if the
44-hour week could be put into effect, nationally, October 1, 1919,
New York would agree to it. The issue was hotly contested. Some
employers denounced the 44-hour week as an “ economic crime,”
some unions demanded its inauguration “ at once.” At length the
council, at the April 21 meeting, agreed to recommend to its con
stituent bodies the adoption of the shorter week nationally, May 1,
1921, 19 months after the date set by New York.17 A referendum
vote was taken by the associations and unions throughout the
country and the resolution passed by a large majority.
The issue, however, was by no means closed. A situation devel
oped in New York that threatened the very existence of the council.
The New York locals remained irreconcilable. They charged that
their international officers were in collusion with the employers.
If the council had not postponed the reduction, New York, they
claimed, would have secured it by October.
Franklin Union No. 23 and Pressmen’s Union No. 51 then with
drew from their internationals. These two unions together comprise
about 5,500 men, or a major part of the pressmen and feeders in
New York City.
The position of the seceding unions was this: The pressmen, in
the first place, felt they were justified in remaining outside their
international because they believed their officers guilty of misappro
priation of funds. But this was an incidental complication. Prima
rily, they argued that the officers who had passed the disputed reso
lution, because of the' unfair voting methods permitted by the
17
Proceedings, Joint Conference of the Representatives of International Unions and Representatives of
Employers’ Associations of the Printing Industry and Allied Trades, Chicago, 111., Apr. 21, 1919, p. 63.
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pressmen’s constitution, were unrepresentative of the major part of
the international union, and that the manner of taking the referen
dum was likewise unfair.
The council believed this a matter to be settled within the inter
national, that the real issue was “ constitutional methods versus
direct action.” They felt that certain New York locals, having
recently found strike action successful, believed they could buck the
country.
The employers were presented with this dilemma: If they con
tinued to operate their presses with these locals, they would be
recognizing unions condemned by their own internationals; they
would also be conceding the 44-hour week for October 1, 1919, in
face of the resolution of the International Joint Conference Council
which had been ratified by a vote of locals throughout the country.
On the other hand, if they remained firm they would tie up the
printing industry in New York, the largest printing city in the
world. They chose to stand behind the council and the resolution.
A final victory for the council and for the internationals resulted
after several weeks of stormy controversy, which included a lock
out, a ’strike, and a “ vacation.”
The International Joint Conference Council had passed through
an ordeal of fire and survived. It felt it was a victory for “ consti
tutional methods” of settling disputes as against “ direct action,”
and for the principle of responsibility toward the internationals.
T he Cardinal Points.
THE June 2 meeting, wage charts 18 were presented which
AT revealed
a surprising condition and gave a fact basis to labor
discussion. The charts covered the wage development of some of
the key crafts of the printing industry (book and job)—compositors,
cylinder pressmen, and cylinder feeders—for the years 1912 to 1919.
Data had been secured covering 44 representative cities arranged by
regional groups as follows: North Atlantic; North Central; South
Atlantic; South Central; Western.19 Cost-of-living figures were also
shown for each of the cities.
With the statistics of the wage and cost-of-living situation graphi
cally before the council, steps toward solution suggested themselves
naturally and convincingly. It was found that wide variation be
tween wages existed in the same competitive zone. For example,
in 1919 up to May 15, the the wages for compositors in Chicago were
$36-137, in Cincinnati, $24-$25, in Cleveland, $30-$31, in Colum
bus, $28-$29, in Detroit, $34-$35, and in Grand Rapids, $24-$25.
There was apparently no principle or basis for determining wages
which would tend to make them uniform. The cost of living had
not acted as this principle. In fact it was shown that the highest
scales were often in effect where the cost of living was lowest. Taking
Denver, which had the lowest cost of living, as a base, or index of
100, Portland, Oreg., was paying a wage of $38-$39 to compositors
w Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York City, June 2,1919, p. 26.
is>The wage data presented on these charts were secured from reports sent in from the local organizations
of the Typothetse, from bulletins of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Nos. 131, 143, 194, 214,
245, and from information furnished by some of the unions.
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in 1919 20 with a cost of living of 100.62, while New Haven paid for
the same period $22-$23 with a cost of living of 139.70. This is an
extreme instance of discrepancy. But the statement that the
highest wages were paid where the cost of living was lowest proved
true, though in a less striking manner, in a comparison of the whole
group of cities in the North Atlantic group, where the cost of living
was highest, with the whole group of cities in the western group,
where it was lowest. In the western group the average cost of living
was 100.99. Seven of the eight western cities paid wages of $30-$31
or more, one city a wage of $28-$29. In the North Atlantic group,
where the average cost of living was 132.39, all the cities except one
paid wages of $28-$29 or less; the one exception paid a wage of $36$37. The comparison between the two groups can be clearly sum
marized in tabular form.
COMPARISON OP COST OF LIVING AND WAGES IN NORTH ATLANTIC AND WEST
ER N GROUPS OF CITIES.
[Cost of living in Denvcr=100.)
Cost of living
index.
Regional group.
North Atlantic.................................
Western ...........................................
Average
wage.
132.39
100.99
$27.55
32.25
Here was evidence of great lack of uniformity in printers’ wage
scales, and of no regard for the cost-of-living principle. Combined
with the fact of long-term contracts it was enough to explain the
strikes, lockouts, and broken agreements that had multiplied among
printers since the armistice.
Cardinal Point No. 1.
The council decided upon cardinal point No. 1 as a step toward a
new labor policy:
T h a t th e in d u stry fran k ly recognizes th e cost of living, as com pared to 1914, as th e
basic factor in wage a d justm ents.
“ Why the cost of living as compared to 1914 ?” was asked. It was
the aim of the council to provide a reasonable living to every wage
earning printer. That was clearly the accepted principle. Why
not decide the case on its merits from the data available to-day?
Because it would compel the council to dictate for a large group of
men what a “ reasonable standard of living” was, an impossible
position and one likely to stir up resentment. It was better to have
a base in history from which argument or statistics could make a
start.
Cardinal Point No. 2.
But accepting 1914, even that appeared on examination as a very
uncertain base. Sometimes wages were too low in 1914. A per
centage increase adequate to bring the wage to a reasonable level
20 Statistics were available only up to May 15.
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in one city would still leave it far too low in another.
No. 2 was adopted to cover this clear contingency:
Cardinal point
The industry to pay at least a reasonable living wage; scales below this to be adjusted
in frank recognition of the principle involved.21
This point was illustrated in practice a little later in the case of
Detroit. Its 1914 wage scale was found considerably below near-by
cities. A contract was negotiated which took a base for adjustment
$2.50 higher than the actual 1914 base.
Discussion of cardinal points No. 1 and No. 2 at the October 30,
1919, meeting showed another angle of the same special difficulty.
A representative said: ‘‘If one branch of the industry were getting
in 1914 two, three, and four dollars more a week than * * *
another branch * * * isn't it entirely reasonable, now, that the
branch getting the highest amount at that time would feel that
that was the base?” The method suggested in case this difficulty
were met in practice was this: A composite figure was to be obtained
by averaging the wages in surrounding cities within the competitive
zone.22 This would indicate whether or not that city was above or
below the average.
There followed in the June 2, 1919, meeting a vigorous debate over
wages, and one of the most enlightening in the council’s history. It
was a frank discussion among practical men of opposed viewpoints
regarding the economic basis of wage payment. A union repre
sentative found a difficulty in the two cardinal points and expressed
it as follows:
If you are going to have the sole right of decreasing wages upon the decrease in the
cost of living, then very properly we should say, we have something to do with the
matter of the profits of the business, because, after all, I will repeat, the * * *
cost of living might decrease and yet the profits of the business might automatically
increase.23
He went on to expand his point of view on wage determination:
There are two factors that enter into intelligent negotiations in wage scales. First,
is the demand of the organization for an increase in wages on the ground that the cost
of living has increased and the responsibilities have increased, and then instantly we
meet with the proposition of the employers and proof is brought that he hasn’t the
money to pay toward meeting this demand. Now both of these are competent ques
tions for negotiations. * * * We certainly would not consider a reduction in
wages when the income of the employer was the same or improving—that would be
going backward.24
An employer representative countered. He objected strongly to
the absence of specific mention in the cardinal points of a reduction
in wages to follow a reduction in the cost of living. It seemed
almost as if revision upward had been provided but that a peg was
stuck in at the highest point, barring any adjustment downward.
“ Very truly,” he said, “ it is all on one side, like the handle of a jug.”
As the discussion proceeded, the truth in both positions became
distinguishable, and was accepted by both sides. It was clear, as
one employer put it, that what was “ sauce for the goose was sauce
for the gander” ; that if wages went up with the cost of living they
should come down with any material reduction. But it was also
clear that reduction in wages should not necessarily follow reduction
21 Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York City, June 2, 1919, p. 67.
22 Idem, Oct. 30,1919, p. 26.
‘a Idem, June 2,1919, p. 69.
MIdem, p. 72.
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in prices. That depended on what came to be called in the third
cardinal point, the “ economic condition of the industry.”
When you come to the next step, after you get above that limit (cost of living) there
is some difficulty in establishing a standard—a permanent living standard. If some
thing occurs, it may or may not increase the cost of living, although it might increase
the profits of the industry. That may be a factor to be taken into consideration. If
taken into consideration such adjustments should be made on the basis of fact as
determined by a uniform cost accounting system.25
Cardinal Point No. 3.
Cardinal point No. 3 was introduced to broaden the basis of wage
determination, as well as to urge the inclusion in contracts of the
principle of adjustable scales:
That when not in conflict with the existing laws of a constituent body, local con
tracts to be for a period not less than three years, and include a clause providing for
annual readjustments of wages based upon cost of living as determined by authorities
agreed upon and upon the economic condition of the industry at the time of readjust
ments.26
*
The meaning of “ economic condition” received a little expansion
in a later meeting:
Those economic factors are * * * questions of competitive conditions within
the industry * * * the question of whether the industry is losing or making a
profit, which gives it a living wage in the way of rents and capital charges and things
of that sort. Those economic factors are vital and we can not escape their considera
tion in addition to the cost of living.27
There was a third party at interest in wage determination which
thus far had found no protagonist—the public. But this party
slipped into the discussion at last.
We are making arguments to our publishers, that we are obliged to increase our men
in commom decency, because of the increased cost of living, and obliged to ask them
to still further increase the amounts that they are paying us, even though we have
contracts with them; and they are acceding to those requests and arguments. * * *
If the cost of living goes down, we will say-to 50 per cent above 1914 [they will say],
we want to have our contract restored to a point that would be right at a 50 per cent
increase in the cost of living and we are going to be unable to answer that argument.28
More than this, it was very cogently argued that one of the factors
in H. C. L. itself was the disposition of manufacturers to keep prices
high, even when the economic condition of the industry did not
demand it. If the printers insisted on keeping up prices and wages
when others were reducing them, they were failing to do their part
in helping the country to break the H. C. L.
This was clearly a just consideration. It did not, however, nullify
the principle of considering economic factors in the wage determina
tion, but merely added another factor to the equation.
There was no objection to reduction, some one concluded, provided
both elements that entered into the operation were considered; the
question of the cost of living and the question of the economic condi
tions of the industry.
This discussion between leading trade-unionists and employers in
an important industry is an interesting case of an attack by practical
men upon some of the difficulties of the wage system. There are two
25 Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York City, June 2, 1919, p. 78.
28 Idem, p. 81.
52 Idem, Aug. 4,1919,,p. 39.
18 Idem, Sept. 18,1919, p. 20.
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chief points of interest in the discussion. Economists are almost
agreed that one of the most fundamental social maladjustments from
which we suffer is the “ unstabilized dollar.” It is a chief cause of our
panics, and a large factor in industrial strikes. With a change in the
purchasing power of money, wages and salaries unhappily lag far
behind. The printing industry is the only one that has begun to take
thoroughgoing measures to make “ actual wages” the same, not only
from year to year, but from place to place, through something
approaching a national program. This is the first point of interest.
The second is that “ other factors” are at least recognized as legiti
mate considerations in determining a just wage scale. The printers
said: “ The cost of living might decrease and yet the profits of the
business might automatically increase.” The conventional economist
might perhaps reply: “ That is a temporary condition. A general
lowering of prices will mean in time a general lowering of wages.
Therefore any attempt to keep up wages, when prices in general are
falling, will only be temporarily successful.” The answer might be:
“ The whole method of fixing wage scales through consideration of
living costs or any factors whatever in place of leaving the whole
thing up to ‘supply and demand’ is by way of being a device. It is
a device to secure a prompter and a more accurate human adjustment
than natural forces can possibly achieve. It does not oppose the law
of supply and demand—it outstrips it. As an illustration, suppose in
a certain group of towns of which Denver was the center, that .pros
perity and a condition of increased earnings continued for a year after
a general fall in prices. Should not employees share with employers
this continued prosperity ? Yet with a scale adjustable only upon the
cost-of-living principle, or upon no principle whatever (other than
supply and demand) they would in most cases be unable to do so.”
This is manifestly but one manner of regarding a limited aspect of the
problem raised. It is clearly a subject that suggests inquiries as
profound as the student cares to make them. But it is not necessary
here to go further to demonstrate the importance of this second
principle.
The three “ cardinal points of a labor policy,” together with one of two
others c onsidered below, were adopted by the council and indorsed by
its constituent bodies.29 No. 3 opened the way for concrete enter
prise in putting the principle into action. It urged “ local contracts
to be for a period not less than three years, and to include a clause
providing for annual readjustments of wages based upon the cost of
living as determined by authorities jointly agreed upon and upon the
economic condition of the industry at the time of readjustment.”
Full discussion lasting over several meetings finally resulted in a
skeleton cost-of-living clause for incorporation into local contracts.
Examination was first made of existing clauses. An agreement in the
city of Tacoma embodied the cost-of-living principle of adjustment
and suggested a basis for the uniform contract. The plan was also
found already in effect in the Index Envelope Co. of Cleveland, the
New York Banking and Trust Co., and in one of the counties of Illinois
among public service employees.30 On May 17, 1920, a cost-of-living
29 Cardinal points Nos. 1 and 2 wore adopted at the June 2 meeting. See Proceedings, International
Joint Conference Council, New York City, June 2,1919, p. 67.
so Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York City, June 2,1919, pp. 27 and 29.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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A N A TIO N A L C O U N C IL FO R T H E P R IN T IN G TRADES.
37
clause was indorsed by the council and recommended for adoption in
local contracts.31
Cardinal Point No. 4.
It had been suggested during the discussion of the first three car
dinal points that the only way to discover the “ economic condition”
of printing plants (point No. 3) was through a standard system of
cost accounting for the industry. It was further suggested as a means
of spreading the cost-finding gospel, that the obligation to operate
under the standard cost-finding system be included as a clause in
local contracts. These suggestions were embodied in cardinal point
No. 4, and adopted at the June 2, 1919, meeting:32
That a uniform standard system of cost accounting is considered fundamental to insure
stability, permanence, and prosperity to the industry and to provide a basis for secur
ing a greater degree of uniformity in conditions throughout the country; a clause to
be included in local agreements providing that such standard system as is recognized
by the organizations represented in the International Joint Conference Council to be
required.
At the September 18, 1919, meeting it was reported that certain
employers and unions entering into local contracts were looking for
a model cost-finding clause which they could incorporate, and it
was suggested that the council frame and recommend one. Clauses
already in existence were reviewed. A somewhat extreme form was
found in operation in Portland and San Francisco, so worded that
the union refused to work in a place where the standard cost-finding
system was not in operation, and where the employer was not a
member of the local employers’ association. A simpler clause was
found incorporated in the St. Louis contract, which read: ‘'The
various unions agree not to grant the use of the label, nor to, permit
of union men working in any printing office unless that office agrees
to operate its business under the standard cost-finding system.” 03
In discussing the clause some one said it was “ not the intention
to make a cast-iron rule to cover either the employers or the unions
on the subject,” but to “ formulate a section which we could rec
ommend * * * and then if local parties desired to incorporate
it in their agreements they are privileged to do so.” 34 No formal
recommendation was made, however, beyond the indorsement of the
principle in the fourth cardinal point.35
The advantage of such a clause to unions as well as employers is
evident. A business, unaware of its financial conditions, disrupts
the industry by poor management, and throws its employees out of
work through frequent bankruptcy. The need for cost systems in
the printing industry has been vividly shown in a series of surveys
conducted by the United Typothetre. The survey made in New
York City showed the following results:
Group 1.—56 plants using the standard cost-finding system showed a profit of 11.4
per cent.
Group 2.—187 plants using no cost system, giving complete information, showed a
profit of 7.4 per cent on cost.
*i Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, Philadelphia, Pa., May 17,1919, p. 80.
52 Idem, New York City, June 2, 1919, p. 88.
53 idem , Sept. 18, 1919, p. 15.
Ei Idem, p. 14.
35
The fourth cardinal point was dropped at a subsequent meeting of the International Joint Comerence
Council at the insistence of the employers, the employees yielding to avoid loss of the other four. In view
of this omission, the arbiters, during negotiations in December, 1920, held that the burden of proof was
upon the employers to show that wage increases would be destructive to the industry.
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M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W ,
G r o u p S .— 471 p lan ts using no cost system showed a profit of 1 p e r c e n t on cost.
G r o u p 4 .—554 plants giving incomplete information showed a 2.4 per cent loss
on
cost.36
The second and third groups of plants had accounting but not
cost-finding systems. The fourth group had neither.
Cardinal Point No. 5.
At the October 30, 1919, meeting, cardinal point No. 5 was adopted
by the council:
That controversies over wages, hours, and working conditions can and should be
settled without resorting to lockouts or strikes through voluntary agreement to refer
disputes when unable to settle through conciliation, to joint boards of arbitration
composed of equal representation of employers and employees, provision being made
for an impartial arbitrator if necessary.37
This was a first step toward bringing about the settlement of dis
putes throughout printerdom by arbitration. “ The purpose of the
clause is to have arbitration first recognized as a principle and then
to work out the details * * * in accordance with the consti
tution of the International Joint Conference Council.” 38
A good many national arbitration agreements were found already
in existence. “ We have had an agreement with the American News
paper Publishers Association since 1901,” said the president of the
stereotypers and electrotypers’ union. “At the present time we have
arbitration contracts with 200 newspapers who are members of the
American Newspaper Publishers Association; that is about 50 per
cent of the membership.” 39 Other national agreements were found
among the compositors and pressmen.40
The question of local and district arbitration boards was first
discussed, and the argument put that a district arbitration board
covering a competitive zone would tend greatly to standardize
arbitration procedure, to equalize wage scales, and to introduce
uniform shop practices. It would, in a word, create precedents of
industrial law: “ Suppose you had the district in the State of New
York and Pennsylvania * * * as time went on there would
be less and less casés that came before that board that would ever
really come to arbitration, because the board would decide them
before they were arbitrated.”41
Was the council to act as an arbitration tribunal itself ? Some
thought that was one of its functions under the constitution. And
were the district councils, which had been proposed, to be arbitra
tion bodies ? These points were definitely settled in the negative.
“ It is within the jurisdiction of the International Joint Conference
Council, acting as a legislative body, to pass judgments on the kind
of arbitration, but not to act as a superior court. It would be just
36 Survey of the Printing Industry of New York City, made by the United Typothetæ of America, Jan
uary, 1920.
37 Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York City, Oct. 30,1919, p. 17.
88 Idem, p. 4.
89 Idem, Dec. 1, 1919, p. 39.
40 A comparative study of arbitration agreements made by the Bureau of Industrial Relations of the
United Typothetæ of America showed national agreements in force between the International Typo
graphical Union and the United Typothetæ of America, the Closed Shop Branch of International Printing
Pressmen and Assistants Union, and the American Newspaper Publishers Association, the International
Union of Stereotypers and Electrotypers, and the International Association of Employing Stereotypers
and Electrotypers, the International Printing Pressmen and Assistants Union, and the Printers’ League
of America.
« Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New York City, Dec. 1,1919, p. 40.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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A N A TIO N A L CO U N CIL FOR T H E P R IN T IN G TRADES.
39
as if the Supreme Court were under Congress, or, rather, as if Con
gress tried to become the Supreme Court of the United States. If
we pass laws and interpret them, we are going to go into difficulty.”42
So it was decided to recommend the setting up of judicial ma
chinery outside the council but affiliated with it. This machinery
would consist of a local board and a national one for each branch
of the industry. The pressmen would have their own judicial bodies,
and the compositors theirs. In that manner each branch of the in
dustry would settle its own disputes, and those acquainted with its
peculiar problems would be the arbitrators in each instance. The
national hoard opened the way for appeal from hasty decisions.43
The International Joint Conference Council was to act as coordinator
of a process already under way. In fact agreements already in
force showed a tendency toward standardization. Why not com
pare them and draw up a single inclusive contract, to be recom
mended to all employers and all unions in the printing industry?
As its adoption spread, it would tend toward a further use of arbi
tration in industrial disputes, toward uniform wage scales and uni
form shop conditions over wider and wider areas, and a common
law for the industry. On May 17, 1920, such a contract was adopted
by the council.44
The document is in three parts: (1) An international arbitration
agreement for use between an international union and employers’
association; (2) an individual arbitration contract for use between
a local union and an employer or group of employers; and (3) a code
of procedure. In order to obtain the protection guaranteed by
the international agreement, it is necessary for a local employer or
union to execute the individual arbitration contract. The work
ing of the agreement can he illustrated by following a dispute in the
course of adjustment. It is first submitted- to the joint chairman
of the “ local board of conciliation.” Failing settlement, it goes to
the local board of conciliation itself. If no agreement can be reached
it passes to the local arbitration board. (The president of the
international union and the chairman of the arbitration committee
determine jointly what questions can he arbitrated.) After con
sideration by the local arbitration board, if either party desires, he
may make appeal to the national arbitration board whose decision
is final.
The noteworthy features of the arrangements are:
The individual arbitration contract protects the employer “ against
walkouts, strikes, or boycotts” and the union against lockouts or
any “ concerted action to discriminate against members of the
union.”
Work must “ continue without interruption pending proceedings”
and the hours, wages, and working conditions prevailing at the time
the difference arises remain unchanged, until a final settlement is
made.
In case of refusal to comply with a decision, “ all aid and support
to the employer or the local union refusing acceptance and compli« Proceedings, International Joint Conference.Council, Chicago, 111., Jan. 22, 1920, p. .3fi.
Appeals under existing arbitration agreements were found to be few m practice but the principle was
felt to be of great importance. In the stereotypers’ and electrotypers’ agreement there were but 12 appeals
to the national board in 18 years of operation.—Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, New
York City, Dec. 1,1919, p. 39.
« Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, Philadelphia, Pa., May lT, 1920, p. 111.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
ance shall be withdrawn by both parties to this agreement. The
acts of such recalcitrant employer or union shall be publicly dis
avowed and the aggrieved party shall be furnished by the other
with an official document to that effect.”
The cardinal principles for wage adjustment are included in the
agreement and thus commit all those taking advantage of the inter
national arbitration agreement to a constructive program of wage
settlement. They may be restated as—
No. 1. That the industry frankly recognizes the cost of living, as compared to 1914,
as the basic factor in wage adjustments.
No. 2. The industry to pay at least a reasonable living wage; scales below this to
be adjusted in frank recognition of the basic principle involved.
No. 3. That, when not in conflict with the existing laws of a constituent body,
local contracts be for a period not less than three years, and include a clause pro
viding for annual readjustments of wages based upon cost of living, as determined by
authorities jointly agreed upon, and upon the economic conditions of the industry at
the time of readjustments.
No. 5.43 That controversies over wages, hours, and working conditions between
employers and employees can and should be settled without resorting to lockouts or
strikes, through voluntary agreements to refer disputes, where unable to settle through
conciliation, to joint boards of arbitration composed of equal representation of em
ployers and employees, provision being made for an impartial arbitrator if necessary.
Apprenticeship.
'"THE printing industry is “ committing industrial suicide,” some one
1 remarked at the meeting held January 22, 1920. It was an
accurate way of describing the condition into which a growing
shortage of learners was forcing the industry. “ In the city of Phila
delphia we have 255 journeymen, * * *” remarked one repre
sentative. “ If we make all the apprentices to which we are entitled
according to union rules, we may turn out eight apprentices each
year. It would take between 32 and 33 years to replace the working
force that we have to-day.” But owing to certain apprenticeship
rules, “ it actually takes 43^ years in the city of Philadelphia to
replace the number of journeymen. * * *”40
Half of the January 22, 1920, conference was devoted to the
problem. Too many apprentices were compelled to do porter work
and not given a reai chance to learn their job. “ I had to steal the
trade,” remarked one union representative. Some unions did not
allow enough apprentices. Many employers did not employ their
permitted quota. Both conditions were bad. Technical schools
should be encouraged, it was said; and above all an adequate wage
paid. It was necessary to compete in these days with the high
wages and short learning periods of the metal and other trades.
The conferences, as a result of the discussion, advised the setting up
of “ local machinery in the form of joint apprenticeship committees
* * * to initiate and complete local surveys, to study, investigate,
and report, and to act to secure enforcement of conditions jointly
agreed upon governing the employment and training of apprentices."
In addition they urged that contracts “ include rules governing the
employment and training of apprentices and a clause providing for
a joint apprenticeship committee.” 47
*> See p. 37 for point No. 4.
« Proceedings, International Joint Conference Council, Chicago, 111., Jan. 22, 1919, p. 109.
« Quoted from a circular letter sent out after the Jan. 22,1920, meeting, to secretaries of local typothetae
and sanctioned by International Joint Conference Council.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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A NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE PRINTING TRADES.
41
The council’s method of dealing with the apprenticeship problem
is a good example of decentralized action. Joint local committees
were the suggested instruments, the national body functioning as
initiator and coordinator of the work. Here was another example,
too, of a slow cumulative influence set up through working a com
mon clause into local contracts, rather than an autocratic hat from
a ruling body.
Proposed Activities.
District Councils.
A COMPREHENSIVE system of industrial government would
seem to require a joint national council, a district council, and
local works and shop committees. Two district councils showed
signs of arising spontaneously in the printing industry in the fall of
1919, one for the cities of Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and
and other places, and another for Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, and
Columbus. At the December 1, 1919, meeting, the International
Joint Conference Council considered the advisability of drafting a
uniform constitution which it could recommend to budding organi
zations. It did not agree on a constitution but passed a resolution
approving the principle of district councils, and requesting inquiring
bodies to delay the setting up of a council until the International
Council had worked out a uniform constitution.48
At subsequent meetings a tentative district map was drawn, upon
which representation could be based. A proposed constitution is
still under consideration.
If the plan of setting up district councils materializes, the pur
poses of the International Council will have taken a long stride
toward fulfillment. In “ a standardization of hours, wages, working
conditions, and shop rules” 49 one of the surest fields of usefulness, it
should prove an even more effective instrument than the national
body.
Standardization of Contracts.
Another job which the council holds before it is the standardization
of contracts. A comparative study 50 of 43 local contracts brought
out:
1. That the local contracts within each international differ to an amazing degree
among themselves.
2. That except for specific trade matters, the local contracts of the three inter
nationals do not differ from each other as widely as they differ within each inter
national.
Contracts in the printing industry cover such important questions
as: (1) Conference committees, (2) strikes, (3) wages, (4) hours,
(5) conditions, (6) employment, (7) closed shop, (8) arbitration.
The greater uniformity that can be introduced will clearly tend to
stabilize the industry; it will reduce the causes of disputes and will
by making basic conditions the same in different shops lessen the
shifting of labor. A blanket agreement for recommendation to the
local unions has been discussed by the council but no formal action
has been taken.
48 Proceedings International Joint Conference Council, New York City, Dec. 1, 1919, p. 24.
« Quoted from tlic proposed constitution for a district council, as among its objects.
:0 B y E thel Barbara Dietrich, for the International Joint Conferene Council.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
The achievements of the printers’ council can be summarized by
saying that it has introduced into the organized portion of one
industry a new type of collective bargaining—characterized by an
appeal to facts, and a tendency to test the demands of either party
by the good of the industry as a whole.
The psychological gain attributable to the council is hard to over
estimate. It alone would justify giving it a place in the structure of
industry. Running through all the proceedings can be traced the
modification of extreme views by both parties and the emergence of
common ground upon which joint action is possible. The employer
found himself confronted with a reasoned case accompanied by care
fully collated statistics to account for the “ unreasonable” unrest he
found among his employees. The trade-unionist lost any illusions
he might have had of the employers^ unlimited ability to pay.
The council does not deny the right of strike or lockout, but it
expresses a belief that they are unnecessary and provides the means
for a constitutional settlement of disputes. It is aware that as a
matter of record most disputes are disposable by an appeal to ob
tainable facts, if only the machinery for inquiry and award is present.
One of the very real causes of “ unrest” is without question the psy
chological one of suspicion. Because there is no intelligent separation
of remediable difficulties from relatively unchangeable ones, the em
ployee believes that everything should be transformed at once, and
that only the cupidity of the employer resists an immediate Utopia.
The employer, on the other hand, seeing the absurdity and extrava. gance of the employees’ demands, often refuses, if he has the power,
to make any changes. Or, if he accedes, he remedies all the imme
diate defects of his industry and is surprised and hurt at the ingrati
tude of his men. He has acted knowing nothing of the thought and feel
ing of his employees and often with little concrete knowledge of their
working conditions. The printers met this difficulty squarely. By
the practice of candor on both sides they were able to distinguish the
obstacles they could remove at once from the forces which were a
part of the condition of their problem, and which would either have
to be accepted or changed only as a result of prolonged effort.
Besides this important psychological advantage the concrete
achievements of the council have been substantial and suggest the
value of such an instrument in other industries. Wherever organi
zations of sufficient strength exist on both sides there will certainly
be similar questions best dealt with by a democratic national body.
The written constitution adopted by the printers suggestively out
lines the possible scope of an American national council. The
method of expressing its authority reveals a wise utilization of ex
isting'centers of power while concrete accomplishments show that
the powers of the council itself are increasing.
The adoption and practice of the “ cardinal points” is perhaps the
most characteristic and significant work of the council. The very
essence of the new type of collective dealing is crammed into those
five cardinal points. That statement by the organized portion of a
major industry that they “ frankly recognize the cost of living, as
compared to 1914, as the basic factor in wage adjustments,” and
that wage adjustments should be based upon the cost of living, “ and
upon the economic conditions of the industry at the time of read-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[42]
A NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE PRINTING TRADES.
43
justments” means the entrance of principles into a field hitherto
under the sway of chance and economic might.
Old objections that such dealing eliminates desirable competition,
opposes natural forces, and restricts tiade, become conspicuously in
applicable in the light of this experiment. That “supply and de
mand” operate to determine wages and the wage earner’s standard
of living, no one will deny. But lesser and more immediate matters
play a large part as well. Prof. Taussig, in his “Wages and Capital,”
enumerates as some of the causes that affect individual cases of ad
justment “the extent to which the employer happens at the moment
to be tied by contracts; the temper or pugnacity of one party or the
other; the organization, the discipline, the available funds on either
side,” etc. It was some of these that the conference leaders of
capital and labor in the printing industry were trying to wipe out or
mitigate. By an appeal to facts, they discarded the poker-game
method of wage negotiation, and dealt with the basic wage deter
minants. Of these they knew well enough that if given time wages
will adjust themselves to prices, but they knew as well that in the
process of waiting four or five years an immense total of human suf
fering would intervene. Perhaps by the natural laws of economy the
real wages of various cities would adjust themselves to a common
level. But during the waiting years the discrepancies were so wide
that the shifting of labor and business caused terrific disruption and
loss in the industry. They permitted a very considerable degree of
competition, but it was the competition of men trying to be more
efficient than one another instead of trying to undercut one another
on the wage scale.
The method of bringing about the use of these principles was char
acteristic. It was not through the passage of a mandatory general
law, but through urging the use of clauses in local wage contracts
After “The cardinal points,” the international arbitration agree
ment is perhaps the council’s most important measure. The arbi
tration agreement is in reality a long step toward the building up of
industrial law. Most of the controversies submitted to strike de
cision would never become active disputes were there a regularized
system of permanent arbitration boards operating over large areas
according to a code of industrial precedents.
Certain defects in the council are of course distinguishable. A
criticism may perhaps be made of its basis of representation both in
the separate unions and in the council itself. Certain of the inter
national unions composing the council are known to have exceedingly
undemocratic methods in choosing their international officers. If
reform be desirable, however, this would seem to be a separate affair
for the international to handle itself, and would not constitute a
defect of the council proper. As to the method of representation in
the council, which is at present exceedingly informal, it is recognized
as unsatisfactory and is being reconsidered.
Perhaps also a doubt may be raised by those who have a somewhat
limited faith in human nature, as to whether the apparent good will
of the employer is not based on necessity in the form of the “labor
shortage.” These doubters may ask: “ Will not your council crumble
shortly, when the labor market is flooded once more, and the employer
is free to conduct his business in his own way?” There are two
2 4 9 3 3 °— 21-------4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
answers to this. The labor market shows no signs whatever of being
flooded, inasmuch as it is little affected by the flow of immigration.
And in the event of a full market it is an open question whether the
employer would give up the demonstrated advantages of the council,
for an exercise of a power likely to be temporary.
The council will without doubt please neither conservatives nor
radicals. The printers had no program of perfection. They did not
set up a ‘‘complete system of industrial government ” and endow it
with full powers. And they used every available scrap of existing,
machinery, precedent, or good will looking toward betterment,
whether it bore a democratic title or not. The printers’ council has
proceeded slowly, utilizing the tools at hand, and yet the principles it
has adopted as basic are broad enough for the most liberal develop
ment.
Through such thorough examinations of all the facts, and willing
ness for joint experiment may perhaps arise those social and economic
inventions which are among the principal needs of our time. The
deeper forces set in motion by the Great War and its aftermath re
quire some such flexible instrument for their adjustment. The un
explored effects of the industrial revolution, as well, require an elastic
machinery, involving all parties at interest, to work out its newly
emphasized problems of adjustment. For certain industries the
national industrial council may perhaps supply such an instrument.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Working Children of Boston .1
B y
H elen
S umner
W oodbury.
HE purpose of this study was to ascertain the amount, char
acter, conditions, and effects of employment of children under
16 years of age in an American city of diversified industries
and a considerable volume of trade and in a State having compara
tively advanced child-labor legislation. The problems of child labor,
it was believed, are not confined to backward communities or to back
ward industries, but arise wherever the work of undeveloped youngpersons is used primarily for profit instead of primarily for training.
Each year legislation regulating child labor has tended to become
more strict. The public conscience has approved a 14-year mini
mum age and the requirement of employment certificates until 16,
with compulsory school attendance up to 14 and from that age until
16 if a child is not employed. Nevertheless, for the child laborers
of the United States at the present time, as for those of England
when Lord Shaftesbury began his agitation in their behalf, the
questions to be asked are:
(1) Is the child worker able to grow into adult life with his health
and physical vigor unimpaired ?
(2)
Does he receive training adapted to make him, when an adult,
an efficient workman?
(3)
Does he receive an education adequate to make him a good
citizen ?
Boston was chosen for the study because, in addition to having
industrial conditions fairly typical of those in other large American
cities, it has legal regulations of child labor as stringent as any which
are common in this country, including a continuation school, and a
good system of records of its working children.
The four chief sources of information were: (1) Employment cer
tificate records relating to all children—a total of 5,692 who became
14 years of age during the year which ended on August 31, 1914, and
who took out employment certificates for either vacation or regularwork before they became 16 years of age, i. e., before September 1,
1916, in Boston or in one of the three adjoining cities of Cambridge,
Somerville, or Chelsea; (2) records of the Boston continuation school
relating to 3,399 children of the same age group who took out certifi
cates in that city for regular work, L e., who definitely left school for
industry, before they were 16; (3) interviews by agents of the Chil
dren’s Bureau with a group of 823 children who were attending the
Boston continuation school; and (4) replies from 328 of these chil
dren to a questionnaire sent them in December, 1918, about three
years after they had been interviewed and at a time when war pro
duction in Boston was little, if any, below the level attained at the
time of the armistice. Except that the average age at going to work
of the interviewed children, and to a lesser degree of the iargei
T
i Summary of a study made under the direction of the Children’s Bureau, U . S. Department of Labor.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
group of continuation-school children, was lower than the average
age at going to work of all regular workers, both of these groups may
be considered fair samples of the children leaving school for work in
Boston. In addition, an examination was made of the records of
the certificate office in Boston as to employment certificates granted
children under 16 years of age from September 1, 1914, to August
3 1 , 1918, the four years which represent roughly the period of the
World War.
The problem of child labor in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and
Chelsea is numerically an important one. Of the estimated number
of children in these four cities who became 14 years of age during the
year ended September 1, 1914, over one-third took out employment
certificates for gainful labor before their sixteenth birthdays. The
great majority went to work in Boston. Furthermore, the records
of the* Boston certificate office show that the number of children
going to work in that city increased rapidly from September 1, 1914,
to September 1, 1918. During the year which ended on August 31,
1915, 3,342 children who had never before held certificates took them
out in Boston. The next year this number nearly doubled, and in
the period from September'1, 1917, to August 31, 1918, the number
of children taking out their first certificates was 8,760.
Some children who take out employment certificates, of course, do
not leave school, but work only during vacations or out of school
hours. Nevertheless, nearly three-tenths of all children of the age
group considered who lived in Boston at the time of this study became
regular workers, i. e., left school for work, before their sixteenth
birthdays. About four-fifths of the children who took out certificates
in that city appear to have definitely left school for industry.
A decidedly larger proportion of the foreign-born than of the native
children—not far from three-fifths of the foreign-born but less than
one-tliird of the native children living in the four cities—took out
employment certificates. Nevertheless, approximately four-fifths of
the children who took out certificates were native born.
The foreign-born children who took out certificates more generally
became regular, as distinguished from vacation, workers than did
the native children. Nearly twice as large a proportion of all the
foreign-born as of all the native children living in Boston (nearly half
of the foreign-born but little over one-fourth of the native children)
became regular workers.
Although only about 2 out of every 10 working children were
themselves foreign born, about 7 out of every 10 had foreign-born
fathers. Of those interviewed—all regular workers—72.1 per cent
were children whose fathers came from some foreign country.
More than one-third had fathers from south and east Europe and
not far from another third had fathers from north and west Europe.
More boys than girls went to work between 14 and 16 years of
age. Boys constituted three-fifths and girls two-fifths of the children
of the age group studied who took out certificates in the four cities.
Over two-fifths of the boys but not much more than one-fourth of
the girls of this age group took out employment certificates. But
within more recent years there appears to have been a tendency, at
least in Boston, for the number of girls filtering industry to increase
more rapidly than the number of boys.
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WORKING CHILDREN OE BOSTON.
47
Less difference between boys and girls in tendency to go to work
early was found among foreign-born than among native children, and
among children of foreign parentage than among those of native
parentage. The tendency of foreign-born girls to become regular
workers, for example, was nearly as pronounced as that of boys,
while only one-fifth of the native girls, as compared with nearly onethird of the native boys, had left school for industry before their
sixteenth birthdays. Similar differences were found between the boys
and girls of foreign and of native parentage. Evidently foreign-born
fathers were much more likely to send their daughters, as compared
with their sons, to work at an early age than were native fathers.
Reasons lor Leaving School to Go to Work.
ALTHOUGH desertion by the father appears to have played its
part in sending children from school to work, for the fathers of
21 of the 82.3 interviewed children were not living with their families,
the death of the father appears to have been a much more important
factor. Only about one-eighth of all children of 14 would normally
have lost their fathers by death,2 yet approximately one-fifth of the
children interviewed, and nearly one-fourth of those of native par
entage, including all who had stepfathers, had lost their own fathers
by death.
*Not all children, however, from families in which conditions might
seem to indicate economic pressure, stated, when asked why they
were leaving school, that their earnings were needed at home; and
on the other hand, either because of large families, low earnings of
the fathers, illness, or some other reason, many children from normal
families gave this as their reason for going to work. Economic need
was given as a reason for leaving school by only two-fifths of all
the children interviewed as compared with more than half of those
whose fathers were dead or not living with their families, with not
far from three-fifths of those whose mothers were employed, and
with over three-fourths of those whose fathers were unemployed.
That girls, particularly native girls of native parentage, are less
likely than boys to go to work unless their earnings are actually
needed, appears to be indicated by the fact that nearly half of the
girls, but little more than one-third of the boys, stated that they
were leaving school because of the economic necessities of their
families.
On the other hand, one-fifth of all the children interviewed stated
that their reason for leaving was that they were discontented with
school, either because they disliked their school or their teacher, or
because of slow progress or failure to receive a promotion. To these
children may be added the one-eighth who said, when asked why they
left school, that they wished to work, and also perhaps the small pro
portion, 4 per cent, who had finished the eighth grade and did not wish
to go on to high school.
2 Estimated from the mortality during 14 years of males aged 30 as given in United States Life Tables,
1910. The estimate is purposely slightly overstated in assuming ajather higher average age of fathers
at the births of their children and in assuming that the mortality of males applies to married males.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Retardation.
I F a child began school at 6 and continued steadily without repeating
1 grades he would have completed the grammar-school course by the
time he was 14. Yet little more than half of the 14 and 15 year old
children who took out certificates in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville,
and Chelsea had completed the eighth or a higher grade in a regular
school. Within more recent years the proportion of children taking
out certificates in Boston who had completed the eighth or a higher
grade has been between 55 and 60 per cent. Between September 1,
1914, and August 31, 1918, moreover, some tendency was shown for
the proportion who had completed high school or other grades above
the eighth to increase. This may be due partly, however, to an
increase in the proportion of children who worked only during vaca
tions or out of school hours.
Actual retardation, measured on the conservative scale adopted for
this report,3 appears to have been decidedly more common among
the children who left school for work before their sixteenth birthdays
than among other Boston children 14 and 15 years of age. Over threetenths of the children who took out certificates in Boston for work
during school hours were found to be retarded; yet according to the
report of the Immigration Commission, in December, 1908, only about
two-tenths of the children in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth
grades of the Boston schools, the grades from which most of the chil
dren included in this study left school, were retarded. Although this
comparison can be considered as only roughly indicative of the true
situation, there appears no doubt that considering all school children,
regardless of nativity or nationality, those who are retarded in their
school work are more likely than those who are in normal or higher
than normal grades for their ages to leave school for work.
Children who were in normal, and especially those who w'ere in
higher than normal grades for their ages appear, on the other hand,
when they worked at all, to have sought employment during vacations
or out of school hours, rather than to have left school. Only onesixth of the vacation workers, as compared with more than threetenths of the regular workers, were retarded; and a surprisingly large
proportion, over three-tenths, of the vacation workers, as compared
with less than one-tenth of the regular workers, had completed higher
grades than normal for their ages. About half of the vacation
workers but less than half of the regular workers had completed
normal grades.
Nor was the high percentage of retardation among the regular
workers due entirely to the comparatively large proportion of children
of foreign birth among those who left school for industry before they
were 16. Even of the native children for whom continuation school
records were taken—all regular workers—more than one-fourth had
failed to attain a normal grade, a decidedly higher proportion than
the Immigration Commission found in the Boston schools in 1908.
The corresponding proportion for foreign-born children, however, was
nearly half and for Italian children it was not far from two-thirds.
s In this report a child was classified as having completed a normal grade for his age if, at 13 years of
age, he had completed the sixth or seventh grade, at 14 the seventh or eighth, and at 15 the eighth grade
or the first year of high school.
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WORKING CHILDREN OF BOSTON.
49
Positions H eld Before Leaving School.
ANY of the children who left school for work before their
sixteenth birthdays had also worked during vacation periods
or out of school hours before leaving school. Some of this work was
done after they were 14 years of age, but many of the interviewed
children, who were questioned as to all the positions they had ever
held, were found to have worked before they were 14 when, of course,
they could not secure certificates. Not all this work, however, was
illegal, for in some cases it was in occupations in which children were
permitted to work under 14 during vacations or outside school hours,
and in others street trades licenses, which boys could get at 12 years of
age, had been secured.
The children interviewed, it should be remembered, were decidedly
younger when they left school for work than was the average child
taking his first regular position, so that they had had comparatively
little time for vacation work. Nevertheless, about two-fifths of all
these children, and nearly three-fifths of the boys, had been employed
before leaving school; and all but 46 of the 324 who had been employed
had begun their vacation work before they were 14, at least 40 before
12, and 12 before 10 years of age. Comparatively few girls, only about
one-eighth, worked before leaving school, and a much larger propor
tion of them than of the boys secured their first school positions, i. e.,
positions held while they were still in school, after they were 14, and
worked only during a vacation period.
Opportunities to work before or after school hours or on Saturdays
during school term at such occupations as street trading, odd jobs
and outdoor work appear to have been much more common for boys
than for girls. Because of these opportunities and also because most
of the boys took their first school positions before they were 14 years
of age when factory and mechanical occupations were closed to them
by law, nearly nine-tenths of the boys who worked before leaving
school were first engaged in occupations classed as “ clerical occupa
tions, wrapping, selling, and delivery of goods.” Over two-fifths of
these first school positions held by boys were occupations involving
selling, generally as newsboys or peddlers’ helpers. But an even
larger proportion, 46.1 per cent, were for messenger, errand, and
delivery work.
The work done before leaving school appears to have been less
desultory and irregular than might be expected. Two-thirds of the
children who worked before leaving school had held only one school
position, though over one-fifth had held two, nearly one-tenth three,
and nine boys, 2.8 per cent of the total number of children, four or
more positions each. More than one-third of these positions lasted
less than three months. But a surprisingly large proportion, 30.2 per
cent, lasted for a year or more and nearly one-sixth for two years or
more. Over half of all the positions held by both sexes in which the
hours were from 24 to 48 a week were held for less than three months,
and most of these were vacation positions. Nevertheless, prac
tically one-fifth of these positions in which the hours were from 24
to 48 a week were held for a year or over, and almost one-fourth of
the positions in which the hours were from 12 to 24 a week lasted
for two years or more.
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MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW.
Among the children who were interviewed, vacation work meant
in most cases work before the fourteenth birthday, which was per
formed without having secured employment certificates. In other
words it meant work performed at an age and under conditions when
it might most logically be expected to have an influence upon standing
in school. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that a larger pro
portion of the children who had worked than of those who had not
worked before leaving school, were retarded, and that a smaller
proportion had completed higher grades than normal for their ages.
Nor is it surprising to find that work during school term appears to
have had more serious effects on school standing than work done at
any other time.
Occupational Distribution After Leaving School.
rTTIE occupations in which children between 14 and 16 years of age
-*■ could be employed were, of course, decidedly restricted by their
ages, lack of physical strength, and lack of education and experience.
To a certain extent they were also restricted by law, particularly by
the provisions in regard to hours, continuation-school attendance,
and employment on machines. As a result, most of the positions
held by the children studied were for simple mechanical tasks or for
running errands or carrying articles either inside or outside the estab
lishment. Although none of these positions required any real skill,
some of them permitted the development of a certain dexterity and
others made it possible for the child to acquire a little practical
knowledge of the business apart from his own small task. A few of
them doubtless offered opportunities for promotion to more skilled
or responsible positions if the child remained, which he rarely did,
until he grew older. In the vast majority of cases, however, the
occupation was not of such a character as to offer either a future in
itself or training for any other occupation by which the child could
hope to earn a living as an adult.
About two-thirds of all the positions held by children who took
out certificates in the four cities were for “ clerical occupations,
wrapping, selling or delivery of goods, etc.” and most of the others
were for factory or mechanical occupations. The most important
of the clerical and similar occupations was messenger, errand end
delivery work, which alone furnished nearly one-third of all these
positions; and next most important was cash and messenger work in
department stores which furnished about one-eighth. Office work
accounted for 7.3 per cent; packing, wrapping, labeling, and shippingroom work for 6.8 per cent; and selling for 4.1 per cent.
The increase in child labor which, as already noted, occurred in
Boston during the war period, appears to have been more conspicuous
in factories than in workshops, stores or other places.
Among the children included in this study considerable difference
was found in the occupational distribution of boys and of girls. More
than half of the certificates taken out by boys in the four cities were
for messenger, errand and delivery work, and nearly nine-tenths of
the certificates taken out for this kind of work were held by boys.
Although less than one-tenth of the positions held by boys were
for office work, this occupation also showed a preponderance of boys,
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WORKING CHILDREN OF BOSTON.
51
who held not far from three-fourths of the office work certificates.
Boys also held nine-tenths of the positions as apprentices and helpers
in skilled trades.
On the other hand, nearly half of the certificates taken out by girls
were for work as operatives in factories, and nearly seven-tenths of
the certificates taken out for this kind of work were held by girls.
In clothing factories and other needle trades a particularly large pro
portion, 94.3 per cent, of the positions were held by girls. Girls also
preponderated in cash and messenger work in department stores and
in packing, wrapping, labeling, and shipping-room work. More than
one-sixth of the girls’ positions were for cash and messenger work in
department stores, and girls held three-fifths of the positions for this
kind of work. Similarly one-eighth of the girls’ positions were for
packing, wrapping, labeling, and shipping-room work, and girls held
four-fifths of the positions for this kind of work.
Decided differences were found in the tendencies shown by native
and by foreign-born children, and also by children from different
foreign countries toward various occupations. Owing primarily to
a decidedly larger proportion of foreign-born than of native children
who secured their first positions in clothing factories and other needle ;
trades, the foreign-born children, especially the Italians, showed a :
greater tendency to begin their industrial careers in factory and
mechanical occupations. This difference was particularly pronounced
among the girls. The native children, on the other hand, showed a
greater tendency than the foreign born to enter all the occupations
classified as clerical, wrapping, selling, and delivery of goods, ex
cept “ selling” and “ packing, wrapping, labeling, and shippingroom work.”
Among the native children were included, however, many whose
fathers were foreign born. These children tended to resemble in
their choice of occupations those whose fathers also were native more
closely than they resembled foreign-born children. Nevertheless,
they distinctly tended to modify the tendencies shown by nati ve chil
dren of native parentage. The contrast, therefore, between the for
eign-born children and the native children whose fathers also were
native was in most cases even more pronounced than that between
the foreign born and the entire group of native children.
Children who were behind in their school work showed a greater
tendency than did normal or advanced children to enter factory and
mechanical occupations, and also to take positions involving “ selling”
or “ packing, wrapping, labeling, and shipping-room work,” and to
enter personal and domestic occupations. In spite of the fact that
the younger children showed less tendency than the older to begin
work as factory operatives, it appears that in general the lower the
grade a child had completed in school the more likely was he to begin
his industrial career in such an occupation. Actual retardation seems,
as would be expected, to have had the same effect. Children from
higher grades than normal for their ages showed, on the other hand,
a decidedly greater tendency than other groups to go into offices and
also into cash and messenger work in department stores. These dif
ferences in occupational distribution between normal and retarded
children appear in the main to coincide with the differences already
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
pointed out between the occupational tendencies of native and for
eign-born children.
Few of these children—less than one-tenth of those in the continu
ation school and a still smaller proportion of those who were inter
viewed—secured their first positions through any agency or bureau
organized for the purpose of securing employment. And of those who
did make use of such an organization more than half were placed by
private employment agencies. The Boston Placement Bureau, which
had offices in the building where the certificate office was located and
on the same floor, worked mainly among high-school graduates and
children over 16 years of age who were applying for educational cer
tificates, and as a result secured first positions for only 54, or 1.6 per
cent, of the 3,399 children in the Boston continuation school. The
State employment office, moreover, secured first positions for only
31 of these children. The day schools, indeed, most of which had
vocational counselors but did not attempt to find positions, appear
to have been more important as placement agencies than any other
public organization; yet the fact that they secured first positions for
only 2.1 per cent of the continuation school and 0.4 per cent of the
interviewed children shows that their influence was slight and was
mainly among the older boys and girls.
Length of Service in First Regular Position.
CONSIDERABLE difference was found between occupations in the
^
length of time during which children remained in their positions.
In studying this subject only the first regular positions held by chil
dren interviewed were considered, for later positions were too fre
quently not terminated and the exact length of positions was not
known for the other groups of children. The largest proportion of
short-time positions was found in cash and messenger work in depart
ment stores. More than half of these positions, and not far from
three-fifths of those held by girls, lasted less than one month. Posi
tions as operatives in clothing factories and other needle trades were
also likely to be of short duration. Over two-fifths of these positions,
and a still larger proportion of those held by girls, lasted less than
three months. More than half of the clothing factory positions which
were terminated within three months lasted, however, more than one
month. Though the work in clothing factories is seasonal, the rush
seasons are much longer than department store “ sales,” and this fact
is evidently reflected in the comparative length of positions held in
the two occupations.
Of the children interviewed, all regular workers, nearly one-fourth
held only one position in a year or more of work history, and were
therefore classified as “ steady” ; a somewhat larger proportion held,
on an average, one position within each period of from six months to
one year, and were classified as “ active” ; about one-third held new
positions on an average within each period of from three to six months,
and were classified as “ restless” ; and a comparatively small propor
tion, less than one-tenth, held new positions on an average within
each period of less than three months, and were classified as “ un
steady.”
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WORKING CHILDREN OF BOSTON.
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The steady workers appear to have been decidedly less likely to be
retarded in their school work than those who shifted their positions
frequently. The largest proportion of retarded children, about
two-fifths, was found among those classed as “ restless,” but nearly
as large a proportion appeared among the considerably smaller num
ber classed as “ unsteady.” On the other hand, only about one-fourth
of the “ steady ” workers had failed to attain a normal grade. Appar
ently children who were behind in their school work were more likely
than were those from normal or higher than normal grades for their
ages to make frequent changes in their positions after going to work.
Unemployment.
In regard tq unemployment, only children who had been at work
one year or more were considered, as those with shorter work his
tories may not have had a normal amount of unemployment. Among
these chiidren the proportion of unemployed time was 14.4 per cent.
The highest percentage of unemployment for any sex and nativity
group was 22.9 for the native girls whose fathers also were native.
This peculiarity appears to be due to a greater tendency on the part
of the native girls, and especially those of native parentage, to work
only when they could secure the more attractive positions, for, as
already shown, these girls more frequently than any other group
tended to take temporary positions, especially for cash and messenger
work in department stores, and were consequently out of work a
great deal of the time.
The children who had held only one position within a year or more
of work history, those called “ steady” workers, naturally had very
little unemployment. Among these children, indeed, the percentage
of unemployed time was almost negligible, only 2.7. Among the
“ active” workers this percentage rose to 15.1, but it was more than
doubled among the “ unsteady” workers, who were unemployed
during more than one-third, 34.9 per cent, of their work histories.
Even the “ restless” workers were unemployed for more than one-fifth
of their time.
Wages.
far from three-fourths of the children interviewed received less
than $5 initial weekly wages in their first regular positions. As
only 5.1 per cent made less than $3 the initial weekly wages of the
great majority, 68.4 per cent, were from S3 to $5. Wages of from
$4 to |5 were more common than those of from S3 to $4. The latter
amounts were received by little more than one-fourth and the former
by over two-fifths of the children.
The initial weekly wages of the boys were decidedly higher than
those of the girls. Nearly half of the boys but only about one-third
of the girls earned S4 but less than $5, while about one-fifth of the
boys and only one-twentieth of the girls earned S5 but less than
$6. Less than S3 weekly wages were received by about one-twelfth
of the girls, but by only 2.5 per cent of the boys.
Foreign-born children, both boys and girls, appear to have re
ceived higher initial weekly wages than native children of either
native or foreign-born fathers. Almost one-third of the foreign boys
earned $5 or more, as compared with less than one-fourth of the
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
native sons of native and of foreign-born fathers. This appears to
have been due to the fact that foreign-born children, particularly
boys, much more frequently worked long hours, i. e., over 48 a week,
than did children of any other nativity group.
Advancement in school work seems to have exercised a favorable
influence over the children’s initial weekly wages in their first regular
positions. About one-fourth of the children from higher than
normal grades for their ages received $5 or more, as compared with
about one-sixth of those from normal grades and with an even
smaller proportion of the retarded children. The same tendency was
shown by both boys and girls.
Wages in factory and mechanical occupations were higher for
both boys and girls than in clerical and other similar occupations.
The difference between these two main groups of occupations was due
primarily to the unusually low wages received by both sexes, but
particularly by girls, in positions for cash and messenger work in
department stores. The most frequent wages for this occupation
were $3 but less than $4, and less than $5 a week was received in
nearly nine-tenths of all these positions and in over nine-tenths of
those held by girls. Office work showed the highest proportion of
positions in which the initial weekly wages were $5 or more, but the
positions held by boys in messenger, errand, and delivery work, like
those in cash and messenger work in department stores, carried lower
wages than positions in the entire group of clerical and other
similar occupations.
Both because of increases in particular positions and because of
changes in positions, before the date of the interview many of the
children were earning more than in their first regular positions. Of
those who had been at work for a year or more the great majority,
69.4 per cent, were receiving higher, and a very small proportion,
only 5.9 per cent, lower wages when interviewed than when they
began work. In the majority of cases these increases amounted to
less than $2 per week, the largest number being in the group $1 but less
than $2. Although the foreign-born children had the advantage in
initial weekly wages, in wage promotions they appear not to have
been so well off as the native children, and particularly as the na
tive children of native parentage.
Retardation appears to have exercised an unfavorable influence,
not only over initial weekly wages, but also over wage increases.
Only about three-fifths of the retarded children, as compared with
nearly three-fourths of the children from normal grades and with
more than three-fourths of those from higher grades than normal for
their ages, received increases in wages between their first regular
positions and the date of the interview.
The figures for wage increases in connection with average duration
of positions seem to indicate that frequent changes are not desirable.
The “ steady ” workers, it was found, were more likely than any other
group of children to receive increases. Although these wage increases
among the “ steady” workers may have been due in part to the fact
already shown that these children were less frequently than any other
group retarded in their school studies, it appears probable at least that
the children who change their positions frequently are not the ones
who secure most rapid advancement in wages.
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WORKING CHILDREN OF BOSTON.
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Average Monthly Earnings.
The average monthly earnings, which depend not only upon weekly
wages and increases in weekly wages but also upon the amount of unem
ployment, differed for children who had been at work more and for
those who had been at work less than one year. For those who had
been at work for a year or more the average monthly earnings of both
sexes were $16.68. The boys, as would be expected from their higher
initial weekly wages and their lower percentage of unemployment,
had larger monthly earnings than the girls, $17.90, as compared with
$15.06. But the higher initial wages of foreign-born boys were not
sufficient to counterbalance their comparative failure to secure wage
advances and their high percentage—16.9 per cent—of unemploy
ment. The highest average monthly earnings, therefore—$18.44—
were received by the native boys whose fathers also were native. The
native girls of native parentage, on the other hand, who were unem
ployed nearly one-fourth of their time, received lower average monthly
earnings—$i3.98—than any other group.
The children who had completed normal grades for their ages
received, owing to their higher initial wages, their greater success in
obtaining increases and their smaller amount of unemployment, de
cidedly higher average monthly earnings than did the retarded chil
dren, $17.24 as compared with $15.35. For the same reasons the
advanced children received slightly higher monthly earnings, $17.34,
than did the normal children.
Decided differences in average monthly earnings corresponding to
those in percentages of time unemployed were found between the
“ steady,” “ active,” “ restless,” and “ unsteady” workers. For ex
ample, the “ steady” workers made nearly twice as much—$19.54—
on an average as the “ unsteady” workers—$10.71. Less difference
was found among the boys, but the average monthly earnings of the
“ steady” girls were $18.15, as compared with only $7.30 earned by
the “ unsteady” girls.
Incidence of Sickness or Accident.
IT VERY child interviewed was questioned in regard to all cases of
sickness or accident which had occurred to him between the
time he took his first regular position and the date of the interview,
and the records of the Massachusetts Accident Board were searched
for reports of accidents to these children. The information given by
the children has, of course, no medical value and is probably not even
complete. Nevertheless, from these two sources a rough estimate at
least could be obtained of the number of cases of sickness or accident
and the amount of time which they caused the children to lose from
work.
At least one case of sickness since leaving school for work was
reported by more than one-third of the children interviewed. A
larger proportion of the girls than of the boys reported sickness.
Accidents were not so common as was sickness. Nevertheless,
nearly 1 child out of every 12 had suffered some accident, either in
the course of his work or otherwise, since taking his first regular
position. Although the boys did not so often suffer from sickness as
did the girls, they appear to have been decidedly more liable to
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
accidents. Sixty accidents—about seven-tenths of the entire num
ber—occurred while the children were at work. Of the accidents
which occurred to boys alone, however, only about 6 in every 10
occurred during the course of employment. Probably because of
the fact that girls more often than boys were employed in machine
work, most of their accidents, but only a few of those to boys, were
caused by machinery. On the other hand, the more frequent employ
ment of boys in messenger, errand, and delivery work is reflected in
the fact that nine of their accidents, but none of those to girls, were
caused by elevators or vehicles.
Employment in Violation of Child-Labor Law.
HPHE story of child labor in Boston presented in this report, except
for the work of interviewed children before leaving school, covers
a period of three years, at the very beginning of which there went
into effect a series of acts not only establishing higher standards for
child labor, but making important changes in the employmentcertificate system and reorganizing completely the labor-law enforce
ment machinery of the State of Massachusetts. These three years
include a period during which employers, parents, and children had
to -be educated to an understanding of a new law which required
that employment certificates be secured for each separate position,
that the hours of children be limited to eight a day, and that working
children attend continuation school. This education, too, had to be
given mainly by an agency which was itself in process of organization
and which had many other heavy responsibilities.
These conditions, as well as the fact that the information as to
violations rests entirely upon the unverifiable statements of the chil
dren, should be considered in connection with the cases of violation
of child-labor laws discovered in the course of this study. At the
same time it should be remembered that for many years in Massa
chusetts certificates of some sort had been required for the employ
ment of children and in many, if not most, occupations their hours
had been limited to 10 a day and 54 or 58 a week. Moreover, not
only did there seem no reason to doubt that in most instances the
child’s statement was substantially correct, but in case of the slightest
doubt the work was classified as legal. The figures, therefore, include
only positive cases of violation of some provision of the child-labor
law. Violations of the school attendance or continuation school
attendance laws were not considered.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the child labor law were
particularly common in positions held before the children left school
for work. About three-fifths of the children who worked before leav
ing school had violated one or more of the provisions of the childlabor law in one or more of their school positions. In many school
positions more than one violation occurred. Employment under legal
age was the most common and accounted for about two-fifths of the
entire number. Next came night work, which accounted for not far
from one-third. Both these were especially common in messenger,
errand, and delivery work, in which boys were often employed as
delivery boys for small stores and as peddlers’ helpers on Saturdays
and after school hours.
,
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15Q]
WORKING CHILDREN OF BOSTON.
57
Even in their regular positions practically half of the children were
employed at some time in violation of some provision of the child labor
law. And as in the case of school positions, a considerably larger
proportion of boys than of girls, 57.7 per cent as compared with 39 per
cent, were illegally employed.
Although only one child in every twenty had worked in his first
regular position without the certificate required by law, more than
one in every eight had worked illegally without a certificate in at least
one position before the date of the interview. Evidently the children
were more likely to violate the law in this way in later than in first
positions—a fact which suggests that some at least of these violations
may have been due to lack of familiarity with the new law which
required a separate certificate for each position. Often, however,
in positions for which certificates were eventually secured, they
were not taken out until the children had been at work for some time.
For instance, about one-tenth of the children did not take out certi
ficates for their first regular positions until they had been at work more
than 10 days. In many cases these children may have been found at
work by school attendance officers or factory inspectors who ordered
that they secure employment certificates or be discharged.
Five provisions of law, one of the school-attendance law and four
of the labor law, related to hours of labor. A child could work too
short hours (less than 6 a day or 36 a week, while school was in ses
sion) to be legally entitled to exemption from school attendance. On
the other hand, he could work too long hours, either by the day or
by the week; and he could be employed at night or seven days a
week. Each kind of violation could occur in combination with other
kinds.
One or more of these five legal provisions as to hours was broken in
over one-fifth of all the regular positions held by the children inter
viewed. Moreover, violations did not usually occur singly.. In about
three-fourths of all the positions in which any violation occurred more
than one provision of the law was broken, and in over one-fourth
three or four provisions were broken. In four cases children were
employed in violation of all four provisions of the labor law, too long
hours a day and a week, at night, and seven days a week.
The most common violation was too long daily hours, and the next
was too long weekly hours. In over one-sixth of all the positions held
the provisions of law relating to daily hours were violated, and in about
one-seventh those relating to weekly hours were violated. Usually
too long daily hours meant also too long weekly hours. Frequently,
too, when children were employed for too many hours daily or weekly,,
or both, they were also employed at night, and occasionally they were
required to work seven days a week. In about one position in twelve
the children were employed in violation of the night-work provision,
but in only about one in a hundred were they employed in violation of
the seven-day provision of the law. In a few positions—about one in
fifty—they worked less than the 6 hours a day or 36 a week required
for exemption from school attendance, and in some of these cases too
short weekly hours were combined with too long daily hours or too
short daily or weekly hours with night work.
In 36 positions (also about one in every fifty), although no viola
tion was found because the law limiting hours did not apply to the
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[57]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
58
particular occupations, the hours were excessive—i. e., longer than
permitted by the law in occupations which it covered.
Condition of Children Studied, After Three Years of Work.
YY/TIEN the children answered the questionnaire sent them in
** December, 1918, they were all from 17 to 19 years of age and
were therefore still minors and subject to certain restrictions in hours
and occupations as well as to the requirement that in most positions
they hold educational certificates. They were no longer, however,
subject to the eight-hour law or obliged to attend continuation school,
and their choice of occupations was wide as compared with the
choice they had before they became 16.
Wider opportunities, combined with the greater strength and
experience which the children must have acquired during these three
years, are doubtless responsible for their drift away from messenger,
errand, and delivery work and from cash and messenger work in
department stores. The first of these occupations accounted for
only about one-sixteenth of the positions held in 1918 as compared
with not far from two-fiftlis of those held before the date of the
interview; and the last accounted for little more than one in a hun
dred of those held in 1918, as compared with about one in nine of
those held before the date of the interview.
At the same time the proportion in factory and mechanical occu
pations rose from less than one-third before the interview to consid
erably over half three years later. This tendency to enter factory
and mechanical occupations as they grew older was particularly
pronounced among the boys, and was due in large part to their
employment as apprentices or helpers in skilled trades—an occupation
from which they had been in most industries debarred before their
sixteenth birthdays by the legal prohibition of work on or about
dangerous machinery. In nearly three-tenths of their positions in
1918, as compared with less than one-fortieth of those which they
held before the date of the interview, the boys were employed as
apprentices or helpers in skilled trades. Even in factory operative
positions, however, perhaps also because of the removal of legal
restrictions, there was a decided increase in the proportion of positions
held by both boys and girls.
The differences in occupational distribution between retarded
and normal children appears to have increased, instead of diminished,
as the children grew older. The proportion of positions in factory
and mechanical occupations held by children who had been in normal
grades for their ages when they left school increased 62.9 per cent
between the date of the interview and 1918. During the same
period, however, the proportion held in these occupations by children
who had been retarded when they left school increased 72.2 per cent.
Conversely the normal children showed a greater tendency than did
the retarded children to remain in clerical and other similar occu
pations. This was especially true of office work, in which in 1918
only about one in a hundred of the retarded children, but nearly one
in five of the normal children was found.
As for wages, the children from normal grades for their ages appear
to have continued to hold three years later the advantage which
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158]
WORKING CHILDREN OF BOSTON.
59
they were found to have had before they were interviewed. The
wage increases, moreover, during the three years following the inter
views were large as compared with those between the first and last
regular positions before the children were interviewed. All the
children reported higher weekly wages in 1918 than when interviewed,
and more than half reported increases of $10 or more.
Conclusion.
IN CONCLUSION, this study appears to show that for the child
* workers who had definitely left school for industry the period
between the date of leaving school and the sixteenth birthday was in
nearly all cases almost, if not completely, wasted, and that for many
it was worse than wasted. Equipped with at best only a rudimentary
education and guided, except in rare instances, only by chance, these
children were necessarily excluded by law from all trades involving
the use of dangerous machinery, and by their own ignorance and
inexperience from practically all other occupations which would
offer them any opportunity to acquire either mental or manual skill.
In the vast majority of cases even the little dexterity which they
might have obtained in a position was soon lost because as they grew
older they passed on from their children’s tasks to entirely different
occupations.
Thus, with no opportunity to acquire industrial experience of any
real value, these children drifted about restlessly from one simple task
or errand position to another, on the one hand often unemployed for
long periods, and on the other hand frequently obliged to work exces
sively, and generally illegally, long hours or at night—all for wages
which averaged only $16.68 a month. Permanently handicapped,
in most cases for life, by an educational training inadequate either to
make them adaptable to the changing industrial conditions of modern
life, or to give them the background necessary for an understanding
of the duties of citizenship, they were subjected also to positive
damage from irregular habits of work, from labor unadapted to their
needs and capacities, and from unsuitable associations and environ
ments.
The problems here studied are those of practically all the larger
cities of the United States, and the main facts shown, with only
slight modifications due to local conditions, are probably as true of
other cities as of Boston. Massachusetts, indeed, through its con
tinuation school law, its law requiring evening school attendance of
all minors who are unable to read and write English, its eight-hour
law and other acts, has done more to improve conditions than most
other States. Since the period of this study, moreover, Massachu
setts has raised the educational requirement for employment under
16 to completion of the sixth grade, has elaborated its certificate
system, has made compulsory continuation school attendance
State wide, and has made special efforts to enforce the physical
requirements for an employment certificate. Nevertheless, although
the degree of damage caused by employment is thus doubtless some
what reduced, even a child who is in perfect health and has completed
the sixth grade is very poorly equipped to assume the burdens of
adult life.
24933°—21-----5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[59]
PR IC ES A ND C O ST O F LIVING.
Retail Prices of Food in the United States.
HE following tables are based on figures which have been
received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from retail dealers
through monthly reports of actual selling prices.1
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food on October
15 and November 15, 1920, and on November 15, 1919, as well as
the percentage changes in the month and in the year. For example,
the price of rice on November 15, 1919, was 17.6 cents; on October
15, 1920, 16.1 cents; and on November 15, 1920, 14.2 cents. These
figures show decreases of 19 per cent in the year and 12 per cent in
the month.
The cost of 22 food articles,2 combined, showed an increase of 1
per cent in November, 1920, as compared with November, 1919,
but a decrease of 2.5 per cent in November, 1920, as compared with
October, 1920.
T
Table 1 .—a v e r a g e r e t a i l p r i c e s o f s p e c i f i e d f o o d ARTICLES A N D p e r c e n t
OF INCREASE OR D E C R E A SE , NOV. 15, 1920, COMPARED W ITH NOV. 15, 1919, A N D OCT
15, 1920.
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 ,pcr cent and,over are given in whole numbers.]
Average retail price on—
Article.
"Unit.
Nov. 15,
1919.
Oct. 15,
1920.
N ov. IS,
1920.
Per cent of increase (+ )
or decrease ( —) N ov.
15, 1920, com pared
with—
Nov. 15,
1919.
Oct. 15,
1920.
•
Cents.
39.3
36.2
30.2
24.2
17.3
42 . a
51.0
50.5
33.4
39.2
3q. 7
16.4
16.8 '
75.4
43.0
35.8
43.0
36.5
37.8
Cents.
Cents.
_2
44.5
43.5
+ 11
41.9
39.6
+ 9
- 5
33.3
32.6
+ 8
- 2
_2
25.9
25.3
+ 5
17.8
17.7
—
Ï
+ 2
49.9
44.1
—12
+ 5
54.6
53.0
3
+ 4
59.8
57.1
+13
_ 2
37.9
37.1
+11
H ens.
43.9
42.9
- 2
+ 9
39.0
38.8
—1
+ 0
17.3
17.3
O
+ 5
15.3
- 1
15.1
-1 0
68.9
69.4
- 8
+ 1
41.5
41.0
- 5
- 1
35.7
35.3
—1
- 1
_ 7
40.6
39.8
- 2
Lard.
29.2
28.?
-2 1
- 1
32.1
3 1 .4
—17
—2
1In addition to m onthly retail prices of food and coal, th e Bureau secures prices of gas and dry goods
from each of 51citiesandpublish.es these prices as follows: Gas in the June issue and dry goods in the April
July, October, and December issues o fth e Monthly L abor R eview .
'
2 The following are the 22 articles, weighted according to the consumption ,of the average fam ily : 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, tea. These include all articles lor which
prices have been secured each m onth since 1913 w ith the exception of lamb, for which th e Bureau has no
consumption figures.
Sirloin steak.
Round steak.
R ib ro a st......
60
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pound............
— d o ............
— d o ............
— d o ............
---- d o .............
— d o ............
---- d o .............
---- d o .............
___ d o --------___d o .............
— .d o .............
Quart______
15-16 oz. c a n ..
Pound............
. . . . d o ............
. . . . d o ............
---- d o . ...........
- . . .d o ............
. . . .d o ---------
[ 60 ]
61
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
T able 1 . — A V ER A G E R E T A IL PRICES OF S P E C IF IE D FO OD A R TIC LES A N D P E R C E N T
OF IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE , NOV. 15, 1920, COM PARED W ITH N OV. 15,1919, A N D OCT.
15, 1920—Concluded.
Average retail price on—
Articles.
E ggSj stri fitly fresh...........................
Eggs, storage....................................
Bread...................................................
Flour....................................................
Corn m eal...........................................
Rolled oats.........................................
Corn Hakes.........................................
Cream of W heat................................
Macaroni ...........................................
Rice ...................................................
Beans, n a v y .......................................
Potatoes..............................................
Onions.................................................
Cabbage..............................................
Beans, baked....................................
Corn, canned.....................................
Peas, canned......................................
Tomatoes, canned............................
Sugar, granulated.............................
T ea.......................................................
Coffee...................................................
Prunes.................................................
Raisins................................... ; ...........
Bananas..............................................
Oranges...............................................
Unit.
Dozen.............
___d o ...............
Pound............
........d o .............
........d o .............
........d o ............
8-oz. plcg
28-oz. p k g ___
Pound............
........d o ............
___d o ..............
........d o .............
........d o .............
___d o ..............
No. 2 c a n .. . .
........d o .............
.. d o ............
___d o ..............
Pound............
........do.............
........d o .............
___ .d o ............
........d o ............
Dozen...................d o ............
Nov. 15,
1919.
Oct. 15,
1920.
N ov. 15,
1920.
Cents.
81.0
61.8
10.2
7.4
6.6
9.2
14.1
25.2
19.6
17.6
12.3
3.9
6.9
4.5
17; 0
18.9
19.1
16.1
12.5
71.3
48.9
30. 2
22.7
39.9
54.2
Cents.
80.8
64.4
11.8
7.8
6.5
11.6
14.4
30.4
22.0
16.1
10. 9
3. 4
4. 7
3.6
16.7
18.5
19. 2
14.5
13.9
72.4
43.4
27.9
31.4
47.2
71.3
Cents.
86.1
66.2
11.6
7.3
5.9
11.5
14.3
30.4
22.0
14.2
10.0
3.3
4.3
3. 5
16.5
18.3
19.0
13.7
12.9
73.6
41.3
27.1
32.3
46.6
67.4
22 'weighted articles1.......................
Per cent of increase (+ )
or decrease ( —) Nov.
15, 1920, compared
w ith—
N ov. 15,
1919.
+ 6
+ 7
+ 14
- 1
-1 1
+25
+ 1
+21
+12
—19
-1 9
—15
-3 8
—22
—3
—1
-1 5
+ 3
+ 3
—16
—10
+42
+ 17
+24
+ 1
Oct. 15,
1920.
+
+
-
*7
3
2
6
9
1
1
0
0
-1 2
- 8
- 3
- 9
- 3
- 1
- 1
—1
- 6
- 7
+ 2
- 5
—3
+ 3
—1
—5
- 2.5
1 See note 2, p. 60.
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on November 15 of each year, 1913 to 1920, together
with the percentage changes in November of each year compared
wdth November, 1913. For example, the price of rice, as compared
with the price in November, 1913, showed the following increases:
1 per cent in 1914; 3 per cent in 1915; 5 per cent in 1916; 31 per
cent in 1917; 61 per cent in 1918; 102 per cent in 1919; and 63 per
cent in 1920.
The cost of 22 food articles, combined, showed an increase of 85
per cent in November, 1920, as compared with November, 1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[61
62
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O F S P E C I F I E D F O O D A R T I C L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F I N C R E A S E O R D E C R E A S E , N O V . 15 O F E A C H Y E A R 1914 T O 1 9 20, C O M P A R E D W I T H
N O V . 15, 1913.
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers.]
Per cent of increase (+ ) or decrease
(—) Nov. 15 of each specified year
compared with Nov. 15,1913.
Average retail prices Nov. 15—
Article.
Unit.
f1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920
C ts.
Sirloin steak..
Round steak..
Rib roast.......
Chuck roast. .
Plate beef___
Pork chops...
Bacon............
H am ..............
L am b............
Hens..............
Salmon,
canned.
Milk, fresh—
Milk, evaporated.
B utter............
Oleomargarine
N ut margarine
Cheese............
L ard ...........
Crisr,o..............
Eggs, strictly
fresh.
Eggs, storage.
B re a d ..............
F lo u r...............
Corn m e a l---Rolled o a ts . ..
Corn flakes. . .
C r e a m of
W heat.
M acaroni........
R ice.................
Beans, n a v y ..
P o ta to e s ../...
O nions............
C abbage..........
B eans, baked.
Corn, c a n n e d .
Peas, c a n n e d .
Tomatoes,
c an n e d .
Sugar, granulated.
T ea...................
Coffee..............
P ru n e s............
R aisin s............
B an an as.........
O ranges..........
Pound
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
25.4
22.8
19.8
16.3
12.4
21.5
27.2
26.9
18.5
20.6
C ts.
C ts.
25.5
23.4
20.3
16.7
12.7
21.8
28.2
27.4
19.2
20.6
25.6
22.8
20. t
15. 9
11.9
20.8
27.4
26. 8
19.8
20.3
19.8
Q uart. 9.1 9.0 8.9
15-16oz.
can.
Pound 38.7 39.3 36.5
. ..d o ...
.. .d o ...
. ..d o ... 22.5 23.0 23.1
. ..d o ... 15.9 15. 6 14.5
C ts.
27.0
24.1
21.0
17.1
12.8
23.4
29.9
30.6
22.2
23.9
20.8
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts .'
31.6
29.7
25.1
21. 1
16.2
34.6
48.4
42.6
30.1
29.4
28.7
40.5
38.5
32.0
27.5
21.2
43.3
58.3
52.4
35.1
39.3
31.3
39.3
36.2
30.2
24.2
17.3
42. 1
51.0
50.5
33.4
39.2
35. 7
43.5:
39.6
32.6
25.3
17.7
44.1
53.0
57.1
37.1
42.9
38.8
+0.4 + 1 + 6;+
+ 3
0.+ 6,+
+ 3 + 2,+ 6:+
+ 2 - 2 + 5,+
+ 2 - 4 + 3,+
+ 1- 3 + 9 +
+ 4 + 1 + 10;+
+ 2 - 0 .4 + 14:+
+ 4 + 7|+ 20 +
0 - 1 + 16 +
9.7 12.8 15.4 16.4 17.3 16.8 15.1
43.6 52.7 66.8 75. 4
43.0
35. 8
29.2 34.5 40.6 43.0
21.4 32.7 34.2 36.5
69.4 +
41.0
35. 3
39.8 +
28.9 -
.. .d o ...
37.8 31. 4
Dozen. 49.7 45.1 45.9 51.4 58.1 74.1 81.0 86.1 -
. ..d o ... 34.3 31.3 31.1 38.7 44.7 54.1 61.8 66.2
Pound 5.6 6.4 6.9 8.4 9.9 9.8 10.2 11.6
.. .d o ... 3.3 3.7 3.7 5.7 6.9 6.7 7.4 7.3
. ..d o ... 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.8 7.1 6.5 6.6 5.9
.. .d o ...
9.2 11. 5
8-oz.
14.1 14.3
pkg.
28-oz.
25.2 30.4
Pkg.
Pound
19.6 22.0
. ..d o ... 8.7 8.8 9.0 9.1 11.4 14.0 17.6 14.2
. ..d o ...
8.5 13.6 18.9 16.1 12.3 10.0
.. .d o ... 1.8 1.4 1.6 3.4 3.1 3.3 3.9 3.3
. ..d o ...
3.3 5.1 5.8 4.0 6. 9 4.3
4.5 3.5
.. .d o ...
17.0 16.5
No. 2
can.
. ..d o ...
18.9 18.3
__d o ...
19.1 19.0
__d o ...
16.1 13.7
Pound
5.4
6.6
8.6
. ..d o ... 54,5 54.7 54.6
. ..d o ... 29.8 29.6 29.9
__d o ...
13. 3
__d o ...
12. 5
Dozen
.. .d o ...
6.2
54.6
29. £
13. 8
13. 7
55 + 71.
59 + 74
53 + 65
48 + 55
40,+ 43
96+105
88|+ 95
88+112
811+101
90+108
1-
2+
22+
2-
6 + 13 + 36 + 73 + 9 5 + 7 9
|
i
3 + 30 + 53 + 80 + 9 1 + 7 7
9 + 35 +106 + 115 + 130+ 82
9-
8+
7 + 41 + 69 + 80 + 90
3 + 1 7 + 49 + 63 + 73
- 9 - 9 + 1 3 + 3 0 + 58 +
+ 14 + 23 + 5 0 + 77i+ 75 +
+ 12 + 12 + 73 +109 + 103 +
+ 6 + 3 + 23+129 + 110 +
80+93
82+107
124+121
113 + 90
____!____
+
1+
3+
5 + 31 + 61 + 102 + 63
- 22 - 11 + 89 + 72 + 83+117 + 83
I
|
....... |........
9.6 10.8 12.5 12,9 + 15 + 22 + 59 + 78 +100+131 + 139
1.
67. £ 71.3 73.6 +0.4 + 0.2 + 0.2 + 13 + 25 + 31 + 35
30.8 48. £ 41.3 - 1 + 0.3 + 0 .3 '+ 2 + 3 + 6 4 + 39
18. 4 30. £ 27.1
..................
15. 8 22.7 32.3
.. !........
39.9 46.6
61.8
30.3
16.6
14. 8
....... 1........
54.2 67.4
+0.4 -
22 weighted
articles.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
24 + 59 +
30 + 69 +
27,+ 62 +
29 + 69 +
31 + 71 +
61 + 101 +
78 + 114 +
58 + 95 +
63 + 90 +
43 + 91 +
2 S e e n o t e 2 , p . 60.
[62]
/
1 + 19+ 48 + 75 + 84 + 85
P R IC E S AND COST OF LIV IN G ,
63
Table 3 shows the changes in the retail prices of each of 22 articles
of food as well as the changes in the amounts of the articles that
could be purchased for $1, each vear, 1913 to 1919, and in November,
1920.
Table 3 .—A V ER A G E R E T A IL PRICES OF SPEC IFIED ARTICLES OF FOOD AN D AMOUNT
PURC H A SA BLE FOR $1, 1913 TO N O V EM BER , 1920.
Sirloin steak. Round steak.
Year.
Rib roast.
Chuck roast.
Plate beef.
Pork chops.
Aver
Aver
Aver
Aver
Aver
Aver
age Amt. age Amt. age Amt. age Amt. age Amt. age Amt.
retail for $1. retail for $1. retail for SI. retail for SI. retail for $1. retail for SI.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
Per lb. Lbs.
1913................... *0. 254
1914................... .259
1915................... .257
1916................... .273
1917................... .315
1918................... .389
1919................... .417
1920: November .435
Per lb. Lbs.
3. 9 .$0. 223
3. 9 .236
3. 9 .230
.245
3.7
3.2
.290
2.6
.369
2. 4 .389
2,3
.396
Ham.
Per lb. Lbs.
Per lb. Lbs.
3. 7 $0. 269
3.6
.273
3. 7 .261
3. 5 .294
2. 4 .382
1. 9 .479
1. 8 .534
1. 9 . 571
Cheese.
Per lb. Lbs.
1913................... $0.221
1914................... .229
1915................... .232
1916................... .258
1917................... .332
1918................... .359
1919................ .426
1920: November .398
Milk.
Per qt.
4. 5 *0.089
4.4
.089
4. 3 .088
3. 9 .091
3.0
.112
2. 8 .139
2.3
. 155
2.5
.173
Qts.
Per lb
11.2 SO. 056
11. 2 .063
11 4 .070
11. 0 .073
.092
9.0
7.2
.098
6. 5 .100
.116
5.8
Lbs.
Sugar.
Coffee.
Per lb. Lbs.
Per lb. Lbs.
Per lb. Lbs.
58. 8 $0. 055
55.6
.059
66. 7 .066
37.0 .080
23. 3 .093
.097
31.3
26.3
.113
30.3
.103
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
18. 2 SO. 298
16. 9 .297
15. 2 .300
12.5 .299
10.8 .302
10. 3 .305
8. 8 .433
9.7
.413
163]
Per lb. Lbs.
Eggs.
Butter.
8.3 SO. 210
7.9
.220
8.3
.203
7.8
.227
6.4
.319
4.9
.390
5. 0 .423
.441
5.6
4.8
4. 5
4.9
4.4
3.1
2.6
2.4
2.3
Per dz. Dozs. Per lb. Lbs.
4. 7 SO. 345
4.6
.353
4.8
.341
4.2
.375
3. 5 .481
2. 7 .569
2.4
.628
.861
2.3
2.9 SO. 383
.362
2.8
2.9
.358
.394
2.7
2.1
.487
.577
1.8
1.6
.678
1.2
.694
2.6
2.8
2.8
2.5
2.1
1.7
1.5
1.4
Flour.
Corn meal.
Rice.
Per lb. Lbs.
Per lb. Lbs.
Perlb. Lbs.
17.9 $0.033
15. 9 .034
.042
14.3
13. 7 .044
10. 9 .070
10. 2 .087
10.0 .072
8.6
.073
Potatoes.
1913................... *0.017
1914................... .018
1915................... .015
1916................... .027
1917................... .043
1918................... .032
1919................... .068
1920: November .033
Per lb. Lbs.
6. 3 SO. 213
6. 4 .218
6.8
.208
5. 7 .236
3.6
.286
3.0
.377
2. 7 .411
3.5
.429
Bread.
Per lb. Lbs.
6.3 $0.121
6.0
.126
6.2
.121
5. 8 .128
4. 8 . 157
3. 8 .206
.202
3.7
4.0
.177
Hens.
Per lb. Lbs.
3. 7 SO. 158
3.7
. 156
3.8
. 148
3. 4 .175
2.6
.276
2.1
.333
1.9
. 369
1.8
.289
Per lb. Lbs.
5.1 SO. 100
4.9
. 167
5.0
.161
4. 7 .171
4.0
.209
3. 3 .266
3. 1 .270
3.1
.253
Lard.
Bacon.
1613................... $0. 270
1914................... . 275
1915................... .269
1916................... .287
1917.................. .410
1918................... .529
1919................... . 554
1920: November .530
Per lb. Lbs.
4.5 $0.198
4.2
.204
.201
4.3
4.1
.212
3.4
.249
2. 7 .307
2.6
.325
2.5
.326
30.3 SO. 030
29.4 .032
23. 8 .033
22. 7 .034
14. 3 .058
14.9 .038
13.9 .064
13. 7 .059
Tea.
Per lb. Lbs.
