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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C E R T IF IC A T E
This publication is issued pursuant to the
provisions of the sundry civil act (41 Stats.
1430) approved March 4, 1921.
ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D. C.
AT
15 GENTS P E R COPY
S u b s c r ip t io n P r ic e P e r Y e a r
U n it e d S t a t e s , C a n a d a , M e x ic o , $1.50; O t h e r C o u n t r i e s , $2.25
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Contents
Special articles:
page
Trade-union provision for sick, aged, and disabled members and for
dependents_________________________________________________
1-16
Workmen’s compensation legislation of 1927________________________ 17-33
Public service retirement systems in Great Britain and France______33-42
Labor turnover:
Labor turnover in American factories during 1926 and 1 927_______
43
Industrial relations and labor conditions:
Recommendations of President regardingcoal-mining situation______
44
Annual report of the Secretary of Labor, 1926-27___________________ 44-47
Indexes of the economic progress of the United States, 1922 to 1927.
48
Results of Canadian industrial disputes investigation act, 1907 to
1925------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48-53
Suggestions from employees________________________________________ 54-57
Suiting the speed of the machine to the worker_____________________ 57 , 58
English miners’ welfare fund, 1926_________________________________ 58-60
Women in industry:
Hours and earnings of women in New York laundries_______________ 61, 62
Married women in industry in Binghamton, N. Y __________________ 62, 63
Child labor:
Illinois— Accidents to employed minors_____________________________
64
Pennsylvania— Compensated accidents to working children__________ 64-66
Industrial accidents:
The newer industrial-accident prevention and workmen’s compen
sation problem, by Ethelbert Stewart, United States Commissioner
of Labor Statistics________________________________________________ 67 -7 3
Accident rates, by type of injury, for various injuries, 1926_________ 73-80
No-accident campaign among manufacturers of Erie, P a____________
81
New York— Industrial accidents in 1926-27________________________ 81-83
Industrial hygiene :
Study of hazards of spray coating___________________________________ 84-89
Carbon-monoxide hazard in commercial garages and automobile
repair shops_____________________________________________________ 89 90
Peru— Hygienic conditions in mines________________________________ 99, 91
Workmen’s compensation and social insurance:
Recent workmen’s compensation reports—
Hawaii________________________________________________________
92
Nevada--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------92, 93
Tennessee______________________________________________________ 93 94
Texas_________________________________________________________
94
Vermont--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------- 94, 95
Brazil— Pension fund for port workers______________________________
95
Germany— Position of social insurance____________________________ 95-100
Queensland— Unemployment insurance___________________________ 100-102
Worker’s education and training:
Progress in industrial education, 1924 to 1926____________________ 103, 104
Great Britain— Apprenticeship in the printing trades_____________ 104-106
Labor organizations and congresses:
Chile— Decree relative to trade-unionism___________________________
107
Chile— Trade-union congress_______________________________________
107
France— National congress of General Confederation of Labor____ 107—109
Great Britain— Membership of trade-unions______________________ 109, 110
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IV
CONTENTS
Industrial disputes:
page
Strikes and lockouts in the United States in November, 1927_____ 111-116
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in November, 1927- 116-119
Mexico—-Establishment of Federal Conciliation and Arbitration Board.
120
Wages and hours of labor:
Reporting-time and minimum pay in building-trades agreements. _ 121-127
New York— Office workers’ earnings..________ ___________________ 128, 129
Argentina— Hours of work in Buenos Aires_________________________
129
Mexico— Eight-hour day for commercial workers_________________ 129, 130
Spain— Eight-hour day in mines._____ _____________________________
130
Trend of employment:
Employment in selected manufacturing industries, November, 1927. 131-142
Employment and pay-roll totals on Class I railroads, October, 1926,
and September and October, 1927_____________________________ 142, 143
Massachusetts— Unemployment of organized building-trades work
ers____________________________________________________________ 143-145
State reports on employment—
California___________________________________________________ 145, 146
Illinois______________________________________________________ 147, 148
Iowa__________________________________________________________
149
Maryland_____________________________________________________
150
Massachusetts_________________________________________________
151
New Jersey_________________________________________________ 152, 153
153-155
New York____________________________________________
Pennsylvania_______________________________________________ 155, 156
Wisconsin___________________________________________________ 157, 158
Chile— Unemployment_____________________________________________
158
Wholesale and retail prices:
Retail prices of food in the United States________________________ 159-179
Retail prices of coal in the United States_________________________ 180-182
Index numbers of wholesale prices in November, 1927____________ 183, 184
Sources and frequency of price quotations used in constructing revised
index numbers of wholesale prices-----------------------------------------------185
Comparison of retail-price changes in the United States and in foreign
countries______________________________________________________ 186-188
Cost of living:
Netherlands— Study of family budgets in Amsterdam, 1923-24_____ 189-191
Labor awards and decisions:
Awards and decisions—
Ferryboatmen— California railway lines--------------------------------- 192, 193
Railroads— Decisions of Train Service Boards of Adjustment.. 193-195
Railway clerks— Chicago & North Western Railway Co______195, 196
Railway clerks— Wabash Railway Co-----------------------------196
Signalmen— Louisville & Nashville Railroad_________________ 196-198
Immigration and emigration:
Statistics of immigration for October,1927------------------------------------ 199-202
Labor representatives’ agreement on restriction of Mexican immi
gration__________________________________________________________
202
Activities of State labor bureaus:
California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont,
and Wisconsin___________________________________________________
203
Publications relating to labor:
Official— United States__________________________________________ 204, 205
Official— Foreign countries_______________________________________ 205-207
Unofficial________________________________________________________ 207-211
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
This Issue in Brief
Labor organizations have greatly expanded their original field of
activities, and not only provide various ‘'benefits” for their members,
but have also undertaken measures to improve their members’
economic position, social or protective measures, etc. A survey by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of trade-union provision for sick,
aged, and disabled members shows that 61 international unions paid
benefits for death, or sickness, disability7", old-age, etc., amounting to
more than ten and one-half million dollars last year. Payments of
insurance of various kinds amounted to more than twelve millions.
Since these unions began paying benefits and insurance, more than
$300,000,000 has been disbursed (p. 1).
A liberal policy on the subject of workmen's compensation was
followed during 1927 by the legislatures of 31 States, 2 Territories,
and the Congress of the United States, the laws having been extended
to cover more workmen, to increase benefits, or to make the laws
more effective and just. The study on page 17 analyzes the changes
made by the legislation of 1927.
President Coolidge, in his message to Congress, December 6, 1927,
recommended, that legislation be enacted authorizing Federal control
°f fuel distribution as well as a Federal board of mediation and con
ciliation in case of actual or threatened interruption to coal mining
(p. 44).
The Canadian Industrial Disputes Investigation Act has been very
successful in averting or settling controversies between employers
and workers in cases where the machinery of the act has been invoked,
according to a, study recently published by the Russell Sage Founda
tion. An article on page 48 reviews the operation of the act, and
also the attitude of labor and of employers toward it.
Provisions fo r minimum pay fo r any work done in a day, and pay
for reporting when no work is furnished, appear in many trade-union
agreements. The results of an examination of 544 building-trades
union agreements in many of the principal industrial cities of the
United States with respect to these provisions are shown on page 121.
Systematic plans fo r suggestions by employees to stimulate their inter
est in the industry are a feature of the industrial relations plans of
many companies. A recent study of the plans of about 60 firms
shows that the awards are relatively small, as about 90 per cent of
all suggestions receive only the minimum award, or little more.
The plans seem, however, to be regarded as worth the effort they
entail, since in most cases where plans were found to have been
discontinued it was due to causes having no relation to the plan
(p. 54).
A study of the health hazards o f spray coating, recently completed
by a committee appointed by the National Safety Council, shows
that there are three distinct hazards in this process according to the
kind of paint employed. These are the dangers of lead poisoning,
benzol poisoning, and silicosis, the latter disease occurring in the
enameling of sanitary ware, castings, etc., in which the paint often
contains a large amount of free silica. Prevention lies in the eliminav
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VI
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
tion so far as possible of these dangerous substances, or, when this
is impossible, in adequate exhaust ventilation and general good house
keeping in the plant (p. 84).
Carbon monoxide is a hazard in any inclosed, ill-ventilated space into
which the exhaust gases from internal-combustion engines are being
discharged. Tests carried out by the New York Bureau of Indus
trial Hygiene in 71 commercial garages and repair shops showed a
general lack of adequate ventilation and, as a result, a concentration
of carbon monoxide in the air in a number of instances in excess of
the amount which can ordinarily be tolerated when there is exposure
to the gas during a whole working-day (p. 89).
The married woman must be accepted as a factor in industry to be
reckoned with, according to the New York Bureau of Women in
Industry. A study recently made in Binghamton, N. Y., showed
that 48.5 per cent of the woman workers were married, against 45.2
per cent who were single and 6.3 per cent who were widowed, divorced,
or separated. In individual industries the proportion of the married
ran as high as 55, 58, and 62 per cent (p. 62).
Greater activity was shown in the study of industrial education
problems in the United States from 1924 to 1926 than in any previous
biennium. Courses were multiplied and enrollments expanded.
Much attention wTas given to the means of making the manual arts
a more important factor in public education (p. 103).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY
LABOR REVIEW
OF
U.
S. B U R E A U
VOL. 26, NO. 1
OF
LABOR
WASHINGTON
S T A T IS T IC S
J a n u a r y , 1928
Trade-Union Provision for Sick, Aged, and Disabled Members,
and for Dependents
FIE Bureau of Labor Statistics has recently begun a study of
the various fields of activity which have been entered by the
trade-unions of the country. As is generally known, labor
organizations have gradually extended their scope, in many cases
far beyond the original rather restricted field of concern for wages,
hours, and working conditions. Since the fields so entered are so
many and various, it was decided to cover one at a time, beginning
with the provision made for the sick, aged, or disabled members
and for the dependents. This seemed the logical place to begin,
since after collective bargaining is gained by the organization the
provision of “ benefits” is usually the next step. Then may be under
taken measures intended to improve the workers' economic position,
such as the establishment of labor banks, credit unions from which
members may obtain loans, building and loan associations, legal aid
departments; construction of homes; supply of services or goods by
such means as mail-order buying, cooperative stores, etc. Or, unions
may include social or protective measures, such as the establishment
of various kinds of insurance, of definite health services, etc., or
educational or recreational activities. Finally, as conditions in the
industry become more or less stabilized, and the union ceases to have
to fight for its very existence, union leaders have greater leisure to con
sider broader problems, those of the industry and even of society
in general. At the unemployment conference sponsored by organ
ized labor, which was held in the spring of 1927, one labor representa
tive expressed himself to the effect that “ The time has passed when
trade-unions could coniine their efforts to strictly organizational
matters, and every union should now have its affairs so arranged
that its officers will have time to devote to the big economic and
industrial issues, such as unemployment.”
T
General Trade-union Benefits
1WÎOST unions pay some kind of trade-union “ benefits.” The first
benefit usually provided is the strike and lockout benefit; then
generally are undertaken the “ welfare” benefits—payment of vary
ing amounts in case of the death of a member, in case he becomes
disabled for work from injury or illness, or is temporarily debarred
from working at his trade because of sickness. The death benefit
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1]
1
2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
is the welfare benefit most generally found; sickness and disability
benefits are paid in about equal numbers of cases, and finally, among
the welfare benefits, are found a few unions which pay for tuber
culosis or for special disablements common to the trade, as for
instance, loss of sight, by the granite cutters. Assistance to members
in time of unemployment is another function often undertaken by
labor organizations.
The present study has been confined to the national and inter
national unions. Many local unions also pay benefits of various
kinds, but to attempt to collect data concerning all these would be a
prohibitive task. Inquiries were sent to each of the national and
international unions known to be making some provision for sick,
aged, or disabled members, personal visits also being made to a
number of organizations whose activities covered a large range.
Of the 96 unions of nation-wide scope which were known to have or
to have had some form of welfare benefit, data were secured from 75.
Of these, 61 pay benefits for death, 13 for disability, 13 for sickness,
13 make some provision for aged members, and 19 have some form
of insurance. Eight unions paj^ tuberculosis benefits or provide for
treatment of the tubercular. Seven organizations maintain homes
for the aged and disabled, and two of these also maintain a tuberculosis
sanatorium in connection with the home. The increasing popularity
of group insurance is indicated by the fact that two unions have
substituted such insurance for the death benefit formerly paid, the
Pattern Makers’ League now has the adoption of such insurance
under consideration, and the International Photo-Engravers’ Union
of North America, at its 1927 convention, unanimously decided to
substitute for its present $200 death benefit, group insurance of
$1,000; and this action was ratified by a referendum vote of the
general membership. The members of the Brotherhood of Railway
Carmen have recently been circularized to obtain their views upon a
suggested plan of group insurance. The ladies’ auxiliary of the Order
of Railroad Telegraphers at the 1927 meeting also adopted a group
insurance plan.
The pharmacists discontinued their death benefits December 1,
1927, while those of the National Window Glass Cutters were
abolished by action of their convention held in May, 1927, The
benefits of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin
Workers, and of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
were discontinued in 1926. In other unions, however, the establish
ment of new benefits or an increase in the amount of the old benefits
is being advocated.
In the majority of cases all members in good standing are entitled
to benefits by virtue of their membership in the organization, the
cost being covered by the general trade-union dues. In some cases,
as for instance where insurance is provided by the union, the mem
ber may be required to take this protection, paying an additional
amount to cover the cost.1 In certain other cases, participation in a
specified benefit is optional.
Table 1 shows for each trade-union from which data were secured
the kind of benefits paid, the year when each kind of benefit was
1
The right of a union to make this requirement and to expel any member who refuses to comply has
been upheld by the court.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2]
TRADE-UNION BENEFITS FOR SICK, AGED, ETC.
3
established, the amount of the benefit, and in the case of weekly
benefits the number of weeks for which payable.
This table covers benefits paid for death, disability, sickness,
tuberculosis, old age, etc., and any special provision made for depend
ents of deceased members. Because of the scope of the subject, the
measures taken by certain unions to provide homes for their aged or
disabled members or treatment in a union or private sanatorium for
those afflicted with tuberculosis will be discussed in a later article.
Such cases have been indicated in the table by a star.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3]
4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 1 . — Y E A R OF EST A BLISH M EN T AND AMOUNT OF EA CH KIND
[Items marked * will be
Death benefit
Union
When
estab
lished
Disability benefit
Sick benefit
Amount of When
of When
estab Amount
estab
benefit
benefit
lished
lished
Bakery and confectionery workers........ 1909
Barbers..........................................._•______
«
Blacksmiths and drop forgers............... 1919
Boot and shoe workers.................... .......
1900
Bookbinders___________
8 1920
Brick and clay workers________ ____ _ « 1915
Bricklayers, masons, and plasterers___
(3)
Bridge and structural-iron workers___
1903
/1 $501 2 2710050100-
$350 } ..........
75
500
300
200 1906 $100 to $200
75
7 200
Broom and whisk makers.»...................
Butcher workmen ............................
Carpenters and joiners............................
Cigar makers......................... ....................
1893
(3)
(3)
1881
75- 200
300
/ 1 50- 300
l 2 25- 75 11882
100- 500 1881
Commercial telegraphers.....................
1922
75- 125
1906
1922
(3)
(3)
1913
1922
« 1891
400- 750
300-1, 000
>o 200
100
100
50- 300
500
(3)
100- 400
1920
1895
Rate of
payment
$10 per week..
(3)
1900
$5 per week 4__
1881
$7 per w eek ...
$25 p er
month.
$50 to $400.
$100 to
$400.8
Conductors, railway.............................. .
Diamond workers..........................
Electrical w orkers................
Flint-glass w orkers........ ...........
Foundry employees..... ...........
Fur workers................
Garment workers (United)
Glass-bottle blowers
Granite cutters_______ ______
Hatters............... .............................
Headgear workers______
Hod carriers________ _____
Hosiery workers___
Hotel and restaurant employees
Iron, steel, and tin workers___
Lace operatives..........
Lathers... ..............
Leather workers. _
Lithographers____________
1907
77 1909
P 2 100- 300 1
V3 100- 150 / ..........
1903
50- 100
1922
1, 000
1902
75
B 1903 } 100- 500 73 1916
V 1909
000
1892 \/ 12200-1,
25- 50 )} ..........
1902
50- 400
73 75- 200
(3)
1883
100-1,000
$750 flat
sum.
per week72..
1912 /$7
\$5 per week 73__
o)
78 1908
$5 per week.. .
(3)
$7 per week 73.
Locomotive engineers_____
Locomotive firemen and enginemen__
1914
Machinists____ _
Maintenance-of-way employees
Metal polishers______
(3)
1920
1910
Molders..................................
1880
225
1926
50- 300
50- 300 78 1920
50- 200
600- 700
1880
($50 per
m o n th
during
disabil
ity.
$50 to $300.
f$600 to
l $700.
\ 1896
1 Members.
2 Wives.
3 NQt reported.
4 After first week.
8 Present rate.
6 Discontinued for group insurance.
7 $400 in Chicago district.
3 Any member of 20 years’ standing disabled “ from general causes” receives $350.
” Subject to an all-time maximum of $350,
70 Raised to $300 in 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4]
( $ 5 .2 0 p e r
1 week.78
|$ 7 .6 0 p e r
[ week 78
TRADE-UNION BENEFITS FOR SICK, AGED, ETC.
5
OF W E L F A R E B E N E F IT PAID B Y S P E C IF IE D TRADE-UNIONS
discussed in detail in a later article]
Miscellaneous benefits
Sick
period
for
which
paid
When
estab
lished
Kind of benefit
16 weeks.
__
13 weeks.
Old-age pension*___
____do*.___________
Home for aged*____
1915
1920
Rate of
payment
Bakery and confectionery workers.
Barbers.
Blacksmiths and drop forgers.
Boot and shoe workers.
Bookbinders.
Brick and clay workers.
$7 per week__ Life____ Bricklayers, masons, and plasterers.
$25 per month. ...d o ....... Bridge and structural-iron workers.
Broom and whisk makers.
Butcher workmen.
Life____ Carpenters and joiners.
Cigar makers.
1928
9 10 weeks
[Home for aged*__
1“ Relief” ................. .
Optical c a re ______
Old-age pension*___
Old-age pension*___
Union
Period
for which
paid
Commercial telegraphers.
Life.. . .
[Left
to
[Not to exceed I discre- •Conductors, railway.
(3) 1 $50 p e r 1 tion of
[ month.
( board.
Diamond workers.
1910 $3 every 2 years
Electrical workers.
$40
per
month.
Life
1927
Flint-glass workers.
Foundry empioyees.
Fur workers.
Garment workers (United).
Glass-bottle blowers.
Granite cutters.
1905 $60 per y e a r... Life.
1927
Hatters.
j-7 weeks.. Tuberculosis*______
1917
$75 14. ........ .
13 weeks.
Lace operatives.
Lathers.
Leather workers.
Lithographers.
10 weeks.
Home for aged*__
' Old-age pension*___
(Home for aged*__
Old-age pension*___
Tuberculosis*_____
“ Benevolent”
__
Headgear workers.
Hod carriers.
Hosiery workers.
,
Hotel and restaurant employees.
Iron, steel, and tin workers.
L ife ....
1891
to $65 per j-_do....... •Locomotive engineers.
1913 \f$25
month.
__d o ....1891
1920 $30 to $70 per ...d o ___
month.
Disabil
1920 $75 47_.......... .
Locomotive firemen and enginemen.
ity.
1900 $50 per month. Left to
discre
tion of
board.
Machinists.
Maintenance-of-way employees.
Metal polishers.
Molders.
jl3 weeks.
11 Pay only for disability caused by loss of sight.
12 Men.
13Women.
14 “ Once in a lifetime.”
15 Discontinued, 1926.
16 Benefit discontinued; only older members now receive it.
17 Per month if not in sanitorium; if in sanitorium not to exceed $100 per month plus $10 for personal
expenses.
18 “ Honorary” members; i. e., in good standing but not working at the trade.
19 Regular members.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[5]
6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able
1.—Y E A R OF EST A BLISH M EN T AND AMOUNT OP EA CH KIND
Death benefit
Union
When
estab
lished
Paper makers__
. 1911
Pattern makers..
. 1005
Pharmacists____
. “ 1900
Photo-engravers.
1903
Plate printers and die stampers_____
1924
Plumbers and steam fitters_________
1902
Pocket-book makers________________
Post-office clerks (National Federa
tion.
Potters...... .........................................
1911
$50- $300
50- 400 1905
100
f
20100 ) . . . . . .
J
(3)
150- 500
$50 to $400.
1905
“ 1900
Rate of
payment
$4 per week__
$7.50 per week.
1902
$5 per week__
1913
$10 per week 4.
($2.50
to
$4.00 per ■ 1907
[ week.32
$5 per week 32_
50- 300
1892
75- 500
Printing pressmen....................................
1906
100- 700
Quarry workers..................... ..................
Railroad signalmen........ .........................
0)
1923
50- 125
Railroad trainmen.
1912
20 300
Railway and steamship clerks...........
Railway workers (American Federa
tion) .
Retail clerks...........................................
Roofers and waterproof workers.........
Sheet-metal workers........... ...................
Shoe w orkers........... ................... .......
1922
1905
100-1, 500
100
(25)
1923
(25)
23 25- 200
200
100- 500
100
Stereotypers and electrotypers.
1904
200-300
Stove mounters........... ............................
Street and eleptric railway employees."
Switchmen......................................
(3)
1892
(3)
22 150
50- 800
300
Tailors.
1889
20- 100
Textile workers_____
Train dispatchers___
Wall-paper crafts____
Window-glass cutters.
1907
1925
1923
1919
25- 25
33 300-1,000
50- 300
100
1892
(3)
50 to 8 00...
1
3 Not reported.
4 After first week.
20 Apprentices.
21 Journeymen.
22 And $20 for medical examination.
23 Treatment in sanatorium at cost not to exceed $18 per week.
24 Treatment in union’s sanatorium.
28 Varies according to membership; 10 cents for every participating member.
28 Maximum.
27 All expenses of treatment in sanatorium.
23 Prior to 1905 paid a fiat sum of $100 after 1 year’s membership.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sick benefit
Amount of When Amount of When
estab
estab
benefit
benefit
lished
lished
Printers.
231905
(3)
(3)
1901
Disability benefit
[6]
TRADE-UNION BEN EFITS FOR SICK, AGED, ETC.
7
OF W E L F A R E B E N E F IT PAID B Y S P E C IFIE D TRADE-UNIONS—Continued
Sick
benefit,
period
for
which
paid
Miscellaneous benefits
Kind of benefit
When
estab
lished
13 weeks.
10 weeks.
Tuberculosis*........ __
(3)
13 weeks.
__ do____
“ Relief”
Tuberculosis*
[Home for aged*. __
1Old-age pension*___
|Tuberculosis sanal torium.*
[Home for aged*____
1Old-age pension*___
1 Tuberculosis sanal torium.*
Old-age pension*___
1913
1891
1907
1891
lHome for aged* __ .
1Old age and disabil1 ity pension.*
Tuberculosis______
[“ Benevolent*”____
1891
(3)
(»)
1925
1916
(3)
1923
1895
[Tuberculosis sana< torium, supported 1 1903
l by locals.*
Old-age pension*___
30
Rate of
payment
Union
Period
for which
paid
Paper makers.
Pattern makers.
Pharmacists.
$15 per month32
Photo-engravers.
Plate printers and die stampers.
Plumbers and steam fitters.
(c )
(c)
Pocket-book makers.
Post-office clerks (National Federa
tion.
(23)
6 months Potters.
Life.. . . j
$8 per w eek ... ...d o ___ 1
Disabil- |■Printers.
(2 4 )
ity.
1
$7 per week.. . ...d o ___ 1 •Printing pressmen.
Disabil- 1
(2 4 )
ity.
j
Quarry workers.
Railroad signalmen.
Life
]
I$35 to $70 per j-.d o ___ 1
\ month.
/Disabil- 1Railroad trainmen.
(27)
l ity(•)
(«)
)
Railway and steamship clerks.
Railway workers (American Federa
tion.
Retail clerks.
Roofers and waterproof workers.
Sheet-metal workers.
Shoe workers.
jDisabil- |
J-.Stereotypers and electrotypers.
1912 $800lump sum.
10 weeks.
Stove mounters.
Street and electric railway employees.
Switchmen.
Tailors.
Textile workers.
Train dispatchers.
Wall-paper crafts.
Window-glass cutters.
58$500 after Jan. 1, 1928.
80In present form.
31 Payable for 10 weeks each year for 3 years, after having received 2 years’ sick benefits; disability bene
fits amount to $4 per week for first year, $3.50 per week for second year, and $2.50 per week for third year.
32 Subject to an all-time limit of $200.
33 Varies according to membership of benefit association; death benefit, $1 for each member at time of
death.
° Discontinued, December, 1927.
b Not yet in operation.
« Left to discretion of board.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7]
8
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
Death benefits.—As is seen, the benefits vary considerably as
between unions. Thus, death benefits 2 payable upon the demise
of members vary from $20 to $1,500, with $50 the most common
minimum and $200 and $300 the most common maximums. Bene
fits payable upon the death of a member’s wife are much lower.
Where a range of benefits is shown, the amount payable is predicated
upon length of membership in the union. Thus, for example, the
International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop Forgers, and
Helpers pays $50 upon the death of a member who has belonged to
the union one year, gradually increasing the amount as the years of
membership increase, up to 10 years’ membership when the maximum
amount, $300, is payable. The unions for which the bureau has
data usually require one year’s membership before the member
becomes eligible for death benefits; others, like the Boot and Shoe
Workers’ Union, the Cigar Makers’ International Union, and Retail
Clerks’ International Protective Association pay such benefits after
three months’ affiliation, while the United Hatters has a nonbene
ficiary period of two years. The photo-engravers stand alone in per
mitting apprentices to receive the death benefit. Anywhere from
2 to 30 years’ membership is necessary to secure the maximum benefit
of the various organizations. In the case of the International Hod
Carriers, Building and Common Laborers’ Union the maximum
benefit is attained after two years’ membership, but only if the de
ceased had not- passed his fiftieth birthday at the time of his initiation
into the union.
In the case of the death of a member who can not pass the medical
examination entitling to insurance, the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men pays the expenses of the last illness and of the funeral, the total
so expended being limited to $300.
Disability benefits.—In most cases where disability benefits are
maintained, a flat sum is paid to the incapacitated members, the
amount quite generally varying, like that of the death benefit, with
the length of time the beneficiary has been a member of the union.
Fifty dollars is the minimum paid and $800 the maximum. Only
three organizations make weekly or monthly payments for disability.
The International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamen
tal Iron Workers pays disability benefit in cases of disablement by
injury due to the occupation, provided the man has been a member
of the union for 15 yearn; while loss of sight is the only disability
for which payment is made by the Granite Cutters’ International
Association.
A member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
of America who has belonged to the union for one year and who
becomes permanently disabled by reason of an accidental injury,
and is thereafter prevented “ from ever again following the trade for
a livelihood,” becomes eligible to receive a “ disability donation”
varying, according to his length of membership, from $50 to $400.
Permanent disability is defined as total blindness, the loss of an arm
and/or leg, loss of use of a limb, loss of four fingers of one hand, “ or
being afflicted with any physical disability resulting from accidental
injuries.”
2 Variously termed also funeral benefit, burial benefit, mortuary benefit, widows’ and orphans’ benefit.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8]
TRADE-UNION BENEFITS FOR SICK, AGED, ETC.
9
The boot and shoe workers provide that these benefits shall be
paid only after the member, by reason of sickness or disability, has
been incapacitated from work for two years and has drawn his sick
benefit of $5 per week for 13 weeks in each of these two years. In
case of continued disability after exhausting the sick benefit, the
union pays him the sum of $100 as a disability benefit, and this
relieves the union from any further claims of sick or death benefits.
The tailors also provide that disability benefits do not become payable
until after receiving two years’ sick benefits. This union, however,
continues the payment of benefit—calling it a “ disability benefit”—
for 10 weeks in each of the succeeding three years, gradually reducing
the amount per week from $4 to $2.50. At the end of the third
year of disability payments cease.
Any locomotive fireman or engineman in good standing in the
brotherhood who becomes totally incapacitated from performing
any manual labor is entitled to receive during such disability the
sum of $50 per month. Disability is here defined as Bright’s disease,
uncompensated valvular disease of the heart, progressive pernicious
anemia, permanent paralysis of either extremity, locomotor ataxia,
total deafness in both ears, arthritis deformans, diabetes, cancer, or
loss of a hand, foot, or both eyes.
Sick benefits.—Sick benefits vary from $4 to $10 per week, $5
being the most common amount. The benefit period ranges from 7
to 16 weeks, 13 weeks being the most general. The boot and shoe
workers and the National Federation of Post Office Clerks provide
for a waiting period of one week before sick benefits become payable;
in the latter organization membership in the sick benefit fund is
optional and at present covers only about 10 per cent of the members.
Other benefits.—The “ other benefits” listed in the table include tu
berculosis benefit, homes for the aged, old-age pensions, and “ benev
olent” allowances. As the treatment provided by trade-unions for
tubercular and superannuated members will be discussed in a later
issue of the Labor Review, no discussion of particular measures will
be given here. These benefits were included in Tables 1 and 3
merely to give as complete a picture as possible of the union “ welfare”
activities.
“ Benevolent” allowances are those made in cases of claims for
benefits which have been disapproved because they were not payable
under the laws of the organization but which seem to be “ worthy
of charitable consideration.” In such cases the board of directors
of the relief department of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen may at its discretion grant an allowance of not more
than $50 per month, to continue as long as the board determines.
Such cases are, in the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, left to
the discretion of the board as to both amount and period.
The “ relief” granted by the Order of Railway Conductors is ex
tended where needed to “ aged and disabled members and to the wife
or minor dependents of any member adjudged insane while said
member remains under such disability.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9]
10
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Trade-Union Insurance for Members
Many labor organizations, instead of or in addition to the regular
union benefits, have an insurance plan by which members may take
out insurance in case of death, accident, or sickness, or all of these.
In the majority of unions from which data were secured the insurance
is written by a special insurance department of the union; in some
cases, especially where group insurance is carried, this is secured from
one of the two general union insurance companies— the Union Cooper
ative Life Insurance Co. of the electrical workers or the Union Labor
Life Insurance Co. Others obtain the protection from some old-line
insurance company.
In all cases the insurance is limited to members of the union who
are in good standing.
Table 2 below shows the kind of insurance offered to members of
specified unions, when the plan was established, the range of benefits
provided, and the premium cost:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10]
TRADE-UNION BENEFITS FOR SICK, AGED, ETC.
T able
11
2 —KINDS OF INSURANCE PRO VID ED B Y TRADE-UNIONS AND AMOUNT
AND COST OF PO LIC Y
Kind of insur When
estabance
lished
Union
Boilermakers...................... Group life and 1925
disability.1
Brick and clay workers___ Group life____ 1927
Conductors, dining car__ ____do.1______ 1923
[Life and total 1868
1 disability.
Conductors, railway.
(Accident_____ 1919
Conductors, sleeping car.. Life and disability.
Headgear workers______ Group life___
Leather workers.................. Group life 1. . .
1919
Amount of in
surance policy
offered
Mini
mum
Maxi
mum
$1,000
2 $3, 000
Amount of premium
$15 per $1,000 per year.
1,000 (3).
(
4 500 j$8 per year.
\ 5 1, 000
1,000
3,000 $1.50 to $7.50 per month, according
to occupational risk and amount
of policy.
« 1,500
7 2,500 $2.25 to $3.75 per quarter, according
to amount of policy; for 'extrahazardous occupations, $5.25 to
$12 per quarter.
1,000 Assessments as needed.
(3)
$1 per month.
$4 to $8 per year, according to
amount of policy.
$0. 90 to $7.13 per $1,000 per month,
according to age at entrance.
65 cents per month.
1927
1923
600
250
1,000
500
Letter carriers (National .Life...................
Association).
Sickness and
accident.
1891
500
3,000
(Life and loss
of limb or
eye.
[Accident-........
1867
1,500
6,000
Assessment of 50 cents for each
$1,500 of insurance.
1906
9 1,000
19 2,000
1918
1110
11 30
1882
$2.50 to $10 per quarter, according
to amount of policy.
$2.75 to $15 per quarter, according
to amount of policy.
$13.20 per $1,000 per year.
Locomotive engineers.
1911
3 500
Sickness and
medical care.
(Life
and loss
Locomotive firemen and
•j of member.
enginemen.
(Accident-........
500
4,500
1917 121,000
13 2,000
Machinists...........................
1921
500
1923
500
Life and disability.
Group life 1__
500
Post office clerks (Na
tional Federation).
Post office clerks (United ____ do.1______
National Association).
Railroad telegraphers____ Life...................
1898
300
1,000
Railroad trainmen.............
1884
700
5,000
Life and disability.
Railroad yardmasters___ Group life 1__
Railway and steamship Nonôccupaclerks.
tional acci
dent.
(Life_________
_ __do_ ____
Accident..........
Railway mail clerks.
Switchmen
Immediate relief.
Life and disability.
1,500
2,000
(3)
1925
(3)
1,000
500
1874
1924
1898
2,000
1,000
14 4,000
1924
(3)
1,000
425
2,550
$14.40 to $50.40 per year, according
to amount of policy.
50 cents per month.
$1.82 to $11.65 per $1,000 per year,
according to age.
$2.40 to $7.20 per year, according to
amount of policy.
$9.00 to $64.80 per year, according to
amount of policy.
$16.20 per year.
$2.50 per year.
(3).
Assessment of $1.10 per member.
Office and terminal employees,
$9.50 per $1,000 pier year; road
service employees, $12.50 per
$1,000 per year.
$1.10 assessment for each death.
$1.40 to $4.50 per month, according
to size of policy.
1 Through an old-line company.
2 With double indemnity in case of accidental death.
3 No data.
4 Without medical examination.
6 With medical examination.
6 And weekly indemnity of $15 for not to exceed 52 weeks.
7 And weekly indemnity of $25 for not to exceed 52 weeks.
8 Payable at rate of $10 per week.
9And weekly indemnity of $5; after Oct. 1,1927, $10.
10 And weekly indemnity of $30.
11 WTeekly indemnity.
12 And weekly indemnity of $7.
13 And weekly indemnity of $30.
14 And also payment for certain disabilities and accidental death.
Amounts Paid in Benefits and in Insurance
Table 3 shows the amounts paid to beneficiaries for each kind of
benefit by specified labor organizations during the organization’s last
fiscal year and during the whole period since the benefit was adopted.
78271°— 28----- 2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H i]
T a b l e 3 .—AMOUNTS DISBURSED B Y TRA D E-U N I QNS FO R B E N E F IT S OF VARIOUS KINDS DURING UNION'S LA TEST FISC A L Y E A R AND SINCE
___________________
B E N E F IT WAS ESTABLISH ED
t—i
Amounts paid out for each type of benefit in—
Union
Latest fiscal year
Bakery workers..............................
Barbers. .................
Blacksmiths___
Boot and shoe workers___ _____
Bookbinders........
Bricklayers_____
Bridge and structural-iron workers
Broom and whisk makers_____
Carpenters and joiners
Cigar makers__
Commercial telegraphers____
Diamond w ork ers..___
Electrical workers________
Foundry employees_________
Fur workers____ ____
___ _
Garment workers (United)___
Glass-bottle blowers_______
Granite cutters ______________
Hatters. . . . . _ _______
Headgear workers____________
Hod carriers______________
Hosiery workers_____ . . .
Hotel and restaurant employees...
Iron, steel, and tin workers__
Lace operatives______ _________
Lathers. __________ _____
Lithographers_______ ______ ._
Locomotive engineers. ____ . . .
Locomotive firemen and enginemen________________ _ __
Maintenance-of-way employees__
Metal polishers________ _______
Molders___ __________ . . . ____
Paper makers______ ________
Pattern makers ________________
Pharmacists._________ __________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Disability
/ i $21, 462 _________
l
2 3,000 /}
87,818
12,075
37,900
$6,150
35, 600
312, 037
50, 600
0
800
687,825
46,300
254,167
0
2,300
3,250
236, 661
1,800
1,625
24,200
35,500
6 5, 750
36,360
f
\
j
Other
$99,163
213,040
76,850
4 $1,021,858
169,261
i 16,335
s 22, 060
38,400
0
21.300
i 25,225
2 2,750 }
3,600
25,716
44.300
4,575
22,500
89,300
131,278
9,300
289,355
6,025
« 9, 625
950
Sick
25,815
/
{
(12)
13,925
(15)
» 1,350
200, 754
6,046
990
i 988, 519
io 292,254 }
11 73,485
Death
Total
$123,625
300, 858
12,075
120,900
35,600
1,333,895
50, 600
800
734,125
« 423,428
2.300
3,250
236, 661
1,800
1, 625
24,200
35,500
22,085
36,360
23,410
38,400
0
21.300
58,365
3,600
25,716
44.300
988,519
f
X
Disability
i $149,417 ) ..........
2 35, 800
110,719
0
149,500
3,367, 038
0
0
0
7,088,215
9,950
33, 450
1,284,069
0
16,425
86, 600
i 1,500,000
642,453
Sick
Other
$1,116,959
0
$1,302,176
0
$7,160,205
0
0
0
6,218,849
i 241, 044
« $101, 500
w 4, 750
96, 458
f
X
0
13,884
632,425
1 310,690
2 50,350 }
0
200,966
0
23,700
500,420
234,685
89,300
131,278
9.300
504,034
6,025
15, 671
1, 940
557,826
148,600
13 2,210,008
68,546
0
is 3,000
274, 600
i 4,832,567
i 10 1,423,630 |
1,962, 507
(
190,416
0
5,261,019
0
M4,956
110, 719
2,483, 238
149,500
10, 527,243
0
0
10,199,114
« 13,307, 064
9,950
33, 450
1,284, 069
0
16,425
86,600
4 1,500, 000
342, 544
642, 453
101, 208
0
13, 884
632,425
885,160
0
200.966
0
4, 832, 567
f
477,539
Total
2 141, 407
» 73,485
748, 242
148, 600
7, 745, 627
68, 546
0
„
« 7,956
LABOR REVIEW
Izil
Death
Whole period of operation
Printing pressmen______________
Quarry workers _______________
Railroad signalmen__
Railroad trainmen_________
67, 425
9,207
81,690
127,105
“ 4,046
19, 714
18, 255
423, 663
122,661
2,427
2,365
89,173
Railway and steamship clerks____
Retail clerks. ________________
Roofers and waterproof workers___
Sheet-metal workers___ _____ _
Shoe workers. . . . .
Stove mounters _____
Street and electric railway em£2 ployees__________________ ____
05 Tailors.. ____________________
'~J Textile workers_______________ .
Train dispatchers_____
Wall-paper crafts_____________
Window-glass cutters_____
130,000
6,225
8 20,800
4 29,625
6,500
2,100
[13]
. _
Total________________ . . .
(17)
11,200
653,519
9,299
5,925
241
23, 650
(22)
/
l
f
l
io 3,917
7 990i 272 )
(19)
7 60,974 |
O9)
7 900
(
(
1
io 497,753
7 31,080 |
« 1,154,850
44 14,299
7 64,000
I811,200
103,010
67,425
9, 207
208, 795
4,046
754, 222
183,635
3,327
2, 606
780, 031
35, 489
8, 384
1,772,856
21 721,270
130, 000
6,225
8 20, 800
4 29,625
6,500
2,100
421,800
438,608
(3) '
(3)
4 Ì56,000
42,325
0
3,300
700
4,171,363
3,300
700
189, 891
975,097
1 Members.
5, 201,593
(3)
0
227 298
5,546, 934
5,925
10,537,944
48 103,010
0
754 293
(3)
(3)
0
(3 )
19, 714
22,172
201,413, 935
741,169
2Z, 598
(17)
(3 )
373, 658
78,535
44,000
li, 050
•|35 733
301 185
135,733
/ 7 8, 740,’ 939 j
l
(19)
f
7 71,349 |
\
(19)
7 6,350
717
f 10 1,700,678
1
2» 14,287,873
aan
41 83Q
9* 101
sm
K98
17
l44 15, 158Ì 250
421 800
438 008
0
(3 )
4 156 000
42,325
(3)
(22)
44 377,326
7 384,000
6 Q77 767
750 Q84
78 535
44’ 000
14 050
2,000
27,865,875
2,000
680,233
13,711,720
40,080, 771
102,311,174
2Wives.
18 Of this, $15,625 was paid in benefits for those who were killed in the World War.
44 Includes disability benefits also.
16 Included with death benefits.
c Not including disability benefits, payments for which were not reported.
6 Loss of sight only.
7 Old-age benefits.
82-year period.
82-year period; tuberculosis benefit.
10 Tuberculosis benefit.
11 Benevolence allowances.
12 Discontinued Jan. 1, 1926.
17 Also pay tuberculosis benefit, but no data were given as to amount so paid.
18 Not including tuberculosis benefits, payments for which were not reported.
18 Also give tuberculosis treatment in sanatorium maintained by union, but no data as
2 Not reported.
4 Approximate.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
181921-1925 only; data for earlier years not available.
to cost available.
20 Not including cost of tuberculosis treatment, data for which are not available.
2>To Dec. 31, 1926.
22 Included with sick benefit.
“ Belief benefits for sickness and unemployment.
TRADE-UNION B E N E F IT S FOR S IC S , AGED, ETC
Photo-engravers_________ _ _____
Plasterers and cement finishers
(operative)______ __________
Plate printers and die stampers___
Plumbers and steam fitters______
Pocketbook workers___ ______
Post-office clerks (National Federation)____________________ .
Potters_________________________
Printers...... ........................... ..............
-4
H
CO
14
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
Table 4 shows the disbursements for insurance of the various kinds.
T
a ble
4 .—N U M B E R OF IN SU R ED PERSONS AND AMOUNT OF D ISB U R SEM EN TS FO R
EA CH KIND OF IN SURAN CE, B Y S P E C IF IE D TRADE-UNIONS
Amount paid in insurance
Number
insured
Union and kind of insurance
Boilermakers (group life and disability)
Brick and clay workers (group life)____
Conductors, dining car (group life)........
Conductors, railway:
Latest fiscal
year
1 23, 000
1 5, 000
I 800
Life and total disability....................
1 59, 000
Accident___ ____________ __________________________
9, 276
Conductors, sleeping car (life and disability)________ ____
Headgear workers (group life)_________ _________________
Leather workers (group life)_______ _______ __________
Letter carriers:
Life____________ _________ ;_________________________
Sickness and accident _ _________ ________ ____________
Locomotive engineers:
Life___________ _________ __________________________
Accident___ ________ _____ _________________________
Sickness and medical care_______ ____________________
Locomotive firemen and enginemen:
L if e ...............................................................................
1 2, 500
240
1 80
Accident__ _________ _______________________________
3,126
Machinists (life and disability)_____ ‘___________________
Post office clerks (National Federation) (group life)_______
Post office clerks (United National Association) (group life).
Railroad telegraphers (life)_______ _______ _____________
Railroad trainmen (life and disability)________ __________
Railroad yardmasters (group life)________________________
Railway and steamship clerks (nonoccupational accident)..
Railway mail clerks:
L i f e ..._______________ _____________________________
Accident_____ ______ _____ _____ _____________
Immediate relief___________________________________
Switchmen (life and disability)............................................
18, 000
7, 528
Total____________________________________________
Whole period
of operation
$329, 900
$2, 500
21, 555, 224
3 80, 500
4 80, 550
2 52, 375
3 7, 375
{ 112, 466
2, 500
(*)
(6)
........6,"843
37,492,404
929, 770
234, 700
(»)
(6)
5, 503
19,482
147,162
116,464
4, 246, 048
1, 550, 991
(•
)
12, 235
3,168, 383
232, 035
67, 668
63, 605,423
3, 708, 633
350, 932
100, 574
7 32,441.833
2 77, 060
50, 067
183, 622
500
1 7, 000
1, 321, 650
2 5, 005
3 4, 000
* 51, 277
51, 500
25, 000
882,000
236, 760
4, 336, 482
4,000
130, 000
12,964
760
19, 206
958
4,900
127, 738
4, 426
551, 223
12,009, 940
3, 802
6,000
3 44,121
« 295,443
374, 500
76, 000
82, 000
3, 636, 693
74, 686, 741
7, 000
421, 800
5,164, 275
8,880
8, 682
229, 780,672
1 Approximate.
2 Death.
3 Disability.
4 “ Benevolence.”
®Weekly indemnity.
6 Never have had to pay a claim.
7 Includes also payment for certain disabilities.
8Death; also have 3 total disability cases receiving $36 per month for 5 years.
° No data.
8 No payments as yet.
Provision for Dependents of Deceased Members
Closely related to the death or funeral benefits is the question of
provision of assistance to the widow and children. For the death
benefit, whether provision is made for a cash benefit or for payment
of the funeral expenses, is intended to be a measure of immediate
assistance to the family. If this benefit is to be enlarged upon, the
next step is logically a continuing provision for the dependents of
the deceased.
Responsibility in this matter has been definitely assumed by the
International _Printing Pressmen and Assistants’ Union. At the
1926 convention of the union, proposal was made that the union
undertake the raising of a fund to provide for widows with dependent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
114]
TRADE-UNION B E N E F IT S FOR SICK, AGED, ETC .
15
children who have no other means of support. The proposal, it
is stated, was unanimously favored and some $50,000 was subscribed
to the fund in a few minutes. Further funds are being raised by
subscription and members are being asked to contribute $100 each
year for three years. Cottages are to be built, each with its own little
garden plot, at Pressmen’s Home, and it is proposed not only to
make the cottage rent free but also to provide free heat, light, water,
milk, ice, and facilities for canning; free medical and hospital at
tention ; and “ educational facilities both elementary and for technical
trade purposes.” An endowment fund of $1,000,000 is to be raised,
from the interest on which an allowance is to be paid amounting to
$1 per day for the widow and 50 cents for each child. It is hoped
that this can be accomplished within the next three years.
Widows of members of the Order of Railway Conductors and the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners are provided for in
the homes for the superannuated members of these organizations.
Other unions, such as those of the bricklayers, and the railroad
trainmen, provide that upon the death of a retired member in receipt
of the old-age pension paid by the union, payment may be extended
to his widow. The locomotive engineers and firemen provide widows’
pensions through a special pension department. These will be
described in detail in a later article.
Benefits of Local Unions
As already stated, no attempt was made to obtain data as to
benefits paid by locals of the various unions. In some cases, how
ever, the report of the international union contained data as to the
locals also.
Nearly all of the locals of the National Marine Engineers’ Bene
ficial Association pay death benefits, the amounts varying from $100
to $500; three locals, it is reported, are negotiating with union insur
ance companies for group life insurance for their members. About
half of the locals pay sick benefits, averaging $6 per week.
The pattern makers’ local unions pay sick benefits.
The Philadelphia branch of the American Federation of Full
Fashioned Hosiery Workers, which has a local membership of some
5,000 workers, has a beneficial association through which sick bene
fits are paid. From dues, which are $1 per month, benefits of $20
a week for a period of 25 consecutive weeks are paid. Any surplus
left in the treasury at the end of each year is divided equally among
those who drew no benefit during the year. The cost per member
of this benefit during the three years the plan has been in operation
has averaged $7 per year.
The San Antonio local of the street-railway employees’ union pays
sick and disability benefits, its fund being aided by a contribution
of 35 cents per member per month from the employing company.
The amounts paid by the local unions of cigar makers, hotel and
restaurant employees, and street-railway employees during their
latest fiscal year and during the whole period that welfare benefits
have been paid are shown in Table 5.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
T a b l e 5 .—B E N E F IT S PAID B Y LOCALS OF T H R E E IN T ER N A T IO N A L UNIONS
Amounts paid in each kind of benefit
Union and year
Cigar makers:
1Q94- 95
1Q95 96
Death and
disability
__ _________ ___
_______ ____
Hotel and restaurant employees:
1926
............................. ................. ...........
1900-1926
........... -.....................
Street-railway employees:
1Q95
1Q96
18Q9 1926
..... ......... ..............
___ ___ _______
______________
Sick
$242,915
254,167
$174, 817
169,261
16,992
504,089
47, 539
1, 317, 473
8 187,491
8 187, 906
174, 028
157, 400
(*)
Dona
tions 1
Total
$417, 732
423,428
$16,814
2 393,723
81,345
2, 215, 285
361, 519
345,306
4, 026, 278
(9
i Probably equivalent to “ benevolent” or “ relief” allowances.
2 1905-1926.
8 Including payments for old age also.
* Not reported.
Local No. 2 of the National Federation of Federal Employees, after
giving a good deal of consideration to the group insurance policies
offered by various old-line insurance companies, decided to carry the
insurance itself and has adopted an unusual plan. Under its plan
the cost remains unchanged but the benefit varies according to the
age of the member. Each member pays 50 cents per month, en
titling him to benefits varying according to his age at the time of
accepting insurance, as follows:
Benefit
Age
2 0 _ _ $ 3 7 0 . 00
2 1 _ _ _ _ 3 6 0 . 00
2 2 _ _ _ _ 3 5 0 . 00
2 3 _ _ _ _ 3 4 0 . 00
2 4 _ _ _ 3 3 0 . 00
2 5 _ _ _ _ 3 3 0 . 00
2 6 _ _ _ 3 2 0 . 00
2 7 _ _ _ _ 3 1 0 . 00
2 8 - _ _ _ 3 0 0 . 00
2 9 - _ _ _ 2 9 0 . 00
3 0 - - - . 2 9 0 . 00
Benefit
Age
3 1 - . _ $ 2 8 0 . 00
3 2 _ _ _ _ 2 7 0 . 00
3 3 _ - _ _ 2 6 0 . 00
3 4 _ _ _ _ 2 5 0 . 00
3 5 - _ _ _ 2 5 0 . 00
3 6 _ - _ _ 2 4 0 . 00
3 7 _ _ - _ 2 3 0 . 00
3 8 _ _ _ _ 2 2 0 . 00
3 9 _ _ _ _ 2 2 0 . 00
4 0 _ _ - . 2 1 0 . 00
Benefit
Age
4 1 _ _ - $ 20 0 . 00
4 2 -_ -_ 1 9 0 . 00
4 3 -- __190. 00
4 4 - _ _ _ 1 8 0 . 00
4 5 -_ __170. 00
4 6 - _ — 160. 00
4 7 - - „ 1 6 0 . 00
4 8 -- __150. 00
49__ _ -1 4 0 . 00
50_ _ — 140. 0 0
Age
515253_
54_
55_
5657.
5859_
60-
Benefit
- _ $ 1 3 0 . 00
_ - _ 1 3 0 . 00
_ - - 1 2 0 . 00
_ - - 1 1 0 . 00
- _ - 1 1 0 . 00
_ — 1 0 0 . 00
- - - 1 0 0 . 00
_ _ _ 9 0 . 00
9 0 . 00
80. 00
Age
6 1 --.
6 2 -..
63— .
6 4 -_ .
6 5 -_ 66-_ 6 7 _ -68—
6 9 -_ 7 0 ...
Benefit
_ _ $ 8 0 . 00
- - . 7 0 . 00
___ 70. 00
___ 70. 00
___ 60. 00
___ 60. 00
_ _ _ 5 0 . 00
___ 50. 00
— 50. 00
___ 50. 00
The women’s local union at the Federal Bureau of Engraving and
Printing looks after its sick members through a hospital guild. The
guild has an agreement with a local hospital by which the hospital
agrees to furnish guild members a bed in a two-bed room, board,
general nursing service, and ordinary medicines. In operative cases
an extra charge of $50 is made for each operation.
Each member pays into the guild dues of $5 per year, which entitles
her to hospital service for four weeks.3
8A variation of this has been adopted by the employees of the New York City post office, who have a
plan of endowing hospital beds. This, however, is not a union activity, although many of the contributing
employees belong to the Federal employees’ union. The plan originated as a memorial to a city postmaster
who died early in 1925. From donations from all classes of employees in the post office, sufficient funds were
obtained to endow four beds “ for the use of employees in perpetuity.” The demands upon the service
were so great that a permanent association was formed to which practically the entire force of some 18,000
persons belong, each donating 10 cents every semimonthly pay day, and four additional beds in another
hospital were secured. In addition approximately $8,000 has been expended for hospital care in nonendowed beds and for various services in connection therewith. More than 2,000 cases have been taken care of
in this way.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOH R E V IE W
17
W orkm en’s Com pensation Legislation of 1927
N TH E 43 States and 3 Territories having workmen’s compensation
laws, 2 legislatures did not m eet1 in 1927, and 11 did not change
the law.2 A liberal tendency was noticeable in the legislation of
the 34 jurisdictions“ which did pass amendments or supplemental acts.
At the beginning of the year 5 States did not have workmen’s com
pensation laws 3 and 4 great classes of workers subject to Federal
jurisdiction had not been covered (employees in the District of
Columbia, those engaged in interstate commerce, seamen, and long
shoremen). The longshoremen’s and harbor workers’ compensation
act 4 was the outstanding piece of legislation of the year and brought
to a large number of persons the benefits of compensation law.
Two jurisdictions reenacted their laws with many improvements.5
Liberalization of benefits received attention in 21 States. This
was done by increasing all benefits or certain special classes, by
raising the minimum or maximum weekly payments, by more liberal
allowances in the case of medical assistance or burial, and by other
less direct methods.
Increase in coverage comes next in importance. In California and
in Nebraska action was taken to place more farmers under the act.
Maryland, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, and Wisconsin dealt with the
subject of illegally employed minors. Several States extended the
act to cover more public employees. Particular activity and con
tinued hesitancy were noticeable in covering volunteer firemen,
employed convicts, and National Guardsmen.
Interesting changes were made showing a tendency to cut down
benefits payable to alien nonresident dependents, remarried widows,
and children who marry or reach a certain age. Several important
words and phrases have been redefined, particularly “ hernia.”
Idaho created a second-injury indemnity fund. The waiting period
was dealt with in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Connecticut and
Massachusetts gave attention to the waiving of rights under the act.
The Alaska lien section and the transfer of administration from the
courts in Kansas should receive special notice.
The following analysis does not include legislation increasing
salaries and gives less attention to procedure than to other changes.
I
A laska
'T H E entire workmen’s compensation act of Alaska was reenacted,
A with several changes, by chapter 77. Compensation benefits
were increased approximately 15 per cent over those provided in
chapter 98 of the Laws of 1913. In death cases where the bene
ficiaries are not residents or citizens of the United States the 75 per
cent allowed beneficiaries was reduced to 60 per cent as to a wife or
minor children and 50 per cent as to all others. Section 3 of the act
allows interest to run at 8 per cent during a period running from
six months after the injury until claim is paid. Section 5 gives an
employee or beneficiary a lien for compensation upon the employer’s
1 Kentucky and Louisiana.
2 Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Porto. Rico,
Utah, and West Virginia. This does not include special or extra sessions, if any, except Virginia.
2 Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
4 44 U. S. Stat. at Large, p. 1424.
5 Alaska and Kansas.
®Including the United States.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
property on which he was working when injured, and provides that
such lien shall have priority over other liens except liens for wages
and materials and as to such it shall be equal in rank. Section 9
defines the contractors excluded from the benefits of the act and allows
certain workmen associated under a partnership agreement the
benefits of the act.
The initiative in obtaining statements concerning who are bene
ficiaries is shifted from the employee to the employer by section 12 (a)
of the new act. The old law provided that the employee shall furnish
the statement whereas now the employer shall require the statement.
This statement, formerly offered in evidence by the employer to
establish the facts shown in it, now establishes “ conclusively” the
facts therein set forth and is prima facie evidence that there are no
other beneficiaries (sec. 12 (g)).
If an employer elects not to come under the act, section 33 requires
him to post notice of this fact on the premises in addition to the old
requirement of recording notice with the United States commissioner.
An employee need not now record notice of his election not to be
bound by the act but need only serve notice on his employer and
obtain a receipt therefor.
The old provision that the costs “ m ay” be assessed upon the
party prosecuting or defending the suit without reasonable grounds
is changed by section 44 and now' the prevailing party “ shall” be
entitled to costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee. Other changes are
incidental to the above or less important.
C a lifo rn ia
C EV E R A L changes have been made in the California law. By
^ chapter 834, employers and employees engaged in farm work
are conclusively presumed to have accepted the act unless either of
them rejects the act prior to an injury. Convicts working on the
State roads are expressly excluded from the compensation act (ch.
653). _ The provision of the compensation act fixing the liability of
principal employers and contracting employers (sec. 25) has been
repealed (ch. 760).
California acted promptly in enacting provisions to cooperate in
the administration of the Federal longshoremen’s act by authorizing
the State fund to insure employers under the act and allowing the
industrial accident commission to accept Federal appointments as
deputy commissioners (ch. 589).
The division of workmen’s compensation insurance and safety of
the department of industrial relations has been superseded by the
division of industrial accidents and safety of the department of
industrial relations (ch. 440). The industrial accident fund has been
abolished and certain fees and payments paid into that fund shall
now be paid into the general fund (ch. 761, 762). All parties to an
action for third-party liability must have notice and an opportunity
to be heard before a court consents to settlements (ch. 702).
C o lo ra d o
HTHREE amending acts were passed. Coverage, which apparently
formerly included all firemen, now includes only those regularly
employed (ch. 197). The withdrawal of certain employers who had
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION LEGISLATION— 1 9 2 7
19
elected to be bound by the act may now be made within less time
than formerly (ch. 198). Provisions relating to the State fund were
amended making the fund provide the salaries of its employees,
enlarging the list of legal investments for the fund, and making
changes in procedure (ch. 199).
C o n n e cticu t
170U R acts were passed on the subject of workmen’s compensation.
*
Injury is now defined and includes only accidental injuries which
may be definitely located as to time when and place where the accident
occurred, and occupational diseases. An occupational disease is
defined as a disease peculiar to the occupation in which the employee
was engaged and due to causes in excess of the ordinary hazards of
employment as such. Arising “ out of and in the course o f” is
defined. In case of an accidental injury if disabilitj^ or death was due
to acceleration or the aggravation of a venereal disease or to habitual
use of alcohol or narcotic drugs, it shall not be a compensable injury.
In case of aggravation of a preexisting disease, compensation shall
be allowed only for such proportion as may be reasonably attributed
to the injury upon which the claim is based. To be entitled to com
pensation for hernia the employee must now prove that it resulted
from an accidental injury, that immediately following such accident
the employee was unable to work, that there was not a preexisting
hernia, and that within two weeks after the accident the employer
was notified.
The maximum weekly payment in fatal cases has been increased
from $18 to $21. The funeral allowance has been doubled to $200.
The periods for certain specific permanent partial disability cases have
been extended. In second-injury cases compensation for the second
injury shall be limited to the later injury considered by itself. Waiver
of right to compensation by persons having physical defects is now
allowed for any injury “ attributable in a material degree” instead of
injury “ directly due” to such condition. If the waiver is signed by a
minor the parent or guardian must now approve it. The rights and
liabilities of the parties in cases of waiver are now the same as those
where less than five employees are employed and the act has been
rejected. The waiver is extended to include death (ch. 307).
A minimum attorney fee of $25 is fixed in certain cases (ch. 304).
Notice to the employer in cases of occupational disease is provided for
(ch. 307). Compensation commissioners, after they cease to hold
office, may do certain things with regard to causes theretofore tried
before them as though they were still commissioners (ch. 138).
The travel, clerical, and office expense allowance of commissioners has
been made more liberal (ch. 185).
D e la w a re
T w O amending acts were passed. One extended the coverage to
*
include employees and certain officials of the State and New
Castle County (ch. 193). The other provides that if any compen
sation has been paid under the total disability or partial disability
provisions and the injury falls within the schedule of permanent
partial disabilities the total amount paid shall not exceed the total
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
amount allowed under the permanent partial disability schedule. It
is further provided that where certain compensation has been paid,
no statute of limitation shall take effect until two years from the
making of the last receipted payment (ch. 192).
Haw aii
A NEW section was added to the Hawaiian law, providing that in
cases of permanent partial disability of minors the compen
sation shall not in any event be less than $5 a week. (Act No. 207.)
Idaho
D Y CHAPTER 106 many changes were made in the compensation
U law. An industrial special indemnity fund was created to pro
vide for persons who receive a certain type of injury which, because
of a previously incurred permanent partial disability, puts them in
the class of permanent total disability cases, and to limit the liability
of the employers liable for the second accident to the second perma
nent partial disability. Contributions to the fund are to be made by
the employees benefited by and employers liable for certain pay
ments for injuries of a permanent partial nature. The employer’s
payments to the employee in permanent partial disability cases are
to be reduced one per cent, but the employer is to pay two per cent
into the fund. The employee covered by the fund is to be allowed
compensation by his employer for the permanent partial disability
and thereafter out of the special fund he is to receive the remainder
of the compensation that would be due him for permanent total
disability.
The coverage was extended to include public officials as well as
public employees, except judges of election, clerks of election, or
jurors. The right of election to come under the act in certain employ
ments not covered by the act, formerly in the employer and employee,
now rests with the employer alone, and the provision for the termi
nation of the agreement to come under the act has been omitted.
In the definition of “ dependents,” the widow, to come within the
act, must be living with the deceased “ at the time of the accident.”
I t is now provided that compensation to or for a child shall cease when
such child marries. The word “ injury” in the act is further defined
as not being synonymous with “ accident” and it is provided that
the only injury now compensable is one which is the result of an
accident. Claim for compensation must now be made within a year
after the “ accident” instead of a year after the “ injury.” Hernia,
to be compensable now, must have resulted from injury by “ accident,”
and have been reported to the employer within 30 days of the acci
dent. In total disability cases a divorced employee who contrib
utes to the support of his minor child is to receive compensation
the same as if he were a widower.
Additional compensation for married employees in cases of total
disability to follow that for the first 400 weeks is allowed at the rate
of $6 per week. If the totally disabled person has certain dependents,
he is allowed a minimum compensation of $8 a week for a period not
exceeding 400 weeks and thereafter at the rate of $6 a week, but in
no case shall compensation exceed the full amount of his average
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 0 ]
W ORK M EN ’S COMPENSATION LEGISLATION— 1927
21
weekly wages. The industrial accident board was probably given
more discretion in the commutation of payments. In fixing rates of
premiums the State insurance fund shall not consider any wage in
excess of $2,400 a year. Compensation appeals to the court are now
given priority over civil cases.
With reference to security for the payment of compensation, the
type and amount were made more definite, failure to post notices is
penalized, and certain old enforcement provisions repealed; place of
deposit and of filing of notice and method of cancellation of policy of
insurance or security bond have been changed, and the enforcement
of the article for securing the payment of compensation has been
made more drastic by a penalty of $1 per day for each employee
while such failure to secure payment continues and after default for
a period of 30 days the employer may be enjoined from doing business.
Chapter 181 reduced the cost of carbon copies of the evidence taken
at any hearing from 20 cents to 5 cents.
Illin o is
Q EV ER A L important changes have been made in the compensation law (p. 497). The compulsory coverage of the act is
extended to include employees engaged in the carriage and distribu
tion of commodities where the employer employs more than two
(formerly three) employees; work in connection with certain real
estate developments; and enterprises for the treatment of wood with
preservatives (sec. 3). Members of underwriters' fire patrols are
excepted from the general definition of employee given in the act.
The definition of employee is further changed so that it now includes
minors illegally employed (sec. 5) and when they are injured a penalty
of 50 per cent will be allowed in addition to regular compensation
(sec. 7-1, 8 -K ).
The compensation for injury resulting in death where employee left
dependent children under 16 years of age was increased. Provision
was also made for cutting down or stopping compensation payments
in the event of a child reaching the age of 18 or the widow remarrying.
If compensation due collateral heirs is less than $450 the employer
must pay the difference between amount payable and $450 into the
special fund for double injury permanent total disability cases. If
the employee did not leave even dependent collateral heirs the com
pulsory contribution to the special fund is now limited to $300 and
must be paid within 60 days. If after payment into the special fund
it develops that compensation is payable to a dependent under the
act, provision is now made for refund from the fund. Anyone who
has become liable for burial expenses may now institute proceedings
to collect up to $150. (Sec. 7.)
In cases of injury not resulting in death several changes were made
in the law. Compensation schedule payments for permanent partial
disabilities were increased with but few exceptions. The employer is
now required to furnish artificial teeth to replace natural teeth lost
through injury. In the event of loss by amputation of certain
members, such loss is now deducted from certain awards for subse
quent injuries. (Sec. 8.) The employer requesting medical examina
tion must now pay in advance traveling and other expenses including
wage loss. The employer’s surgeon is no longer required to deliver
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
report of examination to the employee except at latter’s request; if
so requested, he must do so 5 days before case is set for hearing, and if
he refuses or willfully fails to furnish a copy he shall not be permitted
to testify at the hearing next following the examination. (Sec. 12.)
The employer is now required to report only injuries arising out of
and in the course of employment, instead of those arising out of or in
the course of employment as heretofore (sec. 30). In case of the
claimant’s mental incapacity, limitation of time does not begin to run
until a conservator or guardian has been appointed (sec. 24).
The procedure was amended in several respects. Detailed pro
vision is newly made for the enforcement of awards for payment into
special fund in case of death without dependents (sec. 7-E ) and for
payments to employees out of the special fund (sec. 8 -F ). Detailed
provision is also made for taking depositions of witnesses residing in
a foreign country (sec. 16). The time of making written demand for
argument has been changed (sec. 19-E). In awards affecting the
special fund new procedure has been created (sec. 8 -F ).
Provisions relating to securing of insurance were amended, defining
who were to make affidavits as to the financial liability of the em
ployer, making the securing of the payment of compensation subject
to the satisfaction of the industrial commission, providing for review
by the courts of all orders made by the commission on this subject,
and increasing penalties providing for the enforcement of these pro
visions (sec. 26). Changed or added phraseology in section 5-1,
and section 19 E, F, are of lesser importance.
In d ia n a
maximum basic weekly wage to be considered in computing
compensation was increased from $24 to $30 and the minimum
from $10 to $16, but it is provided that in no case shall compensation
exceed the average weekly wage of the employee at the time of the
injury (ch. 34).
Iow a
"T H E only change in the law of Iowa in 1927 was an amendment
1 authorizing the industrial commissioner to make an order for
an equitable apportionment of compensation payments where a
deceased employee leaves a surviving spouse and child or children
under 16 years of age, or over 16 if incapacitated (ch. 32).
K an sas
rj" ‘HE workmen’s compensation law was reenacted with several
1 changes by chapter 232. The most important change has
been the transfer of the administration of the law from the courts
of the State to the public service commission, one member of which
is designated as commissioner of compensation and is in active charge
of the administration of the act.
The new act is much better than the old law in several respects.
Insurance or proof of financial ability to secure compensation is now
compulsory. Motor transportation has been made a hazardous
employment and building work is added to the class subject to the
act without regard to the number of men employed. The provision
that the employments be conducted for the purpose of business,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION LEGISLATION— 1927
23
trade, or gain has been dropped. Injuries sustained outside the
State in certain cases are now covered. Actual notice of accident
by employer now makes rendering notice by employee unnecessary.
Maximum weekly payments have been increased to $18 from $i2
in permanent partial disability cases and from $15 in permanent
total disability cases. In fatal cases the total maximum was increased
from $200 to $4,000. Lump-sum payments are now commuted on a
95 per cent basis instead of 80 per cent. Employers must now report
certain accidents within seven days after knowledge. Many other
changes have been made, some merely changes in phraseology, while
others were more important. Chapter 231 provides that every
insurance policy under the act shall contain a provision that insol
vency of insured shall not relieve the insurance carrier of liability.
M a in e
T W O acts were passed amending the law. The intention of the
“ legislature in 1925 to increase the maximum payments allowed
under the schedule for permanent partial disabilities from $16 to $18
per week was carried out by correcting an error in references to sec
tions. In computing the seven-day waiting period the day of the
accident is now counted. The employer, who was formerly liable for
the reasonable expense of “ last sickness and burial” in the case of
death where there are no dependents, is not now liable for the expense
of the “ last sickness” (ch. 252). Compensation and medical and
hospital bills allowed State employees are to be paid from the appro
priation or fund of the department which employed the injured
person instead of from the contingent fund of the State as heretofore
(ch. 158).
M a ry la n d
'"THE compensation law of Maryland was amended in several re
spects. By chapter 83, officers and enlisted men of the organized
State militia are excluded from the act; and by chapter 395 officers
of the Maryland police force and all guards of penal institutions are
brought under the provisions of the act. Section 35A was added (ch.
660) extending the act to cover certain State prisoners engaged in any
extrahazardous employment and providing a special method of com
puting wages of prisoners.
Chapter 536 provides that all compensation and death benefits
shall be doubled in the case of any minor employed illegally with the
knowledge of the employer, and the burden of such additional com
pensation or death benefit shall be borne by the employer alone and
no insurance policy shall protect him. By chapter 656 workmen
under the minimum age prescribed by law and not engaged in extrahazardous employment are apparently classed with other minors
under the election provisions of the law. The total amount to be
assessed against insurance carriers for the maintenance of the State
industrial accident commission is increased from $80,000 to $100,000
(ch. 552).
The lav/ giving certain courts jurisdiction to review the decisions
of the commission in certain cases was amended to allow transfer
from such court to another where either of the parties suggest that
they can not have a fair and impartial trial in that court (ch. 587).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
The law was further amended, by allowing 6 per cent interest to be
paid on installments of compensation not paid as they matured or
would have matured.
Section 58A was added by chapter 396, giving the superintendent
of the State accident fund certain power to compromise any claim
against any person who is alleged to be legally liable for any accident
in which compensation is paid by the State accident fund.
M a s s a c h u s e tts
309 malees several changes in the compensation law.
iu e uu verage of public employees is probably further extended
by defining “ laborers, workmen, and mechanics” so as to include
foremen, subforemen and inspectors. The act is extended to cover
injuries arising out of an ordinary risk of the street received while
actually engaged in the employer’s business and with his authoriza
tion. The injuries now covered include those sustained outside the
State as well as within the State.
The amounts of payments have been changed in several instances.
In death cases where the dependents are a widow and more than two
children, the compensation is increased $2 per week for each such addi
tional child, limited only by a total amount of $6,400; and if the widow
dies the amounts payable had she lived shall continue. In total dis
ability cases the maximum weekly payment is increased from $16 to
$18 and the minimum from $7 to $9 but equal to the average weekly
wage if such is less than $9, and the total is raised from $4,000 to
$4,500. In partial disability cases the maximum is increased from
$16 to $18 and the total from $4,000 to $4,500. Liability for medical
expenses beyond two weeks is extended to cases requiring specialized
or surgical treatment. I t is newly provided that no compensation
shall be paid except for partial disability for any period for which
wages were earned.
An exception is made to the denial of the right of an employee to
waive his rights to compensation. In cases where employees are
peculiarly susceptible to injury or peculiarly likely to become per
manently or totally incapacitated by an injury the department of
industrial accidents may now allow the employee to waive his rights.
Commutations may now be allowed whenever the department of
industrial accidents deems it best and the parties agree, as the conditions that the case be an unusual one and that payments have been
made for six months have been dropped.
I t is newly provided that all medical records and reports of hos
pitals, clinics, and physicians shall be open to the inspection of the
department of industrial accidents so far as they are relevant to any
matter before it. Certain opinions of the commissioner of insurance
are now subject to review by the supreme court.
A tendency toward applying the compensation law to policemen,
firemen, and members of the National Guard was evident in two acts,
chapters 157 and 291
M ic h ig a n
C EV ERA L changes w~ere made in the Michigan law. Employers
^ engaged in interstate or foreign commerce may now elect to
become subject to or withdraw from the provisions of the law as to
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W ORK M EN ’S COMPENSATION LEGISLATION—
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25
any distinct department of its intrastate business and not to be sub
ject thereto as to any other distinct department (Act 289.)* Any
minor between 16 and 18 years of age who was illegally employed
when injured shall receive double compensation (Act 162), but if
such minor is engaged in an occupation approved by the department
of labor and industry he shall be considered to be legally employed
(Act 19) and subject to the act if the employer has filed the required
permit and certificate.
In total disability and fatal cases the compensation has been in
creased from 60 to 66% per cent of average weekly wages and in
partial disability cases from 60 to 66% per cent of wage loss; in all
three cases the maximum weekly payment has been increased from
$14 to $18. In total disability cases the total maximum has been
increased from $7,000 to $9,000 (Act 63.) Alien dependents residing
outside of the United States and Canada shall be entitled to only
66% per cent of compensation in fatal cases. Presumption of de
pendency no longer extends to a husband. Compensation to a widow
upon her remarriage reverts to other dependents. Compensation to
children ceases at the age of 21. (Act 376.)
M in n e so ta
npH R EE changes are made in the compensation law. Where services
*
for a municipal corporation are performed gratis or without
fixed compensation, the daily wage, for the purpose of computing
compensation, shall be taken to be the current wage paid for similar
services in municipalities where such services are performed by paid
employees (ch. 216). Chapter 417 provides a procedure for non
residents and foreign corporations who can not be served with notices,
and chapter 436 provides for the reporting of accidents of employees
of the State and the payment of awards to them.
N eb rask a
rT ,WO amendatory acts were passed. Chapter 39 repeals certain
special acts for the relief of volunteer firemen and broadens the
coverage of the workmen’s compensation act to include them under
certain conditions. For the purposes of the act the fireman’s wages
shall be taken to be those received by him from his regular employer,
and if not regularly employed it shall be assumed that he receives
$35 per week. Chapter 134 allows employers of farm laborers and
household domestic servants to elect to come under the act by insur
ing his employees, and the existence of such a policy in effect at the
time of an accident shall be conclusive proof of such election unless
the employee prior to the accident properly elects not to be bound.
N evada
|\/iALE persons drafted to fight fires shall for the purpose of obtaining
the benefits of the workmen’s compensation act be considered
employees of the county demanding their services (ch. 45).
N ew Je rs e y
'"THE coverage of the act was extended to include active volunteer
1 firemen (ch. 127). The provision authorizing an official con
ducting a hearing to allow costs was amended by placing a limit
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
on the attorney fees allowed of 20 per cent of the judgment or award,
but if compensation was offered or paid prior to hearing 20 per cent
of the judgment or award in excess of such amount offered or paid,
and limiting witness fees to $50 for any one witness and $150 for
medical witnesses (ch. 324).
N ew M e x ico
only legislation was a provision authorizing the State highway
commission to take out compensation insurance covering its em
ployees engaged in extrahazardous occupations (ch. 100).
N ew Y o rk
CLEVERAL laws were passed by the New York Legislature changing
^ the compensation act in many respects. The maximum weekly
compensation for permanent or temporary total disability was
increased from $20 to $25 (ch. 558) and the maximum amount
payable for temporary total disability was increased from $3,500 to
$5,000 (ch. 555). The maximum amount payable for temporary
partial disability was increased from $3,500 to $4,000 (ch. 555).
Compensation for the complete loss of hearing of one ear, not spe
cifically heretofore provided for, is now allowed to the extent of 60
weeks (ch. 554). In the case of an award for permanent partial
disability followed by death of claimant from causes other than the
injury, where there is no surviving spouse or child, payments shall
be made to certain dependents as directed by the board (ch. 556).
The commissioner of taxation and finance replaces the State
treasurer as custodian of the special fund for certain second-injury
permanent total disability cases, and the uninsured employer was
also made liable for the payments to the fund heretofore limited to
insurance carriers (ch. 493). Where a city or village, participating in
a special mutual-insurance plan, is situated in two counties, instead
of apportioning the liability between the counties, the city or village
may now elect with which county it will carry all its insurance (ch.
494). I t is made a misdemeanor for certain medical examiners
employed by the department of labor to accept or participate in
any fee from compensation-insurance companies or any self-insurers,
whether or not the fee relates to a compensation claim (ch. 496).
Penalizing for the failure to notify the commissioner of cessation of
payments of compensation is now in the discretion of the commissioner,
and the maximum possible penalty of $100 is reduced to $25 (ch. 497).
The power to regulate medical fees was transferred from the com
missioner to the industrial accident board and was extended to fees
‘‘whether furnished by the employer or otherwise.” Upon unani
mous vote of the board a physician’s failure to furnish a report
within 20 days may now be excused and an award for medical treat
ment allowed. I t is newly provided that an employer’s liability for
medical treatment shall not be affected where the injury was caused
by a third party, but the employer shall have a cause of action
against such third party to recover the amount paid by him for
medical treatment (ch. 553).
The industrial accident board is now authorized within one year
of the date of accident, upon its own motion or that of a party in
interest, to reclassify a disabilty upon proof of change in condition
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or previous error (ch. 557). Mutual casualty-insurance corporations
organized under the insurance laws of the State apparently can not
cover employer’s liability or workmen’s compensation risks, accord
ing to chapter 471. The labor law of the State was amended by
chapter 166 changing the term of office of the industrial commissioner
from four years to the end of the appointing governor’s term and
until his successor has qualified. Chapter 578 provided that persons
entitled to a pension or death benefit under the public employees’
retirement system are not entitled to benefits under the workmen’s
compensation act.
N o rth D a k o ta
’T H R E E amendments were passed. In cases of permanent total
disability the maximum amount payable is now fixed at $15,000.
In fatal cases also the maximum has been fixed at $15,000 but this
amount is in addition to amounts paid and medical expenses. This
last limitation does not apply where, in addition to a widow, widower,
or child, there are certain other dependents. The law now has a
schedule for specific permanent partial disability cases, allowing
compensation from a minimum of $27 to a maximum of $4,680, and
periods of compensation for other permanent partial disability cases
have been reduced two-tenths of a week for each. 1 per cent of disa
bility (ch. 286). The investment of funds is provided for (ch. 284)
and provision made to enforce safety regulations (ch. 285).
O reg o n
T H E act now apparently covers minors illegally employed. Salaried
firemen and public employees engaged in the operation of
bridges now come within the list of hazardous occupations (ch. 326).
Employers and employees about to engage in hazardous occupations
must now elect not to come under the act prior to engaging therein
instead of within three days as heretofore (ch. 312). The act is made
compulsory as to the State and certain of its political subdivision as
applied to any hazardous occupations (ch. 326). The widow and
children of a common-law marriage are given the benefits of the act
(ch. 414).
The right of the employer to deduct a portion of the employee’s
wages for medical expenses is further restricted, and in the event of the
employer’s insolvency such amounts withheld shall have preference
as claims (ch. 208)._ The governor is now required to make an audit
of the funds of the industrial accident commission and report results
to the legislature (ch. 413). The appropriation of one-half the admini
strative expenses of the industrial accident commission has been
discontinued by chapter 188. Insurance provisions as to rating, dis
tribution of surplus, and the catastrophe fund have been changed by
chapter 312. The temporary increase of 30 per cent in compensation
by the Laws of 1920, chapter 5, has been repealed (ch. 227). Chapter
216 provides that every insurance policy under the act shall contain
a provision that insolvency of the insured shall not relieve the
insurance carrier of liability.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
Pennsylvania
A CT No. 156 made several important changes in the act. The
“ A waiting period was reduced from 10 to 7 days. In cases of
total and partial disability and in permanent injury cases, where the
person formerly was allowed 60 per cent he is now allowed 65 per cent,
with the maximum increased from $12 to $15 and the minimum
(except in partial disability cases where there is none) increased from
$6 to $7 per week. In total disability cases the total maximum was
increased from $5,000 to $6,500. The period allowed for the loss of
the first phalange of the thumb or any finger shall be one-half the
period allowed for the loss of a thumb or finger. In fatal cases
there has been a general increase in rates allowed dependents, but
maximum weekly payments have been created. The basis for the
computation of death compensation has been increased, the maximum
from $20 to $24, the minimum from $10 to $12 a week. Maximum
burial expenses are increased from $100 to $150. New provisions
allow interest at 6 per cent to run in certain cases and provide for
payments to be made to dependents or to the estate when a claimant
dies before the final adjudication of his claim. Compensation for
hernia was made more difficult to obtain by requiring conclusive proof
of strain, immediate descent of the hernia, pain, and notification of
employer within 48 hours.
Unless knowledge be obtained or notice given to the employer
within 90 days after the occurrence of the injury no compensation
shall now be allowed. Provisions relating to procedure were made
more definite, the period within which an agreement or award could
be reinstated or reviewed in certain cases and within which a rehearing
could be granted was limited.
Act No. 271 amended the provisions relating to the State fund by
directing the State treasurer to make payments from the State fund
upon requisition of the secretary of labor and industry, instead of
upon vouchers of the board as heretofore, and the State treasurer is
relieved of the responsibility of auditing the accounts he is called
upon to pay. Probably the burden on the fund is increased by
the new provision as to payments of salaries and fees out of the
fund. Act No. 164 adds minor duties to those of the department
of labor and industry and also authorizes it to divide the State into
adminis tra five dis trie ts
R h o d e Is la n d
D Y CHAPTER 1058 the schedule of permanent partial injuries
AJ has been further subdivided, probably resulting in an increase in
compensation in most cases. In fatal cases if dependents are two or
more orphans the maximum compensation allowed has been increased.
By an amendment to the rehabilitation laws, chapter 1039 newly
provides for the maintenance of certain injured employees eligible
for rehabilitation and instruction in addition to compensation to
which the employee is entitled under the workmen's compensation
act.
S o u th D a k o ta
' j "WO amendments were made to the compensation law of South
1 Dakota in 1927. The first act (eh. 222) broke up the maximum
amount of $150 allowed for medical attention into separate items,
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W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION LEGISLATION— 1 9 2 7
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one a maximum of $100 for hospital services “ or other suitable or
proper care,” and one an amount not to exceed $100 for medical and
surgical services. The second act (ch. 223) provides for the payment
of claims of injured employees of the State out of funds of the indus
trial commissioner appropriated for that purpose, but certain boards
may either pay claims out of funds available for maintenance or
procure workmen’s compensation insurance.
T en n essee
.M A X IM U M weekly compensation payments, formerly ranging from
_ $12 to $15 according to the number of dependents, has been
raised to a maximum of $16 without regard to the number of depend
ents in permanent total disability and fatal cases. The maximum
has also been raised to $16 in temporary total disability cases. It is
newly provided that upon remarriage of the widow, compensation
payable to her shall be vested in the children, if any, under IS years
of age (ch. 40). The division of workmen’s compensation is substi
tuted for the bureau of workshop and factory inspection in receiving
reports of accidents (ch. 24), notice of willingness to pay compensation
settlements and releases, and trustee s receipts for lump-sum pay
ments (ch. 40). Employees of the department of highways and
public works were almost brought under the act by chapter 62.
T exas
C EV E R A L changes were made in the compensation law of Texas.
Chapter 60 newly provides that if incapacity continues for four
weeks or longer compensation shall be computed from the inception
date of such incapacity. Chapter 223 dropped the requirement of
notice to adverse party when that party was not willing to abide by
the final ruling and decision of the industrial accident board. The
State Insurance Commission is abolished by chapter 224 and a board
of insurance commissioners is created, made up of three commissioners
of life, fire, and casualty insurance. The latter shall have general
supervision of matters relating to casualty, workmen’s compen
sation, fidelity, guaranty, and miscellaneous insurance. Nothing in
the chapter is to affect the duties now imposed bylaw on the industrial
accident board, however. Chapter 241 extends the act relative to
the liability of the Employers’ Insurance Association by including
“ judgments of a court of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.”
The compensation act covers employees hired in Texas and injured
outside the State, but because of doubt about the power of parties
to go into courts when dissatisfied with the decision of the indus
trial accident board, chapter 259 gave such employees the same
rights and remedies as if injured in the State, effective as of March
28, 1917, the effective date of the act of 1917. The chapter added
that the injury must occur within one year from the date of leaving
the State and further that no recovery will be allowed if the employee
recovered in the State where the injury occurred. The law regulating
motor bus transportation (ch. 270) makes the taking out of a work
men’s compensation insurance policy a condition precedent to oper
ation. Installments^ paid under the workmen’s compensation act
apparently fall wfithin the exemption of periodic benefits from legal
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
garnishment and execution as provided by a general act, chapter 234.
The provision creating a conclusive presumption of total and perma
nent disability in certain cases inadvertently omitted in the 1925
Revised Civil Statutes of Texas was added by chapter 28.
V erm o n t
rF H E Legislature of Vermont passed three amendatory acts. Act
*
No. 98 extends the coverage of the act to include employees in
the State department of highways other than office employees. The
State and municipalities may insure with an authorized insurance
carrier. Act No. 99 changes the liability of employers for surgical,
medical, and hospital services and supplies from an amount not
exceeding $100 during the first 14 days to a liability not exceeding $50
for medical services and supplies over a 14-day period and a liability
not exceeding $150 over a 30-day period for hospital services. Act
No. 100 changes the place at which hearings shall be held from the
town to the county seat, gives the commissioner greater powers in
fixing the place at other than the county seat, allows the parties to
agree on a place, and provides for accommodations at such place.
V irgin ia
REORGANIZATION of the administration of the State government (ch. 33) the industrial commission was placed within the
department of workmen’s compensation. Several other changes of
an administrative nature were also made.
W ash in g to n
changes were made in the law by chapter 310.
vyei tain employments apparently formerly within the definition
of extrahazardous, as computing machine operators, are now specifi
cally excluded. Injuries formerly compensable if occurring on the
premises must now also be sustained if in the course of employment.
The injuries covered are sharply cut down by the change of definition
of “ injury” from some “ fortuitous event” to “ a sudden and tangible
happening, of a traumatic nature, producing an immediate or prompt
result, and occurring from without.” Hernia now means “ a real
traumatic hernia resulting from the application of force which either
punctures or tears the abdominal wall.” Injury while engaged in
commission of crime is specifically excluded from injuries covered.
Dependents must now be “ actually and necessarily’’ dependent.
Payment of compensation for the benefit of a minor child shall now
be made to the person having the lawful custody of such child. No
compensation shall be paid while an employee continues to receive
full wages during temporary total disability.
Compensation for amputation of a leg so close that an artificial
limb can not be worn is increased from $2,400 to $3,000 and provision
is made for the payment of $3,000 for the loss of an arm so near the
shoulder that an artificial arm can not be worn. Reports and pay
ments are put on a monthly basis instead of 4-month periods.
Where an employer defaults in payment of premiums or fails to
produce certain reports, he is now subject to suit by employee or
the State and the employer is deprived of the common-law defenses
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LEGISLATION— 1927
31
in such suit. _No payments shall be made to beneficiaries or depend
ents residing in any country with which the United States does not
maintain diplomatic relations. The prohibition against the right of
assignment of compensation is made stronger. A surplus fund to
be used for medical aid to workmen in certain cases is created. In
case of injury to a part of the body already permanently partially
disabled, resulting in the amputation thereof, or the aggravation of
the injury, compensation shall now be adjudged with regard to the
previous disability. Authority is now given to settle compensation
due an alien residing in a foreign country by a lump-sum settlement, .
not to exceed 50 per cent of the value of the annuity remaining.
The schedule of assessment rates has been revised and a few new
classifications _ added. Several other changes have been made,
particularly with regard to procedure.
Wisconsin
QEVERAL changes were made by Wisconsin. The maximum annual
^ wage for the purpose of computing compensation benefits was
increased from $1,400 to $1,500 by chapter 42. The legislature fur
ther defined “ growing out of and incidental to ” as including firemen
responding to a call outside the city limits (ch. 482). Chapter 45
amended the provision with reference to representation of companies
on the rating bureau, and provided that two or more insurance
companies may form a corporation for the purpose of carrying special
risks (ch. 125). The provisions relating to reports by employers
and insurance carriers were amended, probably making the work of
the industrial commission lighter (ch. 310).
Chapter 517 made several changes in the law. The maximum
amount payable into the State treasury in the absence of dependents
where an injury results in death has been increased from $1,000 to
$1,600. Compensation for loss or impairment of one eye was
increased 5 per cent. In the event an accident causes more than one
scheduled permanent injury it is now provided that compensation
for the lesser injury shall be increased 20 per cent, except in injuries
to both eyes where compensation shall be trebled. Injury to the
second ear is now treated like other special second-injury cases, and
the amount payable in certain cases to the State treasurer to provide
for second injuries is now $75 instead of $150. The attorney general
now represents the_ State in payments into and out of the State
treasury in second-injury fund cases. Where death occurs to per
manently partially disabled employees from other reasons than as a
proximate result of the accident, the unaccrued compensation shall
be applied^ toward funeral expenses up to $200, and the balance to
the dependents. The compensation trebled in the case of certain
minors working without permits or at prohibited employment shall
not now be less than the actual loss of wage. The industrial commis
sion may now set aside its own awards; Payments to the State
treasurer in second-injury cases, certain compensation in the nature
of a penalty, and indemnity under the rehabilitation law are not
now payable unless specifically mentioned in compensation award.
Chapter 241 provides that certain inmates of State institutions if
injured “ may” be allowed such compensation by the industrial
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
commission as they shall be “ entitled to,” computed on the same
basis as though such injury had been covered by the workmen’s
compensation law, not to exceed $1,000.
W y o m in g
C EV E R A L changes in the law were made by chapter 111. Certain
^ compensation formerly paid in a lump sum is now to be paid in
monthly installments. Certain additional allowances in case of a
daughter under 16 years of age are now allowed in the case of a
daughter under 18 years, and if children are nonresident aliens only
one-third additional compensation is allowed. In the event of the
death of a permanent total disability claimant any unpaid balance
of an award is to be returned to the accident fund. In fatal cases
where the surviving spouse remarries or dies the unpaid balance of
the award (except $270 in case of remarriage) shall be returned to the
accident fund. Where the employee’s report of the accident was
not filed within the statutory time the period within which a claim
must be made is reduced from six to three months. _ Employers
engaged in extrahazardous occupations are now required to pay
into the industrial fund, in addition to the monthly premium a
“ service and policing charge.” Many other minor changes were
made in the substantive law and several changes were made in matters
of procedure such as paying costs and modifying awards.
United
S ta te s
HTHE Federal longshoremen’s and harbor workers’ compensation
act was passed and the Federal employees’ compensation act
was amended in 1927. The first act fills a gap in compensation
legislation by protecting workers within a State who by the nature
of their employment are subject to Federal instead of State regula
tion. The act covers harbor employees injured upon the navigable
waters of the United States and Territories and not subject to the
jurisdiction of the State, except a master or member of a crew or any
public employee or where the vessel is under 18 tons net. Inj uries
covered are accidental injuries or death arising out of and in the course
of employment, and such occupational disease or infection as arises
naturally out of such employment or as naturally or unavoidably
results from such accidental injury, unless due solely to intoxication
or the willful intention of the employee to injure or kill himself or
another. Coverage is compulsory and so is securing, by insurance or
otherwise, the payment of compensation. The act is administered by
the United States Employees’ Compensation Commission.
The waiting period, except for medical services and supplies, is
seven days unless disability lasts more than 49 days, in which case
there is no waiting period. The employer shall furnish such medical
services and supplies for such a period as the nature of the injury or
the process of recovery requires.
In the case of permanent total or permanent partial disability,
compensation shall be two-thirds of the average weekly wages during
the continuance thereof. In cases of permanent partial disability
two-thirds of the average weekly wage shall be paid according to a
schedule of injuries, but if not specifically listed, then two-thirds of
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PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREMENT— GREAT BRITAIN
33
the difference between average weekly wages and wage-earning
capacity thereafter. In cases of temporary partial disability, com«
pensation shall be two-thirds of the difference between average weekly
wages before injury and wage-earning capacity after injury, during
disability up to five years. Weekly maximum compensation for
disability is $25, minimum is $8 or full wages, and the total maximum
$7,500.
'
“
''
In fatal cases funeral expenses not exceeding $200 are allowed
and the widow or dependent husband is allowed 35 per cent of
average wage with 10 per cent additional for each child under 18
years, but if there is no widow or dependent husband, 15 per cent to
each such child—in no case, however, to exceed 66%j per cent of the
average wage or a maximum of $7,500. In computing death benefits
the average weekly maximum wage is $37.50 and the minimum $12,
but the total weekly compensation shall not exceed weekly wages
of deceased. If there are no dependents $500 is to be paid into a
special previous-injury fund and $500 into a vocational rehabilitation
fund.
compensation can not be assigned, has preference as a lien against
certain assets, must be paid periodical!}", promptly, and directlv to
the person entitled thereto without an award unless there is a con
troversy, and in certain cases may be commuted. The act itself
should be examined for provisions relating to medical aid, minors,
aliens, dependents, notice, filing claims, procedure, insurance,
penalties, liability of third persons and administration. (44 U. S.
Stat. at Large, p. 1424.)
Two amendments were made to the Federal employees’ compen
sation act. Medical benefits were made more liberal (44 U. S. Stat.
at Large, p. 772) and certain compensation standards were increased
75 per cent, the maximum and minimum monthly compensation in
total disability cases to $116.66 and $58.33, respectively, the maximum
for partial disability to $116.66 and the maximum and the minimum
basis for computing compensation to $175 and $87.50, respectively.
The term widow is newly defined to include decedent’s wife living
apart for reasonable cause or by reason of his desertion. (44 U. S.
Stat. at Large, p. 1086.)
Public Service R etirem ent System s in G reat B ritain and France
T
IIL following account of the retirement systems for public em
ployees in Great Britain and France constitutes part of the
. study now being made by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the various retirement systems for public employees in
effect in the United States and foreign countries. Similar articles
covering other foreign countries will appear in later issues of the
Labor Review. A study of the systems in effect for public emplovees
generally in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, KTew
Jersey, and Pennsylvania appeared in the Labor Review for August,
September, and December, 1927.
GREAT BRITAIN
T H E present retirement system of Great Britain is a development
of over a century’s growth, the first general superannuation act
having been passed in 1810. This established a noncontributory
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
system, which continued in force for 12 years, until in 1822 an act
was passed providing for deductions to be made for pension purposes
from the salaries of those receiving more than £100 a year. This
provision was repealed and reestablished, but was not definitely ac
cepted until 1834, when the first of the acts now effective was passed,
under which contributions were enforced against all who entered the
civil service after August 4, 1829. In 1859 another act repealed most
of the act of 1834, and established a system of uniform noncontrib
utory pensions for all persons employed in the permanent civil
service of the State. Numerous changes in detail have been made
since then, but the system is still noncontributory.
At present the civil service retirement plan is operated under a
series of acts grouped together under the general title: “ Superannu
ation Acts, 1834 to 1919,” of which eight are treated as a single act
for purposes of construction, while four are not so considered. _ In
addition to these there are two other acts in force, the pensions
(increase) acts of 1920 and 1924, providing for larger pension pay
ments.
Digest of the Laws at Present Effective
General Provisions
T H E act of 1834 contained a proviso, continued in force to the
* present time, that “ nothing in this act contained shall extend
or be construed to extend to give any person an absolute right to
compensation for past services, or to any superannuation or retiring
allowance under this act.”
Pensions are to be paid without any abatement or deduction “ in
respect of any taxes or duties whatever at present existing, except
the tax upon property or income.”
The persons eligible for superannuation allowances are those who
hold office direct from the Crown, or who have entered the civil
service with a certificate from the civil service commissioners. This
certificate will not be granted unless physical fitness has been proved.
Various exceptions to these general rules are made. Thus provision
is made for cases in which through inadvertence a certificate has
not been secured, for cases in which employees are transferred, with
out certificate, to the civil service as some new service function is
taken over, and for similar situations which may arise from time
to time.
Conditions for Retirement
Ordinarily, pensions are granted only to those who have reached
the age of 60, except in cases which are practically disability retire
ment, although not known by that name. Certain prison officers,
however, may retire on pension at 55, even though they are not
disabled. There is no age at which retirement is compulsory. A
minimum of 10 years’ service is required.
Retirement under age 60 is permitted upon a medical certificate
that the employee concerned is unable from infirmities of body or
mind to discharge the duties of his position, and that the incapacity
is likely to be permanent.
In addition to the age and service requirements the retirant must
produce a certificate, signed by the head officer of his department, or
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by two head officers if there are more than one, stating that he has
served with diligence and fidelity to the satisfaction of his head
officer or officers. Pensions are sometimes granted to those not
having such certificate but not freely.
I n e v e r y c a s e in w h ich a n y s u p e r a n n u a tio n a llo w a n c e is g r a n te d a f t e r th e
re f u s a l of s u c h c e r ti f i c a t e , t h e m in u te g r a n tin g i t s h a ll s t a t e s u c h r e f u s a l, a n d th e
g ro u n d s o n w h ich t h e a llo w a n c e is g r a n te d .
Amount and Kind of Retirement Allowances
The retirement allowance differs as between men and women. In
general, men receive upon retirement a pension, plus a lump-sum
payment. The pension is calculated by multiplying one-eightieth
of the final salary and emoluments by the number of years served; if
however, the retirant has served more than 40 years, the extra years
are disregarded and the pension is fixed at one-half the final salary
and emoluments. The “ final salary” is the average amount of
salary for the last three years of service. The lump sum is equal to
one-thirtieth of the final salary and emoluments for each completed
year of service, or to one and a half times the salary and emoluments,
whichever is the smaller. For women the annual pension is onesixtieth of the final salary and emoluments, multiplied by the years
of service, and there is no lump sum payment.
The pension for an employee retired on the ground of ill health
before reaching the age of 60 is calculated in the same way as if he
had retired at or after 60. No pension is allowed, however, unless he
has served at least 10 years, but an em ployee who has n o t com p leted
the 10 years before being obliged to retire mat7 be given a gratuity
amounting to one month’s pay for each completed year of service,
plus, in the case of a male employee with not less than two years’
service, a lump sum of one-thirtieth of his emoluments for each com
pleted year of service. Special provision is made for those who lose
their positions through reorganizations of the service.
A p e rs o n w h o r e t i r e s b e c a u s e h is o r h e r office is a b o lis h e d m a y b e g r a n te d
c o m p e n s a tio n n o t e x c e e d in g t h e p e n sio n (p lu s, in t h e c a s e of m e n , t h e lu m p -s u m
p a y m e n t) h e o r sh e w o u ld h a v e re c e iv e d if t h e r e t i r e m e n t h a d b e e n f o r ill h e a lt h ;
a n d s im ila r p ro v is io n is m a d e fo r th e c a s e of a civ il s e r v a n t w h o is re m o v e d fr o m
his office f o r in e fficie n cy .
Accidental injury allowances and gratuities.—When a person
employed in the civil service is injured in the discharge of his duty,
through no fault of his own, if the injury is directly attributable to
the nature of his duty, provision is made for his care.
T h e T r e a s u r y m a y g r a n t t o h im , o r , if h e d ies f r o m t h e i n j u r y , t o h is w id o w , his
m o t h e r , if w h o lly d e p e n d e n t o n h im a t t h e t im e of h is d e a th , a n d t o h is c h ild re n ,
o r t o a n y of t h e m , s u c h g r a t u i t y o r a n n u a l a llo w a n c e a s t h e T r e a s u r y m a y c o n s id e r
re a s o n a b le .
*
*
*
P r o v id e d , t h a t a g r a t u i t y u n d e r th is s e c tio n sh a ll n o t e x c e e d o n e y e a r ’s s a l a r y of
t h e p e rs o n in ju r e d , a n d a n a llo w a n c e u n d e r th is s e c tio n s h a ll n o t , t o g e t h e r w ith
a n y s u p e r a n n u a tio n a llo w a n c e , t o w h ic h h e is o th e rw is e e n ti tl e d , e x c e e d th e
s a l a r y of th e p e rs o n in ju r e d , o r £ 3 0 0 a y e a r , w h ic h e v e r is less.
Retirement Gratuities
The above provisions as to qualifications, allowances and the like
relate to what is known as the established service, which, broadly
speaking, includes the administrative, clerical, and manipulative
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
classes of the civil service, the industrial classes not being covered,
though a certain number of established posts are reserved for them.
The provision for the industrial classes in general, however, is limited
to gratuities, the position being thus summarized by an official in the
service:
A n u n e s ta b lis h e d e m p lo y e e w h o r e tir e s o r is re m o v e d f r o m h is o r h e r e m p lo y
m e n t re c e iv e s a g r a t u i t y of £1 o r o n e w e e k ’s p a y , w h ic h e v e r is th e g r e a t e r , fo r
e a c h c o m p le te d y e a r o f s e r v ic e , p ro v id e d t h a t (a ) t h e e m p lo y m e n t w a s a w h o le
t im e o n e , a n d (b) t h e s e r v ic e w a s n o t le ss t h a n 7 y e a r s in th e c a s e o f a b o litio n of
t h e e m p lo y m e n t o r 1 5 y e a r s in th e c a s e o f r e t i r e m e n t f o r ill h e a lth .
I f a n u n e s ta b lis h e d e m p lo y e e w h o h a s s e r v e d fo r 1 5 y e a r s o r m o r e in w h o le -tim e
e m p lo y m e n t d ies w h ile in e m p lo y m e n t a g r a t u i t y m a y b e g r a n te d t o h is d e p e n d
e n ts e q u a l t o £ 1 o r o n e w e e k ’s p a y , w h ic h e v e r is t h e g r e a t e r , fo r e a c h c o m p le te d
y e a r o f s e r v ic e .
Marriage gratuities.—A variation of the retirement gratuity is the
marriage gratuity, given to women in cases in which their resigna
tion upon marriage is required by the regulations of their department.
Persons thus retired, if they have served for at least six years, receive
a gratuity calculated on the basis of one month’s pay for each com
pleted year of service, the maximum amount being 12 months’ pay.
Expenditures for the Retirement Service
The following figures, taken from the civil estimates for the year
ending March 31, 1928, show the amount appropriated for retirement
purposes in 1926, and the estimated amount for 1927:
TOTAL E X P E N D IT U R E ON CIVIL SER V IC E SUPERAN NUATIO N AND A L L IE D ALLOW
ANCES AND GRATUITIES, 1926 AND 1927
Item
1926
Gross estimate for allowances, etc., under sundry superannuation acts......... .
Gross amounts included in other estimates:
House of Commons____________________________ ___________________
Royal commissions, etc__ _ _ _____ ______________ ___ _ . ________
Diplomatic and consular services. __________ _
Royal Irish Constabulary______________ ____ ____ _________________
Revenue departments:
Customs and excise_____________________________________________
Inland revenue.... _______________ _______ _________________ ____
Post office . . . . . _____ _____________ _________ _______ _________
Fighting services (civilian staff, only) :
Navy............ ............................... ........................... ............................................
Army_________________________________________________________
Air
. . . _____
_
. __________________________
Consolidated fund: Judicial, etc., pensions___________________________
£1, 530,072
£1, 644,941.
16, 399
13, 000
1, 500
1,946, 060
15, 650
1,500
1,933, 049
862,000
189,382
2,947,200
820,850
186,750
3,349, 300
868, 027
963,056
247,100
21, 500
183,282
Total expenditures ______________ ____ _________________________
Less total receiots__________________________________________________
8, 819,190
1,847, 757
9, 866,978
1, 817, 856
Net expenditure..__________ ___________________________________
6, 971, 433
7, 549,122
240,100
23,900
181, 550
1927
The total receipts, to be deducted from the gross amount appro
priated, are in the main sums recoverable from the Governments
of the Irish Free State and of Northern Ireland for pension expendi
tures on their behalf. For 1927 the amount recoverable from the
Irish Free State was £1,447,492 and from Northern Ireland, £364,948.
Various small receipts in behalf of the army, navy, and air forces, etc.,
amounted to £5,416, making a total of £1,817,856, and leaving the
net expenditure of the British Government for retirement purposes at
£7,549,122. This does not include pensions for the combatant
forces, only their civilian staff being covered by these figures.
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PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREMENT— FRANCE
The first item in the above table, “ Gross estimate for allowances,
etc.,” covers the superannuation allowances and gratuities considered
in the preceding pages. Detailed figures for these are given, as
follows:
TOTAL E X P E N D IT U R E FO R S P E C IFIE D CIV IL SER V IC E SUPERAN NUATIO N AND
A L LIED ALLOW AN CES AND GRATUITIES, 1926 AND 1927, AND IN C R EA SE OR D E
CREA SE
Kind of pension or gratuity
Increase
(+ ) or de
crease ( —)
1926
1927
£1,085,000
59, 500
258,000
14.000
48.000
13.000
6, 200
331
741
17.000
10,800
500
17.000
£1,118, 500
63,150
301, 500
Gross total___ _____________
.
Deductions_______________________ ________
1, 530,072
90,780
1, 644, 941
85,800
+114,869
+4,980
Net total______________________________
1, 439, 292
1, 559,141
+ 119,849
Superannuation allowances________________________ _______
Compensation allowances______ ___________
____________
Additional allowances and gratuities to established officers.........
Compassionate gratuities to unestablished officers___ _________
Diplomatic pensions______________________ ________________
Colonial governors’ pensions—________________
_____
County court judges, etc., supplementary pensions__________
Mercantile marine fund, pensions and allowances................. .........
British Antarctic expedition 1910-1912 annuities................ ............
Marriage gratuities____________ _______ _____
Injury grants_______________________ ____
Compassionate fund______ _
Northern Ireland pensions and gratuities.......... .....................
20,000
48.000
13, 500
5, 600
741
37.000
10,800
500
25, 650
+ £ 3 a 500
+3, 650
+43, 500
+ 0,000
+500
-6 0 0
-331
+ 20,000
+ 8, 650
In this table also most of the amount to be deducted is recoverable
from the Irish Free State and the Government of Northern Ireland.
The compensation allowances are those granted to persons who have
lost their posts through reorganization of the service or abolition of the
position. The compassionate gratuities are those given to persons
who do not come under the terms of the superannuation acts, and the
injury grants are those made to persons injured in the se rv iceaccidental disability allowances, as they would probably be termed in
this country.
The amount of the allowances, as shown above, is affected to some
extent by the cost-of-living bonuses, which vary with the rise and
fall of the index number. The following explanation is given of this
factor:
T h is b o n u s , w h ic h is g iv e n in a d d itio n t o o r d in a r y r e m u n e r a tio n o n a p r e -w a r
b a s is a n d w h ic h v a r ie s f r o m tim e t o t im e in a c c o r d a n c e w ith t h e a v e r a g e in
c r e a s e d c o s t-o f -liv in g in d e x fig u re , r a n k s a s a p e n s io n a b le e m o lu m e n t b u t t h e
a m o u n t o f t h e p e n s io n a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e b o n u s is s u b je c t t o q u a r te r ly r e v is io n in
a c c o r d a n c e w ith t h e f lu c tu a tio n s in t h e a v e r a g e c o s t-o f -liv in g in d e x fig u re .
In
c a l c u l a t in g g r a t u i t ie s a n d lu m p -s u m p a y m e n t s , 7 5 p e r c e n t of t h e b o n u s c o u n t s a s
sa la ry .
FRANCE
Recent Legislation
D E T IR E M E N T and pensions of civil servants in France are governed by the law of April 14, 1924. Provisions of the law were
amplified by (1) an administrative ruling of September 2, 1924,
(2) a general instruction of the Ministry of Finance of October 12,
1924, and (3) a decree of September 19, 1926, based upon article 30
of the law of August 3, 1926. The ruling and instruction merely
interpret certain provisions in detail and contain regulations for the
execution of the law of April 14, 1924, while article 30 of the law of
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
August 3, 1926, interpreted by the decree, provides for “ a supple
mentary and temporary compensation to civil-service employees,
soldiers, agents, and workers of the State” ; that is, to all those
persons who are retired by the State, and who receive pensions based
upon length of service, a supplementary compensation calculated on
the basis of a diminishing ratio, from 20 to 5 per cent, of the pension,
as follows: 20 per cent up to 1,000 francs; 15 percent, from 1,001 to
3,000 francs; 10 per cent, from 3,001 to 5,000 francs; and 5 per cent
from 5,001 to 10,000 francs.
Previous Legislation
D E F O R E the eighteenth century there were no retirement or pension
^
laws. Material assistance was given to aged or disabled public
employees only by the grace of the monarch and even then in rare
cases. Assistance to widows and orphans was provided by a regu
lation issued in 1788. The only public employees for whom assist
ance was given in cases of dire need were those engaged in postal
service, K ing’s domain, and revenue collection.
The first act providing pensions to public employees was issued on
August 22, 1790. This act, though it legalized the principle of
civil-service pensions, did not recognize the right of public employees
to pension. This right was definitely established by the acts of
June 9 and November 9, 1853, which also provided assistance to
widows and children.
The acts of 1853 were amended and modified a number of times
under the pressure of constantly changing conditions. But the
underlying principle—the right of public employees and their widows
and children to pension— has stood the test up to our day. The
decree of December 30, 1913, relates merely to procedure and practice.
However, the development of the field of civil service, the appear
ance of new classes of employees, and new hazards in their work made
it necessary to reform the existing civil service retirement and pension
system. The World War caused the reform to be postponed until
August 5, 1919, when a special parliamentary commission was
formed for the purpose of making a study of the existing pension
conditions and of working out recommendations as to the required
reform. A number of the recommendations of this commission
were embodied in the temporary acts of March 25, 1920, and July 8,
1921, and the reports of the commission served as a basis for a new
retirement and pension bill prepared by the Government, introduced
to the parliament, and enacted as a law on April 14, 1924.
Provisions of the earlier acts relating to retirement and pensions
were in part left in force independently, in part expressly repealed,
and in part embodied in the new law, which now covers the entire
field of civil service retirement and pensions, with the exception of
certain earlier enactments left in force.
No regulative provisions have as yet been issued regarding the
operation of the retirement funds provided by article 85 of the law
of April 14, 1924. The operation of the pension fund is postponed
until January 1, 1928, by the terms of the same article of the law.
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PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREMENT— FRANCE
39
Digest of the Law in Force
f^ E N E R A L PR O V ISIO N S.—The provisions of the law apply to
^
civil-service employees on the permanent staff of the State
administration and of the Government industrial establishments, and
to their widows and children.
The pensions are calculated on the basis of average salary, wages,
and various allowances received by an employee during the last
three years of service.
The minimum pension for length of service is, as a rule, one-half
of the average salary. It is increased to three-fourths, but not
more than 4,000 francs, when the average salary is not above 8,000
francs per annum. The minimum is increased over and above the
required length of service to one-sixtieth of the average salary for a
year of service in office, and to one-fiftieth of the average salary for a
year of service in field. The pension is further increased by 10 per
cent when the employee has three children under the age of 16 years.
For each additional child an increase of 5 per cent is provided. The
maximum pension may not exceed three-fouths of the average
salary, or 18,000 francs per annum.
Civil service employees contribute 6 per cent of the salary, wages,
and allowances received by them.
Retirement age and length of service.—A civil service employee has
the right to retire when he is 60 years of age and has had 30 years of
office service, or, when he has been 15 years in field service, he can
retire at the age of 55 years after 25 years of service. The age limit
is not required when the health conditions of an employee become
such that he is not able to continue his service. In case of service
outside Europe, additional credit of one-third of its actual length is
given (one-fourth in the case of service in north Africa).
An employee retires either by his own request or he is put on the
retired list officially by the proper authority. The proceedings must
be started six months in advance.
Civil service employees detached from the permanent staff, and
assigned to and paid, wholly or in part, by a Department, commune,
colony, public or private establishment, or foreign Government
retain their right to pensions. They must continue contribution
on the basis of the salary corresponding to the class and grade
of the service from which they were detached, their pension being
computed on the basis of the average remuneration that they would
have received during the last three years if they were paid by the
State.
When a civil service employee, except in case of disability,
leaves the service, for any reason, earlier than the retirement age,
his contribution is refunded in the foliowhig manner: His contribu
tion, with interest, at the time of his leaving the service, is transferred
to his credit in the national insurance fund against death to form a
deferred capital insurance, the time of payment of which is fixed at not
less than five years from the date of his resignation.
Woman civil service employees, when married or mothers of
families and when having served at least 15 years, have the right to
a retirement pension calculated for each year of service on the basis
of one-sixtieth of the average salary in case of office service or one-
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
fiftieth in case of field service. In determining the time of retire
ment of such employees, an allowance of one year for each child born
to them is added to the age and the length of service.
^D is a b ilit y p e n s i o n s .—When a civil service employee is disabled
through an act of courage in the public interest or through risking
his life in saving one or more persons, or through a fight or attack
during his employment, he may, in exceptional cases, be retired
regardless of age and length of service. The pension in such cases
is three-fourths of the last salary received.
A civil service employee disabled by sickness, wounds, or serious
infirmity has the right to retire either at his own request or officially.
Disaoility must be ascertained by a commission consisting of (1)
a sworn government physician; (2) three employees appointed by
the minister ; and (3) two employees in the same service in which the
applicant is engaged, selected by their colleagues.
The applicant has the right to see the papers in the case and to have
a physician of his own choosing appear before the investigation
commission.
A civil service employee disabled in office service has the right to
a pension of at least 1,500 francs per annum, or equal to one-third
of his last salary in service, or to a longevity pension counted, per
year of service, as one-thirtieth for office service or one twenty-fifth
for field service of the minimum pension previously quoted, together
with any allowances for military or colonial service he may be re
ceiving.
The pension of a colonial civil service employee retired as a result
of wounds or infirmity contracted during service may not, on account
of the risk incurred, be less than the minimum longevity pension
based on his last salary, together with the allowances.
Alien disability is incurred outside of service, an employee who
has had 5 years of service or more has the right to pension at the rate
of one-sixtieth of his average salary in case of office service, and onefiftieth in case of field service.
A disabled civil service employee with less than 15 years of service
is given a life annuity from the national old age retirement fund
formed by the deposit therein of the sum contributed by him out of his
salary together with the interest credited to the depositors by the
Savings and Provident Fund of Paris. This amount, according to
the wish of the employee, is either held by the Government and a
life pension is paid to the employee, or it is returned to him instead
of life pension. Should the employee prefer pension, the Govern
ment adds an equal amount to the sum formed out of his contribu
tions together with the interest, and the sum total is turned over to
the old age retirement fund, out of which the pension or life annuity
is paid to him.
Pensions for Widows and Orphans
A,
of a civil service employee has the right to a pension of
50 per cent of the longevity or disability pension which her hus
band was receiving or would have received at the time of his death.
The right of a widow to pension, in the case of disability pension,
is conditioned upon the marriage having taken place before retire
ment or death, and in the case of age or length of service pension,
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PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREMENT— FRANCE
41
upon its having taken place not later than two years before retire
ment, except in cases when there were one or more children born of
the marriage before retirement.
Each orphan up to the age of 21 years has the right to a temporary
pension of 10 per cent of the longevity or disability pension, but the
sum of the mother’s and the orphan’s pensions may not exceed the
pension the father received or would have received.
In case of the death of the mother, or her loss of the right to pen
sion, or of not being able to receive pension, such right as she may
have had goes to her minor children, and the temporary pension of
10 per cent is maintained for each minor child under 21 years of age
within the maximum sum defined in the preceding clause.
The minor children of a deceased woman employee who was
receiving a pension or had the right to receive one are entitled to a
pension as determined above.
In case the father is living his minor children have the right to a
temporary pension of 10 per cent of the pension received by their
mother, or which she would have been receiving had she lived.
State and Employees’ Contributions
‘T T iE State contributes to the civil service pension about nine per
A cent of the salary, and the necessary sum is appropriated each
year on the basis of the pensions and allowances, permanent and
temporary, to be paid civil service employees during the fiscal year.
Extra appropriations for pensions are authorized by special law.
The contributions of employees from 1924 to 1927 were as follows:
1924
1925
1926
1927
Contribution,
in francs
_________________________________________________________ 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
_________________________________________________________ 2 0 6 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
____________________________________________________ _
2 4 5 ,3 0 0 ,0 0 0
______________________________________________________ _ 1 3 8 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
i Estimated.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The State appropriations for civil pensions each year from 1924 to
1926 and those estimated for 1927 are shown in the following table:
STATE APPRO PRIATIO N S FOR CIV IL PENSIONS EACH Y E A R , 1924 TO 1926, AND E S T I
M ATED APPROPRIATIO NS FO R 1927
Civil pensions
Law of Aug. 22, 1790, and o th e r s ......... ...........
Law of Apr. 14, 1924........ ...............................
Law of July 17, 1856 i__________________ _ _
To judges, law of Aug. 30, 1883. ..................... .
Increase, law of Mar. 25, 1920________ _____________
Increase, for children, law of Apr. 14, 1924............
Family allowances, law of Apr. 14, 1924_____ _
Pension to widows, law of Apr. 14, 1924, sec. 27.
Pensions to widows, law of Apr. 14, 1920, sec. 68
Temporary to retired minor einplovees.. ______
Temporary, high-cost-of-living allowances__________
Refund to national old age pension fund. _
State share in the pensions to civil servants and em
ployees of Paris police department, and of the
administration of Algeria.........................
Total_________________________
1924
1925
1926
1927
(estimated)
Francs
Francs
Francs
Francs
479, 000
1, 300, 000
1, 000, 000
1, 384, 000
183,000,000 600, 000, 000 953, 000, 000 1,448, 385, 000
33, 000
1, 232, 000
1,534, 000
137, 000 } 1, 512, 700
301, 000, 000
800, 000
1,400, 000
12, 300, 000
"700, 000 11,663, 000
44,800,000
300, 000
100,000
100, 000
15.000, 000
7, 380, 000
7,410, 000
45,000, 000 17.000, 000 11 . 000,000
9, 582, 000
225,000, 000 15, 000, 000 10, 000, 000
10, 000,000
600, 000
500, 000
800,000
150, 000
552,000
640, 000
1,033,000
758, 799, 000 651, 564, 700 997,915, 000 1, 537, 328, 000
1 This law provides to ministers, marshals and admirals, and other high public servants and their
widows and children a pension up to 20,000 francs, when these officials have rendered eminent services to
the nation, and when their lack of means make such pension necessary.
S o u r c e s : Great Britain—Great Britain, Civil Service, Digest of Pension Laws and Regulations, London,
1924; Great Britain, House of Commons, Civil Estimates for the Year Ending Mar. 31,1928, London 1927Report from United States Embassy at London, dated Oct. 7, 1927; and United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Civil Service Retirement in Great Britain and New Zealand, by Herbert D. Brown (printed as
S. Doc. No. 290, 61st Cong., 2d sess.), Washington, 1910;
France—Journal Officiel, Apr. 15, Sept. 10, and Oct. 21,1924, and Aug. 3 and 4, and Oct. 14,1926; France,
Ministère des Finances, project des loi portant fixation du budget général de l’exercice 1924-1927; Rapport,
Commission des Pensions civiles et militaires, Chambre des Députés, session 1913, No. 2644; Rapport de
la Commission des Finances, chargé d’examiner de project de loi portant reforme du régime des pensions
civiles, Chambre des Députés, session 1922, No. 4225; Les Pensions civiles de l’état, Commentaire par
Charles Rabany. Paris, 1916; Recueil périodique et critique de jurisprudence, 1925, 4« partie, Pensions
civiles et militairè, Dallez; Répertoire général alphabétique du droit français, par Herman Fuzier, Paris,
1902, vol. 30, pp. 379-518;
’
Unpublished material collected and compiled by the Legislative Reference Division, Library of Congress:
and
Unpublished material furnished to the Department of Labor through the Department of State.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 2 ]
LABOR TURNOVER
Labor Turnover In American Factories During 1926 and 1927
A
N EA SY labor market is indicated by the labor turnover
experience of 300 factories reporting to the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. and local bodies 1 associated in this project.
Together the reporting companies employ over 6 3^2 per cent of the
country’s factory workers.
The accompanying table shows the experience of 1926 and 1927.2
Due to a smaller volume of factory employment, the accession rates
of 1927 are consistently lower than those of 1926. The easy labor
market is best illustrated by the lower level of the voluntary quit
rate. In fact the quit rate 18.2 is the lowest November on record
since the study began in 1919.
AVERAGE
TURN O VER
RATES
DURING 1926 AND 1927 IN S E L E C T E D AM ERICAN
FACTO RIES o
[Each monthly rate is stated on an equivalent annual basis]
Accession
rate
Total separa
tion ra te b
Voluntary
quit rate
Lay-oil rate
Month
January... — . .
....
February....... .............................
March__________ ________
April_______________________
M ay----------------------------------Ju n e.______________________
J u l y .. . ____________________
August_______________ ____ _
September__________________
October_______________ . . .
November c______________
December................... .............
Discharge
rate
1927
1926
1927
1926
1927
1926
1927
1926
1927
36.3
41. 7
43.2
47.5
48.0
45.0
37. 8
39.6
43.6
40.8
34.1
56.5
56.1
56.5
52.3
60.0
57.2
54.2
65. 9
64.9
57.7
40.2
27.1
40. 8
36.9
42. 5
48.3
44. 7
43.9
35.7
36. 4
46.2
39. 6
30.5
38.9
40.4
50.6
60.8
50. 6
46.2
53.0
51. 8
58.4
43.6
40.2
30. 6
23.1
29.8
32.4
31.9
29.1
24. 4
23.0
33.8
25.3
18.2
27.1
27. 4
35.3
46.2
37. 7
35.3
38.9
40.0
47.5
31.8
25.6
12.3
9.6
6.4
9. 7
7.6
4.7
6.5
7.1
5.4
5.5
6.3
21.8
8.0
6.0
8.5
6.4
8.5
8.2
20.0
6.1
5.9
6.1
7.1
4. 7
4.9
4. 7
8.5
7.1
6.2
5.2
6.8
5.3
4.9
6.0
5.8
4.1
1926
7.1
8.2
8.5
7.1
4.9
7.1
7.1
6.1
7.1
6.1
3.5
° Now numbering about 300. The form of average used is the unweighted median of company rates,
except for the total separation rate, which is the sum of the median rates for voluntary quits, layoffs and
discharges.
b Arithmetic sum of last three columns.
c Preliminary figures, subject to revision.
1See Labor Review, for November, 1927, p. 130.
2Earlier figures were published in the Labor Review for March, 1927, pp. 12,13.
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 2 8 ------- 4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 3 ]
43
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR
CONDITIONS
Recommendations of President Regarding Coal-Mining Situa®
tion
N HIS message to Congress, December 6, 1927, President Coolidge
recommended that legislation be enacted authorizing Federal con
trol of fuel distribution as well as a Federal board of mediation
and conciliation in case of actual or threatened interruption to coal
mining. The recommendation in full is as follows.
I
L e g is la tio n a u th o r iz in g a s y s t e m o f fu e l a d m i n i s t r a t io n a n d t h e a p p o i n t m e n t
b y t h e P r e s id e n t of a b o a r d of m e d ia tio n a n d c o n c ilia tio n in c a s e of a c t u a l o r
t h r e a t e n e d i n t e r r u p ti o n of p r o d u c tio n is n e e d e d . T h e m in e rs th e m s e lv e s a r e n o w
s e e k in g i n f o r m a tio n a n d a c t io n f r o m t h e G o v e r n m e n t, w h ic h c o u ld r e a d ily b e
s e c u re d t h r o u g h s u c h a b o a r d . I t is b e lie v e d t h a t a t h o r o u g h in v e s t ig a t io n a n d
r e c o n s id e r a tio n of t h i s p ro p o s e d p o lic y b y t h e C o n g r e s s w ill d e m o n s tr a te t h a t th is
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n is s o u n d a n d sh o u ld b e a d o p te d .
Annual Report of the Secretary of Labor, 1926-27
T
HE extensive activities of the various administrations of the
United States Department of Labor for the fiscal year 1926-27
are summarized in the annual report of the Secretary of Labor
for that period. A resume of this publication is given below.
Conciliation Service
JN 1926-27 the Conciliation Service handled 545 trade disputes, 24
* of which were pending at the end of the year. Adjustment was
made in 436 cases, 41 of which had been carried over from the pre
vious year. Sixty-nine cases were closed without aid from the com
missioner, or were called off or settled with the aid of State or local
agencies; and 57 controversies are listed as “ unable to adjust.5'
Employment Service
IN 1926 the volume of business broke all previous records but toward
^ the last quarter of that calendar year there was considerable unem
ployment and there was little change in this situation in the first
quarter of 1927. Several causes are assigned for this condition.
In flu e n c e s h a v e b e e n a t w o rk d u r in g t h e p a s t fe w y e a r s w h ic h g r e a t l y r e d u c e d
l a b o r t u r n o v e r in p r a c t i c a l l y a ll b a s ic in d u s trie s , re s u ltin g in fe w e r o p p o r tu n itie s
f o r t e m p o r a r y o r c a s u a l e m p lo y m e n t, b u t, o n t h e o th e r h a n d , p o in tin g t o a m o r e
s ta b iliz e d l a b o r m a r k e t . E v e r -c h a n g in g m e th o d s of p r o d u c tio n a n d d is tr ib u tio n ,
e s p e c ia lly t h e in c r e a s e d u tiliz a tio n of la b o r -s a v in g m a c h in e r y , a r e p la y in g a n
i m p o r t a n t p a r t . F o r e x a m p le , t h e f a r m e r s in t h e g r e a t W h e a t B e l t a r e p u r c h a s
in g c o m b in e s in la r g e n u m b e r s . T h e s e m a c h in e s h e a d a n d th r e s h t h e w h e a t in
o n e o p e r a tio n , a n d d u rin g t h e c u r r e n t y e a r t h e i r u se m a t e r ia l ly r e d u c e d la b o r
r e q u ir e m e n ts in O k la h o m a , K a n s a s , N e b r a s k a , a n d o th e r S ta t e s .
44
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 4 ]
;
i
t
'
i
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF LABOR, 1 9 2 6 - 1 9 2 7
45
When the report of the Employment Service for 1926-27 was
being prepared industrial employment in general was found to be
on a normal basis. Activity in several major industries, however,
had declined as a result of seasonal influences, and numerous textile
mills were operating on part time. Slight decreases were also notice
able in volume of employment in the iron and steel and automobile
industries. According to district reports from New England, em
ployment conditions in the boot and shoe industry were improving.
While considerable building was going on there was some surplus
labor in the building trade. While at that period municipal under
takings, road building, and agricultural activities offered oppor
tunities for work to many wage earners, yet nowhere was there a
labor shortage.
For the year ending June 30, 1927, the number of persons placed
through the cooperative employment service was 1,688,476, the
number of registrations being 2,440,640, and the help wanted
1,991,598.
Housing Corporation
IN U RIN G the year 1926-27 the United States Housing Corporation collected $2,731,175.14. With the covering of this sum into
the United States Treasury the corporation will have returned to
the Government more than $66,969,000 of the original $100/100,000
appropriation for the war housing program.
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
A SUMMARY of the work of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
was published in the December, 1927, issue of the Review
(pp. 1-30).
Bureau of immigration
CCORDING to the report of the Commissioner-General of Im^ migration there were 538,001 aliens admitted to the United States
in 1926-27, or 41,895 more than in the preceding year. Of these
538,001 aliens, 335,175 were immigrants or newcomers for per
manent residence. Of the 253,508 aliens who left the United States,
180,142 departed intending to return and 73,366 left without ex
pressing such intention.
Approximately 45 per cent of the immigrants admitted in 1926-27
came from Canada and Mexico—81,506 from the former country
and 67,721 from the latter. The quota restrictions, it will be recalled,
do not apply to these countries. The authorized force of the border
patrol for 1927 was 781. During the fiscal year 19,382 persons
were apprehended and delivered to other officials; 786 automobiles
and 303 boats and other vehicles seized. The number of smuggled
aliens captured was 12,098 as compared with 3,382 in the preceding
year.
A
1
Bureau of Naturalization
1WURING 1926-27, 258,295 declarations of intention to become
^
citizens were made, 240,339 petitions for naturalization were
filed, and 199,804 certificates of naturalization were issued. While
the number of declarations of intention was 19,244 less than in the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 5 ]
46
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
preceding year, the number of petitions for naturalization increased
by 68,107 and the number of certificates of naturalization issued
increased by 53,473.
Children’s Bureau
A T TH E close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1927, 45 States
(all except Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Illinois) and the
Territory of Hawaii were cooperating with the United States Chil
dren’s Bureau under the Federal maternity and infancy act. . In
the 12-month period, as an outcome of this cooperation, 1,808 com
bined prenatal and child-health conferences were held and also
21,347 child-health conferences and 3,231 prenatal conferences.
The amounts accepted by the States and Hawaii from the appro
priation under the act aggregated $904,824.71 for 1927.
In the 12 months under consideration the Children’s Bureau
issued 46 new and revised publications and 6 others were in press
at the end of that year. The most important of the issues are given
below:
C h ild h y g ie n e .— P o s tu r e c lin ic s , o r g a n iz a tio n , a n d e x e r c is e s ; P o s tu r e e x e r c is e s ;
M ilk , t h e in d is p e n s a b le fo o d f o r c h ild r e n ; W h a t is m a l n u t r i ti o n (r e v i s e d ) ?
C hild, la b o r.— W o r k o f c h ild r e n o n I llin o is f a r m s ; C h ild la b o r — O u tlin e s fo r
s t u d y (fifth e d it io n ); P h y s i c a l s t a n d a r d s f o r w o r k in g c h ild r e n (a p p e n d ix re v is e d
t o in c lu d e le g is la tio n t o A u g u s t 1 5 , 1 9 2 6 ) ; P r o m s c h o o l t o w o r k (f o ld e r ).
D e lin q u e n c y a n d d e p e n d e n c y .— D e p e n d e n t a n d d e lin q u e n t c h ild r e n in N o r t h
D a k o t a a n d S o u th D a k o t a ; D e p e n d e n t a n d d e lin q u e n t c h ild r e n in G e o r g ia ;
C h ild -w e lf a re c o n d itio n s a n d r e s o u r c e s in s e v e n P e n n s y lv a n ia c o u n t ie s ; T h e
c o u n t y a s a u n i t f o r a n o rg a n iz e d p r o g r a m of c h ild -c a r in g a n d p r o t e c t i v e w o r k ;
H a n d b o o k f o r t h e u s e o f b o a r d o f d ir e c to r s , s u p e r in te n d e n ts , a n d s ta f f s o f i n s ti
t u t i o n s f o r d e p e n d e n t c h ild r e n ; T h e w o rk o f c h ild -p la c in g a g e n c ie s ; P u b lic c h ild
c a r in g w o r k in c e r t a i n c o u n t ie s o f M in n e s o ta , N o r t h C a r o lin a , a n d N e w Y o r k ;
C h ild w e lf a re in N e w J e r s e y .
R ecreation.-— R e c r e a ti o n f o r b lin d c h ild re n .
M a te rn ity a n d i n f a n t h y g ie n e .— T h e p r o m o tio n of t h e w e lf a re a n d h y g ie n e of
m a t e r n i t y a n d in f a n c y — T h e a d m i n i s t r a t io n of t h e a c t o f C o n g r e s s of N o v e m b e r
2 3 , 1 9 2 1 , fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 5 ; P r o c e e d in g s of t h e t h i r d a n n u a l c o n
f e r e n c e o f S t a t e d ir e c to r s in c h a r g e o f t h e l o c a l a d m i n i s t r a t io n of t h e m a t e r n i t y
a n d in f a n c y a c t o f N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 1 9 2 1 ; M a t e r n a l m o r t a l i t y , t h e ris k of d e a th in
c h ild b ir th a n d f r o m a ll d is e a s e s c a u s e d b y p r e g n a n c y a n d c o n f in e m e n t; A s t u d y of
m a t e r n i t y h o m e s in M in n e s o ta a n d P e n n s y lv a n ia ,
Women’s Bureau
rT 'H E bulletins issued or ¡Drepared by the Women’s Bureau in the
year ending June 30, 1927, are listed below:
P u b lis h e d .— L o s t t im e a n d la b o r t u r n o v e r in c o t t o n m ills ; T h e s t a t u s o f w o m e n
in t h e G o v e r n m e n t s e r v ic e in 1 9 2 5 ; C h a n g in g j o b s ; W o m e n in M ississip p i in d u s
t r i e s ; W o m e n in T e n n e s s e e in d u s t r i e s ; W o m e n w o r k e r s a n d i n d u s tr ia l p o is o n s ;
W o m e n in D e la w a r e in d u s t r i e s ; S h o r t t a l k s a b o u t w o r k in g w o m e n .
I n p r e s s .— I n d u s t r i a l a c c i d e n t s t o w o m e n in N e w J e r s e y , O h io , a n d W is c o n s in ;
T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f m in im u m w a g e la w s in t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , 1 9 1 2 t o 1 9 2 7 ;
W o m e n ’s e m p lo y m e n t in v e g e ta b le c a n n e r ie s in D e la w a re .
I n p r e p a r a t io n .— W o m e n w o r k e r s in F l i n t , M i c h .; S t a t e la w s a f f e c tin g w o r k in g
w o m e n ( r e v i s i o n ) ; O re g o n le g is la tio n f o r w o m e n in in d u s t r y .
As in other years, library research work in order to supply infor
mation requested has constituted one of the important activities of
the bureau.
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REPORT OF SECRETARY OF LABOR, 1 9 2 6 -1 9 2 7
47
Recommendations and Comments
A M O N G the recommendations made by the Secretary are the
following :
Bureau of Labor Statistics.—The preparation, of a new family
budget; a study of labor turnover in the United States by industries;
further studies of apprenticeship; a survey of migratory labor.
The Bureau o f Immigration.—The entire rewriting of immigration
legislation, and meanwhile various amendments to the present immi
gration law, in order to facilitate the reunion of families; an extension
of the selective system of immigration so as to “ give preference to
those whose services are most needed in American indus try” ; the
elimination of the confusion that now exists in the provision con
cerning alien students; a penalty in addition to deportation for
aliens who gain illegal residence by coming to the United States as
seamen; and the registration of aliens, as previously recommended.
Bureau o f Naturalization.—A complete new naturalization code
based upon the present law and the experience gained in its adminis
tration.
Children’s Bureau.—The creation of a division for the scientific
study of juvenile delinquency; continued interest in protecting
children from premature work, too long hours of work, or dangerous
conditions of employment.
Women’s ■Bureau.—A careful investigation as to the effect of
industrial poisons on woman workers; the gathering of definite,
first-hand, current data concerning married women in industry;
expansion of news release work and popular literature regarding
woman workers.
Outstanding Statements
T H E Secretary touched upon a great variety of subjects. He emA phasized his conviction that “ so long as the worker is paid in pro
portion to his greater productiveness, no fear need be felt for the
high-speed automatic machinery that is constantly being introduced
into industry.” He also declared that “ A dullard must see the folly
of killing the purchasing power of the greatest buyer, the worker, in
the market at home which provides us with all but a fraction of our
national wealth and prosperity.” He pointed out that while no
other industrial nation has such a high record for productivity,
no other has so many men killed and injured in industry.
In discussing the bituminous coal industry he expressed the belief
“ that the American people would agree to the modification of any
law that stands in the way of order and organization in the mining
of coal.”
Among other matters taken up were injunctions in labor con
troversies, the negro in industry, vocational education, and vocational
rehabilitation of disabled workers.
In closing his report the Secretary said:
If we keep our national industrial organization well oiled with good will, if we
keep_ our great home market protected against senseless wage reductions from
within and against those who would undersell it from without, I see no reason
why we should not keep prosperity with us as a permanent thing.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
147]
48
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
Indexes of the Economic progress of the United States, 1922 to
1927
T
HE following table, contained in the Annual Report of the Secre
tary of Commerce for 1927, presents several of the major eco
nomic indexes for the United States for the past s l x fiscal
years:
IN D E X N U M B ER S OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS
[Based upon calendar year 1919=100]
Y ear ending June 30—
aturn
1922
Volume of business (quantities, not value) :
Manufacturing production________ ____________
Mineral production-------------------------- -------------- _
Forest products production ------ ------------------Freight, railroad, ton-miles_____________________
Electric-power production_____ _______________
Building contracts let, square feet...... .................... .
Value of sales:
Department stores.____ ___________ ___________
5-and~10 cent stores____________________________
Mail-order houses___ _ ______________ ________
Wholesale trade__________________
_________ _
89
91
98
89
1923
92
116
119
117
109
136
107
108
130
71
72
118
152
91
80
112
1924
1925
115
133
118
129
148
108
1926
1927
112
127
132
124
119
179
142
129
149
114
125
188
132
125
173
126
196
133
219-
82
83
85
136
240
123
83
122
110
100
121
110
158
110
122
The Secretary of Commerce comments upon these figures as
follows:
O f t h e 1 0 i n d ic a t o r s p r e s e n te d , a ll b u t 3 s to o d h ig h e r in 1 9 2 6 - 2 7 t h a n in
1 9 2 5 - 2 6 , a n d a ll b u t 2 s to o d a s h ig h a s o r h ig h e r t h a n in a n y y e a r p re c e d in g
1 9 2 5 -2 6 .
O n e o f t h e tw o l a s t-m e n tio n e d e x c e p tio n s , t h e v a lu e of w h o le sa le
t r a d e , is d u e s o le ly t o t h e f a c t t h a t p r ic e s a r e lo w e r a t t h e p r e s e n t t h a n d u rin g
y e a r s i m m e d i a te l y a t t h e c lo s e o f t h e W o r ld W a r .
T h e v o lu m e o f o u t p u t o f m a n u f a c t u r in g i n d u s t r y , b y a ll o d d s t h e l a r g e s t
b r a n c h o f p r o d u c t iv e a c t i v i t y , s h o w e d a n a p p r e c ia b le g a in e v e n a b o v e t h e e x
t r e m e ly h ig h le v e l o f t h e fis c a l y e a r 1 9 2 5 - 2 6 .
T h e im p r o v e m e n t wra s n o t t h e
r e s u l t o f a n e x c e p tio n a lly m a r k e d in c r e a s e in a n y p a r t i c u l a r field , b u t w a s g e n e r a l
in p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y g ro u p o f in d u s tr ie s .
E s p e c ia lly n o t e w o r t h y is t h e f a c t t h a t
p r o d u c tio n in t h e t e x t i l e in d u s tr ie s , w h ic h h a d lo n g b e e n r e l a t iv e l y d e p re s s e d ,
w a s m a t e r i a l l y g r e a t e r t h a n in t h e p r e c e d in g fis c a l y e a r .
T h e m o s t c o n s p ic u o u s g a in s s h o w n a s c o m p a r e d wTith 1 9 2 5 - 2 6 a r e in m in e r a l
p r o d u c tio n , f r e i g h t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , o u t p u t o f e le c tr ic c u r r e n t , a n d s a le s o f 5 - a n d 1 0 c e n t s to r e s .
T h e in c r e a s e in t h e t w o i te m s l a s t m e n tio n e d is p a r t of a g e n e ra l
u p w a r d t r e n d m o r e m a r k e d t h a n t h a t in m o s t e c o n o m ic p h e n o m e n a .
E le c tric
c u r r e n t is b e in g u s e d in r a p i d l y in c r e a s in g q u a n titie s f o r lig h tin g , f o r d o m e s tic
p o w e r a n d h e a t , a n d a b o v e a ll, f o r in d u s tr ia l p o w e r.
T h is e x p a n s io n re p r e s e n ts
b o t h d is p la c e m e n t o f o th e r s o u r c e s o f lig h t, h e a t , a n d p o w e r a n d a d v a n c e in
liv in g s t a n d a r d s a n d in a c t i v i t y o f in d u s t r y .
S o , t o o , t h e g r o w th o f 5 - a n d - 1 0 c e n t s to r e s r e p r e s e n ts , in p a r t , a s h if t f r o m
o th e r m e th o d s o f d is tr ib u tio n , a lth o u g h t h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t t h a t t h e t o t a l
v o lu m e o f r e t a i l d is tr ib u tio n h a s a ls o m a t e r ia l ly i n c r e a s e d .
T h e s te a d in e s s a n d
e x p a n s io n o f r e t a i l s a le s d u r in g r e c e n t y e a r s is e v id e n c e of t h e h ig h v o lu m e of
c o n s u m p tio n o n t h e p a r t of t h e m a s s e s o f t h e p e o p le .
Results of Canadian Industrial Disputes Investigation Act, 1907
to 192S
A
R EC EN T publication of the Russell Sage Foundation, en
titled “ Postponing Strikes,” by Ben M. Selekman, reviews
the operation of the Canadian industrial disputes investiga
tion act from its passage on March 22, 1907, to March 31, 1925, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 8 ]
CANADIAN INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES INVESTIGATION ACT
49
gives special consideration to the practicability of the application of
its principles in the United States.
The records of the Canadian Department of Labor showed that
from March 22, 1907, to March 31, 1925, a period of 18 years, 640
applications were made for boards of conciliation and investigation,
536 cases were handled under the act, 421 boards were actually con
stituted, and over half of the reports rendered by the boards were
unanimous. Of the total of 536 disputes handled under the act,
473 occurred in public utility industries, the term “ public utility ”
being used to cover “ all the industries named in the act.” In 429,
or 90.7 per cent, of these cases a strike was averted or ended; in only
44, or 9.3 per cent, was a strike not averted or ended. Of 23 disputes
in war industries referred to boards during the two and one-half years
in which the act was extended to cover this group of industries,
the boards were able to avert strikes in all but 2 cases.
However, these figures relate only to disputes in which the ma
chinery of the act was invoked. During the same period it is es
timated that there were 425 strikes in public utilities in which the
act was ignored; and in 47 disputes, in which applications for boards
were made, strikes occurred in violation of the act.
Strikes in mining were responsible for 42.8 per cent of the aver
age yearly number of working-days lost (1,137,249) through all
strikes in Canada from 1907 to 1924, as against 7 per cent in trans
portation. The majority of the mine strikes occurred in coal mines,
the average number each year being 9.4 per cent of all strikes and
involving 24.7 per cent of the employees affected in them, with a
time loss of 40.7 per cent of all working-days lost as compared with
a yearly average of 26.4 per cent from 1901 to 1907, before the passage
of the act.
The author states that only a thoroughgoing study of industrial
relations in the coal industry of Canada would reveal all the factors
responsible for the impotence of the act in the industry for which it
was originally drafted, a prolonged coal strike in Alberta having led
to its enactment.
During the early history of the act, strikes accompanied the
campaigns carried on by the United Mine Workers of America to
organize the miners of Canada, and the industrial dislocation created
by the World War vitally affected the coal industry and caused
discontent among the workers. Organizations more radical in their
philosophy than the United Mine Workers—namely, the Communist
Party and the One Big Union—made their appeal to the workers
and a three-cornered fight for the allegiance of the miners resulted.
These factors also operated in other industries, but in coal mining
their influence was especially marked because of the peculiar economic
conditions surrounding the coal industry of Canada. The industrial
area of Canada, located in the central part of the Dominion along the
United States border, is nearer the coal regions of Pennsylvania than
to those of Nova Scotia or British Columbia. Consequently, freight
costs are higher for coal from Canadian mines than for coal from
mines in the United States. For this reason, Canada, although
having one-sixth of all the coal in the world, imports three-fifths of
all the coal it consumes. Irregularity of employment prevails in the
coal industry in Canada as it does in the United States. Canadian
operators have maintained, according to the author, that “ competi
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tion from the United States has forced them to try to reduce wages
and has prevented their yielding to demands for higher wages.”
The miners, on the other hand, have contended that they could
not accept wage reductions because of the impossibility of meeting
rising costs of living. . In view of these fundamental economic diffi
culties in the industry, Mr. Selekman questions whether it is fair to
regard the strikes in the coal industry as evidence of the failure of the
disputes act, and makes the statement that “ the ineffectiveness of
conciliation under the disputes act in the coal industry indicates that
where fundamental economic conditions, such as instability and
chronic irregularity of employment, make for strikes, legislation
aiming simply to provide machinery for the adjustment of disputes
will not afford a solution of the problem.”
As regards the effectiveness of the disputes act in preventing
strikes on the railroads, attention is called to the fact that there have
been few serious strikes on Canadian railroads either before or after
the act, and those that have taken place on the railroads and in other
branches of transportation have been called largely by members of
semiskilled and unskilled crafts, such as freight handlers, teamsters,
and expressmen. However, it is believed that the presence of the
act has without doubt helped at times to prevent threatened rail
road strikes in Canada. For instance, when the railroad companies
of Canada proposed wage reductions in 1922, in conformity with
those introduced by railroads in the United States, Canadian shop
men did not strike as did those in this country. Instead they applied
for boards of conciliation and investigation, and the decisions of
these boards were used as a basis for settlement between employees
and management. It is reported, however, that most of the railroad
disputes since 1918 have been referred to the Canadian Railway
Board of Adjustment No. 1.
Attitude of Labor and of Employers Toward the A ct
Labor’s Attitude
HPHE labor movement as a whole seems to have been definitely in
1 favor of the act when it was passed in 1907, although it was
opposed by both the miners and the railroad employees. However,
general opposition developed, amendments were repeatedly asked
for, and the repeal of the act was demanded. Beginning with 1918
this hostile attitude changed and labor “ has on the whole been
friendly to the act,” and while amendments were still sought after
1918 they were aimed at details of the law rather than at its general
operation and administration.
Labor’s attitude prior to 1918, as summarized by the author, was
one of dissatisfaction with the administration and operation of the
act, and, with the possible exception of 1916, when the act was
opposed “ in its entirety,” the Canadian Trades and Labor Congress
did not challenge the principles underlying it; indeed, it had repeat
edly indorsed them. Many of the complaints revolved about admin
istrative practices. It was contended that, in the majority of cases,
representatives of employers and employees could not agree upon a
suitable person for board chairman and therefore the selection de
volved upon the Minister of Labor. His appointees, in the opinion
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of labor officials, were inclined to favor employers, and as the chair
man had the deciding vote the boards were in a sense “ loaded”
against labor from the beginning. However, these contentions were
not borne out by the facts obtained in the investigation. It was
found that the Minister of Labor was called upon to designate a
chairman in more cases between 1918 and 1925 than prior to 1918,
the percentage in the later period having been 62.1 per cent of all
appointments as compared with 51.9 per cent in the earlier period.
In regard to the decisions, employees’ representatives dissented from
23.3 per cent of all reports rendered after 1918 as compared with only
18.1 per cent of all reports rendered before 1918.
It was also felt that too much time elapsed in the constitution of
boards and in the submitting of reports, with the result that the
workers lost money through the postponement of wage increases
which they demanded and employers were given time to prepare for a
possible strike. Moreover, if the workers were dissatisfied with the
awards made, the opportune time for striking had often passed.
For various reasons, delays in the appointment of boards could
not always be avoided, and. the data show that there was little
variation in the periods before 1918 and since in the lapse of time
between the applications for boards and their constitution. A gen
eral improvement seems to have taken place in the speeding up of
reports of boards, but the improvement in this respect has not been
striking enough to explain the change of attitude on the part of
labor. This change Mr. Selekman sums up as follows:
I n s u m m a r y , t h e n , c e r t a i n f o r c e s w e re s e t in o p e r a tio n , b e g in n in g w ith 1 9 1 8 ,
w h ic h w e re b o u n d t o m a k e C a n a d i a n la b o r frie n d ly t o t h e a c t .
T h e ra p p ro ch e
m e n t r e a c h e d b e tw e e n l a b o r a n d G o v e r n m e n t in 1 9 1 8 f o r w a r p u r p o s e s le d t o a
f u r t h e r u n d e r s ta n d in g a f t e r t h e w a r , b e tw e e n th e s e tw o g ro u p s , in a n a t t e m p t t o
s te m t h e in flu e n c e o f n e w a n d r i v a l u n io n s w h o se p h ilo s o p h y a n d t a c t i c s w e re m o r e
r a d i c a l t h a n t h o s e of t h e i n t e r n a ti o n a l , u n io n s w h ic h r e p r e s e n t t h e o v e rw h e lm in g
m a j o r i t y o f t h e o rg a n iz e d w a g e e a r n e r s o f C a n a d a .
T h e r e s u lt w a s t h e official
r e c o g n itio n , o n t h e p a r t o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t, o f t h e i n t e r n a ti o n a l l a b o r m o v e m e n t,
a n a c c e p t a n c e of t h e s t a n d a r d s w h ic h o rg a n iz e d la b o r s o u g h t t o e s ta b lis h in
i n d u s t r y , a n u m b e r of a m e n d m e n ts t o r e m e d y c o m p la in ts w h ic h l a b o r h a d v o ic e d
a g a in s t c e r ta i n d e fe c ts in t h e o p e r a tio n of t h e a c t , a n d t h e a p p o i n t m e n t of fo r m e r
t r a d e -u n io n officials t o t h e M in is tr y of L a b o r .
I n a d d itio n , t h e m a c h in e r y of
t h e a c t h e lp e d w e a k u n io n s— e s p e c ia lly d u rin g t h e w a r , w h e n t h e a c t w a s e x te n d e d
t o c o v e r m u n itio n s in d u s trie s — t o s e c u re in c r e a s e s in w a g e s fo r t h e i r m e m b e r s
w ith o u t h a v in g t o r e s o r t t o s trik e s .
A g a in , i n t e r n a l s tr if e c a u s e d b y r a d i c a l u n io n s h a s d iv id e d t h e s t r e n g th of t h e
C a n a d ia n la b o r m o v e m e n t.
B e g in n in g w ith t h e l a t t e r p a r t of 1 9 2 0 c a m e , t o o , a
p e rio d o f r a p id ly fa llin g p r ic e s , u n e m p lo y m e n t a n d lo ss in t r a d e -u n i o n m e m b e r
sh ip — a p e rio d w h e n l a b o r w a s p u t o n t h e d e fe n s iv e t o c o n s e r v e t h e g a in s i t h a d
m a d e d u r in g t h e w a r .
O n t o p of th is s ta n d s t h e f a c t t h a t C a n a d a is p r im a r ily a n
a g r i c u lt u r a l c o u n t r y a n d c o n s e q u e n tly t r a d e -u n io n s fin d th e m s e lv e s a r e la tiv e ly
w e a k m in o r ity m o v e m e n t .
A ll th e s e f a c t o r s h a v e m a d e i t s e e m d e s ir a b le , s in ce
1 9 1 8 , f o r l a b o r t o u tiliz e t h e d is p u te s a c t r a t h e r t h a n w ield t h e s t r i k e w e a p o n a s
a m e a n s of g e tt i n g d e sire d re s u lts .
A n d , fin a lly , w h e n i t is r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e
c o n c il i a to r y m a n n e r in w h ic h t h e a c t h a s a lw a y s b e e n a d m in is te r e d w a s e m p h a
sized e v e n m o r e b y t h e f o r m e r tr a d e -u n io n officials w h o h a v e a c t e d a s m in is te rs
of la b o r s in c e 1 9 1 8 , i t c a n b e re a d ily se e n w h y C a n a d ia n l a b o r n o t o n ly e x p re s s e d
frie n d lin e s s t o t h e a c t b u t e v e n u rg e d t h a t i ts s c o p e b e w id e n e d t o in c lu d e a ll
in d u s trie s in w h ic h e ith e r e m p lo y e e s o r e m p lo y e r s w ish e d t o in v o k e i t s p ro v is io n s .
Employers’ Attitude
The present attitude of Canadian employers in respect to the act
is considered favorable, but, quoting the author, it “ is not so enthu
siastic as is that of Canadian labor at present,” and the employers
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have not favored the extension of the act to include all industries in
which either employers or employees wish to invoke its provisions.
Three main criticisms are voiced by them:
F i r s t , t h e r e is o p p o r t u n i ty f o r a d v a n t a g e t o la b o r in t h e p o w e r of t h e M in is te r
o f L a b o r t o a p p o in t t h e p e rs o n n e l of b o a r d s ; s e c o n d , th e r e is a w a n t of fin a lity
a b o u t t h e a c t , b e c a u s e e m p lo y e e s a r e fr e e t o re n e w d e m a n d s a n d a p p ly f o r a
b o a r d d ir e c tly a f t e r a n a w a r d h a s b e e n m a d e a n d a c c e p t e d ; a n d t h ir d , t h e a m e n d
m e n t p a s s e d in 1 9 2 5 h a s p u t a n u n f a ir b u r d e n u p o n m a n a g e n e n t w h e n f a c in g
t h e n e c e s s ity o f im m e d ia te re d u c tio n s in w a g e s .
T h e l a s t c r it ic is m is co u p le d
v i t h t h e c o m p la in t t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t h a s n o t e n fo rc e d t h e c o m p u ls o r y f e a
t u r e s o f t h e la w a g a in s t e m p lo y e e s a n d t h a t , a s e m p lo y e r s c a n b e p r o s e c u te d
m u c h m o r e e a s ily t h a n e m p lo y e e s , t h e a m e n d m e n t of 1 9 2 5 s tr e n g th e n s t h e c o m
p u ls o r y c la u s e s a g a in s t e m p lo y e r s o n l y .1
In considering these criticisms, the study points out that they are
mainly based on hypothetical considerations, and that “ the specific
reasons offered by employers in explanation of their attitude toward
the disputes act, like those offered by employees, do not, on the whole,
then, seem to find marked substantiation in the facts.”
In attempting to arrive at an understanding of the more funda
mental factors influencing both employers and employees, Mr.
Selekman studied the possible effects of movements in prices and
wages and fluctuations in business conditions on the varying posi
tions adopted by organized labor and employers toward the disputes
act, and analyzes them as follows:
T h u s , i t w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t c h a n g e s in b u sin e ss c o n d itio n s , p a r t ic u l a r l y in w a g e s
a n d in c o s t of liv in g , h a v e c o in c id e d m o r e o r less c lo s e ly w ith eh a,nges in th e
a t t i t u d e s of e m p lo y e r s a n d e m p lo y e e s to w a r d t h e d is p u te s a c t .
B u s in e s s c o n
d itio n s m a y a f f e c t a t t i t u d e s to w a r d t h e a c t in a n o t h e r w a y .
A n a ly s is o f t h e
c h a n g e s o f o p in io n o f t h e l a b o r g ro u p s w ith r e f e r e n c e t o t h i s le g is la tio n , c o u p le d
w ith a s t u d y o f flu c tu a tio n s in b u s in e s s c o n d itio n s , s u g g e s ts t h a t u p s a n d d ow n s
in p r o s p e r i ty c h a n g e t h e r e l a t i v e p o w e r w h ic h e m p lo y e r s a n d e m p lo y e e s b rin g t o
t h e p r o c e s s o f n e g o tia tin g o v e r w a g e s a s w e ll a s o v e r h o u rs o f w o r k , u n io n r e c o g
n itio n , a n d t h e o th e r is s u e s a ris in g b e tw e e n m a n a g e m e n t a n d m e n .
I n g e n e r a l, l a b o r o c c u p ie s a m o r e s t r a t e g i c p o s itio n d u r in g p e r io d s of p ro s p e r
i t y , w h ile e m p lo y e r s h a v e t h e u p p e r h a n d d u r in g p e rio d s of b u sin e ss d e p re s s io n .
*
*
*
W i th t h e s e s h if ts f r o m c o m p a r a t i v e s t r e n g th t o c o m p a r a t i v e w e a k n e ss,
t h e m a n n e r in w h ic h e ith e r e m p lo y e r s o r w a g e e a r n e r s w ill r e g a r d s u c h a la w as
t h e d is p u te s a c t w ill n a tu r a l ly v a r y a c c o r d i n g t o w h e th e r a t t h e t im e in q u e s tio n
g e n e r a l e c o n o m ic c o n d i ti o n s _ m a k e G o v e r n m e n t in t e r v e n ti o n a p p e a r a * b a r r ie r
a g a in s t t h e fu ll a n d f r e e u tiliz a tio n of t h e i r o w n s t r a t e g i c p o s itio n , o r a n a id in
c o m b a t in g t h e m o r e a d v a n t a g e o u s p o s itio n of t h e o th e r sid e .
T h a t is, w h en
b u s in e s s is flo u rish in g w e m a y e x p e c t la b o r , g e n e r a lly s p e a k in g , t o b e c r it ic a l of
s u c h a la w a n d e m p lo y e r s fr ie n d ly t o i t .
O n t h e o th e r h a n d , w h e n r e c e s s io n s e ts
i n , w e m a y lo o k f o r a r e v e r s a l in t h e p o s itio n s of t h e tw o g ro u p s , w ith e m p lo y e r s
c r i t i c a l of t h e la w a n d w a g e e a r n e r s fr ie n d ly t o i t.
Value of Conciliation
T T I E Canadian disputes act provides for the compulsory postpone
ment of strikes and lockouts, in the industries coming under
its provisions, until an investigation has been made by a board of
conciliation and investigation. However, very few of the boards
have made use of their compulsory powers and the few instances in
which compulsion was used to effect a settlement occurred in the
early years of the operation of the act. It is reported that while
1This amendment put the responsibility of applying for a board on the party proposing the changes in
wages or hours of work which became the subject of dispute. The law was further amended so that the
penalties which formerly applied only in case of an illegal strike or lockout apply now also when a disputed
change in working conditions has been actually introduced before the completion of an investigation under
the act.
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472 illegal strikes occurred from 1907 to 1925, only 16 appear to
have come before the courts and none of them at the instigation of
the Government. In fact, the author states that from the very
beginning the Canadian law has thrown light on the difficulty of
applying compulsion. Although “ in general, it may be said that
conciliation in Canada has failed in those industries in which funda
mental social and economic conditions have made for constant con
troversy between employers and employees,” experience would seem
to point to conciliation as an excellent method of Government in
tervention in industrial disputes.
T h e e x t e n t t o w h ic h t h e G o v e r n m e n t h a s a t t a i n e d s u c c e s s b y d is r e g a rd in g
t h e c o m p u ls o r y p ro v is io n s o f t h e a c t a n d e m p h a s iz in g i t s c o n c il i a to r y fe a tu r e s
h a s b e e n c le a r ly in d ic a te d b y t h e r e c o r d o f i t s o p e r a tio n .
In a w o rd , th e n ,
w h a t e v e r m a y h a v e b e e n t h e t h e o r y b e h in d t h e a c t , i t s a d m i n i s t r a t io n b y th e
C a n a d ia n G o v e r n m e n t h a s m a d e i t e s s e n tia lly a m e a s u r e f o r c o n c ilia tio n .
The
s u c c e s s i t h a s w o n in a v e r t i n g a n d s e t tl i n g d is p u te s r e p r e s e n ts a tr i u m p h fo r
i n te r v e n tio n o n a v o l u n t a r y b a s is a s c o n tr a s te d w ith a c o m p u ls o r y o n e .
So
s u c c e s s f u l, in d e e d , h a s th is m e th o d b e e n fo u n d in C a n a d a t h a t , w ith t h e e x c e p
tio n o f a v e r y s h o r t p e rio d d u rin g th e W o rld W a r , i t h a s b e e n c o n s is te n tly e m
p lo y e d b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t in e s ta b lis h in g o th e r m a c h in e r y fo r h a n d lin g d is p u te s ,
s u c h a s t h e r a ilw a y a d ju s tm e n t b o a r d s .
*
*
*
T h e c h ie f v a lu e o f c o n c ilia tio n , a s re v e a le d b y C a n a d ia n e x p e r ie n c e ,
s e e m s t o lie in t h e f a c t t h a t i t e n a b le s th o s e i n te r v e n in g in a n in d u s tr ia l d is p u te
t o t a k e a r e a lis tic v ie w o f t h e s itu a tio n a t h a n d .
N o t c a lle d u p o n t o m a k e a
fin al d e cisio n o n t h e b a s is o f a b s t r a c t j u s t i c e , c o n c ilia to r s c a n se e k in e a c h c o n
t r o v e r s y t h a t s o lu tio n w h ic h w ill b e s t re s o lv e t h e c o n flic t u n d e r c o n s id e r a tio n .
It is also believed that the appointment of a separate board for
the consideration of each dispute, as is the practice under the
Canadian act, avoids the risk of suspicion and antagonism so often
incurred where the personnel is permanent, and that it makes possible
the development of a panel of men who have distinguished them
selves as successful conciliators. “ Individuals who have succeeded
in effecting settlements satisfactory to all parties in a dispute find
themselves invariably called upon again and again to act as members
of boards.”
Provision for Public Intervention in Disputes
‘W /H ILE one of the main purposes of the act was to give an
**
opportunity to the community to exercise a restraining in
fluence on employers and employees before a strike or lockout was
actually declared, the investigator found that little publicity has
been given to the findings of the boards of conciliation and investi
gation to furnish a basis for the formation of public opinion on the
merits of a controversy. In fact, the boards are said to have dis
couraged publicity in order to expedite amicable settlements, and
“ Canadian officials have frankly assumed that the community is
primarily interested not in knowing the truth but in avoiding any
interruption of service that will jeopardize its comfort and routine.
* * * Ministers of labor have come to feel, apparently, that when
they have succeeded in bringing the disputants to formulate a mu
tually acceptable agreement they have discharged their duty to the
general public.”
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Suggestions from Employees
I STEM A TIC plans by which employees are encouraged to make
suggestions and are rewarded for those which result in the
elimination of waste, in greater efficiency in production methods,
or in reducing health and accident hazards have been used by many
industries for years.
A study 1 has recently been made by Z. Clark Dickinson of the
School of Business Administration, University of Michigan, which
shows something of the extent of these plans and their results.
Information for this study was secured from about 60 firms having a
specific plan which, in the majority of cases, had been in effect since
1920, and therefore offered sufficient experience to allow evaluation,
to some extent at least, of the results. In this study no account was
taken of the occasional use of suggestion boxes and prizes which do
not involve a continued effort toward stimulating the employees’
interest in the industry.
Certain features are common to most suggestion plans. In order
to carry out such a, plan successfully suggestions must be acted upon
promptly, and this requires the appointment of a sufficient number
of qualified persons to receive, record, and investigate all suggestions
offered by the employees. The identity of the suggestor is also
usually kept secret by the committee receiving the suggestions since
there might be a tendency on the part of the immediate superiors of
the employee to undervalue or to take offense at the suggestion.
Usually there is no limitation on the scope of the suggestions but
they may deal with virtually all questions relating to the practical
operation of the industry.
Some of the advantages of a fairly operated suggestion plan are
Said to be that it promotes constructive thinking and cooperation of
employees and reduces opposition on the part of those in a supervisory
capacity to the idea that their methods might be improved by a
subordinate. I t also gives the common workers an additional means
of communication with the management. These results are said to
be valuable to the management, “ not merely through (a) the technical
or business worth of the ideas themselves, though in many cases this
item is surprisingly large, but also through (b) removing grievances,
(c) satisfying the worker, when necessary, that the prescribed method
is really sound (‘Knowing why makes doing easier’ as the Philadel
phia Rapid Transit Co. expresses it), (d) leading the worker, by
studying his employment, to increase his total productive knowledge,
even if his inventions never amount to anything, and (e) revealing
able employees for quicker promotion.” I t is considered, too, by
some observers that suggestion plans are potential means of restoring
some of the interest in work which repetitive industry is supposed to
destroy.
In contrast to the advantages offered by a suggestion plan, it is
maintained by those objecting to such a system that the business
value of the suggestions is not enough to cover the total costs of a
reward system, since there are always numerous cases of dissatisfac
tion on the part of those who make unreasonable suggestions and the
administration of the plan also requires part of the time of the higher-
S
n U U fiU b
Michigan. Michigan Business Studies, Vol. I, No. 3: Suggestions from employees, by
/ , Clark Dickinson. Ann Arbor, 1927.
* J
J
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paid workers or officials. Team work is said to be interfered with by
the individualistic appeal of “ cash for ideas” and cooperation, it is
thought, may be much more effectively promoted in other ways,
such as the maintenance of an employees’ representation plan and
improving the qualities for leadership among foremen and others in
a supervisory capacity. In general it is questioned by objectors to
the plan, whether the rank-and-file worker has the capability or the
interest which would enable him to make any very important contri
butions to the business as compared with the services, for example,
of a good industrial engineer.
In spite of objections on the part of some executives to such a
scheme, however, it appears that the number of such plans is on the
increase, as a recent classification, by Industrial Relations Counselors
(Inc.), of the names of firms which had been listed as operating
suggestion plans included a total of 316 firms, 232 of which were
industrial, 21 mercantile, 10 financial, 8 insurance, 31 public utility,
9 railway, 1 Government, and 4 miscellaneous.
Rewards According to Importance of Suggestions
'T H E incentives offered by the companies may include the following
plans: A fixed award for major and minor suggestions; a
graduated award offering fixed prizes for the best, second-best, etc.,
suggestions submitted within a given period; awards based upon the
savings affected through the suggestion; and nonfinancial incentives,
such as promotion and advancement, the awarding of medals and
“ honorary” awards. The great majority of the plans, however, use
cash awards as the main incentive.
Satisfactory measurement of the value of a suggestion is extremely
difficult if not impossible in the majority of cases, even when it is
evident that it is a suggestion of major importance. For this reason
the practice of offering fixed prizes according to the degree of ex
cellence of the suggestion is favored by a considerable number of
companies, as it is easier to determine the relative importance of
two suggestions than to fix their exact value. The plan of the
National Cash Register Co. provides for a reward of $100 every
six months for the best suggestion submitted, with lower prizes
tapering down to $1 for every idea adopted at all. Difficulties of
measurement grow less as time elapses, and it is often possible to
estimate the saving after six months or a year after the suggestion
has been put into effect. In accordance with this idea, the Cadbury
Co. in England makes a small cash award for every suggestion adopted,
and a final prize, based on evaluation of the merit of the suggestion
through trial, is given at the end of the semiannual period.
Still another method of fixing the award is by a system of classi
fication which makes no attempt to fix the value of the savings but
provides for a rather rough classification covering different types of
suggestions. Such a system is followed by the Dennison Manu
facturing Co. which, in the field of major suggestions, classifies the
suggestions according to whether they involve fundamental or basic
changes in manufacturing or selling methods, or the adaptation of
present methods so that there is a saving in costs or an increase in
profits or sales. For the first class the minimum award is $25, the
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
standard award is $50, and the award for exceptional merit $100 or
more, while in the second class the awards range, respectively, from
$10 to $50 and more.
The question of patentable inventions comes into the questions of
suggestions. The ownership of patent rights is defined in law, and
employees working in corporation' experimental departments gen
erally contract specifically, in consideration of their salaries, to assign
to the employer any patent rights. Ordinary employees who have
not so contracted are entitled to inventions developed “ on their own
time” and with their own facilities. I t is often difficult, however,
to determine the circumstances of invention, or of the employment
contract, and various methods are followed in meeting this situation
when it develops, such as allowing all royalties to go to the inventor,
giving a cash bonus, etc.
Awards for Minor Suggestions
CUGGESTION S which carry only a slight business value are com^ monly paid for by a small cash prize, which is usually less than $5.
A number of companies, however, in addition to the small awards for
this class of suggestions, give special prizes to those employees who
have had a certain number of suggestions accepted, and one company
reported that a record is kept of every suggestion received and that
these suggestions are considered in the promotion of employees.
, Although one company insists that such a plan keeps workers
thinking about their jobs and thus increases their knowledge and
skill, it is considered that the practice of giving many small awards
may defeat the purpose of the suggestion system, since matters of
plant housekeeping, complaints, etc., which should be attacked
through improved supervision, may form the principal subject of
suggestions and thus in a measure discredit the scheme.
The Baltimore & Ohio plan 2 of union-management cooperation,
which has been adopted by several other railroads, is cited in the
report as an example of a successful attempt to secure the coopera
tion of the employees. In the first three years that the plan was in
effect more than 18,000 suggestions were received, which had first
received the approval of the local union and a committee of the
employees. About 85 per cent of these suggestions were approved
and the high rate of acceptance was considered to be due to the fact
that the suggestions had first received the approval of these bodies.
This plan does not carry with it any individual rewards but benefits
the men through better working conditions and methods and stabil
ized employment. An attempt was made to learn whether patentrecords might constitute an index of the value of these suggestions
but it was said that in general there was not much opportunity for
the development of ideas leading to patents since “ in this day and
age of high-class engineering research and design, such developments
as do eventually become patentable are by no means the product of
the minor suggestions and ideas that are conceived in shops by the
ordinary run of mechanics.”
2Labor Review, July, 1927, pp. 30-33.
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O F M A C H IN E T O W O R K E R
57
Conclusions
IN SUMMING up the results of the study it is shown that in the
1 majority of the establishments about 90 percent of all suggestions
receive only the minimum award or little more, and that in generrxi
the cash awards approximate 10 per cent of the estimated first year’s
saving due to the suggestions. In many cases where plans have been
discontinued it has been due to causes having no relation to the plan,
such as business slumps and turnover among the higher executives.
It appears to be important in sustaining and directing creative
interest on the part of employees that there should, be no limitation as
to subjects or persons so that real competition will be promoted.
Combination of substantial individual and group recognition is also
desirable, as well as continuous and varied publicity regarding the
plan, fair consideration of the plan through withholding the suggestor’s name during investigation, investigation by properly quali
fied individuals or a committee, and prompt handling of cases.
Finally, it is said that “ an obstacle to the maximum development
of employee cooperation, system or no system, is the human weakness
which these plans are designed to counteract—complacency in execu
tives as to their own methods and judgments. The manager may
decree suggestion or representation machinery, realizing perfectly
that his supervisors’ ideas may often be improved upon by their sub
ordinates; but his actual intolerance of suggestions from these super
visors to himself will go far toward encouraging the same attitude in
them toward their underlings, and thus toward neutralizing the
co o p eratio n p ro g ram .”
Suiting* the Speed, of the Machine to the Worker
T
HE question of whether, in machine operations, the operative
may be imperfectly adjusted to the requirements of the machine
or vice versa, and the relation of these factors to output, was
made the subject of a series of laboratory tests and of experiments in
the actual operation of machines in a toffee factory in Great Britain.
A report of this study is published in the October, 1927, issue of the
Journal of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology, London,
under the title, “ Machine speeds and output,” by S. Wyatt, an
investigator for the Industrial Fatigue Research Board.
Without going into the technical details of the experiments, it may
be stated that in the laboratory the lower speeds were found to be
objectionable owing to the limitations imposed by the machine; that
is, annoyance was expressed at the restricted conditions of work.
The higher speeds were found to be conducive to increased strain
and fatigue. Finally, it was discovered that the different subjects
reached their maximum output at different speeds, which is an
important result considering the purpose of the study.
In actual practice in the toffee factory the results were much the
same. The productive capacity of the operatives generally was
restricted when machines were run at a speed adapted to the slowest
worker, and when the speeds of the machines were increased as much
as 18 per cent the result was greater output and less fatigue. Some
workers were able to feed machines efficiently while running at an
increase in speed much greater than 18 per cent, suggesting the
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
desirability, because of greater profit to the worker and to the factory,
of putting these operatives on the higher-speed machines and not
requiring their output to be diminished by placing them on the
slower-running machines.
The study apparently shows that in any group of individuals
selected at random considerable differences in ability will be found
to exist, “ amounting to 30 to 40 per cent in repetitive hand work
where working capacity can be fully expressed in productive activ
ity.” ^ In view of this fact it is recommended that the speed of
machines be regulated so that they constitute a progressive series,
thus affording an arrangement by which a novice during the early
stages of the learn in g period could be assigned to the slow est m achin e
and gradually be advanced as she developed proficiency.
S u c h a s c h e m e w o u ld p r o v id e a n a t u r a l a n d r e a s o n a b le s y s t e m o f p r o m o tio n ,
w ith i t s a c c o m p a n y in g in c e n tiv e s t o a c t i v i t y , a n d w o u ld e v e n t u a ll y r e s u l t in
e a c h o p e r a ti v e fin d in g a m a c h in e a d a p t e d t o h e r n a t u r a l r a t e o f w o rk in g .
I n d i
v id u a l d iffe re n c e s in a b il it y w o u ld in c o n s e q u e n c e b e a d e q u a te l y e x p r e s s e d in
p r o d u c t iv e e ffic ie n c y , a n d e a c h o p e r a ti v e w o u ld b e m o s t c o m f o r t a b l y a n d
e f f e c tiv e ly e m p lo y e d .
I t is added, however, that it would be necessary for the operative
to attempt work at a higher speed as soon as she had become pro
ficient at the lower one; otherwise prolonged performance at the
slower rate might lead to the development of slow habits of work.
English Miners’ Welfare Fund, 1926
T
HE fifth annual report of the committee appointed by the Board
of Trade to allocate the Miners’ Welfare Fund, recently issued
by the Mines Department of Great Britain, contains a general
summary of the work so far accomplished and of the general situation
at the close of 1926. The fund, it will be remembered, is financed
by a levy of a penny on every ton of coal mined, and is divided into
two parts, from one of which allocations are made to the separate
districts for local welfare purposes, while the other is administered
by the central committee for the benefit of those in the industry
without regard to locality. The act of 1920, establishing the levy,
became effective in August (see Labor Review, November, 1920, p.
201), and for that year the amount received by the fund was only
£452,8372 For 1925, the proceeds of the levy amounted to £1,003,658, and the total amount accruing to the fund, during the five years,
including interest, was £5,848,718. Of this amount, £3,253,914 had
been paid over to the district bodies, and £675,323 had been used
by the central committee as a general fund.
During 1926, the coal stoppage interfered with receipts, but the
work went on.
T h e a c t i v i t y of t h e fu n d a s a w h o le w a s w ell m a in ta in e d a s c o m p a r e d w ith
p re v io u s y e a r s .
D u r in g t h e 1 2 m o n th s t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f a llo c a tio n s m a d e
w a s 5 8 8 , a n d , a lth o u g h t h i s w a s 5 le ss t h a n in 1 9 2 5 , t h e t o t a l s u m a l lo c a t e d ,
£ 1 , 2 8 3 , 2 0 0 , w a s m o r e t h a n d o u b le t h e c o r r e s p o n d in g s u m in t h e p r e v io u s y e a r ,
w h ile , w ith 1 ,3 4 8 p a y m e n t s , a s a g a in s t 1 ,4 8 0 , t h e a m o u n t a c t u a l l y p a id o u t w a s
£ 1 , 2 0 8 , 1 3 5 , a s c o m p a r e d w ith £ 9 4 8 , 0 8 2 .
T h e s u m a c c r u i n g t o t h e fu n d .w as,
h o w e v e r, o w in g t o t h e in c r e a s in g d e p re s s io n in t h e i n d u s t r y , o v e r £ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 ' less
t h a n in t h e p r e v io u s y e a r a n d a m o u n te d t o o n ly £ 1 , 1 0 8 , 3 8 0 .
1Pound at par=$4.8665;
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ENGLISH M INERS; W E L F A R E FUND
Up to the close of 1926 the total amount spent by the districts was
£3,701,093, which had been divided among the various objects as
follows:
Amount
R e c r e a t i o n ______________________________________________ £ 2 , 3 7 1 , 6 0 5
H e a l t h _________________________________________________
1, 2 6 5 , 5 9 3
E d u c a t i o n _____________________________________________
30, 075
33, 820
A d m i n i s tr a t io n _______________________________________
T o t a l ___________________________________________
3, 701, 0 9 3
Per cent
of total
64. 1
34. 2
. 8
. 9
100. 0
I t will be noticed that the costs of administration are very small,
and that the amount devoted to education is smaller still. In con
sidering the amount spent on recreation, it must be remembered that
many of the plans financed from these funds include recreational
opportunities for the whole community, of both sexes and all ages.
Community centers and community playgrounds appear frequently
in the list of recreational projects. Their comprehensive nature may
be judged from details given of one which was in course of develop
ment during 1926. A site, of 8 acres had been obtained, and the
plans under consideration included junior arid senior football grounds,
cricket grounds, a bandstand, a dancing area, six hard tennis courts,
a putting course, a bowling green, a lawn skittles area, two quoit
pitches, and a children’s section with playground apparatus and sand
pit, the whole to belaid out with shrubbery, paths, and seats for those
who did not wish to take any active part in the recreational program.
Much the larger part, nearly 75 per cent, of the expenditure for
health purposes has gone into providing convalescent homes for
miners, six of which had been completed while three were still unfin
ished at the date of the report. Three of the districts having con
valescent homes, Ayr, Lancashire, and North Staffordshire, have
never carried out any other plan under the welfare scheme, a fact
which the central committee deplores.
W e d o n o t q u e s tio n in p rin c ip le t h e v a lu e of th e s e c o n v a l e s c e n t s c h e m e s , b u t
i t m u s t b e r e m e m b e re d t h a t t h e y p r o v id e b e n e fit f o r o n ly a r e l a t iv e l y s m a ll
s e c tio n o f t h e m in in g c o m m u n i ty , a n d t h a t t h e fu n d w a s in te n d e d f o r t h e w el
f a r e of t h e fit a n d h e a lt h y a s w ell a s f o r t h a t of t h e in ju r e d o r s ic k .
W e d o u b t,
in d e e d , if i t c a n b e s a id t h a t t h e a c t is b e in g f a ir ly i n t e r p r e t e d if e i th e r r e c r e a
tio n o r h e a lt h is e n tir e ly ig n o re d in a n y d is tr ic t.
Pithead baths and shelters took up about 10 per cent of the money
allocated to health purposes, 8 per cent was used for existing hos
pitals, 4 per cent went to the provision of ambulance services, and
about 2 per cent was devoted to the provision of district nursing
facilities.
During the yeau only £3,712 was assigned to educational purposes
by the district committees, as against £11,309 in 1925. Nonvocational lecture schemes accounted for the greater part of the money
thus expended.
An interesting part of the report deals with the effect of the coal
stoppage upon the welfare plan. The most immediate and obvious
effect was a marked loss of income, but equally serious was the falling
off in the financial support of the local schemes. Many of these are
founded in the expectation that after they have once been installed
they will be supported from local sources, and they naturally suffered
from the general cutting off of income in mining towns and villages.
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 28-
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
In some cases, it is suggested, the mine owners may themselves have
financed the plans temporarily, but in others the schemes, it is feared,
have become burdened with heavy debts, from wdiich it will be hard
for them to free themselves. The utility of the schemes was very
evident during the stoppage, as they afforded a resource and dis
traction for the men out of work. The stoppage even proved profit
able for certain schemes.
R e c r e a ti o n g ro u n d s , t h o u g h su ffe rin g m o r e t h a n i n s t i tu te s a n d h a lls f r o m t h e
e ff e c ts o f a b n o r m a l u s e , h a v e , h o w e v e r , d e riv e d a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f c o m p e n
s a tin g b e n e fit f r o m t h e s to p p a g e in a v e r y la r g e n u m b e r o f c a s e s , b e c a u s e o f th e
n u m b e r s o f m e n w h o h a v e b e e n a v a ila b le t o d o v o l u n t a r y o r p r a c t i c a l l y v o lu n
t a r y la b o r.
I t is p e r h a p s a r o u g h a n d r e a d y w a y o f m e a s u r in g t h e lo c a l p o p u
l a r i ty of t h e s c h e m e t o a s k w h e th e r v o lu n t a r y w o r k h a s b e e n d o n e .
A ll o v e r
th e c o u n t r y a g r e a t d e a l o f p ro g re s s h a s b e e n m a d e a n d a g r e a t d e a l o f m o n e y
s a v e d in c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e v o lu n t a r y la b o r w h ic h h a s b e e n a v a ila b le .
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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
Hours and Earnings of Women in New York Laundries
T
HE New York Bureau of Women in Industry has recently issued
a bulletin giving the results of a study of the hours of work
and earnings of women in laundries, made in the spring of
1926. The investigation covered 64 laundries, employing 3,216
women, these figures representing 12 per cent of all the laundries
in the State and 30 per cent of all the women employed in laundries.
Thirty-four of the laundries, employing 2,212 women, were in the
five boroughs of New York City, and the others were in cities and
towns scattered throughout the State.
Scheduled Hours and Hours Actually Worked
A T TH E time of the investigation the New York laws permitted
a 54-hour week for woman workers. In 20 of the laundries
the scheduled hours were under 48, in 5 they were 48, in 18 they
were over 48 up to and including 50, in 15 they were over 50 but
under 54, and in 7 were 54. The 3,125 women for whom details
on this point were secured were grouped as follows as to scheduled
hours:
Number
U n d e r 4 8 h o u r s ________________________________________
532
4 8 a n d u n d e r 5 0 h o u r s _______________________________
530
5 0 h o u r s ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1, 0 9 8
O v e r 5 0 a n d u n d e r 5 4 h o u r s ________________________
699
5 4 h o u r s --------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -286
3, 1 2 5
Per cent
1 7 .0
17. 0
35. 1
22. 4
8 .5
100. 0
I t will be seen that practically two-thirds (66 per cent) had a
scheduled week of 50 hours or more. The hours actually worked
showed a different grouping of the women, as follows:
U n d e r 4 8 h o u r s _______________________________________
4 8 a n d u n d e r 5 0 h o u r s _______________________________
5 0 h o u r s ________________________________________________
O v e r 5 0 a n d u n d e r 5 4 h o u r s ________________________
5 4 h o u rs a n d o v e r ____________________________________
Number
900
347
171
431
544
2, 3 9 3
Per cent
37. 5
14. 5
7. 2
18. 0
22. 8
100. 0
The proportion actually working less than 48 hours in the week
taken as typical was more than twice as large as the proportion having
that scheduled week, and the proportion actually working 50 hours
or more was 48 per cent, against the 66 per cent scheduled for such
hours. B u t the most important feature of this second grouping
is the new category which appears, those working over 54 hours, i. e.,
those employed for illegally long weekly hours. The detailed figures
given in the study show that in this respect New York City differed
from the rest of the State.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
T h e s e fig u re s s h o w f ir s t, t h a t h o u rs w o rk e d a s w ell a s s c h e d u le d h o u rs w e re
lo n g e r in N e w Y o r k C i t y t h a n u p - S t a t e .
S e c o n d , N e w Y o r k C i t y la u n d r ie s
sh o w a s tr ik in g p r o p o r tio n o f w o m e n e m p lo y e d b e y o n d t h e m a x im u m h o u r s p e r
m i t te d b y la w .
U p - S t a t e , c a s e s o f o n ly 4 w o m e n e x c e e d in g t h e le g a l m a x i m u m
w e re fo u n d a n d t h e s e v io la tio n s w e re le ss t h a n a n h o u r in le n g th .
In N ew
Y o r k C i ty 3 0 8 w o m e n w o r k e d m o r e t h a n 5 4 h o u rs .
O f th e se , 6 4 h ad 6 0 h o u rs o r
m o r e of w o rk in th i s w e e k a n d 8 w o m e n w o rk e d a t le a s t 7 0 h o u r s .
T h ese hour
c o n d itio n s b rin g o u t , a s d o e s t h e s t u d y o f o v e r t im e w h ic h fo llo w s, t h a t N e w
Y o r k C i ty la u n d r ie s h a d n o t e ff e c tiv e ly c o o r d in a te d h o u r s o f w o r k , n u m b e r of
e m p lo y e e s , a n d v o lu m e o f o u t p u t .
I t is a ls o s ig n ific a n t t h a t a lth o u g h N e w
Y o r k C i t y la u n d r ie s f a r e x c e e d th o s e u p - S t a t e in t h e r e l a t iv e n u m b e r of w o m e n
e m p lo y e d m o r e t h a n 4 8 h o u rs , t h e y a ls o e x c e e d in t h e p r o p o r tio n of w o m e n e m
p lo y e d v e r y s h o r t h o u rs .
E a r n in g s
rT T IE piecework system prevails to only a limited extent in the
^ laundry industry. Ninety-three per cent of the workers studied
were paid on a time basis and 7 per cent for output; 85 per cent of
the whole group were paid weekly rates.' For a group of 2,898 for
whom weekly rates were secured, 5.7 per cent (167 women) had
rates under $12 a week, 69.2 per cent had rates under $16, and 92.5
per cent under $20; the median rate for the whole group was $14 .76.
The weekly earnings show a different grouping, 20.5 per cent (659
women) having made less than $12, 66 per cent less than $16, and
89.2 per cent less than $20. The median earnings, $14.67, did. not
vary greatly from the median rate, and 10.8 per cent of the group
(348 women) earned $20 and over, against 7.5 per cent who had
rates of this amount.
One of the most striking features of the study is the relation shown
between scheduled hours and scheduled rates of pay. Throughout
the State the better rates were found in connection with the shorter
hours.
I n t h e l a u n d r y in d u s t r y a s in t h e f a c t o r y in d u s tr ie s s tu d ie d in 1 9 2 3 , p la n ts
w ith s h o r t e r h o u r s w e re n o t fo u n d t o p a y lo w e r w a g e s .
R a t h e r , s h o r t e r h o u rs
a n d h ig h e r w a g e s w e re lik e ly t o b e fo u n d t o g e t h e r .
T h e fo llo w in g c o m p a ris o n
s h o w s m e d ia n w e e k ly r a t e s in la u n d r ie s o p e r a tin g u n d e r lo n g a n d s h o r t s c h e d u le s :
N ew Y o rk S ta te —
$ 1 5 .4 2 in la u n d r ie s w ith s c h e d u le d h o u rs of 4 8 o r less.
$ 1 4 .6 0 in la u n d r ie s w ith s c h e d u le d h o u rs in e x c e s s of 4 8 .
N ew Y o rk C ity —
$ 1 5 .1 1 in la u n d r ie s w ith s c h e d u le d h o u rs of 4 8 o r less.
$ 1 4 .6 6 in la u n d r ie s w ith s c h e d u le d h o u rs in e x c e s s of 4 8 .
O u ts id e N e w Y o r k C i t y —
$ 1 5 .7 7 in la u n d r ie s w ith s c h e d u le d h o u rs of 4 8 o r less.
$ 1 4 .4 2 in la u n d r ie s w ith s c h e d u le d h o u rs in e x c e s s of 4 8 .
Married Women in Industry in Binghamton, 3NL Y .
T
HE increasing importance of the question of married women in
industry is emphasized by a study of women industrially
employed in Binghamton, N. Y ., recently made by the State
bureau of women in industry. Some data from this study are given
in the Industrial Bulletin for November, 1927, issued by the industrial
commissioner of New York State. Binghamton shows an unusually
large proportion of married women gainfully employed, 48.5 per
cent, against 23 per cent in all cities of the United States having a
population of from 25,000 to 100,000. The following table shows
their industrial distribution:
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MARRIED WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
D ISTRIBUTIO N OF W ORKING W OM EN IN BINGHAM TON, N. Y ., B Y IN D U STR Y AND
B Y M A R ITA L STATUS
Industry
Number
em
ployed
Single
Number
Per cent
3, 365
2, 067
441
236
194
87
77
87
40
75
61
326
28
3, 719
Manufacturing..............................
Shoe..........................................
Cigar.........................................
Clothing....................................
Metal and machinery...........
T extile....................................
Paper, printing, etc...............
Wood____________________
Food ___________________
Laundry..................................
Chemical__________ ____ _
Mercantile.......................................
Restaurant......................................
6, 607
4, 060
714
471
333
217
219
169
127
136
161
990
63
2,877
1,847
214
183
106
116
137
74
87
25
548
33
43.6
45.5
29.9
38.8
31.7
53.6
62.5
44. 0
68. 3
18.3
54.9
55.4
51.7
T o ta l ............ ................... .
7, 660
3,458
45.2
88
Widowed, divorced,
or separated
Married
Number Per cent
Number
Per cent
50.9
50.9
61.8
50.1
58.4
39.8
35.1
51.5
31.7
54.9
37.8
32.9
44.8
365
146
59
52
33
14
5
5.5
3.6
8.3
116
12
2
26.8
7.3
11.7
3.5
48.5
483
6.3
8
36
11.1
9.9
0.6
2.4
4. 5
It will be observed that of the total number of women engaged in
manufacturing industries less than one-half—43.6 per cent—were
single, and that in only 4 of the 10 groups of such industries considered
did the proportion of the single rise above 50 per cent. Among those
engaged in restaurant work a trifle over one-half— 51.7 per cent—
were single, and of those in mercantile occupations 55.4 per cent had
not been married. In the total group considered, 54.8 per cent had
been married and 48.5 per cent were living with their husbands, as
distinguished from those who had been widowed, divorced, or sepa
rated. In the separate industries the married women, using the term
in this restricted sense, ranged from 31.7 per cent of those engaged in
food industries to 61.8 per cent of those in cigar manufacturing.