3.4 SO. 544
3.4
.546
3.3
. 545
3.3
.546
.582
3.3
3. 3 .648
.701
2.3
2.4
. 736
1. 8
1. 8
1.8
1.8
1.7
1. 5
1.4
1.4
33.3 SO.087
31.3
.088
30.3
.091
29. 4 .091
17.2
.104
14. 7 .129
15.6
.151
16.9 .142
11.5
11.4
11.0
11.0
9.6
7.8
6.6
7.0
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
64
Relative Retail Prices of 22 Articles of F ood.
IN Table 4 the average monthly and yearly prices of 22 food articles 3
* are shown as relative prices or percentages of the average prices
for the year 1913. These relatives are computed by dividing the
average price of each commodity for each month and each year
by the average price of that commodity for 1913. Relative prices
must be used with caution. For example, the relative price of pork
chops in November, 1919, was 200, which means that the money price
was 200 per cent of the money price in 1913, or, in other words, the
price doubled. The relative price of pork chops in December was 181,
showing a drop of 19 points from 200, which is a decrease of only
9.5 per cent.
In the last column of this table are given index numbers 4 showing
the changes by months and years in the retail cost of the 22 food
articles weighted according to the importance of each article in the
consumption of the average family. Prices are_ obtained each month
for 43 food articles, but only 22 of these are included in the retail
food price index, because the amounts consumed by the average
family have been obtained as yet for only these 22 food articles.
These articles comprise about two-thirds of the entire food budget
of the average family and reflect with great accuracy changes in the
cost of the food budget. The figure representing the cost of these
22 food articles was 198 in October and 193 in November. This
shows that during the month from October to November there was a
decrease of two and one-half per cent.
The curve shown in the chart on page 68 pictures more readily to
the eye the changes in the cost of the family market basket and the
trend in the cost of the food budget than do the indexpiumbers given
in the table. The decreases in the cost of these articles since July
brings the curve down in November to a point slightly above that in
November, 1919. The chart has been drawn on the logarithmic
scale,5 because the percentages of increase or decrease are more
accurately shown than on the arithmetic scale.
■'For list of articles, see note 2, p . 60.
■¡For a discussion of the method used in the computation of these index figures, see Monthly L abor
R eview for March, 1920, p . 34.
5 For a discussion of the logarithmic chart, see article on ‘ ‘Comparison of arithmet ic and ratio charts,”
by Lucian1W. Chaney, Monthly L abor R eview 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
[64]
T able 4 .—R ELATIVE R E TA IL PRICES OF TH E PRIN C IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD IN T H E U N IT E D STATES, 1907 TO NO V EM BER , 1920.
[Average for year 1913=100.]
Yearafid month.
Sirloin Round Rib Chuck Plate Pork Ba
B ut
Corn
Pota Su
steak. steak. roast. roast. beef. chops. con. Ham. Lard. Hens. Eggs. ter. Cheese. Milk. Bread. Fiour. meal. Rice. toes. gar.
71
73
77
80
81
91
68
71
74
78
79
89
76
78
SI
05
85
94
1913: Av. for y ear.
January........... .
February........ ,
March................
April................ ,
M ay....................
June...................
July....................
August..............
September........
October.............
Novem ber........
D e ce m b er ......
100
94
94
97
101
101
102
104
104
103
101
100
99
100
92
93
96
99
100
101
104
104
104
104
102
101
100
95
95
98
101
101
102
102
102
101
101
100
100
100
93
93
98
101
101
102
103
103
103
103
102
101
100
92
93
98
101
101
101
101
101
102
102
102
102
100
89
90
97
103
100
99
103
104
108
107
102
97
1914: Av. for year.
J a n u a r y ,.,,,,,,
February..........
M a r o h ,,,.,,,,,,
A p r i l . ,. ., ,, ., ,,
M ay...
J u n e ,,,..,,,.,,
J u ly ,,.,.,,,,,.,
A u g u s t ...,.,...
September___.
October.............
November........
December.........
102
99
99
100
100
102
103
106
107
103
100
101
10G
102
102
103
103
105
106
109
113
110
107
105
103
103
100
101
101
102
102
103
105
108
105
104
103
101
104
102
103
102
103
103
104
106
109
108
106
104
103
104
102
102
102
102
103
103
104
107
107
106
105
103
1915: Av. for y ear.
January.............
February..........
March................
April..................
101
100
98
97
99
103
102
100
99
100
101
101
100
99
100
101
101
99
98
99
100
102
101
100
100
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
no
74
76
83
92
85
91
74
7U
83
95
91
91
76
78
82
91
89
91
81
80
90
104
88
94
81
83
89
94
91
93
84
86
93
• 98
93
99
85
86
90
94
88
9S
100
94
95
97
99
100
101
104
105
104
103
101
99
100
93
94
97
99
99
102
104
106
104
102
100
99
100
97
98
99
100
100
100
101
102
102
101
101
100
100
95
97
100
104
104
103
102
101
101
100
97
9S
100
108
91
77
73
76
81
87
96
109
120
144
138
100
107
108
108
106
94
92
91
92
98
100
101
104
101
102
102
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
99
100
101
102
102
105
99
100
100
103
106
103
106
119
113
110
104
93
102
98
98
99
99
99
100
101
107
108
106
104
103
102
98
. 99
99
99
99
100
103
108
108
105
102
100
99
100
99
99
99
98
97
97
99
99
98
99
97
102
100
104
105
108
106
103
103
104
103
100
97
94
102
126
106
90
74
77
82
87
96
107
113
131
139
94
104
93
92
86
85
88
89
94
98
98
103
103
104
104
104
105
104
103
103
103
103
104
104
104
104
100
102
102
101
100
100
100
100
100
100
101
101
101
96
88
85
85
94
100
101
99
98
9S
97
98
96
95
94
93
97
97
96
96
97
85
97
99
100
99
129
98
74
75
93
101
98
94
94
105
105
106
106
105
99
101
100
99
99
87
90
91
95
9fi
97
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
100
too
Tea.
22
weight
ed arti
cles.
105
95
108
95
101
109
115
102
132
115
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
10O
100
100
100
101
101
101
100
100
99
99
99
100
99
98
98
98
98
98
98
100
102
103
104
104
100
99
99
99
99
99
99
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
91
90
88
87
91
104
106
107
100
100
106
100
99
98
97
97
100
102
104
101
99
98
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98
97
97
98
97
98
100
101
102
104
105
104
112
112
114
114
114
116
104
98
99
99
99
99
99
98
106
113
111
112
113
105
104
103
103
103
103
103
103
105
109
109
109
107
101
100
100
100
100
100
100
101
101
101
101
101
101
108
108
108
107
105
112
132
155
111
105
39
83
84
108
95
94
93
91
91
93
95
143
145
132
113
100
99
89
100
100
100
100
99
100
100
99
99
99
100
100
100
100
100
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
102
104
101
99
97
98
99
102
107
107
105
105
105
124
120
126
126
126
126
124
138
136
137
108
109
104
104
104
104
104
89
85
84
82
86
120
101
101
101
101
101
100
100
100
100
100
101
103
101
98
99
no
no
no
no
no
100
no
no
no
109
no
109
no
no
no
118
120
122
..........
93
98
’RICES AND COST OE L IV IN G .
1 9 0 7 .........................
1908...........
1909.....................
1910...............
1 911..,........
1912.....................
Cof
fee.
C7>
05
T able 4 .—RELA TIV E R ETA IL PRICES OF T H E PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD IN THE U N IT E D STATES, 1907 TO N O V E M B E R , 1920—Concluded.
1
Year and month.
Su
Sirloin Round Rib Chuck Plate Pork Ba Ham. Lard. Hens. Eggs. But Cheese. Milk. Bread. Flour. Corn Rice. Pota gar.
meal.
toes.
ter.
steak. steak. roast. roast. beef. chops. con,
Cof
fee.
Tea.
22
weight
ed arti
cles.
1915: A v . f o r y e a r .
May....................
.Tuna ______
July....................
A ugust..............
September........
October. .
"NTnvAm bar........
December..........
101
103
105
104
104
103
101
99
103
105
107
107
106
104
102
101
101
103
104
104
103
102
101
100
101
103
103
103
102
101
99
99
101
101
101
101
101
99
98
98
99
98
100
103
107
110
99
87
98
98
100
100
100
101
101
101
76
78
81
88
101
117
133
135
91
90
90
88
88
92
95
101
106
106
105
103
103
104
105
107
98
98
98
99
99
100
100
100
128
128
126
126
124
124
122
122
139
130
125
124
117
113
113
114
109
109
108
108
108
108
107
107
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
89
99
85
82
79
94
97
106
124
126
127
123
118
111
119
124
101
101
101
101
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
103
104
105
111
117
130
135
113
105
159
14S
100
100
114
122
124
124
124
124
124
124
126
136
144
150
138
120
125
120
119
119
117
116
134
148
155
174
167
107
108
107
108
108
108
108
110
113
117
126
131
105
104
104
104
104
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
136
141
140
138
140
167
134
141
161
165
198
198
123
125
137
145
156
158
160
155
141
149
157
151
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
107
106
107
109
109
112
111
113
118
121
126
146
128
133
133
95
97
98
98
97
99
100
100
96
95
93
89
88
91
92
92
101
98
97
97
97
97
95
95
1 916: A v . f o r y e a r .
108
110
107
107
106
108
106
109
111
109
103
January.............
February..........
Maroh. .
April..................
May....................
Juno
July....................
A ugust..............
September........
December.........
101
101
104
10ft
109
113
113
112
111
108
106
106
102
102
104
108
112
117
lift
115
115
111
108
107
101
102
104
108
110
113
112
111
110
108
106
106
99
99
103
106
109
113
112
110
110
108
107
106
99
100
102
105
107
111
109
107
107
106
106
106
89
92
104
107
109
110
111
116
125
118
111
106
101
101
103
104
105
107
107
108
110
110
111
110
101
102
104
107
109
110
111
111
114
114
114
114
93
94
96
100
106
108
110
111
118
123
135
137
101
104
107
111
113
114
113
112
113
114
112
112
123
101
82
79
82
87
93
105
120
132
149
154
100
99
105
108
97
95
93
95
102
109
114
118
110
112
113
113
112
111
110
111
116
122
132
140
102
100
100
100
99
99
99
100
101
102
105
109
112
19 1 7 : A v . f o r y e a r .
124
130
126
131
130
152
152
142
175
134
150
125
164
211
192
169
101
107
111
117
119
130
133
135
137
138
133
138
133
134
109
114
118
127
130
132
130
129
131
130
127
128
109
116
128
131
134
137
137
136
137
136
132
134
108
116
121
132
135
137
136
134
135
136
134
134
113
125
133
146
146
148
151
164
185
185
165
161
110
114
123
141
155
158
159
160
164
178
179
181
114
118
125
136
144
145
147
147
152
159
159
161
136
138
151
167
176
177
174
176
188
198
207
211
119
126
129
136
138
136
131
131
142
146
138
143
118
122
121
133
122
123
120
124
129
133
138
142
141
142
146
150
153
153
149
148
152
158
156
156
112
112
112
114
117119
125
128
132
143
144
147
140
142
144
150
168
170
176
182
176
176
176
166
171
171
174
206
266
246
220
229
223
214
208
205
132
136
137
154
178
182
195
219
272
232
235
235
119
105
104
104
108
121
125
123
122
124
128
131
133
253
109
113
116
125
127
129
129
130
131
130
124
126
139
158
147
101
112
116
119
122
134
152
160
168
184
127
January.............
February..........
M a r oh__T .
April..................
May....................
225
290
297
339
352
366
246
206
172
178
183
178
146
148
160
175
183
170
166
181
179
177
174
172
100
100
101
101
101
101
103
102
102
102
102
102
100
100
101
101
103
104
110
111
112
113
114
114
19 1 8 : A v . f o r y e a r .
153
165
155
166
170
186
196
178
211
177
165
151
162
156
175
203
227
348
183
176
102
January.............
February..........
129
132
137
141
130
133
138
142
142
146
163
160
180
179
162
163
208
209
154
170
195
182
148
151 1
156
158
151
151
168
170
200
200
233
233
134
136
188
188
173
193
102
102
N -nvpmn her.
July....................
August..............
September........
November........
December..........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
no
115
112
151
152
149
153
157
155
157
167
160
161
O
tz!
3
133
144
157
168
166
163
164
161
159
159
143
155
170
182
181
178
178
175
173
171
135
148
161
169
168
165
165
163
162
161
145
159
174
184
182
177
178
174
172
171
150
164
181
188
185
179
181
178
175
174
161
170
175
177
180
201
220
216
206
197
181
183
187
191
194
200
208
214
216
217
164
166
170
173
181
180
193
193
195
198
210
209
208
206
206
209
213
216
216
216
0)
C>
178
177
178
181
185
183
185
180
128
123
123
123
142
155
170
186
215
235
144
132
133
133
137
141
155
170
174
190
159
154
151
150
152
157
163
174
184
193
151
148
148
146
148
153
161
166
173
176
171
175
177
179
179
177
177
175
175
175
200
200
200
203
203
206
206
203
203
203
240
237
233
223
223
227
230
227
217
213
138
139
141
144
148
154
157
161
161
160
147
129
129
171
229
229
229
206
194
188
167
165
165
165
167
169
175
193
196
196
102
101
101
101
101
101
102
102
103
109
113
117
117
119
120
121
122
124
125
124
154
154
158
162
167
171
178
181
183
187
1919: A v . f o r y e a r :
J a n u a r y ................
F e b r u a r y ............
M a r c h ................. ..
.
A p r i l ......................
M a y ........................
J u n e .......................
J u l y ........................
A u g u s t .................
S e p t e m b e r ..........
O c to b e r ................
N o v e m b e r ..........
D e c e m b e r ...........
164
162
162
165
172
175
170
171
166
161
157
155
154
174
175
174
177
182
187
181
183
177
170
165
162
161
164
165
165
169
175
178
171
169
164
158
155
153
153
169
175
174
178
184
186
176
173
166
158
153
151
152
167
181
181
183
187
186
174
168
160
150
145
143
143
201
193
180
184
197
205
202
220
223
219
211
200
181
205
217
205
203
212
210
212
215
214
206
196
189
186
209
199
193
191
197
203
205
211
212
205
195
188
186
134
211
203
211
223
246
254
266
266
242
228
231
221
193
188
186
193
202
204
200
197
196
194
189
184
184
182
218
147
140
143
154
155
164
174
183
209
235
261
177
184
149
174
186
177
165
164
167
172
186
197
204
193
201
185
183
190
191
192
195
197
195
192
195
196
174
175
174
172
169
167
167
169
174
176
180
184
188
179
175
175
175
175
175
177
179
180
180
180
182
182
218
200
203
206
218
227
227
227
224
221
221
224
233
213
207
200
197
200
207
210
217
220
223
220
220
220
174
159
164
154
154
154
159
168
178
190
199
202
202
224
188
182
171
182
194
224
282
294
253
224
229
253
205
196
195
193
193
193
193
198
202
200
207
227
264
145
117
123
126
129
136
143
155
160
164
163
164
164
129
127
126
129
128
128
129
130
130
130
131
131
127
186
185
172
175
182
185
184
190
192
188
189
192
197
1920:
J a n u a r y ................
F e b r u a r y ............
M a r c h ....................
A p r il......................
M a y ........................
J u n e .......................
J u l y ........................
A u g u s t .................
S e p t e m b e r ..........
O c to b e r ................
N o v e m b e r ..........
159
160
161
170
171
182
192
186
185
177
171
166
167
168
179
179
191
202
196
193
188
178
159
159
161
169
169
176
181
176
175
168
165
158
157
157
166
166
174
179
172
170
162
158
152
152
150
157
155
157
158
154
152
147
146
178
180
186
206
202
194
208
219
238
238
210
186
186
186
191
195
200
203
203
202
202
196
187
188
190
199
206
215
222
223
224
222
212
215
204
192
191
189
185
184
177
177
185
183
197
210
215
224
221
216
211
212
214
207
201
240
199
161
153
153
155
166
184
206
234
250
194
190
196
199
187
175
177
175
179
180
181
196
196
194
194
194
189
186
183
184
184
180
187
188
187
183
182
182
188
191
193
194
194
195
198
200
200
205
211
213
213
213
211
207
245
245
242
245
264
267
264
255
252
236
221
220
217
217
217
223
230
233
230
227
213
197
208
210
211
214
215
215
214
210
202
185
163
318
353
400
535
565
606
524
294
229
200
194
324
342
340
367
462
485
482
416
333
253
235
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
162
153
146
139
132
131
135
135
136
136
137
137
137
133
135
201
200
200
211
215
219
219
207
203
198
193
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
i N o h e n s s o ld in t h is m o n t h b y ord er o f F o o d A d m in is tr a tio n .
PR IC E S AND COST OF LIVIIS
1673
M a r ch ....................
A p r il......................
M a y ........................
J u n e .......................
J u l y ........................
A u g u s t ..................
S e p t e m b e r ..........
O c to b e r ................
N o v e m b e r ..........
D e c e m b e r ............
<
T R E N D IN R E TA IL COST OF 22 FOOD A R TIC LES, COM BINED, FO R T IIE U N IT E D STATES B Y M ONTHS, JA N U A R Y , 1913. TO N O V E M B E R , 1920.
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
<35
1920
PR IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
69
Retail Prices of Food in 51 Cities on Specified Dates.
A
retail food prices are shown in Table 5 for 39 cities
for November 15 of each year, 1913, 1919, and 1920, and for
October 15, 1920. These cities are as follows:
VERAGE
* *
Atlanta, Ga.
Baltimore, Md.
Birmingham, Ala.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Charleston, S. C.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Dallas, Tex.
Denver, Colo.
Detroit, Mich.
Fall River, Mass.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Kansas City, Mo.
Little Rock, Ark.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Louisville, Ky.
Manchester, N. II.
Memphis, Tenn.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Newark, N. J.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
New York, N. Y.
Omaha, Nebr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Portland, Oreg.
Providence, R. I.
Richmond, Ya.
St. Louis, Mo.
Salt Lake City, Utah.
San Francisco, Calif.
Scranton, Pa.
Seattle, Wash.
Washington, D. C.
Average prices are shown for November 15, 1919, and for October
15 and November 15, 1920, for 11 other cities from which prices were
not secured in 1913, as follows:
Bridgeport, Conn.
Butte, Mont.
Columbus, Ohio.
Houston, Tex.
Mobile, Ala.
Norfolk, Ya.
Peoria, 111.
Portland, Me,
Rochester, N..Y
St. Paul, Minn.
Springfield, 111.
Average prices are shown for Savannah, Ga., for October 15 and
November 15, 1920, only, as prices were not secured from this city
until January, 1920.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[69]
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW .
70
T able
5 .— A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D A R T IC L E S
[ ¡'he p r ic e s s h o w n in t h is t a b le are c o m p u te d fro m r e p o r ts s e n t m o n t h ly t o t h e B u r e a u b y r e ta il dea lers
A t la n t a , G a.
Article.
B a lt im o r e , M d.
B ir m in g h a m , A la .
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
O ct. N o v .
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1920.
1920.
1920.
1920.
1920.
1913 1919
1913 1919
1913 1919
Nov. 15—
U nit.
Cts.
40.8
38.2
30.9
24.6
17.7
Cts.
38.2
35.3
31.4
23.6
17.0
Cts.
22.8
21.3
17.5
15.0
12.2
Cts.
39.4
37.1
32.1
24. 4
17.9
Cts.
44.0
42.6
34.3
26. 5
17.9
Cts.
42,0
40.2
32.7
26.3
17.9
Cts.
28. 0
23.0
19.4
16.5
10.0
Cts.
39.1
36.8
31.3
26.2
17.9
Cts.
Cts.
45.1
41.4
33.1
27.4
17 .6
42.9
39.1
31 .7
2 5 .7
17 .0
Pork chops............................ .. .do........... 25.0 41.5 48.1
Bacon..................................... .. .do........... 31.1 56.7 57.0
Ham
........................ . .do........... 30.8 54.0 59.2
Lamb
.......................... __do............ 20.2 36.5 39.1
Hens........................................ . .do........... 21.0 38.4 42.4
40.6
54. 3
56.4
39.4
39.3
18.2
21.5
27.5
18.0
20.2
39.8
46.2
54.4
32.5
41.2
46.4
47.5
63.6
39.0
45.2
43.1
46.6
61.1
39.4
43.5
23.0
34.0
32.0
21.9
19.3
42.5
57.6
53.6
39.2
37.1
4 8 .7
6 1 .7
6 2 .3
4 4 .0
4 1 .3
41.1
58.3
58 .3
44 .5
3 8 .8
30.6 28.2 26.8
33.5
Salmon, canned................... __do............
Milk, fresh............................ Quart........ 10.6 25.0 25.0 25.0 8.7 16.0
16.4
Milk, evaporated................. 15-16oz.can
17.9 17.1 16.5
B utter.................................... Pound___ 39.8 76. 5 73.3 73.8 38.4 78.1
44.4
40.4
44.0
.
.do...........
46.0
Oleomargarine.....................
35.3
16.0
14.6
72.8
41.0
38.4 40.4 40.1
35.1
16.0 10.0 25.0 2 5 .0 25 .0
14.6
17.9 16 .3 1 6 .0
73.4 41.7 79.0 73.1 73.1
41.0
45.4 44 .1 4 2 .2
Cts.
24.2
21.3
19.0
15.8
9.9
Sirloin steak......................... Pou nd___
"Round steak......................... . .do...........
R ib roast............................... .. .do...........
Chuck roast.......................... . .do...........
Plate beef.............................. .. .do...........
Cts.
38.3
35.3
28.1
22.8
17.4
N ut margarine.....................
Cheese.....................................
Lard ......................................
................................
Crisco
Kpgs, strictly fresh.............
.. .do...........
40. 4
.. .do........... 25.0 42.2
.. .do........... 15.3 36.5
35.9
.do...........
Dozen....... 40.0 71.8
Eggs, storage.........................
Bread............... : ....................
Flour......................................
Corn meal..............................
Rolled Oats..........................
. .do...........
Pound___
.. .do...........
do...........
.. do...........
39.2 4 0 .0
36.1 35.1 31.8
39.5
38.9 23.3 42.8 41.0 40.4 23.0 41.5 4 0 .9
29.7 15.0 35.5 29.4 28.3 15.1 36.2 2 8 .9
35.3 28.9 28.3
-30.4
38.7 33.
75.4 45.9 76.3 75.9 87.1 39.0 67.3 68.
40.1
39 .4
28 .8
33.1
73.9
67. 5 33.1 61.1 59.3 63.6 32.5 60.0 64 .4 6 5 .0
60.5
5.6 10.0 12.8 12.3 5.5 9.6 10.8 10.8 5.4 9.6 1 1 .5 11.4
3.5 7.3 8.1 7.8 3.1 .7.7 7.7 7.2 3.6 7.6 8 .5 8.2
2.6 5.6 5.1 4.8 2.6 5.6 5.3 4.9 2.5 5.3 5 .0 4. t
7.8 11.3 11. 5
11.1 1 4 .0 14.3
10.6 12.2 13.6
Cornflakes.............................. S-oz. p k g ..
Cream of W heat................... 28-oz. pkg.
Macaroni................................ P o u n d .. . .
do...........
Rice . . .
........................
Beans, n avy..........................
do...........
14.0
24.4
20. 5
8.6 17.3
14. 5
Potatoes................................ __do............
Onions.................................... __do............
d o ______
Cabbage..................................
Beans, baked........................
Corn, canned......................... __do............
2.3
Peas, canned.........................
Tomatoes, canned...............
Sugar, granulated...............
T ea..........................................
Coffee......................................
39.4
40. 0
■30.3
31.5
69.7
15.0
31.6
23.2
11.9
12.8
4.3
5.0
8.2 6.4 6.0
6.2 5.0 4.6
15.9 15.7 16.4
20.3 20.2 19.8
__do............
20.4
__do............
14.5
Pound___ 5.7 13.5
. . . do........... 60.0 87. 6
.. .do........... 32.0 49.8
Prunes.................................... __do............
Raisins................................... .. .do...........
Bananas............................. .. D ozen.......
14.7
31.6
23.9
14. 4
12.8
20.1
14.1
14.9
94.2
44.3
4 0 .6
1.8
7 0 .8 40 .3
13.5
29.1
21.6
15. 6
10. 6
13.6
29.1
21.4
13.6
9.8
3.7 3. 2 3.0
6. 4 4.1 4. 1
4.0 2.8 2.6
15.8 14. 9 14.8
18.1 18.0 18.1
19.8
18. 4
15.2
13.4
13.7 4.8 11.0
94.3 56.0 71.1
41.5 24.4 46.1
24. 4 28.3 29.5
21. 5 28.3 31.5
37.7 37 .1 3 3 .8
O ra n g es......................................... __ d o _______
13.1
23.3
17.8
9.0 18.0
11.9
18.4
12. 8
13.7
69. 2
39.5
11.6
25.9
21.0
8.2 17.8
14.0
2.2
30.0 26.2 21.9
22.6 32. 9 33.1
14.!
33.1
23.1
14.1
12.2
5.0 4 .4 4 .5
8.4 5 .4 5 .4
5. 4 5 .2 5 .2
17.9 1 8 .0 18 .2
18.9 1 9 .3 18.5
IS. 1
21.7
12.2
14.4
12.9 5.4 20.3
69.0 61.3 87.1
38.4 28.8 49.6
3 1 .8 3 3 .5 3 2 .3
59.1 6 8 .8 66 .2
14.
3 3 .3
23 .1
1 5 .9
1 3 .2
21.2
14 .0
14.
8 7 .5
4 5 .7
21.0
11. (
1 3 .2
87.1
44. i
30.0 3 0 .2 2 9 .3
20.9 3 2 .5 3 2 .8
4 1 .6 4 6 .7 4 6 .3
4 5 .5 5 5 .0 47.
I
1 T h e s te a k for w h ic h p r ic e s are h e r e q u o t e d is k n o w n a s “ p o r te r h o u s e ” in m o s t o f t h e c it ie s in c lu d e d i n
t h is r e p o r t, b u t in t h is c i t y i t is c a lle d “ s ir l o in ” s t e a k .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7 0 ]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
71
OF FOOD FOR 51 CITIES ON CERTAIN SPECIFIED D ATES.
As some dealers occasionally fail to report, the number of quotations varies from month to month.]
Boston , Mass
Nov 15—
1913
1919
Bridgeport, Conn.
Butte, Mont.
Charleston, S. C.
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Oct. N ov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
1920. 1920. 1919. 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1919. 1920. 1920. 1913
1920.
1920.
1919
Cts. Cts: Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
1 34.0 1 60.2 I 69. 3 1 67.1 51.1 52.5 51.2
35.0 55.7 65.3 62.9 46.9 49.8 48.2
23.9 41.3 44.9 42.9 37.3 37.7 37.3
16.2 30.9 34.4 33.6 29.2 29.4 29.2
15.9 13.9 13.9
22.4
24.6
31.0
20.5
24.3
Buffalo, N. Y .
Cts.
22.2
19.4
16.4
15.2
11.7
Cts.
35.9
32.4
28.7
24.2
17.3
Cts.
41.5
37.3
32.0
25.7
17.5
Cts.
39.7
35.8
31.0
25.5
17. 6
Cts.
31.8
27.1
24.1
17.9
12. 7
Cts.
37.1
32.7
28.4
22.4
16 2
Cts.
33.9
29.8
26.3
20.7
15.3
Cts.
21.4
20.8
20.0
15.0
12. 0
Cts.
37.7
37.2
30. 0
25.4
18. 8
Cts.
41.5
41.6
33. 0
26.8
21. 8
Cts.
40.3
40.6
33.3
25.0
20.4
46.5
47.9
54.8
37.0
45.5
57.1
51.1
70.3
41.6
51.9
50.4
50.5
66.6
42.3
49.7
45.0
54,8
59.8
35.4
43.5
52.5
60.5
73.0
40.1
46.4
46.2
58.5
70.1
40.4
46.0
19.8
21.2
26.3
15.6
20.0
42.7
41.2
51.1
25.6
37.5
52.3
47. 5
57.9
31.8
43.0
46.5
44.7
56.3
31.9
41.8
40.9
60.0
59.5
26.9
30.6
50.8
64.0
64.9
32.3
42.4
48.0
63.0
64.1
28.1
39.3
25.0
26.6
27.5
22. 5
21.5
44.7
55. 4
53.0
41.1
47.9
53.2
55.8
56.9
44.7
50.0
47.3
54.0
55.6
45.5
48.5
34.3
17.0
17.0
71.1
42.4
37.9
18.4
15.8
69.4
43.8
39.4
18.4
15.7
68.3
44.1
37.9
18.0
16.6
69.7
41.3
40.6
18.0
15.2
67.9
40.9
40.6
18.0 8.6
15.0
66.3 38. i
40.6
33.3
16.0
16.2
74.7
42.5
36.3
17.0
14.4
68.3
40.7
36.1
17.0
14.1
69.7
39.6
43.2
15.5
IS. 3
70.2
46.3
44.8
15.8
16.4
69. 5
40.0
45.4
15.8 12. 0
16.2
67.4 37.8
40.0
33.1
24.7
16.9
73.6
45.0
36.3
23.3
15.2
68.0
43.5
36.7
23.3
14.9
67.6
43.3
35.0 36.0 35.9
42.2 40.9 40.5
37.3 29.4 29.2
36.7 32.5 31.7
60.6 102.1 105.7 119.6
35.4
43.2
35.6
36.3
96.3
35.6 35.5
34.2 34.0 33.4
41.5 40.0 21.5 40.9 39.1 38.2
28.0 27.8 14.2 34.7 27.9 27.3
30.9 30.0
35.9 29.7 29.2
96.4 109.5 48.5 79.0 80.4 91.2
45.4
38.6
44.0
87.1
39 7
42.5
33.1
41.7
80.6
45.7 38.3 37.0
39.0
42.4 21.0 41.9 39.4 37.7
34.5 15.0 38.3 28.8 28.9
39.0 32.3 31.1
40.8
93.9 40. Ö 68.6 68.5 69.7
8.9
38.2
..........
23.4
15.8
64. 7
9.7
8.1
7.3
7.9
66.3
11.4
8.3
7.7
10.6
69.2
11.4
8.0
7.5
10.3
62.2
10.4
7.4
8.8
9.7
66.5
12.7
8.0
9.0
11.7
69.1 30.6 59.0 61.1 63.1 62.8 66.4 68.5 33.5 57.0 59.4 60.1
12.7 5.6 10.0 11.5 11.5 12.4 12.8 12.1 6.4 10.0 13.2 12.9
7.4 3.0 7.0 7.1 6.3 8.1 8.8 7.8 3.7 7.7 9.0 8.5
9.1 2.6 6.3 6.5 5.7 8. 0 7.8 7.5 2.6 5.3 5.2 4.5
11.8
7.6 9.1 9.4 9.4 10.2 10.1
10.4 12.5 12.7
14.0
24. 7
21.9
17.5
11.5
14.4
30.5
25.6
18.1
10.4
14.3
30.4
25.6
15.8
9.7
13.5
23.8
21.6
17.0
11.5
13.7
29.3
25.0
16.5
11.6
13.8
28.9
24.9
14.9
11.0
12.9
24.1
20.2
9.3 17.7
11.5
3.1
4.3
4.3
18.0
20.9
3.4
4.2
4.4
18.0
20.3
3.5
6.3
4.4
16.2
21.3
3.1
4.7
3.5
15.2
21.4
3.3
4.1
3.6
15.1
21.2
1.8
..........
3.5
6.4
4.5
17.5
21.0
5.4
58.6
33.0
20.1
15.8
10.9
66. 6
52.7
22,2
15.5
13.2
69.9
49.5
22.3
13.7
12.2
69.1
46.0
20.0
16.2
11.0
60.8
47.6
22.2
14.2
14.1
64.0
42.1
22.0
17.7
16.4
12.5
13.3 5.3 11.0
64.5 45.0 66.0
41.2 29.3 46.6
17.5
15.3
14.4
67.5
43.7
17.3
14.4
13.2
66.6
40.8
18 8
17.9
13.7
75.3
57.9
18.5
16.3
16.2
78.2
58.4
18. 6
21.8
15.6
16.6
14.9 5.Ò 11.1
78.9 50.0 81.3
56.9 26.8 48.4
21. 8
14.0
14.5
79.6
42.7
21.3
13.0
13.2
79.1
40.6
29.0
22.9
46.9
61.7
29.3
31.9
56.2
72.8
27.2
32.8
59.2
71.0
29.2
23.0
40,6
61.2
26.7
30.8
45.9
76.9
24.9
31.7
43.9
80.0
27.6
31.8
50. 8
73.2
26.5
31.8
50. 7
76. 8
26. 5
21.5
47.5
56.6
29.1
31.5
63.3
75.0
28.3
32.9
63.3
62.3
30.0
22.5
44.0
47.0
28.1
31.4
53.8
83.6
26.4
33.6
50.0
47.9
35.2
6.0
3.6
3.5
9.4
1.7
_
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
13.2
28.3
22.9
16.3
10.9
13.1
28.4
23.2
14.8
10.1
14.5
30.0
20.3
16.7
12.9
15.3
33.9
22.1
16.4
11.5
15.4
34.1
22.1
14.8
10.8
3.1 2.'6 2.8 3.5 2.5 2.4
6.4 4.2 4.0 6.5 4.6 4.2
4.8 1.7 1.4 5.1 3.8 3.5
13.9 14.2 14.1 22.2 22.2 22.2
18.2 18.0 17.7 18.8 18.6 18.6
28.0
20.0
42.2
58.5
[7 1 ]
14.9
25.0
20.9
5. 6 14.8
14.8
2.2
........
14.8
30.3
23.7
11.7
14.3
14.8
30.3
22.8
10.0
13.5
4.7 3.6 3.7
7.9 5.2 4.8
5.9 4.7 4.6
15.4 14.6 14.5
21.0 19.1 18.3
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
72
T able 5 .—A V ER A G E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IF IE D ARTICLES
Chicago, 111.
Article
Sirloin steak.
Round steak.
R ib roast.......
Chuck roast..
Plate beef___
Pork chops.
Baeon.........
H am ...........
‘Lamb..........
Hens...........
Unit.
P ou n d .
...d o __
...d o ....
...d o __
...d o __
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Nov 15—
Nov 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1920..
1920.
1920.
1920.
1920.
1920.
1913!1919
1913 1919
1913 1919
Nov. 15—
Cts.
24.7
21.4
19.5
15.9
Cts.
37.0
32.5
29.6
24.3
12.0 17.0
Cts.
47.3
39.0
35.0
27.0
19.1
Cts.
44.8
37.2
34.2
25.6
17.3
Cts.
22.7
20.7
19.2
16.1
11.5
Cts.
30.4
29.5
25.7
19.1
17.4
Cts.
38.3
35.7
31.6
22.7
19.1
Cts.
36.9
34.6
31.1
22.5
18.6
as.
25.0
22.4
18.6
17.0
12.6
Cts.
37.1
33.4
27.8
24.0
16.7
as.
45.3
40.5
31.2
27.2
17.1
Cts.
43.7
38.7
30.5
20.5
17.8
19.3 ; 36.8
32. 4! 54.2
32.3 52.3
19- 3| 32.9
17.4 33.3
46.0
59.4
61.9
38.7
36.9
39.3
57.2
58.4
38.7
37.3
19.8
24.6
28.5
17. 5
20.2
38.1
44.8
49.5
29.4
36.6
48.2
48.9
62.0
32.5
44.3
41.2
48.5
60.8
34.9
43.7
21.6
28.1
35.7
18.1
19.9
41.7
48.3
54.2
31.9
37.3
52.4
55.3
62.8
37.3
44.4
43.1
54.1
60.8
37.0
43.6
36.2
15.0
15.5
73.6
41.7
38.6
16.0
14.2
63.3
37.0
38.4
15.0 8.0
13.7
67.9 38, 2
35.9
35.5
15.0
16.2
76.4
42.0
36.8
15.0
14.6
69.0
38.1
36.1
37.1
15.0 8.0 16.0
17.1
14.6
69.2 40.7 79.8
38.2
45.5
39.0
16.0
15.5
70.0
42.6
38.6
15.0
15.0
73.7
42.3
Salmon, canned..
Milk, fresh............
Milk, evaporated.
B u tter...............
Oleomargarine. . .
.. .do__
Quart..
15-16 oz. can
Pou nd___
.. .do...........
N ut margarine........
Cheese.......................
Lard..........................
Criseo.........................
Eggs, strictly fresh.
.. .d o ...
...d o ...
...d o ...
.. .d o ...
Dozen.
33.5 32.7
25.3 44.6 41.3
15.0
27.6
36.3 31.1
39.8
71.5
Eggs, Storage-
Bread..............
Flour..............
Corn meal__
Rolled O ats..
. . .do__
P ound.
...d o ....
.. .do__
. . .do__
30.3 58.2 60.6 63.2 33.6 59.3 62.3 63.9 35.7 63.1 63.2 67.6
10.6 12.4 12.4 4.8 9.9 11.5 11.5 5.6 9.3 11.8 11.8
2.9 7.3 7.0 6.2 3.3 7.4 7.8 7.4 3.2 7.6 8.0 7.3
2.9 6.7 6.7 6.8 2.8 5. 5 5.2 4.9 3.0 6.6 6.5 6.1
7.1 10.3 10.2
7.3 11.6 11.6
9.5 12.0 12.4
Cornflakes.......
Cream o f W heat.
Macaroni___ ___
R ice.....................
Beans, n a v y ........
8-oz. pkg..
28-oz. pkg.
Pou nd__
...d o ..........
...d o ..........
Potatoes........
Onions.............
Cabbage..........
Beans, baked.
Corn, canned..
.. .do.........
.. .do.........
...d o ..__
No. 2 can.
. .d e.........
Peas, canned____
Tomatoes, canned.
Sugar, granulated.
T ea...........................
Coffee.......................
.. .do__
...d o __
Pou nd.
.. .do__
...d o ....
Prunes...
R aisins...
Bananas.
Oranges..
...d o ...
.. .d o ...
Dozen.
...d o ...
31.2
34.6 34.2 34.1
35.5 34.8 34.9
39.9 21.0 43.4 42.5 42.3 24.0 41.9 40.9 40.1
27.1 14.2 32.1 27.8 26.8 16.3 «36.1 30.3 30.4
30.2
35.1 31.0 29.6
37.6 32.9 31.5
81.4 44.3 74.0 71.3 82.8 50.0 84.2 79.5 88.9
6.1
13.0
24.4
18.0
16.7
13.7
28.9
20.7
15.8
12.0 13.7
13.7
28.7
20.7
14.4
9.9
LJ 3.8
6.8
3.0 3.2
4.0 4.1
4.6 2.6 2.7
16.2 16.3 15.9
17.4 17.4 16.5
13.9
24.8
17.4
8.8 17.8
10.7
1.9
28.6
30.3
43.4
70.5
28.0
31.1
43.5
73.1
14.2
30.4
19.8
14.2
8.6
4.3 3.8 3.8
6.5 2.4 4.5
4.5 3.8 3.6
15.7 15.5 15.5
16.7 17.5 17.3
17.5 17.2 16.6
17.1
15. 14.4 33.9
15.3
5.1 13.2 12.4 11.2 5.3 14.-4
55.0 64. 72.0 69.6 60.0 77.1
30.7 44. 39.7 38.6 25.6 42.5
28.9
23.3
38.7
52.3
14.2
30.2
19.9
15.9
9.9
28.3
22.1
39.0
41.9
14.2
24.6
18.8
9.0 18.4
11.7
2.0
15.3
30.5
23.5
17.5
10.3
15.2
30.5
23.3
15.0
9.3
4.0 4.1 3.5
6.8 4.8 4.4
4.5 3.3 3.4
15.7 16.0 16.2
19.3 20.1 20.3
18.0
14.6
12.5
76.6
35.9
18.1
18.7
14.0
16.0
12.1 5.4 12.7
76.2 50.0 72.8
34.1 28.5 50.2
20.6
15.3
13.6
76.7
46.6
20.8
14.8
13.1
76.2
45.0
30.9
35.2
49.6
65.2
30.0
33.6
48.9
49.9
29.2
31.5
54.7
71.0
28. S
31.2
55.3
71.7
28.3
22.8
46. 4
57.7
2 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 "rump ” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1721
P R IC E S A N D
73
C O ST OF L IV IN G .
OF FOOD FO R 51 C ITIES ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A T E S—Continued.
Columbus,
Ohio.
Denver ,€ o lo .
Dallas , Tex.
Detroit, Mich
Fall R iver, Mass.
Nov 15—
Nov 15—
N ov 1.5—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1920.
1920.
1919. 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919
Nov. Oct. Nov.
Nov
Cts. Cts. Cts.
259.5 2 69.3 268.3
47.1 54.8 53.9
34.4 36.5 35. 6
26.6 28.2 27.9
Cls.
35.9
32.9
28.7
25.1
18.5
Cts.
40.4
36.6
31.6
26.2
19.0
Cts.
38.2
35.0
31.0
26.1
18.6
Cts.
23.6
21.0
20.1
16.4
15.0
Cts.
36.9
36.6
31.3
26.4
22.9
Cts.
39.3
37.5
32.1
27.5
21.6
Cts.
39.3
37.5
31.9
26.3
21.3
Cts.
22.9
20.3
16.7
15.3
9.9
Cts.
33.6
29.9
25.8
21.2
14.2
Cts.
36.7
32.5
27.0
21.2
14.0
Cts.
35.8
30.8
26.6
21.0
14.1
Cts.
25.6
20. 6
20.0
15.2
11.4
Cts.
36.7
32.1
29.6
22.2
16.0
Cts.
43.5
37.7
32.7
24.7
17.8
Cts.
41.6
36.2
32.3
24.3
17.3
Cts.
234.3
27.3
23.3
18.3
37.3
49.1
51.6
30.0
32.1
44.3
51.4
51.7
28.3
39.4
36.7
51.1
58.0
26.7
39.4
21.8
37.5
31.6
22.5
18.4
44.8
53.6
57.1
32.5
35.3
48.8
58.2
61.1
44.3
38.6
43.6
57.4
58.8
41.4
36.0
20.4
28.0
29.2
15.2
18.5
42.6
53.9
55.0
28.3
35.4
50.0
58.3
04.0
32.5
40.0
43,2
56.0
62.3
30.5
38.7
19.4
22.3
27.0
15.1
19.2
41.8
46.7
53.7
33.3
36.8
50.8
53.0
64.1
38.5
42.3
43.7
49.3
59.4
37.2
39.7
23.3
25.7
30.4
19.3
24.6
43.9
48.9
52.6
33.0
46.3
52.0
51.9
63.9
39.7
53.7
46.3
50.9
59.7
38.6
49.1
31.9
14.7
10.5
77.2
42.7
36.4
15.0
14.9
68.9
40.1
39.3 37.9 37.5
36.1
36.4
15.0 Ì0.8 21.0 20.0 19.7 8.4 12.8
14.9
18.1 15.9 15.7
16.6
72.5 40.0 73.0 66.2 66.9 35.0 74.3
37.0 36.3 36.3
39.3
41.5
40.7
12.8
14.7
63.9
43.1
36.0
40. Ï
12.8 9.0 16.0
16.5
14.5
66.0 37.1 76.7
41.8
42.6
39.5
16. 0
15.4
69.7
42.1
33.6
39.1
16.0 9.Ó 15.7
16.6
15.1
71.7 36.0 08.9
41.4
42.3
38.5
17.0
16.7
67.6
41.9
38.4
17.0
16.7
65.9
42.7
35.2
43.0
34.2
36.5
77.2
34.9
39.6
26.3
31.4
74.3
35.0
38.5 20. Ò
26.0 16.8
30.6
84.0 40. Ò
35. 5
43.6
31.2
31.9
71.9
35.2
34.4 34.5 34.1
42.5 22.3 43.1 40.5 40.4 23.6
31.4 16.4 36.5 29.7 29.6 15.3
32.0
36.9 30.5 30.7
81.1 4Ì.Ò 80.8 80.5 90.2 58.8
36.5 37.4
42.6 41.0
35.6 28.0
36.9 34.5
106.3 103.3
37.5
40.7
27.8
33.7
114.5
36.3
43.4
36.8
36.8
65.0
37.0
40.2
32.4
30.1
65.8
37.0
39.9 26. Ì
29.1 16.0
30.4
74.1 45. Ò
35.3
45.1
38.4
37.7
75.8
60.6 69.7 64.7 35.0 61.3 60.0 65. 7 33.0 62.8 €3.5 66.7 32.2 59.9 63.8 65.9 34.6 63.1
9.8 12.1 11.9 5.3 10.0 12.0 12.1 5.5 11.2 12.1 11.4 5.6 10.1 12.1 12.1 6.2 10.9
6.9 7.5 7.3 3.3 7.6 7.8 7.4 2.5 6.2 6.3 5.7 3.1 7.4 7.5 7.0 3.3 7.7
5.8 5.4 4.8 3.6 6.9 6.2 5.8 2.6 5.9 5.7 4.8 2.9 7.2 7.2 6.5 3.6 8.8
9.8
8.7 11.1 10.8
8.3 12.4 12.3
10.9 14.1 14.0 ....
10.2 12.8 13.0
14.1
24.9
19.8
18.2
11.3
14.3
29.8
21.4
16.7
9.5
14.2
29.9
20.7
14.4
8.6
4.1 3.3 3.4
7.4 5.2 4.5
5.1 3.8 3.7
16.6 15.9 16.0
16. 5 15.5 15.2
13.9
27.0
19.9
9.3 18.6
13.7
2.3
14.7
31.5
22.5
16.0
11.4
14.6
31.5
21.6
13.8
10.1
5.1 4.2 4.3
7.1 6.5 6.1
6.3 6.4 5.9
18.8 18.9 •18.5
21.3 20.9 20.5
14.6
24.8
19.3
8.6 17.8
13.2
1.6
15.1
30.3
20.5
16.3
12.2
14.7
30.3
20.5
14.8
11.2
4.1 3.0 2.9
7.1 4.2 3.9
3.9 2.1 2.2
17.7 17.9 17.7
18.2 18.4 18.5
14.2
25.0
19.6
8.4 18.5
11.3
1.7
14.3
29.7
20.6
16.1
9.6
14.0
29.7
20.3
14.6
8.8
3.5 2.7 2.7
6. 6 4.2 4.0
4.1 2.7 2.6
16.2 15.5 15.3
19.3 19.6 19.6
iò.ò
1.8
....
64.4 65.3
12.0 12.0
8.5 7.6
8.7 8.5
12.1 12.5
14.2
25.5
22.9
17.3
12.1
15.0
29.5
25.8
17.5
11.0
15.0
29.3
25.9
17.0
10.4
3.5
7.1
4.4
16.4
20.5
3.2 3.3
5.0 4.7
3.2 3.2
17.0 16.3
19.3 19.3
16.5
15.2
12.6
82.1
49.3
16.5
13.6
13.7
87.6
42.3
21.6
15.5
13.1
15.3
13.3 5.6 12.8
86.4 66.7 81.1
40.9 36.7 54.3
23.6
15.0
14.0
87.2
47.2
19.5
23.4
15.0
15.2
12.7 5. i 12.6
87.6 52.8 70.0
44.8 29.4 49.8
18.9
15.1
14.2
74.3
44,6
18.7
18.6
15.1
16.9
13.3 5.2 13. 0
74.3 43.3 64.3
42.8 29.3 49.0
19.1
14.3
12.8
69.0
42.7
18.9
20.8
16.9
13.1
12.5 5.3 11.3
08.2 44.2 59.5
40.5 33.0 50.3
20.0
14.9
14.3
60.3
50.3
19.7
14.3
13.3
59.8
47.1
31.5
24.2
42.1
53.1
30.3
30.5
50.7
64.0
29.8
33.2
50.0
66.0
30.2
22.8
41.0
59.9
28.7
32.6
45.0
66.3
28.6
33.2
45.0
61.2 ........
29.0
30.4
54.3
70.3
27.9
31.9
56.5
75.7
28.9
30.9
41.8
70.8
28.0
31.0
39.1
70.5
25.8
23.2
40.3
49.2
26.2
28.6
47.0
62.1
25.7
32.8
46.1
62.4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
29.6
23.6
43.5
53.6
31.9
23.5
36.3
54.0
M ONTHLY
74
L A B O R R E V IE W ,
Table 5.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IF IE D ARTIC LES
Houston, Tex.
Article.
U nit.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jacksonville, Fla.
N ov. 15—
N ov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Nov. Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15, 15,
919. 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920.
Sirloin steak.
Round steak.
Rib roast---Chuck roast..
Plate beef__
Pound.
. .do__
. .do__
. .d o ....
. .d o ....
Cts.
32.8
32.8
26.7
22.5
18.8
Cts.
36.7
35.3
30.1
27.0
21.2
Cts.
35.7
35.0
30.2
26.8
21.3
Cts.
26.0
24.7
17.8
16.3
12.9
Cts.
35.2
34. 4
26.9
24.3
17.4
Cts.
39.6
39. 4
29.0
25.8
18.3
Cts.
37.4
36. 1
27.9
24.9
17.7
Cts.
25.6
21.2
21.6
14.4
11.2
Cts.
38.8
36.1
28.5
22.8
16.1
Cts.
39.3
36.6
29.9
23.4
16.0
Cts.
40.0
36.3
29.4
23.2
15.5
Pork chops.
B acon..........
Ham .............
Lamb...........
H ens............
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
41.8
62.1
50.0
35.6
37.8
50. 4
63.0
58.8
40.8
43.3
43.8
61.5
60. 4
42.0
41.3
21.5
29.2
30.3
19.0
19.8
39.6
49.3
53. 4
35.0
34.4
47.9
53.7
62.1.
37.0
39.3
38.8
51.1
58.9
38.2
38.4
24.0
30.9
30.2
21. 6
24.6
43.7
52.9
50.8
34.3
43.4
49.6
53.7
57.5
35.0
45.0
42.1
52.1
56.4
36.0
43.2
32.1
14.0
15. 5
67.4
40.8
32. 4
37.5 33.4 32.1
14.0 12.3 20.0 25.0 25.0
16.8 15.3 15.1
15.0
68.4 39.0 77.1 69.9 70.7
43.0 41.4 40.6
40.3
Salmon, canned..
Milk, fresh...........
Milk, evaporated.
Butter...................
Oleomargarine...
.do.
Quart..
15-16 oz.can
Pou nd.
.. .d o ....
33.8
20.0
16.5
74.3
42.9
37.2
20.5
15. 8
63.8
41.5
28.3
37. 4
20.5 8. 0 14.0
17.2
15.3
64.7 37.5 75.7
44.1
41.4
N ut margarine.......
Cheese.......................
Lard..........................
Crisco........................
Eggs, strictly fresh.
,. .d o ...,
.. .d o ....
...d o ....
.. .d o ...,
Dozen.
37.3
39.6
33.7
33.8
67.7
37.4
38.9
28.7
30.6
69.1
39.0
35.6 34.8 34.6
36.6
38.1 21.3 45.1 40.7 39.9 22.5 41.2
27.5 15.0 34.0 27.5 27.2 lb. 7 35. 6
38.4
30.1
37.5 31.3 31. C
74.8 43.5 74.7 68.4 81.2 45.0 76.3
..d o __
Eggs, storage.
Pou nd.
Bread.......
..d o __
Flour...............
do__
Corn m ea l.
Rolled Oats............................................ do
38.5
38.6
30.9
31.8
73.2
38.2
38.1
30.5
30.2
78.8
56.6 63.5 64.4 35.8 59.4 57.5 63.8 40.0 60.0 66.3 68.1
9.2 10.3 10.2 5.1 9.7 11.6 11.6 6.2 10.0 12.2 12.2
7.4 8.3 8.0 3.2 7.1 7.5 7.1 3.7 7.7 8.6 8.4
6.0 5.4 4.8 2.6 5.6 6. C 5.1 2.9 5.5 5.1 4.7
10.8 12.8 13.0
9.6 11.8 11.8
9.7 13.0 13.3
14.6
29.9
21.4
10.9
10.4
14.6
30. 2
21.5
13.5
11.0
14.7
25. 4
21.3
9.2 19.4
11.9
15.1
32. Ç
22.9
18.1
9.3
15.2
31.1
22.9
13.1
12.6
15.0
14.6
25.2
33. 1
20.6
22. 8
15.4 6.8 16.1
13.9
8.0
15.0
30.8
22.7
11.9
12.0
Cornflakes............
Cream of Wheat Macaroni..............
R ice.......................
Beans, n a v y .......
8-oz, p k g .
28-oz. pkg
Pound - . .
.. .do.........
...d o .........
14.6
24 ft
19. 7
16.1
12.4
Potatoes..........
Onions.............
Cabbage..........
Beans, baked.
Corn, canned.
...d o .........
,. .do.........
.. .do.........
N o. 2 can
.. .do__ __
4.6 4.8 4.7
6.9 5.8 5. 5
5.6 5. 5 5.3
18.3 16.7 17.0
17.9 15.2 15.4
Peas, canned...........
Tomatoes, canned.
Sugar, granulated..
Tea............................
Coffee........................
..d o __
...d o __
Pou nd.
...d o __
.. .do__
19.7
14.6
16.3
64.4
45. 7
20.3
14.3
14.7
75.7
38.2
20.2
17.5
13.0
15. Í
12.¿ 5.7 13. Í
74. < 60.0 85. (
35.9 30.0 51.0
16.3
14. 6
13.7
88.1
46.8
16.1
13.6
12. ‘ 5.1
86.7 60. t
43.7 34.5
20.3
15.4
13.2
84. Í
53.8
22.2
13.4
14.5
90.0
44.4
22.1
12.7
14.1
90.3
42.2
Prunes...
R aisins..
Bananas.
Oranges.
...d o ...
.. .d o ...
Dozen.
...d o ...
28. 1
18.5
39.2
49.2
26.2
31.9
45. 6I
60.9
26.1
32.7
43.6
62.1
31.3
25. '
34. Í
49.9
29.4
36.1
34.1
66. 7
29.3
35.3
31.8
61.1
33.7 27.2
25.1 29.7
40.0 46.7
35.0 ; 61.7
26.6
34.9
42.9
36.4
i
1.7
3.9 3.2 3.2
7.6 4.6 4. ]
4.7 3.1 3.5
18. J 16.2 16.3
18.5 16.7 15.9
2.5
4.8 4.1 4.0
8.0 6.1 6.9
6.4 4.9 4.9
17.4 16.0 16.0
20.9 20.2 18.6
1
3 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.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 74]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
76
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Table 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IFIE D ARTICLES
Memphis, Tenn.
Article.
Sirloin stea k .
Round ste a k .
R ib roast.......
Chuck ro a st..
P late beef----
L'nit.
Pou nd.
. ..d o __
...d o __
-do.
.do.
N ov. 15-
N ov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov,
Oct. Nov
Oct. Nov.
15, 15.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920.
Cts Cts. Cts.
24.0 36.3 38.1
20.0 33.
35.5
30.2
21.0 28.
15.0 22.8 22.7
12.5 18.2 17.8
. .do.
. -do.
..d o .
!...d o .
L-.do.
Salmon, can n ed ..
Milk, fresh............
Milk, evaporated.
B utter...................
Oleomargarine. . .
35.7
.. .d o__
19.0
Q uart..
15-16 oz.can
17.3
P ound. . . 38.8 76.9
43.1
. ..d o .........
.do.
.do.
.d o ...
d o...
Dozen.
Eggs, storage.
Bread..............
Flour..............
Corn meal___
Rolled O a ts..
.. .do__
Pound.
.d o ....
.do.
.do.
Cornflakes...........
Cream o f W heat.
Macaroni.............
R ice......................
Beans, n a v y . . . .
S -o z.p k g ..
28-oz,pkg
Pound. . .
do.
.do.
Potatoes. . . . . .
Onions.............
Cabbage......... .
Beans, baked.
Corn, canned..
.do.
.do.
do.
No. 2 can.
.. .do.........
Peas, c a n n e d ......
Tomatoes, canned.
Sugar, granulated.
T ea ...........................
Coffee.......................
.do.
.do.
Pound.
...d o __
..d o __
Prunes...
Raisins...
Bananas.
Oranges..
.do.
-do.
Dozen.
..d o ...
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cts.
35.9
32.4
29.4
20.7
17.9
20.5 40.7 46.7 39.3
30.0 53.6 57.8 57.2:
29.0 54.6 58.9 55.0
20.6 38.0 42.1 40.4
19.5 36.6 40.9 37.9
Pork c h o p s....
Bacon...............
H am .................
Lamb...............
H ens.................
N ut margarine........
Cheese.......................
Lard...........................
Crisco.........................
Eggs, strictly fresh.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Cts. Cts.
23.6 34.Í
21.6 32.1
18.4 27.8
16.2 24.4
12.1 ir.0
Cts.
41.6
38.5
31.7
27.4
17.4
19.6
27.8
28.2
19.0
17.2
57.2
57.4
38.0
35.6
Cts. Cts.
20.0 31.9
18.7 28.4
17.7 25.9
15.3 20.4
10.1 13.8
Cts.
35.7
30.8
28.0
22.4
13.6
Cts.
32.7
28.8
25.9
54.5
51.0
27.5
28.8
42.7
57.9
60.8
30.0
32.4
37.3
55.0
56.1
29.4
31.8
41.9
13.0
12.0 11.0
17.8
15.7 15.2
36.’; 71.9
64.6
38.1 37.3
41.4
47.5
14.0
15.5
62.1
41.2
47.6
14.0
15.5
64.8
41.3
3 7 .3 46.0 39.7 18.0 36.
50.9
50.0
32.3
30.3
40.5 38.6
36
13.0
16.4 16.
17.1
67.1 67.0 36.6 76.3
42.0 41.8
42.8
20.0 20.0
39.7 36.2 36.3
Cts.
40.2
36.7
30.4
26.7
17.5
55.6
55.9
39.3
35.8
27.7
30.01
14.6
16.4
44.1 42.8
8.0
68
35.1 33.2 33.0
21.1
14.1
33.1 32.9 32.5
22.0 42.1 38.1 36.2 22.3 42.0 37.0 36.0 21.3 41.4 38.1 38.2
15.6 36.6; 29.8 26.7 16.0 36.7 29.3 28.9 15.6 35.5 28.2 28.4
36.8 32.2 30.2
36.8 32.9 31.1
38.0 32.4 32.2
38.0 68.7 68.1 72.9 45.0 73.5 67.0 77.5 41.6 71.8 68.1 79.1
30.0 56.3
65.0 33.0 58.6 60.1 61.7 31.6 58.5 60.2 61.4
13.5 13.3 5.7 10.0 11.0 11.0 5.6 9.6 11.1 10.3
8.3 7.9 3.1 7.5 7.6 6.9 2.8 7.4 7.0
4.8 4.0 3.3 6.4
6.3 2 .
6.4 6.7 5.5
11.0 12.7 12.8
7.7 9.3 9.0
8.9 8.7
6.0 10.0
3.5
2.5
7.4
5.3
14.
24.3
18.8
16.5
13.9
2.0
8.2
14.5 14.5
30.1 30.1
20.6 21.6
12.8 10.1
11.6 9.6
4.5 3.6 3.6
7.9 4.1 3.8
5.1 3.5 3.3
18.0 17.4 17.2
18.3 18.9 18.4
14.2
25.4
18.4
9.0 17.7
11.5
1.7
8.6
14.6
25.4
17.5
18.8
15.5
31.
19.3
16.0
11.6 11.5
14.6
31.4
19.6
14.6
10.3
2.1
18.9
14.0
14.6
93.5
40.9
18.2
17.8
12.4
16.4
13.4 5.3 13.7
93.1 50.0 69.1
37.8 27.5 47.5
35.8
24.2
40.6
49.0
27.3
33.0
46.5
63.6
29.
34.0
43.2
45.6
[78]
14. 14.3
30.0 29.8.
20.6 20.5; .
17.1 15.9!
10.1 9.4
3.6 2.9 2.9 1.6 3.4 2.7 2.7
7.3 3.7 3-4.
6.7 5.1 4.5
3.4
3.8 4.1 3.1
2- 2 .
16.2 15.4 15.1 .
18.4 18.0 18.3
17.8 17.1 17.0:.
17.5 17.4 17.2
18.5
16.2
5.1 21
63.8 89.9
27.5 52.3
6 Whole.
6.1
6.8
17.1
14.9
13.1
72.4
39.4
16.2!
16.9
14.4
16.4
12.3 5.1 13.4
72.2 45.0 62.6
37.3 30.8 53.0
28.6 28.5 27.4 .
22.8 31.4 31.2 „
39.3 41.7 41.7,.
58.6 71.4 73.7!.
29.4
19.4
44.3
57.8!
18.3
16.4
13.2
70.9
44.6
18.2
16.2
12.9
69.9
42.0
28.6
30.4
60.0
71.8
27.7
31.1
63.3
78.9
77
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
OF FOOD FO R 51 CITIES ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D .D A T E S —Continued.
Mobile, Ala.
Newark, N . J.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
New York, N. Y .
N ov
Nov. 15—
N ov. 15—
N ov . 1 5 Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. N ov.
15. 15,
15, 15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15.
15,
15,
1919. 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920.
CIs.
32.7
32.3
29.5
23.4
19.3
C'ts.
35.5
35.9
30.5
26.0
20.2
Cts.
36.7
35.3
29.3
24.9
20.5
Cts.
27.4
27.3
21.3
17.8
12.4
Cts.
44.6
45.2
35.8
26.3
18.5
Cts.
50.7
50.4
39.7
27.6
16.2
Cts.
49.6
49.2
38.8
27.5
17.0
Cts.
32.2
29.6
23.8
19.6
Cts.
52.7
46.9
36.9
30.6
Cts.
59.5
53.7
43.7
33.9
Cts.
57.3
50.8
42.0
32.6
Cts.
21.5
19.0
18.0
14.9
11.9
Cts.
31.3
28. 1
27.8
20.6
17.9
31.2
30. 0
21.9
18.4
Cts. Cts.
33.6
31.0
29.6
22.0
19.4
Cts.
25.9
25.4
21.3
16.0
14.5
Cts. Cts.
42.5 50.1
44.4 50.3
37.6 41.7
27.6 28.8
24.7 22.7
Cts.
47.9
47.7
40.7
28.2
21.7
46.8
58.8
52.3
33.6
41.4
56.9
60.5
60.0
37.8
48.6
48.0
58.6
57.3
38.3
46.4
23.7
25.3
619.8
19.7
22.0
44.7
46.1
635.0
35.4
41.6
52.7
47.4
542.4
39.3
46.9
46.2,
47.1
539.7
40.2
44.8
23.0
28.8
32.4
19.8
23.8
43.6
53.7
55.2
37.1
45.6
54.3
56.2
69.1
41.3
51.3
46.2
55.4
64.0
41.9
49.6
24.5
30.5
26.0
20.5
20.5
45.2
52.3
46.3
37.3
42.7
53.7 49.5
5 7. 7 56.1
5 7 .8 57.1
42.1 42.3
46.7 46.0
22.6
25.6
27.8
15.1
21.1
46.7
48.0
56.3
29.3
39.9
52.1
52.0
63.1
32.3
46.5
47.1
50.9
60.4
32.0
44.4
34.5
22.0
18.0
76.9
44.5
39.3
23.5
17.6
72.5
42.6
37.8
38.1
23.5 9.0 17.5
16.3
15.7
72.5 42.7 79.1
41.2
42.5
39.7
19.0
14.6
71.5
40.7
39.1
37.1
19.0 9.0 16.0
14.3
16.6
74.4 36.3 70.4
40.4
43.1
41.5
17.0
15.2
67.1
42.1
36.7
40.8
17.0 9.8 18.5
16.5
15.0
65.3 38.1 76.1
44,3
41.8
40.5
42.4
18.5 9.0 17.7
15.1
15.8
70.8 39.9 77.9
42.4
42.3
43.6
1S.0
14.5
69.9
41.9
42.7
18,0
14.2
71.6
41.9
40.9
43.7
38.9
38.9
75. Ü
41.5
41.1
29.3
35.3
70.3
36.2 35.9 35.6
35.5 35.8 35.1
36.2 36.1 35.8
38.5
34.5
38.4 24.8 43.9 42.5 42.0 23.5 42.8 40.0 39.6 21.9 42. 9 40.5 39. £ 20.2 42.9
28.2 16.3 37.2 29.3 29.0 15.7 36.4 27.9 27.8 15.0 36.4 27.3 27.8 16.2 36.3
32.0
36.2 29.9 29.5
39.1 32.4 31.9
35.6 30.5 29.8
36.9
79.4 67.0 86.6 91.0 101.9 59.7 96.5 97.8 103.1 41.3 69.3 66.3 68. S 56.1 88.1
34.9
41.6
30.1
30.4
87.4
34.4
40.8
29.9
30.2
99.9
64.5 64.0 70.5 36.8 64.3 68.1 72.1
9.6 11.0 11.0 5.6 9.8 11.4 11.4
7.1 8.6 8.3 3.6 7.5 8.1 7.4
6.0 5.4 4.7 3.6 7.3 8.1 77T
11.2 13.3 13.3
8.9 10.4 10.0
11.7
25.2
19.2
16.2
14.2
14.7
30.9
21.6
13.3
12.2
14.6
31.4
21.2
11.9
10.4
4.8 4.6 4.4
7.3 5.1 4.7
5.6 4.5 4.4
18.2 16.1 15.7
19.8 18.5 18.3
12.3
24.1
21.8
9.0 17.2
12.3
2.7
13.0
28.4
25.3
15.9
11.0
13.1
28.3
25.6
14.4
10.4
4.3 3.5 3.5
7.3 5.4 4.9
4.4 3.8 3.6
14.9 14.4 14.2
20.6 18.5 .18.3
40.0
18.5
15.3
71.5
43.5
33.0 63.3 71.5 72.1 30.0 61.0 62.7 61.7 37.3 62.5
6.0 10.6 11.8 12.0 4.8 9.2 10.7 10.5 6.0 10.0
3.2 7.5 7.9 7.3 3.7 7.5 8.5 8.2 3.2 7.7
3.2 7.8 7.9 7.8 2.8 5.5 5.1 4.7 3.5 7.6
8.9 11.9 11.8
7.8
9.6 11.2. 11.6
14.2
24.5
20.6
9.3 17.4
12.1
1.8
13.8
29.5
22.5
16.9
11.0
13.8
29.3
22.5
15.3
10.7
3.5 3.2 3.3
7.2 4.9 4.3
3.7 3.8 3.7
17.6 16.9 16.5
21.7 21.3 21.1
14.4
24.8
11.4
7.5 15.1
11.6
2.2
18.9
14.9
14.8
81.0
40.8
20.0
19.8
14.1
15.8
13.8 5.2 11.0
80.7 53.8 56.6
40.4 29.3 46.1
19.2
12.8
13.6
53.5
36.3
18.7
22.1
12.1
022.2
12.2 5.2 11.6
52.5 55.0 62.9
34.8 33.8 50.5
22.4 22.9
17.8
022.5 621.8
15.1
14.0 13.0 5. i 11.1
63.0 61.5 62.1 68.6
46.7 43.7 25.7 42.5
27.8
25.2
30.0
41.7
28.6
30.7
33.8
55.0
28.5
34.1
32.5
49.6
28.2
21.6
40.4
65.0
26.6
31.2
51.8
73.9
24.5
31.7
50.0
73.9
26.9
31.1
43.4
68.4
28.9
24.1
37.9
61.3
25.2
33.6
42.3
77.1
6 No. Scan.
[7 7 ]
14.1
30.0
11.6
11.6
10.2
14.1
30.0
11.7
10.5
9.6
4.9 4.3 4.'2
6.7 4.6 4.1
4.5 3.3 3.1
17.2 16.7 16.3
17.8 16.2 16.1
19.6
15.7
23.0
78.4
46.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
33.1
31.3
22.5
25.«
41.0
12.1
24.2
21.0
8.Ó 16.7
12.6
2.3
4.4
6.8
4.2
15.3
19.2
66.7 68.9
11.9 11.9
8.3 7.3
7.9
8.1
10.0 9.9
12.7
28.8
24.2
15.6
11.2
12.6
28.8
24.0
13.6
10.0
3.6 3.8
4.8 4.6
2.9 3.3
15.2 14.9
18.1 17.7
17.5
14.5
13.9
74.1
35.3
17.7
18.0
14.2 _ 1G.0
12.3 4.9 10.8
73.1 43.3 57.0
34.4 27. 2 45.1
18.2
12.9
13.1
58.4
37.4
17.4
12.1
11.9
53.4
34.6
26.4
30.1
25.0
51.0
26.4
32.4
30.0
45.6
26.2
32,0
47.3
75.7
25.2
32.4
45.9
82.4
31.7
22.2
38.2
61.0
M ONTHLY
78
L A B O R R E V IE W ,
T able 5 .—A V ER A G E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IFIE D ARTICLES
•
Article.
U nit.
Norfolk, Va.
Nov. Oct. N ov.
15,
15,
15,
1919. 1920. 1920.
Omaha Nebr
N ov. 15—
1913
1919
Peoria, 111
Oct. Nov. N ov. Oct. N ov.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1920. 1920. 1919. 1920. 1920.
Sirloin stea k...........................
Round steak...........................
R ib roast.................................
Chuck roast
.....................
Plate beef ..............................
Pound___
. . .d o ..........
. .. d o ..........
. . .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
44.9 49.9 48.8 25.9 34.8 43.0 41.6 32.5
40.0 44.1 43.1 23.1 31.6 39.3 38.1 30.3
34.8 38.8 37.8 20.0 25.8 30.0 29.3 24.3
25.9 29.0 27.1 17.0 21.0 23.5 22.5 21.2
18.3 18.0 18.4 11.1 15.0 14.5 15.2 15.3
Pork chops..............................
B acon................................. ....
H am .........................................
Lam b........................................
H ens.........................................
__d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
.. .d o ...........
42.3
50. 6
50.0
37.4
44.8
49.4
54.6
53.3
43.3
50.0
45.9
52.3
52.0
42.9
48.5
21.1
28.8
31.3
16.7
16.3
38.6
54. 7
55.0
31.9
32.9
47.8
59.2
64.2
38.5
34.3
41.9
58.2
61.6
37.4
35.1
34.9
51.2
52.3
31.3
32.5
44.9
55.6
60.6
35.3
37.6
40.4
54.1
57.5
35.1
36.3
Salmon, canned.....................
Milk, fresh..............................
Milk' evaporated...................
B u tter......................................
Oleomargarine.......................
.. .d o ..........
Quart........
15-16oz.can
Pound___
. . .d o ..........
34.7
21.0
16.2
76.4
45.8
35.5
21.3
13.1
73.4
45.8
34.5
21.3
14.8
72.8
45.8
37.5
15. 2
17.6
37. Ò 75.8
44.2
40.4
15.9
64.6
43.9
39.8
15.5
15.5
66.7
42. 9
33.3
14.3
17.7
72.9
44.4
37.5
15.1
15.7
63.5
40.2
37.9
15.1
15.3
65.3
39.9
N u t margarine.......................
Cheese......................................
Lard........................................
Crisco........................................
Eggs, strictly fresh...............
. . .d o ..........
. . . d o ..........
. . .d o ..........
.. d o ..........
Dozen.......
39.0
41. 7
39.2
37.8
75.7
35.5
39.1
29.6
32.9
73.4
35.5
39.2
29.3
31.8
81.5
23.3
17.7
35.8
43.6
37.6
39. 7
73.2
36.1
39.1
31.7
35.3
65.6
35.7
38.7
31.0
33.3
72.4
35.5
43.7
36.1
38. 7
74.4
35.4
39.3
29.1
32.2
68.1
35.3
38.5
28.9
32.6
80.2
Eggs, storage..........................
Bread........................................
Flour........................................
Corn meal................................
Rolled Oats............................
. . .d o ..........
Pound___
.. .d o ..........
__d o ...........
.. .d o ..........
61.8
9.9
7. 6
5. 9
10.1
62.0
11.5
8.0
5.5
11.5
64.0
11.4
7.7
0. 1
11.6
30.0
5.2
2.7
2. 7
59.5
10.0
7.0
6.7
9.2
65.5
11.6
7.3
5.8
13.9
62.3
11.5
6.6
5.6
13.5
60.8
10.0
8.0
6.3
9.1
63.3
12.6
8.1
6.0
13.0
64.9
12.6
7. 7
5 4
12.6
Cornflakes...............................
Cream of W heat....................
Macaroni......... .......................
R ice..........................................
Beans, n a v y ...........................
8 -o z.p k g ..
28-ozt pkg.
Pou nd. . . .
__d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
14.4
25.8
19.3
19.0
14. 0
14.2
28.9
22. 4
18.9
11.9
13.9
28.3
21.1
18.0
10.7
15.0
25.9
21. 6
18.6
13.2
15.4
31. 7
23.2
16.4
11.5
15.0
31. 5
23.1
14. 8
10.0
14.7
26.0
19. 2
17.9
12.2
15.3
31.9
22J
16.8
10.9
15.1
32 0
21 8
14 7
9 4
Potatoes.................................
O nions.....................................
Cabbage...................................
Beans, baked.........................
Corn, canned..........................
.. d o ..........
__d o ...........
.. .d o ..........
No. 2 c a n ..
.. .d o ..........
4.0
7.8
4.6
14.1
20.8
3.7
5.4
4.7
13.9
20.9
3.6
4.9
4.6
13.6
20.4
43
7.8
4.4
20 0
18.3
2.9
4. 4
2.9
19. 6
17. 9
3 0
4 1
3.2
18 9
17.2
3. 6
7. 5
4. 4
18 0
17. 4
3 0
5 1
3.8
17 5
17 3
2
4
3
17
17
Peas, canned...........................
Tomatoes, canned.................
Sugar, granulated.................
T ea............................................
Cofiee........................................
.. .d o ..........
.. d o ..........
Pound___
__d o .........
__d o ...........
21.2
15.1
11.5
84.0
52.1
22.1
14.1
13.5
90. 4
48.7
21.9
12.6
13.0
87.2
47.0
18.9
17.5
13.1
76 9
52.4
18.4
16.1
14.2
80 2
43 7
17.7
15 6
12.6
80 2
41 6
18.5
15 9
13.1
Prunes.....................................
R aisins.....................................
B ananas..................................
Oranges....................................
.. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
Dozen.......
__d o ...........
31.3
21.8
39. 5
50.0
27.6
29.1
44.5
75.5
25.9
30.2
45.6
56.8
29 9
25 8
46.3
58.9
30. 5
32 2
46 7
75.8
31 7 32 1 30 7
32 5
22 4 31 1 33 4
60 0 8 110 8 14 3 8 1 3 0
78.5 53.7 66.0 71.5
8.7
43.3
8.5
•1.8
5.7
56.0
30.0
Cts. Cts.
36.4 35.2
35.1 34.6
26.8 26.4
23.9 23.5
15.8 15.8
18.4
15 3
13.7
73 7
72 7
46 Q 43 7
Q
5
6
2
3
17.9
15 1
13 ! i
72 7
42 3
29 4
7The 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.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[T 8]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
79
O F FOOD FO R 51 CITIES ON C E R T A IN SP E C IFIE D D A TE S—Continued.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Portland, Me.
Portland, Oreg.
Providence, R . I.
N ov. 15— O ct. Nov. Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. 15— Oct. Nov. Nov. 15— Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15,
15,
1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920. 1919. 1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920 1913 1919 1920. 1920.
Cts.
730.5
25.7
21.5
18.0
12. C
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
27.3
45.0 49.9 48.8 24.0
38.0 41.7 40.3 21.7
29.3 30.2 29.0 17.3
17.5 16.8 15.9
Cts.
45.2
40.8
34.8
28.2
18.2
Cts.
49.5
44.5
38.0
29.1
18.0
Cts.
48.3
43.5
36.6
28.4
18.2
43.1
51.3
56.7
39.2
44.1
44.6
54.9
57.7
39.1
43.6
51.0
56.4
65.0
42.6
49.1
749.3 757.0 755.3
22.5
26.9
30.4
18.8
23.1
12.8
50.1 45.0 22.5
50.2 49.2 30.4
62.6 29.8
43.0 42.6 20.3
49.7 46.9 23.8
66.0
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
22.9
46.8 52.5 50.3
31.1 31.8 30.6 19.1
24.4 24.6 23.4 16.7
13.5
Cts.
30.6
29.1
27.9
Cts.
32.3
30.4
29.3
21.4
15.9 16.4
Cts.
31.6
30.0
29.0
45.0
55.3
63.6
43.0
48.8
47.6
48.8
51.9
33.5
45.4
54.5
51.1
66.5
39.2
52.5
47.7
50.8
63.9
38.1
49.2
41.5
55.6
52.9
30.7
37.5
4S.7
44.6
48.1
57.7
57.2 32.7 61.1
32.9 18.7 41.1
40.1 25.0 47.2
40.1 40.4
16.0
15.1 14.8
70.8 73.9
38.8 37.7
34.9
15.0
17.4
76.9
44.6
38.8
17.0
16.1
73.3
43.3
38.6
40.4
17.0 9.7 15.9
17. 2
15.8
70.1 40.4 74.1
43.1
43.0
40.0
9.0 17.0
17.4
38.4 72.3
42.0 41.0 ........ 40.5
34.1
40. 4
28.4
30.1
35.9
44.8
37.1
38.0
98.3
35.4
41.6
28.3
32.6
95.0
34.9
38.6
41.6
. 8 43.8
28.2 17.8 40.7
31.9
42.1
55.0 87.9
38.0
42.1
33.8
35.7
77.8
32.5 35.8
15.0
16.2 15.1
44.3 81.9 75.8
45.7 44.4
35.8
36.3
15.0 9.2 16.0
15.1
16.4
76.4 40.4 78.5
41.9
43.4
38.0 36.8
25.6 45.9 41.9
15.5 35.7 29.0
35.2 29.5
50.8 82.9 80.4
36.6
35.8 35.3
41.3 24.5 43.5 41.1
28.3 15.7 36.6 28.6
29.2
37.4 30.4
90.8 46.3 78.6 75.9
8.0 14.0
86.6
21.4
30.3
30.0
17.5
20.3
21.1
110.8
11.8 11.8 11.0 12.0 12.0
12.8 12.8
22.8 22.2
10.8 10.1
14.0 13.9 14.3 15.1 14.7
29.8 29.9 25.2 29.9 29. 9
22.5
24.8 24.7
17.8 16.1 16.6 18.3 16.1
9.3
10.9
47.5
60.2
60.6
32.9
38.9
21.0
16.2
Cts. Cts.
Cts.
31.0 53.6
24.2 42.0
18.8 34.8
60.8 58.7
45.9 44.1
35.7 34.0
22.0
22.8
58.4
50.4
70.5
45.3
49.8
48.2 46.3
15.6 15.6
14.5 14.0
66.2 66.1
8.2 10.0
11.6
13.8
25.1
18.9
9.2 18.6
2.3
2.0
4.5
3.5 3.4
4.2 4.0
5.3 3.4 3.3
14.6 15.1 14.9
18.0 17.5 17.3
6.8
12.1 10.0
22.6 22.8
12.1
10.2
2.8
3.9 3.3 3.3 3.4
3.0
7.2 4.9 4.6 6.3 4.4 3.6
4.6 3.9 4.1 2.7 2.3
16.3 16.5 16.4 19.4 18.5 18.8
18.8 17.8 17.2 19.8 19.7 19.2
8.6
1.2
2.2
20.6
11.0
17.3
12.6
30.3 26.0 25.9
31.2 29.9
40.0 41.5 40.0
57.1 69.3 66.9
21.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
12.1
31.0
24.5
47.9
53.2
29.3
33.9
49.7
75.3
28.2
34.3
52.6
78.2
28.1
24.3
38.3
64.7
14.5
33. 8
18.7
17.1
9.4
14.4
33.4
18.5
15.6
8.6
9.3 17.4
11.7
3.3
5.6
3.4
2.8
2.4
4.0
1.7
25.3
31.2
65.0
81.0
s Per pound.
[7 9 ]
13.9
24.7
22.6
11.9
14.1
30.6
25.0
17.4
14.1
30.5
24.3
15.1
9.8
10.1
22.5
20.7
19.8
17.8 13.9 13.6
17.3
13.8
5.0
63.2 68.3
48.3 60.2
50.4 44.7 43.4 30.0 52.1
59.9 60.1
47.7 44.7
25.2
20.9
45.0
64.6
28.0 25.0
30.0 29.8
51.9 50.6
77.8 74.1
22.5 22.4 21.9
21.2
12.8
68.2
21.7
30.0
56.0
82.5
19.1
30.9
56.3
91.7
3.7
12.3
3.2 3.4
4.5 4.1
4.0 3.9
16.4 16.2
6.1 11.8
25.4
30.1
65.0
84.8
111.2
67.3 68.7
12.3 12.3
7.7
4.1
16.4
4.2
3.0
2.8
21.8 21.0 21.2
19.1 17.8 17.9
20.5 20.7
15.1 14.1 12.9 19.0 17.8 16.7
11.9 5.7
13.7 13.2
14.3 13.0
61.2 58.0 82.6 78.7 77.9 63.6 63.2 62.9 55.0
32.5 30.0 50.0 44.6 42.9 51.0 47.5 44.5 35.0
35.2
41.1
28.6
31.7
6.1 10.0
8.0 8.2
6.6 6.2
14.6
28.2
17.4
18.8
11.8
68.8
22.0
12.2 12.0
50.6
48.8
64.5
45.2
52.3
43.0 42.5
18.1 18.1
16.0 16.0
67.5
41.6 41.6
37.1
35.0 35.5
40.6
42.8 40.5
34.1 15.8 36.6 27.5
34.7
37.4 31.4
85.2 63.0 104.7 100.7
10.6
6.8
Cts.
739.8 765.3 777.8 775.8
60.9 63.6 67.1 67.4 69.0 70.1 37.5 69.5 63.6 67.9 36.8 62.8
10.3
5.5
11.3 10.4
7.5 3.2 7.6 7.8 7.3 7.6 7.9 7.4 2.9
7.1 6.4 2.9
5.3 3.0 7.3 7.5 6.9 6.9 7.1 5.9 3.5 7.6 7.3 6.7 3.1 6.4
9.7 ........ 9.5
9.1
9.3
9.4
11.3
12.4
24.7 28.5 28.7
20.7
9.8 18.1 16.9 15.6
11.9
18.5 17.9
15.7 14. 8
5.0
13.6
54.0 61.6 61.2
24.5 44.5 33.9
21.0
20
66.2 68. 2 33.4
10.6 10.6 5.4
34.7 62.8
4.8 9.4
3.2 7.4 7.9
2.9 6.5 5.9
........ 8.3 10.3
10.8
16.0
755.3 763.3 761.4
6.6
20.0 20.8 20.6
21.6 21.3
15.1 14s 8
11.1 15.0 13.0
29.0
22.8
42.0
64.3
80
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D A R T IC L E S
R ochester,
N. Y .
R ichm ond, Ya.
P o rk ch o p s...........................
B acon.....................................
H a m ......................................
L a m b .....................................
H e n s......................................
U n it.
N ov. 15-
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
1913 1919 1920. 1920.
C ts.
Pound.
.. .d o__
.. .d o __
..d o —
. .d o __
.do.
.do.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
O
£^2
Sirloin s te a k ..
R o u n d steak .
R ib ro a st___
C huck ro a s t..
P la te b eef___
1
Article.
St. Louis, Mo.
Cts.
Oct. Nov. Nov. 15— Oct. No v.
15, 15,
15. 15,
1920. 1920.
1913 1919 1920. 1920.
Cts.
C ts.
22.2 42.3 46.1 44.8 38.0 43.6 42. (
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
26.6 34.5 40.6 40.0
20.0 38.5 42.2 41.1 35.0 39.9 38.2 23.6 34.5 39.6 38.5
18.9 32.7 34.2 34.2 30.6 33. C 32. c 20.1 28.6 31.5 31.4
15.9 27.9 28.2 27.9 27.2 28.8 28.2 16.0 20.8 22.7 22.5
13.2 22.3 22.5 22.1 18.8 18.9 18.7 12.4 17.5 18.3 17.9,
44.6
49.5
54.7
45.0
45.3
41.4
42.4
49.1
30.1
41.1
49.4
45.4
58.2
36.8
47.5
44.9
44.9
56.1
36.6
45.4
36.7
48.2
52.1
32.2
31.9
44.4
50.9
59.1
33.8
34.6
37. 4'
48.1
55.5
34.5
33.4
Salm on, c a n n e d ..
Milk, fresh.............
Milk, e v a p o ra te d .
B u tte r....................
O leom argarine__
. .. d o __
26
26.4 25.1
Q u a rt..
10.0 16.7 16.5 16.0
15-16 oz. can
17.1 16.5 16.5
P o u n d ___
79. 75.1 75.9
. .. d o —
43.8 44.5 43.4
35.8
14.5
17.3
72.9
44.6
40.2
15.5
15. £
68.6
42.8
38. 8
34.2
15.5 8.8 16.0
15.8
16.2
68.6 38.1 78.5
40.5
41.9
36. 4
16.8
13.9
69.8
38.6
37.1
Ì6.0!
13.8i
71.7
37.9|
N u t m arg arin e....... .
Cheese........................
L a rd ...........................
Crisco.........................
Eggs, s tric tly fresh.
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
...d o ...
. ..d o ...
Dozen.
Eggs, storage.
B re ad ..............
F lo u r...............
Corn m e a l___
R olled O ats...
. ..d o __
Pound.
. ..d o —
. ..d o __
...d o __
C ornflakes............
Cream of W h ea t.
M acaroni..............
R ice.......................
B eans, n a v y ____
8-oz. pkg..
.do.
.do.
. .d o __
. ..d o —
Pound.
...d o ..,.
...d o —
P ru n e s ..
R a isin s ..
B an an as.
O ra n g e s..
...d o ...
.. .d o ...
Dozen.
. ..d o ...
17.8
25,8
27.3
18.3
16.5
37.3 37.8 37.6 34.6 35.1 34.7
35.0 34.3 33.91
15.4 37.4 29.7 29.5 36.4 27.6 27.7 12.9 31.5 24.4 23.9
38.7 32.8 31.2 36.7 31.0 29.8
35.8 30.7 28.7
40.0 76. 78.4 79.2 94.4 83.0 96.7 38.9 71.9 69.2 77.7
i
33.0 64.5 66.5 66.0 61.2 63.5 65.1 32.5 57.8 59.4 61.4
5.3 11.1 13.1 12.8 10.0 11.4 11.2 5.6 10.0 12.1 12.1)1
3. 2 7.7 8.0 7.5 7.5 7.9 7.4 2.9 6.9 7.1 6 .6j
2.3 6.1 6.2 5.5 7.0 7.3 7.0 2.5 5.5 5.1 4 .6j
10.8 12.2 12.2 7.4 8.7 7.7
6.4 10.6 10.01
14.7
25.7
P o u n d ___
18.2
..d o ......... 10.0 19.1
..d o .........
14.0
Peas, c an n e d ..............
Tom atoes, c a n n e d . . .
Sugar, g ra n u la te d __
T e a ................................
Coffee...........................
48.9
50.0
55.5
44.4
45.7
22.8 43.4 40.5 39.9 42.0 39.6 39.2 20.3 41.3 38.1 36.7
2S-OZ. pkg
Po tato es.................................................. do
O nions..................................................... do
Cabbage...................................................do
B eans, b a k ed ............. .................... No. 2 c a n ..