There is little difference in earnings among the three groups of
wminan workers, their median earnings being as follows:
Median annual
Marital status
earnings
S in g le _______________________________________________________________ $ 8 5 5 . 6 8
M a r r i e d ___________________________________________________________
877. 72
W id o w e d , s e p a r a t e d , o r d iv o r c e d _____________________________
868. 75
I t is suggested that the single women as a group are younger, and
consequently less experienced than the others, and that this accounts
for the slightly lower earnings shown.
In relation to hours worked, there is little difference between single
and married women, except that the single show a greater amount of
overtime worked.
In summing up the results of the study, the report stresses the fact
that marriage can no longer be regarded as ending the industrial life
of women, and that consequently they can not be considered as merely
temporary workers filling in the period between leaving school and
getting married.
H e r e , t h e n , is a n i n d u s tr ia l c i t y w ith a t o t a l p o p u la tio n o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 7 ,0 0 0 ,
o f w h ic h 2 5 ,0 0 0 a r e w a g e e a r n e r s . A b o u t o n e -th ir d of a ll t h e i n d u s tr ia l w o r k e r s a r e
w o m e n , a n d 4 9 p e r c e n t of th e s e a r e m a r r ie d .
T h e le n g th o f t h e i r w o r k in g -d a y ,
t h e i r w a g e s , d iffe r b u t l i t t l e o r n o t a t a ll f r o m t h o s e o f t h e i r u n m a r r ie d s is te rs .
W h e th e r m a r r ie d w o m e n g o t o w o rk b e c a u s e o f e c o n o m ic n e c e s s ity , w h e th e r
i t is f r o m p e rs o n a l p r e f e r e n c e f o r w o rk o u ts id e o f t h e h o m e , o r w h e th e r i t m e a n s
a d e s ire t o b e e c o n o m ic a lly in d e p e n d e n t o f t h e i r h u s b a n d s , t h e y a r e b e in g e m
p lo y e d in in c r e a s in g ly la r g e n u m b e r s .
T h e i r p re s e n c e in o u r in d u s tr ie s c a n n o
lo n g e r b e ig n o re d o r p u s h e d a s id e b e c a u s e o f p r e ju d ic e o r f e a r .
T h e y a r e t o be
a c c e p t e d a n d r e c k o n e d w ith a s a n y o t h e r g r o u p o f i n d u s tr ia l w o r k e r s .
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CHILD LABOR
Accidents to Employed Minors in Illinois
STU D Y made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of Illinois on
accidents to employed minors in that State covers 1,803 such
accidents befalling children under 18 years of age during the
year 1923. Of these, 237 caused permanent partial disability, 88
caused serious and permanent disfigurement of the hand, head, or
face, and 12 were fatal. The age incidence of the accidents was
somewhat different from that found in some other studies. Accord
ing to the census of 1920, children under 16 formed 24.4 per cent of
employed minors under 18, while they constituted 5.9 per cent of
those injured in 1923; children aged 16 formed 34.6 per cent of the
minors employed and 32.9 per cent of those injured; those aged 17
formed 41.4 per cent of the minors employed and 61.2 per cent of
those injured. Ten of the 12 fatalities were found among those aged
17. Manufacturing led all other industries in the number and pro
portion of serious injuries (199, or 59.1 per cent), followed by coal
mining (104, or 30.9 per cent). Of the 106 children under Tô who
were injured, 55, or over one-half, were employed illegally.
As a result of this study, it is recommended that Illinois should
have a more complete collection and tabulation of accident data, a
general program for accident prevention, a widening of the list of
occupations prohibited to minors under 16, and the extension to 16
and 17 of the age at which prohibition of certain occupations expires,
and better observance of the child labor law. One recommendation,
that minors illegally employed should be included under the com
pensation act with additional compensation, was adopted and went
into force in July, 1927.
A
Compensated Accidents to Working Children in Pennsylvania
A
RATHER exhaustive and detailed analysis of compensated
accidents to minors (under the age of 21) in Pennsylvania
during the year 1924 has been issued by the State department
of labor and industry as its Special Bulletin No. 17. The report
includes only accidents which were compensated in that year under
the Pennsylvania law, amounting to about 40.5 per cent of the
reported accidents and about one-eighth of the compensated acci
dents, and only those resulting in disabilities extending beyond the
10-day waiting period. Although the tabular matter in the report
is extensive and covers age and sex of minors injured, extent of dis
ability, industries in which employed, causes of the injuries, compensa
tion paid, etc., only a brief summary of these points can be included
here.
The report notes the cases of 9,197 boys and 773 girls, of whom
270 were under the age of 16 years. An indication of the severity
of the accidents sustained by these children is the fact that the aver64
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CO M PEN SA TED
A C C ID E N T S
TO
W O R K IN G
C H IL D R E N
65
age time lost in cases of temporary duration was 35.2 days, as com
pared with an average of 42.7 days lost by adults. There were 117
death claims, 2 permanent total disability claims, 425 permanent
partial disability claims, and 9,426 temporary injury claims. Acci
dents to these minors resulted in about the same degree of impair
ment as those to adults. Thus, of 68,804 compensated claims of
adults during 1924, the percentages were: Death, 2.7; permanent
disability, 4.2; temporary disability, 93.1; while the percentages of
minors in these classes were, respectively, 1.2, 4.3, and 94.5.
Most of the minors suffered mjuries to hands, arms, and fingers,
comprising 55.8 per cent of the permanent disability claims and affect
ing 54.2 per cent of the boys and 75.4 per cent of the girls. Of the
624 (6.3 per cent of all cases) cases of blood poisoning developing,
84.9 per cent were boys, and cuts and lacerations were responsible
for 43.6 per cent of these cases. Crushes and bruises and cuts and
lacerations were the kinds of injury in three-fifths of all cases (63
per cent). Crushes and bruises caused 35.1 per cent of the deaths, and
amputations resulted in 49.2 per cent of the permanent disabilities.
As may be expected, the largest number of minors were injured in
manufacturing industries,.and the next largest number in mining and
quarrying, 49.3 per cent in the former and 29.1 per cent hi the latter.
Eighty and five-tenths per cent of the girls and 46.6 per cent of the
boys were injured in the manufacturing branches of industry and
31.6 per cent of the boys were injured in mines and quarries. How
ever, when degree of disability is considered, we find that mines and
quarries caused 53 per cent of the deaths and manufacturing 29.1
per cent; that manufacturing caused 69.6 per cent of the permanent
disabilities and mines and quarries caused 18.8 per cent; and that
manufacturing caused 48.6 per cent of the temporary disabilities
and mines and quarries caused 29.3 per cent. The percentage in
each of these cases is far above the percentage in other industries.
In all instances where manufacturing industries figured, metals and
metal products stand highest, with 12.8 per cent of the deaths, 39.4
per cent of the permanent injuries, and 24.8 per cent of the temporary
cases.
Vehicles (mostly in coal mining) caused the greatest number of
accidents to boys (23.8 per cent) and machinery the greatest number
to girls (53 per cent). These figures may be compared with 21.4 per
cent in the handling-objects group, in which group occurred the
greatest number of accidents to adults. Vehicles were responsible
for 33.3 per cent of the deaths, and falling objects for 23.1 per cent,
while 63.5 per cent of the permanent disabilities were due to ma
chinery. The temporary disabilities were largely due to vehicles
(22.4 per cent), to handling objects (20.6 per cent), and to machinery
(20.2 per cent).
I t appears that the median average weekly wage of minors injured
was $10.56 for those 14 and 15 years of age, $17.89 for those 16 and
17 years of age, and $24.70 for those 18, 19, and 20 years of age.
This is significant in view of the fact that compensation is payable
up to 60 per cent of the average weekly wage, with a maximum of $12
and a minimum of $6, unless the employee was receiving less than $6
at the time of injury, in which case an amount equal to the full wages
is paid. Most of the injured (7,118, or 71.4 per cent) were in the
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
highest age group, of whom 5,186, or 72.9 per cent, received earnings
of more than $20 a week, the compensation therefore being limited
to the maximum of $12. There being also 36.7 per cent of the age
group 16 and 17 years receiving earnings of over $20 a week, it will
be seen that more than half (61.6 per cent) of the injured children
received less than 60 per cent of their wages in compensation. Only
4.3 per cent received more than 60 per cent of their wages in com
pensation, showing that comparatively few (414, or 4.2 per cent)
were, before their injury, receiving less than $10 a week and consequently were awarded the minimum of $6 per week, or their actual
wages if less than $6.
The average compensation awarded to minors was $1,496.04 in
death claims, $635.58 in permanent disability claims, and $40.04 in
temporary disability claims, or an average of $82.63 for all cases.
This compares with an average of $177.35 awarded to adults. The
total compensation awarded was $823,831, apportioned as follows:
Death, $175,037; permanent disability, $271,392; temporary disa
bility, $377,402.
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[66]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
The Newer Industrial-A ccident Prevention and W orkm en’s
Compensation Problem
B y E t h e l b e r t S t e w a r t , U n ite d S t a t e s C o m m is s io n e r of L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s 1
T
HE industrial accident-prevention problem, as well as the
workmen’s compensation problem, that we are facing most
seriously to-day is the problem of the small establishment.
The large concerns like the United States Steel Corporation, the
International Harvester Co., etc., are not only able but find it
profitable to spend the money that is required to equip their plants
with safety devices and to install safety methods and schemes which
reduce their accidents practically to a minimum. Corporations of
this type are practically all self-insurers, and their employees are
therefore thoroughly protected in case of accident.
The serious fact, however, is that over 40 per cent of the manu
facturing establishments in the United States employ from 1 to 5
persons each, and practically 28 per cent of the manufacturing
establishments employ from 6 to 20 wage earners each. The average
in the former group is 2.7 wage earners per establishment; the
average in the second group is 11.2 employees per establishment.
The total number of employees in these two groups is practically
824,000 workers. I t is in these small establishments that accidents
are on the increase.
I t is not the purpose here to go into the details of causes of in
creased accidents in smaller plants. As a general proposition it is
due to the tendency to push production to the highest possible
point by means of improved machinery, new mechanical appliances,
conveyors, power hoists, power trucks, arid by speeding up the
workers. These new devices are not accompanied by the same
safety equipment that the large corporations provide when they
install the same devices. There is seldom a safety organization
in the small plant. The manager and the superintendent or foremen
are not acquainted with modem safety rules, and the plants are too
small to have a real safety man.
An enormous amount of money is being spent on safety work,
and it is having a tremendous effect in the way of accident preven
tion, but it is being spent in and by the large plants; and the large
plants are comparatively few in number. Only nine-tenths of 1
per cent of the manufacturing establishments employ from 501 to
1,000 wage earners each, and the average of employees in this group
per establishment is 690. The next higher group, employing over
1,000, constitutes only one-half of 1 per cent of the total number
of establishments; yet these employ more than 24 per cent of all
employees and have an average of 2,194 workers each.
1 Address delivered before the Eleventh New York Industrial Safety Congress and Exhibit, held at
Buffalo, N. Y ., Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 1927.
,
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
We are therefore faced with a peculiar situation— a very few
establishments doing an enormous amount of safety work and
making an enormous amount of noise about it and really reducing
their accident rates to a very wonderful degree; on the other hand
the great majority of plants—over 90 per cent— doing nothing or
practically nothing in the way of safety work and saying noth
ing^ about it, and having a rather startling progressive increase in
accidents.
With the passage of the workmen’s compensation acts in nearly
all of the States of the Union we settled down to a smug reliance
upon tne operation of these laws to take care of the destitution that
had formerly resulted from such accidents. The reason that work
men’s compensation legislation was put through the various State
legislatures so easily was at bottom because everybody knew that
somebody was having to pay for the results of industrial accidents.
Tli g injured workman and his family wore being taken, care of by
charitable organizations and the charitable organizations were
getting their money from business men and from persons of wealth
who were charitably inclined; or they were being thrown upon the
taxpayers through outdoor relief funds and through almshouses.
So the general public was pretty well prepared for a specific proposi
tion to provide some legal remedy through which the injured worker
should be cared for, in part at least, by the industry in which he
was engaged at the time of the accident, and thus the burden be dis
tributed over the whole population by allowing the employer to
include the insurance premium or the cost of workmen’s compensa
tion in his general cost, just as he did taxes and fire insurance, and
make it a part of the price of the commodity produced and spread
the burden over the entire consuming public.
Once this legislation was on the statute books we settled back
with a sigh of relief that all our social troubles, from that source at
least, were at an end.
The machinery to take care of these risks assumed three forms—
self-insurance, private organizations of insurance carriers, and State
insurance funds, whether competitive or monopolistic. The private
insurance organizations group has with the lapse of time split into
two groups the mutuals and the stock insurance companies.
Now let us see what has happened. The large employers of labor,
which do not comprise more than 2 per cent of the total number of
establishments, have become self-insurers. The next group—which
still comprises a very small percentage of employers—have formed
mutual insurance organizations to carry their risks on a cooperative
basis. The great mass of employing establishments, which employ
20 people or less, were left for the stock companies and the State
funds. Of course I do not mean to say that the stock companies
and the otate funds do not get a reasonable share of the larger plants;
nevertheless the fact remains that the cream of the insurance busi
ness is in the hands of self-insurers and mutual companies.
The insurance companies find that, with the high accident rate in
small plants and the increased accidents in small plants, the smallplant accident insurance taken by itself is a losing game.
Take, in the State of New Uork, the experience of all insurance
carriers combined stock companies, mutuals, and State fund,
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INDUSTRIAL-ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND COMPENSATION
69
Consolidation of the two years 1924 and 1925 affords a fair sample
of what is happening. Twenty-five per cent of the firms insured
were paying the minimum premium in their class, which minimum
varies according to the class. From this group the premiums earned
amounted to $1,830,630 or 2.14 per cent of the total premiums
earned. But the losses sustained in this group were 2.15 per cent
of the total losses sustained and 61.8jier cent of the premium earned.
But this is not so startling as in the next group, which is composed
entirely of small plants, where the premium paid is more than the
minimum, but less than $25 per year. This constitutes practically
17 per cent of the total number of plants. But note this— that while
the premium earned from this group was 1.28 per cent of the total
premium earned, the losses paid were 1.97 per cent of the total
losses paid, and within this group 94.2 per cent of the premium
received was paid back in losses. Of course the remainder does not
anywhere near pay the overhead and operating costs.
In the next group of small establishments, paying $25 and less than
$50 premium and constituting practically 17 per cent of the total
risks, the premium earned was 2.71 per cent of the total premiums
earned, while the loss was 3.97 per cent of the total loss and 89.8
per cent of the premium earned. When you compare these with the
higher groups, say the group that pays $30,000 and over in insurance
premiums, while this group constitutes only four-hundredths of 1
per cent of the total number of firms the premium earned from this
group constitutes 9.2 per cent of the total premiums earned, the per
centage of loss was 7.85 per cent of the total losses and 52.4 per cent
of the premium earned, you will note the enormous difference in the
percental cost of carrying the small plant as compared with the large
one.
The result of this is that the stock companies either put the pre
mium rate so high that the small employer can not pay it or they refuse
to take the risk in any event. In other words the list of prohibited
risks is expanding to cover in many States such industries as coal
mining and the smaller type of sawmill, and is gradually tending to
exclude all the smaller establishments.
One of the most far-reaching subjects, therefore, in connection
with this whole accident-prevention and accident-insurance question
is what shall be done in cases of extrahazardous industries and
small establishments which the insurance companies refuse to insure
and which are not able to qualify as self-insurers and which are too
widely scattered and too unorganized to form mutual insurance
organizations.
The States most seriously affected are probably Georgia, Illinois
so far as coal mining is concerned, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee,
Texas, and Virginia. In fact it is more or less true in all States not
having some sort of State fund.
A very large number of States report that the situation as regards
workmen’s compensation insurance for these small plants is steadily
growing worse. In Arizona and Utah private insurance companies
are required to accept any risk that is offered them. In the States
having competitive State insurance funds, while the private insurance
companies are not compelled to take undesirable risks the State
fund is so compelled, with the result that the small and expensive
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
risks are thrown into the State fund. This puts the competitive
State funds at a disadvantage and may ultimately operate to create
a situation where the competitive State compensation insurance fund
will have to be supported by general taxation.
The question of compelling private stock companies to accept all
insurance business offered has been referred to. This is the law in
Arizona, which, however, is not entirely protected against certain
methods by which it can be side-stepped; in other words, the in
surance companies can make the conditions of carrying this undesir
able business so unpleasant that the purpose of the law is more or
less defeated.
In Massachusetts they are at present experimenting with a com
pulsory insurance law for automobile drivers. Every automobile
must carry liability insurance. This being compulsory upon the
owner of the automobile, it is also made compulsory upon the insur
ance companies to accept these risks. The insurance companies,
however, are partially protected, at least by a clause which says if
any insurance company has reason to believe that a driver or owner
of an automobile is an unfit person to operate a car it can bring
this evidence before the State licensing bureau and the license to
operate a car will upon sufficient proof be taken from this person.
But if the State licensing bureau insists upon issuing the license,
then the insurance company must take the risk. The operation of
this law will be watched very carefully by those interested in workmen’s compensation to see whether or not it can be made applicable
to the accident insurance problem here discussed.
Of course if the insurance companies can be compelled to carry
these small and dangerous risks they will in the nature of things
require that the smaller plants give more attention to safety work
and take positive and intelligent steps toward reducing their number
of accidents. In the meantime, however, we find that in some
States in an entire industry—namely, bituminous coal mining—the
employees are not insured against the result of industrial accidents,
notwithstanding the State law which is supposed to be in effect.
Large numbers of employees in other industries are not insured, in
fact, notwithstanding the existence of the law and the paper evidence
of insurance in some cases.
To the extent that this picture is true society is fooling itself. We
believe that we have secured, for the workman at least a reasonable
degree of compensation for accidents, enough to keep his family
from suffering and to keep them secure from the need of charitable
contributions, while as a matter of fact when an accident occurs
they have no protection and are thrown upon public charity just as
they were before the enactment of workmen’s compensation laws,
notwithstanding the fact that the cost of the insurance which society
is supposed to have has been charged into the price of the commodi
ties produced and is being paid for by the consuming public. In
other words, to the extent to which this picture is true society is
paying for something that it does not get, and the purpose of work
men’s compensation laws is to that extent being defeated, notwith
standing that it is being paid for.
While the people of New York are not facing this difficulty in its
wurst form, you are facing it to the extent that these undesirable
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[7 0 ]
INDUSTRIAL-ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND COMPENSATION
71
risks are being driven into the State fund, which in the nature of
things can not select its business and which in the nature of things
can have no prohibited list.
It must be admitted that for the length of time in which work
men’s compensation laws have been in operation in the United
States and. for the legnth of time in which active and intensive acci
dent-prevention work has been going on we have achieved along
both lines most wonderful results. While we may be fairly well
satisfied with the record of the past we should not blind ourselves
to the fact that the operation of the laws is developing certain diffi
culties, that the method and plan of our private insurance companies
are developing difficulties which seem to me to be inherent in their
methods, which produce a cost of doing business which is so great
as to develop a premium rate that can be paid only by the largest
and wealthiest corporations. These corporations in turn are in a
position to refuse to pay it by becoming self-insurers or by develop
ing cooperative mutual companies, which from an insurance point of
view amounts to practically the same thing as self-insurance; this
in turn makes necessary the high rates which the smaller concerns
can not pay, while tending at the same time to eliminate from the
field all the risks except those who either can not pay or whose
accident rate is so high that the insurance companies can not carry
them with profit—in other words, a scheme which defeats itself and
which in turn reacts upon the operation of the compensation laws so
as partially to defeat them, thus throwing back upon the workers
and the community the evils, within this group, for which com
pensation laws were enacted and compensation insurance carrier
companies were developed.
I t is too early in the development of these menacing conditions
to discuss dogmatically any scheme for their solution, but these
clouds on the horizon which at first blush may seem to be no bigger
than a man’s hand are in fact shaping themselves into very definite
outlines; and it is important that the business interests of this
country should see the outline of the conflict and should begin to
think about wise methods of solution.
For the information of those who desire to go deeper into the statis
tical side of the problem outlined in this paper there are presented
below the tables from which the statements in the paper itself were
derived.
The purpose of Table 1 is to show the relatively large number of
manufacturing establishments employing very few wage earners, as
against the relatively few establishments employing large numbers.
For instance, the table shows that 40.3 per cent of all manufacturing
establishments covered by the Census employ from 1 to 5 wage
earners, that there are 79,101 such establishments in this group em
ploying 212,938 wageworkers, that the number of wage earners em
ployed in these establishments is only 2.4 per cent of the total number
of wage earners employed in manufacturing, and that the average
number of wage earners per establishment in these small plants is 2.7
persons. The next size establishments, employing from 6 to 20 wage
earners, constitute 27.8 per cent of all establishments and employ
7 per cent of the wage earners, the average being 11.2 persons per
establishment. On the other hand, the big concerns employing over
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1,000 persons number but 963, or five-tenths of 1 per cent of the total
number of establishments. They employ, however, 24 per cent of
the total wage earners and have an average of 2,194 employees per
establishment. The average number of wage earners per establish
ment in the United States, taking them all together, is but 44.7 per
sons, indicating that from a compensation-insurance and accidentprevention point of view the problem in the United States is the small
and not the large establishment.
Table 2 shows the workmen’s compensation experience in the
State of New York for the stock and mutual companies and the State
fund consolidated for the years 1924 and 1925 combined. The table
needs no comment except that in the loss ratios the ratio form instead
of percentages is used. Of course to change a ratio to percentage it is
necessary only to move the decimal point two places to the right, in
other words a ratio of 0.618 becomes a percentage of 61.8.
Table 3, which lists the establishments by value of product, is
inserted here for two reasons. One is to show the very large per
centage of establishments having a very small individual production,
and the other is to show the value of production per wage earner.
These two points have special bearing on the insurance question. In
this connection it should be noted that the Census no longer lists
manufacturing establishments which produce less than $5,000 worth
of'product, thus making it impossible to know the number of plants
smaller than this. The only thing that can be said is that in 1919
the last census year in which these plants producing less than $5,000
worth of product were enumerated, there were 60,125 of them, em
ploying, however, only 41,252 wage earners. In this table the first
group, producing from $5,000 to $20,000 worth each, constitutes 81.6
per cent of all manufacturing establishments, and produces an average
value of product of $11,261. The value of the product per wage
earner is $3,679. While in the group with the highest value of
product—constituting 5.3 per cent of the total establishments— the
value of product per establishment is $3,890,981 and the value of
product per wage earner is $8,015. I t will be readily understood
that the establishment wrhere the workers are producing an average
of $3,679 each can not pay the premium rate based upon pay roll
that the establishments whose workers are producing $8,015 each can
pay.
T a b l e 1.— M A N U FACTURIN G EST A BLISH M EN TS C LA SSIFIED B Y N U M B E R OF W AGE
EA R N ER S, 1923
[From Report of U. S. Census of Manufactures]
Per cent in each group
Number in wage earning group
Number
of establish
ments
Number of
wage earners
None___ ____________ ____________
1 t o 5 ______ ___________ __________
6 to 20___________ ______________
21 to 50............................................. .........
51 to 100________________________
101 to 250...... .........................................
251 to 500___________ ______ ____ _
501 to 1,000_______________________
Over LOOO.......... ................................. .
8,436
79,101
54,609
25, 212
12,346
10,023
3,83.5
1,784
'963
212,938
611, 524
818,403
882,-965
I, 576, 218
1,332,393
1, 230,888
2,112,827
Total_____________________ _
196,309
8, 778,156
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[T2]
0
Establish
ments
4.3
40. 3
27.8
12. 8
6.3
5.1
Wage
earners
0. 0
2. 4
7. 0
9.3
Wage
earners per
establish
ment
0
2.7
11 . 2
.9
.5
18.0
15. 2
14. 0
24.1
32. 5
71. 5
157.3
347.4
690.0
2,194.0
100.0
100.0
44.7
2.0
10.1
73
ACCIDENT RATES, BY TYPE OF INJURY, 1 9 2 6
2 —N EW Y O R K W O R K M EN ’S COM PENSATION E X P E R IE N C E , 1921 AND 1925
COM BINED
T able
[Combined figures for stock companies, mutual companies, and State fund, 1924 and 1925. Data furnished
by National Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters]
Premium earned
Risks (firms)
Premium group
Minimum premium risks L ..
Risks other than minimum
premium:
Under $25_____________
$25 to $49....... .....................
$50 to $74.............................
$75 to $99........ ....................
$100 to $149.........................
$150 to $199........................
$200 to $299.........................
$300 to $399.........................
$400 to $499.........................
$500 to $999.........................
$1,000 to $1,999...................
$2,000 to $2,999................. .
$3,000 to $4,999...................
$5,000 to $9,999 ..............
$10,000 to $19,999...............
$20,000 to $29,999...............
$30,000 and over..... ...........
Num
ber
Per
cent
of
total
Amount
Per
cent
of
total
95,833
24.89 $1,830,630
2.14
64,990
64,649
37,477
22,974
26,890
14,955
16, 785
9, 385
5,714
12, 141
6,616
2,409
1,898
1, 381
578
178
153
16.88
16. 79
9. 73
5. 97
6. 98
3.88
4. 36
2.44
1.49
3.15
1.72
.63
.49
.36
.15
.05
.04
1 . 28
2.71
2.67
2.31
3. 81
3. 02
4.79
3. 79
2.98
9.93
1,100,781
2, 325,233
2, 289,912
1,983,156
3, 267,398
2, 588, 090
4,102,468
3, 248, 349
2,551,052
8, 510,456
9, 302, 688
5,840, 487
7, 287, 443
9,352, 621
7,896, 475
4, 333,991
7, 879, 333
10.86
6. 82
8. 50
10.91
9. 22
5.06
9. 20
Total........ ........................ 385, 006 100. 00 85, 690,563 100. 00
Losses
Aver
age
per
risk
Amount
Per
cent
of
total
$19 $1,132,123
2.15
17
36
61
86
122
173
244
346
446
701
1,406
2, 424
3,840
6, 772
13, 662
24, 348
51, 499
1, 037,394
2, 088,833
1,806,179
1,586, 043
2, 551, 883
1, 792, 393
2, 770, 322
2, 085,825
1, 671,971
5,195, 488
5,306,453
3, 409, 644
3,912, 959
5, 095, 534
4, 558,751
2, 457, 202
4, 129, 230
Aver Loss
age ratio
per
risk
(firm)
$12
0.618
1.97
16
3.97
32
3.43
48
3.02
69
4. 85
95
3.41
120
5.27
165
3.97
222
3.18
293
9. 88
428
10.09
802
6.48 1,415
7.44 2,062
9.69 3,690
8. 67 7,887
4. 67 13, 805
7. 85 26,988
.942
.898
.789
.800
.781
.693
.675
.642
.655
.610
.570
.584
.537
.545
.577
.567
.524
223 52, 588, 227 100.00
137
.614
i
The minimum premium may be as low as $10 or as high as $585, according to class. Each other group
is made up of firms paying over the minimum of their classification but within the range stated.
T a b l e 3 .—M ANU FACTURING ESTA BLISH M EN TS CLA SSIFIED B Y V ALUE OF
PRODUCT, 1923
[From report of U. S. Census of Manufactures]
Value of
product
Value of product
$5,000 to $20,000____
$20,000 to $100,000. . .
$100,000 to $500,000..
$500,000 to $1,000,000.
$1 ,000,000 and over..
Num
ber of Number
estab of wage
lish earners
ments
Value of
product
Number of
wage earners
Per cent of total
formed by—
Estab Wage
Per
lish earn
Per
Per
Per
es1 ,000,000 ments ers
estab
wage tab- $of
prod
in
in
lishment earner lishuct
each each
ment
group group
61,981 189,738 $697,996,736 $11 , 261 $3,679
3.1
72, 370 718,746 3,426, 433, 520
47, 346 4, 767
9.9
42, 075 1, 721, 266 9,496, 592,898 225,706 5,517 40.9
9,556 1,134,897 6, 752, 818,172 706, 657 5,950 118.8
10,327 5, 013, 509 40,182,156,874 3, 890,981 8, 015 485.5
Total............... 196, 309 8, 778,156 60,555,998, 200
308, 473
6,898
44.7
271.8
209.8
181.3
168.1
124.8
145.0
31.6
36.9
21.4
4.9
5.3
2.2
8.2
19.6
12.9
57.1
Value
of
prod
uct
in
each
group
1.2
5.7
15.7
11.2
66.4
100.0 100.0 100.0
Accident Rates, by Type of Injury, for Various Industries, 1928
A
N A RTIC LE in the November Labor Review (p. 62) gave the
accident experience, by industry and State, of a large number
of establishments for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics had
obtained data for the years 1925 and 1926. The 1926 data there
presented are further analyzed in the following tables, which give,
by industry, the number of accidents and the frequency and severity
rates for each type of injury.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7 3 ]
T a b l e 1 .— N U M B ER OF ACCID ENTS R ESU LT IN G IN D EA TH , PE R M A N E N T D ISA BILITY, OR T EM PO R A R Y D ISA B ILITY B EY O N D DAY OF IN JU R Y
“<¡í
Permanent partial disability 1
Industry )
Total____________ ____ _______________________ _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3
65
7
5
7
11
1
1
1
9
i
5
1
4
2
4
64
3
5
11
2
1
6
3
15
64
5
22
21
2
9
15
3
2
2
3
i
3
5
2
2
1
1
11
6
5
48
6
7
14
2
i
9
1
1
23
1
2
1
381
87
i
4
5
22
6
35
14
6
1
8
11
4
3
11
20
2
3
16
3
3
7
1
9
1
9
103
5
2
3
2
1
3
]
2
6
7
3
19
23
53
1
7
1
2
9
4
2
]
i
8
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
4
10
2
6
4
3
6
2
248
49
i
5
26
4
7
7
7
7
3
3
8
4
3
100
298
1
3
8
1
1
16
87
7
13
3
1
i
6
6
24
1
2
46
25
2
6
7
12
13
6
16
7
2
10
24
8
3
1
10
2
44
600
30
41
24
12
6
22
35
118
i
15
296
104
16
35
38
66
75
35
69
29
3
30
124
41
23
11
9
111
7
3
8
2
5
4
3
35
2
1
1
1
1
Loss
of 4
fin
gers
i
20
1
1
1
31
7
2
2
45
18
13
7
6
5
7
15
i
12
Loss of Loss of Loss of Loss of Loss Loss
thumb thumb thumb thumb of
of
and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 great any 2 Other Total
finger fingers fingers fingers toe toes
4
2
1
1
1
10
1
10
5
2
10
12
6
3
29
15
9
307 1,987
355
2
6
9
3
3
i
4
3
5
3
i
2
2
1
17
1
3
1
1
6
1
4
5
4
1
1
2
7
J
6
i
2
2
3
1
2
1
1
2
11
1
1
i
1
1
1
1
1
1
108
55
34
27
6
6
9
i
38
6
3
1
2
2
11
1
42
2
i
1
1
i
g
9
33
3
24
23
i
96
1,100
66
68
65
24
17
57
76
265
5
27
636
200
31
51
74
149
207
64
170
107
10
7
i
i
4
3
3
i
2
1
2
4
79
56
33
62
36
124
35
234
4,120
2
i
2
3
4
1
2
9
1
1
1
1
2
2
5
1
4
2
41
2
2
1
2
12
4
6
2
1
77
212
MONTHLY
174]
Agricultural implements_____ ____ ________________
Automobiles_______________________ ____________
Automobiles tires_____ . . . ___________________ _
Boots and shoes_________________ . ________________
Brick_______ _ ________________
. . . ________ .
Carpets___ _______ . . . __________ __________________
Carriages and wagons.
________ _________________
Chemicals..._________ _____ ________________________
Cotton goods_________________ _________ ________
Electrical machinery___________________ _________
Fertilizers______________________ ______ ____________
Flour ________ _ . . . ___________ __________________
Foundries and machine shops_____________________
Furniture___________________________ ______________
Glass_________________ _____ ____________ ___________
Hardware__________________ ______ __________________
Leather________________________________ _____ ___ _
Lumber—Planing mills___________________________
Lumber— Sawmills_______ _____ _____________________
Machine to ols..__________________________________. . . .
Paper and pulp_______ _______ _____________________ .
Petroleum refining_____________________ _________ _
Potteries ___________ _______________________________
Shipbuilding, steel__________ _______________________
Slaughtering and meat packing_________________ ______
Stamped and enameled ware ___________ __________ __
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies_________________
Stoves................. ................................................. ...........................
Structural-ironwork__ _______ ________ ________ _____
Woolen goods.._________ ____ _ _______ ____________
Death Loss Loss
Loss
Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
of 1 of 2 . of 3
of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1
fin
fin
fin
arm hand leg foot eye thumb
ger gers gers
W
O
W
SJ
w
<M1
K
3
Permanent total disability 1
78271
T—
_y
xiiu.uobi
Total___________________________________ . . .
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
i
1
2
1
2
98
1 ]02
* 67
68
67
24
17
58
76
265
5
28
638
200
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
31
51
74
150
208
64
172
107
10
i
i
1
5
1
1
1
12
i
19
77
214
79
57
34
62
36
229
1,296
1,286
185
423
7
21
39
461
438
36
116
2,088
384
416
11
56
191
683
417
747
45
54
63
1,304
99
604
242
173
154
262
2, 213
625
210
264
48
18
182
323
455
79
111
1,227
371
153
51
201
360
577
143
729
125
78
98
1,210
87
276
139
103
78
4,139 12, 268 10, 796
179
1, 402
448
120
186
26
11
95
260
306
46
51
803
220
79
34
92
233
396
100
446
71
39
68
669
50
148
112
74
44
6, 808
107
812
332
77
88
16
12
. 82
156
219
23
28
534
134
49
16
71
132
305
62
245
31
32
58
341
34
75
60
59
32
75
566
211
50
73
14
4
37
99
135
17
30
395
72
18
13
50
81
249
38
187
31
15
34
174
132
975
154
60
124
13
17
77
236
240
32
51
597
140
56
34
254
45
37
42
6
1
25
57
195
11
19
235
58
8
6
21
84
183
463
73
281
40
44
50
364
25
107
20
76
57
28
62
117
16
139
26
5
15
65
14
39
15
29
25
4,223 2,860
4,838
1, 628
20
61
49
42
66
1 Amputation between knee and ankle or between elbow and wrist is considered as loss of a foot or a hand; at or above knee or elbow as loss of a leg or an arm.
permanent malformation, or permanent stiffness of a joint is regarded as loss of the member.
2 Not all States report disabilities under one week.
3 AH States except Virginia and Alabama.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
35
222
8
42
51
32
2
47
68
104
15
21
341
43
18
9
1, 053
7, 740
3,109
781
1,251
162
86
584
1 , 660
2,092
259
427
6,220
25
28
1, 422
797
161
604
1, 312
2,864
875
2,935
392
276
422
4, 228
355
1,346
703
581
438
1, 714
45,135
22
70
74
26
161
23
9
36
101
25
36
20
ACCIDENT RATES, BY TYPE OF INJURY, 1926
Agricultural implements _ ________________
Automobiles__________________________________ .
Automobile tires____________________________ _
Boots and shoes. __________________ ____
Brick________________________________________ _
C arp ets... ______ ______ ____________________ _
Carriages and wagons______ . . . . . . _____ ______ _
Chemicals _________________________________ .
Cotton goods________ ____ _______________________
Electrical machinery_____________________ . . .
Fertilizers____________ ______________________ _
Flour____________ __________ ____ _________ ._ . .
Foundries and machine shops.. _ . . . . __________
Furniture_________________ ______________ ______ _
Glass_____________ _______________________________
Hardware______________________________ . _____ _
Leather.. ______________________ _________ . _
Lumber—Planing mills. . _____________________ . .
Lumber—Sawmills_____________________ ______ .
Machine tools ____________________ ___________ _.
Paper and pulr>_____________________ . . . . . .
Petroleum refining_________________ ______ ____ _
Potteries_______ ____________________________ .
Shipbuilding, steel
___ _ . . . . ___ . . . _ . . _.
Slaughtering and meat packing. . . . ________ . . . .
Stamped and enameled ware____________
. . . _____
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies_______________
Stoves________________ __________________________
Structural-iron work____ _________________ ____ . . . _
Woolen goods________ ___________________ _____ _____
Temporary disability terminating in—
Grand
Total,
total,
Sivth Four Dura tempo
perma
Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
tion of rary
nent
teenth
to
of
of
of
of
of
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
dis
disa
both both both both both Other Total disa week2 week 3 week week week thir week ability bility
bility
teenth or
arms legs hands feet eyes
not
week later
known
Loss of a phalanx,
Or
T a b l e 3 .—FR E Q U E N C Y RA TES (P E R 1,000,000 HOURS 5 E X P O S U R E ) FO R ACCID ENTS RESU LTIN G IN D EA TH , PE R M A N E N T D ISA B ILITY , OR T EM -
PO RARY D ISA B ILITY BEYO N D DAY OF IN JU R Y
~i
Permanent partial disability i
Industry
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.09 0.01
.09 .01
.04
, 13 .02
. 03
.39
. 18 . 10
.004
(2)
.05 .02
.65 .22
.22
.20
. 03
. 14
. 10
.28
.63
. 11
.03
. 02
.03
. 05
.n
.07
0.10 0. 06
0.19
.06 0 0.01 . 14
. 02
06
.02 . 01 . 01 . 01
. 09
.03
.39
. 08
.02
. 10
.32
. 11
. 13
. 17
. 05
. 13
.21
. 01
1.01
.02
.09
.02
.07
. 10
.29
.08
.05
. 12
.08
.05
.08
. 0Ô
.05
. 13
.03
.08
.20
.30
.08
. 16
. 11
.03
.05
.08
. 12
.02
.02
.07
.03
.02
. 05
.02
16
. 03
05
. 05
. 06
. 14
.01
.01
0. 33
. 12
. 09
. 09
05
. 03
.39
. 12
.02
. 11
. 11
. 11
(2)
. 03
. 08
.05
. 02
. 07
. 03
.05
. 17
07
. 03
. 05
. 15
23
. 06
.32
.02
.01
. 08
. 10
.04
.05
. 06
.09
. 25
. 09
.05
. 10
.06
.05
.04
.07
.04
. 18
. 13
. 05
.08
. 19
. 20
. 13
.23
. 13
. 11
. 14
. 10
.08
. 18
. 17
.03
. 10
. 02
.04
. 09
. 09
.04
. 04
.02
01
02
.02
12
.20
0. 91
.79
37
. 30
42
32
2. 36
.44
. 14
. 52
. 11
. 81
94
Q4
46
1 . 87
04
1. 24
73
. 78
. 61
.42
. 12
. 54
.90
1.01
Loss
of 4
fin
gers
0. 19 0. 06 0 02
. 15 .05 .03
09
02 .01
. 02 . 01
14
03
05
03
1. 97 . 39 .39
. 08
02
. 05 . 02
01
. 14 ,03 ,01
14
16
03
. 27
12
Í28
10
04
.06
. 05
H3
!h
,09
. 02
. 09
. 07
03
. 04
. 04
.07
. 30
. 14
. 03
.07
. 04
.44
.04
.55
48
1.28
. 27
. 39
; 07
. 12
.6 6
. 12
11
05
! o5
. 09
02
.01
Loss of Loss of Loss of Loss of Loss Loss
thumb thumb thumb thumb of
of
and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 great any 2 Other Total
finger fingers fingers fingers toe toes
0 08
6)
01
’ 03
0.01
.01
0
0
0. 01
.02
. .39
0
m
.03
. 04
.03
.04
0. 01
.003
. 04
.02
.01
.01
.02
.n
.04
.04
.02
. 01
.03
0
0
. 03
0 04
.05
.07
1 98
i. 46
79
49
.03
66
04
6 67
1 14
.01
05
.u
1 1Q
.03
13
2 01
.03
.03
Q0
2 71
. 02
. 17
32
07
2. 81
01
30
55
1 45
1 G1
1
OQ .02
04
04 .04
04
02
13
01
10
.01
07
.02
?1
33
* 04
! 21
2
1
1
1
03
43
59
52
40
1 39
1. 54
2 01
1 32
1 33
2. 63
b 37
.02
.04
.04
.01
.08
g
o
2
a
05
10
J4
0«
. 04
.07
! 09
.02
.01
. 04
\\
.04
.01
.02
05
02
,05
.05
o?
m
.05
.02
.03
0. 02 0. 01
.02
01
.6 6
R E V i:
Total_________________ .
0. 00
Loss
of 3
fin
gers
LABOR
[7 6 ]
Agricultural implements___________
Automobiles- . . .
Automobile tires____
Boots and shoes _ _
Brick-,
Carpets___
Carriages and w agons-..,.-.
Chemicals______
Cotton goods . . .
Electrical m achinery__
Fertilizers___
Flour____
Foundries and machine shops___
Furniture____
Glass____ . _
Hardware........ .
Leather____
Lumber—Planing m ills... . . . . . ______
Lumber—Sawmills___ _______
Machine tools______
Paper and pulp______
Petroleum refin in g.......
Pottery________
Shipbuilding, ste e l.....
Slaughtering and meat packing.. . . ____
Stamped and enameled ware________
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies_______
Stoyes_____ ____________
Structural-iron work____ _____
Woolen goods___ . . . _____
Death Loss
Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1
of 1 of 2
arm hand leg foot eye thumb finger fin
gers
bd
si
Permanent total disability1
Industry
T o ta l............................................. .
0.01
0
0. 04
0
.01
.01
.04
.02
0.02
0.05
.05
.01
.02 .02
.01 .01
.02 .02
0 . 01
.01 .02
.02
.01
.02
(2)
0
704
0
0
.04
0
2.02
1.46
.80
.49
1.18
.66
6.67
1.16
.30
1. 19
.55
1.50
2. 02
1.81
.90
2.71
1. 25
2.83
2.04
1.43
1.61
1. 52
.40
1.39
1.56
4. 97
1. 78
18. 77
1.45
10.87
.23
8.81
.78
1.91
2.69
4.12
6.43
9. 30
3. 87
20. 65
.94
1.21
4. 34
11. 11
5. 69
3. 04
9. 12
1. 65
6. 79
1. 57
7.55
3. 65
1.34
2.80
9.04
6.16
5.47
3. 74
7.59
4. 36
4. 35
8.17
9. 38
3. 19
6.93
1.93
3.23
2. 16
8.96
2.18
7.86
.66
9.31
7.10
.70
2.23
1.39
9. 66
2. 48
17. 19
10. 63
13. 70
3. 51
8.16
1. 79
1.37
4. 71
4.15
2 . 01
1.34
1.37
2. 63
6.10
3.89
1.93
6.54
.94
4.78
.85
4.61
1.91
1.08
1.88
5. 26
2.83
3. 58
2. 22
3. 92
2.91
1.99
5. 29
6.44
2.23
4. 24
2.33
1.12
4. 85
.61
2. 26
.52
5.03
1.65
.65
1.35
2.63
1. 55
2. 38
1.35
2. 43
1.37
1.54
3. 00
4. 96
1.38
2. 33
.50
1.32
1.28
2. 53
1.63
.78
3. 08
.39
1.88
.46
1.68
.74
.41
.83
1.95
1.66
1. 76
.73
.89
1.11
1.00
2.13
2.63
4. 67
.73
1.08
1.84
4. 05
.85
1.78
.50
.62
.75
1.29
.50
1.74
2.15
3.33
.46
2. 62
1.62
1. 10
1. 10
1.61
1. 50
4.96
1 . 25
4. 21
4. 92
5.86
.88
2.87
1.34
2. 25
.47
3.19
.43
7.13
1. 55
.98
1.48
3. 66
2.83
2. 66
1.41
2. 78
1. 79
1.82
4. 16
7.53
1.63
2. 67
.62
1. 82
0 .7 4
.3 5
0. 76
.31
.2 9
1 .0 8
.33
1.31
1.05
.84
.94
.28
.64
1. 72
1.16
1. 52
.43
.89
.77
.48
1. 59
.66
.20
.4 2
.5 0
.2 4
1.20
1 .2 6
1 .0 5
1 .0 5
.5 9
.4 0
.5 1
.6 1
1.41
1 .9 0
.3 6
1 .3 2
.4 0
.3 3
.4 8
.3 5
1.
6 . 02
1. 30
2. 30
.5 7
1.86
.6 3
2. 70
.63
3.05
2. 90
11
.66
1 Amputation between knee and ankle or between elbow and wrist is considered as loss of a foot or a hand; at or above knee or elbow as loss of a leg or an arm.
permanent malformation, or permanent stiffness of a joint is regarded as loss of member.
2 Less than 0.005.
3 All States do not report disabilities under one week.
1 All States except Virginia and Alabama.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.20
.21
1. 10
.12
.58
1.53
.36
.37
.79
.75
.63
1. 02
.88
1.98
22. 88
10. 65
45. 39
6.13
32. 16
5.31
36. 07
11. 72
6.89
12. 87
29. 64
23. 62
27. 72
14. 34
39. 55
13. 76
13. 08
29. 80
46. 57
19.53
27. 90
6.11
11.41
9. 30
31.33
8.90
38.31
30.87
46.02
10.00
17.35
Loss of a phalanx,
ACCIDENT KATES, BY TYPE OF INJURY, 1926
[77]
Agricultural implements..........................
Automobiles_________________ ______
Automobile tires____________________
Boots and shoes____________________
Brick.......................... .............. ....................
Carpets__________________ ________
Carriages and wagons........... ....................
Chemicals____________ _____________
Cotton goods....................................... ........
Electrical machinery_______ _______ __
Fertilizers_____________ _____ _______
Flour_______________________ _______
Foundries and machine shops................
Furniture.....................................................
Glass___________ ______ __ ________
Hardware________________ __________
Leather______ ____ ________ ______ . . .
Lumber—Planing m ills..........................
Lumber—Sawmills....................................
Machine tools..............................................
Paper and pulp...........................................
Petroleum refining...............................
Pottery_____________________ _____
Shipbuilding, steel__________________
Slaughtering and meat packing_______
Stamped and enameled ware_________
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies.
Stoves______________________________
Structural-iron work______ __________
Woolen goods......... ................................... .
Temporary disability terminating in—
Grand
Total,
total,
perma
Four tion of rary
Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
to
of
of
of
of
of Other Total nent First Second Third Fourth Fifth thir teenth dis
disa
disa weeks week* week week
both both both both both
week teenth week
ability bility
bility
or
arms legs hands feet eyes
week
not
later
known
78
M O N TH LY
LA BO R
R E V IE W
Table 2 records frequency rates based on the figures presented in
Table 1. The highest frequency rates for death are found in the
following industries: Structural-iron work (1.01), fertilizers (0.65), saw
mills (0.63); for permanent disability the highest frequency rates
are for carriages and wagons (6.67), planing mills (2.83), hardware
(2.71); and for temporary disability the highest frequency rates are
for sawmills (46.57), structural-iron work (46.02), automobile tires
(45.39).
Table 3 records severity rates based on the figures of Table 1.
The highest severity rates for death are found in structural-iron
work (6.06), fertilizers (3.93), and sawmills (3.76). The highest
severity rates for permanent disability are those for carriages and
wTagons (6.94), planing mills (2.96), and sawmills (2.27). The
following have the greatest severity in temporary disability: Saw
mills (1.15), structural-iron work (1.10), and carriages and wagons
(0.79).
The indications of the frequency and severity rates are not the
same. This is to be expected. I t often happens, for example,
that an industry wull have a large number of minor injuries and
comparatively few of a more severe character.
While this compilation has interest and value, it is desirable to
call attention to the fact that in some classifications the number of
cases is not large enough to warrant any positive conclusions. In
the course of time material should accumulate affording a basis for
definite statements.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
17 8 ]
T a b l e 3 .—S E V E R IT Y R ATES (P E R 1,000 HOURS’ EX P O SU R E ) FOR ACCIDENTS R ESULTIN G IN D EA TH , P E R M A N E N T D IS A B IL IT Y , OR T E M P O R A R Y
D ISA BILITY BEYO N D DAY OF IN JU R Y
Permanent partial disability i
Industry
.22
.74
.16
.07
1. 57
1.08 .40
.02
.29
3.93
1.31
.16
.87
.14
.07
.12
1.17
1.81
.49
.96
.65
.45
.29
.47
6.06
.50
.66
.45
.27
.12
.12
.20
.29
.86
.1 1
.35
.07
.24
.16
.35
.23
.14
.24
.26
.16
.76
.12
.25
.07
.26
.10
.10
.09
.07
.15
.35
.35
.07
.06
.16
.17
.30
.07
,13
.04
.18
.24
.05
. 10
.02
.11
.13
.14
.13
.23
.10
.15
.17
.09
.42
.04
.07
.08
.17
.46
.16
.1 1
.18
.23
.09
.14
.35
.35
.24
.18
.02
.24
.07
.01
.06
.07
.06
.09
. 14
.03
. 19
.07
.14
.08
.08
.09
.06
.05
. 11
0. 27 0.14 0. 07 0.04
.24 . 11 .06 .05
. 11 . 06 .03 .02
.09 .02 .01
. 13 . 11
. 10 .04 .03 .05
.71 1. 47 .47 .71
. 13 .06 .02
.04 .04 .02 .02
. 16 . 10 .04 .02
.03
.24
. 10
.28 . 11 .05 .03
.28 .12 .08 . 10
. 14 .02
.56 .20 .06
. 19 .09 .04
.37 .21 .14 .17
.22 .07 . 11 .05
.23 .02
.04
. 18 .07 .03 .02
. 13 .05 .05
.02
.16
.27
.31
. 17
.13
.38
.08
.03
.05
.23
. 11
.09
.30
.05
.07
.20
.09
.10
. 12
.04
.02
.26
0.10
0
. 01
0.01
.02
0.01
. 03
.04
.02
.03
.03
.02
0. 01
.59
.03
. 14
.01
0
.02
.03
.04
.01
.07
.03
.05
.04
.05
.04
.03
.06
.01
.02
.01
.03
.04
.01
.02
.01
.01
.01
.03
.03
.01
.01
.01
..0 4
.09
0
.04
.07
.03
.01
.01
0
0
.01
.01
.01
0
0
.01
.02
0
.02
.05
.07
.01
.01
. 01
.08
. 16
.03
. 11
_17
.02
. 11
1 74
1.13
60
.37
1 39
53
6 94
1 45
. 29
1 04
1 02
1 62
1.76
1 48
1 00
1 42
1 22
2. 85
2 21
1 26
1 64
1 84
48
1 06
.04
.03
0
.02
. 01
.04
1. 50
1*34
1.18
1. 30
2. 26
.01
0
.04
1.20
1 Amputation between knee and ankle or between elbow and wrist is considered as loss of a foot or a hand; at or above knee or elbow as loss of a leg or an arm.
permanent malformation, or permanent stiffness of a joint is regarded as loss of member.
2 Less than 0.005.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.03
.04
0
.03
.09
.09
.03
.04
.02
,01
.02
.03
.04
0
0
0
.02 0.01
.01
.01
0
.01
.02
.03
0.02
0. 01
. 01
.05
.08
.04
.66
1926
.20
.22
.07
.05
.06
.03
O F IN JU R Y ,
.60
1.69
3.76
.97
.33
.38
.52
.16
.40
.62
0. 20
Loss of Loss of Loss of Loss of Loss Loss
thumb thumb thumb thumb of
of
and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 great any 2 Other Total
finger fingers fingers fingers toe toes
TYPE
1.22
.02
.07
.87
0.31 0.25
0.34
.19 .01 0.02 .25
.07
. 11
.07 .06 .02 .03
.26 .21 .38 .09
.08
.06 . 10
1.18
.24 .08 .14 .25
.06
.02 .02
.29 .02 .06 . 15
Loss
of 4
fin
gers
RATES, B Y
T otal._____ ____________ _____ _
0.37
.52 5.06
.52 .05
Loss
of 3
fin
gers
A C C ID E N T
[7 9 ]
Agricultural implements_____________
Automobiles____ _______ ____ _______
Automobile tires___ ______ __________
Boots and shoes.___________ ____ ____
Brick__________ ____________________
Carpets_________ __________________
Carriages and wagons.............. ................ .
Chemicals..................... ......................... .
Cotton goods...............................................
Electrical machinery.................................
Fertilizers............ .............. ....................... .
Flour____________________ ___________
Foundries and machine shops________
Furniture....................... .............. ............ .
Glass_______________________________
Hardware....... .............. .............. ................ .
Leather_____________________________
Lumber—Planing mills.............................
Lumber—Sawmills__________________
Machine tools........ ................................. .
Paper and pulp.......................................... .
Petroleum refining._________________
Pottery____________________________ _
Shipbuilding, steel__________________
Slaughtering and meat packing.............
Stamped and enameled ware_________
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies.
Stoves_____________________________
Structural-iron work.......... .......................
Woolen goods_________________ _____ _
Death Loss
Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
of 1 of 2
o il of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1 of 1
arm hand leg foot eye thumb fin fin
ger gers
Loss of a phalanx,
-<ï
CO
T a b l e s .—S E V E R IT Y R A T ES (P E R 1,000 HOURS’ E X P O S U R E ) FO R ACC ID EN TS R ESU LT IN G IN D EA TH , PE R M A N E N T D ISA B ILIT Y , OR T E M P O R A R Y
D ISA B ILITY B EYO N D DAY OF IN JU R Y —Continued
Permanent total disability 1
Industry
Agricultural implements........................................................
Automobiles . . ____________ _______________ __ _____
Automobile tires............................................... .......................
Boots and shoes............................................ ............... ...........
Brick.______ _______________________ _____ ____ ____
C arp ets.............. ........................... ................ .................. .........
Carriages and wagons______________________________
C hem icals.................. ....... .......... ................ .........................
Cotton goods_________ _______________ _____ ________
Electrical machinery..........................................
Fertilizers_________________________ ______ __________
Flour____________________ ___________ _______ ______
Foundries and machine shops...............................................
Furniture.......................................................
Glass______________________ _
Hardware_________ ___________
Leather___ __ . . .
Lumber—Planing mills...... ....................
Lumber—Sawmills.................................. .......
Machine tools...............
Paper and pulp.............. ........................
Petroleum refining.............................. .......................
P o tte r y _______ ________
Shipbuilding, steel______
Slaughtering and meat packing . . . . . ______________
Stamped and enameled ware.. ________________ ___
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies____________
Stoves________________’
Structural-iron work..........................................
Woolen goods______________
Total........................................................... .....................
Temporary disability terminating in—
Grand
total,
Sixth Four
Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
perma
to
teenth
of
of
of
of
of Other Total nent First Second Third Fourth Fifth thir
both both both both both
disa week3 week4 week week week teenth week
or
arms legs hands feet eyes
bility
week later
0. 25
0.02
.07
0. 25
.02
.07
. 11
0.12
. 11
. 12
1 99
1.15
. 67
.37
1. 50
. 53
6. 94
1.57
.29
1.04
1.02
0.32
.04
.32
.04
1.94
1.80
1.48
.0 4
. 11
.06
. 11
.1 1
0
.0 1
0
.04
.06
.07
. 01
.07
.03
.01
0
.03
.2 4
. 14
.2 4
1.58
1.34
1.32
1,54
2. 26
.6 6
.0 2
.0 3
1.23
.02
. 10
.01
.05
. 01
.11
0. 04
.02
.08
.01
.05
.01
.05
0.16
.07
. 12
.03
. 18
02
0 11
05
09
.04
. 16
03
.06
.07
.03
. 17
. 18
. 15
. 15
. 08
.06
.07
.09
.03
.03
.02
.03
.03
.01
.02
.02
.0 3
.01
.0 6
.0 4
.0 5
.0 1
.0 9
.0 2
.0 7
.0 6
.0 8
.0 2
.0 8
.0 2
.0 7
.0 8
.0 9
.0 2
.0 5
.0 2
.0 5
.0 6
.1 0
.0 2
.0 4
.0 1
.0 5
.0 6
.0 9
.0 1
.1 5
.0 3
.1 7
.1 6
.3 3
.0 7
.0 7
.0 5
.1 6
.0 9
.3 3
.0 8
.01
.01
.0 2
.0 1
.0 3
.0 1
.0 2
.0 4
.0 4
.0 3
.0 3
.1 0
.0 9
.0 1
.04
.03
.02
0
.01
0
.01
.02
.02
.02
.10
.04
.07
.02
.04
.01
.03
.06
.03
.05
.03
.05
.03
.03
.06
. 11
.03
.05
.01
.02
.01
. 02
.05
.05
.05
.02
.02
.03
.03
.05
. 11
.02
.05
.20
.27
.05
. 19
.06
.03
.05
1 Amputation between knee and ankle or between elbow and wrist is considered as loss of a foot or a hand; at or above knee or elbow as loss of a leg or an arm.
permanent malformation, or permanent stiflness of a joint is regarded as loss of the member.
2 Less than 0.005.
3 Not all States report disabilities under one week.
4 All States except Virginia and Alabama.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0 01
01
0
.01
. 02
02
. 01
.02
0
. 01
.03
.08
.04
.06
.03
.06
.04
.03
.08
1.22
.0 8
.01
.07
.03
.01
0.05
.03
.09
.08
.05
.04
.07
.04
.04
.08
.09
.03
.07
.07
2. 98
2.27
1. 26
1.75
1.84
.48
1.06
.02
.03
. 10
39
.08
.05
. 08
. 20
. 16
. 15
.08
. 15
. 10
. 10
.23
.41
.09
. 15
.03
. 10
.06
0
.01
. 01
.01
.02
.02
.01
0
0
.02
.0 4
. 14
0.05
.03
.09
0. 06
.07
1.00
1.42
. 11
.06
0. 02
.01
Total,
Dura tem po
tion of rary
dis
disa
ability bility
not
known
.03
. 02
.03
.01
. 02
.01
.01
.03
.02
.01
.03
.01
.01
.01
0 50
65
* 14
63
11
*7Q
20
14
*38
! 70
53
! 57
30
! 50
. 32
.33
.75
1.15
. 30
.63
. 16
.26
.21
.5 2
. .1 7
.6 5
.5 6
1.10
.2 4
.3 6
Loss of a phalanx,
GO
O
IN D U S T R IA L
A C C ID E N T S
IN
N EW
YORK
STATE
81
No-Accident Campaign Among Manufacturers of Erie, Pa.
A
NO-ACCIDENT campaign conducted during the month of
August, 1927, in the city of Erie, Pa., among 26 manufacturing
plants, resulted in a reduction of 20 lost-time accidents as
compared with August, 1926, which was the peak month for that
year. ^ A report submitted to this bureau by the Manufacturers'
Association of Erie states that in August, 1926, the average number of
employees in the plants keeping records of accidents was 6,135.
On this basis the annual accident frequency rate was 10.9 per 100
employees for the 56 accidents recorded during the month. In
August, 1927, in 26 plants with an average working force of 7,905
persons, there were 36 accidents, giving an annual frequency rate of
5.5. A chart showing the accident trend from January, 1926,
continues the curve to include September, 1927, during which month
the frequency rate was even less than in August, being 4.8. In
September, 1926, the rate was 7.
The no-accident campaign was sponsored by the Manufacturers'
Association of Erie, which carried on considerable publicity by
correspondence and through the press. Among the more than a
hundred cooperating plants (all of which, however, did not keep
records of accidents) were 14 plants having machine-shop depart
ments^ 3 boiler factories, 3 brass goods and brass foundries, 8 iron
foundries or plants with iron-foundry departments, 1 electric motor
manufacturing plant, 1 mechanical rubber goods plant, 1 roofing
paper, packing, and insulating material plant, 2 open-hearth steel
foundries, 1 stove plant, 2 metal toy plants, 1 bolt and nut plant,
1 hand tool plant, 1 plumbers’ supplies, 1 builders’ hardware plant,
1 forging plant, 5 heavy machinery plants, and 4 plants operating
punch presses largely.
One outstanding result noted is the case of a plant which had
20 accidents in August, 1926, and only 6 in August, 1927. “ This
was brought about by education of the workmen through foremen
and the holding of the foreman responsible for every accident in his
department.” Whenever an accident occurred the foreman was
called before the superintendent, who emphasized his responsibility
for the safety of his men. This particular plant, it is added, has
materially reduced its total accidents thus far in 1927 as compared
with 1926.
Industrial Accidents in New York S tate in 1928-27
T
HE increasing seriousness of some causes of industrial accidents
in New York State is brought out in the recent report of the
industrial commissioner for the year ending June 30, 1927,
covering 98,984 workers who were awarded compensation amounting
to $28,186,003, or an average of $284.75 per case, and representing a
time loss of 2,298,492 weeks, or an average of 23.2 weeks per case.
Tins report is summarized in the Industrial Bulletin for October,
1927. The following table shows, by percentages, the relative im
portance of the various causes of accidents during each of the years
ending June 30, 1923 to 1927, and by index numbers the increase or
decrease from year to year as compared with 1923.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
181]
82
M O N TH LY
LA BO R
R E V IE W
T A B L E 1 . — R EL A T IV E
IM PO R TA N C E OF CAUSES, AND IN D E X N U M B E R S OF ACCI
DENTS IN N EW YO R K STATE FOR Y EA R S ENDING JU N E 30, 1923 TO 1927
1924
1923
C a u se
Handling objects..........................................
F a l l s ....___________ _____ ___________
Machinery____________ ______________
Vehicles___________ _______ __________
H a n d to ols------------------------_
Falling objects_______________________
Stepping on or striking against objects..
Explosions, electricity, heat, etc_______
Hoisting and conveying apparatus. . . . .
Miscellaneous____________ _________
Harmful substances__________________
Indefinite history of accident_________
Animals.................... .............................
Total, all causes_________________
1925
1927
1926
In Per In Per In Per In Per In Per
dex cent dex cent dex cent dex cent dex cent
num of num of n u m of nu m of nu m of
ber total ber total ber total ber total ber total
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
25 .7
1 5 .9
15.8
8 .0
6 .6
6 .7
4.9
4.6
3.7
2.7
130
127
118
133
123
121
1.2
116
123
129
140
144
1.0
115
3.2
100 100.0
121
2 6 .6
16 .0
14 .8
8 .5
6 .5
6 .5
4.5
4.5
3.7
3.0
1.4
3.1
.9
125 100.0
134
148
113
145
145
139
108
125
103
150
160
87
124
2 6 .2
17.9
13 .6
8 .9
7 .3
7 .1
4.1
4.4
2.9
3.1
1.5
2.1
.9
131 100.0
185
198
148
192
196
165
149
152
131
179
202
64
142
2 7 .7
18.3
1 3 .6
9 .0
7 .6
6 .5
4.3
4.0
2.8
2.8
1.4
1.2
.8
172 100.0
186
196
142
191
194
160
172
143
139
165
189
2 8 .0
18 .3
13.2
9 .0
7 .6
6.3
5.0
3.8
3.0
2 .6
1.3
68
1.2
119
.7
170
100.0
It will be noted that, taking the number of accidents in 1923 as the
base, or 100, the accidents due to the handling of objects increased
steadily each year up to 1927, when they reached a point 86 per cent
over the level of 1923; accidents due to falls increased 96 per cent in
the same time. This is considerably in excess of the increase in
accidents from all causes combined, the number of which in 1926 was
only 70 per cent above the 1923 level. Accidents due to handling
objects have also formed an increasingly large proportion of the total
number of accidents each year. The same is true of accidents due to
falls.
The seriousness and importance of this latter cause—falls— as a
source of accidents is emphasized in the Industrial Bulletin for
October, 1927. In this report it is stated that there has been an
average annual increase of 2,219 cases. I t is also stated that falls
from elevations, on a level, into openings, and others not classified,
while second in numerical importance (18,092 as compared with
27,692 accidents due to handling objects other than hand tools),
resulted in the payment to injured workers of $6,515,137, covering
535,411 weeks of disability, which amount is $1,871,877, or 40.3 per
cent greater than the total paid to those injured in lifting, carrying,
and handling objects, the number of weeks of disability for which
amounted to 322,648, or 39.7 per cent less than for falls. From the
standpoint of average compensation awarded, however, falls as a
cause stands fourth, with an average of $360.11 per case, being
exceeded by explosions, electricity, and heat with an average of
$380.13 per case, by vehicles with an average of $428.20 per case,
and by hoisting and conveying apparatus with an average of $614.12
per case.
Two hundred and forty-one workers were killed by falls and 11
were so severely injured as to be totally disabled for life; in handling
objects the number killed was 82, and those totally disabled num
bered only 4. About 18 per cent of all accidents were due to falls.
Most of the falls were from elevations, involving 8,279 cases with a
time loss of 358,111 weeks, or 66.9 per cent of the number charged
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[ 82 ]
IN D U S T R IA L
A C C ID E N T S
IN
N EW
YORK
STATE
83
to all falls. Of these falls from elevations, 2,203 were due to falls
on stairs the causes for which, the report states, might have been
eliminated by “ a little more care on the part of the employee or bet
ter plant housekeeping.” Falls from ladders, scaffoldings, and stag
ings caused injury to 3,266 workers.
The following table shows by cause the number of accidents for
which compensation was paid during the year, the amount so paid,
and the extent of the time loss covered by these payments. The
average amount paid in each case and the average number of weeks
of disability are also included.
2 —N U M B E R OF COM PENSATED ACCID ENTS, COM PENSATION PAID, AND
T IM E LOST, IN N E W Y O R K STATE, Y E A R ENDING JU N E 30, 1927, B Y CAUSE
T able
Cause
Handling objects......................... .........................
Falls__________________ _______ ___________
Machinery_______ ______ _____________
Vehicles............ ................ ...................... ..............
Hand tools.. ................................. ........... . . .
Falling objects_____ _____________________
Stepping on or striking against objects______
Explosions, electricity, heat, e tc ..’. . . ...........
Hoisting and conveying apparatus................. .
Miscellaneous.................. ......................................
Harmful substances.............................................
Indefinite history of accidents........................
Animals.................................................................
Total............................................................
Number
of cases
Time loss
(weeks)
27,692
18,092
13,026
8,897
7, 500
C), 241
i, 923
3, 777
2,959
2,591
1,338
1,257
691
322, 648
535, 411
289, 001
362,902
107,809
162, 795
38; 975
165, 775
175; 899
67,929
32,816
18, 040
18, 492
98,984
2,298,492
Average
weeks
lost per
case
11. 7
29 6
Compensa
tion paid
Average
amount
paid per
case
40 8
14 4
26.1
7.9
43.9
59. 4
26. 2
24.5
14. 4
26.8
$4,643, 260
6, 515,137
4, 411,144
3,809, 666
1, 624, 835
1,875, 312
521, 487
1,435, 749
1, 817,187
' 794; 284
358, 826
171, 952
207,164
$167.68
360.11
338.64
428 20
216. 64
300 48
105 93
380.13
614.12
306. 55
268.18
136.80
299. 80
23. 2
28,186, 003
284.75
22 2
Of the total number of accidents, 1,042 were death claims, 41 were
permanent total disability claims, 18,518 were permanent partial
disability claims, and 79,383 were claims because of temporary
injuries.
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183]
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Study of Hazards of Spray Coating 1
A
STUD 1 of the health hazard of spray coating was undertaken
by a committee appointed by the Chemical Section of the
National Safety Council in 1926. The committee which had
general direction of the investigation was made up of representatives
appointed by interested Federal and State bureaus, universities,
insurance bureaus, labor organizations, associations of manufacturers
of materials and equipment used in spray coating, and users of the
spray-coating process. The actual conduct of the investigation was
under the direction of Dr. H. F. Smyth and his associates, who had
just completed a similar study in Pennsylvania. The United States
Bureau of Mines was, at the same time, requested to make a special
study of the efficiency of respirators to be used in the spray-coating
process. The final report of the committee was adopted at a meeting
of the whole committee in June, 1927, and was approved by the
executive committee of the National Safety Councilin September.
A minority report was filed by two members of the committee who
believed that some of the conclusions, particularly those relating to
the air velocity required for satisfactory ventilation, were not justi
fied by the data submitted.
As the value and importance of spray coating is generally recog
nized, the study was made with the hope that, if serious hazards were
revealed, methods of eliminating the danger without unnecessary
interference with the industry would be developed.
The spraying of paint and lacquer by the use of compressed air was
introduced in this country about 1890, but it was not until 1917 that
it came into general use, and the recognition of the several hazards of
the process dates from about that time. Great improvements in the
equipment and materials used have been made and at the present
time the method is in general use for finishing and refinishing all
kinds of painted surfaces. The process is adapted to the finishing of
interiors and exteriors of buddings and other structures and to
painting industrial products such as automobile bodies, furniture,
leather, and many small articles.
It is pointed out in the report that the introduction of a new pro
cess which is widespread in its application is always subject to a
period of readjustment during which defects and dangers not recog
nized at first will become apparent, and that there is a danger in
seeking a remedy for the situation that correction will be sought
through prohibitive legislation rather than through voluntary efforts
to find out and improve conditions. This is particularly true in con
nection with spray painting, since there was no question from the
first that its use involved both accident and health hazards. While
these hazards were understood in a measure, there has been a good
deal of controversy regarding their extent, especially the danger of
’ National Safety Council.
Chemical Section.
cago, 108 East Ohio Street, September, 1927.
84
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Final report of the committee on spray coating.
[8 4 ]
Chi
HAZARD S
OF
SPRA Y
C O A T IN G
85
poisoning from benzol. The report2 of the special committee on
benzol poisoning appointed by the National Safety Council estab
lished the seriousness of this hazard, and as a result of its findings the
paint and varnish manufacturers carried on an educational cam
paign to discourage its use.
Regulations were adopted by the Wisconsin Industrial Com
mission in 1924 and revised in 1925 to control the hazards of the oc
cupation in that State. The regulations fixed a maximum distance
between the spray gun and the object being treated in the painting
of buildings, ships, and other structures, and provided that respira
tors or other devices of an approved design must be worn and a non
drying oil, grease, or cream used on exposed parts of the body.
Booths provided with exhaust ventilation are required in the_ spray
coating of other objects, although the exact velocity of the air cur
rent is not fixed by the regulations. Another attempt to meet the
problem presented by this process was the study made prior to the
present one by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and In
dustry.3
Scope of the- Investigation
COWING to limitations of time and money, it was felt at the outset
^
of the study that it must be restricted to investigation of the
chief hazards—benzol, lead, and silica. Benzol is a constituent of
the lacquers used in automobile finishing, while lead is present in the
undercoats used on automobile bodies. The enamel used in the man
ufacture of such products as sanitary ware, refrigerator linings, stove
parts, etc., contains both lead and silica. These two industries were
studied, therefore, as they presented a maximum degree of exposure
to these hazards. Statistical information as to the extent of poisoning
from these substances in spray painting was entirely lacking, and it
was felt that it was impossible to secure information which would
allow any comparison between this and other industries as to the
relative severity of these hazards. The study, therefore, was con
cerned mainly with the examination of exposed workers and study
of working conditions, including tests to determine the degree of
atmospheric pollution in the air breathed by the operators.
The study was carried out mainly in Detroit and Toledo. In
Detroit employees in four automobile-body plants, two automobile
factories, and three vitreous-enameling plants were examined and in
Toledo employees in a large automobile plant, a vitreous-enamel
plant, and a plant making spray-painting equipment. Examina
tions were also made of employees of a number of contracting painters
in the two cities and of workers in enameling plants in Mansfield and
Cleveland. In the air tests the findings as to air pollution were
correlated, as far as possible, with the condition of the employees as
shown by the clinical examination and the blood tests. The study
included 354 physical examinations and 349 blood tests of workers
in 29 plants, and 86 air tests were made for benzol, 27 for lead,
and 33 for silica.
‘ Labor Review, September, 1926, pp. 39-44,
3 idem, September, 1927, pp. 69-61.
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1 85]
86
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W ,
Constituents of Spray Paints
IN TH E spray painting of the interior of buildings, lead-free pre
pared paints are in quite general use. The solid ingredients of
these paints are lithopone, zinc oxide, titanium oxide pigments,
calcium carbonate, barium sulphate, china clay, and other siliceous
earth pigments; the liquid constituents are chiefly vegetable drying
oils such as linseed oil and chinawood oils; and the thinners are mineral
spirits (a high boiling point distillate from petroleum) and, to a very
limited extent, turpentine.
The pigments used for exterior painting where white and light
colors are desired _include, ordinarily, basic carbonate white lead,
basic sulphate white lead, zinc oxide, leaded zinc oxide, titanium
oxide, lithopone, china clay, and other siliceous earth pigments.
Colors used in tinting these white paints include Prussian blue,
chrome green, carbon black, chrome yellow, iron oxides, ocher,
sienna, etc., but these colors are usually in very minor proportions.
These^ paints are mainly solid pigments and liquid drying oils, and
there is usually not over 10 per cent by weight of volatile materials.
The thinners are in many cases entirely mineral spirits, although in
some cases there may be from 2 to 7 per cent of turpentine. In
painting freight cars, coal carriers, structural steel, etc., the paints are
usually made with carbon black or mineral earth pigments ground in
raw linseed oil or other oils. Lead is also used as a primer on struc
tural steel. The volatile part of these paints, consisting of straight
mineral spirits, averages from 10 to 20 per cent. No benzol or other
aromatic hydrocarbons are used.
Benzol was formerly in general use in nitrocellulose lacquers, but
its use has been given up by practically every manufacturer, and
toluol has been substituted for it. The solvents used in these lacquers
are amyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl propionate,
acetone, and ethyl and butyl alcohol. If ethyl alcohol is used, it is
denatured and may contain up to 5 per cent wood alcohol or 0.5 per
cent of benzol, although the finished lacquers probably never contain
as much as 1 per cent of wood alcohol. The amount of volatile
material ranges from 40 to 70 per cent. A great variety of pigments is
used in the nitrocellulose lacquers, and for some colors it is necessary
to use lead, compounds, of which there may be as much as 10 per
cent by weight. Materials such as tricresyl phosphate and dibutyl,
diamyl, ano_ diethyl phthalate are used as so-called plasticising
mediums. These substances have a very high boiling point and
therefore do not evaporate readily.
Benzol Poisoning
O N E hundred and sixty men emplojmd in spraying lacquer in
seven different automobile or automobile-body plants were
examined for evidences ,of benzol poisoning. In two of the plants
there was little or no benzol in the lacquer, in one the men had been
on strike and therefore were not subjected to recent exposure, in
another the composition of the lacquer varied, and in 'the three
remaining there was 1.5, 5, and 9 per cent of benzol present, respec
tively. The booths or tunnels where the spraying was done were
fitted with local exhaust systems, but the average air velocities were
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[ 86 ]
. H AZARD S
OF
SPRA Y
C O A T IN G
87
low in all but one plant, the average for the six being* 45 to 73 linear
feet per minute, while in the seventh plant the average was 147 feet
per minute. The amount of benzol in the air from tests made in five
plants ranged from 375 to 1,880 parts of benzol per million parts of
air. In the four high-exposure plants the number of subjective com
plaints among the men (especially constipation, dizziness, and dyspnea)
were more than twice as many as in the plants in which there was
slight or no exposure to benzol, and the proportions of these com
plaints showed a general increase with length of service. A low
white blood cell count is the earliest index of chronic benzol poisoning,
and 19 of the 91 men examined in the high-exposure plants showed a
disturbed blood picture, while only 1 in the low-exposure plants was
below the standard. Combining the blood picture with the subjec
tive symptoms of the individual workers, it appears that only 1 of
the 69 examined in the low-exposure plants had symptoms suggestive
of benzol poisoning, while 7 of the 91 men in the high-exposure plants
were affected, indicating, the committee considered, that the spraying
of benzol lacquers presents a real health hazard.
Lead Poisoning
C XA M IN A TIO N S were made of 170 men for evidence of lead poisoning. Those examined included 97 working in six automobile
or automobile-body plants spraying paints and undercoats, 38 house
painters using the spray gun on inside or outside work, and 35 men
spraying vitreous enamel on castings. The amount of lead in paints
ranged from 10 to 19 per cent in spraying undercoats, less than 1 per
cent on inside work, 19 per cent on outside work, and from 0.4 to 20 per
cent in the vitreous enamel plants. With only one or two exceptions
the air velocities were low in the booths used for spraying these paints.
In several of the plants the amount of lead in the air was high, rang
ing in these places from 32 to 164 mg. per cubic meter of air. Chem
ical examination of feces for lead showed that 17 per cent of the group
of 65 painters were eliminating more than 0.03 mg. of lead per gram
of feces. Medical examination of the 170 workers exposed more or
less to the lead hazard showed that there was a large percentage of
suggestive symptoms such as digestive disturbances, loss of weight,
constipation, loss of appetite, and gastric pain, and 5 per cent showed
a lead line on the gums. Of the 170 men examined, 25, or 14 per cent,
showed a much lowered red blood cell count and 5, or 3 per cent, had
a total white count below the normal. Analysis of these findings by
length of service showed that the percentage oi men affected in
creased with an increase in the period of employment. Examination
of the blood of a group of 16 men working with vitreous enamels con
taining a large amount of lead showed that 7 of the 16 had a count of
over 100 stippled cells per 100,000 total cells. As a result of the
examinations and tests it was concluded that there was a distinct
lead-poisoning hazard in spray coating as at present conauctecl in tne
industrial plants studied.
Silicosis as a Spray-Coating Hazard
'•jPKE group studied for this hazard included 35 workers spraying
vitreous enamel on castings and 26 workers spraying enamel on
sheet metal. There were 2 women in the first group and 19 in the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 7 ]
88
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
second. The enamel used on the castings contained from 0.4 to 20
per cent soluble lead and from 21 to 37 per cent silica, while that
used on sheet metal contained practically no lead but had from 43
to 47 per cent of silica.
Dust counts at the working face of these spray booths gave average
counts ranging from 5,000,000 to 24,000,000 particles per cubic foot
when exhaust velocity was between 123 and 130 linear feet per minute,
while in a plant with an air velocity of 212 linear feet per minute there
was an average dust count of only 400,000 particles per cubic foot.
The physical complaints were more numerous among both the men
and women spraying vitreous enamels than among the other groups,
and included dizziness, loss of weight, and difficult breathing. Radio
graphs were taken of a number of these workers, and of nine who had
been employed for more than three years two were diagnosed as cases
of silicosis and one as probable silicosis.
Measures of Protection
'T H E measures advocated in the report for the protection of workers
employed in spray coating include exhaust ventilation of sufficient
velocity to remove the dangerous fumes or dust, the use of masks or
respirators for indoor spraying without a booth or equivalent ventila
tion, and systematic medical examination for the detection of early
symptoms of poisoning or silicosis.
Although no study was made of fire and possible explosion hazards,
it is pointed out that these hazards can be eliminated by proper storage
and handling of materials, properly designed and located noncom
bustible ^spray booths, safeguarding of electrical hazards and the
elimination of open fires, and, most important of all, adequate ventila
tion and good housekeeping.
The following conclusions were reached as a result of the study:
II is s a fe in in d o o r w o rk t o s p r a y m a t e r ia l s c o n ta in in g a p p r e c ia b le a m o u n t s of
le a d (o v e r 2 p e r c e n t ) , b e n z o l (o v e r 1 p e r c e n t ) , o r of fr e e s ilic a w h e n t h e w o r k e r
is p r o te c te d in o n e of t h e tw o fo llo w in g w a y s :
(a ) B y lo c a l v e n tila tio n p ro d u c in g a n e x h a u s t o f 2 0 0 lin e a r f e e t p e r m in u te in
t h e b r e a th in g zo n e of th e w o rk e r.
T h is s t a n d a r d is n o t b a s e d o n su fficie n t
e v id e n c e t o w a r r a n t i ts f o r m u la t i o n _ a s a le g a l r e q u ir e m e n t a n d s u b s e q u e n t
s t u d y m a y sh o w t h a t a lo w e r v e lo c i t y m a y su ffice w ith im p r o v e d o p e r a tin g
co n d itio n s .
(b ) B y a n e fficie n t m a s k o r r e s p i r a t o r of t h e p o s itiv e -p r e s s u r e t y p e .
I n th e c a s e of a ll t h e th r e e h a z a r d s c o n s id e re d t h e r e m a y o fte n b e a f a r s im p le r
w a y o u t o f t h e d iffic u lty — t o e lim in a te t h e s u b s ta n c e s in q u e s tio n f r o m th e
m a te r ia ls u se d fo r s p r a y c o a tin g .
I re e s ilica .
T h e p o s s ib ility o f c o n tr o llin g th e h a z a r d o f silico sis in v itr e o u s
e n a m e lin g b y t h e u se o f a p r o p e r ly b a la n c e d a n d c o m p le te ly f r i t t e d m i x t u r e fre e
f r o m a ll so lu b le le a d o r f r e e s ilic a in s u b s t a n t i a l p r o p o r tio n s h o u ld b e g iv e n
c a r e fu l s tu d y .
&
B e n z o l.
In th e c a s e o f b e n z o l t h e c o n c lu s io n s e e m s c l e a r t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e of
th is s u b s ta n c e in s p r a y p a in ts is e n tir e ly u n n e c e s s a r y .
W e h a v e o u r s e lv e s n o te d
tw o p la n ts u sin g la c q u e r m a te r ia ls c o n ta in in g l ittle o r n o b e n z o l a n d e n tir e ly
a v o id in g a n y s u sp icio n of b e n z o l p o iso n in g .
T h a t r e l a t iv e l y p u r e m a t e r ia l s c a n
be o b ta in e d is in d ic a te d b y th e f a c t t h a t tw o s a m p le s of p u r e to lu o l o b ta in e d o n
t h e o p en m a r k e t a c tu a lly p ro v e d t o b e p r a c t ic a ll y fre e fr o m b e n z o l.
As a m a tte r
of f a c t , w e h a v e b e e n in fo rm e d t h a t m a n y la c q u e r m a n u f a c t u r e r s h a v e se e n th e
w isd o m o f d is c o n tin u in g th e u se of b e n z o l a n d o f r e p la c in g i t w ith n o n p o is o n o u s
to lu o l a s t h e h y d r o c a r b o n t h in n e r f o r n itro c e llu lo s e la c q u e r s .
Lead, i n in t e r io r s p ra y p a in t s .— I n so f a r a s t h e s p r a y in g o f i n t e r i o r s u rf a c e s
w ith p a in ts is c o n c e r n e d , i t w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t t h e r e is n o n e c e s s ity f o r u sin g
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[ 88 ]
CARBON-MONOXIDE HAZARD IN COMMERCIAL GARAGES
89
le a d -b a s e s p r a y p a in ts f o r s u c h p u r p o s e s , a s o th e r m a t e r ia l s a r e a v a il a b le w h ic h
a r e e n ti r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y in w h ite a n d m a n y l ig h t t i n t s .
I n b o o t h s p r a y in g of
a u to m o b ile s a n d s im ila r f a b r i c a t e d a r t i c le s , le a d -b a s e p a in ts c o u ld b e e lim in a te d
in m a n y i n s t a n c e s b u t n o t e n tir e ly in a u to m o b ile p r im e r s c o n ta i n i n g a m o d e r a t e
p e r c e n ta g e o f le a d , o r o f c e r t a i n a u to m o b ile c h r o m a t e c o lo r s f o r w h ic h s a t is
f a c t o r y s u b s t i tu te s a r e n o t y e t a v a ila b le .
I t is s u g g e s te d t h a t m a n u f a c t u r e r s
e x p e r im e n t t o fin d s u ita b le co loi’s t o r e p la c e t h e le a d p ig m e n ts u se d in a u to m o b ile
u n d e r c o a ts .
F i n a l c o n c lu s io n .— W e w o u ld t h e n u rg e a s o u r m o s t i m p o r t a n t a n d f u n d a
m e n t a l r e c o m m e n d a tio n t h a t m a n u f a c t u r e r s o f p a in ts , l a c q u e r s , s h e lla c s , v a r
n ish e s, a n d v itr e o u s e n a m e ls t o b e u s e d in s p r a y c o a t in g s h o u ld s o f a r a s p o s sib le
e lim in a te b e n z o l, le a d , a n d f r e e s ilic a f r o m t h e i r p r o d u c t s a n d w h e r e t h i s h a s
b een d o n e sh o u ld c l e a r l y la b e l s u c h p r o d u c t s a s c o n ta in in g le ss t h a n a c e r ta i n
m a x i m u m a m o u n t o f le a d o r b e n z o l o r f r e e s ilic a a s t h e e a s e m a y b e , a n d t h a t
e m p lo y e r s u s in g t h e s p r a y g u n f o r in d o o r a n d b o o th w o r k s h o u ld so f a r a s p o s
sib le in s is t o n o b ta in in g a n d u sin g o n ly m a t e r ia l s so la b e le d .
Carbon-Monoxide Hazard in Commercial Garages and Auto
mobile Repair Shops1
T
H E Bureau of Industrial Hygiene of the New York Department
of Labor has recently completed tests in 71 commercial garages
and repair shops to determine the extent of the carbonmonoxide hazard in these work places. The study was made because
of the fact that the danger of carbon-monoxide poisoning in any
inclosed, ill-ventilated space into which the exhaust gases from
internal-combustion engines are being discharged demands attention
both in the designing of new buildings and in the correction of
ventilation defects in old buildings.
Although there is fairly general recognition among persons in
charge of such shops or workrooms that many deaths occur each
year through inhaling high concentrations of carbon monoxide in
motor exhaust gases and that lower concentrations of the gas are
the cause of much ill health, the extent of the exposure is not so well
known.
Experiments on the physiological effects of carbon monoxide have
shown the concentrations which can ordinarily be tolerated. For a
duration of exposure of one hour or less it is believed that as much
asffour parts of carbon monoxide per 10,000 parts of air will not have
any ill effect, while in case of exposure to the gas during a whole
working day it is recommended that the amount of carbon monoxide
should not exceed one part per 10,000 parts of air, and if there is
any special susceptibility to the gas on the part of the persons exposed
it should be limited to one-half part per 10,000.
The Sayers-Yant method of determining the degrees of concen
tration of carbon monoxide was selected for the tests, as it was con
sidered to offer the best combination of sensitivity, portability, and
time economy. The test depends upon the persistence of the red
color of carbon-monoxide hemoglobin in the presence of a bleaching
reagent which destroys the normal color of blood. In making the
test the carbon monoxide in a known quantity of air is absorbed in
a measured amount of blood. The excess hemoglobin is bleached by
a mixture of tannic acid and pyrogallic acid, the bright red color of
the carbon-monoxide hemoglobin remaining unchanged by the acid.
1 New York. Department of Labor.
November, 1927.
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The percentage saturation of the blood can then be determined bycomparison with a set of standard blood colors and from that the
concentration of carbon monoxide in the original air sample is cal
culated. The samples of air were obtained in bottles which were
first completely filled with water and then emptied at the point where
the air sample was wanted, the bottle filling with air as the water
flowed out.
In the study 121 carbon-monoxide tests were made in 71 storage
rooms and workrooms in which there was thought to be more or less
carbon-monoxide contamination. An average of 0.9 parts per 10,000,
or less than 1 part per 10,000, was shown for all the tests combined,
while the average for repair shops was 1.1 parts per 10,000; for
rooms in which small repairs were made incidental to the storage of
automobiles, 0.6 part; and in commercial garages storing five or
more cars the average was 0.9 part per 10,000.
In spite of the fact that the average for all the tests was about the
maximum that should be tolerated in a room in which there is an
8-hour exposure to the gas, the amounts in several places were con
siderably in excess of the maximum, being as high in some cases as
3 or 4 parts of carbon monoxide per 10,000 parts of air. Twentyseven, or 38 per cent, of the 71 workrooms had an average concen
tration of the gas of 1.5 parts per 10,000. The amount of exhaust
smoke visible and the odor on entering the room gave a rough idea
of the presence of the gas, as in nearly every case where there was an
excess of the carbon monoxide the smoke and a strong odor w'ere
distinctly noticeable.
Sixty-five of the shops had no mechanical ventilation, 5 had small
propeller fans installed in windows, and only 1 had an exhaust sys
tem. A few shops were equipped with flexible pipes which were
slipped over the end of the exhaust pipe when a motor was running
to carry the noxious gases outside the building. This system is
effective in repair shops, but would not be effective in commercial
garages where most of the gas comes from cars in motion.
In the 24 automobile repair shops all but 7 reported that the men
suffered from gas headaches; 4 reported that much time was lost by
the men owing to the effect of the gas, while the same number stated
that some time was lost from this cause.
Hygienic Conditions in Peruvian Mines 1
T
HE Peruvian Director of Public Health received a report relative
to the working conditions in the Cerro de Pasco Mines in
Peru from its medical officer, Dr. E. Portal.
The report states that due to the underground work in mines the
workers’ health suffers to such an extent that after a certain time
death frequently results. The workers who are most affected are
those using boring apparatus for>eight hours a day, because they
absorb dust impregnated with mineral substances and particles of
machine oil. Poisonous_ gases emitted from dynamite blastings
also cause chronic poisoning. Pneumonoconiosis affects the respira
tory organs, the kidneys, the liver, causing it to become seriously
i International Labor Office.
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Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, Sept. 19, 1927, p. 366.
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congested, and the arterial system, causing cardiac, valvular, and
myocardiac disorders. In addition, symptoms of general infection
and chronic poisoning have also been observed.
These conditions persist in spite of the efforts of the mining authori
ties to combat the harmful effects of the work by installing modern
ventilating machinery in the shafts and providing the miners with
masks against poisonous gases.
The medical officer in his report suggests the following measures
to be adopted by the mining authorities in their fight against this
health hazard: The selection of only those in perfect health and
possessing the necessary physical fitness for mining work; the
introduction of a system of alternation of surface and underground
work; the adoption of strict measures to isolate sick workers; the
renewal of employment contracts for not over eight years; and the
renewal of employment contracts for workers using boring apparatus
only after an official medical examination.
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 2 8 ------ 7
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND
SOCIAL INSURANCE
Recent Workmen’s Compensation Reports
Haw aii
H E Industrial Accident Board of the City and County of Hono
lulu in its twelfth annual report, for the year ending June 30,
1927, reports 5,348 accidents for the calendar year 1926. This
is an increase of 837 over the preceding year. Twenty-nine nation
alities were represented, 1,590 of the injured being Japanese, 1,094
Filipinos, 862 Portuguese, 446 Hawaiians, and 407 Americans, the
others following in smaller groups. Of the persons involved, 5,279
were males and 69 females; 2,871 were married and 2,477 were single.
Accidents causing total disability for work (not succeeded by a
permanent partial disability) of less than one day numbered 3,381,
those lasting from one day to one week 768, and those for more than
one week 1,074. Total disability was succeeded by permanent partial
disability in 103 cases, and 22 cases were fatal. Payments for total
disability in the 103 cases that were succeeded by permanent partial
disability aggregated $64,951, while the medical and hospital expense
of $15,641 brought the total benefits for these cases up to $80,592.
The 22 fatal cases called for $36,265 in compensation, $1,480 funeral
expenses, and $366 medical and hospital expense, a total of $38,111.
Compensation in the sum of $38,655 was paid on account of the
5,223 other cases, and medical and hospital expenses for this group
amounted to $71,558, making the total benefits paid for this class
$110,213. The total benefits under the law for the year were $228,916.
The figures here given showing the cost of medical, surgical, and
hospital aid do not include the amounts expended for these items by a
majority of the sugar and pineapple plantations, and canneries, for
the reason that they maintain their own medical staff and hospitals
for the care of their employees and do not report to the board the
cost of such service.
T
N evada
'T H E Industrial Commission of Nevada presents in its biennial
1 report for the period July 1 , 1924, to June 30, 1926, current data
as well as a summary of the experience for the 13 years covered by
the compensation act.
The number of contributors to the State fund for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1926, was 1,233, as against 1,027 for the preceding
fiscal year. The number of full-time workers in the later period was
12,431, and in the earlier period 12,852. In 1924-25 the pay-roll
exposure was $22,351,451, as against $21,810,967 in 1925-26. Pre
mium payments totaled $354,368 in 1924-25 and $335,832 in 1925-26.
The total amount of compensation cost in 1924-25 was $317,475,
as against $312,999 in 1925-26. The average cost of compensated
92
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REPO RTS— TEN N ESSEE
93
cases was $265.45 for 1,196 cases in 1924-25, amounting to $1.42
per $100 of pay roll; in 1925-26, 2,523 cases cost an average of
$124.05 per case, or $1.43 per $100 of pay roll.
Contributors are grouped into seven classes, one being made up of
a single corporation. The data for 1925-26 show mining, with 338
contributors and 3,123 full-time workers; ore reduction, with 67
contributors and 493 full-time workers; Nevada Consolidated Copper
Co., with two branches, copper mining and milling and smelting,
and 2,534 employees; railroads, eight in number, with 328 employees;
utilities numbering 24, with 360 employees; State and municipal
undertakings, as to which the law is compulsory, 95 in number, with
2,580 employees; and a miscellaneous class with 699 contributors and
3,013 employees. The largest number of compensated cases (1,186)
was in class 1 (mining), the miscellaneous group coming next with
604 compensated cases, and the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co.
following with 442. The highest average cost per case was in rail
road operation, $209.95 in 17 cases, ore reduction following with an
average of $201.84 in 34 cases.