Corn, c a n n e d ..........................................do
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 1 .2 43.1
27.2- 48. 9
25.0 49.0
19.3 39.4
19.5 41.3
14.6
30.9
21.5
18.9
12.0
14.3
31.4
20.9
17.2
10.8
13.8
24.8
20.5
18.0
12.1
14.6
30.1
21.9
17.3
11.1
14.5
30.1
22.3
14.9
10.6
4.8 4.5 4.1 2.9 2.4 2.5
6.9 5.6 4.9 6.4 4.4 3.9
5.1 4.2 4.1 3.4 2.7 1.8
14.9 13.9 13.3 15.2 14.3 14.4
19.4 19.9 19.2 19.8 19.8 19.6
22.4 21.4 21.2
18.3 14.4 13.3
5.4 11.3 14.8 13.8
56.0 83.3 89.6 90.8
27.4 47.4 44.2 42.4
33.3
21.9
45.4
50.9
28.6
31.7
52.4
75.0
9 No. 21 can.
[ 80]
28.0
32.8
51.8
59.3
13.2
24.4
18.3
8.1 16.8
11.7
1.8
12.9
30.2
20. 2
14.4
9.4
12.8
30.11
20. 8i
12.9'
8 .7j
4.1 3.8 3.6
6.8 4.4 4.2
4.2 3.7 3 .3j
15.3 15.1 15.1|
16.7 15.5 15.6!
19.7
16.2
11.0
63.3
46.4
20.6
15.7
14.0
68.1
40.5
20.0
15.9
15.5
15.0
12.9 5.1 13.0
67.5 55.0 72.0
38.1 24.4 46.7
15.8
13.9
12.5
74.9
38.2
15.8
12.7
12.0
74.3
37.6
28.7
21.8
41.1
57.2
27.7
31.1
48.5
73.3
25.8
31.2
49.3
81.31
1
29.3
31.4
38.9
64.1
28.0
31.7
39.4
57.9
30.2
22.6
36.0
44.4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
82
T \ ble 5 . — A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O P S P E C I F I E D A R T I C L E S O F
C I T I E S O N C E R T A I N S P E C I F I E D D A T E S — C o n c lu d e d .
Springfield, 111.
Seattle, Wash.
\ rfide.
Unit.
•
FO OD
FO R
51
Washington, D . C.
N ov. 15—
Oct. Nov,
Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
1920. 1920. 1913 1919 1920. 1920.
1920.
1920.
1919.
19Ì3 1919
1.5—
Sirloin steak.................................... Pound___
Round steak..
........................ .. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
Rib roast. .
.d o .
. . .d o ..........
Plate beef..
Cls.
23.6
20.6
20.0
15. 6
12. 8
Cts.
35. 2
32.6
28.5
22. 2
17.8
Cts.
36.0
33.3
29. 7
21.3
17.0
Cts.
35.8
32.3
28.8
20.9
16.6
Cts.
31.5
31.4
22.7
19.9
15.5
Cts.
41.0
39. 8
27. 2
23.7
17.2
Cts.
39. 2
38.5
26.5
22.0
17.2
Cts.
26.5
22.5
21.0
17.6
12.8
Cts.
47.9
43.3
37.0
29.0
18.6
Cts.
52.0
47.4
41.3
30.6
18.2
Cts.
50.5
45.1
39.8
30.2
18.5
.d o ..........
.d o ..........
.d o ..........
.d o ..........
.d o ..........
24.0
32.0
30.0
18.4
24.2
45. 1
59. 2
56. 5
32. 2
42.3
50.9
64.5
63.2
33.3
36.8
46.2
61. 4
58.7
32.5
39.7
37.6
45.7
48.8
33.3
33.0
46.9
50.0
58.9,
37.5
35.3
41.2
48.7
56.4
36.7
38.5
21. 4
26.4
31.3
19. 1
21.3
45.2
50.0
56.3
39.0
45.3
53.0
51.8
62.1
45.7
49.3
48.2
50.6
61. 2
45.7
48.6
34.2 38.0 37.8
.. .d o ..........
Salmon, canned
Quart........ 10.0 15.0 14.0 13.0
Milk, fresh..
15.5 13. 5 13.0
Milk, evaporated..
................. 15-16 oz.can
B u tter............................................... Pou nd___ 40.8 74.5 65.1 63.4
40.4 41.3 41.3
.d o ..........
0 1enm arga.rin e
35.6
16.7
18.3
77.8
45.4
39.5
16.7
17.4
69.3
40.8
34.5
40.5
16.7 9.0 18.0
16.5
17.3
73.4 40.3 78.1
42.6
40.5
38.7
18.0
15.2
72.5
42.3
37.7
18.0
15.1
74.1
42.6
Mnt Tnaraarinp
Cheese
.
.................
Lard
.................
Prison
Fgvs, strictly fr e s h .......................
36.7 36.7 36.1
. . .d o ..........
.. .d o .......... 22.8 43.0 40.8 40.5
.. .d o .......... 16.9 39.1 31.8 31.8
42.1 35.4 34.3
.. .d o ..........
Dozen....... 59.2 90.1 85.3 85.2
36.0
4-1.6
36.3
40.2
72.8
35.7
41.9
29.3
34.3
70.3
35.5 35.9
35.9
40.9 23.5 42.5 40.7
28.5 ¡5.0 36.1 29.3
37.7 31. 7
34,6
82.2 47.9 84.3 79.5
35.6
40.3
28.9
30.7
90.6
Regs, storage...................................
Bread.................................................
Flour
Corn meal
Rolled Oats
.. .d o .......... 37.5 66.6 66.7 67.0 61.1 64.7 68.3 35.0 62.1 65.5 68.9
Pou nd___ 5.6 11.5 11.5 11.4 10.0 13.5 13.5 5.7 10.1 12.0 12.0
.. .d o .......... 2.9 6.8 6.9 6.2 7.6 8.0 7.4 3.8 7.7 8.2 7.8
.. .d o .......... 3.2 7.3 7.0 6.3 6.6 6.9 6.1 2.6 5.6 5.4 4.8
10.7 12.4 12.9
8.7 10.5 10.3 10.51 13.7 13.7
.. .d o ..........
Pork eh op s. .
B acon...........
Ham
1,9m b
Hens
..
......................... ..
..
..
..
Corn flakes
Cream of Wheat
Macaroni
Rice
.
p, ean s navy
8-OZr p k g ..
28-oz.'pkg.
P ou nd___
................. .. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
14.9
27.5
17.0
7.7 18.3
11.9
1.4
14.8
31.8
19.2
18.0
9.5
14.7
31.5
19.0
15.6
8.5
.. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
N o. 2 can..
. . .d o ..........
Peas canned
Tomatoes canned
Sugar, vranulated.
Tea
20.7 20.3 20.3
.. .d o ..........
1018.0 1016.0 1015.3
.d o ..........
Pou nd___ 6.1 11.6 14. 1 12.8
.. .d o .......... 50.0 63.2 69.8 69. c
.. .d o .......... 28.0 48.2 44.1 42.1
Prunes
Raisins
Bananas............................................
Oranges
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.. .d o ..........
.. .d o ..........
Dozen.......
.. .d o ..........
14.0
24.8
20.4
9.4 18.1
12.6
15. 4
31.4
23.6
15.9
9.6
1.8
3.7 2.8 2.7 4.1 3.4 3.3
7.1 4.2 3.7 6. { 5. 5 4.2
4.9 3.0 2.Ç 4.4 3.7 3.3
21.6 19.8 19.5 17.9 18.3 18.1
20.2 20.5 20.1 16.9 16.8 17.2
P o ta to e s .........................................
Onions
Cabbage
Beans baked
Corn canned
.................
15. 5
31.3
23.4
18.5
10.8
14.9
27.5
18.9
18.8
12.7
27.7
22.4
52.1
56.6
26.8
30.2
65.0
79.2
10 N o . 2J c a n .
[82 ]
25.8
30.8
65.0
80.4
18.0
17. (
13.9
84.4
50.6;
18.2
15.7
14.7
86.6
46. S
31.7 29.9
25.0 35. 1
38.3 ! 51.0
52.2 ; 78. i.
1
14.0
29.7
24.5
17.0
10.7
13.9
29.8
24.4
15.5
10.2
3.7 2.9 3.1
6.7 4.8 4.6
4.5 3.3 3.4
14.7 14.7 14.6
18.9 17.4 17.3
19.0
18.3
16.3
15. S
13.9 5.1 11.5
88.2 57.5 75.9
43.0 28.8 47.7
17.9
13.4
14.0
77.5
41.6
17.8
12.7
12.8
78.8
39.1
28.7
35.1
55. C
7 2 .5 ........
29.8
30.9
48.4
73.1
28.5
32.5
48.6
57.7
1
31.3
22.8
44.8
57.6
83
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities.
T A B L E 6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
A in the retail cost of 22 food articles6 in November, 1920, com
pared with the average cost in the year 1913, in November, 1919, and
in October, 1920. 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. For Savannah, Ga., the
comparison is given only for the month, as this city was first sched
uled by the bureau in 1920. These percentage changes are based
on actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers and
on the average family consumption of these articles in each city.7
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have perfect
reporting cities. For the month of November, 98 per cent of all the
firms reporting in the 51 cities sent in a report promptly. The
following were perfect reporting cities; that is, .every merchant in
the following-named 32 cities who is cooperating with the bureau
sent in his report in time for his prices to be included in the city
averages: Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, Charleston, Chicago, Cleve
land, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Little Rock, Los
Angeles, Louisville, Manchester, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Newark,
New Haven, Peoria, Philadelphia, Portland, Me., Portland, Oreg.,
Providence, Richmond, Rochester, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake
City, San Francisco, Scranton, Seattle, and Washington, D. C.
The following summary shows the promptness with which the
merchants responded in November:
R E T A IL P R IC E R E P O R T S R E C E IV E D D U R IN G N O V E M B E R .
G eo g r a p h ic a l d iv is io n .
I te m .
P e r c e n ta g e of r e p o r ts r e c e iv e d ...........................
N u m b e r of c it ie s in e a c h s e c t io n fro m
w h ic h e v e r y rep ort w a s r e c e i v e d ..................
U n it e d
S ta te s .
S o u th
N o r th
A t la n tic . A t l a n t i c .
N o r th
C en tra l.
S o u th
C en tra l.
W e s te r n .
98
99
97
99
95
100
32
10
3
10
2
a7
a T o t a l n u m b e r of c it ie s i n t h is d iv is io n .
6 F o r l i s t o f a r tic le s , se e n o t e 2, p . 60.
. . . .
7 T h e c o n s u m p tio n fig u r e u s e d for e a c h a r tic le i n e a c h c it y is g iv e n i n t h e
N o v e m b e r , 1918, p p . 94 a n d 95.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 88]
Monthly L abor R eview for
84
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Tabi.e
6 . — P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S I N T H E R E T A I L C O S T O F 22 F O O D A R T I C L E S I N
N O V E M B E R , 1920, C O M P A R E D W I T H T H E C O S T I N O C T O B E R , 1920, N O V E M B E R , 1919, A N D
W I T H T H E A V E R A G E C O S T I N T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y C I T I E S .
[P e r c e n ta g e c h a n g e s o f f iv e -te n th s o f 1 p er c e n t a n d o v e r a re g iv e n i n w h o le n u m b e r s .]
P e r c e n t
P e r c e n t
P e r c e n t
age in
a g e i n crease ( + )
age d e
crease
or d e
crease
N o v e m crease ( —) N o v e m
ber, 1920, N o v e m ber, 1920,
com
ber, 1920,
com
p a red
p ared
com
w it h
w it h
p a red
v ea r
w it h
O cto b e r ,
i913.
1920.
N ovem
b er, 1919.
C ity .
A t l a n t a .........................
B a lt im o r e ....................
B ir m in g h a m ..............
B o s t o n ...........................
B r id g e p o r t ..................
91
100
98
101
_2
+ i
-3
4-6
4-3
B u f f a lo ..........................
B u t t e .............................
C h a r le s to n ...................
C h ic a g o .........................
C in c in n a t i...................
102
C le v e la n d ....................
C o lu m b u s ....................
D a l l a s .............................
D e n v e r ..........................
D e t r o it ..........................
06
98
94
94
85
S2
101
4-4
4-2
—2
—0.2
+ 2
4-1
—0 .3
—3
—3
—0.2
C ity .
3
M ilw a u k e e
M in n e a p o lis ................
M o b ile ...........................
N ew ark
N ew H aven .
2
4
1
1
2
N e w O rle a n s
N ew Y ork ..
N o r f o lk ...................
O m a h a ...
P e o r ia ........................
3
3
2
2
3
P h ila d e lp h ia
P itts b u r g h
P o r t la n d , M e ...
P o r t la n d , O reoP ro v id er! oe
1
3
2
2
F a l l R i v e r ...................
H o u s t o n .......................
I n d ia n a p o lis ..............
J a c k s o n v ille ................
K a n s a s C ity , M o . . .
99
4-4
86
-2
3
84
92
- 0 .4
2
-1
3
L i t t l e R o c k ................
L o s A n g e le s ................
L o u is v ille ....................
M a n c h e s te r .................
M e m p h is ......................
83
—3
+ 4
3
83
-3
100
88
4-4
3
3
2
6
2
5
P ercen t
P e r c e n t
a g e in
P e r c e n t
a g e i n crease ( + ) a g e d e
crease
or decrease
N o v e m c r e a se (—) N o v e m
b er, 1920, N o v e m b er, 1920,
com
com
b er, 1920,
p a red
com
p a red
w it h
w it h
p ared
year
w it h
O cto b er,
1913.
N ovem
1920.
ber, 1919.
O
92
88
90
04
02
97
93
09
95
-3
3
4-3
-4-3
41
2
o 1
3
2
2
1
0-1
4-0 1
4-3
73
104
1
3
3
43
R ie h m on d
R o ch ester. .
S t . L o u is ..
S t . P a u l ......................
S a lt L a k e C i t y ..........
106
S a n F r a n c isc o
S a v a n n a h ....................
S c r a n to n
S e a ttle
S p r in g fie ld , 111____
W a s h in g to n , D. C ..
102
4-5
o
]
9
1
2
2
2
3
4_2
1
2
3
1
2
75
0
2
82
+3
96
73
101
i
+3
+ 0.4
1
3
1
4
0.4
i
Retail Prices of Coal in the United States.1
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
January 15, October 15, and November 15, 1920, for the
United States and for each of the cities included in the total
for the United States. Prices for coal are secured from the cities
from which monthly retail prices of food are received.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds used. The coal dealers in each city are asked to quote
prices on the kinds of bituminous coal usually sold for household
use.
The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers but do not
include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bin where an
extra handling is necessary.
T
1
P r ic e s o f c o a l h a v e fo r m e r ly b e e n s e c u r e d s e m ia n n u a lly a n d p u b lis h e d i n t h e M a r ch a n d S e p te m b e r
is s u e s o f t h e Monthly L abor R eview . S in c e J u n e , 1920, th e s e p r ic e s have b e e n s e c u r e d a n d p u b lis h e d
m o n t h ly .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[84] .
85
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES P E R TON OF 2,000 PO U N D S OF COAL FOR H O U SE H O L D U SE ,
ON JAN. 15, OCT. 15, A N D NOV. 15, 1920.
1920
City, and kind of coal.
Jan. 15.
U nited S ta te s:
Pennsylvania a n th ra citeStove ..................................
C h estn u t..........................
B itum inous...........................
A tlanta, G a.:
B itum inous.............................
Baltimore, Md.:
Pennsylvania an th ra citeStove..................................
C hestnut...........................
B itum inous.............................
Birm ingham , A la .:
B itum inous.............................
B oston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania an th ra citeStove..................................
Chestnut...........................
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.................................
Chestnut...........................
B itum inous.............................
Buffalo, N .Y .:
Pennsylvania a n th ra citeStove..................................
C hestnut...........................
B utte, Mont.:
B itum inous.............................
Charleston, S. C.:
Pennsylvania an th ra citeStove.................................
C hestnut...........................
B itum inous.......................
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................................
C hestnut...........................
B itum inous.......................
Cincinnati, Ohio:
Pennsylvania an th ra citeStove..................................
Chestnut............................
B itum inous........ ...................
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania a n th ra citeStove..................................
C hestnut...........................
B itum inous.............................
Columbus, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Chestnut...........................
B itum inous........................... Dallas, Tex.:
Arkansas anthracite—
E g g ....................................
B itum inous.............................
Denver, Colo.:
Colorado a n th ra citeStove , 3 and 5 m ix ed . . .
Furnace, 1 and 2 mixed.
B itum inous.............................
Detroit, Mich.:
Pennsylvania a n th ra citeStove..................................
C hestnut................... .......
Bitum inous.............................
Fall R iver, M ass.:
Pennsylvania a n th r a citeStove..................................
C hestnut...........................
B itum inous.............................
Houston, T e x .:
B itum inous.............................
Indianapolis, In d .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................................
Chestnut...........................
Bitum inous.............................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Oct. 15.
Nov. 15.
$12,588
12.788
8.808
$16.077
16.151
12.502
$16,216
16.292
12.530
9.050
14.596
14.375
1 12.500
i 12.600
1 7.500
1 15.500
1 15.500
1 11.125
1 15.708
i 15.708
1 11.594
7.496
10.269
10.421
12.750
12.750
16.000
16.000
16.000
16.000
12.500
12.500
8.500
17.954
17.954
17. .500
17.500
10. 890
10.990
13.220
13.240
13.220
13.240
10.381
12.570
12. 801
1 13.400
1 13.500
8.500
1 17.875
U 7.725
13.000
i 17.875
i 17.725
13. 250
12.590
12.690
8.020
16.710
16.750
10.940
16.633
16.663
10.661
12.500
12.667
6.739
15.725
15.500
9.000
16.215
16.250
9.000
12.300
12.233
7.911
16.540
16.513
12.350
16.290
16. 263
12.064
12.000
6.513
16.300
11.508
16.500
10.875
18.500
14.583
20.000
15.583
20.500
15.583
14.000
13.500
8.908
17.600
17.600
11.667
17.600
17.600
11.691
12.650
12.750
8.781
16.500
16.438
14.029
17.700
17.600
13.706
13.000
12.750
10.000
17.500
16.500
14.000
16.333
16.250
14.000
12.000
16.132
16.610
13.000 1
13.167
8.188 |
16.430
16.415
10.729
10.708
t
i Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
[ 85]
86
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
A V ERAGE R E TA IL PRIC ES P E R TON OF 2,000 PO U N D S OF COAL FO R H O U SE H O L D USE
ON JAN. 15, OCT. 15, A N D NOV. 15, 1920—Continued.
1920
City, and kind of coal.
Jan. 15.
Jacksonville, Fla.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.................................................... .........
Chestnut..............................................................................................
Bitum inous__ _______________ ____________
Kansas City, Mo. :
Arkansas anthracite—
Furnace........................................................
Stove, or No. 4 ...........................................................
Bitum inous...... .......................................................... .................. ........
Little Rock, Ark. :
Arkansas anthracite—
E s e .................................................................
Bitum inous........................................ ............................. ........................
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bitum inous.........................................................
Louisville, Ky.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..............................................................
Chestnut......................................................................
Bituminous__ ________ _____ ________________
Manchester, N. H .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_____ ______________________ .
C hestnut..............................................................................................
B itum inous..............................................................................................
Memphis, Tenn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove................................. .......................
Chestnut.............................................................
B itum inous.. __________ _______________ .
Milwaukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..............................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
B itum inous___ ________________________________
Minneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove................................... ..........................
Chestnut.....................................................
Bitum inous............................................ .....................................
Mobile, .Ala.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S t o v e ...........................................................
Chestnut.............................................................................................
B itu m in o u s.._________ _____________
Newark, N . J .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................
New Haven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.................................................. .............
Chestnut______________________________________________
New Orleans, La.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_____ ______ ___________________
Chestnut.................................................................................
Bitum inous......................................................
New York, N. Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.................................................... ...........
Chestnut....................................................... .............................
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove...............................................................
Chestnut............................................................................................
Bitum inous..................................................... ...............................
Omaha, Nebr.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove....................................... ..............
Chestnut.......................................................................................
Bitum inous...................................... ....... ..........................................
Peoria, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove................................................................
Chestnut.....................................................................................
Bitum inous......................'................................................................... .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[86 ]
Oct. 15.
N ov. 15.
17.000
17.000
11.000
23.000
23.000
18.000
23.000
23.000
16.000
15.950
16.583
8.625
19.100
19.500
11.496
19.100
19.500
11.438
10.375
17.000
15.462
17.000
15.385
16.000
19.111
19.222
13.750
13.750
6.836
17.000
11.043
17.000
11.176
13.417
13.417
10.000
18.000
18.000
16.000
18.000
18.000
15.000
16.000
16.000
8.000
18.000
18.000
11.550
18.000
18.000
11.550
12.600
12. 700
8.966
15.970
16.050
14.510
16.200
16.300
14.469
14.000
14.100
10.425
18.350
18.430
15.131
18.390
18.470
15.547
17.000
17.000
10. 333
14.202
14.235
10.483
10.483
13.000
13.000
13.000
13.000
12.250
12.250
17.750
17.750
18.000
18.000
17.500
17.500
9.269
22.500
22.500
14.327
22.500
22.500
14.145
11.536
11.600
14.398
14.398
14.873
14.873
13.000
13.000
9.750
16.000
16.000
13.679
16.000
16.000
13.679
17.275
17.450
10.108
23.900
24.000
14.753
23.900
24.000
14.753
13.000
13.000
6.000
16.000
9.313
16.500
16.500
9.031
87
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
AVER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES P E R TON OF 2,000 PO U N D S OF COAL FOR H O U SEH O LD USE,
ON JAN. 15, OCT. 15, A N D NOV. 15, 1920—Concluded.
1920
City, and kind of coal.
Jan. 15.
Nov. 15.
2 11. 881
2 11.906
CO
OC
CO
O
C
C
O'C
O
Tp
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................................................
C hestnut..............................................................................................
Pittsburgh, P a .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................................................................................................
Chestnut..............................................................................................
Bitum inous................................................................................................
Portland, M e.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.......................................................................
Chestnut..............................................................................................
Bitum inous................................................................................................
Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous................................................................................................
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.......................................................................
Chestnut..............................................................................................
Bitum inous................................................................................................
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove............................................................
. .
Chestnut..............................................................................................
B itum inous................................................................................................
Rochester, N. Y . :
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.....................................................................................................
C hestnut..............................................................................................
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.....................................................................................................
Chestnut..............................................................................................
Bitum inous................................................................................................
St. Paul, M in n .:
Pennsylvania anthracite— •
.
Stove........................................................................
Chestnut..............................................................................................
Bitum inous...............................................................................................
Salt Lake City, U tah:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed...................................................................
Stove, 3 and 5 m ix ed ........................................................................
Bitum inous................................................................................................
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg...........................................................................................
Colorado anthracite—
E gg....................................................................................................
Bitum inous.................................................................................................
Savannah, G a.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................................................................................................
Chestnut...............................................................................................
Bitum inous.................................................................................................
Seranton, P a .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................................................................
Chestnut...............................................................................................
Seattle, W ash.:
B itum inous.................................................................................................
Springfield, 111.:
B itum inous.................................................................................................
Washington, D. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................................................................
Chestnut...............................................................................................
B itum inous.................................................................................................
Oct. 15.
2 14.975
2 14.975
2 13. 750
2 14.000
6.179
2 19.000
2 18.833
9.028
2 18.500
2 18.500
9.125
13.440
13.440
9.370
17.280
17.280
14.700
17.280
17.280
14.373
11.618
14.337
14.402
3 12. 950
3 13.000
3 10.000
3 16.200
3 16.200
3 14.833
3 17.100
3 17.100
3 14.667
12.125
12.125
8.931
15.125
15.125
12.236
15.500
15.500
12.528
10. 800
10.900
13.375
13.475
13.400
13.500
13.100
13. 225
5.970
16.250
16.250
8.463
16.250
16.250
8. 400
14.000
14.100
11. 531
18.292
18.325
16.879
18.458
18.492
16.824
16.313
16.583
8.236
18.400
18.500
9.750
17.900
18.500
10.069
23.000
28.650
28.650
21.750
15.100
26.750
19.400
26.750
19. 400
4 15.100
4 15.100
4 11.100
4 19.100
4 19.100
4 17.350
4 19.100
4 19.100
4 17.350
8.233
8.300
9.833
9.833
9.833
9.833
3 9.588
3 11.612
3 11. 612
3.950
4.815
4.740
2 12.447
2 12.538
2 8. 267
2 15.543
2 15.500
2 11.515
2 15.600
2 15.529
2 11.510
2 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
3 Fifty cents per ton additionalis charged for “ binning.” Most customers require binning or basketing
the coalinto the cellar.
4A ll coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
This additions 1charge has beenincluded in the above prices.
6 Prices in zone A. The cartage charge in zone A is $1.85, which has been included in the average. The
cartage charges in Seattle range from $1.85 to $2.80,according to distance.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[87]
88
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States.
HE downward trend of wholesale prices which began in June
of the present year became more pronounced in November,
according to information collected in representative markets
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Measured by changes in the
bureau’s weighted index number, which assigns to each commodity
an influence proportionate to its importance in the country’s markets,
the November price level was 8 per cent below that of October and
24 per cent below the high peak reached in May.
Building materials showed the largest price recessions in November,
the decline from the level of the previous month being 12| per cent.
Farm products followed next, with a drop of over 9 | per cent from
the October lewel. Cloths and clothing decreased approximately 9
per cent and fuel and lighting materials 84 per cent, while metals and
metal products registered a decrease of more than 74 per cent in
comparison with October prices.
Food products again showed a decline, the average for November
being nearly 44 per cent under that of the month before. Chemicals
and drugs also decreased over 4 per cent. In the group of miscel
laneous commodifies, which includes among others such important
articles as cottonseed meal and oil, manila hemp, rubber, soap, linseed
meal, millfeed middlings, and wood pulp, the decrease was nearly
4 per cent. Prices of house-furnishing goods also decreased slightly.
In no group was there an increase over the level of prices in the pre
ceding month.
Of 326 commodities or price quotations included in the comparison
for October and November, 198 showed a decrease and only 41 showed
an increase. In 87 cases, no change in price was recorded. Of these,
a majority belong in the groups designated as cloths and clothing,
fuel and lighting, metals and metal products, and building materials.
Some of the more important price changes occurring between Octo
ber and November, as measured by average prices in each month, are
as follows:
T
IM PO R TA N T A R TIC LES IN C R EA SIN G OR D ECREASING IN A V ER A G E PRICES IN NO
V E M B E R , AS COM PARED W ITH OCTOBER, 1920, B Y GROUPS OF COMMODITIES.
Increases.
Commodity.
Farm products.
H ay, alfalfa, No. 1, Kansas City.......................
Poultry, liv e fowls, New York".....................
Food, etc.
B utter, extra:
Chicago.............................................................
New Y ork........................................................
St. Louis...........................................................
Cheese, San Francisco.....................................
Eggs:
Boston.......................................................
Chicago.............................................................
Cincinnati....................................................
New Y ork......................................................
Philadelphia...................................................
San Francisco..............................................1.
Fruit, Chicago:
Apples, B aldw ins............................... .........
Orange’s , California........................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent.
Commodity.
Food, etc.—Concluded.
! Meat:
4.9 <
Lamb, Chicago................................
19.6 |
Mutton, N ew York............................
! Potatoes, w hite, Chicago..................... ...
Per
cent.
45
0 0
12.0
Fuel and lighting.
4.0
3.3
9.8
22.9
18.4
17.4
20.2
21.3
11.4
8.4
14.9
Coal, anthracite, Philadelphia:
C hestnut..................
E g g .........................
S to v e.................................................................
0 1
1.5
0.7
Building materials.
Brick, common, red, building, Cincinnati. . .
Cement, Portland, New Y ork__
5.3
2.4
House-furnishing goods.
Tables, kitchen, Chicago. .
[ 88 ]
4.6
PRICES AIsD COST OF LIVING.
89
IM PO R TA N T A R T IC L E S INCR EA SIN G OR D E C R E A SIN G IN A V ER A G E PR IC ES IN NO
V EM B E R , A S C O M PA R E D W ITH OCTOBER, 1920, B Y G R O U PS OF C O M M O D IT IE SContinued.
D ecrea se s.
Commodity.
Per
cent.
Commodity.
Farm 'products.
Cotton, middling:
New Orleans............................................
New Y ork........................................................
Flaxseed, No. 1, Minneapolis.............................
Corn, No. 2, m ixed, Chicago.............. ...............
Oats, cash, Chicago...............................................
R ye, No. 2, Chicago.............................................. !
Wheat:
No. 1, northern spring, Chicago................
No. 2, hard, Kansas C itv ............................
No. 1, northern spring, M inneapolis........
Hides:
Calfskins, No. 1, Chicago.............................
Goatskins, Brazilian, N ew York............... !
Packers’, heavy, native steers, C hicago..
L ive stock:
Cattle, steers, choice to prime, Chicago.. j
Hogs, heavy, Chicago................................... |
Sheep, ewes, Chicago..................................... !
Sheep, lam bs, Chicago.................................. |
Peanuts, No. 1, Norfolk....................................... j
Poultry, liv e fowls, Chicago..............................J
Cloths and clothing—Concluded.
14.8
16.1
19.5
9.1
2.7
7.0
16.3
13.7
16.8
8.2
8.8
14.7
4.4
18.0
1.3
3.0
25.0
9.0
Muslin, bleached, 4.-4, Fruit of Loom, New
York.....................................................................
Underwear, m en’s, cotton, New Y ork............
Cotton yarn, Boston:
Carded, white, 22-1 cones...........................
Twisted, carded, 40-2.......... .......................
Leather:
Chrome, calf, Boston................... ................
Side, black, B o sto n .....................................
Linen shoe thread, N ew Y ork ..........................
Hosiery, m en’s, seamless cashmere, New
Y o rk ...................................................................
Suitings, New York, wool-dyed blue, Mid
dlesex............. ......................................................
Trousering, cotton warp, New Y ork.............
Women’s dress goods, broadcloth, New York.!
Wool, Ohio, Boston:
Fine clothing, unwashed...........................
1/4 and 3/8 grades, unw ashed.....................
Worsted yarns:
2/32s, Boston............. ....................................
2/50s, Philadelphia........................................
Food, etc.
Beans, medium, choice, New York................. j
Butter, extra, San Francisco........ ................. ]
Canned goods:
Corn, Maryland-Maine style, New York J
Tomatoes, New Jersey standard, New j
York..............................................................
Flour:
Buckwheat, New York State....................
Rye, w hite, Minneapolis..............................!
W h e a tWinter patents, Kansas C ity.............. j
Winter straights, Kansas C ity ----Standard patents, Minneapolis..........|
Bakers’ patents, Minneapolis.............. i
Soft, patent, St. Louis...........................!
Straight, St. L ouis................................. 1
Lemons, California, Chicago............................... 1
Glucose, New Y o r k ..............................................!
Lard, New York...................................................
Corn meal, w hite, Decatur, 111.............
|
Meat, Chicago:
Bacon.................................................................'
Carcass beef.....................................................
Hams, sm oked...............................................
Milk, Chicago............................
!
Molasses, New York..............................................!
Oleo oil, extra, Chicago....... .........................
Rice, Blue Rose, New Orleans............................!
Sugar, N ew York:
R a w ..................................................................
Granulated......................................................
Tallow, Chicago...................................................... i
Tea, Formosa, fine, New Y ork..........................|
Onions, Chicago......................................................I
Vinegar, cider, New York................................... !
Poultry, dressed, Chicago................................... !
42.9
23.7
15.7
16.3
16.7
10.0
18.8
10.1
15.9
15.4
13.3
15.9
Fuel and lighting.
10.3
5.6
6.7
6.1
Coai, bituminous:
Mine run, Chicago.........................................
Prepared sizes, Chicago...............................
Screenings, Chicago......................................
Prepared sizes, Pittsburgh.........................
R un of mine, St. L ouis,------- --------------Coke, Connellsville. furnac'>..............................
8.9
16.2
17.7
17.1
16.8
11.9
13.0
18.6
10.3
7.4
19.2
11.9
4.8
14.3
16.0
13.3
13.4
18.6
18.7
10.8
27.6
7. 7
26.9
15.4
7.2
Cloths and clothing.
Boots and shoes:
Children’s, factory...........................................1 7.9
Misses, vici, factory.........................................j 5.2
Men’s, vici, calf, factory.................................j 2.4
Carpets, A xminster, New Y ork ......................... 1 6.9
Drillings, Brown, Massachusetts, D stand- J
ard, New York..............
j 9. 4
Hosiery, w om en’s, cotton, New Y ork.............. \ 9.3
Print cloths, Boston............................................... | 20.7
Sheetings:
Bleached, Pepperell, New Y ork..................! 20.5
Brown, 4-4, Pepperell, New Y ork..............I 18.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent.
14.3
13.5
22.6
16.7
3.6
38.2
Mdals and metal products.
Bar iron, common, P ittsburgh.. v ................. 1
Copper, ingot, electrolytic, New York............|
Lead, pig, New Y ork.......................................... j
Pig iron:
Basic, valley furnace................... - . ............!
Bessemer, Pittsburgh.................................!
Foundry, No. 2, northern, Pittsburgh...!
Foundry, No. 2, southern, C incinn ati.. . 1
Silver, bar, fine, New Y ork .............................. :
Steel billets, Bessemer, Pittsburgh.................I
Steel plates, tank, Pittsburgh....................... Structural steel, Chicago.....................................
Tin, pig, New Y ork.............................................
Tin plate, Pittsburgh— ....................................
Spelter, New York...............................................
8.4
13.1
14.1
16.6
16.2
13.8
8.6
7.0
9.6
8. 1
3.2
9. 4
13.0
10.3
Building materials.
Lath, eastern spruce, New Y ork......................
Douglas fir, No. 1, m ill........................................
Oak, white, quartered, New York...................j
Pine, yellow, flooring, New York.................... |
Pine, yellow, siding, Norfolk.............................j
Lead, carbonate of, New Y ork.......................
Linseed oil, raw, New York.............................. I
Turpentine, New York.......................................
13.1
32.7
20.6
18.1
22.8
4. 0
17. I
10.7
Chemicals and drugs.
Acetic acid, New York........................................
Sulphuric acid, New Y ork.................................
Alcohol, refined, wood, New Y ork..................
Copper sulphate. New Y ork..................... .......
Glycerine, New Y ork..........................................
Nitrate of soda, New Y ork................. ..........
6.7
1.8
34.9
14! 2
5.2
House-furnishing goods.
Chairs, kitchen, Chicago.....................................
t'S9]
9.5
90
M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W ,
IM P O R T A N T A R T IC L E S IN C R E A S IN G O R D E C R E A S IN G IN A V E R A G E P R IC E S IN N O
V E M B E R , A S C O M P A R E D W I T H O C T O B E R , 1920, B Y G R O U P S O F C O M M O D I T I E S —
C o n c lu d e d .
Decreases— C o n c lu d e d .
P er
c e n t.
C o m m o d ity .
P er
c e n t.
C o m m o d ity .
M i s c e l l a n e o u s — C o n c lu d e d .
M is c e ll a n e o u s .
C o tto n se e d m e a l, N e w Y o r k .. *...........................
C o tto n s e e d o il, N e w Y o r k ........................................
J u te , ra w , N e w Y o r k ...................................................
P n o s p h a t e roc k , T a m p a .............................................
R o p e , m a n ila , N e w Y o r k .........................................
R u b b e r , P a r a , fin e , N e w Y o r k .............................
S o a p , C in c in n a t i............................................................
S o a p , P h i l a d e l p h i a . . . . ...............................................
1 3 .5
8 .2
8 .8
2 .3
2 .8
1 1 .5
10.0
12.3
H e m p , m a n ila , N e w Y o r k .......................................
L in s e e d m e a l, m i l l ........................................................
M illfe ed , m id d lin g s , M i n n e a p o li s .......................
S isa l, N e w Y o r k . . ; ......... ...... t ................................
T a n k a g e , C h ic a g o ...................... .................................
S o y a -b e a n o il, N e w Y o r k ..........................
W b od p u lp , s u lp h ite , u n b le a c h e d , N e w Y o r k .
10.2
6 .7
6 .9
12.3
3 3 .9
12.7
4 .6
Comparing prices in November with those of a year ago, as meas
ured by the changes in the index numbers, it is seen that foods have
declined about 11 per cent, cloths and clothing 28 per cent, and farm
products over 31 per cent. In all other groups, except the one
designated as miscellaneous, increases have taken place, ranging
from 3§ per cent in metals and metal products to 44 per cent in the
group of fuel and lighting materials. All commodities, taken to
gether, declined 10 per cent in price in the year.
I N D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R I C E S I N S P E C I F I E D Y E A R S A N D M O N T H S , 1913
T O N O V E M B E R , 1920, B Y G R O U P S O F C O M M O D IT IE S .
[1913=100.]
M e ta ls
and
m e ta l
p ro d
u c ts .
C loth s
and
c lo th
in g .
F u el
and
li g h t
in g .
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
96
102
102
100
100
100
100
103
98
99
100
107
102
98
99
100
101
101
98
101
101
99
100
100
100
100
100
100
98
101
100
103
103
98
96
87
97
101
99
99
J a n u a r y ......................
A p r il...... .....................
J u l y ..............................
O c to b e r ......................
101
103
104
103
102
95
104
107
98
99
99
97
99
98
95
93
92
91
85
83
98
99
97
96
100
100
99
105
99
99
99
99
99
101
97
96
1 9 1 5 .......................................
105
104
100
93
97
94
99
101
102
107
108
105
106
105
104
103
96
99
99
103
93
89
90
%
83
91
102
100
94
94
93
93
114
103
102
108
124
99
J a n u a r y ......................
A p r il.............................
J u l y ..............................
O c to b e r ......................
99
99
99
99
100
99
98
99
100
101
101
1 9 1 6 .......................................
122
126
148
101
159
115
120
108
114
118
136
113
117
121
140
128
110
119
J a n u a r y ......................
A p r il............................
J u l y ..............................
O c to b e r ......................
105
108
108
133
126
147
145
151
99
101
99
101
150
172
156
150
105
108
121
124
107
1917 ..........
J a n u a r y ......................
A p r il............................
J u l y ..............................
O c to b e r ......................
189
176
150
182
181
183
175
176
184
192
146
208
124
198
144
183
208
257
182
106
114
132
114
159
170
198
252
132
139
152
152
163
157
157
158
157
160
159
166
166
181
151
221
196
193
196
174
176
176
177
178
178
184
185
136
138
144
146
148
150
154
157
232
232
232
229
233
219
216
222
161
161
165
172
173
198
199
221
178
181
184
191
194
186
190
191
185
186
187
190
190
193
198
F arm
p ro d
u c ts .
Food,
etc .
1 9 1 3 .......................................
100
J a n u a r y ......................
A p r il.............................
J u l y ..............................
O c to b e r .......................
97
97
101
103
1 9 1 4 ......................................
Y ea r a n d m o n t h .
r...........
148
181
199
208
119
126
138
181
161
169
187
193
1 9 1 8 .......................................
220
189
239
J a n u a r y ......................
F e b r u a r y ..................
M a r ch ..........................
A p r il............................
M a y ...............................
J u n e .............................
J u ly ...............................
A u g u s t ........................
207
208
212
217
214
217
224
230
187
186
177
178
177
179
184
191
211
216
223
232
237
245
249
252
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[90]
B u ild
in g
m a te
r ia ls .
C h e m i H o u s e
fur
c a ls
n is h in g
and
d ru gs. good s.
*
M isc e l
la n e
o u s.
A ll
com
m o d i
tie s.
100
100
' 98
100
101
100
100
98
100
99
99
110
120
124
110
117
119
132
134
155
176
138
149
153
163
151
172
186
181
202
91
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O LESA LE PRIC ES IN SP E C IFIE D Y E A R S A N D MONTHS, 1913
TO N O V E M B E R , 1920, B Y G R OUPS OF COMMODITIES—Concluded.
Year and month.
1918—Continued.
Septem ber.............
October...................
N ovem ber..............
December...............
1919..............................
January...................
February................
March......................
A eril........................
M ay..........................
Jun e.........................
Ju ly ..........................
August....................
Septem ber.............
October...................
Novem ber..............
December...............
1920:
January...................
February................
March.............. —
April........................
M ay.........................
Jun e.........................
July.........................
August....................
Septem ber.............
October...................
November i ............
Fuel
Cloths
and • and
Cloth light
ing.
ing.
Metals B uild Chemi House
A ll
and
cals
ing
fur Miscel
com
m etal mate
lane
and
modi
nishing
prod
ous.
rials.
drugs. goods.
ties.
ucts.
Farm
prod
ucts.
Food,
etc.
237
224
221
222
234
222
218
228
235
240
231
246
243
226
230
240
244
199
201
206
210
210
207
196
203
211
214
204
216
227
211
211
219
234
255
257
256
250
261
234
223
216
217
228
258
282
304
306
313
325
335
167
167
171
171
173
170
169
168
167
167
170
171
175
181
181
179
181
184
187
188
184
161
172
168
162
152
152
154
158
165
160
161
164
169
159
158
164
164
192
161
163'
165
162
164
175
186
208
227
231
236
253
220
218
215
195
179
191
185
183
178
179
174
171
172
173
174
176
179
226
226
226
227
236
218
218
218
217
217
233
245
259
262
264
299
303
194
196
203
204
217
212
208
217
216
213
212
221
225
217
220
220
229
207
204
206
206
212
203
197
201
203
207
207
218
226
220
223
230
238
246
237
239
246
244
243
236
222
210
182
165
253
214
246
270
287
279
268
235
223
204
195
350
356
356
353
347
335
317
299
278
257
234
184
187
192
213
235
246
252
268
284
282
258
177
189
192
195
193
190
191
193
192
184
170
268
300
324
341
341
337
333
328
318
313
274
189
197
205
212
215
218
217
216
222
216
207
324
329
329
331
229
362
362
366
371
371
369
227
227
230
238
246
247
243
240
239
229
220
248
249
253
265
272
269
262
250
242
225
207
1 P r e lim in a ry .
Comparison oi 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 in
stead 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 Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, and the
city of Borne, Italy, the index numbers are reproduced as published
in the original sources. With two exceptions all these are shown on
the July, 1914, base in the source from which the information is taken.
The index numbers for Belgium are computed on April, 1914, as the
base period, while those 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 each month specified in the table
by the index for July, 1914, or the nearest period thereto as pub
lished. As shown in the table, the number of articles included in the
index numbers for the different countries differs widely. These re
sults should not, therefore, be considered as closely comparable one
with another. In one or two instances, also, 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.
T
24933°—21------7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 1 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
92“
IN D E X N U M BER S OF R E TA IL PRICES IN THE U N IT E D STATES A N D CERTAIN OTHER
C O UNTRIES.
[Ju ly, 1914=100.]
France: Fa m ily budget, 13 a rticles.
. Year and
month.
United
Belgium:
Denmark:
States: 22 Australia:
Fam ily
54 articles Canada:
food (variable);
29 food
foodstufls; 46stuffs:
food
stuffs;
45 cities ,30 towns. Brussels. 60
budget;
cities. 5 persons.
(variable). Weighted.
Not
Weighted.
weighted. Weighted. Weighted.
1914.
July.................
October..........
1915.
January..........
A pril..’. ..........
July.................
October..........
1916.
J a n u a r y ......
A p ril..'..........
July.................
October..........
1917.
January.........
February___
March.............
April...............
May.................
June...............
July.................
A ugust...........
Septem ber. . .
October..........
N ovem ber__
December___
1918.
J a n u a r y ......
F eb ru ary.. . .
March.............
April...............
May.................
June................
July.................
A ugust...........
Septem ber...
October..........
N ovember__
December___
1919.
January..........
February___
March.............
April...............
May.................
Jun e...............
July.................
August...........
Septem ber. . .
October..........
N ovem ber__
December___
1920.
January..........
February___
March.............
April...............
May......... .......
J u n e...............
July.................
August...........
Septem ber. . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100
103
100
99
101
97
98
101
' 100
Great
Citie-s
Britain:
over
21 food
10,000
stuffs;
Paris
popu
600 towns.
only.
lation
Weighted.
(except Weighted.
Paris).
Weighted.
100
108
100
2 100
107
113
131
133
107
105
105
105
128
2 123
105
107
109
319
129
131
130
125
112
112
114
125
146
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
185
184
181
169
172
178
181
180
186
188
184
184
188
193
140
141
143
145
146
147
147
148
148
156
158
158
639
534
424
374
351
344
354
348
342
337
341
359
186
181
176
180
182
185
186
195
193
192
192
198
197
196
196
207
211
215
215
203
199
160
163
163
173
176
187
194
194
410
445
473
488
492
490
479
206
212
215
215
224
228
227
221
215
1 April, 1914.
2 110
190
118
120
124
1321
118
140’
2 133
2 137
2 141
2 146
134
132
120
145
149
161
135
168
2 154
139
2 171
187
189
192
147
2 184
183
2 200
184
1Q4
198
202
904
202
206
197
206
205
173
2211
■191
232
218
906
207
208
2 244
206
2 260
238
210
218
216
229
933
229
2
187
186
2 277
2
212
293
2 28.8
251
2 320
248
227
230
230
348
990
257
9,68
964
261
213
207
204
209
917
259
231
290
297
236
23Q
233
235
246
‘255
258
262
267
370
26Q
2 388
216
283
280
285
2 378
2.53
906
208
207
238
2 301
2 Quarter beginning month specified.
[92]
100
112
114
158
166
100
373
373
234
235
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
93
IN D E X N U M B E R S'O F R E T AIL PRIC ES IN THE U N IT E D ST A T ES A N D C E R T A IN OTHER
C O U N TR IES—Concluded.
Year and
month.
1914.
J u ly ................
October..........
1915.
J an u ary........
April ..........
July
........
October........
1910.
January.........
A pril
........
J u ly ................
October..........
1917.
January..........
February__
March.............
April ..........
May.................
June...............
Ju ly ................
August...........
Septem ber__
October..........
N ovem ber. . .
December___
1918.
January___ _
February___
March.............
April...............
M av................
June...............
Ju ly ................
August...........
September__
October..........
N ovem b er.. .
December___
1919.
J a n u a r y ......
F ebruary.__
March.............
April...............
May,................
June...............
Ju ly................
A ugust...........
Septem ber__
October.........
Novem ber__
December___
1920.
January ___
February___
March.............
April...............
M ay..
___
.Tune ...........
J u l y ..............
August,.........
Septem ber. . .
Italy:
Nether
New
Fam ily lands: 27 Zealand:
Norway:
India: 46
Fam ily
foods tufts;
food
foodstuffs; 59 food
Calcutta.
food
budget;
Amster
stuffs;
Not
dam.
budget.
5 persons;
25 towns. Weighted.
Not
weighted.
Rome.
Weighted. weighted. Weighted.
100
3 100
108
95
107
95
100
111
113
112
112
110
111
116 <
111
111
116
118
119
120
116
124
127
121
120
123
136
137
143
142
148
166
157
127
126
126
127
128
128
127
127
129
130
130
132
177
181
199
200
202
199
203
208
219
235
249
254
133
134
134
137
139
139
139
141
141
140
144
150
279
113
117
118
121
124
131
134
135
134
100
102
4 100
100
8 160
South
Africa: 18
foodstuffs;
9 towns.
Weighted.
Switzer
Sweden:
land: 9
21 articles; groups of
44 towns. foodstuffs.
Not
Weighted.
weighted.
3 100
100
7 107
6100
3 103
5 107
7 113
7 121
7 124
7 128
6 107
G114
r 119
3 320
5 116
7 130
7 134
7 142
7 152
3 126
3 129
8 140
8 144
8 148
5 128
160
166
170
175
175
175
177
181
187
192
200
212
214
275
128
129
131
134
136
135
134
134
135
139
135
134
221
227
235
247
258
261
268
280
281
310
320
330
143
155
151
154
153
153
151
259
2.58
243
230
232
225
206
207
214
241
246
252
195
212
205
196
186
204
210
207
203
204
202
199
145
142
141
142
142
143
144
146
148
150
153
155
279
278
278
276
283
290
289
291
298
300
297
299
136
137
137
139
139
141
139
145
145
154
167
170
339
334
331
337
328
319
310
313
309
307
309
307
153
154
151
151
159
1C4
170
167
16G
299
300
310
325
325
318
322
324
203
205
205
206
209
210
217
219
223
158
160
162
162
163
163
167
171
173
299
297
298
305
311
311
319
333
336
177
187
183
183
188
194
197
190
195
298
290
291
297
294
294
297
308
307
140
3 January-July.
4 Year 1913.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
s For calendar year.
s Previous m onth.
[933
7 Quarter beginning m onth specified.
8 August .
158
179
192
197
204
230
251
252
257
261
245
244
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
94
Prices of Wheat, Flour, and Bread Since the Armistice.
HE recent sharp decline in wheat prices at all primary markets
of the country has caused popular attention to be directed to
the prices of the more important wheat products, particu
larly flour and bread, in their relation to the lowered cost of wheat.
The effect on these commodities of the drop in wheat has been
watched with more than ordinary interest, in view of their vast
importance and the abnormally high levels to which prices have
risen in the past few years. To enable a ready comparison to be
X
S te n d a ri p o te n t f lo u r , p e r ^ b a r r e l .
L n o r k h e m _ s p r i e jy j g h R a h , - p e r b u s h p l
B re ad , per 10 p o u n d s, r e t a i l .
JÜaa ai—£ Uaie
: ..ponjnn s . -rust &U-,____
N
.5 0
►40
PRICES OF W H E A T A N D FLO U R , W H O LESALE, A N D FLO U R AN D BR EA D ,- R ETA IL,
AT M INNEAPOLIS, NO V EM BER , 1918, TO NO V EM BER , 1920.
made of the fluctuations of such prices since the armistice period in
1918, the two charts have been prepared.
The first of these charts shows changes in the price of spring wheat
at Minneapolis, compared with patent flour at wholesale and with
flour and bread at retail. Similar information for winter wheat and
straight flour at wholesale and flour and bread at retail at Kansas
City is given in the second chart. For convenience of comparison
with wheat, the wholesale price of flour is shown on the quarter-barrel
instead of the barrel basis. Also, to enable the price curves to be
placed in convenient form on the charts, the unit for bread and flour
prices at retail has been changed to 10 pounds instead of 1 pound.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[94]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
95
A glance at the first chart shows how closely wholesale flour prices
at Minneapolis have followed those of wheat throughout the period.
In only three months have flour prices failed to respond promptly to
changes in the price of wheat, and in none of these cases did the lag
extend beyond the next month. It will be noted, however, that the
margin between wheat and flour was appreciably wider in 1920 than
in 1919. Both wheat and flour were much cheaper at the end of
the period than at the beginning.
The curve for flour at retail shown on the lower part of the chart
is remarkable for the fidelity with which it follows the wholesale price
curve. While presenting a somewhat smoother appearance, as would
PRICES OF W HEAT AN D FLO U R , W H O LESA LE, A N D FL O U R A N D B R E A D , R E TA IL,
AT KANSAS CITY, N O V EM BER, 1918, TO NO V EM BER , 1920.
be expected, it nevertheless shows practically the same percentages
of elevation or depression at the high and low points as does the
curve for wholesale prices. At the end of the period, however, a
slight lag behind the wholesale price is evident. _
The retail bread curve shows few price fluctuations in the period,
as compared with the others. The upward swing of wheat and flour
prices to May, 1920, is, however, reflected in the gradual rise of the
bread curve to October of the same year. In only one instance
prior to October was there a drop in bread prices following a decline
in wheat and flour. This decline was manifested in the early months
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[95]
96
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
of 1920, when bread prices subsided slightly in sympathy with a
decided drop in wheat and flour. The sharp decline in wheat and
flour after May, 1920, had no effect on the price of bread until Novem
ber. Compared with prices at the time of the armistice, bread has
advanced less than either wheat or flour, but is still above the level
prevailing at that time, while wheat and flour at wholesale are far
below that level.
In the second chart winter wheat and flour are seen to have fluc
tuated much alike since the first months of 1919, with a somewhat
narrower margin between them than in the case of spring wheat and
flour at Minneapolis. In the closing months of 1918 the large stocks
of 100 per cent flour on hand and the removal of the Food Administra
tion regulations caused a slump in the prices of that quality, which
extended into 1919. At the end of the period both commodities were
lower than at the beginning.
Wheat flour at retail in this chart shows a much smoother price
curve than does flour at wholesale. The same general trend, how
ever, is seen in both. Compared with November, 1918, retail flour
prices had decreased less by November, 1920, than had wholesale
prices, and were still above the level of the armistice period.
The curve for retail prices of bread at Kansas City shows plainly
the effect of the drop in flour prices following the signing of the
armistice, but does not reflect the second pronounced drop in the
summer of 1919. The increase of retail bread prices since December,
1919, particularly in the summer of 1920. appears quite large. It is,
however, no larger than the increase of wheat and flour prices at
wholesale in May, 1920, over the low point reached in August of the
preceding year. 1 As seen from the chart, bread at retail had decreased
but little in November, 1920, from the high peak attained in August,
while wheat and flour had decreased greatly.
Rents in the District oi Columbia.
HE Association of Chief Clerks of the Executive Departments,
in Washington, recently made a study of the rent situation
in the District of Columbia as it had affected Government
employees.
Questionnaires were given to thee mployees of the several exec
utive departments, independent establishments, the District govern
ment, and city post office, asking for a statement showing the amount
of rent paid per month for the premises they occupied on April 1,
1917, or later date in case their renting did not extend back so far,
together with any changes that may have been made in the rate of
rent paid up to October 1, 1920.
Two difficulties were encountered in tabulating the answers to
the questionnaires: First, the fact that the period covered varied
materially, and second, the fact that in many cases families were
living in different dwellings at the end of the period covered from
those they occupied at the beginning of the period.
The data were divided into two sections, and the figures in the
following table relate to families who occupied the same premises
throughout the entire period. The data in this table haye been
arranged according to the length of time the families had occupied
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[96]
PRICES A1STD COST OF LIVING.
97
the premises, that is column 1 shows the changes that took place
from April 1, 1917, to October 1, 1920, inclusive, among families
who had occupied the same quarters during that time or longer;
column 2 shows the changes that took place from April 1, 1918 to
October 1, 1920, inclusive, among famdies who had occupied the
same quarters during that time or longer, but not as far back as
April 1, 1917, etc. In columns 1 to 4, inclusive, there are no dupli
cations, each column referring to different families. The figures in
column 5 refer to the same families (in so far as they go) as are shown
in columns 1, 2, and 3.
N U M B E R O F F A M IL IE S O C CU PY IN G SAM E Q U A R T E R S D U R IN G S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D
R E P O R T IN G EA C H S P E C IF IE D P E R C E N T A G E IN C R E A S E IN R E N T A L S .
Fam ilies who rented the same quarters during
the period from i—
Item.
Apr. 1,
1917, to
Oct, 1,
1920.
Apr. 1,
1918, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
Apr. 1,
1919, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
Apr. 1,
1920, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
Oct. 1,
1919, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Number reporting............................................. .............
Number reporting no increase...................................... ..
Number reporting increase..............................................
Number reporting an increase of—
Under 10 per c e n t.........................................................
10 and under 25 per c en t.............................................
25 and under 50 per cen t.............................................
50 and under 75 per cen t.............................................
75 and under 100 per c en t..............................
100 per cen t and over...................................................
2,521
877
1,644
45
487
652
333
72
55 .
485
172
313
.
9
93
125
64
10
12
400
257
143
11
66
45 \
14
2
5
1,198
996
202
3,406
1,983
1,423
37
96
49
15
2
3
83
048
480
142
41
29
1 See text.
The next table shows in similar manner the number of families
who occupied different quarters at the beginning and at the end of
the several periods, who reported each specified percentage increase
in rent. It is difficult to make satisfactory comparisons under such
circumstances, especially when the location, type, size, and conven
iences of the two houses are not known. The fact is, however,
that many of the families represented by this table were compelled
to move because their houses were sold and the new owners wanted
to occupy the premises themselves. Others moved because of
what they considered unreasonable increases in the rent demanded.
Such families were compelled, by the scarcity of houses, to take
such as were available, often renting larger or more pretentious
houses than they would have done if their choice had been less limited.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[97]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
98
N U M BER OF FAM ILIES OCCUPYING D IF F E R E N T QU A R TER S D U R IN G SP E C IFIE D
P E R IO D R E PO R TIN G EACH SPEC IFIE D PER C E NT A G E INC R EA SE IN R E N T A L S.
Families who rented different quarters
during the period from—
Apr. 1,
1917, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
Itera.
Apr. 1,
1918, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
(2)
Apr. 1,
1919, to
Oct. 1,
1920.
(3)
851
209
642
506
163
343
673
324
349
527
207
220
30
84
148
134
61
185
13
39
83
78
44
86
14
72
110
74
23
56
14
60
67
33
12
25
(1)
Number reporting....................................................................................
Number reporting no increase..............................................................
Number reporting increase...................................................................
Number reporting an increase of—
Under 10 p e r ce n t.............................................................................
10 and under 25 per c e n t.......................................... ......................
25 and under 50 p e r c e n t.................................................................
50 and under 75 ner c e n t.................................................................
75 and under 100 per c e n t......................................................... .
100 per cent and over...................... ...............................................
Apr. 1,
1920,to
Oct. 1,
1920,
(4)
Cost of Living in Mexico.
RECENT publication1 of the Mexican Department of Labor
contains data on the cost of living in the Federal District in
1910 and in August and September, 1920. It is stated that
the cost of living in September, 1920, was practically the same as in
the preceding month, the index numbers being 230.61 and 230.62,
respectively, with the average price for 1910 as the base or 100.
The table which is here reproduced gives the prices for the most
important articles of consumption in August and September, 1920,
and the average prices for the year 1910. It will be noted that in the
cases of milk, lard, and maize there were increases in prices, while
the prices of beans, rice, coffee, and sugar decreased.
A
A V ER A G E PRICES OF PR IN C IPA L A R TIC LES OF CONSUM PTION IN TH E F E D E R A L
D ISTR IC T IN 1910, A N D IN A U G U ST A N D SE PT E M BE R , 1920.
[3 peso at par=49.9 cents; 1 kilogram=2.2 pounds; 1 lite r = 1.06 quarts; 1 m eter= 1.09 yards.]
1920
I
rein.
U n it.
1910
A u g u st.
Food:
M aize......................................
F lour, w h e at.........................
B read, w h ite .........................
Beans, sm all b ro w n ...........
R ice, second g ra d e ..............
B eef.........................................
L a rd ........................................
Coffee, u n g ro u n d .................
Coffee, ro a sted an d ground
M ilk ........................................
Salt, coarse............................
P ep p ers, sm all g re e n ..........
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ...............
Coal.................................................
W ood..............................................
Cotton c lo th ................................
C anvas, b lu e ................................
Percale...........................................
Shoes........ ....................................
H a ts lp a lm ...................................
B la n k ets.......................................
R en t (one ro o m ).........................
P e tro leu m .....................................
C andles, p a ra ffin .........................
C andles, ta llo w ............................
B a th s .................................. ..........
Soap...............................................
K ilo g r a m
. . . d o .............
. . . d o .............
. . . d o .............
. . .d o .............
. . .d o .............
. . . d o .............
. . . d o .............
. . .d o .............
L it e r ...........
K ilo g r a m
. . . d o .............
. . . d o .............
. . .d o .............
. . .d o .............
M e te r ..........
. . . d o .............
. . .d o .............
P a i r .............
E a c h ...........
. . .d o .............
M o n t h ____
L it e r ...........
K ilo g r a m
. . . d o .............
E ach.........
K ilo g r a m
Pesos.
0.090
.170
.320
.120
.150
.420
.600
.430
.600
.150
.040
.200
.170
.040
.020
.140
.400
.120
5.000
.440
2.750
5.000
.120
.330
.700
.250
.250
Pesos.
0.125
.375
.375
.280
.575
1.300
1.450
1.125
1.400
.240
.090
.700
.985
.085
.035
.400
1.500
.450
10.500
.800
6.000
11.620
.235
.975
1.675
.300
.850
S e p te m b e r .
Pesos.
0.165
.375
.375
.265
.525
1.300
1.500
1.100
1.250
.260
.095
.700
.875
.075
.040
.450
1.500
.450
10.500
.800
6.090
11.620
.235
1.050
1.550
.300
.790
1 Gaceta Mensual del Departamento del Trabajo de la Secretaria de Industria, Comercio y Trabajo.
México, Septiembre de 1920, p. 63.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[98]
99
FEIGES AND GOST OF LIVING.
Retail Price Changes in Great Britain.
HE following table gives for Great Britain the increase over
July, 1914, in the cost of food and general family expenditure
for December of each year, 1914 to 1920, and for each month in
1920. The food items included in this report are: Ribs and thin
flanks of beef, both British and chilled or frozen; legs and breast of
mutton, British and chilled or frozen; bacon; fish; flour; bread; tea;
sugar; milk; butter, fresh and salt; cheese; margarine; eggs; and
potatoes.
The table gives percentage 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
prices it is necessary to add 100 to the percentage as given, e. g.,
for January, 1920, the increase in cost of food is 136 per cent, the
relative price being 236.
The figures represent two comparisons: First, the increase in
prices, based on the same kinds and quantities as used in July, 1914;
second, the increase, based on the change in the standard of living,
* resulting from a substitution of one kind of food for another to meet
war-time conditions.
The table shows that retail prices of food were 182 per cent higher
in December, 1920, than in July, 1914, and that the increased cost
of all items in the family budget was 169 per cent.
T
PER
C E N T IN C R E A SE
IN C O ST O F FO O D A N D A L L IT E M S IN
G R E A T B R I T A I N , B A S E D O N J U L Y , 1914.
F A M IL Y
B U D G E T IN
[C o m p ile d fr o m th e B r it is h L a b o r G a z ette.]
Food.
All item s in fam ily budget.
Retail prices
(assuming
same
kinds and
quantities).
Expenditures
(allowing for
estimated
changes in
consumption).
December—
1914..........................
1915..........................................................
1916......................................
1917.................................................
1918..........................................................
1919..........................................................
16
44
i 84
105
129
134
59
4 90
4 116
1920.
January..........................................................
February.............. ........................................
March.............................................................
April...............................................................
May.................................................................
June................................................................
July.................................................................
A ugust...........................................................
September.....................................................
October..........................................................
November......................................................
December......................................................
136
135
133
135
146
155
159
162
167
170
191
182
Year and month.
115
112
107
G)
G)
(6)
(6)
(6)
G)
(«)
G)
G)
Cost
(assuming
same
kinds and
quantities).
Expenditure
(allowing for
estimated
changes in
consumption).
2 60
3 85
s 120
125
125
130
130
130-135
141
150
152
155
161
164
176
169
1 Including ta x on sugar and tea.
2 N ot including taxes,
s Including taxes.
4 Based on change in stan d a rd of food consum ption adopted b y th e M inistry of Food.
6 T h e increase, excluding additional ta x a tio n , is 7 per cent less.
« No longer calculable, m ain ly owing to decontrol.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
199]
4 95
4 110-115
115
115
115
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
100
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
Maximum Wholesale Price for Apples in England,
FTER December 31, the sale of imported apples in England must
be through a broker registered by the Food Ministry. Impor
ters desiring to sell their own apples are entitled to be registered
as brokers on application V, Division of Food Ministry. The maxi
mum wholesale prices for apples effective from November 15 are:
For Canadian and United States apples, barrels not less than 120
pounds, 68s., 64s., and 53s. [SI6.54, .$15.57, and $12.90, par] for
sound, slack, and wasty grades, respectively; in cases not less than
37 pounds, Canadian, United States, and Australian apples, 21s. 6d.,
20s. 3d., and 17s. [$5.23, $4.93, and $4.14, par], respectively; for
Canadian, United States, and Australian apples, cases not less than
40 pounds, 23s. 6ch, 22s. 2d., and 18s. 6d. [$5.72, $5.39, and $4.50,
par], respective grades; any variety otherwise than in above pack
ages, 60s. [$14,60, par] per hundredweight.
A
Increase in Cost of Living in Lisbon, Portugal.
HE United States consul general at Lisbon forwards the follow
ing tables depicting the increase in the cost of foodstuffs, fuel,
and light, and of clothing in Lisbon in 1920 as compared with
1914, the index numbers being based on the first half of 1914 in the
case of foods and on the year 1914 in the case of fuel and light and
clothing. I t is stated that the rise in the cost of living at Lisbon
since 1914 was gradual though considerable until January, 1920,
but that “ since then it has become violent.” These tables, it is
explained, have been compiled by a large concern in Lisbon to be
used as a basis for increasing the salaries of its employees, number
ing several hundred. The first table is taken from an official Gov
ernment publication entitled “ Element os para o estudo do custo
da vida em Portugal nos anos de 1914 a 1916.”
The prices for fuel and light are stated to be the average quoted
by several dealers in each product except for kerosene and elec
tricity. In using this table it must be borne in mind, states the
report, that in 1914 most people were using coal at 5$20 ($5.62, par)
a ton while in 1920 they have been using wood at 85$00 ($91.84, par)
a ton. As to clothing, the report states that the “ prices have been
checked by several persons and are reasonably reliable.” In the
last table, which is a summary of the average index numbers in the
three preceding tables, it is interesting to note that the prices for
foodstuffs increased as much (within 0.8 per cent) from January to
October, 1920, as they did from 1914 to January, 1920, and that
most of this increase took place since June, 1920.
T
1 Data fam ished by the U nited States consul general at London, under date of N ov. 19. 1920. and
published m Commerce Reports, W ashington, for November 22.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[100]
101
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
IN C R E A S E S IN P R IC E S O F F O O D S T U F F S IN JA N U A R Y , JU N E , A N D O C T O B E R , 1920, OVER.
A V E R A G E F O R F IR S T H A L F OF 1914.
[Price, first h alf of 1914=100.
Article.
IS (escudo) a t par=$1.0S.
Price in
first half
of 1914.
U nit.
January, 1920.
Kilogram__
........d o ...........
Liter.............
........d o ...........
Kilogram. . .
Liter..............
Kilogram__
........d o ...........
........d o. . . . . .
........do............
........do............
Dozen
Liter..............
......... d o ............
........do............
........do ...
........do............
Kilogram. . .
........ d o ...........
Liter..............
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
Kilogram. .
........do............
Liter..............
. . . . .do...........
K ilogram .. .
........do.........
Each.............
Kilogram . . .
0307.5
303
$05
$29
326
$07
$81
$42
359
$40
$36
18
$05
$04
$04
$03
$03
$12
$07
$08
$04
$08
$03
$03. 5
$17
$05
324
$36
$40
$18
June, 1920.
Index
number.
Price.
Bread.....................
Potatoes................
W in e......................
Oil...........................
Meat.......................
M ilk.......................
B u tter...................
F a t.........................
Bacon.....................
Ham .......................
Lard.......................
E ggs___
W heat...................
Maize.....................
R ye...................
O ats..............
B arley...................
Rice / . ...................
Flour.....................
Beans (F r .)..........
Beans. 1__. . . .
Crabanzo........... ..
Onions ..........
Grapes...................
Brandy..................
Vinegar.................
Sugar
; ............
Dry c o d 3..............
H a k e 3...................
D ou gh 3.................
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds,
267
500
000
310
558
343
296
452
271
435
1 0120
$15
$30
$90
1$45
$24
2140
1190
1160
2$00
1$60
$90
444
500
Oct. 1, 1920.
Index
number.
Price.
i 0$24
$24
$40
$90
1$50
24
2140
2120
2180
2$80
1380
1$20
320
800
800
310
577
343
296
523
009
500
667
$80
$60
$30
667
857
375
$80
$80
667
8-57
$34
425
$20
$34
500
425
4 $60
1$50
3$00
$40
250
417
500
222
T otal_____
4 $60
1350
3100
$60
i liter= 1.06 quariS.]
Price.
i 0341
$40
$50
3160
3180
40
5320
4360
3175
3180
2$00
1360
$34
$36
$30
$28
$28
$80
2300
$60
$36
$50
$10
250
417
500
222
434.6
Index
number.
547
1333
1000
897
1500
571
642
1095
635
826
555
889
680
800
750
933
933
750
2 2857
750
♦ 900
025
333
$50
1429
$50
3340
1370
6300
1360
1000
1410
472
1000
889
502.9
■ 1
866
1 Second-grade bread. T h e price for first-grade on Oct. 1,1920, was 1360 w ith an in d ex of 2333.
2 O m itte d in ob tain in g in d ex of 866 for to tal.
3 T his a rtic le has b een ad d ea; it does not appear in th e Portuguese G overnm ent publication ment ioned.
4 B row n sugar.
INC REASES IN P R IC E S O F F U E L AND L IG H T IN JA N U A R Y A N D O C TO B ER , 1920, O V ER
A V E R A G E P R IC E S F O R 1914.
[Price in 1914= 100.
18 (escudo) a t par=$1.08.
1 m etric to n = 2204.6 pounds.
1914
A rticle.
Jan u a ry , 1920.
T o n ...........
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
__d o ......... .
L iter..........
Price.
3100
5120
9$00
30300
$09
$025
28300
155100
100300
90-100
$60
$045
A verage..............................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
O ctober, 1920.
U n it,
Price.
Cord w ood........................... .........
Coal.................................................
Coke...............................................
M adeira c o al....................... .........
K erosene........................................
E le c tric ity ....................................
1 lite r—1.06 quarts.]
In dex.
933
2981
1111
300
667
180
1028. 7
1
[ 101 ]
Price.
85300
210300
200300
160300
$.80
308
Index.
2833
4038
2222
533
889
320
1805.8
102
M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W ,
INCREASES IN PRICES OF CLOTHING IN OCTOBER, 1920, OVER AVER A G E PRICES
IN 1914.
. [Price in 1914=100.
IS (escudo) at par= $1.08.
1 m eter= 1.09 yards.]
1914
October, 1920.
Article.
Price range.
Men’s:
Shoes (E nglish)........................ .......
Suits goods.................................... .\
Suits, Portuguese............................
Shirts.................................................
Socks, cotton....................................
H ats....................................................
N eckties.............................................
Ladies’:
Shoes...................................................
Stockings, cotton............................
Stockings! vegetable silk ).............
Cotton goods, per m eter................
Silk goods..........................................
Y/oolen su its.....................................
Average.
5100
25100
20$00
1$25
$50
2100
1150
4$00- 6$00
20$00-30$00
15$00-25$00
1100- 1150
$40- $60
1S50—2$50
1100- 2$00
4100$801100$302SS01$00-
Price range.
5$00
1$20
1150
$80
4150
3.100
Index
Average. number.
45100- 60S00
220$00-320$00
150$00-180¥00
10$00- 14100
3100- 3150
15$00- 25$00
7$00- 6$00
4$50
1$00
1$25
$55
3150
1150
40$006$009$003$5020$0010SO0-
55100
7100
12100
5100
30100
20$00
Average..........................................
52150
270$00
165100
12$00
3$10
20$00
7$00
1050
1080
825
960
620
1000
467
47S50
6S50
10150
4125
25$00
15100
1055
650
840
775
714
1000
848.8
SUMMARY OF AV ERAGE IN D E X NU M BERS AT SPEC IFIE D D A T E S, AS COMPARED W ITH
FIR ST H A L F OF 1914.
Index
number.
Date.
Foodstuffs:
1st half 1914................... •................. .
2d half 1914.........................................
1st half 1915........................................
2d half 1915.........................................
1st half 1916........................................
2d half 1916.........................................
January, 1920.....................................
June, 1920...........................................
October, 1920......................................
Clothing:
1914.......................................................
October, 1920......................................
Fuel:
1914.....................................................
January, 1920.....................................
October, 1920......................................
Per cent of
increase
over first
half of 1914.
100.0
105.9
105.9
111.8
123.5
135.3
434.5
502. 9
886.0
5.9
5.9
11.8
23.5
35.3
' 334.5
402.9
766.0
100.0
848.8
748.8
100.0
1028. 7
1805. 8
928.7
1705. 8
Maximum Prices for Sugar Fixed in Spain.
M
AXIMUM prices for white sugar in Spain have been authorized
as follows according to a dispatch from the United States
vice consul at Barcelona under date of October 16, 1920:
MAXIMUM PRICES FOR SUGAR IN SPA IN , OCTOBER, 1920.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 peseta at par= 19.3 cents.
1 Mlogram= 2.2 pounds.]
K ind of sugar.
W hite granulated:
At the m ill...........................................................
A t the wholesale distributors..............................
A t the retail dealers................................................
Lump:
At the m ill. . ....................................
A t the wholesale distributors..............................
At the retail dealers................................................
D ry beet pulp for use as stock food...........................
1 Per metric ton = 2,204 pounds.
[102 ]
Price per
100 kilo
grams.
Pesetas.
250
265
280
280
295
310
i 225
W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R .1
Recent Changes in Union Wage Rates in Printing and Publishing
Trades and in the Plastering Trade.
HE foEowing tables show the changes in the union scale of wages
that took place from May 15 to December 15; 1920, in the
printing and publishing trades in addition to the changes
reported in the Monthly Labor K eview for November, 1920, so
far as such changes have come to the attention of this bureau, and
also changes .in wage rates in a building trade, that of plasterers,
from May 15 to August 31, 1920.
The information for the printing and publishing trades is taken
from the reports of the official journals of printing and publishing
trade-unions and from a special report from the manager of service,
Pressmen A Home, Tennessee. The rates shown for November 30,
1920, include all bonuses and increases in wages. In some cases
bonuses were paid May 15, 1920, which are not shown in the scale
of wages reported for that date. This accounts for the apparently
large increases shown in some instances. The rates for New York
are the result of an award of December 28, 1920, which is retroactive
to October, 1920.
T
"A D D IT IO N A L C H ANGES IN U N IO N W E E K L Y WAGE RATES IN PR IN TIN G A N D
PU B L ISH IN G TR AD ES, MAY 15 TO DEC. 15, 1920. -
Pressmen, cylinder presses, booh and job.
1 press.
City and State.
Days.
From— To—
2 presses.
Nights.
From—
To—
Albany, N . Y ............................................ $31.00 $35.00 $34.00 $38.00 $31.00
39.00
43.50
Billings, Mont........................................... 39.00
34.00
34.00
40.00
36.00
42.00
Buffalo, N . Y ...........................................
31.50
Chattanooga, Tenn.................................. 21.00
26.40
34.65
39.00
28.00
24.00
Cedar Rapids, Iow a................................
47.00
52.00
53.00
51.00
Chicago, 111...'...........................................
48.00
30.00
37.00
Colorado Springs, Colo........................... 30.00
29.00
32.00
Decatur, 111. . . 7 . . .................................... 29.00
39.00
39.00
42.90
45.50
Denver, Colo.............................................
50.05
42. 00
32.00
East Liverpool, Ohio.............................. 32.00
30.00
30. 00
36.00
Eureka, Calif............................................
27.00
27.00
30.00
Fort Sm ith, A rk....................................
38.00
36.00
Franklin, P a............................................. 36.00
30.00
40.00
32.00
43.00
Grand Rapids, M ich............................... 30.00
25.00
Hagerstown, M d.... ..............................
24.00
Hutchinson] K ans................................... 24.00
35.00
36.00
44.00
37.00
45.00
Indianapolis, I n d ..................................... 36.00
30.00
Joliet, 111.... ...............................................
36.00
Keene, N . H ............................................. 36.00
39.60
28.00
31.00
Keokuk, Iow a.......................................
30.00
33 00
27.00
22.00
22.00
Lafayette, In d ..............................
23.00
28.00
29.00
33.00
31.00
Lancaster, P a ..........................................
31.00
Lewiston, Me .................................
37.50
37. 50
39.50
35.50
Lowell, Mass............................................. 35.50
28. 00
Memphis, T enn............; .......................... ____
27.50 I 35.00
Meridian, Miss ................................
27.50
27.50 ! 36.00
Middleton, Ohio ...............................
34.00
34.00 ! 37.00
New Bedford, Mass................................
1 Further wage data are included in articles on pp. 23 to 44, and
$35.00
43.50
40.00
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D03]
From—
To—
Days.
Nights.
From— To—
40.00
56. 00
37.00
32.00
45. 50
42.00
36.00
30.00
38.00
40.00
35.00
35.00
44.00
42.50
39.60
27.00
35.00
35.00
37:50
40.00
$34.00
$38.00
36.00
42.00
52.00
57.00
42.90
50.05
32.00
43.00
37.00
, 45.00
23.00
28.00
37.50
39.50
36.00
37.00
45 to 59.
103
104
M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W
A D D IT IO N A L CHANGES IN U N IO N W E E K L Y W AGE R A T E S IN P R IN T IN G A N D
PU B L ISH IN G T R A D E S, MAY 15 TO DEC. 15, 1920-C on tin u ed .
Pressmen, cylinder presses, booh mid job—Concluded.
1 press.
City and State.
Days.
F rom—
New Brunswick, N . I .........................
$30.00
N ew Y^ork, N.Yr ............... ...................... 46.00
Paterson, N . J .......................................... 34.00
Pittsburgh, Pa.......................................... 34. 00
Portland] Me............................................. 28,00
Portland, Oreg.........................................
40.' 00
Pueblo. C olo............................................. 30. 00
Rateigli, N . C............................................ 25.00
Reading, Pa.............................................. 25.00
Roanoke, Va............................................. 32.50
St. Joseph, Mo.......................................... 32.00
36. 00
St. Paul, Minn.........................................
Salem, Oreg............................................... 36.00
San Antonio, T ex .................................... 22. 50
San Diego, Calif.............................. .
32.00
Springfield, Mo......................................... 22. 50
39.00
Stockton, Calif.........................................
32.00
Syracuse, N . Y ......... ........................
Trenton, N . J ........................................... 33.60
Waco, T ex ................................................. 31.50
Wilkes-Barre, Pa..................................... 31.50
Yonkers, N . Ÿ ............... ......................... 38.00
Zanesville, Ohio....................................... 25.00
2 presses.
Nights.
To— From—
$36.00
51.00
39.00
45. 00
34.00
45.00
39.00
31.50
36.00
35.00
42.00
42.00
39. 00
37. 50
38.00
37.50
42.00
38.00
43. 20
42.00
39.00
42.00
32.00
T o-
49.00
54.00
$41. 00
$46.00
Albany, N . Y ...........................................
Buffalo. N . Y . . ........................................
Cedar Rapids, Iowa..............................
Chicago, 111...............................................
Colorado Springs. Colo...........................
Decatur, 111...............................................
Denver, Colo.............................................
East Liverpool, Ohio..............................
Fort Smith, A rk......................................
Grand Rapids, Mich...............................
Hutchinson, K ans......................... ........
Indianapolis, In d ....................................
Joliet, i l l .....................................................
Keokuk, Iowa..........................................
Lafayette, In d ................... .....................
Lancaster, P a ..........................................
Lowell, Mass............................................
Meridian, M iss........................................
Middletown, Ohio...................................
New Bedford? Mass................................
New Brunswick, N . J.... ........................
New York, N. Y ......................................
Paterson, N . J ..........................................
Pittsburgh, Pa........................................
Portland, Me.............................................
Raleigh, N . C ............................................
Reading, P a ..............................................
Roanoke, Va.............................................
St. Paul, Minn..........................................
Salem, Öreg...............................................
San Diego, Ralif........................................
Springfield, Mo........................................
Waco] T e x ................................................
Zanesville, Ohio.......................................
35.00
41.00
43. 20
31.50
52. 80
42.00
26.00
36.00
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
j
Nights.
From—
$37.00
45.00
$36.00
41.00
$10.00
47.00
50. 50
55.50
51.50
56. 50
48.00
45.00
22.00
27.00
36.50
49.00
.............
23.00
28.00
G)
42.50
.............
49.00
38.00
G)
54.00
43.00
42.50
.............
37.50
37.50
40.00
43.50
36.00
42.00
52.00
.............
1 No seale.
[1 0 4 ]
57.00
.............
39.00
Nights.
-
To— From—
$36.00
51.00
39. 00
45. 00
36. 00
45. 00
39. 00
38.00
36.00
37. 50
42.09
42.00
39. 00
40. 00
38.00
37.50
42.00
38.00
43. 20
42.00
39. 00
42. 00
32.00
To —
$49- 00
$54.90
41.00
46.09
38.25
39.00
44.25
42.09
35.00
41.00
43.20
31.50
52.89
42.00
........
26.00
•
36.09
Offset press.
Days.
Nights.
To— From— To— From— To—
$33.00
39.00
(l)
33.00
$30 00
46.00
34. 00
34.00
30. 00
40.00
30. 00
30.00
25. 00
35.00
32.00
36.00
36. 00
22. 50
32.00
22. 50
39.00
32.00
33.60
31.50
31.50
38.00
25.00
38. 25 . 44.25
39.00
42. 00
Days.
F rom— To—
F rom—
!
.............
Color press.
City and State.
Days.
45.00
$40.00
40.00
27.00
$16.03
46.00
19.50
37.00
35.00
39.00
40.00
33.00
Gl
(!)
43.00
38.00
45. 50
12.00
36.00
45.00
35.00
35.00
35.00
47.00
38.00
40.00
44.00
32. 50
30.00
42.00
30.00
49.00
38.00
42.50
32.00
35.00
G)
35.00
40.00
45.50
45.00
36.00
54.00
43.00
50.50
38.00
40.00
42.00
37.50
36.00
36 00
G)
37.50
25.00
842,00.
42.09
S48.00
48.00
42. 90
50.05
G)
48.00
37.00
40.00
62.00
57.09
39.00 .39.09
42.00
45.00
42.00
37.50
37.
noj 27.00
------
42.00
42.00
39.00
WAGES AÏSTD HOUES OF LABOE.
105
A D D IT IO N A L CHANGES IN U N IO N W E E K L Y W AGE R A TE S IN P R IN T IN G A N D
P U B L ISH IN G T R A D E S, MAY 15 TO DEC. 15, 1929—Continued.
Pressmen, platen presses, book and job.
3 presses
City and State.
Day.
Night.
From— To— From—
Albany, N . Y ..............
Billings, Mont__ . . . . . .
Brockton, Mass..............
Buffalo, N . Y .................
Cedar Rapids, Iowa___
Chicago, E l .. ...................
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Columbus, Ohio.............
Decatur, 111.....................
Denver, Colo..........
Dubuque, Iow a.............
E ast Liverpool, O hio...
Eureka, Calif...................
Fort Sm ith, A rk............
Hagerstown, M d............
Holyoke, Mass..........
Hutchinson, K ans.........
Indianapolis, In d ..........
Joiiet, 111...........................
Keene, N . H . . ...............
Keokuk. Iow a.................
Lafayette, I n d ................
Lancaster, P a .................
Lewiston, Me.................
Lowell, Mass...................
Memphis, T en n.............
Middletown, Ohio.........
Mobile, A la.....................
New Bedford, Mass___
New Brunswick, N . J ..
N ew York, N . Y . ..........
Paducah, K y..................
Paterson, N . J................
Pittsburgh, P a ...............
Portland, M e..................
Pueblo, Colo...................
Raleigh, N . C ..................
Reading, P a ................ .
Roanoke, Va...................
St. Joseph, M o ..............
St. Paul, Minn ...............
Salem, Oreg.....................
San Diego, Calif.............
Springfield, III................
Springfield, Mo...............
Stockton, Calif...............
Syracuse, N . Y ...............
Waco, T ex .......................
Wilkes-Barre, P a __
Yonkers, N . Y _ .............
Zanesville, Ohio..............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$21.00
36.00
32. 50
29.00
25.00
40.00
25.00
35.00
21.00
31.50
28.00
32.00
21.00
24.00
27.60
24.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
22.00
21.00
30.50
24.00
24.00
22.00
31.00
25.00
40.00
21.00
30.00
31.00
26.00
26.00
25.00
825.00
34.00
45.00
32.00
38.00
25.00
37. 75
31.00
42.00
24.00
24.00
To—
$24.00
$28.00
31.00
36.00
"ii.’òò' ’iè.'òò"
*38."ÒÒ
« : òo
Day.
From— To—
$24.00
36.00
$28.00
25.00
40.00
26.00
45.00
33.00
23.00
34.70
28.00
32.00
25.00
41.20
31.00
42. CO
21.00
24.00
24.00
30.00
27.00
30.00
35.00
33.00
40. 40
38.00
33.00
22.00
27.00
24.00
25.00
25.00
31.00
25. 00
40.00
21.00
37.50
35.00
33.00
34. CO
31.00
44.00
22. 50
31.00
26.00
28.00
25.00
23.00
25.00
24.00
30.00
43.00
35.00
33.75
37. 50
32.00
27. 50.
31.50
32.40
36.00
27.00
39.00
32.00
22. 57
37.00
24.00
42.00
30.00
28.00
35.00
33.00
35.00
38.00
33.00
28.00
25.00
24.00
31.00
32.50
37.50
32.50
24.00
34.00
31.00
44.00
22.50
35.00
43.00
32.00
33.00
33.00
24. 50
22.00
27.50
21.00
31.20
28.80
39.00
36.00
36.00
30. 00
33.00 2 38.00
27.50
20 . 00
39.00
36.00
28.50
24.00
27.00
24.00
22.00
19.95
42.00
37.00
30.00
22.00
28.60
39.00
27.00
30.00
32.50
43.00
From—! To$27.00 I SSI. CO
41.00
31.00]
41.40
34.50
47.00
28.50
22.00
33.20
30. 80
42.00
39.00
39.00
33.00
34.00 2 40.00
22.00
30.00
2 Temporary scale.
Night.
22 . 00
17.00
25.00
32.00
23.00
32. 50
34. 40
106
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
A DDITIONAL CHANGES IN U N IO N W E E K L Y W AGE R A T E S IN PR IN T IN G AND
P U B L IS H IN G T R A D E S, MAY 15 TO DEC. 15, 1920—Continued.
Pressmen, vjeb presses, newspapers.
Tension men.
In charge.
City and State.
From
A lbany, N . Y ________
Augusta, M e...................
Billings, Mont................. 3$42.
Bridgeport^ Conn.......... 33.
Cedar Rapids, Iow a___ 3 3 8 .
Colorado Springs, Colo. 3 30.
Concord, N . H „ . ......... 3 31.
40.
Detroit, M ich..............
25.
Dubuque, Iow a..........
39.
Duluth, M inn.............
East Liverpool, Ohio. 3 25.
3 32.
Eureka, Calif...............
3 30.
Fort Sm ith, A rk. . . . .
3
25.
Hagerstown, Md . . . . .
30.
Holyoke, Mass............
3 31.
H utchinson, K a n s .. .
Keokuk, I o w a ............ 3 30.
Lafayette, In d ............
28.
Lewiston, Me..............
3 34.
Lincoln, N e b r ............
36.
Louisville, K y ............
3 38.
Lowell, Mass...............
3 27.
Marion, In d .................
3 25.
Marshall, T ex..............
37.
Memphis, T en n ...___
32.
Middletown, Ohio__
3 33.
Mitchell, S. D a k ........
New Brunswick, N . J . . 3 35.
33.
N ew H aven, Conn.
3 39.
Paterson, N . J...........
36.
Philadelphia, P a ___
25.
Portland, Me.............
3 36.
Pueblo, Colo..............
Raleigh, N . C . . . . . . .
3 30.
Reading, P a ..............
30.
Salem, Oreg...............
36.
34.
Springfield, 111_____
3 25.
Springfield, Mo.........
3 42.
Stockton, Calif____
Syracuse, N . Y .........
33.
042.
Terre Haute, Ind__
\ 640.