A table showing the frequency of accidents by classes and extent
of disability discloses the fact that mining had the greatest number of
accidents in 1925-26, 373 per 1,000 full-time workers, or 19.47 acci
dents per $100,000 of pay roll. Of the 1,166 accidents in this class
during the year, 16 were fatal or resulted in permanent total disability,
51 caused permanent partial disability, and 634 caused temporary
total disability in excess of 7 days; 465 were reported showing disa
bility of less than 7 days. The Nevada Consolidated Copper Co.
reported 170 accidents per 1,000 full-time workers, or 9.90 per
$100,000 of pay roll, while ore reduction had 98 accidents per 1,000
full-time workers, or 5.32 per $100,000 of pay roll. The other classes
had from 37 to 94 accidents per 1,000 full-time workers in 1925-26.
Of the 34 persons killed in industrial accidents in 1924-25, 29 left
dependents, the compensation cost being $138,557; and of the 27
killed in 1925-26, 22 left dependents, the cost in these cases being
$118,178.
T en n essee
'“TH E Tennessee workmen’s compensation law, being administered
through the courts of the State, limits the authority of the
State division of workmen’s compensation to an advisory capacity
to interested parties. The division is authorized to receive reports of
all accidents and copies of all final settlements. These accident
reports, when received, are studied, and injured employees are advised
in a form letter of their compensation rate and other essential features
of the law in order to aid them in making an adjustment of their
claim. Settlements made with injured employees must be approved
by the courts before being legal, but it is said that a check of the
records of the division will show that less than 5 per cent of them are
so approved, thus indicating that over 95 per cent of the settlements
are made directly by the insurance adjuster.
The current report of the division of workmen’s compensation,
included in the fourth annual report of the Tennessee Department of
Labor, covers the calendar year 1926, during which 31 different
claims in which final settlements had been made were reopened and
additional payment secured ranging from $27 to $1,231, or $8,146 in
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all. This compares with 51 cases reopened and the payment of
$10,224 additional compensation in 1925.
During the calendar year certificates were issued to 5,542 employers
showing compliance with the law as to taking out insurance. Of this
number, 180, employing approximately 50,000 persons, were operating
as self-insurers, as against 132 self-insurers in 1925.
A total of 23,812 original accident reports were received during the
year; 7,874 called for compensation, 169 of which were fatal cases.
Of this last class, settlements and memoranda of agreements were
received in 113 cases, with total awards amounting to $385,009, or an
average of $3,407 per case. In the 113 cases there were 325 depend
ents, or an average of 2.9 per case. An explosion in the coal mines
of the Roane Iron Co., at Rockwood, Tenn., resulted in 27 of the
fatal cases, leaving 21 widows and 67 actual dependents.
Tables showing the number of cases and the amount of compensa
tion paid therefor during the calendar year, and others giving the num
ber of accidents classed by industry and cause, and by industry and
nature of injury, conclude the very interesting tabular presentation.
Texas
biennial report of the Industrial Accident Board of Texas for
the period September 1 , 1924, to August 31, 1926, has one table
giving total figures for the period. The number of subscribers to
the act for the first of the two fiscal years was 14,785, and for the
second, 16,141. The number of employees under the act the first
year was 548,130, and for the second, 639,999. Accidents reported
for the first year numbered 91,422, and for the second year, 98,321.
There was a decrease in the number of fatal accidents shown from
357 the first year to 343 the second, while compensation claims
increased from 24,261 to 26,732. The total sum paid for all pur
poses the first year was $3,444,757 and the second year, $5,215,469.
Some comparative data for 1917 are shown to illustrate the growth
of the work of this department. During that year there were
6,481 reported subscribers to the act; the claims filed totaled 10,863
and the total expenditures were $606,848.
The board stated that its experience with the subject matter of
the law arid the knowledge gained in “ actually handling the multi
tudinous claims coming before it which involve seemingly every
angle of construction that could be placed upon the a c t” has convinced
it that some changes could be made in the law that would operate
to the best interests of the general public. I t did not, however, go
into a general discussion of such changes, because it was deemed
“ inappropriate at this tim e,” but pointed out that in the 13 years
during which the law has actually been in operation there have
been so many changes in the degree of hazards that “ the law should
be so amended as to keep abreast with the march of our present-day
civilization. ”
V erm o n t
T H E Commissioner of Industries of the State of Vermont has charge
1 of the administration of a number of the labor laws of the
State, among them that relating to workmen’s compensation. His
biennial report covers the two years ending June 30, 1926.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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S O C IA L
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95
Injuries for the year ending* June 30, 1925, numbered 9,414 nonfatal and 30 fatal, of which 3,017 were lost-time accidents with a
total of 60,204 days lost. For the year ending June 30, 1926, there
were 9,581 nonfatal and 37 fatal accidents, an increase over the
preceding* year. Of these, 3,939 were lost-time accidents with a
total of 331,984 days lost.
The amount expended for medical aid during the biennium was
$222,205, and compensation payments amounted to $633,936.
Settlements approved by the commission disposed of the great
majority of cases. In only 78 cases was a formal hearing necessary,
while approval of agreements was given in 4,646 cases; settlements
were approved or passed and filed in 4,684, and 19,145 cases, in
cluding those which were noncompensable and involved only the
payment of medical fees, were closed. Appeals were taken to the
county courts in 12 cases and to the supreme court of the State in 4.
Several of the county court cases and at least one of the supreme
court cases were not tried but were settled after appeal was per
fected on the basis of the decision rendered.
- The commissioner points out that the number of accidents, both
fatal and nonfatal, increased during the past year over that of the
preceding year, and states that in his opinion the State could make
no better investment than a separate appropriation of from $5,000
to $10,000 for the promotion of industrial safety under the direction
of a trained safety engineer.
Pension Fund for Port Workers in Brazil1
T
HE July 3, 1927, issue of the Diario Oficial of Brazil contains the
text of a decree (No. 5109) which became effective October 1,
1927, requiring companies operating ports, whether privately
or for the Federal, State, or city governments, to establish pension
funds for all their workers who have served continuously for more
than 150 days and who are considered as permanent employees.
The fund is to be formed by contributions from workers and em
ployers, amounting in the former case to 3 per cent of their wages
and in the latter case to 1^2 Per cent of the gross receipts. The
following members of an employee’s family may be beneficiaries under
the law: Invalid husband, wife, legitimate, legally recognized, or
adopted children under 16 years of age, unmarried daughters, invalid
parents, unmarried and minor sisters, and brothers under 16 years
of age.
Position of Social insurance in G erm any2
R
EC EN T reports of the German Central Insurance Office 3 give
information as to the general situation of German social
insurance.
1 Report from Consul General Claude Dawson, at Rio de Janeiro, dated July 15,1927.
2 Reprinted from International Labor Office, International Labor Review, November, 1927, pp. 693-698.
The recently established unemployment insurance system is not included in this survey. (See Monthly
Labor Review, October, 1927, p. 67.)
3 Cf. Amtliche Nachrichtungen des Reichsversicherungsamtes, February, 1926.
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Sickness Insurance
Insured Persons
T N iE total number of persons insured under the Social Insurance
*
Code was about 20,000,000 in 1925, composed exclusively of eco
nomically dependent persons. Since 1914 the number insured had
increased by more than 3,000,000, in consequence of the growth of
the working population and the reduction in the number of economi
cally independent persons.
The proportion of the population insured rose from 25 per cent in
1914 to 32 per cent in 1925. As the great majority of the funds
grant medical aid not only to the insured but also to members of their
families, sickness insurance at present provides medical care for about
half the whole population.
Sickness Funds
In addition to the local funds and rural funds working on a terri
torial basis, there are also trade funds, establishment funds, and
guild funds. There were more than 5,000 trade funds, while there
were only 2,600 territorial funds; the latter, however, had the largest
number of members. The membership of the local funds increased
from 9,700,000 in 1914 to 12,300,000 in 1925, the increase being
partly due to the rule that unemployed wage earners must become
members of their local fund. The mutual funds, which act as sub
stitute funds, were 40 in number, as against 67 in 1914, but their
membership, which is mainly drawn from commercial and industrial
employees, had risen from 400,000 in 1914 to a million in 1925
Morbidity
The morbidity, as recorded by the sickness funds, showed a tend
ency to increase. The average number of days’ sickness per insured
person was 10.8 in 1924 and 12.5 in 1925, as against 8.7 in 1913 and
6.8 in 1900. The morbidity figures are obviously influenced by eco
nomic conditions. There was a slight reduction in the average
length of each case of sickness, from 25.1 days in 1924 to 24.3 days in
1925.
On an average, in industry, one worker in two becomes ill and
incapable of earning once a year and for 24 days, while in agriculture
only one worker in three becomes incapable of earning once a year and
for 23 days.
In 1925 the funds paid maternity benefit in 825,000 cases, or twothirds of the total number of births during the year.
Receipts
The net receipts of the sickness funds amounted to 1,260,000,000
marks,4 or 30 per cent more than in 1924 and more than double the
amount in 1914. Ninety-eight per cent of this sum consisted of con
tributions of insured persons and employers.
Adding to the net receipts the subsidy of the Reich to maternity
insurance, amounting to 20,000,000 marks, and taking account of the
net receipts of 93,000,000 marks of the miners’ sickness funds and of
75,000,000 of the mutual funds, we reach a grand total of 1,450,000,000
marks for the receipts of sickness insurance in 1925.
4 Gold mark=23.8 cents.
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Expenditure
In 1925 the total expenditure of the sickness funds showed an
increase of 37 per cent on the preceding year. Benefits in kind were
of increasing importance. In 1885, cash benefits were 116 per cent
of benefits in kind; in 1914 the proportion w~as only 76 per cent and
in 1924 it was 66 per cent. In 1925, however, there was a perceptible
increase in cash benefits, which amounted to 77 per cent of benefits
in kind.
Complete reconstitution of the contingencies funds of the sickness
funds had not yet been possible. These amounted to 105,000,000
marks at the end of 1925, as against 63,600,000 at the end of 1924
and 306,000,000 at the end of 1914.
In 1925, administrative expenses were 6.8 per cent of the total
expenditure, as against 9.4 per cent in 1914.
Accident Insurance
T H E system of cost-of-living bonuses was dropped in 1925, and
pensions are again determined by the wage at the date of the
accident.
Insured Persons
The number of wage earners in industry and commerce insured
against industrial accidents was 10,800,000, distributed over 840,000
undertakings, or an increase of about 2 per cent since 1913, in spite of
the reduction of German territory. The number of insured workers in
the 4,600,000 agricultural undertakings was 14,200,000. If account
is taken of persons employed by the State and the communes, who
are also compulsorily insured, the total number of insured persons*
amounts to 26,000,000; about 3,000,000 of these, however, are
counted twice over, as they are employed part of the time in industry
and part of the time in agriculture.
The sum total of wages covered by insurance amounted to
11.500.000. 000 marks in 1913 and 16,700,000,000 in 1925, or an
increase of 45 per cent. The average wage per insured person work
ing 300 days a year was 1,719 marks, as against 1,215 marks in 1913.
Insurance Institutions
Accident insurance was undertaken by 66 industrial and 45 agri
cultural associations; State and communal undertakings which act
as their own insurer were 500 in number.
Accidents
The number of accidents for which compensation was paid for the
first time was 107,000 in 1925, or 27 per cent more than in 1924.
The total number of accidents compensated in 1925 was about
800.000, including 420,000 in industrial and 329,000 in agricultural
insurance. Compared with 1913, there was a reduction of about
one-fifth, which was largely due to the reduction of German territory.
Resources
The resources of accident insurance are almost solely composed of
employers’ contributions. The premiums fixed for 1925 amounted
to 260,000,000 marks, including 205,000,000 for the industrial asso
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ciations. The contributions are used solely for covering benefits
and administrative expenses.
In 1925 the contingencies funds amounted to 24,000,000 marks,
22,600,000 of which belonged to the trade associations. The increase
in the reserves as compared with the preceding year was only 8,000,000.
Expenditure
The expenditure on pensions to victims of accidents and their
surviving relatives was 179,000,000 in 1925, or almost the same as in
1913. It should, however, be pointed out that while pensions were
increased during 1925, the full effect of the increase was not felt
during that year.
According to a provisional estimate, the total expenditure on
benefits in cash and in kind amounted to 260,000,000 marks in 1926.
To this must be added the expenditure on the prevention of accidents,
which brings the total expenditure up to 306,000,000 marks.
Workers’ Insurance Against Invalidity, Old Age, and Death
Insured Persons
rP H E number of persons insured during 1925 and 1926 was
A 17,500,000; 16,500,000 of these were compulsorily insured;
This is merely an estimate based on the weekly contributions paid—
reckoned at 40 weekly contributions per head per year— and does not
allow sufficiently for the changing situation of the labor market.
Insurance Institutions
Invalidity insurance for workers is undertaken by 29 territorial
institutions. There are also 6 insurance institutions for special
occupations—namely, 4 funds for railway staff, 1 for miners, and 1
for seamen.
Current Pensions
The number of persons in receipt of a pension has tripled since
1913. During the war there was a great increase in the number of
widows’ and orphans’ pensions, and after the war a not less marked
increase in the number of invalidity pensions. The following
figures show the number of disabled workers in receipt of pensions:
1913, 1,100,000; 1918, 1,234,000; 1923, 1,409,000; 1926, 1,762,000. ^
The increase in the last few years in the number of persons in
receipt of a pension seems to be primarily due to the increase in the
real value of the pensions.
The period of stability is still far from being reached. In 1925
the excess of new pensions was 190,000, including 142,000 invalidity
pensions.
Receipts
Contributions amounted to 550,000,000 marks in 1925, as against
363,000,000 in 1924 and 290,000,000 in 1913. The average weekly
contribution was 35.6 pfennigs in 1913, 57.9 in 1924, and 65.7 in 1925.
Allowing for the increase in contributions since 1925, it may be esti
mated that the average weekly contribution is now about 90 pfennigs.
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The other receipts of the insurance institutions, apart from the
subsidies of the Reich, are insignificant. The inflation all but wiped
out their actuarial reserves, especially what was invested in securities
and loans. At the end of 1913 the accumulated funds of the insur
ance institutions amounted to about 2,000,000,000 marks. Accord
ing to the valuation made at the beginning of 1924, which took
account of the various laws on revalorization, the accumulated funds
were then estimated at 125,000,000 marks, or 6.3 percent of the pre
war figure. In 1913 the insurance institutions had at their disposal
interest on capital amounting to 65,000,000 marks; now, on the con
trary, they are obliged to cover all their expenditure by current
receipts.
At the end of 1925 there was an effective surplus of 101,000,000
marks. The liquid assets of the funds amounted to 130,000,000
marks in 1925 (as against 31,000,000 in 1913), investments in securi
ties and loans to 222,000,000 (1,970,000,000 in 1913), value of prem
ises to 111.000,000 (97,000,000 in 1913), and furniture and equipment
to 12,000,000(8,000,000 in 1913).
Pensions
Since the period of stability was not yet reached, and since, further,
pensions had been considerably improved in the last few years, the
total expenditure on pensions increased from 188,000,000 marks in
1913 to 348,000,000 in 1924 and to 711,000,000 in 1926.
The basic invalidity pension was 168 marks; to this was added the
Reich subsidy of 73 marks, a supplement of 90 marks for each child
under 18, and an increase of 20 per cent for contributions paid later
than January 1, 1924.
The widow’s pension was six-tenths and the orphan’s five-tenths
of the basic pension plus the 20 per cent increase; the Reich subsidy
was 72 marks for a widow’s and 36 marks for an orphan’s pension.
If the pension for a disabled worker who has paid 1,500 weekly
contributions is calculated it is found that for 1925 the maximum
pension was 390 and the minimum 240 marks, as against 330 and 155
marks in 1913; the reduction of purchasing power in 1925, as com
pared. with the pre-war period, must, however, be taken into account.
The cost of pensions, apart from the Reich subsidy, has to be dis
tributed over all the insurance institutions in proportion to the con
tributions received by them during the year; it follows that the cost
to any particular institution is independent of the value of the pen
sions granted by it during the year.
Benefits in Kind
In their early days the insurance institutions stopped short at the
granting of pensions, but even before the war they had begun to
organize preventive measures so as to reduce the burden of pensions.
At the end of 1925 they had 98 hospitals, convalescent homes, etc.,
with 13,000 beds, including 51 sanatoriums for the tuberculous. Over
84,000 insured persons were treated, in these institutions during 1925.
The total expenditure on medical treatment was 39,000,000 marks.
On general preventive measures and the campaign for the improve
ment of the general health, the insurance institutions spent 7,000,000
marks, or twice as much as in 1924.
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M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
Salaried Employees’ Insurance
Insured Persons
'"THIS branch of insurance covered 2,800,000 persons in 1926, as
A against 1,500,000 in 1913. The increase was apparently due to
the removal of the minimum age limit and the extension of com
pulsory insurance to commercial apprentices and to clerks, and also
to the fact that the total number of employed persons had increased
by 3,500,000 as compared with the pre-war period.
Insurance Institutions
Employees’ insurance is undertaken by a central institution. The
employees in mining undertakings are the only group which has a
special trade fund.
Pensions
The number of disabled employees in receipt of a pension rose from
1,400 in 1920 to about 50,000 at the end of 1926; the corresponding
figures for survivors’ pensions were 11,500 and 36,000.
Receipts
The total receipts of employees’ insurance in 1926 were 287,000,000
marks, including 246,000,000 from contributions and 37,000,000 from
interest on capital. Since September 1, 1925, the average contribu
tion to employees’ insurance has been 5.3 per cent of earnings. The
Reich does not contribute to the cost of employees’ insurance.
The assets at December 31, 1925, included investments amounting
to 247,000,000 marks (137,000,000 in mortgages, 80,000,000 in loans,
and 30,000,000 in securities). The liabilities included the actuarial
reserve of 255,000,000 marks, a contingencies fund of 39,000,000,
and a special reserve of 29,000,000.
Pensions
In 1926 the expenditure on current pensions amounted to 4,700,000
marks a month (3,000,000 for invalidity pensions and 1,700,000 for
survivors’ pensions). The average monthly invalidity pension was
60 marks, the survivors’ pension 30 marks.
Benefits in Kind
In 1926 the Central Employees’ Insurance Institution dealt with
87,000 requests for medical treatment, about two-thirds of which
were declared admissible. The expenditure in 1926 on medical treat
ment amounted to about 16,000,000 marks, or nearly a third of the
expenditure on pensions.
Unemployment Insurance in Queensland
T
HE Queensland Government has recently issued a report made
by the Unemployment Council,1 dealing with its operations
under the unemployed workers’ insurance act of 1922, cover
ing the year ending June 30, 1927. The act established a fund to
1 Australia (Queensland). Department of Labor. Fourth annual report on operations under the unem
ployed workers’ insurance act of 1922. Brisbane, 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 100 ]
U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E
IN
101
Q U EEN SLA N D
which a payment of 9cL2 a week must be made for each employed
worker, with the Government, the employer, and the worker each
contributing 3d. A worker who has contributed to the fund for six
months or more has a right, if unemployed, to a weekly payment
known as a sustenance allowance, varying in amount according to
locality, and as between married and unmarried workers. This
allowance may not be drawn for more than 15 weeks in one year
and is payable only after a waiting period of 14 days, except in the
case of casual or intermittent work, in respect to which special
arrangements are made.
From early in 1926 drought conditions prevailed throughout a
large part of the State, leading, as its industries are largely agricul
tural and pastoral, to severe and widespread unemployment, and
consequently to unusually heavy demands upon the unemployment
fund. In December the sustenance payments reached £29,790,2 and
in succeeding months the claims increased until the peak was reached
in March, 1927, for which month the payments totaled £45,714.
T h e s e p a y m e n t s m a d e i t e v id e n t t h a t t h e t h e n r a t e o f c o n tr ib u t i o n s t o t h e
f u n d — v iz , 3 d . p e r w e e k e a c h b y w o r k e r s , e m p lo y e r s , a n d t h e S t a t e — w o u ld b e
in su ffic ie n t t o in s u re t h e s t a b i l it y o f t h e fu n d .
T h e c o u n c il t h e r e f o r e r e c o m
m e n d e d t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t t h a t t h e r a t e o f c o n tr ib u t i o n b e in c r e a s e d t o 4 d .
p e r w e e k , a n d e f f e c t w a s g iv e n t o th is r e c o m m e n d a tio n a s f r o m J u l y 1 , 1 9 2 7 .
During the year the receipts and expenditures of the fund were
as follows:
C o n tr ib u tio n s f r o m w o r k e r s ______________________
C o n tr ib u tio n s f r o m e m p lo y e r s ___________________
C o n tr ib u tio n s f r o m t h e S t a t e ____________________
S u n d r y r e c e i p t s ______________________________________
T o t a l _________
87, 47 4
87, 474
88, 270
304
7
7
9
13
7. 5
7. 5
1. 0
3. 0
263,
523
17 7 .0
340,
20,
933
025
1 8. 0
9 0. 0
Expenditures
S u s t e n a n c e p a y m e n t s ______________________________
A d m i n i s tr a t iv e a n d g e n e r a l e x p e n s e s -----------------
T o t a l __________________________________________ 3 6 0 , 9 5 8
D e f ic it f o r y e a r ______________________________________
97, 434
10
13
8. 0
1. 0
As compared with this deficit, the preceding year had shown a
credit balance of £8,676. A reserve had been built up from the
accumulated credit balances of former years, so that in spite of the
bad showing of 1926-27, the fund ended the year with a balance on
hand of £80,204, which it was hoped would soon be increased.
I t is a n ti c i p a t e d t h a t t h e e n su in g fin a n c ia l y e a r w ill w itn e s s a le ss h e a v y c a ll
o n t h e fu n d , a n d t h a t t h e in c r e a s e in t h e r a t e of c o n tr ib u tio n t o 4 d . p e r w eek
e a c h f o r w o r k e r , e m p lo y e r , a n d th e S t a t e w ill a llo w of a t l e a s t a s m a ll c r e d i t
b a la n c e o n t h e y e a r ’s o p e r a tio n s .
The act provides that if a worker becomes unemployed solely
through his own fault, he shall not be entitled to the sustenance
allowance for such a period, not exceeding two months, as the council
may decide. Under this provision the council has ruled that if a
worker leaves his employment voluntarily, payment of the sus
tenance allowance shall be deferred for a period varying according
2At par, pound =$4.8665, shilling=24.33 cents; exchange rate about par.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 101 ]
102
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
to the circumstances. In accordance with this decision, payments
were deferred during the year in the cases of 561 males and 217
females, a total of 778. The act also provides that if an unemployed
worker refuses work which he might reasonably be expected to
accept, payment of sustenance may be deferred for 30 daj^s, and
under this provision payments were deferred in the cases of 31 males
and 6 females.
During the year, 45,594 males and 3,386 females, a total of 48,980,
applied for sustenance payments. Of these applicants, 10,040 did
not draw any allowances, owing to the fact that their unemployment
did not last for more than 14 days at any one time. Laborers and
u nskilled workers generally predominated among the applicants. I t
is explained that owing to the adverse weather conditions many
small farmers, usually occupied with their own operations, were
driven to seek employment in the railways, in seasonal industries,
and with the local authorities, thus diminishing the amount of
employment normally available to the unskilled worker.
Classification of the applicants by the industries followed shows
that a limited number of industries is responsible for the greater
part of the unemployment throughout the State.
E x a m i n a t io n of t h e s t a t e m e n t s h o w s t h a t th e r e a r e 4 5 g ro u p s , a n d t h a t 7 3 .8
p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l s u s te n a n c e p a id w a s d ra w n b y 9 of th e s e g ro u p s .
P a r
tic u l a r s of th e s e a n d t h e a v e r a g e a m o u n t d ra w n p e r w o r k e r in e a c h g ro u p a r e
h e re q u o te d f o r e a s y r e f e r e n c e :
Average amount
Percentage of
drawn per
total sustenance
worker
23. 3
£6. 9
S u g a r ._
__________________________________
R a i lw a y s : C o n s tr u c t i o n a n d m a i n te
n an ce __ __
_ --------- — _ _ _ _____
9. 1
6. 4
W a t e r s i d e w o r k e r s . ___ _________ ________
8. 7
7. 5
P a s to ra l
_
_ —
_ _ _ _ _
7. 7
5. 5
M e a t e x p o rts
___ ___________________ __
7. 6
9. 7
L o c a l a u th o r i ti e s a n d m a in r o a d s c o m
m issio n .
_
___
___
--------5. 7
6. 6
B u ild in g
__
_
___
4. 8
5. 7
S h e a r in g .
__
_
3. 8
6. 8
M e ta lif e r o u s m in in g
3. 1
7. 2
I t w ill b e n o te d t h a t w o r k e r s in t h e s u g a r i n d u s t r y d re w a l m o s t o n e -f o u r th
o f t h e t o t a l s u s te n a n c e , w h ile 5 6 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l w a s d is tr ib u te d in t h e fir s t
fiv e g ro u p s .
N e v e r th e le s s , t h e a v e r a g e a m o u n t d r a w n p e r w o r k e r in e a c h g ro u p
is lo w , a n d s h o w s c o n c lu s iv e ly t h a t t h e a v e r a g e w o r k e r d o e s n o t r e m a in u n e m
p lo y e d a n y lo n g e r t h a n h e c a n h e lp .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 102]
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Progress in Industrial Education, 1924-19261
ROM 1924 to 1926 greater activity was evidenced in the study
of problems involved in manual-arts work and industrial forms
of education than in any previous biennium. The conclusion
is based upon a survey made by the United States Bureau of Educa
tion of various sources of information, including educational literature,
study courses, both in public schools and teacher-training institu
tions, educational convention programs, conference reports, and
special reports from numerous school systems.
The record of progress made along the lines of industrial education
for the period 1924 to 1926 is given in brief below:
1.
The number of shop courses in elementary and high schools
increased.
2.
There was a notable tendency to offer compulsory industrialarts courses in the seventh and eighth grades.
3.
The tendency to discriminate more definitely between courses
in manual arts and vocational courses increased and also the recog
nition of the former as a part of the program of general education
and of the latter as a special form of education.
4.
The number of schools offering some form of part-time and
apprenticeship work showed a marked advance and also the number
of such courses and the number of enrolled students.
5.
The number of schools offering an occupational information
course and establishing some sort of guidance machinery greatly
increased.
6.
The time of the school program devoted to manual-arts work
was extended.
7.
The enrollment in the various types of industrial and manualarts courses expanded.
8. Greater use was made of visual aids in instruction.
9.
Shop work on the itinerant-teacher basis developed and there
was an extension of shop courses to pupils in villages and rural
communities.
10.
General shop courses as a form of shop organization for indus
trial objectives showed a rapid growth; especially was this the case
for the required courses in the grades of the junior high school.
11.
Occasional efforts were made with a view to reorganizing
teacher-training work in teacher-training institutions to meet the
particular needs of instructors in manual arts with special reference
to certain new kinds of work as that of the general shop teacher.
12.
The emphasis of instruction in manual arts continued to shift
“ from that of skill in the use of tools and machinery to that of
industrial intelligence and developmental experiences and general
elementary, fundamental, manipulative abilities for general educa
tion values, including guidance.”
F
1
United States. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Education.
trial education, in 1924-1926, by Maris M. Proffitt. Washington, 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 0 3 ]
Bulletin, 1927, No. 29: Indus
103
104
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
13.
Those responsible for the organization of vocational industrial
and manual-arts courses recognized more and more the desirability
of treating vocational industrial courses as special educational forms
strictly for purposes of employment and “ enrolling in such courses
those students who should have training preparatory for entering
upon employment in some specific trade.’’
Apprenticeship in the English Printing Trades
URING the years 1925 and 1926 the English Ministry of Labor
carried on a series of inquiries into apprenticeship and methods
of training for skilled occupations in Great Britain and north
ern Ireland, covering six groups of allied industries. The results of
these studies are to be given in a series of reports of which the first,
dealing with printing and its allied industries, has recently appeared.1
The reports are based on information obtained through questionnaires
sent to employers and to the principal trade-unions, after consultation
with the National Confederation of Employers’ Organizations and
with the General Council of the Trade-Union Congress. Unless
otherwise stated, all data are for the year 1925.
In the study of the printing trades, replies were received from
4,043 employers, of whom 1,312, or 32.5 per cent, had neither appren
tices nor learners.
D
O f t h e r e m a in d e r , 2 , 5 0 4 e m p lo y e d o n ly m a le a p p r e n tic e s o r l e a r n e r s , 2 1 6
e m p lo y e d b o t h m a le a n d fe m a le a p p r e n tic e s o r l e a r n e r s , a n d 11 e m p lo y e d o n ly
fe m a le a p p r e n t ic e s o r l e a r n e r s .
T h e n u m b e r o f firm s w ith m a le a p p r e n t ic e s o r
le a r n e r s w a s t h u s 2 ,7 2 0 a n d t h e n u m b e r w ith fe m a le a p p r e n tic e s o r l e a r n e r s , 2 2 7 .
General Conditions of Apprenticeship
Lticeship is the usual method of entering the printin:
trades. Of 11,594 entrants for whom information was obtained,
6,293, or 54.3 per cent, were under indentures or written agreements,
3,916, or 33.8 per cent, were under verbal agreements, and 1,385, or
11.9 per cent, were learners; i. e., had been engaged for a definite
period and provided with facilities for learning a branch or process
of the trade, though not looked upon as apprentices.
In general, employers obtained their apprentices from the ele
mentary schools, taking them as soon as they had finished the pre
scribed course. Only 253 employers made use of employment
exchanges or juvenile employment committees, while 1,353 gave
their source of recruitment as the elementary schools. Other sources
were utilized.
T w o h u n d r e d a n d n in e ty - th r e e e m p lo y e r s s t a t e d t h e y r e c r u it e d t h e i r a p p r e n
t ic e s a n d le a r n e r s b y a d v e r ti s e m e n t , 2 8 3 b y p e rs o n a l r e c o m m e n d a tio n , 1 8 2 b y
p e rs o n a l a p p lic a tio n o n t h e p a r t o f t h e b o y s , a n d 1 4 4 f r o m t h e so n s o r r e l a t iv e s
o f e m p lo y e e s .
O n ly 1 1 6 s t a t e d t h a t t h e y r e c r u it e d t h e i r a p p r e n tic e s f r o m
u n s k ille d w o r k e r s .
Relatively few of the employers required the apprentices to pay a
premium on entering apprenticeship. Of the 10,209 male appren
tices covered by the returns, only 2.7 per cent had been obliged to
pay premiums, the amount varying from £1 to £10Q.2 “All but 14
1 Great Britain. Ministry of Labor. Report of an inquiry into apprenticeship and training for skilled
occupations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1925-1926. Part I.—Printing and allied industries.
London, 1927.
2 At par, pound sterling=$4.8665, shilling=24.33 cents, penny=2.03 cents; exchange rate about par,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 0 4 ]
APPRENTICESHIP IN ENGLISH PRINTING TRADES
105
of the premium apprentices paid sums which fell between £10 and
£30. Of these, 108 paid £10, 60 paid £20, and 51 paid £30.”
The age at beginning apprenticeship ranges from 14 years upward.
About two-thirds begin at 14, but 16 years is the more usual age
for apprentices to process work and journalism. “ Only about 2
per cent of apprentices enter at ages over 16 years, and these are
found mainly among stereotypers, electrotypers, journalists, and
warehousemen. ’’
The period of apprenticeship, including a probationary period
which may be anywhere from 1 to 6 months, ranges from under 4 to 7
years. Information on this point was received concerning 10,209
male apprentices, grouped according to the length of the period for
which they had been apprenticed, as follows: 3 years, 0.6 per cent;
4 years, 1.4 per cent; 5 years, 15.2 per cent; 5 to 7 years, 5.6 per
cent; 6 years, 6.8 per cent; 7 years, 70.4 per cent.
For the 5 to 7 years group the period of apprenticeship varied
according to whether the age at entrance was 16, 15, or 14 years.
The average weekly wage paid to these apprentices during their
first year was 12s. 4d.,2 the average range for the whole group being
from 10s. to 15s., and the range in different occupations varying
widely. In the last year of apprenticeship the average weekly wage
was 37s. 5d., the average range being from 25s. to 45s. In general,
there is no intermediate stage between apprenticeship and journey
man status, the worker being looked upon as fully qualified as soon
as the apprenticeship period is completed.
Methods of Training
C O N D IT IO N S in this respect are far from uniform. In the
majority of cases training is personal, entrants being placed
under some skilled worker or the foreman in charge of the job to
which they are assigned. Here the}?- receive training in the practical
side of the work, advancing from easy to more intricate operations,
but in general keeping to one line of work, such as composing, machine
minding, bookbinding, etc. Beyond this, the kind of training given
varies with the establishment.
W h e r e fa c ilitie s a r e a v a ila b le , e m p lo y e r s u s u a lly a llo w t h e a t t e n d a n c e of
a p p r e n tic e s a n d le a r n e r s a t t e c h n i c a l o r t r a d e c la s s e s , b u t o n ly a s m a ll n u m b e r
m a k e a t t e n d a n c e a t s u c h c la s s e s a c o m p u ls o r y t e r m o f t h e e m p lo y m e n t.
In a
few firm s, s p e c ia l c la s s e s a r e a r r a n g e d a t t h e w o rk s .
M a n y e m p lo y e r s p a y
c la s s fe e s a n d a llo w t im e off, w ith p a y , f o r a t t e n d a n c e a t t e c h n ic a l classed .
S c h o o ls o r c la s s e s f o r t h e te c h n ic a l in s t r u c t io n a n d t r a i n i n g of p r in tin g w o rk e rs
a r e t o b e fo u n d in m o s t o f t h e p rin c ip a l to w n s .
S o m e o f th e s e c la s s e s p o s se ss
e q u ip m e n t f o r p r a c t i c a l a s w ell a s t h e o r e t i c a l in s t r u c t io n in s e v e r a l d e p a r tm e n t s of
th e tra d e .
M a n y o f t h e a v a ila b le c la s s e s a r e a t t a c h e d t o s c h o o ls o f a r t a n d
t e c h n ic a l sc h o o ls p ro v id e d b y t h e lo c a l e d u c a t io n a u th o r itie s .
Proportion of Apprentices to Journeymen
TH E main occupations in the printing trades the number who
may receive training is limited to a certain proportion of the
journeymen employed, the proportion being specified by tradeunion rules, or established by agreements between employers ’ asso
ciations and trade-unions. The proportion usually varies according
to the number of journeymen employed. Thus the London Society
IN
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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106
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of Compositors allows one apprentice for 1 to 7 journeymen, two
apprentices for 8 journeymen, and so on up to ten apprentices for 40
journeymen, then one apprentice for each 8 additional journeymen.
In some cases, especially in newspaper work, there is an additional
restriction limiting the number of apprentices which may be employed
in any one department. As to the actual ratio of apprentices to
journeymen, the following table was compiled from information
given by several large associations of employers, and is believed to be
fairly indicative of conditions in the printing industry as a whole.
N U M B E R OF JO U R N E Y M E N P E R A P P R E N T IC E
Department
London
Composing room ... _______________________________
Stereotyping_______________________________________
Machine room__ ______ ________ _ _ . ________
Lithographic___________ ______________
England
and Wales
(excluding
London)
Scotland
4.9
4. 5
4.6
4.8
5.5
3.9
4.9
5.6
7.5
8.8
5. 6
5.4
Great
Britain
5.5
5.6
4.9
5.0
Women and Girls in the Industry
HTHE skilled work of the printing trades is almost entirely in the
1 hands of men, and there is little opportunity for girls to learn
the skilled occupations. Only 227 firms reported that they employed
girls as beginners, the number so employed being 1,608, of whom
about 2 per cent were indentured apprentices, 15 per cent were
apprentices under verbal agreements, and 83 per cent were learners.
G irl a p p r e n t ic e s a n d le a r n e r s a r e e m p lo y e d o c c a s io n a lly a s c o m p o s ito r s , l e t t e r p re s s a n d l it h o g r a p h ic m a c h in e m in d e r s , a n d u s u a lly a s b o o k b in d e rs , fo ld e r s ,
m a c h in e r u le r s , w a re h o u s e w o m e n , c o p y h o ld e r s , a n d l a y e r s - o n .
A p p r o x im a te ly
8 6 p e r c e n t o f t h e g irl a p p r e n t ic e s a n d le a r n e r s e m p lo y e d in t h e firm s c o v e r e d b y
t h e in q u ir y w e re e n g a g e d in t h e s e o c c u p a t io n s .
T h e a g e o f c o m m e n c e m e n t is
u s u a lly 1 4 y e a r s , a n d t h e p e rio d o f t r a i n i n g 4 y e a r s .
I n a d d itio n t o t h e a b o v e m e n tio n e d o c c u p a tio n s , g irls a r e e m p lo y e d a s c o lo r e r s , e m b o s s e r s , t i c k e t w r ite r s ,
m a p m o u n t e r s , n u m b e r e r s , d ie s t a m p e r s , t r a c e r s , a n d j o u r n a lis ts , u s u a lly a s
le a r n e r s , b u t a lso a s a p p r e n t ic e s in t h e t w o l a s t- m e n t io n e d o c c u p a tio n s .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 0 6 ]
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND CON
GRESSES
Chilean Decree Relative to Trade-Unionism 1
T
HE Chilean law (No. 4057) passed September 29, 1924, which
provided for compulsory membership in the trade-unions set
up in each industry, provided also for a profit-sharing scheme.
In this regard the law required employers to grant to the workers
as a share in their profits an annual sum equal to 6 per cent of the
annual wages, provided this amount could be paid out of the
net profits and not exceed 10 per cent thereof.
The law met with considerable opposition from the employers, who
in many instances dismissed trade-union leaders. As a means of
safeguarding the interests of the organized workers and of bringing
the law into operation, the Chilean Government issued a decree
prohibiting the dismissal of leaders of legally constituted tradeunions by industrial or commercial establishments, except for reasons
shown to be lawful before the court of conciliation and arbitration.
Chilean Trade-Union Congress 2
T
HE eighth congress of Chilean trade-unions, which was held
recently, was attended by about 200 delegates representing
mutual benefit associations and trade-unions organized under
the trade-union law.
The following resolutions were approved, favoring the introduction
of legislation giving the court of conciliation and arbitration the power
to make final decisions; the appointment of a workers’ diplomatic
representative to be attached to legations in American countries;
the promulgation of a minimum wage law; the construction of garden
cities by the State at the expense of the public ; the opening of branches
of the Popular Credit Fund by the Government; and equal repre
sentation by employers and. workers on the organizations administer
ing the sickness insurance fund.
National Congress of French General Confederation of Labor3
T
HE Nineteenth National Congress of the Confédération Générale
du Travail was held in Paris July 26-29, 1927. The congress
was attended by more than 900 delegates, representing about
2,100 trade-unions, as well as by guests from trade-union organiza
tions in various countries. The more important questions dealt with
1 Chile, Direccion General del Trabajo, Las Leyes del Trabajo y de Prevision Social de Chile,
pp. 134-147; and International Labor Office, Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, Oct. 17, 1027,
p. 75.
2 El Mercurio, Santiago, Sept. 20, 1927; and International Labor Office, Industrial and Labor Informa
tion, Geneva, Nov. 14, 1927, p. 210.
3 L ’Information Sociale, Paris, Aug. 8, 1927; La Voix du Peuple, Paris, July, 1927, pp. 401-412.
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 2 8 ------ 8
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
by the congress were production and the woridng-class (rationaliza
tion); educational reform; vacations with pay; and social insurance;
The congress devoted much of its time to the discussion of the
general report and the question of trade-union unity. This has been
a disturbing question before each congress since the formation of the
Confédération Générale du Travail Unitaire in 1921 by extremist
members of the federation. I t was decided, as in the preceding
congress, that no basis yet existed for taking back the seceding unions
but that workers desirous of achieving unity should join their con
federated unions and the occupational groups in their industrial
federations. The congress stated that it condemned all interference
by political parties or external groups in trade-union activities and
that the return to unity is conditioned upon the rules fixed by the
decisions of the congress and the statutes of the Confédération
Générale du Travail and its federations and unions.
The report of the committee on production and the working class
was adopted practically unanimously. The resolution stated that,
in the face of an economic situation which necessitated a complete
change in the methods of production and exchange, the members of
the congress were against the attempts to solve the problem by the
method which has improperly been called “ rationalization,” 4 since
progress can not consist simply in perfecting working processes and
tools but must also take into account the improvement of working
and living conditions of the working class, who comprise the major
part of the population. Rationalization, therefore, in order to be
necessary or acceptable should fulfill the following conditions: Its
advantages should not be restricted to certain individuals, but should
be equally extended to the workers in the form of increased wages and
reduction in the hours of work. I t also should contribute to raising
the standard of living of the working people as a whole. During the
transition period effective measures should be taken to safeguard the
interests of workers, especially as regards unemployment. Thus
defined, rationalization, it was considered, could be applied only with
the help and under the control of the working classes organized in
trade-unions, federations of trade-unions, and the General Con
federation of Labor. Also, rationalization, thus applied, would
require a total reorganization of the national economy and it was
considered most important that study of a plan of reorganization
should be undertaken by the National Economic Council.
The congress adopted the resolution on the reform of education
unanimously. This resolution reaffirmed one passed by the preceding
congress as to the necessity of an entire reorganization of the educa
tional system so that the children of working people should have an
opportunity to secure a higher education, and adults should be able
to receive the educational and cultural advantages which would
enable them to serve their class to the best advantage. For this
purpose the formation of a central educational committee and local
and departmental committees was recommended.
In regard to social insurance, the congress stated that the law passed
by the French Senate, while too long delayed and not entirely accept
able, represented a distinct advance over present conditions and
therefore demanded that the Chamber of Deputies take favorable
4
ment.
U 1,? term “ rationalization” covers production methods known in this country as “ scientific manage
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MEMBERSHIP OF ENGLISH TRADE-UNIONS
109
action upon this bill without delay. As unemployment insurance is
not included in the social insurance law, it was considered essential
that a law covering this risk should be enacted.
On the question of vacations with pay, the congress decided that the
provisions of the bill which had been presented to Parliament were
not satisfactory and that the bill should be amended to provide for an
annual vacation of at least 12-working days for every worker, with a
minimum payment of one twenty-fifth of their annual earnings.
The congress adopted a resolution advocating that the labor
members of the Superior Labor Council should be elected by the
federations concerned and that these members should be under the
direction of the administrative committee of the Confédération
Générale du Travail.
Other resolutions passed by the congress included, one indorsing the
admission of the Federation of Civil Servants to membership in the
confederation and one providing for the development of the juridical
service of the Confédération Générale du Travail for the purpose of
studying and promoting the enactment of social laws.
Membership of English Trade-Unions
T
HE Ministry of Labor Gazette (London), in its issue for Novem
ber, 1927, gives data concerning the membership of tradeunions in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as of the end of
1926, based on information secured from the chief registrars of
friendly societies, from trade-unions registered under the tradeunion acts, and by the Ministry of Labor from unregistered unions.
All unions are covered, whether composed of skilled, unskilled,
professional, or clerical workers, the only common requirement
being that they should include among their functions that of “ nego
tiating with employers with the object of regulating the conditions of
employment of their members.”
The statistics given cover trade-union membership from 1892 to
1926, the figures for the last year being tentative and subject to
correction. Considering the present century only, the total member
ship shows the following variations:
M EM B E R S H IP OF TRADE-UNIONS IN G REAT BR IT A IN AND N O RTH ER N IR ELA N D ,
AT EN D OF EACH Y E A R 1901 TO 1926
Year
Member
ship
Year
Member
ship
Year
1901_______ _______ _
1902________________
1903________________
1904________________
1905________________
1900________________
1907________________
1908________________
1909________________
2, 025, 000
2, 013, 000
1,994, 000
1, 967, 000
1, 997, 000
2, 210, 000
2, 513,000
2, 485, 000
2,477, 000
1910...................... .........
1911________________
1912_______________
1913_______________
1914________________
1915________________
1916________________
1917___________
1918—
2, 565,000
3,139, 000
3,416, 000
4,135, 000
4,145, 000
4, 359, 000
4, 644, 000
5,499, 000
6, 533, 000
1919________________
1920________ _______
1921................................
1922________________
1923________________
1924.............................. .
1925________________
1926________________
Member
ship
7, 926,000
8, 337,000
6, 621, 000
5, 616,000
5, 413,000
5, 534,000
5, 497, 000
5, 208,000
During the earlier part of the century, though occasional years
showed a loss, the general trend of the membership was upward,
especially in 1906, 1907, 1911, and 1913. During the first year of
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M O N TH LY
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R E V IE W
the war, membership was practically stationary, then it rose rapidly
until it reached its highest point in 1920, and since then there has been
a decline, broken only in 1924. Nevertheless at the close of 1926 the
total membership stood at 5,208,000, a figure larger by 25.9 per cent
than had been attained in 1913, the year of highest pre-war enrollment.
The decrease in membership does not appear equally in all trades
and industries.
O f t h e 3 3 g ro u p s u n d e r w h ic h t h e u n io n s h a v e b e e n c la ssifie d , t h e r e w a s a
d e c r e a s e in t h e t o t a l m e m b e r s h ip in 2 4 g ro u p s a n d a n in c r e a s e in 9 g ro u p s .
The
l a r g e s t n u m e r ic a l d e c r e a s e s w e re 1 2 6 ,0 0 0 in m in in g a n d q u a r r y in g (s o m e o f t h e
c o a l-m in in g u n io n s s h o w in g h e a v y d e c r e a s e s w h ile o th e r s r e t u r n e d l it tl e c h a n g e ) ,
o v e r 4 0 ,0 0 0 in r o a d t r a n s p o r t , d o c k l a b o r , e t c . , n e a r l y 4 0 ,0 0 0 in r a ilw a y s e r v ic e ,
a n d a b o u t 2 0 , 0 0 0 in t h e m e t a l g ro u p s a n d t h e p a p e r , p r in tin g , e t c ., g ro u p .
The
m o s t i m p o r t a n t p e r c e n ta g e d e c r e a s e s w e re in a g r i c u lt u r e ( 1 7 ) , m in in g a n d
q u a r r y in g ( 1 4 ) , b u ild in g l a b o r e r s ( 1 3 ) , fu rn is h in g ( 1 2 ) , r o a d t r a n s p o r t , d o c k
l a b o r , e t c . ( 1 0 ) , a n d p a p e r , p r in tin g , e t c . ( 1 0 ) .
O f in c r e a s e s , t h e m o s t n o ta b le
w a s t h a t in t h e w a t e r t r a n s p o r t g ro u p , w h ic h g a in e d 1 1 ,0 0 0 m e m b e r s , o r 1 3 p e r
c e n t o f i t s 1 9 2 5 m e m b e r s h ip .
The decrease in male membership of all groups was 5.7 per cent,
while in female membership it was only 2.8 per cent. This is easily
accounted for by the fact that the unions which were hardest hit by
the labor troubles of 1926, such as the mining and quarrying groups,
railroad and transport unions, and the like, are predominantly or
exclusively masculine in membership.
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INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Strikes and Lockouts in the United States in November, 1927
T
H E figures for industrial disputes contained in this issue of the
Labor Review form the third monthly report to be given in
more detail than was feasible in the past. These reports are
made possible through the cooperation of the Conciliation Service
of the Department of Labor and other agencies.
Under the present method of presentation data are given not only
regarding the number of disputes beginning each month, but also
regarding the number in effect at the end of the month and the num
ber of workdays lost by reason of disputes during each month. The
number of workdays lost is computed by multiplying the number of
workers affected in each dispute by the length of the dispute meas
ured in working-days as normally worked by the industry or trade
in question.
Disputes involving fewer than six workers and those lasting less
than one day have been omitted. Data for October and November
are subject to revision because of the fact that reports for these
months are more or less incomplete.
The bureau is largely dependent upon newspapers and trade
journals for its initial information regarding disputes. These are
followed by questionnaires addressed to such sources as may further
supplement the bureau’s reports with reliable information. The
bureau wishes to assure all those cooperating in this work of its
appreciation as well as to solicit future assistance from others con
cerned.
Table 1 is a summary table showing for each of the months, June
to November, inclusive, the number of disputes which began in
these months, the number in effect at the end of each month, and the
number of workers involved. I t also shows, in the last column,
the economic loss (in man-days) involved. It is to be noted that
the figures given include only those disputes which have been verified
by the bureau.
T able
1 . — IN D U STR IA L
D ISPUTES BEG IN N IN G IN AND IN E F F E C T AT EN D
EA CH MONTH, JU N E TO N O V EM B ER , 1927
Number of workers
Number of disputes involved
in disputes Number
of mandays lost
Begin In effect Begin In effect during
ning in at end of ning in at end of month
month
month
month
month
Month and year
June, 1927 ...... ................................................... ...............
July, 1927_____________________ _________________
August, 1927 ..................... ....................................................
September, 1927 .......... . ....... ..............................................
October, 19271__________ ____ _________ __________
November, 1927 1............................................................. .
75
62
53
46
43
16
82
62
50
49
60
51
18, 585
33,763
8,066
12, 514
11, 556
3,054
196, 047
199, 087
198, 367
197, 588
83, 774
83, 913
i Preliminary figures subject to revision.
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4, 859,468
5, 307,089
4, 998, 596
4, 960,249
2, 770,990
2, 099, 991
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M O N TH LY
LA BO R
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Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
rTA BLE 2 gives, by industry, the number of strikes beginning in
1 September, October, and November, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T a b l e 2 . —IN D USTRIAL D ISPUTES
BEGINN ING IN S E P T E M B E R ,
N O V EM B ER , B Y INDUSTRIES
OCTOBER, AND
Number of disputes begin
ning in—
Number of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—
Septem October1 Novem
ber
ber i
Septem October1 Novem
ber
ber 1
Industry
Automobiles___________________________
Barbers___________________ ____ _______
Brewery and soft-drink workers..................
Building trades. ______________________
Chauffeurs and teamsters_______________
Clerks and salesmen____________________
Clothing _______ _______________________
Food workers______ ______ _____________
Furniture................................ ..........................
Glass................................. ................ ................
Leather workers ............................. ..............
Mining
________ .
__ _
_____
Motion-picture and theatrical workers___
Oil and chemical workers_______________
Printing and publishing________________
R u b b e r____.1_________________________
Stationary engineers and firemen _______
Steamboat men______ . . . _ . . . . ___
Stone____ ____ ____ ______ _______ . . .
Street-railway employees__________ ____ _
Textile___________________ _____ _______
Miscellaneous ______ _____ _________ ____
Total
______ _____ _ __________
1
1
1
7
3
6
4
3
3
1
12
1
2
638
8,037
6
557
1
1
6
2
1
3
3
1
1
279
345
1,100
'881
48
15
81
172
420
286
350
124
1,427
312
6,747
34
9
140
1
1
1
135
12
30
1
2
2
1
6
1
874
520
1, 232
21
24
175
60
1
159
3
2
7
3
2
1
167
220
50
573
622
98
150
46
43
16
12, 514
11,556
3,054
i Figures given are preliminary figures.
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T ”1A BLE 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
*
November, classified by number of workers and by industries:
T a b l e 3 .—N U M B E R
OF IN D USTRIAL D ISPUTES BEGINN ING IN N O V EM B ER , 1927,
B Y CLASSIFIED N U M B E R OF W ORKERS AND B Y IN D U STR IES
Number of disputes beginning in November in
volving—
Industry
6 and
under
20 and
ers
workers
under
500
workers
Ï
3
1
1
2
1
20 work
Building trades............... ............................................
Clothing.......................................................................
Glass............. .....................................................................
Mining..............................................................................
Printing and publishing____________________ _____
Textile................ .................... ..................... .........................
Miscellaneous.......................................................................
1
2
Total.............................................................................
3
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under
100
5
100 and
500 and
under
1,000
workers
1,000 and
under
5,000 workers
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
S T R IK E S
AND
LO CK O U TS
IN
U N IT E D
113
STATES
IN Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
1 November, by industries and classified duration:
Classified duration of strikes ending in
November, 1927
Industry
Over one-half 1 month and
One-half
month or less and less than less than 2
1 month
months
Brewery and soft-drink workers..........
Building trades.............................. ... ........
Chauffeurs and teamsters____________
Clothing............. ............ ................... ........
Furniture......... .............. ................... ........
Leather____________________________
Mining_______________ ____________
Motion-picture and theatrical workers
Printing and publishing_____________
Stationary engineers and firemen..........
Steamboat men...................... ......... ..........
Textile.............................................
Total.
11
9
Principal Strikes Beginning in November, 1927
Q O A L miners, Kentucky.— Three mines of the Gibraltar Coal Min
ing Co., Central City, Ky., were affected by a strike of 1,000
unorganized miners beginning November 1 because of the “ removal
of 20 per cent bonus, which had been paid for 90 days.” This sus
pension ended November 10. The men returned to work on the
terms that prevailed before the bonus was given.
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing Into November, 1927
B IT U M IN O U S coal miners.—The strike of April 1 continues only
in part. Settlements have not been reported for Ohio, Penn
sylvania, or northern West yirginia. As to West Virginia, however,
it is understood that production has been above normal for some time.
The recent convention of the American Federation of Labor at
Los Angeles deliberated on this strike and decided to call a conference
of national and international officers and representatives of the city
central bodies and the State Federation of Labor of Pennsylvania to
meet at Pittsburgh on November 14 to consider ways and means by
which the American Federation of Labor and its affiliated bodies can
be helpful to the United Mine Workers in the strike situation where
it now prevails. This conference was held as indicated.
After a conference on November 16 with a delegation of labor rep
resentatives, headed by the president of the American Federation of
Labor, the Governor of Pennsylvania announced that he would order
a special investigation into formal charges of abuses against striking
miners in ^western and central Pennsylvania. The charges were
chiefly against alleged abuse of power by coal and iron police and
discrimination in favor of the operators.
On November 2 1 a delegation of labor leaders, headed by William
Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, and John L.
Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, saw President Coolidge
and urged him to call a conference of operators and miners with a
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M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
view to effecting a settlement of the strike. They also asked the
President to recommend to Congress an 'investigation of an alleged
conspiracy of railroads to depress coal prices and into the issuance of
court injunctions against the striking miners.
The President referred the matter to the Secretary of Labor, who,
on December 9 requested the bituminous operators of western and
central Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and Ohio, and repre
sentatives of the United Mine Workers to meet him in conference at
the Department of Labor, Washington, on December 13. The text
of his telegram follows:
Y o u a r e re q u e s te d t o a t t e n d a c o n fe re n c e in m y office in t h e D e p a r t m e n t of
L a b o r , W a s h in g to n , T u e s d a y m o r n in g , D e c e m b e r 1 3 , a t 1 0 o ’c lo c k . T h e a t t e n d
a n c e w ill c o n s is t o n ly o f b itu m in o u s o p e r a to r s o f w e s te r n a n d c e n t r a l P e n n s y l
v a n ia , n o r th e r n W e s t V irg in ia a n d O h io , a n d r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f t h e U n ite d M in e
W o rk e rs.
T h e m e e tin g w ill b e f o r f r a n k d is c u s s io n o f p r o b le m s a f f e c tin g t h e
m in in g i n d u s t r y , w ith t h e o b j e c t o f b rin g in g a b o u t , if p o s sib le , a s a t i s f a c t o r y a n d
p e a c e fu l s i tu a t io n . T h e c o n f e r e n c e is c a lle d w ith t h e k n o w le d g e of t h e P r e s i d e n t.
V e r y i m p o r t a n t y o u r c o m p a n y b e re p r e s e n te d .
Preliminary correspondence between the Secretary of Labor and
the Governor of Pennsylvania regarding the question of calling a
conference of the operators and the miners’ representatives was also
made public on December 9 and is as follows:
S e c r e t a r y D a v is ’s letter to G o v ern o r F i s h e r
M y D ea r G overnor: Y
ou a r e o f c o u rs e f a m ilia r w ith t h e r e q u e s t t o t h e P r e s i
d e n t m a d e o n N o v e m b e r 1 7 , b y t h e c o m m i tt e e f r o m t h e P i t ts b u r g h m e e tin g of
A m e r ic a n F e d e r a ti o n o f L a b o r officials f o r t h e c a llin g o f a c o n f e r e n c e o f o p e r a to r s
a n d m in e r s c o n c e r n e d in t h e p r e s e n t s t r i k e in t h e b itu m in o u s c o a l field s o f w e s te r n
a n d c e n t r a l P e n n s y lv a n ia , O h io , a n d W e s t V irg in ia .
O n t h e d a y p r io r t o t h e i r m e e tin g w ith t h e P r e s i d e n t a c o m m i tt e e s e le c te d b y
t h e s a m e c o n f e r e n c e o f l a b o r o fficia ls, c a lle d u p o n y o u a n d t o o k u p w ith y o u t h e
s itu a tio n in t h e a f f e c te d P e n n s y lv a n ia d is t r i c t s . I t t h u s s e e m s t o m e i m p o r t a n t ,
in o r d e r t o a v o id d u p lic a tio n o f e f f o r t a n d d a n g e r o f f u r t h e r c o m p l ic a t i n g a n
a l r e a d y -in v o lv e d s i tu a t io n , t h a t w e s h o u ld b e a p p r is e d o f e a c h o t h e r ’s v ie w s.
T h e r e q u e s t m a d e t o t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r t h e c a llin g o f t h e c o n fe re n c e I m e n tio n
w a s r e f e r r e d t o m e a s S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r . L a t e r , M r . J o h n L . L e w is , P r e s i d e n t of
t h e U n ite d M in e W o r k e r s , m a d e a p e r s o n a l r e q u e s t o f m e t o c o n v e n e s u c h c o n
fe r e n c e .
O n F r i d a y l a s t , M e s s rs . F a g a n a n d M a r k , e x e c u ti v e s o f t h e w e s te r n a n d c e n tr a l,
m in in g d is t r i c t s , M r . H a ll re p r e s e n tin g t h e O h io m in e rs , a n d M r . V a n B i t n e r
o f N o r t h e r n W e s t V irg in ia , a g a in d is c u s s e d t h e s i tu a t io n w ith m e a n d s u b
m i t te d s t a t e m e n t s f r o m b u s in e s s a n d p ro fe s s io n a l m e n , c le r g y m e n , a n d p e o p le
n o t d ir e c tl y c o n n e c t e d w ith t h e c o a l m in in g b u s in e s s , a ll p le a d in g f o r a c t i o n b y
t h e S t a t e o r F e d e r a l officials in t h e m a t t e r o f c a llin g a c o n f e r e n c e in e n d e a v o r t o
e n d t h e s tr ik e .
I h a v e d e v o t e d s e v e r a l d a y s t o g a th e r in g a ll p o s sib le i n f o r m a tio n t h a t m ig h t
b e h e lp fu l in s u c h a n e n d e a v o r . H a v i n g in v ie w t h e s e rio u s n e s s o f t h e s i tu a t io n
a n d t h e in c r e a s in g h a r d s h ip a n d su ffe rin g w h ic h t h e w in te r s e a s o n w ill a g g r a v a t e ,
I a m d e s ir o u s o f o p e n in g s o m e w a y o f r e s to r in g p e a c e a n d h a r m o n y .
I f y o u y o u r s e lf h a v e u n d e r c o n te m p l a ti o n a* m o v e t o c a l l a c o n f e r e n c e , o r
a r e w o r k in g a lo n g a n y o th e r lin e t o w a r d a r e s to r a ti o n o f p e a c e s u c h a s I k n o w
w ou ld b e w e lc o m e d b y y o u a n d t h e p e o p le o f y o u r S t a t e , I a m m o s t a n x io u s t o b e
of s e r v ic e in a n y p o s s ib le w a y .
A s th is p ro b le m is in m a n y r e s p e c t s o n e t h a t is w ith in t h e p r o v in c e o f th e
S t a t e s a f f e c te d , t h e F e d e r a l o fficia ls, w h ile g la d t o c o o p e r a te in e v e r y h e lp fu l
w a y , p r e f e r t o l e a v e t h e i n i ti a t iv e in t h e m a t t e r t o S t a t e a u th o r i ti e s . A s , h o w
e v e r , t h e F e d e r a l a u th o r i ti e s s t a n d r e a d y t o a s s i s t , if so d e s ire d , a n d in v ie w of
m y e a r n e s t d e s ire t o se e t h e d iffic u lty a d ju s te d , I sh o u ld b e g la d t o l e a r n if y o u
h a v e in m in d c o n v e n in g a c o n f e r e n c e f o r t h a t p u r p o s e .
Y o u w ill u n d e r s ta n d , m y d e a r G o v e r n o r , t h a t m y so le p u r p o s e is t o s e r v e in
s u c h w a y a s w ill c o n d u c e t o a s e t tl e m e n t o f th is d ifficu lty t o t h e s a t is f a c t io n of
t h e c o u n t r y a n d a ll p a r t ie s c o n c e rn e d .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 1 4 ]
S T R IK E S
AND
LO C K O U T S IN
U N IT E D
STA TES
115
G o v ern o r F i s h e r ’s letter to S e c r e ta r y D a v is
M y D ear M r . D avis : Copy of your letter of the 5th Instant was handed me
last evening, informing me you have in mind the calling of a conference of the
bituminous coal operators and labor representatives for the purpose of bringing
about a settlement of the labor dispute in that industry.
I n r e p ly , I b e g t o a d v is e I d o n o t h a v e a n y p la n s f o r m u la te d t h a t w o u ld in a n y
w a y in te r f e r e w ith s u c h a p r o j e c t o n y o u r p a r t . I e a r n e s tly h o p e s o m e s p e e d y
a d j u s t m e n t m a y b e e ff e c te d . I f I c a n a d v is e o r a s s is t in a n y w a y , p le a s e feel fre e
t o c a ll u p o n m e .
I fin d I c a n n o t s t a y o v e r in W a s h in g to n o r I w o u ld d o m y s e lf t h e h o n o r of
c a llin g u p o n y o u .
Coal miners, Colorado.—On November 21 there was a demonstra
tion of striking miners or alleged miners against the Columbine mine,
in Weld County, accompanied by fatal consequences, as the advanc
ing crowd was fired upon by mine guards and State police, killing
6 and wounding about 27. Following this outbreak the Governor
sent State troops to the scene, and the situation quieted down.
The Columbine mine, operated by the Rocky Mountain Fuel Co.,
ceased operations after this clash, but resumed on November 29.
On this date the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. announced that its force
was within 300 of normal.
At a meeting of employees’ representatives and. company officials
called in Pueblo on September 24, the basic wage scale for under
ground coal miners was advanced from $5.32 per day to $6.20 per
day, effective October 1.
Some disturbances also occurred on November 21 in the southern
field. The appearance of pickets in the Aguilar district of Las
Animas County was followed by fighting between strikers, State
police, and deputy sheriffs. Twenty of the strikers were arrested
and placed in jail at Trinidad.
At a meeting at Aguilar on September 4 the I. W. W .’s demand
was for a six-hour day and a five-day week, with the Jacksonville
scale. As to this the Industrial Commission of Colorado reported as
follows:
R e p o rt o f the I n d u s t r i a l C o m m is s io n o f C o lorado
T h e I n d u s t r i a l C o m m is s io n o f C o lo r a d o re c e iv e d a l e t t e r d a te d S e p te m b e r 6 ,
1 9 2 7 , s ig n e d b y t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e s o -c a lle d s tr ik e c o m m i tt e e o f t h e A g u ila r
c o n fe re n c e of t h e W a ls e n b u r g B r a n c h of t h e I . W . W ., in c lo s in g a d e m a n d fo r
in c r e a s e d w a g e s a n d c h a n g e in w o rk in g c o n d itio n s in a ll t h e c o a l m in e s in th e
S t a t e of C o lo r a d o , a n d s t a ti n g t h a t “ if th e s e d e m a n d s a r e n o t m e t b y t h e c o a l
o p e r a to r s a s tr ik e w ill b e c a lle d .”
T h e c o m m is s io n h e ld a m e e tin g a t t h e c o u r th o u s e a t W a ls e n b u r g a n d v is ite d
q u ite a n u m b e r o f t h e m in e s in t h e d is t r i c t , e x a m in e d w itn e s s e s u n d e r o a th
re g a r d in g th e A g u ila r c o n fe re n c e , a n d s e c u re d te s ti m o n y f r o m m e n w h o to o k
p a r t in t h e c o n f e r e n c e o r k n e w of t h e c o n fe re n c e .
T h e s e c r e t a r y w a s q u e s tio n e d u n d e r o a th .
H e te s tifie d h e h a d n o r e c o r d s of
t h e m e e tin g a n d d id n o t k n o w h o w m a n y h a d v o te d o n a n y q u e s tio n , o r w h e th e r
t h e y v o t e d b y b a llo t o r ra is in g o f h a n d s .
T h e c h a ir m a n of t h e c o n fe re n c e w a s n o t a v a ila b le , a s h e re s id e d in a n o t h e r
c i t y a n d h a d r e tu r n e d h o m e .
T h e c o m m is s io n w a s u n a b le t o find a sin g le d e le g a te t o t h e c o n f e r e n c e w h o
w a s e le c te d b y h is fe llo w w o r k e r s in a m e e tin g a s s e m b le d f o r t h a t p u rp o s e .
M a n y d e le g a te s w e re fo u n d w h o h a d v o lu n te e r e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e m in e in w h ic h
t h e y w e re e m p lo y e d , b u t in n o in s ta n c e h a d t h e r e b e e n a m e e tin g of m in e e m
p lo y e e s h e ld f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e le c tin g d e le g a te s t o th is co n feren ce._
T h e i n d u s tr ia l la w p ro v id e s t h a t n o t i c e t o t h e c o m m is s io n “ b y s a id e m p lo y e e s
s h a ll b e sig n e d b y s a id e m p lo y e e s o r m e m b e r s of a c o m m i tt e e of s a id e m p lo y e e s
a u th o r iz e d f o r s u c h p u r p o s e .”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[115]
116
M O NTHLY
LABO R
R E V IE W
I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e t h e d e m a n d f o r in c r e a s e in w a g e s a n d c h a n g e in w o r k in g
c o n d itio n s is n o t sig n e d b y t h e e m p lo y e e s o r b y a n y m e m b e r s of a c o m m i tt e e
e le c te d b y s a id e m p lo y e e s a n d a u th o r iz e d t o a c t f o r t h e m .
U n d e r d a t e o f S e p te m b e r 1 7 a l e t t e r w a s r e c e iv e d , sig n e d b y t h e s e c r e t a r y o f
t h e s o -c a lle d s t r i k e c o m m i tt e e , n o tif y in g t h e c o m m is s io n t h a t t h e d a t e f o r “t h e
s tr ik e h a d b e e n e x te n d e d t o O c to b e r 1 8 , 1 9 2 7 .
T h e r e f o r e , i t is t h e o p in io n o f t h e I n d u s t r i a l C o m m is s io n o f C o lo r a d o t h a t t h e
A g u ila r c o n f e r e n c e fa ile d t o c o m p ly w ith t h e p ro v is io n s o f t h e in d u s t r i a l la w a n d
t h a t n o le g a l d e m a n d h a s b e e n m a d e f o r a n in c r e a s e in w a g e s o r c h a n g e in w o r k in g
c o n d itio n s b y a n y o f t h e m e n e m p lo y e d in t h e c o a l m in e s o r b y a n y c o m m i tt e e
d u ly e le c te d a n d a u th o r iz e d b y t h e e m p lo y e e s t o a c t f o r t h e m in m a t t e r s o f th is
k in d .
A press report of November 21 stated that the I. W. W. had
carried the fight to the operators of the Pike’s Peak region, “ the
general strike committee” having sent the following ultimatum to
owners in that city:
W e , t h e g e n e r a l s t r i k e c o m m i tt e e o f t h e C o lo r a d o m in e rs , h e r e b y n o t i f y y o u
t h a t t h e r e w ill b e n o c o a l h o is te d a t y o u r m in e .
A lso t h a t y o u s h a ll h ire only
fo u r m e n f o r y o u r m a i n te n a n c e a n d t h e i r w a g e s s h a ll b e p e n d in g t h e s e t tl e m e n t
of th is s tr ik e .
Under the protection of troops six northern mines resumed opera
tions on December 1, after being closed since October 18.
Conciliation Work of the D epartm ent of Labor in November,
1927
B y H ug h L . Iv e r w i n , D ir e c t o r o f C o n c il ia t io n
T
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 40 labor disputes
during November, 1927. These disputes affected a known
total of 21,243 employees. The table following shows the name
and location of the establishment or industry in which the dispute
occurred, the nature of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or
controversy not having reached the strike or lockout stage), the
craft or trade concerned, the cause of the dispute, its present status,
the terms of settlement, the date of beginning and ending, and the
number of workers directly and indirectly affected.
On December 1, 1927, there were 49 strikes before the department
for settlement, and, in addition, 12 controversies which had not
reached the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 61.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 1 6 ]
LABO R D ISPU TES HAN DLED B Y T H E U N IT ED STATES D E PA R T M EN T OP LA BO R THROUGH ITS CONCILIATION SE R V IC E , N O V EM B ER , 1927
Duration
Craft concerned'
A. C. Lawrence Co., Peabody, Strike
Mass.
Crane Enamelware Co., Chatta ____do_____
nooga, Tenn.
do
Man ville-Jenckes Co., Pawtucket,
R. I.
Leather tanners. _
Asked wage increase_______
Enamelers__________
Alleged discharge of men
for union affiliation.
P r o t e s t a g a in s t w o rk
schedule.
Company or industry and location
do
Refinery workers
do
Miners
dn
Musicians
do
do
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
do
Working conditions_______
Alleged violation of agreement.
_ _do_____________ _____
Alleged attempt to establish Pending. Partial settlement; com- Oct. 15
missioner to make further effort.
12-hour day.*
Nonunion miners employed _ Adjusted. Returned; officials to Nov. 3
arrange terms.
Nonunion organist employed. Pending.................... .............................. ___do__
Sympathy with musicians
Men not receiving union
wage.
Sheet-metal workers___ Jurisdiction of ventilating
work.
Ironworkers ______ Wages and working conditions.
Alleged excessive fines for
Weavers
defective work.
____ do__________________ _
Textile workers
P ol ishers hnffers an d
platers.
Maintenance men
Clerks
__________
1927
1927
Pending. Some of the strikers have Oct. 25
returned.
Unable to adjust. Plant closed in- Oct. 24 Nov. 17
definitely.
Unclassified. Returned w ith o u t Oct. 20 Oct. 28
change before commissioner’s arrival.
Adjusted. Conditions satisfactorily Oct. 24 Oct. 31
arranged.
Adjusted. Contractors comply with ___do___ Nov. 3
agreement.
____d o ___________ ______________ Oct. 29 __ do___
____do___________________ ____ ___
Adjusted. Settled; union officials
to fix terms.
Pending
________ ___________
Adjusted. Increased from $1.40 to
$1.45 per hour.
Adjusted. Returned with guaranty
of 64 cents per hour.
A d ju s te d . R e t u r n e d ; defective
work to be examined by committee
of three.
Working conditions
Unable to adjust. Company refused conference.
Miners not allowed to dig Unable to adjust. Striking miners
not needed under new arrangecoal for own use.
ment.
Renewal of agreement.......... Adjusted. Minimum wage, $38
per week; 57-hour week.
Nov. 4
Nov. 1
Nov. 3
277
19
125
1,275
55
50
50
15
200
5
25
27
45
550
5
5
Nov. 25
22
20
3
1
Nov. 4
300
4,000
Oct. 29
Nov. 19
1,000
Nov.
Nov. 17
30
40
Nov. 3
Apr.
1
D EPA RTM EN T
do
Film operators
Controversy
Chicago Flexible Shaft Co., Chi
cago, 111.
Ohio Colliers Coal Co., Jackson ____do_____
ville, Ohio.
Grocery clerks, 490 firms, New
York City.
Twisters, textile industry.
Threatened Building crafts
strike.
Strike______ Plumbers and steam
fitters.
do
do
Thren tened
strike.
Strike_____
Indi
Ending Directly rectly
Begin
ning
OF TH E
Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Co.,
Wanomie, Pa.
Palace and Bijou theaters, Mason
City, Iowa.
Do_________________________
College, maintenance men, Ames,
Iowa.
Louis Abt & Co., contractors, Chi
cago, 111.
General Contractors’ Association,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Salts Textile Mills, Bridgeport,
Conn.
Pier Hoffman Silk Mills, Danbury,
Conn.
Present status and terms of settlement
W ORK
[1 1 7 ]
Marion County courthouse,Indian
apolis, Ind.
Fountain Square Theater, Indian
apolis, Ind.
State Armory Building, Muncie,
Ind.
Sims Oil Co., Texas__________ ___
Cause of dispute
Workers
involved
C O N C IL IA T IO N
Nature of
controversy
Nov. 13
Nov. 3
Nov. 20
60
5
Oct. 28
Nov. 5
665
200
¡«ncol
LA BO R D ISPU T ES HAN D LED B Y T H E U N IT ED STATES D E P A R T M E N T OF LABO R THROUGH ITS CONCILIATION S E R V IC E , N O V EM B ER
1927—Continued
00
Workers
Involved
Duration
Company or industry and location
Nature of
controversy
Craft concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of settlement
Begin
ning
Lindahl Foundry, Chicago, 111___
Wilkes-Barre Lace Mills, WilkesFRASER
Barre, Pa.
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Asked increase; working
conditions; union.
Strike_____ Hosiery “ leggers” ___
Organization trouble______
Controversy Fishermen. ________
_ _do__ _ Quarry workers____
Right to fix price of fis h ___
Asked 8-hour day with same
compensation as 9-hour
day.
1927
Nov. 1
1, 000
Oct. 19
Nov. 23
14
3
172
300
Nov. 14
____do___
Nov. 18
Nov. 11
Nov. 16
Nov. 20
Nov. 15
Dec.
1
0)
Strike_____
Glassworkers ______
Wage cut 10 to 15 per cent
____do_____
Neckwear workers___
Discharge of three workers. _ Adjusted. Workers reinstated; shop Nov. 25
conditions more satisfactory.
Nov. 30
Controversy
Bricklayers___ . . . _.
Working conditions
Nov. 10
Threatened
strike.
Lockout___
Cloak and suit makers. Proposed wage cut 20 to 25
per cent.
Hat and cap makers... Manufacturers proposed 44
instead of 4Qhour week.
Threatened Bargemen.. . . . . _
Asked $30 per month instrike
crease and conditions to
permit homes ashore.
Controversy Drivers and helpers... Alleged discharges for union
activity.
Adjusted. Conditions satisfactorily Nov. 7
adjusted.
Pending. Shop may resume De- Nov. 23
cember 15.
Adjusted. Returned under 1926 Nov. 16
agreement; arbitration to be used.
Adjusted. Strike averted; terms Nov. 1
under negotiation.
Adjusted. Union officials will make
no further attempt to have men
reinstated.
Strike_____ Foundry workers____ Asked 8-hour day; $1 per Unable to adjust. Open shop
hour.
effective.
Controversy Lace makers............... Jurisdiction of two unions... Adjusted. Unions reached agree
ment.
200
10
200
800
350
550
550
30
8
7
1
140
Dec.
6
800
Dec.
2
2,000
1, 500
Nov. 28 ___do___
8
64
Apr.
1
Nov. 28
Nov. 26
Dec.
5
32
840
,
R E V IE W
Spaulding, Hedstrom & Spaulding
Coal Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
Alleged violation of agreement.
Working conditions
1927
Sept. 1
Adjusted. Agreement concluded
with dressers.
Adjusted. Nonunion workers discharged; union shop.
Pending. Arbitration proceedings
in progress.
Adjusted. Returned without increase; conditions improved; op
erators reinstated.
Unable to adjust. Union organiza
tion not permitted.
Pending_______________
____do.................
LABOR
[ 118 ]
Milfay Manufacturing Co., Buffalo,
N. Y.
Fishermen, San Diego, Calif______
Western Lime Works, Peerless
White Lime Co., Ste. Genevieve
Lime & Quarry Co., and The
Bluff City Lime & Stone Co.,
Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
Standard Plate Glass Co., Butler,
Pa.
Star Cravat Co., Superior Knitting
Co., and Shaeplan, Sabal & Pal
mer, Philadelphia, Pa.
Krenn & Dato Co., Indianapolis,
Ind.
Titus Manufacturing Co., Port
land, Oreg.
Hat and cap makers, New York
City.
Coal dealers and barge owners, New
York City.
Shop conditions
M O N TH LY
Rabbit-skin dressers, New York Controversy. Fur workers____ ..
City.
Chero-Cola Bottling Co., Chatta Strike______ Bottlers_____
nooga, Tenn.
Deep Vein Coal Co., Terre Haute,
__do____
Miners______________
Ind.
Telephone operators, Staunton, 111. Controversy Telephone operators...
Ending Directly Indi
rectly
Hosiery workers.
Federal Knitting Mills, Philadel
phia, Pa.
Shelton Looms, Shelton, Conn-----
Strike..
Park Silk Co., Paterson, N. J -------
Strike______ Silk weavers___
Controversy Textile workers.
Pilgrim Plush Co., Providence, ____ do_____
R. I.
Plush weavers..
Painters and paper hangers, Anderson, Ind.
Total
1 Not reported.
Painters and paper
hangers.
Nov. 30
Nov. 1
Nov. 25
Oct. 31
Nov. 28
50
Nov. 17
Nov. 21
10
Sept. 28
Nov. 8
7
Nov. 30
Dec.
1
2,300
20
65
70
12, 633
8,610
W ORK
OF THE
[1 1 9 ]
D EPA RTM EN T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Threatened
strike.
Asked increase and addi
tional musicians in or
chestra.
Asked increase to $1.35 per
hour.
Pending.
Adjusted. No changes made at this
time.
Unable to adjust. Other weavers
employed.
Unclassified. Returned in part, and
others employed before commis
sioner’s arrival.
Adjusted. Allowed increase of 5
per cent, $81.90 per week; same
number of players in orchestra.
Adjusted. R e f e r r e d t o h e a d
quarters; decision not to affect
present work.
C O N C IL IA T IO N
Hartman Theater, Columbus, Ohio. Controversy Musicians.
Hours increased from 48 to
54 hour week.
Proposed change in work
conditions.
Refusal to work on Colum
bus Day.
Change from daywork to
piecework.
CD
120
M O NTHLY
LABO R
R E V IE W
Establishm ent of Federal Conciliation and A rbitration Board
in Mexico 1
B
Y A presidential decree of September 17, 1927, the Mexican Gov
ernment established a Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbi
tration ^for the settlement of labor disputes in which the
Government is involved, or which extend through two or more States.
When disputes arise in such enterprises as mining, petroleum, textiles,
and communications, the board will function; also, in case the
majority of the representatives of the industry and the workers
request its intervention.
The board is composed of an equal number of representatives of
employers and workers and a nonpartisan member appointed by the
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Labor.
The more important sections of the text of the decree are as follows:
A r t ic l e 1 .— T h e F e d e r a l B o a r d of C o n c ilia tio n an d A r b i tr a ti o n is herebye s ta b lis h e d , w ith h e a d q u a r te r s in t h i s c i t y , t o g e t h e r w ith s u c h re g io n a l c o n
c ilia tio n b o a r d s a s m a y b e n e c e s s a r y f o r i t s e f f e c tiv e o p e r a tio n .
A r t . 2 . T h e o b j e c t o f t h e F e d e r a l B o a r d o f C o n c ilia tio n a n d A r b i tr a ti o n sh a ll
b e t o p r e v e n t a n d s e t tl e t h e c o lle c tiv e a n d in d iv id u a l c o n f lic ts a r is in g b e tw e e n
e m p lo y e r s a n d l a b o r e r s , a n d i t s h a ll h a v e t h e p o w e r t o e n f o r c e i t s d e cisio n s .
A r t . 3 . T h e in t e r v e n ti o n of t h e F e d e r a l B o a r d of C o n c ilia tio n a n d A r b itr a tio n
s h a ll b e e f f e c tiv e :
(a ) I n t h e F e d e r a l z o n e s .
(h) I n t h e p ro b le m s a n d c o n flic ts a ris in g in in d u s trie s a n d e n te r p r is e s , t h e
e s ta b lis h m e n t o r e x p lo ita tio n of w h ich w a s o r is e ffe c te d u n d e r F e d e r a l c o n t r a c t
o r c o n c e s s io n .
(o) I n c o n flic ts o r p ro b le m s a ff e c tin g tw o o r m o r e S ta t e s o r a S t a t e a n d th e
F e d e r a l zones.
( d ) I n c o n f lic ts a n d p ro b le m s a ris in g in c o n n e c tio n w ith l a b o r c o n t r a c t s fo r
c o n ti n u a l s e r v ic e s o f t h e s a m e n a tu r e in tw o o r m o r e S t a t e s a t t h e s a m e tim e .
(e) I n c a s e s w h e re , b y w r i tt e n a g r e e m e n t o f a m a j o r i t y o f t h e r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s
o f a n i n d u s t r y a n d t h e w o r k e r s , t h e sp e cific ju r is d ic tio n of t h e F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t
is a c c e p te d .
A r t . 4 . I n a c c o r d a n c e w ith t h e p ro v is io n of S e c tio n X X of a r t i c le 1 2 3 , t h e
F e d e r a l B o a r d of C o n c ilia tio n a n d A r b i tr a ti o n s h a ll b e c o m p o s e d o f a n e q u a l
n u m b e r o f r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f t h e la b o r e r s a n d o f t h e e m p lo y e r s a n d o n e m e m b e r
t o b e a p p o in te d b y t h e M in is tr y of I n d u s t r y , C o m m e r c e , a n d L a b o r .
A r t . 5 . T h e M in is tr y o f I n d u s t r y , C o m m e r c e , a n d L a b o r is h e re b y a u th o r iz e d
t o is s u e in t h e s h o r t e s t t im e p o s sib le t h e r e g u la tio n s t o g o v e rn t h e o p e r a tio n
o f t h e F e d e r a l B o a r d of C o n c ilia tio n a n d A r b i tr a ti o n .
1Law and Labor, New York, November, 1927, pp. 302,312; and report from Consul Charles W. Lewis, ir.
at Mexico (city), dated Oct. 11-18, 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1201
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Reporting-Time and Minimum Pay in Building-Trades
Agreements
n H O TRA VEL from home to a place of employment only to find
no work, or employment for an hour or so, is not only an annoy
ance but an actual loss to a wage earner. Had he known in
advance that work was not available he might have worked some
where else and at least he might have saved transportation cost by
staying at home. That there is no work ready when a man reports
for duty may be no fault of the employer, however. Material
expected may not arrive, or some other unforeseen condition may
arise. The inconvenience and loss may fall quite as hard on the
employer as on the employee.
This loss is a question of such importance that many trade-union
agreements now contain provision for payment when an employee
reports for work and does not get it, or is provided with but a small
fraction of a day’s work. The worker claims that the employer
should furnish work unless notice was given the day before that there
would be no work. This claim appears not to be made, however,
when bad weather makes work impossible.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has made an examination of the
wage agreements and working rules, so far as printed copies are
available, for 544 local building-trades unions located in many of the
principal industrial cities. I t was found that sometimes the state
ments are ambiguous and that different agreements may have
different ways of stating the same thing The bureau in this com
pilation has held to the wording of the agreement as closely as brevity
would permit. Frequently it is not clear whether a provision
applies to men newly hired and told to report, or to old employees,
or both. There is also doubt in some cases as to whether the agree
ment applies when no work is afforded or to employees given only a
fractional part of a day’s work. Any cloudiness in the following
compilation, therefore, lies in the agreement itself. In some in
stances there is a provision applying to a second or third shift in the
day, no provision being made as to the first shift. In a few cases the
provision seems to apply to a discharged man rather than to a man
not given work for the day.
That the employer has reciprocal rights is evidenced in five agree
ments which provide for a fine in cases where a man who is ordered to
report for work fails to do so. In four of the agreements this fine
appears to be a matter of union discipline rather than of compensa
tion to the employer, as nothing is said of turning over any of this
fine to him. In one case it is specified that the full amount of the
fine shall be turned over to the employer to reimburse him for any
loss incurred by failure of the employee to report.
There seems to be a quite general provision that two hours shall
be paid for when a workman reports for duty but no wmrk is fur
nished. The minimum pay for any work done on a day is usually
for either two or four hours.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Table 1 shows the number of locals having and those not having
provisions relating to the minimum and reporting pay, by trades:
T a b l e 1 .— N U M B E R OF LO CAL B U ILD IN G -TRAD ES UNIONS HAVING UNION A G R E E
M EN T AS TO R EPO R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y
Of agreements
examined for
provisions as
to reporting
time and
minimum pay,
number hav
ing—
Trade
Of agreements
examined for
provisions as
to reporting
time and
minimum pay,
number hav
ing—
Trade
Some
pro No pro
vision vision
Asbestos workers___________ ___
Bricklayers__________________
Building laborers____________
Carpenters........... .........................
Milimen____________________
Parquetry-floor layers.....................
V harf and bridge carpenters____
Cement finishers._____ _________
Composition roofers____________
Elevator constructors.................... .
Engineers, portable and hoisting..
Glaziers_______________________
Hod: carriers___________________
Inside wiremen________ ________
Fixture hangers____________
Lathers_________ _______ _______
23
12
22
1
1
4
17
4
32
10
21
1
5
15
11
7
24
1
3
5
11
4
2
8
12
Some
pro No pro
vision vision
1
Marble setters
Painters
Painters, sign
Plasterers
Plasterers’ laborers__
Plumbers and ga.s fitters
Plumbers* laborers
Sheet-metal workers
Slate and tile roofers
Steam and sprinkler fitters______
Stone and marble masons
Structural-iron workers
Tile layers
10
Total
20
4
19
1
o
1
28
13
8
29
2
ß
1
6
14
3
25
18
29
h
322
4
9
7
19
4
222
From the above table it will be seen that 322 local trade-unions
had some provision in their agreements or rules for payment for
reporting, or for minimum hours worked, while 222 did not. I t is
thought that the number of agreements examined is large enough to
constitute a satisfactory representative group. It is possible that in
some other cases the local unions have a verbal agreement on the
points in question. The detailed compilation follows:
T a b l e 2 .—PROVISIONS IN
LO CAL B U ILD IN G -TRAD ES UNION A G R E EM E N T S FO R
R EP O R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y
Time paid for where men report and are not given work
Trade and city
Bricklayers:
Atlanta, G a ........................... ...........
Boston, M ass............................ .
.
Butte, Mont ___
Chicago, 111___ _________ ______
Cleveland, Ohio________________ _
Denver, Colo .... .....................
_
Des Moines, Io w a______________ _
Detroit, M ich.. ______________
Houston, T e x ... ___________ _
Indianapolis, Ind___ __________ .
Los Angeles, Calif_________ _
Louisville, K y .............................
Milwaukee, W is.. _________
New Orleans, La________ _
New York, N. Y _______
Norfolk, Va . . . ................... .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Minimum time, paid for in
any one day
2 hours__
__do __
____d o __
do
2 hours; discharged before 10
a. m., 2 hours additional to
4 hours for second and third
shifts.
time worked.
2 hours.
1 hour (old pvnplnypp!
2 hours..
do
4 hours fold employee!
Discharged before 9 a. m., 4
hours additional to time
worked.
2 hours.
1 hour
Discharged 8 a. m., 1 hour;
before 9 a. m., 2 hours.
1 ho u r___________________
[ 122 ]
8 hours for relay gangs.
2 hours.
R E P O R T I N G -T I M E
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T a b l e 2 .—PROVISIONS
IN LOCAL B U ILD IN G -TRAD ES UNION A G R E EM E N T S FOR
R EPO R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y —Continued
Trade and city
Time paid for where men re
port and are not given work
Bricklayers— C ontinued.
St. Louis, M o................................................ 4 hours (new employee). Discharged before 10 a. m., 2
hours additional to time
worked.
Philadelphia, P a........................................... 1 h o ur......................................
Pittsburgh, Pa____________ ____ ______ 2 hours____ ______________
Portland, M e________________________ ____d o ____________________
Portland, O reg___________ ___________ __ __do________________
Rochester, N. Y ______________________ 1 hour________________ _ .
Toledo, Ohio_________________________ 2 hours..............................
Building laborers:
Butte, M on t.............................................. . 4 hours___________ _____
Chicago, 111______________ _____ ____
2 hours______ _______ _
Cincinnati, Ohio___________________
____do________ ________
Cleveland,”Ohio______________________ ____do______ ____ __________
Des Moines, Iowa__________________
____do_________ ________
Kansas City, M o___________ .
___ do____
New York, N. Y _____________________
Pittsburgh, P a _____________ . . . .
2 hours (old employee)
Portland, Oreg ________________ . .
St. Louis, Mo_______________ . . . .
2 hours and car fare
Seattle, Wash___ _____ ___________ .
2 hours.. _ ___
Youngstown, Ohio___________________ 2 hours and car fare____
Carpenters:
Atlanta, Ga.......... ................ ....... .................. 4 hours
Butte, M ont._____________________ _
4 hours (old employee)
Dayton, Ohio_______________ _____
Denver, C o lo ... ____________ ________ 4 hours________ _____ ______
Des Moines, Iowa__________________ . 2 hours_____________________
Detroit, M ich................................................
Houston, Tex___________ _____
Indianapolis, Ind_______________
2 hours____ .
Louisville, K y ..................... ..........
2 h o u rs.________ _
Memphis, Tenn______________
Milwaukee, Wis__ ___________ .
Nashville, Tenn__ ____________ .
4 hours (old employee)
____do...... ........................... .....
____do...... .........................
Norfolk, Va. .......................................
Pittsburgh, Pa___ _____ _______ _
4 h o u rs.______________ .
____do................................
Portland, Oreg.......... .................................
St. Louis, Mo. ____________ . .
San Francisco, Calif________________
Seattle, Wash_______ _______ . . .
Spokane, Wash______________________
Wichita, Kans ____________________ .
Youngstown, Ohio________________
Millmen, Louisville, K y ________ _____
4 hours___________ .
____do__________ ________ ___
____do
. . . . . . . ...
2 hours (new employee)__
2 hours............... .......................
Parquetry-floor layers, Cleveland, Ohio
Wharf and bridge carpenters:
Houston, Tex______________________
Los Angeles, Calif „
Milwaukee, Wis______________
New Orleans, L a ..____________ _______
____do
......................................
____do........ ...................................
____do__________ _____
____do____ ________ ______
2 hours, must remain for that
time.
Minimum time paid for in
any one day
4 hours.
1 day.
4 hours.
2 hours.
4 hours.
Second and third shift less
than full time, overtime.
Second and third shift less
than full time, double
time.
Third shift less than 5
hours, overtime.
Third shift less than 6
hours, overtime.
Second and third shift less
than full time, overtime.
2 hours (shift work).
Second and third shift less
than full time, overtime.
4 hours, if discharged.
2 hours.
4 hours, if discharged with
out 4 hours’ notice.
Second and third shift less
than 6 hours, overtime.
Cement finishers:
Chicago, 111.
_____ .
2 hours______ ____ ______
8 hours.
Cincinnati, O h io................................ ....... 1 hour (new employee).............
Cleveland, O h io......................................
2 hours; if put to work later,
paid for waiting time.
Dallas, Tex________________
2 hours_____________________
Denver, Colo ________________
____ do. _____ _______
Houston, Tex. _ ___________ _ ______ 1 day (new employee) ____ _
Los Angeles, Calif_______ . . . _______ 2 hours (new employee)_____
Louisville, K y___ _____ ______________ 2 hours; if held 30 minutes, 2
hours additional.
Milwaukee, Wis.................. ..................... . 1 hour; if put to work later, 8 hours for shifts.
paid for waiting time.
New Orleans, La........................................... 2 hours_____________________
Omaha, N e b r .____. . . ______________ ____do_ _ ________ _
Philadelphia, P a........................................ . 2 hours; if put to work later,
2 hours additional to time
worked.
78271°—28----- 9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Table
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
2 .—PROVISIONS IN *LO C A L BUILD IN G -TRAD ES UNION A G R EEM EN T S
R EP O R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y —Continued
Trade and city
Time paid for where men re
port and are not given work
Cement finishers—Continued.
Pittsburgh, Pa__________ ____________ 2 hours....................
Portland, Oreg._______ _____ _________ ____do____________
St. Louis, Mo.________ ______________ 2 hours and car fare (new em
ployee).
San Francisco, Calif.................................... 4 hours______________
Seattle, W ash........................... ..............
2 hours......................
Composition roofers:
Boston, Mass............................................... ____do_________
Cleveland, Ohio..... ......... - ................
Dayton, Ohio________________ _______ 2 h o u r s ..._______
Los Angeles, Calif________ ____ _______ 1 hour_______________
Engineers, portable and hoisting:
Baltimore, Md............................................
1 hour, gas or electric; 2 hours,
steam; 2 hours, second shift;
4 hours, third.
Boston, Mass_______________ _____
2 h o u r s ..____
Cincinnati, Ohio_______ ________ _____ 2 hours; pay for all time held
waiting.
Cleveland, Ohio...........................................„ 2 hours; third shift, 4 hours,
second time in day, 8 hours.
Columbus, Ohio.. ...............................
2 hours_________
Delias, Tex................................
2 hours, if steam raised
Dayton, Ohio................. ..........................
2 hoursl________
Denver, Colo___________
Des Moines, Iowa_______ ____
Detroit, Mich...... ..........................
Erie, Pa_______________
Houston, T e x ......... ... ....................
Indianapolis, Ind............................
Jacksonville, Fla...... .................
Los Angeles, CaliL................................
Louisville, K y...................................
Memphis, Tenn..... ...........
Milwaukee, Wis_______ _______
Newark, N. J . . ___ _
New Orleans, L a ...........................
Omaha, Nebr.....................
Philadelphia, Pa___________
Pittsburgh, Pa_____________
Portland, O reg........... .......
Providence, R. I . . . . . .
St. Louis, Mo___________
Salt Lake City, U tah .................
Seattle, W ash ............ .
Spokane, Wash.........................
Springfield, Mass...............
Toledo, Ohio_____
Youngstown, Ohio...... ..............
Hod carriers:
Butte, Mont__________ _____
Chicago, 111_____________________
Cleveland, Ohio..... ....................
Des Moines, Iowa................................ .
Kansas City, Mo .........................
Los Angeles,'Calif......................
Pittsburgh, Pa. . . .
Portland, Oreg_____________
St. Louis, Mo______________
Youngstown, Ohio........ ........................
Inside wiremen:
Baltimore, Md.............
Boston, Mass___
Buffalo, N. Y ___
Chicago, 111. . . ..........
Cincinnati, Ohio.........................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FOR
Minimum time paid for in
any one day
4 horns.
Do.
2 hours.
Second and third shift less
than 4 hours, time and
one-half.
8 hours for second and
third shifts.
4 hours.
Do.
Do.
4 hours, if more than 1
hour worked.
4 hours.
Do.
____do____________
........ do_______
2 hours; second time in day,
8 hours.
8 hours, Sunday and holidays.
2 hours
Do.
1 hour (gas or electric); 2 hours Second and third shift less
(steam).
than 4 hours, double
time.
2 hours______
4 hours.
2 hours.
2 hours........... ................
____do_______
8 hours; shifts, 8 hours or
time and one-half for
hours worked.
____d o ..............................
4 hours if more than 1
hour worked.
2 days if Sunday.........
2 hours_____
____d o ..
5 hours, midnight shift.
4 hours; 8 hours second and 8 hours.
third shift.
2 hours_________
Do.
4 horns.
2 hours.................
Do.
2 hours; 5 hours if not notified
in 10 minutes.
2 hours.
2 hours_____
4 hours.
Do.
1 hour, day; 2 hours, night___ 4 hours, day; 8 hours, night.
2 hours; 8 hours second time
in 1 day.
2 hours... ________
4 hours________
2 hours
........ do_ _ ___________
____ do_ ...........................
__ __do_ _______
____ do..... ...........
2 hours (old pmploypp')
2 hours and car fare
____ do_____
Time to and from job, car
fare, and waiting time.
2 hours if asked to wait
4 hours..
1 ho u r__
For all time lost, minimum 2
hours.
[124]
Do.
Do.
2 hours.
1 day if working on islands
4 hours.
R E P O R T IN G -T IM E
T
a ple
AND
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IN
B U IL D IN G
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125
2 .—PROVISIONS IN LOCAL BU ILD IN G -TRAD ES UNION A G R E EM E N T S FOR
R EPO R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y—Continued
Trade and city
Time paid for where men re
port and are not given work
Inside wiremen—Continued.
Cleveland, Ohio__ ___________________ 4 hours_____________________
Columbus, Ohio___ *_______________ For all time lost, minimum 2
hours.
Denver, Colo_________ _________ ___
Minimum time paid for in
any one day
4 hours if not employed
previous day.
Des Moines, Iowa____________________ 4 hours_____________________
Erie, Pa__
_ _ __ _________________ ____do.................................. ...........
Houston, Tex________________________
4 hours.
Indianapolis, Ind___________________
2 hours_____ _______________
Los Angeles, Calif......................................... For all time lost, minimum 2 8 hours if employed out of
hours.
town.
Milwaukee, Wis______________________ 2 hours_____________________
Minneaöolis, Minn___________________
4 hours if more than 1 hour
worked.
Newark, N. J ______________________ __
8 hours.
New Orleans, La_____________________ 1 hour minimum____________
Pittsburgh, Pa_______________________ 2 hours...
4 hours.
Portland, Oreg_______________________ 4 hours..
Do.
Toledo, Ohio__________ ____ __________ 2 hours___________________ .
Washington, D .C ____ _______________
Do.
Fixture hangers, Detroit, Mich____________ 2 hours.......................... ................
Do,
Lathers:
Dayton, Ohio________________________ 1 hour ..
Los Angeles, Calif______ _____________ 2 hours_____________________
Pittsburgh, Pa_______________________ 4 hours.
St. Louis, Mo________________________ 4 hours (new employee). . . .
Washington, D. C ______ ____ _______ 2 hours__________ _________
Marble setters and helpers, Chicago, 111.
__.d o ... _________ ________
Mosaic and terrazzo workers, St. Louis, Mo. Discharged before 10 a.m ., 2
hours additional to time
worked.
Painters:
Butte, Mont_________________________
2 hours.
Chicago, 111__________________________
4 hours.
Cleveland, Ohio_____________________ 2 hours (old employee)______
Dallas, T e x .. ..................... ......................... 4 hours..
Davenport, Iowa__ _____________ . .
2 hours (new employee) 1 hour.
Des Moines, Iowa____________________
Do.
Houston, Tex________________________ 4 hours (new employee) _
Memphis, Tenn____ _______________
4 hours.
Milwaukee, Wis______________________ 1 hour and car fare
Moline, 111 _______________________
2 hours (new employee).
1 hour.
_ _dO____
New York, N. Y ____________________
1 day.
Omaha, Nebr________________________ 2 hours..
Rock Island, 111 ________ _________ . 2 hours (new employee). . .
1 hour.
St. Louis, Mo________________________ 2 hours______ _______ _ . .
Salt Lake City, U ta h .._______________ ____do______ _______________
San Francisco, Calif___ ______________
.do____________________ . 2 hours.
Scranton, P a . ) . . ____________ _______
1 hour and transportation__ _
Seattle, Wash______________________
4 hours.
Spokane, Wash.................................. .......
2 hours, minimum__________
Springfield, Mass................ .....................
2 hours________________
Sign painters:
Buffalo, N. Y ________________________ 4 hours_____________________ 8 hours.
Kansas City, Mo____________________ ___do______________________
1 day_______________________ 1 day.
New York, N. Y ___________________
San Francisco, Calif__________________ 2 hours_____________________ 2 hours.
Plasterers:
Baltimore, M d ... __________________
2 hours (new employee)______
Cincinnati, Ohio___________________
.do_____________________
Cleveland, Ohiol___________________
4 hours (new employee)______
Columbus, Ohio___________________
2 h o u rs ..___ _____ _____
Denver, C o lo ______________________ . 2 hours (new employee)______
Des Moines, Iowa_______ _____ _____
2 hours_____________________ 2 hours.
Detroit, Mich___________ _________
4 hours (new employee)______
Indianapolis, Ind___________________ . 2 hours____ ____ . ________
Little Rock, Ark__________ ______ __
2 hours; if not given work by
noon, 4 hours.
2 hours.
Los Angeles, Calif_________ ___________
Minneapolis, Minn_________________
2 hours (new employee)______ 1 hour.
New York, N. Y _____________________ 1 day (new employee); old 2 hours.
employee discharged 8 a.m.,
1 hour; before 9 a. m., 2
hours.
Brooklyn, N. Y _________________
For all time lost________ ___
8 hours, if discharged dur ■
ing day.
Pittsburgh, P a ... . . ______________
2 hours... _. _______________
Portland, Oreg _______________ _____
2 hours.
Rochester. N . Y .......................................
1 hour . . . ________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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T
able
M O N TH LY
LA BO R
R E V IE W
3 .—PROVISIONS IN LOCAL BU ILD IN G -TRAD ES UNION A G R E EM E N T S FOR
R EPO R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y —Continued
Trade and city
Plasterers— C ontinued.
Seattle, Wash...... ...................................... .
Toledo, Ohio________ ____ ___________
Wichita, Kans__________ ____ ________
Plasterers ’ laborers, Minneapolis, Minn___
Plumbers and gas fitters:
Atlanta, Ga.....................................................
' Birmingham, Ala________ ___________
Buffalo, N. Y ________________________
Charleston, S. C .._ _........................... .........
Chicago, 111........ ....................................... .
Cincinnati, Ohio....................... ....................
Cleveland, Ohio_________________ ___
Dallas, Tex _______________ _____ ____
Denver, Colo
__________ ________
Detroit, M ic h _______________________
Erie, Pä____ _______________ ____ ____
Indianapolis, Ind_____________________
Los Angeles, C alif___________________
Louisville, K y_______________________
Manchester, N. H __________________ .
Memphis, Tenn_________ ____ ____ _
Minneapolis, Minn........ .................... .
Nashville, Tenn__________________
New Orleans, La........................................
New York, N. Y _________ ______
Omaha, Nebr___________________
Pittsburgh, Pa_________ __________
Portland, M e..........................................
Rochester, N. Y ______ _____ ______
St. Louis, Mo________ ____ _______
St. Paul, Minn___________________
Seattle, Wash_______________ _____
Spokane, W ash.. .......... ................... .
Springfield, Mass..........................................
Plumbers ’ laborers:
Pittsburgh, Pa.......................................... ...
St. Louis, M o ......................................
Sheet-metal workers:
Chicago, 111_______________ ______ _
Davton, Ohio___________________ _ .
Denver, Colo
................................ ...........
Indianapolis, Ind_________________ . . .
New York, N. Y ______ ____ ______
Pittsburgh, P a ...............................................
Slate and tile roofers:
Boston, M a s s.....................................
Cleveland, Ohio............................
Dayton, Ohio.........................
Steam and sprinkler fitters:
Atlanta, Ga_____________ ___________
Birmingham, Ala___________________ .
Baltimore, Md .........................................
Boston, Mass..................................................
Buffalo, N. Y__...................................... .
Charleston, S. C . . ........ ..............................
Cleveland, Ohio.............................................
Dallas, Tex ...................................................
Denver, Colo.................................................
Detroit, M ich.......... .............................
Erie, Pa.................................................... .......
Indianapolis, Ind_____________________
Los Angeles, Calif___________ _____ _
Louisville, Ky .......................................... .
Manchester, N. H . ......................................
Memphis, T e n n ..................................... .
Nashville, Tenn......................................
New Orleans, L a ..........................................
New York, N. Y .........................................
Portland, Me________________________
Providence, R. I ...........................................
Rochester, N. Y _ _ .......................................
St. Louis, M o ...............................................
Seattle, Wash................... ................ .............
Springfield, Mass.......... ..............................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Time paid for where men re
port and are not given work
Minimum time paid for in
any one day
2 hours . . . .
2 hours.
____d o ___________
____d o _____
2 hours (new employee)...........
2 hours (old employee); 4 hours
(new employee).
1 day (old employee) .
2 hours
4 hours...
___ do _ .
4 hours (new employee)
4 hours..______ . . . . . . . . _____
1 h o u r . _______ _______ ____
4 hours _________ __________
Do.
Doi
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
2 hours if laid off.
4 hours.
8 hours
4 hours if remain in shop after
9 a. m.
4 hours
_ __do
Do.
8 hours.
4 hours.
___
Do.
4 hours if discharged.
Do.
Do.
2 hours........................................... 2 hours.
4 hours.
1 day
4 hours
_.
__________
Do.
.do
.
. ___
2 hours (old employee) . ____
___do__ __
_ ..do __
2 hours
2 hours (new employee)
2 hours
1 hour; must remain 1 hour__
2 h o urs.... .
4 hours
2 hours; must remain more
than 1 hour.
2 hours
4 hours
.do
4 hours (new employee)
4 hours.l______ . . . . . . . . _____
4 hours
4 hours if remain more than 1
hour.
[126]
Do.
Do.
Do.
1 day.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
2 hours, day shift; 1 day,
night shift.
4 hours.
Do.
4 hours if discharged.
4 hours.
2 hours.
4 hours.
R E P O R T IN G -T IM E
T
a fle
AND
M IN IM U M
PA Y
IN
B U IL D IN G
TRAD ES
127
2 .—PROVISIONS IN LOCAL B U ILD IN G -TRAD ES UNION A G R E EM E N T S FOR
R EPO R T IN G -T IM E AND M INIM UM PA Y—Continued
Trade and city
Time paid for where men re
port and are not given work
Stone and marble masons:
Atlanta, Ga
_ _________________
"Boston, Mass
_ _____________
But,to, Mont
_ _ _ _ _ _________
Chicago, 111__________________________
Minimum time paid for in
any one day
2 hours................................ ...........
____do_ ........................................
____do_ ____ _____ _______ 4 hours.
2 hours (old employee); 2 hours
and time lost to and from
job (new employee).
4 hours, second and third
Cleveland, Ohio______________________
shift.
Denver, Colo__ ____ _____________ ___ 2 hours; discharged before 10
a. m., 2 hours in addition to
time worked.
Detroit, Mi eh _ ____________________ 1 hour______________________
Indianapolis, Ind_____________________ 2 hours . ___________________
TiOs Angeles, Calif_____
_ ________ _
do__________________ ___
do__......................... .............. 2 hours.
Milwaukee, Wis_____________________
New Orleans, L a _____
l h o u r __
_______ _____
1
hour;
discharged before 9
New York, N. Y _____________________
a. m., 2 hours.
Norfolk, Va
______
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 hour if discharged_________
Portland, Me_________ _____________ 2 hours
_________________
Portland, O reg______________________
do______________________
Rochester, N. Y _______ _
1 hour
____ ____ -- —
St. Louis, Mo________________________ 4 hours (new employee); dis
charged before 10 a. m., 2
hours additional to time
worked.
Toledo, Ohio______ ___ ______________ 2 hours __________________
Structural-iron workers:
Do.
Bridgeport, Conn_______ _ _ ________ 2 hours (new employee)_____
Chicago, 111
______ ______________ 2 hours____________________
Cincinnati, Ohio ____________________
do __________________ Cleveland, Ohio ___________________
do
_________________
2 hours (old employee) _ _
Dallas, Tex _ _______ __
Davenport, Iowa______ ______________ 2 hours
__________________
do __ _________________
Dayton, Ohio _______ ______________
Detroit, Mich __________ _ _______ 2 hours (new employee)--------Do.
Drift, Pa
______
2 hours
__________________
Houston, Tex_ ______________________
do______________________ 4 hours.
Indianapolis, Ind _____ ______________
do______________________
do______________________
Jacksonville, Fla_____________________
Do.
TCansas Oitv. Mo _____ _ _ _ _ ______
do ___________________
Los Angeles, Calif_____ _____ _______ _
do _ _________________
2 hours (new employee)______
Lonisville, Tty
Minneapolis, Minn__
4 hours ___________________
Moline, 111
____________________ 2 hours
_________________
New Haven, Conn______ _ ________ _ 2 hours (new employee)--------- 2 hours.
New Orleans, L a ____________________ 2 hours __________________
do _ _ _________________
New York, N. Y _____________________
Philadelphia, P a____. . . ______________ 4 hours and car fare (new employee).
Pittsburgh, Pa_ _____________________ 2 h o u rs.___________________
2 hours, day shift; 4 hours,
Providence, R. I _____________________
night shift.
Rock Island, 111______________________ 2 hours_____________________
St. Paul, Minn_______________________ 4 hours_____________________
Salt Lake City, Utah__
2 hours ___________________ 4 hours.
San Francisco, Calif________________ _
do _____________________
do______________________
Seattle, Wash ______________________
Toledo, Ohio
_______ ___________
do______________________ 2 hours.
Tile layers:
Baltimore, Md_______________________ For time waiting____________
Boston, Mass__ _____ ________________ 2 hours______________ ______
Denver, Colo.. . . . . . . . . . . _____________ 2 hours; discharged before 10
a. m.,’ 2 hours additional to
time worked.
Indianapolis, Ind___________________
2 hours _ . _______________
Los Angeles, Calif__________________ _
do_ ____________________
Do.
do__................... .................. Milwaukee, Wis_____ ________________
1 hour, ____________________
New Orleans, L a_________________ _
Norfolk, Va ' .............................................. _ __do__.......................................
Pittsburgh, P a_______________________ 2 hours_____________________
Rochester, N. Y ________________ _ _
1 hour . _ . _____________ St. Louis, Mo________________________ 2 hours; discharged before 10
a. m., 2 hours additional to
time worked.
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128
M O N TH LY
LA B O R R E V IE W
Office Workers’ Earnings in New York State
T
HE following table, adapted from a table in the November
issue of the Industrial Bulletin, issued by the New York State
Industrial Commission, shows the general trend of office
workers’ earnings, by industries, in the month of October of each of
the past five years and in June, 1914. The employees represented
include those who appear on the factory office pay roils as clerks,
stenographers, bookkeepers, accountants, cashiers, stock clerks, office
managers, superintendents, etc.
•NUMBER OF O F FIC E E M P L O Y E E S AND AVERAGE W E E K L Y EARNINGS IN OCTOBER,
1923 TO 1927, COM PARED W ITH JU N E , 1914, B Y IN D U STR Y
Number of
employees
Average weekly earnings
Industry
Octo June,
June,
1914 ber, 1927 1914
Stone, clay, and glass.................. ...........
607
Metals and machinery_____________ 12,122
Wood manufacture-- ____________
1,539
Furs, leather, and rubber goods_____ 2,137
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc...............
3, 795
Printing and paper goods...................
7, 075
Textiles__________ ________________ 1, 502
Clothing and millinery_____________ 4,809
Food and to b a cco ....... .......................... 3, 022
Water, light, and power.......................
455
Total and average_____ ______
37, 063
781
17,679
2,036
2,561
4,136
7,900
Octo Octo Octo Octo Octo
ber, 1923 ber, 1924 ber, 1925 ber, 1926 ber, 1927
$18. 06
19. 69
18. 68
16.05
16. 24
22. 57
16. 60
15. 88
21. 61
$30. 35
33. 36
34.29
28. 92
27.83
36.41
28. 08
29. 68
33.98
30. 38
$32. 65
34.63
35.06
29.41
28.80
37.48
28.83
30. 29
34. 31
31.97
$32. 78
35. 75
36.94
28. 75
29.45
38.90
29.36
30.92
34.86
32. 78
$34.06
36.31
39. 19
29. 64
31.30
39.91
29. 95
31. 41
35. 86
32.53
$34.40
36.88
39.52
29.62
32.64
40.49
29.85
31.45
35.86
31.79
45, 749 1 19. 18
32. 56
33. 58
34.49
35.38
35.88
2,000
4, 420
3, 392
844
It will be noted that there has been an increase each year in each
industry except in furs, leather, and rubber goods, in textiles, in food
and tobacco, and in water, light, and power. It also appears that
the earnings of office workers in the chemical-industry group advanced
in greater amount during the last year than those in any other group.
In the next table the relative earnings of men and women employed
in offices in October, 1927, as compared with October, 1925, and
October, 1926, are shown:
AVERAGE W E E K L Y EARNINGS OF O F FIC E E M P L O Y E E S IN O CTO BER, 1925, 1926, AND
1927, B Y S E X AND B Y IN D U STR Y
October, 1925
October, 1926
October, 1927
Industry
Men
Metals and machinery..........................
Wood manufactures. _________ _________
Furs, leather, and rubber goods_________
Chemicals, oils, paints, e t c ..____________
Printing and paper goods. . ______ ____
Textiles_____ __ .......... ..............
Clothing and millinery_________
Food and tobacco...........................................
Average______________ _________
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
$44.23
42. 77
42. 98
44. 47
49. 35
37. 97
42. 98
42. 67
$20. 80
23. 23
24. 40
21. 59
23. 67
22. 33
25.19
22.53
$45. 85
44. 80
42. 12
45. 51
50. 54
39. 59
42. 20
44. 29
$21. 05
23. 98
24. 50
22. 43
24 43
23.04
26.04
22. 99
$46. 58
45. 89
44. 56
47 07
52. 58
39. 35
44. 43
45.12
$21. 34
24 65
23. 69
23 12
25. 38
22. 66
26. 01
23.45
44. 38
22.63
45. 54
23.17
46.73
23.41
This table indicates that the earnings of men advanced more
rapidly than those of women, the former showing a total of $1.19
more in October, 1927, than in October, 1926, while the average
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E I G H T -H O U R
DAY
FO R
C O M M E R C IA L
W O RK ERS
IN
M E X IC O
129
earnings of woman employees advanced only 24 cents in that period.
In textiles the average earnings for men were reduced from $39.59 to
$39.35, while in two industry groups—furs, leather, and rubber
goods and in textiles—the earnings of women were reduced, from
$24.50 to $23.69 in the former group and from $23.04 to $22.66 in
the latter group.
Hours of Work in Buenos Aires 1
T
HE Argentine Department of Labor conducted a special in
vestigation to ascertain the average length of the working-day
in the Federal capital during the year 1926. The findings
showed that less than eight hours constituted the average workingday for the 109,432 individuals investigated, of whom 80,467 were
wage earners and 28,965 salaried employees.
The table below shows the average daily hours of labor of the
wage earners and the salaried employees in Buenos Aires in 1926,
by sex and industry group.
AVERAGE D A ILY HOURS OF W ORK OF WAGE EA R N ER S AND SALARIED E M P L O Y E E S
IN BUENOS AIRES IN 1926, B Y IN D U STR Y
Male wage
earners
Industry
Male salaried Female sala
employees
ried employees
Num Hours
Num Hours
Num Hours
Num Hours
of
of
of
of
ber
ber
ber
ber
labor
labor
labor
labor
Food______________________________ _
3,113
Beverage_________ ______ ____________
1. 670
Tobacco ____________ ________________ 2, 655
Chemicals and medicine_______________
558
Textile. ____________________________
2,093
Clothing........ .............. ................ .............
4, 511
Lu m b er................................................ _
1,829
Metallurgy________________ ___________ 4, 202
Electrotechnical_____ ________________
8
Light and motor power__ _____________
4, 033
Building and construction........................... 3,138
Glass, gypsum, and pottery____________
743
Paper and pasteboard_________________
97
Polygraphy......................................................
2, 950
Leather. ___________________ _ . . . 1, 480
Transportation and communication_____ 32, 734
Commerce and finance___________ ____
551
O th ers........................ .................. ..............
320
Total and average........................... .
Female wage
earners
66, 685
8
8.6
7.31
7.59
8
8. 1
7. 58
7. 57
1, 080
170
3,041
601
4, 385
3, 825
2
58
8
8
8
8
8
8
8.1
8
8.12
8
53
287
38
206
18
15
7. 58
13,782
8
8
7. 52
7.59
8
8
8
7. 33
1
8
2
8
8
7. 35
7. 44
7.16
848
539
304
356
305
2,229
298
435
67
1,544
127
45
12
849
122
8.12
168
8
8
8
48
97
161
682
4
32
7.13
8.3
8. 37
8.12
7. 41
7. 53
8.1
8
8. 30
7. 31
8.5
7.5
8
8
15, 455
1, 380
50
8.12
7. 56
24,965
7.31
7. 46
11
6
44
10
1
1
88
8
2,138
500
1
4,000
7.59
8
7.35
7.55
8
8
8
7.49
8
7.15
7 ñn
6
8
7. 46
8
7.51
8
8
7.52
Eight-Hour Day for Commercial Workers in Mexico 2
N AUGUST 15,1927, President Galles, of Mexico, approved the
regulations concerning working hours in commercial estab
lishments in the Federal District, which became effective
September 1, 1927.
From that date all persons engaged in such undertakings, whether
as salaried employees or skilled or unskilled workers, are to have
the 8-hour day. The sale of merchandise is absolutely prohibited
during closing hours.
O
1 Argentina. Ministerio del Interior. Crónica Informativa, Buenos Aires, January, 1927, pp. 69, 70.
2 El Universal, Mexico City, Aug. 20, 1927, and International Labor Office, Industrial and Labor In
formation, Geneva, Oct. 31, 1927, p. 135.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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130
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
A committee is to be organized, consisting of an employer, a com
mercial employee, and a Government representative, to superintend
the enforcement of the regulations.
Eight-Hour Day in Spanish Mines 1
A
SPANISH decree issued on September 28, 1927, provides that
eight hours shall constitute a working-day for both under
ground and surface mine workers in Spain from October
1, 1927.
For underground workers the workday is to begin when the first
workers enter the pits and will end when the first workers leave the
pits. Time consumed in walking from the pit to the working face and
back will be included in the working-day.
On account of the disputes which arose from the fact that eight
hours of work for underground workers involved a prolongation of
the day for surface workers, a decree of October 10, 1919, reduced
the hours of underground workers to seven a day.
At present, however, the Spanish coal industry is in such a serious
state of depression as compared with the same industry in other
countries that the Government felt justified in enacting a decree
providing for a return to the 8-hour day for underground workers.
1 La Gaceta de Madrid, Sept. 29, 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U 30]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment in Selected Manufacturing Industries in
November, 1927
E
M PLOYM ENT in manufacturing industries decreased 1.9 per
cent in November, 1927, as compared with October, and pay
roll totals decreased 3.7 per cent.
The decrease in pay-roll totals is in part accounted for by the
closing down of many establishments on election day and a more
general observance of armistice day.
The level of employment in November, 1927, was 6 per cent below
the level of employment in November, 1926, and pay-roll totals
were 8 per cent lower in November, 1927, than in November, 1926.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ weighted index of employment
for November, 1927, is 85.9 as compared with 87.6 for October,
1927, 88 for September, 1927, and 91.4 for November, 1926; the
weighted index of pay-roll totals for November, 1927, is 87.8 as
compared with 91.2 for October, 1927, 90.1 for September, 1927,
and 95.4 for November, 1926.
The report for November, 1927, is based on returns from 10,819
establishments in 54 of the principal manufacturing industries of the
United States. These establishments in November had 2,953,560
employees whose combined earnings in one week were $76,722,522.
C o m p a r is o n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -r o ll T o ta ls in N o v e m b e r a n d O c to b e r ,
1927
TSJINETEEN of the 54 separate industries had more employees in
^
November, 1927, than in October, while 9 of these 19 industries
and 1 additional industry reported increased pay-roll totals. The
increases in employment in 5 of the 19 industries—shirts, book and
job printing, pottery, glass, and rubber boots and shoes—were from
2 to 2.6 per cent each; the increases in 5 other industries—slaughter
ing, hosiery, woolen goods, carpets, and agricultural implements—
were from 1.1 to 1.5 per cent each; the remaining 9 increases were
each less than 1 per cent. The greatest increase in pay-roll totals
was 4.2 per cent in rubber boots and shoes.
The decreases in employment were most marked in automobiles
(8.4 per cent), boots and shoes (7.1 per cent), ice cream (6.3 per
cent), sugar refining (6.1 per cent), steam fittings (5.7 per cent),
automobile tires (4.7 per cent), confectionery (4.6 per cent), men’s
clothing (4.3 per cent), cement (3.7 per cent), women’s clothing
(3.3 per cent), foundry and machine-shop products and petroleum
refining (each 3 per cent), and brick (2.9 per cent). The majority
of these industries are particulary sensitive to the changing seasons,
but the decreases in 9 of the 13 were greater than has been customary
in November. The greatest decrease in pay-roll totals in November
(16.6 per cent) was in the leather boot and shoe industry, followed
by automobiles and steam fittings, with decreases of about 12 per
cent each, and men’s and women’s clothing, automobile tires, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[131]
131
132
M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
cast-iron pipe, the decrease in the last named being 8.8 per cent.
The iron and steel industry lost 1.8 per cent of its employees in
November and pay-roll totals fell off 2.5 per cent; cotton goods with
a loss of less than one-tenth of 1 per cent in employment reported a
drop of 2.6 per cent in pay-roll totals.
I he paper group alone of the 12 groups of industries showed a
gain in November, the increases in the two items being 0.9 per cent
each. The leather and the vehicle groups were most affected by
losses in employment—over 5 per cent in each case— and the iron
and steel group’s loss was less than one-half as great; the smallest
losses were sustained by the stone, clay, and glass group and the
textile group, the percentage decreases being about one-half of 1 per
cent in each group.
The Mountain division alone of the 9 geographic divisions reported
more employees in November, 1927, than in October, the increase
being 1 per cent only, while the falling-off in employment in the
remaining 8 divisions ranged from 3.4 per cent in each of the two
North Central divisions to 0.7 per cent in the South Atlantic States.
T able 1.—COMPARISON o f e m p l o y m e n t a n d p a y -r o l l t o t a l s i n i d e n t i c a l
EST A BLISH M EN TS DURING ONE W E E K EA CH IN OCTOBER AND N O V EM BER ,
adustry
Number on payrol
Per
Estab
cent
lish
of
ments October, Novem
1927
ber, 1927 change
Food and kindred p r o d u c ts ...
Slaughtering and meat pack
ing........ .....................................
Confectionery.............................
Ice cream______ .
Flour________ ____
B akin g....................................
Sugar refining, cane...................
1, 701
230, 998
237,198
196
312
208
337
634
14
83, 773
41, 626
9,450
16,124
69, 282
10, 743
84, 770
39,713
8, 853
15, 785
67, 987
10,090
Textiles and th eir p ro d u cts___
Cotton goods_________ _____
Hosiery and knit goods._IIIH
Silk goods..................................
Woolen and worsted goods__
Carpets and rugs...................
Dyeing and finishing textiles..
Clothing, men’s ____________
Shirts and collars.......... ............
Clothing, women’s ....................
Millinery and lace goods.........
1,883
813,294
Iron and steel and their prod
u c ts ..______ ________ _______
Iron and steel.................I” ” "
Cast-iron pipe.................
Structural ironwork______ A
Foundry and machine-shop
products.................................
Hardware__________________
Machine tools_________ ____
Steam fittings and steam and
hot-water heating appara
tus..............................................
Stoves.................................."
Lu m b er and its p ro d u cts.........
Lumber, sawmills_______
Lumber, millwork............... ’ l l
Furniture.. ........................... j
474
244
188
194
29
99
287
90
201
77
1, 789
203
40
153
233, 648
80, 383
54, 752
65, 387
23, 644
31, 710
65, 896
19, 660
21, 849
11, 365
634,131
238, 606
81, 544
54, 166
66,104
23, 996
32, 007
63, 093
20, 174
21,127
11, 369
618, 622
-6 .3
- 2 .1
- 1 .9
- 6 .1
0)
-(* )
+ 1.4
-1 . 1
+ 1 .1
+ 1. 5
+ 0.9
- 4 .3
+ 2 .6
- 3 .3
+ (2)
0)
- 1.8
- 2. 2
256, 766
12, 598
23,864
252, 261
12, 320
23, 441
970
72
146
225, 961
32, 282
28, 093
219, 086
31, 952
27,588
- 3 .0
- 1 .0
110
86
39,147
15, 420
36, 924
15, 050
-5 . 7
- 2 .4
1,179
221,868
218,306
470
269
431
122, 253
32, 042
67, 573
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
612,186
(')
+ 1 .2
- 4 .6
[132]
- 1 .8
- 1 .8
0)
119, 451
-2 . 3
31,266
-2 . 4
67, 589 1 + ( 2)
Amount of pay roll
October,
1927
Per
cent
of
November,
change
1927
$5,853, 774
$5, 763, 163
2,152, 681
764, 561
312.315
445, 070
1,859, 300
319, 847
2,184, 742
732,455
291, 461
425, 824
1 , 829, 719
298, 962
1 2 ,434,220
12,003, 242
3, 951, 304
1, 592, 129
1,180, 934
1, 500, 407
627, 636
798, 921
1, 573, 454
337,107
594, 314
278, 014
18,301,334
7, 533, 612
296, 344
715, 500
6, 517,327
802,148
855, 547
3,848, 837
1, 582, 683
1,131, 879
1, 485, 218
638, 725
783, 626
1, 397, 006
337, 516
538, 607
259,145
1 7 ,612,200
7, 345, 036
270,181
683,180
6, 266, 472
(')
+ 1 .5
- 4 .2
- 6. 7
- 4 .3
-1 . 6
- 6 .5
(')
- 2 .6
-0 . 6
-4 . 2
- 1 .0
+ 1 .8
- 1 .9
—11 .2
+ 0 .1
- 9 .4
- 6.8
(*)
- 2 .5
- 8.8
- 4 .5
- 3 .8
784, 265
844, 945
- 2.2
- 1.2
1,147, 563
433, 293
1, 004, 721
413, 400
-1 2 .4
5 ,0 4 9 ,1 5 6
4, 914,567
(’)
- 2.6
2,553, 711
2, 487, 410
786,828
751, 419
1,699,617 1 1, 675, 738
- 4 .6
-4 . 5
- 1 .4
EM PLO YM EN T
T
IN
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R I E S
1 . — COMPARISON OF EM P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y-RO LL TOTALS IN ID EN T IC A L
EST A BLISH M EN TS DURING ONE W E E K EA CH IN O CTOBER AND N O V EM B ER ,
1927—Continued
able
- ■ - ..... .
Number on pay roll
Establishments
Industry
Per
cent
of
October, Novem change
1927
ber, 1927
$2,487,683
664, 283
1, 823, 400
0
5, 764,508
1, 562, 272
470, 599
1, 713, 333
2, 018, 304
5,814,924
1, 554, 529
470,055
1, 749, 782
2,040, 558
0
+ 0 .9
- 2.8
-3 .0
0
2,602,415
905, 092
212, 762
1,484, 561
2,554,951
902,053
207, 875
1, 445,023
0
109,209
25,303
32, 378
13,020
38,508
(>)
-3 . 7
- 2 .9
+ 2.4
+ 2.0
2,929,901
786, 129
849, 979
341, 949
951,844
2,855,708
744, 581
817, 297
343, 993
- 949,837
0
49,824
18,523
49,120
18,540
+ 0.1
1,320,974
465,395
1,300,409
465,928
0
148
31,301
30, 580
- 2 .3
855, 579
834.483
- 2 .5
185
47,801
47,437
837,239
825,686
0)
30
155
8,518
39,283
8,450
38,987
139,063
698,176
128, 607
697,079
- 0 .2
1,200
197
54
468,730
439,211
14,873,629
1 3 ,832,446
332
230
125,765
26,871
98, 894
118,756
26,914
91,842
0)
+ 0.2
- 7 .1
Paper and p rin tin g......................
Paper and pulp______ ______
Paper boxes________________
Printing, book and job______
Printing, newspapers.......... .
90«
214
179
304
209
177,173
58,826
20,660
48,506
49,181
178,554
58, 713
20,836
49, 695
49, 310
- 0.2
+ 0.8
+2. 5
+ 0 .3
Chem icals and allied prod ucts.
Chem icals..................................
Fertilizers________ ______ _
Petroleum refining.....................
355
127
173
55
89,613
32, 751
11, 332
45, 530
88,275
33, 062
11,041
44,172
Stone, d ay , and glass products.
Cement______________ _____
Brick, tile, and terra cotta........
Pottery____________________
Glass.......... ..................................
66«
99
397
60
110,094
28, 286
33, 359
12, 713
37, 736
216
68
Tobacco p rod u cts------------------Chewing
and
smoking
tobacco and snuff_________
Cigars and cigarettes................
Vehicles for land tra n sp o rta
tio n --------------------- ---------------Automobiles_____ ______ ___
Carriages and wagons..............
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad.......................
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad.........................
Miscellaneous in du stries...........
Agricultural implements_____
Electrical machinery, appa
ratus, and supplies. ............
Pianos and organs................. .
Rubber boots and shoes..........
Automobile tire s.................... .
Shipbuilding, steel__________
October,
1927
Per
cent
of
November, change
1927
?2,852,914
666, 560
2,186, 354
L eath er and its products_____
Leather____________________
Boots and shoes.........................
M etal products, other th a n
iron and steel_______________
Stamped and enameled ware.
Brass, bronze, and copper
products.......................... .........
Amount of pay roll
122
110
301, 060
1,457
275, 653
1,432
0
0
- 0 .8
- 0.8
0
- 8 .4
- 1 .7
9, 873, 251
32,042
♦
0
- 0 .3
-1 6 .6
'
-0 .5
- 0.1
+ 2.1
+ 1.1
- 0 .3
- 2 .3
-2 .7
—o. 3
-3 .9
+ 0. 6
- 0.2
+ 0.1
- 7 .5
0
8, 690,878
29,620
- 12.0
- 7 .6
+ 1.0
382
26, 485
26,170
- 1.2
804, 954
813,141
567
139, 728
135,956
- 2 .7
4,163,382
4,098,807
- 1.6
405
249,438
246,686
7,2 7 0 ,2 3 4
6 ,9 5 7 ,5 4 3
0
- 4 .4
- 1 .9
+ 4 .2
- 9 .8
- 3 .8
95
171
38
10
55
36
24,202
122,074
7,386
18, 714
51,167
25,895
0
24,465
+ 1.1
681,093
690,162
121, 255
7,435
19,197
48,757
25, 577
- 0 .7
+ 0 .7
+ 2.6
- 4 .7
- 1.2
3, 561,100
233, 797
471, 611
1, 554, 828
767,805
3,405, 875
229, 306
491, 557
1,401, 895
738,748
80,0 8 1 ,2 9 8
76,7 2 2 ,5 2 2
0
10,094,948
23, 732, 555
28, 709, 878
4,106, 333
5,257,572
2,188, 917
1, 860,146
744, 209
3,386, 740
9, 731,140
23,016,326
26, 993,974
3, 896,141
5,165, 350
2,110, 443
1, 796, 843
753, 215
3, 259, 090
- 3 .6
- 3 .0
- 6.0
- 5 .1
- 1.8
-3 .6
- 3 .4
+ 1.2
- 3 .8
89,081,298
7«, 722,522
0
Ail industries........................ 10,819 3 ,0 1 8 ,7 2 9 2 ,9 5 3 ,5 6 0
0
+ 1.3
R e c a p itu la tio n by G e o g ra p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
New England....................................
Middle Atlantic...... .................. .......
East North Central_______ ____ West North Central...... .............. -South A tlantic________________
East South Central--.......................
West South C entral-.................... .
Mountain.......... .............. ..................
Pacific..................................................
1, 394
2,536
2,883
1, 050
1,127
519
458
185
667
415, 771
843, 641
968, 703
162, 282
281, 451
114, 255
86,156
27,072
119, 398
409, 796
830, 382
935, 797
156,845
279, 525
112, 682
84,837
27,356
116, 340
All divisions........................... 10,819 3,018, 729 2,953,560
- 1 .4
- 1.6
-3 . 4
- 3 .4
-0 .7
- 1 .4
- 1 .5
+ 1.0
- 2.6
0
1 The per cent of change has n ot been computed for the reason that the figures in the preceding columns
are unweighted and refer only to the establishments reporting; for the weighted per cent of change, wherein
proper allowance is made for the relative importance of the several industries, so that the figures may
represent all establishments of the country in the industries here represented, see Table 2.
2 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[133]
134
T able
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
2 .— P E R C EN TS OP CHANGE, OCTOBER TO N O V EM B ER ,
1927— 12 GROUPS OF
IN D U STR IES AND TOTAL OF A L L IN D USTRIES
lComputed from the index numbers of each group, which are obtained by weighting the index numbers
of the several industries of the group, by the number of employees, or wages paid, in the industries]
Per cent of change,
October, 1927, to
November, 1927
Per cent of change,
October, 1927, to
November, 1927
Group
Food and kindred products...
Textiles and their products...
Iron and steel and their prod
u c ts ........... ..............................
Lumber and its products........
Leather and its products.........
Paper and p rin tin g.................
Chemicals and allied products
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts........ ...................................
Group
Number
on pay
roll
Amount
of pay
roll
—1.8
- 0.6
- 1.6
- 4 .3
- 2 .4
- 1.8
- 5 . .4
+ 0 .9
- 1.0
- 3 .3
- 2 .5
- 11.8
+ 0 .9
- 1 .4
- 0 .4
- 2.0
C o m p a riso n of E m p lo y m e n t
Number Amount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
Metal products, other than
iron and steel......... ...............
Tobacco products___________
Vehicles for land transpor
tation______ _____________
Miscellaneous industries.........
All in d u stries_______
a n d P a y R o ll T o t a l s
N o v em b er, 1926
in
- 1.6
- 0.8
—1.8
- 1.1
- 5 .1
- 1.2
- 6.2
- 4 .2
- 1 .9
- 3 .7
N o v em b er, 1927, a n d
E M P L O Y M E N T in manufacturing industries in November, 1927,
was 6 per cent lower than in November, 1926, and pay-roll totals
were 8 per cent smaller than in November, 1926. As previously
stated there was in 1927 a more general observance of Armistice Day
as indicated by reports to that effect, and apparently more establish
ments than has been usual were closed on election day. Both of
these closings had an appreciable effect upon pay-roll totals.
The textile group of industries alone of the 12 groups shows gains
both in employment and in pay-roll totals over the 12-month period,
while the tobacco group shows an increase in employment coupled
with a small decrease in pay-roll totals; as in October, 1927, the
outstanding decreases in employment were in the iron and steel group
of industries and in the vehicle group.
The pronounced increases in separate industries over this 12-month
period were in women’s clothing, rubber boots and shoes, cotton
goods, dyeing and finishing textiles, cigars, chewing tobacco, bak
ing, and sugar refining; the pronounced decreases were in petroleum
refining, in the eight industries comprising the iron and steel group,
and in lumber, boots and shoes, fertilizers, brick, shipbuilding, and
steam-car building and repairing.
Each of the nine geographic divisions shows a falling off in employ
ment in this comparison from November, 1926, to November, 1927,
the most pronounced decreases being in the Middle Atlantic, New
England, and the four central divisions; the South Atlantic division
shows a small decrease, and the Pacific States a moderate decrease.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[134]
EM PLO YM EN T
IN
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
135
IN D U S T R I E S
T a b l e 3 —COMPARISON OP EM P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y-RO LL TOTALS, N O V EM B ER , 1927,
W ITH N O V EM B ER , 1926
[The per cents of change for each of the 12 groups of industries and for the total of all industries are weighted
in the same manner as are the per cents of change in Table 2]
Per cent of change,
November, 1927,
compared with
November, 1926
Per cent of change,
November, 1927,
compared with
November, 1926
Industry
Industry
Number Amount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
Pood and kindred products,.
Slaughtering and meat
packing________________
Confectionery____________
Ice cream_________________
Flour............. ............... ...........
Baking_______________ . . .
Sugar refining, cane...............
Textiles and their p ro d u cts..
Cotton goods
Hosiery and knit goods____
Silk goods________________
Woolen and worsted goods..
Carpets and rugs_________
Dyeing and finishing textiles____________________
Clothing, men’s__________
Shirts and collars________
Clothing, women’s .......... .
Millinery and lace goods....
Iron and steel and their
products___ ____________
Iron and steel_____________
Cast-iron pipe____________
Structural ironwork . ____
Foundry and machine-shop
products...............................
Hardware________________
Machine tools____________
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-water heating
apparatus______________
Stoves___________________
- 1.6
- 1.0
- 3 .0
-4 .9
-3 . 9
- 2.8
+ 1 .7
+ 1.3
-3 . 4
- 5 .0
-2 . 7
- 0 .7
+ 2.6
+ 3.4
+ 1. 2
+4. 4
4-0. 7
-4 . 1
- 6 .3
- 1. 2
+ 1.8
+4. 9
4-2.1
- 5 .0
- 6 .7
- 7 .3
+ 2. 2
-2 . 7
(i)
+ 9 .9
(>)
+ 2.0
- 5 .4
- 0. 2
+17. 7
+ 0.6
- 10. 9
-1 1 .3
-1 5 .8
- 8. 7
-1 5 . 0
-1 6 .4
-2 4 .5
- 9 .3
-10. 7
- 8.0
-1 3 .3
-14. 1
- 12. 8
-1 4 .8
- 7 .5
-12. 4
- 12.0
-1 7 . 7
Lu m b er and its p rod ucts___
Lumber, sawmills________
Lumber’ millwork________
Furniture. _____ _________
- 8.0
- 8. 7
- 12. 2
- 3 .9
- 7 .9
-7 . 4
-1 3 .8
- 6.1
L eath er and its p rod u cts___
- 8.0
Boots and shoes__________
-9 . 6
-1 3 .8
4 ()
-1 7 .7
Paper and prin tin g_________
Paper and p u lp ........... .........
Paper boxes______________
Printing, book and job.. _
Printing, newspapers______
- 1 .4
- 2.8
-3 .2
- 1 .5
+ 0.8
Number Amount
on pay of pay
roll
roll
Chem icals and allied produ c ts _______________________
Chemicals
Fertilizers . . . _
Petroleum refining
- 7 .6
+0. 4
—11 . 3
-16. 2
- 6 .5
+0 9
- 8. 0
—14.9
Stone, clay, and glass produ cts__________ _______
Cement__ _ . . . . ______
Brick, tile, and terra cotta..
Pottery
Glass_____________
-7 . 8
- 6. 7
- 9 .0
—7. 1
-7 . 2
- 9 .5
- 7 .7
-1 1 .7
-4 9
-9 . 8
- 9 .3
- 11.1
Metal products, other th an
iron and steel _________
Stamped and enameled
ware_____________
Brass, bronze, and copper
products
____
Tobacco p rod u cts__________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and s n u ff ..______
Cigars and cigarettes
Vehicles for land tran sp o rtation __
Automobiles______________
Carriages and wagons
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad____ ____
Miscellaneous industries
Agricultural implements. _
Electrical machinery, apparatus and supplies
Pianos and organs_______
Rubber boots and shoes
Automobile tires___ ______
Shipbuilding, steel.................
All industries_________
—8. 6
-4 . 3
—9. 6
-13. 2
+ 2.6
- 0 .7
+ 1. 8
+ 2 .7
+ 3.6
—1 2
-9 . 8
- 8. 7
+ 0.4
—10.1
-1 0 .5
-3 . 3
+ 1.1
+ 1.8
- 11.6
-1 0 .7
-9 . 0
- 5 .5
—10 2
- 3 .1
- 6. 8
-9 . 5
+ 8. 8
- 6.0
-1 3 .7
—9 1
—15. 9
+15 4
- 9 .8
- 12.8
- 6.0
- 8 .0
- 0 .3
- 4 .3
- 0 .3
+ 0.1
+ 2.7
R e c a p itu la tio n by G e o g ra p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
New England. .......................... .
Middle Atlantic______________
East North Central. ________
West North Central__________
South Atlantic ______________
East South Central______ ____
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION—COn.
- 6. 7
- 7 .9
-5 . 9
-5 .5
-0 . 7
-5 .5 .
- 8. 4
- 10. 2
- 8.0
- 7 .0
- 2. 6
-7 .2
West South Central__________
Mountain _________________
Pacific_______________________
i No change.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 5 ]
All d ivisions__________
- 7 .9
-4 . 6
-2 . 9
-6 .0
136
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
P e r C a p ita E a r n i n g s
P E R CAPITA earnings in November, 1927, for the 54 industries
combined were 1.8 per cent lower than in October, 1927, and 2.1
per cent lower than in November, 1926.
increases in per capita earnings in November, 1927, over October,
1927, appeared in 13 industries, and in 1 industry there was no change.
The increases were less than 1 per cent except in car building and
repairing and rubber boots and shoes. The outstanding decrease
was in leather boots and shoes.
Employees in 24 industries were averaging greater earnings in
November, 1927, than in November, 1926, the greatest increase
having been in the women’s clothing industry. The outstanding
decrease in per capita earnings in this period was in the cast-iron
pipe industry.
T a b l e 4 . —COMPARIONS OF P E R CAPITA EARNINGS N O V EM B ER , 1927, W ITH OCTOBER
1927, AND N O V EM BER , 1926
Per cent of
change No
vember, 1927,
compared with—
Per cent of
change No
vember, 1927,
compared with—
Industry
Industry
Octo
ber,
1927
Car building and repairing, elec
tric railroad........... .........................
Rubber boots and shoes - .............. .
Car building and repairing, steam
railroad_______ ______ _______
Printing, newspapers........ ..............
Cigars and cigarettes..... ................ .
Machine tools.................................. .
Confectionery_________________ _
Baking............ ................................ .
Carpets and rugs-...........................
Fertilizers................ ..........................
Petroleum refining________ _____
Slaughtering and meat packing___
Agricultural implements..............
Stamped and enameled ware____
Brass, bronze, and copper prod
ucts__________ _____ ___ ____ _
Lumber, saw m ills....................... .
Paper and pulp................................
Printing, book and jo b ..................
Ice cream..................... ......................
Leather____ _____ _____________
Sugar refining, cane.........................
Iron and steel...................................
Foundry and machine-shop produ c t s .......... ............................. ........
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.............
Paper boxes________ __________
Hardware...... ....................................
Chemicals...........................................
No
vember,
1926
+ 2.2
+ 1.6
+ 0 .5
+ 6.1
+ 1. 2
+ 0.8
+ 0.6
+ 0.6
+ 0 .4
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .3
+ 0.2
(>)
+ 1.0
+ 1.8
- 3 .7
—1.7
- 0 .3
+ 1.0
- 6.0
+ 3 .4
+ 1.5
- 0 .7
+ 2 .3
+ 4 .5
- 0.1
- 0 .3
- 0 .3
- 0 .3
- 0 .4
- 0 .5
- 0 .5
- 0 .7
- 4 .4
+ 1.3
-1 .7
+ 1.8
+ 1.2
- 1.6
+ 2.1
- 5 .6
- 0.8
-0 .9
- 1.0
- 1.2
- 1 .3
- 3 .8
- 2 .7
+ 2 .9
- 5 .0
+ 0.4
Octo
No
ber, vember,
1927
Furniture..................... .........
Cement.........................
Pottery_________________
Hosiery and knit goods______
Woolen and worsted goods
Flour_______________
Glass_____ _____________
Lumber, millwork_______
Stoves_________________
Shirts and collars___________
Cotton goods________
Pianos and organs.............
.
Shipbuilding. ________
Dyeing and finishing textiles
Structural ironw ork__
Silk goods__________
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies.......... .............. .
Automobiles_____
Automobile tires_______
Carriages and wagons..... .........
Clothing, women’s . ............
Cast-iron p ip e... ............
Chewing and smoking tobacco
and snuff__________
Millinery and lace goods
Steam fittings and steam and hotwater heating apparatus. . . . . .
Clothing, men’s . _____
Boots and shoes....................
1926
- 1 .4
-
-
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
+ 1.4
- 0 .3
+ 2.4
- 2 .9
— 1.9
- 5 .8
-2.4
+ 0 .2
+ 0.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
-
2.8
-
2.8
- 6 .9
+ 1.3
- 0 .5
- 0 .7
-1.0
-3.1
-3.7
-3.8
-5.4
-
- 2 .5
- 1 .9
-4 . 1
- 3 .9
+ 7 .0
6. 0
-6.3
-
6.8
10.2
+ 1.6
6.8
+ 0.5
-7 .2
-5 .2
-3 .0
- 9 .0
- 7 .3
-
2.2
1.2
+2.2
10.2
i No change.
W age C h an ges
T H IR T E E N establishments in 8 industries reported increases in
/
wage rates during the month ended November 15, 1927. These
increases averaged 4.4 per cent and affected 1,426 employees, or onequarter of the total employees in the establishments concerned.
Thirty-three establishments in 10 industries reported decreases in
wage rates during the same period. The decreases averaged 8.3 per
cent and affected 4,608 employees or nearly one-half of the total
employees in the establishments concerned.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 6 ]
EM PLO YM EN T
IN
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
137
IN D U S T R IE S
These separate wage changes in themselves are of no especial sig
nificance. However, it may be noted that there were more decreases
than increases reported and that more than three times as many
employees were affected by the decreases as by the increases.
T
a ble
5 .—W AGE A D JUSTM EN TS OCCURRING B E T W E E N OCTOBER 15 AND NOVEM
B E R 15, 1927
Per cent of increase
or decrease in wage
rates
Establishments
Industry
Number
Total reporting
number increase
or de
report crease
in
ing
wage
rates
Range
Average
Employees affected
Per cent of employees
Total
number
In estab
lishments In all es
reporting tablish
increase
re
or decrease ments
porting
in wage
rates
Increases
Slaughtering and meat packing.
Baking.......... ...................................
Iron and steel....... .................... .
Hardware____________________
Printing, newspapers_________
Chemicals____________ _______
Agricultural implements______
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies....................
196
634
203
72
209
127
95
171
2
2
2
1
7.1
3.0
2. 0- 3. 0
1. 4- 6. 2
2. 0- 4. 0
5. 0-10. 0
9.0
7.1
3.0
2. 5
5.6
3.2
1
5.0
1
1
3
9.0
38
13
799
33
162
104
254
100
5.0
23
6
10.0
10.0
50
275
1, 150
231
8.6
7
25
44
13
42
5
(>)
(■)
(')
P>
0)
(')
1
C1)
Decreases
Ice cream.............................. ...........
Cotton goods..................................
Iron and steel.................................
Cast-iron pipe________________
Foundry and machine shop
products___________________
Lumber, sawmills__________ _
Lumber, millwork____ _______
Brick, tile, and terra cotta_____
Glass. _________ _____ ____ _
Automobile tires............................
208
474
203
40
3
970
470
269
397
3
4
110
55
1
6
9
1
3
1
2
10.0
10.0
2. 0- 2. 5
2.3
10.0
10.0
10. 0-15. 0
7. 5-10. 0
10. 0
10. 0- 20. 0
12.5
10. 0
11.2
9. 5
10.0
13. 0
12.5
10.0
538
1,635
85
40
493
111
1
81
100
40
14
0)
(')
33
77
(*)
85
(‘)
t1)
27
(‘)
100
100
2
1
1
1 Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
In d e x e s o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -r o ll T o ta ls in M a n u f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
TNDEX numbers for November, 1927, and for September and
1 October, 1927, and November, 1926, showing relatively the varia
tion in number of persons employed and in pay-roll totals in each
of the 54 industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
together with general indexes for the combined 12 groups of indus
tries, appear in Table 6.
The general index of employment for November, 1927, is 85.9,
this number being 1.9 per cent lower than the index for October,
1927, 2.4 per cent lower than the index for September, 1927, and 6
per cent lower than the index for November, 1926. The general
index of pay-roll totals for November, 1927, is 87.8, this number
being 3.7 per cent lower than the index for October, 1927, 2.6 per
cent lower than the index for September, 1927, and 8 per cent lower
than the index for November, 1926.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 7 ]
138
T
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
6 . — IN D E X E S OF EM P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y-RO LL TOTALS IN M ANUFACTURING
IN D USTRIES—N O V EM BER , 1926, AND S E P T E M B E R , OCTOBER, AND N O VEM BER,
able
[Monthly average, 1923=100]
Employment
Industry
1926
No
vem
ber
Pay-roll totals
1927
Sep
tember
Octo
ber
1926
No
vem
ber
No
vem
ber
1927
Sep
tember
Octo
ber
No
vem
ber
General index.............................
91.4
88.0
87.6
85.9
95.4
90.1
91.3
87.8
Food and kindred products .
Slaughtering and meat packing..
Confectionery.________________
Ice cream____________________
F lo u r._____________
Baking__________________ _____
Sugar refining, cane.........................
92.4
83.0
97.8
84. 5
91.9
101.9
88.9
92.1
80. 1
93.1
95. 7
90.9
104. 7
95.1
92.6
79.6
97. 5
86. 7
91.2
105. 6
95.9
90.9
80.5
93.0
81.2
89.3
103. 6
90.1
95.8
87.2
105.4
90. 1
94. 2
106.3
87.9
95.9
83.8
101. 1
104.4
92.5
110. 1
95.2
98.3
82.9
104.5
94.0
97. 7
94.8
84.2
Textiles and their products . . . .
Cotton goods________________
Hosiery and knit goods_________
Silk goods____________________
Woolen and worsted goods............
Carpets and rugs__________ ____
Dying and finishing textiles_____
Clothing, men’s........ ...........
Shirts and collars__ _____ ______
Clothing, women’s_______
Millinery and lace go od s.............
86.1
86.9
87.5
96. 5
98.1
78.9
94.2
98.3
83.9
79.0
80.8
70.0
87.6
87.9
98. 1
97.2
79.8
94.0
100. 1
83.1
81.2
84. 1
67.0
87.1
87.9
99.5
96.1
80.7
95.4
84.8
82.9
113.9
106.2
85.3
99.4
102.3
70.8
90.5
97.0
103.1
82.6
87.6
100.1
84.0
88.7
91.5
96.0
84.1
85.8
104.2
Iron and steel and their products.
Iron and steel._______________
Cast-iron pipe. _. _____ .
Structural ironwork . . .
Foundry and machine-shop prod
ucts.......................... ..............
Hardware_______________
Machine to ols________
Steam fittings and steam and
hot-water heating apparatus__
Stoves.................................. .
Lu m b er and its p r o d u c ts .. . . .
Lumber, sawmills_________
Lumber, millwork_____
Furniture........................
L eath er and its products____
Leather_____________
Boots and shoes.......................
Paper and p rin tin g. _____
Paper and pulp _________ _
Paper boxes_________ ______
Printing, book and job_________
Printing, newspapers.............. .......
Chem icals and allied products__
Chemicals.............................
Fertilizers______________
Petroleum................. .............
84.2
98.8
100.2
86. 1
96.6
98.8
81.7
83.3
74.0
67.0
101.0
79. 5
83.3
81.3
67.0
80.6
86.0
69. 5
67.7
100.1
110.8
87.7
93.5
109.1
90.9
88.6
88. 1
90.3
89. 3
117.0
105.3
80.4
90.5
106.3
75.4
85.8
90.3
73.1
86.3
87.0
116.3
100.9
79.6
92.1
104.3
67.0
85.8
81.8
84.7
81.6
108.3
104. 5
78.6
90.8
103.3
78.6
80.4
87.3
75.2
97.3
68.1
88.8
86.0
86.8
91.4
96.0
103.0
105.3
107.1
79.0
80.3
92.1
77.4
79. 7
91.9
75. 1
78.9
90.3
87.0
97.1
117.2
78.5
85. 5
101.3
77. 6
86. 7
101.0
74.7
84.7
99.8
92.4
91.6
93.0
80.6
90.7
82. 1
85.5
80.2
95.0
97.4
96.7
80.9
95.4
84.1
83.6
80.2
90.2
85.4
95. 7
103.7
85.1
81.2
87.7
97.1
84.5
79.8
83.0
78.0
84.0
99. 7
100. 0
94.7
103.1
116.6
93.7
90. 3
93.3
105.7
94.5
90.0
93.1
111 . 1
92.1
87.7
88.9
109.5
82.0
92.2
92.0
91.3
89.2
92.0
88.8
84.6
88.9
83.2
87.4
93.3
85.1
91.0
89.6
88.8
85.4
89.0
83.9
88. 7
106.6
95.8
107. 2
107. 1
115.9
103.4
93.3
99.6
104.0
114.0
104.2
93.3
102.9
102.9
116.4
165.1
93.1
103.8
105.5
116.8
115.0
103.5
117.9
116.6
123.4
111.7
96. 7
110.8
113.7
99. 5
117.6
114.3
125.3
114.7
99.0
117. 5
116.7
126.7
99.2
96.8
93.8
95.3
95.2
91.1
92.6
96.3
91.8
87.9
91.7
97.2
89.4
85.2
103.6
107.6
105.2
98.9
98.5
104. 6
110. 7
88.5
98.3
108.9
99.0
96.9
108.6
96.8
84.2
93.4
90.0
92.8
98.6
93.3
93.0
86. 7
90.1
99.4
97. 5
100.6
104.4
97.3
100.6
96.1
96.3
111.1
102.5
98.6
91.0
92.5
95.2
108.9
98. 7
104. 7
117.6
113.4
102.3
100.8
101.7
93.1
86.1
99.7
89.4
92. 5
100. 7
84.4
88.3
87. 2
101. 7
88.2
91.9
114.9
122.9
86.6
86.1
79.5
97.1
75.3
70.0
Stone, clay, and glass p ro d u c ts ...
Cement_________ .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta______
P o tte ry ....................... ....................
Glass..................................................
100.9
92. 9
99.0
108. 7
102.6
95.0
92.4
97.8
96. 7
92.5
Metal products, other th a n iron
and steel_________________
Stamped and enameled w a re ___
Brass, bronze, and copper prod
u c ts .......................... ...................
95.4
91.4
88.9
82.9
87.9
83.4
86.5
83.5
95.7
86.5
86.0
78.8
86.7
82. 7
85.1
82.8
86.0
Tobacco p ro d u cts...............................
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
s n u ff.________________________
Cigars and cigarettes...........................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101.0
111.8
97.2
91.6
89.9
87.9
99.1
88.7
88.2
86.8
87.8
89.8
89.1
91.9
91.4
92.3
91.3
93.2
91.3
87.4
95.7
89.0
94.9
88.3
91.2
92.0
93.1
91.2
102.2
94.5
90.9
86.0
[1 3 8 ]
91.1
EM PLO YM EN T
T
IN
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
139
IN D U S T R I E S
6 . — IN D E X E S OF EM P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y-RO LL TOTALS IN M ANU FACTURING
IN D U STR IES—N O V EM B ER , 1926, AND S E P T E M B E R , OCTOBER, AND N O V EM B ER ,
1927—Continued
a ble
Employment
1927
1926
Industry
No
vem
ber
Vehicles for land tra n sp o rta tio n ..
Automobiles .....................................
Carriages and wagons............ .......
Car building and repairing, elec
tric-railroad....................................
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad................................
Miscellaneous industries..................
Agricultural implements_______
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies...................................
Pianos and organs....... ....................
Rubber boots and shoes.................
Automobile tires...... ........................
Shipbuilding, steel................... .......
Pay-roll totals
Sep
tember
Octo
ber
1926
No
vem
ber
No
vem
ber
1927
Sep
tember
Octo
ber
No
vem
ber
85.1
81.7
89.9
76.8
95 .5
73 .2
9 6 .2
7 6 .2
87.9
81.6
84.2
79.0
9 2 .5
74.8
8 7 .2
73 .5
9 6 .4
77 .9
9 4 .5
8 1 .2
98 .1
8 1 .5
8 6 .3
75 .3
87 .9
9 0 .8
90 .0
8 8 .9
9 0 .5
9 1 .5
9 1 .2
92.1
78.6
72 .0
71.4
69 .5
8 2 .5
72.8
74 .9
73.7
98.6
91.4
90.8
102.9
93 .8
8 4 .0
89.7
93.2
96.5
92.4
87 .6
8 8 .6
102.9
9 0 .7
98 .4
9 9 .7
101.3
97 .7
8 6 .8
9 3 .9
8 5 .5
8 9 .4
106. 7
86 .3
95.1
8 7 .8
92 .0
94 .4
8 8 .4
94 .4
97.3
8 3 .9
105.6
116.6
9 5 .0
104. 3
94.3
9 6 .0
102.3
109.7
8 7 .5
100.4
100.0
105.1
104.3
91 .6
96 .0
98.1
109.6
94.1
103.5
97.2
102.1
8 4 .9
101.0
88.1
Table 7 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals from January,
1923, to November, 1927.
Following Table 7 is a graph made from index numbers, showing
clearly the course of employment for each month of 1926 and for
each completed month of 1927. This chart makes possible a
comparison between corresponding months of the two years and
represents the 54 separate industries combined and shows "the course
of pay-roll totals as well as the course of employment.
T
able
7 .—
G E N ER A L IN D E X E S OP E M P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y-RO LL TOTALS IN MANU
FAC TUR IN G IN D U STR IES JAN U A R Y, 1923, TO N O V EM BER , 1927
[Monthly average, 1923=100]
Employment
Pay-roll totals
Month
1923
January.....................
February__________
March____ ________
April................... .......
M ay______________
J u n e ..........................
July......................... .
August____________
September..................
O ctober........ ............
November.................
December.................
A verage.............
98.0
99.6
1924
1925
1926
101.9
100.4
99. 7
99.8
99.3
98. 7
96.9
95.4
96.6
96.4
94.5
90.8
87.9
84.8
85. 0
86.7
87.9
87.8
89.4
90.0
91.6
92.3
92.1
90.9
90.1
89.3
89.9
90.9
92.3
92.5
92.6
92.3
93.3
93.7
92.8
91.7
91.3
89.8
90.7
92.2
92.5
91.4
90.9
100.0
90.3
91.2
91. 9
101.8
101.8
101.8
1 Average for 11 months.
78271°— 28----- 10
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[139]
1927
1923
1924
89.4
91.0
91.4
90.6
89. 7
89.1
87.3
87.4
91.8
95.2
100.3
101.3
104.8
104. 7
99.9
99.3
94. 5
99.4
99.0
96.9
92.4
87.0
80.8
83.5
87.6
85.9
101.0
102.3
>88.9
88.0
1925
1926
1927
98.9
88.5
87.6
91. 7
90.0
95.1
96.6
94.2
94.4
91. 7
89.6
91.4
90.4
96.2
96.2
97.3
93.9
97.9
99.1
97.2
95.6
95.5
91.2
94.6
95.1
98.6
95.4
95.6
90.9
96.4
97.7
96. 6
95.6
93.3
89.1
91.0
90.1
91.2
87.8
100.0
90.6
93.6
95.8
i 92.7
100.0
86.0
140
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES.
MONTHLY INDEXES - 1926& 1927.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M O N TH LY
AVERAGE.
[140]
192.3 = 100.
EM PLO YM EN T
IN
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
P r o p o r tio n o f T im e W o rk e d a n d F o r c e E m p lo y e d in
tr ie s in N o v e m b e r, 1927
141
IN D U S T R IE S
M a n u fa c tu rin g
In d u s
D E P O R T S from 8,904 establishments in November, 1927, show
that 1 per cent of these establishments were idle, 78 per cent
were operating on a full-time schedule, and 22 per cent on a parttime schedule; 38 per cent had a normal full force of employees, and
62 per cent were operating with reduced forces.
The establishments in operation were employing an average of 85
per cent of a normal full force of employees and were operating an
average of 96 per cent of full time. These percentages indicate a
drop of over 3 per cent in average force employed and a decrease of
1 per cent in operating time since the October report.
T
able
8 . —EST A BLISH M EN TS WORKING F U L L AND PA RT T IM E AND EM PLO YIN G
F U L L AND PA RT WORKING FO RC E IN N O V EM BER , 1927
Establish
ments re
porting
Industry
Total Per
num cent
ber
idle
Food and kindred prod u cts................... 1, 399
Slaughtering and meat packing _ __
155
C onfectionery.............................A ...........
237
Ice cream...................................................
161
Flour..........................................................
280
Baking _ __................... __.......................
556
Sugar refining, cane________ _____ ._
10
Textiles and th eir products ................... 1,515
Cotton goods____i ........ . ................ ..
441
Hosiery and knit goods.........................
195
Silk goods______ I ...................................
158
Woolen and worsted goods___ _____ _
171
Carpets and rugs.-................... ..............
23
Dyeing and finishing textiles...............
82
Clothing, men’s___T....... ........._............
197
Shirts and collars....................................
66
Clothing, women’s..................................
129
Millinery and lace goods...... ............
53
«
0
1
0
3
2
Iron and steel an d their p rod u cts___ 1,552
Iron and steel............................................
153
Cast-iron pipe________ ______ _____ _
34
Structural ironwork........ .......................
133
Foundry and machine-shop products.
876
Hardware...............................................
56
Machine tools________ _______ _____
132
Steam fittings and steam and hotwater heating apparatus__________
92
Stoves __________1................................
76
0
L u m b er an d Its p r o d u c ts .....................
Lumber, sawmills..................................
Lumber, millw o rk ............. .................
Furniture...... .............. .
0
938
379
1
0
(D
3
3
1
211
292
Paper and p rin tin g....................................
Paper and pulp....................................
Paper boxes............... ..............................
Printing, book and job....................... .
Printing, newspapers__ ____ _______
718
171
135
255
157
79
85
84
70
75
83
67
76
88
79
72
109
183
0
25
8
20
20
14
16
30
25
17
33
21
12
19
28
97
99
96
99
92
99
89
96
97
97
94
96
93
94
94
99
97
93
48
48
31
3
62
63
51
52
69
96
38
37
80
91
94
84
44
60
50
41
44
48
33
27
50
55
39
50
59
56
52
67
70
50
77
81
91
94
93
91
84
98
91
87
99
83
71
81
84
76
62
20
21
19
87
66
98
92
90
95
38
14
17
89
83
81
83
77
83
77
82
82
51
55
49
45
90
91
37
42
63
58
85
87
80
84
20
15
32
18
97
97
95
98
35
32
22
64
. 67
78
53
84
82
75
94
28
13
37
93
30
34
28
66
72
87
62
1
1
88
92
89
90
100
8
10
11
10
92
92
86
98
90
99
98
99
99
100
19
13
89
88
40
29
47
19
44
52
31
1
[1 4 1 ]
13
4
22
6
Average
per cent
of nor
mal full
force em
ployed
by es
tablish
ments
operat
ing
59
67
50
81
56
48
69
82
1
1 Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
87
96
78
93
74
92
80
68
348
L eath er an d its prod u cts........ ................
Leather........................................... .........
Boots and shoes........................................
Per cent of Average
Per cent of
establish per cent
establish
of full
ments op
ments oper
time
erating—
ating with—
operated
byestabli ali
ments
Full
Part
Full Part operat normal
norma]
time time
ing
force force
21
11
47
64
54
59
62
83
86
69
84
88
70
83
36
98
96
96
45
40
38
17
101
101
142
T
M ONTHLY LA BO R
able
R E V IE W
8 . — ESTA BLISH M EN TS
W ORKING F U L L AND PA RT T IM E AND EM PLO YIN G
E U L L AND PA RT W ORKING FO R C E IN N O V EM B ER , 1927—Continued
Establish
ments re
porting
In d u stry
Total Per
num cent
idle
ber
Chemicals and allied products---------Chemicals ______________________
Fertilizers....................................... ...........
Petroleum refining_________________
Stone, clay, and glass p rod u cts............
Cement __ ______________________
Brick, tile, and terra-cotta-------------Pottery
____________________
Class
_____________ ___ ________
M etal p rod ucts, other th a n iron and
steel
________________ _______
Pt-ampp.fi and enameled ware_____ _
Brass, bronze, and copper products.. .
Tobacco products...... .................................
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
snuff________ ________ - ....................
Cigars and cigarettes...............................
300
97
164
39
1
85
91
78
15
9
21
2
316
51
82
4
86
174
49
125
97
99
96
100
100
535
81
95
75
84
90
22
10
97
98
96
97
98
68
82
62
32
18
38
95
97
94
16
5
16
Average
per cent
of nor
mal full
force em
ployed
by es
tablish
ments
operat
ing
25
49
13
13
75
51
87
87
79
95
55
79
28
70
80
71
53
63
86
83
81
95
91
27
39
22
73
61
78
82
77
84
20
25
47
37
126
2
79
20
97
53
45
97
26
4
1
69
81
27
18
95
97
54
53
42
46
94
97
0
84
71
72
16
29
28
98
94
96
41
31
28
59
69
72
77
73
78
0
91
9
99
62
38
96
84
16
98
31
69
81
71
65
29
35
95
94
29
71
79
84
79
73
69
80
60
93
27
31
95
95
99
90
*35
38
90
65
62
88
100
Vehicles for land tra n sp o rta tio n .......... 1, 009
Automobiles _____________________
170
53
Carriages and wagons....................... .
Car building and repairing, electric346
railroad.................................................
Car building and repairing, steamrailroad
____________________
440
Miscellaneous industries.........................
Agricultural implements.......................
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and
s u p p l i e s ______________________
Pianos and organs _______________
Rubber boots and shoes_________ _
Automobile tires.......................... ..........
Shipbuilding, steel..................................
0
Per cent of
Per cent of Average
establish per cent
establish
of full
ments oper
ments op
time
ating with—
erating—
operated
by es
tablish
ments
Full
Part
Full Part operat normal
normal
ing
time time
force force
346
92
0
137
29
10
50
28
All industries..................................... 8,904
2
1
78
20
38
7
22
21
12
100
29
10
86
71
83
99
80
71
96
38
62
85
i Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
Employment and Pay-Roll Totals on Class I Railroads, October,
1926, and September and October, 1927
HE number of employees on the 15th of October, 1927, and the
total earnings of employees in the entire month of October,
1927, on Class I railroads of the United States are shown in
the table following, together with similar information for September,
1927, and October, 1926. The data are presented for all occupations
combined, excluding executives and officials, and also for the six
general groups of occupations; under each group data are shown
separately for a few of the more important occupations.
Class I railroads are roads having operating revenues of $1,000,000
a year and over.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[142]
U N EM PLO YM EN T
O F B U I L D I N G -T R A D E S
143
W O RK ERS
EM P L O Y M E N T AND TOTAL M ON TH LY EARNINGS OF RAILROAD E M P L O Y E E S —
OCTOBER, 1926, AND S E P T E M B E R AND OCTOBER, 1927
[From monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important occu
pations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the items under the respective groups]
Number of employees at
middle of month
Total earnings
»
Occupation
Professional, clerical, and general.
Clerks.................................................
Stenographers and typists......... .
M ain tenan ce of way and stru ctu re s ...... .................. ............................
Laborers, extra gang and work
train.................................................
Laborers, track and roadway section...................................................
M aintenance of equipm ent and
stores,..................................................
Carmen...............................................
Machinists_________ ......................
Skilled trades helpers..................__
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and stores)...........
Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and
s to r e s ).................... ......................
T ran sp ortation, other th a n train,
engine, and yard ...................... .......
Station agents...................................
Telegraphers, telephoners, and
towermen___________________
Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platforms)..............................
Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatemen...........................................
1927
1926
1926
1927
October
Septem
ber
287,916
169,370
25,609
279,745
162,016
25,083
279,337 $39,932,132 $39,585,009 $40,103,740
162,102 22, 293,481 21, 714, 252 22,114, 927
25, 026
3,174,180
3,202,968
3,170,307
457,808
454,129
444,943
42,889,169
41,487,966
79,127
80, 626
76, 682
6,354,437
6, 260,893
6,044,881
233,988
233,990
230,553
17, 561,102
16,859,456
17,141,946
519,596
114,151
60, 747
114,872
480,999
103,790
57,836
105,944
482,368
104, 052
58, 207
106, 583
69,807,555
17, 386,108
9, 922,807
13,120,800
62,816,643
15, 358, 527
9,006, 795
11, 684, 688
65,374,505
16,052,270
9,432,834
12,264,930
42,829
40,369
40,409
4,128, 725
3,799,321
3,958, 285
60, 267
54,472
54,579
5,045,035
4,360, 541
4,575,148
214,136
30,597
207,191
30,327
206,841
30,271
26,624,931
4, 791, 560
25,703,568
4, 757,548
26,134,844
4, 810, 645
October
October
September
October
41,668,794
25, 714
24, 464
24, 420
3, 952, 260
3, 712, 754
3,830,830
41,526
37,821
38,455
3,990,135
3, 635, 708
3,753,790
22,256
21, 921
21,753
1, 672,011
1,689,082
1,677,708
T ran sp ortation (yard m asters,
switch tenders, an d hostlers)__
24,347
23,146
23,089
4, 572,569
4,451,053
4,529,309
T ran sp ortation , train and engine.
Road conductors...............................
Road brakemen and flagmen____
Yard brakemen and yard helpers.
Road engineers and motorm en...
Road firemen and helpers..............
345,496
38, 920
79, 215
57, 742
46, 402
47, 507
325,550
37,080
74,141
53, 545
44,402
45, 386
329,951
37, 531
75, 551
54,481
44, 654
45,552
71,697,759
9, 558, 669
14,380, 951
10, 315, 078
12,977,002
9, 648, 695
67,050,110
9, 076,401
13, 436, 554
9, 668, 729
12,062,898
9,048, 616
70,035,165
9,342,127
13,955,596
10,306,206
12, 516,603
9,392,012
All occupations_____________ 1,849,209 1,770,760 1,613,529 255,524,115 241,094,349 247,846,357
Unemployment of Organized Building-Trades Workers in
Massachusetts
HE following data on unemployment of organized buildingtrades workers in Massachusetts on the first day of the month
in April, June, August, October, and November, 1927, have
been taken from statements furnished by the Massachusetts Depart
ment of Labor and Industries. The tabulations from which these
figures are taken represent one of the few attempts being made in
the United States to gather and publish data on unemployment.
The figures are therefore of particular interest.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[143]
144
T
able
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
1 .—N U M B E R AND P E R C EN T OP UNION M E M B E R S H IP R E P O R T E D
U N E M PL O Y ED ON D ATE S P E C IF IE D , B Y CAUSE OF U N E M PL O Y M EN T
AS
Date of report
Classification
Apr. 1,
1927
June 1,
1927
Aug. 1,
1927
273
47,565
271
48, 947
267
49, 671
289
51, 529
286
51,484
11, 745
826
139
262
' 7, 631
460
849
161
3
6,145
55
947
5, 896
151
871
26
6,195
50
780
27
Number of unions reDorting............................................_
Membership of unions reporting__________ ________
Number of members reported as unemployed
because of—
Lack of work or materials......... ................. _.........__
Strike or lockout.......... ................................................
Sickness, accident, or old a g e ............................. ..
U nfavorable weather....................................................
Other reasons................................................. ..............
66
120
20
Oct. 1,
1927
Nov. 1,
1927
*
Total, all causes.......... ..............................................
13, 038
9,104
7,287
6,944
7,052
Per cent of members unemployed because of—
Lack of work or materials......... ......................... .......
Strike or lockout............. ..................................... .........
Sickness, accident, or old age.....................................
Unfavorable weather......................... .........................
Other reasons.................................................................
24.7
.1
1.7
.3
15.6
.9
1.7
.3
12.4
11.4
.3
1.7
.1
12.0
.1
Total, all causes........................................................
27.4
.6
0
18.4
.1
1.9
.2
0
14.7
0
13.5
1.5
.1
0
13.7
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
It will be noted that the percentage of unemployment of organized
workers in the building trades of Massachusetts from all causes was
practically the same on November 1 (13.7 per cent) as on October 1
(13.5 per cent) but that it represented an improvement over the
preceding months listed. Lack of work or materials accounted for
the largest amount of unemployment (12 per cent), as it did in the
previous months. There was a slight increase from this cause over
October but a decrease from the figures for the earlier months—
24.7 per cent on April 1, 15.6 per cent on June 1, and 12.4 per cent
on August 1. The percentage unemployed on account of sickness,
accident, or old age was practically the same on the five dates specified,
the highest figure being 1.9 on August 1 as against 1.5 on November 1.
Those unemployed on account of strikes or lockouts constituted only
0.1 per cent on November 1, the same as on April 1 and August 1,
as compared with 0.9 on June 1 and 0.3 on October 1. Unemploy
ment due to unfavorable weather and other reasons was almost
negligible.
Unemployment in the Principal Occupations
'T ’A BLE 2 shows the extent of unemployment of organized build
ing tradesmen in the principal occupations on the first day
of April, August, October, and November, 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 4 4 ]
STATE
T
REPO RTS
145
O N E M P L O Y M E N T -----C A L IF O R N I A
2 .-N U M B E R AND P E R C EN T OF ORGANIZED BU ILD IN G -TRAD ES W ORKERS
U N E M PL O Y ED IN MASSACHUSETTS ON N O V EM B ER 1 , 1927, IN T H E PR IN C IPA L
OCCUPATIONS, AND P E R C EN T U N E M PL O Y ED ON A P R IL 1 , AUGUST 1 , AND
O CTO BER 1 , 1927
a ble
Nov. 1 , 1927
Num
ber of Mem
unions
ber
report ship
ing
Occupation
Bricklayers, masons, and plasterers............
Carpenters_________
Electrical workers______
Hod carriers and building laborers. .
Lathers______________
Painters, decorators, and paper hangers..........
Plumbers, gas fitters, and steam fitters.........
Sheet-metal workers........ ...........
Other occupations.........
All occupations_____
39
96
15
18
Unemployed,
all causes
Num
ber
15
5, 968
20, 520
2,401
8,984
423
5, 659
4,026
965
2,538
566
2,614
162
1,876
33
1,237
238
40
286
286
51,484
7,052
10
46
36
11
•
Per
cent
Per cent unemployed,
all causes
Apr. 1, Aug. 1,
1927
1927
9.5
12. 7
20.9
7.8
21.9
5. 9
4. 1
11.3
30.2
27. 7
16. 1
30.5
22. 0
23.7
31. 5
18. 3
26.5
15. 1
15. 4
16.8
8. 6
13. 2
15. 2
19. 5
14.0
13. 7
27.4
14.7
6.8
10.8
Oct. 1 ,
1927
10.0
12 2
9. 0
19.9
6. 3
20. 9
6 0
4 2
13.7
13.5
State Reports on Employment
C a lifo rn ia
HE November, 1927, Labor Market Bulletin, issued by the
Division of Labor Statistics and Law Enforcement of the
Department of Industrial Relations of California, shows the
following changes in volume of employment and pay roll from
October, 1926, to October, 1927, in 793 establishments in that State:
T
N U M B ER 0 F E M P L O Y E E S AND IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF
P A R E d "^w Ft H (A?TO BER 7T926ALIFO RNIA EST A BLISH M EN TS> OCTOBER, 1927, COM-
Employees
Industry
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Miscellaneous stone and mineral products
Lime, cement, plaster. ...................
Brick, tile, pottery. .....................
G lass..............................
Total.................................................
Metals, machinery, and conveyances:
Agricultural implements........................
Automobiles, including bodies and parts .
Brass, bronze, and copper p r o d u c ts .......
Engines, pumps, boilers, and tanks..............
Iron and steel forging, bolts, nuts, etc........
Structural and ornamental steel. ____
Ship and boat building and naval repairs
Tin cans___ _____
Other iron foundry and machine-shop products..
Other sheet metal products_____
Cars, locomotives, and railway repair shops.
Total..................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Weekly pay roll
Number
of estab
Per cent
Per cent
lish
change
of change
Number of
ments
as com Amount as com
in
in
report
pared
pared
October,
October,
ing
with
with
1927
1927
October,
October,
1926
1926
[145]
12
8
22
9
1,500
1, 854
3, 527
902
+ 3 .7
-1 9 .1
+ 7.8
+ 4.0
$47, 492
57, 392
91, 037
29, 428
+ 4.0
-2 0 .4
+ 12.6
+ 2.2
51
7, 783
- 1.2
225,349
-.9
7
14
9
9
18
1,575
1,754
931
779
2,672
4,266
5,514
2,424
6,937
1,504
7,433
+28.2
-4 6 .1
-16. 1
- 3 .6
-1 6 .0
-4 . 5
- 7 .6
-9 . 4
-15. 9
-1 3 .2
- 2 .5
45,170
54, 651
26, 728
23,158
82, 795
141, 766
185,077
70, 091
211,157
44, 571
234, 425
+27.4
-47.1
-1 3 .4
- 11.0
-1 9 .3
- 4 .1
-3 .2
- 1.8
-1 8 .6
-1 6 .3
-.4
192
35, 789
- 11.2 1,119, 589
-1 0 .9
8
20
6
7
72
22
146
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
P E R C EN T OF CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S AND IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF
W E E K L Y PA Y RO LL IN 793 CALIFO RN IA ESTA BLISH M EN TS, OCTOBER, 1927, COM
PA RED W ITH OCTOBER, 1926—Continued
Weekly pay roll
Employees
*
Number
Per cent
Per cent
of estab
change
lish
of change
Number of
as com Amount
as com
ments
in
in
pared
pared
report October,
October,
with
with
ing
1927
1927
October,
October,
1926
1926
Industry
Wood manufactures:
Sawmills and logging.......... ...................... ................Planing mills, sash and door factories, etc.............
Other wood manufactures..... .................... ................
25
59
41
13, 293
10, 610
5,066
+ 5.7
+• 9
+ 8.3
376, 772
300, 422
152, 613
- 1 .7
- 2 .4
+13.8
T o ta l......................................... .................................
125
28, 969
+ 4.3
829, 807
+ .5
Leather and rubber goods:
Tanning _____________________ ______ — .........
Finished leather products. . .................................
Rubber products----------------- --------------------------
7
5
7
743
461
2,386
-3 .5
-1 2 .4
- 20.0
21,131
11,007
66, 821
+ 1.5
-1 2 .3
- 22.8
Total.............................................................................
19
3, 590
-1 6 .1
98, 959
-1 7 .5
4
500
5,533
16,126
208, 822
17,300
52, 436
+1. 7
- 21.0
- 4 .1
-1 5 .4
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.:
Explosives...................... ..................................... - .........
Mineral oil refining...... ...............................................
Paints, dyes, and colors----- ----------------------------Miscellaneous chemical products. ...........................
7
13
1,922
- 5 .3
-2 4 . 7
- 2.6
-13. 7
T o tal..-------------- ---------------- -----------------------
30
8,641
- 20.1
294, 684
-1 8 .2
Printing and paper goods:
Paper boxes, bags, cartons, etc............................... .
Printing__________________ __________________
Publishing_____ _ . ----------------- ----------------Other paper products........................ .........................
14
61
17
10
2, 243
2, 430
3,925
1,268
- 1.0
- 6.1
—1.0
- 3 .0
59,009
90, 624
149, 509
32, 868
+ 1.8
- 6.6
- 1 .4
+ 3 .5
Total...... .................................................. ................. .
102
9,866
- 2 .5
332, 010
- 1 .9
Textiles:
Knit goods. .......... .....................................................
Other textile products.......................................... .......
12
6
1,167
1,624
+ .4
- 1 .4
25, 748
35, 325
- 2.6
- 4 .5
T o ta l......................... .......................................... .......
18
2,701
- .6
61,073
-3 .7
26
7
24
2,974
1,045
571
3,855
- 5 .5
+. 2
- 3 .7
+ 4.5
65, 578
21, 878
10, 276
88, 071
-8 .7
-5 .8
- 5 .0
+ 1.4
68
8,445
-.3
185, 803
- 3 .6
35
+ 5 .6
+ 3 .9
-3 .4
- 5 .0
+ 4.3
+ 7 .0
+ 1- 1
- 9 .9
+ 7.9
+ 6.3
- 4 .3
-4 .6
-8 .9
260, 533
13, 413
37, 876
16, 468
108, 307
101,410
83, 791
17,144
11,774
55,145
35, 312
41,156
38, 485
-3 8 .9
-5 .2
+ 21.6
+ 4 .8
+ 7.1
+ 3 .8
- 10.0
+ 7.9
+ 8.5
- 7 .5
13
12, 855
1,153
1,753
531
3, 764
3, 684
2, 754
957
463
1,698
1,267
1,244
1,781
Total.............................................................................
170
33, 904
+ 2 .4
820, 814
+ .3
Water, light, and power.....................................................
4
3,456
+ .1
97, 881
- 2 .3
-1 7 .4
61, 324
- 10.6
- 4 .1 4,127,293
- 5 .6
Clothing, millinery, and laundering:
Men’s clothing___________ ______ ___ _________
Women’s clothing_________________________ _
Millinery___ ______________________ _________
Laundering, cleaning, and dyeing— .....................
Total...... ......................................................................
Foods, beverages, and tobacco:
Canning, preserving of fruits and vegetables____
Canning, packing of fish _____________ _______
Confectionery and ice cream...... ...............................
Groceries, not elsewhere specified.............................
Bread and bakery products___________________
Sugar___________________ _______ ____________
Slaughtering and meat products........ ......................
Cigars and other tobacco products..........................
Beverages----------------------------------------------------D airy products------------------ ------------------- -------Flour and grist mills........................................... .........
lee manufactures........................................ ..................
Other food products.....................................................
6
686
11
7
24
4
21
5
16
5
3
9
13
15
j
Miscellaneous.......................................... ............................
14
2, 202
Grand total, all industries____ ______________
793
145, 436
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[146]
+. 2
- 4 .0
- 9 .2
STATE
REPO RTS
147
O N E M P L O Y M E N T — IL L I N O I S
Illin o is
’“TH E following statistics showing the changes in employment and
earnings in Illinois factories in October, 1927, as compared with
September, 1927, are taken from the November, 1927, issue of the
Labor Bulletin, published by the Illinois Department of Labor:
CHANGES IN EM P L O Y M E N T AND EARNINGS IN ILLINO IS FA C T O R IES FROM S E P
T E M B E R TO OCTOBER, 1927
Per cent of change from September to October,
1927
Employment
Industry
Males
Females
Total em
ployees
Total
earnings
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Miscellaneous stone and mineral products................
Lime, cement, and plaster.............................................
Brick, tile, and pottery........... ........................................
Glass.____________ _________ _______ ________ ____
-3 .7
-1 .4
- 5 .7
-.4
-8 .3
-2 5 .0
-1 4 .3
+21.4
- 3 .8
- 1.8
-5 .8
- .6
-2 .5
- 6.2
-.9
+ 11.0
Total..................................................................................
-3 .6
+ 12.6
- 3 .6
+ 1.6
Metals, machinery, conveyances:
Iron and steel........ .............................................................
Sheet metal work and hardware............................... .
Tools and cutlery____________ _______ _______ ___
Cooking, heating, ventilating apparatus.....................
Brass, copper, zinc, babbitt metal................................
Cars and locomotives.......................................................
Automobiles and accessories. ......................................
Machinery...........................................................................
Electrical apparatus..........................................................
Agricultural implements....................... ........................
Instruments and appliances___________ _______ . . .
Watches, watch cases, clocks, and jewelry.................
- 1.2
- 2.1
- 1 .3
+ 1.6
-1 2 .4
+ 3 .3
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .0
+ 11.8
+ 7 .5
.0
- 1.2
-8 .4
+ 3 .7
+14.0
-5 .9
-1 5 .3
+ 8 .4
+ 6 .4
+ 4 .9
+ 8 .3
+18.6
.0
- .1
+ 1.6
-1 2 .4
+ 3 .8
+ 2.8
+ 2.8
+ 11.8
+ 7 .8
+ .3
- 2.8
+ 2 .7
+ 12.5
+19.5
+ 2.1
-1 1 .3
+ 14.0
+ 7 .2
+15.2
+28.4
+10.4
- 1 .3
Total..................................................................................
+ .8
+ 1 .7
+ 1.0
+ 4 .8
Wood products:
Sawmill and planing-mill products...............................
Furniture and cabinet work____________________ _
Pianos, organs, and other musical instruments.........
Miscellaneous wood products........................................
Household furnishings.....................................................
- 5 .5
+ 4 .5
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .4
+ .4
+ 6 .3
+ 5 .5
+13.7
+34.1
-3 .2
-5 .3
+ 4 .4
+ 2.4
+ 3 .8
- .8
-5 .4
+ 4 .8
+ 11.2
+ 12.6
+ 5 .6
+ 1 .7
+ 7 .6
+ 2.0
+ 5.0
Furs and leather goods:
L e ath e r......................................... ....... .................. ...........
Furs and fur goods.......................................... .................
Boots and shoes ................................................................
Miscellaneous leather goods........ ................. ................
- 1.8
+10.4
- 1 .3
+ 3 .4
-.3
- 1 4 .0
- 1.2
+ 3 .8
- 1.6
- 1.1
- 1.1
+ 3 .6
+ 4 .5
+18.3
-2 .3
+ 9 .5
-.3
- .8
- .1
T o ta l...........................................................................
+ .6
-4 .6
-1 .5
- .6
Total................................................................................
- 1.0
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.:
Drugs and chemicals.........................................................
Paints, dyes, and colors..................................................
Mineral and vegetable oil_______________________
Miscellaneous chemical products..................................
+ 1 .9
-4 .0
- 2 .9
- .7
+ 5 .4
+ 8 .4
+ 20.0
-3 .0
+ 3 .3
-.5
- 2.6
- 1.0
+ 4 .8
+ 8.0
+. 9
+ 2 .5
Total.....................................................................
-1 .5
+ 3 .0
-.3
+ 3 .8
Printing and paper goods:
Paper boxes, bags, and tubes................................ .........
Miscellaneous paper goods..............................................
Job printing.................. ...................................................
Newspapers and periodicals........................................
Edition bookbinding......................................................
+ 2 .4
+ .9
+ .4
+ 4 .5
- 2 .7
+ 8.2
+ 2.0
-6 .7
+ 3 .9
+ 4.2
+ 1 .4
- 1 .4
+ 3.2
+ .7
+9. 5
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .3
+ 8.1
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .4
-.3
+ 1.0
+ 4 .9
Total.................................................. .............................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[147]
.0
148
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
CHANGES IN E M P L O Y M E N T AND EARNINGS IN ILLINOIS FA C T O R IES FR O M S E P
T E M B E R TO OCTOBER, 1927—Continued
Per cent of change from September to October,
1927
Industry
Employment
Males
Females
Total em
ployees
Total
earnings
Textiles:
Cotton and woolen goods........................ .
Knit goods, cotton and woolen hosiery____
Thread and twine............................... .................
- .8
+ 2.8
+ 10. 6
+ 8.0
.0
+ 2.2
+ 2.9
+ 4.6
+ 9.3
+12.3
+ 8.9
Total____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . ___
- .6
+ 7 .6
+ 2 .7
+ 11.0
- 2.0
+ 5 .6
+11.5
-2 .5
-2 .4
+ 2 .3
+25.5
+ 3 .4
-1 3 .0
- 2 .5
+ .2
- 2 .5
+ 8.1
+27.8
+ 4.3
- 2.8
-2 .7
-7 .0
-3 .6
-1 .9
- 2.0
- 8 .5
- 3 .3
-2 .3
+18.7
+18.5
-7 .5
+ 4 .6
+ 7 .3
-6 .5
- 2 .9
-1 .9
-1 .4
- 1 .5
-.4
-2 .5
-4 3 .4
- 2.8
- 1.6
+• 2
+ 6.2
+ 9 .1
-1 5 .0
-5 .6
-3 5 .6
- 12.8
-2 4 .5
-7 5 .8
+10.7
+ 2 .9
- 2.6
+ 2.8
-1 9 .7
+32.1
+ 6.6
- 5 .8
-5 3 .5
-3 5 .6
+ 5.1
- 6.6
- 4 .3
+ 1.8
-3 5 .6
-1 4 .9
- 2.6
-5 0 .6
+ 9 .8
-2 .5
-3 .9
+15.6
-7 .6
-1 0 .3
+ 6.2
-1 8 .4
-2 3 .1
-4 .4
-1 3 . 1
-5 .4
- 3 .6
-.5
- 1 .4
-. 5
+ 2.6
Trade—Wholesale and retail:
Department stores____ ____ _____ _________
Wholesale drygoods.......... ..............
"
Wholesale groceries............. ..... ........................
Mail order houses.............................. .........