Tucson, Ariz.............
3 30.
3 40.
Yonkers, N . Y ..........
To
3$49.
40.
3 50.
3 41.
3 35.
51.
40.
42.
40.
3 40.
3 36.
3 35.
42.
3 40.
3 33.
35.
3 40.
42.
3 43.
3 35.
3 39.
44.
40.
3 38.
3 41.
36.
3 44.
42.
38.
3 45.
3 38.
3 46.
3 42.
3 41.
3 36.
3,45.
37.
4 46.
6 44.
3 38.
3 45.
From
3$30.
3 42.
33.
3 38.
3 30.
3 31.
40.
25.
42.
3
3
3
3
27.
33.
33
27
30.
331
3 32.
To
-$40.00
3 49. 50
40. 50
3 50.00
a 41.00
3 35. 50
51.00
40.00
45.00
3 40.00
3 40. 00
39.00
3 37.00
42.00
3 40.00
3 35.00
28.00
35.00
36.00
3 38.00
3 28.00
3 29.50
37.50
40.00
3 33.00
42.00
3 50.00
3 40.00
3 40.00
44.70
42.00
3 38.00
3 41.00
36.00
3 47.00
42.00
38.00
3 48.00
3 44.00
43.00
3 45.00
3 42.50
3 37.50
3 45.00
37.00
4 49.50
5 47.50
3 38.00
0)
33.00
3 42.00
36.00
25.00
3 36.00
3 37.50
31.50
39.00
34.50
3 28.50
a 42.00
33.00
4 44.00
5 42.00
3 30.00
3 40.00
From
To
From
To
Day.
From
To
Night.
From
To
$28.00 $37.00 $28.00 $37.00 $28.00 $40.00 $28.00 $40.00
21.50 28.00
39. 00 43. 50 39.00 43.50
27.00 37.50 27.00 37.50 27.00 37.50 27.00 37.50
35.00 47.00 35.00 P7.00
26.00 34.00 26.00 34.00 26.00 34.00 26.00 34.00
37.00
23.00
36.00
18.60
45.00 37.00
35. 00,23.00
39. 00 39.00
29.50 18.60
45.00 37.00 45.00 37.00 45.00
37.00 23.00 35.00 23.00 37.00
42.00 36.00 39.00 39.00 42.00
29.50 18.60 24.00 18.60 24.00
»24.00
18.00
22.00
0)
27.00 27.00 30.00
30.00 19.00 32.00
33.00 22.00 33.00 22. Ó0 33.00 22.00 33.00
35.00 G) 35.00
35.00 (!) 35.00 (G
25.00 28.0C 27.00 30.00
25.00 30.00 27.00 32.00
28. 50 39.00
27.00 33.00
33.00 39.00 33.00 39.00 33.00 39.00 33.00 39.00
32.00 33.00 32.00 42.00 32.00 33.00 32.00 42.00
17.00 20.00 18.00 27.00
34.50 40.50 34.50 4L ió 34.50 40.50 34.50 41.10
20.00 28.50 0 )
30.50
20.00
24.00
30.00
30.00
25.00
30.00
22.00
29.00
36. CO
29.50
15.00
39.00
28.00
}33.00
1 No scale.
4 Foreman.
26.00
27.00
35.00
36.00
34.00
39.00
29.00
40.00
39.0C
37.50
21. OC
42. OC
32.00
37.50
(i)
24.00
33.00
30.00
25.00
30.00
27.50
30.50
26.00
27.00
38.00
36.00
34.00
42.00
34.00
41.50
30.00
18.00
39.00
28.00
35.00
38.00
22.00
42.00
32.00
40.50
24.00 27.00
30.00 35.00
30.00 • 36.00
25.00 34.00
30.00 39.00
34.00
25.00 35.00
36.00 39.00
29.50 37.50
15.00 21.00
39. CO 42.00
28.00 32.00
30.00 34.50
24.00
33.00
30.00
25.00
30.00
27.50
26.50
27.00
38.00
36.00
34.00
42.00
34.00
36.50
30.00
18.00
39.00
28.00
32.00
38.00
22.00
42.00
32.00
37.50
j
1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Night.
Day.
Night.
Dav.
Platers and oilers.
1
3 Pressman in charge is the foreman.
&A ssistant foreman.
[ 106]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR,
107
A D D IT IO N A L CHANGES IN U N IO N V /E E K L Y W AGE R A T E S IN P R IN T IN G AND
P U B L ISH IN G T R A D E S, MAY 15 TO DEC, 15, 1920—Concluded.
Press assistants andfeeders, booh and job.
Platen presses.
City and State.
Day.
Class.
Night.
From i To From
Albany, N. Y
Billings, Mont...........
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Chicago, 111...............
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Decatur, 111.....................
E ast Liverpool, O h io ..
Fort Sm ith, Ark__ , . .
Grand Rapids, M ich...
Hagerstown, M d...
Hutchinson, Kans.
Indianapolis, I n d ..
Joliet, 111..........
K een e,N . IT...
Lafayette, Ind.
Lancaster, P a .........
Los Angeles, Calif.
L ow ell, Mass..........
M emphis, Tenn__
Meridian, Miss.......
Middletown, Ohio.
Mobile, Ala.............
New York, N . Y ..
Portland, Me..........
Pueblo, Colo...........
R aleigh ,N . C.........
Reading, P a ............
Roanoke, V a ..........
Salem , Oreg............
San Diego, C a lif...
Spokane, W ash..
Syracuse, N . Y . .
Waco, T ex...........
Y onkers,N . Y ...
Zanesville, Ohio.
Cylinder presses.
To ;From
Assistants and feeders, $20.00 $24.00 $23.00 $27.00
male.
Assistants and feeders, 16.00 20.00
female.
Feeders.................................. 22.50 24.00
22.00
....... do......................................
Feeders, seniors...................
Feeders, color work............
Feeders, juniors, pony
press.
Feeders.................................. 24.50 27.50 26.00 29.00
Feeders, Colt’s and U ni 25.00 28.00 26.50 29.50
versal press.
33.50
Assistants............................. 29.00 32.00
Feeders..................................
do.
do.
14.00 17.00
do.
Feeders, m a le................
Feeders, fem ale............
Feeders...........................
....... do..............................
Feedeis, cylinder.........
Feede i s, patent inside.
Feeders, color work . ..
Feeders,pony p r e ss...
20.00
Feeder?...........................
....... do...............................
Feeders, 60-inch cylinder
or larger.
Feeders,36’ o 59inch cylin
der.
Feeders, pony m ess............
Feeders.................................
....... do......................... ........ 24.00 27.00
22.00 24.00
do.
22.00
.do.
(l)
16.00 16.50
.do.
.do.
....... do...................
29. CO 32.00 32.00
....... do...................
.......do.................
18.00
___ do...................
___ do..................
17.50 22.50
....... do..................
___ do...................
21.601 24.00 24.00 27.00
....... do..................
21.50, 25.00 24.50 26.00
....... do..................
Feeders, female.
21.60 24.90 94.60 27.90
Feeders...............
19.00 22.50
....... do..................
':«'óó
15.00 18.00
....... do..................
....... do..................
. ...d o .! .............
0)
ÌS.'ÓÓ ¿2.00
0)
'is.'òó
1 No scale.
24933°—21---- 8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 107]
Day.
To
Night.
From
To
>27.00 $30.00
31.50
( l)
39.00 44.00 $40.50 $45.50
40.50 45.00; 41.50 46.50
26.00 29.00 27.50 30.50
22.00 27.50
20.00 27.00
20.00 22.00
20.00 23.00
23.00 31.00
23.00 27.00
20.00 27.50
28.80 36.80 29.80
30.60 38.60 31.60
39.20
25.20 33.20 26.20
22.00 30.00
30.00 33.00
16.00 21.00 17.00 22.00
0)
(G
14.00 19.00 15.00 20.00
18.00 14.00 19.00
27.00
33.00
31.50
33.50
20.00 27.50
13.00
23.00
30.00
29.50
3L5Ó
21.00 22.00
20.00 30.00
18.00
39.00
23.00
22.50
18.00
19.00
43.00 42. CO 46.00
29.00
25.00
22.00
20.00 28.00
20.00 22.50
31.50
31.00
28.50
28.30
27.00
25.00
36.00
12 00 25.00
28. 08
26.50
24.50
24.60
23.00
22 50
31.00
31.08 34.50
29.50 34.0Ô
27.60 31.30
22. 50 25. ÓÓ
19.00 2? w
108
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
Plastering T rade,
r^HANGES in wage rates of plasterers between May 15 and August
31, 1920, are shown in the following table:
CHANGES IN U NION W E EK LY WAGE K A T E S OF PL A ST E R E R S FROM MAY 15 TO
AUG. 31, 1920.
City and State.
Birmingham, A!a......................
Cincinnati, Ohio........................
Columbus, Ohio.........................
Dallas, T ex. . ..............................
Dayton, Ohio.............................
Dos Moines, Iowa......................
Duluth, M inn.............................
E l Dorado, K ans.......................
E l Paso, T e x ...............................
Galesburg, 111..............................
Galveston, T ex ..........................
Hazleton, P a ..............................
Indianapolis, Ind.......................
Jacksonville, F la .......................
Los Angeles, Calif. ...................
Louisville, K y ............................
Lusk, W y o ................................
........... ...
Memphis, T enn.
Milwaukee, W is.........................
Morgantown, W. Va.................
Muskegon, Mich.........................
Muskogee, OMa.........................
Newport News, V a ...................
May 15,
1920.
$33.00
44.50
49.50
49. 50
48.40
44. 00
44.00
44.00
49.50
44.00
49. 50
28.80
44.00
38.50
49.50
44.00
(i)
44. 00
38. 50
38.50
44.0049.50
44.00
Aug. 31,
1920.
May 15,
1920.
City and State.
i
|
$44.00 i Ogden, U ta h ...............................
50.62 Oklahoma City, Okia ..........
Omaha, Nebr.Y..........................
55.00
60. 50 Pasco, Wash
.....................
Pittsburgh, P a ...........................
55.00 Portland, Dreg...........................
49. 50 Portsmouth, Ohio ..........
49.50
Providence, R . I ........................
55.00 Richmond, V a ...........................
49. 50 Rochester, N . Y ........................
60. 50 San Jose, Calif___
43.20 San Francisco, Calif
..........i
49.50 Shreveport, L a ........................ 1
44.00 St. Louis, Mo.............................. !
55.00 St. Paul, M inn............ ..............i
49.50 Superior, W is............................. !
60.50 Tamaqua, Pa ...........................1
55.00 Terre Haute, Ind
49. 50 Un ion town, Pa ..
44.00 Waco, Tex .................................
55.00 Washington, D. C
60.50 W ichita, Kans.
.....................
Yakim a, W ash.
$49. 50
49.50
49.50
55. 00
50.60
49.50
39.60
40,00
33.00
50. 60
55.00
50.00
55.00
55.00
49.50
44.00
35.20
44.00
44.00
49.50
44.00
49.50
49.50
Aug. 31,
1920.
$55.0 )
66.00
55.00
63.00
55.00
55.00
49.50
46.00
38. 50
55.00
60. 50
55.00
66.00
60. 59
55.00
55.00
44.00
55.00
55.00
60.50
49.50
55.00
55.00
1 Not reported.
Wage increases for Clerical Forces of the Naval Establishment.1
NEW wage increase has recently been granted to the clerical
force of the United States navy yards. On September 16,
1920, a wage schedule, as noted in the October number of the
M onthly L abor R e v ie w (pp. 109-112), went into effect applicable to
mechanical forces of the navy yards, naval stations, and hospitals
throughout the country. This award of the Navy wage board ap
pointed to consider the question of the readjustment of wages of
employees in naval establishemnts, while affecting approximately
75,000 such workers, did not apply to the clerical and drafting forces
of these branches of the service. As the draftsmen had received
substantial increases under the Macy award of February, 1919, and
subsequently “ a promotion in increments of 40 cents per diem upon
the completion of six months’ service until the maximum in their
grade was attained,” they have not been included in the recent award
affecting clerical employees. The department, however, recognized
the inequalities which existed among the rates of pay of the clerks
doing the same grade of work and felt that “ a s a matter of mere jus
tice to all workers this condition should not continue.”
On account of the diversified character of the work and of the
various rates of pay paid for the same classes or grades of work a
reclassification of the clerical force was deemed necessary in a con
sideration of the present wage increase. For this purpose special
A
1 Data taken from a circular letter of the N avy Department, Washington, under date of Sept. -4, 1920,
and from the Federal Employee, Washington, N ov. 6,1920, pp. 3,6.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10S]
WAGES AiTD HOURS OF LABOR
109
local boards, to which, employees’ representatives were elected from
every department in the respective yards, were appointed to reclassify
the work of the clerical, the messenger, and the police force in the
different establishments. The findings of these local boards were
reported to the department in Washington, where they were reviewed
by the department board.
The new rates of pay, announced October 27, 1920, and retroactive
to September 16, 1920', the date of the first award, have been fixed in
accordance with this classification as follows:
Supervisory•—Clerical.
A—Clerical work of a supervisory character of the highest grade, such as chief clerks
of yard departments, recorders of labor boards, head storemen, head stockmen,
etc.
Pay—Maximum, $11.50; minimum, $8.72.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.48 per diem.
B—Clerical work of supervisory character, such as chiefs of sections, stockmen,
technical stores, etc.
Pay—Maximum, $8.32; minimum, $6.88.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.48 per diem.
No te .—The rating of stockman, technical stores, has been established to provide
a rating for mechanics assigned to handle technical stores in the Supply Department.
Schedule of wages: Employees now assigned to such duties shall be given a temporary
appointment as stockman, technical stores, pending examination, within the rates
of pay indicated. Additional positions for these employees .will be chargeable to the
appropriation, “ Maintenance, Supplies and Accounts (Labor).” The prior approval
of the district secretary will be secured for such appointments. It is directed that
the department be furnished with a brief statement of the duties and qualifications
in order that it may have the Civil Service Commission announce an examination
through the district system.
Clerical.
A—Clerical work involving much initiative, responsibility, investigation, special
ability; and skill; bookkeepers, stenographers and typewriters, typewriters,
and stockmen.
Pay—Maximum, $6.48; minimum, $"1.56.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.48 per diem.
N o t e . —The rating of stockman, special, is abolished and employees holding such
rating shall be rerated to stockmen.
B—Clerical work, more or less routine, but requiring some initiative, original thought,
judgment, and skill, including storemen.
Pay—Maximum ,$5.52; minimum ,$4.56.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.48 per diem.
C—Clerical work of simple routine character, including checkers in storehouses.
Pay—Maximum, $4.56; minimum, $3.84.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.48 per diem.
Minor clerical.
A—Clerical work performed by employees who have not a first-grade civil service
examination status.
Pay—Maximum, $3.20; minimum, $2.96.
Two rates only.
B—Chief telephone switchboard operator.
Pay—$4.24 (third naval district, $4.72i.
C—Telephone switchboard operators.
Pav—$3.68.
Subclerical.
A—Mail messengers.
Pay—$3.60.
B—Messengers, etc. Subclerical work in general.
Pay—Maximum, $3.36; minimum, $2.64.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[109]
110
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.24 per diem.
C—Store laborers, viz, those who are employed in storehouses, with incidental record
ing of receipts and issue of goods and material.
Pay—Maximum, $4.32; minimum, $3.84.
Promotions and intermediate rates to be in increments of $0.24 per diem.
D—Messenger boys and girls: Office assignment.
Pay—Maximum, $2.32; intermediate, $2.08; minimum, $1.84.
Police force.
A—Captains.
Pay—$5.68.
B—Lieutenants.
Pay—$5.20.
C—Roundsmen.
Pay—$4.72.
D—Policemen.
Pay—Maximum, $4.32; intermediate, $4.08; minimum, $3.84.
Coincident with the award the work day for all employees, naval
officers included, shall be the standard industrial day of 8 hours.
Saturday half holidays also are granted for the Saturdays not covered
by the Executive order of June 9, 1914, for which employees receive
a full day’s pay. For the Saturdays not covered by the Executive
order, however, employees will receive pay only for the actual number
of hours worked.
Salaries in Universities and Colleges in the United States in 1920.
HE United States Bureau of Education has recently published
a pamphlet (Bulletin, 1920, No. 20) giving the salaries paid to
presidents, deans and directors, professors, associate professors,
assistant professors, instructors, and assistants in 401 public and pri
vate universities and colleges in the United States in 1919-20. The
data, which are presented in detailed tables covering each institution
designated by number, are summarized in the first part of the report
in the following tables:
T
SA L A R IE S PA ID IN 401 U N IV E R SIT IE S A N D COLLEGES IN T H E U N IT E D STATES
IN 1919-20.
Public institutions.
Title of position.
President or chancellor.............
Dean or director.........................
Professor........................................
Associate professor.....................
Assistant professor.....................
Instructor.....................................
A ssistant.......................................
Number of
persons.
Minimum
salary.
Maximum
salary.
77
367
2,460
822
1,705
2,138
855
$2,500
1,200
300
300
500
300
75
$12,500
10,000
10,000
4.000
4.000
3,100
2,500
Average
salary.
Median
salary.
Most
frequent
salary.
$6,617
3,819
3,126
2,514
2,053
1,552.
' 801
$6,000
3.500
3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
750
$6,000
3.000
3.000
3.000
1,8190
1,500
1,200
$3,918
2,329
2,304
2,423
\, 770
1.205
'472
$3, 500
2,000
2, 000
2,300
1,800
1,200
' 400
$3,000
2,000
1,500
2,000
2,000
1,200
500
Private institutions.
President or chancellor.............
Dean or director.........................
Professor.......................................
Associate professor.....................
Assistant professor.....................
Instructor.....................................
A ssistant.......................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
287
504
3,781
'357
1,261
1.810
574
$900
400
100
600
50
10
$12,000
10,000
10,000
4,500
5,000
4,000
2,000
'
[ 110]
111
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR,
Comparison of Earnings of New York State Factory Workers With
Retail Prices of Food.
A
VERAGE weekly earnings in representative manufacturing in
dustries in New York State in November of each year, 1914
^ to 1920, except 1915 and 1917, have been furnished this bu
reau by the New York State Industrial Commission. These figures
will be published in the November Labor Market Bulletin issued
by the commission. The bulletin will also contain a table showing
a comparison of the course of average weekly earnings of factory
workers with the course of retail prices of food in the United States.
The latter table consists of index numbers, with June, 1914, as 100,
the figures for prices being derived from the price indexes published
each month by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w . Both tables are here reproduced. In
order to determine at a glance the extent of the respective increases
of earnings in November, 1920, over the earnings in November, 1914,
a column, which does not appear in the original table, showing these
increases in terms of per cent has been added to the following table:
A V E R A G E W E E K L Y EA RN IN G S OF W ORKERS IN N E W YO R K STATE FACTORIES IN
NO V EM BER , 1914, 1916, 1918, 1919, AND 1920.1
Average weekly earnings in'Nove mher—
Industry.
1914
Stone, Clay and Glass P rodu cts...................................... §13. 30
Miscellaneous stone and mineral products...............
14. 60
Lime, cement and plaster.............................................
13. 18
Brick, tile and pottery...................................................
11. 61
Glass....................................................................................
14. 30
J 1916
Per
cent of
increase,
1920
over
1914.
1918
1919
1920
$16. 22
18. 85
16. 58
13. 73
15. 83
$23. 32
23. 67
25. 47
18. 81
24. 41
$26. 41
27. 82
29. 55
24. 00
24. 90
$32. 06
34. 43
34. 37
28. 70
31. 16
141.1
135.8
160.8
147.2
117.9
Metals, Machinery and C onveyances............................
Gold, silver and precious stones..................................
Brass, copper, aluminum, e tc ......................................
Pig iron and rolling mill products..............................
Structural and architectural iron w o rk ....................
Sheet metal work and hardware..................................
Firearms, tools and cutlery...........................................
Cooking, heating and ventilating apparatus............
Machinery (including electrical apparatus).............
Automobiles, carriages and aeroplanes......................
Cars, locomotives and railway repair shops.............
Boat and ship building..................................................
Instruments and appliances.........................................
14. 04
13. 09
12. 67
16. 79
15. 44
12. 00
13. 67
14. 78
13. 89
17. 06
13. 98
14. 85
13. 29
17. 60
17. 50
16. 57
21. 85
17. 09
14. 29
18. 08
17. 14
17. 29
18. 86
18. 12
21. 71
15. 62
25. 35
24. 17
23. 09
35. 34
27. 65
20. 43
22. 79
24. 48
22. 54
23. 39
33. 48
33. 53
20. 50
27. 90
30. 68
26. 34
35. 10
28. 28
23. 99
24. 26
30. 76
27. 61
27. 49
30. 83
37. 11
23. 86
32. 11
34. 97
29. 14
40. 78
34. 69
27. 97
25. 74
32. 38
29. 93
32. 51
36. 90
36. 48
27. 81
128.7
167.2
130.0
142.9
124.7
133.1
88.3
119.1
115.5
90.6
163.9
145.7
109.3
W ood M anufactures............................................................
Saw mill and planing mill products...........................
Furniture and cabinet work.........................................
Pianos, organs and other musical instruments........
Miscellaneous wood and allied products...................
11. 99
11. 67
11. 99
13. 31
10. 98
14. 74
14. 45
14. 79
16. 98
12. 65
19. 34
20. 59
18. 69
20. 29
18. 04
23. 64
27. 56
24. 41
28. 86
24. 09 ' 27. 21
21. 41
28. 56
23. 54
26. 06
129.9
147.3
126.9
114.6
137.3
Furs, L eather and R ubber G ood s..................................
Leather...............................................................................
Furs and fur goods..........................................................
Boots and shoes................................................................
Miscellaneous leather and canvas goods.....................
Rubber and gutta percha goods..................................
Pearl, horn, bone, celluloid, hair, e t c ,.......................
11. 84
11. 12
16. 65
12. 38
10. 21
11. 41
10. 08
14. 53
15. 28
19. 05
14. 99
13. 10
13. 31
11. 94
19. 12
20. 40
27. 43
19. 56
16. 92
17. 27
16. 88
25. 49
24. 52
38. 40
25. 72
25. 37
23. 57
19. 72
120.6
139.9
151.1
102.5
148.1
132.2
142.5
Chemicals, Oils, Paints, E tc ..............................................
Drugs and chemicals......................................................
Paints, dyes and colors...................................................
Animal and mineral oil products................................
Miscellaneous chemical products.................................
12. 80
12. 36
14. 33
12. 93
12. 30
15. 37
15. 01
15. 38
15. 67
15. 94
20. 96
17. 90
20. 77
23. 49
19. 81
26. 12
26. 68
41. 80
25. 07
25. 33
26. 49
24. 44
25. 20
28. 71
124.3
25. 05
27. 71
124.2
23. 39
27. 13
89.3
25. 76
28. 98
124.1
24. 99
29. 61
140.7
i Includes all employees in both office and shop. It is commonly the case that office salaries are higher
than the average weekly earnings of shop employees. However, the office employees form such a small
percentage of the total number of workers that their effect in the computation of the average earnings is
negligible.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[H I]
112
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
A V E R A G E W E E K L Y EA R N IN G S OF W O R K E R S IN N E W Y O R K STATE FA CTORIES IN
N O V EM B E R , 1914, 1916, 1918, 1919, A N D 1920- Concluded.
Per
cent of
increase,
1920
1920
over
■ 1914.
Average weekly earnings in November—
Industry.
1914
1916
P a p er ............................................................. . .......................... «13.28
Printing and Paper G o o d s................................................
14.89
Paper boxes and tu b es................................................... 10.59
Miscellaneous paper goods............................................
11.63
Printing and book m aking............................................ 16.55
T ex tiles........................................................................
9.44
Silk and silk goods.........................................................
9.48
Wool manufactures.........................................................
10.13
Cotton goods.................................................
9.09
Cotton and woolen hosiery and knit goods...............
8.78
Other textiles and allied products..............................
9.46
C lothing, Millinery, Laundering, E tc ................... . ....... 10.24
Men’s clothing................................................................... 10.86
Men’s shirts and furnishings.........................................
8.68
Women’s clothing...........................................................
13.31
Women’s underwear and furnishings.........................
8.46
Women’s headw ear.: ...................................................
12.03
Miscellaneous sewing.......................................................
8.13
Laundering, cleaning, dyeing, e tc ...............................
9.07
F ood , B everages a,nd T o b a c c o ........................................
11.50
Flour, feed and other cereal products......................... 13.94
Fruit and vegetable canning and preserving............
8.96
Groceries not elsewhere classified................................
12.72
Slaughtering, meat packing and dairy products. . .
14.61
11.91
Bread and other bakery products....................
Confectionery and ice cream........................................
9.06
Beverages...........................................................................
19.20
Cigars and other tobacco products..............................
8.92
W ater, L ight and P o w e r ............................... ...........
15.68
A verage..................................................................
1918
1919
$15.96 «23.91 326.71
18.33
21.56
25.37
12.09
17.34
20.60
13.12
17.00
21.60
17.93
23.37
27.34
11.48
15.53
20. 32
10.87
14.31
18.19
12.06
15.07
22.72
11.89
16.39
20.96
10.71
14.46
18.17
12.29
18.29
22.07
12.11
15.92
23.65
13.30
18.27
29.04
10.76
18.02
12.39
14.24
19.00
26.84
10.08
13.50
19.27
13.59
18.76
24.52
9.36
11.63
17.40
10.37
15.17
17.82
19.64
13.63
23.15
16.61
22.94
26.40
10.27
15.22
18.72
15.50
26.82
22.99
17.15
25.87
27.33
13 2Q 20 QO
12.94
9.99
17.99
19.73
27.89
28.73
11.48
15.46
20.82
17.65
25.32
30.18
12.32
15.16
21.60
25.37
$32.36
30. 30
23.64
24.40
32.49
21.95
19.17
25.12
20.80
20.03
22.73
23.03
24.36
15.85
32.10
20.60
25.16
18.38
19.31
26.12
30.07
21.52
30.78
31.63
143.7
103.5
123.2
109.8
96.3
132.5
102.2
148.0
128.8
128.1
140.3
124.9
124.3
82.6
144.9
143.5
109.1
126.1
112,9
127.1
115.7
140.1
142.0
116.5
20.28
34.06
21.24
38.16
123.8
77.4
138.1
130.9
28.70
133.0
Comparison of average weekly earnings with retail prices-of food
in the United States is shown in the following table:
COMPARATIVE IN D E X NUM BER S OF A V ERAGE W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN N E W Y O R K
STATE FACTORIES AN D OF R E TA IL PRICES OF FOOD IN THE U N IT E D ST A T ES.
[June, 1914=100.]
1914
Month.
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries.
1915
R e
tail
food
prices
in
the
U. S.
1916
1917
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries .
R e
tail
food
prices
‘ in
the
U .S .
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries.
R e
tail
food
prices
in
the
U .S .
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries.
104
102
99
100
101
101
101
101
102
104
105
106
107
108
110
111
112
113
111
114
117
118
119
122
108
107
108
110
110
113
112
114
119
122
127
127
120
121
124
122
127
128
127
129
134
136
139
139
102
114
115
129
January...........
February.........
March...............
April................
May..................
June..................
July..................
A u g u s t...: —
September___
October............
November.......
December........
100
99
99
98
97
97
99
100
103
108
108
106
106
106
98
98
100
99
100
101
100
102
101
105
106
106
Average..
98
105
101
1918
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries.
1919
1920
R e
tail
food
prices
in
the
U .S .
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries.
Re
tail
food
prices
in
the
U .S .
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings,
New
York
facto
ries.
129 U32
134
139
134
147
146
152
153
157
154
161
147
164
151
167
155
176
159
176
157 2 170
159
183
162
163
156
156
160
164
169
173
180
183
185
189
181
174
175
174
175
177
182
188
196
192
200
207
187
174
177
184
187
186
192
194
190
190
194
199
209
208
219
219
224
227
224
226
226
228
226
147
170
185
188
Re
tail
food
prices
in
the
U .S .
160
1 Drop in January, 1918, was due to Fuel Administrator’s closing order for Jan. 18-22.
2 Drop in November, 1918, was due to closing of factories on Nov. 11, Armistice Day.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 112]
R e
tail
food
prices
in
the
U .S .
203
202
202
213
218
221
221
209
205
200
195
WAGES AKD HOURS O P LABOR.
118
The Three-Shift System in the Steel Industry.1
T THIS time when many.steel mills are laying off large numbers
of men the question is being raised as to why any job need be
12 hours long. England has given up the 12-hour day in her
steel industry, and so has France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Belgium,
Spain. There is no other American industry which, like a steel plant,
works the majority of its men 12 hours a day.
A visit to practically all of the some twenty American steel plants
which are now running on three shifts disclosed the fact that the men
have been willing to make substantial concessions in daily wages in
order to get the shelter hours. A 25 per cent increase in hourly rates
is ample to compensate the men for a 4 hours’ loss of pay. To give
all the men now on 12-hour work a 25 per cent increase in wages and
cut down their day from 12 to 8 hours would cost a manufacturer
of pig iron at the most about 21 cents a ton. Pig iron sells for $40.
If all the departments in a steel plant were to be changed from two
to three shifts, the increase in total cost for the finished rail, bar, or
plate could not, on the average, be more than about 3 per cent.
But it is shown that the increase in cost need not be nearly so great
as these figures. By taking care, some manufacturers going on
8 horns have been able to reduce their force of men 10 per cent ; some
more. Others have found that the quality of their open-hearth steel
has improved and that the expense for fuel and wear and tear on
furnaces has been substantially reduced. Others have found that
their rolling-mill output has gone up well toward 20 per cent or even
more.
The steel industry is not an easy one in which to increase output,
and during the initial stages of three-shift operation most com
panies have had to stand some increase in labor cost; but, taking it
all in all, the manufacturers now operating on the shorter day are
practically a unit in saying that it means more satisfactory opera
tions, and is better business. Many detailed problems have had to
be worked out; but certainly the experience of these 20 plants has
shown that there is no really serious obstacle to putting the steel
industry on a three-shift day.
It is especially important to note that present conditions are de
cidedly more favorable for the steel industry’s going on three shifts
than were circumstances at the time when most of the plants now
on three shifts made the change. At the present moment there is
a widespread surplus of labor, and unquestionably The expense of
wage adjustments would now be less, and the increase in efficiency
substantially greater, than was possible of attainment when the
plants herein studied made the change. Nor would a change to
three shifts now be apt to cost as much as the same change made a
little later.
The present, is, according to Mr. Drury, the steel industry’s
golden opportunity to attain, at minimum expense and maximum
advantage all around, those standards of hours and efficiency which
A
1
Abstract of an address delivered by Horace B. Drury, formerly of the economics department of Ohio
State University, on Dec. 3, 1920, before a joint meeting of the Taylor Society, the Metropolitan and Man
agement sections of the American Society o f Mechanical Engineers, and the New York section of the Amer
ican Institute of Electrical Engineers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[113]
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
114
the whole world has come to feel will sooner or later have in any
case to be introduced.
The speaker gave reasons that have been advanced for the twoshift system and also those in favor of going from two shifts to three,
and cited the experience of five of the plants visited showing the net
results of the change from the twelve to the eight hour basis. He
concluded with a summary of the experience of the 20 plants which
have introduced the three-shift system and touched briefly upon the
application of this system to the steel industry as a whole. To
quote—
The main question that has seemed worth while looking into as regards the threeshift system has been the fundamental question as to what extent, if any, the greater
wage cost due to compromise on hourly wage rates a t the tim e hours are shortened
can be offset by increased efficiency; that is, to what extent can the shorter day be
made to pay for itself.
A survey of the plants which have been experimenting with three shifts shows
that the attainm ent of this goal is not a simple m atter. Most of the people with whom
I have talked were ready to agree th at as a general proposition—having no special
reference to the steel industry—8 hours or 10 hours makes a better day from the pro
duction standpoint than 12 hours. Where the amount of work accomplished depends
on the energy that a man puts in, it is believed that he will do as much in 8 or 10
hours as in any longer period. But while the steel men feel that this is true in most
industries and in a few departments of the steel industry, they do not believe th at a
day as short as 8 hours can actually be made as productive per man-day of 8 hours as
is the present 12-hour day,- for the reason that most of the work around a steel plant
is not of a kind that a man can pitch into and get done. He must wait. I found, as
a matter of fact, that in almost all cases the three-shift system is being introduced at
some increase in cost—that is, in cases where the men do not go on at practically the
same hourly wage rates as before. And it seems likely that if all the steel plants in
the United States were to go on three shifts they would most of them find that labor
costs had risen.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
While costs are likely to go up some at the start, I think there is substantial reason
for believing, in view of what has already been done in some of the plants, th a t before
long the adjustm ent will work out along lines th at will mean very little if any higher
cost. * * * If hourly wage rates are compromised half way, the force of men
increased not a full 50 per cent, but on the average 35 per cent, and if output could
on the average be increased 10 per cent, then the labor cost under three shifts would
be practically the same as under two shifts. If the first figure were 20 per cent, or
the second 30 per cent, or the third 121 per cent, the others being as given there
would be no increase at all.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
This figure for a 35 per cent increase in men, instead of 50 per cent, is a conservative
one. In many plants exactly 50 per cent more men are employed on three shifts
than on two, and most of them are close to the 50 per cent figure. B ut the 35 per
cent standard has l^een attained by some of the largest plants. * _ * * I t might
be noted th at the lim itation to.35 per cent increase can be obtained if , where 10 men
are now employed on a shift, it is possible to get along w ith 9. T hat is, 27 men em
ployed on three shifts is just 35 per cent more than 20 men employed on two shifts.
I t seems only reasonable to assume th a t w ith so large a reduction in the number of
hours, i t would be possible to cut out one man out of ten.
This figure for increased output of 10 per cent seems not very far away as an average.
I t is, of course, too high for a blast furnace. I know of no reason to expect greater
output a t all from a blast furnace on three shifts. Fortunately, in the case of a blast
furnace the labor cost is small. In the case of the open-hearth furnace a 10 per cent
increase in output would be an ambitious program. Most steel men would say th at
any increase in output at all would be impossible. Others think th a t wide-awake
labor can hasten the charging and guarantee th a t the melting takes place at maximum
speed. Fortunately, about an open-hearth furnace there are ample opportunities for
improving the quality of the steel, prolonging the life of the furnace, and saving in
materials, which may more than make up for the difficulty of increasing output. As
regards rolling mills, the human equation enters in to a considerable extent, so that
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[114]
W AGES A N D
HOURS
115
OF LABOR.
increase in output may be looked for. The amount depends on the type of mill and
the opportunities for doing more rapid work. I t would also depend some on the
efficiency of the arrangements for supplying the metal to he rolled, and for shearing
and taking away the finished product. On many mills, however, actual figures show
th at the increase in output may run up well toward 20 per cent, or even higher.
However, the striking thing about the cost of the three-shift system is the smallness
of the am ount a t stake, whichever way one looks at it. Suppose th a t there were no
increase in efficiency a t all, th a t the plant increased its force of shift men precisely
50 per cent, th a t the output is no greater in any departm ent than under two shifts,
and th a t the hourly wage rates are raised 25 per cent. * * * In a good blast
furnace plant the labor cost a t present wage levels and efficiency should n ot be
far from $1 per ton; to be safe we will say $1.25 a ton. Assuming th at the change
from 12 hours to 8 would affect two-thirds of the men, the pay of these men
under th e two-shift system would amount to two-thirds of $1.25 or 83 cents per
ton. An advance of 25 per cent in the hourly wages of these men would increase the
labor cost per ton of pig iron by 21 cents. Considering th e fact th a t pig iron sells
for around $40 a ton, th a t the ore th at goes into a ton when delivered a t Pittsburgh
costs about $16, the trifling risk involved in increasing the labor cost a maximum of
about 21 cents is apparent. Likewise in open-hearth wmrlc the labor cost might be
$1.30 a ton, to be safe we will say $1.50 a ton. The maximum increase in labor cost
here, assuming no increase in efficiency, would be 25 cents. Thus the total increase
in labor cost for the steel ingot would be not more than 46 cents, still a small figure
for something th at sells for about as many dollars. In the rolling mills the labor cost
will run higher, especially where material is rolled several times, and into light shapes,
as rods, sheets, etc. B ut in proportion as the product is p u t through many pro
cesses, the opportunities for getting higher labor efficiency increase, u n til a t th e
sheet mill end of the process, no one questions b u t that the shorter day_ means no
added cost at all. In various of the rolling mills visited there has been no increase in
labor cost.
Nevertheless, assuming th at there is no increase in efficiency in the rolling mill or
elsewhere, exhaustive analyses made by the Government have shown th at if every
department of a steel plant were put on three shifts the total cost of producing steel
products, including blast furnace, open-hearth furnace, and rolling-mill work could
not on the average be increased more than about 3 per cent.2
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Three-Shift System in Steel Industry as a Whole.
If the bulk of the steel industry should a t practically one time change from two
to three shifts the most commonly advanced objection to the shorter day would lose
almost all its force. And th at is the objection that the men want the maximum
earnings given during the long hours. I believe th at the Senate committee was
right when, after holding hearings in Pittsburgh, they concluded th at the majority
of the steel workers were opposed to the 12-hour day. Yet the comparatively
few who are still in favor of long hours can cause some perplexities where an individual
plant adopts the three-shift system b u t is surrounded by 12-hour plants. ^ This source
of irritation and confusion would, of course, not exist at all if the steel industry as a
whole, or in great part, should go to three shifts.
The magnitude of the problem of finding the extra labor is not nearly so great as is
commonly supposed. As for the higher positions, these may be filled by promotion
of helpers. This promotion in itself has a favorable effect on the men, as the better
workers make up in promotion for what they would otherwise lose because of decreased
earnings. The lower positions may be filled by new labor.
However, under present conditions, the tim e may soon be a t hand when the threeshift system could be introduced without bringing any new labor into the industry.
If indeed we are face to face with a tim e of considerable unemployment in the steel
industry, then this would be the tim e of all times to cut out one m an’s working 12
hours a day, and another’s working not at all, and distribute the work so th at all would
have employment for a reasonable workday. Under these conditions the change
can be made with the greatest benefit all around, and perhaps no cost anywhere.
A number of tables were presented, one of which is here reprod
duced showing the industries in which each specified number a ri
per cent of men are working 12 or more hours a day. It will be noted
2
Senate Document No. 110,62d Cong., 1st sess.
industry, Vol. I ll, pp. 175-187.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Report on conditions of employment in the iron and steel
tH 5]
116
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
that the iron and steel industry tops the list with 17.4 per cent of
12-hour men. This figure of 17.4 per cent does not show the full
extent of the 12-hour work in the steel industry for the reason
that the table shows not the hours of labor on any one day, but the
average number of hours per day for each man during a pay-roll
period. Thus, if during a given two-weeks period, a 12-hour man
worked only six days, or 72 hours altogether, his daily average would
be one-twelfth of 72 hours, or 6 hours; and he would be classified
not as a 12-hour but as a 6-hour man. So the figure of 17.4 per cent
is not to be taken as the proportion of 12-hour men in the industry.
The figures are for the beginning of 1919, when work was so irregular
in these steel plants, or labor turnover so high, that there were
actually more men averaging less than 4 hours a day than there were
over 12.
N U M B E R AN D P E R CENT OF MEN AVER A G IN G 12 HO U R S OR MORE P E R D A Y IN
SPEC IFIE D IN D U ST R IE S.!
N um
ber
of
States
includ
ed.
Industry.
Trbn and s te e l..............
Chemicals.......................
Paper and p u lp ............
Class................................
Brick................................
Goal:
A nthracite.............
Bitum inous............
Foundries.......................
Machine shop :
Machine tools.........
Other machinery..
Rubber............................
Confectionery.................
Automobiles..................
15
14
9
11
1
18
28
11
27
9
19
7
12-hour
N um
men.
ber
of em
ployees
includ N um Per
ed.
ber. cent.
31,588 5,497 217.4
28,478 2,367
8.3
ft 379
444
7.0
11,738
791
6 7
1,773
85
4.8
16,216
40,541
15,340
617
272
364
3.8
.7
2.4
7,817
14,931
15,134
4,370
17,812
40
298
272
54
98
2 .0
1 .8
1 .2
.0
.5
Industry.
Boxes, p ap er..
Cars
Cigars ...............
Oloth in 25 men’s
Electrical m achin ery..
Furniture........................
Hosiery and underwear
Leather..
Loggin pLumber...........................
Mill work
Overalls
Silk
TyppAvriters
N um
ber
of
States
includ
ed.
ID
14
10
9
8
13
. 15
9
21
22
13
19
7
10
12 -hour
N um
men.
ber
of em
ployees
includ N um Per
ed.
ber. cent.
1 805
15 606
R
9 9^6
4’369
10,615
2,607
7Q?0
7 ' 330
i s ! 622
5; 154
358
q 7^~
8,870
10
9"
2
iy
6
35
10
59
42
170
13
-j
27
58
n H.
0
Al
.U
**
.2
1
.3
4
7
.0
9
.3
. 31
. 71
1 The figures upon which this table is based are taken from Table 5 of B ulletin No. 265 of the United
States Bureau oi Labor Statistics, Industrial survey in selected industries in the United States 1919
The arrangement has been altered to serve the purposes of this study, and the per eent figures added '
2 See explanation in text above. The proportion of 12-hour men in the typical steel plant is 50 ner
cent or over.
1
Wage Increases in Certain Foreign Countries.
Silk Mills and Dyeing Houses at Leek, England.
HE silk mills and dyeing houses at Leek in the Stoke-on-Trent
consular district have cut down their working week to four
days, closing from Friday night until Tuesday morning, the
reason being decreased orders. The United States 'consul in that
district reports (Oct. 28, 1920) that increases in wages have recently
been granted operatives in the silk industry effective October 22,
1920, as follows:
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[116]
117
WAGES AND H O U R S OF LABOR,
W AGE IN C R EA SES TO O P ER A T IV E S IN THE SIL K IN D U S T R Y AT LEEIC, E N G LA N D ,
E FFEC T IV E OCTOBER 22, 1920.
[Is. at par=2L3 cents; Id. at par=2.03 cents.]
Sliding
scale of
Wage
increase
wage
per week. increase
per week.
Class of worker.
Males, adult (time and piece workers).....................
Females, 18 vears of age*and over..............................
Minors...............................................................................
s.
0
4
3
d.
0
0
0
s.
2
1
1
d.
0
6
0
It should be explained that the sliding scale is applied only as the
cost of living increases or decreases 10 points, as shown by the Board
of Trade index figures.
French Potash Miners.
A REPORT recently received by the Department of State through
its representative in Paris under date of November 11, 1920,
suggests that the “ threatened strike in the French potash mines
has been averted by a vote of the strikers.” A new contract affecting
wages has been drawn up to run for one year from September 15,
1920, in accordance with which the following wages are now being
paid:
N E W WAGE SCALE FOR FR EN C H POTASH M IN ER S EFFEC T IV E SE PT E M BE R 15, 1920.
[1 franc at par=19.3 cents.]
Old rate.
O c c u p a tio n .
New rate.
Francs.
M iners.................................................................. ...................
Miners ’ ap p ren tices.........
.............................................
L oaders. t .*.............................................................. ..............
T rac k m e n 1............ ... ..............................................
........
Job workers:
Skilled i .............................................................................
W orkm en charged w ith care o f m in es......................
W in c h m en 1.....................................................................
Surface w orkers:
M achinists......................... ............................................
F ire m e n 1..........................................................................
O rdinary la b o re rs2—
14 to 16 years of ag e................................................
16 to 18 years of age................................................
18 to 20 vears of ag e................................................
20 to 25 years of ag e................................................
Over 25 years of a g e ................ ..............................
Francs.
2 3 .4 0 -2 5 .0 0
2 1 .0 6 -2 2 .5 0
1 8 .7 2 -2 0 .0 0
1 7 .5 2 -1 8 .7 5
19.20
19.20
15.60
2 0 .8 0
2 0 .6 0
1 6 .8 0
19.2 0
19.2 0
2 0 .8 0
2 0 .8 0
7. SO
10.2 0
12.6 0
1 5 .0 0
15.60
8 .4 0
10 .9 0
13 .5 0
15 .9 0
16.80
1 Above 25 years of age.
2 In addition a family allowance of 1 franc a day is made.
Wages and Labor Conditions on Plantations in Java.
'"THE United States trade commissioner at Singapore, Straits Settlements, gives in the August 13 issue of the Commerce Reports
(Washington) an account of plantation organization in Java which
describes in some detail how labor is handled on a certain large
estate, giving the duties of the various classes of native workers and
the wages paid to them for work in connection with the raising of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LUT]
118
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
rubber, coffee, and sisal. After noting the differences in the two
systems of estate management, one in operation in Java and the
other in Sumatra, the commissioner’s report continues:
L a b o r c o n d i t i o n s o n a la r g e e s ta te .
In describing labor conditions in Java but few generalizations may be safely made,
as the character of the population varies, and even in the strictly Javanese districts
there are many variations in customs and character. The organization described
below is of an estate Avithin the boundaries of the Javanese country, b u t not entirely
uninfluenced by the immigration from Madura. The manager of this estate has had
full, control for 20 years and knows the “ a d a t” (tribal customs) of his people and the
individual peculiarities of the leaders. This estate has been described as having
one of the most perfect estate organizations in Java. I t consists of two divisions of
3,449 bouws_(about 6,048 acres in all), of A\hich 2,500 bouws are in rubber and coffee
and 550 in sisal; the remainder includes rice fields, tim ber, nurseries, bamboo, teak,
pastures, villages, roads, canals, etc.
Foreign Personnel.
The foreign staff is under the supervision of a general manager and consists of the
following personnel: A chief garden assistant of section 1, who has under him four
section assistants and a native staff; a chief garden assistant of section 2, Avho has
under him three section assistants, an apprentice assistant, and a native staff; a chief
factory assistant, \vho has under him an assistant machinist, an apprentice assistant,
and a native staff; and, finally, a bookkeeper. The term “ garden” means the
area under cultivation.
The bookkeeper, a man of mixed blood, handles all the general accounting, accumu
lating the reports sent in by the various assistants. The two chief garden assistants
are responsible to the manager for all work outside the factory except the construction
of neAV buildings, which is in charge of the chief factory assistant. The two divisions
of the estate are subdiAuded into seven agricultural sections, each section being in
full charge of an assistant. A section may include rubber, coffee, sisal, teak, bamboo,
a coagulation station, and nurseries. * * *
The factory includes a water power plant delivering, through an American water
wheel and by cable, 250 horsepower to th e main shafting, an auxiliary steam plant
of 150 horsepower as a reserve, & rubber mill, a coffee mill, three sisal-stripping
machines, smokehouses, drying fields and houses for sisal, drying floors and houses
for coffee, sorting rooms, blacksmith shop, machine shop, brass fitting foundry, pack
ing houses, Avarehouses, and other equipment. The*factory is in charge of a first
assistant, Avho is a machinist, with a European staff consisting of a machinist and an
apprentice assistant. * * *
Native Staff Organization.
The Javanese staff is the backbone of the organization. Many of the mandoers
(native foremen) are fully capable of managing a section, and but for their unrelia
bility in money matters would be promoted to assistants’ positions. When the
assistants are absent for short periods the section work goes on without serious friction
or slacking d6wn. The native organization is as follows: Under the garden assistant
tnere are two immediate subordinates, the head tapping mandoer and the head mandoer for garden Avork. Under the head tapping mandoer are tapping mandoers, a
marking mandoer, and a mandoer of the tapping school. Under the head mandoer
for garden work are Aveeding mandoers, nursery mandoers, mandoers for combat in«
diseases of bark and stem, mandoers for combating diseases of leaves and branches'3
and mandoers for coffee plucking and the cutting of hemp leaves. Under each
mandoer there is a staff sufficient for the work in hand. * * *
Rubber, Coffee, and Sisal Plantations.
The tappers are the key men on a rubber plantation. They are highly skilled, and
only the more intelligent men and women can qualify for this work, which requires a
light touch and a judgment th at is almost instinctive. Tapping begins at daybreak
and is finished before noon. The latex brought in by each tapper is weighed and a
sample of 50 grams [1.8 ounces] is coagulated, mangled, and weighed. Payment is
made on the basis of the actual rubber brought in, taking into consideration the age
of the trees and the configuration of the land on which the tapper has AA'Orked. * * *
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[U S ]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
119
Coffee harvesters are generally, women and children. * * * Many of the pickers
are rapid workers, and the best of them are able to earn up to 1 florin [$0.40, par] per
day, especially when there is a heavy crop.
The harvesting of sisal is work th a t is not sought after by the Javanese. * * *
It is the intention of the management to p u t as much of the work as possible on a
‘ task ” basis. Common labor is paid at the rate of 0.40 florin [$0.16, par] per day for
the men and 0.25 florin [$0.10, par] for v/omen, but when working at task work it is
possible for them to earn more than this amount. Weeding, digging, planting of
sisal, and what plowing is done are all on a task basis, as is much of the road work.
Nursery work, which requires a high degree of skill, disease fighting, and other work
demanding a maximum of care and skill are paid for at a higher rate on a day basis.
Factory Organization and Personnel.
The organization of the European and native staff in the factory is as follows: The
immediate subordinates of the chief factory assistant are a machinist assistant, an
apprentice assistant, a master carpenter (native), and a master bricklayer (native).
The chief factory assistant is in charge of the warehouses and pays the labor. Under
the machinist assistant are the mandoer in charge of creping and sheeting rubber,
the mandoer in charge of hemp stripping, the mandoer in charge of coffee milling,
and a master blacksmith (native), under whose supervision fall the machine shop,
workshop, soldering shop, brass-fitting foundry, and the oil men.
The duties of the apprentice assistant are coagulating the latex brought in to the
main factory; receiving w et rubber from the sections; receiving all other products
from th e sections; supervising the mandoer in charge of drying, smoking, packing,
and sorting rubber; supervising the mandoer in charge of drying, sorting, and packing
hemp; supervising the mandoer in charge of air and kiln drying of coffee; weighing
and forwarding products destined for the market; supervising the woman mandoer
in charge of sorting of coffee; and supervising the mandoer in charge of ordinary
upkeep of factory grounds. The chief factory assistant, machinist, and th e appren
tice assistant are Europeans or men of mixed blood. * * *
Wages.
The following table gives the wages paid to the various classes of
labor, native and foreign, on the plantations of this estate:
W AGES P A ID TO N A TIV E A N D FO REIG N LABOR ON R U B B E R , C O FFE E, A N D SISAL
P L A N T A T IO N S OF A LARGE ESTATE IN JAVA.
[1 florin, at par=40 cents.]
Occupation.
Bookkeepers1.............................................
Garden assistants, ch ief1.........................
Garden assistants1....................................
Factory assistants, chief1..............
M achinists1.................................................
Garden mandoers, h ead...........................
Mandoers, other..........................................
Carpenters, m aster.......................
Carpenters..........................................
Blacksmiths, m aster.................................
B lacksm iths................................................
Bricklayers, m aster...................................
Bricklayers................................................
Tappers, rubber.........................................
Tappers) beginners....................................
Mandoers in charge of drying, smoking,
and sorting rubber................................
Mandoers in charge of machining rub
ber..............................................................
Skilled labor-, rubber factory..................
Wages per
month.
Florins.
250
350-400
2 200-300
300
250
30- 50
18- 25
75
3 0. 60-1.50
75
3 0. 60-1.50
60
3 0. 60-1.50
3 0. 70-0. 80
3 0.50
30
20
15-20
Occupation.
Florins.
Coolies, m ales........... .................................
Coolies, fem ales..........................................
Mandoers in charge of air and kiln dry
ing of coffee..............................................
Mandoers, coffee m ill................................
Coffee harvesters, women and children.
Mandoers in charge of coffee sorters,
females......... .........................................
Unskilled labor, coffee sheds, m ales---Sorters, coffee, fem ales.............................
Sisal harvesters.......................................
Mandoers in charge of hemp-stripping
machines..................................................
Operatives, hemp-stripping m achines..
Mandoers in charge of drying, sorting,
and packing h em p .................................
Coolies, drying yards................................
Sorters and bundlers, fem ales................
Coolies, pressing and packing h em p . . .
1 The report states that it is planned soon to increase this salary 30 per cent.
2 Graduated yearly increases up to 300 florins per month.
3 Per day.
4 Per picul (136 pounds) delivered to the factory or central station.
6 Per picul (136 pounds).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wages per
month.
[1 1 9 ]
3 0 . 50
0 .3 0
3
25
20
40. 6 0 - 1 .0 0
3 0 .5 0
3 0. 40
<■0.50
0 .0 7
4
25
a 0.£0
20
3 0 .4 0
<>0.10
<■0.60
120
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Clothing and Textile Factories in N ew South Wales.
|N AN" article on The market for wearing apparel in New South Wales,
4 appearing in Commerce Reports (Washington) for November 23,
1920 (pp. 859-864) is included a table showing the rates of wages
current in clothing and textile factories in that State of Australia in
December, 1919. In this table the conversions into United States
money have been made by the United States consul at Sydney, who
supplies the information, on the basis of one pound sterling equals
$4.50.
B A T E S OF W AGES C U R R EN T IN THE CLOTHING A N D T E X T IL E FACTORIES OF NEW
SOUTH W ALES IN D ECEM BER, 1919, B Y OCCUPATION.
.
Classification oi workers.
Rate of
wages
per week.
Woolen mills, textile workers:
Carder, warper.................................. 1
St7.55
17.32
Comber, knitter..................................
Finisher................................................. $17.32-19.46
Scourer, miller, spinner..............
17.43
18.11
T w ister.................................................
W arp drawer.......................................
17.77
W ool sorter..........................................
19.23
Comber, finisher, knitter (female).
7.49
Drawer, warper (fem ale).................
8.39-9.51
Weaver (fem ale).................................
4.50-9.51
Dress and costume making (40\ hours
per w eek ):
Order trade—
Alteration hand, assistant
blouse or skirt hand...............
C. 75
A ssistant bodice hand, blouse,
or skirt hand.............................
7.31
Bodice oi coat hand...................
7.87
Costume makers—
Machinist, tailor.........................
15.88
Machinist, tailor (female),
c o a ts .........................................
9.45
Machinist, tailor, skirts............
7.87
Cutter.............................................
19.12
Forewoman..................................
10.12
Manufacturing or stock—
Blouse or skirt machinist..........
7.31
Coat machinist, exam iner........
7.87
Classification of workers.
Dress and costume making (461 hours
per week)—Concluded.
Manufacturing or stock—Concld.
Cutter (m ale)...............................
Cutter (female)............................
Press er...........................................
Finisher.........................................
Forewoman..................................
Millinery—
Forewoman..................................
Joum eywoman........... ...............
Shirt and collar making:
Cutter....................................................
Shirtmaker (463 hours).....................
Tailoring (order and ready-made):
Examiner, folder, presser.................
Cutter (order).....................................
Cutter (stock)......................................
Machinist, tailor ( order and chart).
Machinist, tailor (ready-made)___
Machinist, tailor (female)—
Coats (chart)................................
Coats (order)................................
Coats (ready-m ade)...................
Trousers and vests (chart).......
Trousers and vests (o rd er)___
Presser.........................................
Rate of
wages
per week.
$16.87
13,50
6.75
6.18
10.12
11.25
$7.31-7.87
17.32
7.31
12.93
19.46
17.32
14.62
15.18
7.31
7.87-8.55
6.60
6.30
6.97-7.05
14. 40
Municipal Employees of Dundee, Scotland.
T H E American consul at Dundee reports (October 23, 1920) that
certain employees of that municipality have recently been
awarded salary increases as follows:
Male employees in the baths and washhouses were granted a weekly increase of
$1.82, and females $1.21 each; while laborers in the slaughterhouses had their wages
increased from $13.86 per week to $16.65, and increases to other employees in the
department ranged from 60 cents to $1.82 per week.
Three assistants in th e town clerk’s departm ent were granted increases of $321.18
each, making their respective salaries $1,810.33, $1,202.02, and $1,138.76 per annum.
A member of the sanitary departm ent received an increase of $121.66, raising his
salary to $1,459.95.
Skilled and Unskilled Labor in Shanghai.
T H E British Department of Overseas Trade has recently issued a
report for the year 1919 on the conditions and prospects of
British trade with China which includes an appendix describing labor
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 120 ]
*
121
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
conditions in that republic and gives a statement of wages paid to
skilled and unskilled labor in Shanghai. The report declares at the
outset that China has no labor question.
Speaking very generally, there are no restrictions on the employment or production
of labor in China, every man, woman, or child being free to work as long as they like
and how they like, earning whatever wages their industry and skill can command.
The general standard of living in China being very low as compared w ith Europe and
America, th e Chinese worker earns just enough to keep himself and his family alive.
The standard of living is, generally speaking, higher in the -towns
than in the country. A rough idea of the cost of living may be
obtained from the statement in the report that an agricultural worker
or “coolie’’ earns from 15 to 30 cents1 a day, skilled labor from 30 to
50 cents, and artisans, craftsmen, and shop assistants from 50 cents
to SI a day according to their ability. The following table gives the
average rates of wages for skilled and unskilled labor in Shanghai,
1919:
A V ERAGE M ONTHLY W AGES OF SK ILLED AND U N SK ILL E D LA BO R IN SH A N G H A I
IN 1919.*'
Average monthly
wage.
Occupation.
Skilled labor—docks, factories, public works, mills, street railways, etc.: &
F itters......................................................................................................................
Mechanics...............................................................................................................
Turners........................... .......................................................................................
Holders and welders.............................................................................................
Boiler makers......................... .............................................................. : .............
Blacksm iths.............................: ...........................................................................
Coppersmiths.........................................................................................................
Electricians............................................................................................................
Carpenters............................................................................................................
Stonemasons..........................................................................................................
Bricklayers.............................................................................................................
Painters...................................................................................................................
Mill operatives......................................................................................................
Skilled labor—higher grades:
Clerks.......................................................................................................................
Engine drivers.......................................................................................................
Engineers—
Arsenal................................................................... . . . . .................................
Mills..................................................................................................................
Railway............................................................................................................
Foremen—
M ills..................................................................................................................
Shipyards........................................................................................................
Tram way.........................................................................................................
Stenographers........................................................................................................
Telephone operators............................................................................................
Tramway inspectors...........................................................................................
Typists.....................................................................................................................
D om esticservants in foreign em ploy:
No. 1 boy (butler, valet, parlor m aid )............................... ............................
No. 2 boy (housem aid)......................................................................................
House boy (w ithout a No. 2 )............................... ..............................
—
Coolie (boot boy, charwoman, scullery m aid)..............................................
Cook........................................................................................................................
Cook’s help (kitchen m aid )...............................................................................
Gardener............................................................................................. ..................
Groom (m afoo)......................................................... ..................... ....................
Chauffeur................................................................................................................
Chauffeur coolie.....................................................................................................
Laborers (agricultural)..............................................................................................
Coolies (includes street cleaners, casual laborers, messengers, e tc .)...............
Bamboo coolies (includes wheelbarrow coolies and carters).................. .........
16.00 to 59.00.
$4.00 to $10.50.
$4.80 to $6.00.
$4.90to $8.00.
$3.00to $8.10.
$3.00to 810.00.
$3.20 to $8.10.
$4.92 to $7.89.
83.00 to 86.25.
$3.00 to 84.20.
Sl.SOto $3.00.
$3.00 to $3.40.
Sl.SOto $6.00.
$30 to $200.
About $60.
U p to $350.
$60 to $120.
Up to $150.
$40 to $100.
$60to $120.
$34 to $65.
$100 to $150.
$50 to $80.
About $38.
$40 to $140.
$18 to $30.c
$10 to $18.8
815 to $18.
$10 to $12.
$12 to S30.il
About $5.
$8 to $12.
$11
$20 to $50.
$10 to $15.
$0.25.«
$0.22 to $0.45./
$0.45 to $1.00./
a See note 1, below.
c Usually about $25.
« Per day.
b All wages in this group are average weekly wages. d Usually about $15.
/ Paid by the piece,
i Although not definitely stated here, from other parts of the report it is gathered that wages are expressed
in terms of the Mexican dollar, which is equivalent to about 74.6 cents in U nited States money, and for this
reason conversions are not made in this article.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 121 ]
122
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Earnings in Specified Occupations in South Australia.
IN THE annual report of the chief inspector of factories of South
* Australia for the year ending December 31, 1919,2 is a table giving
average weekly earnings in specified occupations or industries by
sex and by age group. The following is an abridged form of this
table, many of the industries being omitted because the occupations
are not included and some of the occupations being omitted because
it is not clear just what the terms mean:
N U M B E R OF EM PLOYEES A N D AVER A G E W E E K L Y EA R N IN G S IN SP E C IFIE D OCCU
PATIONS IN SOUTH AU STR A LIA IN 1919, B Y SE X AN D AGE GROUP.
[Is. at par=24.3 cents; Id. at par=2.03 cents.]
Under 16
years of age.
Over 16 and
21 years
under 21 years Over
of age.
of age.
Occupation.
Aver
Aver
Aver
Num age N um age N um
age
ber. earn ber. earn ber.
earn
ings.
ings.
ings.
Males.
Bakers and pastry cooks.................................................................
Blacksmiths and shoeing sm iths..................................................
Boiler makers.....................................................................................
Brass workers....................................................................................
Brickm aking......................................................................................
Brush m a k in g ...................................................................................
Builders’ laborers ...........................................................................
Butchers..............................................................................................
Carpenters...........................................................................................
Coopers.................................................................. ..............................
Druggists.............................................................................................
Electrical workers.............................................................................
Engravers of m etals................................ ........................................
Florists................................................................................................
Hairdressers.......................................................................................
Hardware clerks................................................................................
Hotels, hoots, porters, e tc ...............................................................
Linotype operators...........................................................................
Masons and bricklayers...................................................................
Modelers in plaster...........................................................................
Monumental workers.......................................................................
Painters and decorators..................................................................
Plasterers............................................................................................
Plumbers, gas fitters, and galvanized-iron workers................
Sheet-metal workers.........................................................................
Shipbuilding and repairers:
Builders.......................................................................................
Laborers.......................................................................................
Slaughtermen...................................................................................
Tanners and curriers........................................................................
Undertakers.......................................................................................
Wickerworkers...................................................................................
9
4
9
17
6
1
s.
17
16
12
17
21
12
12
22
23
15
8
16
2
2
2
4
2
1
6
0
6
4
2
18 11
12 11
16 3
17 6
27 6
s.
78
81
87
72
74
72
71
81
84
93
74
72
75
70
73
72
34
100
81
74
78
74
80
86
73
58
52
12
34 10 . 132
13
38 0
27
97
71
68
71
70
69
22 0
24 5
17 4
18 8
17 9
27 6
22 5
18 h
18 9
25 0
15 0
22 3
34 5
26 11
46 3
56 10
39 4
30 0
32 6
40 0
s.
37
31
41
29
47
23
67
42
36
3D
36
24
33
18
3
2
42
28
32
22
24
17
23
4
58
71
43 10
37 4
33 9
31 2
35 5
30 2
31 6
10
21
2
3
9
4
29
20
16
15
9
4
0
35
16
14
14
2
7
1
20
16
0
252
68
51
127
362
29
308
334
631
23
24
250
6
I
86
23
69
66
290
114
55
302
54
1,80
215
57
12
17
52
23
8
2
60
52
2
18
100
5
d.
3
19
o
0
14
15
2
21
2
13
9
142
12
4
9
12
10
2
6
0
4
5
282
44
14
4
43
20
22
5
d.
4
2
0
3
9
4
3
7
4
o
0
8
0
I
6
0
4
d.
2
2
11
0
7
11
8
3
11
0
0
2
0
0
6
3
7
11
5
2
4
2
1
8
1
8
6
9
h
9
0
Females.
Brass workers.....................................................................................
Brush making..................................................................................
Dressmaking..................................... - .............................................
Druggists.............................................................................................
Florists...............................................................................................
Hairdressers........................................................................................
Hardware clerks................................................................................
Sheet-metal workers.........................................................................
Tanners and curriers........................................................................
Wickerworkers...................................................................................
2Australia (South Australia).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Inspector oí factories.
[ 122 ]
7
5
2
16 10
10 6
21 3
Report, 1919.
15 pp.
2
11
325
9
4
4
47
5
32
1
No. 61.
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
123
T he Eight-hour Day in Certain Foreign Countries.
Greece.
COMMUNICATION from the American consul at Athens,
Greece, states that conformably to the convention on the
8-hour day adopted at the International Labor Conference
in Washington in 1919 the Greek Government has given its adhesion
to the convention on June 24, 1920.
The convention provided that the 8-hour day should be effective
in Greece not later than July 1, 1923, for carbon disulphide and acid
works, tanneries, paper mills, printing works, sawmills, tobacco
manufacturing and handling, surface mining, foundries, lime and
dye works, blowers in glass works, firemen in gas works, and loading
and unloading merchandise; and not later than July 1, 1924, in
machine industries, building trades, textiles, food, chemical, leather,
paper articles and printing, clothing, woodworking and electrical
industries, and land transportation.
A
Netherlands.
rT*HE eight-hour law in the Netherlands became effective on October
*■
24. This law, which according to an account from the United
States minister at The Hague “ cuts deeper into social life than any
other industrial law,” prescribes a 45-hour week for all factories and
workshops, but does not so far affect offices, agriculture, horticul
ture, afforestation concerns, or mining, nor does it invalidate the
laws relating to quarries, to stevedoring, or the new labor laws.
The principal provisions of the new law, as outlined by the United
States minister, are as follows:
It is prohibited to employ children under 14 years of age.
General regulations concerning the health and safety of youthful persons and
women in factories or workshops, offices, shops, apothecaries, hotels, and cafés.
Regulating hours of labor in factories and workshops.
Inauguration of regulations and registers in factories and workshops.
Issuance of labor cards to youthful persons and married women in all establish
ments affected by the law.
Switzerland.1
A popular vote of 368,991 affirmative against 271,118', on
BY October
30, 1920, Switzerland granted the 8-hour working day
to all Government employees, such as custom, railway, post, and
telegraph workers.
i Data from the U nited States consul at Bern, dated Nov. 1,1920.
24933“—21—
9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1231
M IN IM U M W A G E .
Minimum Wage L aw of Texas.
HE Legislature of Texas in 1919 enacted a minimum wage law,
creating a commission to establish rates of wages for women
and minors employed in the State. This has met consider
able opposition, and at the special session of the legislature in 1920
a resolution was adopted requesting the commission to fix no scales
until the regular meeting of the legislature in 1921 when amend
ments would be considered. It was reported that the author of the
act himself favored in particular a zoning provision, which would
permit the establishment of different rates for different sections of
the State.
The action of the commission up to that time had been purely
investigative, and it decided, in view of this request by the legisla
ture, to continue to restrict its activities for the time being to the
work of investigation. Various industries have been studied and
the average cost of living determined in different sections of the
State and in cities of different populations. In the course of these
investigations it has called upon employees as well as employers to
furnish information. Employees are protected by the law against
discharge or discriminatory treatment by reason of any activities
in compliance with the requests of the commission.
T
Constitutionality.
IN A case recently decided by the Court of Criminal Appeals of the
* State the validity of this protective provision was affirmed, and
the law itself upheld. (Poye v . State, Oct. 15, 1920.) The appellant
Poye had discharged from his service one Bessie Lee because she
had testified before the commission regarding the terms and con
ditions of her employment in his restaurant. The act provided
in case of such discharge a punishment by fine of not less than .$10
nor more than $100, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not
more than 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The
county court of Harris County had found Poye guilty of violating
the law, and fixed his punishment at a fine of $100.
When the case came to trial Poye had moved to quash the com
plaint on the ground that the law was unconstitutional, violating
the fifth and fourteenth amendments of the Constitution of the
United States, and impairing the obligations of existing contracts.
This motion was overruled by the trial court and the conviction
arrived at as above, whereupon the case was taken to the Court of
Criminal Appeals on an exception for error. Judge Lattimore,
speaking for the court, found no grounds for regarding the law as
retroactive or interfering with due process of law; neither does it
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impair the obligation of contract. “ It must be borne in mind that
every contract entered into between our citizens includes as a neces
sary part thereof the written law of the land; and that such con
tracts are viewed and construed as embodying not only the expressed
will of the parties but also the provisions of such laws.” Therefore,
it is concluded that the appellant knew that his employee might be
called upon to testify in the manner in which she was, so that no
violation of the contract could be pleaded. The intent of such laws
is for the betterment of conditions of working women and children,
and their enactment is well within the province of the legislature.
No error was therefore found in the conduct of the case below and
the judgment was affirmed.
Fixing Rates.
r"PHE investigations referred to covered the entire State, and were
* said by the commission to be “ more comprehensive than any
subsequent investigations of the commission would be.” It was
held by the attorney general that the commission was without power
to fix rates for different sections of the State, and it was chiefly on
this ground that the objections above noted to enforcing the law
were based. However, as the commission found by its investigation
that the differences anticipated did not materialize, and “ that no
appreciable difference exists in the cost of living between the small
town and large city in the matter of living essentials,” it was felt
that the reasons for delay were largely removed. No doubt the
decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals in sustaining the law as
constitutional also strengthened the position of the commission, the
attorney general having expressed himself as having “ grave doubts”
as to the constitutionality of the law. The law provides that orders
shall become effective in 60 days after their promulgation. The
commission took action on November 20, establishing rates for
females employed by telephone and telegraph companies, mercantile
establishments, laundries and factories, the order becoming effective
February 7, 1921. The time for the coming into effect, therefore,
falls after the meeting of the legislature (Jan. 11), which the commis
sion felt to be a sufficient compliance with the resolution. Moreover,
only a legislative enactment, and not merely a resolution, could
restrain the commission from carrying out its sworn duty. The order
noted is of uniform application throughout the State, and covers the
principal industries in which women are employed. It dices a uniform
rate of 25 cents per hour or $12 per week of 48 hours, work in excess
of 48 hours to be paid for at proportional rates. This State has a
nine-hour law for women, and if the full permissible time is worked,
this would give a minimum of $13.50.
Learners may be employed at lower rates for not more than one
year, a rate of 15 cents per hour being established as a minimum
for the first six months, and 20 cents per hour for the second. The
learning period of one year dates from the beginning of the employ
ment of the learner and not from the inception of the order. Learners,
like experienced workers, must be paid for the full time worked.
The law applies to all employable females, both adult and minor,
and also to boys under 15 years of age.
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Substandard workers may receive special licenses, but sucb em
ployees may not exceed 10 per cent of the total number of employees
m any industry. Workers at piece rates must receive an equivalent
to the minimum established. Where meals are furnished not more
than 20 cents may be deducted for each meal.
In arriving at a rate of $12 for a 48-hour week, the commission used
its own figures of costs with the exception of certain incidentals, for
which it adopted the figures of the California commission. An item of
some interest was the scaling of the discovered cost of clothing on the
basis of estimates supplied by merchants that the probable decline
in prices by January, 1921, would effect a saving of 33J per cent over
the costs at the time of the commission’s investigation. However,
the weekly budget thus arrived at amounted to $13.60, but employers
protested that such a rate might be detrimental to industry, especially
on the Southern border where many Mexican women are employed,
and while the Commissioner of Labor voted for a minimum of $13.60,
the majority favored the $12 rate on the basis of 48 hours worked.
Minimum Wage investigations and Revisions in Massachusetts.1
ITH a view to establishing wage boards, in connection with the
manufacture of druggists’ compounds and proprietary medi
cines and the manufacture of stationery goods and envelopes,
the minimum wage division of the Massachusetts Department of
Labor and Industries is making investigations of the wage conditions
of women employed in such manufacture.
The department of labor and industries has provisionally approved
the following recommendations of the reconvened wage board for
office and other building cleaners, which recommendations it is
proposed to make effective on or about February 1, 1921:
W
1. For the average worker of ordinary ability not lees than $15.40 a week for full
time employment, by which is meant 42 hours or more per week.
2. For less than 42 hours a week not less than 37 cents an hour, provided the total
for the hourly rate need not exceed $15.40 a week.
The present minimum is 30 cents an hour between 7 p. m. and 8
a. m. and 26 cents an hour between 8 a. m. and 7 p. m.
The new recommendations involve an increase of about 33J per
cent over the budget of $11.54 adopted in the spring of 1918 by the
former board. In proposing this increase consideration was given
to the recent trend toward lower prices.
A reconvened board is now in session for the purpose of revising
the minimum wage of women in the men’s furnishings industry, and
a new board is at present taking up the question of wages for women
engaged in the minor lines of confectionery and food preparations.
1 Information furnished by the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries.j
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Second National Cooperative Convention.
HE Second National Cooperative Convention was held at
Cincinnati, November 11—14, 1920. The convention was
attended by 62 voting delegates, from 19 States, representing
279 cooperative societies having a membership of 84.000, and 44
fraternal delegates representing bodies not cooperative in character
but favorably interested in the subject of cooperation. These
fraternal delegates, it was estimated, represented some 2,000,000
workers. Among the organizations which sent fraternal delegates
were the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, United Mine
Workers of America, Ohio State Federation of Labor, National
Women’s Trade Union League, National Catholic Welfare Council,
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Machinists’
Union, and National Federation of Postal Clerks.
Greetings were received at the convention from the cooperators of
Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France,
Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Russia, and
Switzerland. The Finnish cooperators sent three delegates repre
senting, respectively, the Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Society
(the “ S. O. K.”), the Finnish Cooperative Wholesale Society (the
"O. T. K.”), and the Finnish Agricultural Cooperative Society.
The proceedings of the convention were characterized by the
absence of formal papers. A definite program was followed, however.
Among the subjects on the program were the following: Kinds of
consumers’ organizations in the United States to-day—independent
cooperative societies, chain stores, American-plan stores, cost-plus
stores, trade-union stores, etc.—and relative advantages and dangers
of these types of organizations; Store problems: How to organize a
wholesale society; Direct trading between farmers’ and consumers’
societies: The need of national cooperative standards, methods, and
ideals; Practical experiences of practical cooperators; Cooperative
banking and credit unions; and Other types of consumers’ societies
In an opening speech the chairman, Dr. Warbasse, president of the
Cooperative League of America, pointed out that while there has been
a great growth in cooperation not all of the growth has been sound.
He emphasized the need of national unity in the movement, of
standardization for protection against unsound organizations, the
adoption of a word or seal for the use of genuine cooperative societies
only; of uniform accounting systems; and of education, impartial
and free and not in the interest of stock selling, among the general
membership, this to be supplemented with education of experts to
serve as teachers and guides. He also spoke of the need for Federal
and State laws defining cooperative societies and providing for their
protection.
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Cooperative Wholesaling.
time was devoted to discussion of the comparative merits and
uemerits of the English type of wholesale society and what is
called the “ American plan.” The English type of wholesale society
is a federation of independent retail societies, each remaining inde
pendent and in full control of its internal affairs, and through its
delegates, of those of the wholesale society. Under the American
“ plan” the wholesale society controls not only the wholesale
but, in greater or less degree, the constituent societies, often dele
gating to them a large measure of local autonomy but retaining final
control over them. Mr. John II. Walker, president of the Central
States Cooperative Wholesale Society, East St. Louis, 111., speaking
for the American plan as exemplified in his society, stated that certain
conditions in the United States—differing nationalities, prejudices,
the credit system, the Yankee mental attitude, etc.—made deviations
from the English plan necessary in order to develop the movement
“ rapidly and safely.” He said his society was unable to get indi
viduals to subscribe the share and loan capital and it was found
necessary to obtain funds from trade-unions. Every union which
lends its funds to the Central States Society is entitled to one delegate
to the meetings for every share of loan capital held. Each retail
society has local autonomy as far as possible, elects its own directors,
makes its own by-laws, and appoints its own manager, subject to the
veto of the wholesale. Its manager is under bond to the wholesale
and must turn in a check for the amount of his receipts every day.
The local society must maintain a stock of merchandise to the value
of what it obtains from the wholesale. If it does not, the latter may
withdraw the stock and get its money. The Central States manager
is also bonded, by a merchandising bond, to the local societies.
The retail societies’ accounts are audited every three months but are
checked every two weeks. Mr. Walker stated that the wholesale
society is a necessary feature of the American plan of operation. At
present the Central States Society has in its membership 140 stores
on the English plan and 61 organized on the American plan. The
radius of distribution is 140 miles. Mr. Walker brought out the
fact that he regards the American plan of operation as merely a
preliminary stage in the movement and expects that eventually all
the stores will go onto the original Rochdale basis. First, however,
members need education in cooperation.
Mr. Emerson P . Harris, of Montclair, N. J., expressed the opinion
that operation under the American plan was safe while under good
administration, but he doubted whether any great step forward would
be made by deviation from cooperative principle, saying that while
operation under the American plan might be “ good exercise” and
was very interesting, it was not cooperation and might or might not
be tending toward cooperation.
Mr. John Nummivuori, manager of the Cooperative Central Ex
change, Superior, Wis., expressed the opinion that before the whole
sale was started it should be shown that there was a need for it. He
pointed out that the history of cooperative wholesaling in the United
States shows that the preferable way to begin wholesale buying is
through a joint purchasing agency and that retail societies should
not immediately acquire a warehouse and a lot of goods. He warned
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cooperative societies that they should not try to “ put up a big front ”—
promoters do that—but should build up the movement slowly and
in a way that will last. He traced what he considered should be the
course of development, starting with from half a dozen to a dozen
societies doing joint buying. He favored making the buying agency
an incorporated society with the retail societies subscribing stock in
proportion to their membership and going into the project with the
idea of permanency. Share capital in the wholesale should not
belong to individuals but to retail societies, though loan capital may
be accepted from the former. The retail societies should take the
same interest in the wholesale as the individual members should take
in the retail societies. Mr. Nummivuori stated that while competition
is keener in the wholesale than in the retail business, the cooperative
wholesale can buy at nearly the same conditions as the large private
buyer. The wholesale society represented by him, the Cooperative
Central Exchange, composed largely of Finnish societies, had, he said,
shown a profit from the beginning. It now has 49 member societies
and does a yearly business of half a million dollars. He emphasized
the point that cooperators should “ start small and develop gradually.”
In the report of the committee on wholesaling the following points
were brought out for guidance in the establishment of a cooperative
wholesale: Joint buying should be undertaken first. Members should
be retail societies and should subscribe at least $500 worth of share
capital for each 100 individual members; $1,000 would be better.
The number of delegates to meetings of the wholesale society to which
member societies are entitled should also be based on their member
ship. Not more than 5 per cent of the turnover of the wholesale
should be used for organization purposes. It is not the number of
member societies that determines the success of the wholesale, but
the amount of patronage they give it. Salesmen are not necessary.
In the system of members and wholesale there should be decentralized
control but centralized administration. The wrong way is to begin
with the wholesale and then organize retail societies to support it.
The national wholesale should be preceded by district wholesales. It
should always be borne in mind that the ultimate aim of the wholesale
is production and manufacture.
Direct Trading.
M X THE subject of direct trading between consumers’ and farmers’
^
societies, Mr. Waldemar Niemela, manager of the New England
Cooperative Wholesale Society, Boston, Mass., was of the opinion
that if the farmers’ societies will cooperate with the consumers’
societies the latter should give them the preference. He stated,
however, that it had been his experience that the consumers’ society
can do better in dealing with the regular brokers, and cited one case
in which the farmers’ society refused to recognize the consumers either
as cooperators or as brokers and another in which the consumers were
charged more than other purchasers. According to Mr. Niemela, the
farmers’ organizations take the position that the consumers’ stores
should share their profits with them. Commendatory mention, how
ever, was made of the treatment accorded to the consumers’ societies
by the various cooperative cigar factories.
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Cooperative Communities.
JWIR. PICKETT of the Llano Cooperative Colony at Leesville, La.,
AV1 described that colony, which he said has a 20,000-acre tract and
is self-supporting in everything but clothing. All the inhabitants,
men, women, and children, receive the same compensation—$2.10
a week for six days' work, eight hours a day. The children receive
these wages for attending school and performing various little tasks,
the women for performing their household duties, and the men for
work done in the community enterprises. Each member of the com
munity has his own job but may be transferred to any other in an
emergency. Everything is free except food and clothing, these
being debited against the wages received. These two commodities
are charged for only in order to prevent their being wasted.
Cooperative Banking.
JWTR. McCALEB of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers’
1VA Cooperative National Bank of Cleveland, stated that that
bank has $1,000,000 capital. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars
was subscribed by citizens of Cleveland. The bank will pay 4 per
cent on savings and 2 per cent on checking accounts of $500 or more.
The bank, he said, is cooperative in that the shareholders agree to
limit their dividends in any one year to 10 per cent. All earnings
in excess of this will go to the depositors in the form of an increase
in interest on their deposits.
Mr. McCaleb was of the opinion that credit institutions lie at the
bottom of our economic system, and he urged workers to control their
own sources of credit through the organization of credit unions. He
stated that 50 persons, each subscribing one or two shares at $5 or $10
a share, were sufficient to start such a union. One case was cited of
a credit union which started with a capital of $26.40. One feature
of the credit union is that no one can be either a borrower or a depos
itor without being a shareholder. Nearly all loans are made on per
sonal credit. The chief advantage of the credit union is that each
member has behind him the combined capital of all the members,
and knows where he can turn in an emergency.
Education.
rT‘HE need of education in the cooperative principles was brought
1 out by several speakers, the introduction of courses on coop
eration into the public schools being favored. Dr. Lauman of
Cornell University thought that cooperators need an education in
cooperative history. The course in cooperation given by Cornell
University includes the history of the movement, and of the various
types of societies, and, finally, the study of the philosophy of the move
ment. He said, in response to a question, that the best way to obtain
courses in cooperation would be through the agricultural colleges.
Dr. Warbasse here remarked that some half dozen colleges have
applied to the Cooperative League of America for suggestions as to
courses on cooperation. Dr. Lauman was of the opinion that the
greater the attempt to force cooperation from above, the greater the
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131
failure, “ Tou can’t create cooperative success simply out of
philosophy.”
^ Mr. Severi Allanne, educational director of the Cooperative Central
Exchange of Superior, Wis., described the work being done by that
society. In 1917 a course in cooperation was given, lasting two weeks
and attended by 15 students; in 1919, the course was extended to
four weeks and was attended by 43 students; in 1920 it was further
extended to six weeks and was attended by 34 pupils. The purpose
of the course is to train workers to be managers. The chief difficulty
encountered by the Exchange lies in the inequalities in the. amount
of schooling already received by the students. Some students have
received some education either in this or other countries; others have
had no education of any sort. Since the Exchange operates chiefly
among the Finns, difficulties of language also" arise. The Ex
change endeavors to place its students in employment on com
pletion of the course. About 70 per cent of those who attended last
year are now engaged in the movement in some capacity.
Cooperative League of America.
DERHAPS the most significant action taken by the convention was
the organization of the Cooperative League of America as a
permanent national body. The object of the league will be “ to
promote the cause of cooperation: to develop mutual aid in place of
antagonism; to favor the spread of knowledge of cooperative methods;
to unite all consumers of the Tinted States for the above purposes
and for the purpose of international federation; and to encourage
the acquirement of the agencies of production.”
The plan as adopted provides for State leagues with local autonomy
and for district federations within the State. The national organiza
tion of which the State leagues will be members will have no control
over them except that the constituent societies must be acceptable
to it.
The board of directors of the new body are as follows :
A. P. Bower, Reading, Pa., vice president Pennsylvania State Federation of Labor;
president Keystone Cooperative Association.
James A. Duncan, Seattle, Wash., secretary Seattle Central Labor Council; Co
operative Food Products Association of Seattle.
L. S. Herron, Omaha, Nebr., editor Nebraska Union Farmer; Farmers’ Cooperative
Educational Union of America.
W. S. Lansdon. Salina, Kans., organizer and lecturer Farmers’ Educational and Coop
erative Union.
R. A. McGowan, Washington, D. C., department of cooperative education, National
Catholic Welfare Council.
Robert McKechan, East St. Louis, 111., manager Central States Cooperative Wholesale
Society.
John F. McNamee, Cleveland, Ohio, editor and manager Brotherhood of Locomoti\e
Firemen and Enginemen’s Magazine; Consumers’ Cooperative Society of Cleveland.
Waldemar Niemela, Boston, Mass., manager New England Cooperative Wholesale
Society ; United Cooperative Society.
John Nummivuori, Superior, Wis., manager Cooperative Central Exchange.
Joseph Schlossberg, New York, N. Y., secretary Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America.
Morris Sheppard, Texas, United States Senator, promoter of Federal cooperative law.
Albert Sonnichsen, Willimantic, Conn., secretary Cooperative League of America;
Workingmen’s Consumers’ Cooperative Society of New York.
Aaron Stolinsky, New York, N. Y.. secretary Federation of Jewish Cooperative
Societies of America.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
J. P. Warbasse, Brooklyn, N. Y., president Cooperative League of America; Finnish
Cooperative Trading Association of Brooklyn.
A. W. Warinner, Brookfield, Mo., district advisor Cooperative League of America;
Cooperative League of Brookfield.
The following officers were chosen: President, J. P. Warbasse; vice
president, A. P. Bower; general secretary, J. F. McNamee; treasurer,
W. Niemela.
Resolutions.
A MONG the resolutions adopted were those favoring the organization of an intercollegiate society; putting the convention on record
as not indorsing certain cooperative organizations which were named;
expressing “ appreciative sympathy” for the efforts of cooperative
producers and hoping for their highest success; providing that the
new Cooperative League of America shall define the standards deter
mining true cooperative societies; and urging the adoption of a
designated seal or symbol and word which could be used only by
genuine cooperative societies.
Attitude of International Labor Office Toward Cooperation.1
I
ATTACH the greatest importance to the establishment of con
tinuous relations and a confident collaboration between the
cooperative organizations and the International Labor Office.
Do not regard this as simply the expression of my sympathies,
formed long ago, for the cooperative movement, but as a convic
tion resulting from the actual examination of the function of the
Permanent Labor Organization, and of the tasks incumbent upon
its organ of study and executive action—the International Labor
Office.
I need only recall the whole development of the cooperative move
ment for nearly a century, from the humble booth of the poor
weavers of Rochdale, to the powerful and numerous productive
undertakings of the wholesale societies, in order to give an idea of
the many points of view from which cooperation may interest the In
ternational Labor Office: Organization of working-class consumption,
increase of the purchasing power of wages at the expense of the
middlemen, and at the same time the first contact of the workers
with the cares and responsibilities of the conduct of economic enter
prises; then, as the movement grows, the creation by means of the
accumulated savings of the workers of factories, workshops, agri
cultural estates, and as a consequence the obligation for the organ
ized consumers to solve on their own account all the problems of
the organization of labor, methods and rates of remuneration,
working hours, conditions of health, safety and comfort, relations
between the technical direction and the executive staff, etc.
The cooperative societies approach all these problems with the
spirit of sympathy which attaches them to the world of the workers
from which they recruit the majority of their adherents, and from
which they can not separate themselves without denying their
1 Statement of M. Albert Thomas, director of the International Labor O ffice, published in International
Cooperative Bulletin, London, September, 1920.
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origin and abandoning their ideal. But, at the same time, they
have to defend the general interests of the consumers, and take ac
count of the economic, commercial and financial necessities which
are imposed upon them equally with their private competitors.
The cooperative societies occupy therefore, as regards all the ques
tions which interest the International Labor Office, a peculiar
position which gives a particular interest to the tendencies which
they represent as well as to the practical solutions which they them
selves adopt in their enterprises.
In the next place, the cooperative movement has attained such a
degree of development that it can not adopt an indifferent attitude
toward the great world problems of economic organization. Ac
cordingly the cooperative societies have been led to propose that the
distribution of the most important foodstuffs and of raw materials
should no longer be left to the unrestricted play of private interests,
but should be made to depend upon a certain international organiza
tion, the initial form of which might be the creation of an interna
tional office of prices and stocks.
A proposition to this effect has been adopted by the Superior
Council of Cooperation of France (C o n s e il S u p é r i e u r d e la C o o p é r a
tio n de F ra n c e ).
I recalled this cooperative initiative when the
International Congress of Miners recently decided to notify the
International Labor Office and the League of Nations of a resolu
tion for the creation of an international office for the distribution of
coal. The International Labor Office will follow with interest the
manifestations on the part of cooperators in favor of an international
organization of economic relations, and also practical achievements
in the same sense which may arise from the negotiations entered
into between the national wholesale societies, with a view to estab
lishing the exchange of their supplies and productions on an organic
basis.
I have pointed out the reasons for which it appears to me indis
pensable that the International Labor Office should possess a com
plete collection of documents and a continuous supply of informa
tion in regard to the life of the cooperative movement, and in regard
to its tendencies and practical activity. These reasons have seemed
to me sufficiently strong to warrant the creation of a technical
section dealing specially with cooperative questions. It will be the
duty of this section to follow the cooperative movement in every
country, its progress and its achievements, and also its manifesta
tions and its relations with the labor and social movement. While
reserving to the cooperation of consumers the eminent place which
belongs to it in the cooperative movement as a whole, the coopera
tive section of the International Labor Office will follow equally
the development of the other forms of cooperation, such as coopera
tion in production, and labor and agricultural cooperation. In
several countries, in fact, in Italy for example, all forms of coopera
tion are united by close bonds on the common basis of the defense
of the collective interest, and it seems clear that in other countries
the moment will arrive when consumers’ cooperative societies,
cooperative societies for production, and agricultural cooperative
societies, will cease to ignore each other, and will be led to regularize
their mutual relations. In proportion as the information it acquires
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enables it so to do, the cooperative section will be required to bring
together and compare the cooperative experiences of different
countries, and to proceed from such comparison to the connected
study of every question presenting a general interest.
Such is the place which cooperation at present occupies in the
interests and activity of the International Labor Office. Is it
possible to go further? Can cooperation hope, as the International
Cooperative Alliance has already demanded, to have its own rep
resentation in the organs of the Permanent Labor Organization, in
its general conferences, and in the governing body of the Inter
national Labor Office ?
For my part, I appreciate the full value of the arguments which
the cooperative organizations are able to present in support of their
demands. It is, in my opinion, greatly desirable that, side by side
with the delegates of the Governments, of the employers’ organiza
tions and of the workers’ organizations, delegates of the cooperative
organizations should represent the general interest of the consumers
in all questions bearing on conditions of labor and production.
At present, in accordance with the terms of article 389 of the
Treaty of Peace, each nation is represented at the general labor
conferences by two delegates of the Government, one delegate of
the employers’ organizations, and one delegate of the workers’
organizations. The representation on the governing body of the
International Labor Office is established on the same basis.
It is right to observe also that at the general conferences each
delegate may be accompanied by technical advisers, to the number
of tivo at the most for each of the different subjects inserted in the
agenda for the session. These technical advisers can not vote, but
they are allowed to speak at the request of the delegate to whom
they are attached, and with the special authorization of the president
of the conference. No conditions are laid down for the choice of
the technical advisers of the Government delegates. The Govern
ments are therefore quite free to find a place among their technical
advisers for representatives of the cooperative organizations. Now,
there is no doubt that observations made at conferences by technical
advisers able to speak in the name of the cooperative movement
would have a peculiar Aveight with the delegates of the Governments
and of the employers’ and workers’ organizations.
But the wish expressed by the international Cooperative Alliance,
so far as it seeks to secure for the cooperative organizations a direct
representation, and for their delegates a deliberative voice, can not
be satisfied without a modification of the Treaty of Peace.
I need not insist on all the delicate questions which might be raised
by any proposition for the modification of the fundamental consti
tution of the Permanent Labor Organization, but the problem of
cooperative representation deserves to be studied, and it will no
doubt be possible to determine in what concrete forni, likely to
receive general support, the wish of the Cooperative Alliance might
be entertained by the governing body of the International Labor
Office.
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Cooperative Bank Established in Finland.1
OCTOBER 5, the Svenska Finlands Andelsbank (Cooperative
Bank of Swedish Finland) was established in Helsingfors. The
new bank is founded on the cooperative plan and will promote
agricultural industries in the Swedish-speaking parts of the country.
The par value of a share will be 100 Finnish marks and the bank will
commence its work as soon as subscriptions have been received for
20,000 shares.
N
O
Cooperation in Navigation in Italy.2
f i e l d of cooperative activity was entered, in Italy, with the
organization in 1918 of the Cooperativa Garibaldi, a society
whose purpose is to make all ships the property of the men who
sail them. Only members of the Italian Federation of Sea Workers
may hold stock in the company and then only to the amount of
5,000 lire ($965, par). The stock is paid for in monthly installments
of from 45 to 60 lire ($8.69 to $11.58, par), according to the rank of
the seaman.
The company began by buying five steamers from the Italian
Government in May, 1920. The fleet now includes seven ships, sailing
from the home port of Genoa.
Cargoes are carried at current rates and the profits so made will
eventually be used to repurchase the outstanding stock, on which
interest from the time of investment will then be paid to the share
holders. When all the stock has been thus called in, the ships will
become the property of the Italian Federation of Sea Workers and
all of the earnings will revert to the general treasury.
N EW
A
1 Data furnished by United States Consul at Helsingfors, Oct. 8 , 1920, and publishedin CommercelceD:rts,
Washington, for Nov. 22, 1920.
2 Seamen’s Journal, San Francisco, issues of Oct. 20 and 27,1920.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[135]
A G R EEM EN TS.
Agreement Affecting Employees of Haverhill (M ass.) Shoe Manu
facturers Association.
N NOVEMBER 12, 1920, an agreement was signed by represen
tatives of the Haverhill, Mass., Shoe Manufacturers Association
and of the Shoe Workers Protective Union, affecting 57 firms
and corporations manufacturing shoes, and a force of workers number
ing approximately 8,300. Briefly, the agreement furnishes a means for
preventing strikes and lockouts and provides that all differences
which can not be adjusted between the business agent of the union
and the secretary of the association shall be referred to an adjustment
committee. It is also provided that only members of the union shall
be employed, if available; otherwise nonunion help may be employed
temporarily, until union help can be furnished. The text of the
agreement is as follows:
O
Working Agreement.
Agreement entered into this 12th day of November, 1920, by and between the Shoe
Workers Protective Union, Haverhill, Mass., party of the first part, hereinafter called
the employees, and the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association, of Haverhill, Mass.,
parties of the second part, hereinafter called the employers, consisting of the following
firms and corporations manufacturing shoes, to w it:
[Here follows a list of 57 firms and corporations.]
and all others who may hereafter become members of the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers
Association.
Witnesseth :
A rticle 1. During the term of this agreement there shall be no lockout on the part
of the employer nor shall the employer force the employees to cease work in any
department covered by this agreement unless it is shown there is no work to be done
in said department in said factory, and there shall be no strike on the part of the
employees in the factory of the employer in said Haverhill, Mass.
A rt. 2. Any difference arising between the parties hereto or any of them during
the term of this agreement which is not mutually adjusted between the business agent
of the local union of said Shoe Workers Protective Union directly concerned and the
secretary of the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association, or representatives of said
employer when differences may arise shall be referred to an Adjustment Committee
and said grievance shall be decided in no other way. Said Adjustment Committee
shall be composed of three members of the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association,
and three members of the Shoe Workers Protective Union, one of whom shall be ap
pointed by the Joint Shoe Council and who shall be the permanent member of the
Adjustment Board for a term of three months, the remaining two members to be ap
pointed by the local involved. Neither business agents of the local union of the Shoe
Workers Protective Union nor secretaries of the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Asso
ciation, shall serve on such committee, The party requesting that a difference be re
ferred to said Adjustment Committee shall give written notice of said request, said
notice to be given to the secretary of the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association.
The Adjustment Committee shall"hear the parties within ten days after such request
has been presented and in all cases heard by said Board of Adjustment said Haverhill
Shoe Manufacturers Association shall furnish materials or shoes to show how the opera
tion is performed and shall render a decision ten days after hearing it. In case of the
failure of the Adjustment Committee to agree said committee shall select a seventh
136
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[186]
AG REEM EN TS.
137
party whose decision shall bo binding to both parties. Pertinent evidence may be
obtained from any locality. Any settlement made by said Adjustment Committee
shall date from the time aforesaid written notice of difference was presented. In
case of failure of Adjustment Committee to agree the difference shall be referred to a
local Board of Arbitration. The aforesaid Board to be composed of three members,
one chosen by the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association, one chosen by the Shoe
Workers Protective Union, the two members so chosen to choose a third member, and
the three parties so chosen shall sit with the Adjustment Board. A majority vote
of this Joint Board shall settle the question and both parties to this agreenemt mutually
agree that they shall abide by the same. Any settlement made by said Adjustment
Board or decision by the Joint Board shall date from the time the aforesaid written
notice of the difference was presented.
A r t . 3. This agreement shall cover all departments of the factory.
A r t . 4. Itism utuallyagreedthatnonebutm em bersof the Shoe Workers Protective
Union in good standing shall be employed to do the operations in the above named
departments. If no union operator can be obtained, the union shall be notified before
a nonunion operator is hired. All persons employed to do the work as above shall be
put to work immediately, and they shall report to the local headquarters at the end
of the half day on which they were so employed and the Shoe Workers Protective
Union agrees to issue a temporary permit. Where a nonunion person has been em
ployed, said temporary permit to be good only until a competent union operator can
be furnished. If it is claimed that the employer violated the above agreement re
garding employing help and the matter is not rectified after three days written notice
bas been given, it shall be adjusted under Clause 2 of this agreement and same shall
be adjusted within three days.
A r t . 5. The business agent and collector o f each local union of the Shoe Workers
Protective Union shall have access to the departments of the factory in which the work
under the jurisdiction o f such local is done for the purpose of performing such official
duties as business agent or collector may require is done [sic] in said department.
In case o f difference the Adjustment Committee shall have access to such department
to investigate such difference with or without the business agent of the local involved.
A r t . 6. It is further agreed that if the employer decides to introduce new work or
change any manner or form or process of manufacturing shoes from the manner and
form in which the work is being done during the life of this agreement, immediate
notice shall be given to the proper agents of the local unions affiliated with the Shoe
Workers Protective Union before any change takes place. In case of a difference
arising over a price to be paid for new work, namely, work of a kind not heretofore
done, or by process not heretofore used, pending the consideration and adjustment
or arbitration of such difference the work shall be performed at the piece price then
paid for work nearest similar thereto, the difference between this and the price
finally determined for such new work to be paid or refunded, as the case may be,
dating from the time the new work was introduced. During the pendency or adjust
ment of any difference, or at any other time, nothing shall be done by said employees
to hinder, impede, retard, or prevent production.
A r t . 7. It is agreed by both parties that a committee on prices shall be appointed
with representatives in equal numbers from the Shoe Workers Protective Union,
and the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association, to study the situation, classifying
the various factories into grades and establishing prices in those grades. When the
report of said committee is accepted, prices and grades so determined upon, shall
become operative at once in all the factories which are a party to this agreement
and prices shall be retroactive to the expiration of the last price list in operation.
Pending the report and final acceptance of this new schedule of prices by tbe above
committee the prices last paid in each individual factory shall be continued.
A r t . 8. The discharge of any employee considered a just grievance by the Shoe
Workers Protective Union shall be considered a difference within the meaning of
this agreement and the matter shall be referred to the Adjustment Board as provided
for in clause 2 of this agreement. In case such employee is restored to his or her
position, he or she shall be compensated for lost time because of such wrongful dis
charge in an amount fixed by the Board of Adjustment.
A r t . 9. The employer shall have the benefit of this agreement only while he is a
member of the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers Association and upon his ceasing to
be a member this agreement shall thereupon automatically terminate.
A r t . 10. All shop rules and working conditions now in force to continue and become
a part of this agreement subject to change from time to time, at the request of either
party in writing to the Adjustment Board as provided by the above board.
A r t . 11. Except as defined in paragraph 9 this agreement shall remain in force
until December 31, 1922. Should either party desire to alter, amend or annul this
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 7 ]
138
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
agreement it shall be given written notice thereof to the other party three months
before the expiration of the agreement, and if the parties fail to give notice, the
agreement shall continue in force another year, and so on from year to year until
such notice is given. It is further agreed that the question of prices to be m effect
on and after May 1, 1921, shall be opened February 1, 1921, and completed April 1,
1921.
'
Art. 12. It is further mutually agreed that any manufacturer who is a party. to
this agreement will not have any shoes which are in a partially finished condition
brought into his factory or factories in Haverhill, Mass., from a factory where they
have a strike, or have any work whatever done on shoes that were partially, made
in another factory where a strike existed. It is further agreed that in the event of a
shortage of help that work can be sent elsewhere to be done with the consent of the
Shoe Workers Protective Union or work can be brought into Haverhill to be done
under the same conditions.
. ,
,
A r t . 13. It is hereby agreed and declared by and between the parties hereto that
no action or legal proceedings shall be commenced or prosecuted by any of the
parties hereto at law or in equity against the other of them touching any of tne
matters, causes, or things whatsoever set forth herein until the matter, cause, or
thing has by written notice been brought to the attention of the other party, and
thereafter a hearing held within three days by the Board of Adjustment, and a period
of at least ten days expires from the date of said hearing before said Board of Adjust
ment unless the said ten days allowed for said award is extended in writing.
In witness whereof: Said parties of the first part and said party of the second part
hereto set their hands this day and year as above written.
Labor Agreement in the Trawling Branch of the Fishing Industry.1
JOINT conference council to handle questions affecting the
relations of employers and employees in the trawling branch
of the fishing industry has been provided by an agreement
recently negotiated between representatives of the fishermens
Union of the Atlantic, and the Gorton-Pew Fisheries Co. of Gloucester,
the Bay State Fishing Co. of Boston, and the Frank C. Pearce Co. of
Gloucester. The agreement covers a period of three years. The
council is to deal with matters of policy primarily, but it will also
endeavor to settle all questions which can not be satisfactorily
adjusted by lower agencies. This will be done so far as possible
by candid discussions without resort to arbitration. The settlement
of particular questions relating to wages, working conditions, etc.,
is left to special negotiations from time to time as occasion may
warrant. I t is announced that a similar agreement will be brought
about if possible covering the vessels in the schooner branch of the
fishing industry of the north Atlantic. The preamble of the agree
ment is as follows:
A
We recognize that the interests of workers and employers and of the consuming
public are at many points fundamentally identical in the fishing industry. It is
our earnest desire at all times to promote this community of interest, and to establish
the control of labor relations in our industry on the permanent basis of cooperation
and mutual understanding, with peaceful negotiations and sympathetic appeal to
mutual adjustment of any difficulties that may arise, as the methods of dealing with
each other.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ir>ata taken from New York Evening Post for Nov. 29, 1920, p. 7.
AGREEMENTS.
139
Agreement.
'"FHE agreement sets forth these general principles to govern the
labor policy for the industry:
(1) All parties in the industry shall continuously strive to promote and maintain
just and harmonious relations between employers and workers, based upon the prin
ciples of equity and sympathetic investigation of fact, recognizing that the prime
essential in the cooperative control of labor relations by workers and employers is
not the particular form of administration that may be set up, but the attitude of all
parties concerned toward each other and toward any plan that may be adopted.
(2) The industry recognizes the propriety and necessity of its workers receiving a
reasonable living wage as a minimum, which wage shall'be sufficient to provide lor
the necessities of life as well as for progressive standards of living; and it further
recognizes that a proper relation between a guaranteed minimum amount of remunera
tion and a reasonable opportunity for earnings above that minimum should be main
tained .
(3) It is recognized that in all wage adjustments, after proper provision has been
made for the principle of the minimum wage as set forth above, due recognition shall
be given to the economic conditions of the industry.
(4) Barring factors inherent in the nature of the industry »and other uncontrollable
conditions, continuity of employment and reasonable quality and degree of produc
tion consistent with full safeguards for the,health and well-being of the workers and
the general welfare of the industry, are essential.
(5) Uniform and comprehensive methods of investigation and record on labor
relations and related factors throughout the industry are prerequisite to any sound
basis of fact for determining proper conditions throughout the industry.
(6) All matters requiring adjustment, shall be settled through regularly established
channels of candid discussion and peaceful negotiation and adjustment, without
resort to lockouts, strikes, boycotts, blacklist, or other such methods.
(7) All matters requiring adjustment shall be settled, in so far as possible, at their
source, without the exercise of appeal except as a last resort.
(8) Due recognition shall be given in all questions to the protection of local interests.
These principles governing our labor policy are frankly predicated upon the right
"of both employers and workers to organize as they may wish in any lawful associations
without discrimination, to bargain collectively when they desire, and to be repre
sented by representatives of their own choosing in negotiations and adjustments
with respect to terms and conditions of employment and work in the industry.
Provision is made for choosing, if occasion should demand, a
hoard of final review which is to be employed only as a last resort
to settle cpiestions in dispute.
24933°—21------ 10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 9 ]
EM PLOYM ENT A N D UNEM PLOYM ENT.
Employment in Selected industries in November, 1920.
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics received and tabulated reports
concerning the volume of employment in November, 1920,
from representative establishments in 13 manufacturing
industries and in bituminous coal mining. Comparing the figures
of November, 1920, with those of identical establishments for
November, 1919, it appears that in 4 industries there was an increase
in the number of pci'sons employed, while in 10 there was a decrease.
The largest increase, 130.3 per cent, is shown in coal mining, while
the smallest increase, 4.4 per cent, is shown in paper making.
Decreases of 39.4 per cent and 31.3 per cent appear in woolen, and
boots and shoes. Cigars show a decrease of 0.8 per cent.
Six of the 14 industries show an increase in the total amount of
the pay roll in November, 1920, as compared with November, 1919,
and 8 show a decrease. The most important percentage increase,
348.5. appears in coal mining. The next largest increases are 56.2
per cent in iron and steel and 39.4 per cent in car building and
repairing. Cotton manufacturing shows an increase of 1.7 per cent.
Respective decreases of 37 per cent, 36.8 per cent, and 33.7 per
cent appear in men’s ready-made clothing, automobiles, and the
woolen industry.
The large increases reported in the coal mining industry in
November, 1920, as compared with a year ago are due to the recovery
from a period of strikes in November, 1919.
T
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHM ENTS IN NOVEMBER,
1919 AND 1920.
Industry.
Iron and ste el..........................
Automobile manufacturing.
Car building and repairing..
Cotton manufacturing_____
Cotton finishing......................
Hosiery and underwear........
Woolen......................................
Silk.............................................
Men’s ready-made clothing..
Leather m a n u fa ctu rin g .....
Boots and shoes......................
Paper making........... ..............
Cigar manufacturing. . _____
Coal mining (bitum inous)...
140
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Estab
lish
ments
report
ing for
No
vem
ber,
both
years.
108
44
49
55
15
51
52
46
40
32
76
53
52
65
Number on pay roll.
Period
of pay
roll.
- .
\ month.
1 w e ek ..
1 month.
1 w eek..
. .. d o ___
...d o ----...d o ----2 weeks.
1 w e ek ..
...d o ....
...d o ----...d o .. . .
. ..d o ----J month.
No
vem
ber,
1919.
No
vem
ber,
1920.
134,404
135,828
56,838
45,499
12,197
29,08848,254
19,954
29,964
17,603
61,783
30,474
17,098
8,338
179,544
96,264
69,656
43,393
9,226
20,398
29,226
17,015
20,683
12,173
42,472
31,810
16,953
19,200
[140]
Per
cent
of in
crease
(+ ) or
de
crease
(-).
Amount of pay roll.
Per
cent
of in
Novem November, crease
ber, 1919.
1920.
(+ ) or
de
crease
(-)•
+ 33.6 $9,091,664 $14,197, 947
2,771,456
- 29.1 4,387,196
+ 22.6 3,636,903
5,071,455
783,433
- 4.6
796,382
260,196
- 24.4
199,803
501,329
351,331
- 29.9
682,769
- 39.4 1,029,403
867,152
- 14.7
701,539
569,836
- 31.0
903, 873
- 30.8
424,844
315,315
943,288
- 31.3 1,409,721
+ 4.4
733,899
936,540
351,720
362,301
.8
+ 130.3
374,258
1,678,610
+ 56.2
- 36.8
+ 39.4
+ 1.7
- 23.2
- 30.3
- 33.7
- 19.1
- 37.0
- 25.8
- 33.1
+ 27.6
+ 3.0
+348.5
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
141
Comparative data for November, 1920, and October, 1920, appear
in the following table. The figures show that in 3 industries there
was an increase in the number of persons on the pay roll in November
as compared with October and in 11 a decrease. The increases in
the number of persons employed are 3.6 per cent in coal mining, 3.1
per cent in cigars, and 1.5 per cent in car building and repairing.
Decreases of 17 per cent, 12.5 per cent, and 12.1 per cent appear in
men’s ready-made clothing, woolen, and hosiery and underwear,
respectively.
In comparing November with October, 1 industry shows an
increase in the amount of money paid to employees, while 13 show
a decrease. The one increase is 2.6 per cent in cigars. The largest
decreases are 31.2 per cent in automobiles and 23.5 per cent in
men’s ready-made clothing. Coal mining shows a decrease of 0.3
per cent.
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABL SIIM ENTS IN OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER, 1920.
Industry.
Iron and ste el........................
Automobile manufacturing.
Carbuilding and repairing..
Cotton manufacturing.........
Cotton finishing.....................
Hosiery and underwear___
Woolen...... .............................
S i l k .. .. . .................................
Men’s ready-made clothing.
Leather manufacturing.......
Boots and shoes.....................
Paper making .....................
Cigar manufacturing............
Coal mining (bitum inous)..
Estab
lish
ments
report Period of
ing for
October pay roll.
and
Novem
ber.
109
44
47
50
15
55
51
43
43
32
73
54
49
83
£ month.
I w eek..
J month.
1 w e ek ..
. ..d o ----. .. d o ----. . .d o ___
2 weeks.
1 w e ek ..
...d o .......
.. .do.......
.. .do.......
.. .do.......
\ month.
Number on pay roll.
Per
cent of
Octo Novem increase
ber,
ber,
(+ )
1920.
1920.
or de
crease
(-).
188,007 181,923
108, 893 96,721
59,635 60, 530
37,246 35,454
9,482
9,226
23,402 20,561
32,943 28,829
16,850 16,264
24,258 20,144
13,198 12,206
43,943 41,565
33,622 32,668
15' 636 16,125
22,708 23,527
Amount of pay roll.
October,
1920.
Per
cent of
November, increase
f+ )
1920.
or de
crease
(-)•
- 3.2 $15,155,772 $14,448,545 : - 4.7
4,057,482
2,790,011
—31.2
—11.2
4,383,007
4,464,122
- 1.8
+ 1.5
709,089
656,455
- 7.4
- 4.8
216,949
199,803
- 7.9
- 2.7
347,002
-1 9 .4
-1 2 .1
430,533
672,782
735,582
- 8.5
-1 2 .5
671,881
-1 2 .9
771,340
- 3.5
726,267
555,337
-2 3 .5
-1 7 .0
348,794
315,905
- 9.4
- 7.5
949,954
922,271
- 5.4
- 2.9
- 2.8
1,019,545
- 5.2
346,066
337,348
+ 2.6
+ 3.1
2,041,371
+ 3.6
2,047,644
In addition to the data presented in these two tables as to the num
ber of employees on the pay roll, 89 plants in the iron and steel in
dustry reported 137,332 employees as actually working on the last
full day of the pay-roll period reported for November, 1920, as against
105,185 for the reported pay-roll period in November, 1919, an in
crease of 30.6 per cent. Figures given by 91 establishments in the
iron and steel industry show that 145,361 employees were actually
working on the last full day of the pay period reported for in Novem
ber, 1920, as against 152,470 for the period in October, 1920, a de
crease of 4.7 per cent.
Changes in Wage Rates.
POURING the period October 15 to November 15, 1920, establish^
ments in 10 of the 14 industries reported changes in wage rates.
In most of these industries, decreases in wage rates were reported
due to general lack of orders.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[14 1 ]
142
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
I r o n a n d s t e e l .—In four establishments an increase of 7^ per cent
was granted, affecting 60.6 per cent of the employees in the first
establishment, 50 per cent in the second, 33.3 per cent in the third
and 25 per cent in the fourth. An increase of 7 per cent was given
to 36 per cent of the men in one plant; while another plant gave a 6
per cent increase to one-half of the force. One-third of the force in
one mill and one-tenth of the force in another mill received increases
of approximately 41 per cent. Four concerns reported a wage rate
increase of 4 per cent, affecting 65 per cent of the men i’n one con
cern, 50 per cent in two concerns, and 40 per cent in the fourth con
cern. Thirty-nine per cent of the employees in one plant were
granted wage rate increases; the puddle mill tonnage men receiving
a 5 per cent increase and the finishing mill tonnage men an increase
of 21 per cent.
A u t o m o b i l e s .—An increase of 9 per cent was granted by one estab
lishment to 2 per cent of the men. Twelve per cent of the force in
one plant received a decrease of 15 per cent while 66 per cent of the
force in another plant received a decrease of 6.4 per cent. In one
concern a decrease of 5 per cent affected 10 per cent of the employees.
C a r b u i l d i n g a n d r e p a i r i n g .—Three per cent of the employees in
one plant received an increase of 8 per cent, while 2 per cent of the
employees in another plant received an increase of 6 per cent. In
one shop, 29 per cent of the force received a decrease of 8.1 per cent.
C o tto n m a n u f a c t u r i n g .—All employees in one establishment were
granted an increase of 10 per cent. Approximately the entire force
in five plants received a decrease of 20 per cent. Two mills reported
respective decreases of 15 per cent and 10 per cent, affecting all
employees. A 2 per cent dividend which had been in effect for
some months was discontinued by one concern.
H o s i e r y a n d u n d e r w e a r .—About 80 per cent of the men in one
establishment received a decrease of approximately 25 per cent.
One plant reported decreases ranging from 15 to 30 per cent, which
affected 95 per cent of the force, while another plant reduced onehalf of the force 15 per cent.
W o o le n .—All employees in one mill received a decrease of 15 per
cent.
S ilJ c .—In one mill the weavers were increased from 85 cents to 87%
cents and from 90 to 95 cents per hour. The entire force of one
establishment received a decrease of 15 per cent, while 70 per cent of
the force in another establishment received a decrease of 10 per cent.
L e a t h e r .—One tannery reported a 15 per cent decrease, but the
percentage of men affected was not stated. Another plant granted a
bonus for full-time service.
B o o ts a n d s h o e s .—One factory granted a 7.3 per cent increase to
approximately 5 per cent of the force.
B i t u m i n o u s c o a l .—All day men in one mine were granted an in
crease of $1.50 per day. One-third of the force in another mine
received an increase of 11 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11421
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
143
An Industrial Emyloyment Survey of the United States.1
T ’HE successful adjustment of labor supply and demand will often
* involve the migration of workers from one State to another.
“ The Federal Government is the only means by which can be se
cured sufficient uniformity of method and interchange of informa
tion as to accomplish the desired results.” Acutely realizing this
fact the United States Department of Labor began early in Decem
ber, 1920, the organization of an industrial employment survey of
the United States.
For the purpose of this survey, the United States is divided into nine (9) districts,
in accordance with the United States Census, embracing at the present time 65 cities
of leading industrial importance from which pay-roll data are secured, and 231 cities
from which industrial employment information is obtained.
A district director is in charge of each district. In industrial centers, special agents
secure actual pay-roll data. The totals of the information secured will be telegraphed,
in code, to the administrative offices in Washington, where the reports will be ana
lyzed and interpretations and tabulations made. The district director transmits to
the administrative offices, general and specific facts regarding the employment situa
tion in his district.
It is planned that not later than four days after the receipt of the
biweekly field reports in Washington, D. C., the statistical results of
the survey will be published, on the 5th and 20th of each month, in
the press and periodicals and in a bulletin to be distributed to indi
vidual employers, trade, commercial, and labor associations. This
service is to be strictly neutral, inaugurated for the purpose of regu
larly collecting and distributing current information regarding
general and specific industrial employment conditions, the distribu
tion of labor, and the fluctuations in employment throughout the
country.
Activities of Illinois Free Employment Offices for November, 1920.
HE following statement records the activities of the Illinois free
employment offices for the month of November, 1920. The
offices are located at Aurora, Bloomington, Chicago, Danville,
Decatur, East St. Louis, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, Rock Island, and
Springfield. Of the total number registered, namely 18,609, more
than 61 per cent were reported placed in positions, and of the total
number referred to positions approximately 85 per cent were placed.
For each 100 places offered about 128 were registered in November.
Of the total number registered 4,900 were females, and of the number
placed 3,486 were females.
T
i Data furnished by the United States Employment Service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[143]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
144
REGISTRATIONS A N D PLACEMENTS B Y ILLINOIS FREE EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
FOR T H E MONTH O F N O V EM BER, 1920, B Y IN D U STR Y GROUP.
Industry group.
Num
Num
re
ber of Help ber
ferred
regis wanted.
to
tra
posi
tions.
tions.
Num
ber re
ported
placed.
N um
ber of
persons
regis
tered
for
each
109
places
open.
Agriculture..........................................................................
B o y s— .......................................... ................................
Building and construction..............................................
Clerical.................................................................................
Clothing, textiles...............................................................
Domestic and personal service, hotel and restaurant
Food, beverages, tobacco.................................................
Factory work......................................................................
Leather workers.................................................................
Metals and machinery......................................................
Printing trades..................................................................
Professional technical.......................................................
Transportation and public utilities..............................
Wholesale and retail trade...............................................
Woodworking and furniture............... ..........................
Miscellaneous......................................................................
Common labor....................................................................
Casual workers...................................................................
1,755
726
1,162
1,134
9
2,111
4
408
3
1,723
14
27
212
239
169
1,261
3,856
3,744
1,769
354
690
583
2
2,092
14
282
1
730
3
9
101
82
44
598
3,527
3,658
1,450
410
575
736
2
1,689
3
260
1
698
2
8
65
92
42
611
3,277
3,558
1,265
268
398
384
1
1,245
1
233
l
494
1
2
50
80
38
470
3,105
3,420
99.2
205.0
168.4
203.0
O)
100.9
(»)
144,6
U)
236.0
(*)
(*)
209.9
{*)
( l)
210.8
109.3
102.3
Total.......................... ...............................................
18,609
14,540
13,479
11,456
127.9
1 Not computed, since there were less than 100 persons asked for by employers.
Employment and Unemployment in Certain Foreign Countries.
Canada.
HE Labor Gazette, Ottawa, for November gives (pp. 1522-1530)
a statement regarding the unemployment situation in the Do
minion as reported by 1,468 labor unions, with a total member
ship of 189,253, and also as reported by employers. The figures in
the first instance go back as far as December, 1915; those returned
by employers give unemployment conditions by weeks from Septem
ber 18 to October 23, 1920. The trade-union returns show a per
centage of 3.25 in September, 1920, as compared with 4 per cent in
August, 1920, and with 2.19 per cent in September, 1919. The low
est percentage of unemployment was in June, 1918, when it was 0.50
per cent. The percentage of unemployment in trade-unions by in
dustries in September, 1920, compared with September, 1919, and
with August, 1919, is shown in the following table. Unfortunately
it is not possible to give the pay-roll period, the number on the pay
roll, or the amount of the pay roll in each industry, which informa
tion would make the table more nearly comparable with that for the
United States as given in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for Novem
ber, 1920 (pp. 155-156).
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 4 4 ]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
145
UNEM PLOYM ENT IN SELECTED IND U STR IES IN CANADA AS R E PO R T ED BY LABOR
UNIONS, IN SEPTEM BER , 1919 AN D 1920, AN D AUGUST, 1920.
Per cent of unemploy
ment in—
Industry.
Sep
Sep
tember, tember,
1919.
1920.
Building and construction..................................................................................................
Clothing......................................................... ................. A-...................................................
Fishing............................................ .......................................................................................
Food, tobacco, and liquors.................................................................................................
Glass-bottle biowing.T.......................... ..............................................................................
Jewelry working. . 5 .............................................................................................................
Leather, boots, shoes, and rubbers........... ......................................................................
Manufacturing and mechanical.........................................................................................
Metals, machinery, and conveyances...............................................................................
Mining, quarrving, and refining of ores................................ ................................ .........
Navigation........................ ....................................................................................................
Oil refining.............................................................................................................................
Printing, publishing, and paper goods........... ...........................................................
Public em ploym ent.............................................................................................................
Pulp, paper, and fiber.........................................................................................................
Steamrailroad s ......................................................................................................................
Street and electric railroads................................................................................................
Teaming and driving......................................................... ................................................
Textile, carpets, and cordage.............................................................................................
Transportation......................................................................................................................
Woodworking and furniture..............................................................................................
Miscellaneous.........................................................................................................................
A 11 industries.............................................................................................................
Aug
ust,
1920.
2.91
.05
0
.80
1.18
0
.15
2.57
4. GO
1.11
8.62
0
1.71
.11
.30
.99
. 13
.36
1.08
2.06
. 13
2.07
2.04
38.96
1.00
2.02
15.57
6.02
16.27
8.80
5.30
.06
2.82
6.52
1.68
.02
1.20
.77
.20
.78
.02
.98
2.18
1.86
2.99
22.40
.20
1.49
17.36
3.,00
43.56
7.74
1.74
.24
16.80
5.38
1.37
. 12
.04
.53
.03
.09
.08
2.78
.35
1.49
2.19
3.25
4.00
The reports from employers cover the six weeks’ period September
18 to October 23 and give the increase or decrease in number of per
sons unemployed a n d the p e rc e n ta g e for each w eek:
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
ending
ending
ending
ending
ending
ending
September 18, an increase of 3,385 persons, or 0.4 per cent.
September 25, an increase of 1,373 persons, or 0.2 per cent.
October 2, a decrease of 2,936 persons, or 0.4 per cent.
October 9. a decrease of 81 persons, or 0.01 per cent.
October 16, an increase of 175 persons, or 0.02 per cent.
October 23, a decrease of 7,354 persons, or 1 per cent.
The most decided decrease in employment reported during the six
weeks occurred in lumbering and its products, where 5,975 persons
were released mostly on account of completion of the season’s opera
tions in sawmills. A chart is included in this portion of the report
showing the percentage change in the number of persons on pay rolls
during the 10 months of 1920 as reported weekly by employers mak
ing reports, said to number about 5,200. As already indicated, the
number employed steadily decreased during the latter four weeks of
the six weeks’ period for which figures are given, so that there was a
net increase in the volume of employment at October 23 of 6.1 per
cent over the number on the pay rolls as reported by employers on
January 17, 1920. Employers’ figures are not given by industry, so
that comparison can not be made with the preceding table.
British Guiana.1
EfARM labor in common with other labor continues very scarce.
1 The birth rate in this colony exceeds the death rate. At vari
ous times in the past immigration from India has supplied the
1Data from the United States consul at Georgetown under date of Oct. 1, 1920.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 4 5 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
146
deficiency to a certain degree, but this is not now permitted by the
Indian Government and negotiations looking toward its resumption
are at a standstill. On the other hand some 1,500 Indian laborers
who had completed their term of indenture were repatriated during
September. A few laborers are being brought here from Barbados
and apportioned to the plantations, but in insignificant numbers.
There is a small but steady stream of emigration from this colony to
the United States, which would be larger if the cost of passage were
less and transportation available.
The quantity of the labor here is poor and wages are low compared
with those paid similar labor in the United States. Ordinary labor
ers receive from 75 cents to $1.25 per day; stevedores $2.50; skilled
labor from $2 to $3.
The carpenters’ union announced during the month that their
wages would hereafter be $3 for eight hours’ work and this demand
has substantially been met. Bakers have refused to work on Sunday,
so there is now no supply of bread on Monday.
Austria (Vienna).2
DECENT statistics compiled by the Unemployment Office (A r b e i t s A^ l o s e n a m t ) in Vienna indicate an improvement in the unemploy
ment situation in that city, there being but 13,005 persons out of
jobs and dependent upon Government aid, as compared with 19,058
m the preceding July, 43,268 in the preceding March, and 58,717 in
December, 1919. The peak of unemployment was reached in May,
1919, when 129,789 were receiving Government support. The fol
lowing table is compiled from statistics issued by the Vienna Unem
ployment Office. It shows by class of worker, at four specified dates,
the number of unemployed in Vienna receiving Government support.
CLASSIFIED N U M BER OF UNEM PLO Y ED W ORKERS RECEIVING GOVERNMENT AID
IN V IE N N A AT SPECIFIED DATES.
Number receiving Government
aid on—
uiass oi wonter.
Dec. 30, Mar. 23, Ju ly 17, Oct. 27,
1919.
1920.
1920.
1920.
"Metal workers and jewelers................................................................................. 8,105
Functionaries and d e n tists................................................................................. 12,641
W age earners stage employees, and tran sp o rt employees.......................... 23,660
'573
Woodworkers and tu rn e rs..................................................................................
Hotel em ployees.................................................................................................... 4,583
Bakers .................................................................................................................... 2,593
T a ilo r s ....................................................................................................................
W orkers in buildings tra d e s............................................................................... 2,931
1,341
W orkers in tex tile trad es....................................................................................
56
W orkers in chemical industries.........................................................................
Shoemakers
........................................................................
173
Saddlers, leath er w orkers....................................................................................
864
W orkers in publishing tra d e s............................................................................
430
B arbers....................................................................................................................
15
Skinners, furriers..................................................................................................
274
Pork b u tch ers..................
........................................................................
247
H atters and artificial flower m ak ers................................................................
231
Law yers' helpers...................................................................................................
7,229
9,443
13', 484
370
4,144
2 , 252
34
3,512
794
41
58,717
T o tal.............................................................................................................
154
806
340
130
253
76
206-
4,797
2,141
3,479
1,266
1,354
1,106
317
554
985
192
1,134
'276
790
157
61
100
344
5
4,142
1,369
2,669
956
997
599
180
98
307
200
194
136
846
91
3
35
182
1
43,268
19,058
13,005
1Data taken from Commerce Reports, Washington, for December 9, 1920, p. 1077.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[146]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
147
France.
rTTIE United States consul at Paris in a report dated October 21,
* 1920, notifies this Government that an investigation made by
L’Intransigeant reveals the fact that 30 per cent of the workers in the
automobile industry were at that time idle and that unemployment
in the clothing industry amounted to 40 per cent of the total number
of workers. It is further announced that the minimum percentage
of unemployed workers in the boot and shoe industry and the leather
industries amounted to 75 per cent. Unemployment appears to be
increasing in the jewelry industry and in the so-called book indus
tries. Moreover, hotel and restaurant employees have returned in
large numbers from the summer resorts and seem to be having great
difficulty in securing work. It is stated that the increased use of
machinery in the baking industries has resulted in the cutting down of
the number of workers required. A large number of workers in the
textile industry are also menaced with unemployment. The wool
spinners in the Roubaix-Tourcoing region have decided to reduce the
hours of labor from 48 to 40 a week. A large amount of unemploy
ment is likewise indicated in the building industries.
Great Britain.3
’’"THERE are no figures available showing the total number of all
A persons unemployed in the United Kingdom, but there are
certain statistics from which a reliable indication of the trend of un
employment may be gathered. There are something like 4,200,000
persons engaged in various industries throughout the United King
dom who are at present insured against unemployment under the
national insurance acts of 1911 to 1916.4 Of these 4,200,000 work
people, 114,771 were drawing unemployment insurance benefits and
out-of-work donations.on August 1, which number rose to 159,277 on
October 1, and one week later to 288,291.
In addition, certain trade-unions, with an aggregate membership
of approximately 1,500,000 (consisting principally of skilled labor
ers), reported on August 1 that 21,144 of their members were out
of employment. These unions reported on October 1 that their un
employed members had increased to 36,017; but it should not be
overlooked that during this same two-month period their member
ship had also grown by a few more than 135,000. These figures do
not reflect unemployment which is the result of short time or broken
time, by which means a large amount of additional unemployment
has been brought about, especially in the skilled textile trades.
What the Labor Exchange Registers Show.
Again, all the employment exchanges in various parts of the coun
try keep what is called a “ live register” of unemployed persons re
porting at these exchanges. The total number of persons so regis
tered has taken a sharp turn upward since August 1, as may be noted
3E xcerpts from article published in Commerce R eports, W ashington, tor Dec. 1,1920, pp. 963-966.
4 These acts have been extended to cover about 12,000,000 persons autom atically as from Nov. 8, and
the scale of benefits has been considerably increased all around. Monthly Laboe R eview for September,
1920, pp. 165-169.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 347]
M ONTHLY
148
L A B O R R E V IE W .
below (the last column of the table representing the change that had
taken place since the previous report):
NUM BER OF PERSONS ON LABOR EXCHANGE REGISTERS AT SPECIFIED
Number of
persons on
register.
Date.
A pr 3f)
May 28
JllIlG 25
T n l y 30
Aug 27
Rfvpt 24
............................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.........................- .................. ...................................................................................................
............................................................................ - ......................... 1
.. .................................................................................................................................................
r
...................................................................................................... .
Or*t 1 (wp.ftlr)
.................................... .......... . . ___ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C i rtf 8 (wp.ftk:)...................................................................................... .................................. .......................
325,915
301,907
287,003
271,504
285,058
313,281
323,937
338,242
!
DATES.
Increase ( + )
or
.decrease ( — ).
-21,008
-17,904
-15,499
+ 11,554
+30,223
+10,658
+ 14,305
It is causing much concern to the Government that there were in
cluded in the above figure of 338,242 persons registered as ot October
8, 186,709 ex-service men, and it is recognized that even this figure
does not include all demobilized ex-service men who are still unem
ployed. Besides, on October 8 there were 5,853 officers and 5,816
other men of similar educational qualifications registered as being
out of work with the Appointments Department of the Ministry of
Labor.
Effect of the Coal Strike on Unemployment.
Since the beginning of the coal strike,5 on October 18, there has
been a very rapid expansion in the number of persons thrown out of
work. About 1,100,000 miners became idle immediately upon the
outbreak of the strike; only sufficient men were left in the pits to
keep the pumps at work in order to prevent the flooding of the mines.
As far as other industries directly affected by the closing of the
mines are concerned, the figures available, while again not all in
clusive, are nevertheless sufficiently instructive to indicate the gravity
of the situation. As previously stated, the number of persons receiv
ing out-of-work donations and unemployment insurance benefits
(among the 4,200,000 persons covered by the national insurance acts)
increased by 173,520 during the 10 weeks from August 1 to October 8.
From the data that follow may be seen the position among this group
of workers at certain dates since the beginning of the strike: Num' her of persons receiving out-of-work donations and unemployment
insurance benefit—on October 19, 338,817; on October 20, 357,563;
on October 21, 382,539 ; on October 26, 444,405. It is estimated that
about one-half this last total represents ex-service men drawing outof-work donations, two-thirds of the remainder being men and the
other third women who are drawing unemployment insurance benefits.
Before the end of the second week of the strike reports had reached
the Ministry of Labor concerning more than 540,000 workers who had
been either discharged or placed on short time directly on account of
the coal strike. In the table below is given a separate account, at
various dates during the past two weeks, of the number of persons dis
charged through the closing of factories, of those dismissed through
reduction of staffs, and of those placed on short-time working:
6 For an account of the settlement of this strike, see M
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[148]
o n t h l y
L abor R eview for December., 1920.
EM PLOYM ENT AND
UNEM PLOYM ENT.
149
NUM BER OF PERSONS UNEM PLOYED OR PLACED ON SHORT TIME AS A RESU LT
OF THE COAL STR IK E.
Group.
Persons discharged owing to the strike of miners:
Through the closing o f factories..................................................
T h ro u g h reduction o f staffs.- ......................................................
T o ta l discharged
..................................................................
Persons placed on short time
...........................................................
Oct. 13.
Oct. 21.
Oct. 26.
Oct. 28 .
19,415
47,361
50,803
102,062
81,955
128,443
84,215
129,123
66,776
152,865
210,398
213,338
3,785
89,366
250,868
328,068
As regards the distribution of these workers among different in
dustries, it may be of interest to note that in the case of the figures
for October 21—the fourth day of the strike—of the 50,803 persons
discharged through the closing of factories 28,535 were engaged in
the iron and steel industries, 6,295 in the engineering and shipbuild
ing trades, 8,473 in textile mills, and 7,500 in miscellaneous other
lines of activity. Of the workpeople discharged through reductions
in staffs to that date, numbering 102,062, 67,056 were in the iron
and steel industries, 22,141 in engineering and shipbuilding, 2,515 in
textile trades, and 10,350 in other industries.
Relief Efforts by the Government.
The Government appointed a cabinet committee last August espe
cially to review the whole unemployment situation. This committee
sat during the months of August and September concurrently with
the cabinet committee on housing. Negotiations have been con
ducted with the building trades with the object of securing the ad
mission of adult apprentices up to the age of 26 into their unions, in
order to provide work for unemployed ex-service men and at the
same time secure for the community an appreciable number of the
500,000 houses which it is estimated the country now needs.
Further proposals of the Government designed to alleviate the
unemployment situation have to do with road making and road im
provement by anticipating the four years’ program of the ministry
of transport for building new arterial roads and for road improve
ment. These have met with the cabinet’s approval, and efforts have
been made to commence work in this direction at once.
Japan.
A N EXCERPT from the Japan Times and Mail for October 16,
1920, furnished by the United States consul at Yokohama,
makes the following comment on the unemployment situation among
seamen:
In view of the increased number of unemployed and discharged seamen throughout
Japan, a plan is to be adopted by the 48 seamens’ unions to establish a Seamen’s Union
Federation.
Since the trouble which occurred recently at Kobe, when the Kobe International
Steamship Co. discharged 130 seamen of the New York Maru, and the Washington
Maru, and later 1,200 more from 15 other vessels, replacing them by Chinese, the
seamen have felt uneasy, though the trouble was settled by the mediation of Yuaikai
members. Some of the members of the Kobe Pier Steamship Co. were also replaced
recently by Chinese, so that trouble has again taken place.
It is reported that there are at present 3,000 unemployed seamen at Kobe and
about 1,000 at Yokohama.
[149]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .
150
Report of Employment Exchanges in the United Kingdom.
S REPORTED by the British Labor Gazette for November,
1920, the operations of the employment exchanges for the five
weeks ending October 8, 1920, are summarized as follows:
The average daily number of applications from workpeople, of
vacancies notified, and of vacancies filled during the five weeks was
13,088, 3,537, and 2,585, respectively.
Compared with the previous month, the daily average of registra
tion's showed an increase of 7.6 per cent, while the daily average of
vacancies notified and vacancies filled showed respective decreases
of 6.3 per cent and 8.1 per cent.
The average daily number of applications from adults was 10,337—
7,126 men and 3,211 women. There were 2,771 average daily vacan
cies reported—1,347 men and 1,424 women. The average number of
positions filled, when compared with the previous month, showed a
decline of 9.2 per cent among men, while the average for women
showed a slight increase.
The occupational groups in which there were the largest number of
positions filled by men were: Building and works of construction with
25.1 per cent; engineering and iron founding with 15.1 per cent;
and general laborers with 17.4 per cent. Of the vacancies filled by
women, 71.5 per cent were in domestic service.
As regards juveniles, 27,116 applications were received from boys,
11,457 vacancies were notified, and 9,705—or 84.7 per cent—were
filled. The number of applications received from girls was 29,604,
and the number of vacancies notified for girls, 11,531. Of the vacan
cies notified, 9,375—or 81.3 per cent—were filled.
Of the total vacancies filled for juveniles, 21.5 per cent were filled
by applicants, who thus obtained their first situation since leaving
school.
The following table shows, for men and women, the number of
applications from workpeople, vacancies notified, and vacancies filled
during the five weeks ending October 8, 1920.
A
APPLICATIONS PROM W OR K PEO PLE, VACANCIES N O T IFIE D , AN D VACANCIES
PIL LE D DURING FIVE W EEK S E N DIN G OCT. 8, 1920.
((roup of trades.'
Application from
workpeople.
Men.
Miscellaneous metal trades — .....................
Domestic service..............................................
Commercial and clerical.................................
Conveyance of men, goods, and m essages..
Agriculture........................................................
T extiles...............................................................
Dress (including boots and shoes)...............
Food, tobacco, drink, and lodging...............
General laborers...............................................
All other trades................................................
25,041
2,671
52,536
16, 849
1,614
5,494
4,572
7,263
21,857
4,012
6,946
5,057
1,965
40,169
17,727
Total.........................................................
213, 773
Engineering and iron founding.....................
Women.
Vacancies notified.
Men.
2,198
45,305
6,369
1,401
1,478
5,375
9,479
2,177
9,271
9,522
9,032
2,246
5,998
2,360
350
915
1,360
1,942
2,549
2,498
455
346
278
6,009
4,077
96,346
40,415
3, 771
Women.
Vacancies filled.
Men.
Women.
395
32,623
1,262
651
1,439
1,268
1,347
754
310
2,165
6,026
1,980
4,838
2,158
194
748
932
1,596
2,010
1,859
356
262
194
5,548
3,252
315
18,955
921
614
1,011
1,019
945
621
278
1,442
42,713
31,953
26,504
499
383
1Casual occupations (dock laborers and coal laborers) are excluded from this table and from all other
figures above. The number of casual jobs found for workpeople in these occupations during the period
was 3,784.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[150]
EM PLO YM ENT AND
UNEM PLO YM ENT.
151
*
Volume of Employment in the United Kingdom in October, 1920.
HE following figures as to the condition of employment in Great
Britain and Ireland in October, 1920, as compared with
September, 1920, and October, 1919, have been compiled
from figures appearing in the British Labor Gazette for November,
1920. Similar information for July was published in the October
T
L
a bo r
R
e v ie w
.
In comparing October, 1920, with September, 1920, relative to the
number of employees, respective increases of 3.3, 2.9, and 2.3 per
cent are shown in the cement, bookbinding and printing trades.
The largest decreases, 33.9 per cent and 19.8 per cent, appear under
the head of iron and steel works and seamen.
The aggregate earnings of employees in October, 1920, as com
pared with September, 1920, show increases in only two industries,
9.9 per cent in the cement trade and 2.7 per cent in the printing
trade. The jute, cotton, and pottery trades show respective decreases
of 29.7, 25.4, and 23.1 per cent.
In October, 1920, as compared with October, 1919, as to the number
of persons employed, the cement trade shows an increase of 32 per
cent; the bookbinding trade an increase of 14.3 per cent; and the
paper trade an increase of 13.8 per cent. The largest decrease,
21 per cent, appears in iron and steel works.
Comparing October, 1920, with October, 1919, on the question of
earnings of employees, increases of 83.7 per cent, 38 per cent and
32.8 per cent appear in the cement, carpet, and paper trades, respec
tively. The tailoring trade shows a decrease of 28.3 per cent and
the lace trade a decrease of 13.3 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H517
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .
152
VOLUME OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE U N IT E D KINGDOM (GREAT B R ITA IN AND IRELAND) IN OCTOBER, 1920, AS COMPARED W ITH SE PT E M BE R , 1920, AND OCTOBER,
1919.
([Compiled from figures in the Labor Gazette, London, November, 1920.'
Industry and basis of com
parison.
Per cent of ]
increase ( + ) or
decrease (—) in
Oct., 1920,
as compared
with—
Sept.,
1920.
Industry and basis of com
parison.
Oct.,
1919.
Other clothing trades:
Dressmaking
and
millinery— Number
of em(l)
ployees.....................................
V) ;
;
Wholesale mantle, costume,
Iron mining:
blouses, etc.—Number of
Average number of days
employees—
worked.....................................
(V) : (*)
London ............................
C)
Manchester....................... .
Quarrying:
Glasgow................................
Average number of days
Corset trade—Number of
+ 0.1
worked..................................... - 0.2
employees................................
- 1.2
+10.6
Woodworking and furnishing:
Pig iron: Number of furnaces in
Number
of em ployees2.......... -7 4 .6
blast................................................. -7 7 .8
Brick trade:
Iron and steel works:
Number
ofem
ployees..............
-2 1 .0
Number of employees.............. -3 3 .9
Earnings of em ployees.............
-2 4 .4
-3 6 .7
Cement
trade:
Tin plate, steel, and galvanized
. Number ofem ployees............
sheet trades: Number of mills
Earnings of em ployees.............
10 1
-1 8 .6
Paper, printing, and bookbindCotton trade:
ing
trades:
Number ofemployees.............. - 6.4
+ .2
Paper trades—
- 4. 0
Earnings of employees............. -2 5 .4
Number of employees
Woolen trade:
reported by trade+ 1.2
Number of employees.............. , - 1.7
un ions2.............................
-1 3 .4
Number of employees
Worsted trade:
reported by employers.
+ 3.0
Number of employees.............. - 1.0
Earnings of employees
Earnings ofemployees............. -1 8 .3
+ 8.1
reported by employers.
Hosiery trade:
Printing trades—
Number of employees.............. - 4.0
+ -7
Number of employees
+ 7.2
Earnings of employees............. -1 3 .5
reported
by tradeJute trade:
unions2.............................
10
Number of employees
-1 2 .4
Earnings ofemployees............. -2 9 .7
reported by employers.
Linen trade:
Earnings of employees
Number of employees.............. — 4.1
— 8.8
reported by employers.
+ 5.2
Earnings of emnloVees............. - 9.1
B o okbinding trades—
Silk trade:
Number of employees
Number of employees.............. - 1.9
+ .5
reported
by trade+16.2
Earnings of employees............. -1 2 .6
unions2.............................
Carpet trade:
Number of employees
+ 12.9
Number ofemployees.............. + • 1
reported by em ployers..
Earnings of employees............. - 3.1
+38.0
Earnings of employees
Lace trade:
reported by employers.
- 5.9
Number ofemployees.............. - 7.8
Pottery trades:
Earnings of employees............. -1 5 .4
-1 3 .3
Number ofem ployees..............
Bleaching, printing, dyeing, and
Earnings of employees.............
finishing:
+ 3.3
Glass trades:
Number ofemployees.............. - 3.1
Number of employees..............
-1 2 .0
+ 9.2
Earnings ofemployees.............
Boot and shoe trade:
- 7.0 Food-preparation trades:
Number of employees.............. - 2.7
Nnmhnr of omplovees..............
10.0
-1 1 .0
Earnings ofemployees.............
Leather trades: Number of em- 7.2 Dock and riverside labor: Numployees2.......................................... - .9
ber ofem ployees............................
Tailoring trade:
Seamen: Number o f employees. . .
-1 6 .3
Number'of employees.............: - 5.0
-2 8 .3
Earnings ofemployees............. -1 7 .8
Shirt and collar trade:
+ 1.4
Number of employees.............. + .3
+ 5.5
Earnings of employees............. — 7.5
Coal mining:
Average number oi days
worked.....................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(l)
«
1No figures available due to strike of coa- miners.
2Based ori unemployment8No report.
risai
Per cent of
increase ( + ) or
decrease:(—.) in
Oct., 1920,
as compared
with—
Sept.,
Oct.,
1920. : 1919.
— 9.3
+ 1.6
— 5.7
- 3.4
- 6.1
—14. 9
- 2.5
- 7.1
- 3.2 :
+ 8.7
-
- 1.6
-.7:
—15.8
—13.5
— 1.9
+ 20.1
+ 3.3
+ 9.9
“H
—
32- 0
+83.7
(3)
(*)
- 1.4
+ 13.8
- 5.2
+32.8
- 1.2
- 1.3
+ 2.3
+ 8.9
+ 2.7
+ 27.6
-
+
.3
.9
+ 2.9
+ 14,3
- 2.8
+ 29.9
-1 7 .6
-2 3 .1
— 8.5
+ 3.1
- 8.5
- 7.0
-f 3.4
+ 24.4
— 1.4
- 3.2
-1 0 .1
+ 1.9
+ .8
-1 9 .8
-1 0 .5
- 6.0
W O M E N IN IN D U S T R Y .
The N ew Position of Women in American Industry.’
RECENT report by the Women’s Bureau of the United States
Department of Labor on the new position of women in
American industry gives the results of an inquiry financed
by the War Work Council of the Young Women’s Christian Associa
tion, begun during the war and carried down to August, 1919. The
inquiry was undertaken to secure definite facts with regard to the
increase during the war in the number of women in industry, the
kinds of work in which they were employed, and their success or
failure in new lines of work. The report is based partly on field
work, partly on questionnaires filled out by employers and organiza
tion leaders, and partly on data contained in the records of the Gov
ernment war agencies. The inquiry was confined to industrial occu
pations, ignoring conditions in mercantile, clerical, and professional
pursuits.
It was impossible to make such a complete survey as would show
the increase during the war in the number of women industrially
employed, but there were many indications that it was large.
A
T he 2,124 iron an d steel firms in clu d e d in th is su rv e y em ployed over th ree-fo u rth s
as m an y w om en a fter th e first d ra ft a n d n e arly a th ird again as m an y w om en after th e
second d ra ft as w ere rep o rted for th e e n tire 17,862 firms in c lu d e d in th e 1914 Census
of M anufactures. P la n ts engaged in th e m an u factu re of airp lan es a n d a irp lan e p arts
n u m b ere d b u t 16 a n d em ployed b u t one w om an am ong th e ir 211 wage earners, accord
ing to th e Census of 1914. On th e other hand, 40 p la n ts w h ich w ere in c lu d e d in th is
su rv ey an d w h ich w ere engaged ex clu siv ely in m aking planes or p a rts em ployed after
th e second d ra ft 6,108 w om en in a to tal of 26,470 wage earners. * * * A gain,
1,352 p lan ts, rep resen tin g lu m b e r and its rem anufactures in th is survey, em ployed
n e arly sev e n -te n th s as m an y w om en after th e second d ra ft as w ere rep o rted b y th e
e n tire 42,016 p la n ts in c lu d e d in th e Census of M anufactures for 1914.
The increase in the number of women employed was coincident
with a marked change in the relative position of leading industries
with respect to the use made of women. Before the war the textile
and garment making industries, together with the preparation of
food products and tobacco, were the leading industries in the employ
ment of women. Among the plants covered by this survey there
was during the war an actual falling off in the •number of women
employed in the textile and textile products industries, and in the
tobacco occupations, while the number employed in iron and steel
industries and in the manufacture and remanufacture of lumber
nearly doubled. The following table, compiled from a number given
in the report, shows for the leading war industries the change, from
the first to the second draft, in the actual number of women employed,
and in the proportion they formed of the total working force.
1IT. S . Department of Labor. Women’s Bureau. Bulletin of the Women’s Bureau, No. 12: The new
position of women in American industry.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Washington,
1920.
153
[153]
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
154
INCREASE IN NUM BER AND PROPORTION OF WOMEN EM PLOYED IN PLANTS
REPORTING ON THIS POINT.
Industry.
Iron and steel...............................................
Metal products other than iron and steel.
Manufacture and remanufacture of lumber...............................................................
Chemicals and allied products.................
Leather and leather products...................
Stone, clay, and glass products...............
Textiles and textile products...................
Food products, beverages and allied
products.....................................................
Tobacco and tobacco products.................
Paper and paper goods..............................
Printing, publishing, and engraving---Other war industries...................................
T otal..................................................
Num
ber of
plants
reporting after
both
first
and
second
drafts.
Total labor force.
Number
of women
employed.
Number of
women per 1,000
wage earners.
After
first
draft.1
After
second
draft.2
After
first
draft.1
After
second
draft.2
2,124
896
394,256
132,844
429,377
129,768
23,948
19,783
40,588
23,150
61
149
95
178
1,352
733
810
322
3,306
154,496
91,882
114,107
38,680
411,349
142,278
93,025
107,634
33,467
372,072
7,184
8,986
35,022
4,441
225,874
13,325
13,230
35,513
5,197
206,565
46
98
307
115
549
94
142
330
155
555
1,572
378
551
705
1,827
164,114
40,348
60,778
49,502
277,209
174,838
34,879
59,622
46,618
297,679
34,593
22,858
13,361
12,225
47,178
41,695.
20,245
14,028
12,727
54,368
211
566
220
247
170
238
580
235
273
183
14,576 1,929,565 1,921,257
455,453
480,631
236
250
After
After
first second
draft.1 draft.2
1 “ After first draft” indicates a period 7 to 8 months after the first draft in February-March, 1918.
2 “ After second draft” indicates a period 4 to 5 months after the second draft in October-November, 1918.
The drift of women away from the traditional occupations is
here plainly shown. During this period when the number of women
industrially employed was rapidly increasing, the number engaged in
the preparation of food anti similar products increased by only a
little over 7,000, the tobacco trades showed a falling off of something
over 2,000, and the number employed in textiles and textile products
decreased by 19,309. On the other hand, the number employed
in the chemical industries increased by over 4,000, in lumber and its
remanufactures by more than 6,000, and in iron and steel by over
16,000.
The shift to the new industries was important, inasmuch as it
relieved the overcrowding which had existed in the traditional
industries for women. But neither this nor the increase in their
numbers is so important, according to the report, as the change in
the character of the work to which they were now admitted.
T h e em ergency created b y th e shortage of labor cleared th e w om an w orker’s w ay
in c ertain im p o rta n t in d u strie s to th e “ m aster m a c h in e s” an d b ro u g h t to h e r h a n d
th e “ k e y ” occupations th a t control e n tra n ce to d esirable positions in m an y in d u strie s.
I t gave h e r a chance to b e trie d o u t as a responsible m em ber of th e forces of construc
tiv e skill. I n th e iron an d steel an d o th er m eta l in d u strie s, for in stan c e, i t opened
to h e r th e m ach in e shop a n d th e tool rooms a n d in tro d u c e d her—tho u g h in lim ite d
nu m b ers—in to th e steel w orks and rolling m ills * * *. In c ertain other in d u strie s,
too, pressed h ard b y th e shortage of labor an d th e d em an d s of th e w ar, w om en were
given a tria l in occupations re q u irin g ju d g m en t, precision, a n d decision.
How successfully women handled these new kinds of work is a
matter discussed at some length in the report. The following table
gives the opinions of the employers who responded to the inquiry
on this point:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[154]
W O M E N IN IN D U ST R Y .
155
E X T E N T AND SUCCESS OF SUBSTITUTION OF WOMEN FOR MEN DURING AND AFTER
THE W AR E IT H E R THROUGH DIRECT REPLACEM ENT OR THROUGH EX PA N SIO N
IN 562 M ANUFACTURING ESTABLISHM ENTS, B Y OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS.
Firms reporting women’s work—
Firms—
Occupational group.
Report
Substi ing
tuting number
women
of
for
women
•men. substi
tuted.
267
50
10
145
13
18
21
12
Metalworking...................................................
Chemical working..........1.................................
Rubber working...............................................
W oodworking....................................................
Textile making.................................................
Leather working..............................................
Electrical working...........................................
Abrasive material and glass working..........
Miscellaneous work on airplanes, seaplanes,
ships, and musical instruments.................
278
58
11
152
16
20
22
14
15
14
Total.........................................................
2 562
2 533
As satisfac
Total
women tory or better
substi than men’s.
tuted.1
Num Per
ber. cent.
212
32
9
91
12
17
18
9
82.8
66.7
100.0
68.4
80.0
85.0
90.0
75 0
1,834
8
58,717
3 386
37,683
6,935
4,959
2,545
1,589
1,545
897
730
Not so satis
factory as
m en’s.
N um Per
ber. cent.
Not
com
par
able.
44
16
17.2
33.3
42
3
3
2
3
31.6
20.0
15.0
10.0
25.0
80.0
2
20.0
5
77.4
1 113
22.6
63
22
10
2
19
1
2
2
1Includes women employed only in the 533 firms which reported the number of women substituted as
well as the fact of substitution.
2 17 firms substituting women in metal-working occupations also substituted women on chemical, elec
trical, wood, textile, or abrasive material and glass-working occupations; these did not report the numbers
employed on either substance. Seven firms substituting women in woodworking occupations also sub
stituted women on textile and miscellaneous work.
3 22 firms substituting women on two materials reported their work to be satisfactory in each group.
* 2 firms substituting women on tw o materials reported their work to be unsatisfactory in each group.
It will be seen that women were particularly successful in their new
occupations in the rubber, electrical, leather, and metal working
trades. Generally speaking, employers all commented on the fact
that women were unprepared for skilled work, and that in order to
substitute them for men successfully, it was essential to provide
definite training. For the most part, this was given in the shops, by
means of a vestibule school. In some cases employers expected to
train the women at their machine, but in general this was not found
so satisfactory as the preliminary training.
Another general comment of employers dealt with the inferior
physical strength of women. Tiiis, which was at first considered an
unmixed disadvantage, afterwards proved to have modifying features.
Where the work, as at a lathe, involved lifting the piece to be turned
into place, the amount which a woman might handle was limited by
law, the permissible weight varying in the different States from 15
to 45 pounds. Where the pieces exceeded the legal limit of weight,
the employment of women necessitated putting in mechanical devices
for lifting and handling them, an expense which was not necessary
in the case of men. Soon, however, it was found that the women
were turning out considerably more work than men on the same job,
and when, by way of experiment, men were given the same mechanical
devices, their output, too, shot up. Here the mere fact that' a man’s
strength was considered equal to the task of lifting the pieces without
mechanical help had kept the management from discovering the
efficiency of employing machinery rather than human muscle.
In general it was found that where the work was very rough or
dirty, women did not succeed so well at it. Lumbering, for in
stance, and saw mill work and crane operating were cited as kinds of
24933°—21-----11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[155]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
156
work for which women usually were unfitted. In regard to this
last mentioned occupation, it w'as a rather curious fact that while
Women ordinarily disliked the conditions of the work, when one was
found who did not share this objection, she was apt to prove singu
larly successful.
W hen a n efficient w om an was secured w ho could do th e w ork an d lik e d it, she seems
to h av e m ade an e x ce p tio n a lly fine crane operator. She is re p o rte d to be a b e tte i
indite of distance, to b e q u ick e r, to be m ore careful of th e lives of th e w orkers b e n e a th
her a n d to m e e t w ith few er a cc id e n ts. A t th e W atertow n arsenal th e m en m th e
for=m shop re q u e ste d t h a t th e w om en cran e operators be re ta in e d . Two of th e seven
firms covered w hich rep o rted on th e ir 1919 labor force re ta in e d th e ir crane wom en.
As a whole, how ever, th is d id not p rove to be a n o ccupation especially w ell a d ap ted to
wom en.
The survey extended only to August, 1919, so that it does not
contain data showing conclusively whether or not women will retain
their places in the new occupations opened to them by the war.
At that date, however, the prospect of their doing this was consid
ered hopeful. The following table shows the relative retention of
men and women in war industries:
MVTvT ANT) WOMEN EM PLOYED IN 1,012 FIRMS IN’ FO UR LEA D IN G W AR AGENT AND
IM PLEM ENT IN D U STR IES AT THE TIME OF THE ARMISTICE AND N IN E MONTHS
LATER.
___________ Jt___ __________ _________________________________________
Wage earners employee in —
A ugust, 1919.
November, 1918.
NumIndustry.
Women.
Men.
of
firms.
Per
cent
of prearmistice
force.
Per
cent
of prearmislice
force.
Men.
Wo
men.
365
244,853
40,916
142,212
58.1
14,123
34.5
Lumber and its remanufactures.......................
Chemicals and allied products...........................
202
259
186
62,132
32,185
89,881
16,177
3,227
14,553
52,891
36,619
32,104
85.1
113.7
35.7
12,622
2,671
2,967
78.0
82.8
20.4
Total.............................................................
1,012
429,051
74,873
263,826
61.5
32,383
43.3
Iron and steel and their products.....................
Metal and metal products other than iron and
Number.
Number.
The two groups which show the greatest reduction in the number
of men and women alike are the iron and steel and the chemical
industries. In both of these the largest plants had been engaged on
war-time orders, which ceased at once when the armistice was signed,
and in both, because of the war-time rush to_ get out their orders,
numbers of women had been engaged on part time. Married women
especially, who did not wish to leave their homes for the whole day,
had been brought in for short shifts. Naturally, when the rush
stopped, these were dismissed, full-time workers being retained in
preference. “ These part-time workers account in large measure,
according to the statement of the employers, for the difference in
the relative number of men and women remaining after the signing of
the armistice/’ Other industries, in which the part-time workers
were not so common, show a much larger percentage of women re-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[156]
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
157
tamed in August, 1919. Taking the group as a whole, it is regarded
as a striking fact that nine months after the cessation of hostilities,
nearly 45 per cent of the women were retained as compared with a
little over 60 per cent of the men.
The findings of the survey are summed up as follows :
F irst. T h e p o p u lar belief th a t w om en in in d u s try ren d ere d real service to the
N atio n d u rin g th e w ar is sustained b y th e figures show ing th e num bers of w om en em
ployed both in w ar agent an d im p le m e n t in d u strie s an d in w ar food a n d fabric in d u s
tries, b y th e prep o n d eran ce of e v id e n ce from em ployers h o ld in g im p o rta n t G overn
m e n t contracts, an d b y th e official sta te m e n t of th e A ssistant S ecretary of W ar, a ctin g
as directo r of m u n itio n s.
Second. T h e labor shortage a n d excessive d em a n d s on in d u strie s essential to th e
p ro d u c tio n of im p le m e n ts a n d agents of w arfare resulted d u rin g th e w ar in —
(а) A sh a rp increase in th e n u m b er of w om an w orkers in th ese in d u strie s
d u rin g th e w ar.
(б) A m arked decrease in th e n u m b er of wom en in th e tra d itio n a l wom ane m ploying in d u strie s, resu ltin g in a re lief of th e lon g -stan d in g congestion of
w om an labor in these p u rsu its an d in part, c o n trib u tin g to a m arked increase
in th e wage scales of th e w om en re m a in in g in th ese in d u strie s.
(c) T h e e m p lo y m en t of w om an labor in o th e r skilled crafts from w hich
w om en h a d b e e n p ra c tic a lly d e b arre d before th e w ar.
*
T h ird . W h en th e m anagers of p riv ate, G overnm ent, a n d G overnm ent-controlled
p la n ts w ere confronted w ith th e necessity of em ploying w om en in sk ill-e x a ctin g posi
tio n s th e re w ere p ra c tic a lly no train ed w om en av ailable, because—
(a) P u b lic an d p riv a te vocational in stitu tio n s h a d g iv en little encourage
m e n t to th e tra in in g of w om en in m ec h an ic al occupations.
(b) O rganized lab or policies in fact—although n o t alw ays i n official reg u la
tions—discouraged a p p re n tic e w ork for w om en in skilled occupations.
F o u rth . T h e tra in in g of w om en em ployed in skilled occu p atio n s d u rin g th e war
was p ro v id ed p rin c ip a lly b y th e em ploying firms.
F ifth . T he success a tte n d in g th e em ergency e m p lo y m en t of w om en in o ccu p atio n s
re q u irin g a h ig h degree of sk ill an d th e exp an sio n of com m ercial tra d e h a s resu lted in
th e re te n tio n of w om en in m ost of these crafts and in d u strie s since th e close oî th e
w ar, and b id s fair to encourage a larger use of w om an labor in th e fu tu re.
Recent Survey of Woman Workers in Fort Worth, Tex.1
Î
N A recent survey by the woman’s division of the Texas Bureau of
Labor Statistics about one-half of the woman wrnge earners in
Fort Worth, Tex., W'ere interviewed, most of the principal indus
trial, commercial, and mercantile establishments being included in
the investigation. The survey covered workers in mercantile estab
lishments, telegraph and telephone operators, office employees, includ
ing bookkeepers, clerks, stenographers, etc., packinghouse employees,
laundry workers, garment workers, hotel and restaurant employees,
and workers in miscellaneous occupations. It was somewhat surpris
ing to learn that the great majority of these woman workers were 21
years of age or over. This was not the case, however, with telegraph
and telephone operators, 341 of them being under 21 years of age and
275 being 21 years or over.
I t was found t h a t 59.9 per c e n t of w om an em ployees were u n m arried , 27.7 p e r cent
m arried. 8.3 p e r c e n t w idow ed, a n d 4.1 per c e n t div o rced . T he largest percentage
of u i m arried w om en is found am ong telephone operators, th e re b e in g 75.8 p e r cent
u n m arried , 18.2 p e r c e n t m arried , 3.1 p e r c e n t w idow ed, a n d 2.9 p e r c e n t d iv o rce d .
T he largest percen tag e of m arried w om en in a n y o ccu p a tio n is found am ong hotel
and re sta u ra n t em ployees, th e p ercentages being: Single 32.6 p e r c en t, m arried 47.5
p e r c en t, w idow ed 14.9 p e r cen t, an d d ivorced 5 p e r cent.
'Source: Mimeographed report made by t i e woman’s division of tlie Texas Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
{157]
158
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
L au n d ries furnish th e largest percentage of widows, th e figures bein g as follows:
Single 31.5 p e r cen t, m arried 37.9 p e r cen t, w idow ed 16.9 p e r c en t, an d d ivorced 13.7
p e r cen t. T h is is also th e largest p ercen tag e of div o rced w om en found in a n y occu
pation.
Of the 3,353 women covered by the study 1,284 were boarding
and 2,563 were either living with parents or relatives or were doing
light housekeeping. Among those who were living at home 494 paid
board.
T he average board p a id b y w om en i n a ll occu p atio n s w as $7.22 p e r w eek. The
h ig h est average board p a id in a n y occu p atio n was b y office em ployees, w h ich was
$8.55 p e r w eek, a n d th e low est b y hotel a n d re sta u ra n t em ployees, $5.05.
According to the findings of the survey, 94.8 per cent of the woman
and girl wage earners in commerce and industry had not passed the
high school course, and 49.8 per cent did not get beyond the eighth
grade. A very interesting correlation brought out in the study is
that existing between wages and education, the average wage scale
being a gradually ascending one according to amount of education,
the most striking increase in wages shown, $3.41 per week, being
among those who had some college education. This was an increase
of 17.6 per cent above the average wage scale of those who left school
after finishing the high school course. The influence of education
upon wages was brought out strongly in the case of office employees,
none of whom had not completed the third grade and only 11 out
of the 573 had less than a seventh grade education.
T he increase in salary of those who h ad com pleted th e h ig h school course over
those who had only com pleted th e th ir d grade w as fo u n d to be $11.13, or p ra c tic a lly
100 p e r cen t, w hile those who h a d received some college e d u c a tio n were re ce iv in g
$12.47, or 110.8 p e r c e n t m ore per w eek th a n th e th ir d graders.
The garment makers, however, were an exception to the general
rule, as the variation in their wages did not seem to depend upon
the amount of education.
I t is clearly e v id e n t th a t th e fa ct th a t th e wage or salary is largely d e p e n d e n t upon
th e a m o u n t of e d u c a tio n w ould be m u ch m ore clearly b ro u g h t o u t w ere i t n o t th a t
c o m p a rativ ely few of those receiv in g a h ig h er ed u ca tio n e n te r com m ercial or in d u s
tria l p u rsu its, b y far th e larger n u m b er of th e m b eing e ith e r situ a te d so as to m ake
em p lo y m en t unnecessary, or to en ab le th em to e n te r some of th e professions.
The results of the survey strongly suggest the advantages of edu
cation to woman workers in the way of increased earnings and pro
ductivity, a higher standard of efficiency, and greater social useful
ness. The survey furnishes a logical argument for effective and
rigidly enforced child labor and compulsory school attendance
laws.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1581
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
Coal-Mine Fatalities in the United States.
HE United States Bureau of Mines issues monthly statements
of the coal-mine fatalities in the United States, the most
recent statement of this kind received by this Bureau being
that for August, 1920. This statement, which includes reports
of mine inspectors from all States except Kentucky, shows a total
of 178 fatal accidents in that month, which is a decrease of 20
per cent from the number in August, 1919. Of the total in August,
1920, 140 were in bituminous, and 38 were in anthracite mines. The
report also includes a table giving details relating to chief causes of
accidents by years, 1916 to 1919, and by months, January to August,
1920. A summary of this table is as follows:
T
N U M BER OF COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS B Y CHIEF'CAUSES, FOR EACH Y E A R 1916 to 1919,
A N D B Y MONTHS, JA N U A RY TO JU N E, 1920.
1920
Cause of accident.
1916
1917
1918
1919
Jan. Feb. |Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug.
U n derground.
Falls of roof.....................................
Falls of face or pillar coal.............
Mine cars and locomotives..........
Gas explosions and burning gas .
Coal dust explosions (including
gas and dust combined)...........
Explosives.......................................
Suffocation from mine gases........
Electricity.......................................
Anim als...........................................
Mining machines......................
Mine fires (burned, suffocated,
e tc .)...............................................
Other causes...................... ........
Total....................................
962 1.057 1,182
103
112
173
390
488
506
170
197
95
943
154
378
143
71
15
32
12
63
9
27
4
76
8
34
7
71
4
33
6
55
12
30
10
99
15
19
28
56
146
12
90
8
20
163
110
8
79
9
19
34
135
15
88
8
17
47
206
11
69
2
26
5
13
4
11
2
11
0
5
13
1
3
2
7
2
2
3
10
3
S
2
1
7
1
3
2
3
3
67
2
70
26
63
22
70
1
3
5
2
2,027 2,375 2,281 2,071
171
127
147
138
1
1
77
16
32
12
78
11
32
14
9
1
7
3
1
11
7
2
4
1
4
3
3
6
3
124
192
163
155
4
3
2
Shaft.
Falling down shaft or slopes.......
Objects falling down shafts or
slopes............................................
Cage, skip, or bucket.....................
Other causes....................................
31
21
21
20
7
2
12
4
12
22
5
9
17
5
6
21
6
1
1
Total......................................
49
60
52
53
9
Mine cars and mine locomotives.
Electricity.......................................
Machinery...................
Boiler explosions or bursting
steam pipes.................................
Railway cars and locomotives...
Other causes...................................
59
7
22
74
17
46
87
15
40
70
10
22
0
4
16
42
8
36
80
7
31
67
6
21
56
T otal......................................
150
261
247
185
16
16
19
11
17
7
21
15
Grand total.......................... 2,226 2,696 2,580 2,309
196
146
168
151
152
203
186
178
1
1
2
6
1
3
2
2
u
4
1
4
6
2
2
7
1
2
4
1
2
5
2
3
2
2
4
i
5
2
7
i
3
2
2
2
6
2
8
Surface.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[159]
5
2
1
1
3
1
1
2
5
2
1
2
12
159
5
3
160
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW ,
Coke-Oven Accidents in the United States in 1919,
RECENT report (Technical Paper 266) by the United States
Bureau of Mines gives details of coke-oven accidents in the
United States during the calendar year 1919, together with
figures of preceding years as far back as 1914. During 1919, accord
ing to this report, the number of men killed was 53 (73 in 1918),
while the number injured was 4,031 (7,792 in 1918). The total
number of men reported employed in 1919 was 28,741 as compared
with 32,389 in 1918. The fatality rate in 1919, based on the number
of 300-day workers, was 1.92 per 1,000 men employed; in 1918 it
was 2.06/ The nonfatal injury rate in 1919 was 145.66 per 1,000
300-day workers as compared with 219.64 in 1918. The report is
based upon returns representing 46,902 beehive ovens and 8,545 by
product ovens. The average number of days the ovens were operated
was 289, being equivalent to 8,302,059 man days, or about 22 per
cent less than in 1918. The following table compiled from the report
gives the essential facts relating to coke-oven accidents in the United
States during the six-year period 1914 to 1919 inclusive:
A
COKE-OVEN ACCIDENTS IN THE U N IT E D STATES, 1914 TO 1919.
1919
Item.
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
Per cent
Number. decrease
from 1918.
28,741
32,417
32,389
31,603
31,060
22,313
Number employed..................
Equivalent number of 30027,674
35,476
34,119
35,595
21,241
31,415
day workers..........................
Days of labor performed....... 0,372,259 9,424,476 10,235,674 10,678,429 10,642,688 8,302,059
329
289
324
329
303
288
Average days active...............
73
53
76
45
38
45
Number killed.........................
Number killed per 1,000 3001.92
2.14
2.06
1.32
1.21
2.12
day workers..........................
7,792
4,031
5,237
6,713
2,852
2,189
Number injured......................
Number injured per 1,000 300219.64
145.66
188.59
153.49
103.06
90.78
day workers..........................
11.3
22.0
22.0
12.2
27.4
6.8
48.3
,,,
By causes, the largest number of nonfatal injuries in 1919 was due
to burns (566, or 14 per cent) and the largest number of fatal acci
dents was due to cars, lorries, and motors (18, or 34 per cent).
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H 60]
IN DUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICINE,
Need for Physical Examination of Employees.
N ARTICLE appearing in a recent number of Hospital Manage
ment 1 gives some of the reasons why physical examinations
of employees are essential and the methods which may be
followed in order to secure the best results from them. There is little
doubt that the advantages of a well-organized and well-conducted med
ical department are now generally conceded, and the writer believes that
a thorough physical examination which is repeated periodically is
the basis on which such a department must depend for success. It
has been generally considered that employees feel an unwillingness
or antagonism to physical examinations based largely upon the
belief that the examination is used as an excuse for rejecting em
ployees who may be considered undesirable by the management.
It is true that the superficial examination at time of employment is
open to this criticism, and while it is perhaps better than none it
does not form a basis upon which a comprehensive preventive and
curative program can be built.
The writer believes that if a thorough examination is given
periodically and if its purpose and value are carefully explained to
the examinee, not only will antagonism on the part of employees be
avoided but they will eventually appreciate and desire examinations.
Recent experience with mental analysis has shown the possibilities in
regard to intelligence tests and also a very wide field, as yet almost
untouched, of determination of motives, desires, inherent stability
and balance, a study of which will result in more intelligent placement
of employees.
The method of conducting a physical examination which shall be
satisfactory to all concerned is outlined by the writer. It starts with
the supposition that the applicant has been interviewed, shown the
job, trade tested, and examined as to intelligence before being sent
to the doctor for examination. The nurse or clerk first takes the
preliminary data, together with weight taking and eye and ear testing.
The doctor then questions in detail as to previous medical history,
after which comes the actual physical examination, which should be as
thorough as that of the best insurance companies or even as that of
our Army. Any impairment discovered should be explained briefly
and sympathetically, and if cause for rejection is found the examinee
should be told with as full information as is necessary. In this way
the resentment occasioned by an examination conducted in silence,
the results of which are returned by the employment department, is
avoided. After the examination is finished a blank form calling for
information as to hygiene, habits, and general family health is given
the employee with the statement that if he wishes a written report of
the examination it is necessary to return this blank properly filled out.
1 exam inations of major im portance, by W. A. Sawyer, M. C.
1920, pp. 57-59.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1161]
Hospital Management. November,
1G1
1G2
MONTHLY LABOE EEYIEW.
The further activities of the medical department call for follow-up
work with those found to be needing curative measures and for the
exercise of preventive care of those who are physically fit. The
requisites of a successful medical program in industry are summed up
as follows:
' Sympathetic cooperation from the top of the organization.
Personnel. Staff of adequate proportions and character.
Equipment. (Necessary to a certain point.)
Program—Ideals plus daily practice, resulting in consistent growth.
A—Physical examination—complete and painstaking is of major importance.
I. Initial or entrance examinations are for the purpose of placing or excluding. To
acquaint worker with his physical impairments. This can he made interesting and
helpful to the worker. If you get his interest you will have cooperation, which in the
end makes for a more efficient and contented worker, which is our goal.
II. Periodic reexaminations, not only of the rank and file, including special groups,
such as food handlers, etc, but the executives of the organization also. Follow up to
see that work does not prove hazardous and that advice as to correction is being
followed.
III. Should help to reduce sickness incidence—hence, cut down absenteeism.
IV. Should promote longevity of service.
V. Connect up with efforts of public health work in detecting contagious disease, and
should be the surest and most effectual way of finding these members of a community
suffering from tuberculosis or other prevalent diseases. Greatest opportunity to-day of
medical science is through prevention, and physical examination is fundamental in
prevention.
VI. Physical examination leads into all other branches and parts of medical work
in industry; diet, recreation, mental hygiene, housing and working conditions, fatigue,
and even to the training and raising of children and health of the workers’ families.
VII. Finally, physical examination will often provide a diagnosis and help to
fight quacks, charlatans, and other pretenders effectively. It will teach the worker the
truth—something he is mightily interested in.
Rest Periods for New York Workers.1
CCORDING to the Bureau of Women in Industry of the New
York State Industrial Commission, only 21 out of 111 New h ork
firms, which were covered in a recent inquiry, reported definite
rest period of 5 to 15 minutes.
Some employers take the position that definite rest periods are not
required, as there are times in machine operation when the person
who tends the machine has no work to do. Other employers feel
that a change from one occupation to another tends to reduce fatigue
as much as rest periods. Although a shift in occupation is not
always practical, some small establishments with hand work are
trying out this policy and a few large firms are taking similar action.
Tn one of the largest ribbon mills in New York State the blockers
who stand at their work and the pinners who sit at their work now
interchange jobs for two hours.
A
In the New York Telephone Co., in addition to the two rest periods each day for the
women operators, times are arranged during which the operators push back their
chairs and stand at the board. The supervisors who walk behind the operators, and
are standing constantly, are given two “half fatigue reliefs” each day when they
change places with some of the operators sitting at the board.
For elevator operators, rest periods have been almost universally adopted. In large
office buildings, hotels, etc., where the elevators are constantly in use, a relief is
planned so that the operator may have a 15 or 20 minute break twice a day.
S o u rc e : New Y ork State In d u strial Commission.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The B u lletin, N ovem ber, 1920, p . 37. A lbany.
[162]
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICINE.
163
The bureau of women in industry reports that “ the consensus of
opinion among employers ” is that recess periods are required when
occupations are monotonous or in the case of constant postures or
those involving great physical strain.
The efficacy of the rest periods depends chiefly upon the change of
position and the complete stoppage of work for a certain length of
time.
We even find employees themselves among the objectors to rest
periods. Pieceworkers, for instance, are opposed to the introduction
of these brief recesses because of the fear of not getting as high wages.
Some employers meet this opposition by paying for the rest period,
and others by showing that as a matter of fact productivity is in
creased.
Girls in a large New York City candy factory who were given a
15 minutes’ rest period twice a day cast a majority vote to have 2 \
hours off at the end of their working week instead of these short
recesses. In the light of the findings of the British health of muni
tions workers committee, such an arrangement could not he consid
ered as salutary as the rest periods.
Some employers have introduced brief definite recesses for the pur
pose of diminishing unregulated cessations of work. A Long Island
City factory now gives a morning rest period so that girls may have
time for coffee and rolls. Previously these employees might be seen
any time in the morning nibbling sandwiches while working at their
machines, as the majority of the girls come long distances without
any breakfast. Other employers have instituted regular short re
cesses in the hope of reducing the time lost by the girls because of
frequent visits to the rest rooms.
The experience of employers, production managers, time-study experts, etc., tends
to prove that all workers require pauses for rest and relaxation through a change of
position, and that rest periods are among the first requisites in a fatigue-eliminating
campaign.
Dust Hazards in Grinding Shops of an Ax Factory.