+ 1 .9
+ 10.2
4.4
+ 4 .9
+ 4.5
+31. 2
.0
+ .5
+ 3.5
+19.7
- 3 .1
+ 2.8
+ 4 .4
+ 6.6
+11.7
+ 5.6
Total.....................................................................
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .4
+ 3.1
+ 5.7
Public utilities:
Water, light, and pow er............. .....................
Telephone......................
_” III
Street railways__________________ I__II” III
Railway car repair shops____________" " H I
- .1
+ .8
-.9
-.4
- 3 .7
+ 1.6
- .3
+ 1.4
- 2 .4
+ .5
-1 .9
+ .5
-4 .9
+ 5 .7
- .8
-.4
-1 .9
Clothing, millinery, laundering:
Men’s clothing..................................... ...............
Men’s shirts and furnishings.........................
Overalls and work clothing........... ..................
Men’s hats and caps.................... ..................... .
Women’s clothing................................ ...............
Women’s underwear___________ __________
Women’s h a ts............... .....................................
Laundering, cleaning, and dyeing...................
Total_____ ________________ ___________
Food, beverages, and tobacco:
Flour, feed, and other cereal products.......... .
Fruit and vegetable canning and preserving.
Miscellaneous groceries.................................... .
Slaughtering and meat packing...................... .
Dairy products...................... ..............................
Bread and other bakery products____ _____
Confectionery...................... ................ ..............
Beverages......................................... .....................
Cigars and other tobacco products__ I.IIZI]
Manufactured ice.............. .................... ..............
Ice cream........................................ ......................
Total________________________ ____ ____
Total, all manufacturing industries..........
Total______ ______ _________ . . . . . . . . . ___
Coal mining___ _______________. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+360. 2
Building and contracting:
Building co n stru ctio n ................ ...................
Road construction____ __________ . . . . . I I I ”
Miscellaneous contracting______ . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 11.2
-3 0 .1
+17. 1
Total_______________________ . . . . . . . . . . . .
-9 .6
Grand total, all industries___ . . . . . . . . ___
+ 2 .7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[148]
_____ _
-.7
.0
- .2
- 1.1
+■ 1
.0
- .6
.0
-.9
+360. 2
+303. 7
- 11.2
-3 0 .1
+17. 1
- 7 .4
-4 1 .0
+25. 3
-9 .6
- 5 .7
+ 1.8
+ 3.7
STATE
REPO RTS
149
O N E M P L O Y M E N T — IO W A
Iow a
"“TH E November, 1927, issue of
lished by the State bureau
tistics showing the changes in
industries in Iowa in November,
month:
the Iowa Employment Survey, pubof labor, contains the following sta
number of employees in specified
1927, as compared with the previous
CHANGES IN VOLUM E OF EM P L O Y M E N T IN IOWA, OCTOBER TO N O V EM B ER , 1927
Industry
Food and kindred prodducts:
Meat packing............
Cereals____ ____ _
Flour____ ____ ____
Bakery products___
Confectionery_____
Poultry, produce,
butter, etc_______
Sugar, starch, sirup,
glucose, etc______
Otherfood products,
coffee, etc. ........ .
Total_____ ____
Textiles:
Clothing, men’s____
Millinery______
Clothing, women's,
and woolen goods.
Hosiery, awnings,
etc........ ....................
Buttons, pearl_____
T otal.......................
Iron and steel works:
Foundry and machine shops______
Brass, bronze prodducts, plumbers’
supplies______ _
Autos, tractors, and
engines.....................
Furnaces__________
Pumps____________
Agricultural implements___________
Washing machines. _
Total____________
Lumber products:
Millwork, interiors,
etc------------- -------Furniture,
desks,
etc........ ....................
Refrigerators...........
Coffins, undertakers’ supplies_____
Carriages, wagons,
truck bodies...........
Total.................. .
Employees on pay
roll, November, 1927
Num
ber of
firms
Per cent of
re
change as
port Num compared
ber
ing
with Octo
ber, 1927
8
2
3
8
6
6,695
1,100
112
+ 0.6
+ .5
-5 . 1
- .8
782
421
+12.9
Industry
Leather products:
Shoes..........................
Saddlery and har
n ess........................
Fur goods and tann in g .................... .
Gloves and mittens.
Employees on pay
roll, November, 1927
Num
ber of
firms
Per cent of
re
change as
port Num compared
ber with Octo
ing
ber, 1927
3
407
- 9 .2
5
204
+ 7.4
4
2
23
354
-4 .8
988
- 4 .4
.0
6
608
+ 6 .5
Total.............. .........
14
3
1,834
- 6 .3
6
172
+ 1.8
5
358
+ 1.4
42 11, 724
.0
Paper products, print
ing and publishing:
Paper products.........
Printing and pub
lishing......................
12
2,147
+ .7
Total____ ____ _
17
2, 505
+ .8
Patent medicines, chem
icals, and compounds.
7
346
+ 1-2
Stone and clay products:
Cement,
plaster,
gypsum...... ..........
Brick and tile______
Marble and granite,
crushed rock and
ston e......................
14
8
1,679
1,036
-4 .2
3
68
-2 2 .7
Total....................
25
2,783
- 3 .2
Tobacco and cigars_____
4
287
.0
Railway car shops...........
7
9,173
- 8.0
2
149
157
234
2,979
4,001
400
1,376
417
2, 602
- 9 .2
+ 3.3
-.4
+ 2.1
+ 1.5
+26.6
+ 2.3
-4 .4
Total........................
76 12,315
+ 1.7
Grand total............
315 56, 588
- 1 .3
9
2
946
140
- 1 .9
+ 10.2
3
518
- 9 .3
816
6
380
-|-1. 8
- 3 .3
25
2,800
- 2.0
24
2, 381
- 3 .4
5
5
536
- 2.0
7
5
6
2,019
405
352
- 1.6
-7 . 5
- 4 .1
9
8
908
2,604
+ 3 .3
+ 7 .9
64
9, 205
+ .5
15
2,910
- 3 .1
8
3
1,150
159
- 1.6
+63.9
4
137
.0
4
107
+ 9 .2
34 >4, 462
- .9
Various industries:
Auto tires and tubes.
Brooms and brushes.
Laundries............. .
M ercantile................
Public service........ .
Seeds_____________
Wholesale houses__
Commission houses.
Other industries.......
1 Not the exact sum of the items, but as given in the report.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[149J
5
5
8
4
2
26
11
13
+ •2
.0
150
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
M a ry la n d
HTHE following employment statistics for specified industries in
Maryland were furnished by the commissioner of labor and
industries of that State. The pay-roll period is for one week in all
cases except “rubber tires,” which is for one-half month.
CHANGES IN E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID EN T IC A L EST A BLISH M EN TS IN M AR YLAN D ,
OCTOBER TO N O V EM B ER , 1927
Employment
Industry
Beverages and soft drinks._____ ________________
Boots and shoes________________________________
Boxes, paper and fancy................................... .............
Boxes, wooden..................................................................
Brass and bronze_______________________________
Brick, tile, etc.......... ...................................... ..................
Brushes____ _______ _________ _________ _________
Car building and repairing_________________ ____
Chemicals_____________________________________
Clothing, men’s outer garments ............. ..................
Clothing, women’s outer garments................ ............
C onfectionery_____________ _____________ ______
Cotton goods'....................................................... ..............
Fertilizer .................................. ......................................
Food preparation___________ ________ ___________
Foundry_____________________ _______ __________
Furnishing goods, men’s______ _________________
Furniture.................. ........................................................
Glass manufacture............... ................................... .........
Ice cream...................................... .......................................
Leather goods...................................................................
Lithographing........ ..........................................................
Lumber and planing..................................... ................
Mattresses and spring beds..........................................
Plumbers’ supplies________ _________________ _
Printing...............................................................................
Rubber tires........................................................ ..............
Shipbuilding................ .....................................................
Silk goods. .......................................................................
Shirt manufacture............................................................
Stamping and enameling w a re ...................................
Tinware___________ __________________________
Tobacco................................................................................
Miscellaneous.................................................. ..................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pay roll
Estab
lish
Per cent
Per cent
ments Number of change
of change
reporting of em
as com Amount,
as com
for both ployees,
pared November,
pared
with
months Novem
1927
with
ber, 1927 October,
October,
1927
1927
[150]
4
7
6
4
3
4
4
3
5
3
5
6
4
3
4
9
3
10
3
4
4
3
8
4
4
7
1
3
3
3
4
4
6
18
151
1, 238
383
160
2,188
634
561
276
1,324
1, 116
787
985
1,408
457
139
1,157
653
930
847
248
508
510
421
184
1,084
840
2,412
527
375
459
1,021
2,746
588
4,313
-1 0 .7
- 6.8
- 2 .3
-6 .5
+ 3 .6
+ 3 .0
- .6
-5 .5
+ 8.0
-2 5 .2
- 3 .1
- 5 .3
-.9
- 5 .7
+ 6.1
- 1.1
-5 .0
+ .6
- 1.8
- 7 .5
- 7 .7
- 1.6
-.5
+11.5
- 4 .1
-.9
-7 .0
-2 0 .3
-8 .4
+ 5 .5
-4 .0
-3 .0
.0
-1 .4
$3, 970
17, 631
5, 274
2, 551
52, 449.
15, 412
10, 510
9, 686
34, 513
15, 920
9,770
13, 603
21, 050
9,802
3, 346
30, 212
9,158
25, 001
15, 639
8, 262
9,168
13, 517
11, 573
5,013
25, 928
28, 503
136, 028
14, 046
5, 304
6,488
19, 981
60,103
8, 691
97, 924
-2 0 .3
-1 9 .6
- 1.6
- 3 .1
- .8
+ 4.2
+ 1.6
- 3 .9
+ 2.0
-3 8 .8
+ 6.7
- 8.8
+ 4.0
-1 2 .7
+ .9
- 5 .1
+ 4.5
+ 7 .3
- 1.1
-4 .5
-3 .8
-1 3 .4
-2 .4
+ 6.6
-1 3 .0
- .2
-5 .9
-2 2 .7
-1 2 .5
+ 1.3
- 6 .9
-1 .3
+ .8
- 2.0
STATE
REPO RTS
ON
EM PLO Y M EN T— M ASSACH USETTS
151
M a s s a c h u s e tts
A P R E SS release from the Department of Labor and Industries of
* * Massachusetts shows the following changes in volume of em
ployment in various industries in that State from September, 1927,
to October, 1927:
N U M B ER OF E M P L O Y E E S IN 1,003 M AN U FACTURIN G EST A BLISH M EN TS IN MASSA
CH USETTS, W E E K INCLUDING OR EN DING N E A R ES T TO S E P T E M B E R 15 AND
O CTO BER 15, 1927
Number of wage earners employed
Number
of es
tablish
ments
Industry
Rnakhinding _ ________________________________
Pont; and shoe n it stock and findings______________
■Roots and shoes ________________________________
Boxes, p ap er___________ - ____ ______ ____________
Boxes, wooden, packing__________________________
Breed and other*bakery products___________ ______
Carpets and rugs _
________________________
Cars and general shop construction and repairs,
steam railroads
- _________
Clothing men’s _______________________________
Clothing, women’s
____ ___________________
Confectionery
______________________________
Copper tin sheet iron, etc _____________________
______________________________
Cotton goods
Cutlery and tools
_________________________
Tiyeing and finishing textiles ___________________
F lentri cal machinery, apparatus, and supplies______
Foundry products
____________________________
__________________________ _____
Furniture
Ca-s and by-products
_______________________
ITosiery and knit goods _______ ________________
Jewelry
__ ___________ ________________
Leather tanned, curried, and finished_____________
Machine-shop products _________________________
Machine and other tools _ _____________ ________
_______________
Mot nr vehicles, bodies and parts
Musical instruments ___________________________
Paper and wood pulp
__ ______________
Printing and publishing, bftok and job _ _________
Printing and publishing, newspaper_______________
Rubber f o o t w e a r
_
_________
__________
Rubber goods
- ________________
Silk goods
_______________________________
Slaughtering and meat packing___________________
Stationery goods
_______________________ —
Steam fittings and steam and hot-water heating
apparatus
_ ___________________________
Stoves and stove linings
_ _________________
Textile machinery and parts______________________
Tobacco
-- _________________________
Woolen and worsted goods
_ __________________
All other industries...............................................................
Total all industries
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
___________________
[151]
October, 1927
Septem
ber, 1927
Fulltime Part time
Total
128
389
8,921
182
40
167
2,717
926
2,408
23,396
2,215
917
4,443
3,332
2,812
1,506
315
77
44
3,811
801
234
529
462
691
90
94
301
579
708
530
1,410
77
2,264
282
118
2,812
4,208
1,491
4,118
551
40,067
2,067
6,736
9,933
2,596
3,845
1,227
4,631
2,448
925
2,377
23,968
2,154
907
4,308
3,447
798
2,019
14,475
2,033
877
4,276
615
2,841
4,248
1,477
4,140
523
40,056
2,093
6,632
9,477
2,670
3,715
1,216
4,551
2,344
6,513
5,177
2,687
2,660
952
6,256
4,014
2,081
9,032
2, 711
4,050
1,552
1,830
2,702
1,176
4,041
507
36,256
1,266
6, 502
9,404
2,134
3,154
1,137
4,537
2,147
6,109
4,486
2,127
1,024
954
3,919
3,831
2,018
9,426
2,828
1,290
1,779
100
2,774
1,433
80
5,194
2,657
2,434
1,031
6,183
4,113
2,136
9,426
2,828
4,064
1,533
1,859
5
55
128
12
1.716
1,524
4,066
638
18,182
30,979
1,171
513
587
81
13,574
24,202
457
1,041
3,734
457
4,642
6,437
1,628
1,554
4,321
538
18,216
30,639
1,003
230, 669
180, 075
51,334
231,409
15
40
76
27
12
48
5
4
28
32
17
15
51
20
9
15
26
36
13
12
32
31
43
25
16
12
26
50
17
3
7
10
5
11
9
5
6,688
152
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
New Jersey
T HE ^llowing data showing the changes in volume of employment
and pay roll from September to October, 1 9 2 7 , in 8 4 7 establish
ments m that State is furnished by the New Jersey Department of
p E R C EN T OF CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S AND IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF
)EESEY e s t a b w ™ m en t s , o
ear
8?& ?SS% S£
Employees
Per cent
Per cent
Number
of plants Number of change Amount of change
as com
as com
reporting
in
in
pared
pared
October,
October,
with
with
1927
1927
Septem
Septem
ber, 1927
ber, 1927
Industry
Food and kindred products:
Baking........ ...............................
Canning and preserving........
Confectionery and ice cream.
Provisions,........ ........................
Other food products............ I.
16
7
3
12
1,400
4, 747
399
1,319
3,121
- 0.1
-1 6 .3
+ 6.4
- 2.1
+ 11.1
$44, 545
93,800
8,703
40, 211
90, 476
-2 .5
-3 5 .7
-3 .2
- 2.0
+ 7.0
46
10,986
- 5 .3
277,735
-1 4 .8
3
29
IS
38
+ .8
10
1,207
4, 078
7,248
11,437
1,063
3,915
839
2,049
8,407
10, 659
1,863
-.7
+ 3 .3
+ 1 .4
42, 575
82,154
145, 606
290,824
25,396
108,449
16,947
40, 679
207, 555
285, 751
38, 338
+26.7
+ 1.0
+ 4 .7
- 3 .7
-2 7 .7
+ 4.3
+ 10.7
+ 4 .6
+ 1.4
+ 4.6
-1 0 .3
211
52, 765
- .6
1, 284, 274
+ 1.1
3, 290
20,801
17,480
885
893
3,377
r-3. 6
+ 6.1
-. 2
+• 4
+ 3.3
+ .1
89,386
557,030
503, 229
25, 205
26, 431
91,800
- 8 .9
+ 7.7
-3 .3
- .9
-7 .7
- .2
-.5
- 1.8
112, 053
47,065
- 7 .8
+ 4.4
+ 1 .9 1,452,199
+ .3
8
Total,
Textiles and their products:
Carpets and rugs........ ...............
Clothing........................................
Cotton goods........ ........................
Dyeing and finishing textiles,.
Hats and caps........ .....................
Hosiery and knit goods,............
Millinery and lace___________
Shirts and collars........................
Silk goods......................................
Woolen and worsted goods___
Miscellaneous textile products.
6
17
9
9
57
18
Total.
ron and steel and their products:
Cast-iron pipe_______________ _______________
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies""'
Foundry and machine-shop products,. .
Hardware_____________ _______ ___________"
Iron and steel forgings.......................
Machine to o ls.,..................................... ... 171111111"
Steam fittings and steam and hot-water heating
apparatus............ ..........................................
Structural-iron work_____ 1.1
Total.
Lumber and its products:
Furniture_____ _____ _
Lumber and millwork.
Total.
Leather and its products:
Boots and shoes..........
Leather.........................
Leather products____
_6j
28
79
7
8
21
13
10
Total.
Paper and printing:
Paper and pulp_______
Paper boxes__________
Printing, book and job.
Printing, newspaper__
52,204
5
13
1,248
709
+ 1.5
+ 4.1
36, 761
20,312
+3.1
+ 2.2
18
1,957
+ 2 .4
57,073
+ 2.8
6
21
1,028
3, 216
518
- 1.1
- 1.6
+ 1.0
24, 070
95, 318
14,139
- 7 .3
-1 . 7
+18.5
31
4, 762
+ 1.3
133,527
- 1.1
12
3,895
+ 2 .3
72,878
+ 3 .2
22
4,116
1,576
2,172
2,038
+ 1 .5
116, 044
+ .8
30, 955
+ 3.6
66, 802
+ 2. 0 | 85, 904
+ 2.6
-.4
+ 4 .2
+ 1.9
9,902
+ 1.9
+ 2.4
18
12
10
Total.
62
E152]
3,898
1,580 |
- 6.0
- 2 .9
+2. 5
+ .5
172
4
Tobacco products________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Weekly pay roll
299, 705
STATE
REPO RTS
ON EM PLO YM EN T— N EW
YO RK
153
P E R C EN T OF CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S AND IN TO TA L AMOUNT OF
W E E K L Y PA Y R O LL IN 847 N E W JE R S E Y ES T A BLISH M EN TS, O C TO BER, 1927, COM
PA R E D W ITH S E P T E M B E R , 1927—Continued
Employees
Weekly pay roll
Per cent
Per cent
of change
Number
of change
of plants Number as com Amount as com
in
pared
in
reporting
pared
October,
with
October,
with
1927
Septem
1927
Septem
ber, 1927
ber, 1927
Industry
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals..................... _.................. ......................... ...
Explosives........................................ ........................
Oils and greasas..........................................................
Paints and varnish........................ ..........................
Petroleum refining........... _................ ................
8,957
2, 440
1,452
8
13,986
+ .4
+ .3
- 3 .7
- 2.6
- 2 .5
T o tal........................................................................
78
28, 521
- 1 .4
884, 743
- 2.1
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Brick, tile, and terra cotta..................... ...............
Glass............................................................
Pottery........................................................................
Other products..........................................................
20
2
26
7
4, 026
3,071
4,070
984
-3 .7
+ 3.4
-. 1
121,307
68, 084
126, 270
36,913
-1 .9
+10.3
- 3 .0
—4
55
12,151
—. 5
352, 574
10
21
9
14
629
4, 528
3, 770
7,312
+ 6.1
+ 1.7
- .2
- .2
19, 469
121,909
120, 707
208,967
+12.7
54
16, 239
+ .6
471, 052
+ 5.6
13
9
5,954
4, 774
- 2 .7
+ .8
191,960
145,494
+2.4
- .5
22
10, 728
- .8
337,454
+ 1.1
5
28
1,506
3,883
943
8, 610
8,905
5,853
3,212
- 2 .5
+ 3.3
- 2 .3
+ 3.9
- 2.2
- 5 .7
+ 3 .0
39,981
123,179
19, 226
267, 920
244,443
188,311
96, 241
+ 2.1
+13.9
-.5
+10.7
- 4 .1
- 3 .5
+ 5.3
979,301
+3.1
6,602, 515
+ .3
Total..........................................................
Metal products, other than iron and steel:
Brass, bronze, and copper products........................
Sheet metal and enamel ware...................................
Smelting and refining............................ ...................
Wire and wire goods.................................................
Total.........................................................................
Vehicles for land transportation:
Automobiles and parts....................... .......................
Car building and repairing, steam railroad...........
Total...........................................................................
Miscellaneous industries:
Cork and cork specialties.........................................
Jewelry and novelties................................................
Laundries. ........
...........................
Musical instruments_______ ________ ____ _____
Rubber tires and goods...............................................
Shipbuilding.............. .....................................
Unclassified.................................................................. .
Total...................... .......................................
Grand total, all industries....................................
42
6
9
13
8
4
28
6
7
1,686
86
32,912
-. 2
847
237,022
- .1
252,020
70,822
40, 794
50. 736
470,371
+ 3 .2
-.7
- 1 .9
- 4 .0
+ 3.6
+ .1
+ .6
N ew Y o rk
rT ,HE following statistics of changes in number of employees and in
amount of weekly pay rolls were furnished by the New York
State Department of Labor. The figures are based on reports from
a fixed list of about 1,600 factories, having in October 484,819 em
ployees, the total of the weekly pay rolls for the middle week of
October being $14,195,166.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[153]
154
M O NTHLY
LA B O R R E V IE W
CHANGES IN E M P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y ROLLS IN N EW Y O R K STATE FACTO RIES
FROM OCTOBER, 1926, AND S E P T E M B E R , 1927, TO OCTOBER, 1927
Per cent of change
September, 1927, to
October, 1927
Industry
Stone, clay, and glass...............................................................
Miscellaneous stone and minerals _
Lime, cement, and plaster....................... .....................
Cement____________ . _
Brick, tile, and pottery__________________ _____ _
Brick..........................................................................
Pottery....................... .......................................... .......
Glass........... ................................................ .............. ..........
Metals and machinery............................................................
Silver and jewelry...................... ......................................
Brass, copper, and aluminum________ ___________
Iron and steel_____________________ ___________
Structural and architectural iron_________________
Sheet metal and hardware..... ................. .................
Hardware......................................................................
Stamped and enameled ware_______ _____ ___
Firearms, tools, and cutlery...... ....................................
Cutlery and tools_____________ ____ _________
Cooking, heating, and ventilating apparatus______
Steam and hot-water heating________________
Stoves___ ____________________ ________ .
Machinery, including electrical apparatus......... .......
Agricultural implements_____________ _____
Electrical machinery and apparatus....... ...........
Foundries and machine shops___ ____ ______
Automobiles, carriages, and airplanes...................... .
Automobiles and p a r t s ............................ . .
Railroad equipment and repair............................
Locomotives and equipm ent...______________
Railway repair shops.............................................
Boat and ship building._____ _____________ . . .
Instruments and appliances________________ .
Wood manufactures..................................................
Saw and planing mills..................................... ............
Millwork............................................... .
Sawmills..................... ..............................................
Furniture and cabinet work...........................................
Furniture.__________________________
Pianos and other musical instruments________
Miscellaneous wood, etc _______ ,,...................
Furs, leather, and rubber goods____________ _____
Leather......... ...................................................
Furs and fur goods.............................................................
Shoes____________ _____ _________
Other leather and canvas goods_________
Rubber and gutta-percha________________ .
Pearl, horn, bone, etc....................... ..........
Chemicals, oils, paints, e tc .___________________
Drugs and chemicals............................................
Paints and colors..............................................
Oil products........................................ ...................
Pretroleum refining__________________
Miscellaneous chemicals ______________
Paper___ ____ _________________ __________
Printing and paper goods...............................................
Paper boxes and tu b e s............................. .................
Miscellaneous paper goods___________________
Printing and bookmaking_______________ ____
Printing, newspapers...............................................
Printing, book and job_________ ____ ________
Textiles__________ ___________
Silk and silk goods........................ .
Wool manufactures....................................................
Carpets and rugs..........................................
W oolens and worsteds...........................................
Cotton goods_______ ________ ________
Knit goods (except silk). ________________
Other textiles______________
Dyeing and finishing........................ ..............
1 Change of less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[154]
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
- 1 .5
+ .9
-4 .8
- 5 .3
-5 .0
-1 0 .5
- 3 .1
- 1 .4
- 8.6
+ 6.0
- .2
+ 2.5
-. 1
+ 3 .0
+ .8
- 1 .9
-4 .2
+ .8
+ 1.0
+ 5 .6
- 1.0
- 2.0
+ 1 .3
+ 1.2
+ 9 .7
+ 2.8
-.9
+ .3
- .1
- 3 .7
- 11.2
+ .4
-4 .2
- .8
+ .7
- 2.2
- 2 .4
- 5 .4
+ .6
+ 2.1
+ 1.0
+ 3 .4
- .8
+3.3
- 7 .1
- 1 .9
(>)
+ 4 .4
+ 4.9
- .2
- .6
+ •6
+ 1.0
*
- 10.0
- 7 .5
-1 1 .3
- 1.2
+ 9.5
- 1.2
+ 5.4
-4 .0
+ 1.8
+ .4
- 1.6
- 5 .6
+ 3.8
+ .6
+ 6.0
- 2.0
-4 . 2
+ 4.1
- 2 .4
+16.6
+ .7
- 7 .4
- .8
- 1.1
+ 1.0
-9 .6
+ 6.8
-6 .7
- 1.6
+ 1.1
- 3 .8
-3 .7
- 9 .1
+ 2.7
+ 5.0
+ .9
+ 3.6
- 1 .9
+ 6 .9
- 11.0
- 4 .8
+ 8.7
+ 3.5
+ 2.9
-. 1
+ 2.4
—.6
-.7
- 1. 6
+ 3 .5
(!)
+ 1 .9
- 2.6
- 1 .4
- 9 .3
0)
+ 4.5
-.4
+ 5 .3
-7 .6
+ 2 .5
- .4
+ .3
+ 1 .4
+ .4
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .4
- 1 .3
+ 1.2
+ 2.0
+ 2.1
-.3
+ 1.7
+ 3 .0
- 2 .4
- 1 .9
+ 1.6
+ 10.2
+ 3.9
+ 2.3
+ 1.3
+ .1
October, 1926, to
October, 1927
Employ
ment
- 10.1
- 11 . 0
- 12.0
-1 3 .6
- 8 .3
- 21.6
+ 8.2
-9 .3
- 8.0
- 10.6
- 2.6
-1 3 .1
+13.6
- 7 .4
+ 3 .2
-.3
-1 3 .7
- 9 .3
- 1 .9
- 2.0
+ 6.4
- 8.6
- .8
- 4 .8
-1 5 .3
- 10.0
-1 0 .3
- 10.8
-1 5 .7
- 8.1
-2 3 .1
- 1 .4
- 6.8
- 9 .1
- 9 .6
- 5 .7
- 2.6
+ .1
-1 0 .4
- 7 .1
- 1 .7
- 6.6
-1 3 .7
+ .4
(1)
- 5 .9
- 7 .6
+ 2.4
+ 2.0
- .8
+ .4
+ 2.1
+ 6.1
- 6 .7
- 2.0
-3 .6
- 4 .4
- 1 .3
+ 3.9
- 2 .4
- .9
- 1 .3
-.9
+ 3 .3
-1 5 .0
+ 3.4
- 1.6
- 2.2
- 2.2
Pay rolls
—10.9
—9. 0
—15.3
—16. 5
—11.3
—26.6
+10.4
—6.4
—8.0
—7.7
—4. 6
—17.7
+ 11.6
—7.0
+ 2 .4
—13.3
—8.3
+. 5
—.4
+ 4 .6
—6.8
—.3
—2.2
—14.1
—10.7
—11.1
—10.3
—14.6
—8. 2
—23.7
—2. 2
—8.0
—9.0
—10. 2
—5. 0
—4. 2
—. 6
—12.7
—7. 2
—4.0
—9.2
—25.4
—2.2
+ 3.4
—4.8
—6.9
+ 4.3
+ 5.1
—1.2
+ 1 .9
+ 1.6
+ 7.9
—8.3
—.3
—3.7
—3.8
+ .4
+ 8.9
—1.8
—1.4
+ .3
—4.7
—2.6
—14.5
+ 3.9
+ .8
— .8
- 5 .1
STATE
REPO RTS
ON E M PL O Y M EN T — P E N N S Y L V A N IA
155
CHANGES IN E M P L O Y M E N T AND PA Y ROLLS IN N EW Y O R K STATE FA C TO R IES
FROM OCTOBER, 1926, AND S E P T E M B E R , 1927, TO OCTOBER, 1927—Continued
Per cent of change
September, 1927, to
October, 1927
Industry
Employ
ment
•
Pay rolls
+ .9
- 1. 0
+ 4.1
+ 3.4
+ 1.8
- 2 .9
+• 8
+3. 6
+1. G
+ 1.0
- 2. 1
-.7
+ 6.8
+ 1.1
- 2.0
- 1.8
- 1. 6
+• 5
+ 2. 0
Employ
ment
- 2 .7
-1 0 . 5
+ 5.4
+ 6.9
+ 1.9
- .7
- 3 .0
+ 6.4
-. 1
-.7
Clothing and millinery................. ..........................................
Men’s clothing. __........................................................... Men’s furnishings.,...........................................................
Shirts and collars......... ........................................ .
Women’s clothing............................................................
Women’s underwear____________________________
Women’s headwear_____________________________
Miscellaneous sewing____ ________ _____ _________
Laundering and cleaning........ ................................ .
Food and to b a c co ......... .........................................................
Flour, feed, ana cereals........................................ ..........
Flour______________________ _____ _________
Canning and preserving___________ _____________
Other groceries ....................... ......................................
Sugar refining __________________________ _
Meat and dairy products..------- -------------------------Meat packing..------- --------- -------------------------Bakery products............................... ............... .............
Candy............................ ........................................ ...........
Beverages---- ------------- --------- ----------------------------Tobacco.
___________________________________
Water, light, and power................. .................................. .
+ 1.9
+ 1.4
-. 2
- 1.8
- 6 .4
+ .7
Total____________ ______________ _____ _______
+ .1
- .9
+ .6
October, 1926, to
October, 1927
+ .1
-4 . 1
+ 11 . 2
- .6
- 4 .6
- 1 .5
- 1 .3
- .8
- 2.2
+ 1.0
- 7 .1
- 8. 1
+3. 1
-2 3 .7
+ 7.4
-9 .0
+ 5.3
+ .3
-4 . 6
- 6. 1
+ 2.3
+14.3
+32.8
- 1.6
- 1. 2
+2. 5
-15. 0
-.3
+ .4
Pay rolls
+ .1
-.9
- 1.0
-6 .5
-2 .9
+ 5 .8
-2 3 .4
+ 11.0
—7.4
+ 5.4
—1.1
—7.3
—6.4
-3 .7
+ 7.7
+14.-8
—3.0
- 2 .3
+ 2.4
-1 1 .5
- 1.2
- 6.2
+ .4
-4 .2
- 4 .4
P enn sylvan ia
HPHE following statistics on changes in employment, in weekly man*
hours, and in pay-roll totals, from October to November, 1927,
were furnished by the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of
Labor and Industry of Pennsylvania:
P E R C EN T O F CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S , IN TOTAL W E E K L Y MAN
HOURS, AND IN W E E K L Y PA Y RO LL IN 490 PEN N SYLVAN IA ESTA BLISH M EN TS
B E T W E E N O CTOBER AND N O V EM BER , 1927
W age e a r n e r s ,
week e n d i n g
Nov. 15, 1927
Number
of plants
report
ing
Industry
Metal products:
Blast furnaces................... .....................
Steel works and rolling mills..............
Iron and steel forgings..........................
Structural-ironwork_____ _________
Steam and hot-water heating appa
ratus. .................................. ...............
Foundries................................................
Machinery and parts............................
Electrical machinery and apparatus.
Engines and pumps.............................Hardware tools....... ............ ..............
Brass and bronze products.................
Jewelry and novelties...........................
Total............ ....... .................................
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 28-
-11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8
25
8
5
Per cent
of change
as com
Number
pared
with
October,
1927
- 12.0
+ 2.4
+ 3.4
-1 7 .7
- 12.2
+ 1.3
+ 2.1
-1 8 .4
- 5 .7
+• 2
-2 .7
-2 1 .5
- 21.0
- 2.8
- 6.1
+ .1
113, 221
290,411
311,164
176, 984
107, 765
195, 875
32, 885
57, 215
- .1
+ 2.0
+ .5
- 3 .6
—23.2
-1 9 .4
- 3 .2
- 7 .2
-. 1
- 2. 1
3, 037, 661
- 2.8
-3 .0
- 12.0
2,414
- 5 .1
- 1 .7
- 1.0
-1 2 .3
- 1 .9
32
29
6, 656
6, 605
3
4,016
2,850
4,462
664
1,155
164
68, 905
12
8
14
8
[1 5 5 ]
Number
Total
weekly
pay roll:
Per cent
Per cent of change
of change as com
as com
pared
with
pared
with
October,
October,
1927
1927
102,161
1,538, 889
60, 673
50,418
2,079
35, 545
1,283
1,176
12
Total weekly man
hours, week end
ing Nov. 15, 1927
- .6
+2. 5
-7 .0
+ .6
- 4 .3
156
M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
P E R C EN T OF CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S , IN TOTAL W E E K L Y MAN
HOURS, AND IN W E E K L Y PA Y RO LL IN 490 PEN N SYLVAN IA EST A BLISH M EN TS
B E T W E E N OCTOBER AND N O V EM B ER , 1927—Continued
Industry
Vehicles:
Automobiles..............................
Automobile bodies and parts.
Locomotives and c a r s ............
Railroad repair shops__ ____
Shipbuilding..............................
Number
of plants
report
ing
W age e a r n e r s ,
week e n d i n g
Nov. 15, 1927
Total weekly man
hours, week end
ing Nov. 15, 1927
Per cent
of change
as com
N umber
pared
with
October,
1927
Number
Total
weekly
pay roll:
Per cent
Per cent of change
of change as com
as com
pared
with
pared
with
October,
October,
1927
1927
7
9
9
5
3
3,506
5,632
6,005
2, 394
2, 214
-2 .2
+ 1.3
-5 .3
+ .4
-5 . 1
158,365
298, 789
263, 626
92, 359
94,915
+ 2 .9
+25.3
- 8 .3
-3 . 1
- 3 .9
+ 4.5
+20. 1
-6 .9
-.9
- 2 .6
33
19, 751
-2 .3
908, 054
+ 3 .9
+3. 7
11
10
21
5
4
5
7
4
3
1, 533
2,926
10,329
776
1, 672
1,661
1,095
641
678
-1 . 2
+• 1
+12.8
+ 9 .8
+ 4 .8
+ 5.3
+ 5 .7
+9. 2
+5. 3
74, 263
145,187
481,065
33, 315
82, 364
83,611
52, 825
29, 507
31, 366
- 1 .4
-3 . 2
+20.9
-2 . 1
+3. 5
+11.0
+ 9 .8
+ 8.5
-. 7
+19.4
- 2 .2
+ .7
+ 8.9
+ 4 .3
+15.4
- 3 .5
70
21,311
+7. 8
1,013, 503
+10.3
+ 9.3
17
5
7
1,458
1, 977
679
1,130
280
- 1 .8
- 1 .0
- 6 .3
-.3
- 4 .8
73, 597
95,117
39, 807
58, 558
10, 707
- 3 .9
-6 .8
-8 . 1
+ 1.0
-1 .9
- 1 .6
-5 .2
- 3 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 1.0
Total......... ............................. .
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Brick, tile, and pottery.........
Cement.................................. .
Glass.................... ........................
43
5, 524
-2 . 0
277, 786
-4 . 5
- 2 .1
18
13
8
3,131
3,836
4, 365
-2 .2
-1 . 7
-5 .9
143, 945
217, 936
201,684
-2 .7
- 7 .1
-5 .8
-2 .4
- 7 .3
-6 . 7
Total........................................
Lumber products:
Lumber and planing mills___
Furniture______ _____ _____
Wooden boxes............................
39
11, 332
-3 . 5
563, 565
-5 . 5
- 5 .9
14
15
5
1,049
1,202
+ 1 .0
-2 2 .4
48,015
58, 384
28, 868
- .4
-2 2 .4
-1 4 .7
-2 .0
-2 6 .3
-1 4 .5
Total.........................................
Construction and contracting:*
Building........ .................. ..........
Street and highway............ .
General......................................
34
2, 908
-1 0 .4
135, 267
-1 4 .0
-1 6 .4
16
3
9
1, 502
628
2,257
+• 4
+19.6
- 1 .4
56, 589
21, 660
109, 565
-7 .2
+24.4
-.4
-1 0 .2
+19.5
+• 6
Total................ ........................
Chemical products:
Chemicals and drugs...... .........
Paints and varnishes................
28
4, 387
+ 1 .8
187, 814
-.3
-2 . 2
10
6
785
973
+ 1 .7
-.3
46, 219
48,199
+ 2.4
-1 . 3
+ 1.2
Total................ ..........'.............
Leather and rubber products:
Leather tanning......................
Shoes.................. .........................
Leather products, other_____
Rubber tires and goods...........
16
1, 758
+.6
94, 418
+ .5
9
2,205
2, 041
200
110, 907
93, 651
9,610
40,041
+ 1.6
- 4 .8
-.9
-13. 5
+ 1.8
-1 4 .0
918
+ 1 .9
- 1 .5
+ 1.0
-.9
29
5, 364
+.1
254, 209
- 3 .6
- 6 .4
7
3
24
2,348
215
1, 561
-1 .3
+ 4.4
+.2
126, 715
10, 834
72, 782
- 2 .3
+ 1.8
-2 . 7
+13.3
Total......................................
34
4, 124
-. 5
210, 331
-1 . 2
- 1 .2
Grand total, all industries.
490
145, 364
-.8
6,682,608
-.6
. - 1 .2
Total.......................................
Textile products:
Cotton goods..............................
Woolens and worsteds.............
Silk goods_________________
Textile dyeing and finishing..
Carpets and rugs.................
Hosiery_____________ ______
Knit goods, other......................
Women’s clothing.. : ...............
Shirts and furnishings______
Total.......................................
Foods and tobacco:
Bread and bakery products..
Confectionery_________ ____
Ice cream ............................ .......
Meat packing...........................
Cigars and tobacco........ ..........
Total........................................
Paper and printing:
Paper and wood pulp..............
Paper boxes and bags..............
Printing and publishing..........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8
6
657
12
4
4
[1 5 6 ]
.0
+.2
- .4
+.2
-.8
+.1
-.8
-1 4 .4
+.1
STATE
REPO RTS
ON
157
E M P L O Y M E N T — W IS C O N S IN
W is c o n s in
TTHE October, 1927, issue of the Wisconsin Labor Market, issued by
the State industrial commission, contains the following data on
volume of employment in Wisconsin industries in September, 1927:
P E R C EN T OF CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S AND IN TO TAL AMOUNT OF
PA Y RO LL IN ID EN T IC A L ESTABLISH M EN TS IN WISCONSIN FROM S E P T E M B E R ,
1926, AND AUGUST, 1927, TO S E P T E M B E R , 1927
Per cent of change
Industry
August, 1927, to
September, 1927
September, 1926, to
September, 1927
Employ Pay roll
ment
Employ Pay roll
ment
Manual
Agriculture........................................................................
Logging.................................................................................
M ining................................................................................
Lead and zinc..............................................................
Iron....... ........................................................................
Stone crushing and quarrying........................................
Manufacturing............. ...................................................
Stone and allied industries..................... ................
Brick, tile, and cement blocks........................
Stone finishing...................................................
Metal................. .................... ......................................
Pig iron and rolling mill products................
Structural-iron w ork.......................................
Foundries and machine shops.......... ..............
Railroad repair shops........................................
Stoves........................................... .....................
Aluminum and enamel ware._____________
Machinery______________________ _______
Automobiles ........................................................
Other metal products......................... .............
Wood_____________ ______ _____ ____________
Sawmills and planing mills........... ..................
Box factories........................................................
Panel and veneer m ills.......... ........................
Furniture-____ _______ __________________
Sash, door, and interior finish____ ________
Other wood products....... .................................
Rubber____ _____ __________________________
L e a th e r...._______________________ ________
Tanning______ _____________ ___________
Boots and shoes...............„ ...............................
Other leather products......................................
Paper................................ ............................................
Paper and pulp mills................................. .......
Paper boxes........................................................
Other paper products___________________
Textiles____________________ ________ .7 _____
Hosiery and other knit goods....... .............. .
Clothing.............................. .................................
Other textile products___________________
Foods.......... ___•....... ................................. .................
Meat packing.__________________________
Baking and confectionery..........................
Milk products . _______ _____________ ____
Canning and preserving................... ...........
Flour mills.......................................... ....... ........
Tobacco manufacturing____________ _____
Other food products_____________________
Light and power_________ __________________
Printing and publishing........................................
Laundering, cleaning, and dyeing.......................
Chemical, including soap, glue, and explosives.
Construction:
Building_______________________
Highway________ _______ _______
Railroad.............. ...............................
Marine, dredging, sewer digging..
Communication:
Steam railways..................................
Electric railways_______ _______ _
Express, telephone, and telegraph.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[157]
-1 .2
+ 2 2 .8
+ 1 .9
-3 .0
+ 1 4 .8
+ 1 9 .7
-2 .6
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .5
-2 .2
-1 1 .3
+ 5 .4
-7 .6
-1 .1
+ 1 .5
+ 3 .6
-. 5
+ 1 .0
—1 .9
-3 .3
-4 .8
-1 2 .3
-9 .1
+L2
-2 .9
+ 1 .7
+ 2 .0
-1 .3
-3 .0
-1 .4
+ .3
+ 1 .0
+ .3
-.5
+ 5 .9
+ 1 .0
+• 4
+ 2 .3
+• 1
-1 2 .8
+ 7 .2
+ 5 .0
-2 9 .1
-4 0 .3
+ 1 .2
-.2
+ .9
-.8
-1 .2
-.2
+ 2 .3
+2.2
+1.6
+ 9 .3
+ 8 .7
+10.7
-1 0 .7
+.5
+ 1 0 .5
+ 1 9 .7
+1. 6
+ 4 .7
-4 .9
+ 3 2 .7
-4 .8
-2 .5
-5 .3
-1 .1
-7 .0
-1 2 .5
+ 4 .4
-1 6 .4
-2 .3
+ 2 .0
-2 .2
-8 .4
-3 .2
-2 .6
-6 .2
-1 .1
-1 5 .2
-2 1 .5
-5 .4
-7 .1
-1 .6
-3 .6
-5 .0
-9 .5
-.2
-7 .6
+ .5
+ .6
-2 .3
+ 2 .4
+ 3 .6
-4 .5
+ 1 3 .6
+ 1 0 .4
-8 .5
+ 8 .6
+ 6 .9
-2 2 .7
-3 7 .2
-4 .5
-2 .4
-9 .2
-. 1
-.8
+ 1 .5
-. 1
+ 8.1
+29.9
+ 1.1
+ 4.1
- 5 .2
+41.9
- 4 .5
+19.0
+ 10. 1
+25.3
- 10. 8
-2 5 .4
-8 .4
- 12.8
- 2.8
-8 .4
+2. 9
-1 0 .5
-1 5 .5
-1 1 .4
- 6.2
- 9 .7
- 12.6
-1 1 .3
- 1.8
- 1.8
- 6 .9
+20.5
-1 8 .8
-3 7 .1
- 20.8
+12.7
+ 3.3
+ 2.5
- .5
+ 10.2
+11.7
+ 10.0
+18.1
+ 2.9
- 5 .3
+11.7
-6 .9
+8.0
+ 7.8
+.3
+8.2
11.0
+2.8
+
+15.3
-6.6
+.6
-2 0 .5
- 10.8
- 5 .6
.0
-1 4 . 1
+ 12.2
+ 6 .4
+ 3 .6
- 8.2
+14.2
+ .3
+11.9
-1 9 .2
+72.2
- 4 .3
+ 8.0
+10.3
+ 7 .0
-1 0 .7
-2 9 .6
—13.2
-1 7 .2
+ 1.0
—7.0
+ 4 .4
- 10.2
—8.5
-1 3 .5
—5.3
—6.5
-1 6 .8
- 12.2
-5 .2
-.3
- 5 .7
+14.7
-1 9 .8
-3 6 .3
-1 8 .1
+ 5 .5
+ 2.7
+ 1.1
-.3
+13.7
+14.5
+ 8.7
+26.3
+ 6.2
-.7
+24.2
+ .4
-9 .3
-1 2 .9
-3 .9
—2.4
-1 0 .3
+14.8
+ 11.0
- 1.0
—15.2
+16.3
+ 21.2
+44.9
+13.3
+143.1
- 3 .4
.0
+ 9.7
+ 3.6
+ 3.3
+ 6 .4
158
M O NTHLY LA BO R
R E V IE W
P E R C EN T OF CHANGE IN N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S AND IN TO T A L AMOUNT OF
PA Y R O LL IN ID E N T IC A L ES T A BLISH M EN TS IN WISCONSIN FR O M S E P T E M B E R
1926, AND AUGUST, 1927, TO S E P T E M B E R , 1927—Continued.
Per cent of change
Industry
Manual—Continued
Wholesale trade_______ ______
Hotels and restaurants.__________ _______ _____________
August, 1927, to
September, 1927
September, 1926, to
September, 1927
Employ Pay roll
ment
Employ
Pay roll
ment
- 1.2
-4 .0
- 2.1
-5 .2
- 1.6
-1 3 .3
- .2
-1 . 0
+ 2.1
+3. 3
-3 . 6
-1 7 .1
-5 .0
+ 3 .3
+7. 7
-. 7
+ 1.6
+14.3
+ 6.2
- 1.2
+ 6.8
+ 10.0
+ 6.3
+ 6.4
+ 3.6
+ .4
Nonmanual
Manufacturing, mines and quarries__________________
Construction___________ ____________
Communication_________________ .
Wholesale trade._______ ___________________
Retail trade—sales force only______________________ .
Miscellaneous professional services_______________
Hotels and restaurants____ _____________________
+ 2. 0
+ .5
-. 5
+10. 9
-6 .4
-3 . 4
Unemployment in Chile 1
T
HE Chilean Government is endeavoring to reduce unemployment
in that country by advancing 4,000,000 pesos2 for road build
ing, relief work, and for the repair of public buildings, while
1,500,000 pesos is to be expended on irrigation work.
In addition to the saltpeter industry, which has been particularly
affected, there has been serious unemployment among the public
service employees, who have, nevertheless, been compensated by
the Government. Each employee may borrow an amount propor
tionate to his length of service and 10,000,000 pesos have been so
distributed, the funds having been borrowed from the insurance fund
for public employees and journalists.
1 International Labor Office. Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, Oct. 31, 1927, pp. 156, 157
s Average exchange rate of peso in 1926=12.08 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
Retail Prices of Food in the United States
T
HE following tables are compiled from monthly reports of actual
selling prices 1 received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food November
15, 1926, and October 15 and November 15, 1927, as well as the per
centage changes in the year and in the month. For example, the
retail price per pound of plate beef was 14.7 cents in November,
1926; 15.8 cents in October, 1927; and 16.2 cents in November,
1927. These figures show increases of 10 per cent in the year and
3 per cent in the month.
The cost of the various articles of food combined shows a decrease
of 3.2 per cent November 15, 1927, as compared with November 15,
1926, and an increase of 0.2 per cent November 15, 1927, as compared
with October 15, 1927.
T
1 . — A V ER A G E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF S P E C IF IE D FOOD A R T IC L E S AND P E R
C EN T OF IN C R EA S E OR D E C R E A SE N O V EM B ER 15, 1927, C O M PAR ED W ITH OCTO
B E R 15, 1927, AND N O V EM B ER 15, 1926
able
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
Unit
Nov. 15,
1926
Oct. 15,
1927
Nov. 15,
1927
Cents
Cents
Cents
Sirloin steak______________________
Round steak_____________________
Rib roast_________________________
Chuck roast______________________
Plate beef______ ______ ______ ____
Pound_______
____do_______
____do_______
____do_______
........do_______
Pork chops___ ___________________
Bacon___________________________
Ham_____________________________
Lamb, leg of__ ___________________
Hens____________________________
____do___..........
____do___...........
____do_______
____do_______
____do........... .
39. 3
51. 0
58. 4
37. 9
37.1
Salmon, canned, red ____ ____ ____
Milk, fresh______________________
Milk' evaporated. ...... ........................
Butter . ______ ____ _____ . . .
Oleomargarine (all butter substitutes)__________________________
Cheese______
L ard.. __________________________
Vegetable lard substitute.________
Eggs, strictly fresh. _____________
Eggs, storage____ _______ _________
____do...... .........
Quart- .
15-16 oz. ca n ...
Pound_______
____d o _______
____do_______
____do_______
____do_______
Dozen_______
____do...... .........
40. 9
35. 5
30. 2
22. 7
14. 7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Nov. 15,
1926
Oct. 15,
1927
43. 5
37. 8
31. 9
24. 5
16. 2
+6
+6
+6
+8
+10
0
+1
41. 5
46. 6
53. 6
38. 2
35. 7
36. 3
46. 3
53. 0
37. 6
35. 6
-8
-1 3
34. 7
14. 1
11.4
55. 7
34.4
14. 2
11.5
55. 7
34. 8
14. 2
11.5
56. 4
30. 1
36. 9
21. 1
25. 6
66. 0
47.0
27.9
38. 3
19. 6
25. 2
56. 6
42.1
27.9
38. 6
19. 5
25. 1
61. 7
43. 2
43. 7
37. 9
31. 9
24. 3
15.8
9.4
__
9.3
Bread________ ______ _____ _______ Pound.
____do_______
5. 7
5. 5
Flour__
Corn meal
_ . ______________ ____do_______
5.1
5. 2
9. 0
Rolled o a t s ...___________________ . ___do_______
9.1
9.7
10.9
Com flakes.............................................. 8-oz. pkg_____
1 In addition to monthly retail prices of food and coal, the bureau publishes
tricity from each of 51 cities for the dates for which these data are secured.
[159]
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Nov. 15,1927,
compared with—
9.3
5.4
5. 2
9.0
9.7
- 0 .4
- 0 .3
+3
-1
-1
-2
—9
—9
-1
-4
- 0 .3
+0. 3
+1
0
0
+1
+1
+1
-7
+5
0
+1
-1
-8
-2
- 0 .4
+9
+4
-7
-7
-1
0
-2
0
0
0
-5
+2
-1
-11
the prices of gas and elec
159
160
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
1 . — A V ERAG E R E T A IL PR IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FOOD A R T IC L E S AND P E R
C EN T OF IN C R EA S E OR D E C R E A S E N O V EM B ER 15, 1927, C O M PAR ED W ITH OCTO
B E R 15, 1927, AND N O V EM B ER 15, 1926—Continued
T able
Average retail price on—
Article
Wheat cereal............................................
Macaroni....._.................. .......................
Rice - _ _ ........ ...................................
Beans, navy______________________
Potatoes..................................................
Unit
Nov. 15,
1926
Oct. 15,
1927
Nov. 15,
1927
Cents
Cents
Cents
28-oz. pkg
Pound
____ do___
____ do__
____ do___
25.4
20. 1
11.3
9.3
4.0
25. 5
20. 1
10. 5
9. 6
3.0
25. 5
20. 0
10.4
9.5
3.0
Onions................. ....... .............................
__ do___
Cabbage_________________________
_ do
Beans, baked..........._............................. No. 2 can
Corn, canned ............ ............................ ........ do
Peas, canned................... ........................ . . d o
5.0
4.0
11.7
16.3
17.3
5.0
3.9
11. 5
15. 7
16.7
4.8
3. 7
11. 5
15. 7
16.6
Tomatoes, canned............................... ____do___
Sugar........ ........................................
Pound
T ea__________ ___________
do
Coffee— ........ .......................................
__ do
12.1
7. 1
77. 1
50.8
11.9
7.2
77.5
47.4
7. 2
77. 5
47.8
Prun es........................ ........................... ___ do
Raisins.................................................
do __
Bananas______________ ____ ____
Dozen
Oranges_______________________ _ ____ do___
16. 5
14.6
34.9
55.1
14.6
14. 2
33.9
57.8
Weighted food index ...... ................ ..
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Nov. 15,1927,
compared with—
Nov. 15,
1926
+ 0.4
-0 . 4
Oct. 15,
1927
0
- 0 .4
-8
+2
-1
-1
0
-4
-4
-5
-2 5
-8
-2
-4
-4
0
0
-1
11.8
-2
+1
+1
-6
-1
0
0
+1
14. 1
13.8
34.4
53.2
-1 5
-5
-1
-3
-3
-3
+1
-8
-3 .2
+ 0.2
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of speci
fied food articles on November 15, 1913, and on November 15 of each
year from 1921 to 1927, together with percentage changes in Novem
ber of each of these specified years, compared with November, 1913.
For example, the retail price per pound of pork chops was 21.5 cents
in November, 1913; 32 cents in November, 1921; 33 cents in No
vember, 1922; 28.9 cents in November, 1923; 31.6 cents in November,
1924; 37.5 cents in November, 1925; 39.3 cents in November, 1926;
and 36.3 cents in November, 1927.
As compared with November, 1913, these figures show increases
of 49 per cent in November, 1921; 53 per cent in November, 1922;
34 per cent in November, 1923; 47 per cent in November, 1924; 74
per cent in November, 1925; 83 per cent in November, 1926; and 69
per cent in November, 1927.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an
increase of 49.2 per cent in November, 1927, as compared with No
vember, 1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[160]
161
R E T A IL PR IC ES OF FOOD
T at-i e 2 .—AVERAGE R E T A IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IFIE D FOOD A R T IC LES AND P E R C EN T
OF IN C R EA SE OR D E C R E A SE N O V EM BER 15 OF C ER TA IN S P E C IFIE D Y EA R S COM
PA R E D W ITH N O V EM B ER 15, 1913
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on Nov. 15—
Article
Unit
Per cent of increase Nov. 15
of each specified year com
pared with Nov. 15, 1913
1913 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
Sirloin steak...........................
Round steak.........................
Rib roast
____ _____ ___
Chuck roast............................
Plate beef________________
Pound..
___do___
__ do____
-__do___
___do___
25.4 35. 7 37.3 38.9 38. 7 40.3 40.9 43.5
22. 8 31.0 32.0 33.1 32.9 34.4 35. 5 37.8
19.8 26.8 27.5 28.3 28.2 29.5 30.2 31.9
16.3 19.2 19.6 20.4 20.4 21.6 22.7 24.5
12.4 12.8 12. 7 13.0 13.2 14. 1 14.7 16.2
41
36
35
18
3
47
40
39
20
2
53
45
43
25
5
52
44
42
25
Pwk chops_______________
B a co n ...!...... ........._..............
H a m _________ __ ______
Lamb, leg of ____________
Hens __________________
-__do___
-.-d o ___
__do____
.--d o___
__ do........
21.5 32.0 33.0 28.9 31. 6 37. 5 39. 3 36.3
27.2 39. 7 40.9 38.5 40. 1 49.2 51.0 46.3
26.9 45. 7 46.3 45.5 47.0 53. 5 58.4 53.0
18. 5 30.6 35. 8 35.8 35.4 38.4 37.9 37.6
20.6 35.8 33.9 33.7 34.5 35.8 37.1 35.6
49
46
70
65
74
53
50
72
94
65
34
42
69
94
64
47 74 83 69
47 81 88 70
75 99 117 97
91 108 105 103
67 74 80 73
Salmon, canned, rod
Milk, fresh_______ _______
Milk, evaporated Butter____ ____ _______ _ .
Oleomargarine (all butter
substitutes).
Cheese....................................
Lard__________ . .
Vegetable lord substitute
Eggs, strictly f r e s h ...____
Eggs, storage
do
34.3 31. 5 31. 4 31. 7 36. 4 34.7 34.8
Quart.._ 9. 1 14.3 13.4 14.3 13.8 14.3 14. 1 14.2
(i)
13. 3 11. 7 12.2 11 . 0 11. 6 11.4 11. 5
Pound. . 38.7 53. 1 54.6 58.9 48.9 59.7 55.7 56.4
---do....... . ___ 29.3 27.6 29.2 30.2 31.2 30.1 27.9
71
6
61
50
31
47
57
52
57
55
56
37
41
52
26
54
44
46
...d o ___ 22. 5 33.3 35.5 37.7 34.7 37.4 36.9 38.6 48
4
___do___ 15.9 16.6 17.6 18.9 22.4 23.3 21.1 19-. 5
do
21. 5 23 2 23. 7 25. 5 25.8 25,. 6 25. 1
66.3
69.4
68.1
Dozen __ 49.7 69. 5 64.5
66.0 61.7 40
_ do___ 34.3 46.4 39.8 42.3 47.3 47.4 47. 0 43.8 35
58
68
19
54
41
66
11
47
64
33
72
23
30
16
33
23
37
38
40
38
33
37
24
28
55
45
26
55
39
42
59
64
65
82
71
73
65
68
31
8.7 8.9 9.4 9.4
4. 6 5.4 6.0 5. 7
4. 4 5. 1 5.3 5. 1
8. 8 9.1 9.2 9. 1
9. 7 10. 7 11 . 0 10.9
5. 4
5.2
9. 0
9. 7
(3 )
Wheat cereal
29. 7 25. 6 24.3 24.4 25.2 25.4 25. 5
TVTaoarnni
Pound
20. 4 19. 9 19. 7 19. 6 20. 5 20.1 20.0
Rice
___________ __ do____ 8.7 9.4 9. 5 9.7 10.5 11.4 11.3 10.4
Beans, navy
do
8.2 10. 2 10. 5 10.1 9.9 9. 3 9. 5
P o tato e s..!______________ --.d o ....... 1.8 3.2 2.1 2.6 2.2 5.2 4.0 3.0
do
d o __
(4 )
(4)
(4)
do
do
"Dozen
do
66
55
35
68
68
68
64
8
9
11
21
30
20
78
17
44
22 189 122
67
50
26
9Ï
29
27
63
35
64
33
42
60
7. 5 4. 4 6.3 5.1 5. 7 5. 0 4. 8
4. 6 3.4 3.9 3. 7 4.2 4. 0 3. 7
13. 9 13.2 12. 9 12. 6 12. 3 11. 7 11. 5
16. 1 15.2 15.6 16. 6 17.1 16. 3 15.7
17.8 17.4 17. 7 18. 3 18.1 17.3 16.6
(4 )
Tomatoes, canned
13.0 12.8 12.9 13. 6 12. 9 12.1 11.8
Sugar, granulated............... Pound.. 5.4 6. 7 8. 1 10.3 8.8 6.6 7.1 7.2
__
do____
54.5
69.0
68. 5 70.4 73.5 75.7 77. 1 77.5
Tea . ________________
Coffee _________________ __ do........ 29.8 35. 6 36.5 37.8 49.0 51.2 50.8 47.8
Primes
Raisins
Bananas
Oranges
61
56
53
39
19
57
B re a d ................................... Pound _. 5.6 9.3 8.7
Flour _ ________________ -_ d o ___ 3.3 5. 1 4. 8
Corn meal............ .................. ___do___ 3. 1 4.2 3. 9
“Rolled oats
do
9. 7 8. 8
(2 )
Corn flakes
11.9 9. 7
Onions
Cabbage
"Beans, baked
Corn, oannad
Peas, canned
6
59
51
49
33
14
24
27
10
22
22
39
72
31
41
70
18. 9 20.2 18.0 17.2 17.2 16. 5 14. 1
26.1 19. 8 16. 4 14.8 14.2 14. 6 13. 8
37. 8 36. 8 38. 3 37.3 34. 7 34.9 34.4
52. 8 51. 0 49.0 48. 9 65.5 55.1 53.2
44.7 38.1 44.0 43.1 59.3 54.1 49.2
Weighted food index 5..........
1 15-16 ounce can.
2 8-ounce package.
3 28-ounce package.
4 No. 2 can.
* Beginning with January, 1921, the index numbers showing the trend in the retail cost of food have been
composed of the articles shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted according to the consumption of the average
family. From January, 1913, to December, 1920, the index numbers included the following articles: Sirloin
steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, lard, hens, flour, corn meal,
eggs, butter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, and tea.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[161]
162
MONTHLY LABO R R E V IE W
Table 3 shows the changes in the retail prices of each of 22 articles
of food for which prices have been secured since 1913, as well as the
changes in the amounts of these articles that could be purchased for
$1 in specified years, 1913 to 1926, and in October and November,
1927.
T a b l e 3 —AVERAGE R E T A IL PR IC ES OF S P E C IFIE D A R T IC LES OF FOOD AND AMOUNT
PU R C H A SA B LE FO R $1 IN EA CH Y E A R , 1913 TO 1926, AND IN O CTOBER AND
N O V EM B ER , 1927
Sirloin steak
Year
1913-...................
1920__________
1921__________
1922....................
1923--.................
1924__________
1925__________
1926__________
1927:
October___
November.
Cents
per lb.
Lbs.
25.4
43.7
38.8
37.4
39.1
39.6
40.6
41.3
3.9
2.3
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.3
37.9
37.8
2.6
2.7
43.7
43.5
Cents
per lb.
27.0
52.3
42. 7
39.8
39.1
37.7
46.7
50.3
Cents
per lb.
15.8
29. 5
18.0
17.0
17.7
19.0
23.3
21.9
3.7
1.9
2.3
2.5
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.2
53.6
53.0
2.6
2.7
1.7
6.3
3.1
4. 5
2.5
2.9
3.1
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.8
19.8
33.2
29.1
27.6
28.4
28.8
29.6
30.3
2.6
2.6
31.9
31.9
Lbs.
3.7
1.9
1.7
1.9
1.9
35.7
35.6
Eggs
50.9
44.4
46.5
47.8
52.1
48.5
2.1
1.9
9.4
9.4
5.1
5.1
56.6
61.7
1.8
1.6
9.3
9.3
2.9
1.5
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.1
Sugar
Cents
Lbs. per lb.
58.8
5.5
Lbs.
19.4
2.9
2.7
3.6
4.9
15.9
32.3
35.7
34.5
37.0
27.8
20.4
10.1
9.2
7.2
6.9
3.0
3.0
33.3
33.3
7.2
7.2
13.9
13.9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.0
7.3
3.1
3.1
Chuck roast
5.6
11. 5
9.9
8.7
8.7
Lbs.
4.7
54.4
73.3
69.7
68. 1
69.5
71.5
75.5
76.7
Lbs.
22.5
6.3
3.8
4.7
5.1
5.0
4.8
4.6
4.4
24.3
24.5
4.1
4.1
21.2
19.7
20.2
20.8
21.6
Cents
per Qt.
2.6
2.8
2.8
14.2
14.2
2.5
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.7
Plate beef
Lbs.
17.9
8.7
Cents
per lb.
3.3
Qts.
11.2
6.0
6.8
Pork chops
Lbs.
5.5
5.4
18.2
18.5
Coflee
77.5
77.5
[162]
Cents
per lb.
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.4
•1.4
1.3
1.3
29.8
47.0
36.3
36.1
37.7
43.3
51.5
51.0
1.3
1.3
47.4
47.8
4.8
2.4
2.9
3.0
3.3
3.2
2.7
2.5
41.5
36.3
2.8
15.8
16.2
6.3
6.2
Cents
per lb.
Lbs.
2.6
1.4
1.9
Lbs.
3.4
2.1
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.3
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.1
Cents
per lb.
3.0
6.5
4.5
3.9
4.1
4.7
5.4
5.1
5.2
5.2
21.0
Lbs.
2.4
Cheese
Cents
per lb.
22.1
41. 6
Lbs.
4.5
2.4
2.9
3.0
2.7
1.9
34.0
32. 9
36. 9
35.3
36.7
36.6
2.7
2.7
1. 8
1.8
38.3
38.6
2 6
2.6
2.1
1.8
1.9
1.8
Corn meal
10.8
10.8
1.8
6.8
42.3
34.9
33.0
30.4
30.8
36.6
39.5
12.8
55.7
56.4
6.1
6.0
Lbs.
Cents
per lb.
8.3
5.5
7.0
7.8
7.8
7.6
7.2
12.9
13.2
13.8
14.6
7.0
7.0
10.6
10.6
11. 5
11.5
11.4
Lbs.
18.3
14.3
7.6
7.2
7.2
7.1
7.1
5.8
5.1
4.7
4.9
10.1
12.1
38.3
70.1
51.7
47.9
55.4
51.7
51 8
53.1
30.3
12.3
17.2
19.6
21.3
20.4
16.4
16.7
8.1
Cents
per lb.
Butter
Flour
Tea
Cents
per lb.
16.0
26.2
8.9
16.7
14.6
13.1
13.8
13.8
14.0
14.0
2.2
8.8
Cents
per lb.
Milk
Bread
6.3
3.4
5.6
5.9
5.6
5.3
4. 3
4.6
68.1
5.1
3.0
3.4
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.3
Cents
per lb.
21.3
44.7
39.7
36.0
35.0
35.3
36.6
38.8
1.8
2.0
2.0
2.2
2.2
34.5
Lbs.
Hens
18.2
5.2
12.5
13. 7
9.9
10.9
13.9
14.5
2.8
Cents
per lb.
Cents
Cents
Lbs. perdoz. Dozs. per lb.
19.6
19.5
Cents
per lb.
Cents
per lb.
26.9
55.5
48.8
48.8
45.5
45.3
52.6
57.4
Potatoes
1913....................
1920........ ............
1921__________
1922.....................
1923._________
1924__________
1925...................
1926....................
1927:
October___
November.
Lbs.
Ham
Lbs.
46.6
46.3
Cents
per lb.
22.3
39.5
34.4
32.3
33.5
33.8
34.7
35.6
Lard
1913__________
1920__________
1921................
1922.....................
1923...... ..............
1924__________
1925__________
1926........ ............
1927:
October___
November.
Rib roast
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 $1 retail for $1 retail for $1 retail for $1
price
price
price
price
price
price
Bacon
1913................... .
1920__________
1921__________
1922__________
1923...... ..............
1924__________
1925__________
1926__________
1927:
October___
November.
Round steak
Lbs.
33. 3
15.4
22.2
2.8
Rice
per lb.
8.7
17.4
9.5
9.5
9.5
25.6
24.4
21.3
18.5
19.6
10.1
11.1
11.6
19. 2
19.2
10. 5
10.4
Lbs.
11.5
5.7
10.5
10.5
10. 5
9.9
9.0
8.6
9.5
9.6
RETA IL PRICES OF FOOD
163
Index Numbers of Retail Prices of Food in th e United S tates
IN TA BLE 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
* the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and
1920 to 1926,2 and by months for 1926, and for January through
November, 1927. These index numbers, or relative prices, are based
on the year 1913 as 100 and 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. These figures must be used with
caution. For example, the relative price of sirloin steak for the year
1926 was 162.6, which means that the average money price for the
year 1926 was 62.6 per cent higher than the average money price for
the year 1913. As compared with the relative price, 159.8 in 1925,
the figures for 1926 show an increase of nearly three points, but an
increase of 1.75 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
according the the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles has varied, these index numbers have been so com
puted as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index
numbers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100 are 156.1 for
October, 1927, and 156.5 for November, 1927.
The curve shown in the chart on page 165 pictures more readily
to the eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the
index numbers given in the table.
2 For index numbers of each month, January, 1913, to December, 1925, see Bulletin No. 396, pp. 44-61,
and Bulletin No. 418, pp. 38-51.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[163]
164
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
T able 4 .- I N D E X N U M BERS OF R E T A IL PR IC ES OF PR IN C IPA L A R T IC LES OF FOOD
B Y YEA R S, 1913 AND 1920 TO 1926, AND B Y MONTHS FOR 1926, AND JA N U A R Y THROUGH
N O V EM B ER , 1927
[Average for year 1913=100.0]
—------ -------- -— ■
—■
— —
Year and month
Sirloir Round Rib Chuck Plate Pork Ba
But
steak steak roast roast beef chops con Ham Hens Milk ter Cheese
1913_________________
100.
100. 100.0 100.0
1920.._________ ______ 172.
177. 167.7 163.8
1921
__________
152.
154. 147.0 132. 5
1922
_________________________________
147.
144.8 139.4 123.1
1923
...................
153. S 150.2 143.4 126. 3
1924
___ _____
155.9 151. 145.5 130.0
1925
...................... ......................
159.8 155.6 149.5 135.0
1926
.....................
162.6 159.6 153.0 140.6
151.2
118.2
105. 8
106.6
109.1
114.1
120. 7
201.4
166.2
157. 1
144.8
146.7
174.3
188.1
193.7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139.6
173.0
186.3
206.3
181.4
181. 4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213. 4
1926: January________
February_______
M arch .. _______
April___________
May ________
June........... ............
J u l y ............ .........
August_________
September______
October _______
November______
December..............
160.6
159. 8
160.2
161.8
163.4
165.4
165.4
164.6
165.0
163.4
161.0
160.2
157.0
156.
156.5
157.8
160.5
162. 3
162.8
162.3
163.2
161.4
159.2
158.3
151.5
148.0
151.0
152.5
153.5
154.5
155.1
153.5
154.5
154.5
152.5
152.5
138.1
138.1
138.1
139.4
140.6
141.9
141.9
140.6
141.9
142.5
141.9
141.9
119.8
120.7
120.7
121.5
120.7
120.7
119.8
118.2
119.8
120.7
121.5
123.1
173.8
172.9
177.1
182.4
191.9
198.8
192.9
202.4
202.9
187.1
177.1
178.5
181. 1
179.3
179.6
182.6
190.7
193.7
192.6
192.2
191.5
188.9
183.7
1927: January________
February_______
March
April____ _______
M ay. _________
June___________
July____________
August.................
September______
October_______ _
November______
160.6
161.0
161.8
164.6
166.5
166.9
171.7
172.0
172.4
172.0
171.3
158.3
158.7
159. 6
163.2
165. 5
165.9
170.0
170.9
170.9
170.0
169.5
153.0 141.9
153.5 141.9
153.5 142.5
156. 1 145.6
157.6 146.9
157.1 146.9
160.1 149.4
160.1 149.4
160.6 150.0
161. 1 151.9
261.1 153.1
124.0
123.1
123. 1
125.6
125. 6
125.6
126.4
126.4
128. 1
130. 6
133.9
174.3
171.0
174.3
175.7
173.3
165.2
166.2
179. 5
193.8
197.6
172.9
181.1
179.6
179.3
178.2
176.3
174. 4
172.6
172.2
172.2
172.6
171.5
Eggs Bread Flour
Corn
meal
Year and month
Lard
1913__________
1 92 0 ........... .......
1921
___
1922
______
1923
___________
1924
_
1925
_____
1926
___
120.3
147. 5
138.6
1926: Jan u ary ...
February..........
March______
April_______
M ay. ........
June. ______
July____________
A u gu st...............
September___
October_____
November. .
December_____
141.1
140.5
138.6
136.1
136.1
143.0
144.9
143. 7
141. 1
138.6
133.5
129.1
1927: Ja n u a ry ... _
February_____
March. __
April..........
May ____
Ju n e .. ___
July___________
August. ______
September__
October. . .
November
100.0
186.7
113.9
107. 6
112.0
126.6
124. 1
122.8
120.9
120.3
119.0
119. 0
119.6
121.5
124. 1
123.4
100.0
100.0
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.
Rice
144.6
142.3
139.9
132.9
130.5 ;
131.3
130.8
132.1 ;
137.1 ;
141.8 ;
145.4
154.8
170.1
169.7
168.3
165.2
162.9
161.5
181.1
161.5
163.3
166.1
167.0
169.2
211.2
210.8
210.0
210.8
152.5
153.5
154.6
152.5
139.4
135.2
134.2
134.2
139.4
145.4
147.3
170.1
170.1
168.8
167.9
167.4
167.4
167.0
167.4
170.6
173.3
174.7
209.3
206.3
203.0
201.9
200.0
199.3
197.0
100.0
200.0
109. 2
109. 2
109. 2
116.1
127. 6
133.3
156.2
127.0
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
167.9
187.9
190.9
187.9
184.8
184.8
184.8
181.8
181.8
175.8
172. 7
172.7
169.7
173.
173.
173.
170.
170.
170.
170.
170.
170.
170.
170.
170.1
133. 3 341.2
133. 3 335.3
134. 5 329.4
134. 5 394.1
134. 5 352.9
134. 5 294. 1
134. 5 241.2
133. 3 211.8
134.5 229.4
133.3 223. 5
129.9 235.3
128.7 235.3
162.0 167.9
128. 1 167.9
102. 6 167.9
98.3 167.9
97.4 167.9
97. 1 166.1
107.0 166. 1
121. 7 166. 1
141.2 168. 1
164. 1 166.1
178.8 166.1
169.7
169.7
166.7
166.7
166.7
166.7
166.7
169.7
166.7
166.7
163. 6
170.
170.
170.
170.
170. C
173.3
173.3
173.3
173.3
173.3
173. 3
126.4
124.1
124. 1
123.0
111.9
122.0
130.1
149.3
168.7
191.3
189.0
[104]
121.8
123.0
123.0
123.0
121.8
120.7
119.5
180.8
180.8
181.7
182.6
180.3
170.4
167.1
166.2
166.2
167.6
167.1
Pota
toes Sugar
100. 9
216. 7
150.
130.
136.
156.
180.
170. )
118.0
100.0
198.1 181.2 159. (
199.3 182.6 159.
200.7 185.0 157.;
202.6 190.1 156C
207.8 192.5 156.
221.9 188.7 155.
226. 4 184.0 155.
225.7 177.9 156.
224.5 177.5 157.
222.3 176.5 157.
217.1 174.2 158.
212.3 174.6 159.
100. 0
245. 5
175.8
154.5
142.4
148.5
184.8
181.8
112.8
100.0
188.2
153.9
148.9
167.0
159.7
166.1
165.6
205.4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157.1
167.9
167.9
111.6
187.
164.
147.
155.
155.
157.;
157.;
183.0
135.0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143.1
138.6
197.4
147.5
128.7
134.8
138.6
151.0
140.6
1 22 articles in 1913-1920; 43 articles in 1921-1927.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
200.0
209.9
186.4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
100.0
370.6
182.4
164.7
170.6
158.8
211.8
288.2
235. 3
223. 5
217.6
217.6
264.7
352.9
247. 1
200.0
188.2
176.5
176.5
100.0
158.4
158.4
158.4
157.3
156.2
156.2
157.3
158.4
158.4
159.6
159.6
Tea
100.0
A11
Coffee arti
cles t
352.7
145.5
132.7
183.6
167.3
130.9
125.5
134.7
128.1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
100.0
157. 7 203.4
121.8 153.3
121. 1 141.6
126. 5 146.2
145.3 145.9
172.8 157 4
171.1 160.6
100.0
121.8
121.8
121.8
120.0
121.8
125.5
125.5
127.3
127.3
129. 1
129. 1
132.7
139.9
139.9
139.9
140.3
140. 4
141.4
141. 5
141.7
141.5
142.1
141. 7
141.4
172. 1
172. 1
172. 1
171. 5
171. 1
171. 1
171. 5
171. 1
171. 1
170.8
170. 5
170.1
164.3
161.5
159.9
162.4
161.1
159.7
157.0
155.7
158.5
160.0
161.6
161.8
136.4
136.4
134. 5
132.7
132.7
132.7
134. 5
132.7
130.9
130.9
130.9
142.5
142. 3
142. 6
142.6
142.3
142. 1
142.5
142. 6
141.9
142. 5
142. 5
168.5
167.4
165.4
163.8
161.7
160.7
159.7
159.1
158.7
159.1
160.4
159.3
156.0
153.8
153.6
155.4
158.5
153.4
152.4
154.0
156.1
156.5
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
OF
FO O D
165
TREN D OF RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I do
I to
IOO
150
140
130
I ¿0
MO
100
[1 6 5 ]
166
M O N TH LY LA BO R
R E V IE W
R e t a i l P r i c e s o f F o o d in
A V E R A G E retail food prices are shown in Table 5 for 40 cities
15, 1927. For 11 other cities prices are shown for the same
not scheduled by the bureau until after 1913.
T
able
5 .—AVERAGE R E T A IL PR IC ES OF T H E PR IN C IPA L
[Exact comparisons of prices in different cities can not be made for some articles,
Atlanta, Ga.
Article
Unit
Baltimore, Md.
Birmingham, Ala.
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov,
Oct Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926
Cts
Cts
Cts. Cts. Ct:
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts
Cts
Cts. Cts.
Sirloin steak.,
Round steak.
Rib roast___
Chuck roast..
Pound..
___ do..
___ do..
___ do..
24.2
21.3
19.0
15.8
41.2
37.2
32.8
25.3
44.6
40.3
33
25.2
43.5 22. 38.0
39.2 21. 35.0
32.8 17.5 29.8
25.8 15.0 21.6
41.
37.6
31
23.4
40. 7
37.9
31
24.1
28.0
23.0
19.4
16.5
42.5
37.0
30.2
23.3
42. 5
36.8
30.4
23.5
Plate beef___
Pork chops...
Bacon, sliced.
Ham, sliced..
____do___
........do___
____do___
........do___
9.9
25.0
31. 1
30.8
13.3
38. 5
48.8
60.0
15.7
38.9
45.4
55.7
15.5 12.2 14. 16.3
36.2 18.2 38.8 40.7
45.2 21 45.7 41.7
55.4 27.5 59. 57.1
16.6
32. 5
42. 1
56.0
10.0 14.3 15.3
23.0 38.9 38.2
34.0 50.8 46. 4
32.0 57.6 55.3
15.4
36.
46.
53.8
Lamb, leg of...............
Hens______________
Salmon, canned, red.
Milk, fresh...................
........do___
........do___
___ do___
Quart___
20.2
21.0
38.6
37.3
33.5
19.0
40.8
36.5
34.0
18.0
40.2 18.0 37.3 38.2 37.9 21. 38.8 42.6
36.1 20.2 38.4 37.6 38. 1 19.3 37.8 34.2
31. 32.1 32.
34.0
36.2 34.7
18.0 8.7 14.0 14.0 14.0
18.0 16.7
40.
33.4
35.6
16.7
Milk, evaporated.
15-16 oz.
can.
Pound___
___ do___
39.
56. 55.9 56.7 38.4 59.9 60.3 61.0 41. 7 58.0 58.0 58.
31.0 27.1 27.3
30.0 27.4 28.0
36.2 32.6 32.8
Butter_________________
Oleomargarine (all butter
substitutes).
C heese................................
Lard___________ _________
Vegetable lard substitute..
Eggs, strictly fresh.............
R ice.........................
Beans, navy_____
Potatoes______. . .
Onions_______ . . .
11.2 11.4 11.4
___ do___ 25.0 36.2 37.1 37.9 23.3 35.4
___ d o ...
15.3 20.1 20.5 19.4 15.0 19.6
___ do___
22.2 22.5 22,
24. 1
Dozen.___ 40.0 58.1 54.3 57.0 45. 66.3
Eggs, storage........................ ___ do.
Bread........ ............................. Pound.
Flour.............. .................... . ___ do.
Corn meal______________ ___ do.
Rolled oats......................
Corn flakes....... ..... .........___
Wheat cereal____________
Macaroni..........................
13.4 13.6 13.5
Cabbage..........
Beans, baked.
Corn, canned.
Peas, canned..
___ do___
No. 2 can.
___ do___
----- do___
Tomatoes, canned.
Sugar, granulated..
Tea...... .................... .
Coffee____ ______
.do.
Pound.
___ do.
___ do.
Prunes...
Raisins...
Bananas.
Oranges..
___ do.
___ do.
Dozen.
___ do.
12.5 12.6
36.8 37.0 23.0 37.1 39.2
18.6 18.5 15.1 21. 19.8
23.1 22.
21. 6 22 2
53.3 61.8 39.0 55.6 48.1
12.6
38.9
19.6
22.1
53.8
47. 7 45.0 44.3 33.1 46.7 39.7 41
32. 5 46.7 40.0 43.7
5.6 10.7 10. 10.8 5.
9.8 9.9 9.8 5.4 10.3 10.3 10.4
3. 5 6.6 6.5 6.4 3.1 5.3 5.3 5.1 3.
6.8 6.7 6.7
2.6 4.2 4.1 4.1 2.6 3.9 4.2 4.2 2. 5 4.2 4.2
4.2
___ d o ..
8-qz pkg.
28-oz. pkg.
Pound.
.do.
.do.
-do.
.do.
40.7
35.3
28.2
23.0
9.7 9.4 9.4
11.5 9.8 9.8
25.6 26.6 27.3
21.7 21.7 21.4
8.6 11.6
10.2
2.3
5.0
7.6
10.0
10.5
4. 1
7.3
9.9
10.8
4. 1
7.1
4.9 5.0 4.7
11.5 11.4 11.4
17. 18.2 18.0
20.0 19.7 19.7
10.1 10.3 10.3
12.0 10. 5 10.5
26.9 27.7 27.7
18.7 18.8 18.8
8.3 8.3 8.3
10. 1 9.1 9.2
24.5 24.5 24.6
18.6 19.4 19.3
9.0 10.4
"Ì.8
8. 1
4.2
4.8
9.5
8.7
3.1
4.2
9.5
8.7
3.0
4.1
4.2 3.8 3.1
10.4 10.8 10.8
14.6 14.7 14.8
15.1 15.0 15.0
8.2
2.2
11.3 10. 7 10.5
10.5 10.4 10.3
5.3 4.7 4.5
7.6 6.7 6.5
5.2 5.3 5.2
11.9
18.3 16.8 16.8
21.0 21.0 21.3
12.0 11.8
11.0 11.1 11.1
10.7 10.5 10.3
11.2 10.9 10.9
5.7 7.5 7.7 7.7 4.8 6.5 6.4 6. 5 5.4 7.6 7.7 7.8
60.0 106.1 103.3 103.1 56.0 73.8 73.4 73.0 61.3 96.7 98.5 96.2
32.0 52.2 48.2 48.2, 24.4 47.4 43.0 43.8 28.8 54.0 51.2 50.9
17.6
16.
28.6
41.1
14.9
15.9
29.0
53.2
14.8
15.5
28.6
41.2
13.9
13.2
26. 7
49.3
12.4
13.0
25.8
57.7
12.0
12 .6
26.2
50.
19.3
15.4
38.5
50.5
17.8
15.0
37.8
53.2
17.4
15.0
37.5
46.5
. .Ah® sfeA ,f9r which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, but in most of the other
cities included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[166]
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
167
O F FO O D
51 Cities on Specified Dates
for November 15, 1913, and 1926, and for October 15 and November
dates with the exception of November 15, 1913, as these cities were
A R T IC LES OF FOOD IN 51 C IT IES ON S P E C IF IE D DATES
particularly meats and vegetables, owing to differences in trade practices]
Bridgeport,
Conn.
Boston, Mass.
Nov. 15—
Buffalo, N. Y.
Butte, Mont.
1913
1926
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov. Nov.
15,
15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15,
1927 1927 1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927 1926
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts. Cts. Cts.
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
>34. 0 1 64. 7 171.7 1 71.1
35.0 49. 7 55. 9 55. 6
23.9 37. 9 40. 6 41.3
10. 2 28.5 30.4 30.7
49.2
41. 9
36.3
27.6
54.0
47.5
41.0
31.3
54. 6
47.6
40.9
31.1
22.2 40.0 43.6 42.5
19.4 33.8 37.2 36.3
16.4 30.4 32.3 31.8
15.2 23.7 25.4 25.3
21.2 40. 9 42.7 41. 2
22.4
24.6
31.0
20. 5
24.3
8.9
—
11.7 14.5 15.0 15.6
19.8 41. 7 40.1 38.5
Cts.
Charleston, S c .
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15,
15,
1927 1917 1913 1926 1927 1927
Cts.
30.0
26. 9
26.8
18.7
33.2
28.0
28.2
20.3
41.2
58.2
61.3
12.1
Cts.
Cts. Cts. Cts.
20.8 30.0 30.0 30.3
20.0 24. 9 26. 7 27.0
15.0 19.5 20.8 20.3
13.2
37. 5
52.5
57.5
13.6
37.1
52. 5
58.8
12.0 14.2 14.5 14.2
25.0 38.5 34.0 33.2
26.6 45.0 40.2 39.5
27.5 54.8 48.4 47.4
18.6
41.8
49.2
63.3
47.3
45.8
59.1
21.9
39.6
45.8
58.9
11.7
41. 7
54.9
64.3
12.9
44. 8
50. 7
57.7
12.9
38.4
49. 9
57.0
38.6
40. 6
33.1
15.1
38. 7
39. 9
33. 6
15.5
39.3
39.1
33.9
15.5
38.8
40.6
33. 6
16.0
38.9
40.2
32. 8
16.0
38.1 15.6 32.8 33.2
40.2 20.0 37. 9 37.1
33. 8 32. 6
33. 3
16.0 8.0 13.0 13.0
32.7
36.6
33.1
13.0
37.3
33.3
32. 5
14.3
37.1
32.9
31. 2
14.0
36.3 22.5 41.3 39.4
32.9 21.5 39.8 35.5
32. 7
30.0 32. 6
14.0 12.0 19.0 19.0
20.6
26.3 56.8 50.5 49.0
Cts.
21.4 32.7 32.3 32.7
33.0
30.3
28.0
20.3
38.8
35.5
33.1
19.0
12.1
12.1
12.1 11.6 11.6 11.6 ........ 11.3 11.3 11.3
11.1
11.1
10.9 —
38.2
55.3
29.8
56.4
27.3
57.1 55.3 56.1 56.0 38.1 57.7 56.5 57.7
27.9 30.6 27.8 26. 8
29. 8 27.4 27.8
51.0
51.9
53.2 37.8 52.4 50.8 53.0
31. 3 29. 2 29.5
23.4
15.8
38.2
60.6
24. 7
94.4
39.2
19. 9
25.3
79.8
39.1
19.4
25.4
85.1
38.7
19.0
25. 7
67.8
35.7
25.0
29. 3
67.1
36.5
23.6
30.5
54.8
37.5 21.0 34.9 35.6
23.0 15.0 21.3 19. 7
23.4 22. 2
30.6
59.6 40.0 64.3 56.7
35.2
54.6
9.1
50.3
8.5
47.1
9.8
5.6
5.8
39.4
9.8
5.4
20.8
39.3
20.3
25. 8
91.0
40.9
19.1
25. 4
77.9
41.6 21.5 37.6 38.9
18. 7 14.2 20.4 19.1
25. 4
25. 9 25. 9
83.2 48.5 69.0 58.8
11.8 11.8 11.8
36.4
21.3
22.1
57.0
6.0
6.2
6.7
6.0
49.3 52.2 44.8 48.6 30.6 45. 6 42.9 43.6
8.5 8.8 8.8 8.8 5. 6 8.9 8.7 8. 7
5.9 5.8 5. 7 5. 6 3.0 5.1 4.8 4.8
6.4 7.9 7.8 7.9 2.6 5.3 4.7 5.1
6.1
38.1 33.5 43.8 39.4 39.6
9.8 6.4 10.2 10.9 10.9
5.3 3.7 7.1 6.7 6.9
6.1 2.6 3.9 3.9 3.9
9.3
10. 7
24. 5
22.4
8.9
10. 0
25.1
22.4
9.1 8.4 8. 4 8. 5
8. 7 8. 7 8. 8
9. 9 10.4 9. 6 9. 6
10. 2 9. 5 9.3
25.1 24. 7 24. 7 24. 7
24. 6 24. 8 24. 8
21.9 22. 7 22. 7 22.6 ........ 21. 7 21.4 21.5
7.3
12. 2
28.4
19.2
7. 5
10. 5
28. 5
19.5
7. 6
9. 5 9. 5 9.4
10. 5
11 . 8 9. 9 9. 9
28. 5
26. 2 25. 7 25. 7
19.7 ........ 18.5 18. 7 18.7
11.7
9. 8
3.9
4.9
12.2
12.1 10.9 11.4 11.3
10. 2 9. 6 9. 5 9. 6
3.0 3.8 2.8 3.0
9.3 11.3 10.3 10.0
9. 2 9.4 9. 4
4.1 2.7 2.9
4.9 ........ 5.9 5.8 5.6
12.1
11.0
11.0
1. 7
..........
..........
5. 4
13. 0
18. 8
19.8
4. S 4.5 4.3 4. 5 4.6
3. 5 3. 3 2. 8
13.3 13.3 11.4 11. 7 11. 5
9. 9 10.1 10.0
16. 9 15. 5 15.8
17. 9 18.0 19. 5 18.5 19.0
20.0 20.0 21.0 20.7 20.5 ........ 16.8 16.0 16.0
3. 9
14.1
16.2
14.8
3.3
13.3
14.4
13.8
4. 4 4. 2 4.1
3. 4
13. 5
9.8 10.0 10.0
14. 6
14. 8 14.7 14.3
13.8 ........ 16.7 16.7 16.4
12.3
7.1
74.9
55.1
11.3
7.2
72.9
51. 7
11.3 13.4 13.7 13.4
13.8 13.2 13.3
7.2 6.8 7.1 7.1 5.3 7.0 6.9 6.8
73.5 59.5 60. 9 60.9 45.0 70. 5 67.9 68.5
51.5 48.5 46.0 46.6 29.3 48.5 45.4 45.5
13.7
8.4
83.8
56.6
12.8
8.6
10.3 9.9 9.9
12.8
8.6 5. Ö 6.7 6.7 6. 7
82. 2 50.0 74.9 82.4 82.4
15.3
13.1
14. 7
13.0
45.0
70.1
14. 2
13. 0
46. 7
60.8
6.0
3.6
3.5
..........
9. 4
5.4
58. 6
33.0
62.3
10. 4
3.0
4.5
4.7
4.7
16.0
14. 6
34. 5
61.6
5.1
15.6
14. 2
36. 5
69.3
1.8
16.4
14. 1
42. 3
66.8 ........ 62.8
15.2
13. 8
36. 5
13. 6
13. 7
41. 9
65.7
2“Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 6 7 ]
10. 4
3.0
4.3
9.8
1.5
4.1
83.1
54.0
5.6
9. 9
1.5 2.2
3.9 ........
8.3 7.1 7.1
9. 9 10.1 10. 1
4.3 3.4 3.4
5.8 5.7 5.6
54.1 26.8 46.5 42.8 43.2
13. 7 17.9 14.9 14.5
13. 4 15. 2 14. 8 14. 6
41. 6 214. 5 2 12. 7 2 13.0
58.4 56.2 56.2 60.7 ........
14.9
14. 7
31. 7
38.2
12.4
14. 0
27.0
35.0
12.2
14.0
25.0
31.5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
169
O F FO O D
A R T IC LES OF FOOD IN 51 C IT IES ON S P E C IF IE D D ATES—Continued
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas, Tex.
Denver, Colo.
Detroit , Mich.
Fall River, Mass.
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov
15,
15, 15,
15,
15,
15.
1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1913 1926
1913 1926 1927 1927
1913 1926
Nov. Oct. Nov.
Cts. Cts
Cts
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
39.7
34.8
29.9
25.0
41.6
37.5
32.3
26.4
41.5
36.7
31.9
26.4
21.0 32.9 35.0 34.0 20.3 29.7 30.0 31.4 20.6 34.3 37.3 36.6 27.3 46.5
20. 1 26. 6 27.9 29. 2 16.7 23.1 24.8 25. 5 20. 0 30.7 32.8 32.3 23. 3 31.9
16.4 22.7 23.5 24.0 15.3 19.0 20.3 20. 1 15.2 22.5 25.4 25.3 18.3 22.5
16.0
37.4
52.3
59.5
16.8
40.3
48.8
52.5
17.0
35.8
48. 5
53.3
15.0 17.3 18.5 19.0 9.9 11.1 12.4
21.8 37.2 39. 1 36. 5 20.4 37.7 38.2
37.5 46.4 47.9 48.9 28.0 52.0 46.3
31.6 59.3 54.8 55.0 29.2 59.9 51.5
Cts.
Cts.
23.6 36.2 37.9 37.8 22.9 33.0 34.9 34.4 25.6 41.6 44.4 43. 9 ‘ 34.3 ‘ 60.5 1 66.3 1 65.4
49. 1 50.0
34.0 33.8
25.4 25.5
42.4 42.5 42.5 22.5 43.4
37.7 36.1 35.9 18.4 31. 6
36.3 36.6 36.9
37.6
12.0 12.0 12.0 10.8 13.0
11.4 11.6 11.7 —
13.0
44.1
31.7
37.9
13.0
13.2
43.3 15.2 35.5 36.2
32.1 18.5 31.3 28. 1
38.9
34.7 35.8
13.0 8.4 12.0 12.0
13.5 ........ 10.6 10.6
56.7 55.1 55.6 40.0 55.7 55.4 56.7 35.0
29.9 28.1 28.5 —
32.5 30.3 30.4 ........