STUDY of the dust hazard in ax grinding, made recently in a
large New England factory by the United States Public Health
Service,1 included an investigation of the incidence of tuber
culosis among grinders and polishers, which showed that the aver
age tuberculosis death rate in the State for males for the period
1900-1918 was 1.7 per 1,000; for employees other than polishers and
grinders in the factory studied the rate was 1.6 and for the polishers
and 'grinders in the factory about ten times higher. This excess
death rate occurred in a group of about 90 polishers, 85 wet grinders,
and 25 dry grinders, and was considered surprisingly high since the
polishing and dry grinding shops had excellent exhaust systems and
wet grinding has been considered to be a process relatively free from
danger from dust. The relative hazards of grinding and polishing
were impossible to determine accurately since it is customary to
transfer grinders who fail in health to the polishing shops where they
A
1 D usthazardingrindingshopsofanaxfactory. B y C.-E. A. Winslow and Leonard Greenburg. Public
Health Reports, vol. 35, No. 41, Oct. 8, 1920, pp. 2393-2401.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[16 3 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
164
are usually able to work for some time, but it was considered that the
greatest danger lay in grinding.
The great amount of stone and steel dust which is thrown off daily
is shown in the fact that a stone 70 inches by 12 inches will last about
one month when used to grind axes and tools,_though one 13 inches
wide will last three months when used to grind machetes, and an
ax weighing 4 pounds 12 ounces loses 9 ounces of iron and steel in
the process of grinding. A man can grind an ax in from 3 to 5 minutes
so that with approximately 200 men working, a great amount of iron
and steel dust is thrown off daily in addition to the stone dust from
the 40 or 50 grindstones which are used up each month.
Samples of air obtained in the dry-grinding shop showed there was
an average of 154,500 particles of one-fourtli standard unit size (the
size recognized as of the most serious sanitary significance) per cubic
foot of air, which is well below the only standard which has been set
so far, that for polishing shops of an average of 200,000 particles, so
that the dry grinding does not seem to present a serious hazard. The
samples of air from the wet-grinding shop which were analyzed,
however, showed an average number of 15,800,000 particles of dust
of the same size, a figure so greatly in excess of the amount which is
considered fairly safe that it shows that the enormous incidence of
tuberculosis among the grinders and polishers in this factory is due to
the hazards in the process of wet grinding.
While the principle of wet grinding is considered a sound one, the
fact that the rapidly revolving wet wheels are rotated upward in the
face of the operator and that to facilitate rapid work operators are
likely to cut down the amount of water supplied to the wheel so that
in grinding a heavy object on the soft sandstone the water is pressed
back exposing a practically dry surface for the abrasion makes the
protection a more fancied than real one. The authors suggest as a
remedy the substitution of dry grinding with an efficient exhaust
system or possibly wet grinding on artificial abrasive wheels of a
harder nature than the sandstone.
Plant Measures for Industrial Fatigue Control.1
HE causes and control of fatigue have been the sub ject of recent
studies by officers of the United States Public Health Service
and others, and it is considered that sufficient progress has been
made in determining the causes of industrial overfatigue to justify
the introduction of programs for its control, although the extent to
which such programs should be left to the initiative of plant mana
gers rather than imposed upon them by governmental or municipal
measures is still a debated question.
Fatigue has been defined as “ the sum of the results of activities
which show themselves in a diminished capacity for doing work,”
and in case of industrial fatigue responsibility for its elimination
necessarily rests upon individual establishments. “ Fatigue costs,“
it is said, “ may be expressed in terms of the effect upon health,
longevity, safety, labor supply, employment stability, industrial
contentment, productive efficiency—i. e., alertness, speed, accurate
1 From shop stan d ard s and fatigue, b y Bernard J. Newm an.
1920, p. 7.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[164]
N ational Safety News, N ovem ber 29,
IN D U ST R IA L H Y G IE N E AND M E D IC IN E .
165
work, minimum waste—as well as output and profits.” It lias been
estimated by a recent writer on this subject that there is a loss
because of fatigue of 20 cents per day per year for each employee,
which would reach the staggering total loss to the nation, for the
40,000,000 workers of the United States, of approximately two and
one-half billion dollars a year. While these figures are estimates,
Dr. Newman considers that they are logical and show that the loss
is a national one and needs a nation-wide preventive program to
combat the condition. He considers that the following measures
are essential in a program which will result in humane working
conditions and mutual profit to employer and employee. ‘‘First,
there should be a physical examination of all applicants for employ
ment, in order that their physical capacity may be known by the
employment director, this examination to be followed periodically
by reexaminations and replacements according to the health of
the worker. This physical examination is in addition to the usual
training and experience examination. Second, there should be a
physical examination of the jobs, to find just what mental and
muscular ability is required for maximum efficiency in output.
Third, there should be a physical examination of the plant, to discover
the working conditions which may injure the health of the worker,
increase unnecessary fatigue and reduce output.”
A committee on industrial fatigue was appointed by the Canadian
Government last spring to study this problem with a view to bettering
conditions both for manufacturers and labor. An article on “ Some
of the preventable causes of fatigue” is published in Industrial
Canada, December, 1920 (pp. 80, 81, 98), which is a summing up of
the findings of the co m m itte e . The causes of fa tig u e are divided into
two classes, circumstantial and personal and individual causes.
The circumstantial causes are subdivided into working conditions and
home conditions, the working conditions including a great many
factors chief of which are diours, speed, concentration, posture
accident and health hazards, light and sanitation, food and wages,
while the home conditions cover housing, poverty and amusements.
Practically all of the working conditions, which are the peculiar
business and responsibility of employers, are susceptible of improve
ment and include a determination of the demands of the plant on
the physical and nervous strength of the workers which may require
an adjustment of the hours of work; of the environment, including
ventilation, light, space, extremes of temperature required by partic
ular processes, and even the psychological factors comprehended in
the influence of the appearance of a room, its neatness and order and
the color of the walls. The physical and nervous strain of the work
requires attention to the right amount of speed which may be required
without causing undue fatigue; rest periods scientifically apportioned
so as to allow for the greatest amount of recuperation; selection of
workers who can stand the physical strain of the work when it
requires lifting heavy weights, and proper adjustment of chairs and
tables so as to secure a atural, comfortable, and unstrained position.
Noise and vibration and liability to accidents all impose a nervous
strain often greater than is realized even by the workers, while
monotony, which is one of the most fruitful“ causes of fatigue, is
unavoidable, but may be lessened in some cases at least by alternation
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Liao]
166
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
of work. The general maintenance of health requires good food,
proper sanitary facilities, including good drinking water, and provi
sion of special work clothes where necessary, while the payment of a
living wage and the adaptation of the worker to his job are regarded
as fundamentals in a program for the prevention of fatigue.
Detection and Elimination of Industrial Fatigue.1
HILE the extensive introduction of the basic eight-hour day
into industry is recognized by Dr. Hayhurst as having laid
the foundation for greater control of industrial fatigue, still
he states it has not by any means removed the fatigue hazard from
industry, as the shorter workday applies to a comparatively small
proportion of the total number employed, and among them are many
who are employed for four hours at a time under a strain or at repeti
tive and highly monotonous tasks. The writer believes that there
are two factors—intrinsic and extrinsic— governing industrial fatigue.
The intrinsic factors which are the chief ones in causing fatigue are
those pertaining to the individual and include different conditions
relating to health and to the experience and skill of the worker, while
the extrinsic factors have to do with external conditions such as long
hours, night and overtime work, lack of rest, and bad working condi
tions of many kinds, all of which are easily controllable. As the
intrinsic factors are largely matters of education and medical super
vision, the writer sees no reason why the total control of fatigue is
not possible eventually with a corresponding growth of productivity.
Although it is extremely difficult if not impossible to measure the
extent or degree of fatigue, the author believes that if a broad view
of the possible existence of fatigue in a group of workers is assumed
it is possible to reach a solution by the following methods:
W
1. Adapt the workers to their jobs, not only by physical and past history examina
tions, which are necessarily important aspects of the problem, but by a careful selec
tion and specification of standards for personal hygiene for the given job, including
rest periods, best work methods, etc. This controls the personal equation.
2.
Eliminate those environmental factors, so-called “ industrial health hazards,”
which are known or believed to induce fatigue.
3.
Make a practical application of all information gained by following up instances
of health disturbances. These are to be sought for in resignations, absences, short
days and times off, mishaps and slips, decreased morale, and health complaints. A
checking up of health complaints requires detective work, and an investigation of all
instances of objective and subjective findings and sensations commonly known to be
associated with fatigue (whether with other bodily states or not), such as headache,
muscle pains, lethargy, anxiety, fatigue facies, postures and attitudes, dyspepsia,
depression, decreased initiative, etc.
4.
Watch the output not so much from the point of view of quantity as of perfection,
since fatigued workers may put out quantity but are less apt to satisfy the demands of
quality.
The different degrees of fatigue as shown in the day’s, month’s, or
year’s work ranges from “ tired looks” at the end of the day to impair
ment of health, loss of morale, and noticeably poor work for long
periods of time, so that the “ mass” signs of the day’s fatigue in a
group of workers he considers may be used as a check upon the
results of the measures taken for its elimination.
1Points in the detection of industrial fatigue and measures for its possible complete elimination,
by Emery R. Hayhurst, P h .D ., M. D ., in The Journal of Industrial Hygiene, November, 1920, pp.
253-258.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1166]
W O RK M EN ’S C O M PENSA TION AND SOCIAL
INSURANCE.
Methods of Amending Compensation Laws.
OMPENSATION legislation in the United States, although so
nearly accepted throughout its entire area, is still in a develop
mental stage, and many additions and changes are made from
year to year. Amendments made in 1920, when compara
tively few legislative sessions were held, are noted in the M o n t h l y
L a b o r R e v i e w for October (pp. 185-191); while a more general study
of the trend of legislation is presented in the issue of November (pp.
1-19). The methods in use in the different jurisdictions to secure
desirable amendments vary. With legislative terms of two years and
biennial sessions, continuing committees can hardly have charge of
subjects from session to session. This, of course, is not the universal
rule, but is quite common. It is the purpose of the present article
merely to note a few illustrative plans among the various methods
adopted in the different States.
C
Illinois.
|70R some years past the Industrial Commission of Illinois has asked
A the State Federation of Labor and the Illinois Manufacturers’
Association, representing, respectively, the employees and em
ployers of the State, to select a committee to draft proposed amend
ments to the compensation act. This provides for a general prelimi
nary discussion and an agreement for action, after which both groups
interested are ready to cooperate to secure results. The amendments
proposed by this committee in 1917 were adopted without change;
in 1919 a trifling change was made, and the same plan is being carried
out in regard to amendments to be considered at the legislative session
of 1921. The chairman of the commission reports the plan as having
worked successfully, and “ we believe that we have accomplished more
in this way than could be accomplished in any other.”
Kansas.
RESOLUTION was presented to the legislature of 1919 authorizing the appointment of a commission to revise throughout the
compensation act of this State. This failed of passage, but
Gov. Allen, on his own initiative, appointed a special commission to
draft a compensation act to be presented at the legislative session
beginning January 11, 1921. This commission consists of two sena
tors, three representatives, two representative employers, the presi
dent of the State Federation of Labor, and the State commissioner
of labor and industries. The law has not been satisfactory by reason
of the restriction to so-called hazardous employments, its failure to
require insurance, and its lack of an administrative head. The purA
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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167
168
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
pose of appointing the commission was to secure a law of broader
scope, providing increased benefits, requiring the_ insurance of all
risks, and arranging for a responsible board of administration. It is
reported that a vigorous effort will be made by the Federation of
Labor to secure the enactment of a law" providing for an exclusive
State fund.
Massachusetts.
| TNDER the constitution of Massachusetts any citizen of the State
^
may file a petition with the legislature for action on any subject
presented, and the legislature is directed to act upon this peti
tion. This implies the appointment of committees, the holding of
hearings, and reports to both branches of the legislature. Of course,
the action may be a rejection of the subject matter, or its modifica
tion, as well as its adoption in the form presented. As a result of
this provision there are annually presented to the legislature some 50
or 60 proposed changes to the compensation act, some filed by indi
viduals and others by organizations such as the American Federation
of Labor, etc. The industrial accident board, here as in other States
where such agencies exist, makes suggestions from time to time as to
new legislation. In the main, however, the recommendations of the
board have been on the administrative side of the law rather than on
the substantive, though this rule is not absolute. The board also fur
nishes information to committees holding hearings on the various peti
tions that have been filed, so that its ideas are valuable as an aid to
the commission. The liberality" of this method and the number of
suggestions thus far submitted have rendered any other procedure
unnecessary.
Oiegon.
similar to the method in use in Illinois is that more recently
Q LtITE
adopted in Oregon, though here the appointment of the commit
tee was made by the governor. The first step in this direction was
taken in preparation for a special session of the legislature in January,
1920, which was called for the purpose of increasing benefits under
the compensation act. Prior to the convening of this session, the
governor appointed a committee consisting of five members repre
senting employers, five representing workmen, and five the general
public. The measures as recommended by this committee were
adopted at the session of the legislature, and the results were so
satisfactory that a like committee was arranged for to consider
recommendations to be submitted at the regular session meeting in
January, 1921. This committee held its first meeting in July, 1920,
and had before it brief outlines recommending a dozen important
changes in the law submitted by" the State industrial accident com
mission. This was done to expedite the work, and not at all to
exclude suggestions from members and others.
The recommendations by the commission were: (1) A flat increase
in compensation benefits; (2) that the State continue its contribu
tion to the accident fund—a provision that has been attacked by
each session of the legislature and seems likely to be eliminated
unless further recommendation be made byr the committee; (3) a
provision regulating appeals; (4) more effective provisions for the
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[163 ]
w o r k m e n 's
c o m p e n s a t io n
a n d
s o c ia l
in s u r a n c e
.
169
collection of delinquent accounts; (5) changes in the lien provisions
of the law relative to delinquent contributions; (6) suggestions as to
the investment of accident funds; (7) a modification of the pro
visions as to rehabilitation, so as to give the commission discretion
in regard to the amounts required in the various cases; (8) authority
of the commission to commute to a lump sum compensation benefits
for permanent partial disability for a term not running beyond 24
months; (9) the requirement that delinquent employers be com
pelled to post notices of their default so that workmen may be
informed thereof; (10) recommendations as to experience rating
and accident prevention; (11) the hospital contract system, which
has been the subject of much complaint; and (12) a provision
clarifying the application of the act to injuries occuring outside the
State.
At the August meeting of the committee State aid to cover admin
istrative expenses^, but nothing for compensation, was recommended.
The proposals regarding the finances for the rehabilitation fund were
approved; similar action was taken with regard to lump-sum pay
ments where the compensation term does not exceed 24 months.*
At the September meeting there were evidences of rather vigorous
differences of opinion with regard to the right of the injured workman
to choose his own physician and the medical and hospital service
generally, the discussion bringing out a declaration by employee
representatives that they desired a State insurance system and full
State control of the entire medical and hospital service. Two
recommendations made were that employees be given a voice in the
selection of any contract doctor or hospital service made use of by the
employer, and that individual employees, subject to review by the
commission, be given the option of choosing another physician.
The matter of the cost of service was left to be worked out at another
meeting. Three new proposals were submitted at this meeting, one
to the effect that revisions of premium rates might be made annually
instead of biennially, a second providing a penalty where employers
fail to furnish monthly reports of their pay rolls, and the tliird
extending the law to cover minors who have received permits to
work or have signed up for lawful employment, claiming; to be of
lawful age.
At the October meeting final action was taken on the proposal as
to State aid, the committee unanimously recommending a contri
bution equal to the entire cost of administration, excepting voca
tional rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Similar action was taken
on a bill with regard to appeals from the findings of the industrial
commission and the one relating to the collection of delinquent
accounts. The proposal regarding the posting of notices of default
in work places was adopted by a vote of 6 to 5. The. three sugges
tions submitted at the September meeting were acted upon at this
time, the first and second favorably, while the third was referred to
the commission for an amendment. A new recommendation at this
time was to compensate those diseases which arise directly out of
the occupation and are beyond doubt traceable thereto. “ The
recommendations made quite an impression and the commission
will seriously consider the practicability of the proposal.” Other
new proposals submitted at this time were that the salaries of the
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170
M O N T H L Y LABOK REV IEW .
commissioners be increased to $5,000 each; that public employees
be automatically brought under the act; that where there is an
accrued surplus of $400,000 in the hands of the commission one
month’s exemption be granted to all contributors, and that a definite
waiting time of 7 days be fixed, benefits dating from the beginning
of the incapacity if continuing longer than 30 days—this in substi
tution for the present provision of no waiting period. Proposals
informally submitted by a labor representative, not a member of the
committee, were also laid before the committee.
At the meeting in November a member of the legislature, who was
an employer representative, declared his opposition to any amend
ments that would increase the tax burden of the State, whether in
the form of rate increases, award increases, expenses, salaries, or
extension of the law. The proposal to recpiire employers to furnish
reports monthly was adopted, reports to be furnished by the 15th of
the month showing the total pay roll for the preceding calendar month.
Other subjects considered were held over for amendment or further
consideration. The State Federation of Labor embodied its recom
mendations under 7 heads. The present law is elective, and does
not extend to nonhazardous occupations. The federation recom
mends that the act be compulsory for all public employees, and that
any occupation in which one per cent or more are injured in any
calendar year shal] be considered as hazardous. I t also recommends
that compensation be increased 50 per cent, but not to exceed twothirds of the wages received by the injured man at the time of his
injury; that all contract hospitals and contract doctors be elimi
nated; that any waiting period be rejected; that salaries of com
missioners be increased to $4,500; that the present system of State
aid to the benefit fund be continued ; and that occupational diseases
be brought within the provisions of the law.
This rather detailed account of the Oregon procedure discloses
what is perhaps a unique method of publicity and continuous con
sideration. The meetings will continue until at least the meeting
of the legislature and probably more frequently than monthly in
order to speed up determinations.
States Without Compensation Laws.
IN THIS connection may be noted the existence of a commission in
1 the State of Arkansas, created under house concurrent resolution
No. 7 of the legislature of 1919, authorizing the governor to appoint
such a commission. At latest accounts, the activities of the investi
gation have not been made public, but there was a feeling among
lawyers of the State that restrictions contained in the State constitu
tion would have to be eliminated before a compensation act can be
passed.
The action of the voters in Missouri on November 2, in rejecting the
compensation law passed by the legislature of 1919,has necessitated
the resumption of the activity of friends of compensation legislation
in the State in efforts to formulate a new measure which may be
acceptable. The problem appears to be a difficult one in view of the
charge made by friends of the act of 1919 that it was killed chiefly
through the efforts of damage-suit lawyers who felt their financial
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W O R K M E N S C O M PEN SA TIO N AND SOCIAL IN S U R A N C E .
171
interests jeopardized by the existence of such a law; while on the
other hand certain labor organizations based their hostility to the act
on the ground that it did not provide a State fund—a provision which
would likewise attract the opposition of the insurance companies.
Indeed, both the Insurance Federation of America and the Workmen’s
Compensation Publicity Bureau, of which F. Robertson Jones, of
New York, is secretary-treasurer and active head, report among their
principal achievements for the year just ending their success in
opposing “ monopolistic State-managed insurance funds,” and the
year to come will find the same organizations in the field.
Reports indicate a serious attempt to secure the enactment-of a
workmen’s compensation law in North Carolina at the 1921 session of
this legislature. A legislative committee appointed at the lastsession is expected to have ready for report a measure that, it is
hoped, will command the support of both employers and employees.
Sessions will also be held in South Carolina and Florida, which are yet
without compensation acts, while Mississippi, the only other State
that has no such law, will have no regular legislative session until
1922.
State Agencies for Administering Workmen’s Compensation and
Accident Prevention Laws.
»T^HAT complete and detailed information as to the number and
I
nature of industrial accidents is fundamental to any intelligent
A concerted action looking to prevention work is conceded by all.
That there is no machinery for, nor method of, ascertaining even the
number of fatal and nonfatal industrial accidents occurring in the
United States in any given period of time is not creditable to the coun
try. The following statement shows the State agencies having au
thority over the administration of workmen’s compensation, accident
reporting, and accident prevention laws, and emphasizes the amount
of reorganization of State functions necessary to secure such essential
data through State machinery. It clearly repeals the conditions as
they exist to-day relative to the lack of coordination in the various
Stales along these lines.
2 4 9 3 3 ° — 21------ 12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
a d m in is t r a t io n
o r COMPENSATION a c t s , a c c i d e n t r e p o r t i n g a n d a c c i d e n t
PR E V E N T IO N IN THE U N IT E D STATES.
Government agency having authority over—
State.
Compensation.
Accident reporting.
Compensation
sioner.
Accident prevention.
commis
Chief mine inspector.
No provision in compensa
tion law.
Mine inspector (who is also
Mine
inspector
(who
is
Courts2..................................
Alaska....................
also commissioner of
cx officio labor Commis
sioner).
labor).
Court system of adminis- Mine inspector..................... Mine inspector.
Arizona«
tration.2
Insurance commissioner.
do.
No compensation law
Arkansas.
Mine inspector.
Commissioner of labor.
Industrial accident commis
Industrial
accident
com
Industrial
accident
com
California.
sion (safety department).3
mission (compensation
mission (compensation
Bureau of labor statistics.
department).3
department).3
Industrial commission...... Industrial commission....... Bureau of labor statistics.
Colorado..
Inspectors of coal mines.
Bureau of mines (metallifer
ous mines).
Industrial commission also
jurisdiction by law.
Board of compensation Compensation commis Department of labor and
Connecticut
factory inspection.
sioners.
commissioners. 5 au
No provision in compensa
tonomous districts.
tion law.
Industrial accident board.. Industrial accident board.. No provision.
Delaware.
No compensation law ........ No provision........................ ; State labor inspector.
Florid a...
Industrial commission....... Industrial commission....... No provision.
Georgia..
Industrial accident boards. Industrial accident boards. No provision.
H aw aii...
Industrial accident board.. Industrial accident board.. Industrial accident board.
Idaho---Inspector of mines.
Industrial commission....... Industrial commission....... Department of labor.
Illin o is..
Mine inspector.
No provision in compensa
tion law.
Industrial board:
Industriai board.
Indiana................. Industrial board
Department of mines.
Department of boilers.
Department of factories,
buildings, and work
shops.
No provision in compensa
tion law.
Industrial commissioner... Industrial commissioner... Bureau of labor statistics.
Iowa
Mine inspectors.
No provision in compensa
tion law.
Department
of labor and
Department
of
labor
and
Courts2.............................. .
Kansas__
industry.
industry.
Mine
inspectors.
Workmen’s
compensation
Workmen’s compensation
Kentucky
Kentucky Employees Insur
board.
board.
ance Association.
Courts2.................................. Factory inspector............... F a c to r y in s p e c to r .
Louisiana.
Department
of labor and
Industrial accident com Industrial accident com
Maine----industry.
mission.
mission.
No provision in compensa
tion law.
Alabama...............
Compensation
sioner,1
commis
1Director of the department of archives and history is ex-officio compensation commissioner.
2 In the court type'of law the amount of compensation and other questrous at issue are settled directly
by the employer or insurer and the injured employee. In cases of dispute the matter m ay be referred to
an arbitration committee, and eventually taken to the courts. In some of these States, however, there
exists a certain amount of supervision by one or more State agencies. For example, in Alabama the di
rector of the department of archives and history, who is ex-officio compensation commissioner, shall re
ceive accident reports and settlements, prepare blank forms, and compile statistics on the operation of the
act; in Alaska, rej ections of the act are filed w ith the U nited States commissioner; in Arizona, in case the
parties do not a^ree, reference may be had to the attorney general; in Kansas, disputes are settled by local
committees or arbitrators selected either by the parties in interest or by the court; in Minnesota, notices
and settlements are filed with the commissioner of labor, who shall advise the employee of his rights and
assist in adjusting disputes; in New Hampshire, acceptances and proof of financial solvency are filed with
the commissioner of labor; in Rhode Island, acceptances, accident reports, and proof of financial solvency
are filed with the commissioner of industrial statistics; in Tennessee the bureau of workshops and factory
inspection receives notices of rejection of the act, accident reports, settlements, andreleascs; while in
W yoming the State treasurer supervises the State fund and county assessors are required to report lists
of extra-hazardous employments to the treasurer, who shall compile accident statistics.
3 No subdivision of commission by law, merely administrative.
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w o r k m e n 's
c o m p e n s a t io n
and
SOCIAL IN S U R A N C E .
173
A D M IN IS T R A T IO N O F C O M P E N S A T IO N A C T S . A C C ID E N T R E P O R T I N G A N D A C C ID E N T
P R E V E N T I O N I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S — C o n tin u e d .
G o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y h a v in g a u t h o r it y o v e r —
S ta te .
C o m p e n sa tio n .
M a r y la n d .................
A c c id e n t re p o r tin g .
A c c id e n t p r e v e n tio n .
B o a r d o f! ab or a n d sta tistic .;.
M in e in s p e c to r .
N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n sa
t io n la w .
M a s s a c h u s e tts ___ I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b o a r d .. I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b o a r d .. D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r a n d
in d u s t r ie s .
D is t r ic t p o lic e .
M ic h ig a n .................. ____ d o ............................................
do.
D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r.
N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
M in n e s o ta ................ C o u r ts 2........................................ D e p a r tm e n t of la b o r a n d D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r a n d
in d u str ie s .
in d u s tr ie s .
C o u n ty in s p e c to r s o f m in e s .
N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
M iss is s ip p i............... N o c o m p e n s a tio n la w
N o p ro v isio n .
N o p r o v isio n .
M isso u ri................................ d o .................................
B u r e a u of m in e s .
D e p a r tm e n t o f in d u str ia l
in s p e c tio n .
M on tan a.
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b o a r d .. I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b o a r d .. I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b oard .
D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r a n d
in d u s t r y (m in e s a n d b o iie rs
o n ly ) .
N eb ra sk a .
C o m m issio n e r o f labor C o m m issio n e r o f lab or D e p a r tm e n t of la b o r.
(w h o is a lso co m p e n sa
(w h o is a ls o c o m p e n s a N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n s a
t io n c o m m issio n e r ).
t io n c o m m iss io n e r ).
t io n la w .
N e v a d a ...
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m iss io n ........ I n d u s tr ia l c o m m iss io n ........ L a b o r c o m m issio n e r .
In s p e c to r s o f m in e s .
N o p r o v is io n in c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
N e w H a m p s h ir e .. C o u r ts 2........................................ B u r e a u o f la b o r ...................... B u r e a u o f la b o r.
D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r.
N e w J e r se y ............. D e p a r t m e n t o f la b o r
D ep a rtm en t of la b o r
(w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
(w o r k m e n ’s co m p e n sa t io n b u r e a u ).
b u r e a u .)
New Mexico.
C o u r ts 2........................................ M in e in s p e c t o r ...................... . M in e in sp e c to r .
N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n sa
t io n la w .
I n d u s tr ia l
c o m m is s io n
N e w Y ork .
I n d u s t r ia l
c o m m is s io n
I n d u s t r ia l
c o m m is s io n
(b u r e a u o f in s p e c tio n ).
(b u r e a u o f w o r k m e n ’s
(b u r e a u o f w o r k m e n ’s
c o m p e n s a tio n ).
c o m p e n s a tio n ).
M in e in s p e c to r .
N o r th C a r o lin a .. . N o c o m p e n s a tio n l a w ......... M in e in s p e c t o r .............., —
c o m p e n s a tio n
N o r th D a k o t a ___ W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a tio n W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a tio n W o r k m e n ’s
bureau.
b ureau .
bureau.
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m iss io n ( d i v i
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m i s s i o n
O h io ............................ I n d u s tr ia l c o m m i s s i o n
s io n o f w o r k sh o p s a n d fa c
( w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
( w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
to r ie s ).
t io n b u r e a u ).
t io n b u r e a u ).
O k la h o m a ................ I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n ........ I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n ........ D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r.
I n s p e c to r s of m in e s , o il, a n d
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t c o m
m is s io n .
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t c o m
m is s io n .
gas- . .
O regon
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t c o m
m is s io n .
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t c o m
m is s io n .
P e n n s y lv a n ia .
D e p a r tm e n t o f la b o r a n d
in d u s t r y
(b u r e a u
of
w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
tio n ) w o r k m e n ’s c o m
p e n s a t io n b o a rd .
W o r k m e n ’s re lie f c o m m is
s io n .
D e p a r tm e n t of labor a n d
in d u s t r y
(b u r e a u
of
w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
tio n ).
I ’orto R ic o .
W o r k m e n ’s r e lie f c o m m is
sio n .
N o p r o v is io n in c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t c o m m is
s io n i n c o o p e r a tio n w it h
b u r e a u of la b o r.
D e p a r tm e n t of la b o r a n d in
d u s tr y .
D e p a r tm e n t of m in e s .
D e p a r tm e n t o f a g ricu ltu re
a n d la b o r.
N o p r o v is io n in c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
2 I n t h e c o u r t t y p e o f la w th $ a m o u n t o f c o m p e n s a tio n a n d o th e r q u e stio n s a t is s u e a re s e t t le d d ir e c tly
b y t h e e m p lo y e r or in su r e r a n d t h e in ju r e d e m p lo y e e . I n c a s e s o f d is p u te t h e m a t t e r m a y b e referred to
a n a r b itr a tio n c o m m itte e , a n d e v e n t u a lly t a k e n t o t h e c o u r ts . I n s o m e o f t h e s e S ta te s , h o w e v e r , th e r e
e x is t s a c e r ta in a m o u n t o f s u p e r v is io n b y o n e or m o r e S t a t e a g e n c ie s . F o r e x a m p le , i n A la b a m a , th e
d ir e c to r o f t h e d e p a r tm e n t o f a r c h iv e s a n d h is t o r y , w h o is ex -o ffic io c o m p e n s a tio n c o m m iss io n e r , s h a ll
r e c e iv e a c c id e n t re p o r ts a n d s e t t le m e n t s , p rep are b la n k fo rm s, a n d c o m p ile s t a t is t ic s o n t h e o p e r a tio n o f th e
a ct; in A la s k a , r e je c tio n s o f th e a c t a re filed w it h t h e U n ite d S ta te s c o m m issio n e r , in A r iz o n a , in c a s e t h e
p a r tie s d o -n o t a gre e, r eferen ce m a y b e h a d t o t h e a tto r n e y g en er a l; in K a n s a s , d is p u te s a re s e t t le d b y lo c a l
c o m m itte e s or a r b itr a to r s s e le c te d e ith e r b y t h e p a r tie s i n in te r e s t or b y t h e co u rt; in M in n e so ta , n o tic e s
a n d s e t t le m e n t s are file d w it h t h e c o m m iss io n e r o f la b o r , w h o s h a ll a d v is e t h e e m p lo y e e o f h is r ig h ts a n d
a s s is t in a d ju s tin g d is p u te s ; in N e w H a m p s h ir e , a c c e p ta n c e s a n d p ro o f o f fin a n c ia l s o lv e n c y are file d w it h
t h e c o m m issio n e r o f lab or; in R h o d e I s la n d , a c c e p ta n c e s, a c c id e n t r e p o r ts, a n d pro o f o f fin a n c ia l s o lv e n c y
are file d w it h t h e c o m m issio n e r o f in d u s t r ia l s ta tis tic s ; in T e n n e s se e t h e b u r ea u o f w o r k sh o p s a n d fa cto ry
in s p e c tio n r e c e iv e s n o tic e s o f r e je c tio n o f t h e a c t, a c c id e n t re p o r ts, s e t t le m e n t s , a n d re lea ses; w h ile in
W y o m in g t h e S t a t e trea su rer s u p e r v is e s t h e S ta te fu n d a n d c o u n ty a sse sso rs a re re q u ir ed t o re p o r t lis ts
o f e x tr a -h a z a r d o u s e m p lo y m e n ts t o t h e trea su rer , w h o s h a ll c o m p ile a c c id e n t s ta tis tic s .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 7 3 ]
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
174
A D M IN IS T R A T IO N O F C O M P E N S A T IO N A C T S, A C C ID E N T R E P O R T I N G A N D A C C ID E N T
P R E V E N T I O N I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S — C o n c lu d e d .
G o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y h a v in g a u t h o r it y o v e r —
S ta te s.
A c c id e n t re p o r tin g .
C o m p e n s a tio n .
S o u th C a r o li n a .. .
S o u th D a k o t a ___
B u r e a u of in d u s tr ia l s ta
tis tic s .
N o c o m p e n s a tio n l a w .......... N o p r o v is io n .............................
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n e r ... I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n e r ...
T e n n e s se e
C o u r ts 2
C hief m in e in s p e c to r
T exas
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b o a rd .
I n d u s tr ia l a c c id e n t b o a rd .
U t a h ....
V erm on t
V ir g in ia .
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n ........
C o m m issio n e r of in d u str ie s
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n ........
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n ........
C o m m issio n e r of in d u str ie s
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m is s io n ........
W a s h in g to n ............
I n d u s tr ia l in s u r a n c e
p a r tm e n t.
I n d u s tr ia l in s u r a n c e d e
p a r tm e n t.
W e s t V ir g in ia ___
C o m p e n sa tio n
s io n er.
W i s c o n s i n ...
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m i s s i o n
(w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
t io n d e p a r tm e n t).
W o r k m e n ’s co m p e n s a tio n
d e p a r tm e n t ( u n d e r
trea su rer’s o ffice).
R h o d e I s la n d .........
C o u r t s 3........................................
A c c id e n t p r e v e n tio n .
F a c to r y in sp e c to r .
N o p r o v is io n .
I n s p e c to r of m in e s .
N o p r o v is io n in c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
C h ief m in e in s p e c to r .
D e p a r tm e n t of w o rk sh o p s
a n d fa cto ry in s p e c tio n .
No provision in compensa
tion law.
W y o m in g .
d e
c o m m is
C o m p e n s a tio n
s io n er.
c o m m is
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m i s s i o n
(w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a
t io n d e p a r tm e n t).
D is tr ic t c o u r t ...........................
B u r e a u o f la b o r s ta tis tic s .
M in e in s p e c to r .
T e x a s E m p lo y e r s ’ In su r a n c e
A s s o c ia tio n .
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m iss io n .
C o m m is sio n e r of in d u str ie s .
B u r e a u of la b o r a n d in d u s
tr ia l s ta tis tic s .
N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
S ta te s a fe ty b o a rd .
S ta te m in in g b o a rd .
N o p r o v is io n i n c o m p e n s a
t io n la w .
B u r e a u o i la b o r.
D e p a r tm e n t o f m in e s .
C o m p e n s a tio n c o m m iss io n e r
m a y re q u ir e e m p lo y e r s to
a d o p t a n d p o s t s a fe ty
ru le s.
I n d u s tr ia l c o m m iss io n (sa fe
t y a n d s a n it a t io n d e p a r t
m e n t).
In s p e c to r of m in e s .
2 I n th e .c o u r t t y p e o f la w t h e a m o u n t of c o m p e n s a tio n a n d o th e r q u e stio n s a t is s u e a re s e t t le d d ir e c tly
b y th e e m p lo y e r or in su rer a n d t h e in ju red e m p lo y e e . I n c a s e s of d is p u te t h e m a t t e r m a y b e referred to
a n a r b itr a tio n c o m m itte e , a n d e v e n t u a lly t a k e n to t h e c o u r ts . I n s o m e o f t h e s e S ta te s , h o w e v e r , th ere
e x i s t s a c e r ta in a m o u n t o f s u p e r v is io n b y o n e or m o r e S ta te a g e n c ie s . F o r e x a m p le , in A la b a m a , th e
d ir e c to r o f t h e d e p a r tm e n t o f a r c h iv e s a n d h is t o r y , w h o is ex -o ffic io c o m p e n s a tio n co m m issio n e r , s h a ll
r e c e iv e a c c id e n t r e p o r ts a n d s e t t le m e n t s , p rep a re b la n k fo rm s, a n d c o m p ile s t a t is t ic s o n th e o p e r a tio n of th e
a ct; in A la s k a , r e je c tio n s o f th e a c t a re file d w it h t h e U n it e d S ta te s c o m m issio n e r ; in A r iz o n a , in c a s e th e
p a r tie s do n o t agree, referen ce m a y b e h a d t o t h e a tto r n e y g en eral; in K a n s a s , d is p u te s a re s e t t le d b y lo c a l
c o m m itt e e s or a rb itr a to r s s e le c te d e ith e r b y t h e p a r tie s in in te r e s t or b y t h e co u rt; in M in n e so ta , n o tic e s
a n d s e t t le m e n t s are file d w it h t h e c o m m iss io n e r of la b o r , w h o s h a ll a d v is e t h e e m p lo y e e of h is r ig h ts a n d
a s s is t in a d ju s tin g d is p u te s ; in N e w H a m p s h ir e , a c c e p ta n c e s a n d pro o f o f fin a n c ia l s o lv e n c y are filed w it h
t h e c o m m iss io n e r o f la b o r; in R h o d e I s la n d , a c c e p ta n c e s, a c c id e n t r e p o r ts, and pro o f o f fin a n c ia l s o lv e n c y
are file d w it h t h e c o m m issio n e r o f in d u s t r ia l s ta tis tic s ; in T e n n e s se e t h e b u r e a u o f w o r k sh o p s a n d fa c to r y
in s p e c tio n r e c e iv e s n o tic e s o f r e je c tio n o f t h e a c t , a c c id e n t re p o r ts, s e t t le m e n t s , a n d re lea ses; w h ile in
W y o m in g t h e S ta te trea su rer s u p e r v is e s t h e S ta te fu n d a n d c o u n ty a sse sso rs a re re q u ir e d to rep o rt lis ts
o f ex tr a -h a z a r d o u s e m p lo y m e n ts t o t h e trea su rer , w h o s h a ll c o m p ile a c c id e n t s ta t is t ic s .
Enforcing insurance Under the N ew York Workmen’s Compensation
Law.
THE September, 1920, issue of the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w
(pp. 150-153) is a brief article entitled “ The Crime of Uninsurance
Under Workmen’s Compensation.” That the word “ crime” is
not used figuratively in that connection is evidenced by the fact that
in the article an account is given of the first imposition of a jail
sentence for failure of an employer to insure his risks under the
compensation law. The beneficial effects of this action are there
referred to, but further reports indicate that there is still need of
I
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w o r k m e n ’s
c o m p e n s a t io n
and
s o c ia l
in s u r a n c e .
175
diligence. Among other recent cases is one in the city of Syracuse
where an uninsured employer was found guilty and sentenced to one
year in the penitentiary with a fine of $50. He was put on probation to
pay an award amounting to $900 and the case continued. In Buffalo
also an uninsured employer was sentenced to one year in the peni
tentiary with a $500 fine. He was put on probation to pay an
award amounting to $6,100.
A case that has received considerable publicity is a New York City
case in which an uninsured employer, financially irresponsible, was
sentenced to six months in jail after every effort to collect the award
had failed. The employee was fatally injured, leaving surviving a
widow aged 31 years and three children .aged 9, 7, and 1 year, respec
tively. The amount of the award was $8,716.37. The family is
now dependent upon private charity.
The New York Industrial Commission reports the attitude of courts
in cases of this type as very favorable and helpful, as the “ publicity
that has been given to these sentences has caused thousands of
uninsured employers to take out the necessary compensation insurance
for the protection of their employees.”
Missouri Compensation Law Rejected by Referendum.
HE M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for June, 1919, carries an account of
the enactment of a workmen’s compensation law for the State
of Missouri. Accounts have been received from time to time
of the progress of efforts to secure a referendum on the law, and when
a sufficient number of names was nominally secured, the question of
the legality of the process by which they were obtained was brought
into dispute, the case being carried to the higher courts, where it was
decided that the petition was in due form, duly signed, and that the
referendum must be held. Accordingly, no commission was ever
appointed, or other action taken looking toward the carrying out of
the provisions of the law, awaiting the result of the referendum,
at the election of November 2, the law then being rejected.
Though the State federation of labor declared for the law, certain
trade groups joined the damage-suit lawyers in working for its
defeat, inserting advertisements in labor papers, and otherwise
seeking to align their friends against it. The principal objection
urged was the failure of the law to provide a system of exclusive
State insurance, one advertisement stating that “ There will be no
just workmen’s compensation law in this State until one is enacted
which embodies the plan of exclusive State insurance, which will
eliminate insurance companies from cases of personal injury or death
in industry.” This was said to be in line with the recommendations
of the recent convention of the American Federation of Labor, direct
ing that efforts be made to secure the enactment of laws of this type
in all jurisdictions in the United States and Canada.
One advertisement further declared that a measure will be intro
duced at the next session of the legislature containing this and other
provisions not found in the act of 1919; as increased medical allow
ance, more liberal burial expense, right to choose the physician
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
176
furnished hv the employer, lump-sum settlements in death cases, no
waiting period in injury cases, and a benefit equal to two-thirds of
the wages.
In the meantime, Missouri stands as by far the most important
industrial State now under the discredited rule of the common law
liability of employers for injuries to their employees.
Compensation Allowed tor Injury Due to Horseplay.
N IMPORTANT decision by the New York Court of Appeals sets
at rest for that jurisdiction the question of the status of a work
man injured as a result of sportive conduct on the part of his fel
low workmen. There has been much conflict of opinion on the point,
and the New York State Commission has long desired an authoritative
ruling. It awarded benefits in the case of a claimant who lost the better
pari of the sight of an eye by being struck by an apple which one boy
had in sport thrown at another, and this finding was sustained by the
appellate division of the supreme court. The case was appealed, but
the Court of Appeals on October 19, 1920, sustained the judgment of
the court below, and the award stands (Lconbruno v . Champlain Silk
Mills, 128 N. E. 711).
The court said that the accident arose in the course of the employ
ment, which no one questioned; further that it arose out of the
employment, as “ the claimant’s presence in a factory in association
with other workmen involved exposure to the risk of injury from the
careless acts of those about him.” He was brought by the conditions
of his work “ within the zone of special danger” (citing the English
case, Thom v . Sinclair, 1917, A. C. 127, 142). “ Whatever men and
boys will do, when gathered together under such surroundings, at all
events if it is something reasonably to be expected, was one of the perils
of his service. * * * The claimant was injured, not merely while
he was in a factory, but because he was in a factory, in touch with the
associations and conditions inseparable from factory life. * * *
The .test of liability under the statute is not the master’s dereliction,
whether his own or that of his representatives acting within the scope
of their authority. The test of liability is the relation of the service
to the injury, of the employment to the risk.”
A
Recent Reports of industrial Accident Commissions.
California.1
HE report of the California Industrial Accident Commission for
the year ending June 30, 1920, shows a substantial decrease in
the industrial deaths and permanent injuries during 1919 as
compared with 1918. In 1919 there were 586 deaths, as compared
with 706 in 1918, while the permanent injuries in 1919 numbered
1,714, as against 2,100 in 1918. In 1919 there were 108,947 industrial
T
1 Summary furnished the bureau by the Industrial Accident Commission.
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w o r k m e n 's
c o m p e n s a t io n
and
s o c ia l
in s u r a n c e .
177
injuries as compared with 104,767 in 1918. The temporary injuries
in 1919 numbered 105,952, as against 101,961 in 1918. This reduc
tion in the number of deaths and permanent injuries in the face of
the increase in temporary injuries is regarded by the Commission as
significant.
A survey of the 586 industrial deaths shows that 146 occurred m
operations not coming within the scope of the law, leaving 440 com
pensable cases. There were 149 deaths in railroad, vessel, and
stevedoring operations, 119 in construction and 95 in manufacturing.
Agriculture was responsible for 40 deaths, and public utilities for 45.
The greatest single cause of deaths was vehicles, 223 deaths resulting
from the operation of boats, cars, automobiles, wagons, and other
vehicles. There were 31 deaths from electricity, 86 from machinery,
and 12 from the explosion of firearms. There were 9 women killed
while at work in 1919.
Two hundred and seventy-eight decedents left 656 total depend
ents, 106 partial dependents were left in 53 fatal cases, in 170 fatal
cases there were no dependents, and in 85 fatal cases the facts were
unknown. The average age of the widows was 39.3 years, and of de
pendent children, 9 years.
In 15 cases of serious and permanent injuries life pensions were
awarded. There were 13 such cases in 1918. Injuries that caused
a time loss of over 7 days numbered 28,974. The remaining tempo
rary injuries did not last longer than the waiting period.
The average age of the killed during 1919 was_ 34 years and the
average wage was 828.51 a week, as compared with 39.9 years and
$25.01 a week for 1918.
Occupational diseases reported in 1919 numbered 455; in 1918,
445; in 1917, 506; in 1916, 348.
The sum of $5,621,828 was awarded California’s 108,947 injured
workers (including the dependents of those killed) during 1919.
The sum of $1,447,242 represents the medical, surgical, and hospital
payments. The total of these two sums gives $7,069,070.
Department of Seif-Insurance and Legal Department.
Employers to the number of 221 have applied to the commission
for certificates to self-insure. Approximately 204,802 employees are
covered this way. Security has been deposited with the State
treasurer bv the 221 employers to the amount of $4,275,000. _
During the year 1,796 claims were filed with the commission and
1,782 cases were decided; applications for writs of review were filed
with the supreme and appellate courts in but 53 cases, or 3 per cent
of the cases decided. The courts sustained the commission m 40
cases, reversed the decisions in 12, and 1 case was undecided at the
close of the fiscal year.
. .
One of the most important decisions upheld the commission s
nterpretation of the word “ injury” in a case where death resulted
from influenza found to have been contracted in the course erf employ
ment. Applicant’s husband, a hospital steward, had to care for
influenza patients, and was held that the work was the proximate
cause of his death.
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
178
Compensation and Permanent Disability Rating Departments.
During the year 2,190 formal hearings were held and 1,782 appli
cations for compensation acted upon by the commission; sup
plementary proceedings were brought in 819 cases already decided.
The commission acted upon 301 settlement agreements referred for
examination and approval. The outstanding item of interest as
regards the compensation department is the increase in the number
of claims filed found to be without sufficient foundation; 494 appli
cants were denied compensation, an increase of 69 per cent when
compared with the 292 similar claims decided adversely the previous
year.
The time required for the determination of the ordinary contested
case was 68 days from the filing of the claim. There was an increase
in the time for all cases because of the war and the great difficulty
in obtaining evidence concerning dependency claims from those
residing in Europe. It is noteworthy that out of over 100,000 indus
trial injuries last year, only 1,782 contested cases resulted between
employers (or their insurance carriers) and employees that neces
sitated formal proceedings and adjudication by the commission.
The main questions involved in the contested cases were extent
and duration of disability (493), whether injury was in course of
employment (257), whether disability was result of injury (236),
hernia (106), dependency (102b
About 2,000 permanent injuries were rated during the year. The
commission invites each permanently hurt man to visit either the
office in San Francisco or that in Los Angeles, so that a member of
its medical staff may examine him to find whether his disabilities
are fully set forth on the forms sent in by employers and insurance
carriers and their doctors. Quite a number of cases were found to
be incompletely reported on the outside medical forms, and the
commission’s activity in this connection has resulted in considera
bly more money reaching the injured men than would otherwise be
the case. The smaller group of disabled workers unable to visit
the two main offices are checked up carefully by means of corre
spondence.
Rehabilitation Department.
A total of 1,074 men and women needing reeducation because
of their serious injuries were in touch with this department
during the twelve months. The commission’s representative is a
young man who lost both his hands in an accident. He is able to
do practically everything that can be done by a man with two hands
and thus speedily wins the confidence of the crippled. _ Such men
and women are now in schools, business colleges, and technical schools,
preparing for the future. Others are learning new occupations,
watch making, engraving, mechanical dentistry, and various lines
of activity suitable for those prevented from following their former
hazardous callings. Several men are attending the State farm at
Davis and are learning scientific methods of farming and poultry
raising. All the expenses of tuition are paid by the State as the
outcome of a law passed by the last session of the California Legisla
ture.
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w o r k m e n ’s
COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE.
179
Activities of other Departments.
The status of beneficiaries under the workmen’s compensation
act left dependent as the result of industrial deaths was ascer
tained during the year. The Industrial Accident Commission coop
erated with the children’s department of the State board of control.
The limitation of four and one-half years for compensation death
benefits means that frequently widows and children will have their
income stopped when most needed. The survey covered 997 cases.
It was found the standard of living was lower than that maintained
during the lifetime of the breadwinner. The deplorable financial
condition of some of these families when compensation stops can be
imagined, and the commission will propose that new legislation be
enacted to properly care for the dependents.
During the fiscal year 3,064 physical examinations of injured
employees took place, as compared with 1,509 during the preceding
year. All these examinations were made by the commission’s doc
tors. In addition, 662 special medical examinations by outside
experts as referees or examiners were reported.
The new methods of medical and surgical treatment and rehabili
tation that proved so successful during the war were introduced in
California, to the benefit of injured workers. Occupational and phys
ical therapy have been installed. A ' ‘placement bureau” is advo
cated, so that hurt men may have function restored by means of light
employment, and the employers and insurance carriers will also
benefit by this plan. Convalescent departments in industrial plants
will aid human rehabilitation.
A very important part of the commission’s activities is to re
duce industrial hazards and prevent injuries overtaking employees.
Despite a lack of financial resources and a shortage of safety engineers,
all that was humanly possible was done during the year. Cooperation
with the United States Bureau of Mines and the. fire prevention
bureau of the Pacific resulted in enlargement of the work. It is the
policy to ascertain the cause of each fatality and plan to prevent a
recurrence.
State Compensation Insurance Fund.
In the year 1919 the net premium writings for compensation
coverage amounted to $9,739,617.15, of which the State compen
sation insurance fund wrote $3,251,974.25, or 33.39 per cent, in
competition with about 30 insurance carriers. Starting with an
appropriated capital of $100,000, which is still held intact in the
State treasury, the State fund has now reached a position of financial
strength and stability which is beyond any competitive criticism.
The assets on June 30, 1920, amounted to $4,584,779.14, dividends
to policyholders have reached a total of $1,737,447.68, and the State
fund holds a net surplus of $1,497,035.11 over and above all liabilities.
It is expected the premium writings for the year 1920 will exceed
$4,000,000.
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180
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Montana.
HpHE Fifth Annual Report of the Industrial Accident Board of
- Montana covers the administration of the compensation law of
this State and its activities as a bureau of safety inspection.2 More
than 200 pages are given to an intimate discussion of the various
phases of the law, while its statistical report covers 55 pages. Rules
of procedure and reports of inspection of boilers, mines, etc., com
plete the volume.
Much emphasis is laid in the report upon the moderate cost of
administration, the total for the 5 years of the law being $117,575.73,
or if investments as for furniture, etc., the post- of printing and
postage be deducted, the actual current administrative expenses for
63 months are $75,519.12. During the 5 years, 3,358 employers have
accepted the provisions of the law of the State, which is an elective
one, having more than 74,000 employees, and representing a yearly
pay roll of about $95,000,000. The law' provides for three forms of
insurance, one self-insurance, adopted by a relatively small number
of large employers; the second, insurance in a stock company, and
the third, insurance in the State fund. While the second and third
forms are used by a majority of the employers in the State, the
number of employees affected is less than one-half those under selfinsurance.
The following table shows the distribution of employers, employees,
accidents, costs, etc.:
EMPLOYERS, ACCIDENTS, AND COSTS U N D E R EACH FORM OF INSURANCE, 1915-1920.
Per cent of pay roll
Plan.
Self-insurance..................—
Stock companies....................
State fund................................
Tntf'l
Employ Employ
ees.
ers.
Acci
dents.
Deaths. Compensation
paid.
Accident Premium
cost.
cost.
65
1,038
1,273
40,550
14,120
20,799
7,510
3,026
592
20,110
102
88
$1,771,382.63
400,363.31
339,838.20
2,376
74,780
31,335
7S2
2,511,584.14
0.8
. 75
.9
0.8
2.5
1.2.5
....
The report dwells at length on the matter of insurance, taking up
the methods in order. During the 5 years of the law’s operation, 99
employers elected self-insurance, of which 65 qualified, while 23 were
unable to satisfy the board as to their solvency and 9 were denied
because not engaged in hazardous occupations as defined by the act.
The business o? 2 others wTas not within the jurisdiction of the law,
being in a national reserve. Of those operating under the act 18 had
been required to furnish security against contingent payments. In
no case has there been any failure to promptly meet all compensation
payments due under the self-insurance plan. Payments to their
employees or dependents of deceased workmen, including burial
expenses, have amounted to $1,676,382.63, to which should be added
2 Fifth Annual Report of the Industrial Accident Board for the 12 months ending June 30, 1920, 357 pp.,
Helena, Mont., 1920.
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w o r k m e n ' s c o m p e n s a t io n
and
s o c ia l i n s u r a n c e .
181
pending claims amounting to about $95,000. During the past 12
months the total compensation liability amounted to $381,666.77.
which is $50,000 less than for the preceding 12 months. As shows
by the table above, this indicates an average cost of about four-fifth*
of 1 per cent of the annual pay roll, which approximates $45,000,000;
or if current data be used, the basis would be a pay roll of $50,000,000,
and the average cost not more than three-fourtns of 1 per cent. Had
these employers carried insurance in casualty companies at the usual
rates the premiums would have amounted to nearly $2,000,000 for
the year; a saving of more than three-fourths was therefore affected.
Casualty company insurance has been the choice of 2,682 employers
during the 5 years covered by the act, though 236 of these were
rejected because their employment was not hazardous, while 618
withdrew on account of completing their work, and 790 changed
their plans of carrying insurance. The report gives premiums for
the 5 years as amounting to $1,248,542.80, while compensation
benefits" paid or payable amounted to $400,363.51, or less than $1
out of every $3 collected in premiums: ‘‘From these figures, which
are above dispute, it is evident that insurance companies are enjoying
a profitable business in the State, as less than 33 cents out of each
dollar collected in premiums has gone to pay compensation, while 67
cents has gone toward the cost of doing business and its profits.
A lowering of rates is therefore recommended.
The State insurance fund had at the end of the first 24 months only
718 employers within its provisions. However, there has been
steady increase during the succeeding years both in the number of
employers originally electing this plan "and in those changing from
private insurance companies to the State fund. The growth of the
State fund is indicated by the fact that during the first year but 453
employers operated under the plan, having 6,520 employees; during
the second year the number was 718 with 9,691 employees; for the
third year 1,017 employers with 12,060 employees; for the fourth
year 1,032 employers with 14,681 employees, and for the fifth year
year 1,273 employers with 16,938 employees. This last number of
employees is taken from the initial papers of the employers, a canvass
made "just prior to the publication of the report indicates that there
are practically 20,000 employees under the plan. Several employers
were rejected because not employed in hazardous occupations, to
which the act is limited unless by voluntary election of both em
ployers and employees. Some of these came in by such election,
but during the 5 years covered by the act only 12 employers with
110 employees have taken advantage of this provision of the law.
The board secured an expert audit of the State insurance fund in
April, 1920, by an independent actuary who found that “ tested by
the strictest actuarial requirements, the fund is unquestionably solvent
with assets sufficient to supply an ample contingency reserve over
and above all incurred liabilities. The premiums charged, while
extremely low, have nevertheless been entirely adequate. The settle
ment of "claims is liberal and equitable and payments are made
promptly in accord with the interpretation of the law. The general
management of the fund is unusually efficient and at the same time
extremely economical. The ratio of expense of administration to
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
the insurance in force is extraordinarily low, and is, without a doubt,
lower that than of any other similar fund.”
Adjudications have been made by the board in a large number of
disputed cases, though 90 per cent of all compensation claims are
adjusted without dispute or contest. Appeals have been taken from
the decisions of the board in but 2 cases throughout the entire history
of the law, 2 other cases having gone to the higher courts on agreed
statements of facts. Such a record covering more than 30,000 cases
adjudicated is one of which the board is justly proud.
Another interesting record is found in the fact that under plan 3
(the State insurance fund) there are but 15 cases where compensation
was not paid either the day before it was due or not longer than one
day after. “ The record under plan 1 is also very good, but under
plan 2 unfortunately many of the insurance companies are back
ward in the payment of compensation. In many cases the first
payment is not made until 90 days after the accident, on account
of the necessity of the claim going to the eastern office of the company
for investigation and adjustment before it can be paid.” The board
is able to report a steadily reducing interval between injuries and
awards in disputed cases. For the first year under the law ordinary
cases involving disputed questions were decided on the average
within 70 days. The second year this average was reduced to 55
days; the third year to 48 days; the fourth year to 40 days; and for
the past 12 months the average time for settling disputed cases has
been reduced to 35 days.
The insurance fund' is divided into 26 classes for which separate
accounts are kept. The total shows assets amounting to $556,901.61,
of which $334,046.53 is in cash and investments. The premium
income for the last fiscal year was $225,507.86, and compensation
payable therefrom was $135,002.94. Of this 37 per cent went for
temporary total disabilities and 2 per cent for permanent total; 13
per cent was paid out on account of permanent partial disabilities,
and 37 per cent for fatal cases. The remainder went to doctors,
hospitals and undertakers. The number of accidents by classes
showed 4,726 temporary total; 5 permanent total, 89 permanent
partial, and 94 fatal, or 4,914 for the year. The aggregate for 5
years was 31,335 of which 29,834 were temporary total, 21 permanent
total, 698 permanent partial, and 782 fatalities. The commission
computes that the cost of these industrial injuries to the State
aggregated more than $70,000,000.
Emphasis is laid upon the importance of rehabilitation, and
recommendations are made looking toward engaging in this line of
work. The board also recommends a reduction of the waiting time
from 14 days to 7, and the raising of the maximum weekly payment
allowance (now $12.50). Much stress is also laid upon the importance
of accident prevention.
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W O R K M EN S C O M PEN SA TIO N AND SOCIAL IN S U R A N C E .
183
South Dakota.
T H E Workmen’s Compensation Law of Soutli Dakota is administered by the industrial commissioner of the State, the work being
chiefly performed by a deputy. The report for the year 1920 gives
a brief summary of the work accomplished.3
The report first takes up suggestions for amendatory legislation,
one being that there should be ‘‘material increases in the payments
made for both injuries and death claims,” unless there is a decided
shift in living expenses. The subject of State insurance is discussed,
but, without an expression of opinion. However, the need is dis
closed for a provision of the law that will lead employers to take
out insurance of their risks, cases arising in which awards of damages
to employees of uninsured employers are worthless.
There were two amendments made by the legislature of 1919,
which definitely affected the policy of the law. One of these re
quired commercial thrashing outfits to make arrangements for
compensation payments. On account of the rates charged by
casualty companies there have been some associations formed among
thrashermen which have proved very efficient and satisfactory,
dealing liberally and promptly with the injured workman. The
second change related to short term disabilities, and provided that
where a physician gives a certificate at the end of 10 days, certifying
disability from work for any part of that time, compensation should
be payable. The department has recommended that the provisions
bo met by the acceptance of an informal certificate, accepting simply
the report of the physician. This policy has been adopted, so that
“ in minor injuries, where the disability extended only a day or two,
compensation is to be paid for that time and ‘waiting time’ is prac
tically eliminated so far as this State is concerned.” The effect of
this practice is shown by the fact that last year there were but 74
payments of amounts under $10, and 45 over $10 and under $20;
during 1920 there were 217 payments under $10 and 195 of $10 and
under $20.
Unlike the laws in a number of States, the South Dakota law
covers steam railroads in so far as intrastate work is concerned.
“ Practically every railway operating in the State is now under the
law by the filing of the proper statement which allows them to carry
their own insurance.”
The total number of accidents reported last year was 2,251, of
which 1,845 were settled for, 406 remaining unclosed at the end of the
year. In 21 cases the injury was fatal.
As the law was enacted in 1917, medical relief in the amount of $100
was to be furnished; this amount was changed in 1919 to $150. Several
cases appear in which the legal limitations have not been observed,
notably one in which an insurance company “ paid $1,039 medical re
lief on the ground that such expenditure would benefit the claimant,
and at the same time considered it a good business policy for the
company, as by this expenditure the injured employee was restored to
ability to help herself and not be a permanent total disability charge
against the company.” In 11 cases the payments exceeded the legal
requirement of $150.
3
Third Annual Report of the South Dakota Industrial Commissioner for the 12 months ending June 30,
1920, Pierre, 1920. 48 pp.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
Progress oi the Mothers’ Pension Movement in the United States.
CCORDING to the latest annual report of the Children’s
Bureau of the United States Department of Labor, 40 out of
the 48 States have now adopted some form of mothers’ pension,
recognizing the principle that “ children should not be taken from
their mothers because of poverty alone.” The rapid growth of the
mothers’ pension movement is an indication of the “ general belief
of the country in the paramount value of home life and a mother’s
care.”
Many of the States make substantial allowances, but in general the
grants are much too small and do not take into account the increased
costs of living. Some States are at present carefully studying these
increased costs, in order properly to adjust the pension provisions
to higher prices.
Administration systems, allowances and supervisory methods vary
greatly in the different States. The Children’s Bureau points out the
need of carefully investigating the methods of the various States in
this connection, so that the whole country may have the benefit of the
experience gained under these laws.
A
Compensation for Industrial Diseases in New Brunswick.
HE workmen’s compensation law of New Brunswick (1918)
authorizes compensation for industrial diseases, meaning
thereby “ any disease which by the regulations is declared to
be an industrial disease.” The workman’s compensation board of
the Province has drawn up a list of such diseases, and this has been
approved by the Government. This list, as published in the Labor
Gazette (Ottawa) for November (p. 1416), is as follows:
T
Anthrax.—Handling of wool, hair, bristles, hides, and skins.
Lead ■poisoning or its 'sequelae.—Any process involving the use of lead or its
preparations or compounds.
Mercury poisoning or its sequelae.—Any process involving the use of mercury
or its preparation or compounds.
Phosphorus poisoning or its sequelae.—Any process involving the use of phos
phorus or its preparations or compounds.
Arsenic poisoning or its sequelae.—Any process involving the use of arsenic
or its preparations or compounds.
Sulphur poisoning or its sequelae.—Any process involving the use of sulphur
or its preparations or compounds.
Ammonia poisoning or its sequelae.—Any process involving the use of ammonia
or its preparations or compounds.
Carbon bisulphide or its sequelae.—Any process involving the use of carbon
bisulphide.
Carbonic acid gas.—Any process involving the use of carbonic acid gas.
Ankylosistomiasis.—Mining.
Glanders.—Care of any equine animal suffering from glanders, handling the
carcass of any such animal.
Compressed air illness.—Any process carried on in compressed air.
Infection by handling sugar.-—Any process involving the refining of sugar.
The list is novel in its inclusion of poisoning from sulphur, ammonia,
and carbonic gas, and of infection from handling sugar. The other
diseases are compensable under British law and in the Provinces
generally.
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w o r k m e n ' s c o m p e n s a t io n a n d s o c ia l i n s u r a n c e .
185
increased Unemployment Benefits in Germany.
NCREASED unemployment benefits, effective November 1, 1920,
were announced by the German Government during the latter
part of October, according to a report by the American consul at
Hamburg. It appears that heads of households and families having
several children are to receive increases above the average. Hitherto
the family allowance of an unemployed man could not exceed as a
sum total one and one-half times his individual allowance; this
limit is now raised to twice the individual allowance. For those not
heads of families the increase is smaller, the assumption being that
these have the best chance in the labor market. The maximum
allowances under the new scale arc as follows:
I
Daily
allowance
in marks.1
Men:
Over 21 years of age, not members of some other household. . . . 10
Over 21, members of some other household...................................
8
Under 21 years
of age.................................................................
6
Women:
Over 21 years of age, not members of some other household___
8
Over 21, members of some other household...................................
6
Under 21 years
of age...... ..........................................................
4
Family bonus for wife or husband, and children up to 16 years of age
each.........................................................................................................
4
Other dependents, each...........................................................................
3
Standard Weekly Payments and Benefits Under British Unemployment
Insurance Act, 1920."
HE new unemployment insurance act, which came into force on
the sixth instant, applies virtually to all employed persons,
including nonmanual workers whose remuneration does not
exceed £250 a year, but excluding everyone engaged in agriculture
and domestic service. This act insures nearly 12,000,000 persons, of
whom 8,333,000 arc men and 3,430,000 women; the insurable age is
16, and there is no upward limit except in the case of pensioners.
It is calculated that 628,000 of the men and 456,000 of the women
will be between 60 and 80 years of age; for them there are reduced
rates of contribution and benefit. The standard weekly payments
and benefits arc as follows:
T
1Mark at par=23.8 cents.
2 Deport to the Department of State by the United States ambassador at London, dated Nov. 16,1920.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
STANDARD W EEK LY PAYM ENTS AND B E N E FIT S U N D E R B R ITISH UNEM PLOYM ENT
INSURANCE ACT, 1920.
[1 s. at par=21.3 cents; 1 d.=2.03 cents.]
Contributions.
Man..............................................................................................
Woman.......................................................................................
B oy..............................................................................................
Girl..............................................................................................
Employed
person.
Employer.
State.
d.
d.
d.
4
3
2
U
4
31
2
2
Benefit
paid.
2
If
U
l3
s.
15
12
7
6
d.
0
o
6
0
The boycott of the act by trade-unions, which was threatened in
the House of Commons and in the Trades-Union Congress, is not
taking effect. Dr. Macnamara stated in the House recently that up
to October 31, 148 trade-unions had notified their intention to
prepare schemes for its administration.
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LA BO R LAWS AND DECISIONS.
Decision of Secretary of Labor in the Case oi Ludwig C. A. K. Martens.
HIS is a case arising under a warrant issued by the Department
of Labor upon affidavit of information and belief that Ludwig
C. A. K. Martens has been found in the United States in viola
tion of the immigration act of October 16, 1918. The portions of the
act of October 16, 1918, applicable to this case are as follows:
T
Aliens who are anarchists; aliens who believe in or advocate the overthrow by force
or violence of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law; aliens who
disbelieve in or are opposed to all organized government; aliens who advocate or
teach the assassination of public officials; aliens who advocate or teach the unlawful
destruction of property; aliens who are members of or affiliated with any organization
that entertains a belief in, teaches, or advocates the overthrow by force or violence of
the Government of the United States or of all forms of la%, or that entertains or teaches
disbelief in or opposition to all organized government, or that advocates the duty,
necessity, or propriety of the unlawful assaulting or killing of any officer or officers,
either of specific individuals or of officers generally, of the Government of the United
States or of any other organized government, because of his or their official character,
or that advocates or teaches the unlawful destruction of property. * * *
S e c . 2. * * * shall, upon the warrant of the Secretary of Labor, be taken into
custody and deported in the manner provided in the immigration act of February fifth,
nineteen hundred and seventeen.
Counsel for the alien allege that he is an accredited official of a
foreign Government, i. e., the commercial, political, and diplomatic
representative of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic,
and he is, therefore, beyond the jurisdiction of the Department of
Labor in deportation proceedings because section 3 of the immigra
tion act of February 5, 1917, provides “ that nothing in this act shall
be construed to apply to accredited officials of foreign Governments.”
It is further claimed that the term “ foreign Governments” used in
the immigration act can not be limited to such Governments only as
are recognized by the diplomatic branch of the United States Govern
ment, but comprises all foreign Governments. In support of that
contention, section 4, title VIII, of the act of June 15, 1917, the
espionage act, is quoted as follows:
The words “ foreign Government” as used in this act * * * shall be deemed to
include any Government, faction, or body of insurgents within a country with which
the United States is at peace, which Government, faction, or body of insurgents may
or may not have been recognized by the United States as a Government.
There are some very serious defects in this line of argument. The
omissions in the section quoted are important. Their inclusion more
clearly shows the intent of Congress. The section referred to reads
as follows:
S e c t i o n 4. The words “ foreign Government” as used in this act and in sections one
hundred and fifty-six, one hundred and fifty-seven, one hundred and sixty-one, one
one hundred and seventy, one hundred and seventy-one, one hundred and seventytwo, one hundred and seventy-three, and two hundred and twenty of the act of March
fourth, nineteen hundred and nine, entitled “ An act to codify, revise, and amend
the penal law3 of the United States,” shall be deemed to include any Government,
24933°—21— 13
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW ,
faction, or body of insurgents within a country with which the United States is at
peace, which Government, faction, or body of insurgents may or may not have been
recognized by the United States as a Government.”
It is clear, therefore, that Congress intended that the definition of
the term “ foreign Government” contained in the espionage act
should apply only to that act and to the sections of the criminal code
enumerated. If it had intended to include the immigration act,
section 3 of that act would have been specified in the same manner
as the sections of the criminal code which were included. If a general
definition had been intended, there would have been no need to specify
either its application to the law in which it occurs or to any other
section of law. A simple declaration that “ The words ‘foreign Gov
ernment’ shall be deemed to include any Government, faction, etc.,
which may or may not have been recognized by the United States”
would have been sufficient. The fact that the espionage act enum
erated certain sections of law in its definition of the term “ foreign
Government” and omitted other sections in which the same or
similar language occurs leads inevitably to the conclusion that Congre s intended that the general rule of statutory construction should
be applied, that “ where*certain things are specified, other things not
specified or necessarily implied must be excluded,” and as section 3
of the immigration act is not specified or necessarily implied in the
definition under consideration, the proviso that “ nothing in this act
shall be construed to apply to accredited officials of foreign Govern
ments” must be interpreted in accordance with accepted definitions
of the language used. Therefore it is held that the words “ foreign
Governments” as used in the immigration act mean any Government
the de facto or de jure existence of which is recognized by the United
States. But even if the words “ foreign Government” were given the
broad interpretation placed upon them by counsel for the alien, we
would still be confronted with the question of what constitutes an
accredited official of such a government.
No one can be an accredited official of a foreign Government
within the meaning and under the jurisdiction of our laws simply
because he is accredited by an unrecognized revolutionary Govern
ment as its minister to or agent in this country. He must in addition
to being accredited by |he Government he claims to represent also be
accredited, authorized and received as such by the President of the
United States before his status as an accredited official is complete.
Section 7611, Compiled Statutes, provides:
Whenever any writ or process is sued out or prosecuted by any person in any court
of the United States, or of a State, or by any judge or justice, whereby the person of
any public minister of any foreign prince or State, authorized and received as such by
the President, or any domestic or domestic servant of any such minister, is arrested
or imprisoned, or his goods or chattels are distrained, seized, or attached, such writ or
process shall be deemed void.
It will be observed that the protection given by this section against
the issuance of any writ or process applies only to public ministers
authorized and received as such by the President, and their families,
and that no protection is granted to any one pretending to be a
public minister who is not authorized and received as such by the
President. This construction seems to be sustained by the opinions
of the Attorneys General and by the courts.
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LABOR LAW S AND D ECISIO N S.
189
In the case of Parker H. French, who brought letters from the
provisory president of the Republic of Nicaragua accrediting him as
minister plenipotentiary of that Republic to the United States, and
who was alleged to be concerned in the engagement at New York of
recruits and arms for transmission to Nicaragua, the Attorney Genera!,
C. Cushing, in an opinion dated December 24,1855 (8 Opin. Atty. Gen.,
471), says:
The President does not yet see cause to establish diplomatic intercourse with the
persons claiming at tlii3 time to exercise political power in the State of Nicaragua;
and that, for sufficient reasons assigned, he does not at present deem it proper to
receive any one as a minister to this Government duly appointed by that Republic.
* * * You will thus perceive that Mr. French is entitled to diplomatic privilege
in the United States only in a very qualified degree. He is not an accredited minister,
b u t simply a person coming to this country to present himself as such, and not received,
by reason of its failing to appear that he represents any lawful Government. Under
such circumstances any diplomatic privilege accorded* to him is of mere transit, and
of courtesy, not full right; and that courtesy will be withdrawn from him so soon as
there shall be cause to believe that he is engaged in here, or contemplates, any action
not consonant with the laws, the peace, or the public honor of the United States.
In U. S. v . Skinner et al. (Case No. 16309, Federal Cases, p. 1123),
Capt. Skinner, Don Manuel H. Aguirre, and others were charged
with fitting out a filibustering expedition in violation of the laws of
the United States. Counsel for the defendants claimed diplomatic
exemption for Don Manuel H. Aguirre on the ground that he was a
minister from the Government of Buenos Aires to that of the United
States and could not, therefore, be proceeded against in this way.
Livingston, circuit justice, decided:
As to any privileges which Mr. Aguirre’s commission conferred on him, the judge
was of opinion that this gentleman, not being accredited by the President, and the
independence of Buenos Aires not being acknowledged by the Government of the
United States, he was liable to be proceeded against for any offense which he might
commit against our laws, in the same way as any other individual.
From these quotations it would seem to be an established principle
of law that no one can be an accredited official of a foreign Govern
ment until he has been accredited, authorized, and received by the
President as such. This was the accepted meaning of the term at
the time the immigration law was passed and must, therefore, be
held to be the intent of Congress. Martens may have been accredited
as a public minister by an unrecognized revolutionary government in
Russia, but he has not been accredited, authorized, and received as
such by the President of the United States, and does not come within
the meaning of the words “ accredited official” as used in the proviso
to section 3 of the immigration law.
But, furthermore, these proceedings are not brought under the act
of February 5, 1917. They are brought under the act of October 16,
1918, and that act does not provide for the exemption of officials of
foreign Governments from the application of its provisions. The only
reference made in the act to the act of February 5,1917, is found in the
language of section 2, which provides:
That any alien who, at any time after entering the United States, is found to have
been at the time of entry, or to have become thereafter, a member of any one of the
classes of aliens enumerated in section one of this act, shall, upon the warrant of the
Secretary of Labor, be taken into custody and deported in the manner provided in
the immigration act of February fifth, nineteen hundred and seventeen.
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .
No reference is made to the exemption of any of the classes of
aliens enumerated in section 1 of the act, but all are to be taken into
custody and deported in the manner provided in the immigration
act. The reference is to the manner oi deportation and not to the
cause of deportation or exceptions in the application of the cause.
However, in view of the conclusions stated above relative to what
constitutes an accredited official of a foreign Government, it would
seem to be unnecessary to enter into an inquiry of whether the act
of October 16, 1918, should be administered as a separate act other
than as to the manner of deportation, or as an amendment to the
act of February 5, 1917, which should be read in conjunction with
the proviso “ that nothing in this act shall be construed to apply to
accredited officials of foreign Governments.” ■ The conclusion is the
same in either case that Martens is not an accredited official of a for
eign Government within the meaning of our laws and is not exempt
from the application of the immigration laws.
We may, therefore, proceed to a consideration of the facts in the
case, bearing in mind that there is nothing in our immigration laws
that requires the deportation of any alien because he believes in,
teaches, or advocates socialism, communism, syndicalism, a soviet
form of government, a dictatorship of the proletariat, abolition of
property rights, or any other change in our political or social struc
ture, or who belongs'to an organization that believes in, teaches, or
advocates these things, if he does not entertain a belief in, teach, or
advocate the use of force or violence to overthrow the Government
of the United States or belong to an organization that does so. The
essence of the deportation provisions of the immigration laws in
their application to this class of cases is the belief in, teaching, or
advocacy of the use of force or.violence to overthrow the Govern
ment of the United States.
The essential facts in the case of Martens are these: Fie was born,
raised, and educated in Russia, of German parents long resident in
Russia but who were never naturalized. Fie was recognized by the
laws of Russia as being a German subject. He was imprisoned in
Russia for three years and then deported to Germany because of
revolutionary activities against the Czar’s Government. Fie con
tinued his revolutionary activities after deportation. He was a
German subject at the time of his arrival in the United States in
1916. He testifies that he was made a Russian citizen by the pro
visional government in May or June, 1917, while he was residing in
this country. In the certificate by G. Chicherin, people’s commissar
for foreign affairs, dated January 2, 1919, announcing Martens’s
appointment as its representative, this language is used: “ That
Russian citizen Ludwig Christian Alexander Karlovitch Martens,
who resides in the United States of America, is appointed the repre
sentative of the people’s commissariat of foreign aff airs in the United
States of America.” In a statement addressed “ To whom it may
concern,” Chicherin refers to him as “ Citizen Ludwig Martens.”
There is no evidence to the contrary. He testified before the Lusk
committee that he is a member of the Communist Party of Russia.
He gave similar testimony before the Senate committee. He
afterwards stated to the committee that he is not a member of the
Communist Party of Russia, and explained that he had spoken of
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LABOR L A W S A N D
D E C IS IO N S .
191
himself as a member of that party because he adhered to its princi
ples. He made a similar explanation at the hearings before the
immigration inspector. There is no other evidence of his being a
member of the Russian Communist Party. He declared that he
approved the Third International, and closed a signed statement
with the words, ‘‘Long live the Third International.” He qualified
that by saying that he did not approve of “ every word of every
manifesto, but anyhow he approved of the principles.” While he
was residing in the United States on January 2, 1919, he was ap
pointed by the unrecognized Russian Socialist Federated Soviet
Government as its representative to the United States. The Soviet
Government has not been recognized by the United States, and he
has not been authorized, received, or accredited by the President as
an official of the Soviet Government.
The Soviet Government of Russia believes in, teaches, and advo
cates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by the
use of force and violence, not by the process of military invasion, but
by conducting propaganda to stir up insurrection. It has appro
priated money for that purpose. In the decree of December, 1917,
the Soviet Government said:
The Soviet ol the People’s Commissaries considers it necessary to come to the assist
ance of the left international wing of the labor movement of all countries, * * *
absolutely independent from the fact whether these countries are at war with Russia
or in alliance or are maintaining a neutral condition. With these aims the Soviet of
the People’s Commissaries decides to assignate for the needs of the revolutionary
international movement for the disposition of the foreign representatives of the com
missariat for foreign affairs, 2,000,000 rubles.
When the Soviet Government speaks of a revolutionary movement
it does not mean a peaceful revolution brought about by parlia
mentary processes, but a revolution by force and violence. Lemne,
in a letter to American workingmen, says:
Let incurable pedants, crammed full of bourgeois democratic and parliamentary
prejudices, shake their heads gravely over our soviets. Let them deplore the fact that
we have no direct elections. These people have forgotten nothing, have learned
nothing, in the great upheaval of 1914-1918. The combination of the dictatorship
of the proletariat with the new democracy of the proletariat, of civil war with the
widest application of the masses to political problems, such a combination can not be
achieved in a day, can not be forced into battered forms of former parliamentary
democratism.
And again, in a “ New letter to the workers of Europe and Amer
ica,” he says:
Now no conscious workingman and no sincere socialist can fail to see what shameful
treason against socialism was perpetrated by those men who, in line with the Men
sheviks and “ social revolutionists” of Russia, with the Scheidemanns and Suedekums
of Germany, with the Renaudels of France, and Vandervelds in Belgium, with the
Hendersons and Webbs in England, and with Gompers & Co. in America, supported
“ th eir” bourgeoisie in the war of 1914-1918. * * * Only the overthrow of the
-bourgeoisie, and the annihilation of the bourgeois parliament, only soviet rule and
proletarian dictatorship can put an end to imperialism and safeguard the victory of
socialism, safeguard a permanent peace.
The officials of the Soviet Government are members of the Russian
Communist Party. Through that party Lenine and Trotsky, the
recognized heads of the Soviet Government, issued the call for the
Communist International Congress in 1919, which became known as
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the Third International. They participated in the congress and
guided its counsels. The following excerpts are taken from the call
issued on February 24, 1919:
Comrades: The undersigned parties and organizations consider it indispensable to
call the first congress of the New Revolutionary International. * * * Already
now the framework is laid for the real revolutionary international. The gigantic pace
of the world revolution Avhich gives rise to new problems, the danger that this revo
lution may be killed by the alliance of the capitalistic states which organize a League
of Nations against the revolution, the attempt of traitor socialists to gather and after
having “ amnestied” each other to assist their Governments and the bourgeoisie again
to betray the working classes, and finally in view of revolutionary experience and
for the purpose of internationalizing the course of the revolution, we are induced to
take the initiative in placing on the order of the day the question of calling the revo
lutionary proletarian parties to an International Congress. * * *
6. The world situation demands immediate and as perfect as possible relations
between the different groups of the revolutionary proletariat and a complete alliance
of all the countries in which the revolution has already succeeded.
7. The most important method is the mass action of the proletariat, including
armed struggle against the Government power of capitalists. * * *
14. The Congress must lay the foundation of a common fighting organ winch will
be a uniting link and methodically lead the movement of the center for the Com
munist International which subordinates the interests of the movement in every
separate country to the common interests of the revolution on an international scale.
Iii the platform adopted by the Third International at that time
this language occurs:
The revolutionary epoch demands of the proletariat the application of such methods
of struggle as will concentrate all its energies, first of all methods of mass struggle,
with its logical conclusions—direct conflict in open battle with the bourgeois, gov
ernmental machinery. To this end must be subordinated all other means, as, for
example, the revolutionary making use of bourgeois parliamentary institutions.
These are but samples from masses of evidence along the same lines.
With such definitions before us of what is meant by the revolu
tionary struggle, every reference to the revolution takes on the sig
nificance of force and violence against the existing machinery of
government. There is an abundance of evidence showing the use
of the term by Martens, Lenine, Trotsky, many other officials of the
Soviet Government, the Russian Communist Party, and the Third
International.
As a means of showing the close working cooperation between the
Soviet Government and the Third International and the world-wide
scope of their revolutionary purpose, the following order to the Red
Army and the Red Fleet, issued by L. Trotsky, is significant:
Order to the Red Army and the Red Fleet—No. S3— March 9, 1919.
Moscow,
“Izvestia, ” March 1U 1919.
Greetingsfrom the Communist International:
At the beginning of March in Moscow sat the representatives of revolutionary workmen of the various countries of Europe and America, who had come together to create
a close revolutionary solidarity of the toilers of all countries in the struggle against
oppressors of all countries. This congress founded the Communist International,
that is the international union of workmen, soldiers, and toiling peasants, for the pur
pose of establishing a world soviet Republic which would put an end forever to hos
tilities and wars between peoples. At one of its sessions the communist international
adopted the following resolution of greeting to the Russian workmen’s and peasants’
Red Army:
The congress of the Communist Internationals sends to the Red Army of soviet
a heartfelt greeting and all wishes for complete victory in the struggle against inter
national imperialism.
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This brotherly greeting of the international proletariat should become known to
all soldiers and sailors of the Red Army and Red Fleet. I hereby order the com
missary to publish it in all regiments, divisions, and batteries, and on all warships.
Every soldier of the Red Army, every sailor of the Red Fleet, w ith well-deserved
pride will hear this word of greeting from the highest and authoritative institution
of the world working class. The Red Army and the Red Navy will not deceive the
expectation and hopes of the Communist International.
Forward—under the flag of the world working class.
President of the Revolutionary Military Soviet of the Republic,
People’s Commissary for Military and Naval Affairs,
L. T rotsky.
It will thus he seen that the Soviet Government, itself claiming to
he a dietorship of the proletariat, through its minister of war officially
accepts the Third International as the highest and authoritative
institution of the world working class, and pledges the Red Army
and Navy not to deceive the expectations and hopes of the Third
International, and orders them forward under the flag of the world
working class.
In view of these facts, it seems to me that the questions to he
decided are: First, Does Martens believe in, teach, or advocate the
overthrow; of the Government of the United States by the use of
force or violence ? Second, Is Martens a member of the Communist
Party of Russia or the Third International ? Third, Does his appoint
ment as an official of the unrecognized soviet government constitute
membership in or affiliation with an organization that believes in,
teaches, or advocates the overthrow by force or violence of the Gov
ernment of the United States, it being determined that the Soviet
Government, the Communist Party of Russia, and the Third Inter
national are organizations of this character?
There is no evidence to show that Martens has personally made
any direct statement of a belief in the use of force or violence to
overthrow the United States, nor is there any evidence that he has
ever distributed or caused to be distributed any literature contain
ing any propaganda of that character, except the evidence to the
effect that he attended meetings where revolutionary sentiments were
expressed, employed people in his office who had been convicted
under the espionage act, avowed his belief in the Third International,
published a statement ending with the words, “ Long live the Third
International,” and that secret couriers passed between a repre
sentative of the Soviet Government in Sweden and members of his
official staff bringing to them diamonds and documents in violation
of the laws and passport regulations of the United States.
Martens asserts that he is a revolutionist, has always been a revolu
tionist, but by that he meant a Russian revolutionist, and that he
never touched upon internal conditions of America. He has been
absent from Russia since 1899, a date long before the Russian Com
munist Party or the Third International were organized. He could
not have_ presented himself physically for admission to the Russian
Communist Party, and there is no evidence to show that he has ever
been otherwise admitted, or that he is connected with any organiza
tion affiliated with the Third International, other than the fact
that he is an official of the Soviet Government. It is therefore
concluded that he is not a member of or affiliated with the Russian
Communist Party or the Third International.
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M ONTHLY
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L A B O R R E V IE W .
That he is an official of the Soviet Government of Russia is not
controverted. The Soviet Government conducts a propaganda in
the United States for the purpose of creating an insurrection to
overthrow the Government of the United States by force and vio
lence, as has already been pointed out. It is further shown that
Lenine has proposed to withdraw the propaganda in turn for political
and commercial recognition and intercourse between Russia and the
United States. If there was no improper propaganda being con
ducted, there would he nothing to withdraw. Martens is an official
of and therefore a member of or affiliated with the Soviet Govern
ment, an organization that entertains a belief in, teaches, or advo
cates the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of the
United States, and this fact, taken in conjunction with his expressed
belief in and approval of the Third International, proves that he
believes in the overthrow by force or violence of the Government
of the United States.
The question of whether Martens is a Russian or German citizen
does not affect the consideration of his presence in the United States
in violation of law. For the purposes of the immigration laws his
citizenship relates only to the country to which he shall be deported,
and for that purpose it is held that he is a citizen of Russia.
It is therefore decided that Ludwig 0. A. K. Martensys an alien,
a citizen of Russia, and that he entertains a belief in and is a member
of or affiliated with an organization that entertains a belief in,
teaches, or advocates the overthrow by force or violence of the Gov
ernment of the United States, and the Commissioner General of
Immigration is hereby directed to take the said Ludwig C. A. K.
Martens into custody" and deport him to Russia at the expense of
the Government of the United States.
It is further directed that he shall be treated with the utmost
courtesy and given the best available accommodations in transit.
(Signed)
W . B . W il s o n ,
S e c r e t a r y o f L a i or.
D
ec em ber
15, 1920.
Recent Decisions Relating to the Closed Shop.
Contract Held Invalid at
Common Law.
DECISION of the chancery court of New Jersey handed
down August 26 declared invalid a provision of a contract
between an association of builders and contractors and an
association representing the labor unions of New York City and
Long Island, which had for its object the establishment of the
closed shop by monopolizing the labor market for members of the
union. (Lehigh Structural Steel Co. v . Atlantic Smelting & Refining
Works, 111 Atl. Reporter, 376.) It was also decided that a sympa
thetic strike merely to force the employer working in another terri
tory to comply with such provisions in that territory is without
just excuse or cause and is unlawful. The steel company, a Penn
sylvania corporation, had undertaken to deliver structural steel for
A
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LABOR LAWS AND DECISIONS.
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a building to be erected at Newark, N. J., and also to erect the build
ing. The work of erection was sublet, and had been nearly com
pleted when the employees thereon were called out by strike orders.
The builders announced their purpose to complete the work with
nonunion labor, whereupon the representative of the owners of the
building said that this would not be permitted as it would lead to
a general strike on their work elsewhere. The contractor disregarded
this notice and continued with the employment of nonunion men
until stopped by an order of the court granted on the declaration
by the owners that the contract required the work to be done by
union labor. Litigation proceeded until this decision found that the
strike was purely sympathetic, that the difficulties affecting condi
tions in New York did not involve the members of the local union
who had been employed on the Newark contract, and that the
situation in New York did not warrant such action as had been taken.