36.8 37.3 37.8 20.0 36.8 38.3 38.8 26.1
19.6 17.3 17.3 16.8 24.9 23.9 22.9 16.0
26.5 26.2 26.3
22.8 23.6 24.5
61.7 45.7 55.1 40.0 54.8 46.2 48.8 45.0
14.5
41.0
54. 3
63.5
15.2
44.5
47.9
56.0
14.0
15.1
37.1 23.3 40.7
47.4 25.7 46.7
54.6 30.4 57.4
14.7 15.0
41.9 37.1
43.8 42.9
52.9 52.7
36.2 15.1 38.9
28.5 19.2 37. 2
36. 5
35. 5
12.0 9.0 14.0
10.7 ........ 11.2
39.1
36. 5
35. 5
14. 0
11.3
38.0 19.3 42.1
37.4 24.6 43.9
35. 9
37.2
14.0 9.0 14.4
11.2 ........ 12.7
40.9
43.6
34. 5
15.0
12.5
35.1
45.4
52.1
11.4
19.4
22.3
27.0
40.6
43.6
35.4
15.0
12.8 12.7
49.1 50.9 51.2 37.1 56.8 56.8 57.1 36.0 53.1
28.5 24.6 24.6 ........ 28.4 27.8 27.3 —
30.4
54.4 53.8
29.7 28.8
37.5 39.0
21.8 19.8
23.7 22. 2
63.9 54.6
40.7
18.9
26. 7
76.4
39.4 22.3 38.8 40.3
19.8 16.4 21.1 19. 5
22.5
27.4 26. 8
57.7 41.0 66.1 54.3
40.9 23.6 38.5
19.3 15.3 20.0
26. 8
26. 7
63.3 58.8 87.9
40.2
18.7
26.7
85.9
47.3 42.0 41.3 35.0 44.0 35.0 40.0 33.0 45.7 40.5 41.0 32.2 46.6 41.5 41.6 34.6 50.9
8. 1 7.7 7.7 5.3 9.5 9.5 9.5 5.5 8.3 8.0 8.0 5.6 8.5 8.3 8.3 6.2 9.2
5.5 5. 1 5.1 3.3 5.6 5.5 5.5 2.5 4.5 4.3 4.3 3. 1 5.6 5.3 5. 1 3.3 6. 1
3.6 4. 1 4.1 3.6 4.2 4.6 4.5 2.6 4.2 4.4 4.5 2.9 5.9 6.1 5.8 3.6 6.6
46.9 45.6
9.0 9.0
5.6 5.5
6.7
6.6
9.3 9. 1 9.0
10.9 9.5 9.9
24.7 26.0 26.2
20.3 21.0 21.0 ........
25.0 24.6
24.2 23.5
10. 1
11.3
27.6
21.4
8.0 7.7 7.7
10.5 10.7
9.4 9.6 9.6
11 . 1 9.7 9.5
10.6 10.5
10.6 9.8 9.8
24.7 24.6 24.5
27.6 27.8
26.0 25.9 25.8
21.7 21.5 ........ 19.8 19.4 19.3 ........ 21.9 22.3 22.3
13.3 12.0 12.1 9.3 12.4 12.3 12.0 8.6 10.5 9.7
8.3 8.8 8.8
10.7 10.9 11.3
9.7 10.0
4.0 3.0 2.7 2.3 5.2 4.8 4.9 i. 6 3.7 2.0
4.9 4.9 4.6 —
6.8 6.9 7.0 ........ 3.6 4.3
4. 1
4.5
4.3
5.7 5.8 5.7
13.5 13.2 13.1
18.0 18.4 18.9
21.7 21.5 22.2
9.5
9.5
2. 1
3.9
2.4 2.6 2.7
11 . 2 10.6 10.9
14. 7 14.0 13.9
15.6 15.2 15.1
.............
9.4
11.3
25.6
23.8
8.4 12.6 11.4 11.4 10.0 11.7
8.5 8.9 8.8
10.1
1.7 3.3 2.6 2.5 1.8 4.0
4.6 4.4 4.0 ............. 4.9
.............
3.7 3.4 3.2
11.6 11.3 11.3
16.2 16.5 16.2
16.7 17.0 17.1 —
9.7
10.0
10.8
10.8
10.6
3. 1
5.1
10.4
3.0
5.0
17.1
18.5
4.9 4.9
11.9 12.4
17.0 16.4
18.5 17.9
12.5 12.5 13.2
12.5 12.2 12.1
12.5 12.7 12.7
12.1
7.4 7.7 7.8 5.6 7.7 8.0 8. 1 5. 1 7.6 7.8 7.7 5. 2 7.3 7.5 7.4 5.3 7. 1
89.3 89.3 89.3 66.7 106.8 107. 5 107. 8 52.8 68.9 70.3 69. 6 43.3 74. 5 74.5 73.0 44. 2 60.7
51.3 47.3 48.2 36.7 59.8 57.1 57.1 29.4 50.9 47.9 48.4 29.3 51.5 47.6 48.3 33.0 52.7
13.1 12.4
7.3 7.2
63.8 63.7
48.5 48.8
12.0 12. 6 12.6
14.4 13.9 14.3
15.1 14.8 14.8
.............
.............
.............
3.9
9.4
10.2
12.2
12.2 12.8 13.3
18.0
14.7
38.9
52. 7
16.0
14.8
38. 6
62.9
15.8
14.2
38.6
52.9
.............
21.4
16. 1
36.3
54.3
18. 6
15.7
35.0
54.0
18.9
15.8
35.0
54.3 —
17.8
14.5
211.9
54.8
14.9 14.5
14. 1 13.6
211.4 211.9
46.8 51.9 —
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 6 9 ]
18.3
15.0
35.6
60. 5
16.4
14.3
34.8
68.7
14.9
13.9
34.7
64.2 —
15.7
14.3
2 9. 8
58.6
14.8
14.2
14.1
13.5
2 9. 8 2 10.3
62.9 56.7
170
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
T a b l e 5 —A V ER A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IPA L
Houston, Tex.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927
Article
.Unit
Sirloin s te a k ..... ........................
Round steak..... ................ .........
Rib roast___________________
Chuck roast________________
Pound_____
____do_____
____ d o ____
____ do_____
34.1
32.7
27.1
20.5
35.0
33.6
27. S
22. 3
35.0
34.5
27. 5
22. 0
26.0
24.7
17. 8
16. 3
38.4
37.0
29. C
24. 3
41. 5
38.8
29. 9
25. 7
42.9
38.7
29. 2
25. 4
25.6
21.2
21. 6
14.4
37.9
31.8
29.1
20. 5
35.8
31.2
27. 3
20 4
35.4
31.6
27.1
20 8
Plate beef__________________
Pork chops ______ __________
Bacon, sliced_______________
Ham, sliced________________
____do ___
____do_____
........ do_____
____ do_____
17. 3
38.6
51.5
57.1
18. 3
36. 8
45.1
50. C
19. 2
35. 6
45.0
50. S
12. 9
21. 5
29.2
30. 3
15. 5
37. 4
47.9
58. 6
15 8
41. 5
43.7
53. 5
16. 4
33. 8
44.1
51. 5
11. 2
24. 0
30.9
30. 2
12. 8
39.1
50.0
59 0
13 0
34 1
42.2
49 6
13 4
32 4
40.5
49 2
Lamb, leg of............................ .
Hens ____________________
Salmon, canned, red________
Milk, fresh_________________
Milk, evaporated___________
Butter _ __________ __ Oleomargarine (all butter
substitutes).
Cheese, __________________
Lard _________ ______
Vegetable lard substitute___
Eggs, strictly fre s h ..................
____do_____
____do ___
____do ___
Quart______
15-16 oz. can.
Pound
____do ____
35.0
36.1
33.1
15.8
11.5
55. 2
30.0
32.0
30. 6
33. 8
15.6
11.6
53. 9
27.3
32.0 19.0 40.0 37.8 39.0 21.6 38.8
32. 5 19.8 38. 2 36.4 34 8 24.6 40 3
36, 1
34. 6 34 2 34 2
33. 8
15.6 8.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.3 22.3
11. 6
10.8 10.8 10.7
11.9
55. 7 37.5 57 2 54 6 55 9 39.0 55 6
27.3
30.4 29.3 29.2
32.3
38.8
34 2
34 6
20.3
11.7
55 0
3o! 4
38.5
33 7
34 1
____do ___ 33.9 35. 3
........ do_____ 22. 3 20. 6
____ do-------- 17.6 18.2
Dozen_____ 51.3 43.1
35.1 21. 3 36. 5 39 0
20. 4 15. 0 19.1 17 9
18.0
26.8 27.4
42.9 43.5 60.8 50.6
21 8 22 O
22. Ó 21.5
Eggs, storage_______________
Bread ____________________
Flour............................ ................
Corn meal.................................. .
____d o ____ 40. 6 36. 0 38. 8 35 8 42. 5 45 0 45 8 40 0 46 0 40 7 41 3
Pound. ___ 8. 8 8. 5 8. 5 5.1 8.1 8 1 8 1 6 2 11 0 10 9 10 9
____d o ____
5. 6 5.1 5.1 3. 2 5. 5 5 5 5 6 3 7 6 9 6 5 6 4
........ do_____
4.1 4.3 4.2 2.6 4.2 4. 3 4.2 2. 9 4 1 ¿ 4 ¿ 2
Rolled oats_________________
Corn flakes ________________
Wheat cereal_______________
Macaroni__________________
____do ___ 8.9 8.9 8. 9
8-oz. pkg__ 11.4 9. 3 9.1
28-oz.*pkg___ 25.6 25.0 25.0
Pound_____ 18. 3 18.3 18. 0
Rice_______________________
Beans, navy__________ ____ _
Potatoes___________________
Onions_____________________
____d o ____
____d o ___
___do__
____do____
8.1
9. 8
4. 3
4. 9
9.2 11. 8 10 8 10 8
8 2 9 1 8 6
1.7 4. 0 2 8 2 7
4. 9 5 8 5 6
Cabbage _________ ____ _
Beans,baked.______ ________
Corn, canned________ ______
Peas, canned ................. ...........
__ __do ___ 5.1 ' 5.3 5.1
11. 0 10. 8 10. 7
No. 2 can
____do ____ 15. 0 13. 5 13. 5
........ do_____ 14.0 13.4 13.0
3. 9 4 3 4 0
10. 6 10 3 10 8
14. 4 14 0 14 0
14. 8 13. 8 13. 8
Tomatoes, canned...... ............
Sugar, granulated............ .......
Tea. ............................................
Coflee_____________________
____do_ ___ 11. 3 9.8 9. 7
11 2 9 8 9 8
11. 7 12. 9 12. 9
Pound......... 7.0 6.9 6.8 5.7 7.5 7.5 7.5 5.9 7.5 7! 5 7.1
____do_____ 82. 7 84.2 84.2 60. 0 88. 2 85 3 85 7 60 0 100 9 98 7 98 9
____do_____ 44. 8 40. 3 41. 5 30.0 51.1 47. 5 47. 8 34.5 50 3 46 4 46 4
Prunes.......................................
Raisins____________________
Bananas___________________
Oranges........................................
____d o ____
___ d o ____
Dozen ___
____ do_____
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
9. 5 8. 5
9. 4 10.1
5. 0 4.4
5.4 5.2
17. 3
14. 2
28. 5
48.2
13.4
13.4
26.3
39.4
13.0
12. 9
27.2
41.8
38 9 22 5
17 5 15.7
27.4
56.8 45.0
8. 3 8 5 8 5
10.1 9 4 9 4
25.1 25.9 26.0
19. 2 19 2 19 2
18.4
15. 6
31. 4
51.3
17. 3
15 5
31 0
55.0
16.4
15 2
30. 5
53.8
35 2
22 6
24. 8
67.9
20.3
11.9
54 2
30! 1
36 6 36 8
56.7 62.3
9 5 9 3 9 1
11 4 9 9 9 8
24.9 24.6 24.6
20 2 19 2 19 2
6.8 10
9
5
7
2.5
5
11
20
19
9
9
0
3
9
9
3
6
4
2
9
0
9 2
9 8
3 7
54
4 4 2 4
4 10 5 10
0 17 5 18
8 17 6 17
16 8
15 9
30 0
32.2
15 9
14 8
30 8
56.3
2
,3
1
9
14 9
14 8
29 3
33.6
1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin ” in this city, but in most of the other cities
included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[170]
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
OF
171
FO O D
A R T IC L E S OF FOOD IN' 51 C IT IES ON S P E C IF IE D D A T ES—Continued
Kansas City, Mo.
Little Rock, Ark.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Louisville, Ky.
Manchester, N. H.
Nov.15—
Nov.15—
lMov.15—
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926
Nov.15—
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
24.6
22.3
18. 1
15.6
37.8
33.2
27. 1
19.5
40.0
34. 9
28. 1
21.3
39.8 25.0
34.7 20.0
27. 7 20.0
21.6 16.3
34. 7
31. 7
27.5
22.3
38.2
35. 4
30. 7
23.4
37.1
35.0
30.0
23.0
23. 9
21.4
18.9
16.0
36.5
29; 7
29. 7
19.9
39.1
31.3
30.5
21.3
39.0
32.0
30.7
22.1
23.0
20.0
18. 1
15.5
35.9
32.3
26.6
20.4
37.5
34. 1
27.1
21.7
37.2 134.8
34. 1 29.5
27.5 20.8
21.6 18.0
154. 9 160.0 159.8
12.2
20.8
30.9
28.8
13.1
36.4
50.9
58.1
15.6
42.5
46.8
51.5
15.6 13.0
32.5 21.0
45.9 36.7
49.9 27.5
16.4
37.5
53.5
57.1
18.3
37.8
46.8
52. 7
17.3 13.4
32. 7 26.0
46.5 33.5
50.0 35.0
14.0
45. 1
59.6
70.3
14.7
46. 0
55.0
68.5
15.1
42.6
53.6
68.0
13.1
19.6
28.6
29.0
16.4
35.4
52. 2
55.8
16.7
38.2
47. 5
50.4
17.8
32.7 22. Ö
47.7 24.0
47.7 28.3
15.7
41.1
41.6
47.0
35.3 18.8
32.0 18.8
36.1
13.0 ÌÓ. 5
11. 7
54.2 45. Ö
25.4 . . . .
39.9
29.8
35.5
15.0
11.8
55.1
30.1
38.6
30.8
33.4
15.0
12. 2
53.8
27.8
38.1 18.6
29.8 26.3
34.3
15.0 IÖ.Ü
12.2
54.8 39. 7
27.6 . . . .
36.8
43.8
32.6
15. 0
10. 1
55.0
30.7
37.3
41.4
33. 5
15.0
10.2
57. 1
26.3
36.9 18.2
42.9 23.0
34.2
15.0 8. 6
10.2
56.9 40.0
26.0 . . . .
40.8
35.6
33. 7
13.0
11. 7
57.9
30.4
41.7
35.6
32.6
13. 0
11.9
55.8
27.1
38.6
33.4
33.4
13.0
11.9
56.4
27.3
38.0 23.3
19.3 16.5
26.2
52.8 37.5
37.6
23.3
23.1
55.4
38.5
22.9
20. 7
46.8
39.1 19.5
21. 7 18.1
21.0
48.4 58.8
39.1
22.8
26.0
59.4
38.4
20.3
24.2
53.9
18.3 33.8 35.9
15.8 32. ! 30. 7
36.5 35.6
9. Î 13.0 13. 0
11.6 11. 8
39. i 51.6 53. 1
25.5
27.5
—22.0 35. 7
16.4 20.3
27.8
35.3 57.1
38.3
19. 9
26.6
49.4
16.8
42.3
38.9
44.1
16.9
36.6
39.0
44.0
20.0 38.0 36.6
23. 7 43.9 41.3
34.8 34.8
8.0 14.0 15.0
12.8 12.8
41.8 55.2 56.4
25.8 24.8
—
36.7
41.7
34.9
15.0
12.9
56.1
24.8
38.4 22.5 36.6 38.6 39.0 22.0 36.5 37.2
20.6 15.8 19.3 19.2 18.5 15.8 20.0 18.8
23.9
30.9 28.5 27.6
25.3 26. 5
58.8 41. 3 59.4 48.8 57.1 60.0 81.9 68.3
38.1
18.7
26.5
75.7
44.3 40.0 41.7 37.0 48.5 44.0 46.0 35.0 40.0
32.5 43.6 40.5 39.1
6.0 9.8 9.7 9.7 6. 0 9.5 9.2 9.3 6.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 5.7 9.3
3.0 5.4 4.9 4.9 3.6 6.4 6.1 6. 1 3.5 5.4 5.1 5.1 3.5 6.2
2.9 4.7 5.2 5.1 2.8 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.4 6.4 5.5 5.6 2.4 3.8
—
9.1 9.1 9.0
11.2 10.0 9.8
26.4 27.3 27.0
20.3 20.0 19.8
8.7 10.4
9. 1
2. 0 3. 9
5.4
—
9.6
9.7
2. 5
5.3
—
9.5 8.3
9.5
2.4 2.4
5.4 . . . .
3.7 3.9 3.7
12. 5 12. 2 12.0
14.4 14.5 14.4
14.9 15.3 15.5
_
—
10. 6
11.9
26.0
20.2
10.3
10.3
26.8
20.8
9.5
9.3
4.7
5.9
8.4
9.3
3.6
6.0
10.2
10.3
27.3
20.8
—
10.2 10.0 10.0
10.1 9.4 9.5
25. 1 24.9 24.9
18.1 18.5 18.5
—
9.2
6.1
4.2
40.0 48.4 46.4 46.6
5.9 8.7 8.7 8.7
3.4 5.9 5.6 5.5
3.4 5.3 5.4 5.3
8.4 8.5 8.5
10. 7 9.7 9.8
26.0 24.8 25.0
18.5 18.9 18.9
9.0 9.1 8.9
11.1 9.6 9.6
25. 7 25.9 25.9
23.8 23.6 23.4
9.2
5.9
4.2
8.4 7.7 11.7 10.0 10.0 8.7 11.2 11.4 10.8
9.2 9.6 9.6
8.0 8.4 8.4
9.3
3.5 Ì. 9 4.3 3. 0 3. 1 2. Ï 3.7 3. 0 2.9
5.4 . . . . 4.7 4.7 4.7 — - 5.6 5.5 5.2
4.5 4.8 4.3
11.2 10.5 10.2
16.5 16.3 16.8
17.5 17.1 17.5
....
43.6 46.8 46.5
26.9 29. 9 30.0
23.1 24.1 25.5
4.0 4.2 4.4
11. 7 10.8 10.8
16. 0 15.6 15.5
17.6 16.4 16.5
—
4.1 5.0 4.0
9.8 10. 2 10.2
15.0 15. 1 15.7
16.2 14.8 15.2
—
8.8 10.3
9. 1
Ì. 6 3.6
..... 4.6
—
9.9
9.2
2.6
4.5
9.5
9.1
2.7
4.3
3.9 3.1 3.1
13.6 13.3 12.9
17.3 16. 1 16.1
19.1 17.7 18.2
11.8 10.2 10.3
11.7 11.4 11.3
10.9 10.8 10.6
215.3 214.7 214.9
12.7 12.3 12.3
5. 7 7.3 7.5 7.4 5.3 7.7 7. 7 7.6 5.3 6.9 7. 0 6.9 5.3 7.5 7. 5 7.3 5.3 7.5 7.5 7.3
54.0 86.5 92.0 92. 1 50.0 107. 1 104. 5 103.8 54. 5 75.6 74.4 74.4 65.0 89.4 90. 0 90.0 47.5 64.2 64.2 65.2
27.8 53.3 48.9 50.1 30.8 54.5 52.3 52.8 36.3 53.6 51.2 51.6 27.5 50.8 46.5 46. 7 32.0 52.9 47.8 48.6
—
17.5
15.2
311.3
55.3
14.8 14.3
14.8 14.4
310.6 310.8
55.0 55.3
—
18.1
16. 0
310.0
51.6
15. 5
15.0
38. 5
54.3
15.4
14.5
39.0
49.6
....
16.3
13.1
310.3
48.5
12.6
12.4
3 9.9
59.5
2 No. 2lA can.
78271°— 28-
-12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
12.7
11.9
310.0
58.5
....
15.5 15.7 14.3
14.8 14. 5 14.0
310.2 310.2 310.8
45.4 48.6 44.6
3 Per pound.
[171]
15.4
14.0
3 9.6
58.4
14.0
13.6
3 9.3
56. 1
13.3
13.6
3 9.5
51.7
172
m o n th ly
la bo r
r e v ie w
T a b l e 5 .—AVERAG E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF T H E P R IN C IPA L
Memphis, Tenn.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
A rticle
Unit
Nov. 15—
Sirloin s te a k .......................
Round steak____ ____ ___
Rib roast___ ______ _____
Chuck roast_____________
Pound.
...d o __
...d o___
...d o...........
24.0 36
20.0 33
21.0 26.5
15.0 20.2
35.
37.3 36.4 21.6 33.7 36.3 35.9 18.7 27.7 31.7
28.4 28.8 18.4 27.8 29.4 29.5 17.7 24.8 27.3
22.
22.3 16.2 24.3 26.2 26.3 15.3 2 0 .0 23.7
12. 5
20.5
30.0
29.0
15.6
35.4
44.
57.5
18.9
37.4
38.
52.4
18.8
30.7
39.2
51.4
Lamb, leg of____________ ...d o ........... 20.
Hens.................................... ...d o ___
19.5
Salmon, canned, red_____ ...d o _____
Milk, fresh______ ______ Quart____ io .'o
38.8
32.2
34.3
15.0
36.2
31.
30.3
15.0
35.7 19.0 36.9 37.7 37.2 14.6 34.1 34.1 33.
30.5 17.2 30.8 30.1 29. 16.4 30.7 30.8 30. 7
29.0
34.2 33.8 33.8
38.6 36.6 36.0
15.0 " 7 0 11.0 11.0 11.0 8. Ó 11.0 12.0 12.0
Plate beef_____________
do__
Pork chops___________ ...d o __
Bacon, sliced______ _____ ...d o __
Ham, sliced_____________ ..d o __
Milk, evaporated_______
Butter_________________
Oleomargarine (all butter
substitutes).
Cheese.____ ______ ______
Lard....................... ...............
Vegetable lard substitute..
Eggs, strictly fresh.............
Rice................ ........................
Beans, n a v y .......................
Potatoes.................... . . I ” .
Onions.............................
Cabbage........ .
Beans, baked.
Corn, canned.
Peas, canned..
30. 0 42.7
6.0 9.6
3.5 6.2
2.5 3.9
...d o ____
8-oz. pkg_.
28-oz. pkg.
Pound__
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
...d o____
No. 2 can.
do____
.do.
Tomatoes, canned............... .do.
Sugar, granulated................ Pound.
Tea.......................................
—do___
Coffee_____ _____
—do___
Prunes..
Raisins.
Bananas.
Oranges.._______ ____ _
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts
39. i 38.9 23.6 38.2 41.6 41.1 20.0 30.
d o ...
d o ...
Dozen.
...d o
8.1
TÖ
9.1 9.0 9.0
10.
9.8 9.8
25. 5 25.8 25.8
19.3 19.4 19.4
8.4 8.4 8.4
10.2 9.2 9.3
24.6 24.7 24.6
17.8 17.5 17.4
8.6
9.0 11.5 10.4 10.4
8.4 8.7 8.6
1.7 3.5 2.6 2.5
4.7 4.5 4.3
3.4
3.4 3.0 2.8
11.3 10.9 11.
15.6 10.6 15.8
16.2 15.5 15.2
9. 7 8. 7
9. 4 9. 3
4. 6 3. 3
4. 9 4.8
3.6
3.7
11.6 11.0
9.5
3.2
4.6
II. 0
15.3 14.6 14.7
17.0 15.6 15.0
Cts
Cts.
35.2
31.2
27.8
23.0
10.1 12.3 14.0 14.3
18.0 34.3 39.4 34.4
27.7 50.2 47.2 46.4
30.0 52.9 50.8 50.
11.7 11.8 11.6
36.3 54. 52.8 53.
27.7 25.7 25.6
21.3
15.6
___
41.6
39.0 38.5 33.0 42.6 37.0 39.1 31.6
9.5 9.5 5
9.0 9.1 9.1 5.6
6.
6.0 3.1 5.2 4.9 4.8 2.8
3.8 3.7 3.3 5.5 5.6 5.6 2.5
35.2
19
27.4
53.3
36.7
18.3
27.0
44.8
36. 5
18.5
27.0
50.6
42.2 35.0 37.5
8.9 8.9 8.7
5.4 5.2 5
5.2 5.4 5.3
8.4 8.1 8.1
10.8 9.8 9.8
25.3 25.6 25.5
18. 18.8 18.8
8.6
11.5 10.5 10.3
9. 1 9.8 9.9
3.2 1.9 1.9
4.8 4.7 4.5
3.2 2.9 2.8
12.4 12.4 12.4
14.1 14.1 14.0
14.3 14.5 14.4
10.4 9.9 9.9
13.4 13.3 13.2
13.5 13.2 13.5
5. 1 7.0 6.9 7.1 5.3 6.
6.9 6
5.1 7.2 7.3 7.3
63.8 99.0 98.4 98.4 50.0 70. 70.0 70.0 45.0 61. 1 60.6
60.
27.5 50.1 47.3 47.6 27.5 46.8 42.7 42.7 30.8 53.7 50.1 50. 3
16.6 14.0 13.9
16.4 14.3 14. 1
16.9 15.0 14.9
15.0 14.7 14.6
14.8 14.5 13.9
14.3 14.4 14.3
29.1 2 8 . 6 2 9.0
2 9. 6 2 9. 5 210.0
211.9 211.3 11.3
46. 5 45. 4 42.9
55.8 53.7 53.2
58.5 58. 4 60.4
4 Whole.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
12.1 14.6 15.8 16.0
19.6 35.5 41.0 33.1
27.8 51.2 46.8 46.8
28.2 53.3 47.4 47.6
15-16 oz. can
11.2 11.
11.6
11.0 11.3 11.3
Pound___ 38.8 53.5 54.8 55.6 36.6 55.7 53.8 54.2
...d o .........
26.4 25.6 25.1
. . 27.5 27.1 27.1
...d o ____
22.0 33.7 38
37.3 22.3 35.3 37.2 37. 1
...d o ......... 15.6 18.1 16.7 16.4 16.0 20.8 19.7 19.5
...d o ____
21.8 21.6 21.8
26.9 26.7 26.7
Dozen___ 38. Ö 51.4 43.7 48.8 45.0 65.9 51.4 61.8
Eggs, storage........................ ...d o ____
B read ..___________ ____ _ Pound__
Flou r............. ...................... ...d o _____
Corn meal......... ................... ...d o .........
Rolled oats...
Corn flakes...
Wheat cereal.
Macaroni___
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15Oct. N ov
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1927
1927
1913 1926
1913 1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927
[172]
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
173
O F FO O D
A R T IC L ES OF FOOD IN 51 C IT IES ON SP E Ò IFIE D D ATES—Continued
Mobile, Ala.
Newark, N. J.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
New York, N. Y .
Nov. 15—
Nov. 15—
Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
15,
15, 15,
15,
192C 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1913 1926
1913 1926
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
20.4
42.6
50.0
62.3
22.0
45. 2
48.9
58.4
22.6
40.6
49.2
58.0
41.4 19.7 38.1 38.3 38.5 19.8 38.8 39.2 39.3 20.5 39.0 38.5 38.8 15.1 36.5
36.3 22.0 38.0 37. 5 36.4 23.8 42.2 40. 5 39.9 20. 5 36.5 36.5 35.0 21.1 40.3
34.7 __ 33.3 32.3 32.8
33. 5 33.6 34.3
38.7 37.9 37.0
33.3
17.8 9.0 15.0 16.0 16.0 9.Ö 16.0 16.0 16.0 9.8 14.0 14.0 14.0 9.0 15.0
37.5
38.7
33.5
16.0
37.0
38.5
34.2
16.0
34. 5 36.4
33. 6 35. 5
28. G 30. 5
23.2 24.1
35.9
35.0
29. 5
23.6
27.4
27.3
21.3
17.8
44.5
42. 5
35.2
24.9
48.8
46.3
38.7
27.5
48.7
46.4
37.8
28.6
32.2
29.6
23.8
19.6
17.5
41.4
51.5
54.2
18.2
40.0
45.8
52.1
18.4
37.7
44.8
52.1
12.4
23.7
25.3
119. 8
12.8
38.5
47.8
56.9
15.0
42. 1
45.8
54.3
16.0
36.4 23. Ö
45.0 28.8
55.2 32.4
40.0
36.8
34.5
17.8
41.4
35.0
34.5
17.8
54.0
43.7
35.5
26.8
58. 7
47.3
38.4
29.0
58.7
47.3
38.9
29.2
21. 5
19.0
18. 0
14.9
35.6
31. 1
30.4
21.5
37. 2
32.8
31.4
22.1
36.3
32. 5
30.8
21.7
25.9
25.4
21.3
16.0
44.1
43.0
38.6
24.3
15.8
39.5
51.1
62.9
15.9
44.2
45.7
57.8
16.2
38.3
46.2
58.7
11.9
24.5
30. 5
26.0
18.1
36.9
50.4
53.7
18.2
40.4
45.9
50.9
18.6
35.7
46.9
49.3
14.5
22.6
25. 6
27.8
49.9 50.3
46.8 47.1
41.9 42.6
28.1 28.4
11.8 11.7 11.8
11.1 11.1 11.5
12.1 12.1 12.1
11.0 11.1 11.1
11.1
56.8 54.9 56.6 42.7 58.0 59.6 59.3 36.3 54.7 54.9 54.9 38.1 54.9 55.6 56.4 39.9 58.8
30. S 29.1 29.4 ........ 30.4 30.6 30.2 ........ 31.7 29.1 29.0 ........ 30.7 29.5 29.5 ........ 30.1
11.1 11.1
58.4 59.0
27.6 28.0
37.9
20.8
20.6
61.3
39.8
20. 5
25.9
74.1
38.0
19.8
21.0
47.6
38.1 24.8 39.4 40.4 40.9 23.5 38.4 39.6 40.1 21.9 36.1 38.1 39.2 20.2 37.9
19.8 16.3 21.9 19.8 19. 7 15.7 20.9 18.8 18.7 15.0 20.5 19.6 19. 5 16.2 21.3
21.3 __ 25.9 25.5 25.4
26.0 25.6 25.4
20.3 19.4 20.0
26.3
53.0 67.0 76.7 69.2 74.7 59.7 86.5 73.2 80.9 41.3 52.5 45.1 46.6 56.1 82.0
40.3
20.6
25.9
80.0
48.1 41.3 42.0 36.8 48.0 43.3 42.9 33.0 52.3 49.6 49.6 30.0 42.0 36.0 38.0 37.3 48.2
9.7 10.1 10.1 5.6 9.5 9.5 9.5 6.0 9.2 9.2 9.2 4.8 8.8 8.7 8.7 6.0 9.6
6.4 6.1 6.1 3.6 5.6 5.3 5.3 3.2 5.8 5. 5 5.4 3.7 7.0 6.6 6.6 3.2 5.7
3.9 4.1 4.1 3.6 6.6 6.8 7.0 3.2 6.7 6.9 7.0 2.8 4.0 4.2 4.1 3.5 6.5
43.9 42.1
9.7 9.6
5.5 5.4
6.6 6.7
8.6 8. 5 8.6
8.4 8.3 8.2
9.3 9.4 9.7
9.0 8.9 8.8
11.1 9. 5 9.5 __ 10.0 8.6 9.3
10.8 10. 1 10.2
10.3 9.7 9.7
25.0 24.9 24.5 __ 24.3 24. 2 24. 2
24.7 24.9 24.6
24.4 24.6 24.6
20.6 20.7 20.7 ........ 21.0 21.4 21.4 ........ 22.3 22.3 22.3 ........ 10.0 10.6 10.6
8.7 8.6
8.8 9.1
23.9 24.0
21.1 21.1
10.7
8.8
5.1
5.1
9.6
8.8
3. 7
4.9
9.5 9.0 10.9 10.4 10.2 9.3 11.6 10. 5 10.2
9.2 __
9.8 9.8 10.0
9.6 9. 5 9.4
3.7 2. 7 4.6 3.3 3.3 1.8 4.0 3.2 3.2
4.5 ........ 4.7 4.9 5.0 ........ 5.4 5.5 5.3
7.5
2.2
—
4.6 4. 7 4.7
4.0 4. 5 4.4
4.3 4. 5 4.5
10.6 10.3 10. 2
10. 5 10. 7 10.3
11.1 11. 6 11. 7
17.3 15.8 15.8 __ 16.6 15.3 15.1
19. 1 18.3 18.1
16.0 15.4 15.3 ........ 17.1 17.8 17.8 ........ 20.3 18.4 18.8 —
9.5
8.4
4.7
4.1
9.5
8.8
4.0
4.5
—
8.6
10.0
24.0
21.1
9.4 8.0 10.4
8.7
10.3
3.9 2.3 4.4
4.5 ........ 4.5
10.1
10.3
3.6
5.0
10.1
10.2
3.5
4.9
4.1 4 4 4. 5
3 9
10. 9 10. 9 11. 1
10 7
15. 1 14.4 14.4
14.7
17.4 17.9 17.6 ........ 15.5
3 fi 3 fi
11 2
14.3 14.5
14.6 14.9
10.6 10.3 10.2
11.3 10.6 10.5
12.5 13.5 13.0
11.5 10.7 10.5
10.7
7. 2 7. 1 7. 1 5.2 6.8 6.7 6.7 5.2 7.0 7. 1 7.1 5.1 6.7 6.7 6.6 4.9 6.4
80.5 80.3 80.3 53.8 63.2 61.8 60. 1 55.0 60.0 60.3 60.3 62.1 83.1 79.3 79.3 43.3 65.9
50.3 47.7 47.8 29.3 50.2 46.8 46.9 33.8 51.9 48.8 49.4 25.7 35.6 35.7 35.4 27.2 47.4
11.2 11.2
6.4 6.3
67.1 67.3
45.4 45.8
16.7
14.7
22.5
38.0
13.0
13.9
35.4
74.3
15.7
14.1
24.4
47.5
12.5
13.8 __
25.0
46.0 ........
15.0
14.7
37.5
62.5
14.2
14.3
37.5
65.8
14.0
14.4
38.0
57.4 ........
16.3
14. 1
33.8
58.3
14. 5
13. 7
33.4
67.3
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[173]
14.2
13.5
32.5
54.9 ........
17.6
14.3
18.6
49.0
15.9
13.6
16.7
51.9
15.4
13.1
15.8
43.8 ........
14.5
14.5
40,3
68.1
12.8
13.6
38.5
67.4
174
M O NTHLY
T
able
LABOR
R E V IE W
5 .—AVERAGE R E T A IL P R IC ES OF T H E PR IN C IPA L
Norfolk, Va.
Omaha , Nebr.
Article
Unit
Nov. 15—
Nov. Oct. Nov.
15, 15, 15,
1926 1927 1927 1913 1926
Sirloin s te a k ......................... .
Round steak........ .................. .
Rib roast_________________
Chuck roast____ __________
Pound_____
____do_____
____do_____
____ do_____
41.0
34. 5
32.0
23. 5
42.5
37.0
32.0
23.3
41.9
36.4
32.9
23.9
Plate beef__________ ______
Pork chops_______________
Bacon, sliced______________
Ham, sliced_______________
____do______
_ __do___ _
____do_____
........ do...........
15.5
37. 2
49.9
50. 5
15.9
38. 6
45. 1
48. 3
15.9
34. 2
41.7
47. 0
Lamb, leg of_ ..........................
Hens
Salmon, canned, red_______
Milk, fresh_______ _______ _
Milk, evaporated__________
Butter____________________
Oleomargarine (all butter
substitutes).
Cheese................................ .......
Lard_____________________
Vegetable lard substitute___
Eggs, strictly fresh.................
____do_____
_ . d o ___
........ do_____
Quart______
15-16 oz. can
Pound_____
........ do............
40. 5
38. 3
35.4
17. 5
42.2
35. 7
36. 5
18.0
39.2
37.1
35.9
18.0
16.7
16 3
57.4 57.8 58.9
27.2 26.4 27.4
37.0
____do__........
____do...........
____do_____
Dozen...........
34.8
20. 2
22. 8
65.5
36.4
19.4
22.4
62.2
23. 3
17. 7
43.3
Eggs, storage...........................
Bread_________ ____ ______
Flour_____________________
Corn meal........................ .........
____do_____ 48.7 42.8 45.4
Pound_____ 9.9 9.9 9.9
____do_.......... 5. 8 5. 6 5. 5
........ do............ 4.6 4.7 4.6
30.0
5.2
2. 7
2.7
Rolled oats_____ __________
Corn flakes................... ..........
Wheat cereal____________
Macaroni_________________
____do_____
8.7 8.6 8. 5
8-oz. pkg___ 10.5 9.7 9.7
28-oz. pkg_-_ 24.2 25.0 24.8
Pound_____ 19.1 19.1 19.1
Rice............ ..............................
Beans, navy__ _____ ______
Potatoes____________ _____
Onions........................................
__ .do _
12. 6 11. 7 11 . 6
____do_____
8.4 8.8 8.4
___ d o _____ 4.4 3.8 3. 7
____do_____
5. 6 5.4 5.3
Cts. Cts. Cts.
11.1 11.8 11.8
35.8
19.1
22.5
60.0
Cts.
25.9
23.1
20.0
17.0
11.1
21 1
28.8
31. 3
8.7
8.5
1.8
Cabbage______________ ___ ____do__........ 4. 6 4. 5 4. 5
Beans, baked_____________ No. 2 c a n ,-. 9.8 9.8 9.9
Corn, canned.......................
___ do__ .
15. 8 15. 4 14. 6
Peas, canned........... ...............
..d o ___
19. 9 18.5 17.3
Tomatoes, canned_____
Sugar, granulated...................
Tea ...................................
Coffee........... .................. ..........
____do______ 10.0 9.9 9.7
Pound_____ 6.7 6.9 6.8
___ do
89. 4 96. 4 96 4
___ do__ _
51.4 47. 2 48. 4
Prunes__________________
Raisins______________
Bananas.. _________
Oranges..............................
.do
____do____
Dozen
____do___ .
16. 4
14. 8
33. 3
51. 5
14 9
14. 2
33. 5
60. 7
14.1
14.1
34 0
50.9
5.7
fifí o
30.0
Cts.
Peoria, 111.
Oct. Nov. Nov.
15,
15,
15,
1927 1927 1926
Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
1927 1927
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
34. 6
33.8
25.0
21. 5
Cts.
39.1
36.8
26.6
23. 2
Cts.
12.6
13.0
41.1
49.1
50.3
13.6
34 5
48.8
50. 4
14.6
36. 2
51.3
56.4
15.7
37.1
48.8
54. 2
15.3
32 3
48.8
53.8
36.8
31.1
36.4
11.3
37.5
29 5
35.5
11.3
40.0
33. 4
35.8
52.6
26.2
11. 5
52.5
29.4
39.4
32. 5
34.0
13.0
11.3
51.8
28.2
40.0
31 7
34.5
13.0
52. 1
29.9
38.1
29 9
34.9
11.3
11.7
51.0
26.0
36.9
23. 2
28.1
50.1
37. 7
20. 3
26.0
42.1
38. 6
20. 3
25.4
46.1
36. 3
22. 1
27.0
54.6
37. 4
18. 8
27.4
44.1
37. 8
18. 8
27.6
55.7
43.4
37.8
9.7
4. 6
4.9
35.9
9.7
4. 5
4.7
46.5
38.4
39.9
4.8
4.9
4.9
5. 3
4.8
10. 3
12.4
28.0
21. 0
10.1
27.8
21. 3
10. 1
27.8
21. 3
9.1
11.9
25.6
19. 9
26.3
18. 6
26.3
18. 6
10 9
11 5
5 3
11 3
9. 0
2 4
59
11 2
3 8
5 8
37. 5
34.8
26.2
22.0
37. 5
54.8
61. 6
11.8
10.2
39. 8
37.4
27.4
23.5
10.1
10.1
11.8
12.0
10.1
5. 6
11.4
9. 6
4. 0
5.1
11 0
10. 1
3.7
13.9
15. 6
16.1
3. 2
12.9
16 4
15.3
3. 3
13.0
15 9
15. 4
12. 1
15 8
18. 1
13.4
7.3
78 8
55.9
13.1
7.5
78 4
53 6
13.1
7.4
78 1
53 6
13.5
7. 7
69 5
51 8
2. 4
5.1
10 0
2. 2
8 8
3. 3
17.1 14 8 14 4 19 2
15. 6 15. 0 14 9 15 3
3 115 3 11 1 3 118 3 10 2
49.8 44 8 47.1 54.3
35. 7
34.4
25.4
22. 5
10.0
9. 3
10.2
3. 2
11.2
14 8
35.5
34.4
25.3
22.5
11.2
53.0
28.2
10.0
5. 2
4.8
9 3
10.2
9 1
2 3
5 5
3 1
h
.i
17 2
15 0
17 8
12.5
8.4
12.7
8.4
70 Q 70 8
46 8 47 8
17 4
14 5
18 0
14 3
3 in 4
47.0 47.6
a in n
i The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, but in most of the other
cities included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[174]
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
OF
175
FO O D
A R T IC L ES OF FOOD IN 51 C ITIES ON S P E C IF IE D D ATES—Continued
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Portland, Me.
Portland, Oreg.
Providence, R . I.
Nov . 15—
Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
Oct. Nov.
15,
15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15,
15,
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1926
1927
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926 1927 1927 1913 1926 1927 1927
Nov. 15—
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
12.0
22.5
26.9
30.4
130.5
25.7
21.5
18.0
27.3
24. 0
21. 7
17.3
46.1
39.4
34.0
25.4
50.2
41.9
36.0
28.3
49.3 160.5
41.0 47.2
35. 6 29.7
27.8 21.6
12.8
22.5
30.4
29.8
13.0
39. 7
55.4
64.1
14.2
46.6
51.4
59.0
15.4
39.2
50. 7
57.3
16.8
41.2
46.3
59.2
18.7
44.4
43. 1
56.5
18.5
39.6
43. 1
52.0
20.3 40.1 41.4
23.8 41.8 42.6
34.0 32. 6
9.2 14.7 15.0
11.4 11. 1
40. 4 59.9 58.7
........ 32.1 30.8
40.1
41. 6
33. 1
15.0
11.2
59.4
31.4
37.2
42.0
33.9
13.8
12.5
56. 1
28.3
40.8 24.5 39.7 40.6
18.3 15.7 21.5 19. 5
25.2
27. 5 27. 3
66.5 46.3 67.3 58.4
41.3
19. 7
27.3
63.4
38.0
19.7
25.2
82.0
154.8 159. 1 159.0
41.4 45.4 45.2
36.3 38.2 39.0
25.7 27.8 28.7
12.6
43.4
48.3
59.6
14.0
45.3
45.6
55.7
14.7
38.8
45. 1
54.8
18.8 40.5 40.3
23.1 41.2 39. 9
31.6 34. 1
8.0 13.0 13.0
_______ 11.4 11.8
44.3 60.9 61.0
........ 30.6 28.6
40.8
40.0
34.7
13.0
11.8
61.9
28.9
25.0 39.0 40.4
15.5 20.5 18.6
25. 2 25. 4
50.8 73.0 62.5
163.9 164. 7
47.8 47.0
32. 2 32. 2
22.6 22.8
22.9
21.0
19. 1
16.7
29.4
26.5
24.4
18.6
31.1
28.9
25.8
19.4
31.0 139.8 ‘ 70.0 175.4 i 76.2
28.8 31.0 49.3 51.4 50.9
26. 2 24. 2 37.8 40.4 40.7
19.9 18.8 28.7 31.6 30.5
13.5
21.4
30.3
30.0
13.4
39.5
58.3
60.0
14.4
38.8
53.6
56.0
17.7
15. 1
36.4 22.6 42.9
53.4 22.8 46.2
55.4 32.7 61.8
18.4
48.7
42. 1
52.7
19.1
40.1
41.9
54.8
37.9
40.8
35. 0
13.8
12.5
57. 2
26.4
36.9 17.5
40.2 20.3
35. 4
13.8 9. 7
12.5
57.4 40. 4
26.4 ........
35.7
34.5
36. 2
12.0
10. 7
53. 1
30.4
35.6
29. 7
35. 0
12.0
10. 7
54. 8
26.4
35.9 18.7
32. 2 25.0
35. 0
12.0 9.0
10. 5
55.9 38.4
26.3 ........
40.9
42.8
35. 7
14.8
12. 2
54. 5
29.1
39.8
40.8
33.0
15. 7
12. 1
53.9
27.5
39.8
41.0
32.9
15.7
12.2
53.9
27.4
38.6
18.9
26. 4
68.5
38.7 20.8 37.3
18.6 17.8 23. 2
26. 6
28.9
77.9 55.0 53.8
38.3
21.0
28.9
52.6
38.6 22.0 36.8
21.0 15.8 20.2
27. 1
28. 7
54.9 63.0 87.9
37.8
18. 6
26.5
75.0
37.4
18.7
26.6
83.1
34.7 48.2 47.0 46.7 33.4 48.4 40.7 43.8 50.2 44.0 48.1 37.5 48.0 43.0 41.0 36.8 48.9
4.8 9.5 9.4 9.4 5.4 9.3 9. 0 8.4 10.1 10. 3 10.3 5. 5 9.5 9.3 9.2 6. 1 9.2
3.2 5. 5 5.2 5. 1 3.2 5.4 5.2 5.1 5.6 5.4 5.3 2.9 5.2 5.0 4.8 2.9 6. 1
2.9 4.7 4.8 4.9 3.0 6.0 5.7 5.7 5.1 5.0 5.0 3.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 3.1 5.1
8.7 8.6 8.5
9.4 9.1 9.2 7.9 7.9 7.8
10.1 9.4 9.4
10.5 9.8 9.9 11.6 9.6 9.7
24.5 24.6 24.6
25.0 24.9 24.9 25.8 2.5.5 25.5
........ 20.8 20.7 20.5 ........ 24.0 23.4 23.6 24.9 24.1 24.1 ........
48.1 47.0
9.1 9.1
5.7 5.5
5.2 5.1
9.2
10.3 10.1 10.2
10.8
11.4 9.6 9.6
25.5
26. 8 27.0 27.0
18.0 18.3 18.3 ........ 23.3
9.1 8.9
9.5 9.5
25.2 25.1
23.2 23.0
9.8 12.1 11.3 11.2 9.2 12.8 11.4 11.1 13. 2 12.2 12.2 8.6 10.8 10.2 10.1 9.3 12.1
9.2 9.3 9. 5
9.7
8.8 9. 1 8.9 9.6 10. 3 9.9
9.9 10.4 9. 6
2.3 4.6 3.6 3.5 2.0 4. 1 3.0 2.9 3.6 2.8 2.8 1.2 2.4 2.6 2.4 1.7 3.7
........ 4.9 4.2 4.5 ........ 5.4 5.2 4.9 4.6 4.6 4.3 ........ 3.3 3.6 3.4 ........ 4.7
10.9 10.8
10.0 9.9
3.0 2.9
4.6 4.5
3.7
4.2 3.7 3.2
4.7 4.3 3.9 3.2 2.7 2.7
3.0 3.2 2.9
12.8 12.9 12.6 15.0 13.8 14.7
11.3
10. 6 10.9 10.8
13. 4 11. 8 12.0
17.9
14. 7 14. 0 14.0
16. 7 16.1 16. 2 16. 5 14. 2 13.9
18. 5 18.1 18.1
15.8 14.9 14.3 ........ 17.3 16.9 17.0 18.9 17.3 17.3 ........ 18.3 17.5 17.5 ........ 19.7
3.9 3.7
11.1 10.9
16.9 17. 1
18.6 18.4
13.3
11.9 11.7 11.8
12.5 11.6 11.7 12.4 12. 7 12.5
215. 9 216.5 216.4
5.0 6.7 6. 7 6. 7 5. 7 7.2 7.4 7.4 7. 1 7.3 7.2 6. i 7.1 7.1 7.2 5.6 6.9
54.0 70.9 67.3 67.9 58.0 85.1 83.0 83.0 61.9 62. 2 62.2 55.0 76.9 76.4 76. 7 48.3 60.5
24.5 45.6 39.2 40.2 30.0 51.4 46.2 47.2 53.8 49.3 49.1 35.0 52.2 50.7 51.9 30.0 53.8
13.4 12.8
6.9 6.9
60.6 61.1
48.9 49.2
........
14.5
13.8
30.3
57.1
........
13.3
13.6
30.7
61.2
12.7
17.8 15.8
13.3
14.8 14. 4
31.9
39.7 39. 1
52.9 ........ 59.0 59.2
15. 6 15.3 13.8 13.0
9.6 10.3 10.2
14.0 13.6 13.0 13.0
13.9 13.5 12.8
41.5 310.9 311. 1 311.4
813.1 812.8 »13.0
51.4 61.4 71.1 64.0 ........ 56.2 60.6 57.1
2 No. 2Yz can4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8 Per pound.
[ 175]
—
15.6
14.4
31.4
65.1
13.5
14.1
31.7
73.3
13.5
13.7
32.5
60.4
176
M O N TH LY
T
able
LABOR
R E V IE W
5 .—AVERAG E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E PR IN C IP A L
Richmond, Va.
Article
Sirloin steak__
Round ste a k ...
Rib roast_____
Chuck roast___
Plate b e e f..................................
Pork chops.____ _____ _____
Bacon, sliced_______________
Ham, sliced_________ ______ _
Unit
Pound.
___ do.
___ do.
.do.
.do__
.do_____
.d o___
.do___
Rochester,N .Y
St. Louis, Mo.
Nov. 15— Oct. Nov.
Nov. Oct. Nov Nov. 15— Oct. Nov
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
1927
1927
1926 1927 1927
1913 1926
1913 1926 1927 1927
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
2 2 .2
39.9 40.8 42.2 40.5 43.7 43.9 26.6 38.0 40.7 40.5
20.0 35.6 36.0 37. 1 33.9 36.9 37.3 23.6 36.7 39.4 39.2
18.9 32.0 32. 33.5 30.5 32.4 32.4 20.1 30.4 32.7 32.2
15.9 23.3 23.8 24.2 24.5 27.1 27.6 16.0 21.4 23.9 24.0
13.2 16.3 16.8 17.3 14.0
41.7
27.2 48.1 44.
43.8 45.8
25.0 47.2 44.6 44.8 58.1
21.2 41. 1 42.4 37
15.0
44.6
41.4
53.9
15.6
39.8
41.1
52.4
12.4
17.8
25.8
27.3
15.6
35.6
48.6
58.6
16.3
38.7
43.5
52.1
16.8
32.5
43.3
51.9
Lamb, leg of_______________
Hens...... .....................................
Salmon, canned, red________
Milk, fresh.................................
Milk, evaporated......................
Butter................................... .
Oleomargarine (all butter
substitutes).
Cheese____________ _______ _
Lard............................. ...............
Vegetable lard substitute___
Eggs, strictly fresh......... ..........
___ do_____ 19.3 44.8 43.
___ do_____ 19.5 36.3 33.5
___ do_____
34.5 35. 3
Quart...........
14.0 14.0
15-16 oz. can.
12.4 12.4
Pound____
60. 1 57.6
___ do...........
31.9 31.3
Eggs, storage.............................
Bread..........................................
Flour............... ......................... .
Corn meal.................................
___ do_____ 33.0 45.0 40.7 42.2 49.0 45.7 47.2 32.5 43.0 37.6 36.1
Pound........ . 5.3 9.5 9.4 9.4 9.0 9.0 9.0 5.6 9.8 9.
9.9
___ do......... . 3.2 5.8 5.6 5.4 5.
5.3 5.3 2.9 5.4 5.2 5.2
-----do_____
2.3 4.7 4.9 4.8 5.6 6.1 6.1 2.5 4.3 4.5 4.4
Rolled oats...
Corn flakes...
Wheat cereal.
Macaroni___
___ do___
8-oz. pkg_.
28-oz. pkg.
Pound___
Rice...... .........
Beans, navy.
Potatoes____
Onions_____
.do.
-do.
-do.
.do.
Cabbage.........
Beans, baked.
Corn, canned.
Peas, canned..
-----do___
No. 2 can.
-----do___
-----do___
Tomatoes, canned.
Sugar, granulated..
Tea________ _____
Coffee.......................
Prunes...
Raisins..
Bananas .
Oranges..
___ do_____
___ do_____
___ do_____
Dozen_____
36.8
40. 7
32.8
12. 5
38.7
39.4
35.5
13.5
12.6 11.6 11.4
59.6 55.1 55.1
30.7 31.2 29.6
15.4 20.6 19.2 19.4 19.5 18.6 18.3 12.9 17.0 16.2 15.6
25.5 25.9 25.9 24.4 24.7 26.0
25.8 25.5 25.3
40.0 58.6 52.6 59.5 77.3 64.0 68.7 38.9 58.8 46.1 51.4
8.9 8.3 8.5 9.1 9.1 9.1
11.0 9.7 9.7 10.3 9.6 9.6
25.8 25. 25.9 25.4 25.0 25.7
20.2 20.9 20.9 21.7 20.3 20.2
10.0 13.0 11.
2.0
11.6 11.0 10.4 10.5
8.4 8.4 8.4
1 0 .0
9.0 9.0
24.7 24.7 24.7
21.0 20 .1
20.1
2.6
10.7 10.3 10.1
8 . 1 8.7 8.8
4.2 3. 1 3.0
5.0 5.5 5.0
4.3 3.8 3.7 3.2 2.2 2.2
9.9 10.1 10.2 10.4 10.2 10.1
15.3 15.1 15.3 16.9 16.6 16.6
20.1 18.6 18.4 18.1 17.7 17.7
10.6 10.5 10.3
9.3
4.5
6.9
9.8
3.4
6.1
9.5
3.2
5.7
9.3
3.3
4.7
...d o _____
10.6 10.5 10.3 13.8
Pound___ 5.4 7. 0 7. 1 7.0 6.8
...d o _____ 56.0 89.2 91.4 92.2 68.7
...d o _____ 27.4 48.9 46.0 45.5 47.7
..do.
........do.
Dozen.
........do.
38.4 18.3 37.6 37.3 36.4
38.7 16.5 33.1 31.6 31.0
35.6
35.7 36.0 35.8
13.5 ~8.8 13.0 13.0 13.0
11.3
10.4 10.9 10.9
55.8 38." 1 58.6 57.6 58.9
29.9
27.2 26. 26.7
22.8 36.3 36.8 36.7 36.0 39.2 39.6 20.3 35.8 38.0 38.7
17.2
14.4
37.3
54.6
1No. 2Ji can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
43.8
34.0
35. 5
14.0
[176]
15.1
13.9
38.5
54.2
14.7
13.9
39.0
47.9
16.0
14.2
37.0
56.5
9.5
2.5
4.5
9.4
4.4
3.5
3.8
3.4
16.0 15.6 15.6
15. 15.5 15.1
13.4 13.6
11.3 11.2 11.1
6.7 6.6 5.1 7.1 7.1 7.0
69.7 69.6 55.0 74.0 75.9 76.1
44.8 45.3 24.4 48.1 45.4 45.4
15.3
14.6
36.4
58.2
14.2
14.6
36.4
53.9
18.6
14.8
31.8
52.0
15.2
14.0
30.8
55.2
15.2
13.7
31.5
50.8
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
OF
177
FO O D
A R T IC L E S OF FOOD IN 51 C IT IES ON S P E C IF IE D D A TES—Continued
St Paul, Minn.
Salt Lake City,Utah San Francisco, Calif. Savannah Oa.
Scranton, Pa.
Nov. 15— Oct. Nov. Nov 15— Oct. Nov. Nov. 15—
Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov . 15— Oct. Nov.
15,
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
15,
15,
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927
1927 1926 1927 1927
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926
1913 1926 1927 1927
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cis. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
25.0
20.8
20.0
16.0
34.4
30.1
29.2
22.9
38.6
33. 9
31.1
25.1
37.6
32. 1
30.3
24.6
22.4
20.0
19.0
14.5
30. 8
27.6
23.7
17.9
33.1
30. 5
25.7
20.2
33.2
30.5
25.6
20.4
21.0
19.7
21.3
15.5
31.8
29. 5
29.5
19.2
33.8
31.0
31.2
20.3
34.2
32.6
31.9
21.4
34.2
27. 5
27. 1
18.8
35.0
28.8
27.5
18.0
35.4
29.2
26.3
18.4
26.0
21.5
23. C
17.6
51.0
42.3
37. 7
28.2
10.8
18.8
25.3
28.3
13.0
34.0
49. 1
51.6
15.1
38.4
45.9
47.1
15.1
32.2
45.3
47.2
12.5
23.4
30.0
30.0
12.9
40.1
52.1
60,7
14.5
39.9
46.9
57.1
14.6
37.3
47.9
56.2
14.3
24.2
34.4
32.0
15.0
46.9
63.9
67.9
15.9
44.3
57.1
63.8
16.9
43.8
57.3
63.8
13.3
37. 1
46.8
50.0
15.8
33.5
41.6
45.0
15.7
32.5
41.7
44.2
11.9
21. 8
27.5
29.3
32.1 18.0
29.1 22.6
37.6 _____
12.0 8.7
12. 1 _____
52.0 39.2
25.2 ........
34.6
33.2
37.4
11.5
10.5
49.0
29.7
35.3
30.4
35.7
11.0
10.6
52.1
27.0
34.7 17.0
30.3 24.8
35.7
11.0 Ï5.Ô
10.6
51. 8 40.4
27.0 —
37.4
46.1
32 4
14.0
10.1
55.2
30.8
38.7
43.3
33.0
14.0
10.4
58.0
25.9
38.6
43.1
33.0
14.0
10.3
58.7
25.3
39.0
34.2
36.9
17.0
11.0
55.9
34.7
39.0
33.0
33.6
17.0
11.5
55.4
31.3
38.0
31.8
33.6
17.0
11.5
56.7
31.5
37.6 24.2 30.2 30.7 30.7 21.0 38.7 39.1 39.7 35.5
18.8 20.0 24.3 21.6 21.5 17.7 24.6 23.0 23.3 20.0
28.7
29.7 29.0 29.1
28.5 28.2 27.8 17.7
47.9 46.7 54.2 46.8 49.2 65. Ö 59.6 55.7 55.6 63.3
36.9
19.3
18.0
56.7
16.1 32.4 32.7
16.4 30.2 28.8
37.9 37.6
7.8 11.0 12.0
_____
11.7 12.0
35.0 52.3 50.9
........ 27.5 25.4
_____
21.0 35.1 36.5
14.8 20.5 19.0
27.4 28.7
39.6 52.6 44.4
_____
31.2 43.3 39.6 37.1 35.0
6.0 10.0 9.5 9.5 5.9
2.9 6.6 5.1 5.1 2.4
2.5 5.1 5.2 5.0 3.3
__
_____
—
9.9
12.0
27.0
18.5
10.1
10. 2
26.5
18.6
9.9
4.3
5.3
40.0
9.7
4.1
5.6
9.9
4.1
5.6
10.0 12.3 10.5 10.6
_____
9.3 9.8 9.5
14. 3.1 1.8 1.8
........ 4.6 4.5 4.1
8.2 10.5
9.2
1.3 2.6
—
2.5
9.1
9.1
1.9
2.6
10.1
10.1
25. 2
16.0
54.5
46.1
39.8
31.0
12.6
43.6
52.7
62.7
13.7
45.4
48.9
56.5
14.3
40.5
48.6
55.5
18.7 44.7
21. C 44.3
35.1
8.8 12.0
11.7
37. Î 54.1
........ 30.3
45.3
43.3
35.6
12.0
11.9
55.8
28.4
44.1
42.7
36.1
12.0
11.9
56.4
28.4
37.6 18.3 35.6
19.4 16.5 21.6
17.9
26.3
58.8 51.3 76.9
36.3
19.7
26.0
60.3
36.6
19.9
26.1
67.0
10.1 8.8 8.9 8.7
10.1 10.4 9.6 9.6
25.2 24.3 24.3 24.3
16.0 18.5 18.2 18.3
9.1 8.5 11.5 11.1 10.6 10.0
8.9
9.6 10. 1 9.9 10.4
1.9 Ï.9 3.8 3.2 3.0 4.7
2.7 ........ 3.6 4.3 3.8 6.2
9.6
9.5
3.7
5.9
Cts.
53.3
44.5
38.9
29.5
40.7 48.8 43.0 44.3 46.0 41.0 43.4 32.5 49.4
5.9 9.8 9.5 9.5 10.5 10.7 10.7 5.6 10.4
3.4 5.8 5.6 5.6 6.7 6.5 6.6 3.6 6.2
3.5 6.3 6.3 6.3 3.5 3.7 3.7
7.7
10.2
8.7 8.8 8.8
9.7
10. 2 _____ 12.3 10. 1 10. 2 _____ 10. 5
26.3 _____ 25.5 25.7 25.8
25.3
18.3 ........ 20.0 19.5 19.4 ........ 16.0
Cts.
—
10.0
11.1
25.6
23.1
9.6 8.5 11.7
9.6
10.9
3.8 i. 8 4.1
5.9 ........ 5.4
2.7 2.0 1.8
2. 7 2.6 2. 7
4 8 4 4 4 5
13.9 13.6 13.7
13.8 12.9 12.8
13.3 13.0 12. 9 12.5 12.1 12.2
15.0 14.4 14.4
15.0 14.7 14.7
18.3 17.9 18.0 15.4 14.7 14.7
......... 15.6 15.4 15.4 ........ 15.8 15.7 15.6 ........ 18.4 17.9 17.8 16.4 17.0 16.6
46.2 45. 4
10.6 10.7
5.8 5.8
7.8 7.6
9.9 9.8
10.1 10.1
25.3 25.2
22.8 22.9
11.3
10.5
3.1
5.1
10.7
11.0
3.0
4.8
3 4
10.9
17.1
17.2
3 5 3 4
11. 4 11.2
16.9 16.8
17.1 17.3
14.6 14.1 14.0
14.5 14.2 14.1
1 15.2 115.1 114.9 10.3 9.9 9.9
12.6
6.1 7.5 7.3 7.3 5. 7 7.9 8.1 8.0 5.4 6.8 7.0 6.9 6.9 7.0 6.9 5.6 7.0
45.0 68.7 65.7 65.4 65.7 87.1 86.5 87.2 50.0 69.3 72.8 72.8 81.0 82.6 81.9 52.5 67.6
30.0 52.8 52.2 52.4 35.8 56.7 54.0 54.3 32.0 53.4 52.0 52.5 47.4 45.1 45.4 31.3 52.4
12.2 12.2
7.1 7.1
71.2 71.5
49.4 49.5
__
_____
__
_____
_____
16.4 15.2
15.5 15.2
212.0 211.1
56.2 60.0
14.8
14.9 _____
211.8
58.8 ........
15.6
13.8
214.1
53.8
14.0 13.4
13.4 13.1
212.7 212.3
54.7 54.0
14.1
13.1
30.0
51.1
2 Pec pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ï177]
12.1
12. 9
30.6
50.5
11.3
12.2
31.3
53.6
15.8
14. 7
33.0
39. 7
13.5
14.5
30.0
46.4
13.5
14.4
31.2
40.3
—
17.9
14.8
33.0
62.3
14.4 15.0
14.5 14.4
33.3 33.0
62.3 58.8
178
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
T a b l e 5 .—A V ER A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S OF FOOD IN
51 C IT IE S ON S P E C IF IE D D A TES—Continued
Seattle, Wash.
Nov. 15—
Unit
Article
Sirloin steak_____ _____
Round s te a k ..._______
Rib roast..... ......................
Chuck roast.......................
Springfield, 111.
1913 1926
Oct. Nov. Nov.
15,
15,
15,
1927 1927 1926
Oct. Nov. Nov. 15— Oct. Nov.
15,
15,
15, 15,
1927 1927 1913
1926 1927 1927
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
23. 6
20.6
20.0
15.6
Plate beef_____________ ........ do...........
Pork chops
__ ______
do
Bacon, sliced__________ ____d o ____
Ham, sliced___________ ____ do______
12.8
24. 0
32.0
30.0
14.7
41. 3
59. 6
63.9
15. 5
40. 2
57. 7
59. 3
16. 5
38. 3
56.4
58.1
13. 8
36. 7
49. 6
56. 5
........ do______
____do______
____ do_____
Quart______
15-16 oz. can.
Pound
____ do_____
18.4
24.2
36.1
34. 2
35. 5
10.3
10.7
53. 3
30.9
35. 7
31.1
35.2
12.0
10.6
54.4
26.4
35.0
32. 2
34. 8
12.0
10. 5
55. 0
26.1
35.0
23. 1
28.0
35.2
21.2
27.1
35. 3
21. 0
27.2
10.0
40.8
____d o ____ 22.8
____ do.
16.9
____do______
Dozen____
____do_____
Pound_____
........ do........ ...
........ do_____
____do_____
8-oz. p k g ___
28-oz. pkg____
P o u n d ..!...
____do___ . ____ do_________
____do_ _____
............. do...........
. . . do
No. 2 can___
______ do_________
............. do_________
______ do_________
Pound________
............. d o ________
..............do. ............. ..
______ do_________
____do_
D o z e n ...__
______ do_________
1 No.
59.2
37.5
5. 6
2. 9
3.2
______
7. 7
1. 4
6.1
50.0
28.0
32. 2
28.8
27. 0
19. 5
34. 8
30.6
28.0
20.6
Cts.
Pound
........ do...........
........ do_____
........ do............
Lamb, leg of___________
Hens ________________
Salmon, canned, red___
Milk, fresh____________
Milk, evaporated______
Butter__ ___________
Oleomargarine (all butter substitutes).
Cheese...............................
L ard.. __
__ _ ___
Vegetable lard substitute.
Eggs, strictly fresh..........
Eggs, storage....................
Bread_________ ____ _
Flour _______________________
Corn meal____________
Rolled oats____________
Corn flakes __________
Wheat cereal_______________
Macaroni............................................
Rice ____________________________
Beans, navy _________________
Potatoes_______________________
Onions._____________ _
Cabbage__ ___________
Beans,~baked__________
Corn, canned __ ___________
Peas, canned..................................
Tomatoes, canned.............. ..
Sugar, granulated_________
Tea ..........................................................
Coffee.......................................................
Prun es _________________________
Raisins
____________________
Bananas_______________________
Oranges______ ____________
Washington, D. C.
35 1
3.14
28. 7
21.8
Cts.
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
36 3
35. 7
24.8
22.5
26. 5
22. 5
21. 0
17.6
46 1
39. 6
34. 7
24.9
48. 7
42. 7
34.4
25. 6
48. 2
41.9
35. 2
26.2
15.2
37.1
45. 8
49. 6
15.1
31. 8
45. 8
48. 8
12. 8
21 4
26. 4
31. 3
14.0
42 1
49. 9
60.0
14 0
43 8
44 6
57.1
14 8
37 2
44.2
56.8
39. 0
34. 0
38. 3
12.5
11.8
56. 5
30.3
40.6
32. 5
36. 6
14.4
11.7
54.1
28.7
38.3 19.1 39.7 39.0 38.8
32. 0 21.3 39. 7 39. 0 37.9
36. 0
32. 3 34.0 34.4
14.4 9.0 15.0 15.0 15.0
11.8
12.0 11.9 12.1
54. 8 40. 3 58. 7 58. 6 59. 4
28.2
31.1 28.5 28.4
36. 7
21. 9
28.0
38.1
18.8
27.5
39.4 23. 5 39.1 41. 5 41 1
18. 6 15. 0 20. 2 18. 8 18.1
25.8 24.2 23.8
27.3
35 4
35.0
23. 6
21.6
36. 7
36.1
24. 6
22.9
55. 2 54.7 54. 5 63. 0 47.7 58. 2 47.9
48.0 45.0 44.0 47.0 38.8 42.1 35.0
9.8
9. 7
9.8 10.1 10.3 10.3 5. 7
5.0
4.7
4. 7
5. 9
5. 5
5. 4 3. 8
5.0
5. 7
5. 7
4. 9 2.6
5.1
4. 9
9.0
8. 5
8 6 10.1 10. 3 10 2
11. 6 10.1 10 1 11. 8 10 2 10 2
27. 7 27. 6 27. 5 27. 3 27. 5 27. 5
18.4 18.2 18.1 19.3 19.0 18.9 .............
12. 3 11.8 11.0 11. 2 11.1 10 9 9.4
9. 9 11.0 10. 4
9. 6
9. 0
9. 5
2. 9
2.0
4.1
2. 8
2. 6 1 . 8
1. 9
3. 6
3. 5
3. 2
4.4
4. 2
4. 8
3. 6
3. 6
3. 2
3 8
3. 8
3 1
12.9 11.8 11.6 10.6 10.4 10.3
18.4 17.4 17. 3 15. 2 14. 6 15. 0
20.3 18. 5 18. 0 17.1 15. 9 16. 3
i 17.1 i 16. 7 1 16.5 13.8 13.6 13.6
7.1
7.2
7. 1
7.7
7.8 5.1
7.8
77.9 76.0 75. 2 82. 5 84. 6 84. 6 57. 5
52.8 49. 2 49. 5 53. 7 49.9 50.8 28.8
14.6 12. 7 12.0 16. 6 15. 0 14 3
14. 4 13. 6 13 3 16.1 15. 0 14 4
2 13.9 2 12. 9 2 12. 9 2 11.6 2 10.4 2 10. 3
54.0 52. 4 56. 0 66.1 62. 0 52.1
can.
71. 7 63.1
49.7 46.3
8. 9 9. 1
6. 3 ' 5.8
5. 2 5. 1
9 2 9. 4
10 8 9 5
24. 6 24 5
23.8 22.9
12. 4 11 4
8. 6 9. 0
4. 3 3. 5
5.8 4. 7
4. 5 4 2
10.3 10.2
15. 7 14. 7
16. 6 15. 6
11.3 10. 3
6.8 6.9
89. 7 90. 7
48.7 42. 5
17.9 15 7
14 8 14 2
35. 0 33. 6
54.4 63.3
65.8
45.2
9.1
5. 6
5.1
9 2
9 4
24 5
22.4
11 6
8. 9
3. 4
4. 7
3 8
10.0
14. 7
14.8
10. 0
6.8
89.1
43.9
14 4
13 6
34 2
48.2
2 Per pound.
C o m p a r is o n o f R e t a i l F o o d C o s ts in 51 C itie s
rT lABLE 6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food 3 in November, 1927, compared with
the average cost in the year 1913, in November, 1926, and October,
1927. For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the one-year
and the one-month periods; these cities have been scheduled by the
bureau at different dates since 1913. The percentage changes are
based on actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers
and on the average family consumption of these articles in each city.4
8For list of articles see note 5, p. 161.
4The consumption figures used from January, 1913, to December, 1920, for each article in each city are
given in the Labor Review for November, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. The consumption figures which have been
used for each month beginning with January, 1921, are given in the Labor Review for March, 1921, p. 26.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 7 8 ]
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
179
O F FO O D
T able 6
— P E R C E N T A G E CHANGE IN T H E R E T A IL COST OP POOD IN N O V EM B ER ,
1927, COM PARED W ITH T H E COST IN OCTOBER, 1927, N O V EM B ER , 1926, AND W ITH
T H E AVERAG E COST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y CITIES
Percent
age in
crease
Novem
ber, 1927,
compared
with
1913
City
Atlanta ___ - ____
Baltimore________
Birmingham _____
____ _
Boston
Bridgeport_______
Buffalo
_______
"Butte
________
Charleston, S. C_-_
Chicago
______
Cincinnati________
Cleveland _______
Columbus
_____
Dallas
_________
Denver
_______
Detroit __________
Ball River _______
Houston _______
Indianapolis
Jacksonville______
Kansas C ity______
Tattle Rook _____
Dns Angeles
TiOUisville
TVTan ehester
M em p his.
__ --
Milwaukee.............
60. 8
63. 3
61. 9
60. 7
61.8
66. 6
65. 8
57.6
54.6
56. 2
40.0
62.7
58.5
51.4
48. 3
49.5
47.0
45. 5
52. 9
55. 9
46. 0
58.1
Percent
age de
crease
Novem
ber, 1927,
compared
with
Novem
ber, 1926
Percent
age in
crease
Novem
ber, 1927,
compared
with
October,
1927
3. 2
3. 7
3.1
2.7
2.0
4.0
4.0
4.4
4. 1
3.8
5.2
5.1
0.8
4. 6
3.7
1.9
5.3
4.3
8.5
4.8
4.7
2. 1
3. 5
2.2
i 0. 6
'0 . 1
0. 3
0. 3
0.5
1.0
1.4
0.4
10.2
10.2
1 0. 6
0. 1
0. 6
0.9
10.4
0. 5
0.2
1 0. 3
10.8
10.9
11.0
0.9
0
0.8
3. 7
4.0
l 0. 6
0. 1
Percent
age in
crease
Novem
ber, 1927,
compared
with
1913
City
Minneapolis______
Mobile--_________
Newark- _______
New Haven______
New Orleans............
New York________
Norfolk. ...................
Om aha........... .........
Peoria____________
Philadelphia______
Pittsburgh_______
Portland, M e_____
Portland, Oreg____
Providence...............
Richmond________
Rochester.................
St. Louis ............... ..
St. Paul__________
Salt Lake C ity____
San Francisco_____
Savannah________
Scranton __ _____
Seattle __________
Springfield, 111 . .
Washington, D . C .
Percent
age de
crease
Novem
ber, 1927,
compared
with
Novem
ber, 1926
51.2
Percent
age in
crease
Novem
ber, 1927,
compared
with
October,
1927
2.9
3. 8
1. 2
2.4
2.9
0. 5
2. 6
6.8
3.9
3.5
4. 6
2. 6
i 0.2
0. 6
0.4
0. 6
1 1.0
0.4
1 0. 7
10.6
1. 0
0.2
1 1.0
0.3
63. 5
44.1
2.5
3.8
2.1
4.1
4.3
2.5
1.5
3.5
3. 1
0.8
0.3
0.4
0.6
1 0.4
1 0. 6
0.4
0.1
0.4
0.9
0
63. 7
4.4
4. 6
54.4
59. 6
52.4
66.1
47.4
61.7
58.4
41.2
60. 3
63.7
0
58.4
34. 6
53.6
0
i 0.1
i 1 .1
i Decrease.
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
November 99 per cent of all the firms supplying retail prices in the
51 cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 39 cities
had a perfect record; that is, every merchant who is cooperating with
the bureau sent in his report in time for his prices to be included in
the city averages: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Bridge
port, Butte, Charleston, S. C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus,
Denver, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas
City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester, Memphis, Minneapolis,
Mobile, New Haven, New York, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Pittsburgh,
Portland, Me., Portland, Oreg., Providence, Richmond, Rochester,
St. Louis, St. Paul, San Francisco, Savannah, Scranton, and Seattle.
The following summary shows the promptness with which the
merchants responded in November, 1927:
R E T A IL P R IC E R EPO R TS R E C E IV E D FO R N O V EM B ER , 1927
Geographical division
Item
Percentage of reports received......................
Number of cities in each section from
which every report was received_______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
United
States
North
Atlantic
South
Atlantic
North
Central
South
Central
Western
99.0
99.1
99.4
99.0
98.0
99.0
39
11
7
10
5
[1 7 9 ]
180
M O N TH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
Retail Prices of Coal in the United States a
T
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
January 15 and July 15, 1913, November 15, 1926, and October
15 and November 15, 1927, for the United States and for each
of the cities from which retail food prices have been obtained. 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.
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 sold for household use.
T
1 — AVERAGE R E T A IL P R IC ES OF COAL P E R TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSE
HOLD USE, ON JA N U A R Y 15 AND JU L Y 15, 1913, N O V EM BER 15, 1926, AND OCTOBER 15
AND N O V EM B ER 15, 1927
able
1913
City, and kind of coal
United S tates:
Pennsylvania a n th ra cite —
Stove—
Average price_______________
Index (1913=100)....................
C h estn u t—
Average p r ic e ............... .............
Index (1913=100)____________
B itu m in ou s—
Average price__________________
Index (1913=100)........................... _.
Atlanta, Ga.:
Bituminous..................................................
Baltimore, Md.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove................................................. .
Chestnut_______________ ________
Bituminous....... .........................................
Birmingham, Ala.:
Bituminous............... ....... ......................
Boston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................
Chestnut.............................................
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove....................................................
Chestnut.................................. ............
Buffalo, N. Y .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.......................... ............... ...........
Chestnut___________ _____ ______
Butte, Mont.:
Bituminous....... .....................................
Charleston, S. C.:
Bituminous-................................................
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove......................................................
Chestnut......................... .....................
Bituminous.................... .............................
Cincinnati, Ohio:
B itum inous................... ......... ..............
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.___________________ ______
Chestnut................... .......................
Bituminous....... ...............................
Jan. 15
1926
July 15
Nov. 15
1927
Oct. 15
Nov. 15
$7.99
103.4
$7.46
96.6
$15, 64
202.4
$15. 42
199.6
$15.44
199.9
$8.15
103.0
$7.68
97.0
$15.41
194.7
$15. 07
190.4
$15.07
190.4
$5.48
100.8
$5. 39
99.2
$10.24
188.4
$9. 33
171. 7
$9. 32
171.5
$5.88
$4. 83
$9.97
$8. 37
$8. 37
17.70
1 7. 93
i 7.24
i 7. 49'
' 16. 00
i 15. 50
8. 50
1 16. 00
i 15. 25
8.11
» 16.00
i 15.25
8.11
4. 22
4. 01
7.90
7. 78
7.81
8. 25
8.25
7. 50
7. 75
16. 50
16. 25
16. 25
16.00
16. 25
16.00
15. 75
15. 75
15. 00
15. 00
15. 00
15.00
13. 99
13.59
13.97
13. 57
6.75
6.99
6.54
6. 80
13.76
13. 39
11.03
10. 96
11.03
i 6. 75
i 6.75
11.00
11.00
11.00
8.00
8.25
4. 97
7.80
8.05
4. 65
17.00
16. 81
10.15
16. 94
16. 45
9. 30
16.95
16. 46
9.29
3.50
3.38
9.57
7.10
7.10
7. 50
7. 75
4.14
7. 25
7.50
4.14
15.40
15.00
10. 54
15.17
14.80
9.02
15.20
14.70
9.03
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
“ Prices of coal were formerly secured semiannually and published in the Marcjq and September issues.
Since July, 1920, these prices have been secured and published monthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 180 ]
E E T A IL
T
P R IC E S
OF
181
COAL
1 . — AVERAGE R E T A IL PR IC ES OP COAL P E R TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FO R HOUSE
HOLD U SE, ON JA N U A R Y 15 AND JU L Y 15, 1913, N O V EM B ER 15, 1926, AND OCTOBER 15
AND N O V EM BER 15, 1927—Continued
able
1913
1926
1927
City, and kind of coal
Jan. 15
Columbus, Ohio:
Bituminous _______________________
Dallas, Tex.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Egg. ................................... ................
Bituminous_____________ -_________
Denver, Colo.:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 mixed__________
Stove, 3 and 5 mixed______ . . . . . . .
Bituminous ................................ ...............
Detroit, Mich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ _____ ________________
Chestnut___________ ________ ___
Bituminous ...........................................
Fall River, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.. ..................... ..........................
Chestnut_______________________
Houston, Tex.:
Bituminous. _______ _______________
Indianapolis, Ind.:
Bituminous ______________________
Jacksonville, Fla.:
Bituminous. _____________________
Kansas City, Mo.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Furnace._______________________
Stove No. 4 . . __________ ______
Bituminous___________________ ____
Little Rock, Ark.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Egg _________ _____ ________ ___
Bituminous. _____________________
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bituminous ______________________
Louisville, Ky.:
Bituminous. ______________________
Manchester, N. H.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove . ________________________
Chestnut___________ ___________
Memphis, Tenn.:
Bituminous________ ________________
Milwaukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove___________________________
Chestnut_______________________
Bituminous. ______________________
Minneapolis, Minn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e__________________________
Chestnut_______________________
Bituminous________________________
Mobile, Ala.:
Bituminous_________________________
Newark, N. J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove___________________________
Chestnut_______________________
New Haven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ ______________________
Chestnut_______________________
New Orleans, La.:
B itu m in o u s _____ _____ . ________
New York, N. Y .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove___________________________
Chestnut_______________________
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e_______ __________________
Chestnut_______________________
Bituminous________________________
Nov. 15
Oct. 15
Nov. 15
$9.16
$7.22
$7.24
$8.25
$7.21
16.00
13.22
15. 33
12. 71
15. 50
12. 70
8. 88
8. 50
5. 25
9. 00
8. 50
4. 88
16.00
16. 50
10.78
16.10
16.10
10.42
16.10
16.10
10. 61
8. 00 .
8. 25
5. 20
7.45
7.65
5.20
16.17
15.83
11.61
16.00
15.50
9.38
16. 00
15. 50
9.35
8. 25
8. 25
7.43
7.61
16. 75
16. 25
16. 75
16. 25
16. 75
16. 25
13.00
12.10
12.20
3.81
3.70
8.34
7.45
7.35
7.50
7.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
4. 39
3. 94
14. 50
15.83
7.91
14.00
15.33
7.75
14.10
15.33
7.81
6.00
5. 33
14. 00
10.80
13.50
11.80
13.50
10.43
13. 52
12. 50
16.06
16. 50
16.50
4.20
4.00
9.19
7.50
7.50
10. 00
10.00
8. 50
8. 50
17.50
17.50
17. 50
17.25
17. 50
17.25
2 4. 34
2 4.22
8.46
8.26
8.30
8.00
8. 25
6.25
7.85
8.10
5. 71
16.80
16. 65
11.38
16. 65
16.20
9.47
16. 65
16.20
9. 51
9. 25
9. 50
5.89
9.05
9. 30
5. 79
18.10
17.95
11.66
18.15
17.70
11. 69
18.15
17.70
11. 81
9.92
9.29
9. 46
6. 50
6. 75
6. 25
6. 50
14.00
13.50
14.00
13. 50
14.00
13.50
7.50
7.50
6. 25
6. 25
15.35
15.35
15.05
15.05
15.10
15.10
J 6.06
>6.06
10.79
10.29
10.29
7.07
7.14
6.66
6.80
14.75
14. 50
14. 38
14.08
14.75
14.46
16.00
16.00
10. 39
15.00
. 15.00
9.07
15.00
15.00
9.07
i Per 10-barrel lot (1,800 pounds).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
July 15
[ 181]
182
T
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
1 . — AVERAG E R E T A IL PR IC ES OF COAL P E R TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSE
HOLD USE, ON JA N U A R Y 15 AND JU L Y 15, 1913, N O V EM B ER 15, 1926, AND OCTOBER 15
AND N O V EM BER 15, 1927—Continued
able
1913
1926
1927
City, and kind of coal
J a n .15
Omaha, Nebr.:
Bituminous....................
...
Peoria, 111.:
Bituminous___________. . . . . _________
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.._________________________
Chestnut____________ _____ ;_____
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Chestnut....................... ........................
Bituminous..............................................
Portland, Me.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove,............................... .
Chestnut.......... ........................
Portland, Oreg.:
Bituminous.._________ ___________
Providence, R. I . :
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove...........................................
Chestnut........ .......................
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........... ....................
Chestnut_________ ________
Bituminous................................... . _
Rochester, N. Y . :
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____________ _________ . .
C hestnut..._____ ________
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e..._________
Chestnut_____________
Bituminous_____ ______ ______
St. Paul, Minn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove___________ _______
Chestnut______
Bituminous........................
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 mixed__________
Stove, 3 and 5 mixed.......... ......... ...
Bituminous.................
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg........................
Colorado anthracite—
Egg.........................................................
Bituminous.........................................
Savannah, Ga.:
Bituminous..........................................
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove....................................................
Chestnut_______________ _______
Seattle, Wash.:
Bituminous.........................................
Springfield, 111.:
Bituminous________________________
Washington, D. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.....................................................
Chestnut__________ _________ „
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes, low volatile_______
Prepared sizes, high volatile.......... .
Run of mine, mixed.........................
$6. 63
July 15
$6.13
Nov. 15
Oct. 15
Nov. 15
$10. 29
$10. 52
$10.21
7. 46
7.13
7.16
1 7. 16
i 7. 38
16.89
i 7.14
1 15. 79
1 15. 54
i 15. 04
» 14. 54
»15.04
114.54
1 8. 00
3 3. 16
1 7. 44
3 3. 18
15. 38
7.23
14.88
5. 76
14.88
5.69
16. 80
16.80
16. 80
16. 80
16 80
16.68
•
9. 79
9. 66
13.46
13. 33
13.52
‘ 8. 25
* 8. 25
« 7. 50
* 7. 75
* 16. 50
* 16. 50
3 16. 25
* 16.00
« 16.25
< 15.94
8.00
8. 00
5.50
7.25
7. 25
4.94
16. 67
16. 67
11.91
15.50
15. 50
9. 68
15.50
15.50
9.68
14. 60
14.15
14.60
14.15
14 60
14.15
8.44
8. 68
3. 36
7. 74
7.99
3.04
17.33
17. 08
7.19
16.90
16.50
7.41
16.90
16.45
7.29
9.20
9. 45
6.07
9.05
9. 30
6.04
18.10
17. 95
12.00
18.15
17. 70
11.96
18.15
17.70
11.98
11.00
11.00
5.64
11. 50
11. 50
5. 46
18.00
18.00
8. 46
18.00
18.00
8.34
18.00
18.00
8.34
17.00
17.00
25. 50
25. 50
25. 50
17.00
12. 00
17.00
12.00
25.00
16.67
25.00
16.63
25.00
16.63
3 14. 25
5 11.13
' 11.25
4. 25
4. 50
4. 31
4. 56
11.00
10. 67
10.75
10.50
10. 75
10. 50
7.63
7.70
10. 42
10.02
10.06
4. 38
4. 44
4.44
1 15. 95
1 15. 59
1 15. 51
114.99
1 15. 51
1 14.99
1 13. 33
1 9. 50
!9. 06
1 11.08
1 9. 00
1 7. 88
l 11 08
1 q no
1 7.88
1 7.50
1 7. 65
1 7. 38
1 7. 53
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
3 Per 25-bushel lot (1,900 pounds).
* The average price of coal delivered in bin is 50 cents higher than here shown. Practically all coal is
delivered in bin.
* All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
This additional charge has been included in the above price.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 182 ]
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
183
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in November, 1927
SLIGH T reaction from the recent upward movement of whole
sale prices is shown for November by information collected in
representative markets by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
the United States Department of Labor. The bureau’s revised index
number, computed on prices in the year 1926 as the base and includ
ing 550 commodities or price series, stands at 96.7 for November as
compared with 97.0 for the month before, a decline of nearly onethird of 1 per cent. Compared with November, 1926, with an index
number of 98.4, a decrease of \% per cent is shown.
Farm products again showed a slight decline from the preceding
month, due mainly to decreases in corn, hogs, lambs, calves, cows,
cotton, peanuts, and onions. Beef steers, eggs, and wool, on the
other hand, averaged higher than in the preceding month.
Foodstuffs rose slightly in price, with minor increases reported also
for hides and leather products, chemicals and drugs, and house
furnishing goods. No change in the general price level is shown for
the group of miscellaneous commodities, while small decreases took
place among textile products, fuel and lighting materials, metal
products, and building materials.
Of the 550 commodities or price series for -which comparable infor
mation for October and November was collected, increases were
shown in 157 instances and decreases in 154 instances. In 239
instances no change in price was reported.
A
TR EN D OF WHOLESALE PR ICES.
JAM. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT MOV. DEC.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 8 3 ]
184
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
Comparing prices in November with those of a year ago, as meas
ured by changes in the index numbers, it is seen that farm products
and hides and leather products were considerably higher, while foods
and textile products were slightly higher. Decreases are shown for
all other groups of commodities, ranging from less than one-fourth of
1 per cent in the case of house-furnishing goods to 9% per cent in the
case of building materials, and over 19 per cent in the case of fuel and
lighting.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O LESA LE PR IC ES B Y GROUPS AND SUBGROUPS OF
COM M ODITIES
[1926=100]
1927
Novem
ber,
1926
Group and subgroup
Farm products............... ....... ..............................................................
G r a in s ..__
.
____ _
Livestock and poultry....................... ............................................
Other farm products........................... ................ ...........................
Foods______ _____ _____ _____
Butter, cheese, and m ilk .. ______________ _____ _______
Meats___ ______ ________
Other foods__________________ .
Hides and leather products............. ...........................
Hides and skins__________________________________
Leather...................................
Boots and shoes.. _______ ____
Other leather products.............................................
Textile products................. .........
Cotton goods........... ..........................
Silkandrayon........ ....... .....................
Woolen and worsted goods____ _
Other textile products_______
Fuel and lighting. ______ ____
Anthracite c o a l.________
Bituminous coal__________
C o k e .._____ _ .
Manufactured gas_____;___ _
Petroleum products............ .......... _
Metals and metal products...... ......... _
Iron and steel...... .....................
Nonferrous metals. .
Agricultural implements_______________
Automobiles..............................
Other metal products________ _______
Building materials_______________ _________
Lu m b er_________
Brick. ______
Cement___
Structural steel.....................
Paint materials_____________
Other building materials_____________ .
Chemicals and drugs.................
Chemicals____ _________
Drugs and pharmaceuticals__________
Fertilizer materials__________________
Fertilizers____________
House-furnishing goods.............................
Furniture_______
Furnishings. ..................... ..............................
Miscellaneous________
Cattle feed_______________________
Paper and pulp. ................ .. ..................
R u b b er....................
Automobile tires_____________
Other miscellaneous........................
All commodities___________ _______
98.4
1 Data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
94. 7
93.6
93. 3
96. 2
100. 5
104. 5
99. 0
99. 9
100. 4
103. 2
99. 4
99. 8
100. 0
96. 3
95.4
94 7
98. 5
98.1
102. 5
98 8
116. 8
106. 2
99. 0
94.1
100. 8
100.2
98. 8
100 0
102.3
99 4
100.1
100.2
97.5
99.4
102. 1
100.5
100.6
98.6
97.9
101.0
98.0
100.0
99.1
99.5
98 9
9o! 8
97.6
92. 1
82.0
83.6
99.6
[1 8 4 ]
October
Pur
chasing
power
of
Novem the 1926
ber
dollar in
Novem
ber
105.0
104.3
105.5
106.7
100.0
107.2
100.0
97.2
113. 0
128.0
116.5
105.6
108.9
98.4
106.0
85.4
98.0
95.7
83.8
96.0
99.6
93.9
97.5
67.5
97.1
94.0
89.9
100.8
108. 3
102.2
100.7
91.6
91.2
93.3
96.5
91.9
87.0
91.7
97.1
101.8
86.2
94.1
108.3
100.9
99.1
114.3
131.6
117.1
106.3
109.2
97.5
104.6
83.6
98.1
97.8
92.7
«
66.6
97.0
90.3
100.7
90.2
89.2
89.4
97.4
85.2
94.9
92 9
98.9
98.5
97.0
99.4
oo. O
116.7
91.6
91.3
74.9
99.9
71.2
99. 1
88.3
Cents
95. 9
100. 4
QQ z
9
yy.
09 o
9
bZ.
O
Qo
K
yo.
92.3
99. 1
ion. o
iuu
y
87.5
76.0
QK A
94.1
91.6
109
A
1U
Z, o
O
KA
yo.
o
A
i1io
Ly. o
101.9
inn
n
IZU. ()
109 9
102. 2
10<. 9
RO 9
109
1UO. 11
107 u
O
1U/.
1IO 7
101 11
±UI.
Q7
ft
y/. o
QQ o
9
yy.
110. 9
119 1
liZ.
lO
Go
K
iuy.
109
A
lU
O. O
111 9
i on o
a
iuy.
109
1U
Z. 7/
Q
7
ft
vi. o
117.4
1JL
0K
UO.■*A
107 O
A
1U/.
101
lUi. 1I
109 y
O
iuz.
1IU
oo
o
U. u
113.3
81. 7
lOQ oK
j.uy.
128. 5
11-xU.
4.0 A
100.9
103 1
M O NTHLY
LABO R
185
R E V IE W
Sources and Frequency of Price Quotations Used in Constructing
Revised index Numbers of Wholesale Prices
l”T “,HE annual bulletin on wholesale prices published by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics contains a statement showing the sources
of the latest price quotations used in the preparation of the
report, together with a tabulation showing whether prices are weekly,
monthly, or averages for the month. To meet the demand for this
information in advance of the appearance of the next annual bulletin,
there is presented herewith such a statement for the 550 commodities
or price series included in the revised series of index numbers recently
computed by the bureau. There are certain duplications in the
figures shown in this statement, due to the inclusion of some commod
ities in two different groups. Duplications have been omitted, how
ever, from the last column of the table.
T a b l e 1 . — SOURCES OF PR IC E QUOTATIONS
Source
Standard trade journals_______________
Manufacturers or sales
agents........... ..............
Boards of trade, associations, etc_______
Federal or State bureaus..........................
Total__________
Hides
and
Farm
prod Foods leath
er
ucts
prod
ucts
All com
modities
Tex
tile
prod
ucts
Fuel Metals
Chem Housefurand Build
and
icals nishing
light metal
mate
and
prod
ing
ing ucts
rials drugs goods
52
91
14
12
16
36
35
71
4
14
26
57
7
36
19
6
7
11
4
5
67
i 121
38
Miscellane- With With
ous dupli out
ca dupli
tions ca
tions
13
340
314
12
219
205
27
23
3
6
1
40
75
23
73
3 57
3 77
4 38
25
10
8
596
550
1 Includes 22 commodities classified also with farm products.
3 Includes 10 commodities classified also with metals and metal products.
3 Includes 4 commodities classified also with foods.
4 Includes 5 commodities classified also with textile products and 5 commodities classified also with metals
and metal products.
T a b l e 2 . — FR E Q U E N C Y OF PR IC E QUOTATIONS
F req u en cy
Hides
and
Farm
prod Foods leath
er
ucts
prod
ucts
All com
modities
Tex
tile
prod
ucts
Fuel Metals
Chem Houseand Build
furand
ing
icals
light metal mate and nishprod
ing
ing
rials drugs goods
ucts
Weekly...........................
Biweekly____________
Monthly____________
Average for month___
56
105
8
19
1
4
6
6
10
5
27
4
52
1
37
Total....................
67
i 121
40
75
23
73
22
34
23
2
12
71
13
351
14
6
38
1
h
34
202
324
9
32
185
3 57
3 77
4 38
25
596
550
s
1 Includes
3 Includes
3 Includes
4 Includes
Miscellane- With With
ous dupli out
ca dupli
tions ca
tions
9
22 commodities classified also with farm products.
10 commodities classified also with metals and metal products.
4 commodities classified also with foods.
5 commodities classified also with textile products and 5 commodities classified also with
metals and metal products.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 8 5 ]
186
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
Comparison of Retail-Price Changes in the United States and
in Foreign Countries
T
HE principal index numbers of retail prices published by foreign
countries have been brought together with those of this bureau
in the subjoined table after having been reduced in most cases
to a common base, namely, prices for July, 1914, equal 100. This
base was selected instead of the average for the year 1913, which
is used in other tables of index numbers of retail prices compiled by
the bureau, because of the fact that in numerous instances satisfac
tory information for 1913 was not available. Some of the countries
shown in the table now publish index numbers of retail prices on the
July, 1914, base. In such cases, therefore, the index numbers are
reproduced as published. For other countries the index numbers here
shown 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 published in the original sources. As stated in the
table, the number of articles included in the index numbers for the
different countries differs widely. These results, which are designed
merely to show price trends and not actual differences in the several
countries, should not, therefore, be considered as closely comparable
with one another. In certain instances, also, the figures are not
absolutely comparable from month to month over the entire period,
owing to slight changes in the list of commodities and the localities
included on successive dates.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 186]
C O M P A R IS O N
O F R E T A IL -P R IC E
187
CH A N G ES
IN D E X N U M BERS OF R E T A IL PR IC ES IN T H E U N IT ED STATES AND IN OTHER
COUNTRIES
Country-..
United
States
Canada
Belgium
Czecho
slovakia
Den
mark
Finland
France
(except
Paris)
France
(Paris)
Germany
Number of.
localities.
51
60
59
Entire
country
100
21
320
1
71
29 foods
Foods
36 foods
13 (11
foods)
13 (11
foods)
Foods
Commodi
ties in 43 foods
cluded...
(foods,
29 foods 56 etc.)
Govern
C o m p u t Bureau Depart Ministry
Central
ment
ing agen of Labor ment of of Indus Office of Statis- Bureau of Ministry Ministry
Statistics
try and
cy—
Statistics of Labor of Labor
cal
De
Statistics Labor
Labor
partment
Base=100__ July, 1914 July, 1914
April,
1914
Federal
Statis
tical
Bureau
January- August, July, 1914 October,
July, 1914 July, 1914 June,
19131914
1914
July, 1914
Year and
month
1923
Jan . . . .
Feb______
Mar........
Apr______
May...........
June_____
J u ly ..........
Aug . . .
Sept .
Oct
Nov______
Dec. ____
1924
J a n ______
Feb............
Mar______
Apr__ ___
May_____
June...........
July______
Aug.......... .
S e p t_____
Oct _____
Nov______
Dec______
1925
Jan .
Feb
Mar
Apr...........
M ay ..........
June
July............
Aug______
Sept
Oct
Nov______
Dec
1926
Jan
Feb______
Mar
Apr
__
M ay__
June_____
July.
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov. .
Dec
1927
Jan______
Feb
Apr.............
May_____
July______
Aug
Sept_____
141
139
139
140
140
141
144
143
146
147
148
147
142
142
145
143
140
138
137
142
141
144
144
145
383
397
408
409
413
419
429
439
453
458
463
470
146
144
141
138
138
139
140
141
144
145
147
148
145
145
143
137
133
133
134
137
139
139
141
143
480
495
510
498
485
492
493
498
503
513
520
521
836
838
830
829
825
833
837
842
853
877
889
891
151
148
148
148
148
152
156
157
156
158
164
162
145
147
145
142
141
141
141
146
146
147
151
156
521
517
511
506
502
505
509
517
525
533
534
534
899
911
904
901
894
914
916
894
884
875
863
866
161
158
156
159
158
156
154
152
155
157
158
158
157
155
154
153
152
149
149
150
147
147
148
151
527
526
521
529
558
579
637
681
684
705
730
741
854
845
832
832
837
861
876
878
878
888
902
912
177
156
153
150
150
152
155
150
149
151
153
151
149
146
145
146
147
147
146
755
770
771
774
776
785
790
787
794
914
914
915
923
931
949
962
919
910
156
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 2 8 ------ 13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
180
188
[1 8 7 ]
194
200
215
210
159
152
153
1108
1103
1096
1047
1016
1004
1003
1087
1103
1140
1133
1112 .
1089
1070
1067
1035
1037
1040
1052
1125
1125
1156
1160
1160
1130
1120
1152
1137
1097
1101
1145
1222
1187
1165
1164
1138
1090
1106
1100
1085
1078
1090
1105
1153
1137
1126
1114
1110
1092
1095
1086
1069
1058
1072
1102
1159
1146
331
337
349
373
400
393
400
426
440
434
451
471
503
523
610
647
_____
586
572
553
309
316
321
320
325
331
321
328
339
349
355
365
376
384
392
380
378
370
360
366
374
383
396
404
127
117
120
123
126
120
126
122
125
134
135
135
408
410
415
409
418
422
421
423
431
433
444
463
137
145
146
144
141
146
154
154
153
151
147
146
480
495
497
503
522
544
574
587
590
624
628
599
143
142
141
142
142
143
145
146
145
145
148
150
592
585
581
580
589
580
557
539
532
151
152
151
150
151
153
157
150
151
188
M O NTHLY
L A B OH R E V I E W
IN D E X N U M B E R S OP R E T A IL P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT ED STA T ES AND IN O TH ER
CO U N TR IES—C ontinued
Country..
Italy
Number of
localities.
47
foods
Commodi 20and
ties inchar
■eluded. .
coal
United
Nether Norway Sweden Switzer King
land
lands
dom
Base=100.
1913
India
(Bom
bay)
Aus
tralia
New
Zea
land
9
1
30
25
6
31
49
33
29 (27
foods)
Foods
50 (43
foods, 7
fuel and
light)
Foods
21 foods 24 foods 17 foods
46 foods
and
59 foods
groceries
Social
Board
Labor
Office
(re
vised)
Office
Ministry of Cen
sus and
of
Statis
Labor
tics
Labor
Office
(re
vised)
Bureau
of Cen
sus and
Statis
tics
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
Ministry Central! Central
Comput
of Na Bureau Bureau
ing
tional
Sta of Sta
agency.. Econo of
tistics
tistics
my
J anuaryJune,
1914
July,
1914
630
South
Africa
July,
1914
1914
Year and
month
1923
Jan _..........
Feb______
M ar_____
Apr. ____
M ay_____
June. ___
July...........
Aug-------Sept_____
O c t . . ___
Nov_____
Dec_____
1924
Jan ..........
Feb_____
M ar_____
A p r _____
M ay_____
June ___
Ju ly-------Aug-------Sept_____
Oct______
N ov____
Dec______
1925
Jan ______
Feb_____
Mar _ ___
A p r _____
M ay_____
June..........
Ju ly-------Aug-------Sept. ___
Oct............
Nov...........
Dec...........
1926
Jan ______
Feb______
M ar_____
Apr______
M ay_____
June ___
July_____
Aug--------Sept_____
Oct______
Nov..........
Dec-..........
1927
Jan ............
Feb______
M ar_____
Apr______
M ay------June_____
July_____
Aug-------Sept_____
542
527
524
530
535
532
518
512
514
517
526
528
148
149
149
149
147
145
145
143
142
145
149
149
214
214
214
212
214
213
218
220
218
217
221
226
166
165
166
163
161
161
160
161
165
165
164
164
160
158
159
161
164
166
166
166
167
167
171
172
175
173
171
168
162
160
102
105
168
172
173
176
117
117
117
117
118
118
116
115
115
117
120
118
151
150
149
150
148
146
148
149
149
147
147
152
145
144
145
152
156
162
164
165
161
157
157
156
139
140
141
142
143
142
142
143
145
146
147
147
527
529
523
527
530
543
538
534
538
556
583
601
150
151
152
152
151
151
150
150
152
154
156
157
230
234
241
240
241
240
248
257
261
264
269
274
163
162
162
159
159
158
159
163
165
172
172
172
173
172
171
169
169
170
170
170
170
174
175
175
175
177
176
167
163
160
102
164
166
172
179
180
120
122
122
122
122
120
117
117
117
120
122
121
154
151
147
143
143
147
151
156
156
156
157
156
155
153
152
150
151
149
148
147
146
146
147
148
150
149
150
150
150
150
148
146
145
145
148
150
609
609
610
006
600
602
605
619
642
645
652
653
156
157
157
155
154
152
152
152
152
149
149
148
277
283
284
276
265
261
260
254
241
228
223
221
170
170
171
170
169
169
169
170
168
166
165
164
172
172
171
169
168
169
169
169
170
168
168
107
178
176
176
170
167
166
167
168
170
172
172
174
120
120
121
124
123
122
120
119
118
119
117
116
152
152
155
153
151
149
152
147
146
148
149
151
148
149
151
152
154
155
156
156
156
157
156
155
147
146
149
149
150
149
151
152
153
155
156
154
658
649
636
633
643
647
645
648
656
662
655
622
148
147
147
146
146
146
146
146
149
148
148
146
216
212
205
198
195
194
198
196
193
191
186
184
162
160
159
158
157
157
156
156
157
157
158
157
165
163
161
161
159
159
159
157
158
160
159
159
171
168
165
159
158
158
161
161
162
163
169
169
116
117
118
119
119
118
117
117
117
120
119
117
151
150
151
150
150
152
155
153
153
153
152
154
155
154
159
163
163
162
159
157
155
153
155
158
154
153
152
151
151
151
149
150
148
147
146
149
629
615
610
606
599
558
540
532
525
147
146
146
145
145
145
144
143
143
180
177
173
169
169
172
175
175
174
156
153
151
151
150
151
151
152
156
158
157
156
156
156
157
157
157
159
167
164
162
155
154
154
159
150
157
116
117
118
119
121
120
119
118
117
155
152
152
151
150
151
154
155
151
158
153
151
151
152
153
152
155
157
148
146
148
145
145
144
144
143
143
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 188 ]
COST OF LIVING
Study of Fam ily Budgets in Amsterdam, 1923-24 1
T
HE municipal statistical office of Amsterdam has recently com
pleted a cost-of-living study covering the period from October
1, 1923, to September 30, 1924, which was based on family
budgets for 212 families. The classes of families covered by the
investigation included those of officials, civil service employees,
commercial employees, teachers, and manual workers in the city
services and in private enterprises. There were 89 workers’ families
and 123 families of clerical workers and officials covered by the survey.
Complete records were kept for the entire year in all but 11 cases.
In these cases there was a break in the accounting for a short time
owing to some misfortune in the family such as sickness or death, but
as the data in these cases were complete except for this short period
they were included for the time for which the accounts were kept and
the income was given for the entire year.
The families were divided into six groups according to income,
ranging from those having an income of less than 1,800 florins 2 per
year to those having 7,500 florins and more. The lowest income
reported was 732 florins and the highest 19,231.44 florins. The total
number in the households at the beginning of the year was 922 persons,
and at the close 943. The size of the family was adjusted to a unit
of consumption equivalent to an adult male, and on this basis the
households averaged 3.6 units. The average for the 123 families
representing the higher salaried employees was 3.4, and for the 89
workers’ families 3.89 units. Servants were not included in comput
ing the number of units in the household, but the cost of food for
them was considered to be equivalent to 0.9 of a unit, or the food
requirement of an adult female.
The study showed, as in similar studies, that the proportion of the
income spent for food decreased in direct relation to increased income.
Thus, in the group of families having incomes of less than 1,800 florins
a year, the average proportion of the total expenditures which was
spent for food amounted to 46.3 per cent, while in the highest income
group only 15.9 per cent was spent for this item of the budget.
A classification of the incomes according to source shows that
salaries or wages are, of course, the principal source of revenue,
although as the wages or salaries increase a growing amount is derived
from returns on investments, while as the size of the family increases
there is a corresponding increase in the number of children who work
and whose earnings add to the total income. On the other hand, in
the small families the wife was more often employed than when the
family was large. In the families of salaried employees the earnings
of the husband represented 86.8 per cent of the total family income;
‘ Netherlands (Amsterdam), Bureau van Statistiek. Huishoudrekeningen van 212 gezinnen uit vers
chalende kringender bevolking (October 1, 1923-September 30, 1924). Amsterdam, 1927
2 Florin at par=40.2 cents; average exchange rate in 1924 was 38.2 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 S 9 ]
189
190
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
the earnings of the wife, 1.2 per cent, and the earnings of the children,
3.3 per cent, while 8.7 per cent of the income was derived from other
sources. In the workers’ families the earnings of the husband
amounted to 91.1 per cent of the total; of the wife, to 1.4 per cent; of
the children, to 4.2 per cent, and the income from other sources
amounted to only 3.3 per cent of the total income.
Considerable deficits were shown in the lower income groups. The
first group, which was made up entirely of workers’ families, had an
average income of 1,504.43 florins and an average expenditure of
1,673.98 florins. The following table shows the number of house
holds in which there was a deficit, calculated in percentages of the
total income:
T
able
1 .— NUM BER
OF W O R K ER S’ FA M ILIES HAVING A D E FIC IT , SHOWN AS P E R
C EN T OF TOTAL INCOME
Number of families having a deficit of—
Income group
Less than 1,800 florins........... ................ ...............
1,800 to 2,400 florins.................................................
1,400 to 3,600 florins______ _________________
per
Less
20 to 30 30
cent
than 2 2 to 5 5 to 10 10 to 20
per
and
per cent per cent per cent per cent cent
over
3
9
1
1
2
1
5
4
2
3
6
1
1
1
4
1
Total
fam
ilies
17
22
6
The total deficit in the 45 workers’ families amounted to 8,851.55
florins, or an average of 196.70 florins per family. The principal
causes of the arrears in this group were expenses incidental to sick
ness, birth, and death, moving, repayments of loans, and the payment
of back taxes. For all the groups of both classes combined there
were found to be larger deficits in families in which there were a
large number of children.
In _contrast to the 45 workers’ families which had a deficit, the
remaining 44 showed some surplus. This amounted to an average
of only 115.87 florins, however, and was found principally among
families in which the income was over 2,400 florins.
Table 2 shows the average incomes and expenditures for the
different income groups and the distribution of expenditures among
the different items of the budget, and Table 3 shows the percentage
distribution of total food cost in each class of households for the
different kinds of food.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[190]
F A M IL Y
T
BU D G ETS
IN
191
A M STERD A M
2 —AVERAGE INCOM E AND E X P E N D IT U R E OF 212 FA M ILIES IN AM STERDAM ,
AND P E R C EN T E X P E N D E D FO R D IF F E R E N T ITEM S OF T H E BU D G ET, B Y INCOM E
GROUP
able
[Florin at par=40.2 cents; average exchange rate in 1924 was 38.2 cents]
Households having a total annual income of—
Item
Under
1,800
florins
Average income (florins)................................. 1, 504. 43
Average expenditure (fibrins)....................... 1, 673. 98
Per cent expended for each item:
46.3
Food..................... .........................................
Rent................................ .............................
14.3
Heat and light..........................................
6.9
Clothing........ .............. ...............................
9.8
Furniture_______ ____ _______ ______
3.2
Taxes_______ ____ ________ ________ _
2.5
Sickness and insurance...........................
5.1
Trade-unions..............................................
2.2
Culture. ....................................................
1.6
A musements______ ____ ______ _____
2.6
Charity_____________ ________ ______
.5
.04
Assistance in the household_________
Miscellaneous.............................................
4.3
T
able
1,800 to
2,400
florins
2,400 to
3,600
florins
3,600 to
5,000
florins
5,000 ta
7,500
florins
7,500
florins
and over
2,105. 63
2, 099. 04
2,911.79
2, 875.85
4, 243. 23
4, 012. 78
6,153. 80
6,194. 05
11,486.53
10,104.24
40.4
12.9
6.2
11.0
4.6
4.5
5.3
2.5
2.4
4.6
.9
.5
3.6
36.0
11.1
5.1
12.7
5.5
7.0
4.7
1.4
2.8
5.4
.9
1.6
4.9
30.8
9.6
4.3
14.1
6.8
8.0
4.6
.9
3.5
6.9
1.5
3.7
4.6
23.2
8,9
3.4
14.1
5.1
13.9
4.6
.7
4.1
6.6
.3
8.6
5.6
15.9
9.1
3.2
12.7
5.3
19.3
3.7
.6
5.6
8.8
1.2
8.9
4.7
3 —P E R C E N T A G E D ISTRIBUTIO N OF TOTAL FOOD COST AMONG D IF F E R E N T
A R T IC L ES OF FOOD, B Y INCOM E GROUP
[Florin at par=40.2 cents; average exchange rate in 1924 was 38.2 cents]
Per cent expended for each article of food in households hav
ing an income of—
Item
Under
1,800
florins
1,800 to
2,400
florins
2,400 to
3,600
florins
3,600 to
5,000
florins
5,000 to
7,500
florins
7,500
florins
and over
Total, all
house
holds
Bread, biscuit, cake.____ _____
Pastries............................................
Flour_____ __________________
Milk................ ................. ...........
Cheese..................................... .......
Eggs _______________________
M e a t,.______________________
Fish_________________________
F a t s _______
Tea, coffee, cocoa.____ ________
Sugar.. _______________ __ . .
Other condiments____________
Potatoes ___________________
Vegetables___________________
Fruits........................................ .......
Drinks.............. ...............................
17.2
3.4
2.6
13.4
1. 7
2.2
13. 3
1. 7
13. 6
5.7
6. 3
.9
8. 7
5.8
2.9
.6
14.9
4. 3
2. 6
12. 5
2. 2
2. 4
15.1
2.2
14.3
5.0
5.9
1.1
6. 6
5. 4
3.9
1.6
13.4
4. 6
2. 3
12. 6
2. 5
2. 8
16. 0
2.3
13. 8
4.4
5. 7
1.4
6. 2
5.4
4. 0
2.6
14.0
5. 9
2. 4
10. 9
2. 6
2. 9
16. 3
2.3
13. 4
4. 0
5. 8
1.4
5. 8
5. 0
4. 9
2.4
9. 4
6. 3
1. 3
11. 7
3.4
3. 9
19. 6
2.1
12.1
3. 3
4. 2
1. 8
4.1
5. 2
5. 9
5.7
7. 5
6. 2
1.7
10. 6
2. 2
4.1
20. 5
2. 9
12.1
3. 3
3. 5
3. 2
3. 2
6. 8
6. 8
5.4
13.5
4 8
2.4
12.3
2 4
2.8
16.1
2 3
13.6
4.5
6.6
1.4
6.1
5.4
4.3
2.5
T o ta l__________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[191]
LABOR AWARDS AND DECISIONS
Awards and Decisions
Ferry boat m en— California Railway Lines
A
WAGE dispute between the Ferryboatmen’s Union of Cali
fornia and various railroad lines centering at San Francisco—
viz, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, Northwestern Pacific,
Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific Railroad Cos., was settled by
an award of a board of arbitration consisting of Charles D. Marx,
W. R. K. Young, Louis Bloch, James L. Dunn, F. L. Burckhalter,
and J. A. Christie, October 31, 1927, and reads as follows:
R ule 2. P a s s e n g e r a n d c a r fe r rie s a n d t u g s to w in g c a r f l o a t s : F ir e m e n , $146.35
p e r m o n th ; d e c k h a n d s , $139.40 p e r m o n th ; c a b in w a tc h m e n , $139.40 p e r m o n th ;
n ig h t w a tc h m e n , $ 1 2 0 p e r m o n t h ; m a ti’o n s , $ 8 5 p e r m o n th .
F i r e b o a t s : F ir e m e n , $ 9 7 .5 7 p e r m o n t h ; d e c k h a n d s , $ 9 2 .9 4 p e r m o n th .
R ule 6. A ssig n e d c re w s w ill w o rk o n the b a s is of 8 hours or less on wTatch each
d a y f o r s ix c o n s e c u tiv e d a y s .
E x c e p tio n s :
(1 ) O n b o a ts w ith t w o c r e w s , w a tc h e s m a y b e s e p a r a t e d b y a n i n t e r v a l of t im e .
(2 )
E x t r a c r e w s m a y b e u se d o n a n y d a y i t is fo u n d n e c e s s a r y t o o p e r a te o n e
o r tw o c r e w e d b o a t s b e y o n d a s s ig n e d h o u rs o f r e g u la r c r e w s .
(3 )
W h e re th r e e c r e w s a r e u s e d , w a tc h e s m a y b e a s lo n g a s 8 h o u rs a n d 4 0
m in u te s , p ro v id e d t h e c o m b in e d w a tc h e s d o n o t e x c e e d 1 6 h o u rs a n d n o c re w
w o rk s o v e r 4 8 h o u rs in s ix c o n s e c u t i v e d a y s .
(4 )
W h e re tw o c re w s a r e u s e d , w a tc h e s m a y b e a s lo n g a s 8 h o u rs a n d 4 0
m in u te s , p ro v id e d t h e c o m b in e d w a tc h e s d o n o t e x c e e d 1 6 h o u rs a n d n o c re w
w o rk s o v e r 4 8 h o u rs in s ix c o n s e c u tiv e d a y s .
(5 )
O n b o a t s o p e r a tin g o u t of V a lle jo J u n c t i o n c r e w s m a y b e a s s ig n e d 1 2 h o u rs
p e r d a y a n d n o t t o e x c e e d 4 8 h o u rs p e r w e e k .
(6 )
O n o n e a n d tw o c r e w e d tu g s to w in g c a r flo a ts c re w s m a y b e w o rk e d not to
e x c e e d 9 h o u rs a n d 2 0 m in u te s p e r w a tc h .
(7 )
O n t h r e e -c r e w e d tu g s to w in g c a r f lo a ts a n d c a r fe r rie s , e x c e p t o n C a r q u in e z
S t r a i t s , c r e w s m a y b e a s s ig n e d 1 2 h o u rs o n w a t c h w ith 2 4 h o u rs off w a tc h , p r o
v id e d s u c h a s s ig n e d w a tc h e s a v e r a g e 4 8 h o u rs p e r w e ek w ith in t h e t im e re q u ir e d
t o b rin g i t a b o u t .
(8 )
O n fire b o a ts c re w s w ill w o rk 2 4 h o u rs on a n d th e n 2 4 h o u rs off w ith o u t
p a y f o r t im e off.
(9 )
L im it a n y w h e r e p ro v id e d o n le n g th of w a tc h e s d o e s n o t a p p ly in e m e r
g e n c y o r w h e n n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e e x t r a t r i p s t o h a n d le h e a v y volume of tra f fic
w h ic h c a n n o t b e h a n d le d o n s c h e d u le t r i p s .
(1 0 )
W a t c h e s on th r e e -c r e w e d b o a t s s h a ll n o t b eg in o r t e r m i n a t e b e tw e e n 1
a. m . and 6 a . m .
(1 1 )
E m p lo y e e s re q u ir e d t o o p e r a te b o a t s t o a n d f r o m y a r d s h a ll b e p a id r e g u la r
ru n r a t e s .
(1 2 )
N ig h t w a tc h m e n m a y b e a s s ig n e d o n 1 2 - h o u r w a tc h e s f o u r d a y s p e r w eek .
R u l e 8 . T h e m o n th l y s a l a r y n o w p a id t h e e m p lo y e e s c o v e r e d b y th is a g r e e
m e n t s h a ll c o v e r t h e p r e s e n t r e c o g n iz e d s t r a i g h t -t i m e a s s i g n m e n t / A ll s e r v ic e
h o u ra g e in e x c e s s o f t h e p r e s e n t re c o g n iz e d s t r a i g h t -t i m e a s s ig n m e n t s h a ll b e p a id
f o r in a d d itio n t o t h e m o n th l y s a l a r y a t t h e p r o r a t a r a t e .
A dissenting opinion was filed by the last-named two arbitrators,
representing the railroad, from which the following extracts are taken:
T h e i n c r e a s e in p a y , t o g e t h e r w ith c h a n g e s in H ours o f s e r v i c e , a s p r o v id e d fo r
b y t h e m a j o r i t y a w a r d , w ill e x c e e d $ 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 p e r y e a r , a la r g e p o r tio n of w h ich
m u s t fa ll u p o n s e r v ic e t h a t is a l r e a d y b e in g o p e r a te d a t a lo ss.
I t is c o m m o n
k n o w le d g e t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l b u r d e n o f o p e r a tin g c o s t a d d e d t o a n y c la s s of s e r v
ice m u s t s o o n e r o r l a t e r fa ll u p o n th e p u b h c , e i th e r in in c r e a s e d r a t e s o r in r e d u c e d
s e r v ic e , o r b o th .
192
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 9 2 ]
AWARDS AND DECISIONS— RAILROADS
193
T h e p r e s e n t w a g e r a t e s of th e e m p lo y e e s in v o lv e d w e re fix e d b y t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s R a i lr o a d L a b o r B o a r d a s of D e c e m b e r 1 , 1 9 2 3 , s in c e w h ic h d a te th e r e
h a s b e e n n o c h a n g e in t h e c o s t of liv in g o r o th e r c o n tr o llin g c o n d itio n s s u c h a s
w o u ld j u s t i f y t h e e x c e s s iv e i n c r e a s e s h e re a llo w e d .
T h e c o s t of liv in g n o w c lo s e ly
a p p r o x i m a t e s t h a t w h ic h p re v a ile d a t t h e t im e t h e p r e s e n t w a g e r a t e s w e re
e s ta b lis h e d , a n d f o r s o m e t im e p a s t t h e t r e n d h a s b e e n d o w n w a r d .
N o e v id e n c e is n o w p r e s e n te d t h a t , in o u r j u d g m e n t, w a r r a n t s t h e e lim in a tio n
of t h e ‘ ‘ 1 2 h o u rs o n a n d 2 4 h o u rs o f f ” a s s ig n m e n ts in p a s s e n g e r s e r v ic e a n d th e
o th e r c h a n g e s in f r e ig h t s e r v ic e p r o v id e d f o r b y t h e m a j o r i t y a w a r d .
M o n e y is c o n s t a n t l y re q u ir e d f o r e x p a n s io n o f s e r v ic e a n d a d d i ti o n a l e q u ip
m e n t ; a d d itio n a l a n d u n n e c e s s a r y o p e r a tin g c o s t s c a n n o t fa il t o h a m p e r o r
p r e v e n t t h e s e c u r in g o f s u c h fu n d s .
T h e n e c e s s a r y l im it a t io n s o f th is d is s e n t fo r b id a n a n a ly s is of t h e v o lu m in o u s
t e s ti m o n y a n d e x h ib it s ; w e m u s t th e r e f o r e b e c o n t e n t w ith e x p r e s s in g o u r c o n
v ic tio n t h a t th e r e is n o j u s tif ic a tio n th e r e in f o r t h e m a j o r i t y a w a r d .
Railroads— Decisions of T rain Service Boards of A djustm ent
Eastern Region
IN D O CKET No. 378, dated November 28, 1927, the Train Service
Board of Adjustment for the Eastern Region disposed of a case
involving the engineers, firemen, conductors, and trainmen with the
New York Central Railroad-Ohio Central Lines. The facts in the
case are as follows:
D u r in g t h e e a r l y p a r t o f M a r c h , 1 9 2 6 , th e m a n a g e m e n t c o n t r a c t e d w ith th e
W a ls h C o n s tr u c t i o n C o . t o p e rfo r m c o n s tr u c tio n w o rk w h ich c o n s is te d in e x t e n d
in g s o m e 1 5 p a s s in g t r a c k s b e tw e e n R id g e w a y a n d T o le d o a n d t h e b u ild in g of a
n e w y a r d a t T o le d o a lo n g t h e s id e of o th e r y a r d s a n d a ls o a d d in g n ew t r a c k s
a lo n g t h e ru n n in g t r a c k le a d in g t o t h e d o c k t r a c k s .
I n e x te n d in g t h e p a s s in g tr a c k s o n t h e w e s te r n d iv is io n b e tw e e n R id g e w a y a n d
T o le d o , a d is ta n c e of 8 0 m ile s, c u ts w e re m a d e o n t h e hill n o r th of K e n t o n a n d
a ls o a t N o r t h F in d la y a n d t h e d ir t h a u le d in b o th d ir e c tio n s t o th e p a s s in g t r a c k s
t h a t w e re b e in g le n g th e n e d , f o r fillin g -in p u rp o s e s , a n d th is d i r t w a s h a n d le d
o v e r t h e m a in t r a c k f o r d is ta n c e s u p t o 2 5 m ile s s t r a i g h t a w a y .
I n b u ild in g t h e n e w y a r d a t T o le d o t h e s la g f o r filling w a s d e liv e re d t o T o le d o
y a r d s b y r o a d c re w s , a n d t h e W a ls h c o n s tr u c tio n c r e w s w o u ld g o in to t h e y a r d s
a n d g e t t h e m a t e r ia l a n d a t tim e s a c t u a l l y s w itc h t h e m a t e r ia l o u t of s to r a g e
t r a c k s w h e re o t h e r c a r s w e re s to r e d a n d t a k e t o t h e n e w y a r d s a d is ta n c e of f r o m
1 to
m ile s o v e r y a r d tr a c k s .
I n b u ild in g t h e t r a c k s le a d in g t o t h e d o c k y a r d s th e d ir t f o r filling w a s h a u le d
f r o m a p o in t w e s t o f M o lin e , a d is ta n c e of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 m ile s, u sin g a t tim e s
b o th m a in t r a c k a n d y a r d ru n n in g t r a c k s .
O n M a r c h 1 3 b u lle tin s w e re p o s te d a t T o le d o a n d C o lu m b u s f o r c o n d u c to r s fo r
p ilo ts f o r t h e W a ls h C o n s tr u c tio n C o . cre w s .
T w o c r e w s w e re used, o n th e
w e s te r n d iv isio n a n d f r o m o n e t o fiv e c re w s w e re u se d in T o le d o y a r d w o rk .
The committee contended that this action violated several articles
in the various agreements with the employees named.
The carrier in stating its position in the matter said that the various
rules quoted and referred to “ cover only the regular operation and
maintenance of the railroad” and “ come into play only when service
is performed by the railroad company. They contain no obligation
upon the railroad company to man construction trains with railroad
employees.”
T h e m a n a g e m e n t h a s t a k e n th e p o s itio n t h a t t h e w o rk r e f e rr e d t o w a s h e a v y
c o n s tr u c t i o n , c h a r g e a b le t o c a p it a l a c c o u n t , a n d w a s e n tir e ly fo re ig n t o t h e o rd i
n a r y o p e r a tio n a n d m a in te n a n c e w o rk w h ich is c o v e r e d b y t h e a g r e e m e n ts .
It
w a s n e c e s s a r y t o p ro v id e th e s e n e w fa c ilitie s a t t h e e a r lie s t p os sib le d a t e in o r d e r
t o e x p e d ite t h e h a n d lin g of a n ti c i p a t e d h e a v y m o v e m e n t o f c o a l f o r la k e s h ip m e n t,
a n d a s o u r r e g u la r m a in te n a n c e fo r c e s a r e n o t e q u ip p e d t o u n d e r ta k e s u c h a
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
la rg e a m o u n t of n ew c o n s tr u c tio n , i t w a s n e c e s s a ry t o s e c u re t h e s e r v ic e s of a
c o n s tr u c t i o n c o m p a n y w ith t h e n e c e s s a r y o rg a n iz a tio n , e q u ip m e n t, a n d p e rs o n n e l
t o d o t h e w o rk a n d c a r r y i t t o a p r o m p t c o m p le tio n .
T h is w a s in t h e in t e r e s t
of e ffic ie n t a n d e c o n o m ic a l o p e r a tio n .
C o n t r a c to r s w h o m a k e c o n t r a c t s f o r a
p ie c e of w o rk in clu d e in t h e c o s t t h e u se of t h e ir e q u ip m e n t a n d p e rs o n n e l, a n d
if t h e s e c a n n o t b e u se d , a c a r r y i n g c h a r g e fo r s u c h e q u ip m e n t a n d p e rs o n n e l
m u s t b e a d d e d t o th e c o s t of th e w o rk , th e r e b y in c r e a s in g t h e e x p e n s e t o th e
r a ilr o a d .
T h e p r e s e n t c a s e a p p e a r s t o b e a n a t t e m p t t o s e c u re a n ew ru le , a p p a r e n t ly
p r o m p te d b y d is p u te s w h ich h a v e a ris e n o n o th e r r a ilro a d s a n d g iv e n p u b lic ity
th r o u g h d e cisio n s o f t h e R a i lr o a d L a b o r B o a r d .
The decision of the board, in part, was as follows:
T h e p r e s e n t p r a c t i c e o f m a n y r a ilr o a d s w a r r a n t s a n o p in io n t h a t a ll e x te n d e d
o r e x c lu s iv e m a i n - t r a c k m o v e m e n ts sh o u ld b e m a d e b y t r a i n a n d e n g in e e m p lo y e e s
in t h e s e r v ic e of t h e r a ilr o a d .
T h is s h o u ld n o t p r e v e n t c o n t r a c t o r s ’ e m p lo y e e s
f r o m u sin g m a in t r a c k f o r s h o r t d is ta n c e s f o r p u r p o s e o f g e tt i n g m a t e r ia l a n d
su p p lie s , c o a l o r w a te r , o r g o in g t o tie -u p p o in t.
Western Region
Deadheading
'"THE Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region
A rendered a decision September 23, 1927, No. 2444, relative to
pay for deadheading. A fireman on the Atchison stub of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincj7- Railroad laid off on January 1. On
notification the division headquarters at St. Joseph deadheaded a
fireman to Atchison on the first train leaving after the request for a
substitute had been received. As he did not arrive on time, the
roundhouse foreman used a roundhouse employee to fire the engine
and refused to permit the substitute to go to work on his arrival,
but told him to deadhead back to St. Joseph and permitted the round
house employee to continue work for the rest of the day. The car
rier refused to pay the substitute for work because none had been
performed. The committee, however, said he was ordered to dead
head to Atchison and should have been permitted to relieve the round
house employee on his arrival at Atchison and under the circumstances
was entitled to the pay provided for the stub run and deadheading
from and to St. Joseph.
Claim sustained.
Deadheading and Seniority
Decision No. 2471 of the Train Service Board of Adjustment for
the Western Region, made September 28, 1927, also related to pay for
deadheading. _ The rules allow no pay for deadheading when in the
exercise of seniority. A fireman on the La Crosse division of the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was, because of increase of busi
ness, promoted to position of engineer and went to Daytons Bluff to
assume his duties at that point. He put in a claim for deadheading
on the ground that he was promoted, not in the exercise of seniority
but because of the increase of business, and that the deadheading
was therefore by order of the company.
The board sustained his claim.
Physical Reexamination
The Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region
rendered a decision September 1, 1927, in Case No. 2437, relative to
physical reexamination of engineers and fireman on the Chicago &
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195
North Western Railway. An engineer on the Black Hills division
of that road was directed on September 18, 1926, to report to a certain
local surgeon for physical examination. He reported September 20,
passed a satisfactory examination, but was not allowed to return to
work until September 27 when his division office had received approval
of the examination from Chicago, which was received 7 days later.
He laid claim for 9 days’ pay, under Rule 17 (a) of the engineers’
schedule, reading as follows:
E n g in e e r s o n a s s ig n e d r u n s w h o h a v e n o t b e e n g iv e n a n o p p o r t u n i ty t o g o o u t
in t h e i r t u r n , p r o v id e d t h e y h a v e n o t b e e n d is p la c e d u n d e r o th e r p ro v is io n s of th is
a g r e e m e n t a n d h a v e h a d su ffic ie n t r e s t , w ill b e p a id f o r a ll t im e o r m ile a g e l o s t.
The carrier refused payment on the ground that the rule had “ never
been applied in cases where an engineer was held out of service pend
ing physical reexamination,” and was not intended to cover such a
condition.
The board, however, sustained the claim.
Pay for Two Classes of Service
A question of pay for two classes of service was raised in decision
No. 2460, decided by the Train Service Board of Adjustment for the
Western Region September 27, 1927. A hostler helper at Hastings,
Nebr., on the Lincoln division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad, worked a regular shift from 4 p. m. to midnight. One
night by order he relieved a switch-engine fireman from 10 p. m. to
12.10 a. m. For this he claimed pay for two separate days, as rule
28 did not permit combining hostling service and yard service.
The claim was sustained.
Railway Clerks— Chicago & North W estern Railway Co.
A WAGE dispute between the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, and Station Employees and the
Chicago & North Western Railway Co. was settled by an award
made by a board consisting of William Walliser, C. H. Westbrook,
George M. Harrison, George W. Eastty, Victor S. Clark, and Ralph
E. Heilman, November 4, 1927. The award was as follows:
1 . A d d t o t h e r a t e s of p a y in e ff e c t O c to b e r 3 1 , 1 9 2 7 , a n in c r e a s e o f 7 p e r c e n t
o f t h e e x is tin g r a t e s f o r a ll c la s s e s o f la b o r c o m in g w ith in g ro u p s 8 , 9 , 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 4 ,
8 3 , 1 0 3 , a n d 1 0 4 of t h e I n t e r s t a t e C o m m e r c e C o m m is s io n c la s s if ic a tio n .
2 . A d d t o t h e r a t e s o f p a y in e ff e c t O c to b e r 3 1 , 1 9 2 7 , a n in c r e a s e of 4 p e r c e n t
of e x is tin g r a t e s f o r a ll c la s s e s of la b o r c o m in g w ith in g ro u p s 3 1 , 1 0 1 , 1 0 5 , a n d 1 0 6
of t h e I n t e r s t a t e C o m m e r c e C o m m is s io n c la s s if ic a tio n .
3 . T h e in c r e a s e o f r a t e s of p a y h e re in p ro v id e d f o r s h a ll b e e ff e c tiv e a s of
N o v e m b e r 1, 1 9 2 7 .
4 . T h e s u m of t h e in c r e a s e s g r a n te d t h e e m p lo y e e s b y th i s a w a r d m a y b e
d is tr ib u te d b y a j o i n t a c tio n a n d a g r e e m e n t o f t h e p a r t ie s t o t h i s a r b i t r a t i o n in
s u c h m a n n e r a s t o b r in g a b o u t a n a d ju s tm e n t of t h e in e q u a litie s in r a t e s of e m
p lo y e e s c o v e r e d b y t h i s a w a r d , p r o v id e d , t h a t in t h e e v e n t o f t h e p a r t ie s t o th is
a r b i t r a t i o n f a ilin g t o a g r e e a s t o sa id d is tr ib u tio n w ith in a p e rio d o f 3 0 d a y s fr o m
t h i s a w a r d , t h e a w a r d s h a ll b e a p p lie d a s t h o u g h th i s p a r a g r a p h w e re n o t a p a r t
th e re o f.
The first named two members of the board, representing the
carrier, filed a dissenting opinion, using the following words:
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T h e p r i m a r y o b je c tio n t o t h e m a j o r i t y a w a r d is t h e b u r d e n w h ic h t h e in c r e a s e d
w a g e c o s t p la c e s u p o n r a ilw a y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n in t h e t e r r i t o r y s e r v e d b y th is
r a i l w a y , t h u s im p a ir in g t h e e fficie n t a n d e c o n o m ic a l o p e r a tio n o f i t s s e r v ic e .
F u r t h e r , b e c a u s e o f t h e f a c t t h a t a n a b u n d a n c e o f la b o r o f t h e c la s s e s h e re in
v o lv e d is a v a ila b le a t le ss t h a n t h e w a g e s n o w b e in g p a id , t h e f a c t t h a t i t s e m p lo y
e e s a r e n o w e a r n in g m o r e t h a n t h e y c o u ld e a r n in o t h e r lin e s o f w o rk a n d m o r e
t h a n lik e la b o r is r e c e iv in g in a g r i c u lt u r a l a n d o t h e r i n d u s t r y , t h e c o n c e d e d f a c t
t h a t c h a n g e s in c o s t of liv in g d o n o t ju s t i f y a n y w a g e in c r e a s e a n d t h a t t h e r e is
n o o th e r e c o n o m ic j u s tif ic a tio n f o r s u c h a n i n c r e a s e , w e d is s e n t f r o m t h e a w a r d
of th e m a jo rity .
Railway Clerks— W abash Railway Co.
T IN D E R date of August 17, 1927, an arbitration board consisting
w
of Fred L. Williams, George M. Harrison, and S. E. Cotter
rendered a decision in a dispute between the Brotherhood of Rail
way and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, and Station Em
ployees and the Wabash Railway Co. relative to an increase in wages.
A copy of this decision was printed in the Labor Review for October,
1927 (p. 209). Later a controversy arose between the parties as
to the meaning and application of section 4 of the award. The
board therefore reconvened INovember 21, 1927, stated that it was
not its intention in the award to discriminate against similar em
ployees in the employ of the carrier prior thereto, and after a hearing
rewrote section 4, as follows:
E m p lo y e e s fillin g p o s itio n s o f c le r k s o r m a c h in e o p e r a to r s w h o , p r i o r t o t h e i r
e m p lo y m e n t b y t h e W a b a s h w e re w it h o u t p r e v io u s c le r ic a l e x p e r ie n c e a s a
c l e r i c a l w o r k e r a n d w h o s h a ll n o t h a v e s e r v e d o n e w h o le y e a r p r io r t o t h e e ff e c tiv e
d a te of t h i s a w a r d — t o w it, A u g u s t 1 6 , 1 9 2 7 — s h a ll a f t e r t h e e n d o f o n e y e a r ’s
s e r v ic e in s u c h p o s itio n o r p o s itio n s b e p a id f o r f u t u r e s e r v ic e s t h e e s ta b lis h e d
fu ll r a t e o f p a y f o r t h e p o s itio n o c c u p ie d ; a n d f o r a n y u n e x p ir e d p o r ti o n o f a n y
s a id fir s t y e a r re m a in in g a f t e r t h e g o in g in t o e f f e c t o f t h i s a w a r d , s h a ll b e p a id
a s fo llo w s : F o r a n y r e m a in in g p o r ti o n o f t h e fir s t s ix m o n th s of s a id e m p lo y
m e n t o c c u r r in g a f t e r A u g u s t 1 6 , 1 9 2 7 , s h a ll b e p a id a t t h e r a t e o f $ 2 .3 5 p e r d a y ;
f o r a n y r e m a in in g p o r tio n o r w h o le of t h e s e c o n d s ix m o n th s o f t h e i r e m p lo y
m e n t o c c u r r in g a f t e r A u g u s t 1 6 , 1 9 2 7 , s h a ll b e p a id a t t h e r a t e o f $ 3 .1 9 M p e r
d a y ; a n d a ll s u c h e m p lo y e e s e n te r in g t h e s e r v ic e a n d fillin g s u c h p o s itio n s a f t e r
A u g u s t 1 6 , 1 9 2 7 , s h a ll b e p a id a s fo llo w s : $ 2 .3 5 p e r d a y f o r t h e fir s t s ix m o n th s
a n d $ 3 .1 9 3 4 p e r d a y f o r t h e s e c o n d s ix m o n th s , a n d t h e r e a f t e r t h e e s ta b lis h e d
fu ll r a t e o f p a y f o r t h e p o s itio n o c c u p ie d .
S. E. Cotter, representing the carrier, declined to concur in the
new* decision, holding that the section as written “ is plain and con
clusive and not subject to interpretation, as would be clearly appar
ent if the majority had inserted the original section 4 in the so-called
interpretation thereof, and that the board, or a majority thereof,
is without authority to make an amended award establishing con
ditions which change or vary from the original award, as a majority
of the board have attempted to do.”
Signalm en— Louisville & Nashville Railroad
A N A RBITRA TIO N board consisting of Perry B. Miller, L. W.
Givan, and L. L. Morton handed down a decision, November
12, 1927, in a wage dispute between the Brotherhood of Railway
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197
Signalmen of America and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.
The old and the new rates for the various workers are as follows:
S ig n a l c o n s tr u c t i o n f o r e m a n ---------------------------S ig n a l m a in te n a n c e f o r e m a n __________________
A s s is ta n t s ig n a l f o r e m a n _______________________
L e a d in g s ig n a lm e n , le a d in g m a i n ta i n e r s ------S ig n a lm e n , s ig n a l m a i n ta i n e r s ________________
S ig n a l lin e m e n ___________________________________
S ig n a l g r o u n d m e n _______________________________
S ig n a l h e lp e rs ____________________________________
■m o n th ,.
__
.do
>er h o u r..
.__do____
do—
do
. do _
. . . d o ____
New rate
$200. 61
185. 20
. 84
. 79
. 74
. 70
. 64
. 49
Old rate
$215. 61
195. 20
. 88
. 83
. 78
. 74
. 66
. 52
Rates of signal laborers were increased 2 cents per hour.
Assistant signalmen and assistant maintainers start at 51 cents
per hour, as before, but the increases from first to eighth period are
3 cents a period instead of 2 cents.
L. W. Givan filed a supplementary opinion, from which the follow
ing extracts are taken:
T h e in c r e a s e s p ro v id e d f o r in th e a w a r d a r e e n tir e ly i n a d e q u a te , a n d I a m
of t h e s in c e r e b elief t h a t t h e e v id e n c e fu lly ju stifie s g r a n tin g of a t le a s t th e fu ll
a m o u n t of in c r e a s e s a s k e d f o r b y t h e b ro th e rh o o d .
T h e r e s u lt of th is a w a r d
a llo w s a c o n d itio n of u n j u s t d is c r im in a tio n a n d in e q u a lity t o c o n tin u e , w h ich in
m y j u d g m e n t w ill b e d e tr im e n t a l t o b o th t h e m o r a le of t h e e m p lo y e e s a n d th e
e fficie n t o p e r a tio n of t h e ra ilr o a d .
T h e r e q u e s t of t h e b ro th e r h o o d in th is a r b i tr a ti o n c a s e is t h a t th e p e a k r a t e s
of p a y w h ic h e x is te d in t h e y e a r of 1 9 2 0 b e r e s to r e d t o t h e s ig n a l d e p a r tm e n t
e m p lo y e e s of t h e L o u is v ille & N a s h v ille R a ilr o a d .
T h e r e c o r d s h o w s w ith o u t
c o n tr a d i c t io n t h e fo llo w in g f a c t s , w h ic h in m y o p in io n j u s tif y fu ll c o m p lia n c e
w ith t h e r e q u e s t t o re e s ta b lis h th e s e r a t e s :
(а) U n io n w a g e s c a le s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n tir e U n ite d S ta t e s a r e n o t s u b s ta n
tia l ly h ig h e r t h a n t h e y w e re d u rin g t h e p e a k p e rio d of 1 9 2 0 .
T h is f a c t w as
p r o v e d w ith o u t q u e s tio n a n d n o a t t e m p t m a d e b y t h e r a ilr o a d t o d e n y i t.
(б) T h e p r e s e n t r a t e s of p a y of a g r e a t m a j o r i t y of o th e r cla s s e s o f e m p lo y e e s
o n t h e L o u is v ille & N a s h v ille R a ilr o a d h a v e e ith e r b e e n r e c e n t ly e s ta b lis h e d
a b o v e t h e i r f o r m e r p e a k r a t e s o r a t a p o in t e q u a lin g th o s e p e a k r a t e s .
T h ro u g h
a r b i tr a ti o n t h e t r a i n d is p a tc h e r s h a v e j u s t b e e n g r a n te d r a t e s $ 1 5 p e r m o n th
a b o v e th e ir 1 9 2 0 p eak .
T h e m a n y cla s s e s of t r a in m e n a n d c o n d u c to r s n ow
e n jo y r a t e s in e x c e s s of t h e i r 1 9 2 0 p e a k r a t e s .
T h e l o c o m o tiv e fire m e n a n d e n g in e m e n , t h r o u g h t h e p ro c e s s of a r b i tr a ti o n , h a v e re c e iv e d r a t e s in e x c e s s of th e ir
1920 peak.
T h e te le g r a p h e r s h a v e b e e n g r a n te d w a g e in c r e a s e s w h ic h re s to r e
t h e r a t e s w h ic h e x is te d f o r t h a t cla s s in 1 9 2 0 .
T h e c le r ic a l fo r c e s h a v e re c e iv e d
w a g e a d v a n c e s so t h a t p r e s e n t w a g e s p r a c t ic a ll y e q u a l t h e i r 1 9 2 0 le v e l.
(c) I t w a s s h o w n t h a t t h e g e n e r a l w a g e le v e l of a ll w o rk e rs in t h e U n ite d S ta te s
a t t h e p r e s e n t t im e is s u b s ta n tia lly h ig h e r t h a n d u r in g t h e 1 9 2 0 p e a k p e rio d .
(d) I t w a s sh o w n t h a t in t h e U n ite d S t a t e s t h e a v e r a g e in c o m e p e r f a m ily a t
p r e s e n t is f a r in e x c e s s of t h e a v e r a g e in c o m e of 1 9 2 0 a n d t h a t t h e a v e r a g e in c o m e
p e r p e rs o n g a in fu lly o c c u p ie d is lik ew ise m u c h h ig h e r t h a n in 1 9 2 0 .
L. L. Morton signed a dissenting opinion assigning the following
specific reasons for his belief that the increases were unwarranted.
(1 ) T h e w a g e s c a le of th e s e e m p lo y e e s w a s a d ju s te d b y t h e U n ite d S ta t e s
L a b o r B o a r d in 1 9 2 1 a n d 1 9 2 2 b y a w a r d s p r e s u m p tiv e ly f a i r a n d r e a s o n a b le
a f t e r c o n s id e ra tio n of a ll r e le v a n t* f a c t s , a n d th is s c a le w a s f u r t h e r v o lu n ta r ily
m o d ified a n d t h e r a t e s in c r e a s e d b y t h e r a ilr o a d c o m p a n y in 1 9 2 6 , s in c e w h ich
a w a r d s , b o th a b o v e m e n tio n e d , th e r e h a s b e e n n o s u b s t a n t i a l c h a n g e in e c o n o m ic
c o n d itio n s , s u c h a s c o s t of liv in g a n d c o n tin u ity of e m p lo y m e n t, t h a t w ou ld
j u s tif y d is tu r b in g t h e e s ta b lis h e d w a g e s c a le .
O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e tr e n d in
w h o le sa le p ric e s f o r t h e p a s t tw o y e a r s h a s b e e n d is tin c tly d o w n w a rd , w h ich
c o n d itio n m u s t in e v ita b ly r e s u lt in a re d u c tio n in r e t a i l p ric e s a ls o , a n d c o n
s e q u e n tly in a n in c r e a s e d p u r c h a s in g p o w e r of t h e d o lla r.
(2 ) T h e r a i l r o a d c o m p a n y s u b m itte d u n c o n tr o v e r te d e v id e n c e p ro v in g —
(a) T h a t i t is p a y in g t o th e s e sig n a l m e c h a n ic s of t h e m a in te n a n c e -o f -w a y
d e p a r tm e n t w a g e s s u b s t a n t i a ll y e q u a l t o th o s e p a id b y o th e r c a r r ie r s in th e
s o u th e a s te r n re g io n .
U n d e r t h e a w a r d a b o v e t h e c o m p a n y is re q u ir e d t o p a y
m o r e t h a n t h e c u r r e n t s c a le of a n y r a ilr o a d in t h e s o u th e a s te r n re g io n .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 9 7 ]
198
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
( b) T h a t th e s e m e c h a n ic s a r e n o w p a id w a g e s t h a t c o m p a r e f a v o r a b l y w ith
th e w a g e s of o th e r sk ille d m e c h a n ic s in t h e m a in te n a n c e -o f -w a y a n d m a in te n a n c e o f-e q u ip rn e n t d e p a r tm e n t s of t h e c o m p a n y .
(c) T h a t , a s c o m p a r e d w ith th e p r e - w a r p e rio d , t h e in c r e a s e in w a g e s of th e s e
e m p lo y e e s h a s f a r o u ts tr ip p e d th e in c r e a s e in c o s ts of liv in g , t h e i r in c r e a s e in
h o u rly r a t e s f r o m 1 9 1 3 t o 1 9 2 7 b e in g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 0 p e r c e n t a n d t h e sim ila r
in c r e a s e in m o n th ly c o m p e n s a tio n b e in g a b o u t 1 0 0 p e r c e n t f o r t h e p rin c ip a l
cla s s e s a f f e c te d , w h ile t h e c o s t of liv in g h a s o n ly in c r e a s e d a b o u t 7 5 p e r c e n t
d u r in g t h e s a m e p e rio d , th is c o s t of liv in g a u t o m a t i c a l l y re f le c tin g a ls o th e in
c r e a s e d s t a n d a r d of liv in g .
(d) T h a t t h e e x is tin g w a g e s c a le is a t t r a c t i v e a n d s a t i s f a c t o r y t o th e s e m e
c h a n ic s a s p r o v e n b y t h e lo w la b o r t u r n o v e r f o r m a n y y e a r s p a s t.
(3 ) W h ile o fte n a s s e r te d i t w a s n o t p r o v e n in th is c a s e t h a t th e s e sig n a l m e
c h a n ic s a r e e n title d t o w a g e s h ig h e r t h a n o th e r r a i l r o a d m e c h a n ic s b y v ir t u e of
a n y s u p e r io r k n o w le d g e , sk ill, re s p o n s ib ility , o r r e lia b ility .
(4 ) T h e a w a r d in th is c a s e im p o s e s a n u n f a ir a n d u n ju s tifia b le b u r d e n u p o n
t h e e m p lo y e r w h ic h u lt im a te l y m u s t b e s h a r e d b y th e p u b lic , t h a t is, t h e sh ip p e rs
a n d tr a v e l e r s w h o b u y r a ilr o a d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e r v i c e ; i t m a y a n d d o u b tle s s will
a d v e r s e ly a f f e c t t h e w a g e s c a le s of o th e r c a r r ie r s of o u r t e r r i t o r y ; a n d i t will
u n q u e s tio n a b ly h a v e a te n d e n c y t o p r o m o t e d is s a tis f a c tio n a n d lo w e r m o r a le
a m o n g o th e r cla s s e s of e m p lo y e e s .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1981
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
Statistics of Immigration for October, 1927
B y J . J . K u n n a , C h i e f S t a t is t ic ia n U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f I m m ig r a t io n
LIEN S admitted to the United States in October, 1927, num
bered 53,297. This is 5,487 above the average admitted
k during the previous six months. There was, however, a small
outward movement of alien passengers in October last, as evidenced
by the departure of 22,826 aliens.
Aliens deported from the United States under warrant proceedings
numbered 932. Some of the principal causes for these deportations
were entering without immigration visa (457), criminal and immoral
classes (147), mental or physical defective (93), unable to read when
over 16 years of age (60), and likely to become a public charge (45).
During the same month of October, 1927, a total of 1,567 aliens were
debarred from entering the country, 1,334 having been turned back
at points along the international land boundaries and 233 at the sea
ports of entry. The principal cause for debarment this month was
failure to present a proper visa under the immigration act of 1924,
nearly 96 per cent, or 1,501, of the total debarred having been rejected
for this reason.
Canada, Germany, Mexico, the Irish Free State, Great Britain,
Italy, the Scandinavian countries, and Poland, in the order named,
were the principal countries from which the immigrant aliens came
during October, 1927, over live-sixths of the total immigration this
month coming from these eight countries.
Less than one-third (17,315) of the 53,297 aliens entering the
United States in October last were of the class charged to the quota.
The bulk of the remainder came in as natives of nonquota countries
(11,367), as returning residents (12,995), or as visitors (5,716).
A
T
able
1 .— INW ARD AND OUTWARD PA SSEN G ER M O VEM EN T DURING JU L Y , AUGUST,
S E P T E M B E R , AND OCTOBER, 1927
Outward
Inward
Period
1927
J u ly --..............
August______
September___
October,..........
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
Aliens departed
Aliens admitted
United
United
ported
barred
States
States
after
from
citi
citi
land
enter
zens Total ing 2
zens Total ing 1 Emi NonNon
Immi immi
emi Total2 de
ar
grant2 grant
grant grant Total rived
2
parted
23, 420
28, 418
31,000
31, 719
15,973
19,011
25, 619
21, 578
39, 393
47,429
56, 619
53, 297
29,935 69, 328
57,701 105,130
75, 557 132,176
50,254 103, 551
93,425
66, 375
64, 258
47, 222
700
1,346
901
932
6,743 29, 579 68,832 98, 411 172, 869 271, 280
3, 879
2,002
1, 574
1,600
1, 567
T o ta l... 114, 557 82,181 196, 738 213, 447 410,185
9,230
6,322
7, 625
6,402
18, 509
17, 014
16, 885
16, 424
27, 739
23, 336
24, 510
22, 826
65,686
43,039
39, 748
24, 396
1 Not included among inward numbers, as they were not permitted to enter the United States.
2 Deported aliens are included among the emigrant or the nonemigrant aliens.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 9 9 ]
199
200
M O NTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
T a b l e 2 . — LAST PE R M A N E N T R ES ID EN C E OF IM M IGRAN T A LIEN S A D M ITTED AND
IN T EN D ED FU T U R E PE R M A N E N T R ES ID EN C E OF EM IG RAN T A LIEN S D E PA R T ED ,
DURING OCTO BER, 1927, AND FRO M JU L Y 1 TO O CTO BER 31, 1927, B Y COUN TRIES
[Residence for a year or more is regarded as permanent residence]
Immigrant
Country
October,
1927
Emigrant
July to
October,
1927
October,
1927
July to
October,
1927
22
151
65
19
150
56
241
13
44
483
5,102
120
422
256
83
1, 028
150
784
95
179
1,540
13,304
741
21
1,883
164
269
76
3,557
1, 739
34
42
17
228
690
673
2,738
73
4,125
607
930
328
8,459
6,201
91
180
32
582
2,045
3, 067
86
103
121
51
713
282
38
163
59
230
440
493
174
2,388
738
138
490
138
11
95
19
89
86
47
19
149
428
386
132
758
404
289
26
767
17
Total, Europe_________________ _______ _______
18,096
52,643
4, 431
22,263
Armenia_______________________ ____ _______ _______
China ______________ ____________________________
India. ______ _______________ __________ ______
Japan. ............................................. ..........................................
Palestine___________________________________ ______
Persia..._________________________ ________________
Syria _______ _______ ___________ . . . ___________ . . .
Turkey in Asia___ _________________________________
Other Asia_______ _________________________________
5
129
5
56
47
12
61
3
12
11
644
44
238
187
30
201
25
97
3
632
31
132
6
4
35
1
7
8
1, 877
73
418
34
12
105
32
26
Albania______________________ _______________ _____
A u stria........................................ ............................................ .
Belgium................................ ...................... .................. ............
Bulgaria................ .............. .................. ..................... ............
Czechoslovakia ____ . . . . . . __________ ____ _______
Danzig, Free City of________________________________
Denmark_____ ____________________________________
Estonia
..................
................................................
Finland.. . . _ ____________________________________
France, including Corsica___ ____ ___________________
Germany __________________ ___________________ _
Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
England_______ ______ _________________________
Northern Ireland
. . _____________ . ______
Scotland____ ________ _____ ___________ _______
Wales.. _____________ ____ _____________________
Greece_________________________ _________________
Hungary. _____________ . . . __________ . ----------Irish Free State____________ . ______________ ____
Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia--------------------------Latvia______ ____ _____ _________ ___________________
Lithuania._______ ________ ____ _____________________
Luxemburg____________ ________ _____ ____ _
___
Netherlands________ _______ _______________________
Norway.________ _____ _________________ ___________
Poland________ ________ _____ _. _________________
Portugal, including Azores, Cape Verde, and Madeira
Islands_____________ _____ _____________________
Rumania___ __________________________________ ____
Russia.___________________________ _____ ___________
Spain, including Canary and Balearic Islands________
Sweden__________________ ____ __________ ___ _____
Switzerland_____________ ____ ___ ____ _____________
Turkey in E u rope______________ ______ _____ _____
Yugoslavia________________________________________
______________ ____ __
Other Europe
7
39
46
10
146
1
41
33
150
379
311
95
8
169
107
53
1,924
3
7
1
39
135
212
37
215
229
50
771
1
219
3
230
952
2, 160
2,467
1
669
18
937
349
518
6,830
14
157
6
176
466
1,581
Total, Asia..------------- -------------------------------------
330
1,477
851
2,585
Canada______________ _ . __________ ____ _____ ____
Newfoundland.------------------------- ------ ------------------- .
Mexico..-------------- ------------ --------------------------------C u b a.. . . . __________________________ ______
Other West Indies_____ _______________ ___________
British Honduras
_________________ ___________
Other Central America___________ ________ ____ _ . . .
Brazil........................................................ ...................................
Other South America__________________ . . . . . .
Other America
_ ______________ _____________
7,641
323
4, 301
261
139
122
102
315
2
32,494
960
22, 058
1,491
487
21
841
371
1, 254
4
195
75
325
128
172
1
59
16
109
1, 047
260
1, 250
594
533
6
283
28
536
Total, America....................................... ........................
13, 206
59,981
1, 080
4, 537
E g y p t..------------------ ------ --------- -----------------------------Other Africa_____________________________ . ---------Australia. __ ---------------- ----------------------------------------New Zealand____________ ______ ______ ___________
Other Pacific islands------------------ ------ ----------------------
20
28
17
17
5
91
118
152
75
20
4
12
15
7
2
4
56
95
36
3
Total, o th e rs.___ _________ . . . .
-----------------
Grand total, ali countries.................... ..............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[200]
87
456
40
194
31, 719
114, 557
6, 402
29,579
201
STATISTICS OF IMMIGRATION
T able 3-—IM M IGRAN T A LIEN S A D M ITTED AND EM IG RAN T ALIEN S D E P A R T E D
DURING OCTOBER, 1927, AND FROM JU L Y 1 TO OCTOBER 31, 1927, B Y R A C E OR
P E O P L E , S E X , AND AGE PERIO D S
______________________
Emigrant
Immigrant
Race or people
Total
July to
October,
1927
39
105
4,195
43
5
96
139
618
20
84
15
93
28
577
35
143
493
175
24
79
93
1,840
127
1
6
117
292
391
94
39
130
30
1.857
2,926
268
90
346
79
3
192
47
31
1,330
293
'136
471
113
6,096
9,299
829
516
1,536
278
74
675
211
195
206
23
79
44
3
295
150
44
180
114
29
21
14
36
21
212
19
451
586
1, 846
214
407
60
426
48
3,521
254
869
2,761
968
111
657
782
6,074
392
15
172
395
1,171
1
1,565
456
327
234
33
1,183
989
295
1,032
635
111
70
44
124
71
. . ____________ _____ ___ __________
31,719
114, 557
6,402
29, 579
. . ____________________________________
__ _____________________________________
15, 943
15, 776
60,331
54,226
4,819
1,583
20, 270
9,309
5,403
23, 441
2,875
19, 555
84, 427
10, 575
265
4,480
1, 657
1,388
20,689
7,502
Under 16 years .
16 to 44 vears .
45 years and over
T
October,
1927
382
426
464
230
453
314
1,071
40
1,056
19
14,646
266
8,302
16,341
1,132
4,311
14,081
923
5,672
229
9
123
401
21,614
105
124
101
63
73
109
168
11
323
African (black) __________________________________
Armenian________________________________________
Bohemian and Moravian (Czech)_________ ______ ___
Bulgarian, Serbian, and Montenegrin................................
Chinese
.
__________________________________
Croatian and Slovenian...... ................................................. .
Cuban _______________________ ____________________
Dalmatian, Bosnian, and Herzogovinian......................... .
Dutch and Flemish!____ ______ ________________ ____
East Indian_________________________ _____________
English............................
...... .........
Finnish_________________________________ _________
................... ............
French.............................................
German.................................. ...............................................
Greek__________ ________ ____ _______ ___________
Hebrew___
. . .
. . . ............. .......
Irish________ _____ _______ ______ ____ ______ _______
Italian (north)
. . . . . . ________________________
Italian (south)
.
. _ ________________
Jaoanese
. _________________
Korean
_ ________________
Lithuanian
____________________________
Magyar
__________ ______________
Mexican
_____________ - __
Pacific Tslander
__ ________ - _______
Polish
_________________________
Portuguese
___ _______________
____________________
Rumanian
Russian
___
________ __ __________________
__ ___________ _ __________
Ruthenian (Russniak)
Scandinavian (Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes)_____
Scotch
_ _ _ _____________________________
Slovak
. . .
. _______________________
Spanish
. _________________________
Spanish American
.
. . ____________________
Syrian
. _.
_______________________
Turkish ___________ _________________ _____ _______
Welsh
_____________________________________
_____________________
West Indian (except Cuban)
Other peoples___________ _____ ______ ______________
Male
Female
July to
October,
1927
October,
1927
3,416
62
2,086
6,078
313
855
5,030
260
1,628
52
. _____________________________
._ _____________________________
______________________________
4 — ALIEN S A D M IT TED DURING O C TO BER, 1927, AND FROM JU L Y 1 TO
OCTOBER 31, 1927, SHOWING PR IN C IPA L CLASSES U N D ER T H E IM M IGRATION
ACT OF 1924, B Y PR IN C IPA L PLA C ES OF B IR T H , AS S P E C IF IE D
a ble
Aliens admitted
Place of birth
Europe.................................................. ..............
Asia
__________ ________________ . .
Africa _____ _________________________
Australia and Pacific Islands.................. .
Canada, Mexico, and other America_____
Total__________ _____ ___________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Quota
immigrant
Nonimmigrant
and nonquota
immigrant
July to
October, October,
1927
1927
July to
October, October,
1927
1927
17, 089
105
28
23
70
17, 315
[ 201 ]
48, 498
545
155
130
239
49, 567
19, 659
1, 715
61
434
14,113
35,982
70, 273
7, 282
327
2,154
67,135
147,171
Total
during
October,
1927
36, 748
1, 820
89
457
14,183
53, 297
Grand
total
July 1,
to
Oct. 31,
1927
118,771
7,827
482
2,284
67,374
196, 738
202
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
5 .— ALIENS A D M IT TED DURING OCTOBER, 1927, AND FROM JU L Y 1 TO
OCTOBER 31, 1927, B Y CLASSES U N D ER T H E IM M IGRATION ACT OF 1924
[The number of immigrants appearing in this table and in Table 4 is not comparable with the number
oi statistical immigrant aliens shown in the other tn.hle« hv nortQ of ontn, ro i-vt* T-»rv/'vT-vln n +n 1
T
able
October,
1927
Class
July to
October,
1927
Nonimmigrants:
Government officials, their families, attendants, servants, and employees
Temporary visitors for business or pleasure
In continuous passage through the United States
To carry on trade under existing treaty .
T o ta l.. .........................
Nonquota immigrants:
Wives and children of United States citizens 1 ___ .
Returning residents________ . . .
Natives of nonquota countries 2__
Wives and children of natives of nonquota countries i
Ministers of religious denominations and their wives and children
Professors of colleges, academies, seminaries, or universities, and their wives
and children. ______
Students___ ____ _
Veterans of the World War and their wives and children
Spanish subjects admitted to Porto Rico .
Total____________
Quota immigrants (charged to quota) . .
Grand total admitted______
693
5,716
2,082
152
8,643
2,645
24, 608
9,496
521
37,270
2, 578
12, 995
11, 367
68
’ 129
9,359
45, 040
53,192
346
563
14
181
130
1,153
104
14
109,901
49, 567
196, 738
7
27, 339
17, 315
53, 297
i Wives, and unmarried children under 18 years of age, born in quota countries.
J , Roes not include aliens born in nonquota countries, who were admitted under the act as Government
ofhcials, visitors, returning residents, etc.
Labor Representatives’ Agreement on Restriction of Mexican
Emigration 1
HE recent Los Angeles convention of the American Federation
of Labor ratified an agreement drawn up at Washington by
representatives of the American Federation of Labor and the
Mexican Federation of Labor on August 6, 1927, by the terms of
which the Mexican Government is to be petitioned to adopt a re
strictive emigration policy. It is hoped that the Government of
Mexico will regulate emigration so that the number of immigrants
coming from Mexico will not exceed the number that would be
allowed if the quota provisions of the immigration law of the United
States were applicable.
Representatives of the Mexican Federation of Labor are to urge
their general committee to make every possible effort to discourage
Mexican workers from emigrating to the United States and Canada.
They reported that although the Mexican Department of the Inte
rior has already perfected plans with this end in view, the Mexican
Federation of Labor will encourage still further the policy of restrict
ing Mexican emigration.
When this agreement was ratified at the American Federation of
Labor convention it was over the protest of the delegates from
California and other Southwestern States, who claimed that such a
gentleman’s agreement would be a futile and ineffective substitute
for exclusion by law. They urged that Mexico should be placed
under the quota system along with the various European nations.
I t was estimated that southern California alone had a Mexican popu
lation in excess of 250,000, and that besides California, Arizona and
Texas have also been virtually swamped with Mexican immigrants
during the last few years.
T
1 .American Federation of Labor. Report of the Executive Council to the Forty-seventh Annual Con
vention, Los Angeles, Oct. 3, 1927, pp. 77-80, and the Seamen’s Journal, Nov. 1927, pp. 331, 332.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 202 ]
ACTIVITIES OF STATE LABOR BUREAUS
A MONG the labor activities of the State bureaus, the following,
reported either directly by the bureaus themselves or through
the medium of their printed reports, are noted in the present issue of
the Labor Review :
California.—Report on changes in volume of employment and pay
roll in 793 industrial establishments in the State, page 145.
Hawaii.— Report of operations under the State workmen’s com
pensation act, page 92.
Illinois.— Study of accidents to employed minors, page 64; and
report on changes in employment and earnings in Illinois factories,
page 147.
Iowa.— Changes in working force in specified industries, page 149.
Maryland.—Report on statistics of employment in certain indus
tries of the State, page 150.
Massachusetts.—Report on unemployment among organized build
ing-trades workers, page 143 ; and changes in employment in industrial
establishments, page 151.
Nevada.—Report of operations under the State workmen’s com
pensation act, page 92.
New Jersey.—Report on changes in volume of employment and in
amount of pay roll in 847 industrial establishments, page 152.
New York.—Report of study of hours and earnings of women in
laundries in the State, page 61; findings as to prevalence of married
women in industry in Binghamton, page 62; report of industrial
accidents in 1926-27, page 81 ; study of the carbon monoxide hazard
in commercial garages and automobile repair shops, page 89; earn
ings of office workers, page 128; and report on changes in nuumber of
employees and in weekly pay rolls in some 600 factories, page 153.
Pennsylvania.—Analysis of compensated accidents to working chil
dren, page 64, and data as to employment in that State, page 155.
Tennessee.—Report of operations under the State workmen’s com
pensation act, page 93.
Texas.—Report of operations under the State workmen’s compen
sation act, page 94.
Vermont.—Report of operations under the State workmen’s com
pensation act, page 94.
Wisconsin.—Report on volume of employment and total pay roll
in various industries in Wisconsin, page 157.
7 8 2 7 1 ° — 2 8 ------ 1 4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 0 3 ]
203
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
Official— United States
I l l in o is .— Department of Labor.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A c c id e n ts to e m p lo y e d m in o rs i n I ll in o i s , by M i r i a m
iii, 5 2 p p .
N o ll.
B u lle t in N o . 1 :
C h ic a g o , 1 9 2 7 .
D a t a f r o m t h i s b u lle tin a p p e a r o n p a g e 6 4 of t h i s issu e .
N e v a d a .— Industrial Commission.
B i e n n ia l re p o rt, re v ie w in g the a d m in is tr a t io n
o f the N e v a d a I n d u s t r i a l I n s u r a n c e A c t f o r p e rio d J u l y i , 1924 , to J u n e 3 0 ,
1926.
C a rs o n C ity , 1 9 2 7 .
27 pp.
R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 9 2 o f th i s issu e .
o r k .— Department of Labor.
S p e c i a l b u lletin N o . 1 5 3 : H o u r s a n d e a r n
in g s o f w o m en e m p lo y e d i n p o w er l a u n d r ie s i n N e w Y o r k S ta te , p r e p a r e d by
B u rea u o f W om en in In d u stry .
A lb a n y , 1 9 2 7 .
72 pp.
N ew Y
D a t a f r o m t h i s b u lle tin a r e g iv e n o n p a g e 6 1 of th is issu e .
P e n n s y l v a n ia .— Department of Labor and Industry.
S p e c i a l b u lle tin N o . 1 7 :
A n a n a ly s is o f c o m p e n s a te d a cc id e n ts to m in o r s f o r the y e a r 1 9 2 A.
H a r r is b u r a
1926.
125 pp.
Reviewed o n page 6 4 o f this issue.
Industrial Accident Board. R e p o rt f o r the two y e a rs S e p t e m b e r
to A u g u s t 3 1 , 1 9 2 6 .
A u s t in [ 1 9 2 6 ? ].
5 pp.
R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 9 4 of t h i s issu e .
T exa s.
V e r m o n t .— Commissioner of Industries.
e n d in g J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 6 .
[R u tla n d , 1 9 2 6 ? ]
B i e n n ia l re p o rt, f o r
30 pp.
th e
1 , 192A-,
two
y e a rs
D a t a o n w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a tio n , t a k e n f r o m t h i s r e p o r t , a r e p u b lis h e d o n
p a g e 9 4 of t h i s issu e .
U n it e d S t a t e s .
Ju n e 30, 1927.
Board of Mediation.
W a s h in g t o n , 1 9 2 7 .
A n n u a l re p o rt f o r the fiscal y e a r e n d e d
v, 4 3 p p .
C o n ta in s a n a c c o u n t o f t h e c r e a ti o n o f t h e b o a r d a n d i ts o r g a n iz a tio n t o g e t h e r
w ith t h e t e x t of t h e a c t c r e a ti n g i t .
A t a b u l a r p r e s e n ta t i o n lis t s , c a s e b y c a s e ,
t h e d is p u te s s u b m it t e d t o t h e b o a r d d u r in g t h e y e a r , s h o w in g t h e p a r t ie s in v o lv e d
a n d th e n u m b e r o f e m p lo y e e s a ff e c te d , w h e n c o n fe re n c e s b e g a n , a n d h o w a n d w h e n
t h e c a s e s w e re s e t tl e d .
A n u m b e r o f t h e c a s e s d is c u s s e d w e re in c lu d e d in a n a r t i c le o n t h e a r b i t r a t i o n
w o rk o f t h e b o a r d w h ic h a p p e a r e d in t h e L a b o r R e v ie w f o r O c to b e r , 1 9 2 7 (p . 5 ) .
'
Department of Commerce. F ift e e n th a n n u a l re p o rt o f the S e c r e ta r y o f
C o m m e rc e , f o r the fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 7 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 7 . x l ii ,
3 1 0 p p .; m ap.
D a t a o n in d e x e s o f th e e c o n o m ic p ro g re s s o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , 1 9 2 2 t o 1 9 2 7 ,
t a k e n f r o m th is r e p o r t , a r e g iv e n o n p a g e 4 8 o f th is issu e .
-
D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r .
F ift e e n th a n n u a l re p o rt o f the S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r , f o r
th e fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 7 .
W a s h in g t o n , 1 9 2 7 .
211 p p .
R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 4 4 of th i s issu e .
“
1927.
B u r e a u o f Immigration.
A n n u a l re p o r t, fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e SO,
W a s h in g t o n , 1 9 2 7 .
vii, 2 3 6 p p .
Bureau of Labor Statistics. B u lle t in N o . 4 5 2 : W a g e s a n d h o u rs o f
la b o r i n the h o s ie ry a n d u n d e rw e a r in d u s t r ie s , 1 9 0 7 to 1 9 2 6 .
W a s h in g to n ,
1927.
iii, 7 2 p p .
A n a d v a n c e s u m m a r y o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t d a t a c o n ta in e d in t h i s b u lle tin
w a s p u b lis h e d in t h e L a b o r R e v ie w f o r M a y , 1 9 2 7 (p p . 1 5 6 - 1 6 4 ) .
204
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 0 4 ]
P U B L IC A T IO N S
R E L A T IN G
U n it e d S t a t e s . — D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r .
re p o rt, fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 7 .
------------------ C h ild r e n ’s B u r e a u .
1927.
W a s h in g t o n , 1 9 2 7 .
TO
205
LA BO R
B u r e a u of N a tu r a l iz a t i o n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 7 .
4-3 p p .
Annual
F ift e e n t h a n n u a l re p o r t, fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 ,
H i, 42 p p .
------------------W o m e n ’s B u r e a u .
N i n t h a n n u a l re p o rt, fis c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 ,
1927.
W a s h in g t o n , 1 9 2 7 .
iii, 2 0 pp.
-------- D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r .
B u r e a u of E d u c a t i o n .
B u lle tin , 1 9 2 7 , N o .
2 9 : I n d u s t r i a l ed u c a tio n i n 1 9 2 4 - 1 9 2 6 , by M a r is M . P ro ffitt.
W a s h in g to n ,
1927.
29 pp.
( A d v a n c e sheets f r o m the B i e n n ia l S u r v e y o f E d u c a t io n ,
1 9 2 4 - 1 9 2 6 .)
R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 1 0 3 of th is issu e .
-------- F e d e r a l B o a r d f o r V o c a tio n a l E d u c a ti o n .
B u lle tin N o . 1 2 0 : V o ca tio n a l
re h a b ilita tio n i n the U n ite d S ta tes.
T h e evolution, sco p e, o rg a n iz a tio n , a n d
a d m in is tr a t io n o f the p ro g r a m o f vocational re h a b ilita tio n o f d is a b led p ers o n s .
B a s h in g ton, J u n e , 1 9 2 7 .
v, 9 8 p p ., illu s .
(C iv ilia n vocational re h a b ilita tio n
s e r ie s N o . 1 3 .)
A n o n te c h n ic a l r e p o r t p r e p a r e d t o m e e t a w id e s p re a d d e m a n d f o r in f o r m a tio n
o n t h e s u b j e c t w ith w h ic h i t d e a ls.
-------- L a w s , s t a t u t e s , e t c .
L o n g s h o r e m e n ’s a n d h a rb o r w o r k e r s ’ c o m p e n s a t io n act
O p in io n s a p p ro v e d by the U n ited S ta tes E m p l o y e e s ’ C o m p e n s a tio n C o m
m is s io n , W a s h in g t o n , D . C .
O p in io n s N o s . 1 - 2 0 , A u g u s t 1 2 to O ctober 2 6 ,
1927.
W a s h in g t o n , 1 9 2 7 .
29 pp.
------------------S e a m e n ’s act as a m e n d e d a n d other law s re la t in g to s e a m e n .
1927.
61 p p .
W a s h in g t o n
Official—Foreign Countries
A u s t r a l ia
(Q u e e n s l a n d ) . — D e p a r tm e n t of L a b o r .
F o u rth a n n u a l re p o rt o n
o p e ra tio n s u n d e r the u n e m p lo y e d w o rk ers’ in s u r a n c e act o f 1 9 2 2 .
B r is b a n e ,
1 9 2 7 . 1 6 p p . ; ch a rts.
R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 1 0 0 of th is issu e .
-------- — — ■ R e p o rt o f the d irecto r o f labor a n d c h ie f in s p e c to r o f fa c to rie s a n d sh o p s
f o r the y e a r e n d in g J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 7 . B r is b a n e , 1 9 2 7 . 46 p p .
A s c o m p a r e d w ith t h e p re c e d in g y e a r , u n e m p lo y m e n t w a s s e v e r e t h r o u g h o u t
th e S ta te .
O rig in a l r e g i s t r a t io n s a t t h e S t a t e la b o r e x c h a n g e s n u m b e r e d 6 8 ,8 5 1 ,
w h ile a p p lic a tio n s f o r e m p lo y e e s r e a c h e d o n ly 1 0 ,5 6 3 ; e m p lo y m e n t w a s fo u n d fo r
1 0 ,5 2 9 .
T h e fe m a le l a b o r e x c h a n g e in B r is b a n e w a s m o r e s u c c e s s f u l t h a n th e
S t a t e e x c h a n g e s in g e n e r a l, h a v in g p la c e d 4 ,1 4 3 , o r 7 7 .8 p e r c e n t, of t h e 5 ,3 2 4
w h o r e g is te r e d f o r e m p lo y m e n t.
-------- P u b lic S e r v ic e C o m m is s io n e r.
S e v e n th a n n u a l re p o rt, f o r the y e a r en d ed
J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 2 7 . B r is b a n e , 1 9 2 7 . 5 2 p p .
In c lu d e s d a t a o n t h e b a s ic w a g e , e t c ., of p u b lic s e r v ic e e m p lo y e e s .
D e n m a r k .— M in is tr y f o r F o r e ig n A ffa irs a n d th e S t a t i s t i c a l D e p a r tm e n t .
m a rk , 1 9 2 7 .
C openhagen, 1 9 2 7 .
2 7 9 p p ., illu s .
D en
(I n E n g l i s h .)
I n a d d itio n t o g e n e r a l i n f o r m a tio n a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y a n d i t s p e o p le , in d u s trie s ,
i n s t i tu ti o n s , e t c . , th is h a n d b o o k o n D e n m a r k c o n ta in s d a t a o n t h e c o o p e r a tiv e
m o v e m e n t , n u m b e r of e s ta b lis h m e n ts a n d e m p lo y e e s in v a r io u s in d u s trie s , p ric e s
a n d c o s t o f liv in g , a n d s o c ia l c o n d itio n s .
F in l a n d .— [S o c ia lm in is te r ie t.]
dr 1923.
H e ls in g fo r s ,
A rbetsstatistilc A , 2 0 .
S t a t i s t i s k a C e n tr a lb y r â n . O ly ck sfa llen i arbetet,
1927.
94 pp.
F in la n d s officiella statistik X X V I ,
R e p o r t o f t h e C e n tr a l S t a t i s t i c a l B u r e a u of F in la n d o n a c c i d e n t s t o w o rk e rs
in t h a t c o u n t r y in 1 9 2 3 .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 0 5 ]
206
M O N TH LY
LA BO R
R E V IE W
F ran ce.
M in is tè re d u T r a v a il , d e l ’H y g iè n e , d e l ’ A s s is ta n c e e t d e la P r é v o y a n c e
s o c ia le s .
C o n s e il s u p é r i e u r d u T ra v a il.
V in g t- n e u v iè m e sess io n , N o v em b re
1925.
P a r is , 1 9 2 6 . x ix , 2 5 5 p p .
T r e n t iè m e se s s io n , N o v e m b re 1 9 2 6 .
P a r is ,
1 9 2 7 . x ix , 1 4 5 p p .
T h e p ro c e e d in g s o f t h e tw e n ty - n i n th a n d t h i r t i e t h sessio n s of t h e F r e n c h S u p e
r io r L a b o r C o u n c il.
T h e q u e s tio n s d e a lt w ith b y t h e c o u n c il w e re : L e g is la tio n
r e la tin g t o h o m e w o r k ; t h e in d iv id u a l la b o r c o n t r a c t ; a g e of a d m is s io n of ch ild re n
in to c o m m e r c ia l a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n e n te r p r is e s ; c o m p u ls o r y d e c la r a ti o n o f in te n
tio n t o
o p e n in d u s tr ia l o r c o m m e r c ia l e s ta b lis h m e n ts ,
th is
d e c la r a ti o n
b ein g
d e sig n e d t o p r e v e n t t h e e s ta b lis h m e n t of a h a z a rd o u s e n te r p r is e w ith o u t p r o p e r
s a f e g u a r d s ; a n d r e p r e s e n ta tio n o f i n t e lle c tu a l w o rk e rs o n t h e L a b o r C o u n c il.
G r e a t B r it a in .— M in e s
D e p a r tm e n t .
M in e r s ’ W e lf a r e F u n d .
F ift h rep o rt
o f the co m m ittee a p p o in te d by the B o a r d o f T r a d e to allocate the F u n d 1 9 2 6 .
London, 1927.
88 p p ., illu s .
R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 5 8 of th is issu e .
M in is tr y of L a b o r .
A d ic tio n a ry o f o ccu p a tio n a l term s, b ased o n the cla ssi
fic a tio n o f o c cu p a tio n s u s e d i n the c e n s u s o f p o p u la tio n , 1 9 2 1 .
London, 1927.
v, 564 PP~ In t e rn a t io n a l L a b o r C o n fe r e n c e .
D ra ft co n v en tio n s a n d re c o m m e n
d a tio n a d o p ted by the c o n fe re n c e at its tenth s ess io n , M a y 2 5 - J u n e 1 6 , 1 9 2 7 .
{A u t h e n t ic texts.)
London, 1927.
17 pp.
(C m d . 2 9 6 1 .)
------------------R e p o rt o f a n i n q u ir y in to a p p r e n t ic e s h ip a n d t r a in in g f o r the sk illed
o ccu p a tio n s i n G reat B r it a in a n d N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d , 1 9 2 5 - 2 6 .
I . — P r in t in g
a n d a llied in d u s t r ie s .
London, 1927.
118 pp.
S o m e d a t a f r o m th is r e p o r t a r e g iv e n o n p a g e 1 0 4 of th is issu e.
--------R e g i s tr y of F r ie n d ly S o c ie tie s .
F r i e n d ly so cieties.
London, 1927.
R e p o rt f o r
iv, 44 p p .
the
y ea r
1925.
P a rt
2 .—
T h e d a t a g iv e n in th is r e p o r t r e l a t e t o 1 9 2 4 , d u r in g w h ich y e a r in f o r m a tio n w as
re c e iv e d r e la tin g t o 3 , 5 1 7 fr ie n d ly s o c ie tie s , w ith a m e m b e rs h ip of 3 ,9 0 2 ,6 7 3 a n d
t o t a l fu n d s a m o u n tin g t o £ 4 1 , 1 5 4 , 2 7 2 .
N e t h e r l a n d s (A m st e r d a m ) .— B u r e a u v a n S ta t is ti e k .
H u is h o u d r e k e n i n g e n van
212 g e z i n n e n u it v e rs ch ille n d e k r in g e n d e r b evolking ( O ctober 1 , 1 9 2 8 - S e p t e m b e r
80, 1 9 2 4 ).
A m s te r d a m , 1 9 2 7 .
x , 1 5 3 p p . ; ch a rts.
A s u m m a r y o f th is s t u d y of f a m ily b u d g e ts in A m s te r d a m is g iv e n o n p a g e 1 8 9
of th is issu e .
S w e d e n .— [ S o c ia ld e p a r te m e n te t.] R i k s f ô r s à k r in g s a n s ta lte n . [B e râ ttelse] â r 1 9 2 6 .
S to ck h o lm , 1 9 2 7 .
29 pp.
R e p o r t o n t h e a c t i v i t i e s in 1 9 2 6 of t h e S t a t e I n s u r a n c e I n s t i t u t e of S w e d e n .
------------------S o c ia ls ty r e ls e n .
A rb e ts in s ta lle ls e r och kollektivavtal
m d n n e n s v erk sa m h et â r 1926.
S to ck h o lm , 1927.
174 PP-
sa m t fô r lik n in g s -
R e p o r t , b y t h e S w e d ish S o c ia l B o a r d , o n la b o r d is p u te s , c o lle c tiv e a g r e e m e n ts ,
a n d a c t i v i t i e s of t h e c o n c il i a to r s in S w e d e n in 1 9 2 6 .
T h e r e w e re 2 0 6 la b o r d is
p u te s in S w e d e n in 1 9 2 6 a s c o m p a r e d w ith 2 3 9 in 1 9 2 5 , a r e d u c tio n of 3 3 .
The
n u m b e r of e m p lo y e r s a ff e c te d in th e s e d is p u te s w a s 5 0 4 a n d of e m p lo y e e s , 5 2 ,8 9 1 ,
a s a g a in s t 1 ,5 7 7 a n d 1 4 5 ,7 7 8 , r e s p e c tiv e ly , in 1 9 2 5 .
----------------- ; -------- Y rk e s in s p e k t io n e n s v erk sa m h et â r 1 9 2 6 .
p p ., illu s .
S to ck h o lm ,
1927.
109
R e p o r t o n f a c t o r y in s p e c tio n in S w e d e n in 1 9 2 6 .
S w it z e r l a n d .— B u r e a u fé d é r a l d e S ta t is ti q u e .
B ern e, 1 9 2 7 .
A n n u a i r e statistiqu e d e la S u is s e .
xx, 8 7 0 pp.
T h is c o lle c tio n o f s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a o n v a r io u s s u b je c ts in c lu d e s a t a b l e g iv in g
a n n u a l e x p e n s e s of a n o r m a l fa m ily in t h e 1 2 m o n th s of 1 9 2 6 a n d a ls o w a g e s of
in d u s t r i a l -a c c id e n t v ic tim s , 1 9 1 3 t o 1 9 2 5 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2 0 6 ]
P U B L IC A T IO N S
R E L A T IN G
TO
207
LABOR
S w it z e r l a n d .— D é p a r te m e n t fé d é ra l d e l ’ É c o n o m ie p u b liq u e .
L a S u is s e écono
m iq u e et so cia le.
P r e m ie r e p a r t ie : E x p o s é
h is to riq u e et sy stém a tiq ue.
D e u x ie m e p a r t ie : T e x te d es lois et o rd o n n a n c e s .
E in s i e d e l n , P a r t 1 , 1 9 2 7 , P a rt
II , 1926.
[V a r i o u s p a g in g .]
T h is s t u d y of s o c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic c o n d itio n s in S w itz e r la n d c o n ta i n s in th e
fir s t p a r t a n a c c o u n t of g e n e r a l e c o n o m ic c o n d itio n s , in c lu d in g t h e d iv isio n of
t h e p o p u la tio n a c c o r d i n g t o o c c u p a tio n s a n d s o c ia l c o n d i ti o n s ; t h e n a t u r a l p r o
d u c tio n o f t h e c o u n t r y — m in e s, a g r ic u ltu r e , f o r e s t r y ;
m a n u fa ctu re s; tra n s p o r
t a t i o n ; b a n k in g ; a n d i n s u r a n c e ; w ith a h is to r ic a l s u m m a r y o f t h e d e v e lo p m e n t of
each
of th e s e b r a n c h e s of i n d u s tr y .
T h e s e c o n d p a r t c o n ta i n s t h e t e x t s of
F e d e r a l a n d c a n to n a l la w s a n d o rd in a n c e s r e la tin g t o t h e r e g u la tio n of la b o r
c o n d itio n s a n d t o sic k n e s s a n d a c c i d e n t in s u ra n c e .
Unofficial
A b e l , G u st a v e, e t L ag a sse, P a u l.
C o d e in d u s t r ie l belge.
T o m e I . B r u s s e ls ,
É ta b lis s e m e n ts É m i l e B r u y la n t, [1 9 2 6 1 ]. x x x , 6 3 6 p p .
( N o u v elle éd itio n
r e fo n d u e , p u b lié e so u s les a u s p ic e s d u C o m ité cen tra l in d u s t r ie l d e B e lg iq u e .)
T h is is t h e fir s t v o lu m e of a n ew e d itio n of t h e s o c ia l le g is la tio n e n a c te d in
B e lg iu m w h ich is o f i n t e r e s t t o in d u s tr y , a n a ly z e d in t h e lig h t of m in is te ria l
d e c re e s a n d
ju d ic ia l d e cisio n s .
T h is
v o lu m e
c o n ta in s t h e
t e x t of
la w s a n d
d e c re e s r e la tin g t o t h e re g u la tio n of l a b o r ; h e a lth a n d s a f e ty of w o r k e r s ; f a c t o r y
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id e a in m e d ic in e a n d in p u b lic h e a lt h w o rk a n d o n c o n tr o l of v a r io u s s o c ia l ills.
T h e r e is a c h a p t e r o n c o m p u ls o r y i n s u r a n c e , in c lu d in g o ld -a g e a n d i n v a lid ity
a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t in s u r a n c e .
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T h is p a m p h l e t c o n ta i n s a n a c c o u n t o f s e v e r a l o f t h e b e s t-k n o w n e x p e r im e n ts
in s h e lte r e d e m p l o y m e n t f o r t h e tu b e r c u lo u s , w h ic h h a v e b e e n d e v e lo p e d in th is
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h e a d in g s — i n d u s t r y , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , b u s in e s s , t h e p ro fe s s io n s , p e r s o n a l s e r v ic e ,
a n d p u b lic s e r v i c e .
U n d e r e a c h g e n e r a l h e a d in g t h e o c c u p a t io n s a r e cla ssifie d
a n d t o e a c h g r o u p is a p p e n d e d a l is t o f p u b lic a tio n s s u g g e s te d f o r re a d in g .
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L ib ra ry .
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s t r ik e s : A s tu d y o f the I n d u s t r ia l D is p u te s
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R e v ie w e d o n p a g e 4 8 of th is issu e .
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lab or i n S h a n g h a i , 1 9 2 1 - 1 9 2 6 .
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A m o n g t h e re s o lu tio n s a d o p te d w a s o n e v ig o r o u s ly d e n o u n c in g t h e W a t s o n -
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T h e c o n v e n tio n f a v o r e d t h e
p rin c ip le of n a tio n a liz a tio n o f t h e r a ilw a y s c o m b in e d w ith w o r k e r s ’ c o n tr o l.
T rades and L abor C ongress of C anada.
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A r £ s u m 6 of th is c o n v e n tio n w a s p u b lis h e d in t h e N o v e m b e r , 1 9 2 7 , issu e of th e
L a b o r R e v ie w (p . 1 2 5 ) .
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A p le a f o r t h e s ta b iliz a tio n of t h e v a lu e of m o n e y a s a m e a n s of p r e v e n tin g
th o s e la b o r tr o u b l e s w h ic h s p rin g f r o m t h e e ff o rt t o m a in ta in a s t a n d a r d of
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Y oung W omen ’s C hristian A ssociation.
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o f the c h a n g e i n status o f w o m en i n in d u s t r y a n d a n h is to rica l re s u m e o f the
w ork o f the Y . W . C . A . a m o n g in d u s t ria l g ir ls .
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