Tlie principle of tlie closed shop, i. e., the monopolization of the labor market, has
found no judicial sponsor. In whatever form organized labor has asserted it, whether
to the injury of the employer, or to labor, or to labor unions outside of the fold, the
judiciary of the country has responded, uniformly, that it is inimical to the freedom
of individual pursuit guaranteed by the fundamental law of the land, and contra
venes public policy.
Numerous citations are then given illustrating the attitude of the
courts of a number of States, in support of the conclusion announced.
The contention that the remedy of the complaining company should
be at law was rejected, and an injunction issued restraining the strike
and a breach of the contract by the owners of the building.
The Oregon Statute.
the Legislature of the State of Oregon, following the example
IN of1919,
a number of other States, enacted a law (ch. 346, Acts of 1919)
declaring labor unions to be lawful organizations; restricting the
powers of any court of this State in the granting of injunctions;
declaring the labor of a human being not a commodity or article of
commerce; prohibiting the indictment, prosecution, or trial of any
person or combination of persons for any act in furtherance of the
bettering of his or their conditions, unless such act should be for
bidden by law if done by an individual. Two very important cases
in the nature of test cases have been decided by the State supreme
court involving the application of this law. The first case was G.
Heitkemper v . Central Labor Council (192 Pacific Keporter, p. 765),
in wffiich the International Jewelry Workers’ Union, Local No. 14
called a strike for the sole purpose of compelling the employing
jewelers to maintain a closed shop. The employers refused to recog
nize the union and their places of business were picketed in the usual
way, but entirely without violence or disorder. In this case the
court held that there was no real dispute between the employers and
their employees as to wrages, hours of labor, treatment, or conditions
of employment, and that the only question involved was the recog
nition of the union. Under the circumstances it was declared that
the above-mentioned lawr did not apply to the case and an injunction
wTas affirmed restraining the picketing of the plaintiffs’ shops. Two
of the seven judges sitting on this case rendered dissenting opinions.
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The second case is much more important, as the issues were wholly
within the law and the court was compelled to determine the con
stitutionality of the statute. In Greenfield v . Central Labor Council
(192 Pacific Reporter, p. 783), the court by a unanimous decision
upheld the constitutionality of the act. This case was a dispute
between Greenfield, a shoe-dealer, and his former employees and the
Retail Clerks’ International Protective Association, Local Union No.
1257, of which they were members. Greenfield had made a contract
with the union in which the wages, hours of labor, and conditions of
employment were all fixed, and in which he also agreed to maintain
a closed shop. This contract was to be effective until March 1, 1920.
In November, 1919, Greenfield violated the contract by requiring
certain of his employees who were members of the union to work
four hours a week overtime without additional compensation. He
also refused to maintain a closed shop, and finally on January. 13,
1920, he wholly repudiated the contract and declared that he did
not recognize the union. On January 19, 1920, a strike was called
and Greenfield’s stores were picketed by men and women of the
union who bore banners and wore scarfs on which it was declared
that, Greenfield was unfair to organized labor. The pickets also
spoke to prospective customers and sought to persuade them to
refrain from dealing at the plaintiff’s stores. They behaved in an
orderly and peaceful manner and created no disturbance. The
picketing was sufficiently successful to cause some damage to Green
field’s business and he brought suit for an injunction to restrain the
picketing. The circuit court granted his petition, and the union
appealed, declaring that the statute expressly legalized picketing and
that the court could not grant an injunction to restrain the acts com
mitted. The State Supreme Court declared that this case differed
from the Heitkemper case in that here a real dispute between the
employer and his employees was involved regarding the hours and
conditions of labor, and that the law restraining injunctions against
labor organizations applied. In reply to the plaintiff’s contentions
that the law was unconstitutional, the court spoke in part as follows.
The contract between plaintiff and the defendant union, as stated, did not expire
until March 1,1920. The strike was called on January 19, 1920. At that time, according to the finding of the trial court, all of the employees of the plaintiff at both oi his
stores except four, were members of the defendant union. The complaint in tins
suit was filed on January 23, 1920. Based upon such facts, we hold that the relation
of employer and employee and the terms and conditions of employment continued to
exist after the strike was called, bringing the case under sections 2 and 3 of chapter
346.
Assuming that to be true, plaintiff contends that such sections are unconstitutional.
Section 2 of chapter 346 is identical with paragraph 1464, Arizona Civil Code of 1913,
and with section 20 of the Clayton Act. If it is unconstitutional, so are the two latterlaws. The Clayton Act was passed in 1914. In so far as we are advised its constitu, tionality has never been attacked and no Federal court has ever declared it uncon
stitutional.
Again, section 2 of chapter 346 is identical witli paragraph 1464 of the Arizona Civil
Code of 1913, the constitutionality of which was sustained in the opinion of the Su
preme Court of that State on December 14, 1918. Chapter 346 was enacted by the
Oregon legislative assembly of 1919, and in the absence of the referendum^ became
the law of this State 90 days after its passage. In other words, at the time of its adop
tion, section 2 of chapter 346, which is a copy of paragraph 1464 of the Arizona Cull
Code of 1913, had been construed and its constitutionality was sustained by a decision
of the Supreme Court of Arizona.
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The decree of the circuit court will be modified, and one will be entered here per
m itting the defendants during business hours to place and m aintain one picket only,
on the outer edge of the sidewalk, at each public entrance to plaintiff’s stores, with
authority to each picket to wear a banner or scarf inscribed with the words, “ Unfair
to Organized Labor, Local Union No. 1257,” and in the usual, ordinary tone of voice
used by one individual in addressing another on the public street to. say to any pro
spective customer: “ This place is unfair to organized labor. Please do not patronize
it. Friends of union labor and all workingmen will not patronize this place”—but
not in any manner to impede or interfere with the right of any one to enter or depart
from said stores, or any passer-by. Any picket so placed is hereby enjoined from the
doing of any other act or thing which is intended to or would divert or turn away any
patron or prospective customer from plaintiff’s places of business. Otherwise the
defendants and each of them, their agents, servants, and employees are hereby en
joined and prohibited from interfering with, intimidating, or harassing the plaintiff
or any of his employees at his said places of business, or from the use of any violence,
threat, or intimidation to induce any* customer or patron to withhold or withdraw
patronage from the plaintiff.
Bulgarian Law on the Conscription of Labor.
LAW making labor compulsory for all Bulgarian subjects who
have reached a specified age was enacted in Bulgaria on June
10, 1920.1 From this law, which, owing to the novelty of the
subject it deals with, ought to be of interest even outside of the country
of its enactment, Bulgaria expects a number of social and economic
advantages, above all a rapprochement of the different classes of
society and a general awakening of zest for work in the population.
All Bulgarian subjects are equal before this law. It makes no dis
crimination in favor of the well to do and educated classes.
The law subjects to compulsory labor all male subjects who have
completed their twentieth year of age and all female subjects who have
completed their sixteenth year of age. Mohammedan women and
girls are exempt from compulsory labor. Youths over 17 years of age
and girls over 12 years of age may voluntarily enlist for compulsory
labor.
Article 3 enumerates as the objects of the law the following:
(a ) The organization and utilization of the social forces with a view to
increase production and the nation’s wealth; (b) the development
among the citizens, independent of their social and material position,
of a spirit of devotion to the public interest and love for manual labor;
and (c) the assurance of the moral and economic uplift of the people
by awakening in the citizens the sense of duty to themselves and to
society as a whole and their training in rational methods of labor in
all the economic fields of the nation.
The labor army conscripted in pursuance of the law is to be employed
in all the economic fields of the nation, but principally at public works.
Among the fields of employment the law mentions: Construction of
roads, railroads, canals, water conduits, the laying out of villages and
towns, reclamation work, construction of telegraph and telephone
lines, reforestation, agricultural work, livestock breeding, culture of
silk worms, fruit raising, fishing, mining, quarrying, factory work,
tailoring, etc. All work in which compulsory labor is employed is to
be executed under the direction and responsibility of the proper
authorities.
A
1 F r an c e. B u lle tin d u M in istè re d u T r a v a il, V o l. 27, N o s. 5 ,6 , a n d 7, p . 320; a n d D er A r b e its n a c h w e is
in D e u tsc h la n d . B e r lin , S e p t. 5, 1920.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
Compulsory labor service must be rendered in person and not
through a substitute. Only persons incapable of performing mental or
physical work are exempt from compulsory labor. A list approved by
the council of ministers enumerates the diseases which exempt from
compulsory labor persons afflicted with them. Married women,
gendarmes, and members of the army are also exempt. Persons
exempt from compulsory labor on account of sickness must pay a tax
to be fixed by a special law.
No Bulgarian subject may change his allegiance nor expatriate
himself from Bulgaria before having complied with his duties under
the present law.
The law fixes the term of compulsory service at 12 months in the
case of men and at 6 months in that of girls. A reduction of the term
of service to 6 months is granted (a) to only sons or only daughters of
parents incapacitated for work, or of widows; (b ) to only brothers or
sisters supporting one or more orphaned brothers or sisters of tender
age; (c) to only grandsons or granddaughters supporting a grand
father or grandmother who has no sons or sons-in-law capable of
working. Such exemptions will be granted only in the case of poor
families without property and having an income below 1,500 leva
(•8289.50, par). A temporary reprieve from service will be granted
to sick or convalescent persons under 24 years of age and to students
at higher or secondary schools until the termination of their studies.
In case of serious damages caused by the elements or in case of a
national calamity all Bulgarian male subjects 20 to 35 years of age may
upon decision of the council of ministers be conscripted for compulsory
labor for a term not to exceed four weeks.
A new bureau, the Central Office for Compulsory Labor, is to be
established in the Ministry of Public Works. This bureau is charged
with the carrying out of the law. It will consist of three divisions:
An administrative, a technical, and an economic division. A similarly
organized bureau is to bo established in each territorial district
(departement) in the engineer’s office of the district, and the communal
authorities are to act as direct agents of these bureaus.
The persons subject to compulsory labor are to be assigned to labor
companies in accordance with their training and the work to be per
formed. Such companies will be formed for agricultural and technical
work, trades, mining, fishing; etc. The Central Office for Compulsory
Labor is to establish preparatory technical training courses for the
various groups of conscripts.
The law provides heavy fines and imprisonment for draft dodgers
and for government employees aiding persons subject to compulsory
labor in evading service. The law became effective on the date of its
promulgation.
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IN D U S T R IA L R E L A T IO N S A N D L A B O R C O N D IT IO N S.
Eighth Annual Report of the Secretary of Labor,
HE eighth annual report of the Secretary of Labor for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1920, summarizes the early history of
the United States Department of Labor and also gives a
brief account of that department’s remarkable expansion and
activities during the war period and a more detailed statement of
its subsequent work.
T
Collective Bargaining.
SPECIAL interest is the Secretary’s explanation of collective
bargaining, which is quoted in part below:
Collective bargains are in the nature of “ gentlemen’s agreements,” in contra
distinction to legally enforceable contracts. They are made in good faith by both
parties, under the circumstances of the time and upon an implied understanding that
these circumstances will not change to the serious detriment of either side. They
are not to be broken lightly; but when industrial circumstances alter, so that their
enforcement would place either side in an unexpected plight whereby the other
would unexpectedly profit, they should not be enforceable beyond the point at which
the side thus prejudiced is willing, acting in good faith, to have them enforced.
Were they legally enforceable the employing side would be free, in a contingency
prejudicial to that side, to ignore its contract with impunity by restricting or stopping
output as unprofitable; yet if the contingency were prejudicial to the wage earners,
they could not quit work without subjecting themselves to penalties of the law for
a breach.
To permit collective bargains to be legally enforceable would be to discourage
the making of them; to leave their fulfillment to the good sense arid good faith of
each side, would encourage their making and thereby promote industrial peace.
Land for the Workers.
years the department has fully realized that its labor dis
tribution work should “ extend to some such development of
the natural resources of the country as will tend to make opportu
nities for workers greater than demands for work and to keep them
so.
This subject, growing in importance with succeeding years, attracted general
attention toward the close of the war and with reference especially to provision for
returning soldiers. Meanwhile, expert investigations resulted in two reports on the
subject, which this department has published in pamphlet form. One is entitled
“ Disposition of the Public Lands of the United States with Particular Reference to
Wage-Earning Labor” and the other “ Employment and Natural Resources.” Fur
ther investigation became impossible from lack of appropriations, b u t those reports
lay a firm foundation for legislative action and offer abundant material for general
as well as official thought.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
Among the Secretary's recommendations to Congress is the
following :
Adjustment of the relation of wage earners to the utilization of public lands and
community credits, so that unlimited opportunities for cooperative.self-employment
shall sustain profitable wage-earning work at a constant maximum.
immigration and Emigration.
A CCORDING to the Secretary’s report, the last fiscal year shows
a material increase in immigration, 621,576 aliens being
admitted as compared with 237,021 in the previous year. The
departing aliens totaled in the year ending June 30, 1920,
428,062, or 193,514 less than the number of aliens admitted in the
same period. Of the Japanese race 16,174 were admitted during
1919-20 as compared with 14,904 in the preceding year, and the
departures number 15,653, making an increase in the Japanese
population amounting to only 521. In addition to the 11,795
aliens debarred at port of entry, there were 2,762 aliens deported on
departmental warrants and 15 deportations under the Chinese
exclusion act. Of those deported on warrants 469 were classed as
anarchists or criminals. Warrants were issued for approximately
6,000 who were alleged to be alien revolutionaries or members of or
affiliated with revolutionary organizations. A very large proportion
of all the warrants of arrest were canceled because the charges
upon which they had been issued were not sustained by lawful
proof at the hearings.
Jurisdiction of the Secretary Over Expulsion of Aliens.
nPHE following is a synopsis of the section of the Secretary’s report
which gives the facts leading up to the appointment of a com
mittee to advise him in warrant and appeal cases:1
The sole authority for the arrest and expulsion of aliens lie3 with the Secretary of
Labor. I t has been the practice, however, for all cases of aliens arrested under depart
mental warrant to be reviewed in the Bureau of Immigration first and transmitted
to the Secretary with a recommendation as to action. This practice grew up because
of its convenience and becauseit gave the Secretary the benefit of the specialized skill
of the immigration officials to prepare these decisions for approval and relieve him
of the necessity of a personal examination of the evidence in each case. Its chief
drawbacks were a tendency toward decisions by official routine and a presumption
on the part of persons having immigration business with the department th at there
was an intermediate tribunal in the Bureau of Immigration between aliens and the
Secretary. Although the Secretary of Labor alone was authorized by law to make
or render decisions, he was frequently unable to render decisions contrary to the
recommendations of the Commissioner General of Immigration without being placed
apparently in the position of reversing another tribunal. The development of this
idea had its natural effect upon the bureau when the bureau itself assumed power not
only to make a recommendation but to make a finding. The language of these findings
would indicate that the bureau had authority to render decisions subject only to
review by the Secretary, and that when he rendered judgment contrary to the recom
mendation Iiis actions reversed decisions of those having legal authority to decide.
I t therefore seemed imperative th at a departure be made from a convenient but never
theless unlawful custom which, in addition to depriving aliens of their lawful rights,
also clogged the administrative processes of the department. Accordingly an
advisory committee in the Office of the Secretary has been appointed to advise the
Secretary of Labor in warrant and appeal cases. I t performs the functions heretofore
1 Press release from the Office of the Secretary of Labor, Dec. 15, 1920, Washington, D. C.
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performed by the Commissioner General, but under the direct instructions and imme
diate supervision of the Secretary and without any authority or appearance of author
ity to make decisions or make recommendations having the color of decisions. Under
this arrangement all quasi judicial authority is therefore exercised by the Secretary of
Labor, as required by law, with the advice and assistance of his own official staff.
The functions of the Bureau of Immigration are limited to those of a strictly minis
terial character.
Naturalization.
FLUKING 1919-20, 519,003 aliens took the preliminary or final steps
toward citizenship. Within the same period first papers or
declarations were filed by 300,106 aliens and petitions for final
naturalization by 51,972 soldiers and 166,925 aliens in civil life.
Recommendations.
y n E recommendations of the Secretary include:
Perfection of the United States Employment Service by an organic statute author
izing cooperation with States and Territories.
Legislation relative to adjustment of seasonal to nonseasonal industries, including
transportation.
Statutory perpetuation in the Department of Labor of the Division of Negro
Economics.
Adjustments in cooperation with other Governments whereby intending immigrants
from countries across seas may apply for admission to this country before breaking
up their foreign homes, and upon such application may secure the same benefits of
adjudication by immigration officials, certificates by public health officials, and
appeals to the final authority that are now available to them only upon arrival at our
ports.
Authority whereby the Secretary of Labor may in immigration cases exercise
discretion as to individual hardships.
Immediate legislation providing higher pay for competent and industrious employees
of the department and its bureaus and divisions.
Migration of Negroes to Northern Industrial Centers.
URING 1917 and 191S there was a large migration of Negroes
to some of the northern industrial centers. The following
table, based on data furnished by the Census Bureau, shows
the white and Negro population of certain northern cities in the
census years 1910 and 1920, the per cent which each race formed of
the total population, and the per cent of increase.
D
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
NUM BER AND
P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E IN W H IT E A N D N E G R O P O P U L A T IO N
S P E C I F I E D I N D U S T R I A L C E N T E R S I N 1910 O V E R 1900.
IN
W h it e a n d N eg ro p o p u la tio n in —
1910
|
Negro.
W hite.
City.
Number.
Per cent Per cent
Per cent Per cent
of total increase Number. of total increase
over
over
popula
popula
1900.
1900.
tion.
tion.
Total.1
99,171
51,665
36,231
473,387
100,650
33,724
343,919
111,707
52,646
63,340
59,636
72,996
46,415
65,361
45,196
50,183
211,516
72,493
48 C99
136' ÌÓÌ
166,567
76', 147
236,128
49,976
98.9
99.1
78.5
84.8
98.6
87.5
94.6
95.8
89.9
99.1
92.9
. 88.7
98.3
97.6
99.5
99.4
98.5
99.5
94.2
99.2
98.9
99.1
71.3
95.3
6.7
33.9
70.4
10.3
44.2
14.1
10.4
36.4
89.1
41.3
29.5
62.6
14.1
19.5
46.6
19.5
31.6
129.9
52.5
26.8
28.0
26.4
23.3
114.7
1,037
453
9,834
84,749
1,332
4,795
19,639
4,842
5,882
572
4,535
9,286
803
1.569
197
313
3,144
274
2,961
1,124
1,877
651
94,446
2,457
1.0
(3)
21.3
15.2
1.3
12.4
5.4
4.2
10.0
(3) •
7.1
11.3
1.7
2.3
(8)
(?)
1.5
(3)
5.7
(3)
1.1
(8)
28.5
4.7
2 11.9
11.6
51.0
6.9
15.9
8.9
35.6
43.0
227.0
107.3
10.4
42.7
3.3
11.9
7.1
10.1
38.9
115.7
32.9
8.7
9.1
62.8
8.9
76.9
100,253
52,127
46,150
558,485
102,054
38,537
363,591
116,577
58,547
63,933
64,186
82,331
47,227
66,950
45,401
50,510
214,744
72,826
51,678
137! 249
168,497
76,813
331,069
52,4 0
Total.................................... 2,703,854
91.3
26.2
256,772
8.7
15.6
2.962.185
Albany, N. Y ................................
Altoona, P a ....................................
Atlantic City, N. J .......................
Baltimore, Md...............................
Bridgeport, Conn..........................
Chester, Pal.................................
Cincinnati, Ohio..........................
Dayton, Ohio................................
East St. Louis, 111........... ...........
Fort Wayne, Ind........................ .
Harrisburg, P a ..............................
Kansas City, K ans.......................
Lancaster, F a ...............................
Peoria, 111.......................................
Rockford, 111..................................
Saginaw, Mich...............................
St. Paul, Minn..............................
Schenectadv, N. Y .......................
Syracuse, N. Y ..............................
Toledo, Ohio..................................
Troy, N. Y .....................................
Washington, D. C.........................
Wichita, Kans..............................
1 T h e d iffer en ce b e tw e e n t h is t o t a l a n d th e t o t a l o f t h e w h i t e a n d n eg ro p o p u la tio n s a s g iv e n represents
th e n u m b e r s o f C h in e se , J a p a n e se , a n d I n d ia n s , w h ic h a re so s m a ll a s to b e n e g lig ib le a n d a re therefore
o m itte d .
2 D ecrease.
* L ess th a n 1 per c e n t.
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IN D U ST R IA L RELA TIO NS AND LABOR CO N D ITIO N S.
203
NUM BER A N D P E R CENT OF INCREASE IN W HITE AND NEGRO PO PULATION IN
SPECIFIED IND U STR IA L CENTERS IN 1920 OVER 1910.
W hite and Negro population in—
1923
N eg ro .
W h ite .
C ity .
Per cent
o f to t a l
p o p u la
tio n .
Per cent
in c r e a s e
over
1910.
1.1
1 .5
2 1 .6
14.8
1 .6
12.3
7.4
5 .9
11.1
1 .7
6 .9
14.2
1.7
2 .8
19.0
96.2
11.3
27 .9
69.4
48 .5
50 .9
86 .5
2 0 .9
158.0
15.9
55.1
14.1
3 5 .8
148.7
5 .4
7 .5
42.3
3 6 .5
12.4
203.1
s 1 0 .8
16.4
P er cen t
of to ta l
p o p u la
tio n .
Per cent
in c r e a s e
over
1910.
N um ber.
112,040
59,430
39.688
625,074
141,195
50,834
371,540
143,492
59,306
85,051
70,644
86,703
52,226
73,977
65,125
61,527
231,169
88,242
56,404
170,368
237,390
71,401
326,854
9 8 .8
98.5
78.3
85.2
98.4
87.6
92 .6
94.1
88.8
98.3
93.1
85.7
98.3
97.2
99.2
99.4
98.5
99.5
95.3
99.2
97.6
99.2
74.7
13.0
15.0
9 .5
3 2 .0
40.3
50 .7
8 .0
2 8 .5
12.7
34.3
18.5
18.8
12.5
13.2
44.1
22 .6
9 .3
21.7
15.8
25 .2
42 .5
3 6 .2
38.4
1,234
889
10,948
108,390
2,256
7,119
29,636
9,029
7,433
1,476
5,256
14,405
916
2,131
490
330
3,379
390
2,769
1,263
5,690
581
109,976
68,626
95.0
37.3
3,543
4.9
44.2
72,215
Total..................................... 3,348,306
91.0
23.0
329,529
9.0
28.3
3,680,120
N um ber.
A lb a n y , N . Y ......................................
A lto o n a , P a ...........................................
A t la n t ic C itv , N . J ...........................
B a ltim o r e , M d ...................................
B rid g e p o r t, C o n n ..............................
C hester, P a ............................................
C in c in n a ti. O h io ...............................
D a v t o n , O h io .....................................
F a s t S t. L o u is . I l l ............. ...............
F o r t W a y n e , I n d ..............................
H a rrisb u rg , P a ...................................
K a n sa s C ity , K a n s ..........................
I a n c a s te r , P a .............................
P e o r ia , 111......................... .........
R och ford , 111..............................
S a g in a w , M ic h ...................................
S t. P a u l, M in n ...................................
S c h e n e c ta d y , N . Y ..........................
S p r in g fie ld , 111...........................
S y r a c u s e , N. Y ..................................
T o le d o , O h io ...............................
T r o y . N . Y .................................
W a s h in g to n , D. C ......................
W ic h ita , K a n s .................... ...............
(2)
(2)
1.4
(2)
4 .7
(2)
2 .3
(2)
25.1
T o t a l.1
113,344
60,331
50,707
733,826
143,555
58,030
401,247
152,559
66,767
86,549
75,917
101,177
53,150
76,121
65,651
61,903
234,698
88,723
59,183
171,717
243,164
72,013
437,571
1 The difference between this total and the total of the white and Negro populations as given represents
the numbers of Chinese, Japanese, and Indians, which are so small as to he negligible and are therefore
omitted.
2 Less than 1 per cent.
7 Decrease.
It will be seen from these tables that, so far as concerns certain
industrial centers in Northern States, the increase in the Negro
population in the decade 1910 to 1920 was 28.3 per cent, while
the increase in the decade from 1900 to 1910 was 15.6 per cent.
In the period 1910 to 1920 the Negro population increased at a
slightly greater rate than the wdiite population, the per cent increase
of the latter being 23 as compared with 28.3 for the Negroes.'
However, the increase in the Negro population in the decade 1900
to 1910 was less than the increase in the white population during
the same period, the percentage being 15.6 as compared with 26.2.
While the per cent of increase in the white population of these cities
in the decade ending in 1920 wTas less than in the previous decade,
the per cent of increase in the Negro population was nearly twice
that of the decade ending in 1910.
2 4 0 3 3 ° — 2 1 ------ 14
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .
Efficiency of Labor on Railroads.
rT “,HERE is a somewhat significant difference in the tone and
attitude of the journals published by corporations for circulaA tion among their employees and that of the general press of
the country, as well as different statements of alleged facts.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad has a monthly publication which
it calls “ The Baltimore and Ohio Magazine.” In the November
issue there are two very interesting articles which deal with the
subject of efficiency. On page 25 there is an article on “ How the
New Castle division has increased its net train load.” A few extracts
are cited below.
Increased efficiency can only be granted a3 an actual fact where it is shown that the
train loading lias increased over previous periods under exactly the same operating
conditions.
An increase in the train load is naturally to be expected where (1) Heavier power
is furnished; (2) curves and grades are eliminated or reduced; (3) radical changes in
operating standards are made to permit handling heavier trains.
Beginning with the fiscal year of 1912, the average net train load on the New' Castle
division for each year follows:
Fiscal or
calendar.
Year.
1912 ......................
1913........................
1914 ......................
1915......................
1910......................
1910......................
1917 ......................
1918 ......................
1919.........................
1920........................
Fiscal.............
........do...............
........do...............
........do ..............
.........do..............
Calendar.........
__ .dO...............
........do...............
........do...............
January to
July, inclu
sive.
Net train
load.
761
825
758
908
965
950
1,027
1,059
1,132
i 1,130
1 A p p r o x im a te ly .
No material changes in the motive power or in the physical conditions of the divi
sion can explain the increase in train load since 1917, and it can only be attributed to
wise leadership, careful planning and teamwork in increasing efficiency.
This improvement has been made during a period of extraordinary demand for labor
at prices much beyond the reach of the railroads of the country, and the forced use of
much inf erior labor. In 1929 the climax was reached when experienced men deserted
the railroad service in appalling numbers. The ranks were filled with any class of
labor that could be secured, without regard to previous railroad experience, but in
the face of these seemingly insurmountable difficulties, the net train load was main
tained at a point equal to the 1919 high record and with a splendid chance of making
a new high mark.
Another article appearing in the same magazine (p. 7), “ Curtis
Bay piers again break all records for coal loading,” details the increase
in car-loading efficiency at the Curtis Bay coal piers from 424 cars
in 24 hours on the first day that record was kept, in September, 1919,
to 1,082 cars or 52,790 tons on October 26. The details in the exact
language of the Baltimore and Ohio Magazine, are quoted as follows:
Way out in Brunswick officials had been planning, and are still planning, and em
ployees had been working, and are still working, to shoot the long steel trains of coal
into the Curtis Bay yard in such classification as to yard facilities, pools of coal and
other factors entering into the situation, as to bring about the highest efficiency.
All along the line from Brunswick to tidewater thousands of factors operate to
acilitate the movement of the trains. Men must not only handle their routine work
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IN D U S T R IA L R E L A T IO N S A N D LABOR C O N D IT IO N S .
205
well but be able to make tlie right decision and the right movement in an emergency.
Adequate motive power has to be available—and this is no small job in these days of
locomotive shortage. The men in the Curtis Bay yard have to be on the job to get
the best results out of the track facilities. The complicated and expensive machinery
at the coal pier must be kept in prime condition to prevent any breaking down of the
plant. Finally, supervision must see to it that there is a nice adjustment between the
dumping of the coal and docking of the coal boats at the piers.
On September 16, 1919, the first big dumping record was hung up at the new and
old piers at Curtis Bay, 424 cars in 24 hours.
On April 20 this record was eclipsed, when 655 ears were dumped and loaded.
On October 12, the 734 cars handled showed a further handsome increase in
efficiency.
On October 19, 910 cars had been handled and every indication pointed to a record
of 1,000 cars on that day when just one little thing went wrong. One man fell down on
his job, a nut which he should have been watching backed off an eccentric strap bolt,
and the resulting delay prevented the 1,000 car record being reached.
Generally speaking,_it was what railroaders call ' :a refinement in operation’’ that
made possible the record-breaking dumping of 1,082 cars, 52,790 tons, on October 26.
1. The coal dumping machinery was right.
2. The boats were docked at the pier with little delay.
3. Goal of the proper pools was available and was properly classified in the yard
to. enable its being sent up the hill tracks leading to the dumpers without delay.
4. Motive power was available in the yard to move the cars promptly from the
empty tracks.
indusiria Activity in Pennsylvania.
NDER direction of the Department of Internal Affairs of the
State of Pennsylvania the Bureau of Statistics and Information
is collecting regularly industrial statistics of various counties
and important manufacturing cities of the State, making the informa
tion available to the public through the press. A series of these
reports covering 11 counties and 17 industrial cities and the State as a
whole, issued at various dates between May 28 and November 17,
1920, has recently come to this bureau. For the most part these
reports cover the year 1919, but in practically every instance as
affecting the counties and the State as a whole, the figures for 191G
are also given for purposes of comparison, that year being considered
a ‘'fairly normal year.” In a few instances partial records of 1917
and 1918 are included, but its is remarked that comparison of 1919
with these years is hardly fair owing to the stimulus of war orders.
In the case of the cities the record for 1919 only is given in these
reports.
in the State as a whole the number of plants in operation decreased
from 20,961 in 1916 to 20,888 in 1919, the peak being in 1917 when
22,101 were operated. The average days worked by each plant was
275 in 1919 and 287 in 1916. In spite of this fact the total value of
the products increased from $6,419,410,000 in 1916 to $8,853,047,600
in 1919, or a percentage increase of 37.9. Pennsylvania industries
gave employment in 1919 to 1,523,609 people, of whom 1,019,830, or
66.9 per cent, were Americans (white), 52,768, or 3.5 per cent, were
Negroes, and 451,011 or 29.6 per cent, were foreigners. These figures
represent a decrease from 1918 of 204,283, or 16.6 per cent, in the
number of Americans (white), of 3,611, or 6.4 per cent, in the colored
workers, of 95,598, or 17.5 pel cent, in the number of foreigners, and
of 16.6 per cent, in the total number of employees. Data for 1916
are not given in the report covering the State except as to total number
U
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206
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .
of employees, there being 1,735,543 in that year, or 13.9 per cent more
than in 1919. The number of minors employed in 1919 was 21,327, or
3,867 less than in 1918, and 2,009 more than in 1916. Notwithstand
ing the reduction in the number of employees in 1919 as compared
with 1916 the pay roll total in 1919 was 45.6 per cent greater than in
1916. In 1919 the total amount of pay roll was $1,864,427,100,
while it was $2,217,272,900 in 1918 and $1,280,694,200 in 1916.
The average annual earnings of workers in 1916 was $737.93; in 1919
this had increased to $1,223.70.
Employment of Negroes in Pennsylvania Industries.
tTXACT statistics for 1916 are not available in the Pennsylvania
reports covering the State as a whole, but it is stated that the
number of Negroes employed in 1919 was 52 per cent more than in
1916. Reports covering seven of the eleven counties for which figures
for both 1916 and 1919 are given bear out this proportion, the number
of Negroes being about 82 per cent more in 1919 than in 1916. In
1919 (based on reports from 8 counties) there were 15,341 less foreign
ers employed in Pennsylvania industries than in 1916, the total
being 125,081 in the former year and 140,422 in 1916, and the per
cent of decrease being 10.9.
This information is set forth in the following table. The validity
of a strict comparison of the number of employees in 1919 with 1916
is somewhat impaired because of the difference in the number of
plants reporting in each year.
INCREASE IN N U M BER OF PLANTS AN D N U M BER OF EM PLOYEES IN SPECIFIED COUN
TIES IN PE N N SY L V A N IA , 1919 OVER 1916.
Number
of plants.
Number of employees.
1916
County!
1916
1919
1919
For
White
For
White
(Dative). Colored. eigners. Total. (native). Colored. eigners.
Allegheny.......................... 2,456 2,580 115,495
5,114
146
165
Armstrong........................
61
1,623
Bedford..............................
Berks................................
727
100
2,276
Bradford............................ 120
20
2', 630
Cameron............................
22
151
3,987
Cumberland...................... 141
T)anphin
299
301
462 U 6,187
Erie................................... 439
Fnl ton
7
6
14
522 25,109
Lackawanna..................... 469
Total....................... 4,160 5,099 172,435
7,897
'163
49
9
91
20
(2)
18
96,668 220,060 121,381
5,563
6,121 11,398
256
1,928
2,243
38; 376 39,505
i
2,504
4,617
255
622
645
3; 343
4,020
4,926
13
25,450 21,906
6,584 22,771 «19,608
109
14
29,903 55,030 35,491
8,247 140,422 384,894 255,994
Total.
85,630
5,411
'251
4,317
417
102
20
3,696
5,'570
4
27,676
221,621
11,188
2,528
44,091
5,055
778
4,997
27,343
25,178
113
63,214
17,018 133,094
406,106
14,610
214
34
269
21
31
51
1,741
0
47
1 This is not the sum of the items but is the figure given in the report.
2 Erie County reported 16,187 Americans but did not state what proportion is colored and the number
has been included as white.
a Erie County reported 19,608 Americans but did not state what proportion is colored, and the number
has been included as white.
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207
Building Activity in Pennsylvania.
""THREE of the reports include statistics as to building activity.
1 In reference to Pittsburgh the report on Allegheny County
states:
There were 3,268 building permits issued in Pittsburgh in 1919, representing a total
cost for new buildings of $11,000,236. One hundred and ninety-five of these were for
miscellaneous structures, costing $420,000. Permits were granted for the erection of
87 manufacturing plants and business houses at a total cost of $2,400,000. There were
810 dwellings provided for at a cost of $6,250,000. In number of operations the garages
surpassed the rest combined, numbering 2,176, costing $2,170,000, or an average of
$1,000 apiece. In only two wards of the city—the fourteenth and nineteenth—the
number of dwellings built exceeded the number of garages.
The number of building permits issued in Harrisburg in 1919 was
478, representing a total value of $2,733,815, and the number of per
mits issued in Reading was 584, representing a total cost for new
building of $2,263,325.
Exodus of Labor From Ohio Farms.1
CCORDING to a recent survey made by an agricultural statis
tician of the United States Bureau of Crop Estimates and the
Ohio Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, under the direction of
the State secretary of agriculture, there was a decrease of 60,000 men
and boys over 15 years of age working on farms in Ohio for the year
ending June, 1920. The survey covered from 100 to 300 farms in
every county of the State. For every man who came back to farm
life during the year covered, 7 left farms for other work. It is esti
mated from the returns that at present 410,000 men and boys are
“ actually working on farms as compared to 470,000 a year ago and
approximately 500,000 three years ago.” Seventy thousand were
reported as having been hired for wages during the present year,
while a year ago there were nearly 100,000. About one-half, there
fore, of those who abandoned the farms during the 12 months covered
by the survey were hired men.
A
The survey also shows an estimated total of 29,000 vacant habitable houses on farms
this year, compared to 18,000 a year previous. That part of the report covering the
number of abandoned farms has not yet been tabulated. The investigation also shows
that of the total number of farms in the State which changed hands last year, 80 per
cent were purchased by actual farmers who are living on them, while only 20 per cent
were purchased for speculation or by men who purchased them to rent to others.
The bulk of the farms sold were purchased by native Americans, except in the north
east counties, where the purchase of many farms by persons of foreign birth is reported.
The Danish Federation oi Trade Unions on the Labor Situation.2
FEW weeks ago the president of the Employers’ Association,
in a long speech before a general meeting of the association,
declared that the Danish employers would have to oppose all
demands for further increase in wages, "no matter what the cost,” if
Danish industries are to continue in existence. Also the principle of
A
1 United States Department of Agriculture. Monthly Crop Reporter, November, 1920, p. 123.
2 Data from United States minister at Copenhagen, dated Nov. 1,1920.
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M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W .
the. eight-hour day, which had proved far too expensive, would
have to be revised.
The workmen’s reply to this “ declaration of war” was given in a
number of resolutions adopted by a meeting of representatives of the
Federation of Trade-Unions held in Copenhagen during the past week.
One of these resolutions inveighs against the “ malicious attacks of
capitalistic, circles on the working class,” among these the assertion
that the workmen have obtained much higher increases in wages than
justified by the rise of the cost of living. “ With a few exceptions,”
the resolution claims “ the wages obtained have not kept abreast of
the rising prices, and the workers’ organizations will bo fully justified
in claiming increases to meet the rise of the price level since the last
agreement and for whatever further rises may occur. The best
means to avoid continued demands for higher wages will indouhtedly
be price-regulating measures, by which not only a further rise of prices
may he escaped, but also by which the present high-price level may
lie brought down, chiefly through a limitation of the sales profits.
Therefore it should be the duty of the Government to see to it that
the necessary steps for this purpose be taken. Otherwise the Gov
ernment will have to bear the full responsibility for the serious situa
tion in which the country may be placed in the days to come.”
The resolution further protests against the assertion that the
workers do not put in a sufficient amount of work in their eight-hour
day, and declares that any attempt to deprive the workers of the
cultural progress they have won through the introduction of the
eight-hour day will be met with the most energetic resistance. “ Be
sides, considering that at present over 11,000 workers are out of em
ployment, and that- this figure will probably grow rapidly in the near
future, any lengthening of the working hours will be unjustifiable both
from the point of view of the workers and from that of the entire
community.” In this connection the resolution points out the neces
sity of having the eight-hour day established by law in conformity
with the decision of the Washington conference.
Shop Councils.
HPHE meeting of union representatives unanimously adopted a
* proposal for an agreement between the employers’ association and
the Federation of Trades Unions concerning the introduction of shop
councils. The proposal is to the following effect:
In every work shop with a minimum of five employees all workers
over 15 years shall choose a shop council for the term of one year.
Only persons over 21 years of age who have been employed in the
particular shop for at least six months are eligible. The size of the
councils is to he fixed in proportion to the number of workers em
ployed in the shops—not less than 3 and not exceeding 10. More
over, the councils shall be assisted by “trusted men,” where such
are found. The shop council shall be entitled to collaboration in ail
questions concerning the justified interests of the workers. Dis
missal of members of a shop council shall not occur unless justified by
lack of work in their particular line or by such commissions on their
part as are not dependent on their functions as members of the shop
council.
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR CONDITIONS.
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It shall be the duty of the shop councils to safeguard the rights
granted the workmen by their agreements and to take action in such
cases as those mentioned below. In their functions the shop councils
shall always consider the good relations between the various workers
and between employer and employees, as well as their common
interest in the progress of the concern.
In conjunction with the employers the shop councils shall give then
attention to the prevention of accidents and of insanitary conditions
and shall assist the authorities who are charged with the" elimination
of these dangers.
More especially the shop councils shall assist (1) in employments
and dismissals in the concern; (2) in change of working methods;
(3) in fixing reduced working hours on account of reduced work and
in fixing rules for overtime, night, or holiday work in case of urgency;
(4) in making up the accounts of the concern and in making disposi
tions as to its operations; (5) in adjusting disputes concerning wages
between the employer and the individual workman; (6) in fixing the
succession cf vacations. Moreover, the shop councils shall be
entitled (7) to a voice in determining questions relative to the training
and treatment of apprentices; (8) to interference where the requisite
means or measures for the prevention of accidents or insanitary
conditions are lacking; (9) to attempt to adjust disputes of any
kind. The shop councils may convene the workmen inside or outside
the work shops.
Meetings shall not be convened during working hours unless urgently
necessary, and not without knowledge of the employer or his repre
sentative. The employer may be present as advisor Tit any of the
meetings held on the premises of the shop. He must furnish all
necessary information to the shop council for the elucidation of a
question.
Representatives of the organizations of employers and workmen
concerned may attend the negotiations between employers and shop
councils, and may not be excluded by either of the parties.
All questions which can not be adjusted by the shop councils may
be referred to the decision of a joint meeting of the respective organi
zations and, possibly, to the vocational arbitration courts or to the
permanent court of arbitration.
Unemployment and Vacations.
’T TIE trade unions’ representatives’ meeting, furthermore, adopted
an appeal to be made to the Government and the Rigsdag urging
them to counteract unemployment, shortage of dwellings, and the
constant rise of prices.
In regard to the question of the workmen’s vacations the assem
blage sanctioned a proposal made by the executive committee under
which any worker having been in a shop for at least six months
without intermission is entitled to a vacation of six working days,
together with two Sundays. Having been in the shop for over two
years he is entitled to two weeks’ vacation. If such an arrangement
interferes with the running of the shop, the vacations will have to be
fixed by special agreement. During his vacation the worker is to be
paid his regular wage if he is doing time work; if piece work the
average wage for the last 12 weeks.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
industrial Recovery in the Devastated Regions of France.1
APID progress in the past 15 months has been made toward the
resumption of industrial activity in those sections of France
which were within the war zone. The Bureau of Industrial
Reconstruction has taken a census in the 10 invaded departments of
industrial establishments which before the war employed at least 20
persons. Oh October 1, 1920, 4,241 of these establishments had been
listed, of which 3,239, or 76.6 per cent, were found to have resumed
work either wholly or in part. Before hostilities about 29 per cent
of French labor was employed and about 17 per cent of the industries
were located in this section of the country.
Among the departments which were more particularly industrial
provinces the department of Ardennes stood at the head, with 83.9
per cent of its establishments at work. The department of Meurtheet-Moselle followed, with 83.1 per cent of its industries working, the
Nord 80.5 per cent, Pas-de-Calais 74.5 per cent, the Marne 74.3 per
cent, and the Vosges 73.1 per cent. In the district of Lille 87.8 per
cent of the industrial establishments had resumed operations. The
rapidity with which the industries are being restored is shown by the
fact that on July 1, 1919, only 9.7 per cent of the companies had
resumed work, and in 15 months the proportion had increased to
almost 45 per cent.
The situation is particularly good in the chemical industries, which
now employ 54.2 per cent of their prewar forces. The textile indus
try and the metal trades show 50 per cent of their former numbers
employed and'the stone and pottery works 48.2 per cent.
The* percentage of the former personnel now employed is greatest
in the department of the Vosges, where 59.6 per cent are at work.
The department of the Nord has returned 53.1 per cent to industry,
Meurthe-et-Moselle 51.5 per cent, and the Ardennes 44.4 per cent,
while the district of Lille leads the cities with 64 per cent of the num
ber employed in 1914 back in industrial life.
R
industrial Depression in japan.2
ECENT advices have been received from Tokyo indicating a gen
eral business depression in Japan. Last August postal savings
deposits were reduced 15,000,000 yen ($7,477,500, par), not
withstanding the country-wide efforts to encourage this form of thrift.
The Moji section of the railroad department was reported as about
to discharge 1,000 employees because of the decrease in freight traffic.
These workmen received an average annual wage of 600 yen ($299.10,
par). At the close of last August 80 ships were idle, and the number
was growing. In Tokyo automobile sales had fallen off 70 per cent.
Wages in Kobe and Osaki decreased 15 per cent in August, and in the
same month a large department store discharged 300 employees.
With reference to the cost of production in Japan, which is of im
portance to American manufacturers, the United States trade com-
R
i Dans les régions dévastées. Da République Française, November 6,1920, p. 2.
s Data taken from Commerce Reports for Nov. 16, 1920, p. 750, Washington, D. C.
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR CONDITIONS.
211
missioner in that country states that with the increased cost of raw
materials and labor, the inefficiency of labor, and reduced production
occasioned by the proposed shorter hours, it is a question whether pro
duction costs in Japan will be lower than in America. To meet this
situation Japanese cotton mills are importing Koreans, and it may
be expected that the Japanese will erect factories in Manchuria, Korea,
and China, to secure labor which will accept lower wages.
Labor Conditions in the Cotton Textile Industry oi Mexico.
CCORDING to a report on the cotton textile industry of Mex
ico, published in Commerce Reports (Washington) for October
29, 1920 (pp. 473-475), there were in 1843 57 cotton textile
plants operating 125,000 spindles and producing 700,000 pieces (25
meters (27.3 yards) long) of cotton cloth, known as m a n t a and used
almost entirely as clothing for the Indian population. At the end of
the fiscal year 1913 there were 144 factories operating 750,000 spindles,
using 32,821,205 kilograms (72,358,285 pounds) of raw cotton, and
turning out 13,210,034 pieces of cotton sheeting, prints, percale, etc.
There were in that year 27,000 looms and 51 printing machines in
operation, giving employment to 32,600 operatives. As to the labor
conditions in the industry, the report may be quoted as follows:
A
The managers, foremen, dyers, weavers, etc., are Europeans, French, and Spanish
in the main, but some Germans and a few Mexicans are found in these positions.
They are, as a rule, trained men, brought from the large mills in Spain, France, and
Germany. The operatives are, of course, Mexican, mostly Indians, and they are
about as efficient as their wages indicate. At a recent hearing before the board of
conciliation in Mexico City it was stated that the average wage paid the operatives
in Orizaba was 1.83 pesos, or about 92 cents United States currency, per day. Their
capacity for production in comparison with workmen of this country may be gauged
by a comparison of wages paid to each. The labor problem, however, has been a
serious one to the industry, and frequently prolonged strikes have served greatly to
curtail production. A study of article 123 of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 will
explain the labor unrest and radicalism which have been so noticeable in Mexico since
1917. It has been impossible to enforce labor legislation based on the Constitution
with entire satisfaction to both capital and labor.
Labor Conditions in Portugal.1
CCORDING to the American consul at Oporto, Portugal, the
labor supply in the agricultural sections of that district is
beginning to feel the effect of the unparalleled emigration.
The emigration from the Oporto district to the United States amounts
to about 1,000 persons a month, and there is probably a larger num
ber of emigrants to Brazil. There was a considerable labor shortage
during September for work in harvesting the crops. This labor
shortage is also felt in the fishing districts, from which large numbers
have emigrated to the United States. The class of workmen emi
grating to the United States is the best labor of the country in all
lines, and the number of emigrants is steadily increasing.
A
i Data furnished by the American consul at Oporto, under date of Oct. It, 1920, and by the ! merican
consul general at Lisbon under date of Oct. 25.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
There is considerable unrest and dissatisfaction among the organized
laborers, reports the consul. Two strikes of considerable importance,
as both affected transportation facilities, took place in September,
1920. One of these strikes involved the stevedores and bargemen
of the River Douro and the port of Leixoes, and for two weeks all
navigation at this port was tied up. This strike was a demonstration
of sympathy with the workers of the same categories who were
striking in Lisbon. The strike was settled on October 10.
The other strike was of railroad workers. This strike began in the
latter part of September on the Minho and Douro system, which
serves the country lying in the valleys of the Minho and Douro
Rivers and connects with Spanish lines. The strike spread and now
includes practically all the railway systems in this consular district.
Units of army engineers are operating a few trains, but there is a
great freight congestion. Great dissatisfaction is felt by the merchants
and manufacturers over this strike, and all commercial establish
ments in Oporto were closed for one day as a protest against the
strike. A mass meeting of protest was forbidden by the civil gov
ernor as a clash between the strikers and protesters was feared.
The demands of the strikers include a 200 per cent wage increase.
There are no indications of an early settlement of this strike.
The American consul general reports (Oct. 25, 1920) that following
strikes of the Lisbon street cleaners and of the longshoremen, the
railroad men came out on strike four weeks ago, and-that this strike
still continues.
He states that the causes of all of these strikes were economic.
The workers, paid with a steadily depreciating paper currency, found
the purchasing power of their wages constantly decreasing, for, as
the depreciation of the paper currency progressed, shopkeepers
consistently raised their prices in order to save themselves from loss.
The railroads, however, which were working under heavy expenses
on account of the exceedingly high prices, in Portugal, of imported
coal and oil, were running on such a small margin of profit that to
have acceded to the demands of their men would have meant for
them grave financial loss, unless they themselves proceeded to raise
their tariffs.
According to reports published in the papers on October 25, one
very important railroad company had just announced that beginning
the"previous day its rates would be increased by a surtax of 200 per
cent over the current rates in force, and it was further announced
that this surtax would also be applicable to the tariff of all the State
railroad lines.
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H O U SIN G .
T he Housing Situation in England.
T THE close of the war England faced an acute shortage of
housing, which was felt most severely by the working classes.
Roughly speaking, a working-class house was one which could
he let, with a fair return on the money invested, at an annual rental
of £20 ($97.33, par) or less. For a number of years before the war,
the number of such houses built annually varied from 60,000 to
100,000, the average for the years from 1900 to 1910 being 80,000.1
The construction of houses practically stopped during the war, so
that at the lowest estimate there must have been a deficit of from
300,000 to 400,000 working-class houses by the end of 1918. But
the cessation of house building was not the only trouble; during the
war years little or nothing was done in the way of necessary repairs
to houses or in eliminating slums, so that in addition to the actual
shortage of houses the situation was complicated by the bad condition
of numbers of the dwellings in use.
A
There are in this country at the present time at least 70,000 houses quite unfit for
habitation, and a further 300,000 which are seriously defective. This position has
to be dealt with in addition to the shortage due to arrears of building. People must
continue to live in these defective dwellings until something better is provided.
There are about 3,000,000 people living in overcrowded conditions, i. e., more than
two in a room, and in the area covered by the London County Council, their return
showed. 71:8,000 living under these dreadful conditions.2
The difficulty of the position was enormously increased by the rise
in building costs. Even before the war it had been recognized that
certain classes of the community—-e. g., agricultural laborers in some
districts—simply could not pay an economic rent. It was evident
that with the higher cost of building in the post-war period this
incapacity would extend to a considerable portion of the working
classes. Either hundreds of thousands must dwell in dangerously
overcrowded and insanitary houses, or some means must be found of
providing houses at a loss. As early as the summer of 1917 the
Government recognized this situation, and accepted the responsi
bility for seeing that houses were so provided. In July, 1917, the
Government sent out a circular letter, from which the following
paragraphs are taken:
Realizing that private enterprise, to which we owe approximately 95 per cent of
our house building prior to the war, will be quite unable to grapple successfully and
speedily with this arrear, he [the president of the local government board] has come
to the conclusion that for the years immediately following the war it will be
necessary to rely far more than in the past upon local authorities to provide the houses
required, with their road, water, and drainage accompaniments.
1 Housing at the Close of the War, by H. E. Aldridge, London, p. 3.
2 The Housing Crobloin.by J. J. Clarke, London, 1920, p. 201.
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213
214
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Having brought the m atter before the war cabinet, Mr. Fisher is now authorized to
say that the Government recognize? that it will be necessary to afford substantial
financial assistance from public funds to those local authorities who are prepared to
•carry through, without delay, at the conclusion of the war, a program of housing for
the working classes which is approved by the local government board.3
Other documents issued at intervals by the Government during the
following years, outlined tentative plans for a partnership in loss be
tween the Government and the local authorities, but a number of
points were still unsettled when the armistice was signed. Mean
while, the whole housing problem was transferred to the Ministry of
Health, under which a special housing department was formed.
Housing Policy of the Government.
'"THE signing of the armistice, with its implied promise of speedy
* demobilization, gave new urgency to the housing problem.
In the confusion of the first few months of the reconstruction
period action on this, as on many other questions, was delayed, but
by March, 1919, a bill was introduced, which was passed and" became
effective July 31, 1919, giving the Ministry of Health new powers and
setting forth the extent and conditions of the aid the Government
would give the local authorities in providing new houses. It soon
became evident that this bill would not be as effective as had been
hoped, and another bill was passed in December, 1919, extending its
terms. These two together may be regarded as representing the
Government’s housing policy. Some important points were as fol
lows :
1. Action by the local authorities, which had formerly been per
mitted, was made compulsory. England and Wales were divided into
11 districts, each having a housing commissioner, responsible to the
central staff of the housing department, whose duty it should be to
work in cooperation with the local authorities to forward the pro
vision of houses.
2. The local authorities must at once make a survey of the housing
needs of their districts, and submit to the Ministry of Health a scheme
for providing for these needs, or some of them, this latter provision
being intended to allow the authorities to begin building without
waiting for the completion of the survey. Concerning these schemes
the following conditions wrere laid down:
A scheme under this section shall specify—
(а) The approximate number and nature of the houses to be provided by
the local authority.
(б) The approximate quantity of land to be acquired and the localities in
which the land is to be acquired.
(c) The average number of houses per acre.
(d) The time within which the scheme or any part thereof is to be carried
into effect.
Proposals by other bodies and persons for providing housing accommodation must
be taken into account by both the central and the local authorities.
3. The local authorities must raise the money to carry out these
schemes except that in small districts where the taxable valué of
property is low, the ministry might, under certain conditions, make
a loan for building purposes.
3 Quoted in Housing at the Close of the War, hy H. R. AldriCdge, London, p. 6.
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HOUSING.
215
4. The Government, through the Ministry of Health, would become
responsible for that portion of the yearly loss on houses built under
its conditions which could not be covered by a tax, to be imposed by
the local authorities, of 1 penny on the pound. It was assumed that
by 1927 post-war prices would reach a normal level. At that date
there was to be a readjustment, and thereafter the liability of the
Government was to be limited to the loss involved in the difference
between the economic rent of the houses, if they had been built at
the new price level, and their actual rent. Of this loss, the Govern
ment would assume whatever part was not met by the tax of a penny
on the pound.
5. Special subsidies were offered to public utility societies, and
direct grants to private persons, who would put up houses of approved
types which might be used to relieve the housing shortage.
Progress oi the Housing Campaign.
THE beginning of 1920, then, elaborate machinery had been
set up to meet the housing needs. A housing department
had been organized, regional commissioners established all over
England and Wales, local authorities had been summoned to survey
their districts and present plans for their housing needs, the general
Government was prepared to bear a part of the loss involved, speci
fications as to the kind of houses which would be accepted had been
made public, loans and subsidies had been guaranteed to public
utility societies, and direct grants of money promised to private per
sons, upon their completion of working-class houses of approved
types. The preliminary surveys were practically completed, showing
a need within the immediate future of 800,000 houses, schemes were
being submitted by the local authorities, contracts were being let, and
while it was admitted that there had necessarily been delay in start
ing, it was believed that the machinery was now in good working
order, and that results would appear with gratifying rapidity. In
February Dr. Addison, the minister of health, estimated that “ if
building labor were available” 100,000 houses ought to be completed
by the end of 1920 and 200,000 in the following year.4
These hopes were far from being realized. On October 20, 1920,
in answer to a question in the House of Commons, Dr. Addison gave
the following statement of progress:
DY
On October 1 the number of houses completed was 10,042. Of these 7,448 were
provided by local authorities and public utility societies under the housing act; the
remaining 2,594 were built by private persons under the subsidy scheme of the housing
(additional powers) act. This figure does not include 1,238 army huts converted
into dwelling houses by local authorities.
In addition to these completed houses, there were under construction on October
1, 59,520 houses. Of these, 39,898 were being built by local authorities and public
utility societies, and we have full particulars of their progress. The remaining 19,622
are houses for which preliminary certificates have been issued by local authorities
to private builders under the subsidy scheme.
The number of houses covered by signed contracts amounts to 111,883.
Tenders have been approved for 148,158 houses.5
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* Questions in Parliament, Feb. 26, 1920.
Oct. 25, 1920, p. 115.
6Housing (London)
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M ONTHLY
L A B O R R E V IE W .
Charges as to Responsibility for Delay,
A TOTAL of 10,000 houses completed and approximately 60,000
1 more under construction nearly two years after the armistice
was admittedly disappointing, but when it came to the ques
tion of placing the responsibility there was much disagreement.
There were charges and countercharges, the delay being variously
attributed to governmental red tape, to the holding up of supplies
by profiteers, to restriction of output by workers, to trade-union
opposition to dilution, to the diversion of building labor to the socalled luxury building, and to the indifference of the Government
and the local authorities to the needs of the people. Out of the mass
of recriminations emerge two distinct groups of charges—one directed
against the Government and the other against the trade-unions of
building workers. In the main, the charges center around three
points—the supply of money, the supply of materials, and the supply
of labor. The complaints concerning money were directed mainly
against the Government; those concerning the shortage of materials
involved the Government, the workers, and the profiteers, and those
concerning the supply of labor gave rise to a bitterly contested dis
pute between the Government and the unions which is not yet
settled.
Taking these in the order given, there has been strong criticism of
the Government’s decision that the local authorities must themselves
raise the money for the building schemes which it is compulsory upon
them to carry out. It is said that there would have been a saving of
time, effort, and expense if the Government had raised one central
housing fund, loaning this out to the local authorities as needed.
As it is, since the credit of the local authorities is not so great as
that of the Government, they have to pay a higher rate of interest,
and in each district the time and effort of salaried officials must be
devoted to raising a local loan. As there are over 1,800 local author
ities, the duplication of effort is considerable. Moreover, the poorer
a district is and the more urgently it needs new houses, the greater
is its difficulty in raising funds—a situation which would have been
avoided if the Government had undertaken to raise the money.
To this the Government makes two replies: First, that those in
touch with the financial situation know that it would have been
disastrous for the Government to undertake raising the money needed;
and second, that raising the money in the district where it is to be
spent tends to cultivate local patriotism and develop the sense of
communal responsibility. The campaign for the sale of housing bonds
especially may be useful in these ways.
In addition to these complaints about the means of financing the
schemes, the objectors also claim that the method of Government
supervision and control involves much waste of time. Schemes and
estimates must be submitted to the housing department for approval,
and if it is not satisfied with both plans and terms, revisions must be
made and criticisms met—a process which takes time. Also, con
tracts must be approved before they can be signed, and the housing
department may refuse its sanction because it dislikes some particular
feature of the arrangement, or may insist upon making the bargain
itself at a serious cost in time. For example, the Manchester housing
1
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HOUSING.
217
committee definitely ascribes the delay in securing houses to the
methods of the Ministry of Health. In December, 1919, the com
mittee estimated that Manchester needed 7,000 houses per annum for
four years to make up its housing deficiency.
At that time the housing committee was anxious to place contracts for the building
of brick houses with the local contractors, but the Ministry of Health, with a great
belief in its own superior efficiency, prohibited the committee from making contracts,
and intimated th at it preferred to conduct its own negotiations through the district
commissioner. Time sped, and in the following February the ministry had to confess
that all its efforts had ended in failure. The housing committee then set to work as
promptly as possible to arrange its own contracts. * * * But when the committee
tried to place contracts the ministry discovered that the types of houses were too
expensive, although it had previously approved them.®
The ministry admit that delay is involved in the submission of all
schemes and contracts to them for approval, but claim that the
financial saving thereby secured justifies this. Particularly, they
say, is this true where land has to be acquired for a building scheme.
In such cases they have found again and again that a wholly unrea
sonable price has been placed upon the land, and by refusing to
sanction this they have saved the taxpayers heavy additions to the
cost of schemes. As to the charges of unnecessary delay and inter
ference they say nothing.
The scarcity and high price of building materials have given rise to
angry charges against both the Government and the workers. One
group holds that the whole trouble is due to profiteering, and that the
Government should at the close of the war, have taken charge of the
production of building materials, as it did during the war of the pro
duction of munitions, and have seen that what was necessary was
produced promptly and at a reasonable price. Another group holds
with equal conviction that the trouble is due to restriction of output
by the workers in the various trades, and that the Government should
take steps, the precise nature of these steps not being indicated, to end
slacking on the job. Apparently, the scarcity of materials has not
been so troublesome as the high price they have reached, which adds
seriously to the cost of building. In October, 1920, the minister of
health publicly stated that with few exceptions, the supply of build
ing materials in the country is sufficient for the housing program,7
so that future delays can not be attributed to a lack in this direction.
The cost, however, remains a serious item. A table published by the
Housing Department shows that in the spring of 1920 the cost of
materials and the cost of labor needed for the construction of one of
the approved types of cottages were each approximately 170 per cent
higher than in 1914.8
But the most vehement charges and countercharges have developed
around the third difficulty—the labor supply. Here the issue is
sharply drawn between the Government and the trade-unions, each
charging the other with responsibility for the delay in providing
houses. General charges that the workers were restricting output
have been common for some time past, but in addition the Govern
ment has within the current-year claimed with growing emphasis that
there are not enough building-trade workers in the country to meet
6 Manchester (England) Guardian, Oct. 27, 1020.
7 Housing, Oct. 25, 1920.
8Idem, Sept. 13, 1920, p. SI.
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M ONTHLY
LABO R R E V IE W .
the needs of the industry, and that the unions must accept both dilu
tion and a system of payment by output. Apparently the claim
concerning restrictions on output is not supported by definite evi
dence; as to the insufficiency of workers, the Government points to
the undeniable falling off in the number of men in the trades since
1914, and presents the following table of the men needed as compared
with those to be had. It is estimated that for each completed house
the number of men needed for a year will be two when the scheme
includes the construction of roads, sewers, etc., and 1.6 where no such
construction is necessary.
ESTIMATED NUM BER OF MEN R EQ U IR ED TO BU IL D HOUSES AT THE RATE OF
200,000 PE R ANNUM, AN D NUM BER OF MEN A V A ILABLE OCTOBER, 1919.i
Estimated number of men required
to build houses at the rate of
200,000 per annum, based on—
Trade.
2 men per
house.
Bricklayers
.................................................................
Carpenters and joiners........................................................
Painters
__, ....... .............. ...........................................
Plasterers
,......................................................................
Plumbers
......................................................................
Plater^
- »_____ __________ ________ __________
Total
.....................................................................
Number of
men available
October,
1919.2
1.6menper 1.5 menper
house.
house.
64.800
55.800
11,000
22,000
9,600
6,800
51,840
44,640
8,800
17,600
7,680
5,440
48,600
41,850
8,250
16,500
7,200
5,100
50,993
104,441
93,597
11,671
30,098
2,643
170,000
136,000
127,500
293,443
1 Housing, Mar. 29, 1920, p. 250.
2 Ministry of Labor return, October, 1919.
This, it is argued, shows in several trades an absolute insufficiency
of skilled men for the housing program, to say nothing of the other
building needs of the country, a shortage which must be remedied
before the needs of the people'can be satisfied. To meet the situation
the Government proposes that the building trades shall consent to an
increase in the number of their skilled men by “ the grading up of
unskilled men, the training of ex-service men, and the resumption of
apprenticeships extended to older men,” and that they shall also
accept a system of payment by results—in other words, a piece-work
system. In return for these concessions, the Government proposes
to guarantee men on housing schemes part-time wages when they are
prevented from working by stress of weather.
The unions object to payment by results as tending to break down
collective bargaining, substituting for it direct negotiations between
the individual worker and his employer. One of the arguments
brought forward by its advocates indicates clearly, according to the
standpoint of the unions, the dangers in this system:
I want to see the unions grading their members according to capacity, and I want
to see the best of the men taking piecework and employing those in the lower grades
upon it.9
Of course, such an arrangement leads easily to all the objectionable
features of subcontracting and the sweating system.
As to dilution, the attitude of the unions results naturally from
conditions prevailing before the war. For a number of years the
8 Letter from secretary of Royal Institute of British Architects, published in Housing, Oct. 11,1920, p. 99.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[218 ]
219
HOUSING,
building trades bad been overcrowded, with tbe result tbat unem
ployment had been common, and underemployment general. Con
ditions had become so bad that the natural flow of apprentices into
the trade had almost stopped, vdiile numbers of skilled workers
emigrated, so that there was a marked decrease in the number of
workers even before the war. For four consecutive periods, the
number in five of the skilled trades was as follows:10
NUM BER IN SPECIFIED BUILDING TRADES IN 1901, 1911, 1914, AND 1920.
Trade.
11 ri odday firs ...............................................................
Joiners
............. ...................................................
M asons............. ...........: .............. ..............................
Plasterers....................................................................
Slaters..........................................................................
1901
115,995
265,000
73,012
31,301
9,796
1914
1911
102,752
208,995
52,188
25.082
8,391
73,671
126,345
34,381
19,479
4,154
1920
53,063
108,199
19,310
12,067
3,673
By 1914 several of these trades showed less than half of their
numbers in 1901, but even so, the building trades were in a bad way
at the beginning of the war. During the next four years their ranks
were thinned by the casualties of war, as well as by the natural
losses through age or death or transfer to other industries, so that,
at the close of the war, at a time, when there were unexampled
demands upon the building trades, they had fewer members than for
decades past. The unions admitted that a reasonable increase in
numbers was desirable, but they were not willing to return to the
overstaffed and underemployed conditions prevailing before the war.
If wholesale dilution were permitted, they argued, there might be
employment enough for a few years to keep everybody busy, but
what about the years when the building boom should have spent
itself? Before they would consent to break down all their tradeunion safeguards, they wanted some guaranty against future unem
ployment, and they regarded the Government’s promise of part-time
nay for time lost on housing work through bad weather as entirely
inadequate. Negotiations with the Government over this point have
been going on for some months, but so far not much progress has
been made.
Meanwhile the unions charge the Government with the deliberate
intention of using the housing necessities of the people as a handle
against trade-union customs and of permitting, if not encouraging,
unnecessary delays for the purpose of rousing feeling against the
unions. Commenting on the statement presented by Dr. Addison
(see p. 218), they point out that the number of houses for which
contracts have been approved is even yet far short of 200,000, and
that it can not fairly be said that the housing plans of to-day are
being held up because there is not at present a sufficient supply of
labor to carry out the plans of next year or the year after that.
Also, they claim that the Government has made little effort to avail
itself of its power to divert labor from luxury building to the_ housing
schemes, and in proof of this they point to figures submitted by
Dr. Addison himself in response to a question in the House. Being
asked what proportion of the building workers in England and Wales
10 Commerce Reports (Washington), No. 268, Nov. 13, 1920, p. 716.
London, Cct. 18, 1920.
24933°—21-----15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[219]
Report oi Consul H. C. Claiborn,
220
M ONTHLY
LABO R R E V IE W .
were employed on State-aided housing schemes of local authorities
and public utility societies, Dr. Addison gave these figures:11
TOTAL NUM BER OF MEN EMPLOYED IN THE BU ILD IN G IN D U STR Y OR ON THE CON
STRUCTION OF WORKS, JANUARY, 1920, AND NUM BER EMPLOYED ON STATE-AIDED
HOUSING SCHEMES, JUNE 30, 1920.
Total number of men
employed—
In building in On State-aided
dustry or on
housing
construction of schemes,
June
works, January,
30, 1920.
1920.
Trade.
Bricklayers................................
Carpenters.................................
Painters................... .................
Plasterers.......................... ........
Plumbers....................................
Slaters and tilers......................
53,063
108,199
97,251
12,067
31,249
3,673
7,031
4,651
989
1,087
773
569
This shows barely 5 per cent of the building labor of the country
employed upon housing schemes. If the Government, with full
power to stop luxury building and to withdraw workers from the
less essential kinds of commercial building in order to put them on
housing, prefers to utilize only one-twentieth of the supply of labor
available, the unions feel that it is not fair to hold them responsible
for the resultant delay in the progress of the housing schemes.
As a less important indication of the same kind, it is pointed out
that there has been for some months past unemployment in the
building trade, which is increasing as the fall comes on. According
to the Labor Gazette, which publishes monthly reports upon unem
ployment, since last May the number unemployed in the building
trades has never been below 14,000, and in September it was 20,577.
Furthermore, the workers point out that the attitude of the Govern
ment toward the building guilds is proof that the Ministry of Health
is more anxious to make out a case against the unions than to supply
houses. The guilds are associations of the building workers which
have been organized to carry out building operations on the guild
rather than on the capitalistic system. Some sixty local guilds nave
already been formed, and in a number of localities they have organ
ized sufficiently to bid for housing contracts. The Ministry of
Health at first refused to permit the local authorities to accept the
bids put in by guilds on the ground that the latter, being new and
untried organizations, might not have sufficient credit to secure the
necessary materials, and the scheme might have to be abandoned.
The guilds then succeeded in making arrangements whereby the
wholesale cooperative societies guaranteed the supply of materials
and the cooperative insurance societies guaranteed the local authorities
against loss. Terms satisfactory to the Ministry of Health were then
worked out, but while sanctioning some contracts of this kind, the
ministry have declared that not more than 16 contracts may be let
to guilds. As the number of guilds is rapidly increasing, and as
they have expressed a warm desire to devote themselves to relieving
the housing shortage rather than to engage in ordinary commercial
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
u Housing, Sept. 13, 1920, p. 70.
[ 220 ]
HOUSING.
221
building, the unions ask why, if the desire of the ministry really
is to get on with the housing program, this discrimination should be
made ? There can be no question, they point out, about the ability
of the guilds to furnish the workers; they have a monopoly of the
building labor of their respective districts, and if a contract is let
to them, it will be put through, whatever delay may be. caused to
private building. The terms offered by the guilds are lower than
those of private contractors, since the element of profit making is
eliminated, and the cooperative societies insure the authorities
against loss. Why, then, limit so drastically the number of con
tracts which may be thus undertaken? To this query the ministry
responds in effect that the guilds are as yet experimental organiza
tions, and that the number of contracts let to them “ will be limited
until the working of the guild system has been shown to be satis
factory. ”
Conclusion.
is the present situation in regard to housing in England.
SUCH
With an estimated need of upward of 800,000 working-class
houses, as yet under 20,000 have been erected, and the increasing;
needs of the people are leading, in some districts, to the seizure of
unoccupied houses or public buildings, in which the homeless may
settle themselves with varying degrees of discomfort. In a number
of districts, the huts used by the army camps during the war have
been modified so as to form temporary dwellings, and a bill has been
introduced into Parliament, authorizing the »commandeering of
unoccupied houses suitable for working-class dwellings, and their
use for relieving the emergency. As to the outlook for the future,
the three main causes for delay assigned, the inherent slowness of
governmental action, the high cost of labor and materials, and the
dissensions between organized labor and the Government, all seem
likely to diminish in importance. As to the first, there is inevitably
a great deal of preliminary work involved in any large campaign,
and the time devoted to it can not be called lost, even though it
shows no immediately apparent results. The presumption is that
much of this has now been done, and that the output of houses will
be very much greater in the coming months than at any time here
tofore. As to the cost of labor and materials, it is reported that a
process of deflation has begun in England, as in the United States.
And as to the disagreements between labor and the Government,
they will probably be materially affected by the results of the build
ing guilds’ experiment. Should the guilds fail, the Government’s
contention will be enormously strengthened, and either the unions
will have to give up, or the quarrel will become acute and serious.
If, however, the guilds prove themselves able to put up houses
cheaply and expeditiously, the Government will have no reason for
refusing their offers, and contracts will inevitably be let to them in
increasing numbers. This will divert the building labor of the
country to the work of housing, so that the effect of any scarcity
of such labor which may exist will be felt mainly by the contractors
engaged on luxury and commercial building. This will transfer the
quarrel over dilution from the Government to the private builders,
and whatever developments it may then undergo, it will no longer
serve as a cause of delay to the housing program of the country.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[221 ]
• STRIKES.
Industrial Controversies in New York State, 1919-20.
HE Bureau of Mediation and Arbitration of the New York Indus
trial Commission publishes in the October Bulletin of the com
mission the following figures on strikes and lockouts in that
State for the years ending June 30, 1919 and 1920:
T
1919.
1920.
Number of strikes and lockouts.......................
168
240
Employees involved directly........................
208,952
334,188
Employees involved indirectly........................
2,006 ,
16,403
Aggregate days of working time lost................ 11, 346, 653 ” 10, 608, 483
1't will be noted that, while the number of strikes and lockouts
and the number of employees involved are considerably larger for
the latter year, the number of days lost was not so great in 1920
as in 1919. The lower figure for clays lost in 1920 is explained by
the bureau as due to the fact that the idle time in the majority of
disputes was of shorter duration than in 1919.
The principal objects or causes of disputes were as follows:
CAUSES OF IN D U STR IA L D ISPU TES IN N E W Y O R K STATE IN 1919-20.
Number
of
disputes.
Principal cause.
Increase in wages....................................
Shorter hours................... .......................
Trade unionism...................................
139
21
37
Number of
working
days lost.
3,803,755
1,877,851
4,010,988
The chief mediator states that the intervention of the bureau of
mediation ^ and conciliation in industrial controversies increased
considerably in the year ending June 30, 1920, over preceding years
and that the number of requests for intervention was proportionately
higher. The mediation policy of the bureau has met with success
in a large number of cases, due, it is stated, to the more uniform
cooperation of employers and employees.
222
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2221
W HAT S T A T E LA BO R BUREAUS A R E DOING.-
Colorado.1
A TENTATIVE bill is being drawn up by the governor of Colorado,
under which, if enacted, the State labor department will be
consolidated with the State industrial commission. The plan
contemplates the administration of the work of the bureau of mutes,
of mine inspectors, plumbing inspectors, boiler inspectors, and oil
inspectors, by the industrial commissioners. The employees of the
present department are, with the exception of the deputy State
labor commissioner, under the civil service.
Louisiana.
commissioner of labor and industrial statistics of Louisiana
recently caused to be published in a New Orleans paper a
warning to employers that the provisions of the Federal child labor
law would be strictly enforced, calling attention to the fact that
all industries are affected and noting the age limitations for child
labor and restrictions as to hours. He says: “ I hope it will not be
necessary to report violations to Washington, but violations are
going to be reported if they come to the attention of this office. ”
Upon assuming office the commissioner discontinued the custom
of collecting wages due workers who complained to the department
that they had been unpaid. No authority for such action was
found and complaints are now referred to the Legal Aid Society if
the amount involved is less than $50. A law authorizing collections
by the department of these unpaid wages is asked of the legislature.
In a recent interview with a representative of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics the commissioner outlined the following provisions which
he feels should be enacted, some of which are included in his tenth
biennial report submitted in May, 1920:
1. The creation of a minimum wage or industrial welfare com
mission.
2. The appointment of an industrial insurance commission and
est ablishment of a State fund for purposes of workmen’s compensation.
3. A system of accident reporting at the time of the accident.
4. A consolidation of city and State factory inspection and an
enlargement of the force.
5. The establishment of State free employment agencies.
6. The publication, for free distribution, of a pamphlet containing
all the labor laws of the State.
7. Authority to force the payment of wages due.
i
Source- Typewritten report, under date of Dee. 2, 1920, furnished by the deputy State labor ccmmissicner of Colorado.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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224
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LABO R R E V IE W .
Massachusetts2
rFH E following recommendations for legislation are made by the
1 Massachusetts department of labor and industries in its first
annual report:
Extension of the law regarding employment certificates to include
not only children 14 to 16 years of age who may be employed in
factories, workshops, manufacturing or mechanical establishments,
but also to include such children who outside of school hours may
engage in occupations other than those prohibited by statute which
now do not require certificates.
Extension of the law regarding educational certificates to cover
not only those 16 to 21 years of age who may be employed in factories,
workshops, manufacturing or mechanical establishments, but also
those who may be employed in other occupations, since such certi
ficates are used as a basis for determining night school attendance
of illiterate minors.
A law.increasing the penalty for illegal employment of minors.
A law to require hoods on grinding machines to be suitably con
structed of material to be approved by the department of labor and
industries so as to afford adequate protection to workers using emery
grinding wheels, etc.
A law requiring that first-aid, medical, and surgical chests be
provided in all mechanical establishments where machinery is used
and where the work done is often carried on under conditions causing
frequent injury to employees, as well as in factories and shops where
machinery is used for manufacturing or any other purposes, except
for elevators or for heating or hoisting apparatus, as now provided
under existing law.
A law requiring all transportation companies to pay their employees
weekly, the present law not covering certain forms of transportation.
Safety Progress.
The rules and regulations for safeguarding woodworking machinery,
which were recently approved by the Massachusetts Department of
Labor and Industries, went into effect on December 3, 1920. An
advisory committee of experts assisted the department in the prepara
tion of these provisions which have been published as Industrial
Bulletin No. 16.
As a result of an investigation made by the department into
accidents to street and steam railroad employees, it is planned to
appoint an industrial safety council to cooperate with such railroads
in order to decrease accidents to their employees.
An official investigation is now being made of the health hazards
and other working conditions of women in power laundries. The
findings in this study will be of assistance in determining whether
the laundry industry in Massachusetts requires special rules and
regulations.
2
Information famished by the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries under dates of Dec.
3 and 6, 1920.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[224]
W HAT
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Pennsylvania.3
SURVEY of industrial home work was made in October, 1920,
under the direction of the chairman of committees on women
and children in industry, of the Pennsylvania Industrial Board, to
check up a previous investigation of this subject. The findings of
this later survey show' that “ there was no increase or decrease in the
total number of home workers since the survey was made in 1917
and 1918, but there was a considerable shifting of occupations.”
Because of the many demands upon the Pennsylvania Industrial
Board in connection with woman and child wage earners, it has been
decided that steps be taken toward the creation, by legislative
action, of a bureau of women in industry and child welfare in the
department of labor and industry. “ It was agreed that the
industrial board continue its efforts" along this line by establishing
such a bureau as an administrative measure for the present purposes.”
The industrial relations committee of the board has been directed
to il (1) continue its study of the immigration problem, (2) to make a
preliminary study of labor camps in Pennsylvania and other States,
and (3) to investigate apprenticeship systems in certain States.”
A Comprehensive Safety Program.
Pennsylvania’s safety program may be summarized as follows:
1. The enforcement of at least 25 specific acts of legislature, notable among them
being the acts creating the department of labor and industry, the workmen’s com
pensation board, and bureau of rehabilitation.
2. The placing of responsibility upon employers as well as employees of the Com
monwealth, for complying with the requirements of 30 safety standards, and others
that are being developed from time to time.
3. Serving the employees, the State officials and manufacturers of safety devices
with a means of knowing and approving appliances which are safe for the industries
of the Commonwealth. "The approved devices, numbering 160, are classified as (a)
boiler appliances, (6) elevator appliances, (c) mechanical appliances, machine and
woodworking guards, (d) electrical appliances, (e) motion-picture appliances, (/) fire
prevention and protection appliances, and (g) miscellaneous safeguards and appli
ances as antislip treads, no-slip ladder shoes, ladders, etc. These are open to in
spection in the department museum.
4. Educational campaigns such as the safety congress and community-wide safety
programs, motion-picture entertainments, vocational clinics and the publication of
bulletins, posters and pamphlets that “ all that run may read,” in every industry in
the Commonwealth.
5. Cooperation with the department of public education in the instruction on
“ safety first” in our public*schools.
The work of the industrial board in approving safety appliances
has grown to such an extent as to necessitate the immediate increase
of facilities for testing and for housing the exhibits. The museum
now being used in this connection is overcrowded, and devices are
being submitted at an “ interesting rate.” The board reports that
its services to the Commonwealth vrill “ take on even greater propor
tions after the appearance of the first illustrated bulletin on approved
appliances.”
3
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry: Bulletin No. 6,1920 series, Report of the
activities of the industrial board; Bulletin No. 7,1920 series, What Pennsylvania is doing for safety and
safety codes; Bulletin of information issued by the (Pennsylvania) industrial board, October, 1920; and
printed statement furnished by the commissioner of labor and industry, entitled ‘ Activities of bureau
of rehabilitation, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,up to Nov. 1,1920. Harrisburg, Pa.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W .
New Safety Codes.
Safety codes now in operation are being revised, and new codes
are being formulated for head and eye protection, sanitation,
laundries, housing, and refrigeration. Through the efforts of the
commissioner of labor and industry a committee of 10 structural
engineers, architects, and building “experts have started to draft a
long delayed and much discussed building code for Pennsylvania,
which it is proposed to have administered by the industrial board.
The committee expects to adopt regulations that will protect human
life and render safe buildings of all kinds that are constructed in the
future in Pennsylvania.4
Although the commissioner of labor and industry of Pennsylvania
is a member of the national safety codes committee, he does not
advocate the State’s giving up the work of drafting standards or
losing its identity in the larger movement. He declares that—
T he best sta n d ard s for P e n n sy lv a n ia w ill alw ays bear th e “ m ad e in P e n n s y lv a n ia ”
stam p. T here is ever th e danger in pooling in terests of losing w h a t m ig h t be term ed
th e “ personal to u c h .” A n a tio n a l body is sure to becom e"a group of experts, in
w h ich th e tec h n ica l side w ill b e em phasized, n o t in te n tio n a lly , of course, a t th e
expense of th e h u m a n in te rest. Som ebody has said th a t sta n d ard s to be of th e m ax i
m um v a lu e m u st be 15 p e r c en t tec h n ica l and 85 p e r c en t h u m an . T he tech n ical or
legal m u st n e v er replace th e com m on-sense v iew p o in t—th is is one of th e best features
of th e P e n n sy lv a n ia standards.
B y th is we do n o t m ean th a t sta n d ard m aking m u st n o t rise above th e “ ru le of
t h u m b ” m ethod. T he tech n ical sp irit and th e legal th o u g h t m u st be incorporated
b u t only in so far as th e in d u stry in w hich th e sta n d ard is to a p p ly is e d u cated to th e
safety idea.
Report of Bureau of Rehabilitation.
From_January 1 to November 1, 1920, the bureau of rehabilitation
offered its services to 971 persons disabled through industrial acci
dents, 570 of whom, returned their questionnaires to that office,
thereby registering with the bureau.
Of th ese 570 re gistrants 553 are m ales a n d 17 are fem ales; 16 are colored, 97 are
illite rate , 322 n a tiv e -b o rn P e n n sy lv a n ia n s, 51 w ere born in th e U n ite d States, outside
of P e n n sy lv a n ia , a n d 197 w ere b o rn in foreign countries.
T he age groups of th e re gistrants are of considerable in te rest. Of th e to ta l 570
re gistrants 99 are u n d e r 21 years of age, 155 are betw een 21 an d 30, 119 are b e tw ee n 31
an d 40, 92 are betw een 41 an d 50, an d 105 are over 50 years of age.
. Among the persons registered the record of amputations or dis
ablement of parts of the body is as follows: 178 hands, 109 arms, 61
feet, 167 legs, and 48 cases of total blindness. Forty-three of the
registrants “ are handicapped by disability other than loss of use of
parts.”
The bureau of rehabilitation, through cooperation with employers
and registrants, has made possible the furnishing of 127 artificial
appliances to physically handicapped persons, and up to November
1, 1920, was paying weekly maintenance to 32 disabled persons who
were taking training courses, the amount varying according to the
financial need of the recipient, but not exceeding $15 per week.
T he P e n n sy lv a n ia B u reau of R e h a b ilita tio n is endeavoring to b u ild u p a ccu rate
e x p erien c e records for a com prehensive stu d y of th e problem of re h a b ilita tio n in
P e n n sy lv a n ia , c o in c id en t w ith its a c tiv itie s for definite an d genuine assistance of th e
disabled in d u stria l v ictim s. T he bureau, of course, cooperates in close con ju n ctio n
4 Pressrelease from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Nov. 25,1920.
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W HAT
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227
w ith th e w o rk m e n ’s com pensation b u re a u of th e S tate, w ith hospitals, insurance
carriers, c h arita b le organizations, em ployers, e ducational in stitu tio n s, labor organiza
tions, granges, a n d ev ery o th er agency w hich can b e of cooperative assistance in th e
g en u in e fulfillm ent of a u n iv ersally ap p lie d re h a b ilita tio n program .
Philippine Islands.5
Q N E of the most important functions of the Philippine Bureau of
Labor, according to its director, is the inspection of factories,
industrial establishments, and other centers through its division of
statistics for the purpose of seeming information on wages, hours of
labor, and sanitary and other working conditions.
In March, 1919, the bureau took up the inspection of industrial
machinery in the city of Manila in order to prevent labor accidents.
During the year 1919, 253 centers of labor have been inspected, 49 of which have
been duly warned of certain defects found in their machineries. Of the 49 which
were duly warned, 29 replied stating their conformity with the suggestions offered by
the mechanical inspector of this bureau.
Upon finishing the inspection of machinery in Manila similar work
will be carried on in the provinces.
Special Labor Register.
The bureau announces that it has recently added to its numerous
activities a special register of laborers, with a view to eradicating the
prevailing anomaly created by workingmen in contracting pecuniary
obligations with certain employers as advance payment for future
services which they do not render at all in many cases, as they leave
their former employment to accept another in other centers of labor
to the detriment of former employers. This work will be carried on
by correspondence.
Inierisiancl Migration.
The Philippine Islands have been divided into 12 recruiting dis
tricts for the purpose of handling successfully the intermigration of
labor. The Bureau of Labor has an employment agency at the head
of each district, which is established not only to furnish employment
in gainful occupations but to recruit emigrants with their families to
settle and cultivate the immense tracts of public agricultural land in
Mindanao and other almost unpopulated places where homesteads
are easily acquired.
In addition to the circulation of a large amount of propaganda
literature to put before the workers the advantages of abandoning
congested places and migrating to vacant public lands and the oppor
tunities of eventually becoming home owners, a committee of propa
ganda has been appointed. This body is composed of influential per
sons who work without compensation in conjunction with the bureau’s
recruiting agents. It is reported that from the middle of the year
1909 to December 31, 1919, approximately 35,743 emigrants have
been recruited and distributed by the Bureau of Labor.
5 Source: Letter under date of Oct. 18, 1920, and inclosures from the Director of the Philippine Bureau
of Labor, Manila.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M ONTHLY
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Industrial Disputes.
i
The law declares that it shall be the duty of the Bureau of Labor
“ to secure the settlement of difference between employer and laborer,
between master and servant, and to avert strikes and lockouts, acting
as arbitrator between the parties interested * *
The director
of the bureau reports that “ In spite of the unsettled conditions in the
world to-day, labor agitation in the Philippine Islands is free from
radicalism as being observed in other parts of the world and is con
fined mostly to the adjustment of fair wages to meet the ever-increas
ing cost of living and other minor issues. The relation between cap
ital and labor in these islands can not be more harmonious than at the
present time.”
Texas.8
nPHE enforcement of labor laws is the principal duty of the Texas
A Bureau of Labor Statistics, which strives to improve working
conditions by securing the cooperation of employers. In certain
cases, however, prosecution is necessary. In two years there were
143 prosecutions for violation of the 54-hour week for women, 97 in
connection with the child-labor law, and 11 with reference^ to the
employment-agency law. There is considerable public indifference
as to the enforcement of the State labor laws and a failure to take
such legislation seriously, but the bureau is endeavoring to educate
the people in this regard by means of circulars and bulletins.
Approximately 15,000 establishments are subject to inspection.
Inspectors are usually accorded a courteous reception and “ it is not
uncommon to have requests made for inspection.” Texas has no
safety code fixed by law. In two years 1,694 inspections were made,
714 of which being only partial anil 980 complete, the latter covering787 places.
The bureau is not authorized to settle wage claims but has adjusted
a number of these cases through correspondence with employers.
The 9-hour day, 54-hour week, law for women is being violated to
quite an extent. The commissioner recommends, however, in his
annual report, an 8-hour day and a 48-hour week for women.
It is reported that parents frequently make false statements re
garding the ages of their children and child labor menaces education.
There is no way at present of checking up work permits; children of
any age are allowed to work from June 1 to September 1, and there
is no prohibition of night work for them. Public objection is made
to both the child-labor lav/ and the compulsory school-attendance
law because they include Mexican and Negro children. The com
missioner recommends that no work permits be issued to children
under 15; that no child under 18 be allowed to work more than eight
hours or between 7 p. m. and 6 a. m.; and that night-messenger
service be limited to persons over 21 years of age. He also recom
mends the repeal of the statute making violation of the child-labor
law a misdemeanor and the substitution of a tax of 10 per cent on
s Data taken from, manuscript copy of tlie Sixth Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Labor Statistics
of Texas, 1919-20,
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WHAT STATE LABOR BUREAUS ARE DOING.
229
business profits and the consolidation of the child-labor and schoolattendance laws.
The report suggests that many employment agencies are operating
illegally and without license, and that some of them are defrauding
employers by placing labor, enticing it away, and placing it again.
This is also said to be the practice of some licensed agencies. The
reports of private employment agencies are not regarded as reliable
and there is no report of fees paid by employers. There are now only
three free municipal employment offices in the State. The commis
sioner recommends that private employment agencies be abolished
and State free employment agencies be established to operate under
the State bureau of labor statistics.
Woman’s Division.
This division keeps in close contact with the women’s organiza
tions of the State, which are active and strong, and sends out litera
ture to interest the women of Texas in working conditions and labor
legislation and its enforcement. The division has recently made a
survey of woman workers in Fort Worth 7 and is now engaged on a
child labor survey in Austin and Corpus Christi and on a complete
industrial survey in El Paso.
Washington.8
I JNDER, the Smith-Hughes Act vocational education is beginning
^
to be substituted for apprenticeship in the State of Washington.
Some of the first-class cities of the State have taken advantage of the
subsidy available under the new law and have established day-unit
trade classes for the purpose of fitting the pupils for more remunera
tive trade jobs when they leave school. The classes run for six
hours on school days, one-half of the time being taken up in practical
work on a production basis. To enter these classes boys must be 14
years old and must have come to a definite decision regarding their
vocation.
The night school classes subsidized by the State board for voca
tional education must be of the ‘'trade extension type,” that is, the
pupils are required to take up work which will aid them in their day
avocations. Boys must be at least 16 years of age to enter such
classes.
P a rt-tim e w ork is being giv en in Spokane d u rin g th e regular school year to c o m p o si'
to r’s a p p ren tic e s in th e p rin tin g trad e on tw o afternoons a w eek, from 3 to 5 o ’clock,
m aking a to tal of four hours a w eek. T his w ork is h e a rtily endorsed b y th e unions; in
fact, it was a t th e ir suggestion th a t th e T y pot he tee dock th e boy for double tim e w hen
he is a b se n t from these classes w ith o u t a bona fide excuse. A tten d a n ce is com pulsory
because it. is re q u ire d b y th e em ploying printers, an d th e boys are p a id for th e ir tim e
w hile in school.
7 This report is summarized in the Women-in-industry section of this issue of the M o n t h l y L ' a b o k
R eview , pp. 157 and 158.
8 Source: F o u rth Biennial Report of the Industrial Welfare Commission of the State of Washington,
1919-20. p. 36.
Olympia, 1920.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
Difficulties In Child Labor Law Administration In Washington.9
The Washington Industrial Welfare Commission reports that the
child-labor laws enacted in that State prior to the approval of the
minimum wage act are not satisfactorily administered. Work per
mits for boys under 14 years of age and for girls under 16 years of age
are issued by the superior court judges of the counties. As these
judges have no means of investigating, it is impossible for them to
handle this work properly. Sometimes the burden is shifted to the
probation officer of the county, who is also without means of proper
investigation. These provisions result in a conflict with the Com
mission’s full legal authorization ‘'to determine conditions of labor
for children under 18 years of age.” Certain minor orders have been
formulated to harmonize with the Federal child-labor law and laws
previously placed on the State’s statute books.
No intensive child-labor survey has been made in Washington
within the last two years. The need of such a survey and of a new
code has led to inviting the National Child Labor Committee of
New York to make an investigation in Washington to secure reliable
data upon which to base a new children’s code.
9
Source. Fourth Biennial Report of th e Industrial W elfa re Commission of th e S ta te of Washington,
1919-20. p. 28. Olympia, 1920.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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C U R R E N T N O T E S O F IN T E R E S T T O L A B O R .
Success of Soldier Settlement Plans in Canada.1
Canadian plans for the settlement of returned soldiers on the
iand seem to be working out successfully. Up to the end of
September, 1920, there were 7,987 “ soldier grant entries” of free
land of 160 acres each, and it is estimated that one-half of the soldiers
taking up these acreages also availed themselves of their civilian
right to a further 160 acres of free land, if such land is available near
a railway. This is an average of 240 acres per soldier, or a total of
approximately 1,916,880 acres thus occupied.
Under the soldier settlement act of Canada, which became oper
ative in February, 1918, provision is made for long-term loans, at a
low rate of interest, which enable prospective soldier settlers to pur
chase land and obtain the necessary stock and equipment. Appli
cants for land who are otherwise qualified but who lack the experi
ence requisite for successful farming may be recommended for train
ing either at preliminary training centers operated by the board or
on farms and possibly later through a supplementary course at an
agricultural college or school.
There was an approximate increase of $1,500,000 in the amount
of loans to soldier settlers made by the Canadian soldier settlement
board during September, 1920. The total loans approved to October
2 of the same year amounted to $78,285,752, the number of settlers’
loans being 19,526.
The following were the purposes for which loans were made, and
the amounts: To purchase land, $42,631,096; to remove encum
brances, $2,169,466; for permanent improvements, $8,991,015; for
stock and equipment, $24,494,175.
The distribution of settlors who have received loans, according to
Provinces, is: Prince Edward Island, 291; Nova Scotia, 392; Que
bec, 454; New Brunswick, 491; Ontario, 1,374; British Columbia,
2,991; Manitoba, 3,233; Saskatchewan, 4,765; Alberta, 5,625.
Out of 56,974 applicants for the privileges of the soldier settle
ment act, 41,161 have been approved by the board.
The economic gain to the Dominion as a result of the settlement of
these large acreages will be enormous. It is estimated that the new
acreage to be used for wheat growing is more than half of what the
entire wheat area of the Dominion was two decades ago, and it is
expected that the additional wheat crop will increase the national
wealth approximately $50,000,000 a year.
Profit-Sharing Scheme in Certain British Cotton Mills.
IT IS reported (Nov. 16, 1920) by the United States ambassador at
* London that the amalgamated Cotton Mills Trust (Ltd.), which
controls about 15 cotton spinning and manufacturing concerns in
Lancashire, employing over 15,000 operatives, has put into effect a
1 Pata taken from press release of Oct. 22,1920, and a letter of Nov. 15,1920, from the director of informa
tion of the Canadian soldier settlement hoard, Ottawa; from the Christian Science Monitor (Boston) for
Oct. 25, 1920; and from an article on “ Soldier settlement plans in Canada,” in Monthly Labor R eview
for June, 1919, pp. 52-58.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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231
CURRENT NOTES OF INTEREST TO LABOR.
232
profit-sharing scheme by which the employees may invest their
savings in a company loan yielding a minimum interest of 5 per cent
per annum, free of income tax. Whenever the common stock of
the company draws a higher rate than 5 per cent free of income tax
then the employees’ loan will also earn an equivalent rate of interest.
Central Arbitration Board for Settlement of Labor Disputes in Sweden.1
from His Majesty’s minister at Stockholm, dated
A DISPATCH
October 2, reports that, in accordance with the decision of the
Riksdag, a central arbitration board for the settlement of labor dis
putes has been appointed in Sweden. This board consists of seven
members; three of these are appointed by the Government and are
neutral, representing the interests neither of employers nor of work
people. Of the remaining four members, two are appointed by the
Council of the Employers’ Association, and two by the Workmen’s
National Council.
The object of the board is to render it easier for workmen and
their employers to have collective agreements correctly interpreted,
thus obviating recourse to lockouts or strikes. Appeals to the board
are to be voluntary, and the decision of the board will be final.
Creation of Department of Labor in Switzerland.2
F
ACCORDANCE with a decree passed by the Federal Assembly
on October 8, a Federal labor department is to be set up in
Switzerland as a branch of the federal department of economics.
The functions of the new organization are, in general, the prepara
tion of legislative measures relating to labor and the regulation of
labor (including the placing of labor and measures for dealing with
unemployment) ; it has also to carry out duties which devolve upon
Switzerland in consequence of adhesion to the international labor
office.
.
.
.
With a view to the preparation and administration of national
legislation and to giving effect to international conventions concern
ing labor legislation, and also with the object of preventing and
settling labor disputes, the department is specifically charged with
the duty of studying conditions prevailing in industry (especially
“ home industries” ), in handicrafts and in commerce, watching the
labor market and ascertaining existing standards of living. For
these objects it can, where necessary, demand the cooperation of
other public administrative bodies, employment exchanges and trade
organizations, and employers and employed may be required to
furnish wages data and other information.
The date upon which the decree enters into force will be fixed
later, as it is subject to the referendum, the requisite number of
demands for which must be obtained by January 11, 1921.
1 From the Labor Gazette, London, November, 1920, p. 599.
.
, „ . „
2 From the Labor Gazette, London, November, 1920, p. 601. Source: Fcuille Federale, Oct. 13,1920. Cf.
article on proposed labor law of Switzerland, In M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for May, 1920, pp. 182-185.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[232:
IM M IG R A TIO N .
Restriction of Immigration to Canada.
N ORDER in council dated November 29, 1920, and published
. in the Canada Gazette for December 4 (pp. 2180, 2181), sets
aside temporarily the provisions and requirements of para
graphs 1 to 3, inclusive, of the order in council of May 9, 1910, as
affecting immigrants of the mechanic, artisan, and laborer classes,
whether skilled or unskilled, and substitutes therefor the following
provision, the purpose being to protect these classes of laborers in
Canada who, according to evidence furnished by the minister of
immigration and colonization, are finding it difficult to obtain steady
employment.
A
1. No immigrant of the mechanic, artisan, or laborer classes, whether skilled or
unskilled, shall be allowed to land in Canada unless he possesses in his own right
money to the amount of $250 and in addition transportation to his destination in
Canada.
2 If an immigrant of the mechanic, artisan or laborer classes, whether skilled or
unskilled, is accompanied by his family or any member thereof, the foregoing regula
tion shall not apply to such family or members thereof, if the head of the family possess
in his own right, in addition to transportation for his family to destination in Canada,
a further sum of money equivalent to $125 for every member of the family of the age
of 18 years or upwards and $50 for each child of the age of 5 years and under the age
of 18 years.
3. The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall be applicable as from the
15th day of December, 1920, to immigrants of the classes herein specified, who land
in Canada from foreign contiguous territory, and to other immigrants of the classes
specified who land in Canada from other countries on or after the 1st day of January,
1921.
4. Unless otherwise ordered these regulations shall remain in effect until the 31st
day of March, 1921, and on the expiration of these regulations the provisions and
requirements of paragraphs 1 to 3 inclusive of the Order in Council of 9th May, 1910
(P. C. 924), shall again become operative to immigrants of the mechanic, artisan and
laborer classes.
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233
P U B L IC A T IO N S
R E L A T IN G
TO
LABOR.
Official— United States.
Ca liforn ia (L os A n g e l e s ). —Social
Service Commission. Report, July 1, 1919, to
July 1, 1920. Los Angeles, 1920. 29 pp.
D istrict of C o lu m bia .—Board of Commissioners. Annual report, year ended June 30,
1920. Vol. III. Report of the health officer. Washington, 1920. 242 pp.
The part of the report devoted to the eight-hour law for women shows that during
the year there were 2,010 establishments in the District subject to the provisions oi
the law. During the year 12,794 inspections were made, 123 complaints acted upon,
and 23 cases referred for prosecution for violation of the law.
G e o r g ia .—State
Vocational Board. Georgia State plan for vocational education under
the Smith-Hughes law. Atlanta, 1919. 62 pp. No. 8.
Includes in addition to plans for student training an outline of courses for the train
ing of teachers in industrial subjects.
------------ Plans and aims for vocational school work in Georgia. Atlanta, 1917. 32
pp. No. 1.
M a ssa ch u setts .—Department
of Labor and Industries. Division of industrial safety
Rules and regulations for safeguarding woodworking machinery. Boston, 1920
10 pp. Industrial bulletin No. 16.
Min n e so ta .—Department of Labor and Industries. Court decisions, Attorney General’s
opinions, Department of Labor advice, relative to Workmen’s Compensation Act
from date when act was effective to July, 1920. St. Paul, 1920. 220 pp. Bulletin
No. 17.
This pamphlet supersedes earlier bulletins, setting forth the decisions and opinions
on the State Compensation Act, some of which were out of print. Rulings that
have been superseded by later decisions of the Supreme Court have been discarded.
The subject matter is arranged under headings as Constitutionality and general
spirit of interpretations, Territorial scope, Employment coverage, etc. A page is
given to the discussion of the functions of the department of labor and industries in
its relation to the compensation act. Two decisions are also appended in which the
supreme court of the State affirmed a judgment in favor of a v/oman who contracted
tuberculosis on account of improper working conditions, and another in which the
same court affirmed the action of the subordinate court in refusing damages in an
alleged case of occupational disease where the evidence failed to show any causal
connection.
N ew Y ork (C ity ) .—Department
of Education. Bureau of Attendance. Report, July
31, 1915, to July 31, 1918. [New York, 1919.] 294 pp.
An account of an investigation covering 1,000 newsboys to determine whether the
age at which boys might sell newspapers should be raised. Other sections are entitled
Employment certificates and Continuation schools. The following table shows how
the number of certificates granted to children between the ages of 14 and 15 years
decreased while those granted to children 15 to 16 years of age increased about 50 per
cent, due in part at least to changes in the requirements.
234
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[234]
PU B L IC A T IO N S R ELA TIN G TO LABOR.
NUM BER
235
OF CHILDREN IN NEW YORK CITY RECEIVING EMPLOYMENT CERTIFI
CATES, BY AGE AND GRADE, 1915 TO 1918.
Age.
Grade.
Year.
14 to 15 years. 15 to 16 years.
1915-16...............................................
1916-17................................................
1917-18................................................
26,099
23,521
19', 432
Seventh.
18,260
18,624
27,455
16,801
12,735
10,374
Eighth.
Graduates,
high school
and others.
9,191
6; 847
5,670
18,367
22,563
30,843
Canal .—Governor. Annual report for the fiscal year ended June SO, 1920.
Washington, 1920. 380 pp.
P anam a
Included in the general administrative report and the reports of the various depart
ments of the Canal Zone are some sections of interest to labor, such as statistics on
employment, housing, wages of American and of West Indian employees, and living
costs. On June 30, 1920, it is stated, the total number of employees of the Panama
Canal and the Panama Railroad Co. was 21,631 as compared with 20,361 on June 30,
1919. The average hourly wage of the West Indian employees is shown to have
increased from 10 cents on May 1, 1914, to 23 cents on July 1, 1920. The cost of living
for these employees increased 87.39 per cent over July 1, 1914.
P ennsylvania .—Department of Labor and Industry. Report of the activities of the
industrial board. Harrisburg, 1920. 45 pp. Bulletin No. 6, Volume VII,
series of 1920.
Reference to this bulletin is made on page 225 of this issue of the Monthly Labor
R eview .
—---------- What Pennsylvania is doing for safety and safely codes. Harrisburg, 1920.
20 pp. Bulletin No. 7, Volume VII, series of 1920.
Data from this bulletin are noted on page — of this issue of the R eview .
S outh D akota.—Industrial Commissioner. Report for twelve months ending
30, 1920. [Pierre, 1920.] 48 pp.
June
This report is noted more fully on page 183 of this issue of the R eview .
Washington.—Industrial Welfare Commission. Fourth biennial report, 1919-1920.
Olympia, 1920. 68 pp.
Sections of this report are noted on pages 229 and 230 of this number of the
R eview .
U nited Sta t e s . —Bureau of Efficiency.
Washington, 1920. 26 pp.
Report, November 1, 1919, to October 31, 1920.
Includes such topics as Duplications of work, Standardization of salaries based on
classification of service, and Retirement of employees.
----- Council of National Defense. Report for fiscal year ended June 30, 1920. Wash-
ington, 1920. 108 pp.
This report discusses: High cost of living, Industrial readjustment, Labor re
sources, Farm labor, and the National War Labor Board.
----- Department of Commerce. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Industrial
machinery in France and Belgium. Washington, 1920. 61 pp. Special agents
series No. 204•
One section is devoted to industrial conditions after the war.
----- Department of Labor. Eighth annual report of the Secretary of Labor for the fiscal
year ended June SO, 1920. Washington, 1920. 269 pp.
Digests and excerpts of certain sections of this report appear on pages 198 to 201 of
this issue of the R e v i e w .
2 4 9 3 3 ° — 2 1 -------1 6
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236
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
U n it e d S t a t e s .—Department
of Labor. Children’s Bureau. Status of State bureaus
of child hygiene, by Anna E. Rude. Reprinted from the October, 1920, issue of the
American Journal of Public Health Washington, 1920. 8 pp.
A total of 34 States now carry on child-welfare activities on a State-wide plan.
------------ Women’s Bureau. The new position of women in American industry.
Washington, 1920. 158 pp. Bulletin No. 12.
This bulletin is reviewed on pages 153 to 157 of th is issue of the M onthly
L abor R e v ie w .
----- Department of the Interior.
Bureau of Education. Progress in the preparation
of industrial teachers. Washington, July, 1920. 28 pp. Industrial education
circular No. 5.
This is the report of a “ conference of men from institutions in the Mississippi Valley
engaged in training teachers of the manual arts and industrial education,” called by
the Commissioner of Education in response to a formal request made by repre
sentatives of the institutions concerned, and held at the University of Cincinnati,
December 4, 5, 6, 1919. The chapter heads are: I. An experiment in develop
ing a course iD foreman training; II. Progress in the development of plans for pre
paring teachers of industrial subjects; III. The itinerant teacher of special subjectin rural and village schools; IV. Provision for the training of vocational teachers in
the Army; V. Examination and certification of special teachers; VI. Practice teach
ing; and VII. Training teachers of vocational and industrial work not now federally
aided.
------------------- The university extension movement. Washington, 1920. 124 pp.
----
Bulletin, 1919, No. 84.
----- Bureau of Mines. Coke-oven accidents in the United States during the
calendar year 1919. Washington, 1920. 25 pp. Technical paper 266.
A brief summary of this report is given on pages — to —-of this issue of the R e v ie w .
----- Federal Board for Vocational Education. Trade and industrial education for girls
and women. Washington, 1920. 106 pp. Bulletin No . 58. Trade and industrial
series No. 15.
This bulletin is issued as an official answer to the many inquiries concerning mat
ters of policy in trade and industrial education for girls and women, and concerns the
application of the provisions of the vocational education act of 1917 to them.
As a result of the great increase in the number of women in industry during the
war, attention has been drawn to the need of increasing their efficiency by vocational
training, the lack of which prevents many from earning a normal standard wage. It
is stated that the benefits accruing to industry through such training will be improved
product, increased output, better service rendered, and a stabilized working force.
The benefits to the workers will be the better wage, improvement in the standards
of living, and fuller participation in civic affairs. “ Society will benefit automatically
by the recognition of the service rendered by the women wage earner or the woman
home maker, and by the recognition of her right to participate in educational programs
as they relate to her labor.”
Part II is entitled “ Ways and means of establishing and operating a program,”
and includes chapters on Organization for administration to secure the benefits of
appropriations, Funds available for distribution, Special provisions for trade and
industrial education, and Types of vocational schools and training agencies.
The bulletin contains a classified bibliography on women in industry.
----- Treasury Department. Bureau of Internal Revenue. Report of commissioner for
year ended June 80, 1920. Washington, 1920. 230 pp.
Includes the report of the child-labor tax division for the first full year of its opera
tion . It is stated that since the law does not permit taxation until the company subject
to the tax completes its fiscal year, with an additional 60 days for filing returns, the full
results of this law do not yet appear, and little tax could be collected during 1920.
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PU B LIC A TIO N S R E L A T I N G TO LABOR.
237
During the past year Federal age certificates were issued by child-labor tax officers in
fixe States and in one State by school authorities. In 37 States the bureau accepts an
employment certificate or other similar document attesting the age of the child, issued
under State child-labor laws. Important work was done in spreading a broader
knowledge of the requirements of the law among employers and those charged with
enforcing the law.
U n ited S t a t e s .—Treasury
Department. Public Health Service. A study of the rela
tion of diet to pellagra incidence in seven textile-mill communities of South Carolina
in 1916, by Joseph Goldberger, G. A. Wheeler, and Edgar Sydenstricker. Washing,
ton, 1920. 69 pp. Reprint No. 587 from the Public Health Reports, March 19,
1920, pp. 648-718.
----- ----- ----- Keeping tab on sickness in the plant, by Dean K. Brundage and Bernavd
J. Newman. Washington, 1920. 12 pp. Reprint No. 589from the Public Health
Reports, April 9, 1920, pp. 881-890.
This bulletin discusses the necessity for sickness records in industrial plants, points
out in some detail what sickness records should show, and states that the United States
Public Health Service hopes to render service in this respect to industrial establish
ments in two general ways: “ To assist plants in keeping and interpreting sickness
records for their own use, and to ren d er the experience of these plants available for each
other, as well as for any p la n t or individual interested in the prevention of sickness
among wage earners.”
------------ —— Pellagra incidence in relation to sex, age, season} occupation, and
“disabling sickness” in seven cotton-mill villages of South Carolina during 1916, by
Joseph Goldberger, G. A. Wheeler, and Edgar Sydenstricker. Washington, 1920.
15 pp. Reprint No. 601from the Public Health Reports, July 9,1920, pp. 1650-1664.
In a population of 4,399, a total of 115 definite cases, representing a rate of 26.1 per
1.000, was recorded. The addition of 73 “ suspect” cases brings the rate up to 42.7 per
1.000. The incidence of the disease is shown to be many times greater in females than
in males, and considerable greater among nonmill workers than among mill workers.
The season of onset appeared to be confined to the period from April to September,
inclusive.
------------------- Public Health Reports, vol. 85, No. 46. Washington, November 12,1920.
The results of a study of economic factors in pellagra incidence are presented in
th is number of the Public Health Reports. A review of a previous report relating to
th is study was given in the M onthly L abor R ev ie w for February, 1919, pp. 212-226.
At that time, although the low family income was recognized as accompanying high
pellagra incidence, it was not determined to what extent the low income was a cause
or a result of the sickness. Further study of these same data has resulted in the con
clusion that the most potent factors influencing pellagra incidence in the villages
studied were (a) low family income and (b) unfavorable conditions regarding the
availability of food supplies.
------------------- Recent work on pellagra, by Carl Voegtlin. Washington, 1920. 20 pp.
Reprint No. 597 from the Public Health Reports, June 18, 1920, pp. 1485-1452.
Official— Foreign Countries.
A ustralia (N e w S outh W a l e s ). —Board
Sydney, 1920. xv, 816 pp.
of Trade. Apprenticeship in industries.
This report considers among other subjects the legal incidents of modern apprentice
ship and apprenticeship as a phase of national education. The probable effect of
the provisions of the new industrial arbitration act, 1912-1918, as bearing upon appren
ticeship is also discussed. One chapter is devoted to proposals for a constructive policy
and another includes suggested regulations to be made and enacted under the pro
visions of the new industrial arbitration act.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
238
A u stra lia (S outh A u stralia ).— Inspector offactories.
Report, 1919. 15 pp. No. 61.
Shows number of hours per week being worked in specified trades and gives a
table of average wages paid in certain trades. States that the printing trade secured
through the industrial court a decision fixing the living wage at 12s. 6d. (|3.04, par)
per day effective on June 25, 1920; also that the basic living wage for females as a
result of an appeal to the court by employees engaged in cardboard box and carton
making was increased from 27s. 6d. ($6.69, par) to 30s. ($7.30, par) per week. A table
shows that in 1,833 factories there were 20,538 employees, of whom 6,026 were women
and 1,519 were children between 14 and 16 years of age. A total of 12,6904 hours
overtime was worked by 860 women and children, or an average of 14.8 hours each.
One hundred and twenty-four accidents w'ere reported during the year, 32 (25.8 per
cent) of these being in iron foundries and other metal working factories. The table
of average weekly wrages is reproduced in part on page 122 of this issue of the
R
e v ie w
.
----- (T a sm a n ia ). —Government Statistician. Statistics for the year 1918-19. [Hobart)
1919. viii, 464, 15, 7 pp.
Gives a table of accidents on railroads and street railways, showing a total of 5 killed
and 29 injured during the year. The total number of persons employed by these com
panies was 2,004 and the total amount of -wages paid was £344,988 ($1,678,884.10, par).
A table shows the average retail prices of provisions and other articles at Hobart
during the year 1918 and certain preceding years. There is a statistical summary
showing the operation of friendly societies, which in 1918 numbered 19 with 197
branches and a total of 22,283 benefit members. The expenditures of these societies
amounted to £85,527 ($416,217.15, par), of which £19,953 ($97,101.27, par) was for
sick benefits and £27,121 ($131,984.35) was for funeral benefits.
C eylon (C o lum bo ). —Public
Health Department. Report, 1919. Columbo, 1920.
43 pp.
The section on cost of living contains tables showing the rise in price of foodstuffs,
etc., 1914-1920; the increase in cost of living in Columbo, 1914-1920; and the increase
in house rent in Columbo, 1914-1920. According to the report the cost of parboiled
rice increased 153 per cent and of raw rice 127 to 177 per cent, according to quality.
The price of sugar increased 183 per cent; potatoes, 66 per cent; flour, 66 per cent; eggs
40 per cent; and beef, 20 per cent. Rents increased during the same period by 32 to
33 per cent for tenement houses, in which most of the working class live, and 39 per
cent for small houses, such as are used by the more highly paid mechanics.
—Minisûre de VHygiene, de l’Assistance et de la Prévoyance Sociale. Rapport
du conseil supérieur des habitations à bon marché pour les années 1914-1919. Paris,
1920. 41 pp-
F rance.
A report of the housing activities in France of governmental agencies and of the
various cooperative and credit societies for the years 1914-1919.
G rea t B r it a in .— Board of Education.
London, 1920. 2S1 pp. Cmd. 995.
Annual report of the chief medical officer, 1919.
This is the twelfth report of the school medical service. The work which was
originally planned to cover only medical inspection now includes, in addition to that
medical and dental treatment; hygiene, physical training and open-air education,
the provision of school meals where necessary; special schools for blind, deaf, defec
tive, and subnormal children; the control of infective disease in schools and estab
lishment of nursery schools. In England and Wales there were 1,630 medical officers
and dentists arid 2,027 nurses employed in the year ending March 31, 1920.
----- Department of Overseas Trade. Report for the year 1919 on the conditions and
prospects of British trade with China. London, 1920. 61 pp. Map. Cmd. 853.
A tabular statement of wages of skilled and unskilled labor in Shanghai in 1919,
taken from pages 52 and 53, appears on pages 120 and 121 of th is issue of the R e v ie w .
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G r e a t B r i t a i n .—Home
Office. Fencing and safety 'precautions for cotton spinning
and weaving machinery. Part I. Opening, blowing, and card-room processes. Part
II. Cotton spinning and doubling processes. London, 1920. 16, IS pp. Illustra
tions. Safety Pamphlet Nos. 4 and 5.
------------ Chief inspector of mines. Mines and quarries: General report with statistics,
for 1919. Part II.—Labor. London, 1920. Pp. 203-248. Cmd. 1007.
During the year 1919, 1,270,050 persons were employed at mines and quarries
under the coal-mines act, the metalliferous-mines act, and the quarries act in the
United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. Of these 57,076 were employed in or about
quarries and 21,661 under or above ground at metalliferous mines. A total of 995,012
persons were working underground in mines or inside at quarries. Of a total of
275,038 persons working above ground at mines or outside at quarries, 9,956 were
women. Most of these were employed at coal mines. Of employees under 16 years
of age, 54,086 males were employed underground in mines, and 27,886 males and
656 females above ground at mines and outside at quarries. An increase of 13,861
in the total number of employees under the quarries act, 840 under the metalliferousmines act, and 182,446 under the coal-mines act as compared with the previous year
is noted.
------------ Committee on workmen’s compensation. Minutes of evidence, 30th July,
1919, to 28th May, 1920. 2 vols. London, 1920. 517, 486 pp. Cmd. 908, 909.
----- Ministry of Labor. Industrial Court. Decisions. Vol. II. Nos. 228 to 361.
London, 1920. 278 pp.
----- Industrial Fatigue Research Board.
A study of output in silk weaving during the
winter months. London, 1920. 69 pp. Report No. 9. Textile series No. 3.
This study relates to two silk-weaving factories, one making plain and the other
fancy silks, in which the output of certain weavers was studied in an effort to determine
the effect of fatigue upon output, weaving being the occupation in which the greatest
amount of individual effort is required. Light, atmospheric conditions, lost time,
inefficiency, and variations in the quality of material used, all are additional factors
affecting output. Some of the conclusions drawn by the committee were that 41hour and 4J-hour spells of employment are too long; that in general fatigue acquired by
the average worker is not carried over to the next day; that the “ Monday effect,”
increased by the lower weaving qualities of materials on Monday morning, owing to
their standing during the week-end in reduced temperature, was noticeable; that a
gradual increase in output occurs from December to March, due to decreasing amount
of artificial light used, and that within a temperature range of 58° to 65° F. output tends
to increase with temperature.
----- Ministry of Labor. National trade advisory committee. Reports upon openings
in industry suitablefor disabled sailors and soldiers. The leather-goods trade (includ
ing general saddlery and harness work, retail trade). London, 1920. 13 pp. No. VI
(revised).
------------ Wages and Arbitration Department. General awards of the committee on
production, interim court of arbitration and industrial court relating to the engineering
andfoundry trades, together with awards in special district cases and a number of rela
tive agreements and decisions. London, 1920. 125 pp.
The committee on production was appointed in February, 1915, with a view to
securing the maximum output in engineering and shipbuilding establishments engaged
on Government work and later was charged with the additional duty of arbitrating
wage disputes. After the armistice this committee ceased to exist, and its place was
taken by the interim court of arbitration, which in turn was superseded by the indus
trial court in 1919. This report includes the awards made by these three bodies, the
decisions being arranged in chronological order.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
G r e a t B r i t a i n . —Parliament.
House of Commons. Select committee on pensions.
Report, together with proceedings of the committee, minutes of evidence, and appendixes.
London, 1920. xxvi, 217 pp. 185.
----- Privy Council.
Medical Research Council. The effects of alcohol and some other
drugs during normal andfatigued conditions. London, 1920. 34 pp.
This investigation was carried out on two subjects, the greater number of tests
being on one subject who had never, as far as she knew, taken alcohol previously in
any form. The effects of the drugs fell into two antagonistic groups, alcohol and
chloroform on one side as against strychnine, opium, and tea on the other. Alcohol
produces a distinct loss of precision in the “ dotting” test, a loss of power of recall in
memory tests, and a great reduction in the rate of alternation of phases in the “ wind
m ill” illusion, a test said to be a very delicate index of drug effects, while opium
acts in a precisely opposite manner in all these tests.
----- Treasury. Employment of ex-service men in Government offices on 1st July, 1919,
and 1st October, 1920. London, 1920. 1 p. Cmd. 1033.
On October 1, 1920, 84,266 ex-service men, of whom 18,609 were disabled, held
permanent positions in the Government offices, and 43,683 held temporary positions.
Of these 19,850 were disabled.
------------ Staffs of Government departments on 1st October, 1920. London, 1920. 2 pp.
Cmd. 1032.
On October 1, 1920, the total number of employees in the Government departments
was 366,243, a decrease of 1,783 as compared with the number employed the previous
month.
----- (L ondon ). —County Council. Report to 31st March, 1919. London [1920].
325 pp.
This report differs from the annual report in that it is a survey of the work of the
council from the time of its formation.
Chapter V II traces official action as to the housing of the working classes from 1851,
when the first legislative action was taken to deal with the evils of overcrowding and
insanitary conditions. It is stated that the two bills passed in that year, although
subsequently altered and amended, still form the basis of much of the existing legis
lation on the subject. The chapter closes with a brief summary of housing after
the war.
___ _ (S cotland ). —Board of Health.
1920. xxx pp. Cmd. 992.
Appendix to first annual report, 1919. London,
Contains statement of estimated cost of different types of houses for which tenders
have been approved, and financial report of Scottish national health insurance fund.
op N a tio n s .—International Labor Office. Agrarian conditions in Spain.
Geneva, November 10, 1920. 11 pp. Studies and Reports, series K, No. 2.
________ First international congress of landworlcers’ unions affiliated to the Interna
tional Federation of Trade-Unions (Amsterdam, August 17-19, 1920). Geneva,
November 9, 1920. 11 pp. Studies and Reports, series K, No. 1.
L ea g u e
A brief account of the first international congress of farm workers at Amsterdam
was published in the M onthly L abor R ev ie w for December, 1920, pages 167 and
168.
------------ International congress of metal workers. Geneva, October 22, 1920. 11 pp.
Studies and Reports, series A, No. 9.
------------ Small holdings in Scotland. Geneva, November 12, 1920.
and Reports, series K, No. 3.
12 pp. Studies
Takes up the subject under the following heads: Systems of land tenure in Scot
land, the agrarian reforms effected, the reforms still needed, and the economic position
of the small holder.
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op N a t io n s . International Labor Office.
The action of the Swiss Government
in dealing with unemployment. Geneva, November IS, 1920. 17 pp. Studies and
Reports, series C, No. 4.
L ea g u e
Considers the creation of a Federal unemployment fund and a Federal unemploy
ment relief office, the establishment of relief works (for the skilled, the unskilled,
and the professional classes), facilities for finding employment, relief of the unem
ployed (total unemployment, partial unemployment, differential relief, and relief to
foreigners), and the gradual suppression of relief.
------------ The congress of the labor and socialist international (Geneva, July Si-August
6, 1920). Geneva, October 14, 1920. 28 pp. Studies and Reports, series A , No. 6
------------ The international labor organization: A comparison. Geneva, October 21,
1920. 10 pp. Studies and Reports, series A, No. 8.
Compares the old international association on labor regulation, with its infrequent
conferences, lack of authority and support, and consequent ineffectiveness, with
the international labor organization established by Part X III of the Treaty of Verailles, which has regular annual conferences of representatives of the governments,
employers, and employees, who vote as individuals, not by countries. In various
ways it is shown that the present organization is proving far more effective than the
old system.
Die Ergebnisse
der Wohnungszählung vom 1. Dezember 1910 in den Gemeinden Aarau, ' Baden,
Ennetbaden und Brugg. Leipzig and Berlin, 1920. 108 pp. {Aargauische Statis
tische Mitteilungen. Neue Folge. Heft III.)
In 1910 the Intercantonal Association of Official Statisticians of Switzerland had
resolved to undertake on a uniform plan a housing census in the largest possible
number of Swiss communities. This volume contains the results of a housing census
in four communes of the Canton Aargau. Owing to difficulties which had arisen
during the war the results of this census, which was undertaken in conjunction with
the general census of 1910, could not be published until the present year and for this
reason the above volume has a mere documentary value. The housing census under
taken by the Statistical Office of the Canton Aargau is, however, of general interest
by reason of the fact that it covers four of the smallest cities of Switzerland. In
comparison with the housing censuses made in large cities the census under review
has brought out three important facts: (1) A very large number of the houses are
owned by their occupants; (2) the absence of high buildings and of buildings with
basement dwellings; and (3) that most houses stand in large lots, part of which is
given over to gardening.
S w itzerla n d (A a rgau ). —Statistisches Bureau des Kantons Aargau.
Unofficial.
Les dossiers de Taction populaire. Nos. 1-20. Paris, 1920.
The publications of L ’Action Populaire which were discontinued after the destruc
tion of the offices during the burning of Rheims have now been resumed. This present
series, which was started in January, 1920, covers among other subjects pamphlets
on social questions, trade-union organization, cooperation, social insurance, and
charities and relief.
A ction P o pu l a ir e .
A ltm ann -G o t t h e im e r . E l is a b e t h .
1920. Berlin, 1920. 59, 143 pp.
Jahrbuch des Bundes deutscher Frauenvereine
The yearbook for 1920 of the Federation of German Women’s Societies. In addition
to a report on the activities of the federation during the period July 1, 1918, to October
1, 1919, part 1 of the volume contains articles on the attitude of the federation during
the war toward national policies; the legal position of women in the new Germany; the
part played by women in national and State elections; the representation of women
in the National Assembly, State legislatures, city councils, etc., and the new problems
of woman labor. Part 2 consists of a directory of women’s societies affiliated with
the federation.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
for L abor L eg is l a t io n . Review of labor legislation of
1920. New York, September, 1920. 49 pp. American Labor Legislation Review.
A m erica n A ssociation
Presents an analysis, by subject and States, of the labor laws enacted in 1920, mak
ing a topical grouping of the laws; there is also a topical index by States. The intro
ductory note states that “ as a result of the spirit of reaction that had grown so preva
lent and temporarily blighting, the year’s output of protective labor legislation, in
the light of all legislative experience, is conspicuously meager and ill considered.”
Outstanding exceptions are the retirement system for Government employees and a
provision for Federal-State cooperation in the vocational rehabilitation of industrial
cripples. An appendix sets forth draft conventions and recommendations adopted
by the International Labor Conference of the League of Nations for the protection of
seamen.
Transactions of the tenth annual meeting,
Asheville, N. C., November 11-13, 1919. Baltimore, 1920. 346 pp.
A m erican F ed er a tio n of L a b o r . Arizona Branch. Proceedings of convention,
October 4-7, 1920. [Phoenix, 1920.] 52 pp.
—— Iowa Branch. Constitution and proceedings as enacted at the twenty-eighth annual
convention held at Fort Dodge, Iowa, May 18, 19, 20, 21, 1920. Sioux City, Earl
C. Willey, secretary, 1920. 97 pp.
B ig e l o w , Ca rle M. Installing management in woodworking plants. New York,
The Engineering Magazine Co., 1920. 823 pp.
A m erican C h ild H y g ie n e A sso cia tio n .
The practical application of scientific management in the woodworking industry
is given in great detail. The handling of the labor problem takes up employment
methods, social service, and a special plan for wage payment, in which is included
a description of time-study methods adapted to the industry.
B r it is h L a bo r D eleg a tio n to R u s s ia , 1920. Report. London, Offices of the Trades
Union Congress, 32 Eccleston Square, S. W. 1, and The Labor Party, S3 Eccleston
Square, S. W. 1 [1920]. 150 pp.
Clev ela n d C h a m b er of C o m m erce . The causes of high building costs in Cleveland.
Cleveland, 1920. 39 pp.
This report was prepared by a special committee appointed by the chamber ot
commerce to study the causes of high building costs in the city of Cleveland. The
study was taken up from two viewpoints—that of the relation of building labor to
building costs and of building materials to building costs.
Gu n n is o n , J a m e s .
Economics. New York, E. P. Dutton & Co. [1920]. 168 pp.
The production of wealth, the division of labor and its organization, underlying
principles of distribution and exchange are dealt with in this book. The chapter on
“ The payment for labor” takes up the different theories in regard to wages such as
the wages fund theory, the subsistence theory, and the productivity theory.
I
C oun cil of th e Ch u r c h e s of Ch r ist in A m er ic a . Commission on the
Church and Social Service. Report on the strike in the textile mills of Lawrence,
Mass., February-June, 1919. New York, 105 East Twenty-second Street, June,
1920. 24 pp.
ed er a l
This report, it is stated, is submitted not for the purpose of adding one more to the
many statements that have appeared on the subject but rather to present with a certain
advantage of perspective an examination of the underlying causes of the strike which
may aid in interpreting future industrial conflicts.
F e ig , J ohannes . Verordnung betreffend eine vorläufige Landarbeitsordnung von, 24.
Januar 1919 nebst sonstigen Bestimmungen über das landwirtschaftliche Ar
beitsrecht. Berlin, 1919. 122 pp.
A Compilation of German laws relating to agricultural labor.
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
243
Profits, wages, and prices. New York, Harcourt, Brace, and Howe,
1920. 256 pp.
F r id a y , D a v id .
Lack of information in regard to the relation of profits to capital is responsible, the
author states, for the general confusion of thought in regard to the question of profiteer
ing, while the same lack of information prevails as to prices and wages. The writer
analyzes the relation between high prices, large profits, excess profits taxes, and high
wages in order to determine the part each plays in the general high living costs. He
shows that industrial profits generally reached their high-water mark during 1917,
although for different industries there is great variation, textiles, rubber, and oils
having increased in 1919, while others, notably iron and steel, have declined since
1917. Wages, on the other hand, show a general increase up to 1920. A large amount
of statistical data from varied sources has been used by the writer, but there is a failure
to make references sufficiently definite. The tone of the book is decidedly optimistic,
the author believing that we have a basis upon which to build a broad and constructive
industrial program with potential prosperity for all classes if the lessons of the war are
heeded.
G ra m m es , L. F., & S ons ( co m pilers ). Reference book of valuable information on
safety devices. Allentown, Pa., 1920. 60 pp. Illustrated.
Suggestions for Americanization teachers. Salt Lake City, 1920
20 pp. Bulletin of the University of Utah, vol. 10, No. 16. Extension division
series, vol. 1, No. 3.
H a r r im a n , R. D.
Contains suggestions for reading on the subjects of immigration and Americanization,
and also on methods of conducting classes of foreigners and teaching them English
and citizenship.
H a r r is o n , S h elby M. Social conditions in an American city. A summary of the
findings of the Springfield survey. New York, Russell Sage Foundation, 1920.
439 pp.
This survey was conducted under the direction of the department of surveys and
exhibits of th e Russell Sage Foundation assisted by individuals and by representa
tives of other organizations. It was divided into nine general groups as follows
Schools; recreation; care of mental defectives, insane and alcoholics; public health
corrections, charities; industrial conditions, and city and county administration
Most of the data presented relates to 1914, the period of the survey, showing methods
followed, conditions uncovered, and manner in which the findings were presented to
the public, but some information as to improvements resulting from the survey is also
given.
H er sc h , L. L ’inégalité devant la mort d’après les statisques de la Ville de Paris.
Effets de la situation sociale sur la mortalité. Paris, 22 Rue Souffiot, 1920. 54 pp
A discussion of the social and occupational factors and general economic condition
which have an influence on mortality. The statistics upon which the study is based
are those published in the statistical yearbook of the city of Paris.
H e t h e r i n g t o n , H. J. W.
International labor legislation. London., Methuen Co.,
1920. 194 pp-
The international regulation of industrial conditions by means of legislation and
international cooperation form the subject of this book, in which the author analyzes
that part of the peace treaty creating the International Labor Office and discusses
the work of the Washington conference and the various conventions adopted by it.
The writer, who was connected with the British delegation, believes th at in spite of
the fact that the labor organization has no power to compel governments to put in
force the provisions of the conventions, much good was effected by the conference.
The text of Part X III of the treaty of Versailles, the list of delegates to the Washing
ton conference, the conventions and recommendations passed by the conference, and
a list of the members of the governing body of the International Labor Office are
appended.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
I n dustrial W el fa r e S o ciety .
1920. London, 1920. 33 pp.
Second annual report, for the year ended June 30,
This society, which was formed for the purpose of standardizing and extending
industrial welfare work in England, has grown rapidly, and has many well-known
persons, both employers and workers, in its list of members. It is stated that there
is an increasing tendency among the workers to finance the welfare schemes them
selves, with a consequent lessening of opposition to the movement.
d ’A g r ic u l tu r e . Annuaire international de législation
agricole. IX*me Anneé-1919. Rome, 1920. 1130 pp.
I n stitu te I n tern a tio n a le
This yearbook gives the text of agricultural laws in all countries which were passed
during 1919. It is stated in the introduction that agricultural legislation in 1919
differs profoundly from that of the few years preceding, in th at legislation during
the war period was necessarily of a transitory character intended to insure the people
of the different countries the foodstuffs needful for their use, while now governments
are beginning to deal with larger problems, such as agricultural reform, water sup
plies, and labor questions. The laws are classified as follows: Agricultural and com
mercial statistics; sale of agricultural produce, of machines, fertilizers, and cattle;
fiscal legislation and customhouse legislation in relation to agriculture; vegetable
production and trade in vegetable products; horse and cattle breeding and trade in
animal products; legislation on agrarian organization and on agricultural instruction:
diseases of plants; cooperation, insurance, and agricultural credit; rural property and
land settlement; relations between capital and labor in agriculture; rural hygiene
and country police.
of W omen P h y sic ia n s . Proceedings. New York, The
Woman’s Press, 600 Lexington Avenue, 1920. 6 vols.
I n tern a tio na l Co n f e r e n c e
The second volume of the proceedings deals with industrial health. Papers and
subjects discussed include health insurance; social unrest; health and industrial
placement; the creative workman; the creative impulse in industry; industrial
physiology; occupational causes of ill health; and conservation of the health of
women.
The history of the working classes in Scotland. Glasgow, Forward
Publishing Co., Ltd. [1920], 408 pp.
J o h n sto n , T h om a s .
This history begins about the thirteenth century with the slavery period and deals
in great detail with the conditions of the laboring classes down to the modern labor
movement. The last chapter, entitled “ The communist seeds of salvation,” takes
up the friendly orders, the cooperative movement, and the socialist movement.
K ir k a l d y , A. W. Wealth, its production and distribution. New York, E. P. Dutton
& Co. [1920). 147 pp.
A considerable portion of the book is devoted to a, consideration of labor as a factor
in production. The benefits which labor has secured for itself through organization,
the dangers to the community because organized labor has learned its strength, a
fact which may lead to syndicalism or State socialism, and the different methods
for securing better relations and greater production are subjects covered in this chapter.
Labor and wages. Ten tracts. [New York, National
Association of Manufacturers, 30 Church Street], 1920. Tracts for the times.
L a u g h l in , J. L a u r e n c e .
The titles of these tracts are: I. The solution of the labor problems; II. Manage
ment; III. The hope for labor unions; IV. Monopoly of labor; V. Is labor a com
modity; VI. Socialism a philosophy of failure; VII. Wages and prices; V III. The
British industrial crisis; IX. British and American labor problems; and X. Ex
travagance.
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
245
Die Grundgedanlcen der deutschen Preispolitik im Weltkriege
1914-1918. Berlin, 1919. 117 pp. Bibliography.
L e Co u t r e , W a l t e r .
The present work attempts to show by what considerations the German Government
was influenced when during the war it began hesitatingly and gropingly to influence
the formation of prices, on what fundamental conceptions with respect to the elements
of price formation it built up its price policy, and what aims it wished to achieve
with this policy. The endeavor to establish “ fair” prices is the principal theoretical
idea that has crystalized from the German governmental price policy. The authoi
discusses what deviations were made from this ethical fundamental idea partly by
reason of the political aims in view and partly by reason of the field of its applica
tion, namely, in agriculture, industry, and commerce. In an appendix are reprinted
the principles set up by the Economic Division of the Imperial Food Office and the
Fair Prices Boards (Preisprufungsstellen) for their determination of prices. The
volume is concluded with a valuable bibliography of official and unofficial publica
tions on the subject of price regulation.
L loyd , C. M. The present state of the poor law. London, The Labor Party [1920].
8 pp.
I t is stated that as a result of the war the number of persons receiving poor relief
decreased from 765,077 in 1914 to 596,298 in 1917 and 551,262 in 1918. "in 1919 the
number increased to 560,312 as a result of unsettled industrial conditions, and it
appears that the volume of pauperism is going back to its perwar proportions, and
reforms are urgently needed.
M acdonald , J. R a m sa y . A policy for the Labor Party. London, Leonard Parsons,.
1920. 188 pp.
A short history of the rise in power of the Labor Party from the beginning of its
aspirations toward political power opens the book while the main part is given to a
recital of the aims of the party in respect to nationalization and to an outline of its
claims in respect to its ability to become the ruling party, and of the program it might
be expected to formulate if it secured control of the Government.
The oversea illusion. Its amazing effect on prices, wages, and
output. London, G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., 1920. 213 pp.
M a c la u r in , R o b e r t .
The author cites the economic causes and results of the wars in which England has
been engaged since the first of the last century, and attempts to show that the war for
trade has resulted in a rise in prices and in lowered output. His remedy is found in
a tax upon all exports and foreign investments, which he contends would increase
employment, lower living costs, and increase wages.
M o n e y , S ir L eo Ch io z za .
Ltd., 1920. 276 pp.
The triumph of nationalization. London, Cassell & Co.,
The arguments of the author for nationalization are based upon the centralization
of control which obtained in England during the war in industries manufacturing or
dealing in essential materials and in Government control of prices.
Vocational trainingfor women in industry. Reprintedfrom Bulletin
No. 32, National Society for Vocational Education, Proceedings of the Chicago
convention, February, 1920. [1920.] 8 pp.
M u r tla n d , Cl e o .
This is the report of the committee on women in industry and gives figures showin ■
the great increase in the number of women wage earners in the last two decades. In
1900, 5,319,397, or 18.8 per cent of the women over 10 years of age, were wage earners;
in 1910, 8,075,772, or 23.4 per cent; and in 1919 it was estimated that the number of
women wage earners over 10 years of age was 11,000,000.
I t is believed that the problems presented by this great increase in the number of
employed women can be met partly by protective legislation, organization of workers
and education of employers and consumers, but that the most important remedy is
better general education and better vocational education, which m il fit the women
for protecting themselves.
[245]
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
Committee on unskilled labor
and Americanization. Report. Eighth annual convention, New York. May, 31
to June 4, 1920. [New York], 1920. 87 pp.
N ational A ssociation or Co rporation S chools .
Contains reports on the Americanization work carried on by various industrial
organizations and its effects on accident prevention, wages, labor stability, etc.
Safe practices. No. 40. Suggestion systems. Chicago,
168 North Michigan Avenue, 1920. 15 pp.
N ie d e r ö s t e r r e ic h is c h e H a n d el s -u n d G e w e r b e -k am m er (V ie n n a ). Bericht
über die Industrie, den Handel und die Verkehrsverhältnisse in Niederösterreich wah
rend der Jahre 1914-1918. Vienna, 1920. cxlviii, 1,152 pp.
N ational S a fety Co u n cil .
A report of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lower Austria on industrial
business and transport conditions in that province during the years 1914-1918. The
report is composed of three parts. Part one consists of a general review of economic
life in Austria during the period of the war and the year following the armistice. The
second part reviews the activities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry during
the five-year period 1914-1918, and the third part is devoted to statistics of produc
tion and commerce in the various raw materials and manufactured goods; construc
tion of roads, railroads, waterways and water conduits; railroad, river, postal and
telegraph traffic, insurance; industrial, commercial and arbritration courts; trade and
business schools; and banking. The volume is a valuable historical document, as it
gives a clear picture based on statistics of the economic difficulties of Austria during
the war.
Ö ster r e ic h isc h es J a hrbu ch d er A r b e it e r v e r s ic h e r u n g . X - X I .
Jahrgang.
Vienna, 1916-18. 2 volumes.
Two volumes of the Austrian yearbook of workmen’s insurance containing a collec
tion of social insurance and socio-political laws of Austria and foreign countries.
O ntario S afety L e a g u e . Report, 1919. Toronto [1920]. 8 pp.
Contains also the first annual report of the Canadian National Safety League.
P h e l p s , E dith M. (co m piler ). Selected articles on Government ownership of railroads.
Vol. II. New York, The H. W. Wilson Co., 1919. 200 pp.
Contains a selected bibliography.
R e e d , A n na Y., and W o e l p p e r , W ilso n . Junior wage earners. New York, Th<
Macmillan Co., 1920. 171 pp.
This book was prepared especially for the information and use of business men,
normal schools, teachers’ colleges, public-school teachers, and employees of the
United States Employment Service. The nature of the contents is shown in such
chapter headings as Efforts to solve the employment problem, Educational guidance,
Functions and methods of placement, and Functions of a junior employment office.
R e w , R. H e n r y . Food supplies in peace and war. London, Longmans, Green & Co.,
1920. 183 pp.
The problem of providing the world with food is considered from the standpoint
of the developments within approximately the last 40 years in the means of trans
porting food from one part of the world to another. The book is divided into three
sections, dealing in the first with the supply and demand before the war; in the
second, with the effect of the war on world supplies, the kinds and amounts of food
produced in the United Kingdom, and the accomplishments of the State in the con
trol of food supplies. The third section deals with postwar conditions throughout
the world, and, in closing, with the need for better conditions and a less monotonous
existence if the best equipped men and women are to be retained on the farms.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[246]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
R o c k e fe lle r F o u n d a t io n .
449 pp.
247
Annual report, 1919. New York, 61 Broadway [1920].
Besides the reports of the president, secretary, and treasurer of the Rockefeller
Foundation, there are also those of the International Health Board and the China
Medical Board, the latter for the period 1915 to 1919. Considerable space is devoted
to the control and prevention of hookworm disease.
R o d o lph e -R o u s s e a u , J a c q u es . Les Coopératives de reconstruction dans les régions
libérées. Paris, Rousseau & Cie., 1920. 120 pp.
Contains a description of the cooperatives of reconstruction which were “ born with
the first battle of the Marne in 1914 in the villages of the Department which were
liberated by the first retreat of the Germans.” From there they soon spread to all
the recovered Departments and now number about 1,600. The author shows in what
way these cooperative societies are a benefit to people whose property has been de
stroyed, to the architects and contractors, and to the State. He also describes their
defects and what he considers to be the causes thereof. A detailed analysis of certain
proposed laws dealing with these societies is given.
R y a n , J ohn A. Capital and labor. [Washington, D. C.\ National Catholic welfart
council, 1920. SOpp.
Social reconstruction. New York, The Macmillan Co., 1920. 242
pp.
R y a n , J ohn A.
A collection of lectures delivered at the Fordham School of Social Service (New
York) in the last two months of 1919 and the first two months of 1920. The main
subject of the volume is the Bishops’ Program of Social Reconstruction. The author
describes some of the problems and agencies created by the war. Three of the lectures
outline methods by which the State could better the condition of the working classes—
a living wage by law, social insurance, and public housing. Three other lectures
deal with methods by which the working people may assist in improving their own
condition—the labor union, labor sharing in management, and copartnership and
cooperation. In chapter 10 on “ Exorbitant profits,” the author declares that “ The
tests should be productive service * * *. Capital should get about the average
competitive rate of interest; but the excess beyond that should go to men for their
services, not because they own capital.”
R y a n , J ohn A., and H u s s l e in , J o se ph ( e d it o r s ). The church and labor. New
York, The Macmillan Co., 1920. 805 pp.
The principal propositions set forth and defended in the various contributions in
this book are:
The moral aspect of industrial relations, the necessity and limitations of private
property, the indestructible right of labor to the means and conditions of decent
living, the duty of the State to remove industrial evils that can be abolished in no
other way, and the right of labor to organize.
S im o n s , G e r d a . Die Erwerbslosenfürsorge während des Krieges. Berlin, 1919, viii,
113 pp. Schriften der Deutschen Gesellschaft zur Bekämpfung der Arbeitslosigkeit,
Heft 5.
During the first half of 1918 the German Society for the Combating of Unemploy
ment has sent questionnaires to the German State Governments, provincial admin
istrations, communes, communal unions, and State insurance institutes with a view
of obtaining information as to the measures taken during the war for the relief' of
unemployment in general and for the payment of unemployment allowances in par
ticular. The material collected in this manner has been compiled in the present
volume. In part one the volume discusses unemployment relief before the war, the
state of unemployment during the first months of the war, the introduction of general
unemployment relief and its character in the individual federal States, and unem
ployment relief in individual industries (textile, shoe, clothing, and tobacco industries.)
Fart two deals with the practical carrying out of unemployment relief: The general
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[247]
248
M O N T H L Y LABOR EE V IE W .
principles to be observed in public unemployment relief, the organs for its adminis
tration, the preconditions for the granting of relief (unemployment, neediness, ability
to work, willingness to work, legal residence in the locality in question), nature of
the relief, computation and amount of relief. In part three the problem of public
unemployment relief is discussed from the viewpoint of the experiences made with
unemployment relief during the war. In an appendix the material obtained
through the questionnaires is arranged in tabular form.
S l in g e r l a n d , W. H. Child-welfare work in Colorado. A study of public and privaU
agencies and institutions ana conditions of service, in the care of dependent, delin
quent, and defective children. Boulder, 1920. 174 PP- University of Colorad(,
bulletin, Vol. X X , No. 10. General series No. 161.
This study was made by a special agent of the Department of Child-helping of the
Russell Sage Foundation.
T oledo Co n s u m e r s ’ L e a g u e .
[1920]. 31 pp. Pamphlet 31.
Toledo children who leave school for work.
Toledo
This survey, undertaken in cooperation with the Toledo woman’s committee of
the Council of National Defense, dealt with 329 boys and girls out of a total of 2,327
who received working certificates in Toledo in the years 1915-1917. Of the number
of children studied only about 8 per cent had made normal progress in their school
work. Under the Ohio law boys must attend school between the ages of 8 and 15,
but may leave school between the ages of 15 and 16 if the sixth grade has been com
pleted, while girls who leave school must be past 16 and have completed the seventh
grade. In nearly half the cases studied the reason for leaving school was given as
financial need, with indifference the next most frequent reason. In the majority
of cases there was much changing of places and a variety of jobs held in individual
cases, so that it was clear that there was no tendency toward finding work for which
they were best adapted. It was recommended, as the result of the survey, that a
vocational guidance bureau should be added to the school system of the city so
that causes of nonpromotion, early withdrawal and indifference to school, and the
vocational adaptations of the pupils could be studied and remedies for the situation
devised, and that State aid should be extended to children obliged to leave school
for lack of money, and vocational training with tools and machinery should be pro
vided for girls as well as boys.
and B e a tr ic e . A constitution for the socialist commonwealth of
Great Britain. London, Longmans, Green & Co., 1920. 364 pp.
W e b b , S id n e y
In the introduction of this book it is stated that the authors do not seek to attempt
any indictment of the capitalist system. There is pointed out what, from the authors’
point of view, are the failures of the present system, the changes necessary to make
the country over into a socialistic State are discussed, and all the fancied benefits of
such a complete change of system are pictured.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[248]
SERIES OF BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
[T h e
p u b lic a tio n
d is c o n tin u e d
in te r v a ls .
in
of
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d is c o n tin u e d .
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b u lle tin s m a r k e d
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each
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fu r n is h e d
a ll
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b u lle tin s
l is t o f th e r e p o r ts a n d
on
a p p lic a tio n .
The
a r e o u t o f p r in t.]
Wholesale Prises.
* B u i. 1 1 4 . W h o le s a le p r ic e s , 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 2 .
B u i. 1 4 9 . W h o l e s a l e p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 3 .
* B u i. 1 7 3 . I n d e x n u m b e r s o f w h o l e s a l e p r i c e s
c o u n tr ie s .
B u i. 1 8 1 . W h o l e s a l e p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 4 .
* B u i. 2 0 0 . W h o l e s a l e p r i c e s 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 5 .
B u i. 2 2 6 . W h o l e s a l e p r i c e s , 1 8 8 0 t o 1 9 1 6 .
B u i. 2 6 9 . W h o l e s a l e p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 9 .
[In
in
th e
U n it e d
S ta te s
and
fo r e ig n
p r e s s .}
Retail Prices and Cost of L iving.
»
* B u i. 1 0 5 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 1 : P a r t I.
R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o 1 9 1 1 : P a r t I I — G e n e r a l t a b le s .
* B u i. 1 0 0 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o J u n e , 1 9 1 2 : P a r t I .
R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o J u n e , 1 9 1 2 : P a r t II — G e n e r a l t a b le » .
B u i. 1 0 8 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o A u g u s t , 1 9 1 2 .
B u i. 1 1 0 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o O c t o b e r , 1 8 1 2 .
B u i. 1 1 3 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 2 .
B u i. 1 1 5 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o F e b r u a r y , 1 9 1 3 .
* B u i. 1 2 1 . S u g a r p r i c e s , f r o m r e f in e r t o c o n s u m e r .
B u i. 1 2 5 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o A p r i l , 1 9 1 3 .
* B u i. 1 3 0 . W h e a t a n d f lo u r p r i c e s , f r o m f a r m e r t o c o n s u m e r .
B u i. 1 3 2 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o J u n e , 1 9 1 3 .
B u i. 1 3 6 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o A u g u s t , 1 9 1 3 .
B u i. 1 3 8 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o O c t o b e r , 1 9 1 3 .
* B u i. 1 4 0 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 8 9 0 t o D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 3 .
B u i. 1 5 6 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 9 0 7 t o D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 4 .
B u i. 1 6 4 . B u tt e r p r ic e s , fr o m p r o d u c e r to c o n s u m e r .
B u i. 1 7 0 . F o r e i g n f o o d p r i c e s a s a f f e c t e d b y t h e w a r .
B u i. 1 8 4 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 9 0 7 t o J u n e , 1 9 1 5 .
B u i. 1 9 7 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 9 0 7 t o D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 5 .
B u i. 2 2 8 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 9 0 7 t o D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 6 .
B u i. 2 7 0 . R e t a i l p r i c e s , 1 9 1 3 t o 1 9 1 9 .
[ I n p r e s s .]
Wages and Hours of Labor.
B u i . 1 1 6 . H o u r s , e a r n i n g s , a n d d u r a t i o n o f e m p lo y m e n t o f w a g e - e a r n i n g w o m e n in
s e l e c t e d i n d u s t r i e s i n t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia .
* B u i. 1 1 8 . T e n - h o u r m a x im u m w o r k i n g - d a y f o r w o m e n a n d y o u n g p e r s o n s .
B u i. 1 1 9 . W o r k i n g h o u r s o f w o m e n in t h e p e a c a n n e r i e s o f W i s c o n s i n .
* B u i. 1 2 8 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n t h e c o t t o n , w o o l e n , a n d s i l k i n d u s t r i e s , 1 8 9 0
to 1 9 1 2 .
* B u i. 1 2 9 W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n t h e lu m b e r , m il lw o r k , a n d f u r n i t u r e i n d u s
tr ie s , 1 8 9 0 to 1 9 1 2 .
* B u i. 1 3 1 . U n i o n s c a l e o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r , 1 9 0 7 t o 1 9 1 2 .
* B u i. 1 3 4 . WTa g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n t h e b o o t a n d s h o e a n d h o s i e r y a n d k n i t g o o d s
in d u s tr ie s , 1 8 9 0 to 1 9 1 2 .
* B u i. 1 3 5 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n t h e c ig a r a n d c l o t h i n g i n d u s t r i e s , 1 9 1 1 a n d
1912.
B u i. 1 3 7 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r in t h e b u i l d i n g a n d r e p a i r i n g o f s t e a m r a il r o a d
ca rs, 1 8 9 0 to 1 9 1 2 .
B u i. 1 4 3 . U n i o n s c a l e o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 1 3 .
B u i. 1 4 6 . W a g e s a n d r e g u l a r i t y o f e m p l o y m e n t a n d s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n o f p i e c e r a t e s
i n t h e d r e s s a n d w a i s t i n d u s t r y o f N e w Y o r k C it y .
* B u i . 1 4 7 . W a g e s a n d r e g u l a r i t y o f e m p l o y m e n t i n t h e c lo a k , s u i t , a n d s k i r t i n d u s t r y .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[X]
Wages and Honrs of L abor— Concluded.
* B ui. 150. W ages and hours o f labor In th e cotton , w oolen, and silk in d u stries, 1907
to 1913.
B ui. 151. W ages and hours o f labor in th e iron and s te el in d u stry in th e U n itea
S ta te s, 1907 to 1912.
Bui. 153. W ages and hours of labor in th e lum ber, m illw ork, and fu rn itu re ind us
tries, 1907 to 1913.
B ui. 154. W ages and hours o f labor in th e boot and sh oe an d hosiery and under
w ear in d u stries, 1907 to 1913.
B ui. 160. Hours, earn ings, and co n d itio n s o f labor of w om en in In d ian a m ercantile
esta b lish m en ts and ga rm en t factories.
B ui. 161. W a g e s and hours o f labor in th e clo th in g and cigar in d u stries, 1911 t o
1913.
B u i. 1 6 3 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f labor in th e bu ild in g and rep airing o f steam r a il r o a d
c a rs, 1 9 0 7 to 1 9 1 3 .
B u i. 1 6 8 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n t h e i r o n a n d s t e e l i n d u s t r y , 1607 t o 1 9 1 8 .
B u i. 1 7 1 . U n i o n s c a l e o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r , M a y 1, 1914.
B u i. 177. W a g e s and h o u r s o f l a b o r in th e h o s i e r y and un derw ear in d u stry, 1907
to 1914.
B u i. 178. W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r in t h e b o o t a n d s h o e i n d u s t r y , 1907 to 1914.
B u i. 1 8 7 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r i n t h e m e n ’s c l o t h i n g i n d u s t r y , 1911 t o 1914.
* Bui. 190. W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f labor in t h e cotton , w o o l e n , and silk in d u stries, 1907
to 1 9 1 4 .
* B u i. 1 9 4 . U n i o n s c a l e o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r , M a y 1 , 1 9 1 5 .
B u i. 2 0 4 . S t r e e t r a i l w a y e m p lo y m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
B u i. 2 1 4 . U n i o n s c a l e o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 1 6 .
B u i. 2 1 8 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r in t h e i r o n a n d s t e e l i n d u s t r y , 1 9 0 7 to 1915.
B u i. 2 2 1 . H o u r s , f a t i g u e , a n d h e a l t h i n B r i t i s h m u n i t i o n f a c t o r i e s .
B u i. 2 2 5 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r in t h e lu m b e r , m il lw o r k , a n d f u r n i t u r e i n d u s
t r ie s , 1 9 1 5 .
B u i. 232. W a g e s and h o u r s o f labor in t h e b o o t and s h o e in d u stry, 1907 to 1916.
B u i. 2 3 8 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r in w o o l e n a n d w o r s t e d g o o d s m a n u f a c t u r i n g ,
1916.
B u i. 2 3 9 . W a g e s a n d hours o f labor in co tto n goods m an u factu rin g and finishing,
1916.
B u i. 2 4 5 . U n i o n s c a l e
o f w ages a n d h o u r s o f la b o r , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 1 7 .
* B u i 2 5 2 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r in t h e s la u g h t e r in g a n d m e a t - p a c k in g in d u s t r y ,
1917.
B u i. 2 5 9 . U n io n s c a l e
o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 1 8 .
B u i. 2 6 0 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n t h e b o o t a n d s h o e i n d u s t r y ,
1 9 0 7 to 1 9 1 8 .
B u i. 2 6 1 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r in w o o l e n a n d w o r s t e d g o o d s m a n u f a c t u r i n g , 1 9 1 8 .
B u i. 2 6 2 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r i n c o t t o n g o o d s m a n u f a c t u r i n g a n d f i n i s h i n g ,
1918.
B u i. 2 6 5 . I n d u s t r i a l s u r v e y in s e l e c t e d i n d u s t r i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , 1 9 1 9 .
Pre
lim in a r y r e p o r t
B u i. 2 7 4 . U n io n s c a l e o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 1 9 .
B u i. 2 7 8 . W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r in t h e b o o t a n d s h o e in d u s t r y , 1 9 0 7 - 1 9 2 0 .
[In
p ress. ]
B u i. 2 7 9 . H o u r s a n d e a r n i n g s in a n t h r a c i t e a n d b i t u m i n o u s c o a l m i n i n g .
[ I n p r e s s .]
E m p lo y m e n t a n d U n e m p lo y m e n t .
* B u i. 1 0 9 . S t a t i s t i c s o f u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d t h e w o r k o f e m p lo y m e n t o f fic e s .
B u i. 1 1 6 . H o u r s , e a r n i n g s , a n d d u r a t io n o f e m p l o y m e n t o f w a g e - e a r n i n g w o m e n in
s e l e c t e d i n d u s t r i e s in t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia .
B u i. 1 7 2 . U n e m p l o y m e n t i n N e w Y o r k C i t y , N . Y.
B u i. 1 8 2 . U n e m p l o y m e n t a m o n g w o m e n in d e p a r t m e n t a n d o t h e r r e t a i l s t o r e s o f
B o s to n , M a ss.
* B u i. 1 8 3 . R e g u l a r i t y o f e m p lo y m e n t i n t h e w o m e n ' s r e a d y - t o - w e a r g a r m e n t i n d u s t r i e s .
B u i. 1 9 2 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f P u b l i c E m p l o y m e n t O ffic e s .
* B u i. 1 9 5 . U n e m p l o y m e n t in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
B u i. 1 9 6 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t M a n a g e r s ’ C o n f e r e n c e h e l d a t M in n e a p o li s ,
January, 1916.
B u i. 2 0 2 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t M a n a g e r s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n o f
B o s t o n , M a s s ., h e l d M a y 1 0 , 1 9 1 6 .
B u i. 2 0 6 . T h e B r i t i s h s y s t e m o f l a b o r e x c h a n g e s .
B u i. 2 2 0 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e F o u r t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f
P u b li c E m p l o y m e n t O ffic e s , B u f f a lo , N . Y ., J u l y 2 0 a n d 2 1 , 1 9 1 6 .
B u i. 2 2 3 . E m p l o y m e n t o f w o m e n a n d j u v e n i l e s in G r e a t B r i t a i n d u r i n g t h e w a r .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[n ]
E m p lo y m e n t a n d U n e m p lo y m e n t — C o n c lu d e d .
* B u i. 2 2 7 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t M a n a g e r s ’ C o n f e r e n c e ,
A p r il 2 a n d 3, 1 9 1 7 .
B u i. 2 3 5 . E m p lo y m e n t s y s te m o f th e L a k e C a r r ie r s ’ A s s o c ia t io n ,
B u i. 2 4 1 . P u b l i c e m p lo y m e n t o f fic e s in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
B u i. 2 4 7 . P r o c e e d i n g s
of
E m p lo y m e n t
M an agers’
P h ila d e lp h ia ,
C o n fe r e n c e ,
R o ch ester,
P a .,
N.
Y
May 9 -1 1 , 1918.
Woman i n I n d u s t r y .
B u i. 1 1 6 . H o u r s,
* B u i.
* B u i.
B u i.
* B u i.
B u i.
117.
118.
119.
122.
160.
* B u i. 1 6 7 .
* B u i. 1 7 5 .
* B u i. 1 7 6 .
e a r n in g s , a n d
d u r a t io n
o f e m p lo y m e n t o f w a g e - e a r n i n g
w om en
* B u i. 1 8 0 . T h e b o o t a n d s h o e i n d u s t r y i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s a s a v o c a t i o n f o r w o m e n .
B u i. 1 8 2 . U n e m p l o y m e n t a m o n g w o m e n - i n d e p a r t m e n t a n d o t h e r r e t a i l s t o r e s
B o s to n , M a ss.
B u i. 1 9 3 . D r e s s m a k i n g a s a t r a d e f o r w o m e n i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s .
B u i. 2 1 5 . I n d u s t r i a l e x p e r ie n c e o f t r a d e - s c h o o l g i r l s i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s .
B u i. 2 1 7 . E f f e c t o f w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l a w s i n d i m i n i s h i n g t h e n e c e s s i t y
i n d u s t r i a l e m p lo y m e n t o f w o m e n a n d c h i ld r e n .
B u i. 2 2 3 . E m p l o y m e n t o f w o m e n a n d j u v e n i l e s in G r e a t B r i t a i n d u r i n g t h e w a r .
B u i. 2 5 3 . W o m e n i n t h e l e a d i n d u s t r y .
W o r k m e n 's I n s u r a n c e and C o m p e n s a t io n
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
* B u i.
* B u i.
* B u i.
101.
102.
103.
107.
126.
155.
185.
in
s e l e c t e d i n d u s t r i e s in t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia .
P r o h ib it io n o f n ig h t w o r k o f y o u n g p e r s o n s .
T e n - h o u r m a x im u m w o r k i n g - d a y f o r w o m e n a n d y o u n g p e r s o n s .
W o r k in g h o u r s o f w o m e n in t h e p e a c a n n e r ie s o f W is c o n s in .
E m p l o y m e n t o f w o m e n i n p o w e r l a u n d r i e s i n M il w a u k e e .
H o u r s , e a r n in g 's , a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f l a b o r o f w o m e n in I n d i a n a m e r c a n t i l e
e s ta b lis h m e n t s a n d g a r m e n t f a c t o r ie s .
M in im u m - w a g e l e g i s l a t i o n in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d f o r e i g n c o u n t r ie s .
S u m m a r y o f t h e r e p o r t o n c o n d i t i o n o f w o m a n a n d c h i ld w a g e e a r n e r s in
t h e U n it e d S t a te s .
E f f e c t o f m i n i m u m w a g e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s in O r e g o n .
of
of
( in c lu d in g Saws r e la t in g th e r e to )#
C a re o f t u b e r c u lo u s w a g e e a r n e r s in G er m a n y .
B r itis h N a tio n a l In su r a n c e A c t, 1 9 1 1 .
S ic k n e s s a n d a c c id e n t in s u r a n c e la w o f S w it z e r la n d .
L a w r e l a t i n g t o I n s u r a n c e o f s a l a r i e d e m p lo y e e s in G e r m a n y .
W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l a w s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d f o r e i g n
C o m p e n s a t io n f o r a c c i d e n t s t o e m p lo y e e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
C o m p e n s a t io n l e g i s l a t i o n o f 1 9 1 4 a n d 1 9 1 5 .
c o u n t r ie s .
B u i . 2 0 3 . W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l a w s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d f o r e i g n c o u n t r ie s .
B u i. 2 1 0 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e T h ir d A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e 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 I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is s io n s .
B u i. 2 1 2 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e o n s o c i a l i n s u r a n c e c a l l e d b y t h e 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 I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is s io n s .
B u i. 2 1 7 . E f f e c t o f w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l a w s i n d i m i n i s h i n g t h e n e c e s s i t y o f
i n d u s t r i a l e m p lo y m e n t o f w o m e n a n d c h i ld r e n .
B u i . 2 4 0 . C o m p a r i s o n o f w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l a w s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
B u i. 2 4 3 . W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l e g i s l a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d f o r e i g n
c o u n tr ie s .
B u i. 2 4 8 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e F o u r t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e 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 I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is s io n s .
B u i. 2 6 4 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e F i f t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e 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 I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is s io n s .
B u i. 2 7 2 . W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t i o n l e g i s l a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a ,
1919.
[ I n p r e s s .]
B u i. 2 7 3 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e S i x t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e 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 I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is s io n s .
B u i. 2 7 5 .
B u i.
C o m p a r iso n
C anada.
of
w o r k m e n 's
c o m p e n sa tio n
la w s
of
th e
U n it e d
S ta te s
and
2 8 1 . P r o c e e d in g s o f t h e S e v e n t h A n n u a l M e e tin g o f t h e I n t e r n a t io n a l A s s o
c i a t i o n o f I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is s io n s .
[ I n p r e s s .]
I n d u s t r ia l A c c id e n t s a n d H y g ie n e .
B u i. 1 0 4 . L e a d p o i s o n i n g in p o t t e r i e s , t i l e
w a r e f a c t o r ie s .
B u i. 1 2 0 . H y g i e n e o f t h e p a i n t e r s ’ t r a d e .
w ork s,
and
p o r c e la in
e n a m e le d
sa n ita r y
* B u i. 1 2 7 . D a n g e r s t o w o r k e r s f r o m d u s t s a n d f u m e s , a n d m e t h o d s o f p r o t e c t io n .
B u i. 1 4 1 . L e a d p o i s o n i n g i n t h e s m e l t i n g a n d r e f i n i n g o f l e a d .
24933°—21
17
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[iilj
I n d u s tr ia l
* B u i.
B u i.
* B u i.
B u i.
A c c id e n ts a n d H y g ie n e —C o n clu d e d .
1 5 7 . I n d u s t r ia l a c c id e n t s t a t i s t i c s .
1 6 5 . L e a d p o i s o n i n g in t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f s t o r a g e b atteries.
1 7 9 . I n d u s t r ia l p o is o n s u s e d in t h e r u b b e r in d u s t r y .
1 8 8 . R e p o r t o f B r it is h d e p a r t m e n t a l c o m m itte e o n t h e d a n g e r in t h e u s e o f le a d
i n t h e p a i n t i n g o f b u i ld in g s .
* B u i. 2 0 1 . R e p o r t o f c o m m i t t e e o n s t a t i s t i c s a n d c o m p e n s a t i o n i n s u r a n c e c o s t o f t h e
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 I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d s a n d C o m m is
s io n s .
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
* B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
205.
207.
209.
216.
219.
221.
230.
[ L i m i t e d e d i t i o n .]
A n th r a x a s a n o c c u p a t io n a l d is e a s e .
C a u s e s o f d e a t h b y o c c u p a t io n .
H y g ie n e o f t h e p r in tin g tr a d e s .
A c c i d e n t s a n d a c c i d e n t p r e v e n t i o n in m a c h in e b u i l d i n g .
I n d u s t r ia l p o is o n s u se d or p r o d u c e d in t h e m a n u fa c tu r e o f e x p lo s iv e s .
H o u r s, f a tig u e , a n d h e a lth in B r it is h m u n itio n f a c t o r ie s .
I n d u s t r i a l e f f ic ie n c y a n d f a t i g u e i n B r i t i s h m u n i t i o n f a c t o r i e s .
B ui. 231. M o rta lity from respiratory d isea ses in d u sty trades.
B u i. 2 3 4 . S a f e t y m o v e m e n t i n t h e i r o n a n d s t e e l i n d u s t r y , 1 9 0 7 t o 1 9 1 7 .
B u i. 2 3 6 . E f f e c t o f t h e a i r h a m m e r o n t h e h a n d s o f s t o n e c u t t e r s .
B u i. 2 5 1 . P r e v e n t a b l e d e a t h in t h e c o t t o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n d u s t r y .
B u i. 2 5 3 . W o m e n in t h e l e a d i n d u s t r i e s .
B u i. 2 5 6 . A c c i d e n t s a n d a c c i d e n t p r e v e n t i o n
in
m a c h in e
B u i. 2 1 6 .
B u i. 2 6 7 . A n t h r a x a s a n o c c u p a t i o n a l d i s e a s e .
(R e v is e d .)
B u i. 2 7 6 . S t a n d a r d iz a tio n o f in d u s t r ia l a c c id e n t s t a t i s t i c s .
B u i. 2 8 0 . I n d u s t r i a l p o i s o n i n g i n m a k in g c o a l t a r d y e s a n d
b u ild in g .
R e v is io n
d y e in te r m e d ia t e s .
of
[In
p r e s s .]
C o n c ilia t io n
and
A r b itr a tio n
(in c lu d in g
str ik e s
and
lockouts).
* B u i. 1 2 4 . C o n c i l i a t i o n a n d a r b i t r a t i o n i n t h e b u i l d i n g t r a d e s o f G r e a t e r N e w Y o r k .
B u i. 1 3 3 . R e p o r t o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l c o u n c i l o f t h e B r i t i s h B o a r d o f T r a d e o n i t s i n
q u ir y in t o
in d u s tr ia l a g r e em e n ts.
B u i. 1 3 9 . M ic h i g a n c o p p e r d i s t r i c t s t r i k e .
B u i. 1 4 4 . I n d u s t r i a l c o u r t o f t h e c lo a k , s u i t , a n d s k i r t i n d u s t r y o f N e w Y o r k C i t y .
B u i. 1 4 5 . C o n c i l i a t i o n , a r b i t r a t i o n , a n d s a n i t a t i o n i n t h e d r e s s a n d w a i s t i n d u s t r y o f
N e w Y o r k C ity .
B u i. 1 9 1 . C o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g i n t h e a n t h r a c i t e c o a l i n d u s t r y .
B u i . 1 9 8 . C o l l e c t i v e a g r e e m e n t s i n t h e m e n ’s c l o t h i n g i n d u s t r y .
B u i. 2 3 3 . O p e r a t i o n oil t h e I n d u s t r i a l D i s p u t e s I n v e s t i g a t i o n A c t o f C a n a d a .
Labor Laws of the United
-
S ta te s
( in c lu d in g d e c is io n s o f c o u r ts r e la t in g
to
la b o r ).
* B u i.
B u i.
* B u i.
* B u i.
111.
112.
148.
152.
L ab or le g is la tio n o f 1 9 1 2 .
D e c is io n s o f c o u r ts a n d o p in io n s a f fe c t in g la b o r , 1 9 1 2 .
L a b o r la w s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s , w it h d e c is io n s o f c o u r ts r e la t in g t h e r e to .
D e c is io n s o f c o u r ts a n d o p in io n s a f fe c t in g la b o r , 1 9 1 3 .
* B u i.
* B u i.
* B u i.
* B u i.
B u i.
166.
169.
186.
189.
211.
L a b o r le g is la t io n o f 1 9 1 4 .
D e c is o n s
c o u r ts a f fe c t in g la b o r , 1 9 1 4 .
L a b o r le g is la tio n o f 1 9 1 5 .
D e c is io n s o f c o u r ts a f fe c t in g la b o r , 1 9 1 5 .
L a b o r l a w s a n d t h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n in t h e P a c i f i c S t a t e s .
* B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
213.
224.
229.
244.
246.
257.
258.
277.
L a b o r le g is la t io n o f 1 9 1 6 .
D e c i s i o n s o f c o u r t s a f f e c t i n g la b o r , 1 9 1 6 .
W a g e -p a y m e n t le g is la t io n in t h e U n it e d S t a te s .
L a b o r le g is la tio n o f 1 9 1 7 .
D e c i s i o n s o f c o u r t s a f f e c t i n g la b o r , 1 9 1 7 .
L a b o r le g is la t io n o f 1 9 1 8 .
D e c i s i o n s o f c o u r t s a n d o p i n i o n s a f f e c t i n g la b o r , 1 9 1 8 .
L a b o r le g is la tio n o f 1 9 1 9 .
[ I n p r e s s .]
Foreign Labor Laws.
B u i. 1 4 2 . A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f l a b o r l a w s
and
fa c to r y in s p e c tio n
in
c e r ta in
E u rop ean
c o u n t r ie s .
Voeatienal
E d u c a tio n .
B u i . 1 4 5 . C o n c i l i a t i o n , a r b i t r a t i o n , a n d s a n i t a t i o n in t h e d r e s s a n d w a i s t i n d u s t r y o f
N e w Y o r k C it y .
* B u i. 1 4 7 . W a g e s a n d r e g u l a r i t y o f e m p l o y m e n t i n t h e c lo a k , s u i t , a n d s k i r l i n d u s t r y .
B u i. 1 5 9 . S h o r t - u n i t c o u r s e s f o r w a g e e a r n e r s , a n d a f a c t o r y s c h o o l e x p e r i m e n t .
B u i. 1 6 2 . V o c a t io n a l e d u c a tio n s u r v e y o f R ic h m o n d , V a .
B u i. 1 9 9 . V o c a t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n s u r v e y o f M in n e a p o li s .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[IV ]
Labor as
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
A ffe cte d b y th e W a r.
170.
219.
221.
222.
223.
230.
237.
249.
F o r e ig n fo o d p r ic e s a s a ffe c te d b y t h e w a r .
I n d u s t r ia l p o is o n s u se d or p r o d u c e d in th e m a n u fa c tu r e o f e x p lo s iv e s .
H o u r s , f a t i g u e , a n d h e a l t h in B r i t i s h m u n i t i o n f a c t o r i e s .
W e l f a r e w o r k in B r i t i s h m u n i t i o n f a c t o r i e s .
E m p lo y m e n t o f w o m e n a n d j u v e n ile s in G r e a t B r it a in d u r in g t h e w a r .
I n d u s t r i a l e ff i c i e n c y a n d f a t i g u e in B r i t i s h m u n i t i o n f a c t o r i e s .
I n d u s t r ia l u n r e s t in G r e a t B r ita in .
I n d u s t r i a l h e a l t h a n d e f f ic ie n c y .
F in a l re p o r t o f B r itis h H e a lth o f M uni
t i o n W o r k e r s C o m m it t e e .
B u i. 2 5 5 . J o i n t i n d u s t r i a l c o u n c i l s in G r e a t B r i t a i n .
M is c e lla n e o u s S e r ie s .
* B u i. 1 1 7 . P r o h i b i t i o n o f n i g h t w o r k o f y o u n g p e r s o n s .
* B u i . 1 1 8 . T e n - h o u r m a x im u m w o r k i n g - d a y f o r w o m e n a n d y o u n g p e r s o n s .
* B u i. 1 2 3 . E m p lo y e r s * w e l f a r e w o r k .
B u i. 1 5 8 . G o v e r n m e n t a i d t o h o m e o w n i n g a n d h o u s i n g o f w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n f o r e i g n
c o u n t r ie s .
* B u i.
* B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
159.
167.
170.
174.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
B u i.
208.
222.
242.
250.
B u i. 2 5 4 .
B u i. 2 6 3 .
B u i. 2 6 6 .
S h o r t - u n i t c o u r s e s f o r w a g e e a r n e r s , a n d a f a c t o r y s c h o o l e x p e r im e n t .
M in im u m - w a g e l e g i s l a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s .
F o r e ig n fo o d p r ic e s a s a ffe c te d by t h e w a r .
S u b je c t in d e x o f t h e p u b lic a t io n s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f L ab or
S t a tis tic s up to M ay 1, 1 9 1 5 .
P r o f it s h a r i n g i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
W e lf a r e w o r k in B r it is h m u n itio n f a c t o r ie s .
F o o d s i t u a t i o n in C e n t r a l E u r o p e , 1 9 1 7 .
W e l f a r e w o r k f o r e m p lo y e e s in i n d u s t r i a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t s i n t h e U n it e d
S ta te s.
I n t e r n a t io n a l la b o r le g is la t io n a n d t h e s o c ie t y o f n a t io n s .
H o u s i n g b y e m p lo y e r s in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
[ I n p r e s s .]
P r o c e e d i n g s o f S e v e n t h A n n u a l C o n v e n t i o n o f G o v e r n m e n t a l L a b o r O ff ic ia ls
o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a .
[ I n p r e s s .]
B u i. 2 6 8 . H i s t o r i c a l s u r v e y o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t i o n
B u i. 2 7 1 . A d u lt w o r k in g -c la s s e d u c a tio n in G r e a t
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[V]
a f f e c t i n g la b o r .
B r ita in a n d th e
U n it e d
S ta te s.
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fo r
th e
U n it e d
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E m p lo y m e n t
S e r v ic e .
1 9 1 8 -1 9 .
B o o t s a n d s h o e s , h a r n e s s a n d sa d d le r y , a n d ta n n in g .
C a n e - s u g a r r e f i n i n g a n d flo u r m i l l i n g .
C o a l a n d w a te r g a s , p a in t a n d v a r n is h , p a p e r , p r in tin g t r a d e s , a n d ru b b er g o o d s.
E le c tr ic a l m a n u f a c t u r in g , d is tr ib u t io n , a n d m a in te n a n c e .
L o g g in g c a m p s a n d s a w m ills .
M e d ic i n a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g .
M e ta l w o r k in g , b u ild in g a n d g e n e r a l c o n s tr u c t io n , r a ilr o a d t r a n s p o r t a t io n , a n d s h ip
b u i ld in g .
M in e s a n d m in i n g .
O ffic e e m p lo y e e s .
S la u g h t e r in g a n d m e a t p a c k in g .
S t r e e t r a ilw a y s .
T e x t ile s a n d c lo th in g .
W a ter tr a n s p o r t a t io n .
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